A StormMy God, give me mediocrity!
一场风暴

MIRABEAUHe was completely absorbed; —
米埃波 —

he made only a half-hearted response tothe keen affection that she showed for him. —
他完全沉浸其中； —

He remained taciturn andsombre. Never had he appeared so great, so adorable in the eyes ofMathilde. —
他对她表现出的热情只是敷衍了事。 —

She feared some subtle refinement of his pride which wouldpresently upset the whole position.
他保持沉默而阴郁。在Mathilde眼中，他从未显得如此伟大、可爱。

　　Almost every morning, she saw the abbe Pirard come to the Hotel.
几乎每天早晨，她看到阿贝·皮拉尔来到旅馆。

Through his agency might not Julien have penetrated to some extent intoher father’s intentions? Might not the Marquis himself, in a moment ofcaprice, have written to him? —
通过他的帮助，朱利安是否可能在一定程度上理解她父亲的意图？也许侯爵本人，出于一时的冲动，已经写信给他了？ —

After so great a happiness, how was she toaccount for Julien’s air of severity? —
经历了如此大的幸福之后，她如何解释朱利安那种严肃的神情？ —

She dared not question him.
她不敢质问他。

Dared not! She, Mathilde! There was, from that moment, in her feelingfor Julien, something vague, unaccountable, almost akin to terror. —
不敢！她，Mathilde！从那一刻起，在她对朱利安的感情中，出现了一种模糊的、莫名其妙的、几乎类似恐惧的东西。 —

Thatsere heart felt all the passion that is possible in one brought up amid allthat excess of civilisation which Paris admires.
那颗心感受到了在巴黎所倡导的那种文明的极致中可能存在的所有激情。

Early next morning, Julien was in the abbe Pirard’s presbytery. —
第二天一大早，朱利安来到阿贝·皮拉尔的牧师院。 —

A pairof post-horses arrived in the courtyard drawing a dilapidated chaise,hired at the nearest post.
一对驿马停在院子里，拉着一辆就近车站租来的破旧马车。

‘Such an equipage is no longer in keeping,’ the stern abbe told him,with a cantankerous air. —
“这样的装备已经不合时宜了，”严厉的阿贝对他说，带着暴躁的神情。 —

‘Here are twenty thousand francs, of which M.
“这里有两万法郎，M.阁下

de La Mole makes you a present; he expects you to spend them withinthe year, but to try and make yourself as little ridiculous as possible.’ —
德拉莫勒送你一份礼物；他希望你在一年内用光这笔钱，但尽量不要让自己看起来太荒谬。 —

(Inso large a sum, bestowed on a young man, the priest saw only an occasion of sin. —
在这么大一笔钱，送给一个年轻人，神父只看到了一种犯罪的机会。 —

)‘The Marquis adds: “M. Julien de La Vernaye will have received thismoney from his father, whom there is no use in my identifying more precisely. —
“侯爵补充说：“拉尔内侯爵会从他父亲那里领到这笔钱，我没有必要更详细地认证这个事实。 —

M. de La Vernaye will doubtless think it proper to make a present to M. Sorel, carpenter at Verrieres, who looked after him in his childhood … ” I will undertake this part of the commission,’ the abbe went on;’ —
拉尔内侯爵无疑会觉得应该送一份礼物给维里埃的木匠索雷尔先生，他在他小时候照看过他……”我将接受这个任务部分，”神父继续说； —

I have at last made M. de La Mole decide to compromise with that abbede Frilair, who is such a Jesuit. —
我终于让德拉莫尔决定和那个弗里雷神父和解，他是个若耶稣会士。 —

His position is unquestionably too strongfor us. —
他的立场无疑对我们太强大了。 —

The implicit recognition of your noble birth by that man who governs Besancon will be one of the implied conditions of the arrangement.’
这位统治贝桑松的人对你的贵族出身的默许承认将是安排的暗含条件之一。

　　Julien was no longer able to control his enthusiasm, he embraced theabbe, he saw himself recognised.
朱利安再也无法控制自己的热情，他拥抱了神父，他看到自己被承认了。

‘Fie!’ said M. Pirard, and thrust him away; ‘what is the meaning of thisworldly vanity? —
“呸！”皮拉尔先生说，并把他推开；“这种世俗的虚荣是什么意思？ —

As for Sorel and his sons, I shall offer them, in my name,an annual pension of five hundred francs, which will be paid to each ofthem separately, so long as I am satisfied with them.’
至于索雷尔和他的儿子们，我将以我的名义给他们每人提供一年500法郎的年金，只要我对他们满意。

Julien was by this time cold and stiff. —
此时的朱利安已经又冷又僵硬。 —

He thanked the abbe, but in thevaguest terms and without binding himself to anything. —
他感谢了神父，但用最模糊的措辞，没有做出任何承诺。 —

