经典短篇小说欧·亨利：《二十年后》双语阅读（带音频）

爱V高中英语 2023-09-17

《二十年后》也是欧亨利的一部经典作品，只有短短千余字，语言凝练；情节一环扣一环，结构严密；结尾处笔锋陡转，让人感慨万千。

如果让你在二十年之后，再赴一场和故人的约会，你是否想象过那是什么样的场景？是把酒言欢，还是横眉冷对？

视界·英语朗读

After Twenty Years

二十年后

作者欧·亨利

译者张经浩

The policeman on the beat moved up the avenue impressively. The impressiveness was habitual and not for show, for spectators were few. The time was barely 10 o'clock at night, but chilly gusts of wind with a taste of rain in them had well nigh depeopled the streets.

一位巡警在马路上威风凛凛地走着。他的威武是习惯成自然，而不是摆给人看的架势，因为行人已少而又少。时间还不到夜晚十点，但眼见要下雨，冷风一阵紧似一阵，马路上就巳空空荡荡了。

on the beat 在巡逻中
move up 向前移动
avenue [ˈævənuː] n.street 大街
impressively [ɪmˈpresɪvli] adv. in an impressive manner 令人难忘地
habitual [həˈbɪtʃuəl] adj. A habitual action, state, or way of behaving is one that someone usually does or has, especially one that is considered to be typical or characteristic of them. 习惯性的
spectator [ˈspekteɪtər] n. someone who watches something 观众
barely [ˈberli] adv. If you say that one thing had barely happened when something else happened, you mean that the first event was followed immediately by the second. 刚刚
chilly [ˈtʃɪli] adj. unpleasantly cold 阴冷的
gust [ɡʌst] n. a short,strong, sudden rush of wind 一阵强风
nigh [naɪ] adv. If an event is nigh, it will happen very soon. 接近
depeople [dɪˈpiːpl] v. 减少人口

Trying doors as he went, twirling his club with many intricate and artful movements, turning now and then to cast his watchful eye adown the pacific thoroughfare, the officer, with his stalwart form and slight swagger, made a fine picture of a guardian of the peace. The vicinity was one that kept early hours. Now and then you might see the lights of a cigar store or of an all-night lunch counter; but the majority of the doors belonged to business places that had long since been closed.

他边走边一家家打量，还不时转过头，用警惕的目光向平静的通衢大道两头远望，那甩警棍的动作多姿多彩，再加上体格魁伟，却不带傲气，看起来是好一个太平天下的卫士的形象。这一带收市早。你偶尔看到还亮着灯的店或者是烟店，或者是通宵餐馆，大多数店铺却早早关了门。

twirl [twɜːrl] v. If you twirl something or if it twirls, it turns around and around with a smooth, fast movement. 旋转
club [klʌb] n. a thick, heavy stick that can be used as a weapon 警棍
intricate [ˈɪntrɪkət; ˈɪntrɪkɪt] adj. You use intricate to describe something that has many small parts or details. 复杂精细的
adown [əˈdaʊn] adv. 向下
pacific [pəˈsɪfɪk] adj. A pacific person, country, or course of action is peaceful or has the aim of bringing about peace. 温和的
thoroughfare [ˈθɜːroʊfer] n. a main road in a city or town which usually has stores along it and a lot of traffic 大道; 主要大街; 通衢
stalwart [ˈstɔːlwərt] adj. physically strong 健壮的；强壮的
form n.the shape of sb / sth; a person or thing of which only the shape can be seen 形状；体形
swagger [ˈswæɡər] n. a way of walking or behaving that seems too confident 神气十足；大摇大摆
vicinity [vəˈsɪnəti] n. If something is in the vicinity of a particular place, it is near it. (在…) 附近

When about midway of a certain block the policeman suddenly slowed his walk. In the doorway of a darkened hardware store a man leaned, with an unlighted cigar in his mouth. As the policeman walked up to him the man spoke up quickly."It's all right, officer," he said, reassuringly. "I'm just waiting for a friend. It's an appointment made twenty years ago. Sounds a little funny to you, doesn't it? Well, I'll explain if you'd like to make certain it's all straight. About that long ago there used to be a restaurant where this store stands--'Big Joe' Brady's restaurant."

