How will you know the pitch of that great bell Too large for you to stir? —
你将如何知道那口巨钟的音高，那对你来说太大了无法摇动？ —

Let but a flute Play ‘neath the fine-mixed metal listen close Till the right note flows forth, a silvery rill. —
只需让一支长笛在精妙混合的金属下演奏，聆听细致，直至正确的音符流淌出来，如一股银色小溪。 —

Then shall the huge bell tremble–then the mass With myriad waves concurrent shall respond In low soft unison.
然后，那庞大的钟铃将颤抖—随即，无数波浪一起回应，低柔和地共鸣。

Lydgate that evening spoke to Miss Vincy of Mrs. Casaubon, and laid some emphasis on the strong feeling she appeared to have for that formal studious man thirty years older than herself.
那天晚上，莱德盖特跟温丝·温赛谈到了卡索本夫人，他着重提到她似乎对那位比自己年长三十岁且沉默好学的男人有着深厚的感情。

“Of course she is devoted to her husband,” said Rosamond, implying a notion of necessary sequence which the scientific man regarded as the prettiest possible for a woman; —
“当然她是专注于她的丈夫的，”罗莎蒙德说，暗示了科学家所认为的女人最美好的观念； —

but she was thinking at the same time that it was not so very melancholy to be mistress of Lowick Manor with a husband likely to die soon. —
不过同时她在想，成为洛维克庄园的女主人，丈夫很可能会很快过世，事实上也不是那么悲哀。 —

“Do you think her very handsome?”
“你认为她很漂亮吗？”

“She certainly is handsome, but I have not thought about it,” said Lydgate.
“她确实很漂亮，但我没有想过，”莱德盖特说。

“I suppose it would be unprofessional,” said Rosamond, dimpling. —
“我想这可能有不专业之嫌，”罗莎蒙德嫣然一笑。 —

“But how your practice is spreading! You were called in before to the Chettams, I think; —
“可是你的门诊正在扩展呢！之前你被切塔姆家和门诺家召见，对吧； —

and now, the Casaubons.”
现在又到了卡索本家。”

“Yes,” said Lydgate, in a tone of compulsory admission. —
“是的，”莱德盖特勉强承认。 —

“But I don’t really like attending such people so well as the poor. —
“但我实在不太喜欢服务这些人，和贫困人口相比。” —

The cases are more monotonous, and one has to go through more fuss and listen more deferentially to nonsense.”
“病例更单调，更多是做些无谓的事情，不得不十分恭敬地听一些废话。”

“Not more than in Middlemarch,” said Rosamond. —
“并不比在米德尔马奇更多，”罗莎蒙德说。 —

“And at least you go through wide corridors and have the scent of rose-leaves everywhere.”
“而至少你会穿过宽敞的走廊，到处都是玫瑰叶的香味。”

“That is true, Mademoiselle de Montmorenci,” said Lydgate, just bending his head to the table and lifting with his fourth finger her delicate handkerchief which lay at the mouth of her reticule, as if to enjoy its scent, while he looked at her with a smile.
“这是真的，蒙莫朗西小姐，”莱德盖特说着，微微俯身于桌边，用第四根手指轻轻提起她精致的手绢，放在她的小包口边，仿佛享受它的香味，同时微笑着看着她。

But this agreeable holiday freedom with which Lydgate hovered about the flower of Middlemarch, could not continue indefinitely. —
但莱德盖特在米德尔马奇的花朵周围徘徊的这种愉快的假日自由，不能无限期地持续下去。 —

It was not more possible to find social isolation in that town than elsewhere, and two people persistently flirting could by no means escape from “the various entanglements, weights, blows, clashings, motions, by which things severally go on.” —
在那个城镇里，与其他地方一样，不可能找到社会的孤立，两个人坚持不懈地调情也完全无法逃脱“各种纠葛、重担、打击、碰撞和运动，使事物各自继续前进”的局面。 —

Whatever Miss Vincy did must be remarked, and she was perhaps the more conspicuous to admirers and critics because just now Mrs. Vincy, after some struggle, had gone with Fred to stay a little while at Stone Court, there being no other way of at once gratifying old Featherstone and keeping watch against Mary Garth, who appeared a less tolerable daughter-in-law in proportion as Fred’s illness disappeared.
无论温西小姐做什么都会受到关注，她也许更引人注目，因为现在温西太太在经过一番挣扎后，只好随弗雷德去斯通庄一段时间，这样才能满足老费瑟斯通的要求，同时又能警惕玛丽·加思特，随着弗雷德的病情好转，她似乎变得更不可容忍。

Aunt Bulstrode, for example, came a little oftener into Lowick Gate to see Rosamond, now she was alone. —
例如，阿珍特·布尔斯特罗德经常走进洛威克大门去看望罗莎蒙，她如今独自一人。 —

For Mrs. Bulstrode had a true sisterly feeling for her brother; —
因为布尔斯特罗德太太对她的哥哥格外关爱; —

always thinking that he might have married better, but wishing well to the children. —
她总是认为他可能选错了对象，但对他的孩子们却是衷心祝福。 —

