71.“He is an ignoramus，”interrupted my friend，as he stepped unsteadily forward，while I followed immediately at his heels。In an instant he had reached the extremity of the niche，and finding his progressarrested by the rock，stood stupidly bewildered。A moment more and I had fettered him to the granite。In its surface were two iron staples，distant from each other about two feet，horizontally。From one of these depended a short chain，from the other a padlock。Throwing the links about his waist，it was but the work of a few seconds to secure it。Hewas too much astounded to resist。Withdrawing the key I steppedback from the recess。
in vain：沒有結果的
endeavor：v。努力
pry into：窺探
termination：n。終止處
feeble：adj。微弱的
herein：adv。在這裏
ignoramus：n。無知的人，不學無術的人
extremity：n。盡頭，末端
niche：n。壁龕，牆壁上凹進去的空間
bewildered：adj。困惑的
horizontally：adv。水平地
padlock：n。掛鎖
astounded：adj。震驚的72“Pass your hand，”I said，“over the wall you cannot help feeling the nitre。Indeed it is very damp。Once more let me implore you to return。No？Then I must positively leave you。But I must first render you all the little attentions inmy power。”
73.“The Amontillado！”ejaculated my friend，not yet recovered from his astonishment。
74.“True，”I replied“the Amontillado。”
75.As I said these words I busied myself among the pile of bones of which I have before spoken。Throwing them aside，I soon uncovered a quantity of building stone and mortar。With these materials and with the aid of my trowel，I began vigorously to wall up the entrance of the niche。
76.I had scarcely laid the first tier of my masonry when I discovered that theintoxication of Fortunato had in a great measure worn off。Theearliest indication I had of this was a low moaning cry from the depth of the recess。It was notthe cry of a drunken man。There was then a long and obstinate silence。I laid the second tier，and the third，and the fourth and then I heard the furious vibrations of the chain。The noise lasted for several minutes，during which，that I might hearken to it with the more satisfaction，I ceased my labors and sat down upon the bones。When at last the clanking subsided，I resumed the trowel，and finished without interruption the fifth，the sixth，and the seventh tier。The wallwas now nearly upon a level with my breast。I again paused，and holding the flambeaux over the mason-work，threw a few feeble rays upon the figure within。
implore：v。懇求，哀求
render：v。給予
ejaculate：v。突然說出
mortar：n。灰泥
vigorously：adv。精力充沛地
wall up：砌上
tier：n。層
masonry：n。砌築
in a great measure：大部分
wear off：逐漸減弱
moaning：adj。呻吟的
obstinate：adj。頑固的
furious：adj。狂暴的
vibration：n。振動，顫抖
hearken：v。聽
clanking：n。叮當聲
subside：v。平息，減退
resume：v。再繼續
77.A succession of loud and shrill screams，bursting suddenlyfrom the throat of the chained form，seemed to thrust me violently back。For a brief moment I hesitated—I trembled。Unsheathing my rapier，Ibegan to grope with it about therecess：but the thought of an instant reassured me。I placed my hand upon the solid fabric of the catacombs，and felt satisfied。I reapproached the wall。I replied to the yells of him who clamored。I re-echoed—I aided—I surpassed them in volume and in strength。I did this，and the clamorer grew still。
78.It was now midnight，and my task was drawing to a close。I had completed the eighth，the ninth，and the tenth tier。I had finished a portion of the last and the eleventh there remained but a single stone to be fitted and plastered in。I struggled with its weight I placed it partially in its destined position。But now there came from out the niche a low laugh that erected the hairs upon my head。It was succeeded by a sad voice，which I had difficulty in recognizing as that of the noble Fortunato。The voice said-“Ha！ha！ha！—he！he！—a very good joke indeed—an excellent jest。We will have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo—he！he！he！—Over our wine—he！he！he！”
a succession of：一連串
unsheathe：v。拔出
rapier：n。一種劍
grope：v。摸索
fabric：n。建築材料
clamor：v。叫嚷
surpass：v。超過，壓過
succeed：v。接著，繼……之後79“The Amontillado！”I said。
80.“He！he！he！—he！he！he！—yes，the Amontillado。But is it not gettinglate？Will not they be awaiting us at the palazzo，the Lady Fortunato and the rest？Let us be gone。”
81.“Yes，”I said，“let us be gone。”
82.“For the love of God，Montresor！”
83.“Yes，”I said，“for the love of God！”
84.But to these words I hearkened in vain for a reply。I grew impatient。I called aloud—“Fortunato！”
85.No answer。I called again—“Fortunato！”
86.No answer still。I thrust a torch through the remaining aperture and let itfall within。There came forth in return only a jingling of the bells。My heart grew sick—on account of the dampness of the catacombs。I hastened to make an end of my labor。I forced the last stone into its position I plastered it up。Against the new masonry I re-erected the old rampart of bones。For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them。In pace requiescat！
aperture：n。穴
on account of：因為，由於
hasten：v。趕緊
rampart：n。壁壘
requiescat：n。願死者靈魂安息的祈禱
評注：該小說的結尾非常巧妙。直到最後敘述者才告訴讀者謀殺案是發生在五十年前，前麵所講故事隻是他的回憶而已。敘述者到底為何要殺死福吐納托是愛倫·坡給讀者留下的一個謎。
Comprehension Exercises：
1.The narrator continues his psychological manipulation of Fortunato。How is the narrator manipulating Fortunato here？
2.Fortunato is referring to the narrator’s coat of arms，a symbolic depiction of ancestry and family distinctions。How does this coat of arms relate to other aspects of the story？
3.“Rest in Peace”（Latin）。Why do you think the narrator ends his story with this phrase？
埃德加·愛倫·坡（1809—1949）：十九世紀美國詩人、小說家和文學評論家。坡在短篇小說創作上有突出的成就，曾留給後世許多經典之作，如《一桶白葡萄酒》、《黑貓》、《被竊的信》、《厄舍古屋的倒塌》、《麗姬婭》等等。其創作風格以懸疑、恐怖和象征為特色，因此坡被譽為偵探小說的鼻祖、科幻小說的先驅之一、恐怖小說大師、象征主義先驅之一。《一桶白葡萄酒》大約發表於1846年，小說延承了十九世紀對謀殺這一主題的迷戀，講述了一個將人活埋的恐怖故事。坡在創作時采用了“哥特式”小說的一些手法，並融入了象征主義和唯美主義的因素，因此該小說當之無愧地成為坡的短篇小說代表作品之一。