The clerical superintendent of the district, his Reverence Father Fyodor Orlov, a handsome, well-nourished man of fifty, grave and important as he always was, with an habitual expression of dignity that never left his face, was walking to and fro in his little drawing-room, extremely exhausted, and thinking intensely about the same thing: —-
这个区域的办事员，他尊贵的神父费奥多尔·奥洛夫（Fyodor Orlov），五十岁的他貌美且身体健壮，一贯庄重而重要，脸上常带着一种庄重的表情，正在他那小小的客厅里来回走动，非常疲惫，并且极度思考着同一件事情：. —-

“When would his visitor go?” The thought worried him and did not leave him for a minute. —-
“这个访客什么时候走？”这个想法让他烦恼，始终没有离开过他的脑海。 —-

The visitor, Father Anastasy, the priest of one of the villages near the town, had come to him three hours before on some very unpleasant and dreary business of his own, had stayed on and on, was now sitting in the corner at a little round table with his elbow on a thick account book, and apparently had no thought of going, though it was getting on for nine o’clock in the evening.
来访者，附近一个村庄的神父阿纳斯塔茨（Father Anastasy），三个小时之前因为他自己非常不愉快和沉闷的事情来找他，一直呆到现在，而现在他正坐在角落里的一张小圆桌旁，手肘放在一本厚厚的账本上，似乎没有离开的打算，尽管已经快到晚上九点了。

Not everyone knows when to be silent and when to go. —-
并不是每个人都知道何时保持沉默何时离开。 —-

It not infrequently happens that even diplomatic persons of good worldly breeding fail to observe that their presence is arousing a feeling akin to hatred in their exhausted or busy host, and that this feeling is being concealed with an effort and disguised with a lie. —-
经常发生的情况是，即使是有世俗教养的外交人士也没有觉察到自己的存在引起了他们疲惫或忙碌的主人类似于憎恨的感觉，而这种感觉正用努力掩饰和伪装。 —-

But Father Anastasy perceived it clearly, and realized that his presence was burdensome and inappropriate, that his Reverence, who had taken an early morning service in the night and a long mass at midday, was exhausted and longing for repose; —-
但是阿纳斯塔茨神父清楚地感觉到了，并意识到自己的存在是压倒性的和不合适的，他的尊贵们早上早早举行了一场彻夜的仪式和一长时间的弥撒，现在已经筋疲力尽，渴望休息; —-

every minute he was meaning to get up and go, but he did not get up, he sat on as though he were waiting for something. —-
他每一分钟都想起身离开，但他没有离开，他坐在那里仿佛在等待着什么。 —-

He was an old man of sixty-five, prematurely aged, with a bent and bony figure, with a sunken face and the dark skin of old age, with red eyelids and a long narrow back like a fish’s; —-
他是一个年过六十的老人，过早地衰老，身形弯曲而瘦骨嶙峋，脸庞凹陷，像老年人的黝黑肌肤，红色的眼睑和狭长的背部像鱼一样。 —-

he was dressed in a smart cassock of a light lilac colour, but too big for him (presented to him by the widow of a young priest lately deceased), a full cloth coat with a broad leather belt, and clumsy high boots the size and hue of which showed clearly that Father Anastasy dispensed with goloshes. —-
他身穿一件漂亮的淡紫色法衣，但对他来说过大了（是一位年轻牧师的寡妇送给他的），还有一件布大衣，搭配一条宽皮带，脚上是笨重的高靴子，大小和颜色明显表明阿纳斯塔西神父不需要穿防水套。 —-

In spite of his position and his venerable age, there was something pitiful, crushed and humiliated in his lustreless red eyes, in the strands of grey hair with a shade of green in it on the nape of his neck, and in the big shoulder-blades on his lean back. —-
尽管他的地位和威望的年龄，但他那暗淡无光的红眼睛、颈部蓝绿色的一缕灰发，以及枯瘦背上那突出的肩胛骨都流露出令人可怜、摧毁和羞辱的样子。 —-

. . . He sat without speaking or moving, and coughed with circumspection, as though afraid that the sound of his coughing might make his presence more noticeable.
他静静地坐着，一动不动，小心地咳嗽着，仿佛害怕咳嗽声会更引人注目。

The old man had come to see his Reverence on business. —-
老人来找他的恩师是因为一桩事务。 —-

Two months before he had been prohibited from officiating till further notice, and his case was being inquired into. —-
两个月前，他被禁止再执勤直到另行通知，现在对他的案子正在调查中。 —-

His shortcomings were numerous. He was intemperate in his habits, fell out with the other clergy and the commune, kept the church records and accounts carelessly —these were the formal charges against him; —-
他的缺点很多。他饮食无度，与其他神职人员和公社起争执，对教堂的记录和账目疏忽草率——这些是对他的正式指控。 —-

but besides all that, there had been rumours for a long time past that he celebrated unlawful marriages for money and sold certificates of having fasted and taken the sacrament to officials and officers who came to him from the town. —-
但除此之外，长期以来一直有传言说他为了钱庆祝非法婚姻，向从城里来找他的官员和军官售卖禁食和领圣餐的证明。 —-

These rumours were maintained the more persistently that he was poor and had nine children to keep, who were as incompetent and unsuccessful as himself. —-
这些传言之所以持续传播，是因为他贫穷，还要照顾九个和他一样无能成功的孩子。 —-

The sons were spoilt and uneducated, and stayed at home doing nothing, while the daughters were ugly and did not get married.
儿子们被宠坏了，没有受过教育，呆在家里什么都不干，而女儿们又难看，嫁不出去。

Not having the moral force to be open, his Reverence walked up and down the room and said nothing or spoke in hints.
因为没有足够的道义力量去坦白，他的恩师在房间里来回走动，什么都没说，或者只是暗示了一下。

“So you are not going home to-night?” he asked, stopping near the dark window and poking with his little finger into the cage where a canary was asleep with its feathers puffed out.
“所以你今晚不回家吗？”他停在黑暗的窗前，用小手指戳着鸟笼，里面的金丝雀正展开羽毛安睡。

