“His heart The lowliest duties on itself did lay.” –WORDSWORTH.
“他的心将自己压低到最卑微的职责之中。” ——华兹华斯。

On that June evening when Mr. Farebrother knew that he was to have the Lowick living, there was joy in the old fashioned parlor, and even the portraits of the great lawyers seemed to look on with satisfaction. —
在那个六月的傍晚，费尔布罗猫得知他将获得洛威克牧师职位时，老式客厅里充满了喜悦，甚至伟大法律家的肖像似乎也满意地看着。 —

His mother left her tea and toast untouched, but sat with her usual pretty primness, only showing her emotion by that flush in the cheeks and brightness in the eyes which give an old woman a touching momentary identity with her far-off youthful self, and saying decisively–
他的母亲将茶和烤面包搁置不理，却仍像往常一样端庄美丽，只是由脸颊的潮红和眼睛的明亮流露出她的激动情绪，令一个老妇暂时与她遥远的青春自我产生触动，坚定地说道——

“The greatest comfort, Camden, is that you have deserved it.”
“最大的慰藉，卡姆登，是你当之无愧。”

“When a man gets a good berth, mother, half the deserving must come after,” said the son, brimful of pleasure, and not trying to conceal it. —
“当一个人得到一个好职位时，母亲，半份的当之无愧还得后续拼搏，”儿子满怀喜悦说道，毫不掩饰。 —

The gladness in his face was of that active kind which seems to have energy enough not only to flash outwardly, but to light up busy vision within: —
他脸上的喜悦是那种积极的、似乎拥有足够能量不仅在外部闪耀，而且在繁忙的视野中点亮的喜悦： —

one seemed to see thoughts, as well as delight, in his glances.
他的眼神里似乎闪烁着思想和快乐。

“Now, aunt,” he went on, rubbing his hands and looking at Miss Noble, who was making tender little beaver-like noises, “There shall be sugar-candy always on the table for you to steal and give to the children, and you shall have a great many new stockings to make presents of, and you shall darn your own more than ever!”
“现在，阿姨，”他继续说，擦着手看着諾布尔小姐，那位正在发出亲切的鼠形声音，“你总可以偷偷拿糖果放在桌上给孩子们，你将拥有很多新袜子，作为礼物送人，你将比以往更多地补[旧袜子]！”

Miss Noble nodded at her nephew with a subdued half-frightened laugh, conscious of having already dropped an additional lump of sugar into her basket on the strength of the new preferment.
諾布尔小姐听到侄子这话，微微怯怯地笑了笑，意识到自己已经因着这新的恩宠在篮子里额外放了一块糖块。

“As for you, Winny”–the Vicar went on–“I shall make no difficulty about your marrying any Lowick bachelor–Mr. Solomon Featherstone, for example, as soon as I find you are in love with him.”
“至于你，温妮” —— 牧师接着说 —— “我不会对你嫁给任何洛威克的单身汉有困难——例如所罗门·费瑟斯通，一旦发现你爱上了他。”

Miss Winifred, who had been looking at her brother all the while and crying heartily, which was her way of rejoicing, smiled through her tears and said, “You must set me the example, Cam: —
温妮小姐一直看着她的哥哥，泪流满面，这是她庆祝的方式，透过眼泪微笑着说：“卡姆，你要给我树立榜样， —

you must marry now.”
你现在必须结婚。”

“With all my heart. But who is in love with me? —
“我全心全意。但有谁爱上我？ —

I am a seedy old fellow,” said the Vicar, rising, pushing his chair away and looking down at himself. —
我是一个不修边幅的老家伙，”牧师站起身，推开椅子，俯视着自己说。 —

“What do you say, mother?”
“母亲，你觉得呢？”

“You are a handsome man, Camden: though not so fine a figure of a man as your father,” said the old lady.
“你是个英俊的男人，卡姆登：虽然不及你父亲那样魁梧的身材。” 老太太说。

“I wish you would marry Miss Garth, brother,” said Miss Winifred. —
“我希望你娶加思小姐，哥哥，” 温尼弗雷德小姐说。 —

“She would make us so lively at Lowick.”
“她会让我们在洛威克变得更有活力。”

“Very fine! You talk as if young women were tied up to be chosen, like poultry at market; —
“太好了！你说话好像年轻女子就像被绑住等着被选，就像市场上的家禽； —

as if I had only to ask and everybody would have me,” said the Vicar, not caring to specify.
好像我只要一句话，所有人都会要我。” 牧师说，不愿具体说明。

