美国语文第五册 第103期:马萨诸塞州的监狱叛乱(3)

 　　He demanded their purpose in thus coming together with arms, in violation¹ of the prison laws. 他严正指出，囚犯们手拿武器的集聚行为，严重地违背了监狱法规，

　　They replied that they were determined² to obtain the remission of the punishment of their three comrades. 对方则回答，他们已下定决心，促使狱方赦免三位囚犯。

　　He said it was impossible; the rules of the prison must be obeyed, and they must submit. 他说，这点完全不可能，监狱法规必须服从，囚犯务必退让。

　　At the hint of submission³ they drew a little nearer together, prepared their weapons for service, 在貌似顺从的暗示下，囚犯们开始聚拢过来，时刻准备抄家伙。

　　and, as they were dimly seen in the further end of the hall by those who observed from the gratings that opened up to the day, 通过餐厅远端那处天花光栅，外面监视的警官们影影绰绰看到下面囚犯的举动。

　　a more appalling⁴ sight can not be conceived, nor one of more moral grandeur⁵, than that of the single man standing⁶ within their grasp, 那一令人恐怖的景象看来模糊不清，那种高尚感动的牺牲亦无从获悉细节，只能看见那位警官孤身站在一群穷凶极恶的匪徒中间，

　　and exposed to be torn limb from limb instantly if a word or look should add to the already intense excitement. 哪怕任何只言片语不合，或眼神不对路，不过瞬间工夫，他们就可一拥而上将他撕成碎片。

　　That excitement, too, was of a most dangerous kind. 最可怕的危机已经降临。

　　It broke not forth⁷ in noise and imprecations, but was seen only in the dark looks and the strained nerves that showed a deep determination. 这种危机并非以嘈杂或诅咒形式爆发，黑暗中感觉的不过是那些暴戾眼神与紧绷神经，以及罪犯们毫不退让的残忍果狠。

　　The officer expostulated. He reminded them of the hopelessness of escape;  那位警官有礼有节地训诫囚犯，暗示他们无法逃脱的结局；

　　that the town was alarmed, and that the government of the prison would submit to nothing but unconditional⁸ surrender. 小镇此刻亦已获知监狱的消息，除了无条件投降，狱方管理方不会屈从囚犯提出的任何条件。

　　He said that all those who would go quietly away should be forgiven for this offense⁹; 他还说，所有退出暴乱的囚犯将会得到宽恕，随后不再追究，

　　but that if every prisoner were killed in the contest, power enough would be obtained to enforce the regulations of the prison. 但如果有囚徒在冲突中死亡，监狱将获取更多警力支持，以强化监狱法规的执行。

1 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

2 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。

3 submission   

n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出

参考例句：

• The defeated general showed his submission by giving up his sword.战败将军缴剑表示投降。
• No enemy can frighten us into submission.任何敌人的恐吓都不能使我们屈服。

4 appalling   

adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的

参考例句：

• The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions.恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。
• Nothing can extenuate such appalling behaviour.这种骇人听闻的行径罪无可恕。

5 grandeur   

n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华

参考例句：

• The grandeur of the Great Wall is unmatched.长城的壮观是独一无二的。
• These ruins sufficiently attest the former grandeur of the place.这些遗迹充分证明此处昔日的宏伟。

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

8 unconditional   

adj.无条件的，无限制的，绝对的

参考例句：

• The victorious army demanded unconditional surrender.胜方要求敌人无条件投降。
• My love for all my children is unconditional.我对自己所有孩子的爱都是无条件的。

9 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。