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There was a beautiful town. The town was led by a friendly and generous man, who is the richest person in the town. He was so generous that he always helped people and fulfilled their needs.
The rich man was happy that he was gifted with a son. He was married 10 years and did not have a child for so many years. In order to celebrate the birth of his child, he arranged for a massive feast to all the people in the town.
He appointed famous cooks from various parts of the country and ordered them to serve more than 100 varieties of foods to the villagers.
The cooks and their assistants started cooking the feast. While they managed to have the majority of foods, they weren't able to get truffle, a special delicacy.
The rich man, on knowing this, announced to the people that he would reward enormously to the person who brings him the truffle to complete the feast.
The announcement was made all over the town and many villagers tried hard to get truffle. While most of them failed, a middle-aged farmer named Truman got a huge truffle and rushed to the rich man.
While he was about to enter into his mansion, Truman was stopped by the gate-keeper. After arguments for quite some time, the farmer promises to give half the reward he earns if the gatekeeper allows let him inside.
The greedy gatekeeper considering the announcement of lump-sum reward from his employer, let Truman go inside with the truffle.
The rich man was happy seeing the truffle and ordered his cooks to complete the feast. And he said to Truman, "I'm so happy that you got me the truffle here, please tell me what you want? I can reward you anything. Do you need a bag of gold coins? jewelry? a big house or land?"
The farmer who brought the truffle said, "I want 100 lashes on my back!"
Everyone was stunned to hear this! Still, as promised, the rich man decided to reward Truman as he wishes.
Before the servants were prepared to lash him, Truman requested the rich man to call the gate-keeper inside.
Everyone was puzzled about the connection between these two.
Truman pointing at the gatekeeper and explained, "he is my business partner. He refused to let me take the truffle inside and make me promised him to reward 50 percent of whatever I receive. So please, he deserves half the reward you are giving me!"
The rich man suddenly realized the reason behind the demand of 100 lashes. He told the gatekeeper, "I decide to reward you fully that is asked by the man who brought the truffle!"
The greedy gate-keeper had a big wry smile and bow down. The servant lashed him 100 times on his back and he was severely regretted! On the other hand, the farmer Truman was rewarded with many gold coins.
解 說
有一個美麗的小鎮，鎮上有一位友善又慷慨的領導人物，他是小鎮最富有的人。他總是幫助人們、滿足大家的需求。
富人最近喜獲麟兒，他結婚十年，終於有了孩子。為了慶祝寶寶的誕生，他安排了一場盛大的餐宴，邀請鎮上的所有人。
他仔細挑選來自全國各地的著名廚師，並要求他們為村民提供百餘種菜餚。
廚師和他們的助手開始為盛宴烹飪。雖然他們設法取得了大部分食物材料，但卻無法找到松露，一種珍稀的美食。
這位有錢人在知道此事後，向大眾宣布，為他找來松露、完成這場盛宴的人，將重重地酬謝。
城鎮的所有角落都傳遍了這個消息，許多村民都努力嘗試尋求松露，大多數都失敗了，一位名叫楚門的中年農夫得到了一塊巨大的松露，迅速地想獻給富人。
當他即將進入富人的豪宅時，楚門被看門人攔住了。經過相當長的一段時間的爭執後，農夫楚門承諾，如果看門人允許他進屋，會分一半的獎勵給他。
貪婪的看門人想到雇主所宣布的「重重地酬謝」，於是讓農夫帶著松露進入。
富人看到松露很高興，讓他的廚師完成松露盛宴。他對楚門說：「我很高興你把松露帶來這裡，請告訴我，你想要什麼？我能酬謝你什麼？你需要一袋金幣嗎？珠寶？一個大房子或土地？」
帶來松露的農夫楚門說：「我想要在背上挨一百下鞭子！」
每個人聽到這個都驚呆了！儘管如此，如同自己所承諾的，富人決定按照楚門的意願給他獎勵。
在僕人準備鞭打他之前，楚門要求富人叫看門人進屋。
每個人都對這兩者之間的關聯感到困惑。
楚門指著看門人解釋說：「他是我的『生意夥伴』。他拒絕讓我把松露帶進來，除非我答應分給他一半的獎賞。所以請給他應得的一半！」
富人突然明白「要求在背上挨一百下鞭子」作為獎賞的真正原因。他告訴看門人：「那個帶來松露男人的獎勵，我決定全部賞給你！」
貪婪的看門人苦笑著低頭鞠躬。僕人在他背上鞭打了一百下，他非常後悔；另一方面，農夫楚門則獲得了許多金幣，作為帶來松露的獎勵。
WOW!
原來如此
「gifted」是「被贈予的（天賦）」，例如：
Man is gifted with a moral sense by which he distinguishes good from evil.（區別善惡是人與生俱來的道德觀。）
Gifted teachers can really bring literature to life for their students.（優秀的教師可以扎實地將文學帶進學生的生活中。）
Alice is doubly gifted: as a writer and as an artist.（愛麗絲有當作家和藝術家的雙重天賦。）
「massive」是「粗大厚實的」，例如：
The temple roof was supported by eight massive stone pillars.（這寺廟的屋頂由，八塊巨大的石柱支撐。）
The country has undergone massive changes recently.（這個國家近來發生了天翻地覆的變化。）
The gorilla in Africa has a massive forehead.（非洲的大猩猩有著巨大的額頭。）
「delicacy」是「精巧微妙」，也是「珍味佳餚」，例如：
I don't suppose you quite appreciate the delicacy of the unique situation.（我不認為你會欣賞這種獨特情況的微妙之處。）
The baby's skin has the delicacy of a flower.（嬰兒的皮膚，有如花瓣微妙纖細。）
This region of south France produces fruits of great delicacy.（在這個法國南部的地區，生產極為美味的水果。）
The
Impossible
Dream
〈The Impossible Dream〉完整的歌曲由Mitch Leigh所創作，歌詞由Joe Darion編寫。這首歌是1965年百老匯音樂劇《Man of La Mancha》之中，最受歡迎的歌曲，描述唐吉訶德（Don Quixote）挑戰風車（不可能的夢）。
Jessica：Hello, it’s been a long time since the last time we meet.
Monica：Long time no see, I haven’t seen you quite a while.
Jessica：Exactly how long do you think that it has been?
Monica：I believe that it has been two years since we last saw each other.
Jessica：So where have you been since I last saw you?
Monica：I am working on my doctorate at Oxford.
Jessica：What is your field of emphasis?
Monica：I decided to pursue English Literature.
To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest, to follow that star
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far
To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march
Into hell for a heavenly cause
敢作不可能的夢
對抗無敵的敵人
承受著無法忍耐的悲傷
闖勇者也不敢去的地方
糾正無法挽回的錯誤
遙向純淨與聖潔示愛
疲憊得舉不起臂，仍要努力
嘗試觸摸，遙不可及的群星
這是我的訴求，朝向星星
無論多麼無望，不管多遠
為追求正義而戰
毫無疑問或停頓
願天降使命前進
義無反顧入地獄追尋 |
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發表於 2019-11-19 20:08:15
發表於 2020-3-10 12:39:51