译自UESP:The Light and the Dark，优先遵循ANK汉化
光明与黑暗
阅读
2022-11-27更新
最新编辑:Shaq-铁砲仙人
阅读：
更新日期：2022-11-27
最新编辑：Shaq-铁砲仙人
官方繁中译本（转简体）
“是的，孩子，泰姆瑞尔大陆又称‘竞技场’，并非空穴来风。”坐在巨岩上的老人稍微调整了姿势，并顺了顺他的灰色长袍。老人在高岩省的山区眺望阳光直射的山谷，因此双眼混浊失焦。照理来说，映入他眼帘的应该要是春意盎然的翠绿景色，但他一瞬间彷彿看到了来自远古的恐怖之物。
他问自己：“这个主题适合说给天真无邪的孩子听吗？”年轻人是必然要学习的，但他们这年纪还应该在阳光下玩耍，真的该这么早就知道这种东西的存在吗？这种故事应该在寒冬说才对，在高墙环绕的城镇里头，窗户紧闭，将寒风抵挡在外......还有其他东西。
他带着爱意看向两个孙儿：其中一个金发小童难得坐得稳，但是眼神依然调皮，他的姊姊则坐在旁边。老人心想，这姑娘还真是稳重。她的头发是深暗的火焰色，稍微有点尖的双耳是唯一能看出精灵血脉的地方。老人心想，她跟祖母真是太像了。过去的都过去了，战斗了一辈子之过，伊什拉已经带给他许多和平与幸福。他把思绪拉回了现在。
“抱歉，孩子，我想到以前的一些事。老人家嘛，难免。”
他的孙子问：“你要告诉我们贾加．萨恩、皇帝和永恒英雄的故事吗？我最爱听了！”
“不太算，孩子，但说起来也有点相关。就像伊力克、莫拉雷因、爱德华、雷蒙和其他人一样。就连天神也是其中一部分。这个故事要来得久远许多，就连祭司说的角度也跟我不一样，他们有自己的诠释，也有自己害怕的地方。我年纪太大了，看过的东西太多，已经没什么好怕了，唯一怕的是我们的族人会忘记过去。忘记过去是很危险的事。所以我和几个人试图将这个故事口耳相传，告诉年轻一代。你们年纪还太小，可能没办法了解整个故事，但我感觉得到我在世上的日子不久了。我还是得要你们记住这个故事。要是我过几年还活着，我们可以在把故事拿出来聊聊。如果没有，你们要去找其他知道这个故事的人，相互比对故事内容。”
他的孙女说：“你说得好像你要死了一样，爷爷。不行！你要永远活下去！”
他轻笑着说：“恐怕没办法，小乖，但我还有点时间，能把这故事说完。”
孩子们往后靠着大橡树的树干，心里很清楚催老人没有用。老人向前倾，开始说起故事：
“很久很久以前，世上还没有任何人类，甚至连天神都没有，泰姆瑞尔被两个......“东西”选为战场，我实在找不到言语形容他们，只能叫他们光明和黑暗。其他人可能会用不同的名字称呼：善良与邪恶、鸟与蟒蛇、秩序与混乱。这些名字其实都没那么贴切，总之知道他们是相对的两方就够了。没有一方是我们认知中的正义或邪恶。他们不算真的活着，仅仅只是存在，但也是永生不死。就连天神与敌对的魔族也只是他们之间永恒斗争的影子。就好像他们的争斗创造出能扭曲周遭的能量，而且这股能量大到能让生命从中而生，就像溪中的涡流一般。”
“爷爷，恶魔和巨魔是从黑暗中来的吗？”
“不算是，孩子。我们知道的不死邪恶生物以及住在湮灭领域的恶魔，通常会和黑暗站在同一边。他们的天性比较接近黑暗。人类和其他泰姆瑞尔大陆上的其他人，包括遭到误解的暗精灵，都和光明站在同一边。我们的邪恶生物并不是全然从黑暗而生，但有些确实是，那些才是真正危险的东西。贾加．萨恩几乎完全认同黑暗，所以他才是如此丑陋的怪物，而非有些人所想的因为他是黑色法师。”
“爷爷，他的魔法是来自于黑暗吗？”小女孩一听到魔法耳朵就张大了。老人心想，她的精灵血脉开始显现出来了。
“不，魔法的力量直接来自两个存在体的能量漩涡。这些能量不具人格、完全混在一起。黑魔法是由使用者的意图定义，而非其效果。法师公会认为，要是火球术是要攻击试图捣乱的生物，那就不算黑魔法，但要是同样的法术攻击了爱好和平的生物，那就算黑魔法。这点他们是对的。火焰魔族的毁灭能稍微强化光明，削弱了黑暗。同样地，独角兽的毁灭会强化黑暗。”
“那天神呢？他们是从光明而生的吗？”小男孩的眼睛亮了起来，但还是带有一丝恐惧。他很喜欢听泰姆瑞尔万神殿的男女天神，和服侍众神的英雄故事。
