《风语河岸柳》第1章 河(7)

There was just a long line of bubbles¹ in the river.

河面上仅仅留下了一长串水泡。

The Rat sang a little song to himself, and the Mole² remembered that it was not at all polite, in the animal world, to say anything if your friends disappeared at any moment, for any reason.

水鼠自个儿哼着歌，鼹鼠记起来了:在动物世界里，不管你的朋友在何时为何事突然消失，你都不能发表任何看法，否则就会被视为无礼。

'Well, well, 'said the Rat. I suppose we should think about getting home.

好了，好了，水鼠说。我想我们该准备回家了。

The Mole packed the things away in the lunch basket, and soon the Rat began to row gently homewards while the after noon sun went down behind the trees.

鼹鼠把东西收拾到午餐篮里，很快水鼠就开始轻松地划着船回去了。午后的太阳已落在树后，

The Rat was dreaming quietly to himself, but the Mole was very full of lunch and the excitements of the day.

水鼠在那儿一声不吭沉浸在自己的梦中，鼹鼠则满肚子的午餐，满脑子的兴奋。

He began to think that he knew every thing about boats now.

他开始认为他现在完全了解船了。

And in a while he said, Ratty! Pleas³, I want to row!

过了一会，他说：阿鼠！拜托，我想划船！

The Rat shook his head with a smile.

水鼠微笑着摇摇头。

Not yet, my young friend, he said.

还不行，我年轻的朋友，他说。

Wait until you've had a few lessons.

等你学了几招再划，

It's not as easy as it looks.

这并不像看起来那么简单。

The Mole was quiet for a minute or two. But he wanted to row very much indeed.

鼹鼠安静了一两分钟，但是他确实非常想划船，

He was sure that he could row as well as Rat.

他相信他能划得像水鼠那样好。

Then, before the Rat could stop him, he jumped up, and pulled the oars⁴ out of the surprised Rat's hands.

紧接着，他跳了起来，水鼠还没来得及阻止，他已从吃惊的水鼠手中抽过船桨。

The Rat fell backwards⁵ off his seat, calling out, Stop it, you silly fellow! You'll have us in the river!

水鼠从座位上摔了下来，叫道：停下，你这傻蛋！你会把我们弄下水的！

1 bubbles   

泡( bubble的名词复数 )； 泡影； 肥皂泡； （欲表达的）一点感情

参考例句：

• Bubbles are rising from the bottom of the boiling water. 水泡从沸水的底部升到水面。
• The incorporation of air bubbles in the glass spoiled it. 玻璃含有气泡，使它质量降低。

2 mole   

n.胎块；痣；克分子

参考例句：

• She had a tiny mole on her cheek.她的面颊上有一颗小黑痣。
• The young girl felt very self- conscious about the large mole on her chin.那位年轻姑娘对自己下巴上的一颗大痣感到很不自在。

3 pleas   

借口( plea的名词复数 )； （被告或被告律师的）抗辩； （法庭中的）理由； 请愿

参考例句：

• He sent her away without even listening to her pleas. 他甚至不肯听她的哀诉就把她遣走了。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）
• Shousheng came out and added his pleas to Mr. Lin's. 寿生也来了，帮着林先生说。 来自汉英文学 - 林家铺子

4 oars   

n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• He pulled as hard as he could on the oars. 他拼命地划桨。
• The sailors are bending to the oars. 水手们在拼命地划桨。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 backwards   

adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地

参考例句：

• He turned on the light and began to pace backwards and forwards.他打开电灯并开始走来走去。
• All the girls fell over backwards to get the party ready.姑娘们迫不及待地为聚会做准备。