古德明英語軍事小故事:「紳士」(中英對照)
古德明《征服英語》之英語軍事故事,古德明,香港英語教育作家,他開了一個《征服英語專欄》,在專欄中專門用英語寫了世界近代史上的軍事小故事,用英語講述歷史中那些驚心動魄的戰爭。「紳士」
Near the end of World WarⅡ, at dinner one evening in Belgium, General Montgomery asked his staff for their definition of a gentleman. He clearly thought they were not doing very well, and indeed they were not, so he said,"Well, we'll ask Winston when he comes out next week."On Winston Churchill's first night, they had not been sitting down long before Montgomery duly said,"I've been asking these fellows for a definition of a gentleman, and they aren't very good at it. What's yours?"Churchill thought for a moment and said,"I know one when I see one." and then added,"I suppose one might say: someone who is only rude intentionally.
"第二次世界大戰將近結束。蒙哥馬利將軍有一天在比利時吃晚飯,問手下對「紳士」的定義。他顯然覺得手下的答案不怎么高明,事實上也不高明,于是他說:「下星期溫斯頓來訪,可以問問他?!箿厮诡D.丘吉爾到訪的第一晚,他們坐下不久,蒙哥馬利就問:「我問過這些人對『紳士』的定義,他們不大懂得回答。你的答案是什么?」丘吉爾想了想,說:「誰是紳士,我看見就自然知道?!顾S后加上一句:「也許你可以說,故意無禮之外不會無禮的人,就是紳士?!?/p>
【附注】 Come out是「到另一個國家等(探望某人)」,例如: He came out to visit us from Singapore(他從新加坡來探望我們)。
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