美国小学英语教材5:第121课 点金术(15)

 Midas began to wring¹ his hands and bemoan² himself; he could neither bear to look at Marygold, nor yet to look away from her. 迈达斯开始绞着手，埋怨；他既不敢看玛丽金，也不敢把目光从她身上移开。

While he was in this despair, he suddenly beheld³ a stranger, standing⁴ near the door. 正当他绝望的时候，他突然看见一个陌生人站在门口。

Midas bent⁵ down his head, without speaking, for he recognized the same figure which had appeared to him the day before in the treasure- room, and had bestowed⁶ upon him this unlucky power of the Golden Touch. 迈达斯低下头，一句话也没说，因为他认出了昨天在储藏室里出现在他面前的那个人，正是那个人赋予了他这种不幸的点金术。

The stranger's face still wore a smile, which seemed to shed a yellow luster⁷ all about the room. 陌生人的脸上仍然挂着微笑，这微笑似乎使整个房间都泛着黄色的光彩。

It gleamed on little Marygold's statue, and on the other objects that had been changed by the touch of Midas. 它在小玛丽金的雕像和其他被迈达斯的触摸改变了的东西上闪闪发光。

“Well, friend Midas,” said the stranger, “pray how do you succeed with the Golden Touch?” “那么，朋友迈达斯，”陌生人说，“请问你是如何用点金术成功的？”

Midas shook his head. 迈达斯摇摇头。

“I am very miserable⁸,” said he. “我很痛苦，”他说。

“Very miserable, indeed!” exclaimed the stranger. “实际上非常痛苦！”陌生人惊呼道。

“And how happens that? “怎么会这样呢？

Have I not faithfully kept my promise with you? 难道我没有忠实地履行我对你的诺言吗？

Have you not everything that your heart desired?” 你没得到心中所想吗？”

“Gold is not everything,” answered Midas. “黄金不是万能的，”迈达斯回答说。

“And I have lost all that my heart really cared for.” “我失去了我内心真正在乎的一切。”

“Ah! So you have made a discovery since yesterday?” asked the stranger. “你有了新发现？”陌生人问。

“Let us see, then. “那么让我们看看。

Which of these two things do you think is really worth the more — the gift of the Golden Touch, or one cup of clear cold water?” 你认为这两件事哪一件更有价值？是点金术的礼物，还是一杯干净的冷水？”

“Oh, blessed water!” exclaimed Midas. “哦，是水！”迈达斯惊呼。

“It will never moisten my parched⁹ throat again!” “它再也不会滋润我干渴的喉咙了！”

“The Golden Touch,” continued the stranger, “or a crust of bread?” “是点金术，”陌生人继续说道，“还是一块面包？”

“A piece of bread,” answered Midas, “is worth all the gold on earth!” “一片面包，”迈达斯回答说，“比世界上所有金子还有价值！”

“The Golden Touch,” asked the stranger, “or your own little Marygold, warm, soft, and loving, as she was an hour ago?” “点金术，”陌生人问，“还是一小时前温暖、温柔、可爱的小玛丽金？”

“Oh, my child, my dear child!” cried poor Midas, wringing¹⁰ his hands. “哦，是水！”迈达斯惊呼。

“I would not have given that one small dimple in her chin for the power of changing this whole big earth into a solid lump of gold!” “我不会因点金术而牺牲哪怕她脸上的一个小酒窝！”

 

1 wring   

n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭

参考例句：

• My socks were so wet that I had to wring them.我的袜子很湿，我不得不拧干它们。
• I'll wring your neck if you don't behave!你要是不规矩，我就拧断你的脖子。

2 bemoan   

v.悲叹，哀泣，痛哭；惋惜，不满于

参考例句：

• Purists bemoan the corruption of the language.主张语文纯正的人哀叹语言趋于不纯。
• Don't bemoan anything or anyone that you need to leave behind.不要再去抱怨那些你本该忘记的人或事。

3 beheld   

v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟

参考例句：

• His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

5 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

6 bestowed   

赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• It was a title bestowed upon him by the king. 那是国王赐给他的头衔。
• He considered himself unworthy of the honour they had bestowed on him. 他认为自己不配得到大家赋予他的荣誉。

7 luster   

n.光辉；光泽，光亮；荣誉

参考例句：

• His great books have added luster to the university where he teaches.他的巨著给他任教的大学增了光。
• Mercerization enhances dyeability and luster of cotton materials.丝光处理扩大棉纤维的染色能力，增加纤维的光泽。

8 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。

9 parched   

adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干

参考例句：

• Hot winds parched the crops.热风使庄稼干透了。
• The land in this region is rather dry and parched.这片土地十分干燥。

10 wringing   

淋湿的，湿透的

参考例句：

• He was wringing wet after working in the field in the hot sun. 烈日下在田里干活使他汗流满面。
• He is wringing out the water from his swimming trunks. 他正在把游泳裤中的水绞出来。