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内容简介

1842年，安布罗斯?格文内特?比尔斯出生于美国的俄亥俄州。他的父

亲是康涅狄格州的一个农民，与同时代的许多人一样，也移居西部。比尔斯

没有受过正式的教育，就此而言，他在文学和新闻作品方面取得的成就更令

人叹服。

1886年，比尔斯移居旧金山，在那儿，他为自己起了一个笔名并开始创

作幽默政治卡通，之后，又从事记者工作，其讽刺性的诗歌和散文尤为人们

所赞赏。不过，比尔斯仍然继续写短篇故事，以此作为他烦闷的工作的解脱

。1871年，他与玛丽?艾伦?戴结婚，他的短篇故事集《鬼谷》也于当年在

《大陆月刊》杂志上发表。

其后，比尔斯携妻子前往英国，并在那里生活了四年，在这期间，他的

写作风格发生了改变，比以前更加辛辣讽刺。1876年，回到旧金山后，比尔

斯重操新闻业，为一家出版商工作。第二年，他在威廉?R?哈兹的《星期

日纪事报》开辟了一个专栏，并为其撰稿长达9年。这个专栏对于提高比尔

斯作为一名记者的声望发挥了很大的作用，在很长一段时间内，他一直被认

为是该地区最有影响力的批评家。比尔斯于1914年在墨西哥去世，死因不详

。

许多比尔斯创作的故事均基于他的战争经历，包括《战士与平民的故事

》(1891)(于1898年更名为《内陆生活》)。他最著名的作品还包括：《这样

的事情可能吗》(1893)和《奇异寓言集》(1899)。1906年出版的《愤世嫉俗

者的语录》则汇集了许多比尔斯发表在报纸杂志上的文摘和评论；比尔斯还

将此合集改名为《魔鬼词典》。

这本名为《奇异寓言集》的选集体现了比尔斯的写作特点。作者以他尖

锐的讽刺风格对社会进行深刻而严厉的批判，表达了他对人类深刻的不信任

。(不过，)作者时而幽默时而离奇的笔触还是从总体上让作品变得轻松了一

些。

作者简介

本书目录

简介Introduction

寓言The Fables

道德标准和物质利益The Moral PrinciPle and the Material Interest

深红蜡烛The Crimson Candle

带污斑的盾牌和脏貂袍The Blotted Escutcheon and the Soiled Ermine

头脑灵光的爱国者The Ingenious Patriot

两个国王Two Kings

警官和暴徒An Offieer and a Thug

正直的段长The Conscientious Official

空闲时间怎么来的How Leisure Came

道德情感The M0ral Sentiment

政治家们The P0liticians

深谋远虑的狱吏The Thoughtful Warden

国库和手臂The Treasury and the Arms

信仰基督的毒蛇The Christian Serpent

寺庙里的扫帚The Br00m of the Temple

评论家The Critics

愚蠢的妇人The F00lish Woman

父与子Father and Son

忿忿不平的罪犯The Discontented Malefactor

辞退通知A Call to Quit

人与闪电The Man and the Lightning

被套牢的熊The Lassoed Bear

不称职的拱地者The Ineffective Rooter

银为主角A Protagonist of Silver

神圣的执事The Holy Deacon

仓促决断A Hasty Settlement

木制枪炮The Wooden Guns

改革校董事会The ReforiB School Board

诗人的厄运The Poet's Doom

调查官和便箴The Noser and the Note

猫和国王The Cat and the King

爱著述的天文学家The Literary Astronomer

狮子和响尾蛇The Lion and the Rattlesnake

没有敌人的人The Man with No Enemies

市政官和浣熊The Alderman and the Raccoon

飞行器The Flying?Machine

天使的眼泪The Angel's Tear

政绩显赫之城The City of Political Distinction

那边的人The Pa晰over There

革新女诗人The Poetess of Reforln

一成不变的外交家The Unchanged Diplomatist

请柬An Invitation

布拉瓦茨基夫人的骨灰The Ashes of Madame Blavatsky

未来世界的负鼠The Opossum of the Future

救生者们The Life-Savers

澳大利亚蝗虫The Aus Mian Grasshopper

铺路工The Pavior

被审判过的杀人犯The Tried Assassin

贾姆国国王The Bumbo of Jiam

两位诗人The Two Poets

坟墓上的蓟The Thistles upon the Grave

领导者的影子The Shadow of the Leader

精明的老鼠The Sagacious Rat

议员和肥皂The Member and the Soap

危言耸听和妄自尊大Alarm and Pride

堤道A Causeway

陷入困境的两个人Two in Trouble

巫婆的坐骑The Witch's Steed

货真价实的狗The All Dog

农民的朋友The Farmer's Friend

两位医生Physicians Two

被忽略的因素The OveAooked Factor

