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For the next eight or ten months, Oliver was the victim of a systematic course of treachery and deception. He was brought up by hand. The hungry and destitute situation of the infant orphan was duly reported by the workhouse authorities to the parish authorities. The parish authorities inquired with dignity of the workhouse authorities, whether there was no female then domiciled in "the house" who was in a situation to impart to Oliver Twist, the consolation and nourishment of which he stood in need. The workhouse authorities replied with humility, that there was not. Upon this, the parish authorities magnanimously and humanely resolved, that Oliver should be "farmed, " or, in other words, that he should be dispatched to a branch—workhouse some three miles off, where twenty or thirty other juvenile offenders against the poor—laws, rolled about the floor all day, without the inconvenience of too much food or too much clothing, under the parental superintendence of an elderly female, who received the culprits at and for the consideration of sevenpence—halfpenny per small head per week. Sevenpence—halfpenny's worth per week is a good round diet for a child; a great deal may be got for sevenpence—halfpenny, quite enough to overload its stomach, and make it uncomfortable. The elderly female was a woman of wisdom and experience; she knew what was good for children; and she had a very accurate perception of what was good for herself. So, she appropriated the greater part of the weekly stipend to her own use, and consigned the rising parochial generation to even a shorter allowance than was originally provided for them. Thereby finding in the lowest depth a deeper still; and proving herself a very great experimental philosopher.
在接下来的八个或十个月里，奥利弗成了一种有计划有步骤的背信与欺诈行为的牺牲品。他是用奶瓶喂大的。济贫院当局把这个孤儿饥饿穷困的情形正式报告给了教区当局。教区当局端着架子询问救济贫院当局，当下院内是否连一个可以给予奥利弗•特威斯特所急需的照料和营养的女人都没有。济贫院当局谦逊地回答说，没有。于是，教区当局做出一个宽宏大量、慈悲为怀的决定，奥利弗应该被寄养，或者换个说法，他要被打发到三英里外的一个济贫院分院去。那里有二三十个违犯了济贫法的少年犯成天满地打滚，他们没有吃得太饱或穿得太暖的麻烦，有一个老太太像父母那样管教他们。老太太接收这些小犯人，是考虑到每个小脑袋一周有七个半便士的补贴。一周七个半便士，对一个孩子来说，就是一周非常丰厚的伙食；七个半便士可以买很多东西了，完全足够把孩子的小肚皮撑得不舒服。老太太是个经验丰富的聪明人，她知道什么对孩子好，并且她非常清楚地知道什么对她自己有利。所以，她把每个星期孩子们的生活补贴的一大半都分给自己用，用在教区下一代身上的就甚至比本来规定的还要少。她凭此竟然在最深处发现还有更深处，证明了她自己是个非常伟大的实验哲学家。
Everybody knows the story of another experimental philosop her who had a great theory about a horse being able to live without eating, and who demonstrated it so well, that he had got his own horse down to a straw a day, and would unquestionably have rendered him a very spirited and rampacious animal on nothing at all, if he had not died, four—and—twenty hours before he was to have had his first comfortable bait of air. Unfortunately for, the experimental philosophy of the female to whose protecting care Oliver Twist was delivered over, a similar result usually attended the operation of her system; for at the very moment when the child had contrived to exist upon the smallest possible portion of the weakest possible food, it did perversely happen in eight and a half cases out of ten, either that it sickened from want and cold, or fell into the fire from neglect, or got half—smothered by accident; in any one of which cases, the miserable little being was usually summoned into another world, and there gathered to the fathers it had never known in this.
大家都知道另一个实验哲学家的故事，他有一套马不吃草也能活的伟大理论，并且十分出色地亲身验证了这一理论，他把自己的马的饲料减到一天一根稻草。毫无疑问，要不是这匹马在即将获得第一份美味的空气饲料的二十四小时前就死了的话，他早就养出一匹什么东西也不用吃的英勇烈马了。不幸的是，受委托保护照料奥利弗•特威斯特的这位女士的实验哲学，她那套制度实施起来也总产生相似的结果。每当孩子试图靠着最小份、最劣质的食物生存下来的时候，十个里有八个半还是会发生这种事，不是因为饥饿和寒冷病倒，就是因为疏忽掉进了火炉，或是因为意外而差点窒息，只要是其中任意一种情形，可怜的小东西通常就会被召唤到另一个世界去，在那里和他们此生从未见过的先祖相聚。
Occasionally, when there was some more than usually interesting inquest upon a parish child who had been overlooked in turning up a bedstead, or inadvertently scalded to death when there happened to be a washing—though the latter accident was very scarce, anything approaching to a washing being of rare occurrence in the farm—the jury would take it into their heads to ask troublesome questions, or the parishioners would rebelliously affix their signatures to a remonstrance. But these impertinences were speedily checked by the evidence of the surgeon, and the testimony of the beadle; the former of whom had always opened the body and found nothing inside (which was very probable indeed), and the latter of whom invariably swore whatever the parish wanted; which was very self—devotional. Besides, the board made periodical pilgrimages to the farm, and always sent the beadle the day before, to say they were going. The children were neat and clean to behold, when they went; and what more would the people have!
