1. We cannot ask thee for aught, for thou knowest our needs before they are born in us.
(1) 本句中的一些詞匯屬于古英語,現(xiàn)代只有在詩歌中才會使用,如 thee 是現(xiàn)代英語 you 的賓格形式,thou 則是它的主格形式.
(2) 同理,knowest 就是現(xiàn)代英語的動詞 know,在 for thou knowest our needs before they are born in us 中,for 是連詞,表示“因為”,thou knowest 等于 you know.這個句子的意思是“因為在他們出生在我們中間以前你才知道我們的需要”
2. And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the potter moistened with his own sacred tears.
本句的結(jié)構(gòu)是——
主句：the cup has been fashioned of the clay 這種杯子用陶土捏成
cup 的定語從句：he brings 他帶的（杯子）
clay 的定語從句：which the potter moistened with his own sacred tears 制陶工人用神圣的淚水弄濕的（陶土）
讓步虛擬從句：though it burn your lips,等于 though it should burn your lips省略了表示虛擬的情態(tài)動詞 should.因為這里表述的是說話人的個人看法,因此用了虛擬語氣,意思是“盡管（我認(rèn)為）杯子有可能灼傷你的口唇”.
3. I would have you consider your judgment and your appetite even as you would two loved guests in your house.
(1) would have you consider 中的 have 是使役動詞,would 是情態(tài)動詞,表示“想要”,主句的意思是“我想要讓你細(xì)想你的看法和欲望”
(2) even as you would two loved guests in your house 一句中,would 后缺少動詞 have,意思是“甚至在你家里會有兩位討人喜歡的客人的時候”
4．If either your sails or our rudder be broken, you can but toss and drift, or else be held at a standstill in mid-seas.
If either your sails or our rudder be broken 是條件虛擬句,指的是將來不可能出現(xiàn)的情況, be broken 前省略了表示對將來虛擬的情態(tài)動詞 should,意思是“假設(shè)你的帆或者舵有可能折斷的話”.
5. But how shall I, unless you yourselves be also the peacemakers, nay, the lovers of all your elements?
同上題,unless you yourselves be also the peacemakers 也是條件虛擬句,動詞 be 前省略了情態(tài)動詞 should,意思是“假如你本人也不會是個和事老的話”,同樣表示的是對將來不可能出現(xiàn)情況的虛擬.