《风语河岸柳》第6章 癞蛤蟆地冒险经历(1)

Chapter 6 Toad¹'s adventures

第6章 癞蛤蟆地冒险经历

For weeks Toad refused to eat. He lay on the floor of his prison and cried and cried.

癞蛤蟆绝食了几星期。他躺在监狱的地板上哭个不停。

'This is the end of every-thing, 'he said miserably², 'I shall never again be a popular and good-looking Toad, a rich and important Toad, a free and happy Toad.

一切都完了，他悲惨地说。我再也不是受人注目，英俊潇洒的蛤蟆了，我不再富有，不再重要了，不再有自由和幸福了。

All my friends will forget even the name of Toad! '

所有的朋友甚至将忘记蛤蟆这个名字！

But the keeper³ of the prison had a daughter, and she had a very kind heart. She often came to visit Toad, bringing him nice things to eat, and hot drinks.

不过监狱的看守有个女儿，她的心肠很好。她时常来看他，带给他好东西吃，热饮料喝。

She asked him questions about his home and his old life, and because Toad loved to talk about himself, it wasn't long before he began to sit up and answer her questions.

她问起他的家和他过去的生活，因为癞蛤蟆极爱谈论他自己，不久他便开始坐起来回答她的问题。

He also realized how hungry he was, and so he ate and drank the things that she brought.

他也感觉到好饿，于是便拿起她的东西又吃又喝。

And after a few days of this kindness, Toad was as loud and boastful as he had always been.

这样受惠了几天后，癞蛤蟆又变得像过去那样好招摇，好吹牛了。

One morning the girl seemed very serious. 'Listen, Toad, 'she said, 'I have an aunt who is a washerwoman. '

一天早上，女孩非常正经地说：听着，癞蛤蟆，我有一个姑妈，她是洗衣婆。

'You mustn't worry about it, 'said the Toad kindly⁴. 'I have several aunts who ought to be washerwomen. '

你不必为此忧虑，癞蛤蟆友善地说，我有几个姑妈，她们本应该是洗衣婆。

'Don't talk so much, Toad, 'said the girl. 'Now listen, I think I have a plan. 'And here she whispered⁵ in the Toad's ear.

少说点，癞蛤蟆，你听着，我想我有个计划。然后她对癞蛤蟆耳语了一番。

'What? 'cried Toad. 'Me—dress as an old washer woman? Impossible! '

什么？癞蛤蟆叫起来，我—装扮成老洗衣婆？不可能！

1 toad   

n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆

参考例句：

• Both the toad and frog are amphibian.蟾蜍和青蛙都是两栖动物。
• Many kinds of toad hibernate in winter.许多种蟾蜍在冬天都会冬眠。

2 miserably   

adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地

参考例句：

• The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。
• It was drizzling, and miserably cold and damp. 外面下着毛毛细雨，天气又冷又湿，令人难受。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 keeper   

n.管理人，看守人，看护人，饲养员

参考例句：

• He found a job as a keeper.他找到了一份当饲养员的工作。
• He might lose his job as keeper.他也许会丢掉他当监护人的职位吧。

4 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

5 whispered   

adj.耳语的，低语的v.低声说( whisper的过去式和过去分词 )；私语；小声说；私下说

参考例句：

• She sidled up to me and whispered something in my ear. 她悄悄走上前来，对我耳语了几句。
• His ill luck has been whispered about the neighborhood. 他的不幸遭遇已在邻居中传开。 来自《简明英汉词典》