牛津書蟲系列 遠大前程 Chapter 6

6 Great expectations

6 遠大前程

One Saturday evening，when I had been apprenticed to Joe for four years，he and I were sitting in the pub，with some of the villagers, listening to Mr Wopsle.He was giving a dramatic reading of a newspaper report of a murder trial, and we all enjoyed watching him act the main characters. His witnesses were old and feeble，his lawyers were clever and sharp-eyed，and his accused was a violent，wicked murderer.

我作為喬的徒弟已經干了4年。有一個星期六的晚上，他和我還有一些村民正坐在小酒店里，聆聽伍甫賽先生讀報，他正在大聲朗讀報紙上的謀殺案審判報告，我們都欣賞地看著他扮演主要角色。他的證據(jù)是陳舊無力的，他的律師們聰明機靈有銳利的眼光，他的指控是猛烈的，老奸巨猾的謀殺者。

Suddenly we became aware of a strange gentleman who had also been listening，and was now looking coldly at us.

突然，我們注意到一位陌生人也在聽講?，F(xiàn)在，正冷眼看著我們。

‘Well!’he said to us，biting the side of his finger.‘So you’ve decided the accused was the murderer，have you?’

“喂!”他邊咬著手指邊對我們說，“這樣你們就決定指控他是謀殺者，對嗎?”

‘Sir，’answered Mr Wopsle firmly，‘yes，I do think he is guilty.’We all nodded our heads in agreement.

“先生，”伍甫賽先生緊接著回答，“是的，我想他是有罪的。”我們都點點頭表示同意。

‘But，’said the stranger，‘do you or do you not know that the law of England supposes every man to be innocent until he is proved-proved-to be guilty?’

“但是，”陌生人說，“你們知不知道英國的法律，推測每個人是無罪的，直到他被證實——證實——是無罪的?”

‘Sir，’began Mr Wopsle，‘as an Englishman myself，I-’

“先生，”伍甫賽先生開始說，“我自己作為一個英國人，我——”

‘Come!’said the stranger，‘don’t avoid the question.Either you know it，or you don’t know it.Which is it?’

“得啦!”陌生人說，“不要回避這個問題，你知道，還是不知道，那一條?”

‘Of course I know it，’answered poor Mr Wopsle.

“我當然知道，”可憐的伍甫賽先生回答。

‘Then why didn’t you say so at first?Another question. Do you know that this trial isn’t finished yet?’

“那你為什么開始不這樣講?還有一個問題，你還知道這不是最終判決吧?”

Mr Wopsle hesitated，and we all began to have a rather bad opinion of him .

伍甫賽先生躊躇著，我們大家開始對他產生特別不好的看法。

‘And you were going to say that the accused was guilty，before the end of the trial，before he has been proved guilty!’We realized that the unfortunate Wopsle had no understanding of the law，or indeed anything at all.

最終判決之前，“你打算說那個指控是無罪的，已經證明他無罪之前!”我們認識到，不幸的伍甫賽不了解法律，或者說一點不懂。

Now the stranger stood in front of our little group.

現(xiàn)在，那個陌生人站在我們一小群人前面。

‘I’m looking for the blacksmith，Joe Gargery，’he said，‘and his apprentice，Pip.’He did not recognize me but I knew he was the gentleman I had met on the stairs when visiting Miss Havisham. There was even the same smell of per-fumed soap on his large hands.‘I want to speak to you two in private，’he said，and so Joe and I left the pub and walked home with him.

“我正在尋找鐵匠喬·葛吉瑞，”他說，“和他的徒弟，匹普”。他沒有認出我來，可是我知道他是我拜訪郝薇香小姐時，在樓梯上遇見的那個紳士，甚至還能聞到他那雙大手上的香皂味。“我要秘密地對你們倆說，”他說。因此，喬和我同他一起離開小酒店走回家。

‘My name is Jaggers，and I’m a lawyer，’he said，when he reached the forge.‘Joe Gargery，I am sent by someone who suggests cancelling this boy’s apprenticeship to you.Would you want any money，if you lost your apprentice?’

“我叫賈格斯，是一名律師，”當?shù)竭_鐵匠鋪時，他說，“喬·葛吉瑞，我是由別人派來的，這個人提出取消這個孩子做你徒弟之約，如果你失去你的徒弟，要不要錢?”

‘I’d never stand in Pip’s way，never，’said Joe，staring.‘The answer is no.’

“我從來沒有阻止匹普走，從來沒有，”喬盯著我說，“回答是沒有”。

‘Don’t try to change that answer later，’said Mr Jaggers .‘Now，what I have to say，and remember，I’m only an agent，I don’t speak for myself，is that this young man has great expectations.’

