評論
打印
edition-embankment An elite town
精英小鎮
There would never be an egalitarian society in Middleton,
米德爾頓永遠不會成為 平等主義社會.
a beautiful small town bordering an embankment of the St.Louis River.
米德爾頓是一座位于圣 路易斯河岸邊的美麗小 鎮.
An elite family ruled effectively
一個精英家族治鎮有方
and the citizens were quite happy to have such elegant,
市民們也很高興擁 有如此明君,
although sometimes elusive, rulers.
盡管他們有時也有些 難以捉摸.
Each daily edition of the town paper
鎮里的報紙每天每版
spoke eloquently of their efficient town
都大談特談這座鎮是 如何的高效率,
even listing improvements in the basic elements of life in Middleton.
甚至還列出了米德爾頓 在基本生活要素方面的 改進.
The recent flow of effluent
最近流進
into the basement of several homes in the town center was quickly cleaned up.
鎮中心幾戶人家地窖的 廢水很快就得到了處理
The paper reported
報紙報道說,
that 5 days had elapsed before the rulers of a nearby town had responded to a similar problem.
鄰鎮領導在類似問題上 過了五天才做出反應,
In Middleton the problem was fixed and cleaned up within hours.
而在米德爾頓問題在數 小時內就得到了解決.
When news was spread of how good life was in Middleton,
有關米德爾頓的生活是 如何之好的消息傳開之 后,
people who had been ejected from other towns began to relocate.
被其他城鎮驅逐的人 開始遷移過來.
They hoped to benefit from the elevated standards of Middleten
他們希望能從米德爾頓 提高了的標準中受益,
and live a life of increased efficiency and orderliness.
過一種更有效率、 更有秩序的生活,
This had the opposite effect, however,
可這樣做的效果卻適 得其反,
and lowered the quality of people in Middleton.
米德爾頓人的生活水 平降低了.
They did not have the elasticity of normal Middleton citizens
他們沒有普通米德爾頓 居民的靈活性,
and began to demand more say in how the town was run.
并且開始要求在城鎮管 理問題上有更多的發言 權.
The elite developed an elaborate plan
精英們想出了一個周密 的計劃
to eliminate these newcomers from Middleton.
把這些新來者從米德 爾頓趕走.
They detailed
他們詳細說明
that the only people that would be eligible to live in Middleton were those who had born there.
只有在米德爾頓出生的 人才有資格在那里居住
Heavy fines and taxes were placed on those that did not meet this standard.
對那些不符合標準的人 要征收高額罰款和稅金
Soon the newcomers left and Middleton returned to normal;
很快新來者都走了, 米德爾頓恢復了正常,
ruled by an elite, but happy.
由精英領導著并快樂著
