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观看电影《赎罪》有感看了一部英国影片。
《赎罪》，花园城、洲际影院。
并非早有预谋，只是随意选择。
本来是要看古典主义的《傲慢与偏见》，时间错过，于是便赎罪。
谢天谢地，那是浓浓上世纪30年代的英国腔。
照旧有古典肆意而悲壮的蔓延。
假设抛却一切艺术的形式，赤裸地阐析影片的内容，便会发现，那其实只是个简单而平凡的爱情悲剧。
嫉妒、相爱而不能相守、人性的忏悔。
其最大闪光点，在于叙事的形式。
前局部，侧重于从多人视角反复给予同一段情节以不同的描绘，片中重要的事件，均给予两段视角的阐释，第一段为设立悬念，第二段为解答；用一个人的眼设迷宫，再用另一个人的眼让观众恍然大悟；这样，本来平淡的情节，便有了曲折婉转的艺术效果。
后局部，那么侧重的是虚实的纠葛。
相爱的人无法重聚，本是要落俗的爱情悲剧典型的结局；而片中将臆想和事实的真相穿插在一起表达，强烈的比照给予本来平凡的结局更强烈而凄厉的色彩，令人唏嘘不已。
本是平凡的悲剧，是编剧离奇而脱俗的叙事手法，给予了它无穷而独特的艺术价值。
片中色彩的冲击也是具有相当多元化的表述，与叙事的气氛能较好地融为一体，烘云托月。
讲述小女孩的时候，镜头大局部是投向纯美的古典花纹壁纸，色彩纯真而欢快；描绘恋人的时候，那么是绚烂的花园，繁茂的藤条，阳光的喷水池；那唯一一次的激情，是静雅而隐秘的书房，女主人公墨绿的绸缎露背长礼裙，悲哀而压抑的肃静的古典大门和沉重的夜；男主人公的战场，那么是整片整片棕色的色彩涂抹着壮烈的尘土，萧疏的建筑，荒凉的废墟，苍茫的天空下苍茫的人群；布满伤员的医院，一具具血肉斑驳的躯体蠕动着，颤抖着，陈旧的病房没有言语，简单得令人毛骨悚然。
接着，我想谈一谈影片的内容感悟。
只看前半场，会简单地相信，Briony所以要诬告Robbie，完全是出于她出于孩童的天真，没有方法承受Robbie被她认为“色魔”的言辞和举止，会把性当作是罪恶的、排斥的，一如我们白纸般美妙而无知的童年。
她偷窥到了Robbie和姐姐Cecilia的情事，便固执地把Robbie当成罪恶的化身，以致于自己的表姐Laura被其别人侮辱，她只凭借当初窥到的一个男性的背影，便把他确认为Robbie，并一口咬定他的罪行，亲口反复在警察面前作证，致使Robbie被关入监狱三年。
英文口语中对女性的有趣称呼1、old hen老婆子俗语，男性用语,专用于中年以上的女性。
除开玩笑的场合外，女性不太欢迎这一称谓。
因为“old hen”的字面意思是“老母鸡”。
这一表达的来源是：从男人们的眼光来看，母鸡来回乱跑，凑在一起唧唧喳喳，或者互相对啄。
Three old hens from the neighbored were standing on the corner gossiping.有三个邻居老婆子站在街角上说长道短。
说到hen还要提到与hen相关的表达：hen-pecked怕老婆的，本义是“被母鸡啄的”。
意思是“象软弱的公鸡经常被强壮的母鸡啄伤。
男子慑于女性的淫威，表现得服服帖帖”。
这个表达出自1690年德莱顿的喜剧《安菲特律翁》和1712发行的杂志《旁观者》。
理解了上面的意思，那么hen party就不难理解为“女人的聚会”。
后引申为凡是只有女人参加的社交性聚会都叫hen party。
与它相对的是stag party雄鹿会，只有男子参加的聚会。
2、spring chicken少女原意“童子鸡，不超过10个月的肉嫩的笋鸡”。
这一表达来源已久：在古时候由于孵化技术上的原因，不到春天就很难得到这样的鸡，后转义为“少女”。
Mrs. Gray may not be a granny, but she's certainly no spring chicken.格雷夫人也许还不算老太太，但是她的年纪肯定不小啦。
有时可直接用chick表示“小女孩儿”。
That chick's a real tiger. She scratched my face when I talked back.那小娘儿们可真是个母老虎。
当我还嘴时，她竟然抓破了我的脸。
3、the little woman老婆，太太请注意不要漏掉定冠词the。
I promised the little woman to be home early tonight.我答应我老婆今天晚上早回家。
英语冠词专项练习题（一）1. —Does Jim have _______ ruler？—Yes，he has _______ .A. an；someB. a；oneC. a；／D. any；one2. _______ apple a day keeps the doctors away.A. TheB. AC. AnD. Two3. —How many books do you have？—I have _______ book. That’s _______ English book.A. a；anB. a；oneC. one；anD. one；one4. At that time Tom was _______one-year-old baby.A. aB. anC. theD.／5. _______ tiger is _______China.A. The；aB. A；theC. The；fromD. The；the6. We can’t see _______ sun at _______ night.A. the；theB. the；／C. a；／D.／；／7. One afternoon he found_______ handbag. There was _______ “s”on the corner of_______ handbag.A. a；an；theB. a；a；theC. an；an；anD. the；a；a8. _______ old lady with white hair spoke_______ English well at _______meeting.A. An；an；aB. The；／；anC. The；／；aD. The；／；the9. _______ Great Wall is _______ longest wall in the world.A. A；aB. The；theC. A；theD. The；a10. _______ new bridge has been built over _______ Huangpu River.A. The；aB. A；／C. A；theD. An；the11. _______ woman over there is _______ popular teacher in our school.A. A；anB. The；aC. The；theD. A；the12. He used to be _______ teacher but later he turned _______ writer.A. a；aB. a；theC.／；aD. a；／13. Does Tom often play _______football after _______ school？A. ／；／B. ／；theC. the；／D. a；／14. They passed our school_______ day before yesterday.A. anB. oneC. aD. the15. She has _______ orange skirt. _______ skirt is nice.A. a；TheB. an；TheC. an；AD. the；The16. This is _______ apple. It’s _______ big apple.A. an；aB. a；theC. a；anD. an；the17. Shanghai is in _______ east of China.A. ／B. anC. aD. the18. I’ve been a student there for nearly two and _______ half years.A. aB. anC. theD. ／19. The museum is quite far. It will take you half _______ hour to get there by _______ bus.A. an；／B. an；aC. a；／D.／；／英语冠词专项练习题（一）答案及详解1. —Does Jim have _______ ruler？—Yes，he has _______ .A. an；someB. a；oneC. a；／D. any；one答案： B 第一空是泛指；第二空的one是不定代词，用以替代前面的ruler。
10种英文称呼描绘魅力女人（英语学习）女人是百变的，正如英文中对女子的丰富多变的称呼。
