La Guardia
One bitter cold day they brought a trembling old man before him, charged with stealing1 a loaf of bread. His family, he said, was starving. “I’ve got to punish you,” declared La Guardia. “The law makes no exception.2 I can do nothing but3 sentence you to a fine of ten dollars.”
But the Little Flower was reaching into his pocket as he added, “Well, here’s the ten dollars to pay your fine. And now I remit the fine.” He tossed a ten-dollar bill into his famous sombrero. “Furthermore,” he declared, “I’m going to fine everybody in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a man has to steal bread in order to eat. Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to this defendant!” The hat was passed and an incredulous old man, with a light of heaven in his eyes, left the courtroom with a stake of forty-seven dollars and fifty cents.
— B. Cerf
bitter adj. 寒冷入骨的
starve v. 挨饿
fine n. 罚金
remit v. 免除
toss v. 扔，抛
sombrero n. 阔边帽
furthermore adv. 而且
defendant n. 被告
incredulous adj. 表示怀疑的
stake n. 一笔钱
中译 谁之过？（拉瓜迪亚）
一个寒冷的日子，他们把一个哆哆嗦嗦的老头带到了他（拉瓜迪亚）的面前，指控老头偷了一个面包。老人说他的家人都在挨饿。“我得惩罚你，”拉瓜迪亚宣布说，“法律是容不得例外的，我只得判你罚款十美金。”
但是拉瓜迪亚把手伸进自己的口袋，接着说：“嗯，这十块钱为你付罚金，现在你的罚款我就给免了。”他把十元纸币扔进了他的那顶很出名的阔边帽。他宣布说，“还有，我要对本法庭的每一个人罚五十美分，因为你们生活在这样的一个镇上，有人为吃饭还不得不去偷面包。庭警先生，你来收这些罚款，然后把这些钱都给这个被告！”那顶帽子在大家手里传送。那个不敢相信眼前情景的老头闪烁着感激的眼神，拿着共有四十七元五角的一笔钱走出了法庭。
——〔美〕塞尔夫
原来如此！
Fiorello Henry La Guardia（拉瓜迪亚，1882-1947），美国政治家，曾任纽约市长，以力反贪污著称；后任联合国善后救济总署署长。他的绰号叫Little Flower。
本文作者Bennett Alfred Cerf（塞尔夫，1898-1971），是美国出版家和编辑，创办兰登书屋。
增值英语
1 charged with stealing...
句式 charge (sb) with (sth) 控告，指控（某人）（某罪）：
He was charged with murder. 他被指控犯谋杀罪。
The police charged the driver with speeding. 警方指控司机超速驾驶。
2 The law makes no exception.
句式 make an exception of sb / sth 意为把某人或某物看作例外：
The school regulations make no exception. They apply to every student. 校规不容例外，适用于每个学生。
Since this is an urgent case, we have decided to make an exception of it. 由于这是紧急情况，我们决定把它作为例外处理。
3 I can do nothing but sentence you to a fine...
句式 在 nothing but + v.（原形）/ n. / v-ing 结构中，but 用作介词，意为“除……以外”（= except）：
She could do nothing but weep. 除了哭她没别的办法。
War brings nothing but death and suffering. 战争带来的只是死亡和苦难。
Martin likes nothing but gambling. 马丁除了赌博什么也不喜欢。
名言
And earthly power does then show likest God’s When mercy seasons justice. — Shakespeare
执法的人倘能以慈悲调剂公道，
人间的权力就和上帝的神力没有差别。
——莎士比亚
