評論
打印
'But my little friend here, Sir,' said the Major, 'makes a boy of me again: An old soldier, Sir - Major Bagstock, at your service - is not ashamed to confess it.' Here the Major lifted his hat. 'Damme, Sir,' cried the Major with sudden warmth, 'I envy you.' Then he recollected himself, and added, 'Excuse my freedom.'
“可是我在這里的小朋友又使我變成一個孩子了，先生，”少校說道。“一位老兵承認這一點并不感到難為情，先生，他是白格斯托克少校，隨時愿意為您效勞；”少校這時脫下帽子敬禮。“他媽的，先生，”少校突然熱情地喊道，“我妒嫉您。”然后他鎮靜下來，補充了一句，“請原諒我的放肆。”
Mr Dombey begged he wouldn't mention it.
董貝先生請他別這么客氣。
'An old campaigner, Sir,' said the Major, 'a smoke-dried, sun-burnt, used-up, invalided old dog of a Major, Sir, was not afraid of being condemned for his whim by a man like Mr Dombey. I have the honour of addressing Mr Dombey, I believe?'
“一位老兵，先生，”少校說道，“一條被煙熏過，被太陽曬黑的、精疲力盡、因傷病而退伍的少校老狗是不怕像董貝先生這樣的人指責他忽起的念頭的。我想我能榮幸跟董貝先生交談幾句嗎？”
'I am the present unworthy representative of that name, Major,' returned Mr Dombey.
“現在我就是姓我們這個姓的家族的卑賤的代表，少校，”董貝先生回答道。
'By G-, Sir!' said the Major, 'it's a great name. It's a name, Sir,' said the Major firmly, as if he defied Mr Dombey to contradict him, and would feel it his painful duty to bully him if he did, 'that is known and honoured in the British possessions abroad. It is a name, Sir, that a man is proud to recognise. There is nothing adulatory in Joseph Bagstock, Sir. His Royal Highness the Duke of York observed on more than one occasion, "there is no adulation in Joey. He is a plain old soldier is Joe. He is tough to a fault is Joseph:" but it's a great name, Sir. By the Lord, it's a great name!' said the Major, solemnly.
“可以對著上帝發誓，先生，”少校說道，“這是個偉大的姓，”少校堅決地說道，仿佛他挑起董貝先生來反駁他，而如果董貝先生真的那么做了，那么他就會感到他負有痛苦的責任來爭個高低，讓他過不去似的，“這是個在不列顛海外領地中享有聲望與尊敬的姓。人們以姓這個姓而感到自豪，先生。約瑟夫·白格斯托克不懂得拍馬屁，先生。約克郡公爵殿下不止一次說過，‘喬埃不會拍馬屁。他是個普通的老兵，這就是喬，他堅強不屈得有點過了頭，這就是約瑟夫。’不過這是個偉大的姓，先生?？梢詫χ熘靼l誓，這是個偉大的姓！”少校一本正經地說道。
'You are good enough to rate it higher than it deserves, perhaps, Major,' returned Mr Dombey.
“承蒙您好意贊揚，不過也許評價太高，有些過分了，少校，”董貝先生回答道。
'No, Sir,' said the Major, in a severe tone. No, Mr Dombey, let us understand each other. That is not the Bagstock vein, Sir. You don't know Joseph B. He is a blunt old blade is Josh. No flattery in him, Sir. Nothing like it.'
“不，先生，”少校說道。“我在這里的小朋友會給約瑟夫·白格斯托克證明，他是一位耿直的、坦率的、有話直說的老實人，先生，這就是一切。那個孩子，先生，”少校壓低了聲音，說道，“將會留芳百世，永垂史冊。那個孩子，先生，不是個平凡之輩。請好好照看他，董貝先生。”
Mr Dombey inclined his head, and said he believed him to be in earnest, and that his high opinion was gratifying.
董貝先生似乎向他暗示說，他將努力這樣去做。
'My little friend here, Sir,' croaked the Major, looking as amiably as he could, on Paul, 'will certify for Joseph Bagstock that he is a thorough-going, down-right, plain-spoken, old Trump, Sir, and nothing more. That boy, Sir,' said the Major in a lower tone, 'will live in history. That boy, Sir, is not a common production. Take care of him, Mr Dombey.'
“這里有一個孩子，先生，”少校用說知心話的口吻繼續說道，一邊用手杖戳戳他。“孟加拉比瑟斯通的兒子。比爾·比瑟斯通從前是我們當中的一個。那個孩子的父親和我本人過去是莫逆之交，先生。不論您走到哪里，先生，您聽到人們談論的全都是有關比爾·比瑟斯通和喬·白格斯托克的事情。難道我看不見那個孩子的缺點嗎？決不是。他是個傻瓜，先生。”
