一桶白葡萄酒
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福吐納托對我百般迫害,我都盡量忍在心頭,可是一旦他膽敢侮辱我,我就發誓要報仇了,您早就摸熟我生性脾气,總不見得當我說說嚇唬人。總有一天我要報仇雪恨;這個注意堅定不移,既然拿定主意不改,就沒想到會出危險。我不僅要給他吃吃苦頭,還要干得絕了后患。報仇的自己得到報應,這筆仇就沒了清。复仇的不讓冤家知道是誰害他,這筆仇也沒了清。
不消說,我一言一語,一舉一動都沒引起福吐納托怀疑是存心不良。還是照常對他笑臉相迎,可他沒看出如今我是想到要送他命才笑呢。
福吐納托這人在某些方面雖令人尊重,甚至令人敬畏,可就是有個弱點。他自夸是品酒老手。意大利人沒几個具有真正行家的气質。他們的熱眨喟攵加脕黼S机應變,看風使舵,好讓英國和奧地利的大財主上當。談到古畫和珠寶方面,福吐納托跟他同胞一樣,夸夸其談,不過談到陳酒方面,倒是真正識貨。這點我跟他大致相同——對意大利葡萄酒,我也算內行,只要辦得到的話,就大量買進。
在熱鬧的狂歡節里,有天傍晚,正當暮色蒼茫,我碰到了這位朋友。他親熱的招呼我,因為他肚里灌飽了酒。這家伙扮成小丑,身穿雜色條紋緊身衣,頭戴圓尖帽,上面系著鈴鐺。我看見他真是高興极了,不由想握著他的手久久不放。
我對他說:“老兄啊,幸會,幸會。你今天气色真是好到极點。我弄到一大桶所謂白葡萄酒(西班牙蒙蒂利亞生產的一种甜酒),可我不放心。”
“怎的?”他說,“白葡萄酒?一大桶?不見得吧!在狂歡節期間哪弄得到?”
“我不放心,”我答道,“我真笨透了,居然沒跟你商量,就照白葡萄酒的价錢全付清了。找又找不到你,可又生怕錯過這筆買賣。”
“白葡萄酒!”
“我不放心。”
“白葡萄酒!”
“我一定得放下這條心!”
“白葡萄酒!”
“瞧你有事,我正想去找盧克雷西呢。只有他才能品酒。他會告訴我——”
“可有些傻瓜硬說他眼力跟你不相上下呢。”
“快,咱們走吧。”
“上哪儿?”
“上你地窖去。”
“老兄,這不行;我不愿欺你心好就麻煩你啊。我看出你有事。盧克雷西——”
“我沒事,來吧。”
“老兄,這不行。有事沒事倒沒什么,就是冷得夠嗆,我看你受不了。地窖里潮得不得了。四壁都是硝。”
“咱們還是走吧,冷算不了什么。白葡萄酒!你可上當啦。說到盧克雷西,他連雪梨酒跟白葡萄酒都分不清。”
說著福吐納托就架住我胳膊;我戴上黑綢面具,把短披風緊緊裹住身子,就由他催著我上公館去了。
家里听差一個也不見,都趁机溜出去過節了。我對他們說過我要到第二天早晨才回家,還跟他們講明,不准出門。我心里有數,這么一吩咐,包管我剛轉身,馬上就一個個都跑光了。
我從燭台上拿了兩個火把,一個給福吐納托,領他穿過几套房間,走進拱廊,通往地窖,走下長長一座回旋樓梯,請他一路跟著,隨加小心。我們終于到了樓梯腳下,一塊站在蒙特里梭府墓窖的濕地上。
我朋友的腳步搖搖晃晃,跨一步,帽上鈴鐺就丁零當啷響。
“那桶酒呢?”他說。
“在前面,”我說,“可得留神牆上雪白的蛛网在發光。”
他朝我回過身來,兩只醉意朦朧的眼睛水汪汪的盯著我。
“硝?”他終于問道。
“硝,”我答道,“你害上那种咳嗽有多久了?”
“呃嘿!呃嘿!——呃嘿!呃嘿!呃嘿!——呃嘿!呃嘿!呃嘿!——呃嘿!呃嘿!呃嘿!——呃嘿!呃嘿!呃嘿!”
