英国语文第三册 第13期:卖宠物绵羊

 　　LESSON 13 The sale of the pet lamb 第十三课 卖宠物绵羊

　　A thousand flocks were on the hills, 山上成群结队的牲畜，

　　A thousand flocks and more, 一群接着一群

　　Feeding in sunshine pleasantly: 在明媚的阳光下吃草，

　　They were the rich man's store. 牲畜十分的昂贵

　　There was the while one little lamb 有一只小绵羊，

　　Beside a cottage door; 栖息在家门口

　　A little lamb that rested，with the children 'neath the tree; 小绵羊和孩子在树下休息

　　That ate, meek¹ creature, from their hands, 温顺的吃孩子手里的食物

　　And nestled to their knee; 依偎在膝盖上

　　That had a place within their hearts— 他们有一个共同意识--

　　One of the family. 我们是一家人

　　But want, even as an armed man, 但是谁曾想，

　　Came down upon their shed: 债主来到家门口

　　The father laboured all day long 父亲没日没夜的工作--

　　That his children might be fed; 为了养家糊口

　　And, one by one, their household things 日子一天天过去，

　　Were sold to buy them bread. 卖掉家里的东西去买食物

　　That father, with a downcast eye, 父亲他很难过，

　　Upon his threshold stood; 愣愣站在家门口，

　　Gaunt poverty each pleasant thought 贫穷打击他的心。

　　Had in his heart subdued². 自言自语道：

　　"What is the creature's life to us?" 舒适的生活带来了什么？

　　Said he;"twill buy us food." 他说，布料可以换食物。

　　"Ay, though the children weep all day, 唉，虽然孩子整天哭，

　　And with down-drooping head 自己头疼又欲裂，

　　Each does his small task mournfully, 每件小事都很烦，

　　The hungry must be fed; 毕竟还是得充饥，

　　And that which has a price to bring 仍有一件值钱物，

　　Must go to buy us bread." 可以换来买食物。“

　　It went. Oh, parting has a pang³ 时间飞快，疼痛加剧，

　　The hardest heart to wring⁴; 心脏疼的非常厉害，

　　But the tender soul of a little child 虽然孩子极伤痛，

　　With fervent⁵ love doth cling, 仍有最爱事情做，

　　With love that hath no feignings false, 从未做错任何事，

　　Unto each gentle thing. 每件父母都满意

　　Therefore most sorrowful it was 难过事情要降临

　　Those children small to see; 孩子早就预想过，

　　Most sorrowful to hear them plead 努力恳求其父母，

　　For the lamb so piteously: 乞求留下可怜小绵羊：

　　"O mother dear, it loveth us! 妈妈，它很爱我们的。

　　And what besides have we?" 我们没有其他东西了吗？

　　"Let's take him to the broad green hill."in his impotent despair, 男孩伤心地说：带它去高山上。“

　　Said one strong boy—"let's take him off,the hills are wide and fair; 一个男孩回答道：我们带它走，高山宽而广，

　　I know a little hiding-place,and we shall keep him there." 有个好地方，可当藏身地。“

　　Oh, vain!—They took the little lamb, 哎，徒劳无功--领着小绵羊，

　　And straightway tied him down; 一直往前走，

　　With a strong cord they tied him fast, 绳索一直牵，

　　And o'er the common brown, 天也渐渐亮，

　　And o'er the hot and flinty roads, 又热又难走，

　　They took him to the town. 只好回家中

　　The little children through that day, 小孩一整天，

　　And throughout all the morrow, 连着第二天，

　　From everything about the house 想到家里发生的所有的事

　　A mournful thought did borrow; 一直在哭喊

　　The very bread they had to eat 吃食的食物--

　　Was food unto their sorrow. 伤痛的源泉

1 meek   

adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的

参考例句：

• He expects his wife to be meek and submissive.他期望妻子温顺而且听他摆布。
• The little girl is as meek as a lamb.那个小姑娘像羔羊一般温顺。

2 subdued   

adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。
• I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候，我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。

3 pang   

n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷

参考例句：

• She experienced a sharp pang of disappointment.她经历了失望的巨大痛苦。
• She was beginning to know the pang of disappointed love.她开始尝到了失恋的痛苦。

4 wring   

n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭

参考例句：

• My socks were so wet that I had to wring them.我的袜子很湿，我不得不拧干它们。
• I'll wring your neck if you don't behave!你要是不规矩，我就拧断你的脖子。

5 fervent   

adj.热的，热烈的，热情的

参考例句：

• It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。
• Austria was among the most fervent supporters of adolf hitler.奥地利是阿道夫希特勒最狂热的支持者之一。