莫逆之交

Returning to the Spouter-Inn from the Chapel, I found Queequeg there quite alone; he having left the Chapel before the benediction some time.

從禮拜堂回到噴水客棧，我發現魁魁格獨自一人在那兒；他早在祝禱之前就離開了禮拜堂。

He was sitting on a bench before the fire, with his feet on the stove hearth, and in one hand was holding close up to his face that little negro idol of his; peering hard into its face, and with a jack-knife gently whittling away at its nose, meanwhile humming to himself in his heathenish way.

他坐在火爐前一張長椅上，雙腳擱在爐床上，一手把他那尊黑色小偶像湊近自己的臉；目不轉睛地端詳著它的臉，一邊拿摺刀輕輕削著它的鼻子，一邊用他那異教徒的調子自顧自地哼著。

But being now interrupted, he put up the image; and pretty soon, going to the table, took up a large book there, and placing it on his lap began counting the pages with deliberate regularity; at every fiftieth page—as I fancied—stopping a moment, looking vacantly around him, and giving utterance to a long-drawn gurgling whistle of astonishment.

但這會兒被打斷了，他便收起那偶像；不一會兒，他走到桌邊，拿起那兒一本大書，擱在膝上，開始一頁頁不慌不忙、規規矩矩地數起來；每數到第五十頁——我猜想——便停一下，茫然地四下張望，發出一聲長長的、咕嚕作響的驚嘆口哨。

He would then begin again at the next fifty; seeming to commence at number one each time, as though he could not count more than fifty, and it was only by such a large number of fifties being found together, that his astonishment at the multitude of pages was excited.

然後他又從下一個五十重新數起；每回似乎都從「一」開始，彷彿他數不過五十，而正是因為這麼一大堆五十湊在一塊兒，才勾起了他對書頁之多的驚嘆。

With much interest I sat watching him.

我饒有興味地坐著看他。

Savage though he was, and hideously marred about the face—at least to my taste—his countenance yet had a something in it which was by no means disagreeable.

他雖是個野人，臉又被弄得醜陋不堪——至少照我的口味是如此——他的面容裡卻仍有某種絕不令人討厭的東西。

You cannot hide the soul.

靈魂是藏不住的。

Through all his unearthly tattooings, I thought I saw the traces of a simple honest heart; and in his large, deep eyes, fiery black and bold, there seemed tokens of a spirit that would dare a thousand devils.

透過他那一身詭異的刺青，我彷彿看見了一顆樸實正直之心的痕跡；而在他那雙又大又深、烏黑如火、無所畏懼的眼睛裡，似乎流露出一種敢與千百個魔鬼周旋的精神跡象。

And besides all this, there was a certain lofty bearing about the Pagan, which even his uncouthness could not altogether maim.

除此之外，這異教徒身上還有某種高貴的氣度，連他的粗野也無法把它完全折損。

He looked like a man who had never cringed and never had had a creditor.

他看上去像個從不曾卑躬屈膝、也從不曾欠人債的人。

Whether it was, too, that his head being shaved, his forehead was drawn out in freer and brighter relief, and looked more expansive than it otherwise would, this I will not venture to decide; but certain it was his head was phrenologically an excellent one.

是不是因為他剃了頭，額頭便更自由、更鮮明地凸顯出來，顯得比原本更開闊——這我可不敢妄下定論；但可以肯定的是，從顱相學看，他這顆頭是極佳的。

It may seem ridiculous, but it reminded me of General Washington’s head, as seen in the popular busts of him.

這話也許聽來可笑，但它讓我想起了華盛頓將軍那顆頭——就是他那些流行的半身像上所見的模樣。

It had the same long regularly graded retreating slope from above the brows, which were likewise very projecting, like two long promontories thickly wooded on top.

它有著同樣的、自眉骨上方均勻向後傾斜的長坡，而那眉骨也同樣十分突出，像兩道頂上密密長著樹林的長海岬。

Queequeg was George Washington cannibalistically developed.