‘Can it indeedbe possible,’ he asked himself, ‘that I am the natural son of some greatnobleman, banished among our mountains by the terrible Napoleon?’
“这真的可能吗，”他问自己，“我竟然是某位伟大贵族的私生子，被可怕的拿破仑流放到我们的山区？”

　　Every moment this idea seemed to him less improbable … ‘My hatred formy father would be a proof … I should no longer be a monster!’
每个瞬间，这个主意对他来说似乎越来越不那么不可思议……“我对父亲的仇恨将是一个证明……我不再是一个怪物！”

A few days after this monologue, the Fifteenth Regiment of Hussars,one of the smartest in the Army, was drawn up in order of battle on theparade ground of Strasbourg. —
在这段独白之后的几天，第十五骑兵团，军队中最精锐的部队之一，在斯特拉斯堡的阅兵场列阵。 —

M. le Chevalier de La Vernaye was mounted upon the finest horse in Alsace, which had cost him six thousandfrancs. —
拉维尔纳伯爵骑着阿尔萨斯最好的马，这匹马耗费了他六千法郎。 —

He had joined as Lieutenant, without having ever been a SecondLieutenant, save on the muster-roll of a Regiment of which he had nevereven heard.
他以中尉的身份加入了军队，但从未担任过第二中尉，除了在一个他从未听说过的团的登记册上。

His impassive air, his severe and almost cruel eyes, his pallor, his unalterable coolness won him a reputation from the first day. —
他冷漠的气质，严厉几乎残酷的眼神，苍白的脸色，不变的冷静态度让他从第一天开始就赢得了名声。 —

In a shorttime, his perfect and entirely measured courtesy, his skill with the pistoland sabre, which he made known without undue affectation, removedall temptation to joke audibly at his expense. —
很快，他完美而充满节制的礼貌，以及他在没有过度炫耀的情况下展示出来的手枪和军刀技能，消除了所有人对他开玩笑的欲望。 —

After five or six days ofhesitation, the general opinion of the Regiment declared itself in his favour. —
经过五六天的犹豫，整个团的普遍意见开始支持他。 —

‘This young man has everything,’ said the older officers who wereinclined to banter, ‘except youth.’
年长的军官们倾向于取笑说：“这个年轻人什么都有，就是没青春。”

　　>

　　From Strasbourg, Julien wrote to M. Chelan, the former cure of Verrieres, who was now reaching the extreme limits of old age:
从斯特拉斯堡，朱利安给维里埃的前牧师谢兰写了一封信，谢兰现在已经年事已高：

‘You will have learned with a joy, of which I have no doubt, of theevents that have led my family to make me rich. —
“您会因为我的家人让我富有的事件感到高兴，我毫不怀疑。 —

Here are five hundred francs which I beg you to distribute without display, and with no mention of my name, among the needy, who are poor now as I was once, andwhom you are doubtless assisting as in the past you assisted me.’
这里有五百法郎，请您在私下里，并且不提及我的名字，把它们分发给那些贫穷的人们，他们现在像我过去一样贫困，而您毫无疑问正在帮助。”

Julien was intoxicated with ambition and not with vanity; —
朱利安陶醉于自己的雄心壮志而非虚荣心； —

he still applied a great deal of his attention to his outward appearance. —
他依然非常注重外表。 —

His horses,his uniforms, the liveries of his servants were kept up with a nicetywhich would have done credit to the punctiliousness of a great Englishnobleman. —
他的马匹、军服和仆人的侍从服都被精心保养，这种细致程度足以为一位尊贵的英国贵族自豪。 —

Though only just a Lieutenant, promoted by favour and aftertwo days’ service, he was already calculating that, in order to be Commander in Chief at thirty, at latest, like all the great Generals, he wouldneed at three and twenty to be something more than Lieutenant. —
尽管仅仅是凭着恩惠和仅仅两天的服役晋升为中尉，他已经在计算，为了在三十岁之前像所有伟大的将军一样成为总司令，至少在二十三岁的时候他需要成为比中尉更高的职位。 —

Hecould think of nothing but glory and his son.
他所思考的只有荣耀和他的儿子。

　　It was in the midst of the transports of the most frenzied ambition thathe was interrupted by a young footman from the Hotel de La Mole, whoarrived with a letter.
在他被最疯狂野心的热情所困扰时，一个来自La Mole酒店的年轻男仆打断了他，送来了一封信。

‘All is lost,’ Mathilde wrote to him; —
Mathilde写道：“一切都完了； —

‘hasten here as quickly as possible,sacrifice everything, desert if need be. —
尽快赶到这里，牺牲一切，必要时背弃。 —

As soon as you arrive, wait for mein a cab, outside the little gate of the garden, No.— Rue ——. —
当你到达时，在街边的花园小门外等我，Rue号。 —

