本杰明巴頓奇事英文版作者菲茨杰拉德

1、【TXT論壇,歡迎您來(lái)TXTBBS推薦好書！】；CuriousCaseofBenjaminButtonIAslongagoas1860itwastheproperthingtobebornathome.Atpresent,soIamtold,thehighgodsofmedicinehavedecreedthatthefirstcriesoftheyoungshallbeutteredupontheanaestheticairofahospital,preferablyafashionableone.SoyoungMr.andMrs.RogerButtonwerefiftyyearsahead

2、ofstylewhentheydecided,onedayinthesummerof1860,thattheirfirstbabyshouldbeborninahospital.WhetherthisanachronismhadanybearingupontheastonishinghistoryIamabouttosetdownwillneverbeknown.Ishalltellyouwhatoccurred,andletyoujudgeforyourself.TheRogerButtonsheldanenviableposition,bothsocialandfinancial,inan

3、te-bellumBaltimore.TheywererelatedtotheThisFamilyandtheThatFamily,which,aseverySouthernerknew,entitledthemtomembershipinthatenormouspeeragewhichlargelypopulatedtheConfederacy.Thiswastheirfirstexperiencewiththecharmingoldcustomofhavingbabies-Mr.Buttonwasnaturallynervous.Hehopeditwouldbeaboysothatheco

4、uldbesenttoYaleCollegeinConnecticut,atwhichinstitutionMr.Buttonhimselfhadbeenknownforfouryearsbythesomewhatobviousnicknameof"Cuff."OntheSeptembermorningconsecratedtotheenormouseventhearosenervouslyatsixo'clockdressedhimself,adjustedanimpeccablestock,andhurriedforththroughthestreetsofBa

5、ltimoretothehospital,todeterminewhetherthedarknessofthenighthadborneinnewlifeuponitsbosom.WhenhewasapproximatelyahundredyardsfromtheMarylandPrivateHospitalforLadiesandGentlemenhesawDoctorKeene,thefamilyphysician,descendingthefrontsteps,rubbinghishandstogetherwithawashingmovement-asalldoctorsarerequi

6、redtodobytheunwrittenethicsoftheirprofession.Mr.RogerButton,thepresidentofRogerButton&Co.,WholesaleHardware,begantoruntowardDoctorKeenewithmuchlessdignitythanwasexpectedfromaSoutherngentlemanofthatpicturesqueperiod."DoctorKeene!"hecalled."Oh,DoctorKeene!"Thedoctorheardhim,fac

7、edaround,andstoodwaiting,acuriousexpressionsettlingonhisharsh,medicinalfaceasMr.Buttondrewnear."Whathappened?"demandedMr.Button,ashecameupinagaspingrush."Whatwasit?Howisshe"Aboy?Whoisit?What-""Talksense!"saidDoctorKeenesharply,Heappearedsomewhatirritated."Isth

8、echildborn?"beggedMr.Button.DoctorKeenefrowned."Why,yes,Isupposeso-afterafashion."AgainhethrewacuriousglanceatMr.Button."Ismywifeallright?""Yes.""Isitaboyoragirl?""Herenow!"criedDoctorKeeneinaperfectpassionofirritation,"I'llaskyoutogoan

9、dseeforyourself.Outrageous!"Hesnappedthelastwordoutinalmostonesyllable,thenheturnedawaymuttering:"Doyouimagineacaselikethiswillhelpmyprofessionalreputation?Onemorewouldruinme-ruinanybody.""What'sthematter?"demandedMr.Buttonappalled."Triplets?""No,nottriple

10、ts!"answeredthedoctorcuttingly."What'smore,youcangoandseeforyourself.Andgetanotherdoctor.Ibroughtyouintotheworld,youngman,andI'vebeenphysiciantoyourfamilyforfortyyears,butI'mthroughwithyou!Idon'twanttoseeyouoranyofyourrelativeseveragain!Good-bye!"Thenheturnedsharply,an

