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
ight, without the risk of being observed by the neighbors. Many projects entered my mind. At one period I thought of cutting the corpse into minute fragments, and destroying them by fire. at another, I resolved to dig a grave for it in the floor of the cellar. Again, I deliberated about casting it in the well in the yard- about packing it in a box as if merchandize, with the usual arrangements, and so getting a porter to take it from the house. Finally I hit upon what I considered a far better expedient than either of these. I determined to wall it up in the cellar-as the monks of the middle ages are recorded to have walled up their victims For a purpose such as this the cellar was well adapted>. Its walls were loosely constructed and had lately been plastered throughout with a rough plaster, which the dampness of the atmosphere had prevented from hardening. Moreover, in one of the walls was a projection, caused by a false chimney, or fireplace, that had been filled up, and made to resemble the red of the cellar I made no doubt that I could readily displace the bricks at this point, insert the corpse, and wall the hole up as before, so that no eye could detect any thing suspicious. And in this calculation I was not deceived. By means of a crow-bar I easily dislodged the bricks, and, having carefully deposited the body against the inner wall, I propped it in that position, while, with little trouble, I re-laid the whole structure as it originally stood. Having procured mortar, sand, and hair, with every possible precaution, I prepared a plaster which could not be distinguished from the old, and with this I very carefully went over the new brickwork When I had finished, I felt satisfied that all was right. The wall did not present the slightest appearance of having been disturbed. The rubbish on the floor was picked up with the minutest care. I looked around triumphantly, and said to myself-"Here at least, then, my labor has not been in vain My next step was to look for the beast which had been the cause of so much wretchedness; for I had, at length, fimly resolved to put it to death. Had I been able to meet with it, at the moment, there could have been no doubt of its fate, but it appeared that the crafty animal had been alarmed at the violence of my previous anger, and forebore to present itself in my present mood. It is impossible to describe, or to imagine, the deep, the blissful sense of relief which the absence of the detested creature occasioned in my bosom. 7 It did not make its appearance during the night and thus for one night at least, since its introduction into the house, I soundly and tranquilly slept aye, slept even with the burden of murder upon my soul! The second and the third day passed, and still my tormentor came not. Once again I breathed as a freeman. The monster, in terror, had fled the premises forever! I should behold it no more My happiness was supreme! The guilt of my dark deed disturbed me but little. Some few inquiries had been made, but these had been readily answered. Even a search had been instituted- but of course nothing was to be discovered. I looked upon my future felicity as secured Upon the fourth day of the assassination, a party of the police came, very unexpectedly, into the house, and proceeded again to make rigorous investigation of the premises. Secure however in the inscrutability of my place of concealment, I felt no embarrassment whatever. The officers bade me accompany them in their search. They left no nook or corner unexplored. At length, for 3 well adapted:再合适不过了 36crow-bar:铁撬 37 It is impossible to describe, or to imagine, the deep, the blissful sense of relief which the absence of the detested creature occasioned in my bosom.这个令人生厌的东西终于不在了,我心中如释重负的喜悦之情简直无法用 语言形容。 38 fled the premises:从我家逃走了 y9 I looked upon my future felicity as secured.我的未来安然无忧了
