The King of Madagao, being engaged in a dispute with the King of Bornegascar, wrote him as follows:
“Before proceeding1 further in this matter I demand the recall of your Minister from my capital.”
Greatly enraged2 by this impossible demand, the King of Bornegascar replied:
“I shall not recall my Minister. Moreover, if you do not immediately retract3 your demand I shall withdraw him!”
This threat so terrified the King of Madagao that in hastening to comply he fell over his own feet, breaking the Third Commandment.
An Officer and a Thug
A Chief of Police who had seen an Officer beating a Thug was very indignant, and said he must not do so any more on pain of dismissal.
“Don’t be too hard on me,” said the Officer, smiling; “I was beating him with a stuffed club.”
“Nevertheless,” persisted the Chief of Police, “it was a liberty that must have been very disagreeable, though it may not have hurt. Please do not repeat it.”
“But,” said the Officer, still smiling, “it was a stuffed Thug.”
In attempting to express his gratification, the Chief of Police thrust out his right hand with such violence that his skin was ruptured4 at the arm-pit and a stream of sawdust poured from the wound. He was a stuffed Chief of Police.
1 proceeding | |
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报 | |
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2 enraged | |
使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 ); 歜; 激愤 | |
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3 retract | |
vt.缩回,撤回收回,取消 | |
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4 ruptured | |
v.(使)破裂( rupture的过去式和过去分词 );(使体内组织等)断裂;使(友好关系)破裂;使绝交 | |
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