双语《小约翰》 十一

XI
十一

“Now we shall see，”said Pluizer，“whether I cannot show you just as pretty things as Windekind did．”
“我们要试一试，”穿凿说，“我可能旋儿似的示给你许多美。”

And when they had taken leave of the doctor，promising to return soon，he led Johannes into every nook and corner of the great town；he showed him how the Monster lived，how he breathed and took in food，how he digested within and expanded without．
他们向博士告了别，且约定当即回来之后，他便领着约翰到大城的一切角落巡行，他指示它，这大怪物怎样地生活，呼吸和滋养，它怎样地吸收自己并且从自己重行生长起来。

But what he liked best were the gloomy back slums，where men sat closely packed，where everything was grey and grizzly，and the air black and heavy．
但他偏爱这人们紧挤着，一切灰色而干枯、空气沉重而潮湿的、阴郁的困苦区域。

He took him into one of the great buildings from which the smoke rose which Johannes had seen the first day．The place was filled with deafening noise—thumping，rattling，hammering and droning—great wheels were turning and long belts sliding endlessly onward；the walls and floors were black，the windows broken and murky．The towering chimneys rose high above the dingy structure， and poured forth thick wreaths of smoke．Amid the turmoil of wheels and axles，Johannes saw numbers of men with pale faces and blackened hands and clothes，working busily without a word．
他领他走进大建筑中之一，烟气从那里面升腾，这是约翰第一天就见过的。那地方主宰着一个震聋耳朵的喧闹——到处鸣吼着，格磔着，撞击着，隆隆着——大的轮子嗡嗡有声，长带蜿蜒着拖过去，黑的是墙和地面，窗玻璃破碎或则尘昏。雄伟的烟突高高地伸起，超过黑的建筑物，还喷出浓厚的旋转的烟柱来。在这轮子和机器的杂沓中，约翰看见无数人们带着苍白的脸、黑的手和衣服，默默地不住地工作着。

“Who are they？”he asked．
“这是什么？”他问。

“Wheels，wheels too，”said Pluizer with a laugh，“or men，if you choose to call them so．And what you see them doing，they do from morning to night．Even so，they can be men—after their own fashion，of course．”
“轮子，也是轮子，”穿凿笑着，“如果你愿意，也可以说是人。他们经营着什么，他们便终年的经营，一天又一天。在这种样子上，人也能是一个人？”

Then they passed along filthy streets，where the strip of heavenly blue seemed no more than a finger's breadth wide，and was still more shut out by clothes hung out to air．These alleys were swarming with people，who jostled each other，shouted，laughed and sometimes even sang．In the houses here，the rooms were so small， so dark and foul，that Johannes could scarcely breathe．He saw squalid children crawling about on the bare floor，and young girls with tangled hair crooning songs to pale，hungry babies．He heard quarrelling and scolding，and every face he looked upon was weary， or stupid and indifferent．
他们走到污秽的巷中，天的蔚蓝的条，见得狭如一指，还被悬挂出来的衣服遮暗了。人们在那里蠢动着，他们互相挨挤，叫喊，喧笑，有时也还唱歌。房屋里是小屋子，这样小，这样黑暗而且昏沉，至使约翰不大敢呼吸。他看见在赤地上爬着的相打的孩子，蓬着头发给消瘦的乳儿哼着小曲的年青姑娘。他听到争闹和呵斥，凡在他周围的一切面目，也显得疲乏、鲁钝或漠不相关。

It filled Johannes with a strange sudden pang．It had nothing in common with any former pain，and he felt ashamed of it．
无名的苦痛侵入约翰了。这和他现以为愧的先前的苦痛，是不一样的。

“Pluizer，”said he，“have men always lived here in such grief and misery？ And when I—”he dared not finish the question．
“穿凿，”他问，“在这里活着的人们，永是这么苦恼和艰难么？也比我……”他不敢接下去了。

“To be sure，and a happy thing too．They are not in such grief and misery；they are used to it and know no better．They are mere animals，ignorant and indifferent．Look at those two women sitting in front of their door；they look out on the dirty street as contentedly as you used to gaze at the sand-hills．You need not worry yourself about the lot of man．You might as well cry over the lot of the moles who never see daylight．”
“固然，而他们称这为幸福。他们活得全不艰难，他们已经习惯，也不知道别的了。那是一匹胡涂的不识好歹的畜生。看那两个坐在她门口的女人罢。她们满足地眺望着污秽的巷，正如你先前眺望你的沙冈。为这人们你无须颦蹙，否则你也须为那永不看见日光的土拨鼠颦蹙了。”

And Johannes did not know what to answer，nor what，then，he ought to weep over．
约翰不知道回答，也不知道为什么他却还要哭。

And ever through the noisy throng and bustle，he still saw the pale，hollow-eyed figure marching on with noiseless steps．
而且在喧扰的操作和旋转中间，他总看见那苍白的空眼的人，怎样地用了无声的脚步走动。

