經(jīng)典英語戲劇劇本：喬治?蕭伯納-華倫夫人的職業(yè)

Mrs Warren's Profession 華倫夫人的職業(yè)

劇情博覽

華倫夫人出身貧寒，年輕時在姐姐的引導下由賣淫到開妓院，最終擠入有錢人的行列。后來她有了個可愛的女兒薇薇并讓她接受了良好的教育。薇薇從劍橋大學畢業(yè)后，華倫夫人打算跟女兒住在一起。但薇薇對母親的職業(yè)產(chǎn)生了懷疑，追之下知道了實情。她本要責備母親干的骯臟勾當，但在了解了母親悲慘的身世后覺

得母親的做法并不羞恥。薇薇才貌出眾，周圍有一群求婚者，她逐漸了解到，這些人中有些是她母親的老相好，有一個還是她的同父異母的弟弟。薇薇大受刺激，發(fā)誓永不結婚，自己養(yǎng)活自己。該劇揭示了資本主義社會的殘酷現(xiàn)實。

Act 1

Summer afternoon in a cottage garden on the eastern slope of a hill a little south of Haslemere in Surrey. Looking up the hill， the cottage is seen in the left hand corner of the garden，with its thatched roof and porch，and a large latticed window to the left of the porch. A paling completely shuts in the garden，except for a gate on the right. The common rises uphill beyond the paling to the sky line. Some folded canvas garden chairs are leaning against the side bench in the porch. A lady's bicycle is propped against the wall， under the window.

夏日午后，小別墅花園，位于薩利郡赫斯米爾地方偏南一點一座小山的東山坡上。仰望小山，可以看到這幢別墅坐落在花園的左手側(cè)，能看到別墅的茅草屋頂、門廊，還有門廊左側(cè)的一大扇格子窗。木柵欄環(huán)繞著花園，只在右手側(cè)留了個大門。一條公路沿著山坡，繞過柵欄，一直通向很高很高的地方。門廊里靠近墻邊的長凳上，斜放著幾把折疊的帆布座椅。一輛女式自行車停在窗下的墻邊。

A little to the right of the porch a hammock is slung from two posts. A big canvas umbrella，stuck in the ground, keeps the sun off the hammock, in which a young lady is reading and making notes, her head towards the cottage and her feet towards the gate.

一張吊床由兩根柱子支撐著，懸掛著門廊偏右一點的地方。一把巨型帆布傘插在地上，遮擋著吊床上方的陽光。一位年輕的女子頭朝著小屋。腳對著大門。躺在吊床上，讀書、做筆記。

In front of the hammock, and within reach of her hand，is a common kitchen chair, with a pile of serious-looking books and a supply of writing paper on it.

吊床前面，在她伸手可以夠得到的地方，有一把普通的廚房用椅，上面擺著一揮厚重的書和一打?qū)懽钟玫募垺?/p>

A gentleman walking on the common comes into sight from behind the cottage. He is hardly past middle age, with something of the artist about him，unconventionally but carefully dressed, and clean-shaven except for a moustache，with an eager susceptible face and very amiable and considerate manners. He has silky black hair, with waves of grey and white in it. His eyebrows are white, his moustache black. He seems not certain of his way. He looks over the palings; takes stock of the place:and sees the young lady.

一位先生從別墅后面的公路走來，進入的視野。他中等年紀，有幾分藝術家的氣質(zhì)，著裝不循規(guī)蹈矩但非常講究，一張臉刮得干干凈凈，僅留著短握，透露著熱切的渴望和敏感的心情，行為舉止和藹可親，周到得體。他的黑發(fā)絲質(zhì)般柔滑，偶爾夾雜著一些灰白色發(fā)絲。他的眉毛是白色的，胡須是黑色的。他好像對自己要走的路不太確信。他朝柵欄里張望，仔細察看這個地方，看到了那位年輕的女子。

The gentleman:(taking off his hat) I beg your pardon. Can you direct me to Hindhead View-Mrs Alison's?

先生:(摘下帽子)打擾了，請問去辛得海德景—愛立森太太家怎么走呢，

The young lady:(glancing up from her book) This is Mrs Alison's. (She resumes her work.)

小姐:(視線從書上稍稍離開，瞥了一眼)這就是愛立森太太家。(繼續(xù)讀書)

The gentleman:Indeed! Perhaps-may I ask are you Miss Vivie Warren?

先生:哦，這里就是!那么，可以冒昧地問一下，您是薇薇·華倫小姐嗎?

The young lady: (sharply, as she turns on her elbow to get a good look at him) Yes.

