【僅搬運(yùn)整理供學(xué)習(xí)之用】

（用了文字識(shí)別工具，如有錯(cuò)字請(qǐng)指出~；故事后面附的故事未經(jīng)嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)考據(jù)，不一定有關(guān)，只是正好想到或者查到了覺(jué)得挺有趣就順便分享一下hhh 事實(shí)上這六個(gè)故事感覺(jué)也就像夢(mèng)和鏡子的碎片一樣，是諸多文字和思想光影的反射吧）

=====千夜故事集=====

=====A Thousand Nights=====

===第一卷===

===無(wú)影人的故事===

===The Tale of Those Without Shadows===

曾經(jīng)在大陸上生活著一群沒(méi)有影子的人。

Once, this land was home to a group of a people without shadows.

他們過(guò)著素樸的生活，對(duì)棲居地以外的世界一無(wú)所知。

They led simple lives, knowing nothing about the world outside the place where they lived.

直到某一天，迷途的冒險(xiǎn)家發(fā)現(xiàn)了他們。無(wú)影人驚奇地發(fā)現(xiàn)這名冒險(xiǎn)家有一個(gè)亦步亦趨的追隨者，寡言且忠實(shí)。冒險(xiǎn)家同樣感到驚奇，大陸的一隅竟有這樣確實(shí)存在但又不因日光而留下投影的族群。

This lasted until one day, when a lost adventurer discovered them. The shadowless folk were shocked to find that the adventurer had a lockstep attendant, silent and loyal. The adventurer, too, was shocked to see that people lived in the world who would not cast a shadow because of the sunlight.

lockstep = showing complete agreement with someone or something and doing exactly what someone wants you to do

「我做夢(mèng)也沒(méi)有想到會(huì)有這樣的發(fā)現(xiàn)。」冒險(xiǎn)家說(shuō)。

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would make such a discovery," said the adventurer.

「夢(mèng)？我們的人已經(jīng)很久不會(huì)做夢(mèng)?！篃o(wú)影人中的一人說(shuō)，「老人說(shuō)過(guò)，所有的夢(mèng)已經(jīng)被夢(mèng)過(guò)了?！?/span>

"Dreams? We have not had those in a long time," said one of the shadowless people. "Our elders tell us that all dreams have already been dreamed."

"夢(mèng)是魔鬼的花園，在這個(gè)世界上，所有的夢(mèng)早已被夢(mèng)過(guò)了?，F(xiàn)在，它們只是在和現(xiàn)實(shí)交換，正像錢幣轉(zhuǎn)手換成票據(jù)，然而世上的一切也早已都被使用過(guò)了……"（米洛拉德·帕維奇《哈扎爾辭典》 上海譯文出版社 南山、戴驄、石枕川譯本）

「影子里藏著靈魂的秘密。你沒(méi)有影子，所以也沒(méi)有夢(mèng)。」冒險(xiǎn)家說(shuō)，「也許你們?cè)?jīng)有影子，就像你們?cè)?jīng)做夢(mèng)?！?/span>

"Shadows hide the secrets of the soul. You have no shadows, and that is why you do not dream," said the adventurer. "Perhaps you did once have shadows, just like you once did dream."

「既然如此，我該去哪里尋找我所失去的東西？」

"If that is so, where shall l go to find that which I have lost?"

「到密林里去吧，那里有很多夢(mèng)，捕夢(mèng)者或許有多余的夢(mèng)分給你?！?/span>

"Go to the secret forest. Many dreams dwell there, and perhaps those who capture dreams there may have some extras to share with you."

年輕的無(wú)影人將故土拋在身后，長(zhǎng)途跋涉來(lái)到了冒險(xiǎn)家所說(shuō)的密林。密林深處有著層層疊疊的影子。云的影子，樹(shù)冠的影子，甚至不足道的飛鳥(niǎo)也能在松軟的土地上留下一大片投影。

And so, the young shadowless person left his homeland behind, traveling far off to visit the secret forest the adventurer had spoken of. This forest was filled with layers of shadows: the shadows of the clouds, tree canopies... Even the tiny birds cast large shadows over the soft soil.

日復(fù)一日，他在層層疊疊的影子之間穿梭。影子里藏著靈魂的秘密，他想，在這許許多多的秘密之中，唯有他是沒(méi)有秘密的人。于是某一天他發(fā)現(xiàn)，所有的夢(mèng)境都向他敞開(kāi)，他沒(méi)有自己的夢(mèng)，卻因此得以進(jìn)入他者的夢(mèng)。

Day after day, he passed between the crisscrossed shadows. Shadows hide the soul's secrets, he thought, and perhaps he was the only one here without any secrets. And so, one day, he discovered that all dreamscapes were open to him, for he had no dreams, but it was because of this that he could enter the dreams of others.

在他經(jīng)歷的許多夢(mèng)境中，鳥(niǎo)的夢(mèng)色彩斑斕，虎的夢(mèng)氣息芬芳，但他并沒(méi)有見(jiàn)到捕夢(mèng)者，也沒(méi)有找到所謂多余的夢(mèng)。夢(mèng)與影子與此在的實(shí)存一一對(duì)應(yīng)，他想，或許冒險(xiǎn)家欺騙了他，或許根本沒(méi)有無(wú)主的夢(mèng)，就像不會(huì)有無(wú)主的影子。

In the many dreams he witnessed, the birds dreamed of vivid colors, the tiger of fragrant scents, but he did not see those who capture dreams, nor did he discover the excess dreams that were spoken of. The dreams, the shadows, and the beings that dwelt here could be matched one for one... and so he wondered if the adventurer had cheated him, and if there really was no such thing as a masterless dream, just as there was no such thing as a shadow without a source.

在他幾乎要承認(rèn)自己的失敗時(shí)，捕夢(mèng)者找到了他。邂逅發(fā)生在海螺的夢(mèng)中。他闖入了尾聲的時(shí)刻，試圖在其中尋找白浪與鹽風(fēng)，但在略顯傷感的余韻中，他一無(wú)所獲。

But just as he was about to admit defeat, the one who captures dreams found him. Their encounter happened within the dream of a seashell. He barged into its ending, searching for the white waves and the salty wind, but neither was to be found in its saddened aftertaste.

「你同這枚海螺一樣，不屬于這片密林?！?/span>

"Just like this shell, you do not belong to this forest."

說(shuō)話的是一個(gè)女人。他很快意識(shí)到，她就是冒險(xiǎn)家所說(shuō)的捕夢(mèng)者，因?yàn)榕说挠白酉窬Y滿寶石的帷幔，有著奇異的斑駁質(zhì)感。

The speaker was a woman, and he quickly realized that she was the dream-captor spoken the adventurer spoke of, for her shadow had a strange, mottled texture, like drapery encrusted with gems.

captor = a person who captures (someone or something) or holds captive

（碎碎念：英文是不是多了個(gè)"spoken"？）

「我一直在找你?！顾f(shuō)，「或許你有多余的夢(mèng)……」

"I have been looking for you," he said. "Perhaps you have some extra dreams..."

「那是如朝露般易逝的……」捕夢(mèng)者的話語(yǔ)中并沒(méi)有悲哀，「無(wú)主的夢(mèng)無(wú)法長(zhǎng)久保存。我嘗試過(guò)很多方法，它們最終都消散了?！?/span>

"They pass like the morning dew..." She said, and there was no sadness in her voice. "Masterless dreams cannot last long. I have tried many times, but they always dissipate in the end."

「……你瞧，就像這枚海螺……我們?cè)撾x開(kāi)了。」捕夢(mèng)者拉起他的手，帶他離開(kāi)了這個(gè)已經(jīng)沒(méi)有白浪與鹽風(fēng)的將逝的夢(mèng)。

"...See, just like this seashell... We must both leave. "Taking his hand, she led him from this fading dream bereft of white waves and salty winds.

bereft = deprived of or lacking (something)

在潺潺的溪流邊，女人給他講了許多故事，并傳授他入夢(mèng)的訣竅。之后，女人又再三警告他，關(guān)于捕夢(mèng)者的禁忌，諸如不可回看他者的夢(mèng)，因?yàn)樗叩碾[秘就像無(wú)底的深井。

Beside a murmuring brook, she told him a great many stories, and taught him how to enter dreams. After that, she warned him multiple times concerning the taboos of the dream-captors, such as how they should never gaze repeatedly into another's dream, for their secrets are like a bottomless well.

「夢(mèng)魘比你所想象的更狡猾。當(dāng)它們發(fā)現(xiàn)你的所為，就會(huì)蜂擁而起，將你拖入無(wú)光之境。在那里沒(méi)有影子的邊界，你無(wú)法離開(kāi)。如果待得夠久，你將能夠從它們的窸窣聲中分辨出有意義的語(yǔ)詞，那是已不存在于任何一處，只在漸淡的回憶中縈留的舊名。你知道，不可提起死者的名諱，否則他們會(huì)找上你……」

"The nightmares are more cunning than you can imagine. Once they discover what you have done, they will arise like a swarm and drag you into the darkness. You will not be able to leave that place, the boundary where no shadows are. If you wait long enough, you will be able to make out meaningful words, names that linger in faded memories that no longer belong anywhere. And you know that you must not speak the names of the dead, or they will seek you out..."

