名著·简.爱 - 第2节


目 录 上一节 下一节

  约翰对母亲和姐妹们没有多少感情,而对我则很厌恶。他欺侮我,虐待我,不是一周三两次,也不是一天一两回,而是经常如此。弄得我每根神经都怕他,他一走运,我身子骨上的每块肌肉都会收缩起来。有时我会被他吓得手足无措,因为面对他的恐吓和欺侮,我无处哭诉。佣人们不愿站在我一边去得罪他们的少爷,而里德太太则装聋作哑,儿子打我骂我,她熟视无睹,尽管他动不动当着她的面这样做,而背着她的时候不用说就更多了。

   Habitually obedient to John, I came up to his chair: he spent somethree minutes in thrusting out his tongue at me as far as he couldwithout damaging the roots: I knew he would soon strike, and whiledreading the blow, I mused on the disgusting and ugly appearance ofhim who would presently deal it. I wonder if he read that notion inmy face; for, all at once, without speaking, he struck suddenly andstrongly. I tottered, and on regaining my equilibrium retired backa step or two from his chair.

  我对约翰已惯于逆来顺受,因此便走到他椅子跟前。他费了大约三分钟,拼命向我伸出舌头,就差没有绷断舌根。我明白他会马上下手,一面担心挨打,一面凝视着这个就要动手的人那付令人厌恶的丑态。我不知道他看出了我的心思没有,反正他二话没说,猛然间狠命揍我。我一个踉跄,从他椅子前倒退了一两步才站稳身子。

   "That is for your impudence in answering mama awhile since," saidhe, "and for your sneaking way of getting behind curtains, and forthe look you had in your eyes two minutes since, you rat!""

  这是对你的教训,谁叫你刚才那么无礼跟妈妈顶嘴,"他说,"谁叫你鬼鬼祟祟躲到窗帘后面,谁叫你两分钟之前眼光里露出那付鬼样子,你这耗子!"

   Accustomed to John Reed's abuse, I never had an idea of replying toit; my care was how to endure the blow which would certainly followthe insult.

  我已经习惯于约翰.里德的谩骂,从来不愿去理睬,一心只想着加何去忍受辱骂以后必然接踪而来的殴打。

   "What were you doing behind the curtain?" he asked."

  你躲在窗帘后面干什么?"他问。

  在看书。"

   "Show the book.""

  把书拿来。"

   I returned to the window and fetched it thence.

  我走回窗前把书取来。

   "You have no business to take our books; you are a dependent, mamasays; you have no money; your father left you none; you ought tobeg, and not to live here with gentlemen's children like us, and eatthe same meals we do, and wear clothes at our mama's expense. Now,I'll teach you to rummage my bookshelves: for they ARE mine; allthe house belongs to me, or will do in a few years. Go and stand bythe door, out of the way of the mirror and the windows.""

  你没有资格动我们的书。妈妈说的,你靠别人养活你,你没有钱,你爸爸什么也没留给你,你应当去讨饭,而不该同像我们这样体面人家的孩子一起过日子,不该同我们吃一样的饭,穿妈妈掏钱给买的衣服。现在我要教训你,让你知道翻我们书架的好处。这些书都是我的,连整座房子都是,要不过几年就归我了。滚,站到门边去,离镜子和窗子远些。"

   I did so, not at first aware what was his intention; but when I sawhim lift and poise the book and stand in act to hurl it, Iinstinctively started aside with a cry of alarm: not soon enough,however; the volume was flung, it hit me, and I fell, striking myhead against the door and cutting it. The cut bled, the pain wassharp: my terror had passed its climax; other feelings succeeded.

  我照他的话做了,起初并不知道他的用意。但是他把书举起,拿稳当了,立起身来摆出要扔过来的架势时,我一声惊叫,本能地往旁边一闪,可是晚了、那本书己经扔过来,正好打中了我,我应声倒下,脑袋撞在门上,碰出了血来,疼痛难忍。我的恐惧心理已经越过了极限,被其他情感所代替。

  你是个恶毒残暴的孩子!"我说。"你像个杀人犯--你是个奴隶监工--你像罗马皇帝!"

   I had read Goldsmith's History of Rome, and had formed my opinion ofNero, Caligula, &c. Also I had drawn parallels in silence, which Inever thought thus to have declared aloud.

