經(jīng)典英語戲劇劇本：理查德?布林斯萊?謝里丹-造謠學(xué)校

The School for Scandal造謠學(xué)校

ActI

第一幕

(Lady Sneerwell at her dressing table with Lappet)

(史妮薇女士和女仆拉匹特在她的梳妝臺前)

(Miss Verjuice drinking chocolate)

(沃竺思小姐在喝巧克力飲料)

Lady Sneerwell: The Paragraphs, you say, were all inserted?

史妮旅女士:你把那些段落都加進去了嗎，

Verjuice: They were, Madam, and as I copied them myself in a feigned Hand，there can be no suspicion whence they came.

沃竺思:都加進去了，女士。我親自抄的，筆跡都是模仿的，看到那些段落誰也不會懷疑它們的出處

Lady Sneerwell: Did you circulate the Report of Lady Britfle's intrigue with Captain Boastall.?

史妮薇女士:你散播了布麗泰爾小姐跟波斯特爾上尉的絆聞了嗎?

Verjuice: Madam，by this time Lady Brittle is the talk of half the town，and I doubt not in a week the men will toast her as a demirep.

沃竺思:夫人，現(xiàn)在大半個鎮(zhèn)子都在議論布麗泰爾小姐的事了，我相信用不了一個星期，男人們都會為她這個婚妓干杯了。

Lady Sneerwell: What have you done as to the insinuation as to a certain Baronet's Lady and a certain Cook.

史妮薇女士:你是怎么把那位男爵和那位廚師的事偷偷傳出去的，

Verjuice:That is in as fine a train as your ladyship could wish. I told the story yesterday to my own maid with directions to communicate it directly to my hairdresser. He I am informed has a brother who courts a Milliners’Prentice in pallmall whose mistress has a first cousin whose sister is feme de Chambre to Mrs Clackit-so that in the common course of things it must reach Mrs Clackit's ears within flour-and-twenty hours and then，you know, the business is as good as done.

沃竺思:正如夫人您的料想，昨天我把這事和我的女仆說了，也暗示她跟我的理發(fā)師交流交流。聽說理發(fā)師有個兄弟正在追求帕爾莫帽店的一個學(xué)徒，那個學(xué)徒的女主人有位很近的堂妹，剛好是克拉吉特夫人的女相好。照這樣發(fā)展下去，用不了二十四小時就會傳到克拉吉特太太的耳朵里。那時候，就正如所愿，一切就大功告成了。

Lady Sneerwell:Why, truly, Mrs Clackit has a very pretty talent, a great deal of industry-yet-yes-been tolerably successful in her way. To my knowledge, she has been the cause of breaking off six matches, of three sons being disinherited and four daughters being turned out of doors, of three several elopements, as many close confinements，nine separate maintenances and two divorces, Nay I have more than once traced her causing a tete--a一tete in the town and country magazine-when the parties perhaps had never seen each other's faces before in the course of their lives.

史妮蔽女士:真的，這個克拉吉特夫人真是個了不起的天才啊，干了一大堆的好事，而且，她辦的那點事啊，還挺成功的。據(jù)我所知，就因為她，六對戀人分手了，三個兒子被剝奪了繼承權(quán)，四個女兒被逐出家門，三五個私奔了，還有那么幾個給關(guān)禁閉了，九家維特分居，兩家離婚了。不僅如此，我還多次聽說她在鎮(zhèn)上和《國家雜志》引起對質(zhì)，可當時雙方還都素昧平生。

Verjuice: She certainly has talents.

沃竺思:在那些方面，她真是個天才。

Lady Sneerwell: But her manner is gross.

史妮蔽女士:可她太粗俗了。

Verjuice: This very true. She generally designs well，has a free tongue and a bold invention;but her colouring is too dark and her outline often extravagant. She wants that delicacy of tint, and mellowness of sneer, which distinguish your Ladyship's Scandal.,

沃竺思:那倒是真的。她通常盤算得很周全，而且快人快語、大膽創(chuàng)新，可是，色澤太晦暗，輪廓往往太夸張。她的線條不夠細致，譏諷的手法也欠圓滑。這才顯示出夫人您造謠的水平啊。

Lady Sneerwell: Ah! You are partial, Verjuice.

史妮蔽女士:哈，沃竺思，這倒是真的。

Verjuice:Not in the least;everybody allows that lady Sneerwell can do more with a word or a look than many can with the most laboured detail，even when they happen to have a little truth on their side to support it.

沃竺思:還不止啊。大家都知道，別人即使有事實支持，也得費上九牛二虎之力。而您，史妮薇女士，只需開個口，瞧一眼就行。

Lady Sneerwell:Yes，my dear Verjuice. I am no hypocrite to deny the satisfaction I reap from the success of my efforts. Wounded myself, in the early part of my life，by the envenomed tongue of slander, I confess I have since known no to the reducing others to the level of my own injured pleasure equal reputation.

史妮筱女士:是啊，親愛的沃竺思，我可不是偽君子，我不否認能從努力中收獲成功，我挺滿足的。前半生，在誹謗的毒害中自己也受過傷害。我承認，從我名譽被敗壞的那時起，就想把別人都糟蹋得跟我一樣，沒有什么比這更快樂的了。

Verjuice:Nothing can be more natural. But, my dear lady Sneerwell，there is one affair in which you have lately employed me, wherein，I confess I am at a loss to guess your motives.

沃竺思:這是最自然不過的了?？墒俏易鹁吹氖纺蒉迸?，您最近找我去辦的那件差事，老實說，我實在猜不透你的動機何在?

