美國語文第六冊 第33期:受驚的藝術家(9)

The possessor was proceeding homeward, when a decrepit, lame, and humpbacked invalid, tottering along by the aid of a stick, presented himself before him.

當身體衰朽、一瘸一拐并且彎腰駝背的杜霍布賴特拄著一根棍子，踟躕地朝前走時，拍下這幅畫的高個子男人正往家走呢。杜霍布賴特走到他面前，剛要做自我介紹。

He threw him a piece of money, and waved his hand as dispensing with his thanks.

那人遞給他一塊錢，未及他說些感謝的話，連忙擺了擺手。

"May it please your honor," said the supposed beggar, "I am the painter of that picture!" and again he rubbed his eyes.

“感謝您的慷慨，”被當做乞丐的杜霍布賴特說，“我就是畫那幅畫的畫家啊!”說著，他又揉揉眼睛。

The tall mall was Count Dunkelsback, one of the richest noblemen in Germany.

這位高個子男人就是敦克爾巴克伯爵，德國最富有的人之一。

He stopped, took out his pocketbook, took out a leaf, and wrote on it a few lines.

他停下腳步，伸手從衣袋里掏出支票簿，然后在上面寫了幾行字。

 

"Take it, friend," said he; "it is a check for your money. Adieu."

“給你，朋友，”他說，“這是你的支票。再見。”

Duhobret finally persuaded himself that it was not a dream.

到現(xiàn)在杜霍布賴特才說服自己，這一切不是夢。

He became the master of a castle, sold it, and resolved to live luxuriously for the rest of his life, and to cultivate painting as a pastime.

他成了城堡的主人，賣了城堡后，他決定在自己的余生要過奢侈的生活，把繪畫作為消遣。

But, alas, for the vanity of human expectation!

真令人唏噓，人類的希望竟是這樣虛妄!

He had borne privation and toil; prosperity was too much for him, as was proved soon after, when an indigestion carried him off.

他生來貧困和辛勤勞作，對他來說富足竟然是不可承受之重，正如不久后所驗證變得那樣，奢侈的生活要了他的命。

His picture remained long in the cabinet of Count Dunkelsback, and afterward passed into the possession of the King of Bavaria.

他的那幅畫一直以來躺在敦克爾巴克勛爵的壁櫥里，后來輾轉為巴伐利亞國王所有。