“O illustrious person,” said Kai Lung very earnestly, “this is evidently an unfortunate mistake. Doubtless you were expecting some exalted16 Mandarin17 to come and render you homage18, and were preparing to overwhelm him with gratified confusion by escorting him yourself to your well-appointed abode19. Indeed, I passed such a one on the road, very richly apparelled, who inquired of me the way to the mansion20 of the dignified21 and upright Lin Yi. By this time he is perhaps two or three li towards the east.”
“However distinguished22 a Mandarin may be, it is fitting that I should first attend to one whose manners and accomplishments23 betray him to be of the Royal House,” replied Lin Yi, with extreme affability. “Precede me, therefore, to my mean and uninviting hovel, while I gain more honour than I can reasonably bear by following closely in your elegant footsteps, and guarding your Imperial person with this inadequate25 but heavily-loaded weapon.”
Seeing no chance of immediate26 escape, Kai Lung led the way, instructed by the brigand, along a very difficult and bewildering path, until they reached a cave hidden among the crags. Here Lin Yi called out some words in the Miaotze tongue, whereupon a follower27 appeared, and opened a gate in the stockade28 of prickly mimosa which guarded the mouth of the den4. Within the enclosure a fire burned, and food was being prepared. At a word from the chief, the unfortunate Kai Lung found his hands seized and tied behind his back, while a second later a rough hemp29 rope was fixed30 round his neck, and the other end tied to an overhanging tree.
Lin Yi smiled pleasantly and critically upon these preparations, and when they were complete dismissed his follower.
“Now we can converse31 at our ease and without restraint,” he remarked to Kai Lung. “It will be a distinguished privilege for a person occupying the important public position which you undoubtedly32 do; for myself, my instincts are so degraded and low-minded that nothing gives me more gratification than to dispense33 with ceremony.”
To this Kai Lung made no reply, chiefly because at that moment the wind swayed the tree, and compelled him to stand on his toes in order to escape suffocation34.
“It would be useless to try to conceal35 from a person of your inspired intelligence that I am indeed Lin Yi,” continued the robber. “It is a dignified position to occupy, and one for which I am quite incompetent36. In the sixth month of the third year ago, it chanced that this unworthy person, at that time engaged in commercial affairs at Knei Yang, became inextricably immersed in the insidious37 delights of quail38-fighting. Having been entrusted39 with a large number of taels with which to purchase elephants’ teeth, it suddenly occurred to him that if he doubled the number of taels by staking them upon an exceedingly powerful and agile40 quail, he would be able to purchase twice the number of teeth, and so benefit his patron to a large extent. This matter was clearly forced upon his notice by a dream, in which he perceived one whom he then understood to be the benevolent41 spirit of an ancestor in the act of stroking a particular quail, upon whose chances he accordingly placed all he possessed42. Doubtless evil spirits had been employed in the matter; for, to this person’s great astonishment43, the quail in question failed in a very discreditable manner at the encounter. Unfortunately, this person had risked not only the money which had been entrusted to him, but all that he had himself become possessed of by some years of honourable44 toil45 and assiduous courtesy as a professional witness in law cases. Not doubting that his patron would see that he was himself greatly to blame in confiding46 so large a sum of money to a comparatively young man of whom he knew little, this person placed the matter before him, at the same time showing him that he would suffer in the eyes of the virtuous47 if he did not restore this person’s savings48, which but for the presence of the larger sum, and a generous desire to benefit his patron, he would never have risked in so uncertain a venture as that of quail-fighting. Although the facts were laid in the form of a dignified request instead of a demand by legal means, and the reasoning carefully drawn49 up in columns of fine parchment by a very illustrious writer, the reply which this person received showed him plainly that a wrong view had been taken of the matter, and that the time had arrived when it became necessary for him to make a suitable rejoinder by leaving the city without delay.”
“It was a high-minded and disinterested51 course to take,” said Kai Lung with great conviction, as Lin Yi paused. “Without doubt evil will shortly overtake the avaricious-souled person at Knei Yang.”
“It has already done so,” replied Lin Yi. “While passing through this forest in the season of Many White Vapours, the spirits of his bad deeds appeared to him in misleading and symmetrical shapes, and drew him out of the path and away from his bowmen. After suffering many torments52, he found his way here, where, in spite of our continual care, he perished miserably53 and in great bodily pain.... But I cannot conceal from myself, in spite of your distinguished politeness, that I am becoming intolerably tiresome54 with my commonplace talk.”
“On the contrary,” replied Kai Lung, “while listening to your voice I seemed to hear the beating of many gongs of the finest and most polished brass55. I floated in the Middle Air, and for the time I even became unconscious of the fact that this honourable appendage56, though fashioned, as I perceive, out of the most delicate silk, makes it exceedingly difficult for me to breathe.”
