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tom hickathrift
文章来源: 文章作者: 发布时间:2007-10-18 06:21 字体: [ ] 
(单词翻译:双击或拖选)

before the days of william the 1 there dwelt a man in the 2 of the 3 of ely whose name was thomas hickathrift, a poor day labourer, but so 4 that he could do two days' work in one. his one son he called by his own name, thomas hickathrift, and he put him to good learning, but the lad was none of the wisest, and indeed seemed to be somewhat soft, so he got no good at all from his teaching.

tom's father died, and his mother being tender of him, kept him as well as she could. the slothful fellow would do nothing but sit in the chimney-corner, and eat as much at a time as would serve four or five ordinary men. and so much did he grow that when but ten years old he was already eight feet high, and his hand like a shoulder of mutton.

one day his mother went to a rich farmer's house to beg a bottle of straw for herself and tom. "take what you will," said the farmer, an honest charitable man. so when she got home she told tom to fetch the straw, but he wouldn't and, beg as she might, he wouldn't till she borrowed him a cart rope. so off he went, and when he came to the farmer's, master and men were all a-trashing in the barn.

"i'm come for the straw," said tom.

"take as much as thou canst carry," said the farmer.

so tom laid down his rope and began to make his bottle.

"your rope is too short," said the farmer by way of a joke; but the joke was on tom's side, for when he had made up his load there was some twenty hundred-weight of straw, and though they called him a fool for thinking he could carry the 5 of it, he flung it over his shoulder as if it had been a hundred-weight, to the great 6 of master and men.

tom's strength being thus made known there was no longer any 7 by the fire for him; every one would be hiring him to work, and telling him 't was a shame to live such a lazy life. so tom seeing them wait on him as they did, went to work first with one, then with another. and one day a woodman desired his help to bring home a tree. off went tom and four men besides, and when they came to the tree they began to draw it into the cart with pulleys. at last tom, seeing them unable to lift it, "stand away, you fools," said he, and taking the tree, set it on one end and laid it in the cart. "now," said he, "see what a man can do." "marry, 't is true," said they, and the woodman asked what reward he'd take. "oh, a stick for my mother's fire," said tom; and 8 a tree bigger than was in the cart, he laid it on his shoulders and went home with it as fast as the cart and six horses could draw it.

tom now saw that he had more strength than twenty men, and began to be very merry, taking delight in company, in going to fairs and meetings, in seeing sports and pastimes. and at cudgels, wrestling, or throwing the hammer, not a man could stand against him, so that at last none durst go into the ring to 9 with him, and his fame was spread more and more in the country.

far and near he would go to any meetings, as football play or the like. and one day in a part of the country where he was a stranger, and none knew him, he stopped to watch the company at football play; rare sport it was; but tom spoiled it all, for meeting the ball he took it such a kick that away it flew none could tell whither. they were angry with tom as you may fancy, but got nothing by that as tom took hold of a big spar, and laid about with a will, so that though the whole country-side was up in arms against him, he cleared his way wherever he came.

it was late in the evening ere he could turn homeward, and on the road there met him four lusty 11 that had been robbing passengers all day. they thought they had a good prize in tom, who was all alone, and made cocksure of his money.

"stand and deliver!" said they.

"what should i deliver?" said tom.

"your money, sirrah," said they.

"you shall give me better words for it first," said tom.

"come, come, no more 13; money we want, and money we'll have before you stir."

"is it so?" said tom, "14, then come and take it."

the long and the short of it was that tom killed two of the rogues and grieviously wounded the other two, and took all their money, which was as much as two hundred pounds. and when he came home he made his old mother laugh with the story of how he served the football players and the four thieves.

but you shall see that tom sometimes met his match. in wandering one day in the forest he met a lusty tinker that had a good staff on his shoulder, and a great dog to carry his bag and tools.

"whence come you and whither are you going?" said tom, "this is no highway."

"what's that to you?" said the tinker; "fools must needs be 15."

"i'll make you know," said tom, "before you and i part, what it is to me."

"well," said the tinker, "i'm ready for a 10 with any man, and i hear there is one tom hickathrift in the country of whom great things are told. i'd fain see him to have a turn with him."

"ay," said tom, "methinks he might be master with you. anyhow, i am the man; what have you to say to me?"

"why, verily, i'm glad we are so happily met."

"sure, you do but jest," said tom.

"marry, i'm in earnest," said the tinker. "a match?" "'t is done." "let me first get a 16," said tom. "ay," said the tinker, "hang him that would fight a man unarmed."

so tom took a gate-rail for his staff, and at it they fell, the tinker at tom, and tom at the tinker, like two giants they laid on at each other. the tinker had a leathern coat on, and at every blow tom gave the tinker his coat roared again, yet the tinker did not give way one inch. at last tom gave him a blow on the side of his head which felled him.

