第500期:英语美文-A Bewitched City

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　　巫城

　　美国的马萨诸塞州的塞勒姆，相传是一个有巫师的地方。说到巫师，我们的第一反应是一个干瘪而邪恶的老太婆，带着尖尖的帽子，骑着扫把，夜空中回荡着她们阴森而恐怖的笑声。而塞勒姆这个地方，相传有巫师，并不是有人发现了巫师的种种法术或是祸害他们。而是历史上他们误判超过200多人是巫师，并且处以他们以极刑的事件。今天我们就来完整听一下这个巫城的故事。

　　New Words:

　　bewitch vt. 施魔法于，蛊惑；使着迷

　　infamous¹ adj. 声名狼藉的；无耻的；

　　accuse vt. 控告，指控

　　convict vt. 证明…有罪；宣告…有罪

　　feud² n. 不和；争执；

　　hysterical³ adj. 歇斯底里的

　　crucible⁴ n. 坩埚；严酷的考验

　　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 witchcraft⁵ 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 underneath⁶ the weight. Seven others died in jail.

　　马萨诸塞州的塞勒姆被称为“巫城”，但不要害怕。没有戴着尖尖的黑色帽子骑在扫帚上的女人。新英格兰城市之所以被称为女巫城，是因为在1692到1693年间一系列臭名昭著的审判案件。当时，这个城市只是英国殖民地马萨诸塞州的一个小镇。塞勒姆女巫审判中，指控超过200人是女巫。人们相信巫术是真实的，而且是犯罪。被告人当中有女性，男性，甚至儿童。十九人被判处死刑。他们都被绞死了。其中一名被告用重石被压倒在地而深受折磨。另外七人死于监狱。

　　There was never any proof that those accused, and convicted were really witches. Historians think that people would accuse people because of family feuds⁷. Other historians think that a domino effect occurred, with people becoming hysterical after one accusation⁸. Fear of witches spread like a disease.

　　从来没有任何证据证明那些被指控的人是真正的女巫。历史学家认为人们会因为家庭仇恨而控告人们。其他历史学家认为，当一个指控发生后，便会发生多米诺骨牌效应，人们会变得歇斯底里。对女巫的恐惧也会像像疾病一样蔓延开来。

　　The Salem Witch Trials have become a part of the city's history. "The Crucible", a play about the trials by Arthur Miller⁹, has been turned into a movie. The city is not ashamed of its past, but rather uses it to teach tolerance¹⁰ and earn some tourist dollars. There is a memorial dedicated¹¹ 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 fictional¹² witches have been filmed in Salem, including "Hocus Pocus" and "Bewitched".

　　塞勒姆女巫审判已经成为该市历史的一部分。《坩埚》是一部关于阿瑟·米勒审判的剧本，已经被改编成电影。这座城市并不为它的过去感到羞耻，而是用它来教导宽容并赚取游客的钱。有一个纪念碑献给那些音追捕女巫而亡的无辜者。有一个“巫婆博物馆”讲述了事情发生的经过。许多人在万圣节前夕参观塞勒姆。塞勒姆警车有女巫标志。当地一所公立学校被称为巫师高地小学，塞勒姆高中的运动队被命名为巫师。在塞勒姆拍摄了以虚构女巫为题材的电影和电视剧，其中包括《人吓鬼》和《家有仙妻》。

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