Elizabeth: Prime Minister.
Tony: Good morning, Your Majesty1. Sorry to disturb, but I was just wondering whether you d seen any today s papers?
Elizabeth: We ve managed to look at one or two, yes.
Tony: In which case, my next question would be whether you felt some kind of response might be necessary?
Elizabeth: No. I believe a few over-eager editors are doing their best to sell newspapers. That would be a mistake to dance to their tune2.
Tony: Under normal circumstances, I would agree, but... Well, my advisors3 have been taking the temperature among people on the streets, and..., the information I m getting is that the mood is quite delicate.
Elizabeth: So, what would you suggest, Prime Minister? Some kind of statement?
Tony: No, ma am. I believe the moment for statements has passed. I would suggest flying the flag at half-mast above Buckingham Palace... and coming down to London at the earliest opportunity. It would be a great comfort to your people and would help them with their grief.
Elizabeth: "Their grief"? If you imagine I m going to drop everything and come down to London before I attend to my grandchildren, who ve just lost their mother, then you re mistaken. I doubt there is anyone who knows the British people more than I do, Mr Blair, nor who has greater faith in their wisdom and judgment4. And it is my belief that they will, at any moment, reject this... this mood, which is being stirred up by the press in favour of a period of restrained grief and sober, private mourning. That s the way we do things in this country - quietly, with dignity. It s what the rest of the world has always admired us for.
Tony: If that s your decision, ma am, of course, the government will support it. Let s keep in touch.
Elizabeth: Yes, let s.
妙语佳句，活学活用
1. Dance to someone s tune
意思是"跟着某人亦步亦趋，跟着某人的指挥棒转"，例如：There is no need to dance to the boss tune when he s not correct.
2. Take the temperature
Temperature 在这里的意思可不是"温度"，而是指"等的热烈程度；激烈的情绪"，例如：
I was aware of a change in the temperature of our relationship.
我意识到我们友谊的热烈程度起了变化。
He tried to cool the temperature by stating some obvious facts.
他试图把一些明显的事实讲出来以平息人们的激烈情绪。
3. At half-mast
意为"Halfway5 up or down"，fly the flag at half-mast 就是"下半旗"的意思，用于对死去的人表示敬意。例如：The church bells tolled6 off and on all day and the flags were at half-mast.
4. Attend to
"照顾"的意思，例如：She attends to the old lady in the wheelchair.
此外，attend to 还表示"专心，注意"，例如：Attend to your duties, please.
5. In favour of
意为"in support of 支持"，例如：I am in favour of higher pay.