11、dwithoutanotherwordclimbedintohisphaeton,whichwaswaitingatthecurbstone,anddroveseverelyaway.Mr.Buttonstoodthereuponthesidewalk,stupefiedandtremblingfromheadtofoot.Whathorriblemishaphadoccurred?HehadsuddenlylostalldesiretogointotheMarylandPrivateHospitalforLadiesandGentlemen-itwaswiththegreatestdiffi

12、cultythat,amomentlater,heforcedhimselftomountthestepsandenterthefrontdoor.Anursewassittingbehindadeskintheopaquegloomofthehall.Swallowinghisshame,Mr.Buttonapproachedher."Good-morning,"sheremarked,lookingupathimpleasantly."Good-morning.I-IamMr.Button."Atthisalookofutterterrorsprea

13、ditselfovergirl'sface.Sherosetoherfeetandseemedabouttoflyfromthehall,restrainingherselfonlywiththemostapparentdifficulty."Iwanttoseemychild,"saidMr.Button.Thenursegavealittlescream."Oh-ofcourse!"shecriedhysterically."Upstairs.Rightupstairs.Go-_up!_"Shepointedthedire

14、ction,andMr.Button,bathedincoolperspiration,turnedfalteringly,andbegantomounttothesecondfloor.Intheupperhallheaddressedanothernursewhoapproachedhim,basininhand."I'mMr.Button,"hemanagedtoarticulate."Iwanttoseemy-"Clank!Thebasinclatteredtothefloorandrolledinthedirectionofthesta

15、irs.Clank!Clank!Ibeganamethodicaldecentasifsharinginthegeneralterrorwhichthisgentlemanprovoked."Iwanttoseemychild!"Mr.Buttonalmostshrieked.Hewasonthevergeofcollapse.Clank!Thebasinreachedthefirstfloor.Thenurseregainedcontrolofherself,andthrewMr.Buttonalookofheartycontempt."All_right_,M

16、r.Button,"sheagreedinahushedvoice."Very_well!_Butifyou_knew_whatastateit'sputusallinthismorning!It'sperfectlyoutrageous!Thehospitalwillneverhaveaghostofareputationafter-""Hurry!"hecriedhoarsely."Ican'tstandthis!""Comethisway,then,Mr.Button."He

17、draggedhimselfafterher.Attheendofalonghalltheyreachedaroomfromwhichproceededavarietyofhowls-indeed,aroomwhich,inlaterparlance,wouldhavebeenknownasthe"crying-room."Theyentered."Well,"gaspedMr.Button,"whichismine?""There!"saidthenurse.Mr.Button'seyesfollowed

18、herpointingfinger,andthisiswhathesaw.Wrappedinavoluminouswhiteblanket,andpartlycrammedintooneofthecribs,theresatanoldmanapparentlyaboutseventyyearsofage.Hissparsehairwasalmostwhite,andfromhischindrippedalongsmoke-colouredbeard,whichwavedabsurdlybackandforth,fannedbythebreezecominginatthewindow.Heloo

19、kedupatMr.Buttonwithdim,fadedeyesinwhichlurkedapuzzledquestion."AmImad?"thunderedMr.Button,histerrorresolvingintorage."Isthissomeghastlyhospitaljoke?"Itdoesn'tseemlikeajoketous,"repliedthenurseseverely."AndIdon'tknowwhetheryou'remadornot-butthatismostcertain

20、lyyourchild."ThecoolperspirationredoubledonMr.Button'sforehead.Heclosedhiseyes,andthen,openingthem,lookedagain.Therewasnomistake-hewasgazingatamanofthreescoreandten-a_baby_ofthreescoreandten,ababywhosefeethungoverthesidesofthecribinwhichitwasreposing.Theoldmanlookedplacidlyfromonetotheother

21、foramoment,andthensuddenlyspokeinacrackedandancientvoice."Areyoumyfather?"hedemanded.Mr.Buttonandthenursestartedviolently."Becauseifyouare,"wentontheoldmanquerulously,"Iwishyou'dgetmeoutofthisplace-or,atleast,getthemtoputacomfortablerockerinhere,""WhereinGod

