牛津書蟲系列 織工馬南 5 Silas's neighbours

5 Silas's neighbours

5 西拉斯的鄰居們

In the weeks following the robbery，the police tried hard to find the pedlar，because so many people suspected him of being the thief.But there was no sign of him in any of the towns and villages round Raveloe.

失竊案后的幾周里，因為那么多人都懷疑那個小販是賊，警察就費了很大勁查找他，但是在瑞福洛周圍的村子和鎮(zhèn)子里都找不到他的蹤影。

Nobody was surprised at Dunstan Cass's absence.Once be-fore he had stayed away for six weeks and then come back.No-body imagined he could have anything to do with the robbery.The villagers continued to discuss Silas and his lost gold，but they had no more explanations to offer.

沒有人對鄧斯坦·凱斯的失蹤表示奇怪，以前有一次他曾離家6周以后才回來。沒人想到他會和失竊案有關。村民們?nèi)栽谡務撐骼购退麃G了的金子，可人們都找不到更新的解釋。

Silas himself still had his loom and his work，so he went on weaving But the only thing that had made his life worth living had gone，and now he had nothing to look forward to.A life-time of empty evenings lay ahead of him. He did not enjoy thinking of the money he would earn，because it reminded him of the money he had lost.As he sat weaving，he sometimes used to moan quietly to himself.And in the evenings，as he sat alone in front of the fire，he used to put his head in his hands and moan again.

至于西拉斯本人，他還有他的織布機和他的工作，所以他繼續(xù)織布?？墒巧钪形ㄒ挥袃r值的東西失去了，他不再有什么可期望的了。今后的一生將只有空虛的夜晚。他不再喜歡去想將要掙到的錢.那會使他想起丟失的錢。坐著干活的時候，他有時會對自己呻吟。晚上，一個人坐在爐火前，他也常會用手抱著頭痛苦地呻吟。

But this disaster had one good result.Little by little，Silas's neighbours realized it was wrong to be suspicious of him. He was just a poor，simple，harmless man，who needed their help.

不過他的災難也有一個好的結果。慢慢地，鄰居們認識到以前對西拉斯的懷疑是不對的。他只是一個窮困、簡單、無惡意的人，需要他們的幫助。

They showed their new opinion of him in many different ways.Some of the women，who were baking cakes and preparing meat for Christmas，brought him presents of food.Some of the men，who had nothing to give him，stopped him in the village to ask about his health，or visited him to discuss the robbery.They often finished their conversation by saying cheerfully，'Now you're the same as the rest of us—we're poor too!Cheer up，Master Marner!If you get ill and can't work any more，the Squire'll give you food and your neigh-bours will take care of you.'this did not make Silas feel better，but he realized it was meant kindly.

他們通過許多不同的方式表達對馬南的新看法。有的婦女會在準備圣誕晚餐或者烤面包時送給他一些食物，那些沒什么可給他的男人也會在村里叫住他問候他或者到小屋來看他，和他聊關于失竊案的事。談話結束的時候他們通常會愉快地說：“現(xiàn)在你和我們這些人一樣了——我們也是窮人!高興起來，馬南師傅!如果你病了，不能再工作了，鄉(xiāng)紳會給你食物，鄰居們會照顧你。”這些雖然不能讓西拉斯感覺好受些，但他知道這是好意。

Old Mr Macey，the church clerk，came to the cottage one day，to explain how his opinion of the weaver had changed.

有一天，執(zhí)事老麥西先生到小屋來解釋他對于織布匠看法的改變。

'You see，Master Marner，'he said in his high old voice，'I used to think you worked for the devil—you've always looked strange，you know.But now I'm sure you're not evil，just a lit-tle bit crazy.That's what I tell the neighbours.'

