1、导读百万英镑是马克吐温著名的讽刺小说的代表作。作者用漫画的笔法勾勒了不同人物在“百万英镑”面前的种种丑态,幽默滑稽,趣味横生,就如同一幅世态讽刺画,令人忍俊不禁;作者还无情地揭露了资本主义社会金钱至上的残酷现实,也透射出整个社会的悲哀。THE MILLION POUND BANK NOTEAct ,Scene 3NARRATOR:It is the summer of 1903.Two old and wealthy brothers,Roderick and Oliver,have made a bet.Oliver believes that with a million pound ba
2、nk note a man could survive a month in London.His brother Roderick doubts it.At this moment,they see a penniless young man wandering on the pavement outside their house.It is Henry Adams,an American businessman,who is lost in London and does not know what he should do.RODERICK:Young man,would you st
3、ep inside a moment,please?HENRY:Who?Me,sir?RODERICK:Yes,you.OLIVER:Through the front door on your left.HENRY:(A servant opens a door)Thanks.SERVANT:Good morning,sir.Would you please come in?Permit me to lead the way,sir.OLIVER:(Henry enters)Thank you,James.That will be all.RODERICK:How do you do,Mr.
4、er.?HENRY:Adams.Henry Adams.OLIVER:Come and sit down,Mr Adams.HENRY:Thank you.RODERICK:Youre an American?HENRY:Thats right,from San Francisco.RODERICK:How well do you know London?HENRY:Not at all.Its my first trip here.RODERICK:I wonder,Mr Adams,if youd mind us asking a few questions.HENRY:Not at al
5、l.Go right ahead.RODERICK:May we ask what youre doing in this country and what your plans are?HENRY:Well,I cant say that I have any plans.Im hoping to find work.As a matter of fact,I landed in Britain by accident.OLIVER:How is that possible?HENRY:Well,you see,back home I had my own boat.About a mont
6、h ago,I was sailing out of the bay.(his eyes stare at what is left of the brothers dinner on the table)OLIVER:Well,go on.HENRY:Oh,yes.Well,towards nightfall I found myself carried out to sea by a strong wind.It was all my fault.I didnt know whether I could survive until morning.The next morning Id j
7、ust about given myself up for lost when I was spotted by a ship.OLIVER:And it was the ship that brought you to England.HENRY:Yes.The fact is that I earned my passage by working as an unpaid hand,which accounts for my appearance.I went to the American embassy to seek help,but.(The brothers smile at e
8、ach other.)RODERICK:Well,you mustnt worry about that.Its an advantage.HENRY:Im afraid I dont quite follow you,sir.RODERICK:Tell us,Mr Adams,what sort of work did you do in America?HENRY:I worked for a mining company.Could you offer me some kind of work here?RODERICK:Patience,Mr Adams.If you dont min
9、d,may I ask you how much money you have?HENRY:Well,to be honest,I have none.OLIVER:(happily)What luck!Brother,what luck!(claps his hands together)HENRY:Well,it may seem lucky to you but not to me!On the contrary,in fact.If this is your idea of some kind of joke,I dont think its very funny.(Henry sta
