The Cask of Amontillado

The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. _At length_ I would be avenged; this was a point definitively settled—but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved, precluded the idea of risk.

福尔图纳托加给我的种种伤害，我都尽量忍了下来；可是当他胆敢侮辱我时，我便发誓要报复。你深知我的性情，自然不会以为我曾把这威胁说出口。终有一日，我要报仇雪恨；这一点是早已定下的——但正因为下定决心时如此坚决，反倒排除了任何冒险的念头。

I must not only punish, but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.

我不仅要惩罚他，还必须惩罚得毫发无损。倘若复仇者反被清算，这怨屈便算不得已经昭雪。同样，若复仇者未能让作恶者明白是谁在惩罚他，这怨屈也算不得已经昭雪。

It must be understood, that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile _now_ was at the thought of his immolation.

必须说明的是，无论言语还是行动，我都不曾让福尔图纳托对我的善意有丝毫怀疑。我一如往常，始终笑脸相对，他并未察觉，我此刻的微笑，是因为想到他即将成为祭品。

He had a weak point—this Fortunato—although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine. Few Italians have the true virtuoso spirit. For the most part their enthusiasm is adopted to suit the time and opportunity—to practise imposture upon the British and Austrian _millionaires_. In painting and gemmary, Fortunato, like his countrymen, was a quack—but in the matter of old wines he was sincere. In this respect I did not differ from him materially: I was skilful in the Italian vintages myself, and bought largely whenever I could.

这位福尔图纳托有一个弱点——尽管在其他方面，他都算得上是位受人敬重、甚至令人畏惧的人物。他对自己鉴赏美酒的眼光颇为自负。真正懂行的意大利人并不多见。他们的热情大多是看时机行事——用来蒙骗那些英国和奥地利的富豪。在绘画和珠宝方面，福尔图纳托和他的同胞一样，不过是个江湖骗子——但在陈年美酒这件事上，他却是真心内行。在这一点上，我和他相差无几：我自己也精通意大利的各种佳酿，只要力所能及，总是大量购入。

It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season, that I encountered my friend. He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much. The man wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells. I was so pleased to see him, that I thought I should never have done wringing his hand.

那是狂欢节最疯狂的时节里，一个薄暮时分，我遇见了这位朋友。他热情过头地迎上来招呼我，因为他已经喝了不少酒。这人穿着小丑的行头。他身着一件紧身的杂色条纹衣服，头上戴着尖顶铃铛帽。我见到他实在高兴，握着他的手久久不愿放开。

I said to him: “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking to-day! But I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado, and I have my doubts.”

我对他说：“亲爱的福尔图纳托，能遇见你真是幸运。你今天气色好极了！不过我弄到了一大桶据说是阿蒙提拉多的酒，我心里颇有疑虑。”

“How?” said he. “Amontillado? A pipe? Impossible! And in the middle of the carnival!”

“怎么？”他说，“阿蒙提拉多？一整桶？不可能！而且还是在狂欢节当中！”

“I have my doubts,” I replied; “and I was silly enough to pay the full Amontillado price without consulting you in the matter. You were not to be found, and I was fearful of losing a bargain.”

“我确实心存疑虑，”我答道，“而且我傻到没跟你商量，就照阿蒙提拉多的全价把它买了下来。当时找不到你，我又生怕错失这笔好买卖。”

“Amontillado!”

“阿蒙提拉多！”

“I have my doubts.”

“我心存疑虑。”

“Amontillado!”

“阿蒙提拉多！”

“And I must satisfy them.”

“而我必须弄个明白。”

“Amontillado!”

“阿蒙提拉多！”

“As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchesi. If any one has a critical turn, it is he. He will tell me—”

“既然你有事在身，我这就去找卢凯西。若说谁的鉴赏最为挑剔，非他莫属。他会告诉我——”

“Luchesi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry.”

“卢凯西根本分不清阿蒙提拉多和雪利酒。”

“And yet some fools will have it that his taste is a match for your own.”

“可总有些傻瓜认为，他的品味能与你一较高下。”

“Come, let us go.”

“来吧，我们走。”

“Whither?”

“去哪儿？”

“To your vaults.”

“去你家酒窖。”

“My friend, no; I will not impose upon your good nature. I perceive you have an engagement. Luchesi—”

“我的朋友，不必了；我不愿打扰你的好意。我看你还有事要办。卢凯西——”

“I have no engagement;—come.”

“我没什么事——走吧。”

“My friend, no. It is not the engagement, but the severe cold with which I perceive you are afflicted. The vaults are insufferably damp. They are encrusted with nitre.”

