《茵梦湖》初学者示范英语学习法

 

Immensee 茵梦湖 (生词复制粘贴到“百度翻译”中，再将注解粘贴回原文中)

0ne afternoon in the late autumn a well-dressed穿着考究的;穿着入时的;穿得好的old man was walking slowly down the street. He appeared(appear显得, 似乎,看上去；留下…的印象) to似乎,好像be returning home from a walk散步, for his buckle-shoes ['bʌkl] 用搭扣扣紧, which followed紧跟,追随a fashion ['fæʃən] 流行款式, 时尚款式long since(since之前，以前)从前,往昔,早就out of date(date时代, 年代)过时的；陈旧的；老式的；废弃的, were covered with dust.

Under his arm he carried a long, gold-headed有…头的cane[kein] 竹杖；藤杖,拐杖;拐棍; his dark eyes, in which the whole of his long-lost遗失了很长时间的youth[ju:θ青春;朝气;年轻 seemed to have centred(centre使集中于), and which contrasted strangely [‘streɪndʒli]  奇怪地，异常地，不可思议地  with(contrast [kən'træst] with与…截然不同，形成鲜明的对照)his snow-white hair, gazed(gaze) calmly [‘kɑ:mli] 平静地;冷静地on凝视the sights名胜；风景  around him or peered(peer) into凝视,窥视the town below as it lay(lie, lain) before展现在…的面前him, bathed(bathe[beið]) in沐浴在…中the haze [heiz] 薄雾,雾霭，烟雾of sunset ['sʌnset] 日落(时分);傍晚;黄昏. He appeared to似乎,好像be almost a stranger外地人，异乡人,异客, for of the passers-by过路人，经过者only a few仅仅少数greeted(greet[gri:t] 问候, 同…打招呼;向…问好) him, although many a许多one involuntarily [in'vɔləntərili] 不由自主地; 本能地,不知不觉地, 无意识地was compelled (compel [kəm'pel] 迫使,使不得不) to迫不得已gaze into凝视，注视,端详those grave [greiv] 严肃的, 庄重的,冷峻的、庄严的eyes.

At last he halted(halt [hɔ:lt]停住, 停止) before a high, gabled [‘ɡeibld] 有山形墙的,有人形墙的house, cast将（视线，目光）投向one more再一次glance[glɑ:ns] 一瞥, 瞥视 out toward the town, and then passed into进入 the hall. At the sound of应声 the door-bell some one in the room within drew(draw) aside拉到一边the green curtain from a small window that looked out on面朝 to the hall, and the face of an old woman was seen behind it. The man made a sign手势；示意动作to her with his cane [kein] 竹杖.

"No light yet还没点灯!" he said in a slightly ['slaitli] 稍微地，些许地southern [‘sʌðən] 南方的accent ['æksənt] 口音；腔调, and the housekeeper管家 let the curtain fall下垂 again.

The old man now passed through穿过the broad [brɔ:d] 宽阔的hall, through an inner ['inə] 内部的, 里面的hall, wherein [wɛər'in] 其中, 在那里against the walls stood竖直放置huge oaken [‘əukən] 橡木制的chests箱子, 柜子 bearing(bear支撑；承受) porcelain ['pɔ:slin] 瓷器vases (vase[veis] 花瓶); then through the door opposite ['ɔpəzit] 对面的he entered a small lobby ['lɔbi] 穿堂, from which a narrow staircase楼梯间led(lead) to通向 the upper rooms楼上的房间 at the back of在…后方the house. He climbed the stairs slowly, unlocked(unlock开…的锁 ) a door at the top, and landed in到达a room of medium ['mi:diəm] size中等尺寸.

It was a comfortable, quiet retreat [ri'tri:t] 隐居处；静居处,静养所 . One of the walls was lined (line) with与…相并列,与…相排列 cupboards橱柜;壁橱;衣柜;食物柜and bookcases; on the other hung(hang) pictures of men and places场所; on a table with a green cover台布lay(lie平放 ) a number of一些; 许多的open books, and before the table stood a massive ['mæsiv] 大而重的，厚重的arm-chair扶手椅,靠椅with a red velvet ['velvit] 丝绒；立绒；天鹅绒cushion['kuʃən] 软垫，垫子.

After the old man had placed放置 his hat and stick杖，棍，棒in a corner, he sat down in the arm-chair and, folding(fold [fəuld] 交叉，交叠) his hands, seemed to be taking his rest after his walk. While he sat thus, it was growing gradually ['grædjuəli] 逐步地,渐渐地darker; and before long不久之后 a moonbeam ['mu:nbi:m] 月光came streaming(stream流，淌,照射 ) through the window- panes(pane[pein] 窗玻璃片) and upon the pictures on the wall; and as the bright band [bænd] 带of light passed移动 slowly onward ['ɔnwəd] 向前 the old man followed it involuntarily [in'vɔləntərili] 不由自主地with his eyes.

Now it reached a little picture in a simple简易的black frame [freim] 框架. "Elisabeth [i'lizəbəθ] 伊丽莎白!" said the old man softly轻柔地; and as he uttered(utter['ʌtə] 以口发出声音) the word, time had changed: he was young again. 　　

Before very long不久the dainty ['deinti] 秀丽玲珑的，优雅的,娇俏的form体型，身材 of a little maiden ['meidn] 少女advanced(advance [əd'vɑ:ns] 使向前移动) toward him. Her name was Elisabeth, and she might have been可能会five years old. He himself was twice [twais] 两倍that age. Round her neck she wore(wear) a red silk kerchief ['kə:tʃif] 方头巾；方围巾which was very becoming适合；适宜；与…相称 to her brown [braun] 褐色的，棕色的eyes.

"Reinhard莱因哈德!" she cried, "we have a holiday ['hɔlədi]假期, a holiday! No school不用上学the whole day and none根本不to-morrow either!"

Reinhard was carrying his slate [sleit] 石板(旧时用于学校的有木框架的石板写字板，功能等于今天的黑板)under his arm, but he flung(fling [fliŋ] 抛, 扔, 丢) it behind the front door, and then both the children ran through the house into the garden and through the garden gate out贯穿into the meadow ['medəu] 草地，草场，牧场. The unexpected ['ʌnik'spektid] 出乎意料的；始料不及的holiday came to them at a most happily幸运地,巧合地opportune ['ɔpətju:n] 恰当的，适宜的；及时的；适时的moment.

It was in the meadow草地;牧场that Reinhard莱因哈德, with Elisabeth's help, had built a house out of用…材料sods[sɔd] 草皮of grass. They meant [ment] (mean [mi:n] 意欲，打算) to live in it during the summer evenings; but it still wanted a bench长凳，长椅. He set to work开始工作，开始行动，着手工作at once; nails[neil] 钉子, hammer ['hæmə] 锤子，榔头, and the necessary ['nesə.səri] 必需的boards木板 were already to hand在手头;近在手边.

While he was thus engaged [in’ɡeidʒd] 忙碌的, Elisabeth went along the dyke [daik] 堤坝, gathering采集the ring-shaped [ʃeipt]成某种形状的seeds of the wild mallow ['mæləu] 锦葵in her apron ['eiprən] 围裙, with带着 the object目标; 意向; 目的of(with the object of为了) making herself chains[tʃein] 链子；链条；锁链  and necklaces['neklis] 项链 out of用…材料them; so that 结果when Reinhard莱因哈德 had at last finished his bench in spite of不顾; 虽然,尽管,别看many a crookedly ['krukədli] 歪向一边地hammered击打，敲打 nail, and came out出来into the sunlight again, she was already wandering漫游，漫步，闲逛far away遥远at the other end of the meadow.

"Elisabeth!" he called, "Elisabeth!" and then she came, her hair streaming飘动；飘扬  behind her.

"Come here," he said; "our house is finished now. Why哎呀, you have got quite hot! Come in, and let us sit on the new bench. I will tell you a story."

So they both went in and sat down on the new bench. Elisabeth took the little seed-rings out of (take out of取出)her apron and strung(string [striŋ] 用线穿，串起) them on long threads [θred] 线; 细线. Reinhard began his tale传说，故事: "There were once upon a time从前 three spinning(spin [spin] 纺纱)- women..." (Footnote脚注: The beginning of one of the best known of最著名的Grimm's fairy tales.)

"Oh!" said Elisabeth, "I know that off光, 完,完全by heart(know it off by heart了然于胸,熟记于心,背下来,熟知); you really must not always tell me the same story."

Accordingly因此,于是Reinhard莱因哈德 had to give up放弃 the story of the three spinning- women and tell instead替代，顶替the story of the poor man who was cast [kɑ:st]  扔;抛;投;丢into the den [den] 兽窝, 兽穴of lions.

"It was now night," he said, "black night, you know, and the lions were asleep. But every now and then有时， 时而， 不时 they would yawn [jɔ:n] 打呵欠in their sleep and shoot out突然伸出their red tongues(tongue [tʌŋ]舌头). And then the man would shudder ['ʃʌdə] 战栗，打颤，发抖and think it was morning. All at once突然a bright light强光fell(fall降落, 落下) all about him, and when he looked up an angel ['eindʒəl] 安琪儿,天使was standing before him. The angel beckoned(beckon ['bekən] 示意，召唤) to him with his hand and then went straight直接地; 径直地 into the rocks."

Elisabeth had been listening attentively [ə'tentivli] 聚精会神地. "An angel?" she said. "Had he wings then?"

"It is only a story," answered Reinhard; "there are no angels, you know."

"Oh, fie [fai] 咄,呸! Reinhard!" she said, staring(stare凝视，注视) him straight in the face.

He looked at her with a frown [fraun] 皱眉，蹙额, and she asked him hesitatingly ['heziteitiŋli] 支吾其词地, 踌躇地: "Well, why do they always say there are? mother, and aunt, and at school as well也,还有?"

"I don't know," he answered.

"But tell me," said Elisabeth, "are there no lions either?"

"Lions? Are there lions? In India, yes. The heathen ['hi:ðən] 不信上帝的人, 异教徒priests[pri:st] 祭司  harness ['hɑ:nis] 用轭具把（役畜）套在…上,用挽具把…套到…上them to their carriages, and drive赶，驱赶about在…各处 the desert with them. When I'm big, I mean意欲，打算to go out外出; 出国there myself. It is thousands of times more beautiful in that country than it is here at home; there's no winter at all there. And you must come with me. Will you?"

"Yes," said Elisabeth; "but mother must come with us, and your mother as well."

"No," said Reinhard莱因哈德, "they will be too old then, and cannot come with us."

"But I mayn't go by myself我独自地."

"Oh, but you may也许, 可能right enough一点没错; you will then really be my wife, and the others will have no say没有发言权 in the matter在这件事上."

"But mother will cry哭!"

"We shall come back回来again of course," said Reinhard impetuously [im'petjuəsli] 冲动地,性急地. "Now just tell me straight out坦白地,率直地, will you go with me? If not, I will go all alone, and then I shall never come back again."

The little girl came very near to crying哭(come near doing sth几乎,差点就做某事了). "Please don't look so angry," said she; "I will go to India with you."

Reinhard seized(seize[si:z] 猛抓；抓住) both her hands with frantic ['fræntik] 发疯似的, 发狂的glee[gli:] 欢快，欣喜, and rushed out冲出;仓促地跑出with her into the meadow.

"To India, to India!" he sang, and swung(swing [swiŋ] 使转动) her round and round, so that her little red kerchief ['kə:tʃif] 头巾, 围巾was whirled(whirl [wə:l] 使旋转) from off(shake off抖掉;甩掉;逃脱;摆脱whirl off旋掉) her neck. Then he suddenly let her go松手让某人走and said solemnly ['sɔləmli] 严肃地, 庄严地:

"Nothing will come of it不会有什么结果的, I'm sure; you haven't the pluck [plʌk] 勇气，胆量，决心."

"Elisabeth! Reinhard!" some one was now calling from the garden gate. "Here we are!" the children answered, and raced home竞相飞奔跑回家hand in hand手拉手.

* * * * *

So the children lived together. She was often too quiet文静的,沉默的for him, and he was often too head-strong固执的;任性的;刚愎自用的for her, but for all that尽管如此,虽然如此they stuck (stick) to  坚持不变  one another互相(彼此坚持). They spent nearly all their leisure [‘leʒə]闲暇的;空闲的hours闲暇时间together: in winter in their mothers' tiny rooms, during the summer in wood and field.

Once when Elisabeth was scolded(scold[skəuld] 训斥；责骂) by the teacher in Reinhard's hearing在（某人）听得见的范围内 , he(莱因哈德) angrily banged(bang[bæŋ] 猛摔；砰地一扔) his slate [sleit] 石板写字板upon the table in order to为了turn upon指向,转向himself the master's wrath [ræθ] 愤怒, 狂怒, 盛怒(把老师的愤怒引向自己). This failed(fail) to未能attract [ə'trækt] 吸引, 引起attention.

But Reinhard paid(pay) no further更多的，进一步的attention to the geography lessons, and instead反而,反倒he composed(compose[kəm'pəuz] 创作,撰写) a long poem ['pəuim], in which he compared(compare [kəm'pɛə] 比拟，喻为, 把…比作) himself to a young eagle雏鹰, the schoolmaster校长to a grey [grei] crow[krəu]灰鸦, and Elisabeth to a white dove [dʌv]白鸽; the eagle vowed (vow[vau] 宣誓，立誓，发誓) vengeance ['vendʒəns] 报复; 报仇, 复仇(誓欲报仇) on the grey crow, as soon as一但...就his wings had grown.

Tears stood in滞留，积聚(噙着泪水)the young poet's ['pəuit] 诗人eyes: he felt very proud of himself. When he reached home he contrived(contrive [kən’traiv] 设法做到) to get hold of找到某物以供使用a little parchment- bound(['pɑ:tʃmənt] 羊皮纸, [baund] 有封面的) volume ['vɔljum] 书卷with a lot of blank [blæŋk] 空白的pages in it; and on the first pages he elaborately [ɪ'læbərətlɪ] 精心地wrote out写出his first poem.

Soon after this he went to another school. Here he made many new friendships友情,友谊among boys of his own age, but this did not interrupt [.intə'rʌpt] 中止，中断，打断his comings and goings来来去去with Elisabeth. Of the stories which he had formerly ['fɔ:məli] 在过去；以前，从前told her over and over again一遍又一遍地he now began to write down写下; 记下 the ones which she had liked best, and in doing so这样做时，在这情况下the fancy ['fænsi] 想象，幻想 often took引领 him to weave [wi:v] 编入,编成，编纂成in something of有几分; 略微his own thoughts; yet然而, for some reason不知什么原因，不知何故he could not understand, he could never永远都无法manage['mænidʒ]完成,做到,达到it.

