中英文對照Thelawoflife

1、一位老印第安人正坐在雪地上，他叫考什克庫什，部落的前首領(lǐng).現(xiàn)在他所能做的就是坐著聽 其他人的，眼睛已經(jīng)老得看不見了，可是他的耳朵卻很靈敏，什么聲音都能聽到。啊哈！這是他女兒西特克姆的聲音，她正在趕狗，試圖讓它們都站到血橇前面去。她 已經(jīng)忘記了他，別人也忘記了他。他們得去尋找新的打獵場所，長途的跋涉就要開始了。 北部地區(qū)的白晝在變短，部落的人不能等死，而考什克庫什正在漸漸地死去。凍僵的動物毛皮發(fā)出的僵硬的辟啪聲告訴他，首領(lǐng)的帳篷正在被拆掉。首領(lǐng)，他的兒 子，是一位強有力的獵手?？际部藥焓脖涣粝聛砺厮廊?。女人們正在干活，老考什克 庫什聽到他兒子讓那些女人快點干活的說話聲。他努力地聽著，這是他最

2、后一次可以聽到 這聲音了。一個小孩哭了起來，一個女人輕聲唱起了歌，來讓孩子安靜下來。孩子叫庫梯， 老人心里想-那是個多病的孩子-他很快就會死去的， 人們會在凍土上燒出一個小洞，把他埋在里面，還會用石頭蓋住他那幼小的身體，以免被狼吃掉了。那又怎么樣呢？小孩活 了幾年，到頭來不也得死嗎？考什克庫什聽著其它的聲音：男人們把堅韌的皮繩子綁在雪橇上，捆住了自己的東西， 他們響亮地抽著皮鞭子，命令狗們拖動著雪橇跑起來。聽那些狗的嚎叫聲！它們是多么厭 惡這工作！人們出發(fā)了，雪橇一輛接著一輛慢慢地滑走了，他們已經(jīng)從他的生活中消失了， 他只能獨自面對這最后的時光。但是那是什么呢？有一個人的鞋把雪給壓實了，他就站

3、在考什克庫什的旁邊，溫柔地把手放在他蒼老的 頭上。他的兒子是會做這種事的。他想起了那些被自己的兒子丟下，連聲再見都沒說的老 人們。他追憶起了往事，直到兒子的聲音喚醒了他?！昂湍愦粫?，好嗎？ ”兒子問?！昂芎谩！崩先舜鸬??！澳闩赃呌心绢^，把火燒得旺點，”兒子說，“早上天有點陰，很冷，就要下雪了。現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)下起來了?！薄笆前。F(xiàn)在已經(jīng)下起雪了。 ”“部落的人都等急了，他們拉的東西很多，沒吃什么東西，肚子餓扁了，要走很長的 路，他們要快點趕路?！薄笆前??！薄拔椰F(xiàn)在就得走了，一切都好吧？”“很好。我已經(jīng)是風(fēng)燭殘年了，一陣風(fēng)就能把我打倒在地上。我的，我的聲音弱地象 個老女人一樣，眼睛再也看不清腳下的路

4、了。我只是有點累，其它一切都很好?！碑攦鹤域T馬走了的時候，他垂下頭聽著雪花飄落的聲音。他又摸到了身邊的木柴， 木柴會一根根燒光的，而死亡會一步步靠近他，最后一根木柴燒光的時候，寒冷就會來臨， 那時他的腳會先被凍僵，然后是手。寒冷會慢慢地從外侵入體內(nèi)，那時他就會安息了。這 很平常-老人早晚都得死。他感到難過，但他并不去想這些傷心事。這就是生活。他活得離大地太近了，這條法 則并不僅適用于他，這是人類的生命法則。大自然對人并不留情，她并不會為個人著想， 她關(guān)心的只是集體-人類這一種族。對于老考什克庫什來說，這是個深刻的問題，但是有些知識的他知道這個道理。他這 一生中見過許多例證，早春的時候，樹木會腐

