六　刑罰的日子 Days of Punishment

房後的草堆上，溫暖在那裡蒸騰起了。Behind the house, warmth rose steaming from the haystack.全個農村跳躍著氾濫的陽光。The whole countryside danced in a flood of sunlight.小風開始蕩漾田禾，夏天又來到人間，葉子上樹了！A light breeze began to ripple the crops; summer had returned to the human world, and the trees were in leaf!假使樹會開花，那麼花也上樹了！If the trees could blossom, then the flowers too had climbed into the trees!

房后的草堆上，温暖在那里蒸腾起了。全个农村跳跃著泛滥的阳光。小风开始荡漾田禾，夏天又来到人间，叶子上树了！假使树会开花，那么花也上树了！

房後草堆上，狗在那裡生產。On the haystack behind the house, a dog was giving birth.大狗四肢在顫動，全身抖擻著。The big dog's four limbs trembled, and her whole body shook.經過一個長時間，小狗生出來。After a long while, a puppy was born.

房后草堆上，狗在那里生产。大狗四肢在颤动，全身抖擞著。经过一个长时间，小狗生出来。

暖和的季節，全村忙著生產。In the warm season, the whole village was busy giving birth.大豬帶著成群的小豬喳喳的跑過，也有的母豬肚子那樣大，走路時快要接觸著地面，牠多數的乳房有什麼在充實起來。Big sows trotted past with squealing litters of piglets; other sows had bellies so huge they nearly brushed the ground as they walked, and something was swelling and filling their many teats.

暖和的季节，全村忙著生产。大猪带著成群的小猪喳喳的跑过，也有的母猪肚子那样大，走路时快要接触著地面，牠多数的乳房有什么在充实起来。

那是黃昏時候，五姑姑的姐姐她不能再延遲，她到婆婆屋中去說：It was toward evening when Fifth Auntie's elder sister could wait no longer, and went to her mother-in-law's room to say:

那是黄昏时候，五姑姑的姐姐她不能再延迟，她到婆婆屋中去说：

「找個老太太來吧！“Find an old woman to come!覺得不好。」Something doesn't feel right.”

「找个老太太来吧！觉得不好。」

回到房中放下窗簾和幔帳。She returned to her room and let down the curtain and bed hangings.她開始不能坐穩，她把蓆子捲起來，就在草上爬行。She could no longer sit still; she rolled up the mat and crawled over the straw.收生婆來時，她乍望見這房中，她就把頭扭著。When the midwife arrived and caught her first glimpse of the room, she turned her head away.她說：She said:

回到房中放下窗帘和幔帐。她开始不能坐稳，她把席子卷起来，就在草上爬行。收生婆来时，她乍望见这房中，她就把头扭著。她说：

「我沒見過，像你們這樣大戶人家，把孩子還要養到草上。『壓柴，壓柴，不能發財。』」“Never have I seen a grand household like yours make a woman bear her child on straw. ‘Pressed upon firewood, pressed upon firewood—fortune never will arise.’”

「我没见过，像你们这样大户人家，把孩子还要养到草上。『压柴，压柴，不能发财。』」

家中的婆婆把蓆下的柴草又都捲起來，土炕上揚起灰塵。The mother-in-law gathered up all the straw beneath the mat, sending dust billowing from the earthen kang.光著身子的女人，和一條魚似的，她爬在那裡。The naked woman, like a fish, lay crawling there.

家中的婆婆把席下的柴草又都卷起来，土炕上扬起灰尘。光著身子的女人，和一条鱼似的，她爬在那里。

黃昏以後，屋中起著燭光。After dusk, candlelight rose in the room.那女人是快生產了，她小聲叫號了一陣，收生婆和一個鄰居的老太婆架扶著她，讓她坐起來，在炕上微微的移動。The woman was close to giving birth; after she had moaned softly for a while, the midwife and an old woman from next door propped her up and helped her sit, shifting her gently about on the kang.可是罪惡的孩子，總不能生產，鬧著夜半過去，外面雞叫的時候，女人忽然苦痛得臉色灰白，臉色轉黃，全家人不能安定。But the accursed child still would not be born; the turmoil lasted past midnight, and when the cocks crowed outside, the woman's pain suddenly turned her face ashen, then yellow, and the whole household grew frantic.為她開始預備葬衣，在恐怖的燭光裡四下翻尋衣裳，全家為了死的黑影所騷動。They began preparing her burial clothes, rummaging everywhere for garments in the terrifying candlelight; the whole family was thrown into turmoil by the dark shadow of death.