小姐:(迅速地轉(zhuǎn)過身來，仔細地打量著他)是啊。

The gentleman: (daunted and conciliatory) I'm afraid I appear intrusive. My name is Praed. (Vivie at once throws her books upon the chair, and gets out of the hammock.) Oh，pray don't let me disturb you.

先生:(面帶愧疚，謀求好感地)恐怕我冒犯您了，小姐。我是普瑞德。(薇薇小姐立刻把書扔到椅子上，從吊床上下來)哦，愿上帝保佑我沒有打攪到您。

Vivie: (striding to the gate and opening it for him) Come in， Mr Praed. (He comes in.) Glad to see you. (She proffers her hand and takes his with a resolute and hearty grip. She is an attractive specimen of the sensible，able, highly educated young middle一 class Englishwoman. Age 22. Prompt, strong，confident，self- possessed. Plain business一like dress, but not dowdy. She wears a chatelaine at her belt, with a fountain pen and a paper knife among its pendants.)

薇薇:(大步走到門口，給他打開門睛進，普瑞德先生。(他進來)很高興見到您。(她主動伸出手，用力地、熱情地和他握手。她是一位魅力十足的英國中產(chǎn)階級女性，敏感，能干，且受過高等教育。今年二十二歲。果斷、堅定、自信、鎮(zhèn)定。她身穿職業(yè)裝，樸素但不遴謾。她腰間帶著一個扣鉤，鏈子上掛著一支鋼筆和裁紙刀)

Praed: Very kind of you indeed, Miss Warren. (She shuts the gate with a vigorous slam. He passes in to the middle of the garden, exercising his fingers, which are slightly numbed by her greeting.) Has your mother arrived?

普瑞德:華倫小姐，非常感謝，(薇薇砰地用力關上門。普瑞德先生一邊走向花園中心，一邊活動著剛才被薇薇握得發(fā)麻的手指)你媽媽到了嗎，

Vivie: (quickly, evidently scenting aggression) Is she coming?

薇薇:(敏捷地、明顯感覺她的自由要受到侵犯)她要來嗎，

Praed: (surprised) Didn't you expect us?

普瑞德:(驚奇地)你還不知道我們要來嗎，

Vivie: No.

薇薇:不知道。

Praed: Now, goodness me, I hope I've not mistaken the day. That would be just like me, you know. Your mother arranged that she was to come down from London and that I was to come over from Horsham to be introduced to you.

普瑞德:哦，上帝，但愿我沒記錯日子。你知道嗎，我有時候會記錯時間。你媽媽是這樣安排的，她從倫敦回來，我從郝舍姆到這來，她要把我介紹給你。

Vivie: (not at all pleased) Did she? Hml My mother has rather a trick of taking me by surprise-to see how I behave myself while she's away, I suppose. I fancy I shall take my mother very much by surprise one of these days, if she makes arrangements that concern me without consulting me before hand. She hasn't come.

薇薇:(臉上毫無喜悅之色)她這樣說的嗎，媽媽最善于給我意外了，大概是要瞧瞧她不在家時我表現(xiàn)得怎樣吧。我看，這些天我也要讓她吃一驚，誰讓她不事先和我商量就作出這些安排呢。她還沒到吧。

Praed: (embarrassed) I'm really very sorry.

普瑞德:(尷尬地)我很抱歉。

Vivie: (throwing off her displeasure) It's not your fault，Mr Praed, is it? And I'm very glad you've come. You are the only one of my mother's friends I have ever asked her to bring to see me.

薇薇:(立即從不滿中擺脫出來)普瑞德先生，這也不是您的錯兒，對吧?其實，我很高興您能來。您是她的朋友當中唯一一位我要求她介紹給我認識的。

Praed:(relieved and delighted) Oh，now this is really very good of you，Miss Warren!

普瑞德:(如釋重負，欣喜不已)噢，華倫小姐，您真是太好了!

Vivie: Will you come indoors;or would you rather sit out here and talk?

薇薇:您是愿意進屋還是坐在外面聊天?

Praed: It will be nicer out here，don't you think?

普瑞德:還是外面好些，您說呢，

Vivie: Then I'll go and get you a chair. (She goes to the porch for a garden chair.)

薇薇:那我去給您搬把椅子來。(她去門廊搬椅子)

Praed:(following her) Oh，pray，pray! Allow me. (He lays hands on the chair.)

