71 The tinge of passion that had colored Beatrice’s manner vanished，she becamegay，and appeared to derive a pure delight from her communion with the youth，not unlike what the maiden of a lonely island might have felt，conversing with a voyager from the civilized world。Evidently her experience of life had been confined within the limits of that garden。She talked now about matters as simple asthe day-light or summer-clouds，and now asked questions in reference to the city，or Giovanni’s distant home，his friends，his mother，and his sistersquestions indicating such seclusion，and such lack of familiarity with modes and forms，that Giovanni responded as if to an infant。Her spirit gushed out before him like a fresh rill，that was just catching its first glimpse of the sunlight，and wondering at the reflections of earth and sky which were flung into its bosom。There came thoughts，too，from a deep source，and fantasies of a gem-like brilliancy，as if diamonds and rubies sparkled upward among the bubbles of the fountain。Ever and anon，there gleamed across the young man’s mind a sense of wonder，that he should be walking side by side with the being who had so wrought upon his imagination—whom he had idealized in such hues of terror—in whom he had positively witnessed such manifestations of dreadful attributes—that he should be conversing with Beatrice like a brother，and should find her so human and so maiden-like。But such reflections were only momentarythe effect of her character was too real，not to make itself familiar at once。
72 In this free intercourse，they had strayed through the garden，and now，after many turns among its avenues，were come to the shattered fountain，beside which grew the magnificent shrub with its treasury of glowing blossoms。A fragrance was diffused from it，which Giovanni recognized as identical with that which he had attributed to Beatrice’s breath，but incomparably more powerful。As her eyesfell upon it，Giovanni beheld her press her hand to her bosom，as if her heart were throbbing suddenly and painfully。
73 “For the first time in my life，”murmured she，addressing the shrub，“I had forgotten thee！”
74 “I remember，Signora，”said Giovanni，“that you once promised to reward me with one of these living gems for the bouquet，which I had the happy boldness to fling to your feet。Permit me now to pluck it as a memorial of this interview。”
75 He made a step towards the shrub，with extended hand。But Beatrice darted forward，uttering a shriek that went through his heart like a dagger。She caught his hand，and drew it back with the whole force of her slender figure。Giovanni felt her touch thrilling through his fingers。
76 “Touch it not！”exclaimed she，in a voice of agony。“Not for thy life！It is fatal！”
77 Then，hiding her face，she fled from him，and vanished beneath the sculptured portal。As Giovanni followed her with his eyes，he beheld the emaciated figureand pale intelligence of Doctor Rappaccini，who had been watching the scene，heknew not how long，within the shadow of the entrance。
tinge：n。气息，风味
seclusion：n。隔离
rill：n。小河，小溪
ruby：n。红宝石
momentary：adj。瞬间的，刹那间的
incomparably：adv。无比地，无敌地
fling：v。直冲，急行
finger：n。手指
portal：n。入口78No sooner was Guasconti alone in his chamber，than the image of Beatrice came back to his passionate musings，invested with all the witcherythat had been gathering around it ever since his first glimpse of her，and now likewise imbued with a tender warmth of girlish womanhood。She was human：her nature was endowedwith all gentle and feminine qualitiesshe was worthiest to be worshippedshewas capable，surely，on her part，of the height and heroism of love。Those tokens，which he had hitherto considered as proofs of a frightful peculiarity in herphysical and moral system，were now either forgotten，or，by the subtle sophistry of passion，transmuted into a golden crown of enchantment，rendering Beatricethe more admirable，by so much as she was the more unique。Whatever had looked ugly，was now beautifulor，if incapable of such a change，it stole away and hid itself among those shapeless half-ideas，which throng the dimregion beyond the daylight of our perfect consciousness。Thus did Giovanni spend the night，nor fell asleep，until the dawn had begun to awake the slumbering flowers in Doctor Rappaccini’s garden，whither his dreams doubtless led him。
