Stepan Arkadyevitch’s affairs were in a very bad way.
斯捷潘·阿卡季耶维奇的事务处于非常糟糕的状态。

The money for two-thirds of the forest had all been spent already, and he had borrowed from the merchant in advance at ten per cent discount, almost all the remaining third. —
两个三分之二的森林的钱已经全部花完了，他提前以打九折的方式向商人借了剩下三分之一的大部分钱。 —

The merchant would not give more, especially as Darya Alexandrovna, for the first time that winter insisting on her right to her own property, had refused to sign the receipt for the payment of the last third of the forest. —
商人不肯再借，特别是因为达利娅·亚历山德罗芙娜这个冬天首次坚持自己对该地产的权利，拒绝签收最后三分之一森林款的收据。 —

All his salary went on household expenses and in payment of petty debts that could not be put off. —
他的整个薪水都用在家庭开支和支付无法推迟的小额债务上。 —

There was positively no money.
根本没有钱。

This was unpleasant and awkward, and in Stepan Arkadyevitch’s opinion things could not go on like this. —
这非常令人不愉快和尴尬，斯捷潘·阿卡季耶维奇认为事情不能再这样下去了。 —

The explanation of the position was, in his view, to be found in the fact that his salary was too small. —
他认为，这种状况的解释在于他的薪水太少了。 —

The post he filled had been unmistakably very good five years ago, but it was so no longer.
他担任的职位在五年前显然非常好，但现在已经不是了。

Petrov, the bank director, had twelve thousand; —
银行总经理彼得洛夫有一万弗。 —

Sventitsky, a company director, had seventeen thousand; —
公司董事Sventitsky拥有一万七千的资金； —

Mitin, who had founded a bank, received fifty thousand.
开办了一家银行的Mitin获得了五万的资金；

“Clearly I’ve been napping, and they’ve overlooked me,” Stepan Arkadyevitch thought about himself. —
“显然我在打瞌睡，他们忽视了我。”斯捷潘·阿尔卡捷维奇自言自语地想到了自己； —

And he began keeping his eyes and ears open, and towards the end of the winter he had discovered a very good berth and had formed a plan of attack upon it, at first from Moscow through aunts, uncles, and friends, and then, when the matter was well advanced, in the spring, he went himself to Petersburg. —
于是他开始睁大眼睛，竖起耳朵，到了冬末之时，他已经找到了一份非常好的职位，并制定了一份攻击计划，开始通过莫斯科的姨妈、叔叔和朋友推进事情，然后在春天，当事情进展顺利时，他亲自前往圣彼得堡； —

It was one of those snug, lucrative berths of which there are so many more nowadays than there used to be, with incomes ranging from one thousand to fifty thousand roubles. —
这是一个非常舒适、有利可图的职位，现在比过去有更多的这样的职位，收入从一千卢布到五万卢布不等； —

It was the post of secretary of the committee of the amalgamated agency of the southern railways, and of certain banking companies. —
这是合并的南方铁路机构委员会和一些银行公司的秘书职位。 —

This position, like all such appointments, called for such immense energy and such varied qualifications, that it was difficult for them to be found united in any one man. —
这个职位就像所有这样的任命一样，需要巨大的精力和多样化的资质，以至于很难找到一个人拥有所有这些条件。 —

And since a man combining all the qualifications was not to be found, it was at least better that the post be filled by an honest than by a dishonest man. —
既然找不到一个人集合了所有的资质，至少由一个诚实而不是不诚实的人来填补这个职位，也是更好的选择。 —

And Stepan Arkadyevitch was not merely an honest man–unemphatically–in the common acceptation of the words, he was an honest man–emphatically–in that special sense which the word has in Moscow, when they talk of an “honest” politician, an “honest” writer, an “honest” newspaper, an “honest” institution, an “honest” tendency, meaning not simply that the man or the institution is not dishonest, but that they are capable on occasion of taking a line of their own in opposition to the authorities.
斯捷潘·阿卡季耶维奇不仅仅是一个诚实的人 - 不加强调地 - 在常见的理解中，他是一个诚实的人 - 强调地 - 在莫斯科特指“诚实”的政治家，一位“诚实”的作家，一份“诚实”的报纸，一所“诚实”的机构，一种“诚实”的倾向，这并不仅仅意味着这个人或机构不是不诚实，而是他们有时候能够采取与当局相对立的立场。

