Synopsis:
One day in September, James. Dr. Mortimer came to The Holmes' house at 221 Baker Street for help. Watson received him with Holmes.
Original story:
2 Manuscripts of the Baskerville Papers of the Baskerville family
These papers were given to me by Sir Charles Baskerville,said Dr Mortimer.'He asked me to take good care of them. You may remember that Sir Charles died suddenly three months ago. His death caused much excite ment in Devonshire, the county where Baskerville Hall is. Sir Charles was a sensible man, but he believed the story which is told in these papers.’
"These manuscripts were entrusted to me by Sir Charles Baskerville," said Dr. Mortimer. "He asked me to keep the manuscripts. As you may recall, Sir Charles died suddenly three months ago. His death attracted a great deal of attention in Devonshire, where baskerville estates were located. Sir Charles was a very sane man, but he believed in the stories told in these manuscripts.
Dr Mortimer went on:'The story is about the Baskerville family. I have come to see you because I need your help. I think that something terrible is going to happen in the next twenty-four hours. But you can’t help me unless you know the story in these papers. May I read them to you?’
Dr. Mortimer continued: "This story is related to the Baskerville family. Because I need your help, I came to see you. I think something terrible is going to happen in the coming 24 hours. But if you don't understand the story told in the manuscript, then you can't help me. Can I read it to you?"
'Please continue,Dr Mortimer,said Holmes and sat back in his chair with his eyes shut.
"Please go on, Doctor Mortimer," said Holmes, sitting back with his eyes closed.
Mortimer began to read in his high,rather strange voice
Mortis began to read in his high-pitched, peculiar voice
I,William Baskerville, write this for my sons in the year 1742. My father told me about the Hound of the Baskervilles.He told me when it was first seen and I believe his story was true. I want you, my sons to read this story carefully. I want you to know that God punishes those who do evil. But never forget that He will forgive those who are sorry for any evil they have done.
I, William Baskerville, wrote these for future generations in 1742. My father told me about the Baskerville Hounds. He told me how it had first been seen, and I thought the story he was telling was true. I want you, my children, to take a hard look at this story. I want you to know that God has always punished those who do wrong. But never forget: God will forgive those who repent.
Over a hundred years ago, in 1640, the head of the Baskerville family was Sir Hugo Baskerville He was a wild and evil man. He was cruel and enjoyed hurting people. Sir Hugo fell in love with the daughter of a farmer who was a neighbour of his. The young woman was afraid of the evil Hugo, and avoided him. One day,Hugo heard that her father and brothers were away. He knew that she would be alone. So he rode to the farm with five or six of his evil friends. They made the girl go back to Baskerville Hall with them, and locked her in a room upstairs. Then they sat down in the great dining hall to drink. As usual, they drank bottle after bottle and soon they began to sing and laugh and shout evil words.
More than a hundred years ago, in 1640, the leading figure of the Baskerville family was Sir Hugo Baskerville. He was both debauched and evil. He was cruel and took pleasure in hurting others. Sir Hugo fell in love with the daughter of a farmer adjacent to him. The girl was afraid of this evil man and avoided him. One day, Hugo heard that several of her father and brother had gone out. He knew she would be home alone. So he went to the farm with five or six of his lewd fox friends. They got her back to the Baskerville estate and locked her upstairs in a room. Then they sat down in the large dining room downstairs and drank bitterly. As usual, they drank bottle after bottle of wine, and soon began to sing wildly and laugh and spit out dirty words.
The girl upstairs, who was already very frightened,felt desperate when she heard the terrible things they were shouting. So she did a very brave thing. She opened the window,climbed out of the room and down the ivy on the wall. Then she started to run across the moor towards her home.
The girl upstairs, who was already terrified at this time, felt very desperate when she heard the unbearable dirty words they were saying. In this situation, she did a brave thing. She opened the window, crawled out of the room, and climbed down the ivy on the wall. Then she ran straight through the moor to her home.
A little while later, Hugo left his friends and went upstairs to the room to take her some food and drink. When he found an open window and an empty room, he behaved like a man who was mad. He ran down the stairs. He screamed that he would give himself to the Devil if he caught the girl before she reached home. Some of Hugo's drunken friends told him to let the hounds chase her, and so he ran from the house and unlocked the dogs. Then he jumped onto his black horse, and rode off over the moor with the hounds running and crying around him.
After a while, Hugo left his friends and went upstairs to the room upstairs to bring her food and wine. When he found that the windows were wide open and the room was empty, he felt like he had been hit by a demon. He rushed downstairs, shouting and shouting that he would offer himself to the Demon King as long as he could catch up with the girl before she could rush home. Hugo's drunken friends told him to let the hound out to chase her, so he ran out of the house and released the dog. Then he jumped on the back of the black horse, and was surrounded by a group of barking dogs on the moor.
