Many years since in a small territory, there was not one of the inhabitants who did not stutter when he spoke1, and halt in walking; both these defects, moreover, were considered accomplishments2.
很多年前,在一个很小的地方,住在那里的所有居民都有口吃且瘸着腿走路,而这两种缺陷居然还被视为才能。
A stranger saw the evil, and thinking how they would admire his walking, went about without halting, after the usual manner Of our race.
一个外地人到了那里,看到了这样的缺陷,以为那里的居民会羡慕他的走姿。于是,他没有跛脚,而是按照正常人的走姿走来走去。
Every one stopped to look at him, and all those who looked, laughed, and holding their sides to repress their merriment, shouted,
当地人都停下来看他,都哈哈大笑起来。最后,他们好不容易忍住笑喊道:
"Teach the strenger how to walk properly! " The stranger considered it his duty to cast the reproach from himself. "
“来教教这个外地人怎样正确地走路吧” 这个外地人觉得自己有责任反驳他们:_你们才是瘸子,
You halt, he cried, "It is not I, you must accustom3 yourselves to leave off so awkward a habit!"
他 高声喊道:”不是我,你们必须改掉这种难看的走姿!”
This only increased the uproars4, when they heard him speak; he did not even stammer5; this was sufficient to disgrace him, and he was laughed at throughout the country.
这使当地 人更加哗然大笑。因为他们听他说话居然还不口吃!这真让人觉得 丢脸啊。他所到之处,都会遭到别人的嘲笑。
1 spoke [spəʊk] 第11级 | |
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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2 accomplishments [ə'kʌmplɪʃmənts] 第8级 | |
n.造诣;完成( accomplishment的名词复数 );技能;成绩;成就 | |
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