VOA慢速新闻附字幕:欧·亨利小说《婚姻的精确科学》
日期:2018-06-01 14:37

(单词翻译:单击)

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听力文本

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Our story today is called "The Exact Science of Matrimony." It was written by O. Henry. Here is Barbara Klein with the story.
Jeff Peters and Andy Tucker could never be trusted. One day, the two men decided to open a marriage business to make some quick and easy money. The first thing they did was to write an advertisement to be published in newspapers. Their advertisement read like this:
"A charming widow, beautiful and home-loving, would like to remarry. She is only thirty-two years old. She has three thousand dollars in cash and owns valuable property in the country. She would like a poor man with a loving heart. No objection to an older man or to one who is not good-looking. But he needs to be faithful and true, can take care of property and invest money with good judgment. Give address, with details about yourself. Signed: Lonely, care of Peters and Tucker, agents, Cairo, Illinois."
When they finished writing the ad, Jeff Peters said to Andy Tucker: "So far, so good. And now, where is the lady?"
Andy gave Jeff an unhappy look. "What does a marriage advertisement have to do with a lady?" he asked.
"Now listen," Jeff answered. "You know my rule, Andy. In all illegal activities, we must obey the law, in every detail. Something offered for sale must exist. It must be seen. You must be able to produce it. That is how I have kept out of trouble with the police. Now, for this business to work, we must be able to produce a charming widow, with or without the beauty, as advertised."
"Well," said Andy, after thinking it over, "it might be better, if the United States Post Office should decide to investigate our marriage agency. But where can you hope to find a widow who would waste her time on a marriage proposal that has no marriage in it?"
Jeff said that he knew just such a woman.
"An old friend of mine, Zeke Trotter," he said, "used to work in a tent show. He made his wife a widow by drinking too much of the wrong kind of alcohol. I used to stop at their house often. I think we can get her to work with us."
Missus Zeke Trotter lived in a small town not far away. Jeff Peters went out to see her. She was not beautiful and not so young. But she seemed all right to Jeff.

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"Is this an honest deal you are putting on, Mister Peters?" she asked when he told her what he wanted.
"Missus Trotter," said Jeff, "three thousand men will seek to marry you to get your money and property. What are they prepared to give in exchange? Nothing! Nothing but the bones of a lazy, dishonest, good-for-nothing fortune-seeker. We will teach them something. This will be a great moral campaign. Does that satisfy you?"
"It does, Mister Peters," she said. "But what will my duties be? Do I have to personally reject these three thousand good-for-nothings you speak of? Or can I throw them out in bunches?"
Jeff explained that her job would be easy. She would live in a quiet hotel and have no work to do. He and Andy would take care of all letters and the business end of the plot. But he warned her that some of the men might come to see her in person. Then, she would have to meet them face-to-face and reject them. She would be paid twenty-five dollars a week and hotel costs.
"Give me five minutes to get ready," Missus Trotter said. "Then you can start paying me."
So Jeff took her to the city and put her in a hotel far enough from Jeff and Andy's place to cause no suspicion.
Jeff Peters and Andy Tucker were now ready to catch a few fish on the hook. They placed their advertisement in newspapers across the country. They put two thousand dollars in a bank in Missus Trotter's name. They gave her the bank book to show if anyone questioned the honesty of their marriage agency. They were sure that Missus Trotter could be trusted and that it was safe to leave the money in her name.
Their ad in the newspapers started a flood of letters – more than one hundred a day. Jeff and Andy worked twelve hours a day answering them. Most of the men wrote that they had lost their jobs. The world misunderstood them. But they were full of love and other good qualities.
Jeff and Andy answered every letter with high praise for the writer. They asked the men to send a photograph and more details. And they told them to include two dollars to cover the cost of giving the second letter to the charming widow.
Almost all the men sent in the two dollars requested. It seemed to be an easy business. Still, Andy and Jeff often spoke about the trouble of cutting open envelopes and taking the money out.
A few of the men came in person. Jeff and Andy sent them to Missus Trotter and she did the rest. Soon, Jeff and Andy were receiving about two hundred dollars a day. One day, a federal postal inspector came by. But Jeff satisfied him that they were not breaking the law.
After about three months, Jeff and Andy had collected more than five thousand dollars, and they decided it was time to stop. Some people were beginning to question their honesty. And, Missus Trotter seemed to have grown tired of her job. Too many men had come to see her and she did not like that.
Jeff went to Missus Trotter's hotel to pay her what she was owed, and to say goodbye. He also wanted her to repay the two thousand dollars that was put into her bank account.
When Jeff walked into the room she was crying, like a child who did not want to go to school.
"Now, now," he said. "What's it all about? Somebody hurt you? Are you getting homesick?"
"No, Mister Peters," she said. "I'll tell you. You were always a good friend of my husband Zeke. Mister Peters, I am in love. I just love a man so hard I can't bear not to get him. He's just the kind I've always had in mind."
"Then take him," said Jeff. "Does he feel the same way about you?"
"He does," Missus Trotter answered. "But there is a problem. He is one of the men who have been coming to see me in answer to your advertisement. And he will not marry me unless I give him the two thousand dollars. His name is William Wilkinson."
Jeff felt sorry for her. He said he would be glad to let her give the two thousand dollars to Mister Wilkinson, so that she could be happy. But he said he had to talk to his partner about it.
Jeff returned to his hotel and discussed it with Andy.
"I was expecting something like this," Andy said. "You can't trust a woman to stick with you in any plan that involves her emotions."
Jeff said it was a sad thing to think that they were the cause of the breaking of a woman's heart. Andy agreed with him.
"I'll tell you what I am willing to do," said Andy. "Jeff, you have always been a man of a soft and generous heart. Perhaps I have been too hard and worldly and suspicious. For once, I will meet you half-way. Go to Missus Trotter. Tell her to take the two thousand dollars out of the bank and give it to this Wilkinson fellow and be happy."
Jeff shook Andy's hand for a long time. Then he went back to Missus Trotter. She cried as hard for joy as she had done for sorrow.
Two days later, Jeff and Andy prepared to leave town.
"Wouldn't you like to go meet Missus Trotter once before we leave?" Jeff asked Andy. "She'd like to express her thanks to you."
"Why, I guess not," Andy said. "I think we should hurry and catch the train."
Jeff was putting all the money they had received in a belt he tied around his body. Then Andy took a large amount of money out of his pocket and asked Jeff to put it together with the other money.
"What's this?" Jeff asked.
"It's Missus Trotter's two thousand dollars," said Andy.
"How do you come to have it?" Jeff asked.
"Missus Trotter gave it to me," Andy answered. "I have been calling on her three nights a week for more than a month."
"Then you are William Wilkinson?" Jeff asked.
"I was," Andy said.

