美国语文第五册 第115期:高德夫人的演讲(1)

 　　Well, Mr. Caudle, I hope you're in a little better temper¹ than you were this morning. 好了，高德先生，但愿你现在脾气比今早要好点。

　　There, you need n't begin to whistle: people don't come to bed to whistle. 呃，你不必立马吹口哨，别人可不会“嘘”“嘘”地吹着上床。

　　But it's like you; I can't speak that you don't try to insult² me. 不过，像你这样的人，我还真不能说，是不是存心想侮辱我？

　　Once, I used to say you were the best creature living: now, you get quite a fiend. 我以前总是说，你是这世上最好的人，可现在的你，简直是个恶魔。

　　Do let you rest? No, I won't let you rest. It's the only time I have to talk to you, and you shall hear me. 让你睡觉？不！我不会让你睡的，我不得不和你打开窗户说亮话，只此一回。听我说！

　　I'm put upon all day long: it's very hard if I can't speak a word at night; besides, it is n't often I open my mouth, goodness³ knows! 我为你忙乎一整天，晚上还不能和你说上一句话，天呀！这真让人没法活了，再说，我不过偶尔才叨唠两句，老天知道！

　　Because once in your lifetime your shirt wanted a button, you must almost swear the roof off the house. 你这一辈子，哪怕衬衫掉个小小纽扣，你都能诅咒得沸反盈天。

　　You did n't swear? Ha, Mr. Caudle! you don't know what you do when you're in a passion. 什么，你没有诅咒？高德先生！火冒三丈的时候，你真不知道你做过什么。

　　You were not in a passion, wer'n't you? Well, then, I don't know what a passion is; 什么？你没有火冒三丈,是吗？得了，我可不知道火冒三丈是什么意思；

　　and I think I ought by this time. I've lived long enough with you, Mr. Caudle, to know that. 我现在当然懂了，高德先生，和你生活一起够长的，我心里再明白不过。

　　It's a pity you hav'n't something worse to complain of than a button off your shirt. 你可真够不幸的，再没有什么倒霉事能比过你那衬衫上掉个小小纽扣，你埋怨不停。

　　If you'd some wives, you would, I know. 假如你有几个老婆，你的牢骚也不会少，这点，我当然清楚。

　　I'm sure I'm never without a needle and thread in my hand; 我知道，我的手上从来不缺针少线，

　　what with you and the children, I'm made a perfect slave of. 可以应付你还有那些孩子们。我成了你随意喝斥的奴隶，

　　And what's my thanks? Why, if once in your life a button's off your shirt—what do you cry "oh" at? 你感谢过我吗？为什么只要你衬衫纽扣掉了，你就要对我“哎”地叫上一声，

　　I say once, Mr. Caudle; or twice, or three times, at most. 高德先生，我说过一次，高德先生，两次、三次，甚至无数次。

　　I'm sure, Caudle, no man's buttons in the world are better looked after than yours. 我明白，高德先生，这世上没有任何男人衬衫纽扣得到这样隆重关注。

　　I only wish I'd kept the shirts you had when you were first married! I should like to know where were your buttons then? 我真的巴望还留着你第一次结婚的衬衫，我太想知道了，那会你的纽扣究竟在哪？

1 temper   

n.恶劣的心情，心绪焦躁；性情，脾气

参考例句：

• The man lost his temper and struck out wildly.那人因发怒而大打出手。
• One day the man flew at me in a temper.一天,那个人冲着我大发脾气。

2 insult   

vt.侮辱，凌辱；n.侮辱的言词或行为

参考例句：

• You will insult her if you don't go to her party. 你要是不去参加她举办的聚会，就对她太无礼了。
• I can't sit down with that insult.我不能忍受那种侮辱。

3 goodness   

n.善良，善行，美德

参考例句：

• Would you have the goodness to turn off the radio?劳驾，请你把收音机关上好不好？
• Thank goodness,we've found a cure for the disease.好了，这病有救了！