“We don’t want everybody,” said Miss Winifred. —
“我们并不需要所有人，” 温尼弗雷德小姐说。 —

“But you would like Miss Garth, mother, shouldn’t you?”
“但您会喜欢加思小姐，母亲，对吗？”

“My son’s choice shall be mine,” said Mrs. Farebrother, with majestic discretion, “and a wife would be most welcome, Camden. —
“我的儿子的选择就是我的选择，”法布罗瑟夫人庄严地说，“而且娶妻对坎登来说是非常受欢迎的。” —

You will want your whist at home when we go to Lowick, and Henrietta Noble never was a whist-player.” (Mrs. Farebrother always called her tiny old sister by that magnificent name.)
“当我们去洛威克时，你会想在家打桥牌，亨丽埃塔·诺布尔从来不玩桥牌。” （法布罗瑟夫人总是称呼她矮小的老姐妹为那个宏伟的名字。）

“I shall do without whist now, mother.”
“现在我不用桥牌，母亲。”

“Why so, Camden? In my time whist was thought an undeniable amusement for a good churchman,” said Mrs. Farebrother, innocent of the meaning that whist had for her son, and speaking rather sharply, as at some dangerous countenancing of new doctrine.
“为什么，坎登？在我年轻时，桥牌被认为是好教友们不可拒绝的娱乐，”法布罗瑟夫人说着有些尖锐，对一些危险的新教义表态。

“I shall be too busy for whist; I shall have two parishes,” said the Vicar, preferring not to discuss the virtues of that game.
“我太忙了，来不及打桥牌；我会负责两个教区，”牧师说，不愿意讨论那个游戏的优点。

He had already said to Dorothea, “I don’t feel bound to give up St. Botolph’s. —
他已对多萝西娅说，“我不觉得必须放弃圣波托尔夫。” —

It is protest enough against the pluralism they want to reform if I give somebody else most of the money. —
“如果我把大部分钱给别人，我觉得这已经是反对他们想要改革的多任一职了。” —

The stronger thing is not to give up power, but to use it well.”
“更强有力的行动不是放弃权力，而是善加利用它。”

“I have thought of that,” said Dorothea. “So far as self is concerned, I think it would be easier to give up power and money than to keep them. —
“我已经考虑过了，”多萝西娅说。“就我个人而言，我认为放弃权力和财富比保留它们更容易。 —

It seems very unfitting that I should have this patronage, yet I felt that I ought not to let it be used by some one else instead of me.”
“我觉得我不应该让别人代替我使用这些赞助权利，似乎这很不合适。”

“It is I who am bound to act so that you will not regret your power,” said Mr. Farebrother.
“我应该做出行动，让你不后悔你的权力，”法布罗瑟说。

His was one of the natures in which conscience gets the more active when the yoke of life ceases to gall them. —
他是其中一种在生活不再让他们烦恼时，良心更加活跃的人。 —

He made no display of humility on the subject, but in his heart he felt rather ashamed that his conduct had shown laches which others who did not get benefices were free from.
他不会炫耀谦卑，但他心里感到相当羞愧，自己的行为显示出一种别人没有得到福利就可以摆脱的失误。

“I used often to wish I had been something else than a clergyman,” he said to Lydgate, “but perhaps it will be better to try and make as good a clergyman out of myself as I can. —
“以前我常常希望自己成为别的什么，”他对利德盖特说，“但也许更好的办法是努力使自己成为一个尽可能优秀的牧师。这是获福利的观点，你看到了，困难会大大简化。” —

That is the well-beneficed point of view, you perceive, from which difficulties are much simplified,” he ended, smiling.
“我自己试图使自己成为一个尽可能优秀的牧师会更好些，”他微笑着结束道。

The Vicar did feel then as if his share of duties would be easy. —
当时牧师感到自己分担的责任会很轻松。 —

But Duty has a trick of behaving unexpectedly–something like a heavy friend whom we have amiably asked to visit us, and who breaks his leg within our gates.
但是责任却有一种行为出乎意料的方式–有点像我们友好地邀请来家里的沉重朋友，结果他在我们家门口摔断了腿。

Hardly a week later, Duty presented itself in his study under the disguise of Fred Vincy, now returned from Omnibus College with his bachelor’s degree.
几乎一周后，责任化身为弗雷德·温西出现在他的书房里，现在他已从奥姆尼巴斯学院毕业拿到学士学位。

“I am ashamed to trouble you, Mr. Farebrother,” said Fred, whose fair open face was propitiating, “but you are the only friend I can consult. —
“抱歉打扰你，费尔布罗瑟先生”，弗雷德说，他那张公正开朗的脸带着讨好的表情，“但你是我唯一可以咨询的朋友。 —

