Good phrases are surely, and ever were, very commendable. –Justice Shallow.
好的词语无疑是非常可赞赏的。(Justice Shallow)

A few days afterwards–it was already the end of August–there was an occasion which caused some excitement in Middlemarch: —
几天后——已经是八月底了——米德尔马奇发生了一件引起一些激动的事件。 —

the public, if it chose, was to have the advantage of buying, under the distinguished auspices of Mr. Borthrop Trumbull, the furniture, books, and pictures which anybody might see by the handbills to be the best in every kind, belonging to Edwin Larcher, Esq. This was not one of the sales indicating the depression of trade; —
大家可以在手册上看到，Mr. Borthrop Trumbull的卓越声誉下，公众有机会购买属于埃德温·拉彻尔先生的家具、书籍和图片，这些在各类中都是最好的。这不是显示贸易萧条的一场拍卖； —

on the contrary, it was due to Mr. Larcher’s great success in the carrying business, which warranted his purchase of a mansion near Riverston already furnished in high style by an illustrious Spa physician–furnished indeed with such large framefuls of expensive flesh-painting in the dining-room, that Mrs. Larcher was nervous until reassured by finding the subjects to be Scriptural. —
相反，这是由于拉彻尔先生在承运业务方面取得了巨大成功，这使得他有资格购买了Riverston附近的一栋豪宅，由一位著名的温泉医生高调装潢——的确，厅堂的大幅昂贵油画框架，让拉彻尔夫人很紧张，直到发现这些主题是圣经题材。 —

Hence the fine opportunity to purchasers which was well pointed out in the handbills of Mr. Borthrop Trumbull, whose acquaintance with the history of art enabled him to state that the hall furniture, to be sold without reserve, comprised a piece of carving by a contemporary of Gibbons.
因此，在Borthrop Trumbull先生的手册中，购买者有了一个很好的机会，他熟悉艺术史，能够明确指出将毫无保留地出售的大厅家具包括一件类似Gibbons作品的雕刻品。

At Middlemarch in those times a large sale was regarded as a kind of festival. —
在那个时期，米德尔马奇的一场盛大拍卖被看作一种节日。 —

There was a table spread with the best cold eatables, as at a superior funeral; —
类似一场高级葬礼，桌上摆满了最好的冷食； —

and facilities were offered for that generous-drinking of cheerful glasses which might lead to generous and cheerful bidding for undesirable articles. —
并提供各种便利条件，以便让人们畅饮欢快的酒杯，这可能导致对不理想物品慷慨和欣然的竞标。 —

Mr. Larcher’s sale was the more attractive in the fine weather because the house stood just at the end of the town, with a garden and stables attached, in that pleasant issue from Middlemarch called the London Road, which was also the road to the New Hospital and to Mr. Bulstrode’s retired residence, known as the Shrubs. —
拉彻尔先生的拍卖在那样好的天气里更有吸引力，因为这所房子正好位于镇的尽头，附带花园和马厩，在米德尔马奇通往伦敦的道路上，也是通往新医院和布尔斯特罗德先生偏远住所——被称为灌木丛的道路。 —

In short, the auction was as good as a fair, and drew all classes with leisure at command: —
简而言之，这场拍卖就像一场市集，吸引了所有有闲暇的人： —

to some, who risked making bids in order simply to raise prices, it was almost equal to betting at the races. —
对于一些冒险以提高价格为目的的人来说，这几乎等同于在赛马中下注。 —

The second day, when the best furniture was to be sold, “everybody” was there; —
第二天，当最好的家具拍卖时，“每个人”都在场； —

even Mr. Thesiger, the rector of St. Peter’s, had looked in for a short time, wishing to buy the carved table, and had rubbed elbows with Mr. Bambridge and Mr. Horrock. —
甚至圣彼得堂的牧师Thesiger先生也过来看了一下，希望购买那张雕刻桌子，与Bambridge先生和Horrock先生擦肩而过。 —

There was a wreath of Middlemarch ladies accommodated with seats round the large table in the dining-room, where Mr. Borthrop Trumbull was mounted with desk and hammer; —
在餐厅的大桌周围，有一圈米德尔马奇的女士们坐着，那里有Borthrop Trumbull先生带着桌子和槌子； —

but the rows chiefly of masculine faces behind were often varied by incomings and outgoings both from the door and the large bow-window opening on to the lawn.
但后面的男性面孔的排列经常会因为出入门和大开向草坪的大弓形窗户而有所变化。

“Everybody” that day did not include Mr. Bulstrode, whose health could not well endure crowds and draughts. —
在那天，”所有人”并不包括那位无法承受人群和空气流动的布尔斯特罗德先生。 —

But Mrs. Bulstrode had particularly wished to have a certain picture–a “Supper at Emmaus,” attributed in the catalogue to Guido; —
但布尔斯特罗德夫人特别希望拥有一幅特定的画作——一幅被目录认定为属于圭多的《以马忤斯晚餐会》； —

and at the last moment before the day of the sale Mr. Bulstrode had called at the office of the “Pioneer,” of which he was now one of the proprietors, to beg of Mr. Ladislaw as a great favor that he would obligingly use his remarkable knowledge of pictures on behalf of Mrs. Bulstrode, and judge of the value of this particular painting–“if,” added the scrupulously polite banker, “attendance at the sale would not interfere with the arrangements for your departure, which I know is imminent.”
在拍卖日前的最后一刻，布尔斯特罗德先生到了他现在是其中一家所有者的《先锋报》办公室，请求拉迪斯劳先生大大帮忙，凭借他对画作的卓越认识来评估这幅特定画作的价值——”如果”，慎重有礼的银行家补充道，”出席拍卖会不会影响您计划即将离开的安排，我知道您马上要离开。”