“A good man，don't you think？”said Pluizer．“He takes them away from this at any rate．But even here men are afraid of him．”
“总而言之统而言之是一个好人，对不对？他从这里将人们带走。但这里他们也一样地怕他。”

When night had fallen and hundreds of lights flared in the wind， casting long，straggling reflections in the black water，they made their way down the quiet streets．The tall old houses seemed tired out，and asleep as they leaned against each other．Most of them had their eyes shut；but here and there a window still showed a pale gleam of yellow light．
已经是深夜，小光的百数在风中动摇，并且将长的波动的影象投到黑暗的水上的时候，这两个顺着寂静的街道趱行。古旧的高的房屋似乎因为疲劳，互相倚靠起来，并且睡着了。大部分已经合了眼。有几处却还有一个窗户透出黯淡的黄光。

Pluizer told Johannes many a long tale of those who dwelt within，of the sufferings which were endured there，and the struggle waged between misery and the love of life．He spared him nothing：he sought out the gloomiest，the lowest，the most dreadful facts，and grinned with delight as Johannes turned pale and speechless at his horrible tales．
穿凿给约翰讲那住在后面的许多故事，讲到在那里受着的苦楚，讲到在那里争斗着的困苦和生趣之间的争斗。他不给它省去最阴郁的，还偏爱选取最下贱和最难堪的事，倘若约翰因为他的惨酷的叙述而失色，沉默了，他便愉快得歪着嘴笑。

“Pluizer，”Johannes suddenly asked，“do you know anything about the Great Light？”
“穿凿，”约翰忽然问，“你知道一点那大光么？”

He thought the question might deliver him from the darkness which grew thicker and more oppressive about him．
他以为这问题可以将他从沉重而可怕地压迫着他的幽暗里解放出来。

“All nonsense！”said Pluizer．“Windekind's nonsense！Mere visions and dreams！Men alone exist—and I myself．Do you suppose that a God，or anything at all like one，could take pleasure in governing such a muddle as prevails on this earth？ And such a Great Light would not shine here in the dark．”
“空话！旋儿的空话！”穿凿说，“幻想和梦境。人们和我自己之外，没有东西。你以为有一个上帝或相类的东西，乐于在这里似的地上来主宰这样的废物们么？而且这样的大光，也决不在这黑暗里放出这许多来的。”

“But the stars，what about the stars？”asked Johannes as if he expected that the visible Splendour would raise up the squalor before him．
“还有星星们呢，星星们？”约翰问，似乎他希望这分明的伟大，能够来抬高他面前的卑贱。

“The stars！Do you know of what you are talking，boy？ There are no lights up there like the lamps you see about you here below．The stars are nothing but worlds，a great deal larger than this world with its thousand cities，and we move among them like a speck of dust；and there is no‘above’or‘below，’but worlds all round，and on every side more worlds，and no end of them anywhere．”
“那星星们么？你可知道你说了什么了，小孩子？那上面并不是小光，像你在这里四面看见的灯烛似的。那一切都是世界们，比起这带着千数的城镇的世界来，都大得多。我们就如一粒微尘，在它们之间飘浮着，而且那是既无所谓上，也无所谓下，到处都有世界们，永是世界们，而且这是永没，永没有穷尽。”

“No，no！”cried Johannes in horror．“Do not say so，do not say so！I can see the lights against a great dark background overhead．”
“不然！不然！”约翰恐惧地叫喊，“不要说这个，不要说这个罢！在广大的黑暗的田野上，我看见小光们在我上面。”

“Very true．You cannot see anything but lights．If you stared up at the sky all your life long you would still see nothing but lights against a dark background overhead．But，you know，you must know， that there is no above nor beneath．Those are worlds，amid which this clod of earth，with its wretched，struggling mass of humanity，is as nothing—and will vanish into nothing．Do not ever speak of‘the stars’in that way，as though there were but a few dozen of them．It is foolishness．”
“是呀，你看去不过是小光们。你也向上面呆望一辈子，只能看见黑暗的田野里在你上面的小光们。然而你能，你应该知道，那是世界们，既无上，也无下，在那里，那球儿是带着那些什么都不算，并且不算什么地消失了去的，可怜的蠕动着的人堆儿。那么，就不要向我再说‘星星们’了，仿佛那是二三十个似的，这是无意识。”

Johannes said no more．The immensity which ought to have elevated the squalor had crushed it．
约翰沉默着。这会将卑贱提高的伟大，将卑贱压碎了。

“Come along，”said Pluizer．“Now we will go to see something amusing．”At intervals bursts of delightful，soft music were wafted to their ears．On a dark slope in front of them stood a large building with lamps blazing in its numerous long windows．A row of carriages was in waiting outside；the pawing of the horses rang hollow through the silent night，and as they shook their heads， sparks of light shone on the silver fittings of their harness，and on the varnish of the coaches．
“来罢，”穿凿说，“我们要看一点有趣的。”对他们传来了可爱的响亮的音乐。在黑暗的街道之一角，立着一所高大的房屋，从许多高窗内，明朗地透出些光辉。前面停着一大排车。马匹的顿足，空洞地在夜静中发响，它们的头还点着哦！哦！闪光在车件的银钉上和车子的漆光上闪烁。

