同牀異夢 - 古德明

同牀異夢 - 古德明

ThehostilitiesbetweentheFrenchandthealliedtroopsinBelgiumleadingtothebattleofWaterlooin1815sawmanymilitaryunitsonbothsidesbrokenup.Somesoldiers,separatedfromtheirunits,wereunsureoftheoutcomeofthebattle.AFrenchlieutenantfleeingfromthefieldofWaterloosoughtrefugeataninnsomefortymilesfromthebattlefield,whenhishorsegaveoutonhim.Theinnkeepersaidhecouldsharearoomwithanofficerwhohadarrivedearlierandwasinbed.Thelieutenantwastootiredtoargueandwentupstairsandfellasleepimmediately.AtdawnhefoundhewassharingabedwithaBritishofficerwhohadbecomedetachedfromhisunitandthoughttheFrenchhadwonthebattle.
一八一五年,法軍和盟軍戰於比利時,揭開了滑鐵盧之役的序幕,雙方部隊不少打得七零八落,有些士兵離了隊,也不知道戰爭勝負。一個法國中尉逃離滑鐵盧戰場,到了距戰場約四十英里的一家客棧附近,馬力不繼,惟有去投宿。客棧主人說,他可以和早些時到來的一名軍官同住一個房間,而那軍官已經就寢。中尉疲倦得很,也不計較,走到樓上,躺下來就睡着了,到黎明才發覺和自己同牀的是個英國軍官。那軍官和同袍失散了,還以為法軍得勝。
【附注】Giveout是動詞片語(phrasalverb),指「疲憊」或「耗盡」,giveout(onsomebody)是說機器等在(某人)使用時後勁不繼而停下來,例如:Themotorbikegaveout(onhim)beforehereachedthefillingstation(他還未到達加油站,摩托車就燃油耗盡停下來)。