书虫四级《红字》：4.魔鬼派来的人

4．A man sent by the Devil

4．魔鬼派来的人

For three years the man calling himself Roger Chillingworth had made his home in the town. Only Hester Prynne knew the secrets of his past life, which he had put behind him, but he held the lock and key to her silence and felt quite safe. His plans had changed. There were new, darker arrangements to make; new, secret things to do with his time. He had studied medicine and knew enough for other people to accept and welcome him as a doctor. Medical men were difficult to find in New England at that time.

三年过去了，这个自称罗杰·奇林沃思的人在镇上定居下来。只有赫斯特知道他隐藏起来的过去的秘密，但是他掌握着让她缄口不言的锁和钥匙，并且觉得很安全。他的计划已经改变了。更加阴险的新计划即将形成；他要花时间做一些新的秘密活动。他学过医药，对此的研究已经使他被人们认可为一名医生。当时在新英格兰，精通医术的人尚不多见。

Soon after his arrival, he became friendly with Mr Dimmesdale, and made the young man his religious guide. It was at this time, however, that the young priest's health began to fail. He grew thin and pale; his voice, though still rich and sweet, now had a sadness and tiredness about it. And sometimes, when he was alarmed by something, he would put his hand over his heart, and his eyes would fill with pain.

他来到此地不久，就对丁梅斯代尔先生很友好，还让这个年轻人作他的宗教导师。就在此时，丁梅斯代尔先生的身体开始渐渐衰弱下去。他变得苍白消瘦；他的嗓音虽仍然丰润甜美，却含着忧郁和疲惫。有时，他会突然被惊动，然后用手捂住心口，眼睛里充满了痛苦。

The young priest was greatly respected in the town; people thought he was a selfless and deeply religious man. They worried that his long hours of study and hard work for the church were damaging his health, so they were pleased when Roger Chillingworth became a friend of the young man and also offered to be his doctor. 'God has sent this man to help our priest!' they said.

这位青年牧师在城镇中很受尊敬，人们都认为他是一个无私而虔诚的教徒，担心他钻研学问过多，教区工作太重，会损害他的健康，因此当他们看到罗杰·奇林沃思和这个青年人成为朋友并自告奋勇成为他的医生后，都感到很欣慰。“上帝派了这个人来帮助我们的牧师。”他们说。

But Mr Dimmesdale would not listen to his friends, and gently turned away all advice. 'I need no medicine,' he said.

但丁梅斯代尔先生却没有听从朋友们的建议，他委婉地拒绝了所有的善意。“我不需要吃药。”他说。

But how could he say so when each week his face became paler and thinner; his voice trembled more than before; and putting his hand over his heart became a habit? Was he tired of his work? Did he wish to die?

但他怎么能这样讲呢？每过一周，他的面颊就会变得越发苍白消瘦；声音也比先前颤抖得更加厉害；而且他用手捂住心口的动作已经变成了一种习惯。难道他厌倦了工作？难道他想死吗？

The older priests put these questions to him, and reminded him that refusing medical help—perhaps help sent by God—was a sin. Mr Dimmesdale listened in silence, and finally promised to take advice from the doctor.

年长的牧师们向他提出质疑，并且提醒他医药的帮助或许是上帝赐予的福旨，对此加以拒绝可是有罪的。丁梅斯代尔先生默默不语地听着，终于答应听取医生的建议。

Though if God wished it,' he said, 'I would be happy to leave behind my work, my worries and my sins and be buried in my grave.'

“虽说这是上帝的旨意，”他说，“可我宁愿丢下工作、烦恼和罪孽，被埋葬在坟墓之中。”

*　*　*

*　*　*

So this was how the mysterious Roger Chillingworth became the medical adviser of Mr Arthur Dimmesdale. The two men, one young and one old, began to spend much time together, walking along beside the sea or in the forest, often collecting plants to use for making medicines. Chillingworth watched and listened to his patient, asking questions carefully, digging deeper and deeper into the other man's thoughts and feelings. They spoke about public and private things; about health and religion; even about personal matters. But no secret, however much Chillingworth suspected there was one, ever came out of their discussions.

