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A Fairy Tale Palace 最浪漫的童话城堡──新天鹅堡

课文朗读

课文讲解 

繁體中文譯本

The spectacular Neuschwanstein Castle, although never completed, was built between 1869 and 1892 and was commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. The castle is as splendid inside as it is outside. The king’s bedroom boasts frescos, mosaics, paintings, and fancy furnishings. Though Ludwig II died having spent just a few nights in the castle, the impressive building has been open to the public to enjoy ever since.

壮丽的新天鹅堡是由巴伐利亚国王路德维希二世托建，建于1869到1892年，但至今仍尚未完工。这座城堡的内部装潢丝毫不输给它华丽的外观。国王的卧室以各种湿壁画、马赛克、画作及奢华的家具布置。虽然路德维希二世只有在这城度过几晚，但在他过世后，这座令人赞叹的建筑便对外开放让大家欣赏。

Neuschwanstein is situated on the southwest border of Bavaria, which is now part of Germany. The castle has a kind of dreamlike quality. That is what Ludwig II wanted, as he was aiming to create a “fantasy in stone.” It was also intended to honor the musical dramas of Richard Wagner. To make the castle look like something out of an opera, a set designer named Christian Jank was heavily involved in planning the castle.

新天鹅堡座落于巴伐利亚的西南边，现在则为德国属地。这座城堡有种梦幻般的质量感觉，这就是路德维希二世想要打造的「梦幻石堡」。这座城堡也用来向理查德．华格纳的歌剧致意；为了让整座城堡更像歌剧的场景，歌剧的场景设计师克里斯蒂安．扬克也被指定参与了大部分的设计规划。

Ludwig II was born in 1845 and died in 1886. He was King of Bavaria from 1864 almost until his death. From 1866, however, Prussia ruled over Bavaria. In response to his loss of power, some say, Ludwig II wanted to retreat to fanciful castles and palaces where he could continue to feel like a ruler. So, he ordered castles be built exactly to his specifications. His imagination and childlike personality showed themselves in these preferences. It’s also said that from 1875, he slept all day and was awake all night, increasingly shying away from reality.

路德维希二世生于1845年，卒于1886年。他在1864年即位，几乎到过世前都仍是国王。然而从1866年开始，普鲁士占领巴伐利亚。有人说路德维希二世为了缅怀自己失去的王位，便躲到他梦幻的城堡和宫殿中，好让自己仍有身为统治者的感觉。因此，他命令整座城堡都要依照他的规格建造，而他丰富的想象力和童稚的个性也在这些偏好中表露无疑。另外也有人说，从1875年开始，路德维希二世过着日夜颠倒的生活，好让自己渐渐地远离现实世界。

Vocabulary

单词发音

commission [kəˋmɪʃən] v. 委任，委托

splendid [ˋsplɛndɪd] adj. 壮丽的；辉煌的

fresco [ˋfrɛsko] n. 壁画

mosaic [məˋzeɪk] n. 马赛克，镶嵌细工

furnishing [ˋfɝnɪʃɪŋ] n.（常用复）家具

fantasy [ˋfæntəsɪ] n. 空想的产物；幻想作品

retreat [rɪˋtrit] v. 退避，躲避

fanciful [ˋfænsɪfəl] adj. 想象的; 幻想的

specification [͵spɛsəfəˋkeʃən] n. 规格

preference [ˋprɛfərəns] n. 偏爱的事物（或人）

Idiom

片语发音

ever since 从...以来   during the whole period of time since something happened

aim to 目的在于  to intend to

rule over 统治…  to serve as the boss or chief over someone or something

shy away from 躲避, 回避  to avoid someone or something

课文朗读

课文讲解 

Neuschwanstein Castle represents Ludwig II’s state of mind – out of touch with reality and in love with legend and fantasy. Built 800 meters above sea level, its stunning views overlook lakes, mountains, and rolling landscapes. Meanwhile, its Disney-like turrets reach into the sky. The romantic Gothic style castle was itself built on the ruins of another castle, in fact, owned by his father and where Ludwig II spent much of his childhood. Ludwig has wanted to use the ruins of the old castle to help build his new castle, but it was not possible to do so.