这些微妙的称谓，不但体现了称呼者对女子的不同情感和态度，也表达出与她或隐秘或明显的关系。
这些称谓多用于人们的日常生活，是比较口语化的表达方式。
1、old hen 老婆子俗语，男性用语，专用于中年以上的女性。
除开玩笑的场合外，女性不太欢迎这一称谓。
因为“oldhen”的字面意思是“老母鸡”。
这一表达的来源是：从男人们的眼光来看，母鸡来回乱跑，凑在一起唧唧喳喳，或者互相对啄。
Three oldhens from the neighbored were standing on the cornergossiping。
有三个邻居老婆子站在街角上说长道短。
说到hen 还要提到与hen相关的表达：hen-pecked怕老婆的，本义是“被母鸡啄的”。
意思是“象软弱的公鸡经常被强壮的母鸡啄伤。
男子慑于女性的淫威，表现得服服帖帖”。
这个表达出自1690年德莱顿的喜剧《安菲特律翁》和1712发行的杂志《旁观者》。
理解了上面的意思，那么hen party就不难理解为“女人的聚会”。
后引申为凡是只有女人参加的社交性聚会都叫henparty。
与它相对的是stag party雄鹿会，只有男子参加的聚会。
2、spring chicken 少女原意“童子鸡，不超过10个月的肉嫩的笋鸡”。
这一表达来源已久：在古时候由于孵化技术上的原因，不到春天就很难得到这样的鸡，后转义为“少女”。
Mrs. Gray may not be a granny, but she’s certainly no springchicken。
格雷夫人也许还不算老太太，但是她的年纪肯定不小啦。
有时可直接用chick表示“小女孩儿”。
That chick’s areal tiger. She scratched my face when I talkedback。
那小娘儿们可真是个母老虎。
高考英语读后续写素材积累一、蹦蹦跳跳skip /skɪp/ : 双脚交替小步跳，像跳舞一样。
1.“I’m gonna be a Lady Tiger,” she whooped, skipping into the room and throwing her arms in the air.“我要成为一只老虎小姐,”她欢呼着，蹦蹦跳跳地走进房间，把胳膊挥向空中。
2.Our younger daughter, Randi, skipped to the table and leaned again st me.“What are you writing, Momma?”我们的小女儿Randi蹦蹦跳跳来到桌子边，靠着我，“妈妈，你在写什么？”3.From time to time I would see a little girl skipping across the playground and suddenly remember a little girl who tugged at my soul on a warm summer evening.时不时我会看到一个小女孩在操场上蹦蹦跳跳，然后突然想起一个小女孩在一个温暖的夏日傍晚牵动着我的灵魂。
4.She skipped happily along beside me.她连蹦带跳，高高兴兴地跟着我走。
hop /hɒp/ : 单脚跳或双足猛跳；（鸟、青蛙）双脚跳1.It came through the surgery in good shape, and by the following morning was hopping about on three legs.它的手术非常成功，第二天，它就用三条腿蹦蹦跳跳了。
2.Several frogs were hopping about on the lawn.有几只小青蛙在草地上跳来跳去。
scamper： /ˈskæmpə(r)/ ：(尤指儿童或小动物开开心心地) 蹦蹦跳跳1.The gray deer scampered between rows of trees to feast on apples that had fallen to the ground.灰鹿蹦蹦跳跳地穿梭在一排排的树林间，影影绰绰，尽情享用着掉在地上的苹果。
The-Tiger老-虎。
解读布莱克诗篇《老虎》的象征意义The Tiger 老虎Tiger! Tiger! burning bright | 老虎！老虎！火一样辉煌，In the forests of the night, | 烧穿了黑夜的森林和草莽，What immortal hand or eye | 什么样非凡的手和眼睛Could frame thy fearful symmetry? | 能塑造你一身惊人的匀称？In what distant deeps or skies | 什么样遥远的海底、天边Burnt the fire of thee eyes? | 烧出了做你眼睛的火焰？On what wings dare he aspire? | 跨什么翅膀它胆敢去凌空？What the hand dare seize the fire? | 凭什么铁掌抓一把火种？And what shoulder, and what art, | 什么样功夫，什么样胳膊Could twist the sinews of thy heart? | 拗过“火烧森林”。
布雷克在别处一再把函待摧毁的旧制度比作“森林”，还说过“愤怒之虎”在地狱世界比“教诲之马”更为明智。
参考大卫·厄德曼指出的这些事实，我们再读“老虎”就不能不同意他所说的，虽然“老虎”并不是一首“政治寓言诗”，它总是一首“伟大的革命抒情诗”。
老虎——布莱克老虎，你灿灿发光，将黑夜的森林照得通亮。
什么样超凡的手和眼睛塑成了你这可怕、匀称的体形？在什么样的海洋或天空炼出了你的火眼金睛？那敢于翱翔的是什么样的翅膀？那敢于攫火的是什么样的手掌？什么样的臂力，什么样的技，拧成了你心脏的筋肌？当你的心脏开始跳动，什么样的手足将你操纵？什么样的铁锤？什么样的铁链？什么样的铁炉将你的头颅锻炼？什么样的铁砧？什么样的手臂敢于掌握这样厉害的东西？当繁星的光芒似银矛射下，并将夜空缀成一片泪花，造物主看到自己的作品可曾微笑？难道不是创造羔羊的他把你创造？老虎，老虎，你灿灿发光，将黑夜的森林照得通亮。
英国文学史及选读作者及作品一、盎格鲁—撒克逊时期The Anglo-Saxon Period※《贝奥武甫》“The Song of Beowulf”《浪游者》“Widsith”or “The Traveller's Song"《航海家》“Seafarer”二、盎格鲁—诺曼时期The Anglo—Norman Period※《高文爵士和绿衣骑士》“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight ”杰弗里《史记》Geoffrey’s “History”莱亚门《布鲁特》Laysmon’s “Brust”《罗兰之歌》“Chanson de Roland”三、乔叟时期Geoffrey Chaucer （1340?-1400）※《坎特伯雷故事集》“The Canterbury Tales”《玫瑰传奇》“Romance of the Rose”《好女人的故事》“The Legend of Good Women”《声誉殿堂》“The House of Fame"《百鸟会议》“The Parliament of Fowls"《特罗伊勒斯和克莱西德》“Troilus and Gressie"大众民谣Popular Ballads※《罗宾汉和阿林代尔》“Robin Hood and Allin—a—Dale””※《起来，去关门》“Get Up and Bar the Door”※《派屈克·斯宾塞爵士》“Sir Patrick Spens”托马斯·帕西《英诗辑古》Bishop Thomas Percy ”Reliques of Anciet English Poetry”兰格论《农夫皮尔期》“The Vision of Piers，the Plowman”四、文艺复兴时期The Renaissance1．