課堂用中英對(duì)照牧師的黑面紗

1、牧師的黑面紗ii一個(gè)寓言米爾福禮拜堂的門廊上，司 事正忙著扯開鐘純。村里的老人們 彎腰駝背順街走來(lái)，孩子們喜笑顏 開，活蹦亂跳地跟著父母，要不就 一本正經(jīng)地邁步，渾身禮拜大打扮 的神氣。衣冠楚楚的小伙子們側(cè)目 偷看好看的姑娘，覺得安息日的陽(yáng) 光使她們比平日更漂亮啦。人流大 都涌進(jìn)門廊，司事開始打鐘，一面 盯著胡珀牧師的門口。牧師一露 頭，他就該停打召喚的鐘聲了?！澳翈熌樕线@是啥呀”司事失 驚大叫。聽到的人都立刻回過身來(lái)，只 見一位貌似胡珀先生的人，正若有 所思地緩步朝禮拜堂走來(lái)。人們?nèi)?呆了，即算來(lái)了位生人到胡珀牧師 布道壇上動(dòng)手給墊子彈灰塵，他們 也不至于如此大驚小怪。這你敢肯定這是俺們那位

2、牧TheMinistersBlackVeiliAParableTHESEXTONstoodintheporchofMilfordmeeting-house,pullingbusilyatthebell-rope.Theoldpeopleofthevillagecamestoopingalongthestreet.Children,withbrightfaces,trippedmerrilybesidetheirparents,ormimickedagravergait,intheconsciousdignityoftheirSundayclothes.Sprucebachelorslooked

3、sidelongattheprettymaidens,andfanciedthattheSabbathsunshinemadethemprettierthanonweekdays.Whenthethronghadmostlystreamedintotheporch,thesextonbegantotollthebell,keepinghiseyeontheReverendMr.Hoopersdoor.Thefirstglimpseoftheclergymansfigurewasthesignalforthebelltoceaseitssummons.ButwhathasgoodParsonHo

4、opergotuponhisfacecriedthesextoninastonishment.Allwithinhearingimmediatelyturnedabout,andbeheldthesemblanceofMr.Hooper,pacingslowlyhismeditativewaytowardsthemeeting-house.Withoneaccordtheystarted,expressingmorewonderthanifsomestrangeministerwerecomingtodustthecushionsofMr.Hooperspulpit.Areyousureiti

5、sourparsoninquiredGoodmanGrayofthesexton.OfacertaintyitisgoodMr.Hooper,repliedthesexton.HewastohaveexchangedpulpitswithParsonShute,ofWestbury;butParsonShutesenttoexcusehimselfyesterday,beingtopreachafuneralsermon.Thecauseofsomuchamazementmayappearsufficientlyslight.Mr.Hooper,agentlemanlyperson,ofabo

6、utthirty,thoughstillabachelor,wasdressedwithdueclericalneatness,asifacarefulwifehadstarchedhisband,andbrushedtheweeklydustfromhisSundaysgarb.Therewasbutonethingremarkableinhisappearance.Swathedabouthisforehead,andhangingdownoverhisface,solowastobeshakenbyhisbreath,Mr.Hooperhadonablackveil.Onanearerv

7、iewitseemedtoconsistoftwofoldsofcrape,whichentirelyconcealedhisfeatures,exceptthemouthandchin,butprobablydidnotintercepthissight,furtherthantogiveadarkenedaspecttoalllivingandinanimatethings.Withthisgloomyshadebeforehim,goodMr.Hooperwalkedonward,ataslowandquietpace,stoopingsomewhat,andlookingonthegr

8、ound,asiscustomarywithabstractedmen,yetnoddingkindlytothoseofhisparishionerswhostillwaitedonthemeeting-housesteps.Butsowonder-struckweretheythathisgreetinghardlymetwithareturn.IcantreallyfeelasifgoodMr.Hoopersfacewasbehindthatpieceofcrape,saidthesexton.Idontlikeit,mutteredanoldwoman,asshehobbledinto

