The black cat Edgar allan poe FOR the most wild, yet most homely narrative which I am about to pen, I neither expect nor solicit belief. Mad indeed would I be to expect it, in a case where my very senses reject their own evidence. Yet, mad am I not-and very surely do I not dream. But to-morrow I die, and to-day I would unburthen my soul. My immediate purpose is to place before the world, plainly, succinctly, and without comment, a series of mere household events. In their consequences, these events have terrified- have tortured- have destroyed me. Yet I will not attempt to expound them. To me, they have presented little but Horror-to many they will seem less terrible than barroque. Hereafter perhaps, some intellect may be found which will reduce my phantasm to the common-place some intellect more calm, more logical, and far less excitable than my own, which will perceive, in the circumstances I detail with awe, nothing more than an ordinary succession of very natural causes and effects From my infancy I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition. My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions. I was especially fond of animals, and was indulged by my parents with a great variety of pets. With these I spent most of my time, and never was so happy as when feeding and caressing them. This peculiarity of character grew with my growth, and in my manhood, I derived from it one of my principal sources of pleasure. To those who have cherished an affection for a faithful and sagacious. dog I need hardly be at the trouble of explaining the nature or the intensity of the gratification thus derivable There is something in the unselfish and self-sacrificing love of a brute, which goes directly to the heart of him who has had frequent occasion to test the paltry friendship and gossamer fidelity of mere Man I married early, and was happy to find in my wife a disposition not uncongenial with my own. Observing my partiality for domestic pets, she lost no opportunity of procuring those of the most agreeable kind. We had birds, gold-fish, a fine dog, rabbits, a small monkey, and a ca This latter was a remarkably large and beautiful animal, entirely black, and sagacious to an astonishing degree. In speaking of his intelligence, my wife, who at heart was not a little tinctured with superstition, made frequent allusion to the ancient popular notion, which regarded all black cats as witches in disguise. Not that she was ever serious upon this point- and I mention the matter at all for no better reason than that it happens, just now, to be remembered Pluto-this was the cat's name- was my favorite pet and playmate. I alone fed him, and he attended me wherever I went about the house. It was even with difficulty that I could prevent him from following me through the streets Our friendship lasted, in this manner, for several years, during which my general expound:详述 2 baroques:奇谈 3 My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions.我心肠软得出奇 曾经是同伴中的笑 sagacious:有灵性的 There is something in the unselfish and self-sacrificing love of a brute, which goes directly to the heart of him ho has had frequent occasion to test the paltry friendship and gossamer fidelity of mere Man.你若经常尝到 人情冷暖、世态炎凉的滋味,便会觉得动物自我牺牲的无私之爱,直入人心扉 6 I mention the matter at all for no better reason than that it happens, Just now, to be remembered.我这里提到这 件事,只是顺便想到了而己
The Black Cat Edgar Allan Poe FOR the most wild, yet most homely narrative which I am about to pen, I neither expect nor solicit belief. Mad indeed would I be to expect it, in a case where my very senses reject their own evidence. Yet, mad am I not - and very surely do I not dream. But to-morrow I die, and to-day I would unburthen my soul. My immediate purpose is to place before the world, plainly, succinctly, and without comment, a series of mere household events. In their consequences, these events have terrified - have tortured - have destroyed me. Yet I will not attempt to expound1 them. To me, they have presented little but Horror - to many they will seem less terrible than _barroques2_. Hereafter, perhaps, some intellect may be found which will reduce my phantasm to the common-place - some intellect more calm, more logical, and far less excitable than my own, which will perceive, in the circumstances I detail with awe, nothing more than an ordinary succession of very natural causes and effects. From my infancy I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition. My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions3 . I was especially fond of animals, and