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Somewhere in France
法國某地
Friday 20th August 1915
1915年8月20 周五
Dear F-
親愛的F，
Here we are billeted in a splendid little village nestling among the downs about 20 miles from the firing line. It is an awfully nice place – a typical French village about the size of Burwash Wield.
我們駐守在一個環境優美的小村莊里，它在距火線約20英里的山坡處。這地方很不錯——是個典型的法國村莊，大小與Burwash Wield相當。
I have the great luck of being billeted with the Mayor, who is also the school master, in his house. I am awfully comfortable, having a feather bed with sheets and a sitting room for 3 of us, the whole place being absolutely spotlessly clean. The old Mayor is a topping old fellow who can’t speak a word of English, but the kindest chap you ever met and awfully funny. He possesses a very pretty daughter – Marcelle – who is awfully nice and we get on very well.
很榮幸，我能和村長住在同一個村莊，他還是學校的校長。我感到非常滿足，擁有一張鋪著床單的羽絨床和容納我們三人的客廳，整體環境可以說是一塵不染。老村長雖然一句英語也不會說，但是人緣極好，他是我見過的最善良的家伙，性格幽默。他的女兒馬塞勒非常漂亮————十分友好，我們相處地十分融洽。
The old lady too is A1 and they will do anything for me. The only disadvantage is that there is very little food and what there is is very 2nd rate. All the other Regiments have gutted the place, and one can’t get a cigarette for love or money. Our food in the Mess is mostly bully beef and jam.
老太太們也是一等一地和善，她們愿意為我做任何事。唯一的缺點是食物少的可憐，而且難以下咽。其他的軍隊將這里掠奪一空，無論是利用愛情還是金錢，你都很難買到一支香煙。我們的食物大多是牛肉和果醬。
I can’t of course tell you where this place is, but it is quite near the place I told you I thought we would go. The country is looking awfully nice, with all the crops to get in yet.
我當然不能告訴你這個地方在哪里，這個地方距離我告訴你要去的地方很近。這個國家看起來非常友好，所有的莊稼都還沒有收割。
We haven’t had any letters yet since we left, but are hoping that they will arrive tomorrow.
自從離開后我們還未收到過任何信件，不過我希望它們明天就能送達。
Motor bike despatch riders abound here, tearing along at fearsome speeds, and big lorries going “all out”.
騎摩托車的郵遞員在這里比比皆是，他們以極快的速度飛馳著，大貨車也是“呼嘯而過”。
How goes old Vincent?
老文森特近來如何？
The French here are the dirtiest I ever saw, their ideas of hotels are simply unspeakable!! The men talking French are screamingly funny, but they manage to get on very well with the French girls.
這里的法國人是我見過的最骯臟的，他們關于酒店的形容簡直羞于啟齒!!那些講法語的男人極其滑稽，但他們與法國女孩相處得很好。
As we have to censor all the letters at our platoon we get some very funny things; also some rather pathetic ones.
因為我們必須審查我們排的所有信件，因此發現一些非常有趣的內容；還有一些悲傷的信息。
The men are sticking it wonderfully considering they haven’t had a square meal since they left England. The idea is I believe that we stay here a fortnight before we go up to the trenches but one can never tell from one moment to the next what is going to happen to one next.
雖然大家離開英國后還沒有吃過一頓豐盛的食物，可他們還是奇跡般地堅持下來。我預想的是，在這里呆上兩周，然后再前往戰壕，但是人們永遠無法預知接下來的一刻將會發生什么。
Please send me a pair of my ordinary pyjamas and that stiff hair brush.
請給我寄一件普通睡衣和一把硬毛刷子。
Grayson has discovered a French girl who rather resembles Gaby in appearance and very much so in morals so he is quite happy.
格雷森物色到一位法國女孩，長相和品行像極了加比，他為此很開心。
You might send me out one of those letter block letters and envelopes all in one.
你可以寄給我一封大寫印刷體體的信件。
Please remember me to Jerry
請代我問候杰瑞
Much love to yourself
自己保重
John
約翰
譯文為可可英語翻譯，未經授權請勿轉載！
