英国语文第三册 第55期:水手的妈妈

 LESSON 49 The sailor's mother 第四十九课 水手的妈妈

One morning (raw it was and wet, A foggy day in winter time), 一个早上（冬天的一个雾霾天，阴冷寒湿），

A woman on the road I met, 我在路上见到一位女士。

Not old, though something past her prime; 虽然有东西遮盖住面貌，但是能看出年纪不大，

Majestic¹ in her person, tall and straight; 出身高贵，身形高而挺直，

And like a Roman matron's was her mien² and gait. 从神态和走路的步态上看，像是罗马贵族。

The ancient spirit is not dead; 古老的精神并未消失，

Old times, thought I, are breathing there: 我想古时代的风韵依然存在：

Proud was I that my country bred such strength, a dignity so fair: 我很自豪我的国家孕育出如此的力量，高贵美丽：

She begged an alms, like one in poor estate; 她正在领取救济品，像是深处困境，

I looked at her again, nor did my pride abate³. 我又一次看向她，但是我的自豪感丝毫未减。

When from these lofty thoughts I woke. 我怀着崇高的想法，

"What is it," said I, "that you bear beneath the covert⁴ of your cloak, protected from this cold damp air?" 问道：是什么让你甘愿忍受在斗篷的掩盖之下，在这种寒冷天气来到这里？

She answered, soon as she the question heard, 她听到后回答说：

"A simple burden, sir—a little singing-bird." 先生，我的负担很小，只有一只唱歌的小鸟。

And, thus continuing, she said , 接着她继续说道：

"I had a son, who many a day sailed on the seas, but he is dead,— 我有个儿子，出海死了，

In Denmark he was cast away; 埋葬在丹麦，

And I have travelled weary miles, 我已经走了一段很疲惫的路程，

to see if aught which he had owned might still remain for me 我想看看他生前拥有的东西有没有为我留下来。

The bird and cage they both were his: 这只鸟和鸟笼都是我儿子的，

'Twas my son's bird; and neat and trim 这是我儿子养的鸟，很干净整洁，

He kept it: many voyages this singing-bird had gone with him: 他带着这只唱歌的鸟儿出过很多次海，

When last he sailed, he left the bird behind; 但是最后一次出海的时候把它留了下来，

From bodings, as might be, that hung upon his mind. 或许当时他就有不祥的预感了吧。

He to a fellow-lodger's care had left it, to be watched and fed, 他把它留给了一位房客朋友照看喂养，

And pipe its song in safety;—there I found it when my son was dead; 我在我儿子死的地方发现了它。它当时正在唱歌，

And now, God help me for my little wit! 现在，上帝以我对儿子的执念而帮助了我，

I bear it with me, sir; he took so much delight in it." 我收养了它，因为我儿子曾在它身上得到很多快乐。

1 majestic   

adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的

参考例句：

• In the distance rose the majestic Alps.远处耸立着雄伟的阿尔卑斯山。
• He looks majestic in uniform.他穿上军装显得很威风。

2 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。

3 abate   

vi.(风势，疼痛等)减弱，减轻，减退

参考例句：

• We must abate the noise pollution in our city.我们必须消除我们城里的噪音污染。
• The doctor gave him some medicine to abate the powerful pain.医生给了他一些药，以减弱那剧烈的疼痛。

4 covert   

adj.隐藏的；暗地里的

参考例句：

• We should learn to fight with enemy in an overt and covert way.我们应学会同敌人做公开和隐蔽的斗争。
• The army carried out covert surveillance of the building for several months.军队对这座建筑物进行了数月的秘密监视。