羊皮卷的故事（19）

Furthermore,

这回

he would speak with such eloquence¹ that the robe would bring a good price.

他得使出百般解数，巧言说服大家，卖个好价钱。

He would begin early,

得早点启程，

fust after dawn,

天一亮就出发。

and station himself near the town well.

碰上一个人

He would address everyone that approached and within a short time

就如此这般地说一遍，

he would be returning to the Mount of Olives

也许很快就可以

with silver in his purse.

带着钱回橄榄山了。

He reached for the unfinished bread and began to eat

他一边啃着剩下的面包，

while he thought of his master.

一边想着他的主人。

Pathros would be proud of him

柏萨罗一定会对他感到满意，引以为荣，

because he had not despaired

因为他没有半途而废，

and returned as a failure.

失败而归。

In truth, four days was much too long a time to consummate² the sale of but one simple robe

四天卖掉一件袍子，时间是长了一点，

but if he could accomplish the deed in four days

但他心里明白，这次能用四天时间卖掉东西，

he knew he could learn, from Pathros,

以后就能从主人那

how to accomplish it in three days,

学到三天卖掉东西的方法，

then two days.

然后两天。

In time he would become so proficient³

总会有那么一天，

that he would sell many robes every hour!

他能在一小时内卖掉许多件袍子。

Then he would indeed be a salesman of repute.

那时，他就真成了有名望的推销员了。

He departed from the noisy inn

离开嘈杂的小客栈，

and headed toward the cave and his animal.

他举步走向拴着牲口的山洞。

The chilled air had stiffened⁴ the grass with a thin coating of frost

野草在寒冷的空气中冻僵了披着一层薄薄的霜衣，

and each blade crackled with complaint

他踩在上面，草叶劈啪作响，

from the pressure of his sandals.

发出脆裂的抱怨声。

Hafid decided⁵ not to ride into the hills tonight.

他打算今晚不回山上，

Instead, he would rest in the cave with his animal.

就和小驴在洞里挤一夜算了。

Tomorrow, he knew, would be a better day

他还是坚信明天自己会吉星高照，时来运转。

although now he understood why the others always bypassed this unprosperous village.

虽然他现在明白为什么别的推销员都不愿光顾这个小镇，

They had said that no sales could be made here

别的推销员说过这里根本没有生意可做。

and he had re-called their words

每每受到拒绝时，

every time someone had refused to buy his robe.

他都会想起这些话。

Yet, Pathros had sold hundreds of robes here many years ago.

可是，柏萨罗不是在多年以前在这一带卖出了很多袍子吗。

Perhaps times had been different then and,

也许时过境迁了，

after all, Pathros was a great salesman.

再说，柏萨罗毕竟是个了不起的推销大师。

A flickering⁶ light from the cave caused him to hasten his steps

洞穴里好像有亮光，

for fear that a thief was within.

可能是小偷。

1 eloquence   

n.雄辩；口才，修辞

参考例句：

• I am afraid my eloquence did not avail against the facts.恐怕我的雄辩也无补于事实了。
• The people were charmed by his eloquence.人们被他的口才迷住了。

2 consummate   

adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle

参考例句：

• The restored jade burial suit fully reveals the consummate skill of the labouring people of ancient China.复原后的金缕玉衣充分显示出中国古代劳动人民的精湛工艺。
• The actor's acting is consummate and he is loved by the audience.这位演员技艺精湛，深受观众喜爱。

3 proficient   

adj.熟练的，精通的；n.能手，专家

参考例句：

• She is proficient at swimming.她精通游泳。
• I think I'm quite proficient in both written and spoken English.我认为我在英语读写方面相当熟练。

4 stiffened   

加强的

参考例句：

• He leaned towards her and she stiffened at this invasion of her personal space. 他向她俯过身去，这种侵犯她个人空间的举动让她绷紧了身子。
• She stiffened with fear. 她吓呆了。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 flickering   

adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的

参考例句：

• The crisp autumn wind is flickering away. 清爽的秋风正在吹拂。
• The lights keep flickering. 灯光忽明忽暗。