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or Golden Dreams
沃尔弗特·韦伯或黄金梦
In the year of grace one thousand seven hundred and-blank-for I do not remember the precise date; however, it was somewhere in the early part of the last century, there lived in the ancient city of the Manhattoes a worthy burgher, Wolfert Webber by name. He was descended from old Cobus Webber of the Brille in Holland, one of the original settlers, famous for introducing the cultivation of cabbages, and who came over to the province during the protectorship of Oloffe Van Kortlandt, otherwise called the Dreamer. The field in which Cobus Webber first planted himself and his cabbages had remained ever since in the family, who continued in the same line of husbandry, with that praiseworthy perseverance for which our Dutch burghers are noted. The whole family genius, during several generations was devoted to the study and development of this one noble vegetable; and to this concentration of intellect may doubtless be ascribed the prodigious size and renown to which the Webber cabbages attained.
公元一七--空白--因为我不记得具体的年份了；然而，就是在上个世纪初叶，在曼哈托斯古城住着一位可敬的市民，他的名字叫沃尔弗特·韦伯。他是荷兰布瑞乐城的老考巴斯·韦伯的后代。老考巴斯·韦伯是最初的移民之一，因为引进卷心菜的种植而闻名，他搬到这个地区的时候，绰号 “梦想家” 的奥洛夫·范考尔特兰特还是当地总督。考巴斯·韦伯最初安家、种卷心菜的那块地一直保留在家族中，家人一直种植着这种菜。我们荷兰市民也因这种值得赞许的坚持不懈的精神而闻名。整个家族几代人的才能都投入到这种高贵的蔬菜的研究与培养中。毫无疑问，韦伯家的卷心菜能有很好的名声和很大的个头，很大程度上要归功于这种才智的集中。
The Webber dynasty continued in uninterrupted succession; and never did a line give more unquestionable proofs of legitimacy. The eldest son succeeded to the looks, as well as the territory of his sire; and had the portraits of this line of tranquil potentates been taken, they would have presented a row of heads marvellously resembling, in shape and magnitude, the vegetables over which they reigned.
韦伯王朝世代相传，从未间断；而且每一支系都能提出确切无疑的证据，来证明其合法性。大儿子不仅继承了他的长相，而且继承了他的土地；如果给这一支系安静的统治者们画肖像的话，就会看到一排形状大小和他们种植的蔬菜出奇地相似的脑袋。
The seat of government continued unchanged in the family mansion: -a Dutch-built house, with a front, or rather gable-end of yellow brick, tapering to a point, with the customary iron weathercock at the top. Every thing about the building bore the air of long-settled ease and security. Flights of martins peopled the little coops nailed against the walls, and swallows built their nests under the eaves; and every one knows that these house-loving birds bring good luck to the dwelling where they take up their abode. In a bright sunny morning in early summer, it was delectable to hear their cheerful notes, as they sported about in the pure, sweet air, chirping forth, as it were, the greatness and prosperity of the Webbers.
政府所在地一直是那幢祖传的宅子：一幢荷兰式的房子，房子的正面，或者说是黄砖砌的山墙，越往上越尖；按照习俗，房子顶部是一个铁的风向标。房子的一切都散发着长久居住的人家的那种舒适安全的气息。钉在墙上的小笼子里住着成群的紫崖燕，还有些燕子在屋檐下筑巢；人们都知道，这些喜爱房子的鸟在哪幢房子安家，就会给哪幢房子带来好运。在一个阳关明媚的初夏的早晨，听到鸟儿欢快的叫声是愉悦的。它们在纯净、甜美的空气中飞舞嬉戏，叽叽喳喳地叫着，仿佛是在说韦伯家族的卓越和兴旺。
Thus quietly and comfortably did this excellent family vegetate under the shade of a mighty button-wood tree, which by little and little grew so great as entirely to overshadow their palace. The city gradually spread its suburbs round their domain. Houses sprung up to interrupt their prospects. The rural lanes in the vicinity began to grow into the bustle and populousness of streets; in short, with all the habits of rustic life they began to find themselves the inhabitants of a city.
因此，这个优秀的家族在一株巨大的梧桐树的荫庇下安静舒适地成长着，而这棵树逐渐地长大，竟完全遮住了他们的住宅。城市的郊区也渐渐扩展到了他们的领地周围。房屋拔地而起，挡住了他们的视野。周围的乡村小路开始成为熙熙攘攘、人来人往的街道；总之，尽管还保持着乡村生活习惯，他们开始发觉自己成了城市居民。
Still, however, they maintained their hereditary character, and hereditary possessions, with all the tenacity of petty German princes in the midst of the Empire. Wolfert was the last of the line, and succeeded to the patriarchal bench at the door, under the family tree, and swayed the sceptre of his fathers, a kind of rural potentate in the midst of a metropolis.