I told you everything once before, and you were so good that I can’t help coming to you again.”
我之前告诉过你所有事情，你那时很好，所以我忍不住再来找你。”

“Sit down, Fred, I’m ready to hear and do anything I can,” said the Vicar, who was busy packing some small objects for removal, and went on with his work.
“坐下，弗雷德，我愿意听并尽我所能帮忙”，牧师说，同时忙着收拾一些小物件准备搬迁，并继续他的工作。

“I wanted to tell you–” Fred hesitated an instant and then went on plungingly, “I might go into the Church now; —
“我想告诉你–”弗雷德迟疑了一下，然后冲动地继续说，“现在我可以进入教会了； —

and really, look where I may, I can’t see anything else to do. —
而事实上，无论我往哪里看，我看不到别的出路。 —

I don’t like it, but I know it’s uncommonly hard on my father to say so, after he has spent a good deal of money in educating me for it.” —
我不喜欢这个选项，但我知道对我父亲来说这样做太过分了，毕竟父亲在我的教育上花了不少钱。” —

Fred paused again an instant, and then repeated, “and I can’t see anything else to do.”
弗雷德又停顿了一下，然后重复说，“而且我看不到别的出路。”

“I did talk to your father about it, Fred, but I made little way with him. —
“我确实和你父亲谈过这件事，弗雷德，但没有取得多少进展。 —

He said it was too late. But you have got over one bridge now: —
他说来不及了。但你现在已经跨过了一座桥： —

what are your other difficulties?”
你还有什么其他困难？”

“Merely that I don’t like it. I don’t like divinity, and preaching, and feeling obliged to look serious. —
“仅仅是我不喜欢。我不喜欢神学、布道和被迫表现得严肃。 —

I like riding across country, and doing as other men do. —
我喜欢骑马越野，像其他人一样做事情。” —

I don’t mean that I want to be a bad fellow in any way; —
我并不是说我想成为一个坏家伙； —

but I’ve no taste for the sort of thing people expect of a clergyman. And yet what else am I to do? —
但我对人们期望神职人员做的那种事情没有兴趣。但我还能做什么呢？ —

My father can’t spare me any capital, else I might go into farming. —
我父亲没有资本可以支援我，否则我也许会从事农业。 —

And he has no room for me in his trade. And of course I can’t begin to study for law or physic now, when my father wants me to earn something. —
他的生意也没有我的位置。而且我现在当然不能开始学法律或医学了，我父亲希望我赚点钱。 —

It’s all very well to say I’m wrong to go into the Church; —
说我去做牧师是不对的； —

but those who say so might as well tell me to go into the backwoods.”
但那些这么说的人也许不如告诉我去深山里好。

Fred’s voice had taken a tone of grumbling remonstrance, and Mr. Farebrother might have been inclined to smile if his mind had not been too busy in imagining more than Fred told him.
Fred的声音带着抱怨的控诉，如果费布罗瑟先生的思绪没有过于忙碌地设想出比Fred所说更多的事情，他可能会倾向于微笑。

“Have you any difficulties about doctrines–about the Articles?” —
你是否对信条有任何困惑–关于《信条》？ —

he said, trying hard to think of the question simply for Fred’s sake.
他试图为了弗雷德的缘由，尽力思考简单的问题。

“No; I suppose the Articles are right. I am not prepared with any arguments to disprove them, and much better, cleverer fellows than I am go in for them entirely. —
“没有；我想《信条》是正确的。我没有准备好任何论据来反驳它们，而且比我聪明得多的家伙们完全支持它们。 —

I think it would be rather ridiculous in me to urge scruples of that sort, as if I were a judge,” said Fred, quite simply.
我想提出那种顾虑对我来说相当可笑，好像我是个法官，”弗雷德完全地说。

“I suppose, then, it has occurred to you that you might be a fair parish priest without being much of a divine?”
“你或许想过你即使不是十分博学，也可以成为一个公正的牧师吗？”

“Of course, if I am obliged to be a clergyman, I shall try and do my duty, though I mayn’t like it. —
“当然，如果我被迫成为一名牧师，我会尽力履行我的职责，尽管我可能不喜欢。 —

Do you think any body ought to blame me?”
你认为有人应该责怪我吗？”

“For going into the Church under the circumstances? —
“因为在这种情况下加入教堂吗？视乎你的良心，弗雷德–你计算了多少成本，看清了你的处境将要求你什么。 —

