15篇文章貫通四級詞匯(星火英語)4 A Man and His Castle （II）

A Man and His Castle [一個大人物和他的城堡]

This influential media giant was not without his faults. His prejudices were common knowledge. His career was blemished(玷污) by his offensive remarks about Spaniards, Japanese, Filipinos, and Russians. He printed lies, forged documents, falsified(歪曲) stories of violence, wrote provocative editorials, and published sensational cartoons and photographs to support his opinions.

這個有巨大影響的媒體巨人也不是沒有缺點。他的偏見是眾所周知的。他對西班牙人、日本人、菲律賓人和俄羅斯人的攻擊性評論是對他職業(yè)的玷污。為支持自己的觀點，他刊載謊言，偽造文獻(xiàn)，編選暴力故事，寫煽動性的社論，出版蠱惑人心的卡通和照片。

William hated minorities. He took advantage of every opportunity to heighten racial tensions. His real motive for his hatred of Mexicans may have been the loss of 800,000 acres of prime timber land to the Mexican outlaw(逃犯), Pancho Villa. His papers described them as marijuana-smoking, job-stealing, lazy, wicked, and violent degenerates(墮落). Some suggest he saw the Mexicans as a threat to his empire.

威廉憎恨少數(shù)民族。他利用一切機會加劇種族間的緊張關(guān)系。他憎恨墨西哥人的真正原因，可能是由于那個墨西哥逃犯Pancho Villa讓他損失了800,000英畝的原始樹林。他的報紙把他們描繪成抽大麻、磨洋工、懶惰、邪惡和喜歡暴力的墮落者。有人說他認(rèn)為墨西哥人對他的帝國是一個威脅。

During this period, William met and fell in love with a young actress, Marion Davies. Millicent, his wife and the mother of his five sons, including a set of twins, refused to dissolve the marriage, which obliged William to “live in sin” with the woman whom the tour guides refer to as his “friend” or “companion”.

在這個時期，威廉遇見了年輕的女演員馬里恩戴維斯并愛上了她。他的妻子，他5個兒子其中有一對雙胞胎的母親米莉森特，拒絕解除婚姻，迫使威廉與那個女人過著姘居的生活，導(dǎo)游提到她時就說是他的“朋友”或“同伴”。

With the death of his mother in 1919, William inherited the beloved quarter-million-acre ranch. At first, he planned to build modest ranch house on his favorite campsite(野營的) but as he became more involved in the project, his vision of a monument to display his collections gained momentum(動力). Working closely with family architect, Julia Morgan, William created a glorious and extraordinary castle-like structure, blending Spanish, European, and Californian architectural styles. Huge warehouses(倉庫) were built in San Simeon to store the shiploads of splendid antiques, including entire carved ceilings and walls hung with enormous tapestries(掛毯). They could be installed in the completed rooms. Landscaping integrated exotic(外來的,奇異的) plants, hedges, and trees with native flora(植物群落). As William was in his 60’s, he had the insight to know he couldn’t wait for them to grow, but he was optimistic. He ordered tons of fertile topsoil to cover the grounds to a depth of five feet and full-grown specimens of the plants were trucked up the mountain for planting. With thousands of acres of land covered with grassland, trees, natural ponds, and man-made reservoirs available for use, William stocked the estate with herds of rare oxen and deer, and flocks of sheep and lambs. These animals flourished as they were allowed to wander freely. Larger, more dangerous beasts, including tigers, ostriches, buffalo, yaks, emus, kangaroos, llamas, zebras and giraffes were enclosed in the largest private zoo in the world.

1919年，他母親去世，威廉繼承了那個他深愛著的25萬英畝的牧場。起初，他計劃在他最喜歡的宿營地建一所普通的低矮平房，但當(dāng)他更多地介入這個工程時，建一個紀(jì)念館來展示他的收藏品的想法占了上風(fēng)。威廉與家庭建筑師朱莉亞?摩根進(jìn)一步密切協(xié)作，創(chuàng)造了一種氣派顯赫的像城堡一樣的結(jié)構(gòu)，整合了西班牙、歐洲和加利福尼亞的建筑風(fēng)格。在圣西蒙創(chuàng)造了巨大的倉庫存放成船的貴重古董，全部雕花的天花板以及用巨大掛毯裝飾的墻壁。它們可以安置到已完工的房間里來。把外來的植物、灌木和樹木結(jié)合進(jìn)當(dāng)?shù)氐闹参锓N群，進(jìn)一步美化景觀。威廉已經(jīng)60多歲了，他清楚地知道他可能等不到它們長大，但他是樂觀的。他定購了成噸肥沃的表層土，覆蓋地面達(dá)5英尺深，把這些植物長好的樣品用卡車運到山上種植。

