轶事英语

『名人轶事【1】向肖伯纳求婚』1．Marriage Proposal to Bernard ShawOnce a beautiful and dissolute British actress wrote to propose marriage to Bernard Shaw． She said she did not mindBernard Shaw's old age and ugliness because he was a genius． And if they could combine the beauty of the woman with the talents of the great man，that would be greatly harmonious． “With your wisdom and my appearance，our children must be perfect．”Bernard Shaw answered，in a letter，that her imagination wassplendid，“But，what if the children take my appearance and yourwisdom？”1．向肖伯纳求婚英国有位美貌风流的女演员，曾写信向肖伯纳求婚。她说，因为他是个天才，她不嫌肖伯纳年迈丑陋。假如能使女郎的美貌和超人的天才结合，那该是多么协调啊。“咱们的后代有你的智慧和我的美貌，那一定是十全十美了。”肖伯纳给她回了一封信说，她的想象很是美妙，“可是，假如生下的孩子外貌象我，而智慧又象你，那又该怎么办呢？” 名人轶事』（英汉对照）『名人轶事【2】闹饥荒的原因』2．The Reason of the FamineIn one dinner party，a capitalist eyed bony Bernard Shawup and down regretfully， and said in all seriousness，“Look atyour appearance，it really makes people believe that all the Britishare starving．”Bernard Shaw，examining the potbellied capitalist，said，“But，I know as soon as I saw you the reason why Britain is suf－fering from famine．”2．闹饥荒的原因在一次宴会上，一个资本家用遗憾的目光上下打量着瘦骨嶙峋的肖伯纳，一本正经地说：“看看你的模样，真叫人以为英国人都在挨饿。”肖伯纳审视着大腹便便的资本家说：“但是，我一见到你，就知道英国正在闹饥荒的原因了。” 『名人轶事【3】开头写得差是好事』3．Good to Write Poorly at the BeginningOnce Chekhov met a young writer．The moment he sawChekhov，the writer said，in great distress，that when he beganwriting，he could not write well no matter how hard he tried．Hisstyle of writing often went against the expression of his ideas，and he was in deep agony for his clumsiness and his situation．On hearing it，Chekhov，instead of giving slightest comfort，saidsurprisingly，What are you talking about？It is good to writepoorly at the beginning．”The young writer was astounded after hearing that，and wasat a loss what to do．Chekhov continued，“Of course it's good．You see，if a new writer could write fluently overnight， then hewas over，and he would have no great future in writing．”3．开头写得差是好事有一次，契诃夫遇到一个青年作家，这个作家一看到契诃夫，便苦恼地说，自己开始写作时，无论如何也写不好，文笔和思想的表达常常相悖，他深为自己的笨拙与自己的处境感到痛苦。契诃夫听后，非但没有给予丝毫的安慰，反而吃惊地说：“您都说了些什么呀！开头写得差，这是好事么！”青年作家听后，大为惊讶，不知该如何是好。契诃夫接着说：“当然是好事了。您得明白，如果初拿笔的作家一下子就写得顺顺当当，那么他就完了，他在写作上是没有什么前途的。” 『名人轶事【4】一场累人的斗争』4．An Exhausting StruggleBalzac once said artistic creation was “an exhausting strug-gle”．He believed that only by tenacious work and fearing notafraid of difficulties could you show your talent．It was just likethe soldiers charging the fortress，not relaxing your effort foreven a moment．Once Balzac wrote for hours on end， he was so tired that hecould not hold out any longer．He ran to a friend's home andplunged headlong on the sofa．He wanted to sleep，but he told hisfriend he must be woken up within an hour．His friend，seeinghim so tired，did not wake him up on time．After he woke up，Balzac got very angry at his friend．Fortunately his friend had anintimate understanding of him and did not quarrel with him．Balzac did not smoke cigarettes，nor did he drink any alco－hol． But he got one habit：while he was writing he always drankvery strong coffee that could almost anaesthetize his stomach．Hedidn't add milk，nor did he add sugar in his coffee．It would notsatisfy him until it was made bitter．People generally did not liketo drink such bitter coffee．That had strange stimulus effect tohim，and could help him drive the sleepiness away，according tohimself．4．一场累人的斗争巴尔扎克说过，艺术创造是“一场累人的斗争”。他认为，只有顽强地工作，不怕困难，才能把自己的才华表现出来。这就好象向堡垒冲击的战士，一刻也不能松劲。有一次，巴尔扎克一连写了好几个小时，累得实在支持不住了，跑到一个朋友家里，一头倒在沙发上。他想睡一觉，但他告诉朋友，一定要在一小时之内叫醒他。他的朋友见他非常疲劳，就没有按时叫醒他。他醒来后，对朋友大发脾气。幸好他的朋友很了解他，没有和他争吵。巴尔扎克既不抽烟，也不喝酒。但他有个习惯：当他写作的时候，总是呷着几乎可以使胃麻痹的浓咖啡。他的咖啡里既不加牛奶，也不加糖，要熬得发苦才满意。象这样苦的咖啡，一般人都不愿意喝。据他自己说，这样对他有奇异的刺激作用，可以驱走睡魔。