22、9;snamedidyoucomefrom?Whoareyou?"burstoutMr.Buttonfrantically."Ican'ttellyou_exactly_whoIam,"repliedthequerulouswhine,"becauseI'veonlybeenbornafewhours-butmylastnameiscertainlyButton.""Youlie!You'reanimpostor!"Theoldmanturnedwearilytothenurse."Nice

23、waytowelcomeanew-bornchild,"hecomplainedinaweakvoice."Tellhimhe'swrong,whydon'tyou?""You'rewrong.Mr.Button,"saidthenurseseverely."Thisisyourchild,andyou'llhavetomakethebestofit.We'regoingtoaskyoutotakehimhomewithyouassoonaspossible-sometimeto-day.&qu

24、ot;"Home?"repeatedMr.Buttonincredulously."Yes,wecan'thavehimhere.Wereallycan't,youknow?""I'mrightgladofit,"whinedtheoldman."Thisisafineplacetokeepayoungsterofquiettastes.Withallthisyellingandhowling,Ihaven'tbeenabletogetawinkofsleep.Iaskedforsomethi

25、ngtoeat"-herehisvoicerosetoashrillnoteofprotest-"andtheybroughtmeabottleofmilk!"Mr.Button,sankdownuponachairnearhissonandconcealedhisfaceinhishands."Myheavens!"hemurmured,inanecstasyofhorror."Whatwillpeoplesay?WhatmustIdo?""You'llhavetotakehimhome,"in

26、sistedthenurse-"immediately!"Agrotesquepictureformeditselfwithdreadfulclaritybeforetheeyesofthetorturedman-apictureofhimselfwalkingthroughthecrowdedstreetsofthecitywiththisappallingapparitionstalkingbyhisside."Ican't.Ican't,"hemoaned.Peoplewouldstoptospeaktohim,andwhatwas

27、hegoingtosay?Hewouldhavetointroducethis-thisseptuagenarian:"Thisismyson,bornearlythismorning."Andthentheoldmanwouldgatherhisblanketaroundhimandtheywouldplodon,pastthebustlingstores,theslavemarket-foradarkinstantMr.Buttonwishedpassionatelythathissonwasblack-pasttheluxurioushousesofthereside

28、ntialdistrict,pastthehomefortheaged."Come!Pullyourselftogether,"commandedthenurse."Seehere,"theoldmanannouncedsuddenly,"ifyouthinkI'mgoingtowalkhomeinthisblanket,you'reentirelymistaken.""Babiesalwayshaveblankets."Withamaliciouscrackletheoldmanheldupasm

29、allwhiteswaddlinggarment."Look!"hequavered."_This_iswhattheyhadreadyforme.""Babiesalwayswearthose,"saidthenurseprimly."Well,"saidtheoldman,"thisbaby'snotgoingtowearanythinginabouttwominutes.Thisblanketitches.Theymightatleasthavegivenmeasheet."&qu

30、ot;Keepiton!Keepiton!"saidMr.Buttonhurriedly.Heturnedtothenurse."What'llIdo?""Godowntownandbuyyoursonsomeclothes."Mr.Button'sson'svoicefollowedhimdownintothe:hall:"Andacane,father.Iwanttohaveacane."Mr.Buttonbangedtheouterdoorsavagely.2"Good-morning

31、,"Mr.Buttonsaidnervously,totheclerkintheChesapeakeDryGoodsCompany."Iwanttobuysomeclothesformychild.""Howoldisyourchild,sir?""Aboutsixhours,"answeredMr.Button,withoutdueconsideration."Babies'supplydepartmentintherear.""Why,Idon'tthink-I'mn

32、otsurethat'swhatIwant.It's-he'sanunusuallylarge-sizechild.Exceptionally-ahlarge.""Theyhavethelargestchild'ssizes.""Whereistheboys'department?"inquiredMr.Button,shiftinghisgrounddesperately.Hefeltthattheclerkmustsurelyscenthisshamefulsecret."Righthere

