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ARRANGEMENT FOR MARCH. 12TH, 2003
Part 1 Topic:
How to Keep a Friendship Alive(See "This Week
Topic")
Part 2 English Knowledge:
How do a "X" mark stand for a kiss
In medieval times，most people were unable to read or write．When it came time to sign a document，people who could not write usually made an"X" mark．Of course，an"X"is not much of a signature．To add a sense of commitment，it became customary to kiss the"X"after writing it．
Kissing the"X"was performance law，a ritual act that bound the parties the way legal documents bind us today．This act，witnessed by the person who wrote the text，represented a solemn guarantee of the truthfulness of what was written，and an oath to carry out whatever obligations were stated in the document．
Over the years，the"X"and the kiss became interchangeable．Today，people who can read and write might still add one or more"X"marks to their letters，maybe with a couple of"O"s thrown in for hugs．
Part 3 Chinese Classical Poems:
《凉州词.出塞》与改写成的《罗扇令》
黄河远上白云间，一片孤城万仞山；羌笛何须怨《杨柳》，春风不度玉门关。
Beyond the Jade Pass
The Yellow River rises remote in clouds quite dim，
Alone a castle's perched 'mid soaring peaks so grim．（1）
O why Qiangs'flutes o'er"Willowssad will wailaway？
Our Spring has never ventured on west of Jade-Pass's way．（2）
（1）Alone a castle．．．，相当A castle is perched ．．．alone；'mid为 amid之略。
（2）Jade-Pass's中Jade重读，而 Pass轻读，'s在这里可读作［iz］，也可不发音（因在ss后）。
盛唐王之涣所写的这首《凉州词·出塞》历代广为传颂。据说后来明永乐皇帝令翰林学士解缙在一把极珍贵的罗扇上题诗。解缙就选了这首关塞歌词。挥笔写好递上后，皇上夸奖他写得苍劲有力，让近臣传看。很多人看出诗中漏掉一字，都没作声。汉王朱高熙（永乐次子）也注意到了，这朱高熙因解缙曾力促将长子立为太子而恨解入骨，立时启奏父皇："题扇之人偏偏漏写一个'间'字，是何用心？容得此人，后患无穷！"皇帝拿回罗扇一看，果真"黄河远上白云间"的"间"字丢掉了。猜疑起来，不觉大怒："如此戏主欺君，推出午门，斩首！"
解缙发现少写这一个字，惊出一身冷汗。但他立即解释道："此乃据王之涣诗意新填小令，今日微臣特意献给圣上的。"皇帝让他说个明白时，他答称：
"容臣读来，圣上明鉴。"接着他便韵味十足地念道："黄河远上---白云一片，孤城万仞山！羌笛何须怨？杨柳春风，不度玉门关。"永乐皇帝听罢，细想这就不好再硬加那戏君之罪。群臣趁势赞扬小令的韵律，解缙得以开脱。
明永乐皇帝朱棣如此多疑，是有来头的。漏掉"间"字，缺"门"少"日"，更加引起他的怀疑：因为他原来不是正道当上的天子。
朱棣是明太祖朱元璋第四子，封为燕王。太祖逝世时，因所立太子早亡，由太孙朱允火文继位，是为惠帝。燕王以其被奸臣控制为名，攻破南京。大火中惠帝失踪。朱棣称帝，改号永乐，迁都北京，世称明成祖。
后来，已被贬到外地的解缙进京奏事时，因成祖出征边塞，他谒见监国的太子而归任所。为此，成祖说他"无人臣礼"，将他下狱。过了些日子，成祖问管刑罚的大臣："解缙还没死吗？"那大臣就明白话里的意思了。他们在狱中把解缙灌醉，再把他埋在雪堆里冻死，当时他年仅46岁。
春风不度玉门关---不善于俯首贴耳、献媚取宠于帝王的臣民，就像遭受了贬逐，远隔关塞，总是很难得到恩典的。下面我们再鉴赏以下据说解缙改成《罗扇令》小词与其英译：
黄河远上---白云一片，孤城万仞山！羌笛何须怨？杨柳春风，不度玉门关。
The Yellow River rises remote-
Alongside a cloudlet white afloat；
Alone a castle's perched 'mid peaks
So high soaring，so high and bleak！
O why Qiangs'flutes will wail away？
Our willows green，in their springtime grace，
Have never ventured out of Jade Pass's way．
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