147 As I walked home in a pensive mood，my vanity got the better of my pity。I could not but highly plume myself on my masterly management in getting rid of Bartleby。Masterly I call it，and such it must appear to any dispassionatethinker。The beauty of my procedure seemed to consist in its perfect quietness。There was no vulgar bullying，no bravado of any sort，no choleric hectoring，and striding to and fro across the apartment，jerking out vehement mands for Bartleby to bundle himself off with his beggarly traps。Nothing of the kind。Without loudly bidding Bartleby depart—as an inferior genius might have done—I assumed the ground that depart he mustand upon the assumption built all I had to say。The more I thought over my procedure，the more I was charmed with it。Nevertheless，next morning，upon awakening，I had my doubts，—I had somehow slept off the fumes of vanity。One of the coolest and wisest hours a man has，is just after he awakes in the morning。My procedure seemed as sagacious as ever，—but only in theory。How it would prove in practice—there was the rub。It was truly a beautifulthought to have assumed Bartleby’s departurebut，after all，that assumption wassimply my own，and none of Bartleby’s。The great point was，not whether I had assumed that he would quit me，but whether he would prefer so to do。He was more a man of preferences than assumptions。
148 After breakfast，I walked down town，arguing the probabilities pro and con。One moment I thought it would prove a miserable failure，and Bartleby would be found all alive at my office as usualthe next moment it seemed certain that I should see his chair empty。And so I kept veering about。At the corner of Broadway and Canal-street，I saw quite an excited group of people standing in earnestconversation。
149 “I’ll take odds he doesn’t，”said a voice as I passed。
pensive：adj。沉思的
plume oneself：自誇，自矜
dispassionate：adj。冷靜的，公平的
bravado：n。虛張的勇氣
choleric：adj。暴躁的
hector：v。淩辱，威嚇
vehement：adj。猛烈的，激烈的
bundle off：匆匆離去
sagacious：adj。睿智的
veer：v。（風）改變方向
take odds：打賭
150 “Doesn’t go？—done！”said I，“put up your money。”
151 I was instinctively putting my hand in my pocket to produce my own，when I remembered that this was an election day。The words I had overheard bore no reference to Bartleby，but to the success or non-success of some candidate for the mayoralty。In my intent frame of mind，I had，asit were，imagined that all Broadway shared in my excitement，and were debating the same question with me。I passed on，very thankful that the uproar of the street screened my momentary absent-mindedness。
152 As I had intended，I was earlier than usual at my office door。Istood listening for a moment。All was still。He must be gone。I tried the knob。The door was locked。Yes，my procedure had worked to a charmhe indeed must be vanished。Yet a certain melancholy mixed with this：I was almost sorry for my brilliant success。I was fumbling under the door mat for the key，which Bartleby was to haveleft there for me，when accidentally my knee knocked against a panel，producinga summoning sound，and in response a voice came to me from within—“Not yetI am occupied。”
153 It was Bartleby。
154 I was thunderstruck。For an instant I stood like the man who，pipe in mouth，was killed one cloudless afternoon long ago in Virginia，by summer lightningat his own warm open window he was killed，and remained leaning out there upon the dreamy afternoon，till some one touched him，when he fell。
155 “Not gone！”I murmured at last。But again obeying that wondrous ascendancy which the inscrutable scrivener had over me，and from which ascendency，for all my chafing，I could not pletely escape，I slowly went down stairs and out into the street，and while walking round the block，considered what I should next do in this unheard-of perplexity。Turn the man out by an actual thrusting I couldnotto drive him away by calling him hard names would not docalling in the police was an unpleasant ideaand yet，permit him to enjoy his cadaverous triumph over me—this，too，I could not think of。What was to be done？or，if nothingcould be done，was there anything further that I could assume in the matter？Yes，as before I had prospectively assumed that Bartleby would depart，so now I might retrospectively assume that departed he was。In the legitimate carrying out of this assumption，I might enter my office in a great hurry，and pretending not to see Bartleby at all，walk straight against him as if he were air。Such a proceeding would in a singular degree have the appearance of a home-thrust。It was hardly possible that Bartleby could withstand such an application of the doctrineof assumptions。But upon second thoughts the success of the plan seemed rather dubious。I resolved to argue the matter over with him again。
156 “Bartleby，”said I，entering the office，with a quietly severe expression，“I am seriously displeased。I am pained，Bartleby。I had thought better of you。I had imagined you of such a gentlemanly organization，that in any delicate dilemma a slight hint would suffice—in short，an assumption。But itappears I am deceived。Why，”I added，unaffectedly starting，“you have not even touched the money yet，”pointing to it，just where I had left it the evening previous。
mayoralty：市長的職位；市長的任期
intent：adj。目不轉睛的；熱切的
uproar：n。騷動，騷亂；喧囂
ascendancy：n。優勢，支配地位
inscrutable：adj。不了解的
chafe：v。發怒，焦躁
suffice：v。足夠，有能力157 He answered nothing。
158 “Will you，or will you not，quit me？”I now demanded in a suddenpassion，advancing close to him。
