書蟲四級《紅字》：9.逃亡
9．Escape
9．逃亡
On the morning of Election Day, when the townspeople came together to meet their newly elected Governor, Hester Prynne came into the market-place in her usual dress of grey cloth, with the scarlet letter on her bosom. The quiet, sad look on her face hid the excitement deep inside her. Who in the crowd could guess her thoughts that day?
選舉日那天早晨，當(dāng)鎮(zhèn)上的居民都聚集起來，迎接新當(dāng)選的總督時，赫斯特·普林也來到市場。和往常一樣，她仍然穿著那身灰色的衣服，胸前戴著紅字。她臉上那種平靜而憂傷的表情深深隱藏了心底里的激動。熙熙攘攘的人群中，又有誰知道她的想法呢？
Look for the last time at the scarlet letter and its wearer! In a little while I will be beyond your reach! I will be free, and the scarlet letter of shame, which has burned on my bosom for seven long years, will lie for ever at the bottom of the sea!
最后看一眼這紅字和佩戴紅字的人吧！再過一小會兒，我就會遠(yuǎn)走高飛了！我要自由了，這個在我胸前灼燒了七年的代表恥辱的紅字，將永遠(yuǎn)埋葬在海底。
Little Pearl, sensitive to her mother's excitement without knowing the reason for it, was dancing along at Hester's side, singing or giving happy little shouts.
小珍珠敏感地覺察到母親的興奮，盡管她并不知道原因。她在母親身旁邊跳邊唱，快樂地輕聲叫喊著。
Why are the people not working today, Mother?' she asked, when she saw the crowd in the market-place. 'And look how many strangers there are here today—Indians and sailors among them. What is everyone waiting for?'
“為什么今天每個人都不干活兒了呢，媽媽？”當(dāng)她看到聚集在市場上的人群時，這樣問道，“看，今天在這兒有很多陌生人，其中還有印第安人和水手。大家都在等誰呢？”
They are waiting to see the new Governor go past,' answered Hester. 'And the magistrates and the priests, and all the great and good people, with the soldiers marching in front of them to the music.'
“他們在等新任的總督經(jīng)過。”赫斯特說，“官員和牧師們也要從這里走過去，還有所有的大人物和好心人，前面要有士兵踩著音樂的拍子開路呢?！?
Will Mr Dimmesdale be there?' asked Pearl. 'Will he hold out both his hands to me, as he did that day in the forest?'
“丁梅斯代爾先生會來嗎？”珍珠問，“他會朝我伸出雙手，就像那天在樹林里那樣嗎？”
He will be there, child,' said Hester. 'But he will not speak to you today, and you must not speak to him.'
“他會來的，孩子。”她母親回答，“但是他今天不會跟你說話，你也不能招呼他?！?
What a strange, sad man he is,' said the child. 'He held your hand and mine at night on the scaffold, and again in the forest. But here on this sunny day, among all the people, he does not know us, and we must not speak to him. What a strange, sad man, with his hand always over his heart.'
“他真是個憂傷的怪人！”孩子說，“那天夜里，他握住你和我的手，一起站在絞刑臺上。在樹林里，他也這樣做了?？墒墙裉礻柟膺@么明媚，又有這么多人，他卻不認(rèn)識我們，我們也不能和他說話！他真是個憂傷的怪人，總是用手捂著心口！”
Be quiet, Pearl!' said Hester. 'You don't understand these things. Don't think about the priest. Look around, and see how happy everyone is today, on this holiday.'
“別作聲，珍珠！”赫斯特說，“你不明白這些事情。別想著牧師了，往周圍看看吧，看看大伙在今天這個節(jié)日有多高興?！?
And it was true. Most people were smiling, and there was a lot of talk and laughter. The sailors from the Spanish ship, with their sunburnt faces and long beards, were noisier than most. They shouted and laughed, and drank wine from bottles. Sailors in those days obeyed only the laws of the sea, and were allowed to do much as they liked on land. Even the Puritans smiled at their noisy ways.
