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经典英语戏剧剧本:乔治•萧伯纳-华伦夫人的职业

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2015年07月03日

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Mrs Warren's Profession 华伦夫人的职业

剧情博览

华伦夫人出身贫寒,年轻时在姐姐的引导下由卖淫到开妓院,最终挤入有钱人的行列。后来她有了个可爱的女儿薇薇并让她接受了良好的教育。薇薇从剑桥大学毕业后,华伦夫人打算跟女儿住在一起。但薇薇对母亲的职业产生了怀疑,追之下知道了实情。她本要责备母亲干的肮脏勾当,但在了解了母亲悲惨的身世后觉

得母亲的做法并不羞耻。薇薇才貌出众,周围有一群求婚者,她逐渐了解到,这些人中有些是她母亲的老相好,有一个还是她的同父异母的弟弟。薇薇大受刺激,发誓永不结婚,自己养活自己。该剧揭示了资本主义社会的残酷现实。

Act 1

Summer afternoon in a cottage garden on the eastern slope of a hill a little south of Haslemere in Surrey. Looking up the hill, the cottage is seen in the left hand corner of the garden,with its thatched roof and porch,and a large latticed window to the left of the porch. A paling completely shuts in the garden,except for a gate on the right. The common rises uphill beyond the paling to the sky line. Some folded canvas garden chairs are leaning against the side bench in the porch. A lady's bicycle is propped against the wall, under the window.

夏日午后,小别墅花园,位于萨利郡赫斯米尔地方偏南一点一座小山的东山坡上。仰望小山,可以看到这幢别墅坐落在花园的左手侧,能看到别墅的茅草屋顶、门廊,还有门廊左侧的一大扇格子窗。木栅栏环绕着花园,只在右手侧留了个大门。一条公路沿着山坡,绕过栅栏,一直通向很高很高的地方。门廊里靠近墙边的长凳上,斜放着几把折叠的帆布座椅。一辆女式自行车停在窗下的墙边。

A little to the right of the porch a hammock is slung from two posts. A big canvas umbrella,stuck in the ground, keeps the sun off the hammock, in which a young lady is reading and making notes, her head towards the cottage and her feet towards the gate.

一张吊床由两根柱子支撑着,悬挂着门廊偏右一点的地方。一把巨型帆布伞插在地上,遮挡着吊床上方的阳光。一位年轻的女子头朝着小屋。脚对着大门。躺在吊床上,读书、做笔记。

In front of the hammock, and within reach of her hand,is a common kitchen chair, with a pile of serious-looking books and a supply of writing paper on it.

吊床前面,在她伸手可以够得到的地方,有一把普通的厨房用椅,上面摆着一挥厚重的书和一打写字用的纸。

A gentleman walking on the common comes into sight from behind the cottage. He is hardly past middle age, with something of the artist about him,unconventionally but carefully dressed, and clean-shaven except for a moustache,with an eager susceptible face and very amiable and considerate manners. He has silky black hair, with waves of grey and white in it. His eyebrows are white, his moustache black. He seems not certain of his way. He looks over the palings; takes stock of the place:and sees the young lady.

一位先生从别墅后面的公路走来,进入的视野。他中等年纪,有几分艺术家的气质,着装不循规蹈矩但非常讲究,一张脸刮得干干净净,仅留着短握,透露着热切的渴望和敏感的心情,行为举止和蔼可亲,周到得体。他的黑发丝质般柔滑,偶尔夹杂着一些灰白色发丝。他的眉毛是白色的,胡须是黑色的。他好像对自己要走的路不太确信。他朝栅栏里张望,仔细察看这个地方,看到了那位年轻的女子。

The gentleman:(taking off his hat) I beg your pardon. Can you direct me to Hindhead View-Mrs Alison's?

先生:(摘下帽子)打扰了,请问去辛得海德景—爱立森太太家怎么走呢,

The young lady:(glancing up from her book) This is Mrs Alison's. (She resumes her work.)

小姐:(视线从书上稍稍离开,瞥了一眼)这就是爱立森太太家。(继续读书)

The gentleman:Indeed! Perhaps-may I ask are you Miss Vivie Warren?

先生:哦,这里就是!那么,可以冒昧地问一下,您是薇薇·华伦小姐吗?

The young lady: (sharply, as she turns on her elbow to get a good look at him) Yes.

