美国语文第六册 第81期:三个警告(4)

 　　"Hold!" says the farmer, "not so fast! “住嘴！”农夫说，“不会那么快！

　　I have been lame¹, these four years past." 过去四年，我已经跛脚。”

　　"And no great wonder," Death replies, “这没什么好奇怪的，”死神反唇相讥，

　　"However, you still keep your eyes; “可是，你的眼神还不赖，

　　And surely, sir, to see one's friends, for legs and arms would make amends²." 一眼就能把别人的朋友认出，胳膊腿的毛病还能养好嘛。”

　　"Perhaps," says Dodson, "so it might, “也许吧，”道德森说，“也许会的，

　　But latterly I've lost my sight." 可是后来我看不见东西了。”

　　"This is a shocking story, faith; “这是个令人震惊的故事，信哉；

　　But there's some comfort still," says Death; 可是还有令人安慰的事情呢，”死神说；

　　"Each strives your sadness to amuse; “你的悲哀听上去都像笑谈；

　　I warrant you hear all the news." 我保证你听到所有的消息了。”

　　"There's none," cries he, "and if there were, “不是全部，”他喊道，“如果还有的话，

　　I've grown so deaf, I could not hear." 我宁愿自己是聋子，我不想听。”

　　"Nay³, then," the specter stern rejoined, “不，那么”鬼魂强硬地反驳，

　　"These are unpardonable yearnings; “这是无法原谅的渴望；

　　If you are lame, and deaf, and blind, 如果你瘸了，聋了，盲了，

　　You've had your three sufficient warnings, 你就明白这三个警告了，

　　So, come along; no more we'll part." 跟我走吧，我们不再分开了。”

　　He said, and touched him with his dart⁴: 他说，用飞镖碰碰他；

　　And now old Dodson, turning pale, 老道德森脸色惨白，

　　Yields to his fate—so ends my tale. 向命运屈服了——我的故事也完了。

1 lame   

adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的

参考例句：

• The lame man needs a stick when he walks.那跛脚男子走路时需借助拐棍。
• I don't believe his story.It'sounds a bit lame.我不信他讲的那一套。他的话听起来有些靠不住。

2 amends   

n. 赔偿

参考例句：

• He made amends for his rudeness by giving her some flowers. 他送给她一些花，为他自己的鲁莽赔罪。
• This country refuses stubbornly to make amends for its past war crimes. 该国顽固地拒绝为其过去的战争罪行赔罪。

3 nay   

adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者

参考例句：

• He was grateful for and proud of his son's remarkable,nay,unique performance.他为儿子出色的，不，应该是独一无二的表演心怀感激和骄傲。
• Long essays,nay,whole books have been written on this.许多长篇大论的文章，不，应该说是整部整部的书都是关于这件事的。

4 dart   

v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲

参考例句：

• The child made a sudden dart across the road.那小孩突然冲过马路。
• Markov died after being struck by a poison dart.马尔科夫身中毒镖而亡。