Inside，everything was a blaze of light．Johannes was half blinded as he gazed，by the hundreds of candles，the bright colours， the glitter of mirrors and flowers．Gay figures flitted across the windows，bowing to each other，with laughter and gestures．Beyond， at the other side of the room，richly dressed persons were moving about with slow dignity or spinning with swift，swaying motion．A confused sound of laughter and merry voices，of shuffling feet and rustling dresses came through the front door，mingling with the waves of that soft bewitching music which Johannes had already heard from afar．In the street，close to the windows，stood a few dark figures，their faces only strangely lighted up by the illumination within，at which they stared with avidity．
里面是明亮的光。约翰半被迷眩地看着百数抖着的火焰的、夺目的、颜色的镜子和花的光彩。鲜明的姿态溜过窗前，他们都用了微笑的仪容和友爱的态度互相亲近着。直到大厅的最后面，都转动着盛装的人们，或是舒徐的步伐，或是迅速的旋风一般的回旋。那大声的喧嚣和欢喜的声音，摩擦的脚步和的长衣，都夹在约翰曾在远处听到过的柔媚的音乐的悠扬中，成为一个交错，传到街道上。在外面，接近窗边，是两个黑暗的形体，只有那面目，被他们正在贪看的光耀照得不一律而且鲜明。

“That is pretty！That is splendid！”cried Johannes，delighted at the sight of so much light and colour，and so many flowers．“What is going on in there？ May we go in？”
“这美呵！这堂皇呵！”约翰叫喊。他耽溺于这么多的色采、光辉和花朵的观览了。“出了什么事？我们可以进去么？”

“Indeed！So you really think that pretty？ Or do you not prefer a rabbit-hole？ Look at the people as they laugh，and bow，and glitter．See how stately and polite the men are；and how gay and fine the ladies！And how solemnly they dance，as if it were the most important thing on earth．”
“哦，这你却称为美呀？或者你也许先选一个兔洞罢？但是看罢？人们怎样地微笑、辉煌，并且鞠躬呵。看哪，男人们怎么这样地体面和漂亮，女人们怎么这样地艳丽和打扮呵。跳舞起来又多么郑重，像是世界上的最重要事件似的！”

Johannes recalled the ball in the rabbit-burrow，and he saw a great deal which reminded him of it．But here，everything was much grander and more brilliant．The young ladies in their beautiful array seemed to him as lovely as elves，as they raised their long，bare arms，and bent their heads on one side in the dance．The servants moved about incessantly，offering elegant refreshments with respectful bows．
约翰回想到兔洞里的跳舞，也看出了几样使他记忆起来的事。然而这却一切盛大得远，灿烂得远了。那些盛装的年青女子们，倘若伸高了她们的长的洁白的臂膊，当活泼的跳舞中侧着脸，他看来也美得正如妖精一般。侍役们是整肃地往来，并且用了恭敬的鞠躬，献上那贵重的饮料。

“How splendid！How splendid！”cried Johannes．
“多么华美！多么华美！”约翰大声说。

“Very pretty，is it not？”said Pluizer．“But now you must learn to look a little further than the end of your nose．You see nothing there but happy smiling faces？ Well，the greater part of all that mirth is falsehood and affectation．The friendly old ladies in the corner sit there like anglers round a pond；the young girls are the bait，the men are the fish．And affectionately as they gossip together，they envy and grudge each other every fish that bites．If either of the young ladies feels some pleasure，it is because she has a prettier dress than the rest，or secures more partners；the pleasure of the men chiefly consists in the bare shoulders and arms of the ladies．Behind all these bright eyes and pleasant smiles there lurks something quite different．Even the thoughts of the respectful servants are very far from respectful．If suddenly every one should give utterance to his real thoughts the party would soon be at an end．”
“很美观，你不这样想么？”穿凿说，“但你也须比在你鼻子跟前的看得远一点。你现在只看见可爱的微笑的脸，是不是？唔，这微笑，大部分却是诓骗和作伪呵。那坐在厅壁下的和蔼的老太太们就如围着池子的渔人，年青的女人们是钓饵，先生们是那鱼。他们虽然这么亲爱地一同闲谈——他们却嫉妒地不乐意于各人的钓得。倘若其中的一个年青女人高兴了，那是因为她穿得比别人美，或者招致的先生们比别人多，而先生们的特别的享乐是精光的脖子和臂膊。在一切微笑的眼睛和亲爱的嘴唇之后，藏着的全是另外一件事。而且那恭敬的侍役们，思想得全不恭敬。倘将他们正在想着的事骤然泄露出来，那就即刻和这美观的盛会都完了。”

And when Pluizer pointed it all out to him，Johannes could plainly see the insincerity of the faces and manners of the company，and the vanity，envy，and weariness which showed through the smiling mask，or were suddenly revealed as though it had just been taken off．
当穿凿将一切指给他的时候，约翰便分明地看见仪容和态度中的作伪，以及从微笑的假面里怎样地露出虚浮、嫉妒和无聊，或则倘将这假面暂置一旁，便忽然见了分晓。

