Through the open windows of the room came the rich scent of summer flowers. Lord Henry Wotton lay back in his chair and smoked his cigarette. Beyond the soft sounds of the garden he could just hear the noise of London.
透过开着的窗户,房间里充满夏季鲜花的芳香。亨利. 沃顿勋爵躺在他的躺椅上,抽着烟。除了花园里的风声,他只听见伦敦街头的喧闹声。
In the centre of the room there was a portrait of a very beautiful young man,and in front of it stood the artist himself, Basil Hallward.
房间的中央是一幅非常漂亮的年轻男子的画像,画像面前站着画家本人,巴兹尔.霍尔沃德。
'it's your best work, Basil, the best portrait that you've ever painted, 'said Lord Henry lazily.' you must send it to the best art gallery in London. '
“那是你最好的作品,巴兹尔,是你画过最好的画像。”亨利勋爵懒洋洋地说。“你一定要把他送到伦敦最好的艺术馆去。”
' No, 'Basil sail slowly ' No, I won't send it anywhere. '
“不”巴塞尔缓缓地说,“不,我不会把它送去任何一个地方。”
Lord Henry was surprised.' But my dear Basil, why not? 'he asked.' What strange people you artists are! You want to be famous, but then you're not happy when you are famous. It's bad when people talk about you-but it's much worse when they don't talk about you. '
亨利爵勋感到吃惊。“亲爱的巴兹尔,为什么不送去艺术馆呢?”他问。“你们画家是多么奇怪的人啊!你们想出名,但当真出名后又不高兴。人们谈论你们不好,但人们跟本不谈论你时情况会更糟。”
' I know you'll laugh at me, 'replied Basil ' but I can't exhibit the picture in an art gallery. I've put too much of myself into it. '
“我知道你会笑我”巴兹尔说,“但我不会把这幅画陈列在艺术馆里了。我已经画了太多我自己在那”
Lord Henry laughed.' Too much of yourself into it! You don't look like him at all. He has a fair and beautiful face. And you - well, you look intelligent, of course, but with your strong face and black hair, you not beautiful. '
亨利勋爵笑了笑。“放了太多你的画像在艺术馆,你与画中的他又不像。他有着一张白皙漂亮的面孔,可是你...你看着聪明伶俐,但你长着强健的面孔和黑色头发,你说不上漂亮。”
' You don't understand me,Harry, 'replied Basil. (Lord Henry' s friends always called him Harry.) 'of course I am not like him.' Basil continued. 'in fact, I prefer not to be beautiful. Dorian Gary' s beautiful face will perhaps bring him danger and trouble.
“'你不了解我,哈里”巴兹尔说,(亨利勋爵的朋友总喊他哈里)“当然,我不像他。”巴塞尔继续说“事实上,我宁愿不漂亮。多里安.格里漂亮的脸蛋也可能会给他带来危险和麻烦。”
' Dorian Gary? Is that his name? 'asked Lord Henry.
' yes. But I didn't want to tell you. '
' Why not? '
' Oh, I can't explain, 'said Basil.' When I like people a lot, I never tell their names to my other friends. I love secrets, that's all. '
“多里安.格雷?这是他的名字?”亨利勋爵问。
“是的,但我本不想告诉你。”
“为什么不告诉我?”
“哦,我说不太清。”巴兹尔说。“当我特别喜欢一个人时,从不会把他的名字告诉我其它的朋友,我喜欢留点秘密,就这原因。”
' Of course, 'agreed his friend.' Life is much more exciting when you have secrets. For example, I never know where my wife , and my wife never knows what I'm doing. When we meet - and we do meet sometimes - we tell each other crazy stories, and we pretend that they're true. '
“当然”他的朋友附和道,“当你心藏秘密时,生活才更有趣。就像,我从不知道我妻子在哪,她也不知道我在做什么。当我们碰面-有时我们的确碰面,我们就给对方说一些疯狂的事情,都装得好像这些故事是真的。”
' You pretend all the time, Harry, 'said Basil.' I think that you're probably a very good husband, but you like to hide your true feelings. '
“你一直都在装,哈里”巴兹尔说,“我觉得你是应该是个好丈夫,但你又喜欢掩饰你的真实感情。”
' Oh, don't be so serious, Basil, 'smiled Lord Henry .' Let's go into the garden. '
“哦,别这么严肃,巴兹尔。”亨利爵士笑着说。“我们去花园走走吧!”
PS:本书为牛津系列简易读物,作者是英国作家奥斯卡·王尔德。
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