名著精读:《小妇人》第四章:负担 第6节

Jo's ambition was to do something very splendid. What it was, she had no idea as yet, but left it for time to tell her, and meanwhile, found her greatest affliction in the fact that she couldn't read, run, and ride as much as she liked. A quick temper, sharp tongue, and restless spirit were always getting her into scrapes, and her life was a series of ups and downs, which were both comic and pathetic. But the training she received at Aunt March's was just what she needed, and the thought that she was doing something to support herself made her happy in spite of the perpetual "Josy-phine!"

乔的理想是做一番宏伟的事业，但这番事业究竟是什么她却一直毫无头绪，也并不急于知道；她觉得自己最大的痛苦是不能尽兴读书、跑步和骑马。她是个急性子，言语尖刻，内心躁动不安，经常把自己推入困境，因此她的生活经历悲喜交集，甜酸苦辣，五味俱全。不过，她在马奇婶婶家里受到的锻炼正是她所需要的，而一想到这样工作可以自立，她就无比高兴，即使是马奇婶婶那没完没了的"约瑟--芬！”也变得微不足道了。

Beth was too bashful to go to school. It had been tried, but she suffered so much that it was given up, and she did her lessons at home with her father. Even when he went away, and her mother was called to devote her skill and energy to Soldiers' Aid Societies, Beth went faithfully on by herself and did the best she could. She was a housewifely little creature, and helped Hannah keep home neat and comfortable for the workers, never thinking of any reward but to be loved. Long, quiet days she spent, not lonely nor idle, for her little world was peopled with imaginary friends, and she was by nature a busy bee.

贝思因性格太羞怯而没有上学；她也曾进过学堂，但感到极度痛苦，只得辍学在家，跟着父亲读书。父亲走后，母亲也被派去为"战士援助会"服务，贝思仍忠实不移，坚持尽自己的最大努力自学。她是个贤妻良母型的小姑娘，帮罕娜为工人们把家里打理得整洁舒适，从不乞求报偿，只要被人爱着便心满意足。她静悄悄地度过漫漫长日，从不孤独，从不懒散，因为她的小天地不乏虚构出来的朋友，而她天生就是个勤劳的小蜜蜂。

There were six dolls to be taken up and dressed every morning, for Beth was a child still and loved her pets as well as ever. Not one whole or handsome one among them, all were outcasts till Beth took them in, for when her sisters outgrew these idols, they passed to her because Amy would have nothing old or ugly. Beth cherished them all the more tenderly for that very reason, and set up a hospital for infirm dolls. No pins were ever stuck into their cotton vitals, no harsh words or blows were ever given them, no neglect ever saddened the heart of the most repulsive, but all were fed and clothed, nursed and caressed with an affection which never failed.

每天一早贝思都要给六个玩具宝宝穿衣装扮，因为她还是个孩子，仍然喜欢宠物。她的小宝贝原来都是弃儿，个个残缺不全，都是两个姐姐长大后不要而传给她的，因为这样又旧又丑的东西艾美是不会要的。正因为如此，贝思对它们呵护有加，专为这些摇摇摆摆的小宝贝设了间医院。她给这些布娃娃一丝不苟地打针，给它们喂饭、穿衣、护理，从不打骂它们，并不忘奉上深情的一吻，即使是最丑陋的玩偶也不会被忽略。

One forlorn fragment of dollanity had belonged to Jo and, having led a tempestuous life, was left a wreck in the rag bag, from which dreary poorhouse it was rescued by Beth and taken to her refuge. Having no top to its head, she tied on a neat little cap, and as both arms and legs were gone, she hid these deficiencies by folding it in a blanket and devoting her best bed to this chronic invalid. If anyone had known the care lavished on that dolly, I think it would have touched their hearts, even while they laughed. She brought it bits of bouquets, she read to it, took it out to breathe fresh air, hidden under her coat, she sang it lullabies and never went to bed without kissing its dirty face and whispering tenderly, "I hope you'll have a good night, my poor dear."

