我曾经说过,对语言的情绪链接,是深入学习语言的关键,今天的原版书阅读是19世纪英国女作家艾米莉·勃朗特的《呼啸山庄》,这部奇特而饱受争议的作品,以此为例对语言进行分析。
艾米莉·勃朗特,(Emily Jane Bronte,1818年7月30日-1848年12月19日),19世纪英国作家与诗人,著名的勃朗特三姐妹 之一,世界文学名著《呼啸山庄 》的作者。这部作品是艾米莉·勃朗特 一生中唯一的一部小说,奠定了她在英国文学史 以及世界文学史 上的地位。
《呼啸山庄》是一部带有奇幻色彩的文学作品,男女主人公都不是传统意义上的好人,他们自私任性,甚至性格暴虐,他们的个性更多的是未经开化的野蛮人状态,也许是这段故事发生的地点位于英格兰荒凉风大的旷野有关。为了爱情,他们的所作所为令人瞠目结舌,但是他们的爱情却极为真挚,超越生死,无关性欲,比任何文明人的爱情都更纯粹,令人感动。
请看男女主人公对爱情的表白:
(chapter 9)Catherine:
It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him: and that, not because he's handsome, Nelly, but because he's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same; and Linton's is as different as a moonbeam(月光) from lightning, or frost from fire.
(chapter 33)Heathcliff:
In the first place, his startling likeness to Catherine connected him fearfully with her. That, however, which you may suppose the most potent(有效的) to arrest my imagination, is actually the least: for what is not connected with her to me? and what does not recall(回忆) her? I cannot look down to this floor, but her features are shaped in the flags! In every cloud, in every tree--filling the air at night, and caught by glimpses in every object by day--I am surrounded with her image! The most ordinary faces of men and women--my own features--mock me with a resemblance. The entire world is a dreadful collection of memoranda(备忘录) that she did exist, and that I have lost her!
以下是来自百度百科的故事梗概:
英格兰北部,有一座几乎与世隔绝的“呼啸山庄”。主人欧肖收养了一个弃儿,取名希斯克利夫,让他与自己的儿女辛德雷和凯瑟琳一起生活。希斯克利夫与凯瑟琳朝夕相处并萌发了爱情,但辛德雷十分憎恶他。老欧肖死后,辛德雷不仅禁止希斯克利夫与凯瑟琳接触,还对他百般虐待和侮辱,这加剧了希斯克利夫对辛德雷的怨恨,也加深了他对凯瑟琳的爱。
一天,希斯克利夫与凯瑟琳秘密外出,认识了邻近的画眉田庄的小主人埃德加·埃德加。这个貌似温文尔雅的富家子弟倾慕凯瑟琳的美貌,向她求婚,天真幼稚的凯瑟琳同意嫁给埃德加。希斯克利夫知道凯瑟琳出嫁的消息,痛不欲生,愤然出走。
数年之后,衣锦还乡的希斯克利夫要向辛德雷和埃德加进行报复。辛德雷是个生活放荡的纨绔子弟,酗酒、赌博,肆意挥霍家产,终至穷困潦倒。连剩下的家产都抵押给了希斯克利夫,并沦为他的奴仆。希斯克利夫经常拜访画眉田庄,埃德加的妹妹伊莎贝拉对他倾心不已,最后随他私奔。但希斯克利夫把她囚禁在呼啸山庄并折磨她,以发泄自己强烈的怨愤。
凯瑟琳嫁给埃德加以后,看清了丈夫伪善的面目,内心十分悔恨。希斯克利夫的衣锦荣归,更使她悲愧交加。绝望中她病倒了,并很快就死去了,留下一个早产的女婴——凯蒂。
伊莎贝拉趁乱逃了出来,来到伦敦郊外,不久生了一个男孩,取名埃德加·希斯克利夫。辛德雷在凯瑟琳死后不到半年便酗酒而死,而他的儿子哈里顿落入希斯克利夫的掌心,希斯克利夫在孩子身上进一步实施报复,12年后,伊莎贝拉病死他乡,希斯克利夫接回儿子,但却非常厌恶他。
希斯克利夫趁埃德加病危之际,将凯蒂接来,并强迫她与儿子结婚。几天后,埃德加死去,希斯克利夫又成了画眉田庄的主人。小希斯克利夫婚后不久也悄然死去。
这时,哈里顿已经23岁了,尽管被剥夺了受教育的权利,缺乏人间的温暖,但他敦厚忠实,风度翩翩。凯蒂对他产生了爱情。这让希斯克利夫大为恼怒,他决心拆散这对恋人。然而,当他再仔细观察他们时,昔日的凯瑟琳和他相爱时的情景浮现眼前。此时此刻,他心头的恨消退了,爱复活了,他不忍心再报复。他要去寻找凯瑟琳。在一个风雪之夜,他呼唤着凯瑟琳的名字,离开了人世。
这段梗概内容完备。但是有一些观点太过主观,我不能认可:首先凯瑟琳并不天真幼稚。从始至终,她都爱着希斯克利夫,如果天真幼稚的话,她应该跟随自己的内心,选择希斯克利夫。她却因为害怕拉低阶层,选择了跟自己同阶层的埃德加,放弃了深爱的希斯克利夫,最终导致自己的悲剧。这说明她的思维很现实,是深思熟虑之后的考虑,以她的年龄来看,算是非常成熟。她的个性顽强,任性却无法掌控全局。她和埃德加婚后过的也算幸福,因为物质不缺,虽然她内心还藏着希斯克利夫。因为她的自私和短视,她的悲剧是咎由自取。可是,处于她的阶层和地位,她并没有错。她没有远见预料到跟埃德加结婚之后,会造成自己和希斯克利夫的痛苦及死亡。她也没有预料到希斯克利夫会疯狂的报复,导致了娘家和夫家的悲剧。她潜意识里认为自己能够为所欲为,觉得怎么选择都是她的自由,即使伤害别人了,都应该接受。可是她高估了自己的能力。
