書蟲6級(jí)《名利場(chǎng)》第六章: 母親、兒子及其他親人

Captain Rawdon Crawley, although a big man and so an easy mark for a shot, returned safe and well from the Battle of Waterloo. Indeed, his bravery on the battlefield was so great that it brought him promotion to Colonel Crawley.

盡管羅頓·克勞利上尉人高馬大，是個(gè)活靶子，但他卻從滑鐵盧戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)上毫發(fā)無傷地歸來。而且，他在戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)上表現(xiàn)如此勇猛，得以晉升為克勞利上校。

Rawdon roared with delighted laughter. "This is better than a play at the theatre!" he said.

羅頓開心地哈哈大笑。“這比在劇院看的戲還好哪！”他說。

Becky rejoined her husband at Cambray, a town some miles north of Paris. When she left Brussels, careful little woman that she was, she travelled with all her valuables sewn into her clothes. On meeting Rawdon, she unsewed herself and brought out all the jewellery, cheques, and bank-notes hidden in her long skirts.

貝姬和她的丈夫在巴黎北邊幾英里的小鎮(zhèn)康布雷重逢。她是個(gè)小心謹(jǐn)慎的女人，離開布魯塞爾時(shí)，把所有值錢東西都縫在衣物里一路上穿著。見到羅頓后，她把線拆開，把藏在長(zhǎng)裙里的珠寶首飾、支票、紙鈔全都取了出來。

Rawdon's eyes opened wide. "Where did you get all that?" he asked.

羅頓的眼睛瞪得老大。“你從哪里弄來的??？”他問。

"By selling your horses to Joseph Sedley. You should have seen him! He was in such a dreadful hurry to run away from Napoleon that he didn't care what he paid."

“把你的馬賣給約瑟夫·塞德利。你真該看看他那個(gè)樣子！他急得要命，想逃得離拿破侖遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)的，根本不在乎花多少錢。”

"And the best joke of all is this," said Becky, holding up a particularly thick bunch of bank-notes.

“最好玩的是這個(gè)。”貝姬說著，拿起一捆特別厚的鈔票。

"Becky, you're a wonder," said her husband.

“貝姬，你真是個(gè)奇才啊。”她丈夫說。

The army marched to Paris, and Becky and Rawdon passed the winter of 1815 there, living in fine style. In fact, the money that poor Jos Sedley had paid for those horses was enough to support the Crawleys for at least a year.

軍隊(duì)進(jìn)駐巴黎，貝姬和羅頓在那里度過了1815年的冬天，過著精致奢華的生活。實(shí)際上，可憐的喬斯·塞德利付的馬錢至少足夠克勞利夫婦一年的花銷。

"The Colonel has brought fame to the name of Crawley," she said. "Don't you feel a little sympathy for your brave nephew?"

“上校為克勞利家族的名聲增添了光彩。”她說，“難道您一點(diǎn)都不同情您勇敢的侄兒?jiǎn)幔?rdquo;

They continued, of course, to have high hopes of Miss Matilda Crawley, and indeed it was well known in Paris that Colonel Rawdon and his so charming wife expected to inherit a large fortune from the gentleman's aunt.

當(dāng)然，他們對(duì)瑪?shù)贍栠_(dá)·克勞利小姐仍然懷有很高的期望，而且在巴黎人人皆知羅頓上校和他迷人的妻子會(huì)從他姑姑那里繼承一大筆遺產(chǎn)。

The truth was that Miss Crawley had a new favourite now, her dear niece-to-be, Lady Jane. Mr Pitt Crawley, Rawdon's older brother, had for some time been visiting his aunt quite frequently. He introduced her to his bride-to-be, Lady Jane, a pleasant, kindly young woman, who was from a grand and well-connected family. Miss Crawley approved of the family, approved of Lady Jane, and approved of the marriage.

