【經(jīng)典名著閱讀】《紅字》第四章(上)
作者:Nathaniel Hawthorne
2011-08-04 09:30
The stranger had entered the room with the characteristic quietude of the profession to which he announced himself as belonging. Nor did his demeanour change, when the withdrawal of the prison keeper left him face to face with the woman, whose absorbed notice of him, in the crowd, had intimated so close a relation between himself and her. His first care was given to the child; whose cries, indeed, as she lay writhing on the trundle-bed, made it of peremptory necessity to postpone all other business to the task of soothing her. He examined the infant carefully, and then proceeded to unclasp a leathern case, which he took from beneath his dress. It appeared to contain medical preparations, one of which he mingled with a cup of water.
陌生人心平氣和地走進(jìn)牢房,那態(tài)度倒和他自稱的醫(yī)生職業(yè)相稱??词赝顺鲆院?,只剩他和那女人面面相對(duì)時(shí),他依然平靜如初,盡管她在人群中曾經(jīng)那么專注地望著他,已經(jīng)說明他倆之間的關(guān)系密切異常。他先診視那孩子,是啊,那嬰兒躺在輪床上輾轉(zhuǎn)哭泣,使他不能不撇下其它,把平息她作為當(dāng)務(wù)之急,他仔細(xì)地診視了孩子,然后從懷里掏出一個(gè)皮匣。里面象是裝著藥物,他取出一粒,攪進(jìn)一杯水里。
?
"My old studies in alchemy," observed he, "and my sojourn, for above a year past, among a people well versed in the kindly properties of simples, have made a better physician of me than many that claim the medical degree. Here, woman! The child is yours- she is none of mine- neither will she recognise my voice or aspect as a father's. Administer this draught, therefore, with thine own hand."
“我過去對(duì)煉金術(shù)的研究,”他述說著,“再加上過去一年里生活在一個(gè)精通草藥品性的民族中間,使我比許多科班出身的醫(yī)生更高明。聽我說,婦人!這孩于是你的——和我毫無血緣——她也不會(huì)把我的音容認(rèn)作是她父親的。所以,還是由你親手給她喂藥吧?!?/div>?
Hester repelled the offered medicine, at the same time gazing with strongly marked apprehension into his face.
海絲特推開了他舉著的那劑藥,兩眼疑慮重重地緊盯著他的面孔。
?
"Wouldst thou avenge thyself on the innocent babe?" whispered she.
“你打算在這無辜的嬰兒身上發(fā)泄你的仇恨嗎?”她悄聲說。
?
"Foolish woman!" responded the physician, half coldly, half soothingly. "What should ail me, to harm this misbegotten and miserable babe? The medicine is potent for good; and were it my child-yea, mine own, as well as thine!- I could do no better for it."
“愚蠢的女人!”那醫(yī)生不冷不熱地應(yīng)道。“加害于這樣一個(gè)不幸的私生嬰兒,難道我發(fā)瘋了?給她喝下去會(huì)藥到病除的;即使她是我的孩子——對(duì),既是我的,當(dāng)然也就是你的!——我也沒有更好的藥了?!?/div>?
As she still hesitated, being, in fact, in no reasonable state of mind, he took the infant in his arms, and himself administered the draught. It soon proved its efficacy, and redeemed the leech's pledge. The moans of the little patient subsided; its convulsive tossings gradually ceased; and, in a few moments, as is the custom of young children after relief from pain, it sank into a profound and dewy slumber. The physician, as he had a fair right to be termed, next bestowed his attention on the mother. With calm and intent scrutiny, he felt her pulse, looked into her eyes- a gaze that made her heart shrink and shudder, because so familiar, and yet so strange and cold- and, finally, satisfied with his investigation, proceeded to mingle another draught.
她仍然遲疑不決,事實(shí)上,她的頭腦此時(shí)已經(jīng)不清醒了。他便借機(jī)抱過嬰兒,親自給她喂了藥。藥力很快便見了效,看來醫(yī)生說話算數(shù)?;疾〉男〖一锏纳雴酒较⒘耍d攣般的扭動(dòng)也逐漸停止了,過了一會(huì)兒,她就象病兒解除痛苦之后慣見的那樣,香甜地進(jìn)入了夢(mèng)鄉(xiāng)。那醫(yī)生如今可以當(dāng)之無愧了,這才探視作母親的:他仔細(xì)認(rèn)真、專心致志地為她摸脈,還觀察她的眼睛——他的盯視本是如此熟悉,此時(shí)卻陌生而冷酷,只看得她的心都抽搐了,收緊了——最后,他滿意地結(jié)束了診斷,開始調(diào)和另一劑藥。
?
- 相關(guān)熱點(diǎn):
- 美劇
- 英語文化
- 滬江讀書頻道
- 復(fù)仇
- 英語四級(jí)萬能作文
猜你喜歡
-
【經(jīng)典名著閱讀】《紅字》第十二章(上)
《紅字》是19世紀(jì)美利堅(jiān)合眾國(guó)浪漫主義作家霍桑的長(zhǎng)篇小說。發(fā)表于1850年。小說以兩百多年前的殖民地時(shí)代的美洲為題材,但揭露的卻是19世紀(jì)資本主義發(fā)展時(shí)代美利堅(jiān)合眾國(guó)社會(huì)典法的殘酷、宗教的欺騙和道德的虛
-
【經(jīng)典名著閱讀】《紅字》第七章(上)
《紅字》是19世紀(jì)美利堅(jiān)合眾國(guó)浪漫主義作家霍桑的長(zhǎng)篇小說。發(fā)表于1850年。小說以兩百多年前的殖民地時(shí)代的美洲為題材,但揭露的卻是19世紀(jì)資本主義發(fā)展時(shí)代美利堅(jiān)合眾國(guó)社會(huì)典法的殘酷、宗教的欺騙和道德的虛
-
【經(jīng)典名著閱讀】《紅字》第六章(上)
《紅字》是19世紀(jì)美利堅(jiān)合眾國(guó)浪漫主義作家霍桑的長(zhǎng)篇小說。發(fā)表于1850年。小說以兩百多年前的殖民地時(shí)代的美洲為題材,但揭露的卻是19世紀(jì)資本主義發(fā)展時(shí)代美利堅(jiān)合眾國(guó)社會(huì)典法的殘酷、宗教的欺騙和道德的虛
閱讀排行榜
滬江英語微信