In Florence, a rich and famous city of Italy in the province called Tuscany, there lived two gentlemen of wealth and quality, Anselmo and Lothario, such great friends that by way of distinction they were called by all that knew them “The Two Friends. —
在意大利托斯卡纳省的佛罗伦萨这座富裕而著名的城市里，住着两位富裕有品位的绅士，安瑟尔莫和洛塔里奥，他们的友谊之深受到所有认识他们的人的称赞，被称为“两位朋友”。 —

” They were unmarried, young, of the same age and of the same tastes, which was enough to account for the reciprocal friendship between them. —
他们两人未婚，年轻，同龄且志趣相投，足以解释他们之间互相友谊之源。 —

Anselmo, it is true, was somewhat more inclined to seek pleasure in love than Lothario, for whom the pleasures of the chase had more attraction; —
安瑟尔莫确实比洛塔里奥更倾向于寻求爱情的快乐，而洛塔里奥更喜欢狩猎的乐趣； —

but on occasion Anselmo would forego his own tastes to yield to those of Lothario, and Lothario would surrender his to fall in with those of Anselmo, and in this way their inclinations kept pace one with the other with a concord so perfect that the best regulated clock could not surpass it.
但安瑟尔莫偶尔为了迎合洛塔里奥的喜好而放弃自己的，而洛塔里奥也会放弃自己的以顺应安瑟尔莫的，如此彼此习性和谐一致，如同最精准的时钟也无法超越。

Anselmo was deep in love with a high-born and beautiful maiden of the same city, the daughter of parents so estimable, and so estimable herself, that he resolved, with the approval of his friend Lothario, without whom he did nothing, to ask her of them in marriage, and did so, Lothario being the bearer of the demand, and conducting the negotiation so much to the satisfaction of his friend that in a short time he was in possession of the object of his desires, and Camilla so happy in having won Anselmo for her husband, that she gave thanks unceasingly to heaven and to Lothario, by whose means such good fortune had fallen to her. —
安瑟尔莫深深地爱着佛罗伦萨这座高贵美丽的城市里的女孩，她是一位高贵美丽的少女，父母双亲德高望重，她本人也德高望重，安瑟尔莫决定向他们求婚，得到了朋友洛塔里奥的支持，没谁不知道两人之间凡事须得他同意，因此，安瑟尔莫约好洛塔里奥前来传达求婚，洛塔里奥为此事办得十分圆满，很快地安瑟尔莫如愿以偿，卡米拉也感到幸福无比，因为她成为了安瑟尔莫的妻子，她对上天和洛塔里奥的帮助无比感激。 —

The first few days, those of a wedding being usually days of merry-making, Lothario frequented his friend Anselmo’s house as he had been wont, striving to do honour to him and to the occasion, and to gratify him in every way he could; —
在结婚初期，通常是充满欢乐的日子，洛塔里奥经常去安瑟尔莫家，像以往一样尽心尽力地给他们带去尊敬和祝贺； —

but when the wedding days were over and the succession of visits and congratulations had slackened, he began purposely to leave off going to the house of Anselmo, for it seemed to him, as it naturally would to all men of sense, that friends’ houses ought not to be visited after marriage with the same frequency as in their masters’ bachelor days: —
但是当结婚日子结束，探视和祝贺的活动变少之后，洛塔里奥便故意减少到安瑟尔莫家的频率，因为对于所有明智之士来说，朋友在婚后就不应该像单身时那样频繁探访了： —

because, though true and genuine friendship cannot and should not be in any way suspicious, still a married man’s honour is a thing of such delicacy that it is held liable to injury from brothers, much more from friends. —
因为尽管真正的友谊不应该也不会心存猜疑，但已婚男士的荣誉是非常微妙的东西，会受到兄弟甚至朋友的伤害。 —

Anselmo remarked the cessation of Lothario’s visits, and complained of it to him, saying that if he had known that marriage was to keep him from enjoying his society as he used, he would have never married; —
安瑟尔莫注意到洛塔里奥探访变少，并向他抱怨，说如果他早知道结婚会让他不再能够和他一样经常见面，他就绝不会结婚； —

and that, if by the thorough harmony that subsisted between them while he was a bachelor they had earned such a sweet name as that of “The Two Friends,” he should not allow a title so rare and so delightful to be lost through a needless anxiety to act circumspectly; —
他认为，要是不为了不必要的谨慎而丧失一个如此难得而又美好的称号-“两个朋友”，实在是太可惜了，而这个称号，他和洛塔里奥因彼此的和谐合作而赢得，他绝不会让它因为不必要的小心翼翼而丢失。 —

and so he entreated him, if such a phrase was allowable between them, to be once more master of his house and to come in and go out as formerly, assuring him that his wife Camilla had no other desire or inclination than that which he would wish her to have, and that knowing how sincerely they loved one another she was grieved to see such coldness in him.
于是，他恳求他，如果这样的说辞在他们之间是允许的话，能再次成为他的家里主人，像以前一样出入自如，向他保证他的妻子卡米拉没有其他愿望或倾向，只希望得到他希望她有的一切，并且知道他们彼此真挚地相爱，她看到他对她冷淡感到悲伤。

To all this and much more that Anselmo said to Lothario to persuade him to come to his house as he had been in the habit of doing, Lothario replied with so much prudence, sense, and judgment, that Anselmo was satisfied of his friend’s good intentions, and it was agreed that on two days in the week, and on holidays, Lothario should come to dine with him; —
对于安瑟尔莫对洛萨利奥说的一切，他劝说他像以前一样来到他家中，洛萨利奥用如此明智、理性和判断的回答让安瑟尔莫相信了他朋友良好的意图，他们约定每周两天以及节假日，洛萨利奥应该和他一起进餐； —

but though this arrangement was made between them Lothario resolved to observe it no further than he considered to be in accordance with the honour of his friend, whose good name was more to him than his own. —
但是虽然他们之间达成了这个安排，洛萨利奥决定只在符合他朋友的荣誉的范围内遵守这个协议，对他来说，他朋友的名誉比他自己的名誉更重要。 —

He said, and justly, that a married man upon whom heaven had bestowed a beautiful wife should consider as carefully what friends he brought to his house as what female friends his wife associated with, for what cannot be done or arranged in the market-place, in church, at public festivals or at stations (opportunities that husbands cannot always deny their wives), may be easily managed in the house of the female friend or relative in whom most confidence is reposed. —
他说，如果天上给了一个已婚男人一位美丽的妻子，他就应该像照顾他妻子交往的女性朋友一样，谨慎考虑他带到家中的男性朋友，因为做在集市、教堂、公共节日或车站上不能做或安排的事情（这些地方丈夫们不能总是拒绝妻子的要求），可能很容易在女性朋友或最受信任的亲戚的家中安排好。 —

Lothario said, too, that every married man should have some friend who would point out to him any negligence he might be guilty of in his conduct, for it will sometimes happen that owing to the deep affection the husband bears his wife either he does not caution her, or, not to vex her, refrains from telling her to do or not to do certain things, doing or avoiding which may be a matter of honour or reproach to him; —
洛萨利奥还说，每个已婚男人都应该有一个朋友，可以指出他行为中的任何疏忽，因为由于丈夫对妻子深深的爱，有时他要么不警告她，要么不告诉她做或不做某些事情，这些事情做或不做可能会影响到他的名誉或受到责备； —

and errors of this kind he could easily correct if warned by a friend. —
如果有朋友提醒，他可以很容易纠正这样的错误。 —

But where is such a friend to be found as Lothario would have, so judicious, so loyal, and so true?
但是像洛萨利奥这样明智、忠诚、真诚的朋友在哪里可以找到呢？

Of a truth I know not; Lothario alone was such a one, for with the utmost care and vigilance he watched over the honour of his friend, and strove to diminish, cut down, and reduce the number of days for going to his house according to their agreement, lest the visits of a young man, wealthy, high-born, and with the attractions he was conscious of possessing, at the house of a woman so beautiful as Camilla, should be regarded with suspicion by the inquisitive and malicious eyes of the idle public. —
实话实说，我不知道；洛萨利奥就是这样的人，他极其小心谨慎地看护着他朋友的名誉，并努力减少、消除并减少根据他们之间的约定去他家的日期的数量，以免一位富有、高贵、又具有自身吸引力的年轻男子在一个像卡米拉这样美丽的女人家中的拜访会引起好奇而邪恶的眼睛，干扰他们的婚姻。 —

For though his integrity and reputation might bridle slanderous tongues, still he was unwilling to hazard either his own good name or that of his friend; —
虽然他的正直和名誉可以约束谗言，但是他不愿意冒险损害他自己的好名声或他朋友的名誉； —

and for this reason most of the days agreed upon he devoted to some other business which he pretended was unavoidable; —
因此，他约定的大部分日子，他都把时间用在一些其他他声称无法推辞的事务上； —

so that a great portion of the day was taken up with complaints on one side and excuses on the other. —
因此，一大部分时间都被一方的抱怨和另一方的辩解占据。 —

