LEGEND OF THE “SPECTACULAR RUIN”
The captain of the raft, who was as full of history as he could stick, said that in the Middle Ages a most prodigious7 fire-breathing dragon used to live in that region, and made more trouble than a tax-collector. He was as long as a railway-train, and had the customary impenetrable green scales all over him. His breath bred pestilence8 and conflagration9, and his appetite bred famine. He ate men and cattle impartially10, and was exceedingly unpopular. The German emperor of that day made the usual offer: he would grant to the destroyer of the dragon, any one solitary11 thing he might ask for; for he had a surplusage of daughters, and it was customary for dragon-killers to take a daughter for pay.
So the most renowned12 knights14 came from the four corners of the earth and retired15 down the dragon’s throat one after the other. A panic arose and spread. Heroes grew cautious. The procession ceased. The dragon became more destructive than ever. The people lost all hope of succor16, and fled to the mountains for refuge.
At last Sir Wissenschaft, a poor and obscure knight13, out of a far country, arrived to do battle with the monster. A pitiable object he was, with his armor hanging in rags about him, and his strange-shaped knapsack strapped17 upon his back. Everybody turned up their noses at him, and some openly jeered18 him. But he was calm. He simply inquired if the emperor’s offer was still in force. The emperor said it was—but charitably advised him to go and hunt hares and not endanger so precious a life as his in an attempt which had brought death to so many of the world’s most illustrious heroes.
But this tramp only asked—“Were any of these heroes men of science?” This raised a laugh, of course, for science was despised in those days. But the tramp was not in the least ruffled19. He said he might be a little in advance of his age, but no matter—science would come to be honored, some time or other. He said he would march against the dragon in the morning. Out of compassion20, then, a decent spear was offered him, but he declined, and said, “spears were useless to men of science.” They allowed him to sup in the servants’ hall, and gave him a bed in the stables.
“Do not be rash, take a spear, and leave off your knapsack.”
But the tramp said:
“It is not a knapsack,” and moved straight on.
The dragon was waiting and ready. He was breathing forth vast volumes of sulphurous smoke and lurid22 blasts of flame. The ragged23 knight stole warily24 to a good position, then he unslung his cylindrical25 knapsack—which was simply the common fire-extinguisher known to modern times—and the first chance he got he turned on his hose and shot the dragon square in the center of his cavernous mouth. Out went the fires in an instant, and the dragon curled up and died.
This man had brought brains to his aid. He had reared dragons from the egg, in his laboratory, he had watched over them like a mother, and patiently studied them and experimented upon them while they grew. Thus he had found out that fire was the life principle of a dragon; put out the dragon’s fires and it could make steam no longer, and must die. He could not put out a fire with a spear, therefore he invented the extinguisher. The dragon being dead, the emperor fell on the hero’s neck and said:
“Deliverer, name your request,” at the same time beckoning26 out behind with his heel for a detachment of his daughters to form and advance. But the tramp gave them no observance. He simply said:
“My request is, that upon me be conferred the monopoly of the manufacture and sale of spectacles in Germany.”
The emperor sprang aside and exclaimed:
“This transcends27 all the impudence28 I ever heard! A modest demand, by my halidome! Why didn’t you ask for the imperial revenues at once, and be done with it?”
But the monarch29 had given his word, and he kept it. To everybody’s surprise, the unselfish monopolist immediately reduced the price of spectacles to such a degree that a great and crushing burden was removed from the nation. The emperor, to commemorate30 this generous act, and to testify his appreciation31 of it, issued a decree commanding everybody to buy this benefactor’s spectacles and wear them, whether they needed them or not.
So originated the wide-spread custom of wearing spectacles in Germany; and as a custom once established in these old lands is imperishable, this one remains32 universal in the empire to this day. Such is the legend of the monopolist’s once stately and sumptuous33 castle, now called the “Spectacular Ruin.”
