美国语文第五册 第129期:迟到(3)

 　　The last moment was up. 执行死刑的最后时刻终于来临，

　　The prisoner took his place, the cap was drawn¹ over his eyes, the bolt was drawn, and a lifeless body swung revolving² in the wind. 囚犯站到了预定位置，头上帽子被拉下遮住他的眼，闩门掉落，尸体在风中不停地旋转。

　　Just at that moment a horseman came into sight, galloping³ down hill, his steed covered with foam⁴. 就在那时，人们看到一位骑马人飞奔冲下山坡，马儿越跑越近，马嘴边吐着白沫。

　　He carried a packet in his right hand, which he waved frantically⁵ to the crowd. 那骑马人右手拿着包，发狂地朝人群挥舞，

　　He was the express rider with the reprieve⁶; but he came too late. 他正是携带缓刑命令的快件骑手。但他来得太迟了，

　　A comparatively innocent man had died an ignominious⁷ death  一位相对无辜的人被可耻地结束了生命，

　　because a watch had been five minutes too late, making its bearer arrive behind time. 由于那位快件骑手的表慢了五分钟，他最终错过一条生命的宝贵。

　　It is continually so in life. 生活中此类事例并不乏见。

　　The best laid plans, the most important affairs, the fortunes of individuals, 最佳设定计划，重大或关键事件，个人命运、

　　the weal of nations, honor, happiness, life itself, are daily sacrificed, because somebody is "behind time." 民族繁荣、荣誉、幸福乃至生活本身，由于某些人“迟到或晚点”皆成为庸常岁月的牺牲品。

　　There are men who always fail in whatever they undertake, simply because they are "'behind time." 这些人，无论他们从事何种工作，失败总是与之形影不离，唯一原因不过在于他们“迟到或晚点”。

　　There are others who put off reformation year after year, till death seizes them,  还有一种人的失败原因在于：他们总是年复一年地推迟改变，直到死神将他们彻底带进坟墓。

　　and they perish unrepentant, because forever "behind time." 这种人推崇食古不化，因此，“迟到或晚点”对他们来说，意味永远终生错过。

1 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

2 revolving   

adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想

参考例句：

• The theatre has a revolving stage. 剧院有一个旋转舞台。
• The company became a revolving-door workplace. 这家公司成了工作的中转站。

3 galloping   

adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• The horse started galloping the moment I gave it a good dig. 我猛戳了马一下，它就奔驰起来了。
• Japan is galloping ahead in the race to develop new technology. 日本在发展新技术的竞争中进展迅速，日新月异。

4 foam   

v./n.泡沫，起泡沫

参考例句：

• The glass of beer was mostly foam.这杯啤酒大部分是泡沫。
• The surface of the water is full of foam.水面都是泡沫。

5 frantically   

ad.发狂地, 发疯地

参考例句：

• He dashed frantically across the road. 他疯狂地跑过马路。
• She bid frantically for the old chair. 她发狂地喊出高价要买那把古老的椅子。

6 reprieve   

n.暂缓执行（死刑）；v.缓期执行；给…带来缓解

参考例句：

• He was saved from the gallows by a lastminute reprieve.最后一刻的缓刑令把他从绞架上解救了下来。
• The railway line, due for closure, has been granted a six-month reprieve.本应停运的铁路线获准多运行6 个月。

7 ignominious   

adj.可鄙的，不光彩的，耻辱的

参考例句：

• The marriage was considered especially ignominious since she was of royal descent.由于她出身王族，这门婚事被认为是奇耻大辱。
• Many thought that he was doomed to ignominious failure.许多人认为他注定会极不光彩地失败。