第 33 节
作者:沸点123      更新:2021-02-27 02:03      字数:9322
  where a man named Jairus lived。 This man was a ruler in the synagogue;
  and he had just one little daughter about twelve years of age。 At the time
  that Jesus was there the little daughter was very sick; and at last she lay a…
  dying。
  Her father heard that there was a wonderful man near the town; who
  was healing sick people whom no one else could help; and in his despair
  he ran out into the streets to search for Him。 He found Jesus walking in the
  midst of a crowd of people; and when he saw Him he fell down at Jesus
  feet and besought Him to come into his house; to heal his daughter。 And
  Jesus   said; Yes;   he   would   go   with   him。   But   there   were   so   many   people
  begging to be healed; and so many looking to see what happened; that the
  crowd thronged them; and kept them from moving fast。 And before they
  reached the house one of the man's servants came to meet them; and said;
  〃Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master to come farther。〃
  But    instantly  Jesus   turned    to  the  father  and   said;  〃Fear   not;   only
  believe; and she shall be made whole。〃 And He went on with Jairus; to the
  house。
  When they came to the house; they heard the sound of weeping   and
  lamentation; the household was mourning for the little daughter; who was
  dead。 Jesus sent all the strangers away from the door; and only three of His
  disciples   and   the   father   and   mother   of   the   child   went   in   with   Him。 And
  when He was within; He said to the mourning people; 〃Weep not; she is
  not dead; she sleepeth。〃
  When He had passed; they laughed Him to scorn; for they knew that
  she was dead。
  Then Jesus left them all; and went alone into the chamber where the
  little daughter lay。 And when He was there; alone; He went up to the bed
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  where she was; and bent over her; and took her by the hand。 And He said;
  〃Maiden; arise。〃
  And her spirit came unto her again! And she lived; and grew up in her
  father's house。
  ESPECIALLY FOR CLASSES IV。 AND V。
  ARTHUR AND THE SWORD'1'
  '1' Adapted from Sir Thomas Malory。
  Once   there   was   a   great   king   in   Britain   named   Uther;   and   when   he
  died the other kings and princes disputed over the kingdom; each wanting
  it for himself。 But King Uther had a son named Arthur; the rightful heir to
  the throne;   of   whom  no   one   knew;  for   he   had   been   taken   away  secretly
  while he was still a baby by a wise old man called Merlin; who had him
  brought up in the family of a certain Sir Ector; for fear of the malice of
  wicked knights。 Even the boy himself thought Sir Ector was his father; and
  he loved Sir Ector's son; Sir Kay; with the love of a brother。
  When the kings and princes could not be kept in check any longer; and
  something had to be done to determine who was to be king; Merlin made
  the Archbishop of Canterbury send for them all to come to London。 It was
  Christmas time; and in the great cathedral a solemn service was held; and
  prayer  was   made   that   some   sign   should   be   given;  to   show   who   was   the
  rightful king。 When the service was over; there appeared a strange stone in
  the   churchyard;   against   the   high   altar。   It   was   a   great   white   stone;   like
  marble; with something sunk in it that looked like a steel anvil; and in the
  anvil was driven a great glistening sword。 The sword had letters of gold
  written on it; which read: 〃Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and
  anvil is rightwise king born of all England。〃
  All wondered at the strange sword and its strange writing; and when
  the archbishop himself came out and gave permission; many of the knights
  tried to pull the sword from the stone; hoping to be king。 But no one could
  move it a hair's breadth。
  〃He is not here;〃 said the archbishop; 〃that shall achieve the sword; but
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  doubt not; God will make him known。〃
  Then     they   set  a  guard   of  ten   knights    to  keep   the  stone;   and   the
  archbishop   appointed   a   day  when   all   should   come   together   to   try  at   the
  stone;kings from far and near。 In the meantime; splendid jousts were held;
  outside London; and both knights and commons were bidden。
  Sir Ector came up to the jousts; with others; and with him rode Kay
  and Arthur。  Kay had   been made   a knight   at Allhallowmas;  and when   he
  found there was to be so fine a joust he wanted a sword; to join it。 But he
  had   left   his   sword   behind;   where   his   father   and   he   had   slept   the   night
  before。 So he asked young Arthur to ride for it。
  〃I will well;〃 said Arthur; and rode back for it。 But when he came to
  the castle; the lady and all her household were at the jousting; and there
  was none to let him in。
  Thereat   Arthur     said   to  himself;   〃My   brother   Sir    Kay   shall   not  be
  without a sword this day。〃 And he remembered the sword he had seen in
  the churchyard。 〃I will to the churchyard;〃 he said; 〃and take that sword
  with me。〃 So he rode into the churchyard; tied his horse to the stile; and
  went up to the stone。 The guards were away to the tourney; and the sword
  was there; alone。
  Going up to the stone; young Arthur took the great sword by the hilt;
  and lightly and fiercely he drew it out of the anvil。
  Then he rode straight to Sir Kay; and gave it to him。
  Sir Kay knew instantly that it was the sword of the stone; and he rode
  off at once to his father and said; 〃Sir; lo; here is the sword of the stone; I
  must be king of the land。〃 But Sir Ector asked him where he got the sword。
  And when Sir Kay said; 〃From my brother;〃 he asked Arthur how he got it。
  When   Arthur   told   him;   Sir   Ector   bowed   his   head   before   him。   〃Now   I
  understand ye must be king of this land;〃 he said to Arthur。
  〃Wherefore I?〃 said Arthur。
  〃For God will have it so;〃 said Ector; 〃never man should have drawn
  out this sword but he that shall be rightwise king of this land。 Now let me
  see   whether   ye   can   put the   sword   as   it   was in the   stone;   and pull   it   out
  again。〃
  Straightway Arthur put the sword back。
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  Then Sir Ector tried to pull it out; and after him Sir Kay; but neither
  could stir it。 Then Arthur pulled it out。 Thereupon; Sir Ector and Sir Kay
  kneeled upon the ground before him。
  〃Alas;〃 said Arthur; 〃mine own dear father and brother; why kneel ye
  to me?〃
  Sir Ector told him; then; all about his royal birth; and how he had been
  taken privily away by Merlin。 But when Arthur found Sir Ector was not
  truly his father; he was so sad at heart that he cared not greatly to be king。
  And he begged his father and brother to love him still。 Sir Ector asked that
  Sir Kay might be seneschal when Arthur was king。 Arthur promised with
  all his heart。
  Then   they   went   to   the   archbishop   and   told   him   that   the   sword   had
  found its master。 The archbishop appointed a day for the trial to be made
  in   the   sight   of   all   men;   and   on   that   day   the   princes   and   knights   came
  together; and each tried to draw out the sword; as before。 But as before;
  none could so much as stir it。
  Then came Arthur; and pulled it easily from its place。
  The knights and kings were terribly angry that a boy from nowhere in
  particular   had   beaten   them;   and   they   refused   to   acknowledge   him   king。
  They appointed another day; for another great trial。
  Three times they did this; and every time the same thing happened。
  At   last;   at   the   feast   of   Pentecost; Arthur   again   pulled   out   the   sword
  before all the knights and the commons。 And then the commons rose up
  and cried that he should be king; and that they would slay any who denied
  him。
  So Arthur became king of Britain; and all gave him allegiance。
  TARPEIA
  There was once a girl named Tarpeia; whose father was guard of the
  outer gate of the citadel of Rome。 It was a time of war;the Sabines were
  besieging the city。 Their camp was close outside the city wall。
  Tarpeia used to see the Sabine soldiers when she went to draw water
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  from   the   public   well;   for   that   was   outside   t