狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第20章Part 01

Chapter 20 Mr Dombey goes upon a Journey
'Mr Dombey, Sir,' said Major Bagstock, 'Joee' B. is not in general a man of sentiment, for Joseph is tough. But Joe has his feelings, Sir,and when they are awakened — Damme, Mr Dombey,? cried the Major with sudden ferocity, 'this is weakness, and I won't submit to it)'
Major Bagstock delivered himself of these expressions on receiving Mr Dombey as his guest at the head of his own staircase in Princess's Place. Mr Dombey had come to breakfast with the Major, previous to their setting forth on their trip; and the ill-starved Native had already undergone a world of misery arising out of the muffins, while, in connexion with the general question of boiled eggs, life was a burden to him.
'It is not for an old soldier of the Bagstock breed,' observed the Major, relapsing into a mild state, 'to deliver himself up, a prey to his own emotions; but - damme, Sir,' cried the Major, in another spasm of ferocity, 'I condole with you!'
The Major's purple visage deepened in its hue, and the Major's lobster eyes stood out in bolder relief, as he shook Mr Dombey by the hand,imparting to that peaceful action as defiant a character as if it had been the prelude to his immediately boxing Mr Dombey for a thousand pounds a side and the championship of England. With a rotatory motion of his head, and a wheeze very like the cough of a horse, the Major then conducted his visitor to the sitting-room, and there welcomed him (having now composed his feelings) with the freedom and frankness ofa travelling companion.
'Dombey,' said the Major, 'I'm glad to see you. I'm proud to see you. There are not many men in Europe to whom J. Bagstock would say that — for Josh is blunt. Sir: it's his nature — but Joey B. is proud to see you, Dombey.'
'Major,' returned Mr Dombey, 'you are very obliging.'
'No, Sir,' said the Major, 'Devil a bit! That's not my character. If that had been Joe's character, Joe might have been, by this time, Lieutenant-General Sir Joseph Bagstock, K.C.B., and might have received you in very different quarters. You don't know old Joe yet, I find. But this occasion, being special, is a source of pride to me. By the Lord, Sir,' said the Major resolutely, 'it's an honour to me!'
Mr Dombey, in his estimation of himself and his money, felt that this was very true, and therefore did not dispute the point. But the instinctive recognition of such a truth by the Major, and his plain avowal of it, were very able. It was a confirmation to Mr Dombey, if he had required any, of his not being mistaken in the Major. It was an assurance to him that his power extended beyond his own immediate sphere; and that the Major, as an officer and a gentleman, had a no less becoming sense of it, than the beadle of the Royal Exchange.

第二十章　董贝先生出发旅行
“董贝先生，”白格斯托克少校说道，“乔埃·白一般来说并不是一个多愁善感的人，因为约瑟夫是坚强的。但是乔是有感情的，先生，当这些感情·真·的被唤醒的时候——他妈的，董贝先生，”少校突然凶猛地喊道，“这是个弱点，我不打算向它屈服！”
白格斯托克少校是在公主广场他自己的楼梯顶上迎接客人董贝先生时说这些话的。在他们出发旅行之前，董贝先生前来跟少校一道吃早餐；薄命倒霉的本地人由于做的松饼不合主人的口味，已经受尽种种折磨，至于煮鸡蛋引起的问题，生活对他来说真是个沉重的负担。
“白格斯托克家族的一个老兵不应当束手无策地听凭他成为自己感情的牺牲品，”少校态度温和下来，说道，“可是——他妈的，先生，”少校突然又凶猛起来，喊道，“我向您表示哀悼！”
当少校和董贝先生握手的时候，他的青紫色的脸孔的颜色加深了，他的龙虾眼睛更加突出地鼓了出来，因此在那和平的动作中加上了一层挑衅的色彩，仿佛这是一个序幕，接下去，他立即就要为一千镑赌金和英国的锦标与董贝先生进行拳击比赛似的。然后，少校一边转动着头，徐马咳嗽一般地喘着气，一边把客人领到起居室（这时他的情绪已镇静下来了），以一个旅伴无拘无束、坦率真诚的态度欢迎他。
“董贝，”少校说道，“我见到您很高兴。我见到您感到自豪。在欧洲，乔·白格斯托克能对他们说这种话的人是不多的——因为乔希是个直肠直肚，不会虚情假意的人。先生，他生性就是这样——但乔埃·白见到您感到自豪，董贝。”
“少校，”董贝先生说道“您很谦和有礼。”
“不，先生，”少校说，“绝对不是！那不是我的性格。如果那是乔的性格，那么乔现在可能已经是陆军中将约瑟夫·白格斯托克爵士，（巴士高级勋位爵士），可能已经在大不相同的公馆里接待您了。看来您还不了解老乔。但是这次非同寻常的机会是我自豪的源泉。真的，先生，”少校坚决地说道，“这是我的光荣！”

董贝先生根据他对他本人和对他的金钱的评价，觉得这话说得千真万确，因此没有辩驳。但是少校本能地认识这个真理并爽直地作出这个声明，这是令人愉快的。对于董贝先生来说，它证实了（如果他需要证实的话）他对少校的看法没有错。它使他相信：他的权势已扩展到他直接管辖的业务范围之外。少校这位军官和绅士对他权势的正确认识与伦敦交易所的差役相比丝毫不差。