美国小学英语教材5:第187课 罗伯特.E.李:从男孩到男人(1)

ROBERT E. LEE: FROM MANLINESS¹ TO MANHOOD

罗伯特. E . 李：从男孩到男人

Edith A. Heal

作者：伊迪丝A. 希尔

When Robert E. Lee had grown to manhood, he once wrote to his son that “duty” was the finest word in our language. Perhaps as you read this story, you will be able to tell whether, as a boy, he was faithful in doing the things that were his to do.

当罗伯特. E . 李长大成人后，他曾给儿子写信说，“责任”是我们语言中最美好的词。也许当你读这个故事的时候，你就会知道，作为一个男孩，他在做他应该做的事情时是否忠诚。

Robert E. Lee was born into an old Virginia family. The gentlemen of Virginia were proud of their homes, their horses, and their beautiful estates. They built their houses sturdily, so that many years later their sons and grandsons could still live in them.

罗伯特. E . 李出生于弗吉尼亚的一个古老的家庭。弗吉尼亚的绅士们为家、马和美丽的庄园而自豪。他们把房子盖得很结实，这样许多年后他们的儿子和孙子仍然可以住在里面。

It was in one of these famous old Virginia mansions² that Robert E. Lee was born on January 19, 1807. Stratford House, the home of the Lees, stood high on a wooded hill overlooking the Potomac River in the county of Westmoreland. It was a grand old house. There were long halls with fine wainscoting and moldings brought over from England, beautifully furnished rooms, and broad stairways. Portraits of gallant³ soldiers recalled days that were gone, and it must have been easy for young Robert to imagine the time when gentlemen in white wigs⁴ and velvet⁵ breeches walked through the wide hallways. Wherever the boy looked, he was sure to see pictures and records of the deeds of the famous Lee family. He could not forget that he was one of a long line of brave Americans.

罗伯特. E . 李于1807年1月19日出生在维吉尼亚州一座著名的老宅第里。斯特拉福庄园坐落在威斯特摩兰郡一座树木繁茂的山上，俯瞰着波托马克河。那是一座宏伟的老房子。有长长的厅堂，墙上挂着漂亮的壁板和从英国带来的装饰材料，房间布置得很漂亮，还有宽阔的楼梯。英勇士兵的画像使人回想起逝去的岁月，年轻的罗伯特一定很容易就能想象出戴着白色假发、穿着天鹅绒马裤的绅士们走过宽阔走廊的情景。无论男孩往哪里看，他一定能看到著名的李氏家族的照片和记录。他不能忘记他是很多勇敢的美国人中的一员。

1 manliness   

刚毅

参考例句：

• She was really fond of his strength, his wholesome looks, his manliness. 她真喜欢他的坚强，他那健康的容貌，他的男子气概。
• His confidence, his manliness and bravery, turn his wit into wisdom. 他的自信、男子气概和勇敢将他的风趣变为智慧。

2 mansions   

n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Fifth Avenue was boarded up where the rich had deserted their mansions. 第五大道上的富翁们已经出去避暑，空出的宅第都已锁好了门窗，钉上了木板。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Oh, the mansions, the lights, the perfume, the loaded boudoirs and tables! 啊，那些高楼大厦、华灯、香水、藏金收银的闺房还有摆满山珍海味的餐桌！ 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

3 gallant   

adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的

参考例句：

• Huang Jiguang's gallant deed is known by all men. 黄继光的英勇事迹尽人皆知。
• These gallant soldiers will protect our country.这些勇敢的士兵会保卫我们的国家的。

4 wigs   

n.假发，法官帽( wig的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They say that wigs will be coming in again this year. 据说今年又要流行戴假发了。 来自辞典例句
• Frank, we needed more wigs than we thought, and we have to do some advertising. 弗兰克，因为我们需要更多的假发，而且我们还要做点广告。 来自电影对白

5 velvet   

n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的

参考例句：

• This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
• The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。