全文朗读
Lesson 14
Anoblegangster
贵族歹徒
Listentothetapethenanswerthequestionbelow.
听录音,然后回答以下问题。
HowdidHaywoodmakeintimesofpeace?
TherewasatinewhentheownersofshopsandbusinessesinChicagothattopaylargesumsofmoneytogangstersinreturnfor 'protection.' Ifthemoneywasnotpaidpromptly, thegangsterswouldquicklyputamanoutofbusinessbydestroyinghisshop. Obtaining 'protectionmoney' isnotamoderncrime. Aslongagoasthefourteenthcentury, anEnglishman, SirJohnHawkwood, madetheremarkablediscoverythatpeoplewouldratherpaylargesumsofmoneythanhavetheirlifeworkdestroyedbygangsters.
Sixhundredyearsago, SirJohanHawkwoodarrivedinItalywithabandofsoldiersandsettlednearFlorence. HesoonmadeanameforhimselfandcametobeknowntotheItaliansasGiovanniAcuto. WhenevertheItaliancity-stateswereatwarwitheachother, Hawkwoodusedtohirehissoldierstoprinceswhowerewillingtopaythehighpricehedemanded. Intimesofpeace, whenbusinesswasbad, Hawkwoodandhismenwouldmarchintoacity-stateand, afterburningdownafewfarms, wouldoffertogoawayprotectionmoneywaspaidtothem. Hawkwoodmadelargesumsofmoneyinthisway. Inspiteofthis, theItaliansregardedhimasasortofhero. Whenhediedattheageofeighty, theFlorentinesgavehimastatefuneralandhadapicturedwithasdedicatedtothememoryof 'themostvaliantsoldierandmostnotableleader, SignorGiovanniHaukodue.'