RELATES WHAT OLIVER’S NEW VISITORS THOUGHT OF HIM
奥利弗的新访客认为他看起来并没有那么恶劣。

With many loquacious assurances that they would be agreeably surprised in the aspect of the criminal, the doctor drew the young lady’s arm through one of his; —
医生滔滔不绝地向年轻女士保证，他们将对犯人的样子感到惊讶，然后挽着年轻女士的胳膊， —

and offering his disengaged hand to Mrs. Maylie, led them, with much ceremony and stateliness, upstairs.
并向梅莱夫人递过空闲的手，隆重而庄严地领着她们上了楼。

‘Now,’ said the doctor, in a whisper, as he softly turned the handle of a bedroom-door, ‘let us hear what you think of him. —
‘现在，’医生低声说着，轻轻转动卧室门的把手，’让我们听听你们怎么看他。 —

He has not been shaved very recently, but he don’t look at all ferocious notwithstanding. —
他可能已经有一段时间没有修面了，但看起来一点也不凶狠。 —

Stop, though! Let me first see that he is in visiting order.’
等一下！让我先确认他符合来访要求。

Stepping before them, he looked into the room. —
他走到他们前面，向房间里张望。 —

Motioning them to advance, he closed the door when they had entered; —
示意他们前进，当他们进去后他关上了门； —

and gently drew back the curtains of the bed. —
然后轻轻拉开了床帷。 —

Upon it, in lieu of the dogged, black-visaged ruffian they had expected to behold, there lay a mere child: —
床上，他们原以为会看到一个顽强、黑面孔的流氓，但却躺着一个纯粹的孩子： —

worn with pain and exhaustion, and sunk into a deep sleep. —
因疼痛和疲惫而消瘦，深深陷入睡眠。 —

His wounded arm, bound and splintered up, was crossed upon his breast; —
他受伤的手臂被绑扎和支撑着，交叠在胸前； —

his head reclined upon the other arm, which was half hidden by his long hair, as it streamed over the pillow.
他的头靠在另一只手臂上，长发几乎遮住了枕头。

The honest gentleman held the curtain in his hand, and looked on, for a minute or so, in silence. —
那位诚实的绅士手持帷幕，默默注视了一两分钟。 —

Whilst he was watching the patient thus, the younger lady glided softly past, and seating herself in a chair by the bedside, gathered Oliver’s hair from his face. —
就在他这样观察病人时，年轻女士悄悄走过，坐在床边的椅子上，把奥利弗的头发从脸上拨开。 —

As she stooped over him, her tears fell upon his forehead.
当她弯下腰，眼泪落在他的额头上。

The boy stirred, and smiled in his sleep, as though these marks of pity and compassion had awakened some pleasant dream of a love and affection he had never known. —
男孩在睡梦中动了动，微笑着，仿佛这些怜悯和同情的痕迹唤醒了他从未有过的一种爱和关怀的愉快梦境。 —

Thus, a strain of gentle music, or the rippling of water in a silent place, or the odour of a flower, or the mention of a familiar word, will sometimes call up sudden dim remembrances of scenes that never were, in this life; —
因此，一段柔和的音乐，或者在幽静之处水的潺潺声，或者花的香味，或者熟悉的词汇，有时会唤起突然的模糊回忆，那些在这一生中从未存在过的场景； —

which vanish like a breath; which some brief memory of a happier existence, long gone by, would seem to have awakened; —
就像一阵微风般消失；似乎是被一段已逝的更快乐生活的记忆所唤醒； —

which no voluntary exertion of the mind can ever recall.
无论心灵多么努力，也永远无法召回。

‘What can this mean?’ exclaimed the elder lady. —
‘这是什么意思？’年长的女士惊呼道。 —

‘This poor child can never have been the pupil of robbers!’
‘这个可怜的孩子不可能是强盗的学生！’

‘Vice,’ said the surgeon, replacing the curtain, ‘takes up her abode in many temples; —
‘罪恶’，外科医生说着，掩上帷幕，‘在许多神庙里扎根； —

and who can say that a fair outside shell not enshrine her?’
有谁能说一个美丽的外表背后没有囚禁她？’