33、.""Well"Hehesitated.Thenotionofdressinghissoninmen'sclotheswasrepugnanttohim.If,say,hecouldonlyfindaverylargeboy'ssuit,hemightcutoffthatlongandawfulbeard,dyethewhitehairbrown,andthusmanagetoconcealtheworst,andtoretainsomethingofhisownself-respect-nottomentionhispositioninBalti

34、moresociety.Butafranticinspectionoftheboys'departmentrevealednosuitstofitthenew-bornButton.Heblamedthestore,ofcourse-insuchcasesitisthethingtoblamethestore."Howolddidyousaythatboyofyourswas?"demandedtheclerkcuriously."He's-sixteen.""Oh,Ibegyourpardon.Ithoughtyousaids

35、ix_hours_.You'llfindtheyouths'departmentinthenextaisle."Mr.Buttonturnedmiserablyaway.Thenhestopped,brightened,andpointedhisfingertowardadresseddummyinthewindowdisplay."There!"heexclaimed."I'lltakethatsuit,outthereonthedummy."Theclerkstared."Why,"heprote

36、sted,"that'snotachild'ssuit.Atleastit_is_,butit'sforfancydress.Youcouldwearityourself!""Wrapitup,"insistedhiscustomernervously."That'swhatIwant."Theastonishedclerkobeyed.BackatthehospitalMr.Buttonenteredthenurseryandalmostthrewthepackageathisson."He

37、re'syourclothes,"hesnappedout.Theoldmanuntiedthepackageandviewedthecontentswithaquizzicaleye."Theylooksortoffunnytome,"hecomplained,"Idon'twanttobemadeamonkeyof-""You'vemadeamonkeyofme!"retortedMr.Buttonfiercely."Neveryoumindhowfunnyyoulook.Putthem

38、on-orI'll-orIll_spank_you."Heswalloweduneasilyatthepenultimateword,feelingneverthelessthatitwastheproperthingtosay."Allright,father"-thiswithagrotesquesimulationoffilialrespect-"you'velivedlonger;youknowbest.Justasyousay."Asbefore,thesoundoftheword"father"c

39、ausedMr.Buttontostartviolently."Andhurry.""I'mhurrying,father."WhenhissonwasdressedMr.Buttonregardedhimwithdepression.Thecostumeconsistedofdottedsocks,pinkpants,andabeltedblousewithawidewhitecollar.Overthelatterwavedthelongwhitishbeard,droopingalmosttothewaist.Theeffectwasnot

40、good."Wait!"Mr.Buttonseizedahospitalshearsandwiththreequicksnapsamputatedalargesectionofthebeard.Butevenwiththisimprovementtheensemblefellfarshortofperfection.Theremainingbrushofscragglyhair,thewateryeyes,theancientteeth,seemedoddlyoutoftonewiththegaietyofthecostume.Mr.Button,however,wasob

41、durate-heheldouthishand."Comealong!"hesaidsternly.Hissontookthehandtrustingly."Whatareyougoingtocallme,dad?"hequaveredastheywalkedfromthenursery-"just'baby'forawhile?tillyouthinkofabettername?"Mr.Buttongrunted."Idon'tknow,"heansweredharshly."I

42、thinkwe'llcallyouMethuselah."3EvenafterthenewadditiontotheButtonfamilyhadhadhishaircutshortandthendyedtoasparseunnaturalblack,hadhadhisfaceshavedsodosethatitglistened,andhadbeenattiredinsmall-boyclothesmadetoorderbyaflabbergastedtailor,itwasimpossibleforButtontoignorethefactthathissonwasaex

43、cuseforafirstfamilybaby.Despitehisagedstoop,BenjaminButton-foritwasbythisnametheycalledhiminsteadofbytheappropriatebutinvidiousMethuselah-wasfivefeeteightinchestall.Hisclothesdidnotconcealthis,nordidtheclippinganddyeingofhiseyebrowsdisguisethefactthattheeyesunder-werefadedandwateryandtired.Infact,th

44、ebaby-nursewhohadbeenengagedinadvanceleftthehouseafteronelook,inastateofconsiderableindignation.ButMr.Buttonpersistedinhisunwaveringpurpose.Benjaminwasababy,andababyheshouldremain.AtfirsthedeclaredthatifBenjamindidn'tlikewarmmilkhecouldgowithoutfoodaltogether,buthewasfinallyprevailedupontoallowh

