Chapter 9 The Centaurs

UP came the young Centaur-colts from the plains they were fathered in —
?Curious, awkward, afraid.
Burrs on their hocks and their tails, they were branded and gathered in
?Mobs and run up to the yard to be made.
Starring and shying at straws, with sidlings and plungings.
?Buckings and whirlings and bolts;
Greener than grass, but full-ripe for their bridling¹ and lungings.
?Up to the yards and to Chiron they bustled² the colts . . .
First the light web and the cavesson; then the linked keys
?To jingle³ and turn on the tongue. Then, with cocked ears.
The hours of watching and envy, while comrades at ease
?Passaged and backed, making naught⁴ of these terrible gears.
Next, over — pride and its price at the low-seeming fence
?Too oft and too easily taken — the world-beheld fall!
And none in the yard except Chiron to doubt the immense.
?Irretrievable shame of it all! . . .
Last, the trained squadron, full-charge — the sound of a going
?Through dust and spun⁵ clods, and strong kicks, pelted⁶ in as they went.
And repaid at top-speed; till the order to halt without slowing
?Showed every colt on his haunches — and Chiron content!

1 bridling   

给…套龙头( bridle的现在分词 )； 控制； 昂首表示轻蔑（或怨忿等）； 动怒，生气

参考例句：

• Suellen, bridling, always asked news of Mr. Kennedy. 苏伦也克制着经常探询肯尼迪先生的情况。
• We noticed sever al men loitering about the bridling last night. 昨天夜里我们看到有几个人在楼附近荡来荡去。

2 bustled   

闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促

参考例句：

• She bustled around in the kitchen. 她在厨房里忙得团团转。
• The hostress bustled about with an assumption of authority. 女主人摆出一副权威的样子忙来忙去。

3 jingle   

n.叮当声，韵律简单的诗句；v.使叮当作响，叮当响，押韵

参考例句：

• The key fell on the ground with a jingle.钥匙叮当落地。
• The knives and forks set up their regular jingle.刀叉发出常有的叮当声。

4 naught   

n.无，零 [=nought]

参考例句：

• He sets at naught every convention of society.他轻视所有的社会习俗。
• I hope that all your efforts won't go for naught.我希望你的努力不会毫无结果。

5 spun   

v.纺，杜撰，急转身

参考例句：

• His grandmother spun him a yarn at the fire.他奶奶在火炉边给他讲故事。
• Her skilful fingers spun the wool out to a fine thread.她那灵巧的手指把羊毛纺成了细毛线。

6 pelted   

（连续地）投掷( pelt的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续抨击； 攻击； 剥去…的皮

参考例句：

• The children pelted him with snowballs. 孩子们向他投掷雪球。
• The rain pelted down. 天下着大雨。