倫敦大本鐘即將進入長達四年的“靜音模式”

從下週一中午開始，英國倫敦的大本鐘將停止敲鐘報時，接受維修。英國政府投入2900萬英鎊，用於維修伊麗莎白塔和坐落其中的大本鐘。作爲倫敦標誌性建築之一，大本鐘敲鍾報時已達157年之久。維修期間，除了新年等重要節日外，大本鐘將“保持靜音”，預計其再次常規報時將是在2021年。

Big Ben will fall silent next week for four years as "major conservation works" are carried out on the tower which houses the bell, UK Parliament announced Monday.
英國國會週一宣佈，由於大本鐘所在的伊麗莎白塔開始大規模維修翻新，大本鐘從下週起會停響，並且將“靜音”四年。

The chimes emanating from the bell, one of London's most famous attractions, have kept time in the British capital for 157 years.
大本鐘是英國最有名的旅遊勝地之一。它的鐘聲已爲倫敦準確報時157年。

At noon on Monday, August 21, Big Ben will sound for the last time until 2021.
8月21日星期一中午大本鐘將會最後一次響起，而此後大本鐘將“靜音”至2021年。

The repairs are estimated to cost around £29 million, or more than $42 million.
本次維修預算約爲2900萬英鎊（合人民幣2.5億元），但這個數字可能會超過4200萬。

"Big Ben falling silent is a significant milestone in this crucial conservation project. This essential programme of works will safeguard the clock on a long term basis, as well as protecting and preserving its home," Keeper of the Great Clock, Steve Jaggs, said in a statement.
大本鐘的負責人史蒂夫•賈格斯在一份聲明中表示：“大本鐘停響是這個重點維修工程的重要里程碑。本次維修將保證大本鐘以後能長期正常運轉，同時也保護和修整了大本鐘所在的伊麗莎白塔。”

Big Ben is the name of the bell inside the tower (St. Stephen's Tower, renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012), and not the building or the clock (simply known as the Great Clock) itself.
大本鐘是伊麗莎白塔（原名聖史提芬塔，2012年改名爲伊麗莎白塔）內鐘樓的名字，而不是塔樓或古鐘本身的名字（古種的名字就叫“大鐘”）。

The chimes were last silent in 2007 during maintenance, and before that from 1983-1985 during a period of refurbishment.
大本鐘上一次“靜音”是在2007年的維修期間。在1983至1985年間翻新期間，它也曾停響過。

Londoners needn't worry though; Big Ben will continue to chime for "important national events" such as New Year's Eve and Remembrance Sunday.
但是倫敦市民並不需要擔心，因爲在碰上除夕夜、陣亡將士紀念日等“國家大事”時，大本鐘還是會按時響起。