齋戒

As Queequeg’s Ramadan, or Fasting and Humiliation, was to continue all day, I did not choose to disturb him till towards night-fall; for I cherish the greatest respect towards everybody’s religious obligations, never mind how comical, and could not find it in my heart to undervalue even a congregation of ants worshipping a toad-stool; or those other creatures in certain parts of our earth, who with a degree of footmanism quite unprecedented in other planets, bow down before the torso of a deceased landed proprietor merely on account of the inordinate possessions yet owned and rented in his name.

由於魁魁格的齋戒——也就是他的禁食與克己——要持續一整天，我便不打算在近黃昏之前去打擾他；因為我對每個人的宗教義務都懷著最大的敬意，無論那有多滑稽，我實在不忍心去小看哪怕是一群膜拜毒蕈的螞蟻；或地球上某些地方的另一些生物，他們以一種在別的星球上都前所未見的奴僕勁兒，向一位已故大地主的軀體俯首下拜，僅僅因為那些至今仍掛在他名下、出租著的、多得離譜的家業。

I say, we good Presbyterian Christians should be charitable in these things, and not fancy ourselves so vastly superior to other mortals, pagans and what not, because of their half-crazy conceits on these subjects.

我是說，我們這些良善的長老會基督徒，在這類事情上理應寬厚些，別因為別人——異教徒之類——在這些題目上抱著半瘋的妄念，就自以為遠遠高過其他凡人。

There was Queequeg, now, certainly entertaining the most absurd notions about Yojo and his Ramadan;—but what of that?

眼下就有魁魁格，對約糾和他的齋戒當然抱著最荒謬的看法；——可那又怎樣？

Queequeg thought he knew what he was about, I suppose; he seemed to be content; and there let him rest.

魁魁格自認知道自己在幹什麼，我想；他看上去挺心滿意足；那就由他去吧。

All our arguing with him would not avail; let him be, I say: and Heaven have mercy on us all—Presbyterians and Pagans alike—for we are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head, and sadly need mending.

我們跟他怎麼爭都沒用；隨他去，我說：願上天憐憫我們眾人——長老會教徒也好、異教徒也罷——因為我們腦袋裡多多少少都裂了道可怕的縫，可悲地需要修補。

Towards evening, when I felt assured that all his performances and rituals must be over, I went up to his room and knocked at the door; but no answer.

傍晚時分，我自覺確信他那一整套儀軌總該結束了，便上樓到他房間敲門；卻沒人應。

I tried to open it, but it was fastened inside.

我想推門進去，門卻從裡頭閂住了。

“Queequeg,” said I softly through the key-hole:—all silent.

「魁魁格，」我對著鑰匙孔輕聲喚：——一片寂靜。

“I say, Queequeg! why don’t you speak? It’s I—Ishmael.”

「我說，魁魁格！你怎麼不出聲？是我——以實瑪利。」

But all remained still as before.

可一切仍如方才那般死寂。

I began to grow alarmed.

我開始慌了起來。

I had allowed him such abundant time; I thought he might have had an apoplectic fit.

我給了他這麼充裕的時間；我想他該不會是中風發作了吧。

I looked through the key-hole; but the door opening into an odd corner of the room, the key-hole prospect was but a crooked and sinister one.

我從鑰匙孔往裡瞧；可這門開向房間一個刁鑽的角落，從鑰匙孔望出去的景象只是歪斜而透著不祥的一角。

I could only see part of the foot-board of the bed and a line of the wall, but nothing more.

我只看得見床尾擋板的一部分和一道牆線，再無其他。

I was surprised to behold resting against the wall the wooden shaft of Queequeg’s harpoon, which the landlady the evening previous had taken from him, before our mounting to the chamber.

讓我吃驚的是，我瞧見靠在牆邊的，是魁魁格那把魚叉的木柄——前一晚我們上樓進房前，女房東才剛從他手裡收走的。

That’s strange, thought I; but at any rate, since the harpoon stands yonder, and he seldom or never goes abroad without it, therefore he must be inside here, and no possible mistake.

真奇怪，我心想；可不管怎樣，既然魚叉就立在那兒，而他出門幾乎從不離身，那他必定就在裡頭，斷無差錯。

“Queequeg!—Queequeg!”—all still.

「魁魁格！——魁魁格！」——仍舊一動不響。

Something must have happened. Apoplexy!

準是出事了。中風！

I tried to burst open the door; but it stubbornly resisted.

我試著把門撞開；它卻頑固地抵住了。

Running down stairs, I quickly stated my suspicions to the first person I met—the chamber-maid.