‘But at so early an age!’ urged Rose.
‘但在如此幼小的年龄！’罗斯辩解道。

‘My dear young lady,’ rejoined the surgeon, mournfully shaking his head; —
‘我亲爱的年轻女士，’外科医生抑郁地摇着头； —

‘crime, like death, is not confined to the old and withered alone. —
‘罪行，如同死亡，不只限于老迈和枯朽之人。 —

The youngest and fairest are too often its chosen victims.’
年幼和美貌的人往往也是其选择的受害者。’

‘But, can you–oh! can you really believe that this delicate boy has been the voluntary associate of the worst outcasts of society?’ said Rose.
‘但是，你能够–哦！你真的相信这位娇嫩的男孩曾是社会上最不法之徒的自愿同伴吗？’罗斯说。

The surgeon shook his head, in a manner which intimated that he feared it was very possible; —
外科医生摇摇头，意味深长地表示他恐怕这是很可能的； —

and observing that they might disturb the patient, led the way into an adjoining apartment.
而且意识到他们可能会打扰病人，便领着他们走进了旁边的房间。

‘But even if he has been wicked,’ pursued Rose, ‘think how young he is; —
‘但即使他犯了罪，’罗斯继续说道，’想想他还是多么年轻； —

think that he may never have known a mother’s love, or the comfort of a home; —
想想他也许从未感受过母爱，也没有家的温暖； —

that ill-usage and blows, or the want of bread, may have driven him to herd with men who have forced him to guilt. —
有可能是受到虐待和殴打，或者饥饿驱使他与那些迫使他犯罪的人聚在一起。 —

Aunt, dear aunt, for mercy’s sake, think of this, before you let them drag this sick child to a prison, which in any case must be the grave of all his chances of amendment. —
阿姨，亲爱的阿姨，求求您，想一想这些，在让他们把这个病孩子拖到监狱之前，请三思，监狱对他改过的机会无异于坟墓。 —

Oh! as you love me, and know that I have never felt the want of parents in your goodness and affection, but that I might have done so, and might have been equally helpless and unprotected with this poor child, have pity upon him before it is too late!’
哦！如果您爱我，并知道在您的善良和爱护中我从未感到过失去父母的需要，但我也曾感到过，并且和这个可怜的孩子一样无依无靠，对他来说为时已晚！’

‘My dear love,’ said the elder lady, as she folded the weeping girl to her bosom, ‘do you think I would harm a hair of his head?’
‘我亲爱的孩子，’年长的女士说着，将哭泣的女孩拥入怀中，’你以为我会伤害他吗？’

‘Oh, no!’ replied Rose, eagerly.
‘哦，不会！’罗斯急切地回答道。

‘No, surely,’ said the old lady; ‘my days are drawing to their close: —
‘不，当然不会，’老太太说，’我的生命即将结束： —

and may mercy be shown to me as I show it to others! —
愿慈悲如我对待他一样对待我！ —

What can I do to save him, sir?’
先生，我能做些什么来拯救他？’

‘Let me think, ma’am,’ said the doctor; ‘let me think.’
‘让我想想，夫人，’医生说道，’让我想想。’

Mr. Losberne thrust his hands into his pockets, and took several turns up and down the room; —
洛斯伯恩先生将手插入口袋，在房间里来回走了几圈； —

often stopping, and balancing himself on his toes, and frowning frightfully. —
经常停下来，站在脚尖上平衡自己，脸上皱起了可怕的皱纹。 —

After various exclamations of ‘I’ve got it now’ and ‘no, I haven’t,’ and as many renewals of the walking and frowning, he at length made a dead halt, and spoke as follows:
在多次呼喊着‘我想到了’和‘不，我没想到’以及多次停下走路和皱眉之后，他最终停了下来，说道：

‘I think if you give me a full and unlimited commission to bully Giles, and that little boy, Brittles, I can manage it. —
“我想如果你给我全权无限的权限来欺负吉尔斯和那个小男孩布里特尔斯，我可以应付得来。” —

