《廊桥遗梦》｜单词注释｜Chapter 1
The Beginning
1
There are songs that come free from the
blue-eyed grass
, from the dust of a thousand country roads.
blue-eyed grass n. 庭菖蒲
2
This is one of them.
3
In
late
afternoon, in the autumn of 1989, I’m at my desk, looking at a blinking
cursor
on the computer screen before me, and the telephone rings.
late /leɪt/ adj. 近日暮的
cursor /'kɝsɚ/ n. 光标
4
On the other end of the wire is a
former
lowan named Michael Johnson. He lives in Florida now. A friend from
Iowa
has sent him one of my books.
former /ˈfɔːrmər/ adj. 以前的
Iowa /ˈaɪəwə/ n. 爱荷华州(美国中西部的一州)
5
Michael Johnson has read it; his sister, Carolyn, has read it; and they have a story in which they think I might be interested.
6
He is
circumspect
, refusing to say anything about the story, except that he and Carolyn are willing to travel to Iowa to talk with me about it.
circumspect /ˈsɜːrkəmspekt/ adj. 谨慎小心的
7
That they are prepared to make such an
effort
intrigues
me, in spite of my
skepticism
about such
offers
.
effort /ˈefərt/ n. 努力
intrigue /ɪnˈtriːɡ/ vt. 激起...的好奇心
skepticism /'skɛptɪ,sɪzəm/ n. 怀疑态度
offer /ˈɔːfər/ n. 提供
8
So I agree to meet with them in
Des Moines
the
following
week.
Des Moines /dɪ ˈmɔɪn/ 得梅因(美国衣阿华Iowa州的首府)
following /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/ adj. 接着的
9
At a Holiday
Inn
near the airport, the introductions are made,
awkwardness
gradually
declines
, and the two of them sit across from me, evening coming down outside,
light snow
falling.
inn /ɪn/ n. 小旅馆
awkwardness /ˈ ɔk wɚdnɪs/ n. 难为情
decline /dɪˈklaɪn/ v. 衰退
light snow n. 小雪
10
They
extract
a promise:
extract /ˈekstrækt/ v. 设法得到
11
If I decide not to write the story, I must agree never to
disclose
what
transpired
in Madison County, Iowa, in 1965
disclose /dɪsˈkloʊz/ vt. 透露
transpire /træn'spaɪɚ/ vi. 发生
12
or other related events that followed over the next twenty-four years.
13
All right, that’s
reasonable
. After all, it’s their story, not mine.
reasonable /ˈriːznəbl/ adj. 合乎情理的
14
So I listen. I listen hard, and I ask hard questions. And they talk.
On and on
they talk.
on and on adv. 继续不停地
15
Carolyn cries
openly
at times
, Michael
struggles
not to.
openly /ˈoʊpənli/ adv. 公然地
at times 有时
struggle /ˈstrʌɡl/ vi. 努力
16
They show me documents and magazine clippings and a set of
journals
written by their mother, Francesca.
journal /ˈdʒɜːrnl/ n. 日记
17
Room service
comes and goes. Extra coffee is
ordered
.
room service n. 客房服务
18
As they talk, I begin to see the images. First you must have the images, then come the words.
19
And I begin to hear the words, begin to see them on pages of writing.
20
Sometime just after midnight, I agree to write the story — or at least attempt it.
21
Their decision to make this information public was a difficult one for them.
22
The circumstances are delicate, involving their mother and, more
tangentially
, their father.
tangential /tænˈdʒenʃl/ adj. <正>间接相关的
23
Michael and Carolyn recognized that
coming forth
with the story might
result in
tawdry
gossip
come forth 被公布
result in 导致
tawdry /ˈtɔːdri/ adj. (故事、事件)不道德的
gossip /ˈɡɑːsɪp/ n. 流言蜚语
unkind /ˌʌn'kaɪnd/ adj. 无情的
debasement /di'beismənt/ n. 降低
24
and
unkind
debasement
of whatever memories people have of Richard and Francesca Johnson.
unkind /ˌʌn'kaɪnd/ adj. 无情的
debasement /di'beismənt/ n. 降低
25
Yet in a world where personal
commitment
in all of its forms seems to be
shattering
and love has become a matter of
convenience
,
commitment /kəˈmɪtmənt/ n. 承诺
shatter /ˈʃætər/ vi. 粉碎
convenience /kənˈviːniəns/ n. 方便
26
they both felt this
remarkable
tale
was worth the telling.
remarkable /rɪˈmɑːrkəbl/ adj. 不寻常的
tale /teɪl/ n. 故事
27
I believed then, and I believe even more
strongly
now, they were correct in their
assessment
.
strongly /ˈstrɔŋlɪ/ adv. 强烈地
assessment /əˈsesmənt/ n. 估计
28
In the
course
of my research and writing, I asked to meet with Michael and Carolyn three more times.
