This penitential mood kept her from naming the wedding-day. —
这种忏悔的心情让她无法提及婚礼的日期。 —

The beginning of November found its date still in abeyance, though he asked her at the most tempting times. —
到了十一月初，他依然没有确定日期，尽管在最诱人的时刻问过她。 —

But Tess’s desire seemed to be for a perpetual betrothal in which everything should remain as it was then.
但是苔丝似乎希望永远保持当时的订婚状态。

The meads were changing now; but it was still warm enough in early afternoons before milking to idle there awhile, and the state of dairy-work at this time of year allowed a spare hour for idling. —
现在草地在变化，但在挤奶之前的午后仍然足够温暖，可以在那里闲逛一会儿，在这个时候的乳品工作允许有一个小时的空闲。 —

Looking over the damp sod in the direction of the sun, a glistening ripple of gossamer webs was visible to their eyes under the luminary, like the track of moonlight on the sea. —
朝着太阳的方向俯瞰潮湿的草地，他们的眼睛看到了在太阳下闪烁的一道闪亮的蜘蛛网的波纹，就像海上的月光航线。 —

Gnats, knowing nothing of their brief glorification, wandered across the shimmer of this pathway, irradiated as if they bore fire within them, then passed out of its line, and were quite extinct. —
虫子们不知道它们短暂的光荣，穿过这条途径的震光，仿佛它们身体内带着火，然后离开这条线，完全灭亡。 —

In the presence of these things he would remind her that the date was still the question.
在这些事物面前，他会提醒她日期仍然是个问题。

Or he would ask her at night, when he accompanied her on some mission invented by Mrs Crick to give him the opportunity. —
或者他会在晚上问她，在夫人克里克编造的一些任务中给了他这个机会的时候。 —

This was mostly a journey to the farmhouse on the slopes above the vale, to inquire how the advanced cows were getting on in the straw-barton to which they were relegated. —
这主要是一次前往山坡上农舍的旅程，向那里询问被驱逐到稻草仓里的进阶奶牛的情况。 —

For it was a time of the year that brought great changes to the world of kine. —
因为这是一年中带来牛群巨大变化的时候。 —

Batches of the animals were sent away daily to this lying-in hospital, where they lived on straw till their calves were born, after which event, and as soon as the calf could walk, mother and offspring were driven back to the dairy. —
牛群中的一批一批动物每天被送到这家产房，它们在那里待到小牛出生，之后，小牛能够行走后，母牛和幼仔就被赶回牛棚。 —

In the interval which elapsed before the calves were sold there was, of course, little milking to be done, but as soon as the calf had been taken away the milkmaids would have to set to work as usual.
在小牛被卖掉之前的间隔期内，当然也要像往常一样进行挤奶工作。

Returning from one of these dark walks they reached a great gravel-cliff immediately over the levels, where they stood still and listened. —
从一次黑暗的散步回来后，他们来到了一个鹅卵石悬崖上，俯瞰着平原，在那里他们停下来倾听。 —

The water was now high in the streams, squirting through the weirs, and tinkling under culverts; —
河流现在水位较高，从堰口喷出，穿过下水道丁当作响； —

the smallest gullies were all full; there was no taking short cuts anywhere, and foot-passengers were compelled to follow the permanent ways. —
最小的沟渠都已经充满水了；哪里也无法走捷径，步行者被迫沿着固定的道路前行。 —

From the whole extent of the invisible vale came a multitudinous intonation; —
从整个无形的山谷传来了一种多声调音响； —

it forced upon their fancy that a great city lay below them, and that the murmur was the vociferation of its populace.
这让他们产生了一种错觉，认为一个庞大的城市就在他们下面，并且这种咕噜声是城里人民的喧嚷声。

It seems like tens of thousands of them,' said Tess; --- <span><tang1>他们看起来好像成千上万,’ 塞丝说； —

holding public-meetings in their market-places, arguing, preaching, quarrelling, sobbing, groaning, praying, and cursing.' <span><tang1>在他们的市场上举行公众聚会，争论，传道，争吵，啜泣，呻吟，祈祷和咒骂。’

