7. A life for a life

The English author, Richard Savage, was once living in London in great poverty1. As a result of his lack of food he became very ill, but after a time, owing to the skill of the doctor who had looked after him, he got well again.

After a week or two the doctor sent a bill to Savage for his visits, but poor Savage hadn't any money and couldn't pay it. The doctor waited for another month and sent the bill again. But still no money came. After several weeks he sent it to him again asking for his money.

In the end he came to Savage's house and asked him for payment, saying to Savage, "You know you owe3 your life to me and I expected some gratitude from you."

I agree, said Savage, "that I owe my life to you, and to prove to you that I am not ungrateful for your work I will give my life to you." With these words he handed to him two volumes entitled4, "The life of Richard Savage."

Notes:

1. poverty 贫困

2. from hand to mouth 入不敷出，朝不保夕

3. owe 欠

4. entitle 标题

以“命”抵命

英国作家理查德·萨维奇一度在伦敦过着贫困潦倒的生活。由于缺乏食物，他病得很厉害。后来，由于给他治疗的那个医生医术高明，他才又恢复了健康。过了一两个星期，医生给萨维奇送来了一张讨要诊费的账单，但是贫穷的萨维奇没有钱来偿付。医生等了一个月后又送来了账单，但仍然未索回分文。几个星期之后，他又送来账单讨要诊费。

最后，医生本人来到了萨维奇的家中，对他说：“你明白，你欠我一条命，我希望你有所报答。”

“是的”，萨维奇说，“我是欠你一条命，为了向你证明我对你的诊治不是不报答，我将把我的命给你。”

说着这番话，萨维奇递给医生两卷书，名叫《理查德·萨维奇的一生》。

Useful link:

理查德·萨维奇（1697—1743），英国诗人，死后才被人所熟知是因为他是塞缪尔·约翰逊（Samuel Johnson）所著《理查德·萨维奇的一生》（1744）中的主人公。