美国语文第六册 第15期:大扫除(4)

 　　And so the poor gentleman was doubly non-suited; for he lost both his suit of clothes and his suit at law. 于是，一位贫穷的绅士会由于双重原因而不满意，因为，他的衣服既被泼上了水，又输了官司。

　　These smearings and scratchings, these washings and dashings, being duly performed, the next ceremonial is to cleanse¹ and replace the distracted furniture. 这些诅咒和刮擦声，这些洗涤和冲洗，都按部就班地上演着，接下来的仪式是清洗和把分散注意力的家具放回原处。

　　You may have seen a house raising, or a ship launch—recollect, if you can, the hurry, bustle², confusion, and noise of such a scene, 想必你看到过一幢房子拔地而起，或者一条船起航——如果可能的话，不妨回忆一下这个匆忙、忙乱、乱作一团和吵吵闹闹的场景吧，

　　and you will have some idea of this cleansing³ match. 你就会对这一清洗比赛有几分印象了。

　　The misfortune is, that the sole object is to make things clean. 糟糕的是，唯一的目的就是令所有一切变得洁净。

　　It matters not how many useful, ornamental⁴, or valuable articles suffer mutilation or death under the operation. 要紧的不是在这次行动中有多少有用、装饰性或者贵重物品损毁或者消失。

　　A mahogany chair and a carved frame undergo the same discipline; 一把红木椅子和雕刻镂空的架子也受到同样的对待。

　　they are to be made clean at all events; but their preservation⁵ is not worthy⁶ of attention. 在任何情况下，它们都要保持清洁，不过它们的保持不值得予以注意。

　　For instance: a fine large engraving⁷ is laid flat upon the floor; 譬如，一件很大的非常精美的雕刻画镶嵌在镜框里，平放在地板上，

　　a number of smaller prints are piled upon it, until the superincumbent weight cracks the lower glass—but this is of no importance. 上面摞了一沓较小的印刷品，过重的重量压碎了下面的玻璃——不过这不打紧。

　　A valuable picture is placed leaning against the sharp corner of a table; 一幅名贵的画倚着尖利的桌脚，

　　others are made to lean against that, till the pressure of the whole forces the corner of the table through the canvas of the first. 其他物品则靠在画上，结果桌脚整个压力先传导到画布上。

1 cleanse   

vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗

参考例句：

• Health experts are trying to cleanse the air in cities. 卫生专家们正设法净化城市里的空气。
• Fresh fruit juices can also cleanse your body and reduce dark circles.新鲜果汁同样可以清洁你的身体,并对黑眼圈同样有抑制作用。

2 bustle   

v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹

参考例句：

• The bustle and din gradually faded to silence as night advanced.随着夜越来越深，喧闹声逐渐沉寂。
• There is a lot of hustle and bustle in the railway station.火车站里非常拥挤。

3 cleansing   

n. 净化(垃圾) adj. 清洁用的 动词cleanse的现在分词

参考例句：

• medicated cleansing pads for sensitive skin 敏感皮肤药物清洗棉
• Soap is not the only cleansing agent. 肥皂并不是唯一的清洁剂。

4 ornamental   

adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物

参考例句：

• The stream was dammed up to form ornamental lakes.溪流用水坝拦挡起来,形成了装饰性的湖泊。
• The ornamental ironwork lends a touch of elegance to the house.铁艺饰件为房子略添雅致。

5 preservation   

n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持

参考例句：

• The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
• The picture is in an excellent state of preservation.这幅画保存得极为完好。

6 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

7 engraving   

n.版画；雕刻（作品）；雕刻艺术；镌版术v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的现在分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中）

参考例句：

• He collected an old engraving of London Bridge. 他收藏了一张古老的伦敦桥版画。 来自辞典例句
• Some writing has the precision of a steel engraving. 有的字体严谨如同钢刻。 来自辞典例句