
As I stood there, wondering what these things meant, I happened to glance away in the direction of the house where I intended to call, which was not now visible owing to an intervening grove of tall trees, and was surprised to discover a troop of about fifteen persons advancing along the valley in my direction.(A Crystal Age by W. H. Hudson)
英文を前から読んでいくために、語句のかたまりを作ります。こんな具合に課題文をスラッシュ(斜め線)で区切ります(スラッシュリーディング)。語句のかたまりを意識すると、リスニングで英語の意味をつかむのが楽になります。
As I stood there,/(現在分詞の前)wondering what these things meant,/(主語が文頭にないときの主語の前)I happened to glance away in the direction of the house/(関係副詞の前)where I intended to call,/(関係代名詞の前)which was not now visible owing to an intervening grove of tall trees,/(接続詞の前)and was surprised/(不定詞の前)to discover a troop of about fifteen persons advancing along the valley in my direction.
語句のかたまりを前から訳していきます。
As I stood there,
私がそこにたたずんでいるとき
wondering what these things meant,
これらのことは何を意味するのかと思いながら
I happened to glance away in the direction of the house
偶然、その家の方に目を向けた
where I intended to call,
私が訪ねるつもりの
which was not now visible owing to an intervening grove of tall trees,
背の高い木立にさえぎられて今は見えなかった
and was surprised
そして驚いた
to discover a troop of about fifteen persons advancing along the valley in my direction.
15人ほどのグループが谷沿いに私の方へ向かってくるのに気づいて
As I stood there, wondering what these things meant, I happened to glance away in the direction of the house where I intended to call, which was not now visible owing to an intervening grove of tall trees, and was surprised to discover a troop of about fifteen persons advancing along the valley in my direction.
owing to an intervening grove〜 → owing to =「〜が原因で」「〜のために」
discover a troop of about fifteen persons advancing along the valley in my direction→ discover は知覚動詞なので、「〜が―しているのを気づく」という意味になります。
私が、これらのことは何を意味するのかと思いながら、そこにたたずんでいるとき、これから訪ねるつもりの家の方に偶然、目を向けた。その家は背の高い木立にさえぎられて今は見えなかったが、15人ほどのグループが谷沿いに私の方へ向かってくるのに気づいて驚いた。
As I stood there, wondering what these things meant, I happened to glance away in the direction of the house where I intended to call, which was not now visible owing to an intervening grove of tall trees, and was surprised to discover a troop of about fifteen persons advancing along the valley in my direction.
・As I stood there,→ as =「〜するとき」で、「いつ」についての記述なのかを最初に示しています。
・wondering what these things meant,→ 分詞構文(付帯状況)です。「〜しながら」
・I happened to glance away in the direction of the house→ 文章の骨格(中心部分)です。
・where I intended to call,→ where は関係副詞です。後ろから the house を修飾しています。
・which was not now visible owing to an intervening grove of tall trees,→ 関係代名詞の非制限用法です。the house についての補足説明です。
・and was surprised→ 文章の骨格です。
・to discover a troop of about fifteen persons advancing along the valley in my direction.→ 「驚いた」理由です。
動画の後半部分でリスニング用音声が流れます。