I shallcome out to speak to you; perhaps I may be able to let you into thegarden. —
我会出来和你说话；也许我能让你进入花园。 —

All is lost, and, I fear, beyond hope of repair; —
一切都完了，我担心已经无法挽回； —

count upon me,you will find me devoted and steadfast in adversity. I love you.’
相信我，你会发现我在逆境中忠诚坚定。我爱你。”

In a few minutes, Julien obtained leave from his Colonel, and leftStrasbourg at a gallop; —
几分钟内，朱利安获得了上校的准许，就急忙离开了斯特拉斯堡； —

but the fearful anxiety which was devouring himdid not allow him to continue this method of travel farther than Metz.
但恐惧的焦虑吞噬着他，让他不能继续这种出行方式超过梅斯。

He flung himself into a post-chaise; —
他跳上了一辆马车； —

and it was with an almost incrediblerapidity that he arrived at the appointed place, outside the little gate ofthe garden of the Hotel de La Mole. The gate was flung open, and in amoment, Mathilde, forgetting all self-respect, threw herself into his arms.
几乎不可思议地，他迅速赶到了约定地点，就在La Mole酒店花园的小门外。大门敞开着，转眼间，Mathilde忘记了一切自尊，扑进了他的怀抱。

　　Fortunately, it was but five o’clock in the morning and the street was stilldeserted.
幸运的是，那时才早上五点，街上仍然荒凉。

‘All is lost; my father, dreading my tears, went away on Thursdaynight. Where? —
她说：“一切都完了；我父亲，害怕看到我的眼泪，星期四晚上离开了。去哪里了？ —

No one knows. Here is his letter; read it.’ —
没人知道。这是他的信；你看。” —

And she got intothe cab with Julien.
她和朱利安一起上了车。

‘I could forgive everything, except the plan of seducing you becauseyou are rich. —
我可以原谅一切，除了你计划诱惑你因为你富有这件事情。 —

That, unhappy girl, is the appalling truth. —
那么，不幸的姑娘，这是可怕的事实。 —

I give you myword of honour that I will never consent to a marriage with that man. —
我向你保证，我绝不会同意与那个男人结婚。 —

Ipromise him an income of ten thousand livres if he consents to liveabroad, beyond the frontiers of France, or better still in America. —
我向他承诺，如果他同意出国生活，超过法国边境，或者更好的是在美国，我会给他一年一万法郎的收入。 —

Readthe letter which I have received in reply to a request for information. —
阅读我收到的回复函，这是我向他请求信息后收到的回复。 —

The shameless scoundrel had himself invited me to write to Madame de Renal. Never will I read a line from you about the man. —
那个恶棍竟然邀请我写信给Renal夫人。我永远不会阅读你有关那个男人的一字一句。 —

I have a horror ofParis and of you. I request you to cloak with the greatest secrecy whatmust shortly happen. —
我对巴黎和你恐惧。我请求你以最大的保密性掩盖即将发生的事情。 —

Renounce honestly a vile fellow, and you will regain a father.’
坦白地放弃一个卑鄙的家伙，你将重新得到一个父亲。

‘Where is Madame de Renal’s letter?’ said Julien coldly. ‘Here it is. —
“Renal夫人的信在哪里？”朱利安冷冷地说。“在这里。” —

Idid not wish to show it to you until you were prepared.’
我不想在你做好准备之前将信展示给你。

LETTER’What I owe to the sacred cause of religion and morals obliges me, Sir,to the painful step which I take in addressing you; —
信“我对于宗教和道德的神圣事业所欠之债务使我，先生，采取了向您提出痛苦的一步； —

a rule, which admitsof no relaxation, orders me at this moment to do harm to my neighbour,but in order to avoid a greater scandal. —
一条无法放松的规则，命令我此刻对邻居造成伤害，但为了避免更大的丑闻。 —

The grief which I feel must beoverborne by a sense of duty. —
我感到的悲伤必须被责任感压倒。 —

It is only too true, Sir, the conduct of theperson with regard to whom you ask me to tell the whole truth mayhave seemed inexplicable or indeed honourable. —
先生，这件事的真相只能是太真实了，关于您让我告诉完整真相的那个人的行为可能看起来莫名其妙或确实光荣。 —

It may have beenthought expedient to conceal or to disguise a part of the truth, prudencerequired this as well as religion. —
可能有人认为需要隐藏或掩饰部分真相，慎重考虑这一点以及宗教的需要。 —

But that conduct, which you desire toknow, has been in fact extremely reprehensible, and more so than I cansay. —
但是你想了解的那种行为实际上是非常应当被谴责的，甚至比我所能说的更加应当。 —

