- 美国语文读本5（英汉双语图文版）
- (美)威廉·H·麦加菲
- 4619字
- 2020-12-04 15:57:23
LESSON 7 DO NOT MEDDLE 请别多管闲事
1.About twenty years ago there lived a singular gentleman in the Old Hall among the elm trees.He was about three-score years of age, very rich, and somewhat odd in many of his habits, but for generosity and benevolence he had no equal.
2.No poor cottager stood in need of comforts, which he was not ready to supply; no sick man or woman languished[1] for want of his assistance; and not even a beggar, unless a known impostor[2], went empty-handed from the Hall.Like the village pastor described in Goldsmith’s poem of “The Deserted Village,”
“His house was known to all the vagrant train;
He chid their wand’rings, but relieved their pain;
The long-remembered beggar was his guest,
Whose beard descending swept his aged breast.”
3.Now it happened that the old gentleman wanted a boy to wait upon him at table, and to attend him in diff erent ways, for he was very fond of young people.But much as he liked the society of the young, he had a great aversion[3] to that curiosity in which many young people are apt to indulge[4].He used to say, “The boy who will peep into a drawer will be tempted to take something out of it; and he who will steal a penny in his youth will steal a pound[5] in his manhood.”
4.No sooner was it known that the old gentleman was in want of a boy than twenty applications[6] were made for the situation; but he determined not to engage anyone until he had in some way ascertained that he did not possess a curious, prying disposition.
5.On Monday morning seven lads, dressed in their Sunday clothes, with bright and happy faces, made their appearance at the Hall, each of them desiring to obtain the situation.Now the old gentleman, being of a singular disposition, had prepared a room in such a way that he might easily know if any of the young people who applied were given to meddle unnecessarily with things around them, or to peep into cupboards and drawers.He took care that the lads who were then at Elm Tree Hall should be shown into this room one after another.
6.And fi rst, Charles Brown was sent into the room, and told that he would have to wait a little.So Charles sat down on a chair near the door.For some time he was very quiet, and looked about him; but there seemed to be so many curious things in the room that at last he got up to peep at them.
7.On the table was placed a dish cover, and Charles wanted sadly to know what was under it, but he felt afraid of lifting it up.Bad habits are strong things; and, as Charles was of a curious disposition, he could not withstand the temptation of taking one peep.So he lifted up the cover.
8.This turned out to be a sad aff air; for under the dish cover was a heap of very light feathers; part of the feathers, drawn up by a current of air, fl ew about the room, and Charles, in his fright, putting the cover down hastily, puff ed the rest of them off the table.
9.What was to be done? Charles began to pick up the feathers one by one; but the old gentleman, who was in an adjoining room, hearing a scuffl e, and guessing the cause of it, entered the room, to the consternation[7] of Charles Brown, who was very soon dismissed as a boy who had not principle[8] enough to resist even a slight temptation.
10.When the room was once more arranged, Henry Wilkins was placed there until such time as he should be sent for.No sooner was he left to himself than his attention was attracted by a plate of fi ne, ripe cherries.Now Henry was uncommonly fond of cherries, and he thought it would be impossible to miss one cherry among so many.He looked and longed, and longed and looked, for some time, and just as he had got off his seat to take one, he heard, as he thought, a foot coming to the door; but no, it was a false alarm.
11.Taking fresh courage, he went cautiously and took a very fi ne cherry, for he was determined to take but one, and put it into his mouth.It was excellent; and then he persuaded himself that he ran no risk in taking another; this he did, and hastily popped it into his mouth.
12.Now, the old gentleman had placed a few artificial[9] cherries at the top of the others, fi lled with Cayenne pepper; one of these Henry had unfortunately taken, and it made his month smart and burn most intolerably[10].The old gentleman heard him coughing, and knew very well what was the matter.The boy that would take what did not belong to him, if no more than a cherry, was not the boy for him.Henry Wilkins was sent about his business without delay, with his mouth almost as hot as if he had put a burning coal into it.
13.Rufus Wilson was next introduced into the room and left to himself; but he had not been there ten minutes before he began to move from one place to another.He was of a bold, resolute temper, but not overburdened with principle; for if he could have opened every cupboard, closet, and drawer in the house, without being found out, he would have done it directly.
