普通高中课程标准实验教科书 英语选修8 Unit 4 Reading

　　PYGMALION

　　MAIN CHARACTERS:

　　Eliza Doolittle (E): a poor flower girl who is ambitious to improve herself

　　Professor Higgins (H): an expert in phonetics, convinced that the quality of a person's English decides his/her position in society

　　Colonel Pickering (CP): an officer in the army and later a friend of Higgins' who sets him a task

　　Act One FATEFUL MEETINGS

　　11 :15 pm in London, England in 1914 outside a theatre. It is pouring with rain and cab whistles are blowing in all directions. A man is hiding from the rain listening to people's language and watching their reactions. While watching, he makes notes. Nearby a flower girl wearing dark garments and a woollen scarf is also sheltering from the rain. A gentleman (G) passes and hesitates for a moment.

　　E: Come over’ere, cap’in, and buy me flowers off a poor girl.

　　G: I'm sorry but I haven't any change.

　　E: I can giv’ou change, cap’in.

　　G: (surprised) For a pound? I'm afraid I've got nothing less.

　　E: (hopefully) Oah! Oh, do buy a flower off me, Captain. Take this for three pence. (holds up some dead flowers)

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