Whether they killed him next morning, or mocked at him—that is, left him his life—he was ruined, anyway. —
早晨他们是否杀了他，或是取笑他—无论怎样，他都已经毁了。 —

Whether this disgraced woman killed herself in her shame and despair, or dragged on her pitiful existence, she was ruined anyway.
这名受辱的女人是选择在羞愧和绝望中自杀，还是继续过着可怜的生活，都已经没救了。

So thought Laevsky as he sat at the table late in the evening, still rubbing his hands. —
Laevsky 晚上坐在桌前时想到这一点，仍在摩擦双手。 —

The windows suddenly blew open with a bang; —
窗户突然砰的一声被吹开了； —

a violent gust of wind burst into the room, and the papers fluttered from the table. —
一股猛烈的风突然冲进房间，桌上的文件纷纷飘落。 —

Laevsky closed the windows and bent down to pick up the papers. —
Laevsky 关上窗户，弯下腰捡拾文件。 —

He was aware of something new in his body, a sort of awkwardness he had not felt before, and his movements were strange to him. —
他感觉到身体里有些新鲜事物，一种以前未曾感受到的笨拙感，他的动作对自己来说也显得奇怪。 —

He moved timidly, jerking with his elbows and shrugging his shoulders; —
他走起路来小心谨慎，肘部颠颠簸簸，肩膀耸耸； —

and when he sat down to the table again, he again began rubbing his hands. —
当他再次坐到桌前时，他又开始摩擦双手。 —

His body had lost its suppleness.
他的身体失去了曾经的柔韧。

On the eve of death one ought to write to one’s nearest relation. —
临死之前，一个人应该写信给自己最亲近的亲人。 —

Laevsky thought of this. He took a pen and wrote with a tremulous hand:
Laevsky 想到这点。他拿起笔颤抖地写道：

“Mother!”
“母亲！”

He wanted to write to beg his mother, for the sake of the merciful God in whom she believed, that she would give shelter and bring a little warmth and kindness into the life of the unhappy woman who, by his doing, had been disgraced and was in solitude, poverty, and weakness, that she would forgive and forget everything, everything, everything, and by her sacrifice atone to some extent for her son’s terrible sin. —
他想写信请求母亲，求她以她所信奉的慈悲上帝为由，给那个因他而受辱且孤独、贫困、虚弱的不幸女人提供庇护、温暖和善意，请求她原谅并忘记一切，一切，一切，通过她的牺牲在某种程度上为儿子可怕的罪过赎罪。 —

But he remembered how his mother, a stout, heavily-built old woman in a lace cap, used to go out into the garden in the morning, followed by her companion with the lap-dog; —
但他想起了他母亲——一位穿着蕾丝头巾的胖胖老太太，早上常常走出花园，身后跟随着她的女伴和拉普狗。 —

how she used to shout in a peremptory way to the gardener and the servants, and how proud and haughty her face was—he remembered all this and scratched out the word he had written.
她过去总是用一种命令的方式对园丁和仆人大喊大叫，记得她的脸多么骄傲和傲慢—他记得了这一切，划掉了他写的那个词。

There was a vivid flash of lightning at all three windows, and it was followed by a prolonged, deafening roll of thunder, beginning with a hollow rumble and ending with a crash so violent that all the window- panes rattled. —
三扇窗户同时闪过一道生动的闪电，接着是一声持续的震耳欲聋的雷声，从一个低沉的隆隆声开始，以一声如此猛烈的巨响结束，以至于所有窗玻璃都碰撞作响。 —

Laevsky got up, went to the window, and pressed his forehead against the pane. —
赖夫斯基站起来，走向窗户，把额头贴在窗玻璃上。 —

There was a fierce, magnificent storm. On the horizon lightning-flashes were flung in white streams from the storm- clouds into the sea, lighting up the high, dark waves over the far-away expanse. —
有一场猛烈、壮观的风暴。在地平线上，闪电从风暴云向海中投出白色的光流，照亮了远处高高的黑色波涛。 —

And to right and to left, and, no doubt, over the house too, the lightning flashed.
而且左右两边，毫无疑问，房子上方也有闪电在闪电。

“The storm!” whispered Laevsky; he had a longing to pray to some one or to something, if only to the lightning or the storm-clouds. “Dear storm!”
“风暴！”赖夫斯基低声说，渴望向某个人或某物祈祷，哪怕是向闪电或风暴云。“亲爱的风暴！”

He remembered how as a boy he used to run out into the garden without a hat on when there was a storm, and how two fair-haired girls with blue eyes used to run after him, and how they got wet through with the rain; —
他记得小时候有一场风暴时总是不戴帽子跑进花园的，两个金发碧眼的姑娘跟在他后面跑，他们被雨打湿了； —

they laughed with delight, but when there was a loud peal of thunder, the girls used to nestle up to the boy confidingly, while he crossed himself and made haste to repeat: —
他们高兴地笑，但当雷声响起时，女孩们便亲近男孩，男孩便快速地交叉着身体，匆忙重复： —

“Holy, holy, holy… .” Oh, where had they vanished to! —
“圣洁，圣洁，圣洁……”哦，她们都消失到哪里去了！ —

In what sea were they drowned, those dawning days of pure, fair life? —
那些黎明时光的纯净、美好的日子沉寂在哪片海洋里？ —

He had no fear of the storm, no love of nature now; —
他不再害怕风暴，也不再热爱大自然； —

he had no God. All the confiding girls he had ever known had by now been ruined by him and those like him. —
他已经没有信仰了。他认识的所有善良的女孩，都已经被他和像他一样的人毁灭了。 —

All his life he had not planted one tree in his own garden, nor grown one blade of grass; —
他一生都没有在自己的花园里种下一棵树，也没有长出一根草； —

and living among the living, he had not saved one fly; —
他生活在活人之中，却没有挽救一个苍蝇； —

he had done nothing but destroy and ruin, and lie, lie… .
他所做的只是破坏和毁灭，撒谎，撒谎……

“What in my past was not vice?” he asked himself, trying to clutch at some bright memory as a man falling down a precipice clutches at the bushes.
“我过去的哪一件事不是恶行呢？”他自问着，像是坠入悬崖的人抓住灌木一样企图找到一些美好的回忆。

School? The university? But that was a sham. —
学校？大学？但那都是虚假的。 —

He had neglected his work and forgotten what he had learnt. The service of his country? —
他忽视了工作，忘记了所学的知识。为国家服务？ —

That, too, was a sham, for he did nothing in the Service, took a salary for doing nothing, and it was an abominable swindling of the State for which one was not punished.
那也是虚假的，因为他在工作中无所作为，白拿一份薪水，这是对国家的严重欺诈却不受惩罚。

He had no craving for truth, and had not sought it; —
他对真理没有渴求，也从未追求过； —

spellbound by vice and lying, his conscience had slept or been silent. —
被恶行和谎言迷住，他的良心沉睡或沉默。 —

Like a stranger, like an alien from another planet, he had taken no part in the common life of men, had been indifferent to their sufferings, their ideas, their religion, their sciences, their strivings, and their struggles. —
像一个陌生人，像来自另一个星球的外星人，他没有参与人们的共同生活，对他们的痛苦、思想、宗教、科学、奋斗和斗争都漠不关心。 —

He had not said one good word, not written one line that was not useless and vulgar; —
他没有说过一句好话，没有写过一行不无用且粗俗的文字； —

he had not done his fellows one ha’p’orth of service, but had eaten their bread, drunk their wine, seduced their wives, lived on their thoughts, and to justify his contemptible, parasitic life in their eyes and in his own, he had always tried to assume an air of being higher and better than they. —
他没有为同胞们做过半点服务，却吃着他们的面包，喝着他们的酒，勾引他们的妻子，以他们的思想为生，并为了在他们眼中和自己眼中辩解他那可耻的寄生生活，他总是努力装出高人一等的样子。 —

Lies, lies, lies… .
谎言，谎言，谎言……

He vividly remembered what he had seen that evening at Muridov’s, and he was in an insufferable anguish of loathing and misery. —
他活灵活现地回忆起那天晚上在穆里多夫家看到的一切，他感到无法忍受的厌恶和痛苦。 —

Kirilin and Atchmianov were loathsome, but they were only continuing what he had begun; —
基里林和阿赫米亚诺夫令人讨厌，但他们只是在延续他的开始； —

they were his accomplices and his disciples. —
他们是他的同谋和弟子。 —

This young weak woman had trusted him more than a brother, and he had deprived her of her husband, of her friends and of her country, and had brought her here—to the heat, to fever, and to boredom; —
这位年轻而软弱的女人比兄弟更信任他，而他却剥夺了她的丈夫、朋友和祖国，把她带到这里——炎热、发烧和无聊之地； —

and from day to day she was bound to reflect, like a mirror, his idleness, his viciousness and falsity—and that was all she had had to fill her weak, listless, pitiable life. —
而她每天都被迫反射出他的懒散、邪恶和虚伪，这就是她弱小、无精打采、可怜的生活全部内容。 —

Then he had grown sick of her, had begun to hate her, but had not had the pluck to abandon her, and he had tried to entangle her more and more closely in a web of lies. —
然后他对她厌倦了，开始憎恨她，但却没有勇气抛弃她，他试图越来越紧密地将她卷入谎言之网。 —

… These men had done the rest.
…这些人做了剩下的事情。

Laevsky sat at the table, then got up and went to the window; —
莱夫斯基坐在桌旁，然后起身走到窗前； —

at one minute he put out the candle and then he lighted it again. —
有时他会吹灭烛光，然后又重新点亮。 —

He cursed himself aloud, wept and wailed, and asked forgiveness; —
他大声责骂自己，哭泣哀求，请求原谅； —

several times he ran to the table in despair, and wrote:
他绝望地几次跑到桌前，写道：

“Mother!”
“母亲！”

Except his mother, he had no relations or near friends; but how could his mother help him? —
除了他的母亲，他没有亲戚或亲近的朋友；但他的母亲又能如何帮助他呢？ —

And where was she? He had an impulse to run to Nadyezhda Fyodorovna, to fall at her feet, to kiss her hands and feet, to beg her forgiveness; —
她在哪里？他冲动地想跑去找纳杰日达·费奥多罗夫娜，俯伏在她脚下，亲吻她的手脚，请求她的原谅； —

but she was his victim, and he was afraid of her as though she were dead.
但她是他的受害者，他像对待死人一样害怕她。

“My life is ruined,” he repeated, rubbing his hands. “Why am I still alive, my God! …”
“我的生活被毁了，”他不停地重复，揉着双手，“我的上帝！我为什么还活着…”

He had cast out of heaven his dim star; it had fallen, and its track was lost in the darkness of night. —
他已经把他闪烁的星星赶出了天堂；它坠落了，其轨迹在夜晚的黑暗中消失了。 —

It would never return to the sky again, because life was given only once and never came a second time. —
它再也不会回到天空，因为生命只给一次，永不再来。 —

If he could have turned back the days and years of the past, he would have replaced the falsity with truth, the idleness with work, the boredom with happiness; —
如果他能够倒转过去的日子和岁月，他会用真实替代虚伪，用工作替代懒惰，用快乐替代无聊； —

he would have given back purity to those whom he had robbed of it. —
他会把纯洁还给那些他夺走纯洁的人。 —

He would have found God and goodness, but that was as impossible as to put back the fallen star into the sky, and because it was impossible he was in despair.
他会找到上帝和善良，但这和将陨星放回天空一样不可能，正因为不可能，他感到绝望。

When the storm was over, he sat by the open window and thought calmly of what was before him. —
暴风雨过后，他坐在敞开的窗边，冷静地思考着眼前的情况。 —

Von Koren would most likely kill him. The man’s clear, cold theory of life justified the destruction of the rotten and the useless; —
冯·科连很可能会杀了他。这个人清晰、冷酷的生活理论正当地证明了对那些朽烂和无用的毁灭； —

if it changed at the crucial moment, it would be the hatred and the repugnance that Laevsky inspired in him that would save him. —
如果在关键时刻他改变主意，那会是因为来自拉夫斯基的憎恶和厌恶拯救了他。 —

If he missed his aim or, in mockery of his hated opponent, only wounded him, or fired in the air, what could he do then? Where could he go?
如果他未中目标，或者，愚弄他所厌恶的对手，只是伤了他一点，或者开了空枪，然后他能怎么办？他能去哪里？

“Go to Petersburg?” Laevsky asked himself. —
“去彼得堡？”拉夫斯基问自己。 —

But that would mean beginning over again the old life which he cursed. —
但这意味着重新开始他所憎恨的旧生活。 —

And the man who seeks salvation in change of place like a migrating bird would find nothing anywhere, for all the world is alike to him. —
寻求通过变换地点像候鸟一样寻求救赎的人，在哪里都找不到东西，因为对他来说，全世界都是一样的。 —

Seek salvation in men? In whom and how? Samoylenko’s kindness and generosity could no more save him than the deacon’s laughter or Von Koren’s hatred. —
寻求在人中找到救赎？在谁身上，如何？山姆伊连科的善良和慷慨不能拯救他，就像培根的笑或冯·科连的仇恨一样。 —

He must look for salvation in himself alone, and if there were no finding it, why waste time? —
他必须仅仅在自己身上找寻救赎，如果找不到，为什么浪费时间呢？ —

He must kill himself, that was all… .
他必须自杀，这就是全部……。

He heard the sound of a carriage. It was getting light. —
他听到一辆马车的声音。天已经亮了。 —

The carriage passed by, turned, and crunching on the wet sand, stopped near the house. —
马车驶过，转弯，发出湿漉漉的沙子声响，在房子附近停了下来。 —

There were two men in the carriage.
马车里有两个人。

“Wait a minute; I’m coming directly,” Laevsky said to them out of the window. —
“等一下，我马上就过来，”拉夫斯基对着窗外的他们说道。 —

“I’m not asleep. Surely it’s not time yet?”
“我还没睡着。肯定还不到时间吧？”

“Yes, it’s four o’clock. By the time we get there … .”
“是的，现在是四点了。等我们到那儿的时候……”

Laevsky put on his overcoat and cap, put some cigarettes in his pocket, and stood still hesitating. —
莱夫斯基穿上了大衣和帽子，把一些香烟放在口袋里，犹豫不决地站着。 —

He felt as though there was something else he must do. —
他感觉好像还有些事情他必须要做。 —

In the street the seconds talked in low voices and the horses snorted, and this sound in the damp, early morning, when everybody was asleep and light was hardly dawning in the sky, filled Laevsky’s soul with a disconsolate feeling which was like a presentiment of evil. —
在街上，时钟发出低低的声音，马儿喷着鼻息，这种声音在潮湿的清晨，当所有人都还在睡觉，天空中几乎没有霞光时，让莱夫斯基的心灵充满了一种令人沮丧的感觉，好像是一种预感。 —

He stood for a little, hesitating, and went into the bedroom.
他犹豫了一会儿，走进了卧室。

Nadyezhda Fyodorovna was lying stretched out on the bed, wrapped from head to foot in a rug. —
纳捷日达·菲奥多罗芙娜躺在床上，全身裹着一条毯子。 —

She did not stir, and her whole appearance, especially her head, suggested an Egyptian mummy. —
她一动不动，尤其是她的头，让人想起一个埃及木乃伊。 —

Looking at her in silence, Laevsky mentally asked her forgiveness, and thought that if the heavens were not empty and there really were a God, then He would save her; —
默默地看着她，莱夫斯基在心里请求她的原谅，想着如果天空不是空无一人，真的有一个上帝的话，那么他会拯救她； —

if there were no God, then she had better perish—there was nothing for her to live for.
如果没有上帝，那么她最好死去——她活着没有任何意义。

All at once she jumped up, and sat up in bed. —
她突然跳起来，坐在床上。 —

Lifting her pale face and looking with horror at Laevsky, she asked:
举起苍白的脸，惊恐地望着莱夫斯基，她问道：

“Is it you? Is the storm over?”
“是你吗？暴风雨过去了吗？”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

She remembered; put both hands to her head and shuddered all over.
她记起来了；双手捂住头，全身战栗起来。

“How miserable I am!” she said. “If only you knew how miserable I am! —
“我是多么的痛苦啊！”她说。“要是你知道我有多痛苦就好了！ —

I expected,” she went on, half closing her eyes, “that you would kill me or turn me out of the house into the rain and storm, but you delay … delay …”
“我本来以为，”她接着说，半闭上眼睛，“你会杀了我或者把我赶出家门让我在雨雪中淋湿，但你却拖延……拖延……”

Warmly and impulsively he put his arms round her and covered her knees and hands with kisses. —
他热情而冲动地抱住她，用吻覆盖她的膝盖和手。 —

Then when she muttered something and shuddered with the thought of the past, he stroked her hair, and looking into her face, realised that this unhappy, sinful woman was the one creature near and dear to him, whom no one could replace.
然后当她喃喃自语并因过去的事而颤抖时，他抚摸着她的头发，看着她的脸，意识到这个不幸、有罪的女人是他最亲近、最亲爱的人，无人能取代她。

When he went out of the house and got into the carriage he wanted to return home alive.
当他走出房子上了马车时，他希望能活着回到家里。

XVIII
XVIII

The deacon got up, dressed, took his thick, gnarled stick and slipped quietly out of the house. —
执事起床、穿衣、拿着粗壮的蜿蜒手杖悄悄地走出屋子。 —

It was dark, and for the first minute when he went into the street, he could not even see his white stick. —
天黑了，他走上街的第一分钟，甚至连他的白手杖也看不见。 —

There was not a single star in the sky, and it looked as though there would be rain again. —
天上没有一颗星星，看起来又要下雨了。 —

There was a smell of wet sand and sea.
有着湿沙和海的味道。

“It’s to be hoped that the mountaineers won’t attack us,” thought the deacon, hearing the tap of the stick on the pavement, and noticing how loud and lonely the taps sounded in the stillness of the night.
“希望那些山民不会攻击我们，”执事想着，听到手杖敲击人行道的声音，注意到这些在寂静夜晚中显得如此高声而孤单。

When he got out of town, he began to see both the road and his stick. —
走出了城镇，他开始看清道路和手杖。 —

Here and there in the black sky there were dark cloudy patches, and soon a star peeped out and timidly blinked its one eye. —
在乌黑的天空中，偶尔会有一些深色的云块，很快一颗星星露出头来，羞怯地眨巴着它的一只眼。 —

The deacon walked along the high rocky coast and did not see the sea; —
执事沿着高高的岩石海岸行走，没有看到海； —

it was slumbering below, and its unseen waves broke languidly and heavily on the shore, as though sighing “Ouf! —
它在下方沉睡着，它看不见的波浪懒洋洋地重重地拍打在海岸上，仿佛在叹息“哦！ —

” and how slowly! One wave broke—the deacon had time to count eight steps; —
“多么缓慢啊！一波浪拍响—埃克汉走了八步； —

then another broke, and six steps; later a third. —
然后又一波浪拍响，埃克汉走了六步；稍后是第三波。 —

As before, nothing could be seen, and in the darkness one could hear the languid, drowsy drone of the sea. —
和之前一样，什么也看不见，在黑暗中只能听到海的懒洋洋的嗡嗡声。 —

One could hear the infinitely faraway, inconceivable time when God moved above chaos.
能听到无限遥远、超乎想象的时间，上帝在混沌之上移动的时刻。

The deacon felt uncanny. He hoped God would not punish him for keeping company with infidels, and even going to look at their duels. —
埃克汉感到怪异。他希望上帝不会因为他与异教徒为伍，甚至去看他们的决斗而惩罚他。 —

The duel would be nonsensical, bloodless, absurd, but however that might be, it was a heathen spectacle, and it was altogether unseemly for an ecclesiastical person to be present at it. —
决斗将是胡说八道、无血之仗、荒谬的，但无论如何，这是一个异教观看的场面，一个教士在场实在不合适。 —

