牛津書蟲系列 簡愛 chapter 9
9 Mr Rochester’s past
9 羅切斯特的過去
Soon I discovered what Mr Rochester meant when he said he had done wrong.One afternoon，while walking in the gardens of Thornfield，he told me the story of his love-affair in Paris with a French dancer，Geline.
不久，我就發(fā)現了羅切斯特說他曾做過錯事是什么意思。一天下午在花園里散步時，他向我講述了在巴黎和一位叫賽林娜的法國舞女的愛情故事。
’Yes，Miss Eyre，I was young and foolish then.I was so in love with her that I rented a house and hired servants for her.I gave her a carriage and jewels，in fact I threw away a fortune on her，just like any fool in love.One evening I visited her but found she was out，so I waited on her balcony，smoking a cigar.I heard her carriage arriving.Imagine my horror at seeing her step out followed by a man!You’re so young，you’ve never felt love or jealousy，have you，Miss Eyre?You are floating along a quiet river now，you don’t see the water boiling at the foot of the great rocks，but one day you’ll come to a point in life’s stream where the wild force of the waves may destroy you， where the noisy rushing water may drown you!I am calm enough now，calm enough to like living here at Thornfield.I like it because it’s old，and grey，and dark， and yet I hate—’He did not finish what he was saying，staring angrily up at the windows on the top floor of his house.It was a look of disgust，pain and shame.I could not understand what he meant，and wanted to hear more about Celine，so I encouraged him to finish the story.
“是的，簡小姐，我那時年輕、愚蠢。我非常愛她，甚至為她租了房子，雇了仆人。我給她馬車和首飾，在她身上揮霍了很多錢，就像任何陷入愛情的傻瓜一樣。一天晚上，我去看她，她卻不在，于是我就在她陽臺上抽著雪茄，等著她。我聽見馬車來了。能想像得出我看到她走下馬車、后面跟著一個男人時所感到的驚愕嗎!你太年輕了，還沒有感受過愛情或是嫉妒，是不是，愛小姐?現在你正隨平靜的小河漂流而下，看不到巖石腳下湍急的水流，但是有一天，你會在生活的長河中感到可以毀滅你的巨浪，咆哮的急流可能把你淹沒!現在我已平靜了，平靜得喜歡住在特恩費得。我喜歡它，因為它陳舊、晦澀、黑暗，但是我恨——”他沒有說完，只是憤怒地瞪著房子頂層的窗戶。那目光中飽含厭惡、痛苦和恥辱。我不知他是什么意思，想多聽聽賽林娜的事，于是就鼓動他把故事講完。
’What happened when she entered the house， sir?’
“先生，她進屋后發(fā)生了什么事?”
’Oh，I’d forgotten Céline!By the way，it’s strange my telling you all this，but I know my secret’s safe with you， and I know，too，that it can’t have an evil influence on you-your mind’s too strong for that. Yes， I listened to her conversation with her lover，an elegant young fool，and I knew I was no longer in love with her.So I walked into the room，told her our relationship was over，and challenged her lover to fight me.Next day I shot him in the arm during our fight，thought that was the end of the whole thing， and left France.But a few months before，Céline had had a baby girl，Adèle，and she claimed that Adèle was my child. She may be，although I doubt it.So when，a few years later，Céline abandoned Adèle and ran away to Italy with a singer，I went to Paris and brought Adèle back to grow up in England.’
“噢，我忘了賽林娜!我告訴你這一切，真有些奇怪，不過我知道你會保守我的秘密，我還知道，它們不會對你產生壞影響——你太有頭腦了。是的，我聽到她和情人的對話，那是個優(yōu)雅的年輕笨蛋。我知道我已不再愛她，于是便走進屋去，告訴她我們的關系完了，并向她的情人要求決斗。第二天，我在決斗中擊傷了他的胳膊。我覺得事情已經了結，便離開了法國。但是在此幾個月前，賽林娜生下一個女孩兒阿黛拉，聲稱是我的孩子?？赡苁前?，但我懷疑。幾年后，賽林娜拋棄了阿黛拉，跟一個歌手跑到意大利去了，我便去巴黎，把阿黛拉帶回英國撫養(yǎng)。”
I felt proud that Mr Rochester had trusted me with the story of his past life.I thought a lot about his character，and although I was aware of his faults，I also saw his goodness and kindness to me.From now on，my happiest moments were spent with him.I could not have imagined a better companion.
羅切斯特能把他過去的生活講給我聽，我感到非常驕傲。我常常琢磨他的性格，盡管我意識到他的缺點，但也知道他待我很好很和善。從此，我最快活的時光就是和他在一起。我想像不出還有比他更好的伴侶。
One night I was woken by a slight noise.I felt sure someone was outside my bedroom door. As I hurried to lock it，I called，’Who’s there?There was a strange，inhuman sound，then I heard a door shut upstairs on the top floor.’Was that Grace Poole?’I wondered，trembling.My curiosity made me open the door， and I found the corridor full of smoke.I saw it was coming from Mr Rochester’s door，which was slightly open.I completely forgot my fears and rushed into his room.He lay fast asleep，surrounded by flames and smoke. Even his sheets were on fire.
