雙語《小約翰》 十一

XI
十一

“Now we shall see，”said Pluizer，“whether I cannot show you just as pretty things as Windekind did．”
“我們要試一試，”穿鑿說，“我可能旋兒似的示給你許多美?！?/span>

And when they had taken leave of the doctor，promising to return soon，he led Johannes into every nook and corner of the great town；he showed him how the Monster lived，how he breathed and took in food，how he digested within and expanded without．
他們向博士告了別，且約定當即回來之后，他便領(lǐng)著約翰到大城的一切角落巡行，他指示它，這大怪物怎樣地生活，呼吸和滋養(yǎng)，它怎樣地吸收自己并且從自己重行生長起來。

But what he liked best were the gloomy back slums，where men sat closely packed，where everything was grey and grizzly，and the air black and heavy．
但他偏愛這人們緊擠著，一切灰色而干枯、空氣沉重而潮濕的、陰郁的困苦區(qū)域。

He took him into one of the great buildings from which the smoke rose which Johannes had seen the first day．The place was filled with deafening noise—thumping，rattling，hammering and droning—great wheels were turning and long belts sliding endlessly onward；the walls and floors were black，the windows broken and murky．The towering chimneys rose high above the dingy structure， and poured forth thick wreaths of smoke．Amid the turmoil of wheels and axles，Johannes saw numbers of men with pale faces and blackened hands and clothes，working busily without a word．
他領(lǐng)他走進大建筑中之一，煙氣從那里面升騰，這是約翰第一天就見過的。那地方主宰著一個震聾耳朵的喧鬧——到處鳴吼著，格磔著，撞擊著，隆隆著——大的輪子嗡嗡有聲，長帶蜿蜒著拖過去，黑的是墻和地面，窗玻璃破碎或則塵昏。雄偉的煙突高高地伸起，超過黑的建筑物，還噴出濃厚的旋轉(zhuǎn)的煙柱來。在這輪子和機器的雜沓中，約翰看見無數(shù)人們帶著蒼白的臉、黑的手和衣服，默默地不住地工作著。

“Who are they？”he asked．
“這是什么？”他問。

“Wheels，wheels too，”said Pluizer with a laugh，“or men，if you choose to call them so．And what you see them doing，they do from morning to night．Even so，they can be men—after their own fashion，of course．”
“輪子，也是輪子，”穿鑿笑著，“如果你愿意，也可以說是人。他們經(jīng)營著什么，他們便終年的經(jīng)營，一天又一天。在這種樣子上，人也能是一個人？”

Then they passed along filthy streets，where the strip of heavenly blue seemed no more than a finger's breadth wide，and was still more shut out by clothes hung out to air．These alleys were swarming with people，who jostled each other，shouted，laughed and sometimes even sang．In the houses here，the rooms were so small， so dark and foul，that Johannes could scarcely breathe．He saw squalid children crawling about on the bare floor，and young girls with tangled hair crooning songs to pale，hungry babies．He heard quarrelling and scolding，and every face he looked upon was weary， or stupid and indifferent．
他們走到污穢的巷中，天的蔚藍的條，見得狹如一指，還被懸掛出來的衣服遮暗了。人們在那里蠢動著，他們互相挨擠，叫喊，喧笑，有時也還唱歌。房屋里是小屋子，這樣小，這樣黑暗而且昏沉，至使約翰不大敢呼吸。他看見在赤地上爬著的相打的孩子，蓬著頭發(fā)給消瘦的乳兒哼著小曲的年青姑娘。他聽到爭鬧和呵斥，凡在他周圍的一切面目，也顯得疲乏、魯鈍或漠不相關(guān)。

It filled Johannes with a strange sudden pang．It had nothing in common with any former pain，and he felt ashamed of it．
無名的苦痛侵入約翰了。這和他現(xiàn)以為愧的先前的苦痛，是不一樣的。

“Pluizer，”said he，“have men always lived here in such grief and misery？ And when I—”he dared not finish the question．
“穿鑿，”他問，“在這里活著的人們，永是這么苦惱和艱難么？也比我……”他不敢接下去了。

“To be sure，and a happy thing too．They are not in such grief and misery；they are used to it and know no better．They are mere animals，ignorant and indifferent．Look at those two women sitting in front of their door；they look out on the dirty street as contentedly as you used to gaze at the sand-hills．You need not worry yourself about the lot of man．You might as well cry over the lot of the moles who never see daylight．”
“固然，而他們稱這為幸福。他們活得全不艱難，他們已經(jīng)習慣，也不知道別的了。那是一匹胡涂的不識好歹的畜生。看那兩個坐在她門口的女人罷。她們滿足地眺望著污穢的巷，正如你先前眺望你的沙岡。為這人們你無須顰蹙，否則你也須為那永不看見日光的土撥鼠顰蹙了?！?/span>

And Johannes did not know what to answer，nor what，then，he ought to weep over．
約翰不知道回答，也不知道為什么他卻還要哭。

And ever through the noisy throng and bustle，he still saw the pale，hollow-eyed figure marching on with noiseless steps．
而且在喧擾的操作和旋轉(zhuǎn)中間，他總看見那蒼白的空眼的人，怎樣地用了無聲的腳步走動。

