《廊桥遗梦》｜单词注释｜Chapter 9
A Letter from Francesca
1
Francesca Johnson died in January of 1989. She was sixty-nine years old at the time of her death. Robert Kincaid would have been seventy-six that year. The cause of death was
listed
as “natural.”
list /lɪst/ vt. 列出
2
“She just died,” the doctor told Michael and Carolyn. “Actually, we’re a little
perplexed
. We can find no specific cause for her death. A neighbor found her
slumped
over the kitchen table.”
perplexed /pərˈplekst/ adj. 困惑的
slump /slʌmp/ vi. 沉重或突然地落下[倒下]
3
In a 1982 letter to her attorney, she had requested that her remains be
cremated
and her ashes
scattered
at Roseman Bridge.
cremate /'krimet/ vt. 火葬
scatter /ˈskætər/ vi. 散开
4
Cremation
was an
uncommon
practice
in Madison County —
cremation /krəˈmeɪʃn/ n. 火葬
uncommon /ʌn'kɑmən/ adj. 不寻常的
practice /ˈpræktɪs/ n. 惯例
5
viewed
as slightly
radical
in some
undefined
way—
view /vjuː/ vt. 认为
radical /ˈrædɪkl/ adj. 激进的
undefined /ˌʌndɪ'faɪnd/ adj. 不明确的
6
and her wish
generated
considerable discussion at the cafe, the Texaco station, and the
implement
dealership
.
generate /ˈdʒenəreɪt/ v. 引起
implement /ˈɪmplɪment/ v. 执行
dealership /ˈdiːlərʃɪp/ n. 代理权
7
The
disposition
of her ashes was not
made public
.
disposition /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃn/ n. 安排
make public 公诸于众
8
Following the
memorial service
, Michael and Carolyn drove slowly to Roseman Bridge and
carried out
Francesca’s
instructions
.
memorial service 追悼会
carry out vt. 执行
instruction /ɪnˈstrʌkʃn/ n. 吩咐
9
Though it was nearby, the bridge had never been special to the Johnson family,
10
and they wondered, and wondered again, why their rather sensible mother would behave in such an
enigmatic
way and why she had not asked to be buried by their father, as was
customary
.
enigmatic /'ɛnɪg'mætɪk/ adj. 难以理解的
customary /ˈkʌstəmeri/ adj. 依照惯例的
11
Following that, Michael and Carolyn began the long process of
sorting through
the house
sort through 整理
12
and brought home the materials from the safe deposit box after they were
examined
by the local
attorney
for
estate
purposes and
released
.
examine /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/ vt. 仔细检查
attorney /əˈtɜːrni/ n. 律师
estate /ɪˈsteɪt/ n. 财产
release /rɪˈliːs/ v. 公开
13
They
divided
the materials from the box and began looking through them.
divide /dɪˈvaɪd/ v. 划分
14
The manila envelope was in Carolyn’s
stack
, about
a third of
the way down. She was
puzzled
when she opened it and
removed
the contents.
stack /stæk/ n. （整齐的）一堆
a third of 三分之一
puzzled /ˈpʌzəld/ adj. 困惑的
remove /rɪˈmuːv/ vt. 拿开
15
She read Robert Kincaid’s 1965 letter to Francesca. After that she read his 1978 letter, then the 1982 letter from the Seattle
attorney
. Finally she studied the magazine clippings.
attorney /əˈtɜːrni/ n. 律师
16
“Michael.”
17
He caught the mixture of surprise and
pensiveness
in her voice and looked up immediately. “What is it?”
pensive /ˈpensɪv/ adj. 沉思的
18
Carolyn had tears in her eyes, and her voice became unsteady.
19
“Mother was in love with a man named Robert Kincaid. He was a photographer.
20
Remember when we all had to see the copy of National Geographic with the bridge story in it? He was the one who took the pictures of the bridges here.
21
And remember all the kids talking about the strange-looking guy with the cameras back then? That was him.”
22
Michael sat across from her, his tie loosened, collar open.
23
“Say that again, slowly. I can’t believe I heard you correctly.”
24
After reading the letters, Michael searched the downstairs closet, then went upstairs to Francesca’s bedroom.
25
He had never noticed the walnut box before and opened it. He carried it down to the kitchen table. “Carolyn, here are his cameras.”