Lady Sneerwell:I conceive you mean with respect to my neighbour, Sir Peter Teazle, and his family-Lappet. And has my conduct in this matter really appeared to you so mysterious?

史妮薇女士:你指的是我的鄰居—彼德·狄索爵士和他家人，拉匹特吧?這件事上我的表現(xiàn)，讓你真的覺得那么神秘?

Verjuice:Entirely so.

沃竺思:就是的啊。

Lady Sneerwell: An old Batchelor as sir Peter was, having taken a young wife from out of the country-as Lady Teazle is-are certainly fair subjects for a little mischievous raillery;but here are two young men，to whom sir Peter has acted as a kind of guardian since their father's death, the eldest possessing the most amiable character and universally well spoken of，the youngest, the most dissipated and extravagant young fellow in the kingdom，without

friends or character-the former one an avowed admirer of yours and apparently your favourite, the latter attached to Maria sir Peter's ward，and confessedly beloved by her.

史妮筱女士:像彼德·狄索爵士這樣的老光棍，從農(nóng)村娶回來一個年輕的妻子，就是狄索女士，當然是搞惡作劇、開玩笑的好紊材了。但是還有兩個年輕人，自從他們父親去世后，彼德·狄索爵士就擔(dān)起監(jiān)護人的角色。老大個性溫厚，口碑又那么好;那小的呢，是王國里最浪蕩放縱的家伙，既沒朋友也沒氣質(zhì)。前者公開承認拜倒在您的石榴裙下，也顯然是您的意中人。小的鉆上了瑪麗婭，彼德爵士的護士。大家都知道她愛他。

Verjuice:Now on the face of these circumstances，it is utterly unaccountable to me, why you，a young widow with no great jointure, should not close with the passion of a man of such character and expectations as Mr Surface;and more so why you should be so uncommonly earnest to destroy the mutual attachment subsisting between his brother Charles and Maria.

沃竺思:面對這一切，我絕對接受不了，你說你一個沒什么遺產(chǎn)的寡婦，為什么就不能熱情地靠近像索菲斯先生這樣有個性和前途的年輕人呢?更可氣的是，為什么你要如此出奇的熱心去破壞他弟弟查理和瑪麗婭兩人之間的感情呢，

Lady Sneerwell:Then at once to unravel this mistery.l must inform you that love has no share whatever in the intercourse between Mr Surface and me.

史妮微女士:現(xiàn)在馬上給你揭曉答案。我必須告訴你:愛是不能分享的，無論我和索菲斯先生如何交往。

Verjuice: No!

沃竺思:不會吧!

Lady Sneerwell:His real attachment is to Maria，or her fortune;but finding in his brother a favoured rival，He has been obliged to mask his pretensions, and profit by my assistance.

史妮薇女士:他真正愛著的是瑪麗婭，或者說是她的財產(chǎn)?？墒?，當他發(fā)現(xiàn)他兄弟是個強勁對手時，只好掩飾企圖，靠我的協(xié)助。

Verjuice: Yet still I am more puzzled why you should interest yourself in his success.

沃竺思:這，我就更糊涂了，你為什么會對他的成功有那么大的興趣?

Lady Sneerwell:Heavens! How dull you are! Cannot you surmise the weakness which I hitherto，thro’shame have concealed even from you?Must I confess that Charles- that Libertine，that extravagant，that bankrupt in fortune and reputation- that he it is for whom I am thus anxious and malicious and to gain whom I would sacrifice eveything.

史妮薇女士:天啊!好笨啊你!現(xiàn)如今你都猜不出我的弱點，多丟人啊!要不我怎么連你都隱瞞啊，非要我承認，查爾斯，那個放蕩、奢侈、窮困潦倒、聲名狼藉的家伙，就是他搞得我心神不寧、耿耿于懷的，為把他搞到手，我愿意碩牲一切。

Verjuice: Now indeed, your conduct appears consistent and I no longer wonder at your enmity to Maria, but how came you and Mr Surface so confidential?

沃竺思:這么說，你的行為看起來就一致了，我也不再懷疑你對瑪麗婭的敵意了。但是你和索菲斯又怎么能如此推心置腹呢，

Lady Sneerwell: For our mutual interest-but I have found out him a tong time since, altho' he has contrived to deceive everybody beside. I know him to be artful selfish and malicious-while with sir Peter, and indeed with all his acquaintance, he passes for a youthful miracle of prudence-good sense and benevolence.

史妮薇女士:為了我們相互的利益啊，我可已經(jīng)注意他很久了。他這個人狡猾、自私而且惡毒。簡單地說，是個滿嘴道德的無賴;布彼德爵士和認識他的人竟然以為他是個謹慎、有良知、心腸慈善的青年楷模。

Verjuice: Yes yes-I know sir Peter vows he has not his equal in England;and, above all, He praises him as a man of sentiment.

沃竺思:是的，是的，我知道彼德爵士曾說:英國找不到像他這樣的人。而且，最重要的是，他還自詡是個多愁善感的人。

Lady Sneerwell: True and with the assistance of his sentiments and hypocrisy he has brought sir Peter entirely in his interests with respect to Maria and is now I believe attempting to flatter Lady Teazle into the same good opinion towards him--while poor Charles has no friend in the house-though I fear he has a powerful one in Maria's heart, against whom we must direct our schemes.

