美国语文第五册 第271期:英吉利海峡追逐战(1)

 　　The ship which the American frigate¹ had now to oppose, was a vessel² of near her own size and equipage; 这艘美国防卫舰此刻的对手，为一艘与其体积配置所差无几的英国战舰，

　　and when Griffith looked at her again, he perceived that she had made her preparations to assert her equality in manful fight. 格里菲斯船长再度打量了自己舰艇，意识到准备工作已经就绪，完全可以投入即将到来的激烈战斗。

　　Her sails had been gradually reduced to the usual quantity, 护卫舰航行速度缓慢地减到正常时速后，

　　and, by certain movements on her decks, the lieutenant³ and his constant attendant, the Pilot, 随同一直左右的领航员，上尉船长登上甲板观察后发现，

　　well understood that she only wanted to lessen⁴ the distance a few hundred yards to begin the action. 只要将两舰距离减少数百码，便可即刻发动攻击。

　　“Now spread everything,” whispered the stranger. “进入战斗状态，”那位新来的领航员低声说道。

　　Griffith applied⁵ the trumpet⁶ to his mouth, and shouted, in a voice that was carried even to his enemy, 格里菲斯船长扬起喇叭，他的声音洪亮，在空中炸响，甚至敌舰亦能听见，

　　Let fall—out with your booms—sheet home—hoist away of everything! 士兵们，各就各位投入战斗，做好炮击准备，立即升起风帆！

　　The inspiring cry was answered by a universal bustle⁷. 船舰上顿时一团喧嚣忙乱。

　　Fifty men flew out on the dizzy heights of the different spars, while broad sheets of canvas rose as suddenly along the masts, 五十位军人如离弦的箭般飞奔爬向高低不同的大小桅杆，数张宽阔的船帆顷刻间沿着桅杆嗖嗖地升起展开，

　　as if some mighty⁸ bird were spreading its wings. 宛如巨鸟霎时打开宽阔双翼。

　　The Englishman instantly perceived his mistake, and he answered the artifice⁹ by a roar of artillery¹⁰. 英国人旋即意识到自己的失策，很快用一通轰鸣火炮回应美舰的袭击。

　　Griffith watched the effects of the broadside with an absorbing interest as the shot whistled above his head; 当炮弹呼啸着从格里菲斯头顶掠过，

　　but when he perceived his masts untouched, and the few unimportant ropes, only, that were cut, 船长急切地察看隆隆炮声后的船舷，防卫舰上所有桅杆毫发无伤，不过只是炸断几根不甚紧要的绳索，

　　he replied to the uproar¹¹ with a burst of pleasure. 他的心头不禁泛起一阵狂喜。

1 frigate   

n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰

参考例句：

• An enemy frigate bore down on the sloop.一艘敌驱逐舰向这只护航舰逼过来。
• I declare we could fight frigate.我敢说我们简直可以和一艘战舰交战。

2 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

3 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

4 lessen   

vt.减少，减轻；缩小

参考例句：

• Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
• They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。

5 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

6 trumpet   

n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘

参考例句：

• He plays the violin, but I play the trumpet.他拉提琴，我吹喇叭。
• The trumpet sounded for battle.战斗的号角吹响了。

7 bustle   

v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹

参考例句：

• The bustle and din gradually faded to silence as night advanced.随着夜越来越深，喧闹声逐渐沉寂。
• There is a lot of hustle and bustle in the railway station.火车站里非常拥挤。

8 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

9 artifice   

n.妙计，高明的手段；狡诈，诡计

参考例句：

• The use of mirrors in a room is an artifice to make the room look larger.利用镜子装饰房间是使房间显得大一点的巧妙办法。
• He displayed a great deal of artifice in decorating his new house.他在布置新房子中表现出富有的技巧。

10 artillery   

n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队)

参考例句：

• This is a heavy artillery piece.这是一门重炮。
• The artillery has more firepower than the infantry.炮兵火力比步兵大。

11 uproar   

n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸

参考例句：

• She could hear the uproar in the room.她能听见房间里的吵闹声。
• His remarks threw the audience into an uproar.他的讲话使听众沸腾起来。