26
Tucked in one end of the box was a sealed envelope with “Carolyn or Michael” written on it in Francesca’s
script
, and lying between the cameras were three leather-bound notebooks.
script /skrɪpt/ n. 手迹
27
“I’m not sure I’m
capable
of reading what’s in that envelope,” said Michael. “Read it out loud to me, if you can handle it.”
capable /ˈkeɪpəbl/ adj. 能胜任的
28
She opened the envelope and read aloud.
29
January 7, 1987
30
Dear Carolyn and Michael,
31
Though I’m feeling just fine, I think it’s time for me to get my affairs in order (as they say). There is something, something very important, you need to know about. That’s why I’m writing this.
32
After looking through the safe deposit box and finding the large manila envelope addressed to me with a 1965
postmark
, I’m sure you’ll eventually come to this letter.
postmark /'postmɑrk/ n. 邮戳
33
If possible, please sit at the old kitchen table to read it. You’ll understand that request
shortly
.
shortly /ˈʃɔːrtli/ adv. 不久
34
It’s hard for me to write this to my own children, but I must. There’s something here that’s too strong, too beautiful, to die with me.
35
And if you are to know who your mother was, all the goods and bads, you need to know what I’m about to say.
Brace
yourself.
brace /breɪs/ v. （使）作好准备
36
As you’ve already discovered, his name was Robert Kincaid. His middle
initial
was “L,” but I never knew what the L
represented
.
initial /ɪˈnɪʃl/ n. 词首大写字母
represent /ˌreprɪˈzent/ vt. 代表
37
He was a photographer, and he was here in 1965 photographing the covered bridges.
38
Remember how excited the town was when the pictures appeared in National Geographic.
39
You may also
recall
that I began receiving the magazine about that time. Now you know the reason for my sudden interest in it.
recall /rɪˈkɔːl/ vt. & vi. 回忆起
40
By the way, I was with him (carrying one of his camera knapsacks) when the photo of Cedar Bridge was taken.
41
Understand, I loved your father in a quiet
fashion
. I knew it then, I know it now. He was good to me and gave me the two of you, who I
treasure
. Don’t forget that.
fashion /ˈfæʃn/ n. (做事的)方式
treasure /'trɛʒɚ/ vt. 珍爱
42
But Robert Kincaid was something quite different, like nobody I’ve ever seen or heard or read about through my entire life. To make you understand him completely is impossible.
43
First of all, you are not me. Second, you would have had to have been around him, to watch him move, to hear him talk about being on a dead-end branch of
evolution
.
evolution /evəˈluːʃn/ n. 演变
44
Maybe the notebooks and magazine clippings will help, but even those will not be enough.
45
In a way, he was not of this earth. That’s about as clear as I can say it. I’ve always thought of him as a
leopardlike
creature who rode in on the tail of a
comet
. He moved that way, his body was like that.
leopard /'lɛpɚd/ n. 豹
comet /ˈkɑːmɪt/ n. 彗星
46
He somehow
coupled
enormous intensity with warmth and kindness, and there was a
vague
sense of
tragedy
about him.
couple /ˈkʌpl/ vt. 联结
vague /veɪɡ/ adj. 模糊的
tragedy /ˈtrædʒədi/ n. 悲剧
47
He felt he was becoming
obsolete
in a world of computers and robots and organized living
in general
. He saw himself as one of the last cowboys, as he put it, and called himself
old-fangled
.
obsolete /ˌɑːbsəˈliːt/ adj. 淘汰的
general /ˈdʒenərəl/ n. 常规
oldfangled /ˈoldˈfæŋɡəld/ adj. 老式的
48
The first time I ever saw him was when he stopped and asked directions to Roseman Bridge. The three of you were at the Illinois State Fair.
49
Believe me, I was not
scouting
around for any adventure. That was the furthest thing from my mind.
scout /skaʊt/ v. 寻找
50
But I looked at him for less than five seconds, and I knew I wanted him, though not as much as I eventually came to want him.
51
And please don’t think of him as some
Casanova
running around taking advantage of country girls. He wasn’t like that at all.
Casanova /ˌkæsəˈnovə/ n. 卡萨诺瓦(好色之徒)
52
In fact, he was a little shy, and I had as much to do with what happened as he did. More, in fact.
53
The note tucked in with his bracelet is one I
posted
on Roseman Bridge so he would see it the morning after we first met.