10、nds up to leave)Now if youll excuse me,I think Ill be on my way.RODERICK:Please dont go,Mr Adams.You mustnt think we dont care about you.Oliver,give him the letter.OLIVER:Yes,the letter.(gets it from a desk and gives it to Henry like a gift)The letter.HENRY:(taking it carefully)For me?RODERICK:For y
11、ou.(Henry starts to open it)Oh,no,you mustnt open it.Not yet.You cant open it until two oclock.HENRY:Oh,this is silly.RODERICK:Not silly.Theres money in it.(calls to the servant)James?HENRY:Oh,no.I dont want your charity.I just want an honest job.RODERICK:We know youre hardworking.Thats why weve giv
12、en you the letter.James,show Mr Adams out.OLIVER:Good luck,Mr Adams.HENRY:Well,why dont you explain what this is all about?RODERICK:Youll soon know.(looks at the clock)In exactly an hour and a half.SERVANT:This way,sir.RODERICK:Mr Adams,not until 2 oclock.Promise?HENRY:Promise.Goodbye.百万英镑第一幕:第3场旁白:
13、1903年的夏天。一对年老又富有的兄弟,罗德里克和奥利弗,打了一个赌。奥利弗认为,一个人靠一张百万英镑的钞票在伦敦能活一个月。他的兄弟罗德里克对此表示怀疑。这时,他们看见一个身无分文的年轻人在房子外面的人行道上游荡。他叫亨利亚当斯,一个美国商人,在伦敦迷了路,不知道该怎么办。罗德里克:年轻人,请你进来一会儿,好吗?亨利:先生,你叫谁呀?是叫我吗?罗德里克:是的,就是你。奥 利 弗:从你左侧的前门进来。亨利:(仆人给他打开门)谢谢。仆人:早上好,先生,请进。先生,请让我来带路吧。奥 利 弗:(亨利走进来)谢谢你,詹姆斯,没你的事了。罗德里克:你好,先生,你贵姓?亨利:亚当斯,亨利亚当斯。奥 利
14、弗:来,请坐,亚当斯先生。亨利:谢谢。罗德里克:你是美国人?亨利:是的,从旧金山来。罗德里克:你对伦敦熟悉吗?亨利:一点儿也不熟,这是我第一次来伦敦。罗德里克:亚当斯先生,不知你是否介意我们问几个问题。亨利:不介意,请问吧。罗德里克:可不可以问问,你在这个国家要干点儿什么?你的计划又是什么呢?亨利:嗯,谈不上有什么计划,我希望能找到工作。事实上,我在英国上岸是偶然的。奥 利 弗:这怎么可能呢?亨利:嗯,你看,在美国的时候,我有自己的船。大约一个月前,我开船驶出了海湾(他的眼睛盯着兄弟俩留在餐桌上的残羹剩菜)奥 利 弗:往下说呀。亨利:哦,好的。嗯,傍晚时分我发现我被一阵大风刮到海上去了。这都是
15、我的错。我不知道是否能活到早晨。第二天早上,我正感到绝望的时候,一艘船发现了我。奥 利 弗:正是那艘船把你带到了英国。亨利:是的。事实上我靠做义工来顶替船费,这就是我为什么衣冠不整的原因了。我上美国大使馆求助,但是(兄弟俩相顾而笑)罗德里克:嗯,这一点你倒不必担心,这还是优点呢。亨利:对不起,先生,你的话我没有听懂。罗德里克:亚当斯先生,请告诉我们,你在美国干哪个行当?亨利:我在一家矿业公司工作。你们能不能在这儿给我提供一份工作呢?罗德里克:耐心点儿,亚当斯先生。如果你不介意,我能不能问问,你手头儿有多少钱?亨利:嗯,老实说,我一分钱都没有了。奥 利 弗:(高兴地)老兄,真走运!真有运气!(鼓
16、起掌来)亨利:嗯,这对你们来说可能是运气,但对我来说可不是。事实上,正好相反。如果你们认为这是一个笑话,我可不觉得很好笑。(亨利起身准备走)好了,请原谅,我想我该上路了。罗德里克:亚当斯先生,请别走。你千万不要以为我们不在意你的感受。奥利弗,把信给他。奥 利 弗:是,拿信。(从桌上把信拿起来,像送礼品一样递给亨利)给你信。亨利:(小心翼翼地接过信)是给我的吗?罗德里克:是给你的。(亨利要拆信)啊,别拆,你不要拆,现在不是时候,到两点钟你才能打开。亨利:噢,这真可笑。罗德里克:这不可笑,这里边有钱呢。(叫仆人)詹姆斯?亨利:噢,不,我不需要你们的施舍,我只要一份老老实实的工作。罗德里克:我们知道
17、你工作是很卖力的,这正是我们给你这封信的原因。詹姆斯,请送亚当斯先生出去。奥利弗:祝你好运,亚当斯先生。亨利:嗯,怎么不给我讲讲,这究竟是怎么回事呢?罗德里克:你很快就会明白的,(看着钟)一个半小时以后。仆人:请这边走,先生。罗德里克:亚当斯先生,两点钟以前不要拆信,答应吗?亨利:答应。再见!知识积累1wander vi.漫游;漫步;漂泊2permit vt.& vi. 许可;允许;准许3go ahead 前进;(用于祈使句)可以;往下说4account for 是的原因;解释5seek vt.& vi. 寻找;探索;寻求文化链接百万英镑之故事梗概百万英镑讲述了两个年老富有的兄弟一天突发奇想:假如一位聪明、诚实的外地人落难伦敦,他举目无亲,除了一张百万英镑的大钞以外一无所有,而且他还没法证明这张大钞就是他的,那么,这样的一个人会有怎样的命运呢?