SCENE.—A shell-pitted plain and a cavalry1 regiment2 under canvas thereon. It is not yet "Lights out," and on the right hand the semi-transparent tents and bivouacs glow like giant Chinese lanterns inhabited by shadow figures. From an Officers' mess tent comes the twinkle of a gramophone, rendering3 classics from "Keep Smiling." In a bivouac an opposition4 mouth-organ saws at "The Rosary." On the left hand is a dark mass of horses, picketed5 in parallel lines. They lounge, hips6 drooping7, heads low, in a pleasant after-dinner doze9. The Guard lolls against a post, lantern at his feet, droning a fitful accompaniment to the distant mouth-organ. "The hours I spent wiv thee, dear 'eart, are.—Stan' still, Ginger—like a string of pearls ter me—ee ... Grrr, Nellie, stop kickin!" The range of desolate10 hills in the background is flickering11 with gun-flashes and grumbling12 with drum-fire—the Boche evensong.
A bay horse (shifting his weight from one leg to the other). Somebody's catching13 it in the neck to-night.
A gun-pack horse. Why?
Chestnut. Wind up, sonny. Why in 1914 our saddles grew into our backs like the ivy16 and the oak. In 1914——
A black horse. Oh, dry up about 1914, old soldier; tell us about the Battle of Hastings and how you came to let William's own Mounted Blunderbusses run all over you.
A bay horse. Yes, and how you gave the field ten stone and a beating in the retreat to Corunna. What are your personal recollections of Napoleon, Rufus?
Chestnut. You blinkin' conscripts, you!
Black. Shiss! no bad language, Rufus—ladies present.
Chestnut. Ladies, huh. Behave nice and ladylike when they catch sight of the nosebags, don't they?
Skewbald. No, I wasn't, so there.
Bay. No, she was a footlights favourite; wore her mane in plaits and a star-spangled bearing-rein and surcingle to improve her fig-u-are; did pretty parlour tricks to the strains of the banjo and psaltery. N'est-ce pas, cherie?
Skewbald. Well, what if I did? There's scores of circus gals19 is puffect lydies. I don't require none of your familiarity any'ow, Mister.
Bay. Beg pardon. Excuse my bluff20 soldierly ways; but nevertheless take your nose out of my hay net, please.
A Canadian dun. Gee21! quit weavin' about like that, Tubby. Can't you let a guy get some sleep. I'll hand you a cold rebuff in the ribs22 in a minute. Wazzer matter with you, anyhow?
Tubby. Had a bad dream.
Black. Don't wonder, the way you over-eat yourself.
Bay. Ever know a Quartermaster's horse that didn't? He's the only one that gets the chance.
Skewbald. And the Officers' chargers.
Voice from over the way. Well, we need it, don't we? We do all the bally headwork.
Bay. Hearken even unto the Honourable23 Montmorency. Hello, Monty there! Never mind about the bally headwork, but next time you're out troop-leading try to steer24 a course somewhat approaching the straight. You had the line opening and shutting like a concertina this morning.
An iron-grey. Begob, and that's the holy truth! I thought my ribs was goin' ivery minnut, an' me man was cursin' undher his breath the way you'd hear him a mile away. Ye've no more idea of a straight line, Monty avic, than a crab25 wid dhrink taken.
Monty. Sorry, but the flies were giving me gyp.
Canadian dun. Flies? Say, but you greenhorns make me smile. Why, out West we got flies that——
Iron grey. Och sure we've heard all about thim. 'Tis as big as bulldogs they are; ivery time they bite you you lose a limb. Many a time the traveller has observed thim flyin' away wid a foal in their jaws26, the rapparees! F' all that I do be remarkin' that whin one of the effete27 European variety is afther ticklin' you in the short hairs you step very free an' flippant, Johnny, acushla.
Monty. Oh, yes, my young brother. He's got a job on Haig's personal Staff now, wears a red brow-band and all that—ahem! Of course he tells me a thing or two when we meet, but in the strictest confidence, you understand.
Brown. Quite; but did he say anything about the end of the War?
Monty. Well, not precisely29, that is not exactly, excepting that he says that it's pretty certain now that it—er—well, that it will end.
Brown. That's good news. Thanks, Monty.
Monty. Not a bit, old thing. Don't mention it.
Iron-grey. 'Tis a great comfort to us to know that the War will ind, if not in our day, annyway sometime.