14.Having looked around the room, he noticed a drawer to the table, and made up his mind to peep therein.But no sooner did he lay hold of the drawer knob than he set a large bell ringing, which was concealed under the table.The old gentleman immediately answered the summons[11], and entered the room.
15.Rufus was so startled by the sudden ringing of the bell, that all his impudence could not support him.He looked as though any one might knock him down with a feather.The old gentleman asked him if he had rung the bell because he wanted anything.Rufus was much confused, and stammered, and tried to excuse himself, but all to no purpose, for it did not prevent him from being ordered off the premises.
16.George Jones was then shown into the room by an old steward; and being of a cautious disposition, he touched nothing, but only looked at the things about him.At last he saw that a closet door was a little open, and, thinking it would be impossible for any one to know that he had opened it a little more, he very cautiously opened it an inch farther, looking down at the bottom of the door, that it might not catch against anything and make a noise.
17.Now had he looked at the top, instead of the bottom, it might have been better for him; for to the top of the door was fastened a plug, which fi lled up the hole of a small barrel of shot.He ventured to open the door another inch, and then another, till, the plug being pulled out of the barrel, the leaden shot began to pour out at a strange rate.At the bottom of the closet was placed a tin pan, and the shot falling upon this pan made such a clatter that George was frightened half out of his senses.
18.The old gentleman soon came into the room to inquire what was the matter, and there he found George nearly as pale as a sheet.George was soon dismissed.
19.It now came the turn of Albert Jenkins to be put into the room.The other boys had been sent to their homes by diff erent ways, and no one knew what the experience[12] of the other had been in the room of trial.
20.On the table stood a small round box, with a screw top to it, and Albert, thinking it contained something curious, could not be easy without unscrewing the top; but no sooner did he do this than out bounced an artifi cial snake, full a yard long, and fell upon his arm.He started back, and uttered a scream which brought the old gentleman to his elbow.There stood Albert, with the bottom of the box in one hand, the top in the other, and the snake on the fl oor.
21.“Come, come,” said the old gentleman, “one snake is quite enough to have in the house at a time; therefore, the sooner you are gone the better.” With that he dismissed him, without waiting a moment for his reply.
22.William Smith next entered the room, and being left alone soon began to amuse himself in looking at the curiosities around him.William was not only curious and prying, but dishonest, too, and observing that the key was left in the drawer of a bookcase, he stepped on tiptoe in that direction.The key had a wire fastened to it, which communicated with an electrical machine, and William received such a shock as he was not likely to forget.No sooner did he suffi ciently recover himself to walk, than he was told to leave the house, and let other people lock and unlock their own drawers.
23.The other boy was Harry Gordon, and though he was left in the room full twenty minutes, he never during that time stirred from his chair.Harry had eyes in his head as well as the others, but he had more integrity[13] in his heart; neither the dish cover, the cherries, the drawer knob, the closet door, the round box, nor the key tempted him to rise from his feet; and the consequence was that, in half an hour after, he was engaged in the service of the old gentleman at Elm Tree Hall.He followed his good old master to his grave, and received a large legacy[14] for his upright conduct in his service.
