名著·汤姆叔叔的小屋 - 第135节


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  当然不管我的事,随便你对他怎么样,我都不会受损失。但如果你仔细想一想,花了一千二百美元买来个能干的奴隶,只是想在农活百忙之际让你出口气,划算吗?我是已经尽自己的最大努力,帮你去照顾他了。"

   "You have? What business have you meddling in my matters?""

  你去照顾他了?谁要你去的,这和你有何相干?"

   "None, to be sure. I've saved you some thousands of dollars, at different times, by taking care of your hands,--that's all the thanks I get. If your crop comes shorter into market than any of theirs, you won't lose your bet, I suppose? Tompkins won't lord it over you, I suppose,--and you'll pay down your money like a lady, won't you? I think I see you doing it!""

  当然不管我的事,只是,我真为你感到难过,为什么我一番好意去帮你照顾奴隶,替你省下几千美元钱,你却用这种口气同我说话呢?难道你想卖到市场的棉花不如人家多吗?我很难想象汤普金斯在你面前那股神气活现的样子,而你却低头丧气像个斗败了的公鸡,只好乖乖地付给他钱。到那时,你就该明辨是非了。我说的对吗?不信,咱们走着瞧吧!"

   Legree, like many other planters, had but one form of ambition,--to have in the heaviest crop of the season,--and he had several bets on this very present season pending in the next town. Cassy, therefore, with woman's tact, touched the only string that could be made to vibrate.

  烈格雷同其它庄园主并没两样,他的心里只有一个野心--那就是在一年的丰收之际,同周围镇上的一些庄园主打收成的赌。卡西抓住了他这种微妙的心理,用自己的智慧,拨动了那根唯一能令他动心的弦。

   "Well, I'll let him off at what he's got," said Legree; "but he shall beg my pardon, and promise better fashions.""

  你说的对,我就依你的,暂时放了他,"烈格雷停了片刻接着说,"但他一定要到这儿来向我认错,恳求我放过他,而且还要他保证以后给我乖乖地听话。"

  我估计他肯定不会这么做。"卡西回答道。

   "Won't,-- eh?""

  你说什么?他不肯这么做?"

   "No, he won't," said Cassy."

  是的,我敢肯定他不会这么做。"卡西又说。

   "I'd like to know _why_, Mistress," said Legree, in the extreme of scorn."

  宝贝,你给我说清楚点!我想知道这到底是为什么呢?"烈格雷不屑地说。

   "Because he's done right, and he knows it, and won't say he's done wrong.""

  他觉得自己做得对,他在心里面是这么想的,所以他肯定不会再向你认错。"

  去他妈的,他心里面怎么想,我才不想知道呢?他是我的奴隶,我是他的主人,他应该得听我的,说些让我开心的话才对,要不--"

   "Or, you'll lose your bet on the cotton crop, by keeping him out of the field, just at this very press.""

  要不,要不你就把他再往死里揍上一顿,让他在这农忙季节里不能下地干活。然后,你就心甘情愿地输掉这次在棉花收成方面上的打赌。"

   "But he _will_ give up,--course, he will; don't I know what niggers is? He'll beg like a dog, this morning.""

  但是,他不会再坚持多久--他会屈服。我太了解黑奴们的那种心理状态了,过不了今天上午,他就会像条狗一样爬到我面前求我原谅他。"

   He won't, Simon; you don't know this kind. You may kill him by inches,--you won't get the first word of confession out of him.""

  你错了!西蒙,你太不了解他了,你可以敲碎他身上的每一根骨头,把他撕成碎片,但你绝对不能让他在你面前认错,请求你的饶恕。"

   "We'll see,--where is he?" said Legree, going out."

  你等着瞧吧!他现在在哪?"烈格雷问道,接着便大步走了出去。

  在堆放杂物的那间轧棉房里。"卡西补充道。

   Legree, though he talked so stoutly to Cassy, still sallied forth from the house with a degree of misgiving which was not common with him. His dreams of the past night, mingled with Cassy's prudential suggestions, considerably affected his mind. He resolved that nobody should be witness of his encounter with Tom; and determined, if he could not subdue him by bullying, to defer his vengeance, to be wreaked in a more convenient season.

  尽管烈格雷跟卡西说话时,态度坚硬,始终持己主见,但是在他跨出门槛的片刻,心里却如潮水般汹涌--极不平静。对他来说,这是以前从来没有发现过的事。无可否认,卡西在他心里产生了极大的影响,他害怕卡西在他的梦境里出现,担心她郑重的劝告会变成现实。所有的疑虑让他决定,他要悄悄地不被人知地跟汤姆见面。同时他也决定,如果苦刑不能让汤姆屈服,那么,等到农忙过后再跟他算总账。

   The solemn light of dawn--the angelic glory of the morning-star--had looked in through the rude window of the shed where Tom was lying; and, as if descending on that star-beam, came the solemn words, "I am the root and offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." The mysterious warnings and intimations of Cassy, so far from discouraging his soul, in the end had roused it as with a heavenly call. He did not know but that the day of his death was dawning in the sky; and his heart throbbed with solemn throes of joy and desire, as he thought that the wondrous _all_, of which he had often pondered,--the great white throne, with its ever radiant rainbow; the white-robed multitude, with voices as many waters; the crowns, the palms, the harps,--might all break upon his vision before that sun should set again. And, therefore, without shuddering or trembling, he heard the voice of his persecutor, as he drew near.

