”‘Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, Another thing to fall.” –Measure for Measure.
“受诱惑和跌入诱惑之中是两回事，爱斯卡勒斯。” –《尺取寸量》。

Lydgate certainly had good reason to reflect on the service his practice did him in counteracting his personal cares. —
来德盖特确实有充分的理由反思他的职业对他在对抗个人忧虑方面所起的作用。 —

He had no longer free energy enough for spontaneous research and speculative thinking, but by the bedside of patients, the direct external calls on his judgment and sympathies brought the added impulse needed to draw him out of himself. —
他不再有足够的自由能量进行自发的研究和推测性思考，但在病人的床边，直接的外在对他判断和同情的要求带来了所需的额外推动力，使他摆脱了自我。 —

It was not simply that beneficent harness of routine which enables silly men to live respectably and unhappy men to live calmly–it was a perpetual claim on the immediate fresh application of thought, and on the consideration of another’s need and trial. —
这不仅仅是善意的例行公事使愚蠢的人能够体面地生活，让不幸的人能够平静地生活–这是一种持续不断地对思维的立即重新运用和对他人需求和考验的考虑的永恒要求。 —

Many of us looking back through life would say that the kindest man we have ever known has been a medical man, or perhaps that surgeon whose fine tact, directed by deeply informed perception, has come to us in our need with a more sublime beneficence than that of miracle-workers. —
回顾人生，我们许多人可能会说我们所认识的最仁慈的人是一位医生，或者那些以高度见识为指导进行细致处理的外科医生，在我们需要时以一种比奇迹工作者更崇高的善意出现。 —

Some of that twice-blessed mercy was always with Lydgate in his work at the Hospital or in private houses, serving better than any opiate to quiet and sustain him under his anxieties and his sense of mental degeneracy.
在医院里或者私人房屋里，这种双重祝福的仁慈总是伴随着来德盖特，比任何镇静剂更好地平静和支撑着他在焦虑和对自己智识堕落感下痛苦之中。

Mr. Farebrother’s suspicion as to the opiate was true, however. —
费尔布拉瑟关于镇静剂的怀疑是正确的。 —

Under the first galling pressure of foreseen difficulties, and the first perception that his marriage, if it were not to be a yoked loneliness, must be a state of effort to go on loving without too much care about being loved, he had once or twice tried a dose of opium. —
面对预见到的困难的压力和意识到，如果他的婚姻不想变成一种被扣上的孤独，必须是一种不太在意被爱的情况下继续去爱的努力，他曾试过服用鸦片。 —

But he had no hereditary constitutional craving after such transient escapes from the hauntings of misery. —
但他对从这种短暂逃避痛苦的困扰中寻求帮助并没有家族遗传上的渴望。 —

He was strong, could drink a great deal of wine, but did not care about it; —
他很强壮，能喝很多葡萄酒，但不在意； —

and when the men round him were drinking spirits, he took sugar and water, having a contemptuous pity even for the earliest stages of excitement from drink. —
当周围的人在喝烈酒时，他喝糖水，甚至对饮酒所带来的最初的兴奋阶段都有一种轻蔑的怜悯。 —

It was the same with gambling. He had looked on at a great deal of gambling in Paris, watching it as if it had been a disease. —
赌博也是一样。他曾在巴黎观看过很多赌博，把它看作一种疾病。 —

He was no more tempted by such winning than he was by drink. —
他对这样的胜利没有被诱惑。 —

He had said to himself that the only winning he cared for must be attained by a conscious process of high, difficult combination tending towards a beneficent result. —
他对自己渴望的力量表示，唯一在乎的胜利必须通过一种向着有益结果的高度复杂组合的自觉过程取得。 —

The power he longed for could not be represented by agitated fingers clutching a heap of coin, or by the half-barbarous, half-idiotic triumph in the eyes of a man who sweeps within his arms the ventures of twenty chapfallen companions.
他渴望的力量不能用激动的手指抓住一堆硬币，或者用一个人扫过二十位失望伙伴的冷嘲热讽的胜利眼睛所体现。

But just as he had tried opium, so his thought now began to turn upon gambling–not with appetite for its excitement, but with a sort of wistful inward gaze after that easy way of getting money, which implied no asking and brought no responsibility. —
但就像他曾尝试过吗啡一样，他的思绪现在开始转向赌博–不是因为对刺激感的渴望，而是对那种轻松赚钱的渴望，这种方式不需要请求也不需要负责。 —