黄昏以后，屋中起著烛光。那女人是快生产了，她小声叫号了一阵，收生婆和一个邻居的老太婆架扶著她，让她坐起来，在炕上微微的移动。可是罪恶的孩子，总不能生产，闹著夜半过去，外面鸡叫的时候，女人忽然苦痛得脸色灰白，脸色转黄，全家人不能安定。为她开始预备葬衣，在恐怖的烛光里四下翻寻衣裳，全家为了死的黑影所骚动。

赤身的女人，她一點不能爬動，她不能為生死再掙扎最後的一刻。The naked woman could not crawl an inch; she had no strength left for one final struggle between life and death.天漸亮了。Daylight gradually came.恐怖彷彿是殭屍，直伸在家屋。Terror lay stiff as a corpse throughout the house.

赤身的女人，她一点不能爬动，她不能为生死再挣扎最后的一刻。天渐亮了。恐怖彷佛是僵尸，直伸在家屋。

五姑姑知道姐姐的消息，來了，正在探詢：Hearing the news of her elder sister, Fifth Auntie came and began asking:

五姑姑知道姐姐的消息，来了，正在探询：

「不喝一口水嗎？“Won't she drink a sip of water?她從什麼時候起？」When did it start?”

「不喝一口水吗？她从什么时候起？」

一個男人撞進來，看形象是一個酒瘋子。A man barged in, looking every bit a drunken lunatic.他的半面臉，紅而腫起，走到幔帳的地方，他吼叫：Half his face was red and swollen; he strode up to the bed hangings and roared:

一个男人撞进来，看形象是一个酒疯子。他的半面脸，红而肿起，走到幔帐的地方，他吼叫：

「快給我的靴子！」“Give me my boots, quick!”

「快给我的靴子！」

女人沒有應聲，他用手撕扯幔帳，動著他厚腫的嘴唇：The woman made no answer; he tore at the hangings with his hands, working his thick, swollen lips:

女人没有应声，他用手撕扯幔帐，动著他厚肿的嘴唇：

「裝死嗎？“Playing dead, are you?我看看你還裝不裝死！」Let's see if you keep playing dead!”

「装死吗？我看看你还装不装死！」

說著他拿起身邊的長煙袋來投向那個死屍。With that, he picked up the long-stemmed pipe beside him and hurled it at the corpse.母親過來把他拖出去。His mother came over and dragged him out.每年是這樣，一看見妻子生產他便反對。It was like this every year: the sight of his wife giving birth always set him against her.

说著他拿起身边的长烟袋来投向那个死尸。母亲过来把他拖出去。每年是这样，一看见妻子生产他便反对。

日間苦痛減輕了些，使她清明了！During the day her pain eased somewhat, and her mind cleared.她流著大汗坐在幔帳中，忽然那個紅臉鬼，又撞進來，什麼也不講，只見他怕人的手中舉起大水盆向著帳子拋來。She sat within the bed hangings, streaming with sweat, when suddenly that red-faced demon barged in again; without a word, he raised a great basin of water in his frightening hands and flung it at the hangings.最後人們拖他出去。At last, they dragged him out.

日间苦痛减轻了些，使她清明了！她流著大汗坐在幔帐中，忽然那个红脸鬼，又撞进来，什么也不讲，只见他怕人的手中举起大水盆向著帐子抛来。最后人们拖他出去。

大肚子的女人，仍漲著肚皮，帶著滿身冷水無言的坐在那裡。The big-bellied woman sat there in silence, her belly still distended and her whole body drenched in cold water.她幾乎一動不敢動，她彷彿是在父權下的孩子一般怕著她的男人。She scarcely dared move; like a child under a father's authority, she was terrified of her man.

大肚子的女人，仍涨著肚皮，带著满身冷水无言的坐在那里。她几乎一动不敢动，她彷佛是在父权下的孩子一般怕著她的男人。

她又不能再坐住，她受著折磨，產婆給換下她著水的上衣。Once again she could sit no longer; as she suffered through her torment, the midwife changed her out of her soaked jacket.門響了她又慌張了，要有神經病似的。The door creaked, and again she panicked, almost as if seized by a nervous disorder.一點聲音不許她哼叫，受罪的女人，身邊若有洞，她將跳進去！She was not allowed to utter the faintest moan; if there had been a hole beside her, the suffering woman would have leapt into it!身邊若有毒藥，她將吞下去。If there had been poison beside her, she would have swallowed it.她仇視著一切，窗台要被她踢翻。She hated everything; she wanted to kick the windowsill down.她願意把自己的腿弄斷，宛如進了蒸籠，全身將被熱力所撕碎一般呀！She would gladly have broken her own legs; it was as though she had been thrust into a steamer and her whole body were being torn apart by the heat!