This proviso might have sounded rather satirically in Will’s ear if he had been in a mood to care about such satire. —
如果那天威尔有心关心这番讽刺的话，这个附带条件在他耳中可能会听起来有些嘲讽。 —

It referred to an understanding entered into many weeks before with the proprietors of the paper, that he should be at liberty any day he pleased to hand over the management to the subeditor whom he had been training; —
这是几个星期前他与该报业主达成的一项协议的一部分，任何他愿意的那一天，他可以自由将管理权移交给他一直在培训的副编辑； —

since he wished finally to quit Middlemarch. —
因为他最终想要离开米德尔马奇。 —

But indefinite visions of ambition are weak against the ease of doing what is habitual or beguilingly agreeable; —
但是对于可怕或迷人的惯例，虚无缥缈的野心和愿望总是软弱的； —

and we all know the difficulty of carrying out a resolve when we secretly long that it may turn out to be unnecessary. —
我们都知道，当我们偷偷希望某事可能是不必要的时候，执行决定的困难程度； —

In such states of mind the most incredulous person has a private leaning towards miracle: —
在这种思维状态下，即使是最不轻信的人也会对奇迹有所依赖： —

impossible to conceive how our wish could be fulfilled, still– very wonderful things have happened! Will did not confess this weakness to himself, but he lingered. —
很难想象我们的愿望如何能够实现，但是——非常奇妙的事情已经发生了！威尔没有向自己承认这种软弱，但他徘徊了。 —

What was the use of going to London at that time of the year? —
那时候去伦敦有什么用呢？ —

The Rugby men who would remember him were not there; —
还在那里记得他的那些拉格比的人都不在那里； —

and so far as political writing was concerned, he would rather for a few weeks go on with the “Pioneer.” —
就政治写作而言，他宁愿继续几个星期写《先锋报》。 —

At the present moment, however, when Mr. Bulstrode was speaking to him, he had both a strengthened resolve to go and an equally strong resolve not to go till he had once more seen Dorothea. —
然而，在布尔斯特罗德先生对他说话的此刻，他既有了更坚定的决心去，又有同样强烈的决心不去，直到再次见到多萝西娅。 —

Hence he replied that he had reasons for deferring his departure a little, and would be happy to go to the sale.
因此，他回答说他有理由推迟离开一会儿，并且很高兴参加拍卖。

Will was in a defiant mood, his consciousness being deeply stung with the thought that the people who looked at him probably knew a fact tantamount to an accusation against him as a fellow with low designs which were to be frustrated by a disposal of property. —
Will处于挑衅的心情中，他的意识深受这样一个想法的刺痛，那些看着他的人也许知道一个对他来说相当于一项指控的事实，即他有着低劣企图，而这些企图将被财产的处置所挫败。 —

Like most people who assert their freedom with regard to conventional distinction, he was prepared to be sudden and quick at quarrel with any one who might hint that he had personal reasons for that assertion– that there was anything in his blood, his bearing, or his character to which he gave the mask of an opinion. —
像大多数坚持对传统区分表现自由的人一样，他准备随时随地与任何一个暗示他有个人原因支持这一断言的人发生争执。无论是与他的血统、风度还是性格，还是其他任何人所赋予他的观点的面具有关，他都对此表示激烈反驳。 —

When he was under an irritating impression of this kind he would go about for days with a defiant look, the color changing in his transparent skin as if he were on the qui vive, watching for something which he had to dart upon.
当他受到这种刺激印象时，他会带着这种挑衅的表情四处走动，他透明的皮肤在变化，好像他正警惕着什么，等待着他需要抓住的东西。

This expression was peculiarly noticeable in him at the sale, and those who had only seen him in his moods of gentle oddity or of bright enjoyment would have been struck with a contrast. —
这种表情在他出席拍卖会时尤为引人注意，那些只见过他温和古怪或充满喜悦的情绪的人将感到惊讶。 —

He was not sorry to have this occasion for appearing in public before the Middlemarch tribes of Toller, Hackbutt, and the rest, who looked down on him as an adventurer, and were in a state of brutal ignorance about Dante–who sneered at his Polish blood, and were themselves of a breed very much in need of crossing. —
他并不后悔有这样的机会在Middlemarch的部族们面前露面，他们将他视为冒险家，对但丁一无所知，对他的波兰血统嘲弄，而自己却是非常需要与其他血统融合的品种。 —

He stood in a conspicuous place not far from the auctioneer, with a fore-finger in each side-pocket and his head thrown backward, not caring to speak to anybody, though he had been cordially welcomed as a connoissure by Mr. Trumbull, who was enjoying the utmost activity of his great faculties.
他站在一个显眼的地方，离拍卖人不远，双手插在口袋里，头后仰，不想与任何人说话，尽管被特隆伯尔先生诚挚地欢迎为一位鉴赏家，而这位先生正兴致勃勃地发挥着他伟大的能力。