If he had been in London or Paris at that time, it is probable that such thoughts, seconded by opportunity, would have taken him into a gambling-house, no longer to watch the gamblers, but to watch with them in kindred eagerness. —
如果当时他在伦敦或巴黎，很可能这种想法在机会的推动下会把他带进赌场，不再只是看赌徒，而是和他们一起急迫地观战。 —

Repugnance would have been surmounted by the immense need to win, if chance would be kind enough to let him. —
如果机会允许，排斥感会被赢得胜利的强烈需求所克服。 —

An incident which happened not very long after that airy notion of getting aid from his uncle had been excluded, was a strong sign of the effect that might have followed any extant opportunity of gambling.
不久之后发生的一个事件，是排除掉向叔叔寻求帮助的轻浮想法之后可能产生的影响的一个强烈迹象。

The billiard-room at the Green Dragon was the constant resort of a certain set, most of whom, like our acquaintance Mr. Bambridge, were regarded as men of pleasure. —
绿龙酒吧的台球室是某一群人的常去之地，这些人中像我们熟人班布里奇先生那样，大多被视为享乐之士。 —

It was here that poor Fred Vincy had made part of his memorable debt, having lost money in betting, and been obliged to borrow of that gay companion. —
可怜的弗雷德·温西曾在这里欠下了他令人难忘的债务的一部分，因为他在赌博中输钱，被迫向那位欢乐的伙伴借钱。 —

It was generally known in Middlemarch that a good deal of money was lost and won in this way; —
在米德尔马奇普遍知道，通过赌博这种方式输掉或赢回大量金钱； —

and the consequent repute of the Green Dragon as a place of dissipation naturally heightened in some quarters the temptation to go there. —
绿龙酒吧因此被认为是一个放荡之地，这在某些领域自然加剧了去那里的诱惑。 —

Probably its regular visitants, like the initiates of freemasonry, wished that there were something a little more tremendous to keep to themselves concerning it; —
可能它的常客，就像共济会的入会者一样，希望有更令人胆战心惊的东西可以独享； —

but they were not a closed community, and many decent seniors as well as juniors occasionally turned into the billiard-room to see what was going on. —
但他们并不是一个封闭的社区，许多体面的老年人和年轻人偶尔也会走进台球室看看发生了什么。 —

Lydgate, who had the muscular aptitude for billiards, and was fond of the game, had once or twice in the early days after his arrival in Middlemarch taken his turn with the cue at the Green Dragon; —
莱德盖特具有打台球的肌肉天赋，喜欢这个游戏，在他刚到米德尔马奇的早期时代已经在绿龙酒吧拿过球杆； —

but afterwards he had no leisure for the game, and no inclination for the socialities there. —
但后来他没有时间玩这个游戏，也没有兴趣参与那里的社交活动。 —

One evening, however, he had occasion to seek Mr. Bambridge at that resort. —
然而，有一天晚上，他需要在那个地方找班布里奇先生。 —

The horsedealer had engaged to get him a customer for his remaining good horse, for which Lydgate had determined to substitute a cheap hack, hoping by this reduction of style to get perhaps twenty pounds; —
马匹经销商已经答应为他的最后一匹好马找到一个客户，莱德盖特已决定用廉价马来替代，希望通过这种降低档次来得到大约二十英镑； —

and he cared now for every small sum, as a help towards feeding the patience of his tradesmen. —
他现在对每一笔小钱都很在意，希望这些钱可以帮助缓解他与商家之间的耐心。 —

To run up to the billiard-room, as he was passing, would save time.
趁着经过，他跑向了桌球室，这样可以省时间。

Mr. Bambridge was not yet come, bat would be sure to arrive by-and-by, said his friend Mr. Horrock; —
班布里奇先生还没到，但他的朋友霍洛克说他马上就会来。 —

and Lydgate stayed, playing a game for the sake of passing the time. —
为了打发时间，李德盖特留下来打了一局游戏。 —

That evening he had the peculiar light in the eyes and the unusual vivacity which had been once noticed in him by Mr. Farebrother. —
那天晚上他眼里有着独特的光芒，以及一种曾被费尔布鲁斯先生注意到的异常活力。 —

The exceptional fact of his presence was much noticed in the room, where there was a good deal of Middlemarch company; —
他的到来在房间里引起了许多注意，因为有不少米德尔马奇的人在场； —

and several lookers-on, as well as some of the players, were betting with animation. —
几个围观的人，以及一些玩家正在兴致勃勃地进行赌博。 —