Father Anastasy started, coughed cautiously and said rapidly:
阿纳斯塔西神父吃了一惊，小心翼翼地咳嗽了一下，然后快速地说道：

“Home? I don’t care to, Fyodor Ilyitch. —-
“回家？我不在乎，费奥多尔·伊利奇。 —-

I cannot officiate, as you know, so what am I to do there? —-
“你知道的，我不能执事，我在那里能做什么呢？ —-

I came away on purpose that I might not have to look the people in the face. —-
“我特意离开，不想面对这些人。 —-

One is ashamed not to officiate, as you know. Besides, I have business here, Fyodor Ilyitch. —-
“你知道的，不执事会让人感到惭愧。而且，我在这里还有事情要做，费奥多尔·伊利奇。 —-

To-morrow after breaking the fast I want to talk things over thoroughly with the Father charged with the inquiry.”
“明天禁食后，我想和负责调查的父亲彻底谈谈。”

“Ah! . . .” yawned his Reverence, “and where are you staying?”
“啊……”他的尊者打了个哈欠，“你住在哪里？”

“At Zyavkin’s.”
“在齐亚夫金那里。”

Father Anastasy suddenly remembered that within two hours his Reverence had to take the Easter-night service, and he felt so ashamed of his unwelcome burdensome presence that he made up his mind to go away at once and let the exhausted man rest. —-
安纳斯塔斯耶神父突然想起，他的尊者还要在两个小时内举行复活节夜的仪式，他为自己的不受欢迎且沉重的存在感到非常羞愧，他决定立即离开，让筋疲力尽的人休息。 —-

And the old man got up to go. But before he began saying good-bye he stood clearing his throat for a minute and looking searchingly at his Reverence’s back, still with the same expression of vague expectation in his whole figure; —-
在告别之前，老人起身离开。但在开始说再见之前，他清了清喉咙，紧紧地盯着他尊者的背，他整个身躯都带着一种模糊的期望表情； —-

his face was working with shame, timidity, and a pitiful forced laugh such as one sees in people who do not respect themselves. —-
他的脸上充满了羞愧、胆怯和可怜的勉强笑容，这是人们不尊重自己时所见到的笑容。 —-

Waving his hand as it were resolutely, he said with a husky quavering laugh:
他毅然挥了挥手，带着嘶哑、颤抖的笑声说：

“Father Fyodor, do me one more kindness: —-
“费奥多尔·尊者，请再帮我一个忙： —-

bid them give me at leave- taking . . . one little glass of vodka.”
“请让他们在告别时给我……一小杯伏特加。”

“It’s not the time to drink vodka now,” said his Reverence sternly. —-
“现在不是喝伏特加的时候了，”他的尊者严厉地说。 —-

“One must have some regard for decency.”
“至少要对得起体面。”

Father Anastasy was still more overwhelmed by confusion; —-
Father Anastasy仍然被困惑所压倒； —-

he laughed, and, forgetting his resolution to go away, he dropped back on his chair. —-
他笑了笑，忘记了他离开的决心，又回到椅子上坐下。 —-

His Reverence looked at his helpless, embarrassed face and his bent figure and he felt sorry for the old man.
他神父看着他无助、尴尬的脸和佝偻的身材，为这位老人感到难过。

“Please God, we will have a drink to-morrow,” he said, wishing to soften his stem refusal. —-
“上帝保佑，明天我们会喝一杯。”他说，希望能缓解他严厉的拒绝。 —-

“Everything is good in due season.”
“一切都有其时。”

His Reverence believed in people’s reforming, but now when a feeling of pity had been kindled in him it seemed to him that this disgraced, worn- out old man, entangled in a network of sins and weaknesses, was hopelessly wrecked, that there was no power on earth that could straighten out his spine, give brightness to his eyes and restrain the unpleasant timid laugh which he laughed on purpose to smoothe over to some slight extent the repulsive impression he made on people.
他神父相信人们可以改变，但现在他心生怜悯之情，他觉得这位受责难、疲惫不堪的老人，陷入了罪恶和弱点的泥潭，注定无法振作起来，没有任何力量能够让他的脊梁挺直，让他的眼睛明亮，让他那令人不悦的害羞笑声稍微缓和下他给人留下的讨厌印象。

The old man seemed now to Father Fyodor not guilty and not vicious, but humiliated, insulted, unfortunate; —-
这位老人在耶稣牧师看来，不再是有罪恶之人，也不是邪恶之人，而是被侮辱、受辱、不幸的人； —-

his Reverence thought of his wife, his nine children, the dirty beggarly shelter at Zyavkin’s; —-
他神父想到了他的妻子、他的九个孩子、齐亚夫金那个肮脏而贫穷的居所； —-

he thought for some reason of the people who are glad to see priests drunk and persons in authority detected in crimes; —-
由于某种原因，他想到了那些喜欢看见牧师喝醉酒、看见有权势的人犯罪的人； —-

and thought that the very best thing Father Anastasy could do now would be to die as soon as possible and to depart from this world for ever.
并且认为Father Anastasy现在最好的选择就是尽快去死，永远离开这个世界。

There were a sound of footsteps.
有脚步声传来。

“Father Fyodor, you are not resting?” a bass voice asked from the passage.
“Father Fyodor，你没有休息吗？”一个低沉的声音从过道上问道。

“No, deacon; come in.”
“没有，让进来。”

Orlov’s colleague, the deacon Liubimov, an elderly man with a big bald patch on the top of his head, though his hair was still black and he was still vigorous-looking, with thick black eyebrows like a Georgian’s, walked in. —-
Orlov的同事，老年人Liubimov执事，头顶上有一个大的秃顶，尽管他的头发仍然是黑色的，依然看起来精力充沛，又具有像格鲁吉亚人一样的浓密黑眉毛，走进了房间。 —-