我那可怜的朋友老半天答不上口。
“沒什么,”最后他說道。
“喏,”我依然答道,“咱們回去吧,你的身体要緊。你有錢有勢,人人敬慕,又得人心;你象我從前一樣幸福。要有個三長兩短,那真是非同小可。我倒無所謂,咱們回去吧,你害病,我可擔待不起。再說,還有盧克雷西——”
“別說了,”他說,“咳嗽可不算什么,咳不死的。我不會咳死。”
“對——對,”我答,“說真的的,我可不是存心嚇唬你——可總得好好預防才是。喝一口美道克酒去去潮气吧。”
說著我就從泥地上的一長溜酒瓶里,拿起一瓶酒,砸了瓶頸。
“喝吧,”我把酒遞給他。
他瞟了我一眼,就將酒瓶舉到唇邊。他歇下手,親熱的向我點點頭,帽上鈴鐺就丁零當啷響了。
“我為周圍那些長眠地下的干杯。”他說。
“我為你万壽無疆干杯。”
他又攙著我胳膊,我們就繼續往前走。
“這些地窖可真大。”他說。
“蒙特里梭家是大族,子子孫孫多。”我答。
“我忘了你們府上的家徽啦。”
“偌大一只人腳,金的,襯著一片天藍色的北京。把條騰起的蟒蛇踩爛了,蛇牙就咬著腳跟。”
“那么家訓呢?”
“凡傷我者,必遭懲罰。”
“妙啊!”他說。
喝了酒,他眼睛亮閃閃的,帽上鈴鐺又丁零當啷響了。我喝了美道克酒,心里更加胡思亂想了。我們走過尸骨和大小酒桶堆成的一長條夾弄,進了墓窖的最深處,我又站住腳,這回竟放膽抓住福吐納托的上臂。
“硝!”我說,“瞧,越來越多了。象青苔,挂在拱頂上。咱們在河床下面啦。水珠子滴在尸骨里呢。快走,咱們趁早回去吧。你咳嗽——”
“沒什么,”他說,“咱們往下走吧。不過先讓我再喝口美道克酒。”
我打開一壺葛拉維酒,遞給他。他一口气喝光了,眼睛里頓時殺气騰騰,呵呵直笑,把酒瓶往上一扔,那個手勢,我可不明白是什么意思。
我吃惊的看著他。他又做了那個手勢——一個希奇古怪的手勢。
“你不懂?”他說。
“我不懂。”我答。
“那你就不是同道。”
“怎的?”
“你不是泥瓦工。(原文是mason,在英文中泥瓦工与共濟會會員解,按共濟會發源与中古時代,最初系泥瓦工工會的一种秘密團体,以互相幫助為宗旨,相遇時以暗號聯系。)”
“是的,是的,”我說,“是的,是的。”
“你?不見得吧!你是?”
“我是,”我答。
“暗號呢,”他說,“暗號呢?”
“就是這個,”我邊說邊從短披風的褶襉下拿出把泥刀。
“你開玩笑吶,”他倒退几步,喊著說。“咱們還是往前去看白葡萄酒吧。”
“好吧,”我說,一邊把泥刀重新放在披風下面,一邊伸過胳膊給他扶著。他沉沉地靠在我胳膊上。這就繼續向前走,再往下走,到了一個幽深的墓穴里,這里空气渾濁,手里火把頓時不見火光,只剩火焰了。
在墓穴的盡頭,又出現了更狹窄的墓穴。四壁成排堆著尸骨,一直高高堆到拱頂,就跟巴黎那些大墓窖一個樣。里頭這個墓穴有三面牆,仍然這樣堆著。還有一面的尸骨都給推倒了,亂七八糟的堆在地上,積成相當大的一個尸骨墩。在搬開尸骨的那堵牆間,只見里頭還有一個墓穴,或者壁龕,深約四英尺,寬達三英尺,高六七英尺。看上去當初造了并沒打算派什么特別用處,不過是墓窖頂下兩根大柱間的空隙罷了,后面卻靠著一堵堅固的花崗石垣牆。
福吐納托舉起昏暗的火把,盡力朝壁龕深處仔細探看,可就是白費勁,火光微弱,看不見底。
“往前走,”我說,“白葡萄酒就在這里頭。盧克雷西——”
“他是個充內行,”我朋友一面搖搖晃晃的往前走,一面插嘴道,我緊跟在他屁股后走進去。一眨眼工夫,他走到壁龕的盡頭了,一見給岩石擋住了道,就一籌莫展的發著楞。隔了片刻,我已經把他鎖在花崗石牆上了。牆上裝著兩個鐵環,橫里相距兩英尺左右。一個環上挂著根短鐵鏈,另一個挂著把大鎖。不消一剎那工夫,就把他攔腰拴上鏈子了。他惊慌失措,根本忘了反抗,我拔掉鑰匙,就退出壁龕。
“伸出手去摸摸牆,”我說,“保你摸到硝。真是濕得很。讓我再一次求求你回去吧。不回去?那我得离開你啦。可我還先得盡份心,照顧你一下。”
“白葡萄酒!”我朋友惊魂未定,不由失聲喊道。
“不錯,”我答,“白葡萄酒。”
說著我就在前文提過的尸骨堆間忙著。我把尸骨扔開,不久就掏出好些砌牆用的的石塊和灰泥。我便用這些材料,再靠那把泥刀,一個勁地在壁龕入口處砌起一堵牆來。
