名著·呼啸山庄 - 第51节


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  “希刺克厉夫--我一提这个名字就哆嗦!他从上星期日到今天就像是这家里的一个陌生人。是天使养活他,还是地狱里他的同类养活他,我也说不上来;可是他有近一个星期没跟我们一起吃饭了。天亮他才回家,就上楼到他的卧房里;把他自己锁在里头--倒像是会有人想要去陪他似的!他就在那儿待着,像个美以美会教徒似的祈祷着,不过他所祈求的神明只是无知觉的灰尘而已;而上帝,在他提及的时候,是很古怪地跟他自己的黑种父亲混在一起!做完了这些珍贵的祷告--经常拖延到他的嗓子嘶哑,喉头哽住才算完--他就又走掉了;总是径直到田庄来!我奇怪埃德加不找个警察,把他关起来!至于我,虽然我为凯瑟琳难过,却不能不把这一段从受侮辱的压迫中解脱出来的时间当作一个假期哩。

   'I recovered spirits sufficient to bear Joseph's eternal lectures without weeping, and to move up and down the house less with the foot of a frightened thief than formerly. You wouldn't think that I should cry at anything Joseph could say; but he and Hareton are detestable companions. I'd rather sit with Hindley, and hear his awful talk, than with "t' little maister" and his staunch supporter, that odious old man! When Heathcliff is in, I'm often obliged to seek the kitchen and their society, or starve among the damp uninhabited chambers; when he is not, as was the case this week, I establish a table and chair at one corner of the house fire, and never mind how Mr. Earnshaw may occupy himself; and he does not interfere with my arrangements. He is quieter now than he used to be, if no one provokes him: more sullen and depressed, and less furious. Joseph affirms he's sure he's an altered man: that the Lord has touched his heart, and he is saved "so as by fire." I'm puzzled to detect signs of the favourable change: but it is not my business.

  “我恢复了精力,可以去听约瑟夫的没完没了的说教而不哭泣了,而且也可以不像以前那样跟惊恐的小偷似的蹑手蹑脚地在屋里走动。你可不要以为不管约瑟夫说什么,我都会哭;可是他和哈里顿真是极为讨厌的同伴。我宁可跟辛德雷坐着,听他那可怕的言语,也比跟这个‘小主人’和他那可靠的助手,那个糟老头子,在一起好!希刺克厉夫在家的时候,我往往不得不到厨房找伴,不然就要在那些潮湿而没人住的卧房里挨饿;他不在家时,就像这个星期的情形,我就在大厅的炉火一角摆了一张桌子和一把椅子,也不管恩萧先生在搞什么,他也不干涉我的安排。如果没人惹他,他比往常可安静多了;更阴沉些,沮丧些,火气少些。约瑟夫肯定说他相信他换了一个人:说是上帝触动他的心,他就得救了,‘像受过火的锻炼一样’。我也看出这种好转的征象,很觉诧异;可那与我也无关。

   'Yester-evening I sat in my nook reading some old books till late on towards twelve. It seemed so dismal to go up-stairs, with the wild snow blowing outside, and my thoughts continually reverting to the kirk-yard and the new-made grave! I dared hardly lift my eyes from the page before me, that melancholy scene so instantly usurped its place. Hindley sat opposite, his head leant on his hand; perhaps meditating on the same subject. He had ceased drinking at a point below irrationality, and had neither stirred nor spoken during two or three hours. There was no sound through the house but the moaning wind, which shook the windows every now and then, the faint crackling of the coals, and the click of my snuffers as I removed at intervals the long wick of the candle. Hareton and Joseph were probably fast asleep in bed. It was very, very sad: and while I read I sighed, for it seemed as if all joy had vanished from the world, never to be restored.

  “昨天晚上,我坐在我的角落里读些旧书,一直读到十二点。外面大雪纷飞,我的思潮不断地转到墓园和那新修的坟上,那时上楼去好像很凄惨!我的眼睛刚刚敢从我面前的书页上抬起来,用幅忧郁的景象立刻侵占了书本上的位置。辛德雷坐在对面,手托着头;或者也在冥想着同一件事。他已经不再喝酒了,到了比失去理性还糟的地步,两三个钟头他都不动,也不说话。屋里屋外什么声音都没有,只有呜咽着的风时不时的摇撼着窗户,煤块的轻轻爆裂声,以及间或剪着长长的烛心时的烛花剪刀声;哈里顿和约瑟夫大概都上床睡着了,周围是那么凄凉,太凄凉了!我一面看书,一面叹息着,因为看来好像世界上所有的欢乐都消失了,永远不会再恢复了。

   'The doleful silence was broken at length by the sound of the kitchen latch: Heathcliff had returned from his watch earlier than usual; owing, I suppose, to the sudden storm. That entrance was fastened, and we heard him coming round to get in by the other. I rose with an irrepressible expression of what I felt on my lips, which induced my companion, who had been staring towards the door, to turn and look at me.

  “终于这场阴惨惨的沉寂被厨房门闩的响声打破了:希刺克厉夫守夜回来了,比平时早一点;我猜,是由于这场突来的风雪的缘故。那个门是闩住的,我们听见他绕到另一个门口要走进来。我站起来,自己也觉得嘴上带着一种压抑不住的表情,这引起了我那向门瞪视着的同伴转过头来望着我。

   '"I'll keep him out five minutes," he exclaimed. "You won't object?"