然而，他们一直保留着祖传的品质和祖传的财产，就像德意志帝国下的小王公一样顽固。沃尔弗特是这个家族中最近的一代后人，继承了门前家族大树下、族长专用的长椅，执掌着祖先的权杖，俨然大都市中的一位乡村统治者。
To share the cares and sweets of sovereignty, he had taken unto himself a help-mate, one of that excellent kind called stirring women; that is to say, she was one of those notable little housewives who are always busy when there is nothing to do. Her activity however, took one particular direction; her whole life seemed devoted to intense knitting; whether at home or abroad; walking or sitting, her needles were continually in motion, and it is even affirmed that by her unwearied industry she very nearly supplied her household with stockings throughout the year. This worthy couple were blessed with one daughter, who was brought up with great tenderness and care; uncommon pains had been taken with her education, so that she could stitch in every variety of way; make all kinds of pickles and preserves, and mark her own name on a sampler. The influence of her taste was seen also in the family garden, where the ornamental began to mingle with the useful; whole rows of fiery marigolds and splendid hollyhocks bordered the cabbage-beds; and gigantic sunflowers lolled their broad, jolly faces over the fences, seeming to ogle most affectionately the passers-by.
然而统治过程中也要有人同甘共苦，于是他给自己找了个贤内助。她是非常活跃的优秀女人，也就是说，她是一个非常典型的没事瞎忙的小主妇。但是，她的活动只限于一个特殊的方面；她的整个人生似乎都在致力于紧张的编织；不管是在家还是在外面，走着还是坐着，她的针总是移动着。甚至有人证实，由于她不知疲惫的辛勤劳动，她几乎可以供应给全家人一年到头要穿的袜子。这对可敬的夫妇生了一个女儿，这个女孩在他们极为温柔的呵护下成长；他们为女儿的教育付出了极大的努力，因此，她会各种编织方法，会做各种泡菜和蜜饯，还会把自己的名字绣在刺绣样品上。她的品味也体现在她家美观又实用的花园上：一排排火红的金盏花和灿烂的蜀葵围绕在卷心菜地的边上；巨大的向日葵把它们宽大愉快的脸靠在篱笆上，仿佛在深情地向路人抛着媚眼。
Thus reigned and vegetated Wolfert Webber over his paternal acres, peaceably and contentedly. Not but that, like all other sovereigns, he had his occasional cares and vexations. The growth of his native city sometimes caused him annoyance. His little territory gradually became hemmed in by streets and houses, which intercepted air and sunshine. He was now and then subject to the irruptions of the border population, that infest the streets of a metropolis, who would sometimes make midnight forays into his dominions, and carry off captive whole platoons of his noblest subjects. Vagrant swine would make a descent, too, now and then, when the gate was left open, and lay all waste before them; and mischievous urchins would often decapitate the illustrious sunflowers, the glory of the garden, as they lolled their heads so fondly over the walls. Still all these were petty grievances, which might now and then ruffle the surface of his mind, as a summer breeze will ruffle the surface of a mill-pond; but they could not disturb the deep-seated quiet of his soul. He would seize a trusty staff, that stood behind the door, issue suddenly out, and anoint the back of the aggressor, whether pig or urchin, and then return within doors, marvellously refreshed and tranquillized. The chief cause of anxiety to honest Wolfert, however, was the growing prosperity of the city. The expenses of living doubled and trebled; but he could not double and treble the magnitude of his cabbages; and the number of competitors prevented the increase of price; thus, therefore, while every one around him grew richer, Wolfert grew poorer, and he could not, for the life of him, perceive how the evil was to be remedied.
