In Britain's war with France, previous to the Revolution in that country, an English drummer, not more than 15 years of age, wandered from his camp too near the French lines. He was seized, and brought before the French commander.
The commander asked who he was. He answered,"A drummer in the English service." Unconvinced, the commander sent for a drum, and asked him to beat a couple of marches, which he accordingly did.
The commander's suspicion being not quite removed, he desired the drummer to beat a retreat."A retreat, sir?" replied the youthful Briton."I don't know what that is."
This answer so pleased the commander that he dismissed the drummer, and wrote to his general, commending his spirited behaviour.
法國大革命之前，英法兩國交戰，英軍一名不過十五歲鼓手離營，不慎走近法軍陣地，被抓到法軍指揮官帳下。
指揮官問他是誰。他回答：「我是英軍鼓手。」指揮官不相信，叫人拿個鼓來，請他打兩首進行曲。鼓手就打給他聽。
指揮官還是有點疑心，再請他打撤退鼓。那年輕英國人回答：「先生說撤退？我不知道那是什麼。」
指揮官很喜歡這答覆，把鼓手放了，還寫信給英軍將領，稱許那鼓手的猛氣英風。
【附注】 Beat a retreat即「鳴金收兵」，現在常引伸解作「逃走」或「退卻」，例如： When the ladies started discussing fashion, I beat a hasty retreat（眾女士開始談時裝，我連忙退避三舍）。
（古德明）
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