So he wrote them down写下;记下exactly as正如he had heard them himself. Then he handed them over  交给;递给  to Elisabeth, who kept them carefully in a drawer [drɔ:(r)]抽屉of her writing-desk写字台, and now and again时而,偶尔,有时of an evening往往在晚上when he was present在场it afforded(afford[ə'fɔ:d] 提供, 给予) him agreeable[ə'gri:əbəl]令人愉快的；惬意的,做法可接受的satisfaction满意，满足 to hear her reading aloud to her mother these little tales out of得自the notebooks in which he had written them.

Seven years had gone by时光流逝,过去. Reinhard was to准备要做leave the town in order to proceed [prə'si:d] 进而做；继续to攻读his higher education. Elisabeth could not bring herself to無法強迫自己做某事,无法使自己做某事think料想; 想像 that there would now be a time to be passed消磨；度过；打发 entirely [in'taiəli] 全部地，全然地without Reinhard. She was delighted [di'laitid] 愉快的，欣喜的，快乐的when he told her one day that he would continue to write out stories for her as before依旧; 如故; 如以前; 照旧; he would send them to her in the letters to his mother, and then she would have to write back回信to him and tell him how she liked them.

The day of departure [di'pɑ:tʃə] 出发，启程；离开was approaching[ə'prəutʃ] 接近，临近, but ere [ɛə] 在... 之前it came来临,发生a good deal许多more poetry ['pəuitri] 诗篇, 诗歌, 诗集found its way into找到进入....的路 the parchment-bound volume. This was the one secret he kept from把某事瞒着某人Elisabeth, although she herself had inspired(inspire [in’spaiə]启迪;赋予灵感,作为…的为灵感来源;是…的原型) the whole book and most of the songs, which gradually [‘ɡrædjuəli] 渐渐地,逐渐地had filled up填满almost将近; 近乎; 几乎，差不多; 快要half of the blank pages.

It was the month of June [dʒu:n] 六月, and Reinhard was to start启程，动身，出发on the following day第二天;隔日;次日. It was proposed提议; 建议 to spend度过one more再一次festive['festiv] 喜庆的，欢乐的 day together and therefore因此，为此a picnic野餐活动was arranged(arrange[ə'reindʒ] 安排；筹备 ) for a rather large party of friends in an adjacent [ə’dʒeisənt]邻近的,毗邻的forest.

It was an hour's drive一个小时的车程along the road沿路to the edge of the wood, and there the company在一起的一群人 ,交际聚会者took down取下，拿下the provision [prə'viʒən] 食物和饮料,供应品baskets from the carriages四轮马车and walked the rest of the way. The road lay first of all首先through(lie through穿过) a pine [pain] 松树grove [grəuv] 树丛，小树林；果园(一片松树林), where it was cool and darksome阴暗的, and the ground was all strewed (strew[stru:]撒满,零乱地点缀，散布于) with pine [pain] 松树needles(needle ['ni:dl] 针状物，刺状物) 松叶; 松针.

After half an hour's walk they passed out of离开the gloom昏暗, 阴暗of the pine trees into a bright fresh beech [bi:tʃ] (fresh beech =Fagus sylvatica欧洲山毛榉, 水青冈) wood. Here everything was light采光好的，光线足的and green; every here and there到处,各处,零落散布地a sunbeam ['sʌnbi:m] 阳光光束;一道日光burst through推开，拨开the leafy ['li:fi] 叶茂的，多叶的branches, and high above their heads a squirrel ['skwirəl] 松鼠was leaping(leap[li:p] 跳越，跳过) from branch to branch.

The party群，队，组  came to a halt[hɔ:lt]停下来; 打住; 停步不前at a certain ['sə:tn] 某一spot, over which the topmost最高的;最上面的；顶端的branches of ancient beech trees interwove(interweave ['intə'wi:v] 使交织;使混杂) a transparent [træn'sperənt]透明的canopy ['kænəpi] 树冠层, 天篷似的树荫of leaves. Elisabeth's mother opened one of the baskets, and an old gentleman constituted (constitute [‘kɒnstɪtjuːt] 选定, 任命,指派) himself quartermaster ['kwɔ:rtə.mɑ:stə] 军需官.

"Round me, all of you young people," he cried, "and attend注意；专心 carefully to what I have to say to you. For lunch each one of you will now get two dry rolls面包卷, 圆面包; the butter has been left behind遗留at home. The extras ['ekstrə] 额外的东西 every one must find for得到，找到himself. There are plenty of很多，大量的strawberries (strawberry ['strɔ:bəri] 草莓) in the wood--that is, for anyone who knows where to find them. Unless除非，如果不you are sharp灵敏的, 机警的, you'll have to eat dry bread; that's the way of the world社会上的习惯;世俗常情all over遍及. Do you understand what I say?"

"Yes, yes," cried the young folks.

"Yes, but look here," said the old gentleman, "I have not done yet. We old folks老年人have done enough roaming(roam[rəum] 随便走，漫步；漫游) about流浪;漫游;东流西窜in our time, and therefore因此，为此we will stay at home now, here, I mean, under these wide-spreading摊开;铺开trees, and we'll peel [pi:l] 除掉（水果，蔬菜）的皮the potatoes and make a fire生火and lay the table摆桌子, and by twelve o'clock the eggs shall be boiled(boil烹煮).

"In return for作为…的回报all this you will be owing(owe[əu] 欠…东西) us half of your strawberries, so that we may also be able to serve提供, 端上some dessert [di'zə:t] 甜点心; 餐后甜点. So off you go now你可以走了,走你, east and west, and mind注意，务必be honest."

The young folks cast [kɑ:st] 向…投以many a 许多roguish['rəugiʃ] 调皮的，捣蛋的；淘气的 glance一瞥；扫视at one another互相.

"Wait," cried the old gentleman once again再次; 再度. "I suppose料想; 猜想; 以为I need not不必; 无须 tell you this, that whoever无论谁；不论哪个人finds none need not produce [prə'dju:s] 出示；拿出；亮出,展现,提供any; but take particular [pə'tikjulə] 格外的；特别的 note of this, that he will get nothing out of us old folks either. Now you have had enough good advice [əd'vais] 劝告；忠告；建议；意见(金口玉言；苦口良言)for to-day; and if you gather strawberries to match配合，相配；使…协调you will get on和睦相处very well for the present目前; 现在at any rate [reit] 无论如何，不管怎样；至少."

The young people were of the same opinion [ə'pinjən] 意见；看法；主张；见解(心投意合; 持同一看法), and pairing off(pair off成双,结对)in couples['kʌpl]成对地; 成双作对set out on出发去做某事their quest探索，寻找.

"Come along来吧，一起来, Elisabeth," said Reinhard, "I know where there is a clump [klʌmp] 丛、簇of strawberry bushes; you shan't eat dry bread."

Elisabeth tied系，缚，拴，捆，扎the green ribbons['ribən] 缎带, 丝带of her straw [strɔ:]禾秆；稻草；麦秸hat草帽together(tie together捆在一起) and hung it on her arm. "Come on, then," she said, "the basket is ready."

Off into the wood they went, on and on继续不停地; 无了无休; on through moist[mɔist] 潮湿的；湿润的 shady ['ʃeidi] 背阴的, 阴凉的glens[glen] 峡谷,幽谷, where everything was so peaceful ['pi:sfəl] 宁静的，平静的, except for除…之外; 若不是the cry of the falcon [‘fɔ:lkən] 鹰;隼;猎鹰flying unseen看不见的;未看见的 in the heavens天上far above远高于their heads; on again through the thick 茂密的brushwood矮灌木丛; 矮林, so thick that Reinhard must needs go on ahead to make a track [træk] 小道，小径, here snapping [snæp] off折断a branch, there bending(bend [bend] 使弯曲，折弯) aside到一边；在旁边a trailing(trail [treil] 蔓生，蔓延) vine藤， 蔓. But ere [eə(r)] long不久he heard Elisabeth behind him calling out叫喊his name. He turned round转身.

"Reinhard!" she called, "do wait for me! Reinhard!"

He could not see her, but at length很长时间之后,终于;最后he caught(catch) sight of看见;瞥见her some way off有一段距离struggling(struggle) with与…打架, 与…斗争the undergrowth ['ʌndə.grəuθ] 下层灌丛；矮树丛；林下植物, her dainty ['deinti] 娇小的；娇美的, 娇俏的, 小巧可爱的,秀丽玲珑的head just peeping out隐现,露出 over the tops of the ferns羊齿植物，蕨类植物. So back he went once more再次; 再度and brought her out from the tangled ['tæŋgld]缠结的；混乱的；紊乱的,杂乱的mass团, 块, 堆of briar(=brier ['braiə] 多刺蔓生灌木,荆棘，野蔷薇) and brake [breik]灌木丛,矮树林into an open space露天场所，空地where blue butterflies(butterfly ['bʌtəflai] 蝴蝶) fluttered(flutter['flʌtə] 拍翅而飞，振翼，盘旋) among the solitary ['sɔlitəri] 偏僻的；荒凉的,人迹罕至的; 幽静的wood树林, 林地blossoms['blɔsəm] 花丛,花朵,花簇.

Reinhard brushed轻擦，轻拂，轻抹the damp [dæmp] 潮湿的；微湿的；湿气重的 hair away from her heated热的face, and would have本来要tied the straw hat upon her head, but she refused; yet然而，尽管如此 at his earnest ['ə:nist]诚挚的;真诚的,热切的,郑重其事的, 非常认真的request[ri'kwest] 要求，请求 she consented(consent[kən'sent] 同意;允许;赞成，赞同) after all毕竟; 究竟; 归根结底.

"But where are your strawberries?" she asked at length终于; 最后, standing still站着不动,静止不动and drawing a deep breath深吸一口气.

"They were here," he said, "but the toads[təud] 蟾蜍, 癞蛤蟆 have got来到here before us, or the martens ['mɑ:tin] 貂鼠, or perhaps the fairies小精灵;仙人."

"Yes," said Elisabeth, "the leaves are still here; but not a word消息，信息 about fairies in this place此地；此处. Come along一起向前走, I'm not a bit tired yet还, 尚, 仍然; let us look farther on更远些; 再往前些."

In front of them ran流动，流淌 a little brook [bruk] 小溪, and on the far side反面, 对面,远侧, 另一边 the wood began again. Reinhard raised(raise[reiz] 把…往上提) Elisabeth in his arms and carried her over. After a while不久，过一会儿; 不一会儿they emerged(emerge[i'mə:dʒ] （从隐蔽处或暗处）出现，浮现，露出 ) from the shady ['ʃeidi] 成荫的foliage [‘fəuliidʒ]植物的叶子,枝叶and stood in a wide宽阔的clearing小块空地,林中空地.

"There must be strawberries here," said the girl, "it all smells so sweet芳香的."

They searched about the sunny ['sʌni]阳光充足的spot地点, but they found none. "No," said Reinhard, "it is only the smell of带有…气味 the heather ['heðə] 石南花."

Everywhere到处，处处，无论什么地方; 四下里 was a confusion [kən'fju:ʒən] 混乱；杂乱；一团糟of一堆杂乱的raspberry-bushes ['rɑ:zbəri] 悬钩子，覆盆子，木莓，山莓and holly ['hɔli] 冬青树, and the air was filled充溢，充斥，弥漫 with弥漫着,充满a strong浓烈的，浓重的,浓郁的smell of heather, patches of 成片地which前面的那些 alternated (alternate['ɔ:ltə:neit]交替,轮流,夹杂,相间) with the short grass短草; 矮草over these open spaces空地.

"How lonely偏僻的；荒凉的；人迹罕至的 it is here!" said Elisabeth "I wonder where the others are?"

Reinhard had never thought of getting back回来, 回家.

"Wait a bit," he said, holding his hand aloft[ə'lɔft] 在空中,在头顶上; "where is the wind coming from?" But wind there was none.

"Listen!" said Elisabeth, "I think I heard them talking. Just give a call喊叫,大声喊in that direction方向."

Reinhard hollowed ['hɔləu]使成中空his hand and shouted: "Come here来这里; 至此!"

"Here!" was echoed(echo['ekəu] 回响) back发出回声.

"They answered," cried Elisabeth clapping拍手her hands.

"No, that was nothing; it was only the echo回音."

Elisabeth seized(seize [si:z] 抓住) Reinhard's hand. "I'm frightened!" she said.

"Oh! no, you must not be frightened. It is lovely令人愉快的,美丽的,迷人的here. Sit down there in the shade在荫凉处among the long grass. Let us rest awhile [ə'wail] 暂时, 片刻: we'll find the others soon enough非常快地."

Elisabeth sat down under the overhanging垂悬物branch树枝of a beech山毛榉and listened intently [in'tentli]专注地;专心地in every direction向四面八方. Reinhard sat a few paces [peis] 步幅off离，距 on a tree stump [stʌmp] 树墩，树桩, and gazed(gaze) over at her in silence安静地，无声地.

The sun was just above their heads, shining(shine) with放光the full最大(强度)的 glare [glɛə] 刺眼的强光of midday ['middei] 正午heat日中的炎热. Tiny, gold-flecked [f'lekt] 有斑点的;布满斑点的, steel-blue钢青色flies(fly苍蝇) poised(poise [pɔiz]使平衡,使平稳,使..悬着不动) in the air在空中with vibrating(vibrate['vaibreit] 振动,颤动) wings. Their ears caught a gentle柔和的，轻声的humming [‘hʌmiŋ]嗡嗡声and buzzing [‘bʌziŋ] 嗞嗞声all round四面; 周围them, and far away in the wood were heard now and again时而,偶尔,有时the tap-tap嗒嗒声of the woodpecker ['wud.pekə] 啄木鸟and the screech [skri:tʃ] 尖叫，尖鸣,刺耳的吱吱声of other birds.

"Listen," said Elisabeth, "I hear a bell钟声."

"Where?" asked Reinhard.

"Behind us. Do you hear it? It is striking(strike敲，鸣，响) twelve o'clock."

"Then the town lies位于；坐落在behind us, and if we go straight笔直走through in this direction we are bound[baund] to  一定会；必然会；注定会 fall in with碰到the others."

So they started on开始进行their homeward归家的;还乡的;回国的way; they had given up投降；认输；放弃 looking for strawberries, for Elisabeth had become tired. And at last there rang(ring) out发出响声,响起from among the trees the laughing voices of the picnic party野炊聚会; then they saw too还a white cloth spread摊开;铺开 gleaming (gleam[gli:m] 发微光；隐约闪光；闪烁) on the ground; it was the luncheon-table ['lʌntʃən]午餐会and on it were strawberries enough and to spare绰绰有余,很多,足够.

The old gentleman had a table-napkin ['næpkin] 餐巾tucked(tuck[tʌk] 塞进) in his button-hole ['bʌtn] 纽扣(扣眼)and was continuing his moral ['mɔrəl] 道德上的,道义上的sermon['sə:mən] 布道,讲道,说教,训诫to the young folks and vigorously ['vigərəsli]精神旺盛地carving (carve [kɑ:v] 把（熟肉）切成块) a joint [dʒɔint] of一大块roast [rəust] 烤，炙；烘meat.