Up rose the sun in his due season，and flinging his beams upon the young man’s eyelids，awoke him toa sense of pain。When thoroughly aroused，he became sensible of a burning and tingling agony in his hand—in his right hand—the very hand which Beatrice had grasped in her own，when he was on the point of plucking one of the gem-like flowers。On the back of that hand there was now a purple print，like that of four small fingers，and the likeness of a slender thumb upon his wrist。
79 Oh，how stubbornly does love—or even that cunning semblance oflove which flourishes in the imagination，but strikes no depth of root into the heart—howstubbornly does it hold its faith，until the moment come，when it is doomed to vanish into thin mist！Giovanni wrapt a handkerchief about his hand，and wondered what evil thing had stung him，and soon forgot his pain in a reverie of Beatrice。
80 After the first interview，a second was in the inevitable course of what we call fate。A third，a fourth，and a meeting with Beatrice in the garden was no longer an incident in Giovanni’s daily life，but the whole space in which he might be said to livefor the anticipation and memory of that ecstatic hour made upthe remainder。Nor was it otherwise with the daughter of Rappaccini。She watched for the youth’s appearance，and flew to his side with confidence as unreserved as if they had been playmates from early infancy—as if they were such playmates still。If，by any unwonted chance，he failed to come at the appointed moment，she stood beneath the window，and sent up the rich sweetness of her tones to float around him in his chamber，and echo and reverberate throughout his heart—“Giovanni！Giovanni！Why tarriest thou？Come down！”—And down he hastened into thatEden of poisonous flowers。
81 But，with all this intimate familiarity，there was still a reserve in Beatrice’s demeanor，so rigidly and invariably sustained，that the idea of infringingit scarcely occurred to his imagination。By all appreciable signs，they lovedthey had looked love，with eyes that conveyed the holy secret from the depths of one soul into the depths of the other，as if it were too sacred to be whispered by the waythey had even spoken love，in those gushes of passion when their spirits darted forth in articulated breath，like tongues of long-hidden flameandyet there had been no seal of lips，no clasp of hands，nor any slightest caress，suchas love claims and hallows。He had never touched one of the gleaming ringlets of her hairher garment—so marked was the physical barrier between them—had never been waved against him by a breeze。On the few occasions when Giovanni had seemed tempted to overstep the limit，Beatrice grew so sad，so stern，and withal wore such a look of desolate separation，shuddering at itself，that not a spoken word was requisite to repel him。At such times，he was startled at the horrible suspicions that rose，monster-like，out of the caverns of his heart，and stared him in the facehis love grew thin and faint as the morning-misthis doubts alone had substance。But when Beatrice’s face brightened again，after the momentary shadow，she was transformed at once from the mysterious，questionable being，whom he had watched with so much awe and horrorshe was now the beautiful and unsophisticated girl，whom he felt that his spirit knew with a certainty beyond all other knowledge。
witchery：n。巫术，魅力
sophistry：n。诡辩
transmute：v。改变
enchantment：n。迷惑，着迷
throng：v。群集
slumber：v。睡眠
reverie：n。幻想
ecstatic：adj。狂喜的，心醉神迷的
reverberate：v。反响
demeanor：n。行为，风度
infringe：v。破坏，侵犯
clasp：n。紧握，握手
stern：adj。严厉的，苛刻的
requisite：adj。必不可少的，必备的82A considerable time had now passed since Giovanni’s last meeting with Baglioni。One morning，however，he was disagreeably surprised by a visit from the Professor，whom he had scarcely thought of for whole weeks，and would willingly haveforgotten still longer。Given up，as he had long been，to a pervading excitement，he could tolerate no companions，except upon condition of their perfect sympathy with his present state of feeling。Such sympathy was not to be expected fromProfessor Baglioni。
83 The visitor chatted carelessly，for a few moments，about the gossip of the city and the University，and then took up another topic。
84 “I have been reading an old classic author lately，”said he，“andmet with astory that strangely interested me。Possibly you may remember it。It is of an Indian prince，who sent a beautiful woman as a present to Alexander the Great。She was as lovely as the dawn，and gorgeous as the sunsetbut what especially distinguished her was a certain rich perfume in her breath—richer than a garden ofPersian roses。Alexander，as was natural to a youthful conqueror，fell in love at first sight with this magnificent stranger。But a certain sage physician，happening to be present，discovered a terrible secret in regard to her。”
