OLIVER, BEING GOADED BY THE TAUNTS OF NOAH, ROUSES INTO ACTION, AND RATHER ASTONISHES HIM
欧利弗被诺亚的嘲讽激怒，振作起来，让他相当吃惊。

The month’s trial over, Oliver was formally apprenticed. —
一个月的试用结束后，欧利弗正式当上了学徒。 —

It was a nice sickly season just at this time. In commercial phrase, coffins were looking up; —
正好在这个时候，正值一个暴病的季节。用商业术语来说，棺材需求量大增； —

and, in the course of a few weeks, Oliver acquired a great deal of experience. —
几周过后，欧利弗获得了很多经验。 —

The success of Mr. Sowerberry’s ingenious speculation, exceeded even his most sanguine hopes. —
萨伯瑞先生巧妙的投机行为获得了巨大成功，甚至超过了他最为乐观的希望。 —

The oldest inhabitants recollected no period at which measles had been so prevalent, or so fatal to infant existence; —
最年长的居民都回忆不起曾经有过这么猖狂的麻疹季节，对婴儿的影响也非常致命； —

and many were the mournful processions which little Oliver headed, in a hat-band reaching down to his knees, to the indescribable admiration and emotion of all the mothers in the town. —
小欧利弗率领着许多令全镇所有母亲感动得说不出话来的丧葬队伍，头顶着长及膝盖的丧帽，表现得极其值得赞美和感动。 —

As Oliver accompanied his master in most of his adult expeditions too, in order that he might acquire that equanimity of demeanour and full command of nerve which was essential to a finished undertaker, he had many opportunities of observing the beautiful resignation and fortitude with which some strong-minded people bear their trials and losses.
欧利弗随着主人完成绝大多数成年任务，以便培养他在成为合格丧葬者时所需的平和态度和精神控制力，他有很多机会看到一些坚毅且坚定的人们是如何承受他们的试炼和损失的。

For instance; when Sowerberry had an order for the burial of some rich old lady or gentleman, who was surrounded by a great number of nephews and nieces, who had been perfectly inconsolable during the previous illness, and whose grief had been wholly irrepressible even on the most public occasions, they would be as happy among themselves as need be–quite cheerful and contented–conversing together with as much freedom and gaiety, as if nothing whatever had happened to disturb them. —
举例来说；当萨伯瑞接到一个富有的老太太或老先生的葬礼订单时，他们周围会围绕着一大群侄子和侄女，这些侄儿侄女在前一次疾病中完全无法接受，即使在最公开的场合，他们的悲伤也是无法抑制的，但一旦回到家中，他们之间就变得异常快乐–非常欢乐和满足，他们之间的交谈一点不含富含蓄，犹如什么事都没有发生一样。 —

Husbands, too, bore the loss of their wives with the most heroic calmness. —
丈夫们也以最英勇的冷静面对妻子的离世。 —

Wives, again, put on weeds for their husbands, as if, so far from grieving in the garb of sorrow, they had made up their minds to render it as becoming and attractive as possible. —
而妻子们则为丈夫戴上丧服，好像她们做好了决心，要使它尽可能显得得体和吸引人。 —

It was observable, too, that ladies and gentlemen who were in passions of anguish during the ceremony of interment, recovered almost as soon as they reached home, and became quite composed before the tea-drinking was over. —
值得注意的是，参加葬礼时处于极度悲痛之中的男女，在回到家后几乎立刻恢复平静，在茶会结束前就已全然冷静下来。 —

All this was very pleasant and improving to see; —
这一切看来非常愉快而有益； —

and Oliver beheld it with great admiration.
欧利弗看到了这一切，非常钦佩。

That Oliver Twist was moved to resignation by the example of these good people, I cannot, although I am his biographer, undertake to affirm with any degree of confidence; —
我作为他的传记作者，不能百分之百肯定欧利弗·推斯特受到这些善良人们的榜样所感染而产生坚决的决心。 —

but I can most distinctly say, that for many months he continued meekly to submit to the domination and ill-treatment of Noah Claypole: —
但我可以很明确地说，有好几个月，他继续温顺地忍受努阿·克莱波尔的支配和虐待： —

who used him far worse than before, now that his jealousy was roused by seeing the new boy promoted to the black stick and hatband, while he, the old one, remained stationary in the muffin-cap and leathers. —
现在，他看到新来的男孩被提升为黑条和帽子，而他这个老的还停留在小圆帽和皮革鞋上，努阿更加恼火，对他恶待更甚。 —

