美国语文第六册 第243期:砖石切砖石(3)

"My child," replied Ali, 'Leave this casket with me, and I will give you a price for it such as no one else would offer.

“我的孩子，”阿里答道，“把那个匣子给我留下，我会给你其他任何人也不会给你的价钱。

Choose whatever you wish in Jidda, and in two hours I will give you an equal weight of what you have chosen in exchange for your Indian stones.'

在吉达不论你选择卖给谁，我都会在两小时内给你与你从印度带来的宝石一样重的钻石。”

"On returning home, night brought reflection. I learned that Ali had been deceiving me.

“回去后我彻夜难眠。我晓得阿里在骗我。

What he had given to the slave was nothing but a bit of crystal.

他给奴隶的不过是一块水晶罢了。

I demanded my casket, Ali refused to restore it. Venerable magistrate¹, my sole hope is in your justice."

我想要回我的匣子，阿里拒绝原物奉还。尊敬的法官大人，我唯一的希望就是您主持公正了。”

It was now Ali's turn to speak. "Illustrious cadi," said he, "It is true that we made a bargain, which I am ready to keep.

现在轮到阿里为自己辩护。“明察秋毫的法官大人，”他说，“事实上我确实做了一笔交易，我准备履行自己的承诺。

The rest of the young man's story is false. What matters it what I gave the slave?

这个年轻人说的其他事情都是假的。至于我给奴隶什么东西有什么关系呢？

Did I force the stranger to leave the casket in my hands?

难道是我从这位年轻人手上把匣子抢过来的不成？

Why does he accuse me of treachery? Have I broken my word, and has he kept his?"

他为什么要指控我有欺诈行为？如果说我不守信的话，难道他就守信吗？”

"Young man," said the cadi to the Banian, "have you witnesses to prove that Ali deceived you?

“年轻人，”地方法官对印度商人说，“你有证人证明阿里欺骗你吗？

If not, I shall put the accused on his oath, as the law decrees."

如果没有，我将把他的誓言作为判决的依据。”

A Koran was brought. Ali placed his hand on it, and swore three times that he had not deceived the stranger.

说着，拿来《古兰经》。阿里手按《古兰经》，发了三遍誓，说他不会欺骗初来乍到的外乡人。

"Wretch," said the Banian, "thou art among those whose feet go down to destruction, thou hast thrown away thy soul."

“简直无耻之极，”印度商人说，“你就属于那种脚一踩到地就会带来破坏的人，早把灵魂和良心扔到一边了。”

1 magistrate   

n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官

参考例句：

• The magistrate committed him to prison for a month.法官判处他一个月监禁。
• John was fined 1000 dollars by the magistrate.约翰被地方法官罚款1000美元。