Giles is a faithful fellow and an old servant, I know; —
“吉尔斯是一个忠实的家伙和老仆人，我知道； —

but you can make it up to him in a thousand ways, and reward him for being such a good shot besides. —
但你可以用一千种方式弥补他，并奖励他成为一个如此出色的射手。 —

You don’t object to that?’
你不反对吧？”

‘Unless there is some other way of preserving the child,’ replied Mrs. Maylie.
“除非有其他保护孩子的办法，”梅莱太太回答说。

‘There is no other,’ said the doctor. ‘No other, take my word for it.’
“没有其他的，”医生说。“没有其他，相信我的话。”

‘Then my aunt invests you with full power,’ said Rose, smiling through her tears; —
“那么我姑姑给你充分的权力，”罗丝微笑着说。 —

‘but pray don’t be harder upon the poor fellows than is indispensably necessary.’
“但请不要对这些可怜家伙太过分，只要是绝对必要的就好。”

‘You seem to think,’ retorted the doctor, ‘that everybody is disposed to be hard-hearted to-day, except yourself, Miss Rose. I only hope, for the sake of the rising male sex generally, that you may be found in as vulnerable and soft-hearted a mood by the first eligible young fellow who appeals to your compassion; —
“你似乎认为，”医生反驳道，“今天除了你自己，每个人都倾向于冷酷无情。我只希望，为了男性普遍的崛起，你在第一个富有同情心的合适的年轻人向你求援时，也会处于同样易受伤和心软的心情； —

and I wish I were a young fellow, that I might avail myself, on the spot, of such a favourable opportunity for doing so, as the present.’
我真希望我是个年轻人，这样我就可以立即利用这个如此有利的机会去做此事了。”

‘You are as great a boy as poor Brittles himself,’ returned Rose, blushing.
“你和可怜的布里特尔斯一样是个大男孩，”罗丝回答时脸红了。

‘Well,’ said the doctor, laughing heartily, ‘that is no very difficult matter. —
“嗯，”医生哈哈大笑，“这点并不太难。 —

But to return to this boy. The great point of our agreement is yet to come. —
但回到这个男孩身上。我们协议的重点还没提到。 —

He will wake in an hour or so, I dare say; —
我想他一个小时左右应该醒来； —

and although I have told that thick-headed constable-fellow downstairs that he musn’t be moved or spoken to, on peril of his life, I think we may converse with him without danger. —
虽然我告诉楼下那个头脑迟钝的警察太多，他不能被移动或谈话，否则就危及性命，我想我们可以毫无危险地和他交谈。 —

Now I make this stipulation–that I shall examine him in your presence, and that, if, from what he says, we judge, and I can show to the satisfaction of your cool reason, that he is a real and thorough bad one (which is more than possible), he shall be left to his fate, without any farther interference on my part, at all events.’
现在我做出这样的规定——我将在你们面前审讯他，如果从他的话语中我们认为，我可以向你们冷静的理性证明他确实是一个真正彻底的坏人（这非常有可能），他将被交付给命运，至少在任何情况下我不会再干涉。

‘Oh no, aunt!’ entreated Rose.
“哦不，阿姨！”罗丝恳求道。

‘Oh yes, aunt!’ said the doctor. ‘Is is a bargain?’
“哦是的，阿姨！”医生说。“成交吗？”

‘He cannot be hardened in vice,’ said Rose; ‘It is impossible.’
“他不可能变得那么邪恶，”罗丝说。“那是不可能的。”

‘Very good,’ retorted the doctor; ‘then so much the more reason for acceding to my proposition.’
“很好，”医生反驳道。“那么更有理由同意我的建议。”

Finally the treaty was entered into; and the parties thereunto sat down to wait, with some impatience, until Oliver should awake.
最终，条约达成了；参与其中的各方坐下等待，相当不耐烦，直到奥利弗睡醒。

The patience of the two ladies was destined to undergo a longer trial than Mr. Losberne had led them to expect; —
两位女士的耐心将受到比洛斯本先生所预测更长时间的考验； —

for hour after hour passed on, and still Oliver slumbered heavily. —
一个小时又一个小时过去了，奥利弗仍然沉睡不醒。 —

