美国小学英语教材5:第252课 埃斯特班——狂欢王后的花童(5)（在线收听）

As they sang, the palace door opened, and the children were invited to come into the courtyard, where they were given sweet cakes, as was the custom in Porto Rico. They had their cakes and trooped out happily to sing before the next house. This house had an iron balcony facing the street, and there stepped out on the balcony the loveliest girl Esteban had ever seen. Her black hair shone above big dark eyes, which smiled on the children in welcome. Esteban had heard it whispered that she was to be chosen queen of the next carnival which would take place the day before Ash Wednesday, as it did every year. He hoped she would be the queen, for he was sure no carnival ever had a queen more beautiful, When she invited the children into the house for more cakes, Esteban’s heart beat proudly. As she put the cakes into his hands, she stopped to talk with him, and he was very happy.

当他们唱歌的时候，宫殿的门打开了，孩子们被邀请到院子里，在那里他们得到了甜蛋糕，这是波尔图的习俗。他们吃了蛋糕，高高兴兴地在隔壁的房子前面唱歌。这座房子有一个临街的铁制阳台，阳台上站着埃斯特班从未见过的最可爱的姑娘。她乌黑的头发在一双又大又黑的眼睛上闪闪发光，那双眼睛对孩子们微笑着表示欢迎。埃斯特班曾听人悄悄说，她将被选为下一个狂欢节的女王，这个狂欢节将在圣灰星期三的前一天举行，每年都是这样。他希望她是女王，因为他确信没有哪个狂欢节会有比她更美丽的女王了。当她把蛋糕放到他手里时，她停下来和他说话，他很高兴。

“I could hear your voice above the others,” she whispered.“It is clear and sweet.”

“我能听到你的声音，”她低声说。“清晰而又甜蜜。”

The singers trooped on to other houses. The Three Kings came with their gifts. Esteban was not forgotten. The day to which all the children had looked forward passed, as happy days will.

歌手们成群结队地去了别的房子。三位国王带着他们的礼物来了。埃斯特班并没有被遗忘。所有的孩子都盼望着的日子过去了，快乐的日子也会过去的。