5、爛掉，新生的綠葉象人的皮膚一樣柔軟光鮮， 枯干的黃葉落下，這就全成了歷史了。他往火堆里又放了一根柴火，開始回憶起自己的過去。他也曾經(jīng)是位偉大的首領(lǐng)，他 度過了許多美好的時光，食物充足，到處歡聲笑語，人們酒足飯飽-剩下的食物都爛掉了， 動物多得可以不殺，自由奔跑，女人們養(yǎng)了很多孩子。他也看到了沒有食物的日子，人們饑腸轆轆，魚群不再回來，動物難以捕捉。動物已 經(jīng)有七年沒有來了，獵狗們餓得皮包著骨頭。接著，他想起了，當自己還是個孩子的時候，看到過狼群咬死了一只駝鹿。他和朋友， 金哈，在一起。后來，他在育肯河邊被殺死了。那天，他和金哈出去玩，在河下游，他們 看到了一只又大又重的駝鹿的腳印?！斑@是一只老

6、駝鹿，”金哈說，“它不能象其它的駝鹿那樣跑得那么快了，它掉隊了。 狼群把它和其它的駝鹿分開了，狼群不會放過它的。”果然，狼群不分晝夜地咬它的鼻子，咬它的腳，一直跟著它到最后。金哈和他感到體 內(nèi)的血流加速了起來，結(jié)局值得一看。他們一路追蹤狼群和駝鹿的蹤跡，每一個腳印都講述著不同的故事。他們可以目睹到 這場悲劇的發(fā)生，這是駝鹿停下來搏斗的地方，雪地上壓下了許多腳印，一匹狼被駝鹿沉 重的腳給踢死了。往前他們又看到駝鹿是如何掙扎著逃上了一座小山，但是狼群從背后襲 擊了它。很明顯結(jié)局就在附近，前面的雪地都被染紅了。接著，他們聽到了打斗的聲音， 不只是狼的長嘯聲，還有它們鋒利的牙齒咬在鹿肉上發(fā)出的雜亂的聲

7、音。他和金哈趴在地上靠近了些，這樣狼群就不會發(fā)覺他們了。他們目睹了結(jié)局，而這畫 面是如此震撼人心，他一輩子都不會忘記。他的那雙模糊不清的瞎眼又看到了遙遠過去發(fā) 生的那一幕。他的腦海里長久地回憶著過去?；鹨獪缌?，寒冷侵襲進了他的身體，他又添上了兩塊 木柴-一只剩下兩塊了。這就是他最后的時光了。他感到非常孤獨，又在火上放上了一塊木 柴。聽！木柴在火上發(fā)出了多么奇怪的聲音！不，那不是木柴，當他聽出了那聲音的時候， 身體不由得一顫。狼群！狼的嚎叫聲又使他想起了那只老駝鹿臨死前的畫面。他看到駝鹿 的身體被撕成了碎片，鮮血在雪地上流成了河。他看到了被狼舔得干干凈凈的骨頭，就堆 在被凍住的血塊旁。他看到了灰

8、色狼群奔跑的身影，眼睛閃亮，伸著長長的濕淋淋的舌頭 和鋒利的牙齒。他看到它們圍成了一圈，靠得越來越近了。一只冰涼的濕鼻子碰到了他的臉，這一碰，他精神一振，一下就醒了過來。他伸手從 灰堆里抓起了一根燃燒著的木棍。狼看到了火，但是并沒有害怕。它轉(zhuǎn)過身，仰天對著它 的同伴嚎叫了起來。它們饑餓地回應(yīng)著跑了過來。老印第安人聽著餓狼的腳步聲，他聽到 它們在他和小火堆的周圍形成了一個包圍圈，他沖著它們揮舞著燃燒的木棍，但它們并沒 有離開。這時，其中的一匹狼慢慢地靠近了，好象要試試老人的力氣。其它的也跟了過來。包 圍圈越來越小，狼全上來了。他為什么要搏斗呢？為什么要茍延殘喘呢？他把木柴有火的 一頭放下了，插進

