狄更斯的小说特点 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第47章Part1

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第47章Part1  

The barrier beeen Mr Dombey and his wife was not weakened by time. Ill-assorted couple
unhappy in themselves and in each other
bound together by no tie but the manacle that joined their fettered hands
and straining that so harshly
in their shrinking asunder
that it wore and chafed to the bone
Time
consoler of affliction and softener of anger
could do nothing to help them. Their pride
however different in kind and object
was equal in degree; and
in their flinty opposition
struck out fire beeen them which might smoulder or might blaze
as circumstances were
but burned up everything within their mutual reach
and made their marriage way a road of ashes.
Let us be just to him. In the monstrous delusion of his life
swelling with every grain of sand that shifted in its glass
he urged her on
he little thought to what
or considered how; but still his feeling towards her
such as it was
remained as at first. She had the grand demerit of unaccountably putting herself in opposition to the recognition of his vast importance
and to the acknowledgment of her plete submission to it
and so far it was necessary to correct and reduce her; but otherwise he still considered her
in his cold way
a lady capable of doing honour
if she would
to his choice and name
and of reflecting credit on his proprietorship.
Now
she
with all her might of passionate and proud resentment
bent her dark glance from day to day
and hour to hour - from that night in her own chamber
when she had sat gazing at the shadows on the wall
to the deeper night fast ing - upon one figure directing a crowd of humiliations and exasperations against her; and that figure
still her husband's.
Was Mr Dombey's master-vice
that ruled him so inexorably
an unnatural characteristic? It might be worthwhile
sometimes
to inquire what Nature is
and how men work to change her
and whether
in the enforced distortions so produced
it is not natural to be unnatural. Coop any son or daughter of our mighty mother within narrow range
and bind the prisoner to one idea
and foster it by servile worship of it on the part of the few timid or designing people standing round
and what is Nature to the willing captive who has never risen up upon the wings of a free mind - drooping and useless soon - to see her in her prehensive truth!
Alas! are there so few things in the world
about us
most unnatural
and yet most natural in being so? Hear the magistrate or judge admonish the unnatural outcasts of society; unnatural in brutal habits
unnatural in want of decency
unnatural in losing and confounding all distinctions beeen good and evil; unnatural in ignorance
in vice
in recklessness
in contumacy
in mind
in looks
in everything. But follow the good clergyman or doctor
who
with his life imperilled at every breath he draws
goes down into their dens
lying within the echoes of our carriage wheels and daily tread upon the pavement stones. Look round upon the world of odious sights - millions of immortal creatures have no other world on earth - at the lightest mention of which humanity revolts
and dainty delicacy living in the next street
stops her ears
and lisps 'I don't believe it!' Breathe the polluted air
foul with every impurity that is poisonous to health and life; and have every sense
conferred upon our race for its delight and happiness
offended
sickened and disgusted
and made a channel by which misery and death alone can enter. Vainly attempt to think of any simple plant
or flower
or wholesome weed
that
set in this foetid bed
could have its natural growth
or put its little leaves off to the sun as GOD designed it. And then
calling up some ghastly child
with stunted form and wicked face
hold forth on its unnatural sinfulness
and lament its being
so early
far away from Heaven - but think a little of its having been conceived
and born and bred
in Hell!