54
Aside from his photographs of me, it’s the only piece of evidence he had over the years that I actually existed, that I was not just some dream he had.
55
I know children have a
tendency
to think of their parents as rather
asexual
, so I hope what I’m going to say won’t shock you, and I certainly hope it won’t destroy your memory of me.
tendency /ˈtendənsi/ n. 倾向
asexual /ˌe'sɛkʃuəl/ adj. 无性的
56
In our old kitchen, Robert and I spent hours together. We talked and danced by candlelight.
57
And, yes, we made love there and in the bedroom and in the pasture grass and just about anywhere else you can think of.
58
It was incredible, powerful,
transcending
lovemaking, and it went on for days, almost without stopping.
transcend /trænˈsend/ vt. 超越
59
I always have used the word “powerful” a lot in thinking about him. For that’s what he had become by the time we met.
60
He was like an arrow in his intensity. I simply was
helpless
when he made love to me. Not weak; that’s not what I felt. Just, well,
overwhelmed
by his
sheer
emotional and physical power.
helpless /ˈhelpləs/ adj. 无助的
overwhelm /ˌoʊvərˈwelm/ vt. 压倒
sheer /ʃɪr/ adj. 十足的
61
Once when I whispered that to him, he simply said, “I am the highway and a peregrine and all the
sails
that ever went to sea.”
sail /seɪl/ n. 帆
62
I checked the dictionary later. The first thing people think of when they hear the word “
peregrine
” is a
falcon
. But there are other meanings of the word, and he would have been aware of that.
peregrine /ˈpɛrəɡrɪn/ n. 游隼
falcon /'fælkən/ n. 猎鹰
63
One is “foreigner, alien.” A second is “
roving
or wandering,
migratory
.” The Latin peregrinus, which is one root of the word, means a stranger.
rove /roʊv/ vi. 流量
migratory /'maɪɡrətɔri/ adj. 流浪的
64
He was all of those things — a stranger, a foreigner in the more general sense of the word, a wanderer, and he also was
falconlike
, now that I think of it.
falcon /'fælkən/ n. 猎鹰
65
Children, understand I am trying to express what cannot be put into words. I only wish that someday you each might have what I experienced; however, I’m beginning to think that’s not likely.
66
Though I suppose it’s not
fashionable
to say such things in these more
enlightened
times, I don’t think it’s possible for a woman to
possess
the
peculiar
kind of power Robert Kincaid had.
fashionable /ˈfæʃnəbl/ adj. 流行的
enlightened /ɪn'laɪtnd/ adj. 开明的
possess /pəˈzes/ vt. 具有
peculiar /pɪˈkjuːliər/ adj. 奇怪的
67
So, Michael, that lets you out. As for Carolyn, I’m afraid the bad news is that there was only one of him, and no more.
68
If not for your father and the two of you, I would have gone anywhere with him,
instantly
.
instantly /ˈɪnstəntli/ adv. 立刻
69
He asked me to go, begged me to go. But I wouldn’t, and he was too much of a
sensitive
and caring person to ever
interfere
in our lives after that.
sensitive /ˈsensətɪv/ adj. 敏感的
interfere /ˌɪntərˈfɪr/ vi. 干扰
70
The
paradox
is this: If it hadn’t been for Robert Kincaid, I’m not sure I could have stayed on the farm all these years.
paradox /ˈpærədɑːks/ n. 悖论
71
In four days, he gave me a lifetime, a universe, and made the separate parts of me into a whole. I have never stopped thinking of him, not for a moment.
72
Even when he was not in my conscious mind, I could feel him somewhere, always he was there.
73
But it never took away from anything I felt for the two of you or your father.
74
Thinking only of myself for a moment, I’m not sure I made the right decision. But taking the family into account, I’m pretty sure I did.
75
Though I must be honest and tell you that, right from the
outset
, Robert understood better than I what it was the two of us
formed
with each other.
outset /ˈaʊtset/ n. 开始
form /fɔːrm/ v. 是......的组成部份
76
I think I only began to grasp its significance over time, gradually. Had I truly understood that, when he was face to face with me and asking me to go, I probably would have left with him.