在可以利用的數(shù)千英畝的土地上，有草地、樹林、天然水池和人工水庫，威廉在莊園里放養(yǎng)了珍稀的牛群和鹿群，還有一群群的綿羊和小羊羔。因為允許它們自由漫游，這些動物健壯而活躍。那些大家伙，比較危險的野獸，包括老虎、鴕鳥、水牛、牦牛、鴯鹋(產(chǎn)于澳洲的大型鳥)、袋鼠、駱駝、斑馬和長頸鹿，則被關(guān)在這個世界上最大的私人動物園里。

The “complex” was ready for occupancy(占有) in 1927, but additions continued until 1947. Eventually it comprised the main house and three cottages, all of which are furnished with a variety of valuable antiques. Even the lavatories were specially equipped. William’s favorite room was said to be the library with its collections of more than 5,000 books, ancient Greek vases, and an antique Spanish ceiling suspended(懸掛的) by cables so it will sway in the event of an earthquake (all the antique furnishings and treasures are anchored as a precaution as this is earthquake country).

那座“綜合性建筑”在1927年就已經(jīng)可以使用，但擴建工程一直持續(xù)到1947年。最后，它包含了一幢主樓和三棟別墅，每一座的家具配備都使用各種貴重的古董。連廁所的設(shè)施都很特別。威廉最喜歡的房間據(jù)說是圖書室，里面有收藏的5，000多本書籍，古希臘的花瓶，以及一個用纜索懸吊起來的古代西班牙吊頂，一旦發(fā)生地震，吊頂就會搖擺(所有的古代家具和珍寶都被事先用鉸鏈固定住，因為這是一個多地震的國家)。

In the ‘20s, ‘30s, and ‘40s, William loved part-time at the estate with his mistress, Marion Davies. They entertained to an excessive extent. To be invited to the castle was a privilege. Movie stars, politicians, businessmen, and even royalty(皇室成員) were frequent guests. Many of these guests, including a British lord, Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, Amelia Ear hart, and Charles Lindbergh, flew to the ranch, landing on the private(私人的) airstrip(飛機跑道).

20年代到40年代，威廉時常與他的情人馬里恩?戴維斯居住于此。他們待客極盡奢華。被邀請到城堡是一種殊榮。電影明星、政治家、商人，還有皇室成員都是他們的?？?。這些客人當(dāng)中的很多人，包括一名英國的勛爵、查爾斯?金福特?史密斯先生、阿梅莉亞?埃爾哈特、查爾斯?林德伯格，曾直接飛到這個莊園，降落在這里的私人飛機跑道上。

Life on the “hill” was never dull. The visitors stayed in the main house or the cottages, depending on their prominence(重要) or their intimacy(親密) with the family and were free to roam(漫游) the grounds, go riding on their choice of horses on the property. Company was expected, however, to meet in the main drawing room at 7:30 p.m. sharp, principally (主要地) to amuse their host. Dinner was a formal affair beginning at 9:00 p.m. this meal was held in the immense dining room, the walls of which are lined with priceless panels from ancient European cathedrals (大教堂). Following dinner, movies were shown in the private theater, starting at 11:00.

“山”上的生活從來都不乏味。來訪者按他們的顯赫程度或與這個家庭的親密關(guān)系，或住在主樓里，或住在別墅中，在園子里自由散步，去馬廄里挑匹馬來騎，到水池里去游泳，或者在這塊領(lǐng)地上的私人球場上玩高爾夫球。不過，大家還是急切期盼著晚上7點30分在主畫室里同主人相見，顯然主要是想讓他們的主人高興。宴會是一項正式的活動，在晚上9點開始。這頓飯在巨大的餐廳進(jìn)行，餐廳墻壁是用來自古代歐洲天主教堂的珍貴的鑲板拼成的。飯后，在私人影院上映電影，11點開始。

There were, however, three rules guests had to follow: do not get drunk; do not swear or tell off-color jokes; sleep in separate bedrooms if an unmarried couple. Food was not allowed in the rooms. If you wanted to eat, you could visit the kitchen… if you could find it.

不過，有三條規(guī)矩客人必須遵守：不能醉酒;不能賭咒或開傷風(fēng)敗俗的玩笑;還沒結(jié)婚的一對戀人要睡在不同的臥室。食物不能帶進(jìn)房間。如果你想吃東西，可以到廚房去……只要你找得到。

Although William was closely involved in all aspects of the construction and decoration of the mansion(大廈,宅邸), he continued his business and social interest. No stranger to scandal, in November 1924, he found himself in the topic of headlines. The most enduring rumor was that, during a party on his yacht, he had found Marion kissing Charlie Chaplin. In a fit of jealousy he took a shot at Chaplin, missed, and accidentally his Thomas Ince, killing him. However, even though the morning papers carried the story, the evening paper and successive editions printed that Ince had died of acute indigestion(消化不良).

