作者：(美)詹姆斯·鲍德温
出版社：清华大学出版社
格式: AZW3, DOCX, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, TXT
恺撒大帝试读：
前言
在远古时代，诗人们和编故事的人们构想了许多关于公主与王子、魔鬼与天使、国王与平民、动物与智者、美女与勇士等传说，这些故事由一代代人口述着流传下来。后来人们把它们变成了文字，这些奇妙的故事就被记录下来。这些被记录下来的故事一般是寓言故事、神话传说、历史故事和名人传奇等，它们可以统称为传说或童话。它们以口承和文字形式代代相传绵绵不绝，既延续着一个个历久弥新的故事与文本的记载，同时也传递着一种精神的力量。世界上几乎每一个国家都重视对本国青少年的童话教育，特别是源于世界各地的著名童话故事教育，如中国的“花木兰”，丹麦的“丑小鸭”，德国的“小红帽”，英国的“亚瑟王”，俄罗斯的“伊凡王子”，印度的“月亮里的兔子”，日本的“拇指太郎”，中世纪古希腊的“农夫和蛇”等。
基于以上原因，我们认为编写源于世界各地的美丽传说故事读本，对加强当代中国青少年学生素质教育和人文修养是非常有帮助的。作为世界童话宝库的一部分，本书内容取材于美国著名作家、教育家詹姆斯·鲍德温编辑整理的《泰西50轶事》和《泰西30轶事》。这些美丽的传说故事之所以被选入本书，不仅因为它们具有内在美，具有鲜明的西方特色，而且是因为它们为世界传说与神话文学宝库增添了无限的生机。阅读本书，让我们不得不惊叹古人的美妙想象和精神活动。这些故事不仅在于内容的经典性和表达的完美性，而且要蕴含文化的理念和价值，让人们得到人文的熏陶，青少年读者可以从中得到有益的启示。
国内也曾有此类书出版，但主要集中在两个方面：一种是中文翻译版，另一种是中英文对照版。而其中的中英文对照读本比较受青少年读者的欢迎，这主要是得益于中国人热衷于学习英文的大环境。而从英文学习的角度上来看，直接使用纯英文的学习资料更有利于英语学习。考虑到对英文内容背景的了解有助于英文阅读，使用中文导读应该是一种比较好的方式，也可以说是该类型书的第三种版本形式。采用中文导读而非中英文对照的方式进行编排，这样有利于国内读者摆脱对英文阅读依赖中文注释的习惯。在中文导读中，我们尽力使其贴近原作的精髓，也尽可能保留原作风格。我们希望能够编出为当代中国青少年读者所喜爱的经典读本。读者在阅读英文故事之前，可以先阅读中文导读内容，这样有利于了解故事背景，从而加快阅读速度。同时，为了读者更好地理解故事内容，书中加入了大量的插图。
本书主要内容由王勋、纪飞编译。参加本书故事素材搜集整理及编译工作的还有郑佳、刘乃亚、赵雪、左新杲、黄福成、冯洁、徐鑫、马启龙、王业伟、王旭敏、陈楠、王多多、邵舒丽、周丽萍、王晓旭、李永振、孟宪行、熊红华、胡国平、熊建国、徐平国、王小红等。限于我们的文学素养和英语水平，书中难免会有不当之处，衷心希望读者朋友批评指正。
1.阿尔弗雷德国王饼 King Alfred and the Cakes
导读
许多年前，英格兰有一个贤明的国王，被人们称为阿尔弗雷德大帝。
他既要统治国家，又要带领军队打仗。有一次，丹麦人来侵，经过一场很大的战役后，英格兰军队被打败了，阿尔弗雷德国王逃到一个樵夫的小屋前。他又累又饿，请求樵夫的妻子给他一点东西吃。妇人同意给他一些晚餐，只要他帮她看着正在烤着的饼，不被烤焦。国王同意了，妇人就去挤牛奶了。
国王思考着国家的未来，他的脑子里在忙着制订明天的计划，忘掉了那些饼。当妇人回来时，饼已经被烤成了焦块。妇人气急了，对国王又骂又打。没人知道国王是否吃到了东西，但后来，他召集了自己的将士，在一场重大的战役中击败了丹麦人。
Many years ago there lived in England a wise and good king whose name was Alfred.No other man ever did so much for his country as he; and people now,all over the world, speak of him as Alfred the Great.阿尔弗雷德国王
In those days a king did not have a very easy life.There was war almost all the time, and no one else could lead his army into battle so well as he.And so, between ruling and fighting, he had a busy time of it indeed.
A fierce, rude people, called the Danes, had come from over the sea, and were fighting the English.There were so many of them, and they were so bold and strong, that for a long time they gained every battle.If they kept on, they would soon be the masters of the whole country.
At last, after a great battle, the English army was broken up and scattered.Every man had to save himself in the best way he could.King Alfred fled alone, in great haste, through the woods and swamps.
Late in the day the king came to the hut of a wood-cutter.He was very tired and hungry, and he begged the wood-cutter’s wife to give him something to eat and a place to sleep in her hut.
The woman was baking some cakes upon the hearth, and she looked with pity upon the poor, ragged fellow who seemed so hungry.She had no thought that he was the king.
