名著·八十天环绕地球 - 第37节


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  有一个演员手里拿着一把扇子和一些碎纸片,演出了非常美妙动人的“群蝶花间舞”;另一个演员用他那从烟斗里喷出来的一缕芬芳的烟雾,在空中迅速地写出许多青烟文字,这些字构成一句向观众致敬的颂词;又有一个耍抛物戏的演员,他一面把几支点着的蜡烛轮流地从手里抛起,一面把每一支从嘴前面经过的蜡烛吹熄,然后再陆续地把它们点着,同时却一秒钟也不中止他那神奇的抛掷动作。还有一个耍弹簧地陀螺的演员,他使那些地陀螺滴溜溜转起来配合得极其巧妙,看了简直叫人难以置信,这些嗡嗡作响的陀螺在他的操纵下,活象是一些旋转不停的有生命的小动物,它们能在烟斗杆上,军刀刀口上,以及在那些拉在舞台上的头发一样细的钢丝上旋转着跑个不停,它们能围着几个大水晶瓶打圈转,它们能爬竹梯,能四面八方到处跑,同时发出各种不同的响声。听起来非常和谐。演员们在表演的时候,还使陀螺在半空中旋转飞舞。演员用木制的球拍把这些陀螺象羽毛球一样打来打去,陀螺总是一个劲地不停旋转,演员们最后把陀螺装到衣袋里了,但是当他们再拿出来的时候陀螺仍在旋转,一直转到里面的一根发条完全松开的时候,这时陀螺也都不再动了,摊开得象一束束开放的纸花。

   It is useless to describe the astonishing performances of the acrobats and gymnasts. The turning on ladders, poles, balls, barrels, &c., was executed with wonderful precision. But the principal attraction was the exhibition of the Long Noses, a show to which Europe is as yet a stranger.

  这里,我们对杂技团的各种演员们的绝技无需多加描写,不论是上转梯、爬高竿也好,玩大球、滚圆桶也好,反正每个节目都非常出色。但是最引人入胜的节目是那些令人惊心动魄的“长鼻子”演员的表演,在欧洲根本就没见过这种绝技。

   The Long Noses form a peculiar company, under the direct patronage of the god Tingou. Attired after the fashion of the Middle Ages, they bore upon their shoulders a splendid pair of wings; but what especially distinguished them was the long noses which were fastened to their faces, and the uses which they made of them. These noses were made of bamboo, and were five, six, and even ten feet long, some straight, others curved, some ribboned, and some having imitation warts upon them. It was upon these appendages, fixed tightly on their real noses, that they performed their gymnastic exercises. A dozen of these sectaries of Tingou lay flat upon their backs, while others, dressed to represent lightning-rods, came and frolicked on their noses, jumping from one to another, and performing the most skilful leapings and somersaults.

  这些“长鼻子”是在天狗神直接佑护之下组成的一个特别的“长鼻子”班。他们穿着象中世纪英雄一样的服装,肩上装着两只华丽的假翅膀,但最特殊的地方是装在脸上的那根长鼻子。尤其是他们用这种鼻子所进行的表演,简直使人叹为观止。这些假鼻子只是用竹子作的,它们的长度有的五六英尺,最长的达十英尺。它们的形状有的笔直,有的弯曲,有的光滑整齐,有的疙里疙瘩。而这些演员们正是在这些装得很牢的假鼻子上来进行特技表演。首先是有十二三个这种“天狗神派”的演员仰卧在台上,接着又来了另一些长鼻子伙伴跳到他们那些象避雷针一样竖立着的鼻子上,他们在这些鼻子尖上蹦跳,飞跃,从这个鼻子到那个鼻子来回表演着各种令人难以相信的绝技。

   As a last scene, a "human pyramid" had been announced, in which fifty Long Noses were to represent the Car of Juggernaut. But, instead of forming a pyramid by mounting each other's shoulders, the artists were to group themselves on top of the noses. It happened that the performer who had hitherto formed the base of the Car had quitted the troupe, and as, to fill this part, only strength and adroitness were necessary, Passepartout had been chosen to take his place.

