美国学生世界地理教材 第85期:盎格鲁人的土地(3)

 The oldest building in London, built long before the Great Fire, is one which from its name sounds like only part of a building.  伦敦有座最古老的建筑物在伦敦大火发生之前很早就建起了，它的名字听起来像某个建筑物的一部分。

It is called the “Tower.” In the times long ago the Tower was a prison in which were put many famous people. 它叫“伦敦塔”。很久以前，伦敦塔是座监狱，里面关押了很多著名的人士。 
Even princes and queens were put in this prison, and some of them were put to death. 甚至一些王子和王后也都曾先后被关押在里面，其中有些还被处以死刑。
It is now a museum where are kept many interesting curiosities of those days 现在伦敦塔是个博物馆，收藏了很多过去的稀奇之物
—the steel armor that soldiers and their horses, and even their dogs, wore; ——士兵和他们的战马甚至狗穿的钢盔甲； 
the block and ax with which prisoners’ heads were cut off; and wonderful jewels which the kings wore in their crowns 砍掉囚犯头颅用的垫头木和斧头；国王的王冠上的稀世珠宝
—huge diamonds and rubies 1 as big as walnuts 2. ——硕大的钻石和胡桃般大的红宝石。 
The Queen’s crown is there on a white satin pillow.  女王的王冠就放在一个白色的缎子枕头上。
It is studded with jewels and a huge diamond called the “Koh-i-noor,” which means “mountain of light.” 上面镶有很多珠宝和一颗巨大的钻石，这颗钻石叫“科—依—诺尔钻石”，意思是“光之山”。 
This stone was supposed to bring bad luck to any man who owned it, so a woman now owns it—the Queen. 这颗钻石被认为会给每个拥有它的男人带来厄运，所以现在它属于一个女人——女王。 
The guards of the Tower are called “Beef- Eaters” and should any one break into the cases in which are the jewels, 伦敦塔的看守被叫做“食牛肉的人”，一旦有人强行打开装珠宝的箱子， 
the doors and gates of the Tower would automatically clang shut and the thief be caught a prisoner. 伦敦塔的大小门就会咣的一声自动合上，盗犯也就当场被捉，成为囚犯。
Did you ever collect stones or stamps, butterflies or coins?  你收集过石头或者邮票、蝴蝶或者硬币吗？ 
Well,grownups have collected treasures and curiosities from all over the World and brought them together in a wonderful museum, 成年人把从世界各地搜集来的珍宝奇物收藏在一个非同寻常的博物馆里， 
and the largest It is called the British Museum. 它是世界上最大的博物馆，叫大英博物馆。
It is said that if all the streets in London were strung out in one line they would reach round the World. 据说如果把伦敦所有的街道连成一条线就能绕世界一周。
No one could ever know the names of all the London streets,  没有人能把伦敦所有街道的名称都记住，
not even the London policemen, who are called “Bobbies” and who are supposed to know everything. 就是伦敦的警察也不能，伦敦的警察常被叫做“博比”，人们认为他们无所不知。 
They may have to look for a street in a little book which they carry in an inside pocket. 他们衣服内侧的口袋装了一本小册子，有的街道只得在小册子里查询才能找到。 
But every one knows the names of some of the streets—they are either so famous or so funny.  但是有些街道的名称是人人皆知的——这些街道要么很有名，要么很有趣。
There is Threadneedle Street and Cheapside. 比如针线街和便宜街； 
There is Pall 3 Mall and Piccadilly, where are fine houses, hotels, clubs, and palaces. 还有铁圈球场大街和皮卡迪利大街，那里有很多精美的房屋、旅馆、俱乐部和宫殿。 
There is Fleet, Strand 4, Regent, and Bond Streets, which are shopping streets.  还有舰队街、海滨街、摄政街和邦得街，这些都是购物街。
There is Oxford 5 Circus and Piccadilly Circus, but there is no “circus” there. 还有牛津广场和皮卡迪利广场，那里可没有什么“马戏团”哦。 
A circus is simply a big open space where streets cross, and which we should call a Square or a Circle. 他们的广场其实就是一处大的街道交叉口，我们一般把那叫做大转盘。