《简·爱》 Chapter 36 第三十六章（2）

"In a few more hours I shall succeed you in that track, cousin," thought I:

“几小时之后我会循着你的足迹，表兄，”我想：

"I too have a coach to meet at Whitcross.

“我也要去惠特克劳斯搭乘马车。

I too have some to see and ask after in England, before I depart for ever."

在永远告别英国之前，我也有人要探望和问候。”

It wanted yet two hours of breakfast-time.

离早餐还有两个小时。

I filled the interval¹ in walking softly about my room, and pondering the visitation which had given my plans their present bent².

这段时间我在房间里轻轻地走来走去，思忖着促成我眼前这番计划的奇事。

I recalled that inward sensation I had experienced: for I could recall it, with all its unspeakable strangeness.

我回忆着我所经历的内在感觉，我能回想起那种难以言说的怪异。

I recalled the voice I had heard;

我回想着我听到的声音，

again I questioned whence it came, as vainly as before: it seemed in me -- not in the external world.

再次像以前那样徒劳地问，它究竟从何而来。这声音似乎来自我内心——而不是外部世界。

I asked was it a mere³ nervous impression -- a delusion⁴?

我问道，难道这不过是一种神经质的印象——一种幻觉？

I could not conceive or believe: it was more like an inspiration.

我既无法想象，也并不相信。它更像是神灵的启示。

The wondrous⁵ shock of feeling had come like the earthquake which shook the foundations of Paul and Silas's prison;

这惊人的震感来势猛似地震，摇撼了保尔和西拉所在的监狱的地基，

it had opened the doors of the soul's cell and loosed its bands --

它打开了心灵的牢门，松开了锁链，——

it had wakened it out of its sleep, whence it sprang trembling, listening, aghast;

把心灵从沉睡中唤醒，它呆呆地颤栗着，倾听着。

then vibrated thrice a cry on my startled ear, and in my quaking heart and through my spirit, which neither feared nor shook,

随后一声尖叫震动了三次，冲击着我受惊的耳朵，沉入我震颤的心田，穿透了我心灵。心灵既不害怕，也没有震惊，

but exulted⁶ as if in joy over the success of one effort it had been privileged to make, independent of the cumbrous body.

而是欢喜雀跃，仿佛因为有幸不受沉重的躯体支配，作了一次成功的努力而十分高兴似的。

"Ere many days," I said, as I terminated my musings,

“不要很多天，”我从沉思中回过神来后说。

"I will know something of him whose voice seemed last night to summon me.

“我会了解到他的一些情况，昨晚他的声音已经召唤过我。

Letters have proved of no avail -- personal inquiry⁷ shall replace them."

信函问询已证明毫无结果——我要代之以亲自探访。”

1 interval   

n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息

参考例句：

• The interval between the two trees measures 40 feet.这两棵树的间隔是40英尺。
• There was a long interval before he anwsered the telephone.隔了好久他才回了电话。

2 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

3 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

4 delusion   

n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑

参考例句：

• He is under the delusion that he is Napoleon.他患了妄想症，认为自己是拿破仑。
• I was under the delusion that he intended to marry me.我误认为他要娶我。

5 wondrous   

adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地

参考例句：

• The internal structure of the Department is wondrous to behold.看一下国务院的内部结构是很有意思的。
• We were driven across this wondrous vast land of lakes and forests.我们乘车穿越这片有着湖泊及森林的广袤而神奇的土地。

6 exulted   

狂喜，欢跃( exult的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The people exulted at the victory. 人们因胜利而欢腾。
• The people all over the country exulted in the success in launching a new satellite. 全国人民为成功地发射了一颗新的人造卫星而欢欣鼓舞。

7 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。