A few weeks after this, Mr. Jones gave each of his sons a new top.
幾周之后,瓊斯先生給他的兩個(gè)兒子每人一只陀螺。
How is this, Ben? These tops have no strings. What shall we do for strings?
這個(gè)怎么玩,本?這兩個(gè)陀螺沒有鞭子。我們拿什么當(dāng)鞭子啊?
I have a string that will do very well for mine. And he pulled it out of his pocket.
我有一條非常合適的繩子。然后他從口袋里拿了出來。
Why, if that is not the whipcord! I wish I had saved mine.
哦,這不是那條鞭繩嘛!我希望當(dāng)時(shí)完整地留下了我的那條。
A few days afterward, there was a shooting match, with bows and arrows, among the lads.
之后又過了幾天,有一場射箭比賽,參賽的小伙子們手里都拿著弓和箭。
The prize was a fine bow and arrows, to be given to the best marksman.
比賽的獎(jiǎng)品是一副上好的弓箭,會獎(jiǎng)勵(lì)給最優(yōu)秀的神箭手。
"Come, come," said Master Sharp, "I am within one inch of the mark. I should like to see who will go nearer."
“來吧,來吧,”夏普大師說,“我射出的箭落在了距靶心一英尺內(nèi)。我要看看誰會射得更接近靶心。”
John drew his bow, and shot.
約翰拿起他的弓,開始射箭。
The arrow struck within a quarter of an inch of Master Sharp's.
他的箭射到了離夏普大師的落點(diǎn)1/4英尺的地方。
"Shoot away," said Sharp; but you must understand the rules.
“再射一次,”夏普說,“但是你們一定要知道規(guī)則。
We settled them before you came.
我們在你們來之前就已經(jīng)射完了。
You are to have three shots with your own arrows. Nobody is to borrow or lend. So shoot away.
你可以用你自己的箭瞄射三次,任何人不許借用或出借自己的弓箭。好了,再射一次。
John seized his second arrow; "If I have any luck," said he;
約翰拿起他的第二支箭。“但愿我運(yùn)氣好點(diǎn),”他說。
but just as he pronounced the word "luck," the string broke, and the arrow fell from his hands.
但是,就在他說出“運(yùn)氣”這個(gè)詞的時(shí)候,他的弓弦斷了,箭從他手中掉落。
Master Sharp. There! It is all over with you.
夏普大師:??!你的比賽結(jié)束了。
Here is my bow for him, and welcome.
拿我的弓給他,來吧。
No, no, sir; that is not fair. Did you not hear the rules? There is to be no lending.
不,不,先生,這不公平。你剛才聽到規(guī)則了嗎?不允許借弓箭。
It was now Ben's turn to make his trial.
現(xiàn)在輪到本來試試身手了。
His first arrow missed the mark; the second was exactly as near as John's first.
他的第一箭脫靶了,沒射中;第二箭射得和約翰的第一箭不相上下。
Before venturing the last arrow, Ben very prudently examined the string of his bow; and, as he pulled it to try its strength, it snapped.
在大膽射出最后一支箭之前,本小心翼翼地檢查他的弓弦,就在他把弓張開準(zhǔn)備試試它的弦是否繃緊時(shí),弓弦啪地?cái)嗔恕?/p>
Master Sharp clapped his hands and danced for joy.
夏普大師拍拍手,高興得跳起舞來。
But his dancing suddenly ceased, when careful Ben drew out of his pocket an excellent piece of cord, and began to tie it to the bow.
但他的舞蹈突然停下了,細(xì)心的本從口袋里拿出一條上好的鞭繩,開始將它綁在弓上。
"The everlasting whipcord, I declare!" CRIed "Yes," said Ben, "I put it in my pocket today, because I thought I might want it."
“我知道,那是不朽的鞭繩!”約翰叫道。“是的,”本說,“我今天把它放在口袋里,因?yàn)槲蚁胛覜]準(zhǔn)會需要它。”
Ben's last arrow won the prize; and when the bow and arrows were handed to him,
本的最后一箭贏得了獎(jiǎng)品。當(dāng)把弓箭遞到他手上時(shí),
John said, "How valuable that whipcord has been to you, I'll take care how I waste anything hereafter."
約翰說:“本,那條鞭繩對你來說可是太珍貴了。將來我要是再想浪費(fèi)東西可要當(dāng)心了。”