Lydgate was playing well, and felt confident; —
李德盖特的表现不错，感到很有信心； —

the bets were dropping round him, and with a swift glancing thought of the probable gain which might double the sum he was saving from his horse, he began to bet on his own play, and won again and again. —
赌注在他身边不断增加，他急切地想到可能的收益，可以将他从每天的诱惑中解救出来，他开始赌自己的打法，并且一次次赢。 —

Mr. Bambridge had come in, but Lydgate did not notice him. —
班布里奇先生已经进来了，但李德盖特并没有注意到他。 —

He was not only excited with his play, but visions were gleaming on him of going the next day to Brassing, where there was gambling on a grander scale to be had, and where, by one powerful snatch at the devil’s bait, he might carry it off without the hook, and buy his rescue from his daily solicitings.
他不仅对打法感到兴奋，而且对第二天去布拉辛赌注更大的地方也充满幻想，通过一次有力的夺取魔鬼的诱饵，他可能在不中钩的情况下成功，从而挽救自己免受日常的引诱。

He was still winning when two new visitors entered. —
当两位新来的访客进来的时候，他仍在赢。 —

One of them was a young Hawley, just come from his law studies in town, and the other was Fred Vincy, who had spent several evenings of late at this old haunt of his. —
其中一位是刚从伦敦法学院来的年轻霍利，另一位是弗雷德·温茨，最近几个晚上一直在这个他的老巢里度过。 —

Young Hawley, an accomplished billiard-player, brought a cool fresh hand to the cue. —
年轻霍利是一位技艺高超的台球手，带着冷静而清爽的手拿着球杆。 —

But Fred Vincy, startled at seeing Lydgate, and astonished to see him betting with an excited air, stood aside, and kept out of the circle round the table.
但是弗雷德·温茨看到李德盖特感到惊讶，看到他以激动的表情在赌注，便站在一边，远离球桌周围的圈子。

Fred had been rewarding resolution by a little laxity of late. —
最近，弗雷德因为一点点的决心奖励而有些放松。 —

He had been working heartily for six months at all outdoor occupations under Mr. Garth, and by dint of severe practice had nearly mastered the defects of his handwriting, this practice being, perhaps, a little the less severe that it was often carried on in the evening at Mr. Garth’s under the eyes of Mary. But the last fortnight Mary had been staying at Lowick Parsonage with the ladies there, during Mr. Farebrother’s residence in Middlemarch, where he was carrying out some parochial plans; —
他已经在加思小姐(Casaubon)的监督下，拼命地在户外的各种职业中工作了六个月，通过严格的练习，几乎掌握了自己笔迹的缺陷，也许这种练习没那么严格，因为经常在晚上在加思先生家里，在玛丽的注视下进行。 —

and Fred, not seeing anything more agreeable to do, had turned into the Green Dragon, partly to play at billiards, partly to taste the old flavor of discourse about horses, sport, and things in general, considered from a point of view which was not strenuously correct. —
而弗雷德，不知道有什么更愉快的事情可做，便转入绿龙酒馆，部分是为了打台球，部分是为了品尝关于马匹、运动和一般事物的老味道的讨论，这种讨论的观点并不是十分正确。 —

He had not been out hunting once this season, had had no horse of his own to ride, and had gone from place to place chiefly with Mr. Garth in his gig, or on the sober cob which Mr. Garth could lend him. —
他这个季节还没有上过一次狩猎，没有自己的马可以骑，主要跟着加思先生一起乘坐他的马车或他能借给他的温驯的小马四处转。 —

It was a little too bad, Fred began to think, that he should be kept in the traces with more severity than if he had been a clergyman. —
弗雷德开始想，他被严格地控制，比起牧师来说也太不公平了。 —

“I will tell you what, Mistress Mary–it will be rather harder work to learn surveying and drawing plans than it would have been to write sermons,” he had said, wishing her to appreciate what he went through for her sake; —
“玛丽夫人，我得告诉你，学习测量和绘制平面图要比写布道词更费力一些，”他说，希望她能理解他为了她而经历的一切； —

“and as to Hercules and Theseus, they were nothing to me. —
“至于赫拉克勒斯和忒修斯，他们根本不算什么。 —

They had sport, and never learned to write a bookkeeping hand.” —
他们享乐，从未学过写账面手。” —