老人笑着说：“要是古老故事没错，众神的起源很不寻常。这世界最早的居住者......虽然不知道他们是什么种族，自有一套神话系统，并奉为圭臬数千年的时间。原灵人相信已久，他们的信仰也许来自泰姆瑞尔周围的能量，因此让天神得以存在。若这是事实，光明与黑暗的冲突提供了能量，原灵提供结构，创造出了泰姆瑞尔的天神。没人知道事实究竟为何，毕竟这是远古时代的事，而且几乎没人从那时候活到现在。这都不重要了，天神们现在都有其存在，大半都认同光明，除了几个暧昧不明的之外。”
“爷爷，我们为什么要记得这个故事？你说的危险又是什么？如果光明和黑暗这么强大，我们能影响他们吗？有必要尝试吗？我们又要为何而战？”
“看来你的思辩能力精进了，索拉拉。很好。答案很简单，但超乎我们常人的理解能力。光明与黑暗势均力敌，而且他们的冲突也许永远无法解决。凡人与艾瑟瑞斯的生物有时可以感觉到他们的踪迹，但这也是危险所在。我们大半人都认同光明，甚至能从他得到启发，往我们口中的善良行径靠拢。对我们这种生物来说，黑暗相当可怕。能看到黑暗的人，经常已经失去理智，即便没有失去理智，还是死了比较好。对我们来说，黑暗是可怕的空虚，会将灵魂吸进去，扭曲、支解、最终毁灭。我们看到的黑暗似乎完全都是邪恶的。也许在其他地方并非如此，但在我们的世界是这样没错。”
老人安静下来沉思，双眼再次看向心声的春天枝芽。“我们千万不能忘记黑暗永远都在，呼唤着灵魂弱小的生命。要是黑暗试图扭曲其代理人的心智，并藉此掌控泰姆瑞尔，可怕的事就会发生。我们眼中美丽的、可爱的事物，就连爱本身，都会不复存在。和平与希望会消失，这对泰姆瑞尔来说会是最可怕的灾难。我在贾加统治期间的见闻差点让我丢了小命，几乎使我失去理智。他失势后，我以为谷底已经过去，但却并非如此。黑暗的势力再次站了起来，新的英雄必须加入永恒英雄的阵营，与他们战斗。”
老人和两个孩子安静地坐着，持续了好几分钟。最后，孩子们把爷爷扶了起来，慢慢离开。回到他们温暖的家，享用午餐。
汤镬汉化译本
“是的哟，孩子们，泰姆瑞尔叫做‘竞技场’绝非偶然。”老人倚靠着巨石挪了挪身子，并抻了抻他的灰色长袍。润滑的双眼在凝视着高岩温暖晴好的山谷地带已久便迷离起来。刹那间，他看见了古老的恐怖之相，而非盎然青翠的春光。老弱的身躯感到不寒而栗。
“跟天真烂漫的小一辈人讲这个合适吗？”他扪心自问。晚辈必须施以教导，但非得在阳光下玩耍嬉戏的光景里让他们了解这些事吗？此系一沉闷的冬日传说，城墙外风声四起，门窗禁闭，抵挡着寒潮的冲击……以及其他一些东西。
他含着爱怜瞥了两个孙儿一眼：那黄毛小儿无时无刻地闪烁着狡黠，少有安坐之时。而他的姐姐则是个宁静的姑娘，她的头发像偏暗的火焰，略显尖突的耳朵是精灵血统唯一明显的特征，如同其祖母一般。陈年往事已然过去，伊'什拉战斗一生，使他能承平日久，安享人生。他强迫自己思路回到当下。
“对不起，孩子们。我在想事儿呢。人老了都这样，你们懂的。”
“您打算告诉我们贾加·萨恩、皇帝还有永恒勇士的故事吗？”他的孙子问道， “那我最爱听了！”
“不完全是的，孩子。那些只不过九牛一毛罢了。正如伊'瑞克、莫莱林、爱德华、‘檀岩臂’雷蒙和众多人一样。甚至是众神也不过是其中参与者。这是一个特别古早的故事，甚至祭司都不会像我这般讲述。他们的释经自成一体，也有其固有的担忧之处。我作为一名长者，身经百战，见得多了，没什么好怕的，就怕我们一族对此遗忘。忘记往事会置人险境。因此我和其他一些人传承这一传说，还试着在年轻一代中传播开来。你们太小还明白不了其中意思，但我离入土可不远了。无论如何，我要你们必须牢记下来。将来几年里，要是我还在的话，那咱们可以再来讨论。要是我不在了，你就得去找其他知情人核对关键点了。“
“您这么说就像快要没了，爷爷。”孙女说，“那不可能，您会永远活着！”
老人笑了笑：“恐怕不行了，亲爱的。但是我还一息尚存，能把这个故事讲完。”
孩子们靠在大橡树的树干上，知道老人催促不得。老人向前探了探身子，便开讲了：
“很久以前，在人类甚至众神出现之前，泰姆瑞尔为两大——势力辟做战场。鲜有辞藻能贴切形容这两者，那我姑且称之为光明与黑暗二元。别人也有其他的叫法——善良与邪恶，鸟与蛇，秩序与混沌等等，如此名讳实际都不确切，但足以反映其全然对立，泾渭分明。虽然名为善恶光明，但绝非全然的善恶光明。由于二元从未生存，便获得了永生，但二元确实存在。即使是众神和敌对魔族都是二元永恒不息的冲突的苍白映像罢了。二元的斗争创造了扭曲周遭环境的能量，此种强大能量使生命出现，如同溪流中的漩涡一般。”