Now Mrs. Bulstrode had a long-standing intimacy with Mrs. Plymdale. —
如今，布尔斯特罗德太太和普林代尔太太已经有着长期的交情。 —

They had nearly the same preferences in silks, patterns for underclothing, china-ware, and clergymen; —
她们几乎对丝绸、内衣款式、瓷器和牧师的偏好相同; —

they confided their little troubles of health and household management to each other, and various little points of superiority on Mrs. Bulstrode’s side, namely, more decided seriousness, more admiration for mind, and a house outside the town, sometimes served to give color to their conversation without dividing them–well-meaning women both, knowing very little of their own motives.
她们彼此倾诉生活和家庭管理上的小困扰，而布尔斯特罗德太太在某些方面的微弱优势，比如更为坚定的严肃性、对智力更为崇敬，以及城镇外的房子，有时会在不分割她们的情况下给她们的交谈增添色彩——她俩都是好意的女人，对自己的动机知之甚少。

Mrs. Bulstrode, paying a morning visit to Mrs. Plymdale, happened to say that she could not stay longer, because she was going to see poor Rosamond.
上午布尔斯特罗德太太去普林代尔太太家拜访，碰巧说不能再呆了，因为她要去看可怜的罗莎蒙。

“Why do you say poor Rosamond'?" said Mrs. Plymdale, a round-eyed sharp little woman, like a tamed falcon. <span><tang1>"你为什么说可怜的罗莎蒙’呢？”普林代尔太太说，一位圆眼利索的小女人，就像一只被驯服的猎鹰。

“She is so pretty, and has been brought up in such thoughtlessness. —
“她这么漂亮，却被养在这种轻率的环境中。 —

The mother, you know, had always that levity about her, which makes me anxious for the children.”
众所周知，她的母亲总是那样轻浮，这让我为孩子们担忧。”

“Well, Harriet, if I am to speak my mind,” said Mrs. Plymdale, with emphasis, “I must say, anybody would suppose you and Mr. Bulstrode would be delighted with what has happened, for you have done everything to put Mr. Lydgate forward.”
“好吧，哈丽特，如果我要坦诚相告，”Plymdale夫人强调道，“我必须说，任何人都会认为你和Bulstrode先生会对所发生的事感到高兴，因为你们一直在推动Lydgate先生。”

“Selina, what do you mean?” said Mrs. Bulstrode, in genuine surprise.
“塞琳娜，你是什么意思？”Bulstrode夫人真诚地感到惊讶。

“Not but what I am truly thankful for Ned’s sake,” said Mrs. Plymdale. —
“当然我是真心为了尼德的缘故而感到感激的，”Plymdale夫人说。 —

“He could certainly better afford to keep such a wife than some people can; —
“他肯定比某些人更有能力养活这样一个妻子； —

but I should wish him to look elsewhere. —
但我希望他能再考虑其他人。 —

Still a mother has anxieties, and some young men would take to a bad life in consequence. —
毕竟，母亲总是有担忧的，有些年轻人可能会因此走上错误的道路。 —

Besides, if I was obliged to speak, I should say I was not fond of strangers coming into a town.”
此外，如果我不得不说，我不喜欢陌生人来到一个小镇。”

“I don’t know, Selina,” said Mrs. Bulstrode, with a little emphasis in her turn. —
“我不知道，塞琳娜，”Bulstrode夫人接着说，语气也略带强调。 —

“Mr. Bulstrode was a stranger here at one time. —
“Bulstrode先生曾经也是一个陌生人。 —

Abraham and Moses were strangers in the land, and we are told to entertain strangers. —
亚伯拉罕和摩西曾是旅居异乡者，我们被告诫要招待陌生人。 —

And especially,” she added, after a slight pause, “when they are unexceptionable.”
尤其是，”她稍作停顿后补充说，“当他们是毫无过失之人时。”

“I was not speaking in a religious sense, Harriet. I spoke as a mother.”
“我并非以宗教意义在谈论，哈丽特。我说的是作为一个母亲。”

“Selina, I am sure you have never heard me say anything against a niece of mine marrying your son.”
“塞琳娜，我敢肯定你从未听我说过反对我侄女嫁给你儿子的话。”

“Oh, it is pride in Miss Vincy–I am sure it is nothing else,” said Mrs. Plymdale, who had never before given all her confidence to “Harriet” on this subject. —
“哦，这是温茜的傲慢–我敢说这没有别的原因，”Plymdale夫人从未在这个问题上对“哈丽特”如此坦诚过。 —

“No young man in Middlemarch was good enough for her: I have heard her mother say as much. —
“中世镇没有一个年轻人配得上她：我听她母亲这样说过。” —

That is not a Christian spirit, I think. —
那不是基督徒的精神，我想。 —

But now, from all I hear, she has found a man as proud as herself.”
但现在，据我所听，她找到了一个和她一样骄傲的男人。