He bowed to Father Anastasy and sat down.
他向Father Anastasy鞠了一躬，然后坐下来。

“What good news have you?” asked his Reverence.
“教士大人，您有什么好消息？”他的尊敬问道。

“What good news?” answered the deacon, and after a pause he went on with a smile: —-
“好消息是什么？”执事回答道，停顿一下后笑着继续说道： —-

“When your children are little, your trouble is small; —-
“当您的孩子还小的时候，您的麻烦很小； —-

when your children are big, your trouble is great. —-
当您的孩子长大了，您的麻烦就变大了。 —-

Such goings on, Father Fyodor, that I don’t know what to think of it. —-
弗约多尔神父，事情可真够离奇的，我都不知道怎么看待了。 —-

It’s a regular farce, that’s what it is.”
这简直是一出闹剧，不过如此。”

He paused again for a little, smiled still more broadly and said:
他再次停顿了一下，笑得更开心了，然后说道：

“Nikolay Matveyitch came back from Harkov to-day. —-
“今天尼古拉·马特维奇从哈尔科夫回来了。 —-

He has been telling me about my Pyotr. He has been to see him twice, he tells me.”
他给我讲了关于我儿子彼得的事。他告诉我他去看过他两次。”

“What has he been telling you, then?”
“那他给你讲了些什么？”

“He has upset me, God bless him. He meant to please me but when I came to think it over, it seems there is not much to be pleased at. —-
“他让我感到心烦，上帝保佑他。他是想让我高兴，但当我仔细想想，好像没什么好高兴的。 —-

I ought to grieve rather than be pleased. . . —-
我应该伤心，而不是高兴…… —-

‘Your Petrushka,’ said he, ‘lives in fine style. He is far above us now,’ said he. —-
‘你的彼得’他说，‘生活得很好。他现在远远超过我们了，’他说。 —-

‘Well thank God for that,’ said I. ‘I dined with him,’ said he, ‘and saw his whole manner of life. —-
‘那就谢天谢地，’我说，‘我和他一起吃过饭，’他说，‘我见识了他的整个生活方式。 —-

He lives like a gentleman,’ he said; ‘you couldn’t wish to live better. —-
他过得像个绅士一样，’他说，‘你无法想象过得更好了。” —-

’ I was naturally interested and I asked, ‘And what did you have for dinner? —-
我自然感兴趣，就问道：“晚餐你吃了什么？” —-

’ ‘First,’ he said, ‘a fish course something like fish soup, then tongue and peas,’ and then he said, ‘roast turkey. —-
他说：“首先是一道像鱼汤一样的鱼菜，然后是牛舌和豌豆，接着是烤火鸡。” —-

’ ‘Turkey in Lent? that is something to please me,’ said I. ‘Turkey in Lent? Eh?’”
我说：“在斋月吃火鸡？这可真让我高兴。在斋月吃火鸡？嗯？”

“Nothing marvellous in that,” said his Reverence, screwing up his eyes ironically. —-
他的尊庄滑稽地眯起眼睛说：“没什么了不起。” —-

And sticking both thumbs in his belt, he drew himself up and said in the tone in which he usually delivered discourses or gave his Scripture lessons to the pupils in the district school: —-
他把双手拇指勾在腰带上，站得笔挺，用他通常用来发表演讲或对区域学校学生授课的语调说道： —-

“People who do not keep the fasts are divided into two different categories: —-
“不守斋戒的人可以分为两类：一些是由于不严格，另一些是由于不忠。” —-

some do not keep them through laxity, others through infidelity. —-
“你的彼得因为不忠而不守斋戒。是的。” —-

Your Pyotr does not keep them through infidelity. Yes.”
主教用嘲讽的口气说道。

The deacon looked timidly at Father Fyodor’s stern face and said:
执事胆怯地看着费奥多尔父亲严厉的面容，说道：

“There is worse to follow. . . . We talked and discussed one thing and another, and it turned out that my infidel of a son is living with some madame, another man’s wife. —-
“更糟糕的还在后面……我们聊了一些事情，结果发现我那个不信教的儿子和一个别人的妻子一起生活。” —-

She takes the place of wife and hostess in his flat, pours out the tea, receives visitors and all the rest of it, as though she were his lawful wife. —-
她在他的公寓里充当妻子和女主人的角色，倒茶、接待客人等等，就像是他的合法妻子一样。 —-

For over two years he has been keeping up this dance with this viper. —-
他已经和这个毒蛇一起跳这出戏三年了。 —-

It’s a regular farce. They have been living together for three years and no children.”
这真是个正经的闹剧。他们已经在一起生活了三年，却没有孩子。

“I suppose they have been living in chastity!” chuckled Father Anastasy, coughing huskily. —-
“我猜他们保持着贞洁！”阿纳斯塔西神父笑道，嗓音嘶哑地咳嗽了一下。 —-

“There are children, Father Deacon— there are, but they don’t keep them at home! —-
“是有孩子的，执事大人，是有的，只是他们没有养在家里！” —-

They send them to the Foundling! He-he-he! . . . —-
他们送他们到弃婴院！嘿嘿嘿！ —-

” Anastasy went on coughing till he choked.
阿纳斯塔西咳嗽着咳嗽，直到他噎住。

“Don’t interfere, Father Anastasy,” said his Reverence sternly.
“不要插手，阿纳斯塔西父亲，”他的尊崇严厉地说道。

“Nikolay Matveyitch asked him, ‘What madame is this helping the soup at your table? —-
“尼古拉·马特维奇问他，‘这位夫人是在你的餐桌上帮忙做汤吗？ —-

’” the deacon went on, gloomily scanning Anastasy’s bent figure. —-
’”朝堂继续说道，阴郁地扫视着阿纳斯塔西弯曲的身姿。 —-

“‘That is my wife,’ said he. ‘When was your wedding? —-
“‘那是我的妻子，’他说。‘你们什么时候结婚的？ —-

’ Nikolay Matveyitch asked him, and Pyotr answered, ‘We were married at Kulikov’s restaurant.’”
”尼古拉·马特维奇问他，彼得回答说，‘我们在库利科夫餐厅结婚的。’”