And surely among all men whose vocation requires them to exhibit their powers of speech, the happiest is a prosperous provincial auctioneer keenly alive to his own jokes and sensible of his encyclopedic knowledge. —
而在所有需要展示自己演讲能力的人中，最快乐的莫过于活跃的地方拍卖师，他对自己的笑话充满热情，对自己博学的知识深感自豪。 —

Some saturnine, sour-blooded persons might object to be constantly insisting on the merits of all articles from boot-jacks to “Berghems;” —
有些忧郁、性情乖戾的人可能会反对不断强调从靴刷到”伯格艾姆”的所有物件的优点； —

but Mr. Borthrop Trumbull had a kindly liquid in his veins; —
但博尔索普·特朗伯尔先生的血液中是一种亲切的液体； —

he was an admirer by nature, and would have liked to have the universe under his hammer, feeling that it would go at a higher figure for his recommendation.
他是天生的赞赏者，也许希望把整个宇宙摆放在他的拍卖槌下，因为他觉得通过他的推荐，宇宙的价格会更高。

Meanwhile Mrs. Larcher’s drawing-room furniture was enough for him. —
同时 Mrs. Larcher的客厅家具对他来说足够了。 —

When Will Ladislaw had come in, a second fender, said to have been forgotten in its right place, suddenly claimed the auctioneer’s enthusiasm, which he distributed on the equitable principle of praising those things most which were most in need of praise. —
当威尔·拉迪斯劳进来时，据说一个放错位置的第二个壁炉架突然引起了拍卖师的热情，他根据公平原则对这些物品进行了赞扬，最重要的是赞扬最需要赞扬的物品。 —

The fender was of polished steel, with much lancet-shaped open-work and a sharp edge.
这个壁炉架是抛光钢制的，有许多长方形的开孔和锋利的边缘。

“Now, ladies,” said he, “I shall appeal to you. —
“现在，女士们，”他说，“我要向您们呼吁。 —

Here is a fender which at any other sale would hardly be offered with out reserve, being, as I may say, for quality of steel and quaintness of design, a kind of thing”–here Mr. Trumbull dropped his voice and became slightly nasal, trimming his outlines with his left finger– “that might not fall in with ordinary tastes. —
这是一个壁炉架，在任何其他拍卖会上，这种壁炉架都几乎不会不保留地被提供，因为就钢质的质量和设计的新奇性而言，这是一种在普通品味中不太流行的东西”–在这里，特隆伯尔先生压低了声音，微微变得鼻音，用左手指修饰他的轮廓–“可能不会符合普通品味。” —

Allow me to tell you that by-and-by this style of workmanship will be the only one in vogue–half-a-crown, you said? —
让我告诉你，逐渐地，这种风格的工艺将会是唯一流行的一种–半个王冠，你说的？ —

thank you–going at half-a-crown, this characteristic fender; —
谢谢–以半个王冠的价格，这个特色的炉架； —

and I have particular information that the antique style is very much sought after in high quarters. Three shillings–three-and-sixpence–hold it well up, Joseph! —
我得知古董风格在高层颇受欢迎。三个先令–三先令六便士–约瑟夫，好好举起来！ —

Look, ladies, at the chastity of the design– I have no doubt myself that it was turned out in the last century! —
看啊，女士们，这个设计的纯洁–我自己毫不怀疑它是上个世纪的作品！ —

Four shillings, Mr. Mawmsey?–four shillings.”
厄舍米先生，四先令？–四个先令。

“It’s not a thing I would put in my drawing-room,” said Mrs. Mawmsey, audibly, for the warning of the rash husband. —
“这不是我会放在我的客厅里的东西,” 太太厄舍米大声说，提醒着胆大冒进的丈夫。 —

“I wonder at Mrs. Larcher. Every blessed child’s head that fell against it would be cut in two. —
“我对拉彻夫人感到惊讶。任何一个不幸碰到它的孩子的头都会被砍成两半。 —

The edge is like a knife.”
边缘像一把刀。

“Quite true,” rejoined Mr. Trumbull, quickly, “and most uncommonly useful to have a fender at hand that will cut, if you have a leather shoe-tie or a bit of string that wants cutting and no knife at hand: —
“完全正确，” 特朗布尔先生迅速回答，”有一把炉架在手边，如果你有一条皮鞋带或者一根绳子需要剪断而手边没有刀子的话非常有用： —

many a man has been left hanging because there was no knife to cut him down. —
有很多人因为没有刀子剪断而被吊起。 —

Gentlemen, here’s a fender that if you had the misfortune to hang yourselves would cut you down in no time–with astonishing celerity–four-and-sixpence–five–five-and-sixpence–an appropriate thing for a spare bedroom where there was a four-poster and a guest a little out of his mind–six shillings–thank you, Mr. Clintup– going at six shillings–going–gone!” —
先生们，这是一件炉架，如果你不幸被吊起来，将会以惊人的速度将你解开–四先令六便士–五–五先令六便士–一件适合备用卧室的东西，那里有一张四柱床和一个有点精神错乱的客人–六先令–谢谢克林图普先生–以六先令成交–成交！” —

