Epiphanies
THE three holy kings with their star’s bright ray,—
They eat and they drink,but had rather not pay;
They like to eat and drink away,
They eat and drink,but had rather not pay.
The three holy kings have all come here,
In number not four,but three they appear;
And if a fourth join’d the other three,
Increased by one their number would be.
The first am I,—the fair and the white,
I ought to be seen when the sun shines bright!
But,alas!with all my spices and myrrh,
No girl now likes me,—I please not her.
The next am I,—the brown and the long,
Known well to women,known well to song.
Instead of spices[56]，’tis gold I bear，
And so I’m welcome everywhere.
The last am I,—the black and small,
And fain would be right merry withal.
I like to eat and to drink full measure,
I eat and drink,and give thanks with pleasure.
The three holy kings are friendly and mild,
They seek the Mother,and seek the Child;
The pious Joseph is sitting by,
The ox and the ass on their litter lie.
We’re bringing gold，we’re bringing myrrh[57]，
The women incense always prefer;
And if we have wine of a worthy growth,
We three to drink like six are not loth.
As here we see fair lads and lasses,
But not a sign of oxen or asses,
We know that we have gone astray[58]
And so go further on our way.
[1]twixt prep.＜诗＞＝between
[2]moment n.瞬间adj.片刻的，瞬间的，力矩的
[3]heartfelt adj.衷心的，真心真意的
[4]lo int.瞧！，看！abbr.[军]Land Operation，地面作战
[5]brimful adj.盈满的，满到边际的
[6]banquet n.宴会
[7]prophetic adj.预言的
[8]prophesy v.预言，预报
[9]vernal adj.春天的，春天发生的，和煦的，青春的
[10]nosegay n.（尤指有香味的）花束
[11]altar n.祭坛，（基督教教堂内的）圣坛，祈祷祭拜的地方
[12]Fritz n.德国人
[13]vanquish vt.征服，击败，克服
[14]wreath n.花圈，花冠，圈状物
[15]carol v.歌颂，欢唱n.欢乐的歌，颂歌，（尤指）圣诞节颂歌
[16]caprice n.反复无常，任性，怪想
[17]erst adv.＜古＞以前，往昔的
[18]unison n.调和，和谐，一致，齐唱，齐奏adj.[音]同度的，同音的
[19]hereditary adj.世袭的，遗传的
[20]thump v.重击，砰然地响n.重击，重击声
[21]maliciously adv.有敌意地
[22]springhead n.根源，泉源
[23]efface v.抹掉
[24]jovial adj.快活的，高兴的，愉快的，[宗]（主神）朱庇特的
[25]enliven vt.使生气的，使活泼，使生动
[26]garland n.花环vt.戴花环
[27]momentous adj.重大的，重要的
[28]blockhead n.笨蛋，傻子
[29]merely adv.仅仅，只，不过
[30]pedant n.学究式人物
[31]stripling n.年轻人，小伙子
[32]betimes adv.及早，及时
[33]submissively adv.顺从地，服从地
[34]dregs n.渣滓，糟粕
[35]tediousness n.沉闷
[36]inure vt.使习惯vi.生效
[37]clown n.小丑，粗鲁愚蠢的人
[38]trumpet n.喇叭
[39]resound v.回响，赞扬
[40]ribbon n.缎带，丝带，带，带状物，带子
[41]guileless adj.不狡诈的，坦率的，正直的
[42]spouse n.配偶（指夫或妻）
[43]haughty adj.傲慢的
[44]indite vt.写（文章，信等）创作，赋诗，创作
[45]unsparing adj.不宽恕的，不留情的
[46]knave n.流氓
[47]apace adv.快速地，急速地
[48]slash v.猛砍，鞭打，砍伤，大量削减，严厉批评，抽打n.猛砍，（大幅度）削减，斜线
[49]vexation n.恼怒，烦恼，着急，苦恼的原因
[50]scarcity n.缺乏，不足
[51]conflagration n.大火，大火灾，突发
[52]caprice n.反复无常，任性，怪想
[53]praiseworthy adj.值得称颂的
[54]refuge n.庇护，避难，避难所
[55]niggard n.小气鬼adj.小气的，吝啬的
[56]spice n.香料，调味品，趣味，意味，情趣
[57]myrrh n.[植]没药树，没药（没药树的树胶脂）
[58]astray adv.迷途地，入歧途地