或許還是《哈扎爾辭典》："別提起死人的名字！……不能讀出他們的名字，否則他們會(huì)出現(xiàn)的！"

「我曾以為你們都沒(méi)有影子?！顾\(chéng)實(shí)地發(fā)問(wèn)，「我曾以為捕夢(mèng)者也沒(méi)有自己的夢(mèng)，所以才要去收集他者的夢(mèng)?！?/span>

"I once believed that none of you had shadows," he said honestly. "I once believed that dream-captors did not have their own dreams, which is why they collected those that belong to others."

女人沒(méi)有回答，她斑駁的影子如草葉般隨晚風(fēng)搖曳。

The woman did not reply, her mottled shadow swaying in the night wind like a leaf.

可是年輕的無(wú)影人太想知道答案，盡管捕夢(mèng)者將影子保護(hù)得很好，他還是找到了機(jī)會(huì)。不像在密林中漫游的生靈，其夢(mèng)境之門大開(kāi)，通向捕夢(mèng)者的夢(mèng)境的是一條崎嶇的小路。

But the young shadowless man was too eager for the answer, and though the dream-captor defended the shadows well, he found his chance nonetheless. Unlike the dreams of the forest beings, whose dream-gates were wide open, it was a rugged path that led to the dream-captor's dreamscape.

顯然，她將自己的秘密藏在他者的夢(mèng)中，他想，可她的秘密是什么？這又是何人的夢(mèng)？

lt seemed evident to him that she had hidden her secrets in others' dreams, he thought, but what were her secrets? And whose dreams were these?

捕夢(mèng)者的夢(mèng)也如密林一般層層疊疊，他很快迷失了方向，不知不覺(jué)間，夢(mèng)魘已經(jīng)要纏上他。

The dream-captor's dream was many-layered, just like the secret forest, and so he lost his way, and before he knew it, the nightmares were upon him.

「我觸犯了捕夢(mèng)者的禁忌，但即便凝視無(wú)底的深井，也沒(méi)能找到答案。」他想，「她說(shuō)過(guò)，如果待得夠久，就能從它們的聲響中分辨出名字，只要這樣，或許至少能知道這是誰(shuí)的夢(mèng)?！?/span>

"I have broken the dream-captor's taboo, but even if I can see that bottomless well, I cannot find my answer," he thought. " She said that if l stayed long enough, I might able to make out a name from their voices. At least that way, I will know whose dream this is."

于是他放任夢(mèng)魘將他帶入至深處，那里一如女人所告誡的，是沒(méi)有邊界的無(wú)光之境。他諦聽(tīng)一切細(xì)微聲響，期望從中尋出代表名稱的語(yǔ)詞。

And so he allowed himself to be led into the depths, and just as the woman had warned him, it was a boundless, lightless realm. He listened then for the tiny sounds, hoping to find words that could point to a name.

不知道過(guò)去了多久，他終于從零碎的音節(jié)中拼湊出一個(gè)名字。這個(gè)名字似乎具有某種特別的引力，讓他不由誦念出來(lái)。

An unknown period of time passed before he finally heard a name amidst the scattered sounds. This sound had a strange, special attraction to him, and he could not help but recite it.

然后他睜開(kāi)了雙眼。

Then he opened his eyes.

「我看到了奇怪的景象。」他說(shuō)，「我看到一個(gè)女人進(jìn)到了我的夢(mèng)里，她偷走了我的夢(mèng)，偷走了我不曾知曉的靈魂的秘密，從此我便沒(méi)有了影子。我聽(tīng)到了她這樣稱呼我，她說(shuō)……」

"I saw a strange sight," he said. "I saw that a woman had entered my dreams and stolen them, stolen secrets of my soul that I didn't know existed, and since that day, I no longer had a shadow. And I heard her say this, and she called me..."

「你知道，」女人打斷了他，「不可提起死者的名諱，否則他們會(huì)找上你……」

"You know," she said, interrupting him, "that one should not speak the names of the dead, or they will seek you out..."

捕夢(mèng)者坐在潺潺的溪流邊，斑駁的影子如草葉般隨晚風(fēng)搖曳。

The dream-captor sat by the murmuring brook, her mottled shadow swaying in the night wind like a leaf.

「那只是一個(gè)關(guān)于死者的故事。這樣的故事我為你講述了許多，但仍有更多未被講述的。」

"That is but a tale about the dead. I have told you such tales before, but there are many more that have yet to be told."

于是捕夢(mèng)者繼續(xù)為年輕的無(wú)影人講述未曾被人聽(tīng)過(guò)的故事…………

And so the dream-captor continued to tell the young man with no shadow a story that none have yet heard...

《哈扎爾辭典》中的捕夢(mèng)者：

===第二卷===

===陀裟多的故事===

===The Tale of the Dastur===

從前，有位來(lái)自伐護(hù)末那學(xué)院的陀裟多，獨(dú)自前往沙漠深處、調(diào)查古國(guó)遺跡，卻不幸遇上了沙暴，迷失了方向。就在他奄奄一息時(shí)，一位琥珀色眼瞳的年輕女人出現(xiàn)在他面前，用手杖分開(kāi)了肆嘯的沙塵，引他走出了沙漠。

Once upon a time, there was a Vahumana Dastur who traveled alone into the desert depths to investigate the ruins of ancient realms. Unfortunately, he encountered a sandstorm and lost his way. But just as he was about to breathe his last, a young woman with amber eyes appeared before him. She parted the howling sands with the staff in her hand, and led him out of the desert.

dastur = [Persian] a high priest（來(lái)源：avesta.org - GLOSSARY and Standardized spelling of Zoroastrian terms）

他們抵達(dá)村子的時(shí)候，已經(jīng)是晌午了。她招待他在家里吃了午飯，并說(shuō)下午護(hù)送他回喀萬(wàn)驛。然而，見(jiàn)證了年輕的魔法師如何分開(kāi)風(fēng)沙、又如何驅(qū)走路上那些漆黑的獸群，陀裟多不愿離開(kāi)，而是希望能夠拜她為師，教授他學(xué)習(xí)古國(guó)的秘法。

lt was already noon by the time they reached the village. She treated him to lunch at her home and offered to escort him back to Caravan Ribat. But, having seen her part the sands as if by some spell, and how she had chased the dark beasts along their path away, the Dastur refused to leave, instead asking if she could teach him the secret arts of ancient lands.

魔法師回答說(shuō)，她那雙琥珀色的眼瞳能夠洞悉死者見(jiàn)過(guò)和生者見(jiàn)到的一切。沒(méi)有影子的人，依托想象擺蕩的銅鐘，從未離開(kāi)陸地的鯨魚(yú)，只在銀鏡折返的月光下存在的城市，被囚禁在永恒中的學(xué)者，懸落在七根弦上的高塔。她可以看出，他有著無(wú)可比擬的天賦和無(wú)比遠(yuǎn)大的前途，她愿意將自己知曉的一切傾囊相授，只不過(guò)，她有些擔(dān)心，待他學(xué)會(huì)這一切后，便會(huì)見(jiàn)利忘義，不認(rèn)自己。

The mage replied that her amber eyes could see all that the living and the dead had seen. People without shadows, a bronze clock whose pendulum swings by the power of imagination, whales that have never left land, a city that only exists by the reflected moonlight upon a silver mirror, a scholar imprisoned within eternity, a high tower hanging upon seven strings. She could see that he had infinite potential and a boundless future ahead of him, and she was indeed willing to teach him all she knew. She had but one worry — that after learning all, he would seek his own profit and come to deny her.

陀裟多當(dāng)即跪倒在地，吻她的鞋尖，向她保證，無(wú)論發(fā)生什么，他都不會(huì)忘記她的恩情，就是要與她同死，他也不會(huì)不認(rèn)她。他的誠(chéng)懇打動(dòng)了年輕的魔法師，她輕柔地笑了笑，將他從地上扶起來(lái)，又牽著他的手，帶他來(lái)到地下室的門前，對(duì)他說(shuō)，她愿意將他收為徒弟，而她知曉的一切秘密，都藏在地下的書(shū)庫(kù)里。

The Dastur knelt to the ground and kissed the tip of her shoes, promising that he would never forget what she had done for him no matter what, and that he would never deny her, even if they should then die together. His earnestness touched the young mage, and smiling gently, she helped him up. Holding his hand, she brought him to the door to her basement, saying that she would indeed take him as her disciple, and that all her secrets were hidden in her underground library.

