名著·简.爱 - 第62节


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  我的百合花,你说得很对,你一向很对。"

   "Then no more need be said: change the subject.""

  那就不必再说了,换个话题吧。"

   Amy Eshton, not hearing or not heeding this dictum, joined in withher soft, infantine tone: "Louisa and I used to quiz our governesstoo; but she was such a good creature, she would bear anything:nothing put her out. She was never cross with us; was she, Louisa?"

  艾米.埃希顿不知是没有听见,还是没有注意到这一声明,操着软软的、奶声奶气的调子搭讪了:"路易莎和我,以往也常常戏弄我们的家庭教师,不过她是那么个好人,什么都能忍耐,随你怎么整他都不会生气。她从来没有对我们发过火,是不是这样,路易莎?"

   "No, never: we might do what we pleased; ransack her desk and herworkbox, and turn her drawers inside out; and she was so good-natured, she would give as anything we asked for.""

  不错,从来不发火。我们爱怎么干就可以怎么干。搜她的书桌和针线盒,把她的抽屉翻得底朝天。而她的脾气却那么好,我们要什么她就给什么。"

   "I suppose, now," said Miss Ingram, curling her lip sarcastically,"we shall have an abstract of the memoirs of all the governessesextant: in order to avert such a visitation, I again move theintroduction of a new topic. Mr. Rochester, do you second mymotion?""

  现在我猜想,"英格拉姆小姐讥嘲地喂起嘴唇说,"我们要为现存的家庭女教师编一个传记摘要了。为了避免这场灾难,我再次提议换一个新话题,罗切斯特先生,你赞成我的提议吗?"

  小姐,无论是这件事还是别的事情,我都支持你。"

   "Then on me be the onus of bringing it forward. Signior Eduardo,are you in voice to-night?""

  那得由我把这件事提出来了,Signior Eduardo,"今晚你的嗓子行吗?"

   "Donna Bianca, if you command it, I will be.""Donna Bianca

  ,只要你下令,我就唱。"

   "Then, signior, I lay on you my sovereign behest to furbish up yourlungs and other vocal organs, as they will be wanted on my royalservice.""

  那么Signior,我传旨清一清你的肺和其他发音器官,来为皇上效力。"

   "Who would not be the Rizzio of so divine a Mary?""

  谁不甘愿做如此神圣的玛丽的里丘呢?"

  里丘算得了什么!"她叫道,把满头卷发一甩,朝钢琴走去。"我认为提琴手戴维准是个枯燥乏味的家伙。我更喜欢黑呼呼的博斯威尔,依我之见,一个人没有一丝恶念便一文不值。不管历史怎样对詹姆斯.赫伯恩说长道短,我自认为,他正是那种我愿意下嫁的狂野、凶狠的草寇英雄。"

   "Gentlemen, you hear! Now which of you most resembles Bothwell?"cried Mr. Rochester."

  先生们,你们听着:你们中谁最像博斯威尔?"罗切斯特先生嚷道。

   "I should say the preference lies with you," responded Colonel Dent."

  应当说你最够格,"登特上校立即呼应。

   "On my honour, I am much obliged to you," was the reply."

  我敢发誓,我对你感激之至,"他回答道。

   Miss Ingram, who had now seated herself with proud grace at thepiano, spreading out her snowy robes in queenly amplitude, commenceda brilliant prelude; talking meantime. She appeared to be on herhigh horse to-night; both her words and her air seemed intended toexcite not only the admiration, but the amazement of her auditors:she was evidently bent on striking them as something very dashingand daring indeed.

  英格拉姆小姐此刻坐在钢琴前面,矜持而仪态万方,雪白的长袍堂皇地铺开。她开始弹起了灿烂的前奏曲,一面还交谈着。今晚她似乎趾高气扬。她的言辞和派头似乎不仅为了博得听从的赞叹,而且要使他们感到惊讶。显然她一心要给人留下深刻的印象,觉得她潇洒而大胆。

  呵我真讨厌今天的年青人!"她叮叮咚咚弹奏起这乐器来,一面嚷嚷道。"这些弱小的可怜虫,不敢越出爸爸的公园门一步,没有妈妈的准许和保护,连那点距离都不敢。这些家伙醉心于漂亮的面孔,白皙的双手和一双小脚,仿佛男人与美有关似的,仿佛可爱不是女性的特权--她合法的属性与遗传物!我同意一个丑陋的女人是造物主白净脸上的一个污点。至于男人们,让他们只关心拥有力量和勇气吧,让他们把打猎、射击和争斗作为座右铭。其余的则一钱不值。要是我是个男人,这应当成为我的座右铭。"

   "Whenever I marry," she continued after a pause which noneinterrupted, "I am resolved my husband shall not be a rival, but afoil to me. I will suffer no competitor near the throne; I shallexact an undivided homage: his devotions shall not be sharedbetween me and the shape he sees in his mirror. Mr. Rochester, nowsing, and I will play for you.""

