🔊 I am by birth a Genevese; and my family is one of the most distinguished of that republic. My ancestors had been for many years counsellors and syndics; and my father had filled several public situations with honour and reputation. He was respected by all who knew him, for his integrity and indefatigable attention to public business. He passed his younger days perpetually occupied by the affairs of his country; a variety of circumstances had prevented his marrying early, nor was it until the decline of life that he became a husband and the father of a family.

我天生是个日内瓦人；我的家族是那个共和国最显赫的家族之一。我的祖先世代担任顾问和市政官；父亲曾身居多个公职,享有荣誉与声望。所有认识他的人都敬重他的正直和对公务的孜孜不倦。他年轻时终日为国家事务操劳；种种境遇使他迟迟未娶,直到晚年才成家立业,成为丈夫和父亲。

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distinguished /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/

adj. 卓越的,著名的➕

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integrity /ɪnˈteɡrəti/

n. 正直,诚实➕

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indefatigable /ˌɪndɪˈfætɪɡəbl/

adj. 不知疲倦的,不屈不挠的➕

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perpetually /pəˈpetʃuəli/

adv. 永久地,持续不断地➕

🔊 As the circumstances of his marriage illustrate his character, I cannot refrain from relating them. One of his most intimate friends was a merchant, who, from a flourishing state, fell, through numerous mischances, into poverty. This man, whose name was Beaufort, was of a proud and unbending disposition, and could not bear to live in poverty and oblivion in the same country where he had formerly been distinguished for his rank and magnificence. Having paid his debts, therefore, in the most honourable manner, he retreated with his daughter to the town of Lucerne, where he lived unknown and in wretchedness. My father loved Beaufort with the truest friendship, and was deeply grieved by his retreat in these unfortunate circumstances. He bitterly deplored the false pride which led his friend to a conduct so little worthy of the affection that united them. He lost no time in endeavouring to seek him out, with the hope of persuading him to begin the world again through his credit and assistance.

他的婚姻境遇恰能彰显其品格,我不得不在此叙述。他的一位挚友是个商人,原本生意兴隆,却因屡遭不幸而陷入贫困。此人名叫博福特,性情高傲固执,无法忍受在曾以地位显赫、生活奢华闻名的故国沦为贫贱无名之辈。于是,他以最体面的方式偿清债务后,携女儿退隐到卢塞恩镇,在那里默默无闻地过着凄苦生活。父亲以最真挚的友谊深爱着博福特,对他在这般不幸中隐退深感悲痛。他痛惜那虚伪的骄傲导致朋友做出如此辜负彼此情谊的行为。父亲当即竭力寻访,希望能劝说他凭借自己的信誉和资助重振旗鼓。

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illustrate /ˈɪləstreɪt/

v. 说明,阐明➕

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refrain /rɪˈfreɪn/

v. 克制,忍住➕

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intimate /ˈɪntɪmət/

adj. 亲密的,密切的➕

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flourishing /ˈflʌrɪʃɪŋ/

adj. 繁荣的,兴旺的➕

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mischances /ˈmɪstʃɑːnsɪz/

n. 不幸事件,厄运➕

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unbending /ʌnˈbendɪŋ/

adj. 不屈的,坚定的➕

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disposition /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃn/

n. 性情,性格➕

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oblivion /əˈblɪviən/

n. 遗忘,被遗忘➕

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magnificence /mæɡˈnɪfɪsns/

n. 华丽,壮丽➕

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wretchedness /ˈretʃɪdnəs/

n. 悲惨,不幸➕

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deplored /dɪˈplɔːd/

v. 哀叹,谴责➕

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endeavouring /ɪnˈdevərɪŋ/

v. 努力,尝试➕

🔊 Beaufort had taken effectual measures to conceal himself; and it was ten months before my father discovered his abode. Overjoyed at this discovery, he hastened to the house, which was situated in a mean street, near the Reuss. But when he entered, misery and despair alone welcomed him. Beaufort had saved but a very small sum of money from the wreck of his fortunes; but it was sufficient to provide him with sustenance for some months, and in the mean time he hoped to procure some respectable employment in a merchant’s house. The interval was, consequently, spent in inaction; his grief only became more deep and rankling, when he had leisure for reflection; and at length it took so fast hold of his mind, that at the end of three months he lay on a bed of sickness, incapable of any exertion.

