《圣诞颂歌》 第二章 三幽灵中的第一位(4)（在线收听）

The fiddler started playing, and away they all went in the dance, twenty pairs at the same time, round and round, down the middle and up again.

小提琴手开始演奏，他们全都加入到跳舞者的行列，同时有20对儿，来回地转着圈跳着。

When they were all tired, old Fezziwig cried out, 'Well done!

当他们都跳累了的时候，老费泽威格大声说，“跳得好极了！

Now, have something to eat and drink!'

现在吃点东西或喝点什么吧！”

There was cake and hot meat and bread and cold meat and fruit, and all kinds of drinks, on a long table near the door.

在门口的一张长桌子上摆着蛋糕、烧好的热乎乎的肉、面包、冻肉、水果和各种喝的。

And after they had eaten, they danced again.

他们吃过之后又重新跳舞。

When the clock struck eleven, the dancing ended.

当钟敲11点的时候，舞会结束了。

Mr and Mrs Fezziwig stood by the door, shaking hands with each person as he or she went out, and wishing him or her a merry Christmas.

费泽威格先生和太太站在门口，他们和每个离开的人一一握手并祝愿他或她圣诞快乐。

During this time Scrooge had thought of nothing except what was happening in front of his eyes.

在这斯间斯克罗吉想的只是他眼前所发生的一切。他以从未有过的兴奋，

He remembered and enjoyed it all with the greatest delight.

记住了发生的一切并且觉得一切都很开心。

But when the dancing came to an end, he realized that the ghost was looking at him.

但当舞会结束的时候，他觉察到鬼魂正看着他。

The light on the spirit's head was burning very clearly.

幽灵头上的光明亮地闪烁着。

'It seems easy enough to amuse these childish people,' said the ghost.

“好像轻而易举就能给这些傻里傻气的人们带来娱乐，”鬼魂说。

'It was nothing much that Fezziwig did, was it?

“费泽威格并没做多少事情，不是吗？

After all, he only spent a few pounds, on food and drink and paying the fiddler.'

他充其量不过是花了几个英镑买了些吃的、喝的和付了小提琴手的报酬。”

'It isn't a question of money,' replied Scrooge warmly.

“这不是钱的问题。”斯克罗吉热情地回答说。

He was speaking like the young man he used to be, not the old man he was now.

他说话的样子和他年轻时一样，可不是现在年迈的那副神情。

'No, spirit, you see, our employer can make us happy or sad.

“不，幽灵，要知道，我们的雇主能够令我们高兴或悲伤。

His words, his looks, all these things are so important!

他的话语、他的表情，所有这些都很重要！

The happiness that he gives is just as valuable as money!'

他给我们带来的幸福同金钱一样有价值！”

He suddenly stopped speaking, when he felt the spirit watching him closely.

当他感到幽灵正密切地注视着他的时候，他不再说下去了。

'What's the matter?' asked the ghost.

“怎么了？”鬼魂问。

'Er - nothing,' said Scrooge. 'Just that - I'd like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk now.'

“哦...没什么，”斯克罗吉说，“只是...我想现在和我的雇员说一两句话。”

Now Scrooge could see himself again.

斯克罗吉现在又能看见他本人了。

He was older now, and it was clear that he was beginning to show an unhealthy interest in money.

他现在比以前老了，很显然他对钱已经显示出一种不良的兴趣。

His eyes were restless, and his mouth looked thin and mean.

他目光焦虑，嘴看上去刻薄且吝啬。

He was not alone, but was sitting beside a lovely young girl.

他不是独自一人，他身边坐着一个可爱的姑娘。

The light that shone brightly from the ghost of Christmas Past showed that she was crying.

借着“昔日圣诞”鬼魂身上发出的明亮的光可以看出她在哭。

'I know it doesn't matter very much to you,' she said softly.

“我知道这对你来说算不了什么，”她轻柔地说，

'You care about gold more than you care about me.

“你把金子看得比我还重。

Perhaps I shouldn't be sad. Money will give you the happiness that I wanted to give you.'

也许我不该难过，金钱会给你带来我想带给你的幸福的。”

'But I haven't changed towards you, have I?'

“但对你我并没变心，不是吗？”