美文欣赏：不被禁锢的思想（双语）

英语自学网

　　其实，有时候，任何人事都束缚不了我们的身躯，更禁锢不了我们的思想。如此，历史长河才不至于干涸……往往是镜中的那个自己先放下武器，妥协求饶…… Most people are like the circus elephant. Have you ever seen an elephant in an indoor arena tied to a little wooden stake? That huge creature can pick up two thousand pounds with its trunk, yet it calmly stays tied. Why?
        　　大多数人都像马戏团里的大象。你曾看过一头大象被拴在室内舞台的一根小木桩上吗?那头庞然大物能用它的长鼻子挑起2000磅的重物，却平静地甘于被绑缚。为什么呢?
        　　When that elephant was just a baby, and not very strong, it was tied by a huge chain to an iron stake that could not be moved. Regardless of how hard it tried, it could not break the chain and run free. After a while it just gave up. Now, even though it is strong, it never attempts to break free. The “imprint” is permanent. “I can't! I can't!” it says.
        　　大象幼年时，身子骨还不甚强壮，就被一根巨大的铁链拴在牢牢固定的铁桩上。不管它花多大的气力，都无法挣断铁链，获得自由。经过一段时间的尝试，它便放弃了。如今，它强壮了，却也不再试着去争取自由了。这个“铬印”是永久的。“我不能!我不能!”它诉说着。
        　　There are millions of people who behave like this circus creature. They have been tied and told “You'll never make it,” so many times they finally call it quits. They may have dreams, but the “imprinting” keeps pulling them back.