他們沿著螺旋階梯向下走去，一層又一層，每一層的墻上都掛著一面鏡子，鏡子里映著火炬的微光和他的面容。他不知道自己走了多久，也許是幾個(gè)小時(shí)，也許是幾分鐘，黑暗模糊了他對(duì)時(shí)間的感知。階梯的盡頭是一扇窄門，門后是一間六角形的書(shū)房。他看不到天花板，也沒(méi)有辦法估測(cè)房間的高度，但這里的書(shū)籍種類依然遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超過(guò)他對(duì)知識(shí)的一切想象。

And so they walked down the winding stairs, level after level, with a mirror hung on the wall of each level, reflecting their faces and the feeble light of lit sconces. They walked for who knows how long — perhaps several hours, perhaps several minutes — for the darkness had obscured their sense of time. At the end of the stairs was a narrow gate, and behind the gate was a hexagonal library. He could not see the ceiling, nor could he estimate the height of this room, but the books in here nonetheless far surpassed all he imagined was possible for knowledge.

在魔法師的指導(dǎo)下，他學(xué)得很順利。然而，過(guò)了幾個(gè)星期，緘默之殿的使者來(lái)到村子里，告訴陀裟多，他的導(dǎo)師不幸病逝，考慮到他先前提交的論文已經(jīng)通過(guò)了評(píng)審，教令院決定將他破格拔擢為訶般荼，接任他的導(dǎo)師，繼續(xù)培養(yǎng)學(xué)生。

He learned well under her tutelage, but after a few weeks, envoys from the Temple of Silence would come to the Dastur and tell him that his mentor had passed on due to illness and that owing to his thesis passing review, the Akademiya had decided to make an exception for him and promote him to Herbad, that he might take over from his mentor and continue to educate more students.

tutelage = help, advice, or teaching about how to do something

herbad：ervad [Parsi Gujarati] = a priest, originally a title used for higher ecclesiastics, currently used to refer to a priest who has undergone the first stage of initiation into priesthood (nawar). (Var: Middle Persian "erbad", "herbad").（來(lái)源：avesta.org - GLOSSARY and Standardized spelling of Zoroastrian terms）

訶般荼大喜過(guò)望，卻又不舍得就此離開(kāi)，便小心翼翼地詢問(wèn)魔法師，能不能帶上一些書(shū)籍，和他一起返回教令院，指導(dǎo)他繼續(xù)學(xué)習(xí)。年輕的魔法師回答說(shuō)，她接受他的邀請(qǐng)，不過(guò)，她有一個(gè)妹妹，一直渴望進(jìn)入教令院學(xué)習(xí)，卻由于出身沙漠的緣故，始終不被接納。她希望訶般荼能夠?qū)⑺妹檬諡榕月?tīng)生。訶般荼回答說(shuō)，教令院招收學(xué)生，有著嚴(yán)格的考核流程，他沒(méi)有辦法為她破例，哪怕是旁聽(tīng)生也不行。魔法師便也不再多說(shuō)什么，簡(jiǎn)單收拾了一下行李，與他一同回到了須彌。

The newly-appointed Herbad was greatly pleased, and yet he was unwilling to leave yet, and so he carefully asked the mage if she could bring some of her books and come with him to the Akademiya, and there continue to teach him. She agreed to his invitation, but said that she had a sister who had always longed to learn at the Akademiya but was ultimately not accepted due to her desert heritage. She thus asked if the Herbad could take her own as an auditing pupil. The Herbad replied that the Akademiya had a strict testing process and that he could not make exceptions, not even to take someone on as an auditing pupil. The mage for her part said nothing more, simply packing her bags and following him to Sumeru.

幾年后，伐護(hù)末那學(xué)院的賢者逝世。憑借那些在魔法師幫助下完成的、驚世絕俗的論文，不出所料，訶般荼被推舉為新任賢者。魔法師前去祝賀他，并希望他能夠以賢者的身份，將自己的妹妹收為旁聽(tīng)生。新上任的賢者拒絕了她，表示他沒(méi)有義務(wù)做這種事情，他也不再需要她的指導(dǎo)，因?yàn)樗呀?jīng)不再需要撰寫(xiě)論文。她應(yīng)該回到她的村子里，安心養(yǎng)老。魔法師便也不再多說(shuō)什么，簡(jiǎn)單收拾了一下行李，獨(dú)自返回了沙漠。

Several years later, the sage of Vahumana passed on. Thanks to the earth-shaking theses he had been able to write and complete with the aid of the mage, it was unsurprising that the Herbad was recommended to become the new sage. The mage went to congratulate him, and asked if he might take her sister on as an auditing student now that he had his position as a sage. The newly-appointed sage rejected her, saying that he had no duty to do this, for he no longer needed her guidance, being someone who no longer needed to write theses. He advised her to return to her village and live out the rest of her days in peace. The mage said nothing more, and packing her bags, she returned to the desert.

又過(guò)了幾年，大賢者逝世，伐護(hù)末那學(xué)院的賢者被選為新任大賢者。聽(tīng)到這消息，魔法師從沙漠中匆匆趕來(lái)，找到大賢者，跪倒在地，吻他的鞋尖，提醒他過(guò)去向她許下的承諾，哀求他接納自己因沙暴流離失所的族人，讓他們進(jìn)入雨林避難。大賢者怒不可遏，說(shuō)要把她丟進(jìn)青銅鍛造的囚牢里，讓她因饑渴而死，因?yàn)樗静徽J(rèn)識(shí)這個(gè)來(lái)自沙漠的江湖騙子，她卻敢胡言亂語(yǔ)，要挾教令院。已經(jīng)不再年輕的魔法師抬起頭來(lái)，輕輕拭去面頰上的淚水，最后一次用那雙渾濁的、琥珀色的眼瞳望向大賢者，希望他能夠開(kāi)恩，放她回到村子里、救助自己的族人。大賢者拒絕了她，讓衛(wèi)兵把她綁起來(lái)。于是，年輕的魔法師便也不再多說(shuō)什么，只是回答說(shuō)：

Several years later, the Grand Sage too passed, and the Vahumana sage was selected to take the post. Hearing this news, the mage came hurriedly from the desert. Finding him, she knelt at his feet and kissed the tip of his shoe, reminding him of the promise he had made her and begging him to take those of her tribe who had been displaced by the sandstorms in and allow them to have refuge beneath the rainforest bower. The Grand Sage was furious and threatened to hurl her into a jail of bronze and leave her to die of starvation and thirst, for he did not know this charlatan of the desert wastes, and who was she, anyway, to coerce the Akademiya? The mage, no longer young, lifted her head, wiping the tears from her cheeks, and looked upon the Grand Sage one last time with her turbid amber eyes. She begged that she might be allowed to return to her village and help her tribespeople. Refusing, the Grand Sage had his soldiers bind her. And so the mage said little more to him save only this:

charlatan = a person who pretends to have skills or knowledge that they do not have, esp. in medicine

「既然如此，就請(qǐng)您回到自己的村子吧。」

"In that case, I must ask you, sir, to return to your own village."

大賢者一怔，抬起頭來(lái)，發(fā)現(xiàn)自己正站在喀萬(wàn)驛前。夜已經(jīng)深了，遠(yuǎn)方的村落被籠罩在飛揚(yáng)的沙塵與夜色里，無(wú)法看得真切。年輕的女人站在他面前，莞爾一笑，琥珀色的眼瞳中倒映著他此刻的模樣，那個(gè)尚未通過(guò)論文評(píng)審的、來(lái)自伐護(hù)末那學(xué)院的陀裟多。

The Grand Sage was startled, and when he had lifted his head, he found himself standing before Caravan Ribat. The night had grown long, and the distant village could no longer be seen clearly, shrouded as it now was in flying dust and sand and night's own cloak. The young woman stood before him, smiling, and her amber eyes reflected how he appeared at this moment: the Dastur of Vahumana, whose thesis had yet to pass review.

「好啦，時(shí)候已經(jīng)不早了，您也該回教令院了。畢竟，就像故事里說(shuō)的那樣……」

"Well then, the hour is late, and you should return to the Akademiya now. After all, just as the stories say..."

或許是原型的一個(gè)故事（英文譯名是"The Wizard that was Made to Wait"，感覺(jué)更好理解一點(diǎn)hhh）：

===第三卷===

===王子與馱獸的故事===

===The Tale of the Prince and the Sumpter Beast===

很久很久以前，在奧摩斯港還由遠(yuǎn)航諸海的代伊們統(tǒng)治的年代，曾有一位勇武的代伊，征服了無(wú)數(shù)的島嶼與秘境，也因此獲得了許多奇珍異寶，成為了奧摩斯港首屈一指的豪富。然而，由于長(zhǎng)年游弋于茫茫海上，直到晚年這位代伊才終于得到了一位獨(dú)子，結(jié)果未及等到王子成年便撒手人寰。

Long, long ago, when Port Ormos was still ruled by the seafaring Deys, there was one valiant Dey amongst their number. He was the subjugator of countless isles and domains, thus obtaining many curious treasures and becoming second to none in wealth throughout the port. Yet the mariner's life had left him time for but a single son in his latter years, and (he?) passed away before the prince would reach adulthood.

