把握第一次机会

开篇：润墨网以专业的文秘视角，为您筛选了一篇把握第一次机会范文，如需获取更多写作素材，在线客服老师一对一协助。欢迎您的阅读与分享！

A large company had been invited to a banquet1, and just before the hour the confectioner2, who had been making a large ornament for the table, sent word that he had spoiled the piece. "If you let me try, I think I can make something that will do," said a boy who had been employed as a scullion3 at the mansion4 of Dierre Hardy. "You!" exclaimed5 the head servant, in astonishment, "And who are you?" "I am Jean Baptise, the grandson of Pisano, the stone-cutter," replied the pale-faced little fellow.

"And pray, what can you do?" asked the majordomo6. "I can make you something that will do for the middle of the table, if you'll let me try." The servant was at his wits' end, he told Antonio to go ahead and see what he could do. Calling for some butter, the scullion quickly modeled a large crouching lion, which the admiring majordomo placed upon the table.

Dinner was announced, and many of the most noted merchants, princes, and noblemen of Venice were ushered7 into the dining-room. Among them were skilled critics of artwork. When their eyes fell upon the butter lion, they forgot to the purpose of which they had come in their wonder at such a work of genius. They looked at the lion long and carefully, and asked Signoir Faliero what great sculptor had been persuaded to waste his skill upon such a temporary material. Faliero could not tell; so he asked the head servant, who brought Antonio before the company.

When the distinguished8 guests learned that the lion had been made in a short time by a scullion, the dinner was turned into a feast9 in his honor. The rich host declared that he would pay the boy's expenses under the best masters, and he kept his word.

Antonio was not spoiled by his good fortune, but remaining at heart the same simple, earnest, faithful boy who had tried so hard to become a good stone-cutter in the shop of Pisano. Some may not have heard how the boy Antonio took advantage of his first greet opportunity; but all know of Canova, one of the greatest sculptors of all time.

Weak men wait for opportunities, strong men make them.

皮埃尔・哈迪先生邀请了一大群人来他的宅邸参加宴会。在宴会开始前不久,负责做餐桌面大件装饰品的糖果师托人带话说他把东西搞砸了。这个时候一个做勤杂工的男孩站了出来,说道:“如果你们让我试试的话,我能做出些有用的东西来。”“你!”服务生领班诧异地喊道,“你是谁?”“我是让・巴蒂斯,是凿石匠皮撒诺的孙子,”这个脸色苍白的小家伙答道。

“那请告诉我,你能做些什么?”管家问道。“如果你让我试试的话,我可以帮你做些东西来装饰一下这桌子。”管家实在没有别的办法,只好让他试一试,看看他能搞出什么名堂。这个小子要了些黄油,迅速雕出一只蹲伏的大狮子,管家对这个塑像倍加赞赏,把它摆在了桌子中央。

晚宴开始了,许多威尼斯的著名商人、王室成员和贵族被招待员带进了宴会厅,它们中很多人都擅长艺术品鉴赏。当他们的目光落在那头黄油制成的狮子身上时,这些人都被这件天才的作品所震惊,忘了享用食品。他们长时间地认真观赏着这头狮子,然后才想起来问法里罗先生是怎样说服大师级的雕刻家,让他在这样一种只能维持一时的小东西上浪费自己的技艺的。法里罗也说不上来,他就去问管家,于是安东尼奥被带到了大家面前。

这些尊贵的客人得知这只狮子是这个小工用很短的时间雕出来的,宴会立刻变成了为这个男孩举办的盛会,富有的主人当即宣布自己将出资让这个孩子去跟最好的大师学习,事实证明他的确遵守了这个诺言。

安东尼奥没有恃才自傲,他一直保持着单纯、渴望和真诚的心态――仍然是那个想在皮撒诺爷爷店里做一个好石匠的男孩。许多人也许没有听说过这个叫安东尼奥的男孩是如何利用自己的第一次机会的,但所有的人都知道卡诺瓦,一个伟大的雕塑家。

弱者等待机会,强者创造机会。

注释

①banquet n.宴会

②confectioner n.糖果制造人

③scullion n.在厨房干重活的仆人

④mansion n.宅第,公馆

⑤exclaim v.呼喊,大声说

⑥majordomo n.管家,总监

⑦usher v.领,引路

⑧distinguished adj.著名的

⑨feast n.盛会,宴会