美国传奇故事

The Tale of Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby

Part 1: The Tar Baby

It was a hot day in August. Summer is a very hot season in the South of the United States. All the animals on the old plantation had a rest.

Brer Fox was outside his house. He sat under a magnolia tree and drank cold lemonade. He was very hot. He was also angry and nervous. Brer Fox didn't like Brer Rabbit. Before Brer Rabbit came to the old plantation, Brer Fox was a happy fox. The old plantation was a peaceful place. Brer Rabbit tricked everyone. He tricked Brer Bear, Brer Turtle, Brer Wolf and Brer Fox.

Brer Rabbit was a very intelligent rabbit. He was young and dressed well.

Brer Fox was tired of Brer Rabbit. He decided to trick him. He went to garden and took a big bucket of tar. He put other oils in the bucket too. Then he mixed the tar for a long time. The tar had a terrible odour. It was very sticky.

Brer Fox went into his house. He went to the kitchen to look for an old straw hat, but he didn't find it. Then he went to the living room. He looked there too. Finally he went to the bedroom. In the bedroom he found an old straw hat, two buttons and a comb. He put them in a sack. Then he took the bucket of tar and walked to the road.

He threw the tar near a log and made a big black Tar Baby. He put the old straw hat on the Tar Baby. He put on two buttons for the eyes. Then he put on the comb for the mouth. Brer Fox looked at his work and was happy.

The Tar Baby was ready! Brer Fox hid behind a big tree. He waited for Brer Rabbit to walk by. He waited and waited. It was very hot.

After an hour Brer Rabbit walked down the road. He was very happy. He walked, jumped and sang a song.

Brer Fox watched him from behind the tree. Suddenly Brer Rabbit saw the Tar Baby! He stopped and looked at it. Brer Rabbit was a friendly rabbit. He said, "Good morning! It's a hot day today! "

The Tar Baby smiled but didn't answer.

"I am from the old plantation," said Brer Rabbit. "Where are you from?"

The Tar Baby smiled but didn't answer.

Brer Fox watched everything from behind the tree. He wanted to laugh, but he didn't.

Brer Rabbit tried again. "Good morning! How are you?" The Tar Baby smiled but didn't answer.

"What are you doing here? Where are you from?" Brer Rabbit asked again.

The Tar Baby smiled but didn't answer.

Brer Rabbit was angry. His face and ears were red.

"Can you hear me? I said 'Good morning!' Why don't you answer me?" he shouted.

There was no answer.

Brer Rabbit was very angry. "You are very unfriendly. I'm a friendly rabbit. I want to be your friend. Who are you?"

The Tar Baby didn't answer.

Brer Rabbit was furious ! He hit the Tar Baby! His front paw was stuck in the Tar Baby's face.

Brer Fox was very happy. He laughed quietly.

“Let me go!” said Brer Rabbit.

The Tar Baby did not let go.

"Let me go!" said Brer Rabbit again.

Brer Rabbit kicked the Tar Baby. Now his back paw was stuck in the Tar Baby's body.

"Please, let me go!" shouted Brer Rabbit.

He kicked the Tar Baby again. Now his other back paw was stuck.

"Help! I can't move!" he shouted. "This is terrible!"

Poor Rabbit! He was covered with tar. His face and ears were black with tar. His paws were black with tar. He was a very unhappy rabbit.

哈姆雷特

Part Five: Suicide

Polonius's son, Laertes, returns to Denmark from Paris. He is very angry.

'Claudius, you have killed my father. I shall persuade the people to rebel against you. There will be a revolution!'

'No, Laertes, Hamlet is responsible for everything!'

'But how did my father die? Why is it a secret?'

'Be patient. When I have explained everything, you will understand. I am your friend.'

Ophelia comes to see Laertes .She loved Hamlet but he killed her father.

This has made her mad. She sings sad songs and gives flowers to everyone she meets.

'What is the matter with my sister?'

'She has lost her mind, poor girl.'

'He is dead, lady, he is dead. He will never come again. His beard was as white as snow. He is gone, he is gone. Love, remember me.'

'Do you see this? Oh God!'

A sailor brings a letter to Horatio. When he opens it, he discovers that it is from Hamlet.

Horatio,

I am in Denmark. Some pirates attacked our ship.While every body was fighting, I jumped onto their ship. I paid them and they brought me home to Denmark.

Losencrantz and Guildenstern have continued to England. I shall tell you more about them when I see you. Meet me in the graveyard.

Hamlet

'I shall go to him immediately. I am glad he is safe.'

Claudius also receives a letter from Hamlet. He has a private conversation with Laertes.

'But why didn't you put Hamlet in prison?'

'He is very popular with the people. It was impossible to punish him. The best thing was to send him to England.'

'He has killed my father and driven my sister out of her mind! I would do anything to get my revenge.'

'This letter is from Hamlet. He is back in Denmark.'

'I'm glad. I will kill him.'

'I have a better plan.'

The Queen comes in. 'I have bad news, Laertes. Ophelia is dead. She wanted to put flowers on the willow tree . While she was climbing, she slipped and fell into the river. She floated there, singing, then she drowned.'

'Was it suicide?'

'Nobody knows. Perhaps it was an accident. Oh, sweet Ophelia! I hoped she would marry Hamlet. Come, let us go and bury her.'

'Now Hamlet has killed my father and my sister.'

Hamlet meets Horatio in the graveyard. They see a gravedigger. He is preparing a new grave and he has uncovered some old bones . Hamlet begins to talk about death.

'Look at this skull, Horatio. It is Yorick's. He was the court jester . Alas, poor Yorick. I knew him, Horatio. When I was a child, he carried me on his back. His jokes were the best. He cannot make anybody laugh now.'

'Perhaps this skull belonged to a beautiful lady. She cannot paint her face now. Perhaps this skull belonged to a lawyer. He cannot show how clever he is now. Perhaps this skull belonged to a court gentleman. He cannot wear elegant clothes now.'

***

There is a willow by the river.

Its silver leaves shine in the glassy water.

Ophelia walked there, picking the flowers to hang on the graceful branches of the tree.

But as she was climbing up to the sky, a thin branch broke under her small feet and she fell down into the weeping brook.

Her dress spread wide and, like a mermaid.

She floated on the surface, singing old melodies.

She was as happy as a creature of the water but as her clothes grew heavy, they pulled her down to the dark bottom of the river, to muddy death.