美国小学英语教材5:第254课 埃斯特班——狂欢王后的花童(7)

As he passed the capitol with its high white pillars of marble, which had been brought all the way from Georgia, he saw a group of boys playing about the long seat built in the sea wall that faces the capitol. Marble lions guarded the seat, and almond trees shaded it. The boys called to Esteban, and he was tempted¹ to join them. He paused; then holding the package close, he shook his head and went on. The queen must have her crown.

当他经过国会大厦时，他看到一群男孩在面对国会大厦的海堤上建的长椅子上玩耍。大理石狮子守护着座位，杏树遮蔽着座位。孩子们向埃斯特班呼唤，他很想加入他们。他停顿了一下；然后他把包裹拿紧，摇了摇头，继续往前走。女王必须得到她的王冠。

A servant opened her door for him, and he asked to see the queen, for the crown must be delivered into her own hands. When she came, Esteban was sorry to see a troubled look on her face. He had expected to find it happy and shining. Perhaps the crown would bring the glad light into her eyes. He wanted to wait and see.

一个仆人为他打开了门，他要求见王后，因为王冠必须交给她自己。当她来的时候，埃斯特班很遗憾地看到她脸上困惑的表情。他原以为会发现它是快乐的，闪闪发光的。也许王冠会给她的眼睛带来喜悦的光芒。他想等等看看。

“My master would know if the crown pleases, “ Esteban said, for his master had put his finest work on it.

“如果国王高兴，那么我的主人会知道的，”埃斯特班说，因为他的主人已经把他最好的作品放上面了。

The queen untied² the box and lifted out the sparkling³ crown. For a moment her eyes shone like the jewels, and then the same troubled look came again into her face. Esteban could not leave until he knew what caused this look in the queen’s eyes.

女王解开盒子，把闪闪发光的皇冠拿了出来。她的眼睛像宝石一样闪了一会儿，然后她的脸上又出现了那种烦恼的神色。埃斯特班必须弄清楚是什么引起了女王的这种眼神，才能离开。

“You like it?” he asked, pointing to the crown.

“您喜欢吗？”他指着皇冠问道。

1 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

2 untied   

松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决

参考例句：

• Once untied, we common people are able to conquer nature, too. 只要团结起来，我们老百姓也能移山倒海。
• He untied the ropes. 他解开了绳子。

3 sparkling   

adj.发火花的，闪亮的；灿烂的，活泼的；闪闪发光的，闪烁的；起泡沫的v.闪光，闪耀(sparkle的现在分词)

参考例句：

• the calm and sparkling waters of the lake 平静的波光粼粼的湖水
• Other sparkling wines are often considered the poor relations of champagne. 其他起泡的葡萄酒通常被认为较香槟酒为次。 来自《简明英汉词典》