“You don’t mean that there is anything between Rosamond and Mr. Lydgate?” —
“你不是说罗莎蒙和李德盖特之间有什么事吗？” —

said Mrs. Bulstrode, rather mortified at finding out her own ignorance.
布尔斯特罗德夫人有点受到打击，发现自己不知情。

“Is it possible you don’t know, Harriet?”
“哈丽特，你可能不知道吗？”

“Oh, I go about so little; and I am not fond of gossip; I really never hear any. —
“哦，我出门很少；我不喜欢八卦；我真的从来不听到任何消息。 —

You see so many people that I don’t see. —
你见的人那么多，我却没见过。 —

Your circle is rather different from ours.”
你的圈子和我们的有些不同。”

“Well, but your own niece and Mr. Bulstrode’s great favorite– and yours too, I am sure, Harriet! —
“唔，可是你自己的侄女和布尔斯特罗德先生的大宠–而且我敢肯定也是你的大宠，哈丽特！ —

I thought, at one time, you meant him for Kate, when she is a little older.”
我以前有一段时间以为你是指凯特，等她长大一点的时候。”

“I don’t believe there can be anything serious at present,” said Mrs. Bulstrode. —
“我不认为目前会有什么严重的事情。”布尔斯特罗德夫人说。 —

“My brother would certainly have told me.”
“我弟弟肯定会告诉我的。”

“Well, people have different ways, but I understand that nobody can see Miss Vincy and Mr. Lydgate together without taking them to be engaged. —
“唔，人各有风格，但我了解到没人能看到温茜小姐和李德盖特先生在一起而不认为他们已经订婚了。 —

However, it is not my business. Shall I put up the pattern of mittens?”
但这不关我的事。我把手套的图案放好好吗？”

After this Mrs. Bulstrode drove to her niece with a mind newly weighted. —
在此之后，布尔斯特罗德夫人心情沉重地驾车去看她的侄女。 —

She was herself handsomely dressed, but she noticed with a little more regret than usual that Rosamond, who was just come in and met her in walking-dress, was almost as expensively equipped. —
她自己穿着得体，但她注意到罗莎蒙稍微感到比平时更有些遗憾，因为罗莎蒙穿着打扮得和她几乎一样昂贵。 —

Mrs. Bulstrode was a feminine smaller edition of her brother, and had none of her husband’s low-toned pallor. —
布尔斯特罗德夫人是她兄弟的女性缩小版，没有她丈夫低调苍白的肤色。 —

She had a good honest glance and used no circumlocution.
她目光坦诚，毫不拐弯抹角。

“You are alone, I see, my dear,” she said, as they entered the drawing-room together, looking round gravely. —
“我看到你一个人，亲爱的，”她说，在一起进入起居室时严肃地四处看了看。 —

Rosamond felt sure that her aunt had something particular to say, and they sat down near each other. Nevertheless, the quilling inside Rosamond’s bonnet was so charming that it was impossible not to desire the same kind of thing for Kate, and Mrs. Bulstrode’s eyes, which were rather fine, rolled round that ample quilled circuit, while she spoke.
罗莎蒙确信她姑母有特别的事情要说，她们靠近坐下。然而，罗莎蒙帽子里的褶边太迷人了，让人不禁想要为凯特也弄一个同样款式的，布尔斯特罗德夫人的眼睛，也相当漂亮，在说话时转动到那个宽大的褶边上。

“I have just heard something about you that has surprised me very much, Rosamond.”
“我刚听说了一些关于你的事情，让我非常吃惊，罗莎蒙。”

“What is that, aunt?” Rosamond’s eyes also were roaming over her aunt’s large embroidered collar.
“是什么，姑母？”罗莎蒙的眼睛也漫游在她姑母的刺绣大领上。

“I can hardly believe it–that you should be engaged without my knowing it–without your father’s telling me.” —
“我简直不敢相信——你竟然订婚了我却不知情——你父亲也没告诉我。” —

Here Mrs. Bulstrode’s eyes finally rested on Rosamond’s, who blushed deeply, and said–
这时布尔斯特罗德夫人的眼睛最终停留在罗莎蒙的脸上，罗莎蒙脸红深深，说道——

“I am not engaged, aunt.”
“我没有订婚，姑母。”

“How is it that every one says so, then–that it is the town’s talk?”
“那为什么所有人都这么说呢——这已经成为镇上的谈资了？”

“The town’s talk is of very little consequence, I think,” said Rosamond, inwardly gratified.
“我觉得镇上的流言并不重要，”罗莎蒙内心感到愉悦。

“Oh, my dear, be more thoughtful; don’t despise your neighbors so. —
“哦，亲爱的，要更加体贴一些；不要看不起你的邻居。 —

Remember you are turned twenty-two now, and you will have no fortune: —
记住你已经22岁了，而你又没有财产： —

your father, I am sure, will not be able to spare you anything. —
我敢肯定，你父亲不可能供养你什么。” —

