名著采撷《警察与赞美诗》选段四
Arrest seemed but a rosy dream. The Island seemed very① far away. A policeman who stood before a drug store two doors away laughed and walked down the street.
被捕仿佛只是一个玫瑰色的梦。那个岛远在天边。两个门面之外一家药铺前就站着个警察，他光是笑了笑，顺着街走开去了。
Five blocks Soapy travelled before his courage permitted him to ②woo capture again. This time the opportunity presented what he ③fatuously termed to himself a "cinch." A young woman of a modest and pleasing guise was standing before a show window gazing with ④sprightly interest at its display of shaving mugs and inkstands, and two yards from the window a large policeman of severe demeanour ⑤leaned against a water plug.
苏比一直过了五个街口，才再次鼓起勇气去追求被捕。这一回机会好极了，他还满以为十拿九稳，万无一失呢。一个衣着简朴颇为讨人喜欢的年轻女子站在橱窗前，兴味十足地盯着陈列的剃须缸与墨水台。而离店两码远，就有一位彪形大汉——警察，表情严峻地靠在救火龙头上。
It was Soapy's ⑥design to assume the role of the despicable and execrated "masher." The refined and elegant appearance of his victim and the⑦ contiguity of the conscientious cop encouraged him to believe that he would soon feel the pleasant official clutch upon his arm that would⑧ insure his winter quarters on the right little, tight little isle.
苏比的计划是扮演一个下流的、讨厌的小流氓。他的对象文雅娴静，又有一位忠于职守的巡警近在咫尺，使他很有理由相信，警察那双可爱的手很快就会落到他身上，使他在岛上冬蛰的小安乐窝里吃喝不愁。
