内容概述
公元前 4 世纪，两位叙拉古年轻人达蒙与芬提亚斯因恪守毕达哥拉斯关于友谊的训诫而名垂青史。芬提亚斯被暴君戴奥尼夏以叛逆罪判处死刑，请求回家安排后事，并找人替他坐牢作保。达蒙挺身而出，愿在芬提亚斯逾期未归时替他赴死。行刑日芬提亚斯因意外耽搁未能及时赶回，达蒙却坚信朋友、从容赴刑；就在最后一刻，芬提亚斯气喘吁吁赶到，两人争着替对方死。戴奥尼夏深受感动，释放了他们，并表示希望加入他们的友谊。
中文正文
49° 生死弟兄
公元前 4 世纪，两个叙拉古年轻人无比信奉毕达哥拉斯关于友谊的训诫，他们的名字后来成了忠贞不渝的友谊的同义词。芬提亚斯（Phintias，有时错叫皮西厄斯，Pythias）被独裁者戴奥尼夏（Dionysius）以叛逆罪判了死刑。可怜的人请求延缓执行，让他先回附近的家安排后事。请求被批准了，不过要他找个人来替他蹲监狱，直到他回来。他的朋友达蒙（Damon）来了，而且答应，假如芬提亚斯没有按时回来，他愿意替他去死。芬提亚斯遭了意外，行刑的日子到了，还没赶回来。仍然坚信朋友的忠诚的达蒙被带到刑场。人群围过来，都可怜达蒙太轻信别人。这时，迟到的芬提亚斯气喘吁吁冲出人群，扑进朋友的双臂。两个人都争着替对方死。戴奥尼夏被这真诚的友谊感动了，释放了他们，还真心希望能赢得他们的友谊。
英文正文
49° Damon and Phintias. There were two Syracusan youths of the fourth century B.C. who followed the Pythagorean mandate concerning friendship to such a degree that their names have become synonymous with the fine loyalty of that relationship. Phintias (sometimes incorrectly called Pythias) was sentenced by the tyrant Dionysius of Syracuse to die for treason. The condemned man begged a postponement of his sentence so that he might first return to his home in a neighboring village to arrange his affairs. His petition was granted provided he could obtain someone to remain in his cell as a pledge of his return. His friend Damon offered to do this, and expressed a willingness to die in Phintias's stead should Phintias not appear by the fixed time of the postponed execution. Unexpected predicaments delayed Phintias, and the scheduled day arrived. Damon, still fully believing in his friend's faithfulness, was led out for the execution. People gathered and began to express pity at Damon's credulity, when suddenly the delayed Phintias rushed breathlessly through the crowd into the arms of his friend. Each youth demanded to die for the other. Struck by this loyalty of friendship, Dionysius released both youths and expressed a desire to be admitted to their friendship.
英语学习拓展
常用词汇
Syracusan /ˌsaɪrəˈkjuːzən/ adj. / n.：叙拉古的；叙拉古人。原文用法：two Syracusan youths。
mandate音标/ˈmændeɪt/
训诫；命令。
原文用法：the Pythagorean mandate concerning friendship。
synonymous音标/sɪˈnɒnɪməs/
同义的；等同于……的。
原文用法：their names have become synonymous with the fine loyalty...
loyalty音标/ˈlɔɪəlti/
忠诚。
原文用法：the fine loyalty of that relationship。
tyrant音标/ˈtaɪrənt/
暴君；僭主。
原文用法：the tyrant Dionysius of Syracuse。
treason音标/ˈtriːzn/
叛国罪；叛逆罪。
原文用法：to die for treason。
postponement音标/pəˈspəʊnmənt/
推迟；延期。
原文用法：begged a postponement of his sentence。
petition /pəˈtɪʃn/ n. / v.：请求；请愿。原文用法：His petition was granted...
