英语童话:符艾相争

　　One day, the peachwood charm against evil hung on the door turned its face upward to curse the figure made of Chinese mugwort: "Who do you think you are to dare to set yourself over my head?"

　　The figure of Chinese mugwort, unwilling1 to be outdone, looked down and retorted: "It is summer now. You have only half a year to go, and can't live long. Why squabble over who is higher or who is lower?"

　　The peachwood charm was beside itself with rage, and answered back sarcastically2. Both sides refused to give in, and squabbled endlessly with a stream of abuse against each other.

　　At this moment, the deity3 of the door came to mediate4: "It is only because we have no ability that we have to attach ourselves to the door of others. What's the point of quarrelling with each other?"

　　一天，挂在门上的桃符仰起了脸，大骂艾草人：“你这个艾草人算什么东西，胆敢高踞在我的头上!”

　　艾草人不甘示弱，低头还嘴，说道：“现在已经是夏天了，你只有半年了，活不了多长时间了，还争什么高低呢?”

　　桃符怒不可遏，反唇相讥。它们互相不服气，彼此骂不绝口，争吵不休。

　　这时候，门神出来劝解说：“我们都是因为没有什么本事，才依附在别人的门下，还争什么强，斗什么气呢?”

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　　收听单词发音

　　1 unwilling

　　adj.不情愿的

　　参考例句：

　　The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。

　　His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

　　2 sarcastically

　　adv.挖苦地，讽刺地

　　参考例句：

　　'What a surprise!' Caroline murmured sarcastically.“太神奇了!”卡罗琳轻声挖苦道。

　　Pierce mocked her and bowed sarcastically. 皮尔斯嘲笑她，讽刺地鞠了一躬。

　　3 deity

　　n.神，神性;被奉若神明的人(或物)

　　参考例句：

　　Many animals were seen as the manifestation of a deity.许多动物被看作神的化身。

　　The deity was hidden in the deepest recesses of the temple.神藏在庙宇壁龛的最深处。

　　4 mediate

　　vi.调解，斡旋;vt.经调解解决;经斡旋促成

　　参考例句：

　　The state must mediate the struggle for water resources.政府必须通过调解来解决对水资源的争夺。

　　They may be able to mediate between parties with different interests.他们也许能在不同利益政党之间进行斡旋。