我連頭一層石塊也沒砌成,就知道福吐納托的醉意八成醒了。最先听到壁龕深處傳出幽幽一聲哼叫。這不象醉鬼的叫聲。隨即一陣沉默,久久未了。我砌了第二層,再砌第三層,再砌第四層;接著就听到拼命搖晃鐵鏈的聲音。一直響了好几分鐘,我索性歇下手中的活,在骨堆上坐下,為的是听得更加稱心如意,待等當啷當啷的聲音終于啞寂,才重新拿起泥刀,不停手的砌上第五層,第六層,第七層。這時砌得差不多齊胸了。我又歇下手來,將火把舉到石牆上,一線微弱的火光就照在里頭那個人影上。
猛然間,那個上了鎖鏈的人影從嗓子眼里發出一連串尖利響亮的喊聲,仿佛想拼命嚇退我。剎那間,我拿不定主意,簌簌直抖,不久就拔出長劍,手執長劍在壁龕里摸索起來;轉念一想,又放下了心。我的手擱在墓窖那堅固的建筑上,就安心了。再走到牆跟前,那人大聲嚷嚷,我也對他哇哇亂叫。他叫一聲,我應一聲,叫得比他響,比他亮。這一叫,對方叫嚷的聲音就啞了。
這時已經深更半夜了,我也快干完了。第八層,第九層,第十層早砌上了,最后一層,也就是第十一層,也快砌完了;只消嵌進最后一塊石塊,再抹上灰泥就行了。我拼了命托起這塊沉甸甸的石塊,把石塊一角放在原定地位。誰知這時壁龕里傳來一陣低沉的笑聲,嚇得我頭發根根直立。接著傳來凄厲的一聲,好容易才認出那是福吐納托老爺的聲音。只听得說——
“哈!哈!哈!——嘻!嘻!嘻!——這倒真是個天大的笑話——絕妙的玩笑,回頭到了公館,就好笑個痛快啦——嘻!嘻!嘻!——邊喝酒邊笑——嘻!嘻!嘻!”
“白葡萄酒!”我說。
“嘻!嘻!嘻!——嘻!嘻!嘻!——對,白葡萄酒。可還來得及嗎?福吐納托夫人他們不是在公館里等咱們嗎?咱們走吧!”
“對,”我說,“咱們走吧!”
“看在老天爺份上走吧,蒙特里梭!”
“對,”我說,“看在老天爺份上。”
誰知我說了這句話,怎么听都听不到一聲回答。心里漸漸沉不住气了,便出聲喊道:
“福吐納托!”
沒答腔。我再喚一遍。
“福吐納托!”
還是沒答腔。我將火把塞進還沒砌上的牆孔,扔了進去。誰知只傳來丁零當啷的響聲。我不由惡心起來,這是由于墓窖里那份濕气的緣故。我赶緊完工。把最后一塊石頭塞好,抹上灰泥。再緊靠著這堵新牆,重新堆好尸骨。五十年來一直沒人動過。愿死者安息吧!
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在网上查莫扎特的共济会(MASON),查到了爱伦坡一桶白葡萄酒,转来
慢慢读。
- Re: 一桶白葡萄酒(爱伦坡)posted on 03/11/2005
爱伦坡这厮就爱写这些阴暗黑古隆冬(据说从未写过白天发生的事),恐怖小说就自他起,难怪发明黑物质这词儿。
怎么在他那里共济会成了恐怖组织似的? - Re: 一桶白葡萄酒(爱伦坡)posted on 03/11/2005
昨晚看了芥川的罗生门。
日本对心理恐怖的营造比美国的恐怖片高级得不是一点两点。 - posted on 03/11/2005
adagio wrote:
糟糕,古董先生要成立地下恐怖组织了,这一上午又是共济会,又是辉格党烧炭党的。
我是觉这些个党啊,会啊,都有理理清楚的必要,况且名字也都是蛮
好玩的。
比如说,爱伦坡就在共济会和复仇臆幻上筑文章,那暗道、拟声、一
层层的墙,还有硝,真有把仇人打入十八层地狱的笔力,多么解恨啊!
(我读了又觉得有些歹毒!)
但要比“打倒土豪,打倒土豪,分田地...”有味。
玛雅 wrote:
昨晚看了芥川的罗生门。
日本对心理恐怖的营造比美国的恐怖片高级得不是一点两点。
我喜欢日本那时的黑白电影,后来黑泽明也玩拼图游戏了。
- posted on 03/14/2005
THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO
EDGAR ALLAN POE
THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely, settled --but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.
It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. I continued, as was my in to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my to smile now was at the thought of his immolation.