實(shí)際情況是克勞利小姐如今有了新寵——她親愛的準(zhǔn)侄媳簡(jiǎn)女士。羅頓的哥哥皮特·克勞利先生這一段時(shí)間以來經(jīng)常拜訪他的姑姑。他把他的準(zhǔn)新娘簡(jiǎn)女士引見給她。簡(jiǎn)女士是一個(gè)為人友善、討人喜歡的年輕女子，還出身于名門望族。克勞利小姐對(duì)她的家庭和她本人都很滿意，也贊成這樁婚事。

"Briggs, you're a fool," said Miss Crawley. "The Colonel has brought shame to the name of Crawley. He could have married into a good family -- but no, he married a drawing-teacher's daughter, a nobody. She was just what you are, Briggs, only younger and a great deal prettier and cleverer. Rawdon would have had my money one day. But not now. Oh no!"

“布里格斯，你這個(gè)傻瓜。”克勞利小姐說，“上校給克勞利家族的名聲帶來了恥辱。他本可以結(jié)一門好親，可是他沒有，他娶了個(gè)繪畫教師的女兒，低門小戶的。她和你是一樣的，布里格斯，只不過比你年輕，也比你漂亮得多，聰明得多。羅頓本來有朝一日可以得到我的錢。但是現(xiàn)在不行了。門兒都沒有！”

The gentleman's aunt, however, took a different view of the matter. Miss Briggs, her faithful companion, had been deeply impressed by Colonel Rawdon's bravery at Waterloo.

但是，他姑姑對(duì)此卻持不同看法。她忠實(shí)的女伴布里格斯小姐對(duì)羅頓上校在滑鐵盧英勇的表現(xiàn)大為傾倒。

TO COLONEL AND MRS RAWDON CRAWLEY, A SON

羅頓·克勞利上校夫婦生育一子

She received many amusing letters from Rawdon in Paris (written, of course, by Becky), but however amusing the letters were, they did not soften her heart. Moreover, she heard from an old friend in Paris that Becky was shamelessly using Miss Crawley's name to gain acceptance in Parisian society. This made Miss Crawley wild with anger.

她收到羅頓從巴黎寄來的許多有趣的信（當(dāng)然，信是貝姬寫的），但是不論來信多么有趣，都沒有打動(dòng)她的心。而且，她從巴黎的一位老朋友那里得知，貝姬無恥地借用克勞利小姐的名號(hào)，以獲得巴黎社交圈子的認(rèn)可。這令克勞利小姐怒不可遏。

And then, in the spring of 1816, Miss Briggs read out to her this announcement in the London newspaper:

后來，1816年春天，布里格斯小姐給她念倫敦報(bào)紙上這樣一則通告：

BIRTHS

出生

Miss Crawley's fury with Rawdon rose to new heights, and she sent for Pitt Crawley.

克勞利小姐對(duì)羅頓的憤怒之情愈發(fā)升級(jí)了。她派人去請(qǐng)皮特·克勞利。

With such encouragement the marriage was soon completed, and the happy couple went to live with their affectionate aunt.

在這樣的鼓勵(lì)下，他們很快就喜結(jié)連理了，幸福的夫妻倆搬去和親愛的姑姑一起住。

"You must marry Lady Jane at once," she said. "I will give you and my dear niece a thousand pounds a year during my lifetime, and when I die, the two of you will inherit everything."

“你必須立刻與簡(jiǎn)女士結(jié)婚。”她說，“我在世時(shí)，每年給你和我親愛的侄媳一千英鎊；等我死了，你們兩個(gè)將繼承所有一切。”

Unaware of the end of their financial hopes, Rawdon and Becky continued to live an easy, pleasant life in Paris. Their little son, also called Rawdon, spent the first eighteen months of his life with a nurse in a village, thus enabling his mother to continue with her brilliant social life in the city. The Colonel, however, was a fond father, often riding out to visit little Rawdon.

羅頓和貝姬沒有意識(shí)到他們的錢財(cái)希望落空，仍舊在巴黎過著舒適自在的生活。他們的兒子也叫羅頓，最初的十八個(gè)月是和保姆在鄉(xiāng)下度過的，這樣他的母親就能在城里繼續(xù)她多姿多彩的社交生活。不過，上校是位慈愛的父親，經(jīng)常騎馬去看望小羅頓。

At this point news reached Paris of Miss Crawley's death, delighting the many people to whom the Crawleys owed money. Naturally, the Crawleys hurried back to London to collect the enormous inheritance that the Colonel was expecting. They would soon return to Paris, Mrs Crawley told everyone, to pay all their bills, and to rent a grander house. As evidence of this intention, they left behind several boxes of possessions -- which were later opened and found to be full of worthless rubbish.

