白领英语晨读-144 Aphrodite (Venus) 阿芙罗狄蒂（维纳斯）

Aphrodite(Venus)

Aphrodite was the goddess of extreme beauty．Her birthwas a mysterious one．On one of those days when the

Olympians had begun to enjoy power in the universe，the floating bubbles of the sea glowed with holy brightness．Out of the wave rose a fair and lovely maiden¹，shining forth² warmth and charm．She was then taken by the ocean fairy maiden to Cyprus which became her sacred island．Her beauty was beyond description，and she was rightly called the Beautiful．Over her deathles shead was a golden crown，her eyes were deep and soft，and herbrows warm．Her long halr flowed over her dellcate neck and white bosom³ ．Her slender fingers and rosy-white feet all added to her attractive grace and elegance⁴ ．Her slim lily form of a figure caused both the enthusiastic admiration⁵ of the gods and the burning jealousy⁶ of the goddess when she first took her place on Olympus．

She was appointed goddess of Love and Marriage．Sitting inher carriage drawn⁷ by sparrows，doves or swans，she travelledfar and wide to inspire love in the hearts of all nature and move man and beast and animal and plant to reproduction． with the help of her little son，Eros，the god of love，she made many a tale of happiness and sadness in the life of gods and men．

1 maiden   

n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的

参考例句：

• The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。
• The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。

2 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

3 bosom   

n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的

参考例句：

• She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
• A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。

4 elegance   

n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙

参考例句：

• The furnishings in the room imparted an air of elegance.这个房间的家具带给这房间一种优雅的气氛。
• John has been known for his sartorial elegance.约翰因为衣着讲究而出名。

5 admiration   

n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕

参考例句：

• He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
• We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

6 jealousy   

n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌

参考例句：

• Some women have a disposition to jealousy.有些女人生性爱妒忌。
• I can't support your jealousy any longer.我再也无法忍受你的嫉妒了。

7 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。