项链及其他(莫泊桑短篇小说集9)(外研社双语读库) 莫泊桑

本书由外研社授权掌阅科技电子版制作与发行 版权所有 · 侵权必究

我的舅舅索斯登

My Uncle Sosthenes

My Uncle Sosthenes was a Freethinker, like so many others are, from pure stupidity; people are very often religious in the same way. The mere sight of a priest threw him into a violent rage; he shook his fist and grimaced at him, and touched a piece of iron when the priest's back was turned, forgetting that the latter action showed a belief after all, the belief in the evil eye. Now when beliefs are unreasonable one should have all or none at all. I myself am a Freethinker; I revolt at all the dogmas which have invented the fear of death, but I feel no anger towards places of worship, be they Catholic, Apostolic, Roman, Protestant, Greek, Russian, Buddhist, Jewish, or Mohammedan. I have a peculiar manner of looking at them and explaining them. A place of worship represents the homage paid by man to THE UNKNOWN. The more extended our thoughts and our views become, the more the unknown diminishes, and the more places of worship will decay. I, however, in the place of church furniture, in the place of pulpits, reading desks, altars, and so on, would fit them up with telescopes, microscopes, and electrical machines; that is all.

我的舅舅索斯登是一个自由思想者，跟其他很多人一样，纯粹出于愚笨无知，人们信仰宗教往往就是这样。只要一看到神父，他就不由得勃然大怒，挥拳相向，呲牙咧嘴，当神父转过身去便拿起一把铁器，已然忘记这后一种行为毕竟显示出一种信仰，信仰目视他人使其遭殃的能力。现在当信仰还很荒唐的时候，人们应该要么接受一切，要么拒绝一切。我自己是个自由思想者，我厌恶所有编造死亡恐怖的教条，但是对于拜神场所我没有一丝气愤，管它是天主教的、使徒派的、罗马教的、新教徒的、希腊的、俄国的、佛教的、犹太教的还是伊斯兰教的。在怎样看待它们和解释它们的问题上，我有一个独特的态度。拜神场所象征着人们对未知者的崇敬。我们的思想和见地越开阔，未知者就越减弱，拜神场所就越会衰败。但是，在教堂陈设上，在讲坛、读经台、圣坛等处，我得去安装望远镜、显微镜和发电机，情况就是这样。

My uncle and I differed on nearly every point. He was a patriot, while I was not, for after all patriotism is a kind of religion; it is the egg from which wars are hatched.

我舅舅和我几乎在每一点上都不相同。他是一个爱国主义者，而我不是，因为归根结底爱国主义就是一种宗教，它是一枚能够孵化出战争的蛋卵。

My uncle was a Freemason, and I used to declare that they are stupider than old women devotees. That is my opinion, and I maintain it; if we must have any religion at all the old one is good enough for me.

我舅舅是一名共济会会员，而我曾经断言他们比上了年纪的女信徒还要愚蠢。这就是我的观点，而且我一向坚持。如果我们一定要有什么宗教的话，老的就足够了。

What is their object? Mutual help to be obtained by tickling the palms of each other's hands. I see no harm in it, for they put into practice the Christian precept: "Do unto others as ye would they should do unto you. " The only difference consists in the tickling, but it does not seem worth while to make such a fuss about lending a poor devil half—a—crown.

他们的宗旨是什么呢？靠互挠手心来获得互相帮助。这里我没看到什么危害，因为他们把基督教的规诫付诸于行动： “己所不欲，勿施于人。” 唯一的区别存在于挠手心，但是对于借半克朗给一个可怜人这样的事情如此小题大做似乎并不值得。

To all my arguments my uncle's reply used to be:

针对我的议论，我舅舅曾经回答说：

"We are raising up a religion against a religion; Freethought will kill clericalism. Freemasonry is the headquarters of those who are demolishing all deities. "

“我们正建立一个反抗宗教的宗教，自由思想将会消灭教权主义。共济会就是推翻一切神权的指挥部。”

