【英文原文】

Spilling Salt

Since ancient times salt has been highly valued because it can be used to preserve food, help wounds to heal, and make food tasty. At one time salt was regarded as being almost as valuable as gold, and soldiers, officials, and working people in Greece and Rome received all or part of their pay in salt. So spilling such a valuable thing has been regarded as a sign that something unlucky is going to happen. Some people believe that if a person has spilled salt, he or she may cancel the bad luck by throwing a pinch of salt over the left shoulder.

【中文译文】

自古以来盐就受到珍视，因为盐可用来防腐、疗伤、调味。人们曾一度将盐视为几乎与黄金一样贵重的东西。古希腊罗马的军人、官员和工人的薪水曾部分或全部用盐来代替。所以平白无故将盐撒落就被认为很不吉利。不过，万一撒了盐，还有办法补救，就是再捏起一小撮盐，从左肩上向后扔，据说可以辟邪免灾。