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 saucy 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 dallied in Monroe, Louisiana, and Pine Bluff, 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 crafty 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 Ranger.

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 bounty.

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 mutual 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 eluded 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 retired 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。