羊皮卷的故事（19）（在线收听）

Furthermore,

这回

he would speak with such eloquence 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 consummate 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 proficient

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 stiffened 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 decided 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 flickering 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。