The great painter was asked one day to paint a picture of Pharaoh crossing the Red Sea. A little while after the picture had been commenced, a hitch arose over the fee, and Hogarth found that he would have to complete the commission for about half the sum he expected. When the work was completed, the patron was asked to come and inspect it. As a matter of fact, the picture was just one daub of brilliant red.

"What's this?" exclaimed the purchaser. "I asked for the Red Sea, on the occasion of the celebrated passage."

"That's it," replied Hogarth.

"But, where are the Israelites?"

"They are all gone over."

"Where are the Egyptians?"

"They're all drowned."

注：《出埃及记》中记载，耶和华要惩罚法老王的刚硬，于是连降下十个灾祸，直到埃及人屈服。法老敌不过神，就答应释放以色列人，但以色列人刚离开埃及不久，法老又转意，并派兵追击以色列人。神再一次施展大能，使以色列人越过红海，埃及人追赶至海中央就被海水淹没。

hitch: 故障，障碍

daub: 涂抹，涂料

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