“你知道，馬南師傅，”他用蒼老的高音說，“我以前以為你為魔鬼工作——你知道你老是看起來怪怪的。可現(xiàn)在我肯定你不邪惡，只是有一點兒古怪，我就是這么對鄰居們講的。”

He stopped to give Silas time to reply，but the weaver did not speak.He was sitting with his head in his hands as usual.He knew that the old man was trying to be kind，but he was too miserable to show any interest.

他停下來等西拉斯回答，可西拉斯沒有出聲，只是像平常一樣用手抱著頭坐著，他知道這個老人在試圖表示友好，不過他實在是太沮喪了，沒有興趣。

'Come，Master Marner， what's your answer to that?'asked Mr Macey， a little impatiently.

“怎么樣，馬南師傅，你對我說的怎么看?”麥西先生有點兒不耐煩了。

'Oh，'said Silas，slowly lifting his head，'thank you. Thank you for your kindness.'

“噢，”西拉斯慢慢抬起頭，“謝謝你，謝謝你的好意。”

'That's all right，'replied the old man，pleased. 'Now， you shouldn't sit here moaning，you know. Here's my advice to you.Ask Tookey in the village to make you a Sunday suit—I don't expect you've got one—and then you can come to church with your neighbours.It'll make you feel better.You're not an old man yet，although you look like one. How old were you when you came here first? Twenty-five?'

“沒什么，”老頭兒高興了，“我看你不應該再坐在這兒呻吟了。聽聽我的意見吧。去找村里的圖齊給你做一件禮拜服——我想你一定沒有禮拜服——然后和鄰居一塊兒到教堂來。這樣你會好受些。你雖然看著像個老頭，可實際上不老。你到這兒時多大? 25?”

'I don't remember，'answered Silas，shaking his head.

“我不記得了。”西拉斯搖著頭回答。

That evening，Mr Macey told a number of villagers at the Rainbow，'Poor Master doesn't know how old he is!And I don't suppose he knows what day of the week it is!He really is a bit crazy.'

這天晚上，麥西先生在酒館對好多村民宣布：“可憐的馬南師傅竟然不知道自己多大!我想他也不會知道今天星期幾!他真是有點兒瘋。”

Another villager，Dolly Winthrop，was also worried about Silas's absence from church.She was a large，fresh-faced wom-an with a sweet，patient smile，who was always busy from early morning until late at night，and who went to church herself ev-ery Sunday.She believed in helping her neighbours，and if someone in Raveloe was ill or dying，Dolly was often asked to take care of the patient.This good，sensible woman decided that Silas needed her help.So one Sunday afternoon she took her son Aaron，a pretty little boy of seven， to visit the weaver.As they came closer to the cottage，they heard the sound of the loom.

另一個村民多莉·溫思羅普也在為西拉斯不去教堂而擔心。這是個氣色很好的高大女人，有著溫柔、耐心的笑容。她每天從清早忙到深夜，每周日必到教堂禮拜。她把幫助鄰居當作自己的責任，村里有人生病或生命垂危，人們總是請她去看護病人。這位善良、聰明的女人覺得西拉斯需要她的幫助，于是，一個禮拜天的下午，多莉帶著7歲的兒子阿榮，一個漂亮的小家伙，來看望織布匠。走近小屋，他們聽到織布機的聲音。

'Oh dear!Working on a Sunday!That's bad!'said Mrs Winthrop sadly.She had to knock loudy on the door before Silas heard.He said nothing，but opened the door to let them in，and Dolly sat down in an armchair.

“天哪!禮拜日還工作!這可不好。”溫思羅普太太難過地說。她使勁敲門，西拉斯才能聽到。他默默地開門讓客人進來，多莉坐到一把扶手椅里。

'I was baking yesterday，Master Marner，'she said， 'and I've brought you some of my cakes.Here they are.'

“我昨天烤了面包，馬南師傅，”她說，“今天給你帶了些來。喏。”

'Thank you，'replied Silas，taking the little bag of cakes Dolly was holding out to him.Aaron was hiding behind his mother's chair，in childish fear of the weaver.