Hugo's friends fetched their horses and followed him. There were thirteen of them. After a mile or two they passed an old farmer and asked him if he had seen Sir Hugo and the hounds. The man looked half mad with fear and spoke with difficulty. He said that he had seen the girl and the hounds running close behind her. Sir Hugo had been riding just behind the hounds 'But I have seen more than that, the old man said' Behind Sir Hugo I saw a huge and terrible hound running silently. May God keep me safe from that hound of hell.’
Hugo's friends found their horses and followed him. There were 13 of them. After they had run a mile or two, they met an old farmer who asked him if he had seen Sir Hugo and his pack of hounds. The man looked so frightened and mad that he could barely speak. He said he had seen the girl and a group of hounds chasing her. Sir Hugo rode his horse after the hounds. "But I saw more than that," the old man said. I saw a large and terrible hound following him without a word. May God not let this dog of hell hurt me!"
The thirteen men laughed at the old man and rode on. But their laughter soon stopped when they saw Sir Hugos horse running wildly towards them without a rider.
The 13 men laughed at the old man and then rode forward. But they could not laugh when they soon saw Sir Hugo's horse galloping toward them alone.
The thirteen men moved closer together as they rode on. They were suddenly afraid. Over the moor they went until, at last,they caught up with the hounds.
The 13 men rode on horseback and leaned together at the same time. They suddenly felt scared. They rode forward on the moor until they finally caught up with the group of hounds.
Everyone in the county knew that the Baskerville hounds were brave and strong. But now they were standing at the head of a deep valley in the moor with their ears and tails down. They were very frightened. Hugo's friends stopped. Most of them would not go on, but three were brave enough to go down into the valley.
The Baskervilles' hounds are brave and strong, and are well known in the county. But they were now standing at the end of a deep valley in the moor with their ears and tails hunched over. They were terrified. Hugo's friends stopped. Most of them were reluctant to ride any further, but three of them were bolder and walked toward the valley.
The valley had a wide flat floor. In the middle of the flat ground stood two great stones. They had stood there for thousands of years. The moon was shining brightly on the great stones, and between them on the flat ground, lay the girl. She had fallen there dead of fear and exhaustion. Sir Hugo’s body was lying near her. But it was not the sight of Sir Hugo or the girl that filled the men with fear. It was the sight of the huge animal that was standing over Sir Hugo.Its teeth were at his throat. It was a great black creature that looked like a hound. But it was larger than any hound they had ever seen.
At the bottom of this valley is a wide flat area. In the middle of the flat ground stand two large rocks. They have been erected there for thousands of years. The moonlight shone brightly on the two large rocks, and the maiden lay on the flat ground between them. She had fallen to the ground in horror and exhaustion. Sir Hugo's body lay beside her. But what terrified these people was not the sight of the maiden or Sir Hugo, but a large beast standing next to Sir Hugo. Its teeth tore at his throat. It was a large, dark beast that looked like a hunting dog. But none of them had ever seen such a big hound.
As they watched,it tore out Hugo Baskerville’s throat. Then it turned towards them. Its eyes were burning brightly. Its body shone with a strange light. Blood ran from its mouth. The men screamed and kicked their horses. They rode back up the valley as fast as they could go. Later that night one died from the horror he had seen The other two were mad for the rest of their lives.
As they watched, it ripped off Hugo, Baskerville's throat. Then it turned and faced them. Its eyes were on fire. The body also shone with a strange glow. Blood poured out of its mouth. The men shouted and kicked their horses. They turned their horses and ran out of the valley as fast as they could. After that, one of them was scared to death that night by the horrors he saw, and the other two were insane for life.
That was the first time the Hound appeared, my sons. It has been seen many times since then, and many of the Baskervilles have died in strange and terrible ways. Because of this I warn you not to cross the moors at night. The Devil finds it easy to do his work when the world is dark.
That's what happened to the hound for the first time, my children. Since then, it has been seen many times, and many members of the Baskerville family have died in strange and horrific ways. Therefore, I warn you not to walk through the moor in the dark. The devil finds it easy to be arrogant in the night.
Core Language Points:
- county n. a large area or part of a country. 郡，州县。
- Sir n. Title: Jazz.
- Sensible adj.
- unless conj. if not,except when.除非。
- hound n. dog used for hunting and racing.猎犬。
- God n. creator and ruler of the universe.上帝。
- Hepron. Capitalization often refers to God.
- daughter n. one’s female child.女儿。
- evil adj. Wicked, harmful.
- Desperate adj.filled with despair and ready to do anything.
- ivy n. Ivy.
- behave v. act.
- Deviln.the most wicked spirit of evil(Satun),and the enemy of God.魔王;撒旦。
- Moor n.open, uncultivatsed land.
- fetch v.go for and bring back.接来。
- may v. to express wishes and hopes.
- head n.upper end.
- frightened adj. Afraid.