172 The Playwright's Plumber
172 剧作家笔下的水管工
There was a play write, who at the plea of his publisher, pledged to write a pleasing, yet plausible story about plight of a plump plumber who wore plumage. The story went something like this:
有一个剧作家，在出版商的再三恳求之下，保证写一个既令人满意又合情合理的故事。这个故事讲的是一个身披羽毛衣的胖嘟嘟的水管工人在身处困境之时发生的种种事情。下面是故事的梗概：
The plumber was replacing a pipe on a farm when the farmer asked about his plumage. Then he merely said, "Never mind my sense of fashion, you can just go back to your plow." Offended, the plumber's eyes began to well with tears. The farmer said:"Have I insulted you with my question about your plumage?" The plumber wanted to be pliant with his customer,"No," he replied, "Pollen is a pollutant to the eyes, you know, and I am afraid that my eyes have been polluted." "yeah, I guess your eyes don't need pollinating, do they? Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!" the farmer chortled. The plumber continued to work. He first plunged a pipe into a liquid cleaner, bent the pliable pipe to the proper shape, and used a plumb line to make sure it was plumb, then he polished the pipe to give it a sheen. Finally, he connected the wire from the poles of the electrical unit as the pipe was also to serve as electrical ground. Satisfied with the good job he had done, the plumber left the farm, waddling along with his plumage and his poise and dignity despite the famer's insults.
这个水管工在某农场修理管道的时候，农场主问及他身上的羽毛。他轻描淡写地回答道：“我不过就是太追求时髦了嘛，不要介意，继续你的耕作吧！”但随即，他还是感觉受到了伤害，泪水夺眶而出。看到这种情形，农场主问道：“我问及你的羽毛是不是伤害了你？”水管工人想对他的主顾更顺从点，于是回答说：“没有。你知道花粉对眼睛来说算得上是一种污染物质，我的眼睛可能就被花粉污染了。…‘没错，我想你的眼睛应该不需要授粉吧！哈哈哈！”农场主忍俊不禁。水管工继续工作。首先他把一根水管投入到液体清洁器里，把柔软的管子弯成适当的形状，然后用一根垂直线来测量管子，确保其完全垂直。接着他又把管子擦亮，让它熠熠生辉。最后，由于管子同时也是电源的地面设备，他用金属丝把管子与一端电极连接起来。做完这一切以后，他对他的工作表示满意，全不把农场主的侮辱当回事，带着他的羽毛衣，神色镇定而庄重地大摇大摆而去。
There was a poll at the publishing house about this story. The staff was polarized: half of them really liked it, and the other half didn't. Regardless, they decided to go ahead and publish it. Now the playwright can line his pocketbook with money from the story.
对这个故事出版社进行了一次民意测验。员工们的意见两极分化很严童：一半人非常喜欢，一半人一点也不喜欢。但不管怎样，他们都决定要继续努力以出版此书。现在，这个剧作家可以用此书的稿费所得将 也的皮钱夹塞得鼓鼓囊囊的而感到踌躇满志了。
Words:
plausible adj. （声明、争论等）似乎有理的，可能的
playwright n. 剧作家
plea n. 请求，恳求
pleasing adj. 令人高兴的，合意的
pledge n. 誓言 vt. 发誓，保证
pliable adj. 1.易弯的，柔软的 2.易受影响的，柔顺的
pliant adj. 顺从的，可弯曲的
plight n. （恶劣的）情势，困境
plow n. 犁
plumage n. 鸟类羽毛
plumb adj. 垂直的
plumber n. 水管工人
plump adj. 胖嘟嘟的，丰满的
plunge vi. 跳进，投入
pocketbook n. 钱袋，皮夹，小笔记本
poise n. 犹疑，平衡，镇定
polarize vt. 使极化，使两极分化
pole n. （南、北）极，磁极，电极
polish vt. 擦亮 n. 光泽，上光剂
poll n. 民意测验
pollen n. 花粉
pollinate vt. 对…授粉
pollutant n. 污染物质
pollute vt. 污染，玷污