course /kɔːrs/ n. 过程
29
On each
occasion
, and without
complaint
, they traveled to Iowa. Such was their
eagerness
to make sure the story was told
accurately
.
occasion /əˈkeɪʒn/ n. 场合
complaint /kəmˈpleɪnt/ n. 抱怨
eagerness / ˈiɡɚnɪs/ n. 渴望
accurately /'ækjərɪtli/ adv. 正确无误地
30
Sometimes we
merely
talked; sometimes we slowly drove the roads of Madison County while they pointed out places having a
significant
role
in the story.
merely /ˈmɪrli/ adv. 只是
significant /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/ adj. 重要的
role /rol/ n. 角色
31
In addition to
the help provided by Michael and Carolyn,
in addition to 除...之外(还)
32
the story as I tell it here is based on information contained in the journals of Francesca Johnson;
33
research
conducted
in the north-western United States, particularly
Seattle
and
Bellingham
, Washington;
conduct /kənˈdʌkt/ v. 进行
Seattle /siˈætl/ n. 西雅图（美国一港市）
Bellingham /ˈbɛlɪŋˌhæm/ 贝灵汉(美国华盛顿州西北部城市)
34
research
carried out
quietly
in Madison County, Iowa;
carry out vt. 实行
quietly /ˈk waɪətlɪ/ adv. 秘密地
35
information
gleaned
from the photographic
essays
of Robert Kincaid;
glean /ɡliːn/ vt. 收集（资料）
essay /ˈeseɪ/ n. 随笔
36
assistance
provided by magazine editors;
assistance /əˈsɪstəns/ n. 帮助
37
detail supplied by
manufacturers
of photographic
films
and equipment;
manufacturer /ˌmænjuˈfæktʃərər/ n. 制造商
film /fɪlm/ n. 胶卷
38
and long discussions with several wonderful
elderly
people in the county home at Barnesville,
Ohio
, who remembered Kincaid from his
boyhood
days.
elderly /ˈeldərli/ adj. 上了年级的
Ohio /oˈhaɪo/ n. 俄亥俄州（美国一个州）
boyhood /'bɔɪhʊd/ n. 少年时期
39
In spite of
the
investigative
effort,
gaps
remain
.
in spite of 尽管
investigative /ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪtɪv/ adj. 调查性质的
gap /ɡæp/ n. 空白
remain /rɪ'men/ vi. & link v. 依旧是
40
I have added a little of my own imagination in those
instances
,
instance /ˈɪnstəns/ n. 事例
41
but only when I could make
reasoned
judgments
flowing from
the intimate
familiarity
with Francesca Johnson and Robert Kincaid I gained through my research.
reasoned /'riznd/ adj. 合乎逻辑的
flow from 来自......
familiarity /fəˌmɪliˈærəti/ n. 熟悉
42
I am confident that I have come very close to what actually happened.
43
One major gap
involves
the
exact
details of a trip made across the northern United States by Kincaid.
involve /ɪnˈvɑːlv/ vt. 涉及
exact /ɪɡˈzækt/ adj. 准确的
44
We knew he made this journey, based on a number of photographs that
subsequently
were published,
subsequently /ˈsʌbsɪˌkwɛntlɪ/ adv. 随后
45
a brief mention of it by Francesca Johnson in her journals, and handwritten notes he left with a magazine editor.
46
Using these sources as my
guide
, I
retraced
what I believe was the path he took from Bellingham to Madison County in August of 1965.
guide /ɡaɪd/ vt. 向导
retrace /rɪˈtreɪs/ vt. 重走(别人走过的路线)
47
Driving toward Madison County at the end of my travels, I felt I had, in many ways, become Robert Kincaid.
48
Still, attempting to
capture
the
essence
of Kincaid was the most challenging part of my research and writing.
capture /ˈkæptʃər/ vt. 捕获
essence /ˈesns/ n. 本质
49
He is an
elusive
figure. At times he seems rather ordinary. At other times
ethereal
, perhaps even
spectral
.
elusive /iˈluːsɪv/ adj. 难以捉摸的
ethereal /iˈθɪriəl/ adj. 飘渺的
spectral /ˈspektrəl/ adj. 幽灵的
50
In his work he was a
consummate
professional
.
consummate /ˈkɑːnsəmət/ adj. 完美的
professional /prəˈfeʃənl/ n. 专家
51
Yet
he saw himself as a
peculiar
kind of male animal becoming
obsolete
in a world
given over to
increasing amounts of organization.
yet /jɛt/ conj. 然而
peculiar /pɪˈkjuːliər/ adj. 特殊的
obsolete /ˌɑːbsəˈliːt/ adj. 淘汰的
be given over to 沉溺于
52
He once talked about the “
merciless
wail” of time in his head,
merciless /ˈmə..sɪlɪs/ adj. 残忍的
53
and Francesca Johnson
characterized
him as living “in strange,
haunted
places,
far back
along the
stems
of Darwin’s logic.”