He had a weak point --this Fortunato --although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine. Few Italians have the true virtuoso spirit. For the most part their enthusiasm is adopted to suit the time and opportunity, to practise imposture upon the British and Austrian millionaires. In painting and gemmary, Fortunato, like his countrymen, was a quack, but in the matter of old wines he was sincere. In this respect I did not differ from him materially; --I was skilful in the Italian vintages myself, and bought largely whenever I could.
It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season, that I encountered my friend. He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much. The man wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells. I was so pleased to see him that I thought I should never have done wringing his hand.
I said to him --"My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking to-day. But I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado, and I have my doubts."
"How?" said he. "Amontillado, A pipe? Impossible! And in the middle of the carnival!"
"I have my doubts," I replied; "and I was silly enough to pay the full Amontillado price without consulting you in the matter. You were not to be found, and I was fearful of losing a bargain."
"Amontillado!"
"I have my doubts."
"Amontillado!"
"And I must satisfy them."
"Amontillado!"
"As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchresi. If any one has a critical turn it is he. He will tell me --"
"Luchresi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry."
"And yet some fools will have it that his taste is a match for your own.
"Come, let us go."
"Whither?"
"To your vaults."
"My friend, no; I will not impose upon your good nature. I perceive you have an engagement. Luchresi--"
"I have no engagement; --come."
"My friend, no. It is not the engagement, but the severe cold with which I perceive you are afflicted. The vaults are insufferably damp. They are encrusted with nitre."
"Let us go, nevertheless. The cold is merely nothing. Amontillado! You have been imposed upon. And as for Luchresi, he cannot distinguish Sherry from Amontillado."
Thus speaking, Fortunato possessed himself of my arm; and putting on a mask of black silk and drawing a roquelaire closely about my person, I suffered him to hurry me to my palazzo.
There were no attendants at home; they had absconded to make merry in honour of the time. I had told them that I should not return until the morning, and had given them explicit orders not to stir from the house. These orders were sufficient, I well knew, to insure their immediate disappearance, one and all, as soon as my back was turned.
I took from their sconces two flambeaux, and giving one to Fortunato, bowed him through several suites of rooms to the archway that led into the vaults. I passed down a long and winding staircase, requesting him to be cautious as he followed. We came at length to the foot of the descent, and stood together upon the damp ground of the catacombs of the Montresors.
The gait of my friend was unsteady, and the bells upon his cap jingled as he strode.
"The pipe," he said.
"It is farther on," said I; "but observe the white web-work which gleams from these cavern walls."
He turned towards me, and looked into my eves with two filmy orbs that distilled the rheum of intoxication.
"Nitre?" he asked, at length.
"Nitre," I replied. "How long have you had that cough?"
"Ugh! ugh! ugh! --ugh! ugh! ugh! --ugh! ugh! ugh! --ugh! ugh! ugh! --ugh! ugh! ugh!"
My poor friend found it impossible to reply for many minutes.
"It is nothing," he said, at last.
"Come," I said, with decision, "we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchresi --"
"Enough," he said; "the cough's a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough."
"True --true," I replied; "and, indeed, I had no intention of alarming you unnecessarily --but you should use all proper caution. A draught of this Medoc will defend us from the damps.
Here I knocked off the neck of a bottle which I drew from a long row of its fellows that lay upon the mould.
"Drink," I said, presenting him the wine. He raised it to his lips with a leer. He paused and nodded to me familiarly, while his bells jingled.
"I drink," he said, "to the buried that repose around us."
"And I to your long life."
He again took my arm, and we proceeded.
"These vaults," he said, "are extensive."
"The Montresors," I replied, "were a great and numerous family."
"I forget your arms."
"A huge human foot d'or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel."
"And the motto?"
"Nemo me impune lacessit."
"Good!" he said.
The wine sparkled in his eyes and the bells jingled. My own fancy grew warm with the Medoc. We had passed through long walls of piled skeletons, with casks and puncheons intermingling, into the inmost recesses of the catacombs. I paused again, and this time I made bold to seize Fortunato by an arm above the elbow.
"The nitre!" I said; "see, it increases. It hangs like moss upon the vaults. We are below the river's bed. The drops of moisture trickle among the bones. Come, we will go back ere it is too late. Your cough --"
"It is nothing," he said; "let us go on. But first, another draught of the Medoc."
I broke and reached him a flagon of De Grave. He emptied it at a breath. His eyes flashed with a fierce light. He laughed and threw the bottle upwards with a gesticulation I did not understand.
I looked at him in surprise. He repeated the movement --a grotesque one.
"You do not comprehend?" he said.
"Not I," I replied.
"Then you are not of the brotherhood."
"How?"
"You are not of the masons."
"Yes, yes," I said; "yes, yes."
"You? Impossible! A mason?"
"A mason," I replied.
"A sign," he said, "a sign."