她又不能再坐住，她受著折磨，产婆给换下她著水的上衣。门响了她又慌张了，要有神经病似的。一点声音不许她哼叫，受罪的女人，身边若有洞，她将跳进去！身边若有毒药，她将吞下去。她仇视著一切，窗台要被她踢翻。她愿意把自己的腿弄断，宛如进了蒸笼，全身将被热力所撕碎一般呀！

產婆用手推她的肚子：The midwife pressed her belly with one hand:

产婆用手推她的肚子：

「你再剛強一點，站起來走走，孩子馬上就會下來的，到了時候啦！」“Be a little stronger; get up and walk around, and the baby will come right down—it is time!”

「你再刚强一点，站起来走走，孩子马上就会下来的，到了时候啦！」

走過一個時間，她的腿顫顫得可憐，患著病的馬一般，倒了下來。After walking for a while, her legs trembled pitifully, and she collapsed like a sick horse.產婆有些失神色，她說：「媳婦子怕要鬧事，再去找一個老太太來吧！」The midwife looked somewhat alarmed and said, “I'm afraid there may be trouble with the young wife; go and fetch another old woman!”

走过一个时间，她的腿颤颤得可怜，患著病的马一般，倒了下来。产婆有些失神色，她说：「媳妇子怕要闹事，再去找一个老太太来吧！」

五姑姑回家去找媽媽。Fifth Auntie went home to fetch her mother.

五姑姑回家去找妈妈。

這邊孩子落產了，孩子當時就死去！Meanwhile, the child was delivered—and died at once!用人拖著產婦站起來，立刻孩子掉在炕上，像投一塊什麼東西在炕上響著。They had someone haul the mother to her feet, and at once the child dropped onto the kang, landing there with a thud like some object flung down.女人橫在血光中，用肉體來浸著血。The woman lay sprawled in the gleam of blood, her flesh soaking in it.

这边孩子落产了，孩子当时就死去！用人拖著产妇站起来，立刻孩子掉在炕上，像投一块什么东西在炕上响著。女人横在血光中，用肉体来浸著血。

窗外，陽光灑滿窗子，屋內婦人為了生產疲乏著。Outside the window, sunlight flooded the panes; inside, the woman lay exhausted from giving birth.

窗外，阳光洒满窗子，屋内妇人为了生产疲乏著。

田莊上綠色的世界裡，人們灑著汗滴。Out in the green world of the fields, people scattered drops of sweat.

田庄上绿色的世界里，人们洒著汗滴。

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四月裡，鳥雀們也孵雛了！In April, the birds too had hatched their young!常常看見黃嘴的小雀飛下來，在簷下跳躍著啄食。Little yellow-beaked fledglings could often be seen fluttering down and hopping beneath the eaves to peck for food.小豬的隊伍逐漸肥起來，只有女人在鄉村夏季更貧瘦，和耕種的馬一般。The ranks of piglets gradually grew plump; only the women grew thinner and poorer through the village summer, like horses put to the plow.

四月里，鸟雀们也孵雏了！常常看见黄嘴的小雀飞下来，在簷下跳跃著啄食。小猪的队伍逐渐肥起来，只有女人在乡村夏季更贫瘦，和耕种的马一般。

刑罰，眼看降臨到金枝的身上，使她短的身材，配著那樣大的肚子，十分不相稱。Punishment was plainly about to descend upon Jinzhi: her short body looked utterly ill-proportioned with such a huge belly.金枝還不像個婦人，仍和一個小女孩一般。Jinzhi still did not look like a woman, but remained like a little girl.但是肚子膨脹起了！Yet her belly had swollen!很快做媽媽了，婦人們的刑罰快擒著她。She would soon be a mother; the punishment of women would soon seize her.

刑罚，眼看降临到金枝的身上，使她短的身材，配著那样大的肚子，十分不相称。金枝还不像个妇人，仍和一个小女孩一般。但是肚子膨胀起了！很快做妈妈了，妇人们的刑罚快擒著她。

並且她出嫁還不到四個月，就漸漸會詛咒丈夫，漸漸感到男人是嚴涼的人類！And though she had been married less than four months, she was gradually learning to curse her husband, gradually coming to feel that men were a harsh and heartless race!那正和別的村婦一樣。In this she was just like the other village women.

并且她出嫁还不到四个月，就渐渐会诅咒丈夫，渐渐感到男人是严凉的人类！那正和别的村妇一样。

坐在河邊沙灘上，金枝在洗衣服。Sitting on the sandy bank by the river, Jinzhi was washing clothes.紅日斜照著河水，對岸林子的倒影，隨逐著紅波模糊下去！The red sun shone slantwise across the river, and the reflection of the woods on the opposite bank blurred amid the red ripples!