Poor and avaricious, it is by the aid of the most consummate hypocrisy, and by the seduction of a weak and unhappy woman, that thisman has sought to make a position for himself and to become somebody.
这个人贫穷而贪婪，他通过最完美的伪装和诱骗一个软弱不幸的女人，试图为自己谋求地位，想要成为有所成就的人。

　　It is a part of my painful duty to add that I am obliged to believe that M.
我不得不认为M. J——没有宗教信仰。

J—— has no religious principles. —
我是出于良心认为，他在家里取得成功的其中一条途径就是试图诱惑拥有最大影响力的女人。 —

I am bound in conscience to think thatone of his avenues to success in a household is to seek to seduce the woman who has most influence there. —
他披着无私的外衣，用小说里的词句，但他的唯一目的就是设法控制主人和他的财富。 —

Cloaked by a show of disinterestedness and by phrases from novels, his great and sole object is to contriveto secure control over the master of the house and over his fortune. —
他在身后留下痛苦和永恒的悔恨，等等。 —

Heleaves in his wake misery and undying regret,’ etc., etc., etc.
但是这种行为实际上是极其应当被谴责的，甚至比我所能说的更加应当。

This letter, extremely long and half obliterated by tears, was certainlyin the hand of Madame de Renal; —
这封信极长，被眼泪淋湿，显然是黎内拉夫人的手迹； —

it was even written with greater carethan usual.
它甚至比平常写得更用心。

‘I cannot blame M. de La Mole,’ said Julien when he had finished reading it; —
“我不能怪拉莫尔先生，”朱利安说完读信后说， —

‘he is just and prudent. What father would give his beloveddaughter to such a man! Farewell!’
“他是公正而谨慎的。哪位父亲会把他心爱的女儿交给这样的人！再见！”

Julien sprang out of the cab, and ran to his post-chaise which haddrawn up at the end of the street. —
朱利安跳下马车，跑向停在街尾的马车。 —

Mathilde, whom he seemed to haveforgotten, followed him for a little way; —
他似乎忘了马蒂尔德，她追了他一小段路； —

but the sight of the tradesmenwho were coming to the doors of their shops, and to whom she wasknown, forced her to retire in haste into the garden.
但看到那些商店生意人们正准备开门，而且她也被他们认识，不得不匆忙地退到花园里。

　　 Julien had set off for Verrieres. On this rapid journey, he was unable towrite to Mathilde as he had intended, his hand traced nothing more thanan illegible scrawl on the paper.
朱利安出发去韦里耶。他一路匆忙，无法像他打算的那样写信给马蒂尔德，他的手笔只是一片难以辨认的涂鸦。

He arrived at Verrieres on a Sunday morning. —
他在一个星期天早晨到达韦里耶。 —

He entered the shop ofthe local gunsmith, who congratulated him effusively on his recent access to fortune. —
他走进当地一家枪支店，店主热情地祝贺他最近获得的财富。 —

It was the talk of the town.
这成了镇上的谈资。

Julien had some difficulty in making him understand that he requireda brace of pistols. —
朱利安费了些力气让店主明白自己需要一对手枪。 —

The gunsmith, at his request, loaded the pistols.
店主按他的要求给手枪上膛。

　　The three bells sounded; this is a signal well known in French villages,which, after the various peals of the morning, announces that mass is justabout to begin.
三声钟响起；在法国村庄里，这是一个众所周知的信号，经过早晨的各种钟声后，预示着弥撒即将开始。

Julien entered the new church of Verrieres. —
朱利安走进韦里耶的新教堂。 —

All the tall windows of thebuilding were screened by crimson curtains. —
所有建筑物的高窗都被深红色的窗帘遮挡着。 —

He found himself standinga few yards behind Madame de Renal’s bench. —
他发现自己站在德芮娜夫人长凳后面几码远的地方。 —

He had the impressionthat she was praying with fervour. —
他有一种她在虔诚地祈祷的印象。 —

The sight of this woman who hadloved him so dearly made Julien’s arm tremble so violently that he couldnot at first carry out his design. —
看到这位曾如此深爱他的女人让朱利安的手臂颤抖得如此厉害，以至于他一开始无法实施他的计划。 —

‘I cannot,’ he said to himself; ‘I am physically incapable of it.’
“我做不到，”他自言自语，“我在生理上无法做到。”

At that moment, the young clerk who was serving mass rang the bellfor the Elevation. —
在那一刻，负责弥撒的年轻办事员敲响了升天钟。 —

Madame de Renal bowed her head which for a moment was almost entirely concealed by the folds of her shawl. —
德芮娜夫人低下了头，几乎被她披肩的褶皱完全遮住了。 —

Her aspectwas less familiar to Julien; he fired a shot at her with one pistol andmissed her, he fired a second shot; she fell.
她的样貌对朱利安来说变得陌生了；他用一只手枪向她开了一枪，未中；他第二发子弹射中了她，她倒下了。