night, without the risk of being observed by the neighbors. Many projects entered my mind. At one period I thought of cutting the corpse into minute fragments, and destroying them by fire. At another, I resolved to dig a grave for it in the floor of the cellar. Again, I deliberated about casting it in the well in the yard - about packing it in a box, as if merchandize, with the usual arrangements, and so getting a porter to take it from the house. Finally I hit upon what I considered a far better expedient than either of these. I determined to wall it up in the cellar - as the monks of the middle ages are recorded to have walled up their victims. For a purpose such as this the cellar was well adapted35. Its walls were loosely constructed, and had lately been plastered throughout with a rough plaster, which the dampness of the atmosphere had prevented from hardening. Moreover, in one of the walls was a projection, caused by a false chimney, or fireplace, that had been filled up, and made to resemble the red of the cellar. I made no doubt that I could readily displace the bricks at this point, insert the corpse, and wall the whole up as before, so that no eye could detect any thing suspicious. And in this calculation I was not deceived. By means of a crow-bar36 I easily dislodged the bricks, and, having carefully deposited the body against the inner wall, I propped it in that position, while, with little trouble, I re-laid the whole structure as it originally stood. Having procured mortar, sand, and hair, with every possible precaution, I prepared a plaster which could not be distinguished from the old, and with this I very carefully went over the new brickwork. When I had finished, I felt satisfied that all was right. The wall did not present the slightest appearance of having been disturbed. The rubbish on the floor was picked up with the minutest care. I looked around triumphantly, and said to myself - "Here at least, then, my labor has not been in vain." My next step was to look for the beast which had been the cause of so much wretchedness; for I had, at length, firmly resolved to put it to death. Had I been able to meet with it, at the moment, there could have been no doubt of its fate; but it appeared that the crafty animal had been alarmed at the violence of my previous anger, and forebore to present itself in my present mood. It is impossible to describe, or to imagine, the deep, the blissful sense of relief which the absence of the detested creature occasioned in my bosom. 37 It did not make its appearance during the night - and thus for one night at least, since its introduction into the house, I soundly and tranquilly slept; aye, slept even with the burden of murder upon my soul! The second and the third day passed, and still my tormentor came not. Once again I breathed as a freeman. The monster, in terror, had fled the premises38 forever! I should behold it no more! My happiness was supreme! The guilt of my dark deed disturbed me but little. Some few inquiries had been made, but these had been readily answered. Even a search had been instituted - but of course nothing was to be discovered. I looked upon my future felicity as secured.39 Upon the fourth day of the assassination, a party of the police came, very unexpectedly, into the house, and proceeded again to make rigorous investigation of the premises. Secure, however, in the inscrutability of my place of concealment, I felt no embarrassment whatever. The officers bade me accompany them in their search. They left no nook or corner unexplored. At length, for 35 well adapted: 再合适不过了 36 crow-bar: 铁撬 37 It is impossible to describe, or to imagine, the deep, the blissful sense of relief which the absence of the detested creature occasioned in my bosom. 这个令人生厌的东西终于不在了，我心中如释重负的喜悦之情简直无法用 语言形容。 38 fled the premises: 从我家逃走了 39 I looked upon my future felicity as secured. 我的未来安然无忧了