走到一个路段的正中时，警察突然放慢了脚步。一家灭了灯的五金店门口，有个男子斜靠门站着，嘴里叼根烟，并没点着。看到警察走过来他抢先说话了。 “没事，警官，我在等一位朋友，”他镇定自若地说，“二十年前约好现在相见。你听了觉得奇怪，是吗？你要是不放心呢，我可以把事情说给你听听。二十年前，这家店是一家餐馆，叫大乔·布雷迪餐馆。”

lean [liːn] n. If you lean an objecton or against something, you place the object so that it is partly supported by that thing. 靠 (在…上)
reassuringly [ˌriːəˈʃʊrɪŋli] adv. in a reassuring manner 安慰地；鼓励地
funny adj.difficult to explain or understand 奇怪的；难以解释的；难理解的

"Until five years ago," said the policeman. "It was torn down then."

“餐馆早五年就没有了。”警察说。

tear down 拆除；拆毁

The man in the doorway struck a match and lit his cigar. The light showed a pale, square-jawed face with keen eyes, and a little white scar near his right eyebrow. His scarfpin was a large diamond, oddly set.

站在店门边的人划着根火柴点烟。火柴光一照,只见这人长着个方下巴，脸色发白，目光倒炯炯有神，右边眉毛附近留着个小白伤疤。领带扣针歪别着，上面镶着颗大钻石。

strike [straɪk] v. When you strike a match, you make it produce a flame by moving it quickly against something rough. 擦(火柴)
square-jawed ['skwεədʒɔ:d] adj. having a relatively square jaw 方下巴的
scar [skɑːr] n. a mark on the skin which is left after a wound has healed 伤疤
eyebrow [ˈaɪbraʊ] n. the lines of hair that grow above one’s eyes 眉
scarfpin ['skɑ:fpin] n. a pin used to hold the tie in place 领带针
oddly [ˈɑːdli] adv. in a strange manner 奇怪地

"Twenty years ago to-night," said the man, "I dined here at 'Big Joe' Brady's with Jimmy Wells, my best chum, and the finest chap in the world. He and I were raised here in New York, just like two brothers, together. I was eighteen and Jimmy was twenty. The next morning I was to start for the West to make my fortune. You couldn't have dragged Jimmy out of New York; he thought it was the only place on earth. Well, we agreed that night that we would meet here again exactly twenty years from that date and time, no matter what our conditions might be or from what distance we might have to come. We figured that in twenty years each of us ought to have our destiny worked out and our fortunes made, whatever they were going to be."

那人说：“二十年前，我跟吉米·韦尔斯在这儿的餐馆吃饭。他是我最要好的哥儿们，世界上顶呱呱的小子。我俩是在纽约长大的，亲亲热热像兄弟俩。我十八岁,吉米二十岁。第二天我要去西部闯荡。在吉米看来天下似乎只有一个纽约。你就是拽也无法把他拽出纽约，那天晚上，我们约定，就从那一天那一刻算起，整整二十年后在这地方再会面，不论我们的处境如何，也不论要走多远的路。我想,过了这二十年，好歹各人也该知道了自己的命运，混出了点名堂。”

chum [tʃʌm] n. friend 朋友 [非正式，老式]
chap [tʃæp] n. a man or boy 男人; 小伙 [非正式]
make one's fortune 发财；发迹
drag [dræɡ] v. If someone drags you somewhere, they pull you there, or force you to go there by physically threatening you. 硬拉; 硬拽
ought to 应该
destiny [ˈdestəni] n. A person's destiny is everything that happens to them during their life, including what will happen in the future, especially when it is considered to be controlled by someone or something else. 命运

"It sounds pretty interesting," said the policeman. "Rather a long time between meets, though, it seems to me. Haven't you heard from your friend since you left?"

“这事倒挺新鲜。时隔二十年才又见上一面，未免太久了点。分手以后你知道你朋友的消息吗？“警察问。

"Well, yes, for a time we corresponded," said the other. "But after a year or two we lost track of each other. You see, the West is a pretty big proposition, and I kept hustling around over it pretty lively. But I know Jimmy will meet me here if he's alive, for he always was the truest, stanchest old chap in the world. He'll never forget. I came a thousand miles to stand in this door to-night, and it's worth it if my old partner turns up."

那人答道：“说起来我们也有过一段书信往来，但过了一两年便断了联系。你知道西部那边地方有多大，而我来来往往又行踪无定。但是我知道要是吉米还活着，准会上这儿来找我。要说忠诚可靠，这老兄天底下数第一，他绝不会忘。今天晚上我千里迢迢跑到这家店门口等着，如果老朋友当真来，跑这一趟值得。”

correspond [ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːnd] v. If you correspond with someone, you write letters to them.通信
lost track of 失去与……的联系
proposition [ˌprɑːpəˈzɪʃn] n. a thing that you intend to do; a problem or task to be dealt with 欲做的事；待处理的问题；任务
hustle [ˈhʌsl] v. If you hustle, you go somewhere or do something as quickly as you can. 快速行进; 赶快做
stanch [stɑːntʃ] adj. strong and loyal in your opinions and attitude 忠实的；坚定的

The waiting man pulled out a handsome watch, the lids of it set with small diamonds.

