Known as an infamous[1] lady who lighted the flames of the Trojan War, Helen was the most beautiful woman in the world. She was the daughter of Zeus and was married to Menelaus, king of Sparta, by her stepfather. They were leading a happy life[2] when one day Paris came to visit Sparta.Quikly, Helen and Paris fell in love and fled together to Troy.When Menelaus learnt it, he was very angry and decided to lay a siege to[3] the city of Troy and get Helen back. The battle continued for a very long time, Helen felt she still loved Menelaus, and she helped Odysseus and Diomedes when they came in disguise to steal the Palladium. Finally, Paris was defeated and killed in the battle.When Menelaus entered the city of Troy, he began searching anxiously for Helen and found her trembling in the ruins[4]. Facing her charming face again, Menelaus felt it difficult to thrust his sword into her body. Then Helen, feeling guity and ashamed, asked Menelaus for forgiveness. Menelaus forgave her and brought her back to Sparta.They loved each other like before and lived happilly from then on.
海倫,因為挑起了特洛伊戰(zhàn)爭而臭名昭著。她是世界上最漂亮的女人。她是宙斯的女兒,她的繼父把她嫁給了斯巴達國王梅納雷阿斯。他們一直過著幸福的生活,直到有一天,帕里斯訪問斯巴達,很快,他便與海倫墜入愛河并一起私奔,逃到了特洛伊。 梅納雷阿斯得知此事后非常生氣,他決定攻打特洛伊城,并把海倫找回來。戰(zhàn)爭持續(xù)了很長時間,海倫發(fā)現(xiàn)自己還愛著曼紐拉斯,于是當俄底修斯和戴奧米底斯化妝進城來竊取帕拉斯(守護特洛伊城的神像)神像時,她幫助了他們。最后,帕里斯戰(zhàn)敗并被殺死。 曼紐拉斯進入特洛伊城并急切地尋找海倫,后來在廢墟中發(fā)現(xiàn)了她。再一次面對著海倫美麗的臉龐,曼紐拉斯怎么也不忍心把劍刺入她的身體。海倫有一種負罪感,并且非常羞愧,她請求曼紐拉斯寬恕。曼紐拉斯原諒了她并把她帶回斯巴達。他們象從前一樣相愛,從此過著幸福的生活。
注釋:
1. infamous:這是一個貶義詞,表示“聲名狼藉”、“臭名昭著”等。用這個詞形容Helen這么漂亮的姑娘,似乎太嚴厲了??墒钦l讓她挑起特洛伊戰(zhàn)爭呢!總之,infamous是用來形容壞人的,如an infamous criminal表示“一個臭名昭著的殺人犯”。
2. lead a... life:表示“過……生活”,例如:lead a happy life(過幸福的生活)。還有一個詞組live a... life與其同義,也表示“過……生活”。
3. lay a siege to:表示“攻打”、“發(fā)動戰(zhàn)爭”,后面跟名詞。
4. ruin:是“毀滅”、“毀壞之物”等意思,加復數后常表示“廢墟”,如the ruins of a castle (一座城堡的廢墟)。