  汤姆躺在那间破屋子里,黎明的曙光从狭窄的窗户射了进来。晨星渐渐隐没在遥远的天际,伴随着庄严的话语:"我是上帝的后裔,又是大卫的根,我是圣洁的晨星。"卡西非同寻常的经历和暗语并没有让汤姆气馁,相反他感到体内有一股动力,他听见了天堂的召唤。黎明和黑暗交替之际,他想到自己已经临近了死亡的边沿,马上就要到他向往已久的无苦难和压迫的美妙世界中去了,想到宏伟壮观的宝庵,想到光芒四射的彩虹,想到许许多多慈眉善目的白衣少女,想到鲜花美酒和那些棕榈,竖琴和桂冠……而如此美妙的一切,只要在他到了天堂以后,便可以全然地出现在他面前。想到这些,他不再恐慌和难过了,他的心因欢快而激动得颤栗。所以,在他听到残忍地伤害他的那人的脚步声时,他没有丝毫地退缩和害怕。

   "Well, my boy," said Legree, with a contemptuous kick, "how do you find yourself? Didn't I tell yer I could larn yer a thing or two? How do yer like it--eh ? How did yer whaling agree with yer, Tom? An't quite so crank as ye was last night. Ye couldn't treat a poor sinner, now, to a bit of sermon, could ye,--eh?""

  起来!死家伙!"烈格雷用力地踢了他一脚说道,"你终于醒来了!我先前就警告过你,要给你点颜色看看。感觉怎么样,嘿!嘿!嘿!你那身贱骨头撑不住了吧!想跟我斗,恐怕你到死的时候还不知道自己错在那里,现在你还想给我讲什么仁义的大道理吗?嗯!你敢吗?"

   Tom answered nothing.

  汤姆沉默不语。

  畜牲,你想装死吗?还不快给我起来!"烈格雷诅咒道,不忘又踢了他一脚。

   This was a difficult matter for one so bruised and faint; and, as Tom made efforts to do so, Legree laughed brutally.

  汤姆浑身是伤,全身的骨头像散了架似的。他拼命地想立起身子,一个踉跄又跌了下去。看到汤姆虚弱不堪的样子,烈格雷不由得露出了得意的微笑。

   "What makes ye so spry, this morning, Tom? Cotched cold, may be, last night.""

  喂,汤姆!起来呀!今天早上你怎么变得如此迟钝呀?看你一副生病的样子,想必昨天晚上着凉了吧!"

   Tom by this time had gained his feet, and was confronting his master with a steady, unmoved front.

  汤姆使出了全身力气,终于站了起来,面对着烈格雷神色出奇地镇定,坦然。

   "The devil, you can!" said Legree, looking him over. "I believe you haven't got enough yet. Now, Tom, get right down on yer knees and beg my pardon, for yer shines last night.""

  好样的!算你有种,我想昨天晚上够你受的吧!"烈格雷仔细打量着汤姆说道,"想跟我玩那套把戏,你行吗?还不快给我跪下,请求我的饶恕,或许我还会考虑放你一马。"

  汤姆丝毫也没有动弹。

   "Down, you dog!" said Legree, striking him with his riding-whip."

  畜牲,你给我跪下!"烈格雷挥动马鞭对着汤姆身上一阵猛抽,恶狠狠地说道。

   "Mas'r Legree," said Tom, "I can't do it. I did only what I thought was right. I shall do just so again, if ever the time comes. I never will do a cruel thing, come what may.""

  主人,想要我下跪认错,我真的做不到,"汤姆平静地说,"我认为自己并没有错,如果以后再有同样的事情发生,我还会这么做。不管你用怎么样的方式惩罚我,我都不会对那位可怜的女人下毒手。"

   "Yes, but ye don't know what may come, Master Tom. Ye think what you've got is something. I tell you 'tan't anything,--nothing 't all. How would ye like to be tied to a tree, and have a slow fire lit up around ye;--wouldn't that be pleasant,--eh, Tom?""

  是吗?你想知道下一步我将用什么样的方式招待你吗?汤姆!告诉你,昨天你受的惩罚只不过伤及皮毛,根本算不了什么。现在,就请你想象一下,那种被人挂在树枝上用火慢慢烧烤的滋味吧!那才不好受呢!跟我斗,嗯!"

   "Mas'r," said Tom, "I know ye can do dreadful things; but,"--he stretched himself upward and clasped his hands,--"but, after ye've killed the body, there an't no more ye can do. And O, there's all ETERNITY to come, after that!""

  烈格雷老爷!我相信您做得出来,你肯定下得了手。但是,您只能处死我的人;您永远都处死不了我的灵魂,在我升天以后,您就管不了我。那么,在上帝面前,我将要得到永生。"汤姆十指交叉放在胸前,慢慢说道。

  永生"!烈格雷听到这两个字眼,就像被蝎子蜇了一下,浑身发抖。只用眼睛恶狠狠地盯着汤姆,气得一句话都说不出来,汤姆说这话时,形色像个没有苦难完全获得释放的自由人,他用轻松而明快的语调继续说道:

   "Mas'r Legree, as ye bought me, I'll be a true and faithful servant to ye. I'll give ye all the work of my hands, all my time, all my strength; but my soul I won't give up to mortal man. I will hold on to the Lord, and put his commands before all,--die or live; you may be sure on 't. Mas'r Legree, I ain't a grain afeard to die. I'd as soon die as not. Ye may whip me, starve me, burn me,--it'll only send me sooner where I want to go.""

  我是您的奴仆,在你用金钱买下我的那一刻时,我的身子就完全地属于了你,我愿意做你最忠诚的奴隶,一刻不停地为你干活,直到我死。但是,我的灵魂却不属于你。我相信上帝,并把他的宗旨放在任何命令之上,它将决不会向任何凡俗夫子屈服。不管我是死是活,我都会始终坚持这么做。烈格雷老爷,您可以把我用鞭子抽死,用火烧死,我都不会怪你,相反我还会很高兴,很感激你,因为你让我去了我想要去的地方,提前让我超生了。"

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名著·汤姆叔叔的小屋 - 第135节