書(shū)蟲(chóng)四級(jí)《紅字》：6.赫斯特遇到敵人
6．Hester meets the enemy
6．赫斯特遇到敵人
That meeting with Mr Dimmesdale on the scaffold worried Hester Prynne greatly. She saw the young priest's weakness and his misery, and how close he was to madness; she heard the terror in his voice as he asked her for help. And she decided he had a right to all the help she could give him.
在絞刑臺(tái)和丁梅斯代爾先生的會(huì)面使赫斯特·普林深感憂慮。她看到了年輕牧師的脆弱和痛苦，還有他瀕臨顛狂的狀態(tài)。她聽(tīng)得出當(dāng)他向她求助時(shí)聲音中的驚恐。她認(rèn)為他有權(quán)要她傾力相助。
Her position in the town was now rather different. In the seven years since Pearl was born, Hester had worn the scarlet letter patiently and had led a hard-working and blameless life. People no longer hated her; some even respected her.
如今她在小鎮(zhèn)上的地位已經(jīng)和原來(lái)不一樣了。在珍珠出生后的這七年當(dāng)中，她耐心地佩戴著那個(gè)紅字，過(guò)著艱辛卻無(wú)可指責(zé)的生活。人們不再恨她；她甚至還贏得了一些人的尊重。
She is always ready to give what she can to the poor,' they said, 'although she gets little thanks for the food she takes to them, or the clothes she makes for them.'
“她總是隨時(shí)準(zhǔn)備去盡力幫助窮人，”他們說(shuō)，“雖然她給人縫衣送食很少能得到感謝?！?
And whenever a house was darkened by trouble, Hester was there with warm and kindly words, and the offer of help. But when sunshine came again, she left without looking back or waiting for the grateful thanks of those who had been troubled. And afterwards, when she saw them in the street, she did not lift her head to speak to them but put her finger on her scarlet letter of shame, and passed by.
不論何時(shí)，只要有人被憂愁困擾，她總會(huì)出現(xiàn)，用好言撫慰，并主動(dòng)提供幫助。但當(dāng)情況好轉(zhuǎn)的時(shí)候，她會(huì)頭也不回地離開(kāi)，從來(lái)不期望那些在困苦中得到過(guò)她幫助的人向她致謝。此后，當(dāng)她在街上遇到他們，也從不抬頭和他們說(shuō)話，只用手指按住那個(gè)恥辱紅字，側(cè)身而過(guò)。
Beneath her calmness, however, there had often been great loneliness and suffering. These had made her strong and she now felt able to face the man who had once been her husband. It was clear to Hester that this man was the priest's secret enemy, playing the part of a friend and helper, and slowly but surely driving the priest into madness.
然而，她平靜的外表下卻埋藏著難以承受的孤獨(dú)和痛苦。正是這些遭遇使她堅(jiān)強(qiáng)，使她現(xiàn)在可以去面對(duì)前夫。赫斯特很清楚，這個(gè)男人就是牧師的秘密敵人，他扮演著一個(gè)朋友和救護(hù)者的角色，其實(shí)卻在緩慢而堅(jiān)定地將牧師推向瘋狂。
In short, she decided to talk to Roger Chillingworth, and to do what she could to stop his cruel and evil revenge.
總之，她打定主意去和羅杰·奇林沃思談?wù)?，竭盡全力去阻止他那殘忍、邪惡的復(fù)仇。
She did not have long to wait. One afternoon, while walking with Pearl along the beach, she saw the old doctor with a basket in one hand and a stick in the other. He was collecting plants.
機(jī)會(huì)很快就來(lái)了。一天下午，她帶著珍珠沿海邊散步，看見(jiàn)了那位老醫(yī)生。他一手挽著籃子，另一只手拄著拐杖，正在采集藥草。
Go down to the water and play while I talk to this gentleman,' Hester told her daughter.
“去到水邊玩吧，我要和這位先生談一談?！焙账固馗嬖V她的女兒。
The child flew away like a bird, her small white feet making patterns in the wet sand at the edge of the sea. Her mother walked up to Roger Chillingworth.
這孩子像小鳥(niǎo)一樣飛走了，雪白的小腳丫在海邊濕潤(rùn)的沙地上留下了一串腳印。她的母親向羅杰·奇林沃思走去。
I would like to speak to you,' she said.
