Lesson 2 Thirteen equals one 十三等于一

Was the vicar pleased that the clock was striking? Why?

1. 原文

Our vicar is always raising money for one cause or another, but he has never managed to get enough money to have the church clock repaired. The big clock which used to strike the hours day and night was damaged many years ago and has been silent ever since.

One night, however, our vicar woke up with a start: the clock was striking the hours! Looking at his watch, he saw that it was one o’clock, but the bell struck thirteen times before it stopped. Armed with a torch, the vicar went up into the clock tower to see what was going on. In the torchlight, he caught sight of a figure whom he immediately recognized as Bill Wilkins, our local grocer.

‘Whatever are you doing up here Bill?’ asked the vicar in surprise.

‘I’m trying to repair the bell,’ answered Bill. ‘I’ve been coming up here night after night for weeks now. You see, I was hoping to give you a surprise.’

‘You certainly did give me a surprise!’ said the vicar. ‘You’ve probably woken up everyone in the village as well. Still, I’m glad the bell is working again.’

That’s the trouble, vicar,’ answered Bill. 'It’s working all right, but I’m afraid that at one o’clock it will strike thirteen times and there’s nothing I can do about it."

We’ll get used to that, Bill,’ said the vicar. "Thirteen is not as good as one, but it’s better than nothing. Now let’s go downstairs and have a cup of tea.’

1. woke up with a start：…
   with a start, 由于受到惊动，惊醒了。冒号后面是一个解释性的分句，是对start所作的具体说明。
2. recognize as, 认出是。
3. Whatever are you doing up here? 你究竟在这上面干什么。
   whatever 用于疑问句中，用以加强 what 的语气，作“究竟什么”解，口语中很常用。
4. You certainly did give me a surprise! 你确实使我感到意外！
   在英语中助动词 do 可以用来表示强调。此时助动词do放在谓语动词之前。
5. Thirteen is not as good as one,but it is better than nothing.
   敲 13下虽然不如敲 1下好，但总比1下不敲强多了。

Armed with a torch, the vicar went up into the clock tower to see what was going on.

• armed with a torch 是过去分词短语作伴随状语，其逻辑主语与主句主语一致，且动作是被动的。
• 另外，arm oneself/sb with sth的意思是“某人用某物武装自己”。 He armed himself with a big stick while going out.

the vicar went up into the clock tower to see what was going on.

• went up 动词短语，上升
• what was going on. 发生了什么（what happened）

what’s up 与 what’s going on 与 what’s wrong 之间的区别：

1. 表达的感情色彩强烈程度不同。what’s up，日常打招呼用的，比较友善的态度。what’s going on ， 态度强烈些，询问的意思更深些。what’s wrong？态度更加强烈些。
2. 应用场合不同。what’s up 较口语化，日常见面打招呼的用语。而 what’s going on 与 what’s wrong 则也可应用于书面语中。

We’ll get used to that 我们会习惯的

2. 参考译文

我们教区的牧师总是为各种各样的事筹集资金。但始终未能筹足资金把教堂的钟修好。教堂的钟很大，以前不分昼夜打点报时，但很多年前遭到毁坏，从此便无声无息了。

一天夜里，我们的牧师突然被惊醒了，大钟又在“打点”报时了！他一看表，才1点钟，可是那钟一边敲了13下才停。牧师拿着一支电筒走上钟楼想去看看究竟发生了什么事情。借着电筒光。他看见一个人，马上认出那是本地杂货店主比尔.威尔金斯。

“你究竟在这上面干什么，比尔？”牧师惊讶地问。
“我想把这口钟修好，”比尔回答说。“好几个星期了，我天天夜里到钟楼上来。嗯，我是想让你大吃一惊。”
“你确实使我大吃了一惊！”牧师说，“也许同时你把村里所有的人都吵醒了。不过，钟又能报时了，我还是很高兴的。”
“问题就在这里，牧师，”比尔回答说。“不错，钟能报时了，但是，恐怕每到1点钟，它总要敲13下，对此我已无能为力了。”
“大家慢慢就习惯了，比尔，”牧师说。“13下是不如1下好，但总比1下也不敲强。来，咱们下楼去喝杯茶吧。”