Foundations Reading 9A

Chap 17

第17章

Reading 9A A LOVE POEM IN STONE Often called "a love poem in stone," the Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful buildings ever made. It is also perhaps the most beautiful expression of love in the world. The emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal for his empress, Mumtaz Mahal. They lived happily together for 18 years. Then, in 1631, Mumtaz died during the birth of their fourteenth child. Before she died, the emperor made her a promise. To remember her, he would build the most beautiful monument in the world. Building the Taj Mahal was a huge task. It is said that it took more than 20,000 people and 1,000 elephants. They worked for over 20 years to build the monument and its central dome. In 1658, five years after the building was finished, Shah Jahan's son became emperor. He put Shah Jahan in prison. Shah Jahan stayed there until his death in 1666. His body was then put in the Taj Mahal with the woman he loved. There are many legends about the Taj Mahal. In one story, Shah Jahan had the builders' hands cut off after the building was complete. This was supposedly done so they could never build anything as beautiful as the Taj Mahal. Another says he also wanted to build a black Taj Mahal. These are interesting stories, but they are probably not true. The love story between Shah Jahan and his wife ended sadly. But the monument to their love still stands today. Millions of tourists visit every year. They come to see the marble change color in the light of the rising sun or a full moon.

阅读9A 石头上的爱情诗 泰姬陵常被称为“石头上的爱情诗”，是有史以来最美丽的建筑之一。 这也可能是世界上最美丽的爱情表达。 沙贾汗皇帝为他的皇后穆塔兹·玛哈尔建造了泰姬陵。 他们幸福地生活了18年。 1631年，穆塔兹在第十四个孩子出生时去世。 在她去世之前，皇帝向她许下了诺言。 为了纪念她，他将建造世界上最美丽的纪念碑。 建造泰姬陵是一项艰巨的任务。 据说，它带走了2万多人和1000头大象。 他们为建造这座纪念碑及其中央圆顶工作了20多年。 1658年，在建筑完工五年后，沙贾汗的儿子成为了皇帝。 他把沙贾汗关进了监狱。 沙贾汗一直呆在那里，直到1666年去世。 然后，他的尸体与他所爱的女人一起被放在泰姬陵。 关于泰姬陵有很多传说。 在一个故事中，沙贾汗在建筑完工后砍掉了建筑工人的手。 据说这样做是为了让他们永远无法建造出像泰姬陵这样美丽的东西。 另一位说，他还想建造一座黑色的泰姬陵。 这些故事很有趣，但可能不是真的。 沙贾汗和妻子的爱情故事以悲剧收场。 但他们的爱情纪念碑至今仍屹立不倒。 每年有数百万游客前来参观。 他们来看大理石在日出或满月的光线下变色。

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