芥川龙之介

RyunosukeAkutagawa

芥川龙之介（RyunosukeAkutagawa1892—1927），日本小说家，素有“鬼才”之称。他阅读的书籍涉猎极广，中小学时代就喜读阅读江户时代的文学作品，还喜欢阅读《西游记》和《水浒传》等。芥川早期发表了短篇小说《罗生门》（1915）、《鼻子》（1916）、《芋粥》（1916）、《手帕》（1916）由此确立了他在写作领域的地位。自1917年至1923年，龙之介所写的短篇小说先后6次结集出版，分别以《罗生门》、《烟草与魔鬼》、《傀儡师》、《影灯笼》、《夜来花》和《春服》为书名，这些优秀作品让芥川龙之介成为日本文坛的“鬼才”大师。

Itwasachillyevening.AservantofasamuraistoodundertheRashomon,waitingforabreakintherain.

Nooneelsewasunderthewidegate.Onthethickcolumn,itscrimsonlacquerrubbedoffhereandthere,erchedacricket.SincetheRashomonstandsonSujakuAvenue,afewothereoleatleast,insedgehatornoblemansheadgear,mighthavebeenexectedtobewaitingthereforabreakintherainstorm.Butnoonewasnearexcetthisman.

FortheastfewyearsthecityofKyotohadbeenvisitedbyaseriesofcalamities,earthquakes,whirlwinds,andfires,andKyotohadbeengreatlydevastated.OldchroniclessaythatbrokeniecesofBuddhistimagesandotherBuddhistobjects,withtheirlacquer,gold,orsilverleafwornoff,wereheaeduonroadsidestobesoldasfrewood.SuchbeingthestateofaffairsinKyoto,thereairoftheRashomonwasoutofthequestion.Takingadvantageofthedevastation,foxesandotherwildaninalsmadetheirdensintheruinsofthegate,andthievesandrobbersfoundahometheretoo.Eventuallyitbecamecustomarytobringunclaimedcorsestothisgateandabandonthem.Afterdarkitwassoghostlythatnoonedaredaroach.

Flocksofcrowsflewinfromsomewhere.Duringthedaytimethesecawingbirdscircledroundtheridgeoleofthegate.Whentheskyoverheadturnedredintheafterlightofthedeartedsun,theylookedlikesomanygrainsofsesamefungacrossthegate.Butonthatnotacrowwastobeseen,erhasbecauseofthelatenessofthehour.Hereandtherethestonestes,beginningtocrumble,andwithrankgrassgrowingintheircrevices,weredottedwiththewhitedroingsofcrows.Theservant,inawornbluekimono,satontheseventhandhighestste,vacantlywatchingtherain.Hisattentionwasdrawntoalargeimleirritatinghisrightcheek.

Ashasbeensaid,theservantwaswaitingforabreakintherain.Buthehadnoarticularideaofwhattodoaftertherainstoed.Ordinarily,ofcourse,hewouldhavereturnedtohismastershouse,buthehadbeendischargedjustbefore.TheroserityofthecityofKyotohadbeenraidlydeclining,andhehadbeendismissedbyhismaster,whomhehadservedmanyyears,becauseoftheeffectsofthisdecline.Thus,confnedbytherain,hewasatalosstoknowwheretogo.Andtheweatherhadnotalittletodowithhisderessedmood.Therainseemedunlikelytosto.Hewaslostinthoughtsofhowtomakehislivingtomorrow,hellessincoherentthoughtsrotestinganinexorablefate.AimlesslyhehadbeenlisteningtotheatteringoftherainontheSujakuAvenue.

Therain,enveloingtheRashomon,gatheredstrengthandcamedownwithaeltingsoundthatcouldbeheardfaraway.Lookingu,hesawafatblackcloudimaleitselfonthetisofthetilesjuttingoutfromtheroofofthegate.

Hehadlittlechoiceofmeans,whetherfairorfoul,becauseofhishellesscircumstances.Ifhechosehonestmeans,hewouldundoubtedlystarvetodeathbesidethewallorintheSujakugutter.Hewouldbebroughttothisgateandthrownawaylikeastraydog.Ifhedecidedtosteal……Hismind,aftermakingthesamedetourtimeandagain,camefnallytotheconclusionthathewouldbeathief.Butdoubtsreturnedmanytimes.Thoughdeterminedthathehadnochoice,hewasstillunabletomusterenoughcouragetojustifytheconclusionthathemustbecomeathief.

Afteraloudftofsneezinghegotuslowly.TheeveningchillofKyotomadehimlongforthewarmthofabrazier.Thewindintheeveningduskhowledthroughthecolumnsofthegate.Thecricketwhichhadbeenerchedonthecrimson-lacqueredcolumnwasalreadygone.