And now, Mary being out of the way for a little while, Fred, like any other strong dog who cannot slip his collar, had pulled up the staple of his chain and made a small escape, not of course meaning to go fast or far. —
现在，玛丽暂时不在身边，弗雷德像任何一只无法挣脱项圈的强壮狗一样，拉起了链条的栓，小小地逃了一次，当然并不打算速度或距离走远。 —

There could be no reason why he should not play at billiards, but he was determined not to bet. —
他玩台球当然无可厚非，但他决定不进行赌博。 —

As to money just now, Fred had in his mind the heroic project of saving almost all of the eighty pounds that Mr. Garth offered him, and returning it, which he could easily do by giving up all futile money-spending, since he had a superfluous stock of clothes, and no expense in his board. —
至于钱，弗雷德心里有个英勇的计划，几乎要节省加思先生给他的八十镑，将之归还，他可以轻而易举地做到这一点，因为他有多余的衣服，而且在食宿方面没有花费。 —

In that way he could, in one year, go a good way towards repaying the ninety pounds of which he had deprived Mrs. Garth, unhappily at a time when she needed that sum more than she did now. —
这样一来，他一年时间可以大致偿还他在太太加思急需这笔钱的时候剥夺她的九十镑。 —

Nevertheless, it must be acknowledged that on this evening, which was the fifth of his recent visits to the billiard-room, Fred had, not in his pocket, but in his mind, the ten pounds which he meant to reserve for himself from his half-year’s salary (having before him the pleasure of carrying thirty to Mrs. Garth when Mary was likely to be come home again)– he had those ten pounds in his mind as a fund from which he might risk something, if there were a chance of a good bet. —
尽管如此，在这个晚上，也就是他最近第五次去台球室，弗雷德脑子里想的是他将从半年薪水里留下的十镑（在玛丽可能回家时享受将三十镑带给加思太太的乐趣）——他将这十镑留作风险金，如果有好的赌注机会，他愿意用之。 —

Why? Well, when sovereigns were flying about, why shouldn’t he catch a few? —
为什么呢？嗯，当金币四处飞舞时，他为什么不来抓几个呢？ —

He would never go far along that road again; —
他再也不会沿着那条路走下去了； —

but a man likes to assure himself, and men of pleasure generally, what he could do in the way of mischief if he chose, and that if he abstains from making himself ill, or beggaring himself, or talking with the utmost looseness which the narrow limits of human capacity will allow, it is not because he is a spooney. —
但是一个男人喜欢让自己确信，而且通常是享乐的男人，如果选择的话他能做多少有害之事，而且如果他不使自己病倒、使自己破产、或者说出人类能力所能容忍的最放荡的言论，那不是因为他是个傻瓜。 —

Fred did not enter into formal reasons, which are a very artificial, inexact way of representing the tingling returns of old habit, and the caprices of young blood: —
Fred没有提出正式的理由，这是一种非常人工、不精确的方式来表示老习惯的刺痛反应和年轻血液的变幻莫测： —

but there was lurking in him a prophetic sense that evening, that when he began to play he should also begin to bet–that he should enjoy some punch-drinking, and in general prepare himself for feeling “rather seedy” in the morning. —
但是在他身上潜藏着一种预言性的感觉，那个晚上，在他开始玩的时候，他也会开始下赌注——他会享受一些喝泼克酒，一般来说准备好当天早晨醉醺醺的感觉。 —

It is in such indefinable movements that action often begins.
就是在这种无法定义的运动中，行动常常开始。

But the last thing likely to have entered Fred’s expectation was that he should see his brother-in-law Lydgate–of whom he had never quite dropped the old opinion that he was a prig, and tremendously conscious of his superiority–looking excited and betting, just as he himself might have done. —
但是在Fred的预料中，最不可能发生的事是他会看到他的姐夫莱德盖特——他从未完全改变过对他的观点，认为他是个假正经，极度意识到自己的优越——看起来兴奋并下赌注，就像他自己可能会做的那样。 —

Fred felt a shock greater than he could quite account for by the vague knowledge that Lydgate was in debt, and that his father had refused to help him; —
Fred对此感到一种预料之外的震惊，更大的震惊，以至于无法完全通过模糊知识来解释，莱德盖特负债，他的父亲拒绝帮助他； —

and his own inclination to enter into the play was suddenly checked. —
他自己进入游戏的倾向突然受到了制止。 —

