英國語文第五冊(雙語):廣東的景象(2)
To return from the wide expanse of the river population to the streets in the suburbs, the same spirit of contented adaptation to external things is everywhere observable; and it is difficult which to regard with most surprise—the narrow abodes of the one, or the little boats which serve as family residences to the other.
從眾多的水上居民再說回郊區(qū)街道上的居民，他們對外部事物的滿足和適應(yīng)也是隨處可見的；很難也最讓人驚訝的是，——一個人狹小的住所或小船竟然能住下一家人。
There is something of romance in the effect of Chinese streets. On either side are shops, decked out with native wares,—furniture and manufactures of various kinds.
中國的大街上也會有一些浪漫的事情。兩邊都是商店，當?shù)禺a(chǎn)品琳瑯滿目，——家具和各種各樣的手工制品。
These are adorned by pillar sign-boards, rising perpendicularly, and inscribed from top to bottom with the various kinds of saleable articles which may be had within. Native artists seem to have lavished their ingenuity on several of these inscriptions, in order to give, by their caligraphy, some idea of the superiority of the commodities for sale. Many of these sign-boards contain some fictitious emblem, adopted as the name of the shop—similar to the practice prevalent in London two centuries ago.
店門前會直立著一塊涂著油漆的廣告牌，從上到下寫滿各種店內(nèi)可能出售的物品。當?shù)氐乃囆g(shù)家好像在這些方面毫不保留地貢獻自己的手藝，為了通過他們優(yōu)美的書法來給人一種好商品的感覺。很多廣告牌都有一些虛構(gòu)的圖案，商店就以這些為名——這和兩個世紀前在倫敦盛行的一樣。
On entering, the proprietor, with his assistants or partners, welcomes a foreigner with sundry salutations; sometimes advancing to shake hands, and endeavouring to make the most of his scanty knowledge of English. They will show their goods with the utmost patience, and evince nothing of disappointment if, after gratifying his curiosity, he depart without purchasing.
一進去，掌柜的和伙計會以各種各樣的方式表達對外國人的尊敬；有時走上前來握手，努力說著并不好的英語。他們會以最大的耐心展示自己的商品，而且如果介紹完了之后沒有賣出去，他們也不會面露失望之色。
At a distance from the factories, where the sight of a foreigner is a rarity, crowds of idlers, from fifty to a hundred, rapidly gather round the shop, and frequent embarrassment ensues, from an imperfect knowledge of their language. In these parts, the shopkeepers know no language but their own, are more moderate in their politeness, and, as a compensation, put a smaller price on their wares. To write one's name in Chinese characters is a sure method of securing their favour.
離工廠很遠的地方，外國人是不多見的。如果有外國人，人們就會圍在商店外，人數(shù)從五十到一百，而且還經(jīng)常會尾隨外國人，用當?shù)氐脑捵h論紛紛。在這些地區(qū)，店主除了當?shù)胤窖允裁丛挾疾粫f，他們會顯得更加有禮貌，并以低價出售商品作為補償。他們很喜歡用中文寫別人的名字。
Sometimes no fewer than eight or ten blind beggars find their way into a shop, and there they remain, singing a melancholy, dirge-like strain, and most perseveringly beating together two pieces of wood. At length the weary shopman takes compassion on them, and provides for the quiet of his shop by giving a copper cash to each; on receiving which they depart, and repeat the same experiment elsewhere.
有時會有八到是個盲人摸進店內(nèi)乞討，他們會留在那里，唱著像挽歌一樣悲傷的歌，還有的敲打兩片木板。最后，煩躁的店主會對它們心生憐憫，會分給他們一人一個銅板，以獲得清靜；他們得到錢之后就會離開，又去別的地方故技重施。
