評論
打印
The Duke, by this time perfectly awake, was staggered at the impossibility of receiving intelligence from Madrid in so short a space of time;
公爵這時已經完全醒了，擔心不可能這么短時間內便得到來自馬德里的情報，
and perplexed at the absurdity of a king's messenger applying for his son-in-law to succeed the King of Spain:
對國王的信使請求讓他的女婿來繼任西班牙國王這種荒謬之舉甚為困惑。
"Is the man drunk, or mad? Where are your dispatches?" exclaimed his grace, hastily drawing back his curtain; where, instead of a royal courier,
“這家伙醉了，還是瘋了？你們派的人在哪兒呢？”公爵邊大聲說，邊拉開床簾；只見站在床前的不是皇家信使，
he recognized at the bedside, the fat, good-humored countenance of his friend from Cornwall, making low bows, with hat in hand,
他認出站在旁邊的是那位胖胖的臉上一副愉快神情的來自康沃爾的老朋友，見他彎腰鞠躬，手上捧著帽子，
and "hoping my lord would not forget the gracious promise he was so good as to make, in favor of his son-in-law, at the last election."
說“希望大人不要忘了仁慈的承諾，在最后的選舉中照顧他女婿”。
Vexed at so untimely a disturbance, and disappointed of news from Spain, the Duke frowned for a moment;
公爵對如此不合時宜的打擾非常惱怒，對來自西班牙的消息很失望，他眉頭緊蹙，
but chagrin soon gave way to mirth, at so singular and ridiculous a combination of circumstances,
但很快就對如此滑稽和可笑的混亂轉怒為笑，
and, yielding to the impulse, he sunk upon the bed in a violent fit of laughter, which was communicated in a moment to the attendants.
不再沖動，他哈哈大笑著躺在床上，示意侍者。
The relater of this little narrative, concludes, with observing,
這則軼聞的敘述者評述道，
"Although the Duke of Newcastle could not place the relative of his old acquaintance on the throne of His Catholic Majesty,
“盡管紐卡斯爾公爵沒有將他老相識的親戚送上西班牙國王的寶座，
he advanced him to a post not less honorable—he made him an exciseman."
他還是把他安排到一個不那么顯要的位置上——他讓他擔任收稅官。”
