英文幽默笑话：霍迦斯

 The great painter was asked, one day to paint a picture of Pharaoh crossing the Red Sea. A little while after the picture had been commenced，a hitch¹ arose over the fee，and Hogarth found that he would have to complete the commission for about half the sum he expected． When the work was com pleted， the patron was asked to come and inspect it．As a matter of fact，the picture was just one daub of brilliant red． 

　　What's this？ exclaimed the purchaser．I asked for theRed Sea， on the occasion of the celebrated² passage． 

　　That's it，replied Hogarth． 

　　But，where are the Israelites？ 

　　They are all gone over． 

　　Where are the Egyptians？ 

　　They're all drowned． 

　　一天，有人请这位伟大的画家画一幅法老王渡红海图。这幅画刚开始不久，酬金就出现了问题。霍迪斯发现，完成这幅画后，他只能得到他想要的大约一半的钱。当作品完成之后，那位主顾被请来看画。其实，这幅画不过是胡乱涂抹的一片鲜红。 

　　这是什么？那位买主喊了起来。我要的是红海，是那次著名的航海。 

　　这就是，霍迦斯回答说。 

　　可是以色列人在哪儿？ 

　　他们都已经渡过去了。 

　　埃及人在哪儿？ 

　　他们全都淹死了。

1 hitch   

v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉

参考例句：

• They had an eighty-mile journey and decided to hitch hike.他们要走80英里的路程，最后决定搭便车。
• All the candidates are able to answer the questions without any hitch.所有报考者都能对答如流。

2 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。