"now tinker where are you?" said tom.

but the tinker being a nimble fellow, leapt up again, gave tom a blow that made him reel again, and followed his blow with one on the other side that made tom's neck crack again. so tom flung down his weapon and yielded the tinker the better on it, took him home to his house, where they nursed their 18 and from that day 19 there was no stauncher pair of friends than they two.

tom's fame was thus spread abroad till at length a 20 at lynn, wanting a good lusty man to carry his beer to wisbeach went to hire tom, and promised him a new suit of clothes from top to toe, and that he should eat and drink of the best, so tom yielded to be his man and his master told him what way he should go, for you must understand there was a 21 giant who kept part of the marsh-land, so that none durst go that way.

so tom went every day to wisbeach a good twenty miles by the road. 't was a wearisome journey thought tom and he soon found that the way kept by the giant was nearer by half. now tom had got more strength than ever, being well kept as he was and drinking so much strong ale as he did. one day, then, as he was going to wisbeach, without saying anything to his master or any of his fellow servants, he resolved to take the nearest road or to lose his life; as they say, to win horse or lose saddle. thus resolved, he took the near road, flinging open the gates for his cart and horses to go through. at last the giant spied him, and came up speedily, intending to take his beer for a prize.

he met tom like a lion as though he would have swallowed him. "who gave you authority to come this way?" roared he. "i'll make you an example for all rogues under the sun. see how many heads hang on yonder tree. yours shall hang higher than all the rest for a warning."

but tom made him answer, "a 17 in your teeth you shall not find me like one of them, traitorly 12 that you are."

the giant took these words in high 22, and ran into his cave to fetch his great club, intending to dash out tom's brains at the first blow.

tom knew not what to do for a weapon; his whip would be but little good against a monstrous beast twelve foot in length and six foot about the waist. but whilst the giant went for his club, bethinking him of a very good weapon, he made no more ado, but took his cart, turned it upside down, and took axle-tree and wheel for shield and buckler. and very good weapons they were found!

out came the giant and began to stare at tom. "you are like to do great service with those weapons," roared he. "i have here a twig that will beat you and your wheel to the ground." now this twig was as thick as some mileposts are, but tom was not 23 for all that, though the giant made at him with such force that the wheel cracked again. but tom gave as good as he got, taking the giant such a weighty blow on the side of the head that he reeled again. "what," said tom, "are you drunk with my strong beer already?"

so at it they went, tom laying such huge blows at the giant, down whose face sweat and blood ran together, so that, being fat and foggy and tired with the long fighting, he asked tom would he let him drink a little? "nay, nay," said tom, "my mother did not teach me such wit; who'd be a fool then?" and seeing the giant beginning to weary and fail in his blows, tom thought best to make hay whilst the sun shone, and, laying on as fast as though he had been mad, he brought the giant to the ground. in vain were the giant's roars and prayers and promises to yield himself and be tom's servant. tom laid at him till he was dead, and then, cutting off his head, he went into the cave, and found a great store of silver and gold, which made his heart to leap.

so he loaded his cart, and after delivering his beer at wisbeach, he came home and told his master what had befallen him. and on the morrow he and his master and more of the towns-folk of lynn set out for the giant's cave. tom showed them the head, and what silver and gold there was in the cave, and not a man but leapt for joy, for the giant was a great enemy to all the country.

the news was spread all up and down the country-side how tom hickathrift had killed the giant. and well was he that could run to see the cave; all the folk made bonfires for joy, and if tom was respected before, he was much more so now. with common consent he took possession of the cave and every one said, had it been twice as much, he would have deserved it. so tom pulled down the cave, and built himself a brave house. the ground that the giant kept by force for himself, tom gave part to the poor for their common land, and part he turned into good wheat-land to keep himself and his old mother, jane hickathrift. and now he was become the chiefest man in the country-side; 't was no longer plain tom, but mr. hickathrift, and he was held in due respect i promise you. he kept men and maids and lived most bravely; made him a park to keep deer, and time passed with him happily in his great house till the end of his days.



