💬 新概念英语第三册

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

His roots and mine bad become too firmly embedded in the new land.

因为他与我一样已经把根深深地扎在异国的土地上。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

But he wanted to see the old folk again and to visit my mother's grave.

但是，他想看一看家乡父老乡亲，为我的母亲扫墓。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

He became mortally ill a few months before we had planned to go and,

就在他计划回国的前几个月，他突然身患绝症。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

when he knew that he was dying, he made me promise to go on my own.

他知道自己已奄奄一息，于是他要我答应一定单独回故乡一趟。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

I hired a car the day after landing and bought a comprehensive book of maps,

我下飞机后租了一辆车，并买了一本详尽的地图册。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

which I found most helpful on the cross-country journey, but which I did not think I should need on the last stage.

在乡间行车途中，我觉得它非常有用，但快到家了，我倒觉得它没什么用了。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

It was not that I actually remembered anything at all.

这倒并非是我背熟了地图，

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

But my father had described over and over again what we should see at every milestone, after leaving the nearest town,

而是父亲曾详细给我讲了，在过了离故乡最近的那个小镇后，在每一个路标处可见到些什么。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

so that I was positive I should recognize it as familiar territory.

因此，我相信这段路对我来说会是很熟悉的。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

Well, I had been wrong, for I was now lost.

唉，实际我错了，我现在迷路了。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

I looked at the map and then at the millimeter.

我看了看地图，又查了一下里程表。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

I had come ten miles since leaving the town,

从小镇出来，我走了10英里。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

and at this point, according to my father, I should be looking at farms and cottages in a valley, with the spire of the church of our village showing in the far distance.

照父亲的说法，我面前应是一个山谷，有农场与村舍，还可远远望见老家村子里的教堂的尖顶。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

I could see no valley, no farms, no cottages and no church spire -- only a lake.

可现在我却看不出山谷，看不见农舍，也看见教学尖顶，看见只是一片湖泊。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

I decided that I must have taken a wrong turning somewhere.

我想一定是什么地方拐错了弯儿。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

So I drove back to the town and began to retrace the route, taking frequent glances at the map.

于是我驾车返回小镇，重新按路线行驶。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

I landed up at the same corner.

结果又来到刚才那个拐弯处。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

The curious thing was that the lake was not marked on the map.

奇怪的是那个湖没有在地图上标出。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

I felt as if I had stumbled into a nightmare country, as you sometimes do in dreams.

我感到自己就像平时作梦那样迷迷糊糊地闯进了恶梦境地。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

And, as in a nightmare, there was nobody in sight to help me.

就像在恶梦里一样，见不到一个人可以帮助我。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

Fortunately for me, as I was wondering what to do next, there appeared on the horizon a man on horseback, riding in my direction.

不过，我是幸运的，正当我走投无路之时，从天边出现一个骑马的人向我骑来。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

I waited till he came near, then I asked him the way to our old village.

等他走近了，问他去老家的路。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

He said that there was now no village.

他说那村子已经没有了。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

I thought he must have misunderstood me, so I repeated its name.

我想他一定误解了我的意思，于是又说一遍村庄的名字。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

This time he pointed to the lake.

这次他用手指了一下那个湖。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

The village no longer existed because it had been submerged, and all the valley too.

村庄已不复存在，因为已经为水所淹，山谷也被水淹没了。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

The lake was not a natural one, but a man-made reservoir.

这不是一个天然湖泊，是一座人工修建的水库。

Lesson 58 A spot of bother

The old lady was glad to be back at the block of flats where she lived.

老妇人回到了她居住的公寓楼，心里很高兴。

Lesson 58 A spot of bother

Her shopping had tired her and her basket ad grown heavier with every step of the way home.

去商店买东西把她搞得筋疲力尽；在回家的路上，她每走一步，就感到手里的篮子又重了一点。

Lesson 58 A spot of bother

In the life her thoughts were on lunch and a good rest;

她乘上电梯后，只想着午餐和好好休息一下。