“A good man，don't you think？”said Pluizer．“He takes them away from this at any rate．But even here men are afraid of him．”
“總而言之統(tǒng)而言之是一個好人，對不對？他從這里將人們帶走。但這里他們也一樣地怕他。”

When night had fallen and hundreds of lights flared in the wind， casting long，straggling reflections in the black water，they made their way down the quiet streets．The tall old houses seemed tired out，and asleep as they leaned against each other．Most of them had their eyes shut；but here and there a window still showed a pale gleam of yellow light．
已經(jīng)是深夜，小光的百數(shù)在風中動搖，并且將長的波動的影象投到黑暗的水上的時候，這兩個順著寂靜的街道趲行。古舊的高的房屋似乎因為疲勞，互相倚靠起來，并且睡著了。大部分已經(jīng)合了眼。有幾處卻還有一個窗戶透出黯淡的黃光。

Pluizer told Johannes many a long tale of those who dwelt within，of the sufferings which were endured there，and the struggle waged between misery and the love of life．He spared him nothing：he sought out the gloomiest，the lowest，the most dreadful facts，and grinned with delight as Johannes turned pale and speechless at his horrible tales．
穿鑿給約翰講那住在后面的許多故事，講到在那里受著的苦楚，講到在那里爭斗著的困苦和生趣之間的爭斗。他不給它省去最陰郁的，還偏愛選取最下賤和最難堪的事，倘若約翰因為他的慘酷的敘述而失色，沉默了，他便愉快得歪著嘴笑。

“Pluizer，”Johannes suddenly asked，“do you know anything about the Great Light？”
“穿鑿，”約翰忽然問，“你知道一點那大光么？”

He thought the question might deliver him from the darkness which grew thicker and more oppressive about him．
他以為這問題可以將他從沉重而可怕地壓迫著他的幽暗里解放出來。

“All nonsense！”said Pluizer．“Windekind's nonsense！Mere visions and dreams！Men alone exist—and I myself．Do you suppose that a God，or anything at all like one，could take pleasure in governing such a muddle as prevails on this earth？ And such a Great Light would not shine here in the dark．”
“空話！旋兒的空話！”穿鑿說，“幻想和夢境。人們和我自己之外，沒有東西。你以為有一個上帝或相類的東西，樂于在這里似的地上來主宰這樣的廢物們么？而且這樣的大光，也決不在這黑暗里放出這許多來的。”

“But the stars，what about the stars？”asked Johannes as if he expected that the visible Splendour would raise up the squalor before him．
“還有星星們呢，星星們？”約翰問，似乎他希望這分明的偉大，能夠來抬高他面前的卑賤。

“The stars！Do you know of what you are talking，boy？ There are no lights up there like the lamps you see about you here below．The stars are nothing but worlds，a great deal larger than this world with its thousand cities，and we move among them like a speck of dust；and there is no‘a(chǎn)bove’or‘below，’but worlds all round，and on every side more worlds，and no end of them anywhere．”
“那星星們么？你可知道你說了什么了，小孩子？那上面并不是小光，像你在這里四面看見的燈燭似的。那一切都是世界們，比起這帶著千數(shù)的城鎮(zhèn)的世界來，都大得多。我們就如一粒微塵，在它們之間飄浮著，而且那是既無所謂上，也無所謂下，到處都有世界們，永是世界們，而且這是永沒，永沒有窮盡?！?/span>

“No，no！”cried Johannes in horror．“Do not say so，do not say so！I can see the lights against a great dark background overhead．”
“不然！不然！”約翰恐懼地叫喊，“不要說這個，不要說這個罷！在廣大的黑暗的田野上，我看見小光們在我上面?！?/span>

“Very true．You cannot see anything but lights．If you stared up at the sky all your life long you would still see nothing but lights against a dark background overhead．But，you know，you must know， that there is no above nor beneath．Those are worlds，amid which this clod of earth，with its wretched，struggling mass of humanity，is as nothing—and will vanish into nothing．Do not ever speak of‘the stars’in that way，as though there were but a few dozen of them．It is foolishness．”
“是呀，你看去不過是小光們。你也向上面呆望一輩子，只能看見黑暗的田野里在你上面的小光們。然而你能，你應該知道，那是世界們，既無上，也無下，在那里，那球兒是帶著那些什么都不算，并且不算什么地消失了去的，可憐的蠕動著的人堆兒。那么，就不要向我再說‘星星們’了，仿佛那是二三十個似的，這是無意識?！?/span>

Johannes said no more．The immensity which ought to have elevated the squalor had crushed it．
約翰沉默著。這會將卑賤提高的偉大，將卑賤壓碎了。

“Come along，”said Pluizer．“Now we will go to see something amusing．”At intervals bursts of delightful，soft music were wafted to their ears．On a dark slope in front of them stood a large building with lamps blazing in its numerous long windows．A row of carriages was in waiting outside；the pawing of the horses rang hollow through the silent night，and as they shook their heads， sparks of light shone on the silver fittings of their harness，and on the varnish of the coaches．
“來罷，”穿鑿說，“我們要看一點有趣的?！睂λ麄儌鱽砹丝蓯鄣捻懥恋囊魳贰Ｔ诤诎档慕值乐唤?，立著一所高大的房屋，從許多高窗內(nèi)，明朗地透出些光輝。前面停著一大排車。馬匹的頓足，空洞地在夜靜中發(fā)響，它們的頭還點著哦！哦！閃光在車件的銀釘上和車子的漆光上閃爍。

