书城外语别样的名人风采
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第95章 食物和音乐

William Sydeny Porter was an American short story writer.He didn't have a long life-he died when he was only 48.During most of his lifetime he lived among the lower class.He worked with them talked with them and made friends with them.Many of his short stories were about the joys and sorrows of those“small fries.”

During his life,Porter wrote as many as 300 stories and had them published under his pen name“O.Henry.”Though he became famous,he was never rich.In fact,he often lived in debt.Usually,Porter had two meals a day.He often went to a cheap,little restaurant not far from his home.A friend of his once asked him why he preferred to have his dinner in this restaurant.The famous writer laughed and said,“Because it works two ways:sometimes the food here is so bad that I can even stand the music,but usually the music here is so bad that I can even stand the food.”

威廉·悉尼·波特是一位美国短篇小说作家。他活得并不长,48岁便辞世西去。大多数时间,他都是生活在下层社会的。他与下层社会中的人一起工作,一起说笑,和他们结交朋友。他的许多短篇小说都是关于这些“小人物”的喜怒哀乐的。

在他一生中,波特写了300多部小说,均是以“欧·亨利”的笔名出版的。他虽然出名了,但是却一直没能富裕起来。事实上,他总是欠债。波特经常一天吃两顿饭。他常去家附近的一所便宜的小餐馆吃饭。他的一位朋友曾问他为什么喜欢在那家餐馆吃饭。这位著名的作家笑道:“有两个原因,这里的食物和音乐都太差劲,但是有时食物更差些,相比较而言音乐倒还说得过去,而有时则是音乐更差些,相比而言食物倒还可以了。”

1.sorrow n.悲伤;伤心事;懊悔vi.感到悲伤;遗憾;懊悔vt.为……悲痛

E.g.Sharing joy is a double joy;sharing sorrow is half sorrow.

分享快乐会变成双倍的快乐,分享悲伤会减半。

2.stand vi.位于;站立;停滞vt.忍受;使站立;抵抗n.站立;看台;立场;停止

E.g.to stand others'criticism

听得进别人的批评

I can't stand what he said.

他说的话令我忍无可忍。

1.small fry无足轻重的人;不重要的

E.g.They are but small fry.他们只不过是无名小贾。

2.as many as和……一样多;多达