月亮和六便士 第十九章(5)

 　　Dirk Stroeve, telling the story, had such a look of blank astonishment¹ on his round, foolish face that it was almost impossible not to laugh. 说这个故事的时候，戴尔克·施特略夫的一张傻里傻气的胖脸蛋上流露着那么一种惊诧莫解的神情，不由得你看了不发笑。

　　I shouldn't have minded if he'd said my pictures were bad, but he said nothing—nothing. “如果他说我画得不好我一点也不在乎，可是他什么都没说——一句话也没说。”

　　And you will tell the story, Dirk, Said his wife. “你还挺得意地把这个故事讲给人家听，戴尔克，”他的妻子说。

　　It was lamentable² that one was more amused by the ridiculous figure cut by the Dutchman than outraged³ by Strickland's brutal⁴ treatment of him. 可悲的是，不论是谁听了这个故事，首先会被这位荷兰人扮演的滑稽角色逗得发笑，而并不感到思特里克兰德这种粗鲁行为生气。

　　I hope I shall never see him again, said Mrs. Stroeve. “我再也不想看到这个人了，”施特略夫太太说。

　　Stroeve smiled and shrugged⁵ his shoulders. He had already recovered his good-humour. 施特略夫笑起来，耸了耸肩膀。他的好性子已经恢复了。

　　The fact remains⁶ that he's a great artist, a very great artist. “实际上，他是一个了不起的画家，非常了不起。”

　　Strickland? I exclaimed. "It can't be the same man." “思特里克兰德？”我喊起来。“咱们说的不是一个人。”

　　A big fellow with a red beard. Charles Strickland. An Englishman. “就是那个身材高大、生着一把红胡子的人。查理斯·思特里克兰德。一个英国人。”

　　He had no beard when I knew him, but if he has grown one it might well be red.  “我认识他的时候他没留胡子。但是如果留起胡子来，很可能是红色的。

　　The man I'm thinking of only began painting five years ago. That's it. He's a great artist. 我说的这个人五年以前才开始学画。”“就是这个人。他是个伟大的画家。”

　　Impossible. “不可能。”

　　Have I ever been mistaken? Dirk asked me.  “我哪一次看走过眼？”戴尔克问我。

　　"I tell you he has genius. I'm convinced of it.  “我告诉你他有天才。我有绝对把握。

　　In a hundred years, if you and I are remembered at all, it will be because we knew Charles Strickland." 一百年以后，如果还有人记得咱们两个人，那是因为我们沾了认识查理斯·思特里克兰德的光儿。”

　　I was astonished, and at the same time I was very much excited.  我非常吃惊，但与此同时我也非常兴奋。

　　I remembered suddenly my last talk with him. 我忽然想起我最后一次同他谈话。

　　Where can one see his work? I asked. "Is he having any success? Where is he living?" “在什么地方可以看到他的作品？”我问，他有了点儿名气没有？他现在住在什么地方？”

　　No; he has no success. I don't think he's ever sold a picture. “没有名气。我想他没有卖出过一幅画。

　　When you speak to men about him they only laugh.  你要是和人谈起他的画来，没有一个不笑他的。

　　But I know he's a great artist.  但是我知道他是个了不起的画家。

　　After all, they laughed at Manet Corot never sold a picture.  他们还不是笑过马奈·柯罗也是一张画没有卖出去过。

　　I don't know where he lives, but I can take you to see him.  我不知道他住在什么地方，但是我可以带你去找到他。

　　He goes to a cafe in the Avenue de Clichy at seven o'clock every evening.  每天晚上七点钟他都到克利舍路一家咖啡馆去。

　　If you like we'll go there to-morrow. 你要是愿意的话，咱们明天就可以去。”

1 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

2 lamentable   

adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的

参考例句：

• This lamentable state of affairs lasted until 1947.这一令人遗憾的事态一直持续至1947年。
• His practice of inebriation was lamentable.他的酗酒常闹得别人束手无策。

3 outraged   

a.震惊的，义愤填膺的

参考例句：

• Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
• He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。

4 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

5 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。