It happened, however, that on one occasion when the two were strolling together outside the city, Anselmo addressed the following words to Lothario.
然而，有一次，当两人在城外漫步时，安瑟尔莫对洛塔里奥说了以下的话。

“Thou mayest suppose, Lothario my friend, that I am unable to give sufficient thanks for the favours God has rendered me in making me the son of such parents as mine were, and bestowing upon me with no niggard hand what are called the gifts of nature as well as those of fortune, and above all for what he has done in giving me thee for a friend and Camilla for a wife — two treasures that I value, if not as highly as I ought, at least as highly as I am able. —
“洛塔里奥，我的朋友，也许你会认为，上帝给予我的恩惠让我无法为此感到足够的感激，他使我成为如此优秀的父母之子，他对我慷慨赐予被称为天赋和幸运的一切，最重要的是，他让我成为你的朋友和卡米拉的丈夫-这两个我将其视为珍宝，尽管不那么重视，但至少我尽全力看待。 —

And yet, with all these good things, which are commonly all that men need to enable them to live happily, I am the most discontented and dissatisfied man in the whole world; —
然而，尽管拥有这一切好事，这些通常足以让人生活幸福，我却是这个世界上最不满意和不满足的人； —

for, I know not how long since, I have been harassed and oppressed by a desire so strange and so unusual, that I wonder at myself and blame and chide myself when I am alone, and strive to stifle it and hide it from my own thoughts, and with no better success than if I were endeavouring deliberately to publish it to all the world; —
因为，自从不知多久以来，我就受到一种奇怪而不寻常的欲望的困扰和压迫，我为此感到惊讶、责备并责骂自己，当我独自一人时，我努力去让自己的思维和想法中隐藏它，但无济于事，就好像我正在试图故意向全世界公布它一样； —

and as, in short, it must come out, I would confide it to thy safe keeping, feeling sure that by this means, and by thy readiness as a true friend to afford me relief, I shall soon find myself freed from the distress it causes me, and that thy care will give me happiness in the same degree as my own folly has caused me misery.”
既然必须让它表达出来，我会将它托付给你作为安全措施，相信通过这种方式，以及你作为真正朋友愿意给予我救助，我很快就会摆脱它给我带来的痛苦，你的关心将使我快乐，就像我的愚蠢给我带来了痛苦一样。”

The words of Anselmo struck Lothario with astonishment, unable as he was to conjecture the purport of such a lengthy preamble; —
安瑟尔莫的话让洛塔里奥感到惊讶，他无法猜测这种冗长引言的目的； —

and though be strove to imagine what desire it could be that so troubled his friend, his conjectures were all far from the truth, and to relieve the anxiety which this perplexity was causing him, he told him he was doing a flagrant injustice to their great friendship in seeking circuitous methods of confiding to him his most hidden thoughts, for be well knew he might reckon upon his counsel in diverting them, or his help in carrying them into effect.
虽然他努力想象这种困扰他的欲望是什么，但他的猜测都离真相很远，为了缓解这种困扰他的困惑引起的焦虑，他告诉安瑟尔莫，他用迂回的方式向他倾诉他最隐秘的想法，对他们之间伟大友谊做出了不公正的评价，因为他很清楚可以依靠他的建议来转移注意力，或者得到他的帮助来付诸实施。

“That is the truth,” replied Anselmo, “and relying upon that I will tell thee, friend Lothario, that the desire which harasses me is that of knowing whether my wife Camilla is as good and as perfect as I think her to be; —
“那是真的，”安瑟尔莫答道，“正是依赖这一点，我会告诉你，洛塔里奥朋友，困扰我的欲望就是想知道我的妻子卡米拉是否和我认为她一样优秀和完美； —

and I cannot satisfy myself of the truth on this point except by testing her in such a way that the trial may prove the purity of her virtue as the fire proves that of gold; —
我无法证实这一点的真实性，除非通过一种方式对她进行测试，试验可以证明她的美德纯洁，就像火证明金子的纯度一样； —

because I am persuaded, my friend, that a woman is virtuous only in proportion as she is or is not tempted; —
因为我坚信，朋友，只有被诱惑才是贞节的女人； —

and that she alone is strong who does not yield to the promises, gifts, tears, and importunities of earnest lovers; —
只有不屈服于真诚情人的诺言、礼物、眼泪和恳求的女人才是坚强的； —

for what thanks does a woman deserve for being good if no one urges her to be bad, and what wonder is it that she is reserved and circumspect to whom no opportunity is given of going wrong and who knows she has a husband that will take her life the first time he detects her in an impropriety? —
因为如果没有人敦促一个女人去做坏事，她展现出良善又有何功德可言呢？如果没有给予她走错的机会，知道丈夫在某个失当时刻会夺她性命的女人，她为何会保守和审慎呢？” —

I do not therefore hold her who is virtuous through fear or want of opportunity in the same estimation as her who comes out of temptation and trial with a crown of victory; —
我并不会像对待因为恐惧或缺乏机会而保持贞节的女人那样尊重她，而对于那些通过诱惑和考验得到胜利的女人，我会更加珍视； —

and so, for these reasons and many others that I could give thee to justify and support the opinion I hold, I am desirous that my wife Camilla should pass this crisis, and be refined and tested by the fire of finding herself wooed and by one worthy to set his affections upon her; —
因此，出于这些原因和其他许多我可以提供的理由，我希望我的妻子卡米拉能够度过这一危机，并通过被一个值得钟情的人追求和试炼，从而得到提炼和考验； —

and if she comes out, as I know she will, victorious from this struggle, I shall look upon my good fortune as unequalled, I shall be able to say that the cup of my desire is full, and that the virtuous woman of whom the sage says ‘Who shall find her? —
如果她像我知道她会的那样从这场挣扎中获得胜利，我将视自己的好运为无与伦比，我将能够说我的欲望之杯已满，而那位智者所说的“ 谁能找到她？”这位贞洁的女人已经落在我的命运中； —

’ has fallen to my lot. And if the result be the contrary of what I expect, in the satisfaction of knowing that I have been right in my opinion, I shall bear without complaint the pain which my so dearly bought experience will naturally cause me. —
如果结果与我的期望相反，在知道我的看法是正确的满足中，我将无怨接受我心爱的经验自然会给我的痛苦； —

And, as nothing of all thou wilt urge in opposition to my wish will avail to keep me from carrying it into effect, it is my desire, friend Lothario, that thou shouldst consent to become the instrument for effecting this purpose that I am bent upon, for I will afford thee opportunities to that end, and nothing shall be wanting that I may think necessary for the pursuit of a virtuous, honourable, modest and high-minded woman. —
所以，无论你会反对我愿望的所有理由如何，都无法阻止我付诸实施，我希望，友人洛萨里奥，你应同意成为实现我所追求的这个目的的工具，因为我会为此提供机会，而我认为追求一个贞洁、尊贵、端庄和高尚的女性，什么也不会缺少； —

And among other reasons, I am induced to entrust this arduous task to thee by the consideration that if Camilla be conquered by thee the conquest will not be pushed to extremes, but only far enough to account that accomplished which from a sense of honour will be left undone; —
而且我还有其他原因，我决定将这一艰巨任务交给你，因为我认为如果卡米拉被你征服，征服不会被推向极端，只会足以证明已完成了从一种荣誉感而没有实现的行为； —

thus I shall not be wronged in anything more than intention, and my wrong will remain buried in the integrity of thy silence, which I know well will be as lasting as that of death in what concerns me. —
所以我不会在任何事情上受到冤情，除了意图外，我的冤情将被埋葬在你的沉默的正直中，我深知这 正直会与我有关德噤静一样持久； —

If, therefore, thou wouldst have me enjoy what can be called life, thou wilt at once engage in this love struggle, not lukewarmly nor slothfully, but with the energy and zeal that my desire demands, and with the loyalty our friendship assures me of.”
如果你希望我享受可以称之为生命，那么你会立即投入这场爱的斗争，而不是冷漠或懒散，而是以我所需求的能量和热情，以及我们之间的友谊所给予的忠诚。

Such were the words Anselmo addressed to Lothario, who listened to them with such attention that, except to say what has been already mentioned, he did not open his lips until the other had finished. —
安塞尔莫对洛萨里奥说的就是这些话，后者听着听着，一声不吭，直到对方说完。 —

