魏甘德的预言(英中对照)

古德明《征服英语》之英语军事故事，古德明，香港英语教育作家，他开了一个《征服英语专栏》，在专栏中专门用英语写了世界近代史上的军事小故事，用英语讲述历史中那些惊心动魄的战争。
魏甘德的预言
in may 1940, hitler launched his lightning war in western europe. the netherlands, belgium, and france fell one after another within two months."in three weeks, england will have its neck wrung like a chicken," prophesied the french general maxime weygand, who surrendered to and collaborated with the germans.
with the war now on their doorstep, the british rallied behind their government. recruits started pouring into their local police stations even before the secretary of state for war had finished the radio broadcast calling for volunteers for the home guard. women joined the war effort, serving both in industry and in the armed forces. housewives gave up their aluminium pots and pans so that they could be turned into spitfires and hurricanes. the country pulled together towards a common goal, and weygand's prophecy failed to come to pass.

一九四○年五月，希特勒在西欧发动闪电战，不出两个月，荷兰、比利时、法国相继沦陷。法国将领马克西姆．魏甘德投降，并和德军合作。他预言：「不出三个星期，英国就会像鸡那样被扭断脖子。」
英国人眼看战争迫在眉睫，都奋起支持政府。陆军大臣呼吁志愿者加入国防民兵的电台广播还未结束，各地警察局已有应募者纷至沓来。妇女也为战事出力，到工厂或军中服务。家庭主妇捐出铝罐、铝锅等，供当局制造喷火式和飓风式战斗机。全英国同心戮力，魏甘德的预言终于未能实现。