LESSON 17 THE VENOMOUS WORM 致命毒虫
John Russell (b.1793, d.1863) graduated at Middlebury College, Vt., in 1818.He was at one time editor of the “Backwoodsman,” published at Grafton, Ill., and later of the “Louisville Advocate.”He was the author of many tales of western adventure and of numerous essays, sketches, etc.His language is clear, chaste, and classical; his style concise, vigorous, and sometimes highly ornate.
1.Who has not heard of the rattlesnake or copperhead? An unexpected sight of either of these reptiles[1] will make even the lords of creation recoil[2]; but there is a species of worm, found in various parts of this country, which conveys a poison of a nature so deadly that, compared with it, even the venom of the rattlesnake is harmless.To guard our readers against this foe of human kind is the object of this lesson.
2.This worm varies much in size.It is frequently an inch in diameter, but, as it is rarely seen except when coiled, its length can hardly be conjectured.It is of a dull lead color, and generally lives near a spring or small stream of water, and bites the unfortunate people who are in the habit of going there to drink.The brute creation it never molests.They avoid it with the same instinct that teaches the animals of India to shun the deadly cobra[3].
3.Several of these reptiles have long infested[4] our settlements, to the misery and destruction of many of our fellow citizens.I have, therefore, had frequent opportunities of being the melancholy spectator of the effects produced by the subtile[5] poison which this worm infuses[6].
4.The symptoms of its bite are terrible.The eyes of the patient become red and fi ery, his tongue swells to an immoderate size, and obstructs[7] his utterance; and delirium[8] of the most horrid character quickly follows.Sometimes, in his madness, he attempts the destruction of his nearest friends.
5.If the suff erer has a family, his weeping wife and helpless infants are not unfrequently the objects of his frantic fury.In a word, he exhibits, to the life, all the detestable passions that rankle[9] in the bosom of a savage; and such is the spell in which his senses are locked, that no sooner has the unhappy patient recovered from the paroxysm[10] of insanity occasioned by the bite, than he seeks out the destroyer for the sole purpose of being bitten again.
6.I have seen a good old father, his locks as white as snow, his step slow and trembling, beg in vain of his only son to quit the lurking place of the worm.My heart bled when he turned away; for I knew the fond hope that his son would be the “staff of his declining years,” had supported him through many a sorrow.
7.Youths of America, would you know the name of this reptile? It is called the WORM[11] OF THE STILL[12].[13]
【中文阅读】
约翰·罗素（1793—1863）于1818年毕业于美国佛蒙特州米德尔伯里学院。他曾担任在伊利诺伊州格拉夫顿市出版的《蛮荒者》杂志的编辑，随后成为《路易斯维尔之声》的编辑。他曾写过许多西部冒险小说，以及大量的杂文和随笔。他的语言清晰干净，遣词造句传统古典，文风简洁热情，但有时辞藻过于华丽。
1.可有人不曾听说过响尾蛇或铜斑蛇？要是在不经意间看到这两种虫豸，哪怕是造物主都会在它们面前惊恐畏缩。但是，这世上还有另一种蠕虫，这种蠕虫在美国各地已相继被发现，它身上能分泌出致命的毒素，与这种剧毒相比，响尾蛇的毒液都算得上温和无害。本文旨在指导读者如何防备这个危害人类生命的致命敌人。
2.这种蠕虫的体型差异很大。它的直径常常能达到一英寸，但是，由于这种蠕虫常常盘绕成团，很少有人见过它完全舒展开来的样子，因此很难估测它的实际长度。这种蠕虫呈暗铅色，通常盘踞在泉水或细小溪流附近，并在不经意间叮咬那些前去饮水的不幸的人。它从不骚扰那些凶猛的野兽，因为那些猛兽本能地避开它，正如印度动物本能地避开致命的眼镜蛇那样。
3.这种致命的爬行虫豸当中，有许多蠕虫已经长期侵扰人类的住处，给人们带来痛苦与灾难。这种蠕虫只需刺入人体极少或微量毒液，便足以给人带来不可避免的悲剧。不幸的是，这类受害者对我来说，实在是司空见惯。
4.被这种毒虫咬伤后的症状极其可怕。受害者的眼睛变得红肿而炙热，舌头过度肿胀，连发音都变得含糊，紧接着会产生可怕的幻觉。处于癫狂状态下的受害者，甚至会攻击身边最亲密的朋友。
5.如果受害者有家小，他哭泣的妻子和无助的婴儿便不可避免地成为他狂暴时攻击的对象。换句话说，他会无法遏制地表现出野蛮内心的疯狂情绪，在这种时候，他感觉不到外界的反应。哪怕受害者间歇性地从被虫豸啮噬后的癫狂状态中苏醒，他仍会疯狂地寻找这种毒虫，就为了再度被它啮噬。
6.我曾经见过一位慈祥的年迈父亲，他的鬓发近乎雪白，步履颤抖蹒跚，却仍然徒劳地苦苦央求他唯一的儿子离开那毒虫盘踞的场所。当他艰难地转身离开时，我的心在滴血。我知道，他仍然幻想着儿子是他“垂暮之年的唯一依靠”，而这种幻想，曾伴随他度过许多悲痛的时刻。
7.美国的年轻人们，你们可知道这种毒虫叫什么名字？它就是鸦片。
【注释】
[1] Reptiles, animals that crawl, as snakes, lizards, etc.
[2] Recoil, to start back, to shrink from.
[3] Cobra, a highly venomous reptile inhabiting the East Indies.
[4] Infested, troubled, annoyed.
[5] Subtile, acute, piercing.
[6] Infuses, introduces.
[7] Obstructs, hinders.
[8] Delirium, a wandering of the mind.
[9] Rankle, to rage.
[10] Paroxysm, a f it, a convulsion.
[11] Worm, a spiral metallic pipe used in distilling liquors.
[12] Still, a vessel used in distilling or making liquors.
[13] 译注：WORM OF THE STILL，原本指液体浓缩后的产物像虫一样呈长条形，人们将这种固态物卷成团，以节约空间，后来，有人开始从罂粟花汁液中提炼出鸦片以便吸食，因此便用WORM OF THE STILL指代鸦片。