Ichabod
se encuentra con el jinete sin cabeza
y trata de escapar. La situación empeora porque el director no es un buen
jinete y el caballo no puede ser controlado. La historia de Washington
Irving, The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow…
Más abajo ponemos los significados de cudgel, misshaen, y goblin, entre otros.
Paragraphs
… As he approached the stream, his heart began to
thump; he summoned up, however, all his resolution, gave his horse half a score
of kicks in the ribs, and attempted to dash briskly across
the bridge; but instead of starting forward, the perverse old animal made a
lateral movement, and ran broadside against the fence. Ichabod, whose fears
increased with the delay, jerked the reins on
the other side, and kicked lustily with the
contrary foot: it was all in vain; his steed started, it is true, but it was
only to plunge to the opposite side of the road into a thicket
of brambles and alder bushes. The schoolmaster now applied both whip and heel
upon the starving ribs of old Gunpowder, who dashed forward, snuffling and
snorting, but came to a stand just by the bridge, with a suddenness that had
nearly sent his rider sprawling over his
head. Just at this moment a wet tramp by the side of the bridge caught the
sensitive ear of Ichabod. In the dark shadow of the grove, on the margin of the brook, he beheld something huge, misshapen and towering. It stirred not, but seemed gathered
up in the gloom, like some gigantic monster ready to spring upon the traveller.
The hair of the affrighted pedagogue rose upon his
head with terror. What was to be done? To turn and fly was now too late; and
besides, what chance was there of escaping ghost or goblin,
if such it was, which could ride upon the wings of the wind? Summoning up,
therefore, a show of courage, he demanded in stammering accents, "Who are
you?" He received no reply. He repeated his demand in a still more
agitated voice. Still there was no answer. Once more he cudgelled
the sides of the inflexible Gunpowder, and, shutting his eyes, broke forth with
involuntary fervor into a psalm tune. Just then the shadowy object of alarm put
itself in motion, and with a scramble and a bound stood at once in the middle
of the road. Though the night was dark and dismal, yet the form of the unknown
might now in some degree be ascertained. He appeared to be a horseman of large
dimensions, and mounted on a black horse of powerful frame. He made no offer of
molestation or sociability, but kept distant on one side of the road, jogging
along on the blind side of old Gunpowder, who had now got over his terror and
waywardness.
Ichabod, who had no relish for this strange midnight
companion, and bethought himself of the adventure of Brom Bones with the
Galloping Hessian, now quickened his steed in hopes of leaving him behind. The
stranger, however, quickened his horse to an equal pace. Ichabod pulled up, and
fell into a walk, thinking to lag behind,—the other did the same. His heart
began to sink within him; he endeavored to resume his psalm tune, but his
parched tongue clove to the roof of his mouth, and he could not utter a stave.
There was something in the moody and dogged silence of this pertinacious
companion that was mysterious and appalling. It was soon fearfully accounted
for. On mounting a rising ground, which brought the figure of his
fellow-traveller in relief against the sky, gigantic in height, and silent in a
cloak, Ichabod was horror-struck on perceiving that he was headless!—but his
horror was still more increased on observing that the head, which should have
rested on his shoulders, was carried before him on the pommel of his saddle!
His terror rose to desperation; he rained a shower of kicks and blows upon
Gunpowder, hoping by a sudden movement to give his companion the slip; but the
spectre started full jump with him. Away, then, they dashed through thick and
thin; stones flying and sparks flashing at every bound. Ichabod's delicate
garments fluttered in the air, as he stretched his long lank body away over his
horse's head, in the eagerness of his flight.
They had now reached the road which turns off to Sleepy Hollow; but Gunpowder, who seemed possessed with a demon, instead of keeping up it, made an opposite turn, and plunged headlong downhill to the left. This road leads through a sandy hollow shaded by trees for about a quarter of a mile, where it crosses the bridge famous in goblin story; and just beyond hills the green mount on which stands the whitewashed church… (Excerpt from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Project Gutenberg. Paragraphs in easier English)
Vocabulary
Dash: run or travel somewhere in a great hurry.
"I
dashed into the garden"
Jerk: move or cause to move with a jerk (sudden movement).
"the van jerked forward"
Lustily:
in
a strong, healthy, vigorous way; heartily.
"fans cheered lustily"
Thicket:
a
dense group of bushes or trees.
"a horned owl perfectly camouflaged in a dense thicket"
Sprawling:
to
lie or sit with arms and legs spread out.
Misshapen: not having the normal or natural shape or
form.
"misshapen fruit"
Goblin:
a mischievous, ugly creature resembling a dwarf.
Cudgel:
hit
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