博福特采取了有效措施隐匿行踪；父亲花了十个月才找到他的住处。得知此事后欣喜若狂,他匆忙赶赴那所位于罗伊斯河附近一条陋巷中的房子。但进门时,迎接他的唯有凄苦与绝望。博福特从家道败落中仅攒下一小笔钱；但这笔钱足以维持他几个月的生计,同时他希望能在一家商行谋个体面的职位。因此,这段间隙便在无所事事中度过；闲暇时反思,他的悲伤只会愈加深沉、刺痛；最终这悲伤牢牢攫住他的心志,三个月后他便卧病在床,无力从事任何劳作。

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effectual /ɪˈfektʃuəl/

adj. 有效的,奏效的➕

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conceal /kənˈsiːl/

v. 隐藏,隐瞒➕

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abode /əˈbəʊd/

n. 住所,住处➕

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hastened /ˈheɪsnd/

v. 匆忙,赶快➕

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wreck /rek/

n. 残骸,破坏➕

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sustenance /ˈsʌstənəns/

n. 生计,食物➕

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procure /prəˈkjʊə(r)/

v. 获得,取得➕

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respectable /rɪˈspektəbl/

adj. 可敬的,体面的➕

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inaction /ɪnˈækʃn/

n. 不活动,怠惰➕

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rankling /ˈræŋklɪŋ/

adj. 令人痛苦的,使人怨恨的➕

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exertion /ɪɡˈzɜːʃn/

n. 努力,尽力➕

🔊 His daughter attended him with the greatest tenderness; but she saw with despair that their little fund was rapidly decreasing, and that there was no other prospect of support. But Caroline Beaufort possessed a mind of an uncommon mould; and her courage rose to support her in her adversity. She procured plain work; she plaited straw; and by various means contrived to earn a pittance scarcely sufficient to support life.

他的女儿以极致的温柔照料着他；但她绝望地看到那微薄的积蓄迅速减少,且无其他生计指望。但卡罗琳·博福特禀赋非凡；逆境中,她的勇气油然而生,支撑着她。她接些简单的活计；编织草帽；通过各种方式勉强挣得些许糊口之资。

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tenderness /ˈtendənəs/

n. 温柔,亲切➕

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prospect /ˈprɒspekt/

n. 前景,可能性➕

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uncommon /ʌnˈkɒmən/

adj. 不寻常的,罕见的➕

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mould /məʊld/

n. 性格,类型（比喻）➕

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adversity /ədˈvɜːsəti/

n. 逆境,不幸➕

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plaited /ˈpleɪtɪd/

v. 编织（头发、稻草等）➕

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pittance /ˈpɪtns/

n. 微薄的收入,少量➕

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contrived /kənˈtraɪvd/

v. 设法做到,设计➕

🔊 Several months passed in this manner. Her father grew worse; her time was more entirely occupied in attending him; her means of subsistence decreased; and in the tenth month her father died in her arms, leaving her an orphan and a beggar. This last blow overcame her; and she knelt by Beaufort’s coffin, weeping bitterly, when my father entered the chamber. He came like a protecting spirit to the poor girl, who committed herself to his care; and after the interment of his friend, he conducted her to Geneva, and placed her under the protection of a relation. Two years after this event Caroline became his wife.