Clare was not particularly heeding.
克莱尔并没有特别注意。

Did Crick speak to you to-day, dear, about his not wanting much assistance during the winter months?' <span><tang1>克里克今天有没有跟你谈到他在冬季月份不需要太多帮助？’

No.' <span><tang1>没有。’

The cows are going dry rapidly.' <span><tang1>奶牛们的产奶速度正在急剧下降。’

Yes. Six or seven went to the straw-barton yesterday, and three the day before, making nearly twenty in the straw already. --- <span><tang1>是的。昨天有六七头牛去了草垛，前天有三头去了，已经有将近二十头在草垛里了。’ —

Ah - is it that the farmer don’t want my help for the calving? —
啊 - 农场主是不是不需要我帮忙接生了？ —

O, I am not wanted here any more! And I have tried so hard to–’
噢，我在这里不再需要了！我已经尽力去–’

Crick didn't exactly say that he would no longer require you. --- <span><tang1>克里克并没有明确说他不再需要你。 —

But, knowing what our relations were, he said in the most good-natured and respectful manner possible that he supposed on my leaving at Christmas I should take you with me, and on my asking what he would do without you he merely observed that, as a matter of fact, it was a time of year when he could do with a very little female help. —
但是，知道我们之间的关系，他以最友好和尊重的方式说他认为我在圣诞节离开时会带你走，当我问他没有你他会怎样时，他只是简单地表示，事实上，这是他几乎不需要女性帮忙的时候。 —

I am afraid I was sinner enough to feel rather glad that he was in this way forcing your hand.’
我恐怕足够罪恶，感到有点高兴他这样逼迫你。

I don't think you ought to have felt glad, Angel. Because 'tis always mournful not to be wanted, even if at the same time 'tis convenient.' <span><tang1>我认为你不应该感到高兴，安吉尔。因为不被需要总是令人悲伤的，即使在同时是方便的情况下。’

Well, it is convenient - you have admitted that.' He put his finger upon her cheek.Ah!’ he said.
“嗯，这挺方便的-你已经承认了。”他把手指放在她的脸颊上。“啊！”他说。

`What?’
“什么？”

`I feel the red rising up at her having been caught! —
“我感觉她被发现后脸红了！” —

But why should I trifle so! We will not trifle - life is too serious.’
但我为什么要如此嬉皮笑脸！我们不会嬉皮笑脸-生活太严肃了。

`It is. Perhaps I saw that before you did.’
“是的。也许我比你更早意识到这一点。”

She was seeing it then. To decline to marry him after all - in obedience to her emotion of last night - and leave the dairy, meant to go to some strange place, not a dairy; —
她当时就意识到了。在顺从昨晚的情感之后拒绝和他结婚，离开乳品场，意味着去一个陌生的地方，一个不是乳品场的地方； —

for milkmaids were not in request now calving-time was coming on; —
因为快要到产犊季节，没有人需要挤奶工； —

to go to some arable farm where no divine being like Angel Clare was. —
去一个没有像安吉尔·克莱这样的神一样的存在的麦田农场。 —

She hated the thought, and she hated more the thought of going home.
她讨厌这个想法，更讨厌回家的想法。

So that, seriously, dearest Tess,' he continued,since you will probably have to leave at Christmas, it is in every way desirable and convenient that I should carry you off then as my property. —
“所以，亲爱的蒂丝，严肃地说，既然你可能在圣诞节之后不得不离开，那么我把你带走作为我的财产就是非常理想和方便的。 —

Besides, if you were not the most uncalculating girl in the world you would know that we could not go on like this for ever.’
此外，如果你不是世界上最不计较的女孩，你会知道我们不能永远这样下去。

`I wish we could. That it would always be summer and autumn, and you always courting me, and always thinking as much of me as you have done through the past summer-time!’
“我希望我们可以。永远是夏天和秋天，你永远追求我，你永远像过去的夏天那样关心我！”

