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第三场
SCENE—The stokehole.In the rear,the dimly—outlined bulks of the furnaces and boilers.High overhead one hanging electric bulb sheds just enough light through the murky air laden with coal dust to pile up masses of shadows everywhere.A line of men,stripped to the waist,is before the furnace doors.They bend over,looking neither to right nor left,handling their shovels as if they were part of their bodies,with a strange,awkward,swinging rhythm.They use the shovels to throw open the furnace doors.Then from these fiery round holes in the black a flood of terrific light and heat pours full upon the men who are outlined in silhouette in the crouching,inhuman attitudes of chained gorillas.The men shovel with a rhythmic motion,swinging as on a pivot from the coal which lies in heaps on the floor behind to hurl it into the flaming mouths before them.There is a tumult of noise—the brazen clang of the furnace doors as they are flung open or slammed shut,the grating,teeth—gritting grind of steel against steel,of crunching coal.This clash of sounds stuns one's ears with its rending dissonance.But there is order in it,rhythm,a mechanical regulated recurrence,a tempo.And rising above all,making the air hum with the quiver of liberated energy,the roar of leaping flames in the furnaces,the monotonous throbbing beat of the engines.
景——炉膛口。在船的后部，火炉和锅炉的巨大轮廓隐隐约约。一个电灯泡高高地悬挂在头顶上方，发出的灯光只够穿过模糊不清的、弥漫着煤灰的空气，把成片的阴影投射在各个地方。一整排人都打着赤膊，站在火炉门前。他们弓着腰，既不左顾也不右盼，以一种古怪笨拙的节奏摇摆着抡着铁锹，就好像那些铁锹是他们身体的一部分似的。他们用铁锹猛地打开炉门。于是在一片漆黑中，这些个熊熊燃烧的圆洞把大片可怕的光和热全都倾泻在这些人身上。他们被勾勒出来的轮廓就像是一群带着镣铐蹲伏着的野蛮的大猩猩。这些人有节奏地铲着煤，就像是连在煤炭上的一根枢轴上摆动一样。煤炭堆放在他们身后的地板上，方便他们将煤炭猛力铲到跟前燃烧着的洞口里去。一片嘈杂声——炉门猛地打开或关上时刺耳的叮当声，钢铁相互的嘎嘎摩擦声，铲煤的吱吱咯咯声。这种刺耳的撞击声既杂乱无章又具有穿透力，真是震耳欲聋。不过在这当中也有一定的秩序——有节奏、有一种机械般的规定的重复性、也有一种速率。然而超越这一切的、使得空气中充满了释放出来的能量的颤动声的，却是火炉中跳跃着的火舌发出的咆哮声，和机器发出的单调的跳动声。
As the curtain rises,the furnace doors are shut.The men are taking a breathing spell.One or two are arranging the coal behind them,pulling it into more accessible heaps.The others can be dimly made out leaning on their shovels in relaxed attitudes of exhaustion.
当幕布升起的时候，炉门是关着的。人们正在换班，稍事歇息。有一两个人正在整理他们身后的煤，把那些煤炭堆成方便铲到的小煤堆。可以隐约地看见，其他的人正以放松的姿势靠在铁锹上解乏。
PADDY—（From somewhere in the line—plaintively.）Yerra,will this divil's own watch nivir end?Me back is broke.I'm destroyed entirely.
帕迪——（从这条队伍中某处——痛苦地）哎呀，难道这次该死的值班没有结束的时候吗？我的背脊要断了。我要累死了。
YANK—（From the center of the line—with exuberant scorn.）Aw,yuh make me sick!Lie down and croak,why don't yuh?Always beefin',dat's you!Say,dis is a cinch!Dis was made for me!It's my meat,get me!（A whistle is blown—a thin,shrill note from somewhere overhead in the darkness.Yank curses without resentment.）Dere's de damn engineer crakin'de whip.He tinks we're loafin'.
