CHAPTER I 第一章1

"Tschah! " exclaimed old Roland suddenly, after he had remained motionless for a quarter of an hour, his eyes fixed on the water, while now and again he very slightly lifted his line sunk in the sea.

“该死!” 罗兰老爹突然喊了一声。过去的一刻钟,他一直一动不动地紧盯着水面,隔一会儿就轻轻地提一提那根浸在海水里的钓线。

Mme. Roland, dozing in the stern by the side of Mme. Rosemilly, who had been invited to join the fishing—party, woke up, and turning her head to look at her husband, said:

罗兰太太本来在船尾打着瞌睡,身旁坐着应邀参加这次钓鱼派对的罗塞米伊太太。现在罗兰太太被吵醒了,转头看着她丈夫,说:

"Well, well! Gerome. "

“哦,怎么啦!热罗姆。”

And the old fellow replied in a fury:

老头子怒气冲冲地回答道:

"They do not bite at all. I have taken nothing since noon. Only men should ever go fishing. Women always delay the start till it is too late. "

“它们根本不咬钩!从中午到现在,我一条都没钓到!钓鱼从来就只应该是男人们的事。女人总是拖拖拉拉,结果耽误了时机。”

His two sons, Pierre and Jean, who each held a line twisted round his forefinger, one to port and one to starboard, both began to laugh, and Jean remarked:

他的两个儿子——皮埃尔和让,每人的食指上都绕着一根钓线,一个坐在船的左舷,一个坐在船的右舷。他俩不约而同地笑了起来,让回应道:

"You are not very polite to our guest, father. "

“爸爸,你对我们的客人不太有礼貌啊。”

M. Roland was abashed, and apologized.

罗兰先生有些不好意思,抱歉地说道:

"I beg your pardon, Mme. Rosemilly, but that is just like me. I invite ladies because I like to be with them, and then, as soon as I feel the water beneath me, I think of nothing but the fish. "

“对不起,罗塞米伊太太,可我就是这样的人。我邀请太太们来是因为我喜欢和她们在一起,不过,我一来到水上,心里就只有鱼了。”

Mme. Roland was now quite awake, and gazing with a softened look at the wide horizon of cliff and sea.

罗兰太太现在已经完全醒了,她满怀柔情地望着广阔的天际和海边的悬崖峭壁。

"You have had good sport, all the same, " she murmured.

“不过,你们这次也还算收获不小啦。” 她小声说。

But her husband shook his head in denial, though at the same time he glanced complacently at the basket where the fish caught by the three men were still breathing spasmodically, with a low rustle of clammy scales and struggling fins, and dull, ineffectual efforts, gasping in the fatal air. Old Roland took the basket between his knees and tilted it up, making the silver heap of creatures slide to the edge that he might see those lying at the bottom, and their death—throes became more convulsive, while the strong smell of their bodies, a wholesome reek of brine, came up from the full depths of the creel. The old fisherman sniffed it eagerly, as we smell at roses, and exclaimed:

但她丈夫一边摇头表示否定,一边沾沾自喜地朝篓子里瞥了一眼。三个男人钓到的鱼还在篓子里断断续续地呼吸着,在就要夺去它们生命的空气中大口喘着气,笨拙而徒劳地挣扎着。它们扑腾着鱼鳍,发出细碎的响声,全身的鱼鳞又黏又湿。罗兰老爹把鱼篓抓过来夹在两膝中间,把鱼篓倾斜好让里面银色的鱼堆滑到边上来,这样他就可以看到篓底的鱼了。这些鱼更加痉挛地垂死挣扎起来,一股刺鼻的鱼腥味混合着有益健康的海水味从鱼篓底部升起。老渔夫热切地嗅着这股腥味,就像我们闻玫瑰花香似的,还高声叫道:

"Cristi! But they are fresh enough! " and he went on: "How many did you pull out, doctor? "

“上帝啊!这些鱼真是新鲜!” 他接着说, “你钓到了多少?医生?”

His eldest son, Pierre, a man of thirty, with black whiskers trimmed square like a lawyer's, his mustache and beard shaved away, replied:

他的大儿子皮埃尔是一个三十岁的男子,蓄着律师那样的黑色络腮胡,嘴唇上下的胡子都剃得光光的。他回答说:

"Oh, not many; three or four. "

“哦,不多,三四条吧。”

The father turned to the younger. "And you, Jean? " said he.

父亲转向小儿子,问道: “让,你呢?”

