A Farmer Moved a 200-Year-Old Stone, and the French-Belgian Border

 

一名農夫移動了200年歷史的石頭與法比邊界

【摘要2021.5.16.自由】◎黃靖媗

Apparently frustrated by a 200-year-old stone border marker, a Belgian farmer dug it out and moved it about seven feet into French territory, local officials told French news media, thus slightly enlarging his own land as well as the entire country of Belgium.

當地官員告訴法國新聞媒體，一名比利時農夫顯然對一塊200年歷史的界碑感到挫敗，將它挖出並往法國領土方向移動約7呎，因此稍微擴大了自家土地與比利時全國國土。

The displaced stone was spotted last month by a sharp-eyed group of Frenchmen.

這顆錯位的石頭上個月被一群眼尖的法國人注意到。

It is unclear whether the farmer knew the significance of the stone, which has 1819 carved into its face. In theory, moving the stone violates the 1820 treaty.

不清楚這名農夫是否知道這顆表面刻有1819年的石頭的意義。理論上，移動這塊界碑違反了1820年條約。

Mr. Lavaux, the village’s burgomaster, said he would send the farmer a formal letter demanding that the stone be returned to its rightful location. If the farmer does not comply, he could face criminal charges.

村長拉沃先生表示，他將寄給這名農夫一封正式信，要求他將界碑移回合法的位置。假如這名農夫不遵守，他將面臨刑事指控。

新聞辭典

enlarge：動詞，擴大。例句：We enlarged the kitchen and created a window-filled dinner room.（我們擴建了廚房，並且打造一間充滿窗戶的飯廳。）

spot：動詞，看見、注意到。例句：The professor spotted some mistakes in the paper.（教授在這份論文中找到許多錯誤。）

rightful：形容詞，合法的、正當的。例句：He declared himself to be the country’s rightful president.（他宣布自己是這個國家的合法總統。）