Lesson 20 TEXT LADY GODIVA
LADY GODIVA
Godiva was the beautiful wife of the Lord of Coventry
She lived in the eleventh century.
According to an old legend,
the Lord taxed the people of Coventry heavily and unjustly
If they did not pay those cruel taxes,
they were thrown into prison.
Lady Godiva asked her husband to have mercy on the people,
but her stony-hearted husband showed no pity
Again and again she asked him to be merciful,
until at last,
he answered jokingly"I will do what you ask
only if you will ride naked through the streets of Coventry at noon."
Lady Godiva rode naked through the empty streets of Coventry the next day
Every door was closed and every window was shuttered
The Lord kept his promise,
and lightened the burden of taxes that he laid upon the citizens
Only one man,a tailor,
had watched Lady Godiva as she rode through the streets.
He cut a small hole in the door of his house,and peeped through this hole
The legend says that he became blind,
and he has been known ever since as Peeping Tom.
Lady Godiva
Ladies and gentlemen Ladies first.
Godiva was the beautiful wife of the Lord of Coventry
If they did not pay those cruel taxes,
they were thrown into prison.
Lady Godiva asked her husband to have mercy on the people,
but her stony-hearted husband showed no pity
have mercy on sb. have pity on sb.
show pity on sb. show pity for...
Please have mercy on these poor little animals
He showed no pity for the beggar.
Again and again she asked him to be merciful,
until at last he answered jokingly
he answered jokingly,
"I will do what you ask
only if you will ride naked through the streets of Coventry at noon."
He nodded speechless
She lay sick in bed.
only if I will do this job only if you pay me.
Only if we trust each other,can we work together
Only if you tell me what you think,will I accept your decision
Every door was closed and every window was shuttered
The Lord kept his promise,
and lightened the burden of taxes that he laid upon the citizens
keep one's promise
keep one's word
keep an appointment keep a schedule
lay sth. upon sb. lay--laid
Don't lay the blame upon him.
They laid unjust punishment upon the child.
Only one man,a tailor,had watched Lady Godiva as she rode through the streets
The legend says that he became blind,
and he has been known ever since as Peeping Tom
ever since
Peeping Tom