"It is this," I answered, producing from beneath the folds of my roquelaire a trowel.
"You jest," he exclaimed, recoiling a few paces. "But let us proceed to the Amontillado."
"Be it so," I said, replacing the tool beneath the cloak and again offering him my arm. He leaned upon it heavily. We continued our route in search of the Amontillado. We passed through a range of low arches, descended, passed on, and descending again, arrived at a deep crypt, in which the foulness of the air caused our flambeaux rather to glow than flame.
At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared another less spacious. Its walls had been lined with human remains, piled to the vault overhead, in the fashion of the great catacombs of Paris. Three sides of this interior crypt were still ornamented in this manner. From the fourth side the bones had been thrown down, and lay promiscuously upon the earth, forming at one point a mound of some size. Within the wall thus exposed by the displacing of the bones, we perceived a still interior crypt or recess, in depth about four feet, in width three, in height six or seven. It seemed to have been constructed for no especial use within itself, but formed merely the interval between two of the colossal supports of the roof of the catacombs, and was backed by one of their circumscribing walls of solid granite.
It was in vain that Fortunato, uplifting his dull torch, endeavoured to pry into the depth of the recess. Its termination the feeble light did not enable us to see.
"Proceed," I said; "herein is the Amontillado. As for Luchresi --"
"He is an ignoramus," interrupted my friend, as he stepped unsteadily forward, while I followed immediately at his heels. In niche, and finding an instant he had reached the extremity of the niche, and finding his progress arrested by the rock, stood stupidly bewildered. A moment more and I had fettered him to the granite. In its surface were two iron staples, distant from each other about two feet, horizontally. From one of these depended a short chain, from the other a padlock. Throwing the links about his waist, it was but the work of a few seconds to secure it. He was too much astounded to resist. Withdrawing the key I stepped back from the recess.
"Pass your hand," I said, "over the wall; you cannot help feeling the nitre. Indeed, it is very damp. Once more let me implore you to return. No? Then I must positively leave you. But I must first render you all the little attentions in my power."
"The Amontillado!" ejaculated my friend, not yet recovered from his astonishment.
"True," I replied; "the Amontillado."
As I said these words I busied myself among the pile of bones of which I have before spoken. Throwing them aside, I soon uncovered a quantity of building stone and mortar. With these materials and with the aid of my trowel, I began vigorously to wall up the entrance of the niche.
I had scarcely laid the first tier of the masonry when I discovered that the intoxication of Fortunato had in a great measure worn off. The earliest indication I had of this was a low moaning cry from the depth of the recess. It was not the cry of a drunken man. There was then a long and obstinate silence. I laid the second tier, and the third, and the fourth; and then I heard the furious vibrations of the chain. The noise lasted for several minutes, during which, that I might hearken to it with the more satisfaction, I ceased my labours and sat down upon the bones. When at last the clanking subsided, I resumed the trowel, and finished without interruption the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh tier. The wall was now nearly upon a level with my breast. I again paused, and holding the flambeaux over the mason-work, threw a few feeble rays upon the figure within.
A succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the throat of the chained form, seemed to thrust me violently back. For a brief moment I hesitated, I trembled. Unsheathing my rapier, I began to grope with it about the recess; but the thought of an instant reassured me. I placed my hand upon the solid fabric of the catacombs, and felt satisfied. I reapproached the wall; I replied to the yells of him who clamoured. I re-echoed, I aided, I surpassed them in volume and in strength. I did this, and the clamourer grew still.
It was now midnight, and my task was drawing to a close. I had completed the eighth, the ninth and the tenth tier. I had finished a portion of the last and the eleventh; there remained but a single stone to be fitted and plastered in. I struggled with its weight; I placed it partially in its destined position. But now there came from out the niche a low laugh that erected the hairs upon my head. It was succeeded by a sad voice, which I had difficulty in recognizing as that of the noble Fortunato. The voice said--
"Ha! ha! ha! --he! he! he! --a very good joke, indeed --an excellent jest. We will have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo --he! he! he! --over our wine --he! he! he!"
"The Amontillado!" I said.
"He! he! he! --he! he! he! --yes, the Amontillado. But is it not getting late? Will not they be awaiting us at the palazzo, the Lady Fortunato and the rest? Let us be gone."
"Yes," I said, "let us be gone."
"For the love of God, Montresor!"
"Yes," I said, "for the love of God!"
But to these words I hearkened in vain for a reply. I grew impatient. I called aloud --
"Fortunato!"
No answer. I called again --
"Fortunato!"
