THE BROWNIES IN THE SWIMMING-SCHOOL.

 WHILE Brownies passed along the street,

Commenting on the summer's heat

That wrapped the city day and night,

A swimming-bath appeared in sight.

Said one: "Of all the sights we've found,

 

Since we commenced to ramble¹ round,

This seems to better suit the band

Than anything, however grand.

We'll rest awhile and find our way

Inside the place without delay,

And those who understand the art,

Can knowledge to the rest impart;

 

For every one should able be,

 

To swim, in river, lake, or sea.

We never know how soon we may,

See some one sinking in dismay,—

And then, to have the power to save

A comrade from a watery² grave,

Will be a blessing³ sure to give

Us joy the longest day we live."

The doors soon opened through the power

That lay in Brownie hands that hour.

When once within the fun began,

As here and there they quickly ran;

Some up the stairs made haste to go,

Some into dressing-rooms below,

In bathing-trunks to reappear

And plunge⁴ into the water clear;

Some from the spring-board leaping fair

Would turn a somersault in air;

More to the bottom like a stone,

Would sink as soon as left alone,

While others after trial brief

Could float as buoyant as a leaf.

 

Some all their time to others gave

Assisting them to ride the wave,

Explaining how to catch the trick,

Both how to strike and how to kick;

And still keep nose above the tide,

That lungs with air might be supplied.

 

Thus diving in and climbing out,

Or splashing round with laugh and shout,

The happy band in water played

As long as Night her scepter swayed.

They heard the clocks in chapel⁵ towers

Proclaim the swiftly passing hours.

But when the sun looked from his bed

To tint⁶ the eastern sky with red,

In haste the frightened Brownies threw

Their clothes about them and withdrew.

1 ramble   

v.漫步，漫谈，漫游；n.漫步，闲谈，蔓延

参考例句：

• This is the best season for a ramble in the suburbs.这是去郊区漫游的最好季节。
• I like to ramble about the street after work.我下班后在街上漫步。

2 watery   

adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的

参考例句：

• In his watery eyes there is an expression of distrust.他那含泪的眼睛流露出惊惶失措的神情。
• Her eyes became watery because of the smoke.因为烟熏，她的双眼变得泪汪汪的。

3 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

4 plunge   

v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲

参考例句：

• Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
• That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。

5 chapel   

n.小教堂，殡仪馆

参考例句：

• The nimble hero,skipped into a chapel that stood near.敏捷的英雄跳进近旁的一座小教堂里。
• She was on the peak that Sunday afternoon when she played in chapel.那个星期天的下午，她在小教堂的演出，可以说是登峰造极。

6 tint   

n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色

参考例句：

• You can't get up that naturalness and artless rosy tint in after days.你今后不再会有这种自然和朴实无华的红润脸色。
• She gave me instructions on how to apply the tint.她告诉我如何使用染发剂。