The Adventures of Roderick Random — Page 2

بعد تفكير ملي، طمأن الحكيم المنتبه والديّ بأن مولودهما الأول سيكون مسافراً عظيماً؛

The attentive sage, after some deliberation, assured my parents, that their firstborn would be a great traveller;

وأنه سيتعرض لمخاطر وصعوبات جمّة،

that he would undergo many dangers and difficulties,

وأنه في نهاية المطاف سيعود إلى وطنه الأصلي، حيث سيتمتع بالسعادة والمكانة الرفيعة.

and at last return to his native land, where he would flourish in happiness and reputation.

ومدى صدق هذه النبوءة سيتضح في ما يلي من أحداث.

How truly this was foretold will appear in the sequel.

ولم تمضِ فترة طويلة حتى أخبر شخصٌ فضولي جدّي عن صلات مألوفة دارت بين ابنه والخادمة،

It was not long before some officious person informed my grandfather of certain familiarities that passed between his son and housekeeper

مما أقلقه كثيراً، حتى إنه بعد أيام قليلة أخبر أبي بأن الوقت قد حان ليفكر في الاستقرار؛

which alarmed him so much that, a few days after, he told my father it was high time for him to think of settling;

وأنه قد هيّأ له زواجاً مناسباً لا يستطيع بحق أن يعترض عليه.

and that he had provided a match for him, to which he could in justice have no objections.

فأبي، إذ وجد أنه بات من المستحيل إخفاء وضعه أكثر من ذلك، اعترف بصراحة بما فعله؛

My father, finding it would be impossible to conceal his situation much longer, frankly owned what he had done;

واعتذر عن عدم استئذان أبيه بقوله إنه علم أن ذلك لم يكن ليجدي نفعاً؛

and excused himself for not having asked the consent of his father, by saying, he knew it would have been to no purpose;

وأنه لو كانت ميوله قد اتُّضحت، لربما اتخذ جدّي من الإجراءات ما كان سيحول تماماً دون تحقيقها؛

and that, had his inclination been known, my grandfather might have taken such measures as would have effectually put the gratification of it out of his power:

وأضاف أنه لا يمكن الطعن في فضيلة زوجته ونسبها وجمالها وحسن تدبيرها، أما الثروة فهي دون اهتمامه.

he added, that no exceptions could be taken to his wife's virtue, birth, beauty, and good sense, and as for fortune, it was beneath his care.

أما الرجل العجوز، الذي كان يضبط كل عواطفه إلا واحدة بشكل ممتاز، فقد أصغى إليه حتى النهاية بهدوء بالغ،

The old gentleman, who kept all his passions, except one, in excellent order, heard him to an end with great temper,

ثم سأله بهدوء: كيف يعتزم إعالة نفسه وزوجته؟

and then calmly asked, how he proposed to maintain himself and spouse?