“我的朋友，不是因为有事，而是因为你似乎染了重感冒。那地窖潮湿得让人受不了，到处结着硝石。”

“Let us go, nevertheless. The cold is merely nothing. Amontillado! You have been imposed upon. And as for Luchesi, he cannot distinguish Sherry from Amontillado.”

“那也无妨，我们还是去吧。这点寒气算不得什么。阿蒙提拉多！你上当受骗了。至于卢凯西，他连雪利酒和阿蒙提拉多都分不清。”

Thus speaking, Fortunato possessed himself of my arm. Putting on a mask of black silk, and drawing a _roquelaire_ closely about my person, I suffered him to hurry me to my palazzo.

说着，福尔图纳托便挽住了我的胳膊。我戴上一副黑绸面具，把斗篷紧紧裹在身上，任由他拉着我匆匆赶往我的宅邸。

There were no attendants at home; they had absconded to make merry in honor of the time. I had told them that I should not return until the morning, and had given them explicit orders not to stir from the house. These orders were sufficient, I well knew, to insure their immediate disappearance, one and all, as soon as my back was turned.

家中没有一个仆人；他们都溜出去庆祝这狂欢的时节了。我曾告诉他们，我要到早晨才回来，还明确吩咐他们不得离开这座宅子。我深知，这样的吩咐足以让他们一个个都立刻溜之大吉——只要我一转身。

I took from their sconces two flambeaux, and giving one to Fortunato, bowed him through several suites of rooms to the archway that led into the vaults. I passed down a long and winding staircase, requesting him to be cautious as he followed. We came at length to the foot of the descent, and stood together on the damp ground of the catacombs of the Montresors.

我从壁灯架上取下两支火把，把一支交给福尔图纳托，引着他穿过好几间套房，走向通往地窖的拱门。我沿着一条又长又曲折的楼梯往下走，一路叮嘱他跟在后面要小心。我们终于走到楼梯尽头，一同站在了蒙特雷索家族墓穴那潮湿的地面上。

The gait of my friend was unsteady, and the bells upon his cap jingled as he strode.

我这位朋友步履蹒跚，帽子上的铃铛随着他的脚步叮当作响。

“The pipe,” said he.

“那桶酒呢，”他说。

“It is farther on,” said I; “but observe the white web-work which gleams from these cavern walls.”

“还在前面，”我说，“不过你且看看这些洞穴石壁上闪着微光的白色网状物。”

He turned towards me, and looked into my eyes with two filmy orbs that distilled the rheum of intoxication.

他转过身来望着我，两只被酒气蒙住的眼睛湿润浑浊。

“Nitre?” he asked, at length.

“硝石？”他终于问道。

“Nitre,” I replied. “How long have you had that cough?”

“硝石，”我答道，“你这咳嗽有多久了？”

“Ugh! ugh! ugh!—ugh! ugh! ugh!—ugh! ugh! ugh!—ugh! ugh! ugh!—ugh! ugh! ugh!”

“咳！咳！咳！——咳！咳！咳！——咳！咳！咳！——咳！咳！咳！——咳！咳！咳！”

My poor friend found it impossible to reply for many minutes.

我这可怜的朋友好一会儿都答不上话来。

“It is nothing,” he said, at last.

“没什么大不了，”他终于说道。

“Come,” I said, with decision, “we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchesi—”

“来吧，”我坚决地说，“我们回去吧；你的身体要紧。你富有、受人敬重、令人钦佩、被人爱戴；你很幸福，就像我从前一样。你是个会被人惦记的人。至于我，无所谓。我们回去吧；你要是病倒了，我可担待不起。再说，还有卢凯西——”

“Enough,” he said; “the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough.”

“够了，”他说，“这咳嗽不算什么，死不了人的。我不会因为咳嗽而死。”

“True—true,” I replied; “and, indeed, I had no intention of alarming you unnecessarily—but you should use all proper caution. A draught of this Medoc will defend us from the damps.”

“说得对——说得对，”我答道，“说实话，我也没打算无端吓唬你——不过还是该多加小心。喝一口这梅多克酒，能挡挡湿气。”

Here I knocked off the neck of a bottle which I drew from a long row of its fellows that lay upon the mould.

说着，我从一长排躺在地上的酒瓶里抽出一瓶，敲掉了瓶颈。

“Drink,” I said, presenting him the wine.

“喝吧，”我说着，把酒递给他。

He raised it to his lips with a leer. He paused and nodded to me familiarly, while his bells jingled.

他斜睨一笑，把酒举到唇边。他停顿了一下，亲切地朝我点点头，铃铛也随之作响。

“I drink,” he said, “to the buried that repose around us.”

