天方夜谭英文故事：The Sailor Sindbad

Hindbad was a hardworking but poor porter. He lived in Baghdad and earned his living by carrying various packages to given addresses. All his toil¹ from early morning till late at night earned him just enough to get by. He was very bitter about his condition. 

 

 

One day as he was carrying a large package to a far away place he felt very tired. He saw a shady tree outside the door of a large mansion². As he rested under the tree for a while, he heard a lot of voices and laughter coming from the open windows. 

 

 

Hindbad turned to see and there was a guard who stood by the doorway³. Hindbad enquired⁵, "What's going on in this house? Who lives here?" To this the guard said, "Oh! Don't you know? This is Sindbad the sailor's mansion. He is the one who has been around the world on voyages." 

 

 

"So, Sindbad lives here. I've heard much about him. But what difference does it make. The rich enjoys comfortable and lives in luxurious⁶ mansions⁷ while the poor works hard all day for a piece of bread. Oh! it's not fair at all." With these words, Hindbad burst into tears. He started wailing⁸ loudly. 

 

 

Just then his loud cries reached indoors. Sindbad called the guard to enquire⁴ who was crying at his door. The guard told him about Hindbad and why he was crying. Sindbad felt pity on hearing about Sindbad. He asked the guard to fetch Hindbad inside. Hindbad went into the mansion reluctantly. He greeted Sindbad and said, “I am sorry to disturb you, sir. You must be angry. Please permit me to leave. I have to go to deliver a package outside the town." 

 

 

Sindbad smiled and said, "My friend, do not worry. Join me and take some food. You can stay and enjoy yourself here. My servants will deliver the package to the address." 

 

 

Hindbad relaxed a little and Sindbad offered him a plate full of delicious food. As he ate, Hindbad observed his surroundings. He saw articles of costly⁹ furniture, silk curtains, fancy chandeliers and food in silver plates on the table. Sindbad himself was an old man with a long white beard yet a handsome and charming personality for his age. Even the guests around him were richly personality for his age. Even the guests around him were richly attired¹⁰ and were enjoying themselves. Then Sindbad addressed his guests, "Friends, many of you may think that I was born rich and had all the luxuries provided by my parents. But this is not true. What you see all around you is the result of my hard work and many trials and troubles that I faced in the seven voyages I took up in my lifetime. Please take your seats and if you want I'll tell you all about my adventurous¹¹ voyages." 

 

 

There was a murmur¹² of agreement and all the guests took their seats. Hindbad, too, got eager to hear Sindbad, the sailor's story to success.  

1 toil   

vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事

参考例句：

• The wealth comes from the toil of the masses.财富来自大众的辛勤劳动。
• Every single grain is the result of toil.每一粒粮食都来之不易。

2 mansion   

n.大厦，大楼；宅第

参考例句：

• The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
• The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。

3 doorway   

n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径

参考例句：

• They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
• Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。

4 enquire   

v.打听，询问；调查，查问

参考例句：

• She wrote to enquire the cause of the delay.她只得写信去询问拖延的理由。
• We will enquire into the matter.我们将调查这事。

5 enquired   

打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问

参考例句：

• He enquired for the book in a bookstore. 他在书店查询那本书。
• Fauchery jestingly enquired whether the Minister was coming too. 浮式瑞嘲笑着问部长是否也会来。

6 luxurious   

adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的

参考例句：

• This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
• The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。

7 mansions   

n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Fifth Avenue was boarded up where the rich had deserted their mansions. 第五大道上的富翁们已经出去避暑，空出的宅第都已锁好了门窗，钉上了木板。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Oh, the mansions, the lights, the perfume, the loaded boudoirs and tables! 啊，那些高楼大厦、华灯、香水、藏金收银的闺房还有摆满山珍海味的餐桌！ 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

8 wailing   

v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱

参考例句：

• A police car raced past with its siren wailing. 一辆警车鸣着警报器飞驰而过。
• The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。

9 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

10 attired   

adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The bride was attired in white. 新娘穿一身洁白的礼服。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It is appropriate that everyone be suitably attired. 人人穿戴得体是恰当的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 adventurous   

adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的　

参考例句：

• I was filled with envy at their adventurous lifestyle.我很羨慕他们敢于冒险的生活方式。
• He was predestined to lead an adventurous life.他注定要过冒险的生活。

12 murmur   

n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言

参考例句：

• They paid the extra taxes without a murmur.他们毫无怨言地交了附加税。
• There was a low murmur of conversation in the hall.大厅里有窃窃私语声。