英语美文：Last Dance… Last Chance

 Last Dance… Last Chance 最后一次跳舞 

平常的日子里，我们总有许多表达情感的机会，可我们偏偏没有表达。有些人我们深深地爱着，可即使到了分别，我们依然没能说出口，而这或许成了一个长久的遗憾。请不要与这些平淡的机会擦肩而过，对所爱的人说一声"我爱你"。
　  My father was an ill-humored man. I knew he loved me and his love was deep. He just didn't know how to express it.
　  One evening we went out for a night on the town. We were sitting in an elegant restaurant that had a small but lively band. When it struck up a familiar waltz tune 1 I decided 2 to invite him for a dance.
　  "Dad, you know I've never ever danced with you. I begged you but you never wanted to. How about right now?"
　  I waited for the usual refusal. But instead he considered me thoughtfully and then a surprising twinkle appeared in his eye, "Let's hit the floor and I'll show you just what kind of moves an old guy like me can still make."
　  My father took me in his arms and I felt overcome by emotion.
　  As we danced I looked up at my father intently but he avoided my gaze.
　  "Dad," I finally whispered, tears in my eyes, "Why is it so hard for you to look at me?" At last his eyes dropped to my face and he studied me intently. "Because I love you so much," he whispered back. I was struck dumb by his response. It wasn't what I had anticipated. But it was of course exactly what I needed to hear. His own eyes were misty 3 and he was blinking.
　  I had always known that he loved me. I just hadn't understood that his vast emotion had frightened him and made him mute. "I love you too, Dad!" I whispered back softly. He stumbled over the next few words: "I'm sorry that I'm not demonstrative. It's hard for me, but just remember how much I love you."
　  When the dance ended I excused myself to the ladies' room and during my absence everything changed.
　  When I came back, Dad was slumped 4 in his chair ashen 5 gray. Everything was really all too late. He was gone.
　  That night all I saw was his slumped body and ashen face. But it's a totally different scene that I remember now. I remember our waltz on the dance floor and his sudden confession 6 to me. I remember him saying "I love you" and my saying it back.
　  It was indeed the first-last and only dance that I ever had with my father. What a blessing 7 that we had the chance to say before it was too late. The three words live on forever long after we are gone, stretching into eternity 8.
精美译文： 
　　父亲的脾气不是很好?我知道父亲爱我，而且爱得很深，他只不过是不知道如何表达而已?
　　一天晚上，我们一起到市中心逛逛，我们坐在了一家优雅的餐馆里，餐馆里有一支很活跃的小乐队?当乐队奏起一首熟悉的华尔兹舞曲时，我决定请父亲跳舞?
　　“爸爸!你知道，我从来没有跟您跳过舞?我请求过您，但您从来不愿意!现在怎么样？”
　　我以为父亲会像往常一样拒绝我?但没想到的是，父亲却若有所思地看着我，眼神里闪现出令我惊讶的光芒?“让我们试试看，让你看看我这个老家伙还能跳出什么样的舞步!”
　　父亲用双臂拥抱着我，我心里一阵感动?
　　跳舞的时候，我专注地看着父亲,但他却躲避着我的凝视?
　　“爸爸!”我终于眼含着泪水，低声说，“为什么您看我一下就这么难?”他的眼神终于落在了我脸上，认真地看着我?“因为我太爱你了，”他轻声回答。父亲的回答让我惊讶得说不出话来?这不是我所预料的，但却是我最想听的?父亲的眼睛也模糊了，不停地眨着眼睛?
　　我一直都知道他是爱我的。只是从来没有想到他宽厚的情感竟然让他感到害怕，让他不敢表达自己?“我也爱你，爸爸?”我轻声地说?他结结巴巴地说出了下面的话：“对不起，我不善表达。对我来说太难了，但是要记住我真的很爱你?”
　　舞曲结束后，我借口去了一趟洗手间?就在我离开的时候，一切都变了?
　　等我回来的时候，父亲瘫倒在椅子上，面色灰白?一切都为时已晚，他走了?
那天晚上，我看到的就是他瘫倒的身体和灰白的面孔?但现在我所记起的却完全是另外一幅情景?我记得我们在舞池里跳华尔兹，记得他突然对我表白他对我的感情?我记得他说“我爱你”，我也对他说"我爱你"?
　　那的确是我和父亲跳过的第一场舞，也是最后一场舞?值得庆幸的是我们能在不算太迟的时候有机会表达我们的感情。即便在我们都离开尘世之后，那三个字也会永远留存，成为永恒。