“我为四周长眠的亡魂干一杯，”他说。

“And I to your long life.”

“我则祝你长命百岁。”

He again took my arm, and we proceeded.

他又挽住我的胳膊，我们继续前行。

“These vaults,” he said, “are extensive.”

“这地窖，”他说，“真是宽敞。”

“The Montresors,” I replied, “were a great and numerous family.”

“蒙特雷索家族，”我答道，“曾是个庞大而人丁兴旺的家族。”

“I forget your arms.”

“我倒忘了你们的家徽是什么。”

“A huge human foot d’or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel.”

“一只巨大的金色人足，衬着蔚蓝的底色；那只脚正踩着一条昂首的蛇，蛇牙深深咬进脚跟。”

“And the motto?”

“那家训呢？”

“_Nemo me impune lacessit_.”

“‘犯我者必遭报应。’”

“Good!” he said.

“好！”他说。

The wine sparkled in his eyes and the bells jingled. My own fancy grew warm with the Medoc. We had passed through walls of piled bones, with casks and puncheons intermingling, into the inmost recesses of the catacombs. I paused again, and this time I made bold to seize Fortunato by an arm above the elbow.

酒光在他眼中闪烁，铃铛叮当作响。梅多克酒也让我的兴致渐渐高涨起来。我们穿过一道道堆满尸骨的墙壁，其间夹杂着大小酒桶，一直走到墓穴最深处。我又停下脚步，这一回我壮着胆子，一把抓住了福尔图纳托肘部以上的手臂。

“The nitre!” I said: “see, it increases. It hangs like moss upon the vaults. We are below the river’s bed. The drops of moisture trickle among the bones. Come, we will go back ere it is too late. Your cough—”

“看这硝石！”我说，“瞧，它越来越多了。它像苔藓一样挂在拱顶上。我们已经走到河床下面了。水珠一滴滴渗进尸骨之间。来吧，趁还不算太晚，我们回去吧。你这咳嗽——”

“It is nothing,” he said; “let us go on. But first, another draught of the Medoc.”

“没什么，”他说，“我们继续走吧。不过先再喝一口梅多克。”

I broke and reached him a flagon of De Grâve. He emptied it at a breath. His eyes flashed with a fierce light. He laughed and threw the bottle upwards with a gesticulation I did not understand.

我打开一瓶德格拉夫酒递给他。他一口气喝干了。他的眼中闪过一道凶光。他大笑起来，把酒瓶朝上一抛，做了个我看不懂的手势。

I looked at him in surprise. He repeated the movement—a grotesque one.

我诧异地望着他。他又重复了一遍那个动作——一个古怪的动作。

“You do not comprehend?” he said.

“你不明白？”他说。

“Not I,” I replied.

“不明白，”我答道。

“Then you are not of the brotherhood.”

“那你不是我们的兄弟。”

“How?”

“怎么？”

“You are not of the masons.”

“你不是共济会的人。”

“Yes, yes,” I said, “yes, yes.”

“是，是的，”我说，“是，是的。”

“You? Impossible! A mason?”

“你？不可能！你是共济会员？”

“A mason,” I replied.

“是共济会员，”我答道。

“A sign,” he said.

“拿个信号出来，”他说。

“It is this,” I answered, producing a trowel from beneath the folds of my _roquelaire_.

“就是这个，”我答道，从斗篷的褶皱里抽出一把泥刀。

“You jest,” he exclaimed, recoiling a few paces. “But let us proceed to the Amontillado.”

“你在开玩笑，”他惊叫一声，往后退了几步，“不过，我们还是去看看那阿蒙提拉多吧。”

“Be it so,” I said, replacing the tool beneath the cloak, and again offering him my arm. He leaned upon it heavily. We continued our route in search of the Amontillado. We passed through a range of low arches, descended, passed on, and descending again, arrived at a deep crypt, in which the foulness of the air caused our flambeaux rather to glow than flame.

“好吧，”我说着，把那工具重新藏回斗篷下，再次伸出胳膊让他挽住。他沉沉地靠在我臂上。我们继续寻找阿蒙提拉多的路。我们穿过一连串低矮的拱道，一路下行，又再往下，终于来到一处深深的地窖，那里的空气污浊，使我们的火把只能微弱地发着光，几乎无法燃烧。

At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared another less spacious. Its walls had been lined with human remains, piled to the vault overhead, in the fashion of the great catacombs of Paris. Three sides of this interior crypt were still ornamented in this manner. From the fourth the bones had been thrown down, and lay promiscuously upon the earth, forming at one point a mound of some size.

