嫦娥奔月

黄冈师范学院外语学院07级 苏 盈 供稿

It’s said that there were 10 suns in the sky one year in ancient China.The earth smoked,and there was no water.Thus,ordinary people were facing death.相传，中国远古时候有一年天上出现了十个太阳，直烤得大地冒烟，海水枯干，老百姓眼看无法再生活下去。

A hero named Houyi,climbed to the Peak of Kunlun and shot down the nine extra suns.一个名叫后羿的英雄听说了这件事，他登上昆仑山顶，一气射下九个多余的太阳。

Hou Yi gained the respect and admiration of people.He went to Xi Wangmu for a kind of medicine which could help people to live forever.后羿立下盖世神功，受到百姓的尊敬和爱戴。后羿到西王母那里去求来了长生不死之药。

Soon,his virtue and skill was wellknown in the world.Many people came to learn the skill from him.A bad guy named Pengmeng also came in.很快，后羿的美德和技艺名扬天下。不少志士慕名前来投师学艺。一个叫蓬蒙的坏蛋也混了进来。

Soon,Hou Yi married a beautiful kind-hearted wife named Chang’e.Hou Yi lived together with his wife.People were envious of the couple.不久，后羿娶了个美丽善良的妻子，名叫嫦娥。后羿和妻子生活在一起，人们都羡慕这对恩爱夫妻。

One day,Houyi went out hunting with his students.Peng Meng pretended to be sick and remained home.一天，后羿率众徒外出狩猎，心怀鬼胎的蓬蒙假装生病，留了下来。

After Hou Yi left,Peng Meng entered the backyard with a sword and forced Chang’e to give out the medicine.待后羿率众人走后不久，蓬蒙手持宝剑闯入内宅后院，威逼嫦娥交出长生不死药。

Knowing she could not defeat Peng Meng,Chang’e went to the box,took out the medicine and swallowed it.嫦娥知道自己不是蓬蒙的对手，转身打开百宝匣，拿出不死药一口吞了下去。

Chang’e floated,flew out of the window and then to the sky.As Chang’e worried about her husband,she went to the nearest planet Moon and became a fairy.嫦娥立刻飘离地面、冲出窗口，向天上飞去。嫦娥牵挂着丈夫，便飞到离人间最近的月亮上成了仙。

Hou Yi returned home,the maids told him what had happened.Hou Yi was both shocked and angry and he wanted to kill Peng Meng,but Peng Meng escaped.傍晚，后羿回到家，侍女们哭诉了白天发生的事。后羿既惊又怒，抽剑去杀恶徒，但是蓬蒙早逃走了。

Hou Yi looked up into the night sky,calling his wife’s name.Then he was surprised to find that today’s moon was extremely bright,and there was a shaking shadow like Chang’e.后羿仰望着夜空，呼唤爱妻的名字。这时他惊奇地发现，今天的月亮格外皎洁明亮，而且有个晃动的身影酷似嫦娥。

Hou Yi quickly sent people to the garden and put on some of her favorites to commemorate his wife.后羿急忙派人到后花园里摆上香案，放上她平时最爱吃的蜜食鲜果，遥祭他的妻子。

People heard the news and all displayed cookies and fruits to pray for Chang’e.Since then,the customs of Mid-Autumn Festival spread.百姓们听到这个消息后，纷纷在月下摆设水果和甜饼，为嫦娥祈祷。从此，中秋节拜月的风俗在民间传开了。