Stepan Arkadyevitch moved in those circles in Moscow in which that expression had come into use, was regarded there as an honest man, and so had more right to this appointment than others.
斯捷潘·阿尔卡杰维奇在莫斯科的那些圈子中活动，这种表情在那里已经流行了，他被视为一个诚实的人，因此比其他人更有权利获得这个职位。

The appointment yielded an income of from seven to ten thousand a year, and Oblonsky could fill it without giving up his government position. —
这项任命每年可以带来七千到一万卢布的收入，而奥布隆斯基可以兼任这个职位而不必放弃他的政府职位。 —

It was in the hands of two ministers, one lady, and two Jews, and all these people, though the way had been paved already with them, Stepan Arkadyevitch had to see in Petersburg. —
这项任命掌握在两位部长，一位女士和两位犹太人手中，尽管已经为他们铺平了道路，斯捷潘·阿尔卡杰维奇还是必须亲自去圣彼得堡见他们。 —

Besides this business, Stepan Arkadyevitch had promised his sister Anna to obtain from Karenin a definite answer on the question of divorce. —
除了这个事务，斯捷潘·阿尔卡杰维奇还答应他姐姐安娜向卡列宁要一个关于离婚问题的明确答复。 —

And begging fifty roubles from Dolly, he set off for Petersburg.
他向多莉借了五十卢布，然后动身前往圣彼得堡。

Stepan Arkadyevitch sat in Karenin’s study listening to his report on the causes of the unsatisfactory position of Russian finance, and only waiting for the moment when he would finish to speak about his own business or about Anna.
斯捷潘·阿尔卡杰维奇坐在卡列宁的书房里，听他汇报俄罗斯财政不令人满意的原因，只等他结束后讨论自己的事情或安娜的事情。

“Yes, that’s very true,” he said, when Alexey Alexandrovitch took off the pince-nez, without which he could not read now, and looked inquiringly at his former brother-in-law, “that’s very true in particular cases, but still the principle of our day is freedom.”
“‘是的，那是非常正确的，’他说道，当亚历克谢·亚历山德罗维奇摘下了他现在必须戴的那副眼镜，然后询问着他的前兄弟‘法定原则是自由。’”

“Yes, but I lay down another principle, embracing the principle of freedom,” said Alexey Alexandrovitch, with emphasis on the word “embracing,” and he put on his pince-nez again, so as to read the passage in which this statement was made. —
“‘是的，但我提出另一个原则，包含了自由的原则，’亚历克谢·亚历山德罗维奇强调着‘包含’这个词，然后戴上了他的眼镜，为了读取陈述了这个说法的段落。” —

And turning over the beautifully written, wide-margined manuscript, Alexey Alexandrovitch read aloud over again the conclusive passage.
亚历克谢·亚历山德罗维奇翻阅着那份一手漂亮写成且有宽边的手稿，再次大声地读了一遍最后的段落。

“I don’t advocate protection for the sake of private interests, but for the public weal, and for the lower and upper classes equally,” he said, looking over his pince-nez at Oblonsky. —
“‘保护主义不是为了个人利益，而是为了公共福祉，为了下层和上层阶级一视同仁，’他对着奥布洛斯基戴着眼镜说道。” —

“But THEY cannot grasp that, THEY are taken up now with personal interests, and carried away by phrases.”
“‘但是他们无法理解，他们现在只关心个人利益，且为空洞的口号所蒙蔽。’”

Stepan Arkadyevitch knew that when Karenin began to talk of what THEY were doing and thinking, the persons who would not accept his report and were the cause of everything wrong in Russia, that it was coming near the end. —
斯捷潘·阿尔卡季耶维奇知道，当卡列宁开始谈论他们正在做的事情和思考的时候，那些不接受他的报告并导致俄罗斯出现问题的人，事情就接近尾声了。 —

And so now he eagerly abandoned the principle of free-trade, and fully agreed. —
因此，他迅速放弃了自由贸易的原则，并完全同意了。 —

Alexey Alexandrovitch paused, thoughtfully turning over the pages of his manuscript.
亚历克谢·亚历山德罗维奇停顿了一下，沉思地翻看着他手稿的页面。