小姐:(迅速地转过身来,仔细地打量着他)是啊。

The gentleman: (daunted and conciliatory) I'm afraid I appear intrusive. My name is Praed. (Vivie at once throws her books upon the chair, and gets out of the hammock.) Oh,pray don't let me disturb you.

先生:(面带愧疚,谋求好感地)恐怕我冒犯您了,小姐。我是普瑞德。(薇薇小姐立刻把书扔到椅子上,从吊床上下来)哦,愿上帝保佑我没有打搅到您。

Vivie: (striding to the gate and opening it for him) Come in, Mr Praed. (He comes in.) Glad to see you. (She proffers her hand and takes his with a resolute and hearty grip. She is an attractive specimen of the sensible,able, highly educated young middle一 class Englishwoman. Age 22. Prompt, strong,confident,self- possessed. Plain business一like dress, but not dowdy. She wears a chatelaine at her belt, with a fountain pen and a paper knife among its pendants.)

薇薇:(大步走到门口,给他打开门睛进,普瑞德先生。(他进来)很高兴见到您。(她主动伸出手,用力地、热情地和他握手。她是一位魅力十足的英国中产阶级女性,敏感,能干,且受过高等教育。今年二十二岁。果断、坚定、自信、镇定。她身穿职业装,朴素但不遴谩。她腰间带着一个扣钩,链子上挂着一支钢笔和裁纸刀)

Praed: Very kind of you indeed, Miss Warren. (She shuts the gate with a vigorous slam. He passes in to the middle of the garden, exercising his fingers, which are slightly numbed by her greeting.) Has your mother arrived?

普瑞德:华伦小姐,非常感谢,(薇薇砰地用力关上门。普瑞德先生一边走向花园中心,一边活动着刚才被薇薇握得发麻的手指)你妈妈到了吗,

Vivie: (quickly, evidently scenting aggression) Is she coming?

薇薇:(敏捷地、明显感觉她的自由要受到侵犯)她要来吗,

Praed: (surprised) Didn't you expect us?

普瑞德:(惊奇地)你还不知道我们要来吗,

Vivie: No.

薇薇:不知道。

Praed: Now, goodness me, I hope I've not mistaken the day. That would be just like me, you know. Your mother arranged that she was to come down from London and that I was to come over from Horsham to be introduced to you.

普瑞德:哦,上帝,但愿我没记错日子。你知道吗,我有时候会记错时间。你妈妈是这样安排的,她从伦敦回来,我从郝舍姆到这来,她要把我介绍给你。

Vivie: (not at all pleased) Did she? Hml My mother has rather a trick of taking me by surprise-to see how I behave myself while she's away, I suppose. I fancy I shall take my mother very much by surprise one of these days, if she makes arrangements that concern me without consulting me before hand. She hasn't come.

薇薇:(脸上毫无喜悦之色)她这样说的吗,妈妈最善于给我意外了,大概是要瞧瞧她不在家时我表现得怎样吧。我看,这些天我也要让她吃一惊,谁让她不事先和我商量就作出这些安排呢。她还没到吧。

Praed: (embarrassed) I'm really very sorry.

普瑞德:(尴尬地)我很抱歉。

Vivie: (throwing off her displeasure) It's not your fault,Mr Praed, is it? And I'm very glad you've come. You are the only one of my mother's friends I have ever asked her to bring to see me.

薇薇:(立即从不满中摆脱出来)普瑞德先生,这也不是您的错儿,对吧?其实,我很高兴您能来。您是她的朋友当中唯一一位我要求她介绍给我认识的。

Praed:(relieved and delighted) Oh,now this is really very good of you,Miss Warren!

普瑞德:(如释重负,欣喜不已)噢,华伦小姐,您真是太好了!

Vivie: Will you come indoors;or would you rather sit out here and talk?

薇薇:您是愿意进屋还是坐在外面聊天?

Praed: It will be nicer out here,don't you think?

普瑞德:还是外面好些,您说呢,

Vivie: Then I'll go and get you a chair. (She goes to the porch for a garden chair.)

薇薇:那我去给您搬把椅子来。(她去门廊搬椅子)

Praed:(following her) Oh,pray,pray! Allow me. (He lays hands on the chair.)

普瑞德:(跟着她)哦,拜托,还是我自己来吧。(他把手放在椅子上)

Vivie: (letting him take it) Take care of your fingers;they're rather dodgy things, those chairs. (She goes across to the chair with the books on it;pitches them into the hammock; and brings the chair forward with one swing.)