He stopped and wondered—should he go back? —
他停下来纳闷—他是不是应该回去？ —

But an intense, restless curiosity triumphed over his doubts, and he went on.
但强烈的不安和好奇战胜了他的疑虑，他继续走了。

“Though they are infidels they are good people, and will be saved,” he assured himself. —
“尽管他们是异教徒，但他们是好人，将会得救的。”他自我安慰道。 —

“They are sure to be saved,” he said aloud, lighting a cigarette.
“他们一定会得救的，”他大声说着，点着一支烟。

By what standard must one measure men’s qualities, to judge rightly of them? —
人们的品质应该以什么标准来衡量，才能正确评判他们？ —

The deacon remembered his enemy, the inspector of the clerical school, who believed in God, lived in chastity, and did not fight duels; —
埃克汉记起了他的敌人，圣职学校的检查员，他信仰上帝，过着贞操的生活，不打架； —

but he used to feed the deacon on bread with sand in it, and on one occasion almost pulled off the deacon’s ear. —
但他曾经用砂子放在面包里供应给埃克汉，还有一次几乎拔下了埃克汉的耳朵。 —

If human life was so artlessly constructed that every one respected this cruel and dishonest inspector who stole the Government flour, and his health and salvation were prayed for in the schools, was it just to shun such men as Von Koren and Laevsky, simply because they were unbelievers? —
如果人类生命如此单纯，以至于每个人都尊重那位偷了政府面粉的残酷不诚实的检查员，学校里还祈求他的健康和救赎，那么，仅仅因为他们不信教，就避开像冯科伦和莱夫斯基这样的人，真的公正吗？ —

The deacon was weighing this question, but he recalled how absurd Samoylenko had looked yesterday, and that broke the thread of his ideas. —
埃克汉正在权衡这个问题，但他想起了昨天萨莫连科看起来多么荒谬，这破坏了他思绪的连贯性。 —

What fun they would have next day! The deacon imagined how he would sit under a bush and look on, and when Von Koren began boasting next day at dinner, he, the deacon, would begin laughing and telling him all the details of the duel.
第二天他们将会玩得多么开心！执事想象着自己坐在灌木丛下观看，当冯·科连第二天在晚餐时开始吹嘘时，他，执事，会开始笑起来，告诉他所有决斗的细节。

“How do you know all about it?” the zoologist would ask.
“你是怎么知道这一切的？”动物学家会问。

“Well, there you are! I stayed at home, but I know all about it.”
“唉，你瞧！我虽然留在家里，但我却知道所有这一切。”

It would be nice to write a comic description of the duel. —
写一篇关于决斗的喜剧描述将是很有意思的。 —

His father- in-law would read it and laugh. —
他的岳父会读到并笑起来。 —

A good story, told or written, was more than meat and drink to his father-in-law.
一个好故事，不论是讲述或是书写，对他的岳父来说比吃喝还重要。

The valley of the Yellow River opened before him. —
黄河谷在他面前展开。 —

The stream was broader and fiercer for the rain, and instead of murmuring as before, it was raging. —
暴雨过后，小溪变得更加宽广和狂暴，而不再是之前的低声细语，而是愤怒呼啸的声音。 —

It began to get light. The grey, dingy morning, and the clouds racing towards the west to overtake the storm-clouds, the mountains girt with mist, and the wet trees, all struck the deacon as ugly and sinister. —
早晨开始发光。灰蒙蒙的早晨，云朵飞驰向西去追赶暴雨云，群山缠绕着薄雾，湿漉漉的树木，都让执事感到丑陋和不祥。 —

He washed at the brook, repeated his morning prayer, and felt a longing for tea and hot rolls, with sour cream, which were served every morning at his father-in-law’s. —
他在小溪边洗漱，念着晨祷，渴望着在岳父家每天早晨供应的茶和热面包，再搭配酸奶油。 —

He remembered his wife and the “Days past Recall,” which she played on the piano. —
他想起了他的妻子以及她在钢琴上演奏的“往日时光”。 —

What sort of woman was she? His wife had been introduced, betrothed, and married to him all in one week: —
她是怎样的一个女人？他的妻子在一个星期内被介绍，订婚和嫁给他： —

he had lived with her less than a month when he was ordered here, so that he had not had time to find out what she was like. —
他只和她生活了不到一个月就被调到这里，所以他没有时间去了解她是什么样子。 —

All the same, he rather missed her.
尽管如此，他有点想念她。

“I must write her a nice letter …” he thought. —
“我应该给她写一封好信…” 他想到。 —

The flag on the duhan hung limp, soaked by the rain, and the duhan itself with its wet roof seemed darker and lower than it had been before. —
杜汉旗帜无力地垂挂着，被雨水浸透，而杜汉本身在湿漉漉的屋顶下，似乎比以前更昏暗、更低。 —

Near the door was standing a cart; Kerbalay, with two mountaineers and a young Tatar woman in trousers—no doubt Kerbalay’s wife or daughter—were bringing sacks of something out of the duhan, and putting them on maize straw in the cart.
门口附近停着一辆车；克尔巴来和两名山民，以及一名穿着裤子的年轻鞑靼女子——毫无疑问是克尔巴来的妻子或女儿——正在从杜汉里搬运袋子，放到车上铺有玉米秸秆的车厢里。

Near the cart stood a pair of asses hanging their heads. —
车旁站着一对驴子，低垂着脑袋。 —

When they had put in all the sacks, the mountaineers and the Tatar woman began covering them over with straw, while Kerbalay began hurriedly harnessing the asses.
当他们把所有的袋子放好后，山民和鞑靼女子开始用秸秆覆盖，而克尔巴来则匆忙给驴子套上马具。

“Smuggling, perhaps,” thought the deacon.
“或许是走私，”执事想。

Here was the fallen tree with the dried pine-needles, here was the blackened patch from the fire. —
这是倾倒的树和枯萎的松针，这是火堆留下的黑印。 —

He remembered the picnic and all its incidents, the fire, the singing of the mountaineers, his sweet dreams of becoming a bishop, and of the Church procession. —
他回忆起野餐和所有发生的事情，火堆、山民的歌唱、他成为主教以及教堂游行的甜美梦想。 —

… The Black River had grown blacker and broader with the rain. —
水雨后的黑河变得更黑更宽。 —

The deacon walked cautiously over the narrow bridge, which by now was reached by the topmost crests of the dirty water, and went up through the little copse to the drying-shed.
执事小心翼翼地走在狭窄的桥上，现在桥已被浑浊的水覆盖，然后穿过小树林来到晒粮棚。

“A splendid head,” he thought, stretching himself on the straw, and thinking of Von Koren. “A fine head—God grant him health; —
“一颗出色的头颅，”他想，躺在稻草上，想着冯·科伦。“一颗出色的头颅——愿上帝保佑他健康； —

only there is cruelty in him… .”
只是他身上有些残忍……”

Why did he hate Laevsky and Laevsky hate him? Why were they going to fight a duel? —
为什么他讨厌莱夫斯基，莱夫斯基也讨厌他？为什么他们要决斗？ —

If from their childhood they had known poverty as the deacon had; —
如果他们从小就像执事一样知道贫困； —

if they had been brought up among ignorant, hard-hearted, grasping, coarse and ill-mannered people who grudged you a crust of bread, who spat on the floor and hiccoughed at dinner and at prayers; —
如果他们在无知、铁石心肠、贪婪、粗鲁、暴躁且没有教养的人们中长大，这些人舍不得给你一口面包，会在地板上吐痰、在饭桌和祈祷时打嗝； —

if they had not been spoilt from childhood by the pleasant surroundings and the select circle of friends they lived in—how they would have rushed at each other, how readily they would have overlooked each other’s shortcomings and would have prized each other’s strong points! —
如果他们不是从小被舒适的环境和亲密的朋友圈宠坏——他们会怎样互相欣赏，双方的缺点会被很容易地忽略，双方的优势会被高度珍视！ —

Why, how few even outwardly decent people there were in the world! —
为什么世界上竟然连外表上看起来正派的人都如此之少啊！ —

It was true that Laevsky was flighty, dissipated, queer, but he did not steal, did not spit loudly on the floor; —
没错，Laevsky确实轻浮、放纵、古怪，但他并不偷盗，也不会当众吐唾沫在地板上； —

he did not abuse his wife and say, “You’ll eat till you burst, but you don’t want to work; —
他不会虐待妻子，说：“你吃到撑死，但就是不肯干活； —

” he would not beat a child with reins, or give his servants stinking meat to eat— surely this was reason enough to be indulgent to him? —
他也不会用缰绳打孩子，或者给仆人们臭肉吃——这难道不足以对他宽容一些吗？ —

Besides, he was the chief sufferer from his failings, like a sick man from his sores. —
此外，他自己的过失造成的苦果比任何人都更多，就像一个病人的溃疡一样。 —

Instead of being led by boredom and some sort of misunderstanding to look for degeneracy, extinction, heredity, and other such incomprehensible things in each other, would they not do better to stoop a little lower and turn their hatred and anger where whole streets resounded with moanings from coarse ignorance, greed, scolding, impurity, swearing, the shrieks of women… .
与其被无聊和某种误解引导，去在对方身上寻找退化、毁灭、遗传等无法理解的东西，他们不如稍微低下身段，把仇恨和愤怒转向那些整条街道上充斥着愚昧、贪婪、争论、污秽、咒骂、妇女的尖叫声……

The sound of a carriage interrupted the deacon’s thoughts. —
一辆马车的声音打断了执事的思绪。 —

He glanced out of the door and saw a carriage and in it three persons: —
他朝门外看了一眼，看到了一辆马车，车中坐着三个人： —

Laevsky, Sheshkovsky, and the superintendent of the post-office.
Laevsky、Sheshkovsky和邮局长。

“Stop!” said Sheshkovsky.
“停下！”Sheshkovsky说道。

All three got out of the carriage and looked at one another.
三人都下了车，相互看了一眼。

“They are not here yet,” said Sheshkovsky, shaking the mud off. “Well? —
“他们还没到？”Sheshkovsky摇了摇身上的泥巴。“那么呢？ —