85 “And what was that？”asked Giovanni，turning his eyes downward toavoid those of the Professor。
86 “That this lovely woman，”continued Baglioni，with emphasis，“hadbeen nourished with poisons from her birth upward，until her whole nature was so imbued with them，that she herself had become the deadliest poison in existence。Poison was her element of life。With that rich perfume of her breath，she blasted the very air。Her love would have been poison！—Her embrace death！Is not this a marvellous tale？”
87 “A childish fable，”answered Giovanni，nervously starting from his chair。“Imarvel how your worship finds time to read such nonsense，among your graver studies。”
88 “By the by，”said the Professor，looking uneasily about him，“what singularfragrance is this in your apartment？Is it the perfume of your gloves？It is faint，but delicious，and yet，after all，by no means agreeable。Were I to breatheit long，methinks it would make me ill。It is like the breath of a flower—but I see no flowers in the chamber。”
89 “Nor are there any，”replied Giovanni，who had turned pale as theProfessor spoke，“nor，I think，is there any fragrance，except in your worship’s imagination。Odors，being a sort of element combined of the sensual and the spiritual，are apt to deceive us in this manner。The recollection of a perfume—the bare idea of it—may easily be mistaken for a present reality。”
90 “Aye，but my sober imagination does not often play such tricks，”said Baglioni“and were I to fancy any kind of odor，it would be that of some vile apothecary drug，wherewith my fingers are likely enough to be imbued。Our worshipful friend Rappaccini，as I have heard，tinctures his medicaments withodors richer than those of Araby。Doubtless，likewise，the fair and learned Signora Beatrice would minister to her patients with draughts as sweet as a maiden’s breath。But kill him that sips them！”
91 Giovanni’s face evinced many contending emotions。The tone in which the Professor alluded to the pure and lovely daughter of Rappaccini was a torture to hissouland yet，the intimation of a view of her character，opposite to his own，gave instantaneous distinctness to a thousand dim suspicions，which now grinned at him like so many demons。But he strove hard to quell them，and to respond to Baglioni with a true lover’s perfect faith。
92 “Signor Professor，”said he，“you were my father’s friend—perchance，too，it is your purpose to act a friendly part towards his son。I would fain feel nothing towards you，save respect and deference。But I pray you to observe，Signor，that there is one subject on which we must not speak。You know not the Signora Beatrice。You cannot，therefore，estimate the wrong—the blasphemy，I may even say—that is offered to her character by a light or injurious word。”
sage：adj。贤明的，明智的
in regard to：关于
blast：v。使枯萎，损害
odor：n。气味，名声
apothecary：n。药剂师，药师
tincture：v。染，着色于
evince：v。表明，表示
quell：v。镇压
injurious：adj。有害的
93 “Giovanni！—my poor Giovanni！”answered the Professor，with a calm expression of pity，“I know this wretched girl far better than yourself。You shall hear the truth in respect to the poisoner Rappaccini，and his poisonous daughter。Yespoisonous as she is beautiful！Listenfor even should you do violence to my gray hairs，it shall not silence me。That old fable of the Indian woman has becomea truth，by the deep and deadly science of Rappaccini，and in the person of thelovely Beatrice！”
94 Giovanni groaned and hid his face。
95 “Her father，”continued Baglioni，“was not restrained by natural affection from offering up his child，in this horrible manner，as the victim of his insane zeal for science。For—let us do him justice—he is as true a man of scienceas ever distilled his own heart in an alembic。What，then，will be your fate？Beyond a doubt，you are selected as the material of some new experiment。Perhaps the result is to be death—perhaps a fate more awful still！Rappaccini，with what he calls the interest of science before his eyes，will hesitate at nothing。”
96 “It is a dream！”muttered Giovanni to himself，“surely it is a dream！”