盡管威廉積極參與了這所豪宅的建設(shè)和裝飾的各個方向，他仍然在繼續(xù)他的商業(yè)和社交活動。對流言蜚語習(xí)以為常的他，1924年11月，發(fā)現(xiàn)自己上了頭條新聞。那是一個流行已久的謠言：在游艇上的一次聚會上，他發(fā)現(xiàn)馬里恩在親吻查里?卓別林，他妒火中燒，于是向卓別林開了一槍，偏了，卻意外地?fù)糁辛送旭R斯·因斯，殺死了他。不過，盡管早上的報紙登載了這個故事，但晚上的報紙和更多的版面就登出因斯死于急性消化不良。

In 1945, William initiated the Hearst Foundation and created the California Charities Foundation in 1948 (the name was changed to the William Randolph Hearst Foundation soon after his death in 1951). The Great Depression took its toll on even the wealthiest and William Randolph Hearst was no exception. His fantastically(荒誕的) decadent lifestyle couldn’t last forever, and gradually his finances began to suffer, beginning the next chapter in the saga(傳奇) of excesses. He came close to being bankrupt but Marion rescued him from debt, unselfishly selling her jewels and some other property to raise over a million dollars.

1945年，威廉建立赫斯特基金會。1948年創(chuàng)立加利福尼亞慈善基金會(在他1951年去世后不久，改為威廉·倫道夫·赫斯特基金會)。大蕭條對即使是最富有的人都會帶來損失，威廉·倫道夫也不例外。他那種荒誕放縱的生活方式不能再繼續(xù)下去了，他的財政開始逐漸吃緊。這種放蕩生活的下一篇章開始了。就在他行將破產(chǎn)的時候，馬里恩在把他從債務(wù)中挽救出來。她無私地賣掉了她的珠寶和一些其他的地產(chǎn)，籌集了100多萬美元。

In 1947, due to his poor health, he was forced to move permanently to Beverly Hills. Marion looked after him during this time, seldom leaving his side. When he died in 1951 at the age of 88, she was shunned(避開) by his family and forbidden to attend his funeral.

1947年，由于健康狀況惡化，他被迫永久地住在貝弗莉山上。馬里恩在此期間一直照顧他，幾乎沒有離開過他的身邊。當(dāng)他于1951年88歲去世時，她卻被他的家庭有意避開，并被禁止參加葬禮。

The castle, its furnishings, the artworks in the gallery, and 127 acres of land were given to the state of California in 1957. Since that time, the California Department of Parks and Recreation has kept the castle open to tourists.

這座城堡，連同里面的家具設(shè)施，走廊里的藝術(shù)品，以及127英畝的土地在1957年給了加利福尼亞政府。從那時起，加利福尼亞公園和娛樂部一直把這座城堡向游人開放。

Today a visit to the estate begins near the site of the old airstrip. Guests are transported to the top of the hill via bus. One can still see the signs giving wandering animals the “right-of-way” on the lanes. Deer, cattle, and sheep often halt the buses’ progress up or down the mountain as they meander(漫游) to the salt licks.

今天游覽到這個莊園，起點就在舊飛機跑道所在位置附近?？腿藗兂税褪康缴巾?。路上，仍然可以看見讓放養(yǎng)的動物們“優(yōu)先通行”的標(biāo)示牌。鹿、牛和羊悠閑地在鹽漬地舔食時，常常迫使正在行駛的上下山巴士停下來。

Depending on the tour one chooses, guides escort(護送,陪同) the public through a variety of rooms, gardens, cottages, and pools. The luxury of a bygone(過去的) era is evident at every turn. From the moment you arrive at the stairway to the Neptune Pool until you bid farewell to your guides at the magnificent, golden and blue Roman Pool, you are reminded that a man had a dream. He had power and influence. Furthermore, he was prosperous enough to achieve his objectives and implement his dream.

根據(jù)你選好的路線，導(dǎo)游會陪你經(jīng)過各種房間、花園、別墅和水池。處處顯現(xiàn)出昔日的奢華。從到達(dá)通向尼普頓水池樓梯的那一刻起，到在金碧輝煌的羅馬水池邊對導(dǎo)游說再見，你會一直想起一個有夢想的人。他有才能和影響力。而且他曾經(jīng)飛黃騰達(dá)，能夠達(dá)到他的目的并實現(xiàn)他的夢想。