我跑下樓，把我的疑慮匆匆說給碰見的第一個人聽——那打掃房間的女僕。

“La! la!” she cried, “I thought something must be the matter. I went to make the bed after breakfast, and the door was locked; and not a mouse to be heard; and it’s been just so silent ever since. But I thought, may be, you had both gone off and locked your baggage in for safe keeping. La! la, ma’am!—Mistress! murder! Mrs. Hussey! apoplexy!”—and with these cries, she ran towards the kitchen, I following.

「哎喲！哎喲！」她嚷道，「我就覺著準是出了什麼事。早飯後我去鋪床，門鎖著；連半點老鼠聲都沒有；從那會兒起就一直這麼靜。可我尋思，許是你倆都出去了、把行李鎖在屋裡圖個穩妥。哎喲！哎喲，太太！——夫人！殺人啦！赫西太太！中風啦！」——一邊喊著，她朝廚房跑去，我跟在後頭。

Mrs. Hussey soon appeared, with a mustard-pot in one hand and a vinegar-cruet in the other, having just broken away from the occupation of attending to the castors, and scolding her little black boy meantime.

赫西太太很快出現了，一手芥末罐、一手醋瓶，剛從擺弄調味瓶架的活兒裡脫身，同時還在訓她那小黑僮。

“Wood-house!” cried I, “which way to it? Run for God’s sake, and fetch something to pry open the door—the axe!—the axe! he’s had a stroke; depend upon it!”—and so saying I was unmethodically rushing up stairs again empty-handed, when Mrs. Hussey interposed the mustard-pot and vinegar-cruet, and the entire castor of her countenance.

「柴房！」我喊道，「往哪兒走？看在上帝份上快跑，拿點能撬門的東西來——斧頭！——斧頭！他中風了；準沒錯！」——說著我又空著手、毫無章法地往樓上衝，赫西太太卻把芥末罐、醋瓶，連同她整張像調味瓶架似的臉，一齊橫在我面前。

“What’s the matter with you, young man?”

「你這年輕人,到底怎麼回事？」

“Get the axe! For God’s sake, run for the doctor, some one, while I pry it open!”

「拿斧頭來！看在上帝份上，誰去叫個大夫，我來把門撬開！」

“Look here,” said the landlady, quickly putting down the vinegar-cruet, so as to have one hand free; “look here; are you talking about prying open any of my doors?”—and with that she seized my arm. “What’s the matter with you? What’s the matter with you, shipmate?”

「你聽好，」女房東說著，趕緊放下醋瓶、好騰出一隻手來；「你聽好；你是說要撬開我的哪扇門？」——說著她一把抓住我的胳膊。「你到底怎麼了？你到底怎麼了，水手老兄？」

In as calm, but rapid a manner as possible, I gave her to understand the whole case.

我盡量用既鎮定又飛快的口吻，把整件事說給她明白。

Unconsciously clapping the vinegar-cruet to one side of her nose, she ruminated for an instant; then exclaimed—“No! I haven’t seen it since I put it there.”

她不自覺地把醋瓶往鼻子一側一按，沉吟了片刻；隨即叫道——「沒有！自從我把它擱那兒，就再沒見過。」

Running to a little closet under the landing of the stairs, she glanced in, and returning, told me that Queequeg’s harpoon was missing.

她跑到樓梯平台下的一個小櫥邊，往裡瞄了一眼，回來告訴我：魁魁格的魚叉不見了。

“He’s killed himself,” she cried. “It’s unfort’nate Stiggs done over again—there goes another counterpane—God pity his poor mother!—it will be the ruin of my house. Has the poor lad a sister? Where’s that girl?—there, Betty, go to Snarles the Painter, and tell him to paint me a sign, with—“no suicides permitted here, and no smoking in the parlor;”—might as well kill both birds at once. Kill? The Lord be merciful to his ghost! What’s that noise there? You, young man, avast there!”

「他自殺了，」她喊道。「又是那倒楣的 Stiggs 重演一遍——又得糟蹋一條床罩——上帝可憐他那苦命的娘吧！——這要毀了我這店。這可憐小子有姊妹嗎？那丫頭呢？——喏，貝蒂，去找畫匠 Snarles，叫他給我畫塊招牌，上頭寫——『本店禁止自殺、客廳禁菸』；——索性一石二鳥。殺？主啊憐憫他的鬼魂吧！那兒什麼動靜？你，年輕人，給我住手！」

And running up after me, she caught me as I was again trying to force open the door.

她追著我跑上樓，趁我又在使勁撞門時一把逮住了我。

“I don’t allow it; I won’t have my premises spoiled. Go for the locksmith, there’s one about a mile from here. But avast!” putting her hand in her side-pocket, “here’s a key that’ll fit, I guess; let’s see.”

