狄更斯雙語小說:《董貝父子》第15章Part2

'Well! at last and at least, Uncle Sol must be told,' thought Walter, with a sigh. And as Walter was apprehensive that his voice might perhaps quaver a little, and that his countenance might not be quite as hopeful as he could wish it to be, if he told the old man himself, and saw the first effects of his communication on his wrinkled face, he resolved to avail himself of the services of that powerful mediator, Captain Cuttle. Sunday coming round, he set off therefore, after breakfast, once more to beat up Captain Cuttle's quarters.

“唉！最終反正總得告訴所爾舅舅的，”沃爾特嘆了一口氣，想道。沃爾特擔心的是，如果由他本人告訴老人，並看到這消息在他起了皺紋的臉上所引起的第一陣反應的話，那麼他的聲音也許會稍稍顫抖，他臉上的神色也許不能像他所希望的那樣輕鬆愉快，因此他決定去請卡特爾船長這位能幹的斡旋者來幫忙。於是，星期天吃過早飯以後，他就從家裏出發，再一次出其不意地到卡特爾船長的住所去。

It was not unpleasant to remember, on the way thither, that Mrs MacStinger resorted to a great distance every Sunday morning, to attend the ministry of the Reverend Melchisedech Howler, who, having been one day discharged from the West India Docks on a false suspicion (got up expressly against him by the general enemy) of screwing gimlets into puncheons, and applying his lips to the orifice, had announced the destruction of the world for that day two years, at ten in the morning, and opened a front parlour for the reception of ladies and gentlemen of the Ranting persuasion, upon whom, on the first occasion of their assemblage, the admonitions of the Reverend Melchisedech had produced so powerful an effect, that, in their rapturous performance of a sacred jig, which closed the service, the whole flock broke through into a kitchen below, and disabled a mangle belonging to one of the fold.

他在途中愉快地記起，麥克斯廷傑太太每逢星期天上午都要到一個很遠的地方去聽梅爾奇斯代克·豪洛爾大師說教。這位大師原先在西印度船塢工作，後來由於仇人誣陷，說他曾用手錐鑽破大酒桶，然後把嘴脣貼住洞孔偷喝桶中的酒，因此有一天他就被解除了職務；他曾經宣稱，世界將在兩年後的那一天上午十點鐘毀滅；他開放一個客廳來接待狂熱教派的男女信徒們；在他們第一次的集會上，梅爾奇斯代克的訓戒產生了很大的影響，在儀式結束時，他們歡天喜地地大跳聖舞，所以有的人竟都塌陷到下面的廚房裏，把一個信徒的碾壓機也砸壞了。

This the Captain, in a moment of uncommon conviviality, had confided to Walter and his Uncle, between the repetitions of lovely Peg, on the night when Brogley the broker was paid out. The Captain himself was punctual in his attendance at a church in his own neighbourhood, which hoisted the Union Jack every Sunday morning; and where he was good enough—the lawful beadle being infirm—to keep an eye upon the boys, over whom he exercised great power, in virtue of his mysterious hook. Knowing the regularity of the Captain's habits, Walter made all the haste he could, that he might anticipate his going out; and he made such good speed, that he had the pleasure, on turning into Brig Place, to behold the broad blue coat and waistcoat hanging out of the Captain's oPen window, to air in the sun.

這些軼事是船長那天晚上把錢支付給經紀人布羅格里之後，反覆唱那支《佩格姑娘》曲子的中間，在非常歡樂的時刻講給沃爾特和他舅舅聽的。船長自己也按時上一個鄰近的教堂去。那教堂每逢星期天上午就升起英國國旗。因爲教區事務員身體病弱，他就在那裏好心地照管孩子們；由於他那神祕的鉤子所起的作用，他在孩子們中間享有很高的威望。沃爾特知道船長從不改變他的習慣，所以儘快趕路，以便在他出門之前到達。他的速度很快，當他拐彎走進布里格廣場的時候，他高興地看到，那寬大的藍色外衣和背心正懸掛在船長的打開的窗子的外面，在太陽下晾曬。

It appeared incredible that the coat and waistcoat could be seen by mortal eyes without the Captain; but he certainly was not in them, otherwise his legs—the houses in Brig Place not being lofty—would have obstructed the street door, which was perfectly clear. Quite wondering at this discovery, Walter gave a single knock.

凡人的肉眼居然能看到外衣和背心離開船長的身體，這似乎是難以使人相信的；但他這時確實沒有穿它們，否則他的雙腿就堵塞住那毫無遮攔的臨街的前門了，因爲布里格廣場的房屋是不高的。沃爾特對這發現很感驚奇，敲了一下門。

一aps：adv.也許, 可能
【詞義辨析】
maybe, perhaps, possibly, probably
這些副詞均有“或許、大概”之意。
maybe普通用詞，美國英語多用，指某事也許如此，含不能確定意味。
perhaps普通用詞，多用於英國，與maybe同義。
possibly指客觀上潛存着發生某種變化的可能。
probably一般指根據邏輯推理，估計有發生的可能，把握性較大，語氣比possibly強。
【例句用法】
Perhaps this book will prove to be of some use to you in your studies.
也許這本書會對你的研究有用處。
Such a mistake would perhaps lead to disastrous consequences.
這樣一種錯誤可能導致災難性的後果。
二are：vi.出現, 出版, 顯得, 好像
【語法用法】
appear爲不及物動詞，
I have read the article on Japanese economy appeared in yesterday's paper.
我在昨天出版的報紙上讀了和日本經濟相關的文章。
應在appeared前加that/which，否則表述不正確。
appear同seem的比較：
appear做連接動詞時，常指“事情或事物看其來怎麼樣”，同seem相似。
He appears (to be) very angry today.（句中的to be可省略）
She appears to have enough money to live on.
與seem不同的是，seem既可以用來討論客觀事實，也可以用來描述主觀的印象或感覺，而appear只能表達客觀事實。
The baby seems/appears (to be) hungry.（兩者都可用）
She doesn't want to go on studying. It seems a pity.（只能用seem）
當appear指“出現”或“抵達”時，可被副詞修飾。
She suddenly appeared in the doorway.
她突然間出現在門口。
【詞義辨析】
ar, emerge, show, loom
這些動詞均有“出現”之意。
appear強調公開露面，被看見。
emerge側重緩緩出現的過程。
show語氣較強，強調“露出來”。
loom指朦朧出現，好像從霧中浮現出來一樣。
ar, look, seem
這些動詞均有“看起來，好像是”之意。
appear指從感觀印象看似乎是如此，但有時着重指因視野、觀點限制而產生的歪曲印象。
look指從樣子看起來，側重通過視覺而建立的印象。
seem多指從主觀印象或個反應得出的看法。
【例句用法】
Mr. Green had to appear before the committee to explain his behavior .
格林先生必須在委員會上出面解釋他的行爲。
A truck appeared over the hill.
一輛卡車在山丘上出現。