普瑞德:(跟著她)哦，拜托，還是我自己來吧。(他把手放在椅子上)

Vivie: (letting him take it) Take care of your fingers;they're rather dodgy things, those chairs. (She goes across to the chair with the books on it;pitches them into the hammock; and brings the chair forward with one swing.)

薇薇:(讓他搬椅子)當心您的手指，這些椅子很容易傷到手。(她走到放著書的椅子前，把書統(tǒng)統(tǒng)扔到吊床上，嘎地一下就把椅子拎起來)

Praed: (who has just unfolded his chair) Oh，now do let me take that hard chair.like hard chairs.

普瑞德:(剛剛打開他的折盈椅)哦，拜托讓我來坐這個硬椅子吧!我喜歡坐硬椅子。

Vivie: So do I. Sit down, Mr Praed. (This invitation she gives with a genial peremptoriness，his anxiety to please her clearly striking her as a sign of weakness of character on his part. But he does not immediately obey.)

薇薇:我也喜歡硬椅子。請坐，普瑞德先生。(她發(fā)出的邀請帶有親切的專橫感，似乎是他急于取悅薇薇的態(tài)度，使她看到了他性格的弱點。但普瑞德先生并未馬上服從她的話)

Praed:By the way, though，hadn't we better go to the station to meet your mother?

普瑞德:不過，我順便問一下，我們要不要去車站接你母親呢，

Vivie: (coolly) Why? She knows the way.

薇薇:(冷冷地)為什么?她認識路的。

Praed:(disconcerted) Er- suppose she does. (he sits down)

普瑞德:(窘迫不安地)嗯，也對，她認識路。(他坐下)

Vivie: Do you know, you are just like what I expected. I hope you are disposed to be friends with me.

薇薇:你知道嗎，你和我想象的一模一樣。我希望你愿意和我交朋友。

Praed: (again beaming) Thank you, my dear Miss Warren;thank you. Dear me! I'm so glad your mother hasn't spoilt you!

普瑞德:(又面露喜色)謝謝，我親愛的華倫小姐!謝謝你!哎呀，我真高興你母親沒有把你寵壞!

Vivie: How?

薇薇:怎樣算是寵壞了?

Praed: Well，in making you too conventional. You know, my dear Miss Warren，1 am a born anarchist. I hate authority. !t spoils the relations between parent and child;even between mother and daughter. Now I was always afraid that your mother would strain her authority to make you very conventional. It's such a relief to find that she hasn't.

普瑞德:嗯，就是使你過于因循守舊。親愛的華倫小姐。你瞧，我是一個天生的無改府主義者，我憎恨一切權威。至上的權威會破壞父母和子女之間的關系，包括破壞母親和女兒之間的關系。我一直在擔心你母親盡施職權而使你變得循規(guī)蹈矩。我很高興，她沒有那樣做

Vivie: Oh! Have I been behaving unconventionally?

薇薇:啊，難道我一直以來的行為都不符合傳統(tǒng)習慣嗎?

Praed:Oh no:oh dear no. At least，not conventionally unconventionally, you understand. (She nods and sits down. He goes on，with a cordial outburst) But it was so charming of you to say that you were disposed to be friends with me! You modern young ladies are splendid: perfectly splendid!

普瑞德:哦，對，親愛的，至少你不是傳統(tǒng)意義上的中規(guī)中矩。你應該明白我的意思。(她點點頭坐下。他繼續(xù)興致勃勃地說)可是，你說你愿意和我做朋灰，真是太感人了}你們這些年輕女孩太棒了，太了不起了!

Vivie: (dubiously) Eh? (watching him with dawning disappointment as to the quality of his brains and character)

薇薇:(懷疑地)啊，(注視著他，開始對他的思想和性格感到失望)

Praed: When I was your age, young men and women were afraid of each other. There was no good fieNowship. Nothing real.Only gallantry copied out of novels, and as vulgar and affected as itcould be. Maidenly reserve! Gentlemanly chivalry! Always saying"no" when you meant yes! Simple purgatory for shy and sincere souls.

普瑞德:在我像你這么大的時候，青年男女之間互相感到?jīng)]有真正的友誼，有真情實感。只會模仿小說對人大獻殷庸俗做作。女孩子矜持;男孩子魯莽，彼此總是在想說“是”的時候卻說“不”!對害羞且真誠的靈魂來說，那世界完全是個煉獄。

Vivie: Yes, I imagine there must have been a frightful waste of time. Especially women's time.

