有声读物

"Ladies and gentlemen, "he began, "when very poor and desperate for work, I came to Canterbury as assistant to this evil man Heep. I am sorry to say I was soon involved in all his wicked plans. I may be poor, but I can't accept his lies, his cheating, his bribes and all the rest of it. And so I've brought you here today, ladies and gentlemen, to hear me accuse Heep publicly! One, he has confused and lied to his partner so often that poor Mr Wickfield now thinks he has himself been dishonest. Two, he has sometimes copied Mr Wickfield's signature on to false documents and cheques. Three, for years he has been stealing large amounts of money from Mr Wickfield and the firm！"
“女士们，先生们，”他开始道，“由于贫穷，极需工作，我来到坎特伯雷城担任这个恶魔希普的助手。我很抱歉，我很快卷入了他全部的罪恶计划。我虽贫穷，可我不能忍受他的谎言、他的欺诈行为、他的贿赂和其他种种劣行。所以我今天把你们叫来。女士们，先生们，倾听我对希普的公开控诉！第一，他经常扰乱、迷惑他的合伙人，以至可怜的威克菲尔先生误以为是他自己不诚实。第二，他有时仿造威克菲尔的签字签写文件和支票。第三，几年来他一直盗用威克菲尔先生和事务所的大量现金！”
"You can never prove it！" cried Uriah wildly.
“你证明不了这一切！”尤赖亚疯狂地叫道。
"I have taken copies of all the necessary documents, "said Mr Micawber confidently, "while working as your clerk. And just to make sure, I've given them to Mr Traddles to keep safely. "
“我保留了所有重要文件的副本，”米考伯先生自信地说，“在作为你的职员而工作的时候。为确凿起见，我已把它们交由特拉德先生妥善保管。”
"Uriah, my dear boy, "cried his mother, sobbing bitterly, "tell them how humble you are！Say you didn't mean to hurt anyone! Say you're sorry, and arrange matters with these gentlemen！Do, dear boy！"
“尤赖亚，我亲爱的孩子，”他母亲痛哭道，“告诉他们你是多么卑谦恭顺！说你无意伤害任何人！说你很抱歉，愿意和先生们协调这些事！说，亲爱的孩子！”
"Mother, be quiet！"he whispered angrily. "Don't help my enemies！Copperfield here would have given you a hundred pounds to say what you've just said！"
“母亲，安静点！”他愤愤地低声说道，“不要帮助我的敌人们！科波菲尔情愿出价100英镑买你刚才一番话！”

妙语佳句

妙语佳句

bribe
vt. n. 贿赂，收买
An honest man is properly indignant at the offer of a bribe.
一个诚实的人对行贿理所当然感到愤慨。

arrange matters with
与……安排事宜
Take him upstairs, you two, and lock him up in his bedroom, while we arrange matters between ourselves.
你们俩，把他带上楼去，锁在卧室里，然后我们几个来商量个办法。

名著解析：创作生涯

狄更斯不仅是一位多产的写作者，也是一位积极的表演者。他把公众朗读会（public readings）化作两小时独角戏剧表演，而“速书”（prompt books/prompt copies）则是他为此所作的准备记录：在原作上划框，择要而出，省去枝蔓，偶尔添点新笑话——对这位天才的表演者，人物表情记号是不需要的。狄氏朗读／演剧会始于1853年12月，至其生命终了，十余年间行脚遍及大西洋两岸。“速书”是狄更斯为自己写的舞台说明（stage directions），为狄更斯研究和后来的衍生戏剧／影视创作提供了鲜活的参照。