英國語文第五冊(雙語):廣東的景象(1)

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LESSON 20 Scenes in canton

第二十課 廣東的景象

The recently arrived stranger naturally manifests surprise and incredulity on being told that the estimated population of Canton exceeds a million. When, however, he visits the close streets, with their dense population and busy wayfarers, huddled together in lanes from five to nine feet wide, where Europeans could scarcely inhale the breath of life, the greatness of the number no longer appears incredible. After the first feelings of novelty have passed away, disappointment, rather than admiration, occupies the mind. On leaving the open space before the factories, we behold an endless succession of narrow avenues, scarcely deserving the name of streets.

剛來廣東的人一聽說廣東預(yù)計有一百萬人口，肯定都會大吃一驚，不敢相信。但是，當(dāng)他走上街頭，看著密集的人頭來來往往的行人摩肩接踵，擺開有五到九英尺寬，歐洲人幾乎無法呼吸，他們再也不會不相信廣東有如此之多的人口了。第一次的新鮮感過去之后，留給他們的不是崇拜而是失望。在工廠前的一片片開闊地上，是無窮無盡的狹窄小道，多得幾乎無法給每一條命名。

As the visitor pursues his course, narrow lanes still continue to succeed one another, and the conviction is gradually impressed on the mind that such is the general character of the streets of the city. Along these, busy traders, mechanics, barbers, venders, and porters, make their way; while occasionally the noisy abrupt tones of vociferating coolies remind the traveller that some materials of bulky dimensions are on their transit, and suggest the expediency of keeping at a distance, to avoid collision. Now and then the monotony of the scene is relieved by some portly mandarin, or merchant of the higher class, borne in a sedan chair on the shoulders of two, or sometimes four men. Yet, with all this hurry and din, there seldom occurs any accident or interruption of good nature.

順著路走會不斷出現(xiàn)一條條狹窄的小路，這讓他們越來越確信這座城市街道的特征就是如此。一路上都是忙碌的商人，理發(fā)店，小販和搬運工；偶爾也會聽到苦力工人的大喊，提醒路人他們正在運送貨物從路上經(jīng)過，并讓路人讓出路來，以免發(fā)生碰撞。經(jīng)常能看到的一個情景就是肥胖的滿族人坐在由兩人或四人抬的轎子上。但是，在來往繁忙和喧囂中，很少出現(xiàn)事故或中斷這種情形的事情。

On the river the same order and regularity prevail. Though there are probably not fewer than 200,000 denizens of the river, whose hereditary domains are the watery element that supports their little dwellings, yet harmony and good feeling are conspicuous in the accommodating manner with which they make way for each other. These aquatic tribes of the human species show a most philosophic spirit of equanimity, and contrive in this way to strip daily life of many of its little troubles; while the fortitude and patience with which the occasional injury or destruction of their boats is borne are remarkable.

河邊的景象也是一樣。雖然有不少于20萬世代居住水上的居民，但是他們彼此之間的生活很是和諧，給人的感覺很好。這些水上居民體現(xiàn)了平靜的哲學(xué)精神，并以此減去生活中的諸多煩惱；同時，他們的船有時也會被破壞，但是他們對待這種破壞的不屈不撓和耐心也是很顯著的。