Inside，everything was a blaze of light．Johannes was half blinded as he gazed，by the hundreds of candles，the bright colours， the glitter of mirrors and flowers．Gay figures flitted across the windows，bowing to each other，with laughter and gestures．Beyond， at the other side of the room，richly dressed persons were moving about with slow dignity or spinning with swift，swaying motion．A confused sound of laughter and merry voices，of shuffling feet and rustling dresses came through the front door，mingling with the waves of that soft bewitching music which Johannes had already heard from afar．In the street，close to the windows，stood a few dark figures，their faces only strangely lighted up by the illumination within，at which they stared with avidity．
里面是明亮的光。約翰半被迷眩地看著百數(shù)抖著的火焰的、奪目的、顏色的鏡子和花的光彩。鮮明的姿態(tài)溜過窗前，他們都用了微笑的儀容和友愛的態(tài)度互相親近著。直到大廳的最后面，都轉(zhuǎn)動著盛裝的人們，或是舒徐的步伐，或是迅速的旋風一般的回旋。那大聲的喧囂和歡喜的聲音，摩擦的腳步和的長衣，都夾在約翰曾在遠處聽到過的柔媚的音樂的悠揚中，成為一個交錯，傳到街道上。在外面，接近窗邊，是兩個黑暗的形體，只有那面目，被他們正在貪看的光耀照得不一律而且鮮明。

“That is pretty！That is splendid！”cried Johannes，delighted at the sight of so much light and colour，and so many flowers．“What is going on in there？ May we go in？”
“這美呵！這堂皇呵！”約翰叫喊。他耽溺于這么多的色采、光輝和花朵的觀覽了。“出了什么事？我們可以進去么？”

“Indeed！So you really think that pretty？ Or do you not prefer a rabbit-hole？ Look at the people as they laugh，and bow，and glitter．See how stately and polite the men are；and how gay and fine the ladies！And how solemnly they dance，as if it were the most important thing on earth．”
“哦，這你卻稱為美呀？或者你也許先選一個兔洞罷？但是看罷？人們怎樣地微笑、輝煌，并且鞠躬呵。看哪，男人們怎么這樣地體面和漂亮，女人們怎么這樣地艷麗和打扮呵。跳舞起來又多么鄭重，像是世界上的最重要事件似的！”

Johannes recalled the ball in the rabbit-burrow，and he saw a great deal which reminded him of it．But here，everything was much grander and more brilliant．The young ladies in their beautiful array seemed to him as lovely as elves，as they raised their long，bare arms，and bent their heads on one side in the dance．The servants moved about incessantly，offering elegant refreshments with respectful bows．
約翰回想到兔洞里的跳舞，也看出了幾樣使他記憶起來的事。然而這卻一切盛大得遠，燦爛得遠了。那些盛裝的年青女子們，倘若伸高了她們的長的潔白的臂膊，當活潑的跳舞中側(cè)著臉，他看來也美得正如妖精一般。侍役們是整肅地往來，并且用了恭敬的鞠躬，獻上那貴重的飲料。

“How splendid！How splendid！”cried Johannes．
“多么華美！多么華美！”約翰大聲說。

“Very pretty，is it not？”said Pluizer．“But now you must learn to look a little further than the end of your nose．You see nothing there but happy smiling faces？ Well，the greater part of all that mirth is falsehood and affectation．The friendly old ladies in the corner sit there like anglers round a pond；the young girls are the bait，the men are the fish．And affectionately as they gossip together，they envy and grudge each other every fish that bites．If either of the young ladies feels some pleasure，it is because she has a prettier dress than the rest，or secures more partners；the pleasure of the men chiefly consists in the bare shoulders and arms of the ladies．Behind all these bright eyes and pleasant smiles there lurks something quite different．Even the thoughts of the respectful servants are very far from respectful．If suddenly every one should give utterance to his real thoughts the party would soon be at an end．”
“很美觀，你不這樣想么？”穿鑿說，“但你也須比在你鼻子跟前的看得遠一點。你現(xiàn)在只看見可愛的微笑的臉，是不是？唔，這微笑，大部分卻是誆騙和作偽呵。那坐在廳壁下的和藹的老太太們就如圍著池子的漁人，年青的女人們是釣餌，先生們是那魚。他們雖然這么親愛地一同閑談——他們卻嫉妒地不樂意于各人的釣得。倘若其中的一個年青女人高興了，那是因為她穿得比別人美，或者招致的先生們比別人多，而先生們的特別的享樂是精光的脖子和臂膊。在一切微笑的眼睛和親愛的嘴唇之后，藏著的全是另外一件事。而且那恭敬的侍役們，思想得全不恭敬。倘將他們正在想著的事驟然泄露出來，那就即刻和這美觀的盛會都完了?！?/span>

And when Pluizer pointed it all out to him，Johannes could plainly see the insincerity of the faces and manners of the company，and the vanity，envy，and weariness which showed through the smiling mask，or were suddenly revealed as though it had just been taken off．
當穿鑿將一切指給他的時候，約翰便分明地看見儀容和態(tài)度中的作偽，以及從微笑的假面里怎樣地露出虛浮、嫉妒和無聊，或則倘將這假面暫置一旁，便忽然見了分曉。