魁魁格就是一個「食人族版」發展出來的喬治・華盛頓。

Whilst I was thus closely scanning him, half-pretending meanwhile to be looking out at the storm from the casement, he never heeded my presence, never troubled himself with so much as a single glance; but appeared wholly occupied with counting the pages of the marvellous book.

當我這麼仔細端詳他、同時又半裝著從窗口眺望風暴時，他卻絲毫不理會我的存在，連看我一眼都懶得；只是一副全副心神都撲在數那本奇書頁數上的樣子。

Considering how sociably we had been sleeping together the night previous, and especially considering the affectionate arm I had found thrown over me upon waking in the morning, I thought this indifference of his very strange.

想到我們前一晚睡得那麼親密，尤其想到早上醒來時發現他那條深情摟著我的手臂，我覺得他這份冷淡實在很奇怪。

But savages are strange beings; at times you do not know exactly how to take them.

但野人本是奇特的生靈；有時你還真不知該拿他們怎麼辦才好。

At first they are overawing; their calm self-collectedness of simplicity seems a Socratic wisdom.

起初他們令人敬畏；他們那種出於質樸的沉著自持，看上去像一種蘇格拉底式的智慧。

I had noticed also that Queequeg never consorted at all, or but very little, with the other seamen in the inn.

我也注意到，魁魁格從不、或極少與客棧裡其他水手廝混。

He made no advances whatever; appeared to have no desire to enlarge the circle of his acquaintances.

他全然不主動攀交；似乎也無意擴大自己的交際圈。

All this struck me as mighty singular; yet, upon second thoughts, there was something almost sublime in it.

這一切都叫我覺得異乎尋常；可再一想，這裡頭竟有某種近乎崇高的東西。

Here was a man some twenty thousand miles from home, by the way of Cape Horn, that is—which was the only way he could get there—thrown among people as strange to him as though he were in the planet Jupiter; and yet he seemed entirely at his ease; preserving the utmost serenity; content with his own companionship; always equal to himself.

這是一個離家約兩萬哩——而且是繞合恩角的兩萬哩，那是他唯一能到此的路——被拋進一群對他而言陌生得彷彿置身木星上的人當中的人；然而他卻顯得全然自在；保持著極度的恬靜；以自己作伴便已知足；永遠與自己一致。

Surely this was a touch of fine philosophy; though no doubt he had never heard there was such a thing as that.

這無疑帶著幾分上乘的哲理；儘管毫無疑問，他從沒聽說過世上竟有「哲學」這麼個東西。

But, perhaps, to be true philosophers, we mortals should not be conscious of so living or so striving.

但也許，要當真正的哲學家，我們這些凡人本就不該意識到自己正這麼活、這麼努力。

So soon as I hear that such or such a man gives himself out for a philosopher, I conclude that, like the dyspeptic old woman, he must have “broken his digester.”

一聽到某某人自稱是哲學家，我就斷定：他八成像那個消化不良的老太婆一樣，「把胃搞壞了」。

As I sat there in that now lonely room; the fire burning low, in that mild stage when, after its first intensity has warmed the air, it then only glows to be looked at; the evening shades and phantoms gathering round the casements, and peering in upon us silent, solitary twain; the storm booming without in solemn swells; I began to be sensible of strange feelings.

當我坐在那如今冷清的房間裡；爐火漸低，正處在那種溫和的階段——它最初的熾烈已把空氣烘暖，這會兒只剩微光供人觀看；暮色與幢幢魅影聚攏到窗邊，靜靜窺視著我們這沉默、孤單的兩人；屋外風暴以莊嚴的浪濤聲轟鳴——我開始覺察到一些奇異的感受。

I felt a melting in me.

我感到心裡有什麼在融化。

No more my splintered heart and maddened hand were turned against the wolfish world.

我那顆破碎的心、那隻發狂的手，不再對著這狼一般的世界繃緊敵對了。

This soothing savage had redeemed it.

