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Enveloped in Luxury on The Royal Scotsman 苏格兰皇家列车奢华之旅

 

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Riding the rails: Along with my fellow sojourners, a cosmopolitan lot, I travel up the eastern coast of Scotland, from Edinburg to the Highlands  搭火车之旅：我和来自世界各地的旅客同行，遨游苏格兰东海岸，足迹从爱丁堡远至苏格兰高地

 

History tells us that Queen Victoria became so enamored of the beauty of Scotland while traveling across the country by train that she decided she must have a castle here. Hence, Balmoral was added to the list of royal residences. Sadly, I wasn’t in the market for a Scottish castle, but I was about to follow in Victoria’s footsteps by taking a rail journey through the country. Since I would be traveling aboard the elegant Royal Scotsman, It was a safe bet that I would enjoy the same standard of service and luxury that Victoria did.

根据历史传说，英国维多利亚女王当年搭火车行遍苏格兰时，爱上了苏格兰之美，因此决定非在此地盖座城堡不可，也正因如此，巴尔莫勒尔城堡便跻身英国皇室居所之一。可惜的是，我并不是来苏格兰买城堡的，而是即将追随维多利亚女王的足迹，搭火车游览苏格兰。由于我搭的是优雅的苏格兰皇家列车，因此这趟旅程享受到的高标准服务和奢华享受，铁定不下于维多利亚女王。

 

If the boarding process was any indication of what was to come, I’d say even a queen would be impressed. On an overcast October afternoon at Edinburgh’s Waverley Station, my fellow guests and I were ushered aboard the train by Sue, our gracious hostess, to the accompaniment of a kilted bagpiper. Once settled in the observation car, we were invited to nibble on smoked salmon canapés.

如果说，上火车的过程可以让人对之后旅途的享受略知一二的话，那么我敢打包票，即使是女王也会对我这次的体验印象深刻。十月的一个阴天里，我和其他旅客在爱丁堡的威弗利车站，由殷勤的女服务员苏引领我们上火车，同时还有身穿苏格兰裙的风笛手为我们送行。我们进入观测车厢中后，受邀开始浅尝熏鲑鱼小点心。

 

“Wow, I could get used to this,” I mumbled to myself.

「哇，我真的有可能会习惯这种高水平享受耶，」我不禁自言自语。

 

Scottish scenes  苏格兰风光

 

I decided that I could get even more used to it when I was escorted to my compartment, which, while not large, was lavishly furnished with burgundy tapestry drapes, built-in beds with glen plaid coverlets, and black-and-white etchings of Scottish scenes. I was to discover, however, during the next four days, that the best pieces of art were the Scottish scenes framed by the four corners of my window. The constantly changing vistas – alternatively bathed in golden sunshine or shrouded in mountain mist -- took in sheep-studded hillocks, bonny braes (that’s Gaelic for “riverbanks”), tranquil lochs, fields blanketed with the last of the summer heather and the occasional pile of forbidding gray stones fashioned into fortresses meant to repel the oft-invading English.

我被引导到我的客房中后，更是觉得我一定会更加习惯这种上流享受，因为客房虽然不大，却装潢精美，不但有酒红色的织锦窗帘、格伦格子呢床罩，还有黑白色调的苏格兰风景蚀刻画。不过，在接下来四天的旅程中，我还会发现到，最美的艺术品，其实是被火车窗四角所框住的苏格兰自然美景。外头千变万化的风景──交替沐浴在金色阳光下，或沈浸在山岚中──包括满是绵羊的山丘、美丽的河岸（盖尔语的河岸是brae）、静谧的湖泊、覆盖着夏季末仅存的石南属植物的田野，偶尔还会看到有点可怕的灰石堡垒，作用是为了斥退时常入侵的英格兰人。

 

 

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envelope [ˋɛnvə͵ləp] v. 掩盖；笼罩; 围绕

sojourner [ˋsodʒɝnɚ] n. 旅居者，寄居者

lot [lɑt] n. 某一类的人

residence [ˋrɛzədəns] n. 住所；住宅；官邸

safe bet 万无一失 something that you are certain will happen

overcast [ˋovɚ͵kæst] adj.（被云等）遮蔽的；多云的，阴的

usher [ˋʌʃɚ] v. 引，领；招待；陪同[O][（+in/out）]; 迎接[（+in）]

gracious [ˋgreʃəs] adj. 亲切的；和蔼的；殷勤的

kilted [ˋkɪltɪd] adj. 穿褶襉短裙的

bagpiper [ˋbæg͵paɪpɚ] n. 吹风笛的人 one who plays a type of musical instrument, found especially in Scotland and Ireland, from which you produce sound by blowing air into a leather bag and forcing it out through pipes