That depends on your conscience, Fred–how far you have counted the cost, and seen what your position will require of you. —
我只能告诉你关于我自己，我一直太放纵，结果感到不安。” —

I can only tell you about myself, that I have always been too lax, and have been uneasy in consequence.”
“但还有另一个障碍，”弗雷德脸红了。

“But there is another hindrance,” said Fred, coloring. —
“虽然我以前没有告诉你，尽管也许我说过让你猜到。 —

“I did not tell you before, though perhaps I may have said things that made you guess it. —
从我们还是孩子起我就很喜欢某人。” —

There is somebody I am very fond of: I have loved her ever since we were children.”
“我想是加思两太太吧？”牧师检查一些标签非常仔细。

“Miss Garth, I suppose?” said the Vicar, examining some labels very closely.
“是的。如果她肯接受我，我什么都不在乎。我知道那时我会成为一个好家伙。”

“Yes. I shouldn’t mind anything if she would have me. And I know I could be a good fellow then.”
“Do you think any body ought to blame me?”

“And you think she returns the feeling?”
“你认为她也有同样的感情吗？”

“She never will say so; and a good while ago she made me promise not to speak to her about it again. —
“她从不会承认，而且好一阵子以前她让我答应不能再对她谈起这个话题。” —

And she has set her mind especially against my being a clergyman; I know that. —
“而且她特别反对我成为一名牧师；我知道这一点。” —

But I can’t give her up. I do think she cares about me. —
“但是我不能放弃她。我觉得她在乎我。” —

I saw Mrs. Garth last night, and she said that Mary was staying at Lowick Rectory with Miss Farebrother.”
“我昨晚见到了加思太太，她说玛丽正在劳维克教区牧师宅内和费尔布拉泽小姐住。”

“Yes, she is very kindly helping my sister. Do you wish to go there?”
“是的，她很友善地帮助我的姐姐。你想去那里吗？”

“No, I want to ask a great favor of you. I am ashamed to bother you in this way; —
“不，我想向你请求一个大忙。我很不好意思这样打扰你；” —

but Mary might listen to what you said, if you mentioned the subject to her–I mean about my going into the Church.”
“但是玛丽也许会听你说的话，如果你跟她提起这个话题的话——我指的是我去教会。”

“That is rather a delicate task, my dear Fred. I shall have to presuppose your attachment to her; —
“这是一个颇具敏感性的任务，亲爱的弗雷德。我将要预设你对她的感情；” —

and to enter on the subject as you wish me to do, will be asking her to tell me whether she returns it.”
“而且按照你的意愿去谈论这个话题，实际上是在要求她告诉我她是否有同样的感觉。”

“That is what I want her to tell you,” said Fred, bluntly. —
“这正是我希望她告诉你的事情，”弗雷德率直地说。 —

“I don’t know what to do, unless I can get at her feeling.”
“我不知道该怎么做，除非我能了解她的感受。”

“You mean that you would be guided by that as to your going into the Church?”
“你的意思是，你会根据她的回答来决定是否进入教会？”

“If Mary said she would never have me I might as well go wrong in one way as another.”
“如果玛丽说她永远也不会嫁给我，那么我和其他方式犯错误也无所谓。”

“That is nonsense, Fred. Men outlive their love, but they don’t outlive the consequences of their recklessness.”
“那是胡说八道，弗雷德。男人可能会忘记他们的爱情，但是不能忘记他们鲁莽行事的后果。”

“Not my sort of love: I have never been without loving Mary. If I had to give her up, it would be like beginning to live on wooden legs.”
“她不是我的那种爱：我从未停止爱着玛丽。如果我不得不放弃她，那就像开始依赖木腿生活一样。”

“Will she not be hurt at my intrusion?”
“她会不会因我的插手而受伤？”

“No, I feel sure she will not. She respects you more than any one, and she would not put you off with fun as she does me. —
“不，我相信她不会。她比任何人都尊重你，她不会像对我那样开玩笑来拒绝你。” —

Of course I could not have told any one else, or asked any one else to speak to her, but you. —
“当然我不能告诉别人，或让别人来与她谈话，只有你可以。” —

There is no one else who could be such a friend to both of us.” —
“没有别人能像你一样成为我们两个的好朋友。” —

Fred paused a moment, and then said, rather complainingly, “And she ought to acknowledge that I have worked in order to pass. —
弗雷德停顿了一下，然后有点抱怨地说，“她应该承认我为了通过考试而努力工作。 —

She ought to believe that I would exert myself for her sake.”
她应该相信我会为了她而努力。”

