King Canute on the Seashore

克努特國王在海濱

Long ago, England was ruled by a king named Canute. Like many leaders and men of power, Canute was surrounded by people who were always praising him. Every time he walked into a room, the flattery began.

很久以前，統治英格蘭的國王名叫克努特。像許多領導者和掌權人一樣，克努特總是被稱贊他的人包圍著。每當他走進房間，奉承就片始了。

"You are the greatest man that ever lived," one would say.

“您是古往今來最偉大的人，”有個人會這么說。

Then another would insist, "O king! There can never be another man so mighty as you,"

接著另一個會堅持說:“啊，國王，再不能有別的人像您這樣強大了。”

And someone would smile and say,‘Your highness, there is nothing you cannot do."

又一個人會微笑著說：“殿下，沒有什么是您不能做的。”

"Great Canute, you are the monarch of all," another would sing. "Nothing in this world dares to disohey you."

“偉大的克努特，您是萬王之王，”另一個會高唱。“在這世上沒有人敢違背您。”

The king was a man of senses, and he grew tired of hearing such foolish speeches.

國王是個明白人，他聽膩了這些蠢話。

One day he was walking by the seashore, and his officers and courtiers were with him, praising him as usual. Canute decided to teach them a lesson, so he bade them set his chair on the beach close by the edge of the water.

一天，他走在海邊，軍官和朝臣們陪同在他左右，仍像往常一樣頌揚他。克努特決定給他們一個教訓，所以他命令他們把椅子放在沙灘上，緊靠水邊。

"So you say I am the greatest man in the world?" he asked.

“你們說我是世界上最偉大的人，是嗎？”他問。

"O king," they cried, "there never has been anyone as powerful as you, and there never be anyone so great, ever again!"

“噢，國王陛下，”他們喊道，“從來沒有像您一樣強大的人了，將來也不會有和您一樣偉大的人，絕不會胡！”

"And you say all things obey me'?" Canute asked.

“你們說一切都聽我的嗎？”克努特問。

"Absolutely!" they said. "The world bows before you, and gives you honor."

“絕對！”他們說。“世界都要向您屈服，向您致敬。”

"I see”the king answered."In that case. bring me my chair, and we will go down to the water."

“我明白了，”國王答道。“這樣的話，把我的倚子拿來，讓我們走到水里。”

"At once, your majesty!" They scrambled to carry his royal chair over the sands.

“馬上，陛下!”他們爭相把寶座從沙灘上抬起來。

"Bring it closer to the sea," Canute called. "Put it right here, right at the water's edge."He sat down and surveyed the ocean before him. "I notice the tide is coming in. Do you think it will stop if I give the command'?"

“把它放得離大海更近些，”克努特喊道，“就把它放在這里，就在水邊。”他坐下來.環視著眼前的大海。“我注意到潮水就要上漲。你們認為如果我命令它，它會停止嗎?”

His officers were puzzled, but they did not dare say no. "Give the order, O great king, and it will obey," one of then assured him.

官員們被難住了，但是他們不敢說不。“下命令吧，噢，偉大的國王，它一定會聽從的。”一個人向他保證。

"Very well. Sea," cried Canute, "I command you to come no further! Waves, stop your rolling! Surf, stop your pounding! Do not dare touch my feet!"

”很好。大海，”克努特大喊道，“我命令你，不許再向前!海浪，停止翻滾!浪濤.停止撞擊!不許碰到我的腳!”

He waited a moment, quietly, and a tiny wave rushed up the sand and lapped at his feet.

他靜靜地等了一會兒，一個小小的波浪沖上沙灘，拍掃一著他的腳。

"How dare you!" Canute shouted. "Ocean, turn back now! I have ordered you to retreat before me, and now you must obey! Go back!"

“大膽!”克努特大喊道。“大海，現在就回頭!我已經給你下達了命令，在我面前后退，現在你必須遵守!后退!”

And in answer another wave swept forward and curled around the king's feet. The tide came in, just as it always did. The water rose higher and higher. It came up around the king's chair, and wet not only his feet, but also his robe. His officers stood before him,alarmed, and wondering whether he was not mad.

作為回答，另一個波浪沖上前來，包圍了國王的腳。潮水依然像往常一樣上漲起來。海水越漲越高，漲到了國王椅子周圍，不僅打濕了國王的腳，還有他的長袍。軍官們站在他的面前，大感震驚，懷疑國王是不是瘋了。

"Well, my friends," Canute said, "it seems I do not have quite so much power as you would have me believe. Perhaps you have learned something today. Perhaps now you will remember there is only one King who is all-powerful, and it is he who rules the sea, and holds the ocean in the hollow of his hand. I suggest you reserve your praises for him."

嗯，我的朋友們，”克努特說，“看來我并不像你們讓我相信的那樣強大。也許你們今天學到了什么。也許現在你們記起只有一個國王是萬能的，是他主宰著大海，把海洋握在手心。我建議你們把贊美留給他吧。”

The royal officers and courtiers hung their heads and looked foolish. And some say Canute took off his crown soon afterward, and never wore it again.

王宮軍官和朝臣們垂下頭，看起來很可笑。有人說，不久克努特摘下了他的王冠，再也沒戴過。

課堂筆記：
1.克努特(?- 1035)，建立了包括今丹麥、挪威、英格蘭、蘇格蘭大部和瑞典南部的大帝國，被尊稱為“克努特大帝”，他的帝國也被稱為“北海帝國”，是歷史上唯一一個幾乎統治了北海沿岸地區的帝王.
2.英語中“of+名詞”結構相當于這一名詞的形容詞，此處的“a man of sense"表示“a sensible man",意思是“明智的人”.
3."bade"的原形為“bid"，在此表“吩咐，命令”之意，是一個使役動詞，后接不定式時省略"to".
4.結構“have sb. do sth.”中的“have”為使役動詞，表示“使某人做某事”。
5.克努特國王說的“唯一的萬能的國王”就是上帝。

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