45、issonbreadandbutter,andevenoatmealbywayofacompromise.Onedayhebroughthomearattleand,givingittoBenjamin,insistedinnouncertaintermsthatheshould"playwithit,"whereupontheoldmantookitwith-awearyexpressionandcouldbeheardjinglingitobedientlyatintervalsthroughouttheday.Therecanbenodoubt,though,that

46、therattleboredhim,andthathefoundotherandmoresoothingamusementswhenhewasleftalone.Forinstance,Mr.Buttondiscoveredonedaythatduringtheprecedingweekbehadsmokedmorecigarsthaneverbefore-aphenomenon,whichwasexplainedafewdayslaterwhen,enteringthenurseryunexpectedly,hefoundtheroomfulloffaintbluehazeandBenjam

47、in,withaguiltyexpressiononhisface,tryingtoconcealthebuttofadarkHavana.This,ofcourse,calledforaseverespanking,butMr.Buttonfoundthathecouldnotbringhimselftoadministerit.Hemerelywarnedhissonthathewould"stunthisgrowth."Neverthelesshepersistedinhisattitude.Hebroughthomeleadsoldiers,hebroughttoy

48、trains,hebroughtlargepleasantanimalsmadeofcotton,and,toperfecttheillusionwhichhewascreating-forhimselfatleast-hepassionatelydemandedoftheclerkinthetoy-storewhether"thepaintwouldcomeoftthepinkduckifthebabyputitinhismouth."But,despiteallhisfather'sefforts,Benjaminrefusedtobeinterested.He

49、wouldstealdownthebackstairsandreturntothenurserywithavolumeoftheEncyclopediaBritannica,overwhichhewouldporethroughanafternoon,whilehiscottoncowsandhisNoah'sarkwereleftneglectedonthefloor.AgainstsuchastubbornnessMr.Button'seffortswereoflittleavail.ThesensationcreatedinBaltimorewas,atfirst,pro

50、digious.WhatthemishapwouldhavecosttheButtonsandtheirkinsfolksociallycannotbedetermined,fortheoutbreakoftheCivilWardrewthecity'sattentiontootherthings.Afewpeoplewhowereunfailinglypoliterackedtheirbrainsforcomplimentstogivetotheparents-andfinallyhitupontheingeniousdeviceofdeclaringthatthebabyresem

51、bledhisgrandfather,afactwhich,duetothestandardstateofdecaycommontoallmenofseventy,couldnotbedenied.Mr.andMrs.RogerButtonwerenotpleased,andBenjamin'sgrandfatherwasfuriouslyinsulted.Benjamin,onceheleftthehospital,tooklifeashefoundit.Severalsmallboyswerebroughttoseehim,andhespentastiff-jointedafter

52、noontryingtoworkupaninterestintopsandmarbles-heevenmanaged,quiteaccidentally,tobreakakitchenwindowwithastonefromaslingshot,afeatwhichsecretlydelightedhisfather.ThereafterBenjamincontrivedtobreaksomethingeveryday,buthedidthesethingsonlybecausetheywereexpectedofhim,andbecausehewasbynatureobliging.When

53、hisgrandfather'sinitialantagonismworeoff,Benjaminandthatgentlemantookenormouspleasureinoneanother'scompany.Theywouldsitforhours,thesetwo,sofarapartinageandexperience,and,likeoldcronies,discusswithtirelessmonotonythesloweventsoftheday.Benjaminfeltmoreateaseinhisgrandfather'spresencethanin

54、hisparents'-theyseemedalwayssomewhatinaweofhimand,despitethedictatorialauthoritytheyexercisedoverhim,frequentlyaddressedhimas"Mr."Hewasaspuzzledasanyoneelseattheapparentlyadvancedageofhismindandbodyatbirth.Hereaduponitinthemedicaljournal,butfoundthatnosuchcasehadbeenpreviouslyrecorded.

