Lost Horizon 消失的地平线(62)

Conway said sharply: “I'm not so sure that he'll do that at all. I should think he's far more likely to try an escape on his own.” 康威的回答一针见血，"我不确定他是否会按你的思路来做，我担心就算没有挑夫，他也很可能会自己跑掉。" “Escape? Is that really the word that should be used? After all, the pass is open to any one at any time. We have no jailers, save those that Nature herself has provided.” "逃跑? 不至于说得那么严重吧，不管怎样，路在那儿，任何人都可以来去自由，我们不会囚禁任何人，是大自然决定留下他们。" Conway smiled. “Well, you must admit that she's done her job pretty well. But I don't suppose you rely on her in every case, all the same. What about the various exploring parties that have arrived here? Was the pass always equally open to them when they wanted to get away?” 康威微笑着说，"嗯，不得不承认大自然干的不错。可是，难道每一次都是依靠这道天险才把那些不想留下的人拦住的吗？要是那些来自各处的探险队也找到了这里呢？是否也任由他们自由往来呢？" It was Chang's turn now to smile.“Special circumstances, my dear sir, have sometimes required special consideration.” 这一次常笑了起来，他说，"亲爱的先生，特殊情况当然要特殊处理。" “Excellent. So you only allow people the chance of escape when you know they'd be fools to take it? Even so, I expect some of them do.” "说得好。如此看来，你们只会对那些没有能力走出去的人不设防咯? 即便如此，我还是希望你们允许让那些人离开。" “Well, it has happened very occasionally, but as a rule the absentees are glad to return after the experience of a single night on the plateau.” "其实这样的情况常常发生，只不过等他们在高原上挨过一晚之后，他们都会很乐意打道回府。" “Without shelter and proper clothing? If so, I can quite understand that your mild methods are as effective as stern ones. But what about the less usual cases that don't return? ” "没有躲风的装备和御寒的衣物，就那么单枪匹马的在高原上过夜? 如果真是这样，我算明白为何你们能够不用采取任何行动便能达成愿望了。但是，假如有人硬是这样逃了出去，再也不回来呢？" “You have yourself answered the question,” replied Chang. “They do not return.”But he made haste to add:“I can assure you, however, that there are few indeed who have been so unfortunate, and I trust your friend will not be rash enough to increase the number.” "你已经回答了自己的问题，"常说到，"他们就不会回来了。" 他立即又说到，" 可是，我能肯定的告诉你，虽然有那么几个不幸的人确实跑了出去，可是我相信你的那位朋友不会也做出那样的傻事。" Conway did not find these responses entirely reassuring, and Mallinson's future remained a pre-occupation. He wished it were possible for the youth to return by consent, and this would not be unprecedented, for there was the recent case of Talu, the airman. Chang admitted that the authorities were fully empowered to do anything that they considered wise.“But should we be wise, my dear sir, in trusting our future entirely to your friend's feeling of gratitude?” 康威没有从这次谈话中得出肯定的结论，马林森到底会怎么做还是未知数。他希望香格里拉能真正的同意他离开，这样的事并非史无前例，那个飞行员塔里就是刚刚发生的一个例子。常也说过， 只要合情合理，寺庙的高层会给予批准。"可是，亲爱的先生，像这样用你朋友的感受来臆测我们自己的未来，是否明智呢？" Conway felt that the question was pertinent, for Mallinson's attitude left little doubt as to what he would do as soon as he reached India. It was his favorite theme, and he had often enlarged upon it. 康威认为常正好问到了关键，因为马林森的态度已经非常明显的告诉大家，等他一回到印度就会干什么，他特爱谈论这个话题，而且常常描绘很多细节。 But all that, of course, was in the mundane world that was gradually being pushed out of his mind by the rich, pervasive world of Shangri-La. Except when he thought about Mallinson he was extraordinarily content;the slowly revealed fabric of this new environment continued to astonish him by its intricate suitability to his own needs and tastes.可是随着时间推移，所有这些担心渐渐被香格里拉丰富多彩的日常见闻所取代，当他再想起马林森的事情时便觉得没什么可担心的，而香格里拉在他面前缓缓揭开了面纱，让他每每感到这里的一切都奇妙的符合他的品味，因此常常感觉惊喜连连。 Once he said to Chang: “By the way, how do you people here fit love into your scheme of things? I suppose it does sometimes happen that those who come here develop attachments?” 有一次他这样告诉常，"我想问一下，这里的人们是否喜欢你们为他们安排的一切呢？我想一定会有一些人来到这里之后对这里产生了感情。" “Quite often,” replied Chang with a broad smile. “The lamas, of course, are immune, and so are most of us when we reach the riper years, but until then we are as other men, except that I think we can claim to behave more reasonably. And this gives me the opportunity, Mr. Conway, of assuring you that the hospitality of Shangri-La is of a comprehensive kind. Your friend Mr. Barnard has already availed himself of it.” "这是常有的事，"常很高兴的笑着说，"当然，喇嘛们已经六根清净，不会有这些世俗的感情，等我们到了那个年纪也会变得像他们一样成熟，可是在那之前，我们还是跟寻常人一样，只不过我们或许比一般人更理性一些。