胡敏读故事记托福词汇078：一个剧作家的生活 The Life of a Playwright
“She’s such a doting mother,” I thought, looking at the woman and her newborn passing me by in the park. I was feeling a bit doubtful about my ability to write a drama in less than a week. I didn’t even have a draft. I was desperate for fresh ideas. That is why I’m sitting here in this downtown park. As they often say, “desperate times call for drastic measures.”
“她是个很溺爱孩子的母亲，”看着她和她刚出生不久的小宝宝从我眼前经过，我这样想着。我置身公园，现在开始怀疑我是否能在一周内写出一个戏剧来。我到现在甚至连个草稿都没有。我渴望能扑捉到新的灵感，所以才会坐在这市区的公园里。就像人们常说的：“危急时刻需要采取断然措施。”
I scanned the area around me for ideas. what about that downcast man on the park bench? He looks so downhearted. Could there be an interesting story behind his sad eyes? No, I’d better not bother him. It looks like he hasn’t slept for days.
于是，我扫视周围，寻找我的灵感。坐在公园长登上的那个一脸沮丧的男人怎么样?他看上去那么无精打采，悲伤的眼神后面会有什么动人的故事吗?不行，我最好别去烦他，他看上去已经好几天没睡觉了。
Perhaps I can write a story about the life of that draft animal. No, that would be rather dreary. All he does is drag things around. I need a more dramatic subject.
也许我可以写一篇关于耕畜的生活故事。不，那会很乏味。它所做的无非是拖着东西过来过去。我要找一个更具戏剧性的主题。
Could that dragonfly flying above that drain be the answer to my prayers? It is a good thing that this park has excellent drainage. Oh, no, the drain just swallowed him. “Did he suffer from a dread of drain?” I murmured in disgust.
那只在排水沟上空飞着的蜻蜓能作为我祈求的答案吗?这个公园的排水系统很好是件好事。哦，不，排水沟刚刚把蜻蜓吞没了。“他会害怕排水沟吧?”我厌恶地小声嘟囔着。
“This is a dreadful situation,” I said dramatically. Writing plays for a living was drastically different from writing them in school. Maybe I should try drawing pictures for a living? No, I was sure that would not be the situation. It probably would have just as many drawbacks. So, what I am going to do? I felt dispirited. Then suddenly, it came to me.
“情况糟透了。”我戏剧般夸张地说。为了谋生写剧本与上学时写剧本截然不同。也许我该尝试画画谋生?不行，我确信那也解决不了问题，可能会遇到同样多的障碍。那我该做什么?我感到灰心丧气。过了一会，忽然，灵感来了。
“I’ve got it!” I exclaimed. “I just dramatize the life of a playwright!”
“我找到了。”我大声喊起来。“我要把一个剧作家的生活编成剧本。”
Words:
doting adj. 溺爱的
doubtful adj. 可疑的，疑心的
downcast adj. 意志消沉的，沮丧的
downhearted adj. 情绪低落的，无精打采的
downtown adj. 在市区的，往市区的
draft n. 草图，草稿;vt. 起草
draft animal (horse) 役用动物，耕畜
drag vt. 拖动
dragonfly n. 蜻蜓
drain v. (使)流走，(使)排光;n. 排水沟;排水，消耗
drainage n. 排水，排出物;排水系统
drama n. 戏剧
dramatic adj. 戏剧性的，生动的
dramatically adv. 戏剧性地;引人注目的
dramatize vt. 改编成为戏剧，编写剧本
drastic adj. 激烈的，迅猛的
drastically adv. 大大地
draw vt. 吸引;画，描绘
drawback n. 弊端，缺点，障碍
dread n. 畏惧，恐怖
dreadful adj. 可怜的;(口)糟透了
