英语短文名人故事 政界精英 第15期:亚历山大大帝

 　　Alexander Ⅲ of Macedon 亚历山大大帝

　　One day King Philip ( King of Macedon ) bought a fine horse called Bucephalus.  一天，国王菲利普（马其顿国王）买来一匹好马, 叫比塞弗勒斯。

　　He was a noble animal, and the king paid a very high price for him.  这是一匹良种马，国王是出了很高价格买来的。

　　But he was wild and savage¹, and no man could mount² him, or do anything at all with him. 但是它既野又凶，谁都驾驭不了它。谁也对它没办法。

　　They tried to whip him, but that only made him worse.  他们用鞭子抽它，但那只能使它更野更凶。

　　At last the king bade his servant to take him away. 最后, 国王吩咐仆人把它牵走。

　　“It is a pity to ruin so fine a horse as that，”said Alexander, the king’s young son.  “把这么一匹好马毁了，真可惜，”国王的小儿子亚 历山大说。

　　“Those men do not know how to treat him.” 那些人不懂得怎么对待它。

　　“Perhaps you can do better than they,” said his father scornfully. “也许你比他们都高明，”他父亲以讽刺的口吻说。

　　“I know,” said Alexander, “that, if you would only give me leave to try, I could manage this horse better than any one else.” “我懂得.”亚历山大说，“只要您同意让我试试， 我就可以把这匹马驯得比任何人驯得都好。”

　　“And if you fail to do so, what then?” asked Philip. “可是假如你做不到这一点，那又该怎么办？ ”菲利普问道。

　　“I will pay you the price of the horse.” said the lad. “我就把您买这匹马的钱偿还给您，”小伙子说。

　　While everybody was laughing, Alexander ran up to Bucephalus,  大家正笑着的时候，亚历山大就跑向比塞弗勒斯，

　　and turned his head towards the sun, for he had noticed that the horse was afraid of his own shadow. 把它的头对着太阳。他已经注意到，这匹马害怕自己的影子。

　　He then spoke³ gently to the horse, and patted him with his hand.  接着他温和地对马说起话来，用手抚摸着它。

　　When he had quieted him a little, he made a quick spring, and leaped upon the horse’s back. 他使它稍微安静下来以后，就飞快地一跃，跳上了马背。

　　Everybody expected to see the boy killed outright⁴.  大家都以为这个男孩会当场被摔死。

　　But he kept his place, and let the horse run as fast as he could.  但是他稳坐在马背上，让这匹马尽情地飞跑。

　　By and by when Brucephalus had become tired,  亚历山大就骑着它，回到他父亲的地方。

　　Alexander reined⁵ him in and rode back to the place where his father was standing⁶. 不久，比塞弗勒斯跑累了，

　　All the men who were there shouted when they saw that the boy had proved himself to be the master of the horse. 在场的人们看到这个男孩确实够资格成为这匹马的主人，都欢呼起来。

　　He leaped to the ground, and his father ran and kissed him. 他跳下马来，他父亲跑过来吻他。

　　“My son，” said the king, “Macedon is too small a place for you.  “我的儿子，”国王说，“马其顿这个地方对你来说太小了。”

　　You must seek a larger kingdom that will be worthy⁷ of you. 必须找一个更大的地方才容得下你。”

　　After that, Alexander and Bucephalus were the best of friends.  从那以后，亚历山大和比塞弗勒斯成了最好的朋友。

　　They were said to be always together, for when one of them was seen, the other one was sure to be not far away.  人们都说他俩总在一起。因为只要看到其中的一个，另一个肯定就在不远的地方。

　　But the horse would never allow any one to mount him but his master. 可是，这匹马除了他的主人外，从来不许任何人骑它。

　　Alexander became the most famous king and warrior⁸ that were ever known.  亚历山大成了最著名的国王和勇士。

　　And for that reason he is always called Alexander the Great.  因为这个缘故，人们总称他亚历山大大帝。

　　Brucephalus carried him through many countries and in many fierce battles, and more than once did he save his master’s life. 比塞弗勒斯曾驮着他去过很多国家，参加过许多激烈的战争，而且不止一次救过它主人的性命。

1 savage   

adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人

参考例句：

• The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
• He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。

2 mount   

n.山峰，乘用马，框，衬纸；vi.增长，骑上（马）；vt.提升，爬上，装备

参考例句：

• Their debts continued to mount up.他们的债务不断增加。
• She is the first woman who steps on the top of Mount Jolmo Lungma.她是第一个登上珠穆朗玛峰的女人。

3 spoke   

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

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。

5 reined   

勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理

参考例句：

• Then, all of a sudden, he reined up his tired horse. 这时，他突然把疲倦的马勒住了。
• The officer reined in his horse at a crossroads. 军官在十字路口勒住了马。

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

8 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。