4.The Sons of William the Conqueror征服者威廉的儿子们-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《西方老故事50篇Fifty Famous Stories Retold》

Fifty Famous Stories Retold 4.The Sons of William the Conqueror There was once a great king of England who was called William the Conqueror,and he had three sons. One day King William seemed to be thinking of something that made him feel very sad;and the wise men who were about him asked him what was the matter. "I am thinking,"he said,"of what my sons may do after I am dead.For, unless they are wise and strong,they cannot keep the kingdom which I have won for them.Indeed,I am at a loss to know which one of the three ought to be the king when I am gone..” "O king!"said the wise men,"if we only knew what things your sons admire the most,we might then be able to tell what kind of men they will be.Perhaps,by asking each one of them a few questions,we can find out which one of them will be best fitted to rule in your place." "The plan is well worth trying,at least,"said the king."Have the boys come before you,and then ask them what you please." The wise men talked with one another for a little while,and then agreed that the young princes should be brought in,one at a time,and that the same questions should be put to each. The first who came into the room was Robert.He was a tall,willful lad and was nick-named Short Stocking ·018· 西方老故事50篇 4.征服者威廉的儿子们 从前，英格兰有一个伟大的国王，人们称他为征服 者威廉。威廉国王有三个儿子。 一天，威廉国王似乎想到了什么，心里感到十分难 过。身边的一些智者便问他到底为什么事而感到伤心。 “我在想，”国王说，“我死了以后，我的儿子们该 怎么办。如果他们没有智慧，没有力量，就守不住我为 他们打下的江山。而且我死后，也不知道他们三个谁能 做国王。” “啊，国王陛下！”智者们说，“如果能够知道他 们每个人心目中最崇拜什么，兴许就能知道他们的将 来。也许问他们每个人一些问题，就能够知道谁将来最 适合做国王。” “这个想法倒是值得试一试！”国王说，“去把孩 子们叫来，你们想问什么就问什么。” 智者们商议了片刻，决定每次只让一个王子进来， 要问的问题也都一模一样。 罗伯特王子第一个进来，他个子高，个性张扬，绰 ①lad [laed]n.少年，小伙 号“短袜”。 子 ·019· Fifty Famous Stories Retold "Fair sir,"said one of the men,"answer me this question:If,instead of being a boy,it had pleased God that you should be a bird,what kind of a bird would you rather be?" "A hawk,"answered Robert."I would rather be a hawk,for no other bird reminds one so much of a bold and gallant knight." The next who came was young William,his father's name-sake and pet. His face was jolly and round,and because he had red hair he was nicknamed Rufus④，or the Red. "Fair sir,"said the wise man,"answer me this question:If,instead of being a boy,it had pleased God that you should be a bird,what kind of a bird would you rather be?" "An eagle,"answered William."I would rather be an eagle,because it is strong and brave.It is feared by all other birds,and is therefore the king of them all.” Lastly came the youngest brother,Henry,with quiet steps and a sober, thoughtful look.He had been taught to read and write,and for that reason he was nicknamed Beau Clerc,or the Handsome Scholar. "Fair sir,"said the wise man,"answer me this question:If,instead of being a boy,it had pleased God that you should be a bird,what kind of a bird would you rather be?" "A starling,"said Henry."I would rather be a starling,because it is good- mannered and kind and a joy to every one who sees