美国语文第六册 第140期:洗礼(2)

The eye could at once command a long-stretching vista¹, seemingly closed and shut up at both extremities² by the coalescing³ cliffs. 放眼望去，人们的视野马上就变得长而狭窄，看上去好像被合拢的悬崖给挡住了似的。

This majestic⁴ reach of river contained pools, streams, and waterfalls innumerable; 这条河雄伟的流域包括池塘、小溪和数不清的瀑布。

and when the water was low — which was now the case, in the common drought, 当水面较低时——现在就是这种情形，正值干旱季节，

it was easy to walk up this scene with the calm, blue sky overhead, an utter and sublime⁵ solitude⁶. 这种景象触手可及，头顶高悬无风碧蓝的天空，遗世而立，令人流连忘返。

On looking up, the soul was bowed down by the feeling of that prodigious⁷ height of unscalable, and often overhanging, cliff. 向上仰望，人们被高达万仞的悬崖的威严给震慑住了。

Between the channel and the summit of the far extended precipices⁸, were perpetually flying rooks and wood pigeons, and now and then a hawk⁹, 在通道和向远处延伸的峭壁的顶端之间，是永远展翅腾飞的乌鸦和啄木鸟，不时会有一只鹰出现，

filling the profound abyss with their wild cawing, deep murmur¹⁰, or shrilly¹¹ shriek¹². 它们狂野的呱呱声、低沉的鸣叫或尖厉的长啸空谷回音。

Sometimes a heron would stand erect¹³ and still, on some little stone island, 有时，一只鹭会笔直地站在小石岛上，

or rise up like a white cloud along the black walls of the chasm¹⁴, and disappear. 像一朵白云一样沿着巨石裂缝的黑壁巡飞，转瞬就不见了踪影。

Winged creatures alone could inhabit this region. 只有长翅膀的生灵才能在这个地方栖息。

The fox and wild cat chose more accessible haunts. 狐狸和野猫会选择更易于藏身的地方出没。

 

1 vista   

n.远景，深景，展望，回想

参考例句：

• From my bedroom window I looked out on a crowded vista of hills and rooftops.我从卧室窗口望去，远处尽是连绵的山峦和屋顶。
• These uprisings come from desperation and a vista of a future without hope.发生这些暴动是因为人们被逼上了绝路，未来看不到一点儿希望。

2 extremities   

n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地

参考例句：

• She was most noticeable, I thought, in respect of her extremities. 我觉得她那副穷极可怜的样子实在太惹人注目。 来自辞典例句
• Winters may be quite cool at the northwestern extremities. 西北边区的冬天也可能会相当凉。 来自辞典例句

3 coalescing   

v.联合，合并( coalesce的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• A mental model begins coalescing in their minds. 一个意识模型开始结合到他们的脑子里。 来自互联网
• On the basis of coalescing this kind of element can separate oil from compressed air. 采用凝聚原理，分离压缩空气中的油份。 来自互联网

4 majestic   

adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的

参考例句：

• In the distance rose the majestic Alps.远处耸立着雄伟的阿尔卑斯山。
• He looks majestic in uniform.他穿上军装显得很威风。

5 sublime   

adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的

参考例句：

• We should take some time to enjoy the sublime beauty of nature.我们应该花些时间去欣赏大自然的壮丽景象。
• Olympic games play as an important arena to exhibit the sublime idea.奥运会，就是展示此崇高理念的重要舞台。

6 solitude   

n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方

参考例句：

• People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
• They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。

7 prodigious   

adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的

参考例句：

• This business generates cash in prodigious amounts.这种业务收益丰厚。
• He impressed all who met him with his prodigious memory.他惊人的记忆力让所有见过他的人都印象深刻。

8 precipices   

n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Sheer above us rose the Spy-glass, here dotted with single pines, there black with precipices. 我们的头顶上方耸立着陡峭的望远镜山，上面长着几棵孤零零的松树，其他地方则是黑黝黝的悬崖绝壁。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• Few people can climb up to the sheer precipices and overhanging rocks. 悬崖绝壁很少有人能登上去。 来自互联网

9 hawk   

n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员

参考例句：

• The hawk swooped down on the rabbit and killed it.鹰猛地朝兔子扑下来,并把它杀死。
• The hawk snatched the chicken and flew away.老鹰叼了小鸡就飞走了。

10 murmur   

n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言

参考例句：

• They paid the extra taxes without a murmur.他们毫无怨言地交了附加税。
• There was a low murmur of conversation in the hall.大厅里有窃窃私语声。

11 shrilly   

尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的

参考例句：

• The librarian threw back his head and laughed shrilly. 图书管理员把头往后面一仰，尖着嗓子哈哈大笑。
• He half rose in his seat, whistling shrilly between his teeth, waving his hand. 他从车座上半欠起身子，低声打了一个尖锐的唿哨，一面挥挥手。

12 shriek   

v./n.尖叫，叫喊

参考例句：

• Suddenly he began to shriek loudly.突然他开始大声尖叫起来。
• People sometimes shriek because of terror,anger,or pain.人们有时会因为恐惧，气愤或疼痛而尖叫。

13 erect   

n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的

参考例句：

• She held her head erect and her back straight.她昂着头，把背挺得笔直。
• Soldiers are trained to stand erect.士兵们训练站得笔直。

14 chasm   

n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突

参考例句：

• There's a chasm between rich and poor in that society.那社会中存在着贫富差距。
• A huge chasm gaped before them.他们面前有个巨大的裂痕。