Jean, a tall fellow, much younger than his brother, fair, with a full beard, smiled and murmured:

让是个高个子青年,皮肤白皙、胡子浓密,比他哥哥年轻许多。他微笑着低声说道:

"Much the same as Pierre—four or five. "

“和皮埃尔差不多——四五条吧。”

Every time they told the same fib, which delighted father Roland. He had hitched his line round a row—lock, and folding his arms he announced:

每次他们都撒着一样的小谎,为的是让罗兰老爹高兴。他把钓线绕到了桨架上,然后双臂合抱在胸前,大声说道:

"I will never again try to fish after noon. After ten in the morning it is all over. The lazy brutes will not bite; they are taking their siesta in the sun. " And he looked round at the sea on all sides, with the satisfied air of a proprietor.

“我以后绝不再在下午钓鱼了。一过早上十点,就不会钓到鱼了。这些懒畜生不会再咬钩;它们都到太阳底下睡午觉去了。” 他带着满足的神情环顾着四周的大海,好像他是大海的所有者似的。

He was a retired jeweller who had been led by an inordinate love of seafaring and fishing to fly from the shop as soon as he had made enough money to live in modest comfort on the interest of his savings. He retired to le Havre, bought a boat, and became an amateur skipper. His two sons, Pierre and Jean, had remained at Paris to continue their studies, and came for the holidays from time to time to share their father's amusements.

他以前是一个珠宝商,一直酷爱航海和钓鱼,因此在他赚了一笔钱,能够靠储蓄利息过上比较舒适的生活后,他就立马离开了柜台。他隐退到勒阿弗尔,买下一只船,成了一名业余船长。他的两个儿子——皮埃尔和让则留在巴黎继续他们的学业。放假的时候,他们时而会来和他们的父亲共享航海和钓鱼的乐趣。

On leaving school, Pierre, the elder, five years older than Jean, had felt a vocation to various professions and had tried half a dozen in succession, but, soon disgusted with each in turn, he started afresh with new hopes. Medicine had been his last fancy, and he had set to work with so much ardour that he had just qualified after an unusually short course of study, by a special remission of time from the minister. He was enthusiastic, intelligent, fickle, but obstinate, full of Utopias and philosophical notions.

大儿子皮埃尔比让大五岁,他大学毕业后想从事各种不同的职业,于是接二连三地尝试做过五六个行当,可都很快就厌倦了,随即又开始满怀希望地寻找新职业。最后,医学吸引了他。他满腔热情地投入其中,在经过了一段非常短时间的学习后,他从部长那里取得了缩短修业时间的特许证,拿到了医生的资格证。他是一个热情、机智、性情多变却又倔强的人,满脑子的乌托邦和哲学思想。

Jean, who was as fair as his brother was dark, as deliberate as his brother was vehement, as gentle as his brother was unforgiving, had quietly gone through his studies for the law and had just taken his diploma as a licentiate, at the time when Pierre had taken his in medicine. So they were now having a little rest at home, and both looked forward to settling in le Havre if they could find a satisfactory opening.

让和他哥哥完全不同。他肤色白皙,他哥哥却皮肤黝黑;他生性从容,他哥哥却暴躁冲动;他温顺和善,而他哥哥却衔恨记仇;他顺顺利利地学完了法律,在哥哥皮埃尔拿到医学学士学位的同时,他也通过了法学学士的考试。于是,两人现在都回家来休息一段时间,而且如果能找到满意的职位空缺,两人都打算在勒阿弗尔安定下来。

But a vague jealousy, one of those dormant jealousies which grow up between brothers or sisters and slowly ripen till they burst, on the occasion of a marriage perhaps, or of some good fortune happening to one of them, kept them on the alert in a sort of brotherly and non—aggressive animosity. They were fond of each other, it is true, but they watched each other. Pierre, five years old when Jean was born, had looked with the eyes of a little petted animal at that other little animal which had suddenly come to lie in his father's and mother's arms and to be loved and fondled by them. Jean, from his birth, had always been a pattern of sweetness, gentleness, and good temper, and Pierre had by degrees begun to chafe at ever—lastingly hearing the praises of this great lad, whose sweetness in his eyes was indolence, whose gentleness was stupidity, and whose kindliness was blindness. His parents, whose dream for their sons was some respectable and undistinguished calling, blamed him for so often changing his mind, for his fits of enthusiasm, his abortive beginnings, and all his ineffectual impulses towards generous ideas and the liberal professions.