97 “But，”resumed the Professor，“be of good cheer，son of my friend！It is notyet too late for the rescue。Possibly，we may even succeed in bringing back this miserable child within the limits of ordinary nature，from which her father’smadness has estranged her。Behold this little silver vase！It was wrought by thehands of the renowned Benvenuto Cellini，and is well worthy to be a love-gift to the fairest dame in Italy。But its contents are invaluable。One little sip of this antidote would have rendered the most virulent poisons of the Borgia’s innocuous。Doubt not that it will be as efficacious against those of Rappaccini。Bestow the vase，and the precious liquid within it，on your Beatrice，and hopefully await the result。”
wretched：adj。可怜的，悲惨的
alembic：n。蒸馏器
estrange：v。疏远
Benvenuto Cellini：本维尼托·塞利尼（1500—1571），意大利著名金匠，雕刻家，也是世界闻名的自传作者
antidote：n。解毒剂
virulent：adj。剧毒的，致命的
Borgia：波吉亚（1480—1519），意大利历史上著名枢密主教，军人兼政治家恺撒·波吉亚之妹，为其兄政治工具，以其下毒、通奸、乱伦等种种劣行臭名远扬
innocuous：adj。无害的，无毒的
efficacious：adj。有效的，灵验的
bestow：v。给予，安放98Baglioni laid a small，exquisitely wrought silver phial onthe table，and withdrew，leaving what he had said to produce its effect upon the young man’s mind。
99 “We will thwart Rappaccini yet！”thought he，chuckling to himself，as he descended the stairs。“But，let us confess the truth of him，he is a wonderful man！—a wonderful man indeed！A vile empiric，however，in his practice，and therefore not to be tolerated by those who respect the good old rules of the medical profession！”
100 Throughout Giovanni’s whole acquaintance with Beatrice，he had occasionally，as we have said，been haunted by dark surmises as to her character。Yet，so thoroughly had she made herself felt by him as a simple，natural，most affectionate and guileless creature，that the image now held up by Professor Baglioni，looked as strange and incredible，as if it were not in accordance with his own original conception。True，there were ugly recollections connected with his first glimpses of the beautiful girlhe could not quite forget the bouquet that witheredin her grasp，and the insect that perished amid the sunny air，by no ostensibleagency，save the fragrance of her breath。These incidents，however，dissolving in the pure light of her character，had no longer the efficacy of facts，but wereacknowledged as mistaken fantasies，by whatever testimony of the senses they might appear to be substantiated。There is something truer and more real，than what we can see with the eyes，and touch with the finger。
On such better evidence，had Giovanni founded his confidence in Beatrice，though rather by the necessary force of her high attributes，than by any deep and generous faith，on his part。But，now，his spirit was incapable of sustaining itself at the height to which the early enthusiasm of passion had exalted ithe fell down，grovelling among earthly doubts，and defiled therewith the pure whiteness of Beatrice’s image。Not that he gave her uphe did but distrust。He resolved to institute some decisive test that should satisfy him，once for all，whether there were those dreadful peculiarities in her physical nature，which could not be supposed to exist withoutsome corresponding monstrosity of soul。His eyes，gazing down afar，might have deceived him as to the lizard，the insect，and the flowers。But if he could witness，at the distance of a few paces，the sudden blight of one fresh and healthful flower in Beatrice’s hand，there would be room for no further question。With this idea，he hastened to the florist’s，and purchased a bouquet that was still gemmed with the morning dew drops。
phial：n。药瓶
chuckle：v。咯咯笑
empiric：n。经验主义者
surmise：n。猜度
ostensible：adj。表面的，虚假的
testimony：n。宣言，陈述
grovel：v。匍匐，卑躬屈膝
defile：v。染污
therewith：adv。随其，与之
monstrosity：n。畸形
lizard：n。蜥蜴
dew drop：露滴
101 It was now the customary hour of his daily interview with Beatrice。Before descending into the garden，Giovanni failed not to look at his figure in the mirrora vanity to be expected in a beautiful young man，yet，as displaying itselfat that troubled and feverish moment，the token of a certain shallowness of feeling and insincerity of character。He did gaze，however，and said to himself，that his features had never before possessed so rich a grace，nor his eyes such vivacity，nor his cheeks so warm a hue of superabundant life。
102 “At least，”thought he，“her poison has not yet insinuated itself into my system。I am no flower to perish in her grasp！”