薇薇:是啊，我想那一定浪費了許多時間，尤其是耗費了女士們的時間。

Praed:Oh，waste of life，waste of everything. But things are improving. Do you know，I have been in a positive state of excitement about meeting you ever since your magnificent achievements at Cambridge:a thing unheard of in my day. It was perfectly splendid, your tieing with the third wrangler. Just the right place，you know. The first wrangler is always a dreamy, morbid fellow, in whom the thing is pushed to the length of a disease.

普瑞德:對，浪費生命，浪費一切，好在這些正在轉(zhuǎn)變。你看，自從得知你在劍橋取得了優(yōu)異的成績，我就一直在熱切地盼望與你見面，這在我那個年代可是從來沒有的事情。真太棒了，你得了并列第三名。這名次剛剛好，你懂嗎，得第一名的往往都是神情恍惚、病恢愜的人，他竭盡全力，會搞壞了身體。

Vivie: It doesn't pay. I wouldn't do it again for the same money.

薇薇:那很不值得。下次我再也不干這事了，就那么點錢!

Praed: (aghast) The same money!

普瑞德:(驚訝地)就那么點錢?

Vivie: Yes. Fifty pounds. Perhaps you don't know how it was. Mrs Latham, my tutor at Newnham, told my mother that I could distinguish myself in the mathematical tripos if I went in for it in earnest. The papers were full just then of Phillips Summers beating the senior wrangler. You remember about it, of course. (Praed shakes his head energetically)

薇薇:是啊，五十英鏡?？赡苣悴恢朗窃趺椿厥隆＠贩蛉?mdash;就是我在紐漢姆的導師，她跟我媽媽說，如果我能全力以赴地準備數(shù)學榮譽學位考試，并取得優(yōu)異的成績。當時報紙上到處都是菲立帕·薩姆斯勝過高年級學長的消息。你肯定記得吧，普瑞德使勁地搖頭

Vivie: Well，anyhow, she did;and nothing would please my mother but that I should do the same thing. I said flatly that it was not worth my while to face the grind since I was not going in for teaching;but I offered to try for fourth wrangler or thereabouts for fifty pounds. She closed with me at that, after a little grumbling; and I was better than my bargain. But I wouldn't do it again for that.Two hundred pounds would have been nearer the mark.

薇薇:反正她考試獲勝了，而我媽媽也非要我像她一樣不可。我坦率地跟她講，既然我不教書，就沒必要花那么多心思做這事，但我提出要爭取得到第四名左右的成績，獎金是五十英鎊。她抱怨了一陣子后，也就同意了。結果比預想的成績好。可我再不會這樣做了。如果獎金能有二百鎊，還算值。

Praed: (much damped) Lord bless me! That's a very practical way of looking at it.

普瑞德:(非常沮喪)上帝保佑!你看問題的方式也太講究實際利益了吧!

Vivie: Did you expect to find me an unpractical person?

薇薇:難道你認為我是個不講求實惠的人嗎，

Praed: But surely it's practical to consider not only the work these honors cost, but also the culture they bring.

普瑞德:但更講求實際的做法是，既要考慮獲得這些榮譽所需耗費的勞動，也要考慮他們的文化意義。

Vivie: Culture! My dear Mr Praed，do you know what the mathematical tripos means? It means grind, grind, grind for six to eight hours a day at mathematics，and nothing but mathematics. I’m supposed to know something about science;but I know nothing except the mathematics it involves. I can make calculations for engineers, electricians，insurance companies，and so on;but I know next to nothing about engineering or electricity or insurance. I don't even know arithmetic well. Outside mathematics，lawn一 tennis, eating, sleeping, cycling and walking，I'm a more ignorant barbarian than any woman could possibly be who hadn't gone in for the tripos.

薇薇:文化!我親愛的普瑞德先生，你知道數(shù)學榮譽考試意味著什么嗎?學習、學習，每天花六到八個小時學習數(shù)學，除了數(shù)學，一無所有!我本該學點科學，但除了其中涉及到的數(shù)學部分，我什么也不恤。我能為工程師、電子專家和保險公司等做計算工作，但對于工程、電學和保險業(yè)我一無所知。我甚至連算數(shù)也懂得不多。除了數(shù)學、網(wǎng)球、吃飯、睡覺、騎自行車和走路，我什么都不懂，我比任何沒有參加榮譽考試的女子都更算得上是個無知的野蠻人。

Praed: (revolted? What a monstrous, wicked, rascally system! I knew it! I felt at once that it meant destroying all that makes womanhood beautiful!

普瑞德:(心生反感)多么恐怖、邪惡、卑鄙的教育制度啊}我知道這些。我感到這一切就意味著摧毀一切能使女人們美麗的東西。

Vivie: I don't object to it on that score in the least. I shall turn it to very good account, I assure you.

