美國語文第六冊 第185期:占卜者(3)

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但是事實上，很長時間以來我的身體一直很虛弱，以至于每當(dāng)我打算找工作時就咯血。

I had no relation living, and I never kept a friend above a week when I was able to joke.

我要工作與不是為了維持生計，當(dāng)我能開玩笑時，從未與一個朋友保持一個星期以上的交往。

Thus I was forced to beg my bread, and a sorry trade I have found it, Mr. Harley.

我被迫乞討，我發(fā)現(xiàn)這個可悲的行當(dāng)很適合我，哈特利先生。

I told all my misfortunes truly, but they were seldom believed;

我在講述我的所有不幸時是真誠的，可是那些人很少相信我說的話。

and the few who gave me a half-penny as they passed, did it with a shake of the head, and an injunction not to trouble them with a long story.

在他們從我身邊經(jīng)過時，連半個便士都不會給的，他們所能做的就是搖搖頭，禁止乞討的命令并非指的是用一個冗長的故事來使他們心煩。

In short, I found that people do n't care to give alms without some security for their money,—such as a wooden leg, or a withered arm, for example.

簡而言之，我發(fā)現(xiàn)人們并不在意在沒有安全感的情況下給施舍物，把施舍物當(dāng)做錢。譬如，一條木頭腿，或者一只干癟的胳膊。

So I changed my plan, and instead of telling my own misfortunes, began to prophesy happiness to others.

于是，我改變了計劃，不再講述自己的不幸，開始為別人占卜幸福。”

"This I found by much the better way.

“結(jié)果我發(fā)現(xiàn)這個辦法很靈。

Folks will always listen when the tale is their own,

當(dāng)故事的主人公是他們自己時，他們始終聽得有滋有味。

and of many who say they do not believe in fortune telling, I have known few on whom it had not a very sensible effect.

那些不相信占卜的人，很少對個人錢財不敏感。

I pick up the names of their acquaintance; amours and little squabbles are easily gleaned from among servants and neighbors;

我提到的都是他們老相識的名字;在仆人和鄰居中間很容易搜集一些風(fēng)流韻事和吵嘴的事情;

and, indeed, people themselves are the best intelligencers in the world for our purpose.

誠然，那些人本身就是這個世界上最出色的情報員。

They dare not puzzle us for their own sakes, for everyone is anxious to hear what he wishes to believe;

出于自己利益的考慮，他們不敢為難我們，因為每個人都急于想知道他們希望相信什么。

and they who repeat it, to laugh at it when they have done, are generally more serious than their hearers are apt to imagine.

那些一再重復(fù)的人，反而對自己做的事情嗤之以鼻，一般而言這要比傾聽他們的人易于想象的更嚴(yán)重。