“Well，”said Pluizer，“they must do things in their own way．Human creatures must have some amusement，and they know no other way．”
“唉，”穿凿说，“应该让他们随意。人们也应该高兴高兴。用别样的方法，他们是全不懂得的。”

Johannes was aware of some one standing just behind him．He looked round；it was the well-known tall figure．The pale face was strangely lighted up by the glare，so that the eyes showed as large dark caverns．He was muttering softly to himself and pointed with one finger into the splendid ball-room．
约翰觉得，仿佛有人站在他后面似的。他向后看。那是熟识的、长的形体。苍白的脸被夺目的光彩所照耀，至使眼睛形成了两个大黑点。他低声自己喃喃着，还用手指直指向华美的厅中。

“Look，”said Pluizer，“he is seeking out some one．”
“看呵！”穿凿说，“他又在寻出来了。”

Johannes looked where the finger pointed，and he saw how the old lady who was speaking closed her eyes and put her hand to her head；and how a fair young girl paused in her slow walk，and stared before her with a slight shiver．
约翰向那手指所指的处所看。他看见一个年老的太太怎样地在交谈中骤然合了眼，以及美丽的年青的姑娘怎样地打一个寒噤，因此站住并且凝视着前方。

“How soon？”Pluizer asked of Death．
“到什么时候呢？”穿凿问死。

“That is my affair，”was the answer．
“这是我的事。”死说。

“I should like to show Johannes this same company once more，”said Pluizer with a grin and a wink，“can I do it？”
“我还要将这一样的社会给约翰看一回，”穿凿说。他于是歪着嘴笑而且起眼睛来。“可以么？”

“This evening？”asked Death．
“今天晚上么？”死问。

“Why not？”said Pluizer．“There，time and the hour are no more．What now is has always been，and what shall be，is now already．”
“为什么不呢？”穿凿说。“那地方既无时间，又无时候。现在是，凡有永是如此的，以及凡有将要如此的，已经永在那里了。”

“I cannot go with you，”said Death．“I have too much to do．But speak the name we both know and you can find the way without me．”
“我不能同去，”死说，“我有太多的工作。然而用了那名字，叫我们俩所认识的那个罢，而且没有我，你们也可以觅得道路的。”

Then they went a little way along the deserted streets where the gas was flaring in the night wind，and the dark cold water plashed against the sides of the canals．The soft music grew fainter and fainter，and at last died away in the hush which lay over the town．
于是他们穿过寂寞的街，走了一段路，煤气灯焰在夜风中闪烁，黑暗的寒冷的水拍着河堤。柔媚的音乐逐渐低微，终于在横亘大都市上的大安静里绝响了。

Presently，from high above them，a loud and festal song rang out with a deep，echoing，metallic ring．
忽然从高处发出一种全是金属的声音，一片清朗而严肃的歌曲。

It came down suddenly from the tall church tower on the sleeping city，and into little Johannes' sad and gloomy soul．He looked up much startled．The chime rang on with clear，steady tones， rising joyfully in the air，and boldly scaring the death-like silence．The glad strain struck him as strange—a festal song in the midst of noiseless sleep and blackest woe．
这都从高的塔里蓦地落到沉睡的都市上——到小约翰的沉郁昏暗的魂灵上。他惊异着向上看。那钟声挟了欢呼着升腾起来，而强有力地撕裂了死寂的、响亮的调子悠然而去了。这在沉静的睡眠和黑暗的悲戚中间的高兴的声音、典礼的歌唱，他听得很生疏。

“That is the clock，”said Pluizer，“it is always cheerful，year in， year out．It sings the same song every hour，with the same vigour and vivacity；and it sounds more gleeful by night than even by day， as if the clock rejoiced that it has no need of sleep，that it can sing at all times with equal contentment，while thousands，just below，are weeping and suffering．But it sounds most gladly when some one is just dead．”
“这是时钟，”穿凿说，“这永是这样地高兴，一年去，一年来。每一小时，他总用了同等的气力和兴致唱那同一的歌曲。在夜里，就比白天响得更有趣——似乎是钟在欢呼它的无须睡觉，它下面是千数的忧愁和啼哭，而它却能够接续着一样地幸福地歌吟。然而倘若有谁死掉了，它便更其有趣地发响。”

Again the jubilant peal rang out．
又升腾了一次欢呼的声音。

“One day，Johannes，”Pluizer went on，“a dim light will be burning in a quiet room，behind just such a window as that yonder；a melancholy light，flickering pensively，and making the shadows dance on the wall．There will be no sound in that room but now and then a low，suppressed sob．A bed will be standing there，with white curtains，and long shadows in their folds．In the bed something will be lying—white and still．That will have been little Johannes．And then，how loud and joyful will that chime sound，breaking into the room，and singing out the first hour after his death！”
“有一天，约翰，”穿凿接续着，“在一间寂静的屋子中的窗后面，将照着一颗微弱的小光。是一颗沉思着发抖，且使墙上的影子跳舞的、沉郁的小光。除了低微的梗塞的呜咽之外，屋子里更无声音作响。其中站着一张白幔的床，还有打皱的阴影。床上躺着一点东西，也是白而且静。这将是小约翰了。——阿，于是这歌便高声地高兴地响进屋里来，而且在歌声中，在他死后的最初时间中行礼。”

