《简·爱》 Chapter 08 第八章（1）

（单词翻译）

Ere the half-hour ended, five o'clock struck;

半个小时不到，钟就敲响了五点。

School was dismissed, and all were gone into the refectory to tea.

散课了，大家都进饭厅去吃茶点。

I now ventured to descend¹.

我这才大着胆走下凳子。

It was deep dusk. I retired² into a corner and sat down on the floor.

这时暮色正浓，我躲进一个角落，在地板上坐了下来。

The spell by which I had been so far supported began to dissolve. Reaction took place,

一直支撑着我的魔力消失了，被不良反应所取代。

And soon, so overwhelming was the grief that seized me, I sank prostrate³ with my face to the ground.

我伤心不已，脸朝下扑倒在地，

Now I wept.

嚎啕大哭起来。

Helen Burns was not here. Nothing sustained me.

海伦·彭斯不在，没有东西支撑我。

Left to myself I abandoned myself, and my tears watered the boards.

孤身独处，我难以自制，眼泪洒到了地板上。

I had meant to be so good, and to do so much at Lowood, to make so many friends, to earn respect and win affection.

我曾打算在罗沃德表现那么出色，做那么多事情，交那么多朋友，博得别人的尊敬，赢得大家的爱护。

Already I had made visible progress.

而且已经取得了明显的进步。

That very morning I had reached the head of my class.

就在那天早上，我在班上己经名列前矛。

Miss Miller⁴ had praised me warmly.

米勒小姐热情夸奖我。

Miss Temple had smiled approbation⁵.

坦普尔小姐微笑着表示赞许。

She had promised to teach me drawing, and to let me learn French, if I continued to make similar improvement two months longer.

她还答应教我绘画，让我学法文、只要我在两个月之内继续取得同样的进步，

And then I was well received by my fellow-pupils; treated as an equal by those of my own age, and not molested⁶ by any;

此外，我也深受同学们的欢迎，同我年龄相仿的人也对我平等相待，我已不再受人欺悔。

Now, here I lay again crushed and trodden on, and could I ever rise more?

然而此刻，我又被打倒在地，遭人践踏。我还有翻身之日吗？

"Never," I thought, and ardently⁷ I wished to die.

“永远没有了，”我想，满心希望自己死掉。