“Yes,” she said, “I will give you some supper if you will watch these cakes.I want to go out and milk the cow; and you must see that they do not burn while I am gone.”
King Alfred was very willing to watch the cakes, but he had far greater things to think about.How was he going to get his army together again? And how was he going to drive the fierce Danes out of the land? He forgot his hunger; he forgot the cakes; he forgot that he was in the wood-cutter’s hut.His mind was busy making plans for tomorrow.
In a little while the woman came back.The cakes were smoking on the hearth.They were burned to a crisp.Ah, how angry she was!
“You lazy fellow!”she cried.“See what you have done! You want something to eat, but you do not want to work! ”阿尔弗雷德国王曾乔装改扮去刺探敌情
I have been told that she even struck the king with a stick; but I can hardly believe that she was so ill-natured.
The king must have laughed to himself at the thought of being scolded in this way; and he was so hungry that he did not mind the woman’s angry words half so much as the loss of the cakes.
I do not know whether he had anything to eat that night, or whether he had to go to bed without his supper.But it was not many days until he had gathered his men together again, and had beaten the Danes in a great battle.
2.阿尔弗雷德国王与乞丐 King Alfred and the Beggar
导读
有一次，丹麦人把阿尔弗雷德国王赶出了自己的王国，他只好在河心的小岛上躲起来。
一天，岛上其他的人都外出打鱼了。中午时分，一个乞丐来讨东西吃。国王只剩下一块面包和一点酒。他向上帝感恩祷告了一番，就分了一半东西给可怜的人。下午，打鱼的人们都回来了，带回了满满三船舱的鱼。
晚上，国王在恍惚中看到一束很强的亮光，亮光中站着一个黑发老人，手上拿着一本打开的书，他告诉国王，他就是那个乞丐，并让国王明早把号角吹响三次，在九点的时候，会有五百个人跟随他去战斗，七天之内敌人会被打败。
早上，国王吹响了号角，到了九点，五百个最勇敢的士兵站在了他的周围。国王告诉了大家自己的梦，大家奋勇作战，打败了丹麦人。国王贤明而安稳地管理着他的国家。
At one time the Danes drove King Alfred from his kingdom, and he had to lie hidden for a long time on a little island in a river.
One day, all who were on the island, except the king and queen and one servant, went out to fish.It was a very lonely place, and no one could get to it except by a boat.About noon a ragged beggar came to the king’s door, and asked for food.
The king called the servant, and asked, “How much food have we in the house?”
“My lord,” said the servant, “we have only one loaf and a little wine.”
Then the king gave thanks to God, and said “Give half of the loaf and half of the wine to this poor man.”
The servant did as he was bidden.The beggar thanked the king for his kindness, and went on his way.
In the afternoon the men who had gone out to fish came back.They had three boats full of fish, and they said, “We have caught more fish today than in all the other days that we have been on this island.”
The king was glad, and he and his people were more hopeful than they had ever been before.
When night came, the king lay awake for a long time, and thought about the things that had happened that day.At last he fancied that he saw a great light like the sun; and in the midst of the light there stood an old man with black hair, holding an open book in his hand.
It may all have been a dream, and yet to the king it seemed very real indeed.He looked and wondered, but was not afraid.
“Who are you?” he asked of the old man.
“Alfred, my son, be brave,” said the man; “for I am the one to whom you gave this day the half of all the food that you had.Be strong and joyful of heart, and listen to what I say.Rise up early in the morning and blow your horn three times, so loudly that the Danes may hear it.By nine o’clock, five hundred men will be around you ready to be led into battle.Go forth bravely, and within seven days your enemies shall be beaten,and you shall go back to your kingdom to reign in peace.”
Then the light went out, and the man was see no more.
In the morning the king arose early, and crossed over to the mainland.Then he blew his horn three times very loudly; and when his friends heard it they were glad, but the Danes were filled with fear.
At nine o’clock, five hundred of his bravest soldiers stood around him ready for battle.He spoke, and told them what he had seen and heard in his dream; and when he had finished,they all cheered loudly, and said that they would follow him and fight for him so long as they had strength.
So they went out bravely to battle; and they beat the Danes, and drove them back into their own place.And King Alfred ruled wisely and well over all his people for the rest of his days.
3.白船 The White Ship
导读
亨利国王有一个心爱的儿子叫威廉。他高贵又勇敢，人人都希望他成为英格兰的国王。
有一年夏天，威廉王子和父亲穿过大海来到法国，威廉王子和朋友不想匆忙离开，就让国王先回国了。最后，他们登上了回家的船，那是一艘漂亮的白船。太阳落山了，上半夜过去了，随着一阵巨大的碰撞声，船触礁了。
王子和朋友们跳进了一艘放进海中的小船，正要离开时，王子听到了自己妹妹的呼救声，王子命令把小船滑到正在下沉的船边，就在这时，小船突然随着海浪倾斜，船被打翻了，所有的人都沉到了海底，只有一个人得救了，他把事故告诉了国王。国王的心都碎了，失去了笑容，有一首关于他的诗，诗名是《他永远不再笑了》
King Henry, the Handsome Scholar, had one son, named William, whom he dearly loved.The young man was noble and brave, and everybody hoped that he would some day be the King of England.
