四、 窄门
At last there came a grave person to the gate, named Goodwill, who asked who was there? and whence he came? and what he would have?
最后,一个名叫好心、态度严肃的人来到门旁,问门外是谁?他从哪儿来?要什么? 
CHR. Here is a poor burdened sinner. I come from the City of Destruction, but am going to Mount Zion, that I may be delivered from the wrath to come. I would therefore, Sir, since I am informed that by this gate is the way thither, know if you are willing to let me in?
基督徒说:我是个可怜的负罪的人。我从毁灭城来,要到锡安山(1)去,为了要逃避将来的忿怒。先生,因为我知道到那儿去得经过这扇门,所以我要知道你肯不肯让我进去? 
GOOD-WILL. I am willing with all my heart, said he; and with that he opened the gate.
好心说:我完全愿意让你进来;说着他就开了门。 
So when Christian was stepping in, the other gave him a pull. Then said Christian, What means that? The other told him. A little distance from this gate, there is erected a strong castle, of which Beelzebub is the captain; from thence, both he and them that are with him shoot arrows at those that come up to this gate, if happly they may die before they can enter in.
基督徒的脚刚踏进门槛,那个人一把把他拉了进去。基督徒就问,这是什么意思?那个人说,离开这门不远,有一座堡垒由魔王掌管着;在那儿,他和他手下的人对所有到这门前来的人放冷箭,企图不等他们进门就把他们射死。 
Then said Christian, I rejoice and tremble. So when he was got in, the man of the gate asked him who directed him thither?
于是基督徒说,我真是万幸,不过想起来还要发抖。他走进去以后,开门的那个人问他,是谁指点他来的。 
CHR. Evangelist bid me come hither, and knock, (as I did); and he said that you, Sir, would tell me what I must do.
基督徒说:宣道师教我到这儿来敲门,我就真的照办了;他还说,你,先生,会告诉我该怎么办。 
GOOD-WILL. An open door is set before thee, and no man can shut it.
好心说:门是向你开着的,谁也不能把它关起来。 
CHR. Now I begin to reap the benefits of my hazards.
基督徒现在我开始获得我冒险的好处了。
GOOD-WILL. But how is it that you came alone?
好心说:可是你怎么独个儿来呢? 
CHR. Because none of my neighbours saw their danger, as I saw mine.
基督徒说:因为我的邻居里面没有一个人像我那样看出了自己所处的险境。 
GOOD-WILL. Did any of them know of your coming?
好心说:他们有人知道你来吗?
CHR. Yes; my wife and children saw me at the first, and called after me to turn again; also, some of my neighbours stood crying and calling after me to return; but I put my fingers in my ears, and so came on my way.
基督徒说:有,我的妻子和儿女首先看见我,叫我回去;还有些邻居也站在那里喊我回去;可是我用手指头塞住耳朵,就这样子来啦。
GOOD-WILL. But did none of them follow you, to persuade you to go back?
好心说:难道没有人跟着你,要劝你回去吗? 
CHR. Yes, both Obstinate and Pliable; but when they saw that they could not prevail, Obstinate went railing back, but Pliable came with me a little way.
基督徒说:有,顽固和柔顺都追上了我;不过他们眼见怎么样也不能说服我,顽固就先走了回去,一面还奚落着我,柔顺却跟我走了一小段路。 
GOOD-WILL. But why did he not come through?
好心又问道:那么那一个又为什么也没有跟你到底呢? 
CHR. We, indeed, came both together, until we came at the Slough of Despond, into the which we also suddenly fell. And then was my neighbour, Pliable, discouraged, and would not venture further. Wherefore, getting out again on that side next to his own house, he told me I should possess the brave country alone for him; so he went his way, and I came mine-- he after Obstinate, and I to this gate.
基督徒说:我们本来是一块儿走的,后来走到灰心沼,两个人都忽然跌了进去。然后我的邻居柔顺就失去勇气,不愿再往前去了。因此他从靠近他家的一边爬出泥沼,对我说我可以单独占有那个好地方,他可不干啦;他就这样走掉,而我就来了——他步了顽固的后尘,我就找上这扇门来啦。 
GOOD-WILL. Then said Good-will, Alas, poor man! is the celestial glory of so small esteem with him, that he counteth it not worth running the hazards of a few difficulties to obtain it?
好心接着说:哎呀,可怜的人!难道他这样轻看天国的荣耀,而认为不值得冒一些艰险去得到它吗? 