Then perceiving that he had no more to say, after regarding him for awhile, as one would regard something never before seen that excited wonder and amazement, he said to him, “I cannot persuade myself, Anselmo my friend, that what thou hast said to me is not in jest; —
然后，他注意到对方已经说完了，注视着他一会儿，就好像看着从未见过的令人惊奇和惊奇的东西，他对他说，“我的朋友安塞尔莫，我无法相信你对我说的话不是玩笑； —

if I thought that thou wert speaking seriously I would not have allowed thee to go so far; —
如果我认为你是认真的，我不会让你说那么多； —

so as to put a stop to thy long harangue by not listening to thee I verily suspect that either thou dost not know me, or I do not know thee; —
因此，为了阻止你的冗长讲话，我不听你说的话，我确实怀疑你要么不了解我，要么我不了解你； —

but no, I know well thou art Anselmo, and thou knowest that I am Lothario; —
但是不对，我很清楚你是安塞尔莫，而你也知道我是洛萨里奥； —

the misfortune is, it seems to me, that thou art not the Anselmo thou wert, and must have thought that I am not the Lothario I should be; —
不幸的是，我觉得你已经不是以前的安瑟尔莫了，你或许认为我也不再是你认识的洛萨里奥； —

for the things that thou hast said to me are not those of that Anselmo who was my friend, nor are those that thou demandest of me what should be asked of the Lothario thou knowest. —
因为你对我说的话并不是我那位朋友安瑟尔莫会说的，你要求我的事也不是你认识的洛萨里奥应该被要求的； —

True friends will prove their friends and make use of them, as a poet has said, usque ad aras; —
真正的朋友会考验他们的朋友，并利用他们，正如一位诗人所说，usque ad aras； —

whereby he meant that they will not make use of their friendship in things that are contrary to God’s will. —
他所指的是，他们不会在违背上帝意志的事情上利用他们的友谊； —

If this, then, was a heathen’s feeling about friendship, how much more should it be a Christian’s , who knows that the divine must not be forfeited for the sake of any human friendship? —
如果这是一个异教徒对友谊的看法，那么一个基督徒对友谊的看法应该更为如此，他们知道神圣不应该为了任何人类友谊而放弃； —

And if a friend should go so far as to put aside his duty to Heaven to fulfil his duty to his friend, it should not be in matters that are trifling or of little moment, but in such as affect the friend’s life and honour. —
如果一个朋友为了履行他对朋友的责任而放弃对天的责任，那不该是微不足道或不重要的事情，而是涉及友人生命和荣誉的事情； —

Now tell me, Anselmo, in which of these two art thou imperilled, that I should hazard myself to gratify thee, and do a thing so detestable as that thou seekest of me? —
那么告诉我，安瑟尔莫，你是属于哪一类的，让我为了取悦你而冒风险，并做出你向我要求的这种可恶的事？ —

Neither forsooth; on the contrary, thou dost ask of me, so far as I understand, to strive and labour to rob thee of honour and life, and to rob myself of them at the same time; —
不，相反，你要求我，就我理解的程度而言，去努力争夺你的荣誉和生命，并同时剥夺我自己的； —

for if I take away thy honour it is plain I take away thy life, as a man without honour is worse than dead; —
因为若我夺走你的荣誉，那显然就是剥夺了你的生命，因为一个没有荣誉的人比死还要糟糕； —

and being the instrument, as thou wilt have it so, of so much wrong to thee, shall not I, too, be left without honour, and consequently without life? —
而且要成为你所要求的这么多罪行的工具，那我岂不也会失去荣誉，从而失去生命？ —

Listen to me, Anselmo my friend, and be not impatient to answer me until I have said what occurs to me touching the object of thy desire, for there will be time enough left for thee to reply and for me to hear.”
倾听我说，我的朋友安瑟尔莫，不要急于回答我，等我说完关于你渴望的目标的事情后，你会有足够的时间回复，我也会听。”

“Be it so,” said Anselmo, “say what thou wilt.”
安瑟尔莫说：“好的，你说吧。”

Lothario then went on to say, “It seems to me, Anselmo, that thine is just now the temper of mind which is always that of the Moors, who can never be brought to see the error of their creed by quotations from the Holy Scriptures, or by reasons which depend upon the examination of the understanding or are founded upon the articles of faith, but must have examples that are palpable, easy, intelligible, capable of proof, not admitting of doubt, with mathematical demonstrations that cannot be denied, like, ‘If equals be taken from equals, the remainders are equal: —
洛萨里奥接着说：“看来，安瑟尔莫，你现在的心情恰恰就像摩尔人，他们永远无法通过圣经的引语或依赖理智的论证，或建立在信仰条文上的理由来认清他们信仰的错误，而必须有明显的、简单的、易懂的、无可辩驳的例证，像‘如果等量物被等量物取走，剩下的也是相等的； —

’ and if they do not understand this in words, and indeed they do not, it has to be shown to them with the hands, and put before their eyes, and even with all this no one succeeds in convincing them of the truth of our holy religion. —
’如果他们不理解这句话，事实上他们确实不理解，就必须用手给他们展示，放在他们眼前，即使这样也没有人能说服他们信仰我们神圣的宗教的真理。 —

This same mode of proceeding I shall have to adopt with thee, for the desire which has sprung up in thee is so absurd and remote from everything that has a semblance of reason, that I feel it would be a waste of time to employ it in reasoning with thy simplicity, for at present I will call it by no other name; —
我将不得不用这种处理方式对待你，因为你心中生出的欲望如此荒谬和离谱，与任何有道理的东西都毫无关系，我感到如果用理智和你的单纯来辩论是浪费时间，暂时我会用这个名字称呼它； —

and I am even tempted to leave thee in thy folly as a punishment for thy pernicious desire; —
我甚至被诱惑要离开你，让你陷入愚蠢之中，作为对你危险欲望的惩罚； —

but the friendship I bear thee, which will not allow me to desert thee in such manifest danger of destruction, keeps me from dealing so harshly by thee. —
但我对你的友谊，不允许我在你明显面临毁灭的危险中抛弃你，这让我无法对你如此严厉。 —

And that thou mayest clearly see this, say, Anselmo, hast thou not told me that I must force my suit upon a modest woman, decoy one that is virtuous, make overtures to one that is pure-minded, pay court to one that is prudent? —
为了让你清楚地看到这一点，安瑟莫，请问你不是告诉我我必须迫使一个贞节的女人接受我的求爱，欺骗一个有品德的女人，向一个纯洁的人提出约会，追求一个明智的女人吗？ —

Yes, thou hast told me so. Then, if thou knowest that thou hast a wife, modest, virtuous, pure-minded and prudent, what is it that thou seekest? —
是的，你告诉过我。那么，如果你知道你有一个妻子，贞节、有品德、纯洁、明智，你究竟在寻找什么？ —

And if thou believest that she will come forth victorious from all my attacks — as doubtless she would — what higher titles than those she possesses now dost thou think thou canst upon her then, or in what will she be better then than she is now? —
如果你相信她将在我所有的进攻中获得胜利 - 无疑地她会 - 那时她将比现在拥有的更高的头衔或在她那时你认为她将比现在更好在什么地方？ —

Either thou dost not hold her to be what thou sayest, or thou knowest not what thou dost demand. —
要么你不认为她是你说的那样，要么你不知道你在要求什么。 —

If thou dost not hold her to be what thou why dost thou seek to prove her instead of treating her as guilty in the way that may seem best to thee? —
如果你不认为她是你为什么试图证明她而不是以你认为最好的方式对待她？ —

but if she be as virtuous as thou believest, it is an uncalled-for proceeding to make trial of truth itself, for, after trial, it will but be in the same estimation as before. —
但如果她像你相信的那样有德行，那么试验真理本身是一种不必要的行为，因为试验后，它将与以前的评价相同。 —

Thus, then, it is conclusive that to attempt things from which harm rather than advantage may come to us is the part of unreasoning and reckless minds, more especially when they are things which we are not forced or compelled to attempt, and which show from afar that it is plainly madness to attempt them.
因此，试图从中带来危害而不是好处的事情是不理智和轻率的行为，尤其是当它们是我们并不被迫或强迫尝试的事情，并且从远处就明显表明尝试它们纯粹是疯狂的行为。

