美国语文第六册 第130期:哲学家(1)

 From the house at Swallow Barn there is to be seen, at no great distance, a clump¹ of trees, 从坐落在雨燕谷仓的那幢房子看，相距不远处，有一个树丛，

and in the midst of these a humble² building is discernible, that seems to court the shade in which it is modestly embowered. 在这些茂密的大树中间那座简陋的建筑清晰可辨，似乎在向小心地隐藏在树林中的树荫大献殷勤。

It is an old structure built of logs. 这是一幢用木头建成的老式建筑，

Its figure is a cube, with a roof rising from all sides to a point, 看上去就像个立方体，屋顶突起成尖顶状，

and surmounted³ by a wooden weathercock, which somewhat resembles a fish and somewhat a fowl⁴. 周围是木制的风标，乍看有点像一条鱼，又有点像一只鸟。

This little edifice⁵ is a rustic⁶ shrine⁷ devoted⁸ to Cadmus, and is under the dominion⁹ of parson Chub. 这幢不小的建筑其实是向希腊神话中的卡德摩斯献祭的做工粗糙的神龛，归教区长查伯管辖。

He is a plump, rosy¹⁰ old gentleman, rather short and thickset, with the blood vessels¹¹ meandering¹² over his face like rivulets¹³, 这位教区长是一位大块头，肤色红润的老绅士，身材矮小四肢粗短，脸上的毛细血管像小溪一样蜿蜒交错，

a pair of prominent blue eyes, and a head of silky hair not unlike the covering of a white spaniel. 一双突出的蓝眼睛，一头光滑的头发，恰似一条头发斑白的老獚狗。

He may be said to be a man of jolly dimensions, with an evident taste for good living, sometimes sloven¹⁴ in his attire¹⁵, 可以说他是一个非常快活的人，对有品位的生活有明显的兴趣，尽管有时穿着邋遢，

for his coat — which is not of the newest — is decorated with sundry¹⁶ spots that are scattered¹⁷ over it in constellations¹⁸. 那件不算太新的大衣上面密布着各种各样的斑点。

Besides this, he wears an immense cravat¹⁹, which, as it is wreathed around his short neck, forms a bowl beneath his chin, 除此之外，他还围了一条很大的围巾，缠在那短脖子上，在他颌下堆成一个碗状，

and — as Ned says — gives the parson's head the appearance of that of John the Baptist upon a charger, 就像奈德说的那样——使得这位教区执事的头呈现圣徒约翰所诟病的那个模样，

as it is sometimes represented in the children's picture books. 有时能在儿童图画书中一睹其神采。

 

1 clump   

n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走

参考例句：

• A stream meandered gently through a clump of trees.一条小溪从树丛中蜿蜒穿过。
• It was as if he had hacked with his thick boots at a clump of bluebells.仿佛他用自己的厚靴子无情地践踏了一丛野风信子。

2 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

3 surmounted   

战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上

参考例句：

• She was well aware of the difficulties that had to be surmounted. 她很清楚必须克服哪些困难。
• I think most of these obstacles can be surmounted. 我认为这些障碍大多数都是可以克服的。

4 fowl   

n.家禽，鸡，禽肉

参考例句：

• Fowl is not part of a traditional brunch.禽肉不是传统的早午餐的一部分。
• Since my heart attack,I've eaten more fish and fowl and less red meat.自从我患了心脏病后，我就多吃鱼肉和禽肉，少吃红色肉类。

5 edifice   

n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室)

参考例句：

• The American consulate was a magnificent edifice in the centre of Bordeaux.美国领事馆是位于波尔多市中心的一座宏伟的大厦。
• There is a huge Victorian edifice in the area.该地区有一幢维多利亚式的庞大建筑物。

6 rustic   

adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬

参考例句：

• It was nearly seven months of leisurely rustic living before Michael felt real boredom.这种悠闲的乡村生活过了差不多七个月之后,迈克尔开始感到烦闷。
• We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust.我们希望新鲜的空气和乡村的氛围能帮他调整自己。

7 shrine   

n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣

参考例句：

• The shrine was an object of pilgrimage.这处圣地是人们朝圣的目的地。
• They bowed down before the shrine.他们在神龛前鞠躬示敬。

8 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

9 dominion   

n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图

参考例句：

• Alexander held dominion over a vast area.亚历山大曾统治过辽阔的地域。
• In the affluent society,the authorities are hardly forced to justify their dominion.在富裕社会里，当局几乎无需证明其统治之合理。

10 rosy   

adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的

参考例句：

• She got a new job and her life looks rosy.她找到一份新工作，生活看上去很美好。
• She always takes a rosy view of life.她总是对生活持乐观态度。

11 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 meandering   

蜿蜒的河流，漫步，聊天

参考例句：

• The village seemed deserted except for small boys and a meandering donkey. 整个村子的人都像是逃光了，只留下了几个小男孩和一头正在游游荡荡的小毛驴。 来自教父部分
• We often took a walk along the meandering river after supper. 晚饭后我们常沿着那条弯弯曲曲的小河散步。

13 rivulets   

n.小河，小溪( rivulet的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Rivulets of water ran in through the leaks. 小股的水流通过漏洞流进来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rivulets of sweat streamed down his cheeks. 津津汗水顺着他的两颊流下。 来自辞典例句

14 sloven   

adj.不修边幅的

参考例句：

• Such sloven work habits will never produce good products.这样马马虎虎的工作习惯决不能生产出优质产品来。
• I really cannot bear the sight of that sloven woman.我连看也不想看那个邋遢的女人。

15 attire   

v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装

参考例句：

• He had no intention of changing his mode of attire.他无意改变着装方式。
• Her attention was attracted by his peculiar attire.他那奇特的服装引起了她的注意。

16 sundry   

adj.各式各样的，种种的

参考例句：

• This cream can be used to treat sundry minor injuries.这种药膏可用来治各种轻伤。
• We can see the rich man on sundry occasions.我们能在各种场合见到那个富豪。

17 scattered   

adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的

参考例句：

• Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

18 constellations   

n.星座( constellation的名词复数 )；一群杰出人物；一系列（相关的想法、事物）；一群（相关的人）

参考例句：

• The map of the heavens showed all the northern constellations. 这份天体图标明了北半部所有的星座。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His time was coming, he would move in the constellations of power. 他时来运转，要进入权力中心了。 来自教父部分

19 cravat   

n.领巾，领结；v.使穿有领结的服装，使结领结

参考例句：

• You're never fully dressed without a cravat.不打领结，就不算正装。
• Mr. Kenge adjusting his cravat,then looked at us.肯吉先生整了整领带，然后又望着我们。