Lesson 52 Mud is mud
實(shí)事求是
Listen to the tape then answer the question below.
聽錄音，然后回答以下問(wèn)題。
Why did Harry decide to give up his little game?
My cousin, Harry, keeps a large curiously-shaped bottle on permanent display in his study.
我的堂兄哈里在他的書房里一直擺著一只形狀古怪的大瓶子。
Despite the fact that the bottle is tinted a delicate shade of green,
盡管那只瓶子呈淡綠色，
an observant visitor would soon notice that it is filled with what looks like a thick, greyish substance.
但細(xì)心的客人很快就會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)瓶里裝的是一種看上去黏稠，顏色發(fā)灰的東西。
If you were to ask Harry what was in the bottle, he would tell you that it contained perfumed mud.
要是你問(wèn)哈里瓶里裝著什么，他會(huì)告訴你是香水泥。
If you expressed doubt or surprise, he would immediately invite you to smell it and then to rub some into your skin.
如果你表示懷疑或驚奇，他會(huì)立即請(qǐng)你聞一聞，然后取出一些抹在你的皮膚上。
This brief experiment would dispel any further doubts you might have.
這一簡(jiǎn)單的試驗(yàn)會(huì)消除你可能存有的一切疑慮。
The bottle really does contain perfumed mud.
瓶里裝的的確是香水泥。
How Harry came into the possession of this outlandish stuff makes an interesting story which he is fond of relating.
哈里如何得到這種稀奇古怪的東西的，這里有個(gè)有趣的故事，而且他挺愛(ài)把它講給別人聽。
Furthermore, the acquisition of this bottle cured him of a bad habit he had been developing for years.
此外，得到這瓶香水泥還治好了他多年的一個(gè)壞習(xí)慣。
Harry used to consider it a great joke to go into expensive cosmetic shops and make outrageous requests for goods that do not exist.
哈里曾認(rèn)為走進(jìn)一家名貴化妝品商店，荒唐地提出要買一種根本不存在的商品是件很開心的事兒。
He would invent fanciful names on the spot.
他會(huì)當(dāng)場(chǎng)編造出一些稀奇古怪的貨名。
On entering a shop, he would ask for a new perfume called 'Scented Shadow' or for 'insoluble bath cubes'.
他走進(jìn)商店后，會(huì)提出要一種名叫“香影”的新型香水或什么“不溶浴皂”。
If a shop assistant told him she had not heard of it, he would pretend to be considerably put out.
要是女售貨員告訴他從未聽說(shuō)過(guò)這些東西，他會(huì)裝出十分遺憾和不安的樣子。
He loved to be told that one of his imaginary products was temporarily out of stock and he would faithfully promise to call again at some future date, but of course he never did.
他愛(ài)聽售貨員說(shuō)他想像出來(lái)的那種東西暫時(shí)脫銷，于是他就煞有介事地許諾改天再來(lái)光顧。當(dāng)然，他再也不會(huì)來(lái)了。
How Harry managed to keep a straight face during these performances is quite beyond me.
我實(shí)在想像不出哈里在這些表演中是怎樣裝出一本正經(jīng)的樣子的。
Harry does not need to be prompted to explain how he bought his precious bottle of mud.
毋須暗示哈里就會(huì)向你講起他買下那瓶珍貴香水泥的經(jīng)過(guò)。
One day, he went to an exclusive shop in London and asked for 'Myrolite',
一天，他去倫敦一家高級(jí)商店要買一種叫“密諾萊特”的東西，
the shop assistant looked puzzled and Harry repeated the word, slowly stressing each syllable.
店員露出詫異的神色。哈里又慢慢地，一字一頓地說(shuō)了一遍這個(gè)詞，
When the woman shook her head in bewilderment,
那個(gè)女售貨員還是迷惑不解地?fù)u了搖頭。
Harry went on to explain that 'myrolite' was a hard, amber-like substance which could be used to remove freckles.
哈里便進(jìn)一步解釋“密諾萊特”是一種質(zhì)地堅(jiān)硬、狀似琥珀的東西，可以用來(lái)除去雀斑。
This explanation evidently conveyed something to the woman who searched shelf after shelf.
