英國語文第四冊(雙語):理查德·阿科萊特先生的故事(1)

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LESSON 56 Story of sir Richard Arkwright

第五十六課 理查德·阿科萊特先生的故事

Somewhere about the year 1752, any one passing along a certain obscure alley in Preston,

大概是1752年，從普勒斯頓一個不起眼一個小村子，

then a mere village, might have observed projecting from the entrance to the under-ground flat of one of the houses a blue and white pole,

凡是過路的人都會注意到從地下室的入口處的其中一間房子中，伸出來的一根藍白相間的桿子，

with a battered tin plate dangling at the end of it.

上面掛著一塊破舊的白鐵皮。

The object of the sign was to intimate that if any one wanted his hair cut, or his chin shaved,

這根桿子的意思是，如果想找他理發(fā)或者刮胡子，

he had only to step down-stairs, and the owner of the sign would be delighted to accommodate him.

就必須要到地下室去，凡是到來的顧客，店主都會好好招待。

But Richard Arkwright, the owner of the pole and plate, had few opportunities of displaying his talents.

但是，店主理查德·阿科萊特的人很少有機會施展手藝。

He spent most of his time in whetting his razors on a long piece of leather,

大部分時間他都會在一片長長的皮革上磨剃刀，

and in keeping the hot water and the soap ready for customers who seldom or never came.

或者燒好熱水，準備好肥皂，等待顧客上門，雖然很少、甚至從沒有人來過。

As he sat one night, before tumbling into his trundle bed, meditating on the hardness of the times, a bright idea struck him.

有一天晚上，他在睡覺前苦思冥想，終于想出一個好主意。

If he could not get customers to come to him to be shaved for two-pence

如果他每次收費兩便士，卻沒有顧客愿意來

—then the standard charge—it occurred to him that they might be induced to try his powers if he asked a lower fee.

——那他就調整收費——他想，如果他把價錢降得一點，就能夠吸引顧客了。

Accordingly, the next morning the attractions of the sign-pole were enhanced, by a staring placard, bearing the urgent invitation:

因此，第二天一早，他就把牌子掛出去了，是一個寫著邀請字樣的亮眼的廣告牌：

——Come to the SUBTERRANEOUS BARBER! He Shaves for a Penny!!

——本店每次理發(fā)只收一便士！歡迎前來??！

As soon as this innovation became known, we can fancy how indignant the fraternity were at the unprincipled conduct of one of their number

很快，這一消息傳遍開來。我們可以想象，他的同行們對這種不遵守行規(guī)的做法是多么氣憤

—how they denounced him, and prophesied his speedy ruin.

——他們予以譴責，并預言他的理發(fā)店很快就會關門大吉。