第一章（第8/10页）

至于那些自命不凡的统治阶层，同样是值得奚落的对象。克利福德的父亲，杰弗里爵士，更是荒唐到极点。他伐尽园中的树木，将自家矿场里的工人一股脑地赶上前线，而自己则在后方高枕无忧，高喊救国口号，不过，他也确实为国家慷慨解囊，甚至到了入不敷出的地步。

When Miss Chatterley—Emma—came down to London from the Midlands to do some nursing work, she was very witty in a quiet way about Sir Geoffrey and his determined patriotism. Herbert, the elder brother and heir, laughed outright, though it was his trees that were falling for trench props. But Clifford only smiled a little uneasily. Everything was ridiculous, quite true. But when it came too close and oneself became ridiculous too...? At least people of a different class, like Connie, were earnest about something. They believed in something.

查泰莱家的大小姐艾玛，从中部地区南下伦敦，从事一些医护工作，动身前，就曾气定神闲地对父亲和他那坚定不移的爱国主义大加调侃。而身为继承人的长兄赫伯特，当场报以大笑，虽然那些被砍伐用以修筑战壕的树木是他的财产。而克利福德只是露出点局促不安的微笑。一切都是足可嘲笑的对象，这一点毫无疑问。但当自己身临其境，是否也会沦为笑柄呢……？至少非贵族阶层的人们，比如康妮，还能以诚挚的态度来对待某些事情。他们的心中还存有信仰。

They were rather earnest about the Tommies, and the threat of conscription, and the shortage of sugar and toffee for the children. In all these things, of course, the authorities were ridiculously at fault. But Clifford could not take it to heart. To him the authorities were ridiculous AB OVO, not because of toffee or Tommies.

他们极为关心前线的英国兵，对征兵的威胁感到忧心忡忡，而食糖和乳糖的短缺给孩童们造成的影响，同样让他们惴惴不安。当然，所有这些事的罪魁祸首，是荒唐的当局政府。但克利福德却始终并未因此感到困扰。对他而言，无能的政府才是罪恶的根源，而供应不足的糖果或是浴血奋战的士兵，都并非症结所在。

And the authorities felt ridiculous, and behaved in a rather ridiculous fashion, and it was all a mad hatter's tea-party for a while. Till things developed over there, and Lloyd George came to save the situation over here. And this surpassed even ridicule, the flippant young laughed no more.

连当权者自己也觉得有些荒唐，但其所作所为依然愚蠢透顶，一时间活像是场疯狂的茶话会。直到前方战事日趋紧张，此时劳埃德·乔治（注：英国政治家，1916-1922年任英国首相，对一战的胜利以及战后的欧洲重建，起到过至关重要的作用。）走马上任，才算挽回国内的危局。而这些已经超越可笑的范畴，连愤世嫉俗的青年们也乖乖闭上了嘴。

In 1916 Herbert Chatterley was killed, so Clifford became heir. He was terrified even of this. His importance as son of Sir Geoffrey, and child of Wragby, was so ingrained in him, he could never escape it. And yet he knew that this too, in the eyes of the vast seething world, was ridiculous. Now he was heir and responsible for Wragby. Was that not terrible? and also splendid and at the same time, perhaps, purely absurd? Sir Geoffrey would have none of the absurdity. He was pale and tense, withdrawn into himself, and obstinately determined to save his country and his own position, let it be Lloyd George or who it might. So cut off he was, so divorced from the England that was really England, so utterly incapable, that he even thought well of Horatio Bottomley. Sir Geoffrey stood for England and Lloyd George as his forebears had stood for England and St. George: and he never knew there was a difference. So Sir Geoffrey felled timber and stood for Lloyd George and England, England and Lloyd George.

1916年，赫伯特·查泰莱阵亡，于是克利福德成为继承人。他甚至因此而感到害怕。他深知作为杰弗里爵士的子嗣、拉格比的少主，有着多么重要的意义，他无法回避自己所需肩负的责任。他也清楚这些在广大的处于水深火热中的人们看来，是多么地不着边际。现在他已经成为继承人，要对拉格比负责。这难道不会使人心生畏惧么？充分体验到满足感的同时，当事人同时也会觉得荒谬透顶。但杰弗里爵士却丝毫感觉不到任何荒谬的意味。他面色苍白，总是一副紧张兮兮的神情，一门心思决心拯救他的国家，保住自己的贵族地位。至于在位的究竟是劳埃德·乔治，或是别的什么人，对他而言毫无干系。身处与世隔绝的境地，他跟当今的现实英国社会完全脱节，因此根本就是心有余而力不足，这位爵爷甚至对霍雷肖·博顿利（注：1860-1933，英国金融家，政治骗子，内阁成员）评价颇高。杰弗里爵士支持英国及劳埃德·乔治，与他的先辈拥护祖国和圣乔治（注：260-303，罗马骑兵军官，死后被英格兰等欧洲国家奉为保护圣徒）别无二致，他从来搞不清其中有什么差异。因此，他伐倒自家的树木，为的只是支持劳埃德·乔治与英国，英国与劳埃德·乔治。