目 录 上一节 下一节 
这女人年纪很轻，皮肤白得象欧洲人。她头上、颈上、肩上、耳上、胳臀上、手指上和脚趾上戴着：宝石颈练、手镯、耳环和戒指。她穿着绣金的紧身胸衣，外面罩着透明的纱丽，衬托出她的体态和丰姿。 The guards who followed the young woman presented a violent contrast to her, armed as they were with naked sabres hung at their waists, and long damascened pistols, and bearing a corpse on a palanquin. It was the body of an old man, gorgeously arrayed in the habiliments of a rajah, wearing, as in life, a turban embroidered with pearls, a robe of tissue of silk and gold, a scarf of cashmere sewed with diamonds, and the magnificent weapons of a Hindoo prince. Next came the musicians and a rearguard of capering fakirs, whose cries sometimes drowned the noise of the instruments; these closed the procession. 在这年轻女人后面，跟着好些卫兵。相形之下，越发显得杀气腾腾。他们腰上别着脱鞘的军刀，挎着嵌金的长把手枪，抬着一顶双人轿，轿上躺着一个死尸。这是一个老头儿的尸首。他和生前一样穿戴着土王的华服，头上缠着缀有珍珠的头巾，身上穿着绣金的绸袍子，腰间系着镶满宝石的细羊毛腰带，此外还佩着印度土王专用的漂亮武器。接着是乐队和一支狂热的信徒组成的大军。他们叫喊的声音，有时甚至掩盖了那震耳欲聋的乐器声，游行队伍至此才算结束。 Sir Francis watched the procession with a sad countenance, and, turning to the guide, said, "A suttee." 柯罗马蒂先生注视着过往的这一群人。他脸上露出了很不自在的神色，转身对向导说：“那是寡妇殉葬？” The Parsee nodded, and put his finger to his lips. The procession slowly wound under the trees, and soon its last ranks disappeared in the depths of the wood. The songs gradually died away; occasionally cries were heard in the distance, until at last all was silence again. 帕西人点了点头，并把一个指头搁在嘴唇上，叫他别作声。长长的游行队伍慢慢地向前蠕动着。没多久，队伍的尾巴也在丛林的深处消失了。歌声慢慢地也听不见了。远方，还传来一两下迸发出的叫喊声。哄乱的局面就此结束，接着是一片沉寂。 Phileas Fogg had heard what Sir Francis said, and, as soon as the procession had disappeared, asked: "What is a suttee?" 福克先生已经听见了柯罗马蒂说的话。游行队伍刚一走完，他就问道：“寡妇殉葬是怎么回事？” 
“福克先生，”旅长回答说，“殉葬就是用活人来作牺牲的祭品。可是这种活祭是殉葬者甘心情愿的。您刚看见的那个女人明天天一亮就要被烧死。” "Oh, the scoundrels!" cried Passepartout, who could not repress his indignation. “这些坏蛋！”路路通大叫一声，他简直忍不住心里的愤怒了。 "And the corpse?" asked Mr. Fogg. “那个死尸是谁？”福克问。 "Is that of the prince, her husband," said the guide; "an independent rajah of Bundelcund." “那是一位土王，他是那女人的丈夫，”向导回答说，“他是本德尔汗德的一个独立的土王。” "Is it possible," resumed Phileas Fogg, his voice betraying not the least emotion, "that these barbarous customs still exist in India, and that the English have been unable to put a stop to them?" “怎么，”福克先生并不激动，接着说，“印度到现在还保持这种野蛮的风俗。难道英国当局不能取缔吗？” 
“在印度大部分地区已经没有寡妇殉葬的事了，”柯罗马蒂回答说。“可是，在这深山老林里，尤其是在本德尔汗德土邦的领地上，我们是管不了的。文迪亚群山北部的全部地区，就是一个经常发生杀人掳掠事件的地方。” "The poor wretch!" exclaimed Passepartout, "to be burned alive!" “这可怜的女人！要给活活地烧死啊！”路路通咕哝着说。 "Yes," returned Sir Francis, "burned alive. And, if she were not, you cannot conceive what treatment she would be obliged to submit to from her relatives. They would shave off her hair, feed her on a scanty allowance of rice, treat her with contempt; she would be looked upon as an unclean creature, and would die in some corner, like a scurvy dog. The prospect of so frightful an existence drives these poor creatures to the sacrifice much more than love or religious fanaticism. Sometimes, however, the sacrifice is really voluntary, and it requires the active interference of the Government to prevent it. Several years ago, when I was living at Bombay, a young widow asked permission of the governor to be burned along with her husband's body; but, as you may imagine, he refused. The woman left the town, took refuge with an independent rajah, and there carried out her self-devoted purpose." “是呀！