9、themeeting-house.Hehaschangedhimselfintosomethingawful,onlybyhidinghisface.師”古德曼格雷問司事。“錯(cuò)不了，是胡珀先生?！彼?事應(yīng)道，“今兒他本該跟韋斯特伯 雷的舒特牧師對(duì)換的，可昨大舒特 牧師捎信兒說(shuō)不來(lái)了，得去給一場(chǎng) 喪事做祈禱。”如此大驚小怪的理由好像并 不充分。胡珀牧師年屆三十，一派 紳士風(fēng)度，雖仍未成家，卻不失牧 師該有的整潔干凈。仿佛有位周到 的妻子已為他漿洗過領(lǐng)箍，刷凈了 一周來(lái)落在禮拜天這身法衣上的 灰塵。渾身上下只有一樣?xùn)|西刺 眼，這就是箍住額頭，低垂蓋臉， 隨呼吸顫動(dòng)的一塊黑面紗。近些 看，面紗似有兩

10、層，除了嘴和下巴， 一張臉給遮得嚴(yán)嚴(yán)實(shí)實(shí)。不過，也 許并沒擋住他的視線，只給看到的 一切有生命無(wú)生命的東西蒙上了 一層黑影。帶著這片黑影，善良的 胡珀先生朝前走著，步子緩慢沉Ourparsonhasgonemad!criedGoodmanGray,followinghimacrossthethreshold.靜，像心不在焉的人慣常那樣，微微駝背，兩眼看地，但對(duì)等候在禮拜堂臺(tái)階上的教友們?nèi)院蜌獾攸c(diǎn) 頭致意，然而眾人只顧吃驚打怪， 竟忘了還禮。“俺真不敢相信那面紗后頭就ArumorofsomeunaccountablephenomenonhadprecededMr.Hooperintothemee

11、ting-house,andsetallthecongregationastir.Fewcouldrefrainfromtwistingtheirheadstowardsthedoor;manystoodupright,andturneddirectlyabout;whileseverallittleboysclamberedupontheseats,andcamedownagainwithaterribleracket.Therewasageneralbustle,arustlingofthewomensgownsandshufflingofthemensfeet,greatlyatvari

12、ancewiththathushedreposewhichshouldattendtheentranceoftheminister.ButMr.Hooperappearednottonoticetheperturbationofhispeople.Heenteredwithanalmostnoiselessstep,benthisheadmildlytothepewsoneachside,andbowedashepassedhisoldestparishioner,awhite-hairedgreat-grandsire,whooccupiedanarm-chairinthecentreoft

13、heaisle.Itwasstrangetoobservehowslowlythisvenerablemanbecameconsciousofsomethingsingularintheappearanceofhispastor.Heseemednotfullytopartakeoftheprevailingwonder,tillMr.Hooperhadascendedthestairs,andshowedhimselfinthepulpit,facetofacewithhiscongregation,exceptfortheblackveil.Thatmysteriousemblemwasn

14、everoncewithdrawn.Itshookwithhismeasuredbreath,ashegaveoutthepsalm;itthrewitsobscuritybetweenhimandtheholypage,ashereadtheScriptures;andwhileheprayed,theveillayheavilyonhisupliftedcountenance.DidheseektohideitfromthedreadBeingwhomhewasaddressingSuchwastheeffectofthissimplepieceofcrape,thatmorethanon

15、ewomanofdelicatenerveswasforcedtoleavethemeeting-house.Yetperhapsthepale-facedcongregationwasalmostasfearfulasighttotheminister,ashisblackveiltothem.是胡珀先生的臉?！彼臼碌?。“俺可不喜歡那玩意兒。” 一 位老嫗蹣跚而入，嘀嘀咕咕地說(shuō)， “把臉一蒙，他就變得讓人害怕啦。”“俺們的牧師瘋啦！ ”古德 曼格雷邊說(shuō)邊跟著他跨進(jìn)門檻。胡珀牧師還沒進(jìn)門，這件不可 思議的怪事就在禮拜堂傳了開來(lái)。 教友們紛紛騷動(dòng)，扭頭朝門口張 望。不少人干脆站起來(lái)，轉(zhuǎn)過身子。

