An Object was walking along the King’s highway wrapped in meditation1 and with little else on, when he suddenly found himself at the gates of a strange city. On applying for admittance, he was arrested as a necessitator of ordinances2, and taken before the King.
“Who are you,” said the King, “and what is your business in life?”
“Snouter the Sneak,” replied the Object, with ready invention; “pick-pocket.”
The King was about to command him to be released when the Prime Minister suggested that the prisoner’s fingers be examined. They were found greatly flattened3 and calloused4 at the ends.
“Ha!” cried the King; “I told you so! — he is addicted5 to counting syllables6. This is a poet. Turn him over to the Lord High Dissuader7 from the Head Habit.”
“My liege,” said the Inventor-in-Ordinary of Ingenious Penalties, “I venture to suggest a keener affliction.
“Name it,” the King said.
“Let him retain that head!”
It was so ordered.
1 meditation | |
n.熟虑,(尤指宗教的)默想,沉思,(pl.)冥想录 | |
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2 ordinances | |
n.条例,法令( ordinance的名词复数 ) | |
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3 flattened | |
[医](水)平扁的,弄平的 | |
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4 calloused | |
adj.粗糙的,粗硬的,起老茧的v.(使)硬结,(使)起茧( callous的过去式和过去分词 );(使)冷酷无情 | |
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5 addicted | |
adj.沉溺于....的,对...上瘾的 | |
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6 syllables | |
n.音节( syllable的名词复数 ) | |
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7 dissuader | |
劝阻; 劝止; 劝戒 | |
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