was indulged by my parents with a great variety of pets. With these I spent most of my time, and never was so happy as when feeding and caressing them. This peculiarity of character grew with my growth, and in my manhood, I derived from it one of my principal sources of pleasure. To those who have cherished an affection for a faithful and sagacious4 dog, I need hardly be at the trouble of explaining the nature or the intensity of the gratification thus derivable. There is something in the unselfish and self-sacrificing love of a brute, which goes directly to the heart of him who has had frequent occasion to test the paltry friendship and gossamer fidelity of mere _Man_.5 I married early, and was happy to find in my wife a disposition not uncongenial with my own. Observing my partiality for domestic pets, she lost no opportunity of procuring those of the most agreeable kind. We had birds, gold-fish, a fine dog, rabbits, a small monkey, and _a cat_. This latter was a remarkably large and beautiful animal, entirely black, and sagacious to an astonishing degree. In speaking of his intelligence, my wife, who at heart was not a little tinctured with superstition, made frequent allusion to the ancient popular notion, which regarded all black cats as witches in disguise. Not that she was ever _serious_ upon this point - and I mention the matter at all for no better reason than that it happens, just now, to be remembered6 . Pluto - this was the cat's name - was my favorite pet and playmate. I alone fed him, and he attended me wherever I went about the house. It was even with difficulty that I could prevent him from following me through the streets. Our friendship lasted, in this manner, for several years, during which my general 1 expound: 详述 2 baroques: 奇谈 3 My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions. 我心肠软得出奇， 曾经是同伴中的笑柄。 4 sagacious: 有灵性的 5 There is something in the unselfish and self-sacrificing love of a brute, which goes directly to the heart of him who has had frequent occasion to test the paltry friendship and gossamer fidelity of mere _Man_. 你若经常尝到 人情冷暖、世态炎凉的滋味，便会觉得动物自我牺牲的无私之爱，直入人心扉。 6 I mention the matter at all for no better reason than that it happens, just now, to be remembered. 我这里提到这 件事，只是顺便想到了而已
temperament and character-through the instrumentality of the Fiend Intemperance'-had (I blush to confess it)experienced a radical alteration for the worse. I grew, day by day, more moody, more irritable, more regardless of the feelings of others. I suffered myself to use intemperate language to my wife. At length, I even offered her personal violence. My pets, of course, were made to feel the change in my disposition. I not only neglected, but ill-used them. For Pluto, however, I still retained sufficient regard to restrain me from maltreating him, as I made no scruple of maltreating the rabbits, the monkey, or even the dog, when by accident, or through affection, they came in my way. But my disease grew upon me-for what disease is like Alcohol o!-and at length even Pluto, who was now becoming old, and consequently somewhat peevish- even Pluto began to experience the effects of my ill temper One night, returning home, much intoxicated, from one of my haunts about town, I fancied that the cat avoided my presence. I seized him; when, in his fright at my violence, he inflicted a slight wound upon my hand with his teeth. The fury of a demon instantly possessed me. I knew myself no longer. My original soul seemed, at once, to take its flight from my body and a more than fiendish malevolence, gin-nurtured, thrilled every fibre of my frame. I took from my waistcoat-pocket a pen-knife, opened it, grasped the poor beast by the throat, and deliberately cut one of its eyes from the socket! I blush, I burn, I shudder, while I pen the damnable atrocity When reason returned with the morning- when I had slept off the fumes of the nights debauch-I experienced a sentiment half of horror, half of remorse, for the crime of which I had been guilty; but it was, at best, a feeble and equivocal feeling, and the soul remained untouched I again plunged into excess, and soon drowned in wine all memory of the deed In the meantime the cat slowly recovered. The socket of the lost eye presented, it is true,a frightful appearance, but he no longer appeared to suffer any pain. He went about the house as usual, but, as might be expected, fled in extreme terror at my approach. I had so much of my old heart left, as to be at first grieved by this evident dislike on the part of a creature which had once so loved