“以后別想改變這一回答，”賈格斯先生說，“喂，這一點我必須說，記住，我只是一個代理人，我不是代表我自己講話，這個年輕人要有遠大前程啦。”

Joe and I gasped，and looked at each other.

我和喬氣喘吁吁，相對而視。

‘I have been told to say that he will be very rich when he is older.In addition，the person who sent me wants the young man to be removed from his home and educated as a gentleman who expects to inherit a fortune.’

“我已經被告之，當他大一點，將成為百萬富翁。另外，指派我的那個人要這位年輕人從他家里遷移出來并接受上等教育，成為一名期待繼承一筆財富的紳士。”

My dream had come true. Miss Havisham was making me rich!

我的夢想變成了現(xiàn)實，郝薇香小姐正在讓我富有起來!

‘Now，Mr Pip，’continued the lawyer，‘there are two conditions.The first is that you always use the name of Pip.The second is that the name of the person who has heen so generous to you must remain a secret，until that person chooses to tell you.You are forbidden to ask any questions or try to discover who the person is.Do you accept these conditions?

“喂，匹普先生，”這位律師接著說，“有兩個條件：首先，你永遠使用匹普這個名字。第二，對你如此慷慨的那個人的名字必須保秘，直到時機成熟了，那個人會告訴你的。禁止你問任何問題，或想發(fā)現(xiàn)這個人是誰，你接受這些條件嗎?”

My heart was beating fast as I whispered，‘Yes ’.

當我小聲說“接受”時，我的心臟快跳出來了。

‘Now，to details.I have been given enough money for you to live the life of a gentleman in London while you are studying .You will come to me to ask for whatever you need .I suggest Mr Matthew Pocket as a teacher.’I remembered that was the name of one of Miss Havisham ’s relations，the one who did not visit her often.‘ You must buy some new clothes.Shall I leave you twenty pounds?’He counted twenty coins out of his large purse onto the table.‘And when can you come to London?Next Saturday?’

“喂，講點細節(jié)問題，當你正在學習時，我要給你在倫敦過一個紳士生活的足夠費用，你無論需要什么都來向我要。我建議馬修·樸凱特作為一名教師。”我記起來了，這是郝薇香小姐其中一個親戚的名字，這個親戚不常看她。“你必須買幾件新衣眼，我留給你20鎊吧。”他從大錢袋里數(shù)出20個硬幣放在桌子上，“你什么時間能動身去倫敦?下星期六?”

I agreed，feeling very confused.He looked at Joe，who seemed even more confused.

我感到十分迷惑，同意了。他看了看喬，喬好像更迷惑不解。

‘Well，Joe Gargery?Perhaps，I only say perhaps，I promise nothing，’he said，throwing his purse carelessly from one hand to another，‘perhaps I have been told to give you a present when you lose your apprentice.’

“喂，喬·葛吉瑞，或許，我只講或許，我沒有什么許諾，”他漫不經心地從一只手到另一只手扔著他的錢袋說，“也許我已經講過，當你失去你的徒弟時，給你一份禮品。”

Joe put his great strong hand on my shoulder in the gentlest possible way . ‘Pip can go freely to fortune and happiness，he knows that.But if you think that money can ever pay me back for losing the little child-who came to the forge-and always the best of friends!’He could not continue.

喬把他那粗壯有力的手輕輕地搭在我的肩上，“匹普，你能自由自在地享受富貴和幸福，他知道這一點。不過，你認為用金錢就能買回我失去的——來鐵匠鋪的這個小孩子——永遠是最知心的朋友!”他再也說不下去了。

Dear good Joe!I was so ready to leave you，and so ungrateful to you!I can see you now，with your strong blacksmith’s arm in front of your eyes，and your shoulders shaking，and tears on your cheeks. But at the time I was so excited by my good luck that I forgot what I owed to Joe. Mr Jaggers clearly thought Joe was a fool for refusing money，and left the house，reminding me to go straight to his office in London in a week’s time.

親愛的好人喬!我竟會這樣地準備離開你，甚至來不及感謝你!現(xiàn)在，我能看到在你眼前用那強壯的鐵匠手臂捂著雙眼，你的肩膀顫抖著，臉頰掛著淚水。但是，我的好運使我如此興奮，我忘記要感謝喬。賈格斯先生雖然認為喬拒絕要錢是一個大傻瓜，并提醒我在一周內直接到他的辦公室那里，接著離開了我們。

Joe told Biddy what had happened，and both congratulated me. They were very quiet and sad at first，because I would be leaving them，but I promised I would never forget them and would often return to visit them. Biddy tried to explain the good news to my sister，but the poor woman could not under-stand.