Mr. Lydgate is very intellectual and clever; I know there is an attraction in that. —
李德盖特先生非常聪明和聪慧;我知道这点很有吸引力。 —

I like talking to such men myself; and your uncle finds him very useful. —
我自己喜欢和这样的人聊天;你叔叔也觉得他很有用。 —

But the profession is a poor one here. To be sure, this life is not everything; —
但这里的医生并不挣很多钱。当然，这种生活并不是一切; —

but it is seldom a medical man has true religious views–there is too much pride of intellect. —
但医生很少有真正的宗教观点–他们过于骄傲自己的智慧。 —

And you are not fit to marry a poor man.
而且你又不适合嫁给个穷人。

“Mr. Lydgate is not a poor man, aunt. He has very high connections.”
“李德盖特先生并不是穷人，阿姨。他和贵族有着很高的关系。

“He told me himself he was poor.”
“他自己告诉我他很穷。

“That is because he is used to people who have a high style
“那是因为他习惯于那些生活风格高贵的人。

“My dear Rosamond, you must not think of living in high style.”
“我亲爱的罗莎蒙，你不应该指望过上高贵的生活。

Rosamond looked down and played with her reticule. —
罗莎蒙低头玩弄着她的小手袋。 —

She was not a fiery young lady and had no sharp answers, but she meant to live as she pleased.
她不是一个性子暴躁的年轻女士，没有尖锐的回答，但她意味着要按照自己的方式生活。

“Then it is really true?” said Mrs. Bulstrode, looking very earnestly at her niece. —
“那么真的吗?” 布尔斯道夫夫人非常认真地看着她的侄女。 —

“You are thinking of Mr. Lydgate–there is some understanding between you, though your father doesn’t know. —
“你在考虑李德盖特先生–你们之间有一些默契，尽管你父亲不知道。 —

Be open, my dear Rosamond: Mr. Lydgate has really made you an offer?”
坦白点，我亲爱的罗莎蒙: 李德盖特先生真的向你求婚了吗?”

Poor Rosamond’s feelings were very unpleasant. —
可怜的罗莎蒙的感受非常不愉快。 —

She had been quite easy as to Lydgate’s feeling and intention, but now when her aunt put this question she did not like being unable to say Yes. Her pride was hurt, but her habitual control of manner helped her.
她对莱德格特的感情和意图一直都很容易明了，但现在当她的姑母提出这个问题时，她不喜欢自己不能说出”是”的时候。她的自尊受到了伤害，但她习惯性的控制态度帮助了她。

“Pray excuse me, aunt. I would rather not speak on the subject.”
“请原谅我，姑妈。我宁愿不在这个问题上讲话。”

“You would not give your heart to a man without a decided prospect, I trust, my dear. —
“我希望你不会毫无准备地把自己的心交给一个没有明确前景的男人，亲爱的。 —

And think of the two excellent offers I know of that you have refused! —
想想我所知道你拒绝过的两个优秀的求婚者！ —

–and one still within your reach, if you will not throw it away. —
–如果你不把它抛弃，你还有一个机会。 —

I knew a very great beauty who married badly at last, by doing so. —
我知道一个非常漂亮的女人，最终因为这样嫁得不好。 —

Mr. Ned Plymdale is a nice young man– some might think good-looking; and an only son; —
尼德·普林德尔先生是个不错的年轻人–一些人可能会认为他很英俊；他还是独生子； —

and a large business of that kind is better than a profession. Not that marrying is everything. —
而且那种大规模的生意比起专业来说更有好处。虽然婚姻并非一切。 —

I would have you seek first the kingdom of God. But a girl should keep her heart within her own power.”
我希望你首先寻求上帝的国度。但一个女孩应该将自己的心掌握在自己手中。”

“I should never give it to Mr. Ned Plymdale, if it were. I have already refused him. —
“即使是给尼德·普林德尔先生，我也不会的。我已经拒绝过他了。 —

If I loved, I should love at once and without change,” said Rosamond, with a great sense of being a romantic heroine, and playing the part prettily.
如果我爱了，我会立刻而且不会改变，” 罗莎蒙德说着，对自己扮演浪漫女主角这一角色感到非常满意。

“I see how it is, my dear,” said Mrs. Bulstrode, in a melancholy voice, rising to go. —
“我明白了，亲爱的，” 伯尔斯特罗德夫人以悲伤的语气说着，站起身要离开。 —

“You have allowed your affections to be engaged without return.”
“你已经让自己的感情陷入了无以回报的爱中了吧。”

“No, indeed, aunt,” said Rosamond, with emphasis.
“不，姑妈，” 罗莎蒙德强调说。

“Then you are quite confident that Mr. Lydgate has a serious attachment to you?”
“那么你完全确信莱德格特先生对你有认真的感情吗？”

Rosamond’s cheeks by this time were persistently burning, and she felt much mortification. —
罗萨蒙的脸颊此时持续发热，她感到很尴尬。 —

She chose to be silent, and her aunt went away all the more convinced.
她选择保持沉默，她的姑姑更加坚定了自己的看法。

Mr. Bulstrode in things worldly and indifferent was disposed to do what his wife bade him, and she now, without telling her reasons, desired him on the next opportunity to find out in conversation with Mr. Lydgate whether he had any intention of marrying soon. —
在世俗和无关紧要的事情上，布尔斯特罗德先生愿意听从妻子的吩咐，她现在却没有告诉他原因，只是希望他在下次机会中在与莱德盖特先生交谈时打听一下他是不是有结婚的打算。 —

The result was a decided negative. Mr. Bulstrode, on being cross-questioned, showed that Lydgate had spoken as no man would who had any attachment that could issue in matrimony. —
结果是明确的否定。在被严加盘问后，布尔斯特罗德先生表明莱德盖特说话的方式并不像一个有可能迎娶的男人。 —

Mrs. Bulstrode now felt that she had a serious duty before her, and she soon managed to arrange a tete-a-tete with Lydgate, in which she passed from inquiries about Fred Vincy’s health, and expressions of her sincere anxiety for her brother’s large family, to general remarks on the dangers which lay before young people with regard to their settlement in life. —
布尔斯特罗德夫人现在感到自己有一个严肃的责任，在很快安排了一次与莱德盖特的私下交谈中，从对弗雷德·温斯的健康状况的询问以及对她兄弟众多家庭的真诚关怀的表达中，她转而谈起了年轻人在生活中安顿的危险。 —

Young men were often wild and disappointing, making little return for the money spent on them, and a girl was exposed to many circumstances which might interfere with her prospects.
年轻人经常会叛逆和令人失望，对他们花费的钱几乎没有回报，女孩子会受到许多可能影响她前途的环境。

“Especially when she has great attractions, and her parents see much company,” said Mrs. Bulstrode “Gentlemen pay her attention, and engross her all to themselves, for the mere pleasure of the moment, and that drives off others. —
“尤其是她具有很大的魅力，并且她的家人经常招待客人,” 布尔斯特罗德夫人说道”绅士会对她表示关注，并独占她，仅仅为了当下的快乐，这会驱赶其他人。 —

I think it is a heavy responsibility, Mr. Lydgate, to interfere with the prospects of any girl.” —
我认为干涉任何女孩人生前景是一种重大责任，莱德盖特先生。” —

Here Mrs. Bulstrode fixed her eyes on him, with an unmistakable purpose of warning, if not of rebuke.
在这里，布尔斯特罗德夫人将目光集中在他身上，有着明确的警告目的，甚至可能是谴责的目的。

“Clearly,” said Lydgate, looking at her–perhaps even staring a little in return. —
“显然,” 莱德盖特说着，看着她——或许甚至有些凝视。 —

“On the other hand, a man must be a great coxcomb to go about with a notion that he must not pay attention to a young lady lest she should fall in love with him, or lest others should think she must.”
“另一方面，一个人要是胡思乱想地以为他不应该对一个年轻女士表现出关注，以免她爱上他，或者以免别人认为她必然会这样做，那他必定是个大马屁。

“Oh, Mr. Lydgate, you know well what your advantages are. —
“哦，莱德盖特先生，您很清楚自己的优势。 —

You know that our young men here cannot cope with you. —
您知道我们这里的年轻人无法与您相提并论。 —

Where you frequent a house it may militate very much against a girl’s making a desirable settlement in life, and prevent her from accepting offers even if they are made.”
如果您频繁出入一个家庭，这可能会对一个女孩达成一个理想的人生安排产生很大的不利影响，甚至阻止她接受那些提议，即便被提出来了。”

Lydgate was less flattered by his advantage over the Middlemarch Orlandos than he was annoyed by the perception of Mrs. Bulstrode’s meaning. —
莱德盖特对自己在与米德尔马奇奥兰多之间的优势感到不那么受宠，而是被布尔斯特罗德夫人的意图所激怒。 —

She felt that she had spoken as impressively as it was necessary to do, and that in using the superior word “militate” she had thrown a noble drapery over a mass of particulars which were still evident enough.
她觉得自己已经以令人印象深刻的方式说话了，用了更高级的词语“militate”，就像在一堆明显的细节上披上了一件高贵的外衣。

Lydgate was fuming a little, pushed his hair back with one hand, felt curiously in his waistcoat-pocket with the other, and then stooped to beckon the tiny black spaniel, which had the insight to decline his hollow caresses. —
莱德盖特有点生气，用一只手把头发推到后面，用另一只手在背心口袋里摸索，然后弯下腰招呼小小的黑色西班牙猎犬，后者明智地拒绝了他虚假的爱抚。 —

It would not have been decent to go away, because he had been dining with other guests, and had just taken tea. —
因为与其他客人一起吃过晚饭，刚刚喝过茶，离开并不合适。 —

But Mrs. Bulstrode, having no doubt that she had been understood, turned the conversation.
但布尔斯特罗德夫人确信她已被理解，于是改变了谈话内容。