【中文阅读】
1.大约二十年前，在一处榆树簇拥的古老庄园里，住着一位从未结婚的乡间绅士。他六十多岁左右，非常富有，行为举止有点乖张，但他的慷慨和仁慈是无人能及的。
2.无论是遇见穷困潦倒的佃农雇工，还是羸弱憔悴的乡邻妇孺，甚至衣衫褴褛的乞丐，他都会慷慨解囊，鼎力相助。只有那些臭名昭著的骗子，才会两手空空地离开他的庄园。正如戈德史密斯[15]的诗歌《荒村》里描述的那位乡村牧师那样：
他家门前，流浪汉们排成了长队，
他斥责他们无所事事，却倾心缓解他们的苦难；
他的客人中，有一位令人印象深刻的老乞丐，
他的斑白长须，垂到皱纹如縠的胸膛。
3.现在，这位老先生需要一个男孩来照料他的生活起居，他向来很喜欢年轻人。但是，虽然他喜欢年轻人的朝气蓬勃，对许多年轻人难以自拔的好奇心却深恶痛绝，他总是说：“喜欢偷看他人抽屉的孩子，多半会经不起诱惑拿走些东西。俗话说得好：‘少时偷针，大时偷金’。”
4.老先生想招一名伺童的消息刚一传开，二十来位想要为自己孩子谋就职位的乡邻纷纷挤上门来。老人下定决心，除非有办法保证这个男孩不是好奇心过剩，总想窥探隐私，否则他绝不雇佣任何一个人。
5.一个周一的早晨，七名少年穿上礼拜的衣服，脸上漾着灿烂幸福的笑容，走进了庄园，他们每个人都想得到这个职位。这位性格古怪的 老绅士已经准备好一个房间，以便观察这些来应聘的少年是否会翻箱倒柜，或是不必要地弄乱身边的东西。他授意仆人，将这些在榆树庄园里的少年依次领进这个房间。
6.第一个被带进房间的是查尔斯·布朗，仆人告诉他，要在这房间里稍等片刻。于是，查尔斯在门边椅子上坐下。有那么一会儿，他只是安静地环顾四周，但是这房间里看起来有那么多有趣的东西，最后，他终于忍不住站起身到处窥探。
7.桌子上，倒扣着一个盘罩。查尔斯真想知道这罩子底下究竟藏着什么，却又不敢将罩子掀开。最后，坏习惯还是占了上风：查尔斯的好奇心太旺盛了，他终于没能抵挡住诱惑，决定只偷看一眼。于是，他掀开了盘罩。
8.这下糟糕了，原来罩子底下堆着一簇轻飘飘的羽毛。在上升气流的裹挟下，有些羽毛纷纷扬扬地飘开，散落了一地。查尔斯惊慌失措，赶紧把罩子重新盖好，并张嘴吹走桌上的零散羽毛。
9.现在该怎么办？查尔斯急忙一根根捡起地上的羽绒。此刻，老绅士走进房间。原来他一直在隔壁房间里，听到了这边的慌乱，猜到了事情的原委。令查尔斯·布朗震惊的是，他当场便被打发回家，因为他缺乏足够的定力，竟然无法抵御这微小的诱惑。
10.当房间再度被整理妥当后，亨利·威尔金斯被带了进来，被告知要稍等片刻。仆人一离开，他的注意力便被桌上一盘诱人的成熟樱桃吸引住了。要知道，亨利最喜欢的水果就是樱桃。他心想，盘子里这么多樱桃，哪怕少了一个，也不会有人发现。他四下张望着，渴望着，渴望着，又四下张望着。这样过了一会儿，就在他打算离开座位去拿一颗樱桃的时候，他似乎听到门边有脚步声。不，不是，原来只是闹钟嘀嗒声，弄得他虚惊一场。
11.于是，他再度鼓起勇气，小心翼翼地拿了一颗甜美的樱桃。他已经下定决心，只拿一颗。他将樱桃放进嘴里：那樱桃味道实在是太美味了。于是，他又说服自己，哪怕再拿一颗也不会有人发现的。于是他又拿了一颗，迅速扔进自己嘴里。
12.可是，老绅士在樱桃盘里摆了几颗假樱桃，里面装满了辣椒粉。亨利不巧吃到其中一颗，那辛辣呛鼻的味道令他实在无法忍受。老先生听到他的咳嗽声，便已洞悉了这边发生的事情。一个拿取不属于自己东西的男孩，哪怕只拿走一颗樱桃，都不是他想要的人。亨利·威尔金斯被毫不迟延地当场辞退了，当时他仍口腔冒火，嘴里辣得像塞了一块燃煤。
13.下一个被带进房间的是鲁弗斯·威尔逊。不到十分钟，他便开始在房间里四下走动。他的性格勇敢而果断，但并没有什么原则。要是不被发现的话，他就可能打开房间里的每一个橱柜、衣柜、抽屉，无须任何踌躇或犹豫。
14.鲁弗斯环顾着这个房间，他看到桌子上有个抽屉，就决定打开往里看看。没想到，当他一抓住抽屉把手时，他就触碰到桌子底下隐藏的一个大响铃，旋即铃声大作。老先生很快回应了这声响铃，进入了房间。
15.铃声响起得太突然，鲁弗斯被吓得惊慌失措，哪怕他脸皮再厚，也无法自圆其说。他看起来那么不堪一击，似乎一根羽毛都能将他击倒。老先生问他是否需要什么才揿动响铃，鲁弗斯结结巴巴地说不出话来，试图为自己找借口，但都没有任何意义，最终还是没能逃脱被要求离开的结局。
