[不朽的短篇]红死魔的假面舞会--带你领略爱伦坡式的悬念小说（解说＋全文＋赏析)(3)

但普洛斯佩罗亲王快活，无畏而精明。眼见其疆域内的人口锐减一半，他便从宫中召集了一千名健壮而乐观的骑士淑女，并带着他们退隐到一座非常偏远的城堡式宅院。
This was a large and beautiful stone building he had planned himself. A strong, high wall circled it. This wall had gates of iron. The gentlemen, after they had entered, brought fire to heat the iron of the gate to make them close so firmly that nobody could open them. Here they could forget the sickness, the Red Death. They would leave the outside world to care for itself.
那是一座宽敞而宏伟的建筑，是亲王那与众不同但令人敬畏的情趣之创造。宅院四周环绕着一道坚固的高墙。大门全用钢铁铸就。亲王的追随者们带来了熔炉和巨锤，进宅院之后便熔死了所有门闩。他们决心破釜沉舟，不留退路，以防因绝望或疯狂而产生的想出去的冲动。宅院内的各种必需品非常充裕。有了这样的防御措施，那些绅士淑女们便可以藐视瘟疫的蔓延。墙外的世界能够自己照料自己。
Prospero had supplied everything they needed for pleasure. There was music. There was dancing. There was beauty. There was food to eat and wine to drink. All these were within the wall, and within the wall they would be safe. Outside the wall walked the Red Death.
在这种时候去忧心忡忡是庸人自扰。亲王早就做好了寻欢作乐的一切安排。宅内有插科打诨的小丑，有即席吟诵的诗人，有表演芭蕾的舞女，有演奏音乐的乐师，而且还有美女和酒浆。所有的欢乐和平安都在墙内。墙外则是红死病的天下。