可是有一种嫉妒心理总在隐隐作祟;一种在兄弟或姐妹之间日渐滋长、慢慢成熟,直到其中一方结了婚或是遇到意外的好运时才爆发出的嫉妒心理,使他们在一种兄弟间没有攻击性的敌意中相互戒备着。的确,他们是相亲相爱的,可他们又在相互提防着。让出生的时候,皮埃尔已经五岁了。他带着一种被溺爱坏了的小动物的妒意,瞅着突然出现在他父母怀里,被他们百般疼爱的另一只小动物。让从出生开始,就一直是一个温顺、善良、好脾气的模范乖孩子。日子久了,皮埃尔总是听到别人夸奖这个好孩子,渐渐地开始愠怒。因为在他看来,弟弟的温顺就是软弱,他的和善就是愚蠢,他的厚道就是盲目。他的父母亲期望着儿子们将来能有个平凡但体面的职业,因此责备皮埃尔总是三心二意、头脑发热、半途而废,指责他异想天开,总是心血来潮地换工作。

Since he had grown to manhood they no longer said in so many words: "Look at Jean and follow his example, " but every time he heard them say "Jean did this—Jean does that, " he understood their meaning and the hint the words conveyed.

自他成人之后,父母不再总对他说: “你多跟让学学!” 但每次听到他们说 “让做了这个,让做了那个” 的时候,他很清楚这些话的言外之意。

Their mother, an orderly person, a thrifty and rather sentimental woman of the middle class, with the soul of a soft—hearted book—keeper, was constantly quenching the little rivalries between her two big sons to which the petty events of their life constantly gave rise. Another little circumstance, too, just now disturbed her peace of mind, and she was in fear of some complications; for in the course of the winter, while her boys were finishing their studies, each in his own line, she had made the acquaintance of a neighbour, Mme. Rosemilly, the widow of a captain of a merchantman who had died at sea two years before. The young widow—quite young, only three—and—twenty—a woman of strong intellect who knew life by instinct as the free animals do, as though she had seen, gone through, understood, and weighted every conceivable contingency, and judged them with a wholesome, strict, and benevolent mind, had fallen into the habit of calling to work or chat for an hour in the evening with these friendly neighbours, who would give her a cup of tea.

他们的母亲是个将一切都打理得井井有条的人,一个节俭的、感情细腻的中产阶级妇女,一个天性温和柔顺的簿记员。她不断地平息着两个长大成人的儿子之间因日常琐事而频繁引发的小对抗。可现在,有件小事使她心绪不宁起来,她害怕事情会复杂化。因为去年冬天,在她的儿子们结束各自的学业之际,她结识了邻居罗塞米伊太太,一个商船船长的遗孀,丈夫两年前死在了海上。这个寡妇很年轻,只有23岁,是个很明达的女人,像自由的动物那样本能地懂得如何生活,好像她是个过来人,看过、经历过、研究过、衡量过人们能想象得到的一切可能发生的事。她用健全的心智、缜密的思维和善良的心来作判断。她还养成了一个习惯,每天晚上都要到这几位友善的邻居家里去呆上一会儿,喝杯茶,话话家常。

Father Roland, always goaded on by his seafaring craze, would question their new friend about the departed captain; and she would talk of him, and his voyages, and his old—world tales, without hesitation, like a resigned and reasonable woman who loves life and respects death.

对航海的狂热一直在刺激着罗兰老爹,驱使他向这位新结识的女邻居打听已故船长的事情。罗塞米伊太太便毫不迟疑地畅谈她丈夫,他的航海历程,他过去的轶事。她像一个乐天知命、通情达理、热爱生命且又尊重死亡的女人那样侃侃而谈。

The two sons on their return, finding the pretty widow quite at home in the house, forthwith began to court her, less from any wish to charm her than from the desire to cut each other out.

两个儿子回来以后,发现这个漂亮的寡妇在自己家里无拘无束,便马上开始向她献起了殷勤,这倒不是为了讨她喜欢,而主要是想在女人面前争雄。

Their mother, being practical and prudent, sincerely hoped that one of them might win the young widow, for she was rich; but then she would have liked that the other should not be grieved.

他们的母亲很实际,也很精明。她巴不得他们中的一个能赢得美人心,因为那个年轻的寡妇很有钱。但她又同样希望另一个不要因此而痛苦。

Mme. Rosemilly was fair, with blue eyes, a mass of light waving hair, fluttering at the least breath of wind, and an alert, daring, pugnacious little way with her, which did not in the least answer to the sober method of her mind.