「我不准；我可不容人糟蹋我的房子。去叫鎖匠，這兒一英里外就有一個。等等！」她把手伸進側口袋，「我猜這兒有把鑰匙合用；瞧瞧。」

And with that, she turned it in the lock; but, alas! Queequeg’s supplemental bolt remained unwithdrawn within.

說著，她把鑰匙插進鎖裡一擰；可惜啊！魁魁格在裡頭加上的那道補閂，還沒拉開呢。

“Have to burst it open,” said I, and was running down the entry a little, for a good start, when the landlady caught at me, again vowing I should not break down her premises; but I tore from her, and with a sudden bodily rush dashed myself full against the mark.

「只能撞開了，」我說，便往過道後退幾步、好助跑取勢，這時女房東又來抓我、再三發誓不許我撞壞她的房子；可我掙脫了她，猛地縱身、整個人結結實實朝那目標撞了過去。

With a prodigious noise the door flew open, and the knob slamming against the wall, sent the plaster to the ceiling; and there, good heavens! there sat Queequeg, altogether cool and self-collected; right in the middle of the room; squatting on his hams, and holding Yojo on top of his head.

隨著一聲巨響，門猛地撞開，門把砸在牆上、震得灰泥直崩到天花板；而那兒，老天爺啊！魁魁格端坐在那兒，全然冷靜、鎮定自若；就在房間正中央；屁股蹲坐著，把約糾頂在頭頂上。

He looked neither one way nor the other way, but sat like a carved image with scarce a sign of active life.

他既不朝這邊看、也不朝那邊看，只像一尊雕像般坐著，幾乎沒一點活氣。

“Queequeg,” said I, going up to him, “Queequeg, what’s the matter with you?”

「魁魁格，」我走到他跟前說，「魁魁格，你這是怎麼了？」

“He hain’t been a sittin’ so all day, has he?” said the landlady.

「他不會一整天都這麼坐著吧，啊？」女房東說。

But all we said, not a word could we drag out of him; I almost felt like pushing him over, so as to change his position, for it was almost intolerable, it seemed so painfully and unnaturally constrained; especially, as in all probability he had been sitting so for upwards of eight or ten hours, going too without his regular meals.

可我們說盡了話，連一個字也撬不出他的口；我幾乎想把他推倒、好換個姿勢，因為那模樣簡直叫人受不了，看著那麼痛苦、那麼違反常態地僵著；尤其是，他十之八九已這麼坐了八到十個鐘頭，連正餐都沒吃。

“Mrs. Hussey,” said I, “he’s alive at all events; so leave us, if you please, and I will see to this strange affair myself.”

「赫西太太，」我說，「總之他是活著的；所以勞駕您先走吧，這樁怪事我自己來料理。」

Closing the door upon the landlady, I endeavored to prevail upon Queequeg to take a chair; but in vain.

我把女房東關在門外，便竭力勸魁魁格坐到椅子上去；卻是白費。

There he sat; and all he could do—for all my polite arts and blandishments—he would not move a peg, nor say a single word, nor even look at me, nor notice my presence in the slightest way.

他就那麼坐著；任憑我使盡禮數與好言相哄——他就是一寸也不挪、一個字也不說、看都不看我一眼、絲毫不理會我在場。

I wonder, thought I, if this can possibly be a part of his Ramadan; do they fast on their hams that way in his native island.

我尋思，這莫不是他齋戒的一部分；在他老家那島上，他們齋戒就這麼蹲著禁食的嗎。

It must be so; yes, it’s part of his creed, I suppose; well, then, let him rest; he’ll get up sooner or later, no doubt.

準是這樣；對，這是他教義的一部分，我想；那好吧，由他去；他遲早會起來的，沒錯。

It can’t last for ever, thank God, and his Ramadan only comes once a year; and I don’t believe it’s very punctual then.

謝天謝地，這總不能沒完沒了，何況他的齋戒一年才一回；而且我看，連那一回也未必很準時。

I went down to supper.

我下樓去吃晚飯。

After sitting a long time listening to the long stories of some sailors who had just come from a plum-pudding voyage, as they called it (that is, a short whaling-voyage in a schooner or brig, confined to the north of the line, in the Atlantic Ocean only); after listening to these plum-puddingers till nearly eleven o’clock, I went up stairs to go to bed, feeling quite sure by this time Queequeg must certainly have brought his Ramadan to a termination.

