BBC Learning English - London Bridge is Falling Down 儿歌《伦敦桥要倒塌了》

　　Andrea: Morag says that there is an element of fear in the poem.

　　Jean: Morag 说这首歌里有一种恐惧的因素。

　　Andrea: She says that in some parts of the world, people’s bones have been found in bridges.

　　Jean: 在桥里发现人的骨骸。 That’s scary. 看来这首歌并不是一首轻松可爱的儿歌，而是相当令人恐怖的吟诵。下面是 Chris 为我们解释，这首诗歌为什么是被人用来唱 给河流听的。

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　　With many buildings but particularly bridges, it was thought that the spirits of the river needed to be placated in order for the building to stand up. There are many legends alluding to the sacrifice of a child or a woman, put into the foundations of buildings in order for them to stand up straight and not fall down.

　　Andrea: Bones were put into the bridges so that they wouldn’t fall down.

　　Jean: Chris 用到了一个词 placate 安抚、抚慰。原来那时候的人们认为需要去抚慰河流让它高兴，而且还迷信要把人的骨骸放在楼房的地基里，楼房才会造的直站得结实。

　　Andrea: He says there are lots of legends or stories that allude to this or talk about this. So maybe this nursery rhyme is about spirits and bones too.

　　Jean: 正如 Morag 所说，这可不是一首欢快的儿歌，绝对是有一个相当恐怖、让人不舒服的由来的。

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　　This is one which seems to have some rather uncomfortable even quite nastyroots.

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