萨维特丽与萨蒂亚万：智胜死神的公主传奇 - 伊索尔特·吉莱斯皮：英语精读讲义

Princess Savitri of the Madra kingdom was as benevolent, 語法

马德拉王国的萨维特里公主是如此仁慈，

brilliant, and bright as the sun god she was named for.

如同赐予她名字的太阳神一样才华横溢、光芒四射。

Her grace was known throughout the land

她的优雅举国闻名，

and many powerful princes and wealthy merchants flocked to her family's palace to seek her hand in marriage. 習語

许多权势显赫的王子和富有的商人都涌向她家族的宫殿，向她求婚。

But upon witnessing her blinding splendor in person,

但在亲眼目睹了她那令人目眩的迷人风采后，

the men lost their nerve. 習語

这些男人们都失去了勇气。

Unimpressed with these suitors,

公主对这些求婚者毫无兴趣，

the princess determined to find a husband herself.

决定自己去寻找一位丈夫。

Mounting her golden chariot, 語法

她登上金色的战车，

she traveled through rolling deserts,

穿过绵延起伏的沙漠、

glittering cities,

繁华闪耀的城市，

and snow-capped mountains,

和白雪皑皑的山峰，

rejecting many men along the way.

一路上拒绝了许多男子。

Eventually,

最终，

Savitri ventured deep into the jungle, 短語搭配

萨维特里深入丛林，

where she met a young man chopping wood.

在那里她遇到了一位正在砍柴的年轻男子。

His name was Satyavan,

他的名字叫萨蒂亚万，

and like her,

就像她一样，

he loved the tranquil forest.

他热爱这宁静的森林。

But the princess saw he was not at peace. 用詞

但公主看出他并不平静。

After talking for hours,

在交谈了几个小时后，

Satyavan told her of his plight. 用詞

萨蒂亚万向她讲述了自己的困境。

His parents had once been wealthy rulers 語法

他的父母曾经是富有的统治者，

until his father was blinded and overthrown in a violent coup. 文化背景

直到他的父亲在一次暴力的政变中被弄瞎双眼并被推翻。

Now,

如今，

Satyavan worked tirelessly to support their meager new life.

萨蒂亚万不知疲倦地工作，以维持他们贫困的新生活。

His determination and devotion moved the princess. 用詞

他的决心和孝心打动了公主。

As they gazed into each other's eyes,

当他们凝视着彼此的眼睛时，

she knew she'd finally found an equal. 用詞

她知道她终于找到了势均力敌的伴侣。

Savitri rushed home to tell her father the good news,

萨维特里急忙赶回家，想把这个好消息告诉父亲，

only to find him conversing with Narada, 講解

却发现他正与纳拉达交谈，

a traveling sage and wisest messenger of the gods.

那是一位云游的圣人，也是众神中最睿智的信使。

At first,

起初，

her father was thrilled to learn of Satyavan.

她的父亲得知萨蒂亚万的事后感到很高兴。

But Narada revealed a tragic prophecy.

但纳拉达揭示了一个悲惨的预言。

Her betrothed had only a year to live. 講解

她的未婚夫只剩下了一年的寿命。

Savitri's blood ran cold. 習語

萨维特里听后毛骨悚然。

She'd waited so long to find her partner.

她等了这么久才找到她的伴侣。

Was she already doomed to lose him? 用詞

难道她已经注定要失去他了吗？

The princess would not accept these terms. 語氣意圖

公主不接受这样的条件。

She swore before Narada, 語氣意圖

她在纳拉达、

her family,

她的家人，

and Satyavan himself that she would never marry another.

以及萨蒂亚万本人面前发誓，她绝不会再嫁给别人。

Satyavan was her one true love, 短語搭配

萨蒂亚万是她唯一的真爱，

and their fates were entwined forever. 習語

他们的命运已永远交织在一起。

Moved by her powerful words, 語法

圣人被她这番强有力的话语所感动，

the sage told the princess to follow an ancient spiritual regimen. 文化背景

告诉公主要遵循一种古老的精神修行。

With regular prayer, 語法

通过定期的祈祷、

periods of fasting,

几段时期的斋戒，

and preparation of special herbs and plants,

以及准备特殊的药草和植物，

she might be able to prolong Satyavan's life. 語法

她或许能够延长萨蒂亚万的寿命。

After a simple wedding,

举行了简单的婚礼后，

the couple returned to the jungle to live in keeping with the sage's instructions. 短語搭配

两人回到丛林，遵照圣人的指示生活。

This modest existence was a far cry from her lavish upbringing, 習語

这种简朴的生活与她曾经奢华的成长环境有天壤之别，

but they were happy in each other's company. 短語搭配

但在彼此的陪伴下，他们很幸福。

A year passed,

一年过去了，

and the fated day arrived.