“Difficulties are attempted either for the sake of God or for the sake of the world, or for both; —
“困难要么是为了上帝的缘故，要么是为了世界的缘故，要么是两者兼而有之； —

those undertaken for God’s sake are those which the saints undertake when they attempt to live the lives of angels in human bodies; —
为了上帝而尝试的是圣徒们试图在人的身体里过天使的生活，这些都是他们所试图的； —

those undertaken for the sake of the world are those of the men who traverse such a vast expanse of water, such a variety of climates, so many strange countries, to acquire what are called the blessings of fortune; —
为了世界的缘故而尝试的是那些穿越如此广阔的水域，如此多样化的气候，如此多奇异的国家的人，以获取所谓的幸运之神的祝福； —

and those undertaken for the sake of God and the world together are those of brave soldiers, who no sooner do they see in the enemy’s wall a breach as wide as a cannon ball could make, than, casting aside all fear, without hesitating, or heeding the manifest peril that threatens them, borne onward by the desire of defending their faith, their country, and their king, they fling themselves dauntlessly into the midst of the thousand opposing deaths that await them. —
为上帝和世界的缘故一起尝试的是勇敢的士兵，他们一旦看到敌人的城墙上有一条像炮弹能够造成的那么广的缺口，他们就毫不畏惧，毫不犹豫，或留意等待他们的明显危险的千万死亡，被对捍卫信仰，祖国和国王的欲望所驱使，他们毫无畏惧地投身于等待他们的千万死亡的敌人中心。 —

Such are the things that men are wont to attempt, and there is honour, glory, gain, in attempting them, however full of difficulty and peril they may be; —
这是人们常常尝试的事情，尽管充满困难和危险，但在尝试它们时会赢得上帝的荣耀，幸运之神的祝福和在人们中的名誉； —

but that which thou sayest it is thy wish to attempt and carry out will not win thee the glory of God nor the blessings of fortune nor fame among men; —
但你所说的你想尝试并实施的事情将不会赢得你上帝的荣耀，也不会赢得幸运之神的祝福，也不会在人们中赢得名声； —

for even if the issue he as thou wouldst have it, thou wilt be no happier, richer, or more honoured than thou art this moment; —
因为即使问题如同你所期望的那样，你也不会比此刻更幸福、更富有或更受尊敬； —

and if it be otherwise thou wilt be reduced to misery greater than can be imagined, for then it will avail thee nothing to reflect that no one is aware of the misfortune that has befallen thee; —
如果情况相反，你将陷入比想象中更大的痛苦，因为那时想到没有人意识到你所遭遇的不幸将毫无帮助； —

it will suffice to torture and crush thee that thou knowest it thyself. —
只要你自己知道了，就足以折磨和击碎你。 —

And in confirmation of the truth of what I say, let me repeat to thee a stanza made by the famous poet Luigi Tansillo at the end of the first part of his ‘Tears of Saint Peter,’ which says thus:
为了证实我所说的真理，让我再向你重复一下著名诗人路易吉·坦西洛在他的《圣彼得的眼泪》第一部分结束时写的一首诗，写道：

The anguish and the shame but greater grew In Peter’s heart as morning slowly came; —
早晨缓缓来临，彼得心中的痛苦和羞耻却加剧； —

No eye was there to see him, well he knew, Yet he himself was to himself a shame; —
他明知没有人看见他，然而他却对自己感到羞愧； —

Exposed to all men’s gaze, or screened from view, A noble heart will feel the pang the same; —
无论被暴露于所有人的目光之下，还是被遮蔽在视线之外，高尚的心灵都会感到同样的痛苦； —

A prey to shame the sinning soul will be, Though none but heaven and earth its shame can see.
心灵的罪孽将成为耻辱的猎物，尽管只有天地能看到它的耻辱。

Thus by keeping it secret thou wilt not escape thy sorrow, but rather thou wilt shed tears unceasingly, if not tears of the eyes, tears of blood from the heart, like those shed by that simple doctor our poet tells us of, that tried the test of the cup, which the wise Rinaldo, better advised, refused to do; —
因此，保守秘密并不会让你摆脱悲痛，而是会让你不断地流泪，即使不是眼泪，也会是心灵中的血泪，就像我们的诗人告诉我们的那位简单医生，试验了杯中液体，而睿智的里纳尔多更明智地拒绝了； —

for though this may be a poetic fiction it contains a moral lesson worthy of attention and study and imitation. —
虽然这可能是一个诗意的虚构，但它包含了值得关注、学习和效仿的道德教训。 —

Moreover by what I am about to say to thee thou wilt be led to see the great error thou wouldst commit.
而且通过我即将对你说的话，你将看到你将犯下的巨大错误。

“Tell me, Anselmo, if Heaven or good fortune had made thee master and lawful owner of a diamond of the finest quality, with the excellence and purity of which all the lapidaries that had seen it had been satisfied, saying with one voice and common consent that in purity, quality, and fineness, it was all that a stone of the kind could possibly be, thou thyself too being of the same belief, as knowing nothing to the contrary, would it be reasonable in thee to desire to take that diamond and place it between an anvil and a hammer, and by mere force of blows and strength of arm try if it were as hard and as fine as they said? —
“告诉我，安塞尔莫，如果上天或好运使你成为一颗最优质的钻石的主人和合法所有者，所有看到它的宝石匠都认为它的品质和纯度尽善尽美，一致认为在纯度、质量和精致度上，它已经达到了这种类型石头可能具备的一切，而你自己也坚信同样，因为毫无异议，如果毫无疑问，你愿意将那颗钻石放在砧板和锤子之间，并凭借单纯的一击和强力的臂力试验它是否像他们说的那样坚硬和精美吗？ —

And if thou didst, and if the stone should resist so silly a test, that would add nothing to its value or reputation; —
如果你这样做了，如果石头承受住了如此愚蠢的考验，那将不会增加它的价值和声誉； —

and if it were broken, as it might be, would not all be lost? —
如果它被打碎，可能性也是存在的，那不是一切都会丧失吗？ —

Undoubtedly it would, leaving its owner to be rated as a fool in the opinion of all. —
毫无疑问，是的，让其主人在众人看法中成为一个愚蠢的人。 —

Consider, then, Anselmo my friend, that Camilla is a diamond of the finest quality as well in thy estimation as in that of others, and that it is contrary to reason to expose her to the risk of being broken; —
因此，请考虑一下，我的朋友安塞尔莫，无论在你的评价还是在别人的评价中，卡米拉都是最优质的钻石，暴露她受损的风险是不符合理性的； —

for if she remains intact she cannot rise to a higher value than she now possesses; —
因为如果她保持完整，她就无法提升到比她现在拥有的更高价值； —

and if she give way and be unable to resist, bethink thee now how thou wilt be deprived of her, and with what good reason thou wilt complain of thyself for having been the cause of her ruin and thine own. —
如果她倒下并无法抵抗，想想现在你将如何失去她，以及你会因为自己成为她和你自己毁灭的原因而有多么理所当然地自责。 —

Remember there is no jewel in the world so precious as a chaste and virtuous woman, and that the whole honour of women consists in reputation; —
请记住，世界上没有比贞洁和有德行的女人更宝贵的宝石了，而女人的整个荣誉在于她的名誉； —

and since thy wife’s is of that high excellence that thou knowest, wherefore shouldst thou seek to call that truth in question? —
既然你的妻子的名誉如你所知那般卓越，为什么你要质疑这个事实？ —

Remember, my friend, that woman is an imperfect animal, and that impediments are not to be placed in her way to make her trip and fall, but that they should be removed, and her path left clear of all obstacles, so that without hindrance she may run her course freely to attain the desired perfection, which consists in being virtuous. —
请记住，我的朋友，女人是个不完善的生物，我们不应该给她设置障碍以使她绊倒和跌倒，而应该把障碍去掉，让她的道路清除一切障碍，这样她才能自由地顺利奔跑，以达到所渴望的完美，这就是贞洁。 —

Naturalists tell us that the ermine is a little animal which has a fur of purest white, and that when the hunters wish to take it, they make use of this artifice. —
自然学家告诉我们，貂是一种毛皮是纯白色的小动物，当猎人们想要捕捉它时，他们会采用这种诡计。 —

Having ascertained the places which it frequents and passes, they stop the way to them with mud, and then rousing it, drive it towards the spot, and as soon as the ermine comes to the mud it halts, and allows itself to be taken captive rather than pass through the mire, and spoil and sully its whiteness, which it values more than life and liberty. —
他们确认了它经常出没和通过的地方，然后用泥巴挡住它们的道路，然后将它吵醒，驱赶它朝那个地方跑去，当貂到达泥巴时，它会停下来，任其被捕捉，而不愿通过泥浆，弄脏和污染它的纯白色毛皮，它视之如生命和自由一样珍贵。 —

The virtuous and chaste woman is an ermine, and whiter and purer than snow is the virtue of modesty; and he who wishes her not to lose it, but to keep and preserve it, must adopt a course different from that employed with the ermine; —
贞洁和有德行的女人就像是一只貂，贞洁的美德比雪还要洁白纯净；希望她不要失去这一点，而是保持和保护她的人，必须采取一种与对待貂不同的方式； —

he must not put before her the mire of the gifts and attentions of persevering lovers, because perhaps — and even without a perhaps — she may not have sufficient virtue and natural strength in herself to pass through and tread under foot these impediments; —
他不能将持之以恒的恋人的礼物和关心的泥浆摆在她面前，因为也许 — 甚至无需也许 — 她可能没有足够的品德和天生的力量，通过并践踏这些障碍； —

they must be removed, and the brightness of virtue and the beauty of a fair fame must be put before her. —
这些障碍必须被清除，必须将美德的光辉和美丽的好名声放在她面前。 —