characterize /ˈkærəktəraɪz/ vt. 描述(人或物)的特性
haunted /'hɔntɪd/ adj. （地方，场所）幽灵出没的
far back 久远
stem /stem/ v. 起源于
54
Two other
intriguing
questions are still
unanswered
.
intriguing /ɪnˈtri:gɪŋ/ adj. 令人感兴趣的
unanswered /ʌn'ɑnsɚd/ adj. 未解决的
55
First, we have been unable to
determine
what
became of
Kincaid’s photographic files.
determine /dɪˈtɜːrmɪn/ vt. 确定
become of 发生......情况
56
Given the
nature
of his work, there must have been thousands, probably hundreds of thousands, of photographs.
nature /'netʃɚ/ n. 性质
57
These never have been
recovered
.
recover /rɪˈkʌvər/ vt. 重新获得
58
Our best guess — and this would be consistent with the way he saw himself and his place in the world — is that he destroyed them
prior
to his death.
prior /ˈpraɪər/ adv. 在前
59
The second question deals with his life from 1975 to 1982. Very little information is available.
60
We know he
earned a sparse living
as a
portrait
photographer in Seattle for several years and continued to photograph the Puget Sound area.
earn a living /ɜːrn/ 谋生
sparse /spɑːrs/ adj. 简朴的
portrait /ˈpɔːrtrət/ n. 肖像
61
Other than that, we have nothing.
62
One interesting note is that all letters mailed to him by
the Social Security Administration
and
Veterans Administration
were marked “Return to Sender” in his handwriting and sent back.
the Social Security Administration 社会保障局
Veterans Administration (美国)退伍军人管理局
63
Preparing and writing this book has
altered
my
world view
,
transformed
the way I think,
alter /ˈɔːltər/ vt, 改编
world view 世界观
transform /trænsˈfɔːrm/ vt. & vi. 改变
64
and, most of all, reduced my
level
of
cynicism
about what is possible in the
arena
of
human relationships
.
level /ˈlevl/ n. 程度
cynicism /ˈsɪnɪˌsɪzəm/ n. 愤世嫉俗
arena /əˈriːnə/ n. 舞台
human relationship 人际关系
65
Coming to know
Francesca Johnson and Robert Kincaid as I have through my research, I find the
boundaries
of such relationships can be
extended
farther than I
previously
thought.
come to know 开始了解到
boundary /ˈbaʊndri/ n. 边界
extend /ɪkˈstend/ vt. & vi. (空间、时间等)延伸
previously /ˈpriːviəsli/ adv. 以前
66
Perhaps you will hasthesame experience in reading this story.
67
That will not be easy. In an increasingly
callous
world, we all exist with our own
carapaces
of
scabbed
-over
sensibilities
.
callous /ˈkæləs/ adj. 起老茧的
carapace /'kærəpes/ n. 壳
scabbed /'skæbɪd/ adj. 有疙瘩的
sensibility /ˌsɛnsə'bɪləti/ n. 敏感性
68
Where great
passion
leaves off and
mawkishness
begins, I’m not sure.
passion /ˈpæʃn/ n. 激情
mawkish /ˈmɔːkɪʃ/ adj. 淡而无味的
69
But our tendency to
scoff
at the possibility of the former and to label
genuine
and
profound
feelings as
maudlin
scoff /skɑːf/ v. 嘲笑
genuine /ˈdʒenjuɪn/ adj. 真实的
profound /prəˈfaʊnd/ adj. (感情)强烈的
maudlin /'mɔdlɪn/ n. 脆弱的感情
70
makes it difficult to enter the
realm
of
gentleness
required to understand the story of Francesca Johnson and Robert Kincaid.
realm /relm/ n. （知识、活动、思想的）领域
gentleness /ˈd ʒ ɛnt l..nɪs/ n. 柔和
71
I know I had to
overcome
that
tendency
initially
before I could begin writing.
overcome /ˌoʊvərˈkʌm/ vt. & vi. 克服
tendency /ˈtendənsi/ n. 倾向
initially /ɪˈnɪʃəli/ adv. 开始
72
If, however, you
approach
what
follows
with a willing
suspension
of disbelief, as Coleridge
put
it,
approach /əˈproʊtʃ/ v. 对待
follow /ˈfɑːloʊ/ v. 遵循
suspension /səˈspenʃn/ n. 暂停
put /pʊt/ vt. 说
73
I am confident you will
experience
what I have experienced.
experience /ɪk'spɪrɪəns/ vt. 感受
74
In the
indifferent
spaces of your heart, you may even find, as Francesca Johnson did, room to dance again.
indifferent /ɪnˈdɪfrənt/ adj. 漠不关心的
75
Summer 1991
76