me. But this feeling soon gave place to irritation. And then came, as if to my final and irrevocable overthrow, the spirit of PERVERSENESS Of this spirit philosophy takes no account.4 Yet I am not more sure that my soul lives, than I am that perverseness is one of the primitive impulses of the human heart- one of the indivisible primary faculties, or sentiments, hich give direction to the character of Man. Who has not, a hundred times, found himself committing a vile or a silly action, for no other reason than because he knows he should not? Have we not a perpetual inclination, in the teeth of our best judgment, to violate that which is Law, merely because we understand it to be such? o This spirit of perverseness, I say, came to my final overthrow. It was this unfathomable longing of the soul to vex itself- to offer violence 7 the instrumentality of the Fiend Intemperance:酗酒上了瘾 8 made no scruple of maltreating:肆无忌惮地虐待 9 my disease grew upon me:我的病情日益严重 l0 for what disease is like alcoho!:世界上没有比酗酒更厉害的疾病了 equivocal!:模糊的 121 again plunged into excess.我继续狂饮无度 e spirit of PERVERSENESS:邪念 14 Of this spirit philosophy takes no account.哲学从不重视这种邪念 is Who has not, a hundred times, found himself committing a vile or a silly action, for no other reason than because he knows he should not?即使明知不可做,谁不曾千万次莫名地做了蠢事,犯下恶行? 16 Have we not a perpetual inclination, in the teeth of our best judgment, to violate that which is Law, merel because we understand it to be such?即使有卓越的理智,我们也不是常常会因为知法而燃起知法犯法的邪
temperament and character - through the instrumentality of the Fiend Intemperance7 - had (I blush to confess it) experienced a radical alteration for the worse. I grew, day by day, more moody, more irritable, more regardless of the feelings of others. I suffered myself to use intemperate language to my wife. At length, I even offered her personal violence. My pets, of course, were made to feel the change in my disposition. I not only neglected, but ill-used them. For Pluto, however, I still retained sufficient regard to restrain me from maltreating him, as I made no scruple of maltreating8 the rabbits, the monkey, or even the dog, when by accident, or through affection, they came in my way. But my disease grew upon me9 - for what disease is like Alcohol10! - and at length even Pluto, who was now becoming old, and consequently somewhat peevish - even Pluto began to experience the effects of my ill temper. One night, returning home, much intoxicated, from one of my haunts about town, I fancied that the cat avoided my presence. I seized him; when, in his fright at my violence, he inflicted a slight wound upon my hand with his teeth. The fury of a demon instantly possessed me. I knew myself no longer. My original soul seemed, at once, to take its flight from my body and a more than fiendish malevolence, gin-nurtured, thrilled every fibre of my frame. I took from my waistcoat-pocket a pen-knife, opened it, grasped the poor beast by the throat, and deliberately cut one of its eyes from the socket! I blush, I burn, I shudder, while I pen the damnable atrocity. When reason returned with the morning - when I had slept off the fumes of the night's debauch - I experienced a sentiment half of horror, half of remorse, for the crime of which I had been guilty; but it was, at best, a feeble and equivocal11 feeling, and the soul remained untouched. I again plunged into excess12, and soon drowned in wine all memory of the deed. In the meantime the cat slowly recovered. The socket of the lost eye presented, it is true, a frightful appearance, but he no longer appeared to suffer any pain. He went about the house as usual, but, as might be expected, fled in extreme terror at my approach. I had so much of my old heart left, as to be at first grieved by this evident dislike on the part of a creature which had once so loved me. But this feeling soon gave place to irritation. And then came, as if to my final and irrevocable overthrow, the spirit of PERVERSENESS13 . Of this spirit philosophy takes no account.14 Yet I am not more sure that my soul lives, than I am that perverseness is one of the primitive impulses of the human heart - one of the indivisible primary faculties, or sentiments, which give direction to the character of Man. Who has not, a hundred times, found himself committing a vile or a silly action, for no other reason than because he knows he should not?15 Have we not a perpetual inclination, in the teeth of our best judgment, to violate that which is _Law_, merely because we understand it to be such?16 This spirit of perverseness, I say, came to my final overthrow. It was this unfathomable longing of the soul _to vex itself_ - to offer violence 7 the instrumentality of the Fiend Intemperance: 酗酒上了瘾 8 made no scruple of maltreating: 肆无忌惮地虐待 9 my disease grew upon me: 我的病情日益严重 10 for what disease is like Alcohol: 世界上没有比酗酒更厉害的疾病了 11 equivocal: 模糊的 12 I again plunged into excess. 