  我读过哥尔斯密的《罗马史》,时尼禄、卡利古拉等人物已有自己的看法,并暗暗作过类比,但决没有想到会如此大声地说出口来。

   "What! what!" he cried. "Did she say that to me? Did you hear her,Eliza and Georgiana? Won't I tell mama? but first--"

  什么!什么!"他大叫大嚷。"那是她说的吗?伊丽莎、乔治亚娜,你们可听见她说了?我会不去告诉妈妈吗?不过我得先--"

   He ran headlong at me: I felt him grasp my hair and my shoulder:he had closed with a desperate thing. I really saw in him a tyrant,a murderer. I felt a drop or two of blood from my head trickle downmy neck, and was sensible of somewhat pungent suffering: thesesensations for the time predominated over fear, and I received himin frantic sort. I don't very well know what I did with my hands,but he called me "Rat! Rat!" and bellowed out aloud. Aid was nearhim: Eliza and Georgiana had run for Mrs. Reed, who was goneupstairs: she now came upon the scene, followed by Bessie and hermaid Abbot. We were parted: I heard the words -

  他向我直冲过来,我只觉得他抓住了我的头发和肩膀,他跟一个拼老命的家伙扭打在一起了。我发现他真是个暴君,是个杀人犯。我觉得一两滴血从头上顺着脖子淌下来,感到一阵热辣辣的剧痛。这些感觉一时占了上风,我不再畏惧,而发疯似地同他对打起来。我不太清楚自己的双手到底干了什么,只听得他骂我"耗子!耗子!"一面杀猪似地嚎叫着。他的帮手近在咫尺,伊丽莎和乔治亚娜早已跑出去讨救兵,里德太太上了楼梯,来到现场,后面跟随着贝茜和女佣艾博特。她们我们拉开了,我只听见她们说:

   "Dear! dear! What a fury to fly at Master John!""

  哎呀!哎呀!这么大的气出在约翰少爷身上:"

  谁见过那么火冒三丈的!"

   Then Mrs. Reed subjoined -

  随后里德太太补充说:

   "Take her away to the red-room, and lock her in there." Four handswere immediately laid upon me, and I was borne upstairs."

  带她到红房子里去,关起来。"于是马上就有两双手按住了我,把我推上楼去。

   I resisted all the way: a new thing for me, and a circumstancewhich greatly strengthened the bad opinion Bessie and Miss Abbotwere disposed to entertain of me. The fact is, I was a triflebeside myself; or rather OUT of myself, as the French would say: Iwas conscious that a moment's mutiny had already rendered me liableto strange penalties, and, like any other rebel slave, I feltresolved, in my desperation, to go all lengths.

  我一路反抗,在我,这还是破天荒第一次。于是大大加深了贝茜和艾博特小姐对我的恶感。我确实有点儿难以自制,或者如法国人所说,失常了。我意识到,因为一时的反抗,会不得不遭受古怪离奇的惩罚。于是,像其他造反的奴隶一样,我横下一条心,决计不顾一切了。

   "Hold her arms, Miss Abbot: she's like a mad cat.""

  抓住她的胳膊,艾博特小姐,她像一只发了疯的猫。"

  真丢脸!真丢脸!"这位女主人的侍女叫道,"多可怕的举动,爱小姐,居然打起小少爷来了,他是你恩人的儿子:你的小主人!"

   "Master! How is he my master? Am I a servant?""

  主人,他怎么会是我主人,难道我是仆人不成?"

   "No; you are less than a servant, for you do nothing for your keep.There, sit down, and think over your wickedness.""

  不,你连仆人都不如。你不干事,吃白食。喂,坐下来,好好想一想你有多坏。"

   They had got me by this time into the apartment indicated by Mrs.Reed, and had thrust me upon a stool: my impulse was to rise fromit like a spring; their two pair of hands arrested me instantly.

  这时候她们已把我拖进了里德太太所指的房间,推操到一条矮凳上,我不由自主地像弹簧一样跳起来,但立刻被两双手按住了。

   "If you don't sit still, you must be tied down," said Bessie. "MissAbbot, lend me your garters; she would break mine directly."

  要是你不安安稳稳坐着,我们可得绑住你了,"贝茜说,"艾博特小姐,把你的袜带借给我,我那付会被她一下子绷断的。"

  艾博特小姐转而从她粗壮的腿上,解下那条必不可少的带子。捆绑前的准备工作以及由此而额外蒙受的耻辱,略微消解了我的激动情绪。

   "Don't take them off," I cried; "I will not stir.""

  别解啦,"我叫道,"我不动就是了。"

   In guarantee whereof, I attached myself to my seat by my hands.

  作为保证,我让双手紧挨着凳子

   "Mind you don't," said Bessie; and when she had ascertained that Iwas really subsiding, she loosened her hold of me; then she and MissAbbot stood with folded arms, looking darkly and doubtfully on myface, as incredulous of my sanity."

  记住别动,"贝茜说,知道我确实已经平静下去,便松了手。随后她和艾博特小姐抱臂而立,沉着脸,满腹狐疑地瞪着我,不相信我的神经还是正常似的。

目 录 上一节 下一节

分享本课给同学:

   

扫扫二维码

手机学英语


名著·简.爱 - 第2节