绿野仙踪 第67期:神奇的翡翠城(2)

 The Guardian¹ of the Gates led them through the streets until they came to a big building,  守城门的人，引导他们穿过了一些街道，直走到一所大厦的前面，

exactly in the middle of the City, which was the Palace of Oz, the Great Wizard².  这就是可怕的大魔术家奥芝的宫殿，恰恰建筑在这城市的中心。

There was a soldier before the door, dressed in a green uniform and wearing a long green beard. 有一个兵士站在门前，穿着绿的制服，长着一丛长长的绿胡须。

"Here are strangers," said the Guardian of the Gates to him, "and they demand to see the Great Oz." 守城门的人对他说：“这里有几个陌生人，他们要求会见伟大的奥芝。”

"Step inside," answered the soldier, "and I will carry your message to him." “走进去，”士兵回答说，“我会把你的消息告诉他。”

So they passed through the Palace Gates and were led into a big room with a green carpet and lovely green furniture set with emeralds.  他们穿过宫殿的大门，被领进铺着绿地毯的一间大屋子里，里面放着用翡翠做的可爱的绿家具。

The soldier made them all wipe their feet upon a green mat³ before entering this room,  在走进这间屋子以前，那兵士叫他们一起在绿的席垫上擦干净他们的鞋底，

and when they were seated he said politely: "Please make yourselves comfortable while I go to the door of the Throne⁴ Room and tell Oz you are here." 等他们一起坐下以后，他很有礼貌地说：“让我进去到那王宫的门前，告诉奥芝说你们在这里要见他，请你们先在这里随便休息一下吧。”

1 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

2 wizard   

n.男巫，术士，鬼才；adj.男巫的，巫术的

参考例句：

• Edison was a wizard at invention.爱迪生是一个发明奇才。
• That's a fairy story about a wizard.那是讲一个男巫的童话。

3 mat   

n.垫，丛，衬边；adj.粗糙的；v.纠缠在一起，铺席于...上，使...无光泽

参考例句：

• This mat has to be hammered down at the edges.必须把这张席子的边钉上。
• Please wipe your shoes on the mat.请在蹭鞋垫子上擦擦鞋。

4 throne   

n.御座，宝座；王位，王权

参考例句：

• He was the legal heir to the throne.他是王位的合法继承人。
• The throne was footed with gold.这御座是用黄金做的脚。