就这样，神秘的老罗杰·奇林沃思成了阿瑟·丁梅斯代尔先生的健康顾问。这一老一少开始常常一起活动：在海滨、林中长时间散步，经常采集一些植物用于制药。奇林沃思观察着他的病人，听他说话，仔细地提问，越来越深地探究他的思想和情感。他们所谈的涉及公事和私事，健康和宗教，甚至涉及个人的隐私。医生虽然揣测这里肯定是有秘密的，但他们的讨论却始终没能把任何秘密揭露出来。

After a time, at the suggestion of Roger Chillingworth, the friends of Mr Dimmesdale arranged for the two men to live in the same house. They thought it was the best and most sensible arrangement, at least until Mr Dimmesdale decided to marry some suitable young lady. (Although for some reason they did not understand, the young man refused to even think about marriage.) Now the good doctor could keep an even closer watch on their young friend's health.

过了一段时间，在罗杰·奇林沃思的建议之下，丁梅斯代尔先生的朋友们安排他俩住在了同一栋房子里。他们认为这是最好、最合理的安排，至少是在丁梅斯代尔先生决定娶某位年轻女士为妻之前。（尽管出于一些他们无法理解的原因，这个青年人想都不愿意去想婚姻的问题。）现在，这位良医可以更加密切地关注他们年轻朋友的健康了。

The house was next to the town's graveyard, and Mr Dimmesdale had an apartment in the front of the building, where he could enjoy the morning sun and where there was plenty of room for his many books. In rooms on the other side of the house, Roger Chillingworth arranged his papers, and the special things needed for making medicines.

他俩的房子紧挨着镇上的墓地，丁梅斯代尔先生住前面一个套间，在这里他可以享受早上的阳光，还有宽敞的地方可以放置丰富的藏书。在房子另一侧的几间屋子中，罗杰·奇林沃思安放了他的资料和各种制药用的特殊器具。

However, not all the townspeople were happy. Many people suspected that the mysterious doctor was not all he pretended to be. One old man, who had come from London more than thirty years ago, was sure that Chillingworth had lived in that city, using another name. Others spoke of the change in the man since he had come to live in the town. At first, his expression had been calm, thoughtful, the face of a man who spent his time studying. Now, there was something ugly and evil in his face. Some people even believed that Chillingworth had been sent by the Devil and was after the young priest's soul. Everyone, however, was confident that Mr Dimmesdale would be the winner of this battle.

然而，并非镇上的所有居民都对此表示欢迎。很多人都怀疑这个神秘的医生根本就不像他所表现出的那样。有一位三十多年前从伦敦来的老人非常确定地说，奇林沃思曾经住在伦敦，当时叫的是另外一个名字。还有一些人说，罗杰·奇林沃思自从在镇上定居以来发生了明显的变化。起初，他外表安详，若有所思，一派学者模样。而如今，他脸上却是一种丑陋而邪恶的表情。一些人甚至认为奇林沃思是魔鬼的使者，要攫取这位青年牧师的灵魂。不过每个人都相信丁梅斯代尔先生会是这场战役的胜利者。

As the months and years went by, the change in Roger Chillingworth grew greater. He had begun with the calmness of a judge, wanting only to know the truth. But as he continued, the need to know burned in him like a fever, and he dug into the priest's soul, like a man searching for gold. And poor Mr Dimrnesdale, sick at heart, too afraid to call any man his friend, could not recognize an enemy either.

随着时间的流逝，奇林沃思的变化越来越明显。起初他带着裁判者的冷静而来，那时他只想找出真相。但是随着计划的展开，迫切想知道答案的愿望就像高烧一样折磨着他。他像一个淘金者一样掘进牧师的灵魂。而可怜的丁梅斯代尔先生由于内心的折磨，惧怕把任何人视为朋友，因此也无法辨认出谁是敌人。

One day, he was in Chillingworth's room, looking out of the window at the graveyard opposite, while the older man was arranging some plants that he had collected.

一天，他待在奇林沃思的房间里，透过窗子看着对面的墓地，而老人正在整理采集来的一些植物。

Where did you get the plants with the dark leaves?' the priest asked Chillingworth.

“你从哪里找到这些黑叶子植物的？”牧师问奇林沃思。

From the graveyard,' answered the other man. 'I found them growing on a grave without a gravestone, or anything to tell me the dead man's name. Perhaps these black plants grew out of a heart that hid some terrible secret, one that was buried with him.'