It was a strange reversal of attitudes: Fred’s blond face and blue eyes, usually bright and careless, ready to give attention to anything that held out a promise of amusement, looking involuntarily grave and almost embarrassed as if by the sight of something unfitting; —
这是一种奇怪的态度转变：Fred通常明亮无忧的金发蓝眼睛，愿意对任何能够娱乐的事情给予关注，看起来不由自主地变得认真和尴尬，好像看到了一些不合适的事情； —

while Lydgate, who had habitually an air of self-possessed strength, and a certain meditativeness that seemed to lie behind his most observant attention, was acting, watching, speaking with that excited narrow consciousness which reminds one of an animal with fierce eyes and retractile claws.
而莱德盖特，平常总是带有一种自信的力量感，和一种似乎隐藏在他最细致注意力之后的一种沉思，此刻却在行动、观察、发言时带着那种兴奋的狭隘意识，让人想起一只眼睛凶猛、可以缩进爪子的动物。

Lydgate, by betting on his own strokes, had won sixteen pounds; —
Lydgate通过下赌注自己的运动，赢了十六英镑； —

but young Hawley’s arrival had changed the poise of things. —
但是霍利年轻人的到来改变了局势的平衡。 —

He made first-rate strokes himself, and began to bet against Lydgate’s strokes, the strain of whose nerves was thus changed from simple confidence in his own movements to defying another person’s doubt in them. —
他自己做出了一流的运动，并开始反对莱德盖特的运动下注，莱德盖特的神经紧张状态从对自己动作的简单信心转变为对另一个人对这些动作的怀疑的挑战。 —

The defiance was more exciting than the confidence, but it was less sure. —
挑战比信心更令人兴奋，但却不那么确定。 —

He continued to bet on his own play, but began often to fail. —
他继续在自己的游戏上下注，但开始经常失败。 —

Still he went on, for his mind was as utterly narrowed into that precipitous crevice of play as if he had been the most ignorant lounger there. —
尽管如此，他仍然继续下去，因为他的思绪像那里最无知的混混一样完全局限在那个陡峭的玩耍缝隙中。 —

Fred observed that Lydgate was losing fast, and found himself in the new situation of puzzling his brains to think of some device by which, without being offensive, he could withdraw Lydgate’s attention, and perhaps suggest to him a reason for quitting the room. —
弗雷德观察到利德盖特正在迅速失去状态，并发现自己陷入了新的困境，他正在费尽心思，想出一些方法，可以在不冒犯的情况下吸引利德盖特的注意，也许给他一个理由离开房间。 —

He saw that others were observing Lydgate’s strange unlikeness to himself, and it occurred to him that merely to touch his elbow and call him aside for a moment might rouse him from his absorption. —
他看到其他人都在观察着利德盖特与他自己的奇怪不同之处，于是他想到，只是碰一下他的肘部，把他领到一边可能会让他从心不在焉中回过神来。 —

He could think of nothing cleverer than the daring improbability of saying that he wanted to see Rosy, and wished to know if she were at home this evening; —
他想不出比说他想见罗西，并且想知道她今晚是否在家，更巧妙的办法，他快要采取这个脆弱的计谋，当一个侍者走过来对他传话说费尔布拉泽先生在楼下，请求见他。 —

and he was going desperately to carry out this weak device, when a waiter came up to him with a message, saying that Mr. Farebrother was below, and begged to speak with him.
弗雷德感到惊讶，不是很舒服，但他回了消息说他会马上下去，激发了他向利德盖特走过，说，“我能和你说句话吗？”

Fred was surprised, not quite comfortably, but sending word that he would be down immediately, he went with a new impulse up to Lydgate, said, “Can I speak to you a moment?” —
并将他拉到一边。 —

and drew him aside.
“费尔布拉泽刚刚传话说他想见我。他在楼下。

“Farebrother has just sent up a message to say that he wants to speak to me. He is below. —
我以为你可能想知道他在那里，如果你有什么话要对他说。” —

I thought you might like to know he was there, if you had anything to say to him.”
弗雷德仅仅是抓住了这个借口来说话，因为他不能说：“你输得很惨，大家都在盯着你看；

Fred had simply snatched up this pretext for speaking, because he could not say, “You are losing confoundedly, and are making everybody stare at you; —
你最好走开。”但灵感几乎无法帮助他更好地表达。 —

you had better come away.” But inspiration could hardly have served him better. —
利德盖特之前没有看到弗雷德在场，他突然出现并宣布费尔布拉泽先生来了，这起了一个强烈的震动作用。 —