史妮薇女士:真的，在他的多愁善感和偽善的幫助下，他徹底贏得了彼德爵士的歡心和瑪麗婭的尊重。我現(xiàn)在相信他又在企圖討好狄索女士對他產(chǎn)生同樣的好感。但是，可憐的查爾斯在那家里沒有朋友，盡管我害怕他在瑪麗婭心中很有分量，我們必須把矛頭對準瑪麗婭。

Servant: Mr Surface.

仆人:索菲斯先生來了。

Lady Sneerwell:Show him up. He generally calls about this time. I don't wonder at people's giving him to me for a lover.

史妮薇女士:請他進來。他通常在這個時候來看我。別人把他當做我的情人，我并不覺得奇怪。

(Enter Surface)

(索菲斯上場)

Surface: My dear Lady Sneerwell，how do you do today?

索菲斯:親愛的史妮薇女士，您今天好嗎?

Lady Sneerwell: Verjuice has just been arraigning me on our mutual attachment now; but I have informed her of our real views and the purposes for which our geniuses at present cooperate. You know him how useful he has been to us;and believe me, the confidence is not ill-placed.

史妮薇女士:沃竺思剛剛還拿我們之間的關(guān)系說笑呢。不過，我把我們現(xiàn)在合作的真正意圖告訴他了。你知道嗎，她對我們會很有幫助的，相信我，信任她是不會錯的。

Surface: Madam，it is impossible for me to suspect that a wan of Miss Verjuice's sensibility and discernment-

索菲斯:女士，我不可能懷疑像沃竺思小姐這種人的敏感度和洞察力。

Lady Sneerwell: Well-well-no compliments now; but tell me when you saw your mistress or what is more material to me,your brother.

史妮旅女士:好啦，好啦，別恭維啦。那告訴我，你看到你情婦怎么樣了，要不給我說點更重要的，你兄弟怎么樣啊?

Surface; I have not seen either since I saw you-but I can inform you that they are at present at variance-some of your stories have taken good effect on Maria.

索菲斯:自從上次跟您分開以后，我沒再碰到他們兩人中的任何一位。不過，我可以向您報告，他們也沒有再見面。現(xiàn)在您的那些故事已經(jīng)對瑪麗婭起作用了。

Lady Sneerwell: Ah! my dear Surface the merit of this belongs to you. But do your brother's distresses increase?

史妮蔽女士:哈!親愛的索菲斯，這都歸功于你啊。但是你兄弟的悲痛增加了嗎，

Surface: Every hour. I am told he had another execution in his house yesterday-in short his dissipation and extravagance exceed anything I have ever heard of.

索菲斯:每時每刻。有人告訴我，昨天他在家里又有所作為了?？傊姆攀幒蛽]霍真是前所未聞。

Lady Sneerwell: Poor Charles!

史妮薇女士:可憐的查爾斯，

Surface: True madam-notwithstanding his vices one can't help feeling for him-ah poor Charles! I'm sure I wish it was in my power to be of any essential service to him-for the man who does not share in the distresses of a brother-even though merited by his own misconduct-deserves-

索菲斯:真的，夫人。盡管他壞，可是人們還是不由得要同情他。咳!可憐的查爾斯!我肯定還是希望在我的能力范圍之內(nèi)，能夠給予他必要的幫助，盡管我這人不會分擔(dān)兄弟的悲痛，盡管他是咎由自取，罪有應(yīng)得。

Lady Sneerwell: O lud! You are going to be moral，and forget that you are among friends.

史妮薇女士:噢，上帝啊，你又開始講仁義道德了，忘了咱們是一丘之貉了。

Surface: Egad, that's true-I'll keep that sentiment till I see sir Peter. However it is certainly a charity to rescue Maria from such a libertine who, if he is to be reclaim'd, can be so only by a person of your ladyship's superior accomplishments and understanding.

索菲斯:哎呀，那是。我還是把這份感情留到見了彼德爵士再說吧。把瑪麗婭從這樣一個花花公子身邊拯救出來，的確是件善事?？伤绻倪^向善，也只有仰仗女士您這樣出眾的才華和見識才行。

Verjuice: 'T be a hazardous experiment.

沃竺思:那肯定是一番冒險的經(jīng)歷。

Surface: But-Madam-let me caution you to place no more confidence in our friend Snake the Libeller. I have lately detected him in frequent conference with old Rowland(Rowley)who was formerly my father's steward and has never been a friend of mine.

索菲斯:但是，女士，我要提醒您一下，不要再把信心放在誹謗者、我們的朋友施奈克身上了。我發(fā)現(xiàn)他最近頻繁地跟我父親的老部下老羅利會面。這人可不是我的朋友。

Lady Sneerwell:I’m not disappointed in Snake，I never suspected the fellow to have virtue enough to be faithful even to his own villainy.(Enter Maria) Maria my dear, how do you do, what's the matter?

史妮救女士:我不會對施奈克失望的，我從不懷疑這家伙的品德。這甚至足以讓他忠誠于他自己的惡行。(瑪麗婭上)我親愛的瑪麗婭，你好啊?有什么事嗎?

Maria: O here is that disagreeable lover of mine, Sir Benjamin Backbite, has just call'd at my guardian's with his odious uncle

瑪麗婭:噢，又是那個討人嫌的情人，本杰明·白克貝特。剛才帶著他那討厭的克萊布特里叔叔去拜見我的監(jiān)護人了，

Crabtree; so I slipt out and ran hither to avoid them.

我就溜出來，跑到這里來避一避。

Lady Sneerwell: Is that all?

史妮薇女士:就這樣嗎，

Verjuice: Lady Sneerwell, I'll go and write the letter I mention'd to you.