薇薇:(让他搬椅子)当心您的手指,这些椅子很容易伤到手。(她走到放着书的椅子前,把书统统扔到吊床上,嘎地一下就把椅子拎起来)

Praed: (who has just unfolded his chair) Oh,now do let me take that hard chair.like hard chairs.

普瑞德:(刚刚打开他的折盈椅)哦,拜托让我来坐这个硬椅子吧!我喜欢坐硬椅子。

Vivie: So do I. Sit down, Mr Praed. (This invitation she gives with a genial peremptoriness,his anxiety to please her clearly striking her as a sign of weakness of character on his part. But he does not immediately obey.)

薇薇:我也喜欢硬椅子。请坐,普瑞德先生。(她发出的邀请带有亲切的专横感,似乎是他急于取悦薇薇的态度,使她看到了他性格的弱点。但普瑞德先生并未马上服从她的话)

Praed:By the way, though,hadn't we better go to the station to meet your mother?

普瑞德:不过,我顺便问一下,我们要不要去车站接你母亲呢,

Vivie: (coolly) Why? She knows the way.

薇薇:(冷冷地)为什么?她认识路的。

Praed:(disconcerted) Er- suppose she does. (he sits down)

普瑞德:(窘迫不安地)嗯,也对,她认识路。(他坐下)

Vivie: Do you know, you are just like what I expected. I hope you are disposed to be friends with me.

薇薇:你知道吗,你和我想象的一模一样。我希望你愿意和我交朋友。

Praed: (again beaming) Thank you, my dear Miss Warren;thank you. Dear me! I'm so glad your mother hasn't spoilt you!

普瑞德:(又面露喜色)谢谢,我亲爱的华伦小姐!谢谢你!哎呀,我真高兴你母亲没有把你宠坏!

Vivie: How?

薇薇:怎样算是宠坏了?

Praed: Well,in making you too conventional. You know, my dear Miss Warren,1 am a born anarchist. I hate authority. !t spoils the relations between parent and child;even between mother and daughter. Now I was always afraid that your mother would strain her authority to make you very conventional. It's such a relief to find that she hasn't.

普瑞德:嗯,就是使你过于因循守旧。亲爱的华伦小姐。你瞧,我是一个天生的无改府主义者,我憎恨一切权威。至上的权威会破坏父母和子女之间的关系,包括破坏母亲和女儿之间的关系。我一直在担心你母亲尽施职权而使你变得循规蹈矩。我很高兴,她没有那样做

Vivie: Oh! Have I been behaving unconventionally?

薇薇:啊,难道我一直以来的行为都不符合传统习惯吗?

Praed:Oh no:oh dear no. At least,not conventionally unconventionally, you understand. (She nods and sits down. He goes on,with a cordial outburst) But it was so charming of you to say that you were disposed to be friends with me! You modern young ladies are splendid: perfectly splendid!

普瑞德:哦,对,亲爱的,至少你不是传统意义上的中规中矩。你应该明白我的意思。(她点点头坐下。他继续兴致勃勃地说)可是,你说你愿意和我做朋灰,真是太感人了}你们这些年轻女孩太棒了,太了不起了!

Vivie: (dubiously) Eh? (watching him with dawning disappointment as to the quality of his brains and character)

薇薇:(怀疑地)啊,(注视着他,开始对他的思想和性格感到失望)

Praed: When I was your age, young men and women were afraid of each other. There was no good fieNowship. Nothing real.Only gallantry copied out of novels, and as vulgar and affected as itcould be. Maidenly reserve! Gentlemanly chivalry! Always saying"no" when you meant yes! Simple purgatory for shy and sincere souls.

普瑞德:在我像你这么大的时候,青年男女之间互相感到没有真正的友谊,有真情实感。只会模仿小说对人大献殷庸俗做作。女孩子矜持;男孩子鲁莽,彼此总是在想说“是”的时候却说“不”!对害羞且真诚的灵魂来说,那世界完全是个炼狱。

Vivie: Yes, I imagine there must have been a frightful waste of time. Especially women's time.

薇薇:是啊,我想那一定浪费了许多时间,尤其是耗费了女士们的时间。

Praed:Oh,waste of life,waste of everything. But things are improving. Do you know,I have been in a positive state of excitement about meeting you ever since your magnificent achievements at Cambridge:a thing unheard of in my day. It was perfectly splendid, your tieing with the third wrangler. Just the right place,you know. The first wrangler is always a dreamy, morbid fellow, in whom the thing is pushed to the length of a disease.