One summer Prince William went with his father across the sea to look after their lands in France.They were welcomed with joy by all their people there, and the young prince was so gallant and kind, that he won the love of all who saw him.亨利国王
But at last the time came for them to go back to England.The king, with his wise men and brave knights, set sail early in the day; but Prince William with his younger friends waited a little while.They had had so joyous a time in France that they were in no great haste to tear themselves away.
Then they went on board of the ship which was waiting to carry them home.It was a beautiful ship with white sails and white masts,and it had been fitted up on purpose for this voyage.
The sea was smooth, the winds were fair, and no one thought of danger.On the ship, everything had been arranged to make the trip a pleasant one.There was music and dancing, and everybody was merry and glad.
The sun had gone down before the white-winged vessel was fairly out of the bay.But what of that? The moon was at its full,and it would give light enough; and before the dawn of the morrow, the narrow sea would be crossed.And so the prince, and the young people who were with him,gave themselves up to merriment and feasting and joy.
The earlier hours of the night passed by; and then there was a cry of alarm on deck.A moment afterward there was a great crash.The ship had struck upon a rock.The water rushed in.She was sinking.Ah,where now were those who had lately been so heart-free and glad?
Every heart was full of fear.No one knew what to do.A small boat was quickly launched, and the prince with a few of his bravest friends leaped into it.They pushed off just as the ship was beginning to settle beneath the waves.Would they be saved?
They had rowed hardly ten yards from the ship when there was a cry from among those that were left behind.
“Row back!” cried the prince.“It is my little sister.She must be saved!”
The men did not dare to disobey.The boat was again brought along-side of the sinking vessel.The prince stood up, and held out his arms for his sister.At that moment the ship gave a great lurch forward into the waves.One shriek of terror was heard, and then all was still save the sound of the moaning waters.
Ship and boat, prince and princess, and all the gay company that had set sail from France, went down to the bottom together.One man clung to a floating plank, and was saved the next day.He was the only person left alive to tell the sad story.
When King Henry heard of the death of his son, his grief was more than he could bear.His heart was broken.He had no more joy in life; and men say that no one ever saw him smile again.
Here is a poem about him that your teacher may read to you, and perhaps, after a while, you may learn it by heart.
He Never Smiled Again
The bark that held the prince went down,
The sweeping waves rolled on;
And what was England’s glorious crown
To him that wept a son?
He lived, for life may long be borne
Ere sorrow breaks its chain;
Why comes not death to those who mourn?
He never smiled again.
There stood proud forms before his throne,
The stately and the brave;
But who could fill the place of one,-
That one beneath the wave?
Before him passed the young and fair,
In pleasure’s reckless train;
But seas dashed o’er his son’s bright hair-
He never smiled again.
He sat where festal bowls went round;
He heard the minstrel sing;
He saw the tour-ney’s victor crowned
Amid the knightly ring.
A murmur of the restless deep
Was blent with every strain,
A voice of winds that would not sleep-
He never smiled again.
Hearts, in that time, closed o’er the trace
Of vows once fondly poured,
And strangers took the kins-man’s place,
At many a joyous board;
Graves which true love had bathed with tears
Were left to heaven’s bright rain;
Fresh hopes were born for other years-
He never smiled again!Mrs.Hemans.
4.约翰王与修道士 King John and the Abbot
导读1.三个问题
约翰王是英格兰有史以来最残暴的国王。
在坎特伯雷城有一个富有的老修道士，他过着比国王还要豪华的生活。国王知道后把修道士找来，决定剥夺这一切。国王提出了三个问题，如果修道士回答不上来就要被砍头。第一个问题是，国王还能活多久？第二个问题是，国王骑马环游世界要多长时间？第三个问题是，国王在想什么？国王给了他两周时间来考虑。
修道士找遍所有大学，都得不到答案。2.三个答案
修道士灰心丧气，就在回家的路上，他碰到了正要到田野里去的牧羊人。修道士告诉了他发生的一切，于是牧羊人装扮成修道士的模样，来到国王面前。
他告诉国王，国王能活到他去世的那天，不会延迟也不会提前，国王笑了。牧羊人又说，如果国王在太阳升起时动身，跟随太阳奔驰，就会在二十四小时之内环游世界。国王又笑了起来，他问牧羊人自己在想什么。牧羊人说他在想自己就是修道士，他告诉国王自己只是一个穷牧羊人，并请求国王的宽恕。国王大笑不停，赏赐了牧羊人，并饶恕了修道士。约翰王I.THE THREE QUESTIONS
There was once a king of England whose name was John.He was a bad king; for he was harsh and cruel to his people, and so long as he could have his own way, he did not care what became of other folks.He was the worst king that England ever had.
Now, there was in the town of Can’ter-bur-Y a rich old abbot who lived in grand style in a great house called the Abbey.Every day a hundred noble men sat down with him to dine; and fifty brave knights, in fine velvet coats and gold chains, waited upon him at his table.
When King John heard of the way in which the abbot lived, he made up his mind to put a stop to it.So he sent for the old man to come and see him.
“How now, my good abbot?” he said.“I hear that you keep a far better house than I.How dare you do such a thing? Don’t you know that no man in the land ought to live better than the king? And I tell you that no man shall.”