9、了厚厚的雪地里?；鹜耆缌恕＠侨旱陌鼑康酶?，老印第安人又一次看到了那只駝鹿在臨死前拼命掙扎的一 幕。他把頭埋在了膝蓋里。反抗究竟有什么意義呢？這不是生命的法則嗎？THE LAW OF LIFEOLD KOSKOOSH listened greedily. Though his sight had long since faded, his hearing was still acute, and the slightest sound penetrated to the glimmering intelligence which yet abode behind the wither

10、ed forehead, but which no longer gazed forth upon the things of the world. Ah! that was Sit-cum-to-ha, shrillyanathematizing the dogs as she cuffed and beat them into the harnesses. Sit-cum-to-ha was his daughters daughter, but she was too busy to waste a thought upon her broken grandfather, sitting

11、 alone there in the snow, forlorn and helpless. Camp must be broken. The long trail waited while the short day refused to linger. Life called her, and the duties of life, not death. And he was very close to death now.The thought made the old man panicky for the moment, and he stretched forth a palsi

12、ed hand which wandered tremblingly over the small heap of dry wood beside him. Reassured that it was indeed there, his hand returned to the shelter of his mangy furs, and he again fell to listening. The sulky crackling of half-frozen hides told him that the chiefs moose-skin lodge had been struck, a

13、nd even then was being rammed and jammed into portable compass. The chief was his son, stalwart and strong, head man of the tribesmen, and a mighty hunter. As the women toiled with the camp luggage, his voice rose, chiding them for their slowness. Old Koskoosh strained his ears. It was the last time

14、 he would hear that voice. There went Geehows lodge! And Tuskens! Seven, eight, nine; only the shamans could be still standing. There! They were at work upon it now. He could hear the shaman grunt as he piled it on the sled. A child whimpered, and a woman soothed it with soft, crooning gutturals. Li

15、ttle Koo-tee, the old man thought, a fretful child, and not overstrong. It would die soon, perhaps, and they would burn a hole through the frozen tundra and pile rocks above to keep the wolverines away. Well, what did it matter? A few years at best, and as many an empty belly as a full one. And in t

16、he end, Death waited, ever-hungry and hungriest of them all.What was that? Oh, the men lashing the sleds and drawing tight the thongs. He listened, who would listen no more. The whip-lashes snarled and bit among the dogs. Hear them whine! How they hated the work and the trail! They were off! Sled af

17、ter sled churned slowly away into the silence. They were gone. They had passed out of his life, and he faced the last bitter hour alone. No. The snow crunched beneath a moccasin;a man stood beside him; upon his head a hand rested gently. His son was good to do this thing. He remembered other old men

18、 whose sons had not waited after the tribe. But his son had. He wandered away into the past, till the young mans voice brought him back.Is it well with you? he asked.And the old man answered, It is well.There be wood besideyou, the younger man continued, and the fire burns bright. The morning is gra

19、y, and the cold has broken. It will snow presently. Even now is it snowing.“ My voice is become like an old womans. ” Ay, even now is it snowing.The tribesmen hurry. Their bales are heavy, and their bellies flat with lack of feasting. The trail is long and they travel fast. go now. It is well?It is

20、well. I am as a last years leaf, clinging lightly to the stem. The first breath that blows, and I fall. My voice is become like an old womans. My eyes no longer show me the way of my feet, and my feet are heavy, and I am tired. It is well. He bowed his head in content till the last noise of the comp

21、laining snow had died away, and he knew his son was beyond recall. Then his hand crept out in haste to the wood. It alone stood between him and the eternity that yawned in upon him. At last the measure of his life was a handful of fagots. One by one they would go to feed the fire, and just so, step

