名人笑話：7、 A life for a life 以“命”抵命

7. A life for a life

The English author, Richard Savage, was once living in London in great poverty1. As a result of his lack of food he became very ill, but after a time, owing to the skill of the doctor who had looked after him, he got well again.

After a week or two the doctor sent a bill to Savage for his visits, but poor Savage hadn't any money and couldn't pay it. The doctor waited for another month and sent the bill again. But still no money came. After several weeks he sent it to him again asking for his money.

In the end he came to Savage's house and asked him for payment, saying to Savage, "You know you owe3 your life to me and I expected some gratitude from you."

I agree, said Savage, "that I owe my life to you, and to prove to you that I am not ungrateful for your work I will give my life to you." With these words he handed to him two volumes entitled4, "The life of Richard Savage."

Notes:

1. poverty 貧困

2. from hand to mouth 入不敷出，朝不保夕

3. owe 欠

4. entitle 標題

以“命”抵命

英國作家理查德·薩維奇一度在倫敦過著貧困潦倒的生活。由于缺乏食物，他病得很厲害。后來，由于給他治療的那個醫(yī)生醫(yī)術(shù)高明，他才又恢復了健康。過了一兩個星期，醫(yī)生給薩維奇送來了一張討要診費的賬單，但是貧窮的薩維奇沒有錢來償付。醫(yī)生等了一個月后又送來了賬單，但仍然未索回分文。幾個星期之后，他又送來賬單討要診費。

最后，醫(yī)生本人來到了薩維奇的家中，對他說：“你明白，你欠我一條命，我希望你有所報答。”

“是的”，薩維奇說，“我是欠你一條命，為了向你證明我對你的診治不是不報答，我將把我的命給你?！?

說著這番話，薩維奇遞給醫(yī)生兩卷書，名叫《理查德·薩維奇的一生》。

Useful link:

理查德·薩維奇（1697—1743），英國詩人，死后才被人所熟知是因為他是塞繆爾·約翰遜（Samuel Johnson）所著《理查德·薩維奇的一生》（1744）中的主人公。