美国语文第六册 第249期:砖石切砖石(9)

When Omar had finished speaking, all eyes turned toward the cadi, who, more impenetrable than ever, stroked his face and waited for the old man to come to his aid.

奥马尔说完这番话后，所有的目光都齐刷刷转向法官，比以往更难以置信的他，轻抚着面颊，等着曼苏尔来为他帮腔。

Mansour was agitated¹ and embarrassed.

曼苏尔焦虑不安，很是窘迫。

The silence of the cadi and the assembly terrified him, and he cast a supplicating² glance toward his son.

法官和观众的沉默令他紧张害怕，于是他朝儿子投去哀求的一瞥。

"My father," said Omar, "permit this young man to thank you for the lesson of prudence³ which you have given him by frightening him a little.

“我的父亲，”奥马尔说，“请允许这个年轻人对你表示感谢，感谢你通过恫吓来告诉他的人要有远见这个教训。

He knows well that it was you who sent me to his aid, and that all this is a farce⁴.

他很清楚是你派我来帮他的，所有这一切不过是一场闹剧而已。

No one is deceived by hearing the son oppose the Father, and who has ever doubted Mansour's experience and generosity⁵?"

一听说儿子与父亲对立，没有人信以为真，谁会怀疑曼苏尔的经验和慷慨呢？”

"No one," interrupted the cadi, starting up like a man suddenly awakened⁶ from a dream,

“没有人怀疑，”法官插话道，就像突然从梦中惊醒的人一样，

and I least of all, and this is why I have permitted you to speak, my young Solomon.

尤其我不怀疑，这就是我为什么允许你说话的原因，聪明的年轻人。

I wished to honor in you the wisdom of your father, but another time avoid meddling⁷ with his highness's name,

因为你有你父亲那样的智慧，我希望给予你应得的荣誉，但是另一方面又要避免冒犯他的大名，

it is not safe to sport with the lion's paws. The matter is settled. The necklace is worth a hundred thousand piasters, is it not, Mansour?

玩弄狮子的爪子可不是明智的。现在这件事情该了结了。这根项链值十万比索，不是吗，曼苏尔？

This madcap, shall give you, therefore, a hundred thousand piasters, and all parties will be satisfied."

这一轻率之举因此给你带来十万比索的教训，大家皆大欢喜。”

1 agitated   

adj.被鼓动的，不安的

参考例句：

• His answers were all mixed up,so agitated was he.他是那样心神不定，回答全乱了。
• She was agitated because her train was an hour late.她乘坐的火车晚点一个小时，她十分焦虑。

2 supplicating   

v.祈求，哀求，恳求( supplicate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She stammered a few supplicating words. 她吞吞吐吐说了一些求情的话。 来自互联网

3 prudence   

n.谨慎，精明，节俭

参考例句：

• A lack of prudence may lead to financial problems.不够谨慎可能会导致财政上出现问题。
• The happy impute all their success to prudence or merit.幸运者都把他们的成功归因于谨慎或功德。

4 farce   

n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹

参考例句：

• They played a shameful role in this farce.他们在这场闹剧中扮演了可耻的角色。
• The audience roared at the farce.闹剧使观众哄堂大笑。

5 generosity   

n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为

参考例句：

• We should match their generosity with our own.我们应该像他们一样慷慨大方。
• We adore them for their generosity.我们钦佩他们的慷慨。

6 awakened   

v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到

参考例句：

• She awakened to the sound of birds singing. 她醒来听到鸟的叫声。
• The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation. 公众完全意识到了这一状况的可怕程度。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 meddling   

v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He denounced all "meddling" attempts to promote a negotiation. 他斥责了一切“干预”促成谈判的企图。 来自辞典例句
• They liked this field because it was never visited by meddling strangers. 她们喜欢这块田野，因为好事的陌生人从来不到那里去。 来自辞典例句