"Very well, my dear uncle, " I would reply (in my heart I felt inclined to say, "You old idiot! " ); "it is just that which I am blaming you for. Instead of destroying, you are organizing competition; it is only a case of lowering the prices. And then, if you only admitted Freethinkers among you I could understand it, but you admit anybody. You have a number of Catholics among you, even the leaders of the party. Pius IX. is said to have been one of you before he became Pope. If you call a society with such an organization a bulwark against clericalism, I think it is an extremely weak one. "

“很好，我亲爱的舅舅，” 我会回答（其实我心里很想说： “你这个老糊涂” ）， “这正是我要责怪你们的地方。不是消灭，你们是在组织竞争，只是一个降低市价的问题。其次，如果你们只是允许自由思想者加入，我还可以理解，但是任何人你们都批准。你们中间有很多天主教徒，甚至还有政党的领袖。据说，庇护九世在成为教皇之前就是你们中的一员。要是你把这样一个组成的团体称之为反抗教权主义的堡垒，那我想它是一个极其脆弱的堡垒。”

"My dear boy, " my uncle would reply, with a wink, "our most formidable actions are political; slowly and surely we are everywhere undermining the monarchical spirit. "

“我亲爱的孩子，” 我舅舅眨一眨眼睛回答道， “我们最令人畏惧的行动是在政治上，我们正慢慢地、稳步地在每一个地方瓦解君主思想。”

Then I broke out: "Yes, you are very clever! If you tell me that Freemasonry is an election—machine, I will grant it you. I will never deny that it is used as a machine to control stove for candidates of all shades; if you say that it is only used to hoodwink people, to drill them to go to the voting—urn as soldiers are sent under fire, I agree with you; if you declare that it is indispensable to all political ambitions because it changes all its members into electoral agents, I should say to you, 'That is as clear as the sun. ' But when you tell me that it serves to undermine the monarchical spirit, I can only laugh in your face.

于是，我脱口而出：是的，你们太聪明了！如果你们告诉我共济会是一个选举机器，那我承认。我绝不否认它被当作一台为形形色色的候选人掌握火候的机器。如果你们说它只是被用来哄骗民众，训练他们像炮火下被派出的士兵一样前去投票，那么我同意你的观点；如果你们宣称它对所有政治抱负都不可或缺，因为它把它所有的成员都变成了选举人员，那么我想对你们说： “那真是如太阳般光明。” 然而，要是你们告诉我它能起到瓦解君主思想的作用，我只有毫不客气地嘲笑你们。

"Just consider that vast and democratic association which had Prince Napoleon for its Grand Master under the Empire; which has the Crown Prince for its Grand Master in Germany, the Czar's brother in Russia, and to which the Prince of Wales and King Humbert and nearly all the royalists of the globe belong. "

“想想吧，这个庞大而民主的团体，在法兰西帝国是拿破仑亲王做会长，在德国是皇储做会长，在俄国是沙皇的兄弟做会长，还有威尔士王子、亨伯特国王以及全世界几乎所有的保皇主义者都是这个团体的成员。”

"You are quite right, " my uncle said; "but all these persons are serving our projects without guessing it. "

“你说得很对，” 我的舅舅说， “但是这些人都在毫不怀疑地为我们的事业效力。”

I felt inclined to tell him he was talking a pack of nonsense.

其实我想告诉他，他说的是一堆胡话。

It was, however, indeed a sight to see my uncle when he had a Freemason to dinner.

不管怎样，我舅舅请共济会成员吃饭时的样子，那可真算是一道风景啊！

On meeting they shook hands in a manner that was irresistibly funny; one could see that they were going through a series of secret mysterious pressures. When I wished to put my uncle in a rage, I had only to tell him that dogs also have a manner which savors very much of Freemasonry, when they greet one another on meeting.

一见面，他们就用非常滑稽的方式握手，旁人可以看到他们进行着一系列神秘难解的按压动作。要是我想让我的舅舅发怒，我只需告诉他，狗见面时互打招呼的方式也颇具共济会成员的味道。

Then my uncle would take his friend into a corner to tell him something important, and at dinner they had a peculiar way of looking at each other, and of drinking to each other, in a manner as if to say: "We know all about it, don't we? "

然后，我舅舅会把他的朋友带到一个角落，告诉他一些重要的事情。随后在用餐时，他们都会以一种很怪异的方式看对方、与对方喝酒，那副样子就像在说： “我们了然于心，不是吗？”

And to think that there are millions on the face of the globe who are amused at such monkey tricks! I would sooner be a Jesuit.