這撫慰人的野人，把它救贖了。

There he sat, his very indifference speaking a nature in which there lurked no civilized hypocrisies and bland deceits.

他就坐在那兒，他那份冷淡本身，正訴說著一種天性——其中潛藏不著任何文明人的虛偽與溫吞的欺瞞。

Wild he was; a very sight of sights to see; yet I began to feel myself mysteriously drawn towards him.

他是狂野的；是奇景中的奇景；然而我開始覺得自己神祕地被他吸引。

And those same things that would have repelled most others, they were the very magnets that thus drew me.

而那些本會叫大多數人退避三舍的東西，恰恰就是這樣把我吸過去的磁石。

I’ll try a pagan friend, thought I, since Christian kindness has proved but hollow courtesy.

我來交個異教徒朋友試試吧，我心想，既然基督徒的善意已被證明不過是空洞的客套。

I drew my bench near him, and made some friendly signs and hints, doing my best to talk with him meanwhile.

我把長椅挪到他身旁，做了些友善的手勢與暗示，同時盡力跟他攀談。

At first he little noticed these advances; but presently, upon my referring to his last night’s hospitalities, he made out to ask me whether we were again to be bedfellows.

起初他不大理會我這些示好；但不久，當我提起他昨夜的款待時，他總算問出一句：我們今晚是否又要同床。

I told him yes; whereat I thought he looked pleased, perhaps a little complimented.

我說是的；聽了這話，我覺得他顯得挺高興，或許還有點受寵若驚。

We then turned over the book together, and I endeavored to explain to him the purpose of the printing, and the meaning of the few pictures that were in it.

接著我們一同翻起那本書，我試著向他解釋印刷是做什麼用的，以及書裡那幾幅插圖的含義。

Thus I soon engaged his interest; and from that we went to jabbering the best we could about the various outer sights to be seen in this famous town.

我這就很快勾起了他的興致；由此我們便盡其所能、嘰哩咕嚕地聊起這座名鎮裡各式各樣可看的市面景象。

Soon I proposed a social smoke; and, producing his pouch and tomahawk, he quietly offered me a puff.

不久我提議一起抽口菸聯誼；他便掏出菸袋與那把菸斗戰斧，靜靜地請我抽一口。

And then we sat exchanging puffs from that wild pipe of his, and keeping it regularly passing between us.

然後我們便坐著，輪流抽他那管粗獷的菸斗，讓它在我倆之間規規矩矩地傳來傳去。

If there yet lurked any ice of indifference towards me in the Pagan’s breast, this pleasant, genial smoke we had, soon thawed it out, and left us cronies.

倘若這異教徒胸中對我還潛藏著一絲冷淡的寒冰，我倆這場愉快、暖融融的菸，很快就把它融化了，使我倆成了死黨。

He seemed to take to me quite as naturally and unbiddenly as I to him; and when our smoke was over, he pressed his forehead against mine, clasped me round the waist, and said that henceforth we were married; meaning, in his country’s phrase, that we were bosom friends; he would gladly die for me, if need should be.

他喜歡上我，似乎跟我喜歡上他一樣自然、一樣不召自來；待我們抽完菸，他把額頭抵住我的額頭，摟住我的腰，說從今往後我倆「結為夫妻」了；用他家鄉的說法，意思是我倆成了摯友（bosom friends）；只要有需要，他甘願為我而死。

In a countryman, this sudden flame of friendship would have seemed far too premature, a thing to be much distrusted; but in this simple savage those old rules would not apply.

若換作一個（文明的）同胞，這驟然燃起的友情之火，會顯得太過倉促，是件大可起疑的事；但在這質樸的野人身上，那些老規矩卻不適用。

After supper, and another social chat and smoke, we went to our room together.

晚餐後，又一番閒聊與抽菸，我們便一同回房去。

He made me a present of his embalmed head; took out his enormous tobacco wallet, and groping under the tobacco, drew out some thirty dollars in silver; then spreading them on the table, and mechanically dividing them into two equal portions, pushed one of them towards me, and said it was mine.