如此过了数月。她父亲的病情日益恶化；她的时间全用于照料他；生计来源减少；第十个月,父亲在她怀中去世,留下她孤苦伶仃、沦为乞丐。这最后一击击垮了她；当父亲走进房间时,她正跪在博福特的棺椁旁痛哭。他如同守护神般降临到这个可怜女孩身边,她将自己托付给他的照顾；安葬友人后,他带她前往日内瓦,将她安置在一位亲戚的庇护下。此事两年后,卡罗琳成了他的妻子。

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subsistence /səbˈsɪstəns/

n. 生存,生计➕

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interment /ɪnˈtɜːmənt/

n. 埋葬,安葬➕

🔊 There was a considerable difference between the ages of my parents, but this circumstance seemed to unite them only closer in bonds of devoted affection. There was a sense of justice in my father’s upright mind, which rendered it necessary that he should approve highly to love strongly. Perhaps during former years he had suffered from the late-discovered unworthiness of one beloved, and so was disposed to set a greater value on tried worth. There was a show of gratitude and worship in his attachment to my mother, differing wholly from the doating fondness of age, for it was inspired by reverence for her virtues, and a desire to be the means of, in some degree, recompensing her for the sorrows she had endured, but which gave inexpressible grace to his behaviour to her. Every thing was made to yield to her wishes and her convenience. He strove to shelter her, as a fair exotic is sheltered by the gardener, from every rougher wind, and to surround her with all that could tend to excite pleasurable emotion in her soft and benevolent mind. Her health, and even the tranquillity of her hitherto constant spirit, had been shaken by what she had gone through. During the two years that had elapsed previous to their marriage my father had gradually relinquished all his public functions; and immediately after their union they sought the pleasant climate of Italy, and the change of scene and interest attendant on a tour through that land of wonders, as a restorative for her weakened frame.

我父母年龄相差甚远,但这似乎仅让他们的恩爱纽带更为紧密。父亲正直的心中怀有公正感,这使他必须先高度认可方能深爱。或许早年他曾因迟发现所爱之人的不堪而受苦,因此更珍视经得起考验的品德。他对母亲的依恋中透着感激与崇敬,全然不同于年长者溺爱的柔情,因为这源于对她美德的敬仰,以及渴望在某种程度上补偿她所承受的悲伤,但这赋予了他对待她时难以言喻的优雅风度。一切皆顺从她的意愿与便利。他竭力庇护她,如同园丁呵护娇艳的异域花卉,使她免受任何凛冽寒风,并以一切能激发她温柔仁慈心中愉悦情感的事物环绕着她。她的健康,乃至她一贯平和的心境,都因过往经历而动摇。在他们婚前的两年里,父亲逐渐卸去了所有公职；结合后,他们立即前往意大利宜人的气候中,并通过游览那片奇迹之地的风景变换与新奇事物,作为她虚弱体质的调养。

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considerable /kənˈsɪdərəbl/

adj. 相当大的,重要的➕

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devoted /dɪˈvəʊtɪd/

adj. 献身的,忠诚的➕

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upright /ˈʌpraɪt/

adj. 正直的,诚实的➕

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unworthiness /ʌnˈwɜːðinəs/

n. 无价值,不配➕

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disposed /dɪˈspəʊzd/

adj. 倾向于,有意于➕

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attachment /əˈtætʃmənt/

n. 依附,情感➕

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reverence /ˈrevərəns/

n. 尊敬,崇敬➕

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recompensing /ˈrekəmpensɪŋ/

v. 补偿,报答➕

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inexpressible /ˌɪnɪkˈspresəbl/