普瑞德:对,浪费生命,浪费一切,好在这些正在转变。你看,自从得知你在剑桥取得了优异的成绩,我就一直在热切地盼望与你见面,这在我那个年代可是从来没有的事情。真太棒了,你得了并列第三名。这名次刚刚好,你懂吗,得第一名的往往都是神情恍惚、病恢惬的人,他竭尽全力,会搞坏了身体。

Vivie: It doesn't pay. I wouldn't do it again for the same money.

薇薇:那很不值得。下次我再也不干这事了,就那么点钱!

Praed: (aghast) The same money!

普瑞德:(惊讶地)就那么点钱?

Vivie: Yes. Fifty pounds. Perhaps you don't know how it was. Mrs Latham, my tutor at Newnham, told my mother that I could distinguish myself in the mathematical tripos if I went in for it in earnest. The papers were full just then of Phillips Summers beating the senior wrangler. You remember about it, of course. (Praed shakes his head energetically)

薇薇:是啊,五十英镜。可能你不知道是怎么回事。拉森姆夫人—就是我在纽汉姆的导师,她跟我妈妈说,如果我能全力以赴地准备数学荣誉学位考试,并取得优异的成绩。当时报纸上到处都是菲立帕·萨姆斯胜过高年级学长的消息。你肯定记得吧,普瑞德使劲地摇头

Vivie: Well,anyhow, she did;and nothing would please my mother but that I should do the same thing. I said flatly that it was not worth my while to face the grind since I was not going in for teaching;but I offered to try for fourth wrangler or thereabouts for fifty pounds. She closed with me at that, after a little grumbling; and I was better than my bargain. But I wouldn't do it again for that.Two hundred pounds would have been nearer the mark.

薇薇:反正她考试获胜了,而我妈妈也非要我像她一样不可。我坦率地跟她讲,既然我不教书,就没必要花那么多心思做这事,但我提出要争取得到第四名左右的成绩,奖金是五十英镑。她抱怨了一阵子后,也就同意了。结果比预想的成绩好。可我再不会这样做了。如果奖金能有二百镑,还算值。

Praed: (much damped) Lord bless me! That's a very practical way of looking at it.

普瑞德:(非常沮丧)上帝保佑!你看问题的方式也太讲究实际利益了吧!

Vivie: Did you expect to find me an unpractical person?

薇薇:难道你认为我是个不讲求实惠的人吗,

Praed: But surely it's practical to consider not only the work these honors cost, but also the culture they bring.

普瑞德:但更讲求实际的做法是,既要考虑获得这些荣誉所需耗费的劳动,也要考虑他们的文化意义。

Vivie: Culture! My dear Mr Praed,do you know what the mathematical tripos means? It means grind, grind, grind for six to eight hours a day at mathematics,and nothing but mathematics. I’m supposed to know something about science;but I know nothing except the mathematics it involves. I can make calculations for engineers, electricians,insurance companies,and so on;but I know next to nothing about engineering or electricity or insurance. I don't even know arithmetic well. Outside mathematics,lawn一 tennis, eating, sleeping, cycling and walking,I'm a more ignorant barbarian than any woman could possibly be who hadn't gone in for the tripos.

薇薇:文化!我亲爱的普瑞德先生,你知道数学荣誉考试意味着什么吗?学习、学习,每天花六到八个小时学习数学,除了数学,一无所有!我本该学点科学,但除了其中涉及到的数学部分,我什么也不恤。我能为工程师、电子专家和保险公司等做计算工作,但对于工程、电学和保险业我一无所知。我甚至连算数也懂得不多。除了数学、网球、吃饭、睡觉、骑自行车和走路,我什么都不懂,我比任何没有参加荣誉考试的女子都更算得上是个无知的野蛮人。

Praed: (revolted? What a monstrous, wicked, rascally system! I knew it! I felt at once that it meant destroying all that makes womanhood beautiful!

普瑞德:(心生反感)多么恐怖、邪恶、卑鄙的教育制度啊}我知道这些。我感到这一切就意味着摧毁一切能使女人们美丽的东西。

Vivie: I don't object to it on that score in the least. I shall turn it to very good account, I assure you.