On the right bank, two or three miles below the Spectacular Ruin, we passed by a noble pile of castellated buildings overlooking the water from the crest34 of a lofty elevation35. A stretch of two hundred yards of the high front wall was heavily draped with ivy36, and out of the mass of buildings within rose three picturesque old towers. The place was in fine order, and was inhabited by a family of princely rank. This castle had its legend, too, but I should not feel justified37 in repeating it because I doubted the truth of some of its minor38 details.
Along in this region a multitude of Italian laborers39 were blasting away the frontage of the hills to make room for the new railway. They were fifty or a hundred feet above the river. As we turned a sharp corner they began to wave signals and shout warnings to us to look out for the explosions. It was all very well to warn us, but what could we do? You can’t back a raft upstream, you can’t hurry it downstream, you can’t scatter40 out to one side when you haven’t any room to speak of, you won’t take to the perpendicular41 cliffs on the other shore when they appear to be blasting there, too. Your resources are limited, you see. There is simply nothing for it but to watch and pray.
For some hours we had been making three and a half or four miles an hour and we were still making that. We had been dancing right along until those men began to shout; then for the next ten minutes it seemed to me that I had never seen a raft go so slowly. When the first blast went off we raised our sun-umbrellas and waited for the result. No harm done; none of the stones fell in the water. Another blast followed, and another and another. Some of the rubbish fell in the water just astern of us.
We ran that whole battery of nine blasts in a row, and it was certainly one of the most exciting and uncomfortable weeks I ever spent, either aship or ashore43. Of course we frequently manned the poles and shoved earnestly for a second or so, but every time one of those spurts44 of dust and debris45 shot aloft every man dropped his pole and looked up to get the bearings of his share of it. It was very busy times along there for a while. It appeared certain that we must perish, but even that was not the bitterest thought; no, the abjectly46 unheroic nature of the death—that was the sting—that and the bizarre wording of the resulting obituary47: “Shot with a rock, on a raft.” There would be no poetry written about it. None could be written about it. Example:
Not by war’s shock, or war’s shaft,—shot, with a rock, on a raft.
No poet who valued his reputation would touch such a theme as that. I should be distinguished48 as the only “distinguished dead” who went down to the grave unsonneted, in 1878.
But we escaped, and I have never regretted it. The last blast was a peculiarly strong one, and after the small rubbish was done raining around us and we were just going to shake hands over our deliverance, a later and larger stone came down amongst our little group of pedestrians49 and wrecked50 an umbrella. It did no other harm, but we took to the water just the same.
It seems that the heavy work in the quarries51 and the new railway gradings is done mainly by Italians. That was a revelation. We have the notion in our country that Italians never do heavy work at all, but confine themselves to the lighter52 arts, like organ-grinding, operatic singing, and assassination53. We have blundered, that is plain.
All along the river, near every village, we saw little station-houses for the future railway. They were finished and waiting for the rails and business. They were as trim and snug54 and pretty as they could be. They were always of brick or stone; they were of graceful55 shape, they had vines and flowers about them already, and around them the grass was bright and green, and showed that it was carefully looked after. They were a decoration to the beautiful landscape, not an offense56. Wherever one saw a pile of gravel57 or a pile of broken stone, it was always heaped as trimly and exactly as a new grave or a stack of cannon-balls; nothing about those stations or along the railroad or the wagon-road was allowed to look shabby or be unornamental. The keeping a country in such beautiful order as Germany exhibits, has a wise practical side to it, too, for it keeps thousands of people in work and bread who would otherwise be idle and mischievous58.
As the night shut down, the captain wanted to tie up, but I thought maybe we might make Hirschhorn, so we went on. Presently the sky became overcast59, and the captain came aft looking uneasy. He cast his eye aloft, then shook his head, and said it was coming on to blow. My party wanted to land at once—therefore I wanted to go on. The captain said we ought to shorten sail anyway, out of common prudence60. Consequently, the larboard watch was ordered to lay in his pole. It grew quite dark, now, and the wind began to rise. It wailed61 through the swaying branches of the trees, and swept our decks in fitful gusts62. Things were taking on an ugly look. The captain shouted to the steersman on the forward log:
“How’s she landing?”
“Nor’-east-and-by-nor’—east-by-east, half-east, sir.”
“Let her go off a point!”