The auctioneer’s glance, which had been searching round him with a preternatural susceptibility to all signs of bidding, here dropped on the paper before him, and his voice too dropped into a tone of indifferent despatch as he said, “Mr. Clintup. Be handy, Joseph.”
拍卖师的目光，一直敏锐地四处搜索着每一个出价的迹象，此刻落在他面前的文件上，他的声音也一样马上变得冷淡匆忙地说道，”克林图普先生。约瑟夫，快点。”

“It was worth six shillings to have a fender you could always tell that joke on,” said Mr. Clintup, laughing low and apologetically to his next neighbor. —
“有一把炉架，你总是可以用那个笑话的，值六先令,” 克林图普先生低声笑着向他旁边的邻居道歉。 —

He was a diffident though distinguished nurseryman, and feared that the audience might regard his bid as a foolish one.
他是一位谦逊但卓越的苗圃主，担心观众会认为他的出价是愚蠢的。

Meanwhile Joseph had brought a trayful of small articles. —
与此同时，约瑟夫已经拿来了一盘小物品。 —

“Now, ladies,” said Mr. Trumbull, taking up one of the articles, “this tray contains a very recherchy lot–a collection of trifles for the drawing-room table–and trifles make the sum of human things–nothing more important than trifles–(yes, Mr. Ladislaw, yes, by-and-by)–but pass the tray round, Joseph–these bijoux must be examined, ladies. —
“现在，女士们，”特朗布尔先生说道，拿起其中一件物品，”这个托盘里装着非常别致的一批东西–一些适合放在客厅桌上的小玩意儿–而小玩意儿构成了人类事物的总和–没有比小玩意儿更重要的东西了–（是的，拉迪斯劳先生，稍后）–但是把这个托盘传过来，约瑟夫–这些小宝贝必须被检查，女士们. —

This I have in my hand is an ingenious contrivance– a sort of practical rebus, I may call it: —
这个我手里拿的是一个巧妙的设计–一种实用的谜语，我可以这么说. —

here, you see, it looks like an elegant heart-shaped box, portable–for the pocket; —
这里，你们看，它看起来像一个优雅的心形盒子，可以携带–适合装在口袋里. —

there, again, it becomes like a splendid double flower–an ornament for the table; —
再看，它又变成了一个华丽的双层花朵–一件桌子上的装饰品. —

and now”–Mr. Trumbull allowed the flower to fall alarmingly into strings of heart-shaped leaves–“a book of riddles! —
现在”–特朗布尔先生让花朵惊险地变成了一串心形叶子–“一个谜语书. —

No less than five hundred printed in a beautiful red. —
不止五百个，印成漂亮的红色. —

Gentlemen, if I had less of a conscience, I should not wish you to bid high for this lot– I have a longing for it myself. —
先生们，如果我的良心没那么重，我就不希望你们为这批物品出高价–我自己也很想要. —

What can promote innocent mirth, and I may say virtue, more than a good riddle? —
还有比一个好谜语更能促进无辜的欢笑和（我可以说）美德的事物吗? —

–it hinders profane language, and attaches a man to the society of refined females. —
–它阻止亵渎的言语，并将一个人吸引到优雅女性的社交中. —

This ingenious article itself, without the elegant domino-box, card-basket, &c. —
这个巧妙的物品本身，甚至没有优雅的面具盒，扑克篮子等等. —

, ought alone to give a high price to the lot. —
–应该单独让这批物品得到高价. —

Carried in the pocket it might make an individual welcome in any society. Four shillings, sir? —
装在口袋里，它可能会让一个人在任何社交场合受欢迎.四先令，先生? —

–four shillings for this remarkable collection of riddles with the et caeteras. Here is a sample: —
–这批见解独特的谜语连同附加物品四先令。这里有一个样例: —

How must you spell honey to make it catch lady-birds? Answer-- money.' You hear? --- <span><tang1>怎样拼写蜂蜜才能引起瓢虫的注意?答案–钱。’你听到了? —

–lady-birds–honey money. This is an amusement to sharpen the intellect; —
–瓢虫–蜂蜜 钱. 这是一种锻炼智力的娱乐方式。 —

it has a sting–it has what we call satire, and wit without indecency. —
它有讽刺和机智，但没有猥琐的成分。 —

Four-and-sixpence–five shillings.”
四先令六便士——五先令。

The bidding ran on with warming rivalry. Mr. Bowyer was a bidder, and this was too exasperating. —
竞标的气氛逐渐升温。包尔先生也在竞拍，这太激怒人了。 —

Bowyer couldn’t afford it, and only wanted to hinder every other man from making a figure. —
包尔先生负担不起，只是想阻止其他人显得有钱。 —

The current carried even Mr. Horrock with it, but this committal of himself to an opinion fell from him with so little sacrifice of his neutral expression, that the bid might not have been detected as his but for the friendly oaths of Mr. Bambridge, who wanted to know what Horrock would do with blasted stuff only fit for haberdashers given over to that state of perdition which the horse-dealer so cordially recognized in the majority of earthly existences. —
当时所有人都跟随这个潮流，但霍洛克先生表态就像没有做出任何牺牲一样，除非是班布里奇先生友好的咒骂，才能认出霍洛克先生是竞拍的人。班布里奇先生认为这些东西只适合卖给被贬为永世丧失的裁缝，并且很痛快地承认大部分人在这个世界上都处于这种状态。 —