No answer still. I thrust a torch through the remaining aperture and let it fall within. There came forth in return only a jingling of the bells. My heart grew sick; it was the dampness of the catacombs that made it so. I hastened to make an end of my labour. I forced the last stone into its position; I plastered it up. Against the new masonry I re-erected the old rampart of bones. For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them. In pace requiescat! - posted on 06/13/2005
周作人
关于活埋①
从前有一个时候偶然翻阅外国文人的传记,常看见说起他特别有一种恐怖,便是怕
被活埋。中国的事情不大清楚,即使不成为心理的威胁,大抵也未必喜欢,虽然那《识
小录》的著者自称活埋庵道人徐树丕,即在余澹心的《东山谈苑》上有好些附识自署同
学弟徐辰的父亲,不过这只是遗民的一种表示,自然是另外一件事了。
①周作人晚年在与友人通信中,特地谈到本篇,表示“至今还是喜爱,此虽
是敝帚自珍的习气,但的确是实情”。
小时候读英文,读过美国亚伦坡的短篇小说《西班牙酒桶》,诱人到洞恿里去喝酒,
把他锁在石壁上,砌好了墙出来,觉得很有点可怕。但是这罗马的幻想白昼会出现么,
岂不是还只往来于醉诗人的脑中而已?俄国陀思妥益夫思奇著有小说曰《死人之家》,
英译亦有曰“活埋”者,是记西伯利亚监狱生活的实录,陀氏亲身经历过,是小说亦是
事实,确实不会错的了。然而这到底还只是个譬喻,与徐武子多少有点相同,终不能为
活埋故实的典据。我们虽从文人讲起头,可是这里不得不离开文学到别处找材料去了。
讲到活埋,第一想到的当然是古代的殉葬。但说也惭愧,我们实在还不十分明白那
葬是怎么殉法的。听说近年在殷墟发掘,找到殷人的坟墓,主人行踪不可考,却获得十
个殉葬的奴隶或俘虏的骨殖,这可以说是最古的物证了,据说--不幸得很--这十个
却都是身首异处的,那么这还是先杀后埋,与一般想象不相合。古希腊人攻忒罗亚时在
巴多克勒思墓上杀俘虏十人,又取幼公主波吕克色那杀之,使从阿吉娄思于地下,办法
颇有点相像。忒罗亚十年之役正在帝乙受辛时代,那么与殷人东西相对,不无香火因缘,
或当为西来说学者所乐闻乎。《诗经·秦风》有《黄鸟》一篇,《小序》云哀三良也,
我们记起“临其穴,惴惴其栗”,觉得仿佛有点意思了,似乎三良一个一个地将要牵进
去,不,他们都是大丈夫,自然是从容地自己走下去吧。然而不然。孔颖达疏引服虔云,
“杀人以葬,旋环其左右曰殉”。结果还是一样,完全不能确用处。第二想到的是坑儒,
从秦穆公一跳到了始皇,这其间已经隔了十六八代了。孔安国《尚书》序云:
“及秦始皇,灭先代典籍,焚书坑儒。”孔颖达疏依《史记》秦始皇本纪说明云:
“三十五年始皇以方士卢生求仙药不得,以为诽谤,诸生连相告引,四百六十余人,
皆坑之咸阳,是坑儒也。”但是如李卓吾在《雅笑》卷三所说,“人皆知秦坑儒,而不
知何以坑之。”这的确是一大疑问。孔疏又引卫宏《古文奇字序》云:
“秦改古文以为篆隶,国人多诽谤。秦患天下不从而召诸生,至者皆拜为郎,凡七
百人。又密令冬月种瓜于骊山型谷之中温处,瓜实,乃使人上书曰瓜冬有实。有诏天下
博士诸生说之,人人各异,则皆使往视之,而为伏机,诸生方相论难,因发机从上填之
以土,皆终命也。”这坑法写得“活龙活现”,似乎确是活埋无疑了,但是理由说的那
么支离,所用种瓜伏机的手段又很拙笨,我们只当传说看了觉得好玩,要信为事实就有
点不大可能。《史记》《项羽本纪》云:
“楚军夜击坑秦卒二十余万人新安城南。”计时即坑儒后六年。《自起列传》记起
临死时语云:
“长平之战,赵卒降者数十万人,我诈而尽坑之。”据列传中说凡四十万人,武安
君虑其反覆,“乃挟诈而尽坑杀之”。仿佛是坑与秦总很有关系似的,可是详细还不能
知道,掘了很大很大的坑,把二十万以至四十万人都推下去,再盖上土,这也不大像吧。
正如《镜花缘》的林之洋常说的“坑死俺也”,我们对于这坑字似乎有点不好如字解释,
只得暂且搁起再说。
英国贝林戈耳特老牧师生于一八三四年,到今年整整一百零一岁了,但他实在已于
一九二四年去世,寿九十。所著《民俗志》小书系民国初年出版,其第五章《论牺牲》
中讲到古时埋人于屋基下的事,是欧洲的实例。在一八九二年出版的《奇异的遗俗》中
有《论基础》一章专说此事,更为详尽,今录一二于后:
“一八八五年珂耳思华西教区修理礼拜堂,西南角的墙拆下重造。在墙内,发见一
副枯骨,夹在灰石中间。这一部分的墙有点坏了,稍为倾侧。据发见这骨殖的泥水匠说,
那里并无一点坟墓的痕迹,却显见得那人是被活埋的,而且很急忙的。一块石灰糊在那
嘴上,好些砖石乱堆在那尸体的周围,好像是急速地倒下去,随后慢慢地把墙壁砌好似
的。”
“亨纳堡旧城是一派强有力的伯爵家的住所,在城壁间有一处穹门,据传说云造堡
时有一匠人受了一笔款答应把他的小孩砌到墙壁里去。给了小孩一块饼吃,那父亲站在
梯子上监督砌墙。末后的那块砖头砌上之后,小孩在墙里边哭了起来,那人悔恨交并,
失手掉下梯子来,摔断了他的项颈。关于利本思但的城堡也有相似的传说。一个母亲同
样地卖了她的孩子。在那小东西的周围墙渐渐地高起来的时候,小孩大呼道,妈妈,我
还看见你!过了一会儿,又道,妈妈,我不大看得见你了!末了道,妈妈,我看你不见
了!”