"Here come the stragglers['stræglə]落伍者；掉队者；落在最后的人," cried the young people when they saw Reinhard and Elisabeth advancing(advance [əd'vɑ:ns] 前进，行进) among the trees.

"This way这边请," shouted the old gentleman. "Empty倒空your handkerchiefs ['hæŋkətʃif]手帕 , upside down颠倒；倒转；翻转with your hats! Now show us what you have found."

"Only hunger ['hʌŋgə] and thirst[θə:st]," said Reinhard.

"If that's all," replied the old man, lifting up and showing them the bowl full of盛满fruit, "you must keep what you've got(这里指hunger and thirst). You remember the agreement [ə'gri:mənt] 协定, 协议, 契约: nothing here for lazybones['leizi.bəunz] 懒鬼，懒骨头to eat."

But in the end最后，结果he was prevailed(prevail[pri'veil]) on劝告, 说服to relent [ri'lent] 动怜悯心;发慈悲心,变宽容,,变宽厚;变温和;心软; the banquet ['bæŋkwit]筵席,宴会,盛宴proceeded(proceed[prə'si:d] 开始行动,继续进行), and a thrush [θrʌʃ] 画眉鸟,歌鸫in a juniper [‘dʒu:nipə]杜松;刺柏bush刺柏丛,铅笔柏provided (provide[prə'vaid]  供给；提供；给予) the music.

So the day passed. But Reinhard had, after all毕竟; 究竟; 归根结底, found something, and though it was not strawberries yet然而，但是it was something that had grown in the wood. When he got home this is what he wrote in his old parchment- bound volume:

Out在外,在远处on the hill-side山坡；山腰 yonder ['jɔndə] 在那边,The wind to rest is laid(be laid to rest安息); Under the drooping下垂的 branches ,There sits the little maid [meid] 少女.

She sits among the wild thyme [taim] 百里香, She sits in the fragrant ['freigrənt] 芳香的air; The blue flies hum around在…周围不停地叫her, Bright色彩鲜亮的wings flash闪耀，闪光 everywhere到处，处处.

And through the silent ['sailənt] 寂静的woodland林地,She peers[piə] 凝视，盯着看with watchful ['wɔtʃfəl] 警惕的；提防的eyen['aiən] 眼睛(eye的复数), While然而on her hazel ['heizl] 淡褐色的, 黄褐色的 ringlets ['riŋlit] 垂下的长鬈发 , Sparkles(sparkle['spɑ:kl] 闪烁；闪耀) the glad明媚的sunshine阳光.

And far, far off在远处的the cuckoo ['kuku:] 杜鹃；布谷,Laughs[lɑ:f] out大声地; 出声地his song. I ween [wi:n] 以为,相信,料想; Hers are the bright, the golden, Eyes of the woodland树林；林地；林区 queen女王.

So she was not only不仅his little sweetheart小甜心, but而且was also the expression[iks'preʃən] 表示, 表现, 表达of all所有…的that was lovely可爱的；迷人的and wonderful使人愉快的in his opening开始的；最初的life青春年华.

* * * * *

The time is Christmas Eve[i:v] 前夕(12月24日晚,平安夜). Before the close结束of the afternoon Reinhard and some other students were sitting together at an old oak table in the Rathskeller [‘rɑ:tskelə]地窖餐厅. (Footnote: The basement ['beismənt] 地下室of the Rathaus [‘rɑ:thaus]市议会厅,镇议会厅or Town Hall市政厅. This, in almost几乎every German town城镇,市镇of importance [im'pɔ:təns] 重要，具有重要意义, has become a restaurant and place场所of refreshment [ri'freʃmənt] 饮料；点心；便餐.) The lamps on the wall were lighted, for down here在这里in the basement it was already growing渐渐dark; but there was only a thin稀少的，稀疏的sprinkling ['spriŋkliŋ] 稀稀拉拉的几个of寥寥可数的customers ['kʌstəmə] 顾客；客户present在场的；出席的，在座的, and the waiters侍者,服务生were leaning(lean [li:n] 斜倚着) idly['aidli] 无所事事地,无动于衷地,懒散地,懒洋洋地,漫不经心地up against靠着the pillars['pilə] 台柱,支柱,墩let into嵌入,插入the walls.

In a corner角落of the vaulted [‘vɔ:ltid] 拱形的,有拱顶的, 穹形room sat a fiddler ['fidlə] 小提琴手and a fine-featured [‘fi:tʃəd]有…的面貌特征的(清秀的) gipsy-girl [‘dʒipsi]吉普赛人(=gypsy) with a zither [' zɪðə]筝,齐特琴,扁琴; their instruments乐器lay放置in their laps大腿面，膝上, and they seemed to be looking about四下观望them with an air of带着…样子 indifference [in'difərəns] 冷淡;不重视，不在乎，漠不关心,不感兴趣.

A champagne [ʃæm'pein] 香槟酒cork[kɔ:k] 软木塞popped(pop[pɔp] 噗的一声打开) off砰地一声打开at the table occupied(occupy['ɔkjupai]  占用) by the students. "Drink, my gipsy darling亲爱的，宝贝儿 !" cried a young man of aristocratic [.æristə'krætik] 贵族气派的,有贵族特征的appearance [ə'piərəns] 外貌；外观；外表, holding out伸出,拿出,递出to the girl a glass full of一满杯的wine.

"I don't care about it不想理会它," she said, without altering(alter ['ɔ:ltə] 改变；变更；更改) her position [pə'ziʃən] 姿态，姿势.

"Well, then, give us a song," cried the young nobleman ['nəublmən] 贵族, and threw (throw丢) a silver coin[kɔin]银币into her lap大腿面，膝上. The girl slowly ran her fingers through用手指梳拢,用手指拨弄her black hair while与…同时the fiddler ['fidlə] 小提琴手whispered ['wispə] in her ear(whisper in sb's ears跟某人耳语). But she threw back回过头,掉过头,扭过头her head(throw one's head back 头往后仰), and rested(rest) her chin [tʃin] 颏, 下巴on搁在〔支撑在〕…上her zither齐特琴.

"For him," she said, "I'm not going to play."

Reinhard leapt [lept](leap [li:p] 突然做) up突然从座位上起身with his glass in his hand and stood in front of her.

"What do you want你想要什么;你想要我怎样?" she asked defiantly[di'faiəntli]挑战地,对抗地.

"To have a look at看看,看一眼your eyes."

"What have my eyes to do with与…相干you?"

Reinhard's glance瞥视,扫视flashed迅速（或突然）看一眼down朝下on her. "I know they are false [fɔ:ls] 假的, 伪造的."

She laid(lay放置，安放) her cheek [tʃi:k] 脸颊in the palm [pɑ:m] 手掌；手心of her hand and gave him a searching锐利的,深挖细究的,洞察真相的,质问的look眼神. Reinhard raised(raise [reiz] 举起) his glass to his mouth.

"Here's to这杯敬祝your beautiful, wicked ['wikid] 邪恶的；罪恶的；缺德的eyes!" he said, and drank.

She laughed and tossed(toss[tɔs] 猛地（把头，头发）往后一甩) her head把头一扭,把头向上一扬,把头一仰.

"Give it把它放在here," she said, and fastening(fasten[' fɑːs(ə)n] 使（眼睛、思想、感情等）专注于) her black eyes on盯住,把…加在某人身上his, she slowly drank what was left in the glass. Then she struck(strike弹奏,奏出) a chord [kɔ:d] 和弦；和音 and sang in a deep, passionate [' paʃ(ə)nət] 充满激情的voice:

To-day, to-day thou [ðau] think'st(=think认为，以为) me

Fairest(fair [fɛə] 美丽的；动人的) maid [meid] 少女of all在所有…中;

To-morrow, ah啊! then那时beauty

fadeth(=fades, fade [feid] 渐弱；逐渐消失) past recall(=beyond recall召唤不回来的，不能挽回的).

 While然而the hour时间remaineth(remain仍然存在;继续存在),

Thou art(=you are) yet还, 尚, 仍然mine我的所有，属我之物own;

Then when death[deθ]死神shall claim [kleim] 夺去,夺走me,

I must die alone孤独地.

While the fiddler struck up开始演奏 an allegro [ə'leigrəu]急速的finale[fi'nɑ:li]终曲,末乐章 , a new arrival [ə'raivəl] 到达者joined the group.

"I went to call for去接you, Reinhard," he said, "You had already gone out, but Santa ['sæntə]圣诞老人Claus [klɔ:z] 尼古拉斯had paid(pay) you a visit拜访某人."

"Santa Claus?" said Reinhard. "Santa Claus never comes to me now."

"Oh, yes, he does! The whole of your room smelt(smell) of带有…气味Christmas tree and ginger ['dʒindʒə] 生姜cakes姜味蛋糕."

Reinhard dropped投下;丢下;扔下the glass out of his hand and seized(seize [si:z] 抓住) his cap.

"Well, what are you going to do now?" asked the girl.

"I'll be back in a minute我过一会儿回来."

She frowned(frown[fraun]皱眉，蹙额). "Stay留下," she said gently, casting(cast向…投以) an amorous ['æmərəs] 表示爱情的，多情的glance一瞥at him.

Reinhard hesitated(hesitate ['heziteit] 犹豫; 踌躇). "I can't," he said.

She laughingly笑着地,开玩笑地gave him a tap with用…轻轻敲打the toe [təu] 足尖部of her shoe and said: "Go away, then, you good-for-nothing无用之人; you are one as bad as the other, all good-for-nothings." And as she turned away from him, Reinhard went slowly up the steps of the Ratskeller.

Outside in the street deep浓重的twilight [‘twailait]暮色；薄暮；黄昏 had set in到来; he felt the cool凉爽的winter air blowing on吹在…上his heated热的brow [brau] 额；脑门子. From some window every here and there疏疏落落地,零落散布地fell(fall降落, 落下) the bright gleam[gli:m] 闪光, 闪亮 of a Christmas tree all完全地lighted up照亮；发亮 , now and then时而，不时; 间或was heard from within从…里面some room the sound of little pipes(pipe管乐器) and tin [tin] 锡trumpets ['trʌmpit] 喇叭, 小号mingled(mingle['miŋgl] 混合,混杂,交织,交错) with the merry ['meri] 欢乐的, 愉快的din[din] 喧闹声，喧嚣声of children's voices.

Crowds of成群结伙beggar ['begə] 乞丐，叫花子children were going from house to house挨家挨户地or climbing up on to the railings ['reiliŋ] 栅栏,栏杆，围栏 of the front steps门前阶梯, trying to catch a glimpse[glimps]瞥见;看一眼through the window of a splendour ['splendə]  华丽;豪华;奢华 显赫,壮观;辉煌，光辉that was denied(deny[[di’nai] 拒绝（某人）进入) to them. Sometimes时而; 有时，间或too也a door would suddenly意外地，忽然地be flung(fling [fliŋ]) open猛然打开,冲开, and scolding(scold[skəuld] 训斥；责骂) voices would drive a whole整个的swarm [swɔ:m] of大群these little visitors away (drive away把…驱开,赶走)out into进入the dark street. In the vestibule [‘vestibju:l] 门厅，前厅of yet还有,又another house they were singing an old Christmas carol ['kærəl] 宗教颂歌, and little girls' clear清晰的 voices were heard among the rest在其中.

But Reinhard heard not; he passed quickly by从…旁边走过；经过 them all, out of自…离开one street into another. When he reached his lodging ['lɔdʒiŋ] 寄宿处, 租住的房间it had grown almost quite dark; he stumbled(stumble ['stʌmbl] 跌跌撞撞地走，蹒跚而行) up the stairs上楼 and so因此gained(gain[gein] 到达) his apartment寓所,公寓楼.

A sweet fragrance [‘freiɡrəns]香味;香气(芳香) greeted(greet[gri:t] 传入…的耳中（或鼻中）,呈现在…面前,最先被…感觉到) him; it reminded使记起，使想起；提醒him of home; it was the smell气味of the parlour['pɑ:lə] 客厅；起居室 in his mother's house at Christmas time在圣诞节期间. With trembling发抖的hand he lit his lamp; and there lay摆放,放置a mighty ['maiti] 极大的，巨大的parcel ['pɑ:sl] 包袱，包裹on the table. When he opened it, out fell掉下来the familiar [fə'miljə] 熟悉的;熟知的 ginger cakes姜饼. On some of them were the initial [i'niʃəl] 最初的, 开头的letters首字母;缩写法of his name written in sprinkles(sprinkle['spriŋkl] 稀稀拉拉（或稀疏）的东西, 少量) of sugar ['ʃugə] 食糖; no one but Elisabeth could have done that.

Next came to view映入眼帘,出现在眼前a little parcel containing(contain [kən’tein]包含,容纳) neatly ['ni:tli] 整洁的;整齐的embroidered [im'brɔidəd]绣花的linen ['linin] 亚麻布衣服, handkerchiefs ['hæŋkətʃif]手帕and cuffs[kʌf] 护腕; and finally letters from his mother and Elisabeth. Reinhard opened Elisabeth's letter first, and this is what she wrote:

"The pretty sugared ['ʃʊgəd] 加糖的letters will no doubt[daut] 怀疑, 疑虑tell you who helped with 帮助（某人）做…;用…来帮助the cakes. The same person also embroidered[im'brɔidə] 在…上刺绣;绣（花）the cuffs护腕for you. We shall have a very quiet平静的; 宁静的time at home this Christmas Eve平安夜. Mother always总是；每次都是puts her spinning-wheel ['spiniŋ]手纺车away(put away放好;收起来;储存) in the corner在角落as early as早在half-past nine九点半. It is so very lonesome ['ləunsəm] 孤独的,寂寞的this winter now that既然you are not here.

"And now而现在, too, the linnet ['linit] 赤胸朱顶雀 ,红雀you made me a present of died(make sb a present of sth把某物赠送给某人) last Sunday. It made me cry a good deal许多, though I am sure I looked after照顾;照料it well.

"It always used to过去一向,过去时常sing of an afternoon when the sun shone on its cage [keidʒ] 鸟笼. You remember how多么，何等often mother would hang悬挂a piece of cloth over the cage in order to keep it quiet when it sang so lustily ['lʌstili] 精力充沛地.

"Thus our room is now quieter than ever, except that your old friend Eric [‘erɪk] 埃里克now drops in顺道拜访to see us occasionally [ə’keiʒənəli] 有时候,偶尔. You told us once that he was just like就好像，正如,浑似his brown褐色的，棕色的，咖啡色的top-coat外套；轻便大衣;宽大衣. I can't help抑制不住，禁不住,不由自主thinking of想起,有…想法it every time he comes in at the door, and it is really实在，确实too funny有趣的,好笑的,滑稽的; but don't tell mother, it might easily很可能,多半,说不定make her angry.

"Guess what猜猜看I am giving your mother for a Christmas present! You can't guess? Well, it is myself! Eric is making a drawing绘画,图画of me in black chalk黑粉笔(一种用于制绘图铅笔的硬黑土); I have had to give him three sittings（摆姿势让人画像或拍照的）一次时间, each time for a whole hour.