偶尔会有关于教区孩子的非常有趣的审讯，翻床架的时候没注意到那里面还有个孩子，或是恰好在有清洗的时候不小心烫死一个孩子——尽管后面这种事故很罕见，在寄养所清洗这类事情是非常稀少的——陪审团会心血来潮地问一些麻烦的问题，不然就是教区居民公开反抗，签名抗议。但是这些鲁莽的行为会被外科医生的证据和教区执事的证词迅速击退，前者总是剖开尸体，发现里面什么也没有（这其实是非常有可能的），而后者总是教区让他们发什么誓，他们就发什么誓，誓言非常具有献身精神。另外，管理委员会定期拜访寄养所，并且总是在前一天派来教区执事，说他们要来了。当他们去的时候，孩子们看起来清洁干净，人们还想要怎么样呢！
It cannot be expected that this system of farming would produce any very extraordinary or luxuriant crop. Oliver Twist's ninth birthday found him a pale thin child, somewhat diminutive in stature, and decidedly small in circumference. But nature or inheritance had implanted a good sturdy spirit in Oliver's breast. It had had plenty of room to expand, thanks to the spare diet of the establishment; and perhaps to this circumstance may be attributed his having any ninth birth—day at all. Be this as it may, however, it was his ninth birthday; and he was keeping it in the coal—cellar with a select party of two other young gentleman, who, after participating with him in a sound thrashing, had been locked up for atrociously presuming to be hungry, when Mrs. Mann, the good lady of the house, was unexpectedly startled by the apparition of Mr. Bumble, the beadle, striving to undo the wicket of the garden—gate.
不能指望这种寄养体制能产出什么特别的或是丰硕的成果。奥利弗•特威斯特九岁生日的时候，是个苍白瘦弱的孩子，身量有些小，腰也实在太细。但是造化或遗传已经在奥利弗的心中植入了顽强的精神。多亏了寄养所里贫乏的伙食，这种精神才能有广阔的发展空间；或许正是因为在这种环境中成长，他好歹还活到了第九个生日。然而，不论是不是这样，今天是他的九岁生日，他正在放煤的地窖里和另外两个精心挑选出的同伴一起庆祝生日。那两位年轻的绅士和他一样十恶不赦，居然放肆地喊饿，他们三个在挨了一顿结结实实的好打之后，被关了起来。这时，寄养所的好妈妈曼太太，被教区执事邦布尔先生出人意料的出现吓了一跳，他正在努力打开花园大门上的小门。
"Goodness gracious! Is that you, Mr. Bumble, sir? " said Mrs. Mann, thrusting her head out of the window in well—affected ecstasies of joy. (Susan, take Oliver and them two brats upstairs, and wash 'em directly. ) —My heart alive! Mr. Bumble, how glad I am to see you, sure—ly!
神啊！是你吗，邦布尔先生？曼太太说，她把头伸出窗外，恰如其分地装出了一副欣喜若狂的表情，（苏珊，把奥利弗和那两个兔崽子带上楼去，赶快把他们洗干净。）——我的天哪！邦布尔先生，见到你我真是太高兴啦，真的！
Now, Mr. Bumble was a fat man, and a choleric; so, instead of responding to this open—hearted salutation in a kindred spirit, he gave the little wicket a tremendous shake, and then bestowed upon it a kick which could have emanated from no leg but a beadle's.
这不，邦布尔先生是个脾气暴躁的胖子，所以，他没有用相同的态度回应这热情的问候，而是猛地晃了一下小门，然后又踹了它一脚，除了教区执事，谁也踢不出这样一脚。
"Lor, only think, " said Mrs. Mann, running out, —for the three boys had been removed by this time, — "only think of that! That I should have forgotten that the gate was bolted on the inside, on account of them dear children! Walk in sir; walk in, pray, Mr. Bumble, do, sir. "
主啊，想想看，曼太太说着，跑了出来——这段时间里三个孩子已经被带走了——想想看！我竟然忘了这门是从里面闩上的，这都是因为那些可爱的孩子们！进来吧，先生，快请进，邦布尔先生，来吧，先生。
Although this invitation was accompanied with a curtsey that might have softened the heart of a church—warden, it by no means mollified the beadle.
尽管这邀请伴着一个可能会让教区委员都心软的屈膝礼，却压根不能平息这位教区执事的不快。
"Do you think this respectful or proper conduct, Mrs. Mann, " inquired Mr. Bumble, grasping his cane, "to keep the parish officers a—waiting at your garden—gate, when they come here upon porochial business with the porochial orphans? Are you aware, Mrs. Mann, that you are, as I may say, a porochial delegate, and a stipendiary?