我坐了好一陣，聽幾個剛跑完他們所謂「葡萄乾布丁航程」的水手講長篇故事（那是指一趟短程捕鯨——坐縱帆船或雙桅船、只限赤道以北、僅在大西洋裡轉的小航程）；聽這幫「布丁佬」聽到將近十一點，我才上樓睡覺，這時自覺十拿九穩，魁魁格的齋戒總該收場了。

But no; there he was just where I had left him; he had not stirred an inch.

可是沒有；他還在我離開時的原地；一寸也沒挪動。

I began to grow vexed with him; it seemed so downright senseless and insane to be sitting there all day and half the night on his hams in a cold room, holding a piece of wood on his head.

我開始對他來氣了；在一間冷房裡，整日加上半夜地蹲在那兒、頭頂一塊木頭，這實在荒唐透頂、瘋癲透頂。

“For heaven’s sake, Queequeg, get up and shake yourself; get up and have some supper. You’ll starve; you’ll kill yourself, Queequeg.” But not a word did he reply.

「看在老天份上，魁魁格，起來活動活動；起來吃點晚飯。你會餓壞的；你會把自己害死的，魁魁格。」可他一個字也不答。

Despairing of him, therefore, I determined to go to bed and to sleep; and no doubt, before a great while, he would follow me.

我於是對他不抱指望了，便決定上床睡覺；想必過不了多久，他自會跟著來睡。

But previous to turning in, I took my heavy bearskin jacket, and threw it over him, as it promised to be a very cold night; and he had nothing but his ordinary round jacket on.

但在我躺下之前，我拿起那件厚重的熊皮外套，給他披上，因為看來這一夜會很冷；而他身上只穿著平常那件圓擺短外套。

For some time, do all I would, I could not get into the faintest doze.

有好一陣子，無論我怎麼努力，都連最淺的一絲睡意都湊不上。

I had blown out the candle; and the mere thought of Queequeg—not four feet off—sitting there in that uneasy position, stark alone in the cold and dark; this made me really wretched.

我已吹熄蠟燭；可一想到魁魁格——離我不到四英尺——就那麼彆扭地坐在那兒，孤零零一個人困在又冷又黑裡；這簡直叫我難受極了。

Think of it; sleeping all night in the same room with a wide awake pagan on his hams in this dreary, unaccountable Ramadan!

想想看吧；整夜跟一個睜大眼、蹲坐著、正過著這莫名其妙、陰沉沉齋戒的異教徒同處一室睡覺！

But somehow I dropped off at last, and knew nothing more till break of day; when, looking over the bedside, there squatted Queequeg, as if he had been screwed down to the floor.

但不知怎地我終究睡著了，直到天亮才再有知覺；那時我探頭往床邊一看，魁魁格還蹲在那兒，彷彿被人用螺絲擰死在地板上。

But as soon as the first glimpse of sun entered the window, up he got, with stiff and grating joints, but with a cheerful look; limped towards me where I lay; pressed his forehead again against mine; and said his Ramadan was over.

可頭一縷陽光一進窗，他便起身了，關節又僵又響，神色卻很愉快；一瘸一拐地朝我躺著的地方走來；又把他的額頭抵上我的額頭；說他的齋戒結束了。

Now, as I before hinted, I have no objection to any person’s religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does not kill or insult any other person, because that other person don’t believe it also.

卻說，正如我先前所暗示的，我對任何人的宗教都不反對，不管那是什麼，只要那人不因別人不信同一套，就去殺害或侮辱別人。

But when a man’s religion becomes really frantic; when it is a positive torment to him; and, in fine, makes this earth of ours an uncomfortable inn to lodge in; then I think it high time to take that individual aside and argue the point with him.

但當一個人的宗教變得當真癲狂；當它對他成了實實在在的折磨；總之，當它把我們這片大地弄成一家住著難受的客棧時；我便覺得，是時候把那人拉到一邊、跟他把道理講個明白了。

And just so I now did with Queequeg.

我這會兒對魁魁格做的，正是這個。

“Queequeg,” said I, “get into bed now, and lie and listen to me.”

「魁魁格，」我說，「現在上床去，躺著聽我說。」

I then went on, beginning with the rise and progress of the primitive religions, and coming down to the various religions of the present time, during which time I labored to show Queequeg that all these Lents, Ramadans, and prolonged ham-squattings in cold, cheerless rooms were stark nonsense; bad for the health; useless for the soul; opposed, in short, to the obvious laws of Hygiene and common sense.

