1全新版大学英语(第二版)综合教程_第四册_Unit5NeverJudgebyAppearances——AFriendinNeedAFriendinNeed(bySomersetMaugham)ForthirtyyearsnowIhavebeenstudyingmyfellowmen.Idonotknowverymuchaboutthem.Ishrugmyshoulderswhenpeopletellmethattheirfirstimpressionsofapersonarealwaysright.Ithinktheymusthavesmallinsightorgreatvanity.FormyownpartIfindthatthelongerIknowpeoplethemoretheypuzzleme.我阅人至今已经有三十年之久。我不大了解他们。人家对我说他们对一个人的初次印象一准不会错的时候,我耸耸肩。我认为他们必然眼力颇浅,或者自负过高。就我来说,我发现自己认得越久的人,他们越使我迷惑不解。//我最老的朋友们,恰恰是我可以说一点也不了解的人。ThesereflectionshaveoccurredtomebecauseIreadinthismorning'spaperthatEdwardHydeBurtonhaddiedatKobe.HewasamerchantandhehadbeeninbusinessinJapanformanyyears.Iknewhimverylittle,butheinterestedmebecauseoncehegavemeagreatsurprise.UnlessIhadheardthestoryfromhisownlips,Ishouldneverhavebelievedthathewascapableofsuchanaction.Itwasmorestartlingbecausebothinappearanceandmannerhesuggestedaverydefinitetype.Hereifeverwasamanallofapiece.Hewasatinylittlefellow,notmuchmorethanfivefeetfourinheight,andveryslender,withwhitehair,aredfacemuchwrinkled,andblueeyes.IsupposehewasaboutsixtywhenIknewhim.Hewasalwaysneatlyandquietlydressedinaccordancewithhisageandstation.我产生这些想法是因为看到今天早晨报纸上登载爱德华·海德·勃吞在神户逝世的消息。他是一个商人,在日本经营多年。我跟他交情很浅,可是有一次他使我大吃一惊,才对他感到兴趣。要不是听他亲口说的,我怎么也不会相信他竟然做出这种事情。不论是外貌,是举动,他都使人想起一种定了型的人物,这就使人更为震惊。如果有那么一个前后一贯的人,他就是了。他身材矮小,高不过五英尺四多一点,细瘦文弱,一头白发,一脸皱纹,气色红润,眼睛湛蓝。我认识他的时候估计他是六十岁光景。穿得总是整洁素净,正适合他的年龄和地位。ThoughhisofficeswereinKobe,BurtonoftencamedowntoYokohama.Ihappenedononeoccasiontobespendingafewdaysthere,waitingforaship,andIwasintroducedtohimattheBritishClub.Weplayedbridgetogether.Heplayedagoodgameandagenerousone.Hedidnottalkverymuch,eitherthenorlaterwhenwewerehavingdrinks,butwhathesaidwassensible.Hehadaquiet,dryhumor.Heseemedtobepopularattheclubandafterwards,whenhehadgone,theydescribedhimasoneofthebest.IthappenedthatwewerebothstayingattheGrandHotelandnextdayheaskedmetodinewithhim.Imethiswife,fat,elderly,andsmiling,andhistwodaughters.Itwasevidentlyaunitedandaffectionatefamily.IthinkthechiefthingthatstruckmeaboutBurtonwashiskindliness.Therewassomethingverypleasinginhismildblueeyes.Hisvoicewasgentle;youcouldnotimaginethathecouldpossiblyraiseitinanger;hissmilewasbenign.Herewasamanwhoattractedyoubecauseyoufeltinhimarealloveforhisfellows.Atthesametimehelikedhisgameofcardsandhiscocktail,hecouldtellwithpointagoodand2spicystory,andinhisyouthhehadbeensomethingofanathlete.Hewasarichmanandhehadmadeeverypennyhimself.Isupposeonethingthatmadeyoulikehimwasthathewassosmallandfrail;hearousedyourinstinctsofprotection.Youfeltthathecouldnotbeartohurtafly.