the third or fourth time, they descended into the cellar. I quivered not in a muscle. My heart beat calmly as that of one who slumbers in innocence. I walked the cellar from end to end. I folded my arms upon my bosom, and roamed easily to and fro. The police were thoroughly satisfied and prepared to depart. The glee at my heart was too strong to be restrained. I burned to say if but one word, by way of triumph, and to render doubly sure their assurance of my guiltlessness. 40 Gentlemen, I said at last, as the party ascended the steps, "I delight to have allayed your suspicions+. I wish you all health, and a little more courtesy. By the byet2, gentlemen, this-this a very well constructed house. [In the rabid desire to say something easily, I scarcely knew what I uttered at all ]-"I may say an excellently well constructed house. These walls are you going, gentlemen?-these walls are solidly put together; "and here, through the mere phrenzy of bravado, I rapped heavily, with a cane which I held in my hand, upon that very portion of the brick-work behind which stood the corpse of the wife of my bosom But may God shield and deliver me from the fangs of the Arch-Fiend!- No sooner had the reverberation of my blows sunk into silence, than I was answered by a voice from within the tomb by a cry, at first muffled and broken, like the sobbing of a child, and then quickly swelling into one long, loud, and continuous scream, utterly anomalous and inhuman-a howl-a wailing shriek half of horror and half of triumph, such as might have arisen only out of hell, conjointly from the throats of the dammed in their agony and of the demons that exult in the damnation Of my own thoughts it is folly to speak. Swooning, I staggered to the opposite wall. For one instant the party upon the stairs remained motionless, through extremity of terror and of awe. In the next, a dozen stout arms were toiling at the wall. It fell bodily. The corpse, already greatly decayed and clotted with gore, stood erect before the eyes of the spectators. Upon its head, with red extended mouth and solitary eye of fire, sat the hideous beast whose craft had seduced me into murder, and whose informing voice had consigned me to the hangman i had walled the monster up within the tomb I burned to say if but one word, by way of triumph, and to render doubly sure their assurance of my guiltlessness.为表达我的胜利,我恨不得开口说话,哪怕讲一句话也好,让这些警察更加确信我的清白无 4 allayed your suspicions:洗脱我的嫌疑 2 by the bye:顺便说一句 43 But may God shield and deliver me from the fangs of the arch- Fiend!愿主保佑,将我从恶魔的口中拯救出 来吧! wooing:迷迷糊糊地 4 It fell bodily..整座墙倒了下去 otted with gore:凝着血块
the third or fourth time, they descended into the cellar. I quivered not in a muscle. My heart beat calmly as that of one who slumbers in innocence. I walked the cellar from end to end. I folded my arms upon my bosom, and roamed easily to and fro. The police were thoroughly satisfied and prepared to depart. The glee at my heart was too strong to be restrained. I burned to say if but one word, by way of triumph, and to render doubly sure their assurance of my guiltlessness. 40 "Gentlemen," I said at last, as the party ascended the steps, "I delight to have allayed your suspicions41. I wish you all health, and a little more courtesy. By the bye42, gentlemen, this - this is a very well constructed house." [In the rabid desire to say something easily, I scarcely knew what I uttered at all.] - "I may say an _excellently_ well constructed house. These walls are you going, gentlemen? - these walls are solidly put together;" and here, through the mere phrenzy of bravado, I rapped heavily, with a cane which I held in my hand, upon that very portion of the brick-work behind which stood the corpse of the wife of my bosom. But may God shield and deliver me from the fangs of the Arch-Fiend! 