“魔族和巨魔来自黑暗吗，爷爷？”
“并不尽然，孙儿。我们所知晓的邪恶亡灵，以及生活在湮灭领域的魔族往往是黑暗侧一系，乃是天性使然。人类和泰姆瑞尔的其他民族，甚至包括误入歧途的暗精灵，都大多是光明侧一系。我们的邪恶举动并非全然属于黑暗侧，而有些却是如此且危害甚远。贾加·萨恩几乎完全堕落黑暗侧，这便是他为何罪恶滔天。同样是黑暗法师的也颇有人在，但也不会恶堕如斯。”
“他的法力来自黑暗侧吗，爷爷？”一提魔法，女孩便来了兴致。老人想到，她的血脉有所显现了。
“不然，魔法能量直接来自于二元的能量漩涡。此种能量不为人存亡，混元一体。是否为黑魔法取决于其意图所在而非效果所致。法师公会以火球术举例，对意欲破坏的生物施放便不是黑魔法，但对温良者施放便是黑魔法了。这一层面而论，他们一点不错。消灭一只火焰魔族将些微增强光明侧而削弱黑暗侧。类似的是，消灭一只独角兽则增强了黑暗侧。”
“那众神呢？他们来自光明侧吗？”男孩的眼睛炯炯有神，但略带忧虑。他对泰姆瑞尔众神及侍奉其之英雄的故事心驰神往。
老人笑了起来： “如果那些最为古老的传说成真，那众神的起源非比寻常。这个世界上最古老的居民——似乎没人能确认其种族——有一套信仰一千多年之久的神话系统。旧神一族对此信仰已久并不假质疑，他们的信仰可能，也仅可能汲取泰姆瑞尔周遭能量令众神出现。倘若如此，光明侧与黑暗侧的冲突提供了能量，和旧神框架，从而创造了泰姆瑞尔的众神。由于施法已久，鲜有存在孑余至今，故而没人了解个中究竟。其已不再举足轻重，当今众神已有自身之存在，并且大多数与出于光明侧，除了个别几个有些暧昧。”
“为什么我们要记住，爷爷？您提到的危险是什么？如果光明与黑暗二元那么强大，咱们可以影响他们吗？咱们要尝试吗？咱们该为何而战？”
“我发现你开始明辨是非了，索莱拉，不错。答案很简单，但博大到凡人如我们无以接受。光明与黑暗二元势均力敌，恐怕永远也分不出高下。凡人和光界存在会感知其踪迹。这边是危险所在，对于我等大多数人而言，光明侧更与之相投，鼓舞人心，令人向善。同样对我而言，黑暗侧是——可怕的。拥有其幻视者往往发疯癫狂，死掉才好。黑暗侧于我们而言是一片邪恶空虚，摄取灵魂，将之扭曲，摧残，最终毁灭。依我们所见其似乎是全然邪恶。也许别处并非如此，但在我们的世界里那便是如此。”
这位老人停顿下来聚精会神，再次凝视起勃勃春光。 “我们要牢记黑暗侧一直存在，吸引我们中神志软弱者。倘若其利用为其骇人吸引力所而堕落的傀儡而取得泰姆瑞尔之上霸权，事态会趋向恶化。所有我们视为美好之事物，我们所珍视之物，甚至喜爱这一情绪本身都将一扫而空。和平与希望将不复存在。对泰姆瑞尔而言，将是灭顶之灾。在贾加治下所见事物几乎让我丧命，险些摧毁我的神志。当他遭击败时，我以为至暗时刻结束了，但并非如此。黑暗侧之力将再次出击，新生英雄必须加入永恒勇士行列膺惩奸邪。”
老人同两个孩子静静地坐了几分钟。最后，孩子们搀扶着祖父缓步离开，回到家中在炉边享用午餐。
原文
The Light and the Dark
"Yes, children, it is no accident that this land of Tamriel has been called 'The Arena'." The old man altered his position on the large rock that bore his weight, and straightened his long gray robe. Rheumy eyes lost their focus as they gazed out over the sun-warmed valley in the mountains of High Rock. For a moment he saw a vision of ancient horrors instead of the fresh greenery of spring. A chill washed over his aged bones.