it,and it never tries to rob or abuse its neighbor..” Then the wise men talked with one another for a little while,and when they had agreed among themselves,they spoke to the king. "We find,"said they,"that your eldest son,Robert,will be bold and gallant. He will do some great deeds,and make a name for himself;but in the end he will be overcome by his foes⑦，and will die in prison. "The second son,William,will be as brave and strong as the eagle;but he will be feared and hated for his cruel deeds.He will lead a wicked life,and will ·020· 西方老故事50篇 “王子殿下，”一个智者问道，“请问：如果上帝想 让您变成一只鸟而不是人，您最想成为哪种鸟？” “我想成为老鹰，”罗伯特王子回答道，“在所有的 ①hawk[hak]n.鹰 鸟里面，只有老鹰才能和英勇无畏的骑士相比。” ②gallant[galant]a.英勇 威廉王子第二个进来。他和父王同名，深得父王的 的 宠爱。威廉王子性情乐观愉悦，圆脸，满头红发，因此 绰号“红头发”。 ③jolly[dsoli]a.愉快的 ④Rufus[ru:fas]n.[口语] “王子殿下，”智者又问，“请问：如果上帝想让您 “红毛”（对红头发人的 变成一只鸟而不是人，您最想成为哪种鸟？” 称呼) “我想做大雕，”威廉王子回答道，“大雕威武凶猛， 别的鸟儿都害怕它，大雕才是百鸟之王。” ⑤eagle[igl]n.雕 最后进来的是亨利王子。他年纪最轻，却步履沉稳， 神情稳重，脸上带着一副若有所思的表情。亨利王子受 过教育，能读会写，因此绰号“英俊的学者”。 “王子殿下，”智者继续问道，“请问：如果上帝想 让您变成一只鸟而不是人，您最想成为哪种鸟？ “我想成为一只八哥，”亨利王子回答说。“八哥对 人友善，举止文雅，它总能给见到它的人带来欢乐，而 且绝不害人。” 随后智者们又围在一起商议了片刻，达成一致的看 ⑥starling['sta:li]n.蒸八 法后，他们对国王说： 哥 “我们认为您的大儿子罗伯特长大后将是一个胆大 无畏的人，他会有一番作为，也能为自己扬名立威，可 是最终恐怕要被敌人打败，死于牢狱之中。 “您的二儿子威廉会像大雕一样威猛勇敢，但是他 凶残邪恶，恐将招人痛恨，死的时候会遭到万人的唾 骂。” ⑦foe[fun.敌人 ⑧wicked[wikid]a.邪恶 的 ·021· Fifty Famous Stories Retold die a shameful death "The youngest son,Henry,will be wise and prudent and peaceful.He will go to war only when he is forced to do so by his enemies.He will be loved at home,and respected abroad;and he will die in peace after having gained great possessions..” Years passed by,and the three boys had grown up to be men.King William lay upon his deathbed,and again he thought of what would become of his sons when he was gone.Then he remembered what the wise men had told him;and so he declared that Robert should have the lands which he held in France,that William should be the King of England,and that Henry should have no land at all,but only a chest of gold. So it happened in the end very much as the wise men had foretold.Robert,the Short Stocking,was bold and reckless,like the hawk which he so much admired. He lost all the lands that his father had left him,and was at last shut up in prison, where he was kept until he died. William Rufus was so overbearing and cruel that he was feared and hated by all his people.He led a wicked life,and was killed by one of his own men while hunting in the forest. And Henry,the Handsome Scholar,had not only the chest of gold for his own,but he became by and by the King of England and the ruler of all the lands that his father had had in France. ·022· 西方老故事50篇 “您的小儿子亨利聪明沉稳，生性平和，不到迫不 ①prudent[pru:dant]a.谨 得已是不会轻易挑起战争的。亨利王子将受到人民的喜 慎的 爱、外邦的敬仰，功名卓著，最后安然离世。” 几年过去了，三个王子均长大成人。在弥留之际， 威廉国王又想起自己死后儿子们该怎么办，智者们说的 那些话他没有忘记。因此他宣布把自己在法国的领地赐 给罗伯特，让威廉做英格兰的国王，而给亨利却没有分 ②deathbed[deObed]n.临 终（时睡的）床 一寸土地，只给了他一箱黄金。 故事最后的结局果然不出智者们的预料。长大后， “短袜”罗伯特性格胆大狂妄，就像他崇拜的老鹰那样， 最后不仅葬送了父王留给他的所有土地，而且还被关进 ③chest[tfest]n.箱子 大牢，死于牢狱之中。 “红头发”威廉傲慢残暴，生性邪恶，人民对他又 惧又恨：有一次他去森林里打猎，遭到了手下人的暗算。 而“英俊的学者”亨利则不但守住了自己的黄金， 后来还当了英格兰的国王，父王在法国的所有土地最后 也为他所有。 ·023·