Lydgate had not before seen that Fred was present, and his sudden appearance with an announcement of Mr. Farebrother had the effect of a sharp concussion.
“不，不，”利德盖特说：“我没有什么特别想对他说的。

“No, no,” said Lydgate; “I have nothing particular to say to him. —
但——游戏结束了——我必须走了——我只是过来见班布里奇。” —

But–the game is up–I must be going–I came in just to see Bambridge.”
“班布里奇在那边，但他在闹事——我觉得他还没有准备好。

“Bambridge is over there, but he is making a row–I don’t think he’s ready for business. —
跟我一起去见费尔布拉泽吧。我想他要批评我，你可以帮我挡嘴。”弗雷德机智地说。 —

Come down with me to Farebrother. I expect he is going to blow me up, and you will shield me,” said Fred, with some adroitness.
Fred had simply snatched up this pretext for speaking, because he could not say, “You are losing confoundedly, and are making everybody stare at you; you had better come away.” But inspiration could hardly have served him better.

Lydgate felt shame, but could not bear to act as if he felt it, by refusing to see Mr. Farebrother; —
莱德盖感到羞愧，但又不能拒绝见费尔布罗先生； —

and he went down. They merely shook hands, however, and spoke of the frost; —
于是他跟着下楼。然而，他们只是简单握手，谈论了天气寒冷； —

and when all three had turned into the street, the Vicar seemed quite willing to say good-by to Lydgate. —
当三人一起走出街道时，牧师似乎很乐意和莱德盖道别； —

His present purpose was clearly to talk with Fred alone, and he said, kindly, “I disturbed you, young gentleman, because I have some pressing business with you. —
他现在显然是想和弗雷德单独谈话，他友好地说道：“年轻绅士，我打扰你了，因为我有一些紧急的事情要和你谈谈； —

Walk with me to St. Botolph’s, will you?”
跟我一起去圣博托尔夫教堂吧？”

It was a fine night, the sky thick with stars, and Mr. Farebrother proposed that they should make a circuit to the old church by the London road. —
这是一个晴朗的夜晚，满天繁星，费尔布罗先生建议他们沿着伦敦路绕到旧教堂； —

The next thing he said was–
他接着说道–

“I thought Lydgate never went to the Green Dragon?”
“我以为莱德盖从不去绿龙酒馆？”

“So did I,” said Fred. “But he said that he went to see Bambridge.”
“我也是这么想的，”弗雷德说。“但他说他去看班布里奇。”

“He was not playing, then?”
“那他不是在打牌吗？”

Fred had not meant to tell this, but he was obliged now to say, “Yes, he was. —
弗雷德原本不想说这个，但现在他只能说，“是的，他在打牌。 —

But I suppose it was an accidental thing. —
但我想这可能是偶然的事。 —

I have never seen him there before.”
我以前从没见他在那里。”

“You have been going often yourself, then, lately?”
“那你最近是经常去了？”

“Oh, about five or six times.”
“噢，大概五六次吧。”

“I think you had some good reason for giving up the habit of going there?”
“我认为你放弃去那里的习惯一定有充分的理由吧？”

“Yes. You know all about it,” said Fred, not liking to be catechised in this way. —
“是的。你全都知道,“弗雷德不喜欢被这样审问。 —

“I made a clean breast to you.”
“我向你坦白了一切。”

“I suppose that gives me a warrant to speak about the matter now. —
“那么我想现在我有权谈论这个问题了。 —

It is understood between us, is it not?–that we are on a footing of open friendship: —
我们之间是明白的，不是吗？–我们之间是坦诚的友谊： —

I have listened to you, and you will be willing to listen to me. —
我听过你的，你会愿意听我说。 —

I may take my turn in talking a little about myself?”
现在轮到我谈谈我自己了吗？”

“I am under the deepest obligation to you, Mr. Farebrother,” said Fred, in a state of uncomfortable surmise.
“费布罗瑟先生，我对您感激不尽,“弗雷德感到不安地猜测着。

“I will not affect to deny that you are under some obligation to me. —
“我不否认你对我的确有些许之处。 —

But I am going to confess to you, Fred, that I have been tempted to reverse all that by keeping silence with you just now. —
但我要坦白告诉你，弗雷德，我曾被诱惑要反其道而行，现在对你保持沉默。 —

When somebody said to me, `Young Vincy has taken to being at the billiard-table every night again–he won’t bear the curb long;’ —
当有人对我说，’年轻的温西又开始每晚去台球桌了–他不会忍耗太长时间’; —