他的解釋顯然對(duì)女售貨員有些啟示。她一個(gè)貨架接著一個(gè)貨架地尋找，
She produced all sorts of weird concoctions, but none of them met with Harry's requirements.
拿出各種各樣稀奇古怪的化妝品，但沒(méi)有一樣能夠符合哈里的要求。
When Harry put on his act of being mildly annoyed, the assistant promised to order some for him.
哈里裝出不高興的樣子時(shí)，女售貨員答應(yīng)為他定貨。
Intoxicated by his success, Harry then asked for perfumed mud.
哈里為他的騙術(shù)而感到洋洋得意，又提出要買香水泥。
He expected the assistant to look at him in blank astonishment.
他原想女售貨員會(huì)驚奇地望著他，不知所措，
However, it was his turn to be surprised,
沒(méi)料到這回該輪到他自己吃驚了。
for the woman's eyes immediately lit up and she fetched several bottles which she placed on the counter for Harry to inspect.
因?yàn)槟桥圬泦T聽完哈里的話后，馬上眼睛一亮，拿出幾瓶東西放在柜臺(tái)上讓哈里挑選。
For once, Harry had to admit defeat.
哈里只好認(rèn)輸。
He picked up what seemed to be the smallest bottle and discreetly asked the price.
他挑出一個(gè)看上去最小的瓶子，謹(jǐn)慎地問(wèn)了價(jià)。
He was glad to get away with a mere twenty pounds and he beat a hasty retreat, clutching the precious bottle under his arm.
他慶幸自己只破費(fèi)了20英鎊便得以脫身。他把那寶貴的瓶子放在腋下夾著，溜之大吉。
From then on, Harry decided that this little game he had invented might prove to be expensive.
從那以后，他認(rèn)識(shí)到自己發(fā)明的小小惡作劇是要付出很大代價(jià)的。
The curious bottle, which now adorns the bookcase in his study, was his first and last purchase of rare cosmetics.
在他書房的書柜里擺著那瓶形狀古怪的香水泥就是他第一次也是最后一次購(gòu)買的稀有化妝品。
實(shí)事求是
Listen to the tape then answer the question below.
聽錄音，然后回答以下問(wèn)題。
Why did Harry decide to give up his little game?
My cousin, Harry, keeps a large curiously-shaped bottle on permanent display in his study.
我的堂兄哈里在他的書房里一直擺著一只形狀古怪的大瓶子。
Despite the fact that the bottle is tinted a delicate shade of green,
盡管那只瓶子呈淡綠色，
an observant visitor would soon notice that it is filled with what looks like a thick, greyish substance.
但細(xì)心的客人很快就會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)瓶里裝的是一種看上去黏稠，顏色發(fā)灰的東西。
If you were to ask Harry what was in the bottle, he would tell you that it contained perfumed mud.
要是你問(wèn)哈里瓶里裝著什么，他會(huì)告訴你是香水泥。
If you expressed doubt or surprise, he would immediately invite you to smell it and then to rub some into your skin.
如果你表示懷疑或驚奇，他會(huì)立即請(qǐng)你聞一聞，然后取出一些抹在你的皮膚上。
This brief experiment would dispel any further doubts you might have.
這一簡(jiǎn)單的試驗(yàn)會(huì)消除你可能存有的一切疑慮。
The bottle really does contain perfumed mud.
瓶里裝的的確是香水泥。
How Harry came into the possession of this outlandish stuff makes an interesting story which he is fond of relating.
哈里如何得到這種稀奇古怪的東西的，這里有個(gè)有趣的故事，而且他挺愛(ài)把它講給別人聽。
Furthermore, the acquisition of this bottle cured him of a bad habit he had been developing for years.
此外，得到這瓶香水泥還治好了他多年的一個(gè)壞習(xí)慣。
Harry used to consider it a great joke to go into expensive cosmetic shops and make outrageous requests for goods that do not exist.
哈里曾認(rèn)為走進(jìn)一家名貴化妝品商店，荒唐地提出要買一種根本不存在的商品是件很開心的事兒。
He would invent fanciful names on the spot.