威廉·莎士比亚William Shakespeare(1564—1616）1590《亨利六世》第二部The Second Part of “King Henry Ⅵ”《亨利六世》第三部The Third Part of “King Henry Ⅵ”1591《亨利六世》第一部The First Part of “King Henry Ⅵ”1592《理查三世》“The Life and Death of King Richard Ⅲ”《错误的喜剧》“The Comedy of Errors”1593《泰特斯·安德鲁尼克斯》”Titus Andronicus”《驯悍记》“The Taming of the Shrew”1594《维洛那两绅士》“The Two Gentlemen of Verona”《爱的徒劳》“Love's Labour’s Lost”《罗密欧与朱丽叶》“Romeo and Juliet”1595《理查二世》“The Life and Death of King Richard Ⅱ"《仲夏夜之梦》“A Midsummer Night's Dream”1596《约翰王》“The Life and Death of King John”※《威尼斯商人》“The Merchant of Venice”1597《亨利四世》第一部The First Part of “King Henry Ⅳ”《亨利四世》第二部The Second Part of “King Henry Ⅳ”1598《无事生非》“Much Ado About Nothing”《温莎的风流娘儿们》”The Merry Wives of Windsor”《亨利五世》”The Life of King Henry Ⅴ”1599《尤利乌斯·凯撒》“The Life and Death of Julius Caesar”《皆大欢喜》”As You Like It”1600《第十二夜》“Twelfth Night ,or，What You Will”※1601《哈姆雷特》“Hamlet, Prince of Denmark"1602《特洛伊洛斯与克瑞西达》“Troilus and Cressida"《终成眷属》“All's Well That Ends Well”1604《一报还一报》“Measure for Measure"《奥塞罗》“Othello，the Moore of Venice”1605《李尔王》”King Lear”《麦克白》“The Tragedy of Macbeth" 1606《安东尼和克莉奥佩特拉》“Antony and Cleopatra”1607《科里奥拉鲁斯》”The Tragedy of Coriolanus”《雅典的泰门》“Timon of Athens”1608《佩里克利斯》“Pericles，Prince of Tyre”1609《辛白林》“Cymbeline，King of Britain”1610《冬天的故事》“The Winter’s Tale”《暴风雨》“The Tempest”《亨利八世》“The Life of King Henry Ⅷ”Poems《维纳斯与阿多尼斯》“Venus and Adonis”《露克丽丝受辱记》“Lucrece”※《十四行诗》“Sonnets"2。
Unit 1 suspense: The Lady or the Tiger?by Frank Stockton Long ago there lived a semi-barbaric king who had a great imagination. One of his ideas was to build a big arena as an agent of justice where crime was punished or virtue rewarded. When a subject was accused of a crime of sufficient importance to interest the king, public notice was given that on an appointed day the fate of an accused person would be decided in the king’s arena.When all the people had assembled in the galleries, and the king, surrounded by the court, sat high up on his throne on one side of the arena, he gave a signal, a door beneath him opened, and the accused subject stepped out into the arena. Directly opposite him on the other side were two doors, exactly alike and side by side. It was the duty and the privilege of the person on trial to walk directly to these doors and open one of them. He could open either door he pleased. He was subject to no guidance or influence, only chance. If he opened one, there came out of it a cruel and hungry tiger, which immediately sprang upon him and tore him to pieces as punishment for his guilt. But, if he opened the other door, there came forth a lady, the most suitable to his age and station that the king could select from among his fair subjects; and to this lady he was immediately married as a reward for his innocence. It didn’t matter that he might possess a wife and family or that his affections might be engaged upon a lady of his own selection. The wedding took place immediately and in the arena. Bells rang, people shouted glad hurrahs, and the innocent man led his bride home.This was the king’s method of administering justice, it s fairness was obvious. The accused person was instantly punished if he found himself guilty and, if innocent, he was rewarded on the spot. The institution was a very popular one. The element of uncertainty lent an interest to the occasion which it could not otherwise have attained. The king had a beautiful and willful daughter. She was the apple of his eye and he loved her above all humanity. Among his courtiers was a young man of a low station whom the princess loved because he was very handsome and brave. This love affair moved along happily for many months, until one day the king happened to find out about it. He immediately had the youth imprisoned and appointed a day for a trial in the arena. Never before had such a case occurred; never before had a subject dared to love the daughter of a king.The tiger-cages of the kingdom were searched for the most savagebeasts, from which the fiercest one could be selected for the arena. Young and beautiful maidens were carefully surveyed in order that the young man might have a suitable bride