Rose In Bloom 盛开的玫瑰
Author：Louisa May Alcott路易莎·梅·奥尔科特
Introduction:Louisa May Alcott (November 29, 1832 – March 6, 1888) was an American novelist and poet best known as the author of the novel LittleWomen (1868) and its sequels LittleMen (1871) and Jo'sBoys (1886). Raised by her transcendentalist parents in New England, she also grew up among many of the well-known intellectuals of the day such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau. Alcott's family suffered financial difficulties, and while she worked to help support the family from an early age, she also sought an outlet inwriting. She began to receive critical success for her writing in the 1860s. Alcott was an abolitionist and a feminist and remained unmarried throughout her life.
作者：路易莎·梅·奥尔科特
介绍：路易莎·梅·奥尔科特是美国著名小说家和诗人，因1868年创作了《小妇人》及其续集《小男人》《乔的男孩子们》而得名。她由在新英格兰的先验论者父母养大，成长在拉尔夫·瓦尔多·爱默生，纳撒尼尔·霍桑，亨利·大卫·梭罗等知识分子云集的时代。奥尔科特出生贫寒，靠写作来维持生计养家糊口。在19世纪60年代，她开始获得自己写作生涯的关键性成功。她同时也是一位废奴主义和女权主义者，终身未婚。
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Rose in Bloom–brief introduction
故事简介：
奥尔科特的作品《盛开的玫瑰》又叫《八个表兄妹》，叙述孤儿Rose到姑婆家依亲，遇见和蔼的Uncle Alec, 勤俭的小女佣Phebe, 意见多多的姑妈们，以及性情各异的七位表兄弟：稳重的Archie, 王子般受宠的Charlie, 书虫Mac, 爱美的Steve,活力十足的小战士 与， 小娃儿。姑妈们对玫瑰的到来感到棘手，就和Alec 叔叔们约定，让他们照顾玫瑰一年，并且接受她们的审视。
历经隔着大西洋的几年分离，Rose和那些男孩们都长大了。当Archie 爱上叔叔收养的孤儿Phebe, 漂亮的少爷Chalie 和带着读书人Mark开始被Rose所吸引，人际关系的平衡被打破，一切不再像从前。上流社会的衣香鬓影并不能满足Rose的心灵；Phebe 在唱歌方面的非凡成就，也无法使高傲的Cabell 家，接受她作为媳妇进门。
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什么才是最好的选择？生老病死的课题，使他们成长，终于觅得生命的归宿。
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This passage is excerpted（摘录 vt.） from Louisa May Alcott, Rose in Bloom, originallypublished in 1876. 本篇文章是节选自路易莎·梅·奥尔科特的《盛开的玫瑰》。
Three young men stood together on a wharf（码头 n.）one bright（天朗气清的 adj.）October day awaiting the arrival of an ocean steamer（轮船n.） with an impatience which found a vent（发泄n.） in lively skirmishes（小争吵 n.） with a small lad(小伙子 n.), who pervaded ( 弥漫 vi.)the premises(场所 n.)like a will-o'-the-wisp （鬼火n.）and afforded much amusement(娱乐 n.) to the other groups assembled(汇集 vi.) there.（ PS:故事开始---在码头上，一群表兄妹在等待自己出国多年的姐妹“Rose”......）
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"They are the Campbell,waiting for their cousin, who has been abroad several years with her uncle, thedoctor," whispered(低声说道 vi.) one lady to another as the hand somest of theyoung men touched his hat to her as he passed, lugging（用力拖拉 vi.）the boy, whom he had just rescued from a little expedition(探险 n.) down among the piles. (PS:最帅的年轻男子亮相,一个小pose就撩拨了吃瓜妇女的心)
"Which is that?"asked the stranger.
"Prince Charlie, as he's called a fine fellow（好家伙 n.）, the most promising（有潜力的 adj.） of the seven, but a little fast, peoplesay," answered the first speaker with a shake of the head. "Are the others his brothers?" (PS:最有潜力的是Prince )
"No, cousins. Theelder is Archie, a most exemplary(可做榜样的 adj.) young man. He has just gone into business with the merchant uncle and bids fair to （有希望 vi.）be an honor to his family. The other,with the eye glasses and no gloves, is Mac, the odd(奇怪的 adj.) one, just out of college." (PS:老大Archie生意做得好，可能会光耀门楣哦。)
"And the boy?"
