冰与火之歌系列之《权力的游戏》第495期:第二十七章 艾德(32)

 　　Then it was up onto a new mule¹ and out again into the starlight.  随后她们骑上新骡子，在星光照耀下再度出发。

　　The second part of the ascent² seemed more treacherous³ to Catelyn.  凯特琳觉得这次的山路更为艰险，

　　The trail was steeper, the steps more worn, and here and there littered with pebbles⁴ and broken stone.  不仅路径更陡，石阶磨损得厉害，地上也散满了小圆石和岩石碎片。

　　Mya had to dismount a half-dozen times to move fallen rocks from their path.  有好几次米亚都得下骡，清开路上的落石。

　　You don't want your mule to break a leg up here, she said.  若是骡子在这里摔断腿，那可就危险了。她说。

　　Catelyn was forced to agree.  凯特琳只有同意的份。

　　She could feel the altitude more now.  此时她已经能切身感受所处的高度。

　　The trees were sparser⁵ up here, and the wind blew more vigorously, sharp gusts⁶ that tugged⁷ at her clothing and pushed her hair into her eyes.  这里林木渐稀，风势转强，拉扯着她的衣服，把头发吹进眼睛里。

　　From time to time the steps doubled back on themselves, and she could see Stone below them, and the Gates of the Moon farther down, its torches no brighter than candles. 山路不断迂回盘旋，因此她可以看见下面的危岩堡，以及更下方的月门堡，那里的火光好似烛焰一般。

　　Snow was smaller than Stone, a single fortified⁸ tower and a timber keep and stable hidden behind a low wall of unmortared rock.  雪山堡比危岩堡小得多，只有一座加固的塔楼，一座木料搭建的主堡，以及躲在低矮石墙后的马厩。

　　Yet it nestled against the Giant's Lance in such a way as to command the entire stone stair above the lower waycastle.  围墙砌得很粗糙，没有涂上灰泥。虽然如此，它却紧靠着巨人之枪，形势足以掌控危岩堡以上所有的石阶。

　　An enemy intent on the Eyrie would have to fight his way from Stone step by step, while rocks and arrows rained down from Snow above.  若有敌人想动鹰巢城的主意，他就得从危岩堡一阶一阶地打上来，同时还必须承受自雪山堡如雨般落下的飞箭和落石。

　　The commander, an anxious young knight⁹ with a pockmarked face, offered bread and cheese and the chance to warm themselves before his fire, but Mya declined.  这里的指挥官是个一脸麻子、焦躁不安的年轻骑士。他拿面包和乳酪招待她们，并请两人到他的火炉边取暖，但米亚婉拒了。

　　We ought to keep going, my lady, she said. If it please you.  夫人，我们应该继续走，她说：如果您愿意的话。

　　Catelyn nodded. 凯特琳点点头。

1 mule   

n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人

参考例句：

• A mule is a cross between a mare and a donkey.骡子是母马和公驴的杂交后代。
• He is an old mule.他是个老顽固。

2 ascent   

n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高

参考例句：

• His rapid ascent in the social scale was surprising.他的社会地位提高之迅速令人吃惊。
• Burke pushed the button and the elevator began its slow ascent.伯克按动电钮，电梯开始缓慢上升。

3 treacherous   

adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的

参考例句：

• The surface water made the road treacherous for drivers.路面的积水对驾车者构成危险。
• The frozen snow was treacherous to walk on.在冻雪上行走有潜在危险。

4 pebbles   

[复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The pebbles of the drive crunched under his feet. 汽车道上的小石子在他脚底下喀嚓作响。
• Line the pots with pebbles to ensure good drainage. 在罐子里铺一层鹅卵石，以确保排水良好。

5 sparser   

adj.稀疏的，稀少的( sparse的比较级 )

参考例句：

6 gusts   

一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作

参考例句：

• Her profuse skirt bosomed out with the gusts. 她的宽大的裙子被风吹得鼓鼓的。
• Turbulence is defined as a series of irregular gusts. 紊流定义为一组无规则的突风。

7 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》

8 fortified   

adj. 加强的

参考例句：

• He fortified himself against the cold with a hot drink. 他喝了一杯热饮御寒。
• The enemy drew back into a few fortified points. 敌人收缩到几个据点里。

9 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。