The Cop And The Anthem 條子與圣歌

O Henry 歐亨利

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.

麥迪遜廣場(chǎng)。皂華在一張長(zhǎng)凳上不安地打著哆嗦，每當(dāng)他這樣不安地打著哆嗦的時(shí)候，我們就知道：冬天要來(lái)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.

一片枯葉掉在皂華膝蓋上，上面仿佛署著“凍死人不償命”的善意提醒。每年的這個(gè)時(shí)候，麥迪遜廣場(chǎng)的常住客們都會(huì)收到這樣一張漂亮的賀卡。

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.

皂華意識(shí)到，是時(shí)候準(zhǔn)備過(guò)冬了。正是這件事把他嚇得渾身發(fā)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.

對(duì)過(guò)冬這事兒，皂華向來(lái)沒(méi)什么過(guò)高的打算，比如說(shuō)去趟地中海，感受感受碧海藍(lán)天、名灣大山。對(duì)他來(lái)說(shuō)，“監(jiān)獄三月游”就挺好的了。牢里頭包吃住，有人氣，沒(méi)北風(fēng)，還見(jiàn)不著條子，多少人打破了頭想往里鉆呢。

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.

這么多年來(lái)，“黑又深”監(jiān)獄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羅里達(dá)跟里維埃拉跑的紐約客一樣，皂華也得提前準(zhǔn)備著一年一度的“監(jiān)獄三月游”。這不，時(shí)候又到了。昨天睡前，皂華往衣服里、腳底下和腿上各墊了一份加厚的周末版報(bào)紙，尋思著總算是萬(wàn)事俱備了，末了夜里頭北風(fēng)那個(gè)吹呀，還是把他凍了個(gè)半死。按理說(shuō)，紐約市里供吃供住的慈善機(jī)構(gòu)也不少，可偏偏皂華又是個(gè)挺有骨氣的人，就是給凍死餓死也不碰那施來(lái)之床、嗟來(lái)之食。沒(méi)辦法，只好去違法亂紀(jì)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.

皂華立刻行動(dòng)起來(lái)。正所謂條條大路通羅馬，進(jìn)監(jiān)獄的羊腸小道更比比皆是。其中最舒服的莫過(guò)于找家好館子大吃一頓霸王餐，邊消化邊等著餐館報(bào)警，先被警察叔叔這么一抓，再被法官伯伯那么一判，過(guò)冬這事兒就成了。

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.

皂華站起來(lái)，離開(kāi)廣場(chǎng)，往百老匯走。在一家門(mén)面不小的飯店門(mén)前，皂華停下來(lái)，一摸胡子，刮得干干凈凈；一瞅外套，穿得漂漂亮亮。行吧，今兒個(gè)就放開(kāi)了吃，呵，非把這兒的服務(wù)員嚇個(gè)半死不可。先得來(lái)只鴨子，皂華心想，再來(lái)瓶酒來(lái)塊奶酪來(lái)杯咖啡，飯后再來(lái)根雪茄煙，嘖嘖。臨走之前先吃頓好的，省得牢里頭給我接風(fēng)洗塵了。

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，皂華的外套沒(méi)遮住他那條窮酸褲跟那雙破爛鞋。他剛往里走，領(lǐng)班一瞅見(jiàn)他那副打扮，二話不說(shuō)就把他扔街上了。

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

皂華灰溜溜地走了。不行，車到山前必有路，必須得有。

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.

皂華又來(lái)到第六大道的一個(gè)拐角，他撿起一塊石頭，使勁一扔，把一家店的櫥窗玻璃給砸了。人群炸了鍋，所有人都驚慌失措地跑來(lái)跑去，唯有皂華老老實(shí)實(shí)地杵著，手?jǐn)R在兜里，對(duì)著趕過(guò)來(lái)的警察面帶微笑。

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

“這誰(shuí)干的？出來(lái)！”警察說(shuō)道。

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

“你不覺(jué)得我挺可疑的嗎？”皂華說(shuō)，語(yǔ)氣里滿是誠(chéng)懇，沒(méi)有半點(diǎn)挖苦諷刺。

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.

警察看都沒(méi)看他一眼。因?yàn)楸娝苤?，蓄意打破櫥窗的人是不?huì)跟警察搭話的，只會(huì)扭頭就跑。這不，那警察忽然看見(jiàn)了一個(gè)為趕車奪路狂奔的人，提起警棍就追了上去。皂華一臉不高興地走了。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.

街對(duì)面有一家小餐館，那兒的?？蜔o(wú)不是胃口大荷包緊。這次皂華沒(méi)費(fèi)多大勁就混了進(jìn)去。他找了個(gè)地方坐下，吃了塊牛排，又來(lái)了個(gè)派。趕結(jié)賬的時(shí)候，他告訴服務(wù)員說(shuō)自己沒(méi)錢(qián)。

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

“行了，去喊條子吧?！痹砣A說(shuō)，“速度點(diǎn)?！?/p>

No cop for you, said the waiter. Hey!