薇薇:我并不是因为这个反对考试的。我可以肯定地告诉你,我要把它变成有益的事情。

Praed: Pooh! In what way?

普瑞德:咦,怎么个变法?

Vivie: I shall set up chambers in the City, and work at actuarial calculations and conveyancing. Under cover of that I shall do some law, with one eye on the Stock Exchange all the time. I've come down here by myself to read law, not for a holiday, as my mother imagines. I hate holidays.

薇薇:我要在伦敦设立律师事务所,经营保险精算和产权转让的业务。同时做些法律事务,并始终关注证券交易所。我自己来到这儿是为了读些法律书籍的,我可不像我妈妈以为的那样在度假。我不喜欢假期。

Praed: You make my blood run cold. Are you to have no romance, no beauty in your life?

普瑞德:你的话让我大吃一惊。那么你的生活一点儿也没有浪漫情调,没有美丽色彩吗,

Vivie: I don't care for either, I assure you.

薇薇:这两样,我都不在乎。

Praed: You can't mean that.

普瑞德:你不是这个意思吧。

Vivie: Oh yes I do. I like working and getting paid for it. When I’m tired of working,I like a comfortable chair, a cigar, a little whisky, and a novel with a good detective story in it.

薇薇:哦,我就是这么想的。我喜欢工作,喜欢因为工作而得到报酬。工作之余,我喜欢坐在舒适的椅子上,吸着雪茄,喝点威士忌,读读构思巧妙的侦探小说。

Praed: (rising in a frenzy of repudiation) I don't believe it. I am an artist; and I can't believe it:I refuse to believe it. It's only that you haven't discovered yet what a wonderful world art can open up to you.

普瑞德:(起立,狂怒,持否定态度)我不相信。我是个艺术家,我不能相信你的话,我拒绝相信你的观点,这只能说明你还不明白艺术会向你展现一个怎样的世界。

Vivie:Yes I have. Last May spent six weeks in London with Honoria Fraser. Mamma thought we were doing a round of sightseeing together; but I was really at Honoria's chambers in Chancery Lane every day, working away at actuarial calculations for her, and helping her as well as a greenhorn could. In the evenings we smoked and talked,and never dreamt of going out except for exercise. And I never enjoyed myself more in my life. I cleared all my expenses and got initiated into the business without a fee in the bargain

薇薇:不,我明白。从五月份以来,我和霍诺里娅·弗蕾泽一起在伦敦住了个星期。妈妈以为我们一块观光游玩呢,但其实,每天我都在大法庭巷的霍诺里娅律师事务所里为她做保险精算工作,竭尽一个新手的全力来帮她做事。晚上我们一起吸烟、聊天,除非为了锻炼身体,不然我们根本不想出门。那是我生活中最快乐的时光。我没付什么费用就赚够了我的学费,也初步了解了这个行业。

Praed: But bless my heart and soul,Miss Warren,do you call that discovering art?

普瑞德:可是,上帝啊,华伦小姐,你觉得你那样就是知晓了生活的艺术了吗?

Vivie: Wait a bit. That wasn't the beginning. i went up to town on an invitation from some artistic people in Fitzjohn's Avenue:one of the girls was a Newnham chum. They took me to the National Gallery-

薇薇:等一下,那时还没有。后来我受一些弗里兹约翰街艺界人士的邀请到伦敦去,其中一个女孩是我在妞汉姆的好友。他们带我去 参观国家美术馆—

Praed: (approving) Ah! (He sits down,much relieved)

普瑞德:(表示赞赏)啊!(他坐下来,感到很欣慰)

Vivie: (continuing)-to the Opera-

薇薇:(继续说)去剧院—

Praed: (still more pleased) Good!

普瑞德:(更加高兴了)好!

Vivie: And to a concert where the band played all the evening: Beethoven and Wagner and so on. I wouldn't go through that experience again for anything you could offer me. I held oui for civility's sake until the third day; and then l said, plump out, that I couldn't stand any more of it, and went off to Chancery Lane. Now you know the sort of perfectly splendid modern young lady I am. How do you think I shall get on with my mother?

薇薇:还去了音乐会,整个晚上听乐队演奏贝多芬、瓦格纳等。无论你给我任何好处,我都不想再过那样的生活了。出于礼貌,我坚持到了第三天,后来我忍无可忍,直接说,我再也忍受不了了,然后回到了大法庭巷。现在你知道我是怎样一个漂亮十足的现代女性了吧。你觉得我会和母亲相处得如何呢?

