(原版)澳大利亞語文第六冊 LESSON 43

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LESSON 43 BOADICEA

BOADICEA

When the British warrior queen,

Bleeding from the Roman rods,

Sought, with an indignant [1] mien [2] ,

Counsel [3] of her country's gods,

Sage [4] beneath a spreading oak

Sat the Druid [5] , hoary [6] chief;

Every burning word he spoke

Full of rage, and full of grief.

Princess! if our aged eyes Weep upon thy matchless wrongs, 'Tis because resentment [7] ties All the terrors of our tongues. Rome shall perish! Write that word In the blood that she has spilt; Perish, hopeless and abhorred [8] , Deep in ruin as in guilt. BOADICEA Rome, for empire far renowned, Tramples on a thousand states; Soon her pride shall kiss the ground. Hark! the Gaul is at her gates! Other Romans shall arise, Heedless of a soldier's name; Sounds, not arms, shall win the prize— Harmony [9] the path to fame. Then the progeny [10] that springs From the forests of our land, Armed with thunder, clad with wings, Shall a wider world command. Regions C?esar never knew Thy posterity [11] shall sway, Where his eagles never flew, None invincible [12] as they.

Such the bard's [13] prophetic [14] words,

Pregnant [15] with celestial [16] fire,

Bending, as he swept the chords

Of his sweet but awful lyre [17] .

She, with all a monarch's pride,

Felt them in her bosom glow;

Rushed to battle, fought, and died;

Dying, hurled them at the foe.

Ruffians, pitiless as proud! Heaven awards the vengeance due; Empire is on us bestowed, Shame and ruin wait for you.

—WILLIAM COWPER

* * *

[1] indignant: Angry and scornful.

[2] mien: Appearance; bearing.

[3] counsel: Advice.

[4] sage: Wise.

[5] Druid: Priest and judge among the ancient Britons.

[6] hoary: White with age.

[7] resentment: Deep sense of injury.

[8] abhorred: Detested; avoided with horror.

[9] harmony: Agreement, particularly in music.

[10] progeny: Off-spring; children.

[11] posterity: Descendants.

[12] invincible: Unconquerable.

[13] bard: Celtic minstrel; poet.

[14] prophetic: Unfolding future events.

[15] pregnant: Full of.

[16] celestial: Heavenly.

[17] lyre: Harp.