美国语文第五册 第115期:高德夫人的演讲(1)(在线收听

   Well, Mr. Caudle, I hope you're in a little better temper than you were this morning. 好了,高德先生,但愿你现在脾气比今早要好点。

  There, you need n't begin to whistle: people don't come to bed to whistle. 呃,你不必立马吹口哨,别人可不会“嘘”“嘘”地吹着上床。
  But it's like you; I can't speak that you don't try to insult me. 不过,像你这样的人,我还真不能说,是不是存心想侮辱我?
  Once, I used to say you were the best creature living: now, you get quite a fiend. 我以前总是说,你是这世上最好的人,可现在的你,简直是个恶魔。
  Do let you rest? No, I won't let you rest. It's the only time I have to talk to you, and you shall hear me. 让你睡觉?不!我不会让你睡的,我不得不和你打开窗户说亮话,只此一回。听我说!
  I'm put upon all day long: it's very hard if I can't speak a word at night; besides, it is n't often I open my mouth, goodness knows! 我为你忙乎一整天,晚上还不能和你说上一句话,天呀!这真让人没法活了,再说,我不过偶尔才叨唠两句,老天知道!
  Because once in your lifetime your shirt wanted a button, you must almost swear the roof off the house. 你这一辈子,哪怕衬衫掉个小小纽扣,你都能诅咒得沸反盈天。
  You did n't swear? Ha, Mr. Caudle! you don't know what you do when you're in a passion. 什么,你没有诅咒?高德先生!火冒三丈的时候,你真不知道你做过什么。
  You were not in a passion, wer'n't you? Well, then, I don't know what a passion is; 什么?你没有火冒三丈,是吗?得了,我可不知道火冒三丈是什么意思;
  and I think I ought by this time. I've lived long enough with you, Mr. Caudle, to know that. 我现在当然懂了,高德先生,和你生活一起够长的,我心里再明白不过。
  It's a pity you hav'n't something worse to complain of than a button off your shirt. 你可真够不幸的,再没有什么倒霉事能比过你那衬衫上掉个小小纽扣,你埋怨不停。
  If you'd some wives, you would, I know. 假如你有几个老婆,你的牢骚也不会少,这点,我当然清楚。
  I'm sure I'm never without a needle and thread in my hand; 我知道,我的手上从来不缺针少线,
  what with you and the children, I'm made a perfect slave of. 可以应付你还有那些孩子们。我成了你随意喝斥的奴隶,
  And what's my thanks? Why, if once in your life a button's off your shirt—what do you cry "oh" at? 你感谢过我吗?为什么只要你衬衫纽扣掉了,你就要对我“哎”地叫上一声,
  I say once, Mr. Caudle; or twice, or three times, at most. 高德先生,我说过一次,高德先生,两次、三次,甚至无数次。
  I'm sure, Caudle, no man's buttons in the world are better looked after than yours. 我明白,高德先生,这世上没有任何男人衬衫纽扣得到这样隆重关注。
  I only wish I'd kept the shirts you had when you were first married! I should like to know where were your buttons then? 我真的巴望还留着你第一次结婚的衬衫,我太想知道了,那会你的纽扣究竟在哪?
  原文地址:http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/mgybyw/d5c/431673.html