埃德加绝不伪善,他只是懦弱。对比希斯克利夫决绝的个性,埃德加人格魅力缺乏,但是他的底色并不伪善。埃德加一开始本该看清凯瑟琳的面目离开她,自己却无法抗拒凯瑟琳,却反而去跟她求婚。他不喜欢希斯克利夫,因为对埃德加来说,希斯克利夫是情敌,自然本能地会讨厌他。但是他作为农场主儿子的傲慢,导致他小瞧了希斯克利夫,此外由于他的懦弱,他虽然知道凯瑟琳和希斯克利夫之间的感情,却从来不敢正面迎战情敌。他认真对待自己喜欢的女孩凯瑟琳,婚后尽全力让对方幸福。凯瑟琳死后,他把爱寄托到女儿身上。他终生只爱着凯瑟琳,全力抚养她留下的女儿,而小凯瑟琳是在父亲满满的爱中长大的,内心纯良。这是全书中除了凯瑟琳和希斯克利夫的爱情之外,唯一温馨,明亮的情节。这样一个人,不能用伪善来评价他。只是他的个性非常懦弱,缺乏勇气。在希斯克利夫消失三年回来复仇时,他先是看着自己的妹妹跟自己的仇人在一起,却没有用尽力气去阻止。十几年后,妹妹死前将儿子小林顿托付给他,他虽然尽力抚养,最终却不得不眼睁睁地看着自己的侄子被希斯克里带走,束手无策。接下来因为希斯克利夫的复仇,要侵吞埃德加家的财产,非要撮合小凯瑟琳和小林顿,他却没有办法阻止,直到抑郁而死,最终小凯瑟琳成为寡妇。虽然我理解他的无奈,但是我又气愤他的无所作为。他是一个理性而温和的人,也是很有智慧的人,但是他却逐步放任事态恶化,他内心无法摆脱对自己的束缚。作为一个男人,英国在刚开始的时候,应该摆出战斗的姿态,不能让希斯克利夫践踏自己的底线,把自己逼上绝路,从而酿成更大的悲剧。纵观全书,他是唯一能够跟希斯克利夫抗衡的人,可是他却不战而败,选择屈服,我实在不能接受这样的结局。可是他对亡妻一往情深,他对女儿倾尽全力地抚养,以及照顾,都让读者动容。对比之下,希斯克利夫只在意凯瑟琳,甚至将自己的亲生儿子作为工具来报复,毫无舔犊之情。
辛德雷憎恨夺走父爱的希斯克利夫本人,但是读者却能够理解他的行为。
当老恩肖先生把希斯克利夫带回家时,辛德雷才14岁。此后,老恩肖对希斯克利夫表现出更多的爱,在养子和亲子之间有矛盾的时候,他更多地照顾养子的感受。这才导致亲子对养子浓烈的恨意,在老恩肖死后,辛德雷反扑,开始虐待希斯克利夫。而且,不仅是亲子关系,老恩肖先生和妻子的关系,也因为养子大受影响,最终老恩肖抑郁而终。我们从一个孩子辛德雷的角度来说,父亲从精神上否定和抛弃自己,对一个性格在形成的孩子是有致命打击的。虽然我能理解老恩肖作为一个基督徒的大爱,我也知道万事难以两全,但是这种悲剧性的结局,本来可以避免,可是老恩肖却难以取舍。当然辛德雷放纵自己的肉体,沉溺于妻子死亡的悲剧,酗酒成瘾,虐待希斯克利夫,最后遭到希斯克利夫报复,失去自己的家园和地位,也是他自己造成的。可是老恩肖要做一个好人,却没有考虑到希斯克利夫的定位和出路,最终导致亲子和养子之间水火不容。所以,做一个好人,是需要能力的,如果没有能力的话,就不要参与这些因果。
整篇小说中的一抹亮色,就是埃德加和小凯瑟琳之间的父女之爱。埃德加最爱的是妻子,在妻子死后,一心一地抚养女儿,而且决不让女儿接触呼啸山庄,就是怕受到希斯克里的影响。他对女儿的爱,无私温情,小凯瑟琳在这种爱中成长的很幸福,内心纯良。
我更感叹的是,老恩肖先生和埃德加的对比,老恩肖先生把希斯克利夫带回家,精心抚育他,把不属于自己的责任揽上身,夫妻关系,亲子关系都受到了很大的影响,晚年的心情大受影响,他展现了基督徒的大爱;而埃德加本该坚决守护自己的家庭,不管是对他妹妹,还是对女儿,都应该尽全力阻止其行为产生的后果,然而该做的事情他没有全力去做。如果这两个人能有上帝视角,看到更远的未来,可能所有的一切都会改变。
而故事梗概,我更喜欢这种描述:
19世纪,在英国约克郡一个阴沉的荒原边上,名叫希斯克利夫的一个吉普赛男孩,被欧肖先生带到呼啸山庄。他得到主人之女凯瑟琳的钟爱,凯瑟琳在爱的同时,又无法拒绝自己想过优裕生活的愿望,而能提供这种生活条件的,却是邻居埃德加·埃德加。希斯克利夫无意中得知后,悄然离去,凯瑟琳在愁苦心情中嫁给了埃德加。几年后希斯克利夫风度翩翩地回来了,埃德加的妹妹伊莎贝拉爱上了他,他买下了呼啸山庄,他与伊莎贝拉结婚以后,希斯克利夫的冷淡无情使伊莎贝拉很快枯萎凋谢,凯瑟琳也因为悲伤过度而濒临死亡。希斯克利夫在凯瑟琳弥留之际来到她身边,把她抱到窗前姚望那方岩石——童年时代那曾是他们的“城堡”凯瑟琳说她等待着,总有一天他们会团圆,然后死去。
希斯克利夫心神错乱,在哀悼凯凯瑟琳和期待死亡中捱过了20年。他对周围一切人都极端轻蔑、百般折磨,直到凯瑟琳的幽灵在一个严冬的雪夜把他召唤到他们最喜爱的荒原上某个地方,在死亡中重新聚会。
这场由爱情悲剧引发的人格扭曲,最终以希斯克利夫看到年轻人之间的爱情,回忆起自己和凯瑟琳的爱情悲剧,决定成全他们,而停止复仇告终。
作为名著,自然有许多倾尽作者心血的情节,值得我们仔细琢磨,下面我们来看一下小说中的重要节选。
1 老恩肖死亡,希斯克利夫失去庇佑。
`Why canst thou not always be a good lass, Cathy?' And she turned her face up to his, and laughed, and answered, `Why cannot you always be a good man, father?' But as soon as she saw him vexed again, she kissed his hand, and said she would sing him to sleep. She began singing very low, till his fingers dropped from hers, and his head sank on his breast. Then I told her to hush, and not stir, for fear she should wake him. We all kept as mute as mice a full half-hour, and should have done longer, only Joseph, having finished his chapter, got up and said that he must rouse the master for prayers and bed. He stepped forward, and called him by name, and touched his shoulder; but he would not move, so he took the candle and looked at him. I thought there was something wrong as he set down the light; and seizing the children each by an arm, whispered them to `frame upstairs, and make little din--they might pray alone that evening--he had summut to do'.