恰在此時(shí)，克勞利小姐去世的消息傳到巴黎，克勞利夫婦的眾多債主為此而欣喜?？藙诶驄D自然要連忙趕回倫敦，繼承上校一直期盼的巨額遺產(chǎn)?？藙诶蛉烁嬖V大家，他們很快會(huì)重返巴黎，支付他們的所有賬單，再租一棟更大的宅子。作為明證，他們走時(shí)留下了幾箱財(cái)物——后來打開時(shí)發(fā)現(xiàn)里面裝的東西一文不值。

As time went on, Becky saw that their easy, pleasant life could not continue. Their money was nearly all gone, they were deeply in debt, and although Rawdon's great skill at billiards and cards gave him many gambling successes, it was not a reliable income. Indeed, many young officers now left Mrs Crawley's parties with sad faces, having lost rather too much money at her card-tables. Warnings were whispered to the inexperienced, and her house began to have an unfortunate reputation.

日子一天天過去，貝姬明白他們舒適自在的生活已難以為繼。他們的錢財(cái)揮霍殆盡，還欠下許多債務(wù)。盡管羅頓憑著臺(tái)球和打牌的高超技藝贏了很多賭局，但是收入并不穩(wěn)定。的確，許多年輕軍官如今因?yàn)樵诳藙诶蛉说呐谱郎陷斄颂噱X，而滿面愁容地離開她的聚會(huì)。那些經(jīng)驗(yàn)尚淺的人暗中收到了警告，她家的名聲逐漸變差了。

"We must think about the future," Becky said to Rawdon. "Gambling is good to help your income, my dear, but not as an income itself. One day people may grow tired of gambling, and then where will we be?"

“我們必須為將來打算。”貝姬對(duì)羅頓說，“賭博有助于增加收入，我親愛的，但是它不能算是收入。總有一天大家會(huì)厭倦賭博，到那時(shí)我們?cè)趺崔k呢？”

"That's true," said Rawdon gloomily. "Some of the fellows I play with are not so keen on playing as they used to be."

“是啊。”羅頓惆悵地說，“一塊兒玩的一些家伙已經(jīng)不像過去那么愛賭了。”

"You must leave the army, and we must go back to England," Becky said. "We must find you a government appointment in London, or perhaps a position as a Governor abroad."

“你得離開軍隊(duì)，我們必須回英格蘭去。”貝姬說，“我們得在倫敦給你謀個(gè)政府職位，或許去國(guó)外當(dāng)個(gè)總督。”

Becky's social success was not the same in London, however. The grand English ladies who had been pleased to know her in Paris now turned cold, unsmiling faces away when they saw her.

然而，貝姬在倫敦的社交可沒那么成功。那些高貴的英國(guó)女士們?cè)诎屠钑r(shí)很高興結(jié)識(shí)她，現(xiàn)在看見她都面無表情冷冰冰地轉(zhuǎn)過臉去。

"Nonsense! While there is life there is hope, my dear, and I intend to make a man of you yet. Who sold your horses for you in Brussels? Who stopped you shouting the news all round Paris that your aunt had left everything to Pitt and Lady Jane?"

“胡說！只要活著就有希望，我親愛的，我還打算把你打造成個(gè)人物呢。誰在布魯塞爾為你賣了馬？又是誰阻止你在巴黎到處嚷嚷，你姑姑把所有遺產(chǎn)都留給了皮特和簡(jiǎn)女士的消息的？”

No such inheritance, of course, was waiting for the Crawleys in London, but they rented a charming little house in Curzon Street and began a new life. Their unfortunate landlord received no rent, their servants no wages, and the suppliers of food and wine and dresses and carriages were not paid either. But the Crawleys lived well, and once again their debts grew and grew.

