双语有声阅读：经比萨和锡耶纳到罗马(7)

 If Pisa be the seventh wonder of the world in right of its Tower，it may claim to be，at least，the second or third in right of its beggars. They waylay¹ the unhappy visitor at every turn，escort him to every door he enters at，and lie in wait for him，with strong reinforcements，at every door by which they know he must come out. The grating of the portal on its hinges is the signal for a general shout，and the moment he appears，he is hemmed² in，and fallen on，by heaps of rags and personal distortions.The beggars seem to embody³ all the trade and enterprise of Pisa.

 

如果比萨因其斜搭成为世界第七大奇观，那么，因其乞丐之多至少也可位居第二或第三了。乞丐们会在每一个拐弯处围截不幸的游客，一直尾随他进门;然后在每一扇他有可能出来的门外，就会有更多的乞丐等他。门嘎吱声响起时，就是总攻的信号,他出来的那一刻被乞丐们包围，落入衣衫褴褛、身体畸形的乞丐们手中。似乎乞丐遍及比萨的所有贸易和行业。

Nothing else is stirring，but warm air. Going through the streets，the fronts of the sleepy houses look like backs. They are all so still and quiet，and unlike houses with people in them，that the greater part of the city has the appearance of a city at daybreak，or during a general siesta⁴ of the population. Or it is yet more like those backgrounds of houses in common prints，or old engravings，where windows and doors are squarely indicated，and one figure （a beggar of course） is seen walking off by itself into illimitable perspective.

除广暖风，一切都是静止的。走过街道,你会发现，那些了无生气的房屋的前门与后院没什么分别。它们都是那样的静寂，就像是无人居住的房屋一样。城市里更多的是像拂晓时分的景象，或是人们午睡时的样子。或者,它们更像那些常见读物或旧雕版图上的背景屋舍，门窗都是方形的，一个身影（当然是个乞丐）正从那里走开，向远方走去。

1 waylay   

v.埋伏，伏击

参考例句：

• She lingered outside the theater to waylay him after the show.她在戏院外面徘徊想在演出之后拦住他说话。
• The trucks are being waylaid by bandits.卡车被强盗拦了下来。

2 hemmed   

缝…的褶边( hem的过去式和过去分词 )； 包围

参考例句：

• He hemmed and hawed but wouldn't say anything definite. 他总是哼儿哈儿的，就是不说句痛快话。
• The soldiers were hemmed in on all sides. 士兵们被四面包围了。

3 embody   

vt.具体表达，使具体化；包含，收录

参考例句：

• The latest locomotives embody many new features. 这些最新的机车具有许多新的特色。
• Hemingway's characters plainly embody his own values and view of life.海明威笔下的角色明确反映出他自己的价值观与人生观。

4 siesta   

n.午睡

参考例句：

• Lots of people were taking a short siesta in the shade.午后很多人在阴凉处小睡。
• He had acquired the knack of snatching his siesta in the most unfavourable circumstance.他学会了在最喧闹的场合下抓紧时间睡觉的诀窍。