曼太太，你觉得这种行为礼貌吗？正当吗？邦布尔先生握紧手杖，问道，教区官员为了教区孤儿的公务到这里来，你却让他们在你的花园门口一直等？你知不知道，曼太太，你是——要是我能这么说——教区委派的代表，而且是领着薪水的？
"I 'm sure Mr. Bumble, that I was only a telling one or two of the dear children as is so fond of you, that it was you a—coming, " replied Mrs. Mann with great humility.
我能肯定，邦布尔先生，我只是在告诉一两个特别喜欢你的可爱孩子，说你来了。曼太太无比谦卑地回答。
Mr. Bumble had a great idea of his oratorical powers and his importance. He had displayed the one, and vindicated the other. He relaxed.
邦布尔先生非常看好自己的口才和身价。他已经展示了口才，又证明了自己的身价。他放松了下来。
"Well, well, Mrs. Mann, " he replied in a calmer tone; "it may be as you say; it may be. Lead the way in, Mrs. Mann, for I come on business, and have something to say. "
好了，好了，曼太太，他用较为缓和的语气回答说，可能真像你说的那样，这有可能。带我进去吧，曼太太，因为我公务在身，有话要说。
Mrs. Mann ushered the beadle into a small parlour with a brick floor; placed a seat for him; and officiously deposited his cocked hat and cane on the table before him. Mr. Bumble wiped from his forehead the perspiration which his walk had engendered, glanced complacently at the cocked hat, and smiled. Yes, he smiled. Beadles are but men: and Mr. Bumble smiled.
曼太太领着教区执事进了一间地面铺砖的小会客室，安排他坐下，又过分殷勤地把他的三角帽和手杖放在他面前的桌上。邦布尔先生擦掉额头上因为赶路而流的汗，沾沾自喜地扫了一眼三角帽，微笑起来。是的，他微笑了。教区执事也是人：邦布尔先生笑了。
"Now don't you be offended at what I 'm a going to say, " observed Mrs. Mann, with captivating sweetness. You've had a long walk, you know, or I wouldn't mention it. Now, will you take a little drop of somethink, Mr. Bumble?
那么你不会因为我要说的话生气吧？曼太太用迷人的甜蜜语气说，你走了这么远的路，你知道，否则我不会这么提议的。那么，你要不要先喝一小口，邦布尔先生？
"Not a drop. Nor a drop, " said Mr. Bumble, waving his right hand in a dignified, but placid manner.
一口也不。一口也不。邦布尔先生说着，以一种威严却又平易近人的风度摆着右手。
"I think you will, " said Mrs. Mann, who had noticed the tone of the refusal, and the gesture that had accompanied it. "Just a leetle drop, with a little cold water, and a lump of sugar. "
我想你会的。曼太太注意到他拒绝的语气以及与之相伴的手势，说道，只是一小口，加一点凉水，再放一块糖。
Mr. Bumble coughed.
邦布尔先生咳嗽了一下。
"Now, just a leetle drop, " said Mrs. Mann persuasively.
这样，就喝一小口吧。曼太太劝道。
"What is it? " inquired the beadle.
是什么酒？教区执事问。
"Why, it's what I 'm obliged to keep a little of in the house, to put into the blessed infants' Daffy when they ain't well, Mr. Bumble, " replied Mrs. Mann as she opened a corner cupboard, and took down a bottle and glass. It's gin. I'll not deceive you, Mr. B. it's gin.
哎呀，我总得在屋里备上一点这东西呀，这些上帝保佑的孩子们不舒服的时候，就掺进他们的达菲糖浆里，邦布尔先生。曼太太说着，打开一个墙角里的小橱柜，拿下来一瓶酒和一只玻璃杯。是杜松子酒。我不骗你，邦先生。是杜松子酒。
"Do you give the children Daffy, Mrs. Mann? " inquired Bumble, following with his eyes the interesting process of mixing.
你给孩子们喝达菲糖浆吗，曼太太？邦布尔问，眼睛紧盯着有趣的调酒过程。
"Ah, bless' em, that I do, dear as it is, " replied the nurse. "I couldn't see 'em suffer before my very eyes, you know sir.
啊，上帝保佑他们，我是那样做的，尽管很贵。保育员回答道，我不能看着他们在我眼前受罪，你知道的，先生。
"No"; said Mr. Bumble approvingly; "no, you could not. You are a humane woman, Mrs. Mann. "
是啊，邦布尔先生赞许地说，是的，你不能那样。你是个好心的女人，曼太太。
(Here she set down the glass. ) "I shall take a early opportunity of mentioning it to the board, Mrs. Mann. "
（这时她放下了杯子。）我会尽快找个机会向委员会提到这一点，曼太太。
(He drew it towards him. ) "You feel as a mother, Mrs. Mann. " (He stirred the gin and water. ) "I—I drink your health with cheerfulness, Mrs. Mann; and he swallowed half of it.
