美国语文第六册 第242期:砖石切砖石(2)
“在我父亲留下的财物中发现了一个装满钻石的匣子，”
said he, "I set out for Egypt, to live there on the proceeds of their sale.
他说，“我动身前往埃及，想在那儿靠变卖这些钻石为生。
I was obliged by bad weather to put into Jidda, where I soon found myself in want of money.
我不得不在恶劣天气下乘船进入吉达港，结果身无分文了。
I went to the bazaar, and inquired for a dealer in precious stones.
于是，我去了集市，向一位专门经营贵重石头的商人打听。
The richest, I was told, was Mansour; the most honest, Ali, the jeweler.
他告诉我说，这里最有钱的人是曼苏尔，而最诚实的人是珠宝商阿里。
I applied to Ali.
就这样，我去找阿里。
"He welcomed me as a son, as soon as he learned that I had diamonds to sell, and carried me home with him.
他对我非常热情，就像对自己儿子似的，他一得知我有钻石要卖，便将我带回家。
He gained my confidence by every kind of attention, and advanced me all the money I needed.
他对我照料备至，赢得了我的信任，向我预付了我正需要的钱。
One day, after dinner, at which wine was not wanting, he examined the diamonds, one by one, and said, "My child, these diamonds are of little value;
一天晚餐后，记得晚餐时还喝了葡萄酒，他逐一查验钻石，然后说：“我的孩子，这些钻石值不了几个钱;
my coffers are full of such stones. The rocks of the desert furnish them by thousands."
我的保险柜里装满了这种货色。沙漠里这种石头多的是。”
To prove the truth of what he said, he opened a box, and, taking therefrom a diamond thrice as large as any of mine, gave it to the slave that was with me.
为了验证他说的话，他打开一个小盒子，从里面取出一个比我的钻石大一倍的钻石，给了服侍我的奴隶。
"What will become of me?" I cried; "I thought myself rich, and here I am, poor, and a stranger."
“怎么会这样?”我喊道，“我以为自己真的变成有钱人了，可是在这儿我是个穷光蛋，是受人欺负的外乡人。”