日本民俗学者中山太郎翁今年六十矣,好学不倦,每年有著作出版,前年所刊行的
《日本民俗学论考》共有论文十八篇,其第十六日“垣轮的原始形态与民俗”,说到上
古活埋半身以殉葬的风俗。值轮即明器中之上偶,大抵为人或马,不封入墓穴中,但植
立于四围。上偶有像两服者,有下体但作圆筒形者,中山翁则以为圆筒形乃是原始形态,
即表示殉葬之状,像两股者则后起而昧其原意者也。这种考古与民俗的难问题我们外行
无从加以判断,但其所引古文献很有意思,至少于我们现在很是有用。据《日本书纪》
垂仁纪云:
“二十八年冬十月丙寅朔庚午,天皇母弟倭彦命薨。十一月丙申朔丁酉,葬倭彦命
于身狭桃花鸟扳。于是集近习者,悉生立之于陵域。数日不死,昼夜泣吟。遂死而烂臭,
大鸟聚吹。天皇闻此泣吟声,心有悲伤,诏群卿曰,夫以生时所爱使殉于亡者,是甚可
伤也。斯虽古风而不良,何从为,其议止殉葬。”垂仁天皇二十八年正当基督降生前二
年,即汉哀帝元寿元年也。至三十二年皇后崩,野见宿祢令人取土为人马进之,天皇大
喜,诏见宿祢曰,尔之嘉谋实洽朕心。遂以土物立于皇后墓前,号曰谊轮。此以上偶代
生人的传说本是普通,可注意的是那种特别的埋法。孝德纪载大化二年(六)的命
令云:
“人死亡时若自经以殉,或绞人以殉,及强以亡人之马为殉等旧俗,皆悉禁断。”
可见那时殉葬已是杀了再埋,在先却并不然,据《类聚三代格》中所收延历十六年(七
九七)四月太政官符云:
“上古淳朴,葬礼无节,属山陵有事,每以生人殉埋,鸟吟鱼烂,不忍见闻。”与
垂仁纪所说正同,鸟吟鱼烂也正是用汉文炼字法总括那数日不死云云十七字。以上原本
悉用一种特别的汉文,今略加修改以便阅读,但仍保留原来用字与句调,不全改译为白
话。至于埋半身的理由,中山翁谓是古风之遗留,上古人死则野葬,露其头面,亲族口
往视之,至腐烂乃止,琉球津坚岛尚有“此俗,近始禁止,见伊波普(左酉右犬)著文
《南岛古代之葬仪》中,伊波氏原系琉球人也。
医学博士高田义一郎著有一篇《本国的死刑之变迁》,登在《国家医学杂志》上,
昭和三年(一九二八)出版《世相表里之医学的研究》共文十八篇,上文亦在其内。第
四节论德川幕府时代的死刑,约自十七世纪初至十九世纪中间,内容分为五类,其四曰
锯拉及坑杀。锯拉者将犯人连囚笼埋土中,仅露出头颅,傍置竹锯,令过路人各拉其颈。
这使人想趄《封神传》的殷郊来。至于坑杀,那与锯拉相像,只把犯人身体埋在土中,
自然不连囚笼,不用锯拉,任其自死。在《明良洪范》卷十九有一节云“记稻叶淡路守
残忍事”,是很好的实例:
“稻叶淡路守纪通为丹州褐知山之城主,生来残忍无道,恶行众多。代官中有获罪
者,逮捕下狱,不详加审问,遽将其妻儿及服内亲族悉捕至,于院中掘穴,一一埋之,
露出其首,上覆小木桶,朝夕启视以消遣。余人逐渐死去,唯代官苟延至七日未绝。淡
路守每朝巡视,见其尚活,嘲弄之曰,妻子亲族皆死,一人独存,真罪业深重哉。代官
张目曰,余命尚存,思报此恨。今妻子皆死亡,无可奈何矣。身为武士,处置亦应有方,
如此相待,诚自昔所未闻之刑罚也。会当有以相报!忿恨嚼舌而死。自此淡路守遂迷乱
发狂,终乃装弹鸟枪中,自点火穿胸而死。”案稻叶纪通为德川幂府创业之功臣,位为
诸侯,死于庆安元年,即西历一八,清顺治五年也。
外国的故事虽然说了好些,中国究竟怎样呢?殉葬与镇压之外以活埋为刑罚,这有
