The article review(文章导读):
Charms and Symbols
Bell
In ancient times all over the world, it was believed that evil spirits could put up with just about anything except the clanging1 of a bell. Over time, the bell itself,
Text(正文):
Charms and Symbols
Bell
In ancient times all over the world, it was believed that evil spirits could put up with just about anything except the clanging1 of a bell. Over time, the bell itself, even when not ringing, came to be regarded as a powerful lucky symbol. Because it is suspended in a hanging position, it takes on the representation of all life suspended between heaven and earth. Its vault like2 shape has become a symbol of heaven.
Bells are used in Christian churches as well as Hindu and Buddhist temples as a means of keeping evil away. The bell tolled at funerals is now explained as a signal to the living that a soul is passing to the other side and should be accompanied by prayers. But originally the tolling was intended to prevent evil forces from interfering with the soul’s heavenward journey.
Bells are often used as a warning of danger. Obviously, the fact they are easy to hear makes them perfect for the job. But just as important is the age old beliefs in most European countries that the sound of a bell can turn away an approaching storm, deflect3 lightning or tame4 a tornado5.
But why bells? Such things as gunpowder make more noise than bells, and the Chinese still routinely use it to frighten away harmful spirits. But after gunpowder was introduced into Europe, the English scientist Roger Bacon said he still thought bells were much better demon-chasers6. In a thirteenth-century scientific report, Bacon concluded that it wasn’t the sound of a bell in itself that had the power but the movement of the air caused by repeated tolling. In his opinion, it canceled out the turbulence7 caused by mischief-making spirits.
注释：
1.clang [klAN] vt＆vi. （使）当当响
2.vault like [vC:lt5laik] adj. 像穹隆样的，拱顶状的
3.deflect [di5flekt] vt. 使转向；使偏斜
4.tame [teim] vt. 制服；驾驭
5.tornado [tC:5neidEu] n. 龙卷风；飓风
6.demon-chaser [5di:mEn5tFeisE] n. 驱逐恶魔之物
7.turbulence [5tbjulEns] n. 骚乱，骚动
护身符和象征
钟
古时候，世界各地的人们相信邪恶的灵魂能够忍受一切，但就是不能忍受丁丁当当的钟声。渐渐地，即使不敲响，钟也被看作是一种有用的幸运象征。因为钟常被悬挂着，于是它代表了所有悬浮于天空和大地之间的生命。它的拱顶形状成为天空的象征。
在基督教教堂以及印度教和佛教的庙宇里，钟被用来驱走邪恶。在葬礼上鸣钟现在被解释为对生者发出一个信号：一个灵魂将要到另一个世界，需要祈祷者的陪伴。但最初鸣钟是为了防止灵魂在升向天堂的路上遭遇邪恶势力的干扰。
钟还经常用来警告危险。显然，钟最能胜任这项工作是因为容易让人听见。但另一同样重要的原因是，在许多欧洲国家有个非常古老的说法，即钟声能使即将来临的暴风雨移开，使闪电转向，使龙卷风驯服。
但是为什么非得用钟呢？一些如火药之类的东西比钟能发出更响的声音，中国人至今还习惯用火药制成的爆竹去吓走有害的幽灵。但是在火药被引进欧洲后，英国科学家罗杰·培根说，他还是认为钟是更好的驱魔武器。在一份13世纪的科学报告中，培根得出结论说,武器的威力并非出自钟的声音本身，而是出自不停击钟时空气的流动。在他看来，击钟引起的空气流动压住了捣乱的鬼魂造成的骚乱。 |
