美国小学英语教材5:第10课 神奇的牛奶罐(8)

 The younger was so witty¹ that the good old man often burst out laughing, and called him the merriest fellow he had seen for many a day. 年轻一点的那位非常诙谐，使那位善良的老人经常忍不住大笑起来，并称菲利蒙为好多日子以来见过的最快乐的人。

"Pray, my young friend," said he, "what may I call your name?" 请问我年轻的朋友，他说，你叫什么名字？

"Why, I am very nimble, as you see," answered the traveler. 哎呀，我非常的机敏，正如你所见，那个旅行者回答说。

"So, if you call me Quicksilver, the name will fit well." 因此如果你叫我水银的话，这个名字会非常适合我。

"Quicksilver? Quicksilver?" said Philemon, looking in the traveler's face to see if he were making fun of him. 水银？水银？菲利蒙一边说一边看着旅行者的脸，看看他是否在跟他开玩笑。

"It is a very odd name. And your companion there? Has he as strange a one?" 这个名字很奇怪。那你那边的同伴呢？他的名字也很奇怪吗？

"You must ask the thunder to tell it to you," replied Quicksilver. "No other voice is loud enough." 你必须让雷来告诉你。水银回答说，没有其他更响亮的声音了。

Baucis had now got supper ready, and, coming to the door, began to make apologies for the poor food which she had made ready for her guests. 这时柏西斯准备好了晚饭来到门口，开始为给客人准备的粗劣食物而致歉。

"Had we known you were coming," said she, "my good man and myself would have gone without a morsel² in order that you might have a better supper. 如果我们知道你们要来的话，她说，我善良的丈夫和我一口也不会吃，以便你们能够吃一顿好些的晚饭。

But I took the best part of today's milk to make cheese; and our last loaf is already half eaten." 但是我把今天最好的一部分牛奶做了奶酪，而且我们最后一个面包已经吃了一半。

"Why, Mother Baucis, whatever you offer us will seem like a feast³!" exclaimed Quicksilver, "for I never felt hungrier in my life!" 哎呀，柏西斯妈妈，无论你拿什么招待我们，都好似盛宴一般！水银大声说道，因为我平生从来没有感到这么饿过！

1 witty   

adj.机智的，风趣的

参考例句：

• Her witty remarks added a little salt to the conversation.她的妙语使谈话增添了一些风趣。
• He scored a bull's-eye in their argument with that witty retort.在他们的辩论中他那一句机智的反驳击中了要害。

2 morsel   

n.一口，一点点

参考例句：

• He refused to touch a morsel of the food they had brought.他们拿来的东西他一口也不吃。
• The patient has not had a morsel of food since the morning.从早上起病人一直没有进食。

3 feast   

n.盛宴，筵席，节日

参考例句：

• After the feast she spent a week dieting to salve her conscience.大吃了一顿之后，她花了一周时间节食以安慰自己。
• You shouldn't have troubled yourself to prepare such a feast!你不该准备这样丰盛的饭菜，这样太麻烦你了！