美国语文第五册 第243期:莱茵河畔的士兵(1)

 　　A soldier of the Legion lay dying in Algiers, There was lack of woman’s nursing, there was dearth¹ of woman’s tears; 一位德国军团士兵，在阿尔及尔战场上濒临死亡，那里缺医少药，缺少医护照料，他的血快要流尽了。

　　But a comrade stood beside him, while his lifeblood ebbed² away, And bent³, with pitying glances, to hear what he might say. 站在他身边的同伴，眼里满是悲哀，弯下身想听听他的最后遗言。

　　The dying soldier faltered⁴, as he took that comrade’s hand, And he said: I nevermore shall see my own, my native land;  这时，那位垂死的士兵抓住同伴的手，颤抖地对他说：我再也见不到我家乡的土地了，

　　Take a message and a token to some distant friends of mine, For I was born at Bingen,—at Bingen on the Rhine. 请捎个消息回去，再带个物件，转交我远方的朋友，我出生在宾根，——莱茵河畔的宾根。

　　Tell my brothers and companions, when they meet and crowd around To hear my mournful story in the pleasant vineyard ground,  当我的父老乡亲聚集到家乡那个美丽的葡萄园时，他们将听到我的噩耗，请告诉家乡的朋友们，

　　That we fought the battle bravely, and when the day was done, Full many a corse lay ghastly pale beneath the setting sun;  我和我的战友们作战勇猛。今天就要消失了，夕阳下，地上到处堆满面容惨白的尸体，

　　And, ’mid the dead and dying, were some grown old in wars,—The death wound on their gallant⁵ breasts, the last of many scars;  那些死者和濒死者中间，多少人因战争变得苍老，死亡将在他们勇敢的心里留下深深伤口，那是残酷记忆中难以愈合的伤疤。

　　But some were young, and suddenly beheld⁶ life’s morn decline,—And one had come from Bingen,—fair Bingen on the Rhine. 还有些战士那么年轻，他们亲眼目睹生命的遽然衰亡。一个来自宾根的战士，——莱茵河畔美丽的宾根。

　　Tell my mother that her other sons shall comfort her old age, For I was aye a truant⁷ bird, that thought his home a cage.  请告诉我的妈妈，她的其他儿子们将会陪她度过余生。我是一只逃学的小鸟，尽管家不过是只狭窄的鸟笼。

　　For my father was a soldier, and, even when a child, My heart leaped forth⁸ to hear him tell of struggles fierce and wild;  我的父亲也是士兵，当我还是孩子时，总是急切地盼望他讲述过去惨烈悲壮的战斗。

1 dearth   

n.缺乏，粮食不足，饥谨

参考例句：

• There is a dearth of good children's plays.目前缺少优秀的儿童剧。
• Many people in that country died because of dearth of food.那个国家有许多人因为缺少粮食而死。

2 ebbed   

（指潮水）退( ebb的过去式和过去分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落

参考例句：

• But the pain had ebbed away and the trembling had stopped. 不过这次痛已减退，寒战也停止了。
• But gradually his interest in good causes ebbed away. 不过后来他对这类事业兴趣也逐渐淡薄了。

3 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。

4 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。”

5 gallant   

adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的

参考例句：

• Huang Jiguang's gallant deed is known by all men. 黄继光的英勇事迹尽人皆知。
• These gallant soldiers will protect our country.这些勇敢的士兵会保卫我们的国家的。

6 beheld   

v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟

参考例句：

• His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字

7 truant   

n.懒惰鬼，旷课者；adj.偷懒的，旷课的，游荡的；v.偷懒，旷课

参考例句：

• I found the truant throwing stones in the river.我发现那个逃课的学生在往河里扔石子。
• Children who play truant from school are unimaginative.逃学的孩子们都缺乏想像力。

8 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。