I have seen the Bayeux tapestry(挂毯，织锦) four times since childhood, and loved it on each viewing, for the sheer miracle of its survival(它得以存世纯属奇迹) and the glorious vividness(生动，鲜明) of its detail. But the fourth time, earlier this week, was different – how could it not be?(但本周早些时候的第四次观看却不同——又怎么可能相同呢？)
从童年起，我共看过贝叶挂毯四次，每一次都为之倾倒——为它奇迹般的存世，也为它细节中令人惊叹的鲜活。但本周早些时候的第四次观看，却与以往不同——又怎么可能相同呢？
Tapestrymania(挂毯狂热) has taken hold(扎根，蔓延开来) in London. The textile has been proffered(被呈递，被提供) as a diplomatic symbol, the occasion for crowned heads(君主，国王王后) and presidents to mingle(交际，混合) and speechify(高谈阔论，演讲). And, assuming you agree that it was embroidered in England by Englishwomen’s hands (since many scholars argue it was likely stitched in Canterbury rather than Bayeux, Normandy – the tapestry’s home), it is charged with the potency of return, rather than simply of arrival.(而且，如果你认同它是由英格兰女性之手在英格兰绣成（许多学者认为它很可能绣于坎特伯雷，而非其故乡诺曼底的贝叶），那么它就承载着“回归”的力量，而不仅仅是“到来”。)
挂毯热已在伦敦蔓延。这件织物被当作外交象征呈递，成为君主与总统们交际、演讲的场合。而且，如果你认同它是由英格兰女性之手在英格兰绣成（许多学者认为它很可能绣于坎特伯雷，而非其“故乡”诺曼底的贝叶），那么它就承载着“回归”的力量，而不仅仅是“到来”。
If you want to see the Bayeux tapestry at the British Museum, be alert for(对……保持警觉，留意) the next ticket release in October, be resigned to(听任，只好接受) sitting in a long digital queue and be ready to hand over(交出，支付) £33. Or, perhaps more realistically, be prepared for disappointment. Viewing times are restricted to protect its delicate fibres from damage, so they can’t simply be extended beyond normal hours.(为了保护脆弱的纤维不受损伤，参观时间受到限制，因此无法简单地在正常开放时间之外延长。) Demand will outstrip(超过，胜过) supply.
如果你想在大英博物馆看贝叶挂毯，请留意十月的下一轮放票，做好在长长的线上队伍中等待的准备，并准备好掏出33英镑。或者，更现实地说，做好失望而归的准备。为了保护脆弱的纤维不受损伤，参观时间受到限制，因此无法简单地在正常开放时间之外延长。需求必将超过供给。