|
第三锤定音 （美国）乔治·艾迪 陈荣生 译 （ （图片欣赏——区怡摄/湛江） 婚姻登记处的一位官员从小窗口伸头出来，大声喊道：“下一个！” 一位上年纪的姑娘挨近窗口，说她想要一份2美元的逮捕证，她也许可以用它来阻止和约束配偶。 “受害者叫什么名字？”官员问。 “我可不知道，”对方回答。“我倒希望我知道。我从战争开始就一直在等着他。我想象不出是什么留住了他。” “除非猎物已经在栅栏中，否则许可证又有什么用呢？”官员问。 “我想要留一处空白，这样我在紧急情况下就可以用，”她回答。“我承担不起冒险的代价。到下午就太迟了。18年前，我送我心中的偶像出去取那张能让我们永恒之爱合法化的羊皮纸，但他碰巧上了一辆绿车而不是黄车。他错过了法庭两英里，并赶上了一趟去洛杉矶的火车。我只好熬了两夜，把我们俩名字的首字母从我的嫁妆中剔除掉。另外一次，我在等候室定下了一位，然后就去办证。这时，一位姑娘进来打扫房间，他得挪动身子，就这样我从此再也没有见到过他了。下一次，如果我有机会得到一位，行动将会是立即要做的事情。我会直接说，'就是你了，’并立即签署这份文件。然后，如果他跑掉的话，他就得背负巨重。” 由此可见，今天的事情，绝不要拖到明天去做。 《译自《四十个现代寓言》） 您若认为此文对教育有益，敬 请 传 阅、推 荐、转 载。 原文如下，若有问题，可留言，我将尽量回答。 The Fable of The Third & Last Call by George Ade A PUBLIC Official presiding at a Marriage-License Counter put his Head through the Window and shouted "Next!" There sidled up a well-seasoned Girlie who said she would take a $2 Writ of Attachment which she might use in gagging and binding a Helpmate. "What is the Victim's Name?" asked the Clerk. "You can search me," was the reply. "I wish to goodness I knew. I've been waiting for him ever since the War. I can't imagine what keeps him." "What good is a License unless you have your Prey already in the Stockade?" asked the Official. "I want one with a Space left blank, so that I can use it in a quick Emergency," she replied. "I can't afford to take Chances. It is getting too late in the Afternoon. Eighteen Years ago I sent my Heart's Idol out for the Parchment that would legalize our undying Love, but he happened to get on a Green Car instead of a Yellow one. He missed the Court House two miles and caught a Train for Los Angeles. I had to sit up for two Nights picking the Initials out of my Trousseau. Another time I planted one in a Waiting-Room while I went after the Permit. A Girl came in to dust the Room and he had to move, so I haven't seen him since. Next time I get one in Chancery there will be immediate Doings. I will simply say 'You 're On' and flash the Document. And then if he runs away he will have to carry a lot of Weight." MORAL: Never put off until To-Morrow what should have been done early in the Seventies. |
|
|