There was a moment’s silence before Mr. Farebrother laid down his work, and putting out his hand to Fred said–
在费尔布罗瑟先生放下手中的工作，伸出手对着弗雷德说之前，有一阵短暂的沉默–

“Very well, my boy. I will do what you wish.”
“很好，我的孩子。我会做你想要的。”

That very day Mr. Farebrother went to Lowick parsonage on the nag which he had just set up. —
就在那天，费尔布罗瑟先生骑着他刚买的那匹老马去了洛维克牧师住所。 —

“Decidedly I am an old stalk,” he thought, “the young growths are pushing me aside.”
“显然，我是一株老茎，”他想，“那些新生长的植物正在把我推到一边。”

He found Mary in the garden gathering roses and sprinkling the petals on a sheet. —
他发现玛丽在花园里摘玫瑰花，并把花瓣撒在一块床单上。 —

The sun was low, and tall trees sent their shadows across the grassy walks where Mary was moving without bonnet or parasol. —
太阳正低垂，高大的树投下影子，遮住了玛丽在没有戴帽子或阳伞的情况下在草坪小路上行走。 —

She did not observe Mr. Farebrother’s approach along the grass, and had just stooped down to lecture a small black-and-tan terrier, which would persist in walking on the sheet and smelling at the rose-leaves as Mary sprinkled them. —
她没有注意到费尔布罗瑟先生沿着草地走来，正俯下身去教训一只黑褐色的小猎犬，这只狗坚持在床单上走动，并在玛丽撒花瓣时闻着。 —

She took his fore-paws in one hand, and lifted up the forefinger of the other, while the dog wrinkled his brows and looked embarrassed. —
她用一只手握住它的前爪，用另一只手抬起食指，而狗皱起眉头，看起来尴尬。 —

“Fly, Fly, I am ashamed of you,” Mary was saying in a grave contralto. —
“飞儿，飞儿，我为你感到羞耻,” 玛丽用严肃的男中音说道。 —

“This is not becoming in a sensible dog; —
“这对一个明智的狗来说并不体面； —

anybody would think you were a silly young gentleman.”
任何人都会认为你像一个愚蠢的年轻绅士。”

“You are unmerciful to young gentlemen, Miss Garth,” said the Vicar, within two yards of her.
“对年轻绅士太残酷了，加思小姐,” 离她不到两码远的牧师说。

Mary started up and blushed. “It always answers to reason with Fly,” she said, laughingly.
玛丽惊起，脸红了。”用理性和飞儿说话总是有效的，”她笑着说。

“But not with young gentlemen?”
“但不适用于年轻绅士？”

“Oh, with some, I suppose; since some of them turn into excellent men.”
“哦，对一些适用，我想；因为有些人会变成优秀的男子汉。”

“I am glad of that admission, because I want at this very moment to interest you in a young gentleman.”
“我很高兴听到这个承认，因为我正要让你关心一个年轻绅士。”

“Not a silly one, I hope,” said Mary, beginning to pluck the roses again, and feeling her heart beat uncomfortably.
“希望不是一个愚蠢的，” 玛丽说着重新摘起玫瑰，感到心跳不安。

“No; though perhaps wisdom is not his strong point, but rather affection and sincerity. —
“不是；尽管智慧不是他的强项，而是情感和真诚。 —

However, wisdom lies more in those two qualities than people are apt to imagine. —
然而，智慧更多地存在于这两个品质中，而人们往往容易想象到。 —

I hope you know by those marks what young gentleman I mean.”
我希望你从这两个特点知道我指的是哪个年轻绅士。”

“Yes, I think I do,” said Mary, bravely, her face getting more serious, and her hands cold; —
“是的，我想我知道了，” 玛丽勇敢地说，脸色变得更为严肃，手发冷； —

“it must be Fred Vincy.”
“一定是弗雷德·温茨吧。”

“He has asked me to consult you about his going into the Church. —
“他请求我请教你关于他是否该进入教堂。” —

I hope you will not think that I consented to take a liberty in promising to do so.”
我希望你不会认为我同意随意地许诺。

“On the contrary, Mr. Farebrother,” said Mary, giving up the roses, and folding her arms, but unable to look up, “whenever you have anything to say to me I feel honored.”
“相反，费尔布罗瑟先生，”玛丽说着放下玫瑰，抱臂而立，却抬不起头，”每当你有话要对我说，我都感到很荣幸。”

