After Twenty Years

文/歐·亨利 譯析/朱振武

【導讀】在西部打拼發跡的鮑勃，千辛萬苦，千里迢迢，冒著被捕的危險，趕赴二十年前與老友的約會，沒想到卻被逮了個正著，鋃鐺入獄，而把他投入監獄的正是他二十年來念茲在茲的老友吉米。

歐·亨利的小說一向以出人意表的結尾著稱，但這篇故事的結尾還是讓人唏噓半晌。身為警察的老友吉米，當看出趕來赴約的老友就是警方通緝的罪犯時，抓與不抓就成了問題。我們可能會覺得吉米忒無情，覺得他完全可以佯裝不知，放老友一馬。但轉念一想，我們就會發現，這涉及做人和做事的一個底線問題。人當然要重然諾，講信用。一諾千金，一言九鼎，在誠信面前，金錢如糞土，誠信之于人的重要性毋庸置疑。“三杯吐然諾，五岳倒為輕”，氣壯山河，氣沖牛斗，這等守諾是何等氣概！“長存抱柱信，豈上望夫臺！”這是何等堅貞，令那些見異思遷、朝秦暮楚、朝三暮四、唯利是圖的宵小之輩相形見絀，無所遁形。然而，誠信與守諾，并不是沒有原則甚或沒有條件的一味愚忠。在然諾與道義之間，我們肯定應該選擇道義。在守誠與守法之間，我們肯定選擇守法。不論做什么事，守住做人的底線，不觸犯法律的紅線，這才是真正的人性和理性。情，不能大于法，義，不能高于法，忠，也不能強于法，任何事情都不能凌駕于法律之上。而作為警察的吉米，如果玩忽職守，放走罪犯，他就既沒有守住做人的底線，又觸犯了法律的紅線，他就既不是合格的人，也不是合格的公民，更不是合格的警察。歐·亨利被稱作“美國的莫泊桑”，他的短篇小說之所以受到世界各國讀者的喜歡，其藝術成就是一方面，其多維的思想蘊含和豐富的啟示意義也是一個重要方面。

The policeman on the beat1on the beat在巡邏中。moved up the avenue impressively. The impressiveness was habitual and not for show, for spectators were few. The time was barely 10 o’clock at night, but chilly gusts of wind with a taste of rain in them had well-nigh depeopled the streets.

警察正一本正經地沿街巡邏。這種一本正經乃習慣使然，并非作秀，因為觀者寥寥。時間剛到夜里十點，但冷風陣陣，零星飄著雨點，街上已沒什么行人了。

[2] Trying doors as he went, twirling his club2club這里是“警棍”的意思。with many intricate and artful movements, turning now and then to cast his watchful eye adown the paci fic thoroughfare, the officer, with his stalwart form and slight swagger, made a fine picture of a guardian of the peace.The vicinity3vicinity附近，鄰近地區。was one that kept early hours. Now and then you might see the lights of a cigar store or of an all-night lunch counter; but the majority of the doors belonged to business places that had long since been closed.

[3] When about midway of a certain block the policeman suddenly slowed his walk. In the doorway of a darkened hardware store a man leaned, with an unlighted cigar in his mouth. As the policeman walked up to him the man spoke up quickly.

[4] “It’s all right, of ficer,” he said, reassuringly. “I’m just waiting for a friend.It’s an appointment made twenty years ago. Sounds a little funny to you, doesn’t it? Well, I’ll explain if you’d like to make certain it’s all straight. About that long ago there used to be a restaurant where this store stands—‘Big Joe’ Brady’s restaurant.”

[2]警察體格壯偉，闊步昂首，一邊走一邊不停地推試檢查著街邊的店門，變著法兒玩轉著手里的警棍，警覺的雙目還不時地掃視著寧靜的大街，儼然一個平安衛士形象。這里的人起得早也歇得早，偶爾能瞥見雪茄店或通宵便利店的幾盞燈光，但大部分店面都是早早就關門打烊的。

[3]走到一個街區的一半，警察突然放慢了腳步。黑暗的五金店門口，一個男子斜靠著，嘴里叼著一根還未點燃的雪茄。見警察向他走來，他趕忙大聲開口。

[4]“這里沒啥事，警官。”那人讓人放心地說道，“我就是等個朋友，是二十年前的一個約定。聽著有點不可思議，對不？噢，你要是想弄清這的確沒啥事，那我解釋一下。大約那么久之前，就在這家五金店現在的位置，原來是個飯店——‘大喬’布雷迪餐館。”

“直到五年前，”警察說，“那時才拆掉的。”

“Until five years ago,” said the policeman. “It was torn down then.”

[5] The man in the doorway struck a match and lit his cigar. The light showed a pale, square-jawed face with keen eyes, and a little white scar near his right eyebrow. His scarfpin was a large diamond, oddly set.