A virtuous woman, too, is like a mirror, of clear shining crystal, liable to be tarnished and dimmed by every breath that touches it. —
一个贞洁的女人也像是一面镜子，清晰闪耀的水晶，会被每一个触及它的气息所污染和变暗。 —

She must be treated as relics are; adored, not touched. —
她必须像圣物一样受到崇拜，而不是被触摸。 —

She must be protected and prized as one protects and prizes a fair garden full of roses and flowers, the owner of which allows no one to trespass or pluck a blossom; —
她必须受到保护和珍视，就像一个充满玫瑰和花朵的美丽花园，花园的主人不允许任何人侵犯或摘取花朵； —

enough for others that from afar and through the iron grating they may enjoy its fragrance and its beauty. —
对于他人来说，远远地透过铁栅栏，享受它的芬芳和美丽就足够了。 —

Finally let me repeat to thee some verses that come to my mind; —
最后让我重复给你一些浮现在我脑海中的诗句； —

I heard them in a modern comedy, and it seems to me they bear upon the point we are discussing. —
我听到它们在一部现代喜剧中，我觉得它们与我们正在讨论的问题有关。 —

A prudent old man was giving advice to another, the father of a young girl, to lock her up, watch over her and keep her in seclusion, and among other arguments he used these:
一位谨慎的老人正在给另一个人提建议，一个年轻女孩的父亲，建议他把她关起来，监视她并让她禁闭，其中他用到了这些论据：

Woman is a thing of glass; But her brittleness ’tis best Not too curiously to test: —
女人是玻璃制品； 但她的脆弱最好不要过分测试： —

Who knows what may come to pass?
谁知道会发生什么？

Breaking is an easy matter, And it’s folly to expose What you cannot mend to blows; —
打破是一件容易的事，把你无法弥补的东西暴露在伤害之下是愚蠢的； —

What you can’t make whole to shatter.
把你无法修复的东西破碎。

This, then, all may hold as true, And the reason’s plain to see; —
因此，所有人都可以认为是真的，原因很明显； —

For if Danaes there be, There are golden showers too.
如果丹娜还在那里，也会有黄金雨。

“All that I have said to thee so far, Anselmo, has had reference to what concerns thee; —
“到目前为止我告诉你的所有事，安塞尔莫，都与关系到你的事有关； —

now it is right that I should say something of what regards myself; —
现在应该说一些关于我自己的事； —

and if I be prolix, pardon me, for the labyrinth into which thou hast entered and from which thou wouldst have me extricate thee makes it necessary.
如果我冗长，请原谅我，因为你所陷入的迷宫，希望我救你出来，这是必要的。

“Thou dost reckon me thy friend, and thou wouldst rob me of honour, a thing wholly inconsistent with friendship; —
“你把我视为朋友，却想从我身上夺取荣誉，这与友谊完全不符； —

and not only dost thou aim at this, but thou wouldst have me rob thee of it also. —
而且，你不仅想这样，还想让我也夺去你对此的期望。 —

That thou wouldst rob me of it is clear, for when Camilla sees that I pay court to her as thou requirest, she will certainly regard me as a man without honour or right feeling, since I attempt and do a thing so much opposed to what I owe to my own position and thy friendship. —
你想要从我这里夺取是明显的，因为当卡米拉看到我如你要求那样向她求爱时，她肯定会视我为一个没有荣誉或正确感情的人，因为我试图做一件与我自身地位和你的友情极为相悖的事情。 —

That thou wouldst have me rob thee of it is beyond a doubt, for Camilla, seeing that I press my suit upon her, will suppose that I have perceived in her something light that has encouraged me to make known to her my base desire; —
你想让我偷走你的东西是毫无疑问的，因为卡米拉会认为我对她表示追求是因为发现了她身上轻浮的东西，这促使我向她表明我卑劣的欲望; —

and if she holds herself dishonoured, her dishonour touches thee as belonging to her; —
如果她认为自己受辱了，她的耻辱也触及到你作为她的一部分; —

and hence arises what so commonly takes place, that the husband of the adulterous woman, though he may not be aware of or have given any cause for his wife’s failure in her duty, or (being careless or negligent) have had it in his power to prevent his dishonour, nevertheless is stigmatised by a vile and reproachful name, and in a manner regarded with eyes of contempt instead of pity by all who know of his wife’s guilt, though they see that he is unfortunate not by his own fault, but by the lust of a vicious consort. —
这样便常见出现，即使通奸的妻子的丈夫可能不知情，也没有导致妻子失职的原因，或者（因为懒惰或疏忽）有能力阻止他受辱，然而他仍然被污名化，受到贬低和鄙视的眼光，而不是同情之情，所有知道他妻子的罪行的人都会这样看待，尽管他们看到他不幸并非出于自己的过错，而是出于邪恶配偶的欲望。 —

But I will tell thee why with good reason dishonour attaches to the husband of the unchaste wife, though he know not that she is so, nor be to blame, nor have done anything, or given any provocation to make her so; —
但我会告诉你，为什么完全理由会使不忠实妻子的丈夫蒙羞，尽管他不知道她是如此，也没有过错，没有做过任何事情，或者给她提供任何挑衅使她如此; —

and be not weary with listening to me, for it will be for thy good.
请不要厌倦地听我说，因为这是为了你的利益。

“When God created our first parent in the earthly paradise, the Holy Scripture says that he infused sleep into Adam and while he slept took a rib from his left side of which he formed our mother Eve, and when Adam awoke and beheld her he said, ‘This is flesh of my flesh, and bone of my bone. —
“上帝在地上乐园造出我们的第一祖先亚当时，圣经说他使亚当陷入沉睡，当他睡着时从他的左边取出一根肋骨，用它造出我们的母亲夏娃，亚当醒来看见她时，便说‘这是我的骨中的骨，肉中的肉’。 —

’ And God said ‘For this shall a man leave his father and his mother, and they shall be two in one flesh; —
上帝说‘为此，人要离开父母，与妻子连合成为一体； —

and then was instituted the divine sacrament of marriage, with such ties that death alone can loose them. —
然后神圣的婚姻仪式被设立，结合的纽带如此牢固，以至只有死亡能解开它们。 —

And such is the force and virtue of this miraculous sacrament that it makes two different persons one and the same flesh; —
这个神奇的圣事具有这样的力量和效力，使两个不同的人成为一体，同一块肉体； —

and even more than this when the virtuous are married; —
尤其是当有德行的人结合时； —

for though they have two souls they have but one will. —
虽然他们有两个灵魂，但只有一个意志。 —

And hence it follows that as the flesh of the wife is one and the same with that of her husband the stains that may come upon it, or the injuries it incurs fall upon the husband’s flesh, though he, as has been said, may have given no cause for them; —
因此，丈夫与妻子的肉体为一体，妻子身上可能出现的污点或受到的伤害都会影响到丈夫的肉体，尽管他并未引起这些问题； —

for as the pain of the foot or any member of the body is felt by the whole body, because all is one flesh, as the head feels the hurt to the ankle without having caused it, so the husband, being one with her, shares the dishonour of the wife; —
因为正如脚或身体的任何部分的痛苦被整个身体感受一样，因为一切都是一体的，头部感受到脚踝的伤痛，而并非由其引起，所以丈夫与妻子为一体，他会分享妻子的耻辱； —

and as all worldly honour or dishonour comes of flesh and blood, and the erring wife’s is of that kind, the husband must needs bear his part of it and be held dishonoured without knowing it. —
由于所有世俗的尊荣或耻辱来源于血肉之躯，而误入歧途的妻子属于这种情况，所以丈夫必须承担自己的部分，即使并不知情地被认为是受到耻辱； —

See, then, Anselmo, the peril thou art encountering in seeking to disturb the peace of thy virtuous consort; —
看啊，安瑟尔莫，你在寻求扰乱你贤良的妻子平静的危险中； —

see for what an empty and ill-advised curiosity thou wouldst rouse up passions that now repose in quiet in the breast of thy chaste wife; —
看看你为了一点无聊和愚笨的好奇心而激起了现在在你贞洁妻子胸膛中安静的激情； —

reflect that what thou art staking all to win is little, and what thou wilt lose so much that I leave it undescribed, not having the words to express it. —
想想你所赌注的东西是微不足道的，而你将失去的是如此之多，以至于我无法形容，没有足够的词语来表达。 —

