別話 Parting Words

別話Parting Words

别话

素輝病得很重，離她停息底時候不過是十二個時辰了．她丈夫坐在一邊，一手Suhui was gravely ill; she was no more than twelve hours from the moment she would draw her last breath. Her husband sat beside her, one hand

素辉病得很重，离她停息底时候不过是十二个时辰了．她丈夫坐在一边，一手

支頤，一手把着病人底手臂，寧靜而懇摰的眼光都注在他妻子底面上．propping his chin, the other holding the patient's arm, his calm and earnest gaze fixed upon his wife's face.

支颐，一手把着病人底手臂，宁静而恳摰的眼光都注在他妻子底面上．

黃昏底微光一分一分地消失，幸而房裏都是白的東西，眼睛不至於失了他們The faint light of dusk was fading minute by minute; fortunately everything in the room was white, so the eyes did not

黄昏底微光一分一分地消失，幸而房里都是白的东西，眼睛不至于失了他们

底辨別力．屋裏底靜默，早已佈滿了死底氣色，看護婦又不進來，她底脚步聲只在門lose their power to distinguish things. The silence in the room had long since been filled with the air of death; the nurse did not come in again, and the sound of her footsteps only

底辨别力．屋里底静默，早已布满了死底气色，看护妇又不进来，她底脚步声只在门

外輕輕地蹀過去，好像告訴屋裏底人說，『生命底步履不望這里來，離這里漸次遠passed lightly by outside the door, as if telling those within the room, 'The footsteps of life are not coming this way; they are growing ever farther

外轻轻地蹀过去，好像告诉屋里底人说，『生命底步履不望这里来，离这里渐次远

了．』from here.'

强烈的電光忽然從玻璃泡裏底金絲發出來．光底浪把那病人底眼臉冲開．丈A strong electric light suddenly shone out from the golden filament within the glass bulb. The wave of light pushed open the patient's eyelids. Her

强烈的电光忽然从玻璃泡里底金丝发出来．光底浪把那病人底眼脸冲开．丈

夫見她這樣，就囘復他底希望，懇摯地說，『你——你醒過來了！』husband, seeing her thus, felt his hope revive, and said earnestly, 'You—you've woken up!'

夫见她这样，就囘复他底希望，恳挚地说，『你——你醒过来了！』

素輝好像沒聽見這話，眼望着他，只說別的．她說：『瞹，珠兒底父親，在這時候，你Suhui seemed not to have heard these words; her eyes gazed at him, but she spoke of other things. She said, 'Ah, father of Zhu'er, at a time like this, why

素辉好像没听见这话，眼望着他，只说别的．她说：『瞹，珠儿底父亲，在这时候，你

爲什麽不帶她來見見我．』haven't you brought her to see me?'

为什么不带她来见见我．』

『明天帶她來．』'I'll bring her tomorrow.'

『明天带她来．』

屋裏又沈嘿了許久．The room fell silent again for a long while.

屋里又沈嘿了许久．

『珠兒底父親哪，因爲我身體輭弱，多病底緣故，敎你犧牲許多光陰來看顧我，'Father of Zhu'er, because my body is weak and sickly, I have made you sacrifice so much of your time to look after me,

『珠儿底父亲哪，因为我身体輭弱，多病底缘故，教你牺牲许多光阴来看顾我，

還阻礙你許多比服事我更要緊的事．我實在對你不起．我底身體實不容我……．』and hindered you from many things far more important than waiting on me. I truly have wronged you. My body simply does not allow me to...'

还阻碍你许多比服事我更要紧的事．我实在对你不起．我底身体实不容我……．』

『不要緊的，服事你也是我應當做底事．』'It doesn't matter. Waiting on you is also what I ought to do.'

『不要紧的，服事你也是我应当做底事．』

她笑．但白的被窩中所顯出來底笑容並不是歡樂底標識．她說：『我很對不住She smiled. But the smile that showed amid the white bedclothes was no sign of joy. She said, 'I am very sorry to

她笑．但白的被窝中所显出来底笑容并不是欢乐底标识．她说：『我很对不住

你，因爲我不曾爲我們生下一個男兒．』you, because I never bore a son for us.'

你，因为我不曾为我们生下一个男儿．』

『那里底話！'What kind of talk is that!女孩子更好．我愛女的．』A girl is even better. I love girls.'