Till the show begins, let us go and find a suitable spot; —
等演出开始，我们去找个合适的地方； —

there’s not room to turn round here.”
这儿根本转不过来。”

They went further up the river and soon vanished from sight. —
他们朝河边走去，很快消失在视线之外。 —

The Tatar driver sat in the carriage with his head resting on his shoulder and fell asleep. —
鞑靼司机坐在马车里，头靠在肩膀上睡着了。 —

After waiting ten minutes the deacon came out of the drying-shed, and taking off his black hat that he might not be noticed, he began threading his way among the bushes and strips of maize along the bank, crouching and looking about him. —
等了十分钟之后，执事走出晾晒棚，脱下他的黑帽子，以免被注意到，开始在河岸边的灌木丛和玉米地间穿行，蹲着四处张望。 —

The grass and maize were wet, and big drops fell on his head from the trees and bushes. —
草地和玉米地潮湿，大滴水从树木和灌木上落在他的头上。 —

“Disgraceful!” he muttered, picking up his wet and muddy skirt. —
“太可耻了！”他喃喃自语，捡起湿漉漉的裙摆。 —

“Had I realised it, I would not have come.”
“如果我事先知道，我就不会来了。”

Soon he heard voices and caught sight of them. —
不久，他听到声音，看到了他们。 —

Laevsky was walking rapidly to and fro in the small glade with bowed back and hands thrust in his sleeves; —
莱夫斯基快步在小空地上来回走动，驼背，双手袖子里插着； —

his seconds were standing at the water’s edge, rolling cigarettes.
他的助手们站在水边，卷着烟卷。

“Strange,” thought the deacon, not recognising Laevsky’s walk; —
“奇怪，”执事想，没认出莱夫斯基的步态； —

“he looks like an old man… .”
“他看起来像一个老人……”

“How rude it is of them!” said the superintendent of the post-office, looking at his watch. —
“简直无礼！”邮局长看着手表说。 —

“It may be learned manners to be late, but to my thinking it’s hoggish.”
“迟到可能是学来的礼仪，但在我看来，这是猪一样的行为。”

Sheshkovsky, a stout man with a black beard, listened and said:
带着黑胡子的壮汉谢什科夫斯基听着，说：

“They’re coming!”
“他们来了！”

XIX
十九.

“It’s the first time in my life I’ve seen it! How glorious! —
“这是我一生中第一次看到它！多么壮丽！ —

” said Von Koren, pointing to the glade and stretching out his hands to the east. —
”冯科连指着草地，伸手指向东方说道。 —

“Look: green rays!”
“看：绿光！”

In the east behind the mountains rose two green streaks of light, and it really was beautiful. —
在山脉后的东方升起两道绿色光线，真是美丽。 —

The sun was rising.
太阳正在升起。

“Good-morning!” the zoologist went on, nodding to Laevsky’s seconds. —
“早上好！”动物学家继续说道，向莱夫斯基的助手点头致意。 —

“I’m not late, am I?”
“我没有迟到，对吗？”

He was followed by his seconds, Boyko and Govorovsky, two very young officers of the same height, wearing white tunics, and Ustimovitch, the thin, unsociable doctor; —
他的助手是年轻的博伊科和戈沃罗夫斯基，穿着白色束腰上衣，还有乌斯季莫维奇，瘦削而不合群的医生； —

in one hand he had a bag of some sort, and in the other hand, as usual, a cane which he held behind him. —
一只手拿着一个包，另一只手像往常一样拿着一根手杖，藏在背后。 —

Laying the bag on the ground and greeting no one, he put the other hand, too, behind his back and began pacing up and down the glade.
把包放在地上，不和任何人打招呼，他把另一只手也放在了背后，开始在草地上踱步。

Laevsky felt the exhaustion and awkwardness of a man who is soon perhaps to die, and is for that reason an object of general attention. —
莱夫斯基感到疲惫和尴尬，就像一个即将死去，成为众人关注焦点的人。 —

He wanted to be killed as soon as possible or taken home. —
他希望尽快被杀死或被送回家。 —

He saw the sunrise now for the first time in his life; —
他生平第一次看到日出； —

the early morning, the green rays of light, the dampness, and the men in wet boots, seemed to him to have nothing to do with his life, to be superfluous and embarrassing. —
清晨，绿色的光线，湿气，还有穿着湿鞋的人，对他来说似乎和他的生活毫无关联，多余而令人尴尬。 —

All this had no connection with the night he had been through, with his thoughts and his feeling of guilt, and so he would have gladly gone away without waiting for the duel.
所有这一切与他经历过的夜晚，他的思绪和内疚感毫不相干，因此他会很乐意在等待决斗之前就离开。

Von Koren was noticeably excited and tried to conceal it, pretending that he was more interested in the green light than anything. —
冯科连显然兴奋起来，试图掩饰，并假装对绿灯更感兴趣。 —

The seconds were confused, and looked at one another as though wondering why they were here and what they were to do.
秒表们感到困惑，彼此看着，仿佛在想他们为何在这里以及要做什么。

“I imagine, gentlemen, there is no need for us to go further,” said Sheshkovsky. —
“我想，先生们，我们没必要再继续了，”谢什科夫斯基说。 —

“This place will do.”
“这个地方就可以了。”

“Yes, of course,” Von Koren agreed.
“是的，当然，”冯科连同意道。

A silence followed. Ustimovitch, pacing to and fro, suddenly turned sharply to Laevsky and said in a low voice, breathing into his face:
接着是一片寂静。乌斯季莫维奇来回踱步，突然转身面对莱夫斯基，低声说道：

“They have very likely not told you my terms yet. —
“他们很可能还没告诉你我的条件。 —

Each side is to pay me fifteen roubles, and in the case of the death of one party, the survivor is to pay thirty.”
双方各付我十五卢布，如果一方死亡，存活者要付三十卢布。”

Laevsky was already acquainted with the man, but now for the first time he had a distinct view of his lustreless eyes, his stiff moustaches, and wasted, consumptive neck; —
莱夫斯基之前已经见过这人，但这次第一次清楚地看到他那无光的眼睛，僵硬的胡须，虚弱消瘦的脖子； —

he was a money-grubber, not a doctor; his breath had an unpleasant smell of beef.
他是个贪财的人，而不是医生；他的呼吸带着讨厌的牛肉味。

“What people there are in the world!” thought Laevsky, and answered: “Very good.”
“世上真是什么人都有！”莱夫斯基想，回答道：“好吧。”

The doctor nodded and began pacing to and fro again, and it was evident he did not need the money at all, but simply asked for it from hatred. —
医生点了点头，又开始来回踱步，显然他根本不需要这笔钱，只是出于憎恨才提出来。 —

Every one felt it was time to begin, or to end what had been begun, but instead of beginning or ending, they stood about, moved to and fro and smoked. —
每个人都感觉是时候开始或结束已经开始的事情了，但他们没有开始或结束，而是站在那里，来回走动，抽烟。 —

The young officers, who were present at a duel for the first time in their lives, and even now hardly believed in this civilian and, to their thinking, unnecessary duel, looked critically at their tunics and stroked their sleeves. —
这是这些年轻军官们第一次目睹决斗，甚至此时仍然难以相信这场他们认为是不必要的文官决斗，他们挑剔地看着他们的制服，抚摸着袖子。 —

Sheshkovsky went up to them and said softly: —
谢什科夫斯基走向他们，轻声说道： —

“Gentlemen, we must use every effort to prevent this duel; —
“先生们，我们必须尽一切努力阻止这场决斗； —

they ought to be reconciled.”
他们应该和解。”

He flushed crimson and added:
他涨红了脸，补充道：

“Kirilin was at my rooms last night complaining that Laevsky had found him with Nadyezhda Fyodorovna, and all that sort of thing.”
“ 昨晚Kirilin来我房间抱怨Laevsky发现他和Nadyezhda Fyodorovna在一起，还有那种事情。”

“Yes, we know that too,” said Boyko.
“是的，我们也知道”，Boyko说。

“Well, you see, then … Laevsky’s hands are trembling and all that sort of thing … —
“嗯，你看，然后。。。Laevsky的手在颤抖，还有那种事情。。。 —

he can scarcely hold a pistol now. To fight with him is as inhuman as to fight a man who is drunk or who has typhoid. —
他现在几乎无法握住手枪。和他搏斗就像和一个喝醉了或患伤寒的人搏斗一样不人道。” —

If a reconciliation cannot be arranged, we ought to put off the duel, gentlemen, or something. . —
如果无法安排和解， 我们应该推迟决斗，先生们，或者采取其他措施。 —

. . It’s such a sickening business, I can’t bear to see it.”
这是如此让人作呕的事情，我无法忍受看到这一切。

“Talk to Von Koren.”
“和冷静讨论一下冯·科连。”

“I don’t know the rules of duelling, damnation take them, and I don’t want to either; —
“我不知道决斗的规则，该死的，我也不想知道； —

perhaps he’ll imagine Laevsky funks it and has sent me to him, but he can think what he likes—I’ll speak to him.”
也许他会认为莱夫斯基躲开了，让我来见他，但他可以想什么就让他想吧—我会和他说话。”

Sheshkovsky hesitatingly walked up to Von Koren with a slight limp, as though his leg had gone to sleep; —
谢什科夫斯基犹豫地走到冯·科连面前，略带瘸子的步伐，仿佛他的腿已经麻木了； —

and as he went towards him, clearing his throat, his whole figure was a picture of indolence.
当他走向冯·科连的时候，清清嗓子，他的整个形象是一幅懒散的画面。

“There’s something I must say to you, sir,” he began, carefully scrutinising the flowers on the zoologist’s shirt. —
“有一件事我必须跟你说，先生，”他开始，仔细地审视着动物学家衬衫上的花。 —

“It’s confidential. I don’t know the rules of duelling, damnation take them, and I don’t want to, and I look on the matter not as a second and that sort of thing, but as a man, and that’s all about it.”
“这件事很机密。我不知道决斗的规则，该死的，我也不想知道，我并不把这件事看作一个助手或什么的，而是以一个男人的身份，就这样。”

