第二册第4篇：钓鱼翁

4 The Angler 钓鱼翁
Washingthon Irving 华盛顿．欧文

How comforting it is to see a cheerful and contented¹ old age; and to behold² a poor fellow, like this, after being tempest-tost through life, safely moored³ in a snug⁴ and quiet harbour in the evening of his days ! His happiness, how- ever, sprung from within himself, and was independent of external circumstances; for he had that inexhaustible good-nature, which is the most precious gift of Heaven, spreading itself like oil over the troubled sea of thought, and keeping the mind smooth and equable in the roughest weather.
见到一位欢乐愉快，心满意足的老人，特别是看到这样一位贫穷的人，一生饱经风暴的颠簸，最终却在一个平静安宁的港湾里停泊下来，安度晚年，这是多么令人欣慰啊! 然而，他的欢愉乃出自深心，不受外界环境的影响，因为他有永不厌烦的好脾气--这是最珍贵的天赋，能象油那样在汹涌的思想海洋上延展开来，使心潮在狂风暴雨袭击下也能保持平静安宁。

On inquiring further about him I learned that he was a universal favorite in the village, and the oracle⁵ of the tap- room; where he delighted the rustics⁶ with his songs(1), and, like Sindbad(2), astonished them with his stories of strange lands, and shipwrecks⁷, and sea-fights. He was much noticed too by gentlemen sportsmen of the neighborhood; had taught several of them the art of angling; and was a privileged visitor to their kitchens(3). The whole tenor⁸ of his life was quiet and inoffensive, being principally passed about the neighboring streams, when the weather and season were favorable; and at other times he employed himself at home(4), preparing his fishing tackle for the next campaign(5), or manufacturing rods, nets, and flies(6), for his patrons and pupils among the gentry⁹.
经过进一步打听，我了解到他在村子里深受众人喜爱。他在酒店里是一位博古通今，未卜先知的智者。在那里，他的歌声使得乡里们笑逐颜开，他象《天方夜谭》里的辛巴德，用那些异乡仙境，沉船和海战的故事使他们听得目瞪口呆。他也颇受当地爱好运动的绅士们的青睐。他曾经给几位绅士传授过钓鱼的窍门，从而被特许进入他们的厨房。他生活淡泊清静，与世无争。风和日丽季节宜人时，他主要是在附近的溪流消磨时光，其他时间，则在家中忙碌，或是为下次捕鱼准备渔具，或是为乡绅中的主顾和弟子制作鱼杆，鱼网和鱼饵。

英文注释：
(1)where he delighted…with his songs：在那里他以歌声使……高兴。where是关系副词，指在tap-room里。
(2)Sindbad：辛巴德，《天方夜谭》中的人物，曾作过七次冒险航行而成为巴格达的富翁。
(3)a privileged visitor to their kitchens：含'备受恩宠，得以赏饭'之意。十九世纪之前英美乡村的大户人家常在厨房赏饭给宠爱的农夫。
(4)he employed himself at home：他在家中忙碌。 employ oneself后一般接介词in所构成的词组，解作"从事于．．．．"。
(5)the next campaign：下次战役。这里把钓鱼比作一次战役，表示他郑重其事。
(6)flies：fly的复数，作钓饵用的假蝇。

1 contented   

adj.满意的，安心的，知足的

参考例句：

• He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
• The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。

2 behold   

v.看，注视，看到

参考例句：

• The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。
• The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。

3 moored   

adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London. 该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。
• We shipped (the) oars and moored alongside the bank. 我们收起桨，把船泊在岸边。

4 snug   

adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房

参考例句：

• He showed us into a snug little sitting room.他领我们走进了一间温暖而舒适的小客厅。
• She had a small but snug home.她有个小小的但很舒适的家。

5 oracle   

n.神谕，神谕处，预言

参考例句：

• In times of difficulty,she pray for an oracle to guide her.在困难的时候，她祈祷神谕来指引她。
• It is a kind of oracle that often foretells things most important.它是一种内生性神谕，常常能预言最重要的事情。

6 rustics   

n.有农村或村民特色的( rustic的名词复数 )；粗野的；不雅的；用粗糙的木材或树枝制作的

参考例句：

• These rustics are utilized for the rough work of devoton. 那样的乡村气质可以替宗教做些粗重的工作。 来自互联网

7 shipwrecks   

海难，船只失事( shipwreck的名词复数 )； 沉船

参考例句：

• Shipwrecks are apropos of nothing. 船只失事总是来得出人意料。
• There are many shipwrecks in these waters. 在这些海域多海难事件。

8 tenor   

n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意

参考例句：

• The tenor of his speech was that war would come.他讲话的大意是战争将要发生。
• The four parts in singing are soprano,alto,tenor and bass.唱歌的四个声部是女高音、女低音、男高音和男低音。

9 gentry   

n.绅士阶级，上层阶级

参考例句：

• Landed income was the true measure of the gentry.来自土地的收入是衡量是否士绅阶层的真正标准。
• Better be the head of the yeomanry than the tail of the gentry.宁做自由民之首，不居贵族之末。