adj. 难以形容的,无法表达的➕

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yield /jiːld/

v. 屈服,产生➕

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strove /strəʊv/

v. 努力,奋斗（strive的过去式）➕

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shelter /ˈʃeltə(r)/

v. 庇护,保护➕

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exotic /ɪɡˈzɒtɪk/

adj. 异国风情的,外来的➕

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tranquillity /træŋˈkwɪləti/

n. 平静,安宁➕

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elapsed /ɪˈlæpst/

v. 流逝,过去➕

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relinquished /rɪˈlɪŋkwɪʃt/

v. 放弃,让出➕

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restorative /rɪˈstɒrətɪv/

n. 恢复剂,恢复健康的东西➕

🔊 From Italy they visited Germany and France. I, their eldest child, was born at Naples, and as an infant accompanied them in their rambles. I remained for several years their only child. Much as they were attached to each other, they seemed to draw inexhaustible stores of affection from a very mine of love to bestow them upon me. My mother’s tender caresses, and my father’s smile of benevolent pleasure while regarding me, are my first recollections. I was their plaything and their idol, and something better-their child, the innocent and helpless creature bestowed on them by Heaven, whom to bring up to good, and whose future lot it was in their hands to direct to happiness or misery, according as they fulfilled their duties towards me. With this deep consciousness of what they owed towards the being to which they had given life, added to the active spirit of tenderness that animated both, it may be imagined that while during every hour of my infant life I received a lesson of patience, of charity, and of self-control, I was so guided by a silken cord, that all seemed but one train of enjoyment to me.

从意大利,他们游历了德国和法国。我,他们的长子,出生于那不勒斯,幼时便随他们四处漫游。多年间我一直是他们的独子。尽管他们彼此深爱,却仿佛从爱的矿藏中汲取无穷无尽的温情倾注于我。母亲温柔的抚爱,父亲凝视我时仁慈愉悦的微笑,是我最初的记忆。我是他们的玩偶与偶像,更是更宝贵的存在--他们的孩子,上天赐予的无辜无助生灵,他们需将我抚育成善,而未来的命运是喜是悲,全凭他们如何履行对我的职责。怀着对赋予生命之存在所负责任的深刻意识,加之两人皆焕发的积极柔情,可以想见,在我婴孩时期的每时每刻,我虽接受着耐心、慈善与自制的教诲,却被一根丝线轻柔引导,一切于我而言仿佛只是一连串的欢愉。

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rambles /ˈræmblz/

n. 漫步,闲逛➕

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inexhaustible /ˌɪnɪɡˈzɔːstəbl/

adj. 取之不尽的,用不完的➕

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caresses /kəˈresɪz/

n. 爱抚,抚摸➕

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bestowed /bɪˈstəʊd/

v. 授予,赐予➕

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animated /ˈænɪmeɪtɪd/

v. 使有生气,激励➕

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silken /ˈsɪlkən/

adj. 丝绸的,柔软的➕

🔊 For a long time I was their only care. My mother had much desired to have a daughter, but I continued their single offspring. When I was about five years old, while making an excursion beyond the frontiers of Italy, they passed a week on the shores of the Lake of Como. Their benevolent disposition often made them enter the cottages of the poor. This, to my mother, was more than a duty; it was a necessity, a passion,-remembering what she had suffered, and how she had been relieved,-for her to act in her turn the guardian angel to the afflicted. During one of their walks a poor cot in the foldings of a vale attracted their notice, as being singularly disconsolate, while the number of half-clothed children gathered about it, spoke of penury in its worst shape. One day, when my father had gone by himself to Milan, my mother, accompanied by me, visited this abode. She found a peasant and his wife, hard working, bent down by care and labour, distributing a scanty meal to five hungry babes. Among these there was one which attracted my mother far above all the rest. She appeared of a different stock. The four others were dark-eyed, hardy little vagrants; this child was thin, and very fair. Her hair was the brightest living gold, and, despite the poverty of her clothing, seemed to set a crown of distinction on her head. Her brow was clear and ample, her blue eyes cloudless, and her lips and the moulding of her face so expressive of sensibility and sweetness, that none could behold her without looking on her as of a distinct species, a being heaven-sent, and bearing a celestial stamp in all her features.