CHR. Truly, said Christian, I have said the truth of Pliable, and if I should also say all the truth of myself, it will appear there is no betterment betwixt him and myself. It is true, he went back to his own house, but I also turned aside to go in the way of death, being persuaded thereto by the carnal arguments of one Mr. Worldly Wiseman.
基督徒说:的确,我把柔顺的事都实实在在地对你说了,如果我也完全老老实实地把我自己的事说出来,显然我不比他好多少。不错,他回家去了;然而我听了老世故先生一番世俗的话,也掉头往死亡的道路走去。 
GOOD-WILL. Oh, did he light upon you? What! he would have had you a sought for ease at the hands of Mr. Legality. They are, both of them, a very cheat. But did you take his counsel?
好心说:唔!原来他碰到你啦?啊!他会叫你到合法先生那儿去找安逸的!他们俩都是大骗子。你可听了他的话没有? 
CHR. Yes, as far as I durst; I went to find out Mr. Legality, until I thought that the mountain that stands by his house would have fallen upon my head; wherefore there I was forced to stop.
基督徒说:听是听啦,还不敢完全听;我去找合法先生,我发现在他家附近有一座山,我怕那山会压到我头上来;因此我不得不停止。
GOOD-WILL. That mountain has been the death of many, and will be the death of many more; it is well you escaped being by it dashed in pieces.
好心说:那座山叫许多人丧命,以后还会叫更多人丧命,幸亏你没有让它把你压得稀烂。
CHR. Why, truly, I do not know what had become of me there, had not Evangelist happily met me again, as I was musing in the midst of my dumps; but it was God's mercy that he came to me again, for else I had never come hither. But now I am come, such a one as I am, more fit, indeed, for death, by that mountain, than thus to stand talking with my lord; but, oh, what a favour is this to me, that yet I am admitted entrance here!
基督徒说:我正苦闷地思索的时候,要不是幸亏宣道师又碰见我,咳,我真不知道会有怎样的下场呢;那真是上帝的慈悲,我又碰到了他,不然的话,我就不会走到这儿来了。可是我现在终于来了,其实像我这样一个人,只配死在那座山下,而不配这样站在我的主人面前讲话的;但是,哦,我竟然还能进到这儿来,这对我是多大的恩宠呀! 
GOOD-WILL. We make no objections against any, not with standing all that they have done before they came hither. They are in no wise cast out and therefore, good Christian, come a little way with me, and I will teach thee about the way thou must go. Look before thee; dost thou see this narrow way? THAT is the way thou must go; it was cast up by the patriarchs, prophets, Christ, and his apostles; and it is as straight as a rule can make it. This is the way thou must go.
好心说:不管到这儿来的人过去的行为怎样,我们对哪一个都不拒绝。他们“到我这里来的,我总不丢弃他(2);”好基督徒,来,跟我走一小段路,我要告诉你关于你必须走的路。看前面;你看到这条狭窄的路吗?这就是你得走的路;这是我们的祖先们,先知们,基督和他的使徒们砌的路;这是像用尺划的那么直的一条路。这是你得走的路。承认 
CHR. But, said Christian, are there no turnings or windings by which a stranger may lose his way?
基督徒说:难道没有任何弯道曲径,会使得陌生人迷途吗? 
GOOD-WILL. Yes, there are many ways butt down upon this, and they are crooked and wide. But thus thou mayest distinguish the right from the wrong, the right only being straight and narrow.
好心说:有,有许多条路都通到这条路上,它们又弯又阔。不过你就可以凭这个来辨别正路和邪路,只有正的一条又窄又直(3)。 
Then I saw in my dream that Christian asked him further if he could not help him off with his burden that was upon his back; for as yet he had not got rid thereof, nor could he by any means get it off without help.
这时我在梦中看见基督徒又问他能不能把他背上的重负去掉;因为他还没有解脱掉,并且不靠别人的帮助是绝对无法卸除的。
He told him, As to thy burden, be content to bear it, until thou comest to the place of deliverance; for there it will fall from thy back of itself.
好心对他说,至于你的负担,在没有到达得救的地方以前,还是安心扛着它吧;因为到了那个地方它自然而然会从你背上落下来的—— 
1耶路撒冷的圣山,象征天堂。 

2《新约全书·约翰福音》第6章第37节; 凡父所赐给我的人,必到我这里来;到我这里来的,我总不丢弃他。 

3《新约全书·马太福音》第7章第14节。
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