Frankenstein; or, the modern prometheus — Page 11

我充满了恐惧，因为如果我在那里失败了，我就会永远被世界所遗弃。

I am full of fears, for if I fail there, I am an outcast in the world for ever.

不要绝望。没有朋友固然是不幸的，但人们的心，若不受任何明显私利的左右，便充满了兄弟之爱与慈悲。因此，要寄望于你的希望；如果这些朋友善良可亲，就不要绝望。

Do not despair. To be friendless is indeed to be unfortunate, but the hearts of men, when unprejudiced by any obvious self-interest, are full of brotherly love and charity. Rely, therefore, on your hopes; and if these friends are good and amiable, do not despair.

他们很善良——他们是世界上最出色的人；但不幸的是，他们对我抱有偏见。我生性善良；我的生活迄今为止无害，在某种程度上也有益于人；但一种致命的偏见遮蔽了他们的双眼，在他们本该看到一个有情感、善良的朋友之处，他们看到的却只是一个令人憎恶的怪物。

They are kind—they are the most excellent creatures in the world; but, unfortunately, they are prejudiced against me. I have good dispositions; my life has been hitherto harmless and in some degree beneficial; but a fatal prejudice clouds their eyes, and where they ought to see a feeling and kind friend, they behold only a detestable monster.

这确实令人遗憾；但如果你真的没有过错，难道你不能让他们消除误解吗？

That is indeed unfortunate; but if you are really blameless, cannot you undeceive them?

我正准备着手完成这一任务；正是因为这个缘故，我感到如此多的、压倒一切的恐惧。我深深地爱着这些朋友；几个月来，我一直在他们不知情的情况下，每天对他们施以善意；但他们却以为我想伤害他们，而我希望克服的正是这种偏见。

I am about to undertake that task; and it is on that account that I feel so many overwhelming terrors. I tenderly love these friends; I have, unknown to them, been for many months in the habits of daily kindness towards them; but they believe that I wish to injure them, and it is that prejudice which I wish to overcome.

这些朋友住在哪里？

Where do these friends reside?

就在这附近。

Near this spot.

老人停顿了一下，然后继续说道：如果你愿意毫无保留地将你的故事详情告诉我，也许我能帮助他们消除误解。

The old man paused and then continued, 'If you will unreservedly confide to me the particulars of your tale, I perhaps may be of use in undeceiving them.