沃竺思:史妮薇女士，我要去寫剛跟你提過的信了。

Surface: If my brother Charles had been of the party, madam, perhaps you would not have been so much alarmed.

索菲斯:女士，如果我兄弟能在這里，也許你就不會這么驚惶了。

Lady Sneerwell: Nay now-you are severe for I dare swear the truth of the matter is Maria heard you were here;but my dear, what has sir Benjamin done that you should avoid him so?

史妮薇女士:現(xiàn)在不用了。你這話太苛刻了，我敢打賭，實際是，瑪麗婭聽到你在這里啊。親愛的，本杰明爵士對你做了什么，讓你這么回避他。

Maria: Oh he has done nothing-but his conversation is a perpetual libel on all his acquaintance.

瑪麗婭:噢，他也沒做啥，就是總說些誹謗熟人的話。

Surface: Aye and the worst of it is there is no advantage in not knowing them，for he'll abuse a stranger just as soon as his best friend-and Crabtree is as bad.

索菲斯:是啊，最好是不聽，一點兒好處也沒有。即便是他最好的朋友都侮辱，何況是陌生人呢，克萊布特里也好不到哪里去。

Lady Sneerwell:Nay but we should make allowance;Sir Benjamin is a wit and a poet.

史妮薇女士:不好，不過我們也該寬容些，本杰明爵士很聰明，還是位詩人。

Maria: For my part, I own，madam, wit loses its respect with me, when I see it in company with malice. What do you think, Mr Surface?

瑪麗婭:對我來說，作為女人，聰明一旦和怨恨聯(lián)系在一起，就失去我對它的尊重。你怎么看，索菲斯先生，

Surface: Certainly, Madam, to smile at the jest which plants a thorn on another's breast is to become a principal in the mischief.

索菲斯:當然了，女士，對于刺在別人心上的笑話給予附和的微笑，就成了惡意中傷的主謀。

Lady Sneerwell:f Shaw-there's no possibility of being witty without a little ill nature-the malice of a good thing is the Barb that makes it stick.-What's your opinion, Mr Surface?

史妮薇女士:哼，光有智慧沒有個性是不可能的，精妙的陰謀就像倒刺，捅得深，扎掛得也牢。你說呢，索菲斯先生?

Surface: Certainly madam-that conversation where the spirit of raillery is suppressed will ever appear tedious and insipid.

索菲斯:當然了，女士，話中剔除了挖苦的味道，氣氛難免沉悶乏味。

Maria: Well I' II not debate how far scandal may be allowable- but in a man I am sure it is always contemptible.-We have pride， envy, rivalship, and a thousand motives to depreciate each other- but the male-slanderer must have the cowardice of a woman before he can traduce one.

瑪麗婭:好。我不想討論造謠到什么程度才可容忍，但是我相信造謠在人身上總是可鄙的。我們有傲慢、嫉妒、抗爭、還有上千個理由去貶低對方，但是男性造謠中傷者在造謠生事前，也必定像女人一樣的怯懦。

Lady Sneerwell: I wish my cousin Verjuice hadn't left us-he should embrace you.

史妮薇女士:我希望我堂妹沃竺思沒走，她會擁抱你的。

Surface: Ah! she's an old woman and is privileged of course.

索菲斯:啊!她是位老處女，當然也是有特權(quán)的。

(Enter Servant)

(仆人上)

Servant: Madam, Mrs Candour is below and if your ladyship's at leisure will leave her carriage

仆人:夫人，康德爾夫人在下面呢，如果夫人您方便的話，她就下車進來坐一會兒。

Lady Sneerwell:Beg her to walk in. Now, Maria，however here is a character to your taste, for tho’Mrs Candour is a little talkative;everybody allows her to be the best-natured and best sort of woman.

史妮薇女士:請她進來吧?，旣悑I，這回有對你脾氣的了吧?盡管康德爾夫人有點多嘴，大家都認為她是最溫厚的那類好女人。

Maria: Yes with a very gross affectation of good nature and benevolence, she does more mischief than the direct malice of old Crabtree

瑪麗婭:是啊，跟老克萊布特里直白的傷害相比。她貌似的溫厚和仁慈的惡意把人傷害得更厲害。

Surface: Faith 'tis very true lady Sneerwell. Whenever I hear the current running against the characters of my friends，I never think them in such danger as when Candour undertakes their defence.

索菲斯:坦白地說，真是這樣，史妮薇女士，如今我聽我朋友說不少人都是這樣的個性，當坎朵兒在為他們辯護時，我從沒有想到他們是這么危險。

Lady Sneerwell: Hush here she is-

史妮薇女士:噓，她來了—

(Enter Mrs candour)

(康德爾夫人上)

Mrs Candour: My dear Lady sneerwell，how have you been this century? I have never seen you tho' I have heard of you very often一Mr Surface-the world says scandalous things of you- but indeed it is no matter what the world says, for I think one hears nothing else but scandal.

康德爾夫人:親愛的史妮薇女士，好久不見了，盡管經(jīng)常聽人談起你，你過得怎么樣，索菲斯先生，到處都是你的流言蜚語呢，沒什么大不了的，因為我覺得我們聽到的不外乎是些丑聞。

Surtace: Just so, indeed, Ma'am.

索菲斯:真是如此，夫人。

Mrs Candour: Ah Maria child-what is the whole affair off between you and Charles? His extravagance;I presume-The town talks of nothing else-

康德爾夫人:啊，瑪麗婭，我的孩子。你跟查爾斯到底是怎么回事?我想，鎮(zhèn)上人議論的就是他的揮霍無度吧。

Maria: I am very sorry, Ma'am，the town has so little to do.