赫斯特說的不錯。多數(shù)人臉上都帶著笑意，四周都是聊天聲和笑聲。從西班牙的船上下來的水手鬧得最歡，他們的臉都被太陽曬傷了，胡子老長。他們又叫又笑，拿著酒瓶子喝酒。那個時代的水手只遵循海上的法令，一旦上了陸地，就可以為所欲為。甚至連清教徒都對他們這種鬧哄哄的方式表示寬容。
So it was no surprise to anyone to see a respectable man like old Roger Chillingworth come into the market-place, speaking with the captain of the ship.
所以，當(dāng)人們看到老羅杰·奇林沃思這樣一位可敬的人走進(jìn)市場，和那艘船的船長交談時，也并不感到驚訝。
Moments later, when the two men went their separate ways, the captain walked across to Hester Prynne. As usual, people avoided standing near her, which meant that she and the captain could talk privately.
一會兒工夫，二人各自走開了。船長踱過市場，來到赫斯特·普林站的地方。和往常一樣，人們避免離赫斯特太近，所以赫斯特能夠同船長私下里交談。
So, mistress,' said the captain, 'another one to join you! And with two doctors—our own ship's doctor and this other doctor—we need not fear ship-fever on this voyage!'
“是這樣，女士，”船長說，“還有一個人要加入你們！有了兩位醫(yī)生——我們自己船上的醫(yī)生和這位醫(yī)生——在這次航行中，我們不必?fù)?dān)心會發(fā)生船熱病了?！?
What do you mean?' said Hester, alarmed. 'You have another passenger?'
“你是什么意思？”赫斯特警惕地問，“你還有一位乘客？”
Didn't you know that this doctor—Chillingworth, he calls himself—has decided to travel with you?' said the captain. 'Oh, but you must know! He told me he's a good friend of the gentleman you spoke about.'
“怎么，你還不知道？那位醫(yī)生——他說他叫奇林沃思——打算和你們一起走。”船長說，“你肯定知道的吧！因為他告訴我，他還是你提到的那位先生的密友呢?！?
They—they know each other well,' agreed Hester, trying desperately to look calm. 'They live in the same house.'
“他們——彼此是很熟悉?！焙账固乇M量不動聲色地回答說，“他們住在同一所房子中。”
No more words were spoken between them, but at that moment she saw old Roger Chillingworth, standing in a far corner of the market-place. He was smiling at her—a smile which, even across the wide and busy square, carried secret and fearful meaning.
船長和赫斯特·普林沒有再說什么。但就在此時，她注意到老羅杰·奇林沃思正站在市場遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)的一個角落里朝她微笑。雖然隔著寬闊喧鬧的廣場，那笑容竟也透出詭秘而可怕的含義。
Before she could think clearly again, there was the sound of music, and a moment later she saw the band coming, followed by soldiers. Little Pearl laughed and jumped up and down excitedly. Next came the magistrates, and then the priests. Mr Dimmesdale was among them, but although his feet marched with the music, it is doubtful whether he actually heard it, as he seemed to be deep in thought.
赫斯特·普林還沒來得及好好想想，一陣音樂聲就傳了過來。過了一會兒，她看到樂隊走過來，士兵們緊隨其后。小珍珠笑著，興奮地跳上跳下。緊隨衛(wèi)隊而來的是官員們，然后是牧師們。丁梅斯代爾先生就在他們當(dāng)中。雖然他的腳步隨著音樂在前進(jìn)，但他是否真的聽到了那音樂聲卻值得懷疑，因為他似乎是在沉思。
Hester watched him, and her heart was heavy. Was this the same man who had sat with her in the forest, holding her hand? He looked so different now, walking proudly, with his head held high, and without a single look at her.
赫斯特看著她，心情十分沉重。這就是那個和她一起坐在樹林中，握住她的手的那個男人嗎？他現(xiàn)在好像變了一個人，高昂著頭，驕傲地走著，看都沒看她一眼。
It was a dream,' she thought. 'There can be no real love between us. How can there be? A man in his position.'