16、幾個(gè)小家伙爬上椅背，又跌了下 來(lái)，亂成一片。堂里女人的衣裙沙 沙作響，男人的腳步拖來(lái)拖去，一 掃恭候牧師駕到該有的肅靜。可是 胡珀牧師好像對(duì)這混亂視而不見。 他幾乎悄無(wú)聲息地走了進(jìn)來(lái)，朝兩 側(cè)一排排的會(huì)眾微微點(diǎn)頭，走過最 年長(zhǎng)的教友時(shí)還鞠了一躬。老人滿 頭華發(fā)，坐在通道中間的扶手椅 上。年高德劭的老人對(duì)牧師外表的 異常反應(yīng)真是遲鈍，好像壓根兒不 曾感受四周的驚詫，直到胡珀沿臺(tái) 階上了講壇，戴著那塊黑面紗與眾 人面對(duì)面時(shí)，方才有所覺察。牧師 先生這神秘的標(biāo)志一刻也不曾除 下。領(lǐng)唱贊美詩(shī)，它隨呼吸起伏；Mr.Hooperhadthereputationofagoodpreacher,butnota

17、nenergeticone:hestrovetowinhispeopleheavenwardbymild,persuasiveinfluences,ratherthantodrivethemthitherbythethundersoftheWord.Thesermonwhichhenowdeliveredwasmarkedbythesamecharacteristicsofstyleandmannerasthegeneralseriesofhispulpitoratory.Buttherewassomething,eitherinthesentimentofthediscourseitself

18、,orintheimaginationoftheauditors,whichmadeitgreatlythemostpowerfuleffortthattheyhadeverheardfromtheirpastorslips.Itwastinged,rathermoredarklythanusual,withthegentlegloomofMr.Hooperstemperament.Thesubjecthadreferencetosecretsin,andthosesadmysterieswhichwehidefromournearestanddearest,andwouldfainconce

19、alfromourownconsciousness,evenforgettingthattheOmniscientcandetectthem.Asubtlepowerwasbreathedintohiswords.Eachmemberofthecongregation,themostinnocentgirl,andthemanofhardenedbreast,feltasifthepreacherhadcreptuponthem,behindhisawfulveil,anddiscoveredtheirhoardediniquityofdeedorthought.Manyspreadtheir

20、claspedhandsontheirbosoms.TherewasnothingterribleinwhatMr.Hoopersaid,atleast,noviolence;andyet,witheverytremorofhismelancholyvoice,thehearersquaked.Anunsoughtpathoscamehandinhandwithawe.Sosensibleweretheaudienceofsomeunwontedattributeintheirminister,thattheylongedforabreathofwindtoblowasidetheveil,a

21、lmostbelievingthatastrangersvisagewouldbediscovered,thoughtheform,gesture,andvoicewerethoseofMr.Hooper.朗讀圣經(jīng)它就在他與圣書之間 拋下黑影。他祈禱，它就沉沉地貼 在他仰起的面孔上。莫非他想向可 畏的上帝隱藏自己的面孔小小一塊黑紗，怵目驚心，害 得不止一位神經(jīng)脆弱的女人被迫 提前離開教堂?？墒窃谀翈熝壑?， 面無(wú)人色的教友們沒準(zhǔn)兒就跟他 的黑面紗一樣令人膽寒呢。胡珀布道有方，遠(yuǎn)近聞名。他 不以力量取勝，對(duì)教民們總是盡量 好言相勸，導(dǎo)引大家朝向大國(guó)，而 不靠雷霆般的圣諭驅(qū)趕人們奔向 那里。此刻，他

22、講道的風(fēng)格、方式, 一如既往?？墒且从捎谥v道本身 的情緒，要么出于聽眾的想象，總 之，大家感到從未聽過他這么有力 的一番告誡。與平日相比，今天的 布道更是蒙上了 一層胡珀性情的 溫良與憂郁。主題涉及隱秘的罪 孽，及那些我們對(duì)最親近的人，對(duì) 自己的良心都想隱藏的秘密，甚至 忘記全能的上帝洞察一切。有種難 以捉摸的力量滲透了他的字字句 句。全體教友，不論純潔如水的少Atthecloseoftheservices,thepeoplehurriedoutwithindecorousconfusion,eagertocommunicatetheirpent-upamazement,andconscio

23、usoflighterspiritsthemomenttheylostsightoftheblackveil.Somegatheredinlittlecircles,huddledcloselytogether,withtheirmouthsallwhisperinginthecentre;somewenthomewardalone,wraptinsilentmeditation;sometalkedloudly,andprofanedtheSabbathdaywithostentatiouslaughter.Afewshooktheirsagaciousheads,intimatingtha

