---
url: https://gaojian.site/new-concept/book-3/14-a-noble-gangster.md
description: 新概念英语第三册：A Noble Gangster。精读、词块回忆、双向译练、句法、逻辑与FSRS复习。
---

# 14 · 贵族歹徒

### 第1段

There was a time when the owners of shops and businesses in Chicago had to pay large sums of money to gangsters in return for "protection". If the money was not paid promptly, the gangsters would quickly put a man out of business by destroying his shop. Obtaining "protection money" is not a modern crime. As long ago as the fourteenth century, an Englishman, Sir John Hawkwood, made the remarkable discovery that people would rather pay large sums of money than have their life work destroyed by gangsters.
Six hundred years ago, Sir John Hawkwood arrived in Italy with a band of soldiers and settled near Florence. He soon made a name for himself and came to be known to the Italians as Giovanni Acuto. Whenever the Italian city-states were at war with each other, Hawkwood used to hire his soldiers to princes who were willing to pay the high price he demanded. In times of peace, when business was bad, Hawkwood and his men would march into a city-state and, after burning down a few farms, would offer to go away if protection money was paid to them. Hawkwood made large sums of money in this way. In spite of this, the Italians regarded him as a sort of hero. When he died at the age of eighty, the Florentines gave him a state funeral and had a picture painted which was dedicated to the memory of "the most valiant soldier and most notable leader, Signor Giovanni Haukodue."

中文理解：曾经有一段时期，芝加哥的商店和企业老板必须向匪徒缴纳大笔钱财，以换取所谓的“保护”。如果不及时交钱，匪徒就会砸毁店铺，让店主再也做不成生意。收取“保护费”并不是现代才有的罪行。早在14世纪，英国人约翰·霍克伍德爵士就有了一个非同寻常的发现：人们宁可付出大笔金钱，也不愿让匪徒毁掉自己一生的心血。
六百年前，约翰·霍克伍德爵士带着一队士兵来到意大利，在佛罗伦萨附近定居。他很快声名鹊起，意大利人称他为乔瓦尼·阿库托。每逢意大利各城邦交战，只要哪位君主肯出他索要的高价，他就把手下的士兵租给对方。和平时期没什么生意，他便带人开进某个城邦，先烧毁几处农场，再提出：只要交保护费，他们就撤走。霍克伍德靠这种办法赚了大钱。尽管如此，意大利人却把他当成某种英雄。他八十岁去世时，佛罗伦萨人为他举行了国葬，还请人绘制肖像，纪念这位“最英勇的战士、最杰出的领袖，乔瓦尼·霍克杜埃先生”。

* **large sums of money**：大笔钱款；a sum of money；sum 是一笔款项，不是加法动作。

* **in return for**：作为对……的回报；说明回报的是哪件事；不要与 ask for 请求混为同一种搭配。

* **put a man out of business**：使人无法继续经营；out of business 表示停业结果，不是出差。

* **would rather pay**：宁愿付钱；would rather do A than do B，rather 后不用 to。

* **made a name for himself**：为自己闯出名声；反身代词随主语改变，指赢得名声。

* **at war with**：与……交战；be at war with + 对方，与 in times of peace 对照。

* **were willing to**：愿意……；be willing to do；不要漏掉主动意愿这一层。

* **In times of peace**：在和平时期；times 指处于某种境况的时期。

* **burning down**：烧毁；烧成平地；burn down 可不及物；人为烧毁可说 burn the building down。

* **In spite of**：尽管；不顾；of 后面不直接接完整陈述句；接主语和谓语可用 although。

* **at the age of**：在……岁时；age前有the，of后接具体年龄数字。

* **dedicated to the memory of**：为纪念……而设；be dedicated to the memory of + 逝者，不是普通工作上的专心。

#### 原文注释 · There was a time when the owners of shops and businesses in Chicago had to pay large sums of money to gangsters in return for "protection".

注释：①gangster = robber = bandit(土匪、强盗) = brigand(同上) = hooligan(混混)。② sums = amounts。③in return for 作为对…的回报。在翻译中省略，因为很明显交保护费是作为对被保护的回报。④promptly = immediately, without delay = punctually。⑤ put sb. out of，使某人失去，talk sb. out of，劝某人放弃。⑥obtaining = getting, acquiring。⑦remarkable = notable, amazing, outstanding, eminent, distinguished。

#### 原文注释 · Six hundred years ago, Sir John Hawkwood arrived in Italy with a band of soldiers and settled near Florence.

注释：①settled = went to live。②made a name for = became famous for。 ③hire = make them available in return for money, rent。④demanded = asked for。 ⑤valiant = brave, fearless, courageous。

#### Summary 摘要

After Sir John Hawkwood settled near Florence six hundred years ago, he hired soldiers to the princes of city-states in times of war. In times of peace he threatened to destroy a city-state unless protection money was paid. In spite of this, the Italians regarded him as a sort of hero. Sir John was eighty when he died and the Florentines not only gave him a state funeral but had a picture painted of him, dedicated to his memory. (79 words)

#### Composition 作文 Hawkwood Defeated 霍克伍德被打败了

\[1]News that Hawkwood and his men were approaching caused panic among villagers who prepared to defend their farms. Hawkwood had a bad reputation(坏名声) among farmers because they knew he would not hesitate to kill them and to burn their farms.

\[2]The farmers fought very hard, even though they were poorly armed. With their sticks and spades(铲子), they were no match for Hawkwood's well-armed soldiers who had horses, swords and bows(弓) and arrows. During the battle, a great many farmers were killed. After Hawkwood destroyed their farms, he sent a message to the prince of the city-state demanding a large amount of protection money. He said that if this money was paid, he would go away and cause no more trouble. However, if it wasn't paid, he would invade the city. To Hawkwood's amazement, this demand was refused, so he and his men invaded the city. As a result, many buildings were destroyed and thousands of people were killed, including quite a few of(相当多) Hawkwood's soldiers.

\[3]The city people fought very hard until Hawkwood and his men were finally driven off(击退、赶走). Because the city people defended themselves so well, Hawkwood never attacked them again. He and the prince even became friends. (200 words)

## 学完这一课

用 There was a time when… 介绍一种已过去的社会情况。

[Nce · 本册复习台](/new-concept/book-3/review) · [三册选择地图](/new-concept/)

*译文依据整理稿，由本站按中文表达重新校订；解析据吴应时、何景霖整理资料及首轮审校稿；词伙与练习提示为本站学习设计。原PDF第50—52页，2022年2月第3版。*