“那是一個夢吧?！彼?，“我們之間不可能有真愛。怎么可能會有呢？和一個處在他那種地位的人?！?
Pearl noticed the sadness which had suddenly come over her mother, and became worried and uncomfortable. When the priests had gone by, she looked into her mother's face and said, 'Is that the same priest who kissed me in the forest?'
珍珠注意到母親突然悲傷起來，于是也變得憂慮不安了。當(dāng)牧師走過她們身邊的時候，她望著母親的臉問：“這就是那個在樹林里親我的牧師嗎？”
Be quiet, little Pearl!' whispered her mother. 'We must not talk in the market-place about the things that happen to us in the forest!'
“別出聲，小珍珠！”她母親悄悄說，“我們在市場這兒可不準(zhǔn)談起樹林里的事?！?
Then she heard her name spoken, and turned to see Mistress Hibbins behind her.
接著她聽到有人叫她的名字。轉(zhuǎn)頭一看，是希賓斯太太在她身后。
Now, who would believe it?' the old lady whispered to Hester. 'Look at our priest, Mr Dimmesdale! He looks so godly today! And only a little while since he went from his study to walk in the forest! Ah! And we know what that means, Hester Prynne! Can you be sure, Hester, that he is the same man that you met among the trees?'
“現(xiàn)在，誰會相信？”那個老女人對赫斯特低聲說，“看看我們的牧師，丁梅斯代爾先生！今天他看上去多么神圣??！就在不久之前，他還走出書房，到樹林里去散步呢！?。∥覀兦宄且馕吨裁?，赫斯特·普林！不過，赫斯特，你能確定他就是你在樹林里遇到的那個人么？”
Mistress Hibbins, I don't know what you are talking about,' said Hester. Was the old woman as mad as she seemed? Did she really dance in the forest with the Evil One, the Devil himself?
“希賓斯太太，我不明白你在說什么。”赫斯特說，這個老女人真像看上去那樣瘋癲嗎？她真的曾在樹林中和那個邪惡的家伙，也就是魔鬼共舞嗎？
Come, come, Hester! The Dark One knows those who have signed their names in his book!' And laughing crazily, Mistress Hibbins walked on.
“行了，行了，赫斯特！魔鬼知道誰在他的冊子上簽了名！”希賓斯太太狂笑著走開了。
By this time, the first prayers had been said in the church meeting-house, and Hester could hear Mr Dimmesdale beginning his sermon. She stood close to the scaffold platform where she could hear most of his words.
此時，教堂聚會所中已經(jīng)做完場前祈禱，赫斯特聽到丁梅斯代爾先生開始布道了。她緊靠絞刑臺站定，這里幾乎能聽到他說的每個字。
His voice was strong and clear and sweet. Sometimes he spoke quietly, and at other times with great passion. But Hester, who knew the guilt and misery in his heart, could hear in his voice a cry of pain. A cry from the very soul of the man! She listened, unable to move from the scaffold, that place of public shame which she knew so well.
他洪亮的聲音清晰甜美，時而平靜，時而飽含激情。但是赫斯特了解他心中的負(fù)疚與痛苦，因而可以聽出他聲音中痛苦的呼號。那是這個男人靈魂深處的呼號！她傾聽著，無法從絞刑臺旁邊移開——這個令人當(dāng)眾受辱的地方她再熟悉不過了。
Little Pearl, meanwhile, had moved away and was playing and dancing about in the market-place. Whenever she saw something which interested her, she ran across to it. She ran to stare at a group of Indians, then ran into the centre of a group of sailors, who laughed and tried to join in her game, but she would not let them.
與此同時，小珍珠早已跑開了，在市場里四處玩耍。不論看到什么有趣的東西，她都會跑過去。她跑去盯著一群印第安人看，又跑到水手們當(dāng)中，但當(dāng)他們笑著想和她一起玩的時候，她卻不讓了。
The captain tried to kiss her, but she danced away. Then he called to her.
