The Preacher Buys a Parrot

传教士买鹦鹉

A preacher is buying a parrot.

一个传教士在买鹦鹉。

"Are you sure it doesn't scream, yell, or swear?" asked the preacher.

“你确信它不会尖叫，大叫或诅咒别人吗？”传教士问。

"Oh absolutely. He's a religious parrot," the storekeeper assures him.

“噢，绝对不会。它是一只虔诚的鹦鹉。”店主向他保证。

"Do you see those strings¹ on his legs? When you pull the right one, he recites the lord's prayer, and when you pull on the left he recites the 23rd Psalm²."

“你看见它腿上的那些细绳了吗？当你拉动右边这根，它会背诵天主经；当你拉动左边那根，它会背诵赞美诗。”

"Wonderful!" says the preacher, "but what happens if you pull both strings?"

“太棒了！”传教士说，“但是如果我同时拉动两根绳子，会发生什么呢？”

"I fall off my perch³, you stupid fool!" screeched⁴ the parrot.

“我会从树干上掉下去，你这个笨蛋！”鹦鹉尖声说道。