美国语文第六册 第183期:占卜者(1)

Harley sat down on a large stone by the wayside, to take a pebble¹ from his shoe, when he saw, at some distance, a beggar approaching him.

哈特利坐在道边一块大石头上，拾起脚下一个小石子。这时，他看到远处有一位乞丐正朝他这边走来。

He had on a loose sort of coat, mended with different-colored rags, among which the blue and russet were predominant.

他穿了一件宽大的外套，上面补着各色补丁，其中蓝色和黄褐色补丁尤为显眼。

He had a short, knotty² stick in his hand, and on the top of it was stuck a ram's horn;

他手上拿着一根很短的有瘤节的棍子，顶端绑着一只公羊角；

he wore no shoes, and his stockings had entirely³ lost that part of them which would have covered his feet and ankles;

他没有穿鞋，覆盖脚和踝关节的那部分长袜也完全不见了踪影。

in his face, however, was the plump appearance of good humor; he walked a good, round pace, and a crook-legged dog trotted⁴ at his heels.

然而，他圆润的脸上现出的却是愉快的神情。他迈着轻松的方步，一条腿上有伤的狗紧紧跟着他。

"Our delicacies," said Harley to himself, "are fantastic; they are not in nature!

“我们的美餐，”哈特利自语道，“太诱人了；从根本上讲他们不是一路的！

That beggar walks over the sharpest of these stones barefooted,

那位乞丐赤脚踩在最尖的石子上，

whilst I have lost the most delightful⁵ dream in the world from the smallest of them happening to get into my shoe."

就是这个碰巧进到我鞋里的最不起眼的东西，把我的美梦给搅了。”

The beggar had by this time come up, and, pulling off a piece of a hat, asked charity of Harley.

这时，乞丐来到近前，掀了掀帽子，求哈特利施舍。

The dog began to beg, too.

那条狗也做出摇尾乞怜的样子。

It was impossible to resist both;

简直无法拒绝他们。

and, in truth, the want of shoes and stockings had made both unnecessary, for Harley had destined⁶ sixpence for him before.

其实，没穿鞋和长袜不是求人施舍的必要理由，因为哈特利以前给过他六便士。

The beggar, on receiving it, poured forth⁷ blessings⁸ without number; and, with a sort of smile on his countenance⁹,

乞丐边接过钱，嘴里边念念有词说了些祝福的话；他脸上绽出微笑表示赞许，

said to Harley that if he wanted to have his fortune told, Harley turned his eye briskly upon the beggar;

问哈特利是否想占卜财运——哈特利的目光迅速转向乞丐。

it was an unpromising look for the subject of a prediction, and silenced the prophet immediately.

对于预卜先知来说，乞丐的表情不会给人带来任何期许，于是，这位先知马上不做声了。

1 pebble   

n.卵石，小圆石

参考例句：

• The bird mistook the pebble for egg and tried to hatch it.这只鸟错把卵石当蛋，想去孵它。
• The pebble made a ripple on the surface of the lake.石子在湖面上激起一个涟漪。

2 knotty   

adj.有结的，多节的，多瘤的，棘手的

参考例句：

• Under his leadership,many knotty problems were smoothly solved.在他的领导下，许多伤脑筋的问题都迎刃而解。
• She met with a lot of knotty problems.她碰上了许多棘手的问题。

3 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

4 trotted   

小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走

参考例句：

• She trotted her pony around the field. 她骑着小马绕场慢跑。
• Anne trotted obediently beside her mother. 安妮听话地跟在妈妈身边走。

5 delightful   

adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的

参考例句：

• We had a delightful time by the seashore last Sunday.上星期天我们在海滨玩得真痛快。
• Peter played a delightful melody on his flute.彼得用笛子吹奏了一支欢快的曲子。

6 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。

7 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

8 blessings   

n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福

参考例句：

• Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 countenance   

n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同

参考例句：

• At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
• I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地，仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。