《风语河岸柳》第1章 河(5)

When at last they could eat no more, the Mole¹ lay back and watched the river lazily.

最后他们再也吃不下了，鼹鼠躺倒在地，懒懒地看着河水。

After a while he sat up.

不一会儿，他坐了起来说：

I can see a long line of bubbles² in the water, he said. I wonder what it is.

我看见水里有一长串水泡，那是什么？

'Bubbles? Oho! 'said the Rat, and he called out across the river in a friendly kind of way.

水泡？哦噢！水鼠友好地向河水那儿叫道。

The bubbles stopped and turned.

水泡没了，又转到了另一个地方。

Soon a wet whiskery nose appeared above the edge³ of the bank, and the Otter⁴ pulled him self out and shook the water from his coat.

很快一个湿漉漉的长着胡须的鼻子出现在河岸边，水獭爬上了岸，抖动着外衣上的水。

'A lunch party! 'he said, going straight towards the food. Why didn't you invite me, Ratty?

午餐派对！他边说边径直向食物走去。你为什么不邀请我，阿鼠？

We didn't plan it, explained the Rat. We only decided⁵ to come this morning. Oh, and this is my friend, Mr Mole. '

我们不是事先计划好的，水鼠解释道。我们今天早上才决定过来的。哦，这是我的朋友，鼹鼠先生。

'Happy to meet you, 'said the Otter, and the two animals were friends at once.

很高兴认识你，水獭招呼道，这两只动物马上就成了朋友。

All the world seems to be out on the river today, said the Otter while he ate.

今天所有人似乎都在河上，水獭边吃边说，

I came up this side river to try and get a moment's peace, and then I find you fellows having a lunch party!

我游到这条支流上是想安静一会儿，不想却碰到你们哥俩在搞午餐派对！

Suddenly there was a noise in the thick bushes⁶ behind them, and a big black and white head looked out at them.

突然，他们身后浓密的灌木丛里发出了响声，一个大大的黑白脑袋探出头瞅着他们。

Come on, old Badger⁷! 'shouted the Rat.

过来，老獾！水鼠叫道。

The Badger came forward a few steps, then stopped.

獾向前走了几步又停下来，呣，这么挤！

Hmm! A crowd! he said crossly, and turned his back and disappeared again into the bushes.

他愠怒地说着，转身消失在灌木丛里。

What a pity! said the Rat.

多遗憾！水鼠叹道。

Dear old Badger! He's a good fellow, but he does hate a crowd.

亲爱的老獾！他人倒不错，就是讨厌人多，

We won't see him again today.

今天就甭想见他了。

But tell us, who's out on the river?'

但你给我们说说，谁还在河上？

1 mole   

n.胎块；痣；克分子

参考例句：

• She had a tiny mole on her cheek.她的面颊上有一颗小黑痣。
• The young girl felt very self- conscious about the large mole on her chin.那位年轻姑娘对自己下巴上的一颗大痣感到很不自在。

2 bubbles   

泡( bubble的名词复数 )； 泡影； 肥皂泡； （欲表达的）一点感情

参考例句：

• Bubbles are rising from the bottom of the boiling water. 水泡从沸水的底部升到水面。
• The incorporation of air bubbles in the glass spoiled it. 玻璃含有气泡，使它质量降低。

3 edge   

n.边(缘)；刃；优势；v.侧着移动，徐徐移动

参考例句：

• Sight along the edge to see if it's straight.顺着边目测，看看直不直。
• She lived on the extreme edge of the forest.她住在森林的最边缘。

4 otter   

n.水獭

参考例句：

• The economists say the competition otter to the brink of extinction.经济学家们说，竞争把海獭推到了灭绝的边缘。
• She collared my black wool coat with otter pelts.她把我的黑呢上衣镶上了水獭领。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 bushes   

n.灌木（丛）( bush的名词复数 )；[机械学]（金属）衬套；[电学]（绝缘）套管；类似灌木的东西（尤指浓密的毛发或皮毛）

参考例句：

• There was someone skulking behind the bushes. 有人藏在灌木后面。
• The boy chased his sister in and out among the bushes. 那个男孩在灌木丛里跟着他姐姐追过来追过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 badger   

v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠

参考例句：

• Now that our debts are squared.Don't badger me with them any more.我们的债务两清了。从此以后不要再纠缠我了。
• If you badger him long enough,I'm sure he'll agree.只要你天天纠缠他，我相信他会同意。