if fate did not determine him a different destiny. Of course, everybody knew that the deed with which the accused was charged had been done. He loved the princess and did not deny it, but the king would take pleasure in watching the events which would determine whether or not the young man had done wrong in allowing himself to love the princess.The day of the trial arrived. From far and near the people gathered and crowded the galleries of the arena. The king and his court entered and sat in their places opposite the twin doors. All was ready. The signal was given. A door beneath the royal party opened and the lover of the princess walked into the arena. Tall and handsome, he was greeted by a hum of admiration. Half the audience had not known that so grand a youth had lived among them. No wonder the princess loved him! What a terrible thing for him to be there!As the youth advanced into the arena, he turned, as the custom was, to bow to the king, but he did not think at all of that royal personage. His eyes were fixed upon the princess, who sat to the right of her father. From the very moment that the decree had gone forth that her lover should decide his fate in the arena, she had thought of nothing else. Possessed of more power and determination than anyone connected with a previous case, she found out the secret of the doors. She knew behind which door stood the tiger cage with its open front and behind which door waited the lady. She had used both gold and determination to find out the secret.The princess also knew who the lady was. It was one of the most beautiful of the ladies of the court, and the princess hated her. Often the princess had seen, or imagined that she had seen, this fair creature glancing with admiration at her lover, and sometimes the princess thought that these glances were returned. Now and then she had seen them talking together.When her lover looked at her, and his eye met hers, he knew that she knew behind which door crouched the tiger and behind which stood the lady. He had expected her to know it as he understood her nature and determination. Then it was that his quick and anxious glanc e asked the question: “Which?” It was as plain to her as if he had shouted it from where he stood. There was not an instant to be lost. The question was asked in a flash; it must be answered in another. She raised her hand and made a slight, quick movement toward the right.No one but her lover saw her. Every eye was fixed on the man in the arena. He turned, and with a firm and rapid step he walked across the empty space. Every breath was held and every eye remained fixed on that man. Without the slightest hesitation, he went to the door on the right and opened it.Now, the point of the story is this: Did the tiger come out of the door, or did the lady? The more we think about this question, the harder it is to answer. It involves a study of the human heart which leads us through devious mazes of passion out of which it is difficult to fine our way. The soul of the princess beat with a white heat beneath the combined fires of despair and jealousy. She had lost him, but who should have him? How often, in her waking hours and in her dreams, had she thought of her lover opening the door on the other side of which waited the cruel fangs of the tiger! But how much oftener had she seen him at the other door and she could see his delight as he opened the door of the lady! Her soul had burned with agony as she imagined him rushing to meet that woman with her sparkling eyes of triumph. She further imagined the glad shouts of the crowd as the two handsome people were married and walked away showered with flowers. Her one despairing shriek was lost in the noise.Would it not be better for him to die at once? And yet, that awful