Chapter2 巴斯克维尔家族的祸根-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《福尔摩斯探案经典之巴斯克维尔的猎犬The Hound of the Baskervilles》

Chapter 2 The Curse of the Baskervilles "I have in my pocket a manuscript,"said Dr.James Mortimer. "I observed it as you entered the room,"said Holmes. “It is an old manuscript.” "Early eighteenth century,unless it is a forgery "How can you say that,sir?" "You have presented an inch or two of it to my examination all the time that you have been talking.It would be a poor expert who could not give the date of a document within a decade or so.You may possibly have read my little monographupon the subject.I put that at 1730." "The exact date is 1742."Dr.Mortimer drew it from his breast-pocket. "This family paper was committed to my care by Sir Charles Baskerville, whose sudden and tragic death some three months ago created so much excitement in Devonshire.I may say that I was his personal friend as well as his medical attendant.He was a strong-minded man,sir,shrewd,practical, and as unimaginative as I am myself.Yet he took this document very seriously, and his mind was prepared for just such an end as did eventually overtake him.” Holmes stretched out his hand for the manuscript and flattened it upon his knee. "You will observe,Watson,the alternative use of the long s and the short.It is one of several indications which enabled me to fix the date." ·016· 第二章 巴斯克维尔家族 的祸根 “我衣服口袋里有一份手稿。”詹姆斯·莫蒂默医 生说 “您走进房间时我就看出来了。”福尔摩斯回答说。 ①forgery ['fo:d3rnln.伪造 “这是一份陈旧的手稿。” 品，赝品 “是十八世纪早期的，如果不是伪造的话。” “您是怎么判断出的，先生？” “您在说话的当儿，手稿露出了一两英寸，让我看 到了。如果一位专家不能把文件的日期估计得误差在十 年之内，那他就太整脚了。我曾就这个问题写过一篇小 2 monograph ['monagra:f] m,专题论著（书，文章 论文，想必您看到过的。我觉得您这份手稿是730年写 或论文) 成的。” “确切的年份是1742年，”莫蒂默医生从前胸口袋里拿 出手稿，“这是一份祖传家书，是查尔斯·巴斯克维尔爵 土托付给我的。三个月前，他突然去世了，死得很悲惨 ③shrewd [fru:da,精明的 引起了整个德文郡的震动。可以说，我既是他的保健医 生，又是他的私交朋友。先生，他那个人意志很坚强，精 ④overtake Lauvo'teik]v.突 明灵活，讲求实际，并且和我一样，从不胡思乱想。但 然降临：意外地碰上： 是，他对这份家书却很重视，心里早就准备好了这样一个 突然袭击 结局，而这样的厄运最终真的降落到了他的头上。” 福尔摩斯伸出手拿过手稿，然后在膝盖上把它 展开。 “华生，你注意看，长短S交替使用。这便是使我 ·017· Chapter 2 The Curse of the Baskervilles I looked over his shoulder at the yellow paper and the faded script.At the head was written:"Baskerville Hall,"and below,in large,scrawling figures: “1742.” “it appears to be a statement of some sort.” "Yes,it is a statement of a certain legend which runs in the Baskerville family." "But I understand that it is something more modern and practical upon which you wish to consult me?" "Most modern.A most practical,pressing matter,which must be decided within twenty-four hours.But the manuscript is short and is intimately connected with the affair.With your permission I will read it to you." Holmes leaned back in his chair,placed his finger-tips together,and closed his eyes,with an air of resignation.Dr.Mortimer turned the manuscript to the light and read in a high,cracking voice the following curious,old-world narrative: Of the origin of the Hound of the Baskervilles there have been many statements,yet as I come in a direct line from Hugo Baskerville,and as I had the story from my father,who also had it from his,I have set it down with all