`I always shall.’
“我永远会。”

`O, I know you will!’ she cried, with a sudden fervour of faith in him. —
“噢，我知道你会！”她突然充满信仰地说。 —

`Angel, I will fix the day when I will become yours for always!’
“安吉尔，我会确定一个日子，成为你永远的人！”

Thus at last it was arranged between them, during that dark walk home, amid the myriads of liquid voices on the right and left.
因此，最终他们在回家的那段黑暗的路上，听着左右两边无数液体声音的环绕，达成了协议。

When they reached the dairy Mr and Mrs Crick were promptly told - with injunctions to secrecy; —
当他们到达牛奶场时，立即告诉了克里克夫妇，并嘱咐他们保密； —

for each of the lovers was desirous that the marriage should be kept as private as possible. —
因为每个恋人都希望婚礼尽可能保持低调。 —

The dairyman, though he had thought of dismissing her soon, now made a great concern about losing her. —
虽然奶场主本来想尽快辞退她，但现在却为失去她感到非常担忧。 —

What should he do about his skimming? Who would make the ornamental butterpats for the Anglebury and Sandbourne ladies? —
他该怎么处理搅乳？谁会为安格尔伯里和桑德伯恩的女士们做装饰性的奶油小块？ —

Mrs Crick congratulated Tess on the shilly-shallying having at last come to an end, and said that directly she set eyes on Tess she divined that she was to be the chosen one of somebody who was no common outdoor man; —
克里克夫人祝贺苔丝的犹豫不决最终结束了，并说她一看到苔丝就预感到她是某个非普通户外人士的挚爱； —

Tess had looked so superior as she walked across the barton on that afternoon of her arrival; —
苔丝在抵达时穿过牧场那天下午看起来是如此有优越感； —

that she was of a good family she could have sworn. —
她敢发誓，她是一个好家庭出身的人。 —

In point of fact Mrs Crick did remember thinking that Tess was graceful and good-looking as she approached; —
事实上，克里克夫人确实记得认为苔丝在接近时很优雅好看； —

but the superiority might have been a growth of the imagination aided by subsequent knowledge.
但优越感可能是想象力的产物，后来的了解可能助长了这种感觉。

Tess was now carried along upon the wings of the hours, without the sense of a will. —
现在苔丝被时间的双翼带着飞行，毫无意志的感觉。 —

The word had been given; the number of the day written down. —
答应的话已经说出口；日子的数字已经写下。 —

Her naturally bright intelligence had begun to admit the fatalistic convictions common to field-folk and those who associate more extensively with natural phenomena than with their fellow-creatures; —
她本来聪明晶莹的头脑开始接受田野人及更广泛接触自然现象而非人类的人所共同信奉的宿命论信念； —

and she accordingly drifted into that passive responsiveness to all things her lover suggested, characteristic of the frame of mind.
因此，她不知不觉地陷入了恋人所提示的、特征明显的对一切事物的被动响应心态。

But she wrote anew to her mother, ostensibly to notify the wedding-day; —
但她又重新写信给她的母亲，表面上是为了通知婚礼日期； —

really to again implore her advice. It was a gentleman who had chosen her, which perhaps her mother had not sufficiently considered. —
真心再次恳求她的建议。选择她的是一个绅士，也许她的母亲并没有充分考虑这一点。 —

A post-nuptial explanation, which might be accepted with a light heart by a rougher man, might not be received with the same feeling by him. —
一个事后的解释，对于一个粗鲁的人可能会轻松接受，但对于他来说可能不会有相同的感觉。 —

But this communication brought no reply from Mrs Durbeyfield.
但这个沟通过后并没有得到德伯菲尔德夫人的回复。

Despite Angel Clare’s plausible representations to himself and to Tess of the practical need for their immediate marriage, there was in truth an element of precipitancy in the step, as became apparent at a later date. —
尽管安吉尔·克莱尔对自己和苔丝立即结婚的实际需要做出了貌似合理的解释，但实际上这一步骤有些仓促，这在后来变得显而易见。 —

