史蒂芬·弗莱读信:马克·吐温的一封信(1)

Dear Sir, 尊敬的先生: Your letter is an insoluble puzzle to me. 您的信对我来说是个难解之谜。 The handwriting is good and exhibits considerable character, 这封信的字迹隽秀,个性十足, and there are even traces of intelligence in what you say, 甚至字里行间还流露出智慧, yet the letter and the accompanying advertisements profess to be the work of the same hand. 然而,随函附上的...

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史蒂芬·弗莱读信:马克·吐温的一封信(2)

It puzzles me to make out how the same hand could have constructed your letter and your advertisements. 我十分疑惑,写这封信以及这些广告的竟然是出自同一人之手。 Puzzles fret me, puzzles annoy me, puzzles exasperate me; and always, for a moment, they arouse in me an unkind state of mind toward the person who has puzzled me. 这一疑惑令我烦躁、窝火、气急,也往往会让我对制造这一...

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马克·吐温:法国人找不到父亲

有一次,马克?吐温去拜访法国名人波盖,在闲聊中波盖取笑美国历史浅短,讥讽地说: “美国人闲来无事时候,总喜欢想念他的祖宗,可是一想到他的祖父那一代,就再也无法继续往上追溯了。” 马克`吐温也以诙谐的语气说: “是啊!不像法国人闲来无事的时候,总是尽力想找出他的父亲究竟是谁。”

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