At an exhibition of the world's best swordsman, the third-place fencer took the stage.

在一場世界最佳擊劍手表演中，排名第三的擊劍手上場了。

A fly was released, and with an arc of his sword he cut the fly in half.?

一只蒼蠅放了出來，劍劃了一個弧，他將蒼蠅劈成了兩半。

The crowd cheered.?

觀眾歡呼起來。

Then the second-place man sliced a fly into quarters.

緊接著排名第二的人將一只蒼蠅切成了四半。

A hush fell in anticipation of the world's greatest swordsman.

現(xiàn)場一陣沉默，人們期盼著世界上最偉大的擊劍手出場。

His blade came down in a mighty arc - but the insect continued on its way! The crowd was aghast.?

他的劍鋒以一個巨大的弧線劃了下來--然而那只昆蟲還在繼續(xù)飛行!觀眾被驚呆了。

The greatest swordsman had missed his target completely,

?觀眾被驚呆了。最偉大的擊劍手完全錯過了他的目標，

yet he continued to smile.

然而他還在微笑著。

"Why are you so happy?" someone yelled.

?“你為什么這么高興?”有人嚷道，

"You missed!"

“你沒擊中!”

"Ah," replied the swordsman,?

“啊，”劍手答道，

"you weren't watching very carefully.?

“你剛才沒有很仔細地看。

They fly lives, yes - but he will never be a father.

蒼蠅還活著，是的--但他永遠也做不成爸爸了。