忏悔录 Confessions | BookVI Chapter7 阿利比乌斯的别一轶事

BookVI Chapter7

阿利比乌斯的别一轶事

But this was already being laid up in his memory to be a medicine here after. So was that also, that when he was yet studying under me at Carthage, and was thinking over at mid-day in the market-place what he was to say by heart (as scholars use to practise), Thou sufferedst him to be apprehended by the officers of the market-place for a thief. For no other cause, I deem, didst Thou, our God, suffer it, but that he who was here after to prove so great a man, should already begin to learn that in judging of causes, man was not readily to be condemned by man out of a rash credulity.

这次经验保留在他的记忆中，作为日后的良药。他还有一件事。他在迦太基在我门下读书时，一天中午，他在中央广场上思索着，准备学生们经常练习的一篇演讲，你容许广场的看守者把他当作窃贼而将他逮捕。我的上帝，我以为你所以容许此事，是为了另一个原因，使日后成为一个伟大人物的他，这时就开始懂得在处理案件时，不应贸贸然听信别人而处罚一人。

For as he was walking up and down by himself before the judgment-seat, with his note-book and pen, lo, a young man, a lawyer, the real thief, privily bringing a hatchet, got in, unperceived by Alypius, as far as the leaden gratings which fence in the silversmiths' shops, and began to cut away the lead. But the noise of the hatchet being heard, the silversmiths beneath began to make a stir, and sent to apprehend whomever they should find. But he, hearing their voices, ran away, leaving his hatchet, fearing to be taken with it. Alypius now, who had not seen him enter, was aware of his going, and saw with what speed he made away. And being desirous to know the matter, entered the place; where finding the hatchet, he was standing, wondering and considering it, when behold, those that had been sent, find him alone with the hatchet in his hand, the noise where of had startled and brought them thither. They seize him, hale him away, and gathering the dwellers in the market-place together, boast of having taken a notorious thief, and so he was being led away to be taken before the judge.

他独自一人带着蜡板与铁笔在法院前散步。他没有注意到这时有一个青年，也是一个学生，真正的窃贼，偷偷地带了一把斧头想斫下钱庄大街上面铅栏杆的铅，街上的钱庄职员听见斧声，喊起来了，派人来巡查捉贼。这个青年听到人声，害怕被捕，丢下斧头逃跑了。阿利比乌斯没有见他进来，只见他急忙忙地跑出去，想知道什么事情，便走到那里，发现一把斧头，他站定了观看，有些纳闷。这时捉贼的人来了，见他独自一人，拿着刚才砍栏杆时发出声音使他们惊觉的铁器，便抓住他，这时住在广场四周的人都已走来，他们拖着阿利比乌斯，自诩为当场捉住窃贼，预备拉他到法庭审问。

But thus far was Alypius to be instructed. For forthwith, O Lord, Thou succouredst his innocency, where of Thou alone wert witness. For as he was being led either to prison or to punishment, a certain architect met them, who had the chief charge of the public buildings. Glad they were to meet him especially, by whom they were wont to be suspected of stealing the goods lost out of the market-place, as though to show him at last by whom these thefts were committed.

阿利比乌斯所受的教训，至此为止。因为主，你来救援这无罪的人，惟有你是无罪的见证。当人们拉他上监狱或受刑罚去时，途中遇见负责公共建筑的建筑师。人们很高兴遇见他，因为他经常怀疑广场上失去的东西是这些人偷的，人们希望他这次可以明白过去的窃案是谁干的。

He, however, had divers times seen Alypius at a certain senator's house, to whom he often went to pay his respects; and recognising him immediately, took him aside by the hand, and enquiring the occasion of so great a calamity, heard the whole matter, and bade all present, amid much uproar and threats, to go with him. So they came to the house of the young man who had done the deed. There, before the door, was a boy so young as to be likely, not apprehending any harm to his master, to disclose the whole. For he had attended his master to the market-place. Whom so soon as Alypius remembered, he told the architect: and he showing the hatchet to the boy, asked him "Whose that was?" "Ours," quoth he presently: and being further questioned, he discovered everything.

这位建筑师经常去探访一位元老，而在这位元老处屡次遇见阿利比乌斯。他立刻认出阿利比乌斯，便上前拉了他的手，把他从人群中解救出来，询问这不幸事件的原因。他听了经过后，便命那些嚷成一片、叫喊恐吓的人群跟自己来。他们走到干这事的青年家中。门口有一个小奴隶，年纪很轻，不会为小主人担心后果如何，自然很容易吐露一切。这奴隶是跟随主人到广场上去的。阿利比乌斯一见就认识他，便告知建筑师。建筑师把斧子给孩子看，问他是谁的东西。孩子立即回答说：“是我们的”。追问下去，他便说出一切经过。

Thus the crime being transferred to that house, and the multitude ashamed, which had begun to insult over Alypius, he who was to be a dispenser of Thy Word, and an examiner of many causes in Thy Church, went away better experienced and instructed.

如此，这案件便落在这一家了，群众本来自以为捉获了阿利比乌斯，至此也很觉惭愧。而阿利比乌斯，你未来圣道的宣教士，你的教令内许多案件的审判者，在这一事件中、获得了更多的经验，更深的教训。