自译 条子与圣歌 原著欧亨利

The Cop And The Anthem 条子与圣歌

O Henry 欧亨利

On his bench in Madison Square Soapy moved uneasily, and when Soapy moves uneasily on his bench in the park, you may know that winter is near.

麦迪逊广场。皂华在一张长凳上不安地打着哆嗦，每当他这样不安地打着哆嗦的时候，我们就知道：冬天要来了。

A dead leaf fell in Soapy's lap. That was Jack Frost's card. Jack is kind to the regular residents of Madison Square, and gives them warning of his annual call.

一片枯叶掉在皂华膝盖上，上面仿佛署着“冻死人不偿命”的善意提醒。每年的这个时候，麦迪逊广场的常住客们都会收到这样一张漂亮的贺卡。

Soapy realized the fact that the time had come for him to provide against the coming winter. And therefore he moved uneasily on his bench.

皂华意识到，是时候准备过冬了。正是这件事把他吓得浑身发抖。

The winter ambitions of Soapy were not of the highest. In them there were no dreams of Mediterranean voyages, of blue Southern skies or the Vesuvian Bay. Three months on the Island was what his soul desired. Three months of assured board and bed and good company, safe from north winds and policemen, seemed to Soapy the most desirable thing.

对过冬这事儿，皂华向来没什么过高的打算，比如说去趟地中海，感受感受碧海蓝天、名湾大山。对他来说，“监狱三月游”就挺好的了。牢里头包吃住，有人气，没北风，还见不着条子，多少人打破了头想往里钻呢。

For years the hospitable Blackwell prison had been his winter refuge. Just as the more fortunate New Yorkers had bought their tickets to Palm Beach and the Riviera each winter, so Soapy had made his arrangements for his annual journey to the island. And now the time had come. On the night before three Sunday newspapers, put under his coat, about his feet and over his lap, had not helped him against the cold as he slept on his bench near the fountain in the old square. There were many institutions of charity in New York where he might receive lodging and food, but to Soapy's proud spirit the gifts of charity were undesirable. You must pay in humiliation of spirit for everything received at the hands of philanthropy. So it was better to be a guest of the law.

这么多年来，“黑又深”监狱一次又一次救他于天冷椅寒。到最后，跟那些每逢寒冬必往佛罗里达跟里维埃拉跑的纽约客一样，皂华也得提前准备着一年一度的“监狱三月游”。这不，时候又到了。昨天睡前，皂华往衣服里、脚底下和腿上各垫了一份加厚的周末版报纸，寻思着总算是万事俱备了，末了夜里头北风那个吹呀，还是把他冻了个半死。按理说，纽约市里供吃供住的慈善机构也不少，可偏偏皂华又是个挺有骨气的人，就是给冻死饿死也不碰那施来之床、嗟来之食。没办法，只好去违法乱纪了。

Soapy, having decided to go to the Island, at once set about accomplishing his desire. There were many easy ways of doing this. The pleasantest was to dine at some good restaurant; and then, after declaring bankruptcy, be handed over to a policeman. A magistrate would do the rest.

皂华立刻行动起来。正所谓条条大路通罗马，进监狱的羊肠小道更比比皆是。其中最舒服的莫过于找家好馆子大吃一顿霸王餐，边消化边等着餐馆报警，先被警察叔叔这么一抓，再被法官伯伯那么一判，过冬这事儿就成了。

Soapy left his bench and went out of the square and up Broadway. He stopped at the door of a glittering cafe. He was shaven and his coat was decent. If he could reach a table in the restaurant, the portion of him that would show above the table would raise no doubt in the waiter's mind. A roasted duck, thought Soapy, with a bottle of wine, and then some cheese, a cup of coffee and a cigar would be enough. Such a dinner would make him happy, for the journey to his winter refuge.

皂华站起来，离开广场，往百老汇走。在一家门面不小的饭店门前，皂华停下来，一摸胡子，刮得干干净净；一瞅外套，穿得漂漂亮亮。行吧，今儿个就放开了吃，呵，非把这儿的服务员吓个半死不可。先得来只鸭子，皂华心想，再来瓶酒来块奶酪来杯咖啡，饭后再来根雪茄烟，啧啧。临走之前先吃顿好的，省得牢里头给我接风洗尘了。

But as Soapy entered the restaurant door, the head waiter's eye fell upon his shabby trousers and old shoes. Strong hands turned him about and pushed him in silence and haste out into the street.

只可惜，皂华的外套没遮住他那条穷酸裤跟那双破烂鞋。他刚往里走，领班一瞅见他那副打扮，二话不说就把他扔街上了。

Soapy turned off Broadway. Some other way of entering the desirable refuge must be found.