"I simply确实，简直 loathed(loathe [ləuð]憎恨, 厌恶) the idea主意，念头of a stranger getting to know my face so well. Nor did I wish愿意it, but mother pressed(press极力要求 ) me, and said it would very much please取悦某人dear Frau [frau] 夫人Werner沃纳.

"But you are not keeping your word遵守诺言, Reinhard. You haven't sent me any stories. I have often complained(complain[kəm'plein] 抱怨，发牢骚，诉苦) to your mother about it, but she always says you now have more to do有更多的工作要做than to attend to注意;处理;听取;致力于such childish ['tʃaildiʃ] 孩子气的things幼稚的事情,小儿科的事情. But I don't believe it; there's something else perhaps."

After this Reinhard read his mother's letter, and when he had read them both and slowly folded(fold[fəuld] 折叠，对折) them up把…折叠起来again and put them away把…收起；放好, he was overcome with(be overcome with为…所压倒/制服) an irresistible [.iri'zistibl] 无法抗拒的,不可遏止的,不可抑制的feeling感情；情绪of home-sickness [‘sɪknəs] 疾病( 乡愁, 怀乡病,思乡病). For a long while过了很长一段时间he walked up and down来回走着 his room, talking softly轻声地to himself自言自语, and then进而; 于是，然后, under his breath压着嗓子,低声地,轻声细语,悄声地, he murmured低语；喃喃细语 :

I have err'd(=erred, err[ə:] 犯错误; 做错事) from(err from背离) the straight path正道, Bewildered[bi’wildəd] 困惑不解的,不知所措的,晕头转向的I roam [rəum] 随便走，漫步；漫游; By the roadside the child stands ,And beckons ['bekən] 示意, 召唤me home回家.

Then he went to his desk, took out some money, and stepped down into the street again. During all this while在此期间it had become quieter更安静的out there外边，在外面; the lights on the Christmas trees had burnt(burn) out燃尽；烧尽；熄灭 , the processions [prə'seʃən] 队伍, 行列of children had come to an end结束，终止; 完事; 期满; 平息. The wind was sweeping through扫过,掠过the deserted [di’zə:tid] 荒芜的,荒废的,为人所弃的streets; old and young老老少少alike同样的,相似的(无论老少) were sitting together at home in family parties; the second period['piəriəd]第二阶段 of Christmas Eve celebrations [.seli'breiʃən] 庆祝，欢庆 had begun.

As Reinhard drew near靠近,临近the Ratskeller地窖餐厅he heard from below the scraping ['skreipiŋ]刮擦声of the fiddle ['fidl] 小提琴and the singing of the zither [‘zɪðə] 齐特琴girl. The restaurant door bell门铃tinkled发丁当声and a dark form轮廓;外形 staggered (stagger['stægə] 摇晃；踉跄；蹒跚) up the broad [brɔ:d] 宽阔的dimly-lighted ['dimli]光线昏暗的stair.

Reinhard drew移动，行进aside到旁边into the shadow of the houses and then passed swiftly ['swiftli]迅速地,敏捷地by从…旁边走过；经过. After a while he reached the well-lighted光线充足的shop of a jeweller ['dʒu:ələ] 珠宝商, and after buying a little cross十字架studded(stud [stʌd] 用饰钉、宝石等装饰(某物表面)) with镶有red corals['kɔrəl] 珊瑚, he returned by the same way he had come.

Not far from his lodgings ['lɔdʒiŋ] 寄宿处he caught sight of看见;瞥见a little girl, dressed in miserable ['mizərəbl] 悲惨的，可怜的rags[rag] 破旧衣服, standing before a tall door, in a vain徒劳地attempt [ə'tempt] 尝试，企图，试图 to open it.

"Shall I help you?" he said.

The child gave no answer, but let go放手; 松手; 放开，释放the massive ['mæsiv] 大而重的door-handle. Reinhard had soon opened the door.

"No," he said; "they might drive you out 驱逐;逐出again. Come along with me, and I'll give you some Christmas cake."

He then closed the door again and gave his hand to the little girl, who walked along with him in silence安静地，无声地to his lodgings.

On going out外出he had left(leave使，让) the light burning让灯一直亮着.

"Here are some cakes for you," he said, pouring倾，倒half of his whole stock[stɔk] 库存，存货into her apron ['eiprən] 围裙, though he gave none that bore(bear带有,印有；写有；刻有；绘有) the sugar letters.

"Now, off离开you go home(Off you go好了，你可以走（做）了), and give your mother some of them too."

The child cast向…投以（视线、笑容等）a shy [ʃai] 害羞的;腼腆的;怕生的look up at仰望; 抬头看him; she seemed unaccustomed [ʌnə'kʌstəmd] to不习惯于such kindness仁慈，善行; 友好的行为and unable to不能,不会say anything in reply[ri'plai]作为答复. Reinhard opened the door, and lighted her way, and then进而; 于是，然后the little thing小家伙like a bird flew(fly) downstairs with her cakes and out of the house.

Reinhard poked(poke[pəuk] 拨火) the fire in the stove [stəuv] 火炉, set摆放the dusty灰尘覆盖的,布满灰尘的ink-stand墨水台on the table, and then sat down and wrote and wrote letters the whole night long to his mother and Elisabeth.

The remainder [ri'meində] 剩余的,留存下的of the Christmas cakes lay untouched [ʌn'tʌtʃt]未触动过的;原样的,未尝味的by his side, but he had buttoned(button扣住, 系住) on Elisabeth's cuffs护腕, and odd [ɔd] 怪异的they护腕looked看起来,显得on附于his shaggy ['ʃægi] 长而乱的，乱蓬蓬的,皮毛蓬乱的coat of undyed [ʌn'daid]未染色的；本色的wool羊毛. And there he was still仍然, 依旧sitting when the winter sun cast its light on把…投射…上面the frosted ['frɔstid] 结霜的,被霜覆盖的window-panes (pane[pein] 窗玻璃片；框格玻璃), and showed him a pale苍白的, grave [greiv] 严肃的, 庄重的face reflected(reflect [ri'flekt] 反射,照出，映出) in在…中反射出来the looking-glass镜子.

* * * * *

When the Easter ['i:stə] 复活节vacation[vei'keiʃən] 假期，休息日came Reinhard journeyed (journey['dʒə:ni] 旅行，出行) home归乡. On the morning after his arrival [ə’rʌɪv(ə)l] 到达,到来he went to see Elisabeth.

"How tall you've grown你长得真高啊," he said, as the pretty, slender苗条的，修长的，纤细的girl advanced (advance[əd'vɑ:ns]前进,行进 ,走去) with a smile含笑to meet him. She blushed (blush[blʌʃ] 脸红,涨红了脸), but made no reply; he had taken her hand握她的手in his own握在了自己的手中in greeting['gri:tiŋ] 打招呼,问候；致意, and she tried to draw it gently轻轻地away离开,移开,缩回. He looked at her doubtingly ['dautiŋli]疑惑地,多疑地, for never had she done that before; but now it was as if some strange意料之外的,不平常的,异常的 thing was coming between them.

The same feeling remained(remain [ri'mein] 保持不变，一直是,仍然是, 依旧是), too, after he had been at home for some time一段时间and came to see her constantly [‘kɒnstəntli] 不断地,时常地,坚持不懈地day after day一天又一天地，日复一日地. When they sat alone together there ensued(ensue[in'sju:] 接着发生, 因而产生) pauses(pause [pɔ:z] 暂停，中止；停顿) in the conversation交谈，会话which distressed(distress [di'stres] 使焦虑，使悲伤；使痛苦) him, and which he anxiously ['æŋkʃəsli]焦急地,担忧地did his best尽全力to avoid [ə'vɔid] 避开, 避免, 预防. In order to have a definite ['definit] 明确的, 确切的occupation [.ɔkju'peiʃən] 消遣；业余活动 during the holidays, he began to give Elisabeth some instruction [in'strʌkʃən] 讲授, 指导, 教学in botany ['bɔtəni]植物学, in which he himself had been keenly ['ki:nli]强烈地interested感兴趣的during the early months of his university career [kə'riə] 生涯, 履历.

Elisabeth, who was wont [wəʊnt]习惯的；通常的to惯于follow him in all things and was moreover [mɔ:r'əuvə] 而且，加之，再者，更有甚者very quick to learn, willingly ['wiliŋli]愿意地,乐意地entered into参与the proposal [prə'pəuzəl] 提议; 建议. So now several times in the week they made excursions[iks'kə:ʃən] 远足；短程旅行into the fields or the moors荒野, 旷野, and if by midday ['middei] 中午；正午they brought home their green field-box野外full of充满,尽是plants and flowers, Reinhard would come again later in the day and share with与…分享Elisabeth what they had collected收集, 采集in common['kɔmən] 公有的, 共有的, 共同的. (in common共有)

With this same object宗旨；目的；目标 in view [vju:]已提出的,计划好的, he entered the room one afternoon while Elisabeth was standing by the window and sticking插入some fresh chickweed ['tʃikwi:d]鹅肠菜,繁缕草in a gilded ['gildid]镀金的；包金的birdcage鸟笼which he had not seen in the place before. In the cage was a canary [kə'nɛəri] 金丝雀, which was flapping(flap[flæp] 拍动,振翅) its wings and shrilly ['ʃrili]尖声地chirruping (chirrup['tʃirəp] 唧唧叫,吱吱叫 ) as it pecked(peck[pek] 啄食) at Elisabeth's fingers. Previously ['pri:vjəsli]先前；以前to this在此之前Reinhard's bird had hung in that spot地点.

"Has my poor linnet['linit] 朱顶雀changed into变为a goldfinch ['gəuldfintʃ] 红额金翅雀 after its death?" he asked jovially ['dʒəuviəli]愉快地,高兴地.

"Linnets are not accustomed [ə'kʌstəmd] 习惯的;通常的;独有的;适应的to do(be accustomed to do适应做, be accustomed to doing sth习惯于做某事) any such thing," said Elizabeth's mother, who sat spinning ['spiniŋ]纺纱in her armchair. "Your friend Eric sent it this noon from his estate [is'teit] 庄园, 种植园 as a present for Elisabeth."

"What estate?"

"Why, don't you know?"

"Know what?"

"That a month ago Eric took over接收，接管,接替his father's second estate庄园by the Immensee茵梦湖." (Footnote: I.e. 即the 'Lake of the Bees')

"But you have never said a word to me about it."

"Well," said the mother, "you haven't yet made a single word(只言片语) of inquiry [in'kwaiəri] 询问;查询;打听 (只字未提) after关于; 涉及your friend. He is a very nice, sensible ['sensəbl] 懂事的,明智的，理智的，通情达理的 young man."

The mother went out of从…出来,离开the room to make the coffee煮咖啡. Elisabeth had her back turned to (turn one's back to背对,把背转向)Reinhard, and was still busy with the making of her little chickweed鹅肠菜bower[‘bauə] 凉亭,凉棚.

"Please, just a little longer," she said, "I'll be done in a minute一会就搞定."

As由于Reinhard did not answer, contrary ['kɔntrəri] to与…相反，与…背道而驰；违反his wont [wəunt] 习惯行为, she turned round and faced him. In his eyes there was a sudden突然的,未预见到的expression [iks'preʃən] 表情,神色of trouble苦恼;烦恼;忧虑 which she had never observed (observe [əb'zə:v] 看到；注意到；观察到 ) before in them.

"What is the matter with you, Reinhard?" she said, drawing nearer(draw near靠近) to him.

"With me?" he said, his thoughts far away (思绪远去,心不在焉)and his eyes resting(rest注视，凝视) dreamily ['dri:mili]梦幻般地,迷迷糊糊地,朦胧地,出神地,恍惚地on(rest on朝向,落在…上) hers.

"You look so sad很伤心."

"Elisabeth," he said, "I cannot bear忍受, 容忍that yellow bird."

She looked at him in astonishment[ə'stɔniʃmənt]惊讶地;吃惊地,惊奇地, without understanding不理解his meaning. "You are so strange太奇怪," she said.

He took both her hands握住她的双手 in his, and she let him keep them there. Her mother came back into the room shortly after不久之后，很快; and after在…以后they had drunk their coffee she sat down at her spinning-wheel手纺车, while与此同时Reinhard and Elisabeth went off离开into the next room to arrange [ə'reindʒ]整理,分类their plants.

Stamens['steimən] 雄蕊were counted点…的数目, leaves and blossoms花朵，花簇carefully opened out 张开,展开, and two specimens['spesimən] 标本；样本of each sort种类were laid(lay) to dry 晾干between the pages of a large folio ['fəuliəu] 对折的,对开的volume['vɔljum] 书册.

All was calm [kɑ:m] 平静的and still寂静的this sunny ['sʌni] 阳光充足的, 阳光明媚的afternoon; the only sounds to be heard were the hum [hʌm] 嗡嗡声；嘈杂声of the mother's spinning-wheel in the next room, and now and then有时，时而，不时;   间或the subdued [səb'dju:d] 压低的voice of Reinhard, as he named说出…的名字the orders生物分类的目of the families of the plants, and corrected改正；纠正；修正 Elisabeth's awkward ['ɔ:kwəd] 笨拙的, 不熟练的，不灵巧的pronunciation [prə.nʌnsi'eiʃən] 发音of the Latin [‘lætin] names.

"I am still short of缺少that lily ['lili] 百合花of the valley (铃兰)which I didn't get last time上次; 前番," said she, after the whole collection [kə'lekʃən] 搜集品had been classified(classify ['klæsifai] 分类; 归类) and arranged(arrange [ə'reindʒ] 整理,使有条理,排列整齐,把…（系统地）分类).

Reinhard pulled掏出,拔出a little white vellum ['veləm]羊皮纸;犊皮纸;上等纸volume['vɔljum] 书册from his pocket. "Here is a spray [sprei] (一根枝条上的)花簇, 小花枝of the lily of the valley for you," he said, taking out取出a half-pressed (press[pres] 压平；压扁)bloom [blu:m] 供观赏的花.

When Elisabeth saw the pages all covered with用…填满writing字迹, she asked: "Have you been writing stories again?"

"These aren't stories," he answered, handing递给 her the book.

The contents['kɔntent]主题,主要内容,目录were all poems['pəuim], and the majority [mə'dʒɔ:riti] 大多数of them at most最多; 至多; 充其量filled占用, 装满,填满…的量one page(大多一首诗占一页). Elisabeth turned over把…翻过来,翻阅the leaves (leaf书页) one after another依次地; she appeared to似乎,好像,显得be reading the titles ['taitl] 标题，题目only. "When she was scolded (scold[skəuld] 训斥；责骂) by the teacher." "When they lost their way in the woods." "An Easter ['i:stə] 复活节story." "On her writing to给某人写信me for the first time首次; 第一次." Thus ran出版；刊登,发表most of大多数the titles.