“墓地里。”医生回答说，“在一座坟墓上发现的，坟前没有墓碑，也没别的东西表明死者的名字。可能这种黑色植物是从死者的心里长出来的，那颗心里藏着可怕的秘密，随着他一起埋葬了。”

Perhaps the poor man wanted to tell it, but could not,' said Mr Dimmesdale. He was silent for a while, then went on, 'Tell me, doctor, is my health any better since you began to take care of this poor, weak body of mine?'

“也许这个可怜的人是想说出来的，但他就是办不到。”丁梅斯代尔先生说。他沉默了片刻，接着说：“告诉我，医生，从您开始照顾我这虚弱、可怜的身体以来，我的健康状况是否有所好转？”

Before Chillingworth could answer, they heard a young child laughing. The sound came from the graveyard, and the priest looked down from the open window and saw Hester Prynne and little Pearl walking along the path. Pearl looked as beautiful as the day, but was behaving badly. She jumped from grave to grave, finally dancing on one of the larger graves until her mother called out to her.

奇林沃思还没来得及回答，他们就听到了一个小孩子的笑声。这笑声从墓地里传来。牧师从打开的窗子向外望去，只见赫斯特·普林和小珍珠在小径上走着。珍珠看上去和白昼一样美丽，但是十分淘气。她从一个墓上跳到另一个坟墓上，最后在一个比较大的坟墓上跳起舞来，直到她母亲把她叫住。

Pearl, stop it! Behave yourself!' cried Hester Prynne.

“珍珠，别跳了！乖一点儿！”赫斯特·普林喊道。

The girl stopped, but only to collect the purple flowers from a tall plant. She took a handful of them, and fastened their needle-like edges to the scarlet letter on her mother's dress. Hester did not pull them off.

珍珠停了下来，又开始从一株高大的植物上采摘紫色的小花。她摘了满满一把之后，便把针尖一样的花边别在母亲衣服上的红字周围。赫斯特并没有把它们取下来。

Roger Chillingworth had joined Mr Dimmesdale at the window. 'That child has no respect for others,' he said, 'no idea of right or wrong. I saw her the other day throwing water at the Governor himself! What, in heaven's name, is she? A child of the devil? Has she no kindliness in her?'

罗杰·奇林沃思和丁梅斯代尔先生一起站到窗前。“那孩子对别人一点儿都不敬重。”他说，“也没有是非概念。那天我看到她竟然往总督身上泼水！我的天，这到底是个什么孩子啊？难道她是恶魔的孩子吗？难道她的天性中一丝善良都没有吗？”

I do not know,' replied Mr Dimmesdale, quietly.

“我不知道。”丁梅斯代尔先生静静地回答。

The girl probably heard their voices. She looked up, laughed, then threw one of the purple flowers at Mr Dimmesdale. And when the young priest jumped back with a little cry, she was delighted and laughed even louder.

那孩子可能是听到了他们的声音。她笑着抬起头来，朝丁梅斯代尔先生扔来一朵紫色小花。年轻的牧师将身子向后一闪，发出了一声轻呼，珍珠高兴起来，笑得更开心了。

Hester Prynne also looked up at that moment, and all four of these persons now stared at each other silently until the child laughed again, and shouted:

此时，赫斯特·普林也抬起头来，于是这四个人便谁也不说话地面面相觑，直到孩子又笑起来，大叫着：

Come away, mother! Come away, or that nasty old man up there will catch you! He has already caught the priest! But he won't catch little Pearl!' And she pulled her mother away, then danced off between the graves.

“走吧，妈妈！走吧，要不上面那个讨厌的老头就来抓你了！他已经抓住了牧师。可他抓不住小珍珠！”然后她蹦蹦跳跳地拽着母亲从坟墓间走开了。

There goes a woman,' said Roger Chillingworth, after a pause, 'who cannot hide her shame. It is there, for all to see. But is Hester Prynne more, or less, miserable than people who keep their sinfulness hidden?'

“那个女人，”罗杰·奇林沃思沉默了一会儿后接着说，“无法掩饰她的耻辱，那耻辱就在那儿，所有人都看得到。和那些把罪恶隐藏起来的人比，赫斯特·普林的痛苦是多还是少呢？”

I cannot answer for her,' said Mr Dimmesdale, his face pale. 'There was a look of pain in her face which it hurt me to see, but I think it must be better for sinners to be free to show their pain, as this poor woman Hester does, than to cover it all up in their heart.'

