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The Graceful Gondolas of Venice 「摇」曳生姿的凤尾船

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Mention “Venice,” and scenes of singing gondoliers rowing black gondolas along narrow canals come to mind. The gondola is truly the symbol of Venice. These unique boats have been used there for over five centuries. In that time, their design hasn’t changed much.

提到「威尼斯」，脑海中就会浮起凤尾船夫一面歌唱一面在狭窄的运河中摇着黑色凤尾船的景象。凤尾船真的是威尼斯的象征，这些别具特色的船已在威尼斯的水道上划行了五百多年。在这期间，凤尾船的设计并没有多大的改变。

Traditionally, gondolas are made by hand, and building one takes around 500 hours of labor. Every gondola has a flat bottom, and the left side is wider than the right, giving the gondolier room to stand. Also, the keel is bent to the right so the boat goes straight when propelled with its one oar. By law, all Venetian gondolas must be painted black. In the 1600s, noble families were constantly squabbling over who had the fanciest gondola, so a law was passed requiring gondolas to be black, thus ending future arguments.

传统上，凤尾船是以手工制成，建造一艘船要花五百个小时左右。每艘凤尾船都是平底的，且左侧比右侧的宽，目的是要让船夫有空间站立。而且龙骨是向右弯，这样用单桨划船时，船才能直线前进。法律规定威尼斯的凤尾船得漆成黑色。十七世纪时，贵族家庭都在为谁拥有最炫的凤尾船而吵个不停，所以才立法规定凤尾船必须漆成黑色，因此也结束了日后的纷争。

When in Venice, it’s hard to resist the allure of taking a gondola ride. Although it’s pricey, elegantly gliding around Venice is a great way to see this fantastic city. A nighttime ride through Venice’s dark medieval canals is an eerie and unforgettable experience. If that’s too spooky for you, head out just before dusk. As the sun goes down and the city’s lights begin to come on, the romance of Venice and her gondolas will overwhelm you.

在威尼斯时，很难抗拒凤尾船的诱惑。虽然坐凤尾船不便宜，但优雅地滑行穿梭于威尼斯却是欣赏这个梦幻城市的好方法。夜间搭船行经威尼斯漆黑且带有中古世纪风味的运河，是一个让人感觉毛毛的难忘经验。如果你觉得那样太恐怖了，就趁着天黑前出发吧。当夕阳西下华灯初上时，威尼斯的浪漫与凤尾船会让你惊艳不已。

－by Will Thelin

Vocabulary

单词发音

gondolier [͵gɑndəˋlɪr] n. 操平底船的船夫

gondola [ˋgɑndələ] n.（用于意大利威尼斯运河的）平底狭长小船

canal [kəˋnæl] n. 运河；河渠，水道

keel [kil] n.（船等的）龙骨  one of the main longitudinal structural members of a vessel to which the frames are fastened and that may extend into the water to provide lateral stability

propel [prəˋpɛl] v. 推进，推

oar [or] n. 桨，橹

squabble [ˋskwɑb!] v.（为琐事）争吵；口角 to engage in a disagreeable argument, usually over a trivial matter; wrangle

fancy [ˋfænsɪ] adj. 别致的；花俏的

allure [əˋlɪʊr] n. 诱惑力，魅力 the power to attract; enticement

pricey [ˋpraɪsɪ] adj.【英】【口】高价的；贵的

medieval [͵mɪdɪˋivəl] adj. 中世纪的

eerie [ˋɪrɪ] adj. 令人毛骨悚然的 inspiring inexplicable fear, dread, or uneasiness; strange and frightening

spooky [ˋspukɪ] adj. 令人毛骨悚然的 ghostly or eerie

dusk [dʌsk] n. 薄暮，黄昏

overwhelm [͵ovɚˋhwɛlm] v.〔感情上〕使〔某人〕感到不能自持﹐使不知所措

Sentence of the Day

A romantic gondola ride is a popular place to pop the question.

浪漫的凤尾船是很受欢迎的求婚地点。

pop the question【口】求婚

GONDOLAS OF VENICE - Home By The Sea