---
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。
---

# 贵族歹徒

## 课文学习台 {#study}

### 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.

中文理解：曾经有一个时期,芝加哥的店主和商人们不得不给歹徒大笔的“保护费”。要是交迟了,歹徒们很快就会捣毁他的商店,让他破产。榨取“保护费”并不是一种现代的罪行。早在14世纪,英国人约翰·霍克伍德就有过非凡的发现：人们情愿交大笔的保护费,也不愿毕生的心血毁于歹徒之手。

* **in return for**：请求 / 作为回报；ask for 请求一件东西；ask someone to do 请求某人做某事。

#### 这一段的读法与用法

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。

### 第2段

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：600年前，约翰·霍克伍德爵士带着一队士兵来到意大利，并在佛罗伦萨附近驻扎。很快他就出了名，意大利人叫他乔凡尼·阿库托。每次意大利各城邦之间打仗，霍克伍德就把自己的士兵有偿派给愿给他出高价的君主。和平时期，生意萧条时，霍克伍德便带领士兵进入某个城邦，纵火烧毁几个农场，然后提出，如果向他们交保护费，他们就主动撤离。霍克伍德用这种方法挣了一大笔钱。尽管如此，意大利人还是把他视作某种英雄。他80岁那年死去时，佛罗伦萨人为他举行了国葬，并为他画像以纪念这位“骁勇无比的战士、杰出的领袖乔凡尼·阿库托先生。”

* **each other**：梦想或想到 / 彼此；of 后可接 -ing；each other 表示关系是双向的。

* **used to**：过去常常 / 习惯于；used to do 说过去习惯；be used to 后说已习惯的事，别混用。

* **in this way**：拾起或接人 / 用这种办法；pick up 的意义取决于宾语和情境，不能只记“捡起”。

* **In spite of**：尽管；of 后不直接接一个完整陈述句；要接句子可换 although。

* **at the age of**：意外 / 在某岁时 / 贫困中；结合原句看 surprise 是感受还是意外的事，年龄用 at。

#### 这一段的读法与用法

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

保留原段的推进关系，换成自己的经历，写或说一段四五句的话。

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

*译文与解析据吴应时、何景霖整理资料及本站首轮审校稿；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。*