Reinhard fixed专注于his eyes on(fix one's eyes on凝视,盯着看,注视) her with a searching洞察真相的，质问的 ,深挖细究的look眼神, and as she kept继续做turning over翻阅the leaves书页 he saw that a gentle柔和的blush [blʌʃ] 红晕arose(arise浮现) and gradually ['grædjuəli]逐渐地mantled (mantle['mæntl] 涌上,笼罩,覆盖) over the whole of her sweet可爱的；迷人的；讨人喜欢的face. He would fain [fein] 乐意地，欣然地have looked into her eyes(look right into sb's eyes直视, 注视), but Elisabeth did not look up抬头看, and finally laid(lay) the book down放下， 搁下before him without a word一言不发,一声不吭,一句话也没说.

"Don't give it back归还；交还like that," he said.

She took a brown棕色的;褐色的spray小花枝out of取出the tin马口铁case盒;箱;匣;容器 . "I will put your favourite最喜欢的，最喜爱的flower inside," she said, giving back the book into his hands.

At length终于; 最后came the last day最后一天of the vacation [vei'keiʃən] 假期and the morning of his departure [di'pɑ:tʃə] 出发，启程；离开. At her own request [ri'kwest] 请求Elisabeth received permission [pə'miʃən] 同意，许可；准许from从…获得her mother to accompany [ə'kʌmpəni] 陪伴, 陪同,护送her friend to the stage-coach ['steidʒkəutʃ] 驿马车, 定期公共马车, which had its station车站a few streets from their house.

When they passed经过，穿过，通过out of自…离开the front door前门Reinhard gave her his arm伸手臂给(同行女人挽), and thus he walked in silence一声不吭地, 沉默地side by side with和…并肩the slender苗条的，修长的，纤细的maiden['meidn] 少女. The nearer they came to their destination [.desti'neiʃən] 目的地；终点the more he felt as if he had something he must say to her before he bade [beɪd] (bid [bid] 向…表示问候；向…告别bidden) her a long farewell ['fɛə'wel]道别，告别，辞行(to bid sb farewell向某人告别), something on which all that was worthy ['wə:ði] 有价值的,值得的and all that was sweet令人愉快的；惬意的；舒畅的in his future life depended(depend[di'pend] 依靠, 依赖), and yet然而,可是he could not formulate ['fɔ:mjuleit]确切表达,阐明,阐述the saving可取的word话语, 言语. In his anguish ['æŋgwiʃ] 极度的痛苦；苦恼 , he walked slower and slower.

"You'll be too late," she said; "it has already struck ten by St(Saint [seint] 圣…(冠于人名、地名之前),缩略词：St) Mary's圣玛丽clock."

But he did not quicken ['kwikən]加快，加速 his pace [peis] 步速for all that尽管如此,虽然如此. At last he stammered(stammer['stæmə] 结结巴巴地说) out:

"Elisabeth, you will not see me again for two whole years. Shall I be as dear宝贵的；珍视的 to you(be dear to sb对…来说心爱的;在…（心中）宝贵的) as ever(as…as ever和以前一样,一如既往,依旧,仍然) when I come back?"

She nodded, and looked affectionately [ə'fekʃnitli]深情地,充满爱意地into凝视,注视his face.

"I stood up for支持,坚持,坚决维护,捍卫you too," she said, after a pause [pɔ:z] 停顿, 暂停.

"Me? And against反对；对抗whom had you to stand up for me?"

"Against my mother. We were talking about you a long time yesterday evening after you left. She thought认为; 以为you were not so nice now as you once were."

Reinhard held his peace保持沉默for a moment: then he took her hand in his, and looking gravely ['greivli]严肃地;庄重地into her childish ['tʃaildiʃ] 幼稚的；天真的 eyes, he said:

"I am still仍然just as正如; 正像; 犹如 nice as I ever was; I would have让you firmly ['fə:mli]坚定地,稳固地believe坚信; 深信; 确信that. Do you believe it, Elisabeth?"

"Yes," she said.

He freed释放,松开her hand and quickly walked with her through the last street. The nearer he felt the time of parting离别；分手；分别 approach [ə'prəutʃ] 临近,来临, the happier became变得the look神色, 表情on his face; he went almost too quickly for her.

"What is the matter with you, Reinhard?" she asked.

"I have a secret, a beautiful secret," said Reinhard, looking at her with a light光亮 in his eyes. "When I come back again in two years' time, then you shall know it."

Meanwhile与此同时they had reached the stage-coach驿站马车,公共马车; they were only just刚刚，恰好in time及时. Once more Reinhard took her hand. "Farewell ['fɛə'wel] 再会，再见；一路顺风；祝你好运!" he said, "farewell, Elisabeth! Do not forget!"

She shook(shake) her head摇头. "Farewell," she said. Reinhard climbed up向上爬into the coach四轮大马车and the horses started. As the coach rumbled(rumble['rʌmbl] 发辘辘声行驶) round the corner(round the corner在拐角处)of the street he saw her dear可爱的，美好的form外形 ,形体，体型once more再次; 再度 as she slowly wended(wend[wend]行,走;往,回) her way home向家走去.

* * * * *

Nearly几乎，差不多two years later以后，过后Reinhard was sitting by lamplight灯光with his books and papers书报 around him, expecting期待; 期盼a friend with whom he used to过去时常study in common共用；共有，公有. Some one came upstairs. "Come in." It was the landlady ['lænd.leidi] 女房东. "A letter for you, Herr [hɛə]先生Werner沃纳," and she went away.

Reinhard had never written to Elisabeth since his visit home, and he had received no letter from her. Nor was this one from her; it was in his mother's handwriting.

Reinhard broke the seal [si:l] 封条, 封蜡and read, and ere [ɛə] long不久;很快he came to this paragraph ['pærəgrɑ:f] 段落:

"At your time of life年龄, my dear boy, nearly几乎，差不多every year still常，不断地brings its own peculiar[pi'kju:ljə] 特有的, 独具的experience [iks'piəriəns] 体验,经历; for因为youth青年人is apt [æpt] to倾向于,有…倾向的turn everything to the best account充分利用,从中获利，从中得益(put/turn sth to good account利用,善用). At home, too, things have changed very much, and all this will这一切都将会, I fear担心, cause引起;导致;成为…的原因;使遭受you much pain痛苦；悲痛at first起初,当初, if my understanding理解；领悟；了解 of you is at all correct[kə'rekt] 符合事实的,全部正确；完全正确；全对了,一丝不错.

"Yesterday Eric was at last终于accepted(accept[ək'sept] 答应（男子）的求婚) by Elisabeth, after having twice [twais] 两次proposed (propose [prə'pəuz] 向某人求婚) in vain[vein]白费地; 徒劳地during the last过去的three months. She had never been able to从未能够make up her mind下定决心,作出决定to it, but now刚刚，适才in the end最后，结果she has done so. To my mind据我所见，在我看来she is still far too极为; 过于young. The wedding ['wediŋ] 婚礼is to take place举行 soon, and her mother means意欲，打算 to go away with与一同离开them."

* * * * *

Again years have passed. One warm afternoon in spring a young man, whose sunburnt ['sʌnbə:nt]晒得黝黑的;皮肤晒成深褐色的 (sunburn ['sʌnbə:n] 晒红，晒黑；晒伤)face was the picture写照,形象of health健康, was walking along a shady ['ʃeidi] 背阴的；多荫的road through the wood leading down to通向,通往the valley below.

His grave [greiv] 严肃的，庄重的；阴沉的dark eyes looked intently [in'tentli]专注地;专心地;热切地into the distance远方，远处, as though好像,仿佛; 浑似he was expecting to期待,等待find every moment时时刻刻some change in the monotony [mə'nɔtəni] 单调乏味，无聊,千篇一律 of the road, a change however然而，可是，不过which seemed reluctant [ri'lʌktənt] to不甘心情愿做come about发生；产生；实现，造成. At length终于; 最后 he saw a cart运货马车slowly coming up上来from below.

"Hullo ['hʌ'ləu]( = hello)! my friend," shouted the traveller ['trævlə] 旅行者to the farmer, who was walking by the side of the cart, "is this the right对头的road to Immensee?"

"Yes, straight on直行;一直往前;一直走;笔直向前," answered the man touching 触摸his slouch [slautʃ] 下垂hat宽边软帽,垂边软帽.

"Is it still far off遥远的?"  

"You are close to濒临;接近，靠近the place, sir. In less [les]更少的time than it takes to smoke抽烟half a pipe of tobacco一烟斗烟丝you'll be at the lake side, and the manor ['mænə] 庄园宅第，庄园府第is hard by在附近，紧挨着."

The farmer passed on继续前进while然而the other(指旅行者)quickened his pace加快步伐as当…时候he went along沿着，顺着…前进 under the trees. After a quarter of an hour's walk the shade树荫 to the left of左边 him suddenly came to an end结束,终止; the road led(lead通往，指向) along a steep [sti:p] 陡的，陡峭的，陡直的slope[sləup]斜坡；坡地(陡坡，急坡)[下坡路]from which斜坡the ancient oaks[əuk] growing below hardly刚刚, 仅仅reared(rear[riə] 竖起，使直立) their topmost顶端的branches.

Away离开over their树枝的crests [krest] 冠,顶部opened out展现a broad[brɔ:d]辽阔的, sunny ['sʌni] 阳光明媚的landscape风景, 景色. Far很, 极below lay the peaceful ['pi:sfəl] 宁静的，平静的, dark-blue lake, almost entirely[in'taiəli] 全部地，全然地surrounded(surround[sə'raund] 围绕，环绕) by green sun-lit阳光照耀的 woods, save除…以外where on one spot地点, 场所they divided(divide [di'vaid] 分隔,隔开) and afforded(afford[ə'fɔ:d] 提供, 给予) an extensive [iks'tensiv] 广阔的view until it closed结束，终止 in the distant遥远的blue mountains.

Straight直接的，径直的opposite ['ɔpəzit] 对面的(正对面), in the middle of在…的中间all this forest verdure [‘və:djə]青葱的草木；郁郁葱葱的植物 , there lay放置a patch [pætʃ] 小块土地of white, like driven snow吹雪,吹积的雪. This白色的小块土地was an expanse[iks’pæns]广阔区域；大片地区of blossoming开花fruit-trees, and out of在…外them, up on the high lake shore湖滨,湖畔, rose(rise [raiz] 耸立；矗立) the manor-house ['mænə]庄园府邸, shining反光的,光亮的white(白花花的), with tiles [tail] 瓦片of red. A stork [stɔ:k] 鹳flew up向上飞from the chimney ['tʃimni] 岩石表面裂缝,狭孔，狭缝, and circled环绕; 盘旋slowly above the waters.

"Immensee!" exclaimed the traveller.

It almost seemed as if he had now reached the end of his journey, for he stood motionless ['məuʃənlis]静止的；一动不动的 , looking out over俯瞰,朝着...处瞭望the tops of the trees at his feet在他的脚下, and gazing at the farther更远的shore对岸, where the reflection [ri'flekʃən] 映像;倒影of the manor-house floated(float[fləut] 漂浮), rocking(rock来回摆动;左右摇晃) gently和缓地 ,轻轻地, on the bosom['buzəm] 胸部of the water. Then he suddenly started出发,启程 on his way again.

His road now led almost steeply ['sti:pli] 险峻地,大坡度地down the mountain-side山坡, so that the trees that had once曾经stood below him again gave him their shade树荫 , but at the same time cut off隔断, 阻碍from him the view景色, 风景of the lake, which风景 only now and then时而,间或peeped out露出between the gaps [gæp] 缝隙in the branches.

Soon the way went通向，延伸到gently平缓地upwards向上again, and to left and right the woods disappeared消失,不见 , yielding(yield[ji:ld]被…替代;为…所取代) place席位，空位to (yield to sth被…替代；为…所取代)vine-clad [klæd]被…覆盖的;被…笼罩的hills(被藤蔓覆盖的山冈;山丘) stretching(stretch[stretʃ] 延伸) along the pathway小路，小径; while与此同时on either side两旁stood使直立；竖放fruit-trees in blossom, filled with the hum [hʌm] 嗡嗡声of the bees as they busily pried(pry) into窥探the blossoms. A tall man wearing穿着a brown棕色的，咖啡色的overcoat大衣; 外套; advanced to走上前去meet迎接the traveller. When he had almost come up to达到,临近him, he waved挥舞，挥动his cap and cried out in a loud voice:

"Welcome, welcome, brother Reinhard! Welcome to my Immensee estate [is'teit] 庄园 !"

"God's greeting(greet [gri:t] 问候) to you, (Footnote: This form惯用语句；公式化语句of salutation [.sælju'teiʃən] 打招呼的话；问候is especially [is'peʃəli] 尤其地，格外地common常见的；通常的；普遍的 in the south of Germany.) Eric, and thank you for your welcome," replied the other.

By this time到这个时候they had come up close to走近one another互相,彼此, and clasped (clasp[klɑ:sp] 紧握; 紧抱) hands.

"And is it really you?" said Eric, when he at last got a near sight of(get a sight of看见,瞥见) the grave严肃的，庄重的face of his old school-fellow伙伴，同伴(同学,校友).

"It is I right enough当然；无疑；不可否认, Eric, and I recognize认出, 识别出某人you too; only you almost look cheerier (cheery['tʃiri] 愉快的，欢快的 ) than you ever did before."

At these words a glad充满欢乐的smile made Eric's plain相貌平平的features (feature[fi:tʃə] 五官；容貌，长相) all the more愈加; 格外; 更加cheerful['tʃiəfəl] 欢快的;高兴的;兴高采烈的.

"Yes, brother Reinhard," he said, as he once more held out伸出his hand to him, "but since those days, you see, I have won the great prize [praiz] 奖赏; but you know that well enough这你是知道的."

Then he rubbed(rub [rʌb] 擦；磨；搓 ) his hands and cried cheerily ['tʃirili]快活地,兴高采烈地: "This will be a surprise意想不到的事;突如其来的事;令人惊奇的事! You are the last最不可能的, 最不合适的person she expects期待; 期盼to see你是她绝没有料想会见到的人."

"A surprise?" asked Reinhard. "For whom, pray[prei] 请问?"

"Why哎呀, for Elisabeth."

"Elisabeth! You haven't told her a word about my visit?"

"Not a word, brother Reinhard; she has no thought of想起you, nor也不; 也没her mother either也. I invited邀请you entirely [in'taiəli] 彻底地,完全地on the quiet秘密地,不為人注意地,暗地裡, in order that为了the pleasure 愉快；高兴；快乐might be可能会all尽可能the greater. You know I always总是，老是had little几乎没有quiet不张扬的，悄悄的；暗中的，秘密的schemes(scheme [ski:m] 阴谋, 诡计,计划，规划，方案) of my own."

Reinhard turned转变；变成,变得 thoughtful['θɔ:tfəl] 沉思的, 思考的; he seemed to breathe more heavily the nearer they approached(approach[ə'prəutʃ] 接近，靠近) the house.