Solomon’s Proverbs, I think, have omitted to say, that as the sore palate findeth grit, so an uneasy consciousness heareth innuendoes. —
所罗门的箴言里似乎漏掉了一条：就像灼痛的口腔感到砂砾一样，一颗不安的良心听到了含沙射影。 —

The next day Mr. Farebrother, parting from Lydgate in the street, supposed that they should meet at Vincy’s in the evening. —
第二天，在街上分别时，费尔布鲁瑟先生以为他们晚上会在温西家见面。 —

Lydgate answered curtly, no–he had work to do–he must give up going out in the evening.
莱德盖特简短地回答说不会，他有工作要做，必须放弃晚上出去。

“What! you are going to get lashed to the mast, eh, and are stopping your ears?” —
“什么！你要被绑在桅杆上，对吧，然后堵住耳朵？” —

said the Vicar. “Well, if you don’t mean to be won by the sirens, you are right to take precautions in time.”
牧师说道，“好吧，如果你不想被塞壬迷住，那么及早采取预防措施是正确的。”

A few days before, Lydgate would have taken no notice of these words as anything more than the Vicar’s usual way of putting things. —
几天前，莱德盖特不会把这些话当作别的什么，只是牧师说话的惯常方式。 —

They seemed now to convey an innuendo which confirmed the impression that he had been making a fool of himself and behaving so as to be misunderstood: —
现在它们似乎传递出一种含沙射影，印证了他自己表现得像个傻瓜，行为让人误解这一印象： —

not, he believed, by Rosamond herself; she, he felt sure, took everything as lightly as he intended it. —
他相信，不是罗莎蒙德自己误解了他；他很肯定，她对待一切都像他打算的那样轻松对待。 —

She had an exquisite tact and insight in relation to all points of manners; —
她在与礼仪相关的所有方面都有着精湛的直觉和洞察力； —

but the people she lived among were blunderers and busybodies. —
但她生活在的人都是粗心和爱管闲事的人。 —

However, the mistake should go no farther. —
不过，这个误会不应再扩大。 —

He resolved–and kept his resolution–that he would not go to Mr. Vincy’s except on business.
他下定决心，并且坚守这个决定，他不会去范西先生的家，除非有公事。

Rosamond became very unhappy. The uneasiness first stirred by her aunt’s questions grew and grew till at the end of ten days that she had not seen Lydgate, it grew into terror at the blank that might possibly come–into foreboding of that ready, fatal sponge which so cheaply wipes out the hopes of mortals. —
罗莎蒙德变得非常不快。她姨妈的问题引发的不安开始变得越来越严重，十天没有见到李德格后，这种不安变成了恐惧，对可能发生的空白恐惧–预感那种随时可发生的、具有毁灭性的海绵，轻易地抹去人类的希望。 —

The world would have a new dreariness for her, as a wilderness that a magician’s spells had turned for a little while into a garden. —
对她来说，这个世界会变得更加冷清，就像一个被魔法使变成花园的荒野。 —

She felt that she was beginning to know the pang of disappointed love, and that no other man could be the occasion of such delightful aerial building as she had been enjoying for the last six months. —
她感到自己开始体会到失恋的痛苦，没有其他男人能够引起像过去六个月里她一直享受的那样美好的空中建筑。 —

Poor Rosamond lost her appetite and felt as forlorn as Ariadne– as a charming stage Ariadne left behind with all her boxes full of costumes and no hope of a coach.
可怜的罗莎蒙德失去了胃口，感到像一个可惨的阿瑞阿德涅–一个迷人的舞台上的阿瑞阿德涅离开时，所有箱子里都装满了服装，却没有车子希望。

There are many wonderful mixtures in the world which are all alike called love, and claim the privileges of a sublime rage which is an apology for everything (in literature and the drama). —
世界上有许多奇妙的混合物都被称为爱，它们都声称拥有一种对一切事情的道歉权的崇高愤怒（在文学和戏剧中）。 —

Happily Rosamond did not think of committing any desperate act: —
幸运的是，罗莎蒙德没有想过要做出任何绝望的举动： —

she plaited her fair hair as beautifully as usual, and kept herself proudly calm. —
她像往常一样将自己金发的头发编得美美的，并保持着自豪的镇静。 —

Her most cheerful supposition was that her aunt Bulstrode had interfered in some way to hinder Lydgate’s visits: —
她最乐观的假设是，她姨布尔斯特罗德以某种方式阻止了李德格的访问： —

everything was better than a spontaneous indifference in him. —
任何事情都比他对她出现自发冷淡好。 —

Any one who imagines ten days too short a time–not for falling into leanness, lightness, or other measurable effects of passion, but– for the whole spiritual circuit of alarmed conjecture and disappointment, is ignorant of what can go on in the elegant leisure of a young lady’s mind.
谁想象十天对于萎靡、消瘦或其他可以衡量的激情效果来说时间太短，但–对于一个年轻女士心灵中的警觉推测和失望的整个精神循环来说，那个人就不了解在一个年轻女士优雅的闲散时光中会发生什么。