pledge音标/pledʒ/
保证；抵押。
原文用法：as a pledge of his return。
stead音标/sted/
替代；位置（常用于 in one's stead）。
原文用法：die in Phintias's stead。
predicament音标/prɪˈdɪkəmənt/
困境；窘境。
原文用法：Unexpected predicaments delayed Phintias...
faithfulness音标/ˈfeɪθflnəs/
忠诚；守信。
原文用法：believing in his friend's faithfulness。
credulity音标/krɪˈdjuːləti/
轻信；易信。
原文用法：express pity at Damon's credulity。
breathlessly音标/ˈbreθləsli/
气喘吁吁地。
原文用法：rushed breathlessly through the crowd。
同义词与近义词
对应核心词汇：mandate
对应核心词汇：mandate。
辨析：mandate 强调权威训令；command 指命令；order 泛指指示。
对应核心词汇：loyalty、faithfulness
对应核心词汇：loyalty。
辨析：loyalty 最常用，指对某人/某事业的忠诚；faithfulness 强调守信；fidelity 更正式，常用于婚姻、职责。
对应核心词汇：postponement
对应核心词汇：postponement。
辨析：postponement 指正式延期；delay 泛指延迟；deferral 多指推迟决定或行动。
常用短语与固定搭配
- follow ... to such a degree that ...：信奉/追随到如此程度以至于……。原文用法：followed the Pythagorean mandate concerning friendship to such a degree that ...
- become synonymous with：成为……的同义词。原文用法：their names have become synonymous with the fine loyalty of that relationship。
- be sentenced to die for treason：因叛逆罪被判处死刑。原文用法：was sentenced ... to die for treason。
- beg a postponement of ...：请求推迟……。原文用法：begged a postponement of his sentence。
- provided (that)：倘若；以……为条件。原文用法：His petition was granted provided he could obtain someone...
- in someone's stead：代替某人。原文用法：die in Phintias's stead。
- by the fixed time of ...：在……规定的期限前。原文用法：by the fixed time of the postponed execution。
- be led out for the execution：被带出去处决。原文用法：was led out for the execution。
- be admitted to：被接纳进入。原文用法：be admitted to their friendship。
常用句式
- Pattern: so ... that ...：如此……以至于……。原文例句：...followed the Pythagorean mandate concerning friendship to such a degree that their names have become synonymous with the fine loyalty of that relationship.
- Pattern: provided (that) ...：倘若……。原文例句：His petition was granted provided he could obtain someone to remain in his cell as a pledge of his return.
- Pattern: Struck by ..., ...：被……打动，……。原文例句：Struck by this loyalty of friendship, Dionysius released both youths...
长难句解析
His friend Damon offered to do this, and expressed a willingness to die in Phintias's stead should Phintias not appear by the fixed time of the postponed execution.
- 主干：Damon offered to do this and expressed a willingness.
- 修饰与从句：
- to die in Phintias's stead 为不定式，说明 willingness 的内容； - should Phintias not appear by the fixed time of the postponed execution 为虚拟条件句（倒装结构，相当于 if Phintias should not appear...），表示与将来事实相反的假设。
- 逻辑关系：句子说明达蒙不仅答应作保，而且表示即便芬提亚斯不按时归来，他也愿意替死。
语言使用特点
- 叙事节奏紧凑，使用多个时间状语和条件句推进情节；
- tyrant、treason、execution 等词营造紧张氛围；
- 倒装虚拟句 should Phintias not appear 体现正式书面语特征。
迁移练习
- 用 "provided (that) ..." 写一句话，说明某件事发生的条件。
- 翻译：他的朋友达蒙答应这样做，并表示如果芬提亚斯不按时回来，他愿意替他去死。
- 解释 "become synonymous with" 的含义，并另造一句。
点击展开参考答案
- （示例）I will lend you the book provided that you return it by Friday.
- His friend Damon offered to do this, and expressed a willingness to die in Phintias's stead should Phintias not appear by the fixed time of the postponed execution.
- （示例）His name has become synonymous with courage in our school.