tiger, those shrieks, that blood! Her decision had been indicated in an instant, but it had been made after days and nights of anguished thought. She had known she would be asked, she had decided what she would answer, and, without the slightest hesitation, she had moved her hand to the right.The question of her decision is not to be lightly considered, and it is not for me to presume to set myself up as the one person able to answer it. And so I leave it with all of you: Which came out of the opened door, — the lady, or the tiger? (1,319 words)Time taken:____________minutes。
The Lady Or The Tiger?In the very olden time there lived a semi-barbaric king，whose ideas，though somewhat polished and sharpened by the progressiveness of distant Latin neighbors，were still large，florid，and untrammeled，as became the half of him which was barbaric. He was a man of exuberant fancy，and，withal，of an authority so irresistible that，at his will，he turned his varied fancies into facts. He was greatly given to self-communing，and，when he and himself agreed upon anything，the thing was done. When every member of his domestic and political systems moved smoothly in its appointed course，his nature was bland and genial；but，whenever there was a little hitch，and some of his orbs got out of their orbits，he was blander and more genial still，for nothing pleased him so much as to make the crooked straight and crush down uneven places.Among the borrowed notions by which his barbarism had become semified was that of the public arena，in which，by exhibitions of manly and beastly valor，the minds of his subjects were refined and cultured.But even here the exuberant and barbaric fancy asserted itself. The arena of the king was built，not to give the people an opportunity of hearing the rhapsodies of dying gladiators，nor to enable them to viewthe inevitable conclusion of a conflict between religious opinions and hungry jaws，but for purposes far better adapted to widen and develop the mental energies of the people. This vast amphitheater，with its encircling galleries，its mysterious vaults，and its unseen passages，was an agent of poetic justice，in which crime was punished，or virtue rewarded，by the decrees of an impartial and incorruptible chance.When a subject was accused of a crime of sufficient importance to interest the king，public notice was given that on an appointed day the fate of the accused person would be decided in the king's arena，a structure which well deserved its name，for，although its form and plan were borrowed from afar，its purpose emanated solely from the brain of this man，who，every barleycorn a king，knew no tradition to which he owed more allegiance than pleased his fancy，and who ingrafted on every adopted form of human thought and action the rich growth of his barbaric idealism.When all the people had assembled in the galleries，and the king，surrounded by his court，sat high up on his throne of royal state on one side of the arena，he gave a signal，a door beneath him opened，and the accused subject stepped out into the amphitheater. Directly opposite him，on the other side of the enclosed space，were two doors，exactly alike and side by side. It was the duty and the privilege of the person on trial to walk directly to these doors and open one of them. He could openeither door he pleased；he was subject to no guidance or influence but that of the aforementioned impartial and incorruptible chance. If he opened the one，there came out of it a hungry tiger，the fiercest and most cruel that could be procured，which immediately sprang upon him and tore him to pieces as a punishment for his guilt. The moment that the case of the criminal was thus decided，doleful iron bells were clanged，great wails went up from the hired mourners posted on the outer rim ofthe arena，and the