喬告訴了畢蒂所發(fā)生的一切，兩人祝賀我。因為我將離開他們，開始，他們很平靜。很傷心，而我許愿永遠不會忘記他們，會經常回來看望他們。畢蒂設法告訴我姐姐這條好消息，但是，這個可憐的女人不能理解。

As Joe and Biddy became a little more cheerful，discussing my possible plans for the future，I became more miserable. Now that I could be a gentleman，as I had always wished，I was not sure if I wanted to leave my home，which was full of happy memories.

當喬和畢蒂變得高興一點兒時，開始討論我未來可能的計劃，我變得更悲慘了。現(xiàn)在，我能夠做一個紳士，像我永遠希望的那樣，我不能肯定，我要離開家時是否是充滿著幸福的回憶。

That week passed slowly. I took a last walk through the churchyard to the marshes.At least I need never think about my convict again. No doubt he was dead by now.

那一周過得很慢，我穿過教堂墓地去了沼澤地做最后一次散步。至少再也不用想我那個囚犯了，無疑他現(xiàn)在已經歸天了。

I had something special to ask Biddy.‘Biddy，’I said，when we were alone，‘don’t you think you could teach Joe a bit?’

我有些特殊的事情要問畢蒂。“畢蒂，”當只是我們倆時，我說，“你想你不能教喬一點東西嗎?”

‘What do you mean，teach him?’asked Biddy.

“你什么意思，教他?”畢蒂問。

‘Well，I love dear old Joe more than anyone else，but his education and manners could be improved.’

“對，我親愛的老喬勝似其他人，不過，要改善他的教育和舉止。”

Biddy opened her eyes very wide.‘Oh?’she said.‘So his manners aren’t good enough，then?’

畢蒂眼睛睜得很大，“噢?”她說，“照這么說他的舉止不夠好，是嗎?”

‘Oh，they’re all right for here，but when I receive my for-tune，I’ll want him to meet important people，and behave ocrrectly.’

“噢，做得挺好。不過，當我接到錢財時，我打算讓他去見重要人物，舉止要規(guī)范。”

Haven’t you ever thought，’asked Biddy，not looking at me，‘that he wouldn’t want to meet important people，he wouldn’t want to be taken away from this job that he does well，and the village where he’s loved?’

“你過去不這樣想，”畢蒂沒有看我，問：“他不想去見重要人物，他不想從干得挺好的這項工作中離去，這個村莊非常需要他?”

‘Now，Biddy，’I said crossly，‘are you jealous of my good luck?I didn’t expect this of you.This is a bad side of your character，Biddy.’

“喂，畢蒂，”我不高興地說，“你嫉妒我的好運嗎?我不期望你這樣，這是你性格不好的一面，畢蒂。”

‘Whether you scold me or thank me，I’ll always do my best for the family at all times.And I’ll always remember you，whatever you think of me，’said poor Biddy.

“不管你責罵我還是感謝我，我都將每時每刻為這個家做出一流的奉獻，我將永遠記著你，不管你想不想我。”可憐的畢蒂說。

I was not pleased with this interview，and thought it was strange that the news of my expectations had not made me happier.

這次會面我不高興，想想真奇怪，我的遠大前程的消息沒有讓我更快樂一點兒。

When I went into town to order my new clothes， Mr Pumblechook was waiting for me at the door of his shop.

當我來到鎮(zhèn)上定做新衣服時，潘波趣先生正在商店門口等著我。

‘My dear friend， if you will allow me to call you that，’ he cried，shaking both my hands，‘let me congratulate you on your fortune! Nobody deserves it more than you!’He seemed so much more sensible than before that I agreed to have lunch with him.

“我親愛的朋友，你是否允許我這樣稱呼你，”他搖晃著我的雙手喊著，“讓我為你的好運祝賀!沒有人比你得到的更多!”他似乎比以前更通情達理得多，我同意和他吃午飯。

‘When I think，’ he said happily，‘that I，Pumblechook，was able to help in my small way， by taking you to play at Miss-’

“當我想起，”他高興地說，“我，潘波趣，小小的幫助，領著你到小姐家去玩”。

‘Remember，’I stopped him， ‘we must never say anything about the person who is being so generous to me.’

“記住，”我打斷他的話，“有關對我如此慷慨的那個人，我們從來不會說任何事情。”

‘Don’t worry， trust me， my dear friend Have some wine，have some chicken!Oh chicken，you didn’t think when you were running around on the farm that you would be lucky enough to be served to one who-May I?May I?’ and he jumped up to shake my hand again.