沃尔弗特就这样平和又满足地统治、耕种着这片祖传的土地。不仅如此，像其他统治者一样，他偶尔也有忧虑和苦恼。有时他故乡的发展让他恼火。街道和房子渐渐包围了他那块小小的领地，挡住了阳光和空气。他还时不时地受到边界上人群的打扰，他们大批出没于都市的街道上。这些人有时候会在午夜偷袭他的领地，夺走成排的高贵的卷心菜。有时，在大门开着的时候，流浪猪也会闯入，把所有的东西弄得一团糟；由于向日葵把头温柔地伸出墙外，那些爱恶作剧的顽童们经常砍下灿烂的向日葵的头，它可是这一花园的荣耀。然而这一切只是琐碎的牢骚，可能会时不时地在他的脑海里引起一丝不快，就像夏日的微风在磨坊水池的水面上吹起了涟漪；但是这些不会扰乱他内心深处的平静。他只要抓起放在门后的那根可靠的棍子，突然冲出去，冲着入侵者的背上打去，不管是猪还是顽皮的孩子，然后回到屋里，就无比地神清气爽、心平气和了。然而，让诚实的沃尔弗特焦虑的主要原因是城市的日益繁荣。生活的开支已经是原来的两三倍，但是他不能把卷心菜的大小也增加到两三倍；竞争者越来越多，抑制了菜价的上涨。因此，当周围的每个人都变得越来越富时，他自己却越来越穷。而且，他无论如何也不知道如何才能摆脱这一切不幸。
This growing care which increased from day to day, had its gradual effect upon our worthy burgher; insomuch, that it at length implanted two or three wrinkles on his brow; things unknown before in the family of the Webbers; and it seemed to pinch up the corners of his cocked hat into an expression of anxiety, totally opposite to the tranquil, broad-brimmed, low-crowned beavers of his illustrious progenitors.
这种担心与日俱增，渐渐地影响着我们这位可敬的公民。就这样，他的前额终于长出了两三道皱纹，这是在韦伯家族中从未听说过的事；它似乎让他那顶三角帽的棱角也翘了起来，显出焦虑的样子，这与他那些杰出祖先的宽帽檐、低帽顶、显得宁静的海狸帽子截然相反。
Perhaps even this would not have materially disturbed the serenity of his mind had he had only himself and his wife to care for; but there was his daughter gradually growing to maturity; and all the world knows when daughters begin to ripen no fruit or flower requires so much looking after. I have no talent at describing female charms, else fain would I depict the progress of this little Dutch beauty. How her blue eyes grew deeper and deeper, and her cherry lips redder and redder; and how she ripened and ripened, and rounded and rounded in the opening breath of sixteen summers, until, in her seventeenth spring, she seemed ready to burst out of her bodice like a half-blown rose-bud.
或者即使这些都没有实质性地打扰到他宁静的心情，他只要照顾自己和妻子就好，他的女儿也要渐渐长大成人，全世界的人都知道，女儿开始走向成熟时，比任何一种水果或鲜花都更需要精心呵护。我没有描写女性魅力的才能，不然我很乐意描述一下这个荷兰小美女的成长过程。她的蓝眼睛越来越蓝，她的樱桃小嘴越来越红。在过去十六年的芬芳空气中，她一天天地成熟，一天天地丰满，到了十七岁的春天，她仿佛要冲破她的紧身衣，就如同一朵半开的玫瑰花蕾。
Ah, well-a-day! could I but show her as she was then, tricked out on a Sunday morning in the hereditary finery of the old Dutch clothes-press, of which her mother had confided to her the key. The wedding dress of her grandmother, modernized for use, with sundry ornaments, handed down as heirlooms in the family. Her pale brown hair smoothed with buttermilk in flat waving lines on each side of her fair forehead. The chain of yellow virgin gold, that encircled her neck; the little cross, that just rested at the entrance of a soft valley of happiness, as if it would sanctify the place. The-but pooh! -it is not for an old man like me to be prosing about female beauty: suffice it to say, Amy had attained her seventeenth year. Long since had her sampler exhibited hearts in couples desperately transfixed with arrows, and true lovers' knots worked in deep blue silk; and it was evident she began to languish for some more interesting occupation than the rearing of sunflowers or pickling of cucumbers.
啊，哎呀！我怎么描绘当时的她呢，那是一个星期日的早晨，她用母亲给她的钥匙，打开了老式荷兰衣橱，穿上了衣橱里祖传的华丽服饰。那是她祖母的结婚礼服，已经改成了当下能穿的样子，有各式各样的装饰，是家族中代代相传的传家宝。她在自己浅褐色的头发上涂上了酪乳，把头发弄出平滑、弯曲的线条，分到漂亮的前额的两边。她脖子上戴着赤金项链，那个小十字架刚好放在温软的幸福谷的入口，好像它会使这儿显得更加圣洁。还有--但是，呸！--不应该是像我这样的老男人来描述女性的美貌：只要说这么一句就已足够，埃米已经满十七岁了。很早以前，她的刺绣样品上就出现了被一支箭紧紧穿在一起的两颗心，还有深蓝色丝绸所制成的同心结，这说明她开始渴望着比种向日葵和腌黄瓜更有趣的事情了。
At this critical period of female existence, when the heart within a damsel's bosom, like its emblem, the miniature which hangs without, is apt to be engrossed by a single image, a new visitor began to make his appearance under the roof of Wolfert Webber. This was Dirk Waldron, the only son of a poor widow, but who could boast of more fathers than any lad in the province; for his mother had had four husbands, and this only child, so that though born in her last wedlock, he might fairly claim to be the tardy fruit of a long course of cultivation. This son of four fathers united the merits and the vigor of his sires. If he had not a great family before him, he seemed likely to have a great one after him; for you had only to look at the fresh gamesome youth, to see that he was formed to be the founder of a mighty race.
