英语PK台 第886期: 《日本海棠》无处安放的保守 无从跳脱的桎梏

 1. As Mr. Nilson, well known in the City, opened the window of his dressing-room, he experienced a peculiar 1 sweetish sensation in the back of his throat, and a feeling of emptiness just under his fifth rib 2. Hooking the window back, he noticed that a little tree in the Square Gardens had come out in blossom, and that the thermometer stood at sixty. 'Perfect morning,' he thought; 'spring at last!' 

当这座城市鼎鼎有名的尼尔森先生打开他更衣室的窗户时，一种奇怪的甜蜜感沁入他的喉咙，与此同时一种空虚的感觉侵入他的肺脾。他向后挂住窗钩，注意到广场花园里的一棵小树已花朵挂满枝头，温度计显示此时的温度为华氏60度。 “完美的早晨，”他想，“春天终于到了！”

2. He took up an ivory-backed hand-glass and scrutinised his face. His firm, well-coloured cheeks, with their neat brown moustaches, and his round, well-opened, clear grey eyes, wore a reassuring 3 appearance of good health. Putting on his coat, he went downstairs. Arrived, Mr. Nilson again became aware of that queer feeling. A cuckoo clock struck eight.

他拿起一面象牙柄镜子，对着镜子仔细地端详着自己的容颜——结实、红润的面颊，整齐的棕色胡须，以及一双清澈的又大又圆的灰色眼睛，都让他对自己的健康状况非常安心。他穿上外套，走下楼。到了楼下，尼尔森先生再次体会到那种奇怪的感觉。此时，布谷鸟钟敲了八下。

3. 'Half an hour to breakfast,' he thought; 'I'll take a turn in the Gardens.' He proceeded to pace the circular path with his morning paper clasped behind him. He had scarcely made two rounds, however, when he realized that, instead of going away in the fresh air, the feeling had increased. 　

“离早餐时间还有半个小时，”他想，“还可以在花园里转一圈。”他继续背着手沿着环形小径前行，手里握着晨报。然而，几乎还没走到两圈，他就意识到，那种感觉在新鲜空气中非但没有消失，反而更加强烈了。

4. He drew several deep breaths, having heard deep breathing recommended by his wife's doctor; but they augmented 4 rather than diminished the sensation. Running over what he had eaten the night before, he could recollect 5 no unusual dish, and it occurred to him that it might possibly be some smell affecting him. But he could detect nothing except a faint sweet lemony scent 6, which evidently emanated 7 from the bushes budding in the sunshine. He was on the point of resuming his promenade 8, when a blackbird close by burst into song, and, looking up, Mr. Nilson saw at a distance of perhaps five yards a little tree, in the heart of whose branches the bird was perched. 　

他按照他妻子医生的建议，做了几次深呼吸，但这样做并没有达到预想的效果，却让那种感觉愈加浓烈。他回想昨天晚上吃过的东西，发现并没有吃过什么特别的，而且他突然想到这可能是某种使他不适的气味。但除了淡淡的香甜的柠檬味外，他并没有察觉到其他的气味，而这种淡淡的柠檬味显然是从阳光下刚刚萌芽的灌木丛中散发出来的。他正要继续他的散步时，突然附近的一只乌鸫开始唱起歌来。他抬头望去，看到距他大约五码的一棵小树的树枝间栖息着那只小鸟。

5. He stood staring curiously 9 at this tree, recognising it for that which he had noticed from his window. It was covered with young blossoms, pink and white, and little bright green leaves; and on all this blossom and these leaves the sunlight glistened 10. Mr. Nilson smiled; the little tree was so alive and pretty! And instead of passing on, he stayed there smiling at the tree.

他好奇地凝视着那棵树，认出了它正是自己从家里的窗口注视过的那棵树。它的树枝上挂满了新开的花朵，有粉红色的，有白色的，还有一些嫩绿的叶子。与此同时，阳光透过这些花朵和叶子闪烁着光芒。尼尔森先生露出了微笑，这颗小树真漂亮，真有活力啊！他停下了脚步，站在那里看着小树，脸上挂着笑容。

6. 'Morning like this!' he thought; 'and here I am the only person in the Square who has the--to come out and--!' But he had no sooner conceived this thought than he saw quite near him a man with his hands behind him, who was also staring up and smiling at the little tree. Rather taken aback, Mr. Nilson ceased to smile, and looked furtively 11 at the stranger.　

“这么美好的清晨！”他想，“这个广场上，他是唯一一个因为这棵树来到这里的人”！不过，这个念头刚刚进入他的脑海，他便看到离他很近的地方站着一个背着手的人，而且那个人也在抬头面带微笑地凝视着那棵小树。尼尔森先生吃了一惊，停下了笑容，开始窥视那个陌生人。

7. It was his next-door neighbour, Mr. Tandram, well known in the City, who had occupied the adjoining house for some five years. Mr. Nilson perceived at once the awkwardness of his position, for they had not yet had occasion to speak to one another. Doubtful, he decided 12 at last to murmur 13: "Fine morning!" and was passing on, when Mr. Tandram answered: "Beautiful, for the time of year!" 　

