書蟲四級《紅字》：5.絞刑臺上的一晚

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5．A night on the scaffold

5．絞刑臺上的一晚

After this discovery, Roger Chillingworth's plan slowly changed. Although he appeared calm and gentle, without passion, there was inside him a deep, slow-burning cruelty, an evil wish to bring a terrible revenge on his enemy. The priest's guilty sadness was a weapon in his merciless hands. Every day he played, like a cat with a mouse, with the fear and the shame lying hidden in the young man's soul.

自從這個發(fā)現(xiàn)之后，羅杰·奇林沃思的計劃開始慢慢改變。他雖然表面上平靜、溫和、不露聲色，然而心中卻深深埋藏著深重的惡意，準備向敵人發(fā)起無情的復仇。牧師那帶有罪惡感的悲痛在他殘忍的手中成為一件武器。他每天就像貓捉老鼠一樣，玩弄著深藏在那個青年靈魂深處的恐懼和羞恥。

But on the outside he was still a friend, kindly and smiling. Arthur Dimmesdale could feel something evil watching him, but he did not know what it was. He looked with doubt and fear—at times even with hate—at the figure of the old doctor; then he would punish himself for these unkind thoughts, blaming them on the guilt and shame eating away at his heart.

但表面看來他依舊是牧師的朋友，總是和和氣氣地微笑著。阿瑟·丁梅斯代爾可以感覺到有一種邪惡的東西在窺視他，但是又不明所以。他帶著疑惑與恐懼——有時甚至是憎恨——盯著老醫(yī)生的身影；但緊接著他又會為這種不友善的想法而懲罰自己，認為這是侵蝕自己內心的負罪感和羞恥在作祟。

And all this black trouble in his soul had made him more famous and popular as a priest than ever. To the people in his church, he seemed very close to God, a man full of gentleness and understanding of the pain and suffering of others.

這些陰暗的念頭困擾著他的靈魂，反而使他成了一位比以往更出名、更受歡迎的牧師。對于他的教眾來說，他幾近乎上帝；他和善溫順、對他人的痛苦和不幸充滿了理解。

More than once, Mr Dimmesdale prepared himself to speak to his people about the black secret of his soul. More than once he stood in front of them in church, took a deep breath, and told them... what? He told them he was the worst of sinners, hateful, dishonest, unclean, an evil thing in the sight of God. But did they understand? No! They listened, and then told each other how lucky they were to have a man like this for their priest. Only a strong and godly man, they said, could speak so openly about his weaknesses.

不止一次，丁梅斯代爾先生準備向他的教眾傾吐靈魂深處那陰暗的秘密。在教堂中，他不止一次站在他們面前，深吸一口氣，告訴他們……告訴他們什么呢？說他是個罪孽無比深重的人，可惡、虛偽、不潔凈，是上帝眼中邪惡的化身。但是他們明白他的意思了嗎？沒有！他們聽完后只是互相議論，說有這樣一個牧師是多么幸運的事。他們說，只有一個堅定和虔誠的人才會這樣坦誠地談論自身的軟弱。

Arthur Dimmesdale could find no peace in his heart. He could not sleep at night, but would sit staring at his face in a mirror, hour after hour. Often, as he looked, his own face would be replaced by the accusing faces of others—dead friends from long ago, his white-bearded father, his mother. And worst of all, Hester Prynne, walking with little Pearl and pointing her finger first at the scarlet letter on her bosom, and then at the priest's own chest.

阿瑟·丁梅斯代爾無法求得內心的平靜。他晚上無法入睡，只能長時間地坐在鏡子前盯著自己的臉。他常?？粗粗桶l(fā)現(xiàn)自己的臉變成了一些責備的面孔——那是很久以前逝去的朋友們，他那須發(fā)花白的父親，還有他的母親。最折磨人的是，還有赫斯特·普林，她帶著珍珠走來，先用手指指著胸口的紅字，然后又指指牧師的胸口。

One sleepless summer night, seven years from the time when Hester stood in public shame on the scaffold, the priest sat up suddenly in his chair. An idea had come to him.

在一個難以入睡的夏日夜晚，此時距赫斯特站在絞刑臺上當眾受辱已經(jīng)七年了，牧師從椅子上突然坐直。一個新的念頭在他心中油然而生。

There might be a moment's peace in it,' he said to himself, and softly went down the stairs and out into the night.