24、ttheycouldpenetratethemystery;whileoneortwoaffirmedthattherewasnomysteryatall,butonlythatMr.Hooperseyesweresoweakenedbythemidnightlamp,astorequireashade.Afterabriefinterval,forthcamegoodMr.Hooperalso,intherearofhisflock.Turninghisveiledfacefromonegrouptoanother,hepaidduereverencetothehoaryheads,salu

25、tedthemiddleagedwithkinddignityastheirfriendandspiritualguide,greetedtheyoungwithmingledauthorityandlove,andlaidhishandsonthelittlechildrensheadstoblessthem.SuchwasalwayshiscustomontheSabbathday.Strangeandbewilderedlooksrepaidhimforhiscourtesy.None,asonformeroccasions,aspiredtothehonorofwalkingbythe

26、irpastorsside.OldSquireSaunders,doubtlessbyanaccidentallapseofmemory,neglectedtoinviteMr.Hoopertohistable,wherethegoodclergymanhadbeenwonttoblessthefood,almosteverySundaysincehissettlement.Hereturned,therefore,totheparsonage,and,atthemomentofclosingthedoor,wasobservedtolookbackuponthepeople,allofwho

27、mhadtheireyesfixedupontheminister.Asadsmilegleamedfaintlyfrombeneaththeblackveil,andflickeredabouthismouth,glimmeringashedisappeared.Howstrange,saidalady,thatasimpleblackveil,suchasanywomanmightwearonherbonnet,shouldbecomesuchaterriblethingonMr.Hoopersface!女還是心如鐵石的男子漢，無(wú)不感 到躲在可怕面紗后面的牧師正悄 悄逼近，發(fā)現(xiàn)了他們思想與

28、行為中 深藏的罪惡。許多人雙手交叉緊 握，按住胸膛。胡珀牧師的話并不 可怕，至少并不激烈。然而，那憂 郁聲調(diào)的每一個(gè)顫音都令聽者發(fā) 抖，莫名的悲愴與畏懼結(jié)伴而來(lái)。聽眾對(duì)牧師的反常感覺強(qiáng)烈，真盼 一陣清風(fēng)能把那塊面紗掀開，簡(jiǎn)直 認(rèn)為露出來(lái)的會(huì)是一張陌生的面 孔，盡管那身體、姿勢(shì)、聲音，分 明是胡珀牧師的。禮拜剛完，眾人便不守規(guī)矩， 爭(zhēng)先恐后往外擠，急于交流按捺不 住的驚異，且感到眼前不見了那塊 黑面紗，心情為之一松。有的人擠 作一堆交頭接耳，有的人獨(dú)自回 家，一路默默沉思。還有幾位搖頭 晃腦，自作聰明，吹噓他們能揭穿 這個(gè)秘密?？捎械娜藚s肯定此事根 本毫無(wú)秘密可言，不過因?yàn)槟翈熛?生熬夜，給燈光

29、弄傷了眼睛，需要 遮擋罷了。片刻之后，胡珀牧師也Mr.the跟在教民們后頭走了出來(lái)。他蒙著SomethingmustsurelybeamisswithHoopersintellects,observedherhusband,physicianofthevillage.Butthestrangestpartoftheaffairistheeffectofthisvagary,evenonasober-mindedmanlikemyself.Theblackveil,thoughitcoversonlyourpastorsface,throwsitsinfluenceoverhiswholeper

30、son,andmakeshimghostlikefromheadtofoot.DoyounotfeelitsoTrulydoI,repliedthelady;andIwouldnotbealonewithhimfortheworld.Iwonderheisnotafraidtobealonewithhimself!Mensometimesareso,saidherhusband.面紗的臉從這群人轉(zhuǎn)向那群人，向 白發(fā)蒼蒼的長(zhǎng)者致意，又作為中年 人的朋友與精神導(dǎo)師，和善莊重地 跟他們打招呼。對(duì)年輕人則露出愛 護(hù)與威嚴(yán)，還把手放到孩子們頭 上，為他們祝福。這樣做是他安息 日的老習(xí)慣，但今天回報(bào)他好意