Canadian dun. You bet. Gee, I wish it was all over an' I was home in the foothills with the brown wool and pink prairie roses underfoot, and the Chinook layin' my mane over.
Iron-grey. Faith, but the County Cork30 would suit me completely; a roomy loose-box wid straw litter an' a leak-proof roof.
Tubby. Yes, with full meals coming regularly.
A bay mare. I've got a two-year-old in Devon I'd like to see again.
Monty. I've no quarrel with Leicestershire myself.
Gunpack horse. Garn! Wot abaht good old London?
Chestnut. Steady, Alf, what are you grousing31 about? You never had a full meal in your life until Lord Derby pulled you out of that coster barrow and pushed you into the Army.
Tubby. A full meal in the Army—help!
Brown. Listen to our living skeleton. Do you chaps remember that afternoon he had to himself in an oat field up Plug Street way? When the grooms32 found him he was lying on his back, legs in the air, blown up like a poisoned pup. "Blimy," says one lad to t'other, "'ere's one of our observation bladders the 'Un 'as brought down."
Chestnut. I heard the Officer boy telling the Troop Sergeant33 that he'd buy a haystack some day and try to burst you, Tubby. The Sergeant bet him a month's pay it couldn't be done.
Tubby. Just because I've got a healthy appetite——
Brown. Healthy appetites aren't being worn this season, Sir—bad form. How are the politicians' park hacks34 to be kept sleek35 if the troop-horse don't tighten36 his girth a bit? Be patriotic37, old dear; eat less oats.
Chestnut. That mess gramophone must be redhot by now. It's been running continuous since First Post. I suppose somebody's mamma has sent him a bottle of ginger-pop, and they're seeing life while the bubbles last.
Monty. Yes, and I suppose my young gentleman will be parading to-morrow morning with a camouflage38 tunic39 over his pyjamas40, looking to me to pull him through squadron drill.
Iron-grey. God save us, thin!
A Mexican roan. Buenas noches!
Gunpack horse. Hish! Orderly Officer. 'E's in the Fourth Troop lines nah; you can 'ear 'im cursin' as he trips over the heel shackles41.
* * * * * * * *
Once more heads and hips droop8. They pose in attitudes of sleep like a dormitory of small boys on the approach of a prefect. The line Guard comes to life, seizes his lantern and commences to march up and down as if salvation43 depended on his getting in so many laps to the hour. From the guard-tent a trumpet44 wails45, "Lights out."
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
cavalry
|
|
| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
regiment
|
|
| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
rendering
|
|
| n.表现，描写 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
opposition
|
|
| n.反对，敌对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
picketed
|
|
| 用尖桩围住（picket的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
hips
|
|
| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
drooping
|
|
| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
droop
|
|
| v.低垂，下垂；凋萎，萎靡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
doze
|
|
| v.打瞌睡；n.打盹，假寐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
desolate
|
|
| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
flickering
|
|
| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
grumbling
|
|
| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
catching
|
|
| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
chestnut
|
|
| n.栗树，栗子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
ivy
|
|
| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
mare
|
|
| n.母马，母驴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
hoof
|
|
| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
gals
|
|
| abbr.gallons （复数）加仑（液量单位）n.女孩，少女( gal的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
bluff
|
|
| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
gee
|
|
| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
ribs
|
|
| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
honourable
|
|
| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
steer
|
|
| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
crab
|
|
| n.螃蟹，偏航，脾气乖戾的人，酸苹果；vi.捕蟹，偏航，发牢骚；vt.使偏航，发脾气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
jaws
|
|
| n.口部；嘴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
effete
|
|
| adj.无生产力的，虚弱的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
pal
|
|
| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
precisely
|
|
| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
cork
|
|
| n.软木，软木塞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
grousing
|
|
| v.抱怨，发牢骚( grouse的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
grooms
|
|
| n.新郎( groom的名词复数 )；马夫v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的第三人称单数 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
sergeant
|
|
| n.警官，中士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
hacks
|
|
| 黑客 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
sleek
|
|
| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
tighten
|
|
| v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
patriotic
|
|
| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
camouflage
|
|
| n./v.掩饰，伪装 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
tunic
|
|
| n.束腰外衣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
pyjamas
|
|
| n.（宽大的）睡衣裤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
shackles
|
|
| 手铐( shackle的名词复数 )； 脚镣； 束缚； 羁绊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
hush
|
|
| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
salvation
|
|
| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
trumpet
|
|
| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
wails
|
|
| 痛哭，哭声( wail的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |