牛津书虫系列《圣诞欢歌》Chapter1 附中英双语文本

“我肯定你对穷人同你的合伙人的态度一样好，”绅士微笑着说。
What was true was that Scrooge was just as mean as Marley，and Marley had been just as mean as Scrooge．
事实是斯克罗吉同马利一样的吝啬，马利在世时也曾和斯克罗吉一样吝啬。
‘At this happy time of year，Mr Scrooge，’the gentleman went on，taking up his pen，‘we should help poor people who have no food or clothes or homes．’
“在一年中这个幸福的日子里，斯克罗吉先生，”绅士拿起笔继续说，？我们应该帮助那些没有衣食和无家可归的穷人。”
‘Are there no prisons？’asked Scrooge coldly．
“没有看守所吗？”斯克罗吉冷冷地问。
‘Plenty of prisons，’said the gentleman．
“有很多看守所，”绅士说。
‘And the workhouses，where poor people can live and work？Are they still open？’
“还有可供穷人生活和工作的济贫院呢？它们还开着吗？”
‘Yes，they are，I'm sorry to say．’
“是的，它们开着，很抱歉。”
‘I'm happy to hear It，’said Scrooge．‘I thought，from what you said at first，that perhaps these useful places were closed，for some reason．’
“我很高兴听到这个，”斯克罗吉说。“听你最开始说的，我还以为这些能够提供帮助的地方由于某种原因都关掉了呢。”
‘But some of us feel，’replied the gentleman，‘that these places don't offer enough to poor people．We're hoping to give some meat and drink，and wood for a fire，to people who need all these things．This is a time when we should all be able to enjoy ourselves．How much will you give，sir？’
“但是我们有些人感到，”绅士回答说，“这些地方无法为穷人提供足够的东西。我们希望为那些需要帮助的人提供一些肉类，饮料和柴火。这个时候我们都应该能够过得开心。你能给多少，先生？”
‘Nothing！’scrooge replied．‘I don't have a merry Christmas myself，and I won't pay for other people to be merry．We all have to pay for prisons and workhouses—they cost enough．The poor will have to go there．’
“什么都不给！”斯克罗吉回答说。“我自己圣诞节都不快乐，所以我也不会花钱去让其他人快乐。我们都要付钱给看守所和济贫院——这笔开销够大的了。没钱的人应该去那儿。”
‘Many can't go there，and many prefer to die．’
“很多人不能去，还有很多人宁愿去死。”
‘If they prefer to die，why don't they die，then？There are too many people in the world，so it's a good thing if some of them die．All this is none of my business！It's enough for a man to understand his own business，and not to think about other people's．I'm a very busy man．Good afternoon，gentlemen！’
“如果他们宁愿死的话，他们为什么不去死呢？世界上的人太多了，所以如果有些人死了的话这倒是件好事。这些都与我无关！一个人能清楚他自己该做什么就够了，用不着去考虑别人的事。我很忙，再见，先生们！”
The gentlemen shook their heads a little sadly，and left the office．Scrooge went back to his work，feeling pleased with himself．
两位绅士难过地摇摇头，离开了办公室。斯克罗吉又重新开始工作，心中很得意。
Now the fog was at its thickest outside，and the cold was biting．Lights shone brightly from the shop windows．People were hurrying here and there—rich and poor alike－to buy what they needed for tomorrow's Christmas dinner．
现在外面的雾大得不能再大了，天气寒冷刺骨。商店的窗户闪烁出耀眼的光。人们匆忙地穿梭着——有钱人和穷人都一样——去采购他们明天圣诞晚餐所需要的东西。
At last it was time to close the office．Scrooge got up slowly from his desk．Bob was waiting for this moment，and he immediately put on his hat．
最后终于到了关门的时间了。斯克罗吉慢慢地从桌子后站起身。鲍勃等的就是这一刻，所以他立即戴上了帽子。
‘You'll want a holiday all day tomorrow，I suppose？’said Scrooge．
“我猜测你想明天一天都放假，是吗？”斯克罗吉问。
‘If you don't mind，sir．’
“先生，如果你不介意的话。”
‘I do mind．It's not fair．I have to pay you for a day's work when you don't do any work．’
“我确实介意，这不公平。你不做任何工作，我还得付你工钱。”
‘It's only once a year，sir，’said Bob politely．
“先生，一年就这么一次，”鲍勃礼貌地说。
‘That's no reason for robbing me every twenty-fifth of December！’said Scrooge，putting on his coat．‘But I suppose you must have it．Be here early next morning．’
“这也并不能成为每年的12月25五日你抢夺我钱财的理由！”斯克罗吉边说边穿上了大衣。“但我想这个节你必须得过。第二天早晨早点到。”