“But before I enter on that question, let me just touch a point on which your father took me into confidence; —
“但在我继续这个问题之前，让我简单提一下你父亲与我交谈的某一点； —

by the way, it was that very evening on which I once before fulfilled a mission from Fred, just after he had gone to college. —
顺便提一下，在那个晚上我已经满足了一次来自弗雷德的任务，就在他去读大学后不久。 —

Mr. Garth told me what happened on the night of Featherstone’s death–how you refused to burn the will; —
加思夫人去世那晚发生的事情，加思先生告诉了我–是你拒绝烧毁遗嘱； —

and he said that you had some heart-prickings on that subject, because you had been the innocent means of hindering Fred from getting his ten thousand pounds. —
他说你对此事感到内疚，因为你曾经无意中阻止了弗雷德获得一万英镑。 —

I have kept that in mind, and I have heard something that may relieve you on that score– may show you that no sin-offering is demanded from you there.”
我一直记着这件事，我也听到了一些消息可以让你释怀–也许能让你知道在这件事上不需要你去做任何补偿。”

Mr. Farebrother paused a moment and looked at Mary. He meant to give Fred his full advantage, but it would be well, he thought, to clear her mind of any superstitions, such as women sometimes follow when they do a man the wrong of marrying him as an act of atonement. —
费尔布罗瑟先生停顿了一下，看了玛丽一眼。他想要给予弗雷德充分的机会，但他认为最好先澄清她的思绪，以免她抱着某些迷信，例如有时女人会因为错误地将婚姻视为一种赎罪行为。 —

Mary’s cheeks had begun to burn a little, and she was mute.
玛丽的脸颊开始微红，她沉默不语。

“I mean, that your action made no real difference to Fred’s lot. —
“我的意思是，你的行动并没有对弗雷德的命运造成真正的影响。 —

I find that the first will would not have been legally good after the burning of the last; —
我发现第一份遗嘱在最后一份被烧毁后就不会合法有效； —

it would not have stood if it had been disputed, and you may be sure it would have been disputed. —
如果有人抗议，它是不会站得住脚的，你可以放心如果被抗议的话。 —

So, on that score, you may feel your mind free.”
所以，在这方面，你可以放心了。”

“Thank you, Mr. Farebrother,” said Mary, earnestly. —
“谢谢你，费尔布罗瑟先生，”玛丽诚恳地说。 —

“I am grateful to you for remembering my feelings.”
“我感激你记得我的感受。”

“Well, now I may go on. Fred, you know, has taken his degree. —
“好吧，现在我可以继续说下去了。弗雷德拿到了学位。” —

He has worked his way so far, and now the question is, what is he to do? —
“他已经走了这么远的路，现在问题是，他该做什么？” —

That question is so difficult that he is inclined to follow his father’s wishes and enter the Church, though you know better than I do that he was quite set against that formerly. —
“这个问题很难，他倾向于按照他父亲的意愿进入教会，尽管你比我更清楚，以前他是坚决反对的。” —

I have questioned him on the subject, and I confess I see no insuperable objection to his being a clergyman, as things go. —
“我就这个问题询问过他，我承认在目前的情况下我看不出他成为牧师有什么无法克服的障碍。” —

He says that he could turn his mind to doing his best in that vocation, on one condition. —
“他说只有在一个条件下，他才能全心投入到这个事业中。” —

If that condition were fulfilled I would do my utmost in helping Fred on. —
“如果这个条件得到满足，我会尽我所能帮助弗雷德。” —

After a time–not, of course, at first– he might be with me as my curate, and he would have so much to do that his stipend would be nearly what I used to get as vicar. —
“过一段时间——当然，不是马上——他可以跟我一起做助理牧师，他将有很多事情要做，他的薪水将近我以前作为教区牧师时的水平。” —

But I repeat that there is a condition without which all this good cannot come to pass. —
“但我要重申，有一个条件，如果没有这个条件，所有这些好事都无法实现。” —

He has opened his heart to me, Miss Garth, and asked me to plead for him. —
“弗雷德向我敞开心扉，请求我为他说情。” —

The condition lies entirely in your feeling.”
“这个条件完全取决于你的感受。”

Mary looked so much moved, that he said after a moment, “Let us walk a little;” —
“玛丽看起来很感动，他过了一会儿说，’让我们走一会儿。’” —

and when they were walking he added, “To speak quite plainly, Fred will not take any course which would lessen the chance that you would consent to be his wife; —
“在他们走路的时候，他补充说，’坦率地说，弗雷德将不会选择任何可能降低你愿意成为他妻子机会的路线；” —

but with that prospect, he will try his best at anything you approve.”
但有了这个前景，他会尽全力去做你认可的事情。”