  “‘我要让他在外面待五分钟,’他叫着。‘你不会反对吧?’

  “‘不会,为了我你可以让他整夜待在外面,’我回答。‘就这样办!把钥匙插在钥匙洞里,拉上门闩。’

   'Earnshaw accomplished this ere his guest reached the front; he then came and brought his chair to the other side of my table, leaning over it, and searching in my eyes for a sympathy with the burning hate that gleamed from his: as he both looked and felt like an assassin, he couldn't exactly find that; but he discovered enough to encourage him to speak.

  “恩萧在他的客人还没有走到门口以前就做完了这件事;然后他过来,把他的椅子搬到我桌子对面,靠在椅上,他眼里射出燃烧着的愤恨,也想从我眼里寻求同情。既然他看上去并且自己也感觉到像个刺客,他就不能肯定是否能从我的眼里找到同情;但是他发现这也足以是鼓励他开腔了。

   '"You, and I," he said, "have each a great debt to settle with the man out yonder! If we were neither of us cowards, we might combine to discharge it. Are you as soft as your brother? Are you willing to endure to the last, and not once attempt a repayment?"

  “‘你和我,’他说,‘都有一大笔债要跟外面那个人算!如果我们都不是胆小鬼,我们可以联合起来清算。你难道跟你哥哥一样软弱吗?你是愿意忍受到底,一点也不想报仇吗?’

   '"I'm weary of enduring now," I replied; "and I'd be glad of a retaliation that wouldn't recoil on myself; but treachery and violence are spears pointed at both ends; they wound those who resort to them worse than their enemies."

  “‘我现在是忍不下去了,’我回答,‘我喜欢一种不会牵累到我自己的报复,但是阴谋和暴力是两头尖的矛,它们也能刺伤使用它们的人,比刺伤它们的敌人还会重些。’

   '"Treachery and violence are a just return for treachery and violence!" cried Hindley. "Mrs. Heathcliff, I'll ask you to do nothing; but sit still and be dumb. Tell me now, can you? I'm sure you would have as much pleasure as I in witnessing the conclusion of the fiend's existence; he'll be YOUR death unless you overreach him; and he'll be MY ruin. Damn the hellish villain! He knocks at the door as if he were master here already! Promise to hold your tongue, and before that clock strikes - it wants three minutes of one - you're a free woman!"

  “‘以阴谋和暴力对付阴谋和暴力是公平的报答!’辛德雷叫道。‘希刺克厉夫夫人,我不请你作别的,就坐着别动别响。现在告诉我,你能不能?我担保你亲眼看这恶魔的生命结束,会得到和我所得到的同等的愉快;他会害死你的,除非你先下手;他也会毁了我。该死的恶棍!他敲门敲得好像他已经是这儿的主人了!答应我别吭声,在钟响之前--还差三分钟到一点--你就是个自由的女人了!’

  “他从他胸前取出我在信里跟你描述过的武器,正想吹蜡烛。但是我把蜡烛夺过来,抓住他的胳臂。

   '"I'll not hold my tongue!" I said; "you mustn't touch him. Let the door remain shut, and be quiet!"

  “‘我不能不吭气!’我说,‘你千万别碰他。就让门关着,不出声好了!’

   '"No! I've formed my resolution, and by God I'll execute it!" cried the desperate being. "I'll do you a kindness in spite of yourself, and Hareton justice! And you needn't trouble your head to screen me; Catherine is gone. Nobody alive would regret me, or be ashamed, though I cut my throat this minute - and it's time to make an end!"

  “‘不!我已经下了决心,而且对着上帝发誓,我非实行不可!’这个绝望的东西喊着。‘不管你自己怎么样,我要给你作件好事,而且也为哈里顿主持公道!你用不着费心维护我,凯瑟琳已经死去了。没有一个活着的人会惋惜我,或是为我羞愧,即使我这时割断我的喉咙--是到了结束的时候了!’

   'I might as well have struggled with a bear, or reasoned with a lunatic. The only resource left me was to run to a lattice and warn his intended victim of the fate which awaited him.

  “我还不如跟只熊搏斗,或是跟疯子论理还好些。我唯一的方法就是跑到窗前,警告那个他所策划的牺牲者,当心等待着他的命运。

   '"You'd better seek shelter somewhere else to-night!" I exclaimed, in rather a triumphant tone. "Mr. Earnshaw has a mind to shoot you, if you persist in endeavouring to enter."

  “‘今天夜里你最好在别的地方安身吧!’我叫着,简直是一种胜利的腔调。‘如果你坚持要进来,恩萧先生打算拿枪崩你。’

  “‘你最好把门开开,你这--’他回答,用某种文雅的名字称呼我,我不屑再重复了。

   '"I shall not meddle in the matter," I retorted again. "Come in and get shot, if you please. I've done my duty."

  ““我不管这闲事,’我反唇相讥。‘进来挨枪崩吧,如果你愿意的话。我是已经尽到我的责任了。’

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名著·呼啸山庄 - 第51节