正义之钟（上）

类别：寓言

意大利小镇设立了正义之钟，绳索磨损后换上了葡萄藤，引来意想不到的求助者。

时长 48 秒 · 语速 181 wpm

字幕原文

In the little Italian town of Atri, 在意大利的阿特里小镇上，

the king hung a large bell in the market square. 国王在集市广场上挂了一口大钟。

A long rope reached almost to the ground. 一根长长的绳子几乎垂到了地面。

"This is the bell of justice," he told the people. “这是正义之钟，”他对百姓们说。

"If anyone treats you unfairly, ring it. “要是有人不公正地对待你，就敲响它。

The judges will come at once and hear your case. 法官会立刻赶来听你的案子。

Rich or poor, it belongs to all of you." 无论贫富，它属于你们所有人。”

For many years, the bell did its work. 许多年来，这口钟一直发挥着它的作用。

In time, the rope wore thin and grew so short that only a tall man could reach it. 渐渐地，绳子磨损变细了，短得只有高个子男人才能够着。

"That won't do," said the judges. “这可不行，”法官们说。

"What if a child needs help?" “要是小孩子需要帮助怎么办？”

There was no new rope in town. 镇上没有新的绳子了。

So a man ran to his garden and came back with a long grapevine, 于是，有个男人跑去自家的花园，带回了一根长长的葡萄藤，

the leaves still green on it. 上面的叶子还是绿油油的。

He tied it to the bell. 他把它系在了大钟上。

"Good enough," said the judges. “这样挺好，”法官们说。

Nobody guessed who the next visitor would be. 谁也没料到下一个来访者会是谁。