The coal pits of southern Belgium.
比利时南部的煤窑。
Dirt poor and,as far as Vincent was concerned,in desperate need of saving.
对于文特森来说,那里可怜的穷苦人太渴望得到救助了。
The young lay preacher took his dog-eared bibles and his eager retriever look through mucky streets where women hauled sacks of coke,and did his best.
这位年轻的外行传教士带着卷了边儿的圣经和一只热心的猎狗,在肮脏的街道上巡视着,当拉焦炭的妇女们经过时就奋力帮上一把力。
And our life is a long walk from earth to heaven. A long walk from earth to heaven.
人生就是从尘世到天堂的一次漫长的散步,那条路很长很长。
But it still wasn't enough.
但是这还不是全部。
After a trial period,the missionary society who paid his pittance got rid of him.
在经过试用期后,曾经付给他微薄薪水的教会解雇了他。
Excessive zeal,apparently.
显然是因为他热心的过头了。
But you didn't get rid of Vincent van Gogh that easily.
但是梵高是不会轻易就这么屈服的。
He hit on a different way to preach,he would paint.
他采取了另外一种布道方式,绘画。
This would be Vincent's new calling.
这将会是文森特的一项新职业。
And this is amazing.
而且还很神奇。
He's nearly 30.he's not so much as picked up a paintbrush,much less had any kind of formal training.
他都快30岁了。这个年龄开始绘画可不怎么合适,而且他也没有受到过太多的正规训练。
But Vincent's not bothered,this is his road-to-Damascus moment.
但是文森特并不气馁,这个时刻就是他生命里最重要的转折时刻。
In a way,I'm glad I never learned painting.
从某种意义上说,我很高兴从来没有学习过绘画。
I know for certain that painting is in the very marrow of my bones.
我确信我的绘画技术就在我的骨子里。
I want to do drawings that will touch people.
我想创作出能感动人们的作品。
I want to get to the point where...Where people say of my work,that man,that man feels deeply,that man feels keenly.
我的目标是……人们会这样评论我的作品,他们会被我的作品深深的吸引着,而且人们也能强烈的感受到。
Art would succeed where the Church had failed. It would bring salvation and comfort.
艺术会在教会失败的废墟上拔地而起,它会为人们带来拯救和内心的安宁。
Its ministry would be to open the eyes of everyone,especially the poor,to the miraculous force of life.
它的职责将会去打开每个人的视野,尤其是那些穷人,让他们看到生命神奇的力量。
Exactly the kind of vision from which they were cut off by the grey relentlessness of the daily grind.
他们正是被日常琐碎的冷漠无情和这种美景隔绝了。
I just wish that there were more and better opportunities and exhibitions to bring art to the people.
我仅仅是希望有更多更好的机会和展览,从而能把艺术呈现给人民大众。
We far from wanting to hide the light under a bushel,I'd sooner let it be seen.
我并不想锋芒内敛,而是期望着人们早些知道我的才华。
And if he were to give people a sense that heaven was in simple things,calloused hand,the petal of a flower,you'd better be a labourer yourself,Vincent thought,and you'd better head to the lower depths,and live with them,too.
如果他是想让人们意识到天堂其实就在眼前。起满老茧的手掌,一朵花儿的花瓣,文特森认为,人们最好是把自己当作一个劳动者,而且最好去向底层人民靠拢,和他们生活在一起。
THE END.
结束。
本课生词总结
coal:n. 煤;(尤指燃烧着的)煤块;木炭 v. 供煤;采煤,提炼煤;把……烧成炭;加煤
pit:n. 矿井;深坑;陷阱;(物体或人体表面上的)凹陷;(英国剧场的)正厅后排;正厅后排的观众
Belgium:n. 比利时(西欧国家,首都布鲁塞尔Brussels)
lay:adj. 世俗的;外行的;没有经验的 v. 躺;位于(lie的过去式) n. 位置;短诗;花纹方向;叙事诗;性伙伴
preacher:n. 牧师;传教士;鼓吹者
dog-eared:adj. (书页)折角的;(衣衫)褴褛的;陈腐的
retriever:n. (训练成能寻回猎物的)寻回犬;取回的人,挽救者
mucky :adj. 脏的,粪的;讨厌的
sacks :麻布袋
coke:n. 焦炭;可卡因;可口可乐(Coca-Cola)
trial :adj. 试验的;审讯的
missionary :adj. 传教的;传教士的;传教士般的 n. 传教士
pittance:n. 少量;小额施舍;少量津贴
zeal:n. 热情;热心;热诚
calling:n. 使命感;职业;(动物或人的)喊叫;强烈冲动
Damascus:n. 大马士革(叙利亚首都)
marrow :n. 髓,骨髓;精华;活力
keenly:adv. 敏锐地;强烈地;锐利地
ministry:n. (政府的)部门
miraculous :adj. 不可思议的,奇迹的
grind:n. 磨;苦工作
relentlessness:而之 解释 不间断
bushel:n. 蒲式耳vt. 修整(衣服等)
sooner :adv. 更快地,更早地
calloused :adj. 变得无情的;变硬的;长了老茧的
petal :n. 花瓣
labourer :n. 劳动者;劳工