我继续狂饮无度。 13 the spirit of PERVERSENESS: 邪念 14 Of this spirit philosophy takes no account. 哲学从不重视这种邪念。 15 Who has not, a hundred times, found himself committing a vile or a silly action, for no other reason than because he knows he should not? 即使明知不可做，谁不曾千万次莫名地做了蠢事，犯下恶行？ 16 Have we not a perpetual inclination, in the teeth of our best judgment, to violate that which is _Law_, merely because we understand it to be such? 即使有卓越的理智，我们也不是常常会因为知法而燃起知法犯法的邪 念？
to its own nature-to do wrong for the wrong s sake only- that urged me to continue and finally to consummate the injury I had inflicted upon the unoffending brute. One morning, in cool blood, I slipped a noose about its neck and hung it to the limb of a tree,-hung it with the tears streaming from my eyes, and with the bitterest remorse at my heart;-hung it because I knew that it had loved me, and because I felt it had given me no reason of offence;-hung it because I knew that in so doing I was committing a sin-a deadly sin that would so jeopardize my immortal soul as to place it- if such a thing wore possible-even beyond the reach of the infinite mercy of the Most merciful and Most Terrible God 7 On the night of the day on which this cruel deed was done, I was aroused from sleep by the cry of fire. The curtains of my bed were in flames. The whole house was blazing. It was with great difficulty that my wife, a servant, and myself, made our escape from the conflagration. The destruction was complete. My entire worldly wealth was swallowed up, and I resigned myself thenceforward to despair. 8 I am above the weakness of seeking to establish a sequence of cause and effect, between the disaster and the atrocity. But I am detailing a chain of facts-and wish not to leave even a possible link imperfect. On the day succeeding the fire, I visited the ruins. The walls, with one exception, had fallen in. This exception was found in a compartment wall, not very thick, which ood about the middle of the house, and against which had rested the head of my bed. The plastering had here, in great measure, resisted the action of the fire-a fact which I attributed to its having been recently spread. About this wall a dense crowd were collected, and many persons seemed to be examining a particular portion of it with very minute and eager attention The words strange! ""singular! "and other similar expressions, excited my curiosity. I approached and saw as if graven in bas relief upon the white surface, the figure of a gigantic cat, The impression was given with an accuracy truly marvellous. There was a rope about the animals neck. When I first beheld this apparition- for I could scarcely regard it as less-my wonder and my terror were extreme. But at length reflection came to my aid 2 The cat, I remembered, had been hung in a garden adjacent to the house. Upon the alarm of fire, this garden had been immediately filled by the crowd- by some one of whom the animal must have been cut from the tree and thrown, through an open window, into my chamber. This had probably been done with the view of ousing me from sleep. The falling of other walls had compressed the victim of my cruelty into the substance of the freshly-spread plaster; the lime of which, with the flames, and the ammonia from the carcass, had then accomplished the portraiture as I saw it Although I thus readily accounted to my reason, if not altogether to my conscience, for the startling fact just detailed, it did not the less fail to make a deep impression upon my fancy. For months I could not rid myself of the phantasm of the cat; and, during this period, there came back into my spirit a half-sentiment that seemed, but was not, remorse. I went so far as to regret the loss of the animal, and to look about me, among the vile haunts 2 which I now habitually frequent 1 beyond the reach of the infinite mercy of the Most Merciful and Most Terrible god:就算是仁慈威严的上帝 也拯救不了我 18 My entire worldly wealth was swallowed up, and I resigned myself thenceforward to despair.我世间的所有财 物化为乌有,我也万念俱灰 I am above the weakness of seeking to establish a sequence of cause and effect, between the disaster and the atrocity.我不至于那么懦弱,在我的暴行和这场火灾之间建立因果关系 20 bas relief.浅浮雕 2 But at length reflection came to my aid.但转念一想便宽了心。 e vile haunts:下等场所