船長想親她一下，她卻跑開了。于是船長對她喊道：
Your mother is the woman with the scarlet letter, isn't she?' he said. 'Will you give her a message? Tell her that I spoke with the old doctor, and he will bring the other gentleman to the ship with him. She need only take herself and you. Will you tell her that?'
“你媽媽就是那個戴著紅字的女人，是不是？”他說，“你給她帶個信兒吧？告訴她我和那個老醫(yī)生說好了，他會帶另外那位先生跟他一起上船。你媽媽只要帶著你來就行了。你能轉(zhuǎn)告她嗎？”
Pearl ran through the crowd to her mother, and repeated the captain's words. Hester listened with a growing misery. The plan for herself and the priest now seemed hopeless.
珍珠跑著穿過人群去找母親，向她重復(fù)了船長的話。赫斯特聽著，心頭越發(fā)沉重起來?，F(xiàn)在看來她和牧師的計劃無望實現(xiàn)了。
And even as she suffered this great disappointment, a crowd was coming together around Hester, mostly people from the countryside who had heard about but not seen 'the woman with the scarlet letter' and wanted to stare at her. The Indians, too, came to look.
她正承受著巨大的失望時，一群人向她圍了過來，大都是從附近鄉(xiāng)下來的人。他們早就聽說過“戴著紅字的女人”，但沒見過，都想親眼看看。連那些印第安人也都圍過來看。
And while Hester stood in the centre of that circle of shame, Mr Arthur Dimmesdale stood in the church and received the love and respect of all who listened to him.
就在赫斯特站在那恥辱的包圍圈中時，阿瑟·丁梅斯代爾先生正站在教堂里，接受聽眾的愛戴與崇拜。
When he finished his sermon, there was silence inside the meeting-house. A minute later, the crowd began to leave the church, all talking at once. How beautifully their good Mr Dimmesdale had spoken, they said! What a wise and godly man he was!
當(dāng)他結(jié)束布道的時候，聚會所里一片肅然。片刻過后，人們走出教堂，馬上開始談?wù)撈饋?。丁梅斯代爾先生講得多好啊！他是多么睿智、多么神圣?。?
There was a sadness too, not in the words themselves but in the way he spoke them. A sadness of someone who is about to die. Yes, their priest, whom they loved, and who loved them, had the sound of a man who would not be in this world for much longer.
他的布道帶著一種哀傷——不在他的詞句當(dāng)中，而是在他講話的方式里——那是一種人之將死的哀傷。是啊，受到他們愛戴、也同樣愛著他們的牧師，聽起來仿佛行將離世。
And Mr Dimmesdale? It was his proudest moment.
而丁梅斯代爾先生呢？這是他一生中最自豪的時刻。
Now the band began to play again, and the soldiers got ready to lead everyone to the town hall. The people stepped back to make room for the Governor, the magistrates, the officers of the town, and the priests. They shouted and waved, but the noise began to die away as the crowd saw their young priest, Mr Dimmesdale.
這時樂隊又開始演奏了。士兵們準(zhǔn)備帶領(lǐng)所有人走到市政廳。人群紛紛后退，給總督、治安官、鎮(zhèn)上的其他官員還有牧師們讓出地方。人們歡呼著，揮著手。但是看到年輕的牧師丁梅斯代爾先生時，他們的聲音漸漸靜了下來。
How weak and pale he looked, suddenly! Where was the proud man who had marched to the church earlier; the man who had spoken with such passion in the meeting-house? His face was the face of a man already half-dead.
突然之間，他看上去是那么虛弱、那么蒼白！剛才那個自豪地走向教堂的人哪里去了？那個熱情洋溢地在聚會所布道的人哪里去了？他看起來就像一個垂死的人。
One of the other priests, old Mr Wilson, stepped forward to offer his help, but Mr Dimmesdale waved him away. They were near the scaffold now, and there stood Hester Prynne, holding little Pearl's hand. And there was the scarlet letter on her bosom. Arthur Dimmesdale stopped, unable to go on. And then he turned to the scaffold and held out his arms.