nibble [ˋnɪb!] v. 一点一点地咬（或吃）

canapé [ˋkænəpɪ] n.【法】开胃小菜(通常是小饼干或小面包上摆了馅料) a small thin biscuit or piece of bread that has savory food on top and is served especially at a party

mumble [ˋmʌmb!] v. 抿着嘴嚼; 含糊地说，咕哝着说

compartment [kəmˋpɑrtmənt] n.（火车上的）小客房

lavishly [ˋlævɪʃlɪ] adv. 大量地; 奢华地; 浪费地, 丰富地

burgundy [ˋbɝgəndɪ] adj. 紫红色的 a dark purplish-red to blackish-red color

tapestry [ˋtæpɪstrɪ] n. 绣帷；挂毯 a heavy cloth woven with rich, often varicolored designs or scenes, usually hung on walls for decoration and sometimes used to cover furniture

glen [glɛn] n.（尤指苏格兰或爱尔兰的）峡谷

plaid [plæd] n. 格子图案, adj. 有格子图案的

coverlet [ˋkʌvɚlɪt] n. 床罩

etching [ˋɛtʃɪŋ] n. 蚀刻画；蚀刻版 a picture produced by printing from a metal plate that has been prepared with acid

vista [ˋvɪstə] n.（从两排树木或房屋等中间看出去的）狭长的景色；远景

take in 参观, 参加, 观赏

stud [stʌd] v. 散布于；密布于；点缀[（+with）]

hillock [ˋhɪlək] n. 小丘，山丘

bonny [ ˈbɑnɪ] adj.  (attractive, fine) 漂亮的

brae [bre] n. 斜坡；山坡

Gaelic [ˋgelɪk] n. 盖尔（人）语

tranquil [ˋtræŋkwɪl] adj. 平静的；安静的；安宁的

loch [lɑk] n.【苏格兰】湖；海湾

heather [ˋhɛðɚ] n.【植】石南属植物 a low spreading bush with small pink, purple or white flowers, which grows wild, especially on hills

forbidding [fɚˋbɪdɪŋ] adj. 严峻的；令人生畏的

fashion [ˋfæʃən] v. 把……塑造成[（+from/out of/into）]

repel [rɪˋpɛl] v. 击退；驱除

 

 

 

 

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Eilean Donan  爱利安多南城堡

 

Scotland is known for its castles, and two of its most beautiful and historic were on our itinerary. Eilean Donan, situated on a rocky promontory at the meeting point of three sea lochs, has been called the most photographed castle in the world and is the perfect embodiment of medieval splendor. Except that it isn’t.

苏格兰以城堡闻名，其中两座最美丽、深具历史意义的城堡都纳入了我们的行程中。爱利安多南城堡座落在岩岸海角上，也是三处海湾的交会处，被称为全世界最常被摄影的城堡，也是中世纪风华的完美化身──只不过，它并不是中世纪所建。

 

A fortified structure of some sort has existed here for 800 years – possible as protection from Viking raids – but the current castle, rising from the ruins of its predecessor, was rebuilt in the early 20th century by the MacRae clan. Still a tour of the courtyard, billeting room and magnificent banqueting hall will have you feeling as if you had stumbled back to the 17th century, and if you stick around until sunset to watch the castle illuminated in soft light, you’ll know there can’t be a more magical spot in all of Britain.

某种强化的结构原本矗立在此处达八百年之久──目的可能是为了防御维京人侵袭──但目前的这座城堡，是在先前的结构沦为断垣残壁后，于二十世纪初期由麦克雷部落所重建。不过，参观庭院、住宿处和宏伟的宴会厅，仍令人感觉彷佛回到了十七世纪，而如果你一直停留到日落黄昏之际，就会看到城堡沐浴在柔和的光线中，那时你将会明白，全英国上下没有任何地方会比这个地方更有魔力的了。

 

Ballindalloch  贝林达洛城堡

 

A castle of a different sort is Ballindalloch, known as “the pearl of the north” and one of the few privately owned castles to have been lived in continuously by the original family. In the case of Ballindalloch, the family is the Macpherson-Grant and her husband, Oliver Russell, take Royal Scotsman guests on a private tour of their home.