没有前例?官刑大约是不曾有吧,虽然自袁氏军政执法处以来往往有此风说,这自然不
能找出证据,只有义威上将军张宗昌在北京时活埋其汽车夫与教书先生于丰台的传说至
今脍炙人口,传为美谈。若盗贼群中本无一定规律,那就难说了,不过似乎也不尽然,
如《水浒传》中便未说起,明末张李流寇十分残暴,以杀烧剥皮为乐,(这其实也与明
初的永乐皇帝清初的大兵有同好而已,还不算怎么特别,)而活埋似未列入。较载太平
天国时事的有李圭著《思痛记》二卷,光绪六年(一八八0)出版,卷下纪咸丰十年(一
八六0)七月间在金坛时事有云:
“十九日汪典铁来约陆畴楷杀人,陆欣然握刀,促余同行。至文庙前殿,东西两偏
室院内各有男妇大小六七十人避匿于此,已数日不食,面无人色。汪提刀趋右院,陆在
左院。陆令余杀,余不应,以余已司文札不再逼而令余视其杀。刀落人死,顷刻毕数十
命,地为之赤,有一二岁小儿,先置其母腹上腰截之,然后杀其母。复拉余至右院视汪
杀,至则汪正在一一剖人腹焉。”光绪戊戌之冬我买得此书,民国十九年八月曾题卷首
云:
“中国民族似有嗜杀性,近三百年中张李洪杨以至义和拳诸事即其明徽,书册所说
录百不及一二,至今读之犹令人惊然。今日重翻此记,益深此感。呜呼,后之视今亦犹
今之视昔乎。”然而此记中亦不见有活埋的纪事焉。民国二十四年九月十九日《大公报》
乃载唐山通信云:
“玉田讯:本县鸦鸿桥北大定府庄村西野地内于本月十二日发现男尸一具,倒埋上
中,地面露出两脚,经人起出,尸身上部已腐烂,由衣服体态辨出系定府庄村人王某,
闻系因仇被人谋杀,该村乡长副报官检验后,于十五日由尸亲将尸抬回家中备棺掩埋。
又同日城东吴各庄东北里新地内亦发现倒埋无名男尸一具,嗣由乡人起出,年约三十许,
衣蓝布裤褂,全身无伤,系生前活埋,于十三日报官检验,至今尚无人认领云。”这真
是--
踏破铁鞋无觅处 得来全不费工夫
想不到在现代中华民国河北省的治下找着了那样难得的活埋的实例。上边中外东西
地乱找一阵,乱说一番,现在都可以不算,无论什么希奇事在百年以前千里之外,也就
罢了,若是本月在唐山出现的事,意义略有不同,如不是可怕也总觉得值得加以注意思
索吧。
死只一个,而死法有好些,同一死法又有许多的方式。譬如窒息是一法,即设法将
呼吸止住了,凡缢死,扼死,烟煤等气熏死,土囊压死,烧酒毛头纸糊脸,武大郎那样
的棉被包裹上面坐人,印度黑洞的闷死,淹死,以及活埋而死,都属于这一类。本来死
总不是好事,而大家对于活埋却更有凶惨之感,这是为什么呢?本来死无不是由活以至
不活,活的投入水中与活的埋入上内论理原是一样,都因在缺乏空气的地方而窒息,以
云苦乐殆未易分,然而人终觉得活埋更为凶惨,此本只是感情作用,却亦正是人情之自
然也。又活埋由于以上塞口鼻而死,顺埋倒埋并无分别,但人又特别觉得倒埋更为凶惨
者,亦同样地出于人情也。世界大同无论来否,战争刑罚一时似未必能废,斗殴谋杀之
事亦殆难免,但野蛮的事纵或仍有,而野蛮之意或可减少。船火儿待客只预备馄饨与板
刀面,殆可谓古者盗亦有道钦。人情恶活埋尤其是倒埋而中国有人喜为之,此盖不得谓
中国民族的好事情也。
廿四年九月
(1935年9月作,选自《苦竹杂记》)
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