《简·爱》 Chapter 14 第十四章（7）

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He had deigned¹ an explanation, almost an apology,

他己降格作了解释。近乎道歉。

and I did not feel insensible to his condescension², and would not seem so.

我对他的屈尊俯就并没有无动于衷，也不想显得如此。

I am willing to amuse you, if I can, sir — quite willing,

先生，只要我能够，我是乐意为你解闷的，十分乐意。

but I cannot introduce a topic, because how do I know what will interest you?

不过我不能随便谈个话题，因为我怎么知道你对什么感兴趣呢？

Ask me questions, and I will do my best to answer them.

你提问吧，我尽力回答。

Then, in the first place, do you agree with me

那么首先一个问题是，你同不同意，基于我所陈述的理由，

that I have a right to be a little masterful, abrupt³, perhaps exacting⁴, sometimes, on the grounds I stated,

我有权在某些时候稍微专横、唐突或者严厉些呢？

namely, that I am old enough to be your father,

我的理由是，按我的年纪。我可以做你的父亲，

and that I have battled through a varied⁵ experience with many men of many nations, and roamed over half the globe,

而且有着多变的人生阅历，同很多国家的很多人打过交道。漂泊了半个地球。

while you have lived quietly with one set of people in one house?

而你却是太太平平地跟同一类人生活在同一幢房子里。

Do as you please, sir.

你爱怎样就怎样吧，先生。

That is no answer, or rather it is a very irritating, because a very evasive one. Reply clearly.

你并没有回答我的问题。或是说，你回答很气人，因为含糊其词——回答得明确些。

I don't think, sir, you have a right to command me,

先生，我并不认为你有权支使我，

merely because you are older than I, or because you have seen more of the world than I have.

仅仅因为你年纪比我大些，或者比我阅历丰富。

Your claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience.

你所说的优越感取决于你对时间和经历的利用。

Humph! Promptly⁶ spoken. But I won't allow that, seeing that it would never suit my case,

哼！答得倒快。但我不承认，我认为与我的情况绝不相符，

as I have made an indifferent, not to say a bad, use of both advantages.

因为对两者的有利条件，我毫无兴趣。

Leaving superiority out of the question, then,

更不必说没有充分利用了。

you must still agree to receive my orders now and then, without being piqued⁷ or hurt by the tone of command. Will you?

那么我们暂且不谈这优越性问题吧，但你必须偶偶尔听候我吩咐，而不因为命令的口吻面生气或伤心，好吗？

I smiled. I thought to myself Mr. Rochester is peculiar⁸.

我微微一笑。我暗自思忖道，"罗切斯特先生也真奇怪。

He seems to forget that he pays me 30 pounds per annum for receiving his orders.

他好像忘了，付我三十镑年薪是让我听他吩咐的。

"The smile is very well," said he, catching⁹ instantly the passing expression; "but speak too."

"笑得好，"他立即抓住了转瞬即逝表情说，"不过还得开口讲话。"

I was thinking, sir, that very few masters would trouble themselves to inquire

先生，我在想，很少有主人会费心去问他们雇佣的下属，

whether or not their paid subordinates were piqued and hurt by their orders.

会不会因为被吩咐而生气和伤心。

Paid subordinates! What! You are my paid subordinate, are you?

雇佣的下属！什么，你是我雇佣的下属是不是？

Oh yes, I had forgotten the salary!

哦，是的，我把薪俸的事儿给忘了？

1 deigned   

v.屈尊，俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Carrie deigned no suggestion of hearing this. 嘉莉不屑一听。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Carrie scarcely deigned to reply. 嘉莉不屑回答。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

2 condescension   

n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人)

参考例句：

• His politeness smacks of condescension. 他的客气带有屈尊俯就的意味。
• Despite its condescension toward the Bennet family, the letter begins to allay Elizabeth's prejudice against Darcy. 尽管这封信对班纳特家的态度很高傲，但它开始消除伊丽莎白对达西的偏见。

3 abrupt   

adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的

参考例句：

• The river takes an abrupt bend to the west.这河突然向西转弯。
• His abrupt reply hurt our feelings.他粗鲁的回答伤了我们的感情。

4 exacting   

adj.苛求的，要求严格的

参考例句：

• He must remember the letters and symbols with exacting precision.他必须以严格的精度记住每个字母和符号。
• The public has been more exacting in its demands as time has passed.随着时间的推移，公众的要求更趋严格。

5 varied   

adj.多样的，多变化的

参考例句：

• The forms of art are many and varied.艺术的形式是多种多样的。
• The hotel has a varied programme of nightly entertainment.宾馆有各种晚间娱乐活动。

6 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

7 piqued   

v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 )；激起（好奇心）

参考例句：

• Their curiosity piqued, they stopped writing. 他们的好奇心被挑起，停下了手中的笔。 来自辞典例句
• This phenomenon piqued Dr Morris' interest. 这一现象激起了莫里斯医生的兴趣。 来自辞典例句

8 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

9 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。