想想看，地球表面数以百万的人都喜欢这样的猴把戏！我宁愿做一名耶稣会会员。

Now in our town there really was an old Jesuit who was my uncle's detestation. Every time he met him, or if he only saw him at a distance, he used to say: "Go on, you toad! " And then, taking my arm, he would whisper to me:

目前，我们城里还真有一位老耶稣会会员，他是我舅舅很讨厌的人。每次遇见他，或只是远远地瞧见他，舅舅就会说： “滚吧，你这个癞蛤蟆！” 然后，他就会抓着我的胳膊，低声对我说：

"Look here, that fellow will play me a trick some day or other, I feel sure of it. "

“听我说，那家伙总有一天会来害我，我很确定。”

My uncle spoke quite truly, and this was how it happened and through my fault also.

被我舅舅说中了，事情就这样发生了，也因为我的过错。

It was close on Holy Week, and my uncle made up his mind to give a dinner on Good Friday, a real dinner with his favorite chitterlings and blackpuddings. I resisted as much as I could, and said:

圣周（复活节的前一周）将近，我舅舅决定在耶稣受难日（复活节前的星期五）那天设宴，准备一顿真正的宴席——有他最喜欢的猪肠和黑布丁（一种含猪血的香肠）。我极力反对，并说：

"I shall eat meat on that day, but at home, quite by myself. Your manifestation, as you call it, is an idiotic idea. Why should you manifest? What does it matter to you if people do not eat any meat? "

不吃肉，跟您又有什么关系？

But my uncle would not be persuaded. He asked three of his friends to dine with him at one of the best restaurants in the town, and as he was going to pay the bill, I had certainly, after all, no scruples about manifesting.

然而我的舅舅却不会被说服。他邀请三个朋友与他一起去城里最有名的餐厅用餐，因为是他请客，我当然终究没再顾忌所谓的 “示威” 。

At four o'clock we took a conspicuous place in the most frequented restaurant in the town, and my uncle ordered dinner in a loud voice for six o'clock.

四点钟，我们在城里人们最常去的餐厅里选了一个显眼的位置，我舅舅高声点餐，上菜时间是六点。

We sat down punctually, and at ten o'clock he had not finished yet. Five of us had drunk eighteen bottles of fine still wines, and four of champagne. Then my uncle proposed what he was in the habit of calling: "The archbishop's turn. " Each man put six small glasses in front of him, each of them filled with a different liquor, and then they had all to be emptied at one gulp, one after another, while one of the waiters counted twenty. It was very stupid, but my uncle thought it was very suitable to the occasion.

我们准时落座，到了十点他还没吃够。我们五个人喝掉了十八瓶上好的葡萄酒和四瓶香槟。随后，我舅舅提议行酒令，他习惯称之为 “大主教的行酒令” 。每个人放六个小杯子在自己面前，每个杯子里倒进不同的酒，接下来，当在座者中有人数到二十，大家就一杯接一杯把所有的酒一饮而尽。这很无趣，但我的舅舅却觉得很适合时宜。

At eleven o'clock he was as drunk as a fly. So we had to take him home in a cab and put him to bed, and one could easily foresee that his anti—clerical demonstration would end in a terrible fit of indigestion.

到了十一点，他已经烂醉如泥。因此我们不得不雇了辆马车把他带回家，并抬上了床，任何人可以轻易地预见到他的反教权示威将以一阵可怕的消化不良而告终。

As I was going back to my lodgings, being rather drunk myself, with a cheerful Machiavelian drunkenness which quite satisfied all my instincts of skepticism, an idea struck me.

当我回自己住处的时候——这时的我也相当醉了，带有几分开心的玩弄权谋的醉意，这醉意很能满足我所有怀疑派的本能——我突然有了一个点子。

I arranged my necktie, put on a look of great distress, and went and rang loudly at the old Jesuit's door. As he was deaf he made me wait a long while, but at length he appeared at his window in a cotton nightcap and asked what I wanted.

