扎拉圖斯特拉如是說 第10期:序言(10)

Then, however, something happened which made every mouth mute and every eyefixed.

但這時忽生一事，使人人瞠目哆口，

In the meantime, of course, the rope-dancer had commenced his performance: he had come out at a little door, and was going along the rope which was stretched between two towers, so that it hung above the market-place and the people.

便是其間踏軟索者已開始表演了。他從一小門里走出來，踏上了軟索，索子是系在兩個高塔間，懸于這市場和民眾之上。

When he was just midway across, the little door opened once more, and a gaudily-dressed fellow like a buffoon sprang out, and went rapidly after the first one.

當他走到了軟索的中段，那小門又啟開了，跳出一個彩衣少年，很像一個丑角，在軟索上快步趕上那前面的人去。

"Go on, halt-foot," cried his frightful voice, "go on, lazy-bones, interloper, sallow-face!--lest I tickle you with my heel!

“前進呀，蹩腳鬼，”--他喊叫的聲音怕人--“前進呀，懶東西，黑 貨商，小白臉!別要我用腳踏你!

What do you here between the towers?

你在這兩個塔中間干什麼?

In the tower is the place for you, you should be locked up; to one better than yourself you blocks the way!"

你是塔里的，人應(yīng)該將你關(guān)起來，你礙著比你好的人的自由路：”

扎拉圖斯特拉如是說

And with every word he came nearer and nearer the first one.

他一字一字喊便一步一步逼近了，

When, however, he was but a step behind, there happened the frightful thing which made every mouth mute and every eye fixed--

到了只離前面那人一步的地方，可怕底事便發(fā)生了，使每只眼睛瞪住，每張嘴堵住——

he uttered a yell like a devil, and jumped over the other who was in his way.

他惡鬼似的大叫一聲，一下跳過了前面礙著路的人。

The latter, however, when he thus saw his rival triumph, lost at the same time his head and his footing on the rope;

這人看到競爭者勝利了，一下失神，踏空了軟素，

he threw his pole away, and shot downwards faster than it, like an eddy of arms and legs, into the depth.

拋開了手里的長竿，比那人還快地手手腳腳旋風似的掉下地來。

The market-place and the people were like the sea when the storm comes on:

這時市場上的人便如暴風里的海水，

they all flew apart and in disorder, especially where the body was about to fall.

逃的四散，慌做一團，最是在這人大概要掉下的地方。

Zarathustra, however, remained standing, and just beside him fell the body, badly injured and disfigured, but not yet dead.

但蘇魯支站定了，那人也剛掉在他身邊，已經(jīng)完全跌傷，摔壞，但還沒有死。

After a while consciousness returned to the shattered man, and he saw Zarathustra kneeling beside him.

歇了一忽兒，那摔壞了的人回復(fù)了知覺，看見蘇魯支跪在身旁。

"What are you doing there?" said he at last,

“你在那兒干什么呢?”他最后說：

"I knew long ago that the devil would trip me up.

“很久我知道魔鬼要弄翻我了。

Now he drags me to hell: will you prevent him?" "On mine honor, my friend," answered Zarathustra,

現(xiàn)在他要拉我到地獄里去了，你能禁止他嗎?”“憑我的名譽，朋友，”蘇魯支說：

"there is nothing of all that whereof you speak:

“你所說的這一切都沒有的，

there is no devil and no hell.

既沒有魔鬼，也沒有地獄。

Your soul will be dead even sooner than your body:

你的靈魂比肉體死的還快，

fear, therefore, nothing any more!" The man looked up distrustfully.

現(xiàn)在不要怕什么吧!”垂死者懷疑地望著他，

"If you speak the truth," said he,

終于說：“倘若你說的是真理，

"I lose nothing when I lose my life.

我失掉生命便沒有失掉什么。

I am not much more than an animal which has been taught to dance by blows and scantyfare."

我不比一匹動物怎樣不同，那用鞭答和菲薄底飼料養(yǎng)成的……跳舞的動物。”

"Not at all," said Zarathustra, "you have made danger your calling; therein there is nothingcontemptible.

“不然的，”蘇魯支說：“你是以危險為職務(wù)，這沒有什么可藐視的。

Now you perish by your calling: therefore will I bury you with mine own hands."

你現(xiàn)在困職務(wù)而殉身，我將親手將你埋葬。”

When Zarathustra had said this the dying one did not reply further;

蘇魯支說過這話，垂死者已無回答了;

but he moved his hand as if he sought the hand of Zarathustra in gratitude.

但他還搖動著手，彷佛要握蘇魯支的手志謝。