年幼的王子雖然繼承了代伊留下的財(cái)富，卻無(wú)力統(tǒng)率父親的部眾，又無(wú)德高望眾的長(zhǎng)者加以引導(dǎo)，很快便過(guò)上了聲色犬馬的生活。奧摩斯港的繁華街巷宛如吞金之獸，代伊的遺產(chǎn)在數(shù)年間就被王子揮霍一空，還欠下了一大筆的債務(wù)。等到王子回過(guò)頭來(lái)時(shí)，早已是家徒四壁，就連一個(gè)摩拉也找不出來(lái)了。在變賣宅邸遣散了最后一名奴仆后，走投無(wú)路的王子只能前往城中的靈廟，這里供奉著庇佑水手們的古神，得益于王子父親的布施才有如今這般的巍峨莊嚴(yán)。

The Dey's son had inherited his great wealth, but had no power over those his father had administered. Guided by elders who lacked moral fiber, he quickly began to live the life of a sensuous animal. The prosperous streets of Port Ormos were like a beast that swallowed gold, and so the Dey's inheritance was emptied by the princeling within a few years, even saddling him with a massive debt in the process. By the time the prince came to his senses, the walls of his home were bare, with not a single Mora to be found within. After selling his estates and dismissing the servants, the prince, with nowhere to go, sought refuge at a shrine to an ancient patron god of mariners, which through the patronage of his father in turn had attained its current august stature.

moral fiber/fibre = strength and ability to do what is right

princeling = [貶] a young prince

王子向靈廟的司祭求助，「多智的長(zhǎng)老，我本是征服七海的代伊之子，卻因?yàn)閾]霍無(wú)度而落得這般光景，求您發(fā)發(fā)慈悲，為我指一條明路，讓我能夠還清債款，贖回我的家宅。我發(fā)誓從此改過(guò)自新，當(dāng)一個(gè)安分守己的人?！?/span>

The prince asked the shrine's priest for aid thusly: "Wise elder, I was once the son of a Dey who conquered the seven seas, but see, I have fallen this far due to my unconstrained extravagance. I beg that you have mercy upon me and show me a swift way through which I might clear my debts and ransom my estates. I promise that l will change for the better and become a man who knows his place."

change for the better = to improve

know one's place = behave suitably for one's position, rank, or status

「年輕的王子，」司祭說(shuō)道，「凡人的命運(yùn)雖然早已被諸神寫(xiě)定，卻也是由他們自身所成就。如今你既然發(fā)愿要改過(guò)自新，便應(yīng)該從此勤奮勞作，又怎能再想些投機(jī)取巧的方法呢？」

"Young prince," the priest said, "the fates of mortals have long been ordained by the gods, but they must accomplish those fates themselves. Since you desire to turn over a new leaf, should you not begin through hard work rather than relying on opportunism?"

在《一千零一夜》中，航海家辛巴達(dá)的故事里有一句相似的話，辛巴達(dá)第六次出海冒險(xiǎn)時(shí)不幸流落荒島，他給自己挖好了坑準(zhǔn)備等死，但突然又醒悟過(guò)來(lái)決定放手一搏，在這個(gè)故事里他吟唱道："命運(yùn)雖有定數(shù)，自己努力才是唯一真諦"。（姜浦譯本）

王子怏怏道，「我的父親曾為靈廟布施眾多，若真要說(shuō)起來(lái)，這些金裝的神像，乃至你們的用度有一半都要?dú)w屬于我，而我正是為了討回這些欠款而來(lái)呢！」

The prince quickly replied, "my father was a great patron of this shrine, so if we must argue, half of the golden statues and indeed, your expenses, should belong to me by right. And am I not here to claim this debt I am owed?"

（碎碎念：英文是把"怏"看成了"快"？2333）

「傲慢的王子，你怎能與神明為市？司祭嘆道，「不過(guò)看在你父親的份上，倘若你能答應(yīng)我從此安分守己、善加經(jīng)營(yíng)，我便告訴你可以重新變得富有的辦法?！?/span>

"Arrogant prince, will you make an enemy of the gods?" The priest said with a sigh. "Yet on your father's account, if you shall promise to keep to your place and manage your finances well, I shall tell you how to become wealthy."

為市：進(jìn)行交易（英文是理解成"為敵"了？）

finances = the money that a person or company has

王子向神像起誓，于是司祭便指點(diǎn)他前往外港的街市。王子來(lái)到市場(chǎng)，迎面見(jiàn)到一位穿著艷麗貴婦模樣的婦人正看守著一頭瘦弱的馱獸。

And so the prince swore to upon the divine statue, and the priest directed him to a street market at the outport. Coming to said market, the prince met a woman dressed in great finery tending to an emaciated Sumpter Beast.

王子上前問(wèn)道，「尊貴的夫人，有什么是我能為您效勞的嗎？」

"Esteemed lady," the prince asked, "is there anything I might do for you?"

「你來(lái)的正好?！鼓菋D人答道，「我有急事將要出海遠(yuǎn)行，正苦于無(wú)人替我照看這頭畜生，你若能幫我這個(gè)忙，等三個(gè)月后我從海外歸來(lái)，便付你一千萬(wàn)摩拉作為報(bào)酬?！?/span>

"You've come at a good time," the woman replied. "l must go out to sea on an urgent errand, and I fear that there is no one who can help me take care of this beast. But if you will aid me, I shall return in three months and pay you ten million Mora."

王子聽(tīng)完滿心歡喜。

The prince was overjoyed at this.

「但是，」婦人接著說(shuō)道，「你切不可將這只畜生喂飽，也不可同它說(shuō)話，如若不然，你就連現(xiàn)在所擁有的都將一并失去?！?/span>

"But," the woman continued, "you must not feed this beast till it is full, nor can you speak to it. Otherwise, even that which you own now, you shall lose."

「我還有什么可失去的呢？」王子心想，于是滿口答應(yīng)了下來(lái)，婦人便將馱獸交予了他。三個(gè)月很快過(guò)去，王子也依照婦人的吩咐，從不將馱獸喂飽，也未同它說(shuō)過(guò)一句話，直到最后一天的晚上。

"And what have I to lose?" The prince thought to himself, and thus agreed readily. The woman then entrusted the Sumpter Beast to him. Three months passed quickly, and as the woman requested, not once did he completely fill the Sumpter Beast's stomach, nor did he speak one word to it, until the final day.

這天，王子正在篝火前暢想著拿到報(bào)酬之后的生活，一時(shí)興起，便對(duì)著馱獸說(shuō)道，「馱獸啊馱獸，都是多虧了你我才能重新變得富有，你若有什么要求，我一定會(huì)滿足你的?！?/span>

On this day, the prince, excited at the thought of his soon-to-be reward as he sat before a fire, spoke to the Sumpter Beast, "O good Sumpter Beast, it is thanks to you that I shall be rich again. If you have a request, name it, and I shall satisfy you."

聽(tīng)到這話，那只馱獸竟哭了起來(lái)，「尊敬的王子，我別無(wú)所求，只求在最后一日能夠吃上一頓飽飯?！?/span>

Hearing these words, the Sumpter Beast cried, "O honored prince, I have no other wish but to have a full stomach on this last day."

聽(tīng)到馱獸竟然開(kāi)口說(shuō)話，王子大為震驚，在好奇心的驅(qū)使下很快將婦人的叮囑置之腦后，轉(zhuǎn)身從畜欄里取來(lái)了水草。

Hearing the Sumpter Beast speak, the prince was greatly shocked and allowed his curiosity to take over, forgetting all about the woman's instruction. Turning around, he brought water and hay from the feeding trough.

「我善良的王子?！癸柌鸵活D的馱獸悠悠道，「我本是侍奉高天的神明，統(tǒng)御沙海中諸多藩國(guó)的王，卻被那個(gè)惡毒的女巫誆騙，變成了現(xiàn)在這副摸樣。若您能大發(fā)慈悲，將我放歸沙海，我向烈日的王起誓，可以許你無(wú)窮的財(cái)富，遠(yuǎn)比那個(gè)女巫所給的要多?！?/span>

"My most gentle prince," the now-full Sumpter Beast said slowly, "I was once a god who served the heavens and ruled over many vassal kings of the desert, but I was cheated by that venomous witch and forced into this form. If you will have mercy upon me and release me into the desert, I swear upon the king of the blazing sun that l will grant you riches beyond counting, more by far than what that witch can give."

王子聽(tīng)完馱獸的話將信將疑，便決定先將馱獸藏起來(lái)，自己則躲在角落等待婦人的歸來(lái)。第二天，婦人果然如期來(lái)到了市場(chǎng)，結(jié)果卻找不到王子和馱獸。

The prince felt dubious about the Sumpter Beast's words, and so he decided to hide it, and then conceal himself in a corner to await the woman's return. She did indeed return the next day, only to find both prince and Sumpter Beast missing.

「背誓的乞丐！」婦人咒罵起來(lái)，「若是被我抓到，我一定要將你關(guān)到最小的魔瓶里，永世受苦?！?/span>

"Faithless wretch!" The woman cursed. "If I catch you, I shall seal you in the smallest magic bottle I find, and there you shall face eternal torment!"

