英国语文第五册(双语):广东的景象(2)
To return from the wide expanse of the river population to the streets in the suburbs, the same spirit of contented adaptation to external things is everywhere observable; and it is difficult which to regard with most surprise—the narrow abodes of the one, or the little boats which serve as family residences to the other.
从众多的水上居民再说回郊区街道上的居民，他们对外部事物的满足和适应也是随处可见的；很难也最让人惊讶的是，——一个人狭小的住所或小船竟然能住下一家人。
There is something of romance in the effect of Chinese streets. On either side are shops, decked out with native wares,—furniture and manufactures of various kinds.
中国的大街上也会有一些浪漫的事情。两边都是商店，当地产品琳琅满目，——家具和各种各样的手工制品。
These are adorned by pillar sign-boards, rising perpendicularly, and inscribed from top to bottom with the various kinds of saleable articles which may be had within. Native artists seem to have lavished their ingenuity on several of these inscriptions, in order to give, by their caligraphy, some idea of the superiority of the commodities for sale. Many of these sign-boards contain some fictitious emblem, adopted as the name of the shop—similar to the practice prevalent in London two centuries ago.
店门前会直立着一块涂着油漆的广告牌，从上到下写满各种店内可能出售的物品。当地的艺术家好像在这些方面毫不保留地贡献自己的手艺，为了通过他们优美的书法来给人一种好商品的感觉。很多广告牌都有一些虚构的图案，商店就以这些为名——这和两个世纪前在伦敦盛行的一样。
On entering, the proprietor, with his assistants or partners, welcomes a foreigner with sundry salutations; sometimes advancing to shake hands, and endeavouring to make the most of his scanty knowledge of English. They will show their goods with the utmost patience, and evince nothing of disappointment if, after gratifying his curiosity, he depart without purchasing.
一进去，掌柜的和伙计会以各种各样的方式表达对外国人的尊敬；有时走上前来握手，努力说着并不好的英语。他们会以最大的耐心展示自己的商品，而且如果介绍完了之后没有卖出去，他们也不会面露失望之色。
At a distance from the factories, where the sight of a foreigner is a rarity, crowds of idlers, from fifty to a hundred, rapidly gather round the shop, and frequent embarrassment ensues, from an imperfect knowledge of their language. In these parts, the shopkeepers know no language but their own, are more moderate in their politeness, and, as a compensation, put a smaller price on their wares. To write one's name in Chinese characters is a sure method of securing their favour.
离工厂很远的地方，外国人是不多见的。如果有外国人，人们就会围在商店外，人数从五十到一百，而且还经常会尾随外国人，用当地的话议论纷纷。在这些地区，店主除了当地方言什么话都不会说，他们会显得更加有礼貌，并以低价出售商品作为补偿。他们很喜欢用中文写别人的名字。
Sometimes no fewer than eight or ten blind beggars find their way into a shop, and there they remain, singing a melancholy, dirge-like strain, and most perseveringly beating together two pieces of wood. At length the weary shopman takes compassion on them, and provides for the quiet of his shop by giving a copper cash to each; on receiving which they depart, and repeat the same experiment elsewhere.
有时会有八到是个盲人摸进店内乞讨，他们会留在那里，唱着像挽歌一样悲伤的歌，还有的敲打两片木板。最后，烦躁的店主会对它们心生怜悯，会分给他们一人一个铜板，以获得清静；他们得到钱之后就会离开，又去别的地方故技重施。
