赖世雄读英语笑话学英语之英语乐趣(2)：另一则寓言笑话(双语)

Unit 2 And in the Same Vein... 另一则寓言笑话

The Ndele tribesmen of Africa were a poor but proud people. Living as they did in the savannah regions south of the Sahara, they had only grass with which to build their houses, but these were nonetheless beautifully designed and spacious.
非洲的恩德拉部落是个贫穷但骄傲的民族，由于位在撒哈拉沙漠南部的大草原地区，他们只能用草来造房子，但他们的房屋仍然设计美观，内部宽敞。

In fact, the king’s palace was all of three stories tall—until the tragic events which I will now relate:
实际上，在我所要叙及的不幸事件之前，国王的皇宫都是三层楼的建筑。事情是这样的：

The Ndele had always believed that as long as the king sat on the traditional golden throne, no harm could come to the tribe. In recent times, however, the kings had taken to sending their heirs to Europe to be educated.
恩德拉族人自古以来都相信，只要国王坐在那张传统黄金打造的王座上，老天就不会降灾害于他们。可是最近非洲国王们都热衷于把他们的继承人送到欧洲深造。

One particular crown prince came back from Oxford with nothing but contempt for the ancient beliefs of his people. No sooner had he been crowned king than he had the golden throne removed to the palace attic and replaced with a comfortable steel-framed easy-chair.
其中一位王储由牛津大学归国，他除了鄙视该族人的古老迷信外，什么也没学回来。他一登上王位就立刻把那张宝座搬到皇宫阁楼收藏，并换上一张钢框的舒适安乐椅。

Sure enough, as soon as the young king settled his posterior into the new royal seat, an earthquake struck the entire territory of the Ndele, hundreds of homes were destroyed, and the golden throne came crashing through the two intervening floors directly onto the foolish monarch, squashing him like a bug.
果然，那位年轻的国王刚坐下不久，地震就袭击了恩德拉族境内，好几百栋的房子损毁，而原来那张黄金宝座也一路撞穿两个夹层楼正中那名愚蠢的统治者，他就像一只小虫般被压得扁扁的。

And the moral of the story is: Those who live in grass houses should not stow thrones.
这则故事的真义就是：“住在茅草房子的人们不可把国王的御座收藏起来！”

英语知识点解说：

1.vein n.静脉
但标 题中的 vein则指 style（形态）
be in the same vein属同一类型
例：如The two jokes are in the same vein.
（这两则笑话属同一类型。）

2.tribesman n.部落的一员

3.living as they did in the... 由于他们住在……
=As they lived in the...

4.savannah n.（非洲）大草原

5.the Sahara n.撒哈拉沙漠

6.nonetheless ad. 然 而（=nevertheless）

7.spacious a. 广阔的
space n. 空间
例：Their home is so spacious I got lost looking for a bathroom.
（他们家是那么宽阔，我连上个厕所都会迷路。）

8.palace n. 宫殿

9.tragic a. 悲剧的
tragedy n. 悲剧
例：It's tragic that my little dog was run over last week.
（我的小狗上星期被车压死了，真令人悲伤。）

10.relate vt. 叙述；使关联
例：Thomas can relate the most hilarious story in the most matter-of-fact tone of voice.
（汤玛士能够以最正经八百的语调讲出最令人捧腹的故事。）

11.as long as... 既然；只要...
=so long as
例：As long as you're up, would you mind getting me a drink out of the fridge.
（既然你起床了，麻烦你从冰箱拿一杯饮料给我好吗?

12.throne n. 御座；王位
come to the throne 登上王位
=come to power
例：The king came to the throne at the age of 13 only.
（国王才十三岁就登基了。）

13.take to+V-ing 热衷于……
take to +  V 热衷于……
例：Little Johnny took to beer like a fish to water.
（小强尼迷上啤酒就像鱼离不开水一样。）

14.heir n. 嗣子；法定继承人
be heir... 为……的继承人
例：The Prince of Wales is heir to the British crown.
（威尔斯王子是英国王位的继承人。）

15.crown prince王储
crown n. 皇冠；王位

16.contempt n. 轻视；蔑视
例：I have nothing but contempt for cowards.
（我最瞧不起胆小鬼了。）

17.No sooner had he been crowned king than he had...
=As soon as he was crowned king, he had...
他一被加冕为王，就……

18.replace A for B 以A取代B
例：I wish I could replace Mark with a more competent employee.
（但愿我可以找另一位较称职的员工来替换马克。）
Maybe you should substitute artificial sweetener for sugar.
（或许你应当用人工甘料代替砂糖。）

19.posterior n.后部；臀部（=hips)
例：Your posterior is the part of your body you sit on.
（你的臀部就是你坐下时的部位。）

20.territory n. 领土；领域
例：The victorious army pushed on into the enemy territory.
（胜利的部队向敌人领土挺进。）

21.come crashing through... 一路撞穿……
crash vi. 猛撞
例：The car crashed into a tree. Fortunately, no one was injured.
（车子撞到树。所幸无人受伤。）

22.intervene vi.干扰（ 与介词 in 并用）
two intervening floor 两个夹层楼（指三楼及二楼地板）
例：It's wise not to intervene in his business.
（不要干涉他的事乃明智之举。）

23.monarch n. 君主；统治者

24.squash vt. 压扁

25.bug n. 小虫

26.stow vt. 将…… 收藏好
例：Stow away all your toys in the box, Tommy.
（汤米，把你所有的玩具全收拾到箱子里。）

27.Those who live in grass houses should not stow thrones.
（住在茅草屋的人不可以把国王的御座收藏起来。）
乃由下句谚语转变而成：
Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
（住在玻璃屋的人不能扔石块——喻自己有错，不能批评别人。）

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