My Favorite Fruit 我钟爱的水果

　　By Alan Alexander Milne

　　In the first place it is a perennial—if not in actual fact, at least in the greengrocer's shop. On the days when dessert is a name given to a handful of chocolates and a little preserved ginger, when macedoine de fruits is the title bestowed on two prunes and a piece of rhubarbs, then the orange, however sour, comes nobly to the rescue; and on those other days of plenty when cherries and strawberries and raspberries, and gooseberries riot together upon the table, the orange, sweeter than ever, is still there to hold its own. Bread and butter, beef and mutton, eggs and bacon, are not more necessary to an order existence than the orange.

　　首先，柑橘常年都有——即使不是在树上，至少是在水果店里。有的时候，只用几块巧克力和一点蜜饯生姜充当餐后的甜点，两块李子干加一片大黄便被冠以蔬果什锦美名时，这是仍带酸味的柑橘便前来慷慨救驾;其他时候，水果丰盈，樱桃、草莓、木莓、醋栗在餐桌上相互争艳时，此时比往日更加甜美的柑橘依然能坚守自己的岗位。对于人们的日常生活，面包和黄油、牛肉和羊肉、鸡蛋和咸肉，都未必像柑橘那样不可或缺。

　　It is well that the commonest fruit should be also the best. Of the virtues of the orange I have not room fully to speak. It has properties of health giving, as that it cures influenza and establishes the complexion. It is clean, for whoever handles it on its way to your table, but handles its outer covering, its top coat, which is left in the hall. It is round, and forms an excellent substitute with the young for a cricket ball. The pip can be flicked at your enemies, and quite a small piece of peel makes a slide for an old gentleman.

　　很幸运，这种最普遍的水果恰恰是最好的水果。论其优点，难尽其详。柑橘有益于健康，比如，可以治疗流感，滋养皮肤。柑橘清洁干净，不管是谁把它端上桌子，也只触到它的表皮，亦即它的外衣，吃完后橘皮便被留在餐厅里。柑橘是圆的，给孩子当板球玩是再好不过了。柑橘核可用来弹射你的敌人，一小片橘皮也能让一个老者滑个趔趄。

　　But all this would count nothing had not the orange such delightful qualities of the taste. I dare not let myself go upon this subject. I am a slave to its sweetness. I grudge every marriage in that it means a fresh supply of orange blossom, the promise of so much golden fruit cut short. However, the world must go on....

　　但是，如若不是柑橘的味道甜美可口，上述的一切便都不足取。我真不敢纵谈柑橘的美味。我为它的美味所倾倒。每当有人结婚我便心生怨意，因为那就意味着一束鲜橘花——未来金黄果实的夭折。然而，人类总得继续繁衍。