英国语文第二册 第4期:两只山羊

 　　LESSON 4 The two goats 第四课 两只山羊

　　On a wild mountain, two goats met on a ledge¹ just over a high cliff². 在一座偏远的山上，两只山羊在高耸的悬崖边上的岩礁相遇。

　　The ledge was so narrow, that there was neither room for them to pass each other nor to turn round and go back. 那块岩礁很狭窄，任何一只山羊都无法继续向前通过，也无法回头。

　　A steep rock rose straight above them—a deep dark chasm³ lay below! What do you think the two goats did? 一块陡峭的岩石伫立在它们上面，地下就是万丈深渊！在这种情况下，你认为这两只山羊会怎么做呢？

　　One of them with great care laid himself down on the narrow ledge, pressing as close to the rock as he could. 其中一只山羊躺在岩礁上，身体尽可能的贴近岩石。

　　Then the other goat gently and softly⁴ stepped over his friend, till, safely past him, he could lightly bound⁵ away. 另外一只山羊则轻轻地、慢慢地踏着它的伙伴的身体离开了。

　　The goat that had lain down then drew himself up from his lowly place, safe and sound, free to spring again from rock to rock, and crop the sweet grass on the hills. 然后，那只平躺着的山羊挺直着身体，不用再岩石上跳来跳去，可以直接品尝山上的鲜美的草。

　　Two other goats had left the valley, and climbed far up the mountain. 还有两只山羊离开了山谷，往高高的山上爬。

　　At length they met on the banks of a wild, rushing stream. 最后它们在一条激流的岸边相遇。

　　A tree had fallen across the stream, and formed a bridge from the one side to the other. 有一棵树倒了下来，像一条桥一样横在河流的两边。

　　The goats looked at each other, and each wished to pass over first. 这两只山羊你看着我，我看着你，心里都希望自己能先过到对岸。

　　They stood for a moment with one foot on the tree, each thinking that the other would draw back. 它们一只脚搭在树木上站了一会儿，心里想，对方肯定会回头的。

　　But neither of them would give way, and they met at last on the middle of the narrow bridge! 但没想到大家都不退让，最后两只山羊在狭窄的桥的中间相遇！

　　They then began to push and fight with their horns, till at last their feet slipped, and both the goats fell into the swift⁶ flowing stream, and were lost in the waters! 然后它们开始用自己的角来与对方搏斗，直到最后，两只山羊都滑了角，掉进激流中，被湍急的水淹没了。

　　Both might have been saved, if either of them had known how to yield⁷ at the right time. 如果它们懂得在关键时刻退让，其实两只山羊都能避免一死。

1 ledge   

n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁

参考例句：

• They paid out the line to lower him to the ledge.他们放出绳子使他降到那块岩石的突出部分。
• Suddenly he struck his toe on a rocky ledge and fell.突然他的脚趾绊在一块突出的岩石上，摔倒了。

2 cliff   

n.悬崖，峭壁

参考例句：

• The cliff edge is dangerous and should be railed.崖边危险，应该用栏杆围起来。
• He took the measure of the cliff before he climbed it.他把悬崖的高度估量一下后再攀登。

3 chasm   

n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突

参考例句：

• There's a chasm between rich and poor in that society.那社会中存在着贫富差距。
• A huge chasm gaped before them.他们面前有个巨大的裂痕。

4 softly   

adv.柔和地，静静地，温柔地

参考例句：

• He speaks too softly for her to hear.他讲话声音太轻，她听不见。
• She breathed her advice softly.她低声劝告。

5 bound   

adj.一定的，必然的；受约束的，有义务的

参考例句：

• I feel honor bound to repay the money I borrowed.我觉得有责任归还我借的钱。
• If he signs that paper,he will be bound hand and foot.如果他签署那份文件，他就会受到束缚。

6 swift   

n.雨燕，大滚筒；adj.迅速的，快的，敏捷的，立刻的；adv.迅速地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He is swift to hear,but slow to speak.他听力敏锐，但不善言辞。
• He made a remarkably swift recovery.他康复得相当快。

7 yield   

v.生产，出产；让步，屈服；n.产量，收获量

参考例句：

• A cow will yield several gallons of milk each day.一头母牛每天产几加仑的牛奶。
• We shall never yield to a conqueror.我们永远不会向征服者低头。