美国语文第五册 第128期:迟到(2)

 　　A leading firm in commercial circles had long struggled against bankruptcy¹. 长期以来，商业圈里某家主要公司反对美国破产法。

　　As it had large sums of money in California, it expected remittances² by a certain day, 当时，这家公司有大量资金在加利福尼亚，原本指望在某一指定日子向外汇款，

　　and if they arrived, its credit, its honor, and its future prosperity would be preserved. 若款项按时汇出，它的信用名誉以及它未来发展机遇无疑将得以保障。

　　But week after week elapsed without bringing the gold. 但是，一个又一个星期过去了，这笔款项仍未支付。

　　At last came the fatal day on which the firm had bills maturing to large amounts. 最后，至为关键的日子眼看到来，这家公司数额很大的几张汇票即将到期。

　　The steamer was telegraphed at daybreak; but it was found, on inquiry³, that she brought no funds, and the house failed. 黎明时分，一份加急电报发给游轮，但经过咨询发现，游轮并未携带现金，所以款项未能及时支付；

　　The next arrival brought nearly half a million to the insolvents⁴, but it was too late; 游轮再次抵达时将差不多五十万资金付予资不抵债者，但，所有一切太迟了，

　　they were ruined because their agent, in remitting⁵, had been behind time. 这家证券交易所彻底破产了，因为他们的代理商未能及时汇款。

　　A condemned⁶ man was led, out for execution. 一位死刑犯即将被执行死刑，

　　He had taken human life, but under circumstances of the greatest provocation⁷, and public sympathy was active in his behalf. 考虑到在被动激怒情况下，他才犯下人命，所以，公众对他给予相当同情，

　　Thousands had signed petitions for a reprieve⁸; a favorable answer had been expected the night before,  数千人联名签名请愿对他实施缓期死刑，上峰死缓回复有待在死刑执行前一天晚上送达。

　　and though it had not come, even the sheriff felt confident that it would yet arrive. 尽管批复未到，连执行司法官亦相信，缓刑已毋庸置疑。

　　Thus the morning passed without the appearance of the messenger. 第二天早晨，批复仍未到达。

1 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

2 remittances   

n.汇寄( remittance的名词复数 )；汇款，汇款额

参考例句：

• He sends regular remittances to his parents. 他定期汇款给他父母。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Remittances sometimes account for as much as 20% of GDP. 在这些国家中，此类汇款有时会占到GDP的20%之多。 来自互联网

3 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

4 insolvents   

n.无力偿还债务的人（insolvent的复数形式）

参考例句：

5 remitting   

v.免除（债务），宽恕( remit的现在分词 )；使某事缓和；寄回，传送

参考例句：

• You should fill in the money order carefully before remitting money. 在办理汇款业务前，应准确填写汇款单。
• Please wait for invoice detailing shipping costs before remitting your payment. 汇款前请为您的付款详细运费发票等。

6 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

7 provocation   

n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因

参考例句：

• He's got a fiery temper and flares up at the slightest provocation.他是火爆性子，一点就着。
• They did not react to this provocation.他们对这一挑衅未作反应。

8 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。