（他把杯子移向自己。）你给人的感觉就像母亲一样，曼太太。（他搅动着掺了水的杜松子酒。）我——我非常高兴为你的健康喝下这一杯，曼太太。他一口吞下半杯酒。
"And now about business, " said the beadle, taking out a leathern pocket—book. "The child that was half—baptized Oliver Twist, is nine year old to—day.
现在谈谈正事吧，教区执事说着，取出一个皮制小本，那个只受了一半洗礼的孩子奥利弗•特威斯特，今天九岁了。
"Bless him! " interposed Mrs. Mann, inflaming her left eye with the corner of her apron.
上帝保佑他！曼太太插嘴说，一边用围裙角擦着左眼。
"And notwithstanding a offered reward of ten pound, which was afterwards increased to twenty pound. Notwithstanding the most superlative, and, I may say, supernat 'ral exertions on the part of this parish, " said Bumble, we have never been able to discover who is his father, or what was his mother's settlement, name, or condition.
尽管有十镑的悬赏，后来还增加到二十镑，尽管教区方面尽了最大努力，我该说，是超常的最大努力，邦布尔说，我们始终没能找到他的父亲是谁，或者他母亲的住址、姓名或是社会地位。
Mrs. Mann raised her hands in astonishment; but added, after a moment's reflection, "How comes he to have any name at all, then? "
曼太太惊讶地举起双手，在沉思了一阵后补充道：那他的名字到底是怎么来的？
The beadle drew himself up with great pride, and said, "I inwented it. "
教区执事非常神气地挺直身体，说：是我起的。
"You, Mr. Bumble! "
是你，邦布尔先生！
"I, Mrs. Mann. We name our fondlings in alphabetical order. The last was a S, —Swubble, I named him. This was a T, —Twist, I named him. The next one comes will be Unwin, and the next Vilkins. I have got names ready made to the end of the alphabet, and all the way through it again, when we come to Z.
是我，曼太太。我们按着字母表的顺序给我们宠爱着的孩子们取名。上一个是S——斯瓦布尔，我给他取的。这个孩子是T——特威斯特，我这么叫他。下一个来的就要叫昂温，再下一个叫维尔金斯。我已经把名字取到字母表的末尾了，当我们取到Z的时候，就全部从头再来一遍。
"Why, you're quite a literary character, sir! " said Mrs. Mann.
哎呀，你可真是位文学家，先生！曼太太说。
"Well, well, " said the beadle, evidently gratified with the compliment; "perhaps I may be. Perhaps I may be, Mrs. Mann. " He finished the gin and water, and added, "Oliver being now too old to remain here, the board have determined to have him back into the house. I have come out myself to take him there. So let me see him at once. "
哪里，哪里，教区执事显然对这种恭维很满意，或许我算是吧。或许我算是，曼太太。他喝完了掺水的杜松子酒，又说：奥利弗现在太大了，不适合呆在这里了，委员会已经决定让他回济贫院。我亲自出来带他过去。所以立刻叫他来见我。
"I'll fetch him directly, " said Mrs. Mann, leaving the room for that purpose. Oliver, having had by this time as much of the outer coat of dirt which encrusted his face and hands, removed, as could be scrubbed off in one washing, was led into the room by his benevolent protectress.
我马上把他带来。曼太太说着，离开了房间去叫奥利弗。这时，奥利弗脸上手上的一层泥壳已经擦掉了，一次清洗也就能擦掉这么多，他被他仁慈的女保护人领进了房间。
"Make a bow to the gentleman, Oliver, " said Mrs. Mann.
向这位绅士鞠躬，奥利弗。曼太太说。
Oliver made a bow, which was divided between the beadle on the chair, and the cocked hat on the table.
奥利弗鞠了个躬，一半对着椅子上坐着的教区执事，一半对着桌子上放着的三角帽。
"Will you go along with me, Oliver? " said Mr. Bumble, in a majestic voice.
你愿意跟我一起走吗，奥利弗？邦布尔先生用庄严的声音说。
Oliver was about to say that he would go along with anybody with great readiness, when, glancing upward, he caught sight of Mrs. Mann, who had got behind the beadle's chair, and was shaking her fist at him with a furious countenance. He took the hint at once, for the fist had been too often impressed upon his body not to be deeply impressed upon his recollection.
奥利弗本想说他早就准备好跟任何人走了，这时他往上一看，看见曼太太站在教区执事的椅子后面，正一脸愤怒地向自己挥着拳头。他立刻理解了这个暗示，因为这拳头在他身上打下过太多印记，不可能不在他的记忆里留下深刻印象。
"Will she go with me? " inquired poor Oliver.
她会和我一起走吗？可怜的奥利弗问道。
"No, she can't, " replied Mr. Bumble. "But she'll come and see you sometimes.