“謝謝你!”西拉斯接過多莉遞給他的袋子。阿榮躲在媽媽的椅子后面，他還有些害怕織布匠。

'You didn't hear the church bells this morning，perhaps，Master Marner?'dolly asked gently.'This cottage is a long way from the village.'

“你今天早晨或許沒聽到教堂的鐘聲，馬南師傅?”多莉輕輕地問，“這個小屋離村里太遠了。”

'Yes，I heard them，'answered Silas.For him Sunday bells did not mean anything.There had been no bells at the Light Street chapel.

“我聽見了，”西拉斯回答，禮拜日的鐘聲對他沒有任何含意，日光街小教堂沒鐘。

'Oh!'said Dolly.'But—but do you have to work on a Sun-day? You could make Sunday different from the other days，you know， by washing yourself，and cooking a little piece of meat，and going to church.And Master Marner，Christmas Day will be here soon!If you put on your best clothes and go to church and see the flowers and hear the singing，you'll feel much better!You'll know there is Someone you can trust!'

“噢!”多莉說，“可——可你一定要在禮拜日工作嗎?你可以把禮拜日搞得和平時不同一些，你也知道，可以洗洗澡，烤塊肉，然后上教堂去。而且馬南師傅，馬上要到圣誕節(jié)了!如果穿上最好的衣服到教堂去看看花，聽聽歌，你會感覺好多了!你會知道那里有你可以信賴的人!”

Dolly did not usually talk so much，but the matter seemed extremely important to her.

多莉平時話并不多，可這事對她很重要。

'No，no，'silas replied.'I don't know anything about church.I've never been to church.'

“不，不，”西拉斯回答，“我不懂教堂的事，我從沒去過教堂。”

'Never been!'repeated Dolly.'Were there no churches in the town you were born in?'

“從沒去過!”多莉重復道，“你出生的城鎮(zhèn)沒有教堂嗎?”

'Oh yes，'said Silas，'there were a lot of churches.It was a big town，you see.But I only ever went to chapel.'

“有，”西拉斯回答，“有很多教堂，因為那是個大鎮(zhèn)子，可我只去小教堂。”

Dolly did not understand this word，but was afraid of asking any more questions，in case 'chapel'meant something evil.After considering carefully for a moment，she said，'Well，Master Marner，it's never too late to start going to church.It's very pleasant listening to the singing and the good words.If we go to church，rhen when trouble comes，Someone will take care of us.And if we do our best，then I believe Someone will help us when we need help.'

多莉不懂這個詞，可又不敢再多問，她生怕這個“小教堂”與魔鬼有關。仔細想了一會兒，她說：“馬南師傅，什么時候開始上教堂都不算晚，聽圣歌和贊美詩的感覺好極了。如果我們經(jīng)常做禮拜，在有困難的時候，就會有人來幫助我們。只要我們盡力去做，我相信我們會在需要的時候得到幫助的。”

Dolly's explanation of her simple religion did not seem at all clear to Silas，but he did understand that she was asking him to go to church.He did not want to agree to that.Just then young Aaron came out from behind his mother's chair，and Silas of-fered him one of Dolly's cakes.

雖然聽不太懂多莉對自己簡單信仰的解釋，可西拉斯知道她在勸說自己去教堂。但他不想照著去做。正在這時阿榮從媽媽的椅子后面出來了，西拉斯給了他一塊多莉做的蛋糕。

'Oh Aaron!'said his mother.'You're always eating!No，don't give him any more，Master Marner.But he can sing a song for you.I'm sure you'll like it.It's a beautiful Christmas carol.Come，Aaron，let's hear it.'

“嗨，阿榮!”他媽媽叫道，“你總在吃!不，馬南師傅，別再給他了。不過他可以給你唱首歌，我想你會喜歡，這是一首圣誕頌歌。來，阿榮，唱給我們聽聽。”

Little Aaron stood up straight and sang his carol in a clear，sweet voice.Dolly listened with delight，hoping that the carol would help to persuade Silas to come to church.