It was evening, indeed, before the kind-hearted doctor brought them the intelligence, that he was at length sufficiently restored to be spoken to. —
直到傍晚，仁慈的医生才告诉她们这个消息：他终于恢复得足够可以和他交谈。 —

The boy was very ill, he said, and weak from the loss of blood; —
他说这个孩子病得很重，由于失血过多，身体很虚弱； —

but his mind was so troubled with anxiety to disclose something, that he deemed it better to give him the opportunity, than to insist upon his remaining quiet until next morning: —
但他的心里充满了揭露一些事情的焦虑，他认为给他机会比强迫他等到第二天早上更好： —

which he should otherwise have done.
否则他本来会这样做的。

The conference was a long one. Oliver told them all his simple history, and was often compelled to stop, by pain and want of strength. —
会谈持续了很长时间。奥利弗告诉他们自己的简单经历，常常因为疼痛和体力不支而不得不停下来。 —

It was a solemn thing, to hear, in the darkened room, the feeble voice of the sick child recounting a weary catalogue of evils and calamities which hard men had brought upon him. —
在黑暗的房间里，听到病童的虚弱声音数述着残酷男人给他带来的一连串苦难和灾难，这是一件庄严的事情。 —

Oh! if when we oppress and grind our fellow-creatures, we bestowed but one thought on the dark evidences of human error, which, like dense and heavy clouds, are rising, slowly it is true, but not less surely, to Heaven, to pour their after-vengeance on our heads; —
哦！如果我们在压迫和虐待我们的同类时，只用一点心思想想人类错误的黑暗证据，它们像密集而沉重的云朵一样，慢慢地升向天空，虽然慢，但同样地确确实实地，将在天堂倾盆而下，后来将降临到我们的头上； —

if we heard but one instant, in imagination, the deep testimony of dead men’s voices, which no power can stifle, and no pride shut out; —
如果我们能在想象中听到死者的声音，那些深刻的证词，任何力量也无法压制，任何骄傲也无法排斥； —

where would be the injury and injustice, the suffering, misery, cruelty, and wrong, that each day’s life brings with it!
那一天的生活中，哪里会有伤害和不公，痛苦、悲惨、残忍和错误？

Oliver’s pillow was smoothed by gentle hands that night; —
那天晚上，奥利弗的枕头被温柔的手整理过； —

and loveliness and virtue watched him as he slept. —
只有美丽和美德在他睡着时看着他。 —

He felt calm and happy, and could have died without a murmur.
他感到平静和幸福，可以毫不抱怨地去世。

The momentous interview was no sooner concluded, and Oliver composed to rest again, than the doctor, after wiping his eyes, and condemning them for being weak all at once, betook himself downstairs to open upon Mr. Giles. And finding nobody about the parlours, it occurred to him, that he could perhaps originate the proceedings with better effect in the kitchen; —
关键的谈话一结束，奥利弗再次安静下来休息，医生擦干了眼泪，责备自己一下，认为自己突然感到软弱，然后下楼去找吉尔斯先生。发现客厅里没有人，于是他想起也许自己可以在厨房更有效地开展工作； —

so into the kitchen he went.
于是他走进了厨房。

There were assembled, in that lower house of the domestic parliament, the women-servants, Mr. Brittles, Mr. Giles, the tinker (who had received a special invitation to regale himself for the remainder of the day, in consideration of his services), and the constable. —
厨房里聚集了家政国会下院的女仆、布里特尔斯先生、吉尔斯先生、铁匠（他因为自己的服务获得了特别邀请，可以在这里休息剩下的一天），以及警察; —

The latter gentleman had a large staff, a large head, large features, and large half-boots; —
后者个头高大，头大，五官大，半截靴子大； —

and he looked as if he had been taking a proportionate allowance of ale–as indeed he had.
他看上去就像刚喝了相应的量的麦酒–事实上他确实是这样；

