精彩对白

LeBoeuf: My name is LeBoeuf. I've just come from Yell County.

Mattie Ross: We have no rodeo clowns in Yell County.

LeBoeuf: A saucy¹ line will not get you far with me. I saw your mother yesterday mornin'. She said for you to come right on home.

Mattie Ross: What was your business there?

LeBoeuf: This is a man I think you know. You called him Tom Chaney, I believe, though in the months I have been tracking him he has used the name, Theron Chelmsford, John Todd Andersen, and others. He dallied² in Monroe, Louisiana, and Pine Bluff³, Arkansas before turnin' up at your father’s place.

Mattie Ross: And why did you not catch him in Pine Bluff, Arkansas or Monroe, Louisiana?

LeBoeuf: He is a crafty⁴ one.

Mattie Ross: I thought him slow-witted myself.

LeBoeuf: That was his act.

Mattie Ross: It was a good one.

Mattie Ross: Are you some kind of law?

LeBoeuf: That’s right. I am a Texas Ranger⁵.

Mattie Ross: That may make you a big noise in that state; in Arkansas you should mind that your Texas trappings and title do not make you an object of fun. Why have you been ineffectually pursuing Chaney?

LeBoeuf: He shot and killed a state senator named Bibbs in Waco, Texas. Bibbs family put out a reward.

Mattie Ross: Well, how came Chaney to shoot a state senator?

LeBoeuf: My understanding is there was an argument about a dog. You know anything about where Chaney has gone?

Mattie Ross: He is in the Territory, and I hold out little hope for you earning your bounty⁶.

LeBoeuf: Why is that?

Mattie Ross: My man will beat you to it. I have hired a deputy marshal, the toughest one they have, and he is familiar with the Lucky Ned Pepper gang that they say Chaney has tied up with.

LeBoeuf: Well, I will throw in with you and your marshal.

Mattie Ross: No. Marshal Cogburn and I are fine.

LeBoeuf: It’ll be to our mutual⁷ advantage. Your marshal I presume knows the Territory; I know Chaney. It is at least a two-man job taking him alive.

Mattie Ross: When Chaney is taken he is coming back to Fort Smith to hang. I am not having him go to Texas to hang for shooting some senator.

LeBoeuf: It is not important where he hangs, is it?

Mattie Ross: It is to me. Is it to you?

LeBoeuf: Well, it means a great deal of money to me. It’s been many months’ work.

Mattie Ross: Well, I’m sorry that you are paid piecework not on wages, and that you have been eluded⁸ the winter long by a halfwit.

LeBoeuf: You give out very little sugar with your pronouncements. While I sat there watching you I gave some thought to stealing a kiss, though you are very young and sick and unattractive to boot, but now I have a mind to give you five or six good licks with my belt.

Mattie Ross: Well, one would be as unpleasant as the other. If you wet your comb, it might tame that cowlick.

妙语佳句 活学活用

1. rodeo clown： 马场小丑，竞技场小丑。Rodeo指的是（参加）牛仔竞技表演。这里是对LeBoeuff的讽刺。

2. saucy: 俏皮的。或者无礼的，莽撞的。

比如：That's a saucy answer to give your mother.（那样回答你母亲是无礼的。）

3. Are you some kind of law: 你是司法界的人吗？

4. ranger: 突击队员，巡逻骑兵，也可以指游荡的人。

比如：I'm a retired⁹ U.S. Army Ranger and a combat veteran.（我是美国突击队的退役队员 还是个经验丰富的老兵。）

5. a big nose: 耸人听闻的事实或声明。也可以指“包打听”。

Frank said I have a big nose. I wonder what the means. 弗兰克说我是“包打听”。我想知道这是什么意思？

6. beat someone to it: 捷足先登，占某人上风。这里Mattie是说自己雇的警官会先抓到凶手。

7. halfwit: 傻瓜，笨蛋。

8. steal a kiss: 偷吻，冷不防接个吻。

9. to boot: 除此之外。

例如：He not only got fifty dollars, but they bought him dinner to boot.（他不仅得了50美元，而且他们还请他吃了顿饭。）

10. cowlick: 额前蓬乱的一绺头发。美语。