Chapter 75

Thy gifts to us mortals fulfil all our needs and yet run back to thee undiminished.
 
The river has its everyday work to do and hastens through fields and hamlets; yet its incessant¹ stream winds towards the washing of thy feet.
 
The flower sweetens the air with its perfume; yet its last service is to offer itself to thee.
 
Thy worship does not impoverish² the world.
 
From the words of the poet men take what meanings please them; yet their last meaning points to thee.
 
你赐给我们世人的礼物，满足了我们一切的需要，可是它们又毫未减少地返回到你那里。
 
河水有它每天的工作，匆忙地穿过田野和村庄；但它的不绝的水流，又曲折地回来洗你的双脚。
 
花朵以芬芳熏香了空气；但它最终的任务，是把自己献上给你。
 
对你供献不会使世界困穷。
 
人们从诗人的字句里，选取自己心爱的意义：但是诗句的最终意义是指向着你。

1 incessant   

adj.不停的，连续的

参考例句：

• We have had incessant snowfall since yesterday afternoon.从昨天下午开始就持续不断地下雪。
• She is tired of his incessant demands for affection.她厌倦了他对感情的不断索取。

2 impoverish   

vt.使穷困，使贫困

参考例句：

• We need to reduce the burden of taxes that impoverish the economy.我们需要减轻导致经济困顿的税收负荷。
• America still has enough credibility to a more profitable path that would impoverish its creditors slowly.美国尚有足够的信用来让其得以选择一条更加有利可图的路径使它的债权人们渐渐贫困枯竭。