Ulysses - Chapter 6
尤利西斯 - 第六章
The newspaper office buzzed with activity as Bloom entered, seeking to place an advertisement for Alexander Keyes. The printing presses rumbled in the background, their mechanical rhythm punctuating every conversation.
布卢姆进入报社办公室时,办公室里一片忙碌,他想为亚历山大·基斯刊登广告。印刷机在背景中隆隆作响,它们的机械节奏为每次对话打上标点。
Journalists and editors crowded the room, discussing the day's news with passionate intensity. They debated politics, sports, and scandal, their voices rising and falling in animated argument. Bloom moved among them, feeling somewhat out of place in their world of words and ideas.
记者和编辑挤满了房间,以热情的强度讨论当天的新闻。他们辩论政治、体育和丑闻,他们的声音在激烈的争论中起伏。布卢姆在他们中间移动,在他们的文字和思想世界中感到有些格格不入。
"Bloom!" someone called. "What brings you here?"
"布卢姆!"有人喊道。"什么风把你吹来了?"
He explained his business, trying to negotiate a good rate for his client's advertisement. The editor listened with half an ear, more interested in the political discussion happening nearby. Bloom persisted, knowing his commission depended on securing this deal.
他解释了他的业务,试图为客户的广告争取一个好价格。编辑心不在焉地听着,更感兴趣的是附近发生的政治讨论。布卢姆坚持着,知道他的佣金取决于确保这笔交易。
Stephen Dedalus appeared, delivering Mr. Deasy's letter about foot-and-mouth disease. The journalists received him warmly, recognizing his literary talent. They engaged him in witty conversation, trading quotations and clever remarks.
斯蒂芬·迪达勒斯出现了,递送迪西先生关于口蹄疫的信。记者们热情地接待他,认可他的文学才华。他们与他进行机智的对话,交换引语和巧妙的评论。
Bloom watched Stephen with interest, sensing a kindred spirit in the young man's isolation. Both of them were outsiders in their own way, observers rather than participants in Dublin's social life.
布卢姆饶有兴趣地看着斯蒂芬,在这个年轻人的孤独中感受到一种志同道合的精神。他们两人都以自己的方式是局外人,是都柏林社会生活的观察者而非参与者。
The conversation turned to rhetoric and oratory, with the men recalling famous speeches and debating the power of language. Words could move nations, they agreed, could inspire people to greatness or drive them to madness.
谈话转向修辞和演讲,男人们回忆著名的演讲,辩论语言的力量。他们一致认为,文字可以感动国家,可以激励人们走向伟大或驱使他们发疯。
As Bloom left the office, his business concluded, he reflected on the strange power of newspapers. They shaped public opinion, created reputations, destroyed careers. In their pages, truth and fiction blended until no one could distinguish between them.
当布卢姆离开办公室时,他的业务已经完成,他反思报纸的奇怪力量。它们塑造公众舆论,创造声誉,摧毁职业生涯。在它们的版面上,真实和虚构混合在一起,直到没有人能区分它们。