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重点解析

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1.in exchange 交换

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He paid her a huge salary. In exchange, he was assured of her vote.
他给她支付了很高的薪水,作为交换,他确定能够得到她的选票Gyh;,JfkQ#W2QWV

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2.make money 赚钱

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I think every business's goal is to make money
我认为各家公司的目的都是赚钱[cskfz_ktXQ,&~%

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3.full of 充满

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I set off, full of optimism.
我无比乐观地出发了3seP9%[~h@eP,D@Ln)wb

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4.You must be able to produce it.

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be able to 能够

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I haven’t been able to get much work done today.
我今天未能干多少工作]j6ye,b6r3-

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5.She has three thousand dollars in cash.

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in cash 现金

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The farmers will be paid for their grain in cash, instead of IOUs.
农民卖粮,将以现金支付,而不是白条了qIv+-8E|+r%X*Z3

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6.I'll tell you what I am willing to do.

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be willing to 愿意

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You must be willing to reskill.
你必须乐于学习新技术aKRkl0Pb]!f&Z

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参考译文

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今天我们的故事叫做《婚姻的精确科学》,作者欧·亨利,演播芭巴拉·克莱恩ZzWD3rFjuo8Xef7
杰夫·彼得斯和安迪·塔克是永远信不着的家伙%IN.IRUi8u。一天,两人决定做点婚介营生,妄图在短时间内轻松捞上一笔8h8qI.uIcmEppXE)。他们做的第一件事就是拟写一则征婚广告o.LPhgQ_COH%;WV.i9M@。其广告全文如下:
“迷人寡妇一名,美丽贤淑,又很爱家,年方三十二岁,欲再婚BD#V*l#qHCEP2=4,w。除了三千美元现钞外,她资产可观,希望寻找一位充满爱心的男士为伴,不求对方拥有多少财产,只要他忠实诚恳,有良好的投资眼光,善于理财,相貌平平或者年龄稍大都无妨H;XnQjLiNaue。来信请附上地址和详情jS)R^0yXnh!9Fz_p。联系人:伊利诺伊州开罗市婚姻代理彼得斯和塔克.9aF*M2jd)6Y。”