“Yes. Well?”
“是的。那么？”

“When seconds suggest reconciliation they are usually not listened to; —
“当助手们提出和解时，通常不会被听取； —

it is looked upon as a formality. Amour propre and all that. —
它被视为形式主义。自尊心和这一切。 —

But I humbly beg you to look carefully at Ivan Andreitch. —
但我谦卑地请求您仔细看看伊万·安德烈奇。 —

He’s not in a normal state, so to speak, to-day—not in his right mind, and a pitiable object. —
他今天状态不正常，可以说，不在正常的头脑状态，是一个可怜的对象。 —

He has had a misfortune. I can’t endure gossip… .”
他遇到了不幸。我不能忍受流言蜚语……”

Sheshkovsky flushed crimson and looked round.
谢什科夫斯基脸色涨红，四处看了看。

“But in view of the duel, I think it necessary to inform you, Laevsky found his madam last night at Muridov’s with . —
“但考虑到决斗的情况，我认为有必要告诉你，莱夫斯基昨晚在穆里多夫家里找到他的女士，而且还有另一位绅士。” —

. . another gentleman.”
没有。另一个男士。”

“How disgusting!” muttered the zoologist; he turned pale, frowned, and spat loudly. “Tfoo!”
“这太恶心了！”动物学家嘟囔道；他脸色苍白，皱起眉头，大声吐了口唾沫。“呸！”

His lower lip quivered, he walked away from Sheshkovsky, unwilling to hear more, and as though he had accidentally tasted something bitter, spat loudly again, and for the first time that morning looked with hatred at Laevsky. —
他的下唇颤抖着，他不愿再听下去，走开了，好像无意中尝到了苦味，又大声吐了口唾沫，那是今早他第一次满怀憎恨地看着莱夫斯基。 —

His excitement and awkwardness passed off; —
他的兴奋和局促感都消失了； —

he tossed his head and said aloud:
他抬起头大声说道：

“Gentlemen, what are we waiting for, I should like to know? Why don’t we begin?”
“先生们，我们在等什么？我想知道。为什么不开始呢？”

Sheshkovsky glanced at the officers and shrugged his shoulders.
谢什科夫斯基看了看军官们，耸了耸肩。

“Gentlemen,” he said aloud, addressing no one in particular. —
“先生们，”他大声说，似乎没有特定对象。 —

“Gentlemen, we propose that you should be reconciled.”
“先生们，我们提议你们和解。”

“Let us make haste and get the formalities over,” said Von Koren. “Reconciliation has been discussed already. —
“让我们赶紧结束这些程序吧，”冯·科伦说。“和解已经讨论过了。 —

What is the next formality? Make haste, gentlemen, time won’t wait for us.”
下一步程序是什么？快点，先生们，时间不会等待我们。”

“But we insist on reconciliation all the same,” said Sheshkovsky in a guilty voice, as a man compelled to interfere in another man’s business; —
“但我们仍然坚持和解，”谢什科夫斯基用一种内疚的声音说，像是被迫干涉别人的事情； —

he flushed, laid his hand on his heart, and went on: —
他脸红了，手放在胸口，接着说道： —

“Gentlemen, we see no grounds for associating the offence with the duel. —
“先生们，我们看不到与决斗有关的理由。 —

There’s nothing in common between duelling and offences against one another of which we are sometimes guilty through human weakness. —
在我们犯下的对别人的冒犯，有时只是因为人性的软弱，它与决斗之间毫无关联。 —

You are university men and men of culture, and no doubt you see in the duel nothing but a foolish and out-of-date formality, and all that sort of thing. —
你们是大学生，是文化人，毫无疑问你们只将决斗看作是一种愚蠢过时的仪式，以及那一类事情。” —

That’s how we look at it ourselves, or we shouldn’t have come, for we cannot allow that in our presence men should fire at one another, and all that. —
这就是我们自己看待这件事的方式，否则我们就不该来这里，因为我们不能容许我们面前的人互相开枪，等等。 —

” Sheshkovsky wiped the perspiration off his face and went on: —
谢什科夫斯基擦掉脸上的汗，继续说道： —

“Make an end to your misunderstanding, gentlemen; —
“结束你们的误会，先生们； —

shake hands, and let us go home and drink to peace. —
握手，并让我们回家喝一杯为和平干杯。 —

Upon my honour, gentlemen!”
凭我的荣誉，先生们！”

Von Koren did not speak. Laevsky, seeing that they were looking at him, said:
冯·科伦没有说话。莱夫斯基看到他们在看着他，说道：

“I have nothing against Nikolay Vassilitch; —
“我对尼古拉·瓦西里奇没有意见； —

if he considers I’m to blame, I’m ready to apologise to him.”
如果他认为我有错，我愿意向他道歉。”

Von Koren was offended.
冯·科伦感到受伤。

“It is evident, gentlemen,” he said, “you want Mr. Laevsky to return home a magnanimous and chivalrous figure, but I cannot give you and him that satisfaction. —
“很明显，先生们，”他说，“你们希望莱夫斯基先生回家成为一个宽宏大量和骑士般的人物，但我不能给你们和他那种满足。 —

And there was no need to get up early and drive eight miles out of town simply to drink to peace, to have breakfast, and to explain to me that the duel is an out-of-date formality. —
没有必要早早起床开车八英里出城，仅仅为了为和平干杯，吃早饭，并向我解释决斗是一种过时的礼节。 —

A duel is a duel, and there is no need to make it more false and stupid than it is in reality. —
决斗就是决斗，没有必要让它比实际更虚伪和愚蠢。 —

I want to fight!”
我想要打架！”

A silence followed. Boyko took a pair of pistols out of a box; —
之后一片沉默。波伊科拿出一对手枪； —

one was given to Von Koren and one to Laevsky, and then there followed a difficulty which afforded a brief amusement to the zoologist and the seconds. —
一个给了冯·科伦，一个给了莱夫斯基，接着出现了一个困难，给动物学家和两位助手带来了一时的乐趣。 —

It appeared that of all the people present not one had ever in his life been at a duel, and no one knew precisely how they ought to stand, and what the seconds ought to say and do. —
似乎在场的所有人中没有一个人曾经参加过决斗，也没有人确切知道他们应该怎样站立，以及二当家应该说什么和做什么。 —

But then Boyko remembered and began, with a smile, to explain.
但是博伊科想起来，微笑着开始解释。

“Gentlemen, who remembers the description in Lermontov?” asked Von Koren, laughing. —
“先生们，谁记得列尔蒙托夫笔下的描写？”冯·科伦笑着问道。 —

“In Turgenev, too, Bazarov had a duel with some one… .”
“在屠格涅夫的作品中，巴扎洛夫也和某人决斗过……”

“There’s no need to remember,” said Ustimovitch impatiently. —
“没必要回忆。”乌斯季莫维奇不耐烦地说道。 —

“Measure the distance, that’s all.”
“测量距离，就这样。”

And he took three steps as though to show how to measure it. —
他走了三步，好像在展示怎样测量距离。 —

Boyko counted out the steps while his companion drew his sabre and scratched the earth at the extreme points to mark the barrier. —
博伊科数着步数，而他的搭档拔出剑，画出范围的极限点，标记隔离线。 —

In complete silence the opponents took their places.
对手们默默地站好位置。

“Moles,” the deacon thought, sitting in the bushes.
“鼹鼠，”教士坐在灌木丛中想到。

Sheshkovsky said something, Boyko explained something again, but Laevsky did not hear—or rather heard, but did not understand. —
谢什科夫斯基说了些什么，博伊科再次解释了些什么，但莱夫斯基听不见——或者说是听见了，但不明白。 —

He cocked his pistol when the time came to do so, and raised the cold, heavy weapon with the barrel upwards. —
当需要这样做时，他扣动了手枪扳机，抬起沉重的冷武器，枪口朝上。 —

He forgot to unbutton his overcoat, and it felt very tight over his shoulder and under his arm, and his arm rose as awkwardly as though the sleeve had been cut out of tin. —
他忘了解开外套的纽扣，感觉在肩膀和胳膊下非常紧，他的手臂和袖子仿佛是用锡制作的一样笨拙地升起。 —

He remembered the hatred he had felt the night before for the swarthy brow and curly hair, and felt that even yesterday at the moment of intense hatred and anger he could not have shot a man. —
他想起昨晚对那双黑黝黝的眉毛和卷曲的头发的仇恨，并感到甚至昨晚在极度仇恨和愤怒时，他也不可能开枪打死一个人。 —

Fearing that the bullet might somehow hit Von Koren by accident, he raised the pistol higher and higher, and felt that this too obvious magnanimity was indelicate and anything but magnanimous, but he did not know how else to do and could do nothing else. —
他担心子弹可能会误伤冯·科伦，于是把手枪抬得越来越高，感觉到这种太过明显的宽容是不得体的，而且一点也不像宽容，但他不知道怎么做，也做不了别的。 —

Looking at the pale, ironically smiling face of Von Koren, who evidently had been convinced from the beginning that his opponent would fire in the air, Laevsky thought that, thank God, everything would be over directly, and all that he had to do was to press the trigger rather hard… .
当脸色苍白，讽刺性微笑的Von Koren，显然一开始就确信他的对手会开空枪时，Laevsky想，感谢上帝，一切马上就会结束，他只需要用力扣动扳机……

He felt a violent shock on the shoulder; there was the sound of a shot and an answering echo in the mountains: ping-ting!
他感到肩膀上一阵剧烈的震动；枪声响起，山间有回音：乒婷！

Von Koren cocked his pistol and looked at Ustimovitch, who was pacing as before with his hands behind his back, taking no notice of any one.
Von Koren扣动了手枪的扳机，看着仍然双手后背往前走的Ustimovitch，毫不理会任何人。

“Doctor,” said the zoologist, “be so good as not to move to and fro like a pendulum. —
“大夫，”动物学家说，“请不要像摆钟一样来回晃动。 —

You make me dizzy.”
你让我晕眩。”

The doctor stood still. Von Koren began to take aim at Laevsky.
医生站住了。Von Koren开始瞄准Laevsky。