等朋友的人掏出块漂亮的表，表面上镶着小宝石。

"Three minutes to ten," he announced. "It was exactly ten o'clock when we parted here at the restaurant door."

“十点差三分，”他说，“我们在餐馆分手的时间是十点整。”

"Did pretty well out West, didn't you?" asked the policeman.

“你在西部混得还不错吧?”警察问。

"You bet! I hope Jimmy has done half as well. He was a kind of plodder, though, good fellow as he was. I've had to compete with some of the sharpest wits going to get my pile. A man gets in a groove in New York. It takes the West to put a razor-edge on him."

“你猜对了！吉米要是比得上我一半就算他不赖。他是个大好人，就是迟钝了点。我发财可也不容易，非多长几个心眼不可。在纽约什么都守着老套套。人要开窍得到西部去。”

plodder [ˈplɑːdər] n. a person who works slowly and steadily but without imagination 沉闷苦干者
wits [wɪts] n. You can refer to your ability to think quickly and effectively in adifficult situation as your wits. 机智
get one's pile 赚大钱
get in a groove 墨守成规；按老一套的方式办事
put a razor-edge on 使某人处于危险境地

The policeman twirled his club and took a step or two.

警察甩着警棍，又开步了。

"I'll be on my way. Hope your friend comes around all right. Going to call time on him sharp?"

“我得走啦！希望你的朋友真能来。到时候没来你就走吗?”

call time on sb / sth 宣布暂停

"I should say not!" said the other. "I'll give him half an hour at least. If Jimmy is alive on earth he'll be here by that time. So long, officer."

“不会。”他说。“至少我等他半个钟头。如果吉米还活在这世上，等半小时他准来。再见，警官。”

"Good-night, sir," said the policeman, passing on along his beat, trying doors as he went.

“再见，先生。”警官说着又继续巡逻，边走边一家家打量。

There was now a fine, cold drizzle falling, and the wind had risen from its uncertain puffs into a steady blow. The few foot passengers astir in that quarter hurried dismally and silently along with coat collars turned high and pocketed hands. And in the door of the hardware store the man who had come a thousand miles to fill an appointment, uncertain almost to absurdity, with the friend of his youth, smoked his cigar and waited.

这时冷飕飕的毛毛雨降了下来，原来风一阵阵吹，现在是不停地吹。这一带为数很少的几个行人把大衣领翻上来，手插进口袋里，加快脚步，默默赶路，自认倒霉没赶上好天气。五金店门口的那个人抽着烟还在等。他千里迢迢来赴年轻时朋友的约会，干这种完全没准的事可说是荒唐。

drizzle [ˈdrɪzl] n. light rain falling in fine drops 毛毛雨
puff [pʌf] n. A puff of something such as air or smoke is a small amount of it that is blown out from somewhere. 一股
astir [ə'stə:] adj. awake and out of bed 醒了并离床的
dismally [ˈdɪzməli] adv. in a cheerless manner 沉闷地

About twenty minutes he waited, and then a tall man in a long overcoat, with collar turned up to his ears, hurried across from the opposite side of the street. He went directly to the waiting man.

他等了约莫二十分钟后，一位高个子大步流星穿过马路径直朝他走来。这人穿着长外套,衣领翻上来盖住了耳朵。

"Is that you, Bob?" he asked, doubtfully.

“鲍勃,真是你吗？”来者不敢相信地问道。

"Is that you, Jimmy Wells?" cried the man in the door.

“吉米·韦尔斯,你来了呀!”站在门边的人高声叫起来。

"Bless my heart!" exclaimed the new arrival, grasping both the other's hands with his own. "It's Bob, sure as fate. I was certain I'd find you here if you were still in existence. Well, well, well! --twenty years is a long time. The old gone, Bob; I wish it had lasted, so we could have had another dinner there. How has the West treated you, old man?"