The lot was finally knocked down at a guinea to Mr. Spilkins, a young Slender of the neighborhood, who was reckless with his pocket-money and felt his want of memory for riddles.
这件拍品最终以一块一先令被当地的一位名叫斯皮尔金斯的年轻绅士买下，他花钱大方，而且觉得自己对谜语记忆不好。

“Come, Trumbull, this is too bad–you’ve been putting some old maid’s rubbish into the sale,” murmured Mr. Toller, getting close to the auctioneer. —
“特朗布尔，这太过分了——你已经把一些老处女的破烂搬到拍卖中了，”托勒先生低声说道，贴近拍卖师。 —

“I want to see how the prints go, and I must be off soon.”
“我想看看版画的情况，而且我很快就得离开了。”

“Immediately, Mr. Toller. It was only an act of benevolence which your noble heart would approve. —
“马上办，托勒先生。这只是您伟大的心灵会赞成的一种善举。” —

Joseph! quick with the prints– Lot 235. —
约瑟夫！快拿来那些版画——第235号拍品。 —

Now, gentlemen, you who are connoissures, you are going to have a treat. —
现在，先生们，您们这些鉴赏家，你们要大饱眼福了。 —

Here is an engraving of the Duke of Wellington surrounded by his staff on the Field of Waterloo; —
这是一幅杜克·威灵顿公爵在滑铁卢战场上与他的参谋团所拍摄的版画； —

and notwithstanding recent events which have, as it were, enveloped our great Hero in a cloud, I will be bold to say– for a man in my line must not be blown about by political winds– that a finer subject–of the modern order, belonging to our own time and epoch–the understanding of man could hardly conceive: —
尽管近来的事件似乎让我们伟大的英雄陷入了困境，我还是要大胆地说——作为一个从业者，我不能被政治风向吹倒——这样一幅现代主题的作品，属于我们自己的当代时代，人类的理解力几乎无法想象： —

angels might, perhaps, but not men, sirs, not men.”
可能天使能，但人类不行，先生们，不行。

“Who painted it?” said Mr. Powderell, much impressed.
“谁画的？” 鲍德威尔先生问道，深受感动。

“It is a proof before the letter, Mr. Powderell–the painter is not known,” answered Trumbull, with a certain gaspingness in his last words, after which he pursed up his lips and stared round him.
“这是在字母前的证据，Powderell先生–画家不为人所知，”Trumbull回答道，最后的话带有一种喘息的感觉，随后他紧抿嘴唇，环顾四周。

“I’ll bid a pound!” said Mr. Powderell, in a tone of resolved emotion, as of a man ready to put himself in the breach. —
“我出一镑!“Powderell先生声音带着决然的情绪，像是一个准备冲在最前线的人。 —

Whether from awe or pity, nobody raised the price on him.
不管是出于敬畏还是怜悯，没有人再对他加价。

Next came two Dutch prints which Mr. Toller had been eager for, and after he had secured them he went away. —
接下来是两幅特别让Toller先生渴望的荷兰版画，他成功地拍下后便离开了。 —

Other prints, and afterwards some paintings, were sold to leading Middlemarchers who had come with a special desire for them, and there was a more active movement of the audience in and out; —
其他版画，以及后来一些绘画被卖给了来特意想要购买的米德尔马奇领袖，于是观众在场内来来往往； —

some, who had bought what they wanted, going away, others coming in either quite newly or from a temporary visit to the refreshments which were spread under the marquee on the lawn. —
已经买到心仪之物的人走了，其他人要么是初次到场，要么是暂时去野外草坪帐篷下摊开的茶点处稍作休息后回来。 —

It was this marquee that Mr. Bambridge was bent on buying, and he appeared to like looking inside it frequently, as a foretaste of its possession. —
正是这个帐篷，Bambridge先生决定购买，显然他很喜欢频繁地进去看看，仿佛尝试着占有它的样子。 —

On the last occasion of his return from it he was observed to bring with him a new companion, a stranger to Mr. Trumbull and every one else, whose appearance, however, led to the supposition that he might be a relative of the horse-dealer’s– also “given to indulgence.” —
在他最后一次离开后，观察到他带来了一个新伙伴，一个对Trumbull先生和其他人都不熟悉的陌生人，但他的外貌使人猜想他可能是马贩的亲戚，也是“嗜好者”。 —

His large whiskers, imposing swagger, and swing of the leg, made him a striking figure; —
他浓密的胡须，令人印象深刻的自负和大步走路的方式使他成为一个醒目的人物； —

but his suit of black, rather shabby at the edges, caused the prejudicial inference that he was not able to afford himself as much indulgence as he liked.
但他黑色套装边缘有些破旧，让人产生了不良的推断，认为他可能负担不起自己这种嗜好。

“Who is it you’ve picked up, Bam?” said Mr. Horrock, aside.
“你找的是谁，Bam?” Horrock先生私下问道。

“Ask him yourself,” returned Mr. Bambridge. “He said he’d just turned in from the road.”
“你自己问他吧，”Bambridge先生回答说。”他说他刚从路上转进来的。

Mr. Horrock eyed the stranger, who was leaning back against his stick with one hand, using his toothpick with the other, and looking about him with a certain restlessness apparently under the silence imposed on him by circumstances.
Horrock 先生注视着这个陌生人，他正在一只手利用拐杖倚靠着，另一只手用牙签，显得有些不安，显然是由于他被环境所限制而被强加的沉默。

