REINFORCEMENTS.

 Yea, we despair. Because the night is long,

And all arms weary with the endless fight

With blind, black forces of insulted law

Which we continually disobey,

And know not how to honor if we would.

How can we fight when every effort fails,

And the vast hydra¹ looms² before us still

Headed as thickly as at dawn of day,

Fierce as when evening fell on us at war?

We are aweary, and no help appears;

No light, no knowledge, no sure way to kill

Our ancient enemy. Let us give o’er!

We do but fight with fate! Lay down your arms!

Retreat! Surrender! Better live as slaves

Than fight forever on a losing field!

Hold, ye faint-hearted! Ye are not alone!

Into your worn-out ranks of weary men

Come mighty³ reinforcements, even now!

Look where the dawn is kindling⁴ in the east,

Brave with the glory of the better day,—

A countless⁵ host, an endless host, all fresh,

With unstained banners and unsullied shields,

With shining swords that point to victory,

And great young hearts that know not how to fear,—

The Children come to save the weary world!

1 hydra   

n.水螅；难于根除的祸患

参考例句：

• Let's knock down those hydras and drive them to the sea!让我们铲除祸根，把他们赶到大海去！
• We may be facing a hydra that defies any easy solution.我们也许正面临一个无法轻易解决的难题。

2 looms   

n.织布机( loom的名词复数 )v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的第三人称单数 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• All were busily engaged,men at their ploughs,women at their looms. 大家都很忙，男的耕田，女的织布。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The factory has twenty-five looms. 那家工厂有25台织布机。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

4 kindling   

n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• There were neat piles of kindling wood against the wall. 墙边整齐地放着几堆引火柴。
• "Coal and kindling all in the shed in the backyard." “煤，劈柴，都在后院小屋里。” 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

5 countless   

adj.无数的，多得不计其数的

参考例句：

• In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
• I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。