belief that it occurred even as is here set forth.And I would have you believe,my sons,that the same Justice which punishes sin may also most graciously forgive it,and that no ban is so heavy but that by prayer and repentance it may be removed.Learn then from this story not to fear the fruits of the past,but rather to be circumspect in the future,that those foul passions whereby our family has suffered so grievously may not again be loosed to our undoing. "Know then that in the time of the Great Rebellion(the history of which by the learned Lord Clarendon I most earnestly commend to your attention)this Manor of Baskerville was held by Hugo of that name,nor can it be gainsaid that he was a most wild,profane,and godless man. This,in truth,his neighbours might have pardoned,seeing that saints have never flourished in those parts,but there was in him a certain wanton and cruel humour which made his name a bywordthrough the West.It chanced that this Hugo came to love (if,indeed,so dark a passion may be known ·018· 第二章巴斯克维尔家族的祸报 能够确定手稿年代的几个特征中的一个。” ①scrawl【skro:涂写 我站在他背后，看着那张泛黄的纸张和褪了色的字 乱写，乱画 迹。手稿的顶上写着：“巴斯克维尔庄园”，紧接着就是 大而潦草的数字“1742”。 “看上去像是在叙述一件什么事情。” “对啊，是在叙述一个巴斯克维尔家族流传下来的 传说。” “但是，我知道，您希望和我商议的是一件关系当 前的、更具实际意义的事情，对吧？” “最近发生的。一桩很有实际意义、迫在眉睫的事 ②intimate'intimt]a.深入 情，必须得在二十四小时之内决定。但是，这份简短的 的，深刻的 手稿与该事件有非常密切的关联。如果您允许，我就把 它念给您听听。” 3 resignation Lrezig neifon] 福尔摩斯靠在椅子背上，把两只手的指尖对顶在一 九顺从：屈从 起，然后闭上眼睛，露出一副悠然自得的神情。莫蒂默 ④cracking门krakin]a.生气 勃勃的：敏捷的 医生把手稿拿到光亮处，用高亢、急促的声音朗读了下 面这段离奇而又年代久远的故事： 关于巴斯克维尔家族猎犬的由来，已有许多叙述 然而，由于我是雨果·巴斯克雏尔的嫡系后代，我从我父 set down记下，写下 亲那儿听说了这个故事，而我父亲又是他父亲告诉他的。 因此，我把故事记录了下来，完全相信，故事就像这里所 叙述的那样发生过。我希望你们能够相信，孩子们啊，惩 罚那些有罪之人的公正的神明也会大度地宽恕他们的。只 要他们真心悔改，不断祈祷，再深重的罪孽都能够豁免。 由此，你们就会懂得：不要惧怕前辈所种下的恶果，但你 6circumspect ['so:kamspe k.谨慎的，小心的， 们将来行事一定要谨小慎微，尽力避免我们家族过去所受 慎重的 的深重苦难再次降临在家族败落的后代身上。 ⑦undoing L.An'du:inlh.毁 灭 你们应当知道，大叛乱时期（我要郑重其事地向 8 commend[ka'mend]v.委 你们推荐，去阅读一下饱学之士克拉伦登撰写的关于该 托，把…交托给 9 gainsay【gein'sei】k否 时期的历史著作)，巴斯克雏尔庄园的主人是雨果·巴 认：反驳 斯克雏尔。不可否认，此人凶蛮卑鄙，目无上帝。事实 profane【prau'fein]a.不 敬神的：好咒骂的 上，如果他只有这一点缺，点的话，乡邻们本是可以谅解 ①wanton'wontan]a.轻浮 他的，因为在该区域，圣教从来就没有兴旺过。但是， 的：放荡的，淫乱的 ibyword ['baiwa:dln.众 他狂妄自大，残忍无度，令他在西部地区臭名远杨。一 人鄙视（或指责）的人 个偶然机会，雨果先生爱上了（如果如此阴暗的情欲也 或物) ·019· Chapter 2 The Curse of the Baskervilles under so bright a name)the daughter of a yeoman who held lands near the Baskerville estate.But the young maiden,being discreet and of good repute,would ever avoid him,for she feared his evil name.So it came to pass that one Michaelmas this Hugo,with five or six of his idle and wicked companions,stole down upon the farm and carried off the maiden,her father and brothers being from home,as he well knew.When they had brought her to the Hall the maiden was placed in an upper chamber,while Hugo and his friends sat down to a long carouse,as was their nightly custom.Now,the poor lass upstairs was like to have her wits turned at the singing and shouting and terrible oaths which came up to her from below, for they say that the words used by Hugo Baskerville,when he was in wine, were such as might blast the man who said them.At last in the stress of her fear she did