At length the “Supper at Emmaus” was brought forward, to Wills immense relief, for he was getting so tired of the proceedings that he had drawn back a little and leaned his shoulder against the wall just behind the auctioneer. —
最后轮到了”以马忤斯的晚餐”，Wills松了口气，因为他对这些程序感到厌倦，已经稍微退后，肩膀靠在拍卖师身后的墙上。 —

He now came forward again, and his eye caught the conspicuous stranger, who, rather to his surprise, was staring at him markedly. —
他再次走了上前，他的眼睛看到那个引人注目的陌生人，使他感到有些意外，因为对方正在明显地盯着他。 —

But Will was immediately appealed to by Mr. Trumbull.
但威尔立即被特朗布尔先生吸引了。

“Yes, Mr. Ladislaw, yes; this interests you as a connoissure, I think. —
“是的，拉迪斯劳先生，是的;我认为这会引起您作为鉴赏家的兴趣。 —

It is some pleasure,” the auctioneer went on with a rising fervor, “to have a picture like this to show to a company of ladies and gentlemen–a picture worth any sum to an individual whose means were on a level with his judgment. —
拍卖师情绪高涨地继续说道：“有这样一幅画可以展示给一群绅士淑女看是一种乐趣–对于一个财力与眼光同等高明的人来说，这幅画价值连城。 —

It is a painting of the Italian school–by the celebrated Guydo, the greatest painter in the world, the chief of the Old Masters, as they are called– I take it, because they were up to a thing or two beyond most of us– in possession of secrets now lost to the bulk of mankind. —
这是一幅意大利画派的作品–出自著名的吉伊多之手，世界上最伟大的画家，被称为老大师的首领–我认为，他们被称为老大师，是因为他们掌握了我们大多数人所不及的一些秘密技巧，现在有些已经失传了。 —

Let me tell you, gentlemen, I have seen a great many pictures by the Old Masters, and they are not all up to this mark–some of them are darker than you might like and not family subjects. —
让我告诉你们，先生们，我见过很多老大师的作品，他们并非都达到这个水准–有些画作可能过于昏暗，也不是家庭题材。 —

But here is a Guydo–the frame alone is worth pounds–which any lady might be proud to hang up–a suitable thing for what we call a refectory in a charitable institution, if any gentleman of the Corporation wished to show his munificence. —
但这里是吉伊多–单单画框就值几磅–任何女士都可以自豪地挂在墙上–如果市政机构的任何绅士希望展示自己的慷慨的话，合适的地方就是我们所谓的慈善机构餐厅。 —

Turn it a little, sir? yes. Joseph, turn it a little towards Mr. Ladislaw–Mr. Ladislaw, having been abroad, understands the merit of these things, you observe.”
转动一下，先生？是的。约瑟夫，稍微转向拉迪斯劳先生–拉迪斯劳先生去过外国，您注意到他对于这些作品的价值的理解。

All eyes were for a moment turned towards Will, who said, coolly, “Five pounds.” —
众人的目光瞬间转向威尔，他冷静地说道：“五磅。” —

The auctioneer burst out in deep remonstrance.
拍卖师大声抗议。

“Ah! Mr. Ladislaw! the frame alone is worth that. Ladies and gentlemen, for the credit of the town! —
“啊！拉迪斯劳先生！单单画框就值那么多。女士们，先生们，为了这个小镇的荣誉！ —

Suppose it should be discovered hereafter that a gem of art has been amongst us in this town, and nobody in Middlemarch awake to it. —
假如以后发现这里有一件艺术珍品，而米德尔马奇的人都没有意识到这一点，那该怎么办？ —

Five guineas–five seven-six– five ten. Still, ladies, still! —
五英镑–五英镑七银六便士–五英镑十。还有，女士们，还有！ —

It is a gem, and `Full many a gem,’ as the poet says, has been allowed to go at a nominal price because the public knew no better, because it was offered in circles where there was–I was going to say a low feeling, but no! —
这是一块宝石，如同诗人所说的‘许多宝石’，因为大众认知有限，曾以名义价格出售，被所在圈子的人低估了，因为我本想说是低估的感觉的，但不! —

–Six pounds– six guineas–a Guydo of the first order going at six guineas– it is an insult to religion, ladies; —
–六英镑–六英镑七银六便士–一幅一流的吉伊多作品居然以六英镑拍出–这是对宗教的羞辱，女士们; —

it touches us all as Christians, gentlemen, that a subject like this should go at such a low figure– six pounds ten–seven–”
这触及我们所有作为基督徒的人的心灵，这样一件作品以如此低廉的价钱出售–六英镑十–七–”

The bidding was brisk, and Will continued to share in it, remembering that Mrs. Bulstrode had a strong wish for the picture, and thinking that he might stretch the price to twelve pounds. —
竞标很激烈，威尔继续参与其中，记得布尔斯特罗太太很希望得到那幅画，他考虑可以把价格提到十二英镑。 —

But it was knocked down to him at ten guineas, whereupon he pushed his way towards the bow-window and went out. —
但最终他以十几个金币拍下了这幅画，然后挤向凸窗，走了出去。 —

