第197有趣高中英语课文：这城市原是女人？追美女，不怕死！英汉

这是高中英语课本第二册的第二单元的一篇课文，也可以说是整个高中阶段最有可读性的一篇课文：亚特兰大的故事。

原来，亚特兰大是希腊的公主在，是辣〔腊〕妹啊！

THE STORY OF ATLANTA

亚特兰大的故事

Atlanta was a Greek princess. She was very beautiful and could run faster than any man in Greece. But she was not allowed to run and win glory for herself in the Olympic Games.

亚特兰塔是一位希腊公主。她非常漂亮，是希腊跑的最快的人。但她不允许代表个人荣誉参家奥运会。

She was so angry that she said to her father that she would not marry anyone who could not run faster than her. Her father said that she must marry, so Atlanta made a bargain with him.

她很生气，于是告诉她的父亲，她不会嫁给一个跑步比她慢的人。他的父亲敏玲她必须结婚。因此亚特兰塔跟她的父亲做了一笔交易。

She said to him,"These are my rules. When a man says he wants to marry me, I will run against him. If he cannot run as fast as me, he will be killed. No one will be pardoned."

她对他说：“我的规则是这样的，如果一个男人想娶我，他必须与我竞争赛跑。如果他输了，他将处死。输者决不会得到饶恕。”

Many kings and princes wanted to marry Atlanta, but when they heard of rules they knew it was hopeless. So many of them sadly went home, but others stayed to run the race.

很多国王和王子都想娶亚特兰塔，可当他们得知她的规则时，都觉得希望渺茫。他们中的很多人都沮丧地回家了，只剩下少数人继续比赛。

There was a man called Hippomenes who was amazed when he heard of Atlanta's rules,"Why are these men so foolish?" he thought. "Why will they let themselves be killed because they cannot run as fast as this princess?" However, when she saw Atlanta come out of her house to run, Hippomenes changed his mind.

有一个叫海波米勒斯的人在听完亚特兰塔的规则后大吃一惊，他想："为什么这些男人这么愚蠢？明知跑不赢公主却非要拿自己的性命去赌？”可当他看到亚特兰塔从城堡里出来准备跑步时，他改变了主意。

"I will marry Atlanta--or die!" he said.

The race started and although the man ran very fast, Atlanta ran faster. As Hippomenes watched he thought, "How can I run as fast as Atlanta?" He went to ask the Greek Godness of Love for help.

他说：“我要么就娶亚特兰塔，要么就去死！”比赛开始了，尽管参赛者们跑得很快，可亚特兰塔跑得更快。海波米勒斯一边观看比赛，一边想：“我要怎样做才能跑得比亚特兰塔快呢？”

She promised to help him and gave him three golden apples. She said," Throw an apple in front of Atlanta when she is running past. When she stops to pick it up, you will be able to run past her and win."

于是他去找希腊爱神求助。爱神答应帮他，同时给了他三个金苹果，并告诉他：“当亚特兰塔 经过你身边的时候你就在她面前扔个苹果。等她去捡苹果的时候你就可以超过她，这样你就能赢得比赛了。"

Hippomenes took the apples and went to the King. He said," I want to marry Atlanta ." The King was sad to see another man die, but Hippomenes said," I will marry her------or die!" So the race began.

海波米勒斯拿着苹果去找国王，并对他说：“我要娶亚特兰塔。”国王看到又有一个人将要丧命了，他感到很伤心。但是海波米勒斯说道“我要么就娶亚特兰塔，要么就去死！”

于是，比赛就开始了

如果中学英语课本的课文多一些有可读性的文章，英语的学习一定会好得多。

其它科目的教材也是如此！