He loved her dearly, though perhaps rather ideally and fancifully than with the impassioned thoroughness of her feeling for him. —
他非常爱她，尽管可能更多地是理想化和幻想，而不是她对他的那种充满激情的感情。 —

He had entertained no notion, when doomed as he had thought to an unintellectual bucolic life, that such charms as he beheld in this idyllic creature would be found behind the scenes. —
当他认为被注定要过无知的田园生活时，他并没有想到，这个田园牧歌式的女子身后会有这样的魅力。 —

Unsophistication was a thing to talk of; —
不懂世故是一个值得谈论的事情; —

but he had not known how it really struck one until he came here. —
但直到他来到这里，他才意识到它真正给人留下的印象。 —

Yet he was very far from seeing his future track clearly, and it might be a year or two before he would be able to consider himself fairly started in life. —
然而，他远远没有清楚地看到自己未来的道路，也许还要再过一两年他才能认为自己正式步入了人生。 —

The secret lay in the tinge of recklessness imparted to his career and character by the sense that he had been made to miss his true destiny through the prejudices of his family.
秘密在于他的生涯和性格中所带有的鲁莽色彩，因为他感到自己被家庭的偏见迫使错过了自己真正的命运。

Don't you think 'twould have been better for us to wait till you were quite settled in your midland farm?' --- <span><tang1>你不觉得我们最好等到你在中部的农场安顿下来再结婚会更好吗？’ —

she once asked timidly. (A midland farm was the idea just then.)
她有一次胆怯地问道。(当时中部的农场正是当时的理想。)

To tell the truth, my Tess, I don't like you to be left anywhere away from my protection and sympathy.' <span><tang1>老实说，我的苔丝，我不喜欢你留在任何地方远离我的保护和同情。’

The reason was a good one, so far as it went. —
这个原因在一定程度上是合理的。 —

His influence over her had been so marked that she had caught his manner and habits, his speech and phrases, his likings and his aversions. —
他对她的影响如此明显，以至于她模仿了他的举止和习惯，他的言谈和短语，他的喜好和厌恶。 —

And to leave her in farmland would be to let her slip back again out of accord with him. —
而把她留在农田将意味着让她再次与他脱节。 —

He wished to have her under his charge for another reason. —
他希望有另一个理由来照顾她。 —

His parents had naturally desired to see her once at least before he carried her off to a distant settlement, English or colonial; —
他的父母自然希望在他带她去一个遥远的定居地之前至少看到她一次； —

and as no opinion of theirs was to be allowed to change his intention, he judged that a couple of months’ life with him in lodgings whilst seeking for an advantageous opening would be of some social assistance to her at what she might feel to be a trying ordeal - her presentation to his mother at the Vicarage.
他判断，和他一起在寻找有利职位的旅馆里生活几个月，可能对她有所社会上的帮助，在她可能感到有点艰难的考验中——他在教区牧师的家庭中介绍她。

Next, he wished to see a little of the working of a flour-mill, having an idea that he might combine the use of one with corn-growing. —
接着，他希望了解一下面粉厂的运作情况，他觉得他可能会将面粉厂与种粮结合起来。 —

The proprietor of a large old water-mill at Wellbridge - once the mill of an Abbey - had offered him the inspection of his time-honoured mode of procedure, and a hand in the operations for a few days, whenever he should choose to come. —
位于韦尔布里奇的一个大型老式水磨的业主——曾经是修道院的磨坊——提出让他来参观他那古老的操作方式，并在他选择的任何时间内参与一些操作。 —

Clare paid a visit to the place, some few miles distant, one day at this time, to inquire particulars, and returned to Talbothays in the evening. —
克莱在这个时候的一天里去了那里一趟，询问了一些细节，晚上回到了托尔斯海斯。 —

She found him determined to spend a short time at the Wellbridge flour-mills. —
她发现他决定在韦尔布里奇的面粉厂待一段时间。 —

And what had determined him? Less the opportunity of an insight into grinding and bolting than the casual fact that lodgings were to be obtained in that very farmhouse which, before its mutilation, had been the mansion of a branch of the d’Urberville family. —
那是什么让他做出了决定呢？不是为了了解磨碎和筛分的机会，而是因为偶然事实就在那座农舍里可以租到住宿，而在这座农舍在被破坏前，曾是德伯家族的一支的府邸。 —

This was always how Clare settled practical questions; —
这总是克莱解决实际问题的方式； —

by a sentiment which had nothing to do with them. —
通过一个与问题无关的情感。 —

They decided to go immediately after the wedding, and remain for a fortnight, instead of journeying to towns and inns.
他们决定在婚礼后立即出发，并在那里待两个星期，而不是前往城镇和旅馆。

Then we will start off to examine some farms on the other side of London that I have heard of,' he said,and by March or April we will pay a visit to my father and mother.’
然后我们会出发去检查一些我听说的伦敦另外一边的农场，'他说，到了三月或四月份我们会去拜访我的父母。’

Questions of procedure such as these arose and passed, and the day, the incredible day, on which she was to become his, loomed large in the near future. —
这样的实际问题如此出现和消失，那一天，那不可思议的一天，她将成为他的妻子，大大的逼近了。 —

The thirty-first of December, New Year’s Eve, was the date. His wife, she said to herself. —
十二月三十一日，除夕前夜，就是那个日期。他的妻子，她自言自语。 —

Could it ever be? Their two selves together, nothing to divide them, every incident shared by them; —
永远会吗？他们两个在一起，没有任何事情能分开他们，每一个事件他们都分享； —

why not? And yet why?
为什么不呢？但是为什么？

One Sunday morning Izz Huett returned from church, and spoke privately to Tess.
一个星期天早晨，伊丝·休特从教堂回来，私下和苔丝说话。

You was not called home this morning.' <span><tang1>今天早晨没有人叫你回去。’

What?' <span><tang1>什么？’

It should ha' been the first time of asking to-day,' she answered, looking quietly at Tess.You meant to be married New Year’s Eve, deary?’
应该是今天第一次宣读的，亲爱的，'她平静地看着苔丝说。你打算新年前夕结婚，对吧？’

The other returned a quick affirmative.
另一个快速肯定地回答。

And there must be three times of asking. And now there be only two Sundays left between.' <span><tang1>必须要宣读三次。现在只剩下两个星期天。’

Tess felt her cheek paling; Izz was right; of course there must be three. Perhaps he had forgotten! —
苔丝感到自己的脸颊变白；伊丝是对的；当然应该宣读三次。也许他忘了！ —

If so, there must be a week’s postponement, and that was unlucky. How could she remind her lover? —
如果是这样，那么就要延迟一周，这是不吉利的。她怎么提醒她的情人呢？ —

She who had been so backward was suddenly fired with impatience and alarm lest she should lose her dear prize.
从前一直很被动的她突然充满了焦急和恐惧，担心会失去她心爱的奖品。

A natural incident relieved her anxiety. Izz mentioned the omission of the banns to Mrs Crick, and Mrs Crick assumed a matron’s privilege of speaking to Angel on the point.
一个自然的事件缓解了她的焦虑。伊丝提到了未宣读订婚告示这件事给克里克夫人听，克里克夫人以一位母亲的特权与安吉尔谈了这件事。

Have ye forgot 'em, Mr Clare? The banns, I mean.' <span><tang1>Clare先生，你忘了订婚告示吗？’

No, I have not forgot 'em,' says Clare. <span><tang1>没有，我没有忘，’克莱说。

As soon as he caught Tess alone he assured her:
他一见到苔丝单独在一起就向她保证说：

`Don’t let them tease you about the banns. —
不要让他们拿你取笑结婚通告。 —

A licence will be quieter for us, and I have decided on a licence without consulting you. —
一份婚姻许可证对我们来说会更安静，我已经决定了一个没有征求你意见的许可证。 —