瑪麗婭:真抱歉，夫人，鎮(zhèn)子上的人真是吃飽了撐的。

Mrs Candour: True，true，child;but there's no stopping people's tongues. I own I was hurt to hear it-as I indeed was to learn from the same quarter that your guardian, sir peter, and lady Teazle have not agreed lately so well as could be wish'd.

康德爾夫人:真的，真是這樣，孩子。別人的嘴巴是封不住的。我承認，我是傷透了心了，因為我真的從那里聽說你的監(jiān)護人，彼德爵士和狄索女士最近也處得不如想象得那么和諧。

Maria: 'Tis strangely impertinent for people to busy themselves so.

瑪麗婭:大家這么愛管閑事，實在豈有此理。

Mrs Candour: Very true, child;but what's to be done? People will talk-there's no preventing it-why it was but yesterday I was told that Miss Gadabout had eloped with Sir Filagree. But, Lord! There is no minding what one hears;tho’to be sure I had this from very good authority.

康德爾夫人:就是的，孩子。但是又能怎樣呢?別人要說，也無法阻止。就在昨天，我怎么聽說蓋德波特小姐跟菲拉格里·菲勒特爵士私奔了。哎呀!聽聽就算了，不過這消息的來源確實可靠。

Maria: Such reports are highly scandalous.

瑪麗婭:這些消息肯定是流言。

Mrs Candour: So they are Child-shameful! Shameful! But the world is so censorious no character escapes. Lord, now! Who would have suspected your friend，Miss Prim，of an indiscretion. Yet such is the ill一nature of people，that they say her uncle stopped her last week just as she was stepping into a post chaise with her dancing-master.

康德爾失人:所以啊，他們就像小孩子一樣不講究。但世人就是這么愛搬弄是非，無人幸免。天哪，誰會懷疑你的朋友—普利姆小姐會有輕浮的舉動啊?？墒侨说谋拘跃褪沁@么壞，他們說上個星期就在她要跟她的跳舞教練乘上馬車時，她叔叔攔住了她。

Maria: I'll answer fort there are no grounds for the report.

瑪麗婭:我敢說，這種謠言是毫無根據(jù)的。

Mrs Candour: Oh，no foundation in the world I dare swear; no more probably than for the story circulated last month，of Mrs Festino's affair with Colonel Cassino-tho’to be sure that matter was never rightly clear'd up

康德爾夫人:噢，我敢說這世界上沒有有根據(jù)的事。再沒有比上個月流傳的法斯狄諾夫人跟卡西諾上校的絳聞更離奇的了。這事還有待澄清。

Surface:The license of invention some people take is monstrous indeed.

索菲斯:有些人肆意造謠，實在可惡。

Maria: 'Tis so but in my opinion，those who report such things are equally culpable.

瑪麗婭:要我看，那些傳播消息的人也該受到譴責(zé)。

Mrs Candour: To be sure they are; tale bearers are as bad as the tale makers-'tis an old observation and a very true one-but what's to be done as I said before-how will you prevent people from talking-today，Mrs Clackitt assured me，Mr and Mrs Honeymoon were at last become mere man and wife-tike the rest of their acquaintance-she likewise hinted that a certain widow in the next street had got rid of her dropsy and recovered her shape in a most surprising manner-at the same time Miss Tattle, who was by affirm'd, that Lord Boffalo had discover'd his lady at a house of no extraordinary fame-and that Sir Harry Bouquet and Tom Saunter were to measure swords on a similar provocation，but-Lord! Do you think I would report these things-No, no! Tale bearers as I said before are just as bad as the talemakers.

康德爾夫人:是該譴責(zé)他們。謠言的傳播者跟制造者一樣壞。這是一句俗話，也是一句真切的話?？墒?，就像我早先說的。你怎能避免別人說三道四呢。今天克拉吉特夫人告訴我，哈尼姆恩夫婦，跟他們認識的人一樣，終于結(jié)為夫妻。她還暗示說，隔街的一位寡婦治好了水腫，用非常驚人的方式恢復(fù)了原型。苔特永小姐就在一旁，她證實，鮑費羅閣下發(fā)現(xiàn)他的女人在一所沒什么名望的房子里。哈利·布克爵士和湯姆·索思特也因受了類似刺激準備去比劍決斗。但是，天哪，我說這些事啊，你們會怎么看我啊，不!不’就像我說過的，謠言的傳播者跟制造者一樣壞。

Surface: Ahl Mrs Candour, if everybody had your forbearance and good nature-

索菲斯:啊，康德爾夫人，要是每個人都跟您一樣自制和善良就好了。

Mrs Candour: I confess，Mr Surface, I cannot bear to hear people traduced behind their backs，and when ugly circumstances come out against our acquaintances I own I always love to think the best-by the way，! hope 'tis not true that your brother is absolutely ruin'd

康德爾夫人:我承認，索菲斯先生，我無法容忍背后中傷人。要是有人傳我熟人的惡言惡語，我總往好處想。順便說一下，你弟弟非常墮落的話不是真的吧?

