美国语文第六册 第31期:受惊的艺术家(7)

 　　How transparent¹ is the water! 瞧，画上那水多清澈啊！

　　What life breathes in the animals that quench² their thirst at that spring! 在清泉旁饮水的动物生活得多惬意啊！

　　How that steeple shines! How beautiful are those clustering trees!" 教堂的尖塔熠熠生辉！那些树丛画得多漂亮啊！”

　　This was the last expiring throb³ of an artist's vanity. 这就是一位艺术家虚荣心最后濒临消亡前的悸动。

　　The ominous⁴ silence continued, and Samuel, sick at heart, buried his face in his hands. 漫长的沉默还在继续，而萨缪尔一阵心悸，连忙用手捂住脸颊。

　　"Twenty-one thalers!" murmured a faint voice, just as the auctioneer was about to knock down the picture. “21泰勒！”就在拍卖员正要落槌表示流拍之际，一个软弱无力的声音轻声开价道，

　　The stupefied painter gave a start of joy. 这位惊呆了的画家转忧为喜。

　　He raised his head and looked to see from whose lips those blessed words had come. 他抬起头，想看看到底是从谁的嘴里说出这么神圣的字眼。

　　It was the picture dealer⁵, to whom he had first thought of applying. 是一位画商，他本来就认为这个人会率先开价的。

　　"Fifty thalers," cried a sonorous⁶ voice. “50泰勒！”一个洪亮的声音喊道。

　　This time a tall man in black was the speaker. 这次是一位身着黑衣服的高个子男人，他用喇叭喊价。

　　There was a silence of hushed expectation. 在一阵平静的期待中，拍卖会场陷于平静。

　　"One hundred thalers," at length thundered the picture dealer. “100泰勒，”终于，那位画商高声喊道。

　　"Three hundred!" "Five hundred!" "One thousand!" “300泰勒！”“500泰勒！”“1000泰勒！”

　　Another profound silence, and the crowd pressed around the two opponents, who stood opposite each other with eager and angry looks. 又陷入意味深长的沉默。人们簇拥在两位竞争对手周围，这两人面对面站着，都是一副热切又志在必得的神情，满脸怒气。

　　"Two thousand thalers!" cried the picture dealer, and glanced around him triumphantly⁷, when he saw his adversary⁸ hesitate. “2000泰勒！”这位画商喊道，他见对手略一踌躇，便盛气凌人地打量着对方。

1 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

2 quench   

vt.熄灭，扑灭；压制

参考例句：

• The firemen were unable to quench the fire.消防人员无法扑灭这场大火。
• Having a bottle of soft drink is not enough to quench my thirst.喝一瓶汽水不够解渴。

3 throb   

v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动

参考例句：

• She felt her heart give a great throb.她感到自己的心怦地跳了一下。
• The drums seemed to throb in his ears.阵阵鼓声彷佛在他耳边震响。

4 ominous   

adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的

参考例句：

• Those black clouds look ominous for our picnic.那些乌云对我们的野餐来说是个不祥之兆。
• There was an ominous silence at the other end of the phone.电话那头出现了不祥的沉默。

5 dealer   

n.商人，贩子

参考例句：

• The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
• The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。

6 sonorous   

adj.响亮的，回响的；adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；n.感人，堂皇

参考例句：

• The sonorous voice of the speaker echoed round the room.那位演讲人洪亮的声音在室内回荡。
• He has a deep sonorous voice.他的声音深沉而洪亮。

7 triumphantly   

ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地

参考例句：

• The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
• Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。

8 adversary   

adj.敌手，对手

参考例句：

• He saw her as his main adversary within the company.他将她视为公司中主要的对手。
• They will do anything to undermine their adversary's reputation.他们会不择手段地去损害对手的名誉。