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我们进了幽静而朴实的教堂，牧师身穿白色的法衣，在低矮的圣坛等候，旁边站着执事。一切都十分平静，那两个影子在远远的角落里走动。我的猜测没有错，这两个陌生人在我们之前溜了进来，此刻背朝着我们，站立在罗切斯特家族的墓穴旁边，透过栅栏，瞧着带有时间印迹的古老大理石坟墓，这里一位下跪的天使守卫着内战中死于马斯顿荒原的戴默尔．德．罗切斯特的遗骸和他的妻子伊丽莎白。 Our place was taken at the communion rails. Hearing a cautious stepbehind me, I glanced over my shoulder: one of the strangers--agentleman, evidently--was advancing up the chancel. The servicebegan. The explanation of the intent of matrimony was gone through;and then the clergyman came a step further forward, and, bendingslightly towards Mr. Rochester, went on. 我们在圣坛栏杆前站好。我听见身后响起了小心翼翼的脚步声，便回头看了一眼，只见陌生人中的一位--显然是位绅士--正走向圣坛。仪式开始了，牧师对婚姻的目的作了解释，随后往前走了一步，向罗切斯特先生微微欠了欠身子，又继续了。 "I require and charge you both (as ye will answer at the dreadfulday of judgment, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed),that if either of you know any impediment why ye may not lawfully bejoined together in matrimony, ye do now confess it; for be ye wellassured that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God'sWord doth allow, are not joined together by God, neither is theirmatrimony lawful."" 我要求并告诫你们两人（因为在可怕的最后审判日，所有人内心的秘密都要袒露无遗时，你们也将作出回答），如果你们中的一位知道有什么障碍使你们不能合法地联姻，那就现在供认吧，因为你们要确信，凡是众多没有得到上帝允许而结合的人，都不是上帝结成的夫妇，他们的婚姻是非法的。" He paused, as the custom is. When is the pause after that sentenceever broken by reply? Not, perhaps, once in a hundred years. Andthe clergyman, who had not lifted his eyes from his book, and hadheld his breath but for a moment, was proceeding: his hand wasalready stretched towards Mr. Rochester, as his lips unclosed toask, "Wilt thou have this woman for thy wedded wife?"--when adistinct and near voice said - 他按照习惯顿了一下，那句话之后的停顿，什么时候曾被回答所打破呢？不，也许一百年才有一次。所以牧师依然盯着书，并没有抬眼，静默片刻之后又说了下去，他的手已伸向罗切斯特先生，一边张嘴问道，"你愿意娶这个女人为结发妻子吗？"就在这当儿，近处一个清晰的声音响了起来： "The marriage cannot go on: I declare the existence of animpediment."" 婚礼不能继续下去了，我宣布存在着一个障碍。" 
牧师抬头看了一下说话人，默默地站在那里，执事也一样，罗切斯特先生仿佛觉得地震滚过他脚下，稍稍移动了一下，随之便站稳了脚跟，既没有回头，也没有抬眼，便说，"继续下去。" Profound silence fell when he had uttered that word, with deep butlow intonation. Presently Mr. Wood said - 他用深沉的语调说这句话后，全场一片寂静。沃德先生立即说： "I cannot proceed without some investigation into what has beenasserted, and evidence of its truth or falsehood."" 不先对刚才宣布的事调查一下，证明它是真是假，我是无法继续的。" "The ceremony is quite broken off," subjoined the voice behind us."I am in a condition to prove my allegation: an insuperableimpediment to this marriage exists."" 婚礼中止了，"我们背后的嗓音补充道。"我能够证实刚才的断言，这桩婚事存在着难以克服的障碍。" Mr. Rochester heard, but heeded not: he stood stubborn and rigid,making no movement but to possess himself of my hand. What a hotand strong grasp he had! and how like quarried marble was his pale,firm, massive front at this moment! How his eye shone, stillwatchful, and yet wild beneath! 罗切斯特先生听了置之不理。他顽固而僵直地站着，一动不动，但握住了我的手。他握得多紧！他的手多灼人！他那苍白、坚定的阔脸这时多么像开采下来的大理石！他的眼睛多么有光彩！表面平静警觉，底下却犹如翻江倒海！ 