看到婦人的樣子，王子終于相信了馱獸的話。等到婦人離去后，他便準(zhǔn)備將那馱獸放走。臨走前，馱獸對(duì)他說(shuō)到，「仁慈的王子，愿沙漠諸神保佑你，我也將信守我的承諾，賜予你無(wú)窮的財(cái)富與無(wú)盡的快樂(lè)。不過(guò)只有一事，切不可追問(wèn)它們的來(lái)源，如若不然，你就連現(xiàn)在所擁有的都將一并失去。」

Seeing her thus, the prince finally believed the Sumpter Beast's words. Once she had left, he prepared to release the poor animal. As it was about to leave, it said to him, "O merciful prince, may all the desert gods defend you — l shall fulfill my promise to grant you endless riches and happiness. I ask only that you do not ask where they came from, or else, you will lose even that which you have now."

依照馱獸的指示，王子來(lái)到了沙漠邊緣的一處隱秘所在，果然找到了一座高大華美的宮殿，墻壁全由黃金與寶石裝飾，大門更由純金制成，一位俊美的男仆正領(lǐng)著如云的女郎站在門外迎接著他。

Following the Sumpter Beast's directions, the prince came to a hidden place at the edge of the desert, and there he did indeed discover a mighty and luxurious palace. Its walls were decorated with gold and gems, and its gates were made of pure gold, with a lovely male servant leading many lovely ladies out of those great doors to receive him.

從此，王子又過(guò)上了花天酒地的生活，每天男仆都會(huì)帶來(lái)無(wú)數(shù)的金銀珠寶、珍饈美酒供其取用，供其享樂(lè)的樂(lè)手舞女也日日不同，日子就這樣過(guò)去了三年。

And thus did the prince once again lead an opulent life. Each day, the male servant would bring him silver, gold, pearls, and gems. Rare delicacies and fine wine were his to enjoy, and each day brought unique dancing girls to keep him company — and such was his life for three years.

須知再快樂(lè)的享受也終有厭倦之時(shí)，某日王子從數(shù)日的大醉中醒來(lái)，忽發(fā)奇想，「我已厭倦了如今的生活，必要尋找新的刺激。當(dāng)年我正是沒(méi)有聽(tīng)從女巫的叮囑，才獲得了現(xiàn)在這樣美好的生活。那自稱藩王的馱獸，定是怕我發(fā)現(xiàn)了他的秘密，才對(duì)我有所隱瞞。若是能打聽(tīng)到這無(wú)窮財(cái)富的源頭，我一定能獲得更多的快樂(lè)?！?/span>

But even in merriment and revelry could boredom be bred, and one day the prince woke from days of drunken stupor, and he thought to himself, "I tired now of my life today, and am in need of new thrills. Now, was it not because l refused the instruction of the witch that I gained this life of mine? Who then may say if that Sumpter Beast did not hide something from me for fear that I might discover his secret? If I can find the source of this limitless wealth, surely greater happiness still shall be mine."

于是王子召來(lái)了他的忠仆，問(wèn)道，「我忠誠(chéng)的仆人，你能告訴我你每日帶來(lái)的金銀珠寶、珍饈美酒，乃至這些樂(lè)手舞女，究竟是從何而來(lái)嗎？」

And so the prince summoned his faithful servant, and said to him, "my most loyal servant. Could you tell me of the source of the gold and gems, wine and spirits, and even these musicians and courtesans, that you bring before me each day?"

「這是當(dāng)然，我尊敬的主人?！鼓衅痛鸬溃肝颐咳胀涤谏衬c宮殿之間，您所日用的一切都取自沙海。艷麗的舞女原是搖擺的沙鰻，耀眼的黃金則是沙漠中的無(wú)盡黃沙，百味的珍饈也皆由我親自制成。」

"Of course, my respected master," the manservant replied. "Each day, I traverse the lands between the desert and this place, and all that you enjoy is drawn thereof. Your lovely dancers were once swaying desert eels, the glittering gold are the endless sands, and the gourmet meals you enjoy are of my own personal make."

「而我，您的忠仆。」男仆頓了一頓，「不過(guò)是一只謙卑的圣金蟲(chóng)罷了?！?/span>

"And I, your loyal servant," the manservant paused, "am naught but a humble scarab."

（碎碎念：圣甲蟲(chóng)做的飯……難道是…… Σ( ° △ °|||) ）

話音剛落，原本輝煌的宮殿霎時(shí)瓦解，轉(zhuǎn)瞬間王子發(fā)現(xiàn)自己正坐在一處低矮的沙丘之上，四周除了蟲(chóng)子外已別無(wú)他物。

Just as he finished speaking, the glorious palace dissolved in an instant, and the prince found that he was seated upon a squat sand dune, and there was nothing around him apart from crawling insects.

squat = [adj.] short and wide, usually in a way that is not attractive

過(guò)了好久，王子才終于回過(guò)神來(lái)，又驚又恐間，卻又忍不住傷心后悔。然而失去的東西要想再次得到又談何容易，王子終于淪為了流浪之人，再也感受不到快樂(lè)。在那之后，他每遇到一個(gè)愿意聽(tīng)他說(shuō)話的人，便會(huì)和他講述這樣的故事……

After a long while, he regained his senses, and even through his shock and terror he felt the hand of grief and regret. And yet, what he had now lost could not easily be regained, and the prince was at last reduced to wandering, never to feel happiness again. From then on, he would tell anyone who wished to hear him speak this story...

《一千零一夜》中有個(gè)教訓(xùn)類似的故事：

===第四卷===

===學(xué)者的故事===

===The Tale of the Researcher===

從前有這樣一個(gè)學(xué)者，在他的身上你能看到通常能在文人身上發(fā)現(xiàn)的那種睥睨一切的特質(zhì)，盡管就他本人而言，即便以恭維的話來(lái)說(shuō)，也談不上同儕之中出類拔萃的一輩。

Once upon a time, there lived a researcher, upon whom all the hallmarks of the haughty man of letters might be seen, though he himself — and we shall be generous to him here — was not the best amongst his peers.

man of letters = a writer , scholar , editor , etc., esp. one whose work is in the field of literature

學(xué)問(wèn)就像水果，時(shí)間會(huì)很快帶走它的鮮度。如果他不能在它還汁水飽滿的時(shí)候?qū)⑵涑酝福嘞碌谋闶翘鹉伒母瘮　?/span>

Knowledge is like a fruit, after all, and time quickly whittles its freshness away. If he cannot eat it all while it is still juicy and full, the rest shall taste like sweet decay.

或許依舊是《哈扎爾辭典》："……我在接下來(lái)的幾個(gè)晚上注意到，隨著秋天的漸漸遠(yuǎn)離，詞語(yǔ)越發(fā)成熟，像一顆果實(shí)，其果肉一天比一天飽滿多汁，鮮美甘甜。到了第七天晚上，我開(kāi)始煩躁不安，似乎擔(dān)心我的果實(shí)熟透墜地，繼而變質(zhì)腐爛。"（講述者是一名擁有超常記憶的神甫）

「時(shí)間，我的仇敵?！鼓贻p的學(xué)者想道，「可惡的程度更甚于我的同僚?！?/span>

"Time," the young researcher said, "you truly are my hated foe — even more so than I consider my colleagues."

無(wú)奈諸如怠惰與散漫之類與生俱來(lái)的性格，絕非輕易可以挪移的東西。于是，冬夏徒然地輪轉(zhuǎn)，給「可惡的同僚」帶來(lái)了受時(shí)人稱頌的榮譽(yù)，給他留下的卻是無(wú)益的歲月的刻痕。

Alas, innate characteristics such as laziness cannot be so easily shaken off. Thus did winters turn to summers and back again, bringing his "hated colleagues" glory and praise, while he was left with the scars of the bygone years.

或許是命運(yùn)的捉弄，我們的故事的主角意外得到了實(shí)現(xiàn)一個(gè)愿望的機(jī)會(huì)。

Perhaps this was some trick of fate, but our main character would indeed discover a way to make his wish reality — quite by accident, in fact.

「時(shí)間，看似公平，實(shí)則不然。我的思維不如他人敏捷，是時(shí)間對(duì)我太過(guò)嚴(yán)苛，而非我天資不如他人……」不再年輕的學(xué)者想道，「現(xiàn)在我有一個(gè)機(jī)會(huì)，要好好將它利用。」

"Time seems fair, though it is but a veneer. That l am not as quick-witted as others is not due to a lack of talent. Nay, 'tis but the cruelty of time..." So thought the researcher, now no longer young. "Now that my chance has come, l must use it well."

veneer = something that?hides?something?unpleasant?or?unwanted

于是他對(duì)受傷的鎮(zhèn)靈許下這樣的愿望：「我要公平的時(shí)間……以便我能寫(xiě)出更好的論文?！?/span>

And so he made this wish to the injured Jinni: "I wish for time to be just... so that l might write better theses."

