《黑骏马》第3章金儿的故事(4)

After my training，Ginger¹ went on，I was bought by a dealer² to match another horse of my colour．

训练之后，金儿继续道，我被一个商人买去配他的另一匹颜色和我相仿的马。

But then we were sold to a man in London who drove us with a bearing rein³—a rein to hold our heads up unnaturally⁴ high and to keep them there，

随后我们被卖到伦敦。新主人用缰绳把我们的头勒得老是不自然地高昂着，

for hours and hours，until the pain was terrible．

一连好几个小时，直到我们痛得受不了。

We had to wear two bits instead of one，and mine was so sharp that it made my mouth bleed．

我们得戴两副嚼子，而不是一副，我的嚼口锋利得把我的嘴都划出血了。

Sometimes we waited for hours while our master or mistress was at parties or the theatre，and if we weren't patient，the driver would whip us．'

有时我们的男主人或女主人参加舞会或去剧院，我们得等上好多个小时，如有一点不耐烦，马夫就抽我们。

'Didn't your master care about you at all？I said．

你们的主人就一点也不关心你们？我说。

Only about how we looked，replied Ginger．He knew very little about horses．

他只在乎我们的外貌。金儿说。他对马懂得很少。

The driver told him I had a bad temper but would soon get used to the bearing rein．

马夫告诉他说我的脾气很坏，但很快就会适应缰绳。

I was willing to work and learn，but they were so cruel that it made me angry．

我愿意干活和学新本领，但他们太冷酷了，我就生气了。

Then I broke away from the carriage one day，and that was the end of that place．

于是一天我从那辆车上挣脱开逃走了，从此告别了那个地方。

1 ginger   

n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气

参考例句：

• There is no ginger in the young man.这个年轻人没有精神。
• Ginger shall be hot in the mouth.生姜吃到嘴里总是辣的。

2 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。

3 rein   

n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治

参考例句：

• The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
• He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。

4 unnaturally   

adv.违反习俗地；不自然地；勉强地；不近人情地

参考例句：

• Her voice sounded unnaturally loud. 她的嗓音很响亮，但是有点反常。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Her eyes were unnaturally bright. 她的眼睛亮得不自然。 来自《简明英汉词典》