[6] “Twenty years ago to-night,” said the man, “I dined here at ‘Big Joe’ Brady’s with Jimmy Wells, my best chum4my best chum意思是“我最要好的朋友”。下文中的the finest chap（最優秀的老兄）、stanchest old chap（最可靠的老兄）， old chap（老兄），old partner（老伙計），good fellow（不錯的家伙），old man（老哥們），都是對老友比較親切又隨意的稱呼，這些詞根據上下文都做了不同的翻譯，其實它們在文本中的意思大體是相同的。英文中經常用不同的詞來指代人或事，是一種修辭手法。, and the finest chap in the world. He and I were raised here in New York, just like two brothers, together. I was eighteen and Jimmy was twenty. The next morning I was to start for the West to make my fortune. You couldn’t have dragged Jimmy out of New York; he thought it was the only place on earth. Well, we agreed that night that we would meet here again exactly twenty years from that date and time, no matter what our conditions might be or from what distance we might have to come. We figured that in twenty years each of us ought to have our destiny worked out and our fortunes made5此處是have somethingdone的句型。, whatever they were going to be.”

[5]門口那人劃了根火柴，點燃了嘴里的雪茄。火光映襯出的是一張蒼白的方下巴的臉膛，雙眼機敏，右眉角上還有塊小白疤。他的領帶別針上是一顆碩大的鉆石，鑲嵌得怪怪的。

[6]“二十年前的今晚，”那人說道，“我和我最要好的朋友，世上最棒的家伙吉米·韋爾斯，在這家‘大喬’布雷迪餐館共進晚餐。我倆都在紐約長大，就像親哥倆。我十八，吉米二十。我第二天早晨就要動身到西部去圓我的發財夢。你是沒法把吉米從紐約拽出來的，他只知世上有紐約。就這樣，那天晚上我倆說定，就在二十年后的此日此時，我們再次相聚于此，無論情況如何，不管路途多遠。我們猜想，二十年后，不管具體情況怎樣，我們倆總該混出個樣了，總該發點財了。”

[7] “It sounds pretty interesting,”said the policeman. “Rather a long time between meets, though, it seems to me.Haven’t you heard from your friend since you left?”

[8] “Well, yes, for a time we corresponded,” said the other. “But after a year or two we lost track of each other.You see, the West is a pretty big proposition, and I kept hustling around over it pretty lively. But I know Jimmy will meet me here if he’s alive6if he’s alive如果他活著。下文中的alive on earth（活在世上）和still in existence（還健在），其實都是“活著”的意思，但上下文中力避單一，從而增強了文本的力度和文采。注意此處對這三個表達法的翻譯。, for he always was the truest, stanchest old chap in the world. He’ll never forget. I came a thousand miles to stand in this door to-night, and it’s worth it if my old partner turns up.”

[9] The waiting man pulled out a handsome watch, the lids of it set with small diamonds.

“Three minutes to ten,” he announced. “It was exactly ten o’clock when we parted here at the restaurant door.”

“Did pretty well out West, didn’t you?” asked the policeman.

[10] “You bet! I hope Jimmy has done half as well. He was a kind of plodder7plodder動作慢且不太聰明的人；慢性子的人。,though, good fellow as he was. I’ve had to compete with some of the sharpest wits going to get my pile. A man gets in a groove in New York. It takes the West to put a razor-edge on him.”

[7]“聽起來確實挺有意思。”警察說，“我看這中間隔的真是夠長的，你走后就沒有你朋友的音信嗎？”

[8]“哦，是啊！我們一度通過信。”那人說，“但一兩年后，我們彼此就失去了音信。你知道，西部遍地機會，我在那兒奔波忙碌，如魚得水。但我知道吉米活著的話定會見我，因為他一向是最真誠、最可靠的家伙。他絕不會忘記。我今夜千里迢迢趕來，站在這門口等候，只要我的老伙計能來，這一切就都值得。”

[9]那人掏出一塊漂亮的手表，表蓋上鑲嵌的小鉆石閃閃發光。

“還有三分鐘十點。”那人說道，“我們從這家餐館門口分手時剛好十點。”

“在西部那邊混得很不錯吧？”警察問。

[10]“你說對了！吉米干得有我一半好就行了。當然，他喜歡埋頭苦干，是個不錯的家伙。有些人聰明絕頂，他們要算計我的錢袋子，我就得和他們斗智斗勇。人在紐約容易墨守成規，他們真應該到西部去歷練歷練。”

[11] The policeman twirled his club and took a step or two.

“I’ll be on my way. Hope your friend comes around all right. Going to call time on him sharp?”

“I should say not!” said the other. “I’ll give him half an hour at least. If Jimmy is alive on earth he’ll be here by that time. So long, of ficer.”

“Good-night, sir,” said the policeman, passing on along his beat, trying doors as he went.

[12] There was now a fine, cold drizzle8drizzle毛毛雨。falling, and the wind had risen from its uncertain puffs into a steady blow. The few foot passengers astir in that quarter hurried dismally and silently along with coat collars turned high and pocketed hands. And in the door of the hardware store the man who had come a thousand miles to fill an appointment,uncertain almost to absurdity, with the friend of his youth,smoked his cigar and waited.

[13] About twenty minutes he waited,and then a tall man in a long overcoat,with collar turned up to his ears, hurried across from the opposite side of the street. He went directly to the waiting man.

