4-5 冬季晚钟节（最后一天）
时间：2018-12-30 作者：英语课 分类：英语沙龙2004全年合辑上
Lost-in-the-Dark Bells
(Last Day)
In the Lincolnshire village of Burgh-le-Marsh there was once a chunk 11 of land called Bell String Acre. It got its name, the local legend tells, because of a near escape. On a dark winter's night early in the seventeenth century, they say, a ship's captain was threading2 his craft along this difficult stretch3 of coast when he suddenly heard church bells. "If I can hear those," the captain reasoned, "then I must be far too close to shore for comfort." Swiftly he adjusted his position, thus saving himself and his ship. In gratitude 2, he soon afterwards bought a piece of property at Burgh-le-Marsh. Rent on this Bell String Acre, he specified 3, should go toward the upkeep4 of the church bell's pull-rope, so that it might ring out its helpful warnings, he stipulated5, "for ever."
Another less charming story tells how the townspeople refused to ring the bell, for they all relished6 the idea of plundering 6 shipwrecks 7, but that a clergyman ran to the tower and clanged7 the bell. His heroic act saved the ship, but then the cleric died of exhaustion 8. (And then it is said, the grateful captain married the clergyman's daughter.)
In any case, the sailor's request is honored all winter long in Burgh-le-Marsh. Beginning every October 10, the "curfew8 bell" rings nightly at 8 p.m.. April 7 is the last night of the bells --that is, till the next October.
注释:
1.chunk [tFQNk] n. 〈口〉大块，相当大的部分（或数量）
2.thread [Wred] vt. 穿过，通过
3.stretch [stretF] n. 一段距离（或路程）
4.upkeep [5Qpki:p] n. （房屋、设备等的）保养，维修，维持
5.stipulate 4 [5stipjuleit] vt. 规定，（作为条件）讲定，约定
6.relish 5 [5reliF] vt. 从……得到乐趣，爱好，指望
7.clang [klAN] vt. 使当当响，使铿锵响
8.curfew [5kE:fju:] n. 灭火熄灯就寝的晚钟（声）
冬季晚钟节
（最后一天）
在林肯郡的伯勒马什村里，有一块地叫做“钟绳地产”。根据当地的传说，这个名字是因为一次险情的避免而得来的。据说事情发生在很久以前的17世纪，在一个漆黑的冬夜，有一位船长正驾船沿着这一段危险的海岸航行。突然他听到了教堂的钟声。“如果我能听到钟声，”船长推断，“那真是太危险了：海岸应该是近在咫尺!”他迅速地调整了航向，从而救了自己，也救了船。出于感激，不久他就在伯勒马什买了一块地产。他规定，出租这块地的收入要用来专门维修、保养教堂的钟绳，使教堂的钟“永远”都能发出助人的警报。
根据另一个不那么动人的传说，镇里的人不肯敲钟，因为他们热衷于抢劫失事船的残骸。但是有一位牧师跑上了塔，敲响了钟。他的英雄行为拯救了船，但他自己却累死了。（据说后来满怀感激之情的船长娶了牧师的女儿。）
不管怎么说，在伯勒马什，整个冬天水手的请求都得到尊重。从每年的10月10日起，每天晚上8点“晚钟”就会敲响。4月7日是敲钟的最后一天——也就是说直到第二年的10月。
- They had to be careful of floating chunks of ice.他们必须当心大块浮冰。
- The company owns a chunk of farmland near Gatwick Airport.该公司拥有盖特威克机场周边的大片农田。
- I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
- She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。
- The architect specified oak for the wood trim. 那位建筑师指定用橡木做木饰条。
- It is generated by some specified means. 这是由某些未加说明的方法产生的。
- International rules stipulate the number of foreign entrants.国际规则规定了外国参赛者的人数。
- Some manufacturers stipulate the price at which their goods are to be sold.有些制造商规定出售他们生产的商品的价格。
- I have no relish for pop music.我对流行音乐不感兴趣。
- I relish the challenge of doing jobs that others turn down.我喜欢挑战别人拒绝做的工作。
- The troops crossed the country, plundering and looting as they went. 部队经过乡村，一路抢劫掳掠。
- They amassed huge wealth by plundering the colonies. 他们通过掠夺殖民地聚敛了大笔的财富。
- Shipwrecks are apropos of nothing. 船只失事总是来得出人意料。
- There are many shipwrecks in these waters. 在这些海域多海难事件。
- She slept the sleep of exhaustion.她因疲劳而酣睡。
- His exhaustion was obvious when he fell asleep standing.他站着睡着了，显然是太累了。