"Oh, he is Jamie, the youngest brother of Archibald, and the pet of the whole family. Mercy on ushe'll be in if they don't hold on to him!" (PS:最小的少爷Jamie的出场了，家族的宠儿。)
The ladies' chat came to a suddenend (结束 n.) just there, for by the time Jamie hadbeen fished out（摸出来 vt.） of a hogshead(橡木桶 n.), the steamer hove in sight and everything else was forgotten. Asit swung （摇摆 vi.）slowlyaround to enter the dock, a boyish voice shouted, "There she is! I see her and Uncle and Phebe! Hooray(vi. 呼万岁)for Cousin Rose!" And three small cheers were given with a will by Jamieas he stood on a post waving his arms like a windmill( 风车 n.) while his brother held onto the tail of his jacket. (PS:当船出现在视线中的时候，女人们的聊天戛然而止，接风人迎接主角玫瑰乘风破浪飘摇过海而来。)
Yes, there they were, UncleAlec swinging his hat like a boy, with Phebe smiling and nodding （点头 vt.）on one side and Rose kissing both hands delightedly on the other as she recognized familiar faces and heard familiar voices welcoming her home. (PS:近乡情更怯，或恐是同乡啊，看到一张张熟悉的面孔，玫瑰忍不住左一个飞吻右一个飞吻......)
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"Bless her dear heart,she's bonnier(漂亮的) than ever! Looks like a Madonna(麦当娜 n.) doesn't she? with that blue cloak(斗篷 n.) round her, and her bright hair flying in the wind!" said Charlie excitedly as they watched the group upon the deck(甲板 n.) with eager eyes.
"Madonna don't wear hatslike that. Rose hasn't changed much, but Phebe has. Why, she's a regular beauty!" answered Archie, staring with all his might (n. 力量)at the dark-eyed young woman with the brilliant color and glossy black braids(辫子n.) shining in the sun.(PS:几个躁动的少年，在讨论玫瑰是否有变漂亮，甚至于女神麦当娜相提并论。老大说没咋变，眼睛却盯着大板城的玫瑰不放......)
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"Dear old Uncle! Doesn'tit seem good to have him back?" was all Mac said, but he was not looking at "dear old uncle" as he made the fervent（热烈的 adj.）remark(言辞 n.), for he saw only the slender (苗条的 adj.)blond(金发的adj.) girl nearby and stretched out his hands to meet hers, forgetful of thegreen water tumbling(翻滚 vi.) between them.(PS:美女，让时间静止......)
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During the confusion that reigned(统治 vt.) for a moment as the steamer settled to her moorings(下锚n.),Rose looked down into the four faces up turned to hers and seemed to read in them something that both pleased and pained her. It was only a glance(一瞥 n.), and her own eyes were full, but through themist of happy tears she received the impression that Archie was about the same,that Mac had decidedly improved, and that something was amiss(出差错的 adj.) with Charlie. There was no time for observation, however, for in a moment the shoreward(朝向岸边的 adj) rush began, and before she could graspher traveling bag, Jamie was clinging to her like an ecstatic(狂喜的 adj.) young bear. She was with difficulty released from his embrace(拥抱 n) to fall into the gentler ones of the elder cousins, who took advantage of the general excitement to welcome both blooming(盛开的 adj.) girls with affectionate (充满爱的 adj.)impartiality(不公平 n.). Then the wanderers(漫游者 n.) were borne ashore in a triumphal(胜利的 adj.) procession, while Jamie danced rapturous（欢天喜地的 adj.）jigs (舞蹈 n.)before them even on the gangway(跳板 n.). (PS:终于见面，大家都索要美女的熊抱......)
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Archie remained to help hisuncle get the luggage through the Custom House, and the others escorted(陪同vi.) the damsels(少女 n.) home. No sooner were they shut up ina carriage, however, than a new and curious constraint seemed to fall upon the young people, for they realized, all at once, that their former playmates weremen and women now. (PS:离别时,还是青涩少年，多年再见，儿时玩伴已经通通成年, 昔日的纯情少年渐渐模糊了当日的模样......)