命定的日子到来了。

On their first anniversary,

在他们结婚一周年纪念日那天，

the sun grew horribly hot,

太阳变得异常炎热，

and Satyavan's brow began to burn.

萨蒂亚万的额头开始滚烫。

Savitri barely had time to drag him into the shade 語法

萨维特里刚勉强把他拖进阴凉处，

before he grew still and cold.

他便变得浑身僵硬冰冷。

Through her tears,

透过泪水，

the princess saw an immense figure on the horizon.

公主看到地平线上出现了一个巨大的身影。

This was Yamraj, 文化背景

这就是阎摩王，

the god of death,

死神，

come to escort Satyavan's soul to the afterlife. 語法

来护送萨蒂亚万的灵魂前往来世。

But Savitri was not giving up yet. 短語動詞

但萨维特里仍未放弃。

She followed the god for hours in the beating sun.

她在烈日下足足跟了神明几个小时。

Yama thundered at the princess to leave him in peace, 語氣意圖

阎摩大声喝令公主离去让他清静，

but even as her feet bled and throat burned, 表達脈絡

但即使双脚流血、喉咙灼痛，

Savitri would not turn back.

萨维特里也不愿回头。

Eventually, Yamraj paused.

最终，阎摩王停下了脚步。

He would grant her one wish as a reward for her persistence, 短語搭配

作为对她坚持不懈的奖励，他愿意满足她一个愿望，

but she couldn't ask for her husband's life.

但她不能索要她丈夫的性命。

Without hesitating,

萨维特里毫不犹豫地

Savitri asked the god to restore her father-in-law's sight. 短語搭配

请求死神恢复她公公的视力。

The wish was granted, 語法

愿望实现了，

and Yamraj rode on.

阎摩王继续前行。

But still,

但是，

Savitri's footsteps echoed behind him.

萨维特里的脚步声仍然在他身后回响。

Exasperated,

烦躁不已的

the god granted her a second wish.

神答应了她的第二个愿望。

This time,

这一次，

she asked for Satyavan's kingdom to be restored.

她请求恢复萨蒂亚万的王国。

Again,

又一次，

the wish was granted,

愿望实现了，

and Yamraj began his descent into his subterranean kingdom. 文化背景

阎摩王开始向他的地下王国下降。

But when he glanced back,

但当他回头瞥了一眼时，

he was astounded to see the bedraggled princess stumbling along. 語法

惊讶地看到那位狼狈不堪的公主还在踉踉跄跄地跟着。

He'd never seen such devotion to the dead, 用詞

他从未见过对死者如此深厚的痴情，

and he honored her dedication with one final wish. 短語搭配

于是他用最后的一个愿望来表彰她的奉献。

Savitri wished to be the mother of many children. 語法

萨维特里希望成为许多孩子的母亲。

The god agreed and waved to dismiss her. 語氣意圖

死神同意了，挥手让她离开。

But the princess only repeated the vow she'd made one year earlier. 短語搭配

但公主只是重复了她一年前立下的誓言。

Her fate was forever entwined with Satyavan.

她的命运已与萨蒂亚万永远交织在一起。

How could she bear many children if Yamraj would not return her husband? 表達脈絡

如果阎摩王不归还她的丈夫，她怎么可能生下许多孩子呢？

Hearing this clever question,

听到这个聪明的问题，

the god relented, 用詞

神心软了，

knowing he'd been beaten. 習語

知道自己被打败了。

With Yamraj's blessing and respect, 短語搭配

带着阎摩王的祝福和敬意，

Satyavan was returned to Savitri,

萨蒂亚万回到了萨维特里身边，

and the two walked back to the land of the living, 習語

两人一同走回了生者的世界，

united in a love that not even death could destroy. 表達脈絡

团结在连死亡都无法摧毁的爱中。

Not all negotiations with death end quite so well. 表達脈絡

并非所有与死神的谈判都能有如此完美的结局。

But then again, 表達脈絡

但话又说回来，

not everyone makes one fatal mistake. 用詞

也并非每个人都会犯下一个致命的错误。

Find out what Orpheus should have done differently to save his love, 文化背景

想了解俄耳甫斯为了拯救他的挚爱本该怎么做，

Eurydice,

欧律狄刻，

with this video.

请看这段视频。

Or keep the winning streak going with the tale of the doctor who defied death. 習語

或者继续观看这位挑战死神的医生的故事，延续连胜纪录。