I was tempted to do the opposite of what I am doing–to hold my tongue and wait while you went down the ladder again, betting first and then–”
我受到了诱惑要做与我现在相反的事–保持沉默，看着你走上错误的道路，耗尽加思的耐心，并失去你一生中最好的机会–这个你曾经做出了相当努力努力争取的机会。

“I have not made any bets,” said Fred, hastily.
“我没有下过赌注,“弗雷德急忙说。

“Glad to hear it. But I say, my prompting was to look on and see you take the wrong turning, wear out Garth’s patience, and lose the best opportunity of your life–the opportunity which you made some rather difficult effort to secure. —
“很高兴听到。但我说，我的冲动是看着你走向错误的方向，耗尽加思的耐心，并失去你一生中最好的机会–你曾做出了一些相当困难的努力来争取。 —

You can guess the feeling which raised that temptation in me–I am sure you know it. —
你可以猜到激发我那种诱惑的感觉–我相信你知道。” —

I am sure you know that the satisfaction of your affections stands in the way of mine.”
我相信你知道，你的感情满足了我对她的感情。

There was a pause. Mr. Farebrother seemed to wait for a recognition of the fact; —
有一段时间停顿。费尔布罗瑟先生似乎在等待对这一事实的认可; —

and the emotion perceptible in the tones of his fine voice gave solemnity to his words. —
他那美妙声音中可察觉到的情感赋予了他的话庄严的氛围。 —

But no feeling could quell Fred’s alarm.
但没有任何感情可以平息弗雷德的恐惧。

“I could not be expected to give her up,” he said, after a moment’s hesitation: —
“我不可能放手她”，他犹豫片刻后说道; —

it was not a case for any pretence of generosity.
这并不需要伪装出什么慷慨之举。

“Clearly not, when her affection met yours. —
“显然不可能，当她的感情与你相遇时。 —

But relations of this sort, even when they are of long standing, are always liable to change. —
但是，即使这种关系已经长期存在，它们也总是有可能改变。 —

I can easily conceive that you might act in a way to loosen the tie she feels towards you–it must be remembered that she is only conditionally bound to you–and that in that case, another man, who may flatter himself that he has a hold on her regard, might succeed in winning that firm place in her love as well as respect which you had let slip. —
我很容易想象你可能会采取一种方式来削弱她对你的纽带——必须记住，她对你只是有条件的承诺——那样的话，另一个男人，也许会自以为对她的爱有所把握，可能成功赢得她对他的坚定感情和尊重，而你已经失去了。 —

I can easily conceive such a result,” repeated Mr. Farebrother, emphatically. —
我很容易想象这样的结果”，费尔布罗瑟先生强调道。 —

“There is a companionship of ready sympathy, which might get the advantage even over the longest associations.” —
“有一种准备好共鸣的伴侣关系，甚至可能超越最长久的关联”。 —

It seemed to Fred that if Mr. Farebrother had had a beak and talons instead of his very capable tongue, his mode of attack could hardly be more cruel. —
弗雷德觉得，如果费尔布罗瑟先生长着喙和爪子而非那张非常善辩的舌头，他的攻击方式几乎不可能更残忍。 —

He had a horrible conviction that behind all this hypothetic statement there was a knowledge of some actual change in Mary’s feeling.
他对背后所有这些假设性陈述里隐藏的对玛丽感情发生变化的实际了解有一种可怕的信念。

“Of course I know it might easily be all up with me,” he said, in a troubled voice. —
“当然，我知道很容易就可能一切都结束了”，他用焦虑的声音说道。 —

“If she is beginning to compare–” He broke off, not liking to betray all he felt, and then said, by the help of a little bitterness, “But I thought you were friendly to me.”
“如果她开始比较——”他停下来，不想暴露出自己的所有感受，然后通过一点点苦涩说：“但我还以为你对我友好。”

“So I am; that is why we are here. But I have had a strong disposition to be otherwise. —
“所以我是的；这就是我们在这里的原因。但我本来是有另外一种强烈的性格倾向的。 —

I have said to myself, `If there is a likelihood of that youngster doing himself harm, why should you interfere? —
我对自己说，‘如果那个年轻人可能会自损，你为什么要干涉呢？ —

Aren’t you worth as much as he is, and don’t your sixteen years over and above his, in which you have gone rather hungry, give you more right to satisfaction than he has? —
你难道不值得和他一样多吗？那你比他多出的十六年，在那些年里你挺过相当的饥饿，难道不比他更有权利得到满足吗？ —

