The doctor recovered himself, but it required quite an effort for him to find his voice. All his irritation was gone, and he felt—eh bien, oui, je ne le nie pas—he felt an overwhelming pity.
医生虽然从震惊中恢复过来,但还是费了很大劲儿才能开口说话。他来时的一肚子怒气已经烟消云散;他感到——哦,对,我不能否认。——他感到从心坎里涌现出一阵无限的怜悯之情。
"I am Dr. Coutras. I was down at Taravao to see the chiefess, and Ata sent for me to see you."
“我是库特拉斯医生。我刚才到塔拉窝去给女酋长看病,爱塔派人请我来给你看看。”
"She's a damned fool. I have had a few aches and pains lately and a little fever, but that's nothing; it will pass off. Next time anyone went to Papeete I was going to send for some quinine."
“她是个大傻瓜。最近我身上有的地方有些痛,有时候有点儿发烧,但这不是什么大病。过些天自然就好了。下回有人再去帕皮提,我会叫他带些金鸡纳霜回来的。”
"Look at yourself in the glass."
“你还是照照镜子吧。”
Strickland gave him a glance, smiled, and went over to a cheap mirror in a little wooden frame, that hung on the wall.
思特里克兰德看了他一眼,笑了笑,走到挂在墙上的一面小镜子前头。这是那种价钱很便宜的镜子,镶在一个小木框里。
"Well?"
“怎么了?”
"Do you not see a strange change in your face? Do you not see the thickening of your features and a look—how shall I describe it?—the books call it lion-faced. Mon pauvre ami, must I tell you that you have a terrible disease?"
“你没有发现你的脸有什么变化吗?你没有发现你的五官都肥大起来,你的脸——我该怎么说呢?——你的脸已经成了医书上所说的‘狮子脸’了。我可怜的朋友,难道一定要我给你指出来,你得了一种可怕的病了吗?”
"I?"
“我?”
"When you look at yourself in the glass you see the typical appearance of the leper."
“你从镜子里就可以看出来,你的脸相都是麻风病的典型特征。”
"You are jesting," said Strickland.
“你是在开玩笑么?”思特里克兰德说。
"I wish to God I were."
“我也希望是在开玩笑。”
"Do you intend to tell me that I have leprosy?"
“你是想告诉我,我害了麻风病么?”
"Unfortunately, there can be no doubt of it."
“非常不幸,这已经是不容置疑的事了。”
Dr. Coutras had delivered sentence of death on many men, and he could never overcome the horror with which it filled him. He felt always the furious hatred that must seize a man condemned when he compared himself with the doctor, sane and healthy, who had the inestimable privilege of life. Strickland looked at him in silence. Nothing of emotion could be seen on his face, disfigured already by the loathsome disease.
库特拉斯医生曾经对许多人宣判过死刑,但是每一次都无法克服自己内心的恐怖感。他总是想,被宣判死刑的病人一定拿自己同医生比较,看到医生身心健康、享有生活的宝贵权利,一定又气又恨;病人的这种感情每次他都能感觉到。但是思特里克兰德却只是默默无言地看着他,一张已经受这种恶病蹂躏变形的脸丝毫也看不出有任何感情变化。