103 With that thought，he turned his eyes on the bouquet，which he had never once laid aside from his hand。A thrill of indefinable horror shot through his frame，on perceiving that those dewy flowers were already beginning to droopthey wore the aspect of things that had been fresh and lovely，yesterday。Giovanni grew white as marble，and stood motionless before the mirror，staring at his own reflection there，as at the likeness of something frightful。He remembered Baglioni’s remark about the fragrance that seemed to pervade the chamber。It must have been the poison in his breath！Then he shuddered—shuddered at himself！Recovering from his stupor，he began to watch，with curious eye，a spider that was busily at work，hanging its web from the antique cornice of the apartment，crossing and re-crossing the artful system of interwoven lines，as vigorous and active aspider as ever dangled from an old ceiling。Giovanni bent towards the insect，and emitted a deep，long breath。The spider suddenly ceased its toilthe web vibrated with a tremor originating in the body of the small artizan。Again Giovanni sent forth a breath，deeper，longer，and imbued with a venomous feeling out of his hearthe knew not whether he were wicked or only desperate。The spider made a convulsive gripe with his limbs，and hung dead across the window。
vanity：n。空虚
vivacity：n。活泼
insinuate：v。使迂回地潜入，使慢慢滋长
droop：v。低垂，凋萎，萎靡
stupor：n。昏迷
cornice：n。檐口
dangle：v。摇摆
emit：v。发出，放射，
tremor：n。震动，颤动
venomous：adj。恶意的，狠毒的
convulsive：adj。痉挛性的104“Accursed！Accursed！”muttered Giovanni，addressing himself。“Hast thou grown so poisonous，that this deadly insect perishes by thy breath？”
105 At that moment，a rich，sweet voice came floating up from the garden：“Giovanni！Giovanni！It is past the hour！Why tarriest thou！Come down！”
106 “Yes，”muttered Giovanni again。“She is the only being whom my breath may not slay！Would that it might！”
107 He rushed down，and in an instant，was standing before the bright and loving eyes of Beatrice。A moment ago，his wrath and despair had been so fierce that he could have desired nothing so much as to wither her by a glance。But，with her actual presence，there came influences which had too real an existence to be at once shaken offrecollections of the delicate and benign power of her feminine nature，which had so often enveloped him in a religious calmrecollections ofmany a holy and passionate outgush of her heart，when the pure fountain had been unsealed from its depths，and made visible in its transparencyto his mental eyerecollections which，had Giovanni known how to estimate them，would have assured him that all this ugly mystery was but an earthly illusion，and that，whatever mist of evil might seem to have gathered over her，the real Beatrice was a heavenly angel。Incapable as he was of such high faith，still her presence had not utterly lost its magic。Giovanni’s rage was quelled into an aspect of sullen insensibility。Beatrice，with a quick spiritual sense，immediately felt that there was a gulf of blackness between them，which neither he nor she could pass。They walked on together，sad and silent，and came thus to the marble fountain，and to its pool of water on the ground，in the midst of which grew the shrub that bore gem-like blossoms。Giovanni was affrighted at the eager enjoyment—the appetite，as it were—with which he found himself inhaling the fragrance of the flowers。
108 “Beatrice，”asked he abruptly，“whence came this shrub！”
109 “My father created it，”answered she，with simplicity。
110 “Created it！Created it！”repeated Giovanni。“What mean you，Beatrice？”
111 “He is a man fearfully acquainted with the secrets of nature，”replied Beatrice“and，at the hour when I first drew breath，this plant sprang from the soil，the offspring of his science，of his intellect，while I was but his earthly child。Approach it not！”continued she，observing with terror that Giovanni was drawing nearer to the shrub。“It has qualities that you little dream of。But I，dearest Giovanni—I grew up and blossomed with the plant，and was nourished with its breath。It was my sister，and I loved it with a human affection：for—alas！hast thou not suspected it？There was an awful doom。”
112 Here Giovanni frowned so darkly upon her that Beatrice paused and trembled。But her faith in his tenderness reassured her，and made her blush that she had doubted for an instant。
113 “There was an awful doom，”she continued，—“the effect of my father’s fatallove of science—which estranged me from all society of my kind。Until Heavensent thee，dearest Giovanni，Oh！How lonely was thy poor Beatrice！”
114 “Was it a hard doom？”asked Giovanni，fixing his eyes upon her。
115 “Only of late have I known how hard it was，”answered she tenderly。“Oh，yesbut my heart was torpid，and therefore quiet。”
