自取其辱 - 古德明

自取其辱 - 古德明

John Randolph, who entered the United States House of Representatives in 1799, was a quick thinking orator with a wicked tongue. Once, he had the ill fortune to offend a coxcombish young fellow, who determined to revenge himself by insulting the orator at the first opportunity that occurred.
At length the opportunity presented itself, when the young sprig, * meeting Randolph on the pavement, walked up to him very impudently, and said, "I never give way to a damned rascal."
Randolph, immediately pulling off his hat and making the young fellow a low bow, replied, "Well, sir, I always do," and gave him the pavement.
約翰.倫道夫一七九九年成為美國眾議員。他思想敏捷,擅演講,說話可以很刻薄。有一次,他不幸冒犯了一個紈袴少年。那少年有心報復,準備一有機會,就侮辱這個演說家。
這機會終於來了:那少年在人行道上,碰見倫道夫,就走到他跟前,態度囂張,說道:「我從來不會讓路給可惡的流氓。」
倫道夫馬上脫下帽子,向他深鞠躬,回答說:「嗯,先生,我卻是見之必讓。」說罷,就讓路給那少年。
* Sprig一般指「帶花或葉的小枝」,例如a sprig of thyme是「一小枝百里香」。這個字也可以指「年輕人」,多帶輕蔑含義。