  不论何时结婚,"她停顿了一下,没有人插话,于是又继续说,"我决定,我的丈夫不应当是个劲敌、而是个陪衬,我不允许皇位的近旁有竞争存在;我需要绝对忠心。不允许他既忠于我,又忠于他镜中看到的影子,罗切斯特先生,现在唱吧,我替你伴奏。"

   "I am all obedience," was the response."

  我唯命是从,"便是得到的回答。

   "Here then is a Corsair-song. Know that I doat on Corsairs; and forthat reason, sing it con spirito.""

  这里有一首海盗歌。你知道我喜欢海盗们,因此你要唱得con spirito"。

   "Commands from Miss Ingram's lips would put spirit into a mug ofmilk and water.""

  英格拉姆小姐的圣旨一下,连牛奶和水也会产生灵性。"

  那么,小心点儿,要是你不能使我满意,我会教你应当怎么做,而让你丢脸。"

   "That is offering a premium on incapacity: I shall now endeavour tofail.""

  那是对无能的一种奖赏,现在我要努力让自己失败。"

   "Gardez-vous en bien! If you err wilfully, I shall devise aproportionate punishment.""Gardez vous en bien!

  要是你故意出错,我要作出相应的惩罚。"

   "Miss Ingram ought to be clement, for she has it in her power toinflict a chastisement beyond mortal endurance.""

  英格拉姆小姐应当手下留情,因为她能够作出使凡人无法承受的惩罚。"

   "Ha! explain!" commanded the lady."

  哈哈!你解释一下!"小姐命令道。

  请原谅,小姐。不需要解释了。你敏锐的直觉一定会告诉你,你一皱眉头就抵得上死刑。"

   "Sing!" said she, and again touching the piano, she commenced anaccompaniment in spirited style."

  唱吧!"她说,又碰了碰钢琴,开始了她风格活泼的伴奏。

   "Now is my time to slip away," thought I: but the tones that thensevered the air arrested me. Mrs. Fairfax had said Mr. Rochesterpossessed a fine voice: he did--a mellow, powerful bass, into whichhe threw his own feeling, his own force; finding a way through theear to the heart, and there waking sensation strangely. I waitedtill the last deep and full vibration had expired--till the tide oftalk, checked an instant, had resumed its flow; I then quitted mysheltered corner and made my exit by the side-door, which wasfortunately near. Thence a narrow passage led into the hall: incrossing it, I perceived my sandal was loose; I stopped to tie it,kneeling down for that purpose on the mat at the foot of thestaircase. I heard the dining-room door unclose; a gentleman cameout; rising hastily, I stood face to face with him: it was Mr.Rochester."

  现在我该溜了,"我思忖道。但是那富有穿透力的声调吸引了我。费尔法克斯太太曾说过,罗切斯特先生的嗓子很好。确实他有一个圆润、洪亮的男低音。唱的时候他倾注了自己的感情,自己的力量。那歌声透过耳朵、灌进了心田,神奇地唤醒了知觉。我等待着,直至深沉雄浑的颤音消失--嗡嗡的谈话声停顿了片刻后再次响起。随后我离开我躲藏的角落,幸亏边门很近,便从那里走了出去。这里有一条狭窄的走廊通向大厅。我穿过时,发觉鞋带松了,便停下来把它系上,跪在楼梯脚下的垫子上。我听见餐室的门开了,一位男士走了出来。我急忙直起身子,正好同那人打了个照面,原来是罗切斯特先生。

   "How do you do?" he asked."

  你好吗?"他问。

   "I am very well, sir.""

  我很好,先生。"

  你为什么不进房间来同我谈谈呢?"

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名著·简.爱 - 第62节