他把他那顆做過防腐的人頭送給我當禮物；又掏出他那只大得驚人的菸草袋，在菸草底下摸索，抽出約莫三十塊銀元；然後把錢攤在桌上，機械地分成相等的兩份，把其中一份推到我面前，說這是我的了。

I was going to remonstrate; but he silenced me by pouring them into my trowsers’ pockets. I let them stay.

我正要推辭，他卻把錢往我長褲口袋裡一倒，叫我說不出話。我也就由它去了。

He then went about his evening prayers, took out his idol, and removed the paper fireboard.

接著他著手做晚禱，取出他的偶像，挪開那塊糊紙的擋火板。

By certain signs and symptoms, I thought he seemed anxious for me to join him; but well knowing what was to follow, I deliberated a moment whether, in case he invited me, I would comply or otherwise.

從某些跡象與徵兆看，我覺得他似乎急著要我跟他一起拜；但因深知接下來會是什麼，我斟酌了片刻：萬一他邀我，我是該答應還是不該。

I was a good Christian; born and bred in the bosom of the infallible Presbyterian Church.

我是個好基督徒；生長在那絕無謬誤的長老會的懷抱裡。

How then could I unite with this wild idolator in worshipping his piece of wood?

那我怎能跟這野蠻的拜偶像者一同去敬拜他那塊木頭呢？

But what is worship? thought I.

可什麼叫敬拜呢？我心想。

Do you suppose now, Ishmael, that the magnanimous God of heaven and earth—pagans and all included—can possibly be jealous of an insignificant bit of black wood?

以實瑪利，難道你以為，那位寬宏大量、統管天地萬物——把異教徒也全包括在內——的神，會去嫉妒一塊微不足道的黑木頭？

Impossible!

不可能！

But what is worship?—to do the will of God—that is worship.

那什麼叫敬拜呢？——遵行神的旨意——那才是敬拜。

And what is the will of God?—to do to my fellow man what I would have my fellow man to do to me—that is the will of God.

那什麼又是神的旨意呢？——把我希望別人怎樣待我的，照樣去待別人——那就是神的旨意。

Now, Queequeg is my fellow man.

而魁魁格，正是我的同胞（弟兄）。

And what do I wish that this Queequeg would do to me?

那我希望這位魁魁格怎樣待我呢？

Why, unite with me in my particular Presbyterian form of worship.

嗐，就是和我一同做我那套長老會的禮拜。

Consequently, I must then unite with him in his; ergo, I must turn idolator.

那麼，我也就必須和他一同做他那套；因此，我必須去當個拜偶像的人。

So I kindled the shavings; helped prop up the innocent little idol; offered him burnt biscuit with Queequeg; salamed before him twice or thrice; kissed his nose; and that done, we undressed and went to bed, at peace with our own consciences and all the world.

於是我點起木屑；幫著把那無辜的小偶像扶正；和魁魁格一起獻上烤焦的餅乾；在它面前行了兩三次額手禮；親了親它的鼻子；做完這些，我們便脫衣上床，問心無愧，也與全世界相安無事。

But we did not go to sleep without some little chat.

不過，我們上床後並沒有立刻睡去，還聊了一小會兒。

How it is I know not; but there is no place like a bed for confidential disclosures between friends.

這是怎麼回事我也說不上來；但要朋友間掏心掏肺地吐露私密，再沒有比一張床更合適的地方了。

Man and wife, they say, there open the very bottom of their souls to each other; and some old couples often lie and chat over old times till nearly morning.

人家說，夫妻倆就在床上把靈魂的最深處向彼此敞開；有些老夫老妻常常躺著聊起往日，一直聊到天快亮。

Thus, then, in our hearts’ honeymoon, lay I and Queequeg—a cosy, loving pair.

就這樣，在我倆心靈的蜜月期裡，我和魁魁格並排躺著——一對溫馨、恩愛的伴侶。