to its own nature - to do wrong for the wrong's sake only - that urged me to continue and finally to consummate the injury I had inflicted upon the unoffending brute. One morning, in cool blood, I slipped a noose about its neck and hung it to the limb of a tree; - hung it with the tears streaming from my eyes, and with the bitterest remorse at my heart; - hung it _because_ I knew that it had loved me, and _because_ I felt it had given me no reason of offence; - hung it _because_ I knew that in so doing I was committing a sin - a deadly sin that would so jeopardize my immortal soul as to place it - if such a thing wore possible - even beyond the reach of the infinite mercy of the Most Merciful and Most Terrible God17 . On the night of the day on which this cruel deed was done, I was aroused from sleep by the cry of fire. The curtains of my bed were in flames. The whole house was blazing. It was with great difficulty that my wife, a servant, and myself, made our escape from the conflagration. The destruction was complete. My entire worldly wealth was swallowed up, and I resigned myself thenceforward to despair.18 I am above the weakness of seeking to establish a sequence of cause and effect, between the disaster and the atrocity.19 But I am detailing a chain of facts - and wish not to leave even a possible link imperfect. On the day succeeding the fire, I visited the ruins. The walls, with one exception, had fallen in. This exception was found in a compartment wall, not very thick, which stood about the middle of the house, and against which had rested the head of my bed. The plastering had here, in great measure, resisted the action of the fire - a fact which I attributed to its having been recently spread. About this wall a dense crowd were collected, and many persons seemed to be examining a particular portion of it with very minute and eager attention. The words "strange!" "singular!" and other similar expressions, excited my curiosity. I approached and saw, as if graven in _bas relief20_ upon the white surface, the figure of a gigantic _cat_. The impression was given with an accuracy truly marvellous. There was a rope about the animal's neck. When I first beheld this apparition - for I could scarcely regard it as less - my wonder and my terror were extreme. But at length reflection came to my aid.21 The cat, I remembered, had been hung in a garden adjacent to the house. Upon the alarm of fire, this garden had been immediately filled by the crowd - by some one of whom the animal must have been cut from the tree and thrown, through an open window, into my chamber. This had probably been done with the view of arousing me from sleep. The falling of other walls had compressed the victim of my cruelty into the substance of the freshly-spread plaster; the lime of which, with the flames, and the _ammonia_ from the carcass, had then accomplished the portraiture as I saw it. Although I thus readily accounted to my reason, if not altogether to my conscience, for the startling fact just detailed, it did not the less fail to make a deep impression upon my fancy. For months I could not rid myself of the phantasm of the cat; and, during this period, there came back into my spirit a half-sentiment that seemed, but was not, remorse. I went so far as to regret the loss of the animal, and to look about me, among the vile haunts22 which I now habitually frequented, 17 beyond the reach of the infinite mercy of the Most Merciful and Most Terrible God: 就算是仁慈威严的上帝 也拯救不了我。 18 My entire worldly wealth was swallowed up, and I resigned myself thenceforward to despair. 我世间的所有财 物化为乌有，我也万念俱灰。 19 I am above the weakness of seeking to establish a sequence of cause and effect, between the disaster and the atrocity. 我不至于那么懦弱，在我的暴行和这场火灾之间建立因果关系。 20 bas relief: 浅浮雕 21 But at length reflection came to my aid. 但转念一想便宽了心。 22 the vile haunts: 下等场所