扬克——（从那条队伍的中间——带着满腔的蔑视）哦，你真令我反胃！你干嘛不躺下去挺尸呢？总是发牢骚，你就是那种人！哎呀，这不算什么！这就是为我量身定做的！我就好这一口，懂我的意思吧！（一声口哨声响起——在一片黑暗中，从头顶上方的某处传来的一声又细又尖的调子。扬克不带任何怨恨地咒骂道）那该死的大管轮又把鞭子抽得啪啪响。他以为我们正在闲混呢。
PADDY—（Vindictively.）God stiffen him!
帕迪——（恶毒地）上帝让他去挺尸！
YANK—（In an exultant tone of command.）Come on,youse guys!Git into de game!She's gittin'hungry!Pile some grub in her!Trow it into her belly!Come on now,all of youse!Open her up!（At this last all the men,who have followed his movements of getting into position,throw open their furnace doors with a deafening clang.The fiery light floods over their shoulders as they bend round for the coal.Rivulets of sooty sweat have traced maps on their backs.The enlarged muscles form bunches of high light and shadow.）
扬克——（用一种兴高采烈的命令口吻）各位，快点！干起来吧！它正饿着呢！塞给它一些吃的！送到它的肚子里去！现在来吧，大伙！把它打开！（终于在说完这句话之后，所有那些跟着他来排队的人都掀开了炉门，发出一阵震耳欲聋的铿锵声。当他们转过身来弯腰铲煤的时候，火光倾泻在他们的肩头。掺着煤灰的津津汗水在他们的后背勾勒出各种图像。那隆起的肌肉形成了一连串的高亮部位和阴影部位。）
YANK—（Chanting a count as he shovels without seeming effort.）One—two—tree—（His voice rising exultantly in the joy of battle.）Dat's de stuff!Let her have it!All togedder now!Sling it into her!Let her ride!Shoot de piece now!Call de toin on her!Drive her into it!Feel her move!Watch her smoke!Speed,dat's her middle name!Give her coal,youse guys!Coal,dat's her booze!Drink it up,baby!Let's see yuh sprint!Dig in and gain a lap!Dere she go—o—es（This last in the chanting formula of the gallery gods at the six—day bike race.He slams his furnace door shut.The others do likewise with as much unison as their wearied bodies will permit.The effect is of one fiery eye after another being blotted out with a series of accompanying bangs.）
扬克——（他一边毫不费力地铲着煤，一边单调地唱着数）一、二、三，（在战斗的欢愉中，他的声音欢腾而起。）这才是好样的！给它吃吧！现在大家都一起来！把煤送进它的口里去！让它航行！现在飞速前行！驾驭它！让它长驱直入！感受一下它行进的势头！看一看它冒出来的烟！速度，那就是它的显著特点！各位，喂给它煤！煤，那就是它的美酒！宝贝，把它喝光！让我们看你奋力奔跑！好好跑吧，领先一圈！开跑喽。（这最后一句话是在自行车六天赛跑大会上顶层楼座的观众们叫喊时惯用的口号。他猛地关上炉门。其他的人尽管身体都疲乏不堪，也照着他的动作去做，尽可能地与他保持一致。于是，火眼一个接一个地给封上了，还伴随着一连串砰砰的声音）
PADDY—（Groaning.）Me back is broke.I'm bate out—bate—（There is a pause.Then the inexorable whistle sounds again from the dim regions above the electric light.There is a growl of cursing rage from all sides.）
帕迪——（呻吟着）我的背脊断掉了。我不顶事了——没用了——（停顿了一下。接着，从电灯上方的昏暗处又传来了无情的哨声。于是，四面八方都响起了一阵咆哮的怒骂声）
YANK—（Shaking his fist upward—contemptuously.）Take it easy dere,you!Who d'yuh tinks runnin'dis game,me or you?When I git ready,we move.Not before!When I git ready,get me!
