"'My friend, thou wilt never more behold thy mother on this earth. That is the terrible truth. I do not attempt to see thee, because thine is one of those solemn and sacred sorrows which each must suffer and conquer for himself. Dost thou understand what I mean to convey by these words, _It is necessary to conquer sorrow_--to conquer the least sacred, the least purifying part of sorrow, that which, instead of rendering the soul better, weakens and debases it? But the other part of sorrow, the noble part--that which enlarges and elevates the soul--that must remain with thee and never leave thee more. Nothing here below can take the place of a good mother. In the griefs, in the consolations which life may still bring to thee, thou wilt never forget her. But thou must recall her, love her, mourn her death, in a manner which is worthy of her. O my friend, hearken to me! Death exists not; it is nothing. It cannot even be understood. Life is life, and it follows the law of life-- progress. Yesterday thou hadst a mother on earth; to-day thou hast an angel elsewhere. All that is good will survive the life of earth with increased power. Hence, also, the love of thy mother. She loves thee now more than ever. And thou art responsible for thy actions to her more, even, than before. It depends upon thee, upon thy actions, to meet her once more, to see her in another existence. Thou must, therefore, out of love and reverence for thy mother, grow better and cause her joy for thee. Henceforth thou must say to thyself at every act of thine, "Would my mother approve this?" Her transformation has placed a guardian angel in the world for thee, to whom thou must refer in all thy affairs, in everything that pertains to thee. Be strong and brave; fight against desperate and vulgar grief; have the tranquillity of great suffering in great souls; and that it is what she would have.'"
“朋友!你这世已不能再见你的母亲了。这实是可战栗的事。我目前不忍看见你,因为你现在正在谁都难免而且非超越不可的神圣的悲哀之中。‘悲哀非超越不可,’你了解我这话吗?在悲哀的一面,有不能改善我们的精神而反使之陷于柔弱卑屈的东西。我们对于悲哀的这一部分,当战胜而超越它。悲哀的别一面,有着使我们精神高尚伟大的东西。这部分是应该永远保存,决不可弃去的。在这世界中最可爱的莫过于母亲,在这世界所给你的无论是悲哀或是喜悦之中,你都不会忘了你的母亲吧。但是,你要纪念母亲,敬爱的母亲,哀痛母亲的死,不可辜负你母亲的心。啊!朋友!试听我言!死这东西是不存在的。这是空无所有,连了解都不可能的东西。生是生,是依从生命的法则的。而生命的法则就是进步。你昨天在这世有母亲,你今天随处有天使。凡是善良的东西,都有加增的能力,这世的生命永不消灭。你母亲的爱不也是这样吗?你母亲要比以前更爱你啊!因此之故,你对于母亲,也就有比前更重的责任了。你在他界能否和母亲相会,完全要看你自己的行为怎样。所以,应因了爱慕母亲的心情,更改善自己,以安慰母亲的灵魂。以后你无论做什么事,常须自己反省:‘这是否母亲所喜的?’母亲的死去,实替你在这世界上遗留了一个守护神。你以后一生的行事,都非和这守护神商量不可。要刚毅!要勇敢!和失望与忧愁奋斗!在大苦恼之中维持精神的平静!因为这是母亲所喜的。”
"Garrone," added the teacher, "_be strong and tranquil, for that is what she would have_. Do you understand?"
先生再继续着说:“卡隆!要刚毅!要平静!这是你母亲所喜的。懂了吗?”
Garrone nodded assent, while great and fast-flowing tears streamed over his hands, his copy-book, and his desk.
卡隆点头,大粒的泪珠籁籁地落下在手背上、笔记簿上和桌上。