不，她不能，邦布尔先生回答说，但是她会不时地来看看你。
This was no very great consolation to the child. Young as he was, however, he had sense enough to make a feint of feeling great regret at going away. It was no very difficult matter for the boy to call tears into his eyes. Hunger and recent ill—usage are great assistants if you want to cry; and Oliver cried very naturally indeed. Mrs. Mann gave him a thousand embraces, and what Oliver wanted a great deal more, a piece of bread and butter, less he should seem too hungry when he got to the workhouse. With the slice of bread in his hand, and the little brown—cloth parish cap on his head, Oliver was then led away by Mr. Bumble from the wretched home where one kind word or look had never lighted the gloom of his infant years. And yet he burst into an agony of childish grief, as the cottage—gate closed after him. Wretched as were the little companions in misery he was leaving behind, they were the only friends he had ever known; and a sense of his loneliness in the great wide world, sank into the child's heart for the first time.
这对孩子来说可不算是一大安慰。虽然他还小，但是他已经能够装出特别不愿离开的样子。对这个男孩来说，流点眼泪并不是太难的事。如果想哭，饥饿和最近遭受的虐待是最好的帮手，事实上奥利弗哭得非常自然。曼太太拥抱了他无数次，还给了他一块黄油面包，这是奥利弗更想要的，这样他到济贫院的时候便不会显得太饿。奥利弗手上拿着面包片，头上戴着教区的褐色小布帽，当下被邦布尔先生领着离开了这个悲惨的家，在这里，从来没有过一句温言善语或是一道亲切的目光，曾照亮他幼年的阴暗时光。尽管如此，当村舍大门在他身后合上的时候，他还是生出一阵孩子气的苦恼忧伤。他抛在身后的那些生活在苦难中的小伙伴们，尽管他们很淘气，却是他结识的仅有的朋友，这个孩子的心里第一次生出一种身处大千世界的孤独感。
Mr. Bumble walked on with long strides; little Oliver, firmly grasping his gold—laced cuff, trotted beside him, inquiring at the end of every quarter of a mile whether they were "nearly there. "
邦布尔先生继续大步前进，小奥利弗紧紧抓住他绣了金色蕾丝的袖口，在他旁边一路小跑，每走完四分之一里路就问，他们是否就要到了。
To these interrogations Mr. Bumble returned very brief and snappish replies; for the temporary blandness which gin and water awakens in some bosoms had by this time evaporated; and he was once again a beadle.
对这些问题，邦布尔先生没好气地给出了十分简短的回答，掺水的杜松子酒在他内心唤醒的一时温柔此时早已蒸发了，他又成为了一位教区执事。
Oliver had not been within the walls of the workhouse a quarter of an hour, and had scarcely completed the demolition of a second slice of bread, when Mr. Bumble, who had handed him over to the care of an old woman, returned; and, telling him it was a board night, informed him that the board had said he was to appear before it forthwith.
奥利弗进入济贫院还不到一刻钟，几乎还没啃完第二片面包，把他交给一个老太太照看的邦布尔先生就回来了，并且告诉他今晚委员会开会，委员们要奥利弗立刻去见他们。
Not having a very clearly defined notion of what a live board was, Oliver was rather astounded by this intelligence, and was not quite certain whether he ought to laugh or cry. He had no time to think about the matter, however; for Mr. Bumble gave him a tap on the head, with his cane, to wake him up: and another on the back to make him lively: and bidding him to follow, conducted him into a large white—washed room, where eight or ten fat gentlemen were sitting round a table. At the top of the table, seated in an arm—chair rather higher than the rest, was a particularly fat gentleman with a very round, red face.
奥利弗还没太搞清楚活着的木板是个什么概念（注：英文原文中board既有委员会之意，又有木板之意），对这个消息相当震惊，并且不是很确定他是该笑还是该哭。然而，他没有时间去考虑这事了，因为邦布尔先生用手杖在他脑门上敲了一下，让他回过神来，又在他背上来了一下，让他精神饱满：然后命令他跟上，把他领进了一个刷成白色的大房间，里面有八到十个胖胖的绅士围桌而坐。在桌子上首，有一把比其他椅子都高的扶手椅，上面坐着一位特别胖的绅士，脸又大又圆，面色十分红润。
"Bow to the board, " said Bumble. Oliver brushed away two or three tears that were lingering in his eyes; and seeing no board but the table, fortunately bowed to that.
向委员们鞠躬。邦布尔说。奥利弗擦掉两三滴在眼中逗留的泪水，看见没有木板只有桌子，幸运地朝它鞠了一躬。
"What's your name, boy? " said the gentleman in the high chair.
孩子，你叫什么名字？坐在高椅子上的绅士问道。
Oliver was frightened at the sight of so many gentlemen, which made him tremble: and the beadle gave him another tap behind, which made him cry. These two causes made him answer in a very low and hesitating voice; whereupon a gentleman in a white waistcoat said he was a fool, which was a capital way of raising his spirits, and putting him quite at his ease.
