這兩章Cohn基本沒有再出現,又回去讀了前面的情節,發現每個人物的形象還是很鮮明的。之前感覺Jacob沒怎么把Cohn當朋友,其實這一態度的轉變還是有個過程的。
最開始的科恩是個靦腆、但很不錯的大男孩。
He was a nice boy, a friendly boy, and very shy, and it made him bitter.
這時“我”是他打網球的球友,還是蠻喜歡他的。對于眼睛只放在Frances一個人身上的科恩,也覺得他單純的可愛。
I rather liked him and evidently she led him quite a life.
不過后來科恩去了趟美國,開了眼界,還迷戀上了情愛書籍,他就不再那么單純善良了,變得有點狂妄,有點自負,應該也是“我”對科恩有點厭煩的開始。
He was more enthusiastic about America than ever, and he was not so simple, and he was not so nice.
所以后來Cohn和“我”談去南美的時候,“我”會覺得他已經固執得無可救藥,會想用去喝杯咖啡的方式不露痕跡地打發他走,會在Frances一直出言不遜的時候默默走開。大概最多也就默念一句God bless you吧。
回到這兩章的內容,主要是Brett離開又回來的前前后后。其實不太理解Brett的做法,帶著各路情人在Jake眼前晃。要離開巴黎,還又依依不舍,美其名曰Better for you, better for me。
Jake對Brett也是無限制地遷就,明明對和她在一起的一幫下流的人感到非常氣憤(I was very angry. Somehow they always made me angry. -- Chapter 3),卻還是違心地說 “It's a fine crowd you're with, Brett.” Brett帶著Mippipopolous伯爵來他家,盡管中途為了Jake想過送伯爵走("I'll send him away."),但 Jake 還要強說"No, don't." 而當Jake送Brett回家時,就算被拒之門外("No, don't come up."),也并無怨言,一句晚安,獨自回家。
而最終Jake還是留她不住,也只能默默地承受,I'm just low, and when I'm low I talked like a fool。 有點自嘲,又帶著無奈。 而Brett自己似乎也只是為了用各種noise來麻痹自己,因為前一刻還很開心,后一秒就會陷入悲痛,從happy到misarable的轉變,應該也算是內心的空虛吧。
Brett消失了,Brett又回來了。反反復復,受折磨的卻是Jake。好不容易因為見不到而平靜了,你又為何再次出現來攪亂那一池春水。重逢后的散步,真不知道Jake對于再次共享夜色心情又如何,或許就是,“我忘了這是第幾次,一見你就無法堅持”的感覺。
心痛比快樂更真實 / 愛為何這樣的諷刺
我忘了這是第幾次 / 一見你就無法堅持
真實-張惠妹 (QQ音樂鏈接)
學點英語
1. draw / puff
# "I like a cigar to really draw," said the count. "Half the cigars you smoke don't draw." (有時候吸煙不過肺,而draw指吸入肺中,真吸)
# He lit the cigar, puffed at it, looking across the table at Brett. (putt就是普通的吸煙,或者吸煙斗)
# draw: to take air or smoke into your lungs 吸入(空氣或煙):
e.g. She drew a deep breath.她深吸了一口氣。
e.g. Ruth paused to draw breath, her voice barely hiding her excitement. 魯絲停下來歇一下,她的嗓音掩飾不住激動的心情。
e.g. He lit his pipe and drew deeply.他點燃了煙斗,大口吸了起來。
# puff: also puff away to breathe in and out while smoking a cigarette or pipe 抽(香煙或煙斗):
puff at / on
e.g. Kinane sat in silence, puffing thoughtfully at his pipe. 基南默默地坐著,若有所思地抽著煙斗。
2. tuck
The count was tucking in his shirt. (把襯衫掖進褲腰里)
3. Come off it!
"Oh, come off it," Brett said. (別胡說)
4. chalk up
... chalked up the same as ever on a slate (記賬)
# chalk up: to record what someone has done, what someone should pay etc 記下〔某人所做的事、所欠的賬等〕
[+to] e.g. You can chalk the drinks up to my account.你可以把酒錢記到我的賬上。
5. 幾個句子
# The count stood up, unbuttoned his vest, and opened his shirt. He pulled up the undershirt onto his chest and stood, his chest black, and big stomach muscles bulging under the light. (又是一連串動詞短句)
# Food had an excellent place in the count's values.
# We crossed to the left bank of the Seine by the wooden foot-bridge from the Quai de Bethune, and stopped on the bridge and looked down the river at Notre Dame. Standing on the bridge the island looked dark, the houses were high against the sky, and the trees were shadows. (共享夜色)
# He was standing talking with Brett, who was sitting on a high stool, her legs crossed. She had no stockings on.
LIna
2017.3.7