这是女人一生中的关键时期，少女的心就像胸前的心形饰物，容易被一个单一的形象占据，沃尔弗特·韦伯家开始出现一个新客人。他是德克·沃尔德伦，一个可怜寡妇的独子，不过他倒是能吹嘘他比这个州的任何少年都多几个父亲，因为她的母亲嫁过四个男人，而只有这一个儿子。因此，尽管他是母亲在最后一段婚姻里生的儿子，他却可以自命为经历过长期培植、晚结的果实。这个拥有四个父亲的儿子凝聚了他们所有的优点和活力。如果说他之前不属于一个强大的家族，那么，他却很有可能以后有一个。因为你只要看看这个朝气蓬勃、逍遥快乐的少年，也就能明白他生来就是要做一个强大家族的创始人的。
This youngster gradually became an intimate visitor of the family. He talked little, but he sat long. He filled the father's pipe when it was empty, gathered up the mother's knitting-needle, or ball of worsted when it fell to the ground; stroked the sleek coat of the tortoise-shell cat, and replenished the teapot for the daughter from the bright copper kettle that sung before the fire. All these quiet little offices may seem of trifling import, but when true love is translated into Low Dutch, it is in this way that it eloquently expresses itself. They were not lost upon the Webber family. The winning youngster found marvellous favor in the eyes of the mother; the tortoise-shell cat, albeit the most staid and demure of her kind, gave indubitable signs of approbation of his visits, the tea-kettle seemed to sing out a cheering note of welcome at his approach, and if the sly glances of the daughter might be rightly read, as she sat bridling and dimpling, and sewing by her mother's side, she was not a wit behind Dame Webber, or grimalkin, or the tea-kettle in good-will.
这个年轻人逐渐成了这家的熟客。他讲话不多，但是呆的时间很长。那位父亲的烟斗空了，他就会为他装满；那位母亲的织衣针或毛线球掉到地上了，他就会为她捡起；他会抚摸玳瑁猫光滑的皮毛；他会拿起火炉上唱歌的、光亮的铜壶给那位女儿加水。这些极小的琐事看似不值一提，但是当真爱被翻译为荷兰方言，那它就用这种方式生动地表达了自己。这些举动韦伯家的人都明白。这个可爱的年轻人已经从那位母亲的眼中看到非常大的好感；那只玳瑁猫，即使是同类中最稳重端庄的猫，也对他的造访表现出不庸质疑的赞赏；那只铜壶仿佛唱着欢快的音符欢迎他的到来；还有，从那位女儿心照不宣的眼神可以准确地看出，她微笑着矜持地坐在她母亲旁边做针线活的时候，她对年轻人的好感也不亚于韦伯太太、那只猫或者那只铜壶。
Wolfert alone saw nothing of what was going on. Profoundly wrapt up in meditation on the growth of the city and his cabbages, he sat looking in the fire, and puffing his pipe in silence. One night, however, as the gentle Amy, according to custom, lighted her lover to the outer door, and he, according to custom, took his parting salute, the smack resounded so vigorously through the long, silent entry as to startle even the dull ear of Wolfert. He was slowly roused to a new source of anxiety. It had never entered into his head, that this mere child, who, as it seemed but the other day, had been climbing about his knees, and playing with dolls and baby-houses, could all at once be thinking of love and matrimony. He rubbed his eyes, examined into the fact, and really found that while he had been dreaming of other matters, she had actually grown into a woman, and what was more, had fallen in love. Here were new cares for poor Wolfert. He was a kind father, but he was a prudent man. The young man was a very stirring lad; but then he had neither money or land. Wolfert's ideas all ran in one channel, and he saw no alternative in case of a marriage, but to portion off the young couple with a corner of his cabbage garden, the whole of which was barely sufficient for the support of his family.
