DEFAMATION
Why are those tears in your eyes, my child?
How horrid of them to be always scolding you for nothing!
You have stained your fingers and face with ink while writing—is that why they call you dirty?
O, fie! Would they dare to call the full moon dirty because it has smudged its face with ink?
For every little trifle they blame you, my child. They are ready to find fault for nothing.
You tore your clothes while playing—is that why they call you untidy?
O, fie! What would they call an autumn morning that smiles through its ragged clouds?
Take no heed of what they say to you, my child.
They make a long list of your misdeeds.
Everybody knows how you love sweet things—is that why they call you greedy?
O, fie! What then would they call us who love you?
责备
为什么你眼里有了眼泪，我的孩子？
他们真是可怕，常常无谓地责备你！
你写字时墨水玷污了你的手和脸——这就是他们所以骂你龌龊的缘故么？
呵，呸！他们也敢因为圆圆的月儿用墨水涂了脸，便骂它龌龊么？
他们总要为了每一件小事去责备你，我的孩子。他们总是无谓地寻人错处。
你游戏时扯破了衣服——这就是他们说你不整洁的缘故？
呵，呸！秋之晨从它的破碎的云衣中露出微笑，那么，他们要叫它什么呢？
他们对你说什么话，尽管可以不去理睬他，我的孩子。
他们把你做错的事长长地记了一笔账。
谁都知道你是十分喜欢糖果的——这就是他们所以称你作贪婪的缘故么？
呵，呸！我们是喜欢你的，那么他们要叫我们什么呢？
THE JUDGE
Say of him what you please, but I know my child's failings.
I do not love him because he is good, but because he is my little child.
How should you know how dear he can be when you try to weigh his merits against his faults?
When I must punish him he becomes all the more a part of my being.
When I cause his tears to come my heart weeps with him.
I alone have a right to blame and punish, for he only may chastise who loves.
审判官
你想说他什么尽管说罢，但是我知道我孩子的短处。
我爱他并不因为他好，只是因为他是我的小小的孩子。
你如果把他的好处与坏处两两相权，你怎会知道他是如何地可爱呢？
当我必须责罚他的时候，他更成为我生命的一部分了。
当我使他的眼泪流出时，我的心也和他同哭了。
只有我才有权去骂他，去责备他；因为只有热爱人的人才可以惩戒人。
PLAYTHINGS
Child, how happy you are sitting in the dust, playing with a broken twig all the morning.
I smile at your play with that little bit of a broken twig.
I am busy with my accounts, adding up figures by the hour.
Perhaps you glance at me and think, “What a stupid game to spoil your morning with!”
Child, I have forgotten the art of being absorbed in sticks and mud-pies.
I seek out costly playthings, and gather lumps of gold and silver.
With whatever you find you create your glad games, I spent both my time and my strength over things I never can obtain.
In my frail canoe I struggle to cross the sea of desire, and forget that I too am playing a game.
玩具
孩子，你真是快活呀！一早晨坐在泥土里，耍着折下来的小树枝儿。
我微笑着看你在那里耍弄那根折下来的小树枝儿。
我正忙着算账，一小时一小时在那里加叠数字。
也许你在看我，心想：“这种好没趣的游戏，竟把你一早晨的好时间浪费掉了！”
孩子，我忘了聚精会神玩耍树枝与泥饼的方法了。
我寻求贵重的玩具，收集金块与银块。
你呢，无论找到什么便去做你的快乐的游戏；我呢，却把我的时间与力气都浪费在那些我永不能得到的东西上。
我在我的脆薄的独木船里挣扎着，要航过欲望之海，竟忘了我也是在那里做游戏了。