彭蒙惠英语：Roam Rome on Fleet Feet

Roam Rome on Fleet Feet

 

2

We’re off again

For the fast track to the Colosseum, our son advises us to take a tour with one of the Englishspeaking hawkers who approach tourists outside this 82 A.D. amphitheater. Paying our new “tour guide” 18 euros (US$24) lets us bypass the long ticket line.

 

The tour fills us in on Colosseum basics, pointing out where gladiators battled with animals and fought each other in bloody¹ spectacles. During the early centuries of the first millennium² A.D., free public events were offered twice a week at the Colosseum to keep the populace mollified.

 

We breeze past the Roman Forum³, eyeing the ruins of ancient columns standing⁴ like sentinels in this commercial, political and judicial⁵ center of ancient Rome.

 

Through Rome we sail, climbing the Spanish Steps and visiting the Trevi Fountain, where I take a photo. Later, when I want to change the film, in my rush I open the camera on the partially⁶ shot roll and shriek⁷, “I just ruined my Trevi Fountain stories.”

 

Walking the city

Despite our breakneck speed, we generally take the slow route getting around the city. We walk, brushing past locals and vying⁸ for sidewalk space with pigeons. Once, when we stop to study our map, an Italian gentleman who speaks no English comes over to assist us, a gesture of Italian friendliness⁹.

 

As we near the Pantheon, we stop for an Italian treat, trying some strachiatella (chocolate chip) gelato.

 

By the time our walking lands us at the Pantheon, my feet are aching badly. But inside, while I’m staring up at rain gently falling through the hole in the top of the massive dome¹⁰, my feet suddenly feel light. The amazing Pantheon has stopped me in my tracks. I don’t want to stop gazing up at the shaft¹¹ of light and rain.

 

Vocabulary Focus

hawker (n) [5hC:kE] someone who makes money by selling goods or services informally in public places

vie (v) [vai] to compete with others to achieve or obtain something

stop one in one’s tracks (idiom) to cause someone to halt in the exact place where he or she is standing

shaft (n) [FB:ft] a ray or beam, usually caused by a light shining through a small opening

 

Specialized¹² Terms

amphitheater (n) 圆形剧场 a circular or oval area of ground around which rows of seats are arranged on a steep slope, for watching outdoor plays, sports, etc.

gelato (n) 意大利式冰淇淋 a special type of Italian ice cream

 

闪电游罗马

 

2

再度出发

为了取得快捷方式进入圆形竞技场，儿子劝我们在这个建于公元82年的圆形剧场外一群兜客的说英文的黄牛中，选一个为我们导游。付了新“导游”18欧元（相当于24美元），我们得以越过排队买票的长龙。

这场导游在我们脑中填满了圆形竞技场的基本资料，指出了格斗战士和野兽搏斗以及格斗战士彼此间打斗的血腥景象所在。在公元第一个千年的最初几个世纪，圆形竞技场每星期提供两次免费活动来安抚民众。

我们像一股轻风似的飘过罗马议事广场，这是古罗马商业、政治和司法中心。我们的眼光曾停留在像站岗卫兵似的古老圆柱废墟上。

我们轻快地走遍罗马，爬上西班牙阶梯，参观了许愿池，我在那里照了张相。稍后当我要换底片时，匆忙之间打开已照了一部分底片上方的相机，又尖叫着：“我刚刚毁了我的许愿池故事。”

 

徒步游城

我们尽管速度飞快，在市区通常还是选取缓慢游城的路径。我们走着，与当地人擦肩而过，和鸽子争夺人行道空间。有一次当我们停下来研究地图时，一位不会说英文的意大利绅士过来帮忙，表现了意大利人的友善。

我们接近万神殿时，停下来以一份意大利美食犒赏自己， 尝了些意大利巧克力碎片冰淇淋。

等到徒步抵达万神殿时，我的脚痛得不得了。但当我身在殿中，向上注视着雨滴温柔地穿过雄伟圆顶上的洞而落下时，我的脚忽然感到轻松了。神奇的万神殿当场让我驻足。我不愿停止凝视一束束的光和雨。

 

1 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

2 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。

3 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

5 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

6 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

7 shriek   

v./n.尖叫，叫喊

参考例句：

• Suddenly he began to shriek loudly.突然他开始大声尖叫起来。
• People sometimes shriek because of terror,anger,or pain.人们有时会因为恐惧，气愤或疼痛而尖叫。

8 vying   

adj.竞争的；比赛的

参考例句：

• California is vying with other states to capture a piece of the growing communications market.为了在日渐扩大的通讯市场分得一杯羹，加利福尼亚正在和其他州展开竞争。
• Four rescue plans are vying to save the zoo.4个拯救动物园的方案正争得不可开交。

9 friendliness   

n.友谊，亲切，亲密

参考例句：

• Behind the mask of friendliness,I know he really dislikes me.在友善的面具后面，我知道他其实并不喜欢我。
• His manner was a blend of friendliness and respect.他的态度友善且毕恭毕敬。

10 dome   

n.圆屋顶，拱顶

参考例句：

• The dome was supported by white marble columns.圆顶由白色大理石柱支撑着。
• They formed the dome with the tree's branches.他们用树枝搭成圆屋顶。

11 shaft   

n.(工具的)柄，杆状物

参考例句：

• He was wounded by a shaft.他被箭击中受伤。
• This is the shaft of a steam engine.这是一个蒸汽机主轴。

12 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。