英语听书《海底两万里》第277期 第21章 在陆地上的两天(9)

 　　They taste like chicken stuffed with truffles, Conseil said. 这味道好像吃香菌长大的母鸡的味儿一般。康塞尔说。

　　All right, Ned, I asked the Canadian, now what do you need? 尼德，现在我们还短些什么吗？我问加拿大人。

　　Game with four paws, Professor Aronnax, Ned Land replied. All these pigeons are only appetizers¹, snacks.  还短一只四足的猎物，阿龙纳斯先生。尼德·兰回答，所有这些鸽子、山鸠都不过是零食和小吃。

　　So till I've bagged an animal with cutlets, I won't be happy! 因此，只要我还没有打到有排骨肉的动物，我就决不能满意。

　　Nor I, Ned, until I've caught a bird of paradise. 尼德，如果我没有捕捉到一只无双鸟，我也不能满意。

　　Then let's keep hunting, Conseil replied, but while heading back to the sea.  那么我们继续打猎吧，康塞尔回答，不过要向大海这一边走。

　　We've arrived at the foothills of these mountains, and I think we'll do better if we return to the forest regions. 我们已经到了山岭的第一层斜坡，我想再回到森林地带要好些。

　　It was good advice and we took it. After an hour's walk we reached a genuine sago palm forest.  康塞尔很有见识，我们就照他的意见办了。

　　A few harmless snakes fled underfoot. Birds of paradise stole off at our approach,  走了一小时，我们到了一座真正是西米树的森林。

　　and I was in real despair of catching² one when Conseil, walking in the lead, stooped suddenly, gave a triumphant³ shout,  有些不伤人的蛇在我们脚下逃走了。无双鸟看见我们走近就飞开。当我十分失望，没有办法捉到它们的时候，走在我前面的康塞尔，忽然弯下身子，发出胜利的呼喊，

　　and came back to me, carrying a magnificent bird of paradise. 拿着一只十分好看的无双鸟走近我身边来。

　　Oh bravo, Conseil! I exclaimed. 好！你成功了！康塞尔，我喊。

　　Master is too kind, Conseil replied. 先生，不敢当，您过奖了。康塞尔回答。

　　Not at all, my boy. That was a stroke of genius, catching one of these live birds with your bare hands! 不，好小伙子，你真是做了一件出奇的事哩。弄到一只洁的无双鸟，把它捉在手里，真了不得！

　　If master will examine it closely, he'll see that I deserve no great praise. 如果先生细心地考查它一下，那就可以看到我实在没有什么多大的功劳。

　　And why not, Conseil? 康塞尔，为什么呢？

　　Because this bird is as drunk as a lord.Drunk? 因为这鸟像鹌鹑一般醉了。醉了吗？

　　Yes, master, drunk from the nutmegs it was devouring⁴ under that nutmeg tree where I caught it. See, Ned my friend, see the monstrous⁵ results of intemperance⁶! 是的，先生，它在豆寇树下吃豆寇吃醉了，我就在树下把它捉到。尼德好朋友，请您看看这贪吃贪喝、过度任性的可怕结果吧！

　　Damnation! the Canadian shot back. Considering the amount of gin I've had these past two months, you've got nothing to complain about! 怪话！加拿大人回答，我这两个月来只是喝了一些真尼酒，实在用不着责备我！

1 appetizers   

n.开胃品( appetizer的名词复数 )；促进食欲的活动；刺激欲望的东西；吊胃口的东西

参考例句：

• Here is the egg drop and appetizers to follow. 这是您要的蛋花汤和开胃品。 来自互联网
• Would you like appetizers or a salad to go with that? 你要不要小菜或色拉？ 来自互联网

2 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

3 triumphant   

adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的

参考例句：

• The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
• There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。

4 devouring   

吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光

参考例句：

• The hungry boy was devouring his dinner. 那饥饿的孩子狼吞虎咽地吃饭。
• He is devouring novel after novel. 他一味贪看小说。

5 monstrous   

adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的

参考例句：

• The smoke began to whirl and grew into a monstrous column.浓烟开始盘旋上升，形成了一个巨大的烟柱。
• Your behaviour in class is monstrous!你在课堂上的行为真是丢人！

6 intemperance   

n.放纵

参考例句：

• Health does not consist with intemperance. 健康与纵欲［无节制］不能相容。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• She accepted his frequent intemperance as part of the climate. 对于他酗酒的恶习，她安之若素。 来自辞典例句