Twelve was striking，booming through the air with long pauses between the strokes．At the last stroke，Johannes，all at once，had a strange feeling as though he were dreaming；he was no longer walking，but floating along a little way above the ground，holding Pluizer's hand．The houses and lamps sped past him in swift flight．And now the houses stood less close together．They formed separate rows，with dark，mysterious gaps between them，where the gas lamps lighted up trenches，puddles，scaffoldings and woodwork．At last they reached a great gate，with heavy pillars and a tall railing．In a winking，they had floated over it and come down again on some soft grass by a high heap of sand．Johannes fancied he must be in a garden，for he heard the rustling of trees hard by．
十二下沉重的敲打，迟延着在空中吼动了。当末一击时，约翰仿佛便如入梦，他不再走动了，在街道上飘浮了一段，凭着穿凿的手的提携。在火速的飞行中，房屋和街灯都从旁溜过去了。死消失了。现在是房屋较为稀疏。它们排成简单的行列，其间是黑暗的满是秘密的洞穴，有沟，有水洼，有废址和木料，偶然照着煤气的灯光。终于来了一个大的门带着沉重的柱子和高的栅栏。一刹那间他们便飘浮过去，并且落在大沙堆旁的湿草上了。约翰以为在一个园子里了，因为他听得周围有树木瑟瑟地响。

“Now pay attention，and then confess whether I cannot do greater things than Windekind．”
“那么，留神罢，约翰！还要以为我知道得比旋儿不更多。”

Then Pluizer shouted aloud a short and awful name which made Johannes quake．The darkness on all sides echoed the sound，and the wind bore it up in widening circles till it died away in the upper air．
于是穿凿用了大声喊出一个短而黑暗的、使约翰战栗的名字来。幽暗从各方面反应这声响，风以呼啸的旋转举起它，直到它在高天中绝响。

And Johannes saw the grass blades growing so tall that they were above his head，and a little pebble which but just now was under his feet，seemed to be close to his face．Pluizer，by his side，and no bigger than he was，picked up the stone with both hands and threw it away with all his might．A confused noise of thin，shrill voices rose up from the spot he had cleared．
约翰看见，野草怎样地高到他的头，而刚才还在他脚下的小石子，怎样地已将他的眺望遮住了。穿凿，在他旁边，也同他一样小，用两手抓住那小石，使出全身的力量在转它。细而高的声音的一种纷乱的叫唤，从荒芜了的地面腾起。

“Hey day！who is doing that？ What is the meaning of it？ Lout！”they could hear said．
“喂，谁在这里？这是什么意思？野东西！”这即刻发作了。

Johannes saw black objects running in great confusion．He recognised the quick，nimble ground-beetle，the shining，brown ear-wig with his fine nippers，the millipede with its round back and thousand tiny feet，in the midst of them a long earthworm shrank back as quick as lightning into its burrow！
约翰看见黑色的形相忙乱着穿插奔跑。他认识那敏捷的黑色的马陆虫，发光的棕色的蠼螋带着它的细巧的铗子，鼠妇虫有着圆背脊，以及蛇一流的蜈蚣。其中有一条长的蚯蚓，电一般快缩回它的洞里去了。

Pluizer made his way through the angry swarm of creatures to the worm's hole．
穿凿斜穿过这活动的吵闹的群，走向蚯蚓的洞口。

“Hey there！you long，naked crawler！come up and show yourself once more with your sharp red nose！”he cried．
“喂，你这长的裸体的坏种！出来，带着你的红的尖鼻子。”穿凿大声说。

“What do you want？”asked the worm from below．
“得怎样呢？”那虫从深处问。

“You must come out，because I want to go in；do you hear，you bare-skinned sand-eater！”
“你得出来，因为我要进去，你懂么，精光的嚼沙者！”

The worm cautiously put his pointed head out of the hole，felt all round it two or three times，and then slowly dragged his naked ringed body up to the surface．
蚯蚓四顾着从洞口伸出它的尖头来，又向各处触探几回，这才慢慢地将那长的裸露的身子稍稍拖近地面去。

Pluizer looked round at the other creatures who had crowded curiously about them．
穿凿遍看那些因为好奇而奔集的别的动物。

“One of you must go first with a light—no，Master Beetle， you are too stout，and you with your thousand feet would make me giddy．Hey，you ear-wig！I like your looks．Come with me and carry a light in your nippers．You，beetle，must look about for a will-o'-the-wisp，or fetch a chip of rotten wood．”
“你们里面的一个得同去，并且在我们前面照着亮。不，黑马陆，你太胖，而且你带着你的千数条爪子会使我头昏眼花。喂，你，蠼螋！你的外观中我的意，同走，并且在你的铗子上带着光！马陆，跑，去寻一个迷光，或者给我拿一个烂木头的小灯来！”

