双语笑话|Not to Be Taken Out 概不外借

Mark^{1 Twain once went to borrow2 a certain3 book from a neighbour4 in Tarry town.}

May I borrow a book from you? he asked politely^5.

Yes, you're more than welcome to it, the neighbour told him.

But I must ask you to read it here. You know I make a rule never to let any book go out of my library.

Some days later^{6 the neighbour wished to borrow Twain's machine7 for cutting grass in the garden.}

Why, certainly, Twain told him, You're more than welcome to it. But I must ask you to use it here. You know that I make it a rule never to let it go out of my garden.

在特里镇，马克.吐温有一次去一位邻居那儿借本书。

我可以向你借本书吗？他礼貌地问道。

当然，很乐意，邻居告诉他，但我需要你在这儿读。你了解我有一条规定，那就是决不让一本书拿出我的图书室。

几天后，这位邻人想从吐温那儿借台割草机。

噢，当然，吐温告诉他，很乐意借给你。但我要你在这儿用。你了解我从来不允许它拿出我的花园。