美国语文第五册 第40期:致命的虫豸(2)

 　　The symptoms of its bite are terrible. 遭受这种蠕虫叮咬的症状相当可怕。

　　The eyes of the patient become red and fiery¹, his tongue swells² to an immoderate size, and obstructs³ his utterance⁴; 病人眼睛变红或炙热，舌头过度肿胀，发音模糊不清，

　　and delirium⁵ of the most horrid⁶ character quickly follows. 随后出现可怕的谵妄症状，

　　Sometimes, in his madness, he attempts the destruction of his nearest friends. 病人处于癫狂状态下，甚至有可能攻击周围亲朋好友。

　　If the sufferer has a family, his weeping wife and helpless infants are not unfrequently the objects of his frantic⁷ fury. 如果受害人有家小的话，他身边哭泣的妻子以及无助的孩子们不可避免地成为他狂暴状态下首选攻击的目标，这一惨绝人寰悲剧并非少见。

　　In a word, he exhibits, to the life, all the detestable passions that rankle⁸ in the bosom⁹ of a savage¹⁰; 简而言之，受害人会向外界表达他野蛮内心的可怕暴怒，

　　and such is the spell in which his senses are locked, 这种行为归咎于意识锁闭，

　　that no sooner has the unhappy patient recovered from the paroxysm of insanity¹¹ occasioned by the bite, 即倘若由蠕虫咬噬引起精神错乱间断发作，这类病人一旦苏醒过来，

　　than he seeks out the destroyer for the sole purpose of being bitten again. 他即刻会寻找下一个报复者，唯一目的在于，他希望再度遭受虫豸啮噬。

　　I have seen a good old father, his locks as white as snow, 我曾经见过一位心地仁慈的年迈父亲，他的鬓发几乎花白，

　　his step slow and trembling, beg in vain of his only son to quit the lurking¹² place of the worm. 他的步履蹒跚颤抖，却依然徒劳无助地为他唯一的儿子乞讨，希望儿子可以从这类蠕虫潜伏期症状中获得解脱。

　　My heart bled when he turned away; 当他艰难地转身离开时，我的心在滴血，

　　for I knew the fond hope that his son would be the "staff of his declining years," had supported him through many a sorrow. 因为，我知道这美好的企盼，无外乎为他走过垂暮之年的唯一精神支柱，并已支撑他度过许多艰难厄苦。

　　Youths of America, would you know the name of this reptile¹³? 美国年轻人们，你知道这种爬行动物叫什么？

　　It is called the WORM OF THE STILL. 它就是僵尸蠕虫。

1 fiery   

adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的

参考例句：

• She has fiery red hair.她有一头火红的头发。
• His fiery speech agitated the crowd.他热情洋溢的讲话激动了群众。

2 swells   

增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情）

参考例句：

• The waters were heaving up in great swells. 河水正在急剧上升。
• A barrel swells in the middle. 水桶中部隆起。

3 obstructs   

阻塞( obstruct的第三人称单数 )； 堵塞； 阻碍； 阻止

参考例句：

• The cirrhotic process obstructs the intrahepatic portion of the portal venous system. 肝硬化使门脉系统的肝内部分受阻。
• A device or means that obstructs, blocks, or plugs up. 堵塞的方法：阻碍，阻挠或堵塞的工具或途径。

4 utterance   

n.用言语表达，话语，言语

参考例句：

• This utterance of his was greeted with bursts of uproarious laughter.他的讲话引起阵阵哄然大笑。
• My voice cleaves to my throat,and sob chokes my utterance.我的噪子哽咽，泣不成声。

5 delirium   

n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋

参考例句：

• In her delirium, she had fallen to the floor several times. 她在神志不清的状态下几次摔倒在地上。
• For the next nine months, Job was in constant delirium.接下来的九个月，约伯处于持续精神错乱的状态。

6 horrid   

adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的

参考例句：

• I'm not going to the horrid dinner party.我不打算去参加这次讨厌的宴会。
• The medicine is horrid and she couldn't get it down.这种药很难吃，她咽不下去。

7 frantic   

adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的

参考例句：

• I've had a frantic rush to get my work done.我急急忙忙地赶完工作。
• He made frantic dash for the departing train.他发疯似地冲向正开出的火车。

8 rankle   

v.（怨恨，失望等）难以释怀

参考例句：

• You burrow and rankle in his heart!你挖掘并折磨他的心灵！
• The insult still rankled in his mind.他对那次受辱仍耿耿於怀。

9 bosom   

n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的

参考例句：

• She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
• A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。

10 savage   

adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人

参考例句：

• The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
• He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。

11 insanity   

n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐

参考例句：

• In his defense he alleged temporary insanity.他伪称一时精神错乱，为自己辩解。
• He remained in his cell,and this visit only increased the belief in his insanity.他依旧还是住在他的地牢里，这次视察只是更加使人相信他是个疯子了。

12 lurking   

潜在

参考例句：

• Why are you lurking around outside my house? 你在我房子外面鬼鬼祟祟的，想干什么？
• There is a suspicious man lurking in the shadows. 有一可疑的人躲在阴暗中。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

13 reptile   

n.爬行动物；两栖动物

参考例句：

• The frog is not a true reptile.青蛙并非真正的爬行动物。
• So you should not be surprised to see someone keep a reptile as a pet.所以，你不必惊奇有人养了一只爬行动物作为宠物。