His Reverence’s eyes flashed wrathfully and the colour came into his temples. —-
他的尊崇的眼睛愤怒地闪烁，两鬓通红。 —-

Apart from his sinfulness, Pyotr was not a person he liked. —-
除了他的罪恶之外，彼得不是他喜欢的人。 —-

Father Fyodor had, as they say, a grudge against him. —-
费奥多尔父亲对他抱有怨气。 —-

He remembered him a boy at school—he remembered him distinctly, because even then the boy had seemed to him not normal. —-
他记得他是一所学校的学生，他清楚地记得，因为即使那时的男孩也给他留下了不正常的印象。 —-

As a schoolboy, Petrushka had been ashamed to serve at the altar, had been offended at being addressed without ceremony, had not crossed himself on entering the room, and what was still more noteworthy, was fond of talking a great deal and with heat—and, in Father Fyodor’s opinion, much talking was unseemly in children and pernicious to them; —-
作为一个学生，彼得为在祭坛中服务感到羞愧，被称呼，没有进门时交叉自己，更为值得注意的是，他喜欢大声、慷慨地讲话—在费奥多尔父亲看来，孩子多话不只是不好看，也对他们有害； —-

moreover Petrushka had taken up a contemptuous and critical attitude to fishing, a pursuit to which both his Reverence and the deacon were greatly addicted. —-
此外，彼得对钓鱼采取了一种轻蔑和批判的态度，而这是他尊崇和朝堂都非常喜欢的一项活动。 —-

As a student Pyotr had not gone to church at all, had slept till midday, had looked down on people, and had been given to raising delicate and insoluble questions with a peculiarly provoking zest.
作为一个学生，彼得根本不去教堂，睡到中午，看不起人，喜欢提出棘手且无解的问题，特别是有一种特别令人恼火的兴趣。

“What would you have?” his Reverence asked, going up to the deacon and looking at him angrily. —-
“你想要什么？”他的尊崇冲着朝堂走过去，生气地看着他。 —-

“What would you have? This was to be expected! —-
“你想要什么？这是可以预料的！ —-

I always knew and was convinced that nothing good would come of your Pyotr! —-
我一直知道并确信，你的彼得不会有什么好结果！ —-

I told you so, and I tell you so now. What you have sown, that now you must reap! Reap it!”
我告诉过你，现在我再告诉你。你所种下的，现在必须收割！去收割吧！”

“But what have I sown, Father Fyodor?” the deacon asked softly, looking up at his Reverence.
“但是，我种下了什么，弗约多尔神父？”助理轻声问道，抬头看着他的尊者。

“Why, who is to blame if not you? You’re his father, he is your offspring! —-
“为什么不是你的责任？你是他的父亲，他是你的后代！ —-

You ought to have admonished him, have instilled the fear of God into him. A child must be taught! —-
你本应该劝诫他，教导他敬畏上帝。孩子必须被教导！ —-

You have brought him into the world, but you haven’t trained him up in the right way. —-
你把他带到了这个世界上，却没有用正确的方式教导他。 —-

It’s a sin! It’s wrong! It’s a shame!”
这是罪过！这是错误！这是可耻的！”

His Reverence forgot his exhaustion, paced to and fro and went on talking. —-
尊者忘记了自己的疲惫，来回踱步，并继续说话。 —-

Drops of perspiration came out on the deacon’s bald head and forehead. —-
助理秃头和额头上冒出汗珠。 —-

He raised his eyes to his Reverence with a look of guilt, and said:
他以一种有罪的目光抬起头来看着他的尊者，说道：

“But didn’t I train him, Father Fyodor? —-
“但我没有教育他，弗约多尔神父？ —-

Lord have mercy on us, haven’t I been a father to my children? —-
上主怜悯我们，我难道不是我的孩子的父亲吗？ —-

You know yourself I spared nothing for his good; —-
你自己知道我为他的幸福无所不用其极； —-

I have prayed and done my best all my life to give him a thorough education. —-
我一生都祈祷和尽我最大努力给他一种全面的教育。” —-

He went to the high school and I got him tutors, and he took his degree at the University. —-
他去了中学，而我为他找了家教，他又在大学取得了学位。 —-

And as to my not being able to influence his mind, Father Fyodor, why, you can judge for yourself that I am not qualified to do so! —-
至于我不能影响他的想法，费奥多尔神父，你可以自己判断，我没有资格这么做。 —-

Sometimes when he used to come here as a student, I would begin admonishing him in my way, and he wouldn’t heed me. —-
有时他作为学生来这里，我会以我自己的方式开始责备他，但他不理我。 —-

I’d say to him, ‘Go to church,’ and he would answer, ‘What for? —-
我对他说：“去教堂吧。”他会回答：“为什么？” —-

’ I would begin explaining, and he would say, ‘Why? what for? —-
我开始解释，他会说：“为什么？为了什么？” —-

’ Or he would slap me on the shoulder and say, ‘Everything in this world is relative, approximate and conditional. —-
或者他会拍拍我的肩膀说：“这个世界上的一切都是相对的、近似的和有条件的。 —-

I don’t know anything, and you don’t know anything either, dad.’”
我什么都不知道，你也什么都不知道，爸爸。”

Father Anastasy laughed huskily, cleared his throat and waved his fingers in the air as though preparing to say something. —-
阿纳斯塔西神父笑得沙哑了一声，清了清嗓子，像是准备说点什么。 —-

His Reverence glanced at him and said sternly:
他可敬的神父瞥了他一眼，严厉地说道：“别插嘴，阿纳斯塔西神父。”

“Don’t interfere, Father Anastasy.”
老人笑了笑，喜气洋洋地听着执事说话，显然他很高兴这个世界上除了他自己之外还有其他罪人存在。

The old man laughed, beamed, and evidently listened with pleasure to the deacon as though he were glad there were other sinful persons in this world besides himself. —-
执事真诚地说着，内心感到痛苦，眼泪真的涌上了眼睛。 —-

The deacon spoke sincerely, with an aching heart, and tears actually came into his eyes. —-
费奥多尔神父为他感到难过。 —-