我於是說開了，從原始宗教的興起與演進講起，一路講到當今的種種宗教，這期間我費盡力氣要讓魁魁格明白：這一切四旬齋、齋戒月、在又冷又陰的房裡長時間蹲坐，全是十足的無稽之談；傷身；無益於靈魂；總之，違背衛生與常識的明擺道理。

I told him, too, that he being in other things such an extremely sensible and sagacious savage, it pained me, very badly pained me, to see him now so deplorably foolish about this ridiculous Ramadan of his.

我還告訴他，他在別的事情上是個極其明理、睿智的野人，可眼下見他為這荒唐的齋戒糊塗到這般可悲的地步，叫我心疼，疼得厲害。

Besides, argued I, fasting makes the body cave in; hence the spirit caves in; and all thoughts born of a fast must necessarily be half-starved.

再說，我辯道，禁食使身體凹陷；身體一陷，精神跟著凹陷；而一切在禁食中生出的念頭，必然都是半飢半飽的。

This is the reason why most dyspeptic religionists cherish such melancholy notions about their hereafters.

這就是為什麼大多數消化不良的宗教狂，會對他們的來世抱著那般憂鬱的想法。

In one word, Queequeg, said I, rather digressively; hell is an idea first born on an undigested apple-dumpling; and since then perpetuated through the hereditary dyspepsias nurtured by Ramadans.

一句話，魁魁格，我說（話扯得有點遠）；地獄這念頭，最初就誕生於一塊沒消化的蘋果布丁上；打那以後，便經由齋戒所養成的、世代相傳的消化不良，一直延續了下來。

I then asked Queequeg whether he himself was ever troubled with dyspepsia; expressing the idea very plainly, so that he could take it in.

我接著問魁魁格，他自己可曾受過消化不良的苦；我把意思說得明明白白，好讓他能聽懂。

He said no; only upon one memorable occasion.

他說沒有；只有一回很難忘。

It was after a great feast given by his father the king, on the gaining of a great battle wherein fifty of the enemy had been killed by about two o’clock in the afternoon, and all cooked and eaten that very evening.

那是在他父王設的一場大宴之後——那回打了一場大勝仗，下午兩點左右殺了五十個敵人，當晚便全數烹來吃了。

“No more, Queequeg,” said I, shuddering; “that will do;” for I knew the inferences without his further hinting them.

「別說了，魁魁格，」我打了個寒噤說；「夠了；」因為不用他再往下暗示，我也猜得出後話。

I had seen a sailor who had visited that very island, and he told me that it was the custom, when a great battle had been gained there, to barbecue all the slain in the yard or garden of the victor; and then, one by one, they were placed in great wooden trenchers, and garnished round like a pilau, with breadfruit and cocoanuts; and with some parsley in their mouths, were sent round with the victor’s compliments to all his friends, just as though these presents were so many Christmas turkeys.

我見過一個到過那座島的水手，他告訴我：當地的風俗是，打了大勝仗後，便在勝者的院子或園子裡把陣亡者全烤了；然後一個一個擺進大木盤裡，四周像抓飯似的、用麵包果和椰子點綴一圈；再往他們嘴裡塞點歐芹，連同勝者的問候，分送給他所有的朋友——彷彿這些禮物不過是一隻隻聖誕火雞。

After all, I do not think that my remarks about religion made much impression upon Queequeg.

說到底，我並不認為我那番關於宗教的話對魁魁格起了多大作用。

Because, in the first place, he somehow seemed dull of hearing on that important subject, unless considered from his own point of view; and, in the second place, he did not more than one third understand me, couch my ideas simply as I would; and, finally, he no doubt thought he knew a good deal more about the true religion than I did.

因為，首先，在這重要題目上他不知怎地像是耳背，除非是按他自己的觀點來談；其次，任我把意思說得多麼淺白，他聽懂的也不超過三分之一；最後，他無疑自認對真宗教的了解遠勝過我。

He looked at me with a sort of condescending concern and compassion, as though he thought it a great pity that such a sensible young man should be so hopelessly lost to evangelical pagan piety.

他帶著一種居高臨下的關切與憐憫望著我，彷彿覺得：這麼一個明理的年輕人，竟對「福音派的異教虔誠」如此無可救藥地迷失，真是天大的可惜。

At last we rose and dressed; and Queequeg, taking a prodigiously hearty breakfast of chowders of all sorts, so that the landlady should not make much profit by reason of his Ramadan, we sallied out to board the Pequod, sauntering along, and picking our teeth with halibut bones.

最後我們起身穿戴；魁魁格痛痛快快地吃了一頓豐盛得驚人的早餐——各式各樣的雜燴湯，好叫女房東別因他的齋戒省下伙食而多賺一筆；隨後我們便晃出門去登裴廓德號，一路悠悠閒閒地走著，拿比目魚骨剔著牙。