狄更斯雙語小說:《董貝父子》第31章Part 4

'By Gad, Sir,' says the Major, 'I am warm. Joseph B. does not deny it, Dombey. He is warm. This is an occasion, Sir, that calls forth all the honest sympathies remaining in an old, infernal, battered, used-up, invalided, J. B. carcase. And I tell you what, Dombey - at such a time a man must blurt out what he feels, or put a muzzle on; and Joseph Bagstock tells you to your face, Dombey, as he tells his club behind your back, that he never will be muzzled when Paul Dombey is in question. Now, damme, Sir,' concludes the Major, with great firmness, 'what do you make of that?'
'Major,' says Mr Dombey, 'I assure you that I am really obliged to you. I had no idea of checking your too partial friendship.'
'Not too partial, Sir!' exclaims the choleric Major. 'Dombey, I deny it.'
'Your friendship I will say then,' pursues Mr Dombey, 'on any account. Nor can I forget, Major, on such an occasion as the present, how much I am indebted to it.'
'Dombey,' says the Major, with appropriate action, 'that is the hand of Joseph Bagstock: of plain old Joey B., Sir, if you like that better! That is the hand, of which His Royal Highness the late Duke of York, did me the honour to observe, Sir, to His Royal Highness the late Duke of Kent, that it was the hand of Josh: a rough and tough, and possibly an up-to-snuff, old vagabond. Dombey, may the present moment be the least unhappy of our lives. God bless you!'
Now enters Mr Carker, gorgeous likewise, and smiling like a wedding-guest indeed. He can scarcely let Mr Dombey's hand go, he is so congratulatory; and he shakes the Major's hand so heartily at the same time, that his voice shakes too, in accord with his arms, as it comes sliding from between his teeth.
'The very day is auspicious,' says Mr Carker. 'The brightest and most genial weather! I hope I am not a moment late?'
'Punctual to your time, Sir,' says the Major.

“我的上帝，先生，”少校說道，”我是熱情的。約瑟夫?白並不否認這一點，董貝。他是熱情的。先生，今天這個日子把喬?白這衰老的、可恨的、疲勞不堪、虛弱殘廢的軀體中還剩餘的一些誠摯的熱情全都激發出來了。我要告訴您，董貝：在這樣的時候，一個人必須把他心裏的話和盤托出纔好，要不然就乾脆給他戴上個鼻籠好了；約瑟夫?白格斯托克當面對您說，就像他揹着您在俱樂部裏說的一樣：如果談的是保羅?董貝的話，他就永遠也不會戴上鼻籠。唔，他媽的，先生，”少校極爲堅決地結束說道，”您對這還有什麼要說的？”
“少校，”董貝先生說道，”請您相信，我確實很感謝您。我不打算抑制您這過於偏頗的友誼。”
“並不過於偏頗，先生！”急躁的少校喊道，”董貝，我否認這一點。”
“既然是這樣，我就說是您的友誼吧，”董貝先生繼續說道，”無論如何我得這麼說。在現在這樣的時刻，少校，我也不能忘記我是多麼感謝您的友誼。”
“董貝，”少校作出適當的手勢，說道，”這是約瑟夫?白格斯托克的手，直率的老喬埃?白的手，如果您更喜歡它的話！已故的約克郡公爵殿下曾使我感到無比光榮，他指着這隻手向已故的肯特郡公爵殿下說，這是喬希的手，他是個粗暴的、堅強的，也許還是個精明的流浪漢。董貝，願現在這個時刻是我們生活中最幸福的時刻。上帝保佑您！”
這時卡克先生進來了，衣着也是豪華的；他滿臉笑容，真像是個參加婚禮的客人。他十分熱烈地祝賀着，簡直捨不得把董貝先生的手放下，同時他又親熱地握着少校的手；當他的從牙齒中間悄悄出來的時候，和手一齊顫抖着。
“連日子也是吉祥的，”卡克先生說道，”陽光明媚、溫暖舒適的氣候！我希望我沒有遲到一秒鐘吧！”
“來得很準時，先生，”少校說道。