美國語文第六冊 第291期:窮紳士(4)
我沒有趕他。是的，您趕了。你從來不會讓他在辯論中保持平靜的。
At peace! Zounds, he would never go to war. He had the merit to be calm.
保持平靜!該死的，他從來不會主動挑起爭端。他的優(yōu)點就是平和。
So has a duck pond. He was a bit of still life, a chip, weak water gruel, a tame rabbit, boiled to rags, without sauce or salt.
所以，才要有個鴨塘嘛。他是有點好靜，就像稀粥一樣，一只溫馴的兔子，沒有加調(diào)味品或鹽煮到稀爛的程度。
He received my arguments with his mouth open, like a poorbox gaping for half-pence.
他嘴巴張得老大接受我的論點，就像渴望得到半便士的窮棒子。
and, good or bad, he swallowed them all without any resistance. We couldn't disagree,
不論好壞，他都會不加抗拒地一股腦吞下。我們意見不合，
and so we parted. And the poor, meek gentleman went to Russia for a quiet life.
于是就分道揚鑣了。這位貧窮但性情溫順的紳士去了俄國，默默無聞地了此一生。
A quiet life! Why, he married the moment he got there, tacked himself to the shrew relict of a Russian merchant,
好一個默默無聞!他一到那兒就結(jié)婚了，將自己與一位俄國商人刁潑的遺孀綁在了一起，
and continued a speculation with her in furs, flax, potashes, tallow, linen, and leather;
與她一起做毛皮、亞麻，草堿、油脂、亞麻布和皮革投機生意;
what's the consequence? Thirteen months ago he broke. Poor soul, his wife should have followed the business for him.
結(jié)果呢?十三個月前，他破產(chǎn)了?？蓱z的人，他妻子會接手他的生意的。
I fancy she did follow it, for she died just as he broke, and now this madcap, Frederic, is sent over to me for protection.
我原想她會的，可是他剛一破產(chǎn)，她就死了，現(xiàn)在，這個狂妄的弗雷德里克來找我尋求庇蔭。
Poor Job, now he is in distress, I must not neglect his son.
可憐的約伯，現(xiàn)在他處境窘迫，我不會慢待他兒子的。
Here comes his son, that's Mr. Frederic. Enter FREDERIC.
他兒子來了，這就是弗雷德里克。弗雷德里克上場。