He chose to go under the marquee to get a glass of water, being hot and thirsty: —
他选择去帐篷下取杯水，因为炎热而口渴； —

it was empty of other visitors, and he asked the woman in attendance to fetch him some fresh water; —
此时帐篷里没有其他游客，他让服务员给他拿点新鲜的水； —

but before she was well gone he was annoyed to see entering the florid stranger who had stared at him. —
但服务员还未离开，他就看到了那个对他盯着的红润陌生人走了进来。 —

It struck Will at this moment that the man might be one of those political parasitic insects of the bloated kind who had once or twice claimed acquaintance with him as having heard him speak on the Reform question, and who might think of getting a shilling by news. —
此刻威尔觉得这个人可能是那种肥胖的政治寄生虫，曾声称认识他，说听过他讲改革问题的，可能为了消息好拿一先令。 —

In this light his person, already rather heating to behold on a summer’s day, appeared the more disagreeable; —
在夏日这时，这位男子的相貌更加令人讨厌； —

and Will, half-seated on the elbow of a garden-chair, turned his eyes carefully away from the comer. But this signified little to our acquaintance Mr. Raffles, who never hesitated to thrust himself on unwilling observation, if it suited his purpose to do so. —
坐在花园椅子扶手上的威尔把目光小心地从来人身上移开。但这对我们的熟人拉弗尔先生来说无关紧要，他从来不犹豫在不情愿的目光中推销自己，只要对他有好处。 —

He moved a step or two till he was in front of Will, and said with full-mouthed haste, “Excuse me, Mr. Ladislaw– was your mother’s name Sarah Dunkirk?”
他走了几步，直到站在威尔面前，用满嘴的急促声说：“对不起，拉迪斯劳先生——您母亲的名字是莎拉·邓柯克吗？”

Will, starting to his feet, moved backward a step, frowning, and saying with some fierceness, “Yes, sir, it was. —
威尔惊起身，向后退了一步，皱着眉，有些凶狠地说：“是的，先生，是她。那跟你有什么关系？” —

And what is that to you?”
你跟你有什么关系？”

It was in Will’s nature that the first spark it threw out was a direct answer of the question and a challenge of the consequences. —
对问题直截了当地回答，以及对后果的挑战，这是威尔的天性。 —

To have said, “What is that to you?” in the first instance, would have seemed like shuffling–as if he minded who knew anything about his origin!
如果一开始就说“跟你有什么关系？”会显得推诿——好像他在乎别人知道他的出身！

Raffles on his side had not the same eagerness for a collision which was implied in Ladislaw’s threatening air. —
拉弗尔并不像拉迪斯劳那样渴望与即将发生的冲突。 —

The slim young fellow with his girl’s complexion looked like a tiger-cat ready to spring on him. —
那位皮肤红润、看起来像只随时要向他扑过去的虎猫的纤细青年。 —

Under such circumstances Mr. Raffles’s pleasure in annoying his company was kept in abeyance.
在这种情况下，拉菲尔斯先生刻意惹恼他的同伴的愉悦被搁置了起来。

“No offence, my good sir, no offence! I only remember your mother– knew her when she was a girl. —
“别介意，我挚爱的先生，别介意！我只是记得您的母亲–在她还是个姑娘的时候就认识她了。 —

But it is your father that you feature, sir. —
不过您和您的父亲可有几分相似，先生。 —

I had the pleasure of seeing your father too. —
我也有幸见过您的父亲。 —

Parents alive, Mr. Ladislaw?”
您的父母还在世，拉迪斯劳先生吗？

“No!” thundered Will, in the same attitude as before.
不！”威尔雷声雷势地回答道。

“Should be glad to do you a service, Mr. Ladislaw–by Jove, I should! Hope to meet again.”
“很乐意为您效劳，拉迪斯劳先生–天哪，我肯定！希望再次相遇。”

Hereupon Raffles, who had lifted his hat with the last words, turned himself round with a swing of his leg and walked away. —
说完这番话，拉菲尔斯抬起帽子，转身摆动着腿离开了。 —

Will looked after him a moment, and could see that he did not re-enter the auction-room, but appeared to be walking towards the road. —
威尔注视着他的背影，看到他并没有重新进入拍卖厅，而是朝着大街走去。 —

For an instant he thought that he had been foolish not to let the man go on talking; —
一瞬间，他认为自己愚蠢了，不该让那个人继续说话； —

–but no! on the whole he preferred doing without knowledge from that source.
但不！总的来说，他宁愿不从那个来源得知消息。

Later in the evening, however, Raffles overtook him in the street, and appearing either to have forgotten the roughness of his former reception or to intend avenging it by a forgiving familiarity, greeted him jovially and walked by his side, remarking at first on the pleasantness of the town and neighborhood. —
然而，当晚晚些时候，拉菲尔斯在街上赶上了他，并且既不似乎记得先前粗暴的拒绝，也不像是打算通过友好地打招呼来报复，充满好意地与他并肩走着，一开始评论起镇上和周边地区的宜人之处。 —

Will suspected that the man had been drinking and was considering how to shake him off when Raffles said–
威尔怀疑那人可能已经喝醉了，正考虑该如何摆脱他，而拉菲尔斯却说道–