“我想和你談一談。”她說(shuō)。
Ah! Mistress Hester!' he answered. 'I hear news of your good work from everyone I speak to. Only yesterday a magistrate whispered to me that the officers of the town were discussing whether the scarlet letter could now be taken off your bosom. "You should do it at once," I told him.'
“啊哈！原來(lái)是赫斯特太太！”他回答道，“每個(gè)跟我談話的人都說(shuō)到你的善舉。就在昨天，一位治安官還悄悄告訴我，鎮(zhèn)上的官員正在討論是否應(yīng)該把你胸前的紅字取下來(lái)?！銈儜?yīng)該馬上這么做?！疫@樣跟他說(shuō)。”
It is not for some magistrate to take off this letter,' Hester replied calmly. 'When—if ever—I earn the right to be rid of it, it will fall off without anyone's help.'
“取下這個(gè)字不是靠哪個(gè)地方治安官。”赫斯特平靜地回應(yīng)道，“當(dāng)我贏得取下它的權(quán)利——如果有那么一天的話——它自然會(huì)掉下去，不需要任何人的幫助。”
Wear it, then, if you want to,' said Chillingworth. 'It is a fine piece of needlework and looks well on your bosom.'
“你要是樂(lè)意，那就戴著吧?！逼媪治炙颊f(shuō)，“那是件不錯(cuò)的針線活兒，戴在你胸前挺好看的?！?
While they spoke, Hester had been watching him closely and was full of wonder at the change she saw in him. He was no longer the calm, intelligent man she remembered; now there was a cruel, searching look in his eyes, and a cold half-smile came and went on his face. Seven years of getting enjoyment from a cruel revenge had left the Devil's mark on him. His soul seems to be on fire! Hester thought.
在他倆談話時(shí)，赫斯特一直仔細(xì)地打量著老人，她驚奇地注意到他發(fā)生了多么明顯的變化，原來(lái)印象中的那個(gè)平和、聰慧的人如今已經(jīng)蹤影皆無(wú)，現(xiàn)在的他眼神殘忍，隨時(shí)窺探著什么，一絲冷笑在臉上時(shí)隱時(shí)現(xiàn)。七年中，他從殘忍的報(bào)復(fù)中尋求快感，這在他臉上也留下了魔鬼的印記。“他的靈魂正在灼燒！”赫斯特想。
I want to speak to you about Mr Dimmesdale,' she said.
“我想和你談?wù)動(dòng)嘘P(guān)丁梅斯代爾先生的事?！彼f(shuō)。
And what about him?' cried Roger Chillingworth. 'Speak freely, and I will answer.'
“他有什么好談的？”羅杰·奇林沃思叫起來(lái)，“想說(shuō)什么就說(shuō)吧，我會(huì)回答的。”
When we last spoke together, seven years ago,' Hester said, 'you made me promise not to tell anyone that we once lived as husband and wife. I agreed to be silent because, as you said then, his position and his life were in your hands. But I see now that I was wrong to keep silent. Since that day, you have been beside him, sleeping and waking. You search his thoughts and his heart, and each day you cause him to die a living death! And it is I who have allowed this to happen!'
“我們上次在一起交談是七年以前，”赫斯特說(shuō)，“當(dāng)時(shí)你要我答應(yīng)不告訴任何人我們?cè)欠蚱蕖Ｎ掖饝?yīng)緘口不言，因?yàn)槟阏f(shuō)那個(gè)人的生命和地位全都握在你的手心里。但是我現(xiàn)在才覺(jué)得，我不該保持沉默。從那天以后，你就一直日夜不停地纏在他身邊，探究他的思想和內(nèi)心，讓他每天都生不如死！都是由于我，才會(huì)發(fā)生這種事！”
What else can you do?' asked Chillingworth. 'A word from me, and this man would be thrown from his church into a prison—and from there, to the scaffold!'
“除此之外，你還能做些什么呢？”奇林沃思問(wèn)道，“我只消說(shuō)一句話，就可以把他從教堂投到監(jiān)獄中去——而且可以讓他從監(jiān)獄走上絞刑臺(tái)！”
Perhaps that would be better!' said Hester. 'Haven't you had your revenge? Hasn't he suffered enough for his sins?'
