美國語文第五冊 第107期：馬薩諸塞州的監(jiān)獄叛亂（07）

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No situation of greater interest than this can be conceived.

已到千鈞一發(fā)的危急關口。

At one end of the hall, a fearful multitude of the most desperate and powerful men in existence, waiting for the assault;

大廳兩端，罪犯與強悍軍人正僵持對峙。一大群恐怖至極的困獸猶斗等待攻擊，

at the other, a little band of disciplined men, waiting with arms presented, and ready, upon the least motion or sign, to begin the carnage;

一小群訓練有素的軍人，端著槍嚴陣以待，等待手勢或行動指令迅即開始屠殺；

and their tall and imposing commander, holding up his watch to count the lapse of three minutes, given as the reprieve to the lives of hundreds.

他們高大勇猛、威風凜凜的指揮官舉著表計算三分鐘滴答，從而決定數(shù)百人的生殺予奪。

No poet or painter can conceive a spectacle of more dark and terrible sublimity;

沒有筆墨可以描繪比這幕場景更為黑暗恐怖的生死凝重；

no human heart can conceive a situation of more appalling suspense.

沒有人可以預知這種駭人聽聞的驚險懸念。

For two minutes not a person nor a muscle moved;

雙方互相僵持，時針滴答接近兩分鐘，所有的人紋絲不動，甚至身上肌肉亦不曾抖動。

not a sound was heard in the unwonted stillness of the prison, except the labored breathings of the infuriated wretches,

除卻憤怒兇殘的沉重喘息，甚至聽不到一根針落的聲音。

as they began to pant between fear and revenge: at the expiration of two minutes,

在恐懼與復仇糾結中，兩分鐘時間到了，暴徒們呼吸急促起來。

during which they had faced the ministers of death with unblenching eyes, two or three of those in the rear, and nearest the further entrance, went slowly out;

剛才面對死神毫不退縮的眼神出現(xiàn)變化。人群隊伍后面，臨近門口地方，三兩人慢慢地退到門外，接著又走了好幾個。

a few more followed the example, dropping out quietly and deliberately: and before half of the last minute was gone, every man was struck by the panic, and crowded for an exit, and the hall was cleared, as if by magic.

離開的人一聲不吭、格外謹慎地退出。最后30秒過后，深陷恐慌的囚犯們潮水般擠向出口，整個大廳剎那間變得空空蕩蕩，仿佛奇跡發(fā)生。

Thus the steady firmness of moral force and the strong effect of determination,

囿于道德力量的穩(wěn)健，堅韌的心理強勢，

acting deliberately, awed the most savage men, and suppressed a scene of carnage,

指揮的謹慎運作，才會使窮兇至惡者產(chǎn)生敬畏，從而抑制了一場血腥殺戮，

which would have instantly followed the least precipitancy or exertion of physical force.

因為哪怕丁點輕率魯莽或物力沖突都會讓所有努力前功盡棄。