这个人是他隔壁的邻居坦德拉姆先生，也是本市的知名人物，已经住在尼尔森先生家隔壁大约五年了。尼尔森先生立刻意识了这是一个尬尴的局面，因为他们俩还从来没有相互交谈过。迟疑了一会儿，他最终还是低声说到：“早晨的天气不错！” 。当他说完准备继续散步时，坦德拉姆先生回答说：“一年里的这个时候是最美的！”

8. Detecting a slight nervousness in his neighbour's voice, Mr. Nilson was emboldened 14 to regard him openly. He was of about Mr. Nilson's own height, with firm well-coloured cheeks, neat brown moustaches, and round, well-opened, clear grey eyes. Mr. Nilson noticed that he had his morning paper clasped behind him as he looked up at the little tree. And, visited somehow by the feeling that he had been caught out, he said abruptly 15: 

尼尔森先生发现他这位邻居的声音中带着些紧张，于是壮着胆子，大大方方地打量了他一下——他的身高跟尼尔森先生差不多，同样有着结实、红润的面颊，整齐的棕色胡须，以及一双清澈的又大又圆的灰色眼睛。尼尔森先生还注意到，当他抬头看着小树时，他背在后面的手里也握着晨报。而且，他应该也是跟随着某种感觉来到这里的。这时，尼尔森先生硬生生地问道：

9. "Er--can you give me the name of that tree?" Mr. Tandram answered: "I was about to ask you that," and stepped towards it. Mr. Nilson also approached the tree. "Sure to have its name on, I should think," he said. Mr. Tandram was the first to see the little label, close to where the blackbird had been sitting. He read it out. "Japanese quince!" "Ah!" said Mr. Nilson, "thought so. Early flowerers." "Very," assented 16 Mr. Tandram, and added: "Quite a feelin' in the air today." Mr. Nilson nodded. "It was a blackbird singin'," he said. 

“呃……您知道这树叫什么名字吗？”坦德拉姆先生回答说：“我也正打算问您呢，”，说完朝着那棵树的方向挪了挪脚步。尼尔森先生也朝着树的方向走了走。 “树上肯定有名称标签，我觉得，”他说。坦德拉姆先生先看到了标签，就在那只乌鸫站立的位置附近。他读出了标签上的名称 ——“日本海棠！” “啊！”尼尔森先生说，“我应该想到的。是一种开花期很早的植物。” “确实如此，”坦德拉姆先生表示赞同，然后补充说：“今天的空气中很有感觉。”尼尔森先生点了点头。“这是乌鸫在唱歌，”他说。

10. "These exotics, they don't bear fruit. Pretty blossom!" he continued and he again glanced up at the blossom, thinking: 'Nice fellow, this, I rather like him.' Mr. Tandram also gazed at the blossom. And the little tree as if appreciating their attention, quivered and glowed. From a distance the blackbird gave a loud, clear call. Mr. Nilson dropped his eyes. It struck him suddenly that Mr. Tandram looked a little foolish; and, as if he had seen himself, he said: "I must be going in. Good morning!" 

“它是外来物种，不结果实，但开的花很漂亮！”他继续说道，然后再次抬头看了一眼树上的花朵，心想：“这人不错，我挺喜欢他。”坦德拉姆先生也仔细地看了一下树上的花朵。与此同时，小树仿佛在对他们的关注表示感激，抖擞了一下身子，并发出了绚丽的光芒。远处传来了清晰的乌鸫鸣叫声。尼尔森先生垂下目光。他突然惊讶地发现坦德拉姆先生看起来有些傻傻的，并且，仿佛他一直在看着他自己。他说：“我得回家了，早上好！”

11. A shade passed over Mr. Tandram's face, as if he, too, had suddenly noticed something about Mr. Nilson. "Good morning," he replied, and clasping their journals to their backs they separated. Mr. Nilson retraced 17 his steps toward his garden window, walking slowly so as to avoid arriving at the same time as his neighbour. Having seen Mr. Tandram mount his scrolled 18 iron steps, he ascended 19 his own in turn. On the top step he paused.

坦德拉姆先生的脸阴沉了一下，好像他也突然发现了一些关于尼尔森先生的事情。“早上好，”他回答道。然后，他们俩各自背着手，手里握着晨报，分别朝家的方向走去。尼尔森先生朝着自家花园窗户的方向慢慢走着，以免与他那位邻居同时到达家门口。看到坦德拉姆先生已经踏上了他家门口的波形铁台阶时，他也踏上了台阶。到达最后一级台阶时，他停下了脚步。

12. With the slanting 20 spring sunlight darting 21 and quivering into it, the Japanese quince seemed more living than a tree. The blackbird had returned to it, and was chanting out his heart. Mr. Nilson sighed; again he felt that queer sensation, that choky feeling in his throat. The sound of a cough or sigh attracted his attention. There, in the shadow of his French window, stood Mr. Tandram, also looking forth 22 across the Gardens at the little quince tree. 

伴随着春天倾斜的阳光射入抖动的树梢，那棵日本海堂所散发出的活力已超出了一棵树的范畴。乌鸫又回到树上，正陶醉地歌唱。尼尔森先生叹了口气。那种奇怪的、卡在他喉咙里的窒息感觉，又回来了。一阵咳嗽或叹息的声音引起了他的注意。声音来自坦德拉姆先生，他正站在他家的落地窗下，同样在望着花园对面的那棵日本海棠树。

Unaccountably upset, Mr. Nilson turned abruptly into the house, and opened his morning paper.

一种莫名其妙的心烦意乱涌上心来，尼尔森先生突然转身回到屋里，打开了他的晨报。