《了不起的盖茨比·Chapter V》第18节
When Klipspringer had played “The Love Nest” he turned around on the bench and searched unhappily for Gatsby in the gloom. “I’m all out of practice, you see. I told you I couldn’t play. I’m all out of prac—” “Don’t talk so much, old sport,” commanded Gatsby. “Play!” “In the morning, In the evening, Ain’t we got fun—” Outside the wind was loud and there was a faint flow of thunder along the Sound. All the lights were going on in West Egg now; the electric trains, men-carrying, were plunging home through the rain from New York. It was the hour of a profound human change, and excitement was generating on the air. “One thing’s sure and nothing’s surer The rich get richer and the poor get—children. In the meantime, In between time—” As I went over to say goodbye I saw that the expression of bewilderment had come back into Gatsby’s face, as though a faint doubt had occurred to him as to the quality of his present happiness. Almost five years! There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams—not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything. He had thrown himself into it with a creative passion, adding to it all the time, decking it out with every bright feather that drifted his way. No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man can store up in his ghostly heart.
注释摘要
这一节紧接在盖茨比重逢黛西那情绪大起大落的下午之后。尼克待在盖茨比的豪宅里，被主人强留下来不肯放他走。盖茨比找来寄居在家中的克里普斯普林格弹钢琴，此人就是前面尼克在看房子时撞见的那个穿着睡衣做体操的“房客”。他弹了一首《爱巢》，弹完之后坐在琴凳上，转过身子，满脸不高兴地在昏暗里寻找盖茨比，为自己糟糕的琴技道歉，说“我完全生疏了”。他提到刚才说自己不会弹、完…