for another pet of the same species, and of somewhat similar appearance, with which to supply its One night as I sat, half stupified, in a den of more than infamy, my attention was suddenly drawn to some black object, reposing upon the head of one of the immense hogsheads of Gin, or of Rum, which constituted the chief furniture of the apartment 4. I had been looking steadily at the top of this hogshead for some minutes, and what now caused me surprise was the fact that I had not sooner perceived the object thereupon I approached it, and touched it with my hand. It was a black cat-a very large one- fully as large as Pluto, and closely resembling him in every respect but one. Pluto had not a white hair upon any portion of his body; but this cat had a large, although indefinite splotch of white25, covering nearly the whole region of the breast. Upon my touching him, he immediately arose, purred loudly, rubbed against my hand, and appeared delighted with my notice. This, then, was the very creature of which I was in search. I at once offered to purchase it of the landlord; but this person made no claim to it- knew nothing of it-had never seen it I continued my caresses, and, when I prepared to go home, the animal evinced a disposition to accompany me. I permitted it to do so; occasionally stooping and patting it as I proceeded When it reached the house it domesticated itself at once, and became immediately a great favorite with my wife For my own part, I soon found a dislike to it arising within me. This was just the reverse of what I had anticipated; but-I know not how or why it was-its evident fondness for myself rather disgusted and annoyed. By slow degrees, these feelings of disgust and annoyance rose into the bitterness of hatred. I avoided the creature; a certain sense of shame, and the remembrance of my former deed of cruelty, preventing me from physically abusing it. I did not, for some weeks, strike or otherwise violently ill use it; but gradually -very gradually -I to look upon it with unutterable loathing, and to flee silently from its odious presence, as from the breath of a estilence26 What added, no doubt, to my hatred of the beast, was the disc the morning after I brought it home, that, like Pluto, it also had been deprived of one of its eyes. This circumstance owever,only endeared it to my wife, who, as I have already said, possessed, in a high degree, that humanity of feeling which had once been my distinguishing trait, and the source of many of my simplest and purest pleasures With my aversion to this cat, however, its partiality for myself seemed to increase. It followed my footsteps with a pertinacity27 which it would be difficult to make the reader comprehend. Whenever I sat, it would crouch beneath my chair, or spring upon my knees, covering me with its loathsome caresses. If I arose to walk it would get between my feet and thus nearly throw me down, or, fastening its long and sharp claws in my dress, clamber, in this manner to my breast. At such times, although I longed to destroy it with a blow, I was yet withheld from so doing, partly by a memory of my former crime, but chiefly -let me confess it at once-by absolute dread of the beast 23 a den of more than infamy:下等的酒馆 24 which constituted the chief furniture of the apartment:这酒桶是房间里主要一件家具 23 indefinite splotch of white:轮廓不清的一块白斑 pestilence:瘟疫 27 followed my footsteps with a pertinacity:紧紧地跟着我:寸步不离
for another pet of the same species, and of somewhat similar appearance, with which to supply its place. One night as I sat, half stupified, in a den of more than infamy23, my attention was suddenly drawn to some black object, reposing upon the head of one of the immense hogsheads of Gin, or of Rum, which constituted the chief furniture of the apartment24. I had been looking steadily at the top of this hogshead for some minutes, and what now caused me surprise was the fact that I had not sooner perceived the object thereupon. I approached it, and touched it with my hand. It was a black cat - a very large one - fully as large as Pluto, and closely resembling him in every respect but one. Pluto had not a white hair upon any portion of his body; but this cat had a large, although indefinite splotch of white25, covering nearly the whole region of the breast. Upon my touching him, he immediately arose, purred loudly, rubbed against my hand, and appeared delighted with my notice. This, then, was the very creature of which I was in search. I at once offered to purchase it of the landlord; but this person made no claim to it - knew nothing of it - had never seen it before. I continued my caresses, and, when I prepared to go home, the animal evinced a disposition to accompany me. I permitted it to do so; occasionally stooping and patting it as I proceeded. When it reached the house it domesticated itself at once, and became immediately a great favorite with my wife. For my own part, I soon found a dislike to it arising within me. This was just the reverse of what I had anticipated; but - I know not how or why it was - its evident fondness for myself rather disgusted and annoyed. By slow degrees, these feelings of disgust and annoyance rose into the bitterness of hatred. I avoided the creature; a