On the eleventh day, however, Lydgate when leaving Stone Court was requested by Mrs. Vincy to let her husband know that there was a marked change in Mr. Featherstone’s health, and that she wished him to come to Stone Court on that day. —
然而，李德格在离开斯通庄园时，被范西夫人要求告知她丈夫，费瑟斯通老先生的健康状况有了明显变化，她希望他这一天前往斯通庄园。 —

Now Lydgate might have called at the warehouse, or might have written a message on a leaf of his pocket-book and left it at the door. —
现在，李德格可能本可以去商店，或者将一则消息写在口袋本的一张纸上留在门口。 —

Yet these simple devices apparently did not occur to him, from which we may conclude that he had no strong objection to calling at the house at an hour when Mr. Vincy was not at home, and leaving the message with Miss Vincy. A man may, from various motives, decline to give his company, but perhaps not even a sage would be gratified that nobody missed him. —
但是这些简单的方法似乎没有出现在他脑海中，由此我们可以得出结论，他不反对在范西先生不在家的时候去拜访，并将消息留给温茜小姐。一个人可能因为各种动机拒绝给予自己的陪伴，但也许甚至连一个圣人也不会高兴于无人想念他的情况。 —

It would be a graceful, easy way of piecing on the new habits to the old, to have a few playful words with Rosamond about his resistance to dissipation, and his firm resolve to take long fasts even from sweet sounds. —
这将是一种优雅、轻松的方式将新习惯衔接到旧习惯上，与罗莎蒙德开玩笑几句关于他抵制堕落的坚决决心和长期对甜蜜声音的禁食会是一种不错的方式。 —

It must be confessed, also, that momentary speculations as to all the possible grounds for Mrs. Bulstrode’s hints had managed to get woven like slight clinging hairs into the more substantial web of his thoughts.
必须承认，对于布尔斯特罗德夫人的种种暗示可能的根源的瞬间思索，已经像细小的着地的头发一样，纠缠在他思想的更为实质性的网中。

Miss Vincy was alone, and blushed so deeply when Lydgate came in that he felt a corresponding embarrassment, and instead of any playfulness, he began at once to speak of his reason for calling, and to beg her, almost formally, to deliver the message to her father. —
文斯小姐独自一人，当莱德盖特进来时脸红得很深，他感到了同样的尴尬，没有表现出任何俏皮，他立刻开始说起来访的原因，并几乎正式地请求她把消息转达给她的父亲。 —

Rosamond, who at the first moment felt as if her happiness were returning, was keenly hurt by Lydgate’s manner; —
罗莎蒙德在第一刻感到幸福似乎回来了，但莱德盖特的态度让她深感受伤； —

her blush had departed, and she assented coldly, without adding an unnecessary word, some trivial chain-work which she had in her hands enabling her to avoid looking at Lydgate higher than his chin. —
她的脸红已经消失，她冷淡地同意，并没有多余的言语，她手中的一些琐碎的链条使她能避免看莱德盖特超过他的下巴。 —

In all failures, the beginning is certainly the half of the whole. —
在所有失败中，开始无疑是成功的一半。 —

After sitting two long moments while he moved his whip and could say nothing, Lydgate rose to go, and Rosamond, made nervous by her struggle between mortification and the wish not to betray it, dropped her chain as if startled, and rose too, mechanically. —
在他挥动着鞭子两长分钟无话可说时，莱德盖特站起身来告别，罗莎蒙德，为了不让自己的屈辱暴露出来，神经紧张地在奋力挣扎，像受到惊吓一样，失手让手中的链条掉了，也机械地站起来。 —

Lydgate instantaneously stooped to pick up the chain. —
莱德盖特瞬间弯腰捡起了链条。 —

When he rose he was very near to a lovely little face set on a fair long neck which he had been used to see turning about under the most perfect management of self-contented grace. —
当他站起来时，他离一个可爱小脸庞及一条美丽修长的脖子很近，这是他曾习惯看到的那个完美控制着自满优雅的面孔。 —

But as he raised his eyes now he saw a certain helpless quivering which touched him quite newly, and made him look at Rosamond with a questioning flash. —
但当他抬起眼睛时，他看到了一种无助的颤抖，触动了他全新地触动了他，让他带着疑问的眼光看着罗莎蒙德。 —

At this moment she was as natural as she had ever been when she was five years old: —
在这一刻，她像她五岁时一样天然： —

she felt that her tears had risen, and it was no use to try to do anything else than let them stay like water on a blue flower or let them fall over her cheeks, even as they would.
她感觉眼泪已经上涨，再也无法做别的事情，只能任由它们停留在蓝色花朵上如水，或者随它们滑落到脸颊上，就像它们愿意的那样。

That moment of naturalness was the crystallizing feather-touch: it shook flirtation into love. —
那片刻的自然是决定性的一击：它使打情骂俏变成了爱情。 —