The creatures were scared by his commanding tones and obeyed him．
他的出令的声音挥动了动物们，它们奉行了。

Then they went down into the worm's burrow；the ear-wig first，with the shining wood，then Pluizer，and then Johannes．It was a narrow passage and very dark down there．Johannes saw the grains of sand glittering in the dim blue gleam．They looked like large stones，half transparent and built up into a smooth firm wall by the worm's body．The worm himself followed，full of curiosity．Johannes saw the pointed head come close up behind him，and then stop till the long body had been dragged after it．
他们走下虫路去。他们前面是蠼螋带着发光的木头，于是穿凿，于是约翰。那下面是狭窄而黑暗。约翰看见沙粒微弱地照在淡薄的蓝色的微光中。沙粒都显得石一般大，半透明，由蚯蚓的身子磨成紧密的光滑的墙了。蚯蚓是好奇地跟随着。约翰向后看，只见它的尖头有时前伸，有时却等待着它的身子的拖近。

Down they went，without speaking，far and deep．When the path was too steep for Johannes，Pluizer helped him．They seemed never to be coming to an end；still fresh galleries of sand，and still the ear-wig crept on，turning and bending with the sinuosities of the passage．At last this grew broader，and the walls opened out．The grains of sand were black and wet，forming a vault overhead，down which driblets of water made shining streaks，while the roots of trees came through in coils like petrified snakes．
他们沉默着往下——长而且深。在约翰过于峻峭的路，穿凿便搀扶他。那似乎没有穷尽，永是新的沙粒，永是那蠼螋接着向下爬，随着道路的转弯，转着绕着。终于道路宽一点了，墙壁也彼此离远了。沙粒是黑而且潮，在上面成为一个轩洞，洞面有水点引成光亮的条痕，树根穿入轩洞中，像僵了的蛇一样。

And suddenly there rose before Johannes's eyes an upright wall， black and high，cutting off all space beyond．The ear-wig turned round．
于是在约翰的眼前忽然竖着一道挺直的墙，黑而高，将他们之前的全空间都遮断了。蠼螋转了过来。

“Here we are．The next question is how to get any further．The worm ought to know；he is at home here．”
“好！那就同到了后面了。蚯蚓已经知道。这是它的家。”

“Come on；show us the way，”said Pluizer．
“来，指给我们路！”穿凿说。

The worm slowly dragged his jointed body up to the black wall and felt it inquisitively．Johannes could see that it was of wood．Here and there it had fallen into brownish powder．The worm bored his way into one such place and the long，wriggling body vanished with three pushes and pauses．
蚯蚓慢慢地将那环节的身子拖到黑墙根，并且触探着。约翰看出，墙是木头。到处散落成淡棕色的尘土了。那虫便往里钻，将长的柔软的身子滑过孔穴去。

“Now for you，”said Pluizer，pushing Johannes into the little round opening．For a moment he thought he should be suffocated in the soft damp stuff，but he soon felt his head free，and with some trouble worked his way completely through．A large room seemed to lie open before him；the floor was hard and moist，the air thick and intolerably oppressive．Johannes could scarcely breathe，and stood waiting in mortal terror．
“那么，你。”穿凿说，便将约翰推进那小的潮湿的孔里。一刹那间，他在软而湿的尘芥里吓得要气绝了，于是他觉得他的头已经自由，并且竭全力将自己从那小孔中弄出。周围似乎是一片大空间。地面硬且潮，空气浓厚而且不可忍受地郁闷。约翰几乎不敢呼吸，只在无名的恐怖中等待着。

He heard Pluizer's voice，which sounded hollow，as in some vast cellar．
他听到穿凿的声音空洞地发响，如在一个地窖里似的。

“Here，Johannes，follow me．”
“这里，约翰，跟着我！”

He felt the ground before him rise to a hill—and he climbed it， clutching Pluizer's hand in the darkness．He trod，as it were，on a carpet which yielded under his foot．He trampled over hollows and ridges，following Pluizer who led him on to a level spot where he held on by some long stems which bent in his hand like reed-grass．
他觉得，他前面的地，怎样地隆起成山——由穿凿引导着，他在浓密的幽暗中踏着这地面。他似乎走在一件衣服上，这随着脚步而高低。他在沟洼和丘冈上磕碰着，其时他追随着穿凿，直到一处平地上，紧紧地抓住了一枝长的梗，像是柔软的管子。

“Here we can stand very comfortably．Bring a light，”said Pluizer．
“我们站在这里好！灯来！”穿凿叫喊。

The dim light came on from a distance，up and down with its bearer．The nearer it approached，and the more its pale gleam spread in the place they were in，the more terrible became Johannes's anguish of mind．
于是从远处显出微弱的小光，和那拿着的虫一同低昂着。光移得越近，惨淡的光亮照得空间越满，约翰的窘迫便也越大了。

