男子街頭掛牌徵婚12年 僅限富婆

Lonely bachelors looking for love often turn to dating websites in the search for a partner. But Robert Darling has taken things that little bit further - by wandering the streets of New York for twelve years with a sandwich board asking rich women to marry him.
孤獨單身漢一般都會上婚戀網站尋求自己的另一半。但羅伯特·達令卻選了一個有些極端的方式——連續12年帶着掛在身上的廣告牌走上紐約大街徵婚，邀請富裕女士和他結婚。

The unemployed 58-year-old - who admits he is a 'great conversationalist' - says he wants a wealthy lady to take care of him. Mr Darling said: 'I've never had any luck with the ladies and while this is going to extremes I'm confident I can find love this way.'
這位58歲的無業男子自稱是一位“不得了的談話家”，他說想找一位富婆來照顧他。達令先生說：“我從來都沒有女人緣，雖然這種做法有些過火，但我相信它能幫我找到真愛。”

'I get a good reaction from most people, they think it's funny but I am really serious. I'm looking for companionship, conversation, to go to museums and concerts - but I just don't have the resources to pay for that. So I need a wealthy lady to take care of me - I think I deserve it.'
“大多數人對此反應都還好，他們覺得這樣做很滑稽，但我真是認真的。我想找一個伴侶，能一起聊天、逛博物館、聽音樂會——但我沒錢做這些事。所以我想娶個有錢老婆照顧我，我覺得這是我應該得到的。”

Mr Darling said he has never had a serious relationship and his dating history is sparse. 'As far as a serious relationship, I've never had one,' he said. 'I've never been engaged, never proposed to anybody.'
達令先生說他目前從沒有和誰正式交往過，約會經歷也少之又少。他說：“至於真正的交往關係，我從來沒有經歷過。我從未訂過婚，也從沒向別人求婚。”

He takes his sign to upmarket areas of the city such as Wall Street, Columbus Circle and Times Square. 'There's a lot of money on Wall Street, maybe I'll meet a female Chief Executive Officer who will decide to become my wife,' he said.
他總是帶着牌子到市區的上流人士聚集區，比如說華爾街、哥倫比亞圓環廣場和時代廣場。他說：“華爾街上的人都很有錢，說不定就能碰見一個想要嫁給我的首席執行官女士。”

He often gets phone calls in response to his sign, but none are serious inquiries. 'A woman called me once and I thought it looked promising - but she actually wanted to hook me up with her friend who needed a green card to stay in the country.'
他的牌子上寫着電話號碼，所以經常能接到別人的來電，可惜沒有一個是認真的。“有一次一個女的給我打電話，我還覺得有希望發展下去，但實際上她只是想騙我和她朋友結婚，這樣她那朋友就能申請綠卡留在美國了。”And his unique approach gets mixed responses from people he meets. Onlooker Joyce Brill, a tourist from Virginia, said: 'I would not call Robert, I would not go on a date with him - absolutely not.
見過達令的人對他的獨特做法褒貶不一。來自弗吉尼亞的觀光客喬伊斯·布里爾說：“我不會給羅伯特打電話，更不會和他約會，絕對不會。”

'He's been doing this for so long and he and his sandwich board are kind of scruffy.' However, LaSonda Stephenson from New Jersey was kinder with her verdict.
然而，新澤西的拉塞達·史蒂芬森的評價就沒那麼嚴厲刺耳：“他一定是堅持這樣徵婚很久了，他本人和隨身廣告牌都變得有些破爛不整。”

She said: 'I think it's pretty courageous - it's not something I would do, but I applaud him for not being shy about it. Everyone deserves a fair shot at love.'
她還說：“他這樣做很勇敢——我是不敢這樣做的，但還是要表揚他勇於行動不怯弱。每個人在愛情上都應得到和努力同等的回報。”

But despite the wait, Mr Darling remains undeterred in his pursuit for true love. He said: 'There's an incredible amount I have to offer - I'm intelligent, almost brilliant.
雖然等了很久，但面對尋求真愛之路上的重重困難，達令先生依然不屈不撓。他說：“我有很多優點——我很聰明，幾乎是絕頂聰明。”

'I've heard I'm handsome once or twice, and I'm a great conversationalist. To Ms Right out there I would say, "Call my number or email me".’
“還有一兩次，我聽到別人說我很帥，我也特別善於交流。我要對我將來的太太說：‘給我打電話吧，發郵件也行。’”

'We could talk and see if we're made for each other. It would be a great pleasure to see you if you're in New York City. Hopefully it will be a happy marriage. And he has no plans to hang up his sign any time soon.'
“我們可以先聊聊，看看二人是否合適。要是你在紐約，那能見到你真是太好了。希望我們有一個幸福美滿的婚姻。你丈夫已經迫不及待要摘下這塊牌子了。”

He said: 'Give up? Never! I'm just warming up. It's just a matter of time. I'm very patient and I know great success is just around the corner.'
他還說：“放棄？從不！我現在還只是熱身階段。這只是時間問題。我足夠耐心，也知道巨大成功指日可待。”