另一种截然不同的城堡则是贝林达洛城堡，被誉为「北方之珠」，这也是城堡原主人家族有持续居住的极少数私人城堡之一。贝林达洛城堡的原主人是麦弗森－葛兰特家族，而目前的当家克莱儿．麦弗森－葛兰特和丈夫奥利弗．罗素领着苏格兰皇家列车上的游客到屋子里展开非公开的参观行程。

 

Located in the cleft of the Spey Valley, the castle, with its turrets and gabled roof, looms over majestic parklands and spectacular gardens. Among the interior features are a circular stone staircase winding up to a watch tower dating to 1602; a series of elegant rooms whose décor ranges from antique Chinese porcelain to a cut-glass chandelier whose design of intertwined English roses and Scottish thistle might have been intended to celebrate the 1707 union of the two countries.

座落在斯琵谷裂口处的这座城堡，拥有角楼和人字屋顶，隐约地浮现在宏伟的草木区和壮观的庭园上方。建筑内部特色，包括了螺旋的石梯，一直向上宛延到一六０二年的眺望塔，此外还有一连串雅致的房间，装潢有古代中国瓷器，还有一盏雕花玻璃吊灯，上头有结合了英国玫瑰和苏格兰蓟的图样，设计理念可能是为了庆祝英国和苏格兰在一七０七年合并。

 

 

单词发音

 

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itinerary [aɪˋtɪnə͵rɛrɪ] n. 旅程；路线

promontory [ˋprɑmən͵torɪ] n.【地】岬，海角 a narrow area of high land that sticks out into the sea

embodiment [ɪmˋbɑdɪmənt] n. 具体化；化身

splendor [ˋsplɛndɚ] n. 壮丽；壮观；辉煌

fortified [ˋfɔrtəfaɪd] adj. 加强的

Viking [ˋvaɪkɪŋ] n.【史】北欧海盗; 【口】北欧人

clan [klæn] n. 氏族；部落

billeting room 军队暂时的住宿处 a place especially for soldiers to stay in for a short time

billet [ˋbɪlɪt] v. 投宿；驻扎

banquet [ˋbæŋkwɪt] n. 宴会，盛宴

stumble [ˋstʌmb!] v. 失足，犯错误；步入歧途

illuminate [ɪˋlumə͵net] v. 照亮；照射

cleft [klɛft] n. 裂缝，裂口

turret [ˋtɝɪt] n. 角塔，塔楼 a small circular tower that is part of a castle or a large building

gabled [ˋgeb!d] adj.【建】有山形墙的，有人形墙的

loom [lum] v. 隐约地出现

parkland [ˋpɑrk͵lænd] n. 温带之草木区; 绿地

décor [deˋkɔr] n. 装饰，室内装潢

porcelain [ˋpɔrslɪn] n. 瓷；（总称）瓷器

cut-glass 刻花玻璃的

intertwine [͵ɪntɚˋtwaɪn] v. 纠缠；编结

thistle [ˋθɪs!] n.【植】蓟

 

 

 

 

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Scone Palace  斯康宫

 

Scone Palace, while not strictly a castle, is nevertheless one of the most hallowed spots in Scotland. The traditional coronation site for Scottish kings, it saw both Macbeth and his enemy Malcolm rule here in the 11th century, Robert the Bruce crowned here in 1306, and Charles II, the last king to be crowned here in 1651, in defiance of Oliver Cromwell.

斯康宫虽然严格来说不算是城堡，但它可是苏格兰最神圣的场所之一，因为它是苏格兰国王传统上的加冕地，见证了麦克白和敌人麦尔康在十一世纪执政，以及罗伯布鲁斯（译注：即罗伯一世）于一三０六年封王的大典，而英国国王查尔斯二世刻意反抗克伦威尔，于一六五一年于此地加冕，他也是城堡见证加冕的最后一位国王。

 

Though no longer home to the Stone of Scone, called the Stone of Destiny (the English returned it to Scotland in 1996, and it is now in Edinburgh Castle), Scone Palace, ancestral home of the Earls of Mansfield, is a veritable repository of the nation’s history, and a treasure trove of antiques and decorative arts. Royal Scotsman guests have the opportunity to roam the palace and grounds at their leisure.

虽然目前斯康宫里未藏有又称「命运石」的「斯康石」（英国将该石于一九九六年归还苏格兰，如今则收藏在爱丁堡城堡）（译注：英王爱德华一世于一二九六年取得该石为战利品，多年后英国才归还给苏格兰），但这座古时候诸位曼斯菲伯爵的居所，却仍是苏格兰历史名副其实的珍藏室，也是古董文物和装饰艺术的宝库。苏格兰皇家列车的游客有机会从容悠闲地遨游这座宫殿以及周遭土地。

 

Friendships forged  建立友谊

 

Other excursions saw us visiting Dalmore Distillery on the banks of the Cromarty Firth and spending a morning at Rothiemurchus Estate, where options included fly-fishing, clay pigeon shooting and a drive around the estate to view the prize-winning Highland cattle.