Surface: I am afraid his circumstances are very bad indeed， Ma'am-

索菲斯:我擔(dān)心他的情況可能真的會很糟，夫人。

Mrs Candour; Ah! I heard so-but you must tell him to keep up his spirits-everybody almost is in the same way-Lord Spindle, Sir Thomas Splint，Captain Quinze，and Mr Nickit-all up, I hear, within this week:so，if Charles is undone，he’II find half his acquaintance ruin 'd too, and that, you know, is a consolation-

康德爾夫人:啊t我聽說是的?？墒?，你一定要叫他振作起來。每個人的處境幾乎都相同，像斯賓德爾閣下、托馬斯·斯普林特爵士、奎恩茲上尉，還有尼克特先生都經(jīng)歷過。光這個星期，我就聽到了這么多。要是查爾斯垮了，他會發(fā)現(xiàn)他有一半熟人也都毀了。要知道，那樣會使他心里好受些。

Surface: Doubtless，Ma'am-a very great one.

索菲斯:毫無疑問，夫人，真是千真萬確。

(Enter Servant)

(仆人上)

Servant: Mr Crabtree and Sir Benjamin Backbite.

仆人:克萊布特里先生和本杰明·白克貝特爵士來了。

Lady Sneerwell:Oh! Maria, you see your lover pursues you- positively you shan't escape.

史妮薇女士:噢，瑪麗婭，看啊，你情人都追到這兒來了。這回你可逃不掉了。

(Enter Crabtree and Sir Benjamin backbite)

(克萊布特里先生和本杰明·白克貝特爵士上)

Crabtree:Lady Sneerwell，I kiss your hand. Mrs Candour I don't believe you are acquainted with my nephew Sir Benjamin Backbite-Egad, Ma'am，he has a pretty wit-and is a pretty poet too isn't he lady Sneerwell ?

克萊布特里:史妮薇女士，請允許我吻您的手。康德爾夫人，我看您不認識我侄子本杰明·白克貝特爵士吧。夫人!他非常聰明，是個出色的詩人，對吧，史妮薇女士，

Sir Benjamin:Ofie，undcle!

本杰明醉士:呸!叔叔!

Crabtree: Jay it’s true-I back him at a rebus or a charade against the best rhymer in the Kingdom-has your ladyship heard the Epigram he wrote last week on Lady Frizzles feather catching fire' Do Benjamin eat it-or the charade you made last night extempore at Mrs Drowzie's conversazione? Come now;your First is the name of a fish，your second a great naval commander-and .....

克萊布特里:哎喲，是真的。我曾經(jīng)在猜畫謎，還是寫字謎比賽的場合支持他跟全國的押韻高手過招。夫人，您聽說上周他以弗莉鎖女士的羽飾著火為題寫了一首諷刺短詩嗎?本杰明重復(fù)一遍，要不說說你昨晚在德魯茨聚會上即興的手勢謎也行。來吧，先來個魚的名稱，再來個偉大的海軍總司令，還有··

Sir Benjarmin:Dear Uncle-now-prithee-

本杰明爵士:親愛的叔叔，求你了。

Crabtree: Eraith;Ma'am-'t would surprise you to hear how ready he is at mll these things.

克萊布特里:的確，夫人，您聽到會吃驚的，這方面，他才思敏捷。

Lady Sneerwea:! wonder, Sir Benjamin，you never publish anything.

史妮薇女士:我想本杰明爵士的詩還從沒出版過吧?

Sir Benjamin:To say truth，Ma'am，'tis very vulgar to print and as my little productions are mostly Satires and Lampoons I find they circuiate more by giving copies in confidence to the friends of the parties一however I have some love一elegies，which when favoured with this lady's smile I mean to give to the public.(poiting to Maria)

本杰明西士:說真的，夫人，出版了就俗了。并且，由于拙著大半是針對特定人物而寫的諷刺詩和打油詩，我覺得在聚會時私下發(fā)給親朋好友看看，會流傳得更廣些。不過，我有一些愛情哀歌，如果這位小姐肯報以微笑，我也愿意公諸于眾。(朝向瑪麗婭)

Crabtree: Fore Heaven，ma'am they'll immortalize you- you'll be handed down to posterity, like Petrarch's Laura，or Walter's Sacharissa.

克萊布特里:老天啊，夫人，這會讓您永垂不朽的。您會像彼特拉克筆下的勞拉或沃勒筆下的薩卡里莎一樣流芳百世的。

Sir Benjamin:Yes madam，I think you will like them-when you shall see in a beautiful quarto page how a neat rivulet of text shall meander thro'a meadow of margin-'fore Gad，they will be the most elegant things of their kind!

本杰明爵士:是的，夫人，您會喜歡的。您在精美的四開本上看到，整潔的文字像溪水般順著沃野的岸緣蜿蜒地潺潺流過。上帝啊，那會是詩歌里最雅致的部分!

Crabtree: But ladies, have you heard the news?

克萊布特里:可是，女士們，你們知道嗎，

Mrs Candour: What, sir, do you mean the report of-

康德爾夫人:什么，先生，你說的是……

Crabtree: No ma'am that's not it一Miss Nicely is going to be married to her own footman.

克萊布特里:沒啥，夫人，也沒什么的。奈思麗小姐要下嫁給跟班的事。

Mrs Candour: Impossible!

康德爾夫人:不可能!

Crabtree: Ask Sir Benjamin.

克萊布特里:你問本杰明爵士。

Sir Benjamin:'Tis very true, Ma'am-everything is fixed and the wedding livery bespoke.

本杰明爵士:是真的，夫人。一切都已定下來了，結(jié)婚禮服也訂制好了。

Crabtree: Yes and they say there were pressing reasons fort.

克萊布特里:是啊，據(jù)說還有緊迫的理由呢。

Mrs Candour: It cannot be-and I wonder any one should believe such a story of so prudent a lady as Miss Nicely.

