英国语文第四册 第2期:热带地区的景象(2)

In the deepest gloom, where the trees shut out the sun, myriads¹ of lights flit about, and twinkle like little stars.

在森林的最深处，大树遮盖住了阳光，无数的光线飞过，就像星星一样一闪一闪地。

As they flash here and there, you might fancy that troops of fairies were floating about with torches in their hands;

它们飞来飞去，你或许会想是不是成群的仙女手持火把飘过，

but there are no fairies in the case, —the lights are only the torches of the fireflies that live in the recesses² of the woods,

但其实并没有仙女。这些光仅仅是由生活在森林深处的萤火虫发出来的，

and every night make a kind of illumination amongst the trees.

每晚它们都会在森林里如此展示一番。

There are troops of monkeys, that run along the vegetable cables from one tree to another, or swing from the branches by their tails,

成群的猴子沿着植物的藤茎从一棵树跑到另一棵树上，或者用尾巴挂在树枝上摇摆，

making a noise all the time as if they were talking to each other.

总是叽叽喳喳好像在和彼此说话。

When night comes they roll themselves into a ball, huddled³ together as close as may be, to keep themselves warm.

夜幕降临时，它们把自己团成球，紧紧地挤在一起取暖。

Sometimes it happens that a few little monkeys have not been alert enough to get into the ball, and are left shivering outside.

有时，一些小猴子不够机灵，没能卷成球，被留在外面瑟瑟发抖。

They keep up a pitiful howling the whole night through, as if they were telling the rest how cold and miserable⁴ they are, and begging to be let in.

它们整晚都会发出可怜的嚎叫，好像在告诉其他猴子它们感到多寒冷，多痛苦，恳求能让它们进去。

But the others pay no attention, and go quietly off to sleep.

但是其他猴子丝毫不关心，很快就睡去了。

Then there are all sorts of wonderful birds, such as we never see in our country, except in cages.

还有各种漂亮的鸟儿，好像在我们的地区除了笼子里见过，从未见过野生的。

Flocks of parrots glisten⁵ in the sun, clad in glowing scarlet⁶, and green, and gold.

成群的鹦鹉身披红色、绿色和金色的羽毛，在阳光下熠熠生辉。

Humming-birds, like gems⁷ of beauty, come to seek honey and insects from the forest flowers. Fly-catchers gleam and sparkle everywhere.

像宝石一样美丽的蜂鸟，在森林中的花朵上寻找着蜂蜜和昆虫。捕蝇鸟闪闪发光的四处飞翔。

Water-fowl of snowy plumage sport on the streams, their white dresses contrasting with those of the red flamingo⁸,

羽毛雪白的水禽在小溪上嬉闹，它们雪白的装束和火红的火烈鸟形成强烈对比，

or the scarlet ibis, that stand patiently fishing on the shore.

朱鹭则站在岸边耐心地捕鱼。

1 myriads   

n.无数，极大数量( myriad的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Each galaxy contains myriads of stars. 每一星系都有无数的恒星。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The sky was set with myriads of stars. 无数星星点缀着夜空。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 recesses   

n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭

参考例句：

• I could see the inmost recesses. 我能看见最深处。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I had continually pushed my doubts to the darker recesses of my mind. 我一直把怀疑深深地隐藏在心中。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 huddled   

挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。
• We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。

4 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

5 glisten   

vi.（光洁或湿润表面等）闪闪发光，闪闪发亮

参考例句：

• Dewdrops glisten in the morning sun.露珠在晨光下闪闪发光。
• His sunken eyes glistened with delight.他凹陷的眼睛闪现出喜悦的光芒。

6 scarlet   

n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的

参考例句：

• The scarlet leaves of the maples contrast well with the dark green of the pines.深红的枫叶和暗绿的松树形成了明显的对比。
• The glowing clouds are growing slowly pale,scarlet,bright red,and then light red.天空的霞光渐渐地淡下去了，深红的颜色变成了绯红，绯红又变为浅红。

7 gems   

growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长

参考例句：

• a crown studded with gems 镶有宝石的皇冠
• The apt citations and poetic gems have adorned his speeches. 贴切的引语和珠玑般的诗句为他的演说词增添文采。

8 flamingo   

n.红鹳，火烈鸟

参考例句：

• This is the only species of flamingo in the region,easily recognized by its pink plumage.这是那个地区唯一一种火烈鸟，很容易凭粉红色的羽毛辨认出来。
• In my family,I am flamingo in the flock of pigeons.在家里，我就像一只被困在鸽笼里的火烈鸟。