美国语文第六册 第186期:占卜者(4)（在线收听）

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

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 livelihood.

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 prospect 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 drawn a shilling from his pocket; but Virtue bade him to consider on whom he was going to bestow 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 watchful 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 stewardship, 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。