『那里底话！女孩子更好．我爱女的．』

淒涼中底喜悅把素輝身中預備要走底魂擁同來．她底精神似乎比前强些，一A joy amid desolation drew back together the soul within Suhui that had been preparing to depart. Her spirit seemed a little stronger than before, and as

凄凉中底喜悦把素辉身中预备要走底魂拥同来．她底精神似乎比前强些，一

聽丈夫那麽說，就接着道，『女的本不足愛：你看許多人——連你——爲女人惹下soon as she heard her husband speak so, she went on, 'Women are not in themselves worth loving so much: look at how many people—even you—have brought upon themselves so much

听丈夫那么说，就接着道，『女的本不足爱：你看许多人——连你——为女人惹下

多少煩惱……！trouble because of women...!不過是———人要懂得怎樣愛女人，才能懂得怎樣愛智慧．不會愛或But still—a person must understand how to love a woman before he can understand how to love wisdom. Whoever cannot love, or

多少烦恼……！不过是———人要懂得怎样爱女人，才能懂得怎样爱智慧．不会爱或

拒絕愛女人底，縱然他沒有煩惱，他是萬靈中最愚蠢的人．珠兒底父親，珠兒底父親哪，你佩服這話麽？』refuses to love, a woman—even if he is spared all trouble—is the most foolish of all souls. Father of Zhu'er, father of Zhu'er, do you admire these words?'

拒绝爱女人底，纵然他没有烦恼，他是万灵中最愚蠢的人．珠儿底父亲，珠儿底父亲哪，你佩服这话么？』

這時，就是我們——旁邊底人——也不能爲珠兒底父親想出一句答辭．At that moment, even we—the onlookers—could not think of a single reply on behalf of Zhu'er's father.

这时，就是我们——旁边底人——也不能为珠儿底父亲想出一句答辞．

『我離開你以後，切不要因爲我！'After I leave you, you must not, for my sake,就一輩子過那鰥夫底生活．你必要爲我底緣live a widower's life for the rest of your days. For my sake, you must,

『我离开你以后，切不要因为我！就一辈子过那鳏夫底生活．你必要为我底缘

故，依我方才的話愛別的女人．』她說到這里把那隻幾乎動不得底右手舉起來，向in keeping with what I just said, love another woman.' When she had said this, she raised her right hand, which could barely move, and reached

故，依我方才的话爱别的女人．』她说到这里把那只几乎动不得底右手举起来，向

枕邊摸索．toward the pillow, feeling about.

枕边摸索．

『你要什麽？'What do you want?我替你找．』I'll find it for you.'

『你要什么？我替你找．』

『戒指．』'The ring.'

丈夫把她底手扶下來，輕輕在她枕邊摸出一隻玉戒指來遞給她．Her husband lowered her hand and gently felt about by her pillow until he found a jade ring, which he handed to her.

丈夫把她底手扶下来，轻轻在她枕边摸出一只玉戒指来递给她．

『珠兒底父親，這戒指雖不是我們訂婚用底，卻是你給我底；'Father of Zhu'er, this ring, though it was not the one used for our betrothal, was still given to me by you;你可以存起來，以you may keep it, and

『珠儿底父亲，这戒指虽不是我们订婚用底，却是你给我底；你可以存起来，以

後再給珠兒底母親，表明我和她底連屬．除此以外，不要把我底東西給她，恐怕你要later give it to Zhu'er's mother, to show the bond between her and me. Apart from this, do not give her anything else of mine, for I fear you would

后再给珠儿底母亲，表明我和她底连属．除此以外，不要把我底东西给她，恐怕你要

當她是我；then take her for me;不要把我們底舊話說給她聽，恐怕她要因你底話就生出差別心，說你愛and do not repeat our old words to her, for I fear she might, because of what you say, come to feel there is a difference, and say that you love

当她是我；不要把我们底旧话说给她听，恐怕她要因你底话就生出差别心，说你爱

死的婦人甚於愛生的妻子．』她把戒指輕輕地套在丈夫左手底無名指上．丈夫隨着扶她底手與他底層邊略一接觸．妻子對於這番厚意，只用微微睜開底眼睛看着a dead woman more than your living wife.' She gently slipped the ring onto the fourth finger of her husband's left hand. Her husband, in turn, raised her hand and brought it lightly to touch his lips. For this act of tenderness, his wife could only look at him with her eyes

死的妇人甚于爱生的妻子．』她把戒指轻轻地套在丈夫左手底无名指上．丈夫随着扶她底手与他底层边略一接触．妻子对于这番厚意，只用微微睁开底眼睛看着

他．除掉這樣的囘報，她實在不能表現什麽．half-opened. Besides this, she truly could show nothing more in return.

