冰与火之歌系列之《权力的游戏》第893期:第四十二章 艾德(10)

 　　So it is at court. The King's Justice must be fearsome, the master of coin must be frugal¹, 朝廷里也是如此，所以御前执法官必须模样凶神恶煞，财政大臣要勤俭成性，

　　the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard must be valiant²... and the master of whisperers must be sly and obsequious³ and without scruple⁴. 御林铁卫队长则需勇武过人……而情报总管呢，当然应该诡计多端、擅长逢迎拍捧、行事无孔不入。

　　A courageous⁵ informer would be as useless as a cowardly knight⁶." He took the wineskin back and drank. 而一个勇气十足的情报头子，就和一个懦弱胆小的骑士一样没用。”他拿回酒袋，喝了起来。

　　Ned studied the eunuch's face, searching for truth beneath the mummer's scars and false stubble. 奈德审视着太监的脸，搜寻他的假疤痕和假胡子下的真相。

　　He tried some more wine. This time it went down easier. 他又试着喝了点酒，这回顺口多了。

　　"Can you free me from this pit?" “你能把我从这地穴救出去吗？”

　　I could... but will I? No. “我能……但我要不要这么做呢？当然不。

　　Questions would be asked, and the answers would lead back to me. 到时候一定有人展开调查，而所有的线索都会指向我。”

　　Ned had expected no more. 奈德原本也不期望他答应。

　　"You are blunt." “你还真是实话实说。”

　　A eunuch has no honor, and a spider does not enjoy the luxury of scruples⁷, my lord. “大人，太监没有荣誉，蜘蛛也没有行事顾及自尊的福分。”

　　Would you at least consent to carry a message out for me? “那你可否至少替我送封信？”

　　That would depend on the message. “得视信的内容而定。

　　I will gladly provide you with paper and ink, if you like. 您要的话，我很乐意提供纸笔。

　　And when you have written what you will, I will take the letter and read it, and deliver it or not, as best serves my own ends. 等你写好之后，我会把信拿来读一遍，至于要不要送出去，则要看信是否合乎我个人目的了。”

1 frugal   

adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的

参考例句：

• He was a VIP,but he had a frugal life.他是位要人，但生活俭朴。
• The old woman is frugal to the extreme.那老妇人节约到了极点。

2 valiant   

adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人

参考例句：

• He had the fame of being very valiant.他的勇敢是出名的。
• Despite valiant efforts by the finance minister,inflation rose to 36%.尽管财政部部长采取了一系列果决措施，通货膨胀率还是涨到了36%。

3 obsequious   

adj.谄媚的，奉承的，顺从的

参考例句：

• He looked at the two ladies with an obsequious air.他看着两位太太,满脸谄媚的神情。
• He was obsequious to his superiors,but he didn't get any favor.他巴结上司，但没得到任何好处。

4 scruple   

n./v.顾忌，迟疑

参考例句：

• It'seemed to her now that she could marry him without the remnant of a scruple.她觉得现在她可以跟他成婚而不需要有任何顾忌。
• He makes no scruple to tell a lie.他说起谎来无所顾忌。

5 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

6 knight   

n.骑士，武士；爵士

参考例句：

• He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
• A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。

7 scruples   

n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• I overcame my moral scruples. 我抛开了道德方面的顾虑。
• I'm not ashamed of my scruples about your family. They were natural. 我并未因为对你家人的顾虑而感到羞耻。这种感觉是自然而然的。 来自疯狂英语突破英语语调