只有沃尔弗特一个人没看出发生的事情。他只顾沉思着城市和卷心菜的成长，总是坐在那儿盯着火炉，沉默地吸着烟斗。然而，一天夜晚，文雅的埃米习惯性地打着灯送她的情人去门外，而她的情人也习惯性地送上离别的吻时，这一响吻的回声如此有力，它穿过了长长的、安静的过道，甚至惊动了沃尔弗特迟钝的耳朵。他慢慢地转入了新一层的焦虑。他从来没想到，这个孩子，好像几天前还绕着他的膝盖乱爬，玩着布娃娃和娃娃房子，会一下就想到了爱情和婚姻。他揉了揉眼睛，细想了实情，果然发现，当他在梦想其他事情的时候，她真的长成了一个女人，而且坠入了爱河。可怜的沃尔弗特又有了新的担心。他是一个和蔼的父亲，但也是一个谨慎的人。这个年轻人是一个非常活泼的少年，但是他没有钱，也没有土地。沃尔弗特的思想全集中到一个问题上了。如果结婚了，他就别无选择，只能把卷心菜园子的一角给这对年轻人，而整个园子才刚刚够维持一家人的生活。
Like a prudent father, therefore, he determined to nip this passion in the bud, and forbade the youngster the house, though sorely did it go against his fatherly heart, and many a silent tear did it cause in the bright eye of his daughter. She showed herself, however, a pattern of filial piety and obedience. She never pouted and sulked; she never flew in the face of parental authority; she never fell into a passion, or fell into hysterics, as many romantic novel-read young ladies would do. Not she, indeed! She was none such heroical rebellious trumpery, I warrant ye. On the contrary, she acquiesced like an obedient daughter; shut the street-door in her lover's face, and if ever she did grant him an interview, it was either out of the kitchen window, or over the garden fence.
所以，作为一个谨慎的父亲，他决定把这份激情扼杀在萌芽中。他禁止这个年轻人来家里，尽管这件事违反了他作为父亲的心意，令他很难过，而且也使得女儿明亮的眼睛默默落下了许多泪。然而，她表现出的是一个孝顺、顺从的女儿的典范。她从没有撅嘴、生气；她从没有冒犯父母的权威；她从没有情绪激动，或是像很多浪漫的、爱读小说的年轻女士一样歇斯底里。她没有，的确没有！我保证，她不是那种冒险、叛逆、浅薄的人。相反，她就像一个孝顺的女儿，当着情人的面，把街门关上。如果有时答应他见面，也是在厨房的窗外或园子的篱笆外。
Wolfert was deeply cogitating these things in his mind, and his brow wrinkled with unusual care, as he wended his way one Saturday afternoon to a rural inn, about two miles from the city. It was a favorite resort of the Dutch part of the community, from being always held by a Dutch line of landlords, and retaining an air and relish of the good old times. It was a Dutch-built house, that had probably been a country seat of some opulent burgher in the early time of the settlement. It stood near a point of land, called Corlears Hook, which stretches out into the Sound, and against which the tide, at its flux and reflux, sets with extraordinary rapidity. The venerable and somewhat crazy mansion was distinguished from afar, by a grove of elms and sycamores that seemed to wave a hospitable invitation, while a few weeping willows with their dank, drooping foliage, resembling falling waters, gave an idea of coolness, that rendered it an attractive spot during the heats of summer.
一个星期六的下午沃尔弗特去了一家离城里大概有两英里的乡间旅馆，路上他一直在脑中深刻、仔细地考虑着这些事，由于异常地忧虑，他皱着眉头。这是当地的荷兰人最爱去的一个地方，因为它一直由荷兰店主经营，并且保持着过去美好时光的风味和情调。这是一幢荷兰式的房子，可能是殖民初期某个富人家的乡间别墅。它坐落在一个叫做 “考尔里尔钩” 的岬角附近，一直延伸至桑德湾。潮涨潮落的时候，潮水都以极快的速度冲击着它。这幢庄严又有点古怪的房子远远地就能看见，有一片榆树和美国梧桐树混杂的林子--仿佛在发出盛情邀请，还有几棵垂柳，那潮湿下垂的叶子好像瀑布一般，让人们觉得凉快，也成了在炎热的夏天吸引客人的地方。
Here, therefore, as I said, resorted many of the old inhabitants of the Manhattoes, where, while some played at the shuffle-board and quoits and ninepins, others smoked a deliberate pipe, and talked over public affairs.