55、Athisfather'surginghemadeanhonestattempttoplaywithotherboys,andfrequentlyhejoinedinthemildergames-footballshookhimuptoomuch,andhefearedthatincaseofafracturehisancientboneswouldrefusetoknit.Whenhewasfivehewassenttokindergarten,whereheinitiatedintotheartofpastinggreenpaperonorangepaper,ofweavingco

56、louredmapsandmanufacturingeternalcardboardnecklaces.Hewasinclinedtodrowseofftosleepinthemiddleofthesetasks,ahabitwhichbothirritatedandfrightenedhisyoungteacher.Tohisreliefshecomplainedtohisparents,andhewasremovedfromtheschool.TheRogerButtonstoldtheirfriendsthattheyfelthewastooyoung.Bythetimehewastwe

57、lveyearsoldhisparentshadgrownusedtohim.Indeed,sostrongistheforceofcustomthattheynolongerfeltthathewasdifferentfromanyotherchild-exceptwhensomecuriousanomalyremindedthemofthefact.Butonedayafewweeksafterhistwelfthbirthday,whilelookinginthemirror,Benjaminmade,orthoughthemade,anastonishingdiscovery.Didh

58、iseyesdeceivehim,orhadhishairturnedinthedozenyearsofhislifefromwhitetoiron-grayunderitsconcealingdye?Wasthenetworkofwrinklesonhisfacebecominglesspronounced?Washisskinhealthierandfirmer,withevenatouchofruddywintercolour?Hecouldnottell.Heknewthathenolongerstooped,andthathisphysicalconditionhadimproved

59、sincetheearlydaysofhislife."Canitbe-?"hethoughttohimself,or,rather,scarcelydaredtothink.Hewenttohisfather."Iamgrown,"heannounceddeterminedly."Iwanttoputonlongtrousers."Hisfatherhesitated."Well,"hesaidfinally,"Idon'tknow.Fourteenistheageforputtingonlon

60、gtrousers-andyouareonlytwelve.""Butyou'llhavetoadmit,"protestedBenjamin,"thatI'mbigformyage."Hisfatherlookedathimwithillusoryspeculation."Oh,I'mnotsosureofthat,"hesaid."IwasasbigasyouwhenIwastwelve."Thiswasnottrue-itwasallpartofRogerButton'

61、;ssilentagreementwithhimselftobelieveinhisson'snormality.Finallyacompromisewasreached.Benjaminwastocontinuetodyehishair.Hewastomakeabetterattempttoplaywithboysofhisownage.Hewasnottowearhisspectaclesorcarryacaneinthestreet.Inreturnfortheseconcessionshewasallowedhisfirstsuitoflongtrousers.4Oftheli

62、feofBenjaminButtonbetweenhistwelfthandtwenty-firstyearIintendtosaylittle.Sufficetorecordthattheywereyearsofnormalungrowth.WhenBenjaminwaseighteenhewaserectasamanoffifty;hehadmorehairanditwasofadarkgray;hisstepwasfirm,hisvoicehadlostitscrackedquaveranddescendedtoahealthybaritone.Sohisfathersenthimupt

63、oConnecticuttotakeexaminationsforentrancetoYaleCollege.Benjaminpassedhisexaminationandbecameamemberofthefreshmanclass.OnthethirddayfollowinghismatriculationhereceivedanotificationfromMr.Hart,thecollegeregistrar,tocallathisofficeandarrangehisschedule.Benjamin,glancinginthemirror,decidedthathishairnee

64、dedanewapplicationofitsbrowndye,butananxiousinspectionofhisbureaudrawerdisclosedthatthedyebottlewasnotthere.Thenheremembered-hehademptieditthedaybeforeandthrownitaway.Hewasinadilemma.Hewasdueattheregistrar'sinfiveminutes.Thereseemedtobenohelpforit-hemustgoashewas.Hedid."Good-morning,"saidtheregistrarpolitely."You'vecometoinquireaboutyourson.""Why,asamatteroffact,myname'sButton-"beganBenjamin,butMr.Hartcuthimoff."I'mveryg