vast audience，with bowed heads and downcast hearts，wended slowly their homeward way，mourning greatly that one so young and fair，or so old and respected，should have merited so dire a fate.But，if the accused person opened the other door，there came forth from it a lady，the most suitable to his years and station that his majesty could select among his fair subjects，and to this lady he was immediately married，as a reward of his innocence. It mattered not that he might already possess a wife and family，or that his affections might be engaged upon an object of his own selection；the king allowed no such subordinate arrangements to interfere with his great scheme of retribution and reward. The exercises，as in the other instance，took place immediately，and in the arena. Another door opened beneath the king，and a priest，followed by a band of choristers，and dancing maidens blowing joyous airs on golden horns and treading an epithalamic measure，advanced to where the pair stood，side by side，and the wedding was promptly and cheerily solemnized. Then the gay brass bells rang forth their merry peals，the people shouted glad hurrahs，and the innocent man，preceded by children strewing flowers on his path，led his bride to his home.This was the king's semi-barbaric method of administering justice. Its perfect fairness is obvious. The criminal could not know out of which door would come the lady；he opened either he pleased，without having the slightest idea whether，in the next instant，he was to be devoured or married. On some occasions the tiger came out of one door，and on some out of the other. The decisions of this tribunal were not only fair，they were positively determinate：the accused person was instantly punished if he found himself guilty，and，if innocent，he was rewarded on the spot，whether he liked it or not. There was no escape from the judgments of the king's arena.The institution was a very popular one. When the people gathered together on one of the great trial days，they never knew whether they were to witness a bloody slaughter or a hilarious wedding. This element of uncertainty lent an interest to the occasion which it could not otherwise have attained. Thus，the masses were entertained and pleased，and the thinking part of the community could bring no charge of unfairnessagainst this plan，for did not the accused person have the whole matter in his own hands？This semi-barbaric king had a daughter as blooming as his most florid fancies，and with a soul as fervent and imperious as his own. As is usual in such cases，she was the apple of his eye，and was loved by him above all humanity. Among his courtiers was a young man of that fineness of blood and lowness of station common to the conventional heroes of romance who love royal maidens. This royal maiden was well satisfied with her lover，for he was handsome and brave to a degree unsurpassed in all this kingdom，and she loved him with an ardor that had enough of barbarism in it to make it exceedingly warm and strong. This love affair moved on happily for many months，until one day the king happened to discover its existence. He did not hesitate nor waver in regard to his duty in the premises. The youth was immediately cast into prison，and a day was appointed for his trial in the king's arena. This，of course，was an especially important occasion，and his majesty，as well as all the people，was greatly interested in the workings and development of this trial. Never before had such a case occurred；never before had a subject dared to love the daughter of the king. In after years such things became commonplace enough，but then they were in no slight degree novel and startling.The tiger-cages of the kingdom were searched for the most savage and relentless beasts，from which the fiercest monster might be selected