因此，正如我所说，这儿是很多曼哈托斯的老住户常来的地方。在这儿，有人玩打圆盘、掷圈环或九柱戏，其他人就悠闲地抽着烟斗，谈论着公共事务。
It was on a blustering autumnal afternoon that Wolfert made his visit to the inn. The grove of elms and willows was stripped of its leaves, which whirled in rustling eddies about the fields.
那是一个刮风的秋天的下午，沃尔弗特去了这家旅馆。那片榆树林、柳树林的叶子都被吹落，在地上盘旋打转，发出沙沙的声响。
The ninepin alley was deserted, for the premature chilliness of the day had driven the company within doors. As it was Saturday afternoon, the habitual club was in session, composed principally of regular Dutch burghers, though mingled occasionally with persons of various character and country, as is natural in a place of such motley population.
玩九柱戏的地方空无一人，这是因为冷天的提早到来把人们赶到屋子里去了。由于是星期六下午，俱乐部按照惯例在开会，这里的成员大都是常来的荷兰市民，虽然偶尔会有些不同个性、来自不同国家的成员，但在这种人群混杂的地方也不足为奇。
Beside the fire-place, and in a huge leather-bottomed armchair, sat the dictator of this little world, the venerable Rem, or, as it was pronounced, Ramm Rapelye.
壁炉旁边，坐在一个巨大的皮革垫扶手椅上的是这个小世界的独裁者，值得尊敬的雷姆，或按照当地口音，拉姆·拉普里。
He was a man of Walloon race, and illustrious for the antiquity of his line, his great grandmother having been the first white child born in the province. But he was still more illustrious for his wealth and dignity: he had long filled the noble office of alderman, and was a man to whom the governor himself took off his hat. He had maintained possession of the leathern-bottomed chair from time immemorial; and had gradually waxed in bulk as he sat in his seat of government, until in the course of years he filled its whole magnitude. His word was decisive with his subjects; for he was so rich a man, that he was never expected to support any opinion by argument. The landlord waited on him with peculiar officiousness; not that he paid better than his neighbors, but then the coin of a rich man seems always to be so much more acceptable. The landlord had always a pleasant word and a joke, to insinuate in the ear of the august Ramm. It is true, Ramm never laughed, and, indeed, maintained a mastiff-like gravity, and even surliness of aspect, yet he now and then rewarded mine host with a token of approbation; which, though nothing more nor less than a kind of grunt, yet delighted the landlord more than a broad laugh from a poorer man.
他是瓦龙人，因为古老的家世而非常有名气，他的曾祖母是这个州出生的第一个白人小孩。但是他的财富和高贵让他更有名气：他老早就获得了市议员这样高贵的官衔，连总督都会摘下帽子对他行礼。长久以来，他始终占有着这个皮革面的扶手椅，并且自从当上市议员后他就渐渐发福了，没几年他就占满了整个座椅。他的命令对属下来说是不容置疑的，因为他太富有了，根本就不需要什么论据来支持他的任何意见。店主服侍他的时候总是特别殷勤，并不是因为他付的钱比其他的邻居多，而是富人手里的钱似乎总是更令人满意。店主总是在令人敬畏的雷姆耳边讲好听的话和笑话讨好他。事实却是，雷姆从来没有笑过。实际上，他总是像獒一样严肃，甚至有些乖戾，但有时也会表示赞许，奖赏我们的店主。虽然他只不过是哼一声，但对店主而言，这却比一个穷人的哈哈大笑还要令他开心。
"This will be a rough night for the money-diggers, " said mine host, as a gust of wind howled round the house, and rattled at the windows.
“今晚对那些掘金人来说可是一个艰难的夜晚。” 店主说。这时一阵风在房子周围呼啸，把窗户吹得咯吱响。
"What, are they at their works again? " said an English half-pay captain, with one eye, who was a frequent attendant at the inn.
“什么，他们又行动了？” 一个拿半薪的英国船长说，他只有一只眼睛，是旅店里的常客。
"Aye, are they, " said the landlord, "and well may they be. They've had luck of late. They say a great pot of money has been dug up in the field, just behind Stuyvesant's orchard. Folks think it must have been buried there in old times by Peter Stuyvesant, the Dutch Governor. "
“是呀，可不是嘛，” 店主说， “很可能去了。他们最近很走运。他们说一大罐钱从地里被挖出来了，就在施托伊弗桑特的果园后面。人们都觉得那一定是很久以前荷兰总督彼得·施托伊弗桑特埋在那儿的。”