“I’ve been abroad myself, Mr. Ladislaw–I’ve seen the world– used to parley-vous a little. —
“我也出国过，拉迪斯劳先生–我见过世面–些许会讲法语。 —

It was at Boulogne I saw your father– a most uncommon likeness you are of him, by Jove! —
是在布洛涅我见过您的父亲–天哪，您和他相似度非常之高！ —

mouth–nose–eyes– hair turned off your brow just like his–a little in the foreign style. —
嘴巴–鼻子–眼睛–头发从你的额头上翘起，就像他一样–有点像外国风格。 —

John Bull doesn’t do much of that. But your father was very ill when I saw him. Lord, lord! —
约翰·布尔并没有做太多这样的事情。但是当我看到他时，你父亲病得很重。主啊！ —

hands you might see through. You were a small youngster then. Did he get well?”
手你可能看透。你那时还是个小家伙。他好起来了吗？

“No,” said Will, curtly.
“没有，”威尔干脆地说。

“Ah! Well! I’ve often wondered what became of your mother. —
“啊！好吧！我经常想知道你母亲怎么样了。 —

She ran away from her friends when she was a young lass– a proud-spirited lass, and pretty, by Jove! —
她还是个年轻姑娘时就离开了朋友–一个自尊心强的姑娘，漂亮，天哪！ —

I knew the reason why she ran away,” said Raffles, winking slowly as he looked sideways at Will.
我知道她为什么离开，”拉菲尔斯先生边斜向威尔边慢慢眨眼。

“You know nothing dishonorable of her, sir,” said Will, turning on him rather savagely. —
“您对她一无所知，”威尔颇为凶狠地说。 —

But Mr. Raffles just now was not sensitive to shades of manner.
但拉菲尔斯先生目前对于态度的微妙之处并不太在意。

“Not a bit!” said he, tossing his head decisively “She was a little too honorable to like her friends–that was it!” —
“一点也不！”他断然地说 “她太值得尊敬，不喜欢她的朋友–就是这样！” —

Here Raffles again winked slowly. “Lord bless you, I knew all about ‘em– a little in what you may call the respectable thieving line– the high style of receiving-house–none of your holes and corners– first-rate. —
这里拉菲尔斯再次慢慢眨眼。”天啊，我全都知道–有点属于体面的骗子行业–高档的收款处–一点也不偷窃小市场–一流。 —

Slap-up shop, high profits and no mistake. But Lord! —
一流店铺，高利润，毫无疑问。但是噢！ —

Sarah would have known nothing about it–a dashing young lady she was– fine boarding-school–fit for a lord’s wife–only Archie Duncan threw it at her out of spite, because she would have nothing to do with him. —
莎拉对此一无所知–她是个爱冒险的年轻夫人–好的寄宿学校–配得上贵族妻子的身份–只是阿奇·邓肯出于怨恨向她暴露了这一切，因为她不愿意与他有任何关系。 —

And so she ran away from the whole concern. —
所以她从整个事务所逃走了。 —

I travelled for ‘em, sir, in a gentlemanly way–at a high salary. —
我以绅士的方式为他们工作–月薪颇高。 —

They didn’t mind her running away at first–godly folks, sir, very godly–and she was for the stage. The son was alive then, and the daughter was at a discount. —
他们一开始并不在意她逃跑–那些敬虔的人们，先生，非常敬虔–而且她想去舞台。那时儿子还在世，女儿被忽视了。 —

Hallo! here we are at the Blue Bull. What do you say, Mr. Ladislaw? —
哈啰！我们到蓝牛酒店了。拉迪斯劳先生，你觉得怎么样？ —

–shall we turn in and have a glass?”
–我们进去喝一杯吗？”

“No, I must say good evening,” said Will, dashing up a passage which led into Lowick Gate, and almost running to get out of Raffles’s reach.
“不，我要说晚安了。”威尔边说边冲进一条通向洛威克门的小巷，几乎是跑着想要躲开拉弗思。

He walked a long while on the Lowick road away from the town, glad of the starlit darkness when it came. —
他沿着洛威克路走了很久，远离镇子，庆幸星光灿烂时带来的黑暗。 —

He felt as if he had had dirt cast on him amidst shouts of scorn. —
他感觉好像被扔了一身泥，在嘲笑声中被耻辱覆盖。 —

There was this to confirm the fellow’s statement–that his mother never would tell him the reason why she had run away from her family.
有一点可以证实那家伙的话–他的母亲从来没告诉过他为什么从家人那里逃走。

Well! what was he, Will Ladislaw, the worse, supposing the truth about that family to be the ugliest? His mother had braved hardship in order to separate herself from it. —
好吧！威尔·拉迪斯劳会变得更糟吗，假设那个家庭的真相是最丑陋的？他的母亲忍受困难，只为了跟它划清界限。 —

But if Dorothea’s friends had known this story–if the Chettams had known it– they would have had a fine color to give their suspicions a welcome ground for thinking him unfit to come near her. —
但如果多萝西娅的朋友们知道这个故事–如果切坦家族知道–他们会有足够的理由怀疑他不适合接近她。 —

However, let them suspect what they pleased, they would find themselves in the wrong. —
无论他们怀疑什么，他们会发现自己错了。 —

They would find out that the blood in his veins was as free from the taint of meanness as theirs.
他们会发现他血液中的污点和卑劣行为与他们完全无关。