长久以来,我是他们唯一的牵挂。母亲极渴望有个女儿,但我始终是他们的独子。我约五岁时,在一次穿越意大利边境的远足中,他们在科莫湖畔度过了一周。他们仁慈的性情常促使他们造访穷人的茅舍。对母亲而言,这不止是责任；更是一种必需、一种激情--忆起自己曾受的苦难与所得的救助--轮到她扮演受苦者的守护天使。一次散步中,山谷褶皱间一座凄苦异常的破屋引起了他们的注意,屋周聚集着衣不蔽体的孩童,诉说着极致的贫困。一日,父亲独自前往米兰,母亲携我探访了这处住所。她见到一对农民夫妇,辛勤劳作,被忧虑与辛劳压弯了腰,正将一份微薄的餐食分给五个饥饿的幼儿。其中有一个孩子格外吸引母亲的目光。她似乎出身不同。其余四个是黑眼睛、结实的小流浪儿；这个孩子却瘦削异常、肌肤白皙。她的头发是最明亮的灿金,尽管衣衫褴褛,却仿佛头戴一顶彰显非凡的冠冕。她的额头光洁宽阔,蓝眸清澈无瑕,唇与脸型轮廓极富感性与甜美,令人一见便视她为异类,一位天赐之人,眉宇间皆带着神圣印记。

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offspring /ˈɒfsprɪŋ/

n. 后代,子女➕

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excursion /ɪkˈskɜːʃn/

n. 远足,短途旅行➕

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frontiers /ˈfrʌntɪəz/

n. 边界,前沿➕

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afflicted /əˈflɪktɪd/

adj. 受苦的,受折磨的➕

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cot /kɒt/

n. 小屋,简陋房屋➕

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foldings /ˈfəʊldɪŋz/

n. 折叠,褶皱➕

🔊

vale /veɪl/

n. 山谷,溪谷➕

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disconsolate /dɪsˈkɒnsələt/

adj. 郁郁不乐的,绝望的➕

🔊

penury /ˈpenjəri/

n. 贫困,贫穷➕

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scanty /ˈskænti/

adj. 不足的,贫乏的➕

🔊

stock /stɒk/

n. 血统,家族➕

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vagrants /ˈveɪɡrənts/

n. 流浪者,漂泊者➕

🔊

distinction /dɪˈstɪŋkʃn/

n. 区别,卓越➕

🔊

ample /ˈæmpl/

adj. 充足的,宽敞的➕

🔊

sensibility /ˌsensəˈbɪləti/

n. 敏感性,情感➕

🔊

celestial /səˈlestiəl/

adj. 天上的,神圣的➕

🔊 The peasant woman, perceiving that my mother fixed eyes of wonder and admiration on this lovely girl, eagerly communicated her history. She was not her child, but the daughter of a Milanese nobleman. Her mother was a German, and had died on giving her birth. The infant had been placed with these good people to nurse: they were better off then. They had not been long married, and their eldest child was but just born. The father of their charge was one of those Italians nursed in the memory of the antique glory of Italy,-one among the schiavi ognor frementi, who exerted himself to obtain the liberty of his country. He became the victim of its weakness. Whether he had died, or still lingered in the dungeons of Austria, was not known. His property was confiscated, his child became an orphan and a beggar. She continued with her foster parents, and bloomed in their rude abode, fairer than a garden rose among dark-leaved brambles.

农妇察觉母亲以惊奇赞赏的目光凝视这可爱的女孩,便急切地讲述了她的身世。她并非农妇亲生,而是一位米兰贵族的女儿。她的母亲是德国人,生下她时便去世了。这婴孩被托付给这些善良人家哺育:那时他们境况较好。他们新婚不久,长子刚刚出生。这孩子的父亲是那种缅怀意大利昔日荣光的意大利人--那些永不安分的奴隶中的一员,曾为祖国的自由奋斗。他成了国家弱小的牺牲品。不知他是已逝,还是仍在奥地利的地牢中苟延残喘。他的财产被没收,孩子沦为孤儿和乞丐。她继续与养父母生活,在他们粗陋的居所中绽放,比幽暗叶丛中的园玫瑰更为娇艳。

