美国小学英语教材5:第251课 埃斯特班——狂欢王后的花童(4)（在线收听）

When the night came, Esteban made himself black, and wrapped around him the Spanish cloak that had been his grandfather’s. It swept the ground, but Esteban, small as he was, wore it gracefully, for many of his forebears had worn such cloaks not only for warmth, but for adornment. The little band of singers went first to the governor’s palace. It was a beautiful palace of more than thirty rooms, and for many years it had been the pride of Porto Rico. And yet the children sang for its household one of the simple, kindly songs which they also sang at humble doorways:

夜幕降临时，埃斯特班把自己变成了黑色，用祖父的西班牙披风把自己裹了起来。披风扫过地面，埃斯特班虽然很小，但穿着很优雅，因为他的许多祖先穿这样的斗篷不仅是为了取暖，而且是为了装饰。小乐队的歌手先去了总督的宫殿。这是一座美丽的宫殿，有三十多个房间，多年来一直是波多黎各的骄傲。然而，孩子们还是为这家人唱了一首简单而亲切的歌，就像他们在简陋的门口唱的那样：

The house we stand before,

我们面前的房子，

Has kindly doors of wood,

有很好的木门，

And those who live within

还有那些住在里面的人

Are generous and good.

慷慨善良。