Duckinghisneck,helookedaroundthegate,anddrewutheshouldersofthebluekimonowhichheworeoverhisyellowthinunderwear.Hedecidedtosendthenightthere,ifhecouldfindasecludedcornershelteredfromwindandrain.Hefoundabroadlacqueredstairwayleadingtothetoweroverthegate.Noonewouldbethere,excetthedead,iftherewereany.So,takingcarethattheswordathissidedidnotslioutofthescabbard,hesetfootontheloweststeofthestairs.

Afewsecondslater,halfwayuthestairs,hesawamovementabove.Holdinghisbreathandhuddlingcat-likeinthemiddleofthebroadstairsleadingtothetower,hewatchedandwaited.Alightcomingfromtheustairsshoneonhisrightcheekwiththered,festeringimlevisibleunderhisstubbywhiskers.Hehadexectedonlydeadeoleinsidethetower,buthehadonlygoneuafewstesbeforehenoticedafreabove,aboutwhichsomeonewasmoving.Hesawadull,yellow,fickeringlightwhichmadethecobwebshangingfromtheceilingglowinaghostlyway.WhatsortofersonwouldbemakingalightintheRashomon……andinastorm?Theunknown,theevilterrifedhim.

Asquietlyasalizard,theservantcretutothetoofthesteestairs.Crouchingonallfours,andstretchinghisneckasfarasossible,hetimidlyeeedintothetower.

Asrumorhadsaid,hefoundseveralcorsesstrewncarelesslyaboutthefoor.Sincetheglowofthelightwasfeeble,hecouldnotcountthenumber.Hecouldonlyseethatsomewerenakedandothersclothed.Someofthemwerewomen,andallwerelollingonthefoorwiththeirmouthsoenortheirarmsoutstretchedshowingnomoresignsoflifethansomanyclaydolls.Onewoulddoubtthattheyhadeverbeenalive,soeternallysilenttheywere.Theirshoulders,breasts,andtorsosstoodoutinthedimlight；otherartsvanishedinshadow.Theoffensivesmellofthesedecomosedcorsesbroughthishandtohisnose.

Thenextmomenthishanddroedandhestared.Hecaughtsightofaghoulishformbentoveracorse.Itseemedtobeanoldwoman,gaunt,gray-haired,anddeliriousinaearance.Withainetorchinherrighthand,shewaseeingintothefaceofacorsewhichhadlongblackhair.

Seizedmorewithhorrorthancuriosity,heevenforgottobreatheforatime.Hefeltthehairofhisheadandbodystandonend.Ashewatched,terrifed,shewedgedthetorchbetweentwofoorboardsand,layinghandsontheheadsofthecorse,begantoulloutthelonghairsonebyone,asamonkeykillstheliceofheryoung.Thehaircameoutsmoothlywiththemovementofherhands.

Asthehaircameout,fearfadedfromhisheart,andhishatredtowardtheoldwomanmounted.Itgrewbeyondhatred,becomingaconsumingantiathyagainstallevil.Atthisinstantifanyonehadbroughtuthethequestionofwhetherhewouldstarvetodeathorbecomeathief-thequestionwhichhadoccurredtohimalittlewhileago-hewouldnothavehesitatedtochoosedeath.Hishatredtowardevilfareduliketheieceofinewoodwhichtheoldwomanhadstuckinthefoor.

Hedidnotknowwhysheulledoutthehairofthedead.Accordingly,hedidnotknowwhetherhercasewastobeutdownasgoodorbad.Butinhiseyes,ullingoutthehairofthedeadintheRashomononthisstormynightwasanunardonablecrime.Ofcourseitneverenteredhismindthatalittlewhileagohehadthoughtofbecomingathief.

Then,summoningstrengthintohislegs,herosefromthestairsandstrode,handonsword,rightinfrontoftheoldcreature.Thehagturned,terrorinhereyes,andsrangufromthefoor,trembling.Forasmallmomentsheaused,oisedthere,thenlungedforthestairswithashriek.