罗塞米伊太太皮肤白皙、眼睛碧蓝,浓密而细软的一头卷发稍有微风便会飞扬起来。一副果敢、无畏、好斗的的神气和她那明智冷静的思维方式极不相称。

She already seemed to like Jean best, attracted, no doubt, by an affinity of nature. This preference, however, she betrayed only by an almost imperceptible difference of voice and look and also by occasionally asking his opinion. She seemed to guess that Jean's views would support her own, while those of Pierre must inevitably be different. When she spoke of the doctor's ideas on politics, art, philosophy, or morals, she would sometimes say: "Your crotchets. " Then he would look at her with the cold gleam of an accuser drawing up an indictment against women—all women, poor weak things.

她看起来似乎对让有所偏爱,毫无疑问,她是被一种与生俱来的亲和力所吸引。但是,这种偏爱只流露在她略有不同的眼神和语气中,几乎察觉不出;偶尔在她征求他的意见时也会表现出来一些。她似乎猜到了让的观点会支持她的观点,而皮埃尔的看法则必定与她相左。当谈到这位医生在政治、艺术、哲学或道德伦理方面的观点时,她总会说: “你的这些怪念头。” 然后,皮埃尔就会用一种冷峻的目光看着她,好似原告在起草诉状控诉女人——所有女人,软弱的可怜虫。

Never till his sons came home had M. Roland invited her to join his fishing expeditions, nor had he ever taken his wife; for he liked to put off before daybreak, with his ally, Captain Beausire, a master mariner retired, whom he had first met on the quay at high tides and with whom he had struck up an intimacy, and the old sailor Papagris, known as Jean Bart, in whose charge the boat was left.

在他的儿子们回家以前,罗兰老爹从来没邀请过罗塞米伊太太一起去钓鱼,连她妻子都没有带去过,因为他喜欢在天亮以前就同博西尔船长和老水手帕帕格里斯一起启航出发。博西尔船长是一个退休的远洋海员,罗兰在一次涨潮时在码头上遇到他,后来两人成为了亲密的朋友;人们都叫老水手帕帕格里斯为让•巴尔特,是专门负责看管船只的。

But one evening of the week before, Mme. Rosemilly, who had been dining with them, remarked, "It must be great fun to go out fishing. " The jeweller, flattered by her interest and suddenly fired with the wish to share his favourite sport with her, and to make a convert after the manner of priests, exclaimed: "Would you like to come? "

可上周的一个晚上,罗塞米伊太太在他们家吃晚饭时说: “钓鱼一定是件很有趣的事情吧。” 这个老珠宝商,因为她感兴趣而受宠若惊,突然很想与她分享自己最喜爱的活动,于是他就像传教士劝人信教一样高声说: “你想一同去钓鱼吗?”

"To be sure I should. "

“我当然想!”

"Next Tuesday? "

“那下周二去怎样?”

"Yes, next Tuesday. "

“行啊,就下周二。”

"Are you the woman to be ready to start at five in the morning? "

“你是那种早上五点就能准备好出发的女人吗?”

She exclaimed in horror:

她惊呼一声:

"No, indeed: that is too much. "

“不,不行,那太早了。”

He was disappointed and chilled, suddenly doubting her true vocation. However, he said:

他失望了,心凉了半截,顿时怀疑起她所谓的兴趣来。可他还是问道:

"At what hour can you be ready? "

“那您几点可以出发呢?”

"Well—at nine? "

“嗯——九点如何?”

"Not before? "

“不能再早些吗?”

"No, not before. Even that is very early. "

“不,不能再早了。九点已经很早了。”

The old fellow hesitated; he certainly would catch nothing, for when the sun has warmed the sea the fish bite no more; but the two brothers had eagerly pressed the scheme, and organized and arranged everything there and then.

这个老头儿不由得犹豫起来。这么晚动身,他一定会空手而归,因为暖和的太阳晒着海水,鱼儿们就不再咬钩。可两兄弟迫切地想要施行这个计划,他俩当场就把一切都组织安排好了。

So on the following Tuesday the Pearl had dropped anchor under the white rocks of Cape Havre; they had fished till midday, then they had slept awhile, and then fished again without catching anything; and then it was that father Roland, perceiving, rather late, that all that Mme. Rosemilly really enjoyed and cared for was the sail on the sea, and seeing that his lines hung motionless, had uttered in a spirit of unreasonable annoyance, that vehement "Tschah! " which applied as much to the pathetic widow as to the creatures he could not catch.

