美國語文第五冊 第302期：弗吉尼亞人（04）
The elder was peaceful, studious, and silent; the younger was warlike and noisy.
老大平和好學且沉默寡言，老二則挑釁好戰(zhàn)，沉湎嬉鬧。
He was quick at learning when he began, but very slow at beginning.
每每開始學習，他反應(yīng)很快；一旦進入課程便顯得格外魯鈍。
No threats of the ferule would provoke Harry to learn in an idle fit, or would prevent George from helping his brother in his lesson.
來自戒尺的懲戒對游手好閑的哈里無濟于事；同時，亦無法阻止喬治協(xié)助弟弟躲避用功。
Harry was of a strong military turn, drilled the little negroes on the estate,
哈里的軍事悟性極高，他習慣模仿軍官，居然有模有樣地訓練莊園一批黑人少年，
and caned them like a corporal, having many good boxing matches with them, and never bearing malice if he was worsted;
經(jīng)常習慣模仿軍士用藤杖鞭打那些少年，或與他們進行激烈的拳擊競賽，即使被打趴在地，哈里斷然亦不會心懷惡意或萌生怨恨；
—whereas George was sparing of blows, and gentle with all about him.
相反，喬治從不與人毆斗，對人總是溫和友善。
As the custom in all families was, each of the boys had a special little servant assigned him: and it was a known fact that George,
像當?shù)厮匈F族家庭一樣，每個貴族男孩都有專門伺童跟從伺候，喬治有件軼事在當?shù)責o人不曉。
finding his little wretch of a blackamoor asleep on his master's bed, sat down beside it,
一天，喬治發(fā)現(xiàn)自己伺童居然在他這個主人的床上睡著了，他一聲不吭地在床邊坐下，
and brushed the flies off the child with a feather fan, to the horror of old Gumbo,
拿起一把羽毛扇給那個小壞蛋攆蚊蟲；
the child's father, who found his young master so engaged, and to the indignation of Madam Esmond,
讓孩子爸爸、老黑奴甘博萬分恐懼的是，埃斯蒙德夫人知道此事后惱怒萬分
who ordered the young negro off to the proper officer for a whipping.
眼前兒子的年輕主子手腳一直忙活不停。她即刻吩咐攆走那小壞蛋去接受鞭刑。
In vain George implored and entreated— burst into passionate tears, and besought a remission of the sentence.
喬治的祈求全然無用，竟然在旁邊嚎啕大哭起來，他苦苦哀求母親赦免他的仆從，
His mother was inflexible regarding the young rebel's punishment, and the little negro went off beseeching his young master not to cry.
當然，埃斯蒙德夫人壓根不會放過對這個黑色小反骨的懲罰，那位小伺童卻走上前懇求他的小主人不要哭泣。
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