另一位牧師，年長的威爾遜先生邁步上前，要來攙扶他。丁梅斯代爾先生卻揮手叫他走開。他們現(xiàn)在到了絞刑臺附近，赫斯特就站在那兒，拉著小珍珠的手！而紅字就在她胸前！阿瑟·丁梅斯代爾走到這里停下了腳步，再也不能前進(jìn)了。他轉(zhuǎn)過身面對著絞刑臺，伸出了雙臂。
Hester,' he said, 'come here! Come, my little Pearl!'
“赫斯特，”他說，“到這里來！過來，我的小珍珠！”
His face had the look of a man, both sad and joyful, who has finally won a battle inside himself.
他的臉上的神情悲喜交集，那是終于戰(zhàn)勝了自己的神情。
The child ran to him and threw her arms around his knees. Hester Prynne, moving slowly like a woman in a dream, also came near, but paused before she reached him. At that moment, Roger Chillingworth pushed through the crowd and caught hold of the priest's arm.
那孩子朝他跑去，伸出雙臂摟住了他的雙膝。赫斯特·普林像夢游一樣，也緩緩向前走去，只是沒到他的身邊就站住了。就在此刻，羅杰·奇林沃思從人群中擠出來，一把抓住了牧師的胳臂。
Stop!' he whispered to Mr Dimmesdale. 'What are you doing? Wave back that woman! Push away that child! All will be well. Do not do this! I can still save you!'
“別這樣！”他低聲對丁梅斯代爾先生說，“你在干什么？讓那女人回去！把孩子推開！一切都會沒事的！別這么做！我還能拯救你！”
You are too late!' answered the priest. 'With God's help, I shall escape you now!' He put out his hand to Hester.
“你來得太遲了！”牧師回答說，“有了上帝的幫助，我現(xiàn)在要逃脫你了！”他向赫斯特伸出了手。
Hester Prynne! God has made me strong enough, at this last moment, to do the thing that I failed to do seven years ago. Come now, and be strong with me. Come and stand with me on the scaffold!'
“赫斯特·普林！上帝讓我在這最后的時刻變得堅強(qiáng)，讓我來完成七年前沒能做的事情?，F(xiàn)在過來吧，和我一起堅強(qiáng)面對吧。來，和我一起站到這絞刑臺上！”
There was great excitement in the crowd, but the priests and magistrates could not believe what they were seeing, and they remained silent. They saw the young priest with Hester's arm around him, and his hand holding little Pearl's hand. The three of them climbed the steps of the scaffold, and were followed by old Roger Chillingworth.
人群一片嘩然?？墒悄翈焸兒凸賳T們無法相信眼前所見的，只好保持沉默。他們看到赫斯特用手臂挽著年輕的牧師，他的手緊握著珍珠的小手，三個人一起登上了絞刑臺。老羅杰·奇林沃思緊隨在后。
Is this the only place that you could find to escape from me?' whispered Chillingworth. 'The scaffold!'
“這是你能找到的唯一一處可以擺脫我的地方嗎？”奇林沃思低聲道，“就是這座絞刑臺！”
It is God who led me here!' said Mr Dimmesdale, 'and I thank Him for it.' But he trembled as he turned to Hester. 'Is this not better than what we planned in the forest?'
“是上帝引領(lǐng)我到這里來的！”丁梅斯代爾先生說，“我為此感謝上帝。”然而他轉(zhuǎn)身面對赫斯特時發(fā)抖了。“這樣做不是比我們在樹林中計劃的更好嗎？”
I don't know!' she replied hurriedly. 'Better? We may both die, and little Pearl may die with us!'
“我不知道！”她急切地回答，“會更好嗎？我們倆也許都會死，還有小珍珠陪葬！”
God will decide, but He is merciful,' said the priest. 'Let me do now what God has told me to do. I am a dying man, Hester. Let me accept my shame before I die.'
“上帝會判定一切，而上帝是仁慈的！”牧師說，“讓我按上帝的指示去做吧。我已經(jīng)是個垂死的人了。赫斯特，那就讓我在臨死前承擔(dān)起我的恥辱吧！”
He turned and looked down at the crowd.