既然说到这儿，康威先生，我愿意借此机会向你再次担保，香格里拉对所有人都不持有任何偏见。你的朋友伯纳德已经体会到了这一点。" Conway returned the smile. “Thanks,”he answered dryly. “I've no doubt he has, but my own inclinations are not—at the moment—so assertive. It was the emotional more than the physical aspect that I was curious about.” 康威也笑了起来，"谢谢。" 他有些尴尬的说道，"我一点也不怀疑他真喜欢这里，不过目前来说，我自己的感受跟他不同，我更感兴趣的是一个人从内心在感情上接纳这里，而非只是生理上客观的需要。" “You find it easy to separate the two? Is it possible that you are falling in love with Lo-Tsen?” "你认为这两者很容易区分开吗？你会不会已经爱上罗森?" Conway was somewhat taken aback, though he hoped he did not show it. “What makes you ask that?” 康威大吃一惊，不过他尽力不表现出来，"你为何这么问?" “Because, my dear sir, it would be quite suitable if you were to do so—always, of course, in moderation. Lo-Tsen would not respond with any degree of passion—that is more than you could expect—but the experience would be very delightful, I assure you. And I speak with some authority, for I was in love with her myself when I was much younger.” "亲爱的先生，因为如果你没有爱上她才不正常，当然，你的感情一直保持了'平和适度'，罗森不会对你做出任何你无法预料的回应，不过我向你保证，这种经历让人愉悦，我很年轻的时候，就曾经找到上级喇嘛说我自己爱上她了。" “Were you indeed? And did she respond then?” "真的? 她回应你了吗？" “Only by the most charming appreciation of the compliment I paid her, and by a friendship which has grown more precious with the years.” "是的，她真诚的向我表达了感谢，并且我们之间的友谊俞久弥深。" “In other words, she didn't respond?” "换句话说，她没有回应你的表白?" “If you prefer it so,” Chang added, a little sententiously: “It has always been her way to spare her lovers the moment of satiety that goes with all absolute attainment.” "你也可以这么说，" 常继续说道，"她从来不会对那些爱慕她的人做出任何反应，即使哪怕只有一点就足以让他们欣喜若狂。" Conway laughed.“That's all very well in your case, and perhaps mine too—but what about the attitude of a hot-blooded young fellow like Mallinson?” 康威大笑起来，"你和我都是这样碰了一鼻子灰，可是假如换成一个血气方刚的年轻人，比如说马林森，罗森对于他的爱慕会如何反应呢？" “My dear sir, it would be the best possible thing that could happen! Not for the first time, I assure you, would Lo-Tsen comfort the sorrowful exile when he learns that there is to be no return.” "亲爱的先生，最多也只能那样了，我不是第一次向你肯定的回答，罗森对于那些不情愿留下而不得不留下的异乡人来说是一种安慰。" “Comfort?” "安慰?" “Yes, though you must not misunderstand my use of the term. Lo-Tsen gives no caresses, except such as touch the stricken heart from her very presence. What does your Shakespeare say of Cleopatra?— ‘She makes hungry where she most satisfies. ' A popular type, doubtless, among the passion-driven races, but such a woman, I assure you, would be altogether out of place at Shangri-La. Lo-Tsen, if I might amend the quotation,removes hunger where she least satisfies. It is a more delicate and lasting accomplishment.” "是的，但是请不要误会了我的意思。她不会有任何安抚的举动，只不过每当她一出现，那些悲伤的心灵就会感到一些慰籍。你还记得贵国的大诗人莎士比亚是如何形容克立奥•帕特拉吗？'她让人心满意足又饱受煎熬'，毫无疑问，在众多迷人的女性之中，她是魅力的焦点，但是我可以肯定的说，她整个人没有一处跟香格里拉合拍。而罗森，请容我将'饱受煎熬'四个字去掉，因为她带给人的只有安慰。对于女性而言，这样的赞美才是纯洁而永垂不朽的。" “And one, I assume, which she has much skill in performing?” "我想对于她应该还有一点值得赞美，那就是她的琴艺高超。" “Oh, decidedly—we have had many examples of it. It is her way to calm the throb of desire to a murmur that is no less pleasant when left unanswered.” "哦，你说的很有道理，她就是用这种方式安抚那些因未曾得到回应而焦虑难安的灵魂，让他们变得平静而愉悦。" “In that sense, then, you could regard her as a part of the training equipment of the establishment?” "从这个方面来讲，她可以被看成是喇嘛庙训练课程的一部分吧?" “You could regard her as that, if you wished,”replied Chang with deprecating blandness. “But it would be more graceful, and just as true, to liken her to the rainbow reflected in a glass bowl or to the dewdrops on the blossoms of the fruit tree.” "如果你愿意的话也可以这么认为，"常对此不置可否，"不过她的方式显得更加优雅，就好比她是投影在玻璃杯中的一缕彩虹，或者是果树的绿叶上一颗晶莹的露珠。" “I entirely agree with you, Chang. That would be much more graceful.” "常，我觉得你说得很对，她的存在确实是一种更加优雅迷人的训练。"