(Captain returns with the Baroness and uncle Max. On their way home, Captain sees his children climbing the trees.)

　　Baroness: This really is exciting for me, George, being here with you.

　　C: Trees, lakes, mountains, when you've seen one you've seen them all.

　　Baroness: That is not what I mean and you know it.

　　C: Ah, you mean me. I'm exciting.

　　Baroness: Is that so impossible?

　　C: No, just... er... highly improbable.

　　Baroness: There you go, running yourself down again.

　　C: Well, I'm a dangerous driver.

　　Baroness: You know, you're much less of a riddle when I see you here, George.

　　C: In my natural habitat?

　　Baroness: Yes, exactly.

　　C: Are you trying to say that I'm more at home here, among the birds and the flowers and the wind that moves through the trees like a restless sea.

　　Baroness: How poetic!

　　C: Yes, it was rather, wasn't it? More at home here than in Vienna. In all your glittering salons. Gossiping gaily with balls I detest, soaking myself in Champagne. Stumbling about the Waltzes by Strauss. I can't even remember. Is that what you're trying to say?

　　Baroness: More or less, yes.

　　C: Now, whatever gave you that idea?

　　Baroness: How I do like it here, George. So lovely and peaceful. How can you leave it as often as you do?

　　C: Oh, pretending to be madly active, I suppose. Activity suggests a life filled with purpose.

　　Baroness: Could it be running away from memories?

　　C: Or perhaps just searching for a reason to stay.

　　Baroness: Oh, I hope that's why you've been coming to Vienna so often. Or were there other distractions there?

　　C: Oh, I'd hardly call you a mere distraction, darling.

　　Baroness: Well, what would you call me, George?

　　C: Lovely, charming, witty, graceful. The perfect hostess. And.. er.. you're going to hate me for this: in a way, my savior.

　　Baroness: Oh, how unromantic!

　　C: Well, I would be an ungrateful wretch if I didn't tell you at least once that it was you who brought some meaning back into my life.

　　Baroness: Oh, I am amusing I suppose. And I do have the finest couturier in Vienna. And the most glittering circle of friends. I do give some rather gay parties.

　　C: Oh, yes.

　　Baroness: But take all that away and you have just wealthy unattached little me. Searching just like you.

　　(Maria and the children are rowing a boat along. Seeing the Captain, the children are too excited to balance the boat. All fall into water.)

　　M: Oh, Captain, you're home!

　　C: Come out of that water at once!!

　　M: Oh, you must be Baroness Schneider.

　　C: Straight line! This is Baroness Schneider. And these are my children.

　　Baroness: How do you do.

　　C: All right, go inside, dry off, change your clothes, and report back here. Immediately! Fraulein, you will stay here, please.

　　Baroness: I ... er... think I'd better go see what Max is up to.

　　C: Now, Fraulein. I want a truthful answer from you.

　　M: Yes, Captain?

　　C: Is it possible, or could I have just imagined it. Have my children by any chance been climbing trees today?

　　M: Yes, captain.

　　C: I see. And where, may I ask, did they get these.. er.. these.. er...

　　M: Plainclothes.

　　C: Oh, is that what you call them?

　　M: I made them. From the drapes that used to hang in my bedroom.

　　C: Drapes?

　　M: They still have plenty of wear left. The children have been everywhere in them.

　　C: Do you mean to tell me that my children have been roaming about Salzburg dressed up in nothing but some old drapes?!

　　M: Hmm-mm, and having a marvelous time.

　　C: They have uniforms.

　　M: Straitjackets, if you'll forgive me.

　　C: I will not forgive you for that!

　　M: Children cannot do all the things they're supposed to if they have to worry about spoiling their precious clothes.

　　C: I haven 't heard a complaint yet!

　　M: Well, they wouldn't dare! They love you too much. They fear you too much.

　　C: I don't wish you todiscuss my children in this manner.

　　M: Oh, you've got to hear from someone! You're never home long enough to know them.

　　C: I said I don't want to hear any more from you about my children.

　　M: I know you don't, but you've got to! Now, take Liesl.

　　C: You will not say one word about Liesl, Frauen.

　　M: She's not a child anymore. One of these days you're going to wake up and find she's a woman. You won't even know her. And Frederick. He's a boy but he wants to be a man, like you, and there's no one to show him how!

　　C: Don't you dare tell me about my son!

　　M: Bargitta could tell you, if you'd let her get close to you. She notices everything.

　　C: Fraulein...

　　M: And Kurt pretends he's tough not to show how hurt he is when you brush him aside..

　　C: That will do.

　　M: The way you do all of them. Louisa I don't know about...

　　C: I said that will do!

　　M: But someone has to find out about her, and the little ones just want to be loved! Oh, please, Captain. Love them. Love them all!

　　C: I don't care to hear anything further from you about my children!

　　M: I am not finished yet, Captain!

　　C: Oh, yes you are, Captain Fraulein. Now, you will pace your things this minute and return to the abbey. (Hearing somebody singing.) What's that?

　　M: It's singing.

　　C: Yes, I realize it's singing, but who is singing?

　　M: The children.

　　C: The children?

　　M: I taught them something to sing for the Baroness.

　　(The Captain hurries into the house to see children singing to the Baroness. He smiles and joins them; Maria passes the door when the Captain stops her.)

　　C: Fraulein. I behaved badly. I apologize.

　　M: No, I'm far too outspoken. It's one of my worst faults.

　　C: You were right. I don't know my children.

　　M: There's still time, captain. They want so much to be close to you.

　　C: You've brought music back into the house. I'd forgotten. Fraulein, I want you to stay. I ask you to stay.

　　M: If I could be of any help,.

　　C: You have already. More than you know.

　　(Maria stays happily with the family. She is leading the children in performing an excellent puppet show.)

　　M: Curtain!

　　M plus Children (singing): High on a hill was a lonely goatherd,

　　Loud was the voice of the lonely goatherd,

　　Folks in a town that was quite remote heard,

　　Lusty and clear from the goat-herd's throat heard,

　　A prince on the bridge of a castle moat heard,

　　Men on the road with a load to tote heard,

　　Men in the midst of a table d'hote heard,

　　Men drinking beer with the foam afloat heard,

　　One little girl in a pale pink coat heard,

　　She yodeled back to the lonely goatherd,

　　Soon her mama with a gleaming gloat heard,

　　What a duet for a girl and goatherd.

　　(Repeat)

　　Happy are they,

　　Soon the duet will become a trio.

　　(The Captain highly praises the puppet show and thanks Maria) 转贴于：经典译文考试_考试大

[1] [2] [3] [4]