So if you go to church on Sunday morning you will not hear your own name, if you wished to.’
所以如果你在周日早晨去教堂，你就听不到你自己的名字，如果你愿意的话。

`I didn’t wish to hear it, dearest,’ she said proudly.
“亲爱的，我并不希望听到我的名字，”她自豪地说。

But to know that things were in train was an immense relief to Tess notwithstanding, who had well-nigh feared that somebody would stand up and forbid the banns on the ground of her history. —
尽管如此，对泰丝来说，知道事情正在进行中是一种巨大的解脱，她几乎害怕会有人以她的过去为由站出来阻止结婚通告。 —

How events were favouring her!
事件是如何有利于她的！

`I don’t quite feel easy,’ she said to herself. —
“我感觉不太安心，”她自言自语。 —

`All this good fortune may be scourged out of me afterwards by a lot of ill. —
“所有这些好运后面可能会有一大堆不幸等着我。 —

That’s how Heaven mostly does. I wish I could have had common banns!’
这通常是上天的作风。我真希望能有普通的结婚通告！”

But everything went smoothly. She wondered whether he would like her to be married in her present best white frock, or if she ought to buy a new one. —
但一切都进行顺利。她纳闷他是否想要她穿着现在最好的白色连衣裙结婚，还是她应该买一件新的。 —

The question was set at rest by his forethought, disclosed by the arrival of some large packages addressed to her. —
这个问题被他的预见化解，通过地址给她的一些大包裹的到来揭示了。 —

Inside them she found a whole stock of clothing, from bonnet to shoes, including a perfect morning costume, such as would well suit the simple wedding they planned. —
在这些包裹里她找到了一整套的衣服，从帽子到鞋子，包括一个完美的晨装，非常适合他们计划的简单婚礼。 —

He entered the house shortly after the arrival of the packages, and heard her upstairs undoing them.
他在包裹到来后不久进了屋，并听到她楼上打开包裹的声音。

A minute later she came down with a flush on her face and tears in her eyes.
一分钟后，她带着红晕的脸和眼泪下楼来。

`How thoughtful you’ve been!’ she murmured, her cheek upon his shoulder. —
“你多体贴啊！”她低语着，脸贴在他的肩膀上。 —

`Even to the gloves and handkerchief! My own love - how good, how kind!’
甚至手套和手帕也送上了！我的亲爱的，多么好，多么善良！

`No, no, Tess; just an order to a tradeswoman in London - nothing more.’
不，不，蒂丝；只是给伦敦的一个女企业家的订单 - 没有别的。

And to divert her from thinking too highly of him he told her to go upstairs, and take her time, and see if it all fitted; —
为了引开她对他的高看之心，他告诉她上楼，慢慢试穿，看看是否合身； —

and, if not, to get the village sempstress to make a few alterations.
如果不合身，让村里的裁缝做些改动。

She did return upstairs, and put on the gown. —
她确实回到楼上，穿上了礼服。 —

Alone, she stood for a moment before the glass looking at the effect of her silk attire; —
独自站在镜子前，看着自己穿着丝绸衣裳的效果； —

and then there came into her head her mother’s ballad of the mystic robe–
然后她脑海中出现了她母亲的神秘长袍的民歌——

That never would become that wife That had once done amiss,which Mrs Durbeyfield had used to sing to her as a child, so blithely and so archly, her foot on the cradle, which she rocked to the tune. —
那件长袍永远不会降临到那位曾犯下过错误的妻子身上，那首歌是德柏菲尔德太太曾经如此愉快地、如此俏皮地唱给她听的，她的脚踏在摇篮上，摇曳着舞蹈。 —

Suppose this robe should betray her by changing colour, as her robe had betrayed Queen Guénever. —
假设这件长袍会因颜色变化而出卖她，就像她的长袍曾出卖了吉尼维尔王后一样。 —

Since she had been at the dairy she had not once thought of the lines till now.
自从她到乳场以来，她从未想过这几行歌词，直到现在。