Climbing Cotopaxi
B2英文20 張卡片
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We set off at four, head torches lit,
凌晨四點，我們出發，頭燈亮起，
three on a rope, our coughing guide ahead;
三人繫在同一根繩上，咳嗽的嚮導走在前頭；
I kept my eyes on the light at my feet
我盯著腳邊的燈光，
and tested the snow with every tread.
每邁一步，都試探著腳下的雪。
After two hours the sun came up,
兩小時後，太陽昇起，
and I lifted my eyes from the ground;
我也把目光從地面抬起；
I'd forgotten the mountain beneath my boots —
我竟忘了靴底下就是那座山——
now half of Ecuador lay all around.
此刻，厄瓜多半壁山河盡在四周。
The thin air never stole my breath,
稀薄的空氣並未讓我喘不過氣，
but every step cost me twice the time,
但每一步都讓我多花一倍時間，
and the same sun that painted the view
同一輪太陽為眼前景色染上金輝，
had started a clock on the rest of the climb.
也為餘下的攀登按下了計時。
My friend was set on reaching the top,
我的朋友一心要登上頂峰，
but the three of us shared a single rope,
可我們三人共繫在一根繩上，
and they say most falls happen on the way down,
人們常說，大多數墜落都發生在下山途中，
when tired feet get careless on the slope.
疲憊的雙腳在坡上漸漸疏忽之時。
So I gave in; we three turned back
於是我認了輸；我們三人掉頭回去，
and slid down the snow in the morning sun;
在晨光中沿著雪坡滑下；
an hour later, the team that pushed on
一小時後，那支堅持繼續攀登的隊伍
came down too — the mountain had won.
也下來了——終究是山贏了。