“Aye-aye, sir!”
“What water have you got?”
“Let her go off another point!”
“Aye-aye, sir!”
“Forward, men, all of you! Lively, now! Stand by to crowd her round the weather corner!”
“Aye-aye, sir!”
Then followed a wild running and trampling65 and hoarse shouting, but the forms of the men were lost in the darkness and the sounds were distorted and confused by the roaring of the wind through the shingle-bundles. By this time the sea was running inches high, and threatening every moment to engulf66 the frail67 bark. Now came the mate, hurrying aft, and said, close to the captain’s ear, in a low, agitated68 voice:
“Prepare for the worst, sir—we have sprung a leak!”
“Heavens! where?”
“Right aft the second row of logs.”
“Nothing but a miracle can save us! Don’t let the men know, or there will be a panic and mutiny! Lay her in shore and stand by to jump with the stern-line the moment she touches. Gentlemen, I must look to you to second my endeavors in this hour of peril69. You have hats—go forward and bail70 for your lives!”
Down swept another mighty71 blast of wind, clothed in spray and thick darkness. At such a moment as this, came from away forward that most appalling72 of all cries that are ever heard at sea:
“MAN OVERBOARD!”
The captain shouted:
Another cry came down the wind:
“Breakers ahead!”
“Where away?”
“Not a log’s length off her port fore-foot!”
We had groped our slippery way forward, and were now bailing74 with the frenzy75 of despair, when we heard the mate’s terrified cry, from far aft:
“Stop that dashed bailing, or we shall be aground!”
But this was immediately followed by the glad shout:
“Land aboard the starboard transom!”
“Saved!” cried the captain. “Jump ashore and take a turn around a tree and pass the bight aboard!”
The next moment we were all on shore weeping and embracing for joy, while the rain poured down in torrents76. The captain said he had been a mariner77 for forty years on the Neckar, and in that time had seen storms to make a man’s cheek blanch78 and his pulses stop, but he had never, never seen a storm that even approached this one. How familiar that sounded! For I have been at sea a good deal and have heard that remark from captains with a frequency accordingly.
We framed in our minds the usual resolution of thanks and admiration79 and gratitude80, and took the first opportunity to vote it, and put it in writing and present it to the captain, with the customary speech. We tramped through the darkness and the drenching81 summer rain full three miles, and reached “The Naturalist82 Tavern” in the village of Hirschhorn just an hour before midnight, almost exhausted83 from hardship, fatigue84, and terror. I can never forget that night.
The landlord was rich, and therefore could afford to be crusty and disobliging; he did not at all like being turned out of his warm bed to open his house for us. But no matter, his household got up and cooked a quick supper for us, and we brewed85 a hot punch for ourselves, to keep off consumption. After supper and punch we had an hour’s soothing86 smoke while we fought the naval87 battle over again and voted the resolutions; then we retired to exceedingly neat and pretty chambers88 upstairs that had clean, comfortable beds in them with heirloom pillowcases most elaborately and tastefully embroidered89 by hand.
Such rooms and beds and embroidered linen90 are as frequent in German village inns as they are rare in ours. Our villages are superior to German villages in more merits, excellences91, conveniences, and privileges than I can enumerate92, but the hotels do not belong in the list.
“The Naturalist Tavern” was not a meaningless name; for all the halls and all the rooms were lined with large glass cases which were filled with all sorts of birds and animals, glass-eyed, ably stuffed, and set up in the most natural eloquent93 and dramatic attitudes. The moment we were abed, the rain cleared away and the moon came out. I dozed94 off to sleep while contemplating95 a great white stuffed owl42 which was looking intently down on me from a high perch96 with the air of a person who thought he had met me before, but could not make out for certain.
