美国小学英语教材6:第186课 西班牙擦鞋童(5)（在线收听）

PROSPEROUS DAYS IN GAY SEVILLE

兴旺的塞维尔

But less happy days followed. The crowds who came to see the palace had grown very small. There was less work to do,

随后的几天过的并不愉快，来参观宫殿的人陆续减少，佩平的工作也减少了，

and when Pepin asked the reason, he was told that all the world was going to Seville for Holy Week.

当佩平询问原因时，他被告知全世界都将会去塞维尔过圣周。

There the streets would be crowded with people. Well, then, he must go to Seville. It was a long journey,

届时大街上会挤满了人，当然，他一定回去塞维尔，那一定是一段很长的路，

but Pepin mounted the donkey and urged it on so that he would not be late.

但佩平骑上了驴，并敦促它向前走，因为他不想错过。

For a number of days the road led through mountain passes and valleys; then finally it made its way down to the low,

在这几天中，他穿过了山口和河谷；最终到达了低平，

broad plain of the Guadalquivir River, on whose banks the city of Seville is situated.

宽广的瓜达尔基维尔河平原，塞维尔城就坐落在那片堤岸上。

When he reached Seville, it was crowded with more people than Pepin had imagined there were in the world.

当他抵达塞维尔时，簇拥在这里的民众比佩平想象的世界人口还要多。

All day long through the streets parades of masked men were coming and going.

一整天大街上都是带着面具游行的队伍，来来往往，川流不息。

They followed floats on which some figures of the Virgin Mary were carried. The figures wore rich velvet robes embroidered in jewels,

他们跟在花车后面，花车上带着圣母玛利亚的塑像，塑像穿着厚厚的天鹅绒长袍，袍子上镶嵌着珠宝，

and they were borne on the shoulders of many men. Beside them ran boys like Pepin,

人们的肩头扛着塑像，周围是跟着跑的民众，就像佩平一样，

carrying goat skins of water to quench the thirst of those who marched. Pepin was so interested in the crowd that he followed all the way to the cathedral.

他们手拿山羊革水袋，消除游行人员的饥渴感，佩平对这些民众产生了兴趣，他一直跟着他们到了主教堂。

Inside, the shadows were lighted by hundreds of candles. Boys wearing red robes trimmed with lace were marching and singing.

在里面，阴面被数百个蜡烛点亮，身穿着蕾丝红色长袍的男孩子游行，歌唱。

Others were ringing bells that hung above the choir. The organ pealed, and its rich music was mingled with the voices of the singers.

其他人敲响悬挂在唱诗班下面的钟，乐器奏响了，浑厚的音乐伴着歌者的歌声。

Pepin stood near the tomb of Columbus, who had discovered the land from which Pepin had learned the word bootblack.

佩平站在哥伦布的墓碑附近，哥伦布发现了大陆，佩平也是从这片大陆学到了“擦鞋匠”这个词。

Four statues of trumpeters bore the tomb of Columbus on their shoulders, and one of their long trumpets stretched above Pepin's head.

四名小号手将哥伦布的墓扛在肩上，其中一个小号延展到了佩平的头上。

A black veil was drawn over the gilded altar, but as the choir boys went toward it singing the veil parted. Pepin looked on with wondering eyes.

镀金祭坛上蒙了一层黑纱，随着唱诗班的男孩们一边唱一边走向祭坛，黑纱打开了，佩平用诧异的目光看着。