皂华灰溜溜地走了。不行，车到山前必有路，必须得有。

At a corner of Sixth Avenue Soapy took a stone and sent it through the glass of a glittering shop window. People came running around the corner, a policeman at the head of them. Soapy stood still, with his hands in his pockets, and smiled at the sight of the policeman.

皂华又来到第六大道的一个拐角，他捡起一块石头，使劲一扔，把一家店的橱窗玻璃给砸了。人群炸了锅，所有人都惊慌失措地跑来跑去，唯有皂华老老实实地杵着，手搁在兜里，对着赶过来的警察面带微笑。

Where is the man that has done that? asked the policeman.

“这谁干的？出来！”警察说道。

Don't you think that I have had something to do with it? said Soapy, not without sarcasm, but friendly.

“你不觉得我挺可疑的吗？”皂华说，语气里满是诚恳，没有半点挖苦讽刺。

The policeman paid no attention to Soapy. Men who break windows do not remain to speak with policemen. They run away. He saw a man running to catch a car and rushed after him with his stick in his hand. Soapy, with disgust in his heart, walked along, twice unsuccessful.

警察看都没看他一眼。因为众所周知，蓄意打破橱窗的人是不会跟警察搭话的，只会扭头就跑。这不，那警察忽然看见了一个为赶车夺路狂奔的人，提起警棍就追了上去。皂华一脸不高兴地走了。真倒霉，又白瞎了。

On the opposite side of the street was a little restaurant for people with large appetites and modest purses. Soapy entered this place without difficulty. He sat at a table and ate beefsteak and pie. And then he told the waiter that he had no money.

街对面有一家小餐馆，那儿的常客无不是胃口大荷包紧。这次皂华没费多大劲就混了进去。他找了个地方坐下，吃了块牛排，又来了个派。赶结账的时候，他告诉服务员说自己没钱。

Now go and call a cop, said Soapy. And don't keep a gentleman waiting.

“行了，去喊条子吧。”皂华说，“速度点。”

No cop for you, said the waiter. Hey!

“对付你这种人用不着条子。”服务员说道，“弟兄们！”

In a moment Soapy found himself lying upon his left ear on the pavement. He arose with difficulty, and beat the dust from his clothes. Arrest seemed a rosy dream. The Island seemed very far away. A policeman who stood before a drug store two doors away laughed and walked down the street. Soapy seemed to liberty.

“咚”的一声，皂华就躺在了人行道上。他好容易站了起来，把衣服上的灰拍干净了。唉，进监狱算是彻底没戏了。旁边的一个警察看见他这副熊样，乐了半天，却笑完就走了。完蛋，还是自由身。

After another unsuccessful attempt to be arrested for persecution a young woman, Soapy went further toward the district of theatres.

皂华又尝试了一下“骚扰女性”的套路，还是不行。他不死心，又来到了剧院区。

When he came upon a policeman standing in front of a glittering theatre, he caught at the straw of disorderly conduct.

当他路过一座富丽堂皇的剧院——前的一名警察时，他突然想起了“扰乱社会治安”这条罪名。

On the sidewalk Soapy began to sing drunken songs at the top of his voice. He danced, howled, and otherwise disturbed the peace.

皂华将计就计，摆出一副醉醺醺的模样，在人行道上载歌载舞起来，他又唱又跳，极尽“扰乱社会治安”之能事。

The policeman turned his back to Soapy, and said to a citizen:It is one of the Yale lads celebrating their football victory over the Hartford College. Noisy, but no harm. We have instructions not to arrest them.

警察转过身，背对皂华，一面向一名行人解释道：“瞧，又一个耶鲁来的，他们大学正为了踢赢哈佛庆祝呢。吵是挺吵的，但没什么危害。上头指示我们不用逮捕他们。”

Sadly, Soapy stopped his useless singing and dancing. A sudden fear seized him. Was he immune to arrest? Would never a policeman lay hands on him? The Island seemed an unattainable Arcadia. He buttoned his thin coat against the north wind.

造化弄人啊，皂华一下子老实了。突然间，一个可怕的念头钻了出来：莫非……莫非他皂华再也不会被抓起来了？难道……难道说就没有一个警察会伸手逮捕他？原本触手可及的监狱一下子远在天边。他不禁扣紧了自己那件薄薄的外套，抵御着无情的北风。

In a cigar store he saw a well-dressed man lighting a cigar. He had set his silk umbrella by the door, Soapy entered the store, took the umbrella, and went out with it slowly. The man with the cigar followed hastily.

