英语童话故事赏析：THEBOTTLENECK（2)(2008-10-1723:59:11)标签：英语童话故事赏析杂谈分类：英语学习

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　　Longdaysandmonthsrolledby,duringwhichthebottlestoodemptyinacorner,whenastormarose-whetheronthepassageoutorhomeitcouldnottell,forithadneverbeenashore.Itwasaterriblestorm,greatwavesarose,darklyheavingandtossingthevesseltoandfro.Themainmastwassplitasunder,theshipsprangaleak,andthepumpsbecameuseless,whileallaroundwasblackasnight.Atthelastmoment,whentheshipwassinking,theyoungmatewroteonapieceofpaper,"Wearegoingdown:God'swillbedone."

　　Thenhewrotethenameofhisbetrothed,hisownname,andthatoftheship.Thenheputtheleafinanemptybottlethathappenedtobeathand,corkeditdowntightly,andthrewitintothefoamingsea.Heknewnotthatitwastheverysamebottlefromwhichthegobletofjoyandhopehadoncebeenfilledforhim,andnowitwastossingonthewaveswithhislastgreeting,andamessagefromthedead.Theshipsank,andthecrewsankwithher;butthebottleflewonlikeabird,foritborewithinitalovingletterfromalovingheart.

　　Andasthesunroseandset,thebottlefeltasatthetimeofitsfirstexistence,whenintheheatedglowingstoveithadalongingtoflyaway.Itoutlivedthestormsandthecalm,itstruckagainstnorocks,wasnotdevouredbysharks,butdriftedonformorethanayear,sometimestowardsthenorth,sometimestowardsthesouth,justasthecurrentcarriedit.Itwasinallotherwaysitsownmaster,butevenofthatonemaygettired.Thewrittenleaf,thelastfarewellofthebridegroomtohisbride,wouldonlybringsorrowwhenonceitreachedherhands;butwherewerethosehands,sosoftanddelicate,whichhadoncespreadthetable-clothonthefreshgrassinthegreenwood,onthedayofherbetrothal?Ah,yes!

　　wherewasthefurrier'sdaughter?andwherewasthelandwhichmightlienearesttoherhome?Thebottleknewnot,ittravelledonwardandonward,andatlastallthiswanderingaboutbecamewearisome;atalleventsitwasnotitsusualoccupation.Butithadtotravel,tillatlengthitreachedland-aforeigncountry.Notawordspokeninthiscountrycouldthebottleunderstand;itwasalanguageithadneverbeforeheard,anditisagreatlossnottobeabletounderstandalanguage.Thebottlewasfishedoutofthewater,andexaminedonallsides.

　　Thelittlelettercontainedwithinitwasdiscovered,takenout,andturnedandtwistedineverydirection;butthepeoplecouldnotunderstandwhatwaswrittenuponit.Theycouldbequitesurethatthebottlehadbeenthrownoverboardfromavessel,andthatsomethingaboutitwaswrittenonthispaper:butwhatwaswritten?thatwasthequestion,-sothepaperwasputbackintothebottle,andthenbothwereputawayinalargecupboardofoneofthegreathousesofthetown.Wheneveranystrangersarrived,thepaperwastakenoutandturnedoverandover,sothattheaddress,whichwasonlywritteninpencil,becamealmostillegible,andatlastnoonecoulddistinguishanylettersonitatall.

　　Forawholeyearthebottleremainedstandinginthecupboard,andthenitwastakenuptotheloft,whereitsoonbecamecoveredwithdustandcobwebs.Ah!howoftenthenitthoughtofthosebetterdays-ofthetimeswheninthefresh,greenwood,ithadpouredforthrichwine;or,whilerockedbytheswellingwaves,ithadcarriedinitsbosomasecret,aletter,alastpartingsigh.Forfulltwentyyearsitstoodintheloft,anditmigh