倫敦當(dāng)然沒有遺產(chǎn)等著克勞利夫婦繼承，不過他們?cè)诳略蠼肿饬艘粭濗w面的小房子，開始了新生活。他們不幸的房東沒有收到租金，仆人們沒有收到薪水，供給他們食品、葡萄酒、服裝和馬車的供應(yīng)者們也沒有收到錢。但是克勞利夫婦生活得很好，他們的債務(wù)再次越積越多。

"What are we to do then? We'll be ruined," said Rawdon.

“那我們?cè)趺崔k呢？我們會(huì)破產(chǎn)的。”羅頓說。

This made Rawdon furious. "I'll make these women respect you," he said. "I'll fight their husbands, their brothers, and -- and shoot the lot of them!"

這讓羅頓大為惱火。“我要讓 這些女人尊重你。”他說，“我要和她們的丈夫、兄弟拼命，還要——還要開槍把他們都打死！”

"You can't shoot me into society, my dear," said Becky, smiling. "Remember that I was only a governess before, and you, you poor silly boy, have the worst reputation for debt, and gambling, and all sorts of wickedness."

“你沒法把我打進(jìn)社交圈啊，我親愛的。”貝姬笑吟吟地說，“別忘了，我以前只是個(gè)女家庭教師，而你，你這個(gè)傻孩子，因?yàn)榍穫①€博和其他劣跡可是臭名昭著呢。”

"That damned brother of mine!" said Rawdon. "Why should that pale-faced idiot and his boring little wife get everything, eh?"

“我那該死的哥哥！”羅頓說，“為什么那個(gè)白臉蠢貨和他令人乏味的小妻子能得到一切呢，呃？”

"Losing your temper again won't get us your aunt's money," said his wife calmly. "We need to be friends with your brother's family, and this is what you must do. You must write a nice letter to Pitt. You will congratulate him on his good fortune. You will be full of affection for your brother, respect for his wife, and kindness for their children. And you will beg their friendship for us and our little boy. Come -- sit down and write it now."

“再發(fā)一頓脾氣我們也得不到你姑姑的錢。”他妻子平靜地說，“我們要和你哥哥一家做朋友。這是你必須做的。你必須給皮特寫封信以示友好。你要向他道喜。你要對(duì)哥哥表示友愛，對(duì)嫂子表示尊重，對(duì)侄子表示關(guān)懷。你要為了我們和兒子乞求他們的友情。來——現(xiàn)在就坐下來寫吧。”

Colonel Rawdon Crawley had survived the Battle of Waterloo, and so had William Dobbin, now promoted from Captain to Major. But many other officers had not survived, and when the news of George Osborne's death was brought to Amelia, it nearly killed her. For weeks she lay in a darkened room while doctors feared for her life. Eventually, she left her bed, and began living again. But sorrow had changed her. Her face was white and thin, her eyes empty of expression, and she accepted friendship and kindness without complaint, and without interest.

羅頓·克勞利上校在滑鐵盧戰(zhàn)役中活了下來，威廉·多賓也一樣，如今從上尉晉升到少校。但是其他許多軍官都沒能幸免，當(dāng)喬治·奧斯本的死訊傳到阿梅莉亞耳中時(shí)，那差點(diǎn)要了她的命。她連續(xù)幾周躺在陰暗的房間里，醫(yī)生們擔(dān)心她命不久矣。最終，她離開病榻，又活了過來。但是哀慟改變了她。她的臉慘白瘦削，雙眼空洞無神，一切善意和友情她都領(lǐng)受，只是無嗔亦無喜。

Throughout this time, Dobbin was never far away from her, and always accompanied her when she went for a drive. One day he was riding as usual by the side of her carriage when he thought he saw George's father in a carriage coming towards them.

這段期間，多賓總是不離她左右，每次她坐車外出，多賓也總會(huì)陪伴同行。一天，他和往常一樣，在阿梅莉亞的馬車旁邊騎馬陪著，在迎面而來的一駕馬車上他覺得好像看見了喬治的父親。

It was indeed Mr Osborne. His son's death had been a terrible shock to him, and he had never spoken his name, not even when he received George's last letter, written the night before the battle. The poor boy wrote that he wished to say goodbye to his father and, if anything should happen to him, he begged his father to take care of his wife, and perhaps, his child. A few months later, Mr Osborne announced that he was going abroad, and his daughters had little doubt that he would go to Brussels.

