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课文22 熟记台词# e' w1 Z9 Z. {) j$ X3 u' B5 P1 k
370. Some plays are so successful that they run for years on end.0 Q: `% f+ k* o* T7 J
有些剧目十分成功,以致连续上演好几年。8 w4 d6 u4 S9 r/ L- e
371. In many ways, this is unfortunate for the poor actors who are required to go on repeating the same lines night after night.3 j+ S% b3 G; A$ O( W9 N( l( |2 G3 I
这样一来,可怜的演员们可倒霉了。因为他们需要一夜连着一夜地重复同样的台词。- W2 `( b' J0 h: Z* S
372. One would expect them to know their parts by heart and never have cause to falter.# H; Y P' [3 p4 L9 t0 H8 \: ~
人们以为,这些演员一定会把台词背得烂熟,绝不会临场结巴的,- a% [3 D+ ]3 o+ R; w+ E
373. Yet this is not always the case.1 S1 {% r. S6 t7 [
但情况却并不总是这样。! W' W2 F$ V- U
374. A famous actor in a highly successful play was once cast in the role of an aristocrat who had been imprisoned in the Bastille for twenty years.6 H* Y. }7 z7 t9 Y1 X
有一位名演员曾在一出极为成功的剧目中扮演一个贵族角色,这个贵族已在巴士底狱被关押了20年。0 p% U4 J9 v1 T- k
375. In the last act, a gaoler would always come on to the stage with a letter which he would hand to the prisoner.7 ?3 K# ?7 W+ P4 g" _1 [
在最后一幕中,狱卒手持一封信上场,然后将信交给狱中那位贵族。
5 Y7 A; B* c7 v+ {376. Even though the noble was expected to read the letter at each performance,
) k$ n" u( F6 V7 A" f. V 尽管那个贵族每场戏都得念一遍那封信。$ g1 N4 T# V: t, w0 a. ]
377. he always insisted that it should be written out in full.1 B* r! Y, E- J: g& t+ [/ O; {% B
但他还是坚持要求将信的全文写在信纸上。2 U4 E, @+ C% T- H% M
378. One night, the gaoler decided to play a joke on his colleague to find out if,
( q' Q3 l C/ F, X, a* P9 p5 u 一天晚上,狱卒决定与他的同事开一个玩笑,4 C. `9 I- d! n; c8 V' C
379. after so many performances, he had managed to learn the contents of the letter by heart.# w o6 q% D$ t1 g. E' j
看看他反复演出这么多场之后,是否已将信的内容记熟了。
# G- Q# Q1 d0 I5 J# j4 x6 L5 p380. The curtain went up on the final act of the play and revealed the aristocrat sitting alone behind bars in his dark cell.2 B7 @( j/ ?( h( ]- |+ d! O
大幕拉开,最后一幕戏开演,贵族独自一人坐在铁窗后阴暗的牢房里。. \& t/ |6 L+ M* ^1 B
381. Just then, the gaoler appeared with the precious letter in his bands.
3 ]7 G: d7 W: ~ 这时狱卒上场,手里拿着那封珍贵的信。
; O. B6 s9 T# |; {; L382. He entered the cell and presented the letter to the aristocrat.( b% k/ m4 u+ @' t
狱卒走进牢房,将信交给贵族。5 D0 M5 i6 \$ V" I1 W; ^
383. But the copy he gave him had not been written out in full as usual.
6 k0 I$ J& R- g* l 但这回狱卒给贵族的信没有像往常那样把全文写全,1 S# r/ S% G$ V$ U
384. It was simply a blank sheet of paper./ W1 I% T+ H) ]- J* X; I
而是一张白纸。
. k; Z8 a, \4 v; V [$ g8 Y385. The gaoler looked on eagerly, anxious to see if his fellow actor had at last learnt his lines.! p0 k, D; z. Z* i" E4 ?
狱卒热切地观察着,急于想了解他的同事是否记熟了台词。
# z% l3 r m! Y) G: r) I386. The noble stared at the blank sheet of paper for a few seconds.
- ~6 Z" n" o( C6 {% Y* k 贵族盯着纸看了几秒钟,, p% z _: }' l2 q# |# N% A
387. Then, squinting his eyes, he said: 'The light is dim. Read the letter to me'.4 c6 F; w8 Y' }* u0 p, b( P" u
然后,眼珠一转,说道:“光线太暗,请给我读一下这封信。”
% A& t7 D7 C6 i4 x$ d3 Y388. And he promptly handed the sheet of paper to the gaoler.
0 n" H, b7 m/ t9 u# Z 说完,他一下子把信递给狱卒。 t7 M; Q" N' G3 g. r1 v
389. Finding that he could not remember a word of the letter either,
U$ X" J. n% ], d9 Z3 S2 }' h 狱卒发现自己连一个字也记不住,& O8 y8 w' w6 u# M y# o
390. the gaoler replied: 'The light is indeed dim, sire. I must get my glasses.', y+ e( a x. n$ ?+ i
于是便说:“陛下,这儿光线的确太暗了,我得去眼镜拿来。”
5 ` @5 c* W8 R& f391. With this, he hurried off the stage.2 {$ ^) L, o- r9 I; M/ C2 D8 ^8 v" D
他一边说着,一边匆匆下台。% m" L1 x* ]3 n/ _
392. Much to the aristocrat's amusement,
3 ?6 q% b% v$ \' R# f [( V; ` 贵族感到非常好笑的是:9 }9 ]9 G3 Q6 B% W+ s) F. {# j+ M
393. the gaoler returned a few moments later with a pair of glasses and the usual copy of the letter which he proceeded to read to the prisoner.8 Z" h9 }6 [$ m- u5 o. A" |
一会儿工夫,狱卒重新登台,拿来一副眼镜以及平时使用的那封信,然后为那囚犯念了起来。 |
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