“O king!” said the abbot, “I beg to say that I am spending nothing but what is my own.I hope that you will not think ill of me for making things pleasant for my friends and the brave knights who are with me.”
“Think ill of you?”said the king.“How can I help but think ill of you? All that there is in this broad land is mine by right; and how do you dare to put me to shame by living in grander style than I? One would think that you were trying to be king in my place.”
“Oh, do not say so!”said the abbot.“for I-”
“Not another word!”cried the king.“Your fault is plain, and unless you can answer me three questions, your head shall be cut off, and all your riches shall be mine.”
“I will try to answer them, O king!” said the abbot.
“Well then,” said King John, “as I sit here with my crown of gold on my head, you must tell me to within a day just how long I shall live.Secondly, you must tell me how soon I shall ride round the whole world; and lastly, you shall tell me what I think.”
“O king!” said the abbot, “these are deep, hard questions, and I cannot answer them just now.But if you will give me two weeks to think about them, I will do the best that I can.”
“Two weeks you shall have,” said the king; “but if then you fail to answer me, you shall lose your head, and all your lands shall be mine.”
The abbot went away very sad and in great fear.He first rode to Oxford.Here was a great school called a university, and he wanted to see if any of the wise professors could help him.But they shook their heads, and said that there was nothing about King John in any of their books.
Then the abbot rode down to Cambridge, where there was another university.But not one of the teachers in that great school could help him.
At last, sad and sorrowful, he rode towards home to bid his friends and his brave knights good-by.For now he had not a week to live.II.THE THREE ANSWERS
As the abbot was riding up the lane which led to his grand house, he met his shepherd going to the fields.
“Welcome home, good master!” cried the shepherd.
“What news do you bring us from great King John?”
“Sad news, sad news,”said the abbot; and then he told him all that had happened.
“Cheer up, cheer up, good master,” said the shepherd.“Have you never yet heard that a fool may teach a wise man wit? I think I can help you out of your trouble.”
“You help me!” cried the abbot.“How? how?”
“Well,” answered the shepherd, “you know that everybody says that I look just like you, and that I have sometimes been mistaken for you.So, lend me your servants and your horse and your gown, and I will go up to London and see the king.If nothing else can be done, I can at least die in your place.”
“My good shepherd,”said the abbot, “you are very, very kind; and I have a mind to let you try your plan.But if the worst comes to the worst, you shall not die for me.I will die for myself.”
So the shepherd got ready to go at once.He dressed himself with great care.Over his shepherd’s coat he threw the abbot’s long gown, and he borrowed the abbot’s cap and golden staff.When all was ready, no one in the world would have thought that he was not the great man himself.Then he mounted his horse, and with a great train of servants set out for London.
Of course the king did not know him.
“Welcome, Sir Abbot!”he said.“It is a good thing that you have come back.But, prompt as you are, if you fail to answer my three questions, you shall lose your head.”
“I am ready to answer them, O king!” said the shepherd.
“Indeed, indeed!”said the king, and he laughed to himself.
“Well, then, answer my first question: How long shall I live? Come, you must tell me to the very day.”
“You shall live,”said the shepherd, “until the day that you die, and not one day longer.And you shall die when you take your last breath, and not one moment before.”
The king laughed.
“You are witty, I see,” he said.“But we will let that pass, and say that your answer is right.And now tell me how soon I may ride round the world.”
“You must rise with the sun,” said the shepherd, “and you must ride with the sun until it rise again the next morning.As soon as you do that you will find that you have ridden round the world in twenty-four hours.”
The king laughed again.“Indeed,” he said, “I did not think that it could be done so soon.You are not only witty, but you are wise and we will let this answer pass.And now comes my third and last question:What do I think?”
“That is an easy question,” said the shepherd.“You think that I am the Abbot of Canterbury.But, to tell you the truth, I am only his poor shepherd,and I have come to beg your pardon for him and for me.”And with that, he threw off his long gown.
The king laughed loud and long.
“A merry fellow you are,” said he, “and you shall be the Abbot of Canterbury in your master’s place.”
“O king! that cannot be,” said the shepherd; “for I can neither read nor write.”
“Very well, then,”said the king, “I will give you something else to pay you for this merry joke.I will give you four pieces of silver every week as long as you live.And when you get home, you may tell the old abbot that you have brought him a free pardon from King John.”
5.布鲁斯与蜘蛛 Bruce and the Spider
导读
从前，英格兰人进攻苏格兰，要将国王罗伯特·布鲁斯赶出国土。
布鲁斯和他的将士战败了六次，而且都被打得落荒而逃。最后，他被迫躲进了荒僻的山林里。一天，他看到一只蜘蛛在吐丝结网，要把蛛丝结到另一根梁上，可它六次都跌落下来。国王看着蜘蛛，它还在准备着第七次结网。这一次，蛛丝平稳地结到了梁上。
国王一跃而起，召集了自己的部下，准备第七次反攻。这一次，英格兰人被赶出了苏格兰国土，国王取得了胜利。
There was once a king of Scotland whose name was Robert Bruce.He had need to be both brave and wise, for the times in which he lived were wild and rude.The King of England was at war with him, and had led a great army into Scotland to drive him out of the land.