薇薇:我并不是因為這個反對考試的。我可以肯定地告訴你，我要把它變成有益的事情。

Praed: Pooh! In what way?

普瑞德:咦，怎么個變法?

Vivie: I shall set up chambers in the City, and work at actuarial calculations and conveyancing. Under cover of that I shall do some law, with one eye on the Stock Exchange all the time. I've come down here by myself to read law, not for a holiday, as my mother imagines. I hate holidays.

薇薇:我要在倫敦設立律師事務所，經(jīng)營保險精算和產(chǎn)權轉(zhuǎn)讓的業(yè)務。同時做些法律事務，并始終關注證券交易所。我自己來到這兒是為了讀些法律書籍的，我可不像我媽媽以為的那樣在度假。我不喜歡假期。

Praed: You make my blood run cold. Are you to have no romance, no beauty in your life?

普瑞德:你的話讓我大吃一驚。那么你的生活一點兒也沒有浪漫情調(diào)，沒有美麗色彩嗎，

Vivie: I don't care for either, I assure you.

薇薇:這兩樣，我都不在乎。

Praed: You can't mean that.

普瑞德:你不是這個意思吧。

Vivie: Oh yes I do. I like working and getting paid for it. When I’m tired of working，I like a comfortable chair, a cigar, a little whisky, and a novel with a good detective story in it.

薇薇:哦，我就是這么想的。我喜歡工作，喜歡因為工作而得到報酬。工作之余，我喜歡坐在舒適的椅子上，吸著雪茄，喝點威士忌，讀讀構思巧妙的偵探小說。

Praed: (rising in a frenzy of repudiation) I don't believe it. I am an artist; and I can't believe it:I refuse to believe it. It's only that you haven't discovered yet what a wonderful world art can open up to you.

普瑞德:(起立，狂怒，持否定態(tài)度)我不相信。我是個藝術家，我不能相信你的話，我拒絕相信你的觀點，這只能說明你還不明白藝術會向你展現(xiàn)一個怎樣的世界。

Vivie:Yes I have. Last May spent six weeks in London with Honoria Fraser. Mamma thought we were doing a round of sightseeing together; but I was really at Honoria's chambers in Chancery Lane every day, working away at actuarial calculations for her, and helping her as well as a greenhorn could. In the evenings we smoked and talked，and never dreamt of going out except for exercise. And I never enjoyed myself more in my life. I cleared all my expenses and got initiated into the business without a fee in the bargain

薇薇:不，我明白。從五月份以來，我和霍諾里婭·弗蕾澤一起在倫敦住了個星期。媽媽以為我們一塊觀光游玩呢，但其實，每天我都在大法庭巷的霍諾里婭律師事務所里為她做保險精算工作，竭盡一個新手的全力來幫她做事。晚上我們一起吸煙、聊天，除非為了鍛煉身體，不然我們根本不想出門。那是我生活中最快樂的時光。我沒付什么費用就賺夠了我的學費，也初步了解了這個行業(yè)。

Praed: But bless my heart and soul，Miss Warren，do you call that discovering art?

普瑞德:可是，上帝啊，華倫小姐，你覺得你那樣就是知曉了生活的藝術了嗎?

Vivie: Wait a bit. That wasn't the beginning. i went up to town on an invitation from some artistic people in Fitzjohn's Avenue:one of the girls was a Newnham chum. They took me to the National Gallery-

薇薇:等一下，那時還沒有。后來我受一些弗里茲約翰街藝界人士的邀請到倫敦去，其中一個女孩是我在妞漢姆的好友。他們帶我去 參觀國家美術館—

Praed: (approving) Ah! (He sits down，much relieved)

普瑞德:(表示贊賞)啊!(他坐下來，感到很欣慰)

Vivie: (continuing)-to the Opera-

薇薇:(繼續(xù)說)去劇院—

Praed: (still more pleased) Good!

普瑞德:(更加高興了)好!

Vivie: And to a concert where the band played all the evening: Beethoven and Wagner and so on. I wouldn't go through that experience again for anything you could offer me. I held oui for civility's sake until the third day; and then l said, plump out, that I couldn't stand any more of it, and went off to Chancery Lane. Now you know the sort of perfectly splendid modern young lady I am. How do you think I shall get on with my mother?

