After the Feast Comes the Reckoning
大餐过后须结帐
people must always pay the price of their excesses
人们必须为自己过分的行为付出代价
A: Hey, Bill. Is that another new jacket you’re wearing?
B: Yeah. Just got it the other day. Like it?
A: I sure do. But tell me — lately you’ve been spending like a madman. Where’s all this money coming from?
B: No problem. I’ve been buying everything on credit.
A: Easy there, pal. Aren’t you getting in over your head? Remember: after thefeast comes the reckoning.
B: I know I’ve been spending a lot, but so far I’ve been able to make my monthly payments.
A: Sure. But what happens if you get laid off? That construction job you have won’t last forever, and you’ll still have to pay for your excesses.
B: I know, but I’ll cross that bridge when and if I get to it.
甲：嗨，比尔。你穿的是件新外套吗？
乙：是的，前几天买的，喜欢吗？
甲：是不错。但是告诉我 — 最近你像疯了一样花钱。这钱都是从哪来的？
乙：没关系。我一直都是信用赊帐购物。
甲：别这么着急，伙计。这么做不是有些过分了吗？得记住：大餐过后须结账。
乙：我知道我花得多，但到目前为止我都能每月还贷。
甲：当然。但要是你失业了怎么办？你做的那份建筑工作不会持续到永久，而你必须为自己超前消费买单。
乙：我知道，要是遇到什么问题我会解决的。
1. feast
a very good large meal
大餐，盛筵
all the ingredients for a seafood feast
海鲜大餐所需的全部原料
midnight feast
a meal eaten secretly at night by children
午夜盛宴（指小孩子在夜里偷偷吃东西）
2. reckoning
帐单，结帐 <喻>算帐，惩罚；报应
pay the reckoning
付帐
At some time there would have to be a reckoning with her.
迟早非得跟她算账不可。
3. excess
an amount that is more than the usual or necessary amount
过量；过多；超过
Eating anything in excess can be bad for you.
吃任何东西过量都会对身体有害。
4. on credit
赊账
They look rich, but in reality they just get deeper in debt on credit.
他们看上去很富有，但实际上他们已经深陷贷款的陷阱之中。
5. easy there
别着急
Well, it’s a joke. Take it easy there, fun size.
说笑而已嘛。别太较真了，小不点。
6. be get in over your head
to be or get involved in something that is too difficult for you to deal with
卷入处理不了的事
In business, start small and don’t get in over your head.
在生意方面，从小的做起，不要贪大。
Don’t get in over your head.
别自以为是。
7. so far
until the present time
到目前为止
He has written only two books so far.
迄今为止他只写了两部书。
8. get laid off
lose your job
下岗，失业
My dad might get laid off.
我的父亲可能会被解雇。
He says people who don’t take vacation time can get laid off just like anyone else.
但是他表示不休假的人同样会像别人一样被解雇。
9. cross that bridge when you come to it
don't predict problems until they actually happen;
don't worry about furture events now;
don't deal with a difficulty until you have to
不要杞人忧天
END