你为什么不能永远做一个好姑娘呢,凯蒂?”她扬起脸来向他大笑着回答:“你为什么不能永远作一个好男人呢,父亲?”但是一看见他又恼了,凯蒂就去亲他的手,还说要唱支歌使他入睡。她开始低声唱着,直到父亲的手指从她手里滑落出来,头垂在胸前。这时我告诉她要住声,也别动弹,怕她吵醒了他。我们整整有半个钟头都像耗子似的不声不响。本来还可以呆得久些,只是约瑟夫读完了那一章,站起来说他得把主人唤醒,让他作了祷告去上床睡。他走上前去,叫唤主人,碰碰他的肩膀,可是他不动,于是,他拿支蜡烛看他。他放下蜡烛的时候,我感到出事了。他一手抓着一个孩子的胳臂,小声跟他们说快上楼去,别出声——这一晚他们可以自己祷告——他还有事。
`I shall bid father good night first,' said Catherine, putting her arms round his neck, before we could hinder her. The poor thing discovered her loss directly--she screamed out--`Oh, he's dead, Heathcliff! he's dead!' And they both set up a heart-breaking cry.
我要先跟父亲说声晚安,”凯瑟琳说。我们没来得及拦住她,她已一下子伸出胳臂,搂住了他的脖子。这可怜的东西马上发现了她的损失,就尖声大叫:“啊,他死啦,希刺克厉夫!他死啦!”他们两人就放声大哭,哭得令人心碎。
I joined my wail to theirs, loud and bitter; but Joseph asked what we could be thinking of to roar in that way over a saint in heaven. He told me to put on my cloak and run to Gimmerton for the doctor and the parson. I could not guess the use that either would be of, then. However, I went, through wind and rain, and brought one, the doctor, back with me; the other said he would come in the morning. leaving Joseph to explain matters, I ran to the children's room: their door was ajar, I saw they had never laid down, though it was past midnight; but they were calmer, and did not need me to console them. The little souls were comforting each other with better thoughts than I could have hit on: no parson in the world ever pictured heaven so beautifully as they did, in their innocent talk: and, while I sobbed and listened, I could not help wishing we were all there safe together.
我也和他们一起恸哭,哭声又高又惨。可是约瑟夫向我们说,对一位已经升天的圣人,这样吼叫是什么意思。他叫我穿上外衣,赶紧跑到吉默屯去请医生和牧师。当时我猜不透请这两个人来有什么用。可是我还是冒着风雨去了,带回来个医生,另一个说他明天早上来。约瑟夫留在那里向医生解说一切,而我便跑到孩子们的房间里去。门半开着,虽然已经过半夜了,他们根本就没躺下来。只是已安静些了,不需要我来安慰了。这两个小灵魂正在用比我所能想到的更好的思想互相安慰着:世上没有一个牧师,能把天堂描画得像他们在自己天真的话语中所描画的那样美丽;当我一边抽泣,一边听着的时候,我不由得祝愿我们大家都平平安安地一块到天堂去。
2 凯瑟琳暴露出自私任性的一面,引起埃德加不满,可是反而促成埃德加和凯瑟琳之间关系的确立。
`What's that, then?' I retorted, showing a decided purple witness to refute her.
“那么,这是什么?”我回嘴,指着我明摆着的紫斑作为见证来驳倒她。
She stamped her foot, wavered a moment, and then irresistibly impelled by the naughty spirit within her, slapped me on the cheek a stinging blow that filled both eyes with water.
她跺脚,犹豫了一阵,然后,无法抗拒她那种顽劣的情绪,便狠狠地打了我一个耳光,打得我的两眼都溢满泪水。
`Catherine, love! Catherine!' interposed Linton, greatly shocked at the double fault of falsehood and violence which his idol had committed.
“凯瑟琳,亲爱的!凯瑟琳!”林顿插进来,看到他的偶像犯了欺骗与粗暴的双重错误大为震惊。
`Leave the room, Ellen!' she repeated, trembling all over.
“离开这间屋子,艾伦!”她重复说,浑身发抖。
Little Hareton, who followed me everywhere, and was sitting near me on the floor, at seeing my tears commenced crying himself, and sobbed out complaints against `wicked aunt Cathy', which drew her fury on to his unlucky head: she seized his shoulders, and shook him till the poor child waxed livid, and Edgar thoughtlessly laid hold of her hands to deliver him. In an instant one was wrung free, and the astonished young man felt it applied over his own ear in a way that could not be mistaken for jest. He drew back in consternation. I lifted Hareton in my arms, and walked off to the kitchen with him, leaving the door of communication open, for I was curious to watch how they would settle their disagreement. The insulted visitor moved to the spot where he had laid his hat, pale and with a quivering lip.
