第500期:英語美文 A Bewitched City
A Bewitched City
巫城
美國的馬薩諸塞州的塞勒姆，相傳是一個有巫師的地方。說到巫師，我們的第一反應是一個乾癟而邪惡的老太婆，帶着尖尖的帽子，騎着掃把，夜空中迴盪着她們陰森而恐怖的笑聲。而塞勒姆這個地方，相傳有巫師，並不是有人發現了巫師的種種法術或是禍害他們。而是歷史上他們誤判超過200多人是巫師，並且處以他們以極刑的事件。今天我們就來完整聽一下這個巫城的故事。
New Words:
bewitch vt. 施魔法於，蠱惑；使着迷
infamous adj. 聲名狼藉的；無恥的；
accuse vt. 控告，指控
convict vt. 證明…有罪；宣告…有罪
feud n. 不和；爭執；
hysterical adj. 歇斯底里的
crucible n. 坩堝；嚴酷的考驗
Salem in the state of Massachusetts is called the "Witch City", but don't be afraid. There aren't women wearing pointy black hats riding around on brooms. The New England city is called the Witch City because of an infamous set of trials that happened there in 1692 to 1693. At the time, the city was just a town in the British colony of Massachusetts. The Salem Witch Trials accused more than200 people of being witches. People believed witchcraft was real and was criminal. Among the accused were women, men, and even children. Nineteen people were sentenced to death. They were all hanged. One of the accused was tortured with heavy rocks being placed on him until he was crushed underneath the weight. Seven others died in jail.
馬薩諸塞州的塞勒姆被稱爲“巫城”，但不要害怕。沒有戴着尖尖的黑色帽子騎在掃帚上的女人。新英格蘭城市之所以被稱爲女巫城，是因爲在1692到1693年間一系列臭名昭著的審判案件。當時，這個城市只是英國殖民地馬薩諸塞州的一個小鎮。塞勒姆女巫審判中，指控超過200人是女巫。人們相信巫術是真實的，而且是犯罪。被告人當中有女性，男性，甚至兒童。十九人被判處死刑。他們都被絞死了。其中一名被告用重石被壓倒在地而深受折磨。另外七人死於監獄。
There was never any proof that those accused, and convicted were really witches. Historians think that people would accuse people because of family feuds. Other historians think that a domino effect occurred, with people becoming hysterical after one accusation. Fear of witches spread like a disease.
從來沒有任何證據證明那些被指控的人是真正的女巫。歷史學家認爲人們會因爲家庭仇恨而控告人們。其他歷史學家認爲，當一個指控發生後，便會發生多米諾骨牌效應，人們會變得歇斯底里。對女巫的恐懼也會像像疾病一樣蔓延開來。
The Salem Witch Trials have become a part of the city's history. "The Crucible", a play about the trials by Arthur Miller, has been turned into a movie. The city is not ashamed of its past, but rather uses it to teach tolerance and earn some tourist dollars. There is a memorial dedicated to the innocent people who died because of the witch-hunts. There is a "Witch Museum" that tells the story of what happened. Many people visit Salem around Halloween. Salem police cars have witch logos. A local public school is known as the Witchcraft Heights Elementary School, and the Salem High School sports teams are named the Witches. Films and television shows featuring fictional witches have been filmed in Salem, including "Hocus Pocus" and "Bewitched".
塞勒姆女巫審判已經成爲該市歷史的一部分。《坩堝》是一部關於阿瑟·米勒審判的劇本，已經被改編成電影。這座城市並不爲它的過去感到羞恥，而是用它來教導寬容並賺取遊客的錢。有一個紀念碑獻給那些音追捕女巫而亡的無辜者。有一個“巫婆博物館”講述了事情發生的經過。許多人在萬聖節前夕參觀塞勒姆。塞勒姆警車有女巫標誌。當地一所公立學校被稱爲巫師高地小學，塞勒姆高中的運動隊被命名爲巫師。在塞勒姆拍攝了以虛構女巫爲題材的電影和電視劇，其中包括《人嚇鬼》和《家有仙妻》。
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