評論
打印
Sir,
先生：
I was a witness of the execution at Horsemonger Lane this morning.
我是今天早晨在販馬商巷監獄實施絞刑的一名目睹者。
I went there with the intention of observing the crowd gathered to behold it, and I had excellent opportunities of doing so, at intervals all through the night, and continuously from daybreak until after the spectacle was over.
我去刑場是為了觀察聚集圍觀的人群。我不時有絕佳的觀察機會,從黑夜到黎明,從黎明直到這盛大的活動終結。
I do not address you on the subject with any intention of discussing the abstract question of capital punishment, or any of the arguments of its opponents or advocates.
我寫信給您,并非意圖討論死刑這個抽象問題,或發起任何反對死刑與支持死刑的爭論。
I simply wish to turn this dreadful experience to some account for the general good that the Government might be induced to give its support to a measure making the infliction of capital punishment a private solemnity within the prison walls
我只是希望從這次可怕的經歷中,吸取一些對大眾有益的教訓。他希望政府能聽取意見,使極刑處決成為獄墻之內一件私隱肅穆的事
I believe that a sight so inconceivably awful as the wickedness and levity of the immense crowd collected at that execution this morning could be imagined by no man, and could be presented in no heathen land under the sun.
我以為,如此不可思議的可怖場面非常人所能想象，日光之下,即便任何荒蠻的土地上也不該發生這樣的事。
The horrors of the gibbet and of the crime which brought the wretched murderers to it faded in my mind before the atrocious bearing, looks, and language of the assembled spectators.
觀者如潮,在他們殘暴的舉止、神情和言語面前,絞刑架的恐怖、以及絞架上卑鄙的兇手所犯下的罪行,都在我心中逐漸褪去。
譯文來自網絡，侵刪