小哈里顿原是到处跟着我的,这时正挨近我坐在地板上,一看见我的眼泪,他自己也哭起来,而且哭着骂“坏凯蒂姑姑”,这把她的怒火又惹到他这不幸的孩子的头上来了。她抓住他的肩膀,摇得这可怜的孩子脸都变青了。埃德加连想也没想便抓住她的手好让她放掉他。刹那间,有一只手挣脱出来,这吓坏了的年轻人才发觉这只手已打到了他自己的耳朵上,看样子绝不可能被误会为是开玩笑。她惊慌失措地缩回了手。我把哈里顿抱起来,带着他走到厨房去,却把进出的门开着,因为我很好奇,想看看他们怎么解决他们的不愉快。这个被侮辱了的客人走到他放帽子的地方,面色苍白,嘴唇直颤。
`That's right!' I said to myself. `Take warning and begone! It's a kindness to let you have a glimpse of her genuine disposition.'
“那才对!”我自言自语,“接受警告,滚吧!让你看一眼她真正的脾气,这才是好事哩。”
`Where are you going?' demanded Catherine, advancing to the door.
“你到哪儿去?”凯瑟琳走到门口追问着。
He swerved aside, and attempted to pass.
他偏过身子,打算走过去。
`You must not go!' she exclaimed energetically.
“你可不能走!”她执拗地叫嚷着。
`I must and shall!' he replied in a subdued voice.
“我非走不可,而且就要走!”他压低了声音回答。
`No,' she persisted, grasping the handle; `not yet, Edgar Linton: sit down; you shall not leave me in that temper. I should be miserable all night, and I won't be miserable for you!'
“不行,”她坚持着,握紧门柄,“现在还不能走,埃德加·林顿。坐下来,你不能就这样离开我。我会整夜难过,但是我不愿意为你难过!”
`Can I stay after you have struck me?' asked Linton.
“你打了我,我还能留下来么?”林顿问。
Catherine was mute.
凯瑟琳不吭气了。
`You've made me afraid and ashamed of you,' he continued; `I'll not come here again!'
“你已经使得我怕你,为你害臊了,”他接着说,“我不会再到这儿来了!”
Her eyes began to glisten, and her lids to twinkle.
她的眼睛开始发亮,眼皮直眨。
`And you told a deliberate untruth!' he said.
“而且你有意撒谎!”他说。
`I didn't!' she cried, recovering her speech; `I did nothing deliberately. Well, go, if you please--get away! And now I'll cry--I'll cry myself sick!'
“我没有!”她喊道,又开腔了,“我什么都不是故意的。好,走吧,随你的便——走开!现在我要哭啦——我要一直哭到半死不活!”
She dropped down on her knees by a chair, and set to weeping in serious earnest. Edgar persevered in his resolution as far as the court; there he lingered. I resolved to encourage him.
她跪在一张椅子跟前,开始认真痛切地哭起来。埃德加保持他的决心径直走到院子里;到了那儿,他又踌躇起来。我决定去鼓励他。
`Miss is dreadfully wayward, sir,' I called out. `As bad as any marred child: you'd better be riding home, or else she will be sick only to grieve us.'
“小姐是非常任性的,先生,”我大声叫,“坏得像任何惯坏了的孩子一样。你最好还是骑马回家,不然她要闹得死去活来,不过是折磨我们大家罢了。”
The soft thing looked askance through the window: he possessed the power to depart, as much as a cat possesses the power to leave a mouse half killed, or a bird half eaten. Ah, I thought, there will be no saving him: he's doomed, and flies to his fate! And so it was: he turned abruptly, hastened into the house again, shut the door behind him; and when I went in a while after to inform them that Earnshaw had come home rabid drunk, ready to pull the whole place about our ears (his ordinary frame of mind in that condition), I saw the quarrel had merely effected a closer intimacy had broken the outworks of youthful timidity, and enabled them to forsake the disguise of friendship, and confess themselves lovers.
这软骨头斜着眼向窗里望:他简直没有力量走开,正像一只猫无力离开一只半死的耗子或是一只吃了一半的鸟一样。啊!我想,可没法挽救他了,他已经注定了,而且朝着他的命运飞去了!真是这样,他猛然转身,急急忙忙又回到屋里,把他背后的门关上。过了一会当我进去告诉他们,恩萧已经大醉而归,准备把我们这所老宅都毁掉(这是在那样情况下他通常有的心情),这时我看见这场争吵反而促成一种更密切的亲昵——已经打破了年轻人的羞怯的堡垒,并且使他们抛弃了友谊的伪装而承认他们自己是情人了。
3 凯瑟琳告诉奈莉,决定答应埃德加的求婚,希斯克利夫听到此消息后出走。
`Yes, and it worries me, and I must let it out! I want to know what I should do. Today, Edgar Linton has asked me to marry him, and I've given him an answer. Now, before I tell you whether it was a consent or denial, you tell me which it ought to have been.'
“是的,而且它使我很烦,我非说出来不可!我要想知道我该怎么办。今天,埃德加·林顿要求我嫁给他,我也已经给他回答了。现在,在我告诉你这回答是接受还是拒绝之前,你告诉我应该是什么。”
`I don't want your permission for that--I shall marry him: and yet you have not told me whether I'm right.'
“这件事我并不要得到你的允许——我要嫁他。可是你还没有告诉我,我到底对不对。”
`Perfectly right; if people be right to marry only for the present. And now, let us hear what you are unhappy about. Your brother will be pleased; the old lady and gentleman will not object, I think; you will escape from a disorderly, comfortless home into a wealthy, respectable one; and you love Edgar, and Edgar loves you. All seems smooth and easy: where is the obstacle?'
“如果人们结婚只顾眼前是对的话,那就完全正确。现在让我们听听你为什么不高兴。你的哥哥会高兴的,那位老太太和老先生也不会反对。我想,你将从一个乱糟糟的、不舒服的家庭逃脱,走进一个富裕的体面人家。而且你爱埃德加,埃德加也爱你。一切看来是顺心如意——障碍又在哪儿呢?”
`Here! and here!' replied Catherine, striking one hand on her forehead, and the other on her breast: `in whichever place the soul lives. In my soul and in my heart, I'm convinced I'm wrong!'
“在这里,在这里!”凯瑟琳回答,一只手捶她的前额,一只手捶胸:“在凡是灵魂存在的地方——在我的灵魂里,而且在我的心里,我感到我是错了!”
`That's very strange! I cannot make it out.'
“那是非常奇怪的!我可不懂。”
`It's my secret. But if you will not mock at me, I'll explain it: I can't do it distinctly: but I'll give you a feeling of how I feel.'