因此,到了下个星期二, “珍珠号” 就在勒阿弗尔海角的白色岩石下抛锚了。他们在那里一直钓到中午,小憩了一会儿之后又钓了一阵,可什么都没钓到。罗兰老爹这时候才明白罗塞米伊太太其实只是喜欢泛舟海上,但为时已晚。当看到他的钓线不再抖动的时候,他便不理智地大喊了一声 “该死!” ,这既是骂那个可怜的寡妇,也是骂他钓不到的那些鱼。

Now he contemplated the spoil—his fish—with the joyful thrill of a miser; seeing as he looked up at the sky that the sun was getting low: "Well, boys, " said he, "suppose we turn homeward. "

现在,他像个吝啬鬼那样欣喜地凝视着那些战利品——他的鱼。随后,他抬头看看天色,太阳已经开始西沉了。 “好吧,孩子们,” 他说, “我们回家吧。”

The young men hauled in their lines, coiled them up, cleaned the hooks and stuck them into corks, and sat waiting.

兄弟俩收起了手中的钓线,把它们卷好,把擦干净的鱼钩嵌到软木塞上,然后便坐着等待。

Roland stood up to look out like a captain.

罗兰老爹站起来,像个船长那样眺望着天际。

"No wind, " said he. "You will have to pull, young 'uns. "

“没有风,” 他说, “你们得划船了,孩子们。”

And suddenly extending one arm to the northward, he exclaimed:

突然他又伸出一条胳膊,指着北方大声说:

"Here comes the packet from Southampton. "

“南安普敦的班轮来了!”

Away over the level sea, spread out like a blue sheet, vast and sheeny and shot with flame and gold, an inky cloud was visible against the rosy sky in the quarter to which he pointed, and below it they could make out the hull of the steamer, which looked tiny at such a distance. And to southward other wreaths of smoke, numbers of them, could be seen, all converging towards the Havre pier, now scarcely visible as a white streak with the lighthouse, upright, like a horn, at the end of it.

碧波浩瀚的大海好似一块平铺的蓝色布面,海面上金光闪烁,反射着如火的阳光。在罗兰老爹所指的方向,玫瑰色的天空中有一团黑云,云团下方,那轮船的轮廓依稀可辨,由于相距甚远,那船看起来很小。往南望去,还可以看到许多环状的烟雾,许多艘轮船都在往勒阿弗尔码头靠拢。现在几乎看不清码头了,只见它像一条白纹,其尽头处的灯塔像只触角似的挺立着。

Roland asked: "Is not the Normandie due to—day? " And Jean replied:

罗兰问道: “ ‘诺曼底号’ 是不是今天该进港了?” 让回答:

"Yes, to—day. "

“是的,是今天。”

"Give me my glass. I fancy I see her out there. "

“把我的望远镜给我。我想我看到它在那儿了。”

The father pulled out the copper tube, adjusted it to his eye, sought the speck, and then, delighted to have seen it, exclaimed:

老爹拉出了望远镜的铜管,放在一只眼睛前面调整,寻找焦点,随后他终于看到了,便高兴地大喊:

"Yes, yes, there she is. I know her two funnels. Would you like to look, Mme. Rosemilly? "

“是的,是的,是它。我认得出它的两根烟囱。您要不要也看看,罗塞米伊太太?”

She took the telescope and directed it towards the Atlantic horizon, without being able, however, to find the vessel, for she could distinguish nothing—nothing but blue, with a coloured halo round it, a circular rainbow—and then all manner of queer things, winking eclipses which made her feel sick.

她接过望远镜,朝着大西洋的远处望去。可她没有发现那艘船,因为她什么也没辨认出来——只是看见了一片被五彩的光晕包围的蔚蓝色,一条环状的彩虹——还有其他各式稀奇古怪的东西,灯塔一明一暗的遮暗间歇弄得她晕头转向。

She said as she returned the glass:

她把望远镜还给罗兰老爹,说:

"I never could see with that thing. It used to put my husband in quite a rage; he would stand for hours at the windows watching the ships pass. "

“我用这东西啥也看不到。这玩意还曾让我丈夫一度着了魔。他总是在窗前一站就是几个小时,看那些来来往往的船只。”

Old Roland, much put out, retorted:

罗兰老爹,觉得很没趣,反驳道:

"Then it must be some defect in your eye, for my glass is a very good one. "

“那一定是你的眼睛有毛病,我的望远镜可是非常好的。”

Then he offered it to his wife.