Praed:(startled) Well,I hope-er-

普瑞德:(惊讶地)嗯,我希望—嗯—

Vivie: It's not so much what you hope as what you believe that I want to know.

薇薇:我想知道你认为事实会怎样,而不是你希望它怎样。

Praed: Well,frankly, I am afraid your mother will be a little disappointed. Not from any shortcoming on your part, you know: I don't mean that. But you are so different from her ideal.

普瑞德:嗯,坦率地说,我恐怕你妈妈会感到失望的。我不是说你有什么缺点,而是说你跟她理想中的女儿太不一致了。

Vivie: Her what?

薇薇:她的什么?

Praed: Her ideal.

普瑞德:她理想的女儿。

Vivie: Do you mean her ideal of me?

薇薇:你是指她理想中我的样子吗。

Praed : Yes.

普瑞德:是的。

Vivie: What on earth is it like?

薇薇:她期待我怎样呢,

Praed: Well,you must have observed,Miss Warren,that people who are dissatisfied with their own bringing一up generally think that the world would be all right if everybody were to be brought up quite differently. Now your mother's life has been-er-I suppose you know-

普瑞德:嗯,华伦小姐,你肯定已经注意到了,对自己所受的教育不满意的人一般都会认为,如果每个人接受了不同的教育方式,这世界就会安然无恙了。现在你母亲的生活—嗯—我想你应该知道—

Vivie: Don't suppose anything,Mr Praed. I hardly know my mother. Since I was a child I have lived in England,at school or at college, or with people paid to take charge of me. I have been boarded out all my life. My mother has lived in Brussels or Vienna and never let me go to her. I only see her when she visits England for a few days. I don't complain:it's been very pleasant;for people have been very good to me;and there has always been plenty of money to make things smooth. But don't imagine I know anything about my mother. I know far less than you do.

薇薇:不要假定什么,普瑞德先生。我并不怎么了解我的母亲。从小我在英格兰,住在学校了,和被雇佣来照顾我的人一起。我一直寄宿在外。妈妈住在布鲁塞尔或维也纳。从没让我到她那里去过。只有当她来英格兰的那几天,我才能见得到她。我不是在抱怨,因为这样也很好。大家对我都很好,我也有足够的钱过富足的生活。但别指望我对母亲有什么了解,在这点上,我远比不上你。

Praed: (very ill at ease) In that case-(He stops,quite at a loss. Then, with a forced attempt at gaiety) But what nonsense we are talking! Of course you and your mother will get on capitally. (He rises, and looks abroad at the view.)What a charming little place you have here!

普瑞德:(很不自在地)那么说—(他停下来,很茫然。然后,又蓄意佯装快乐地)我们谈这些真没劲!当然你会和妈妈相处得很好啦。(他站起来,看看四周的景色)你这里的景色真美啊!

Vivie: (unmoved) Rather a violent change of subject, Mr Praed.Why won't my mother's life bear being talked about?

薇薇:(不为所动)普瑞德先生,您的话题转变得可真快啊!为什么您不能忍受我们谈论我妈妈的生活呢?

Praed : Oh,you mustn't say that. Isn't it natural that I should have a certain delicacy in talking to my old friend's daughter about her behind her back? You and she will have plenty of opportunity of talking about it when she comes.

普瑞德:哦,你千万别这么说。你不觉得在一个老朋友的背后跟她的女儿谈话时,应该识趣一点儿吗?这不是很自然的事吗,等你妈妈回来了,你们会有很多的时间说这事的。

Vivie: No, she won't talk about it either. (rising) However, I dare say you have good reasons for telling me nothing. Only, mind this,Mr Praed,I expect there will be a battle royal when my mother hears of my Chancery Lane project.

薇薇:不,她会避而不谈的。(站起身)不过呢,我敢说你这么做一定是有原因的。但是,普瑞德先生,我得提醒您一下,我妈妈得知我的大法庭巷工作计划时,我们之间免不了会有一场战争的。

Praed: (ruefullyl I'm afraid there will.

普瑞德:(表示同情地)恐怕是这样。

Vivie: Well, I shall win because I want nothing but my fare to London to start there tomorrow earning my own living by devilling for Honoria. Besides, I have no mysteries to keep up; and it seems she has. I shall use that advantage over her if necessary.

