24. Sexual confusion, economic frustrations, and religion hope—all came together in a decisive moment when he opened the bible, told his father that the first line he saw would settle his fate, and read the magical words: "Come out from among them, touch no unclean thing." and I will be your God and you shall be my people.
【分析】多重复合句。主句的主语是由三个并列的名词短语 Sexual confusion, economic frustrations, 和 religion hope 构成,主句谓语是 came together。when 引导的定语从句修饰先行词 moment,该从句的谓语由三个并列的动词短语 opened the bible, told his father 和 read the magical words 构成,其中 that 引导的宾语从句作动词 told 的宾语。引号内的句子是 words 的同位语。
【译文】他打开圣经,告诉父亲他读到的第一行字将决定他的命运,接着读到了以下神奇的文字:“从他们中间走出来,不要沾不干净的物,我将成为你们的神,你将是我的子民。”在决定性的时刻,他的性困惑、经济困难以及宗教期待——所有的一切都交织在一起。
【点拨】settle 常用意为“安顿,定居;解决(问题等)”,本句中意思是“确定,决定”,settle one's fate 即为“决定某人的命运”。
25. Meanwhile, many settlers had slighter religious commitments than Dane's, as one clergyman learned in confronting folk along the coast who mocked that they had not come to the New world for religion.
【分析】多重复合句。主干是 many settlers had slighter religious commitments。as 引导非限定性定语从句,指代前面整个句子。非限定性定语从句中还包含 who 引导的定语从句修饰 folk。定语从句嵌套 that 引导的宾语从句。
【译文】同时,许多移民并没有像丹尼那样虔诚的宗教信仰。正如一个牧师在海边遇到村民的时候所了解到的一样,他们嘲弄地说并不是为了宗教来到新大陆的。
【点拨】1) commitment 在此处指“信奉”,更常见的义项是“承诺,保证;献身”。2) mock 可作动词、名词用,意为“嘲笑,嘲弄;(为取笑而)模仿,仿效”,作形容词时的意思是“假的,伪造的,模仿的”,如 a mock battle 一场模拟战。