美国语文第五册 第230期:捕捉野马(6)(在线收听

   The mare struggled fiercely, kicking and biting, and striking with her fore feet,  那母马狂暴地挣脱,前后尥蹄,连踢带咬,

  but a noose was slipped over her head, and her struggles were in vain.  可一条套索套上它的头颈,顷刻之间,它的拼命挣扎完全失去意义。
  It was some time, however, before she gave over rearing and plunging, and lashing out with her feet on every side.  然而,好大一会儿工夫,那母马狂乱地尥蹄乱跳,前蹄后蹄死命猛踢,
  The two rangers then led her along the valley, by two strong lariats,  两位骑手用两条结实的绳索死死拽住马,
  which enabled them to keep at a sufficient distance on each side to be out of the reach of her hoofs,  沿着河谷兜转,绳索很长,骑手与马匹才能保持相当距离,确保不会被马踢到。
  and whenever she struck out in one direction she was jerked in the other.  无论马朝哪边拼命挣脱,另一边绳索亦会紧紧拴着它动弹不得。
  In this way her spirit was gradually subdued. 最后,那马终于被驯服地安静下来。
  As to Tonish, who had marred the whole scene by his precipitancy,  那位由于鲁莽草率而打乱整个围猎计划的托尼斯,
  he had been more successful than he deserved, having managed to catch a beautiful cream-colored colt about seven months old,  此行收获不小,他捕获了一匹大约七个月大小的奶油色马驹,
  that had not strength to keep up with its companions.  那弱小马驹实在无力跟上马群。
  The mercurial little Frenchman was beside himself with exultation.  那位活泼机智、矮小的法国佬大喜过望地站在托尼斯身边,
  It was amusing to see him with his prize.  看着托尼斯收获,开怀放肆地大笑起来。
  The colt would rear and kick, and struggle to get free, when Tonish would take him about the neck,  小马驹后尥前踢,挣扎着想逃走,突然,托尼斯一把抓住它的脖子,
  wrestle with him, jump on his back, and cut as many antics as a monkey with a kitten.  朝它打个响亮呼哨,一个鹞子翻身跃到它的背上,像猴子耍逗小猫般尽情作乐,扮出一连串滑稽不堪的怪脸。
  Nothing surprised me more, however, than to witness how soon these poor animals,  没有任何事情能比这更让人激动不已,看着这些可怜的野马,
  thus taken from the unbounded freedom of the prairie, yielded to the dominion of man.  如此迅捷地被人们从它们无拘无束、自由生活的大草原上掳走,从此,它们不得不屈从人的意志。
  In the course of two or three days the mare and colt went with the led horses and became quite docile.  两三天内,那匹母马和小马驹将被牵到备用马群中,很快将接受人为残酷的驯服。
  原文地址:http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/mgybyw/d5c/431986.html