【英文原文】

Horseshoes One of the most familiar things that are supposed to be lucky is a horseshoe. There are some people even today who believe that finding a cast-of horseshoe brings good luck, and if they hang a horseshoe over a door, witches cannot enter. Some people say the horseshoe is considered to be lucky because it looks like a new moon. There have been many peoples who considered the new moon extremely lucky. The Irish say that the horse was in the stable where Christ was born, and therefore the horseshoe was given magical power. Other people say the horseshoe is made of iron, and iron has always been regarded as a protection against evil spirits. Besides, the horseshoe is made by the blacksmith, and blacksmith, like a wizard, used it as a charm in performing his “white magic”. Pliny says that there is no more excellent protection against illness than the castoff horseshoe found in the road. Nelson had a horseshoe nailed to the mast of the Victory.

【中文译文】

马蹄铁

日常生活中最常见的吉祥物之一是马蹄铁。至今仍有人深信捡到废旧的马蹄铁会带来好运。如果他们把马蹄铁挂在门的上方，女巫会望之却步。有人说马蹄铁之所以被视为吉祥物是因为它状似新月。许多民族都相信新月能带来极好的运气。爱尔兰人说耶稣出生在马槽时，圈里有马，因而马蹄铁随之带上了神力。还有人说马蹄铁是铁打的，而铁本身就有驱邪的功能。此外，马蹄铁是铁匠打制的，而铁匠像个魔法师，常用马蹄铁做护符，施行他的“白魔法”。古罗马作家普林尼说祛病辟邪最好的东西莫过于路上捡来的废旧马蹄铁。英国海军统帅纳尔逊曾将一块马蹄铁钉在他的军舰胜利号的桅杆上。