坐在河边沙滩上，金枝在洗衣服。红日斜照著河水，对岸林子的倒影，随逐著红波模糊下去！

成業在後邊，站在遠遠的地方：Chengye stood far behind her:

成业在后边，站在远远的地方：

「天黑了呀！“It's getting dark!你洗衣裳，懶老婆，白天你做什麼來？」There you are washing clothes, you lazy wife—what were you doing all day?”

「天黑了呀！你洗衣裳，懒老婆，白天你做什么来？」

天還不明，金枝就摸索著穿起衣裳。Before daybreak, Jinzhi was already groping about to dress.在廚房，這大肚子的小女人開始弄得廚房蒸著氣。In the kitchen, this little woman with the great belly began filling the room with steam.太陽出來，鏟地的工人掮著鋤頭回來。When the sun rose, the workers who had been hoeing came back with hoes over their shoulders.堂屋擠滿著黑黑的人頭，吞飯、吞湯的聲音，無紀律地在響。The main room was packed with dark-haired heads, and the sounds of people gulping rice and soup rang out in disorder.

天还不明，金枝就摸索著穿起衣裳。在厨房，这大肚子的小女人开始弄得厨房蒸著气。太阳出来，铲地的工人掮著锄头回来。堂屋挤满著黑黑的人头，吞饭、吞汤的声音，无纪律地在响。

中午又燒飯；At noon she cooked again;晚間燒飯，金枝過於疲乏了！in the evening she cooked again, and Jinzhi was utterly exhausted!腿子痛得折斷一般。Her legs hurt as though they were breaking.天黑下來臥倒休息一刻。When darkness fell, she lay down to rest for a moment.在她迷茫中坐起來，知道成業回來了！Through her daze she sat up, realizing that Chengye had returned!努力掀起在睡的眼睛，她問：Straining to lift her sleep-heavy eyelids, she asked:

中午又烧饭；晚间烧饭，金枝过于疲乏了！腿子痛得折断一般。天黑下来卧倒休息一刻。在她迷茫中坐起来，知道成业回来了！努力掀起在睡的眼睛，她问：

「才回來？」“Only just back?”

「才回来？」

過了幾分鐘，她沒有得到答話。Several minutes passed without an answer.只看男人解脫衣裳，她知道又要挨罵了！Watching the man undress, she knew she was in for another scolding!正相反，沒有罵，金枝感到背後溫熱一些，男人努力低音向她說話：But quite the opposite—he did not scold her; Jinzhi felt warmth against her back, and the man lowered his voice with effort to speak to her:

过了几分钟，她没有得到答话。只看男人解脱衣裳，她知道又要挨骂了！正相反，没有骂，金枝感到背后温热一些，男人努力低音向她说话：

「…………」“…………”

金枝被男人朦朧著了！Jinzhi was enveloped in a haze by the man!

金枝被男人朦胧著了！

立刻，那和災難一般，跟著快樂而痛苦追來了。At once, like a calamity, pain pursued on the heels of pleasure.金枝不能燒飯。Jinzhi could not cook.村中的產婆來了！The village midwife came!她在炕角苦痛著臉色，她在那裡受著刑罰，王婆來幫助她把孩子生下來。Her face contorted in pain in the corner of the kang, she endured her punishment there while Granny Wang helped her deliver the child.王婆搖著她多經驗的頭顱：Granny Wang shook her experienced old head:

立刻，那和灾难一般，跟著快乐而痛苦追来了。金枝不能烧饭。村中的产婆来了！她在炕角苦痛著脸色，她在那里受著刑罚，王婆来帮助她把孩子生下来。王婆摇著她多经验的头颅：

「危險，昨夜你們必定是不安著的。“Dangerous—you two must have been restless last night.年輕什麼也不曉得，肚子大了，是不許那樣的。Young people know nothing; once the belly is big, you mustn't do that.容易喪掉性命！」It can easily cost a life!”

「危险，昨夜你们必定是不安著的。年轻什么也不晓得，肚子大了，是不许那样的。容易丧掉性命！」

十幾天後金枝又行動在院中了！A dozen or so days later, Jinzhi was moving about the courtyard again!小金枝在屋中哭喚她。Little Jinzhi cried for her from inside the house.

