美国语文第六册 第22期:生活中通常貌似真实的计划(4)

 　　I had no visible impediments without, nor any ungovernable passion within. 我没有能看得见的阻碍，也没有难于驾驭的激情。

　　I regarded knowledge as the highest honor, and the most engaging pleasure; 我将知识看做是最高荣誉和最愉悦的快乐。

　　yet day stole upon day, and month glided¹ after month, till I found that seven years of the first ten had vanished, and left nothing behind them. 然而日复一日，月复一月，我发现最初十年有七年都荒废虚度了。

　　"I now postponed² my purpose of traveling; for why should I go abroad, while so much remained to be learned at home? 我不得不推迟旅行打算，在家里有这么多东西要学，为什么还要出去呢？

　　I immured³ myself for four years, and studied the laws of the empire. 我自我幽闭了四年，专心学习帝国的法律。

　　The fame of my skill reached the judges: I was found able to speak upon doubtful questions, and I was commanded to stand at the footstool of the caliph. 我掌握的法律知识已经够得上法官了，发现自己也能对一些怀疑的问题做出解答了，于是我被派到哈里发的王座旁站立。

　　I was heard with attention; I was consulted with confidence, and the love of praise fastened on my heart. 我用心倾听，满怀信心地说出自己的意见，得到赞扬那种欣喜很快流满了心田。

　　"I still wished to see distant countries; 我仍旧希望亲眼见识一下遥远的他国，

　　listened with rapture⁴ to the relations of travelers, and resolved some time to ask my dismission, that I might feast my soul with novelty; 极度欢喜地聆听旅行归来的人讲述他们的见闻，下决心找时间请求免职，这样我的灵魂就能享受新奇事物的饕餮了。

　　but my presence was always necessary, and the stream of business hurried me along. 可是，我的存在始终不可或缺，繁忙的公事让我喘不过气来。

1 glided   

v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔

参考例句：

• The President's motorcade glided by. 总统的车队一溜烟开了过去。
• They glided along the wall until they were out of sight. 他们沿着墙壁溜得无影无踪。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

3 immured   

v.禁闭，监禁( immure的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She was like a prisoner so long immured that freedom dazes him. 她象一个长年累月被关闭的囚犯，自由使她迷乱茫然。 来自辞典例句
• He immured himself in a small room to work undisturbed. 他自己关在小屋里埋头工作，以免受到骚扰。 来自辞典例句

4 rapture   

n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜

参考例句：

• His speech was received with rapture by his supporters.他的演说受到支持者们的热烈欢迎。
• In the midst of his rapture,he was interrupted by his father.他正欢天喜地，被他父亲打断了。