美文故事之找谁倚靠 （39）一顿特殊的午餐(下)
A few hours went by and there was a loud knock on the door.
几个钟头过去了，门外又响起了重重的敲门声，
This time it was an old gypsy woman with no teeth, who was deaf,who spoke quite loudly and was rather rudely insisting that any true believer in the Lord would not deny her something to eat.
这次来的是一个吉普赛老妇，她没有牙齿，耳朵也听不见。吉普赛老妇粗鲁地叫嚷着，她坚持说上帝虔诚的信徒是绝不会看着她挨饿而无动于衷的。
Though the woman had no more money with which to buy more supplies, she invited the woman in and offered her a seat at the table.
虽然妇人已身无分文，再也买不起更多食物，但她还是把吉普赛老妇请上了餐桌。
The gypsy ate everything, did not even thank the woman and left without closing the door.
吉普赛老妇把饭菜吃了个精光后转身就走，根本没有道谢，甚至连门都没有关。
By now it was beginning to get dark both inside and out.
这时天色已晚，屋里屋外都暗了下来。
The woman’s faith was strong, so that, though somewhat distraught, she did not give up, but rather,looked around her humble house to see if there was anything she could sell in order to buy more food to set before the Lord.
妇人仍然坚信上帝会来。尽管多少有些烦躁不安，但她依然没有放弃，她在自己简陋的小屋里四处搜索，看看还有什么东西能卖些钱，她希望赶在上帝来之前能再买些吃的。
She hurried to town with a little silver cup that had been in her family for several generations,but she was willing to part with it for the great honor that God was going to bestow on her—the sharing of a meal.
妇人带着一个祖传的小银杯子赶到了镇上。尽管这银杯子已经传了好几辈人了，但为了能有幸与上帝共进一餐，她甘愿卖了它。
Late in the night she rushed home to prepare yet a third meal.
当妇人回到家里准备好第三桌饭菜时，已经是深夜了。
She waited and waited until, once more, there was a knock on the door.
她等啊等啊，终于又响起了敲门声。
Holding her breath, she slowly opened the door to find yet another poor man in the guise of a wandering monk, in search of a meal.
她屏住呼吸，慢慢地打开了门，这次出行在她眼前的是一个前来化缘的可怜云游僧。
Again, she offered hospitality, with as much grace as she could muster in her disappointment.
妇人再一次热情地接待了僧人，尽管失望至极，但她依然努力不让自己失态。
This man also ate all that was set on the table and left after blessing the woman for her kindness.
僧人吃完了桌上所有的东西， 并在临走前为妇人的善良送上祝福。
So discouraged and dismayed was she that all she could do was nod slightly,in acknowledgment of the thanks.
妇人满心沮丧，却只能微微地点头以示谢意。
Now it was too late, with no way to buy any more food and no more money with which to buy it.
现在已经太晚了，她根本不可能，也没有钱再买任何食物了。
She got down on her knees, weeping such heart-broken tears.
她跪在地上，哭得十分伤心。
She asked God what she had done wrong.
她请求上帝告诉自己做错了什么，
Why had God not come to share at the table as He had promised?
为什么上帝明明答应了自己的邀请却没有现身。
And God, in all His Divine Compassion and Mercy, lifted the woman off her knees, and holding her close to His Heart, said,“My child, I enjoyed your hospitality so much that I came three times!”
神圣而仁慈的上帝将妇人扶了起来，贴近自己的胸口，说道:我的孩子，你的盛情打动了我，让我足足来了三次。
1.pray for 为求得…而祈祷， 为…而祈祷
So they suffer, and pray for petrol prices to fall.
所以他们只能承受损失，并祈求汽油价格下降。
Dear lord, I pray for wisdom to understand my man.
万能的主啊，我祈求给我智慧以理解他。
2.turn away 转过脸去；拒绝
Germany is not about to turn away from europe.
德国并非要背欧洲而去。
Insurers routinely turn away individuals who are already sick.
保险人通常拒绝为已经生病的人担保。
3.partake of 吃光，带有；分享
Millions try to enter the eu, legally and illegally, because they want to partake of the good life that the eu has created forits citizens.
数百万人试图以合法或非法的方式进入欧盟，因为他们想要分享欧盟为其公民创造的美好生活。
She cradles you her children whilst knowing that it is time to birth a new child, so that all in readiness may partake of thisnew creation.
她轻轻抱着她的孩子们，而她知道是时候诞生一个新宝宝了，以使所有准备就绪的人参与这新 创造。
4.gather up 收紧；采集；鼓起
Gather up all the stuffed animals you can and turn a room into a zoo.
尽你所能地收集所有动物标本，将你的卧室开发成动物园。
Scout out some new scenery in the area, gather up the gear, and take the family on a leisurely hike.
搜寻下自己所在社区的新景点收拾好外出的衣服，然后带家人来一次休闲的远足。