that which might have daunted the bravest or most active man, for by the aid of the growth of ivy which covered (and still covers)the south wall she came down from under the eaves,and so homeward across the moor,there being three leagues betwixt the Hall and her father's farm. "It chanced that some little time later Hugo left his guests to carry food and drink-with other worse things,perchance-to his captive,and so found the cage empty and the bird escaped.Then,as it would seem,he became as one that hath a devil,for,rushing down the stairs into the dining-hall,he sprang upon the great table,flagons and trenchers flying before him, and he cried aloud before all the company that he would that very night render his body and soul to the Powers of Evil if he might but overtake the wench.And while the revellers stood aghast at the fury of the man,one more wicked or,it may be,more drunken than the rest,cried out that they should put the hounds upon her.Whereat Hugo ran from the house,crying to his grooms that they should saddle his mare and unkennel the pack,and giving the hounds a kerchief of the maid's,he swung them to the line,and so off full cry in the moonlight over the moor. "Now,for some space the revellers stood agape,unable to understand all that had been done in such haste.But anon their bemused wits awoke to the nature of the deed which was like to be done upon the moorlands. Everything was now in an uproar,some calling for their pistols,some for ·020· 第二章巴斯克维尔家族的祸报 ①yeoman [joum3nlm,小地 可以冠以如此阳光的字眼的话)一位美丽的少女，她是 一个在巴斯克雏尔庄园附近有几亩地产的庄稼汉的女 儿。但是，少女向来谨言慎行，名声极佳，她还惧怕他 的恶名，自然就躲避他了。后来，在米迦勒节那天，那 ②steal [sti:l以偷偷地行动 位雨果先生得知她的父亲、兄弟都外出了，便和五六个 游手好闲的恶棍朋友一同偷偷跑到了地家里，把她抢了 回去。他们把她弄到了庄园的别墅后，把她关在楼上的 一间小屋里。雨果和他那些狐朋狗友围坐在一起狂欢痛 ③carouse [ka'rauz]m,狂欢 的宴会 饮起来，这是他们夜晚常有的消谴。这时，楼上的可怜 ④lass [laes]n.少女 姑娘听到了楼下的狂歌乱吼声，还有那些不琳入耳的 污言秽语，早已惶恐万分，惊慌失措。因为听人说，雨 果·巴斯克雏尔醉酒时说出的话，无论是谁，只要重说 一遍都可能会遭天谴的。最后，在极其恐惧的情形下， ⑤daunt [do:nt某使畏缩， 姑娘竞然千了一件让最勇敢或者最敏捷的人都会为之咋 使胆怯 舌的事情。她从窗口爬出，攀缘着南墙上的蔓藤（至今 仍爬满了)从房檐上一路爬了下来，然后横过荒原径直 往回家的方向跑去，庄园的别墅离地她父亲的农场有大概 三里格的路程。 事情凑巧的是，过后不久，雨果城下客人，自己 带着酒食—或者兼具邪恶之意—去找他那位囚禁 的姑娘，结果发现，鸟笼已空，囚鸟飞离。紧接着， ⑥spring Isprinl v.跳，跃起 他像魔鬼附身了一样，冲下楼进入餐厅，一跃身跳上 )flagon ['flaeg3nl,酒壶 ⑧trencher ['trentfa]m.本木盘 大餐桌，把上面的东西—酒瓶，木盘一全都踢飞 了。他在朋友面前大声嚷嚷，说只要他当晚能追上姑 wench【went.女孩， 娘，情愿把自己的肉体和灵魂全都献给恶魔，任其摆 少女 revellerf'revala]n,饮酒狂 布。那些纵酒狂欢的浪子们被他的暴怒吓得目瞪口呆， 欢者；摆设酒宴者 这时，一个更邪恶的家伙，也可能是一个喝得比别人 aghast [o'ga:sta.惊骇 的，吓呆的 更醉的人，大声叫喊着说，他们应当放猎犬出去追捕 2 whereat [hwea'at]conj. 因之，于是 她。雨果一听，立刻跑出了别墅，高喊马夫，要他们 B unkennel [.An'kenal]v. 牵马备鞍，并把犬舍里的狗全部放出。他把那少女落 把…从窝中放出 下的头巾给那些猎犬嗅了嗅，随即便一窝蜂地把它们 赶了出去。猎犬们发出一片狂吠声，在月光的照耀下， 0 agape【b'geipl a.目腰口 呆的 向荒原狂奔而去。 雪anon [a'n3nlad.不久 是啊，浪子们目瞪口呆地站在原地，都没回过神儿 来，不知道刚才匆匆忙忙干的是什么事。