116 Giovanni’s rage broke forth from his sullen gloom like a lightning-flash out of a dark cloud。
117 “Accursed one！”cried he，with venomous scorn and anger。“And finding thy solitude wearisome，thou hast severed me，likewise，from all the warmth of life，and enticed me into thy region of unspeakable horror！”
118 “Giovanni！”exclaimed Beatrice，turning her large bright eyes upon his face。The force of his words had not found its way into her mindshe was merely thunder struck。
transparency：n。透明
sullen：adj。愠怒的，沉沉不乐的
affright：v。惊吓
hast：have的第二人称单数现在式
wearisome：adj。使疲倦的，乏味的
entice：v。诱惑，诱使
thunderstruck：adj。遭雷击的，震惊的
119 “Yes，poisonous thing！”repeated Giovanni，beside himself with passion。“Thou hast done it！Thou hast blasted me！Thou hast filled my veins with poison！Thou hast made me as hateful，as ugly，as loathsome and deadly a creature as thyself—a world’s wonder of hideous monstrosity！Now—if our breath be happily as fatal to ourselves as to all others—let us join our lips in one kiss of unutterable hatred，and so die！”
120 “What has befallen me？”murmured Beatrice，with alow moan out ofher heart。“Holy Virgin pity me，a poor heartbroken child！”
121 “Thou！Dost thou pray？”cried Giovanni，still with the same fiendish scorn。“Thy very prayers，as they come from thy lips，taint the atmosphere with death。Yes，yeslet us pray！Let us to church，and dip our fingers in the holy water at the portal！They that come after us will perish as by a pestilence。Let us sign crosses in the air！It will be scattering curses abroad in the likeness of holy symbols！”
122 “Giovanni，”said Beatrice calmly，for her grief was beyond passion，“Why dost thou join thyself with me thus in those terrible words？I，it is true，am thehorrible thing thou namest me。But thou！—what hast thou to do，save with oneother shudder at my hideous misery，to go forth out of the garden and mingle withthy race，and forget that there ever crawled on earth such a monster as poor Beatrice？”
123 “Dost thou pretend ignorance？”asked Giovanni，scowling upon her。“Behold！This power have I gained from the pure daughter of Rappaccini！”
124 There was a swarm of summer-insects flitting through the air，in search of the food promised by the flower-odors of the fatal garden。They circled round Giovanni’s head，and were evidently attracted towards him by the same influence which had drawn them，for an instant，within the sphere of several of the shrubs。He sent forth a breath among them，and smiled bitterly at Beatrice，as at least a score of the insects fell dead upon the ground。
125 “I see it！I see it！”shrieked Beatrice。“It is my father’s fatal science？No，no，Giovanniit was not I！Never，never！I dreamed only to love thee，and be with thee a little time，and so to let thee pass away，leaving but thine imagein mine heart。For，Giovanni—believe it—though my body be nourished with poison，my spirit is God’s creature，and craves love as its daily food。But my father！—he has united us in this fearful sympathy。Yesspurn me！—tread upon me！—kill me！Oh，what is death，after such words as thine？But it was not I！Not for a world of bliss would I have done it！”
126 Giovanni’s passion had exhausted itself in its outburst from hislips。There now came across him a sense，mournful，and not without tenderness，of the intimate and peculiar relationship between Beatrice and himself。They stood，as it were，in an utter solitude，which would be made none the less solitary by the densest throng of human life。Ought not，then，the desert of humanity around them to press this insulated pair closer together？If they should be cruel to one another，who was there to be kind to them？Besides，thought Giovanni，might there not still be a hope of his returning within the limits of ordinary nature，and leading Beatrice—the redeemed Beatrice—by the hand？Oh，weak，and selfish，and unworthy spirit，that could dream of an earthly union and earthly happiness as possible，after such deep love had been so bitterly wronged as was Beatrice’s loveby Giovanni’s blighting words！No，nothere could be no such hope。She must pass heavily，with that broken heart，across the borders of Time—she must bathe her hurts in some fount of Paradise，and forget her grief in the light of immortality—and there be well！
127 But Giovanni did not know it。
