驻外军人与父亲的家书(1)
Somewhere in France
法国某地
Friday 20th August 1915
1915年8月20 周五
Dear F-
亲爱的F，
Here we are billeted in a splendid little village nestling among the downs about 20 miles from the firing line. It is an awfully nice place – a typical French village about the size of Burwash Wield.
我们驻守在一个环境优美的小村庄里，它在距火线约20英里的山坡处。这地方很不错——是个典型的法国村庄，大小与Burwash Wield相当。
I have the great luck of being billeted with the Mayor, who is also the school master, in his house. I am awfully comfortable, having a feather bed with sheets and a sitting room for 3 of us, the whole place being absolutely spotlessly clean. The old Mayor is a topping old fellow who can’t speak a word of English, but the kindest chap you ever met and awfully funny. He possesses a very pretty daughter – Marcelle – who is awfully nice and we get on very well.
很荣幸，我能和村长住在同一个村庄，他还是学校的校长。我感到非常满足，拥有一张铺着床单的羽绒床和容纳我们三人的客厅，整体环境可以说是一尘不染。老村长虽然一句英语也不会说，但是人缘极好，他是我见过的最善良的家伙，性格幽默。他的女儿马塞勒非常漂亮————十分友好，我们相处地十分融洽。
The old lady too is A1 and they will do anything for me. The only disadvantage is that there is very little food and what there is is very 2nd rate. All the other Regiments have gutted the place, and one can’t get a cigarette for love or money. Our food in the Mess is mostly bully beef and jam.
老太太们也是一等一地和善，她们愿意为我做任何事。唯一的缺点是食物少的可怜，而且难以下咽。其他的军队将这里掠夺一空，无论是利用爱情还是金钱，你都很难买到一支香烟。我们的食物大多是牛肉和果酱。
I can’t of course tell you where this place is, but it is quite near the place I told you I thought we would go. The country is looking awfully nice, with all the crops to get in yet.
我当然不能告诉你这个地方在哪里，这个地方距离我告诉你要去的地方很近。这个国家看起来非常友好，所有的庄稼都还没有收割。
We haven’t had any letters yet since we left, but are hoping that they will arrive tomorrow.
自从离开后我们还未收到过任何信件，不过我希望它们明天就能送达。
Motor bike despatch riders abound here, tearing along at fearsome speeds, and big lorries going “all out”.
骑摩托车的邮递员在这里比比皆是，他们以极快的速度飞驰着，大货车也是“呼啸而过”。
How goes old Vincent?
老文森特近来如何？
The French here are the dirtiest I ever saw, their ideas of hotels are simply unspeakable!! The men talking French are screamingly funny, but they manage to get on very well with the French girls.
这里的法国人是我见过的最肮脏的，他们关于酒店的形容简直羞于启齿!!那些讲法语的男人极其滑稽，但他们与法国女孩相处得很好。
As we have to censor all the letters at our platoon we get some very funny things; also some rather pathetic ones.
因为我们必须审查我们排的所有信件，因此发现一些非常有趣的内容；还有一些悲伤的信息。
The men are sticking it wonderfully considering they haven’t had a square meal since they left England. The idea is I believe that we stay here a fortnight before we go up to the trenches but one can never tell from one moment to the next what is going to happen to one next.
虽然大家离开英国后还没有吃过一顿丰盛的食物，可他们还是奇迹般地坚持下来。我预想的是，在这里呆上两周，然后再前往战壕，但是人们永远无法预知接下来的一刻将会发生什么。
Please send me a pair of my ordinary pyjamas and that stiff hair brush.
请给我寄一件普通睡衣和一把硬毛刷子。
Grayson has discovered a French girl who rather resembles Gaby in appearance and very much so in morals so he is quite happy.
格雷森物色到一位法国女孩，长相和品行像极了加比，他为此很开心。
You might send me out one of those letter block letters and envelopes all in one.
你可以寄给我一封大写印刷体体的信件。
Please remember me to Jerry
请代我问候杰瑞
Much love to yourself
自己保重
John
约翰