美国语文第五册 第302期:弗吉尼亚人(4)

 　　The elder was peaceful, studious, and silent; the younger was warlike and noisy. 老大平和好学且沉默寡言，老二则挑衅好战，沉湎嬉闹。

　　He was quick at learning when he began, but very slow at beginning. 每每开始学习，他反应很快；一旦进入课程便显得格外鲁钝。

　　No threats of the ferule would provoke Harry¹ to learn in an idle fit, or would prevent George from helping² his brother in his lesson. 来自戒尺的惩戒对游手好闲的哈里无济于事；同时，亦无法阻止乔治协助弟弟躲避用功。

　　Harry was of a strong military turn, drilled the little negroes on the estate, 哈里的军事悟性极高，他习惯模仿军官，居然有模有样地训练庄园一批黑人少年，

　　and caned³ them like a corporal, having many good boxing matches with them, and never bearing malice⁴ if he was worsted; 经常习惯模仿军士用藤杖鞭打那些少年，或与他们进行激烈的拳击竞赛，即使被打趴在地，哈里断然亦不会心怀恶意或萌生怨恨；

　　whereas George was sparing of blows, and gentle with all about him. 相反，乔治从不与人殴斗，对人总是温和友善。

　　As the custom in all families was, each of the boys had a special little servant assigned him: and it was a known fact that George, 像当地所有贵族家庭一样，每个贵族男孩都有专门伺童跟从伺候，乔治有件轶事在当地无人不晓。

　　finding his little wretch⁵ of a blackamoor asleep on his master's bed, 一天，乔治发现自己伺童居然在他这个主人的床上睡着了，

　　sat down beside it, and brushed the flies off the child with a feather fan, 他一声不吭地在床边坐下，拿起一把羽毛扇给那个小坏蛋撵蚊虫；

　　to the horror of old Gumbo, the child's father, who found his young master so engaged, and to the indignation of Madam Esmond, 让孩子爸爸、老黑奴甘博万分恐惧的是，埃斯蒙德夫人知道此事后恼怒万分

　　who ordered the young negro off to the proper officer for a whipping. 眼前儿子的年轻主子手脚一直忙活不停。她即刻吩咐撵走那小坏蛋去接受鞭刑。

　　In vain George implored⁶ and entreated— burst into passionate⁷ tears, and besought⁸ a remission of the sentence. 乔治的祈求全然无用，竟然在旁边嚎啕大哭起来，他苦苦哀求母亲赦免他的仆从，

　　His mother was inflexible⁹ regarding the young rebel's punishment, and the little negro went off beseeching¹⁰ his young master not to cry. 当然，埃斯蒙德夫人压根不会放过对这个黑色小反骨的惩罚，那位小伺童却走上前恳求他的小主人不要哭泣。

1 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 caned   

vt.用苔杖打（cane的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The gaoler caned the man. 狱卒用藤条鞭打这个人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I have caned my son when necessary. 必要时，我就用藤条打儿子一顿。 来自辞典例句

4 malice   

n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋

参考例句：

• I detected a suggestion of malice in his remarks.我觉察出他说的话略带恶意。
• There was a strong current of malice in many of his portraits.他的许多肖像画中都透着一股强烈的怨恨。

5 wretch   

n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人

参考例句：

• You are really an ungrateful wretch to complain instead of thanking him.你不但不谢他，还埋怨他，真不知好歹。
• The dead husband is not the dishonoured wretch they fancied him.死去的丈夫不是他们所想象的不光彩的坏蛋。

6 implored   

恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She implored him to stay. 她恳求他留下。
• She implored him with tears in her eyes to forgive her. 她含泪哀求他原谅她。

7 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

8 besought   

v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词)

参考例句：

• The prisoner besought the judge for mercy/to be merciful. 囚犯恳求法官宽恕[乞求宽大]。 来自辞典例句
• They besought him to speak the truth. 他们恳求他说实话. 来自辞典例句

9 inflexible   

adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的

参考例句：

• Charles was a man of settled habits and inflexible routine.查尔斯是一个恪守习惯、生活规律不容打乱的人。
• The new plastic is completely inflexible.这种新塑料是完全不可弯曲的。

10 beseeching   

adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She clung to her father, beseeching him for consent. 她紧紧挨着父亲，恳求他答应。 来自辞典例句
• He casts a beseeching glance at his son. 他用恳求的眼光望着儿子。 来自辞典例句