第500期:英语美文-A Bewitched City

 　　A Bewitched City

　　巫城

　　美国的马萨诸塞州的塞勒姆，相传是一个有巫师的地方。说到巫师，我们的第一反应是一个干瘪而邪恶的老太婆，带着尖尖的帽子，骑着扫把，夜空中回荡着她们阴森而恐怖的笑声。而塞勒姆这个地方，相传有巫师，并不是有人发现了巫师的种种法术或是祸害他们。而是历史上他们误判超过200多人是巫师，并且处以他们以极刑的事件。今天我们就来完整听一下这个巫城的故事。

　　New Words:

　　bewitch vt. 施魔法于，蛊惑；使着迷

　　infamous¹ adj. 声名狼藉的；无耻的；

　　accuse vt. 控告，指控

　　convict vt. 证明…有罪；宣告…有罪

　　feud² n. 不和；争执；

　　hysterical³ adj. 歇斯底里的

　　crucible⁴ n. 坩埚；严酷的考验

　　Salem in the state of Massachusetts is called the "Witch City", but don't be afraid. There aren't women wearing pointy black hats riding around on brooms. The New England city is called the Witch City because of an infamous set of trials that happened there in 1692 to 1693. At the time, the city was just a town in the British colony of Massachusetts. The Salem Witch Trials accused more than200 people of being witches. People believed witchcraft⁵ was real and was criminal. Among the accused were women, men, and even children. Nineteen people were sentenced to death. They were all hanged. One of the accused was tortured with heavy rocks being placed on him until he was crushed underneath⁶ the weight. Seven others died in jail.

　　马萨诸塞州的塞勒姆被称为“巫城”，但不要害怕。没有戴着尖尖的黑色帽子骑在扫帚上的女人。新英格兰城市之所以被称为女巫城，是因为在1692到1693年间一系列臭名昭著的审判案件。当时，这个城市只是英国殖民地马萨诸塞州的一个小镇。塞勒姆女巫审判中，指控超过200人是女巫。人们相信巫术是真实的，而且是犯罪。被告人当中有女性，男性，甚至儿童。十九人被判处死刑。他们都被绞死了。其中一名被告用重石被压倒在地而深受折磨。另外七人死于监狱。

　　There was never any proof that those accused, and convicted were really witches. Historians think that people would accuse people because of family feuds⁷. Other historians think that a domino effect occurred, with people becoming hysterical after one accusation⁸. Fear of witches spread like a disease.

　　从来没有任何证据证明那些被指控的人是真正的女巫。历史学家认为人们会因为家庭仇恨而控告人们。其他历史学家认为，当一个指控发生后，便会发生多米诺骨牌效应，人们会变得歇斯底里。对女巫的恐惧也会像像疾病一样蔓延开来。

　　The Salem Witch Trials have become a part of the city's history. "The Crucible", a play about the trials by Arthur Miller⁹, has been turned into a movie. The city is not ashamed of its past, but rather uses it to teach tolerance¹⁰ and earn some tourist dollars. There is a memorial dedicated¹¹ to the innocent people who died because of the witch-hunts. There is a "Witch Museum" that tells the story of what happened. Many people visit Salem around Halloween. Salem police cars have witch logos. A local public school is known as the Witchcraft Heights Elementary School, and the Salem High School sports teams are named the Witches. Films and television shows featuring fictional¹² witches have been filmed in Salem, including "Hocus Pocus" and "Bewitched".

　　塞勒姆女巫审判已经成为该市历史的一部分。《坩埚》是一部关于阿瑟·米勒审判的剧本，已经被改编成电影。这座城市并不为它的过去感到羞耻，而是用它来教导宽容并赚取游客的钱。有一个纪念碑献给那些音追捕女巫而亡的无辜者。有一个“巫婆博物馆”讲述了事情发生的经过。许多人在万圣节前夕参观塞勒姆。塞勒姆警车有女巫标志。当地一所公立学校被称为巫师高地小学，塞勒姆高中的运动队被命名为巫师。在塞勒姆拍摄了以虚构女巫为题材的电影和电视剧，其中包括《人吓鬼》和《家有仙妻》。

1 infamous   

adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的

参考例句：

• He was infamous for his anti-feminist attitudes.他因反对女性主义而声名狼藉。
• I was shocked by her infamous behaviour.她的无耻行径令我震惊。

2 feud   

n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇

参考例句：

• How did he start his feud with his neighbor?他是怎样和邻居开始争吵起来的？
• The two tribes were long at feud with each other.这两个部族长期不和。

3 hysterical   

adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的

参考例句：

• He is hysterical at the sight of the photo.他一看到那张照片就异常激动。
• His hysterical laughter made everybody stunned.他那歇斯底里的笑声使所有的人不知所措。

4 crucible   

n.坩锅，严酷的考验

参考例句：

• The alliance had been forged in the crucible of war.这个联盟经受了战争的严峻考验。
• Put the required amount of metal into the crucible.把适量的金属放入坩埚。

5 witchcraft   

n.魔法，巫术

参考例句：

• The woman practising witchcraft claimed that she could conjure up the spirits of the dead.那个女巫说她能用魔法召唤亡灵。
• All these things that you call witchcraft are capable of a natural explanation.被你们统统叫做巫术的那些东西都可以得到合情合理的解释。

6 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

7 feuds   

n.长期不和，世仇( feud的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Quarrels and feuds between tribes became incessant. 部落间的争吵、反目成仇的事件接连不断。 来自英汉非文学 - 文明史
• There were feuds in the palace, no one can deny. 宫里也有斗争，这是无可否认的。 来自辞典例句

8 accusation   

n.控告，指责，谴责

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。

9 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

10 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。

11 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

12 fictional   

adj.小说的，虚构的

参考例句：

• The names of the shops are entirely fictional.那些商店的名字完全是虚构的。
• The two authors represent the opposite poles of fictional genius.这两位作者代表了天才小说家两个极端。