He saved the life of a Hamadryad (the inhabitant nymph of a tree) by propping up a falling oak tree.   The Hamadryad promised to marry him but asked him to return at a certain time.  Meanwhile, a bee served as their messenger.   Yet, he became engrossed in gambling and injured the bee in brushing it aside.  When he remembered the tryst and ran madly to it, it was too late.   Finally the nymph deprived him of his sight. 

[解說]

1.      “He saved the life of a Hamadryad (the inhabitant nymph of a tree) by propping up a falling oak tree”：藉由撐起ㄧ棵即將倒下的橡樹，他拯救了一個樹精 Hamadryad (住在樹中的女神) 的性命。 “inhabitant”：居住的。 “nymph”：山、林、泉水、河、湖之女神。

2.      “The Hamadryad promised to marry him but asked him to return at a certain time”：那樹精答應嫁給他，但要求他在某個時候要回來。

3.      “Meanwhile, a bee served as their messenger”：同時，一隻蜜蜂充當他們的信差。 “serve as”：充當、作為。

4.      “Yet, he became engrossed in gambling and injured the bee in brushing it aside”：可是，他變成熱中於賭博，而在揮走蜜蜂時傷害了蜜蜂。 “be engrossed in”：熱中於、迷於 …。 “brush aside”：揮掃到一旁。

5.      “When he remembered the tryst and ran madly to it, it was too late”：當他記得那約會而瘋狂地跑去赴約時，時間已經太遲。 “tryst”：約會 (= appointment, date)。

6.      “Finally the nymph deprived him of his sight”：最後那女神剝奪掉他的視力(使他失明)。 deprive A of  B：使 A 沒有 B，剝奪掉 A 之 B。 

[複習填充]

Rhoecus saved the life of a Hamadryad (the in         nymph of a tree) by p        up a falling oak tree.  The Hamadryad promised to marry him but asked him to return      a certain time.  Meanwhile, a bee served       their messenger.  Yet, he became en          in gambling and injured the bee in b        it aside.  When he remembered the t       and ran madly to it, it was too late.  Finally the nymph de         him of his sight.