“Well，”said Pluizer，“they must do things in their own way．Human creatures must have some amusement，and they know no other way．”
“唉，”穿鑿說，“應該讓他們隨意。人們也應該高興高興。用別樣的方法，他們是全不懂得的?！?/span>

Johannes was aware of some one standing just behind him．He looked round；it was the well-known tall figure．The pale face was strangely lighted up by the glare，so that the eyes showed as large dark caverns．He was muttering softly to himself and pointed with one finger into the splendid ball-room．
約翰覺得，仿佛有人站在他后面似的。他向后看。那是熟識的、長的形體。蒼白的臉被奪目的光彩所照耀，至使眼睛形成了兩個大黑點。他低聲自己喃喃著，還用手指直指向華美的廳中。

“Look，”said Pluizer，“he is seeking out some one．”
“看呵！”穿鑿說，“他又在尋出來了?！?/span>

Johannes looked where the finger pointed，and he saw how the old lady who was speaking closed her eyes and put her hand to her head；and how a fair young girl paused in her slow walk，and stared before her with a slight shiver．
約翰向那手指所指的處所看。他看見一個年老的太太怎樣地在交談中驟然合了眼，以及美麗的年青的姑娘怎樣地打一個寒噤，因此站住并且凝視著前方。

“How soon？”Pluizer asked of Death．
“到什么時候呢？”穿鑿問死。

“That is my affair，”was the answer．
“這是我的事?！彼勒f。

“I should like to show Johannes this same company once more，”said Pluizer with a grin and a wink，“can I do it？”
“我還要將這一樣的社會給約翰看一回，”穿鑿說。他于是歪著嘴笑而且起眼睛來?！翱梢悦矗俊?/span>

“This evening？”asked Death．
“今天晚上么？”死問。

“Why not？”said Pluizer．“There，time and the hour are no more．What now is has always been，and what shall be，is now already．”
“為什么不呢？”穿鑿說。“那地方既無時間，又無時候。現(xiàn)在是，凡有永是如此的，以及凡有將要如此的，已經(jīng)永在那里了?！?/span>

“I cannot go with you，”said Death．“I have too much to do．But speak the name we both know and you can find the way without me．”
“我不能同去，”死說，“我有太多的工作。然而用了那名字，叫我們倆所認識的那個罷，而且沒有我，你們也可以覓得道路的。”

Then they went a little way along the deserted streets where the gas was flaring in the night wind，and the dark cold water plashed against the sides of the canals．The soft music grew fainter and fainter，and at last died away in the hush which lay over the town．
于是他們穿過寂寞的街，走了一段路，煤氣燈焰在夜風中閃爍，黑暗的寒冷的水拍著河堤。柔媚的音樂逐漸低微，終于在橫亙大都市上的大安靜里絕響了。

Presently，from high above them，a loud and festal song rang out with a deep，echoing，metallic ring．
忽然從高處發(fā)出一種全是金屬的聲音，一片清朗而嚴肅的歌曲。

It came down suddenly from the tall church tower on the sleeping city，and into little Johannes' sad and gloomy soul．He looked up much startled．The chime rang on with clear，steady tones， rising joyfully in the air，and boldly scaring the death-like silence．The glad strain struck him as strange—a festal song in the midst of noiseless sleep and blackest woe．
這都從高的塔里驀地落到沉睡的都市上——到小約翰的沉郁昏暗的魂靈上。他驚異著向上看。那鐘聲挾了歡呼著升騰起來，而強有力地撕裂了死寂的、響亮的調(diào)子悠然而去了。這在沉靜的睡眠和黑暗的悲戚中間的高興的聲音、典禮的歌唱，他聽得很生疏。

“That is the clock，”said Pluizer，“it is always cheerful，year in， year out．It sings the same song every hour，with the same vigour and vivacity；and it sounds more gleeful by night than even by day， as if the clock rejoiced that it has no need of sleep，that it can sing at all times with equal contentment，while thousands，just below，are weeping and suffering．But it sounds most gladly when some one is just dead．”
“這是時鐘，”穿鑿說，“這永是這樣地高興，一年去，一年來。每一小時，他總用了同等的氣力和興致唱那同一的歌曲。在夜里，就比白天響得更有趣——似乎是鐘在歡呼它的無須睡覺，它下面是千數(shù)的憂愁和啼哭，而它卻能夠接續(xù)著一樣地幸福地歌吟。然而倘若有誰死掉了，它便更其有趣地發(fā)響?！?/span>

Again the jubilant peal rang out．
又升騰了一次歡呼的聲音。

“One day，Johannes，”Pluizer went on，“a dim light will be burning in a quiet room，behind just such a window as that yonder；a melancholy light，flickering pensively，and making the shadows dance on the wall．There will be no sound in that room but now and then a low，suppressed sob．A bed will be standing there，with white curtains，and long shadows in their folds．In the bed something will be lying—white and still．That will have been little Johannes．And then，how loud and joyful will that chime sound，breaking into the room，and singing out the first hour after his death！”
“有一天，約翰，”穿鑿接續(xù)著，“在一間寂靜的屋子中的窗后面，將照著一顆微弱的小光。是一顆沉思著發(fā)抖，且使墻上的影子跳舞的、沉郁的小光。除了低微的梗塞的嗚咽之外，屋子里更無聲音作響。其中站著一張白幔的床，還有打皺的陰影。床上躺著一點東西，也是白而且靜。這將是小約翰了。——阿，于是這歌便高聲地高興地響進屋里來，而且在歌聲中，在他死后的最初時間中行禮?！?/span>

Twelve was striking，booming through the air with long pauses between the strokes．At the last stroke，Johannes，all at once，had a strange feeling as though he were dreaming；he was no longer walking，but floating along a little way above the ground，holding Pluizer's hand．The houses and lamps sped past him in swift flight．And now the houses stood less close together．They formed separate rows，with dark，mysterious gaps between them，where the gas lamps lighted up trenches，puddles，scaffoldings and woodwork．At last they reached a great gate，with heavy pillars and a tall railing．In a winking，they had floated over it and come down again on some soft grass by a high heap of sand．Johannes fancied he must be in a garden，for he heard the rustling of trees hard by．
十二下沉重的敲打，遲延著在空中吼動了。當末一擊時，約翰仿佛便如入夢，他不再走動了，在街道上飄浮了一段，憑著穿鑿的手的提攜。在火速的飛行中，房屋和街燈都從旁溜過去了。死消失了?，F(xiàn)在是房屋較為稀疏。它們排成簡單的行列，其間是黑暗的滿是秘密的洞穴，有溝，有水洼，有廢址和木料，偶然照著煤氣的燈光。終于來了一個大的門帶著沉重的柱子和高的柵欄。一剎那間他們便飄浮過去，并且落在大沙堆旁的濕草上了。約翰以為在一個園子里了，因為他聽得周圍有樹木瑟瑟地響。

“Now pay attention，and then confess whether I cannot do greater things than Windekind．”
“那么，留神罷，約翰！還要以為我知道得比旋兒不更多?！?/span>

Then Pluizer shouted aloud a short and awful name which made Johannes quake．The darkness on all sides echoed the sound，and the wind bore it up in widening circles till it died away in the upper air．
于是穿鑿用了大聲喊出一個短而黑暗的、使約翰戰(zhàn)栗的名字來。幽暗從各方面反應這聲響，風以呼嘯的旋轉(zhuǎn)舉起它，直到它在高天中絕響。

And Johannes saw the grass blades growing so tall that they were above his head，and a little pebble which but just now was under his feet，seemed to be close to his face．Pluizer，by his side，and no bigger than he was，picked up the stone with both hands and threw it away with all his might．A confused noise of thin，shrill voices rose up from the spot he had cleared．
約翰看見，野草怎樣地高到他的頭，而剛才還在他腳下的小石子，怎樣地已將他的眺望遮住了。穿鑿，在他旁邊，也同他一樣小，用兩手抓住那小石，使出全身的力量在轉(zhuǎn)它。細而高的聲音的一種紛亂的叫喚，從荒蕪了的地面騰起。

“Hey day！who is doing that？ What is the meaning of it？ Lout！”they could hear said．
“喂，誰在這里？這是什么意思？野東西！”這即刻發(fā)作了。

Johannes saw black objects running in great confusion．He recognised the quick，nimble ground-beetle，the shining，brown ear-wig with his fine nippers，the millipede with its round back and thousand tiny feet，in the midst of them a long earthworm shrank back as quick as lightning into its burrow！
約翰看見黑色的形相忙亂著穿插奔跑。他認識那敏捷的黑色的馬陸蟲，發(fā)光的棕色的蠼螋帶著它的細巧的鋏子，鼠婦蟲有著圓背脊，以及蛇一流的蜈蚣。其中有一條長的蚯蚓，電一般快縮回它的洞里去了。

Pluizer made his way through the angry swarm of creatures to the worm's hole．
穿鑿斜穿過這活動的吵鬧的群，走向蚯蚓的洞口。

“Hey there！you long，naked crawler！come up and show yourself once more with your sharp red nose！”he cried．
“喂，你這長的裸體的壞種！出來，帶著你的紅的尖鼻子?！贝╄彺舐曊f。

“What do you want？”asked the worm from below．
“得怎樣呢？”那蟲從深處問。

“You must come out，because I want to go in；do you hear，you bare-skinned sand-eater！”
“你得出來，因為我要進去，你懂么，精光的嚼沙者！”

The worm cautiously put his pointed head out of the hole，felt all round it two or three times，and then slowly dragged his naked ringed body up to the surface．
蚯蚓四顧著從洞口伸出它的尖頭來，又向各處觸探幾回，這才慢慢地將那長的裸露的身子稍稍拖近地面去。

Pluizer looked round at the other creatures who had crowded curiously about them．
穿鑿遍看那些因為好奇而奔集的別的動物。

“One of you must go first with a light—no，Master Beetle， you are too stout，and you with your thousand feet would make me giddy．Hey，you ear-wig！I like your looks．Come with me and carry a light in your nippers．You，beetle，must look about for a will-o'-the-wisp，or fetch a chip of rotten wood．”
“你們里面的一個得同去，并且在我們前面照著亮。不，黑馬陸，你太胖，而且你帶著你的千數(shù)條爪子會使我頭昏眼花。喂，你，蠼螋！你的外觀中我的意，同走，并且在你的鋏子上帶著光！馬陸，跑，去尋一個迷光，或者給我拿一個爛木頭的小燈來！”

The creatures were scared by his commanding tones and obeyed him．
他的出令的聲音揮動了動物們，它們奉行了。

Then they went down into the worm's burrow；the ear-wig first，with the shining wood，then Pluizer，and then Johannes．It was a narrow passage and very dark down there．Johannes saw the grains of sand glittering in the dim blue gleam．They looked like large stones，half transparent and built up into a smooth firm wall by the worm's body．The worm himself followed，full of curiosity．Johannes saw the pointed head come close up behind him，and then stop till the long body had been dragged after it．
他們走下蟲路去。他們前面是蠼螋帶著發(fā)光的木頭，于是穿鑿，于是約翰。那下面是狹窄而黑暗。約翰看見沙粒微弱地照在淡薄的藍色的微光中。沙粒都顯得石一般大，半透明，由蚯蚓的身子磨成緊密的光滑的墻了。蚯蚓是好奇地跟隨著。約翰向后看，只見它的尖頭有時前伸，有時卻等待著它的身子的拖近。

Down they went，without speaking，far and deep．When the path was too steep for Johannes，Pluizer helped him．They seemed never to be coming to an end；still fresh galleries of sand，and still the ear-wig crept on，turning and bending with the sinuosities of the passage．At last this grew broader，and the walls opened out．The grains of sand were black and wet，forming a vault overhead，down which driblets of water made shining streaks，while the roots of trees came through in coils like petrified snakes．
他們沉默著往下——長而且深。在約翰過于峻峭的路，穿鑿便攙扶他。那似乎沒有窮盡，永是新的沙粒，永是那蠼螋接著向下爬，隨著道路的轉(zhuǎn)彎，轉(zhuǎn)著繞著。終于道路寬一點了，墻壁也彼此離遠了。沙粒是黑而且潮，在上面成為一個軒洞，洞面有水點引成光亮的條痕，樹根穿入軒洞中，像僵了的蛇一樣。

And suddenly there rose before Johannes's eyes an upright wall， black and high，cutting off all space beyond．The ear-wig turned round．
于是在約翰的眼前忽然豎著一道挺直的墻，黑而高，將他們之前的全空間都遮斷了。蠼螋轉(zhuǎn)了過來。

“Here we are．The next question is how to get any further．The worm ought to know；he is at home here．”
“好！那就同到了后面了。蚯蚓已經(jīng)知道。這是它的家?！?/span>

“Come on；show us the way，”said Pluizer．
“來，指給我們路！”穿鑿說。

The worm slowly dragged his jointed body up to the black wall and felt it inquisitively．Johannes could see that it was of wood．Here and there it had fallen into brownish powder．The worm bored his way into one such place and the long，wriggling body vanished with three pushes and pauses．
蚯蚓慢慢地將那環(huán)節(jié)的身子拖到黑墻根，并且觸探著。約翰看出，墻是木頭。到處散落成淡棕色的塵土了。那蟲便往里鉆，將長的柔軟的身子滑過孔穴去。

“Now for you，”said Pluizer，pushing Johannes into the little round opening．For a moment he thought he should be suffocated in the soft damp stuff，but he soon felt his head free，and with some trouble worked his way completely through．A large room seemed to lie open before him；the floor was hard and moist，the air thick and intolerably oppressive．Johannes could scarcely breathe，and stood waiting in mortal terror．
“那么，你。”穿鑿說，便將約翰推進那小的潮濕的孔里。一剎那間，他在軟而濕的塵芥里嚇得要氣絕了，于是他覺得他的頭已經(jīng)自由，并且竭全力將自己從那小孔中弄出。周圍似乎是一片大空間。地面硬且潮，空氣濃厚而且不可忍受地郁悶。約翰幾乎不敢呼吸，只在無名的恐怖中等待著。

He heard Pluizer's voice，which sounded hollow，as in some vast cellar．
他聽到穿鑿的聲音空洞地發(fā)響，如在一個地窖里似的。

“Here，Johannes，follow me．”
“這里，約翰，跟著我！”

He felt the ground before him rise to a hill—and he climbed it， clutching Pluizer's hand in the darkness．He trod，as it were，on a carpet which yielded under his foot．He trampled over hollows and ridges，following Pluizer who led him on to a level spot where he held on by some long stems which bent in his hand like reed-grass．
他覺得，他前面的地，怎樣地隆起成山——由穿鑿引導著，他在濃密的幽暗中踏著這地面。他似乎走在一件衣服上，這隨著腳步而高低。他在溝洼和丘岡上磕碰著，其時他追隨著穿鑿，直到一處平地上，緊緊地抓住了一枝長的梗，像是柔軟的管子。

“Here we can stand very comfortably．Bring a light，”said Pluizer．
“我們站在這里好！燈來！”穿鑿叫喊。

The dim light came on from a distance，up and down with its bearer．The nearer it approached，and the more its pale gleam spread in the place they were in，the more terrible became Johannes's anguish of mind．
于是從遠處顯出微弱的小光，和那拿著的蟲一同低昂著。光移得越近，慘淡的光亮照得空間越滿，約翰的窘迫便也越大了。

The eminence on which he stood was long and white；the support he clung to was brown，and lay about in glistening waves and curls．
他踏過的那山，是長而且白，捏在他手里的管子，是棕色的，還向下引成燦爛的波線。

He recognised the features of a human being，and the icy level on which he stood was the forehead．
他辨出一個人的頎長僵直的身體，以及他所立的冰冷的地方，是前額。

Before him lay the sunken eyes，two deep，dark hollows，and the blue gleam fell on the pinched nose and ashy lips which were parted in the hideous，rigid smile of death．
他面前就現(xiàn)出兩個深的黑洞，是陷下的眼睛，那淡藍的光還照出瘦削的鼻子和那灰色的、因了怖人的僵硬的死笑而張開的唇吻。

Pluizer laughed sharply，but the sound seemed smothered by the damp，wooden walls．
從穿鑿的嘴里發(fā)一聲尖利的笑，這又即刻在潮濕的木壁間斷氣了。

“Is not this a surprise，Johannes？”
“這是一個驚奇，約翰！”

The worm crept up along the plaits of the shroud：he glided over the chin and the stiffened lips and into the mouth．
那長的蟲從尸衣的折疊間爬出。它四顧著，將自己拖到下顎上，經(jīng)過僵直的嘴唇，滑進那烏黑的嘴洞里去了。

“This was the beauty of the ball，whom you thought lovelier even than an elf．Then her hair and dress shed sweet fragrance；then her eyes sparkled and her lips smiled．Now，—look at her！”
“這就是跳舞會中的最美的——你以為比妖精還美的。那時候，她的衣服和蜷發(fā)噴溢著甜香，那時候，眼睛是流盼而口唇是微笑——現(xiàn)在固然是變了一點了?！?/span>

With all his horror there was doubt in Johannes's eyes．So soon？ The splendour was but now—and already——？
在他所有的震懾中，約翰的眼里卻藏著不信。這樣快么？——方才是那么華美，而現(xiàn)在卻已經(jīng)……？

“Do you not believe me？”grinned Pluizer．“Half a century lies between now and then．Time and the hour are no more．What has been shall always be，and what shall be has ever been．You could not conceive of it，but you must believe it．Everything here is the truth．All I tell you is true！True！—and Windekind could not say that．”
“你不信我么？”穿鑿歪了嘴笑著說，“那時和現(xiàn)在之間，已經(jīng)是半世紀了。那里是既無時候，也無時間。凡已經(jīng)過去的，將要是永久，凡將要來的，已經(jīng)是過去了。這你不能想，然而應該信。這里一切都是真實，凡我所指示你的一切，是真的，真的！這是旋兒所不能主張的！”

With a nod and a grimace he leaped round the dead face，and played the most horrible antics．He sat on the eyebrows and raised the eyelids by the long lashes．The eye，which Johannes had seen bright with gladness，stared dull and white in the pale light．
穿鑿嘻笑著跳到死尸的臉上往來，還開了一個極可惡的玩笑。他坐在眉毛上，牽著那長的睫毛拉開眼瞼來。那眼睛，那約翰曾見它高興地閃耀的，是疲乏地凝固了，而且在昏黃的小光中，皺蹙地白。

“Now onwards！”cried Pluizer．“There is more yet to be seen．”
“那么，再下去！”穿鑿大呼，“還有別的可看哩！”

The worm came creeping up from a corner of the mouth，and the dreadful march began once more．
蚯蚓慢慢地從右嘴角間爬出，而這可怕的游行便接下去了。

Not back again，but along new paths，no less long and gloomy．
不是回轉(zhuǎn)，卻是向一條新的，也這么長而且幽暗的道路。

“This is much older，”said the earthworm as he made his way through another black wall．“This has been here a very long time．”
“一個老的來了，”當又有一道黑墻阻住去路的時候，蚯蚓說，“他在這里已經(jīng)很久了！”

It was less dreadful here than before．Johannes saw nothing but a confused mass，out of which brown bones projected．Hundreds of insects were silently busy here．The light startled and alarmed them．
這比起前一回來，稍不討厭。除了一個不成形的堆，從中露著白骨之外，約翰什么也看不見。成百的蟲豸們和昆蟲們正在默默地忙著做工。那光惹起了驚動。

“Where do you come from？ Who brings a light here？ We want no light．”
“你們從那里來？誰拿光到這里來？我們用不著這個！”

And they hastily vanished into the folds and crevices．But they recognised a fellow-creature．
它們并且趕快向溝里洞里鉆進去了。但它們認出了一個同種。

“Have you been in the next one？”asked the worms．“The wood is still hard．”
“你曾在這里過么？”蟲們問，“木頭還硬哩?！?/span>

The first worm denied it．“He wants to keep the find to himself，”said Pluizer to Johannes in a low voice．
首先的蟲否認了。

Then they went forward again；Pluizer explained everything， and pointed out persons whom Johannes had known．They came to an ugly face with prominent，staring eyes，and thick dark lips and cheeks．
他們再往遠走，穿鑿當作解釋者，將他所知道的指給小約翰。來了一個不成樣子的臉帶著獰視的圓眼，膨脹的黑的嘴唇和面龐。

