美国语文第四册 第48期:老鹰树(2)

 　　His eye followed her till she grew small, smaller, a mere¹ speck² in the sky, and then disappeared. 他的眼光跟随着大鹰，直到它的身影越来越小，变成了天空中的一个小点，最后彻底消失了。

　　What boy has not thus watched the flight of the bird of his country! 哪个男孩没看过自己国家国鸟的翱翔呢！

　　She was gone nearly two hours, about double her usual time for a voyage, 大鹰离开了大概两个小时，这几乎是它平时出海觅食时间的两倍。

　　when she again returned, on a slow, weary wing, flying uncommonly³ low, 当它再次回来的时候，翅膀挥动得很慢很疲惫，飞得极不寻常的低，

　　in order to have a heavier atmosphere to sustain her, with another fish in her talons⁴. 为的是让更厚重的大气支撑着它，它的爪子里抓着另一条鱼。

　　On nearing the field, she made a circuit round it, to see if her enemies were again there. 快接近大树所在地时，它围着那里盘旋了一圈，看看敌人是不是还在。

　　Finding the coast clear, she once more reached the tree, drooping⁵, faint, and weary, and evidently nearly exhausted⁶. 当发现附近很清静时，它再次落在了树上，低垂着头，又虚弱又疲倦，显然已经快精疲力尽了。

　　Again the eaglets set up their cry, which was soon hushed by the distribution of a dinner, such as, save the cooking, a king might admire. 小鹰们又叫开了，不过分配晚餐很快让它们安静了下来。

　　Glorious bird!" cried the boy, "what a spirit!" 光荣的鸟！”男孩叫道，“这是何等的精神啊！”

　　Other birds can fly more swiftly, others can sing more sweetly, others scream more loudly; 其他的鸟能够飞得更快，唱得更甜美，叫得更大声，

　　but what other bird, when persecuted⁷ and robbed, when weary, when discouraged, when so far from the sea, would do this? 但是，其他的鸟，在受到非难和抢劫，在疲惫不堪，灰心丧气，离海这么远的地方，能够像它这么做吗？

　　Glorious bird! I will learn a lesson from thee today. “光荣的鸟！今天我从你这里学到了一课。

　　I will never forget, hereafter, that when the spirit is determined⁸ it can do almost anything. 从今以后，我永远不会忘记，只要有了一种精神，就能够做成任何事。

　　Others would have drooped⁹, and hung the head, and mourned over the cruelty of man, and sighed over the wants of the nestlings; 其他人可能会垂头丧气，哀伤人们的残忍行为，为雏鸟的需求而叹息，

　　but thou, by at once recovering the loss, hast forgotten all. 但是你，迅速弥补了损失，忘记了一切。

　　I will learn of thee, noble bird! I will remember this. I will set my mark high. 我要向你学习，高贵的鸟儿！我会记住这件事，把自己的目标定得高些。

　　I will try to do something, and to be something in the world; I will never yield to discouragements. 我要设法做出些成绩，在世界上成为非同寻常的人物；我永远不会向挫折屈服。

1 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

2 speck   

n.微粒，小污点，小斑点

参考例句：

• I have not a speck of interest in it.我对它没有任何兴趣。
• The sky is clear and bright without a speck of cloud.天空晴朗，一星星云彩也没有。

3 uncommonly   

adv. 稀罕(极，非常)

参考例句：

• an uncommonly gifted child 一个天赋异禀的儿童
• My little Mary was feeling uncommonly empty. 我肚子当时正饿得厉害。

4 talons   

n.（尤指猛禽的）爪( talon的名词复数 )；（如爪般的）手指；爪状物；锁簧尖状突出部

参考例句：

• The fingers were curved like talons, but they closed on empty air. 他的指头弯得像鹰爪一样，可是抓了个空。 来自英汉文学 - 热爱生命
• The tiger has a pair of talons. 老虎有一对利爪。 来自辞典例句

5 drooping   

adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词

参考例句：

• The drooping willows are waving gently in the morning breeze. 晨风中垂柳袅袅。
• The branches of the drooping willows were swaying lightly. 垂柳轻飘飘地摆动。

6 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

7 persecuted   

（尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人

参考例句：

• Throughout history, people have been persecuted for their religious beliefs. 人们因宗教信仰而受迫害的情况贯穿了整个历史。
• Members of these sects are ruthlessly persecuted and suppressed. 这些教派的成员遭到了残酷的迫害和镇压。

8 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

9 drooped   

弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Her eyelids drooped as if she were on the verge of sleep. 她眼睑低垂好像快要睡着的样子。
• The flowers drooped in the heat of the sun. 花儿晒蔫了。