But if all I have said be not enough to turn thee from thy vile purpose, thou must seek some other instrument for thy dishonour and misfortune; —
但是，如果我所说的一切还不足以阻止你那卑劣的企图，那么你必须寻找其他方式来辱没自己、使自己倒霉； —

for such I will not consent to be, though I lose thy friendship, the greatest loss that I can conceive.”
因为我不会同意成为这样的工具，尽管失去了你的友谊，这是我能想象到的最大的损失。”

Having said this, the wise and virtuous Lothario was silent, and Anselmo, troubled in mind and deep in thought, was unable for a while to utter a word in reply; —
明智而有德行的洛萨里奥说完这些话后沉默了，而安瑟尔莫心绪不安，思绪深远，一时无法回答一句话； —

but at length he said, “I have listened, Lothario my friend, attentively, as thou hast seen, to what thou hast chosen to say to me, and in thy arguments, examples, and comparisons I have seen that high intelligence thou dost possess, and the perfection of true friendship thou hast reached; —
但最终他说，“洛萨里奥，我的朋友，如你所见，我已经认真倾听了你选择对我说的话，在你的论证、例子和比较中，我看到了你拥有的高度智慧，以及你所达到的真正友谊的完美； —

and likewise I see and confess that if I am not guided by thy opinion, but follow my own, I am flying from the good and pursuing the evil. —
我也看到并承认，如果我不遵循你的意见，而是顺从自己的想法，那么我就是在逃避好的事物，追求邪恶。” —

This being so, thou must remember that I am now labouring under that infirmity which women sometimes suffer from, when the craving seizes them to eat clay, plaster, charcoal, and things even worse, disgusting to look at, much more to eat; —
此事如此，你必须记住，我现在正受到女人有时会遭受的弱点困扰，就是渴望吃粘土、石膏、木炭，甚至更恶心、更不能入口的东西； —

so that it will be necessary to have recourse to some artifice to cure me; —
因此，必须想法设法治愈我； —

and this can be easily effected if only thou wilt make a beginning, even though it be in a lukewarm and make-believe fashion, to pay court to Camilla, who will not be so yielding that her virtue will give way at the first attack: —
只要你开始行动，即使是以温吞和假装的方式，向卡米拉求爱，她不会轻易屈服，不会在第一次攻击时就屈服； —

with this mere attempt I shall rest satisfied, and thou wilt have done what our friendship binds thee to do, not only in giving me life, but in persuading me not to discard my honour. —
只要做出这个尝试，我就满足了，你将不仅仅是给我生命，更是劝说我不要抛弃我的荣誉，这是我们友情所要求的； —

And this thou art bound to do for one reason alone, that, being, as I am, resolved to apply this test, it is not for thee to permit me to reveal my weakness to another, and so imperil that honour thou art striving to keep me from losing; —
只因为有一个原因，即，我决定做这个测试，也不该让你让我向别人透露我的弱点，从而危及你正努力保护我的荣誉； —

and if thine may not stand as high as it ought in the estimation of Camilla while thou art paying court to her, that is of little or no importance, because ere long, on finding in her that constancy which we expect, thou canst tell her the plain truth as regards our stratagem, and so regain thy place in her esteem; —
如果你在向她求爱时，被人评价没有达到应有的高度，也不要紧，因为不久之后，在她身上发现我们期待的坚定，你可以告诉她我们的计谋实情，从而重新赢得她的尊重； —

and as thou art venturing so little, and by the venture canst afford me so much satisfaction, refuse not to undertake it, even if further difficulties present themselves to thee; —
只要你冒的风险如此之小，而通过尝试可以给我带来如此多的满足，尽管面临更多困难也不要拒绝去尝试； —

for, as I have said, if thou wilt only make a beginning I will acknowledge the issue decided.”
因为，正如我所说的，如果你只是开始的话，我就会承认这个问题已经解决了。

Lothario seeing the fixed determination of Anselmo, and not knowing what further examples to offer or arguments to urge in order to dissuade him from it, and perceiving that he threatened to confide his pernicious scheme to some one else, to avoid a greater evil resolved to gratify him and do what he asked, intending to manage the business so as to satisfy Anselmo without corrupting the mind of Camilla; —
洛萨里奥看到安塞尔莫坚定的决心，不知道还能提供什么更多的例子或论据来说服他放弃，又察觉到他威胁要把这个有害的计划告诉别人，为了避免更大的危险，决定满足他，做他要求的事情，打算处理这件事情，以满足安塞尔莫，而不腐化卡米拉的心灵； —

so in reply he told him not to communicate his purpose to any other, for he would undertake the task himself, and would begin it as soon as he pleased. —
于是他告诉他不要把他的目的告诉其他人，因为他会自己承担这个任务，并且会在他愿意的时候开始。 —

Anselmo embraced him warmly and affectionately, and thanked him for his offer as if he had bestowed some great favour upon him; —
安塞尔莫热情而充满感情地拥抱他，并感谢他的提议，好像他给他带来了什么伟大的恩惠； —

and it was agreed between them to set about it the next day, Anselmo affording opportunity and time to Lothario to converse alone with Camilla, and furnishing him with money and jewels to offer and present to her. —
他们同意第二天开始此事，安塞尔莫提供机会和时间给洛萨里奥，让他与卡米拉独处，并提供钱财和珠宝给她。 —

He suggested, too, that he should treat her to music, and write verses in her praise, and if he was unwilling to take the trouble of composing them, he offered to do it himself. —
他还建议，他应该送给她音乐，并写赞美她的诗歌，如果他不愿意编写，就让他自己来。 —

Lothario agreed to all with an intention very different from what Anselmo supposed, and with this understanding they returned to Anselmo’s house, where they found Camilla awaiting her husband anxiously and uneasily, for he was later than usual in returning that day. —
洛萨里奥同意了，这个意图与安塞尔莫所想的完全不同，有了这个共识他们回到了安塞尔莫的家，那里卡米拉焦急而不安地等着她的丈夫，因为他那天回来的比往常晚。 —

Lothario repaired to his own house, and Anselmo remained in his, as well satisfied as Lothario was troubled in mind; —
洛萨里奥回到了自己的房子，安塞尔莫留在了他的房子里，心满意足，而洛萨里奥心中却烦恼不安； —

for he could see no satisfactory way out of this ill-advised business. —
因为他看不到一个令人满意的解决这个不明智的事情的方法。 —

That night, however, he thought of a plan by which he might deceive Anselmo without any injury to Camilla. —
然而，那天晚上，他想到了一个计划，可以欺骗安塞尔莫而不伤害卡米拉。 —

The next day he went to dine with his friend, and was welcomed by Camilla, who received and treated him with great cordiality, knowing the affection her husband felt for him. —
第二天，他去与朋友一起吃饭，并受到卡米拉的热情款待，她知道她丈夫对他的感情。 —

When dinner was over and the cloth removed, Anselmo told Lothario to stay there with Camilla while he attended to some pressing business, as he would return in an hour and a half. —
饭后，桌布被拿走后，安塞尔莫告诉洛萨里奥留在那里与卡米拉一起等候，而他去处理一些紧急的事务，会在一个半小时内返回。 —

Camilla begged him not to go, and Lothario offered to accompany him, but nothing could persuade Anselmo, who on the contrary pressed Lothario to remain waiting for him as he had a matter of great importance to discuss with him. —
卡米拉请求他不要走，洛萨里奥提出陪同，但无论如何都不能说服安塞尔莫，相反，他坚持让洛萨里奥留下等他，因为他有一件非常重要的事情要与他讨论。 —

At the same time he bade Camilla not to leave Lothario alone until he came back. —
同时，他吩咐卡米拉不要让洛萨里奥独自一人，直到他回来。 —

In short he contrived to put so good a face on the reason, or the folly, of his absence that no one could have suspected it was a pretence.
总之，他使他的离开理由或愚蠢看起来那么合理，以至于没有人会怀疑这只是一个借口。

Anselmo took his departure, and Camilla and Lothario were left alone at the table, for the rest of the household had gone to dinner. —
Anselmo离开了，Camilla和Lothario留在桌边，因为其他家人都去吃饭了。 —

Lothario saw himself in the lists according to his friend’s wish, and facing an enemy that could by her beauty alone vanquish a squadron of armed knights; —
Lothario按照朋友的意愿在擂台上看到了自己，面对一个凭借她的美丽就能战胜一群武装骑士的敌人； —

judge whether he had good reason to fear; —
判断他是否有理由害怕； —

but what he did was to lean his elbow on the arm of the chair, and his cheek upon his hand, and, asking Camilla’s pardon for his ill manners, he said he wished to take a little sleep until Anselmo returned. —
但他所做的是将手肘搁在椅子扶手上，脸颊搁在手上，向Camilla道歉说因为举止不佳，他想在Anselmo回来之前稍作睡眠。 —

