美国语文第六册 第80期:三个警告(3)

 　　But, while he viewed his wealth increase, 但是，当他发现自己的财富累增，

　　While thus along life's dusty road, the beaten track, content he trod, 就这样沿着生活那条坎坷路，精疲力竭地前行，他对自己的跋涉心满又意足，

　　Old Time, whose haste no mortal spares, 不再匆忙的时间老人，

　　Uncalled, unheeded, unawares, 没有召唤，没有留意，也没有意识到，

　　Brought on his eightieth year. 他一晃就到了八十岁。

　　And now, one night, in musing¹ mood, 此时，一天晚上，他陷入沉思，

　　As all alone he sate², 对眼下的一切没有不满足，

　　The unwelcome messenger of Fate 命运女神的使者不期而至

　　Once more before him stood. 就在他面前站立。

　　Half-killed with wonder and surprise, 他奇怪和惊讶得要死，

　　"So soon returned!" old Dodson cries. “这么快就回来了！”老道德森喊道。

　　"So soon d' ye call it?" Death replies: “这么快你就忘了？”死神答道：

　　"Surely! my friend, you're but in jest; “当然没有！我的朋友，你语带讥讽；

　　Since I was here before, 自从我以前来这儿，

　　T is six and thirty years at least, 已经至少三十六年了，

　　And you are now fourscore." 你现在正好八十岁。”

　　"So much the worse!" the clown rejoined; “过得越久越糟糕！”这个小丑反驳说；

　　"To spare the aged³ would be kind: “上了年纪人会达观：

　　Besides, you promised me three warnings, 另外，你向我承诺过三个警告！

　　Which I have looked for nights and mornings!" 我旦夕间都希望得到答案！”

　　"I know," cries Death, "that at the best, I seldom am a welcome guest; “我知道，”死神咆哮道，“能那样当然最好，很少有人把我当成受欢迎的客人；

　　But don't be captious⁴, friend; at least, 但别强词夺理，朋友；至少，

　　I little thought that you'd be able to stump⁵ about your farm and stable; 我根本没想过你能逃出你的农场和马厩；

　　Your years have run to a great length, 你的寿命已经很长，

　　Yet still you seem to have your strength." 看来你似乎还有体力。”

1 musing   

n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• "At Tellson's banking-house at nine," he said, with a musing face. “九点在台尔森银行大厦见面，”他想道。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
• She put the jacket away, and stood by musing a minute. 她把那件上衣放到一边，站着沉思了一会儿。

2 sate   

v.使充分满足

参考例句：

• Nothing could sate the careerist's greed for power.什么也满足不了这个野心家的权力欲。
• I am sate with opera after listening to it for a whole weekend.听了整整一个周末的歌剧，我觉得腻了。

3 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

4 captious   

adj.难讨好的，吹毛求疵的

参考例句：

• There is no captious client but faulty product and service.没有挑剔的客户，只有不完善的产品和服务。
• His criticisms were always captious and frivolous,never offering constructive suggestions.他的评论一向轻率并爱吹毛求疵，从不提出有建设性的建议。

5 stump   

n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走

参考例句：

• He went on the stump in his home state.他到故乡所在的州去发表演说。
• He used the stump as a table.他把树桩用作桌子。