Before passing the threshold, I paused to admire a quantity of grotesque carving lavished over the front, and especially about the principal door; above which, among a wilderness of crumbling griffins and shameless little boys, I detected the date '1500,' and the name 'Hareton Earnshaw.' I would have made a few comments, and requested a short history of the place from the surly owner; but his attitude at the door appeared to demand my speedy entrance, or complete departure, and I had no desire to aggravate his impatience previous to inspecting the penetralium.

　　在跨进门槛前，一组图案离奇的雕刻，让我驻足观赏，雕刻布满了整个正面，正门上的那个尤为特别。在正门上，在一群狮身鹰首的怪兽和不知害羞的男孩子中，我发现了日期“1500”，还有一个名字“海尔顿·艾尔肖”。我本应该作出一些评论，并询问一下这位乖戾的主人关于这个地方的简短历史，然而他在门口态度要求我要么赶快进屋，要么赶紧走人，而我也不愿意在看到密室之前惹恼他。

　　One step brought us into the family sitting-room, without any introductory lobby or passage: they call it here 'the house' pre- eminently. It includes kitchen and parlour, generally; but I believe at Wuthering Heights the kitchen is forced to retreat altogether into another quarter: at least I distinguished a chatter of tongues, and a clatter of culinary utensils, deep within; and I observed no signs of roasting, boiling, or baking, about the huge fireplace; nor any glitter of copper saucepans and tin cullenders on the walls. One end, indeed, reflected splendidly both light and heat from ranks of immense pewter dishes, interspersed with silver jugs and tankards, towering row after row, on a vast oak dresser, to the very roof. The latter had never been under-drawn: its entire anatomy lay bare to an inquiring eye, except where a frame of wood laden with oatcakes and clusters of legs of beef, mutton, and ham, concealed it. Above the chimney were sundry villainous old guns, and a couple of horse-pistols: and, by way of ornament, three gaudily-painted canisters disposed along its ledge. The floor was of smooth, white stone; the chairs, high-backed, primitive structures, painted green: one or two heavy black ones lurking in the shade. In an arch under the dresser reposed a huge, liver-coloured bitch pointer, surrounded by a swarm of squealing puppies; and other dogs haunted other recesses.

　　一步就跨进到了起居室，没有会客室或是走道，这就是他们所谓的典型的“屋子”，通常包括厨房和起居室(parlour: (old-fashioned) a room in a private house for sitting in, entertaining visitors, etc.)。但是我认为，在呼啸山庄，厨房已经被被挤到另一个角落里去了。至少在尽里头，我听见了火苗劈劈啪啪的声音，还有厨房用具的碰撞声;然而在那个巨大的壁炉上，我并没有发现任何烤、煮或烘焙的迹象;也没有在墙上发现闪亮的铜制炖锅和锡制滤勺。另一头，巨大的橡木橱柜里陈列着极好的锡镴餐具，一摞一摞的都到橱顶了，折射出了非常壮观的光和热量，其间点缀着银制的水壶和酒杯。橱柜的顶没有封起来，木架结构清晰可见，让人觉得非常奇怪。风干了的燕麦饼，牛肉，羊肉还有火腿都直接挂在上面，也就遮掩了裸露出来的木头。烟囱上挂着各式各样的锈了的老式枪，以及一对马上用的大型短枪。为了起到装饰作用，三个涂得很俗气得罐子，陈列在壁架上。地板是平滑的白色石头。椅子，是高背椅，结构粗糙，被漆成了绿色，还有一两把深黑色的隐藏在阴影里。在橱柜的拱门下面，睡着一只巨大的，深褐色的母猎狗，身边围着一群嗷嗷待哺的小狗仔，其他的狗则隐藏在别处。

　　The apartment and furniture would have been nothing extraordinary as belonging to a homely, northern farmer, with a stubborn countenance, and stalwart limbs set out to advantage in knee- breeches and gaiters. Such an individual seated in his arm-chair, his mug of ale frothing on the round table before him, is to be seen in any circuit of five or six miles among these hills, if you go at the right time after dinner. But Mr. Heathcliff forms a singular contrast to his abode and style of living. He is a dark- skinned gipsy in aspect, in dress and manners a gentleman: that is, as much a gentleman as many a country squire: rather slovenly, perhaps, yet not looking amiss with his negligence, because he has an erect and handsome figure; and rather morose. Possibly, some people might suspect him of a degree of under-bred pride; I have a sympathetic chord within that tells me it is nothing of the sort: I know, by instinct, his reserve springs from an aversion to showy displays of feeling - to manifestations of mutual kindliness. He'll love and hate equally under cover, and esteem it a species of impertinence to be loved or hated again. No, I'm running on too fast: I bestow my own attributes over-liberally on him. Mr. Heathcliff may have entirely dissimilar reasons for keeping his hand out of the way when he meets a would-be acquaintance, to those which actuate me. Let me hope my constitution is almost peculiar: my dear mother used to say I should never have a comfortable home; and only last summer I proved myself perfectly unworthy of one.

　　有这样一个主人：一个普通的北方农民，一张古板的脸，一双被绑腿马裤衬托得尤为粗壮的腿，那么房子和家具也就没有什么特别之处了，而且在五六英里外的山上，如果你去的时间恰巧是午饭之后的话，你可以看见他坐在他的扶手椅上，一杯冒着泡沫的啤酒放在他前面的圆桌上。然而希斯克利夫先生却和他的住所和生活方式有着鲜明的对比。他的面容，是一个深肤色的吉普赛人;他的衣着和他的言谈举止，是一个绅士，至少有像其他的乡绅所表现出来的绅士风度：相当散漫，但是他不修边幅的样子还没有到不能忍受的地步，因为他的身材挺拔，外表英俊，只是郁郁寡欢。有可能，有人会把他的态度当作是缺少教养的傲慢，然而我内心同情的只觉却告诉我并不是那么一回事。我的只觉告诉我，他的沉默源于他对张扬感情――互相表示亲热的，友好的厌恶。他默默的爱，默默的恨，却又把被爱和被恨看作是不合时宜的事情。不，我说得太多了，我把自己得喜好强加于他。在见到一个准熟人的时，而把手收起来，希斯克利夫先生可能有完全不同于我的理由。让我期望我的作风总是非常特别：我亲爱的妈妈曾经说过我永远也不会有一个舒适的家;就在去年夏天，我就证实了我的确不配有一个舒适的家。

　　While enjoying a month of fine weather at the sea-coast, I was thrown into the company of a most fascinating creature: a real goddess in my eyes, as long as she took no notice of me. I 'never told my love' vocally; still, if looks have language, the merest idiot might have guessed I was over head and ears: she understood me at last, and looked a return - the sweetest of all imaginable looks. And what did I do? I confess it with shame - shrunk icily into myself, like a snail; at every glance retired colder and farther; till finally the poor innocent was led to doubt her own senses, and, overwhelmed with confusion at her supposed mistake, persuaded her mamma to decamp.

转载请注明出处。