0526翻译鞋匠的儿子
0526翻译：鞋匠的儿子（林清玄）
Translation: Shoemaker’s Son (Lin Qingxuan)
(translated by: alexcwlin; edited by: Adam Lam)
在林肯当选美国总统的那一刻，整个参议院的议员们都感到尴尬，因为林肯的父亲是个鞋匠。 At the moment Lincoln was elected President of America, all the Senators in the Senate felt embarrassed because Lincoln’s father was a cobbler.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
当时美国的参议员大部分出身于名门望族，自认为是上流社会优越的人，
Most American Senators at that time were children of noble decent who were self-proclaimed superior individuals from high society.
从未料到要面对的总统是一个卑微的鞋匠的儿子。
They never would have thought the President they were dealing with was the son of a lowly shoemaker. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
于是，林肯首次在参议院演说之时，就有参议员想要羞辱他。
Therefore when Lincoln was about to make a speech for the first time in the Senate, there was a Senatorwho wanted to humiliate him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
当林肯站在演讲台上的时候，一个态度傲慢的参议员站起来，说：“林肯先生，在你开始演讲之前，我希望你记住，你是一个鞋匠的儿子。”
When Lincoln was at the podium, an arrogant Senator stood up and said: “Mr. Lincoln, before you start your speech, I hope you can remember you are the son of a cobbler.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
所有的参议员都大笑起来，为自己虽然不能打败林肯但能羞辱他，开怀不已。
All the Senators laughed out loud in thinking even though they could not beat him in election, but insulting him would please them to no end.
等到大家的笑声止歇，林肯说：“我非常感激你使我想起我的父亲。
When everybody stopped laughing, Lincoln said: “I’m greatly thankful you remind me of my father. 他已经过世了，我一定会记住你的忠告，我永远是鞋匠的儿子。
He has passed away, but I will take your advice to heart that I will always be the son of a shoemaker. 我知道，我做总统永远无法像我父亲做鞋匠那样做得那么好。”
I know as a President what I do will never be as good as what my father did as a shoemaker.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
参议院陷入一片静默。
The Senate was in dead silence.
林肯转过头来对那个傲慢的参议员说：“就我所知，我父亲以前也为你的家人做过鞋子， Lincoln turned his head and faced the conceited Senator: “As far as I know, my father made shoes for your family before.
如果你的鞋子不合脚，我可以帮你改正它，
If your shoes do not fit, I can modify them for you.
虽然我不是伟大的鞋匠，但我从小就跟父亲学到了做鞋的技术。”
Even though I am not a great shoemaker, but I have learned the techniques in making shoes from my father since I was little.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
然后他对所有的参议员说：“参议院里的任何人，如果你们穿的那双鞋是我父亲做的，而它们需要修理，我一定尽可能帮忙。
Then he said to all the Senators: “For anyone in the Senate, if the shoes you are wearing were made by my father and they need repairs, I will do my best to help.
但是有一件事是可以确定的，我无法像他那么伟大，
But one thing is for certain—thereis no way I can be as great as he was.
他的手艺是无人能比的。”
His handicraft was unparalleled.”
说到这里，林肯流下了眼泪，所有的嘲笑声都化成了赞叹的掌声。
In speaking to this point, tears streamed down the cheeks of Lincoln and all the jeers turned into applause of praise.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
批评、讪笑、诽谤的石头，有时正是通向自信、潇洒、自由的台阶。
The hardships of criticism, jeers and slanders sometimes could be the building blocks to self-confidence, elegance and liberty.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------