狄更斯雙語小說:《董貝父子》第15章Part5
'What did you.say, Captain Cuttle?' inquired Walter.
'Stand by!' returned the Captain, thoughtfully.
“做好準備！”船長若有所思地回答道。Walter paused to ascertain if the Captain had any particular information to add to this, but as he said no more, went on.
沃爾特停了一下，想聽聽船長是不是還要再補充一些意見，但是船長沒有再講什麼，沃爾特就繼續說下去。
'Now, the second point, Captain Cuttle. I am sorry to say, I am not a favourite with Mr Dombey. I have always tried to do my best, and I have always done it; but he does not like me. He can't help his likings and dislikings, perhaps. I say nothing of that. I only say that I am certain he does not like me. He does not send me to this post as a good one; he disclaims to represent it as being better than it is; and I doubt very much if it will ever lead me to advancement in the House—whether it does not, on the contrary, dispose of me for ever, and put me out of the way. Now, we must say nothing of this to my Uncle, Captain Cuttle, but must make it out to be as favourable and promising as we can; and when I tell you what it really is, I only do so, that in case any means should ever arise of lending me a hand, so far off, I may have one friend at home who knows my real situation.
“現在講第二點，卡特爾船長。我很遺憾地告訴您，我不是董貝先生所喜愛的人。我一直來總是想方設法，作出我最大的努力，我也確實總是這樣做的，可是他卻不喜歡我。也許他不能左右自己的喜愛與厭惡，這一點我也不想說什麼。我只是說，我敢肯定他不喜歡我。他派我到那裏去，並不是因爲那是個好差使；他不想把事情說得比實際好一些，他不屑於這樣做；我不相信這次調動會幫助我在公司裏晉升職位；相反的，我懷疑是不是要用這個辦法把我永遠打發掉，以便掃除障礙。可是這些話我們一句也別跟舅舅說，卡特爾船長，我們一定得儘量把這次派遣說成是一個有利的、前程遠大的差使；我向您吐露真情，只是爲了我在遠方萬一需要幫助的時候，在祖國能有一個知道我真實情況的朋友。”'Wal'r, my boy,' replied the Captain, 'in the Proverbs of Solomon you will find the following words, "May we never want a friend in need, nor a bottle to give him!" When found, make a note of.'
“沃爾，我的孩子，”船長回答道，“在所羅門箴言中，你可以找到下面的話：‘讓我們永遠不缺少患難中的朋友，也不缺少送給他喝的酒！’你找到的時候，請把它記下來。”Here the Captain stretched out his hand to Walter, with an air of downright good faith that spoke volumes; at the same time repeating (for he felt proud of the accuracy and pointed application of his quotation), 'When found, make a note of.'
這時船長以勝過千言萬語的坦白真誠的神情，向沃爾特伸出手來；由於他對準確引用所羅門箴言和運用得當而感到得意，所以又重複說道：“你找到的時候，請把它記下來。”'Captain Cuttle,' said Walter, taking the immense fist extended to him by the Captain in both his hands, which it completely filled, next to my Uncle Sol, I love you. There is no one on earth in whom I can more safely trust, I am sure. As to the mere going away, Captain Cuttle, I don't care for that; why should I care for that! If I were free to seek my own fortune—if I were free to go as a common sailor—if I were free to venture on my own account to the farthest end of the world—I would gladly go! I would have gladly gone, years ago, and taken my chance of what might come of it. But it was against my Uncle's wishes, and against the plans he had formed for me; and there was an end of that. But what I feel, Captain Cuttle, is that we have been a little mistaken all along, and that, so far as any improvement in my prospects is concerned, I am no better off now than I was when I first entered Dombey's House—perhaps a little worse, for the House may have been kindly inclined towards me then, and it certainly is not now.'
“卡特爾船長，”沃爾特把船長伸出的大拳頭滿滿地握在兩隻手中說，“除了所爾舅舅，您是我最愛的人。確實，在這世界上我沒有更能信賴的人了。單單就離別這件事情本身來說，卡特爾船長，我並不把它放在心上；我爲什麼要把它放在心上呢！如果我可以自由地去尋找運氣的話，如果我可以當一名普通的船員出去的話，如果我可以自由地自己承擔風險，航行到天涯海角的話，那麼我將高高興興地出去！我可能幾年前就已經高高興興地出去碰碰我的運氣如何了。但是這違揹我舅舅的願望，違揹他爲我所制訂的計劃，所以事情也就到此完結了。但是，卡特爾船長，我覺得我們過去有一些錯誤；就改善我的前途來說，我現在出去並不比當初一進董貝公司的時候就出去更好，也許還更壞一些，因爲當時公司可能對我懷有好感，現在則肯定沒有了。”一ire:vt.詢問, 查究 vi.詢問, 查究
【詞義辨析】
ask, demand, inquire, question
這些動詞均含有“問，詢問”之意。
ask最普通用詞，可與demand, inquire和question換用，但ask用於口語中，指提出問題讓人回答。
demand指根據自己的權利、職責或身份認爲有必要弄清情況而正式發問，常隱含命令對方回答的意味。
inquire較正式用詞，指爲得到真實情況而詳細詢問或調查瞭解。
question指因感到可疑或爲了解情況，弄清究竟而發問，有時指一連串的發問。
【例句用法】
The police will inquire into the cause of his death.
警方將調查他的死因。
We inquired the way of a boy.
我們向一個男孩問路。
二ove:vt.改善, 改進, 提高 vi.變得更好, 改進
【語法用法】
improve跟improve upon的區別：前者指的的是“在好或不好的基礎上進行修改，改進”，而後者則是指“在好的基礎再更進一步”。
This poem cannot be improved.
這首詩太好或太壞，以致於不能修改了。
This poem cannot be improved upon.
這首詩好得不能再好了。
improve跟better的區別：前者指的是大方面的，或是人物內在的提高，以及比較抽象的事物的提高，如improve one's health。後者指的是人的地位，物質或經
濟條件上的提高，如better the conditions of the workers（工人生活條件的提高）；
在使用improved同improving時要特別注意，避免誤用improved而形成被動語態。
【錯句舉例與錯句分析】
錯句: Do you think the situation is improved?
訂正: Do you think the situation is improving?
翻譯: 你認爲這個形勢得到改善了嗎？
分析: 句中的形勢改善應是一種主動語態，這不可用improved。
【詞義辨析】
improve, better, perfect, refine
這些動詞均有“改進、改善”之意。
improve最常用詞，多指狀態或性質上的深刻或重要改進，也可指自身能力的提高。
better多用於口語，指適當地改善原來並非很差的狀態或性質，也指社會地位、經濟狀況的改善。
perfect語義強，通常指使方法、技術等達到完善美好的境地。
refine側重指使語言、儀態等變得文雅、優美，也可指技藝等的提高。
【例句用法】
Wine improves with age.
酒存放得越久越醇。
I hope the weather will improve before Friday.
我希望星期五之前天氣會好轉。
I want to improve my English.
我想提高我的英語水平。