其他游览行程还包括参观位于克莫蒂湾沿岸的「大摩蒸馏厂」，以及在「洛斯莫克斯庄园」度过上午时光，可以选择飞蝇钓（译注：或译西式毛钩钓）、飞靶射击（译注：英文中的pigeon源自于飞靶射击最早是用活的鸽子来射击，后来活鸟射击被法律禁止后，如今飞靶就改用人工制的圆盘状物取代），或者也可以乘车游览园区，欣赏得奖的苏格兰高地牛（译注：这种牛的特色是毛长，而且前额的毛宛如浏海般长到遮住眼睛）。

 

But it is often not the sites – spectacular though they are – that guests on the train remember the longest, but their fellow passengers. The intimacy of The Royal Scotsman encourages long conversations in the lounge and table-hopping during lunch and dinner. In so doing, friendships are forged. On our last night, as we joined hands and voices in the singing of “Loch Lomond” and “Auld Lang Syne,” I couldn’t help but notice there were more than a few tears among the laughter.

不过，虽然造访过的景点在在令人叹为观止，但最令列车游客难以忘怀的，却不是那些景点，而是同行的乘客。苏格兰皇家列车所营造出的亲密感，使得乘客很容易就会想在会客厅和人促膝长谈，或是在午餐、晚餐时不停地换桌认识人，透过这些方式，逐渐建立起友谊。行程最后一天晚上，我们手拉着手，齐声欢唱＜罗莽湖畔＞和＜骊歌＞之际，我不禁发现，大家在欢笑声中，难掩热泪盈眶。

 

－by Patti Nickell

 

 

单词发音

 

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nevertheless [͵nɛvɚðəˋlɛs] adv. 仍然，不过，然而 however

coronation [͵kɔrəˋneʃən] n. 加冕典礼 a ceremony at which a person is made king or queen

ancestral [ænˋsɛstrəl] adj. 祖先的；祖传的

earl [ɝl] n.【英】伯爵

veritable [ˋvɛrətəb!] adj. 真正的，名副其实的

repository [rɪˋpɑzə͵torɪ] n. 宝库; 【罕】博物馆；陈列室

treasure trove (为某物提供丰富来源的)宝库; (有价值物品的)宝藏 a place that is full of something good, or something of value

trove [trov] n. 贵重的发现物（= treasure trove）

excursion [ɪkˋskɝʒən] n. 远足；短途旅行

distillery [dɪˋstɪlərɪ] n. 酿酒厂

firth [fɝθ] n.（尤指苏格兰的）河口湾，港湾

estate [ɪsˋtet] n. 庄园

clay [kle] n. 黏土；泥土

intimacy [ˋɪntəməsɪ] n. 熟悉；亲密；亲近

lounge [laʊndʒ] n.（饭店，旅馆等的）休息室，会客厅

table-hop [ˋteb!͵hɑp] v. 周旋于餐桌间（与人交谈）to move around from table to table greeting friends, as in a restaurant or nightclub

 

 

 

单词发音

 

Vocabulary Focus

cosmopolitan [͵kɑzməˋpɑlətn] adj. 世界性的，国际性的; 四海为家的 containing or having experience of people and things from many different parts of the world

enamored [ɪnˋæmɚd] adj. 倾心的，被迷住的 liking something a lot

in the market for【口】有意买某物 to be interested in buying something and to have the money to be able to do so

follow in (someone’s) footsteps  效法他人; 步某人的后尘 to do the same things in your life as someone else

escort [ɛsˋkɔrt] v. 护送；为……护航；陪同[（+to）] to go with someone and show him or her a place

bathe [beð] v. 沉浸 to cover with something that causes a pleasant feeling or appearance

shroud [ʃraʊd] v. 覆盖；掩蔽[H][（+in）] to hide something by covering or surrounding it

the embodiment of (something) ….的化身 something that represents a quality or an idea exactly

hallowed [ˋhɑlod] adj. 神圣的 very respected and praised because of great importance or great age

defiance [dɪˋfaɪəns] n. 反抗；蔑视，藐视 refusal to obey someone or something

forge [fɔrdʒ] v. 缔造; 建立 to make or produce, especially with some effort

 

 

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