薇薇:還去了音樂會，整個晚上聽樂隊演奏貝多芬、瓦格納等。無論你給我任何好處，我都不想再過那樣的生活了。出于禮貌，我堅持到了第三天，后來我忍無可忍，直接說，我再也忍受不了了，然后回到了大法庭巷?，F(xiàn)在你知道我是怎樣一個漂亮十足的現(xiàn)代女性了吧。你覺得我會和母親相處得如何呢?

Praed:(startled) Well，I hope-er-

普瑞德:(驚訝地)嗯，我希望—嗯—

Vivie: It's not so much what you hope as what you believe that I want to know.

薇薇:我想知道你認為事實會怎樣，而不是你希望它怎樣。

Praed: Well，frankly, I am afraid your mother will be a little disappointed. Not from any shortcoming on your part, you know: I don't mean that. But you are so different from her ideal.

普瑞德:嗯，坦率地說，我恐怕你媽媽會感到失望的。我不是說你有什么缺點，而是說你跟她理想中的女兒太不一致了。

Vivie: Her what?

薇薇:她的什么?

Praed: Her ideal.

普瑞德:她理想的女兒。

Vivie: Do you mean her ideal of me?

薇薇:你是指她理想中我的樣子嗎。

Praed : Yes.

普瑞德:是的。

Vivie: What on earth is it like?

薇薇:她期待我怎樣呢，

Praed: Well，you must have observed，Miss Warren，that people who are dissatisfied with their own bringing一up generally think that the world would be all right if everybody were to be brought up quite differently. Now your mother's life has been-er-I suppose you know-

普瑞德:嗯，華倫小姐，你肯定已經(jīng)注意到了，對自己所受的教育不滿意的人一般都會認為，如果每個人接受了不同的教育方式，這世界就會安然無恙了?，F(xiàn)在你母親的生活—嗯—我想你應該知道—

Vivie: Don't suppose anything，Mr Praed. I hardly know my mother. Since I was a child I have lived in England，at school or at college, or with people paid to take charge of me. I have been boarded out all my life. My mother has lived in Brussels or Vienna and never let me go to her. I only see her when she visits England for a few days. I don't complain:it's been very pleasant;for people have been very good to me;and there has always been plenty of money to make things smooth. But don't imagine I know anything about my mother. I know far less than you do.

薇薇:不要假定什么，普瑞德先生。我并不怎么了解我的母親。從小我在英格蘭，住在學校了，和被雇傭來照顧我的人一起。我一直寄宿在外。媽媽住在布魯塞爾或維也納。從沒讓我到她那里去過。只有當她來英格蘭的那幾天，我才能見得到她。我不是在抱怨，因為這樣也很好。大家對我都很好，我也有足夠的錢過富足的生活。但別指望我對母親有什么了解，在這點上，我遠比不上你。

Praed: (very ill at ease) In that case-(He stops，quite at a loss. Then, with a forced attempt at gaiety) But what nonsense we are talking! Of course you and your mother will get on capitally. (He rises, and looks abroad at the view.)What a charming little place you have here!

普瑞德:(很不自在地)那么說—(他停下來，很茫然。然后，又蓄意佯裝快樂地)我們談這些真沒勁!當然你會和媽媽相處得很好啦。(他站起來，看看四周的景色)你這里的景色真美啊!

Vivie: (unmoved) Rather a violent change of subject, Mr Praed.Why won't my mother's life bear being talked about?

薇薇:(不為所動)普瑞德先生，您的話題轉(zhuǎn)變得可真快啊!為什么您不能忍受我們談論我媽媽的生活呢?

Praed : Oh，you mustn't say that. Isn't it natural that I should have a certain delicacy in talking to my old friend's daughter about her behind her back? You and she will have plenty of opportunity of talking about it when she comes.

普瑞德:哦，你千萬別這么說。你不覺得在一個老朋友的背后跟她的女兒談話時，應該識趣一點兒嗎?這不是很自然的事嗎，等你媽媽回來了，你們會有很多的時間說這事的。

Vivie: No, she won't talk about it either. (rising) However, I dare say you have good reasons for telling me nothing. Only, mind this，Mr Praed，I expect there will be a battle royal when my mother hears of my Chancery Lane project.

薇薇:不，她會避而不談的。(站起身)不過呢，我敢說你這么做一定是有原因的。但是，普瑞德先生，我得提醒您一下，我媽媽得知我的大法庭巷工作計劃時，我們之間免不了會有一場戰(zhàn)爭的。

Praed: (ruefullyl I'm afraid there will.

普瑞德:(表示同情地)恐怕是這樣。

Vivie: Well, I shall win because I want nothing but my fare to London to start there tomorrow earning my own living by devilling for Honoria. Besides, I have no mysteries to keep up; and it seems she has. I shall use that advantage over her if necessary.

