命令大海的国王

类别：智慧

面对大臣们的谄媚奉承，克努特国王用无法命令潮水的事实，给众人上了清醒的一课。

时长 54 秒 · 语速 158 wpm

字幕原文

King Canute ruled England a thousand years ago. 一千年前，卡纽特国王统治着英格兰。

Everywhere he went, the men around him praised him. 不管他走到哪儿，身边的人都一个劲儿地奉承他。

"You are the greatest man who ever lived." “您是有史以来最伟大的人。”

Canute was a sensible man, and he was tired of it. 但卡纽特是个明白人，早就听腻了这些阿谀奉承。

One day, he was walking by the sea with these men. 有一天，他和这帮人一起在海边散步。

"Put my chair on the beach," he said, “把我的椅子搬到沙滩上去，”他吩咐道，

"right at the edge of the water." “就放在海水边上。”

He sat down. 他坐了下来。

"So everything obeys me?" “这么说，万物都听我的命令？”

"Everything, great king." “是的，伟大的国王，一切都听您的。”

"Even the sea?" “连大海也听？”

Nobody dared to say no. 没人敢说一个“不”字。

"Of course. “那当然了。

Just give the order." 只要您一声令下。”

"Sea!" “大海！”

shouted Canute. 卡纽特大声喊道，

"I command you to stop! “我命令你停下！

Don't you dare touch my feet!" 休想碰到我的脚！”

The waves kept coming. 可海浪还是一波接一波地涌过来。

Soon the water was over his shoes, 很快，海水就漫过了他的鞋子，

and then up to his knees. 接着又淹到了他的膝盖。

He turned to the men. 他转过头看着那帮人，

"Now you see how much power a king really has. “现在你们看清楚了吧，国王究竟有多大能耐。

Remember this, the next time you feel like flattering me." 下次再想拍我马屁的时候，可别忘了今天这一幕。”