neighboring grave, stretches out its green tendrils, and makes some appearance; there rests a very unhappy man, and yet while he lived he might be said to occupy a very good position.
他有足夠的錢維持生活,還有餘錢;但由於他品味高雅,世上哪怕最微不足道的事情也會惹他心煩。
he had enough to live upon, and something to spare; but owing to his refined tastes the least thing in the world annoyed him.
要是他晚上去劇院,他不但不會自得其樂,要是機械師把月亮的一側燈光打得太強,或者舞臺佈景中天空的呈現本該掛在後面卻掛在了前面;或者在表現柏林動物園的場景裡出現了一棵棕櫚樹,或者在描繪蒂羅爾的景色中出現了一棵仙人掌,或者在挪威北部的場景裡出現了一棵山毛櫸樹,他就會非常惱火。
If he went to a theatre of an evening, instead of enjoying himself he would be quite annoyed if the machinist had put too strong a light into one side of the moon, or if the representations of the sky hung over the scenes when they ought to have hung behind them; or if a palm-tree was introduced into a scene representing the Zoological Gardens of berlin, or a cactus in a view of tyrol, or a beech-tree in the north of Norway.
好像這些事情有什麼要緊似的!他為什麼不放過它們呢?誰會為這種瑣事操心呢?尤其是在喜劇演出的時候,大家都指望能在那兒得到娛樂呢。
As if these things were of any consequence! why did he not leave them alone? who would trouble themselves about such trifles? especially at a edy, where every one is expected to be amused.
有時觀眾的掌聲太多或太少,也會讓他不高興。“他們就像溼木頭,” 他會環顧四周看看在場的都是些什麼人,然後說,“今晚,什麼都激不起他們的熱情。”
then sometimes the public applauded too much, or too little, to please him. “they are like wet wood,” he would say, looking round to see what sort of people were present, “this evening; nothing fire