31、的 只有奇怪與迷惑的目光。沒人照往 常那樣，以與牧師比肩而行為榮。桑德斯老爺記性無(wú)疑出了毛病，竟 忘了邀請(qǐng)胡珀牧師去他家用膳。自 打牧師就職此地，幾乎每個(gè)禮拜大 都是去他家飯桌上祝福的呀。今 天，牧師只好回到自己寓所，正要 關(guān)門，回頭一望，眾人的目光全都 盯在他身上。黑面紗下面露出一絲 憂傷的苦笑，隱約掠過牧師嘴角， 隨他一起消失不見。“怪呀，” 一位婦人道，“一塊普 普通通的黑面紗，跟咱女人家系在 帽子上的沒啥兩樣，可一到胡珀先 生臉上就變得這么嚇人！”“胡珀牧師的腦筋一準(zhǔn)出了毛 病?！彼煞颍謇锏尼t(yī)生道，“不Theafternoonservicewasattendedwithsimila

32、rcircumstances.Atitsconclusion,thebelltolledforthefuneralofayounglady.Therelativesandfriendswereassembledinthehouse,andthemoredistantacquaintancesstoodaboutthedoor,speakingofthegoodqualitiesofthedeceased,whentheirtalkwasinterruptedbytheappearanceofMr.Hooper,stillcoveredwithhisblackveil.Itwasnowanapp

33、ropriateemblem.Theclergymansteppedintotheroomwherethecorpsewaslaid,andbentoverthecoffin,totakealastfarewellofhisdeceasedparishioner.Ashestooped,theveilhungstraightdownfromhisforehead,sothat,ifhereyelidshadnotbeenclosedforever,thedeadmaidenmighthaveseenhisface.CouldMr.Hooperbefearfulofherglance,thath

34、esohastilycaughtbacktheblackveilApersonwhowatchedtheinterviewbetweenthedeadandliving,scruplednottoaffirm,that,attheinstantwhentheclergymansfeaturesweredisclosed,thecorpsehadslightlyshuddered,rustlingtheshroudandmuslincap,thoughthecountenanceretainedthecomposureofdeath.Asuperstitiousoldwomanwastheonl

35、ywitnessofthisprodigy.FromthecoffinMr.Hooperpassedintothechamberofthemourners,andthencetotheheadofthestaircase,tomakethefuneralprayer.Itwasatenderandheart-dissolvingprayer,fullofsorrow,yetsoimbuedwithcelestialhopes,thatthemusicofaheavenlyharp,sweptbythefingersofthedead,seemedfaintlytobeheardamongthe

36、saddestaccentsoftheminister.Thepeopletrembled,thoughtheybutdarklyunderstoodhimwhenheprayedthatthey,andhimself,andallofmortalrace,mightbeready,ashetrustedthisyoungmaidenhadbeen,forthedreadfulhourthatshouldsnatchtheveilfromtheirfaces.Thebearerswentheavilyforth,andthemournersfollowed,saddeningallthestr

37、eet,withthedeadbeforethem,andMr.Hooperinhisblackveilbehind.Whydoyoulookbacksaidoneintheprocessiontohispartner.Ihadafancy,repliedshe,thattheministerandthemaidensspiritwerewalkinghandinhand.AndsohadI,atthesamemoment,saidtheother.過，這件怪事怪就怪在它帶來(lái)的威 力，連我這么個(gè)精明強(qiáng)悍的人都受 到震動(dòng)。那塊黑紗雖說(shuō)只遮住了牧 師的臉，可給他整個(gè)人從頭到腳都 罩上了一層鬼氣，你