43 No sooner had the reverberation of my blows sunk into silence, than I was answered by a voice from within the tomb! - by a cry, at first muffled and broken, like the sobbing of a child, and then quickly swelling into one long, loud, and continuous scream, utterly anomalous and inhuman - a howl - a wailing shriek, half of horror and half of triumph, such as might have arisen only out of hell, conjointly from the throats of the dammed in their agony and of the demons that exult in the damnation. Of my own thoughts it is folly to speak. Swooning44, I staggered to the opposite wall. For one instant the party upon the stairs remained motionless, through extremity of terror and of awe. In the next, a dozen stout arms were toiling at the wall. It fell bodily.45 The corpse, already greatly decayed and clotted with gore46, stood erect before the eyes of the spectators. Upon its head, with red extended mouth and solitary eye of fire, sat the hideous beast whose craft had seduced me into murder, and whose informing voice had consigned me to the hangman. I had walled the monster up within the tomb! 40 I burned to say if but one word, by way of triumph, and to render doubly sure their assurance of my guiltlessness. 为表达我的胜利，我恨不得开口说话，哪怕讲一句话也好，让这些警察更加确信我的清白无 辜。 41 allayed your suspicions: 洗脱我的嫌疑 42 by the bye: 顺便说一句 43 But may God shield and deliver me from the fangs of the Arch-Fiend! 愿主保佑，将我从恶魔的口中拯救出 来吧！ 44 swooning: 迷迷糊糊地 45 It fell bodily. 整座墙倒了下去。 46 clotted with gore: 凝着血块
《黑猫》赏析 埃德加·爱伦·坡被誉为恐怖小说大师、侦探小说鼻祖。短篇小说《黑猫》 讲述了一个男人在酒精的作用下杀死了一只猫,另一只相似的黑猫的出现再一次 激发了他的邪恶,最后导致他误杀了妻子。整篇小说给读者一种恐怖、神秘、紧 张的气氛,充满了哥特式的惊险和黑暗,是他的代表作之一。 《黑猫》使用了第一人称的叙述手法,故事从一个即将走上刑场的犯人口中 娓娓道来。这种叙述手法使得读者能够跟随主人公一起参与到这件荒诞恐怖的事 件中,更好地体会主人公的心理变化和内心世界。一方面增强了故事的真实性, 另一方面,主人公又是像一个魔鬼、精神病人,一个不可靠叙述者( unreliable narrator),虽然他一再否认自己精神失常,这为小说增添了一种荒诞离奇的气氛。 《黑猫》中的各个形象有其象征意义。黑猫在西方文化中是不详的象征,它 的名字普路托在希腊罗马神话中也是冥王的名字。第一只猫成为了主人公邪恶的 牺牲品,第二只猫则是邪恶的化身,促使“我”的堕落、犯罪和毁灭。主人公将 黑猫的一只眼睛剜了出来,某种程度上象征着主人公对自己人性中的善视而不见。 第一次杀猫之后,他家发生了一场大火,这场大火可以说象征了主人公向恶的 次彻底性转变,同时,也表明了作恶之人将会受到惩罚和报应。火灾后,家中有 一面墙没有倒下,墙上还神秘地留下了一幅猫的浮雕,象征着主人公的罪行不可 饶恕也无法挽回。爱伦·坡曾在随笔《本能与理性 只黑猫》中指出动物的 本能与人的理性之间的界限是模糊不清的。本文中猫的狡猾似乎透出理性,而“我” 的本能则取代了我的理性,促使“我”犯罪。有些学者提出,从政治方面看,“我” 代表着白人,白人对废奴的冲动意味着抛弃理性;而黑猫代表着黑人,黑人本拥 有“动物本能”,一旦获得理性,后果不堪设想。这也体现了爱伦·坡保守的政 治观点。47 文章中有一段心理描写十分有名:哪怕明知不可做不可为,谁不曾千万次莫 名地做了蠢事,犯下恶行?哪怕有卓越的理智,谁不曾正因知法而燃起渴望知法 47参考了《世界文化》,2011年9月第9期,《作家笔下猫的众生相》一文中的观点
《黑猫》赏析 埃德加·爱伦·坡被誉为恐怖小说大师、侦探小说鼻祖。短篇小说《黑猫》 讲述了一个男人在酒精的作用下杀死了一只猫，另一只相似的黑猫的出现再一次 激发了他的邪恶，最后导致他误杀了妻子。整篇小说给读者一种恐怖、神秘、紧 张的气氛，充满了哥特式的惊险和黑暗，是他的代表作之一。 《黑猫》使用了第一人称的叙述手法，故事从一个即将走上刑场的犯人口中 娓娓道来。这种叙述手法使得读者能够跟随主人公一起参与到这件荒诞恐怖的事 件中，更好地体会主人公的心理变化和内心世界。一方面增强了故事的真实性， 另一方面，主人公又是像一个魔鬼、精神病人，一个不可靠叙述者（unreliable narrator），虽然他一再否认自己精神失常，这为小说增添了一种荒诞离奇的气氛。 《黑猫》中的各个形象有其象征意义。黑猫在西方文化中是不详的象征，它 的名字普路托在希腊罗马神话中也是冥王的名字。第一只猫成为了主人公邪恶的 牺牲品，第二只猫则是邪恶的化身，促使“我”的堕落、犯罪和毁灭。主人公将 黑猫的一只眼睛剜了出来，某种程度上象征着主人公对自己人性中的善视而不见。 第一次杀猫之后，他家发生了一场大火，这场大火可以说象征了主人公向恶的一 次彻底性转变，同时，也表明了作恶之人将会受到惩罚和报应。火灾后，家中有 一面墙没有倒下，墙上还神秘地留下了一幅猫的浮雕，象征着主人公的罪行不可 饶恕也无法挽回。爱伦·坡曾在随笔《本能与理性——一只黑猫》中指出动物的 本能与人的理性之间的界限是模糊不清的。本文中猫的狡猾似乎透出理性，而“我” 的本能则取代了我的理性，促使“我”犯罪。有些学者提出，从政治方面看，“我” 代表着白人，白人对废奴的冲动意味着抛弃理性；而黑猫代表着黑人，黑人本拥 有“动物本能”，一旦获得理性，后果不堪设想。这也体现了爱伦·坡保守的政 治观点。47 文章中有一段心理描写十分有名：哪怕明知不可做不可为，谁不曾千万次莫 名地做了蠢事，犯下恶行？哪怕有卓越的理智，谁不曾正因知法而燃起渴望知法 47 参考了《世界文化》，2011 年 9 月第 9 期，《作家笔下猫的众生相》一文中的观点
犯法的邪念?主人公将他杀害猫的行为归咎于一种内心渴望颠覆本性、渴望为作 恶而作恶的冲动。他原本善良,但在外物(酒精)的作用下,本性中的邪恶被激 发出来。爱伦·坡所描写的这种潜伏在人内心的、纯粹的、但又如此致命的邪念 让人不寒而栗。整篇文章刻画了主人公的良心谴责,也描写了犯罪的心理和过程, 并不旨在“扬善惩恶”或唆使人去犯罪,他只是放大了这种心理的邪恶,以达到 恐怖的效果。 整篇小说不乏恐怖小说常有的犯罪、杀人情节,将杀妻的场景放在阴暗潮湿 的地窖,并详写了埋尸的过程。最后黑猫报复的叫声,黑猫和尸体的造型所带来 的听觉和视觉的冲击仔细想来让人毛骨悚然。这些元素加上人性的邪恶使得爱 伦·坡的恐怖深入人的内心,小说的恐怖上升到一种美的高度,这也是他写作创 作所追求的目标。 10300120201 杨晶 翻译系
犯法的邪念？主人公将他杀害猫的行为归咎于一种内心渴望颠覆本性、渴望为作 恶而作恶的冲动。他原本善良，但在外物（酒精）的作用下，本性中的邪恶被激 发出来。爱伦·坡所描写的这种潜伏在人内心的、纯粹的、但又如此致命的邪念 让人不寒而栗。整篇文章刻画了主人公的良心谴责，也描写了犯罪的心理和过程， 并不旨在“扬善惩恶”或唆使人去犯罪，他只是放大了这种心理的邪恶，以达到 恐怖的效果。 整篇小说不乏恐怖小说常有的犯罪、杀人情节，将杀妻的场景放在阴暗潮湿 的地窖，并详写了埋尸的过程。最后黑猫报复的叫声，黑猫和尸体的造型所带来 的听觉和视觉的冲击仔细想来让人毛骨悚然。这些元素加上人性的邪恶使得爱 伦·坡的恐怖深入人的内心，小说的恐怖上升到一种美的高度，这也是他写作创 作所追求的目标。 10300120201 杨 晶 翻译系