画像引用：Vladimir Horowitz Seated At The Piano by Bettmann$77.00 USD*
https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/2/vladimir-horowitz-seated-at-the-piano-bettmann.jpg

以下は笑い話で一読後ニヤリとしていればよい類のものですがこれをまじめに英語で解釈してみませんか？英会話の話題としてもご利用ください。

In his early days as a concert pianist the thought of facing a huge audience often filled Vladimir Horowitz with a panicky horror akin to nausea.

On one occasion he was in the wings about to go onstage when he was seized with the familiar malaise.  “I’m ill,” he told the manager.  “I cannot play tonight.”  “Well, if you can’t, you can’t,” replied the irritated manager.  “But for goodness’ sake go out and excuse yourself to the audience.”

Horowitz faltered to the center of the stage, gazed at the sea of faces, then — more panic-stricken at the thought of speaking than of playing — lunged gratefully at the piano and played as well as he had ever played in his life.

（トークラインのご利用者様にお送りしている２月７日付のHANDOUTの一部で、The Reader’s Digestからの転載です）