薇薇:哦，我一定要直，因為我只想得到去倫敦的車費，然后在那里給霍諾里婭當助手，自食其力。再說了，我沒什么隱私需要保護，可她好像是有的。必要時我會利用這點來要挾她。

Praed: (greatly shocked) Oh no! No, pray. You'd not do such a thing.

普瑞德:(大驚失色)不，不，不要。請你千萬不要這么做。

Vivie: Then tell me why not.

薇薇:告訴我為什么不能。

Praed: I really cannot. I appeal to your good feeling. (She smiles at his sentimentality)Besides, you may be too bold. Your mother is not to be trifled with when she's angry.

普瑞德:我不能說，請你原諒。(她笑他的多情)再說了，你可能說話太魯莽了。你母親生起氣來，那可非同小可啊。

Vivie: You can't frighten me，Mr Praed. In that month at Chancery Lane I had opportunities of taking the measure of one or two women very like my mother. You may back me to win. But if I hit harder in my ignorance than I need，remember it is you who refuse to enlighten me. Now, let us drop the subject. (She takes her chair and replaces it near the hammock with the same vigorous swing as before.)

薇薇:別嚇我，普瑞德先生。在大法庭巷那會兒，我曾經(jīng)有過一兩次機會和我母親這樣的人打文道。您可以支持我勝過我媽媽。可是如果我出于無知，對媽媽打擊得過于猛烈了，那就是你拒絕教導的緣故了。好了，我們先不說這些了。(她搬起椅子，跟以前一樣嫂地一聲，用力地把椅子又放在吊床附近)

Praed:(taking a desperate resolution) One word，Miss Warren. I had better tell you. It's very difficult; but-

普瑞德:(痛下決心)我就一句話，華倫小姐，我必須告訴你。這很難，可是—

(Mrs Warren and Sir George Crofts arrive at the gate. Mrs Warren is between 40 and 50，formerly pretty, showily dressed in a brilliant hat and a gay blouse fitting tightly over her bust and flanked by fashionable sleeves. Rather spoilt and domineering，and decidedly vulgar, but, on the whole, a genial and fairly presentable old blackguard of a woman.)

(華倫夫人和喬治·科洛夫茲先生到達大門口。華倫夫人約摸四五十歲，看得出來以前很漂亮，她穿著華麗，戴著一頂華麗的帽子，襯衫色澤鮮艷，緊束著胸部，衣袖款式時魔。因一貫受寵而極具威嚴感。又毫無疑問透著一絲俗氣，但總體來說，是一個脾氣還算溫和且外貌得體的潑辣女子)

(Crofts is a tall powerfully-built man of about 50, fashionably dressed in the style of a young man. Nasal voice，reedier than might be expected from his strong frame. Clean shaven bulldog jaws， large flat ears，and thick neck:gentlemanly combination of the most brutal types of city man，sporting man and man about town.)

(科洛夫茲是個五十歲左右的高個子男人，體型寬闊，衣著樣式跟年輕人一樣入時。說話有鼻音，嗓音相對他的強壯身體來說略顯尖細。下巴尖尖的，胡須刮得很干凈，耳朵碩大而扁平，脖子很粗。紳士氣派。其實卻是最為粗暴的城里男人、運動型男人和鄉(xiāng)村男人的結合體)

Vivie: Here they are. (coming to them as they enter the garden) How do, mother? Mr Praed's been here this half hour, waiting for you.

薇薇:他們來了。(他們進入花園，薇薇迎上去)您好嗎，媽媽?普瑞德先生已經(jīng)來了有半個小時了，一直在等您。

Mrs Warren:Well，if you've been waiting，Praddy，it’s your own fault: I thought you'd have had the gumption to know I was coming by the 3:10 train. Put your hat on，dear:you' II get sunburnt. Oh，I forgot to introduce you. Sir George Crofts:my little Vivie.

華倫夫人:哦，普瑞德，你一直在等我，那就是你的不是了，我想你應該知道我會乘3點10分的火車吧。親愛的薇薇，戴上帽子，不然你會被太陽曬傷的。噢，忘了給你介紹，喬治·科洛夫茲爵士，這是我的女兒薇薇。

(Crofts advances to Vivie with his most courtly manner. She nods，but makes no motion to shake hands.)

(科洛夫茲大步走向薇薇，宮廷禮儀意味濃重。她點點頭，但沒有要握手的意)

Crofts:May I shake hands with a young lady whom I have known by reputation very long as the daughter of one of my oldest friends?