On the left side of the road在马路的左边the vineyards['vinjəd] 葡萄园came to an end结束，终止, and gave place to为…取代,让位给an extensive广阔的kitchen-garden菜园, which reached almost as far as 远到,直到…为止the lake-shore湖滨. The stork鹳had meanwhile同时，其间come to earth地面and was striding(stride [straid] 阔步行进，大踏步走) solemnly ['sɔləmli] 庄严地between the vegetable beds苗圃.

"Hullo!" cried Eric, clapping his hands together拍手, "if要是…多好 that long-legged长腿的 Egyptian isn't stealing偷窃my short pea-sticks豌豆荚again!"

The bird slowly rose(rise飞起) and flew on to the roof of a new building, which ran along延伸the end of the kitchen-garden, and whose那个的，那些的walls were covered with the branches of the peach [pi:tʃ] 桃子and apricot ['eiprikɔt]杏trees that were trained朝某方向生长over them.

"That's the distillery [di'stiləri] 酿酒厂," said Eric. "I built it only two years ago. My late已故的father先父had the farm buildings农场建筑rebuilt(rebuild重建,改建); the dwelling-house(['dweliŋ] 住宅；住所；公寓)住宅,屋子was built as far back as(far back久远,远溯到)远在,早在my grandfather's time时代. So we go ever不断地; 总是forward(go forward前进,进步) a little bit一点点at a time逐一,每次."

Talking thus they came to a wide, open space露天场所,空地, enclosed(enclose [in'kləuz] 围住，包围) at the sides两边by farm-buildings农事房, and in the rear[riə] 后部，后边，后面；背部by在…旁边，靠近the manor-house ['mænə] 庄园府邸, the two wings侧翼部分；侧厅；耳房；厢房 of which庄园府邸were connected(connect [kə'nekt]  使连接，使接通) by a high garden wall园墙. Behind this wall ran延伸，伸展 dark深色的hedges(hedge[hedʒ] 树篱) of yew [ju:] 紫杉，红豆杉 trees, while而 here and there在各处syringa[si'riŋgə] 紫丁香trees trailed(trail[treil] 蔓生，蔓延) their blossoming branches over蔓过into the courtyard.

Men with faces scorched(scorch [skɔ:tʃ] 烧灼；炙烤) by the sun and heated(heat变热) with toil [tɔil] 苦工;苦活,累活were walking over穿过;走到另一地方the open space and gave a greeting ['gri:tiŋ]问候；招呼；迎接；致意 to the two friends, while Eric called out召集,叫喊,调来to one or another of them some order指令,命令, 嘱咐or question询问；审问；盘问about their day's work.

By this time they had reached the house. They entered a high, cool vestibule ['vestibju:l] 门厅，前厅, at the far end of在…的尽头which they turned to the left向左转into a somewhat稍微；有点darker passage走廊，过道.

Here Eric opened a door and they passed into进入a spacious ['speiʃəs] 宽敞的room that opened into通向a garden. The heavy大量的，浓密的mass of [mæs] 团，块，堆leafage['li:fidʒ] 树叶; 叶丛that covered the opposite ['ɔpəzit] 相对的,面对面的windows filled使充满this room at either end两头；两端with a green twilight ['twailait]暮色；薄暮；黄昏 , while而between the windows two lofty ['lɔfti]高耸的wide-open完全开放的folding-doors ['fəuldiŋ]可折叠的let in让…进入the full大量的,许多的,达到极限的,最大量的glow [gləu] 光亮, 光辉of spring sunshine, and afforded提供a view into a garden, laid(lay) out陈设; 展开,布置with circular ['sə:kjulə] 圆形的, 环形的flower-beds花坛and steep陡峭的，陡直的hedgerows ['hedʒrəu] 矮树篱,灌木篱墙and divided (divide隔开) by a straight直的, broad宽阔的path, along which the eye目光；视线roamed(roam [rəum] 扫遍,扫视) out向外on to the lake and away向远处over the woods growing on the opposite shore.

As the two friends entered, a breath of wind微风,一丝风bore(bear) in upon给…留下印象,出现在某人的脑海里them a perfect [‘pə:fikt] 完美的,无瑕的stream股，缕of fragrance [‘freigrəns]芬芳，香气，香味.

On a terrace [‘terəs] 露天平台，阳台in front of the door leading to通向the garden sat a girlish [‘gə:liʃ]少女似的 figure [‘figə] 轮廓,体形,人影;身影dressed in white穿着白色衣服. She rose起身；站起and came to meet the two friends as they entered, but half-way半路上she stood stock-still [stɔk] 树干(完全静止地,不动地)as if rooted to the spot钉在原地，呆若木鸡;生了根似的立定and stared at the stranger外地人; 陌生人. With a smile含笑he held out his hand to her.

“Reinhard!” she cried. “Reinhard! Oh! Is it you? It is such a long time since we have seen each other.”

“Yes, a long time,” he said, and not a word more could he utter[‘ʌtə] 发出声音; for on hearing her voice he felt a keen[ki:n] 强烈的,厉害的, physical身体的, 肉体的pain at his heart, and as he looked up抬头看to her, there she stood before him, the same slight瘦弱的，纤弱的, graceful [‘greisfəl] 优美的，优雅的;雅致的figure(风姿绰约,婀娜的身影, 身姿妙曼) to whom he had said farewell[‘fɛə’wel] 再会，再见years ago in the town where he was born.

Eric had stood back靠后站,避开by the door, with joy欣喜,喜悦beaming [‘bi:miŋ]喜气洋洋的,愉快的,笑容满面的,笑盈盈的from his eyes.

“Now, then, Elisabeth,” he said, “isn’t he really the very last最不可能的,最不适合的,惟一的,仅存的person in the world you would have expected to see期望见到?” (You are the last people that I want to see. 你是我最不想见的人)

Elisabeth looked at him with the eyes of a sister. “You are so kind太好了, Eric,” she said.

He took her slender修长的，纤细的hand caressingly [kə’resiŋli] 爱抚地,亲切地in his. “And now that而现在we have him,” he said, “we shall not be in a hurry to不着急let him go. He has been so long away离开，远离abroad在国外, we will try to设法make him feel at home使某人感到宾至如归,使某人感到不拘束again. Just see how foreign-looking异国面孔he has become, and what a distinguished [di’stiŋgwiʃt]高贵的,尊贵的,卓越的; appearance [ə’piərəns] 面貌，外表，外观he has!”

Elisabeth shyly [‘ʃaili]羞怯地scanned(scan [skæn] 细看，审视) Reinhard’s face. “The time that we have been separated(separate [‘sepəreit] 分离；分开) is enough to足以account [ə’kaunt] for解释,说明原因that,” she said.

At this moment在这个瞬间in at the door came her mother, key-basket筐on arm.

“Herr先生Werner沃纳!” she cried, when she caught sight of Reinhard; “ah! You are as dearly深深地,非常；很 welcome深受欢迎as you are unexpected [‘ʌnik’spektid] 出乎意料的；始料不及的 ,想不到的；未预料到的.”

And so因此the conversation交谈went smoothly顺利地,平稳地,连续而流畅地on with questions and answers问答. The ladies sat over关于, 在…方面their work, and while Reinhard enjoyed享受the refreshment [ri’freʃmənt] 茶点; 点心that had been prepared for him, Eric had lighted点燃his huge meerschaum [‘miəʃəm] 海泡石pipe and sat smoking and conversing (converse [kən’və:s]交谈, 谈话)by his side.

Next day Reinhard had to go out外出with him to see the fields, the vineyards葡萄园, the hop-garden蛇麻草,啤酒花(啤酒花圃,蛇麻园), the distillery [di'stiləri] 酿酒厂. It was all well appointed (appoint [ə'pɔint] 安排,装设,布置) 设备完善的，配备齐全的; the people who were working on the land or at the vats [væt] 大缸，大桶(尤指蒸馏、酿造、染色及鞣革用的) all had a healthy ['helθi] 健康的and contented [kən'tentid]满意的，惬意的，满足的 look脸色, 神色, 表情.

For dinner正餐,晚餐the family assembled(assemble [ə'sembl] 聚集，集合) in the room that opened into通向the garden, and the day was spent(spend度过) more or less差不多,几乎; 大约; 多少不等in company一同，一起just according to取决于,视…而定the leisure ['li:ʒə] 空闲，闲暇of the host [həust] 主人and hostess ['həustis] 女主人. Only during the hours preceding(precede [pri:'si:d] 在…之前, 先于) the evening meal晚宴, as also同样，照样during the early提早的hours of the forenoon ['fɔ:nu:n] 午前,上午, did Reinhard stay working in his own room.

For some years好些年past过去的,以往的, whenever每当he could come across偶然遇见them, he had been collecting收藏; 收集the rhymes (rhyme [raim] 押韵诗，韵文)and songs that form part of组成…的一部分，成为…的要素the life of the people, and now set about开始做arranging (arrange [ə'reindʒ] 整理;把…（系统地）分类) his treasure宝藏,珍宝, and wherever possible(=whenever possible)只要有可能increasing(increase [,in'kri:s] 增加,增多) it by means手段；方法of通过,依靠, 借助于fresh以前所不知道的；未用过的；新的；新近的；不同的records记录, 记载from the immediate [i'mi:djət] 紧挨的，邻近的neighbourhood邻近地区.

Elisabeth was at all times随时;每时每刻;总是gentle温和的,和蔼的,文雅的and kind体贴的；慈祥的；友好的；宽容的 . Eric's constant ['kɔnstənt] 始终如一的, 恒久不变的attentions照料,关怀;殷勤she received对…作出反应;回应with an almost近乎humble ['hʌmbl谦卑的；谦逊的gratitude['grætitju:d] 感激（之情）；感恩图报之心, and Reinhard thought认为,感觉;觉得at whiles有时that the gay [gei] 快乐的, 欢快的, cheerful ['tʃiəfəl] 开心的，愉快的，乐观的child of bygone ['bai.gɔ:n] 过去的，以往的days往日had given表现,呈现,使产生某种感觉promise迹象of a somewhat稍微; 有点less较少的(somewhat less带有几分, 稍微有点somewhat less intolerable [in'tɔlərəbl]稍微好受一点儿) sedate [si'deit] 镇定的,泰然的,稳重的,庄重的,严肃的,不苟言笑的womanhood女子特性，女子特质,女子气质.

Ever since自从the second day of his visit he had been wont [wʌnt] 使习惯于of an evening经常在晚上to take a walk散步, 遛达遛达along the shore of the lake. The road led(lead通往，指向) along沿着…的某地点close接近,靠近,紧挨着under the garden. At the end of在…末端the latter['lætə]后者, on a projecting [prə'dʒektiŋ]突出的,伸出的mound [maund] 土堆; 土丘, there was a bench长凳,长椅under some tall birch [bə:tʃ]白桦trees. Elisabeth's mother had christened (christen ['krisn] 为（表示显著性质或特征的人或物）命名) it the Evening Bench傍晚椅, because the spot地点,场所,处所 faced朝着westward ['westwəd] 向西的, and was mostly主要地,通常used at that time在那时of the day in order to enjoy欣赏a view景色, 风景 of the sunset日落，黄昏，傍晚.

One evening Reinhard was returning from从…返回 his walk along this road when he was overtaken(overtake[.əuvə'teik] 突然来临, 突然遭遇) by the rain. He sought [sɔ:t] ( seek [si:k] 寻找) shelter ['ʃeltə] 躲避处under one of the linden ['lindən](= lime [laim] 椴树) trees椴树that grew by the water-side 水边,河畔, but the heavy浓密的drops雨滴(暴雨)were soon pelting(pelt [pelt] 倾泻) through the leaves. Wet through湿透as尽管，虽然he was he resigned(resign[ri'zain] 听任,顺从) himself to听从，顺从his fate [feit]命运，天命(听天由命) and slowly continued his homeward向家的way.

It was almost dark; the rain fell faster and faster. As he drew near靠近，临近to the Evening Bench he fancied(fancy ['fænsi] 想像, 设想,幻想) he could make out辨认出，看出the figure ['figə] 身影of a woman dressed in white standing among处在…中, 为…所环绕the gleaming [ˈgli:mɪŋ]闪闪发光的birch [bə:tʃ] 白桦tree trunks树干. She stood motionless ['məuʃənlis] 静止的；一动不动的 , and, as far as直到…为止he could make out辨认出，看出 on approaching(approach [ə'prəutʃ]接近，靠近) nearer, with her face turned朝着；向…方向；对准 in his direction方向, as if she was expecting some one.

He thought it was Elisabeth. But when he quickened加快his pace步速in order that he might catch up to赶上 her and then进而,然后return together with和…一同her through the garden into the house, she turned slowly away转过脸去and disappeared among the dark side-paths侧道.

He could not understand it; he was almost angry with Elisabeth, and yet he doubted(doubt [daut] 不确定，疑惑，怀疑) whether it had really been she. He was, however, shy [ʃai] of对…有顾虑,对…畏缩questioning询问her about it--nay [nei] 不但如此, 而且, he even avoided(avoid [ə'vɔid] 回避；避免) going into the garden- room on his return to the house for fear以免,唯恐he should happen to碰巧, 赶巧see Elisabeth enter through the garden-door.

* * * * *

Some days later, as evening was already closing in来临，到来, the family was, as usual['ju:ʒuəl]像往常一样; 照旧; 如故; 仍然 at this time of the day, sitting all together in their garden- room. The doors stood处于特定状态wide open大开的, and the sun had already sunk(sink[siŋk] 下沉) behind the woods on the far那一边的side of the lake.

Reinhard was invited to read some folk-songs [fəuk] 民间的which had been sent to him that afternoon by a friend who lived away在远处in the country. He went up to前往his room and soon returned with a roll of一卷papers which seemed to consist [kən'sist] of由…组成detached(detach [di'tætʃ] 拆卸,使分开) neatly ['ni:tli] 熟练地,灵巧地,利索地written pages书页.

So they all sat down to the table, Elisabeth beside Reinhard. "We shall read them at random ['rændəm] 胡乱地；随便地，任意地," said the latter后者, "I have not yet looked through浏览;翻阅them myself."

Elisabeth unrolled['ʌn'rəul] 铺开，展开，摊开the manuscript ['mænjuskript] 手稿, 原稿, 底稿,手写本，手写本. "Here's some music," she said, "you must sing it, Reinhard."

To begin with从…开始he read some Tyrolese [.tirə'li:z] 蒂罗尔人, 蒂罗尔的ditties(ditty ['diti] 歌谣,小诗) (Footnote: Dialectal [.daiə'lektl] 方言的for Schnitter hüpfen施尼特赫普芬, i.e. 亦即'reapers'收割者dances,' sung(sing) especially [is'peʃəli]尤其地in the Tyrol [ti'rəul]蒂罗尔州and in Bavaria [bə'veriə]巴伐利亚.) and as he read on he would now and then时而, 间或hum哼唱one or other或者这个，或者那个of the lively ['laivli] 活泼的, 轻快的melodies(melody['melədi] 旋律;曲调). A general ['dʒenərəl]广泛的,普遍的,总的feeling情绪;气氛of cheeriness ['tʃiərinis] 高兴,爽快,活泼pervaded (pervade[pə’veɪd] 遍及于,充满,弥漫) the little party.