[11]警察轉動著警棍，來回踱了幾步。

“我得巡邏去了。但愿你那朋友如期赴約。就等到十點嗎？”

“那不會。”那人說，“我至少要給他半個鐘頭。只要還活在世上，吉米那時會來的。再見，警官。”

“再見，先生。”警察說，接著往前巡視去了，挨家推門檢查。

[12]天下起了冷冷的毛毛細雨，剛剛時斷時續的微風，現在刮個不停。附近活動的三兩行人都衣領高翻，雙手插袋，行色匆匆，悶聲不語。五金店門口，千里迢迢趕來赴發小之約的男子抽著雪茄，還在等著，對方是否爽約他心里一丁點兒底都沒有。

[13]那人等了二十多分鐘，這時，一個高個頭男子從街道對面匆匆趕了過來，他穿著長長的大衣，領子高翻到耳際。

“Is that you, Bob?” he asked, doubtfully.

“Is that you, Jimmy Wells?” cried the man in the door.

[14] “Bless my heart!” exclaimed the new arrival, grasping both the other’s hands with his own. “It’s Bob, sure as fate. I was certain I’d find you here if you were still in existence. Well, well,well!—twenty years is a long time. The old restaurant’s gone, Bob; I wish it had lasted, so we could have had another dinner there. How has the West treated you, old man?”

[15] “Bully; it has given me everything I asked it for. You’ve changed lots, Jimmy. I never thought you were so tall by two or three inches.”

“Oh, I grew a bit after I was twenty.”

“Doing well in New York, Jimmy?”

“Moderately. I have a position in one of the city departments. Come on, Bob;we’ll go around to a place I know of, and have a good long talk about old times.”

[16] The two men started up the street, arm in arm. The man from the West, his egotism9egotism自負。enlarged by success,was beginning to outline the history of his career. The other, submerged in his overcoat, listened with interest.

“鮑勃，是你嗎？”那人疑惑地問道。

“吉米·韋爾斯？是你嗎？”站在門口的男子大聲喊道。

[14]“謝天謝地！”來人喊道，緊緊地抓住這人的雙手。“就是鮑勃，絕對沒錯！我確信能在這找到你，只要你還健在。太好了！——二十年確實很長。鮑勃，那家老餐館早已不見，多希望它還在，那樣我們就可以在這里再進晚餐。在西部干得咋樣，老哥們？”

[15]“那還用說！我要啥，它給啥。你變化很大，吉米。沒想到你竟長高了兩三英寸！”

“哦，我二十歲后又長了點兒。”

“在紐約混得不錯吧，吉米？”

“還行！我在市政府的一個部門里上班。走吧，鮑勃，我知道一個地方，咱們去那兒好好聊聊我們的過去。”

[16]二人挽著胳膊沿街往前走著。因成功而飄飄然的西部來客開始講述自己的發跡史。而另一位則把頭埋在大衣領子里，饒有興趣地傾聽著。

[17] At the corner stood a drug store,brilliant with electric lights. When they came into this glare each of them turned simultaneously to gaze upon the other’s face.

The man from the West stopped suddenly and released his arm.

“You’re not Jimmy Wells,” he snapped. “Twenty years is a long time,but not long enough to change a man’s nose from a Roman to a pug.”

[18] “It sometimes changes a good man into a bad one,” said the tall man.“You’ve been under arrest for ten minutes, ‘Silky’ Bob. Chicago thinks you may have dropped over our way and wires us she wants to have a chat with you. Going quietly, are you? That’s sensible. Now, before we go on to the station here’s a note I was asked to hand you. You may read it here at the window. It’s from Patrolman Wells.”

[19] The man from the West unfolded10unfold打開。fold意思是“折疊”，un-為前綴，表示反義。the little piece of paper handed him. His hand was steady when he began to read,but it trembled a little by the time he had finished. The note was rather short.Bob:

I was at the appointed place on time.When you struck the match to light your cigar I saw it was the face of the man wanted in Chicago. Somehow I couldn’t do it myself, so I went around and got a plain clothes man to do the job.

JIMMY

[17]拐角處是家藥店，燈火明亮。二人來到燈光下，不約而同地都轉過身目視對方的臉。

西部來客一下子停住腳步，松開了胳膊。

“你不是吉米·韋爾斯！”他氣急敗壞地說道， “二十年是很長，但還不至于把一個人的高鼻梁變成踏踏鼻！”

[18]“但卻可能把一個好人變成壞人。”那高個男子反唇相譏，“十分鐘前你就已經被捕了，‘滑頭’鮑勃。芝加哥警方猜到你會竄到我們這兒，便發電報給我們，說他們要跟你‘聊聊’。乖乖地跟我走如何？聰明點兒。去警局前先給你看個紙條，有人讓我交給你。你可以在窗前看看，是韋爾斯巡警給你的。”

[19]那人打開了遞到手里的小紙條。他的手開始還很沉穩，但看完后有點顫抖了。紙條很短：

鮑勃：

我如期到了約會地址。你劃火柴點燃雪茄煙時，我看出，你的臉正是芝加哥警方通緝的那張臉。不知怎么，我下不了手，便找了一個便衣警察來干這活兒。