美国语文第四册 第127期:安妮的梦(2)

 　　Annie looked, and saw a multitude¹ of tiny forms moving swiftly² around, their numbers increasing as the heat of the fire increased. 安妮看过去，只见无数微小的身形在水盆里敏捷地移动着，随着炉火越来越热，他们数量也不断增加。

　　"Why, you dear little things!" said she, "what are you doing down there?" “原来是你们这些可爱的小东西！”她说，“你们在那儿做什么呢？”

　　"We are water sprites," answered one, in the clearest voice that can be imagined, “我们是水精灵，”一个身形回答，声音很清楚，

　　and when this delightful³ warmth comes all about us, we become so light that we fly off, as you see. 当讨人喜欢的温暖包围我们的时候，我们就轻得能够飞走了，你能看到的。

　　In another moment he had joined a crowd of his companions that were spreading their wings and flying off in curling⁴, white clouds over Annie's head. 一瞬间，他加入了一群伙伴中，张开翅膀，像白色的云，从安妮的头顶上，盘旋着飞走了。

　　But they were so light and thin that they soon disappeared in the air. 可是他们是那么轻那么薄，很快就消失在空气中了。

　　She could not see where they went, so she again turned to the basin. 她看不到他们去了哪里，因此她又转向水盆。

　　"Does n't it hurt you," she asked one, "to be heated—?" "Not always to two hundred and twelve," said the sprite, mischievously⁵. “不会伤到你们吗，”她问他们当中的一个，“加热到——？”“不总是212度，”水精灵顽皮地说。

　　"No, no," replied Annie, half-vexed; I remember, that is boiling point—but I mean, to be heated as you all are, and then to fly off in the cold? “不，不，”安妮有点恼怒的回答道，我记得那是沸点——可是我的意思是，你们都被加热，然后飞进冷空气里？

　　"Oh, no," laughed the little sprite; we like it. “噢，不，”小精灵笑着答道，我们很喜欢。

　　We are made to change by God's wise laws, and so it can't hurt us. 上帝的智慧法则让我们变化，因此不会伤害我们。

　　We are all the time at work, in our way, taking different shapes. It is good for us. 我们很喜欢。上帝的智慧法则让我们变化，因此不会伤害我们。

　　If you will go to the window, you will find some of my brothers and sisters on the glass. 如果你愿意去窗户那儿，在玻璃上，你会看到我们的一些兄弟姐妹。

1 multitude   

n.众多，大量，大群，大众

参考例句：

• He has a multitude of friend.他有许多朋友。
• A growing economy covers a multitude of sins for the government.蓬勃的经济为政府掩盖种种见不得人的东西。

2 swiftly   

adv.快地，迅速地

参考例句：

• He came in swiftly and placed the child in my arms.他匆忙走进来把孩子放到我怀里。
• The police must be able to react swiftly in an emergency.警方在面对紧急情况时必须能迅速作出反应。

3 delightful   

adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的

参考例句：

• We had a delightful time by the seashore last Sunday.上星期天我们在海滨玩得真痛快。
• Peter played a delightful melody on his flute.彼得用笛子吹奏了一支欢快的曲子。

4 curling   

n. 苏格兰的冰上掷石游戏, 头发的卷曲, 卷缩 动词curl的现在分词

参考例句：

• Curling hair styles are all the cry this year. 今年烫发的发型很流行。
• I love curling up in an armchair with a good book. 我爱在扶手椅上蜷作一团看我喜欢的书。

5 mischievously   

adv.有害地；淘气地

参考例句：

• He mischievously looked for a chance to embarrass his sister. 他淘气地寻找机会让他的姐姐难堪。 来自互联网
• Also has many a dream kindheartedness, is loves mischievously small lovable. 又有着多啦a梦的好心肠，是爱调皮的小可爱。 来自互联网