"And who, pray [prei] 请问, made all these pretty优美动听的songs?" asked Elisabeth.

"Oh," said Eric, "you can tell知道；看出；确切地判断,断定that by listening to the rubbishy ['rʌbiʃi] 毫无价值的, 没用的, 垃圾般的,劣质的;差劲的things--tailors' ['teilə]裁缝apprentices [ə'prentis] 学徒，徒弟and barbers ['bɑ:bə] 理发师and such-like像这类的merry欢快的folk人们."

Reinhard said: "They are not made; they grow生长, they drop from the clouds从天而降, they float漂浮;over the land like gossamer ['gɔsəmə] 蛛丝, 游丝, [Footnote: These fine纤细的cobwebs['kɔbweb] 蜘蛛网, produced(produce [prə'dju:s] 产生) by field-spiders ['spaidə] 蜘蛛, have always一直以来in the popular大众的，公众的 mind been connected(connect[kə'nekt]) with和…有关,和…有联系the gods. After the advent ['ædvənt]出现，问世of Christianity [.kristi'æniti] 基督教they were connected with the Virgin ['və:dʒin] 童贞的Mary圣母马利亚. The shroud [ʃraud] 裹尸布，寿衣in which she was wrapped [ræp] 包；裹after her death was believed to have been woven(weave [wi:v] 织成) of the very finest thread [θred] 细线, which during her ascent [ə'sent] 上升to Heaven升天frayed(fray [frei] 磨损) away from离开,远离,脱离her body.] hither ['hiðə] 到这儿and thither .[‘ðiðə] 到那儿(四处,到处), and are sung in a thousand places地方, 场所at the same time同时. We discover发现 ,认识到,知晓in these songs our very inmost ['inməust] 最深的；内心深处的activities (activity [æk'tiviti] 状况,活动) and sufferings ['sʌfəriŋ] 身体或心灵的痛苦, 苦难: it is as if这就好像we all had helped to有助于做某事;帮助做某事;帮忙write them."

He took up拿起another sheet [ʃi:t] 一页，一张: "I stood on the mountain height [hait]顶点(Footnote: An ancient ['einʃənt] folk-song民歌，民谣which treats[tri:t] 陈述of 论及a beautiful but poor maiden ['meidn] 少女, who, being unable to marry 'the young count [kaunt] 伯爵,' retired(retire [ri'taiə] 退役,退隐 ,退出，离开) to a convent ['kɔnvənt] 女修道院.)..."

"I know that one," cried Elisabeth; "begin it, do(开始唱), Reinhard, and I will help you out帮助某人完成工作,成全某人."

So they sang that famous melody ['melədi] 歌曲;旋律，曲调, which is so mysterious [mis'tiəriəs] 玄妙;神秘的，诡秘的;难以理解的，不可思议的that one can hardly believe简直不敢相信that it was ever竟然,曾经 conceived(conceive [kən'si:v] 想出；构思) by the heart内心of man, Elisabeth with her slightly ['slaitli] 稍微地，些许地clouded(cloud [klaud] 显现忧虑，悲伤) contralto [kən'træltəu] 女低音taking引领,带领;通向the second part to the young man's tenor ['tenə] 男高音声部.

The mother meanwhile其间sat busy with her needlework ['ni:dl.wə:k] 缝纫; 刺绣; 针线活, while Eric listened attentively [ə'tentivli]聚精会神地;凝神, with one hand clasped (clasp [klɑ:sp]  紧紧抓住;攥紧,双手手指交错紧握) in the other. The song finished, Reinhard laid(lay) the sheet纸on one side在一旁in silence一声不吭地. Up from the lake-shore came through传来the evening calm [kɑ:m] 宁静的the tinkle of the cattle ['kætl] 牛bells; they were all listening without knowing why, and presently不久；随即they heard a boy's clear清晰的,听得清的voice singing:

I stood on the mountain height绝顶，顶点And viewed(view[vju:] 观看；查看 ) the deep valley beneath [bi'ni:θ] 在下面, 在底下....

Reinhard smiled. "Do you hear that now? So it passes传递，传送from mouth to mouth口口相传."

"It is often sung in these parts在这一带，在这些地方," said Elisabeth.

"Yes," said Eric, "it is Casper卡斯珀the herdsman ['hə:dzmən] 牧主，牧人; he is driving驱赶 the heifers ['hefə]小母牛 (Footnote: Starke斯塔克is the southern ['sʌðən]南方的dialect ['daiəlekt]方言,土语word for Färse, 'young cow,' 'heifer.') home回家."

They listened a while longer一段时间until the tinkle of the bells died(die) away变弱，逐渐消失behind the farm buildings. "These melodies旋律; 曲调 are as old as the world," said Reinhard; "they slumber ['slʌmbə] 沉睡,蛰伏in the depths[depθ] 纵深 ,最深处 深处of the forest; God knows who discovered发现，发掘them."

He drew forth拉出，抽出a fresh sheet.

It had now grown渐渐变得darker; a crimson ['krimzn] 深红色;暗红色evening glow [gləu]微弱稳定的光；暗淡的光(夕照;暮辉) lay like foam [fəum]泡沫;气泡over(lay over覆盖) the woods in the farther side对岸of the lake. Reinhard unrolled the sheet, Elisabeth caught 抓住；握住one side of it in her hand, and they both examined [ig'zæmin]仔细检查it together. Then Reinhard read: By my mother's hard decree [di'kri:] 法令;政令,命令(是我妈妈所主张), Another's别个wife I needs must必须，不得不be要我另选别家郎; Him on whom my heart was set不变的,难以改变的(从前所有心中事), Him, alas乌呼! I must forget要我定要把他忘; My heart protesting(protest,prə'test] 抗议,反对), but not free能随自己意愿的(我自暗心伤).

Bitterly ['bitəli]伤心地; 愤怒地did I complain [kəm'plein]抱怨，发牢骚，诉苦(怨我妈妈误了我) ,That my mother brought me pain一着铸成天大错. What多么mine我的honour ['ɔnə] 贞节，名誉might have been本可实现或发生的事(从前本是清白身), That is turned to变成deadly ['dedli]致命的;致死的sin罪恶, 罪孽(如今已经成罪过). Can I ever究竟，到底hope again叫我如何可?

For my pride骄傲，自豪,自尊心what can I show, And my joy纵有矜荣和欢快, save挽救；拯救 grief [gri:f] 悲伤，悲痛，伤心and woe [wəu]苦恼,悲哀;哀伤(徒教换得幽怨来)? Oh! could I undo ['ʌn'du:] 消除，取消，废止what's done　若无这段错因缘, O'er(=over) the moor [mɔː]荒野，旷野 scorched(scorch [skɔ:tʃ] 烧焦; 烤焦) by the sun纵使乞食走荒隈, Beggarwise(-wise [waiz]以…方式,像…一样,如同) I'd gladly乐意地，欣然go我也心甘受.

During the reading of this Reinhard had felt an imperceptible [.impə'septəbl]感觉不到的，难以察觉的，细微的quivering(quiver ['kwivə] 颤抖，抖动) of the paper; and when he came to an end结束,终止,完事Elisabeth gently轻轻地pushed her chair back把…向后推and passed silently默默地out离去into the garden. Her mother followed her with跟着a look. Eric made as if假装to go after, but the mother said:

"Elisabeth has one or two little things to do outside," so he remained(remain[ri'mein] 留在，逗留) where he was.

But out of doors the evening brooded[bru:d] darker and darker越来越暗over(brood over笼罩) garden and lake. Moths[mɔθ] 飞蛾whirred(whirr[wə:] 呼呼地飞) past经过the open doors through穿过which开着的门the fragrance ['freigrəns]香气；香味；芳香 of flower and bush矮树丛floated飘动,飘到,传到in increasingly [in'kri:siŋli]越来越多地,日益; up from the water came (up被前置,正确是come up)the croak [krəuk] 呱呱的叫声of the frogs, under the windows a nightingale ['naitiŋ.geil] 夜莺，歌鸲commenced(commence [kə'mens] 开始) his song answered回应by another被另一个from within从…的内部[里面] the depths [depθ] 深处,纵深of the garden; the moon appeared over the tree-tops.

Reinhard looked for寻找a little while longer 一小会儿时间at the spot在现场where Elisabeth's sweet可爱的；迷人的form体型had been lost to sight再也看不见了in the thick-foliaged ['fəuliidʒd]有枝叶的,叶饰的garden paths [pɑ:θ] 小径, and then然后he rolled up卷起his manuscript ['mænjuskript] 手稿, 原稿, 底稿, bade [beɪd]( bid向…告别) his friends good-night and passed through通过;经过 the house down to下至the water.

The woods stood silent寂静的；无声的and cast投射their dark shadow暗影far out距离远的,遥远的over the lake, while the centre ['sentə] was bathed(bathe [beið] 沐浴在…中,撒满，覆盖) in the haze [heiz] 薄雾,雾霭 of a pale暗淡的；微弱的moonlight. Now and then时而a gentle微弱的 rustle ['rʌsl] 沙沙声trembled颤动; 发抖,轻轻摇晃,晃动through the trees, though可是，不过，然而wind there was none丝毫没有; it was but只, 仅仅the breath气息of summer night.

Reinhard continued along the shore. A stone's throw from一箭之遥，很短的距离the land he perceived(perceive [pə'si:v]注意到,察觉到 ) a white water-lily ['lili] 百合花(水百合,睡莲). All at once突然he was seized(seize [si:z] 侵袭；支配，控制) with(be seized with被(强烈的感情、愿望等)影响,受…侵扰) the desire to对…的渴望see it quite close接近的，靠近的, so he threw off迅速脱掉his clothes(clothe) and entered the water. It was quite shallow ['ʃæləu]浅的; sharp stones and water plants水草cut his feet, and yet还, 尚, 仍然he could not reach water deep enough for him to swim in在…游泳,浸泡在…中.

Then suddenly he stepped out of his depth(out of one's depth在水深没顶的地方): the waters swirled(swirl [swə:l] 起旋涡 ) above him; and it was some time before过了一会儿才he rose(rise[raiz]使…浮上水面) to the surface ['sə:fis] 水面again. He struck(strike) out用力打with hands and feet and swam about四处游动in a circle在一个圈子里until he had made quite sure非常确信,十分肯定from what point he had entered the water. And soon too he saw the lily again floating漂浮lonely孤零零的among the large, gleaming闪闪发光的leaves.

He swam slowly out, lifting every now and then有时,时而,不时his arms out of the water so that the drops滴状物trickled(trickle['trikl] 滴，淌) down向下滴流and sparkled(sparkle ['spɑ:kl] 发光；闪烁) in the moonlight. Yet the distance between him and the flower showed显露出no signs迹象；征兆，预兆of diminishing(diminish[di'miniʃ] 减少，减小，缩减), while the shore, as he glanced一瞥, 扫视back at回眸it, showed behind him in a hazy ['heizi] 朦胧的,模糊的mist [mist] 薄雾，轻雾that ever越来越;愈发 deepened (deepen['di:pən] 变深,加浓). But he refused to give up放弃the venture冒险行动and vigorously ['vigərəsli]大力;精神旺盛地continued swimming in the same direction.

At length终于; 最后he had come so near the flower that he was able clearly清楚地；清晰地 to distinguish [di'stiŋgwiʃ] 区分；辨别；分清 the silvery ['silvəri] 闪着银光的,有银色光泽的leaves in the moonlight; but at the same time同时he felt himself entangled(entangle[in'tæŋgl] 缠住) in a net formed(form形成,组成…形状) by the smooth stems[stem] 茎,干of the water plants which swayed (sway [swei] 摇摆；摆动) up竖起,扯起from the bottom and wound(wind) themselves round盘缠,缠绕,卷绕his naked ['neikid] 裸露的limbs [lim] 肢体.

The unfamiliar ['ʌnfə'miljə] 不熟悉的；陌生的water was black all round四面; 周围about him, and behind him he heard the sound of a fish leaping(leap跳跃). Suddenly such an uncanny ['ʌn'kæni] 奇怪的；神秘的，怪异的feeling overpowered[.əuvə'pauə] 压倒,使难以承受him in the midst of在…之中,正当…的时候this strange element ['elimənt] 要素,自然环境that with might and main(竭尽全力) he tore [tɔː(r)] (tear [tɛə]撕碎,扯掉) asunder[ə'sʌndə] 成碎片地;四分五裂地(将…扯碎)the network网状物of plants and swam back to land in breathless ['breθlis] 气喘吁吁的haste [heist] 急忙；仓促. And when from the shore he looked back upon回溯,回顾the lake, there floated the lily on the bosom ['buzəm] 胸怀of the darkling昏暗的；黑暗的water as far away远离; 遥远and as lonely ['ləunli] 孤单的，孤独的as before依旧; 如故.

He dressed and slowly wended(wend行,走;往,回) his way home归途(向家走去). As he passed out of离开the garden into the room he discovered Eric and the mother busied (busy) with忙于preparations [.prepə'reiʃən] 准备工作；预备工作；筹备工作for a short journey短途旅行which had to be undertaken必须承担(undertake [.ʌndə'teik] 承担；从事；负责 ) for business商业,交易, 生意purposes ['pə:pəs] 目的; 意图(企业宗旨;商业目的) on the morrow ['mɔ:rəu] 次日, 翌日, 明日.

"Where ever have you been你到底去那里了so late in the dark?" the mother called out to him.

"I?" he answered, "oh, I wanted to pay a call on拜访the water-lily, but I failed (fail失败;未能够;未做成 )."

"That's beyond超出…之外；非…所能及,非…能力所及；超出…的能力the comprehension[.kɔmpri'henʃən] 领会；理解力of any man," said Eric. "What on earth究竟，到底had you to do准备做with the water-lily?"

"Oh, I used to be过去是friends with跟…做朋友 the lily once," said Reinhard; "but that was long ago."

* * * * *

The following afternoon第二天下午Reinhard and Elisabeth went for a walk散步，漫步on the farther side对岸of the lake, strolling(stroll [strəul] 散步，闲逛，溜达) at times有时through the woodland林地, at other times在其他时候along the shore where it jutted(jut [dʒʌt] 突出，伸出) out向外伸into the water. Elisabeth had received injunctions [in'dʒʌŋkʃən] 命令，禁令，强制令from Eric, during the absence ['æbsns] 缺席, 离开, 不在场of himself and her mother to show Reinhard the prettiest views景色，美景in the immediate [i'mi:djət] 紧挨的，邻近的neighbourhood邻近地区, particularly [pə'tikjuləli] 特别，尤其the view toward the farm itself from the other side of the lake. So now they proceeded(proceed[prə'si:d] 行进；前往 ) from one point to another.