鎮(zhèn)靈很快理解了他的意思?！阜彩露加写鷥r(jià)?！规?zhèn)靈說(shuō)。

The Jinni understood him quite easily, saying: "All things come with a price."

「顯然，我已經(jīng)支付了其中的一部分。」他聳聳肩，「青春年少的日子，都在無(wú)謂的追趕中蹉跎了。事到如今，我已不再希求常人所謂的幸福，我只想留下驚世的著作，讓我的名字也一起被傳頌。不是總有一日會(huì)褪色的墨水停留在速朽的紙頁(yè)上，而是被刻進(jìn)石頭里。這樣，千百年之后的世界，仍留有我的痕跡，可以說(shuō)……只要能取回公平，我便戰(zhàn)勝了時(shí)間?！?/span>

"Well, yes, and I have clearly paid part of that toll," he said, shrugging. "l have wasted my youth on pointless pursuits. Now that things have come to this point, I no longer desire common joys. I only wish to leave behind a work of stunning brilliance, that my name will be praised for generations. Nor do I wish for my work to be left on perishable ink and paper, but it shall instead be carved into stone. Thousands of years on, my marks shall still be left upon this world... and this way, I shall have my justice — I shall triumph over time."

「如果你執(zhí)意如此?！规?zhèn)靈不置可否，依言為學(xué)者實(shí)現(xiàn)了愿望。

"If that is your will," the Jinni replied noncommittally, fulfilling the researcher's wish nonetheless.

noncommittally = in a way that does not express an opinion or decision

可那究竟是鎮(zhèn)靈，還是偽裝了的魔鬼，現(xiàn)在想來(lái)，的確是值得商榷的問(wèn)題。此事姑且按下不表，實(shí)現(xiàn)了愿望的學(xué)者驚奇地發(fā)現(xiàn)，相對(duì)于他的思維，周遭的一切似乎都變得遲緩。

But whether that was truly a Jinni or some demon in disguise was quite the matter of contention, especially in hindsight. Leaving this matter aside, the researcher whose wish was fulfilled found that everything had now become slow compared to his thinking.

in hindsight = considering or analyzing the past with consideration of the knowledge that one has now

「很好，很好?，F(xiàn)在，思維的敏捷便不再是問(wèn)題?！蛊鸪?，學(xué)者非常滿意。有了足夠的余裕，就可以深思熟慮，他想。時(shí)計(jì)中一粒沙落下的時(shí)間，不足以讓他抬起左手碰到自己的額發(fā)，卻可以讓他任思維馳騁，從密林到沙漠，從曠野到雪原。他恨書(shū)頁(yè)不能平鋪，而要一頁(yè)一頁(yè)翻過(guò)。不過(guò)，即便書(shū)頁(yè)可以平鋪，他的眼球也無(wú)法那樣快速地移動(dòng)。目光停駐在一個(gè)字上的時(shí)間，足夠他窮盡與這個(gè)字有關(guān)的全部詞匯，窮盡與這個(gè)詞匯有關(guān)的所有想象。

"Good, good. Now then, my agility of mind shall not be a problem." At first, the researcher was most pleased. Now that he had ample slack, so to speak, there was much time for thoughtful consideration. The time it took for a sand grain to fall to the earth was not sufficient for him to raise his left hand to touch his forehead, but his mind could sprint during this time — from forest to desert, from vast plain to snowy tundra it could run indeed. He cursed that all the pages of a book could not be laid out flat, but had to be flipped one by one. But even had they been laid out before him, his eyeballs would have failed to move quickly enough. By the time his eyes had finished resting upon a single word, he would already have exhausted all vocabulary related to that word, and all imagination pertaining to that vocabulary.

「我想得太多，寫(xiě)得太少?！箤W(xué)者隨后想道，「我應(yīng)該用最華美的辭藻，記錄下邏輯最嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)?shù)恼撟C。」可當(dāng)他寫(xiě)完篇首的第一個(gè)字，他的思緒已然躍到了篇尾。因此他不得不反復(fù)默誦自己想要發(fā)表的篇章，而這篇章又在他的反復(fù)默誦中漸趨于完美。只是，一切的進(jìn)程都只發(fā)生在他的腦海之中，在一切完成之時(shí)，他的右手甚至還沒(méi)寫(xiě)完第七個(gè)字。

"I think too much and write too little," the researcher thought afterward. "I must use the most elegant words to write the most academically rigorous paper." But when he had penned the first word, his thoughts had already leaped to the conclusion. And so he had to constantly repeat the essay to himself, and as he silently dictated the text, it would become more and more refined. Yet, this could only happen in his mind — when all was said and done, his right hand had yet to even write seven words.

這篇原本應(yīng)當(dāng)有著最華美的辭藻和邏輯最嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)?shù)恼撟C的論文最終還是為學(xué)者的軀體所累，每一段都支離破碎，仿佛把書(shū)頁(yè)撕碎了又胡亂聚攏起來(lái)。那些相連的字與字就像是從一本完整的書(shū)中隨機(jī)選擇的殘片，常人根本無(wú)法掌握其中的關(guān)聯(lián)。

And thus was this great work, comprised of the finest lexicon and the stoutest logic, compromised by the researcher's own body. Every passage came out tattered, as if someone had shredded every page and put them back together haphazardly. The words that were connected felt like fragments randomly selected from a complete text, and no one could really grasp the connection between them.

haphazardly = in a way that does not have an obvious order or plan

那是一個(gè)無(wú)星的夜晚，他費(fèi)了一番力氣，像是持續(xù)數(shù)百年的遠(yuǎn)征，終于離開(kāi)書(shū)齋，來(lái)到了樓下的庭院。

lt was on a starless night when he, with all his strength, like one completing a centuries-long exodus, managed to leave his study, arriving at the courtyard downstairs.

「說(shuō)出的語(yǔ)詞比寫(xiě)下的語(yǔ)詞更直接?！顾员в幸唤z希望。但顯然，他的發(fā)聲器官也無(wú)法及時(shí)響應(yīng)思維的變化，被他吐出的音節(jié)與音節(jié)相連，像是語(yǔ)詞說(shuō)到途中又改換主意，如此反復(fù)，最終連成一串嗚咽似的嘟噥。

"Perhaps speaking shall be more direct than writing," he said, a single bare thread of hope remaining in his heart. But his very voice seemed to stumble after the weave of his thoughts. His syllables came out disjointed and fragmentary — as if the intent behind the words had changed even as they were being said, and so they came out as mere mumbling and whimpering.

「可憐的老人！就像是突然著了魔。」衣著光鮮的青年男女對(duì)他投以同情的目光，「不過(guò)至少，他還有月亮?！?/span>

"Alas, poor old fellow! One might almost think he has been possessed!" So said the well-dressed young folk who looked upon him with sympathy. "But at least he still has the moon."

possess = (of a wish or an idea) to take control over a person's mind, making that person behave in a very strange way

人們說(shuō)完便倏然離去了，只留下學(xué)者獨(dú)自一人在月下的庭院，困在被稱為軀體的囚籠。百無(wú)聊賴的他，開(kāi)始回顧自己曾經(jīng)讀過(guò)的故事……

They left after saying these words, leaving the researcher alone in the moon-bathed courtyard, trapped in the prison he once called a body. Then the mere husk of a mortal man began to recall a story that he had once read...

一個(gè)感覺(jué)類似的故事：博爾赫斯的《博聞強(qiáng)記的富內(nèi)斯》（僅摘取片段，微信讀書(shū)可以免費(fèi)閱讀）

===第五卷===

===鏡子、宮殿和做夢(mèng)者的故事===

===The Tale of the Mirror, the Palace, and the Dreamer===

夜復(fù)一夜，她總是會(huì)夢(mèng)到那座遙遠(yuǎn)的宮殿。無(wú)數(shù)轉(zhuǎn)角、拱廊與過(guò)道構(gòu)成了這座錯(cuò)綜復(fù)雜的建到，每一條走廊的拐角處都懸掛著一面鍍金鑲邊的銀鏡。據(jù)說(shuō)，國(guó)王用了兩百年的時(shí)間（按照當(dāng)時(shí)的歷法算，還要再加六年）設(shè)計(jì)了這座宮殿，只要坐在王座上，望向任何一面鏡子，就可以沿著那精妙規(guī)劃的、蜿蜒曲折的光路，窺見(jiàn)國(guó)家的每一個(gè)角落。然而，當(dāng)她在夢(mèng)中看向那些懸掛在走廊盡頭的鏡子時(shí)，卻只能看到自己模糊的身影，一個(gè)戴著面具的年輕女人，身著華美服飾，走過(guò)裝飾富麗的回廊，在白晝煥發(fā)的金焰中顯得虛浮而朦朧。她知道自己的目的，盡管這顯得有些異乎尋常：她要去覲見(jiàn)那位王，向那位王述說(shuō)些什么，因?yàn)樗宄?，那是她無(wú)法克服的意志迫使她必須講出的話語(yǔ)，盡管每當(dāng)她從夢(mèng)中驚醒的時(shí)候，那些等待被講述的話語(yǔ)總是會(huì)遺落在曲折的鏡光中。

Night after night, she would always dream about that distant palace. Its intricate structure was formed of infinite corners, arcades, and passages, and at each corner would be hung a silver mirror with a gilded frame. It was said that the king spent 200 years (6 years more must be added if one wishes to follow the numbering of years in those days) to design this place, and when seated upon the throne, he could gaze into any mirror, and through its exquisitely planned and winding paths of light, one could glimpse any corner of his realm. Yet when she looked into the mirrors at the ends of the hallways in her dream, all she could see was a blurry image: that of a masked young woman garbed in fine raiment, wearing lovely ornaments, walking through the opulent corridors, like a heat haze in the flaming gold of day. She knew then her purpose, though it might seem strange — she wished to gain an audience with that king and tell him something, for these words had been put into her heart and were not hers to command, though she would always leave those words somewhere in the warping mirror-lights each time she awoke with a start.

