美國語文第五冊 第324期：人生如畫（03）
In these amusements, the hours passed away uncounted; his deviations had perplexed his memory, and he knew not toward what point to travel.
七兜八轉(zhuǎn)的東奔西突，時間過得飛快，難以確定的方向干擾了他的記憶，后來，他簡直不知道究竟朝哪里走才好。
He stood pensive and confused, afraid to go forward lest he should go wrong, yet conscious that the time of loitering was now past.
他木木地站立那里，陷入迷惘，腦子里一片混亂，他不敢邁步向前，唯恐再走錯了路，盡管這樣，他畢竟覺察到，時間在他的反復(fù)折騰中飛快流逝。
While he was thus tortured with uncertainty, the sky was overspread with clouds,
正當(dāng)他百般糾結(jié)時，剎那間，天空烏云密布，
the day vanished from before him, and a sudden tempest gathered round his head.
剛才明晃晃的天空旋即變得晦暗混沌，突如其來的暴雨云團在他頭頂上空急遽聚集。
He was now roused by his danger to a quick and painful remembrance of his folly;
突然間清楚眼前的困厄險境，他為起初的愚蠢后悔萬分，
he now saw how happiness is lost when ease is consulted;
此刻他才意識到，拐入岔路前尚有路人可以詢問，而他卻是糟蹋了良好機遇！
he lamented the unmanly impatience that prompted him to seek shelter in the grove,
想起當(dāng)時不假思索，一門心思要在叢林里尋覓蔭涼，
and despised the petty curiosity that led him on from trifle to trifle.
加上微不足道的好奇心，卻讓此時的他手足無措，難以脫身，想到這里，他不禁長吁短嘆起來。
While he was thus reflecting, the air grew blacker and a clap of thunder broke his meditation.
正當(dāng)他兀自后悔不迭時，天剎時愈來愈黑，一道霹靂電閃，打斷了他的思路。
He now resolved to do what remained yet in his power; to tread back the ground which he had passed,
他決心利用僅存體力沿原路返回，
and try to find some issue where the wood might open into the plain.
首先必須先找到森林通向平原的出口。
He prostrated himself upon the ground, and commended his life to the Lord of nature.
他隨后匍匐在地，讓身心感應(yīng)自然之神，
He rose with confidence and tranquillity, and pressed on with his saber in his hand;
片刻功夫，他充滿自信地站立起來，內(nèi)心格外寧靜。
