John: Hi, and welcome to On the Town from BBC Learning English. I’m John.

Chen Li: And I’m Chen Li。今天，我们要去探访只有在伦敦才会找得到的一些独特的俱乐部，它们就是高级的私人绅士俱乐部。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: 他们历史悠久， they are old, 他们给会员提供配套的服务设施，通常包括一个酒吧，a bar，一间图书馆 a library，同时还可能有供休息的卧房以及餐厅。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.

Chen Li: So the clubs have a long history.

John: Yes, that’s right.

Chen Li: 开始时，它仅仅是个咖啡屋，coffee houses. 当时所有政坛以及文坛的主要人物和代表都聚集一堂，谈论当天发生的新闻以及传言。

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: 下面是罗纳德哈乌德的谈话，他是个演员兼作家，同时也是卡里克俱乐部的会员。

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: 罗纳德说人们受到卡里克俱乐部平和表象的诱惑，beguiled 或者说被蒙骗了，这个俱乐部原本是为那些演员设立的，让他们结交绅士，学习礼貌的行为和优雅的举止。

John: Now though, it's the gentlemen who like to learn from the actors!

Chen Li: Yes, they like the glamour。如今的绅士们反过来，希望从那些演员身上了解他们充满魅力的生活方式。OK John, what else can you tell me about the atmosphere in these clubs? 那就让我们来听听更多的有关这种俱乐部情况的介绍吧。

John: Here’s Arthur Garret, a member of a club called The National Liberal Club. He starts by talking about ‘relics’…

Chen Li: 遗风遗俗。

John: …and, the smoking room.

Chen Li: 吸烟室。

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. 这些俱乐部好像来自和我们完全不同的一个世界。

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，这些俱乐部非常古老，old fashioned, 他们来自历史上的某个时期,来自过去的年代a bygone age. 我在想那些在当代社会，加入这些古老俱乐部的人，是不是也是过时的人呢？

John: Here’s Basil Boothroyd, he’s a member of “The Savage” club.

Chen Li: Basil 谈到英国的一些国王曾经也是这个俱乐部的会员，还有当今英国女王的丈夫菲利普亲王，他也是其中一员。

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: 原来，英国女王的丈夫也是萨维奇俱乐部的会员，这个俱乐部有名，在于它拥有一些名誉会员。

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!