过了一会儿， 那些醉醺醺的头脑清醒了，明白了去荒原上所要干的事 ·021· Chapter 2 The Curse of the Baskervilles their horses,and some for another flask of wine.But at length some sense came back to their crazed minds,and the whole of them,thirteen in number, took horse and started in pursuit.The moon shone clear above them,and they rode swiftly abreast2,taking that course which the maid must needs have taken if she were to reach her own home. "They had gone a mile or two when they passed one of the night shepherds upon the moorlands,and they cried to him to know if he had seen the hunt.And the man,as the story goes,was so crazed with fear that he could scarce speak,but at last he said that he had indeed seen the unhappy maiden, with the hounds upon her track.'But I have seen more than that,'said he,'for Hugo Baskerville passed me upon his black mare,and there ran mute behind him such a hound of hell as God forbid should ever be at my heels.'So the drunken squires cursed the shepherd and rode onward.But soon their skins turned cold,for there came a galloping across the moor,and the black mare, dabbled with white froth,went past with trailing bridle and empty saddle Then the revellers rode close together,for a great fear was on them,but they still followed over the moor,though each,had he been alone,would have been right glad to have turned his horse's head.Riding slowly in this fashion they came at last upon the hounds.These,though known for their valour and their breed,were whimpering in a cluster at the head of a deep dip or goyal, as we call it,upon the moor,some slinking away and some,with starting hackles and staring eyes,gazing down the narrow valley before them. "The company had come to a halt,more sober men,as you may guess, than when they started.The most of them would by no means advance, but three of them,the boldest,or it may be the most drunken,rode forward down the goyal.Now,it opened into a broad space in which stood two of those great stones,still to be seen there,which were set by certain forgotten peoples in the days of old.The moon was shining bright upon the clearing, and there in the centre lay the unhappy maid where she had fallen,dead of fear and of fatigue.But it was not the sight of her body,nor yet was it that of the body of Hugo Baskerviile lying near her,which raised the hair upon the heads of these three dare-devil roysterers",but it was that,standing over Hugo,and plucking at his throat,there stood a foul thing,a great,black ·022· 第二章巴斯克维尔家族的祸报 ①at length最终 情。于是，大家又大喊大叫起来，有人喊着要带手枪， 有人高呼自己的坐骑，有人大叫要再带一瓶酒。最后， 他们恢复了一些理智，13个人一同上马追了上去。皎洁 ②abreast [o'brest]ad.并肩 的月光照在他们头上，他们并肩前行，沿着少女回家的 地 必经之路急速地奔跑。 他们跑了一二英里路时，逼到了一个荒原上的夜 间放牧人，便大声问，他是否看到了他们要追赶的人。 听说那牧人被吓得差点儿连话都说不出来了，后来， 他终于开了口，说他确实看到了那个可怜的少女，她 ③scarce [skeas]ad.几乎 不，简直不 身后有一群猎犬在追赶。“不过我看到的远不止这些，” 他说，“我还碰到了雨果·巴斯克维尔，他骑着那匹黑 ④mute【mju:ta.沉默的， 马从这里跑过，后面悄无声息地跟着一条魔鬼似的大 无声的 猎犬。上帝啊，但愿不要让那样的狗跟在我的后面！” 那些醉鬼们咒骂了那牧人一通后又骑马往前追了。但 很快，他们就被吓得浑身发冷，因为荒原上传来了马 dabble[dblg浸湿 匹奔跑的声音，随后一匹黑马就从他们身边跑了过去。 马的嘴里流着白沫，缨绳拖在地上，马鞍上却空无一 人。当时，浪子们挤成一堆，因为他们感到无比恐惧， 但他们还是继续向荒原上前行。如果他们是各自单独 去追的话，那一个个早就掉转马头往回跑了。他们就 这样缓缓地前行，最后终于赶上了那群猎犬。猎犬尽 6 whimper [hwimpol v.抽 管以骁勇和优种而闻名，但此时却挤在荒原上一段峡 泣，鸣咽 ⑦cluster [klAsto]m.群集， 谷的尽头处竞相哀鸣，有些已经逃了出来了，有些则 一群，一帮 颈毛直竖，两只发亮的眼睛直勾勾地盯着他们前面那 8 dip [dip凹地，洼地 slink【slink]￥偷偷溜走 片窄窄的谷地 hackles[haekls】m【特指 那伙人停了下来，你们可以想象得到，他们此时比 犬发怒时)颈背部竖起 的毛 出发时要清醒得多了。他们中的大多数都绝对不想再往 前了，但有三个是胆大妄为的，或者说可能是醉酒最严重 的。他们继续策马向峡谷前行。少顷，出现了一片宽阔的 平地，中间立着两块巨石，现在仍在原地，不知道是古时 候哪个先人立下的。皎洁的月光倾洒在那片空地上，他们 在空地的中间看到了那个可怜的少女，她因恐惧疲乏致死 后便倒在了那里。