我整理了一下领结，装出一副很忧伤的样子，跑去大声摇那个老耶稣会会员的门铃。他是个聋子，因此让我等了好一会儿，但是最终他出现在他的窗前，戴着棉质的睡帽，问我干嘛。

I shouted out at the top of my voice:

我扯着嗓子大声喊道：

"Make haste, reverend Sir, and open the door; a poor, despairing, sick man is in need of your spiritual ministrations. "

“快点，牧师先生，快开门，一个又可怜又绝望又患病的人很需要您的精神救助。”

The good, kind man put on his trousers as quickly as he could, and came down without his cassock. I told him in a breathless voice that my uncle, the Freethinker, had been taken suddenly ill, and fearing it was going to be something serious he had been seized with a sudden fear of death, and wished to see him and talk to him; to have his advice and comfort, to make his peace with the Church, and to confess, so as to be able to cross the dreaded threshold at peace with himself; and I added in a mocking tone:

那善良、仁慈的老人尽他最快的速度穿好裤子，没披上法衣（某些基督教牧师和教会唱诗班成员所穿的长袍）就下来了。我气喘吁吁地告诉他：我舅舅——那位自由思想者——突然病倒了，他害怕会很严重，突然感到对死亡的恐惧，于是想要见他，跟他说话，得到他的忠告和安慰，想跟教会讲和，想要忏悔，这都是为了让自己能够平静地跨过这道可怕的坎。

"At any rate he wishes it, and if it does him no good it can do him no harm. "

“无论如何他希望这样，如果说这对他没什么好处，那也不会有什么坏处。”

The old Jesuit, who was startled, delighted, and almost trembling, said to me:

那位上了年纪的耶稣会会员又惊又喜，几乎浑身发抖，对我说：

"Wait a moment, my son, I will come with you; " but I replied: "Pardon me, reverend Father, if I do not go with you; but my convictions will not allow me to do so. I even refused to come and fetch you; so I beg you not to say that you have seen me, but to declare that you had a presentiment—a sort of revelation of his illness. "

“等一下，我的孩子，我马上来。” 但我回答说： “原谅我，神父，我不跟您一起去，是我的信念不允许我这么做。我甚至拒绝来找您，所以我恳求您不要说您曾经看到过我，只用说您有一种不详的预感——一种启示，关于他的病情。”

The priest consented, and went off quickly, knocked at my uncle's door, and was soon let in; and I saw the black cassock disappear within that stronghold of Freethought.

牧师同意了，匆匆离去，敲响我舅舅家的门，不久便被请进去了，我看着那件黑法衣消失在那座自由思想的堡垒里。

I hid under a neighboring gateway to wait for events. Had he been well, my uncle would have half—murdered the Jesuit, but I knew that he would scarcely be able to move an arm, and I asked myself, gleefully, what sort of a scene would take place between these antagonists, what explanation would be given? and what would be the issue of the situation which my uncle's indignation would render more tragic still?

我躲在隔壁的门拱下，等待事态的发展。我舅舅要是好好的，他大概会把那位耶稣会会员打个半死，不过我知道他几乎不能动一下胳膊，于是我欢喜地问自己，这两个死对头之间会发生怎样一副场面啊？会有什么样的解释呢？这样的状况——要知道我舅舅的愤怒还会演绎出更大的悲剧——又会有怎样的结局呢？

I laughed till I had to hold my sides, and said to myself, half aloud: "Oh! What a joke, what a joke! "

我笑到直不起腰来要用手撑住，自言自语起来，声音半大不小： “噢！多么可笑，多么可笑！”

Meanwhile it was getting very cold, and I noticed that the Jesuit stayed a long time, and thought: "They are having an explanation, I suppose. "

同时天气越来越冷了，而我发现那位耶稣会会员很呆了一段时间，寻思着： “他们正在理论吧，我猜。”

One, two, three hours passed, and still the reverend Father did not come out. What had happened? Had my uncle died in a fit when he saw him, or had he killed the cassocked gentleman? Perhaps they had mutually devoured each other? This last supposition appeared very unlikely, for I fancied that my uncle was quite incapable of swallowing a grain more nourishment at that moment.