“Oh, by the way,” said Stepan Arkadyevitch, “I wanted to ask you, some time when you see Pomorsky, to drop him a hint that I should be very glad to get that new appointment of secretary of the committee of the amalgamated agency of the southern railways and banking companies.” —
“哦，顺便说一下，”斯捷潘·阿尔卡季耶维奇说道，”我想请你，下次见到波莫尔斯基时，替我透露一下我非常乐意得到南方铁路和银行公司联合机构委员会新任秘书的职位。” —

Stepan Arkadyevitch was familiar by now with the title of the post he coveted, and he brought it out rapidly without mistake.
斯捷潘·阿尔卡季耶维奇对他渴望的职位的名称已经很熟悉了，他迅速如数家珍地提了出来。

Alexey Alexandrovitch questioned him as to the duties of this new committee, and pondered. —
亚历克谢·亚历山德罗维奇询问了他关于这个新委员会的职责，并思考着。 —

He was considering whether the new committee would not be acting in some way contrary to the views he had been advocating. —
他在考虑新委员会是否会与他一直提倡的观点相左。 —

But as the influence of the new committee was of a very complex nature, and his views were of very wide application, he could not decide this straight off, and taking off his pince-nez, he said:
由于新委员会的影响非常复杂且他的观点应用范围很广，他不能立即做出决定。他摘下眼镜并说道：

“Of course, I can mention it to him; but what is your reason precisely for wishing to obtain the appointment?”
“当然，我可以向他提及。但你希望获得这个职位的原因是什么？”

“It’s a good salary, rising to nine thousand, and my means…”
“薪水很高，最高可达九千，而我的经济状况……”

“Nine thousand!” repeated Alexey Alexandrovitch, and he frowned. —
“九千！”亚历克谢·亚历山德罗维奇重复道，皱起了眉头。 —

The high figure of the salary made him reflect that on that side Stepan Arkadyevitch’s proposed position ran counter to the main tendency of his own projects of reform, which always leaned towards economy.
高薪水使他思考起来，斯捷潘·阿尔卡季耶维奇的提议在这方面与他自己的改革计划的主要趋势相悖，他的改革计划总是偏向节约。

“I consider, and I have embodied my views in a note on the subject, that in our day these immense salaries are evidence of the unsound economic assiette of our finances.”
“我认为，并且我在一个关于这个主题的纪要中已经表达了我的观点，我们的时代这些巨额薪水是我们财政非健康状况的证明。”

“But what’s to be done?” said Stepan Arkadyevitch. —
“但是该怎么办呢？”斯捷潘·阿尔卡季耶维奇说。 —

“Suppose a bank director gets ten thousand–well, he’s worth it; —
“假设一个银行董事每年拿到一万——嗯，他也值这个价； —

or an engineer gets twenty thousand–after all, it’s a growing thing, you know!”
或者一个工程师每年拿到两万——毕竟，这也是个蓬勃发展的行业，你懂的！”

“I assume that a salary is the price paid for a commodity, and it ought to conform with the law of supply and demand. —
“我假设工资是为一种商品支付的价格，它应该符合供求关系的法则。 —

If the salary is fixed without any regard for that law, as, for instance, when I see two engineers leaving college together, both equally well trained and efficient, and one getting forty thousand while the other is satisfied with two; —
如果工资没有考虑到这个法则，例如，当我看到两个一起毕业的工程师，都接受了同样优质的培训，其中一个得到了四万而另一个只满足于两千时； —

or when I see lawyers and hussars, having no special qualifications, appointed directors of banking companies with immense salaries, I conclude that the salary is not fixed in accordance with the law of supply and demand, but simply through personal interest. —
或者当我看到律师和骠骑兵，没有特殊资格，被任命为薪酬丰厚的银行公司董事时，我就得出结论，这些薪酬不是按照供求关系的法则确定的，而仅仅是个人利益所致。 —

And this is an abuse of great gravity in itself, and one that reacts injuriously on the government service. I consider…”
而这本身就是一种严重的滥用，对政府服务也起到了负面的影响。我认为…”

Stepan Arkadyevitch made haste to interrupt his brother-in-law.
斯捷潘·阿尔卡季耶维奇赶紧打断他的姐夫。