小阿榮站直了，開始用清晰、甜美的聲音唱他的頌歌。多莉高興地聽著，希望歌聲能有助于勸說西拉斯去教堂。

'You see，Master Marner，'she said when Aaron had fin-ished，'that's Christmas music.The Christmas Day service is wonderful，with all the voices and the music.I hope you'll be there with us.And remember，if you feel ill，I'll be happy to come and cook or clean for you.But I beg you，please stop weaving on Sundays.It's bad for soul and body，I'm sure.We must go now.Goodbye，Master Marner.'

“你看，馬南師傅，”阿榮唱完她說，“這就是圣誕音樂，圣誕節(jié)的禮拜儀式棒極了，有各種聲音和音樂。我希望你和我們一起在教堂。記住，如果你不舒服，我很樂意來替你做飯，打掃，但我請求你不要在禮拜日工作。我肯定這對靈魂和肉體都有害。我們得走了。再見，馬南師傅。”

'Thank you，and goodbye，'said Silas，as he opened the door for them.He could not help feeling relieved when she had gone.Now he could weave and moan as much as he liked.

“謝謝你，再見。”西拉斯為他們打開門?？腿俗吆笏唤械胶茌p松，因為他又可以織布，可以想怎么呻吟就怎么呻吟了。

Mr Macey and Dolly had tried hard to persuade Silas to go to church.But in the end he spent Christmas Day alone in his cot-tage，looking out at the cold grey sky.In the evening，snow be-gan to fall，and he felt more distant and separate from his neighbours than ever.He sat in his robbed home，moaning mis-erably to himself，not noticing that his fire was no longer burn-ing and that he was getting cold.

麥西先生和多莉盡了很大努力想勸西拉斯去教堂，可圣誕日西拉斯還是一個人留在了小屋里，望著窗外冷冷的灰色天空。晚上，開始下雪了，他感到跟鄰居們距離更遠，更孤獨了。他坐在被偷過的家里，對自己痛苦地呻吟著，沒注意到火爐里的火已經(jīng)熄了，自己也越來越冷。

But in Raveloe the church bells were ringing and the church was fuller than all through the rest of the year.It was a special day for everybody，and after the service they all hurried home in the biting cold to eat and drink with their families.

此時，瑞福洛的教堂的鐘聲在響，教堂里比平時任何時候人都多。對每個人這都是特別的一天，儀式完畢人們都在刺骨的寒冷中匆匆趕回家和家人一起吃喝慶祝。

At the Red House nobody spoke of Dunstan's absence.The village doctor，Dr Kimble，and his wife were guests there for Christmas lunch，and the day passed happily.

紅屋里沒人提起鄧斯坦的缺席。鄉(xiāng)村醫(yī)生金布爾先生和他太太被請來一起吃午飯，這一天過得很愉快。

The servants，however，were already preparing for the New Year's Eve dance which Squire Cass gave every year.It was the best party of the year，and guests used to come from miles around.Godfrey was looking forward to this year's party more than usual.But he was still worried.

用人們已經(jīng)開始準備鄉(xiāng)紳凱斯每年主辦的新年夜舞會了。這是一年中最好的晚會，方圓幾里地的客人都會來。戈弗雷比往年都更盼著新年晚會?？伤灿幸稽c兒擔心。

'What if Dunstan returns?'he thought.'He'll tell the Squire about my secret marriage!And Molly's asking for more money!I'll have to sell something for cash.But on New Year's Eve，I can forget everything for an evening，and sit with Nancy，and look into her eyes，and dance with her…'

“鄧斯坦回來怎么辦?”他想，“他會向父親告發(fā)我的秘密婚姻!莫麗又在要更多的錢!我將不得不賣些東西換錢。不過新年之夜我可以暫時忘掉這一切，我要坐在南茜旁邊，看著她的眼睛，和她跳舞……”