书城教材教辅新课标英语学习资源库-一本不说话的书
47970800000021

第21章 The Last Pearl(2)

Then handinhand they floated away to the spot where the fairy was now lingering(lingering adj.延迟的,逗留不去的)。It was in a large house with dark windows and empty rooms,in which a peculiar stillness reigned.A whole row of windows stood open,so that the rude wind could enter at its pleasure,and the long white curtains waved to and fro in the current of air.

于是她们手挽着手,飞到女神在这个时刻所住的那个地方去。这是一幢很大的房子。走廊是阴暗的,房间是空洞的。这里面是一片少有的沉寂。整排的窗子开着的,粗暴的空气自由侵入,垂着的白色长窗户幔在微风中摇摆。

In the centre of one of the rooms stood an open coffin,in which lay the body of a woman,still in the bloom of youthbloom of youth青春,风华正茂and very beautiful.Fresh roses were scattered over her.The delicate folded hands and the noble face glorified in death by the solemn,earnest look,which spoke of an entrance into a better world,were alone visible.

屋子的中央置着一口敞开的棺材,棺材里躺着一个年轻貌美的少妇的尸体。她的身上盖满了新鲜美丽的玫瑰花,只有她那双交叉着的、细嫩的手和纯净的、表示出对上帝极度忠诚的、高贵的脸显露出来。

Around the coffin stood the husband and children,a whole troop,the youngest in the fathers arms.They were come to take a last farewell look of their mother.The husband kissed her hand,which now lay like a withered leaf,but which a short time before had been diligently(diligently adv.勤勉地,坚持不懈地)employed in deeds of love for them all.Tears of sorrow rolled down their cheeks,and fell in heavy drops on the floor,but not a word was spoken.The silence which reigned here expressed a world of grief.With silent steps,still sobbing,they left the room.

在棺材旁边站着的是丈夫和孩子——是全家的人。最小的孩子偎在爸爸的怀里;他们都在这儿作最后的告别。丈夫吻着她的手,这只手像一片凋零的叶子,但是它从前曾经慈爱地、热烈地抚慰过他们。悲哀的、沉重的大颗泪珠落到地上,但是谁也说不出一句话来。这时沉寂正说明悲哀是多么深重。他们在沉默和呜咽中走出了这屋子。

A burning light remained in the room,and a long,red wick rose far above the flame,which fluttered(flutter vi.鼓翼,飘动,悸动,乱跳vt.拍(翅),使焦急n.摆动,鼓翼,烦扰)in the draught of air.Strange men came in and placed the lid of the coffin over the dead,and drove the nails firmly in.While the blows of the hammer resounded through the house,and echoed(echo vi.发回声,随声附和vt.摹仿,重复,反射n.回声,回音,回波)in the hearts that were bleeding.

屋子里点着一根蜡烛;烛光在风中挣扎,不时伸出又长又红的舌头,陌生人走进来,把棺材盖盖没了死者的身体,然后把它紧紧地钉牢。铁锤的敲击声在房间里,在走廊上,引起一片回响,在那些碎裂的心里也引起回响。

“Whither art thou leading me?”asked the guardian angel.“Here dwells no fairy whose pearl could be counted amongst the best gifts of life.”

“你把我带到什么地方去呢?”守护神说,“拥有生命中最好礼物的仙女不会住在这儿呀!”

“Yes,she is here,here in this sacred hour.”replied the angel,pointing to a corner of the room.And there,—where in her lifetime,the mother had taken her seat amidst flowers and pictures.In that spot,where she,like the blessed fairy of the house,had welcomed husband,children,and friends,and,like a sunbeam,had spread joy and cheerfulness around her,the centre and heart of them all,—there,in that very spot,sat a strange woman,clothed in long,flowing garments,and occupying the place of the dead wife and mother.It was the fairy,and her name was“Sorrow”。A hot tear rolled into her lap,and formed itself into a pearl,glowing with all the colors of the rainbow(rainbow n.彩虹,五彩缤纷的排列,幻想,幻觉adj.五彩缤纷的)。

“她就住在这儿——在这个神圣的时刻住在这儿。”安琪儿指着一个墙角说,她活着的时候,常常坐在这墙角里的花和图画中间;她像这屋子里的守护神一样,常常慈爱地对丈夫、孩子和朋友点头;她像这屋子里的太阳光一样,常常在这儿散布着快乐——她曾经是这家里一切的重点和中心。现在这儿坐着一个穿着又长又宽的衣服的陌生女人:她就是悲哀的女神,她现在代替死者,成了这家的女主人和母亲。一颗热泪滚到她的衣服上,变成一颗珠子。它射出长虹的各种颜色。安琪儿捡起这颗珠子。珠子射出光彩,像一颗有五种颜色的星。

The angel seized it.The pearl glittered like a star with sevenfold radiance.The pearl of Sorrow,the last,which must not be wanting,increases the lustre(lustre n.光彩,光泽vi.有光泽,发亮vt.使有光泽),and explains the meaning of all the other pearls.Do you see the shimmer of the rainbow,which unites earth to heaven?So has there been a bridge built between this world and the next.Through the night of the grave we gaze upwards beyond the stars to the end of all things.Then we glance at the pearl of Sorrow,in which are concealed(conceal vt.隐藏,隐蔽,隐瞒v.隐蔽)the wings which shall carry us away to eternal happiness.

“悲哀的珠子是一颗最后的珠子——它是怎样也缺少不了的!只有通过它,别的珠子才特别显得光耀夺目。你可以在它上面看到长虹的光辉——它把天上和人间联结起来。我们每次死去一个亲爱的人,就可以在天上得到一个更多的朋友。我们在夜间向星空望,寻求最美满的东西。这时请你看看那颗悲哀的珠子,因为从这儿把我们带走的那对灵魂的翅膀,就藏在这颗珠子里面。”