But young Z did not get off so easily. He said that as he was sinking deliciously to sleep, the moon lifted away the shadows and developed a huge cat, on a bracket, dead and stuffed, but crouching97, with every muscle tense, for a spring, and with its glittering glass eyes aimed straight at him. It made Z uncomfortable. He tried closing his own eyes, but that did not answer, for a natural instinct kept making him open them again to see if the cat was still getting ready to launch at him—which she always was. He tried turning his back, but that was a failure; he knew the sinister98 eyes were on him still. So at last he had to get up, after an hour or two of worry and experiment, and set the cat out in the hall. So he won, that time.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
foliage
|
|
| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
crumbling
|
|
| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
masonry
|
|
| n.砖土建筑；砖石 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
imposing
|
|
| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
picturesque
|
|
| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
prodigious
|
|
| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
pestilence
|
|
| n.瘟疫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
conflagration
|
|
| n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
impartially
|
|
| adv.公平地，无私地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
solitary
|
|
| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
renowned
|
|
| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
knight
|
|
| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
knights
|
|
| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
succor
|
|
| n.援助，帮助；v.给予帮助 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
strapped
|
|
| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
jeered
|
|
| v.嘲笑( jeer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
ruffled
|
|
| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
compassion
|
|
| n.同情，怜悯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
lurid
|
|
| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
ragged
|
|
| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
warily
|
|
| adv.留心地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
cylindrical
|
|
| adj.圆筒形的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
beckoning
|
|
| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
transcends
|
|
| 超出或超越（经验、信念、描写能力等）的范围( transcend的第三人称单数 )； 优于或胜过… | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
impudence
|
|
| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
monarch
|
|
| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
commemorate
|
|
| vt.纪念，庆祝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
appreciation
|
|
| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
sumptuous
|
|
| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
crest
|
|
| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
elevation
|
|
| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
ivy
|
|
| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
justified
|
|
| a.正当的，有理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
minor
|
|
| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
laborers
|
|
| n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
scatter
|
|
| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
perpendicular
|
|
| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
owl
|
|
| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
ashore
|
|
| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
spurts
|
|
| 短暂而突然的活动或努力( spurt的名词复数 )； 突然奋起 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
debris
|
|
| n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
abjectly
|
|
| 凄惨地； 绝望地； 糟透地； 悲惨地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
obituary
|
|
| n.讣告，死亡公告；adj.死亡的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
pedestrians
|
|
| n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
wrecked
|
|
| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
quarries
|
|
| n.（采）石场( quarry的名词复数 )；猎物（指鸟，兽等）；方形石；（格窗等的）方形玻璃v.从采石场采得( quarry的第三人称单数 )；从（书本等中）努力发掘（资料等）；在采石场采石 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
lighter
|
|
| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
assassination
|
|
| n.暗杀；暗杀事件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
snug
|
|
| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
graceful
|
|
| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
offense
|
|
| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
gravel
|
|
| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
mischievous
|
|
| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
overcast
|
|
| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
prudence
|
|
| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
wailed
|
|
| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
gusts
|
|
| 一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
hoarse
|
|
| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
scant
|
|
| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
trampling
|
|
| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
engulf
|
|
| vt.吞没，吞食 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
frail
|
|
| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
agitated
|
|
| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
peril
|
|
| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
bail
|
|
| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
appalling
|
|
| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
wade
|
|
| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
bailing
|
|
| （凿井时用吊桶）排水 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
frenzy
|
|
| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
torrents
|
|
| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
mariner
|
|
| n.水手号不载人航天探测器，海员，航海者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
blanch
|
|
| v.漂白；使变白；使(植物)不见日光而变白 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
drenching
|
|
| n.湿透v.使湿透( drench的现在分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
naturalist
|
|
| n.博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
exhausted
|
|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
fatigue
|
|
| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
brewed
|
|
| 调制( brew的过去式和过去分词 )； 酝酿； 沏（茶）； 煮（咖啡） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
soothing
|
|
| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
naval
|
|
| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
chambers
|
|
| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
embroidered
|
|
| adj．绣花的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
linen
|
|
| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
excellences
|
|
| n.卓越( excellence的名词复数 )；（只用于所修饰的名词后）杰出的；卓越的；出类拔萃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
enumerate
|
|
| v.列举，计算，枚举，数 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
eloquent
|
|
| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
dozed
|
|
| v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
contemplating
|
|
| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
perch
|
|
| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
crouching
|
|
| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
sinister
|
|
| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |