So_with_curious_eyes_and_sick_surmise_We_watched_him_day_by_day,And_wondered_if_each_one_of_us_Would_end_the_self_same_way,For_none_can_tell_to_what_red_Hell_His_sightless_soul_may_stray.
带着好奇目光和病态推想,我们天天都把他细细打量,心想我们每一个囚徒,会不会走这同一条路,因为谁都不知他的盲魂,会误入什么样子的混沌。
At_last_the_dead_man_walked_no_more_Amongst_the_Trial_Men,And_I_knew_that_he_was_standing_up_In_the_black_dock’s_dreadful_pen,And_that_never_would_I_see_his_face_In_God’s_sweet_world_again.
在审判人员的中间,终不再走着那死犯,而我知道他这时正站立,在那黑色审判席的栏里,不管是吉兆还是凶兆,我再看不见他的容貌。
Like_two_doomed_ships_that_pass_in_storm_We_had_crossed_each_other’s_way:But_we_made_no_sign,we_said_no_word,We_had_no_word_to_say;For_we_did_not_meet_in_the_holy_night,But_in_the_shameful_day.
像两条船在暴风中遇险,我们两个曾在途中相见:可我们没有感叹没有说话;没有什么话语要急于表达,我们没有相遇在圣夜里,却在这可耻的日子相遇。
A_prison_wall_was_round_us_both,Two_outcast_men_were_we:The_world_had_thrust_us_from_its_heart,And_God_from_out_His_care:And_the_iron_gin_that_waits_for_Sin_Had_caught_us_in_its_snare.
我们是两个被遗弃的人,一道牢墙把我们俩围困:这世界曾狠心把我们屠杀,上帝曾假惺惺把我们惩罚,那张专捕罪孽的铁网,早把我们紧紧地粘上。
◎III
In_Debtors’Yard_the_stones_are_hard,And_the_dripping_wall_is_high,So_it_was_there_he_took_the_air_Beneath_the_leaden_sky,And_by_each_side_a_Warder_walked,For_fear_the_man_might_die.Or_else_he_sat_with_those_who_watched_His_anguish_night_and_day;Who_watched_him_when_he_rose_to_weep,And_when_he_crouched_to_pray;Who_watched_him_lest_himself_should_rob_Their_scaffold_of_its_prey.
罪人放风场的石砌大牢,湿淋淋的墙壁又陡又高,在阴沉沉的天空里,他就在那里把气吸,每边一个守卫走动不停,深怕那个人会了却性命。要不他就和他们一起坐着,听任他们日夜看着他受过,他们看着他起身悲叫,他们看着他弯腰祈祷;他们死死守着他担惊受怕,生怕他躲过绞架的惩罚。
The_Governor_was_strong_upon_The_Regulations_Act:The_Doctor_said_that_Death_was_but_A_scientific_fact:And_twice_a_day_the_Chaplain_called_And_left_a_little_tract.
监狱长铁面无私把令行,钉是钉铆是铆决不留情,医生说死亡只不过是一个人生的科学事实,牧师一天来两次访问,每次留下小小的短文。
And_twice_a_day_he_smoked_his_pipe,And_drank_his_quart_of_beer:His_soul_was_resolute,and_held_No_hiding_place_for_fear;He_often_said_that_he_was_glad_The_hangman’s_hands_were_near.
他每天要吸烟袋两回,还定要喝下啤酒一杯,他的灵魂果敢而刚毅,不让恐惧找到藏身地;他常说他很高兴看到,刽子手快把身手显耀。
But_why_he_said_so_strange_a_thing_No_Warder_dared_to_ask:For_he_to_whom_a_watcher’s_doom_Is_given_as_his_task,Must_set_a_lock_upon_his_lips,And_make_his_face_a_mask.
可他为什么说话这么怪,没哪个守卫敢问问明白,因为守卫就有守卫的命,他的任务只是惟命是听,他必须给嘴唇上把锁,再把脸上用一色涂抹。
Or_else_he_might_be_moved,and_try_To_comfort_or_:And_what_should_Human_Pity_do_Pent_up_in_Murderers’Hole?What_word_of_grace_in_such_a_place_Could_help_a_brother’s_soul?
要么他也许会善心大发,竭力说出一番安慰的话:难道人类的怜悯之心,会让杀手的绳套勒紧?什么安慰话在这样的地方,能使一个兄弟的灵魂无恙?
With_slouch_and_swing_around_the_ring_We_trod_the_Fool’s_Parade!We_did_not_care:we_knew_we_were_The_Devil’s_Own_Brigade:And_shaven_head_and_feet_of_lead_Make_a_merry_masquerade.
绕着圈子走得懒散而摇晃,我们像傻子列队行走一样!我们不在乎只因我们清楚,我们就是魔王自己的队伍,剃过的头和沉重的脚步,演出一幕轻快的假面舞。
We_tore_the_tarry_rope_to_shreds_With_blunt_and_bleeding_nails;We_rubbed_the_doors,and_scrubbed_the_floors,And_cleaned_the_shining_rails:And,rank_by_rank,we_soaped_the_plank,And_clattered_with_the_pails.
用不锋利的带血的指甲,我们把柏油绳扯烂扯垮……我们擦过门又把地板刮洗,还把闪亮的扶手认真清理,一排一排给木板打肥皂,我们用水桶把泡沫冲掉。
We_sewed_the_sacks,we_broke_the_stones,We_turned_the_dusty_drill:We_banged_the_tins,and_bawled_the_hymns,And_sweated_on_the_mill:But_in_the_heart_of_every_man_Terror_was_lying_still.“)