Gentlemen's Clubs 紳士俱樂部
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The script of this programme 本節目臺詞
John: Hi, and welcome to On the Town from BBC Learning English. I’m John.
Chen Li: And I’m Chen Li。今天，我們要去探訪只有在倫敦才會找得到的一些獨特的俱樂部，它們就是高級的私人紳士俱樂部。Private gentlemen’s clubs. What’s special about them John?
John: Well, these are very old clubs and they’ve been open for more than 100 years. They are usually found in very old and traditional buildings in central London, and they might have a bar, and quite often they will have their own library, restaurant, and also bedrooms.
Chen Li: 他們歷史悠久， they are old, 他們給會員提供配套的服務設施，通常包括一個酒吧，a bar，一間圖書館 a library，同時還可能有供休息的臥房以及餐廳。So John, why does London have these clubs?
John: Good question Li. They date back to the eighteenth century, and they started life as coffee houses where actors, political leaders, and sometimes members of the Royal Family would mix together and discuss the latest news and gossip.
Many gentlemen's clubs were set up in the Victorian times
Chen Li: So the clubs have a long history.
John: Yes, that’s right.
Chen Li: 開始時，它僅僅是個咖啡屋，coffee houses. 當時所有政壇以及文壇的主要人物和代表都聚集一堂，談論當天發生的新聞以及傳言。
John: Today things have changed quite a lot, but the gentlemen’s clubs in London are still very traditional, and have a very special atmosphere.
Chen Li: 下面是羅納德哈烏德的談話，他是個演員兼作家，同時也是卡里克俱樂部的會員。
One of the most enchanting things about The Garrick, is that the moment you enter those doors, one is beguiled by the peace of the place. The club was founded, so the story goes, so that actors could meet gentlemen, and learn how to behave. Nowadays I think that the balance has reversed. I think the gentlemen rather like meeting the actors, and catching some of that glamour.
Ronald Harwood, a member of the Garrick club
John: Ronald Harwood, a member of the prestigious Garrick Club in London. Did you notice there that Ronald said how people are beguiled by the peace of his club?
Chen Li: Yes, but what does beguiled mean, John?
John: It means to trick.
Chen Li: 羅納德說人們受到卡里克俱樂部平和表象的誘惑，beguiled 或者說被蒙騙了，這個俱樂部原本是為那些演員設立的，讓他們結交紳士，學習禮貌的行為和優雅的舉止。
John: Now though, it's the gentlemen who like to learn from the actors!
Chen Li: Yes, they like the glamour。如今的紳士們反過來，希望從那些演員身上了解他們充滿魅力的生活方式。OK John, what else can you tell me about the atmosphere in these clubs? 那就讓我們來聽聽更多的有關這種俱樂部情況的介紹吧。
John: Here’s Arthur Garret, a member of a club called The National Liberal Club. He starts by talking about ‘relics’…
Chen Li: 遺風遺俗。
John: …and, the smoking room.
Chen Li: 吸煙室。
Clubs have got what I would call relics. For example there are paintings and things like this of famous members. In the Liberal Club for example, there’s that well-known renegade Winston Churchill who stands in the hall – because in better times he was a liberal. I remember when I used to go along with my father, there were certain chairs in the smoking room that certain people did sit in. They’d sat in them for forty years and so on, and this was considered to be their right. I don’t think this exists anymore. I don’t see any trace of it in the clubs I’m a member of.
Arthur Garret, a member of The National Liberal Club
Chen Li: Wow! John, it seems to me that these clubs are from another world. 這些俱樂部好像來自和我們完全不同的一個世界。
John: Yes, well that’s what a lot of people say. We might say they are from a bygone age – as if they are from another time in history, but have somehow kept their old fashioned traditions alive.
Chen Li: They are from a bygone age. 是的，這些俱樂部非常古老，old fashioned, 他們來自歷史上的某個時期,來自過去的年代a bygone age. 我在想那些在當代社會，加入這些古老俱樂部的人，是不是也是過時的人呢？
John: Here’s Basil Boothroyd, he’s a member of “The Savage” club.
Chen Li: Basil 談到英國的一些國王曾經也是這個俱樂部的會員，還有當今英國女王的丈夫菲利普親王，他也是其中一員。
All kings have been honorary members. Prince Philip of course is a member, and comes along from time to time.
Basil Boothroyd, a member of The Savage club
Chen Li: 原來，英國女王的丈夫也是薩維奇俱樂部的會員，這個俱樂部有名，在于它擁有一些名譽會員。
John: So Li, if you want to meet influential people, a private London club is the place for you to join! Thanks for coming in to chat about these clubs. Bye for now.
Chen Li: Bye!
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