'But my little friend here, Sir,' said the Major, 'makes a boy of me again: An old soldier, Sir - Major Bagstock, at your service - is not ashamed to confess it.' Here the Major lifted his hat. 'Damme, Sir,' cried the Major with sudden warmth, 'I envy you.' Then he recollected himself, and added, 'Excuse my freedom.'
“可是我在这里的小朋友又使我变成一个孩子了，先生，”少校说道。“一位老兵承认这一点并不感到难为情，先生，他是白格斯托克少校，随时愿意为您效劳；”少校这时脱下帽子敬礼。“他妈的，先生，”少校突然热情地喊道，“我妒嫉您。”然后他镇静下来，补充了一句，“请原谅我的放肆。”
Mr Dombey begged he wouldn't mention it.
董贝先生请他别这么客气。
'An old campaigner, Sir,' said the Major, 'a smoke-dried, sun-burnt, used-up, invalided old dog of a Major, Sir, was not afraid of being condemned for his whim by a man like Mr Dombey. I have the honour of addressing Mr Dombey, I believe?'
“一位老兵，先生，”少校说道，“一条被烟熏过，被太阳晒黑的、精疲力尽、因伤病而退伍的少校老狗是不怕像董贝先生这样的人指责他忽起的念头的。我想我能荣幸跟董贝先生交谈几句吗？”
'I am the present unworthy representative of that name, Major,' returned Mr Dombey.
“现在我就是姓我们这个姓的家族的卑贱的代表，少校，”董贝先生回答道。
'By G-, Sir!' said the Major, 'it's a great name. It's a name, Sir,' said the Major firmly, as if he defied Mr Dombey to contradict him, and would feel it his painful duty to bully him if he did, 'that is known and honoured in the British possessions abroad. It is a name, Sir, that a man is proud to recognise. There is nothing adulatory in Joseph Bagstock, Sir. His Royal Highness the Duke of York observed on more than one occasion, "there is no adulation in Joey. He is a plain old soldier is Joe. He is tough to a fault is Joseph:" but it's a great name, Sir. By the Lord, it's a great name!' said the Major, solemnly.
“可以对着上帝发誓，先生，”少校说道，“这是个伟大的姓，”少校坚决地说道，仿佛他挑起董贝先生来反驳他，而如果董贝先生真的那么做了，那么他就会感到他负有痛苦的责任来争个高低，让他过不去似的，“这是个在不列颠海外领地中享有声望与尊敬的姓。人们以姓这个姓而感到自豪，先生。约瑟夫·白格斯托克不懂得拍马屁，先生。约克郡公爵殿下不止一次说过，‘乔埃不会拍马屁。他是个普通的老兵，这就是乔，他坚强不屈得有点过了头，这就是约瑟夫。’不过这是个伟大的姓，先生。可以对着天主发誓，这是个伟大的姓！”少校一本正经地说道。
'You are good enough to rate it higher than it deserves, perhaps, Major,' returned Mr Dombey.
“承蒙您好意赞扬，不过也许评价太高，有些过分了，少校，”董贝先生回答道。
'No, Sir,' said the Major, in a severe tone. No, Mr Dombey, let us understand each other. That is not the Bagstock vein, Sir. You don't know Joseph B. He is a blunt old blade is Josh. No flattery in him, Sir. Nothing like it.'
“不，先生，”少校说道。“我在这里的小朋友会给约瑟夫·白格斯托克证明，他是一位耿直的、坦率的、有话直说的老实人，先生，这就是一切。那个孩子，先生，”少校压低了声音，说道，“将会留芳百世，永垂史册。那个孩子，先生，不是个平凡之辈。请好好照看他，董贝先生。”
Mr Dombey inclined his head, and said he believed him to be in earnest, and that his high opinion was gratifying.
董贝先生似乎向他暗示说，他将努力这样去做。
'My little friend here, Sir,' croaked the Major, looking as amiably as he could, on Paul, 'will certify for Joseph Bagstock that he is a thorough-going, down-right, plain-spoken, old Trump, Sir, and nothing more. That boy, Sir,' said the Major in a lower tone, 'will live in history. That boy, Sir, is not a common production. Take care of him, Mr Dombey.'
“这里有一个孩子，先生，”少校用说知心话的口吻继续说道，一边用手杖戳戳他。“孟加拉比瑟斯通的儿子。比尔·比瑟斯通从前是我们当中的一个。那个孩子的父亲和我本人过去是莫逆之交，先生。不论您走到哪里，先生，您听到人们谈论的全都是有关比尔·比瑟斯通和乔·白格斯托克的事情。难道我看不见那个孩子的缺点吗？决不是。他是个傻瓜，先生。” |