年復(fù)一年，在晨曦般的夢(mèng)里，她從未找到過(guò)通往王座的路，也從未目睹過(guò)那位王的面容。昔日迷失在鏡中的少女，如今已是遐邇聞名的魔法師，即便如此，在那些夾在短暫的夢(mèng)境之間、毫無(wú)意義的清醒中，那個(gè)魔幻般的想法，依然盤踞著她的全部心靈。終有一日，她尋得了那個(gè)遙遠(yuǎn)國(guó)度的線索，于是魔法師毫不猶豫地拋下了世人珍重的一切，獨(dú)自踏上了旅途。越過(guò)斑駁的月光、沿著陰影的深谷，在最幽暗的密林深處，她最終找到了那個(gè)夢(mèng)中的國(guó)度。只是城市早在幾百年前的一場(chǎng)大火中焚毀，昔日繁盛的王國(guó)也早已傾覆。就像詩(shī)中所說(shuō)的那樣：

Year after year, in her dreams as clear as dawn, she would try — and fail — to find the way to the throne, nor would she ever witness that king in person. The young lady who was once lost amongst the mirrors was now a famed magician, and even so, in those stolen dreaming moments, in those flashes of unconscious lucidity, those fantastical thoughts still had her soul in their iron grip. One day, the great mage discovered clues to reaching that distant kingdom at last. Forsaking all that the worldly might hold dear, she set out on her journey alone. Across mottled moonlight she sailed, through the shadowed valleys she strode, and the darkest forests she braved, until she, at last, reached that realm of her dreams. But alas, alas! That city had been annihilated in a terrible fire a few hundred years ago, and the once-prosperous kingdom was now no more. It is just as the poets say:

消逝的晨風(fēng)已被過(guò)去忘卻，

如天穹將彩霞與歌聲隱沒(méi)。

唯有微光在塔尖悄然閃爍，

映著荒城蒼白的漫漫長(zhǎng)夜。

The morning breeze is forgotten by all,

Song and color have faded from sight.

Only the dim gleam of towers tall,

lights the ruined, barren night.

她走進(jìn)那座傾圮的宮殿，斷壁殘?jiān)g，那些鍍金鑲邊的銀鏡早已破碎，殘片散落在塵埃里，每一片都倒映著一個(gè)清冷的月亮。宮殿并不像她夢(mèng)中那樣詭異迷離，不過(guò)是幾個(gè)轉(zhuǎn)角、幾條拱廊，不費(fèi)吹灰之力，她便推開(kāi)了通往王座間的大門。那是一個(gè)環(huán)形的大廳，幾百面鏡子懸掛在石砌的墻壁上，與走廊上的鏡子一樣，這些鏡子中的絕大多數(shù)也已經(jīng)毀壞。魔法師下意識(shí)地緩緩走向那張空置數(shù)百年的王座，坐了下來(lái)，望向一面依然完好的鏡子。

She entered the devastated palace and walked amidst its ruins. The mirrors and their gilded frames had long been shattered, with naught but their shattered wrack remaining, each splinter reflecting a beam of chilling moonlight.The court was not as bizarre or strange as it had been in her dreams — in a few mere corners and a few corridors, she was knocking on the door of the throne room. It was a circular hall with hundreds of mirrors hanging from the stone walls — though like the mirrors in the hallways, these had also mostly been destroyed. The mage subconsciously walked towards that long-vacated throne and sat down, casting her gaze upon one of the still-whole mirrors.

鏡子中，一個(gè)戴著面具的年輕女人，身著華美的服飾，正走過(guò)裝飾富麗的回廊，而女人身后的鏡子里，那些從未毀壞的鏡子里，倒映著女人的一千個(gè)影子。

In that mirror, she beheld again that masked young woman garbed in fine raiment, walking amidst the opulent halls, and behind her, the mirrors — mirrors that had never been shattered — reflected a thousand reflections of her form.

她一怔，驀然抬頭，那個(gè)戴著面具的年輕女人正站在她面前，靜靜地望著她，眼里帶著她從未想象過(guò)的悲哀。魔法師剛想說(shuō)些什么，女人便將一把匕首刺入了她的心臟。薔薇柔美的光澤在鋒刃尖端悄無(wú)聲息綻放，火焰在四周燃起，再度吞沒(méi)了數(shù)百年前遭火焚的大廳。

She startled and raised her head, for that young woman now stood before her, silently watching, unimaginable pain in her eyes. The mage had only just thought of something to say when the woman drew a dagger — before stabbing her in the heart. A lustrous rose-bloom graced the silent tip of the blade as flames ignited all around them, consuming the hall that had once been destroyed by a great blaze once more.

她困惑地、錯(cuò)愕地、寬慰地笑了，女人摘下面具，露出魔法師的面容，干枯的雙唇微微顫動(dòng)。

She smiled in confusion, astonishment, and relief, for the woman then took her mask off, revealing the features of the mage herself, dry lips quivering ever so slightly.

這一次，她終于聽(tīng)清了對(duì)方的話語(yǔ)，數(shù)十年間、數(shù)百年間，始終遺落在難測(cè)的幻夢(mèng)與凄迷的黃昏中的話語(yǔ)，那是一個(gè)故事，一個(gè)由她向她講述的故事，折射在萬(wàn)千碎銀間、永恒回響的故事……

This time, the mage could finally hear the other person's words — words that had become lost across the decades and centuries within this labyrinthine dream and its eventide bewilderment. It was a story, a story told by her to herself, a story reflected in thousands of shattered slivers of silver, echoing on and on, forever...

哈扎爾辭典里倒是有個(gè)關(guān)于鏡子和自己殺死了自己的故事，不過(guò)游戲里這個(gè)故事，總覺(jué)得更有些博爾赫斯《環(huán)形廢墟》的味道。以下是故事梗概，來(lái)自百度百科：

===第六卷===

===捕鳥(niǎo)者的故事===

===Tale of the Bird Chaser===

這是一個(gè)與捕鳥(niǎo)老者有關(guān)的故事。

This is a story of an old bird chaser.

在王國(guó)的北邊有一片密林，密林中生長(zhǎng)有一種學(xué)舌之鳥(niǎo)，它們翎羽炫麗，在晨光映照林野之時(shí)匯聚一處，如云一般在聳立的高樹(shù)間飛行，聒噪不休。而在密林中有一位老者，形容枯槁，干瘦而黝黑，身著襤褸，如同野人，終日試圖捉住學(xué)舌之鳥(niǎo)。

North of the kingdom lies a dense forest. It is home to a flock of birds that can mimic the words of humans. They often gather like a cloud by the break of the dawn. As they fly in the forest, iridescent hues dance on their spread wings, and their chatters echo round the tree crowns. But these creatures are not alone, for an old and frail man dressed in tattered rags always comes and spends all day chasing after them like a savage.

正如擎天的樹(shù)木亦有枝芽嬌嫩之時(shí)，老者從前也是年輕俊美的少年，他在密林之畔的村莊長(zhǎng)大，因身手矯捷又心地善良而受到眾人的喜愛(ài)，當(dāng)時(shí)村莊里的女子沒(méi)有不思慕他的。然而少年只鐘情于自己的愛(ài)人，他的愛(ài)人是林中作祭司的少女，因受到森林的喜愛(ài)，能在他面前現(xiàn)出種種迷人的神異，少年往往對(duì)此驚嘆不已。

Just as how a towering tree was once tender and delicate, the old man used to be fair and handsome. He grew up in a village by the forest. Agile and kind, he was much-loved by all. Every girl in the village adored him, but his heart fluttered only for his love, a young priestess serving in the forest who always fascinated him with miracles of the divine.

少年常想，若是能和作祭司的少女在一起，就這樣到生命的盡頭他也愿意。

The young man often thought that he would give up anything to be with the girl, until death did them part.