“那是我的秘密。可要是你不嘲笑我,我就要解释一下了。我不能说得很清楚——可是我要让你感觉到我是怎样感觉的。”
She seated herself by me again: her countenance grew sadder and graver, and her clasped hands trembled.
她又在我旁边坐下来,她的神气变得更忧伤、更严肃,她紧攥着的手在颤抖。
`Nelly, do you never dream queer dreams?' she said, suddenly, after some minutes' reflection.
“耐莉,你从来没有做过稀奇古怪的梦吗?”她想了几分钟后,忽然说。
`Yes, now and then,' I answered.
“有时候做。”我回答。
`And so do I. I've dreamt in my life dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas: they've gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the colour of my mind. And this is one; I'm going to tell it--but take care not to smile at any part of it.'
“我也是的。我这辈子做过的梦有些会在梦过以后永远留下来跟我在一起,而且还会改变我的心意。这些梦在我心里穿过来穿过去,好像酒流在水里一样,改变了我心上的颜色。这是一个——我要讲了——可是你可别对随便什么话都笑。”
`Oh! don't, Miss Catherine!' I cried. `We're dismal enough without conjuring up ghosts and visions to perplex us. Come, come, be merry and like yourself! Look at little Hareton! he's dreaming nothing dreary. How sweetly he smiles in his sleep!'
“啊,别说啦,凯瑟琳小姐!”我叫着,“用不着招神现鬼来缠我们,我们已够惨的啦。来,来,高兴起来,像你本来的样子!看看小哈里顿——他梦中想不到什么伤心事。他在睡眠中笑得多甜啊!”
`Yes; and how sweetly his father curses in his solitude! You remember him, I dare say, when he was just such another as that chubby thing: nearly as young and innocent. However, Nelly, I shall oblige you to listen: it's not long; and I've no power to be merry tonight.'
“是的,他父亲在寂寞无聊时也诅咒得多甜!我敢说,你还记得他和那个小胖东西一样的时候——差不多一样的小而天真。可是,耐莉,我要请你听着——并不长;而我今天晚上也高兴不起来。”
`I won't hear it, I won't hear it!' I repeated hastily.
“我不要听,我不要听!”我赶紧反复说着。
I was superstitious about dreams then, and am still; and Catherine had an unusual gloom in her aspect, that made me dread something from which I might shape a prophecy, and foresee a fearful catastrophe. She was vexed, but she did not proceed. Apparently taking up another subject, she recommenced in a short time.
那时候我很迷信梦,现在也还是。凯瑟琳脸上又有一种异常的愁容,这使我害怕她的梦会使我感到什么预兆,使我预见一件可怕的灾祸。她很困恼,可是她没有接着讲下去。停一会她又开始说了,显然是另拣一个题目。
`If I were in heaven, Nelly, I should be extremely miserable.'
“如果我在天堂,耐莉,我一定会非常凄惨。”
`Because you are not fit to go there,', I answered. `All sinners would be miserable in heaven.'
“因为你不配到那儿去,”我回答,“所有的罪人在天堂里都会凄惨的。”
`But it is not for that. I dreamt once that I was there.'
“可不是为了那个。我有一次梦见我在那儿了。”
`I tell you I won't hearken to your dreams, Miss Catherine! I'll go to bed,' I interrupted again.
“我告诉你我不要听你的梦,凯瑟琳小姐!我要上床睡觉啦。”我又打断了她。
She laughed, and held me down; for I made a motion to leave my chair.
她笑了,按着我坐下来,因为我要离开椅子走了。
`This is nothing,' cried she: `I was only going to say that heaven did not seem to be my home; and I broke my heart with weeping to come back to earth; and the angels were so angry that they flung me out into the middle of the heath on the top of Wuthering Heights; where I woke sobbing for joy. That will do to explain my secret, as well as the other. I've no more business to marry Edgar Linton than I have to be in heaven; and if the wicked man in there had not brought Heathcliff so low, I shouldn't have thought of it. It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him: and that, not because he's handsome, Nelly, but because he's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same; and Linton's is as different as a moonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire.'
“这并没有什么呀,”她叫着,“我只是要说天堂并不是像我的家。我就哭得很伤心,要回到尘世上来。而天使们大为愤怒,就把我扔到呼啸山庄的草原中间了。我就在那儿醒过来,高兴得直哭。这就可以解释我的秘密了,别的也是一样。讲到嫁给埃德加·林顿,我并不比到天堂去更热心些。如果那边那个恶毒的人不把希刺克厉夫贬得这么低,我还不会想到这个。现在,嫁给希刺克厉夫就会降低我的身份,所以他永远也不会知道我多么爱他;那并不是因为他漂亮,耐莉,而是因为他比我更像我自己。不论我们的灵魂是什么做成的,他的和我的是一模一样的;而林顿的灵魂就如月光和闪电,或者霜和火,完全不同。”
Ere this speech ended, I became sensible of Heathcliff's presence. Having noticed a slight movement, I turned my head, and saw him rise from the bench, and steal out noiselessly. He had listened till he heard Catherine say it would degrade her to marry him, and then he stayed to hear no further. My companion, sitting on the ground, was prevented by the back of the settle from remarking his presence or departure; but I started, and bade her hush!
这段话还没有讲完,我发觉希刺克厉夫就在这儿。我注意到一个轻微的动作,我回过头,看见他从凳子上站起来,不声不响地悄悄出去了。他一直听到凯瑟琳说嫁给他就会降低她的身份,就没再听下去。我的同伴,坐在地上,正被高背长靠椅的椅背挡住,看不见他在这儿,也没看见他离开。可是我吃了一惊,叫她别出声。
4 三年之后,希斯克利夫回到呼啸山庄,两人最后一次见面,凯瑟琳早产下女儿后死去。
In her eagerness she rose and supported herself on the arm of the chair. At that earnest appeal he turned to her, looking absolutely desperate. His eyes, wide and wet, at last flashed fiercely on her; his breast heaved convulsively. An instant they held asunder, and then how they met I hardly saw, but Catherine made a spring, and he caught her, and they were locked in an embrace from which I thought my mistress would never be released alive: in fact, to my eyes, she seemed directly insensible. He flung himself into the nearest seat, and on my approaching hurriedly to ascertain if she had fainted, he gnashed at me, and foamed like a mad dog, and gathered her to him with greedy jealousy. I did not feel as if I were in the company of a creature of my own species: it appeared that he would not understand, though I spoke to him; so I stood off, and held my tongue, in great perplexity.
