Using Language
语言应用
Reading and Listening
阅读和听力
The Story of Atlanta
亚特兰大的故事
Atlanta was a Greek princess.
亚特兰大是一个希腊公主。
She was very beautiful and could run faster than any man in Greece.
她很漂亮并且可以跑得比希腊的任何一个男人都快。
But she was not allowed to run and win glory for herself in the Olympic Games.
不过她不被允许在奥运会上跑步去为她自己赢得荣誉。
She was so angry that she said to her father that she would not marry anyone who could not run faster than her.
她很生气,因此她跟她父亲说她不会嫁任何跑不过她的男人。
Her father said that she must marry, so Atlanta made a bargain with him.
她父亲说她必须要嫁,所以亚特兰大与她父亲定下一个条件。
She said to him, "These are my rules.
她对她父亲说,“这是我的原则。
When a man says he wants to marry me, I will run against him.
如果有男人说想要娶我,我会跟他赛跑。
If he cannot run as fast as me, he will be killed. No one will be pardoned."
如果他跑不赢我,他会被杀。没有人能被例外。”
Many kings and princes wanted to marry Atlanta, but when they heard of rules they knew it was hopeless.
很多国王和王子想要娶亚特兰大,不过当他们听到这个规定的时候他们就知道自己没希望了。
So many of them sadly went home, but others stayed to run the race.
所以他们当中的很多人都伤心地回家了,不过其他的人都留着去赛跑。
There was a man called Hippomenes who was amazed when he heard of Atlanta's rules, "Why are these men so foolish?" he thought.
一个叫做希波墨涅斯的男人听到亚特兰大的消息后感到非常惊奇,他想,“为什么这些男的都这么愚蠢呢?”
"Why will they let themselves be killed because they cannot run as fast as this princess?"
“为什么他们会因为跑不过这个公主而让自己被杀呢?”
However, when she saw Atlanta come out of her house to run, Hippomenes changed his mind.
然而,当他看到亚特兰大从她的房子出来跑步的时候,希波墨涅斯改变了他的心意。
"I will marry Atlanta-or die!" he said.
他说,“我会娶亚特兰大或者死去!”
The race started and although the man ran very fast, Atlanta ran faster.
赛跑开始的时候虽然男人们都跑得很快,但是亚特兰大总是会更快。
As Hippomenes watched he thought, "How can I run as fast as Atlanta?"
希波墨涅斯边看边想,“我要怎样才能赢过亚特兰大呢?”
He went to ask the Greek Goddess of Love for help.
他去向希腊的爱神求助。
She promised to help him and gave him three golden apples.
爱神答应帮他并给了他三个金苹果。
She said," Throw an apple in front of Atlanta when she is running past.
她说,“在亚特兰大跑过你的时候扔一个在亚特兰大面前。
When she stops to pick it up, you will be able to run past her and win."
当亚特兰大停下来去捡苹果的时候,你就可以跑过她并赢得比赛。”
Hippomenes took the apples and went to the King.
希波墨涅斯拿着苹果并跑去找国王。
He said," I want to marry Atlanta ."
他说,“我想娶亚特兰大。”
The King was sad to see another man die, but Hippomenes said, " I will marry her-or die!"
国王伤心地看着又一个男人要死,不过希波墨涅斯说,“我会娶她或者死去!”
So the race began.
然后赛跑开始了。