名人笑话：2、 Dr. Swift 斯威夫特博士

2. Dr. Swift

A wealthy old lady lived near Dr. Swift used to send him presents occasionally by her servant. Dr. Swift took her presents but never gave the servant anything for his trouble.

One day as Swift was busy with his writing, the servant rushed into his room, knocked some books out of their place, threw his parcel2 on the desk and said, "my mistress1 has sent you two of her rabbits." Swift turned round and said, "My boy, that is not the way to deliver your parcel3. Now, you sit in my chair, watch my way of doing it and learn your lesson."

The servant sat down. Swift went out, knocked on his door and waited. The servant said "Come in." The doctor entered, walked to his desk and said, "If you please sir, my mistress sends her kind regards and hopes you will accept these rabbits which her son shot this morning in her fields."

The servant answered, "Thank you, my boy, Give your mistress and her son my thanks for their kindness and here is two shillings for yourself." The Doctor laughed, and after that, Swift never forgot to give the servant his tip.

Notes:

1. mistress 女主人

2. parcel 包裹

3. deliver 交付，递送

斯威夫特博士

斯威夫特博士家附近有位富有的老妇人，她常打发仆人给他送礼物。斯威夫特博士接受她的礼物，但从不给仆人任何酬谢。

一天，斯威夫特博士正忙着写东西，这个仆人冲进他的房间，扒拉掉一些书，将一个包裹扔在书桌上，说道：“我的女主人送给你两只兔子。”斯威夫特转过身来说：“孩子，包裹可不是这样送法呀。现在，你坐在我的椅子上，看看我是怎么送的，并要记取这个教训。”

仆人坐了下来，斯威夫特走出去，敲了敲门，等待回音。仆人说“进来。”博士进了门，走到桌旁说：“先生，我的女主人向您致以亲切的问候，并希望您收下这些兔子，这是她儿子今天早晨在地里打的。”

仆人回答说：“谢谢你，我的孩子。向你的女主人和她儿子致谢，谢谢他们的关心。这两个先令是给你本人的。”博士笑了。此后，斯威夫特从没忘记给他小费。

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乔纳森·斯威夫特（1667-1745），英国著名讽刺作家和政治家，以大量政论和讽刺诗等抨击地主豪绅和英国殖民主义政策，受到读者热烈欢迎。他的讽刺小说影响更为深广，所以他被高尔基称为世界“伟大文学创造者之一”。