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1 py3yi     
n.征服者,胜利者
参考例句:
  • we shall never yield to a conqueror.我们永远不会向征服者低头。
  • they abandoned the city to the conqueror.他们把那个城市丢弃给征服者。
2 y7rzo     
n.沼泽,湿地
参考例句:
  • there are a lot of frogs in the marsh.沼泽里有许多青蛙。
  • i made my way slowly out of the marsh.我缓慢地走出这片沼泽地。
3 fatze     
n.小岛,岛
参考例句:
  • he is from the isle of man in the irish sea.他来自爱尔兰海的马恩岛。
  • the boat left for the paradise isle of bali.小船驶向天堂一般的巴厘岛。
4 pguzf     
adj.强壮的,粗大的,结实的,勇猛的,矮胖的
参考例句:
  • he cut a stout stick to help him walk.他砍了一根结实的枝条用来拄着走路。
  • the stout old man waddled across the road.那肥胖的老人一跩一跩地穿过马路。
5 mofws     
n.十分之一税;v.课什一税,缴什一税
参考例句:
  • it's not christ plus your tithe.这不是基督再加上你的什一税。
  • the bible tells us that the tithe is the lords.圣经说十分之一是献给主的。
6 afpya     
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕
参考例句:
  • he was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
  • we have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
7 7596d7e95e17619cf6e8285dc844d8be     
v.晒太阳,取暖( bask的现在分词 );对…感到乐趣;因他人的功绩而出名;仰仗…的余泽
参考例句:
  • we sat basking in the warm sunshine. 我们坐着享受温暖的阳光。
  • a colony of seals lay basking in the sun. 一群海豹躺着晒太阳。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 c23583be9461e37616c8600966feafcb     
v.看到( espy的现在分词 )
参考例句:
9 xflwd     
vi.摔跤,角力;搏斗;全力对付
参考例句:
  • he taught his little brother how to wrestle.他教他小弟弟如何摔跤。
  • we have to wrestle with difficulties.我们必须同困难作斗争。
10 asbzz     
n.侵袭,发作;一次(阵,回);拳击等比赛
参考例句:
  • i was suffering with a bout of nerves.我感到一阵紧张。
  • that bout of pneumonia enfeebled her.那次肺炎的发作使她虚弱了。
11 dacf8618aed467521e2383308f5bb4d9     
n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 );无赖;调皮捣蛋的人;离群的野兽
参考例句:
  • 'i'll show these rogues that i'm an honest woman,'said my mother. “我要让那些恶棍知道,我是个诚实的女人。” 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
  • the rogues looked at each other, but swallowed the home-thrust in silence. 那些恶棍面面相觑,但只好默默咽下这正中要害的话。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
12 qcfzo     
n.流氓;v.游手好闲
参考例句:
  • the little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
  • they defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。
13 d35e72093ace1d26fcb521107ef19592     
v.(古时用语)唠叨,啰唆( prate的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • listen to him prating on about nothing. 听他瞎唠叨。 来自辞典例句
  • he is always prating about her wealthy relations, if anybody cared. 他总是对别人炫耀她的阔亲戚,好像别人对此感兴趣似的。 来自互联网
14 unjzaq     
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者
参考例句:
  • he was grateful for and proud of his son's remarkable,nay,unique performance.他为儿子出色的,不,应该是独一无二的表演心怀感激和骄傲。
  • long essays,nay,whole books have been written on this.许多长篇大论的文章,不,应该说是整部整部的书都是关于这件事的。
15 meddling     
v.干涉,干预(他人事务)( meddle的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • he denounced all "meddling" attempts to promote a negotiation. 他斥责了一切“干预”促成谈判的企图。 来自辞典例句
  • they liked this field because it was never visited by meddling strangers. 她们喜欢这块田野,因为好事的陌生人从来不到那里去。 来自辞典例句
16 vk1zg     
n.小树枝,嫩枝;v.理解
参考例句:
  • he heard the sharp crack of a twig.他听到树枝清脆的断裂声。
  • the sharp sound of a twig snapping scared the badger away.细枝突然折断的刺耳声把獾惊跑了。
17 l74yi     
n.无花果(树)
参考例句:
  • the doctor finished the fig he had been eating and selected another.这位医生吃完了嘴里的无花果,又挑了一个。
  • you can't find a person who doesn't know fig in the united states.你找不到任何一个在美国的人不知道无花果的。
18 bruises     
n.瘀伤,伤痕,擦伤( bruise的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • he was covered with bruises after falling off his bicycle. 他从自行车上摔了下来,摔得浑身伤痕。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • the pear had bruises of dark spots. 这个梨子有碰伤的黑斑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
19 hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • the wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • he gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
20 brewer     
n. 啤酒制造者
参考例句:
  • brewer is a very interesting man. 布鲁尔是一个很有趣的人。
  • i decided to quit my job to become a brewer. 我决定辞职,做一名酿酒人。
21 vwfym     
adj.巨大的;恐怖的;可耻的,丢脸的
参考例句:
  • the smoke began to whirl and grew into a monstrous column.浓烟开始盘旋上升,形成了一个巨大的烟柱。
  • your behaviour in class is monstrous!你在课堂上的行为真是丢人!
22 kltza     
n.鄙视,轻视;v.轻视,鄙视,不屑
参考例句:
  • some people disdain labour.有些人轻视劳动。
  • a great man should disdain flatterers.伟大的人物应鄙视献媚者。
23 7ffb5e5ffb0aa17a7b2333d90b452257     
使(某人)气馁,威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • she was a brave woman but she felt daunted by the task ahead. 她是一个勇敢的女人,但对面前的任务却感到信心不足。
  • he was daunted by the high quality of work they expected. 他被他们对工作的高品质的要求吓倒了。
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