在这些似乎要啮蚀一切信念,不让那些死无葬身之地的人获得复活的机会的字句中,可显得多么空洞无聊,多么无情无义。这些字句正等于那些立在象岛的石窟里的石碑。
In what census of living creatures, the dead ofmankind are included; why it is that a universal proverb says of them, that they tell no tales,though containing more secrets than the Goodwin Sands! how it is that to his name whoyesterday departed for the other world, we prefix so significant and infidel a word, and yet donot thus entitle him, if he but embarks for the remotest Indies of this living earth; why the LifeInsurance Companies pay death-forfeitures upon immortals; in what eternal, unstirringparalysis, and deadly, hopeless trance, yet lies antique Adam who died sixty round centuriesago; how it is that we still refuse to be comforted for those who we nevertheless maintain aredwelling in unspeakable bliss; why all the living so strive to hush all the dead; wherefore butthe rumor of a knocking in a tomb will terrify a whole city. All these things are not withouttheir meanings.
死人是给算在哪一种人口调查登记簿上的?为什么俗语说人死口灭,仿佛包含有超于古德温沙洲的秘密?我们为什么要在那些昨天动身到阴间去的人的名称面前,加上这么一个意义深长而缺乏诚意的词儿?而如果他不过是出发到现世的最遥远的东印度群岛去,却又不这样称呼他?为什么人寿保险公司要付给未亡人死亡赔偿金?为什么那个早在六千年前就已老死的古代亚当,却还象害着什么永恒动弹不得的瘫痪症。象死人似的。无药可救地昏睡着?我们为什么对那些我们认定是居住在乐不可言的极乐世界中的人放不了心?为什么所有的活人都拚命要使一切死人静默;因此只要风闻坟冢一声响动,就会全城惊惶?所有这些事情都并不是毫无意义的。
But Faith, like a jackal, feeds among the tombs, and even from these dead doubts she gathersher most vital hope.
但是,信念就象豺狼一般是靠坟冢为生的,它甚至还从这些死人的疑惧里,搜集最重要的希望呢?