Camilla in reply said he could repose more at his ease in the reception-room than in his chair, and begged of him to go in and sleep there; —
Camilla回答说他在客厅里会更舒适，让他去那里睡觉； —

but Lothario declined, and there he remained asleep until the return of Anselmo, who finding Camilla in her own room, and Lothario asleep, imagined that he had stayed away so long as to have afforded them time enough for conversation and even for sleep, and was all impatience until Lothario should wake up, that he might go out with him and question him as to his success. —
但Lothario拒绝了，他就这样睡着了，直到Anselmo回来，Anselmo发现Camilla在自己的房间里，Lothario在睡觉，想象他离开了这么长时间足够他们进行谈话甚至睡觉，对Lothario醒来表示了焦急，因为他迫不及待地希望Lothario醒来，这样他就可以和他一起出去，并询问他的成功。 —

Everything fell out as he wished; Lothario awoke, and the two at once left the house, and Anselmo asked what he was anxious to know, and Lothario in answer told him that he had not thought it advisable to declare himself entirely the first time, and therefore had only extolled the charms of Camilla, telling her that all the city spoke of nothing else but her beauty and wit, for this seemed to him an excellent way of beginning to gain her good-will and render her disposed to listen to him with pleasure the next time, thus availing himself of the device the devil has recourse to when he would deceive one who is on the watch; —
一切都如他所愿；Lothario醒来，两人立即离开了房子，Anselmo问他想知道的是什么，Lothario回答说他认为揭示自己完全的第一次是不明智的，因此第一次只是赞美了Camilla的魅力，告诉她整个城市都在谈论她的美貌和机智，因为这对他来说是一个极好的方式去准备赢得她的好意，并使她下次很愿意欣然倾听他，正是充分利用了恶魔欺骗时常用的伎俩； —

for he being the angel of darkness transforms himself into an angel of light, and, under cover of a fair seeming, discloses himself at length, and effects his purpose if at the beginning his wiles are not discovered. —
因为他是黑暗天使，会把自己变成光明天使，在美好表象掩盖下，最终显露真面目，如果一开始他的诡计没有被揭穿，他就能达到目的。 —

All this gave great satisfaction to Anselmo, and he said he would afford the same opportunity every day, but without leaving the house, for he would find things to do at home so that Camilla should not detect the plot.
这一切让Anselmo非常满意，他说每天将提供同样的机会，但不离开家，因为他要在家里找点事情做，这样Camilla就察觉不到密谋。

Thus, then, several days went by, and Lothario, without uttering a word to Camilla, reported to Anselmo that he had talked with her and that he had never been able to draw from her the slightest indication of consent to anything dishonourable, nor even a sign or shadow of hope; —
如此，几天过去了，Lothario并没有对Camilla说出一句话，对Anselmo报告说他已经和她谈过，但她从未流露出丝毫同意做任何不正当的事情，甚至没有一点希望的迹象； —

on the contrary, he said she would inform her husband of it.
相反，他说她会把此事告诉丈夫。

“So far well,” said Anselmo; “Camilla has thus far resisted words; —
“到目前为止一切顺利，”Anselmo说；“Camilla迄今为止只是拒绝了口头； —

we must now see how she will resist deeds. —
现在让我们看看她对行动如何拒绝。 —

I will give you to-morrow two thousand crowns in gold for you to offer or even present, and as many more to buy jewels to lure her, for women are fond of being becomingly attired and going gaily dressed, and all the more so if they are beautiful, however chaste they may be; —
明天我会给你两千枚金币用于提供或甚至赠送，再给你同样数量的买珠宝以诱惑她，因为女人喜欢穿着漂亮，愉快地着装，即使她们是多么贞洁； —

and if she resists this temptation, I will rest satisfied and will give you no more trouble.”
如果她抵抗这种诱惑，那我就满意了，不再为此事烦你。”

Lothario replied that now he had begun he would carry on the undertaking to the end, though he perceived he was to come out of it wearied and vanquished. —
洛萧答道，既然已经开始，他会坚持到底，尽管他意识到自己会在其中感到疲惫和失败。 —

The next day he received the four thousand crowns, and with them four thousand perplexities, for he knew not what to say by way of a new falsehood; —
第二天，他收到了四千皇冠，伴随而来的是四千个困惑，因为他不知道该用怎样的谎言来应对； —

but in the end he made up his mind to tell him that Camilla stood as firm against gifts and promises as against words, and that there was no use in taking any further trouble, for the time was all spent to no purpose.
但最终他决定告诉他，卡米拉对于礼物和承诺同样坚决，如同对待言语一样坚定，再花太多心思是毫无意义的，因为时间都已白白浪费了。

But chance, directing things in a different manner, so ordered it that Anselmo, having left Lothario and Camilla alone as on other occasions, shut himself into a chamber and posted himself to watch and listen through the keyhole to what passed between them, and perceived that for more than half an hour Lothario did not utter a word to Camilla, nor would utter a word though he were to be there for an age; —
然而，命运却以不同的方式安排了事情，安塞尔莫把洛萧和卡米拉单独留在一起，如同其他时候一样，他藏在一间房间里，透过门锁偷听他们之间的对话，发现洛萧半个多小时都没对卡米拉说一句话，即使他把时间花在那里就算是一世纪也一样； —

and he came to the conclusion that what his friend had told him about the replies of Camilla was all invention and falsehood, and to ascertain if it were so, he came out, and calling Lothario aside asked him what news he had and in what humour Camilla was. —
他得出结论，他的朋友告诉他有关卡米拉回答的都是编造和谎言，为了确定真相，他走了出来，把洛萧叫到一边，问他有什么消息，卡米拉的心情如何。 —

Lothario replied that he was not disposed to go on with the business, for she had answered him so angrily and harshly that he had no heart to say anything more to her.
洛萧回答说，他没心情继续下去了，因为她回答得如此愤怒和尖锐，让他没心情再和她说什么。

“Ah, Lothario, Lothario,” said Anselmo, “how ill dost thou meet thy obligations to me, and the great confidence I repose in thee! —
“啊，洛萧，洛萧，”安塞尔莫说，“你是如何对待你对我的义务和我对你的极大信任，太不恰当了！” —

I have been just now watching through this keyhole, and I have seen that thou has not said a word to Camilla, whence I conclude that on the former occasions thou hast not spoken to her either, and if this be so, as no doubt it is, why dost thou deceive me, or wherefore seekest thou by craft to deprive me of the means I might find of attaining my desire?”
我刚刚偷看了这扇钥匙孔，发现你根本没有和卡米拉说过一句话，所以我推断在以前的情况下，你也没有和她说过任何话。如果是这样的话，你为什么要欺骗我呢？或者你为什么要用诡计来剥夺我达成愿望的手段呢？

Anselmo said no more, but he had said enough to cover Lothario with shame and confusion, and he, feeling as it were his honour touched by having been detected in a lie, swore to Anselmo that he would from that moment devote himself to satisfying him without any deception, as he would see if he had the curiosity to watch; —
安塞尔莫没有再多说什么，但他说的已经足够让洛萨里奥感到羞耻和尴尬了。他感到自己的荣誉受到了触动，因为被发现撒谎，于是向安塞尔莫发誓，从那一刻起他会全心全意地满足他，毫无欺骗的成分，他会亲眼看到的。 —

though he need not take the trouble, for the pains he would take to satisfy him would remove all suspicions from his mind. —
虽然他不必费心看守他，因为他为了满足安塞尔莫而采取的努力会从他的心头消除一切疑虑。 —

Anselmo believed him, and to afford him an opportunity more free and less liable to surprise, he resolved to absent himself from his house for eight days, betaking himself to that of a friend of his who lived in a village not far from the city; —
安塞尔莫相信了他，为了给他更自由、更不易被发现的机会，他决定离开家八天，前往一个住在城市附近的朋友家，为了向卡米拉解释他的离开，他安排让朋友发出一份非常紧急的邀请。 —

and, the better to account for his departure to Camilla, he so arranged it that the friend should send him a very pressing invitation.
不幸的、目光短浅的安塞尔莫，你在做什么，你在策划什么，你在谋划什么？

Unhappy, shortsighted Anselmo, what art thou doing, what art thou plotting, what art thou devising? —
请谨记你是在敌对自己，谋划自己的耻辱，设计自己的毁灭。 —

Bethink thee thou art working against thyself, plotting thine own dishonour, devising thine own ruin. —
你的妻子卡米拉是贞洁的，你在和平与安静中拥有她，没有人会侵犯你的幸福，她的思绪不会超越你家的墙壁，你是她在人间的天堂，是她心愿的对象，满足她的欲望，她调整自己意愿的准绳，使其与你和上天的一切相一致。 —