一个残缺不堪的"宝宝”原是乔的旧物，经过暴风骤雨的生活洗礼后，四肢不全，五官不整，被弃置在一个破袋子里头，贝思把它从那破旧的包袱里解救出来放到她的避难所。因为头顶不见了，她便扎上一顶雅致的小帽，四肢没有了，便把它裹在毯子里，把缺陷掩盖起来，并把最好的床让给这位长期病员。如果有人知道她是如何细致入微地照料这个玩具娃娃，我想他们即使发笑，也一定会深受感动。她给它送花、读书，把它裹在她的大衣里，带它出去呼吸新鲜空气，给它唱摇篮曲，睡觉前总要吻吻那脏脸孔，并柔声细语：“祝你晚安，可怜的宝贝。”

ndid['splendid] adj. 极好的，辉煌的，壮观的，杰出的

Their weeding was a splendid affair.
他们的婚礼富丽堂皇。

iction n. 痛苦，苦恼，苦难

I have great sympathy for people in affliction.
我对那些受苦受难的人们充满同情。

and downs 高低，起伏，盛衰，成败

He stuck by her through all life's ups and downs.
他对她始终不渝，同甘共苦。

ful adj. 害羞的

He because of bashful but low head.
他因羞愧而低下了头。

ewifely['li] adj. 主妇们的，节俭的

inary adj. 想象的，虚构的

All the characters in this book are imaginary.
这本书中的人物都是虚构的。

ast['autkæst] n. 被驱逐的人 adj. 被逐出的，被遗弃的，无家可归的

The outcast boy was brought up by the government.
这个被遗弃的孩子是由政府抚养大的。

row vt. 过大而不适于，长得比 ... 快(或大、高)

By the time he is ten, he has outgrown his older brother.
他十岁的时候就已经长得比他哥哥高了。

rm adj. 弱的，虚弱的，柔弱的

She's old and infirm and has to keep to the house.
她因年老体弱而足不出户。

lsive adj. 令人厌恶的，排斥的

You repulsive little toad!
你这个讨厌的癞蛤蟆！

ss n. 爱抚，拥抱 v. 爱抚，抱，怜爱

He caressed his wife lovingly.
他爱怜地抚摸着他的妻子。

orn adj. 孤独的，悲惨的，凄凉的

She looked wretched and forlorn, despairing of the arrival of a friend who had promised to meet her.
她看上去又可怜又孤独，对于答应来看她的朋友的到来已不抱希望。

estuous adj. 有暴风雨的，暴乱的

Their ship was sailing dangerously in the tempestuous sea.
他们的船在浪急风高的海上危险地航行着。

ry adj. 沉闷的，令人沮丧的，情绪低落的

I'm tired of his dreary speech.
我厌倦了他的枯燥无味的演说。

sh adj. 大方的，丰富的，浪费的 vt. 浪费，慷慨给予

My mother often lavishes us with attention.
我妈妈经常对我们关心得太多。

aby n. 摇篮曲，催眠曲，任何轻柔的音乐 v. 唱摇篮曲使安眠，使安静

All mothers like to sing lullabies to their babies.
所有的母亲都喜欢给她们的孩子唱摇篮曲。

　　
1. A quick temper, sharp tongue, and restless spirit were always getting her into scrapes, and her life was a series of ups and downs, which were both comic and pathetic.

【难句解析】get into scrapes“陷入困境”；ups and downs“起伏”；

【句子翻译】她是个急性子，言语尖刻，内心躁动不安，经常把自己推入困境，因此她的生活经历悲喜交集，甜酸苦辣，五味俱全。

, quiet days she spent, not lonely nor idle, for her little world was peopled with imaginary friends, and she was by nature a busy bee.

【难句解析】句中的people是动词，意思是“居住于，使住人”；

【句子翻译】她静悄悄地度过漫漫长日，从不孤独，从不懒散，因为她的小天地不乏虚构出来的朋友，而她天生就是个勤劳的小蜜蜂。