“別擔心，相信我，我親愛的朋友，喝些葡萄酒，吃些雞!噢，雞，你沒有想，當你圍著田地跑時，有人為他效力，你夠幸運的，我可以嗎?我可以嗎?”他跳起來，又搖動著我的手。

As we drank our wine， Pumblechook reminded me of the happy times he and I had spent together during my childhood.I did not remember it quite like that， but I began to feel he was a good-hearted， sincere man. He wanted to ask my advice on a business matter.He said he was hoping to find a young gentleman who would put money into his business， and seemed very interested in my opinion.‘And may I?May I?’He shook hands with me again.

當我們喝了葡萄酒，潘波趣想起我快樂的時代，他和我一起度過我的童年。我記得不完全是這樣，不過，我開始覺得他是一個好心腸、誠實的人。在生意上，他想問我的意見。他說，他正希望找一個會把資金投入到他的生意中的年輕人，好像對我的看法很感興趣。“可以嗎?可以嗎?”他再一次搖晃著我的手。

‘You know， I always used to say，“That boy will make his fortune. He’s no ordinary boy.”’He had certainly kept his opinion very secret， I thought.

“你知道，我過去常說：‘那孩子會走運的，他不是一個普通的孩子’”我想，他的看法確實很神密。

There was one person I really wanted to visit before going to London.Dressed in my new clothes I went to Miss Havisham’s house，where her cousin opened the gate to me again.

去倫敦之前，有一個人我的確要去拜訪。我穿上新衣服，去了郝薇香小姐府上，給我開大門的又是她的表妹。

‘Well， Pip?’said Miss Havisham to me when she saw me.

“喂，匹普?”當郝薇香小姐看到我時說。

‘I’m going to London tomorrow， Miss Havisham，’I said，choosing my words carefully，‘and I wanted to say goodbye.I’ve been so lucky since I saw you last，and I’m so grateful for it!’

“我準備明天去倫敦，郝薇香小姐。”我仔細地挑了幾句話說，“我想說告別了，自從上次見到你，我就交上好運啦。為此，我很感激!”

‘Good， good!’ she replied， looking delightedly at her cousin who was staring at my new clothes.‘I know about it.I’ve seen Mr Jaggers.So，a rich person has adopted you?’

“很好，很好，”她回答說，顯得很高興地看著她的表妹，她正在盯著我的新衣服，“這件事我知道，我見過賈格斯先生啦。那么，一個富有的人收養(yǎng)你啦?”

‘Yes， Miss Havisham.’

“是的，郝薇香小姐。”

She smiled cruelly at her cousin， who was looking rather ill.

她冷冷地對她的表妹付之一笑，她的表妹看上去，氣色相當不好。

‘Remember to do what Mr Jaggers tells you.And you will always keep the name of Pip，won’t you?Goodbye，Pip.’She gave me her hand and I kissed it.It seemed the natural thing to do. And so I left the old lady in her bride’s dress in the candle-light， with the dusty furniture around her.

“記住按照賈格斯先生告訴你的去做，你將永遠保留匹普的名字，對嗎?再見，匹普。”她向我伸出手來，我吻了她的手，這樣做似乎是很自然的事情。這樣，我離開了在燭光下穿著新娘禮服、周圍是塵封的家具的這位老夫人。

On Saturday morning I was in such a hurry that I only said a quick goodbye to my family， before setting out to walk the few miles into town for the London coach. As I left the peaceful sleeping village， the mist over the marshes was rising，to show me the great unknown world I was entering. Suddenly I realized what I was leaving behind-my childhood， my home，and Joe. Then I wished I had asked him to walk with me to the coach， and I could not stop crying. Whenever the horses were changed on the journey， I wondered with an aching heart whether to get down and go back to say goodbye properly.But the mist had completely risen now， and my new world lay ahead of me.

星期天的早晨，要走幾英里到鎮(zhèn)上乘去倫敦的馬車，出發(fā)之前，我急急忙忙地要走，以便趕快和家里的人說再見。當我離開這個寧靜沉睡的村莊時，籠罩著沼澤地的迷霧正在升起，它向我顯示，我正進入這神秘的大千世界。突然我意識到，我正在離開已成為過去的——我的童年，我的家和喬。這時，我希望我要求他和我一起走去坐馬車，我不能停止喊叫。在旅途中，無論什么時候換乘馬車，我良心上在想能不能讓我下車，回過頭來禮貌地說聲再見。但是，現(xiàn)在大霧已經完全升起來了，并籠罩著前面給我鋪設的新世界。