英语故事:The Crimson Candle 深红色的蜡烛

   A man lying at the point of death called his wife to his bedside and said: "I am about to leave you forever; give me, therefore, one last proof of your affection and fidelity¹, for, according to our holy religion, a married man seeking admittance at the gate of Heaven is required to swear that he has never defiled² himself with an unworthy woman. In my desk you will find a crimson³ candle, which has been blessed by the High Priest and has a peculiar⁴ mystical significance. Swear to me that while it is in existence you will not remarry." The Woman swore and the Man died. At the funeral the Woman stood at the head of the bier, holding a lighted crimson candle till it was wasted entirely⁵ away.

     一个男人，在弥留之际把妻子叫到床边，对她说：“我就要永远地离你而去，因此，请最后一次向我证明你的爱和忠贞。因为按照我们神圣的宗教，已婚男人在进入天堂之门时，首先必须发誓：他决不会让一个不忠贞的女人玷污自身。你在我书桌里会找到一根深红色的蜡烛，它受过主教赐福，具有奇特的神秘意义。现在你向我发誓：只要它存在，你就不会再婚。”女人发了誓，男人也死了。葬礼上，女人站在棺材前，手托一根点燃的深红色蜡烛，直到它全部燃尽。

1 fidelity   

n.忠诚，忠实；精确

参考例句：

• There is nothing like a dog's fidelity.没有什么能比得上狗的忠诚。
• His fidelity and industry brought him speedy promotion.他的尽职及勤奋使他很快地得到晋升。

2 defiled   

v.玷污( defile的过去式和过去分词 )；污染；弄脏；纵列行进

参考例句：

• Many victims of burglary feel their homes have been defiled. 许多家门被撬的人都感到自己的家被玷污了。
• I felt defiled by the filth. 我觉得这些脏话玷污了我。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 crimson   

n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色

参考例句：

• She went crimson with embarrassment.她羞得满脸通红。
• Maple leaves have turned crimson.枫叶已经红了。

4 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

5 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。