《黑骏马》第2章 伯特威克庄园(2)（在线收听）

Next there was the saddle．My master put it on my back very gently，then fixed the straps under my body，speaking quietly to me all the time．

下一步是戴马鞍。主人非常轻柔地把它放到我的背上，把绳子在我的肚皮下系住。他一直轻轻地跟我说着话。

Then one morning，he got on my back and rode me round the field on the soft grass．He did this every day until I was used to it．

然后一天早上，他骑上我在软软的草上绕着田野走了走。他每天都这样，直到我习惯了为止。

Then he took me to the village where a man fixed metal shoes on to each hoof．My feet felt heavy and strange，but I got used to this，too．

然后他带我到村里的一个人那儿，给我的每只脚都钉上了掌。我的脚觉得又沉又怪，不过后来我连这个也习惯了。

There were more new things to wear．First，a heavy collar on my neck，and a bridle with great side pieces against my eyes，called blinkers．

还有好多新东西要戴。首先，是脖子上重重的轭具，还有笼头，带着一大块挡住我的眼睛的叫作马眼罩的东西。

With these on，I could only see in front of me．But in time I got used to everything，and could do my work as well as my mother．

戴上它们，我只能看见我前方的东西。但渐渐地我适应了这一切，而且能把活干得和妈妈一样好了。

For a fortnight，my master sent me to a neighbour's farm for another kind of training，which was very useful to me．

有两周的时间，主人把我送到邻居的农场里进行另一项训练，这对我非常有用。

One field was next to the railway and had sheep and cows in it，and I was put in among them．

这是一片靠近铁路的田野，有羊，有牛，我被放到他们中间。

I shall never forget the first train that thundered by，and how I galloped to the far side of the field，trembling with fear at this terrible noise．

我永远忘不了当第一辆火车轰鸣而过的时候，我是如何害怕得浑身颤抖，如何飞也似地逃得远远的。

But after a few days I cared as little as the sheep and cows when a train passed by．

不过几天以后，再有火车过时，我已和那些牛羊一样若无其事了。