她异常激动地站起身来,身子靠着椅子的扶手。听了那真挚的乞求,他转身向她,神色是完全不顾一切了。他睁大着双眼,含着泪水,终于猛地向她一闪,胸口激动地起伏着。他们各自站住一刹那,然后我简直没看清他们是怎么合在一起的,只见凯瑟琳向前一跃,他就把她擒住了,他们拥抱得紧紧的,我想我的女主人绝不会被活着放开了:事实上,据我看,她仿佛立刻就不省人事了。他投身到最近处的椅子上,我赶忙走上前看看她是不是昏迷了,他就对我咬牙切齿,像个疯狗似的吐着白沫,带着贪婪的嫉妒神色把她抱紧。我简直不觉得我是在陪着一个跟我同类的动物:看来即使我跟他说话,他也不会懂;因此我只好非常惶惑地站开,也不吭声。
A movement of Catherine's relieved me a little presently: she put up her hand to clasp his neck, and bring her cheek to his as he held her; while he, in return, covering her with frantic caresses, said wildly--
凯瑟琳动弹了一下,这才使我立刻放了心:她伸出手搂住他的脖子,他抱住她,她把脸紧贴着他的脸;他回报给她无数疯狂的爱抚,又狂乱地说——
`You teach me now how cruel you've been--cruel and false. Why did you despise me? Why did you betray your own heart, Cathy? I have not one word of comfort. You deserve this. You have killed yourself. Yes, you may kiss me, and cry; and ring out my kisses and tears: they'll blight you--they'll damn you. You loved me--then what right had you to leave me? What right--answer me--for the poor fancy you felt for Linton? Because misery and degradation, and death, and nothing that God or Satan could inflict would have parted us, you, of your own will, did it. I have not broken your heart--you have broken it; and in breaking it, you have broken mine. So much the worse for me, that I am strong. Do I want to live? What kind of living will it be when you--oh, God! would you like to live with your soul in the grave?'
“你现在才使我明白你曾经多么残酷——残酷又虚伪。你过去为什么瞧不起我呢?你为什么欺骗你自己的心呢,凯蒂?我没有一句安慰的话。这是你应得的。你害死了你自己。是的,你可以亲吻我,哭,又逼出我的吻和眼泪:我的吻和眼泪要摧残你——要诅咒你。你爱过我——那么你有什么权利离开我呢?有什么权利——回答我——对林顿存那种可怜的幻想?因为悲惨、耻辱和死亡,以及上帝或撒旦所能给的一切打击和痛苦都不能把我们分开,而你,却出于你自己的心意,这样作了。我没有弄碎你的心——是你弄碎了的;而在弄碎它的时候,你把我的心也弄碎了。因为我是强壮的,对于我就格外苦。我还要活吗?那将是什么样的生活,上帝啊,你愿意带着你的灵魂留在坟墓里吗?”
`Let me alone. let me alone,' sobbed Catherine. `If I have done wrong, I'm dying for it. It is enough! You left me too: but I won't upbraid you! I forgive you. Forgive me!'
“别管我吧,别管我吧,”凯瑟琳抽泣着。“如果我曾经作错了,我就要为此而死去的。够啦!你也丢弃过我的,可我并不要责备你!我饶恕你。饶恕我吧!”
`It is hard to forgive, and to look at those eyes, and feel those wasted hands,' he answered. `Kiss me again; and don't let me see your eyes! I forgive what you have done to me. I love my murderer--but yours! How can I?'
“看看这对眼睛,摸摸这双消瘦的手,要饶恕是很难的,”他回答。“再亲亲我吧;别让我看见你的眼睛!我饶恕你对我作过的事。我爱害了我的人——可是害了你的人呢?我又怎么能够饶恕他?”
They were silent--their faces hid against each other, and washed by each other's tears. At least, I suppose the weeping was on both sides; as it seemed Heathcliff could weep on a great occasion like this.
他们沉默着——脸紧贴着,用彼此的眼泪在冲洗着。至少,我猜是双方都在哭泣;在这样一个不同寻常的场合中,就连希斯克利夫仿佛也能哭泣了。
About twelve o'clock that night, was born the Catherine you saw at Wuthering Heights: a puny, seven months' child; and two hours after the mother died, having never recovered sufficient consciousness to miss Heathcliff, or know Edgar. The latter's distraction at his bereavement is a subject too painful to be dwelt on; its after effects showed how deep the sorrow sunk. A great addition, in my eyes, was his being left without an heir. I bemoaned that, as I gazed on the feeble orphan; and I mentally abused old Linton for (what was only natural partiality) the securing his estate to his own daughter, instead of his son's. An unwelcomed infant it was, poor thing! It might have wailed out of life, and nobody cared a morsel, during those first hours of existence. We redeemed the neglect afterwards; but its beginning was as friendless as its end is likely to be.
那天夜里十二点钟左右,你在呼啸山庄看见的那个凯瑟琳出生了:一个瘦小的才怀了七个月的婴儿;过了两个钟头,母亲就死了,神志根本没有完全恢复,不知道希刺克厉夫离去,也认不得埃德加。埃德加因他这个损失而引起的心烦意乱说起来可太痛苦了;从日后的影响看得出他这场悲痛有多么深。据我看,还加上一件很大的烦恼,就是他没有一个继承人。在我瞅着这个孱弱的孤儿时,我哀叹着这件事;我心里骂着老林顿,因为他(这也不过是由于天生的偏爱而已)把他的财产传给他自己的女儿,而不给他儿子的女儿。那可真是一个不受欢迎的婴儿,可怜的东西!在她才生下来的头几个钟头里,她都会哭死,也没一个人稍微过问一下。后来我们补偿了这个疏忽!但是她刚出世时所遭遇的无依无靠和她的最后结局说不定将是一样的。
`How did she die?' he resumed at last--fain, notwithstanding his hardihood, to have a support behind him; for, after the struggle, he trembled, in spite of himself, to his very finger-ends.