certain sense of shame, and the remembrance of my former deed of cruelty, preventing me from physically abusing it. I did not, for some weeks, strike, or otherwise violently ill use it; but gradually - very gradually - I came to look upon it with unutterable loathing, and to flee silently from its odious presence, as from the breath of a pestilence26 . What added, no doubt, to my hatred of the beast, was the discovery, on the morning after I brought it home, that, like Pluto, it also had been deprived of one of its eyes. This circumstance, however, only endeared it to my wife, who, as I have already said, possessed, in a high degree, that humanity of feeling which had once been my distinguishing trait, and the source of many of my simplest and purest pleasures. With my aversion to this cat, however, its partiality for myself seemed to increase. It followed my footsteps with a pertinacity27 which it would be difficult to make the reader comprehend. Whenever I sat, it would crouch beneath my chair, or spring upon my knees, covering me with its loathsome caresses. If I arose to walk it would get between my feet and thus nearly throw me down, or, fastening its long and sharp claws in my dress, clamber, in this manner, to my breast. At such times, although I longed to destroy it with a blow, I was yet withheld from so doing, partly by a memory of my former crime, but chiefly - let me confess it at once - by absolute dread of the beast. 23 a den of more than infamy: 下等的酒馆 24 which constituted the chief furniture of the apartment: 这酒桶是房间里主要一件家具 25 indefinite splotch of white: 轮廓不清的一块白斑 26 pestilence: 瘟疫 27 followed my footsteps with a pertinacity: 紧紧地跟着我；寸步不离
This dread was not exactly a dread of physical evil3-and yet I should be at a loss how otherwise to define it. I am almost ashamed to own-yes, even in this felons cell, I am almost aname o own hat the terror and horror with which the animal inspired me, had beer heightened by one of the merest chimaeras it would be possible to conceive. My wife had called my attention, more than once, to the character of the mark of white hair, of which I have spoken, and which constituted the sole visible difference between the strange beast and the one I had destroyed. The reader will remember that this mark, al though large, had been originally very indefinite, but, by slow degrees-degrees nearly imperceptible, and which for a long time my Reason struggled to reject as fanciful-it had, at length, assumed a rigorous distinctness of outline It was now the representation of an object that I shudder to name-and for this, above all, I loathed and dreaded, and would have rid myself of the monster had I dared- it was now, I say, the image of a hideous-of a ghastly thing -of the GAlLOWS !-oh, mournful and terrible engine of Horror and of Crime -of Agony and of Death And now was I indeed wretched beyond the wretchedness of mere Humanity. u And a brute beast whose fellow I had contemptuously destroyed- a brute beast to work out for me -for me a man, fashioned in the image of the High God- so much of insufferable wo! 3I Alas! neither by day nor by night knew I the blessing of Rest any more! During the former the creature left me no moment alone; and, in the latter, I started, hourly, from dreams of unutterable fear, to find the hot breath of the thing upon my face, and its vast weight-an incarnate Night-Mare that I had no power to shake off- incumbent eternally upon my heart Beneath the pressure of torments such as these, the feeble remnant of the good within me uccumbed. Evil thoughts became my sole intimates-the darkest and most evil of thoughts. The moodiness of my usual temper increased to hatred of all things and of all mankind; while, from the udden, frequent, and ungovernable outbursts of a fury to which I now blindly abandoned myself, my uncomplaining wife, alas! was the most usual and the most patient of sufferers One day she accompanied me, upon some household errand, into the cellar of the old building which our poverty compelled us to inhabit. The cat followed me down the steep stairs, and, nearly throwing me headlong 3, exasperated me to madness. Uplifting an axe, and forgetting, in my wrath, the childish dread which had hitherto stayed my hand, I aimed a blow at the animal which,of course, would have proved instantly fatal had it descended as I wished. But this blow was arrested by the hand of my wife. Goaded, by the interference, into a rage more than demoniacal, I withdrew my arm from her grasp and buried the axe in her brain She fell dead upon the spot, without a groan. This hideous murder accomplished, I set myself forthwith, and with entire deliberation, to the ask of concealing the body i knew that i could not remove it from the house either by day or by 3 This dread was not exactly a dread of physical evil.