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雙語·邦斯舅舅 二十六、最后的打擊

所屬教程:譯林版·邦斯舅舅

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2022年06月12日

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XXVI

About a month after the perfidious Werther's withdrawal, poor Pons left his bed for the first time after an attack of nervous fever, and walked along the sunny side of the street leaning on Schmucke's arm. Nobody in the Boulevard du Temple laughed at the "pair of nutcrackers," for one of the old men looked so shattered, and the other so touchingly careful of his invalid friend. By the time that they reached the Boulevard Poissonniere, a little color came back to Pons' face; he was breathing the air of the boulevards, he felt the vitalizing power of the atmosphere of the crowded street, the life-giving property of the air that is noticeable in quarters where human life abounds; in the filthy Roman Ghetto, for instance, with its swarming Jewish population, where malaria is unknown. Perhaps, too, the sight of the streets, the great spectacle of Paris, the daily pleasure of his life, did the invalid good. They walked on side by side, though Pons now and again left his friend to look at the shop windows. Opposite the Theatre des Varietes he saw Count Popinot, and went up to him very respectfully, for of all men Pons esteemed and venerated the ex-Minister.

The peer of France answered him severely: "I am at a loss to understand, sir, how you can have no more tact than to speak to a near connection of a family whom you tried to brand with shame and ridicule by a trick which no one but an artist could devise. Understand this, sir, that from to-day we must be complete strangers to each other. Mme. la Comtesse Popinot, like every one else, feels indignant at your behavior to the Marvilles."

And Count Popinot passed on, leaving Pons thunderstruck. Passion, justice, policy, and great social forces never take into account the condition of the human creature whom they strike down. The statesman, driven by family considerations to crush Pons, did not so much as see the physical weakness of his redoubtable enemy.

Vat is it, mine boor friend? exclaimed Schmucke, seeing how white Pons had grown.

It is a fresh stab in the heart, Pons replied, leaning heavily on Schmucke's arm. "I think that no one, save God in heaven, can have any right to do good, and that is why all those who meddle in His work are so cruelly punished."

The old artist's sarcasm was uttered with a supreme effort; he was trying, excellent creature, to quiet the dismay visible in Schmucke's face.

So I dink, Schmucke replied simply.

Pons could not understand it. Neither the Camusots nor the Popinots had sent him notice of Cecile's wedding. On the Boulevard des Italiens Pons saw M. Cardot coming towards them. Warned by Count Popinot's allocution, Pons was very careful not to accost the old acquaintance with whom he had dined once a fortnight for the last year; he lifted his hat, but the other, mayor and deputy of Paris, threw him an indignant glance and went by. Pons turned to Schmucke.

Do go and ask him what it is that they all have against me, he said to the friend who knew all the details of the catastrophe that Pons could tell him.

Mennseir, Schmucke began diplomatically, "mine friend Bons is chust recofering from an illness; you haf no doubt fail to rekognize him?"

Not in the least.

But mit vat kann you rebroach him?

You have a monster of ingratitude for a friend, sir; if he is still alive, it is because nothing kills ill weeds. People do well to mistrust artists; they are as mischievous and spiteful as monkeys. This friend of yours tried to dishonor his own family, and to blight a young girl's character, in revenge for a harmless joke. I wish to have nothing to do with him; I shall do my best to forget that I have known him, or that such a man exists. All the members of his family and my own share the wish, sir, so do all the persons who once did the said Pons the honor of receiving him.

Boot, mennseir, you are a reasonaple mann; gif you vill bermit me, I shall exblain die affair—

You are quite at liberty to remain his friend, sir, if you are minded that way, returned Cardot, "but you need go no further; for I must give you warning that in my opinion those who try to excuse or defend his conduct are just as much to blame."

To chustify it?

Yes, for his conduct can neither be justified nor qualified.

And with that word, the deputy for the Seine went his way; he would not hear another syllable.

I have two powers in the State against me, smiled poor Pons, when Schmucke had repeated these savage speeches.

Eferpody is against us, Schmucke answered dolorously. "Let us go avay pefore we shall meed oder fools."

Never before in the course of a truly ovine life had Schmucke uttered such words as these. Never before had his almost divine meekness been ruffled. He had smiled childlike on all the mischances that befell him, but he could not look and see his sublime Pons maltreated; his Pons, his unknown Aristides, the genius resigned to his lot, the nature that knew no bitterness, the treasury of kindness, the heart of gold!... Alceste's indignation filled Schmucke's soul—he was moved to call Pons' amphitryons "fools." For his pacific nature that impulse equaled the wrath of Roland. With wise foresight, Schmucke turned to go home by the way of the Boulevard du Temple, Pons passively submitting like a fallen fighter, heedless of blows; but chance ordered that he should know that all his world was against him. The House of Peers, the Chamber of Deputies, strangers and the family, the strong, the weak, and the innocent, all combined to send down the avalanche.

