英語晨讀精華 Week 2 Day 5 Jane Eyre(excerpt) 簡愛(節(jié)選)

“..仿佛我們兩人穿過墳墓，站在上帝腳下，彼此平等——本來就如此!”　
——這是小說《簡·愛》里面簡和羅切斯特最經(jīng)典的對白。

"No， you must stay! I swear it--and the oath shall be kept."

"I tell you I must go!" I retorted, roused to something like passion."

"Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think I am an automaton?--a machine without feelings? and can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong!--I have as much soul as you,--and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh;--it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God's feet, equal,--as we are!"
——　 Charlotte Bronte 　　

[注釋]：
swear: to make a solemn promise; vow 發(fā)誓　
oath: the words or formula of such a declaration or promise 誓言　
retort: to present a counterargument 反駁，反擊　
automaton: a self-operating machine or mechanism, especially a robot 機器人　
morsel: a small amount; a piece (食物)一口，少量　
snatch: to grasp or seize hastily, eagerly, or suddenly 攫取　
dash: to splash; bespatter 潑濺　
obscure: of undistinguished or humble station or reputation 身份卑微的　
conventionality: the state, quality or character of being conventional 慣例，俗套，老一套　
mortal: of or relating to humankind; human 人類的　
grave: an excavation for the interment of a corpse 墓穴，墳墓　
　
夏洛蒂·勃朗特的《簡·愛》通過簡·愛的自述，描繪了一個出身貧苦家庭、長相平凡、無依無靠的女家庭教師的曲折遭遇。簡，成為純潔、熱情、坦率、熱愛真理、敢于追求幸福的女性的象征，因而形象鮮明。作品成功之處還在于從作者對人性的描述中，我們隱約看到了自己——卑劣或美麗的人性，而覺得心有戚戚焉?！?br />