他轉(zhuǎn)過身俯看人群。
People of New England!' he cried. 'You who have loved me! Look at me now, as I stand here with this woman. For seven long years you have called her a sinner and hated her. You have seen the scarlet letter on her bosom, and have crossed the street to avoid her. But there has been someone living among you whose sin and shame you have not known!' He stepped forward, away from Hester and the child. 'God knew him! The Devil knew him! And now, at the hour of his death, you shall know him! He stands in front of you! Look again at Hester's scarlet letter. With all its mysterious horror, it is only a shadow of what is on my own bosom! Look! Look! See for yourselves!'
“新英格蘭的人們！”他喊道，“你們一直熱愛著我！現(xiàn)在請看著我，我和這個女人一起站在這里。在過去漫長的七年里，你們稱她為罪人，并且憎恨她。你們看到她胸前的紅字，也曾穿過街道躲避她。但是就在你們中間，卻有一個人，他的罪孽和恥辱卻不為你們所知！”他向前邁了一步，離開了母女二人?！翱缮系壑浪乃鏊鶠?，魔鬼也知道！如今，在他瀕死之際，你們也應(yīng)該知道他是誰！他就站在你們面前！你們再看看赫斯特的紅字，它雖然神秘、可怕，但只不過是我胸前這東西的影子而已，看吧！看吧！你們自己看看吧！”
And he pulled open his shirt for them to see his chest!
他猛地扯開襯衣，向人們露出胸膛。
Cries of horror came from the crowd. For a moment, the priest stood proudly—a man who has won a battle over his own pain and fear. Then he fell to the ground.
人群中發(fā)出驚恐的叫聲。這一刻，牧師自豪地站在那里——就像一個終于戰(zhàn)勝了痛苦與恐懼的人。隨后，他就癱倒在了地上！
Hester lifted him, and held his head against her bosom. Chillingworth knelt down beside him, an empty, dull look on his face.
赫斯特托起他，讓他的頭靠在自己胸前。奇林沃思跪在他身旁，表情空洞呆滯。
You have escaped me!' Chillingworth repeated again and again. 'You have escaped me!'
“你總算逃脫了我！”奇林沃思一再地重復(fù)說，“你總算逃脫了我！”
May God forgive you,' the young priest said to him. 'You, too, have sinned deeply.' He turned his dying eyes towards Hester and the child. 'My little Pearl!' he said, his voice almost a whisper. 'Will you kiss me now?'
“愿上帝饒恕你吧！”牧師說，“你，同樣罪孽深重！”他將失神的目光轉(zhuǎn)向赫斯特和孩子。“我的小珍珠，”他的聲音低得如同耳語一般，“你現(xiàn)在愿意親吻我嗎？”
Pearl kissed him, and her tears fell on her father's face.
珍珠親吻了他，她的淚珠滑落在父親的臉上。
Hester!' said the priest. 'Goodbye!'
“赫斯特！”牧師說，“別了！”
Won't we meet again?' she whispered, her face close to his. 'Won't we meet in heaven, and be together for ever?'
“我們難道不能再相會了嗎？”她把臉貼近他的臉悄聲說，“我們難道不能在天堂相聚嗎？永遠(yuǎn)地在一起？”
Hester, Hester, I don't know,' he said. 'But God is merciful! He has proved his mercy. He gave me this burning pain to suffer on my bosom! He sent me that dark and terrible old man, to keep the pain always red-hot! He has brought me here, to die a death of shame, in front of the people! Without all this, I would be lost for ever! For this I thank Him. I thank God! Goodbye...!'
“赫斯特，赫斯特，我不知道?！彼f，“但上帝是仁慈的！他證明了他的仁慈。他給了我胸前這灼燒的痛楚！他派來那個陰森可怖的老人，使那痛楚灼燒不停！他把我?guī)У竭@里，讓我在眾人面前，死在恥辱之中！如果沒有這些，我就要永世沉淪了！為此我感激他，我感激上帝！別了！”
The final word came with the priest's dying breath.
說完這最后一句話，牧師也停止了呼吸。
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