The eminence on which he stood was long and white；the support he clung to was brown，and lay about in glistening waves and curls．
他踏过的那山，是长而且白，捏在他手里的管子，是棕色的，还向下引成灿烂的波线。

He recognised the features of a human being，and the icy level on which he stood was the forehead．
他辨出一个人的颀长僵直的身体，以及他所立的冰冷的地方，是前额。

Before him lay the sunken eyes，two deep，dark hollows，and the blue gleam fell on the pinched nose and ashy lips which were parted in the hideous，rigid smile of death．
他面前就现出两个深的黑洞，是陷下的眼睛，那淡蓝的光还照出瘦削的鼻子和那灰色的、因了怖人的僵硬的死笑而张开的唇吻。

Pluizer laughed sharply，but the sound seemed smothered by the damp，wooden walls．
从穿凿的嘴里发一声尖利的笑，这又即刻在潮湿的木壁间断气了。

“Is not this a surprise，Johannes？”
“这是一个惊奇，约翰！”

The worm crept up along the plaits of the shroud：he glided over the chin and the stiffened lips and into the mouth．
那长的虫从尸衣的折叠间爬出。它四顾着，将自己拖到下颚上，经过僵直的嘴唇，滑进那乌黑的嘴洞里去了。

“This was the beauty of the ball，whom you thought lovelier even than an elf．Then her hair and dress shed sweet fragrance；then her eyes sparkled and her lips smiled．Now，—look at her！”
“这就是跳舞会中的最美的——你以为比妖精还美的。那时候，她的衣服和蜷发喷溢着甜香，那时候，眼睛是流盼而口唇是微笑——现在固然是变了一点了。”

With all his horror there was doubt in Johannes's eyes．So soon？ The splendour was but now—and already——？
在他所有的震慑中，约翰的眼里却藏着不信。这样快么？——方才是那么华美，而现在却已经……？

“Do you not believe me？”grinned Pluizer．“Half a century lies between now and then．Time and the hour are no more．What has been shall always be，and what shall be has ever been．You could not conceive of it，but you must believe it．Everything here is the truth．All I tell you is true！True！—and Windekind could not say that．”
“你不信我么？”穿凿歪了嘴笑着说，“那时和现在之间，已经是半世纪了。那里是既无时候，也无时间。凡已经过去的，将要是永久，凡将要来的，已经是过去了。这你不能想，然而应该信。这里一切都是真实，凡我所指示你的一切，是真的，真的！这是旋儿所不能主张的！”

With a nod and a grimace he leaped round the dead face，and played the most horrible antics．He sat on the eyebrows and raised the eyelids by the long lashes．The eye，which Johannes had seen bright with gladness，stared dull and white in the pale light．
穿凿嘻笑着跳到死尸的脸上往来，还开了一个极可恶的玩笑。他坐在眉毛上，牵着那长的睫毛拉开眼睑来。那眼睛，那约翰曾见它高兴地闪耀的，是疲乏地凝固了，而且在昏黄的小光中，皱蹙地白。

“Now onwards！”cried Pluizer．“There is more yet to be seen．”
“那么，再下去！”穿凿大呼，“还有别的可看哩！”

The worm came creeping up from a corner of the mouth，and the dreadful march began once more．
蚯蚓慢慢地从右嘴角间爬出，而这可怕的游行便接下去了。

Not back again，but along new paths，no less long and gloomy．
不是回转，却是向一条新的，也这么长而且幽暗的道路。

“This is much older，”said the earthworm as he made his way through another black wall．“This has been here a very long time．”
“一个老的来了，”当又有一道黑墙阻住去路的时候，蚯蚓说，“他在这里已经很久了！”

It was less dreadful here than before．Johannes saw nothing but a confused mass，out of which brown bones projected．Hundreds of insects were silently busy here．The light startled and alarmed them．
这比起前一回来，稍不讨厌。除了一个不成形的堆，从中露着白骨之外，约翰什么也看不见。成百的虫豸们和昆虫们正在默默地忙着做工。那光惹起了惊动。

“Where do you come from？ Who brings a light here？ We want no light．”
“你们从那里来？谁拿光到这里来？我们用不着这个！”

And they hastily vanished into the folds and crevices．But they recognised a fellow-creature．
它们并且赶快向沟里洞里钻进去了。但它们认出了一个同种。

“Have you been in the next one？”asked the worms．“The wood is still hard．”
“你曾在这里过么？”虫们问，“木头还硬哩。”

The first worm denied it．“He wants to keep the find to himself，”said Pluizer to Johannes in a low voice．
首先的虫否认了。

Then they went forward again；Pluizer explained everything， and pointed out persons whom Johannes had known．They came to an ugly face with prominent，staring eyes，and thick dark lips and cheeks．
他们再往远走，穿凿当作解释者，将他所知道的指给小约翰。来了一个不成样子的脸带着狞视的圆眼，膨胀的黑的嘴唇和面庞。

