书城外语课外英语-零点故事夜话(双语版)
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第12章 人与自然(4)

I have been the more particular in this description of my journey, and shall be so of my first entry into that city, that you may in your mind compare such unlikely beginnings with the figure I have since made there. I was in my working dress, my best clothes being to come round by sea. I was dirty from my journey; my pockets were stuffed out with shirts and stockings; and I knew no soul, nor where to look for lodging. I was fatigued with travelling, rowing, and want of rest; I was very hungry; and my whole stock of cash consisted of a Dutch dollar, and about a shilling in copper. the latter I gave the people of the boat for my passage, who at first refused it, on account of my rowing; but I insisted on their taking it, a man being sometimes more generous when he has but a little money than when he has plenty, perhaps through fear of being thought to have but little.

Then I walked up the street gazing about, till, near the market-house. I met a boy with bread. I had made many a meal on bread, and, inquiring where he got it, I went immediately to the baker‘s he directed me to, in Second Street, and asked for biscuit, intending such as we had in Boston; but they, it seems, were not made in Philadelphia. Then I asked for a threepenny loaf, and was told they had none such. So, not considering or knowing the difference of money, and the greater cheapness nor the names of his bread, I bade him give me threepenny-worth of any sort. He gave me, accordingly, three great puffy rolls, I was surprised at the quantity, but took it, and, having no room in my pockets, walked off with a roll under each arm, and eating the other. Thus I went up Market Street as far as Fourth Street, passing by the door of Mr Read, my future wife’s father; when she, standing at the door, saw me, and thought I made, as I certainly did, a most awkward, ridiculous appearance. Then I turned and went down Chestnut Street and part of Walnut Street, eating my roll all the way, and, coming round, found myself again at Market Street wharf, near the boat I came in, to which I went for a draught of the river water; and being filled with one of my rolls, gave the other two to a woman and her child that came down the river in the boat with us, and were waiting to go fartherThus refreshed, I walked again up the street, which by this time had many clean-dressed people in it, who were all walking the same way. I joined them, and there-by was led into the great meeting-house of the Quakers near the market. I sat down among them, and after looking round a while and hearing nothing said, being very drowsy through labour and want of rest the preceding night, I fell fast asleep, and continued so till the meeting broke up, when one was kind enough to rouse me. This was, therefore, the first house I was in, or slept in, in Philadelphia

我在费城的第一天

本杰明·富兰克林

我曾特别详细地描述了我的这次旅行,我也将同样详细地描述我初次进入这个城市的情况。这样,你就可以在心目中作一番比较:后来我在这里崭露头角,而一开始原来竟是这等模样。我身上穿着工作服,因为我的最好的服装得从海路运来。由于长途跋涉,浑身尘垢;衣袋里鼓鼓囊囊地塞着衬衫和袜子;我没有一个熟人,也不知去何处投宿。我在航途中划着船,缺乏休息,所以疲惫不堪;肚子又饿得慌;身边剩下的现钱只有一元荷兰币和大约一个先令的铜币。我把铜币交给了船上人作为船费,他们最初不肯收,因为我帮着划过船,但是我一定要他们收下。一个人往往在他钱不多的时候比他有钱的时候要慷慨得多,这也许是怕被人家认为没有钱吧。

我沿着大街走去,一路东张西望,最后来到市场附近,遇到一个男孩手里拿着面包。我已连吃几顿面包。当我向孩子打听到那面包是什么地方买的,便径直向他所指点的第二大街上的一家面包店走去。我要店员给我一些甜面包,指的是我在波士顿吃过的那种,但看来费城不做这种面包。于是,我要求给的是一只三便士的面包,但他们回答说没有这种面包。因此,我既不考虑也不了解两地货币价值之间的不同,这里的物价很低,以及他的面包有些什么名称,只叫他给我价值三便士的随便什么东西。那个店员给了我三只胖鼓鼓的大面包卷。我没料到有那么多,但还是拿了,口袋里装不下,我只得每边腋下夹一只离开了,嘴里还啃着一个。就这样我沿着市场大街一直走到第四大街。当我从后来成为我岳父的那位里德先生的家门经过时,那位我未来的妻子正站在门口,她见到了我,认为我那个模样又狼狈又可笑,事实也确实如此。接下去我转身沿着切斯纳特大街走去,又沿着沃尔纳特大街走了一段路,一路上边走边吃,兜了一圈,发觉自己又回到了市场大街码头,在靠近我来时乘的那条船的地方,我走过去喝了一口河水。我吃完了一只面包,把剩下的两只送给了那个与我们乘同一条船来的,此刻正等着继续航行的妇女和她的孩子。