“那樣也許倒好些！”赫斯特說(shuō)，“你不是已經(jīng)復(fù)仇了嗎？他不是已經(jīng)為他的罪孽受盡折磨了嗎？”
No!' answered the doctor. 'Do you remember me, Hester, as I was nine years ago? You thought I was cold, perhaps, but was I not kind and true, and a good friend to others?'
“不！”醫(yī)生回答，“你還記得我九年前的樣子嗎，赫斯特？你可能認(rèn)為我冷酷無(wú)情，可我不也曾經(jīng)善良、真誠(chéng)，是別人的益友嗎？”
Yes,' said Hester. 'All that, and more.'
“是的?！焙账固卣f(shuō)，“而且還不只這些。”
And what am I now?' he asked, and his face showed the evil that was in him. 'A devil! And who made me this?'
“可我現(xiàn)在成了什么樣子呢？”他問(wèn)道，臉上顯露出邪惡的表情?！耙粋€(gè)惡魔！是誰(shuí)把我弄成這樣子的？”
It was me,' said Hester, trembling. 'Me, as much as he. So why didn't you punish me?'
“是我。”赫斯特顫抖著說(shuō)，“是我，我的責(zé)任并不比他小。可你為什么不懲罰我呢？”
You had the scarlet letter,' he said. 'That was enough revenge for me.' He put his finger on it with a smile. 'Now, what do you want to say about this man?'
“你有那個(gè)紅字?！彼卮鹫f(shuō)，“那已經(jīng)足以為我報(bào)復(fù)了?！彼鎺⑿?，把一個(gè)指頭放在紅字上面?！艾F(xiàn)在，關(guān)于那個(gè)男人你還想說(shuō)些什么？”
I must tell him the truth about you,' said Hester. 'He must know who you are, and why you are doing this to him. What the result will be, I do not know. Do what you want with him. But there is no good for him, no good for me, no good for you, no good for little Pearl. There is no path to guide any of us out of this misery.'
“我必須告訴他你的真面目?！焙账固卣f(shuō)，“他必須知道你是誰(shuí)，你為什么要這么對(duì)他。我不知道結(jié)果如何。你想對(duì)他干什么就干吧。但是那樣無(wú)論對(duì)他、對(duì)我、對(duì)你，或者對(duì)小珍珠都不會(huì)有任何好處。沒(méi)有任何出路能幫我們脫離這種痛苦?！?
Roger Chillingworth stared at the tall, proud woman in front of him, and heard the pain in her voice. Did he then remember the love he had once felt for her?
羅杰·奇林沃思盯著眼前這個(gè)高挑、驕傲的女人，聽(tīng)出了她聲音中的痛苦。他是否記起了過(guò)去對(duì)她的愛(ài)戀呢？
I am sorry for you,' he said. 'You were a good person, and you needed a better love than mine.'
“我真為你難過(guò)。”他說(shuō)，“你是一個(gè)好人，本該享有比我更好的人所給予的愛(ài)?！?
And I am sorry for you,' said Hester, 'and for the hate that has changed a wise and merciful man into a devil! Try to be human again! Forgive, and leave judgment to God!'
“我也為你難過(guò)?！焙账固鼗卮鹫f(shuō)，“因?yàn)槌鸷抟呀?jīng)把一個(gè)明智、寬容的人變成了惡魔！重新做回人吧！原諒一切，把審判留給上帝！”
That is not possible,' replied the old man. 'You planted the evil, and now its black flowers are growing. We cannot change the way things are.'
“那不可能?！崩先嘶卮鹫f(shuō)，“你種下了罪惡的種子，現(xiàn)在開(kāi)出了黑色的花朵。我們無(wú)法改變事情發(fā)展的方向?！?
He turned and walked away, and a dark shadow seemed to follow him along the ground.
他轉(zhuǎn)身離去，身后的地上似乎拖著一道暗影。
Hester stared after him. 'I hate the man!' she whispered to herself. 'How I wish I had never married him!' She turned to look for her child. 'Pearl! Little Pearl! Where are you?'
