An artist who had painted many pictures of great beauty found that he had not yet painted the one “real ” picture.

一位画过许多杰出精美画作的艺术家，发现自己甚至连幅¨真的画都没有画出来。

In his search along a dusty road, he met an aged priest¹ who asked him where he was going .

他沿着一条布满尘土的路一路追寻，他遇到一位年老的牧师，牧师问他要去哪里。

“I do not know, ” said the artist, “I want to paint the most beautiful thing in the world . Perhaps you can direct me to it. ”

艺术家回答：¨我不知道，我想画世界上最美好的东西。也许，你能给我指引。"

“How simple, ” replied the priest, “in any church or creed², you will find it——“faith”is the most beautiful thing in the world. ”

牧师说，“很简单，在任何教堂或者信条中，你会发现——世界上最美好的东西是¨信仰”

The artist traveled on . Later , he met a young bride who told him that the most beautifu thing in the world is :”love”.”love” makes the world go round.

艺术家继续前行。后来，他遇到一个年轻的新娘，她告诉他，“爱¨是世界上最美好的东西。

I builds poverty into riches. sweetens tears and makes much of little . Without love there is no beauty.

“爱”使世界运转，让贫穷变得富有，泪水变成甜蜜，渺小变成伟大。没有爱，也就没有美。

Still the artist continued his search and met a weary³ soldier.

艺术家继续他的追寻，他又遇到一个疲惫不堪的士兵。

The artist asked him the same question and the soldier answered, “Peace” is the most beautiful thing in the world.

艺术家问了他同样的问题，士兵说：“世界上最美好的东西是‘和平’。

War is ugly and wherever you find peace you’ll find beauty, faith and love.

战争丑恶无比，你在哪里能找到和平，也就找到了美、信仰和爱。¨

“How can I paint them- Faith, Love and Peace?” thought the artist.

¨信仰、爱与和平——我怎样才能把它们画出来呢?”艺术家想。

As he resumed⁴ his walk, his mind wondered on the “real ”picture he hoped to paint.He was surprised that without thinking where he was going,he had reached his familiar surrounding.

当他重新开始旅途时，脑子里想着自己希望画出来的¨真实¨之作。他惊讶地发现自己想都没想居然又走回熟悉的环境。

As he entered the doorway,light glistened⁵ in his eyes and he realized thet his search was over.

他走进房门，眼睛里发出一丝光芒，他知道自己的追寻结束了。

In the faces of his wife and children,he saw love and Faith."Not a minute passed by thet our children and l hod not thought of you.

在妻子和孩子们的脸上，他看到了¨爱”和¨信仰¨。¨我和孩子们时刻都在想你，为你的平安归来而祈祷。¨

We prayed that you would return to us safely,"his wife said as they embraced him.He sat on his pavorite old chair and hia heart was at peace.

他们相拥时，妻子这样说道，他坐在最喜欢的椅子上，内心一片安宁。

The artist painted the most beautiful thing in the wold and called it"HOME".

艺术家画出了世界上最美好的东西，它就是¨家¨。