159 “I would prefer not to quit you，”he replied，gently emphasizingthe not。
160 “What earthly right have you to stay here？Do you pay any rent？Doyou pay my taxes？Or is this property yours？”
161 He answered nothing。
162 “Are you ready to go on and write now？Are your eyes recovered？Could you copy a small paper for me this morning？or help examine a few lines？or step round to the post-office？In a word，will you do anything at all，to give a coloring to your refusal to depart the premises？”
163 He silently retired into his hermitage。
164 I was now in such a state of nervous resentment that I thought it but prudent to check myself at present from further demonstrations。Bartleby and I were alone。I remembered the tragedy of the unfortunate Adams and the still more unfortunate Colt in the solitary office of the latterand how poor Colt，being dreadfully incensed by Adams，and imprudently permitting himself to get wildly excited，was at unawares hurried into his fatal act—an act which certainly no man could possibly deplore more than the actor himself。Often it had occurred to me in my ponderings upon the subject，that had that altercation taken place in the public street，or at a private residence，it would not have terminated as it did。It was the circumstance of being alone in a solitary office，up stairs，of a building entirely unhallowed by humanizing domestic associations—an uncarpeted office，doubtless，of a dusty，haggard sort of appearance—this it must have been，which greatly helped to enhance the irritable desperation of the hapless Colt。
評注：柯爾特（Colt）案件是發生在1841年的一個臭名昭著的謀殺案。印刷工塞繆爾·亞當斯向約翰·C·柯爾特討債，結果在柯爾特的辦公室裏被柯爾特殺死。盡管柯爾特聲稱自己是自衛，但是法律還是判處他絞刑。柯爾特在被施絞刑前自殺。
165 But when this old Adam of resentment rose in me and tempted me concerning Bartleby，I grappled him and threw him。How？Why，simply by recalling the divine injunction：“A new mandment give I unto you，that ye love one another。”Yes，this it was that saved me。Aside from higher considerations，charity often operates as a vastly wise and prudent principle—a great safeguard to its possessor。Men have mitted murder for jealousy’s sake，and anger’s sake，and hatred’ssake，and selfishness’sake，and spiritual pride’s sakebut no man，that ever I heard of，ever mitted a diabolical murder for sweet charity’s sake。Mere self-interest，then，if no better motive can be enlisted，should，especially with high-tempered men，prompt all beings to charity and philanthropy。At any rate，uponthe occasion in question，I strove to drown my exasperated feelings towards the scrivener by benevolently construing his conduct。Poor fellow，poor fellow！thought I，he don’t mean any thingand besides，he has seen hard times，and ought to be indulged。
166 I endeavored，also，immediately to occupy myself，and at the same time to fort my despondency。I tried to fancy，that in the course of the morning，at suchtime as might prove agreeable to him，Bartleby，of his own free accord，would emerge from his hermitage and take up some decided line of march in the direction of the door。But no。Half-past twelve o’clock cameTurkey began to glow in the face，overturn his inkstand，and bee generally obstreperousNippers abateddown into quietude and courtesyGinger Nut munched his noon appleand Bartleby remained standing at his window in one of his profoundest dead-wall reveries。Will it be credited？Ought I to acknowledge it？That afternoon I left the officewithout saying one further word to him。
incense：v。使發怒，激怒
deplore：v。悲痛，深悔
altercation：n。口角，爭論
haggard：adj。憔悴的
hapless：adj。不幸的，倒黴的
injunction：n。指令
charity：n。仁慈
diabolical：adj。殘酷的
philanthropy：n。博愛
strove：v。努力，奮鬥，力求
exasperate：v。激怒
construe：v。解釋
despondency：n。沮喪，泄氣
quietude：n。安靜，靜止
munch：v。用力嚼，大聲嚼167 Some days now passed，during which，at leisure intervals I looked a little into“Edwards on the Will”，and“Priestley on Necessity”。Under the circumstances，those books induced a salutary feeling。Gradually I slid intothe persuasion that these troubles of mine touching the scrivener，had been all predestinated from eternity，and Bartleby was billeted upon me for some mysterious purpose of an all-wise Providence，which it was not for a mere mortal like me to fathom。Yes，Bartleby，stay there behind your screen，thought II shall persecute you no moreyou are harmless and noiseless as any of these old chairsin short，I never feel so private as when I know you are here。At least I see it，I feel itI penetrate to the predestinated purpose of my life。I am content。Others may have loftier parts to enactbut my mission in this world，Bartleby，is to furnish you with office-room for such period as you may see fit to remain。
評注：第167段提到的兩本書的作者都認為人的意誌不是自由的，而是受到某種使命驅使。
168 I believe that this wise and blessed frame of mind would have continued with me，had it not been for the unsolicited and uncharitable remarks obtruded uponme by my professional friends who visited the rooms。But thus it often is，thatthe constant friction of illiberal minds wears out at last the best resolves ofthe more generous。Though to be sure，when I reflected upon it，it was not strange that people entering my office should be struck by the peculiar aspect of the unaccountable Bartleby，and so be tempted to throw out some sinister observations concerning him。Sometimes an attorney，having business with me，and calling at my office，and finding no one but the scrivener there，would undertake to obtain some sort of precise information from him touching my whereaboutsbut without heeding his idle talk，Bartleby would remain standing immovable in the middle of the room。So after contemplating him in that position for a time，the attorney would depart，no wiser than he came。
