双语美文之似水流年 （121）经比萨和锡耶纳到罗马(4)
Hence，when we came to Spezzia，we found that the Magra，an unbridged river on the high-road to Pisa，was too high to be safely crossed in the Ferry Boat，and were fain to wait until the afternoon of next day，when it had，in some degree，subsided. Spezzia，however，is a good place to tarry at； by reason，firstly，of its beautiful bay； secondly，of its ghostly Inn； thirdly，of the head-dress of the women，who wear，on one side of their head，a small doll’s straw hat，stuck on to the hair；which is certainly the oddest and most roguish head-gear that ever was invented.
当我们到达斯培西亚时，发现马格拉河水位太高,以至于乘渡船不能安全过河。马格拉河上又没有通往比萨的桥梁。于是,我们欣然接受了事实,等第二天下午水势稍平时再过河。不过,斯培西亚却是个滞留的好地方。苜先是因为它那美丽的海湾;其次是恐怖的客找;最后则是那里女性的头饰。女人们在头的一侧,都佩戴一顶玩偶草相，这种草帽的确是那种最怪异、最顽皮的设计。
The Magra safely crossed in the Ferry Boat – the passage is not by any means agreeable，when the current is swollen and strong – we arrived at Carrara，within a few hours. In good time next morning，we got some ponies，and went out to see the marble quarries.
我们乘渡船安全地渡过了马格拉河一当水流湍急、河水上涨时，渡河一点也不令人惬意—数小时后，我们到达卡拉拉。笫二天早上，我们找来了几四小马去参观采石场。
They are four or five great glens，running up into a range of lofty hills，until they can run no longer，and are stopped by being abruptly strangled by Nature. The quarries，’or caves，as they call them there，are so many openings，high up in the hills，on either side of these passes，where they blast and excavate for marble： which may turn out good or bad; may make a man’s fortune very quickly，or ruin him by the great expense of working what is worth nothing. Some of these caves were opened by the ancient Romans，and remain as they left them to this hour.
采石场从四五个巨大的峡谷，向上一直延伸到一群高山上,直到被大自然的鬼斧神工挡住去路,不能再延伸为止。采石场，或者当地人们所谓的“窑洞”,其实就是在山上的很多洞穴。人们可以在这些洞穴中的任何一个洞口爆炸、开凿大理石。这种开采运气可好可坏:它可以使一个人暴亩，也可以使一个人倾其所有,血本无归。这些山洞有些是罗马人开采的，至今仍保留农被遗弃时的样子。