美国语文第六册第183期:占卜者(1)（打印版）

Harley sat down on a large stone by the wayside, to take a pebble from his shoe, when he saw, at some distance, a beggar approaching him.

哈特利坐在道边一块大石头上，拾起脚下一个小石子。这时，他看到远处有一位乞丐正朝他这边走来。

He had on a loose sort of coat, mended with different-colored rags, among which the blue and russet were predominant.

他穿了一件宽大的外套，上面补着各色补丁，其中蓝色和黄褐色补丁尤为显眼。

He had a short, knotty stick in his hand, and on the top of it was stuck a ram's horn;

他手上拿着一根很短的有瘤节的棍子，顶端绑着一只公羊角；

he wore no shoes, and his stockings had entirely lost that part of them which would have covered his feet and ankles;

他没有穿鞋，覆盖脚和踝关节的那部分长袜也完全不见了踪影。

in his face, however, was the plump appearance of good humor; he walked a good, round pace, and a crook-legged dog trotted at his heels.

然而，他圆润的脸上现出的却是愉快的神情。他迈着轻松的方步，一条腿上有伤的狗紧紧跟着他。

"Our delicacies," said Harley to himself, "are fantastic; they are not in nature!

“我们的美餐，”哈特利自语道，“太诱人了；从根本上讲他们不是一路的！

That beggar walks over the sharpest of these stones barefooted,

那位乞丐赤脚踩在最尖的石子上，

whilst I have lost the most delightful dream in the world from the smallest of them happening to get into my shoe."

就是这个碰巧进到我鞋里的最不起眼的东西，把我的美梦给搅了。”

The beggar had by this time come up, and, pulling off a piece of a hat, asked charity of Harley.

这时，乞丐来到近前，掀了掀帽子，求哈特利施舍。

The dog began to beg, too.

那条狗也做出摇尾乞怜的样子。

It was impossible to resist both;

简直无法拒绝他们。

and, in truth, the want of shoes and stockings had made both unnecessary, for Harley had destined sixpence for him before.

其实，没穿鞋和长袜不是求人施舍的必要理由，因为哈特利以前给过他六便士。

The beggar, on receiving it, poured forth blessings without number; and, with a sort of smile on his countenance,

乞丐边接过钱，嘴里边念念有词说了些祝福的话；他脸上绽出微笑表示赞许，

said to Harley that if he wanted to have his fortune told, Harley turned his eye briskly upon the beggar;

问哈特利是否想占卜财运——哈特利的目光迅速转向乞丐。

it was an unpromising look for the subject of a prediction, and silenced the prophet immediately.

对于预卜先知来说，乞丐的表情不会给人带来任何期许，于是，这位先知马上不做声了。