诚实的民事法官The Honest Cadi

袋鼠与斑马The Kangaroo and the Zebra

解决问题的方法A Matter of Method

坚持原则的人The Man of Principle

归来的加利福尼亚人The Returned Californian

富有同情心的医生The Compassionate Physician

两个遭到诅咒的生物Two of the Damned

严厉的州长The Austere Governor

有过失的宗教Religions of Error

悔过的竞选人The Penitent Elector

斯芬克斯的尾巴The Tail of the Sphinx

预言厄运的先知A Prophet of Evil

救生艇上的船员The Crew of the Life?Boat

和平条约A Treaty of Peace

性格的黑暗面The Nightside of Character

忠诚的收银员The Faithful Cashier

绕圈子的线索The Circular Clew

痴情的寡妇The Devoted Widow

勇敢的爱国者The Hardy Patriots

谦卑的农民The Humble Peasant

变化多端的代表团The Various Delegation

案件不成立The No Case

毫无恶意的来访者A Harmless Visitor

法官和仓促之举The Judge and the Rash Act

威力的特权The Prerogative of Might

膨胀的欲望An Inflated Ambition

遭到拒绝的服务Rejected Services

无赖汉的威力The Power of the Scalawag

逍遥法外??缘于脾气At Large--One Temper

追逐者和被追逐者The Seeker and the Sought

只有微瑕的国王His Fly-Speck Majesty

拳击手的饮食The Pugilist's Diet

老人和学生The Old Man and the Pupil

死者与其后嗣The Deceased and His Heirs

政治家分赃The Politicians and the Plunder

男人和疣The Man and the Wart

各持己见的代表团成员The Divided Delegation

失去的权利A Forfeited Right

报复Revenge

乐观者An Optimist

有价值的建议A Valuable Suggestion

两个拦路贼Two Footpads

为人民服务Equipped for service

晒太阳的旋风The Basking Cyclone

到达极地At the Pole

乐观者和恨世者The Optimist and the Cynic

诗人和编辑The Poet and the Editor

被握住的手The Taken Hand

无法形容的蠢才An Unspeakable Imbecile

必要的战争A Needful War

矿主和驴子The Mine Owner and the Jackass

狗和医生The Dog and the Physician

政党经理人和绅士The Party Manager and the Gentleman

立法者和公民The Legislator and the Citizen

人工降雨者The Rainmaker

公民和蛇The Citizen and the Snakes

财富和寓言家Fortune and the Fabulist

微笑的偶像A Smiling Idol

三位哲学家Philosophers Three

没有骨头的国王The Boneless King

匹夫之勇Uncalculating Zeal

对调名字A Transposition

正直诚实的公民The Honest Citizen

嘎吱作响的尾巴A Creaking Tail

浪费了的“善举”Wasted Sweets

六个和一个Six and One

运动员和松鼠The Sportsman and the Squiel

守旧者和队长The Fogy and the Sheik

在天堂门口At Heaven's Gate

被猫砸的无政府主义者The Catted Anarchist

值得尊敬的人The Honourable Member

被驱逐的老板The Expatriated Boss

佣金不够An Inadequate Fee

法官和原告The Judge and the Plaintiff

议员归来The Return of the Representative

政治家A Statesman

两类狗Two Dogs

三名新成员Three Recruits

镜子The Mirror

圣人与罪人Saint and Sinner

解药An Antidote

厌烦的回声A Weary Echo

聪明的勒索者The Ingenious Blackmailer

护身符A Talisman

古老的勋章The Ancient Order

致命的紊乱A Fatal Disorder

大屠杀The Massacre

船和人A Ship and a Man

议会和人民Congress and the People

法官和原告The Justice and His Accuser

公路劫匪和旅行者The Highwayman and the Traveller

警察与市民The Policeman and the Citizen

作家和流浪汉The Writer and the Tramps