🔊

admiration /ˌædməˈreɪʃn/

n. 钦佩,赞赏➕

🔊

antique /ænˈtiːk/

adj. 古老的,古董的➕

🔊

lingered /ˈlɪŋɡəd/

v. 徘徊,逗留➕

🔊

dungeons /ˈdʌndʒənz/

n. 地牢,土牢➕

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confiscated /ˈkɒnfɪskeɪtɪd/

v. 没收,充公➕

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foster /ˈfɒstə(r)/

adj. foster,养育的,寄养的➕

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bloomed /bluːmd/

v. 开花,繁荣➕

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brambles /ˈbræmblz/

n. 荆棘,黑莓丛➕

🔊 When my father returned from Milan, he found playing with me in the hall of our villa, a child fairer than pictured cherub-a creature who seemed to shed radiance from her looks, and whose form and motions were lighter than the chamois of the hills. The apparition was soon explained. With his permission my mother prevailed on her rustic guardians to yield their charge to her. They were fond of the sweet orphan. Her presence had seemed a blessing to them; but it would be unfair to her to keep her in poverty and want, when Providence afforded her such powerful protection. They consulted their village priest, and the result was, that Elizabeth Lavenza became the inmate of my parents’ house-my more than sister-the beautiful and adored companion of all my occupations and my pleasures.

父亲从米兰归来时,发现别墅大厅里有个比画中天使更娇美的孩子正与我玩耍--这生灵面容仿佛散发着光辉,身形动作比山间的羚羊更轻盈。这奇景很快得到解释。经他允许,母亲说服了她的乡下监护人将孩子交托给她。他们疼爱这甜美的孤儿。她的存在对他们曾是福佑；但上天既赐予她如此有力的庇护,让她留在贫困匮乏中对她不公。他们咨询了村中牧师,结果伊丽莎白·拉文扎便成了我父母家中的一员--我胜似姐妹的伴侣,我所有学业与娱乐中美貌而受宠的同伴。

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cherub /ˈtʃerəb/

n. 小天使,可爱的孩子➕

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radiance /ˈreɪdiəns/

n. 光辉,光彩➕

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chamois /ˈʃæmwɑː/

n. 羚羊,麂皮➕

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apparition /ˌæpəˈrɪʃn/

n. 幽灵,幻影➕

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prevailed /prɪˈveɪld/

v. 说服,盛行➕

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rustic /ˈrʌstɪk/

adj. 乡村的,质朴的➕

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inmate /ˈɪnmeɪt/

n. 同居者,居民（尤指监狱或精神病院）➕

🔊 Every one loved Elizabeth. The passionate and almost reverential attachment with which all regarded her became, while I shared it, my pride and my delight. On the evening previous to her being brought to my home, my mother had said playfully, - "I have a pretty present for my Victor-to-morrow he shall have it." And when, on the morrow, she presented Elizabeth to me as her promised gift, I, with childish seriousness, interpreted her words literally, and looked upon Elizabeth as mine-mine to protect, love, and cherish. All praises bestowed on her, I received as made to a possession of my own. We called each other familiarly by the name of cousin. No word, no expression could body forth the kind of relation in which she stood to me-my more than sister, since till death she was to be mine only.

人人都爱伊丽莎白。所有人对她怀有的炽热近乎崇敬的依恋,在我分享这份情感时,成了我的骄傲与喜悦。在她被带到我家前夜,母亲曾戏言:“我给维克多备了份漂亮礼物--明天他就得到了。”次日,当她把伊丽莎白作为许诺的礼物呈给我时,我以孩童的认真字面理解了她的话,视伊丽莎白为我的--我的去保护、珍爱与呵护。给予她的所有赞美,我都当作是对我所属之物的赞誉。我们亲昵地以表兄妹相称。没有任何言辞能具象化她于我而言的关系--胜似姐妹,因为直至死亡她都只属于我。

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passionate /ˈpæʃənət/

adj. 热情的,热烈的➕

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reverential /ˌrevəˈrenʃl/

adj. 恭敬的,虔诚的➕

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body forth /ˈbɒdi fɔːθ/

v. phrase. 体现,使具体化➕

Chapter one (第一章)