77
Robert believed the world had become too
rational
, had stopped trusting in magic as much as it should. I’ve often wondered if I was too rational in making my decision.
rational /ˈræʃnəl/ adj. 理性的
78
I’m sure you found my
burial
request
incomprehensible
, thinking perhaps it was the product of a confused old woman.
burial /ˈberiəl/ adj. 埋葬的
incomprehensible /ɪnˌkɑːmprɪˈhensəbl/ adj. 费解的
79
After reading the 1982 Seattle attorney’s letter and my notebooks, you’ll understand why I made that request.
80
I gave my family my life; I gave Robert Kincaid what was left of me.
81
I think Richard knew there was something in me he could not reach, and I sometimes wonder if he found the manila envelope when I kept it at home in the bureau.
82
Just before he died, I was sitting by him in a Des Moines hospital, and he said this to me: “Francesca, I know you had your own dreams, too. I’m sorry I couldn’t give them to you.”
83
That was the most
touching
moment of our lives together.
touching /ˈtʌtʃɪŋ/ adj. 动人的
84
I don’t want to make you feel guilt or
pity
or any of those things. That’s not my purpose here. I only want you to know how much I loved Robert Kincaid.
pity /'pɪti/ n. 怜悯
85
I dealt with it day by day, all these years, just as he did.
86
Though we never spoke again to one another, we
remained
bound
together as tightly as it’s possible for two people to be bound. I cannot find the words to express this
adequately
.
remain /rɪ'men/ v. 一直是
bound /baʊnd/ adj. （与……）紧密相连的
adequately /ˈædɪkwətli/ adv. 足够地
87
He said it best when he told me we had
ceased
being separate beings and, instead, had become a third being
formed
by the two of us.
cease /siːs/ vt. & vi. 终止
form /fɔːrm/ vt. 产生
88
Neither of us existed
independent
of that being. And that being was left to wander.
independent /ˌɪndɪˈpendənt/ n. 独立自主者
89
Carolyn, remember the
horrible
argument we had once about the light pink dress in my closet?
horrible /ˈhɔːrəbl/ adj. 糟糕的
90
You had seen it and wanted to wear it. You said you never remembered me wearing it, so why couldn’t it be
made over
to fit you.
make over 转交
91
That was the dress I wore the first night Robert and I made love. I’ve never looked as good in my entire life as I did that night.
92
The dress was my small and foolish memory of that time. That’s why I never wore it again and why I refused to let you wear it.
93
After Robert left here in 1965, I realized I knew very little about him,
in terms of
his family history.
in terms of 在......方面
94
Though I think I learned almost everything else about him — everything that really
counted
— in those few short days.
count /kaʊnt/ v. 重要
95
He was an
only
child, both his parents were dead, and he was born in a small town in Ohio.
only /'onli/ adj. 独生的
96
I’m not even sure if he went to college or even high school, but he had an intelligence that was brilliant in a
raw
,
primitive
, almost
mystical
fashion.
raw /rɔː/ adj. 天然的
primitive /ˈprɪmətɪv/ adj. 原始的
mystical /'mɪstɪkl/ adj. 神秘的
97
Oh yes, he was a combat photographer with the
Marines
in the South Pacific during World War II.
marine /məˈriːn/ n. 海军陆战队士兵
98
He was married once and divorced, a long time before he met me. There were no children.
99
His wife had been a musician of some kind, a
folksinger
I think he said, and his long absences on photographic
expeditions
were just too hard on the marriage. He
took the blame
for the
breakup
.
folk-singer /ˈfokˌsɪŋɚ/ n. 民歌歌手
expedition /ˌekspəˈdɪʃn/ n. 远征
take the blame 承担......的责任
breakup /'brek'ʌp/ n. 分裂
100
Other than that, Robert had no family, as far as I know. I am asking you to make him part of ours, however difficult that may seem to you at first.
101
At least I had a family, a life with others. Robert was alone. That was not fair, and I knew it.
102
I
prefer
, at least I think I do, because of Richard’s memory and the way people talk, that all of this be kept within the Johnson family, somehow. I’ll leave it to your judgment, though.
prefer /prɪˈfɜːr/ vt. 宁愿
103
In any case, I’m certainly not
ashamed
of what Robert Kincaid and I had together.
ashamed /əˈʃeɪmd/ adj. 耻于……的
104
On the contrary. I loved him desperately
throughout
all these years, though, for my own reasons, I tried to contact him only once.
throughout /θruːˈaʊt/ prep. (表示时间)在…期间
105
That was after your father died. The attempt failed, and I was afraid something had happened to him, so I never tried again,
out of
that fear. I simply couldn’t face that reality.
out of 由于
106
So you can imagine how I felt when the package with the attorney’s letter arrived in 1982.
