評論
打印
I did consider; and still my sense, such as it was, directed me only to the fact that we did not love each other as man and wife should:
我的確考慮了。我的理智雖然平庸，卻替我指出了這樣的事實：我們并沒有象夫妻那么彼此相愛，
and therefore it inferred we ought not to marry.
因而斷言我們不應當結婚。
I said so.
于是我這么說。
"St. John," I returned,
“圣，約翰，”我回答，
"I regard you as a brother -- you, me as a sister: so let us continue."
“我把你當作哥哥——你把我當作妹妹，就讓我們這么繼續下去吧。”
"We cannot -- we cannot," he answered, with short, sharp determination: "it would not do.
“我們不能——我們不能，”他毅然決然地回答，“這不行。
You have said you will go with me to India: remember -- you have said that."
你已經說過要同我一起去印度。記轉—你說過這話。”
"Conditionally."
“有條件的。”
"Well -- well.
“行呵——行呵。
To the main point -- the departure with me from England, the co-operation with me in my future labours -- you do not object.
在關鍵的問題上——同我一起離開英國，在未來的工作中同我合作——你沒有反對。
You have already as good as put your hand to the plough: you are too consistent to withdraw it.
你已經等于把你的手放在犁軛下了，你說話算數，不會縮回去。
You have but one end to keep in view -- how the work you have undertaken can best be done.
你面前只有一個目標——如何把你做的工作出色地做好，
Simplify your complicated interests, feelings, thoughts, wishes, aims;
把你復雜的興趣、情感、想法、愿望、目標弄得更單純一點吧，
merge all considerations in one purpose: that of fulfilling with effect -- with power -- the mission of your great Master.
把一切考慮匯成一個目的：全力以赴，有效地完成偉大的主的使命。
To do so, you must have a coadjutor: not a brother -- that is a loose tie -- but a husband.
要這么做，你得有個幫手——不是一個兄長，那樣的關系太松散，而是一個丈夫。
I, too, do not want a sister: a sister might any day be taken from me.
我也不需要一個妹妹。妹妹任何時候都可以從我身邊帶走。
I want a wife: the sole helpmeet I can influence efficiently in life, and retain absolutely till death."
我要的是妻子，我生活中能施予有效影響的唯一伴侶，一直維持到死亡。”