一个小时，两个小时，三个小时过去了，神父还是一直没有出来。发生什么事了？难道我舅舅看到他之后就暴怒而亡了？还是他杀掉了那位穿着法衣的绅士？或许他们互相把对方吞食了？这最后一种猜想似乎不大可能，因为我想我那舅舅已经再也吞不下一丁点的食物了。

At last the day broke.

终于，天亮了。

I was very uneasy, and, not venturing to go into the house myself, I went to one of my friends who lived opposite. I knocked him up, explained matters to him, much to his amusement and astonishment, and took possession of his window.

我感到心神不宁，而我又不敢自己冒险走进屋子，就跑去找住在对面的一个朋友。我敲门把他叫醒，把事情讲给他听，这事让他觉得有趣又惊讶，而后我就占据了他家的窗户。

At nine o'clock he relieved me, and I got a little sleep. At two o'clock I, in my turn, replaced him. We were utterly astonished.

九点钟，他来跟我换班，我则小睡了一下。到了两点，换我来接替他。我们感到十分的惊讶。

At six o'clock the Jesuit left, with a very happy and satisfied look on his face, and we saw him go away with a quiet step.

六点钟时，那位耶稣会会员出来了，脸上带着非常高兴和满意的神情，我们看到他步履从容地离开了。

Then, timid and ashamed, I went and knocked at my uncle's door; and when the servant opened it I did not dare to ask her any questions, but went upstairs without saying a word.

随后，感到羞怯和惭愧，我前去敲舅舅家的门，当仆人打开门时，我不敢问她任何问题，一句话也没说就上楼了。

My uncle was lying pale, exhausted, with weary, sorrowful eyes and heavy arms, on his bed. A little religious picture was fastened to one of the bed—curtains with a pin.

我的舅舅正躺在他的床上，脸色苍白，筋疲力尽，双眼疲劳而忧伤，两臂沉重无力。一张宗教性的小图片用别针固定在床帏上。

"Why, uncle, " I said, "you in bed still? Are you not well? "

“怎么了，舅舅，” 我说， “您还躺在床上啊？您不舒服吗？”

He replied in a feeble voice:

他用虚弱的声音回答道：

"Oh! my dear boy, I have been very ill, nearly dead. "

“唉！我亲爱的孩子，我得了重病，几乎要死了。”

"How was that, uncle? "

“那是怎么回事，舅舅？”

"I don't know; it was most surprising. But, what is stranger still is, that the Jesuit priest who has just left—you know, that excellent man whom I have made such fun of—had a divine revelation of my state, and came to see me. "

“我不知道，这太出人意料了。但是，更奇怪的还是，刚刚离开的那位耶稣会牧师——你知道的，就是那位我曾经那样取笑的优秀人士——得到了神灵的启示，有关我的健康状况，刚才来见我。”

I was seized with an almost uncontrollable desire to laugh, and with difficulty said: "Oh, really! "

我突然很想笑，几乎无法控制，但费力地压制住，说道： “噢，真的？”

"Yes, he came. He heard a Voice telling him to get up and come to me, because I was going to die. It was a revelation. "

“真的，他来了。他听见一个声音告诉他快起床来我这儿，因为我就要死了。这是一个启示。”

I pretended to sneeze, so as not to burst out laughing; I felt inclined to roll on the ground with amusement.

