美国语文第五册 第55期:公正不会缺席(3)

 　　But the industrious¹ mother of helpless and depending children, far from the reach of human charity, has none of these to console her. 然而，这位勤劳无助而依赖孩子的母亲，远离人间行善，亦未曾接受任何仁慈，以安慰她那颗饱经苍凉的心。

　　And such a one was the widow of the Pine Cottage; 一位松树木屋里的寡母，

　　but as she bent² over the fire, and took up the last scanty³ remnant of food to spread before her children, her spirits seemed to brighten up, 当她弯身从火堆里拿出家里仅存的食物，分给面前嗷嗷待哺的孩子，她的心情似乎略微轻松，

　　as by some sudden and mysterious impulse, and Cowper's beautiful lines came uncalled across her mind: 仿佛某种突如其来的神秘感召，库柏的优美诗句蓦然在她的心头响起：

　　Judge not the Lord by feeble sense. 不要用你微弱感知判断上帝，

　　But trust him for his grace; Behind a frowning Providence⁴, he hides a smiling face. 相信他的宽宏慈悲，一个蹙眉的上帝身后，它藏匿了自己笑脸。

　　The smoked herring was scarcely laid upon the table, 烟熏的鲱鱼刚刚放到桌上，

　　when a gentle rap at the door, and the loud barking of a dog, attracted the attention of the family. 门上响起轻轻的叩门声，狗的大声吠叫，吸引了全家人目光。

　　The children flew to open it, and a weary traveler, in tattered⁵ garments and in apparently⁶ indifferent health; entered,  孩子们飞快跑过去打开门，一位衣着褴褛的过路人走进屋，他面色疲惫，神情淡然，

　　and begged a lodging⁷ and a mouthful of food. 祈求主人能否给他安顿住处，再给他点吃的东西。

　　Said he: "It is now twenty-four hour's since I tasted bread." 他说，“我已经一天一夜没吃一点东西了。”

　　The widow's heart bled anew, as under a fresh complication of distresses⁸; for her sympathies lingered not around her fireside. 那位母亲的心突然又揪痛起来，新的困厄到来更是雪上加霜；毕竟，她的同情心不会让她无动于衷地坐在火堆边，

　　She hesitated not even now; rest, and a share of all she had, she proffered⁹ to the stranger. 哪怕现在，也不会犹豫不决。她请陌生人和全家一起分享食物。

　　"We shall not be forsaken," said she, "or suffer deeper for an act of charity." 她对他说，“哪怕付出的善行再小，我们亦不该被上帝抛弃或者遭难更多。”

1 industrious   

adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的

参考例句：

• If the tiller is industrious,the farmland is productive.人勤地不懒。
• She was an industrious and willing worker.她是个勤劳肯干的员工。

2 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

3 scanty   

adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的

参考例句：

• There is scanty evidence to support their accusations.他们的指控证据不足。
• The rainfall was rather scanty this month.这个月的雨量不足。

4 providence   

n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝

参考例句：

• It is tempting Providence to go in that old boat.乘那艘旧船前往是冒大险。
• To act as you have done is to fly in the face of Providence.照你的所作所为那样去行事，是违背上帝的意志的。

5 tattered   

adj.破旧的，衣衫破的

参考例句：

• Her tattered clothes in no way detracted from her beauty.她的破衣烂衫丝毫没有影响她的美貌。
• Their tattered clothing and broken furniture indicated their poverty.他们褴褛的衣服和破烂的家具显出他们的贫穷。

6 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

7 lodging   

n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍

参考例句：

• The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。
• Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?

8 distresses   

n.悲痛( distress的名词复数 )；痛苦；贫困；危险

参考例句：

• It was from these distresses that the peasant wars of the fourteenth century sprang. 正是由于这些灾难才爆发了十四世纪的农民战争。 来自辞典例句
• In all dangers and distresses, I will remember that. 在一切危险和苦难中，我要记住这一件事。 来自互联网

9 proffered   

v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She proffered her cheek to kiss. 她伸过自己的面颊让人亲吻。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He rose and proffered a silver box full of cigarettes. 他站起身，伸手递过一个装满香烟的银盒子。 来自辞典例句