LESSON 15 The travellers and the bear
第十五課 旅行者們和熊
Two men were going through a forest.
從前有兩個人要穿過一座森林。
"I am afraid," said one, "that we may meet with wild beasts; I see the tracks of their paws on the ground."
一個說:“我好怕啊,我們可能會碰見很多的野獸,因為我看到它們的腳印了。”
"Fear nothing, friend Quickwit," cried the other, whose name was Braggart. "In case of an attack we shall stand by one another like men. I have a strong arm, a stout heart, and—
另一個叫巴戈特的人喊著:“不用擔心,奎克維特,不管我們遇見什么野獸我們都要像男人一樣勇敢。我的手臂將健有力,我的身體強壯結(jié)實,我的······”
"Hark!" cried the first in alarm, as a low growl was heard from a thicket near. In an instant Braggart, who was light and nimble, climbed up a tree like a squirrel, leaving his friend, who was not so active, to face the danger alone!
“聽!”從一點鐘方向的灌木叢中傳來一聲咆哮。巴戈特突然消失了,身手敏捷的像松鼠一樣爬上樹,留下傻傻的朋友獨自面臨危機。
But Quickwit's presence of mind did not fail him. He could not fight, he could not fly; but he laid himself flat on the ground, and held his breath, so as to appear quite dead. Out of the thicket rushed a huge bear, and at once made up to poor Quickwit; while Braggart looked down, trembling, from his perch in the tree.
但是奎克維特并不笨。雖然他不能打、不會飛,但是他平躺在地上,摒住呼吸,像死人一樣。灌木叢跑來了一只大灰熊,一眼就看到了奎克維特,但是巴戈特就愣愣的呆在樹上看著。
One may guess what were the feelings of Quickwit when the bear snuffed all round him, coming so near that he could feel its warm breath, when its muzzle was close to his ear! But Quickwit did not wince or move; and the bear, thinking him dead, plunged again into the thicket, leaving him quite unharmed!
難以想像的是,當大灰熊在奎克維特身邊到處聞,用鼻子聞他耳朵的時候他幾乎能感覺到熊的呼吸,他的心情是多么復雜啊!但是奎克維特始終一動不動,灰熊以為他死了,沒有咬他,又跑回了灌木叢。
When Braggart saw that the danger was over, he came down from the tree. Somewhat ashamed of his cowardly conduct, he tried to pass off the matter with a joke.
巴戈特看到灰熊離開了,就從樹上爬下來了。不管自己的膽小有多丟人,他只想開一個玩笑。
"Well, my friend Quickwit," he said, "what did the bear say to you when he whispered into your ear?"
他說:“奎克維特,我的朋友!灰熊在你耳邊說了什么?。?rdquo;
"He told me," replied Quickwit, "never again to trust a boaster like you!"
奎克維特回答道:“灰熊告訴我,再也不要相信像你這樣吹牛皮的人!”
The hour of danger often shows that the greatest boasters are the greatest cowards. Let courage be proved by deeds, not by words.
這個故事告訴我們牛皮大王往往是膽小鬼,勇敢是要行動證明的,而不是說說而已。
QUESTIONS
問題
What were the names of the two friends? Which appeared to be the braver, from his way of speaking? What did he do when the growl of the bear was heard? Who is lying close to the bear in the picture? Is he dead, or what? How did the other try to pass off the matter? What was the bear's advice?
故事中兩個人的名字是什么?哪一個用行動證明了他更加勇敢?聽到灰熊的咆哮,他做了什么?圖片中是誰躺在地上而且灰熊近在咫尺?他死了還是怎樣?另一個人試著略掉這件事,他是怎么做的?灰熊說了什么?