koathere的部落格

記得唸高一時，我們班導易老師是剛從師大英語系畢業的高材生，上課大半時候都是『烙英文』，有時候聽久了，魂都不知飛到哪去……

當時小柯柯的寶座是第一排最中間，也就是講桌的正下方，易老師喜歡走到我旁邊上課，這樣感覺跟學生比較親近，當然小柯柯的手臂偶而會有水滴飄附上來，尤其是穿短袖的夏天。

接收老師的口水也許可以增強英文功力，小柯柯時常阿Q的安慰自己，個兒矮只能坐第一排嘛，這些都能忍受，但是最讓我忐忑不安的，卻是老師發怒的時刻。我們認真的易老師要求同學回家一定先預習，上課時會抽問同學，如過超過三個人不會回答，老師就悶不坑聲……接著開始『醞釀』一股『怒氣』，之後就拿起她手上的書，狠狠的、重重的、用力的摔在我的桌上，等待『巨響』的小柯柯馬上被嚇得跳起來，雖然這是老師預期中的動作！

同學看到我的驚嚇都暗中偷笑，可憐的小柯柯淚水只能往肚裡吞，獨自擦去手臂上的口水，還有桌上老師留下來粉筆灰的白色手印…….

有一次，老師要我們從論語中找出與『麥克阿瑟為子祈禱文』相關的句子，小柯柯深怕『摔書』事件上演，回家翻遍了論語，勉勉強強找這到一句『道聽而塗說，徳之棄也。』沒想到老師算我過關，還稱讚一番，所以這句孔老夫子的話到現在我還能朗朗上口。

事隔四十幾年，小柯柯在網路搜尋到底是哪句話吻合呢？找了半天，是這句嗎？好像有點勉強....build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds 英文倒退好幾百步的小柯柯只好請教英文程度很棒的各位格友們了！全文如下：

"Build me a son, O Lord,

who will be strong enough to know when he is weak,

and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid;

one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat,

and humble and gentle in victory.

Build me a son

whose wishes will not take the place of deeds;

a son who will know Thee…… and that

to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.

Build me a son

　whose heart will be clear,

　whose goal will be high,

　a son who will master himself

　before he seeks to master other men;

　one who will reach into the future,

　yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his,

　add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor,

　so that he may always be serious,

　yet never take himself too seriously

Give him humility,

　so that he may always remember

　the simplicity of true greatness,

　the open mind of true wisdom

　and the meekness of true strength.

Then, I, his father will dare to

　whisper, "I have not lived in vain.'"