奥利弗一看有这么多位绅士，吓得要命，浑身发抖；教区执事在他身后又敲了一下，把他弄哭了。这两个原因使他用一种很低很犹豫的声音回答了问题，于是一位穿白背心的绅士断定他是个傻子；对别人评头论足是这位绅士提神、放松的重要手段。
"Boy, " said the gentleman in the high chair, "listen to me. You know you're an orphan, I suppose?
孩子，高椅子上的绅士说道，听我说。我想，你知道自己是个孤儿吧？
"What's that, sir? " inquired poor Oliver.
那是什么，先生？可怜的奥利弗问。
"The boy is a fool—I thought he was, " said the gentleman in the white waistcoat.
这个男孩是个傻瓜——我原先就这么想。穿白背心的绅士说。
"Hush! " said the gentleman who had spoken first. "You know you've got no father or mother, and that you were brought up by the parish, don't you?
安静！最先说话的绅士开口说，你知道你无父无母，是被教区养大的，是吧？
"Yes, sir, " replied Oliver, weeping bitterly.
是的，先生。奥利弗一边回答，一边痛苦地落泪。
"What are you crying for? " inquired the gentleman in the white waistcoat. And to be sure it was very extraordinary. What could the boy be crying for?
你为什么哭？穿白背心的绅士问道。这确实很不平常。这孩子有什么好哭的？
"I hope you say your prayers every night, " said another gentleman in a gruff voice; "and pray for the people who feed you, and take care of you—like a Christian.
我希望你每天晚上都能祷告，另一个嗓音粗哑的绅士说，为养育你、照料你的人祈祷——要像个基督徒。
"Yes, sir, " stammered the boy. The gentleman who spoke last was unconsciously right. It would have been very like a Christian, and a marvellously good Christian too, if Oliver had prayed for the people who fed and took care of him. But he hadn't, because nobody had taught him.
是的，先生。男孩结结巴巴地说。最后说话的这位绅士无意中说对了。如果奥利弗为养育和照料他的人祈祷过的话，他早就会很像是一个基督徒了，并且是个优秀杰出的基督徒。但是他没有，因为没有人教过他。
"Well! You have come here to be educated, and taught a useful trade, " said the red—faced gentleman in the high chair.
好吧！你到这里是来受教育的，是来学一门有用的手艺的。高椅子上的红脸绅士说。
"So you'll begin to pick oakum to—morrow morning at six o'clock, " added the surly one in the white waistcoat.
所以你从明早六点开始拣麻絮。穿白背心的绅士板着脸补充道。
For the combination of both these blessings in the one simple process of picking oakum, Oliver bowed low by the direction of the beadle, and was then hurried away to a large ward; where, on a rough, hard bed, he sobbed himself to sleep. What a novel illustration of the tender laws of England! They let the paupers go to sleep!
为了感谢他们把这两大幸事通过拣麻絮这么一个简单的步骤合二为一，奥利弗在教区执事的指导下深深鞠了一躬，然后匆匆离开，来到一间大收容室，他躺在那里面的一张凸凹不平的硬床上呜咽着睡着了。这是对英国宽厚仁慈的律法多么精彩的写照啊！他们允许贫民们睡觉！
Poor Oliver! He little thought, as he lay sleeping in happy unconsciousness of all around him, that the board had that very day arrived at a decision which would exercise the most material influence over all his future fortunes. But they had. And this was it: The members of this board were very sage, deep, philosophical men; and when they came to turn their attention to the workhouse, they found out at once, what ordinary folks would never have discovered—the poor people liked it! It was a regular place of public entertainment for the poorer classes; a tavern where there was nothing to pay; a public breakfast, dinner, tea, and supper all the year round; a brick and mortar elysium, where it was all play and no work. "Oho! " said the board, looking very knowing; "we are the fellows to set this to rights; we'll stop it all, in no time. So, they established the rule, that all poor people should have the alternative (for they would compel nobody, not they), of being starved by a gradual process in the house, or by a quick one out of it. With this view, they contracted with the water—works to lay on an unlimited supply of water; and with a corn—factor to supply periodically small quantities of oatmeal; and issued three meals of thin gruel a day, with an onion twice a week, and half a roll of Sundays. They made a great many other wise and humane regulations, having reference to the ladies, which it is not necessary to repeat; kindly undertook to divorce poor married people, in consequence of the great expense of a suit in Doctors' Commons; and, instead of compelling a man to support his family, as they had theretofore done, took his family away from him, and made him a bachelor! There is no saying how many applicants for relief, under these last two heads, might have started up in all classes of society, if it had not been coupled with the workhouse; but the board were long—headed men, and had provided for this difficulty. The relief was inseparable from the workhouse and the gruel; and that frightened people.