Father Fyodor felt sorry for him.
他说：“执事，你自己应该对此负责，你应该知道如何教导他。”

“You are to blame, deacon, you are to blame,” he said, but not so sternly and heatedly as before. —-
但他说得没有之前那么严厉和激动。 —-

“If you could beget him, you ought to know how to instruct him. —-
如果你能生育他，你应该知道如何教育他。 —-

You ought to have trained him in his childhood; —-
你应该在他的童年时期训练他； —-

it’s no good trying to correct a student.”
试图纠正一个学生是没有用的。”

A silence followed; the deacon clasped his hands and said with a sigh:
随后悄无声息地，执事抱紧双手叹息道：

“But you know I shall have to answer for him!”
“但你应该为他负责！”

“To be sure you will!”
“当然你得为他负责！”

After a brief silence his Reverence yawned and sighed at the same moment and asked:
在短暂的寂静后，他的尊者一边打了个哈欠一边叹息着问道：

“Who is reading the ‘Acts’?”
“谁在读《使徒行传》？”

“Yevstrat. Yevstrat always reads them.”
“耶乌斯特拉特，耶乌斯特拉特总是读他们。”

The deacon got up and, looking imploringly at his Reverence, asked:
执事站起来，痛切地望着他的尊者，问道：

“Father Fyodor, what am I to do now?”
“费奥多尔神父，我现在该怎么办？”

“Do as you please; you are his father, not I. You ought to know best.”
“随你便，你是他的父亲，不是我。你应该最清楚。”

“I don’t know anything, Father Fyodor! Tell me what to do, for goodness’ sake! —-
“我什么也不懂，费奥多尔神父！求求你告诉我该怎么办吧！ —-

Would you believe it, I am sick at heart! —-
你相信吗，我心里痛苦！ —-

I can’t sleep now, nor keep quiet, and the holiday will be no holiday to me. —-
我现在既无法入睡，也无法保持安静，节日对我来说将不再是节日。 —-

Tell me what to do, Father Fyodor!”
告诉我该怎么办，费奥多尔神父！”

“Write him a letter.”
“给他写封信。”

“What am I to write to him?”
“那么我该对他写什么？”

“Write that he mustn’t go on like that. —-
“写上他不能再这样继续下去。” —-

Write shortly, but sternly and circumstantially, without softening or smoothing away his guilt. —-
“简洁、严厉、详细地写，不要掩饰或美化他的罪行。” —-

It is your parental duty; if you write, you will have done your duty and will be at peace.”
“这是你作为父母的责任；如果你写信了，你就完成了你的责任，会感到安心。”

“That’s true. But what am I to write to him, to what effect? —-
“这倒是真的。但我该写什么给他，达到什么效果呢？” —-

If I write to him, he will answer, ‘Why? —-
“如果我给他写信，他会回答’为什么？’、’为了什么？’、’为什么这是一种罪呢？’” —-

what for? Why is it a sin?’”
父亲阿纳斯塔西嘶声地笑了笑，挥舞着手指。

Father Anastasy laughed hoarsely again, and brandished his fingers.
“为什么？为了什么？为什么这是一种罪？”他尖声说道。

“Why? what for? why is it a sin?” he began shrilly. —-
“我曾经在听一位绅士的忏悔时，告诉他过度信赖神的仁慈是一种罪过； —-

“I was once confessing a gentleman, and I told him that excessive confidence in the Divine Mercy is a sin; —-
他问道：’为什么？’ 我试图回答他，但是……” 阿纳斯塔西拍了拍自己的额头。 —-

and he asked, ‘Why?’ I tried to answer him, but——” Anastasy slapped himself on the forehead. —-
“我心里一片空白。呵呵呵呵……” —-

“I had nothing here. He-he-he-he! . . .”
阿纳斯塔西的话，他那嘶哑的刺耳笑声，对他的尊敬者和执事成了一种不愉快的影响。

Anastasy’s words, his hoarse jangling laugh at what was not laughable, had an unpleasant effect on his Reverence and on the deacon. —-
这位前者正要说“不要干涉”再次说了出口，但他没有说，只是皱了皱眉头。 —-

The former was on the point of saying, “Don’t interfere” again, but he did not say it, he only frowned.
“直言不讳地说，”神父模仿起来靠诱导而不是道德” 当神父端正圣餐时，我们不应对这样一种不敬行为只是消极的感到不满。

“I can’t write to him,” sighed the deacon.
“我不能给他写信，”执事叹息着。

“If you can’t, who can?”
“如果你不行，那么谁能呢？”

“Father Fyodor!” said the deacon, putting his head on one side and pressing his hand to his heart. —-
“费奥多尔神父！”执事说着，靠近一边的头靠在胸口，一手按在心上。 —-

“I am an uneducated slow-witted man, while the Lord has vouchsafed you judgment and wisdom. —-
“我是一个没有受过教育的愚蠢之徒，而上帝赐给了您判断力和智慧。 —-

You know everything and understand everything. —-
您什么都懂，什么都懂。 —-

You can master anything, while I don’t know how to put my words together sensibly. Be generous. —-
您可以掌握任何东西，而我不知道如何合理地组织语言。请慷慨地帮助我。 —-

Instruct me how to write the letter. Teach me what to say and how to say it. . . .”
教导我如何写这封信。告诉我要说什么，如何表达……”

“What is there to teach? There is nothing to teach. Sit down and write.”
“还有什么要教的？没有什么要教的。坐下来写。”

“Oh, do me the favour, Father Fyodor! I beseech you! —-
“哦，请您帮帮我，费奥多尔神父！我恳求您！ —-

I know he will be frightened and will attend to your letter, because, you see, you are a cultivated man too. —-
我知道他会感到害怕并会注意到您的信，因为您看，您也是一个有教养的人。 —-

Do be so good! I’ll sit down, and you’ll dictate to me. —-
请好心点！我会坐下来，您来口述给我。 —-

It will be a sin to write to-morrow, but now would be the very time; —-
明天写信是有罪的，但现在正是合适的时候； —-

my mind would be set at rest.”
我的心会得到安慰。”