他．除掉这样的囘报，她实在不能表现什么．

丈夫說：『我應當爲你做底事，都對你說過了．我再說一句，無論如何，我永久愛Her husband said, 'The things I ought to do for you, I have already told you all. Let me say one more thing: no matter what, I will love

丈夫说：『我应当为你做底事，都对你说过了．我再说一句，无论如何，我永久爱

你．』you forever.'

『咦，再過幾時你，就要把我底屍體扔在荒野中了！'Ah, in a little while you will be casting my corpse out into the wilderness!雖然我不常住在我底身體Although I do not often dwell within my body,

『咦，再过几时你，就要把我底尸体扔在荒野中了！虽然我不常住在我底身体

内，可是人一離開，再到什麽時候，在什麽地方才能互通我們戀愛底消息呢？still, once a person departs, when and where will we ever again be able to exchange word of our love?若說If we say

内，可是人一离开，再到什么时候，在什么地方才能互通我们恋爱底消息呢？若说

我們將要住在天堂底話，我想我也永無再遇見你底日子，因爲我們底天堂不一樣．that we shall dwell in heaven, I think I shall never again have a day of meeting you, because our heavens are not the same.

我们将要住在天堂底话，我想我也永无再遇见你底日子，因为我们底天堂不一样．

你所要住底，必不是我現在要去底．何況我還不配住在天堂？The one you are to dwell in surely is not the one I am now going to. Besides, am I even worthy to dwell in heaven?我雖不信你底神，我可Though I do not believe in your God, I can still

你所要住底，必不是我现在要去底．何况我还不配住在天堂？我虽不信你底神，我可

信你所信底眞理．縱然眞理有能力，也不爲我們這小小的緣故就永遠把我們結在believe in the truth you believe in. Even if truth has power, it would not, for so small a reason as ours, bind us together forever

信你所信底真理．纵然真理有能力，也不为我们这小小的缘故就永远把我们结在

一塊．珍重罷，不要愛我於離別之後．』in one place. Take care of yourself, and do not love me after we have parted.'

一块．珍重罢，不要爱我于离别之后．』

丈夫旣不能說什麽話，屋裏只可讓死的靜寂佔有了．樓底下恍惚敲了七下底Her husband, unable to say anything, could only let the deathly silence take possession of the room. Downstairs, as if in a daze, a clock struck seven times.

丈夫既不能说什么话，屋里只可让死的静寂占有了．楼底下恍惚敲了七下底

自鳴鐘．他爲尊重醫院底規則，就立起來，握着素輝底手說，『我底命，再見罷，七點鐘了．』Out of respect for the hospital's rules, he rose, and holding Suhui's hand, said, 'My life, goodbye for now—it's seven o'clock.'

自鸣钟．他为尊重医院底规则，就立起来，握着素辉底手说，『我底命，再见罢，七点钟了．』

『你不要走，我還和你談話，』'Don't go, I still want to talk with you,'

『你不要走，我还和你谈话，』

『明天我早一點來，你累了，歇歇罷．』'Tomorrow I'll come earlier. You're tired, rest now.'

『明天我早一点来，你累了，歇歇罢．』

『你總不聽我底話．』她把眼睛閉了，顯出很不願意底樣子．丈夫無奈，又停住'You never listen to what I say.' She closed her eyes, showing how unwilling she was. Her husband, having no choice, stayed a while longer,

『你总不听我底话．』她把眼睛闭了，显出很不愿意底样子．丈夫无奈，又停住

片時，但她實在累了，只管躺着，也沒有什麽話說．but she was truly tired, and simply lay there, with nothing more to say.

片时，但她实在累了，只管躺着，也没有什么话说．

丈夫輕輕躡出去．一到樓口，那脚步又退後走，不肯下去．他又躡囘來，悄悄到素輝Her husband quietly tiptoed out. As soon as he reached the stairway, his steps turned back, unwilling to go down. He tiptoed back again, quietly returning to Suhui's

丈夫轻轻蹑出去．一到楼口，那脚步又退后走，不肯下去．他又蹑囘来，悄悄到素辉

牀邊，見她顯着昏睡的形態，枯澀的淚點滴不下來，只掛在眼瞼之間．bedside, and saw her in a state of drowsy half-sleep, dry, parched tears that would not fall, only hanging between her eyelids.

床边，见她显着昏睡的形态，枯涩的泪点滴不下来，只挂在眼睑之间．