King Canute on the Seashore克努特国王在海滨
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，统治英格兰的国王名叫克努特。像许多领导者和掌权人一样，克努特总是被称赞他的人包围着。每当他走进房间，奉承就片始了。
"You are the greatest man that ever lived," one would say.
“您是古往今来最伟大的人，”有个人会这么说。
Then another would insist, "O king! There can never be another man so mighty as you,"
接着另一个会坚持说:“啊，国王，再不能有别的人像您这样强大了。”
And someone would smile and say,‘Your highness, there is nothing you cannot do."
又一个人会微笑着说：“殿下，没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."
“伟大的克努特，您是万王之王，”另一个会高唱。“在这世上没有人敢违背您。”
The king was a man of senses, and he grew tired of hearing such foolish speeches.
国王是个明白人，他听腻了这些蠢话。
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，他走在海边，军官和朝臣们陪同在他左右，仍像往常一样颂扬他。克努特决定给他们一个教训，所以他命令他们把椅子放在沙滩上，紧靠水边。
"So you say I am the greatest man in the world?" he asked.
“你们说我是世界上最伟大的人，是吗？”他问。
"O king," they cried, "there never has been anyone as powerful as you, and there never be anyone so great, ever again!"
“噢，国王陛下，”他们喊道，“从来没有像您一样强大的人了，将来也不会有和您一样伟大的人，绝不会胡！”
"And you say all things obey me'?" Canute asked.
“你们说一切都听我的吗？”克努特问。
"Absolutely!" they said. "The world bows before you, and gives you honor."
“绝对！”他们说。“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，”国王答道。“这样的话，把我的倚子拿来，让我们走到水里。”
"At once, your majesty!" They scrambled to carry his royal chair over the sands.
“马上，陛下!”他们争相把宝座从沙滩上抬起来。
"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'?"
“把它放得离大海更近些，”克努特喊道，“就把它放在这里，就在水边。”他坐下来.环视着眼前的大海。“我注意到潮水就要上涨。你们认为如果我命令它，它会停止吗?”
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.
官员们被难住了，但是他们不敢说不。“下命令吧，噢，伟大的国王，它一定会听从的。”一个人向他保证。
"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，不许再向前!海浪，停止翻滚!浪涛.停止撞击!不许碰到我的脚!”
He waited a moment, quietly, and a tiny wave rushed up the sand and lapped at his feet.
他静静地等了一会儿，一个小小的波浪冲上沙滩，拍扫一着他的脚。
"How dare you!" Canute shouted. "Ocean, turn back now! I have ordered you to retreat before me, and now you must obey! Go back!"
“大胆!”克努特大喊道。“大海，现在就回头!我已经给你下达了命令，在我面前后退，现在你必须遵守!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.
作为回答，另一个波浪冲上前来，包围了国王的脚。潮水依然像往常一样上涨起来。海水越涨越高，涨到了国王椅子周围，不仅打湿了国王的脚，还有他的长袍。军官们站在他的面前，大感震惊，怀疑国王是不是疯了。
"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，我的朋友们，”克努特说，“看来我并不像你们让我相信的那样强大。也许你们今天学到了什么。也许现在你们记起只有一个国王是万能的，是他主宰着大海，把海洋握在手心。我建议你们把赞美留给他吧。”
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.
王宫军官和朝臣们垂下头，看起来很可笑。有人说，不久克努特摘下了他的王冠，再也没戴过。
课堂笔记：
1.克努特(?- 1035)，建立了包括今丹麦、挪威、英格兰、苏格兰大部和瑞典南部的大帝国，被尊称为“克努特大帝”，他的帝国也被称为“北海帝国”，是历史上唯一一个几乎统治了北海沿岸地区的帝王.
2.英语中“of+名词”结构相当于这一名词的形容词，此处的“a man of sense"表示“a sensible man",意思是“明智的人”.
3."bade"的原形为“bid"，在此表“吩咐，命令”之意，是一个使役动词，后接不定式时省略"to".
4.结构“have sb. do sth.”中的“have”为使役动词，表示“使某人做某事”。
5.克努特国王说的“唯一的万能的国王”就是上帝。
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