“這樣也許會獲得片刻寧靜?！彼麑ψ约赫f，然后躡手躡腳地走下樓梯，走進夜色中。

He walked silently through the dark streets to the place of Hester Prynne's first hours of public shame—the scaffold. The priest went up the steps to the platform.

他悄無聲息地穿過漆黑的街道，來到當初赫斯特·普林最早公開受辱的地點——絞刑臺。牧師沿著臺階走上平臺。

It was midnight, and the town was asleep. Clouds covered the sky, and Mr Dimmesdale could stand there until morning without fear of discovery. Why, then, was he here? What had made him come? Guilt? Shame? He did not know. But a feeling of great horror went through his whole body, and he cried out a terrible scream, which echoed through the night, from one house to another and to the hills beyond the town.

此時正當午夜，整個城鎮(zhèn)都在睡夢之中。陰云籠罩著夜空，丁梅斯代爾在那兒站到早上都不用擔心被人發(fā)覺?？伤麨槭裁磿谶@兒呢？是什么驅使他來的呢？是負疚感，還是羞恥心？他不知道。但是一種巨大的恐懼貫穿了他的整個身體，他發(fā)出了一聲恐怖的喊叫，這喊叫在黑夜中回蕩，從一戶人家傳到另一戶人家，一直傳到小鎮(zhèn)遠處的叢山之中。

It is done!' whispered the priest, covering his face with his hands. 'The whole town will wake up and find me here.'

“這下完了！”牧師用雙手遮住臉，喃喃自語道，“全鎮(zhèn)的人都會驚醒，發(fā)現(xiàn)我在這兒?！?

But the people of the town did not wake up, or if they did, they imagined the cry was something which came from their dreams. When he heard no sounds of feet hurrying towards him, the young priest uncovered his eyes and looked around. At a window in Governor Bellingham's house, which was not far away, he saw the Governor himself, in his white nightshirt, with a light in his hand.

但是鎮(zhèn)上的人并沒有驚醒，就算醒了，也會誤以為這喊叫是夢中發(fā)生的事情。年輕的牧師沒有聽見任何匆匆趕來的腳步聲，便不再捂著眼，開始四下張望。不遠處是貝林厄姆總督的宅邸，他看到穿著白色睡衣的總督從窗口探出頭來，手中拿著一盞燈。

He looks like a ghost,' thought Mr Dimmesdale. And after a moment, the light disappeared from the window.

“他看起來像鬼魂一樣?！倍∶匪勾鸂栂壬?。過了一會兒，那盞燈從窗口消失了。

The priest became calmer. Then he noticed another light, coming towards him along the street. As it came nearer, he saw that the person carrying it was the old priest, Mr Wilson.

牧師漸漸平靜下來。接著，他注意到又有一點燈光正沿街逐漸向他靠近。燈光越來越近，他看到舉著燈的正是老牧師威爾遜先生。

He has been praying at the bedside of some dying man,' thought Mr Dimmesdale.

“他一定是剛從某個垂死的人的床邊祈禱歸來?！倍∶匪勾鸂栂壬?。

And so he had. The old priest was now on his way home from the death-bed of Mr Winthrop, who had just died.

事實果然如此。溫斯羅普先生剛剛去世，老牧師正在回家的路上。

As Mr Wilson passed by the scaffold, Mr Dimmesdale found it difficult not to speak...

當威爾遜先生走過絞刑臺時，丁梅斯代爾先生忍不住要脫口而出……

Good evening to you, Father! Please come up and spend a pleasant hour with me!'

“晚上好，神父！請你上來陪我好好待上一小時吧！”

Good heavens! Had Mr Dimmesdale actually spoken? For one moment he believed that these words had passed his lips, but he had only imagined them. Mr Wilson walked on, looking ahead, not once turning towards the platform.

