A marvelous bit of masonry
一座奇迹般的砖石建筑
My mate Matthew has always been a bit of maverick.
我的丈夫马修一直是个有点不遵守传统的人。
His No.1 macsome appears to be “look out for No.1”, by that expression, he means himself.
他的人生格言好像是“努力争取拿第一”（这句话是他对自己说的）。
He does whatever he thinks is right, and he offers his comments on whatever comes into his mind.
他会做任何一件自己认为是对的事情，他对自己想到的任何一件事情发表看法。
He even wrote to the Los Angeles zoo not so long ago to offer his suggestions on getting their reluctant giant pandas to mate.
前不久他甚至为了大熊猫不愿交配的问题还写信给洛杉矶动物园，对此提出了他的建议。
Matthew can afford to do his own thing.
修能够做自己想做的事情。
He came into a large inheritance when he was still quite young.
他很年轻的时候就得到一大笔遗产。
One of his prime pieces of real estate is a villa outside of town above the marsh by the sea.
他的财产中最主要的一宗是小镇外海边湿地以上的一栋别墅。
It is a marvelous and matchless masterpiece, a marvel of late 19th century Neel Gothic architecture.
那是一件不可思议并且无可比拟的杰作，一个19世纪末期新哥特式建筑的罕见的例子。
One can only stand and marvel at the mind of the mason who brought this artistry into being.
面对这一奇迹，你只能为石匠师傅的创意所折服，是他把这一艺术珍品奉献于世的。
A masker of Matthew’s grandfather graces the main entrance, and the matching drawing is found in the villa’s cavernous library.
大门口马修爷爷的面具为门厅增光添色，与之相配的图画挂在别墅宽敞深遂的图书馆里。
Sadly the villa stands empty much of the time, as Matthew does not seem to be able to find the time to care for its upkeep.
可惜的是，别墅里没有什么摆设，因为马修好像没有时间来保养它。
Every once in a while therefore a piece of masonry will drop off its massive facade.
因此，偶尔会有一块石片从庞大的建筑物外表脱落下来。
The marsh expands below was the scene of March marshal activity during the war of independence.
下面大片的沼泽地是独立战争时进行很多军事活动的场所。
Soldiers would march off to marine engagements with Britain, that great marry time nation.
士兵们会从此出发去和海上强国—强大的英国进行海战。
Newly-weds, many of them, marital bless was abruptly cut short by marshal endeavor.
他们中很多人是刚结婚的，婚姻的幸福突然由于军事行动中止了。