诗翁彼豆故事集 第11期:男巫的毛心脏(1)

 　　3. The Warlock's Hairy Heart 3.《男巫的毛心脏》

　　There was once a handsome, rich and talented young warlock, who observed that his friends grew foolish when they fell in love, gambolling¹ and preening², losing their appetites and their dignity. 从前，有一位英俊、富有、禀性聪慧的年轻男巫，他发现他的朋友们一旦陷入爱河就会变得愚蠢起来，开始嬉闹打扮，失去了自己的品位和尊严。

　　The young warlock resolved never to fall prey³ to such weakness, and employed Dark Arts to ensure his immunity⁴. 年轻的男巫打定主意绝不做这种意志薄弱的牺牲品，并利用黑魔法来加强自己的免疫力。

　　Unaware⁵ of his secret, the warlock's family laughed to see him so aloof⁶ and cold. 男巫的家人不知道他的秘密，看到他这么冷漠孤僻，都取笑他。

　　“All will change,” they prophesied⁷, “when a maid catches his fancy!” But the young warlock's fancy remained untouched. “一切都会改变的，”他们预言道，“等他的梦中情人出现之后！”可是，年轻男巫的心迹一直没有任何触动。

　　Though many a maiden⁸ was intrigued⁹ by his haughty¹⁰ mien¹¹, and employed her most subtle arts to please him, none succeeded in touching¹² his heart. 尽管许多姑娘都被他高傲的风度所吸引，用尽各种微妙的技巧来讨他的喜欢，但都没能够打动他的心。

　　The warlock gloried in his indifference¹³ and the sagacity that had produced it. 男巫为自己的冷漠以及冷漠背后的先见之明而沾沾自喜。

　　The first freshness of youth waned¹⁴, and the warlock's peers began to wed¹⁵, and then to bring forth¹⁶ children. 青春的最初阶段过去了，男巫的同龄人都开始结婚，养儿育女了。

　　“Their hearts must be husks,” he sneered¹⁷ inwardly, as he observed the antics of the young parents around him, “shrivelled by the demands of these mewling offspring!” “他们的心肯定都成了空壳，”看到周围年轻父母们的滑稽行为，他暗自讥笑道，“被这些啼哭着的娃娃们弄得束手无策！”

　　And once again he congratulated himself upon the wisdom of his early choice. 他再一次庆幸自己之前做出的决定是多么英明。

　　In due course, the warlock's aged¹⁸ parents died. 后来，男巫年迈的双亲去世了。

　　Their son did not mourn them; on the contrary, he considered himself blessed by their demise¹⁹. 男巫并不为此感到悲痛。相反，他认为他们的死是上天的赐福。

　　Now he reigned²⁰ alone in their castle. 现在他一个人掌管着他们的城堡。

　　Having transferred his greatest treasure to the deepest dungeon²¹, he gave himself over to a life of ease and plenty, his comfort the only aim of his many servants. 他把自己最重要的财富转移到最深的地牢里，放任自己过着富足和安逸的生活，他的许多仆人都把让他舒适当作他们唯一的工作目标。

　　The warlock was sure that he must be an object of immense envy to all who beheld²² his splendid and untroubled solitude²³. 男巫坚信不管谁看见他奢华而无忧无虑的独居生活，肯定都会非常羡慕。

　　Fierce were his anger and chagrin²⁴, therefore, when he overheard two of his lackeys²⁵ discussing their master one day. 因此，当他有一天无意中听见两个男仆谈论主人时，他简直怒不可揭。

　　The first servant expressed pity for the warlock who, with all his wealth and power, was yet beloved by nobody. 第一个男仆表示了对男巫的同情，认为他虽然有财富和权力，但至今没有一个人爱过他。

　　But his companion jeered²⁶, asking why a man with so much gold and a palatial²⁷ castle to his name had been unable to attract a wife. 可是他的同伴笑了起来，反问为何一个拥有这么多金子和宏伟城堡的男人却没能找到一位妻子。

　　Their words dealt dreadful blows to the listening warlock's pride. 男巫听到后，自尊心受到了沉重的打击。

　　He resolved at once to take a wife, and that she would be a wife superior to all others. 他立刻下定决心找一位妻子，而且她一定要比别人的妻子都优秀。

　　She would possess astounding²⁸ beauty, exciting envy and desire in every man who beheld her; she would spring from magical lineage, so that their offspring would inherit outstanding magical gifts; and she would have wealth at least equal to his own, so that his comfortable existence would be assured, in spite of additions to his household. 她要拥有惊人的美貌，每个男人一看见她，内心都会激起爱慕和欲望。她要来自魔法家庭，这样他们的子女将会继承出色的魔法天赋。她还要拥有至少与他相当的财富，这样，即使家里添了人口，他的舒适生活也能得到保障。

