美國語文第五冊 第09期：溫柔的手（04）
"Dick!" said the farmer in a peremptory voice, giving the rein a quick jerk as he spoke.
“狄克！”那農夫嚴厲地呵斥，一邊猛地拉動韁繩，
But Dick moved not a step. "Dick! you vagabond! get up."
狄克竟然沒有挪步，“狄克！你這個懶鬼！快走呀。”
And the farmer's whip cracked sharply by the pony's ear.
農夫鞭子在小馬耳邊尖銳地乍響。
It availed not, however, this second appeal. Dick stood firmly disobedient.
依然毫不奏效。接下來，農夫語氣變得委婉甚至懇求，小馬駒還是無動于衷。
Next the whip was brought down upon him with an impatient hand; but the pony only reared up a little.
然后，主人急躁的鞭子甩在了狄克身上，那馬駒只是稍稍后退，
Fast and sharp the strokes were next dealt to the number of half a dozen.
接著又來了六七下快速猛烈的鞭笞，
The man might as well have beaten the wagon, for all his end was gained.
那農夫如果早知道他最終束手無策，還不如起先就鞭打那馬車罷。
A stout lad now came out into the road, and, catching Dick by the bridle, jerked him forward, using, at the same time, the customary language on such occasions,
一位身材粗碩的婦人走過來，她抓住馬籠頭猛地往前拉，嘴里不停叨嘮類似場合那些粗鄙的話，
but Dick met this new ally with increased stubbornness, planting his fore feet more firmly and at a sharper angle with the ground.
但狄克愈發(fā)倔犟，死活不走，甚至還將它的前蹄翹起，死死地抵住地面。
The impatient boy now struck the pony on the side of the head with his clinched hand, and jerked cruelly at his bridle.
這會兒，那位不耐煩的男孩用鉗子般手掌猛力撞擊狄克頭部，然后死命猛拽馬的籠頭，
It availed nothing, however; Dick was not to be wrought upon by any such arguments.
毫不奏效，狄克不會在這樣暴力下尥開蹄子。
"Don't do so, John!" I turned my head as the maiden's sweet voice reached my ear.
“約翰，別這樣！”我一轉頭，那位姑娘的溫柔聲音傳了過來。
She was passing through the gate into the road, and in the next moment had taken hold of the lad and drawn him away from the animal.
她正邁過大門，來到路上。姑娘一把抓住那莽撞的家伙，將他從狄克身邊甩開。
No strength was exerted in this; she took hold of his arm, and he obeyed her wish as readily as if he had no thought beyond her gratification.
她毫不費力地抓住了他的一只胳膊，他好像也相當樂意地與其配合，好像壓根沒有忤逆她的意思。