接着他把望远镜递给了他的妻子。

"Would you like to look? "

“你要不要看看?”

"No, thank you. I know before hand that I could not see through it. "

“不了,谢谢。我不用看就知道我是看不到的。”

Mme. Roland, a woman of eight—and—forty but who did not look it, seemed to be enjoying this excursion and this waning day more than any of the party.

罗兰太太是一个四十八岁的女人,但看起来还要略显年轻一些,她似乎非常享受这次海上泛舟的乐趣和夕阳西下的美景,胜过喜欢这次聚会的任何其他内容。

Her chestnut hair was only just beginning to show streaks of white. She had a calm, reasonable face, a kind and happy way with her which it was a pleasure to see. Her son Pierre was wont to say that she knew the value of money, but this did not hinder her from enjoying the delights of dreaming. She was fond of reading, of novels, and poetry, not for their value as works of art, but for the sake of the tender melancholy mood they would induce in her. A line of poetry, often but a poor one, often a bad one, would touch the little chord, as she expressed it, and give her the sense of some mysterious desire almost realized. And she delighted in these faint emotions which brought a little flutter to her soul, otherwise as strictly kept as a ledger.

她栗色的头发刚刚开始长出几缕白发。她看起来很沉静,通情达理,给人一种善解人意、幸福快乐的感觉,看着就令人愉悦。她儿子皮埃尔总说她看重钱财,但这一点也没妨碍她享受梦幻的乐趣。她喜爱读书,喜欢小说,喜欢诗歌,这不是因为它们的艺术价值,而是因为它们能唤起她心中那种淡淡的忧郁。她说,一行诗句,通常只是一行平庸的、拙劣的诗句,也会触动她那小小的心弦,让她有种好像实现了某个神秘愿望的感觉。她在这些淡淡的情绪里感到欣喜,灵魂开始泛起微澜。其他时候,她总是像管账簿那样严格地约束着自己的内心。

Since settling at Havre she had become perceptibly stouter, and her figure, which had been very supple and slight, had grown heavier.

自从他们在勒阿弗尔安家以来,她明显发福了,往日那柔软苗条的身段已经变得笨重起来。

This day on the sea had been delightful to her. Her husband, without being brutal, was rough with her, as a man who is the despot of his shop is apt to be rough, without anger or hatred; to such men to give an order is to swear. He controlled himself in the presence of strangers, but in private he let loose and gave himself terrible vent, though he was himself afraid of every one. She, in sheer horror of the turmoil, of scenes, of useless explanations, always gave way and never asked for anything; for a very long time she had not ventured to ask Roland to take her out in the boat. So she had joyfully hailed this opportunity, and was keenly enjoying the rare and new pleasure.

在海上的这一天,她一直很高兴。她丈夫对她比较粗暴,但并非一个恶人,就像那些店铺里的蛮横老板,对人有些野蛮,却并没有愤怒或憎恶。对这样的人来说,对其下命令就等于是谩骂。要是有外人在,他还较为克制,但回到家他就放肆起来,摆出一副唬人的姿态,而事实上他见什么人都害怕。而她则极度害怕口角,怕吵闹,怕做无用的解释,所以她总是让着他,从来也不提什么要求;很长一段时间以来,她都没敢请求罗兰带他出海。因此,她高兴地抓住这个机会,深深地陶醉在这难能可贵的新鲜乐趣中。

From the moment when they started she surrendered herself completely, body and soul, to the soft, gliding motion over the waves. She was not thinking; her mind was not wandering through either memories or hopes; it seemed to her as though her heart, like her body, was floating on something soft and liquid and delicious which rocked and lulled it.

从他们出发的那一刻起,她就全身心地、彻彻底底地投入到了这柔和的水上滑行中。她什么都没想,既不沉缅于过去,也不憧憬未来。她仿佛觉得自己的心就像自己的身体一样,飘飘然于一种柔软的、流动的、美妙的东西之上,心灵有些震颤而又得到了抚慰。

When their father gave the word to return, "Come, take your places at the oars! " she smiled to see her sons, her two great boys, take off their jackets and roll up their shirt—sleeves on their bare arms.