新天鹅堡充分展现了路德维希二世的心境──远离现实，热爱传奇故事和幻想。位于800公尺高海拔的新天鹅堡有着极佳的视野，俯瞰湖伯、山峦及绵延起伏的风景；另外，它还有童话般的尖塔高入天际。这个浪漫的哥德式城堡其实是建造在另一座城堡的旧址上，那座旧城堡原为路德维希二世的父亲所有，也是路德维希二世童年很常去的地方。路德维希本想利用旧城堡遗址来协助新城堡的建设工程，但实际上并不可行。

If Neuschwanstein had been finished, it would boast 200 rooms. As it stands, it has 15 living quarters and halls. Nonetheless, they are breathtakingly elaborate, with much of the décor inspired by mythology, folklore, and scenes from Wagner’s operas. The Throne Hall, for example, measuring 20 meters by 12 meters and reaching a height of 13 meters, features beautiful pictures and decoration. Ludwig II died before a throne was placed inside.

如果新天鹅堡如期完工的话，会以拥有200个房间自豪；但它目前只有15间卧房和大厅。尽管如此，这些房间及大厅仍精美得令人屏息，装潢受神话、民间故事及华格纳的歌剧影响。举例来说，长20公尺、宽12公尺、高13公尺的宝座厅，就有着美丽的画作和装饰，而路德维希二世在宝座尚未摆设进此厅时就已过世。

Nowadays, Neuschwanstein Castle attracts thousands of visitors daily, many of them fascinated by the mysterious king who imagined it. Some want to appreciate the advanced engineering and technology that was used to erect the castle. For others, the enchanting image of the castle and its fantastical architecture are the draws. The place was even the inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. You can’t get more “fairy tale” than that!

如今，新天鹅堡一天吸引数以千计的游客前来参观，大多数人也都对构想这座城堡的神秘国王感到着迷。有些人欣赏打造此城堡的先进工程及科技，有些人则被城堡迷人的样子及精湛的建筑设计所吸引；这座城堡甚至为迪斯尼故事中的睡美人城堡带来灵感，还有什么能比这个更「童话」的呢？

－by Alice Davis

Vocabulary

单词发音

rolling [ˋrolɪŋ] adj. 绵延起伏的

turret [ˋtɝɪt] n. 角塔，塔楼

living quarters 生活区 housing available for people to live in

elaborate [ɪˋlæbə͵ret] adj. 精心制作的；精巧的;   v. 精心制作

décor [deˋkɔr] n. 装饰，室内装潢

mythology [mɪˋθɑlədʒɪ] n.（总称）神话

folklore [ˋfok͵lor] n. 民间传说，民俗

throne [θron] n. 王座，御座

erect [ɪˋrɛkt] v. 建立；建造

enchanting [ɪnˋtʃæntɪŋ] adj. 迷人的，使人着魔的

draw [drɔ] n.  吸引人的事物 one that attracts interest, customers, or spectators

Idiom

片语发音

state of mind 心理状态；心境 basic attitude or outlook at a point in time

out of touch (with someone or something) 无联系..  ; 不了解某事的信息 ... knowing no news of someone or something; not keeping informed of the developments relating to someone or something

as it stands 按照现在情况 as something is now, without changes to it

Reading Questions

1. Which of the following is NOT a reason why Ludwig built Neuschwanstein Castle?

(A)  He enjoyed Richard Wagner’s musical creations.

(B)  Prussia had taken over Bavaria.

(C)  He imagined the castle in a dream.

(D)  He wanted to escape from reality.

2. What can be inferred from the passage?

(A)  Ludwig used the castle to retreat from battles.

(B)  Ludwig moved into the castle as soon as it was completed.

(C)  Ludwig was a powerful king.

(D)  Ludwig was a fan of opera.

3. Why was Neuschwanstein built so high above sea level?

(A)  There was a lot of space for a large castle there.

(B)  It could be easily defended.

(C)  Ludwig’s father used to own a castle there.

(D)  It was the most romantic spot in Bavaria.

4. Which of the following is true about Neuschwanstein castle?

(A)  It contains more than 200 rooms.

(B)  It was beautiful on the outside but plain on the inside.

(C)  It was not easy to build.

(D)  It is modeled after a Disney castle.

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

Answer