英语50字故事：达蒙和皮西厄斯[1]

达蒙和皮西厄斯

A young man whose name was Pythias had done something which the tyrant Dionysius did not like. For this offence he was dragged to prison, and a day was set when he should be put to death. His home was far away, and he wanted very much to see his father and mother and friends before he died.

一个生轻人名叫皮西厄斯，做了一件暴君迪奥尼修斯不喜欢的事情。因为对暴君的冒犯，皮西厄斯被投进了监狱，还确定了被处死的日期。因为离家很远，他非常想在临死之前去看看父母和朋友们。

"Only give me leave to go home and say good-by to those whom I love," he said, "and then I will come back and give up my life."

“就让我回去辞别我爱的人吧，”他说，“然后我会回来终结我的生命。”

The tyrant laughed at him.

暴君嘲笑他。

"How can I know that you will keep your promise?" he said. "You only want to cheat
me, and save yourself."

“我怎么知道你会信守诺言？”他说。“你只想欺骗我.救你自己。”

Then a young man whose name was Darmon spoke and said.

这时一位名叫达蒙的年轻男子开口说:

"O king! Put me in prison in place of my friend Pythias, and let him go to his own country to put his affairs in order, and to bid his friends farewell. I know that he will come back as he promised, for he is a man who has never gone back on his word. But if he is not here on the day which you have set, then I will die in his stead."

“噢，国王!把我送进监狱，让我代替我的朋友皮西厄斯，让他回自己的国家，处理好事务，与他的朋友们告别吧。我知道他一定会信守诺言回来的，因为他是一个从不食言的人。但是，如果在你设定的那天，他没有回到这里，我愿替他去死。”

The tyrant was surprised that anybody should make such an offer. He at last agreed to let Pythias go, and gave orders that the young man Damon should be shut up in prison.

暴君很惊，竟然有人提出这样的请求。他终于同意让皮西厄斯回去，并下令把达蒙关进监狱。

Time passed, and by and by the day drew near which had been set for Pythias to die;and he had not come back. The tyrant ordered the jailer to keep close watch upon Darnon, and not let him escape. But Damon did not try to escape. He still had faith in the truth and honor of his friend. He said, "If Pythias does not come back in time, it will not be his fault.It will be because he is hindered against his will."

时间流逝，少儿英语