評論
打印
Then came the climax of the trial. Because of the wording of the anti-evolution law, the prosecution was forced to take the position that the Bible must be interpreted literally. Now Darrow sprang his trump card by calling Bryan as a witness for the defence. The judge looked startled. We are calling him as an expert on the Bible, Darrow said. His reputation as an authority on Scripture is recognized throughout the world.
接著審判的高潮到來了。由于反進化論法律條文的限制，控方只得堅持《圣經》必須嚴格按字面意義解釋的立場。這時，達羅突然打出他的王牌，點名要布萊恩充當辯方證人。法官也滿臉驚訝。我們要他當證人是因為他是《圣經》研究專家，達羅說道。作為經學權威，他的聲譽是舉世公認的。
Bryan was suspicious of the wily Darrow, yet he could not refuse the challenge. For year s he had lectured and written on the Bible. He had campaigned against Darwinism in Tennessee even before passage of the anti-evolution law. Resolutely he strode to the stand, carrying a palm fan like a sword to repel his enemies.
布萊恩滿心狐疑，不知那詭計多端的達羅葫蘆里在賣什么藥，但他又不能不接受這一挑戰。多年來他一直在講解《圣經》，并且還曾圍繞《圣經》著書立說。甚至在反進化論法令通過之前，他就在田納西州發動過反達爾文主義的運動。這時，只見他剛毅果敢地握著一把芭蕉扇，像是拿它當成一把退敵的利劍似的，大步流星地向證人席走去。
Under Darrow's quiet questioning he acknowledged believing the Bible literally, and the crowd punctuated his defiant replies with fervent Amens.
在達羅的平靜語調套問下，他承認自己對《圣經》的字字句句深信不疑，旁觀的人群對他的激昂的回答不時和以熱烈的阿門的喊聲。
Darrow read from Genesis: And the evening and the morning were the first day. Then he asked Bryan if he believed that the sun was created on the fourth day. Bryan said that he did.
達羅翻開《創世紀》念道：夜盡晨來乃第一天也。接下來他問布萊恩是否相信太陽是第四天創造出來的，布萊恩回答說他相信。
How could there have been a morning and evening with-out any sun? Darrow enquired.
沒有太陽之前又怎么會有早晨和晚上呢?達羅問道。
Bryan mopped his bald dome in silence. There were sniggers from the crowd, even among the faithful. Darrow twirled his spectacles as he pursued the questioning. He asked if Bryan believed literally in the story of Eve. Bryan answered in the affirmative.
布萊恩悶聲不響地擦拭著自己的禿頂。人群中傳出陣陣暗笑聲，連一些虔誠的基督徒也在發笑。達羅一面捻弄著他的眼鏡，一面繼續發問。他問布萊恩是否相信有關夏娃的故事字字句句都是真實的，布萊恩作了肯定的回答。