His Reverence looked at the deacon’s imploring face, thought of the disagreeable Pyotr, and consented to dictate. —-
他的尊敬地看着执事恳求的脸庞，想到令人讨厌的彼得，同意开始口述。 —-

He made the deacon sit down to his table and began.
他让执事坐到桌前，开始。

“Well, write . . . ‘Christ is risen, dear son . . .’ exclamation mark. —-
“好，写上‘基督复活了，亲爱的儿子……’ 感叹号。 —-

‘Rumours have reached me, your father,’ then in parenthesis, ‘from what source is no concern of yours . —-
‘有传言传到我这里，你的父亲，’然后写在括号里面，‘消息的来源不关你的事。 —-

. .’ close the parenthesis. . . . Have you written it? —-
……’结束括号……你写好了吗？ —-

‘That you are leading a life inconsistent with the laws both of God and of man. —-
‘你的生活违背了上帝和人类的法律。 —-

Neither the luxurious comfort, nor the worldly splendour, nor the culture with which you seek outwardly to disguise it, can hide your heathen manner of life. —-
无论是奢华的舒适，还是世俗的华丽，或是你用来掩饰的文化，都无法掩盖你的异教生活方式。 —-

In name you are a Christian, but in your real nature a heathen as pitiful and wretched as all other heathens—more wretched, indeed, seeing that those heathens who know not Christ are lost from ignorance, while you are lost in that, possessing a treasure, you neglect it. —-
在名义上你是个基督徒，但在你的真实本性中你是一个可怜而可悲的异教徒——更为可悲，因为那些不认识基督的异教徒是因为无知而迷失，而你却是因为拥有宝藏而忽视它。 —-

I will not enumerate here your vices, which you know well enough; —-
我不打算在这里列举你的恶习，你自己知道得很清楚； —-

I will say that I see the cause of your ruin in your infidelity. —-
但我要说，我认为你毁灭的原因在于你没有信仰。 —-

You imagine yourself to be wise, boast of your knowledge of science, but refuse to see that science without faith, far from elevating a man, actually degrades him to the level of a lower animal, inasmuch as. —-
你自以为聪明，夸耀自己对科学的了解，但却拒绝看到没有信仰的科学并不能提升一个人，反而将他降低到低等动物的水平，因为…… —-

. .’” The whole letter was in this strain.
……’” 整封信都是这个调调。

When he had finished writing it the deacon read it aloud, beamed all over and jumped up.
当他写完之后，执事读了出来，欣喜若狂地笑起来。

“It’s a gift, it’s really a gift!” he said, clasping his hands and looking enthusiastically at his Reverence. —-
“这是个天赐的才能，真是个天赐的才能！”他双手合十地说着，兴奋地看着尊者。 —-

“To think of the Lord’s bestowing a gift like that! Eh? Holy Mother! —-
“想到主赐予了这样的天赋！嗯？圣母保佑！” —-

I do believe I couldn’t write a letter like that in a hundred years. Lord save you!”
我真相信自己在一百年内都写不出像那样的信。上帝保佑你！”

Father Anastasy was enthusiastic too.
安斯塔西父亲也满怀热情。

“One couldn’t write like that without a gift,” he said, getting up and wagging his fingers—“that one couldn’t! —-
“一个人要写出那样的文字，必定是有天赋的，”他说着站起来，摆动着手指，“那样的文字，别人是写不出来的！” —-

His rhetoric would trip any philosopher and shut him up. Intellect. Brilliant intellect! —-
他的修辞能力足以击倒任何哲学家并让他沉默。思维能力，绝妙的思维能力！ —-

If you weren’t married, Father Fyodor, you would have been a bishop long ago, you would really!”
“如果你不结婚，费奥多尔神父，你早就成为一位主教了，真的！”

Having vented his wrath in a letter, his Reverence felt relieved; —-
在信中发泄完怒气后，他的尊敬感到轻松了一些； —-

his fatigue and exhaustion came back to him. —-
他感到疲劳和筋疲力尽又袭上心头。 —-

The deacon was an old friend, and his Reverence did not hesitate to say to him:
那位执事是个老朋友，他的尊敬毫不犹豫地对他说：

“Well deacon, go, and God bless you. I’ll have half an hour’s nap on the sofa; I must rest.”
“好吧，执事，走吧，上帝保佑你。我要在沙发上小睡片刻，我必须休息。”

The deacon went away and took Anastasy with him. —-
执事走了，带着阿纳斯塔西一起离开了。 —-

As is always the case on Easter Eve, it was dark in the street, but the whole sky was sparkling with bright luminous stars. —-
像每年复活节之夜一样，街上很暗，但整个天空都闪烁着明亮的星星。 —-

There was a scent of spring and holiday in the soft still air.
在柔和而静寂的空气中弥漫着春天和节日的气息。

“How long was he dictating?” the deacon said admiringly. “Ten minutes, not more! —-
“他口述了多久？”执事赞叹地问道。“十分钟，不超过十分钟！” —-

It would have taken someone else a month to compose such a letter. Eh! What a mind! —-
“别人要花一个月才能写出这样的信。呃！多么聪明的头脑！” —-

Such a mind that I don’t know what to call it! —-
“这样的头脑，我都不知道该怎么称呼了！” —-

It’s a marvel! It’s really a marvel!”
“真是奇迹！这真的是一个奇迹！”

“Education!” sighed Anastasy as he crossed the muddy street; —-
“教育！”阿纳斯塔西在穿过泥泞的街道时叹息道。 —-

holding up his cassock to his waist. “It’s not for us to compare ourselves with him. —-
将他的法衣撩到腰部。“我们不能与他相比。 —-

We come of the sacristan class, while he has had a learned education. —-
我们是侍神者阶级的人，而他接受了良好的教育。 —-

Yes, he’s a real man, there is no denying that.”
是的，他是一个真正的男人，这是无可否认的。”

