英语故事:蜘蛛之丝 The Spider's Thread (上)

 One day, the Buddha¹ was strolling alone along the edge of a lotus pond in Paradise. The blooming lotus flowers in the pond were each pure white like jewels, and the place was filled with the indescribably wondrous² fragrance³ continually emitted from each flower's golden center. It was just morning in Paradise. 

一天，佛世尊独自在极乐净土的宝莲池畔闲步。池中莲花盛开，朵朵都晶白如玉。花心之中金蕊送香，其香胜妙殊绝，普薰十方。极乐世界大约时当清晨。

After a time, the Buddha paused at the edge of the pond and from between the lotus leaves that covered it saw a glimpse of the state of things below. Now this celestial⁴ pond just happened to lie directly over Hell, and peering through that crystal-clear water was like looking through a magnifying glass at the River of Death and the Mountain of Needles and such. 

俄顷，世尊伫立池畔，从覆盖水面的莲叶间，偶见池下的情景。极乐莲池之下，正是十八地狱的最底层。透过澄清晶莹的池水，宛如戴上透视镜一般，把三恶道上之冥河与刀山剑树的诸般景象，尽收眼底。

The Buddha saw there, in the depths of Hell, a single man writhing⁵ along with the other sinners. This man was named Kandata, and he had been a notorious thief who had performed murder and arson⁶ and other acts of evil. In his past, however, he had performed just one good deed: one day, when walking through the deep forest, he saw a spider crawling along the road. At first he raised his foot to crush it, but suddenly he changed his mind and stopped, saying, "No, small though it may be, a spider, too, has life. It would be a pity to meaninglessly end it," and so did not kill it. 

这时，一名叫犍陀多的男子，同其他罪人在地狱底层挣扎的情景，映入世尊的慧眼。世尊记得，这犍陀多虽是个杀人放火、无恶不作的大盗，倒也有过一项善举。话说大盗犍陀多有一回走在密林中，见到路旁爬行一只小蜘蛛，抬起脚来，便要将蜘蛛踩死。忽转念一想：“不可，不可，蜘蛛虽小，到底也是一条性命。随便害死，无论如何，总怪可怜的。”犍陀多终究没踩下去，放了蜘蛛一条生路。

Looking down upon the captives in Hell the Buddha recalled this kind act that Kandata had performed, and thought to use his good deed as a way to save him from his fate. Looking aside, there on a jade-colored lotus leaf he saw a single spider, spinning out a web of silver thread. The Buddha carefully took the spider's thread into his hand, and lowered it straight down between the jewel-like white lotuses into the depths of Hell.

世尊看着地狱中的景象，想起犍陀多放蜘蛛生路这件善举。虽然微末如斯，世尊亦拟施以善报，尽量把他救出地狱。侧头一望，说来也巧，净土里有只蜘蛛，正在翠绿的莲叶上，攀牵美丽的银丝。世尊轻轻取来一缕蛛丝，从莹洁如玉的白莲间，径直垂向香渺幽邃的地狱底层。 

（一九一八年四月） 艾莲 译

1 Buddha   

n.佛；佛像；佛陀

参考例句：

• Several women knelt down before the statue of Buddha and prayed.几个妇女跪在佛像前祈祷。
• He has kept the figure of Buddha for luck.为了图吉利他一直保存着这尊佛像。

2 wondrous   

adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地

参考例句：

• The internal structure of the Department is wondrous to behold.看一下国务院的内部结构是很有意思的。
• We were driven across this wondrous vast land of lakes and forests.我们乘车穿越这片有着湖泊及森林的广袤而神奇的土地。

3 fragrance   

n.芬芳，香味，香气

参考例句：

• The apple blossoms filled the air with their fragrance.苹果花使空气充满香味。
• The fragrance of lavender filled the room.房间里充满了薰衣草的香味。

4 celestial   

adj.天体的；天上的

参考例句：

• The rosy light yet beamed like a celestial dawn.玫瑰色的红光依然象天上的朝霞一样绚丽。
• Gravity governs the motions of celestial bodies.万有引力控制着天体的运动。

5 writhing   

（因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She was writhing around on the floor in agony. 她痛得在地板上直打滚。
• He was writhing on the ground in agony. 他痛苦地在地上打滚。

6 arson   

n.纵火，放火

参考例句：

• He was serving a ten spot for arson.他因纵火罪在服十年徒刑。
• He was arraigned on a charge of arson.他因被指控犯纵火罪而被传讯。