美国语文第五册 第204期:老钟

 　　Oh! the old, old clock of the household stock, 哦，那座世代家传的，

　　Was the brightest thing, and neatest; 漂亮精致的，老钟，

　　Its hands, though old, had a touch of gold, 镀过金的，老迈指针，

　　And its chimes rang still the sweetest; 钟声，言语不多，

　　it was a monitor, too, though its words were few, 岁月监工下，耄耋老人

　　Yet they lived, though nations altered; 目睹，历史烽烟沧桑几度。

　　And its voice, still strong, warned old and young, 钟声，依然响亮悦耳，

　　When the voice of friendship faltered¹: 似乎，不停地告诫众人，

　　"Tick! tick!" it said, quick, quick, to bed: “叮当！叮当！赶快起床，”

　　For ten I've given warning; 悠悠十载，我熟悉的声音，

　　Up! up! and go, or else you know, 快点！起床！我知道，

　　You'll never rise soon in the morning! 你总是懒惰，早起人太多。

　　A friendly voice was that old, old clock, 角落里老钟，默默微笑伫立，

　　As it stood in the corner smiling, 不停地叮当，像位熟识老友，

　　And blessed the time with merry chime, 快乐地报时，祈祷庸常时光，

　　The wintry hours beguiling²; 阴郁的日子，仍然开心走过。

　　But a cross old voice was that tiresome³ clock, 可那件古董，多少有点讨厌，

　　As it called at daybreak boldly; 每逢黎明破晓，它总刺耳鸣叫，

　　When the dawn looked gray o'er the misty⁴ way, 灰蒙蒙窗外，路上阴霾浓重，

　　And the early air looked coldly: 冰寒地冻，  狂风刺骨呼啸，

　　"Tick! tick!" it said, quick out of bed: “叮当！叮当！赶快起床，”

　　For five I've given warning; 清晨刚过五点，催促声声不断，

　　You'll never have health, you'll never have wealth, 如果赖床不起，结局当然不妙，

　　Unless you're up soon in the morning! 你的健康财富，将从手中溜掉。

　　Still hourly the sound goes round and round, 每一时辰报时，走马穿梭进行，

　　With a tone that ceases never: 与生俱来音调，不曾歇息片刻，

　　While tears are shed for bright days fled, 安宁岁月流逝，泪水静静流淌，

　　And the old friends lost forever! 那些熟悉身影，已经离开很久！

　　Its heart beats on, though hearts are gone, That beat like ours, though stronger; 虽然身随风去，音容笑貌如旧，今生不再握手，气息依然徘徊；

　　Its hands still move, though hands we love 依恋那些双手，尚在风中挥舞；

　　Are clasped on earth no longer! 此生此世泯笑，断然终究难逢。

　　"Tick! tick!" it said, to the churchyard bed, “叮当！叮当！赶快起床，”

　　The grave hath given warning; 时钟不断警告，催促濒死之人，

　　Up! up! and rise, and look at the skies, 看看外面天空，快点走向墓地，

　　And prepare for a heavenly morning! 伸手拥抱迎接，天堂新的日出！

1 faltered   

（嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃

参考例句：

• He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
• "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着：“这孩子脑袋真长。”

2 beguiling   

adj.欺骗的，诱人的v.欺骗( beguile的现在分词 )；使陶醉；使高兴；消磨（时间等）

参考例句：

• Her beauty was beguiling. 她美得迷人。
• His date was curvaceously beguiling. 他约会是用来欺骗女性的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 tiresome   

adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的

参考例句：

• His doubts and hesitations were tiresome.他的疑惑和犹豫令人厌烦。
• He was tiresome in contending for the value of his own labors.他老为他自己劳动的价值而争强斗胜，令人生厌。

4 misty   

adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的

参考例句：

• He crossed over to the window to see if it was still misty.他走到窗户那儿，看看是不是还有雾霭。
• The misty scene had a dreamy quality about it.雾景给人以梦幻般的感觉。