1 gambolling   

v.蹦跳，跳跃，嬉戏( gambol的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• lambs gambolling in the meadow 在草地上蹦蹦跳跳的小羊羔
• The colts and calves are gambolling round the stockman. 小马驹和小牛犊围着饲养员欢蹦乱跳。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 preening   

v.（鸟）用嘴整理（羽毛）( preen的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Will you stop preening yourself in front of the mirror? 你别对着镜子打扮个没完行不行？
• She was fading, while he was still preening himself in his elegance and youth. 她已显老，而他却仍然打扮成翩翩佳公子。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

3 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

4 immunity   

n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权

参考例句：

• The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
• He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。

5 unaware   

a.不知道的，未意识到的

参考例句：

• They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。
• I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。

6 aloof   

adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的

参考例句：

• Never stand aloof from the masses.千万不可脱离群众。
• On the evening the girl kept herself timidly aloof from the crowd.这小女孩在晚会上一直胆怯地远离人群。

7 prophesied   

v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She prophesied that she would win a gold medal. 她预言自己将赢得金牌。
• She prophesied the tragic outcome. 她预言有悲惨的结果。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 maiden   

n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的

参考例句：

• The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。
• The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。

9 intrigued   

adj.好奇的，被迷住了的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的过去式)；激起…的兴趣或好奇心；“intrigue”的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• You've really intrigued me—tell me more! 你说的真有意思—再给我讲一些吧！
• He was intrigued by her story. 他被她的故事迷住了。

10 haughty   

adj.傲慢的，高傲的

参考例句：

• He gave me a haughty look and walked away.他向我摆出傲慢的表情后走开。
• They were displeased with her haughty airs.他们讨厌她高傲的派头。

11 mien   

n.风采；态度

参考例句：

• He was a Vietnam veteran with a haunted mien.他是个越战老兵，举止总有些惶然。
• It was impossible to tell from his mien whether he was offended.从他的神态中难以看出他是否生气了。

12 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

13 indifference   

n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎

参考例句：

• I was disappointed by his indifference more than somewhat.他的漠不关心使我很失望。
• He feigned indifference to criticism of his work.他假装毫不在意别人批评他的作品。

14 waned   

v.衰落( wane的过去式和过去分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡

参考例句：

• However,my enthusiasm waned.The time I spent at exercises gradually diminished. 然而，我的热情减退了。我在做操上花的时间逐渐减少了。 来自《用法词典》
• The bicycle craze has waned. 自行车热已冷下去了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

15 wed   

v.娶，嫁，与…结婚

参考例句：

• The couple eventually wed after three year engagement.这对夫妇在订婚三年后终于结婚了。
• The prince was very determined to wed one of the king's daughters.王子下定决心要娶国王的其中一位女儿。

16 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。

17 sneered   

讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He sneered at people who liked pop music. 他嘲笑喜欢流行音乐的人。
• It's very discouraging to be sneered at all the time. 成天受嘲讽是很令人泄气的。

18 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

19 demise   

n.死亡；v.让渡，遗赠，转让

参考例句：

• He praised the union's aims but predicted its early demise.他赞扬协会的目标，但预期这一协会很快会消亡。
• The war brought about the industry's sudden demise.战争道致这个行业就这么突然垮了。

20 reigned   

vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式）

参考例句：

• Silence reigned in the hall. 全场肃静。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Night was deep and dead silence reigned everywhere. 夜深人静，一片死寂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

21 dungeon   

n.地牢，土牢

参考例句：

• They were driven into a dark dungeon.他们被人驱赶进入一个黑暗的地牢。
• He was just set free from a dungeon a few days ago.几天前，他刚从土牢里被放出来。

22 beheld   

v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟

参考例句：

• His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字

23 solitude   

n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方

参考例句：

• People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
• They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。

24 chagrin   

n.懊恼；气愤；委屈

参考例句：

• His increasingly visible chagrin sets up a vicious circle.他的明显的不满引起了一种恶性循环。
• Much to his chagrin,he did not win the race.使他大为懊恼的是他赛跑没获胜。

25 lackeys   

n.听差( lackey的名词复数 )；男仆（通常穿制服）；卑躬屈膝的人；被待为奴仆的人

参考例句：

• When the boss falls from power, his lackeys disperse. 树倒猢狲散。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The singer was surrounded by the usual crowd of lackeys and hangers on. 那个歌手让那帮总是溜须拍马、前呼後拥的人给围住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

26 jeered   

v.嘲笑( jeer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The police were jeered at by the waiting crowd. 警察受到在等待的人群的嘲弄。
• The crowd jeered when the boxer was knocked down. 当那个拳击手被打倒时，人们开始嘲笑他。 来自《简明英汉词典》

27 palatial   

adj.宫殿般的，宏伟的

参考例句：

• Palatial office buildings are being constructed in the city.那个城市正在兴建一些宫殿式办公大楼。
• He bought a palatial house.他买了套富丽堂皇的大房子。

28 astounding   

adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词)

参考例句：

• There was an astounding 20% increase in sales. 销售量惊人地增加了20%。
• The Chairman's remarks were so astounding that the audience listened to him with bated breath. 主席说的话令人吃惊，所以听众都屏息听他说。 来自《简明英汉词典》