22、by step, death would creep upon him. When the last stick had surrendered up its heat, the frost would begin to gather strength. First his feet would yield, then his hands; and the numbness would travel, slowly, from the extremities to the body. His head would fall forward upon his knees, and he woul

23、d rest. It was easy. All men must die.He did not complain. It was the way of life, and it was just. He had been born close to the earth, close to the earth had he lived, and the law thereof was not new to him. It was the law of all flesh. Nature was not kindly to the flesh. She had no concern for th

24、at concrete thing called the individual. Her interest lay in the species, the race. This was the deepest abstraction old Koskooshs barbaric mind was capable of, but he grasped it firmly. He saw it exemplified in all life. The rise of the sap, the bursting greenness of the willow bud, the fall of the

25、 yellow leaf -in this alone was told the whole history. But one task did Nature set the individual. Did he not perform it, he died. Did he perform it, it was all the same, he died. Nature did not care; there were plenty who were obedient, and it was only the obedience in this matter, not the obedien

26、t, which lived and lived always. The tribe of Koskoosh was very old. The old men he had known when a boy, had known old men before them. Therefore it was true that the tribe lived, that it stood for the obedienceof all its members, way down into the forgotten past, whose very resting-placeswere unre

27、membered. They did not count; they were episodes. They had passed away like clouds from a summer sky. He also was an episode, and would pass away. Nature did not care. To life she set one task, gave one law. To perpetuate was the task of life, its law was death. A maiden was a good creature to look

28、upon, full-breasted and strong, with spring to her step and light in her eyes. But her task was yet before her. The light in her eyes brightened, her step quickened, she was now bold with the young men, now timid, and she gave them of her own unrest. And ever she grew fairer and yet fairer to look u

29、pon, till some hunter, able no longer to withhold himself, took her to his lodge to cook and toil for him and to becomethe mother of his children. And with the coming of her offspring her looks left her. Her limbs dragged and shuffled, her eyes dimmed and bleared, and only the little children found

30、joy against the withered cheek of the old squaw by the fire. Her task was done. But a little while, on the first pinch of famine or the first long trail, and she would be left, even as he had been left, in the snow, with a little pile of wood. Such was the law. He placed a stick carefully upon the f

31、ire and resumed his meditations. It was the same everywhere, with all things. The mosquitoesvanished with the first frost. The little tree-squirrel crawled away to die. When age settled upon the rabbit it became slow and heavy, and could no longer outfoot its enemies.Even the big bald-face grew clum

32、sy and blind and quarrelsome, in the end to be draggeddown by a handful of yelping huskies. He remembered how he had abandoned his own father on an upper reach of the Klondike one winter, the winter before the missionary came with his talk-books and his box of medicines. Many a time had Koskoosh sma

33、cked his lips over the recollection of that box, though now his mouth refused to moisten. The painkiller had been especiallygood. But the missionary was a bother after all, for he brought no meat into the camp, and he ate heartily, and the hunters grumbled. But he chilled his lungs on the divide by

34、the Mayo, and the dogs afterwards nosed the stonesaway and fought over his bones.“through the long darkness the children wailed and died. ” Koskoosh placed another stick on the fire and harked back deeper into the past. There was the time of the Great Famine, when the old men crouched empty-bellied

35、to the fire, and let fall from their lips dim traditions of the ancient day when the Yukon ran wide open for three winters, and then lay frozen for three summers. He had lost his mother in that famine. In the summer the salmon run had failed, and the tribe looked forward to the winter and the coming

36、 of the caribou. Then the winter came, but with it there were no caribou. Never had the like been known, not even in the lives of the old men. But the caribou did not come, and it was the seventh year, and the rabbits had not replenished, and the dogs were naught but bundles of bones. And through th

37、e long darkness the children wailed and died, and the women, and the old men; and not one in ten of the tribe lived to meet the sun when it came back in the spring. That was a famine!But he had seen times of plenty, too, when the meat spoiled on their hands, and the dogs were fat and worthless with