然而好景不長(zhǎng)，王國(guó)要開(kāi)始一場(chǎng)漫長(zhǎng)的征戰(zhàn)，所有年青人都要受到征召，少年也要遠(yuǎn)離故土前往戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)。在臨行的前夜，他第一次看到自己的情人哭泣，那淚水如同滾落青葉的露珠，落入少年的心底。他那時(shí)并不知道少女為何如此悲傷，只是以為對(duì)方感懷于即將到來(lái)的分離，于是匆忙對(duì)她說(shuō)出未來(lái)的許諾，希望這能緩解少女的悲傷。

Alas, that which is sweet never lasts. A grueling war broke out, and the young were conscripted, including the man. Before he left for the battlefield, he saw his love weep for the first time. Teardrops rolled down her cheeks like dew falling from a green leaf — then down into his heart. Yet little did he know the actual reason behind the girl's melancholia. He made hasty promises, wishing to ease the girl's sorrow — one caused by departure, as he then naively believed.

少女形容悲戚，未對(duì)那些琳瑯的諾言作出絲毫回應(yīng)。只是在一段沉默之后，說(shuō)，此后她將驅(qū)使學(xué)舌之鳥(niǎo)，讓這些鳥(niǎo)兒飛到少年的身邊，帶給他在久遠(yuǎn)之外思念他的愛(ài)人的話語(yǔ)。這雖然有些奇怪，少年心想，但或許不過(guò)又是少女為牽系他的心而展示的力量。

With grief written all over her face, the girl gave no response to his beautiful vows. After a brief silence, she said she would send talking birds to relay her words of longing. It was an unusual use of power, but the young man took her act as a means to secure his love.

relay = If you relay something that has been said to you, you repeat it to another person

少年頷首應(yīng)下。

So he nodded.

第二天，少年踏上征途，成為了王國(guó)的士兵，他原本以為很快便能回來(lái)。但是戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)維持了太長(zhǎng)的時(shí)間，太長(zhǎng)的時(shí)間，直到少年的下巴長(zhǎng)出胡茬，眼神變得凌厲而尖銳，雙手因握持武器留有厚繭，這場(chǎng)戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)才宣告結(jié)束。

The young man departed the next day to honor his duty to his kingdom. It would soon be over, he thought. But reality eventually proved him wrong — the war dragged on and on. It was not until stubble grew on his chin and his eyes and hands became battle-hardened that the dust finally settled.

而在殘酷絕倫的戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)之中，唯一能夠給少年些許慰藉的，就是自故鄉(xiāng)飛來(lái)的學(xué)舌之鳥(niǎo)。那些學(xué)舌之鳥(niǎo)也仿佛如有神助，總能在安靜的深夜找到他，為他帶來(lái)作祭司的少女的話，這樣，少年就能聽(tīng)她講述那些思念的蜜語(yǔ)，聽(tīng)她說(shuō)村莊里一些微末的變化，或一些為他寫(xiě)下的短詩(shī)。

His only solace in this brutal war was the birds from his hometown. As if guided by the gods, they always managed to come to him on quiet nights, carrying her words — the whispers of her bitter-sweet longing, telling him of changes in the village, or of a few short verses she wrote him.

長(zhǎng)久的分離并未讓少年對(duì)少女的愛(ài)有半分減少，反而如同一塊在他心間的碑石一般愈加深厚。

The sustained separation had not diminished his love for her. Instead, if love was a monument, it would be driven into his heart.

drive = to force sth into another material or substance by hitting it

戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)結(jié)束后，他迫不及待地回到家鄉(xiāng)，想要迎娶少女為妻，可卻得知了少女因罹患暴疾，在少年離開(kāi)后很短的時(shí)間就歸于冰冷夜晚的消息。

When the war finally ended, he hurried home to propose to his beloved, only to find that she had died of an acute illness on a cold night shortly after his departure.

少年覺(jué)得十分荒謬，因?yàn)槊髅骶驮谧蛞?，他還從學(xué)舌之鳥(niǎo)的口中聽(tīng)到少女為他誦讀的辭句。

The young man refused to accept it, for he had just been visited by a talking bird the previous day, when his young priestess read him beautiful prose through its mouth.

他闖入庭院，強(qiáng)行打開(kāi)少女緊閉的房門，那個(gè)瞬間，無(wú)數(shù)受施秘法，在沉睡中等待被喚醒的學(xué)舌鳥(niǎo)，反而被門外射入的陽(yáng)光驚動(dòng)。于是那些醒來(lái)的鳥(niǎo)從他打開(kāi)的門中，從他身側(cè)，從他耳畔，扇動(dòng)翅膀，在他回過(guò)神來(lái)之前，就如輕薄的流云一般向外飛盡，飛入它們本該棲身的密林。而之后出現(xiàn)在少年眼前的，是空無(wú)一物的閨房。

He broke into the girl's closed chamber. But as the sunlight filled the dim room, it stirred what was inside: countless enchanted birds waiting to be awakened from their rich slumber. In a single instant, the birds rushed past him, wings flapping by his ears, and flew through the open door into the sky like an ethereal cloud, returning to their home. At last, the young man stood alone, his love's empty room before him.

在那時(shí)他終于明白為何少女在那一夜如此悲傷，又作出那樣古怪的安排。

It finally dawned on him why the girl had made that most unusual arrangement with that saddened expression on her face the night they parted.

也終于明白那些被他開(kāi)門的動(dòng)作驚走的學(xué)舌之鳥(niǎo)，是少女在臨終之前，為了他的余生而籌備的，甚至籌備了太多的話語(yǔ)。

lt had been an arrangement for a lifetime — on her dying bed, she must have taught the birds countless words, more than enough to fill his every night since with a flicker of light.

鳥(niǎo)的壽命其實(shí)比人類想象得要長(zhǎng)上許多，在那之后，少年追逐那些散入林間的學(xué)舌之鳥(niǎo)，追逐少女附于鳥(niǎo)喙的幽魂，想要贖清將愛(ài)人心意散落于整片密林的罪過(guò)，日以繼夜，廢寢忘食，狀若瘋癲。于是少年成為中年，中年成為老者。即使再也未曾聽(tīng)到過(guò)什么新的東西，即使仍然記得少女話語(yǔ)的學(xué)舌之鳥(niǎo)越來(lái)越少，但或許仍有一句，哪怕有一句自己未曾聽(tīng)過(guò)的話呢，僅為這樣的執(zhí)念，已再不是少年的捕鳥(niǎo)者不愿離開(kāi)。

Birds live far longer than humans think. From that day on, the young man has been chasing the talking birds in the forest. In their voices, he seeks to catch her lingering soul, to repent for his sin of scattering her love in the woods. Maddened yet tireless, the young man has not stopped his chase for a single day as he turned into a middle-aged man, then aged into an old man. The talking birds now speak of nothing new, and their numbers have dwindled. But what if there is still one that he has not yet met — one with something from her that he has not yet known? The obsession traps the bird chaser in the forest, and upon his face is written the toll of years.

他會(huì)熟練地誘捕來(lái)那些鳥(niǎo)，將之放進(jìn)籠子，他會(huì)溫柔地?fù)崦鼈兊牟鳖i，逗弄它們，喂它們食用最好的谷物、飲用最清冽的水，然后對(duì)它們說(shuō)，說(shuō)吧說(shuō)吧，學(xué)舌的鳥(niǎo)兒，說(shuō)說(shuō)我的愛(ài)人，說(shuō)那受森林喜愛(ài)的少女究竟訓(xùn)練你，讓你學(xué)會(huì)了些什么。

He skillfully sets up traps very catch the birds and keeps them in a cage, stroking their necks, playing with them, and giving them the best cereals and clearest water. Then, he will say to them, "Speak, Talking Birds, speak of my love, who the forest favored so dearly. Speak of what she taught you."

（...sets up traps to catch the birds?）

于是那學(xué)舌之鳥(niǎo)吃飽喝足，有時(shí)就會(huì)說(shuō)出這樣的故事……

And so, the generously-fed birds will tell such a story...

一個(gè)類似的故事：

一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)也許相關(guān)的零碎信息：

① 博爾赫斯在他的文章《〈一千零一夜〉的譯者們》中提到："麥斯歐迪（即馬蘇第，Masudi，阿拉伯歷史學(xué)家）的《黃金草原和珠璣寶藏》描述了一系列'He'zar Afsane'，這是波斯語(yǔ)，直譯是'千件奇事'，不過(guò)人們稱之為'千夜'。"

② 博爾赫斯在他的文章《〈一千零一夜〉》中提到："（《一千零一夜》）用故事套故事的方式講述，產(chǎn)生一種奇怪的效果，幾乎沒(méi)有窮盡，還有一點(diǎn)暈暈乎乎的感覺(jué)。這一點(diǎn)被不少很久以后的作者所模仿。于是，卡羅爾的《艾麗絲漫游奇境記》，或者小說(shuō)《席爾維亞和布魯諾》等，就是夢(mèng)中有夢(mèng)，枝繁葉茂。"

（《哈扎爾辭典》也是這種嵌套互文的寫(xiě)法。這六個(gè)故事也是。說(shuō)起來(lái)《帝君塵游記》也是這樣故事套故事的寫(xiě)法hhh）