评论
打印
The girl was one of those pretty and charming young creatures who sometimes are born, as if by a slip of fate, into a family of clerks.
世上的漂亮动人的女子，每每像是由于命运的差错似地，出生在一个小职员的家庭；我们现在要说的这一个正是这样。
She had no dowry, no expectations, no way of being known, understood, loved, married by any rich and distinguished man;
她没有陪嫁的资产，没有希望，没有任何方法使得一个既有钱又有地位的人认识她，了解她，爱她，娶她；
so she let herself be married to a little clerk of the Ministry of Public Instruction.
到末了，她将将就就和教育部的一个小科员结了婚。
She dressed plainly because she could not dress well, but she was unhappy as if she had really fallen from a higher station;
不能够讲求装饰，她是朴素的，但是不幸得像是一个降了等级的女人；
since with women there is neither caste nor rank, for beauty, grace and charm take the place of family and birth.
因为妇女们本没有阶级，没有门第之分，她们的美，她们的丰韵和她们的诱惑力就是供她们做出身和家世之用的。
Natural ingenuity, instinct for what is elegant, a supple mind are their sole hierarchy,
她们天生的机警，出众的本能，柔顺的心灵，构成了她们唯一的等级，
and often make of women of the people the equals of the very greatest ladies.
而且可以把民间的女子提得和最高的贵妇一样高。
Mathilde suffered ceaselessly, feeling herself born to enjoy all delicacies and all luxuries.
玛蒂尔蒂觉得自己本是为了一切精美的和一切豪华的事物而生的，因此不住地感到痛苦。
She was distressed at the poverty of her dwelling, at the bareness of the walls, at the shabby chairs, the ugliness of the curtains.
由于自己的房屋寒酸，墙壁粗糙，家具陈旧，衣料庸俗，她非常难过。
All those things, of which another woman of her rank would never even have been conscious, tortured her and made her angry.
这一切，在另一个和她同等的妇人心上，也许是不会注意的，然而她却因此伤心，又因此懊恼，
The sight of the little Breton peasant who did her humble housework aroused in her despairing regrets and bewildering dreams.
那个替她照料琐碎家务的布列塔尼省的小女佣人的样子，使她产生了种种忧苦的遗憾和胡思乱想。
She thought of silent antechambers hung with Oriental tapestry, illumined by tall bronze candelabra,
她梦想着那些静悄悄的接待室，如何蒙着东方的帏幕，如何点着青铜的高脚烛台，
and of two great footmen in knee breeches who sleep in the big armchairs, made drowsy by the oppressive heat of the stove.
如何派着两个身穿短裤子的高个儿侍应生听候指使，而热烘烘的空气暖炉使得两个侍应生都在大型的圈椅上打盹。
She thought of long reception halls hung with ancient silk, of the dainty cabinets containing priceless curiosities
她梦想那些披着古代壁衣的大客厅，那些摆着无从估价的瓷瓶的精美家具；
and of the little coquettish perfumed reception rooms made for chatting at five o'clock with intimate friends,
她梦想那些精致而且芬芳的小客厅，自己到了午后五点光景，就可以和亲切的朋友在那儿闲谈，
with men famous and sought after, whom all women envy and whose attention they all desire.
和那些被所有女人羡慕的并且渴望的一众知名男子在那儿闲谈。