38、不覺得么”“可不是吶，”女人道，“俺說(shuō) 啥也不敢單獨(dú)跟他在一起。俺都納悶，他自己怕不怕自己 哩！”“人有時(shí)候是會(huì)自己怕自己 的?！彼煞虻?。下午的禮拜式跟上午情形相 似。收?qǐng)鰰r(shí)，為一位年輕姑娘的葬 禮敲起了喪鐘。親友們聚集在屋 里，關(guān)系遠(yuǎn)些的熟人站在門口，議 論著死者的長(zhǎng)處。突然談話中斷， 胡珀牧師來(lái)了，依然蒙著那塊黑面 紗，此刻這標(biāo)志倒恰當(dāng)不過。牧師 走進(jìn)停放遺體的房間，朝棺材俯下 身去，向他死去的教民最后告別。 彎腰時(shí)，面紗從額頭直垂下來(lái)，要 是姑娘不曾永遠(yuǎn)合上了雙眼，就能 看到他的面孔。莫不是牧師害怕她 的目光，這才趕緊把面紗往后一拉 有人親眼目睹了這場(chǎng)生者與死者 的照面，毫不顧忌地說(shuō)，

39、牧師露出Thatnight,thehandsomestcoupleinMilfordvillageweretobejoinedinwedlock.Thoughreckonedamelancholyman,Mr.Hooperhadaplacidcheerfulnessforsuchoccasions,whichoftenexcitedasympatheticsmilewhereliveliermerrimentwouldhavebeenthrownaway.Therewasnoqualityofhisdispositionwhichmadehimmorebelovedthanthis.Theco

40、mpanyattheweddingawaitedhisarrivalwithimpatience,trustingthatthestrangeawe,whichhadgatheredoverhimthroughouttheday,wouldnowbedispelled.Butsuchwasnottheresult.WhenMr.Hoopercame,thefirstthingthattheireyesrestedonwasthesamehorribleblackveil,whichhadaddeddeepergloomtothefuneral,andcouldportendnothingbut

41、eviltothewedding.Suchwasitsimmediateeffectonthegueststhatacloudseemedtohaverolledduskilyfrombeneaththeblackcrape,anddimmedthelightofthecandles.Thebridalpairstoodupbeforetheminister.Butthebridescoldfingersquiveredinthetremuloushandofthebridegroom,andherdeathlikepalenesscausedawhisperthatthemaidenwhoh

42、adbeenburiedafewhoursbeforewascomefromhergravetobemarried.Ifeveranotherweddingweresodismal,itwasthatfamousonewheretheytolledtheweddingknell.真相的剎那間，姑娘的遺體微微一 動(dòng)，打了個(gè)寒戰(zhàn)，尸衣和薄紗帽都 窸窣作響，雖說(shuō)死者的面容紋絲不 動(dòng)。一個(gè)迷信的老太婆是這個(gè)奇跡 的唯一見證。牧師離開遺體，走到 哀悼者們的屋子，然后走到樓梯 口，為死者祈禱。禱文飽含深情， 感人肺腑，哀哉痛哉，但又傾注著 天堂的希望，仿佛姑娘的纖手在撥 動(dòng)著天堂的琴弦樂聲在牧師悲愴 的腔

43、調(diào)之間依稀可聞。人們不寒而Afterperformingtheceremony,Mr.Hooperraisedaglassofwinetohislips,wishinghappinesstothenew-marriedcoupleinastrainofmildpleasantrythatoughttohavebrightenedthefeaturesoftheguests,likeacheerfulgleamfromthehearth.Atthatinstant,catchingaglimpseofhisfigureinthelooking-glass,theblackveilinvolved

44、hisownspiritinthehorrorwithwhichitoverwhelmedallothers.Hisframeshuddered,hislipsgrewwhite,hespilttheuntastedwineuponthecarpet,andrushedforthintothedarkness.FortheEarth,too,hadonherBlackVeil.栗，雖然并不理解禱文深意。牧師 禱告說(shuō)，但愿他們和他自己，以及 蕓蕓眾生，都能像這位姑娘一樣， 泰然面對(duì)被撕去面紗的那一刻。抬 棺材的人沉重地前行，送葬的人們 尾隨其后。死者打頭，胡珀牧師戴 著面紗殿后，哀傷了一條街。“

45、你干嘛朝后看”送葬隊(duì)伍中 有人問同伴?！鞍澈孟裼X得，方才牧師跟這 姑娘的魂兒手拉手，一塊兒走吶。 她回答?！鞍骋灿X得，也是方才那會(huì) 兒?！绷硪晃粦?yīng)道。Thenextday,thewholevillageofMilfordtalkedoflittleelsethanParsonHoopersblackveil.That,andthemysteryconcealedbehindit,suppliedatopicfordiscussionbetweenacquaintancesmeetinginthestreet,andgoodwomengossipingattheiropenwindows.Itw