“對(duì)付你這種人用不著條子?！狈?wù)員說(shuō)道，“弟兄們！”

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”的一聲，皂華就躺在了人行道上。他好容易站了起來(lái)，把衣服上的灰拍干凈了。唉，進(jìn)監(jiān)獄算是徹底沒(méi)戲了。旁邊的一個(gè)警察看見(jiàn)他這副熊樣，樂(lè)了半天，卻笑完就走了。完蛋，還是自由身。

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

皂華又嘗試了一下“騷擾女性”的套路，還是不行。他不死心，又來(lái)到了劇院區(qū)。

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

當(dāng)他路過(guò)一座富麗堂皇的劇院——前的一名警察時(shí)，他突然想起了“擾亂社會(huì)治安”這條罪名。

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

皂華將計(jì)就計(jì)，擺出一副醉醺醺的模樣，在人行道上載歌載舞起來(lái)，他又唱又跳，極盡“擾亂社會(huì)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.

警察轉(zhuǎn)過(guò)身，背對(duì)皂華，一面向一名行人解釋道：“瞧，又一個(gè)耶魯來(lái)的，他們大學(xué)正為了踢贏哈佛慶祝呢。吵是挺吵的，但沒(méi)什么危害。上頭指示我們不用逮捕他們?！?/p>

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，皂華一下子老實(shí)了。突然間，一個(gè)可怕的念頭鉆了出來(lái)：莫非……莫非他皂華再也不會(huì)被抓起來(lái)了？難道……難道說(shuō)就沒(méi)有一個(gè)警察會(huì)伸手逮捕他？原本觸手可及的監(jiān)獄一下子遠(yuǎn)在天邊。他不禁扣緊了自己那件薄薄的外套，抵御著無(wú)情的北風(fēng)。

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.

他路過(guò)一家雪茄店，看見(jiàn)里面有個(gè)衣冠楚楚的家伙正抽著煙。更引人注目的是，他把自己的絲綢傘撂在了門(mén)邊。皂華走進(jìn)來(lái)，拿起傘，慢悠悠地走出去。抽煙的那人急忙跟了上來(lái)。

My umbrella, he said.

“把傘還我?！彼f(shuō)。

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.

“把傘還你？”皂華說(shuō)道，“哎我還就拿了怎么著了？你的傘？行啊，去，你去喊警察啊！怎么了？去?。磕沁叢痪陀幸粋€(gè)嗎？”

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

傘的主人放慢了步伐。皂華也如是效法。那警察好奇地望著他們。

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，這個(gè)……”傘的主人說(shuō)道，“你看吧，這個(gè)……小小的誤、誤會(huì)總是難免的。那個(gè)，我很抱歉錯(cuò)拿了你的傘，我是今天早上在一個(gè)飯店看見(jiàn)的。如、如果這是你的傘……呃，我很抱歉……”

Of course it's mine, said Soapy.

“這當(dāng)然是我的?！痹砣A斬釘截鐵道。

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

于是乎，傘的“前主人”悄沒(méi)聲地溜了。那警察眼瞅著有位俏姐要過(guò)馬路，便屁顛屁顛地跑過(guò)去幫忙。

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.

皂華一路向東。路上，他一怒之下把那把傘扔進(jìn)了坑里。他簡(jiǎn)直快被那幫戴警盔拿警棍的白癡給氣死了，這些個(gè)條子都吃錯(cuò)藥似的把他當(dāng)成什么了？永不犯錯(cuò)的國(guó)王嗎？

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，皂華總算走到了一片不算太吵的街區(qū)。他走向麥迪遜廣場(chǎng)，他想家了——長(zhǎng)椅再?zèng)鲆彩羌摇?/p>

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，在一個(gè)安靜的街角，皂華在一座老教堂前停下了腳步。一束光推開(kāi)窗戶，照在了演奏周日圣歌的管風(fēng)琴師身上。甜美的音樂(lè)飛入皂華耳中，使站在鐵柵欄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.

月懸天際，灑落光明，街道上車少人稀，屋頂下眠鳥(niǎo)低鳴。圣歌徐徐演奏著，而皂華已死死地貼在了鐵柵欄上，因?yàn)檫@圣歌讓他想起了一些日子，一些慈母情深、花香鳥(niǎo)語(yǔ)、意氣風(fēng)發(fā)、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.

這圣歌，這教堂，始料未及、不可思議地扭轉(zhuǎn)了皂華的靈魂。他如夢(mèng)方醒，猛然發(fā)現(xiàn)自己墮落了有多深。他回想著，回想起自己糟蹋的韶光，回想起自己已逝的夢(mèng)想，回想起自己埋沒(méi)的天資。

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 -

與此同時(shí)，一股強(qiáng)勁的力量驅(qū)策著他同他那可怖的命運(yùn)搏斗。他要拯救自己，他要重新做人。這一切還不晚，他還年輕，還有時(shí)間。那些美妙的音符在他心中掀起了一場(chǎng)革命。明天，他會(huì)是嶄新的他，他會(huì)是全新的人，他會(huì)是……

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

皂華發(fā)覺(jué)胳膊上多了只手?；仡^一看，正好對(duì)上了一個(gè)警察的寬臉盤(pán)子。

What are you doing here? asked the policeman.

“你在干什么？”警察問(wèn)道。

Nothing, said Soapy.

“沒(méi)干什么。”皂華說(shuō)。

Then come along, said the policeman.

“得了吧，過(guò)來(lái)?！本煺f(shuō)。

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

第二天早上。

“三個(gè)月拘禁?！狈ü偃缡钦f(shuō)。