他路过一家雪茄店，看见里面有个衣冠楚楚的家伙正抽着烟。更引人注目的是，他把自己的丝绸伞撂在了门边。皂华走进来，拿起伞，慢悠悠地走出去。抽烟的那人急忙跟了上来。

My umbrella, he said.

“把伞还我。”他说。

Oh, is it? said Soapy. Well, why don't you call a policeman? I took it. Your umbrella! Why don't you call a cop? There stands one on the corner.

“把伞还你？”皂华说道，“哎我还就拿了怎么着了？你的伞？行啊，去，你去喊警察啊！怎么了？去啊？那边不就有一个吗？”

The umbrella owner slowed his steps. Soapy did likewise. The policeman looked at them curiously.

伞的主人放慢了步伐。皂华也如是效法。那警察好奇地望着他们。

Of course, said the umbrella man, that is - well, you know how these mistakes occur - I - if it's your umbrella I hope you'll excuse me - I picked it up this morning in a restaurant - if it is yours, why - I hope you'll -

“呃，这个……”伞的主人说道，“你看吧，这个……小小的误、误会总是难免的。那个，我很抱歉错拿了你的伞，我是今天早上在一个饭店看见的。如、如果这是你的伞……呃，我很抱歉……”

Of course it's mine, said Soapy.

“这当然是我的。”皂华斩钉截铁道。

The ex-umbrella man retreated. The policeman hurried to help a well-dressed woman across the street.

于是乎，伞的“前主人”悄没声地溜了。那警察眼瞅着有位俏姐要过马路，便屁颠屁颠地跑过去帮忙。

Soapy walked eastward. He threw the umbrella angrily into a pit. He was angry with the men who wear helmets and carry clubs. Because he wanted to be arrested, they seemed to regard him as a king who could do no wrong.

皂华一路向东。路上，他一怒之下把那把伞扔进了坑里。他简直快被那帮戴警盔拿警棍的白痴给气死了，这些个条子都吃错药似的把他当成什么了？永不犯错的国王吗？

At last Soapy reached one of the avenues to the east where it was not so noisy. He went towards Madison Square, for the home instinct remains even when the home is a park bench.

走啊走，皂华总算走到了一片不算太吵的街区。他走向麦迪逊广场，他想家了——长椅再凉也是家。

But on a quiet corner Soapy stopped before an old church. Through one window a soft light glowed, where, no doubt, the organist played a Sunday anthem. For there came to Soapy's ears sweet music that caught and held him at the iron fence.

但是，在一个安静的街角，皂华在一座老教堂前停下了脚步。一束光推开窗户，照在了演奏周日圣歌的管风琴师身上。甜美的音乐飞入皂华耳中，使站在铁栅栏前的他久久地沉醉了。

The moon was shining; cars and pedestrians were few; birds twittered sleepily under the roof. And the anthem that the organist played cemented Soapy to the iron fence, for he had known it well in the days when his life contained such things as mothers and roses and ambitions and friends.

月悬天际，洒落光明，街道上车少人稀，屋顶下眠鸟低鸣。圣歌徐徐演奏着，而皂华已死死地贴在了铁栅栏上，因为这圣歌让他想起了一些日子，一些慈母情深、花香鸟语、意气风发、好友如云的日子。

The influence of the music and the old church produced a sudden and wonderful change in Soapy's soul. He saw with horror the pit into which he had fallen. He thought of his degraded days, dead hopes and wrecked faculties.

这圣歌，这教堂，始料未及、不可思议地扭转了皂华的灵魂。他如梦方醒，猛然发现自己堕落了有多深。他回想着，回想起自己糟蹋的韶光，回想起自己已逝的梦想，回想起自己埋没的天资。

And also in a moment a strong impulse moved him to battle with his desperate fate. He would pull himself out of this pit; he would make a man of himself again. There was time; he was young yet. Those sweet organ notes had set up a revolution in him. Tomorrow he would be somebody in the world. He would -

与此同时，一股强劲的力量驱策着他同他那可怖的命运搏斗。他要拯救自己，他要重新做人。这一切还不晚，他还年轻，还有时间。那些美妙的音符在他心中掀起了一场革命。明天，他会是崭新的他，他会是全新的人，他会是……

Soapy felt a hand on his arm. He looked quickly around into the broad face of a policeman.

皂华发觉胳膊上多了只手。回头一看，正好对上了一个警察的宽脸盘子。

What are you doing here? asked the policeman.

“你在干什么？”警察问道。

Nothing, said Soapy.

“没干什么。”皂华说。

Then come along, said the policeman.

“得了吧，过来。”警察说。

Three months on the Island, said the Magistrate in the Police Court the next morning.

第二天早上。

“三个月拘禁。”法官如是说。