在这地窖最深处的尽头，又出现了一个更小的墓穴。它的墙壁堆满了人骨，一直堆到拱顶，仿照的是巴黎大墓穴的样式。这内室的三面墙依旧保持着这般装饰。第四面墙上的尸骨已经被推倒，散乱地堆在地上，其中一处堆成了一座颇有规模的小丘。

Within the wall thus exposed by the displacing of the bones, we perceived a still interior recess, in depth about four feet, in width three, in height six or seven. It seemed to have been constructed for no especial use in itself, but formed merely the interval between two of the colossal supports of the roof of the catacombs, and was backed by one of their circumscribing walls of solid granite.

透过这样露出来的墙面，我们看见里面还有一处更深的凹室，深约四英尺，宽约三英尺，高约六七英尺。它似乎并非为了什么特别的用途而建，只不过是墓穴屋顶两根巨大支柱之间的空隙，背后靠着一整面坚固的花岗岩墙。

It was in vain that Fortunato, uplifting his dull torch, endeavored to pry into the depths of the recess. Its termination the feeble light did not enable us to see.

福尔图纳托徒劳地举起那支昏暗的火把，想要看清凹室深处的情形。可那微弱的光亮，让我们看不清它的尽头。

“Proceed,” I said; “herein is the Amontillado. As for Luchesi—”

“进去吧，”我说，“阿蒙提拉多就在里面。至于卢凯西——”

“He is an ignoramus,” interrupted my friend, as he stepped unsteadily forward, while I followed immediately at his heels. In an instant he had reached the extremity of the niche, and finding his progress arrested by the rock, stood stupidly bewildered. A moment more and I had fettered him to the granite.

“他是个白痴，”我朋友打断我的话，脚步不稳地往前走去，我则紧跟在他身后。转眼间，他已经走到了壁龛的尽头，被岩壁挡住去路，呆呆地站在那里不知所措。片刻之后，我已经把他锁在了花岗岩上。

In its surface were two iron staples, distant from each other about two feet, horizontally. From one of these depended a short chain, from the other a padlock. Throwing the links about his waist, it was but the work of a few seconds to secure it. He was too much astounded to resist. Withdrawing the key I stepped back from the recess.

那石壁上有两个铁栓，横向相距约两英尺。一个上面挂着一小截铁链，另一个则挂着一把挂锁。我把铁链绕在他腰间，只用了几秒钟便锁好了。他惊愕得毫无反抗之力。我取出钥匙，退出了凹室。

“Pass your hand,” I said, “over the wall; you cannot help feeling the nitre. Indeed it is _very_ damp. Once more let me _implore_ you to return. No? Then I must positively leave you. But I must first render you all the little attentions in my power.”

“用手摸摸，”我说，“摸摸这墙壁；你一定能感觉到这硝石。的确非常潮湿。让我再求你一次，回去吧。不肯？那我只好丢下你不管了。不过我得先尽我所能，为你效点微劳。”

“The Amontillado!” ejaculated my friend, not yet recovered from his astonishment.

“阿蒙提拉多！”我朋友惊叫道，仍未从惊愕中回过神来。

“True,” I replied; “the Amontillado.”

“不错，”我答道，“是阿蒙提拉多。”

As I said these words I busied myself among the pile of bones of which I have before spoken. Throwing them aside, I soon uncovered a quantity of building stone and mortar. With these materials and with the aid of my trowel, I began vigorously to wall up the entrance of the niche.

说着这些话，我便在先前提到的那堆尸骨中忙碌起来。我把它们拨到一边，很快便露出了一堆砖石和灰泥。凭着这些材料，再借助我的泥刀，我开始卖力地把壁龛的入口砌起来。

I had scarcely laid the first tier of my masonry when I discovered that the intoxication of Fortunato had in a great measure worn off. The earliest indication I had of this was a low moaning cry from the depth of the recess. It was _not_ the cry of a drunken man. There was then a long and obstinate silence. I laid the second tier, and the third, and the fourth; and then I heard the furious vibrations of the chain.

我刚砌好第一层砖石，便发觉福尔图纳托的醉意已经消退了大半。我最先察觉到这一点，是听见凹室深处传来一声低沉的呻吟。那绝不是醉汉的哭叫声。随后是长久而固执的沉默。我砌好了第二层、第三层、第四层；接着便听见铁链猛烈晃动的声音。

The noise lasted for several minutes, during which, that I might hearken to it with the more satisfaction, I ceased my labors and sat down upon the bones. When at last the clanking subsided, I resumed the trowel, and finished without interruption the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh tier. The wall was now nearly upon a level with my breast. I again paused, and holding the flambeaux over the mason-work, threw a few feeble rays upon the figure within.