两个政客Two Politicians

逃亡的官员The Fugitive 0mce

横行霸道的青蛙The Tyrant Frog

乘龙快婿The Eligible Son．in．Law

政治家和马The Statesman and the Horse

不能靠空气度Et An Erophobe

省力The Thrift of Strength

好政府The Good Government

救生者The Life?Saver

人和鸟The Man and the Bird

从那时起From the Minutes

三个同类人Three of a Kind

寓言家和动物The Fabulist and the Animals

复活的信仰复兴运动者A Revivalist Revived

争论者The Debaters

两个虔诚的人Two of the Pious

不要命的家伙The Desperate 0bject

徒劳A Needless Labour

合适的纪念The Appropriate Memorial

蓬勃发展的产业A Flourishing Industry

自力更生的猴子The Self-Made Monkey

爱国者和银行家The Patriot and the Banker

服孝的兄弟The Mourning Brothers

不感兴趣的仲裁者The Disinterested Arbiter

小偷和老实人The Thief and the Honest Man

孝顺的儿子The Dutiful Son

伊索寓言新补AEsopus Emendatus

猫和年轻人The Cat and the Youth

农夫和儿子The Farmer and His Sons

朱庇特和婴儿选秀Jupiter and the Baby Show

人和狗The Man and the Dog

猫和鸟The Cat and the Birds

墨丘利神和伐木工Mercury and the Woodchopper

狐狸和葡萄The Fox and the Grapes

悔过的小偷The Penitent Thief

射手和鹰The Archer and the Eagle

真理和旅行者Truth and the Traveller

狼和小羊羔The W0lf and the Lamb

狮子和野猪The Lion and the Boar

蝗虫和蚂蚁The Grasshopper and the Ant

渔夫和鱼The Fisher and the Fished

农夫和狐狸The Farmer and the Fox

命运女神和旅行者Dame Fortune and the Traveller

胜利者和受害者The Victor and the Victim

狼和牧羊人The Wolf and the Shepherds

鹅和天鹅The Goose and the Swan

狮子、公鸡和驴子The Lion，the Cock，and the Ass

蛇和燕子The Snake and the Swallow

狼和狗The Wolves and the Dogs

母鸡和毒蛇The Hen and the Vipers

合时宜的玩笑A Seasonable Joke

狮子和荆棘The Lion and the Thorn

小山羊和公羊The Fawn and the Buck

风筝、鸽子和鹰The Kite，the Pigeons，and the Hawk

狼和小孩The Wolf and the Babe

狼和鸵鸟The Wolf and the Ostrich

牧人和狮子The Herdsman and the Lion

人和毒蛇The Man and the Viper

人和鹰The Man and the Eagle

战马和磨坊主The War-Horse and the Miller

狗和倒影The Dog and the Reflection

人和鱼角哨The Man and the Fish?Horn

兔子和乌龟The Hare and the Tortoise

赫拉克利斯和马车夫Hercules and the Carter

狮子和公牛The Lion and the Bull

人和鹅The Man and His Goose

狼和吃草的山羊The Wolf and the Feeding Goat

朱庇特和鸟Jupiter and the Birds

狮子和老鼠The Lion and the Mouse

老人和儿子们The Old Man and His Sons

螃蟹和小蟹The Crab and His Son

北风和太阳The Noah Wind and the Sun

大山和老鼠11he Mountain and the Mouse

贝拉米和社团成员The Bellamy and the Members

旧题新说OId Saws With New Teeth

狼和鹤The Wolf and the Crane

狮子和老鼠The Lion and the Mouse

兔子和青蛙 The Hares and the Frogs

胃和成员们The Belly and the Members

不动声色的渔夫The Piping Fisherman

蚂蚁和蝗虫The Ants and the Grasshopper

狗和倒影The Dog and His Reflection

狮子、熊和狐狸The Lion，the Bear，and the Fox

驴和狮子皮The Ass and the Lion's Skin

驴和蝗虫The Ass and the Grasshoppers

