2. 为了迎接高官，村里准备了盛大的筵席，村中的头面人物争先恐后要出头露面。

[原文] Louis had volunteered to raise the toast but Roque said that he would. There he was now with the champagne glass in his hand.

[译文] 路易斯自告奋勇要献祝酒词。但洛克说该由他来，于是便手持着香槟酒杯。

[讨论] 根据译文，二人似乎是当场争着“献祝酒词”。但高官在座，能当场相争吗？

看看原文，第一句“争献祝酒词”的动词为had volunteered过去完成时；后一句“酒杯在手”的动词为was，一般过去时。显然，“争献祝酒词”在先，“酒杯在手”在后。按照情理，“争”是在高官未到之前，译文应把这点表示清楚。

[改译] 路易斯曾自告奋勇要献祝酒词，但洛克说该他來。所以现在他手上端着香槟酒杯。

3. 群众听说总督要到他们村子里来了。

[原文] They felt mighty proud that the Governor was to come lo their village. They had come to know that the Regedor (村长），Roque — Bab and Louis had gone as a delegation in the name of their village to the Governor's palace to invite him, but they had doubted that they would succeed.

[译文] 总督要到他们村里来了，他们感到非常骄傲。他们得知，村长、洛克和路易斯代表村民们到总督官邸去邀请他。但是村民们怀疑代表能否成功。

[讨论] 译文第一句说“总督要来”，已是一件确定的事。最后却又“怀疑代表能否成功”，似乎事情并未最后确定。

对照一下原文，第一句的动词felt，过去时。第二句的动词had come to know, had gone, had doubted 均过去完成时。表明第二句所叙述的一切发生于第一句所叙述的事件之前。即是说，第一句是最后发生之饵，后面一段系追述事情的经过，这和中国人先叙述经过、后叙述结果的习惯恰怡相反。译文应把这些表示清楚。

[改译」总督要到他们村里来了，他们感到非常骄傲。原先他们便曾听说，村长、洛克和路易斯代表他们村子到总督府去邀请他， 但却不相信他们会成功。