16.接下来，一个老管家把乔治·琼斯领进这个房间。这是个谨慎的孩子，他什么也不触碰，只用眼光横扫室内一圈。最后，他看到了衣柜的柜门露出了一道缝隙。他想，要是他将这个缝隙稍稍开大些，也不会被人发现，因此，他看了看柜门下方，确信它不会碰到什么东西或发出噪音，然后很谨慎地将柜门拉开了一点点。
17.要是他当时查看的是柜门顶端，而不是柜门下方，情况可能会更好些。因为柜门顶上固定着一个塞子，而这个塞子正堵着一管铅弹。当乔治一点点将柜门拉开的时候，塞子脱离了管口，铅弹粒顿时四下飞溅。衣柜下方，放着一个锡盘，倾泻而下的铅弹粒落在锡盘里，噼里啪啦地清脆声响个不同，乔治被这一突发事件吓得魂不守舍。
18.老先生很快走进房间，询问发生了什么事。乔治脸色苍白如纸，很快便被打发回家。
19.现在，被带到房间里的是阿尔伯特·詹金斯。被淘汰的男孩通过不同的路径被辞退回家，所以，没有人知道其他人在那间试练之屋里经历过什么。
20.桌上放着一个小圆盒，盒盖上拧着一颗螺丝。阿尔伯特心想，这个盒子里一定装着些什么有趣的东西；要是不拧松螺丝，便没法打开盒子。但是，他刚刚拧开螺丝，盒子里突然弹出一条假蛇，足足有一码长，落在他的手臂上。他吓得后退了几步，大声尖叫起来。老先生很快被尖叫声引来抓住阿尔伯特的手，在他眼前，阿尔伯特一只手拿着盒子，另一只手拿着盒盖，那条假蛇掉在地上，一动不动。
21.“得了，得了，”老先生说，“家里有一条蛇就足够了。至于你，离开得越早越好。”一边说着，老先生一边命人将他带走，连解释的机会都不给他。
22.下一个被带入房间的是威廉·史密斯。仆人将他单独留在那儿，他很快便开始打量着身旁这些有趣的东西。威廉不仅好奇心重，喜欢窥探他人隐私，而且也不太诚实。当他发现书柜抽屉上留下的钥匙，他便蹑手蹑脚地走过去。不幸的是，这把钥匙与金属线固定在一起，而金属线则连接着一台电机。当威廉碰到钥匙，他立即就遭到电击，这样的疼痛大概会令他终生难忘。等他终于缓过神来，有力气抬腿走路的时候，他便被告知离开这座庄园。至于抽屉是开是关，那就是抽屉主人的事了。
23.最后一个被带进房间的男孩是哈利·戈登。虽然他被留在房间里整整二十分钟，他只是安静坐在椅子上，从未离开。虽然与其他男孩一样，哈利也能看见身旁有趣的东西，但是，他比其他男孩更诚实正直。桌上的盘罩、樱桃、抽屉把手、衣柜门、小圆盒或是书柜抽屉上的钥匙，都没能诱惑他，让他从椅子上站起来。最后，当他在椅子上坐了足足半小时后，老先生决定雇佣他，留在榆树山庄。哈利一直跟随着这位好心的老先生，为他养老送终。老先生死后，哈利因他正直的行为举止而获得了大笔遗产。
【注释】
[1] Languished, suf fered, sank away.
[2] Impostor, a deceiver.
[3] Aversion, dislike.
[4] Indulge, to give way to.
[5] Pound, a British denomination of money equal in value to about $4.86.
[6] Application, the act of making a request.
[7] Consternation, excessive terror, dismay.
[8] Principle, a right rule of conduct.
[9] Artif icial, made by art, not real.
[10] Intolerably, in a manner not to be borne.
[11] Summons, a call to appear.
[12] Experience, knowledge gained by actual trial.
[13] Integrity, honesty.
[14] Legacy, a gift, by will, of personal property.
[15] 译注：对 Oliver Goldsmith戈德史密斯的介绍，请参见LESSON22。