46、asthefirstitemofnewsthatthetavern-keepertoldtohisguests.Thechildrenbabbledofitontheirwaytoschool.Oneimitativelittleimpcoveredhisfacewithanoldblackhandkerchief,therebysoaffrightinghisplaymatesthatthepanicseizedhimself,andhewell-nighlosthiswitsbyhisownwaggery.是夜，米爾福村里最漂亮的一 對(duì)人兒要行婚禮。雖說(shuō)胡珀牧師生 性憂郁，逢這種場(chǎng)合，倒有

47、一種平 和的快樂。這種場(chǎng)合比熱烈的作樂 更能激起他和諧的微笑。他性格中 的這一點(diǎn)比什么都更能贏得教民 們的愛戴。參加婚禮的賓客急切地 等待他的光臨，滿以為籠罩了牧師 一整天的那種奇異的恐懼，現(xiàn)在一 定會(huì)煙消云散?？上ВY(jié)果并非如 此。胡珀牧師進(jìn)得門來(lái)，人們頭一 眼看到的還是那塊可怕的黑面紗。 這東西給葬禮平添了更深的憂傷， 但給婚禮帶來(lái)的只是兇兆?？腿藗?頓時(shí)感到，仿佛有朵烏云從黑紗下 面滾滾而來(lái)，遮住了花燭的光亮。 一對(duì)新人站在牧師面前，可新娘子 冰涼的手指在新郎瑟瑟發(fā)抖的掌 心戰(zhàn)栗，臉色死一般蒼白，引起人 們唧唧咕咕，說(shuō)是幾個(gè)鐘頭前才下 葬的那姑娘打墓穴里鉆出來(lái)入洞 房啦。要是還有比這更陰

48、沉的喜 事，只能數(shù)響起喪鐘的那場(chǎng)著名婚 禮了。主持完儀式，胡珀牧師舉杯向 新婚夫婦祝酒，語(yǔ)氣溫和詼諧。他Itwasremarkablethatofallthebusybodiesandimpertinentpeopleintheparish,notoneventuredtoputtheplainquestiontoMr.Hooper,whereforehedidthisthing.Hitherto,wheneverthereappearedtheslightestcallforsuchinterference,hehadneverlackedadvisers,norshownhimselfad

49、versetobeguidedbytheirjudgment.Ifheerredatall,itwasbysopainfuladegreeofself-distrust,thateventhemildestcensurewouldleadhimtoconsideranindifferentactionasacrime.Yet,thoughsowellacquaintedwiththisamiableweakness,noindividualamonghisparishionerschosetomaketheblackveilasubjectoffriendlyremonstrance.Ther

50、ewasafeelingofdread,neitherplainlyconfessednorcarefullyconcealed,whichcausedeachtoshifttheresponsibilityuponanother,tillatlengthitwasfoundexpedienttosendadeputationofthechurch,inordertodealwithMr.Hooperaboutthemystery,beforeitshouldgrowintoascandal.Neverdidanembassysoilldischargeitsduties.Theministe

51、rreceivedthemwithfriendlycourtesy,butbecamesilent,aftertheywereseated,leavingtohisvisitorsthewholeburdenofintroducingtheirimportantbusiness.Thetopic,itmightbesupposed,wasobviousenough.TherewastheblackveilswathedroundMr.Hoopersforehead,andconcealingeveryfeatureabovehisplacidmouth,onwhich,attimes,they

52、couldperceivetheglimmeringofamelancholysmile.Butthatpieceofcrape,totheirimagination,seemedtohangdownbeforehisheart,thesymbolofafearfulsecretbetweenhimandthem.Weretheveilbutcastaside,theymightspeakfreelyofit,butnottillthen.Thustheysataconsiderabletime,speechless,confused,andshrinkinguneasilyfromMr.Ho

53、operseye,whichtheyfelttobefixeduponthemwithaninvisibleglance.Finally,thedeputiesreturnedabashedtotheirconstituents,pronouncingthemattertooweightytobehandled,exceptbyacouncilofthechurches,if,indeed,itmightnotrequireageneralsynod.Buttherewasonepersoninthevillageunappalledbytheawewithwhichtheblackveilh

