绿野仙踪 第23期:穿过森林(4)

 I felt sad at this, for it showed I was not such a good Scarecrow after all; but the old crow comforted me, saying, 我当然为此发愁，因为这毕竟说明我不是一个尽职的稻草人；然而那老乌鸦安慰我说：

'If you only had brains in your head you would be as good a man as any of them, and a better man than some of them. “假如在你的脑壳里有了脑子，你就会像那些农夫一样好，甚至比他们更好。

Brains are the only things worth having in this world, no matter whether one is a crow or a man.' 在这个世界上不论是乌鸦还是人类，脑子都是最有价值的东西。”

After the crows had gone I thought this over, and decided¹ I would try hard to get some brains. “乌鸦飞走了以后，我一直思考着这个问题，决心努力取得一个脑子。

By good luck, you came alone and pulled me off the stake²,  我还算走运，你把我从火刑柱上解救下来，

and from what you say I am sure the Great Oz will give me brains as soon as we get to the Emerald City." 从你的说法来看，只要我们到了翡翠城，我相信伟大的奥芝会赐给我一个脑子。”

"I hope so," said Dorothy earnestly³, "since you seem anxious to have them." “但愿如此，”多萝茜诚恳地说，“因为你非常渴望也非常需要它。”

"Oh, yes, I am anxious," returned the Scarecrow. “啊，是的；我渴望得到它，”稻草人回答道。

“It is such an uncomfortable feeling to know one is a fool." “知道自己是一个笨蛋，感觉真是不愉快啊！”

"Well," said the girl."let us go." And she handed the basket to the Scarecrow. 小女孩子说：“对，我们继续走吧。”她把篮子交给了稻草人。

There were no fences⁴ at all by the roadside now, and the land was rough⁵ and untilled. 路的两边没有围墙了，路面也高低不平。

Toward⁶ evening they came to a great forest,  黄昏的时候，他们走进了一座大森林里，

where the trees grew so big and close together that their branches met over the road of yellow brick⁷. 树木长得十分高大，树干紧挨着，枝叶互相叉错着，完全遮盖了远处的黄砖路。

It was almost dark under the trees, for the branches shut out the daylight;  因为浓密的枝叶隔绝了阳光，使得森林显得很黑，

but the travelers did not stop, and went on into the forest. 然而他们并不停步，一直走进森林中去。

"If this road goes in, it must come out,” said the Scarecrow,  “如果沿着这条路走，一定会走出森林去的，”稻草人说，

" and as the Emerald City is at the other end of the road, we must go wherever it leads us." “如果翡翠城是在路的尽头，我们必须按照这条道路所指引的方向走去。”

"Anyone would know that," said Dorothy. 多萝茜说：“那是谁都明白的。”

"Certainly; that is why I know it," returned the Scarecrow. “当然，我也知道它，”稻草人回答。

"If it required brains to figure it out, I never should have said it." “如果要用脑子计算，我就说不出来。”

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 stake   

n.木柱；赌注，奖金；v.打赌，下赌注

参考例句：

• A wooden stake was driven firmly into the ground.木桩被牢牢钉进土地里。
• He put up a stake to support the newly planted tree.他竖了一根桩支撑新种的树。

3 earnestly   

adv．认真地

参考例句：

• The boy earnestly asked that his application be granted. 那孩子热切地要求批准他的申请。
• I earnestly wish I could have been present at the meeting yesterday. 我倒真愿意能参加昨天的会议。

4 fences   

n.栅栏( fence的名词复数 )；（障碍赛马中的）障碍物；买卖赃物者；击剑（术）v.围以栅栏( fence的第三人称单数 )；搪塞；支吾；回避

参考例句：

• It's a pity we didn't mend our fences with the colonel. 可惜我们还没有和上校先生调整好关系。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He fences well, as she had noticed before. 正如她以前观察到的一样，他善于周旋。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 rough   

adj.粗糙的；粗略的，大致的；粗野的，粗暴的

参考例句：

• It's just a very rough translation.这只是一篇非常粗糙的译稿。
• His reply was a bit rough.他的答复过于粗鲁了一点。

6 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。

7 brick   

n.砖；vt.用砖砌，用砖堵住

参考例句：

• She stared blankly at the brick wall in front of her.她面无表情地瞪着面前的砖墙。
• I bought a brick of ice cream for my daughter.我给女儿买了块冰砖。