At last Elisabeth got tired疲倦and sat down in the shade of在树荫下some overhanging突出于某物之上,伸突出,伸出branches. Reinhard stood opposite to在对面her, leaning(lean[li:n]斜倚着，靠着) against a tree trunk; and as he heard the cuckoo['kuku:] 杜鹃；布谷calling啼叫farther遥远的 back背面，反面；后面in the woods, it suddenly struck(strike使突然想起，使突然想到,出现于(某人的)脑海中) him that all this had happened once before. He looked at her and with an odd [ɔd] 奇怪的; 古怪的,奇特的smile asked:

"Shall we look for strawberries(strawberry['strɔ:bəri] 草莓)?"

"It isn't strawberry time," she said.

"No, but it will soon be here."

Elisabeth shook her head in silence; then she rose站起来 and the two strolled (stroll [strəul] 散步，闲逛，溜达)on together. And as they wandered side by side并排; 肩并肩地, his eyes ever and again不时地were bent(bend转弯，折向) toward转向her; for she walked gracefully [‘ɡreisfuli]优雅地;优美地;雅致地and her step was light轻柔的; 轻巧的. He often unconsciously [ʌn'kɔnʃəsli]无意地,不知不觉地 fell(fall) back后退a pace in order that he might feast享盛宴his eyes on津津有味地看,尽情欣赏,大饱眼福,饱览a full view全视图;全貌of her.

So they came to an open space空地overgrown(overgrow在…上长满；在…上蔓生) with heather['heðə] 石南where the view extended (extend[iks'tend] 延伸；延展) far over远方the country-side乡下. Reinhard bent down俯身,屈身and plucked(pluck[plʌk] 摘，采；拔；取) a bloom [blu:m] 花from one of the little plants that grew at his feet. When he looked up 抬头看again there was an expression 表情，脸色of deep pain on his face.

"Do you know认识this flower?" he asked.

She gave him a questioning怀疑的,探询的,询问的look眼神. "It is an erica [‘erikə]欧石南. I have often gathered采集them in the woods."

"I have an old book at home," he said; "I once used to过去时常write in it all sorts of各种各样的songs and rhymes(rhyme[raim] 押韵诗，韵文), but that is all over全场结束and done with(be done with结束) long since从前，往昔; 早就. Between its leaves书页 also there is an erica, but it is only a faded已凋谢的(fade [feid] 枯萎,凋零,凋谢) one. Do you know who gave it me?"

She nodded(nod点头) without saying a word; but she cast将（视线，目光）投向down(cast down垂下) her eyes and fixed(fix) them on把…集中在…上the bloom which he held in拿着,抱住his hand. For a long time长久they stood thus就像这样. When she raised(raise [reiz] 抬起) her eyes on him again he saw that they were brimming(brim [brim] 充盈) over满而溢出with tears (brim over with tears泪水盈眶).

"Elisabeth," he said, "behind yonder['jɔndə]在那边,在远处blue hills lies保留，保持our youth青年时期. What has become of使遭遇…,发生…情况it?"

Nothing more没有更多的was spoken. They walked dumbly [dʌmli]无言地,沉默地by each other's side彼此的身旁down to下至 the lake. The air was sultry [‘sʌltri] 闷热的，湿热难耐的; to westward向西dark clouds乌云were rising ['raiziŋ]. "There's going to be a storm," said Elisabeth, hastening(hasten['heisn] 加速，加快) her steps. Reinhard nodded in silence, and together they rapidly [‘ræpidli]很快地,迅速地,立即sped(speed[spi:d] 急行; 加速) along the shore till直到…时为止they reached their boat.

On the way across对过，横过Elisabeth rested(rest使…倚在，把…靠在) her hand on the gunwale [‘ɡʌnl]船舷上缘of the boat. As he rowed(row划渡) Reinhard glanced扫视; 略视along向前at her, but she gazed past远于, 在…的更远处him into the distance朝远方. And so因此his glance  一瞥；扫视 fell downward向下地and rested on停留在her hand, and the white雪白的hand betrayed (betray [bi'trei] 泄露, 暴露) to him what东西her lips嘴唇had failed(fail失败;未能够;未做成) to reveal [ri'vi:l] 透露，暴露，泄露，揭露,显示; 露出(白手向他泄露了她的嘴唇没有透露的东西).

It revealed(reveal[ri'vi:l]透露，暴露，泄露，揭露) those fine细微的；难以察觉的traces(trace[treis] 痕迹，踪迹) of secret pain隐痛that so readily ['redili] 轻而易举地,容易地mark在…留下痕迹a woman's fair 美丽的hands, when they lie 被平放at nights每夜，夜夜folded (fold[fəuld] 交叉,合拢交叠) across横穿an aching [‘eikiŋ] 疼痛的heart. And as Elisabeth felt his glance resting on停留在her hand she let it slip滑离gently轻轻地over the gunwale船舷上缘into the water.

On arriving at the farm they fell(fall) in with偶尔遇到a scissors ['sizəz] 剪刀grinder's ['graində] 磨刀匠cart运货马车standing停靠 in front of the manor-house ['mænə]. A man with black, loosely- flowing([‘lu:sli]宽松地；松散地 ['fləuiŋ] 垂下,飘拂,飘垂) hair was busily [‘bizili] 忙碌地;起劲地plying(ply [plai] 娴熟使用，挥动) his wheel轮式机械,机轮 and humming哼唱a gipsy ['dʒipsi] 吉普赛melody['melədi] 曲调, 歌曲 between his teeth, while a dog that was harnessed(harness ['hɑ:nis] 用挽具把…套到…上) to the cart而一只狗被用挽具套在了运货马车上lay(lie平躺) panting(pant[pænt] 喘气; 喘息) hard by在附近，紧挨着. On the threshold  [‘θreʃhəuld]门槛；门口 (在门口) stood a girl dressed in rags [ræɡ]破旧衣服(衣衫褴褛; 百结鹑衣), with features[fi:tʃə] 容貌,面容of faded (fade [feid] 衰退,失去光泽) beauty, and with outstretched(outstretch[aut'stretʃ] 展开,伸出) hand she asked alms [ɑ:mz] 救济金, 施舍物of Elisabeth.

Reinhard thrust [θrʌst] 塞,插his hand into his pocket, but Elisabeth was before him, and hastily [‘heistili]匆忙地,仓促地emptied倒空the entire [in’taiə]整个的;全部的contents [‘kɔntent]容纳物of her purse [pə:s] 小钱包，小钱袋into the beggar's open张开的palm [pɑ:m] 手掌. Then she turned quickly away转过脸去, and Reinhard heard her go sobbing(sob [sɔb] 啜泣，呜咽 ) up the stairs上楼梯.

He would fain [fein] 乐意，欣然have detained(detain [di'tein] 留住；阻留) her, but he changed his mind改变主意;变卦and remained留在，逗留at the foot of在…的底部the stairs. The beggar girl was still standing at the doorway门口，门道, motionless [‘məuʃ(ə)nlis] 静止的；一动不动的 , and holding in拿着,抱住her hand the money she had received.

"What more do you want?" asked Reinhard.

She gave a sudden突然的start突然一惊, 一愣 : "I want nothing more," she said; then, turning her head toward him and staring(stare) at him with wild放荡的,狂野的eyes, she passed slowly out of离开the door. He uttered(utter说；讲 ) a name, but she heard him not; with drooping(droop[dru:p] 使垂下) head, with arms folded交叉,合拢交叠over her breast胸膛, she walked down沿…走 across the farmyard农家宅院:

Then when death死神shall claim [kleim]  夺走，夺去me, I must die alone.

An old song surged(surge[sə:dʒ] 汹涌) in大量地冲入,似潮水般地涌入Reinhard's ears, he gasped (gasp[gɑ:sp]喘气) for breath喘一口气; a little while不久only, and then he turned away转过脸去and went up to前往his chamber ['tʃeimbə] 卧室；寝室；私人房间.

He sat down to work, but his thoughts心思,思绪were far afield[ə'fi:ld] 去远处；在远方  (远方,远处). After an hour's vain徒劳的, 无用的, 无效的attempt[ə'tempt] 尝试；努力he descended(descend [di'send] 下去,走下) to the parlour ['pɑ:lə] 客厅; 接待室. Nobody was in it, only cool, green twilight [‘twailait]暮色,暮光,薄暮; on Elisabeth's work-table lay a red ribbon ['ribən] 缎带，丝带which she had worn(wear佩戴) round her neck during the afternoon. He took it up拿起in his hand, but it hurt使伤心，使痛心him, and he laid(lay) it down放下again.

He could find no rest不得平静(找不到一丝宁静,安宁). He walked down to下至 the lake and untied(untie  解开…上的绳索；松开 ) the boat. He rowed划船over the water and trod[trɔd] (tread [tred]沿着…走) once again再次; 再度; 从头all the paths which he and Elisabeth had paced(pace踱步,走来走去) together but只, 仅仅a short hour不到一小时ago. When he got back home it was dark. At the farm he met(meet遇见) the coachman, who was about to即将，正要turn 转弯the carriage horses四轮马车的马儿们out into the pasture ['pæstʃ] 牧草地, 牧场; the travellers had just returned.

As he came into the entrance hall门廊he heard Eric pacing(pace踱步) up and down走来走去the garden-room. He did not go in进去,进入to him; he stood still for a moment片刻, and then softly静静地climbed the stairs and so to his own room. Here he sat in the arm-chair靠椅 by the window. He made himself believe that he was listening to the nightingale's夜莺，歌鸲throbbing(throb [θrɔb] 有节奏地震动（或跳动、搏动）, 悸动) music in the garden hedges(hedge [hedʒ] 树篱) below, but what he heard was the throbbing of his own heart. Downstairs楼下的 in the house every one went to bed, the night-hours晚上的时光passed, but he paid(pay) no heed [hi:d]注意，留心(置若罔闻,没留意).

For hours he sat thus像这样, till at last he rose and leaned(lean倾斜) out of身体探出the open敞开的window. The dew [dju:] 露滴，露水was dripping(drip [drip] 滴下) among the leaves, the nightingale had ceased(cease [si:s] 停止, 终止, 结束) to trill [tril] 用颤音唱. By degrees一点一点地，逐渐地the deep blue of the darksome微暗的,阴暗的sky was chased(chase[tʃeis]驱赶,撵走) away赶走,驱逐 by a faint [feint]微弱的，依稀的yellow(淡黄色) gleam [gli:m] 微光that came from来自the east; a fresh wind清风rose(rise刮起来) and brushed(brush轻拂,吹拂) Reinhard's heated热的brow[brau] 前额;; the early早起的lark [lɑ:k] 百灵鸟，云雀 soared(soar[sɔ:] 高飞；翱翔) triumphant [trai'ʌmfənt] 得意洋洋的up into the sky一飞冲天.

Reinhard suddenly turned转身and stepped up走上前去to the table. He groped (grope [grəup] 暗中摸, 摸索) about for a pencil and when he had found one he sat down and wrote a few lines几行on a sheet of一张，一片white paper. Having finished his writing he took up拿起hat and stick杖;棍, and leaving留下the paper behind him, carefully opened the door and descended(descend [di'send] 下来, 下去) to the vestibule [‘vestibju:l]前厅;门厅.

The morning twilight [‘twailait] (曙光)yet brooded(brood[bru:d]笼罩) in every corner; the big house-cat家猫stretched伸展its limbs[lim] 肢体on the straw mat [mæt]垫子，席子(草席,草苫子) and arched(arch[ɑ:tʃ] 拱起,弯成拱形) its back against碰Reinhard's hand, which he unthinkingly不假思索地held out伸出to it. Outside超出…范围in the garden(在花园外面) the sparrows were already chirping(chirp[tʃə:p] 吱吱叫；唧唧叫) their patter ['pætə] 行话, 暗语(Footnote: Literally, "sang out pompously, like priests." The word seems to have been coined by the author. The English 'patter' is derived from Pater noster, and seems an appropriate translation.) from among the branches, and giving notice通知to all that the night was now past.

Then within在…内部the house he heard a door open on the upper较高的，较上的floor上层楼面; some one came downstairs, and on looking up向上看he saw Elisabeth standing before him. She laid her hand upon his arm, her lips moved, but not a word did he hear.

Presently不久；一会儿she said: "You will never come back永不回来. I know it; do not deny [di’nai]否认,拒绝承认it; you will never come back."

"No, never永不回来," he said.

She let her hand fall落下from his arm and said no more. He crossed the hall to the door, then turned once more. She was standing motionless [‘məuʃ(ə)nlis]静止的；一动不动的 on the same spot and looking at him with lifeless [‘laiflis] 毫无生气的,像死了一般的 eyes. He advanced前进one step and opened his arms toward her; then, with a violent ['vaiələnt]剧烈的, 强烈的effort['efət] 努力,尽力, he turned away转过脸去and so passed out of离开the door.

Outside the world lay bathed (bathe[beið])沐浴in morning light, the drops of pearly ['pə:li] 有珍珠光泽的dew caught(catch被缠住) on钩住，卡住；绊住the spiders' webs glistened(glisten ['glisn] 闪光；闪亮 ) in the first第一缕rays [rei]光束,光线of the rising sun旭日,朝阳. He never looked back回顾,回头一看; he walked rapidly [‘ræpidli]很快地,迅速地onward ['ɔnwəd] 向前; behind him the peaceful安宁的；宁静的，平静的farmstead ['fɑ:msted] 农场及其建筑物gradually [‘ɡrædjuəli]逐步地,渐渐地disappeared from view视野；视线as out in front of him rose the great wide world广大世界，茫茫人世.

* * * * *                                                                     

The moon had ceased(cease [si:s] 停止，终止) to shine in把光射进,从外边照进来through the window-panes(pane [pein] 窗玻璃片), and it had grown quite dark; but the old man still sat in his arm-chair with folded交叉，交叠hands and gazed before him into the emptiness [‘emptinis] 空寂;空旷of the room.

Gradually逐渐地. the murky['mə:ki] 昏暗的；漆黑的darkness黑暗around him dissolved(dissolve [di'zɔlv] 消除) away消失; 消散before his eyes and changed into变为a broad宽阔的dark lake; one black wave波浪after another一个接一个地went rolling on滚滚向前farther and farther越来越远, and on the last one, so far away如此遥远as to以致be almost beyond非…可及the reach够到of(所不及的) the old man's vision ['viʒən] 视力；视觉, floated lonely孤单的，孤独的among its broad leaves a white water-lily.

The door opened, and a bright glare [glɛə] 强光,刺眼的光 of light filled the room.

"I am glad that you have come, Bridget [‘bridʒit]布丽奇特," said the old man. "Set放置 the lamp upon the table."

Then he drew(draw) his chair up把(椅子等)拉近to the table, took one of the open books and buried(bury) himself in埋头于,专心致至于studies to which he had once applied(apply [ə'plai] 使刻苦努力; 致力于,全神贯注于) all the strength力气；力量 of his youth.