評論
打印
At the sound of his voice the Director started into a guilty realization of where he was;
主任聽見他說話，猛然一驚，意識到了自己的處境，不安起來。
shot a glance at Bernard, and averting his eyes, blushed darkly; looked at him again with sudden suspicion and, angrily on his dignity, "Don't imagine," he said, "that I'd had any indecorous relation with the girl.
他瞥了伯納一眼，滿臉通紅，回避著他的眼睛；又突然產生了疑心，瞥了他一眼；出于尊嚴，又再瞥了他一眼。“別胡思亂想。”他說，“別以為我跟那姑娘有什么木正當的關系。
Nothing emotional, nothing long-drawn.
我們沒有感情，沒有拖泥帶水，
It was all perfectly healthy and normal."
完全是健康的，正常的。”
He handed Bernard the permit.
他把批準書交給了伯納。
"I really don't know why I bored you with this trivial anecdote."
‘我真不知道為什么會拿這件瑣事來讓你心煩。”
Furious with himself for having given away a discreditable secret, he vented his rage on Bernard.
他因為透露了一個不光彩的秘密對自己生了氣，卻把怒氣發泄到伯納身上。
The look in his eyes was now frankly malignant.
現在他的眼神已帶著明顯的惡意。
"And I should like to take this opportunity, Mr. Marx," he went on, "of saying that I'm not at all pleased with the reports I receive of your behaviour outside working hours.
“我想利用這個機會告訴你，馬克思先生，”他說了下去，“我收到了關于你的業余行為的報告，我一點也不滿意。
You may say that this is not my business. But it is. I have the good name of the Centre to think of.
你可以認為這不關我的事，但是，它是我的事。我得考慮本中心的名聲。
My workers must be above suspicion, particularly those of the highest castes.
我的工作人員決不能受到懷疑，特別是最高種姓的人。
Alphas are so conditioned that they do not have to be infantile in their emotional behaviour.
阿爾法的條件設置是：他們的情感行為不必一定要像嬰兒，
But that is all the more reason for their making a special effort to conform.
但是，正因如此，他們就該特別努力恪守習俗。
lt is their duty to be infantile, even against their inclination.
他們的責任是要像嬰兒，即使不愿意也得像。
And so, Mr. Marx, I give you fair warning."
因此，馬克思先生，我給你一個公正的警告。”
The Director's voice vibrated with an indignation that had now become wholly righteous and impersonal–was the expression of the disapproval of Society itself.
主任的聲音顫抖起來，他此時所表現的已是凜凜正氣和無私的憤怒了——已是代表著社會本身的反對。
"If ever I hear again of any lapse from a proper standard of infantile decorum,
“如果我再聽見你違背正常的、嬰兒行為的規范，
I shall ask for your transference to a Sub-Centre–preferably to Iceland. Good morning."
我就要請求把你調到下級中心去——很有可能是冰島。再見。”
And swivelling round in his chair, he picked up his pen and began to write.
他在旋椅上一轉，抓起筆寫了起來。
"That'll teach him," he said to himself. But he was mistaken.
“那可以給他個教訓。”他對自己說。但是他錯了，
For Bernard left the room with a swagger, exulting, as he banged the door behind him,
因為伯納是大搖大擺離開屋子的，而且砰的一聲關上門時心里很得意。
in the thought that he stood alone, embattled against the order of things;
他認為自己是在單槍匹馬向現存的秩序挑戰。
elated by the intoxicating consciousness of his individual significance and importance.
因為意識到自己的意義和重要性，很為激動，甚至興高采烈。
Even the thought of persecution left him undismayed, was rather tonic than depressing.
即使想到要受迫害也滿不在乎。他不但沒有泄氣，反倒是更加振作了。
He felt strong enough to meet and overcome amiction, strong enough to face even Iceland.
他覺得自己有足夠的力量面對痛苦，戰勝痛苦，甚至有足夠的力量面對冰島。
And this confidence was the greater for his not for a moment really believing that he would be called upon to face anything at all.
因為他從來不相信人家真會要求他面對什么，所以更有了信心。
People simply weren't transferred for things like that.
人是不會因為那樣的理由而調職的。
Iceland was just a threat. A most stimulating and life-giving threat.
冰島只不過是一種威脅，一種最刺激人、使人振奮的威脅。
Walking along the corridor, he actually whistled.
他沿著走廊走著，居然吹起了口哨。
Heroic was the account he gave that evening of his interview with the D.H.C.
他在談起那天晚上跟主任的會見時是自命英勇的。
"Whereupon," it concluded, "I simply told him to go to the Bottomless Past and marched out of the room.
“然后，”他用這樣的話下了結論，“我叫他滾回到往昔的無底深淵去，然后大步踏出了房間。
And that was that." He looked at Helmholtz Watson expectantly, awaiting his due reward of sympathy, encouragement, admiration.
事實就是這樣。”他期待地望著赫姆霍爾茲·華生，等著他以同情、鼓勵和欽佩作為回答。
But no word came. Helmholtz sat silent, staring at the floor.
可是赫姆霍爾茲只默默地望著地板，一言不發。
