Before the poor wretch had time to speak, he was shot.

这个可怜的人，还没来得及开口就中弹了。

《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》

The poor wretch lost all his money.

这可怜的人所有的钱都丢了。

youdao

The poor wretch took to drink at a very early age.

这个可怜虫很小就开始喝酒上瘾。

youdao

Who cannot feel for the poor wretch, down on his knees, begging forgiveness "in his tailcoat of Narvarino smoke and flame, in his velvet waistcoat and new trousers, with his satin necktie and carefully groomed hair from which emanated the fresh smell of eau de Cologne"?

WSJ: Surveying the Surging Immensity of Life | Dead Souls | Nikolai Gogol | By Joseph Epstein