107
As I said, I hope you understand and don’t think
ill
of me.
ill /ɪl/ adv. 坏
108
If you love me, then you must love what I have done.
109
Robert Kincaid taught me what it was like to be a woman in a way that few women, maybe none, will ever experience.
110
He was fine and warm, and he
deserves
, certainly, your respect and maybe your love.
deserve /dɪˈzɜːrv/ vi. 应得
111
I hope you can give him both of those. In his own way, through me, he was good to you.
112
Go well
, my children.
go well (南非英语)再见
113
Mother
114
There was silence in the old kitchen. Michael took a deep breath and looked out the window. Carolyn looked around her, at the sink, the floor, at the table, at everything.
115
When she spoke, her voice was almost a whisper.
116
“Oh, Michael, Michael, think of them all those years, wanting each other so desperately. She gave him up for us and for Dad. And Robert Kincaid stayed away out of respect for her feelings about us.
117
Michael, I can hardly deal with the thought of it. We treat our marriages so casually, and we were part of the reason that an incredible love affair ended the way it did.
118
“They had four days together, just four. Out of a lifetime. It was when we went to that ridiculous state fair in Illinois.
119
Look at the picture of Mom. I never saw her like that. She’s so beautiful, and it’s not the photograph. It’s what he did for her.
120
Just look at her; she’s wild and free. Her hair’s blowing in the wind, her face is alive. She just looks wonderful.”
121
“Jesus,” was all Michael could say, wiping his forehead with the kitchen towel and
dabbing
at his eyes when Carolyn wasn’t looking.
dab /dæb/ v. 快速擦拭
122
Carolyn spoke again. “Apparently he never tried to contact her all these years. And he must have died alone; that’s why he had the cameras sent to her.
123
“I remember the fight Mom and I had over the pink dress. It went on for days. I
whined
and asked why. Then I refused to speak to her. All she ever said was, ‘No, Carolyn, not that one.’ ”
whine /waɪn/ vi. 发牢骚
124
And Michael remembered the old table at which they were sitting. That’s why Francesca had asked him to bring it back into the kitchen after their father died.
125
Carolyn opened the small
padded
envelope.
padded /'pædid/ adj.有装填垫料的
126
“Here’s his bracelet and his silver chain and
medallion
.
medallion /mə'dælɪən/ n. (状似大奖章的)项链垂饰
127
And here’s the note Mother mentioned in her letter, the one she put on Roseman Bridge. That’s why the photo he sent of the bridge shows the piece of paper tacked to it.”
128
“Michael, what are we going to do? Think about it for a moment; I’ll be right back.”
129
She ran up the stairs and returned in a few minutes carrying the pink dress folded carefully in plastic. She shook it out and held it up for Michael to see.
130
“Just imagine her wearing this and dancing with him here in the kitchen.
131
Think of all the time we’ve
spent
here and the images she must have seen while cooking and sitting here with us, talking about our problems,
spent /spɛnt/ v. 度过
132
about where to go to college, about how hard it is to have a successful marriage.
133
God, we’re so
innocent
and
immature
compared to her.”
innocent /ˈɪnəsnt/ adj. 无知的
immature /ˌɪməˈtʃʊr/ adj. 不成熟的
134
Michael nodded and turned to the cupboards above the sink.
135
“Do you suppose Mother kept anything to drink around here? Lord knows I can use it. And, to answer your question, I don’t know what we’re going to do.”
136
He
rummaged
through the cupboards and found a bottle of brandy, almost empty. “There’s enough for two drinks here, Carolyn. Want one?”
rummage /'rʌmɪdʒ/ vt. 翻找出
137
“Yes.”
138
Michael took the only two brandy glasses from the cupboard and set them on the yellow Formica table.
139
He emptied Francesca’s last bottle of brandy into them, while Carolyn silently began reading volume one of the notebooks.
140
“Robert Kincaid came to me on the sixteenth of August, a Monday, in 1965. He was trying to find Roseman Bridge. It was late afternoon, hot, and he was driving a pickup truck he called Harry….”
141