薇薇:哦,我一定要直,因为我只想得到去伦敦的车费,然后在那里给霍诺里娅当助手,自食其力。再说了,我没什么隐私需要保护,可她好像是有的。必要时我会利用这点来要挟她。

Praed: (greatly shocked) Oh no! No, pray. You'd not do such a thing.

普瑞德:(大惊失色)不,不,不要。请你千万不要这么做。

Vivie: Then tell me why not.

薇薇:告诉我为什么不能。

Praed: I really cannot. I appeal to your good feeling. (She smiles at his sentimentality)Besides, you may be too bold. Your mother is not to be trifled with when she's angry.

普瑞德:我不能说,请你原谅。(她笑他的多情)再说了,你可能说话太鲁莽了。你母亲生起气来,那可非同小可啊。

Vivie: You can't frighten me,Mr Praed. In that month at Chancery Lane I had opportunities of taking the measure of one or two women very like my mother. You may back me to win. But if I hit harder in my ignorance than I need,remember it is you who refuse to enlighten me. Now, let us drop the subject. (She takes her chair and replaces it near the hammock with the same vigorous swing as before.)

薇薇:别吓我,普瑞德先生。在大法庭巷那会儿,我曾经有过一两次机会和我母亲这样的人打文道。您可以支持我胜过我妈妈。可是如果我出于无知,对妈妈打击得过于猛烈了,那就是你拒绝教导的缘故了。好了,我们先不说这些了。(她搬起椅子,跟以前一样嫂地一声,用力地把椅子又放在吊床附近)

Praed:(taking a desperate resolution) One word,Miss Warren. I had better tell you. It's very difficult; but-

普瑞德:(痛下决心)我就一句话,华伦小姐,我必须告诉你。这很难,可是—

(Mrs Warren and Sir George Crofts arrive at the gate. Mrs Warren is between 40 and 50,formerly pretty, showily dressed in a brilliant hat and a gay blouse fitting tightly over her bust and flanked by fashionable sleeves. Rather spoilt and domineering,and decidedly vulgar, but, on the whole, a genial and fairly presentable old blackguard of a woman.)

(华伦夫人和乔治·科洛夫兹先生到达大门口。华伦夫人约摸四五十岁,看得出来以前很漂亮,她穿着华丽,戴着一顶华丽的帽子,衬衫色泽鲜艳,紧束着胸部,衣袖款式时魔。因一贯受宠而极具威严感。又毫无疑问透着一丝俗气,但总体来说,是一个脾气还算温和且外貌得体的泼辣女子)

(Crofts is a tall powerfully-built man of about 50, fashionably dressed in the style of a young man. Nasal voice,reedier than might be expected from his strong frame. Clean shaven bulldog jaws, large flat ears,and thick neck:gentlemanly combination of the most brutal types of city man,sporting man and man about town.)

(科洛夫兹是个五十岁左右的高个子男人,体型宽阔,衣着样式跟年轻人一样入时。说话有鼻音,嗓音相对他的强壮身体来说略显尖细。下巴尖尖的,胡须刮得很干净,耳朵硕大而扁平,脖子很粗。绅士气派。其实却是最为粗暴的城里男人、运动型男人和乡村男人的结合体)

Vivie: Here they are. (coming to them as they enter the garden) How do, mother? Mr Praed's been here this half hour, waiting for you.

薇薇:他们来了。(他们进入花园,薇薇迎上去)您好吗,妈妈?普瑞德先生已经来了有半个小时了,一直在等您。

Mrs Warren:Well,if you've been waiting,Praddy,it’s your own fault: I thought you'd have had the gumption to know I was coming by the 3:10 train. Put your hat on,dear:you' II get sunburnt. Oh,I forgot to introduce you. Sir George Crofts:my little Vivie.

华伦夫人:哦,普瑞德,你一直在等我,那就是你的不是了,我想你应该知道我会乘3点10分的火车吧。亲爱的薇薇,戴上帽子,不然你会被太阳晒伤的。噢,忘了给你介绍,乔治·科洛夫兹爵士,这是我的女儿薇薇。

(Crofts advances to Vivie with his most courtly manner. She nods,but makes no motion to shake hands.)

(科洛夫兹大步走向薇薇,宫廷礼仪意味浓重。她点点头,但没有要握手的意)

Crofts:May I shake hands with a young lady whom I have known by reputation very long as the daughter of one of my oldest friends?