for the arena；and the ranks of maiden youth and beauty throughout the land were carefully surveyed by competent judges in order that the young man might have a fitting bride in case fate did not determine for him a different destiny. Of course，everybody knew that the deed with which the accused was charged had been done. He had loved the princess，and neither he，she，nor any one else，thought of denying the fact；but the king would not think of allowing any fact of this kind to interfere with the workings of the tribunal，in which he took such great delight and satisfaction. No matter how the affair turned out，the youth would be disposed of，and the king would take an aesthetic pleasure in watching the course of events，which would determine whether or not the young man had done wrong in allowing himself to love the princess.The appointed day arrived. From far and near the people gathered，and thronged the great galleries of the arena，and crowds，unable to gain admittance，massed themselves against its outside walls. The king and his court were in their places，opposite the twin doors，those fateful portals，so terrible in their similarity.All was ready. The signal was given. A door beneath the royal party opened，and the lover of the princess walked into the arena. Tall，beautiful，fair，his appearance was greeted with a low hum ofadmiration and anxiety. Half the audience had not known so grand a youth had lived among them. No wonder the princess loved him！What a terrible thing for him to be there！As the youth advanced into the arena he turned，as the custom was，to bow to the king，but he did not think at all of that royal personage. His eyes were fixed upon the princess，who sat to the right of her father. Had it not been for the moiety of barbarism in her nature it is probable that lady would not have been there，but her intense and fervid soul would not allow her to be absent on an occasion in which she was so terribly interested. From the moment that the decree had gone forth that her lover should decide his fate in the king's arena，she had thought of nothing，night or day，but this great event and the various subjects connected with it. Possessed of more power，influence，and force of character than any one who had ever before been interested in such a case，she had done what no other person had done - she had possessed herself of the secret of the doors. She knew in which of the two rooms，that lay behind those doors，stood the cage of the tiger，with its open front，and in which waited the lady. Through these thick doors，heavily curtained with skins on the inside，it was impossible that any noise or suggestion should come from within to the person who should approach to raise the latch of one of them. But gold，and the power of a woman's will，had brought the secret to the princess.And not only did she know in which room stood the lady ready to emerge，all blushing and radiant，should her door be opened，but she knew who the lady was. It was one of the fairest and loveliest of the damsels of the court who had been selected as the reward of the accused youth，should he be proved innocent of the crime of aspiring to one so far above him；and the princess hated her. Often had she seen，or imagined that she had seen，this fair creature throwing glances of admiration upon the person of her lover，and sometimes she thought these glances were perceived，and even returned. Now and then she had seen them talking together；it was but for a moment or two，but much can be said in a brief space；it may have been on most unimportant topics，but how could she know that？