美国语文第四册 第161期:阿尔弗雷德大帝(2)

 　　For some time he dressed as a peasant, and lived in the cottage of a cowherd, 阿尔弗雷德一度装扮成农民，住在一个牧民家里，

　　who was so careful of his king's safety that he did not even tell his wife who he was. 牧民对国王的安全小心谨慎，即使对他的妻子也没透露。

　　So she treated the king as a common peasant, 因此牧民的妻子对国王就像对待普通的农民一样，

　　and one day gave him a sharp scolding because he allowed some cakes to burn on the griddle, after she had left him to watch them. 有一天还狠狠责备了他，因为他照看的蛋糕烤糊了。

　　She told him he was clever enough at eating cakes though he managed so badly at baking them. 牧民的妻子对他说，你吃蛋糕的本事可比烤蛋糕强多了。

　　When the search for him grew less active,  当丹麦人放松对他的搜捕的时候，

　　Alfred gradually collected some of his followers¹, with whom he encamped on a small spot of firm ground in the center of a bog². 阿尔弗雷德渐渐聚拢起一些追随者，他们驻扎在沼泽中心一小块结实的平地上。

　　It was surrounded by almost impassable forests, and Alfred fortified³ the place so that it could not well be taken. 四周都是密林，难以通过，加之阿尔弗雷德构筑了防御工事，因此易守难攻。

　　Then he made frequent sudden and successful attacks on the enemy until his troops and the people became encouraged. 他频繁地袭击敌人，都很成功，军队和人民很受鼓舞。

　　One victory in particular, when they captured a banner which the Danes thought enchanted⁴, led Alfred to take bolder steps. 在一次胜利中，他们夺取了一面丹麦人认为施了魔法的旗帜，这促使阿尔弗雷德采取更大胆的行动。

　　He wished to find out the exact condition of the enemy, and, for this purpose, disguised himself as a harper and entered their camp. 他希望准确地了解敌人的情况，因此，他假扮成竖琴师，混进了敌营。

　　He was so successful in his disguise that he remained there some days, even being admitted to the tent of the Danish leader Guthrum. 他伪装得很成功，在敌营住了很多天，甚至还得到允许进入了丹麦首领古特伦的营帐。

　　He found their entire army living in careless security, 他发现丹麦军队纪律松弛，

　　and so he determined⁵ to make a sudden and bold attack on them, to try and rid his country once more of these cruel invaders⁶. 因此决定对他们采取大胆的突袭，把这些残酷的侵略者赶出英格兰。

　　He summoned his people about him from far and wide. 他召集远近的人民。

　　Many of them had long thought their beloved king dead, but now all eagerly obeyed his call. 很多人原以为他们热爱的国王已经死了，现在纷纷响应他的命令。

　　He at once led them against that part of the camp which he had seen to be most unguarded. 他带领军队袭击了敌人防备最松弛的部位。

　　The attack was entirely⁷ unexpected; and, although the Danes were greater in numbers, they were defeated with great slaughter⁸. 丹麦人却毫无准备，尽管人数众多，吃了败仗，死伤惨重。

　　Some of them, with their leader, fled to a fortified place, but were soon obliged to surrender. 他们的领袖带着一部分人逃到一个堡垒，可是很快就不得不投降了。

1 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

2 bog   

n.沼泽；室...陷入泥淖

参考例句：

• We were able to pass him a rope before the bog sucked him under.我们终于得以在沼泽把他吞没前把绳子扔给他。
• The path goes across an area of bog.这条小路穿过一片沼泽。

3 fortified   

adj. 加强的

参考例句：

• He fortified himself against the cold with a hot drink. 他喝了一杯热饮御寒。
• The enemy drew back into a few fortified points. 敌人收缩到几个据点里。

4 enchanted   

adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• She was enchanted by the flowers you sent her. 她非常喜欢你送给她的花。
• He was enchanted by the idea. 他为这个主意而欣喜若狂。

5 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。

6 invaders   

入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They prepared to repel the invaders. 他们准备赶走侵略军。
• The family has traced its ancestry to the Norman invaders. 这个家族将自己的世系追溯到诺曼征服者。

7 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

8 slaughter   

n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀

参考例句：

• I couldn't stand to watch them slaughter the cattle.我不忍看他们宰牛。
• Wholesale slaughter was carried out in the name of progress.大规模的屠杀在维护进步的名义下进行。