美国语文第六册 第248期:砖石切砖石(8)

"Well, my son," said Mansour, "doubtless you are shrewd, but this will teach you that your father knows rather more than you do.

“好了，我的孩子，”曼苏尔说，“毫无疑问你怯懦了，不过这会叫你明白你老子知道的就是比你多。

The cadi is about to decide, try whether you can dictate¹ his decree."

下级法官就要做出裁决了，不论是否能影响他的判决，都要试试。”

"It is mere² child's play," answered Omar, shrugging his shoulders;

“这只是孩子的把戏罢了，”奥马尔耸耸肩答道；

"but since you desire it, my father, you shall lose your suit."

“既然你希望得到这个结果，我的父亲，你就会输掉官司。”

He rose, and taking a piaster from his girdle, put it into the hand of the Banian, who laid it before the judge.

说着他站起身，从腰带里抽出一比索，然后放到印度商人手心里。印度商人当着法官的面收下赌注。

"Illustrious cadi," said Omar, "this young man is ready to fulfill³ his engagement. This is what he offers Mansour—piaster.

“明察秋毫的法官，”奥马尔说，“这个年轻人准备践诺。这是他给曼苏尔的那个比索。

In itself this coin is of little value; but examine it closely, and you will see that it is stamped with the likeness⁴ of the sultan, our glorious master.

从根本上讲，这枚硬币没什么价值；可是仔细观察的话，会发现上面印有我们光荣的主人——苏丹的肖像。

May God destroy and confound all who disobey his highness!"

但愿真主消灭和挫败所有违背他训示的人！”

"It is this precious likeness that we offer you,"

“我们向你出示的是珍贵的苏丹的肖像，”

added he, turning to Mansour,

他补充道，转向曼苏尔，

"if it pleases you, you are paid; to say that it displeases⁵ you is an insult to the pasha, a crime punishable by death;

“如果你认为我说的对的话，你就应该赔偿；如果你认为不对，就是对帕夏的冒犯，应该判处死刑；

and I am sure that our worthy⁶ cadi will not become your accomplice⁷, he who has always been and always will be the faithful servant of an the sultans."

我确信我们尊敬的法官不会成为你的同伙——一直以来他始终是苏丹忠实的奴仆。”

1 dictate   

v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令

参考例句：

• It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。
• What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令？

2 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

3 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

4 likeness   

n.相像，相似（之处）

参考例句：

• I think the painter has produced a very true likeness.我认为这位画家画得非常逼真。
• She treasured the painted likeness of her son.她珍藏她儿子的画像。

5 displeases   

冒犯，使生气，使不愉快( displease的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Nothing displeases me more than loud talking. 没有比大声谈话更使我不高兴的了。
• Bill is a wise guy and displeases others by what he says. 比尔自命不凡，说的话让人生气。

6 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

7 accomplice   

n.从犯，帮凶，同谋

参考例句：

• She was her husband's accomplice in murdering a rich old man.她是她丈夫谋杀一个老富翁的帮凶。
• He is suspected as an accomplice of the murder.他涉嫌为这次凶杀案的同谋。