美國語文第六冊 第291期:窮紳士(4)
我沒有趕他。是的，您趕了。你從來不會讓他在辯論中保持平靜的。
At peace! Zounds, he would never go to war. He had the merit to be calm.
保持平靜!該死的，他從來不會主動挑起爭端。他的優(yōu)點就是平和。
So has a duck pond. He was a bit of still life, a chip, weak water gruel, a tame rabbit, boiled to rags, without sauce or salt.
所以，才要有個鴨塘嘛。他是有點好靜，就像稀粥一樣，一只溫馴的兔子，沒有加調味品或鹽煮到稀爛的程度。
He received my arguments with his mouth open, like a poorbox gaping for half-pence.
他嘴巴張得老大接受我的論點，就像渴望得到半便士的窮棒子。
and, good or bad, he swallowed them all without any resistance. We couldn't disagree,
不論好壞，他都會不加抗拒地一股腦吞下。我們意見不合，
and so we parted. And the poor, meek gentleman went to Russia for a quiet life.
于是就分道揚鑣了。這位貧窮但性情溫順的紳士去了俄國，默默無聞地了此一生。
A quiet life! Why, he married the moment he got there, tacked himself to the shrew relict of a Russian merchant,
好一個默默無聞!他一到那兒就結婚了，將自己與一位俄國商人刁潑的遺孀綁在了一起，
and continued a speculation with her in furs, flax, potashes, tallow, linen, and leather;
與她一起做毛皮、亞麻，草堿、油脂、亞麻布和皮革投機生意;
what's the consequence? Thirteen months ago he broke. Poor soul, his wife should have followed the business for him.
結果呢?十三個月前，他破產了。可憐的人，他妻子會接手他的生意的。
I fancy she did follow it, for she died just as he broke, and now this madcap, Frederic, is sent over to me for protection.
我原想她會的，可是他剛一破產，她就死了，現(xiàn)在，這個狂妄的弗雷德里克來找我尋求庇蔭。
Poor Job, now he is in distress, I must not neglect his son.
可憐的約伯，現(xiàn)在他處境窘迫，我不會慢待他兒子的。
Here comes his son, that's Mr. Frederic. Enter FREDERIC.
他兒子來了，這就是弗雷德里克。弗雷德里克上場。