38、overeating - times when they let the game go unkilled, and the women were fertile, and the lodges were cluttered with sprawling men-children and women-children. Then it was the men became high-stomached,and revived ancient quarrels, and crossedthe divides to the south to kill the Pellys, and to the

39、west that they might sit by the dead fires of the Tananas. He remembered, when a boy, during a time of plenty, when he saw a moose pulled down by the wolves. Zing-ha lay with him in the snow and watched -Zing-ha, who later became the craftiest of hunters, and who, in the end, fell through an air-hol

40、e on the Yukon. They found him, a month afterward, just as he had crawled halfway out and frozen stiff to the ice.But the moose. Zing-ha and he had gone out that day to play at hunting after the manner of their fathers. On the bed of the creek they struck the fresh track of a moose, and with it the

41、tracks of many wolves. An old one, Zing-ha, who was quicker at reading the sign, said - an old one who cannot keep up with the herd. The wolves have cut him out from his brothers, and they will never leave him. And it was so. It was their way. By day and by night, never resting, snarling on his heel

42、s, snapping at his nose, they would stay by him to the end. How Zing-ha and he felt the blood-lust quicken! The finish would be a sight to see! Eager-footed, they took the trail, and even he, Koskoosh,slow of sight and an unversed tracker, could have followed it blind, it was so wide. Hot were they

43、onthe heels of the chase, reading the grim tragedy, fresh-written, at every step. Now they came to where the moose had made a stand. Thrice the length of a grown mans body, in every direction, had the snow been stamped about and uptossed. In the midst were the deep impressions of the splay-hoofed ga

44、me, and all about, everywhere, were the lighter footmarks of the wolves. Some, while their brothers harried the kill, had lain to one side and rested. The full-stretched impress of their bodies in the snow was as perfect as though made the moment before. One wolf had been caught in a wild lunge of t

45、he maddened victim and trampled to death. A few bones, well picked, bore witness.Again, they ceased the uplift of their snowshoes at a second stand. Here the great animal had fought desperately.Twice had he been dragged down, as the snow attested, and twice had he shaken his assailantsclear and gain

46、ed footing once more. He had done his task long since,but none the lesswas life dear to him. Zing-ha said it was a strange thing, a moose once down to get free again; but this one certainly had. The shaman would see signs and wonders in this when they told him.And yet again, they come to where the m

47、oose had made to mount the bank and gain the timber. But his foes had laid on from behind, till he reared and fell back upon them, crushing two deep into the snow. It was plain the kill was at hand, for their brothers had left them untouched. Two more stands were hurried past, brief in time-length a

48、nd very close together. The trail was red now, and the clean stride of the great beast had grown short and slovenly. Then they heard the first soundsof the battle - not the full-throated chorus of the chase,but the short, snappy bark which spoke of close quarters and teeth to flesh. Crawling up the

49、wind, Zing-ha bellied it through the snow, and with him crept he, Koskoosh, who was to be chief of the tribesmen in the years to come. Together they shoved aside the under branches of a young spruce and peered forth. It was the end they saw. The picture, like all of youths impressions, was still str

50、ong with him, and his dim eyes watched the end played out as vividly as in that far-off time. Koskoosh marvelled at this, for in the days which followed, when he was a leader of men and a head of councillors, he had done great deeds and made his name a curse in the mouths of the Pellys, to say naugh

51、t of the strange white man he had killed, knife to knife, in open fight.For long he pondered on the days of his youth, till the fire died down and the frost bit deeper. He replenished it with two sticks this time, and gauged his grip on life by what remained. If Sit-cum-to-ha had only remembered her

52、 grandfather, and gathered a larger armful, his hours would have been longer. It would have been easy. But she was ever a careless child, and honored not her ancestors from the time the Beaver, son of the son of Zing-ha, first cast eyes upon her. Well, what mattered it? Had he not done likewise in his own quick youth? For a while he listened to the silence. Perhaps the heart of his son might soften, and he would come back with the dogs t