沃德先生似乎不知所措，"是哪一类性质的障碍？"他问。"说不定可以排除--能够解释清楚呢？" "Hardly," was the answer. "I have called it insuperable, and Ispeak advisedly."" 几乎不可能，"那人回答，"我称它难以克服，是经过深思熟虑后才说的。" The speaker came forward and leaned on the rails. He continued,uttering each word distinctly, calmly, steadily, but not loudly - 说话人走到前面，倚在栏杆上。他往下说，每个字都说得那么清楚，那么镇定，那么稳重，但声音并不高。 "It simply consists in the existence of a previous marriage. Mr.Rochester has a wife now living."" 障碍完全在于一次以前的婚姻，罗切斯特先生有一个妻子还活着。" My nerves vibrated to those low-spoken words as they had nevervibrated to thunder--my blood felt their subtle violence as it hadnever felt frost or fire; but I was collected, and in no danger ofswooning. I looked at Mr. Rochester: I made him look at me. Hiswhole face was colourless rock: his eye was both spark and flint.He disavowed nothing: he seemed as if he would defy all things.Without speaking, without smiling, without seeming to recognise inme a human being, he only twined my waist with his arm and rivetedme to his side. 这几个字轻轻道来，但对我神经所引起的震动，却甚过于雷霆--对我血液的细微侵蚀远甚于风霜水火，但我又镇定下来了，没有晕倒的危险，我瞧了瞧罗切斯特先生，让他瞧着我。他的整张脸成了一块苍白的岩石。他的眼睛直冒火星，却又坚如燧石。他一点也没有否认，似乎要无视一切。他没有说话，没有微笑，也似乎没有把我看作一个人，而只是胳膊紧紧搂住我的腰，把我紧贴在他身边。 
你是谁？"他问那个入侵者。 "My name is Briggs, a solicitor of--Street, London."" 我的名字叫布里格斯-一伦敦××街的一个律师。" "And you would thrust on me a wife?"" 你要把一个妻子强加于我吗？" "I would remind you of your lady's existence, sir, which the lawrecognises, if you do not."" 我要提醒你，你有一个太太。先生，就是你不承认，法律也是承认的。" "Favour me with an account of her--with her name, her parentage, herplace of abode."" 请替我描述一下她的情况--她的名字，她的父母，她的住处。" 
当然。"布里格斯先生镇定自若地从口袋里取出了一个文件，用一种一本正经的鼻音读了起来： "'I affirm and can prove that on the 20th of October A.D.--(a dateof fifteen years back), Edward Fairfax Rochester, of ThornfieldHall, in the county of -, and of Ferndean Manor, in -shire, England,was married to my sister, Bertha Antoinetta Mason, daughter of JonasMason, merchant, and of Antoinetta his wife, a Creole, at--church,Spanish Town, Jamaica. The record of the marriage will be found inthe register of that church--a copy of it is now in my possession.Signed, Richard Mason.'"" 我断言并证实，公元××年十月二十日（十五年前的一个日子），英国××郡桑菲尔德府、及××郡芬丁庄园的爱德华．费尔法克斯．罗切斯特同我的姐姐，商人乔纳斯．梅森及妻子克里奥尔人、安托万内特的女儿，伯莎．安托万内特．梅森，在牙买加的西班牙镇××教堂成婚。婚礼的记录可见于教堂的登记簿--其中一份现在我手中。里查德．梅森签字。" "That--if a genuine document--may prove I have been married, but itdoes not prove that the woman mentioned therein as my wife is stillliving."" 如果这份文件是真的，那也只能证明我结过婚，却不能证明里面作为我妻子而提到的女人还活着。" "She was living three months ago," returned the lawyer." 三个月之前她还活着，"律师反驳说。 "How do you know?"" 你怎么知道？" 
我有一位这件事情的证人，他的证词，先生，连你也难以反驳。" "Produce him--or go to hell."" 把他叫来吧--不然见鬼去。" "I will produce him first--he is on the spot. Mr. Mason, have thegoodness to step forward."" 我先把他叫来--他在场。梅森先生，请你到前面来。"
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