科洛夫茲:我可以榮幸地和我的一位老朋友的女兒—我久仰的一位年輕女士握手嗎?

Vivie: (who has been looking him up and down sharply) If you like. (She takes his tenderly prof erred hand and gives it a squeeze that makes him open his eyes;then turns away，and says to her mother) Will you come in，or shall I get a couple more chairs? (She goes into the porch for the chairs.)

薇薇:(上上下下仔細打f他)如果你愿意?！犊坡宸蚱澫壬鷾厝岬厣斐龅氖?，被薇薇捏了一下，使他忽然睜大了眼睛。然后薇薇轉(zhuǎn)過身對她的媽媽說)你們要進來嗎?還是我再去搬幾把椅子?(她去門廊取椅子)

Mrs Warren: Well, George, what do you think of her?

華倫夫人:囑，喬治，你覺得我女兒怎么樣?

Crofts: (ruefully) She has a powerful fist. Did you shake hands with her, Praed?

科洛夫茲:(愁苦地)她的手可真有勁兒啊。普瑞德，你和她握手沒有?

Praed: Yes:it will pass off presently.

普瑞德:握了。你的手痛很快就會好的。

Crofts: I hope so. (Vivie reappears with two more chairs. He hurries to her assistance.)Allow me.

科洛夫茲:希望如此吧。(薇薇拿了兩把椅子上場。他立刻去幫忙)讓我來吧。

Mrs Warren:(patronizingly) Let Sir George help you with the chairs，dear.

華倫夫人:(傲慢地)親愛的，讓喬治爵士幫你吧。

Vivie: (pitching them into his arms) Here you are. (She dusts her hands and turns to Mrs Warren.) You'd like some tea, wouldn't you?

薇薇:(把椅子扔到喬治懷里，并拍了拍手上的灰塵，轉(zhuǎn)向華倫夫人)

Mrs Warren: (sitting in Praed's chair and fanning herself) I'm dying for a drop to drink.

年倫夫人:(坐在普瑞德的椅子上，自己扇著扇子)我真口渴極了。

Vivie: I'll see about it. (She goes into the cottage.)(Sir George has by this time managed to unfold a chair and plant it by Mrs Warren, on her left. He throws the other on the grass and sits down，looking dejected and rather foolish，with the handle of his stick in his mouth. Praed, still very uneasy, fidgets around the garden on their right.)

薇旅:我來倒水。(她走進別墅)(喬治爵士此時很費勁地打開了一把椅子，放在華倫夫人的左側(cè)。他把另一把椅子擱在草地上，坐下來，神情沮喪、嘴里咬著手杖把兒，蠢蠢的樣子。普瑞德，還是焦躁不安，在他們右側(cè)來回地踱步)

Mrs Warren: (to Praed, looking at Crofts) Just look at him，Praddy: he looks cheerful, don't he? He's been worrying my life out these three years to have that little girl of mine shewn to him; and now that I've done it, he's quite out of countenance. (briskly) Come! sit up, George;and take your stick out of your mouth. (Crofts sulkily obeys.)

華倫夫人:(對普瑞德說話，看著科洛夫茲)普瑞德，你看看他。他這人很好笑是吧?三年來，他總是纏著要我把女兒介紹他認識，快把我逼瘋了;現(xiàn)在他終于見到薇薇了，又做出這副無精打采、可憐兮兮的樣子。(迅速地)來，喬治，坐直，別再咬你的手杖了。(科洛夫茲蔫蔫地照她的話做了)

Praed: I think, you know-if you don't mind my saying so- that we had better get out of the habit of thinking of her as a little girl. You see she has really distinguished herself; and I'm not sure, from what I have seen of her, that she is not younger than any of us.

普瑞德:我想，你知道—如果你不介意我這樣說的話—我們最好改掉老拿她當小孩子看的毛病。你瞧，她確實已經(jīng)非常出色了，而且就我的觀察來看，恐怕她比我們中的任何人都要成熟。

Practising Exercise 實戰(zhàn)提升

作者介紹

喬治·蕭伯納(George Bernard Shaw，愛爾蘭劇作家，1925年因為作品具有理想主義和人道主義而獲諾貝爾文學獎，是英國現(xiàn)代杰出的現(xiàn)實主義戲劇作家，是世界著名的搜長幽默與諷刺的語言大師。

核心單詞

slightly 輕微地;稍微地

anxiety 焦慮，掛念

strain 曲解

arithmetic 算術，計算

immensely 極大地;廣大地;無限地

opposite 相反的，對立的