“她是怎么死的?”终于,他又开口了——虽然他很坚强,却也想在他背后找个靠一靠的地方;因为,在这场斗争之后,他不由自主地浑身颤抖着,连他的手指尖也在抖。
`Poor wretch!' I thought; `you have a heart and nerves the same as your brother men! Why should you be anxious to conceal them? Your pride cannot blind God! You tempt Him to wring them, till He forces a cry of humiliation.
“可怜的人!”我想,“你也有跟别人一样的心和神经呀!你为什么一定要把这些隐藏起来呢?你的骄傲蒙蔽不了上帝!你使得上帝来绞扭你的心和神经,一直到他迫使你发出屈服的呼喊为止。”
`Quietly as a lamb!' I answered aloud. `She drew a sigh, and stretched herself, like a child reviving, and sinking again to sleep; and five minutes after I felt one little pulse at her heart, and nothing more!'
“像羔羊一样地安静!”我高声回答。“她叹口气,欠伸一下,像一个孩子醒过来,随后又沉入睡眠;五分钟后我觉得她心里微微跳动一下,就再也不跳了!”
5 希斯克利夫对恩肖和埃德加家展开报复
The guest was now the master of Wuthering Heights: he held firm possession, and proved to the attorney--who, in his turn, proved it to Mr Linton--that Earnshaw had mortgaged every yard of land he owned, for cash to supply his mania for gaming; and he, Heathcliff, was the mortgagee. In that manner Hareton, who should now be the first gentleman in the neighbourhood, was reduced to a state of complete dependence on his father's inveterate enemy; and lives in his own house as a servant, deprived of the advantage of wages, and quite unable to right himself, because of his friendlessness, and his ignorance that he has been wronged.
客人如今是呼啸山庄的主人了,他掌握不可动摇的所有权,而且向律师证明——律师又转过来向林顿先生证明——恩萧已经抵押了他所有的每一码土地,换成现款,满足了他的赌博狂;而他,希斯克利夫,是承受抵押的人。于是,哈里顿原该是附近一带的第一流绅士,却落到完全靠他父亲的多年仇人来养活的地步。他在他自己的家里倒像个仆人一样,还被剥夺了领取工钱的权利;他是翻不了身了,这是由于他的无亲无故,而且自己还根本不知道他在受人欺侮了。
6 埃德加死亡,小凯瑟琳悲痛欲绝。
I couldn't abide to be present at their meeting. I stood outside the chamber door a quarter of an hour, and hardly ventured near the bed, then. All was composed, however: Catherine's despair was as silent as her father's joy. She supported him calmly, in appearance; and he fixed on her features his raised eyes, that seemed dilating with ecstasy.
我不忍待在那儿看他们见面。我在卧房门外站了一刻钟,简直不敢走近床前。但是,一切都很安宁:凯瑟琳的绝望如同她父亲的欢乐一样不露声色,表面上,她镇静地扶着他;他抬起他那像是因狂喜而张大的眼睛盯住她的脸。
He died blissfully, Mr Lockwood: he died so. Kissing her cheek, he murmured.
他死得有福气,洛克乌德先生,他是这样死的:他亲亲她的脸,低声说:
`I am going to her; and you, darling child, shall come to us!' and never stirred or spoke again; but continued that rapt, radiant gaze, till his pulse imperceptibly stopped and his soul departed. None could have noticed the exact minute of his death, it was so entirely without a struggle.
“我去她那儿了;你,宝贝孩子,将来也要到我们那儿去的!”就再也没动,也没说话;但那狂喜的明亮的凝视一直延续着,直到他的脉搏不知不觉地停止,他的灵魂离开了。没有人能注意到他去世的准确时刻,那是完全没有一点挣扎就死去了。
7 希斯克利夫看到小凯瑟琳和哈里顿之间萌生的爱意,想到了自己和凯瑟琳的悲剧,决定成全他们,自己在对凯瑟琳的思念中死去。
`Con-trary!' said a voice as sweet as a silver bell--`That for the third time, you dunce! I'm not going to tell you again. Recollect, or I'll pull your hair!'
“相——反的!”一个如银铃般的甜甜的声音说。“这是第三次了,你这傻瓜!我不再告诉你了。记住,不然我就要扯你的头发!”
`Contrary, then,' answered another, in deep but softened tones. `And now, kiss me, for minding so well.'
“好,相反的,”另一个回答,是深沉而柔和的声调。“现在,亲亲我,因为我记得这么好。”
`No, read it over first correctly, without a single mistake.'
“不,先把它正确地念过一遍,不要有一个错。”
The male speaker began to read: he was a young man, respectably dressed and seated at a table, having a book before him. His handsome features glowed with pleasure, and his eyes kept impatiently wandering from the page to a small white hand over his shoulder, which recalled him by a smart slap on the cheek, whenever its owner detected such signs of inattention. Its owner stood behind; her light, shining ringlets blending, at intervals, with his brown locks, as she bent to superintend his studies; and her face--it was lucky he could not see her face, or he would never have been so steady. I could: and I bit my lip in spite, at having thrown away the chance I might have had of doing something besides staring at its smiling beauty.
那说话的男人开始读了。他是一个年轻人,穿得很体面,坐在一张桌子旁,在他面前有一本书。他的漂亮的面貌因愉快而焕发光彩,他的眼睛总是不安定地从书页上溜到他肩头上的一只白白的小手上,但是一旦被那人发现他这种不专心的样子,就让这只手在他脸上很灵敏地拍一下。有这小手的人站在后面;在她俯身指导他读书时,她的轻柔发光的卷发有时和他的棕色头发混在一起了;而她的脸——幸亏他看不见她的脸,不然他决不会这么安稳。我看得见;我怨恨地咬着我的嘴唇,因为我已经丢掉了大有可为的机会,现在却只好傻瞪着那迷人的美人了。
The task was done, not free from further blunders; but the pupil claimed a reward, and received at least five kisses: which, however, he generously returned. Then they came to the door, and from their conversation I judged they were about to issue out and have a walk on the moors. I supposed I should be condemned in Hareton Earnshaw's heart, if not by his mouth, to the lowest pit in the infernal regions, if I showed my `unfortunate person in his neighbourhood then; and feeling very mean and malignant, I skulked round to seek refuge in the kitchen. There was unobstructed admittance on that side also, and at the door sat my old friend Nelly Dean, sewing and singing a song; which was often interrupted from within by harsh words of scorn and intolerance, uttered in far from musical accents.