“This was a very fine gentleman，”said he in high glee．“You should have seen him—so rich，so fashionable，so arrogant．He is as much puffed up as ever！”
“这曾是一位优雅的先生，”他于是高兴地说，“你也许曾经见过他，这样地富，这样地阔，而且这样地高傲。他保住了他的尊大了。”

And so they went on．There were lean and haggard faces with white hair that shone blue in the feeble light，and little children with large heads and old-looking，anxious features．
这样地进行。也有瘦损的、消蚀了的形体，在映着微光而淡蓝地发亮的白发之间，也有小孩子带着大头颅，也有中年的沉思的面目。

“These，you see，died first and grew old afterwards，”said Pluizer．
“看哪，这是在他们死后才变老的。”穿凿说。

They came to a man with a flowing beard and parted lips， showing glistening white teeth．There was a round black hole in the middle of his forehead．
他们走近了一个络腮胡子的男人，高吊着嘴唇，白色的牙齿在发亮。当前额中间，有一个圆的、乌黑的小洞。

“This one lent Death a helping hand．Why had he not a little patience？ He would have come here in the end．”
“这人被永终用手艺草草完事了。为什么不忍耐一点呢？无论如何他大概总得到这里来的。”

Through passage after passage，one after another，they passed， no end of them—straight-laid figures，with rigid，grinning faces，and motionless hands laid one over the other．
而且又是道路，而且是新的道路，而且又是伸开的身体带着僵硬的丑怪的脸，和不动的、交叉着叠起来的手。

“Now I can go no further，”said the ear-wig．“I do not know my way beyond this．”
“我不往下走了，”蠼螋说，“这里我不大熟悉了。”

“Let us turn back，”said the worm．
“我们回转罢。”蚯蚓说。

“One more，one more！”cried Pluizer．So on they went．
“前去，只要前去！”穿凿大叫起来。这一行又前进。

“Everything you see here，actually exists，”said Pluizer，as they made their way forward．“It is all real．One thing only is not real， and that is yourself，Johannes．You are not here；you cannot come here．”
“一切，凡你所见的，存在着，”穿凿进行着说，“这一切都是真的。只有一件东西不真。那便是你自己，约翰。你没有在这里，而且你也不能在这里。”

And he laughed maliciously as he saw Johannes's terrified and bewildered face at these words．
他看见约翰因了他的话，露出恐怖的僵直的眼光，便发了一通响亮的哗笑。

“The way stops here．I am going no further，”said the ear-wig crossly．
“这是一条绝路，我不前进了。”蠼螋烦躁着说。

“I will go further，”said Pluizer；and where the path ended he began grubbing the earth with both hands．“Help me，Johannes．”
“我却偏要前进，”穿凿说，而且一到道路的尽头，他便用两手挖掘起来了。“帮我，约翰！”

And Johannes，submissive with wretchedness，obeyed，scratching away the fine damp soil．
约翰在困苦中，不由自主地服从了，挖去那潮湿的微细的泥土。

Silent and breathless they worked away till they came to the black wood．
他们浴着汗水默默地继续着工作，直到他们撞在黑色的木头上。

The worm had drawn back his ringed head and disappeared．The ear-wig dropped the light and turned away．
蚯蚓缩回了环节的头，并且向后面消失了。蠼螋也放下它的光，走了回去。

“It is impossible to get in，the wood is new，”said he as he withdrew．
“你们进不去的，这木头太新。”它临走时说。

“I will do it！”said Pluizer，and with his clawed fingers he tore long white splinters cracking out of the wood．
“我要！”穿凿说，并且用爪甲从那木头上撕下长而白的木屑来。

A fearful anguish came over Johannes．But he could not help himself；there was no escape．
一种可怕的窘迫侵袭了约翰。然而他必得，他不能别的。

At last the dark thing was opened．Pluizer seized the light and hurried in．
黑暗的空隙终于开开了。穿凿取了光，慌忙爬进去。

“Here，here！”he cried，running to the head．
“这里，这里！”他叫着，一面跑往头那边。

But when Johannes came as far as the hands，which lay quietly folded over the breast，he stopped．He gazed at the thin white fingers，dimly lighted from above．On a sudden，he recognised them，—he knew the shape and turn of the fingers，the look of the long nails，now blue and dull．He recognised a brown spot on one of the forefingers．These were his own hands．
但当约翰到了那静静地交叉着叠在胸脯上面的手那里的时候，他必须休息了。他见有瘦的、苍白的、在耳朵旁边半明半暗的手指，正在他前面。他忽然认得了，他认识手指的切痕和皱襞，长的，现在是染成深蓝了的指甲的形状。他在示指上看出一个棕色的小点来。这是他自己的手。

“Here，this way！”Pluizer called from the head．“Only look，do you know him？”
“这里，这里！”穿凿的声音从头那边叫喊过来，“看一下子罢，你可认识他么？”

Hapless Johannes tried to stand up and go towards the light which winked at him；but he could not．The gleam died into total darkness and he fell senseless．
可怜的约翰还想重行起来，走向那向他闪烁着的光去。然而他不再能够了。那小光消灭成完全的幽暗，他也失神地跌倒了。