诗翁彼豆故事集 第6期:好运泉(1)

 　　2.The Fountain of Fair Fortune 2.《好运泉》

　　High on a hill in an enchanted¹ garden, enclosed by tall walls and protected by strong magic, flowed the Fountain of Fair Fortune. 好运泉在一处魔法园林的一个山顶上，周围高墙耸立，有着强大的魔法保护。

　　Once a year, between the hours of sunrise and sunset on the longest day, a single unfortunate was given the chance to fight their way to the Fountain, bathe in its waters and receive Fair Fortune for evermore. 每年一次，在白天最长那一天的日出和日落之间，仅有一个不幸的人有机会试图来到好运泉边，在水中洗浴以得到永久的好运。

　　On the appointed day, hundreds of people travelled from all over the kingdom to reach the garden walls before dawn. 话说那天，天亮之前，成百上千的人从王国各处来到园林的墙外。

　　Male and female, rich and poor, young and old, of magical means and without, they gathered in the darkness, each hoping that they would be the one to gain entrance to the garden. 这些人有男有女，有富有穷，有老有幼，有会魔法的和不会魔法的，他们在黑暗中聚集，每个人都希望自己能成为那个进入园林的人。

　　Three witches, each with her burden of woe², met on the outskirts³ of the crowd, and told one another their sorrows as they waited for sunrise. 有三个女巫怀揣着痛苦，在人群外聚到一起，她们一边等候日出，一边互相诉说着自己的悲伤。

　　The first, by name Asha, was sick of a malady⁴ no Healer could cure. 第一个女巫叫阿莎，身患不治之症。

　　She hoped that the Fountain would banish⁵ her symptoms and grant her a long and happy life. 她希望好运泉能够消除她的症状，赐她幸福长寿。

　　The second, by name Altheda, had been robbed of her home, her gold and her wand by an evil sorcerer. 第二个女巫叫艾尔蒂达，她家遭受了抢劫，她的金子和她的魔杖都被一个邪恶的男巫师夺走了。

　　She hoped that the Fountain might relieve her of powerlessness and poverty. 她希望好运泉能把她从软弱和贫穷中解救出来。

　　The third, by name Amata, had been deserted⁶ by a man whom she loved dearly, and she thought her heart would never mend. 第三个女巫叫阿玛塔，她被自己深爱的男人抛弃了，觉得内心的伤痛永远无法愈合。

　　She hoped that the Fountain would relieve her of her grief and longing⁷. 她希望好运泉能够缓解她的痛苦和思念。

　　Pitying each other, the three women agreed that, should the chance befall them, they would unite and try to reach the Fountain together. 三个女人互相同情，她们一致同意，如果机会降临到她们头上，她们要团结起来，争取一起去好运泉。

　　The sky was rent with the first ray of sun, and a chink in the wall opened. 当第一抹阳光划破天空的时候，墙壁上裂开了一条缝。

　　The crowd surged forward, each of them shrieking⁸ their claim for the Fountain's benison⁹. 人群拼命往前挤，每个人都尖声叫嚷着恳求得到好运泉的赐福。

　　Creepers from the garden beyond snaked through the pressing mass, and twisted themselves around the first witch, Asha. 园林里的藤蔓蜿蜒着从拥挤的人群里伸了出来，缠住了第一个女巫阿莎。

　　She grasped the wrist of the second witch, Altheda, who seized tight upon the robes of the third witch, Amata. 她抓住第二个女巫艾尔蒂达的手腕，艾尔蒂达又紧紧抓住第三个女巫阿玛塔的长袍。

　　And Amata became caught upon the armour¹⁰ of a dismal-looking knight¹¹ who was seated on a bone-thin horse. 可是，阿玛塔被一个骑着一匹瘦骨嶙峋的马的，愁眉苦脸的骑士的盔甲绊住了。

　　The creepers tugged¹² the three witches through the chink in the wall, and the knight was dragged off his steed after them. 藤蔓拉扯着三个女巫穿过墙上的裂缝，那个骑士也被拉得摔下了马，跟在她们后面。

　　The furious screams of the disappointed throng¹³ rose upon the morning air, then fell silent as the garden walls sealed once more. 失望的人群发出愤怒的喊叫，在清晨的空气里回荡。然后，随着园林的围墙再次闭合，人群安静下来。

1 enchanted   

adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• She was enchanted by the flowers you sent her. 她非常喜欢你送给她的花。
• He was enchanted by the idea. 他为这个主意而欣喜若狂。

2 woe   

n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌

参考例句：

• Our two peoples are brothers sharing weal and woe.我们两国人民是患难与共的兄弟。
• A man is well or woe as he thinks himself so.自认祸是祸，自认福是福。

3 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

4 malady   

n.病，疾病(通常做比喻)

参考例句：

• There is no specific remedy for the malady.没有医治这种病的特效药。
• They are managing to control the malady into a small range.他们设法将疾病控制在小范围之内。

5 banish   

vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除

参考例句：

• The doctor advised her to banish fear and anxiety.医生劝她消除恐惧和忧虑。
• He tried to banish gloom from his thought.他试图驱除心中的忧愁。

6 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

7 longing   

n.（for）渴望

参考例句：

• Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
• His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。

8 shrieking   

v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The boxers were goaded on by the shrieking crowd. 拳击运动员听见观众的喊叫就来劲儿了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They were all shrieking with laughter. 他们都发出了尖锐的笑声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 benison   

n.祝福

参考例句：

• Here,I,on behalf of our manager,express our sincere benison.在此，我仅代表我们总经理，表达我们诚挚的祝福。
• You hurt me a lot,so forget to get my benison for your marriage.你伤我太深，所以休想得到我对你的婚姻的祝福。

10 armour   

（=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队

参考例句：

• His body was encased in shining armour.他全身披着明晃晃的甲胄。
• Bulletproof cars sheathed in armour.防弹车护有装甲。

11 knight   

n.骑士，武士；爵士

参考例句：

• He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
• A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。

12 tugged   

v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She tugged at his sleeve to get his attention. 她拽了拽他的袖子引起他的注意。
• A wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. 他的嘴角带一丝苦笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 throng   

n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集

参考例句：

• A patient throng was waiting in silence.一大群耐心的人在静静地等着。
• The crowds thronged into the mall.人群涌进大厅。