Remember that the ambitious man who was looking at those Forget-me-nots under the water was very warm-hearted and rash. —
请记住，当那个探望水下勿忘我花的雄心勃勃的男人非常热心和冲动。 —

He did not know where the chain went; an idea had thrilled through the recesses within him which had a miraculous effect in raising the power of passionate love lying buried there in no sealed sepulchre, but under the lightest, easily pierced mould. —
他不知道链条去哪了；一种触动了他内心深处那里的奇迹般效果的想法已经在他心头闪过，它激发了那里躺着的热情爱情的力量，它不是埋在封闭的墓穴下，而是埋在最轻薄、容易穿透的土壤下。 —

His words were quite abrupt and awkward; —
他的话很突然、笨拙； —

but the tone made them sound like an ardent, appealing avowal.
但语气让它们听起来像是一种热切而引人注目的表白。

“What is the matter? you are distressed. Tell me, pray.”
“怎么了？你看起来烦恼。告诉我吧，拜托。”

Rosamond had never been spoken to in such tones before. —
罗莎蒙从未被用这样的语气讲话过。 —

I am not sure that she knew what the words were: —
我不确定她知道这些词的意思： —

but she looked at Lydgate and the tears fell over her cheeks. —
但她看着莱德盖特，泪水流过她的脸颊。 —

There could have been no more complete answer than that silence, and Lydgate, forgetting everything else, completely mastered by the outrush of tenderness at the sudden belief that this sweet young creature depended on him for her joy, actually put his arms round her, folding her gently and protectingly– he was used to being gentle with the weak and suffering–and kissed each of the two large tears. —
沉默是最完整的回答，莱德盖特忘记了其他一切，完全被突然相信这个甜美的年轻女子依靠他的快乐所激发的温柔所控制，实际上搂住了她，温柔而保护地将她拥入怀中–他习惯于对弱者和受苦者温柔–并亲吻了两颗泪珠。 —

This was a strange way of arriving at an understanding, but it was a short way. —
这是一个奇怪的理解方式，但却是一个简洁的方式。 —

Rosamond was not angry, but she moved backward a little in timid happiness, and Lydgate could now sit near her and speak less incompletely. —
罗莎蒙并不生气，但她在喜悦的胆怯中向后移动了一点，莱德盖特现在可以坐在她旁边，说话不再那么模糊。 —

Rosamond had to make her little confession, and he poured out words of gratitude and tenderness with impulsive lavishment. —
罗莎蒙必须坦白，他却满怀感激和温柔地倾诉着。 —

In half an hour he left the house an engaged man, whose soul was not his own, but the woman’s to whom he had bound himself.
半个小时后，他离开了这所屋子，成为了一个不再拥有自己灵魂，而是她这个已经绑定了自己的女人的订婚男子。

He came again in the evening to speak with Mr. Vincy, who, just returned from Stone Court, was feeling sure that it would not be long before he heard of Mr. Featherstone’s demise. —
他傍晚再次来到与刚从斯通庄园返回的温西先生交谈，温西先生确信在不久之后就会听到费瑟斯通先生的去世消息。 —

The felicitous word “demise,” which had seasonably occurred to him, had raised his spirits even above their usual evening pitch. —
恰当的词语“去世”，正适时出现在他脑海中，使他的心情提升到比平时傍晚更高的水平。 —

The right word is always a power, and communicates its definiteness to our action. —
正确的词语总是有力量的，使我们的行动更加明确。 —

Considered as a demise, old Featherstone’s death assumed a merely legal aspect, so that Mr. Vincy could tap his snuff-box over it and be jovial, without even an intermittent affectation of solemnity; —
视为一种去世，老费瑟斯通的死亡就变得仅仅是一种法律上的看待，以至于温西先生可以在此之上轻轻敲击他的鼻烟盒，变得愉快起来，甚至没有一丝矫情地庄严; —

and Mr. Vincy hated both solemnity and affectation. —
而温西先生讨厌庄严和矫情。 —

Who was ever awe struck about a testator, or sang a hymn on the title to real property? —
有谁曾对遗嘱者感到惊叹，或者为房地产的所有权唱过赞美诗？ —

Mr. Vincy was inclined to take a jovial view of all things that evening: —
那天晚上，范西先生倾向于以欢乐的态度看待一切事情： —

he even observed to Lydgate that Fred had got the family constitution after all, and would soon be as fine a fellow as ever again; —
他甚至对莱德盖特说，弗雷德终究得到了家族的体质，很快就会再次成为一个出色的人； —

and when his approbation of Rosamond’s engagement was asked for, he gave it with astonishing facility, passing at once to general remarks on the desirableness of matrimony for young men and maidens, and apparently deducing from the whole the appropriateness of a little more punch.
当被问及他对罗莎蒙订婚的赞同时，他竟然轻而易举地表示赞同，并立刻转而谈论了年轻男女结婚的可取之处，并似乎由整个情景中推导出了再来一点朗姆酒的恰当性。