“I cannot possibly say that I will ever be his wife, Mr. Farebrother: —
“我绝对不能说我会成为他的妻子，费布罗瑟先生；” —

but I certainly never will be his wife if he becomes a clergyman. —
“但我可以肯定如果他成为一名牧师，我绝对不会成为他的妻子。” —

What you say is most generous and kind; I don’t mean for a moment to correct your judgment. —
你的话太宽宏大量、友善; 我并不是想纠正你的判断。 —

It is only that I have my girlish, mocking way of looking at things,” said Mary, with a returning sparkle of playfulness in her answer which only made its modesty more charming.
“只是我有一种女孩子般的、戏谑的看待事物的方式，”玛丽说道，她的回答中又闪现出一丝调皮的光芒，这让她的谦逊更加迷人。

“He wishes me to report exactly what you think,” said Mr. Farebrother.
“他希望我准确报告你的想法,“费尔布拉德先生说。

“I could not love a man who is ridiculous,” said Mary, not choosing to go deeper. —
“我不能爱一个荒谬的人,”玛丽说道，她不想深入探讨。 —

“Fred has sense and knowledge enough to make him respectable, if he likes, in some good worldly business, but I can never imagine him preaching and exhorting, and pronouncing blessings, and praying by the sick, without feeling as if I were looking at a caricature. —
“弗雷德有足够的头脑和知识，如果他愿意的话，可以使他在某个体面的世俗事业上受人尊敬，但我永远无法想象他讲道、劝导、祝福并在病人旁祷告的样子，我感觉就像在看一个滑稽画。 —

His being a clergyman would be only for gentility’s sake, and I think there is nothing more contemptible than such imbecile gentility. —
他成为牧师只是为了体面起见,我觉得没有比这种愚蠢的体面更可鄙的了。 —

I used to think that of Mr. Crowse, with his empty face and neat umbrella, and mincing little speeches. —
我曾经这样想过克劳斯先生，他那空洞的脸和整洁的雨伞，还有那稍事修饰的漂亮话。 —

What right have such men to represent Christianity–as if it were an institution for getting up idiots genteelly–as if–” Mary checked herself. —
这样的人有什么资格代表基督教 - 好像这是一个体面培养废物的机构 - 好像 - “玛丽打住了。 —

She had been carried along as if she had been speaking to Fred instead of Mr. Farebrother.
她被带着说话的冲动走向弗雷德，而不是费尔布拉德先生。

“Young women are severe: they don’t feel the stress of action as men do, though perhaps I ought to make you an exception there. —
“年轻女子是严格的：他们没有像男人那样感受到行动的压力，尽管也许我应该把你作为一个例外。 —

But you don’t put Fred Vincy on so low a level as that?”
但你并没有把弗雷德·温西看得那么低吗？”

“No, indeed, he has plenty of sense, but I think he would not show it as a clergyman. —
“不，他有足够的头脑，但我认为以牧师的身份他不会展现出来。 —

He would be a piece of professional affectation.”
他会变成一种专业的做作。”

“Then the answer is quite decided. As a clergyman he could have no hope?”
“那回答已经很明确了。作为一名牧师他没有希望？”

Mary shook her head.
玛丽摇了摇头。

“But if he braved all the difficulties of getting his bread in some other way–will you give him the support of hope? —
“如果他冒着所有其他方式获取面包的困难–你会给他希望的支持吗？ —

May he count on winning you?”
他可以指望赢得你吗？”

“I think Fred ought not to need telling again what I have already said to him,” Mary answered, with a slight resentment in her manner. —
“玛丽微带不满地回答说，‘我认为弗雷德不应该需要再次告诉他我已经对他说过的事情。’” —

“I mean that he ought not to put such questions until he has done something worthy, instead of saying that he could do it.”
“我的意思是，他不应该提出这样的问题，直到他做出值得的事情，而不是说他可以做到。”

Mr. Farebrother was silent for a minute or more, and then, as they turned and paused under the shadow of a maple at the end of a grassy walk, said, “I understand that you resist any attempt to fetter you, but either your feeling for Fred Vincy excludes your entertaining another attachment, or it does not: —
费尔布罗瑟先生沉默了一会儿，然后当他们转过身，在一条长满草的小路尽头的枫树的阴影下停下来时说：“我明白你拒绝任何束缚你的尝试，但是无论你对弗雷德•温茨的感情是否排除了你考虑其他的感情，还是没有排除： —

either he may count on your remaining single until he shall have earned your hand, or he may in any case be disappointed. —
他可能指望你保持独身，直到他赢得了你的手，或者无论如何他都可能失望。 —