课上完了——学生可没再犯大错,可是学生要求奖励,得了至少五个吻,他又慷慨地回敬一番。然后他们走到门口,从他们的谈话里我断定他们大概要出去,在旷野上散步。我猜想如果我这不幸的人在他的附近出现,哈里顿·恩萧就是口里不说,心里也诅咒我到第十八层地狱里去。我觉得我自己非常自卑而且不祥,便偷偷地想转到厨房去躲着。那边也是进出无阻,我的老朋友丁耐莉坐在门口,一边做针线,一边唱歌。她的歌声常常被里面的讥笑和放肆的粗野的话所干扰,那声音是很不合音乐节拍的。
The intimacy thus commenced, grew rapidly; though it encountered temporary interruptions. Earnshaw was not to be civilized with a wish, and my young lady was no philosopher, and no paragon of patience; but both their minds tending to the same point--one loving and desiring to esteem, and the other loving and desiring to be esteemed--they contrived in the end to reach it.
亲密的关系就是这样开始很快地发展着;虽然也遇到过暂时中断。恩萧不是靠一个愿望就能文质彬彬起来的,我的小姐也不是一个哲人,不是一个忍耐的模范;可他们的心都向着同一个目的——一个是爱着,而且想着尊重对方,另一个是爱着而且想着被尊重,——他们都极力要最后达到这一点。
You see, Mr Lockwood, it was easy enough to win Mrs Heathcliff's heart. But now, I'm glad you did not try. The crown of all my wishes will be the union of those two. I shall envy no one on their wedding day: there won't be a happier woman than myself in England!
你瞧,洛克乌德先生,要赢得希刺克厉夫夫人的心是挺容易的。可是现在,我高兴你没有作过尝试。我所有的愿望中最高的就是这两个人的结合。在他们结婚那天,我将不羡慕任何人了;在英国将没有一个比我更快乐的女人了。
`Five minutes ago, Hareton seemed a personification of my youth, not a human being: I felt to him in such a variety of ways, that it would have been impossible to have accosted him rationally.
“五分钟以前,哈里顿仿佛是我的青春的一个化身,而不是一个人,他给我许多各种各样的感觉,以至于不可能理性地对待他。
In the first place, his startling likeness to Catherine connected him fearfully with her. That, however, which you may suppose the most potent to arrest my imagination, is actually the least: for what is not connected with her to me? and what does not recall her? I cannot look down to this floor, but her features are shaped in the flags! In every cloud, in every tree--filling the air at night, and caught by glimpses in every object by day--I am surrounded with her image! The most ordinary faces of men and women--my own features--mock me with a resemblance. The entire world is a dreadful collection of memoranda that she did exist, and that I have lost her!
“首先,他和凯瑟琳的惊人的相像竟使他和她联在一起了。你也许以为那最足以引起我的想像力的一点,实际上却是最不足道的;因为对于我来说,哪一样不是和她有联系的呢?哪一样不使我回忆起她来呢:我一低头看这间屋里的地面,就不能不看见她的面貌在石板中间出现!在每一朵云里,每一棵树上——在夜里充满在空中,在白天从每一件东西上都看得见——我是被她的形象围绕着!最平常的男人和女人的脸——连我自己的脸——都像她,都在嘲笑我。整个世界成了一个惊人的纪念品汇集,处处提醒着我她是存在过,而我已失去了她!
Well, Hareton's aspect was the ghost of my immortal love; of my wild endeavours to hold my right; my degradation, my pride, my happiness, and my anguish:
“是的,哈里顿的模样是我那不朽的爱情的幻影;也是我想保持我的权力的那些疯狂的努力,我的堕落,我的骄傲,我的幸福,以及我的悲痛的幻影——
`But it is frenzy to repeat these thoughts to you: only it will let you know why, with a reluctance to be always alone, his society is no benefit; rather an aggravation of the constant torment I suffer; and it partly contributes to render me regardless how he and his cousin go on together. I can give them no attention, any more.
“但把这些想法反复说给你听也是发疯:不过这会让你知道为什么,我并不情愿永远孤独,有他陪伴却又毫无益处:简直加重了我所忍受的不断的折磨:这也多少使我不管他和他的表妹以后怎么相处。我不能再注意他们了。”
I could not think him dead: but his face and throat were washed with rain; the bedclothes dripped, and he was ~ perfectly still. The lattice, flapping to and fro, had grazed one hand that rested on the sill; no blood trickled from the broken skin, and when I put my fingers to it, I could doubt no more: he was dead and stark!
我不能认为他是死了:可他的脸和喉咙都被雨水冲洗着;床单也在滴水,而他动也不动。窗子来回地撞,擦着放在窗台上的一只手;破皮的地方没有血流出来,我用我的手指一摸,我不能再怀疑了;他死了而且僵了!
总结:
一直以来,与凯瑟琳纯洁无瑕的爱情像一缕阳光照亮和温暖着希斯克利夫的不幸人生,对他而言,凯瑟琳不仅是恋人,同时也是朋友、玩伴和同类。他们的爱恋不同于一般的男女情爱,早已升华到精神层面,达成了生命的默契。希斯克利夫对凯瑟琳的爱是纯粹的,超越世俗的,与地位财富无关。尤其是在凯瑟琳死亡后的十八年里,希斯克利夫对她的爱恋仍旧持续着,竟然深爱着她的亡魂。由此可见,希斯克利夫对于凯瑟琳的爱已经达到了痴狂和偏执的境界。
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