一天夜里，我被一點響動吵醒。我可以肯定有人在我臥室門外，便趕緊去鎖門，喊著：“誰在那兒?”我聽到一個不像人發(fā)出的奇怪聲音，然后是樓上頂層的關門聲。“是格麗絲·普爾嗎?”我納悶，身上直發(fā)抖。好奇心驅使我打開了門，我看到走廊里全是煙。煙是從羅切斯特先生略開著的房門里冒出來的。我完全忘了害怕，沖進他的房間。他睡得正香，被火焰和濃煙包圍著，連床單都著了火。
’Wake up!Wake up!’I shouted desperately，throwing water over him to put out the flames.Not until the fire was almost out did he wake up，swearing to find himself so wet.
“快醒醒!快醒醒!”我一邊聲嘶力竭地叫著，一邊把水潑到他身上滅火。直到火快滅了他才醒來，發(fā)現一身濕，嘴里咒罵著。
’Is there a flood?’ he cried.
“發(fā)大水了嗎?”他叫道。
’No，sir，I answered，’but there’s been a fire.’
“不，先生。”我說。“不過著火了。”
’Jane Eyre，is it you and your magic?’he asked.’Have you put a spell on me again?Did you intend to drown me this time?’
“簡·愛，是你和你的魔法嗎?”他問。“你是不是又對我念了咒語?這次是想淹死我嗎?”
’Please get up，sir.Someone has plotted to kill you!’And I explained what I had heard and how I had put out the fire.He looked very serious，and thought for a few seconds.
“先生，請起來吧。有人要謀害你!”我講述了我聽到的聲音以及我滅火的過程。他看上去表情嚴肅，沉思了一會兒。
’Shall I fetch Mrs Fairfax，sir，or the servants?’I asked.
“我去叫費爾法斯太太或仆人吧?”我問。
’No， why bother them?Just stay here for a moment.I’m going up to the top floor.Don’t call anyone，I’ll be back soon.
“不，為什么要打擾他們?在這兒等一會兒，我到頂層去一下。別叫任何人，我馬上就回來。”
I waited，cold and tired，in his room for what seemed a very long time.Then I saw the light of his candle approaching through the darkness，and he appeared，looking pale and depressed.
我又冷又累，似乎在他的房間等了很長時間。然后我看到他舉著蠟燭從黑暗中走來，他臉色蒼白、神情沮喪。
’Did you see anything when you opened your bedroom door?’he asked，glancing sharply at me.
“你開臥室門時看到什么了嗎?”他問，目光銳利地看著我。
’No，sir，only a candle on the floor.’
“沒有，先生，只有地上的一根蠟燭。”
’But you heard a strange laugh，did you say?’
“可是你不是說聽到一聲怪笑嗎?”
’Yes，I’ve heard it before.Grace Poole laughs like that.”
“是的，我以前也聽到過。格麗絲·普爾就那么笑。”
’That’s it.It must have been Grace Poole.You’ve guessed it.I shall consider what to do about it.But meanwhile I’m glad you’re the only person who knows anything about all this Say nothing to anybody else，and now，go back to your own room.
“不錯，一定是格麗絲·普爾。你猜對了。我要考慮一下怎么處理。不過我很高興你是唯一的知情者。一點兒也不要對別人提起，現在回房間吧。”
’Good night，then，sir，’I said，moving towards the door.
“那么晚安，先生。”我說完向門口走去。
’What!Are you leaving me already!’he said，seeming surprised，although he had just told me to go，’And so coldly?’
“什么!你這就走了!”他似乎有些吃驚地說，盡管他剛剛讓我離開。“就這么冷冰冰地走了?”
’You said I should go，sir.’
“先生，你說我該走了。”
’But not without saying goodbye，not without a kind word or two.Why，you’ve saved my life.I hate being in debt to anyone，but with you it’s different，Jane.I’m happy to owe you my life.’His voice was trembling as he took both my hands in his.’I knew，when I first saw you，that you would do me good.I saw it in you eyes when I met you.I was right to…like…your smile and the magic in your face.’There was energy in his voice and a strange light in his eyes.
“但不是不道別，不說點兒什么呀。怎么，你救了我的命啊!我討厭欠別人的情，不過對你就難辦了，簡。我很高興欠你的救命之恩。”他聲音有些顫抖，把我的雙手握在他手里。“我第一次見到你，就知道你會給我?guī)砗眠\，我見到你時在你眼睛里看出來的。我……喜歡……你的微笑和臉上的魔力，看來是對的。”他的聲音中充滿激情，眼中閃著異樣的光。
’I’m glad I happened to be awake，’I said，’but I must go now.I’m cold.’I knew I could not control my feelings much longer，and I needed time to think But he still held on to my hands.Then I thought of a way of escaping.
“我真高興我當時正好醒著。”我說。“但我現在必須走了，我冷。”我知道我的感情不能控制太久，我需要時間想一想，但他還是握著我的手。這時我想了個逃脫的辦法。
’I think I hear the servants moving，sir，’I said.
“我想我聽到仆人們在走動了，先生。”我說。
’Well， leave me，’he said， and let me go.
“好吧，去吧。”他說完就放我走了。
That night， or what was left of it，I could not sleep.My mind was full of confusing pictures and disturbed emotions.
那天晚上或者說那晚余下的時間里，我無法再入睡。我腦子紛亂一片，心緒不安。
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