写完广告后,杰夫·彼得斯对安迪·塔克说:“到目前为止一切顺利+REZV15p2Ug0oxgVt.。可现在,我们到哪里去找这样一个女人呢?”
安迪不快地瞪了杰夫一眼,说,“一则征婚广告干女人何事?”
“听着!”杰夫回答,“安迪,你知道我的原则PG.Aal~Yx2K~m#x。在所有违法的生意中,我们必须遵循法律的每一个细节jObWXzZ2Mj8_JtiWY。出售的货物必须存在,它要看得见摸得着!正因为如此,警察才一直没找我麻烦A71lj_7Ro*u_UC。现在,为了这生意能一帆风顺地进行,我们必须依照广告所言找到一个迷人寡妇,有无美貌无所谓+z4-iI0!z[T.9Nk。”
“好吧J&KeWrpUCGFTJ_[。”安迪略加思索说道,“那样最好,以防邮政局来调查我们Lic~8jlLvHGr=p*。但是,你指望到哪找这样一个寡妇,愿意把时间浪费在一个没有结果的婚姻计划上?”杰夫说他知道一个女人8L1Q)D=J!Deae,vkf=9t
“我的一位老朋友泽克·特罗特因为喝多了假酒中毒身亡,留下一位遗孀GSVj&pby5S)36vSgPeZ。”他说,“我过去常常去他们家,我想可以请她与我们合作Fh=tu(s41^bKM[Q%
泽克·特罗特夫人住在不远的一座小城&mg4mY;~N%ll^dC_。杰夫·彼得斯过去看她O(7Ik5[e#ti+PKS^)94。她既不漂亮也不年轻,不过,杰夫觉得她正合适_bbB_%w6z#6m-NQbe
当杰夫告诉她这个计划时,她问:“您做是正经买卖吗,彼得斯先生?”
“特罗特夫人,”杰夫说,“全国会有三千个男人,为了取得你的钱和财产想与你结婚8_pLUgXQ-)t0seGDXT。他们打算拿什么作为交换呢?没有!除了一副懒骨头,他们什么都没有ZMF1EtH|P8。他们都是些一无是处的家伙,是想撞大运的骗子aKaV+U%F~#pFAw!OA。我们打算狠狠地教训一下他们!这是一次了不起的正义活动,这样你能满意吗?
“满意,彼得斯先生5(Wa_e8cjK3d2~[f。”她说,“我的任务是什么?我需要一一拒绝他们吗?还是一古脑把他们全甩掉9fr+7qCYa8jTfuLV。”
杰夫解释说,她的工作其实很简单,她只需住在一个安静的旅馆里,不用做任何工作,他和安迪会全权照管整个生意Ed;DT5bo!NJf2l1O。但是他提醒她,有些求婚者可能会来拜访她o_F%~e7M7=CYzmdvj+kI。那时,她需要会见他们,并当面拒绝他们KC9Brm),6Nh。他和安迪每周会支付给她25美元的薪金,包旅馆食宿费d*vyRMDJ.C#Sx3P
“给我5分钟准备一下yVj_3@fzJXLhvtBbQG.。”特罗特夫人说,“我马上跟你走f%KyZNLB!xXVTEaT8*F。”
杰夫带她进了城,把她安置在一个离他和安迪住所足够远的旅馆,以免别人引起怀疑+U5CS7pv%uu9*
现在,诱饵已经准备妥当,只待鱼儿上钩!杰夫·彼得斯和安迪·塔克把征婚广告刊登在全国各大报纸上,并用特罗特夫人的名字在银行里存了2000美元.NWU*T7AFPzRpoqc%k。他们把存折交给她,一旦有人质疑,她可以把存折出示给他看Q;=O)XSSQ2_YA0f[=。他们确信特罗特夫人是可以信任的,把钱存在她的名下很安全%5e5O|PUps80
他们的广告一经刊出,求婚信件随即蜂拥而至——每天有超过一百封MI%C,Y+LY,jQ。光回复这些信件,杰夫和安迪每天就要工作十二个小时TPx%143AMW^3n|-%.~W;。大多数写信者都说他们失了业,得不到社会的理解,但是他们充满爱心,拥有许多好品质,条件完全符合要求&HIMx*8B9p!jDQJ]A
杰夫和安迪答复每封信时,都对写信者予以高度赞扬,要求他们寄来近照和详情,并随信附寄2美元,以资把他们的第二封信转给迷人寡妇6HdJ1[K2v7p
几乎所有人都在回信中寄来了所要求的2美元S)6m0l;srH。这钱看起来来得相当容易,只需动动手指拆开信封,他们每天都有收获Ol#]BW6vRY@omY8
不过,也有少数男人亲自过来求婚,杰夫和安迪把他们送到特罗特夫人那里,其余的工作由她完成6@BS;3fpEHCUaL7|]U。很快,杰夫和安迪每天都能收获200美元xJAtIRp4tNN,NmYd|e;h。一天,联邦邮政的检查员过来调查,但是杰夫未让他发现丝毫违法迹象,检查员满意地走了TT&]vDu1cpc@
