Alexander Ⅲ of Macedon 亞歷山大大帝
One day King Philip ( King of Macedon ) bought a fine horse called Bucephalus. 一天,國王菲利普(馬其頓國王)買來一匹好馬, 叫比塞弗勒斯。
He was a noble animal, and the king paid a very high price for him. 這是一匹良種馬,國王是出了很高價(jià)格買來的。
But he was wild and savage, and no man could mount him, or do anything at all with him. 但是它既野又兇,誰都駕馭不了它。誰也對它沒辦法。
They tried to whip him, but that only made him worse. 他們用鞭子抽它,但那只能使它更野更兇。
At last the king bade his servant to take him away. 最后, 國王吩咐仆人把它牽走。
“It is a pity to ruin so fine a horse as that,”said Alexander, the king’s young son. “把這么一匹好馬毀了,真可惜,”國王的小兒子亞 歷山大說。
“Those men do not know how to treat him.” 那些人不懂得怎么對待它。
“Perhaps you can do better than they,” said his father scornfully. “也許你比他們都高明,”他父親以諷刺的口吻說。
“I know,” said Alexander, “that, if you would only give me leave to try, I could manage this horse better than any one else.” “我懂得.”亞歷山大說,“只要您同意讓我試試, 我就可以把這匹馬馴得比任何人馴得都好。”
“And if you fail to do so, what then?” asked Philip. “可是假如你做不到這一點(diǎn),那又該怎么辦? ”菲利普問道。
“I will pay you the price of the horse.” said the lad. “我就把您買這匹馬的錢償還給您,”小伙子說。
While everybody was laughing, Alexander ran up to Bucephalus, 大家正笑著的時(shí)候,亞歷山大就跑向比塞弗勒斯,
and turned his head towards the sun, for he had noticed that the horse was afraid of his own shadow. 把它的頭對著太陽。他已經(jīng)注意到,這匹馬害怕自己的影子。
He then spoke gently to the horse, and patted him with his hand. 接著他溫和地對馬說起話來,用手撫摸著它。
When he had quieted him a little, he made a quick spring, and leaped upon the horse’s back. 他使它稍微安靜下來以后,就飛快地一躍,跳上了馬背。
Everybody expected to see the boy killed outright. 大家都以為這個(gè)男孩會當(dāng)場被摔死。
But he kept his place, and let the horse run as fast as he could. 但是他穩(wěn)坐在馬背上,讓這匹馬盡情地飛跑。
By and by when Brucephalus had become tired, 亞歷山大就騎著它,回到他父親的地方。
Alexander reined him in and rode back to the place where his father was standing. 不久,比塞弗勒斯跑累了,
All the men who were there shouted when they saw that the boy had proved himself to be the master of the horse. 在場的人們看到這個(gè)男孩確實(shí)夠資格成為這匹馬的主人,都?xì)g呼起來。
He leaped to the ground, and his father ran and kissed him. 他跳下馬來,他父親跑過來吻他。
“My son,” said the king, “Macedon is too small a place for you. “我的兒子,”國王說,“馬其頓這個(gè)地方對你來說太小了。”
You must seek a larger kingdom that will be worthy of you. 必須找一個(gè)更大的地方才容得下你。”
After that, Alexander and Bucephalus were the best of friends. 從那以后,亞歷山大和比塞弗勒斯成了最好的朋友。
They were said to be always together, for when one of them was seen, the other one was sure to be not far away. 人們都說他倆總在一起。因?yàn)橹灰吹狡渲械囊粋€(gè),另一個(gè)肯定就在不遠(yuǎn)的地方。
But the horse would never allow any one to mount him but his master. 可是,這匹馬除了他的主人外,從來不許任何人騎它。
Alexander became the most famous king and warrior that were ever known. 亞歷山大成了最著名的國王和勇士。
And for that reason he is always called Alexander the Great. 因?yàn)檫@個(gè)緣故,人們總稱他亞歷山大大帝。
Brucephalus carried him through many countries and in many fierce battles, and more than once did he save his master’s life. 比塞弗勒斯曾馱著他去過很多國家,參加過許多激烈的戰(zhàn)爭,而且不止一次救過它主人的性命。