In the Boulevard Poissonniere, Pons caught sight of that very M. Cardot's daughter, who, young as she was, had learned to be charitable to others through trouble of her own. Her husband knew a secret by which he kept her in bondage. She was the only one among Pons' hostesses whom he called by her Christian name; he addressed Mme. Berthier as "Felicie," and he thought that she understood him. The gentle creature seemed to be distressed by the sight of Cousin Pons, as he was called (though he was in no way related to the family of the second wife of a cousin by marriage). There was no help for it, however; Felicie Berthier stopped to speak to the invalid.

I did not think you were cruel, cousin, she said; "but if even a quarter of all that I hear of you is true, you are very false.... Oh! do not justify yourself," she added quickly, seeing Pons' significant gesture, "it is useless, for two reasons. In the first place, I have no right to accuse or judge or condemn anybody, for I myself know so well how much may be said for those who seem to be most guilty; secondly, your explanation would do no good. M. Berthier drew up the marriage contract for Mlle. de Marville and the Vicomte Popinot; he is so exasperated, that if he knew that I had so much as spoken one word to you, one word for the last time, he would scold me. Everybody is against you."

So it seems indeed, madame, Pons said, his voice shaking as he lifted his hat respectfully.

Painfully he made his way back to the Rue de Normandie. The old German knew from the heavy weight on his arm that his friend was struggling bravely against failing physical strength. That third encounter was like the verdict of the Lamb at the foot of the throne of God; and the anger of the Angel of the Poor, the symbol of the Peoples, is the last word of Heaven. They reached home without another word. There are moments in our lives when the sense that our friend is near is all that we can bear. Our wounds smart under the consoling words that only reveal the depths of pain. The old pianist, you see, possessed a genius for friendship, the tact of those who, having suffered much, knew the customs of suffering.

Pons was never to take a walk again. From one illness he fell into another. He was of a sanguine-bilious temperament, the bile passed into his blood, and a violent liver attack was the result. He had never known a day's illness in his life till a month ago; he had never consulted a doctor; so La Cibot, with almost motherly care and intentions at first of the very best, called in "the doctor of the quarter."

二十六、最后的打擊

偽裝的維特拒婚以后一個月光景,可憐的邦斯發(fā)了場神經(jīng)性的高熱病第一次起床,由許??藬v著,在太陽底下沿著大街溜達。修院大街上的人看到這一個滿面病容,另一個小心扶持,誰也沒有心腸笑兩個榛子鉗了。走到魚市大街,邦斯呼吸著鬧市的空氣,臉上有了血色;肩摩踵接的地方,空氣中的生命力特別強,所以羅馬那個骯臟的猶太人區(qū)域連瘧疾都是絕跡的。見到從前每天看慣的景象和巴黎街頭的熱鬧,或許對病人也有影響。在多藝劇院對面,邦斯跟并肩走著的許??朔珠_了;他一路常常這樣地走開去,瞧櫥窗里新陳列的東西。這時他劈面遇見了包比諾,便恭恭敬敬地上前招呼,因為前任部長是邦斯最崇拜最敬重的一個人。

“嘿!先生,”包比諾聲色俱厲地回答,“你有心糟蹋人家的名譽,丟人家的臉,想不到你還敢向那份人家的至親來打招呼!那種報復的手段,只有你們藝術(shù)家才想得出……告訴你,先生,從今以后,我再不敢認得你了。伯爵夫人對你在瑪維爾家的行為,也跟大家一樣地深惡痛絕?!?/p>

前任部長走了,把邦斯丟在那里,像給雷劈了一樣。情欲,法律,政治,一切支配社會的力量,打擊人的時候從來不顧到對方的情形的。那位政治家,為了家庭的利益恨不得把邦斯壓成齏粉,根本沒有發(fā)覺這個可怕的敵人身體那么衰弱。

“怎么啦,可憐的朋友?”許??说哪樃钏沟囊粯影住?/p>

好人靠著許??说募绨蚧卮鹫f:“我心上又給人扎了一刀?,F(xiàn)在我相信,只有上帝才有資格做好事,誰要去越俎代庖,就得受殘酷的懲罰?!?/p>

他竭盡全身之力,才迸出這幾句藝術(shù)家辛辣的諷刺??蓱z這好心的家伙,看到朋友臉上的恐怖還想安慰他呢。

“我也這樣想?!痹S模克簡簡單單回答了一句。

邦斯簡直想不過來。賽西爾的結(jié)婚,加繆索和包比諾兩家都沒有請?zhí)o他。走到意大利大街,邦斯看見加陶迎面而來。雖然去年還每隔半個月在他府上吃一頓飯,邦斯鑒于包比諾的訓話,不敢再迎上前去,只向他行了個禮;可是那位區(qū)長兼國會議員,非但不還禮,反而怒氣沖沖地瞪了邦斯一眼。

邦斯早已把倒霉事兒詳詳細細告訴過許模克;這時他吩咐許??耍骸澳闳枂査?,為什么他們都跟我過不去?!?/p>

“先生,”許??俗哌^去很婉轉(zhuǎn)地對加陶說,“我的朋友邦斯才害了場病,也許你認不得他了?”

“當然認得?!?/p>

“那么你有什么事怪怨他呢?”