那的確是奧斯本先生。兒子的亡故對(duì)他是個(gè)巨大的打擊，他從不提他的名字，即使收到喬治在戰(zhàn)役前夜寫給他的最后一封信時(shí)也沒提。這可憐的孩子寫信說，他希望和父親道別。如果他有個(gè)三長(zhǎng)兩短，他懇求父親照顧他的妻子，也許還有他的孩子。幾個(gè)月后，奧斯本先生宣布他要出國(guó)，他的女兒們毫不懷疑他會(huì)去布魯塞爾。

He had visited his son's grave, seen the battlefield where his son died, and was returning to his hotel when he passed Amelia's carriage. She was so changed that he did not recognize her until he saw Dobbin at her side. For a second he stared at her, then he called to his servant to drive on.

他去兒子的墓前祭奠，看了兒子犧牲的戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)，在返回旅館的途中和阿梅莉亞的馬車擦身而過。她變化太大，要不是看見她旁邊的多賓，他都沒認(rèn)出她來。他注視了她片刻，然后叫仆人繼續(xù)前進(jìn)。

Dobbin laid his hand on the side of the carriage. "I will see you, sir," he said. "I have a message for you."

多賓一只手搭在馬車上。“我想和您談?wù)劊壬?rdquo;他說，“我給您捎了個(gè)口信。”

"No," replied Dobbin. "From your son."

“不。”多賓回答，“是您兒子的。”

"From that woman?" said Osborne fiercely.

“那個(gè)女人的口信？”奧斯本惡狠狠地說。

But Dobbin rode after him. Amelia, poor girl, had neither recognized her father-in-law, nor noticed that Dobbin had gone.

但是多賓追了上去。阿梅莉亞，這個(gè)可憐的姑娘，既沒認(rèn)出她的公公，也沒發(fā)覺多賓不在了。

"Mr Osborne, Mr Osborne!" cried Dobbin, riding up beside him and holding out his hand. Osborne made no move to take it, and shouted again to his servant to drive on.

“奧斯本先生，奧斯本先生！”多賓大喊著，騎到他身邊，伸出手去。奧斯本沒有握手的意思，再次向仆人大吼快點(diǎn)走。

"I am here as George's closest friend," Dobbin began when they were face to face. "He left hardly any money when he died. Are you aware how little his widow has to live on?"

“我是以喬治摯友的身份來這里的。”兩人面對(duì)面時(shí)，多賓說，“他死時(shí)幾乎沒留下什么錢。您知道他的遺孀是靠著多么丁點(diǎn)兒的錢度日嗎？”

Mr Osborne fell back in his carriage, but said nothing. Dobbin rode behind him and then followed him into his hotel.

奧斯本先生縮回馬車?yán)?，但一言不發(fā)。多賓跟著騎在后面，一直隨他回到他的旅館。

"I don't know his widow, sir," said Osborne. "Let her go back to her father."

“我不認(rèn)識(shí)他的遺孀，先生。”奧斯本說，“讓她回她父親那里去吧。”

"Do you know, sir, Mrs Osborne's condition?" Dobbin went on. "She has been very ill. In fact, she may die. There is just one thing which may save her. She will soon be a mother. Will you not forgive the child for poor George's sake?"

“您知道奧斯本夫人的情況嗎，先生？”多賓繼續(xù)說，“她病得很重。實(shí)際上，她可能會(huì)死。只有一件事可能挽救她的性命。她就快當(dāng)母親了?？丛诳蓱z的喬治的份上，您連孩子也不原諒嗎？”

Osborne stared at Dobbin angrily. "My son was a disobedient fool, and he brought this on himself. I am a man of my word. I swore I would never speak to that woman, nor recognize her as my son's wife, and that is what you may tell her."

