美国小学英语教材4:第73课 托尼诺带着陶器去集市(9)

 　　THE DONKEY RACE 驴赛

　　There were ten donkeys entered for the race; some of them looked very spick and span, 参加比赛的有十头驴；有些看起来干净整洁，

　　with beautiful saddles and stirrups and reins¹. 戴着漂亮的马鞍、马镫和缰绳。

　　The ten donkeys were arranged in a row across the road. 十头驴排成一排，排在马路对面。

　　At a signal, they all started running as hard as they could; that is, all but Tintourlet. 一听到信号，这些驴就开始拼命地跑，除了丁图莱特。

　　He looked about him, and when Tonino clicked his tongue and cried out, "Run, Tintourlet, run!" 丁图莱特环顾四周，托尼诺叫道：“快跑，丁图莱特，快跑！”

　　he began to walk slowly along the road. 丁图莱特开始沿着这条路慢慢地走起来。

　　Everybody shouted with laughter. 每个人都喊道，欢声笑语一片。

　　I don't know what would have happened if a man had not blown a loud blast on his horn to cheer the race on. 如果人们没有吹大喇叭为比赛加油的话，我不知道会发生什么。

　　It acted like magic on Tintourlet. 丁图莱特就像被施了魔法一样。

　　He put his ears back and dashed forward without even waiting to bray². 他竖起耳朵，甚至没有等到喇叭声响起便向前冲去。

　　So fast did he gallop³ that he hardly seemed to touch the road with his hoofs⁴. 他飞奔的速度如此之快，蹄子几乎没有着地。

　　In no time he had passed the first donkey and the second one too. 他立刻超过了第一头和第二头驴。

　　There were still seven donkeys ahead of him, but Tintourlet put on more speed, 前面还有七头驴，但是丁图莱特加快了速度，

　　and soon there were only two in front, and the crowd was cheering! 很快前面就只剩下两头驴了，人群欢呼起来！

　　Still Tintourlet ran faster and faster, 丁图莱特跑得越来越快，

　　and passed the leading donkey just a few yards before he shot under the flag that marked the end of the race. 裁判在终点射击前，他领先几码远。

　　Tonino couldn't stop him, though he tugged⁵ at the bridle⁶ with all his might. 尽管托尼诺用尽力气拉着缰绳，仍无法阻止丁图莱特，

　　They had gone nearly half a mile beyond the flag before the donkey would slow up and allow Tonino to turn and walk him back. 在超过旗子近半英里外，丁图莱特才放慢速度，托尼诺这才得以转身走着带他回去。

　　The people were still cheering. They said it was the most wonderful donkey race they had ever seen, 人们仍在欢呼，声称这是他们见过最精彩的驴赛，

　　and that Tintourlet was a racing⁷ donkey if ever there was one. 而且丁图莱特是头赛驴，如果有的话。

　　Tintourlet had won the race at the Big Fair of Vence! 丁图莱特在旺斯大集市上赢得了比赛！

　　The prizes were all to be given that very night at ten o'clock on the Grand Place. 就在那天晚上十点钟，在大广场上颁发了所有的奖品。

1 reins   

感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带

参考例句：

• She pulled gently on the reins. 她轻轻地拉着缰绳。
• The government has imposed strict reins on the import of luxury goods. 政府对奢侈品的进口有严格的控制手段。

2 bray   

n.驴叫声, 喇叭声；v.驴叫

参考例句：

• She cut him off with a wild bray of laughter.她用刺耳的狂笑打断了他的讲话。
• The donkey brayed and tried to bolt.这头驴嘶叫着试图脱缰而逃。

3 gallop   

v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展

参考例句：

• They are coming at a gallop towards us.他们正朝着我们飞跑过来。
• The horse slowed to a walk after its long gallop.那匹马跑了一大阵后慢下来缓步而行。

4 hoofs   

n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The stamp of the horse's hoofs on the wooden floor was loud. 马蹄踏在木头地板上的声音很响。 来自辞典例句
• The noise of hoofs called him back to the other window. 马蹄声把他又唤回那扇窗子口。 来自辞典例句

5 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》

6 bridle   

n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒

参考例句：

• He learned to bridle his temper.他学会了控制脾气。
• I told my wife to put a bridle on her tongue.我告诉妻子说话要谨慎。

7 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。