The girl was lovely，but she had dared to raise her eyes to the loved one of the princess；and，with all the intensity of the savage blood transmitted to her through long lines of wholly barbaric ancestors，she hated the woman who blushed and trembled behind that silent door.When her lover turned and looked at her，and his eye met hers as she sat there，paler and whiter than any one in the vast ocean of anxious faces about her，he saw，by that power of quick perception which is given to those whose souls are one，that she knew behind which door crouched the tiger，and behind which stood the lady. He had expected her to know it. He understood her nature，and his soul was assured thatshe would never rest until she had made plain to herself this thing，hidden to all other lookers-on，even to the king. The only hope for the youth in which there was any element of certainty was based upon the success of the princess in discovering this mystery；and the moment he looked upon her，he saw she had succeeded，as in his soul he knew she would succeed.Then it was that his quick and anxious glance asked the question：“Which？” It was as plain to her as if he shouted it from wher e he stood. There was not an instant to be lost. The question was asked in a flash；it must be answered in another.Her right arm lay on the cushioned parapet before her. She raised her hand，and made a slight，quick movement toward the right. No one but her lover saw her. Every eye but his was fixed on the man in the arena.He turned，and with a firm and rapid step he walked across the empty space. Every heart stopped beating，every breath was held，every eye was fixed immovably upon that man. Without the slightest hesitation，he went to the door on the right，and opened it.Now，the point of the story is this：Did the tiger come out of that door，or did the lady ？The more we reflect upon this question，the harder it is to answer. It involves a study of the human heart which leads us through deviousmazes of passion，out of which it is difficult to find our way. Think of it，fair reader，not as if the decision of the question depended upon yourself，but upon that hot-blooded，semi-barbaric princess，her soul at a white heat beneath the combined fires of despair and jealousy. She had lost him，but who should have him？How often，in her waking hours and in her dreams，had she started in wild horror，and covered her face with her hands as she thought of her lover opening the door on the other side of which waited the cruel fangsof the tiger！But how much oftener had she seen him at the other door！How in her grievous reveries had she gnashed her teeth，and torn her hair，when she saw his start of rapturous delight as he opened the door of the lady！How her soul had burned in agony when she had seen him rush to meet that woman，with her flushing cheek and sparkling eye of triumph；when she had seen him lead her forth，his whole frame kindled with the joy of recovered life；when she had heard the glad shouts from the multitude，and the wild ringing of the happy bells；when she had seen the priest，with his joyous followers，advance to the couple，and make them man and wife before her very eyes；and when she had seen them walk away together upon their path of flowers，followed by the tremendous shouts of the hilarious multitude，in which her one despairing shriek was lost and drowned！Would it not be better for him to die at once，and go to wait for her in the blessed regions of semi-barbaric futurity？And yet，that awful tiger，those shrieks，that blood！Her decision had been indicated in an instant，but it had been made after days and nights of anguished deliberation. She had known she would be asked，she had decided what she would answer，and，without the slightest hesitation，she had moved her hand to the right.The question of her decision is one not to be lightly considered，and it is not for me to presume to set myself up as the one person able to answer it. And so I leave it with all of you：Which came out of the opened door - the lady，or the tiger？。
