马克吐温最佳短篇小说 12 The Stolen White Elephant
时间：2018-12-06 作者：英语课 分类：马克吐温最佳短篇小说
英语课
[Left out of A Tramp Abroad, because it was feared that some of the particulars had been exaggerated, and that others were not true. Before these suspicions had been proven groundless, the book had gone to press. --M. T.]
Chapter 1The following curious history was related to me by a chance railway acquaintance. He was a gentleman more than seventy years of age, and his thoroughly 1 good and gentle face and earnest and sincere manner imprinted 2 the unmistakable stamp of truth upon every statement which fell from his lips. He said:
You know in what reverence 3 the royal white elephant of Siam is held by the people of that country. You know it is sacred to kings, only kings may possess it, and that it is, indeed, in a measure even superior to kings, since it receives not merely honor but worship. Very well; five years ago, when the troubles concerning the frontier line arose between Great Britain and Siam, it was presently manifest that Siam had been in the wrong. Therefore every reparation was quickly made, and the British representative stated that he was satisfied and the past should be forgotten. This greatly relieved the King of Siam, and partly as a token of gratitude 4, partly also, perhaps, to wipe out any little remaining vestige 5 of unpleasantness which England might feel toward him, he wished to send the Queen a present--the sole sure way of propitiating 6 an enemy,according to Oriental ideas. This present ought not only to be a royal one, but transcendently royal. Wherefore, what offering could be so meet as that of a white elephant? My position in the Indian civil service was such that I was deemed peculiarly worthy 7 of the honor of conveying the present to her Majesty 8. A ship was fitted out for me and my servants and the officers and attendants of the elephant, and in due time I arrived in New York harbor and placed my royal charge in admirable quarters in Jersey 9 City. It was necessary to remain awhile in order to recruit the animal's health before resuming the voyage.
1 thoroughly
adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地
- The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
- The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
2 imprinted
v.盖印（imprint的过去式与过去分词形式）
- The terrible scenes were indelibly imprinted on his mind. 那些恐怖场面深深地铭刻在他的心中。
- The scene was imprinted on my mind. 那个场面铭刻在我的心中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 reverence
n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬
- He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
- We reverence tradition but will not be fettered by it.我们尊重传统，但不被传统所束缚。
4 gratitude
adj.感激，感谢
- I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
- She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。
5 vestige
n.痕迹，遗迹，残余
- Some upright stones in wild places are the vestige of ancient religions.荒原上一些直立的石块是古老宗教的遗迹。
- Every vestige has been swept away.一切痕迹都被一扫而光。
7 worthy
adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的
- I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
- There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。