Pardon me, Mary–you know I used to catechise you under that name–but when the state of a woman’s affections touches the happiness of another life–of more lives than one–I think it would be the nobler course for her to be perfectly direct and open.”
请原谅我，玛丽——你知道我过去经常在这个名字下对你进行质问——但是当一名女性的感情状态涉及到另一个生命的幸福——甚至更多的生命——我认为她最可贵的是坦率和坦诚。”

Mary in her turn was silent, wondering not at Mr. Farebrother’s manner but at his tone, which had a grave restrained emotion in it. —
轮到玛丽沉默了，不是因为费尔布罗瑟先生的举止，而是他的语气引起了她的疑惑，其中带有一种庄严而克制的情感。 —

When the strange idea flashed across her that his words had reference to himself, she was incredulous, and ashamed of entertaining it. —
当奇怪的想法闪过她的脑海，认为他的话是在暗示自己时，她很难相信，甚至感到羞愧。 —

She had never thought that any man could love her except Fred, who had espoused her with the umbrella ring, when she wore socks and little strapped shoes; —
她从来没有想过除了曾在她穿着袜子和带着小皮鞋的时候把伞环送给她的弗雷德之外，还有其他男人可能爱她； —

still less that she could be of any importance to Mr. Farebrother, the cleverest man in her narrow circle. —
更不用说她对费尔布罗瑟先生，她狭小圈子里最聪明的人，会有任何重要性。 —

She had only time to feel that all this was hazy and perhaps illusory; —
她只有时间去感觉这一切是模糊的，也许是虚幻的； —

but one thing was clear and determined–her answer.
但有一点是清楚和坚定的——她的答案。

“Since you think it my duty, Mr. Farebrother, I will tell you that I have too strong a feeling for Fred to give him up for any one else. —
“既然您认为这是我的责任，费尔布罗瑟先生，我会告诉您我对弗雷德的感情太深，不会为其他人放弃他。 —

I should never be quite happy if I thought he was unhappy for the loss of me. —
如果我认为他因为失去我而不开心，我也永远不会完全快乐。” —

It has taken such deep root in me– my gratitude to him for always loving me best, and minding so much if I hurt myself, from the time when we were very little. —
他对我始终如一的爱和一直关心我不受伤害的情感已经深深扎根在我心中，从我们还很小的时候就开始了。 —

I cannot imagine any new feeling coming to make that weaker. —
我无法想象会有任何新的感情会让这种情感减弱。 —

I should like better than anything to see him worthy of every one’s respect. —
我更希望见到他值得每个人的尊敬。 —

But please tell him I will not promise to marry him till then: —
但是请告诉他，在那之前我不会答应嫁给他：我会让我的父母伤心并感到羞愧。 —

I should shame and grieve my father and mother. —
他可以自由选择其他人。 —

He is free to choose some one else.”
现在我已经把我的任务完成得很彻底了，”费尔布罗瑟先生对玛丽说，伸出手，”我现在就要骑回米德尔马奇。

“Then I have fulfilled my commission thoroughly,” said Mr. Farebrother, putting out his hand to Mary, “and I shall ride back to Middlemarch forthwith. —
有了这个前景，我们总能想办法让弗雷德找到合适的位置，我希望能亲眼见证你们的婚礼。愿上帝保佑你们！ —

With this prospect before him, we shall get Fred into the right niche somehow, and I hope I shall live to join your hands. God bless you!”
“哦，请留下来，让我给您倒杯茶，” 玛丽说。她眼中泛着泪水，因为费尔布罗瑟先生态度中不可名状的某种坚定压抑使她突然感到极度的难过，就像她曾经看到父亲在困难时颤抖的手一样。

“Oh, please stay, and let me give you some tea,” said Mary. Her eyes filled with tears, for something indefinable, something like the resolute suppression of a pain in Mr. Farebrother’s manner, made her feel suddenly miserable, as she had once felt when she saw her father’s hands trembling in a moment of trouble.
“不，亲爱的，不行。我必须赶回去。”

“No, my dear, no. I must get back.”
三分钟后，教区牧师再次骑上马，已经彰显出他超越困难的大度，这比放弃打纸牌，甚至写悔过反省更加困难。

In three minutes the Vicar was on horseback again, having gone magnanimously through a duty much harder than the renunciation of whist, or even than the writing of penitential meditations.
在别无选择下，费尔布罗瑟先生再次骑上马迅速离开。