“哎呀呀!” 刚来的人也高声叫，一把抓起对方的两只手。“果然是鲍勃。我知道只要你还活着，一定会上这儿来。哟，哟，哟，二十年，可不算短呀！鲍勃，原来的餐馆已经没有了，要是还在就好，我们可以到里面再吃上一顿。在西部混得怎么样，老弟?”

exclaim [ɪkˈskleɪm] v. Writers sometimes use exclaim to show that someone is speaking suddenly, loudly, or emphatically, often because they are excited, shocked, or angry. (因兴奋、震惊、愤怒等) 突然呼喊; 惊叫
grasp [ɡræsp] v. If you grasp something, you take it in your hand and hold it very firmly. 抓牢

"Bully; it has given me everything I asked it for. You've changed lots, Jimmy. I never thought you were so tall by two or three inches."

“好极啦！我想到手的都到手了。吉米，你变了很多。奇怪，你怎么又长了两三寸呢?”

bully [ˈbʊli] interj. well done! bravo! 真棒

"Oh, I grew a bit after I was twenty."

"Doing well in New York, Jimmy?"

“是呀，满二十后我又长了些。”
“你在纽约怎么样，吉米?”

"Moderately. I have a position in one of the city departments. Come on, Bob; we'll go around to a place I know of, and have a good long talk about old times."

“还过得去。我在市里的一个部门谋了个位置。鲍勃，走吧，我们到一个熟悉的地方去畅谈往日的事情。”

moderately [ˈmɑːdərətli] adv. to a moderately sufficient extent or degree 适度地，中庸地

The two men started up the street, arm in arm. The man from the West, his egotism enlarged by success, was beginning to outline the history of his career. The other, submerged in his overcoat, listened with interest.

两人手挽手沿马路走着。从西部归来的那个志得意满，讲起这些年的作为。另一个把头缩在大衣领里，津津有味地听。

egotism [ˈiːɡətɪzəm] n. the quality of being egotistic 利己主义; 自我中心
submerge [səbˈmɜːrdʒ] v. If something submerges or if you submerge it, it goes below the surface of some water or another liquid. 使浸没; 淹没

At the corner stood a drug store, brilliant with electric lights. When they came into this glare each of them turned simultaneously to gaze upon the other's face.

十字路口有家药房，仍灯火辉煌。到了灯光下，两人同时转身瞪大眼看着对方的脸。

simultaneously [ˌsaɪmlˈteɪniəsli] adv. at the same instant 同时地

The man from the West stopped suddenly and released his arm.

从西部来的那个突然站住了，松开手臂。

"You're not Jimmy Wells," he snapped. "Twenty years is a long time, but not long enough to change a man's nose from a Roman to a pug."

“你不是吉米·韦尔斯！”他惊叫起来。“20年的时间的确长，但再长的时间也不会把鹰钩鼻变成扁鼻。”

snap [snæp] v. If someone snaps at you, they speak to you in a sharp, unfriendly way. 声色俱厉地说

"It sometimes changes a good man into a bad one, said the tall man. "You've been under arrest for ten minutes, 'Silky' Bob. Chicago thinks you may have dropped over our way and wires us she wants to have a chat with you. Going quietly, are you? That's sensible. Now, before we go on to the station here's a note I was asked to hand you. You may read it here at the window. It's from Patrolman Wells."

“二十年足可以把一些好人变成坏人。”高个子说。“鲍勃，你已被捕十分钟了。芝加哥警局认为你可能上我们这儿来，打了电报说想与你谈谈。放老实点，知道吗？老实才聪明。有人叫我带张条子给你，看完了我们再去局里。你到那儿窗子下看，是巡警韦尔斯写的。”

under arrest 被捕
drop over 顺便来访
wire [ˈwaɪər] v. to send sb a message by telegram 给（某人）打电报
sensible [ˈsensəbl] adj. Sensible actions or decisions are good because they are based on reasons rather than emotions. 明智的
patrolman [pəˈtroʊlmən] n. a policeman who patrols a particular area 巡警

The man from the West unfolded the little piece of paper handed him. His hand was steady when he began to read, but it trembled a little by the time he had finished. The note was rather short.

从西部来的人打开交给他的小纸条。开始看的时候他的手还正常，但到看完时却抖得厉害。条子上只写了几句话：

unfold [ʌnˈfoʊld] v. If someone unfolds something which has been folded or if it unfolds, it is opened out and becomes flat. 展开
tremble [ˈtrembl] v. If you tremble, you shake slightly because you are frightened or cold. 颤抖

"Bob: I was at the appointed place on time. When you struck the match to light your cigar I saw it was the face of the man wanted in Chicago. Somehow I couldn't do it myself, so I went around and got a plain clothes man to do the job.

JIMMY."