Spéculation Hasardeuse
Arthur Vogelsang
No one was learning French fast.
I was learning French too slowly and
Some were learning at an average speed.
We had to learn it fast. There was a great plane
Coming for us and we had to know French
When we got on it or else.
Later we found out there was no or else.
We boarded the plane knowing an amount of French.
Enough that the others covered for me.
That was easy, I never spoke1 French,
I never spoke. Far up over Earth and France
Where we floated which of course was fun
In the great plane, in the great swift plane as I have said,
That high, the French spoke to us in French,
Numbers, "millième des soixante," and other manifold numbers
For hours -- division and multiplication2 are the hairiest,
The epitome3 of difficult, for a non-native speaker.
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According to my character I did something else,
No counting, no speaking French. I was there
To float and study and be studied and do unmentionables
So I forgot about learning French fast and I forgot about
Their or else, I said to myself I think I am their or else.
I was not. In such a risky4 venture or spéculation hasardeuse
I think it was decided5 to include somebody not fast and not smart
Like a slow horse that keeps a posse at its safe pace, unambushed.
The endless arguments about this had been in French and English,
Back and forth6 endlessly they had gone at it,
So we began by trying to learn French fast.
1 spoke
n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说
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参考例句：
They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。 The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
2 multiplication
n.增加，增多，倍增；增殖，繁殖；乘法
参考例句：
Our teacher used to drum our multiplication tables into us.我们老师过去老是让我们反覆背诵乘法表。 The multiplication of numbers has made our club building too small.会员的增加使得我们的俱乐部拥挤不堪。
3 epitome
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n.典型，梗概
参考例句：
He is the epitome of goodness.他是善良的典范。 This handbook is a neat epitome of everyday hygiene.这本手册概括了日常卫生的要点。
4 risky
adj.有风险的，冒险的
参考例句：
It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。 He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。
5 decided
adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
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This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。 There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
6 forth
adv.向前；向外，往外
参考例句：
The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。 He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作