128 “Dear Beatrice，”said he，approaching her，while she shrank away，as alwaysat his approach，but now with a different impulse—“dearest Beatrice，our fate is not yet so desperate。Behold！There is a medicine，potent，as a wise physician has assured me，and almost divine in its efficacy。It is composed of ingredients the most opposite to those by which thy awful father has brought this calamity upon thee and me。It is distilled of blessed herbs。Shall we not quaff it together，and thus be purified from evil？”
129 “Give it me！”said Beatrice，extending her hand to receive the little silver phial which Giovanni took from his bosom。She added，with a peculiar emphasis“I will drink—but do thou await the result。”
130 She put Baglioni’s antidote to her lipsand，at the same moment，the figure of Rappaccini emerged from the portal，and came slowly towards the marble fountain。As he drew near，the pale man of science seemed to gaze with a triumphant expression at the beautiful youth and maiden，as might an artist who should spend his life in achieving a picture or a group of statuary，and finally be satisfied with his success。He paused—his bent form grew erect with conscious power，he spread out his hand over them，in the attitude of a father imploring a blessing upon his children。But those were the same hands that had thrown poison into the stream of their lives！Giovanni trembled。Beatrice shuddered very nervously，and pressed her hand upon her heart。
befall：v。发生，降临
pestilence：n。瘟疫
scowl：v。皱眉头
spurn：v。弃绝
insulated：adj。绝缘的
efficacy：n。功效，效验
statuary：n。雕像
erect：v。使直立
implore：v。恳求，哀求
shudder：v。战栗，发抖
131 “My daughter，”said Rappaccini，“thou art no longer lonely in the world！Pluck one of those precious gems from thy sister shrub，and bid thy bridegroom wear it in his bosom。It will not harm him now！My science，and the sympathy between thee and him，have so wrought within his system，that he now stands apart fromcommon men，as thou dost，daughter of my pride and triumph，from ordinary women。Pass on，then，through the world，most dear to one another，and dreadful to all besides！”
132 “My father，”said Beatrice，feebly—and still，as she spoke，she kept her hand upon her heart—“wherefore didst thou inflict this miserable doom upon thychild？”
133 “Miserable！”exclaimed Rappaccini。“What mean you，foolish girl？Dost thou deem it misery to be endowed with marvelous gifts，against which no power nor strength could avail an enemy？Misery，to be able to quell the mightiest with a breath？Misery，to be as terrible as thou art beautiful？Wouldst thou，then，have preferred the condition of a weak woman，exposed to all evil，and capable of none？”
134 “I would fain have been loved，not feared，”murmured Beatrice，sinking downupon the ground。—“But now it matters notI am going，father，where the evil，which thou hast striven to mingle with my being，will pass away like a dream—like the fragrance of these poisonous flowers，which will no longer taint my breath among the flowers of Eden。Farewell，Giovanni！Thy words of hatred are like lead within my heart—but they，too，will fall away as I ascend。Oh，was there not，from the first，more poison in thy nature than in mine？”
135 To Beatrice—so radically had her earthly part been wrought upon by Rappaccini’s skill—as poison had been life，so the powerful antidote was death。And thus the poor victim of man’s ingenuity and of thwarted nature，and of the fatality that attends all such efforts of perverted wisdom，perished there，at the feet ofher father and Giovanni。Just at that moment，Professor Pietro Baglioni looked forth from the window，and called loudly，in a tone of triumph mixed with horror，to the thunder-stricken man of science：“Rappaccini！Rappaccini！And is this the upshot of your experiment？”
perverted：adj。不正当的
upshot：n。结果评注：在对纯粹科学知识的追求中，拉帕西尼毁掉了自己的女儿，异化了按自然规律生长的花草，也把自己拉入了毁灭的深渊。为了做研究，拉帕西尼“鞠躬尽瘁，死而后已”，结果却失去了自己的女儿为了追求更多知识，他呕心沥血，在所不惜，结果却被同行斥为“邪恶的骗子”，是为“医学界崇尚古老法规的人们”所不能容忍的异类。
Comprehension Exercises：
1.Identify the places where Hawthorne alludes to Eden。What purposes do these allusions serve？
2.How does Hawthorne characterize Doctor Rappaccini？What does this characterization suggest about Hawthorne’s attitude toward science？
3.Analyze Baglioni’s behavior at the end of the story。
纳撒尼尔·霍桑（1804—1864）：1804年7月8日出生于马萨诸塞州的萨勒姆镇，是其清教徒祖先移民北美后的第五代传人。其第一代移民北美的祖先名叫威廉·霍桑（William Hathorne），1630年来到萨勒姆，担任了殖民地的治安官，并参与了对贵格会教徒的迫害。其子约翰·霍桑则作为清教徒审判官，参与了1692年萨勒姆迫害“女巫”事件，声名狼藉。少年纳撒尼尔·霍桑后来自作主张，给家族的姓氏增添了一个字母“W”，据说就是要解除一位被害“女巫”的丈夫对霍桑姓氏的诅咒。1864年5月19日在新罕布什尔州的普利茅斯去世，5月23日葬入康考德的睡谷公墓。霍桑，美国文学史上第一个写作短篇小说的作家。因为受了英国“哥特小说”的影响，霍桑着重描写超自然的、怪诞的、恐怖的现象。他的小说具有浓厚的浪漫主义色彩，同时也注重心理分析，所以霍桑也是美国文学史上浪漫主义小说中心理分析小说的开创者。
