There was once a bad king. Everyone hated him. One hot day, he was taking a walk along a river. He decided to have a swim in it. While he was in the water, he became ill. He felt as if he was going to drown. He shouted for help. A farmer came over , jumped into the river and saved him. The farmer did not know that he was the king until he was out of the water.
The king was happy, so he said to the farmer,“Ask for anything, and I will give it to you.”
The old man thought for a few seconds and then he answered,“You can do one very important thing for me.”
“What is that?”asked the king. He thought that the old man would ask for a lot of money, or a good job for his son.
“Don't tell anybody that I saved you,”he said to the king.
-drown ［draʊn ］ vi. 淹死，溺死
-important ［ɪm'pɔ:tnt ］ adj. 重要的，重大的
come over 过来
ask for something 要求得到某物
1. He decided to have a swim in it. 他决定到河里去游泳。
She decided to have a try. 她决定试一试。
The man decided to go inside and have a look. 那人决定进去看一看。
2. He felt as if he was going to drown. 他感觉仿佛自己快要淹死了。
The boy waved his wooden sword. He looked as if he was a warrior.
这男孩挥舞着手里的木剑，看起来好像是一个武士。
The man looked as if he was a thief. 那个人看上去仿佛像小偷。
狠心的国王
从前有一个狠心的国王。人人都恨他。一个大热天，他正沿着一条河散步。他决定到河里去游泳。他游水时感到不适，觉得自己仿佛就要淹死了。于是他大呼救命。这时，一个农夫走了过来，跳进了河里把他救上了岸。农夫直到把国王救上岸才知道他是国王。
国王很高兴，便对农夫说道：“你可要求任何东西，我统统给你。”
老人思忖片刻，回答道，“你能帮我做一件非常重要的事情。”
“什么事？”国王问道。他以为老人会向他要一大笔钱，或为他的儿子找份好工作。
“千万别跟别人说是我救了你。”老人对国王说道。