“Wretch！Whereareyougoing?”heshouted,barringthewayofthetremblinghagwhotriedtoscurryasthim.Stillsheattemtedtoclawherwayby.Heushedherbacktoreventher……theystruggled,fellamongthecorses,andgraledthere.Theissuewasneverindoubt.Inamomenthehadherbythearm,twistedit,andforcedherdowntothefoor.Herarmswereallskinandbones,andtherewasnomorefeshonthemthanontheshanksofachicken.Nosoonerwassheonthefloorthanhedrewhisswordandthrustthesilver-whitebladebeforeherverynose.Shewassilent.Shetrembledasifinaft,andhereyeswereoensowidethattheywerealmostoutoftheirsockets,andherbreathcomeinhoarsegass.Thelifeofthiswretchwashisnow.Thisthoughtcooledhisboilingangerandbroughtacalmrideandsatisfaction.Helookeddownather,andsaidinasomewhatcalmervoice：

“Lookhere,I‘mnotanoffceroftheHighPoliceCommissioner.I’mastrangerwhohaenedtoassbythisgate.Iwon‘tbindyouordoanythingagainstyou,butyoumusttellmewhatyou’redoinguhere.”

Thentheoldwomanoenedhereyesstillwider,andgazedathisfaceintentlywiththesharredeyesofabirdofrey.Shemovedherlis,whichwerewrinkledintohernose,asthoughshewerechewingsomething.Thenaantingsoundlikethecawingofacrowcamefromherthroat：

“Iullthehair……Iulloutthehair……tomakeawig”

Heranswerbanishedallunknownfromtheirencounterandbroughtdisaointment.Suddenlyshewasonlyatremblingoldwomanthereathisfeet.Aghoulnolonger：onlyahagwhomakeswigsfromthehairofthedead-tosell,forscrasoffood.Acoldcontemtseizedhim.Fearlefthisheart,andhisformerhatredentered.Thesefeelingsmusthavebeensensedbytheother.Theoldcreature,stillclutchingthehairshehadulledoffthecorse,mumbledoutthesewordsinherharshbrokenvoice：

“Indeed,makingwigsoutofthehairofthedeadmayseemagreateviltoyou,butthesethatareheredeservenobetter.Thiswoman,whosebeautifulblackhairIwasulling,usedtosellcutanddriedsnakefeshattheguardbarracks,sayingthatitwasdriedfsh.Ifshehadn‘tdiedofthelague,she’dbesellingitnow.Theguardslikedtobuyfromher,andusedtosayherfshwastasty.Whatshedidcouldn‘tbewrong,becauseifshehadn’t,shewouldhavestarvedtodeath.Therewasnootherchoice.IfsheknewIhadtodothisinordertolive,sherobablywouldntcare.”

Hesheathedhissword,and,withhislefthandonitshilt,helistenedtohermeditatively.Hisrighthandtouchedthebigimleonhischeek.Ashelistened,acertaincouragewasborninhisheart-thecouragewhichhehadnotwhenhesatunderthegatealittlewhileago.Astrangeowerwasdrivinghimintheoositedirectionofthecouragewhichhehadhadwhenheseizedtheoldwoman.Nolongerdidhewonderwhetherheshouldstarvetodeathorbecomeathief.Starvationwassofarfromhismindthatitwasthelastthingthatwouldhaveenteredit.

“Areyousure?”heaskedinamockingtone,whenshefnishedtalking.Hetookhisrighthandfromhisimle,and,bendingforward,seizedherbytheneckandsaidsharly：

“Thenit‘srightifIrobyou.I’dstarveifIdidnt.”

Hetoreherclothesfromherbodyandkickedherroughlydownonthecorsesasshestruggledandtriedtoclutchhisleg.Fivestes,andhewasatthetoofthestairs.Theyellowclotheshehadwrestedoffwereunderhisarm,andinatwinklinghehadrusheddownthesteestairsintotheabyssofnight.Thethunderofhisdescendingstesoundedinthehollowtower,andthenitwasquiet.

Shortlyafterthatthehagraiseduherbodyfromthecorses.Grumblingandgroaning,shecrawledtothetostairbythestillfickeringtorchlight,andthroughthegrayhairwhichhungoverherface,sheeereddowntothelaststairinthetorchlight.

Beyondthiswasonlydarkness……unknowingandunknown.

那是一个寒冷的夜晚，一位武士的仆人站在罗生门下避雨。

这个宽敞的大门下只站着一个人，除他以外，没有别人。在朱漆斑驳的大圆柱上，蹲着一只蟋蟀。罗生门正位于朱雀大街上，本该有不少戴女笠和乌软帽的男女行人到这里来避雨，可现在只有他一个。

这些年来，京都接连遭受地震、台风、大火等几次灾难的袭击，已经变得格外荒凉了。古时候留下来的记载里说到，佛像、供品的碎片，凡是油漆、金箔、银箔有破损的，都被堆在路边当柴火卖。京都已经是这样的情景了，所以像修理罗生门那样的事一定不会有人来管。在如此萧条的环境中，狐狸和其他动物便利用这样千载难逢的机会开始趁机作乱，小偷和强盗也将这里作为他们的藏身之处。最后，把无人认领的尸体扔到罗生门逐渐成了一种习惯。每逢太阳落山，这里总是让人感觉阴森恐怖，所以谁也不上这里来了。

