英国语文第三册 第15期:旅行者们和熊

 　　LESSON 15 The travellers and the bear 第十五课 旅行者们和熊

　　Two men were going through a forest. 从前有两个人要穿过一座森林。

　　"I am afraid," said one, "that we may meet with wild beasts; I see the tracks of their paws on the ground." 一个说：“我好怕啊，我们可能会碰见很多的野兽，因为我看到它们的脚印了。”

　　"Fear nothing, friend Quickwit," cried the other, whose name was Braggart¹. 另一个叫巴戈特的人喊着：”不用担心，奎克维特，

　　"In case of an attack we shall stand by one another like men. I have a strong arm, a stout² heart, and—" 不管我们遇见什么野兽我们都要像男人一样勇敢。我的手臂将健有力，我的身体强壮结实，我的······“

　　"Hark!" cried the first in alarm, as a low growl³ was heard from a thicket⁴ near. “听！”从一点钟方向的灌木丛中传来一声咆哮。

　　In an instant Braggart, who was light and nimble, climbed up a tree like a squirrel, leaving his friend, who was not so active, to face the danger alone! 巴戈特突然消失了，身手敏捷的像松鼠一样爬上树，留下傻傻的朋友独自面临危机。

　　But Quickwit's presence of mind did not fail him. 但是奎克维特并不笨。

　　He could not fight, he could not fly; but he laid himself flat on the ground, and held his breath, so as to appear quite dead. 虽然他不能打、不会飞，但是他平躺在地上，摒住呼吸，像死人一样。

　　Out of the thicket rushed a huge bear, and at once made up to poor Quickwit; while Braggart looked down, trembling, from his perch⁵ in the tree. 灌木丛跑来了一只大灰熊，一眼就看到了奎克维特，但是巴戈特就愣愣的呆在树上看着。

　　One may guess what were the feelings of Quickwit when the bear snuffed all round him, 难以想像的是，当大灰熊在奎克维特身边到处闻，

　　coming so near that he could feel its warm breath, when its muzzle⁶ was close to his ear! 用鼻子闻他耳朵的时候他几乎能感觉到熊的呼吸，他的心情是多么复杂啊！

　　But Quickwit did not wince⁷ or move; and the bear, thinking him dead, plunged⁸ again into the thicket, leaving him quite unharmed! 但是奎克维特始终一动不动，灰熊以为他死了，没有咬他，又跑回了灌木丛。

　　When Braggart saw that the danger was over, he came down from the tree. 巴戈特看到灰熊离开了，就从树上爬下来了。

　　Somewhat ashamed of his cowardly conduct, he tried to pass off the matter with a joke. 不管自己的胆小有多丢人，他只想开一个玩笑。

　　"Well, my friend Quickwit," he said, "what did the bear say to you when he whispered into your ear?" 他说：“奎克维特，我的朋友！灰熊在你耳边说了什么啊？”

　　"He told me," replied Quickwit, "never again to trust a boaster like you!" 奎克维特回答道：“灰熊告诉我，再也不要相信像你这样吹牛皮的人！”

　　The hour of danger often shows that the greatest boasters are the greatest cowards. 这个故事告诉我们牛皮大王往往是胆小鬼，

　　Let courage be proved by deeds, not by words. 勇敢是要行动证明的，而不是说说而已。

1 braggart   

n.吹牛者；adj.吹牛的，自夸的

参考例句：

• However,Captain Prien was not a braggart.不过，普里恩舰长却不是一个夸大其词的人。
• Sir,I don't seek a quarrel,not being a braggart.先生，我并不想寻衅挑斗，也不是爱吹牛的人。

2 stout   

adj.强壮的，粗大的，结实的，勇猛的，矮胖的

参考例句：

• He cut a stout stick to help him walk.他砍了一根结实的枝条用来拄着走路。
• The stout old man waddled across the road.那肥胖的老人一跩一跩地穿过马路。

3 growl   

v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣

参考例句：

• The dog was biting,growling and wagging its tail.那条狗在一边撕咬一边低声吼叫，尾巴也跟着摇摆。
• The car growls along rutted streets.汽车在车辙纵横的街上一路轰鸣。

4 thicket   

n.灌木丛，树林

参考例句：

• A thicket makes good cover for animals to hide in.丛林是动物的良好隐蔽处。
• We were now at the margin of the thicket.我们现在已经来到了丛林的边缘。

5 perch   

n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于

参考例句：

• The bird took its perch.鸟停歇在栖木上。
• Little birds perch themselves on the branches.小鸟儿栖歇在树枝上。

6 muzzle   

n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默

参考例句：

• He placed the muzzle of the pistol between his teeth.他把手枪的枪口放在牙齿中间。
• The President wanted to muzzle the press.总统企图遏制新闻自由。

7 wince   

n.畏缩，退避，（因痛苦，苦恼等)面部肌肉抽动；v.畏缩，退缩，退避

参考例句：

• The barb of his wit made us wince.他那锋芒毕露的机智使我们退避三舍。
• His smile soon modified to a wince.他的微笑很快就成了脸部肌肉的抽搐。

8 plunged   

v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
• She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。