If there’s a chance of his going to the dogs, let him–perhaps you could nohow hinder it– and do you take the benefit.‘”
如果他有可能堕落，让他去吧–也许你根本管不了–而你自己得到好处。’

There was a pause, in which Fred was seized by a most uncomfortable chill. What was coming next? —
一个短暂的停顿，让弗雷德感到一种极为不舒服的寒意。接下来会是什么呢？ —

He dreaded to hear that something had been said to Mary–he felt as if he were listening to a threat rather than a warning. —
他害怕听到有关玛丽的事情–他觉得自己在听威胁而不是警告。 —

When the Vicar began again there was a change in his tone like the encouraging transition to a major key.
当牧师重新开始说话时，他的语气有所改变，就像从平和过渡到重要的调子一样。

“But I had once meant better than that, and I am come back to my old intention. —
‘但我曾经打算比那更好，并且我回到了我的初衷。 —

I thought that I could hardly secure myself in it better, Fred, than by telling you just what had gone on in me. —
我认为，弗雷德，你可能无法比我更好地确保自己，于是我决定告诉你我内心真正的想法。 —

And now, do you understand me? I want you to make the happiness of her life and your own, and if there is any chance that a word of warning from me may turn aside any risk to the contrary–well, I have uttered it.”
现在你明白我的意思了吗？我希望你能让她的生活和你自己的生活幸福，如果有任何可能我通过一句警告能够避免相反的风险–好吧，我已经说出来了。’

There was a drop in the Vicar’s voice when he spoke the last words He paused–they were standing on a patch of green where the road diverged towards St. Botolph’s, and he put out his hand, as if to imply that the conversation was closed. —
当牧师说出最后一句话时，他的声音有些沉下。他停顿了一下–他们正站在一片绿地上，道路朝着圣博托尔夫教堂分岔，他伸出手，好像在暗示谈话结束了。 —

Fred was moved quite newly. Some one highly susceptible to the contemplation of a fine act has said, that it produces a sort of regenerating shudder through the frame, and makes one feel ready to begin a new life. —
弗雷德被深深感动。一个对美好行为高度敏感的人曾说过，它会在身体里产生一种重新焕发的战栗感，让人感觉准备开始新生活。 —

A good degree of that effect was just then present in Fred Vincy.
弗雷德·文西就在那时体会到了那种效果的一定程度。

“I will try to be worthy,” he said, breaking off before he could say “of you as well as of her.” —
‘我会努力配得上，’他说着，中途突然停下来，没说完‘也配得上你和她。’ —

And meanwhile Mr. Farebrother had gathered the impulse to say something more.
而与此同时，费尔布拉瑟先生也鼓起勇气再说些什么。”

“You must not imagine that I believe there is at present any decline in her preference of you, Fred. Set your heart at rest, that if you keep right, other things will keep right.”
“你不要想当然地认为她对你的偏爱有所减退，弗雷德。放心吧，只要你做对了，其他事情也会跟着好起来。”

“I shall never forget what you have done,” Fred answered. —
“我永远不会忘记你为我所做的一切，”弗雷德回答道。 —

“I can’t say anything that seems worth saying–only I will try that your goodness shall not be thrown away.”
“我说不出什么值得一提的话来，只能努力让你的善意不至被浪费。”

“That’s enough. Good-by, and God bless you.”
“这就够了。再见，上帝保佑你。”

In that way they parted. But both of them walked about a long while before they went out of the starlight. —
他们就这样分开了。但在离开星光之前，他们都在周围走了好一阵。 —

Much of Fred’s rumination might be summed up in the words, “It certainly would have been a fine thing for her to marry Farebrother–but if she loves me best and I am a good husband?”
弗雷德的思考大部分可以总结为“如果她嫁给费尔布鲁撒会是一件好事–但如果她最爱我并且我是一个好丈夫呢？”

Perhaps Mr. Farebrother’s might be concentrated into a single shrug and one little speech. —
也许费尔布罗瑟先生的心境可以用一个耸肩和一句话来表达。 —

“To think of the part one little woman can play in the life of a man, so that to renounce her may be a very good imitation of heroism, and to win her may be a discipline!”
“想想一位小女人在一个男人的生命中能扮演的角色，以至于放弃她可能是一种极好的英雄主义表现，而赢得她可能是一种磨练！”