美国语文第六册 第217期:比尔和乔(2)

How Bill forgets his hour of pride, While Joe sits smiling at his side;

乔笑盈盈坐在他旁边，比尔怎会忘记他何等自豪；

How Joe, in spite of time's disguise, Finds the old schoolmate in his eyes, — Those calm, stern eyes, that melt and fill,

尽管时光可伪装，乔又是怎样，从老同学的眼神中读出异样，

As Joe looks fondly up to Bill, Ah! pensive¹ scholar, what is fame? A fitful tongue of leaping flame; A giddy whirlwind's fickle² gust³, That lifts a pinch of mortal dust;

当乔天真地端详比尔，那眼神混杂了镇定和严厉，哎，陷入沉思的学者，名望是什么东西？是跳动着火焰的舌头；一阵令人眩晕的变幻无常的旋风，只刮起一捏尘土；

A few swift years, and who can show, Which dust was Bill, and which was Joe.

时光荏苒，谁能说明白哪捏尘土是比尔，哪捏又是乔。

The weary idol⁴ takes his stand, Holds out his bruised⁵ and aching hand, While gaping⁶ thousands come and go - How vain it seems, this empty show!

疲惫的偶像保持着他的姿势，伸出他伤痕累累和疼痛难耐的手，在成千上万张大了嘴的人面前走来走去-这多么徒劳，这场空洞的表演！

Till all at once his pulses thrill: T is poor old Joe's, "God bless you, Bill!" And shall we breathe in happier spheres, The names that pleased our mortal ears;

直到他的脉搏马上剧烈跳动：可怜的老乔，“上帝赐福与你，比尔！”我们在快乐的气氛下低语，提到的是取悦我们终将变聋的耳朵的名字；

In some sweet lull⁷ of heart and song, For earth born spirits none too long, Just whispering of the world below,

在心底和歌声温柔的旋律里，因为世间没有什么精神会存在太久，下界在低语呢喃，

When this was Bill, and that was Joe? No matter; while our home is here, No sounding name is half so dear;

这是比尔，那是乔吗？不要紧；我们的家园在这里；

When fades at length our lingering day, Who cares what pompous⁸ tombstones say? Read on the hearts that love us still, Hic jacet Joe, Hic jacet Bill.

当我们逗留不去的日子终将逝去时，谁会在意自负的墓石说些什么？不妨继续读那些还爱我们的心吧，长眠于此的乔，长眠于此的比尔。

1 pensive   

a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的

参考例句：

• He looked suddenly sombre,pensive.他突然看起来很阴郁，一副忧虑的样子。
• He became so pensive that she didn't like to break into his thought.他陷入沉思之中,她不想打断他的思路。

2 fickle   

adj.(爱情或友谊上)易变的，不坚定的

参考例句：

• Fluctuating prices usually base on a fickle public's demand.物价的波动往往是由于群众需求的不稳定而引起的。
• The weather is so fickle in summer.夏日的天气如此多变。

3 gust   

n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发

参考例句：

• A gust of wind blew the front door shut.一阵大风吹来，把前门关上了。
• A gust of happiness swept through her.一股幸福的暖流流遍她的全身。

4 idol   

n.偶像，红人，宠儿

参考例句：

• As an only child he was the idol of his parents.作为独子，他是父母的宠儿。
• Blind worship of this idol must be ended.对这个偶像的盲目崇拜应该结束了。

5 bruised   

[医]青肿的，瘀紫的

参考例句：

• his bruised and bloodied nose 他沾满血的青肿的鼻子
• She had slipped and badly bruised her face. 她滑了一跤，摔得鼻青脸肿。

6 gaping   

adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大

参考例句：

• Ahead of them was a gaping abyss. 他们前面是一个巨大的深渊。
• The antelope could not escape the crocodile's gaping jaws. 那只羚羊无法从鱷鱼张开的大口中逃脱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 lull   

v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇

参考例句：

• The drug put Simpson in a lull for thirty minutes.药物使辛普森安静了30分钟。
• Ground fighting flared up again after a two-week lull.经过两个星期的平静之后，地面战又突然爆发了。

8 pompous   

adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities.他有点自大，自视甚高。
• He is a good man underneath his pompous appearance. 他的外表虽傲慢，其实是个好人。