評論
打印
He had deigned an explanation, almost an apology,
他己降格作了解釋。近乎道歉。
and I did not feel insensible to his condescension, and would not seem so.
我對他的屈尊俯就并沒有無動于衷，也不想顯得如此。
I am willing to amuse you, if I can, sir — quite willing,
先生，只要我能夠，我是樂意為你解悶的，十分樂意。
but I cannot introduce a topic, because how do I know what will interest you?
不過我不能隨便談個話題，因為我怎么知道你對什么感興趣呢？
Ask me questions, and I will do my best to answer them.
你提問吧，我盡力回答。
Then, in the first place, do you agree with me
那么首先一個問題是，你同不同意，基于我所陳述的理由，
that I have a right to be a little masterful, abrupt, perhaps exacting, sometimes, on the grounds I stated,
我有權在某些時候稍微專橫、唐突或者嚴厲些呢？
namely, that I am old enough to be your father,
我的理由是，按我的年紀。我可以做你的父親，
and that I have battled through a varied experience with many men of many nations, and roamed over half the globe,
而且有著多變的人生閱歷，同很多國家的很多人打過交道。漂泊了半個地球。
while you have lived quietly with one set of people in one house?
而你卻是太太平平地跟同一類人生活在同一幢房子里。
Do as you please, sir.
你愛怎樣就怎樣吧，先生。
That is no answer, or rather it is a very irritating, because a very evasive one. Reply clearly.
你并沒有回答我的問題?；蚴钦f，你回答很氣人，因為含糊其詞——回答得明確些。
I don't think, sir, you have a right to command me,
先生，我并不認為你有權支使我，
merely because you are older than I, or because you have seen more of the world than I have.
僅僅因為你年紀比我大些，或者比我閱歷豐富。
Your claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience.
你所說的優越感取決于你對時間和經歷的利用。
Humph! Promptly spoken. But I won't allow that, seeing that it would never suit my case,
哼！答得倒快。但我不承認，我認為與我的情況絕不相符，
as I have made an indifferent, not to say a bad, use of both advantages.
因為對兩者的有利條件，我毫無興趣。
Leaving superiority out of the question, then,
更不必說沒有充分利用了。
you must still agree to receive my orders now and then, without being piqued or hurt by the tone of command. Will you?
那么我們暫且不談這優越性問題吧，但你必須偶偶爾聽候我吩咐，而不因為命令的口吻面生氣或傷心，好嗎？
I smiled. I thought to myself Mr. Rochester is peculiar.
我微微一笑。我暗自思忖道，"羅切斯特先生也真奇怪。
He seems to forget that he pays me 30 pounds per annum for receiving his orders.
他好像忘了，付我三十鎊年薪是讓我聽他吩咐的。
"The smile is very well," said he, catching instantly the passing expression; "but speak too."
"笑得好，"他立即抓住了轉瞬即逝表情說，"不過還得開口講話。"
I was thinking, sir, that very few masters would trouble themselves to inquire
先生，我在想，很少有主人會費心去問他們雇傭的下屬，
whether or not their paid subordinates were piqued and hurt by their orders.
會不會因為被吩咐而生氣和傷心。
Paid subordinates! What! You are my paid subordinate, are you?
雇傭的下屬！什么，你是我雇傭的下屬是不是？
Oh yes, I had forgotten the salary!
哦，是的，我把薪俸的事兒給忘了？