可怜的奥利弗！他哪里想得到，在他对周遭的一切毫无所知地幸福睡下时，委员会就在这天做了一个决定，这个决定会对他未来的命运产生最实质的影响。他们决定了。这个决定是这样的：委员会的成员都是非常贤明而有深度的哲人，而当他们将注意力转到济贫院上的时候，他们立刻发现了一个普通人发现不了的事情——穷人们喜欢救济院！对于比较贫困的阶级，它是个合格的公共娱乐场所，一个不用付钱的旅馆，一个常年为公众提供三餐和茶点的地方，一个砖和泥建成的极乐世界，这里只用享乐，不用工作。哎哟！看上去非常了解情况的委员们说，我们是纠正这种情况的同道之人，我们将立刻彻底结束它。所以，他们制定了规则，即所有穷人都该有选择余地（因为他们不会强迫任何人，不会的），要么在济贫院里按部就班地饿死，要么出去马上饿死。怀着这个目的，他们和水厂签订了无限制供水的合同，又和一个粮商协定，让其按期提供少量的麦片；每日分发三顿薄粥，一周发放两次洋葱，礼拜日发半个面包卷。他们还制定了很多其他的英明仁慈的规章，它们涉及到妇女，没有必要在此复述。他们好心地着手拆散贫穷的夫妇，因为伦敦民事律师公会处理一项诉讼的费用太贵了。他们不再强迫男人像以前那样养家，而是把他的家人带走，让他变成单身汉！如果不是和济贫院联系在一起，单看最后这两条，很难说社会各阶层会有多少人来申请救济。但是委员们都很睿智，早已为应付这一难题做好了准备。救济与济贫院和稀粥密不可分，这把人吓坏了。
For the first six months after Oliver Twist was removed, the system was in full operation. It was rather expensive at first, in consequence of the increase in the undertaker's bill, and the necessity of taking in the clothes of all the paupers, which fluttered loosely on their wasted, shrunken forms, after a week or two's gruel. But the number of workhouse inmates got thin as well as the paupers; and the board were in ecstasies.
在奥利弗•特威斯特被带回来的头六个月里，这种体制完全实施了起来。最初花费很大，因为殡葬承办人开的账单有所增加，而且必须把所有穷人的衣服都改小，在喝了一两周稀粥后，他们的衣服都变得松松垮垮，在他们日渐消瘦的身上飘动。但是济贫院居民的人数和贫民一样变少了，委员会欣喜若狂。
The room in which the boys were fed, was a large stone hall, with a copper at one end: out of which the master, dressed in an apron for the purpose, and assisted by one or two women, ladled the gruel at mealtimes. Of this festive composition each boy had one porringer, and no more—except on occasions of great public rejoicing, when he had two ounces and a quarter of bread besides.
孩子们吃饭的房间是一个宽敞的石头大厅，在一侧放了一口铜锅；到了开饭的时候，师傅就特地穿上围裙，在一两个女人的帮助下，从锅里舀出稀粥。在这种节日似的规格下，一个孩子一碗粥，没有多的——除非在重大公众节庆的时候，他才能在此之外再得到二又四分之一盎司面包。
The bowls never wanted washing. The boys polished them with their spoons till they shone again; and when they had performed this operation (which never took very long, the spoons being nearly as large as the bowls), they would sit staring at the copper, with such eager eyes, as if they could have devoured the very bricks of which it was composed; employing themselves, meanwhile, in sucking their fingers most assiduously, with the view of catching up any stray splashes of gruel that might have been cast thereon. Boys have generally excellent appetites. Oliver Twist and his companions suffered the tortures of slow starvation for three months: at last they got so voracious and wild with hunger, that one boy, who was tall for his age, and hadn't been used to that sort of thing (for his father had kept a small cook—shop), hinted darkly to his companions, that unless he had another basin of gruel per diem, he was afraid he might some night happen to eat the boy who slept next him, who happened to be a weakly youth of tender age. He had a wild, hungry eye; and they implicitly believed him. A council was held; lots were cast who should walk up to the master after supper that evening, and ask for more; and it fell to Oliver Twist.