活活烧死，”旅长又说。“倘若她不殉葬的话，她的亲人们就会逼得她陷入您想象不到的凄惨的境地。他们会把她的头发剃光，有时只给她吃几块干饭团，有时还把她赶出去，从此她就被人看成是下贱的女人，结果会象一条癞狗一样不知道会死在哪个角落里。这些寡妇就是因为想到将来会有这种可怕的遭遇，才不得不心甘情愿地被烧死。促使她们愿意去殉葬的主要是这种恐惧心理，并不是什么爱情和宗教信仰。不过，有时候也真有心甘情愿去殉葬的，要阻止她们，还得费很大力气。几年前，有过这么一回事：那时我正在孟买，有一位寡妇要求总督允许她去殉葬。当然您会猜想到，总督拒绝了她的请求。后来这个寡妇就离开孟买，逃到一个独立的土王那里。在那里她的殉葬愿望得到了满足。” While Sir Francis was speaking, the guide shook his head several times, and now said: "The sacrifice which will take place to-morrow at dawn is not a voluntary one." 旅长讲这段话的时候，向导连连摇头，等他讲完，向导便说道：“明日天一亮就要烧死的这个女人，她可不是心甘情愿的。” "Everybody knows about this affair in Bundelcund." “本德尔汗德土邦的人全知道这桩事。”向导说。 
“可是，这个可怜的女人似乎一点也不抗拒。”柯罗马蒂说。 "That was because they had intoxicated her with fumes of hemp and opium." “这是因为她已经被大麻和鸦片的烟给熏昏过去了！” "But where are they taking her?" “可是他们把她带到哪儿去呢？” "To the pagoda of Pillaji, two miles from here; she will pass the night there." “把她带到庇拉吉庙去，离这儿还有两英里。留她在那里过一宿，一到时候，就把她烧死。” "And the sacrifice will take place--" “什么时候？……” 
“明天，天一亮。” The guide now led the elephant out of the thicket, and leaped upon his neck. Just at the moment that he was about to urge Kiouni forward with a peculiar whistle, Mr. Fogg stopped him, and, turning to Sir Francis Cromarty, said, "Suppose we save this woman." 向导说完了话，就从丛林深处牵出大象，他自己也爬上了象脖子。但是，当他正要吹起专用于赶象的口哨叫大象开步走的时候，福克先生止住了他，一面向柯罗马蒂说：“我们去救这个女人，好吗？” "Save the woman, Mr. Fogg!" “救这个女人！福克先生。”旅长惊讶他说。 "I have yet twelve hours to spare; I can devote them to that." “我还富裕十二小时，可以用来救她。” "Why, you are a man of heart!" “咦！您还真是个挺热情的人哪！”柯罗马蒂说。 
“有时候是的，”福克简单地回答说，“只要我有功夫。” The project was a bold one, full of difficulty, perhaps impracticable. Mr. Fogg was going to risk life, or at least liberty, and therefore the success of his tour. But he did not hesitate, and he found in Sir Francis Cromarty an enthusiastic ally. 这个救人的打算是很冒险的，是有困难的，看来也是行不通的。福克先生简直是要拿他的生命去冒险，或者至少说是要拿他的自由去冒险，其结果当然也就是拿他这次旅行的成败去冒险，可是，他并没有犹豫，而且他相信柯罗马蒂还能做他的得力助手。 As for Passepartout, he was ready for anything that might be proposed. His master's idea charmed him; he perceived a heart, a soul, under that icy exterior. He began to love Phileas Fogg. 至于路路通，他早已准备好随时听候差遣。他主人的建议使他感到兴奋。他发现他主人外表虽然是冷冰冰的，但骨子里却是个热心肠重感情的人，因此，他对福克先生就更加爱戴了。 There remained the guide: what course would he adopt? Would he not take part with the Indians? In default of his assistance, it was necessary to be assured of his neutrality. 现在只剩下这位向导了。他对这件事抱什么态度呢？他会不会站在本地人那一边呢？如果他不肯帮忙，至少也该让他保守中立。 Sir Francis frankly put the question to him. 柯罗马蒂很坦率地向他提出了这个问题。 
“军官先生，”向导回答说，“我是帕西人，那受难的女人也是帕西人，有事您只管吩咐好了。” "Excellent!" said Mr. Fogg. “好极了。”福克回答说。 "However," resumed the guide, "it is certain, not only that we shall risk our lives, but horrible tortures, if we are taken." “但是，您得明白，”帕西人又说，“咱们这不光是拿性命冒险，要是给他们抓住了，咱们就会受到可怕的苦刑。事情就是这样，您明白了！” "That is foreseen," replied Mr. Fogg. "I think we must wait till night before acting." “这一点早已预料到了！”福克回答说。“我想我们必须等到天黑才能动手。是吗？”
| 