“我无法为她作答。”丁梅斯代尔先生说，他的脸色苍白。“她脸上有一种痛楚的表情，我看了觉得很难过。但是我认为，一个犯了罪的人能够像这可怜的妇人赫斯特这样，可以自由地表达自己的痛苦，总比全都闷在心里好。”

There was another pause, then the doctor said, 'You asked a little while ago for my opinion on your health.'

又是一阵沉默，医生说：“刚才你问我对你的健康有何看法。”

I did,' said Mr Dimmesdale. 'Speak freely. Do not be afraid to tell me the truth, whether it is good news or bad.'

“是啊，”牧师回答说，“我请你坦率地讲出来，别怕告诉我真相，是好是坏都没关系。”

Your illness is a strange one,' said Chillingworth, going back to his plants. 'I find it difficult to understand. Let me ask you, as a friend as well as your doctor, have you told me everything? Is there anything you have not told me which might help me find the true reason for your illness?'

“你的病很奇怪。”奇林沃思一边说着一边又摆弄起他的那些植物。“我觉得很困惑。让我以朋友和医生的双重身份来问你，你是否已经把一切都告诉我了呢？是不是还有什么没对我说？也许这些事恰恰可以帮我找出你真正的病因。”

How can you ask?' replied the priest. 'It would be stupid to call in a doctor and then hide the injury.'

“你怎么会这样问？”牧师回答道，“请来医生，却又向他隐瞒病情，这不是很愚蠢嘛。”

Roger Chillingworth stared hard at the other man's face. 'Yes, but the injury or evil we can see is often only half the problem,' he said. 'Sometimes it is the sickness of a man's soul that is the reason for his sick body. And then, how can a doctor help his patient to get better unless his patient tells him what is troubling his soul?'

罗杰·奇林沃思目光炯炯地盯着牧师的面孔。“是的，不过通常我们肉眼可以看到的伤病或罪恶只是问题的一半。”他说，“有时，身体有病的原因很可能是灵魂染疾。如果病人不坦白说出是什么在折磨自己的灵魂，医生是没有办法帮助他恢复的。”

No, not to you!' cried Mr Dimmesdale, his eyes suddenly wild and bright. 'Only God can save a man whose sickness is a sickness of the soul! Let him do with me what he will! But who are you to involve yourself in this matter? Who are you to stand between a sufferer and his God?'

“不！我不会对你说！”丁梅斯代尔先生喊叫起来，他的眼睛突然变得狂野，闪着光亮。“只有上帝可以救治灵魂上的疾病。让他随心所欲地处置我吧。可是，你算什么？竟要来插一手？竟敢置身于受磨难的人和他的上帝之间？”

And he ran angrily from the room.

他愤怒地冲出了房间。

Roger Chillingworth smiled to himself. 'Nothing is lost. We shall be friends again. But look how his passion takes hold of him! He has done a wild thing before now, this godly Mr Dimmesdale, in the hot passion of his heart.'

罗杰·奇林沃思暗自笑道：“一无所失。我们很快还会重新成为朋友的。不过看看吧，激情如何完全左右了这个人！这位虔诚的丁梅斯代尔先生，以前也曾在内心激情的驱使之下，干出过荒唐事来！”

Not long afterwards, as expected, the young priest returned and apologized. He asked his friend to continue to care for him, and the doctor agreed to do so.

不久之后，就像他预料的那样，年轻的牧师回来道歉，请求他的朋友继续照料他，医生同意了。

*　*　*

*　*　*

A few days after this, Mr Dimmesdale falls asleep in his chair, while reading in his study. Later, Roger Chillingworth comes into the room and sees that the other man is sleeping. He steps forward, and pulls open the priest's shirt.

几天后，丁梅斯代尔先生在书房里看书时，坐在椅子上睡着了。后来，罗杰·奇林沃思走进他的房间，发现他睡着了，于是走上前，扯开了牧师的衬衣。

After a short pause, he turns away, but with what a wild look of wonder, joy, and horror!

医生稍停了一瞬，转身走了。然而，他的表情却那么狂野，交织着惊奇、欢乐和恐惧！