康德爾夫人:不會吧，我懷疑誰會相信奈思麗小姐這么謹慎的人會做這種事。

Sir Benjamin: O Lud! ma'am，that's the very reason 't was believed at once. She has always been so cautious and so reserved, that everybody was sure there was some reasons for it at bottom.

本杰明爵士:噢，天啊，夫人，這才是讓人立刻就相信的理由。她是那么謹慎、那么保守，所以大家都確定到底還是有理由的。

Lady Sneerwell:Yes，a tale of scandal is as fatal to the reputation of a prudent lady of her stamp as a fever is generally to those of the strongest constitutions, but there is a sort of puny sickly reputation，that is always ailing yet will outlive the robuster characters of a hundred prudes.

史妮薇女士:哎喲，說真的，瞎編的謠言對她這種謹言慎行的人來說，就如同熱病對體格強壯的人一樣致命。和一百個假正經(jīng)的女人相比，有些人的聲譽就像體制弱的人，越是生病，越是能抗過精力旺盛、體質(zhì)健壯的人。

Sir Benjamin:True，Madam，there are valetudinarians in reputation as well as constitution-who being conscious of their weak part, avoid the least breath of air, and supply their want of stamina by care and circumspection-

本杰明晚士:真是的，夫人，有些人生怕名譽受損就像怕知道自己身體有弱點的人一樣，盡量避免風(fēng)吹草動，而以細心照料來補給所需的活力。

Mrs Candour: Well but this may be all mistake-You know, Sir Benjamin very trifling circumstances often give rise to the most injurious tales.

康德爾夫人:哦，可是這也許全是錯的。本杰明爵士，您可知道:芝麻小事往往變成最具殺傷力的謠言。

Crabtree: That they do I’II be sworn Ma'am--did you ever hear how Miss Shepherd came to lose her lover and her character last summer at Tunbridge-Sir Benjamin you remember it-

克萊布特里:我發(fā)誓，夫人，是那么回事。您聽說過塞博爾德小姐是怎么失去她的情人的嗎，她去年夏天在特恩布里奇的什么性格嗎?本杰明爵士你還記得吧。

Sir Benjamin: O to be sure the most whimsical circumstance-

本杰明爵士:噢，—那真是一樁最古怪不過的事了。

Lady Sneerwell:How was it pray-

史妮蔽女士:請問，是怎么了，

Crabtree: Why, one evening，at Mrs Ponto's assembly, the conversation happened to turn on the difficulty of breeding Nova一 Scotia sheep in this country-says a young lady in company "I have known instances of it-for Miss Letitia shepherd, a first cousin of mine，had a Nova-Scotia Sheep that produced her twins”"What!” cries the old dowager Lady Dundizzy (Who you know is as deaf as a post)，"has Miss Letitia Shepherd had twins”-This mistake-as you may imagine，threw the whole company into a fit of laughing. However, 't was the next morning everywhere reported and in a few days believed by the whole town，that Miss Letitia Shepherd had actually been brought to bed of a fine boy and girl-and in less than a week there were people who could name the father, and the farm house where the babies were put out to nurse.

克萊布特里:說什么有個晚上在潘桃太太家中聚會的時候，話題湊巧轉(zhuǎn)到國內(nèi)新英格蘭綿羊生產(chǎn)的事。在場的一位年輕女士說:‘’我知道一些實例，因為我一位堂妹莉堤迪雅·派普小姐養(yǎng)的一頭新蘇格蘭綿羊，一胎生了兩頭。”“什么”道爾杰·鄧迪吉女士失聲叫道(你們知道她是個很重聽的人)“派普小姐生了雙胞胎，” 你們可以想象得到，這種誤會當場就引起了哄堂大笑?？墒?，就在第二天早上，這件事到處傳揚;沒過幾天，全城的人都以為莉緩迪雅。派普小姐真的生了一對漂亮的雙胞胎;不到一個星期，就有人叫出了孩子的父親，還說孩子交給護士寄養(yǎng)在一個農(nóng)場的房子里。

Lady Sneerwell: Strange indeed!

史妮薇女士:太奇妙了!

Crabtree: Matter of fact, I assure you-O Lud! Mr Surface pray is it true that your uncle Sir Oliver is coming home?

克萊布特里:千真萬確，我向你保證。哎喲，索菲斯先生，聽說你叔叔奧里弗爵士要回來了，是真的嗎?

Surface: Not that I know of indeed Sir.

索菲斯:我真的不知道，爵士。

Crabtree: He has been in the East Indies a long time-you can scarcely remember him-I believe-sad comfort on his arrival to hear how your brother has gone on!

克萊布特里:他在東印度群島很長時間了，你根本不記得他。我相信，要是光聽聽他弟弟干的那點事，就夠他難過的了。

Surface: Charles has been imprudent sir to be sure; but I hope no busy people have already prejudiced Sir Oliver against him-He may reform.

索菲斯:查爾斯是魯莽，真的，不過，我倒希望好管閑事的人要使奧里弗爵士對他存有偏見。他會改過自新的。

Sir Benjamin:To be sure，he may-for my part I never believed him to be so utterly void of principle as people say-and those he has lost all his friends I am told nobody is better spoken of-by the Jews.

本杰明爵士:他真的可以。就我而言，我決不相信他像人們說的那樣完全有原則，盡管失去了所有朋友，我聽說，猶太人倒是對他頗有好評。

Crabtree: That's true egad nephew-if the old Jewry was a ward I believe Charles would be an alderman-no man more popular there, 'fore Gad!hear he pays as many annuities as the Irish Tontine and that whenever he's sick they have prayers for the recovery of his health in the synagogue.

