(单词翻译:单击)
The Seven Cities of Gold
黄金七城
Many years ago, a Spanish officer named Coronado heard the story of seven great cities.
许多年前，一位名叫科罗纳多的西班牙军官听说了七大城市的故事。
"The walls of these cities are made of gold," his friends told him.
“这些城市的城墙都是金子做的，”他的朋友告诉他。
"The people eat meat from golden plates and dress in nice clothes," they said.
“人们用金盘子吃肉，穿着漂亮的衣服，”他们说。
They called these cities the Seven Cities of Gold.
他们称这些城市为“黄金七城”。
Were the cities real? Coronado never considered asking his friends.
这些城市是真实的吗? 科罗纳多从未想过邀请他的朋友。
Coronado thought to himself, "The things in these cities must be worth a lot of money."
科罗纳多心想:“这些城市里的东西一定值很多钱。”
So he went to find the Seven Cities of Gold.
于是他去寻找黄金七城。
He took along three hundred men, many horses, and extra food.
他带了三百人，许多马和额外的食物。
They headed west.
他们向西走。
Coronado wanted to achieve his goal very badly.
科罗纳多非常想实现他的目标。
Coronado and his men rode for many days.
科罗纳多和他的手下骑了很多天的马。
Then they saw some cities.
然后他们看到了一些城市。
"We found the Seven Cities of Gold!" his men said, but Coronado wasn't happy.
“我们找到了黄金七城!”他的手下说，但科罗纳多并不高兴。
He had a different opinion.
他有不同的看法。
"These can't be the Seven Cities of Gold," he said. "Look, they're made of dirt!"
“这不可能是黄金七城，”他说。“看，它们是土做的!”
Coronado was right.
科罗纳多是对的。
The cities weren't bright and golden.
城市并不明亮和也不是金色的。
They were dirty and brown.
它们是脏兮兮、棕色的。
The people didn't eat meat from golden plates.
人们没有用金盘子吃肉。
They ate vegetables from regular bowls.
他们用普通的碗吃蔬菜。
They wore the most basic clothes.
他们穿着最基本的衣服。
Coronado regarded the cities as ugly places.
科罗纳多认为这些城市是丑陋的地方。
"What happened to the cities of gold?" he thought.
“黄金之城怎么了?”他想。
"Did someone destroy them? Was there a war? Did someone already come and take the gold?"
“有人把它们毁了吗? 有战争吗? 是不是已经有人拿走金子了?”
That night, the people of the cities entertained Coronado and his men and served them food.
那天晚上，城市里的人们招待科罗纳多和他的人，并为他们提供食物。
They advised Coronado to go home.
他们建议科罗纳多回家。
"There is no gold here,"they told him.
“这里没有金子，”他们告诉他。
Coronado was angry.
科罗纳多很生气。
Did his friends lie to him?
他的朋友对他撒谎了吗?
He left the next morning.
第二天早上他离开了。
He looked back at the cities one more time.
他又回头看了看那些城市。
The sun reflected light on the dirt houses.
阳光反射在土房上。
Coronado thought he saw a bit of gold.
科罗纳多认为他看到了一点金子。
Were his friends right after all?
他的朋友们难道是对的吗?
"No," he told himself. "It's just the sun."
“不，”他对自己说。“只是阳光而已。”
Then he turned away and went home.
然后他转身回家去了。
