穆斯塔法努德剛看完一份文件,標(biāo)題是《一條生物學(xué)的新理論》。
He sat for some time, meditatively frowning, thenpicked up his pen and wrote across the title-page:
他沉思地皺起眉頭坐了一會(huì)兒,然后提起筆在標(biāo)題頁(yè)上寫道:
The author's mathematical treatment of theconception of purpose is novel and highlyingenious,
作者用數(shù)學(xué)方法處理目標(biāo)的設(shè)想新奇而極富獨(dú)創(chuàng)性,
but heretical and, so far as the present social order is concerned, dangerous and potentiallysubversive. Not to be published.
但為不經(jīng)之論,對(duì)當(dāng)前社會(huì)秩序具潛在的顛覆作用,頗為危險(xiǎn),不予發(fā)表。
He underlined the words.
他在那幾個(gè)字下畫了根線。
The author will be kept under supervision. His transference to the Marine Biological Station ofSt. Helena may become necessary.
對(duì)該作者須加監(jiān)視,必要時(shí)下放海軍至海倫那生物站工作。
A pity, he thought, as he signed his name. It was a masterly piece of work.
很可惜,他簽名時(shí)想道,是一篇杰作。
But once you began admitting explanations in terms of purpose—well, you didn't know what theresult might be.
但一旦接受從目標(biāo)出發(fā)所做的解釋——結(jié)果便很難預(yù)料。
It was the sort of idea that might easily decondition the more unsettled minds among thehigher castes
這一類思想極容易破壞上層種姓中思想不堅(jiān)定分子已設(shè)置的條件
make them lose their faith in happiness as the Sovereign Good and take to believing,
讓他們對(duì)體現(xiàn)最高的“善”的幸福失去信心,
instead, that the goal was somewhere beyond, somewhere outside the present human sphere,that the purpose of life was not the maintenance of well-being,
轉(zhuǎn)而相信幸福之外還有著存在于當(dāng)前人類社會(huì)以外的目的,從而相信生活的目的不是維護(hù)福利,
but some intensification and refining of consciousness, some enlargement of knowledge.
而是深入意識(shí)及擴(kuò)大知識(shí)。
Which was, the Controller reflected, quite possibly true. But not, in the present circumstance,admissible.
這話很可能不錯(cuò),總統(tǒng)想道,但在目前的環(huán)境里決不能容許。
He picked up his pen again, and under the words "Not to be published" drew a second line,thicker and blacker than the first;
他再次拿起筆,在“不予發(fā)表”下面畫上了第二道線,比頭一根還要粗黑。
then sighed, "What fun it would be," he thought, "if one didn't have to think about happiness!"
然后嘆了一口氣,“如果人不必考慮幸福的話,”他想,“哪會(huì)多么有趣!”
With closed eyes, his face shining with rapture, John was softly declaiming to vacancy,Oh! shedoth teach the torches to burn bright.
約翰閉著眼睛,臉上煥發(fā)出歡樂的光彩,對(duì)著虛空柔情脈脈地朗誦道,啊,連火炬也要學(xué)習(xí)她明亮的燃燒,
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night, Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear; Beauty too richfor use, for earth too dear ..."The golden T lay shining on Lenina's bosom.
她仿佛是在黑夜的面頰旁閃光熠耀,有如埃塞俄比亞人耳里豪華的耳墜,太豪華的美,不能用,在人間太寶貴……”金質(zhì)的T字架在列寧娜的胸脯上閃光。
Sportively, the Arch-Community-Songster caught hold of it, sportively he puled, pulled.
社區(qū)首席歌唱家抓住它,好玩地?fù)Q了幾下。
"I think," said Lenina suddenly, breaking a long silence, "I'd better take a couple of grammesof soma."
“我覺得,”列寧娜打破了長(zhǎng)久的沉默說,“我最好吞兩克唆麻。”