科洛夫兹:我可以荣幸地和我的一位老朋友的女儿—我久仰的一位年轻女士握手吗?

Vivie: (who has been looking him up and down sharply) If you like. (She takes his tenderly prof erred hand and gives it a squeeze that makes him open his eyes;then turns away,and says to her mother) Will you come in,or shall I get a couple more chairs? (She goes into the porch for the chairs.)

薇薇:(上上下下仔细打f他)如果你愿意。《科洛夫兹先生温柔地伸出的手,被薇薇捏了一下,使他忽然睁大了眼睛。然后薇薇转过身对她的妈妈说)你们要进来吗?还是我再去搬几把椅子?(她去门廊取椅子)

Mrs Warren: Well, George, what do you think of her?

华伦夫人:嘱,乔治,你觉得我女儿怎么样?

Crofts: (ruefully) She has a powerful fist. Did you shake hands with her, Praed?

科洛夫兹:(愁苦地)她的手可真有劲儿啊。普瑞德,你和她握手没有?

Praed: Yes:it will pass off presently.

普瑞德:握了。你的手痛很快就会好的。

Crofts: I hope so. (Vivie reappears with two more chairs. He hurries to her assistance.)Allow me.

科洛夫兹:希望如此吧。(薇薇拿了两把椅子上场。他立刻去帮忙)让我来吧。

Mrs Warren:(patronizingly) Let Sir George help you with the chairs,dear.

华伦夫人:(傲慢地)亲爱的,让乔治爵士帮你吧。

Vivie: (pitching them into his arms) Here you are. (She dusts her hands and turns to Mrs Warren.) You'd like some tea, wouldn't you?

薇薇:(把椅子扔到乔治怀里,并拍了拍手上的灰尘,转向华伦夫人)

Mrs Warren: (sitting in Praed's chair and fanning herself) I'm dying for a drop to drink.

年伦夫人:(坐在普瑞德的椅子上,自己扇着扇子)我真口渴极了。

Vivie: I'll see about it. (She goes into the cottage.)(Sir George has by this time managed to unfold a chair and plant it by Mrs Warren, on her left. He throws the other on the grass and sits down,looking dejected and rather foolish,with the handle of his stick in his mouth. Praed, still very uneasy, fidgets around the garden on their right.)

薇旅:我来倒水。(她走进别墅)(乔治爵士此时很费劲地打开了一把椅子,放在华伦夫人的左侧。他把另一把椅子搁在草地上,坐下来,神情沮丧、嘴里咬着手杖把儿,蠢蠢的样子。普瑞德,还是焦躁不安,在他们右侧来回地踱步)

Mrs Warren: (to Praed, looking at Crofts) Just look at him,Praddy: he looks cheerful, don't he? He's been worrying my life out these three years to have that little girl of mine shewn to him; and now that I've done it, he's quite out of countenance. (briskly) Come! sit up, George;and take your stick out of your mouth. (Crofts sulkily obeys.)

华伦夫人:(对普瑞德说话,看着科洛夫兹)普瑞德,你看看他。他这人很好笑是吧?三年来,他总是缠着要我把女儿介绍他认识,快把我逼疯了;现在他终于见到薇薇了,又做出这副无精打采、可怜兮兮的样子。(迅速地)来,乔治,坐直,别再咬你的手杖了。(科洛夫兹蔫蔫地照她的话做了)

Praed: I think, you know-if you don't mind my saying so- that we had better get out of the habit of thinking of her as a little girl. You see she has really distinguished herself; and I'm not sure, from what I have seen of her, that she is not younger than any of us.

普瑞德:我想,你知道—如果你不介意我这样说的话—我们最好改掉老拿她当小孩子看的毛病。你瞧,她确实已经非常出色了,而且就我的观察来看,恐怕她比我们中的任何人都要成熟。

Practising Exercise 实战提升

作者介绍

乔治·萧伯纳(George Bernard Shaw,爱尔兰剧作家,1925年因为作品具有理想主义和人道主义而获诺贝尔文学奖,是英国现代杰出的现实主义戏剧作家,是世界著名的搜长幽默与讽刺的语言大师。

核心单词

slightly 轻微地;稍微地

anxiety 焦虑,挂念

strain 曲解

arithmetic 算术,计算

immensely 极大地;广大地;无限地

opposite 相反的,对立的

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