Excerpt from Tom Jones, chapterⅣ

[There was previously] a quarrel between Master Blifil and Tom Jones, the consequence of which had been a bloody nose to the former；for though Master Blifil, not with standing he was the younger, was in size above the other's match, yet Tom was much his superior at the noble art of boxing.

Tom, however, cautiously avoided all engagements with that youth；for besides that Tommy Jones was an inoffensive lad amidst all his roguery1), and really loved Blifil, Mr. Thwackum being always the second of the latter, would have been sufficient to deter him.

But well says a certain author, No man is wise at all hours；it is therefore no wonder that a boy is not so. A difference arising at play between the two lads. Master Blifil called Tom a beggarly bastard. Upon which the latter, who was somewhat passionate in his disposition, immediately caused that phenomenon in the face of the former, which we have above remembered.

Master Blifil now, with his blood running from his nose, and the tears galloping after from his eyes, appeared before his uncle and the tremendous Thwackum. In which court an indictment2) of assault3), battery, and wounding, was instantly preferred against Tom；who in his excuse only pleaded the provocation, which was indeed all the matter that Master Blifil had omitted.

It is indeed possible that this circumstance might have escaped his memory；for, in his reply, he positively insisted, that he had made use of no such appellation；adding, "Heaven forbid such naughty words should ever come out of his mouth."

Tom, though against all form of law, rejoined in affirmance4) of the words. Up on which Master Blifil said, "It is no wonder. Those who will tell one fib, will hardly stick at another. If I had told my master such a wicked fib as you have done, I should be ashamed to show my face. "

"What fib, child?"cried Thwackum pretty eagerly.

"Why, he told you that nobody was with him a shooting when he killed the partridge；but he knows "（here he burst into a flood of tears）, "yes, he knows, for he confessed it to me, that Black George the gamekeeper was there. Nay, he said-yes you did-deny it if you can, that you would not have confessed the truth, though master had cut you to pieces. "

At this the fire flashed from Thwackum's eyes, and he cried out in triumph-"Oh. Ho. This is your mistaken notion of honour. This is the boy who was not to be whipped again." But Mr. Allworthy, with a more gentle aspect, turned towards the lad, and said, "Is this true, child？How came you to persist so obstinately in a falsehood?"

Tom said he scorned5) a lie as much as any one：but he thought his honour engaged him to act as he did；for he had promised the poor fellow to conceal6) him：which he thought himself farther obliged to, as the gamekeeper had begged him not to go into the gentleman's manor, and he had at last gone himself, in compliance with his persuasions. He said this was the whole truth of the matter, and he would take his oath of it；and concluded with very passionately begging Mr. Allworthy to have compassion on t he poor fellow's family, especially as he himself only had been guilty, and the other had been very difficulty prevailed7) on to do what he did. "Indeed, sir, "said he, "it could hardly be called a lie that I told；for the poor fellow was entirely innocent of the whole matter. I should have gone alone after the birds；nay, I did go at first, and he only followed me to prevent more mischief. Do, pray, sir, let me be punished；take my little horse away again；but pray, sir, forgive poor George. "

Mr. Allworthy hesitated a few moments, and then dismissed the boys, advising them to live more friendly and peaceably together.

英国小说之父菲尔丁

《汤姆琼斯》第4章节选

博利菲尔少爷（以前）曾和汤姆琼斯发生过争吵，结果，前者的鼻子被打出了血；只要不站起来，一看便知道博利菲尔少爷是两人中年纪小的那一个，即使他在个头上要比其他人大，但汤姆琼斯在拳击技巧却更加出色。

然而，汤姆谨慎地避免与那个小孩间的一切冲突；除去这类事，汤姆琼斯在他所有的恶劣行经中是一个不会造成伤害的少年，而且是真的喜欢博利菲尔，而且斯外科姆先生永远是向着后者的，他是有能力来阻止汤姆的。

但是，一个作家说得好，没有人在任何时候都是精明的；因此，并不奇怪，一个男孩也不尽如此。这两个少年在玩耍时，出现了分歧。博利菲尔少爷把汤姆称作是与乞丐一样的杂种。一听到这个，在性情中略微有点冲动倾向的后者就会立即在前者的脸部留下我们刚刚提到过的那个结果。

这时，鼻子血流不止、眼睛落泪如雨的博利菲尔少爷就会去找他的叔叔--魁梧的斯外科姆。在他那儿，对于汤姆不利的打人、暴打和致伤的控告都会立刻得到认可；而汤姆在其解释时只是提到被激怒的原因，而这些都未被博利菲尔少爷所提起。

确实有可能的是，他已经忘了这个情形；因为，在他的回答中，他肯定地坚持道，他根本没有用到这样的称呼；并补充说，"被上帝禁止的这些恶劣词语应该是会从他的嘴里蹦出！"

汤姆即使反对任何形式的法律，但还是要对这些词语进行证实。一听到他说这些，博利菲尔少爷就会说，"那不奇怪。那些撒一个谎的人会毫不迟疑地再撒第二个。如果我曾经向我的家人讲过如你所做的那种阴险的谎言的话，我会无脸见人的。"

"什么谎言，孩子？"斯外科姆先生很急切地叫道。

"哎呀，他告诉你，当他杀死那只山鹑的时候，没有人与他在射击现场；但是他心里清楚。"（说到这，他突然大哭起来），"当然，他心里清楚，因为他向我坦白过，猎场看守布莱克乔治就在那里。不仅如此，他说--是的，你是做了--如果可以的话你会否认的，即使主人把你撕碎，你原本也是不想坦白的。"

听到这些，斯外科姆的眼中闪烁着怒火，他威严地吼道--"噢！嗬！这就是你的错误荣誉观！这就是那个不想再挨抽的孩子吗？"但是，有着更温和一面的奥沃希先生转过身，对着这个少年说，"这是真的吗，孩子？你怎么能如此顽固地坚持谎言呢？"

汤姆说，他与任何人一样都是蔑视谎言的：但他认为，他的荣誉感使他按照他所做的那样去做；因为他曾经答应过那个可怜人，帮他保守秘密：他认为他自己更有责任去那么做，因为猎场看守曾经请求他不要进入主人的庄园，并且，他最后是在他的劝说下，自己一个人去的。他说，这就是事情的全部真相，并且，他可以为此立誓；他最后非常激动地恳求奥沃希先生对那个可怜人的一家网开一面，尤其是因为，有罪过的只是他自己，而其他人在劝阻他不要那么做上是存在很大困难的。"先生，的确，"他说，"我所说的不能称之为谎言；因为那个可怜人确实是与这件事毫无干系，我本应该自己一个人去追那些鸟的；不仅如此，我确实是先去的，而他只是阻止我不要再造成更多的不幸。恳请您，先生，让我受惩罚吧；把我的小马再次带走吧；但是，恳请您，先生，原谅可怜的乔治吧。"

奥沃希先生犹豫了一会儿，随后，让孩子们散去，劝告他们要更加友好、和平地彼此相待。

NOTE 注释：

1.roguery n. 捣蛋，淘气令人讨厌或恼人的行为

2. indictment n. 控告

3.assault n. 攻击, 袭击

4. battery n. 殴打

5. affirmance n. 断言, 确认

6. scorn vt. 轻蔑, 不屑做

7. conceal vt. 隐藏, 隐蔽, 隐瞒

8. prevail vi.（常与on, upon连用）劝说；说服
关键字:双语阅读
生词表: