評(píng)論
打印
More than thirty yeomen at first presented themselves as competitors,
一開(kāi)始，有三十多個(gè)人出來(lái)比試，
several of whom were rangers and under-keepers in the royal forests of Needwood and Charnwood.
其中好些人是游騎兵，有些是尼德伍德和查恩伍德皇家森林的守林員。
When, however, the archers understood with whom they were to be matched,
但是，這些人的身份一暴露出來(lái)之后，
upwards of twenty withdrew themselves from the contest, unwilling to encounter the dishonour of almost certain defeat.
二十多人就退出了比賽，因?yàn)樗麄兠髦財(cái)o(wú)疑，都不想攤上這種丟人的事。
For in those days the skill of each celebrated marksman was as well known, for many miles around him,
因?yàn)樵诋?dāng)時(shí)，這些神射手都名聲在外，
as the qualities of a horse trained at Newmarket are familiar to those who frequent that well-known meeting.
他們的箭術(shù)就像是紐馬克市久經(jīng)訓(xùn)練的馬匹熟悉四周一樣純熟。
The diminished list of competitors for silvan fame still amounted to eight.
這些人退出比賽后，場(chǎng)上仍有八人，
Prince John stepped from his royal seat to view more closely the persons of these chosen yeomen,
約翰親王從王座上起身，為了能看清場(chǎng)上的人而往前走了一步，
several of whom wore the royal livery.
他發(fā)現(xiàn)，留下來(lái)的有好幾個(gè)是皇家侍衛(wèi)。
Having satisfied his curiosity by this investigation, he looked for the object of his resentment, whom he observed standing on the same spot,
看清楚后，他的好奇心得到了滿(mǎn)足，他就開(kāi)始尋找那個(gè)讓他憤恨的人。
and with the same composed countenance which he had exhibited upon the preceding day.
那個(gè)人還是站在昨天的位置，臉上還是一樣鎮(zhèn)靜的表情。
"Fellow," said Prince John, "I guessed by thy insolent babble thou wert no true lover of the longbow,
“小子，”約翰親王說(shuō)，“這回你還敢大放厥詞嗎？
and I see thou darest not adventure thy skill among such merry-men as stand yonder."
還要冒冒險(xiǎn)和這些優(yōu)秀的侍從比試嘛。”
"Under favour, sir," replied the yeoman, "I have another reason for refraining to shoot,
“殿下，如果你允許我這樣說(shuō)的話(huà)，”他回答道，“我不參加比賽，還另一個(gè)理由，
besides fearing discomfiture and disgrace."
但不會(huì)是因?yàn)楹ε率『蛠G人?！?/p>