他们的父亲下令返航: “快来,做好准备划船了!” 她则笑着看着自己的两个乖儿子,给他们脱去外套,卷起他们衬衣的袖子,露出了他们光溜溜的胳膊。

Pierre, who was nearest to the two women, took the stroke oar, Jean the other, and they sat waiting till the skipper should say: "Give way! " For he insisted on everything being done according to strict rule.

离两个女人最近的皮埃尔抓起右舷桨,让抓起左舷桨,坐在那里等着,一直等到他们的船长父亲发令: “撤!” 因为他坚持一切都要严守规矩。

Simultaneously, as if by a single effort, they dipped the oars, and lying back, pulling with all their might, began a struggle to display their strength. They had come out easily, under sail, but the breeze had died away, and the masculine pride of the two brothers was suddenly aroused by the prospect of measuring their powers. When they went out alone with their father they plied the oars without any steering, for Roland would be busy getting the lines ready, while he kept a lookout in the boat's course, guiding it by a sign or a word: "Easy, Jean, and you, Pierre, put your back into it. " Or he would say, "Now, then, number one; come, number two—a little elbow grease. " Then the one who had been dreaming pulled harder, the one who had got excited eased down, and the boat's head came round.

他们同时让船桨入水,接着向后仰,全力以赴地把桨朝前划去,开始了一场显示彼此力量的争夺战。他们来的时候很容易,因为可以借助船帆,可现在风停了,于是两兄弟的男性好胜心突然被一决胜负的念头唤醒。当他们只和父亲一块儿出海钓鱼时,没人会去掌舵,就是这么划着,因为罗兰会一边忙着准备钓线,一边注意船的航向,仅以手势或是一句话来导航: “轻点儿,让,还有你,皮埃尔,用力些。” 或者他会说, “好了,现在一号加油;二号,胳膊使点劲儿。” 这时,走神的那个就划得更卖力些,划得过猛的那个就少使点劲儿,这样船的航向就摆正了。

But to—day they meant to display their biceps. Pierre's arms were hairy, somewhat lean but sinewy; Jean's were round and white and rosy, and the knot of muscles moved under the skin.

但今天他们却都想炫耀一下他们的力量。皮埃尔的胳膊汗毛很多,有点儿瘦但肌肉发达;让的胳膊浑圆,白里透红,肌肉块儿在皮肤下来回滑动。

At first Pierre had the advantage. With his teeth set, his brow knit, his legs rigid, his hands clinched on the oar, he made it bend from end to end at every stroke, and the Pearl was veering landward. Father Roland, sitting in the bows, so as to leave the stern seat to the two women, wasted his breath shouting, "Easy, number one; pull harder, number two! " Pierre pulled harder in his frenzy, and "number two" could not keep time with his wild stroke.

一开始是皮埃尔占上风。他咬着牙,紧锁眉头,双腿伸直,双手紧攥着船桨,每次都把浆划到底, “珍珠号” 朝岸边飞驶而去。罗兰老爹坐在船头,以便把船尾的位置让给两位太太,他大声喊道: “老大慢点儿!老二使点劲儿!” 皮埃尔情绪激动,划得更起劲儿了,老二却无法配合他这种疯狂的划法。

At last the skipper cried: "Stop her! " The two oars were lifted simultaneously, and then by his father's orders Jean pulled alone for a few minutes. But from that moment he had it all his own way; he grew eager and warmed to his work, while Pierre, out of breath and exhausted by his first vigorous spurt, was lax and panting. Four times running father Roland made them stop while the elder took breath, so as to get the boat into her right course again. Then the doctor, humiliated and fuming, his forehead dropping with sweat, his cheeks white, stammered out:

最后船长只能下令: “把船停下!” 两支桨同时举了起来,按他父亲的命令,让一个人划了一会儿。可从那个时刻起,优势就转到他这边来了。他兴奋无比,越划越起劲。而皮埃尔一开始用力过猛,现在已经上气不接下气、筋疲力尽了,他浑身乏力、气喘吁吁。罗兰老爹一连四次下令停划,好让老大能松口气,摆正船的航向。这时医生感到丢了颜面,一肚子的火。他满头大汗、脸色苍白,结结巴巴地说:

"I cannot think what has come over me; I have a stitch in my side. I started very well, but it has pulled me up. "

“我不知道是怎么回事,肋部突然剧痛。一开始我还划得很好,可现在我都无法动弹了。”

Jean asked: "Shall I pull alone with both oars for a time? "

让问道: “要不我一个人用双桨来划会儿?”