扬克——（朝上面挥舞着拳头——傲慢地）你呀，别紧张！你以为是谁在掌控这里的活，是我还是你？当我准备好了，我们才能行动起来。我没准备妥当就不可以！要等我准备好，明白我的意思吧！
VOICES—（Approvingly.）That's the stuff!
七嘴八舌的声音——（认可地）那才是好样的！
Yank tal him,py golly!
扬克对他说，上天呀！
Yank ain't affeerd.
扬克什么都不怕！
Goot poy,Yank!
扬克，你是个好小伙！
Give him hell!
咒骂他一番！
Tell'im'e’s a bloody swine!
跟他说，他是一头该死的猪猡！
Bloody slave—driver!
一个驱赶奴隶的恶棍！
YANK—（Contemptuously.）He ain't got no noive.He's yellow,get me?All de engineers is yellow.Dey got streaks a mile wide.Aw,to hell wit him!Let's move,youse guys.We had a rest.Come on,she needs it!Give her pep!It ain't for him.Him and his whistle,dey don't belong.But we belong,see!We gotter feed de baby!Come on!（He turns and flings his furnace door open.They all follow his lead.At this instant the Second and Fourth Engineers enter from the darkness on the left with Mildred between them.She starts,turns paler,her pose is crumbling,she shivers with fright in spite of the blazing heat,but forces herself to leave the Engineers and take a few steps nearer the men.She is right behind Yank.All this happens quickly while the men have their backs turned.）
扬克——（傲慢地）他毫无胆量。他很怯懦，明白我的意思吗？所有的机师都很胆小。一有什么动静，就吓得跑出一英里开外。哦，叫他见鬼去！我们行动起来吧，大伙们。我们已经歇息了一会儿。快点吧，它需要吃的了！给它点活力！这可不是因为大管轮才这样做的。他和他的哨声都不顶用。但是我们顶用，懂吧！我们要给宝贝喂食了！快点吧！（他转过身去，使劲打开炉门。所有的人都跟着他行事。就在这时，二管轮和四管轮从左边的黑暗处走了过来，米尔德丽德就走在他们俩的中间。她吃了一惊，脸色更加苍白了，她那装腔作势的架子被摧毁了。虽然温度非常高，但她还是被吓得浑身发抖；她迫使自己离开机师们的身边，朝大伙走近了几步。她正站在扬克的后面。这所有一切都是在大伙转身的那一刹那间迅速发生的）
YANK—Come on,youse guys!（He is turning to get coal when the whistle sounds again in a peremptory,irritating note.This drives Yank into a sudden fury.While the other men have turned full around and stopped dumfounded by the spectacle of Mildred standing there in her white dress,Yank does not turn far enough to see her.Besides,his head is thrown back,he blinks upward through the murk trying to find the owner of the whistle,he brandishes his shovel murderously over his head in one hand,pounding on his chest,gorilla—like,with the other,shouting:）Toin off dat whistle!
