血字的研究 60和先知的会谈(4)

"There are stories of her which I would fain disbelieve-stories that she is sealed to some Gentile.

"外面有许多传说，都说她已经和某个异教徒订婚了。我倒是不愿听信这些说法的。

This must be the gossip of idle tongues. What is the thirteenth rule in the code of the sainted Joseph Smith?

这一定是那些无聊的人嚼舌。圣约瑟·史密斯经典中第十三条说些什么？

'Let every maiden¹ of the true faith marry one of the elect; for if she wed² a Gentile, she commits a grievous sin.'

'让摩门教中每个少女都嫁给一个上帝的选民；如果她嫁给了一个异教徒，她就犯下了弥天大罪。'

This being so, it is impossible that you, who profess³ the holy creed⁴, should suffer your daughter to violate it."

经典上就是这样说的。你既然信奉了神圣的教义，你就不该纵容你的女儿破坏它。"

John Ferrier made no answer, but he played nervously⁵ with his riding- whip.

约翰·费瑞厄没有回答，他不停地玩弄着他的马鞭子。

"Upon this one point your whole faith shall be tested–so it has been decided⁶ in the Sacred Council of Four.

"在这个问题上就可以考验你的全部诚意了，四圣会已经这样决定了。

The girl is young, and we would not have her wed gray hairs, neither would we deprive her of all choice.

这个女孩子还年轻，我们不会让她嫁给一个老头子的，我们也不会完全不让她挑选。

We Elders have many heifers, but our children must also be provided.

我们这些作长老的，已经有了许多'小母牛'了，可是我们的孩子们却还有需要。

Stangerson has a son, and Drebber has a son, and either of them would gladly welcome your daughter to his house.

斯坦节逊有一个儿子，锥伯也有一个，他们都非常高兴把你的女儿娶到他们家里去。

Let her choose between them. They are young and rich, and of the true faith. What say you to that?"

叫她在他们两个人中间选择一个罢。他们既年轻又有钱，并且都是信奉正教的。你对这件事有什么要说的？"

Ferrier remained silent for some little time with his brows knitted.

费瑞厄一声不响，双眉紧皱着，沉默了一会儿。

"You will give us time," he said at last. "My daughter is very young–she is scarce of an age to marry."

最后他说道："您总得给我们一些时间啊。我的女儿还很年轻，她还不到结婚的年岁呢。"

"She shall have a month to choose," said Young, rising from his seat.

"给她一个月的时间来选择，"扬说着就站了起来，

"At the end of that time she shall give her answer."

"一个月完了，她就要给我答复。"

He was passing through the door, when he turned with flushed face and flashing eyes.

他走过门口时，突然回过头来，脸涨得红红的，眼露凶光地厉声喝道：

"It were better for you, John Ferrier," he thundered,

"约翰·费瑞厄，你要是想拿鸡蛋往石头上碰，

"that you and she were now lying blanched⁷ skeletons upon the Sierra Blanco, than that you should put your weak wills against the orders of the Holy Four!"

胆敢违抗四圣的命令，倒不如当年你们父女俩都给我死在布兰卡山上的好！"

With a threatening gesture of his hand, he turned from the door, and Ferrier heard his heavy steps scrunching⁸ along the shingly⁹ path.

他威胁地挥了一下拳头，掉头不顾而去。费瑞厄听得见他的沉重的脚步踏在门前砂石小径上发出沙沙的声音。

1 maiden   

n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的

参考例句：

• The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。
• The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。

2 wed   

v.娶，嫁，与…结婚

参考例句：

• The couple eventually wed after three year engagement.这对夫妇在订婚三年后终于结婚了。
• The prince was very determined to wed one of the king's daughters.王子下定决心要娶国王的其中一位女儿。

3 profess   

v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰

参考例句：

• I profess that I was surprised at the news.我承认这消息使我惊讶。
• What religion does he profess?他信仰哪种宗教？

4 creed   

n.信条；信念，纲领

参考例句：

• They offended against every article of his creed.他们触犯了他的每一条戒律。
• Our creed has always been that business is business.我们的信条一直是公私分明。

5 nervously   

adv.神情激动地，不安地

参考例句：

• He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇，努力忍着不哭出来。
• He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 blanched   

v.使变白( blanch的过去式 )；使（植物）不见阳光而变白；酸洗（金属）使有光泽；用沸水烫（杏仁等）以便去皮

参考例句：

• The girl blanched with fear when she saw the bear coming. 那女孩见熊（向她）走来，吓得脸都白了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Their faces blanched in terror. 他们的脸因恐惧而吓得发白。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 scrunching   

v.发出喀嚓声( scrunch的现在分词 )；蜷缩；压；挤压

参考例句：

• Her mother was sitting bolt upright, scrunching her white cotton gloves into a ball. 她母亲坐得笔直，把她的白手套揉成了球状。 来自柯林斯例句

9 shingly   

adj.小石子多的

参考例句：

• I prefer a sandy beach to a shingly one. 我喜欢沙滩，不喜欢遍布小圆石的海滩。 来自辞典例句