天??！丁梅斯代爾先生當真說出聲了嗎？一剎那間，他覺得這些話確實已經(jīng)說出了口，其實那只是他的想象。威爾遜先生依舊朝前走去，眼睛看向前方，根本沒朝絞刑臺這邊轉過來。

I shall be too cold to move soon,' Mr Dimmesdale thought. 'I won't even be able to walk down the steps.' Crazy pictures passed before his eyes. 'Someone will find me here in the early morning, and will run around knocking on doors. Everyone will hurry out in their night-clothes—Governor Bellingham, with his buttons undone; his sister, mad Mistress Hibbins, staring with her wild eyes; and good Father Wilson too, tired after spending half the night at a death-bed. Yes, everyone in the world will come running! And who will they see? They will see their priest, half-frozen to death, covered with shame, and standing where Hester Prynne once stood!'

“我一會兒就會凍僵的。”丁梅斯代爾先生想，“怕是連臺階都下不去了?！币恍┋偪竦漠嬅骈W現(xiàn)在他眼前?！耙淮笤缇蜁腥丝吹轿以谶@里，接著就會跑去挨家挨戶地敲門。每個人都會匆匆忙忙地穿著睡衣跑過來——貝林厄姆總督肯定連扣子都來不及扣就跑出來；他的姐姐，瘋女人希賓斯會瞪圓那雙粗野的眼睛；好心的威爾遜神父也會來的，他在死者的床邊熬了半夜，肯定疲憊不堪。是的，世上所有人都會跑過來。他們會看到誰呢？他們的牧師——凍得半死，正滿面羞慚地站在赫斯特·普林曾經(jīng)示眾的地方！”

Now he began to laugh, loudly and wildly, unable to stop himself. Then he heard an answering laugh—a child's laugh—and his heart jumped. It was little Pearl.

這時牧師開始狂笑起來，笑得無可遏止。忽然他聽到了一聲回應——一個小孩子的笑聲——他的心提了起來：那是小珍珠。

Pearl!' he cried. 'Little Pearl!' Then more softly, 'Hester! Hester Prynne, are you there?'

“珍珠！”他喊道，“小珍珠！”然后他柔聲叫道：“赫斯特！赫斯特·普林！是你在那兒嗎？”

Yes, it is me,' Hester Prynne replied. She sounded surprised. 'It is me, and my little Pearl.'

“是的，是我?！焙账固亍て樟执饝?，語調中充滿詫異?！笆俏遥€有我的小珍珠?！?

Where have you come from, Hester?' he asked.

“你從哪里來，赫斯特？”牧師問道。

From Mr Winthrop's death-bed,' she said. 'I've measured him for his burial-clothes, and I am now going home.'

“從溫斯羅普先生家里，”赫斯特·普林回答說，“我給他量了尺寸做壽衣，現(xiàn)在正回家去?！?

Come up here, Hester, you and little Pearl,' said the priest. 'You have both been here before, but I was not with you. Come up now, and all three of us shall stand together.'

“上這兒來吧，赫斯特，你，還有小珍珠?！蹦翈熣f，“你們母女倆以前都曾在這兒待過，可是我當時沒和你們在一起。上來吧，這樣我們三個人就站在一起了！”

Hester silently climbed up the steps and stood on the platform, holding Pearl's hand. The priest found and held the child's other hand, and immediately felt a warm, strong feeling in his heart, filling it with new life.

赫斯特牽著珍珠的手默默地踏上臺階，站到了臺上。牧師摸到孩子的另一只手，握在自己手里。他立刻感到一種溫暖、強烈的感覺涌入心房，仿佛注入了新的生命力。

Pearl looked up at the priest. 'Will you stand here with mother and me tomorrow, Mr Dimmesdale?' she whispered.

珍珠抬起頭看著牧師，悄聲問道：“明天你也跟媽媽和我一塊兒站在這兒嗎，丁梅斯代爾先生？”

No, my little Pearl,' answered the priest. The moment of passionate feeling had passed. Already, he was trembling, and all his fear of public shame had returned. 'I shall stand with you and your mother one day, but not tomorrow.'

“不，我的小珍珠?！蹦翈熁卮鹫f。瞬間的激情消失了，他顫栗起來，對當眾蒙羞的種種恐懼又重新回到他的心頭?！翱傆幸惶欤視銒寢尯湍阏驹谝黄?，不過明天還不成。”

When?' Pearl asked. 'What day?' She tried to pull her hand away from the priest's.

“什么時候？”珍珠問道，“哪一天？”她極力想把手從牧師手里抽出來。

The great judgment day,' he whispered. 'Then, and there, your mother and I must stand together. But not before then; not in the daylight of this world.'

