美國語文第六冊 第244期:磚石切磚石(4)

Omar smiled, and while Ali was enjoying the success of his ruse, he approached the stranger, and asked, "Do you wish me to help you gain the suit?"

聞聽此言，奧馬爾微微一笑，而阿里正在為自己的詭計沾沾自喜呢。他走到外鄉(xiāng)人近前，問道：“你希望我?guī)湍愦蜈A這場官司嗎?”

"Yes," was the reply, "but you are only a child, you can do nothing."

“那當(dāng)然好了，”印度商人回答道。“可你只是個孩子，能做什么呢。”

"Have confidence in me a few moments," said Omar, "accept Ali's bargain, let me choose in your stead, and fear nothing."

“過一會兒你就會對我有信心了，”奧馬爾說，“接受阿里提出的交易條件，我代你和他交涉，別害怕。”

The stranger bowed his head, and murmured, "What can I fear after having lost all?"

這位外鄉(xiāng)人若有所思地低下頭，小聲嘟囔道：“現(xiàn)在什么都沒了，我有什么好害怕的?”

Then, turning to the cadi, and bowing respectfully,

然后，他轉(zhuǎn)向地方法官，尊敬地鞠躬道，

 

"Let the bargain be consummated," said he, "since the law decrees it, and let this young man choose in my stead what I shall receive in payment."

“那就達成交易吧，”他說，“因為法律就是這樣判定的，讓這位年輕人代我收款。”

A profound silence ensued, Omar rose, and, bowing to the cadi, "Ali," said he to the jeweler, "you have doubtless brought the casket, and can tell us the weight thereof."

接下來是一陣沉默，奧馬爾站起身，沖法官深鞠一躬，“阿里。”他對珠寶商說，“毫無疑問你拿走了那只匣子，告訴我們有多重。”

"Here it is," said Ali, "it weighs twenty pounds. Choose what you will;

“在這兒呢，”阿里說，“二十磅重。由你選擇;

if the thing asked for is in Jidda, you shall have it within two hours, otherwise the bargain is null and void."

如果按吉達的規(guī)矩，交易必須在兩小時內(nèi)達成。不然的話，交易取消。”