英国语文第三册 第23期:一半的利润

 　　LESSON 22 Half the profit 第二十二课  一半的利润

　　A nobleman, who dwelt in a castle a long way from the sea-shore, was about to hold his marriage-feast. 一个贵族,他住在一座离海岸很长一段路的城堡中,即将成亲。

　　There was plenty of meats, game, and fruit, for the great occasion, but no fish, as the sea had been very rough. 这美好的场合准备了很多的肉,野味和水果,但没有鱼,在大海中很难捕到鱼。

　　On the very morning of the feast, however, a poor fisherman came to the castle with a large turbot. 节日的早晨,然而,一个贫穷的渔夫来到城堡有一个很大的大比目鱼。

　　There was great joy in the house, and the fisherman was brought with his prize into the large room where the nobleman stood in the midst of his guests. 家里充满着巨大的喜悦,渔夫带着他的奖励来到贵族站着客人的大房间。

　　"A fine fish," said the nobleman. 贵族说:“好鱼。”

　　"Fix your own price; you shall be paid at once. How much do you ask?" “你确定自己的价格;应当支付。你问多少钱?”

　　"Not a penny, my lord; I will not take money. “不要一分钱,我的主人,我不会要钱。

　　One hundred lashes² on my bare back is the price of my fish! I will not take one lash¹ from the number." 一百个鞭子打在我裸露的背部就是我的鱼的价格!我不会要一个鞭子的数量。”

　　The nobleman and his guests were not a little surprised; but the fisherman was firm. 贵族和他的客人非常惊讶,但渔夫坚定的不要钱。

　　They reasoned with him in vain. At length the nobleman said,— 他们认为他徒劳无功。最后贵族说,-

　　"Well, well, this fellow has a strange whim³, but we must have the fish. “嗯,嗯,这家伙很怪,但我们必须有鱼。

　　So lay on lightly, and let the price be paid in our presence." 所以轻轻的躺下,让我们当面支付价格。”

　　After fifty lashes had been given, "Hold, hold!" cried the fisherman; 在被鞭打了五十下后,渔夫叫道“停下,停下!”,

　　"I have a partner in this business, and it is right that he should get his share." “我有一个合作伙伴,他有权利得到他的份额。”

　　"What! are there two such fools in the world?" said the nobleman. “什么!世界上有两个这样的傻瓜吗?”贵族说。

　　"Where is he to be found? Name him, and he shall be sent for at once." “在哪里可以找到他?叫他来,应当立即派人去请他。”

　　"You need not go far for him," said the fisherman. " “你为他不需要远,”渔夫说。

　　You will find him at your own gate, in the shape of your own porter. “在你自己的门里,你会发现他是你自己的搬运工。

　　He would not let me pass until I promised that he should have half of whatever I should get for my turbot." 他不会让我过去,直到我答应,他竟然不管我应该得到我的比目鱼的一半。”

　　"Oh, ho!" said the nobleman, "bring him up at once; he shall certainly receive his half with the strictest justice." “哦,哦!”贵族说,“立即把他带来,他一定会严格公正的得到他的那一半。”

　　The porter was therefore brought, and had to take his share of the bargain. 搬运工因此被带来了,不得不承受他的份额。

　　He was then turned off from the nobleman's service, and the fisherman was amply rewarded. 然后不能再为贵族的服务,渔夫被重重的奖励了。

1 lash   

v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛

参考例句：

• He received a lash of her hand on his cheek.他突然被她打了一记耳光。
• With a lash of its tail the tiger leaped at her.老虎把尾巴一甩朝她扑过来。

2 lashes   

n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥

参考例句：

• Mother always lashes out food for the children's party. 孩子们聚会时，母亲总是给他们许多吃的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Never walk behind a horse in case it lashes out. 绝对不要跟在马后面，以防它突然猛踢。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 whim   

n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想

参考例句：

• I bought the encyclopedia on a whim.我凭一时的兴致买了这本百科全书。
• He had a sudden whim to go sailing today.今天他突然想要去航海。