  最后,台上郑重其事地向观众宣布作为压轴戏的节目--“叠罗汉”,马上就要演出了。这个“罗汉塔”将由五十多个长鼻子演员搭成。但是尊贵的巴图尔卡先生的演员们并不是用双肩来叠“罗汉塔”,而只是用他们的假鼻子来支持这个巨大的人体建筑!由于替“罗汉塔”垫底的演员最近走了一个人,而这项垫底工作既要身体结实,又要头脑机灵,于是路路通就被选来担任这个角色了。

   The poor fellow really felt sad when--melancholy reminiscence of his youth!--he donned his costume, adorned with vari-coloured wings, and fastened to his natural feature a false nose six feet long. But he cheered up when he thought that this nose was winning him something to eat.

  说实在话,当路路通穿上这一套中古服装,装上两只花花绿绿的假翅膀,脸上又给安上一个六英尺长的鼻子的时候,这个正派的小伙子不禁想起了年轻时代那些艰苦的岁月,心里自然有无限感慨!可是话又说回来了,眼前这个鼻子到底是他赚钱吃饭的家伙,于是他决定干长鼻子演员。

  这时,路路通就走上了舞台,和那些跟他一样要为“罗汉塔”垫底的伙伴们站在一起。大家一齐往地上一躺,一个个长鼻子都翘到了半天空。接着,搭第二层的演员走了过来,在他们的鼻尖上躺下了;第三层演员跟着躺在第二层演员的鼻尖上,第四层演员也是依法炮制。不大一会儿功夫,这一座只靠着鼻子尖支起来的活人塔已经和台上的顶棚一样高了。这时台下响起了暴风雨般的掌声;台上奏起了雷鸣一般的音乐。就在这一霎那间,“罗汉塔”突然摇晃了一下,只见一个垫底的长鼻子离开了自己的岗位,“人塔”立即失去了平衡,只听“扑通扑通”一阵响声,“罗汉塔”就象一座纸搭的古堡一样倒了下来……

   It was Passepartout's fault. Abandoning his position, clearing the footlights without the aid of his wings, and, clambering up to the right-hand gallery, he fell at the feet of one of the spectators, crying, "Ah, my master! my master!"

  这是路路通的过失!是他擅自离开了职守。他虽然丝毫也没有扇动自己的翅膀,但却早已飞过了舞台上的低栅栏,爬上了舞台右面的包厢,在一位观众的脚下,趴了下来,他一面嚷着: “啊,我的主人,我可找到您了!”

   "You here?"

  “是你?!”

   "Myself."

  “是我!”

   "Very well; then let us go to the steamer, young man!"

  “那么,好吧,走,快上船!我的小伙子……”

  路路通跟着福克先生和艾娥达夫人迅速地穿过回廊跑出了马戏棚。这时,他们迎面碰上了怒不可遏的巴图尔卡先生,他为了“罗汉塔”的倒塌要求损害赔偿。斐利亚·福克先生丢给他一把钞票,立即平息了巴图尔卡先生的怒火。

   At half-past six, the very hour of departure, Mr. Fogg and Aouda, followed by Passepartout, who in his hurry had retained his wings, and nose six feet long, stepped upon the American steamer.

  六点半钟,福克先生和艾娥达夫人走上了美国邮船。后面跟着路路通,一直到要动身的时候,他肩膀上那两只翅膀和脸上那个六英尺长的假鼻子还没有来得及弄下来呢。

   What happened when the pilot-boat came in sight of Shanghai will be easily guessed. The signals made by the Tankadere had been seen by the captain of the Yokohama steamer, who, espying the flag at half-mast, had directed his course towards the little craft. Phileas Fogg, after paying the stipulated price of his passage to John Busby, and rewarding that worthy with the additional sum of five hundred and fifty pounds, ascended the steamer with Aouda and Fix; and they started at once for Nagasaki and Yokohama.