但让三个胆大包天的酒鬼感到毛发直竖 的却不是那少女的尸体，也不是躺在她近旁的雨果·巴斯 ①roysterer['roistaral m,喝 克维尔的尸体，而是站在雨果身旁，正撕扯他喉咙的魔 酒喧闲者 兽。那是一只体形巨大的黑毛富生，样子像猎犬，但活人 ·023· Chapter 2 The Curse of the Baskervilles beast,shaped like a hound,yet larger than any hound that ever mortal eye has rested upon.And even as they looked the thing tore the throat out of Hugo Baskerville,on which,as it turned its blazing eyes and dripping jaws upon them,the three shrieked with fear and rode for dear life,still screaming, across the moor.One,it is said,died that very night of what he had seen,and the other twain were but broken men for the rest of their days. "Such is the tale,my sons,of the coming of the hound which is said to have plagued the family so sorely ever since.If I have set it down it is because that which is clearly known hath less terror than that which is but hinted at and guessed.Nor can it be denied that many of the family have been unhappy in their deaths,which have been sudden,bloody,and mysterious.Yet may we shelter ourselves in the infinite goodness of Providence,which would not forever punish the innocent beyond that third or fourth generation which is threatened in Holy Writ.To that Providence,my sons,I hereby commend you, and I counsel you by way of caution to forbear from crossing the moor in those dark hours when the powers of evil are exalted. "[This from Hugo Baskerville to his sons Rodger and John,with instructions that they say nothing thereof to their sister Elizabeth.]" When Dr.Mortimer had finished reading this singular narrative he pushed his spectacles up on his forehead and stared across at Mr.Sherlock Holmes.The latter yawned and tossed the end of his cigarette into the fire. “Wel?"said he. "Do you not find it interesting?" "To a collector of fairy tales." Dr.Mortimer drew a folded newspaper out of his pocket. "Now,Mr.Holmes,we will give you something a little more recent.This is the Devon County Chronicle of May 14th of this year.It is a short account of the facts elicited at the death of Sir Charles Baskerville which occurred a few days before that date." My friend leaned a little forward and his expression became intent.Our visitor readjusted his glasses and began: ·024· 第二章巴斯克维尔家族的祸报 谁也没亲眼见过体形如此硕大的猎犬。正当他们看着那东 西扯出雨果·巴斯克维尔的喉呢的时候，它那闪亮的眼睛 和鲜血直滴的大嘴向他们转了过来。三个人一看，吓得尖 了起来，赶紧策马逃命了，横过荒原时还一路惊呼。据 说，三人中的一个因为看到的一切当晚便吓死了，另外两 个也吓破了胆，后半辈子在疯疯癫癫中度过。 此乃猎犬传说的由来。亲爱的孩子们，据说从那以 后，那只猎犬便一直搅得我们的家族不得安宁。我之所以 要把它记录下来，那是因为，对于一件恐怖可怕的事情而 ①hint (hint]y.暗示 言，仅凭暗示或者猜测，还不如完完全全地知晓。不可否 认，我们家族的很多人都没有得到善终，他们死得突然， 死得凄惨而神秘。我们乞求得到上帝那无限慈爱的庇护， 不会无休止地惩罚下去，不会让这样的灾难降罚在我们家 族第三、第四代笃信《圣经》的人头上。孩子们啊，我借 上帝之名嘱咐你们，真心地劝告你们，务必要多加小心， 邪恶势力甚嚣尘上的黑暗时刻，要避开荒原。 ②forbear[fo:beg避免 [这是雨采·巴斯克维尔写给他的儿子罗杰、约输的 3ext[igz:川￥增强，强 家书，并叮嘱二人切勿将此事告诉他们的妹妹伊丽莎白] 调的作用【或效果) ④thereof[Sear'ovl ad.关于 莫蒂默医生念完了这篇不可思议的记述之后，便把 眼镜推到前额上，眼睛盯着福尔摩斯。而福尔摩斯却打 singular ['singjulo]a. 凡的：异常的 了个哈欠，把烟头扔进了壁炉里 “呃？”他呃了一声。 “您难道不觉得这很有意思吗？” “对搜集神话故事的人而言，确实如此。” 莫蒂默医生把手伸进衣服口袋里，掏出一张折叠的 报纸。 “对啦，福尔摩斯先生，我要告诉您一件近段时间 发生的事情。这是今年5月14日的《德文郡纪事报》。上 面有一则简短的报道，叙述的是那之前几天查尔斯·巴 斯克维尔爵士死亡一事。” elicit [i门isil使谈出， 我朋友上身稍稍前倾，神色也变得专注了起来。我 使透露 们的客人重新戴好眼镜，开始大声念了起来： ⑦intent[in'tentla.(注意 力等)集中的 近日，查尔斯·巴斯克维尔爵士猝亡，这事给本 郡蒙上了一层阴影。据说，他本来有可能会在下届 ·025·