Thy wife Camilla is virtuous, thou dost possess her in peace and quietness, no one assails thy happiness, her thoughts wander not beyond the walls of thy house, thou art her heaven on earth, the object of her wishes, the fulfilment of her desires, the measure wherewith she measures her will, making it conform in all things to thine and Heaven’s . —
如果，她的荣誉，美丽，美德和谦逊之矿床在不费力气的情况下为你提供了所有你所期望的财富，为什么你要在土壤中挖掘寻找新的矿脉，未知的新宝藏，冒着一切崩溃的风险，因为它只依赖于她脆弱本性的支撑？ —

If, then, the mine of her honour, beauty, virtue, and modesty yields thee without labour all the wealth it contains and thou canst wish for, why wilt thou dig the earth in search of fresh veins, of new unknown treasure, risking the collapse of all, since it but rests on the feeble props of her weak nature? —
请记住，对于寻求不可能之人，可能存在的那一部分可以正义地被剥夺，正如一位诗人更好地表达过的那样： —

Bethink thee that from him who seeks impossibilities that which is possible may with justice be withheld, as was better expressed by a poet who said:
在死亡中我寻找生命，

’Tis mine to seek for life in death,
在疾病中我寻找健康，

Health in disease seek I,
我在监狱中寻找自由的气息，

I seek in prison freedom’s breath,
在叛徒身上我寻找忠诚。

In traitors loyalty.
因此命运总是藐视给予不可能之人，

So Fate that ever scorns to grant
因此我寻求能实现的东西。

Or grace or boon to me,
或赐予我恩典或恩宠，

Since what can never be I want,
因为我想要的永远无法实现，

Denies me what might be.
却被剥夺了可能会发生的事。

The next day Anselmo took his departure for the village, leaving instructions with Camilla that during his absence Lothario would come to look after his house and to dine with her, and that she was to treat him as she would himself. —
第二天安塞尔莫离开了村庄，留下了指示，要卡米拉在他不在时，洛萨里奥会来照看他的房子，和她一起用餐，她要对待他如同对待他自己。 —

Camilla was distressed, as a discreet and right-minded woman would be, at the orders her husband left her, and bade him remember that it was not becoming that anyone should occupy his seat at the table during his absence, and if he acted thus from not feeling confidence that she would be able to manage his house, let him try her this time, and he would find by experience that she was equal to greater responsibilities. —
卡米拉感到不安，像一个慎重而正直的女人一样，对她丈夫留下的命令感到不满，提醒他记得，不应该有任何人在他离开时坐在餐桌上，如果他这样做是因为不相信她能够管理他的房子，让他这次试一试她，他会通过经验发现她能胜任更大的责任。 —

Anselmo replied that it was his pleasure to have it so, and that she had only to submit and obey. —
安塞尔莫回答说，这是他的意愿，她只需服从。 —

Camilla said she would do so, though against her will.
卡米拉说，尽管不情愿，她会照做。

Anselmo went, and the next day Lothario came to his house, where he was received by Camilla with a friendly and modest welcome; —
安塞尔莫离开了，第二天洛萨里奥来到他的房子，卡米拉友好而谦虚地接待了他； —

but she never suffered Lothario to see her alone, for she was always attended by her men and women servants, especially by a handmaid of hers, Leonela by name, to whom she was much attached (for they had been brought up together from childhood in her father’s house), and whom she had kept with her after her marriage with Anselmo. —
但她从不让洛萨里奥单独见到她，因为她总是有男仆和女仆陪伴，特别是一个名叫莱奥内拉的使女，她对她非常依恋（因为她们从小在她父亲的家中一起长大），并且在与安塞尔莫结婚后也留下了她。 —

The first three days Lothario did not speak to her, though he might have done so when they removed the cloth and the servants retired to dine hastily; —
前三天，洛萨里奥没有和她说话，尽管在他们撤去桌布，仆人匆匆离去时本可以这样做； —

for such were Camilla’s orders; nay more, Leonela had directions to dine earlier than Camilla and never to leave her side. —
因为这是卡米拉的命令；不仅如此，莱奥内拉还被吩咐比卡米拉早用餐，永远不要离开她身边。 —

She, however, having her thoughts fixed upon other things more to her taste, and wanting that time and opportunity for her own pleasures, did not always obey her mistress’s commands, but on the contrary left them alone, as if they had ordered her to do so; —
然而，她的思维被转向更感兴趣的事情，渴望那个属于她自己的时刻和机会，因此并未总是遵守她主人的命令，相反，仿佛他们命令她这样做； —

but the modest bearing of Camilla, the calmness of her countenance, the composure of her aspect were enough to bridle the tongue of Lothario. —
但卡米拉的谦逊态度，她镇静的面容，端庄的举止足以遏制洛萨里奥的舌头。 —

But the influence which the many virtues of Camilla exerted in imposing silence on Lothario’s tongue proved mischievous for both of them, for if his tongue was silent his thoughts were busy, and could dwell at leisure upon the perfections of Camilla’s goodness and beauty one by one, charms enough to warm with love a marble statue, not to say a heart of flesh. —
然而，卡米拉众多的美德对洛萨里奥的口舌有所禁锢，对他们两个都构成了伤害，因为如果他的舌头保持沉默，他的思想却忙碌，可以闲庭信步地静静沉思卡米拉的美好和美丽，这些魅力足以让大理石雕像燃起爱火，更不用说是肉体的心。 —

Lothario gazed upon her when he might have been speaking to her, and thought how worthy of being loved she was; —
洛萨里奥注视着她，当本可以和她说话时，却在思考着她是多么值得被爱； —

and thus reflection began little by little to assail his allegiance to Anselmo, and a thousand times he thought of withdrawing from the city and going where Anselmo should never see him nor he see Camilla. —
如此，反思开始逐渐侵蚀他对安瑟尔莫的忠诚，他千百次想要离开这个城市，去一个安瑟尔莫永远看不到他，他也永远看不到卡米拉的地方。 —

But already the delight he found in gazing on her interposed and held him fast. —
但是他对盯着她看到的快乐已经构成了障碍，将他紧紧地困住。 —

He put a constraint upon himself, and struggled to repel and repress the pleasure he found in contemplating Camilla; —
他对自己施加了约束，努力驱逐和抑制他在凝视卡米拉时感到的愉悦； —

when alone he blamed himself for his weakness, called himself a bad friend, nay a bad Christian; —
当他独自一人时，他责备自己的软弱，称自己为一个坏朋友，甚至称自己为一个坏基督徒； —

then he argued the matter and compared himself with Anselmo; —
然后他进行辩论，将自己与安瑟尔莫做比较； —

always coming to the conclusion that the folly and rashness of Anselmo had been worse than his faithlessness, and that if he could excuse his intentions as easily before God as with man, he had no reason to fear any punishment for his offence.
最终得出结论，安瑟尔莫的愚蠢和轻率比他的不忠更糟，如果他在上帝面前能像在人类面前一样轻易原谅自己的意图，他就没有理由担心受到任何惩罚。

In short the beauty and goodness of Camilla, joined with the opportunity which the blind husband had placed in his hands, overthrew the loyalty of Lothario; —
总之，卡米拉的美貌和善良，加上那个盲目丈夫为他提供的机会，颠覆了洛塔里奥的忠诚； —

and giving heed to nothing save the object towards which his inclinations led him, after Anselmo had been three days absent, during which he had been carrying on a continual struggle with his passion, he began to make love to Camilla with so much vehemence and warmth of language that she was overwhelmed with amazement, and could only rise from her place and retire to her room without answering him a word. —
他除了留意自己内心引导他的目标之外，什么也不顾，当安瑟尔莫不在的三天里，他一直在与自己的激情进行持续的斗争，他开始对卡米拉展开热烈而热情的爱，以至于她惊愕不已，只能站起身退回自己的房间，没有回答他一句话。 —

But the hope which always springs up with love was not weakened in Lothario by this repelling demeanour; —
但是，爱情总是伴随希望的，洛塔里奥并没有因为这种冷漠的态度而削弱他对卡米拉的激情； —

on the contrary his passion for Camilla increased, and she discovering in him what she had never expected, knew not what to do; —
相反，他对卡米拉的激情增加了，而她在他身上发现了她从未预料到的东西，不知道该怎么办； —

and considering it neither safe nor right to give him the chance or opportunity of speaking to her again, she resolved to send, as she did that very night, one of her servants with a letter to Anselmo, in which she addressed the following words to him.
鉴于给他讲话的机会或可能性既不安全也不正确，她决定做出决定，就在那个晚上，派了一个仆人送信给安瑟尔莫，信中写着以下话语。