Grace having been said by the Doctor, dinner began. There was some nice soup; also roast meat, boiled meat,vegetables, pie, and cheese. Every young gentleman had a massive silver fork, and a napkin; and all the arrangementswere stately and handsome. In particular, there was a butler in a blue coat and bright buttons, who gave quite a winey flavour to the table beer; he poured it out so superbly.
博士念完祷告词之后,午饭就开始了。有美味的汤,还有烤的肉、煮的肉、蔬菜、馅饼和乳酪。每一位年轻的先生都有一把很大的银叉和一块餐巾,所有的安排都是庄重、雅致的。特别引人注意的是,一位穿着有亮钮扣的蓝上衣的男管家倒啤酒倒得十分美妙,能使它散发出一股酒的香味。
Nobody spoke, unless spoken to, except Doctor Blimber, Mrs Blimber, and Miss Blimber, who conversed occasionally.Whenever a young gentleman was not actually engaged with his knife and fork or spoon, his eye, with an irresistible attraction, sought the eye of Doctor Blimber, Mrs Blimber, or Miss Blimber, and modestly rested there. Toots appeared to be the only exception to this rule. He sat next Mr Feeder on Paul's side of the table, and frequently looked behind andbefore the intervening boys to catch a glimpse of Paul.
除了布林伯博士、布林伯夫人和布林伯小姐偶尔交谈几句外,没有一个人说话,除非是别人对着他说话的时候才说话。当每一位年轻的先生没有把注意力真正用在餐刀、叉子或匙子的时候,他的眼睛就受到一种不可抗拒的吸引力,寻找着布林伯博士、布林伯夫人或布林伯小姐的眼睛,然后谦虚地停在那里。图茨看来是唯一的例外。他挨着菲德先生坐着,与保罗是在桌子的同一边;他不时从坐在他们中间的孩子们的身后或身前探望保罗一眼。
Only once during dinner was there any conversation that included the young gentlemen. It happened at the epoch of the cheese, when the Doctor, having taken a glass of port wine, and hemmed twice or thrice, said:
只有一次,在吃饭的谈话中间,这些年轻的先生们也参加了进去。那正好是在吃乳酪的时候,博士喝了一杯葡萄酒,清了两三次嗓子以后,说道:
'It is remarkable, Mr Feeder, that the Romans - '
“那些罗马人,菲德先生,——”
At the mention of this terrible people, their implacable enemies, every young gentleman fastened his gaze upon the Doctor, with an assumption of the deepest interest. One of the number who happened to be drinking, and who caught the Doctor's eye glaring at him through the side of his tumbler, left off so hastily that he was convulsed for some moments, and in the sequel ruined Doctor Blimber's point.
当提到这个可怕的民族,他们的死敌的时候,每位年轻的先生都装出深感兴趣的神色,把眼光注视着博士。他们当中的一位正好在喝酒,当他看到博士正从他的玻璃酒杯旁边向他瞪着眼睛时,就急急忙忙地停止,结果痉挛了好几秒钟,并因此把布林伯博士的话头打断了。
'It is remarkable, Mr Feeder,' said the Doctor, beginning again slowly, 'that the Romans, in those gorgeous and profuse entertainments of which we read in the days of the Emperors, when luxury had attained a height unknown before or since, and when whole provinces were ravaged to supply the splendid means of one Imperial Banquet - '
“那些罗马人,菲德先生,”博士缓慢地重新开始道,“在皇帝统治的时代,在大办酒宴方面的奢侈挥霍是惊人的(我们在书上读到这种记载),当时奢侈达到空前绝后的顶峰,有好几个省为了提供一个皇家的宴会所需的资金,耗尽了元气——”
Here the offender, who had been swelling and straining, and waiting in vain for a full stop, broke out violently.
那位犯了过错的人一直紧张难受,并徒劳地等待着一个句号,这时猛烈地痉挛起来。
'Johnson,' said Mr Feeder, in a low reproachful voice, 'take some water.'
“约翰逊,”菲德先生用低声的责备的口吻说道,“喝点水。”
The Doctor, looking very stern, made a pause until the water was brought, and then resumed:
神色很严峻的博士停了一会儿,直到水取来以后,才继续说道:
'And when, Mr Feeder - '
“菲德先生——”