我对那只猫的恐惧并不是因为它的外形 29 chimaeras:幻觉 30 And now was I indeed wretched beyond the wretchedness of mere humanity.这时,我已经沦落到不能再沦 落的境地了 ose fellow I had contemptuously destroyed -a brute beast to work out for_ me-for me a man, fashioned in the image of the High God- so much of insufferable wo!我杀了那只动物的同类,一只愚 昧的动物竟然为我一—一个以上帝的形象创造出来的人,带来这么多痛苦 32 the feeble remnant of the good within me succumbed:我心中仅存的那么一丁点儿善意也消失了。 3 throwing me headlong:让我摔一个大跟头 would have proved instantly fatal had it descended as I wished:如果斧子如我所愿地落下去的话,那只猫就 会一命呜呼
This dread was not exactly a dread of physical evil28 - and yet I should be at a loss how otherwise to define it. I am almost ashamed to own - yes, even in this felon's cell, I am almost ashamed to own - that the terror and horror with which the animal inspired me, had been heightened by one of the merest chimaeras29 it would be possible to conceive. My wife had called my attention, more than once, to the character of the mark of white hair, of which I have spoken, and which constituted the sole visible difference between the strange beast and the one I had destroyed. The reader will remember that this mark, although large, had been originally very indefinite; but, by slow degrees - degrees nearly imperceptible, and which for a long time my Reason struggled to reject as fanciful - it had, at length, assumed a rigorous distinctness of outline. It was now the representation of an object that I shudder to name - and for this, above all, I loathed, and dreaded, and would have rid myself of the monster _had I dared_ - it was now, I say, the image of a hideous - of a ghastly thing - of the GALLOWS ! - oh, mournful and terrible engine of Horror and of Crime - of Agony and of Death ! And now was I indeed wretched beyond the wretchedness of mere Humanity.30 And _a brute beast _- whose fellow I had contemptuously destroyed - _a brute beast_ to work out for _me_ - for me a man, fashioned in the image of the High God - so much of insufferable wo!31 Alas! neither by day nor by night knew I the blessing of Rest any more! During the former the creature left me no moment alone; and, in the latter, I started, hourly, from dreams of unutterable fear, to find the hot breath of _the thing_ upon my face, and its vast weight - an incarnate Night-Mare that I had no power to shake off - incumbent eternally upon my _heart !_ Beneath the pressure of torments such as these, the feeble remnant of the good within me succumbed32. Evil thoughts became my sole intimates - the darkest and most evil of thoughts. The moodiness of my usual temper increased to hatred of all things and of all mankind; while, from the sudden, frequent, and ungovernable outbursts of a fury to which I now blindly abandoned myself, my uncomplaining wife, alas! was the most usual and the most patient of sufferers. One day she accompanied me, upon some household errand, into the cellar of the old building which our poverty compelled us to inhabit. The cat followed me down the steep stairs, and, nearly throwing me headlong33, exasperated me to madness. Uplifting an axe, and forgetting, in my wrath, the childish dread which had hitherto stayed my hand, I aimed a blow at the animal which, of course, would have proved instantly fatal had it descended as I wished34. But this blow was arrested by the hand of my wife. Goaded, by the interference, into a rage more than demoniacal, I withdrew my arm from her grasp and buried the axe in her brain. She fell dead upon the spot, without a groan. This hideous murder accomplished, I set myself forthwith, and with entire deliberation, to the task of concealing the body. I knew that I could not remove it from the house, either by day or by 28 This dread was not exactly a dread of physical evil. 我对那只猫的恐惧并不是因为它的外形。 29 chimaeras: 幻觉 30 And now was I indeed wretched beyond the wretchedness of mere Humanity. 这时，我已经沦落到不能再沦 落的境地了。 31 And _a brute beast _- whose fellow I had contemptuously destroyed - _a brute beast_ to work out for _me_ - for me a man, fashioned in the image of the High God - so much of insufferable wo!我杀了那只动物的同类，一只愚 昧的动物竟然为我——一个以上帝的形象创造出来的人，带来这么多痛苦。 32 the feeble remnant of the good within me succumbed: 我心中仅存的那么一丁点儿善意也消失了。 33 throwing me headlong: 让我摔一个大跟头 34 would have proved instantly fatal had it descended as I wished: 如果斧子如我所愿地落下去的话，那只猫就 会一命呜呼