"Whereof all the foolish things?" Tony answered, "What do you want me to do, get down on my hands and knees and fighting?" "No," said his father, "not on your hands and knees. In the water, fight this turtle in the water, where he is at home. That will be a brave thing, my son." Tony put the weapon down. He looked at the turtle for a long time. At last, he said, "I think you are sick, Dad." Old Joe smiled. "It is a thought, my son, just a thought. This old one is weak here on the dirt road, but in the water, he could cut down anyone, anything, even a man. Fight him in the water, Tony, use your weapon in the water." "The years have changed you." Tony said. Old Joe shook his head. "This does not seem fair to you, en? To be in the water with this one?" he pointed to the turtle. "This seems foolish to you because in the water he could hurt you, perhaps even kill you, because in the water you are not as strong as he is."


“什么愚蠢的事？”托尼回答道，“你想让我怎么做，放下手和脚去战斗吗？” “不”，他父亲回答道，“不是手和脚的问题。是在水中，跟这海龟在水中战斗，在他地盘战斗。那样才是勇敢的事情，我的儿啊！” 托尼放下武器。他盯了海龟一段时间。最后，他说：“我认为你病了，父亲。”老Joe微笑道： “这只是一个想法，儿啊，只是个想法。这老海龟在这肮脏的道路上是很脆弱的，但是在水中他却可以咬断任何人和东西，甚至一个人。和他在水中作战，托尼，用你的武器和他在水中作战。” “岁月改变了你”托尼道。老Joe摇了摇他的头。 “这对你来说不公平么，嗯？和这海龟在水中战斗？”他指了指这海龟。 “这对你来说似乎是很愚蠢的，因为在水中他可能会伤害你，也许甚至杀了你，因为在水中的话，你就没有他强大了。”