不知道从哪里飞来了许多乌鸦。白天的时候，这些乌鸦在门柱上成群地盘旋尖叫。当夕阳西下的时候，这些黑黝黝的乌鸦漫天都是，好像天空撒满了黑芝麻。它们是到罗生门的门楼上吃死人肉的——因为今天已经很晚了，所以一只也没有看到，但是在倒塌了的台阶上，砖石缝里长着杂草，还可以看到一些斑斑点点的白色鸟粪。这位仆人穿着洗旧了的蓝色和服，一屁股坐在第七级——最高一级的台阶上，神情茫然地看着雨。他的注意力全部集中在他右脸上的那个脓包上。

就像开始说的那样，这位仆人在这里等着雨停了下来。可是雨停之后，他却不知道该干什么了。照理说应当回主人家去，主人却已经在四五天前把他辞退了。因为当时的京都一片萧条，现在，这位仆人被他侍奉多年的主人辞退，也是大萧条的环境下难以避免的。与其说是这位仆人在避雨，还不如说是无处可去。这样的天气对他的绝望情绪没有任何帮助，这个雨看上去一时半会儿停不了。他深深陷入生活的苦恼之中，甚至不知道明天该怎么办。无助而杂乱的想法预示着他的悲惨命运。他毫无目的地听着朱雀大街上的雨点声。

大雨包围着罗生门，雨点重重地落在地上的声音从很远的地方就能听到。仆人抬头看了看，一片乌云正压在罗生门里唯一能看到的那片天空。

无论如何，在现在这样的悲惨环境下，他没有任何选择的权利。如果他选择一种诚实的办法，那么他会毫无疑问地饿死在墙边或者朱雀大街的臭水沟里。最终他的尸体会像狗一样被扔到罗生门里。如果他决定去偷——他反复思考，最后便跑到这里。可是想来想去还是觉得“偷”不是办法。即使他走投无路，还是没有办法鼓足勇气去当一个小偷。

他打了一个大喷嚏后慢慢地站了起来。夜晚的京都异常寒冷，他很想去找个地方烤烤火。冷风毫不留情地从门柱间穿过。连在朱漆圆柱上停留的蟋蟀都不见踪影了。

他穿着蓝色和服，里面还穿了件黄色的薄内衬，缩着脖子，耸着肩膀，向门内四处张望，如果有那么一个地方——既可以避风雨，又能安安静静地睡觉，那该多好。这时候，他发现了一条通往塔顶的宽大的、漆了朱漆的楼梯。除了死人外，楼上不会有任何人。他留意着腰间的刀，不让它脱出鞘来，然后抬起穿草鞋的脚，跨上楼梯最下面的一个台阶。

过了一会儿，他走到了楼梯中间，看到一个影子在晃动。他像猫儿似的哈着腰，正屏住呼吸窥探着上面的情况。从楼上透出来的火光，照在他的右脸上，隐约可见他的短胡子中长着的那个红肿化脓的面疮。他原来以为上面只有死人，可是上了几级台阶后，看见还有人点着火。这个火光到处移动，模糊的黄色火光在屋顶挂满蜘蛛网的天花板下像鬼影一样地摇晃。什么人会在罗生门里点着灯呢？特别是在这样一个风雨交加的夜里？恐惧笼罩着他。

他像蜥蜴那样蹑手蹑脚地爬着，好不容易才爬到这险陡的楼梯的最高一级。他尽量伏倒身体，伸长脖子，小心翼翼地朝塔顶望去。

正如传闻所说的那样，楼里胡乱扔着几具尸体。塔里的光线非常微弱，所以看不出到底有多少具。能见到的，有赤身裸体的，有穿着衣服的。当然，有男也有女。这些尸体全都耷拉着脑袋、张着嘴躺在地上，还有一些伸着胳膊，看上去像泥人一样，似乎从来没有过生命的迹象。他们的肩膀、胸膛和躯体在昏暗的灯光里僵硬着，其他的部位则消失在影子里。尸体由于腐烂发出的恶臭向仆人扑面而来，他不得不捂住了鼻子。

不一会儿，他放下捂住鼻子的手，开始仔细观察这些尸体。突然，他在尸体的后面发现了一个鬼影。好像是一个老妇人，她一头白发面色憔悴，神情恍惚，右手拿着一个松木火把，正盯着一具有着长长的黑色的尸体。