第27章一个古怪的梦（1）
A
马克·吐温MarkT>
马克·吐温（MarkTwain，1835—1910），美国幽默大师、小说家、著名演说家，19世纪后期美国现实主义文学的杰出代表。作品风格以幽默与讽刺为主，既富于独特的个人机智与妙语，又不乏深刻的社会洞察与剖析。主要的代表作品有《哈克贝利·费恩历险记》（长篇）、《百万英镑》（短篇）等。
Ihadasingulardream。Iseemedtobesittingonadoorstep（innoparticularcityperhaps）ruminating，aimeofobeabouttwelveoroneo'clock。Theweatherwasbalmyanddelicious。Therewasnohumansouevenafootstep。Therewasnosoundofanykindtoemphasizethedeadstillheoalhofadogiahefainteranswer。PresentlyupthestreetIheardabonyclag，awastheetsparty。Iallskeleton，hooded，andhalfatatteredandmoldyshroud，whoseshredsingabouttheribbylatticeworkofitsperson，swuhastatelystrideahegraygloomofthestarlight。Ithadabrokenaenitsshoulderandabuhinginitshaheclagwasthen；itarty'sjether，andhiselbowsknogagainsthissidesashewalked。ImaysayIrised。BeforeIythoughtsaerupoionsastoparitionmightporteheroneingfnizedhisclack-clack。Hehadtwo-thirdsofahisshoulder，aandheadboardsunderhisarm。Imightilywaopeerunderhishoodaohim，butwheurnedandsmiledupohhisoussodhisprojeashewentby，IthoughtIwouldainhim。Hewashardlygonewhehegagain，andanotheroheshadowyhalf-light。Thisonewasbendingunderaheavygravestone，anddraggingashabbyafterhimbyastritomehegavemeasteadylookforamomentortwo，andtheoaome，saying：
"Easethisdownforafellow，willyou？"
&hegravestoillitrestedontheground，andindoingsoborethe;JohnBaxteranhurst，"with"May，1839，"asthedateofhisdeath。Deceasedsatwearilydownbyme，andwipedhisosfrontalwithhismajormaxillary—chieflyfromformerhabitIjudged，forIotseethathebroughtairation。
"Itistoobad，toobad，"saidhe，drawioftheshroudabouthimandleaninghisjawpensivelyonhishahisleftfootuponhiskhisalywitharustynailwhichhegotoutofhis。
"Whatistoobad，friend？"
"，everything。IalmostwishIneverhaddied。"
"Yousurpriseme。Whydoyousaythis？Hasanythingg？Whatisthematter？"
"Matter！Lookatthisshrs。Lookatthisgravestoteredup。Lookatthatdisgracefulold。Allaman&#oingtoruiionbeforehiseyes，andaskhimifanythingiswrong？Fireandbrimsto;
"Calmyourself，calmyourself，"Isaid。"Itistoobad-itislytoobad，butthenIhadnotsupposedthatyouwouldmudsuchmatterssituatedasyouare。"
"Well，mydearsir，Idomindthem。Myprideishurt，andmypaired—destroyed，Imightsay。Iwillstatemycase—Iwillputittoyouinsuchawaythatyouprehendit，ifyouwillletme，"saidthepoorskeleton，tiltingthehoodofhisshroudback，asifheweregforadthusunsciouslygivinghimselfajauiveairverymuchatvariahegravecharacterofhispositioospeak—andirastwithhisdistressfulmood。
"Proceed，"saidI。
"Iresideintheshamefuloldgraveyardablockortwoaboveyouhere，inthisstreet—there，now，Ijustexpectedthatcartilagewouldletgo！—thirdribfromthebottom，friend，hitdofittomyspihastring，ifyouhavegotsugaboutyou，thoughabitofsilverleasanter，andmoredurableandbeipolished—tothiandgoihisway，justonatoftheindiffereofone'sposterity！"—andthepratedhisteethinawaythatgavemeawrendashiver—fortheeffectismightilyiheabsenufflingflesha;Iresideinthatoldgraveyard，ahesethirtyyears；ahingsaregedsilaidthisoldtiredframethere，andturretchedsleep，withadeliseuponmeofbeiher，andgrief，ay，anddoubt，andfear，foreverandever，ahfortableaisfatothesexton'swork，fromthestartlingclatterofhisfirstspadefulonmytillitdulledawaytothefaintpattingthatshapedtheroofofmynewhome-deliy！Iwishyoucouldtryittonight！"andoutofmyreveriedeceasedfetchedmearattlingslapwithabonyhand。