"No, thanks, it will go off. "

“不,谢谢,我很快就会好的。”

And their mother, somewhat vexed, said:

他们的母亲有点不耐烦了,说:

"Why, Pierre, what rhyme or reason is there in getting into such a state. You are not a child. "

“我说,皮埃尔,你把自己弄成现在这样有什么意思啊。你不是个小孩子了。”

And he shrugged his shoulders and set to once more.

他耸了耸肩膀,又开始划了起来。

Mme. Rosemilly pretended not to see, not to understand, not to hear. Her fair head went back with an engaging little jerk every time the boat moved forward, making the fine wayward hairs flutter about her temples.

罗塞米伊太太假装什么都没瞧见,什么都不知道,什么都没听见。船每次往前一划动,她那满头金发的脑袋便姿势优美地往后一仰,两鬓的碎发也随之飘动起来。

But father Roland presently called out:

可罗兰老爹这时叫了起来:

"Look, the Prince Albert is catching us up! "

“看哪, ‘阿尔贝王子号’ 快要赶上我们了!”

They all looked round. Long and low in the water, with her two raking funnels and two yellow paddle—boxes like two round cheeks, the Southampton packet came ploughing on at full steam, crowded with passengers under open parasols. Its hurrying, noisy paddle—wheels beating up the water which fell again in foam, gave it an appearance of haste as of a courier pressed for time, and the upright stem cut through the water, throwing up two thin translucent waves which glided off along the hull.

大家都朝那边望去。南安普敦的轮船正全速驶来,这条长长的班轮吃水很深,两根烟囱往后倾斜着,两只黄色的轮罩圆滚滚的,像脸盘一样。撑开的太阳伞下面挤满了乘客。它那发着隆隆巨响的叶轮飞速地运转着,把海水拍打得白沫四处飞溅。它看上去行色匆匆,像个十万火急的信使,笔直的船头劈开了海面,船身两侧激起了两道薄薄的透明波痕。

When it had come quite near the Pearl, father Roland lifted his hat, the ladies shook their handkerchiefs, and half a dozen parasols eagerly waved on board the steamboat responded to this salute as she went on her way, leaving behind her a few broad undulations on the still and glassy surface of the sea.

当那条船靠近 “珍珠号” 的时候,罗兰老爹举起他的帽子,两位太太挥舞着她们的手帕,汽船上也有五六个阳伞下的乘客热情地挥手致意,以示还礼。汽船渐行渐远,在平静而又闪着波光的海面上留下了一道道翻滚的波浪。

There were other vessels, each with its smoky cap, coming in from every part of the horizon towards the short white jetty, which swallowed them up, one after another, like a mouth. And the fishing barks and lighter craft with broad sails and slender masts, stealing across the sky in tow of inconspicuous tugs, were coming in, faster and slower, towards the devouring ogre, who from time to time seemed to have had a surfeit, and spewed out to the open sea another fleet of steamers, brigs, schooners, and three—masted vessels with their tangled mass of rigging. The hurrying steamships flew off to the right and left over the smooth bosom of the ocean, while sailing vessels, cast off by the pilot—tugs which had hauled them out, lay motionless, dressing themselves from the main—mast to the fore—tops in canvas, white or brown, and ruddy in the setting sun.

还可以看到其他一些轮船,船顶上也冒着滚滚黑烟,远远地从四面八方向那短短的白色海堤驶来,海堤像一张大嘴,把轮船一条接一条地吞没。还有那些仿佛滑行在天际的渔船和轻桅大帆船,它们被一些小得几乎看不到的拖船拉着,也都或急或缓地正朝着那个食人恶魔驶去。这个吃人的魔鬼有时似乎吃得过饱了,于是向大海吐出了另外一些游船,有双桅横帆船、双桅纵帆船,还有桅帆纵横的三桅帆船。那些飞驰的汽轮有的向右,有的向左,朝着平静的大洋腹地驶去,而那些帆船在被拖船拖出港口后,一动不动地在那里停着,它们正在为自己着装,从主桅到顶桅都扯起了船帆,在夕阳的映照下,有的船帆呈白色,有的是棕色,有的微红。

Mme. Roland, with her eyes half—shut, murmured: "Good heavens, how beautiful the sea is! "

两兄弟(外研社双语读库) - CHAPTER I 第一章1
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