扬克——各位，快点干吧！（当他转过身去铲煤的时候，一声独断专横的、使人恼怒的哨声又响了起来。这使得扬克勃然大怒。当其他的人都彻底转过身来，看到米尔德丽德穿着一身白衣站在那里时，他们都愣住了，停下了手里的活；而扬克因为转身幅度不大，还没有到她。不仅如此，他的脑袋向后仰起，眯着眼睛往上面看去，试图透过黑暗来找到吹口哨的人。他一只手凶狠地在头顶上方挥舞着铲子，另一只手则像大猩猩那样猛击自己的胸脯，还大声叫喊）别吹口哨！
Come down outa dere,yuh yellow,brass—buttoned,Belfast bum,yuh!Come down and I'll knock yer brains out!Yuh lousey,stinkin',yellow mut of a Catholic—moiderin'bastard!Come down and I'll moider yuh!Pullin'dat whistle on me,huh?I'll show yuh!I'll crash yer skull in!I'll drive yer teet'down yer troat!I'll slam yer nose trou de back of yer head!I'll cut yer guts out for a nickel,yuh lousey boob,yuh dirty,crummy,muck—eatin'son of a—（Suddenly he becomes conscious of all the other men staring at something directly behind his back.He whirls defensively with a snarling,murderous growl,crouching to spring,his lips drawn back o'ver his teeth,his small eyes gleaming ferociously.He sees Mildred,like a white apparition in the full light from the open furnace doors.He glares into her eyes,turned to stone.As for her,during his speech she has listened,paralyzed with horror,terror,her whole personality crushed,beaten in,collapsed,by the terrific impact of this unknown,abysmal brutality,naked and shameless.As she looks at his gorilla face,as his eyes bore into hers,she utters a low,choking cry and shrinks away from him,putting both hands up before her eyes to shut out the sight of his face,to protect her own.This startles Yank to a reaction.His mouth falls open,his eyes grow bewildered.）
从那里滚出来，你这个胆小的、穿制服的贝尔法斯特（注：“贝尔法斯特”为北爱尔兰首府）懒鬼，你呀！滚出来，我要敲破你的脑壳！你是个卑鄙、讨厌的胆小鬼，你是天主教徒、谋杀犯、杂种！滚出来，我宰了你！对着我吹口哨，哈？我要给你点颜色看！我要把你的头盖骨砸碎！我要把你的牙齿打落！我要把你的鼻子猛地扇到脑瓜后边去！只要给我五分镍币，我就挖出你的内脏来，你这个卑鄙的蠢材，你是个下流、肮脏、吃屎的婊子养的——（忽然间，他意识到其他所有的人都盯着他正背后的什么东西看。他急忙自卫地转过身来，发出一声势不可挡的怒吼；他蹲伏下来，准备一跃而起；他绷紧嘴唇，小小的眼睛里闪着凶狠的目光。他看见了米尔德丽德。在敞开着的炉门所发出的强光的照耀下，她就像是一个白色的幽灵。他怒目注视着她的眼睛，一动也不动。而她已经听到了他讲的那番话，被吓得目瞪口呆。这种未知、深不可测的暴行赤裸裸而令人羞愧。在它巨大的冲击之下，她整个人格都被摧毁、击倒、瓦解了。当她盯着他那副猩猩似的脸孔，当他的眼睛对视着她的眼睛时，她发出了一种低沉、哽咽的哭声，接着从他面前退缩回去。她举起双手护住自己的脸庞，不去看他的面容。这让扬克惊讶地做出了反应。他的嘴巴张开，眼神变得很困惑。）
MILDRED—（About to faint—to the Engineers,who now have her one by each arm—whimperingly.）Take me away!Oh,the filthy beast!（She faints.They carry her quickly back,disappearing in the darkness at the left,rear.An iron door clangs shut.Rage and bewildered fury rush back on Yank.He feels himself insulted in some unknown fashion in the very heart of his pride.He roars:）God damn yuh!（And hurls his shovel after them at the door which has just closed.It hits the steel bulkhead with a clang and falls clattering on the steel floor.From overhead the whistle sounds again in a long,angry,insistent command.）
米尔德丽德——（快要昏过去了——对着一边架着她一只胳膊的两位管轮——抽噎着说）带我离开！哦，这邪恶的野兽！（她昏过去了。他们扛着她赶紧退下，消失在轮船左后部的黑暗处。一扇铁门叮当一声给关上了。一阵怒意和令他昏惑不已的火气涌上扬克的心头。他觉得他自己的自尊心不明就里地被侮辱了。他大吼道）你们去死吧！（他拿起铁锹朝刚刚关上的门用力地扔过去——他们刚从那里出去。铁锹叮当一声击中了钢铁舱壁，接着哐的一声落在钢制地板上。头顶上方又传来了一声哨声，那是一道冗长的、愤怒的、急切的命令。）
（Curtain）
（幕落）