“Yes; but you must agree that it’s a new institution of undoubted utility that’s being started. —
“是的，但你必须同意，这是一个毫无疑问的新机构，具有实用性。 —

After all, you know, it’s a growing thing! —
毕竟，你知道，这是一个蓬勃发展的事业！ —

What they lay particular stress on is the thing being carried on honestly,” said Stepan Arkadyevitch with emphasis.
他们特别强调进行诚实的事情，“斯捷潘·阿尔卡季耶维奇强调说。

But the Moscow significance of the word “honest” was lost on Alexey Alexandrovitch.
但是莫斯科对“诚实”一词的意义对亚历克谢·亚历山德罗维奇来说是逃脱的。

“Honesty is only a negative qualification,” he said.
“诚实只是一种消极的资格，”他说。

“Well, you’ll do me a great service, anyway,” said Stepan Arkadyevitch, “by putting in a word to Pomorsky–just in the way of conversation….”
“嗯，无论如何，你都会给我带来很大的帮助，”斯捷潘·阿尔卡季耶维奇说，“通过与波莫尔斯基简单地谈话……”

“But I fancy it’s more in Volgarinov’s hands,” said Alexey Alexandrovitch.
“但我想这更多地掌握在沃尔加林诺夫的手中，”亚历克谢·亚历山德罗维奇说。

“Volgarinov has fully assented, as far as he’s concerned,” said Stepan Arkadyevitch, turning red. —
“沃尔加林诺夫已经完全同意，就他来说，”斯捷潘·阿尔卡季耶维奇红着脸说。 —

Stepan Arkadyevitch reddened at the mention of that name, because he had been that morning at the Jew Volgarinov’s, and the visit had left an unpleasant recollection.
一提到那个名字，斯捷潘·阿尔卡季耶维奇就变红了，因为他早上去拜访了犹太人沃尔加林诺夫，并且这次访问给他留下了不愉快的回忆。

Stepan Arkadyevitch believed most positively that the committee in which he was trying to get an appointment was a new, genuine, and honest public body, but that morning when Volgarinov had– intentionally, beyond a doubt–kept him two hours waiting with other petitioners in his waiting room, he had suddenly felt uneasy.
斯捷潘·阿尔卡季耶维奇坚信他努力争取加入的委员会是一个新的、真实的和诚实的公共机构，但是那天早上，当沃尔加林诺夫故意地让他和其他申请者在等候室里等了两个小时后，他突然感到不安。

Whether he was uncomfortable that he, a descendant of Rurik, Prince Oblonsky, had been kept for two hours waiting to see a Jew, or that for the first time in his life he was not following the example of his ancestors in serving the government, but was turning off into a new career, anyway he was very uncomfortable. —
无论是因为他，作为鲁里克的后裔、奥布隆斯基亲王被一个犹太人等候了两个小时感到不舒服，还是因为他生平第一次不按照祖先的榜样为政府服务，而是踏上了一条新的职业道路，他都感到非常不舒服。 —

During those two hours in Volgarinov’s waiting room Stepan Arkadyevitch, stepping jauntily about the room, pulling his whiskers, entering into conversation with the other petitioners, and inventing an epigram on his position, assiduously concealed from others, and even from himself, the feeling he was experiencing.
在那两个小时的沃尔加林诺夫等候室里，斯捷潘·阿尔卡季耶维奇昂首阔步地走来走去，拽着胡须，与其他申请者交谈，并为自己的处境编造了一个讽刺句，他努力地向他人，甚至是自己隐瞒了自己的感受。

But all the time he was uncomfortable and angry, he could not have said why–whether because he could not get his epigram just right, or from some other reason. —
然而，他一直感到不舒服和愤怒，却说不出为什么-无论是因为他无法恰到好处地写出他的警句，还是出于其他原因。 —

When at last Volgarinov had received him with exaggerated politeness and unmistakable triumph at his humiliation, and had all but refused the favor asked of him, Stepan Arkadyevitch had made haste to forget it all as soon as possible. —
当沃加琳诺夫最终以夸张的礼貌和明显的屈辱之感接待他，并且几乎拒绝了他所请求的恩惠时，斯捷潘·阿尔卡季耶维奇急于尽快忘记这一切。 —

And now, at the mere recollection, he blushed.
现在，仅仅回忆起来，他就感到羞愧。