“Such a thing cannot be permitted,” exclaimed Lin Yi, with some indignation, as with his own hands he slackened the rope and, taking it from Kai Lung’s neck, fastened it around his ankle. “Now, in return for my uninviting confidences, shall not my senses be gladdened by a recital57 of the titles and honours borne by your distinguished family? Doubtless, at this moment many Mandarins of the highest degree are anxiously awaiting your arrival at Knei Yang, perhaps passing the time by outdoing one another in protesting the number of taels each would give rather than permit you to be tormented58 by fire-brands, or even to lose a single ear.”
“Alas!” replied Kai Lung, “never was there a truer proverb than that which says, ‘It is a mark of insincerity of purpose to spend one’s time in looking for the sacred Emperor in the low-class tea-shops.’ Do Mandarins or the friends of Mandarins travel in mean garments and unattended? Indeed, the person who is now before you is none other than the outcast Kai Lung, the story-teller, one of degraded habits and no very distinguished or reputable ancestors. His friends are few, and mostly of the criminal class; his wealth is not more than some six or eight cash, concealed59 in his left sandal; and his entire stock-in-trade consists of a few unendurable and badly told stories, to which, however, it is his presumptuous60 intention shortly to add a dignified narrative61 of the high-born Lin Yi, setting out his domestic virtues62 and the honour which he has reflected upon his house, his valour in war, the destruction of his enemies, and, above all, his great benevolence63 and the protection which he extends to the poor and those engaged in the distinguished arts.”
“The absence of friends is unfortunate,” said Lin Yi thoughtfully, after he had possessed himself of the coins indicated by Kai Lung, and also of a much larger amount concealed elsewhere among the story-teller’s clothing. “My followers64 are mostly outlawed65 Miaotze, who have been driven from their own tribes in Yun Nan for man-eating and disregarding the sacred laws of hospitality. They are somewhat rapacious66, and in this way it has become a custom that they should have as their own, for the purpose of exchanging for money, persons such as yourself, whose insatiable curiosity has led them to this place.”
“The wise and all-knowing Emperor Fohy instituted three degrees of attainment67: Being poor, to obtain justice; being rich, to escape flattery; and being human, to avoid the passions,” replied Kai Lung. “To these the practical and enlightened Kang added yet another, the greatest: Being lean, to yield fatness.”
“In such cases,” observed the brigand, “the Miaotze keep an honoured and very venerable rite50, which chiefly consists in suspending the offender68 by a pigtail from a low tree, and placing burning twigs69 of hemp-palm between his toes. To this person it seems a foolish and meaningless habit; but it would not be well to interfere70 with their religious observances, however trivial they may appear.”
“Such a course must inevitably71 end in great loss,” suggested Kai Lung; “for undoubtedly there are many poor yet honourable persons who would leave with them a bond for a large number of taels and save the money with which to redeem72 it, rather than take part in a ceremony which is not according to one’s own Book of Rites73.”
“They have already suffered in that way on one or two occasions,” replied Lin Yi; “so that such a proposal, no matter how nobly intended, would not gladden their faces. Yet they are simple and docile74 persons, and would, without doubt, be moved to any feeling you should desire by the recital of one of your illustrious stories.”
“An intelligent and discriminating75 assemblage is more to a story-teller than much reward of cash from hands that conceal open mouths,” replied Kai Lung with great feeling. “Nothing would confer more pleasurable agitation76 upon this unworthy person than an opportunity of narrating77 his entire stock to them. If also the accomplished78 Lin Yi would bestow79 renown80 upon the occasion by his presence, no omen12 of good would be wanting.”
“The pleasures of the city lie far behind me,” said Lin Yi, after some thought, “and I would cheerfully submit myself to an intellectual accomplishment24 such as you are undoubtedly capable of. But as we have necessity to leave this spot before the hour when the oak-leaves change into night-moths, one of your amiable81 stories will be the utmost we can strengthen our intellects with. select which you will. In the meantime, food will be brought to refresh you after your benevolent exertions82 in conversing83 with a person of my vapid84 understanding. When you have partaken, or thrown it away as utterly85 unendurable, the time will have arrived, and this person, together with all his accomplices86, will put themselves in a position to be subjected to all the most dignified emotions.”