勃吞的办事处在神户,但是他常常到横滨去。我碰巧有事到那儿去耽搁几天,等一艘船,便在英国俱乐部被人介绍跟他认识。我们一起打桥牌。他打得很好,而且慷慨大方。当时或后来我们一起喝酒的时候,他不大说话,说起来却通情达理。他有一种沉着冷静的幽默感。他在俱乐部里看来人缘颇好,他离开以后,人家说他属于最高尚的人当中的一个。我们两人恰巧都下榻格朗德旅馆,第二天他邀我吃饭。看到了他的上了年纪的妻子,胖胖的、笑盈盈的,还有两个女儿。显然是一个融融怡怡、相亲相爱的家庭。给我印象最深的是他的忠厚善良。他的温和的蓝眼睛里有一种十分可爱的神色。嗓音也是柔和的;不能想象他有高声怒吼的可能;他的微笑同样亲切慈祥。有一种人吸引你,是因为你觉得他对人们具有真诚的爱。他确有魅力。然而他身上却不带令人恶心的地方;他爱好打牌,喝鸡尾酒,能够抓住要点讲述生动有趣的故事,年轻时候曾经也算是个体育运动员。他富有,而每个便士都是自己赚来的。我觉得,使你喜欢他的一种情况是他如此文弱矮小;他唤起你做保护者的本能。你感到他连伤害一只苍蝇都不忍心。OneafternoonIwassittingintheloungeoftheGrandHotelwhenBurtoncameinandseatedhimselfinthechairnexttomine.一天下午,我坐在格朗德旅馆的休息室时勃吞走进休息室,坐到我旁边的椅子上来。Whatdoyousaytoalittledrink?“喝点儿酒怎么样?”Heclappedhishandsforaboyandorderedtwoginfizzes.Astheboybroughtthemamanpassedalongthestreetoutsideandseeingmewavedhishand.他拍手招来了侍者,要了两杯加苏打水的杜松子洒。侍者端来的时候,一个人在外面街上经过,一眼看见了我,就对我招招手。DoyouknowTurner?saidBurtonasInoddedagreeting.“你认识透纳吗?”我点头招呼的时候,勃吞问。I'vemethimattheclub.I'mtoldhe'saremittanceman.“我在俱乐部里看见过他。我听说他是靠汇款过日子的人。”Yes,Ibelieveheis.Wehaveagoodmanyhere.“不错,我相信是的。这里有许多这种人。”Heplaysbridgewell.“他桥牌打得很好。”Theygenerallydo.Therewasafellowherelastyear,oddlyenoughanamesakeofmine,whowasthebestbridgeplayerIevermet.IsupposeyounevercameacrosshiminLondon.LennyBurtonhecalledhimself.Ibelievehe'dbelongedtosomeverygoodclubs.“他们一般都如此。去年这里有一个人,可真巧,他和我同姓氏,是我所见到的最好的桥牌手。我想你在伦敦从未遇到他吧。他说他叫赖内·勃吞。我相信他是一些第一流的俱乐部的成员。”No,Idon'tbelieveIrememberthename.“没有,我似乎没有听到过这个名字。”Hewasquitearemarkableplayer.Heseemedtohaveaninstinctaboutthecards.Itwasuncanny.Iusedtoplaywithhimalot.HewasinKobeforsometime.“他是个十分出色的牌手。对于牌他似乎有一种直觉。这是不:可思议的。我曾经常常和他打牌。他有一段时候待在神户。”Burtonsippedhisginfizz.勃吞啜饮着苏打杜松子酒。It'sratherafunnystory,hesaid.Hewasn'tabadchap.Ilikedhim.Hewasalways3well-dressedandsmart-looking.Hewashandsomeinawaywithcurlyhairandpink-and-whitecheeks.Womenthoughtalotofhim.Therewasnoharminhim,youknow,hewasonlywild.Ofcoursehedranktoomuch.Thosesortoffellowsalwaysdo.Abitofmoneyusedtocomeonforhimonceaquarterandhemadeabitmorebycard-playing.Hewonagooddealofmine,Iknowthat.“这是个相当有趣的故事,”他说。“他不是个坏人。我喜欢他。他总是衣冠楚楚,风度翩翩。头发是鬈曲的,脸腮白里透红,有那么点漂亮。女人家很欣赏他。他没坏心眼,你瞧,只不过落拓不羁。饮酒过度,自不必说了。他们这种人总是如此。每个季度都有一点钱寄给他,但是他打牌又赢得一点。他赢了我很不少的钱,这个我知道。”Burtongaveakindlychuckle.Iknewfrommyownexperiencethathecouldlosemoneyatbridgewithagoodgrace.Hestrokedhisshavenchinwithhisthinhand;theveinsstoodoutonitanditwasalmosttransparent.勃吞和颜悦色地轻声一笑。我从自己的经验知道,他打牌输钱的时候也能够神态自若。他用瘦骨棱棱的手摸摸自己剃得光光的下巴,手上的青筋暴露,几乎是透明的。Isupposethatiswhyhecametomewhenhewentbroke,thatandthefactthathewasanamesakeofmine.Hecametoseemeinmyofficeoneda