内容概述
关于毕达哥拉斯的出身，赫拉克利特说他是萨摩斯岛石匠姆奈萨尔克之子，也有人说他母亲有腓尼基血统。但在信徒眼中，毕达哥拉斯出身神圣，生父是阿波罗，而“金腿”就是其天界血统的证明。这个离奇传说流传甚广，后人甚至猜测它可能是某个真实身体缺陷被奇迹贩子夸大后的结果。
中文正文
43° 毕达哥拉斯的金腿
厌恶人类的哲学家赫拉克利特（Heraclitus）说，毕达哥拉斯是萨摩的一个石匠姆奈萨尔克（Mnesarchus）的儿子。又有人说他母亲有腓尼基人的血统，还曾陪着儿子游历。不过，在毕达哥拉斯的信徒们看来，主人的出生是神圣的，那圣父当然只能是阿波罗。毕达哥拉斯来自天上的证据，据说是他有着一条金腿。这个离奇的故事流传久远，甚至有人猜想，也许毕达哥拉斯真有什么身体缺陷，只不过被好事者越说越玄了。假如真是那样，那他的缺陷会是什么呢？
英文正文
43° Pythagoras's golden thigh. The misanthropic philosopher Heraclitus has said that Pythagoras was the son of Mnesarchus, a stone cutter of Samos. And there is a vague rumor that Pythagoras's mother was of Phoenician extraction, and that she accompanied her son on one of his journeys. But to Pythagoras's disciples, the master was of divine origin, having for heavenly father none other than Apollo. In proof of this celestial descent, Pythagoras is said to have possessed a golden thigh. This curious legend is so persistent that it has been wondered if it might be a miracle-monger's distortion of some real physical infirmity, and, if so, what the infirmity might have been.
英语学习拓展
常用词汇
misanthropic音标/ˌmɪsənˈθrɑːpɪk/
厌恶人类的。
原文用法：The misanthropic philosopher Heraclitus
vague音标/veɪɡ/
模糊的；不明确的。
原文用法：a vague rumor
rumor音标/ˈruːmər/
传闻；谣言。
原文用法：同上
extraction音标/ɪkˈstrækʃn/
血统；出身。
原文用法：of Phoenician extraction
accompany音标/əˈkʌmpəni/
陪伴。
原文用法：she accompanied her son on one of his journeys
disciple音标/dɪˈsaɪpl/
信徒；门徒。
原文用法：to Pythagoras's disciples
divine音标/dɪˈvaɪn/
神圣的。
原文用法：the master was of divine origin
celestial音标/səˈlestʃl/
天界的；天空的。
原文用法：In proof of this celestial descent
descent音标/dɪˈsent/
血统；世系；下降。
原文用法：同上
possess音标/pəˈzes/
拥有；具有。
原文用法：Pythagoras is said to have possessed a golden thigh
persistent音标/pərˈsɪstənt/
持久的；持续的。
原文用法：This curious legend is so persistent
distortion音标/dɪˈstɔːrʃn/
扭曲；曲解。
原文用法：a miracle-monger's distortion of some real physical infirmity
infirmity音标/ɪnˈfɜːrməti/
体弱；缺陷。
原文用法：同上
同义词与近义词
对应核心词汇：vague
对应核心词汇：vague。
辨析：vague 指信息或记忆模糊；unclear 泛指不清楚；ambiguous 指可作多种解释。
对应核心词汇：disciple
对应核心词汇：disciple。
辨析：disciple 强调对导师或思想的追随；follower 最通用；adherent 侧重信仰或党派。
对应核心词汇：divine
对应核心词汇：divine。
辨析：divine 指神性或与神相关；holy 强调圣洁；sacred 强调受人敬畏、不可侵犯。
常用短语与固定搭配
- of ... extraction：……血统。原文用法：of Phoenician extraction
- accompany sb. on a journey：陪某人旅行。原文用法：accompanied her son on one of his journeys
- of divine origin：神圣出身。原文用法：the master was of divine origin
- none other than：不是别人，正是。原文用法：having for heavenly father none other than Apollo
- in proof of：作为……的证据。原文用法：In proof of this celestial descent
- be said to have done：据说曾经做过。原文用法：Pythagoras is said to have possessed a golden thigh
常用句式
- Pattern: There is a vague rumor that ...：有传闻说……。原文例句：And there is a vague rumor that Pythagoras's mother was of Phoenician extraction...
- Pattern: ... is so ... that ...：如此……以至于……。原文例句：This curious legend is so persistent that it has been wondered if ...
- Pattern: It has been wondered if ...：人们想知道是否……。原文例句：同上
长难句解析
But to Pythagoras's disciples, the master was of divine origin, having for heavenly father none other than Apollo.
- 主干：the master was of divine origin
- 修饰与从句：
- But to Pythagoras's disciples 为状语，说明“在信徒看来”； - having for heavenly father none other than Apollo 为现在分词短语，补充说明 divine origin 的具体内容。
- 逻辑关系：前半句提出信徒的观点，后半句以分词短语具体化“神圣出身”——生父正是阿波罗。
语言使用特点
- 用 vague rumor、curious legend 等词表达对传说的保留态度；
- 用 divine origin、celestial descent 等正式短语体现神圣化叙事；
- 结尾以 if so 引出理性推测，形成神话与怀疑之间的对照。
迁移练习
- 用 of ... extraction 描述一个人的血统或家族背景。
- 解释 none other than 在句中的作用。
- 翻译：据说毕达哥拉斯拥有一条金腿，作为他天界血统的证明。
点击展开参考答案
- （示例）She is a writer of Irish extraction.
- （示例）It emphasizes that Apollo, and no one else, was believed to be his heavenly father.
- Pythagoras is said to have possessed a golden thigh in proof of his celestial descent.