读故事

“Don't be besieged with fear, men!” said the King as his horse backed up so that everyone could see him. “We were born to fight this battle and we won't be beaten!”
The men cheered and spurred their horses on as if to fight.
“We were born of victors!” the King continued. “And I'm not aware of a single Locksley who has ever lost! Be bold to battle, men! Onward, let's fight! We're behind schedule now and we have women waiting for our return.” The men laughed and cheered.
And then the fighting began.
Men with swords and spears clashed. Many died. But no one died thinking that they would have been better off being born into a different kingdom. Each was proud and each was certain that their death meant that they were bound for glory in the afterlife.
When the tide turned, however, and the King's men retreated for a rest the King spoke again.
“Ay, we were blind to how many of them there were. It will be rough now. But though we are behind in numbers, yet we are bound to defeat them. I was not born yesterday, men. It's our destiny and here's how we'll do it.”
With that the men huddled as the King shared his ideas. It was a risky plan and very big of the King to take such a daring role as to charge the enemy single.handed. But when implemented, the enemy was shocked and the men rushed to battle in the pre.planned formation.
The victory was theirs!

记短语

be aware of知道，意识到，认识到
be beat(或beaten)被打败，被超过；被难倒，大惑不解；筋疲力尽，垂头丧气
be behind in在…上落在后面
be behind schedule落后于计划(或预定时间)
be besieged by(或with)被…围困，为…围攻，被…围住，被弄得应接不暇
be better off (doing sth.)境况好起来，生活优裕起来；较自由，较幸运，较幸福
be big of宽容的，大度的；雄心勃勃的
be blind to对…视而不见的，不理解的
be bold to胆敢，敢于，有胆量
be born(in)to生而有…，出生于…
be born of来源于
be born to do sth.天生就…，生来就…
be born yesterday［用于否定句］易受骗的，不懂的，傻的
be bound for准备到…去的，开往(或驶向)…的
be bound to一定会…，必然会…，注定会…；决心要…，决意要…

“士兵们，不要被恐怖所包围！”国王说，他的马后退了一下，这样大家就能看见他了。“我们天生就要打这场仗，我们不会被打败的！”
士兵们欢呼起来，真像去打仗一样策马向前。
“我们是胜利者生的！”国王继续道。“我还不知道有哪个洛克斯利吃过败仗！士兵们，勇敢地战斗吧！前进！杀啊！现在我们已经晚了，女人们正等着我们回去哩。”士兵们笑着欢呼起来。
接着战斗就打响了。
士兵们拿着刀和枪发出撞击声。很多人死了。但是没有一个人死时想过出生在一个不同的国度里他们的日子会过得更好。每个人都感到骄傲，每个人都深信他们的死意味着他们正在去往天国的路上。
但是当形势有所变化、士兵们撤下来休息的时候，国王又说话了。
“唉！我们不知道他们有多少人。现在情况很危险，尽管我们在人数上落后于他们，但我们一定会打败他们。士兵们，我并不傻。这是我们的命运，我们就这么干。”
听到这里，士兵们挤成一团，听着国王发表他的高见。这是一个冒险的计划，国王真是雄心勃勃，他要扮演一个勇敢的角色，单枪匹马冲向敌人。但是在执行这个计划的时候，敌人大为吃惊，士兵们用事先部署好的队形冲进了战场。
他们取得了胜利！

本文选自新航道精品图书《读故事记短语》