这声响持续了好几分钟，为了能更痛快地听个尽兴，我停下手中的活儿，坐到那堆尸骨上。等到最后那哗啦声渐渐平息，我重新拿起泥刀，一口气砌完了第五层、第六层、第七层，中间未曾停歇。这时墙壁已经快砌到我胸口的高度了。我又停了下来，举起火把照着那砌好的墙面，让几缕微光洒在里面那个身影上。

A succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the throat of the chained form, seemed to thrust me violently back. For a brief moment I hesitated—I trembled. Unsheathing my rapier, I began to grope with it about the recess; but the thought of an instant reassured me. I placed my hand upon the solid fabric of the catacombs, and felt satisfied. I reapproached the wall. I replied to the yells of him who clamored. I re-echoed—I aided—I surpassed them in volume and in strength. I did this, and the clamorer grew still.

一连串响亮而尖厉的惨叫，突然从那被锁住的身形喉咙里迸发出来，仿佛猛地把我往后推开。有那么一瞬间，我犹豫了——我浑身发颤。我拔出佩剑，开始在凹室四周摸索；但转念一想，我又安下心来。我伸手摸了摸墓穴那坚固的石壁，感到满意。我重新靠近墙壁。我也回应着那叫喊之人的哀号。我随声附和——我加以呼应——我的声音比他更响、更有力。我这样做了，那叫喊之人便渐渐安静下来。

It was now midnight, and my task was drawing to a close. I had completed the eighth, the ninth, and the tenth tier. I had finished a portion of the last and the eleventh; there remained but a single stone to be fitted and plastered in. I struggled with its weight; I placed it partially in its destined position. But now there came from out the niche a low laugh that erected the hairs upon my head. It was succeeded by a sad voice, which I had difficulty in recognising as that of the noble Fortunato. The voice said—

此刻已是午夜，我的工作也快要完成了。我已经砌好了第八层、第九层、第十层。第十一层也已完成了一部分；只剩下最后一块石头需要嵌入、抹平。我使劲搬动它的重量，将它部分安放到了预定的位置。可就在这时，壁龛里传来一阵低低的笑声，让我头皮发麻。紧接着是一个悲哀的声音，我费了好一番力气才认出那是高贵的福尔图纳托的声音。那声音说道——

“Ha! ha! ha!—he! he!—a very good joke indeed—an excellent jest. We will have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo—he! he! he!—over our wine—he! he! he!”

“哈！哈！哈！——嘿！嘿！——真是个绝妙的玩笑——一个精彩的笑话。等回到宅邸，我们定要为此开怀大笑——嘿！嘿！嘿！——就着我们的酒——嘿！嘿！嘿！”

“The Amontillado!” I said.

“阿蒙提拉多！”我说。

“He! he! he!—he! he! he!—yes, the Amontillado. But is it not getting late? Will not they be awaiting us at the palazzo, the Lady Fortunato and the rest? Let us be gone.”

“嘿！嘿！嘿！——嘿！嘿！嘿！——对，阿蒙提拉多。可是，是不是已经晚了？宅邸里的人，福尔图纳托夫人和其他人，是不是都在等我们了？我们走吧。”

“Yes,” I said, “let us be gone.”

“好，”我说，“我们走吧。”

“_For the love of God, Montressor!_”

“看在上帝的份上，蒙特雷索！”

“Yes,” I said, “for the love of God!”

“好，”我说，“看在上帝的份上！”

But to these words I hearkened in vain for a reply. I grew impatient. I called aloud—

可对于这些话，我怎么也听不到回音了。我渐渐失去了耐性。我大声喊道——

“Fortunato!”

“福尔图纳托！”

No answer. I called again—

没有回答。我又喊了一声——

“Fortunato!”

“福尔图纳托！”

No answer still. I thrust a torch through the remaining aperture and let it fall within. There came forth in return only a jingling of the bells. My heart grew sick—on account of the dampness of the catacombs. I hastened to make an end of my labor. I forced the last stone into its position; I plastered it up. Against the new masonry I re-erected the old rampart of bones. For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them. _In pace requiescat!_

依旧没有回答。我把一支火把从剩下的缺口伸进去，让它掉落进去。回应我的，只有一阵铃铛的叮当声。我的心里一阵难受——只因这墓穴太过潮湿。我加紧完成手头的活计。我把最后一块石头嵌入原位，用灰泥抹平。在这新砌的墙前，我重新堆起了那道尸骨的旧屏障。半个世纪过去了，再没有人惊扰过它们。愿它安息！