我假装打了个喷嚏，以免大笑出来，我很想在地上开心地打滚。

In about a minute I managed to say, indignantly: "And you received him, uncle, you? You, a Freethinker, a Freemason? You did not have him thrown out—of—doors? "

一分钟以后，我终于能说出话来，气愤地说： “而您接待了他，舅舅，您？” 您，一个自由思想者，一个共济会会员？您没有把他扔出门外？

He seemed confused, and stammered:

他似乎很困惑，结结巴巴地说：

"Listen a moment, it is so astonishing—so astonishing and providential! He also spoke to me about my father; it seems he knew him formerly. "

“听我说，这事太惊人了——太惊人了，太幸运了！他还跟我谈起我的父亲，好像他以前认识。”

"Your father, uncle? But that is no reason for receiving a Jesuit. "

“您的父亲，舅舅？但这不是接纳一名耶稣会会员的理由啊。”

"I know that, but I was very ill, and he looked after me most devotedly all night long. He was perfect; no doubt he saved my life; those men are all a little bit of a doctor. "

“我知道，但是我病得很厉害，而他用心地照顾了我整整一晚上。他太棒了，毫无疑问他救了我的命，他们那些人都多少懂点医术。”

"Oh! he looked after you all night? But you said just now that he had only been gone a very short time. "

“噢！他照顾了您一整晚？可您刚说他才走没多久。”

"That is quite true; I kept him to breakfast after all his kindness. He had it at a table by my bedside while I drank a cup of tea. "

“千真万确，鉴于他的仁慈，我留他吃了早餐。他在我床边的小桌子上用餐，而我喝了杯茶。”

"And he ate meat? "

“那他吃肉了吗？”

My uncle looked vexed, as if I had said something very much out of place, and then added:

我舅舅看起来很气恼，仿佛我刚说了什么不合时宜的话，他又接着说：

"Don't joke, Gaston; such things are out of place at times. He has shown me more devotion than many a relation would have done, and I expect to have his convictions respected. "

“不要开玩笑，加斯东，有时候说这样的事不合时宜。他对我表现出的热情比许多亲戚表现出的还要多，我希望别人尊重他的信仰。”

This rather upset me, but I answered, nevertheless: "Very well, uncle; and what did you do after breakfast? "

这让我相当不安，尽管如此我还是回答： “很好，舅舅，那你们早餐后做了什么？”

"We played a game of bezique, and then he repeated his breviary while I read a little book which he happened to have in his pocket, and which was not by any means badly written. "

“我们来了一局比齐克牌戏（一种两人玩的纸牌戏，用两副牌，共64张），然后他重复了他的每日祷告，而我看了看他口袋里碰巧有的一本小书，那书写得一点也不赖。”

"A religious book, uncle? "

“一本宗教书籍吗，舅舅？”

"Yes, and no, or rather—no. It is the history of their missions in Central Africa, and is rather a book of travels and adventures. What these men have done is very grand. "

“是的，又不是，更确切地说——不是。那是他们的传教团在非洲中部的历史记载，确切点说，是一本关于旅行和冒险的书。这些人所做的都很崇高。”

I began to feel that matters were going badly, so I got up. "Well, good—bye, uncle, " I said, "I see you are going to leave Freemasonry for religion; you are a renegade. "

我开始感觉事情变得糟起来，所以我站起身。 “好吧，再见了，舅舅，” 我说， “我看您就要从共济会走向宗教了，您是一个变节者。”

He was still rather confused, and stammered:

他还是相当困惑，结结巴巴地说：

"Well, but religion is a sort of Freemasonry. "

“唉，可宗教是共济会的一种啊。”

"When is your Jesuit coming back? " I asked.

“您的那位耶稣会会员什么时候回来？” 我问道。

"I don't —I don't know exactly; tomorrow, perhaps; but it is not certain. "

“我不……我不知道确切什么时候。明天，也许吧，但不确定。”

I went out, altogether overwhelmed.

我离开了，整个地蒙了。

My joke turned out very badly for me! My uncle became radically converted, and if that had been all I should not have cared so much. Clerical or Freemason, to me it is all the same; six of one and half—a—dozen of the other; but the worst of it is that he has just made his will—yes, made his will—and he has disinherited me in favor of that rascally Jesuit!

我开的这个玩笑结果变得对我很不利！我的舅舅彻底地改变了信仰，如果事情仅仅是这样也就罢了，我不该这么介意。牧师或是共济会会员，对我而言都一样，不过是半斤对八两，可是最最糟糕的是他刚刚立了遗嘱——是的，立遗嘱——他剥夺了我的继承权，而受益者是那个无耻的耶稣会会员！

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