54、adimpressedallbesideherself.Whenthedeputiesreturnedwithoutanexplanation,orevenventuringtodemandone,she,withthecalmenergyofhercharacter,determinedtochaseawaythestrangecloudthatappearedtobesettlingroundMr.Hooper,everymomentmoredarklythanbefore.Ashisplightedwife,itshouldbeherprivilegetoknowwhattheblack

55、veilconcealed.Attheministersfirstvisit,therefore,sheentereduponthesubjectwithadirectsimplicity,whichmadethetaskeasierbothforhimandher.Afterhehadseatedhimself,shefixedhereyessteadfastlyupontheveil,butcoulddiscernnothingofthedreadfulgloomthathadsooverawedthemultitude:itwasbutadoublefoldofcrape,hanging

56、downfromhisforeheadtohismouth,andslightlystirringwithhisbreath.No,saidshealoud,andsmiling,thereisnothingterribleinthispieceofcrape,exceptthatithidesafacewhichIamalwaysgladtolookupon.Come,goodsir,letthesunshinefrombehindthecloud.Firstlayasideyourblackveil:thentellmewhyyouputiton.的話本該猶如爐中歡跳的火光，照 亮客人們的

57、面龐，但就在那一瞬 問，牧師從鏡中瞥見了自己的形 象，黑面紗也將他的心靈卷進(jìn)了震 懾眾人的恐懼之中。他渾身顫抖， 雙唇失色，把未曾沾唇的喜酒濺灑 在地毯上，轉(zhuǎn)身沖入茫茫黑夜，因 為大地也戴著它的黑面紗啊。第二天，米爾福全村上下只議 論一件事，那就是胡珀牧師的黑面 紗。那紗及紗后面隱藏的秘密成為 人們街頭巷尾的熱門話題，也給女 人們敞開的窗前提供了饒舌的材 料。小店老板把此事當(dāng)做頭條新聞 向顧客報(bào)道，孩子們上學(xué)的路上也 嘰嘰喳喳沒個(gè)完。一個(gè)愛學(xué)樣的小 淘氣，用一塊舊的黑手巾把自己的 臉也遮了起來(lái)，結(jié)果惡作劇不但把 同伴們嚇得要命，他自己也嚇得顛 三倒四。說(shuō)也怪，教區(qū)里所有好管閑 事、莽撞冒失之輩

58、，就沒一個(gè)敢直 截了當(dāng)向胡珀牧師打聽，他為何這 么做。從前，他若有半點(diǎn)兒事情需Mr.Hooperssmileglimmeredfaintly.要人干預(yù)，出主意的總有一大群，而他也一向欣然從命。要說(shuō)他有錯(cuò)Thereisanhourtocome,saidhe,whenallofusshallcastasideourveils.Takeitnotamiss,belovedfriend,ifIwearthispieceofcrapetillthen.Yourwordsareamystery,too,returnedtheyounglady.Takeawaytheveilfromthem,atleast

59、.的話，那就是太缺乏自信，連最輕描淡寫的指責(zé)也會(huì)使他把芝麻小 事當(dāng)成罪過。然而，雖說(shuō)他這種過 分隨和的毛病人盡皆知，卻沒人愿 意就黑面紗的事向他一盡忠言。有Elizabeth,Iwill,saidhe,sofarasmyvowmaysufferme.Know,then,thisveilisatypeandasymbol,andIamboundtowearitever,bothinlightanddarkness,insolitudeandbeforethegazeofmultitudes,andaswithstrangers,sowithmyfamiliarfriends.Nomortaley

60、ewillseeitwithdrawn.Thisdismalshademustseparatemefromtheworld:evenyou,Elizabeth,cannevercomebehindit!Whatgrievousafflictionhathbefallenyou,sheearnestlyinquired,thatyoushouldthusdarkenyoureyesforever種既不明說(shuō)，又不用心遮掩的恐懼 感，使得眾人互相推諉。最后只好 想出一條權(quán)宜之計(jì)，由教民們推選 出一個(gè)代表團(tuán)與胡珀牧師面談，免 得此事引起公憤。再?zèng)]有這么不會(huì) 辦事的代表團(tuán)了。牧師友好客氣地 接待了他們，