十几天后金枝又行动在院中了！小金枝在屋中哭唤她。

牛或是馬在不知覺中忙著栽培自己的痛苦。Oxen and horses, unknowing, busied themselves breeding their own suffering.夜間乘涼的時候，可以聽見馬或是牛棚做出異樣的聲音來。On nights when people sat outside enjoying the cool air, strange sounds could be heard coming from the horse or cattle sheds.牛也許是為了自己的妻子而角鬥，從牛棚撞出來了。Perhaps an ox was fighting with another over his mate; he smashed his way out of the cattle shed.木桿被撞掉，狂張著，成業去拾了耙子猛打瘋牛，於是又安然被趕回棚裡。A wooden rail was knocked away, and the beast ran wild; Chengye picked up a rake and beat the crazed ox savagely, until it was driven peacefully back into the shed.

牛或是马在不知觉中忙著栽培自己的痛苦。夜间乘凉的时候，可以听见马或是牛棚做出异样的声音来。牛也许是为了自己的妻子而角斗，从牛棚撞出来了。木杆被撞掉，狂张著，成业去拾了耙子猛打疯牛，于是又安然被赶回棚里。

在鄉村，人和動物一起忙著生，忙著死……In the countryside, people and animals alike busied themselves being born and dying...

在乡村，人和动物一起忙著生，忙著死……

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二里半的婆子和李二嬸子在地端相遇。Erliban's wife and Second Auntie Li met at the edge of a field.

二里半的婆子和李二婶子在地端相遇。

「啊呀！“Goodness!你還能彎下腰去？」You can still bend down?”

「啊呀！你还能弯下腰去？」

「你怎麼樣？」“And how are you doing?”

「你怎么样？」

「我可不行了呢！」“I can't manage anymore!”

「你什麼時候的日子？」“When are you due?”

「你什么时候的日子？」

「就是這幾天。」“Any day now.”

「就是这几天。」

外面落著毛毛雨。A fine drizzle was falling outside.忽然二里半的家屋吵叫起來！Suddenly, an uproar broke out in Erliban's house!傻婆娘一向生孩子是鬧慣了的，她大聲哭，她怨恨男人：The foolish woman always made a great commotion when giving birth; she wailed loudly and railed at her man:

外面落著毛毛雨。忽然二里半的家屋吵叫起来！傻婆娘一向生孩子是闹惯了的，她大声哭，她怨恨男人：

「我說再不要孩子啦！“I said I didn't want any more children!沒有心肝的，這不都是你的嗎？You heartless wretch, isn't all this your doing?我算死在你身上！」If I die, it will be on your account!”

「我说再不要孩子啦！没有心肝的，这不都是你的吗？我算死在你身上！」

惹得老王婆扭著身子閉住嘴笑。This made old Granny Wang twist aside, clamp her mouth shut, and laugh.過了一會傻婆娘又滾轉著高聲嚷叫：After a while, the foolish woman rolled about again, shouting loudly:

惹得老王婆扭著身子闭住嘴笑。过了一会傻婆娘又滚转著高声嚷叫：

「肚子疼死了，拿刀快把我肚子給割開吧！」"My belly hurts to death—get a knife, quick, and cut my belly open!"

「肚子疼死了，拿刀快把我肚子给割开吧！」

吵叫聲中看得見孩子的圓頭頂。Amid the clamor of her shouting, the child's round crown of a head could already be seen.

吵叫声中看得见孩子的圆头顶。

在這時候，五姑姑變青臉色，走進門來，她似乎不會說話，兩手不住的扭絞：At this moment Fifth Aunt, her face gone pale, came in through the door; she seemed unable to speak, her two hands wringing ceaselessly:

在这时候，五姑姑变青脸色，走进门来，她似乎不会说话，两手不住的扭绞：

「沒有氣了！"There's no breath left in her!小產了，李二嬸子快死了呀！」She's had a miscarriage—Aunt Li-Er is about to die!"

「没有气了！小产了，李二婶子快死了呀！」

王婆就這樣丟下麻面婆趕向打魚村去。So Wang Po dropped Pock-Marked Face and hurried off toward Dayu Village.另一個產婆來時，麻面婆的孩子已在土炕上哭著。By the time the other midwife arrived, Pock-Marked Face's child was already crying on the earthen kang.產婆洗著剛會哭的小孩。The midwife washed the infant, who had just begun to cry.

王婆就这样丢下麻面婆赶向打鱼村去。另一个产婆来时，麻面婆的孩子已在土炕上哭著。产婆洗著刚会哭的小孩。

等王婆回來時，窗外牆根下，不知誰家的豬也正在生小豬。By the time Wang Po came back, outside the window at the foot of the wall, some family's sow—whose, no one knew—was also giving birth to piglets.

等王婆回来时，窗外墙根下，不知谁家的猪也正在生小猪。