Battle after battle had been fought.Six times had Bruce led his brave little army against his foes; and six times had his men been beaten, and driven into flight.At last his army was scattered, and he was forced to hide himself in the woods and in lonely places among the mountains.罗伯特·布鲁斯
One rainy day, Bruce lay on the ground under a rude shed, listening to the patter of the drops on the roof above him.He was tired and sick at heart, and ready to give up all hope.It seemed to him that there was no use for him to try to do anything more.
As he lay thinking, he saw a spider over his head, making ready to weave her web.He watched her as she toiled slowly and with great care.Six times she tried to throw her frail thread from one beam to another, and six times it fell short.
“Poor thing!” said Bruce, “you, too, know what it is to fail.”
But the spider did not lose hope with the sixth failure.With still more care, she made ready to try for the seventh time.Bruce almost forgot his own troubles as he watched her swing herself out upon the slender line.Would she fail again? No! The thread was carried safely to the beam, and fastened there.
“I, too, will try a seventh time!” cried Bruce.He arose and called his men together.He told them of his plans, and sent them out with messages of cheer to his disheartened people.Soon there was an army of brave Scotch-men around him.Another battle was fought, and the King of England was glad to go back into his own country.
I have heard it said, that, after that day,no one by the name of Bruce would ever hurt a spider.The lesson which the little creature had taught the king was never forgotten.
6.绿林好汉罗宾汉 A Story of Robin Hood
导读
森林中，住着一群勇敢的绿林好汉。他们的首领是一个勇敢的男子，叫罗宾汉。
一天，他看到一个年轻人穿着一件漂亮鲜艳的红外套，看上去快活极了。他想，他一定是去举行婚礼，就没去打扰他。
第二天，罗宾汉看到那个年轻人垂头丧气，便问他原由。年轻人告诉罗宾汉因为穷，自己无法娶自己心爱的少女为妻；而那个少女被她父亲嫁给了一个有钱的老头，今天就要举行婚礼。
于是，罗宾汉带着自己的二十四个兄弟和年轻人冲进婚礼中，赶走了老头，于是年轻人和美丽的姑娘举行了婚礼，过上了幸福的生活。
In the rude days of King Richard and King John there were many great woods in England.The most famous of these was Sherwood forest, where the king often went to hunt deer.In this forest there lived a band of daring men called outlaws.罗宾汉
They had done something that was against the laws of the land, and had been forced to hide themselves in the woods to save their lives.There they spent their time in roaming about among the trees, in hunting the king’s deer, and in robbing rich travellers that came that way.
There were nearly a hundred of these outlaws,and their leader was a bold fellow called Robin Hood.They were dressed in suits of green, and armed with bows and arrows; and sometimes they carried long wooden lances and broadswords, which they knew how to handle well.Whenever they had taken anything, it was brought and laid at the feet of Robin Hood, whom they called their king.He then divided it fairly among them, giving to each man his just share.
Robin never allowed his men to harm anybody but the rich men who lived in great houses and did no work.He was always kind to the poor, and he often sent help to them; and for that reason the common people looked upon him as their friend.
Long after he was dead, men liked to talk about his deeds.Some praised him, and some blamed him.He was, indeed, a rude,lawless fellow; but at that time, people did not think of right and wrong as they do now.
A great many songs were made up about Robin Hood, and these songs were sung in the cottages and huts all over the land for hundreds of years afterward.
Here is a little story that is told in one of those songs:-
Robin Hood was standing one day under a green tree by the roadside.While he was listening to the birds among the leaves, he saw a young man passing by.This young man was dressed in a fine suit of bright red cloth; and, as he tripped gayly along the road, he seemed to be as happy as the day.罗宾汉和他的妻子
“I will not trouble him,” said Robin Hood, “for I think he is on his way to his wedding.”
The next day Robin stood in the same place.He had not been there long when he saw the same young man coming down the road.But he did not seem to be so happy this time.He had left his scarlet coat at home,and at every step he sighed and groaned.
“Ah the sad day! the sad day!” he kept saying to himself.
Then Robin Hood stepped out from under the tree, and said,-
“I say, young man! Have you money to spare for my merry men and me?”
“I have nothing at all,” said the young man, “but five shillings and a ring.”
“A gold ring?” asked Robin.
“Yes,” said the young man, “it is a gold ring.Here it is.”
“Ah, I see!” said Robin; “it is a wedding ring.”
“I have kept it these seven years,” said the young man; “I have kept it to give to my bride on our wedding day.We were going to be married yesterday.But her father has promised her to a rich old man whom she never saw.And now my heart is broken.”
“What is your name?”asked Robin.
“My name is Allin-a-Dale,” said the young man.
“What will you give me, in gold or fee,” said Robin, “if I will help you win your bride again in spite of the rich old man to whom she has been promised?”
“I have no money,”said Allin, “but I will promise to be your servant.”罗宾汉看到年轻人垂头丧气
“How many miles is it to the place where the maiden lives?” asked Robin.
“It is not far,” said Allin.“But she is to be married this very day, and the church is five miles away.”
Then Robin made haste to dress himself as a harper; and in the afternoon he stood in the door of the church.
