本文作者是托马斯・哈代，英国诗人、小说家。他是横跨两个世纪的作家，早期和中期的创作以小说为主，继承和发扬了维多利亚时代的文学传统；晚年以其出色的诗歌开拓了英国20世纪的文学。本文摘选自哈代的主要作品一《德伯家的苔丝》，由张谷若翻译，属于典型的文学作品，其中一些古老英语和方言英语的翻译较难，但很有特色，值得学习。

On an evening in the latter part of May a middle-aged man was walking homeward from Shaston to the village of Marlott, in the adjoining Vale of Blakemore or Blackmoor.

五月后半月里，有一天傍晚，一个中年男子，正打沙氏屯，朝着跟它相连的那个布蕾谷里面的马勒村往家里走去。

The pair of legs that carried him were rickety, and there was a bias in his gait which inclined him somewhat to the left of a straight line.

支着他的那两条腿老是摇摇晃晃的，他走路的姿势里，又总有一种倾斜的趋势，使他或多或少地往一条直线的左边歪。

He occasionally gave a smart nod, as if in confirmation of some opinion, though he was not thinking of anything in particular.

待一会儿他就轻快地把头一点，好像是对某一个意见表示赞成似的，其实他心里头可并没想什么特别的事儿。

An empty egg-basket was slung upon his arm, the nap of his hat was ruffled, a patch being quite worn away at its brim where his thumb came in taking it off.

他胳膊上挎着一个空着的鸡蛋篮子，他头上那顶帽子的绒头都乱七八糟的，帽檐上摘帽子的时候大拇指接触的那个地方还磨掉了一大块。

Presently he was met by an elderly parson astride on a gray mare, who, as he rode, hummed a wandering tune.

他往前刚走了一会儿，就有一个上年纪的牧师，跨着一匹灰色的骒马，一路信口哼着一个小调儿，迎着面儿走来。

"Good night t'ee", said the man with the basket.

“晚安,”挎篮子的人说。

"Good night, Sir John," said the parson.

“约翰爵士，晚安,”牧师说。

The pedestrian, after another pace or two, halted, and turned round.

那个步行的男子又走了一两步，站住了脚，转过身来。

Now, sir, begging your pardon; we met last market-day on this road about this time, and I zaid "Good night," and you made reply "Good night, Sir John," as now.

先生，对不起。上次赶集的日子，咱们差不多也是这样儿在这条路上碰见的，那回俺对你说“晚安”，你也跟刚才一样回答说

“约翰爵士，晚安”。

"I did, "said the parson.

“不错，是，”牧师说。

And once before that-near a month ago.

I may have.

在那一次以前，大概有一个月了，也有过这么一回。

也许。

Then what might your meaning be in calling me "Sir John" these different times, when I be plain Jack Durbeyfield, the haggler?

俺分明是平平常常的杰克・徳北，一个乡下小贩子，可你三番两次地老叫俺“约翰爵士”，到底是什么意思?

The parson rode a step or two nearer.

牧师拍马走近了一两步。

"It was only my whim, "he said; and, after a moment's hesitation: "It was on account of a discovery I made some little time ago, whilst I was hunting up pedigrees for the new county history."

“那不过是我一时的高兴就是了，”他说，跟着迟疑了一会儿:“那是因为不久以前，我正考查各家的谱系预备编新郡志的时候，发现了一件事情，所以我才这么称呼你。

I am Parson Tringham, the antiquary, of Stagfoot Lane.

我是丝台夫路的崇干牧师兼博古家。

Don't you really know, Durbeyfied, that you are the lineal representative of the ancient and knightly family of the d'Urberville, who derive their descent from Sir Pagan d'Urberville, that renowned knight who came from Normandy with William the Conqueror, as appears by Battle Abbey Roll?

德北，你真不知道你就是那古老的武士世家德伯氏的嫡派子孙吗?德伯氏的始祖是那位有名气的武士裴根・德伯爵士，据“纪功寺谱”上说，他是跟着胜利王维廉从诺曼底到英国来的。

Never heard it before, sir!

Well it's true.

从来没听说过，先生!

这是真事。

But you'll turn back and have a quart of beer wi'me on the strength o't, Pa'son Tringham?

可是，崇干牧师，既是这样，那你回来跟俺去喝它一夸特啤酒，好不好?

There's a very pretty brew in tap at The Pure Drop-though, to be sure, not so good as at Rolliver's.

清酒店有开了桶的好酒，可是比起露力芬店里的，自然还差点儿。

No, thank you-not this evening, Durbeyfield. You've had enough already.

谢谢你，不喝了，今儿晚上不喝了，德北。我瞧你喝的已经不少了。

责任编辑：admin