“在最后審判日?！蹦翈煹吐曊f，“到了那一天，你媽媽，還有我，必須站在一起。但在那之前不行，在這個世界的光天化日之下是不行的！”

Before he had finished speaking, a light appeared, far and wide in the night sky. It was almost certainly caused by a meteor, and it lit up the whole street like day. And there stood the priest, with his hand over his heart; and Hester Prynne, with the scarlet letter on her bosom; and little Pearl standing between these two, looking up at the priest with a playful smile. She pointed across the street, but he put both his hands across his chest and looked up at the sky.

丁梅斯代爾先生還沒說完，夜空中便遠遠地閃過一道寬闊的亮光。那無疑是一顆流星，將整條街道照得如同白晝一般。牧師就站在那兒，手捂著心口；赫斯特·普林也站在那兒，胸前戴著紅字；還有小珍珠，站在他們中間，調皮地笑著，抬頭看著牧師。她指指街道對面。但牧師雙手交叉捂在胸前，仰望著天空。

However, he knew that little Pearl was pointing her finger at a man standing near the scaffold—Roger Chillingworth. Did the priest see him too? Or, in the strange unearthly light, did he see only the evil smile, the hate behind the eyes, and believe that he was seeing the Devil himself?

然而，他知道小珍珠指的是站在絞刑臺近旁的一個人——那是羅杰·奇林沃思。牧師也看見他了嗎？或者，在這神異的光亮中，他只看到了那獰笑，那眼底的恨意，并由此認為看到了魔鬼的真身？

The meteor disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared. Mr Dimmesdale, now trembling with terror, said, 'Who is that man, Hester? Do you know him? I hate him, Hester!'

流星又突然消失了，就如它突然出現(xiàn)一樣。丁梅斯代爾先生恐懼得發(fā)抖：“那個人是誰，赫斯特？你認識他嗎？我恨他，赫斯特！”

She remembered her promise, and was silent.

她記起了她的諾言，默不作聲。

Who is he? Who is he?' cried Mr Dimmesdale. 'Can you do nothing for me? I have a horror of the man!'

“他是誰？他是誰？”丁梅斯代爾先生喊著，“你就這樣袖手旁觀？我對這個人害怕極了！”

I can tell you who he is,' said little Pearl.

“我能告訴你他是誰?！毙≌渲檎f。

Quickly, then, child,' said the priest. 'Whisper to me!'

“那就快說吧，孩子?！蹦翈熣f道，“小聲對我說！”

But the child whispered meaningless words into the priest's ear, and laughed.

但是這個孩子在他耳邊嘀咕了幾個莫名其妙的詞，就笑起來。

Why are you playing games with me?' said the priest.

“你為什么要拿我開心？”牧師說。

You would not promise to hold my hand, and my mother's hand, here tomorrow,' replied the child.

“因為你不愿意答應明天在這里拉著我和媽媽的手！”孩子回答道。

The doctor was now by the platform. 'Mr Dimmesdale!' he said. 'Have you been walking in your sleep? Come, my dear friend, let me take you home.'

這時醫(yī)生已走到平臺下?！岸∶匪勾鸂栂壬?！”他說，“你是在夢游嗎？來吧，我親愛的朋友，讓我?guī)慊丶摇！?

How did you know I was here?' asked the priest, fearfully.

“你怎么會知道我在這兒？”牧師驚懼地問。

I did not know,' said Chillingworth. 'I have been with Mr Winthrop, doing what little I could for a dying man. Now I am on my way home. Come with me, please, or you will not be well enough to do your work tomorrow. You should not study so hard, good sir!'

“我并不知道?！逼媪治炙蓟卮穑拔乙恢痹跍厮沽_普先生那兒，盡我所能為一個垂死的人盡點綿薄之力。現(xiàn)在正要回去。請跟我走吧，不然明天你會不舒服，沒法工作了。你不該那么刻苦地鉆研學問，親愛的先生。”

I will go home with you,' said Mr Dimmesdale, defeated. And, like someone waking up from an ugly dream, he followed the doctor back to their house.

“我跟你一起回家。”丁梅斯代爾先生垂頭喪氣地說，好似失魂落魄一般。他就像剛從噩夢中驚醒一樣，跟著醫(yī)生回住處去了。