这样恢复了精神,我又沿着大街走去。这时,大街上有许多衣着整洁的人,朝着同一个方向走去。我随着他们走进了市场附近公谊会的一座大教堂。我在他们中间坐下,朝四周环顾了一阵,什么也没有听见。由于我前一天晚上太吃力,缺乏休息,因此我这时昏昏欲睡,不一会就睡熟了, 一直睡到礼拜结束,才有人好心把我唤醒。因此,这幢房子是我在费城住过的,或者说是我睡过的第一幢房子。

Crossing The Rubicon

by James Baldwin

The march to Italy was begun. The soldiers were even more enthusiastic than Caesar himself. They climbed mountains, waded rivers, endured fatigue, faced all kinds of danger for the sake of their great leaderAt last they came to a little river called the Rubicon. It was the boundary line of Caesar‘s province of Gaul; on the other side of it was Italy. Caesar paused a moment on the bank. He knew that to cross it would be to declare war against Pompey and the Roman Senate; it would involve all Rome in a fearful strife, the end of which no man could foreseeBut he did not hesitate long. He gave the word, and rode boldly across the shallow stream“We have crossed the Rubicon.” he cried as he reached the farther shore. “There is now no turning back.”

Soon the news was carried to Rome:“Caesar has crossed the Rubicon.” and there was great dismay among those who had plotted to destroy him. Pompey’s soldiers deserted him and hastened to join themselves to Caesar‘s army. The Roman senators and their friends made ready to flee from the city“Caesar has crossed the rubicon!” was shouted along the roads and byways leading to Rome; and the country people turned out to meet and hail with joy the conquering heroThe word was carried a second time to the city:“Caesar has crossed the Rubicon.” and the wild flight began. Senators and public officers left everything behind and hurried away to seek safety with Pompey. On foot, on horseback, in litters, in carriages, they fled for their lives-all because Caesar had crossed the rubicon. Pompey was unable to protect them. He hurried to the seacoast, and, with all who were able to accompany him, sailed away to GreeceCaesar was the master of Rome

越过卢比孔河

詹姆斯·鲍德温

向意大利的进军开始了。士兵从前甚至比恺撒本人还要热情旺盛。为了他们的伟大领袖,他们跋山涉水,不顾疲劳,面临各种艰难险阻而毫无惧色。

最后,他们来到了一条叫做卢比孔的小河边。这条小河是恺撒管辖的高卢省的边界线,河那边就是意大利。恺撒在岸边停留了片刻。他知道越过这条河就是对庞培和罗马元老院宣战,就会使整个罗马卷入一场可怕的战争,其结局是没有人能够预料的。

但是,他没有犹豫多久。他下了命令,并且无畏地策马渡过了这条浅流。

“我们已经越过卢比孔河了,”他到达河的对岸时喊道,“现在只有前进,决不后退。”

“恺撒越过卢比孔河了。”这一消息很快就传到了罗马,在那些曾经密谋消灭他的人中间引起了极大的惊慌。庞培的部下纷纷叛离,急忙投奔恺撒的部队。罗马元老院的议员和他们的朋友都准备逃离罗马了。

“恺撒越过卢比孔河了!”在通往罗马的大道和小路上到处都呼喊着。乡村里的人们都奔走欢呼,准备迎接这位胜利的英雄。

消息第二次传到罗马:“恺撒越过卢比孔河了。”于是大家仓皇出逃,一片慌乱。元老和政府官员们扔下了一切,急急忙忙逃到庞培那里去避难。他们或徒步,或骑马,或坐轿子,或乘马车,纷纷逃命--只因为恺撒越过了卢比孔河。庞培无力保护他们。他匆匆赶到海边,带着所有能够伴随他的人,坐船逃往希腊去了。

恺撒成了罗马的主宰。