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发表于 2009-11-24 23:19
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Lizzie Borden took an axe,
Hit her father forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
She hit her mother forty-one.
莉琪·波顿拿起斧头
砍了她爸爸四十下
当她意识到自己所做的一切
她又砍了她妈妈四十一下
此首令人发指的童谣「Lizzie Borden Took An Axe」,其实是由真实的故事改编而成的。
1892 年 8 月 4 日午前,瀑布河城银行家安德鲁波登(Andrew Borden)33 岁的女儿莉琪(Lizzie Borden, 1860~1927)突然对自家女仆呼喊,惊叫自己的父亲遭人用斧头砍死在屋内;医师、邻居等人闻讯陆续赶到,众人进一步发现莉琪的继母也被利斧击毙于二楼。尽管莉琪波登因为涉嫌重大而被逮捕,历经一年多的侦讯审判,司法做出了无罪开释的结论,引起舆论哗然。
案子审理期间法庭内外都有相当激烈的推理、辩论,有不少人直觉传闻和继母一直处得不好的莉琪有行凶动机,然而却缺乏有力的犯案证据以及目击证人;法庭上淑女形象的莉琪波登看起来无助而纤弱,赢得全以男性组成的陪审团(当时美国女性尚无参政权)同情,在一个多小时的讨论之后,认定其人并非凶手。若不是莉琪杀了自己的父母,那凶手又是谁?对于这个案件的调查研究,一百多年来未曾间断,各种耳语、谣传更激发出无数文学艺术,甚至是纪念工艺品的创意;发生命案的房子,现在是瀑布河城能提供游客用餐,甚至居住的知名旅游景点。
不管真相如何,在充满黑色趣味的鹅妈妈童谣渲染下(实际上两位被害者总共仅被砍二十九下),大众对莉琪波登的偏见更加根深蒂固,她的名字早已成了残酷杀手的代名词,多数相关的小说、电影作品,直接点名莉琪波登是凶手,并且在加油添醋的情节中,让她受到报应。
但实际上被宣告无罪的莉琪和姊姊共同继承父亲遗产,卖掉凶宅,远离瀑布河城的是非圈。莉琪后半辈子醉心于戏剧与文学,身后大笔财产捐赠予防止虐待动物协会(Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals);爱护动物与凶残杀手两种截然不同的形象,让莉琪波登的生平,更增传奇色彩。
一开始以为这两首童谣是合在一起的,自己是这样念的:
“妈妈杀了我,爸爸吃了我,兄弟姐妹从地上捡起我的骨,埋在杜松树下。拿起斧头,拍拍爸爸二十下,再换妈妈二十一下”
后来查了后才知道是分开的。
Who Killed Cock Robin?
谁杀了知更鸟?是我,麻雀说,
用我的弓和箭,我杀了知更鸟。
Who killed Cock Robin?
I, said the Sparrow,
With my bow and arrow,
I killed Cock Robin.
谁看见他死去?是我,苍蝇说,
用我的小眼睛,我看见他死去。
Who saw him die?
I, said the Fly.
With my little eye,
I saw him die.
谁取走他的血?是我,鱼说,
用我的小碟子,我取走他的血。
Who caught his blood?
I, said the Fish,
With my little dish,
I caught his blood.
谁为他做寿衣?是我,甲虫说,
用我的针和线,我会来做寿衣。
Who"ll make his shroud?
I, said the Beetle,
With my thread and needle,
I"ll make the shroud.
谁来挖坟墓?是我,猫头鹰说,
用我的凿子铲子,我会来挖坟墓。
Who"ll dig his grave?
I, said the Owl,
With my pick and shovel,
I"ll dig his grave.
谁来当牧师?乌鸦说,是我,
用我的小本子,我会来做牧师。
Who"ll be the person?
I, said the Rook,
With my little book,
I"ll be the parson.
谁来当执事?是我,云雀说,
只要不在夜晚,我就会当执事。
Who"ll be the clerk?
I, said the Lark,
If it"s not in the dark,
I"ll be the clerk.
谁来拿火炬?红雀说,是我,
我立刻把它拿来。我将会拿火炬。
Who"ll carry the link?
I, said the Linnet,
I"ll fetch it in a minute,
I"ll carry the link.
谁来当主祭?是我,鸽子说,
我要哀悼挚爱,我将会当主祭。
Who"ll be chief mourner?
I, said the Dove,
I mourn for my love,
I"ll be chief mourner.
谁来抬棺?是我,鸢说,
如果不走夜路,我就会来抬棺。
Who"ll carry the coffin?
I, said the Kite,
If it"s not through the night,
I"ll carry the coffin.
谁来扶棺?是我们,鹪鹩说,
还有公鸡和母鸡,我们会来扶棺。
Who"ll bear the pall?
We, said the Wren,
Both the cock and the hen,
We"ll bear the pall.
谁来唱赞美诗?画眉说,是我,
她站在灌木丛上,我将唱赞美诗。
Who"ll sing a psalm?
I, said the Thrush,
As she sat on a bush,
I"ll sing a psalm.
谁来敲丧钟?是我,牛说,
因为我能拉牦。
Who"ll toll the bell?
I, said the Bull,
Because I can pull,
所以,再会了,知更鸟。
空中所有的鸟,
全都叹息哭泣,
当他们听见丧钟,
为可怜的知更鸟响起。
So Cock Robin, farewell.
All the birds of the air
Fell a-sighing and a-sobbing,
When they heard the bell toll
For poor Cock Robin.
启事
通告所有关系人,
这则启事通知,
下回鸟儿法庭,
将要审判麻雀。
NOTICE
To all it concerns,
This notice apprises,
The Sparrow"s for trial,
At next bird assizes. |
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