“And you listen how he’ll read the Gospel in Latin at mass to-day! —-
“你听听他如何在今天的弥撒中用拉丁语朗读福音书！ —-

He knows Latin and he knows Greek. . . . Ah Petrushka, Petrushka! —-
他懂拉丁语，也懂希腊语……啊，彼得鲁什卡，彼得鲁什卡！ —-

” the deacon said, suddenly remembering. “Now that will make him scratch his head! —-
”执事突然想起来说。“这会让他困惑不解！ —-

That will shut his mouth, that will bring it home to him! —-
那会让他闭上嘴，让他明白！ —-

Now he won’t ask ‘Why.’ It is a case of one wit to outwit another! Haha-ha!”
现在他不会再问‘为什么’了。这是一个机智人智胜另一个机智人！哈哈哈！”

The deacon laughed gaily and loudly. Since the letter had been written to Pyotr he had become serene and more cheerful. —-
执事开心地大声笑了起来。自从给彼得写了信后，他变得宁静且开朗。 —-

The consciousness of having performed his duty as a father and his faith in the power of the letter had brought back his mirthfulness and good-humour.
完成了作为父亲的责任和对信件的信心使他重拾了快乐和好心情。

“Pyotr means a stone,” said he, as he went into his house. —-
“彼得意味着石头，”他走进屋子时说。 —-

“My Pyotr is not a stone, but a rag. A viper has fastened upon him and he pampers her, and hasn’t the pluck to kick her out. —-
“我的彼得不是石头，而是一块破布。一只毒蛇咬住了他，他还纵容她，没胆子把她踢出去。 —-

Tfoo! To think there should be women like that, God forgive me! Eh? Has she no shame? —-
呸！竟然会有这样的女人，天主原谅我！嗯？她没有羞耻心吗？ —-

She has fastened upon the lad, sticking to him, and keeps him tied to her apron strings. —-
她缠住那孩子，牢牢地控制着他，让他被她的围裙系着。 —-

. . . Fie upon her!”
. . . 唉，对她感到厌恶！”

“Perhaps it’s not she keeps hold of him, but he of her?”
“也许不是她抓住了他，而是他抓住了她？”

“She is a shameless one anyway! Not that I am defending Pyotr. . . . He’ll catch it. —-
“她无耻之极！虽然我并不支持彼得……他要受罚的。” —-

He’ll read the letter and scratch his head! —-
“他读了信会犯迷糊！” —-

He’ll burn with shame!”
“他会为自己的羞愧而燃烧！”

“It’s a splendid letter, only you know I wouldn’t send it, Father Deacon. Let him alone.”
“这是一封绝妙的信，只是你知道我不会寄出去，神父。就让他一个人。”

“What?” said the deacon, disconcerted.
“什么？”神父问道，有些困惑。

“Why. . . . Don’t send it, deacon! What’s the sense of it? Suppose you send it; —-
“为什么……不要寄信，神父！这有什么意义呢？假设你寄了， —-

he reads it, and . . . and what then? You’ll only upset him. —-
他读完了之后……然后呢？你只会让他心烦意乱。 —-

Forgive him. Let him alone!”
宽恕他。就让他一个人。”

The deacon looked in surprise at Anastasy’s dark face, at his unbuttoned cassock, which looked in the dusk like wings, and shrugged his shoulders.
神父惊讶地看着安娜斯塔茨的黑脸，看着他敞开的法衣，在黄昏中看起来像翅膀，然后耸了耸肩膀。

“How can I forgive him like that?” he asked. “Why I shall have to answer for him to God!”
“我怎么能这样宽恕他呢？”他问道。“为什么我要为他向上帝负责？”

“Even so, forgive him all the same. Really! And God will forgive you for your kindness to him.”
“就算是这样，还是要宽恕他。真的！上帝会因你对他的仁慈而宽恕你。”

“But he is my son, isn’t he? Ought I not to teach him?”
“但是他是我的儿子，不是吗？我难道不应该教导他吗？”

“Teach him? Of course—why not? You can teach him, but why call him a heathen? —-
“教导他？当然可以，为什么要称他是异教徒呢？ —-

It will hurt his feelings, you know, deacon. . . .”
这会伤害他的感情，你知道的，神父……”

The deacon was a widower, and lived in a little house with three windows. —-
这位执事是一个鳏夫，他住在一座有三扇窗户的小房子里。 —-

His elder sister, an old maid, looked after his house for him, though she had three years before lost the use of her legs and was confined to her bed; —-
他的姐姐是个老姑娘，为他照顾家务，尽管她三年前失去了双腿的运动能力，被困在床上。 —-

he was afraid of her, obeyed her, and did nothing without her advice. —-
他害怕她，顺从她，没有不听她的意见的。 —-

Father Anastasy went in with him. Seeing his table already laid with Easter cakes and red eggs, he began weeping for some reason, probably thinking of his own home, and to turn these tears into a jest, he at once laughed huskily.
阿纳斯塔西神父跟他一起进去。看到桌子上已经摆满了复活节蛋糕和红蛋，他不知道为什么就开始哭泣了，可能是想起了自己的家，为了化解这些眼泪，他立刻嘶哑地笑了起来。

“Yes, we shall soon be breaking the fast,” he said. “Yes . . . —-
“是的，我们很快就要结束斋戒了，”他说。”是的… —-

it wouldn’t come amiss, deacon, to have a little glass now. Can we? —-
现在来点小酒也不错，执事，可以吗？ —-

I’ll drink it so that the old lady does not hear,” he whispered, glancing sideways towards the door.
我会喝掉的，老太太不会听到的，”他朝门一边扫视着，低声说道。

Without a word the deacon moved a decanter and wineglass towards him. —-
执事没有说话，把一只装着酒的瓶子和酒杯推向他。 —-

He unfolded the letter and began reading it aloud. —-
他展开信，大声朗读起来。 —-

And now the letter pleased him just as much as when his Reverence had dictated it to him. —-
这封信现在让他像神父当初口述给他听时一样高兴。 —-

He beamed with pleasure and wagged his head, as though he had been tasting something very sweet.
他满面喜色，不停地摇头，好像品尝到了非常甜美的东西。

“A-ah, what a letter!” he said. “Petrushka has never dreamt of such a letter. —-
“啊，这是封多么好的信啊！”他说。”彼得罗夏都没想到会有这样的信。 —-

It’s just what he wants, something to throw him into a fever. . .”
正好可以让他发高烧. . .”