Charlotte treated him ill, because Noah did; —
夏洛特坏待他，是因为努阿坏待他； —

and Mrs. Sowerberry was his decided enemy, because Mr. Sowerberry was disposed to be his friend; —
苏尔贝里太太是他坚决的敌人，是因为苏尔贝里先生倾向于成为他的朋友； —

so, between these three on one side, and a glut of funerals on the other, Oliver was not altogether as comfortable as the hungry pig was, when he was shut up, by mistake, in the grain department of a brewery.
因此，在一边是这三个人，另一边是成批的葬礼，奥利弗并不像一个被误锁在啤酒厂谷物仓里的饥饿猪那样舒适。

And now, I come to a very important passage in Oliver’s history; —
而现在，我来到了奥利弗历史上一个非常重要的时刻； —

for I have to record an act, slight and unimportant perhaps in appearance, but which indirectly produced a material change in all his future prospects and proceedings.
因为我需要记录一件看似微不足道的行为，但却间接地对他未来的前途和行动产生了重大影响。

One day, Oliver and Noah had descended into the kitchen at the usual dinner-hour, to banquet upon a small joint of mutton–a pound and a half of the worst end of the neck–when Charlotte being called out of the way, there ensued a brief interval of time, which Noah Claypole, being hungry and vicious, considered he could not possibly devote to a worthier purpose than aggravating and tantalising young Oliver Twist.
有一天，奥利弗和努阿按照惯例，在正常的吃饭时间下到厨房，享用一小块羊肉 —— 一磅半最差的脖子末端 —— 当时夏洛特被叫走了，于是便发生了短暂的空隙，努阿·克莱波尔，饥饿而恶毒，认为他绝对不能把这段时间用于更值得的事情，于是开始惹奥利弗·特威斯特、刺激他。

Intent upon this innocent amusement, Noah put his feet on the table-cloth; and pulled Oliver’s hair; —
努阿追求这种无害的娱乐，把脚放在桌布上；扯奥利弗的头发； —

and twitched his ears; and expressed his opinion that he was a ‘sneak’; —
拽他的耳朵；称他为“卑鄙小人”； —

and furthermore announced his intention of coming to see him hanged, whenever that desirable event should take place; —
并且宣布他打算在那值得期待的事件发生时来看奥利弗被绞死； —

and entered upon various topics of petty annoyance, like a malicious and ill-conditioned charity-boy as he was. —
他还提出各种令人厌恶的无关紧要的话题，就像一个恶毒而心怀不轨的慈善男孩一样。 —

But, making Oliver cry, Noah attempted to be more facetious still; —
但是，当使奥利弗哭泣时，努阿试图变得更风趣； —

and in his attempt, did what many sometimes do to this day, when they want to be funny. —
并在他的尝试中，做了很多人至今还偶尔会做的事情，当他们想要搞笑时。 —

He got rather personal.
他变得相当针对个人。

‘Work’us,’ said Noah, ‘how’s your mother?’
“工夫斯，” 诺亚说，“你母亲怎么样了？”

‘She’s dead,’ replied Oliver; ‘don’t you say anything about her to me!’
“她去世了，”奥利弗回答道，“你别跟我提她！”

Oliver’s colour rose as he said this; he breathed quickly; —
奥利弗说这话时脸色一红；他呼吸急促； —

and there was a curious working of the mouth and nostrils, which Mr. Claypole thought must be the immediate precursor of a violent fit of crying. —
嘴唇和鼻孔之间有一种奇怪的活动，克莱波尔先生认为这大概是立刻就要大哭一场的前兆。 —

Under this impression he returned to the charge.
有了这个印象，他重新发问。

‘What did she die of, Work’us?’ said Noah.
“她是怎么去世的，工夫斯？” 诺亚说。

‘Of a broken heart, some of our old nurses told me,’ replied Oliver: —
“一些老保姆告诉我，是因为心碎而去的，”奥利弗回答说， —

more as if he were talking to himself, than answering Noah. ‘I think I know what it must be to die of that!’
他说话更像是在和自己说话，而不是回答诺亚。“我想我知道死于这个的感受了！”

‘Tol de rol lol lol, right fol lairy, Work’us,’ said Noah, as a tear rolled down Oliver’s cheek. —
“托德洛洛洛，对他很满意，工夫斯，”当一滴泪从奥利弗的脸颊上滚下时，诺亚说。 —

‘What’s set you a snivelling now?’
“你现在为什么哭啜不止呢？”

‘Not you,’ replied Oliver, sharply. ‘There; that’s enough. —
“不是你，”奥利弗尖声说。“好了；够了。 —

Don’t say anything more to me about her; —
别再跟我提她； —

you’d better not!’
你最好别！”

‘Better not!’ exclaimed Noah. ‘Well! Better not! Work’us, don’t be impudent. Your mother, too! —
“最好别！”诺亚叫道。“哦！最好别！工夫斯，别无理。你的母亲也！ —

