LESSON 23 Anecdotes of Washington
第二十三课 华盛顿轶事
During the American War, the captain of a little band of soldiers was giving orders to those under him,
在美国战争时期，一支小队士兵的首领正向他的手下发号施令，
about a heavy beam that they were endeavouring to raise to the top of some military works which they were repairing.
让他们将一条重梁尽力提升到他们正在修整的军事工程的顶端。
The weight was almost beyond their power to raise,
它的重量几乎超过了他们所能承受的范围，
and the voice of the superintendent was often heard shouting,
而负责人还经常大喊，
"Heave away! There it goes! Heave, ho!"
“继续举！这边，举，快点！”
An officer, not in military costume, was passing,
一个身着便装的军官，从这里经过，
and asked the superintendent why he did not render a little aid.
他问负责人为什么不能帮下忙。

The latter, astonished, turning round with all the pomp of an emperor, said, "Sir, I am a corporal!"
负责人大吃一惊，像国王一样骄傲地转过身说道，“长官，我是下士！”
"You are, are you?" replied the officer; "I was not aware of that;"
“是吗？”军官说，“我不知道；”
and taking off his hat, he bowed, saying, "I ask your pardon, Mr. Corporal."
然后脱掉帽子，鞠了一躬说，“下士，请原谅我。”
Upon this he dismounted, and pulled till the sweat stood in drops on his forehead.
随后他下车去帮忙拉，弄得满头大汗。
And when the beam was raised, turning to the little great man, he said, —
当重梁升到应有位置后，他转向那自以为伟大的小人物，他说，——
"Mr. Corporal, when you have another such job, and have not men enough,
“下士，等你另外有这种活，人手又不足时，
send for your Commander-in-chief, and I shall gladly come to help you a second time!"
给你的总司令发消息，我会很乐意再来帮你的！”