中英對照讀新聞》In age-old ritual, Mexican mayor weds alligator to secure abundance在古老的儀式中，墨西哥的市長和鱷魚結婚來確保豐收

◎周虹汶

A small town Mexican mayor married his alligator bride in a colorful ceremony as traditional music rang out and revelers danced while imploring the indigenous leader to seal the nuptials with a kiss.

墨西哥一個小鎮市長在一場多采多姿的儀式中，迎娶了他的鱷魚新娘，現場演奏傳統音樂、狂歡者翩翩起舞，同時懇求這位原住民領袖用一個吻來為婚禮封印。

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San Pedro Huamelula Mayor Victor Hugo Sosa obliged more than once during Thursday’s wedding, bending down to plant his lips on the small alligator’s snout, which had been tied shut presumably to avoid unwanted biting.

在週四的婚禮上，聖．佩德羅．瓦米魯拉的市長維克多．雨果．索薩不只一次答應要求，彎腰把嘴唇湊上這隻小鱷魚的鼻子，而小鱷魚的鼻子被緊緊綁住，大概是為了避免不必要的咬傷。

The ritual marriage likely dates back centuries to pre-Hispanic times among Oaxaca state’s Chontal and Huave indigenous communities, like a prayer pleading for nature’s bounty.

在墨西哥瓦哈卡州Chontal及Huave的原住民社會中，這種婚禮儀式就像是一個祈禱，祈求大自然的恩賜，可能可以追溯好幾個世紀，一直到前西班牙時代。

Oaxaca, located in Mexico’s poor south, is arguably the country’s richest in indigenous culture and home to many groups that have stubbornly maintained their languages and traditions.

瓦哈卡州位在墨西哥貧窮的南部地區，可說是墨國原住民文化最豐富的地區，也是許多堅持維護他們的語言和傳統的群體的家鄉。

新聞辭典

nuptial：形容詞，婚姻的、婚禮的。名詞（常用複數），婚禮。例句： She became immersed in planning her nuptials.（她開始沉浸在策劃她的婚禮。）

implore：動詞，懇求、哀求、苦求。例句： Dear princess, I beg and implore you, have some pity on him!（親愛的公主，我懇求您，可憐一下他吧！）

oblige：動詞，責成、強迫、討好、幫助、為…效勞。例句： Could you oblige me by opening the window?（你可以幫我打開一下窗戶嗎？）