The adventures of the previous night were still under discussion; —
前一天晚上发生的冒险仍在讨论中； —

for Mr. Giles was expatiating upon his presence of mind, when the doctor entered; —
因为吉尔斯先生正大谈他的应变能力，就在医生进来的时候； —

Mr. Brittles, with a mug of ale in his hand, was corroborating everything, before his superior said it.
布里特尔斯先生手里拿着一杯麦酒，正在证实一切，比他的上级说得更早。

‘Sit still!’ said the doctor, waving his hand.
‘坐好！’医生挥了挥手。

‘Thank you, sir, said Mr. Giles. ‘Misses wished some ale to be given out, sir; —
‘谢谢，先生，’吉尔斯先生说。 ‘太太要求分发一些麦酒，先生； —

and as I felt no ways inclined for my own little room, sir, and was disposed for company, I am taking mine among ‘em here.’
我没有想要待在自己的小房间里，先生，而是想要和大家在一起，所以我就呆在了这里。

Brittles headed a low murmur, by which the ladies and gentlemen generally were understood to express the gratification they derived from Mr. Giles’s condescension. —
布里特尔斯领头发出了低低的嗡嗡声，淑女们和绅士们通常被理解为对吉尔斯先生的屈尊自谦表示满足。 —

Mr. Giles looked round with a patronising air, as much as to say that so long as they behaved properly, he would never desert them.
吉尔斯先生环顾四周，带着一种自以为是的空气，好像只要大家表现得得体，他就永远不会抛弃他们。

‘How is the patient to-night, sir?’ asked Giles.
“今晚病人怎么样，先生？”吉尔斯问。

‘So-so’; returned the doctor. ‘I am afraid you have got yourself into a scrape there, Mr. Giles.’
“还行”，医生回答。“吉尔斯先生，我怕你自己惹上麻烦了。”

‘I hope you don’t mean to say, sir,’ said Mr. Giles, trembling, ‘that he’s going to die. —
“希望您不是说，先生，”吉尔斯先生颤抖着说，“他要死了。 —

If I thought it, I should never be happy again. I wouldn’t cut a boy off: —
我要是这么想，我会再也高兴不起来。我不会割掉一个男孩： —

no, not even Brittles here; not for all the plate in the county, sir.’
不，即使是这里的布里特尔斯，就算整个郡里的银器全都给我，先生。”

‘That’s not the point,’ said the doctor, mysteriously. ‘Mr. Giles, are you a Protestant?’
“那不是重点，”医生神秘地说。“吉尔斯先生，你是个新教徒吗？”

‘Yes, sir, I hope so,’ faltered Mr. Giles, who had turned very pale.
“是的，先生，我希望是。”吉尔斯先生战战兢兢地说，脸色变得苍白。

‘And what are you, boy?’ said the doctor, turning sharply upon Brittles.
“那你们两个呢，孩子？”医生转身急切地问布里特尔斯。

‘Lord bless me, sir!’ replied Brittles, starting violently; ‘I’m the same as Mr. Giles, sir.’
“天啊，先生！”布里特尔斯大吃一惊，“我和吉尔斯先生一样，先生。”

‘Then tell me this,’ said the doctor, ‘both of you, both of you! —
“那告诉我，”医生说，“你们两个，你们两个！ —

Are you going to take upon yourselves to swear, that that boy upstairs is the boy that was put through the little window last night? —
你们要发誓说，楼上那个男孩就是昨晚从小窗户里被扔进来的那个男孩吗？ —

Out with it! Come! We are prepared for you!’
说出来！快！我们已经准备好了！”

The doctor, who was universally considered one of the best-tempered creatures on earth, made this demand in such a dreadful tone of anger, that Giles and Brittles, who were considerably muddled by ale and excitement, stared at each other in a state of stupefaction.
医生被普遍认为是地球上性情最好的人之一，却以一种可怕的愤怒语气提出了这个要求，这使得吉尔斯和布里特尔斯，在喝过麦酒和兴奋之后，呆呆地互相盯着对方，处于麻木状态。