  关于在上海发生的事情,我们已经知道了。唐卡德尔号当时发出的信号已经被开往横滨的邮船发现。船长看见小船上下半旗,就命令邮船向唐卡德尔号开去。过了不久,斐利亚·福克先生算清了船费,把为数五百英镑(合一万二千五百法郎)的钞票交给了约翰·班斯比船长。然后这个尊贵的绅士和艾娥达夫人,还有费克斯就一齐上了这条立即开往长崎和横滨的邮船。

   They reached their destination on the morning of the 14th of November. Phileas Fogg lost no time in going on board the Carnatic, where he learned, to Aouda's great delight--and perhaps to his own, though he betrayed no emotion--that Passepartout, a Frenchman, had really arrived on her the day before.

  就在11月14日当天早晨,邮船准时地到达了横滨。辐克先生让费克斯去忙他自己的事了,然后福克先生就去找卡尔纳蒂克号。他在那里知道路路通确是在昨天晚上到了横滨,这个消息使艾娥达夫人高兴极了。福克先生也许会同样感到高兴,不过他在脸上却一点也没有表现出来。

   The San Francisco steamer was announced to leave that very evening, and it became necessary to find Passepartout, if possible, without delay. Mr. Fogg applied in vain to the French and English consuls, and, after wandering through the streets a long time, began to despair of finding his missing servant. Chance, or perhaps a kind of presentiment, at last led him into the Honourable Mr. Batulcar's theatre. He certainly would not have recognised Passepartout in the eccentric mountebank's costume; but the latter, lying on his back, perceived his master in the gallery. He could not help starting, which so changed the position of his nose as to bring the "pyramid" pell-mell upon the stage.

  斐利亚·福克先生当天晚上就要搭船去旧金山,所以他立即去找路路通。他问过法国和英国领事馆,但是一点消息也没有。他跑遍了横滨的大街,仍然一无所获,于是他对于把路路通再找回来这件事已经不抱什么希望了。但就是在这时,可能是由于碰巧,或者由于某一种预感,他竟走进了巴图尔卡先生的马戏棚。当时路路通穿着那样奇怪的古装,福克先生当然不会认出他来,可是在台上仰卧着的路路通却看到了他的主人坐在花楼上的包厢里。这时,小伙子再也不能使自己的鼻子一动也不动地保持在原来的地位了,因此就使整个“罗汉塔”失去了平衡,倒塌了。

  接着,路路通也从艾娥达夫人那里知道了过去几天的事。艾娥达夫人告诉他如何从香港到了横滨,如何同一位名叫费克斯的先生一起乘坐唐卡德尔号等等。

   Passepartout did not change countenance on hearing this name. He thought that the time had not yet arrived to divulge to his master what had taken place between the detective and himself; and, in the account he gave of his absence, he simply excused himself for having been overtaken by drunkenness, in smoking opium at a tavern in Hong Kong.

  听到费克斯的名字,路路通并没皱眉头。他觉得现在对福克先生说明费克斯和自己之间的纠葛,还不是时候。至于路路通对于自己的经历,他只承认是在横滨的一个烟馆里吸大烟吸醉了。

   Mr. Fogg heard this narrative coldly, without a word; and then furnished his man with funds necessary to obtain clothing more in harmony with his position. Within an hour the Frenchman had cut off his nose and parted with his wings, and retained nothing about him which recalled the sectary of the god Tingou.

  福克先生冷静地听完了他的叙述,没有说一句话,然后就给了他一笔足够的钱使他能在船上买到更合适的衣服。不到一个钟头,这个正直的小伙子已经去掉了假鼻子,摘下了花翅膀,在他身上再也找不到一点“天狗神派”的装饰了。

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名著·八十天环绕地球 - 第37节