“It’s all over!” thought Laevsky.
“一切都结束了！”Laevsky想。

The barrel of the pistol aimed straight at his face, the expression of hatred and contempt in Von Koren’s attitude and whole figure, and the murder just about to be committed by a decent man in broad daylight, in the presence of decent men, and the stillness and the unknown force that compelled Laevsky to stand still and not to run —how mysterious it all was, how incomprehensible and terrible!
手枪的枪管直指他的脸，Von Koren的态度和举动中表现出的仇恨和蔑视，一个正派人在光天化日之下，在正派人的面前即将犯下的谋杀，以及无法理解的沉静和强大力量，迫使Laevsky站在原地，不敢逃走——多么神秘、难以理解和可怕啊！

The moment while Von Koren was taking aim seemed to Laevsky longer than a night: —
当Von Koren瞄准时刻似乎比一夜还要漫长： —

he glanced imploringly at the seconds; they were pale and did not stir.
他恳求地看了看赛段人员；他们脸色苍白，却不动弹。

“Make haste and fire,” thought Laevsky, and felt that his pale, quivering, and pitiful face must arouse even greater hatred in Von Koren.
“快点开枪，”Laevsky想，感觉到他苍白、颤抖和可怜的脸恐怕会激起Von Koren更大的仇恨。

“I’ll kill him directly,” thought Von Koren, aiming at his forehead, with his finger already on the catch. —
“我会立刻杀了他，”Von Koren想，将枪口对准他的额头，手指已经放在了扳机上。 —

“Yes, of course I’ll kill him.”
“是的，当然我会杀了他。”

“He’ll kill him!” A despairing shout was suddenly heard somewhere very close at hand.
“他会杀了他！”突然从很近的地方传来绝望的喊声。

A shot rang out at once. Seeing that Laevsky remained standing where he was and did not fall, they all looked in the direction from which the shout had come, and saw the deacon. —
立刻响起了一声枪响。看到Laevsky仍然站在原地没有倒下，他们都朝着喊声传来的方向望去，看到了教士。 —

With pale face and wet hair sticking to his forehead and his cheeks, wet through and muddy, he was standing in the maize on the further bank, smiling rather queerly and waving his wet hat. —
他脸色苍白，额头上粘着潮湿的头发和沾满泥泞的脸蛋，站在河对岸的玉米地里，满脸泥泞，微微怪异地微笑着，挥舞着湿漉漉的帽子。 —

Sheshkovsky laughed with joy, burst into tears, and moved away… .
舍什科夫斯基高兴地笑了起来，泪如泉涌，走开了。。。

XX
XX

A little while afterwards, Von Koren and the deacon met near the little bridge. —
不久之后，冯·科伦和执事在小桥附近相遇。 —

The deacon was excited; he breathed hard, and avoided looking in people’s faces. —
执事兴奋不已，喘着粗气，避开了人们的目光。 —

He felt ashamed both of his terror and his muddy, wet garments.
他对自己的恐惧和身上泥泞的衣服感到羞愧。

“I thought you meant to kill him …” he muttered. —
“我以为你打算杀了他。。。”他喃喃自语道。 —

“How contrary to human nature it is! How utterly unnatural it is!”
“这是多么违背人性啊！这是多么不自然啊！”

“But how did you come here?” asked the zoologist.
“但你是怎么来到这里的？”动物学家问道。

“Don’t ask,” said the deacon, waving his hand. “The evil one tempted me, saying: ‘Go, go. —
“别问了，”执事挥了挥手。“恶魔引诱我，说：‘去，去。 —

…’ So I went and almost died of fright in the maize. But now, thank God, thank God… . —
’所以我走了，几乎吓死在了玉米地里。但现在，感谢上帝，感谢上帝。。。 —

I am awfully pleased with you,” muttered the deacon. “Old Grandad Tarantula will be glad … —
我对你感到非常高兴，”执事喃喃自语道。“老爷爷蜘蛛会高兴的。。。 —

. It’s funny, it’s too funny! Only I beg of you most earnestly don’t tell anybody I was there, or I may get into hot water with the authorities. —
太有趣了，太有趣了！只是我恳请你千万不要告诉任何人我在那里，否则我可能会引起当局的敏感。 —

They will say: ‘The deacon was a second.’”
他们会说：‘执事成了另一个’。”

“Gentlemen,” said Von Koren, “the deacon asks you not to tell any one you’ve seen him here. —
“先生们，”冯·科伦说，“执事请求你们不要告诉任何人你们在这里见过他。” —

He might get into trouble.”
他可能会惹上麻烦。

“How contrary to human nature it is!” sighed the deacon. —
“这与人性多么不符！”执事叹息道。 —

“Excuse my saying so, but your face was so dreadful that I thought you were going to kill him.”
“请原谅我直言，但是你的脸看起来太可怕了，我以为你要杀了他。”

“I was very much tempted to put an end to that scoundrel,” said Von Koren, “but you shouted close by, and I missed my aim. —
“我曾经非常想干掉那个恶棍，”冯·克伦说，“但你就在附近喊叫，我没打中目标。” —

The whole procedure is revolting to any one who is not used to it, and it has exhausted me, deacon. —
整个过程对于不习惯它的人来说都令人厌恶，也让我精疲力竭，执事。 —

I feel awfully tired. Come along… .”
我感觉非常疲倦。一起走吧……”

“No, you must let me walk back. I must get dry, for I am wet and cold.”
“不，你必须让我走回去。我必须弄干，因为我又湿又冷。”

“Well, as you like,” said the zoologist, in a weary tone, feeling dispirited, and, getting into the carriage, he closed his eyes. —
“好吧，随你便，”动物学家以疲倦的口吻说着，感到意志消沉，上了马车，闭上了眼睛。 —

“As you like… .”
“随你便……”

While they were moving about the carriages and taking their seats, Kerbalay stood in the road, and, laying his hands on his stomach, he bowed low, showing his teeth; —
当他们在车厢中来回走动并就座时，克尔巴赖站在路中央，双手搁在肚子上，低头鞠躬，露出牙齿； —

he imagined that the gentry had come to enjoy the beauties of nature and drink tea, and could not understand why they were getting into the carriages. —
他误以为绅士们是来欣赏自然美景和喝茶的，不明白他们为什么上了马车。 —

The party set off in complete silence and only the deacon was left by the duhan.
那一群人默不作声出发了，只有执事留在了酒店旁。

“Come to the duhan, drink tea,” he said to Kerbalay. “Me wants to eat.”
“到酒店来，喝茶吧，”他对克尔巴赖说。“我想吃。”

Kerbalay spoke good Russian, but the deacon imagined that the Tatar would understand him better if he talked to him in broken Russian. —
克尔巴赖懂得很好的俄语，但执事以为如果用蹩脚的俄语和他说话他会更明白。 —

“Cook omelette, give cheese… .”
“煮个煎蛋，给点奶酪……”

“Come, come, father,” said Kerbalay, bowing. “I’ll give you everything . —
“来吧，父亲，”凯尔巴莱低头说。“我会给你一切。” —

… I’ve cheese and wine… . Eat what you like.”
“…我有奶酪和葡萄酒…。吃你喜欢的。”

“What is ‘God’ in Tatar?” asked the deacon, going into the duhan.
“Tatar语中‘上帝’是什么？”执事问着，走进烟房。

“Your God and my God are the same,” said Kerbalay, not understanding him. —
“你的上帝和我的上帝是一样的，”凯尔巴莱说，不理解他。 —

“God is the same for all men, only men are different. —
“上帝对所有人都是一样的，只有人们不同。 —

Some are Russian, some are Turks, some are English—there are many sorts of men, but God is one.”
有些是俄罗斯人，有些是土耳其人，有些是英国人－人有很多种，但上帝只有一个。”

“Very good. If all men worship the same God, why do you Mohammedans look upon Christians as your everlasting enemies?”
“很好。如果所有人都敬奉同一位上帝，为什么你们穆斯林视基督徒为永恒的敌人呢？”

“Why are you angry?” said Kerbalay, laying both hands on his stomach. “You are a priest; —
“你为什么生气？”凯尔巴莱双手放在肚子上说。“你是神父； —

I am a Mussulman: you say, ‘I want to eat’—I give it you… . —
我是穆斯林：你说，‘我想吃’－我给你。…。 —

Only the rich man distinguishes your God from my God; —
只有富人将你的上帝和我的上帝区分开来； —

for the poor man it is all the same. If you please, it is ready.”
对穷人来说都是一样的。如果你愿意，准备好了。”

While this theological conversation was taking place at the duhan, Laevsky was driving home thinking how dreadful it had been driving there at daybreak, when the roads, the rocks, and the mountains were wet and dark, and the uncertain future seemed like a terrible abyss, of which one could not see the bottom; —
在烟房发生这番神学对话的时候，莱夫斯基正开车回家，想着清晨驾车去的可怕经历，当时道路、岩石和山峰都是潮湿和黑暗的，未来的不确定就像一个看不到底部的可怕深渊； —

while now the raindrops hanging on the grass and on the stones were sparkling in the sun like diamonds, nature was smiling joyfully, and the terrible future was left behind. —
而现在，草地和石头上挂着的雨滴在阳光下闪闪发光，大自然充满喜悦地微笑着，可怕的未来已经留在身后了。 —

He looked at Sheshkovsky’s sullen, tear-stained face, and at the two carriages ahead of them in which Von Koren, his seconds, and the doctor were sitting, and it seemed to him as though they were all coming back from a graveyard in which a wearisome, insufferable man who was a burden to others had just been buried.
他看着谢什科夫斯基阴郁、泪痕斑斑的脸，以及他们前面的两辆马车，里面坐着冯·科仁、他的秒和医生，他觉得他们好像是从一个坟场回来，刚刚埋葬一个给他人带来负担的令人讨厌、令人难以忍受的人。

“Everything is over,” he thought of his past, cautiously touching his neck with his fingers.
“一切都结束了，”他想着他的过去，小心翼翼地用手指触摸着自己的脖子。

