《简·爱》 Chapter 14 第十四章（12）（在线收听）

You seem to doubt me; I don't doubt myself:

你似乎对我表示怀疑，我倒不怀疑自己。

I know what my aim is, what my motives are.

我明白自己的目的是什么，动机是什么。

And at this moment I pass a law, unalterable as that of the Medes and Persians, that both are right.

此刻我要通过一项目的和动机都是正确的法律，它像玛代人和波斯人的法律那样不可更改。

They cannot be, sir, if they require a new statute to legalize them.

先生，它们需要一个新的法规将它合法化，否则就不能成立。

They are, Miss Eyre, though they absolutely require a new statute: unheard-of combinations of circumstances demand unheard-of rules.

爱小姐，尽管完全需要一个新法规，但它们能成立；没有先例的复杂状况需要没有先例的法则。

That sounds a dangerous maxim, sir, because one can see at once that it is liable to abuse.

这听起来是个危险的格言，先生，因为一眼就可以看出来，容易造成滥用。

Sententious sage! So it is. But I swear by my household gods not to abuse it.

善用格言的圣人！就是这么回事，但我以家神的名义发誓，决不滥用。

You are human and fallible.

你是凡人，所以难免出错。

I am. So are you — what then?

我是凡人，你也一样 — 那又怎么样？

The human and fallible should not arrogate a power with which the divine and perfect alone can be safely intrusted.

凡人难免出错，不应当冒用放心地托付给神明和完人的权力。

What power?

什么权力？

That of saying of any strange, unsanctioned line of action, — 'Let it be right.'

对奇怪而未经准许的行动就说，‘算它对吧。’

'Let it be right' — the very words. You have pronounced them.

‘算它对吧’—就是这几个字，你已经说出来了。

"May it be right then," I said, as I rose, deeming it useless to continue a discourse which was all darkness to me.

那就说‘愿它对吧，’我说着站起来，觉得已没有必要再继续这番自己感到糊里糊涂的谈话。

And, besides, sensible that the character of my interlocutor was beyond my penetration. At least, beyond its present reach.

此外，我也意识到，对方的性格是无法摸透的。至少目前是这样，我还感到没有把握。

And feeling the uncertainty, the vague sense of insecurity, which accompanies a conviction of ignorance.

有一种朦胧的不安全感，同时还确信自己很无知。

Where are you going?

你上哪儿去？

To put Adèle to bed. It is past her bedtime.

阿黛勒睡觉，已经过了她上床的时间了。

You are afraid of me, because I talk like a Sphynx.

你害怕我，因为我交谈起来像斯芬克斯。

Your language is enigmatical, sir.

你的语言不可捉模，先生。

But though I am bewildered, I am certainly not afraid.

不过尽管我迷惑不解，但我根本不怕。

You are afraid — your self-love dreads a blunder.

你是害怕的 — 你的自爱心理使你害怕出大错。

In that sense I do feel apprehensive — I have no wish to talk nonsense.

要是那样说，我的确有些担忧 — 我不想胡说八道。

If you did, it would be in such a grave, quiet manner, I should mistake it for sense.

你即使胡说八道，也会是一付板着面孔，不动声色的神态，我还会误以为说得很在理呢。