No gentleman were admitted, so Jo played male parts to her heart's content and tookimmense satisfaction in a pair of russet leather boots given her by a friend, who knew a lady who knew an actor.
由於不收男士，喬便盡情地扮演男角。她對一雙黃褐色的長統皮靴尤為滿意。因為靴子是她的一個朋友贈送的，這位朋友認識一位女士，女士又認識一位演員。
These boots, an old foil, and a slashed doublet once used by an artist for some picture, were Jo's chief treasures and appeared on all occasions.
這雙靴子、一把舊鈍頭劍，還有某個藝術家用來畫過幾幅畫的開衩背心，這些便是喬的主要寶藏，任何場合都得登臺亮相。
The smallness of the company made it necessary for the two principal actors to take several parts apiece, and they certainly deserved some credit for the hard work they did in learning three or four differentparts, whisking in and out of various costumes, and managing the stage besides. It wasexcellent drill for their memories, a harmless amusement, and employed many hours whichotherwise would have been idle, lonely, or spent in less profitable society.
因為劇團小，兩個主要演員必須分別扮演幾個角色。她們同時學習三四個不同角色的表演，飛快地輪番換上各式各樣的戲服，同時還要兼顧幕後工作，其努力精神值得稱道。這種有益的娛樂活動可以很好地鍛鍊她們的記憶力，並可以打發閒暇，排遣寂寞，減少無聊的社交。
On christmas night, a dozen girls piled onto the bed which was the dress circle, and sat beforethe blue and yellow chintz curtains in a most flattering state of expectancy.
聖誕之夜，十二個女孩子擠在花樓--一張床—-的上頭，坐在黃藍二色混合的磨光印花簾幕前面，翹首以盼，焦急地等著看戲。
There was a gooddeal of rustling and whispering behind the curtain, a trifle of lamp smoke, and an occasional giggle from Amy, who was apt to get hysterical in the excitement of the moment. Presently abell sounded, the curtains flew apart, and the _operatic tragedy_ began.
幕後燈光朦朧，不時傳來沙沙的響聲和悄悄的話語聲，偶爾還傳來容易激動的艾美在興奮之中發出的咯咯笑聲。不一會鈴聲響起，簾幕拉開，《歌劇式的悲劇》開始了。
- immense [i'mens] adj. 巨大的,廣大的,非常好的
- russet adj. 枯葉色的, 紅褐色的
- slashed v. 削減（slash的過去式及過去分詞）
- whisk [wisk] n. 拂，掃帚, 毛撣子, 攪拌器 v. 拂, 迅速移動, 攪拌
- drill [dril] n. 訓練；鑽孔機；鑽子；播種機 vi. 鑽孔；訓練
- harmless ['hɑ:mlis] adj. 無害的；無惡意的
- amusement [ə'mju:zmənt] n. 消遣，娛樂；樂趣
- chintz n. 擦光印花布
- giggle ['gigl] v. 吃吃地笑, 格格地笑
- hysterical adj. 歇斯底里的, 異常興奮的
"A gloomy wood," according to the one playbill, was represented by a few shrubs in pots, green baize on the floor, and a cave in the distance.
幾株盆栽灌木、鋪在地板上的綠色厚毛呢，以及遠處的一個洞穴構成了節目單上的"陰森森的樹林"。
This cave was made with a clothes horse for a roof, bureaus for walls, and in it was a small furnace in full blast, with a black pot on it and an old witch bending over it.
洞穴用曬衣架做洞頂，衣櫃做牆壁，裡頭有一個熊熊燃燒著的小爐子，一個老巫婆正俯身把弄爐上的一個黑鍋。
The stage was dark and the glow ofthe furnace had a fine effect, especially as realsteam issued from the kettle when the witch took off the cover.
舞臺陰森黑暗，熊熊的爐火營造了良好的舞臺效果。女巫揭開鍋蓋，鍋裡冒出陣陣蒸氣，令人叫絕。
A moment was allowed for the first thrill to subside, then Hugo, the villain, stalked in with a clanking sword at his side, a slouching hat, black beard, mysterious cloak, and the boots.
第一陣高潮過後，歹徒雨果闊步上常他嘴上蓄著黑鬍子，頭上歪戴著一頂帽子，腳踏長靴，身披神秘外衣，腰間佩一把噹啷作響的寶劍。
After pacing to and fro in much agitation, he struck his forehead, and burst out in a wild strain, singing of his hatred for Roderigo, his love for Zara, and his pleasing resolution to kill the one and win the other.
他焦躁不安地來回走了幾步，猛然一拍額頭，放聲高歌，唱他對羅德力戈的恨、對薩拉的愛，以及要殺掉仇人、贏得莎拉的心願。
The gruff tones of Hugo's voice, with an occasional shout when his feelings overcame him, were very impressive, and the audience applauded the moment he paused for breat.
雨果粗啞的嗓音和感情暴發時偶然發出的一聲大喝給觀眾留下極其深刻的印象，他剛停下要歇口氣，大家便報以熱烈的掌聲。
Bowing withthe air of one accustomed to public praise, he stole to the cavern and ordered Hagar to comeforth with a commanding, "What ho, minion! I need thee!"
他習以為常地躬身謝過，又輕輕走到洞穴，大模大樣地命黑格出來：“呔！奴才！出來！”
Out came Meg, with gray horse hair hanging about her face, a red and black robe, a staff, and cabalistic signs upon her cloak. Hugo demanded a potion to make Zara adore him, and one todestroy Roderigo. Hagar, in a fine dramatic melody, promised both, and proceeded to call upthe spirit who would bring the love philter.
梅格出來，臉上掛著灰色馬鬃，身穿黑紅二色長袍，手持柺杖，大衣上畫著神秘符號。雨果向他索取兩種魔藥，一種可以使莎拉愛他，另一種用來毒死羅德力戈。黑格唱起優美的歌兒，答應把兩種魔藥都給他，接著他把送魔藥的小精靈叫出來。
- gloomy ['ɡlu:mi] adj. 黑暗的；沮喪的；陰鬱的
- playbill ['pleibil] n. 節目單；戲單
- shrubs n. 灌木；矮樹叢
- villain ['vilən] n. 壞人，惡棍
- clanking n. 發出丁當聲
- slouching ['slautʃiŋ] adj. 懶散的；沒精打采的 v. 沒精打采地坐著
- mysterious [mi'stiəriəs] adj. 神秘的；不可思議的
- agitation [,ædʒi'teiʃən] n. 激動；攪動；煽動
- strain [strein] n. 張力；拉緊；負擔
- resolution [,rezə'lu:ʃən, -,lju:-] n. 分辨率；決議；解決；決心
- gruff [ɡrʌf] adj. 粗暴的；粗啞的；脾氣壞的 vt. 粗魯地說；生硬地說
- minion ['minjən] n. 奴才；寵臣
- cabalistic [,kæbə'listik] adj. 神秘的；猶太神秘哲學的
