美国小学英语教材5:第8课 神奇的牛奶罐(6)

 　　This staff, in fact, was the oddest-looking staff that Philemon had ever seen. 事实上，这根手杖是菲利蒙见过的样子最奇怪的手杖。

　　It was made of olive-wood, and had something like a pair of wings near the top. 它是用橄榄木做的，接近顶部的地方有一双像翅膀的东西。

　　Two snakes carved in the wood were twining themselves about the staff. 雕刻在木头上的两条蛇缠绕在手杖上。

　　Old Philemon almost thought them alive, and that he could see them wriggling¹ and twisting². 老菲利蒙几乎认为它们是活的，而且他能看见它们正在蠕动盘绕。

　　"A curious piece of work, sure enough!" said he. 果真是一件奇怪的艺术品，他说。

　　"A staff with wings! It would be an excellent kind of stick for a little boy to ride astride of!" 长着翅膀的手杖！让一个小男孩骑在这根手杖上的话会很好！

　　By this time Philemon and his two guests had reached the cottage door. 这时，菲利蒙和他的两个客人已经到了小屋门口。

　　"Friends," said the old man, "sit down and rest yourselves here on this bench. 朋友们，老人说，坐在这个板凳上休息一下吧。

　　My good wife, Baucis, has gone to see what you can have for supper. 我善良的妻子柏西斯已经去看你们的晚饭有什么能吃的。

　　We are poor folks³; but you shall be welcome to whatever we have in the cupboard." 我们是穷人；但是无论我们食橱里有什么，你们都可以随意吃。

　　The younger stranger threw himself carelessly on the bench, letting his staff fall as he did so. 那个年轻一点儿的陌生人径直坐在板凳上，同时把他的手杖也随意一放。

　　And here happened something rather marvelous⁴. 这时发生了非常奇妙的事情。

　　The staff seemed to get up from the ground! 那根手杖好像从地上站起来了！

　　Spreading its little pair of wings, it half hopped⁵, half flew, and leaned⁶ itself against the wall of the cottage. 它张开那双小翅膀，半跳半飞的靠在了小屋的墙上。

　　There it stood quite still, except that the snakes continued to wriggle⁷. 它在那里非常安静的站着，除了那两条蛇在继续蠕动。

1 wriggling   

v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕

参考例句：

• The baby was wriggling around on my lap. 婴儿在我大腿上扭来扭去。
• Something that looks like a gray snake is wriggling out. 有一种看来象是灰蛇的东西蠕动着出来了。 来自辞典例句

2 twisting   

n.翘曲，扭曲v.扭，搓，缠绕（ twist的现在分词 ）adj.缠绕的；曲折的；转动的

参考例句：

• The old peasant is twisting pieces of straw into a rope. 这位老农民正把稻草搓成绳子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Those children have been twisting the wreath off again. 那些孩子又把花冠扭了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 folks   

n.人们；父母；亲人；家属；人们( folk的名词复数 )；亲属；大伙儿；民间音乐

参考例句：

• Ask yourself what the folks in Peoria will think of it. 想一想皮奥里亚的人会如何看待这件事。
• When good folks meet, evil men keep their distance. 好人相逢，恶人远离。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 marvelous   

adj.奇迹般的，惊人的，了不起的

参考例句：

• It'seems to me a most marvelous book.这本书我觉得奥妙之至。
• I congratulate you on this marvelous opportunity.恭喜你获得这样一个极好的机会。

5 hopped   

跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花

参考例句：

• He hopped onto a car and wanted to drive to town. 他跳上汽车想开向市区。
• He hopped into a car and drove to town. 他跳进汽车，向市区开去。

6 leaned   

v.（使）倾斜，屈身( lean的过去式和过去分词 )；倚；依赖；使斜靠

参考例句：

• He leaned forward, his hands clasped tightly together. 他俯身向前，双手十字交错地紧握着。
• He leaned back, exulting at the success of his plan. 他向后一靠，为自己计划成功而得意扬扬。

7 wriggle   

v./n.蠕动，扭动；蜿蜒

参考例句：

• I've got an appointment I can't wriggle out of.我有个推脱不掉的约会。
• Children wriggle themselves when they are bored.小孩子感到厌烦时就会扭动他们的身体。