英国语文第二册 第9期:讲实话

 　　LESSON 9 Tell the truth 第九课 讲实话

　　There was once a little boy whose name was George, and his father one day gave him a small axe¹ to play with. 从前有个小男孩，叫乔治。有一天，他父亲给了他一把小斧头让他去玩儿。

　　George was greatly pleased with it, and took it with him to the garden. He roamed² about, trying it upon nearly every thing that came in his way. 乔治对这把斧头非常满意，便带着他的小斧头去了花园。他漫步花园，他路过的地方几乎无一幸免。

　　At last he came to a young cherry-tree, and began to try the axe on it. He soon made some deep cuts in the tree.  最后，他来到了一颗小樱桃树前，然后开始试着用斧头砍。

　　And then he walked away to another part of the garden. 很快他就在树上弄出了一个很深的切口。

　　This cherry-tree was greatly prized by his father; but George forgot all about that. 接着他走向了树的另一边。他父亲非常珍惜这棵树，但乔治显然忘记了。

　　By-and-by his father came to that part of the garden where the tree stood.  不久以后，他的父亲来到种这棵树的地方。

　　He was very sorry when he found his fine cherry-tree almost ruined. 当他发现他好好的樱桃树几乎被毁时，他感到非常遗憾。

　　"George!" said he sternly³ to his son, "who has done this?" “乔治”，他严厉地问他儿子，“谁做的？”

　　Did George answer, “I don't know, father?”O no. Did he lay the blame on any one else? O no. 乔治回答，“我不知道，父亲”? 哦，不。他把责任推卸到别人身上了吗？哦，不。

　　With tears in his eyes he looked up to his father's face. “Father,” said he, “I can't tell a lie—I did it.” 他看着他的父亲眼泪留了下来。“父亲”， 他说到，“我不能撒谎-是我做的。”

　　Noble boy! He was not afraid to tell the truth; and his father at once forgave him. 可贵的孩子！他不惧怕说出事实；并且他父亲这次原谅了他。

　　Boys are often tempted⁴ to speak what is not the truth.  孩子们都会试图说谎。

　　When that happens let each one think of George, and try like him to say,“I can't tell a lie.” 当事情发生的时候，试着想想乔治，并且试图向他说的一样，“我不能说谎。”

　　Come what may, boys, speak the truth. 这样，孩子们就有可能说实话了。

　　Speak the truth, and speak it ever, “讲实话，并且一直这样做，

　　Cost it what it will; 不惜一切代价；

　　He who hides the wrong he did 一个人如果说了谎，

　　Does the wrong thing still. 就会撒无数的谎来掩盖之前的谎言。”

　　The boy of this story became one of the greatest men that ever lived. He was George Washington. 这个故事的小男孩后来成为了一个伟大的人。他就是乔治.华盛顿。

1 axe   

n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减

参考例句：

• Be careful with that sharp axe.那把斧子很锋利，你要当心。
• The edge of this axe has turned.这把斧子卷了刃了。

2 roamed   

随便走( roam的过去式和过去分词 )； 漫步； 眼睛或手 （缓慢地）扫遍； 摸遍

参考例句：

• The lovers roamed around the fields in complete forgetfulness of time. 这对情侣漫步于田野，完全忘记了时间。
• They roamed about in the park. 他们在公园里漫步。

3 sternly   

adv.严厉地；严肃地

参考例句：

• The chair sternly rebuked the audience for their laughter.主席厉声斥责听众哄笑。
• Her husband looked at her sternly.她丈夫严厉地看着她。

4 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。