On the right side of his neck was a small swelling, of the length and breadth of his little finger, and he felt a pain, as though some one had passed a hot iron over his neck. —
他右侧颈部有一个小肿块，跟他的小指头一样长宽，他感到一阵疼痛，就好像有人在他的脖子上过热的熨斗。 —

The bullet had bruised it.
子弹擦伤了他的颈部。

Afterwards, when he got home, a strange, long, sweet day began for him, misty as forgetfulness. —
后来，当他回到家时，他开始了一天奇怪的、漫长而甜蜜的日子，像遗忘一样朦胧。 —

Like a man released from prison or from hospital, he stared at the long-familiar objects and wondered that the tables, the windows, the chairs, the light, and the sea stirred in him a keen, childish delight such as he had not known for long, long years. —
就像一个从监狱或医院释放出来的人一样，他盯着那些熟悉的东西，惊讶于桌子、窗户、椅子、光线和大海在他心中激起了他已经很久很久没有体验过的强烈、童真的喜悦。 —

Nadyezhda Fyodorovna, pale and haggard, could not understand his gentle voice and strange movements; she made haste to tell him everything that had happened to her. —
纳焉娜.费奥多罗夫娜，苍白而憔悴，无法理解他柔和的声音和奇怪的动作；她急忙把一切发生在她身上的事全部告诉了他。 —

… It seemed to her that very likely he scarcely heard and did not understand her, and that if he did know everything he would curse her and kill her, but he listened to her, stroked her face and hair, looked into her eyes and said:
“…她觉得很可能他几乎没听见，也没理解她，而且如果他知道了一切，他会咒骂她并杀死她，但他却倾听着她，轻抚她的脸和头发，凝视她的眼睛，并说：

“I have nobody but you… .”
“我只有你…”

Then they sat a long while in the garden, huddled close together, saying nothing, or dreaming aloud of their happy life in the future, in brief, broken sentences, while it seemed to him that he had never spoken at such length or so eloquently.
接着他们在花园里坐了很久，紧紧地挨在一起，什么也不说，或者梦想着将来他们幸福的生活，用简洁的、断断续续的句子表达梦想，而在他看来，他好像从未如此长时间地讲话或如此雄辩。

XXI
第二十一章

More than three months had passed.
已经过去三个多月。

The day came that Von Koren had fixed on for his departure. —
维什尼亚辞行的日子到了。 —

A cold, heavy rain had been falling from early morning, a north-east wind was blowing, and the waves were high on the sea. —
一整天都在下着寒冷而大的雨，一股东北风吹着，海浪在风浪中翻滚。 —

It was said that the steamer would hardly be able to come into the harbour in such weather. —
有人说在这样的天气下，轮船可能无法进港了。 —

By the time-table it should have arrived at ten o’clock in the morning, but Von Koren, who had gone on to the sea-front at midday and again after dinner, could see nothing through the field-glass but grey waves and rain covering the horizon.
按照时间表，轮船应该在上午十点抵达，但维什尼亚，中午和晚饭过后再次来到海滨，透过望远镜看到的只是一片灰蒙蒙的海浪和大雨遮盖的地平线。

Towards the end of the day the rain ceased and the wind began to drop perceptibly. —
天将暗下来时，雨停了，风开始逐渐消减。 —

Von Koren had already made up his mind that he would not be able to get off that day, and had settled down to play chess with Samoylenko; —
Von Koren已经下定决心那天他不会离开，他已经安定下来和Samoylenko下棋了; —

but after dark the orderly announced that there were lights on the sea and that a rocket had been seen.
但天黑之后，勤务兵宣布海上有灯光，并且发射了火箭。

Von Koren made haste. He put his satchel over his shoulder, and kissed Samoylenko and the deacon. —
Von Koren急忙起身，他把背包挎在肩上，亲吻了Samoylenko和执事。 —

Though there was not the slightest necessity, he went through the rooms again, said good-bye to the orderly and the cook, and went out into the street, feeling that he had left something behind, either at the doctor’s or his lodging. —
虽然没有丝毫必要，他又重新走过一遍房间，向勤务兵和厨师告别，然后走出街道，感觉好像留下了什么，要么是在医生那里，要么是在自己的住所。 —

In the street he walked beside Samoylenko, behind them came the deacon with a box, and last of all the orderly with two portmanteaus. —
在街上，他和Samoylenko并排走着，后面是执事拿着一个箱子，再后面是勤务兵拿着两只旅行箱。 —

Only Samoylenko and the orderly could distinguish the dim lights on the sea. —
只有Samoylenko和勤务兵能分辨出海上的微弱光亮。 —

The others gazed into the darkness and saw nothing. —
其他人凝视着黑暗，什么也看不见。 —

The steamer had stopped a long way from the coast.
轮船停在离海岸很远的地方。

“Make haste, make haste,” Von Koren hurried them. “I am afraid it will set off.”
“快点快点，” 冯·科连催促他们说道。”我担心它会启航。”

As they passed the little house with three windows, into which Laevsky had moved soon after the duel, Von Koren could not resist peeping in at the window. —
当他们经过那座只有三扇窗户的小房子时，莱夫斯基不久前搬进去，冯·科连忍不住往窗户里探头。 —

Laevsky was sitting, writing, bent over the table, with his back to the window.
莱夫斯基坐在桌子前写字，背对着窗户。

“I wonder at him!” said the zoologist softly. “What a screw he has put on himself!”
“我对他很惊讶！” 动物学家轻声说道。”他对自己太苛刻了！”

“Yes, one may well wonder,” said Samoylenko. —
“是的，确实令人惊讶。” 萨莫伊连科说。 —

“He sits from morning till night, he’s always at work. —
“他从早到晚都坐着，总是在工作。 —

He works to pay off his debts. And he lives, brother, worse than a beggar!”
他工作是为了还债。而且他的生活，兄弟，比乞丐还不如！”

Half a minute of silence followed. The zoologist, the doctor, and the deacon stood at the window and went on looking at Laevsky.
窗前沉默了半分钟。动物学家、医生和执事站在窗前，继续注视着莱夫斯基。

“So he didn’t get away from here, poor fellow,” said Samoylenko. —
“所以他没能离开这里，可怜的家伙，” 萨莫伊连科说。 —

“Do you remember how hard he tried?”
“你还记得他是多么努力吗？”

“Yes, he has put a screw on himself,” Von Koren repeated. —
“是的，他对自己太苛刻了，” 冯·科连重复道。 —

“His marriage, the way he works all day long for his daily bread, a new expression in his face, and even in his walk—it’s all so extraordinary that I don’t know what to call it.”
“他的婚姻，他整天为温饱而工作的方式，他脸上甚至在行走中的新表情——这一切都如此非同寻常，以至于我不知道该如何形容。”

The zoologist took Samoylenko’s sleeve and went on with emotion in his voice:
动物学家拉了拉萨莫伊连科的袖子，声音中带着情感继续说道：

“You tell him and his wife that when I went away I was full of admiration for them and wished them all happiness . —
“告诉他和他的妻子，当我离开时我对他们充满了钦佩之情，祝愿他们幸福。” —

. . and I beg him, if he can, not to remember evil against me. He knows me. —
在这里我求他，如果可能的话，请不要记恨我。他了解我。 —

He knows that if I could have foreseen this change, then I might have become his best friend.”
他知道如果我能预见到这种变化，那么我可能已经成为他最好的朋友了。

“Go in and say good-bye to him.”
“进去和他道别吧。”

“No, that wouldn’t do.”
“不，那样不好。”

“Why? God knows, perhaps you’ll never see him again.”
“为什么呢？天晓得，也许你将永远再也见不到他了。”

The zoologist reflected, and said:
动物学家思考了一下，说道：

“That’s true.”
“这倒是真的。”

Samoylenko tapped softly at the window. Laevsky started and looked round.
萨莫伊连科轻轻敲了敲窗户。莱夫斯基吓了一跳，四下看了看。

“Vanya, Nikolay Vassilitch wants to say goodbye to you,” said Samoylenko. —
“瓦尼亚，尼古拉·瓦西里奇想要和你道别，”萨莫伊连科说。 —

“He is just going away.”
“他就要离开了。”

Laevsky got up from the table, and went into the passage to open the door. —
莱夫斯基从桌子旁站起来，走到过道去打开门。 —

Samoylenko, the zoologist, and the deacon went into the house.
萨莫伊连科、动物学家和牧师走进了屋子。

“I can only come for one minute,” began the zoologist, taking off his goloshes in the passage, and already wishing he had not given way to his feelings and come in, uninvited. —
“我只能呆一分钟，” 动物学家在过道里脱下了他的雨鞋，心里已经开始后悔自己冲动地前来，未经邀请。 —

“It is as though I were forcing myself on him,” he thought, “and that’s stupid.”
“好像我是在强迫自己去见他，” 他心想，“这太傻了。”

“Forgive me for disturbing you,” he said as he went into the room with Laevsky, “but I’m just going away, and I had an impulse to see you. —
“原谅我打扰你，” 他走进和莱夫斯基在一起的房间说道，“但我正要离开，忽然有冲动想见你一面。 —

God knows whether we shall ever meet again.”
上帝知道我们是否会再次见面。”

“I am very glad to see you… . Please come in,” said Laevsky, and he awkwardly set chairs for his visitors as though he wanted to bar their way, and stood in the middle of the room, rubbing his hands.
“很高兴见到你。请进。”莱夫斯基说，笨拙地为客人摆放椅子，仿佛想要挡住他们的道路，站在房间中央，揉着手。

“I should have done better to have left my audience in the street,” thought Von Koren, and he said firmly: —
冯·科连坚定地说：“我本应该让我的观众留在街上。” —

“Don’t remember evil against me, Ivan Andreitch. —
“不要记恨我，伊万·安德烈维奇。” —

To forget the past is, of course, impossible —it is too painful, and I’ve not come here to apologise or to declare that I was not to blame. —
忘记过去当然是不可能的——太痛苦了，我来这里不是为了道歉或声明我不是有过错。 —