She was a nice ‘un she was. Oh, Lor!’ And here, Noah nodded his head expressively; —
她可真是一个好女人，哦，天啊！”这时，诺亚表情生动地点了点头； —

and curled up as much of his small red nose as muscular action could collect together, for the occasion.
并尽可能地把他那个小红鼻子卷曲起来，以便做好一切准备。

‘Yer know, Work’us,’ continued Noah, emboldened by Oliver’s silence, and speaking in a jeering tone of affected pity: —
‘你知道，沃克斯,’ 诺亚继续说道，受到奥利弗的沉默的鼓励，用一种嘲笑的假怜悯的口吻说道： —

of all tones the most annoying: ‘Yer know, Work’us, it can’t be helped now; —
在所有的语调中最恼人的一种：’你知道，沃克斯，现在是无法挽回的了； —

and of course yer couldn’t help it then; and I am very sorry for it; —
当然，你当时也无能为力；我很为此感到难过； —

and I’m sure we all are, and pity yer very much. —
我相信我们都是，而且非常怜悯你。 —

But yer must know, Work’us, yer mother was a regular right-down bad ‘un.’
但你必须要知道，沃克斯，你的母亲是一个彻头彻尾的坏人。

‘What did you say?’ inquired Oliver, looking up very quickly.
‘你说什么？’奥利弗问道，快速地抬起头来。

‘A regular right-down bad ‘un, Work’us,’ replied Noah, coolly. —
‘一个彻头彻尾的坏人，沃克斯，’ 诺亚冷静地回答道。 —

‘And it’s a great deal better, Work’us, that she died when she did, or else she’d have been hard labouring in Bridewell, or transported, or hung; —
‘沃克斯，你的母亲去世时这样反倒更好，否则她会在监狱里操劳，或被流放，或被绞死； —

which is more likely than either, isn’t it?’
后者更可能，是吧？’

Crimson with fury, Oliver started up; overthrew the chair and table; seized Noah by the throat; —
奥利弗被愤怒染得通红，站了起来；把椅子和桌子都推倒；抓住诺亚的喉咙； —

shook him, in the violence of his rage, till his teeth chattered in his head; —
怒火中烧的他，以全力的一击，把诺亚打倒在地。 —

and collecting his whole force into one heavy blow, felled him to the ground.
片刻之前，这个男孩看起来像一个安静的孩子，一个被严厉对待弄得温顺、失望的人。

A minute ago, the boy had looked the quiet child, mild, dejected creature that harsh treatment had made him. —
但最终他的精神被唤醒了；对他已故母亲的残忍侮辱激起了他的愤怒。 —

But his spirit was roused at last; the cruel insult to his dead mother had set his blood on fire. —
—

His breast heaved; his attitude was erect; his eye bright and vivid; —
他的胸膛起伏不定；他的姿态笔挺；他的眼神明亮而生动； —

his whole person changed, as he stood glaring over the cowardly tormentor who now lay crouching at his feet; —
他整个人的变化，当他盯着那个卑劣的折磨者站立在他脚下时就表现出来， —

and defied him with an energy he had never known before.
他挺身而起，目光锐利，展现出以往从未有过的活力。

‘He’ll murder me!’ blubbered Noah. ‘Charlotte! missis! —
‘他要杀了我！’诺厄啜泣道。’ 夏洛特！夫人！ —

Here’s the new boy a murdering of me! Help! help! —
这个新来的小子要谋害我！帮帮忙啊！ —

Oliver’s gone mad! Char–lotte!’
奥利弗疯了！夏–洛特！’

Noah’s shouts were responded to, by a loud scream from Charlotte, and a louder from Mrs. Sowerberry; —
诺厄的叫喊得到了回应，夏洛特尖叫一声，索尔贝里夫人尖叫更大声； —

the former of whom rushed into the kitchen by a side-door, while the latter paused on the staircase till she was quite certain that it was consistent with the preservation of human life, to come further down.
前者冲进厨房侧门，后者在楼梯上停顿，等到确定再往下去对人类生命的保护是一致的。

‘Oh, you little wretch!’ screamed Charlotte: —
‘哦，你这个小恶棍！’夏洛特尖叫道： —

seizing Oliver with her utmost force, which was about equal to that of a moderately strong man in particularly good training. —
用尽全力抓住奥利弗，力量大约相当于一位身体特别健壮的训练有素的男子。 —

‘Oh, you little un-grate-ful, mur-de-rous, hor-rid villain!’ —
‘哦，你这个小忘恩负义，谋杀成性，可恶至极的恶棍！’ —

And between every syllable, Charlotte gave Oliver a blow with all her might: —
夏洛特在每个音节之间，用全力打了奥利弗一拳： —

accompanying it with a scream, for the benefit of society.
每一击都伴随着一声尖叫，以示对社会的效应。

Charlotte’s fist was by no means a light one; —
夏洛特的拳头绝非轻飘飘的； —

but, lest it should not be effectual in calming Oliver’s wrath, Mrs. Sowerberry plunged into the kitchen, and assisted to hold him with one hand, while she scratched his face with the other. —
但为了确保能平息奥利弗的愤怒，索尔贝里夫人一手扶着他，一手挠他的脸。 —