“Who are you?” said the bishop, “and what are you doing here?”
“I am a bold harper,”said Robin, “the best in the north country.”
“I am glad you have come,” said the bishop kindly.“There is no music that I like so well as that of the harp.Come in, and play for us.”
“I will go in,” said Robin Hood; “but I will not give you any music until I see the bride and bridegroom.”
Just then an old man came in.He was dressed in rich clothing, but was bent with age, and was feeble and gray.By his side walked a fair young girl.Her cheeks were very pale, and her eyes were full of tears.
“This is no match,”said Robin.“Let the bride choose for herself.”
Then he put his horn to his lips, and blew three times.The very next minute, four and twenty men, all dressed in green,and carrying long bows in their hands, came running across the fields.And as they marched into the church, all in a row, the foremost among them was Allin-a-Dale.
“Now whom do you choose?” said Robin to the maiden.
“I choose Allin-a-Dale,” she said blushing.
“And Allin-a-Dale you shall have,” said Robin; “and he that takes you from Allin-a-Dale shall find that he has Robin Hood to deal with.”
And so the fair maiden and Allin-a-Dale were married then and there, and the rich old man went home in a great rage.
“And thus having ended this merry wedding,
The bride looked like a queen:
And so they returned to the merry green wood,
Amongst the leaves so green.”
7.其他聪明的高赛人 Other Wise Men of Gotham
导读
高赛人得知国王要经过这条路并穿过小城，他们憎恨国王，因为他是一个残暴的恶人。
于是，高赛人就砍倒了所有的这条通往小城道路上的树木，这样国王的骑兵就很难进入高赛了。国王知道后决定把高赛人的鼻子割下来，以此来惩罚他们。
高赛人知道后，决定都装成傻瓜来躲避灾难。清晨，郡长官带着一队士兵，向高赛城逼近。路上，老人们正在把大石头滚上山去，所有的年轻人在旁边观望呐喊。他们告诉郡长，这样做是为了使太阳升起来。郡长官嘲笑他们是一些傻瓜，然后骑马向城里走去。
在田野里，许多人在砌一堵石头墙，说是为了不让里面的一只杜鹃飞出来。不久，郡长官又遇到一个人，背上扛着一扇门，说是为了不让贼可以破门而入。就这样郡长官一路上所遇到的每个人都在做这样的蠢事。
他们认为高赛是一个蠢人城，就把这些事告诉国王。国王听后哈哈大笑，决定不再去伤害他们，让他们留下了自己的鼻子。聪明的高赛人
One day, news was brought of Gotham that the king was coming that way, and that he would pass through the town.This did not please the men of Gotham at all.They hated the king, for they knew that he was a cruel, bad man.If he came to their town, they would have to find food and lodging for him and his men; and if he saw anything that pleased him, he would be sure to take it for his own.What should they do?
They met together to talk the matter over.
“Let us chop down the big trees in the woods,so that they will block up all the roads that lead into the town,” said one of the wise men.
“Good,” said all the rest.
So they went out with their axes, and soon all the roads and paths to the town were tilled with logs and brush.The king’s horsemen would have a hard time of it getting into Gotham.They would either have to make a new road, or give up the plan altogether, and go on to some other place.
When the king came, and saw that the road had been blocked up, he was very angry.
“Who chopped those trees down in my way?” he asked of two country lads that were passing by.
“The men of Gotham,”said the lads.
“Well,” said the king, “go and tell the men of Gotham that I shall send my sheriff into their town, and have all their noses cut off.”
The two lads ran to the town as fast as they could, and made known what the king had said.
Everybody was in great fright.The men ran from house to house, carrying the news, and asking one another what they should do.
“Our wits have kept the king out of the town,” said one; “and so now our wits must save our noses.”
“True, true!” said the others.“But what shall we do?”
Then one, whose name was Dobbin, and who was thought to be the wisest of them all, said, “Let me tell you something.Many a man has been punished because he was wise, but I have never heard of any one being harmed because he was a fool.So, when the king’s sheriff comes, let us all act like fools.”
“Good, good!” cried the others.“We will all act like fools.”
It was no easy thing for the king’s men to open the roads; and while they were doing it, the king grew tired of waiting, and went back to London.But very early one morning, the sheriff with a party of fierce soldiers rode through the woods, and between the fields, toward Gotham.Just before they reached the town, they saw a queer sight.The old men were rolling big stones up the hill, and all the young men were looking on, and grunting very loudly.
The sheriff stopped his horses, and asked what they were doing.
“We are rolling stones uphill to make the sun rise,” said one of the old men.
“You foolish fellow!”said the sheriff.“Don’t you know that the sun will rise without any help?”
“Ah! will it?” said the old man.“Well, I never thought of that.How wise you are!”
“And what are you doing?” said the sheriff to the young men.
“Oh, we do the grunting while our fathers do the working,” they answered.
“I see,” said the sheriff.“Well, that is the way the world goes everywhere.” And he rode on toward the town.
He soon came to a field where a number of men were building a stone wall.
“What are you doing?”he asked.
“Why, master,” they answered, “there is a cuckoo in this field, and we are building a wall around it so as to keep the bird from straying away.”
“You foolish fellows,” said the sheriff.“Don’t you know that the bird will fly over the top of your wall, no matter how high you build it?”
