伦敦『大笨钟』
伦敦的英国国会大厦，有一座巍峨的钟楼，上面装有世界闻名的大笨钟（Big Ben）。大笨钟塔早已成了伦敦的标志，而大笨钟的报时讯号则每天通过英国BBC电台，传到全世界。
大笨钟楼由几个大钟组成，最大的“时”钟，直径2.8米，足有13吨半重，这是真正的大笨钟。另外有4个“四分之一时”钟，重量分别为1吨至4吨。
大笨钟在1858年开始启用。一百多年来，实践证明它非但不笨，而且准确异常，令英国人引以为豪。
人们之所以把这钟叫做Big Ben，一是因为它的确大，二是纪念大钟建造工程的负责人Benjamin Hall。本杰明简称Ben，他是个聪明能干的人。
Why Was Louis IX Called a Perfect Monster?
路易九世为什么被称为“完美怪物”？
红人自画像
我是十三世纪法国国王。在别人眼里我是一个好国王、好丈夫、好父亲，这些都归功于我那智慧而坚忍的母亲。她给我良好的教育，并且曾对我说，她宁愿我死也不愿我犯大错。或许她那种完美主义的要求造就了我的完美吧。
I am King of France in 13th century. I’m considered a good king, husband and father. I owe it to my wise and strong mother. She offered me a good education and told me that she would rather die than see me make any big mistake. Perhaps I’m everything I am because of her pursuit of perfection.
超级访问
这世间没有任何人和任何事可以达到“完美”，尽管完美是人们追求的目标。有人说路易九世是“世界上从未见过的完美怪物”，是一个没有缺点的人。古古又是嫉妒又是好奇，非见见这个完美的人不可。
Though people have always tried to be perfect, nobody or nothing can really achieve it in the world. However, it’s said that Louis IX was “ the unique perfect monster in the world”, without any defect. Gugu was jealous and also curious. Did that kind of man really exist? He couldn’t believe it until he saw the man.
（G=Gugu L=Louis IX）
G: Your Majesty, you look so handsome and noble. No wonder people call you a “ perfect monster”.
L: Really? I think to some extent it’s right about me. As a king, I think I’m not doing bad. The country has been doing well in my reign.
G: It surely is. Plus, I heard that you were a pious Christian and a charitarian?
L: Yeah. I often donate money to churches, hospitals, asylums, hotels and so on. I once even took care of the lepers, who were uniaware of my identity.
G: That’s highly commendable.
L: But I have defects, too. Once in a while I would blow up and you know what? I started a silly war.
G: Despite these, you’re still not far from perfect.
L: Thanks. God would forgive me.
古古：陛下真是英气逼人、仪态尊贵啊。怪不得有人称您为“完美怪物”呢。
路易九世：哦？是吗？我在某种程度上是可以和这个称谓匹配的，因为作为国王，我自认为还是英明的，把国家治理得井井有条。
古古：是的。我听说您还是一个虔诚的基督徒和慈善家。
路易九世：啊，我经常捐助教会、医院、救济院、招待所等等。我还亲自服侍麻风病人，当时，他们并不知道我就是国王。
古古：真是难能可贵啊。
路易九世：但是我也有缺点。我偶尔会脾气暴躁，还发动过愚蠢的战争。
古古：不过您接近完美了。
路易九世：谢谢你这么说。上帝会宽恕我的。
