美国语文第六册 第186期:占卜者(4)

With a tolerably good memory, and some share of cunning, I succeed reasonably well as a fortune teller¹.

由于记忆力颇好，在某种程度上也少不了狡猾，作为一名占卜者我能成功就显得合情合理了。

With this, and showing the tricks of that dog, I make shift to pick up a livelihood².

再者，那条狗很会玩把戏，因此我就这样谋生。”

"My trade is none of the most honest,

“我干的这一行算不上诚实，

yet people are not much cheated after all, who give a few half-pence for a prospect³ of happiness, which I have heard some persons say, is all a man can arrive at in this world.

不过人们毕竟没有被骗多少钱，我曾听一些人说过，那些给几便士来占卜未来幸福的，都是一个人来到这个世界上的人。

But I must bid you good day, sir; for I have three miles to walk before noon,

但是先生，我必须和你赌今天天气好，因为在中午前我还要步行三英里，

to inform some boarding-school young ladies whether their husbands are to be peers of the realm or captains in the army;

向寄宿学校的年轻女士打听她们的丈夫是否是有身份的人，或者在军队担任军官；

a question which I promised to answer them by that time."

那时，我保证回答她们提出的一个问题。”

Harley had drawn⁴ a shilling from his pocket; but Virtue⁵ bade him to consider on whom he was going to bestow⁶ it.

哈特利从衣袋里掏出一先令；但是，道德天使让他对应该把这一先令给谁略加思量。

Virtue held back his arm; but a milder form, a younger sister of Virtue's, not so severe as Virtue, nor so serious as Pity, smiled upon him;

道德天使拽住了他的胳膊，不过这是一种温和的方式，是道德天使的妹妹，不像道德天使那样严厉。也不像怜悯天使那样庄重，他脸上浮出微笑。

his fingers lost their compression; nor did Virtue appear to catch the money as it fell.

他的手指没有紧捏着那一先令，显然道德天使也不会紧攥着钱的。

It had no sooner reached the ground than the watchful⁷ cur (a trick he had been taught) snapped it up;

就在这一先令快要落地时，那条警觉的狗赶忙衔住，

and, contrary to the most approved method of stewardship⁸, delivered it immediately into the hands of his master.

但不同于其他管家的是，它马上把钱交到主人的手上。

1 teller   

n.银行出纳员；(选举)计票员

参考例句：

• The bank started her as a teller.银行起用她当出纳员。
• The teller tried to remain aloof and calm.出纳员力图保持冷漠和镇静。

2 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

3 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

4 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

5 virtue   

n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。

6 bestow   

v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费

参考例句：

• He wished to bestow great honors upon the hero.他希望将那些伟大的荣誉授予这位英雄。
• What great inspiration wiII you bestow on me?你有什么伟大的灵感能馈赠给我？

7 watchful   

adj.注意的，警惕的

参考例句：

• The children played under the watchful eye of their father.孩子们在父亲的小心照看下玩耍。
• It is important that health organizations remain watchful.卫生组织保持警惕是极为重要的。

8 stewardship   

n. n. 管理工作；管事人的职位及职责

参考例句：

• The organization certainly prospered under his stewardship. 不可否认，这个组织在他的管理下兴旺了起来。
• Last, but certainly not least, are the issues of stewardship and ethics. 最后，但当然不是微不足道的，是工作和道德规范的问题。