評論
打印
"An eastern king," said Teddy's mother, "had been saved from some great danger."
泰迪的媽媽說：“東方世界中曾經有一個國王臨危獲救。
To show his gratitude for deliverance, he vowed he would give to the poor the weight of his favorite elephant in silver.
為了表達自己的感激之情，他發誓要給窮人分發銀子，銀子的數量就和他最喜歡的大象一樣重。
"Oh! what a great quantity that would be," cried Lily, opening her eyes very wide.
“哇，那可是一筆數目不小的錢呀，”莉麗睜大雙眼，大喊道。
"But how could you weigh an elephant?" asked Teddy, who was a quiet, thoughtful boy.
在一旁陷入沉思的泰迪百思不得其解，便問道：“但是，你如何給大象稱重量呀？”
"There was the difficulty," said his mother.
媽媽接著說：“是有點困難，”
The wise and learned men of the court stroked their long beards, and talked the matter over, but no one found out how to weigh the elephant.
朝廷上那些智者和有學問的人都在撫摸著自己的長胡子，相互探討如何稱象，可是，沒有人能說出具體的衡量方法。
At last, a poor old sailor found safe and simple means by which to weigh the enormous beast.
最后，一個貧窮的老水手找出了安全又簡單的方法，可以稱到這頭巨獸的重量。
The thousands and thousands of pieces of silver were counted out to the people; and crowds of the poor were relieved by the clever thought ofthe sailor.
成千上萬的白銀被清點出來準備分發給窮人，這個水手的聰明智慧減輕了大批窮人的負擔。
"O mamma," said Lily, "do tell us what it was!"
莉麗說：“噢，媽媽，快告訴我們是什么方法！”
"Stop, stop!" said Teddy.
可泰迪卻說：“不要，不要！”
I want to think for myself think hard and find out how an elephant's weight could be known, with little trouble and expense.
我想自己思考，仔細地想一想，哪怕會有麻煩和損失，我也要自己找出稱象的方法。
"I am well pleased," said his mother, "that my little boy should set his mind to work on the subject.
他的媽媽說：“我很高興，我的小兒子應該自己動腦筋解決問題。”
If he can find out the sailor's secret before night, he shall have that orange forhis pains.
如果他能在今晚找出水手稱象的秘密，就可以得到那個橘子作為獎賞了。
The boy thought hard and long.
這個男孩子認真地想了很久。
Lily laughed at her brother's grave looks, as he sat leaning his head on his hands.
當他以手托腮坐在那里時，莉麗還嘲笑哥哥那一本正經的嚴肅樣。