salutary：adj。有益的
predestinate：v。（命中）注定
billet upon：分配
Providence：n。上帝
fathom：v。推測
persecute：v。迫害，殘害
obtrude：v。闖入
friction：n。矛盾
illiberal：adj。氣量狹窄的
sinister：adj。有惡意的
heed：v。注意，留心169 Also，when a Reference was going on，and the room full of lawyers and witnesses and business was driving fastsome deeply-occupied legal gentleman present，seeing Bartleby wholly unemployed，would request him to run round to his（the legal gentleman’s）office and fetch some papers for him。Thereupon，Bartleby would tranquilly decline，and yet remain idle as before。Then the lawyer would givea great stare，and turn to me。And what could I say？At last I was made aware that all through the circle of my professional acquaintance，a whisper of wonder was running round，having reference to the strange creature I kept at my office。This worried me very much。And as the idea came upon me of his possibly turningout a long-lived man，and keep occupying my chambers，and denying my authorityand perplexing my visitorsand scandalizing my professional reputationand casting a general gloom over the premiseskeeping soul and body together to the last upon his savings（for doubtless he spent but half a dime a day），and in the end perhaps outlive me，and claim possession of my office by right of his perpetual occupancy：as all these dark anticipations crowded upon me more and more，and my friends continually intruded their relentless remarks upon the apparition in my rooma great change was wrought in me。I resolved to gather all my faculties together，and forever rid me of this intolerable incubus。
評注：盡管老律師對巴特爾比抱有同情之心，但是巴特爾比的瘋癲已經給他的事業帶來了麻煩。因此，他決定放棄他的仁愛之心，徹底擺脫巴特爾比。
170 Ere revolving any plicated project，however，adapted to this end，I first simply suggested to Bartleby the propriety of his permanent departure。In a calm and serious tone，I mended the idea to his careful and mature consideration。But，having taken three days to meditate upon it，he apprised me，that his original determination remained the samein short，that he still preferred to abidewith me。
171 What shall I do？I now said to myself，buttoning up my coat to the last button。What shall I do？What ought I to do？What does conscience say I should do with this man，or，rather，ghost。Rid myself of him，I mustgo，he shall。But how？You will not thrust him，the poor，pale，passive mortal，—You will not thrustsuch a helpless creature out of your door？You will not dishonor yourself by suchcruelty？No，I will not，I cannot do that。Rather would I let him live and die here，and then mason up his remains in the wall。What，then，will you do？For all your coaxing，he will not budge。Bribes he leaves under your own paperweight on your tablein short，it is quite plain that he prefers to cling to you。
relentless：adj。無情的，殘酷的
work：v。造成，引起，激起。wrought為work的過去分詞
incubus：n。負擔，噩夢
propriety：n。適當性
meditate：v。沉思
apprise：v。通知
abide with：與……同住
mason：v。用石頭砌
coax：v。哄勸
budge：v。妥協
172 Then something severe，something unusual must be done。What！surely you will not have him collared by a constable，and mit his innocent pallor to the mon jail？And upon what ground could you procure such a thing to be done？—a vagrant，is he？What！he a vagrant，a wanderer，who refuses to budge？It is because he will not be a vagrant，then，that you seek to count him as a vagrant。That is too absurd。No visible means of support：there I have him。Wrong again：for indubitably he does support himself，and that is the only unanswerable proof thatany man can show of his possessing the means so to do。No more，then。Since he will not quit me，I must quit him。I will change my officesI will move elsewhereand give him fair notice，that if I find him on my new premises I will then proceed against him as a mon trespasser。
173 Acting accordingly，next day I thus addressed him：“I find thesechambers too far from the City Hallthe air is unwholesome。In a word，I propose to remove my offices next week，and shall no longer require your services。I tell you this now，in order that you may seek another place。”
174 He made no reply，and nothing more was said。
175 On the appointed day I engaged carts and men，proceeded to my chambers，and，having but little furniture，every thing was removed in a few hours。Throughout，the scrivener remained standing behind the screen，which I directed to be removed the last thing。It was withdrawnand being folded up like a huge folio，left him the motionless occupant of a naked room。I stood in the entry watching hima moment，while something from within me upbraided me。
176 I re-entered，with my hand in my pocket—and—and my heart in my mouth。
177 “Good-bye，BartlebyI am going—good-bye，and God some way bless youand take that，”slipping something in his hand。But it dropped upon the floor，and then，—strange to say—I tore myself from him whom I had so longed to be rid of。
178 Established in my new quarters，for a day or two I kept the doorlocked，and started at every footfall in the passages。When I returned to my rooms，after any little absence，I would pause at the threshold for an instant，and attentively listen，ere applying my key。But these fears were needless。Bartleby never came nigh me。
179 I thought all was going well，when a perturbed looking stranger visited me，inquiring whether I was the person who had recently occupied rooms at No。—Wall street。
180 Full of forebodings，I replied that I was。