美國語文第六冊 第141期:洗禮(3)
不過，被迫害的基督徒到這里來做禮拜，上帝把手放在那些壯觀的石柱和拱門頂上，
scooped out those galleries from the solid rock, and laid at their feet the calm water, in its transparent beauty,
將走廊與結(jié)實的巨石分開，走廊下面是一泓潭水。
in which they could see themselves sitting, in reflected groups, with their Bibles in their hands.
透過透明的潭水他們能看到自己的坐姿，手上捧著《圣經(jīng)》。
Here, upon a semicircular ledge of rocks, over a narrow chasm, of which the tiny stream played in a murmuring waterfall,
在這兒，在半圓形的突出的石壁上，在巨石狹窄的裂口上，那條小溪流水潺潺，
and divided the congregation into two equal parts, sat about a hundred persons, all devoutly listening to their minister,
將教堂會眾分成人數(shù)均等的兩部分，坐著的一百名會眾全都虔誠地聆聽牧師布道，
who stood before them on what might he called a small, natural pulpit of living stone.
牧師站在他們前面那塊他稱作講壇的石頭上，那塊不大的石頭似乎也有了生氣。
Up to it there led a short flight of steps, and over it waved the canopy of a tall, graceful birch tree.
在石頭上面有一段短短的臺階，華蓋上一株挺拔優(yōu)雅的樺樹迎風(fēng)搖曳。
The pulpit stood in the middle of the channel, directly facing the congregation,
講壇位于通道的中央，直接面向教堂會眾，
and separated from them by the clear, deep, sparkling pool, into which the scarce-heard water poured over the blackened rock.
將會眾分開的是清澈見底、水波漣漪的水潭，人們很少聽到水漫過黑魆魆的石頭的聲音。
The water, as it left the pool, separated into two streams, and flowed on each side of that altar, thus placing it in an island,
在盡頭處，潭分成兩條小溪，水繞著祭壇流淌。就這樣，祭壇成了一個小島，
whose large, mossy stones were richly embowered under the golden blossoms and green tresses of the broom.
長滿苔蘚的大石頭被下面的金盞花和綠樹叢環(huán)繞著。
