美国语文第四册 第79期:荨麻(2)

 　　A little cloud rose out like enchantment¹, and four beautiful little stems sprung up as if they were alive; 一朵云雾玫瑰般的小花长了出来，四条小小的枝茎仿佛有生命一般涌了出来。

　　and, now that I look again with the glass, I see an elegant little flower as nice and perfect as a lily itself. 现在我再用放大镜看，能看见一朵像百合花一样漂亮而优雅的小花了。

　　Well, now examine the leaves. Oh, I see they are all covered over with little bristles² 很好，现在再看看叶子。哦，我看见叶子上面都覆盖着一层很细小的硬毛

　　and when I examine them with the glass, I see a little bag, filled with a juice like water, at the bottom of each. 当我用放大镜看时，能看到每根硬毛的下面都有一个小囊袋，里面充满着像水一样的汁液。

　　Ha! These are the things which stung me. Now touch the little bag with the point of the pin. 哈！这些就是蜇我的东西。现在，用大头针的头碰碰那个小囊袋。

　　When I press the bag, the juice runs up and comes out at the small point at the top; 当我按压它时，里面的汁液挤了上来，从顶部的小孔处流出来。

　　so I suppose the little thorn must be hollow inside, though it is finer than the point of my cambric needle. 所以我估计那个小刺里面应该是空的，尽管它比我的麻纱针的针头锋利多了。

　　Have all the leaves those stings? 所有的叶子上都有这些刺吗？

　　No, papa; some of the young ones are quite green and soft, like velvet³, and I may handle them without any danger. 不是的，爸爸。一些嫩刺还很绿很软，像天鹅绒，我处理它们一点都没危险。

　　Now look at the stem, and break it. 现在看看枝干，把它折断。

　　I can easily crack it, but I can not break it asunder⁴, for the bark is so strong that it holds it together. 我很容易就把它弄折了，但没法让它断开，因为外皮太坚韧了，总连在一起。

　　Well, now you see there are more curious things in the nettle⁵ than you expected. 好了，你看荨麻里奇妙的事情比你想象的多很多吧。

　　Yes, indeed, I see that. But you have often told me that God makes nothing without its use; 是啊，我看到了。但是您原来经常告诉我说上帝造的每样东西都有它的用处。

　　and I am sure I can not see any use in all these things. That we will now consider. 我可是看不出这些能有什么用。那是我们现在要来考量的事。

　　You saw the little flower burst open, and a cloud rose, you say, like enchantment. 你看到了小花的绽开，一片玫瑰色的云雾，你说像有魔力一样。

　　Now all this is necessary for the nature of the plant. 所有这些都是植物自然生长所必需的。

1 enchantment   

n.迷惑，妖术，魅力

参考例句：

• The beauty of the scene filled us with enchantment.风景的秀丽令我们陶醉。
• The countryside lay as under some dread enchantment.乡村好像躺在某种可怖的魔法之下。

2 bristles   

短而硬的毛发，刷子毛( bristle的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the bristles on his chin 他下巴上的胡楂子
• This job bristles with difficulties. 这项工作困难重重。

3 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。

4 asunder   

adj.分离的，化为碎片

参考例句：

• The curtains had been drawn asunder.窗帘被拉向两边。
• Your conscience,conviction,integrity,and loyalties were torn asunder.你的良心、信念、正直和忠诚都被扯得粉碎了。

5 nettle   

n.荨麻；v.烦忧，激恼

参考例句：

• We need a government that will grasp the nettle.我们需要一个敢于大刀阔斧地处理问题的政府。
• She mightn't be inhaled as a rose,but she might be grasped as a nettle.她不是一朵香气扑鼻的玫瑰花，但至少是可以握在手里的荨麻。