奧斯本生氣地瞪著多賓。“我兒子是個(gè)不聽話的傻瓜，這是他自找的。我是個(gè)言出必行的人。我發(fā)過誓，我決不跟那個(gè)女人說話，也不會(huì)認(rèn)她作我的兒媳。你可以這么告訴她。”

But Major Dobbin did not tell Amelia about his meeting with Mr Osborne. She would not have cared, for her thoughts were only for her dead husband. But the day came when the poor widowed girl held a child in her arms, a child with the eyes of George who was gone -- a beautiful little boy. How she laughed and wept over this baby! And what joy it gave her friends to see her eyes once again shining with love.

但是多賓少校沒有告訴阿梅莉亞他和奧斯本先生會(huì)面的事。她也不會(huì)關(guān)心，因?yàn)樗凉M腦子想的都是她的亡夫。但那一天終于到來，可憐的年輕孀婦懷抱著新生的嬰兒，他的眼睛與逝去的喬治的一模一樣——是個(gè)漂亮的小男孩。她捧著孩子又哭又笑！看到她的眼睛里又重現(xiàn)光彩，充滿愛意，她的朋友們高興極了。

Our friend Dobbin was one of them. It was he who brought her back to England, and home to her parents. He visited them every day, and brought gifts for the child, and sometimes he was allowed to hold the baby. Amelia wrapped her child in love, and Dobbin could see that there was no place for him in her heart. He bore this knowledge gently, without complaining.

我們的朋友多賓也是其中一位。是他把她帶回英格蘭，送她回父母家中的。他每天都去拜訪，給孩子帶去禮物，有時(shí)還獲許抱抱孩子。阿梅莉亞的愛都傾注在孩子身上，多賓看得出來她心里沒有他的位置。他平靜而又毫無怨言地接受了這個(gè)事實(shí)。

One day he arrived carrying toys for little Georgy -- a wooden horse, a trumpet, and all kinds of warlike toys. The landlord's little daughter, who was often with Amelia and was one of the few people allowed to play with the baby, laughed, as Georgy was only six months old, much too young for such toys.

一天，他來了，給小喬基帶來玩具——一匹木馬，一支小號(hào)，還有其他各式各樣的打仗玩具。房東的小女兒見到便笑了起來，因?yàn)閱袒挥辛鶄€(gè)月大，玩這些玩具還太小了。小女孩常和阿梅莉亞在一起，是為數(shù)不多可以和小寶寶玩的人之一。

"I have come to say goodbye, Amelia," he said quietly.

“我來道別，阿梅莉亞。”他輕聲說。

The child was asleep. "Hush!" said Amelia as Dobbin came in.

孩子在睡覺。“噓！”多賓進(jìn)來時(shí)阿梅莉亞示意。

"To India, with the regiment," he said. "You will write to me, won't you? I'll be away a long time."

“去印度，隨軍團(tuán)一起。”他說，“你會(huì)給我寫信的，對(duì)吧？我要離開很長(zhǎng)一段時(shí)間。”

"Goodbye? Where are you going?" she said, with a smile.

“道別？你要去哪里？”她微笑著問。

"Goodbye," said Amelia, and held up her face and kissed him.

“再見。”阿梅莉亞說，仰起臉親了他一下。

"I'll write to you about Georgy," she said. "Dear William, you have been so kind to us. Look at him. Isn't he wonderful?"

“我會(huì)寫信告訴你喬基的情況。”她說，“親愛的威廉，你待我們一直都這么好。你瞧他，多棒啊，是不是？”

Amelia looked up at Dobbin, her face bright with motherly pride, and he saw that his leaving meant nothing to her. For a moment he could not speak; then, "Goodbye," he said.

阿梅莉亞抬起頭看著多賓，滿臉洋溢著做母親的驕傲。多賓看出來自己的離開對(duì)她無足輕重，一時(shí)間說不出話來。最后，他說：“再見。”

"Hush! Don't wake Georgy!" she added, as Dobbin went to the door with heavy steps. She did not hear his carriage drive away; she was looking at the child, who was laughing in his sleep.

“噓！別把喬基吵醒了！”多賓邁著沉重的步子走向門口時(shí)，她加了一句。她沒聽見他的馬車離去。她盯著寶寶看，寶寶在睡夢(mèng)中笑著。