碗从来用不着洗。孩子们用汤勺把碗刮得干干净净，直到它们重新锃光瓦亮。他们在进行这项操作的时候（这绝对用不了多久，勺子和碗差不多一样大），会坐在那儿，无比热切地盯着铜锅，好像能把垫锅的砖头也吞下去似的；同时，他们狠命地吮着手指，为了不落下任何可能溅在手指上的粥水。男孩们通常胃口都很好。奥利弗•特威斯特和他的伙伴们忍受了三个月慢性饥饿的折磨，最后他们因为饥饿变得十分贪婪疯狂。有一个男孩，在他那个年纪个子算高的，还没习惯这种生活（因为他的父亲开过一家小饭馆），脸色阴郁地暗示他的同伴们，除非他每天多分到一盆粥，否则他恐怕可能会在某个晚上吃掉睡在他旁边的男孩，那个男孩刚好是个年幼体弱的小孩子。他的眼神狂热饥渴，他们绝对相信他。孩子们开了一个会，抽签决定谁应该在当天晚饭后走到大师傅面前，去要更多吃的，奥利弗•特威斯特抽中了。
The evening arrived; the boys took their places. The master, in his cook's uniform, stationed himself at the copper; his pauper assistants ranged themselves behind him; the gruel was served out; and a long grace was said over the short commons. The gruel disappeared; the boys whispered each other, and winked at Oliver; while his next neighbors nudged him. Child as he was, he was desperate with hunger, and reckless with misery. He rose from the table; and advancing to the master, basin and spoon in hand, said: somewhat alarmed at his own temerity: "Please, sir, I want some more. "
夜晚降临了，孩子们坐到自己的位子上。大师傅穿着做饭的行头，站到铜锅旁边，他的贫民助手们立在他身后，粥已经分发出去了，念完了长长的感恩祷告之后是短暂的用餐时间。粥吃完了，孩子们互相低声耳语，朝奥利弗眨眨眼，这时他邻座的人用胳膊肘轻轻推了他一下。尽管他只是个孩子，却因饥饿而不顾一切，因苦难而不计后果。他从桌边站起身来，向大师傅走去，手里抓着食盆和汤勺，开口时被自己的鲁莽吓了一跳：劳驾，先生，我想再要一点。
The master was a fat, healthy man; but he turned very pale. He gazed in stupefied astonishment on the small rebel for some seconds, and then clung for support to the copper. The assistants were paralysed with wonder; the boys with fear.
大师傅是个身体健康的胖男人，但他听到这句话后，脸色变得非常苍白。他惊愕地盯着这个小小的反抗者看了几秒钟，然后紧紧抓住铜锅支撑着自己。帮厨的女人们惊呆了，一动不动，而孩子们也害怕得呆住了。
"What! " said the master at length, in a faint voice.
什么！大师傅终于有气无力地说。
"Please, sir, " replied Oliver, "I want some more. "
劳驾，先生，奥利弗回答，我想再要一点。
The master aimed a blow at Oliver's head with the ladle; pinioned him in his arm; and shrieked aloud for the beadle.
大师傅操起勺子，对准奥利弗的脑袋打了一下，用双臂把他夹住，大声尖叫着要找教区执事。
The board were sitting in solemn conclave, when Mr. Bumble rushed into the room in great excitement, and addressing the gentleman in the high chair, said, "Mr. Limbkins, I beg your pardon, sir! Oliver Twist has asked for more! "
当邦布尔先生万分激动地冲进房间时，委员会正开着庄严的秘密会议，他对高椅子上的绅士说：利姆金斯先生，请您原谅，先生！奥利弗•特威斯特想要更多的粥！
There was a general start. Horror was depicted on every countenance.
大家都被震惊了。每个人脸上都现出恐惧的神情。
"For more! " said Mr. Limbkins. "Compose yourself, Bumble, and answer me distinctly. Do I understand that he asked for more, after he had eaten the supper allotted by the dietary? "
要更多的粥！利姆金斯先生说。保持镇静，邦布尔，清楚地回答我。那么你是说，他在已经吃了按规定配给的晚饭之后还想要？
"He did, sir, " replied Bumble.
是的，先生。邦布尔先生回答。
"That boy will be hung, " said the gentleman in the white waistcoat. "I know that boy will be hung. "
那孩子会被绞死。穿白背心的绅士说，我知道他会被绞死的。
Nobody controverted the prophetic gentleman's opinion. An animated discussion took place. Oliver was ordered into instant confinement; and a bill was next morning pasted on the outside of the gate, offering a reward of five pounds to anybody who would take Oliver Twist off the hands of the parish. In other words, five pounds and Oliver Twist were offered to any man or woman who wanted an apprentice to any trade, business, or calling.
没有人反驳这位绅士的预言。一场热烈的讨论就此展开。奥利弗立刻被关了禁闭；第二天早上，大门外贴上了一张告示，说任何人只要愿意从教区手里接受奥利弗•特威斯特，就能得到五镑的奖赏。换句话说，任何人，不论男女，只要想找一个学徒，无论去干什么买卖、生意、行当，都可以把五镑钱和奥利弗•特威斯特领走。
"I never was more convinced of anything in my life, " said the gentleman in the white waistcoat, as he knocked at the gate and read the bill next morning: "I never was more convinced of anything in my life, than I am that that boy will come to be hung. "
我这辈子从来没有像这样确信过一件事，第二天一早，穿白背心的绅士一边敲着大门，读着告示，一边说，我这辈子从来没有像这样确信过一件事，那就是这个孩子将来会被绞死。
As I purpose to show in the sequel whether the white waistcoated gentleman was right or not, I should perhaps mar the interest of this narrative (supposing it to possess any at all), if I ventured to hint just yet, whether the life of Oliver Twist had this violent termination or no.
我打算以后再透露穿白背心的绅士是对是错，如果我现在冒险提示奥利弗•特威斯特的人生是否会像这样惨烈收场，我可能会破坏了这个故事的趣味（假设它多少有一些趣味）。
CHAPTER III Relates how Oliver Twist was very near getting a place which would not have been a sinecure。