大约三个月后,杰夫和安迪已经收到了5000多美元,他们决定就此收手v4y|T(^pH3*A3cPQ_]。一些人已经开始怀疑他们,并且,特罗特夫人也已经厌倦了她的工作_z+jCk8#4x。有太多的求婚者过来见她,她非常不喜欢agZZn1Z~Br,a06BkxB
杰夫去特罗特夫人住的旅馆支付她应得的酬金,并与她道别N0;ZdP[Lrq)pi@-mLe。当然,他也想拿回那两千美元的存折E0qZ=L!n*ho)f9koN_k
当杰夫走进她的房间时,发现她正哭得像个不想上学的孩子XMrOsMwrf,-u[
“怎么回事?有人伤害你了吗?还是想家了?”杰夫问她~^+6;[7VJp4K
“不,彼得斯先生,”她说;;yMKE!u[+3[。“因为您是我丈夫泽克的好朋友,我可以告诉您p&d(+uv=,VPq3m~q=LF。彼得斯先生,我无可救药地爱上了一个人,他是我心目中一直追寻的理想伴侣,如不接受他的求婚,我心如刀绞[(wPde!;yIBi=AmySM。”
“那就接受吧ST.DWPwZQ;。”杰夫说,“他像你爱他一样地爱你吗?”
“是的x;xoWPOHP@p。”特罗特夫人回答,“但是有一个问题,他是看到您的广告后前来求婚的,除非我给他2000美元,否则他是不会娶我的Md=Dy@f-4V。他的名字叫威廉·威尔金森)1%*BRaYP,Z。”
杰夫感觉有些对不起她X)(g=&|4x5RW6LrM。他说,很高兴让她把那2000美元送给威尔金森先生,希望她能开心,不过他必须把此事告知他的合作伙伴W-2QE4TW)^x*7。杰夫回到旅馆与安迪商议此事U.A!^|5Wbq[#bTC02P
“我想就会有这样的事情发生uB5.D0v8+R2rwW+r;=D。”安迪说,“在任何牵涉感情的计划中,你根本不能相信一个女人会忠心与你合作=bAy)UjO#PIDgejs(j。”
杰夫说他们引得一个女人伤心是一件遗憾事儿,安迪赞同n~TYcS_gVhG[0kM
“我告诉你,我乐意促成此事mor6qYPZ]~yYe。”安迪说,“杰夫,你人慷慨,心肠又好,或许我心太硬,世故又多疑0eV(k3WjCx.x5_f%。这一次我退一步,你去见特罗特夫人吧!让她把那2000美元从银行取出来,送给威尔金森那个家伙,并祝她幸福wqRL)T|l#TJ。”
杰夫摇着安迪的手握了许久,然后,他去旅馆见特罗特夫人E[Q)i)*Pr1AS8-QLTZGq。听到这一喜讯,特罗特夫人喜极而泣,哭得犹如当初伤心时一样YTC%H9!bVi
两天后,杰夫和安迪准备离开这座城市)R#QDMKOC~
“在我们离开前,你不想见见特罗特夫人吗?”杰夫问安迪~PGbR@w][H,lL。“她一定想认识你,并想向你表示她由衷的感谢HFCc0LJPzvNT;,。”
“为什么,我想不会TIz6t4mveBaE2@C.。”安迪说,“我想我们应该尽快去赶火车9aS8rL&-.y,yvgpM。”
杰夫把骗来的所有钱全绑在他的腰上b-F7Nvj76)McDuUAO。这时,安迪从他的口袋里取出一大沓纸钞,让杰夫与其他的钱放在一起d8s@u*K.kDHmnewXgD
“这是什么?”杰夫问%Xeg!iwT)FJj4ztd^_o
“特罗特夫人的那两千美元+Ngxxg1^*Ev。”安迪说u&AU.^8Keeg=2_yA[-
“你怎么得到的?”杰夫问e6^~ybh@SYpfCl
“她给我的urre7^Hm-s0。”安迪回答,“我每周有三个晚上去拜访她,已经一个多月了^@DjclZeRqDL,)(。”
“你就是威廉·威尔金森?”杰夫问M8kVhOR.GmT~7V^
“正是x=P47Wt#T2|;#2V(K=O*。”安迪说R&)^++3Z]P

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译文为可可英语翻译,未经授权请勿转载!

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重点单词
  • faithfuladj. 如实的,忠诚的,忠实的
  • producen. 产品,农作物 vt. 生产,提出,引起,分娩,制片
  • willingadj. 愿意的,心甘情愿的
  • havenn. 港口,避难所,安息所 v. 安置 ... 于港中,
  • stickn. 枝,杆,手杖 vt. 插于,刺入,竖起 vi. 钉
  • misunderstoodadj. 被误解的 v. 误解,误会(misunders
  • objectionn. 反对,异议
  • alcoholn. 酒精,乙醇,酒
  • generousadj. 慷慨的,宽宏大量的,丰盛的,味浓的
  • minutesn. 会议记录,(复数)分钟