“你交的朋友是個忘恩負義的壞蛋,他那種人還能活著,那就像俗語說的,敗草是拔不盡的。怪不得大家見了藝術(shù)家都要提防,他們又刁又惡,像猴子一樣。你的朋友想掃他家族的面子,破壞一個姑娘的名譽,來報復一個無傷大雅的玩笑,我不愿意再跟他有什么關(guān)系;我但愿當初沒有認識他,當作世界上根本沒有這個人。先生,這不但是我的心理,而且我的家族,他的家族,所有賞他臉給他吃過飯的人都這樣想……”

先生,你是一個明白人,可不可以讓我把事情解釋給你聽……”

“你要有那個心腸,你去跟他做朋友吧,我管不著,”加陶回答,“可是別多說了。我告訴你,誰要替他開脫,替他辯護,我就認為跟他是一丘之貉?!?/p>

“連替他分辯一下都不行嗎?”

“不行。他的行為是不齒于人的,所以是不容分辯的。”

把這兩句自命為妙語的話說完了,塞納州議員便揚長而去,不愿再聽一個字。

許??税涯切憾镜闹櫫R告訴了邦斯,邦斯苦笑道:“已經(jīng)有兩個官兒跟我作對了?!?/p>

“大家都跟我們作對,”許??撕芡葱牡亟又f,“回家吧,免得再碰到那些畜生?!?/p>

謙恭了一輩子的許模克,這種話還是破題兒第一遭出口。他素來超然物外,榮辱不系于心,自己要臨到什么患難,可能很天真地一笑置之;但看到高風亮節(jié)、韜光養(yǎng)晦的邦斯,以那種豁達的胸襟、慈悲的心腸而受人凌辱,他就不由得義憤填胸,把邦斯的居停主人叫作畜生了!在這個天性溫和的人,他那種激動已經(jīng)是大發(fā)雷霆,不下于洛朗的狂怒[1]。許模克恐防再遇到熟人,便攙著朋友往修院大街回頭走;邦斯迷迷糊糊聽憑他帶路,似乎一個戰(zhàn)士已經(jīng)掙扎到筋疲力盡,也不在乎多挨幾拳了。而可憐的音樂家,命中注定要受盡世界上的打擊,落在他頭上的冰雹包括了一切:有貴族院議員,有國會議員,有親戚,有外人,有強者,有弱者,也有無辜的老實人。

在沿著魚市大街回去的路上,對面來了加陶的女兒。這位年輕的婦女是經(jīng)過患難而比較寬容的。她因為做了樁至今瞞著人的錯事,不得不永遠向丈夫低頭。邦斯在招待他吃飯的那些人家,只有對貝蒂哀太太是稱呼名字的,叫她“法麗西”,以為她有時還能了解他。那性情溫和的太太當時一見到邦斯舅舅就有點兒發(fā)窘。雖然加陶是加繆索填房面上的親戚,和邦斯毫無關(guān)系,但加陶家一向把他當作舅舅看待。法麗西·貝蒂哀沒法躲開,只得在病人面前站住了:

“舅舅,我不相信你是壞人,可是人家說你的話,只要有四分之一是真的,那你的確虛偽透了……”她看見邦斯做了個手勢,便搶著往下說,“噢!不用分辯!第一,我對誰都沒有權(quán)利責備、批判,或是定什么罪名,因為我推己及人,知道理屈的人總有辦法推諉;第二,你的申辯毫無用處。貝蒂哀先生——瑪維爾小姐和包比諾子爵的婚約是他經(jīng)手的——對你非常生氣,要是知道我和你說過話,是我最后一個跟你攀談,還會埋怨我呢。大家都對你很不好。”

“我親眼看到了,太太!”可憐的音樂家聲音異樣地說著,恭恭敬敬向她行了個禮。

他費了好大的勁走回諾曼底街,靠在許??思缟系闹亓?,使德國人覺得他是硬撐在那里不讓自己倒下來。跟這位太太的相遇,仿佛聽到了睡在上帝腳下的羔羊的判決;而這是天上最后的判決,因為羔羊是可憐蟲的天使,平民的象征。兩個朋友一聲不出地回到家里。人生有些情形,你只能覺得有個朋友在你身邊;說出安慰的話只能刺痛創(chuàng)口,顯出它的深度。在此你們可以看到,老鋼琴家天生是個友誼的象征;無微不至的體貼,表示他像飽經(jīng)憂患的人一樣,知道怎樣應付旁人的痛苦。

這次散步是邦斯老人最后的一次。他一場病沒有完全好,又害了另一場病。本是多血質(zhì)兼膽質(zhì)的人,膽汁進到血里去了,他患著劇烈的肝臟炎。這是他一輩子僅有的兩場病,所以他沒有相熟的醫(yī)生。忠心而懂事的西卜太太,開頭是憑她的好意,甚至還帶著點兒母性,把本區(qū)的醫(yī)生給找了來。

注解:

[1] 洛朗為法國史詩(題目即叫作《狂怒的洛朗》)中人物,生于第八世紀,為查理曼大帝的勇將。

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