狼和狮子The Wolf and the Lion

兔子和乌龟The Hare and the Tortoise

挤奶女工和她的提桶The Milkmaid and Her Bucket

圆木王和鹳王King Log and King Stork

将成为狮子的狼The W0lf Who Would Be a Lion

猴子和坚果The Monkey and the Nuts

男孩和青蛙The Boys and the Frogs

精彩书摘

The Moral Principle and the Material Interest

A Moral Principle met a Material Interest on a bridge wide

enough for but one.

"Down, you base thing!" thundered the Moral Principle, "and

let me pass over you!"

The Material Interest merely looked in the other's eyes without

saying anything.

"Ah," said the Moral Principle, hesitatingly, "let us draw

lots to see which shall retire till the other has crossed."

The Material Interest maintained an unbroken silence and an

unwavering stare.

"In order to avoid a conflict," the Moral Principle

resumed,somewhat uneasily, "I shall myself lie down and let you

walk over me."

Then the Material Interest found a tongue, and by a strange

co-incidence it was its own tongue."I don't think you are very

good walking," it said. "I am a little particular about what I

have un-derfoot. Suppose you get off into the water."

It occurred that way. P2

道德标准和物质利益

道德标准在一架小桥上碰到了物质利益，可是桥很窄，仅能通行一个人

。

“趴下去．你这个庸俗的家伙！”道德标准雷鸣般吼道，“让我踩着你

过去！”

物质利益只是瞪着对方，一言不发。

“嘿！”道德标准犹豫了，说道，“我们抓阄吧，看看谁该往后退，让

另一个先过。”

物质利益仍然一声不吭地紧盯着对方。

“为了避免冲突．”道德标准有些不安了，接着说道，“我自己趴下好

了，让你踩着我走过去。”

这时，物质利益终于发话了；说来怪巧的，他说出了自己的真话。“我

可不认为踏在你身上好走，”他说，“我对脚下踩着的东西有点挑剔。我看

你还是滚到河里去吧！”

结局果真如此。P3

The Blotted Escutcheon and the Soiled Ermine

A Blotted Escutcheon, rising to a question of privilege, said:

"Mr Speaker, I wish to hurl back an allegation and explain

that the spots upon me are the natural markings of one who is a

direct descendant of the sun and a spotted fawn. They come of no

accident of character, but inhere in the divine order and

constitution of things."

When the Blotted Escutcheon had resumed his seat a Soiled

Ermine rose and said:

"Mr Speaker, I have heard with profound attention and entire

approval the explanation of the honourable member, and wish to

offer a few remarks on my own behalf. I, too, have been foully

calumniated by our ancient enemy, the Infamous Falsehood, and I

wish to point out that I am made of the fur of the Mustela

maculata which is dirty from birth." P4

带污斑的盾牌和脏貂袍

一面带有污斑的盾牌站起来就特权问题发言： “议长阁下．我想反驳

那种空洞的辩词，并在此解释一下，我身上的污斑是天然的标记，可以证明

我是太阳的后裔、梅花鹿的嫡传。它们的出现不是由于品质上的差别，而是

生来就符合神的安排和事物发展的章法。”

带污斑的盾牌坐回到位子上，脏貂袍站起来说道：“议长阁下．仔细聆

听了刚才那位尊敬的先生的阐释后，我深表关注．完全赞同。我还希望以我

本人的名义发表一点评论。我亦曾被我们的宿敌、臭名昭著的谬误先生恶意

中伤过；我还想指出．其实我是由天生脏污的花斑鼬的皮毛做成的。”P5