赫斯特瞪著他的背影?！拔液捱@個(gè)人！”她喃喃自語(yǔ)道，“我真的希望從沒(méi)嫁給過(guò)他！”她轉(zhuǎn)過(guò)頭尋找她的孩子?！罢渲?！小珍珠！你在哪兒？”
The child had been busy while her mother had been talking. First she had played at the edge of the water, then she had made little boats out of pieces of wood. Then, seeing some birds feeding on the beach, she had picked up some stones and thrown them until one little grey bird had flown away with a broken wing. For her last game, Pearl collected some grass and used it to make a letter A on her chest.
珍珠趁母親談話時(shí)一直玩得挺帶勁。她先是在水邊上玩，接著用碎木片搭了幾條小船。后來(lái)，她看到幾只小鳥(niǎo)在海灘上吃食，就拾起幾塊石頭向它們投去，直到一只灰色的小鳥(niǎo)拖著被打傷的翅膀飛走了。最后，珍珠拾了一些草，編成一個(gè)“A”字戴在胸前。
Will Mother ask me what it means?' she wondered.
“媽媽會(huì)不會(huì)問(wèn)我這是什么意思呢？”珍珠想道。
Then she heard her mother calling and, moving as lightly as one of the little sea-birds, she appeared beside Hester and pointed her finger towards the letter A on her bosom.
就在這時(shí)，她聽(tīng)到了母親的召喚，于是像一只小海鳥(niǎo)似的輕盈地來(lái)到赫斯特的身旁，用手指指著自己胸前的“A”字。
My little Pearl,' said Hester, after a moment's silence, 'the green letter means nothing on your childish bosom. But do you know why your mother wears it?'
“我的小珍珠，”赫斯特沉默了一會(huì)兒后說(shuō)，“那綠色的字母戴在你稚氣的胸口上是沒(méi)有意義的。不過(guò)你知道媽媽為什么會(huì)戴上這個(gè)字母嗎？”
Oh, yes!' said Pearl, smiling. 'It is for the same reason that the priest puts his hand over his heart!'
“噢，我知道！”珍珠笑著說(shuō)，“這和牧師用手捂住心口的原因一樣！”
And what reason is that?' asked Hester.
“那是什么原因呢？”赫斯特問(wèn)。
I don't know,' replied Pearl. 'Mother, what does this scarlet letter mean? Why do you wear it on your bosom? And why does the priest keep his hand over his heart?'
“那我可就不知道了。”珍珠答道，“媽媽，這紅字是什么意思？為什么你要戴在胸前？為什么牧師總是把手捂在心口上？”
Hester stared down into her daughter's black eyes. What should she say? The truth? No! If that was the price of the child's understanding, she could not pay it.
赫斯特凝視著女兒的黑眼睛。她應(yīng)該說(shuō)什么？事情的真相嗎？不！假如真相是讓這個(gè)孩子懂事的全部代價(jià)，她寧可不付這個(gè)代價(jià)。
Silly Pearl!' she said. 'There are many things in this world that a child must not ask about. What do I know about the priest's heart? And as for the scarlet letter, I wear it for its gold thread.'
“傻珍珠！”她說(shuō)道，“這個(gè)世界上有很多事是小孩子不該問(wèn)的。我怎么會(huì)知道牧師心里是怎樣想的呢？至于這個(gè)紅字，我戴著它是因?yàn)樯厦娴慕鹁€?！?
It was the first time that Hester had lied about the letter, and the child did not stop asking the same questions. Two or three times on the way home, several times at supper, and again the next morning, Pearl asked, 'Mother, Mother, what does the scarlet letter mean?' and 'Why does the priest keep his hand over his heart?'
這是赫斯特第一次為紅字的事說(shuō)謊，但那孩子仍不肯就此罷休。在回家的路上，她又問(wèn)了兩三次，吃晚飯時(shí)也問(wèn)了幾次，第二天早上她又問(wèn)：“媽媽，媽媽，紅字是什么意思？”“為什么牧師要把手捂在心口上？”
Stop it!' Hester said, in a sharper voice than she had ever used before. 'Stop it, or I'll shut you in the dark cupboard!'
“別問(wèn)了！”她母親說(shuō)，以前她從未用過(guò)這么嚴(yán)厲的語(yǔ)氣跟珍珠說(shuō)話?！皠e問(wèn)了，要不我就把你關(guān)進(jìn)漆黑的櫥柜里去！”
