下载掌阅APP，畅读海量书库
立即打开
canopy, covering; awning. intoxicated, the worse of drink.
dedicated, devoted; set apart. protection, guard.
redeeming, making amends. deity, god.
sensuality, love of pleasure; lust. delicacies, dainties.
fragments, broken pieces; relics. squabbled, quarrelled.
1. The daily life of even the noblest Anglo-Saxons was that of a half-savage people. When not engaged in war, the nobles amused themselves in fishing, hunting, and hawking; and when the sports of the day were over, all—master and servants—met in the great hall. At the upper end of the hall, on a dais or raised part, was placed a rude table, under a canopy of cloth, which served as a protection from draughts of air, and from the rain, which often leaked through the roof; and round this sat the lord, his family, and his guests.
2. This table was served by slaves, who knelt as they offered to each guest huge joints on the spit, from which the chiefs cut slices with their daggers.The principal article of food was swine's flesh; besides this, game and fish ovarious kinds, coarse cakes, and green pulse were used. The favourite drink was mead, a liquor made from honey. Wine, beef, mutton, and wheaten bread were delicacies found only at the tables of the highest.
3. The chief servants took their meal next, and in turn passed the joints to the lower end of the hall, where slaves, hounds, and hawks squabbled over the fragments of the feast.
4. The meal over, drinking began, and continued till many were intoxicated.To beguile the time, the Saxon harp of five strings was passed round; and each took his turn in singing verses to its music. This general practice of the musical art is almost the only redeeming feature in a picture of coarse sensuality: but the tones of the harp were soon drowned in wild shouts of drunkenness, and often in the clashing of brawlers' swords; nor did the riot cease till sleep brought silence. They slept where they had feasted, lying on straw or rushes, and covered with their clothes.
5. The ladies spent their time more peacefully, and to more purpose, in the use of the needle and the distaf . The linen and the woollen cloths, of which the long cloaks and close tunics of their lords were made, were the produce of their industry.
6. When the Anglo-Saxons settled in Britain, they were the slaves of a gross and absurd idolatry, which prevailed among all the northern tribes of Europe. They dedicated each day of the week to a particular deity; and we still name the days
after their fashion.
7. Though Christianity had been introduced into Britain before the time of Augustine, it was not till he and his followers landed in Kent that the heathenism of the English was overthrown. The priests spent their leisure in the practice of many arts. Painting on glass and working in metals were favourite employments of even the highest churchmen; and not a few churches owed their bells and their coloured windows to the monks of this age. The monasteries were almost the only seats of learning.
中文阅读
1. 在日常生活方面，即使是最上层的盎格鲁-撒克逊人也处于半野蛮半开化的状态。只要没有打仗，他们便每天钓鱼，带上猎狗或猎鹰到处打猎；一天的劳作结束之后，全家人，包括主人和仆人，都在一个大房间里聚集用餐。房间里有一个突起的土台，上面放着一张粗木桌，屋顶中央是用一块布做成的遮幕，用以遮风挡雨，因为天花板常常既漏风又漏雨；一家人长少咸集，主宾皆至，一起围坐在桌子旁边。
2. 桌旁有奴仆随时伺候着，他们全都跪在地上，小心翼翼地把烤肉叉上的烤肉提供给每一位宾客，这些首领们再用小刀把肉切到自己盘子里。食物几乎全是猪肉，另外还有少许野味和鱼，还有些杂七杂八的粗制糕点和豆类。当时最流行的饮料是蜂蜜酒，一种用蜂蜜酿制而成的低度酒，像粮食酒、牛羊肉、小麦面包这些珍馐佳肴只有国王才能享受。
3. 要等首领吃完，随从人员才开始吃，烤肉将按顺序向下分发，身份最低的奴仆与猎狗、猎鹰一起哄抢他们吃剩下的残羹冷炙。
4. 东西吃完，大家才敞开肚皮喝酒，喝到东倒西歪为止。为了增加兴致并消磨时间，大家还会饶有兴趣地欣赏一会儿撒克逊独有的五弦竖琴，每一个人都要轮流和着音乐的节拍唱诗。这种带点文艺范儿的音乐消遣为粗犷的场面融入了仅有的风雅，不过没多久，优美的琴声就会淹没在醉汉们发酒疯的嚷嚷声中，打架也是家常便饭，最后等大家都呼呼睡去，一切才回归平静。他们就在刚才的饭厅席地而卧，垫着麦秆或者灯芯草，盖上衣服，很快就鼾声如雷了。
5. 女人们则要安静许多，而且都有正事干，她们会拿起针线认认真真地缝补。她们还要织麻布和缝制羊毛衣物，她们男主人从里到外穿的衣服全都指望她们，正是她们的一针一线才让人们有衣可穿。
6. 当盎格鲁-撒克逊人初入不列颠时，他们还是一帮不可理喻的异教徒，当时北欧许多部落也跟他们一样信仰着一种多神异教。一周七天，他们每天都会敬拜不同的神，而且这一风俗一直流传至今，我们如今对星期几的命名
就是来源于此。
7. 尽管基督教在奥古斯丁时代前就已传入不列颠，但直到他的追随者登陆肯特，英格兰的异教历史才宣告结束。在空闲时间，牧师们都会搞点与艺术沾边的事。即使最高教廷的教职人员也都流行做一些玻璃画、金属工艺等事务，现在不少教堂的大钟和五颜六色的窗花就归功于那个时代修道士们。修道院几乎是当时唯一能够进修学业的启蒙之地。