麥琪的禮物：Chapter 10

"Dell," said he, "let's put our Christmas presents away and keep 'em a while. They're too nice to use just at present. I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs. And now suppose you put the chops on."

正如諸位所知,麥琪是聰明人,聰明絕頂?shù)娜?他們把禮物帶來(lái)送給出生在馬槽里的耶穌。他們發(fā)明送圣誕禮物這玩藝兒。由于他們是聰明人,毫無(wú)疑問(wèn),他們的禮物也是聰明的禮物,如果碰上兩樣?xùn)|西完全一樣,可能還具有交換的權(quán)利。在這兒,我已經(jīng)笨拙地給你們介紹了住公寓套間的兩個(gè)傻孩子不足為奇的平淡故事,他們極不明智地為了對(duì)方而犧牲了他們家最最寶貴的東西。不過(guò),讓我們對(duì)現(xiàn)今的聰明人說(shuō)最后一句話,在一切饋贈(zèng)禮品的人當(dāng)中,那兩個(gè)人是最聰明的。在一切饋贈(zèng)又接收禮品的人當(dāng)中,像他們兩個(gè)這樣的人也是最聰明的。無(wú)論在任何地方,他們都是最聰明的人。

The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.

他們就是麥琪。