theyquicklywentawayandcamebeforethebedsofthecriminals;theseunfortunatepeoplesleptsidebyside,inlongrows。
其中一个人像头凶猛的野兽一样,从睡梦中惊醒,发出一声可怕的喊叫,用尖尖的肘部猛地捅了一下他的同伴的肋骨,同伴在睡梦中翻了个身:
Likeaferociousanimal,oneofthemroseoutofhissleepandutteredahorriblecry,andgavehisradeaviolentdigintheribswithhispointedelbow,andthisoneturnedroundinhissleep:
“安静点,怪物——睡觉!这种事每晚都发生!”
“bequiet,monster—sleep!thishappenseverynight!”
“每晚!”另一个人重复道。“是的,每晚他都来折磨我!我一时冲动做了这样那样的事。我生来就心地邪恶,这已经是我第二次进这儿了;但如果我做错了事,我也为此受到了惩罚。不过,有一件事我还没坦白。不久前我出狱的时候,路过我以前主人的院子,当我想起这想起那的时候,邪恶的念头在我心里升起。我在墙上擦了一根火柴;可能离茅草屋顶太近了。全都烧光了——一股巨大的热浪涌起,就像有时候会把我淹没的那种感觉。”
“Everynight!”repeatedtheother。“Yes,everynightheesandtorturesme!InmyviolenceIhavedonethisandthat。Iwasbornwithanevilmind,whichhasbroughtmehitherforthesecondtime;butifIhavedonewrongIsufferpunishmentforit。onething,however,Ihavenotyetconfessed。whenIcameoutalittlewhileago,andpassedbytheyardofmyformermaster,evilthoughtsrosewithinmewhenIrememberedthisandthat。Istruckamatchalittlebitonthewall;probablyitcamealittleofthethatchedroof。Allburntdown—agreatheatrose,suchassometimesoveresme。
我自己还帮忙抢救了牲口和一些东西,除了一群飞进火里的鸽子,没有活物被烧死,还有那条院子里的狗,我当时没想到它;人们能听到它在火里嚎叫,我想睡觉的时候还能听到那嚎叫声;等我睡着了,那条又大又凶的狗就会跑过来趴在我身上,嚎叫着、压着我、折磨着我。现在听我跟你们说!你们能打呼噜;你们一整晚都在打呼噜,而我连一刻钟都睡不了!”激动的罪犯气血上涌,他扑向同伴,握紧拳头朝他脸上打去。
Imyselfhelpedtorescuecattleandthings,nothingaliveburnt,exceptaflightofpigeons,whichflewintothefire,andtheyarddog,ofwhichIhadnotthought;onecouldhearhimhowloutofthefire,andthishowlingIstillhearwhenIwishtosleep;andwhenIhavefallenasleep,thegreatroughdogesandplaceshimselfuponme,andhowls,presses,andtorturesme。NowlistentowhatItellyou!Youcansnore;youaresnoringthewholenight,andIhardlyaquarterofanhour!”Andthebloodrosetotheheadoftheexcitedcriminal;hethrewhimselfuponhisrade,andbeathimwithhisclenchedfistintheface。
“邪恶的马茨又发疯了!”他们彼此说道。其他罪犯抓住他,和他扭打起来,把他弯成对折,让他的头夹在两膝之间,然后把他绑起来,绑得他眼睛和全身的毛孔都快渗出血来。
“wickedmatzhasbeemadagain!”theysaidamongstthemselves。theothercriminalsseizedhim,wrestledwithhim,andbenthimdouble,sothathisheadrestedbetweenhisknees,andtheytiedhim,sothatthebloodalmostcameoutofhiseyesandoutofallhispores。
“你们会害死这个不幸的人的,”牧师说,他伸出手去保护这个已经饱受折磨的人,这时场景变换了。
“Youarekillingtheunfortunateman,”saidthepastor,andashestretchedouthishandtoprotecthimwhoalreadysufferedtoomuch,thescenechanged。
他们飞过富丽堂皇的大厅和破败的小屋;放荡和嫉妒,所有致命的罪孽,都在他们眼前闪过。
theyflewthroughrichhallsandwretchedhovels;wantonnessandenvy,allthedeadlysins,passedbeforethem。
一位正义天使宣读着他们的罪行和他们的辩词;辩词并不精彩,但它是呈现在上帝面前的,上帝能洞悉人心,知晓一切,包括来自内心和外界的邪恶,上帝是仁慈与爱的化身。
Anangelofjusticereadtheircrimesandtheirdefence;thelatterwasnotabrilliantone,butitwasreadbeforeGod,whoreadstheheart,whoknowseverything,thewickednessthatesfromwithinandfromwithout,whoismercyandlovepersonified。
牧师的手颤抖着;他不敢伸出去,不敢从罪人的头上拔下一根头发。
thepastor’shandtrembled;hedarednotstretchitout,hedidnotventuretopullahairoutofthesinner’shead。
泪水如一股慈悲与爱的溪流从他眼中涌出,这清凉的泪水熄灭了地狱的永恒之火。
Andtearsgushedfromhiseyeslikeastreamofmercyandlove,thecoolingwatersofwhichextinguishedtheeternalfireofhell。
就在这时,公鸡打鸣了。
Justthenthecockcrowed。
“万慈之父,请赐予她我无法为她求得的安宁!”
“Fatherofallmercy,grantthoutoherthepeacethatIwasunabletoprocureforher!”
“我现在明白了!”死去的女人说。“是你那些严厉的话语,你对人类的绝望,你对上帝及其造物的阴郁信念,把我引到你这儿来的。要学会了解人类!即使在恶人身上也存有上帝的一部分——而这能熄灭并战胜地狱之火!”
“Ihaveitnow!”saidthedeadwoman。“Itwasyourhardwords,yourdespairofmankind,yourgloomybeliefinGodandhiscreation,whichdrovemetoyou。Learntoknowmankind!EveninthewickedonelivesapartofGod—andthisextinguishesandconquerstheflameof地狱之火!”
牧师感觉嘴唇上被亲了一下;一道亮光环绕着他——上帝明亮的太阳照进了房间,他活着的、甜美且充满爱意的妻子把他从上帝赐予他的梦境中唤醒了!
thepastorfeltakissonhislips;agleamoflightsurroundedhim—God’sbrightsunshoneintotheroom,andhiswife,alive,sweetandfulloflove,awokehimfromadreamwhichGodhadsenthim!