2007.05.16     “精彩对白”

《女王》The Queen

    电影《女王》描写了由戴安娜王妃之死引起的英国王室信誉危机。这段对话中，首相布莱尔措辞小心翼翼，女王则显示了君临天下的威仪和传统捍卫者的面目。

    PM: Good morning, Your Majesty. Sorry to disturb. But I was just wondering whether you have seen any of today’s papers.

    首相：早上好，陛下。抱歉打扰。只是不知您是否已经看了今天的报纸。

    Queen: We’ve managed to look at one or two.Yes.

    女王：倒是看了一两份。是的。

    PM: In which case my next question would be whether you felt some kind of response might be necessary.

    首相：既然这样，我还要问的是，您是否觉得有必要做出某种回应。

    Queen: No. I believe a few over-eager editors are doing their best to sell newspapers…and it would be a mistake to dance to their tune.

    女王：不。我想只是几个热情过度的编辑在全力为他们的报纸打开销路，如果被他们牵着鼻子走就错了。

    PM: Under normal circumstances, I would agree. But, well, my advisers have been taking the temperature among people on the streets, and the information I’m getting is that the mood is quite delicate.

    首相：若是在通常情况下，我同意您的说法。但我的顾问们对百姓进行了调查。据我所知，他们的情绪相当微妙。

    Queen: So what would you suggest, Prime Minister? Some kind of statement?

    女王：那么你有什么建议，首相？发表某种声明吗？

    PM: No, ma’am. I believe the moment for statements has passed. I would suggest flying the flag at half-mast above Buckingham Palace, and coming down to London at the earliest opportunity. It would be a great comfort to your people, and would help them with their grief.

    首相：不，陛下。我想发表声明的时机已经过了。我建议在白金汉宫降半旗，你们也尽快回到伦敦。这对您的人民会是个极大的安慰，还可以帮助他们度过悲痛的时刻。

    Queen: Their grief? If you imagine I can drop everything and come down to London before I attend to my grandchildren who have just lost their mother, then you are mistaken. I doubt if there is anyone who knows the British people more than I do, Mr. Prime Minister, nor who has a greater faith in their wisdom and judgment. And it is my belief that they will at any moment reject this…this “mood”, which is being stirred up by the press, in favour of a period of restrained grief and sober private mourning. That’s the way we do things in this country, quietly, with dignity. It’s what the rest of the world has always admired us for.

    女王：他们悲痛？如果你以为我能不顾刚刚失去母亲的孙子，放下一切去伦敦，那你就错了。我怀疑还有什么人比我更了解英国人民，首相先生，也没有什么人比我更相信他们的智慧和判断力。我坚信他们在任何时候都唾弃这种被新闻界煽动的所谓“情绪”，而会选择悲而有度，有所节制地、默默地悼念亡人。这就是我们英国人做事的方式，平静并保持着尊严。这也正是其他国家对我们的仰慕之处。

语言点：

    dance to someone’s tune原意为按着某人的曲子跳舞，引申为按某人的意志行事，被人牵着鼻子走。

    take the temperature原意是测量温度，这里指调查民意。

    the press新闻界，尤指报纸和杂志。

（本栏目供稿：黄景睿）（阿一2007.09.02摘录自《环球时报》2007.05.16）