美国语文第六册 第145期:洗礼(7)

 "A bonnet¹, a bonnet," cried another; "now for the pretty, sanctified face, that rolled its demure² eyes below it." 一个士兵喊道，然后用脚踢到水潭里。“呢帽，呢帽，”另一个士兵喊了一声，“用来遮住姣好神圣的脸，盖住眉毛的。”

But after a few jests and oaths, the soldiers stood still, 不过，在一阵肆无忌惮的玩笑和诅咒过后，

eying with a kind of mysterious dread³ the black and silent walls of the rocks that hemmed⁴ them in, 士兵们仍站在原地未动，脸上流露出一种神秘的敬畏，盯着四周黑魆魆、静默得吓人的石壁，

and hearing only the small voice of the stream that sent a profounder stillness through the heart of that majestic⁵ solitude⁶. 只听见小溪流水的声音，这是水从潭底发出的回声。

"What if these cowardly Covenanters should tumble down upon our heads pieces of rock, from their hiding places! Advance, or retreat?" “要是这些愚蠢的盟约者在他们的藏身之处朝我们的脑袋扔石头该怎么办！我们向前还是后退？”

There was no reply; for a slight fear was upon every man. 没人回答。因为哪怕是最轻微的恐吓也会吓坏每个人。

Musket⁷ or bayonet could be of little use to men obliged to clamber up rocks, along slender paths, leading they know not where. 火枪或刺刀根本不能帮助这些人沿着狭窄的小道攀上岩石，他们无所适从。

And they were aware that armed men nowadays worshiped God; 他们意识到今天来做礼拜的人都全副武装，

men of iron hearts, who feared not the glitter of the soldier's arms, neither barrel nor bayonet; 这些有着坚强意志的人是不会害怕士兵手里的火器的，更不用说枪筒和刺刀了。

men of long stride, firm step, and broad breast, who, on the open field, would have overthrown⁸ the marshaled line, 在开阔地带，迈着大步和挺着宽阔胸膛的会众会冲垮士兵列好的阵形，

and gone first and foremost, if a city had to be taken by storm. 如果必须攻城拔寨的话，那么一鼓作气是最要紧的。

As the soldiers were standing⁹ together irresolute¹⁰, a noise came upon their ears like distant thunder, but even more appalling¹¹; 就在这些士兵站在那儿犹豫不定时，传来一阵雷鸣般的声音，好像是从远处发出的，可是更令人失魂落魄。

 

1 bonnet   

n.无边女帽；童帽

参考例句：

• The baby's bonnet keeps the sun out of her eyes.婴孩的帽子遮住阳光，使之不刺眼。
• She wore a faded black bonnet garnished with faded artificial flowers.她戴着一顶褪了色的黑色无边帽，帽上缀着褪了色的假花。

2 demure   

adj.严肃的；端庄的

参考例句：

• She's very demure and sweet.她非常娴静可爱。
• The luscious Miss Wharton gave me a demure but knowing smile.性感迷人的沃顿小姐对我羞涩地会心一笑。

3 dread   

vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧

参考例句：

• We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
• Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。

4 hemmed   

缝…的褶边( hem的过去式和过去分词 )； 包围

参考例句：

• He hemmed and hawed but wouldn't say anything definite. 他总是哼儿哈儿的，就是不说句痛快话。
• The soldiers were hemmed in on all sides. 士兵们被四面包围了。

5 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。

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 musket   

n.滑膛枪

参考例句：

• I hunted with a musket two years ago.两年前我用滑膛枪打猎。
• So some seconds passed,till suddenly Joyce whipped up his musket and fired.又过了几秒钟，突然，乔伊斯端起枪来开了火。

8 overthrown   

adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词

参考例句：

• The president was overthrown in a military coup. 总统在军事政变中被赶下台。
• He has overthrown the basic standards of morality. 他已摒弃了基本的道德标准。

9 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

10 irresolute   

adj.无决断的，优柔寡断的，踌躇不定的

参考例句：

• Irresolute persons make poor victors.优柔寡断的人不会成为胜利者。
• His opponents were too irresolute to call his bluff.他的对手太优柔寡断,不敢接受挑战。

11 appalling   

adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的

参考例句：

• The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions.恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。
• Nothing can extenuate such appalling behaviour.这种骇人听闻的行径罪无可恕。