“Do you know, deacon, don’t send it! —-
“你知道吗，执事，不要寄出去！” —-

” said Anastasy, pouring himself out a second glass of vodka as though unconsciously. —-
“阿纳斯塔西自然地又给自己倒了第二杯伏特加酒。 —-

“Forgive him, let him alone! I am telling you . . . what I really think. —-
“原谅他，让他安静吧！我告诉你……我所真实的想法。 —-

If his own father can’t forgive him, who will forgive him? —-
如果他自己的父亲都不能原谅他，那么谁会原谅他呢？ —-

And so he’ll live without forgiveness. Think, deacon: —-
所以他将没有被原谅的机会。想一想，执事： —-

there will be plenty to chastise him without you, but you should look out for some who will show mercy to your son! —-
没有你，会有很多人责备他，但你应当寻找一些会对你的儿子表示怜悯的人！ —-

I’ll . . . I’ll . . . have just one more. The last, old man. . . . —-
我……我……只喝最后一杯老人……” —-

Just sit down and write straight off to him, ‘I forgive you Pyotr!’ He will under-sta-and! —-
坐下来直接给他写封信，“我原谅你，彼得！”他会理解的！ —-

He will fe-el it! I understand it from myself, you see old man . . . deacon, I mean. —-
他会感觉到的！你知道，我从自己身上理解这一点，老人……执事，我是说。 —-

When I lived like other people, I hadn’t much to trouble about, but now since I lost the image and semblance, there is only one thing I care about, that good people should forgive me. —-
当我像其他人那样生活的时候，我没有太多烦恼，但是自从我失去了形象和负担，我只关心一件事，那就是善良的人能原谅我。 —-

And remember, too, it’s not the righteous but sinners we must forgive. —-
还要记住，我们要原谅的不是义人，而是罪人。 —-

Why should you forgive your old woman if she is not sinful? —-
如果你的老婆不是犯罪的，为什么要原谅她呢？ —-

No, you must forgive a man when he is a sad sight to look at . . . yes!”
不，当一个人成为一个可怜的景象时，你必须原谅他……是的！”

Anastasy leaned his head on his fist and sank into thought.
阿纳斯塔西把头靠在拳头上，陷入了沉思。

“It’s a terrible thing, deacon,” he sighed, evidently struggling with the desire to take another glass—“a terrible thing! —-
“这是一件可怕的事情，执事，”他叹了口气，显然在努力抑制再喝一杯的欲望。“一件可怕的事情！ —-

In sin my mother bore me, in sin I have lived, in sin I shall die. . . . God forgive me, a sinner! —-
我妈妈在罪中生我，在罪中我生活，在罪中我死……上帝原谅我，一个罪人！ —-

I have gone astray, deacon! There is no salvation for me! —-
我迷失了，执事！对我来说没有救赎！” —-

And it’s not as though I had gone astray in my life, but in old age—at death’s door . . . I . . .”
并不是说我在生活中曾经走错了路，而是在年老时——临近死亡的时候……”

The old man, with a hopeless gesture, drank off another glass, then got up and moved to another seat. —-
老人无望地举起杯子喝下一口，然后站起身，走到了另一个座位上。 —-

The deacon, still keeping the letter in his hand, was walking up and down the room. —-
执事手里还拿着那封信，在房间里来回走动。 —-

He was thinking of his son. Displeasure, distress and anxiety no longer troubled him; —-
他在想着自己的儿子。不再困扰他的是不满、痛苦和焦虑； —-

all that had gone into the letter. Now he was simply picturing Pyotr; —-
所有这些都写在信上了。现在他只在脑海中构思着彼得的样子； —-

he imagined his face, he thought of the past years when his son used to come to stay with him for the holidays. —-
他想象着他的面孔，回忆起儿子过去假期常来和他呆在一起的时光。 —-

His thoughts were only of what was good, warm, touching, of which one might think for a whole lifetime without wearying. —-
他的思绪只是关于美好、温暖、动人的事物，可以一辈子都思考而不会厌倦。 —-

Longing for his son, he read the letter through once more and looked questioningly at Anastasy.
思念儿子，他再次读了一遍信，疑惑地看着阿纳斯塔西。

“Don’t send it,” said the latter, with a wave of his hand.
“别寄出去”，后者挥了挥手说道。

“No, I must send it anyway; I must . . . —-
“不，我必须寄出去；不管怎样，我必须…… —-

bring him to his senses a little, all the same. —-
让他稍微理智一点。 —-

It’s just as well. . . .”
这样也好……”

The deacon took an envelope from the table, but before putting the letter into it he sat down to the table, smiled and added on his own account at the bottom of the letter:
执事从桌子上拿起一个信封，但在将信放入之前，他坐下来，微笑着并自行在信的末尾加了一句：

“They have sent us a new inspector. He’s much friskier than the old one. —-
“他们派了一个新的督导过来。比之前的那个更加活跃。 —-

He’s a great one for dancing and talking, and there’s nothing he can’t do, so that all the Govorovsky girls are crazy over him. —-
他非常擅长跳舞和说话，无所不能，以至于所有的戈沃罗夫斯基女孩都为他疯狂。” —-

Our military chief, Kostyrev, will soon get the sack too, they say. High time he did! —-
据说我们的军队总司令科斯季列夫也快要被解雇了。早该解雇他了！ —-

” And very well pleased, without the faintest idea that with this postscript he had completely spoiled the stern letter, the deacon addressed the envelope and laid it in the most conspicuous place on the table.
“他非常开心，完全没有意识到这个附言彻底破坏了这封严肃的信件，执事把信封装好后，放在桌子上最显眼的地方。”