雙語閱讀:像愛爾蘭人一樣去結婚
和同事聊天時,她突然問我:“當時,他是怎麼向你求婚的,浪漫嗎?”我一愣,隨即笑了:“我老公是很木訥的人呢,你說會浪漫嗎?”雖然這樣說,我心裏卻泛起甜絲絲的感覺來。他確實從來不浪漫,他的求婚沒有鮮花、沒有鑽戒、沒有驚喜,甚至都不能算是求婚。
When I was having a chit-chat with my colleague, she asked me all of a sudden, “How did your husband propose to you at that time? Was it romantic?” I was numbed by her words for a while, and then burst into laughter, “My husband is a bit rigid, so do you think his proposal would be romantic?” Though I said in that way, I felt very sweet in heart when thinking of my husband’s proposing to me. To be honest, his proposal was actually by no means romantic without flowers, diamond ring and any other surprise. It was even could not be called “marriage proposal”.
當時,他送了我一本關於愛爾蘭的書,現在想起來,大概是他預謀已久的吧。在我翻閱完那本書的週末,他來找我,問我書看完沒。見我點了點頭,他傻傻地樂了,然後對我說道:“如果你願意,讓我們像愛爾蘭人一樣去結婚吧!”
At that time, he gave me a book about Ireland, which, now I am thinking was a long-established plan. At the weekend when I finished the book, he came to me and asked me whether I had finished the book. Seeing me nod my head, he felt very pleased and said to me in a low but happy voice, “If you like, we can get married in an Irish way!”
那時,我的心裏恰好被愛爾蘭人那浪漫而且神聖的婚姻法所折服。書中說,愛爾蘭是信奉天主教的國家,禁止離婚。所以,兩人結婚時必須選擇婚姻關係的期限——1年至100年。這種婚姻法的高明之處在於,婚姻的期限恰好與結婚的費用成反比。如果你選擇了1年期限,將支付高達2000英鎊的費用並獲得如辭典般厚厚的權利義務說明;如果你選擇了100年,那麼恭喜你,你只需要支付工本費0.5英鎊,和短短的卻讓所有女人感動的一段話:“我不知道我的左手對右手、右腿對左腿、左眼對右眼、右腦對左腦究竟應該享有怎樣的權利,究竟應該承擔怎樣的義務。其實它們本就是一個整體,因彼此的存在而存在,因彼此的快樂而快樂。最後,讓這張粉紅色的小紙帶去我對你們百年婚姻的美好祝願!祝你們幸福!”
At that time, my heart was totally convinced by the romantic and sacred law of marriage in Ireland. The book told me that Ireland believes in Catholicism and prohibited divorce. Therefore, when a couple get married, they are supposed to choose the time of their marriage which ranges from 1 year to 100 years. The most impressive of this law of marriage lies in the inverse relationship between the time of marriage and the fees to be charged. If you choose 1 year for your marriage, you shall pay as much as 2, 000 sterling pounds plus receiving a dictionary-thick reference of rights and responsibilities. But if you choose 100 years, then you are very lucky and only need to pay 0.5 pound for the fees and receive a short but heart-touching note in all women’s eyes: “I have no idea the clear rights and responsibilities for my left hand to my right hand, my right leg to my left leg, my left eye to my right eye and my right sphere of brain to the left. Actually, they are an integrated whole and live by each other and cheer for each other. Finally, I would like this pink note to convey my best wishes to your one-hundred-year marriage! May you live happily all your lives!”
記得當時。我順着他的話說道:“那麼好吧,請這位先生選擇一下你的婚姻期限吧!”他再一次傻傻地樂了,說:“那還用想嗎。當然是100年,多省錢啊!”
I still remember at that time that I said to my husband, “Ok, so sir, please choose the time you expect our marriage to last!” He said happily, “I even do not bother to think about it and would definitely choose 100 years because it is highly money-saving!”
後來,我嫁給了這個想和我擁有百年婚姻的男人。雖然,我們沒有像愛爾蘭人一樣有法律的約束,我們卻一直因爲這句話,彼此在心裏約束着自己。像愛爾蘭人一樣去結婚,把婚姻當成一輩子的事,好好地努力地經營,執子之手、與子偕老。
Later, I married him, a man who would like to stay with me for 100 years. Although we are not bound by the law of marriage in Ireland, we have cherished our vow to discipline ourselves all the time. We have married like Irish people and look on our marriage as a life-long commitment and spare no effort to nourish it hand in hand as we are gradually aging together.
我希望世間男女,都能像愛爾蘭人一樣去結婚,好好地謹慎地相愛,並選擇百年的期限來用心地守護身邊的那個人。
I also sincerely hope that every pair of lovers in the world can get married like Irish people and love and protect each other whole-heartedly by committing themselves to a 100-year marriage.