‘Pay attention to the reply, constable, will you?’ —
“警官，你要留意回答哦。” —

said the doctor, shaking his forefinger with great solemnity of manner, and tapping the bridge of his nose with it, to bespeak the exercise of that worthy’s utmost acuteness. —
医生这样郑重其事地摇着手指，用它轻击自己的鼻梁，以示这位值得尊敬的人必须充分发挥他的敏锐之处。 —

‘Something may come of this before long.’
“之前没准会有点进展。”

The constable looked as wise as he could, and took up his staff of office: —
警官尽量装得聪明一些，拿起了自己懒洋洋地躺在壁炉角落的权杖。 —

which had been reclining indolently in the chimney-corner.
“这只是一个简单的身份验证问题，你们要注意。”

‘It’s a simple question of identity, you will observe,’ said the doctor.
医生说。

‘That’s what it is, sir,’ replied the constable, coughing with great violence; —
“是的，先生。”警官回答，连忙咳嗽起来。 —

for he had finished his ale in a hurry, and some of it had gone the wrong way.
他急忙喝完了酒，其中有些呛到了。

‘Here’s the house broken into,’ said the doctor, ‘and a couple of men catch one moment’s glimpse of a boy, in the midst of gunpowder smoke, and in all the distraction of alarm and darkness. —
“这栋房子被闯入了，”医生说，“几个人在火药烟雾中的一瞬间看到一个男孩，在惊恐、黑暗和混乱中。 —

Here’s a boy comes to that very same house, next morning, and because he happens to have his arm tied up, these men lay violent hands upon him–by doing which, they place his life in great danger–and swear he is the thief. —
“第二天早上，一个男孩来到同一个房子，因为手臂被绑着，这几个人竟然对他动手——这样做，他们把他的生命置于巨大危险之中——并且发誓他就是小偷。 —

Now, the question is, whether these men are justified by the fact; —
“现在，问题是，这群人有没有根据事实来证明自己的行为正当； —

if not, in what situation do they place themselves?’
“如果没有，他们把自己置于什么样的处境？”

The constable nodded profoundly. He said, if that wasn’t law, he would be glad to know what was.
警官郑重地点了点头，他说，如果这不是法律，他很想知道还有什么是法律。

‘I ask you again,’ thundered the doctor, ‘are you, on your solemn oaths, able to identify that boy?’
“我再问你们一次，”医生雷声般说道，”你们敢在庄严的誓言面前确切地确认那个男孩吗？”

Brittles looked doubtfully at Mr. Giles; Mr. Giles looked doubtfully at Brittles; —
布里特尔斯犹疑地看着吉尔斯先生; 吉尔斯先生也犹疑地看着布里特尔斯; —

the constable put his hand behind his ear, to catch the reply; —
警官把手放在耳后，以等着回答; —

the two women and the tinker leaned forward to listen; the doctor glanced keenly round; —
两个女人和锡匠都向前倾听; 医生则仔细地看了一圈; —

when a ring was heard at the gate, and at the same moment, the sound of wheels.
就在这时，门口响起了一阵铃声，与此同时，还听到车轮的声音。

‘It’s the runners!’ cried Brittles, to all appearance much relieved.
“是追捕者!” 布里特尔斯看起来松了一口气说道。

‘The what?’ exclaimed the doctor, aghast in his turn.
“追捕者？” 医生又惊又愕地说。

‘The Bow Street officers, sir,’ replied Brittles, taking up a candle; —
“就是波街的官员，先生，” 布里特尔斯拿起一支蜡烛说道; —

‘me and Mr. Giles sent for ‘em this morning.’
“我和吉尔斯先生今早派人去找他们的。”

‘What?’ cried the doctor.
“怎么回事？” 医生大声问。

‘Yes,’ replied Brittles; ‘I sent a message up by the coachman, and I only wonder they weren’t here before, sir.’
“是的，” 布里特尔斯回答说; “我通过车夫给他们送了消息，我只是奇怪他们怎么不早点到，先生。”

‘You did, did you? Then confound your–slow coaches down here; —
“你干了这事吗？那么让你这些–慢散步的家伙到这里来，” 医生走开了。 —

that’s all,’ said the doctor, walking away.
这就是全部，医生说着，走开了。