第23章 瘋子

我在瘋人院的花園裡遇到了一個青年，臉容蒼白、秀麗，可又充滿詫異的神色。 我坐在長凳上他的身邊，我開口道："你為什麼在這兒？"他驚訝地瞧著我，然後說道："這是個不禮貌的問題，不過我還是要回答你。我的父親要我成為同他一模一樣的人，我叔父也指望我同他一個模樣。我的母親但願我活像她那大名鼎鼎的父親。我的姐姐以為她那航海的丈夫是個十全十美的榜樣，要我亦步亦趨地學他。我的哥哥認為我應該像他一樣當個運動員。 我的老師們亦然如此，要我成為哲學博士，音樂大師和邏輯學家，他們也都是堅決的，每個人都只要我成為他的尊容在鏡子裡的反映。 "所以我就到這個地方來了。我覺得這兒瘋人院倒比較神誌清醒。至少，我可以成為我自己。"

於是那青年突然向我轉過臉來，問道："可是請你告訴我，難道你也是被教育和善意的忠告趕到瘋人院來的嗎？"我回答道："不，我是個訪問者。" 那青年便說："噢，有的人就住在牆壁那一邊的瘋人院裡，原來你就是其中之一啊。" The Madman It was in the garden of a madhouse that I met a youth with a face pale and lovely and full of wonder. And I sat beside him upon the bench, and I said, "Why are you here?"

And he looked at me in astonishment, and he said, "It is an unseemly question, yet I will answer you. My father would make of me a reproduction of himself; so also would my uncle. My mother would have me the image of her seafaring husband as the perfect example for me to follow. My brother thinks I should be like him, a fine athlete.

"And my teachers also, the doctor of philosophy, and the music-master, and the logician, they too were determined, and each would have me but a reflection of his own face in a mirror. "Therefore I came to this place. I find it more sane here. At least, I can be myself." Then of a sudden he turned to me and he said, "But tell me, were you also driven to this place by education and good counsel?"

And I answered, "No, I am a visitor." And he answered, "Oh, you are one of those who live in the madhouse on the other side of the wall."