美国语文第六册 第61期:墓地挽歌(3)

 　　Can storied urn¹, or animated² bust³, 栩栩如生的半身座像和刻下事迹的瓮，

　　Back to its mansion⁴ call the fleeting⁵ breath? 难道能让断气复吸，魂归华厦？

　　Can Honor's voice provoke the silent dust, 荣誉的声音能激扬沉寂的尘灰？

　　Or Flattery soothe⁶ the dull, cold ear of Death? 谄谀能叫死神僵硬的耳根软化？

　　Perhaps, in this neglected spot is laid 也许在这块荒芜之地，

　　Some heart once pregnant with celestial⁷ fire; 埋着曾经天火腾焰的心，

　　Hands, that the rod of empire might have swayed, 那双手，想必能执掌风雨飘摇的帝国权杖，

　　Or waked to ecstasy⁸ the living lyre: 抑或入迷地拨出七弦琴的天籁之音。

　　But Knowledge to their eyes her ample page, 可是，知识从没有在他们眼前他们展开

　　Rich with the spoils of time, did ne'er unroll; 满是岁月尘埃亦从不曾合上的书卷，

　　Chill Penury⁹ repressed their noble rage, 贫寒压制了他们高贵的胸怀，

　　And froze the genial¹⁰ current of the soul. 他们从灵魂深处涌出的温暖的甘泉也冻住了。

　　Full many a gem¹¹ of purest ray serene¹², 世上那么多稀世珠宝

　　The dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear: 埋在幽暗而深不可测的海底：

　　Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, 世界上多少含苞待放的花无人见识，

　　And waste its sweetness on the desert air. 芳香就白白散向旷野的空气。

　　Some village Hampden, that, with dauntless breast, 有像汉普敦那样的村庄，无畏的胸襟，

　　The little tyrant¹³ of his fields withstood, 反抗过当地的小暴君，

　　Some mute, inglorious Milton here may rest, 有缄默的弥尔顿，籍籍无名，

　　Some Cromwell, guiltless of his country's blood. 有一位克伦威尔，没有罪过地致自己国家流血。

1 urn   

n.（有座脚的）瓮；坟墓；骨灰瓮

参考例句：

• The urn was unearthed entire.这只瓮出土完整无缺。
• She put the big hot coffee urn on the table and plugged it in.她将大咖啡壶放在桌子上,接上电源。

2 animated   

adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的

参考例句：

• His observations gave rise to an animated and lively discussion.他的言论引起了一场气氛热烈而活跃的讨论。
• We had an animated discussion over current events last evening.昨天晚上我们热烈地讨论时事。

3 bust   

vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部

参考例句：

• I dropped my camera on the pavement and bust it. 我把照相机掉在人行道上摔坏了。
• She has worked up a lump of clay into a bust.她把一块黏土精心制作成一个半身像。

4 mansion   

n.大厦，大楼；宅第

参考例句：

• The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
• The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。

5 fleeting   

adj.短暂的，飞逝的

参考例句：

• The girls caught only a fleeting glimpse of the driver.女孩们只匆匆瞥了一眼司机。
• Knowing the life fleeting,she set herself to enjoy if as best as she could.她知道这种日子转瞬即逝，于是让自已尽情地享受。

6 soothe   

v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承

参考例句：

• I've managed to soothe him down a bit.我想方设法使他平静了一点。
• This medicine should soothe your sore throat.这种药会减轻你的喉痛。

7 celestial   

adj.天体的；天上的

参考例句：

• The rosy light yet beamed like a celestial dawn.玫瑰色的红光依然象天上的朝霞一样绚丽。
• Gravity governs the motions of celestial bodies.万有引力控制着天体的运动。

8 ecstasy   

n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷

参考例句：

• He listened to the music with ecstasy.他听音乐听得入了神。
• Speechless with ecstasy,the little boys gazed at the toys.小孩注视着那些玩具，高兴得说不出话来。

9 penury   

n.贫穷，拮据

参考例句：

• Hardship and penury wore him out before his time.受穷受苦使他未老先衰。
• A succession of bad harvest had reduced the small farmer to penury.连续歉收使得这个小农场主陷入了贫困境地。

10 genial   

adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的

参考例句：

• Orlando is a genial man.奥兰多是一位和蔼可亲的人。
• He was a warm-hearted friend and genial host.他是个热心的朋友，也是友善待客的主人。

11 gem   

n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel

参考例句：

• The gem is beyond my pocket.这颗宝石我可买不起。
• The little gem is worth two thousand dollars.这块小宝石价值两千美元。

12 serene   

adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的

参考例句：

• He has entered the serene autumn of his life.他已进入了美好的中年时期。
• He didn't speak much,he just smiled with that serene smile of his.他话不多，只是脸上露出他招牌式的淡定的微笑。

13 tyrant   

n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人

参考例句：

• The country was ruled by a despotic tyrant.该国处在一个专制暴君的统治之下。
• The tyrant was deaf to the entreaties of the slaves.暴君听不到奴隶们的哀鸣。