“This was a very fine gentleman，”said he in high glee．“You should have seen him—so rich，so fashionable，so arrogant．He is as much puffed up as ever！”
“這曾是一位優(yōu)雅的先生，”他于是高興地說，“你也許曾經(jīng)見過他，這樣地富，這樣地闊，而且這樣地高傲。他保住了他的尊大了。”

And so they went on．There were lean and haggard faces with white hair that shone blue in the feeble light，and little children with large heads and old-looking，anxious features．
這樣地進行。也有瘦損的、消蝕了的形體，在映著微光而淡藍地發(fā)亮的白發(fā)之間，也有小孩子帶著大頭顱，也有中年的沉思的面目。

“These，you see，died first and grew old afterwards，”said Pluizer．
“看哪，這是在他們死后才變老的。”穿鑿說。

They came to a man with a flowing beard and parted lips， showing glistening white teeth．There was a round black hole in the middle of his forehead．
他們走近了一個絡腮胡子的男人，高吊著嘴唇，白色的牙齒在發(fā)亮。當前額中間，有一個圓的、烏黑的小洞。

“This one lent Death a helping hand．Why had he not a little patience？ He would have come here in the end．”
“這人被永終用手藝草草完事了。為什么不忍耐一點呢？無論如何他大概總得到這里來的。”

Through passage after passage，one after another，they passed， no end of them—straight-laid figures，with rigid，grinning faces，and motionless hands laid one over the other．
而且又是道路，而且是新的道路，而且又是伸開的身體帶著僵硬的丑怪的臉，和不動的、交叉著疊起來的手。

“Now I can go no further，”said the ear-wig．“I do not know my way beyond this．”
“我不往下走了，”蠼螋說，“這里我不大熟悉了?！?/span>

“Let us turn back，”said the worm．
“我們回轉(zhuǎn)罷?！彬球菊f。

“One more，one more！”cried Pluizer．So on they went．
“前去，只要前去！”穿鑿大叫起來。這一行又前進。

“Everything you see here，actually exists，”said Pluizer，as they made their way forward．“It is all real．One thing only is not real， and that is yourself，Johannes．You are not here；you cannot come here．”
“一切，凡你所見的，存在著，”穿鑿進行著說，“這一切都是真的。只有一件東西不真。那便是你自己，約翰。你沒有在這里，而且你也不能在這里。”

And he laughed maliciously as he saw Johannes's terrified and bewildered face at these words．
他看見約翰因了他的話，露出恐怖的僵直的眼光，便發(fā)了一通響亮的嘩笑。

“The way stops here．I am going no further，”said the ear-wig crossly．
“這是一條絕路，我不前進了。”蠼螋煩躁著說。

“I will go further，”said Pluizer；and where the path ended he began grubbing the earth with both hands．“Help me，Johannes．”
“我卻偏要前進，”穿鑿說，而且一到道路的盡頭，他便用兩手挖掘起來了?！皫臀?，約翰！”

And Johannes，submissive with wretchedness，obeyed，scratching away the fine damp soil．
約翰在困苦中，不由自主地服從了，挖去那潮濕的微細的泥土。

Silent and breathless they worked away till they came to the black wood．
他們浴著汗水默默地繼續(xù)著工作，直到他們撞在黑色的木頭上。

The worm had drawn back his ringed head and disappeared．The ear-wig dropped the light and turned away．
蚯蚓縮回了環(huán)節(jié)的頭，并且向后面消失了。蠼螋也放下它的光，走了回去。

“It is impossible to get in，the wood is new，”said he as he withdrew．
“你們進不去的，這木頭太新?！彼R走時說。

“I will do it！”said Pluizer，and with his clawed fingers he tore long white splinters cracking out of the wood．
“我要！”穿鑿說，并且用爪甲從那木頭上撕下長而白的木屑來。

A fearful anguish came over Johannes．But he could not help himself；there was no escape．
一種可怕的窘迫侵襲了約翰。然而他必得，他不能別的。

At last the dark thing was opened．Pluizer seized the light and hurried in．
黑暗的空隙終于開開了。穿鑿取了光，慌忙爬進去。

“Here，here！”he cried，running to the head．
“這里，這里！”他叫著，一面跑往頭那邊。

But when Johannes came as far as the hands，which lay quietly folded over the breast，he stopped．He gazed at the thin white fingers，dimly lighted from above．On a sudden，he recognised them，—he knew the shape and turn of the fingers，the look of the long nails，now blue and dull．He recognised a brown spot on one of the forefingers．These were his own hands．
但當約翰到了那靜靜地交叉著疊在胸脯上面的手那里的時候，他必須休息了。他見有瘦的、蒼白的、在耳朵旁邊半明半暗的手指，正在他前面。他忽然認得了，他認識手指的切痕和皺襞，長的，現(xiàn)在是染成深藍了的指甲的形狀。他在示指上看出一個棕色的小點來。這是他自己的手。

“Here，this way！”Pluizer called from the head．“Only look，do you know him？”
“這里，這里！”穿鑿的聲音從頭那邊叫喊過來，“看一下子罷，你可認識他么？”

Hapless Johannes tried to stand up and go towards the light which winked at him；but he could not．The gleam died into total darkness and he fell senseless．
可憐的約翰還想重行起來，走向那向他閃爍著的光去。然而他不再能夠了。那小光消滅成完全的幽暗，他也失神地跌倒了。