In this favourable position of affairs, Noah rose from the ground, and pommelled him behind.
在这种有利的情况下，诺亚从地上站起来，然后对他进行了殴打。

This was rather too violent exercise to last long. —
这种过度暴力的行为无法持续太久。 —

When they were all wearied out, and could tear and beat no longer, they dragged Oliver, struggling and shouting, but nothing daunted, into the dust-cellar, and there locked him up. —
当他们全部精疲力尽，再也无法撕扯和殴打时，他们将奥利弗拖到地下室，他仍在挣扎和喊叫，但毫不畏惧，然后将他锁起来。 —

This being done, Mrs. Sowerberry sunk into a chair, and burst into tears.
完成这一切后，索尔贝瑞太太一屁股坐在椅子上，放声大哭。

‘Bless her, she’s going off!’ said Charlotte. ‘A glass of water, Noah, dear. Make haste!’
‘保佑她，她要晕过去了！’夏洛特说。’诺亚，亲爱的，快拿杯水！’

‘Oh! Charlotte,’ said Mrs. Sowerberry: speaking as well as she could, through a deficiency of breath, and a sufficiency of cold water, which Noah had poured over her head and shoulders. —
‘哦！夏洛特，’索尔贝瑞太太说：语气尽管有些呼吸急促，头上和肩膀上的诺亚泼过的冷水未见充分的幸免。 —

‘Oh! Charlotte, what a mercy we have not all been murdered in our beds!’
‘哦！夏洛特，我们没有被人趁我们睡觉时杀害，真是多亏了！’

‘Ah! mercy indeed, ma’am,’ was the reply. —
‘啊！真是幸运，夫人，’回答说。 —

I only hope this’ll teach master not to have any more of these dreadful creatures, that are born to be murderers and robbers from their very cradle. —
我只希望这会教导先生不要再养这些从出生起就注定要成为凶手和抢劫犯的可怕家伙。 —

Poor Noah! He was all but killed, ma’am, when I come in.’
可怜的诺亚！当我进来时，他几乎被杀死了，夫人。

‘Poor fellow!’ said Mrs. Sowerberry: looking piteously on the charity-boy.
‘可怜的家伙！’索尔贝瑞太太怜悯地看着这个乞讨男孩。

Noah, whose top waistcoat-button might have been somewhere on a level with the crown of Oliver’s head, rubbed his eyes with the inside of his wrists while this commiseration was bestowed upon him, and performed some affecting tears and sniffs.
在这种怜悯之情洋溢的时刻，诺亚用手腕内侧擦着眼睛，做出一些感人的泪水和鼻息声。

‘What’s to be done!’ exclaimed Mrs. Sowerberry. ‘Your master’s not at home; —
‘怎么办！’索尔贝瑞太太惊呼道。’你主人不在家； —

there’s not a man in the house, and he’ll kick that door down in ten minutes.’ —
屋里没有一个男人，他会在十分钟内踢倒那扇门的。’ —

Oliver’s vigorous plunges against the bit of timber in question, rendered this occurance highly probable.
奥利弗对所谓的木料进行的有力冲击，使这种情况极有可能发生。

‘Dear, dear! I don’t know, ma’am,’ said Charlotte, ‘unless we send for the police-officers.’
‘亲爱的，亲爱的！我不知道，夫人，’夏洛特说，’除非我们叫警察来。’

‘Or the millingtary,’ suggested Mr. Claypole.
‘或者叫军官来，’克雷波尔先生建议道。

‘No, no,’ said Mrs. Sowerberry: bethinking herself of Oliver’s old friend. —
‘不，不，’索韦贝瑞夫人说：回想起奥利弗的老朋友。 —

‘Run to Mr. Bumble, Noah, and tell him to come here directly, and not to lose a minute; —
‘去找班布尔先生，诺亚，告诉他立刻过来，切勿耽搁； —

never mind your cap! Make haste! You can hold a knife to that black eye, as you run along. —
别管你的帽子！快点！你可以顺便用刀给那只黑眼睛降肿。 —

It’ll keep the swelling down.’
这样会减轻肿胀。’

Noah stopped to make no reply, but started off at his fullest speed; —
诺亚停下来没有回答，但他以最快的速度奔跑起来； —

and very much it astonished the people who were out walking, to see a charity-boy tearing through the streets pell-mell, with no cap on his head, and a clasp-knife at his eye.
正在外面散步的人们看到一个救济学生光着头顶，手持剪刀疾速穿行在街道上，感到十分惊讶。