克萊布特里:哎呀，侄子，就是那么回事。如果舊猶太區(qū)自稱一區(qū)，我相信查爾斯會當上參議員的，那兒沒有人比他更吃得開了?；侍煸谏?聽說他付的年金跟愛爾蘭唐堤養(yǎng)老金一樣多，所以他一生病，所有的猶太會堂都為他的康復(fù)祈禱。

Sir Benjamin: Yet, no man lives in greater splendour:一they tell me when he entertains his friends-He cyan sit down to dinner with a dozen of his own securities, have a score tradesmen waiting in the Anti-Chamber, and an officer behind every guest's chair.

本杰明爵士:沒人生活得比他更滋潤得了。他們告訴我，為了讓朋友開心，他可以跟他自己的一打普衛(wèi)一塊吃飯，讓二十名商人在眾議院恭候，每位客人后面還恭候一位監(jiān)守員。

Surtace: This may be entertainment to you Gentlemen but you pay very little regard to the feelings of a brother.

索菲斯:先生們，對你們來說這是消遣，但你根本沒有顧及我兄弟的感受。

Maria: Their malice is intolerable-Lady Sneerwell，I must wish you a good morning-I'm not very well.

瑪麗婭:他們?nèi)绱藧貉詯赫Z，實在令人難忍—史妮薇夫人，我祝你度過個愉快的上午，我不舒服。(下)

Mrs Candour: O dear she chang'd colour very much!

康德爾夫人:噢，親愛的，她臉色變得好難看。

Lady Sneerwell:Do Mrs Candour follow her. She may want your assistance.

史妮筱女士:康德爾夫人跟著她，她可能需要幫助。

Mrs Candour: That I will with all my soul ma'am.一Poor dear girl-who knows-what her situation may be!

康德爾夫人:我會盡力的，夫人?？蓱z的姑娘，誰曉得她的狀況會怎樣。

(Exit Mrs candour)

(康德爾夫人下)

Lady Sneerwell: 'T was nothing but that she could not bear to hear Charles reflected on notwithstanding their difference.

史妮薇女士:她只是不能忍受別人說查爾斯的壞話。

Sir Benjamin: The young Lady's penchant is obvious.

本杰明爵士:這位小姐的好惡顯然可見。

Crabtree: But Benjamin-you mustn't give up the pursuit for that-follow her and put her into good humour-repeat her some of your verses-come, I'll assist you-

克萊布特里:但是，本杰明，你不能就這么放棄啊，跟上去，討她高興。給她朗誦些你的詩句，要不，我?guī)湍恪?/p>

Sir Benjamin:Mr Surface I did not mean to hurt you-but depend on't your brother is utterly undone.

本杰明爵士:索菲斯先生，我沒想傷害你，要真靠你弟弟的本事是不行的。

Crabtree: O Lud!aye-undone-as ever man was-can't raise a guinea.

克萊布特里:天啊，是的，是不行啊。哪個男人……連個幾尼都攢不住啊，

Sir Benjamin:And everything sold-I’m told-that was movable-

本杰明爵士:都賣了，據(jù)說全變賣光了。

Crabtree: I was at his house-not a thing left but some empty bottles that were overlooked and the family pictures，which I believe are framed in the wainscot.

克萊布特里:我在他家看到，除了些沒人要的空瓶子和鑲在墻上的家族畫像，一無所有。

Sir Benjamin:And I'm very sorry to hear also some bad stories against him.

本杰明爵士:很遺憾的是，我還聽到了一些對他不利的傳言。

Crabtree : O，ha has done many mean things-that's certain! Sir

克萊布特里:哦，他干了許多卑鄙的事，那是毋庸置疑的。

Benjamin:But however as he is your brother-

本杰明爵士:但怎么說也是你弟弟啊。

Crabtree: We' II tell you all another opportunity.

克萊布特里:以后有機會再詳談吧。

Lady Sneerwell:Ha! ha! ha! this very hard for them to leave a subject they have not quite run down.

史妮薇女士:哈!哈!哈!要讓他們話沒說完就走可真難啊。

Surtace: And I believe the abuse was no more acceptable to your ladyship than Maria.

索菲斯:我相信這些壞話對您和瑪麗婭來說都同樣不快。

Lady Sneerwell: I doubt her affections are farther engaged than we imagin'd but the family are to be here this evening so you may as well dine where you are and we shall have an opportunity of observing farther-in the meantime，I'll go and plot mischief and you shall study sentiments.

史妮薇女士:我相信她比我們想象得還癡情。不過，這家人今晚要來這兒，所以你不妨就在這兒用餐，而我們也有機會進一步觀察。與此同時，我要去策劃策劃，而你，醞釀一下感情。

Practising Exercise 實戰(zhàn)提升

作者介紹

理查德·布林斯萊·謝里丹(Richard Brinsley Sheridan)是18世紀后期英國最有成就的喜劇劇作家，同時也是演說家、政治家。他出生于愛爾蘭的都柏林，但從小生活在英國。謝里丹的喜劇沖突尖銳、諷刺辛辣，而且經(jīng)常穿插生動有趣的情節(jié)及令人發(fā)笑的場面。對話漂亮俏皮.迄今仍保持著舞臺生命力。

核心單詞

demirep 下流女人

extravagant 奢侈的;浪費的

motive 動機;主旨:目的

intercourse 往來;交往;文際

charity 慈悲，仁愛