“Why, no,” they said.“We never thought of that.How very wise you are!”
The sheriff next met a man who was carrying a door on his back.
“What are you doing?”he asked.
“I have just started on a long journey,” said the man.
“But why do you carry that door?” asked the sheriff.
“I left my money at home.”
“Then why didn’t you leave the door at home too?”
“I was afraid of thieves; and you see, if I have the door with me, they can’t break it open and get in.”
“You foolish follow!”said the sheriff.“It would be safer to leave the door at home, and carry the money with you.”
“Ah, would it, though?” said the man.“Now, I never thought of that.You are the wisest man that I ever saw.”
Then the sheriff rode on with his men; but every one that they met was doing some silly thing.
“Truly I believe that the people of Gotham are all fools,” said one of the horsemen.
“That is true,” said another.“It would be a shame to harm such simple people.”
“Let us ride back to London, and tell the king all about them,” said the sheriff.
“Yes, let us do so,”said the horsemen.
So they went back, and told the king that Gotham was a town of fools; and the king laughed, and said that if that was the case, he would not harm them, but would let them keep their noses.
8.提水河畔的磨坊主 The Miller of the Dee
导读
从前，提水河畔住着一个磨坊主，他是最快乐的人，他整天忙个不停，却还像快乐的百灵鸟一样唱着歌，连国王都听说了他。
国王找到他，要和他交换位置。他不同意，告诉国王，自己靠双手养活自己，爱妻儿和朋友，他们也爱自己。因此他是最快乐的。
如果人人都如此，这个世界就会变成一片乐土。
Once upon a time there lived on the banks of the River Dee a miller, who was the happiest man in England.He was always busy from morning till night, and he was always singing as merrily as any lark.He was so cheerful that he made everybody else cheerful; and people all over the land liked to talk about his pleasant ways.At last the king heard about him.
“I will go down and talk with this wonderful miller,” he said.“Perhaps he can tell me how to be happy.”
As soon as he stepped inside of the mill, he heard the miller singing:-
“I envy nobody-no, not I!-
For I am as happy as I can be;
And nobody envies me.”
“You’re wrong, my friend,” said the king.“You’re wrong as wrong can be.I envy you; and I would gladly change places with you, if I could only be as light-hearted as you are.”
The miller smiled, and bowed to the king.
“I am sure I could not think of changing places with you, sir,” he said.
“Now tell me,” said the king, “what makes you so cheerful and glad here in your dusty mill, while I, who am king, am sad and in trouble every day.”
The miller smiled again, and said, “I do not know why you are sad, but I can easily tell why I am glad.I earn my own bread; I love my wife and my children; I love my friends, and they love me; and I owe not a penny to any man.Why should I not be happy? For here is the River Dee, and every day it turns my mill; and the mill grinds the corn that feeds my wife, my babies, and me.”
“Say no more,” said the king.“Stay where you are, and be happy still.But I envy you.Your dusty cap is worth more than my golden crown.Your mill does more for you than my kingdom can do for me.If there were more such men as you, what a good place this world would be!Good-by, my friend!”
The king turned about, and walked sadly away;and the miller went back to his work, singing:-
“Oh, I’m as happy as happy can be,
For I live by the side of the River Dee!”
9.菲利普·辛迪爵士 Sir Philip Sidney
导读
一场残酷的战斗打响了。地上堆满了尸体和伤兵。伤兵中有一个贵族——菲利普·辛迪爵士，他向来举止优雅，待人和气，因此受到人民的爱戴。
战争结束了，一个士兵捧着一杯水，让爵士喝。爵士感激地看着这个士兵，但他看到了近旁一个垂死的士兵，就把水让给了那个可怜的人。
他是个勇敢而高贵的人，虽然他死去了，但人民永远记住了他。
Acruel battle was being fought.The ground was covered with dead and dying men.The air was hot and stifling.The sun shone down without pity on the wounded soldiers lying in the blood and dust.
One of these soldiers was a nobleman, whom everybody loved for his gentleness and kindness.Yet now he was no better off than the poorest man in the field.He had been wounded, and would die; and he was suffering much with pain and thirst.
When the battle was over, his friends hurried to his aid.A soldier came running with a cup in his hand.
“Here, Sir Philip,”he said, “I have brought you some clear, cool water from the brook.I will raise your head so that you can drink.”
The cup was placed to Sir Philip’s lips.How thankfully he looked at the man who had brought it! Then his eyes met those of a dying soldier who was lying on the ground close by.The wistful look in the poor man’s face spoke plainer than words.
“Give the water to that man,” said Sir Philip quickly; and then, pushing the cup towards him, he said, “Here, my comrade, take this.Thy need is greater than mine.”
What a brave, noble man he was!The name of Sir Philip Sidney will never be forgotten; for it was the name of a Christian gentleman who always had the good of others in his mind.Was it any wonder that everybody wept when it was heard that he was dead?
It is said, that, on the day when he was carried to the grave, every eye in the land was filled with tears.Rich and poor, high and low, all felt that they had lost a friend; all mourned the death of the kindest, gentlest man that they had every known.