I acted sincerely, and I have not changed my convictions since then… . —
我当时是出于真诚行事的，至今仍未改变自己的信念…… —

It is true that I see, to my great delight, that I was mistaken in regard to you, but it’s easy to make a false step even on a smooth road, and, in fact, it’s the natural human lot: —
我打心眼里为看到我对你误解而感到高兴，但就算在平坦的道路上，也很容易犯错误，实际上，这是自然人类的命运： —

if one is not mistaken in the main, one is mistaken in the details. —
如果在主要问题上没有犯错，就会在细节上出现错误。 —

Nobody knows the real truth.”
没有人知道真理。

“No, no one knows the truth,” said Laevsky.
“是的，没人知道真相。”莱夫斯基说。

“Well, good-bye… . God give you all happiness.”
“嗯，再见……愿上帝赐予你所有的幸福。”

Von Koren gave Laevsky his hand; the latter took it and bowed.
冯·科连伸出手，莱夫斯基握住并鞠了一躬。

“Don’t remember evil against me,” said Von Koren. “Give my greetings to your wife, and say I am very sorry not to say good-bye to her.”
“不要记恨我。”冯·科连说。“向你的妻子问好，告诉她很抱歉没来得及和她道别。”

“She is at home.”
“她在家。”

Laevsky went to the door of the next room, and said:
莱夫斯基走到隔壁房间的门口，说：

“Nadya, Nikolay Vassilitch wants to say goodbye to you.”
“娜杰日达，尼古拉·瓦西里奇想要与你告别。”

Nadyezhda Fyodorovna came in; she stopped near the doorway and looked shyly at the visitors. —
娜杰日达·费奥多罗夫娜走了进来，停在门口处，羞怯地看着客人们。 —

There was a look of guilt and dismay on her face, and she held her hands like a schoolgirl receiving a scolding.
她脸上带着一种内疚和沮丧的表情，双手像个学生受到责骂般放在一起。

“I’m just going away, Nadyezhda Fyodorovna,” said Von Koren, “and have come to say good-bye.”
“我只是要离开，娜杰日达·费奥多罗夫娜，”冯·科伦说，“我来道别。”

She held out her hand uncertainly, while Laevsky bowed.
她迟疑地伸出手，而莱夫斯基鞠了一个躬。

“What pitiful figures they are, though! —
“不过他们是多么可怜啊！”冯·科伦心想，“他们生活得并不轻松。” —

” thought Von Koren. “The life they are living does not come easy to them. —
他们走得并不轻松。” —

I shall be in Moscow and Petersburg; can I send you anything?” he asked.
“我将前往莫斯科和圣彼得堡; 我可以给你们送点什么吗？”他问。

“Oh!” said Nadyezhda Fyodorovna, and she looked anxiously at her husband. —
“哦！”娜杰日达·费奥多罗夫娜说道，焦急地看了一眼她的丈夫。 —

“I don’t think there’s anything… .”
“我想没有什么……”

“No, nothing …” said Laevsky, rubbing his hands. “Our greetings.”
“不，没有什么……”莱夫斯基边搓着手说道，“代我们问候。”

Von Koren did not know what he could or ought to say, though as he went in he thought he would say a very great deal that would be warm and good and important. —
冯·科伦不知道自己能够或者应该说些什么，虽然当他进去时，他认为自己会说出非常热情、良好且重要的话语。 —

He shook hands with Laevsky and his wife in silence, and left them with a depressed feeling.
他默默地与莱夫斯基夫妇握手，留下了一丝沮丧的感觉。

“What people!” said the deacon in a low voice, as he walked behind them. “My God, what people! —
“这些人！” 司铎低声说着，跟在他们后面走。“我的天啊，这些人！ —

Of a truth, the right hand of God has planted this vine! Lord! Lord! —
“诚然, 至高之手种植了这葡萄藤！主啊！主啊！” —

One man vanquishes thousands and another tens of thousands. —
一个人征服了成千上万，另一个人征服了成千上万。 —

Nikolay Vassilitch,” he said ecstatically, “let me tell you that to-day you have conquered the greatest of man’s enemies—pride.”
尼古拉·瓦西里奇，“他狂喜地说，“让我告诉你，今天你战胜了人类最大的敌人-骄傲。”

“Hush, deacon! Fine conquerors we are! Conquerors ought to look like eagles, while he’s a pitiful figure, timid, crushed; —
“嘘，执事！我们是多么伟大的征服者！征服者应该像雄鹰一样看待，而他，却是一个可怜的形象，胆怯，被打败； —

he bows like a Chinese idol, and I, I am sad… .”
他像中国的偶像一样鞠躬，而我，我很沮丧。”

They heard steps behind them. It was Laevsky, hurrying after them to see him off. —
他们听到身后传来脚步声。是莱夫斯基，匆忙赶来送他们离开。 —

The orderly was standing on the quay with the two portmanteaus, and at a little distance stood four boatmen.
士兵站在码头上，两只行李箱旁边，稍远处站着四名船夫。

“There is a wind, though… . Brrr!” said Samoylenko. —
“虽然有风… . 哼！”萨莫伦科说。 —

“There must be a pretty stiff storm on the sea now! —
“现在海上一定是一场相当猛烈的风暴！ —

You are not going off at a nice time, Koyla.”
你选的时候真不走运，科伊拉。”

“I’m not afraid of sea-sickness.”
“我不怕晕船。”

“That’s not the point… . I only hope these rascals won’t upset you. —
“问题不在于这个。 … 我只希望这些流氓不会把你弄翻。 —

You ought to have crossed in the agent’s sloop. —
你应该在代理的快艇上过河。 —

Where’s the agent’s sloop?” he shouted to the boatmen.
代理的快艇在哪里？”他朝船夫喊道。

“It has gone, Your Excellency.”
“已经走了，阁下。”

“And the Customs-house boat?”
“那海关的船呢？”

“That’s gone, too.”
“那也已经消失了。”

“Why didn’t you let us know,” said Samoylenko angrily. “You dolts!”
“为什么你不通知我们呢，”萨莫连科生气地说。“你们这些蠢货！”

“It’s all the same, don’t worry yourself … —
“都一样的，别自己瞎操心 …” —

” said Von Koren. “Well, good-bye. God keep you.”
“凯恩说。“那么，再见。愿上帝保佑你。”

Samoylenko embraced Von Koren and made the sign of the cross over him three times.
萨莫连科拥抱了凯恩并在他身上连画了三个十字。

“Don’t forget us, Kolya… . Write… . We shall look out for you next spring.”
“别忘了我们，科里亚。…写信…我们会在明年春天等候你。”

“Good-bye, deacon,” said Von Koren, shaking hands with the deacon. —
“再见，神父，”凯恩与神父握手时说。 —

“Thank you for your company and for your pleasant conversation. —
“谢谢你的陪伴和愉快的交谈。” —

Think about the expedition.”
想想远征计划。”

“Oh Lord, yes! to the ends of the earth,” laughed the deacon. “I’ve nothing against it.”
“哦，主啊！是的！去地球的尽头，”神父笑着说。“我没有反对。”

Von Koren recognised Laevsky in the darkness, and held out his hand without speaking. —
凯恩在黑暗中认出了莱夫斯基，默默地伸出手来。 —

The boatmen were by now below, holding the boat, which was beating against the piles, though the breakwater screened it from the breakers. —
船夫们现在在下面，抓住了船，船在撞击桩木，虽然防波堤使它免受碎浪的影响。 —

Von Koren went down the ladder, jumped into the boat, and sat at the helm.
凯恩下梯子，跳进小船，坐在舵旁。

“Write!” Samoylenko shouted to him. “Take care of yourself.”
“写封信！”萨莫连科向他大喊。“照顾好自己。”

“No one knows the real truth,” thought Laevsky, turning up the collar of his coat and thrusting his hands into his sleeves.
“没有人知道真相，”莱夫斯基想着，抬起大衣领，把手插进袖子里。

The boat turned briskly out of the harbour into the open sea. —
小船迅速地驶出港口，驶向无边的大海。 —

It vanished in the waves, but at once from a deep hollow glided up onto a high breaker, so that they could distinguish the men and even the oars. —
小船消失在浪涛中，但立刻又从一个深渊滑上了一个高浪，以至他们能看清楚那些人和甚至是桨。 —

The boat moved three yards forward and was sucked two yards back.
小船向前移动了三码，又被退回两码。

“Write!” shouted Samoylenko; “it’s devilish weather for you to go in.”
“写作！”萨莫连科大声喊道，“这是你们去的时候的恶劣天气。”

“Yes, no one knows the real truth … —
“是的，没有人知道真相…… —

” thought Laevsky, looking wearily at the dark, restless sea.
“想到雷夫斯基，疲倦地望着黑暗不安的海。

“It flings the boat back,” he thought; “she makes two steps forward and one step back; —
“她将小船推回，”他想，“它走两步，后退一步； —

but the boatmen are stubborn, they work the oars unceasingly, and are not afraid of the high waves. —
但划船工却执着地划着浆，不知畏惧高浪。 —

The boat goes on and on. Now she is out of sight, but in half an hour the boatmen will see the steamer lights distinctly, and within an hour they will be by the steamer ladder. —
小船继续前行。现在她已不见了，但半小时后，船工们就能清晰地看到轮船的灯光，一个小时后他们就会在轮船的梯子旁了。 —

So it is in life… . In the search for truth man makes two steps forward and one step back. —
这就是生活……在追寻真相时，人们走两步前进，后退一步。 —

Suffering, mistakes, and weariness of life thrust them back, but the thirst for truth and stubborn will drive them on and on. —
苦难、错误和生活的厌倦将他们推回，但对真相的渴望和坚定的意志将他们一直推动。 —

And who knows? Perhaps they will reach the real truth at last.”
谁知道呢？也许他们最终会达到真相。”

“Go—o—od-by—e,” shouted Samoylenko.
“再见——”萨莫连科喊道。

“There’s no sight or sound of them,” said the deacon. “Good luck on the journey!”
“他们看不见，也听不见。”执事说，“一路平安！”

It began to spot with rain.
开始下起了雨。