精灵鼠小弟 第42期:两只猫的谈话

 　　"Goodness," said the Angora cat, "you mean to say you live in the same house with a bird and a mouse and don't do anything about it?"“老天，”那只安哥拉猫说，“你是说你和一只鸟儿还有一只耗子住在一起，而且从没有打扰过他们？”

　　"That's the situation," replied Snowbell.

　　“就是这样，”雪球回答。

　　But what can I do about it?

　　不过我还能怎样？

　　Please remember that Stuart is a member of the family, and the bird is a permanent¹ guest, like myself.

　　请记住，斯图亚特也是这个家庭的一员，而那只鸟是永远受欢迎的客人，就像我一样。

　　"Well," said Snowbell's friend, " all I can say is, you've got more self-control than I have."“哦，”雪球的朋友说，“我能说的是，你比我更能自我克制。”

　　"Doubtless,"said Snowbell.

　　“毫无疑问，”雪球说。

　　However, I sometimes think I've got too much self-control for my own good.

　　不管怎样，我有时想我克制得太过分了。

　　I've been terribly nervous and upset lately, and I think it's because I'm always holding myself in.

　　近来我的神经一直承受着巨大的刺激，我想那是因为我总在受压抑的原因。

　　The cats' voices grew louder, and they talked so loudly that they never heard a slight rustling² in the vine³ a few feet above their heads.

　　两只猫的声音越来越高，由于他们谈得这么大声，根本没听到从常春藤上几步高的地方里传出的轻微响动。

　　It was a gray pigeon⁴, who had been asleep there and who had awakened⁵ at the sound of cats and begun to listen.

　　那里有一只在睡觉的灰鸽子，如今已被他们吵醒，正在那里听呢。

　　"This sounds like an interesting conversation," said the pigeon to himself.

　　“听起来像是一场有趣的谈话。”鸽子对自己说。

　　Maybe I'd better stay around and see if I can learn something.

　　我最好呆在这里，也许还能学到些什么。

 

1 permanent   

adj.永久的，不变的，固定的

参考例句：

• The coat gives permanent protection against heavy rain.这种防雨衣经久耐用。
• It's difficult to find a permanent cure for this disease.这病很难除根。

2 rustling   

n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的

参考例句：

• the sound of the trees rustling in the breeze 树木在微风中发出的沙沙声
• the soft rustling of leaves 树叶柔和的沙沙声

3 vine   

n.葡萄树；蔓；藤

参考例句：

• The vine twines round the tree.这藤盘绕在树干上。
• There is a vine yard before the hill.山前有一个葡萄园。

4 pigeon   

n.鸽子

参考例句：

• The pigeon homed from a distance of 100 miles.鸽子从百英里之外返回窝巢。
• How many pigeon eggs do you need?你要几个鸽子蛋？

5 awakened   

v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到

参考例句：

• She awakened to the sound of birds singing. 她醒来听到鸟的叫声。
• The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation. 公众完全意识到了这一状况的可怕程度。 来自《简明英汉词典》