他會(huì)當(dāng)場(chǎng)編造出一些稀奇古怪的貨名。
On entering a shop, he would ask for a new perfume called 'Scented Shadow' or for 'insoluble bath cubes'.
他走進(jìn)商店后，會(huì)提出要一種名叫“香影”的新型香水或什么“不溶浴皂”。
If a shop assistant told him she had not heard of it, he would pretend to be considerably put out.
要是女售貨員告訴他從未聽說(shuō)過(guò)這些東西，他會(huì)裝出十分遺憾和不安的樣子。
He loved to be told that one of his imaginary products was temporarily out of stock and he would faithfully promise to call again at some future date, but of course he never did.
他愛(ài)聽售貨員說(shuō)他想像出來(lái)的那種東西暫時(shí)脫銷，于是他就煞有介事地許諾改天再來(lái)光顧。當(dāng)然，他再也不會(huì)來(lái)了。
How Harry managed to keep a straight face during these performances is quite beyond me.
我實(shí)在想像不出哈里在這些表演中是怎樣裝出一本正經(jīng)的樣子的。
Harry does not need to be prompted to explain how he bought his precious bottle of mud.
毋須暗示哈里就會(huì)向你講起他買下那瓶珍貴香水泥的經(jīng)過(guò)。
One day, he went to an exclusive shop in London and asked for 'Myrolite',
一天，他去倫敦一家高級(jí)商店要買一種叫“密諾萊特”的東西，
the shop assistant looked puzzled and Harry repeated the word, slowly stressing each syllable.
店員露出詫異的神色。哈里又慢慢地，一字一頓地說(shuō)了一遍這個(gè)詞，
When the woman shook her head in bewilderment,
那個(gè)女售貨員還是迷惑不解地?fù)u了搖頭。
Harry went on to explain that 'myrolite' was a hard, amber-like substance which could be used to remove freckles.
哈里便進(jìn)一步解釋“密諾萊特”是一種質(zhì)地堅(jiān)硬、狀似琥珀的東西，可以用來(lái)除去雀斑。
This explanation evidently conveyed something to the woman who searched shelf after shelf.
他的解釋顯然對(duì)女售貨員有些啟示。她一個(gè)貨架接著一個(gè)貨架地尋找，
She produced all sorts of weird concoctions, but none of them met with Harry's requirements.
拿出各種各樣稀奇古怪的化妝品，但沒(méi)有一樣能夠符合哈里的要求。
When Harry put on his act of being mildly annoyed, the assistant promised to order some for him.
哈里裝出不高興的樣子時(shí)，女售貨員答應(yīng)為他定貨。
Intoxicated by his success, Harry then asked for perfumed mud.
哈里為他的騙術(shù)而感到洋洋得意，又提出要買香水泥。
He expected the assistant to look at him in blank astonishment.
他原想女售貨員會(huì)驚奇地望著他，不知所措，
However, it was his turn to be surprised,
沒(méi)料到這回該輪到他自己吃驚了。
for the woman's eyes immediately lit up and she fetched several bottles which she placed on the counter for Harry to inspect.
因?yàn)槟桥圬泦T聽完哈里的話后，馬上眼睛一亮，拿出幾瓶東西放在柜臺(tái)上讓哈里挑選。
For once, Harry had to admit defeat.
哈里只好認(rèn)輸。
He picked up what seemed to be the smallest bottle and discreetly asked the price.
他挑出一個(gè)看上去最小的瓶子，謹(jǐn)慎地問(wèn)了價(jià)。
He was glad to get away with a mere twenty pounds and he beat a hasty retreat, clutching the precious bottle under his arm.
他慶幸自己只破費(fèi)了20英鎊便得以脫身。他把那寶貴的瓶子放在腋下夾著，溜之大吉。
From then on, Harry decided that this little game he had invented might prove to be expensive.
從那以后，他認(rèn)識(shí)到自己發(fā)明的小小惡作劇是要付出很大代價(jià)的。
The curious bottle, which now adorns the bookcase in his study, was his first and last purchase of rare cosmetics.
在他書房的書柜里擺著那瓶形狀古怪的香水泥就是他第一次也是最后一次購(gòu)買的稀有化妝品。