10.汉弗雷·吉尔伯特爵士 Sir Humphrey Gilbert
导读
英格兰有一个勇士叫汉弗雷·吉尔伯特爵士。他是第一批试图开拓美洲的人中的一个。
有一天，他在“松鼠号”船上，另一艘“金鹿号”就在不远处，被冰块团团围住。早晨，爵士坐在“松鼠号”的甲板上，手中拿着一本书，安慰“金鹿号”上的船员。
黑夜来临后，“松鼠号”被海浪吞噬了，勇敢的爵士葬身大海。
More than three hundred years ago there lived in England a brave man whose name was Sir Humphrey Gilbert.At that time there were no white people in America.The land was covered with forests; and where there are now great cities and fine farms there were only trees and swamps among which roamed wild Indians and wild beasts.
Sir Hum-phrey Gilbert was one of the first men who tried to make a settlement in America.Twice did he bring men and ships over the sea, and twice did he fail, and sail back for England.The second time, he was on a little ship called the “Squirrel”.Another ship, called the “Golden Hind”, was not far away.When they were three days from land, the wind failed, and the ships lay floating on the waves.Then at night the air grew very cold.A breeze sprang up from the east.Great white icebergs came drifting around them.In the morning the little ships were almost lost among the floating mountains of ice.The men on the “Hind” saw Sir Humphrey sitting on the deck of the “Squirrel” with an open book in his hand.He called to them and said,-
“Be brave, my friends! We are as near heaven on the sea as on the land.”
Night came again.It was a stormy night, with mist and rain.All at once the men on the “Hind” saw the lights on board of the “Squirrel” go out.The little vessel, with brave Sir Humphrey and all his brave men, was swallowed up by the waves.汉弗雷·吉尔伯特爵士
11.瓦尔特·雷利爵士 Sir Walter Raleigh
导读
瓦尔特·雷利爵士既勇敢高贵，又英俊文雅。
有一天，他走在伦敦的大街上，穿着时髦，肩上披着一件红色的披风。不一会儿，他走到一个泥泞的水潭前，发现对面是伊丽莎白女王，正在发愁如何过去。爵士脱下红披风把它铺在泥水潭中，女王从容地走过了肮脏的水潭。女王非常欣赏他，爵士成为女王的宠臣。
瓦尔特·雷利爵士和我提过的汉弗雷·吉尔伯特爵士是同母异父的兄弟，他在美洲发现了马铃薯和烟草。有一次，他抽烟时，仆人以为他着了火，就把水泼到了他的脸上。从那以后，许多人学会了抽烟。
There once lived in England a brave and noble man whose name was Walter Raleigh.He was not only brave and noble, but he was also handsome and polite; and for that reason the queen made him a knight, and called him Sir Walter Raleigh.
I will tell you about it.
When Raleigh was a young man, he was one day walking along a street in London.At that time the streets were not paved, and there were no sidewalks.Raleigh was dressed in very fine style, and he wore a beautiful scarlet cloak thrown over his shoulders.瓦尔特·雷利爵士
As he passed along, he found it hard work to keep from stepping in the mud, and soiling his handsome new shoes.Soon he came to a puddle of muddy water which reached from one side of the street to the other.He could not step across.Perhaps he could jump over it.
As he was thinking what he should do, he happened to look up.Who was it coming down the street, on the other side of the puddle?
It was Elizabeth, the Queen of England, with her train of gentlewomen and waiting maids.She saw the dirty puddle in the street.She saw the handsome young man with the scarlet cloak, standing by the side of it.How was she to get across?
Young Raleigh, when he saw who was coming,forgot about himself.He thought only of helping the queen.There was only one thing that he could do, and no other man would have thought of that.
He took off his scarlet cloak, and spread it across the puddle.The queen could step on it now, as on a beautiful carpet.
She walked across.She was safely over the ugly puddle, and her feet had not touched the mud.She paused a moment, and thanked the young man.
As she walked onward with her train, she asked one of the gentlewomen, “Who is that brave gentleman who helped us so handsomely?”
“His name is Walter Raleigh,” said the gentlewoman.
“He shall have his reward,” said the queen.
Not long after that, she send for Raleigh to come to her palace.
The young man went, but he had no scarlet cloak to wear.Then, while all the great men and fine ladies of England stood around, the queen made him a knight.And from that time he was known as Sir Walter Raleigh, the queen’s favourite.
Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Humphrey Gilbert,about whom I have already told you, were half-brothers.
When Sir Humphrey made his first voyage to America, Sir Walter was with him.After that, Sir Walter tried several times to send men to this new country to make a settlement.
But those whom he sent found only great forests, and wild beasts, and savage Indians.Some of them went back to England;some of them died for want of food; and some of them were lost in the woods.At last Sir Walter gave up trying to get people to go to America.
But he found two things in that country which the people of England knew very little about.One was the potato, the other was tobacco.
If you should ever go to Ireland, you may be shown the place where Sir Walter planted the few potatoes which he carried over from America.He told his friends how the Indians used them for food; and he proved that they would grow in the Old World as well as in the New.
Sir Walter had seen the Indians smoking the leaves of the tobacco plant.He thought that he would do the same, and he carried some of the leaves to England.Englishmen had never used tobacco
试读结束[说明：试读内容隐藏了图片]