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A more impressive exhibition of moral courage, opposed to the wildest ferocity under the most appalling circumstances, was never seen than that which was witnessed by the officers of our state prison; in the rebellion which occurred some years since.
幾年前，馬薩諸塞州監獄發生叛亂，奮起反抗這一聞所未聞的恐怖行為，當監獄警官們目睹這場慘絕人寰的暴亂，他們臨危不懼而表現出崇高的正義感與罕見的勇氣令人欽佩、震撼。
Three convicts had been sentenced, under the rules of the prison, to be whipped in the yard,
三個罪犯已被依法判決，依據監獄律令，還將在監獄院內接受鞭刑，
and, by some effort of one of the other prisoners, a door had been opened at midday communicating with the great dining hall and, through the warden's lodge, with the street.
由于其他一位囚徒的精心策劃，中午，這一消息由通往囚犯大型餐廳的一間看守房悄悄傳出，在餐廳內不脛而走，并傳到監獄外面。
The dining hall was long, dark, and damp, from its situation near the surface of the ground;
囚犯餐廳極長，光線陰暗，空氣潮濕，屋頂基本與監獄地面持平。
and in this all the prisoners assembled, with clubs and such other tools as they could seize in passing through the workshops.
餐廳為全體囚犯的集合之處，里面放有棍棒之類工具，方便囚犯們隨手抓起，進入各自工作車間。
Knives, hammers, and chisels, with every variety of such weapons, were in the hands of the ferocious spirits,
現在，各種刀錘鑿鉆，所以可以用作武器的家什，都掌控在這些兇殘的暴徒手中。
who are drawn away from their encroachments on society, forming a congregation of strength, vileness,
這些罪犯因非法侵犯他人權利而與世隔絕；與此同時也形成暴力、
and talent that can hardly be equaled on earth, even among the famed brigands of Italy.
邪惡及驚人才華的薈萃麇集，世界上幾乎不存在可以與之抗衡的勢力，甚而包括意大利最為兇殘的黑幫。
Men of all ages and characters, guilty of every variety of infamous crime, dressed in the motley and peculiar garb of the institution,
任何男囚，無論年齡身份，凡涉犯各類重罪，按規定一律穿戴統一雜色的獄服，
and displaying the wild and demoniac appearance that always pertains to imprisoned wretches,
以表現重罪囚犯野蠻與魔性的外貌特征及內心兇殘。
were gathered together for the single purpose of preventing the punishment which was to be inflicted on the morrow upon their comrades.
這些重罪囚犯被關押在一起的唯一理由，旨在避免次日早晨，有可能對同監獄其他人犯造成人身傷害。