点击收听单词发音
1 professed | |
公开声称的,伪称的,已立誓信教的 | |
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2 aisles | |
n. (席位间的)通道, 侧廊 | |
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3 vows | |
誓言( vow的名词复数 ); 郑重宣布,许愿 | |
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4 den | |
n.兽穴;秘密地方;安静的小房间,私室 | |
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5 glade | |
n.林间空地,一片表面有草的沼泽低地 | |
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6 watchful | |
adj.注意的,警惕的 | |
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7 prudent | |
adj.谨慎的,有远见的,精打细算的 | |
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8 guile | |
n.诈术 | |
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9 subservience | |
n.有利,有益;从属(地位),附属性;屈从,恭顺;媚态 | |
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10 acquiescence | |
n.默许;顺从 | |
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11 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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12 omen | |
n.征兆,预兆;vt.预示 | |
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14 noted | |
adj.著名的,知名的 | |
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15 brigand | |
n.土匪,强盗 | |
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16 exalted | |
adj.(地位等)高的,崇高的;尊贵的,高尚的 | |
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17 Mandarin | |
n.中国官话,国语,满清官吏;adj.华丽辞藻的 | |
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18 homage | |
n.尊敬,敬意,崇敬 | |
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19 abode | |
n.住处,住所 | |
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20 mansion | |
n.大厦,大楼;宅第 | |
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21 dignified | |
a.可敬的,高贵的 | |
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22 distinguished | |
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
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23 accomplishments | |
n.造诣;完成( accomplishment的名词复数 );技能;成绩;成就 | |
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24 accomplishment | |
n.完成,成就,(pl.)造诣,技能 | |
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25 inadequate | |
adj.(for,to)不充足的,不适当的 | |
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26 immediate | |
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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27 follower | |
n.跟随者;随员;门徒;信徒 | |
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28 stockade | |
n.栅栏,围栏;v.用栅栏防护 | |
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29 hemp | |
n.大麻;纤维 | |
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30 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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31 converse | |
vi.谈话,谈天,闲聊;adv.相反的,相反 | |
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32 undoubtedly | |
adv.确实地,无疑地 | |
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33 dispense | |
vt.分配,分发;配(药),发(药);实施 | |
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34 suffocation | |
n.窒息 | |
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35 conceal | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽 | |
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36 incompetent | |
adj.无能力的,不能胜任的 | |
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37 insidious | |
adj.阴险的,隐匿的,暗中为害的,(疾病)不知不觉之间加剧 | |
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38 quail | |
n.鹌鹑;vi.畏惧,颤抖 | |
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39 entrusted | |
v.委托,托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40 agile | |
adj.敏捷的,灵活的 | |
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41 benevolent | |
adj.仁慈的,乐善好施的 | |
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42 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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43 astonishment | |
n.惊奇,惊异 | |
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44 honourable | |
adj.可敬的;荣誉的,光荣的 | |
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45 toil | |
vi.辛劳工作,艰难地行动;n.苦工,难事 | |
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46 confiding | |
adj.相信人的,易于相信的v.吐露(秘密,心事等)( confide的现在分词 );(向某人)吐露(隐私、秘密等) | |
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47 virtuous | |
adj.有品德的,善良的,贞洁的,有效力的 | |
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48 savings | |
n.存款,储蓄 | |
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49 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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50 rite | |
n.典礼,惯例,习俗 | |
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51 disinterested | |
adj.不关心的,不感兴趣的 | |
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52 torments | |
(肉体或精神上的)折磨,痛苦( torment的名词复数 ); 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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53 miserably | |
adv.痛苦地;悲惨地;糟糕地;极度地 | |
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54 tiresome | |
adj.令人疲劳的,令人厌倦的 | |
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55 brass | |
n.黄铜;黄铜器,铜管乐器 | |
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56 appendage | |
n.附加物 | |
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57 recital | |
n.朗诵,独奏会,独唱会 | |
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58 tormented | |
饱受折磨的 | |
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59 concealed | |
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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60 presumptuous | |
adj.胆大妄为的,放肆的,冒昧的,冒失的 | |
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61 narrative | |
n.叙述,故事;adj.叙事的,故事体的 | |
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62 virtues | |
美德( virtue的名词复数 ); 德行; 优点; 长处 | |
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63 benevolence | |
n.慈悲,捐助 | |
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64 followers | |
追随者( follower的名词复数 ); 用户; 契据的附面; 从动件 | |
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65 outlawed | |
宣布…为不合法(outlaw的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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66 rapacious | |
adj.贪婪的,强夺的 | |
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67 attainment | |
n.达到,到达;[常pl.]成就,造诣 | |
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68 offender | |
n.冒犯者,违反者,犯罪者 | |
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69 twigs | |
细枝,嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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70 interfere | |
v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰 | |
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71 inevitably | |
adv.不可避免地;必然发生地 | |
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72 redeem | |
v.买回,赎回,挽回,恢复,履行(诺言等) | |
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73 rites | |
仪式,典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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74 docile | |
adj.驯服的,易控制的,容易教的 | |
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75 discriminating | |
a.有辨别能力的 | |
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76 agitation | |
n.搅动;搅拌;鼓动,煽动 | |
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77 narrating | |
v.故事( narrate的现在分词 ) | |
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78 accomplished | |
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 | |
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79 bestow | |
v.把…赠与,把…授予;花费 | |
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80 renown | |
n.声誉,名望 | |
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81 amiable | |
adj.和蔼可亲的,友善的,亲切的 | |
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82 exertions | |
n.努力( exertion的名词复数 );费力;(能力、权力等的)运用;行使 | |
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83 conversing | |
v.交谈,谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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84 vapid | |
adj.无味的;无生气的 | |
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85 utterly | |
adv.完全地,绝对地 | |
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86 accomplices | |
从犯,帮凶,同谋( accomplice的名词复数 ) | |
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