"Is this a suitable topic for the young and innocent?" he asked himself. The young must be taught, but must they learn of such things now, when they should be playing in the sunlight? This is a tale for the dreary winter, with the wind howling outside a walled town and the doors and windows closed and bolted against the blast and cold and -- other things.
He glanced with affection at his two grandchildren: the little towheaded boy with a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes even on those rare occasions when sitting quietly, and his older sister. A serene lass, the old man thought. Her hair like a dark flame and her slightly pointed ears were the only obvious signs of elven blood. So like her grandmother, the old man thought. The past is past, and I'shira had brought him so much peace and happiness after a lifetime of battle. He forced his thoughts back to the present.
"Sorry, children. I was remembering things. Old people do that, you know."
"Are you going to tell us the story of Jagar Tharn and the Emperor and the Eternal Champion?" His grandson asked. "That's my favorite!"
"Not exactly, son. They were a part of it, in a way. As are I'ric and Moraelyn and Edward and Reymon and many others. Even the gods play a part. This is a far older story, and even the priests won't tell it my way. They have their own interpretations, and their fears as well. I'm too old and have seen too much to have any fear left, except that our people will forget. And forgetting is dangerous. So I, and a few others, carry this tale and try to spread it among the younger generations. You aren't really old enough to understand it all, but I can feel that my end is not far off. I must ask you to remember anyway. In a few years, perhaps, if I still live, we can discuss it again. If not, well, you must seek out others who know, and compare notes."
"You talk as if you are going to die, Granther," his granddaughter spoke up. "That can't happen. You will live forever!"
Chuckling, "I'm afraid not, dear. But I have a little while left, enough for the story".
The children settled back against the bole of a large oak, knowing that the old man could not be hurried. Leaning forward, he began:
"Long, long ago, before there were any people at all; even before the gods, Tamriel was chosen as a battleground by two -- things. It is difficult to find words that fit them well. I call them the Light and the Dark. Others use different names. Good and Evil, Bird and Serpent, Order and Chaos. None of these names really apply. It suffices that they are opposites, and totally antithetical. Neither is really good or evil, as we know the words. They are immortal since they do not really live, but they do exist. Even the gods and their daedric enemies are pale reflections of the eternal conflict between them. It's as though their struggle creates energies that distort their surroundings, and those energies are so powerful that life can appear, like an eddy in a stream."
"Do demons and trolls come from the Dark, Grandpa?"
"Not exactly, son. The undead evils we know, and the demons that live on Oblivion tend to align with the Dark. Their natures are more akin to it. Humans and the other peoples of Tamriel, even the misunderstood Dark Elves, are more aligned with the Light. Our evils are not always of the Dark, but some are, and these are the truly dangerous ones. Jagar Tharn was almost wholly aligned with the Dark, and that is really why he was so monstrous. It was not because he was a black mage, as some would have it."
"Did his magic come from the Dark, Granther?" The girl's interest was piqued by mention of magic. Her heritage is beginning to show itself, thought the old man.
"No, magic power comes directly from the energies swirling about both entities. These energies are impersonal and all mixed up. Black magic is more a matter of intent than effect. The Mages' Guild holds that a fireball, say, directed against a creature intent on causing harm, is not black magic; but the same spell directed at one seeking peace is. In this, they are right. Destruction of a fire daedra strengthens the Light and weakens the Dark just a little. In the same manner, destruction of a unicorn strengthens the Dark."
"What about the gods? Do they come from the Light?" The boy's eyes were animated, but tinged with apprehension. He adored stories of the gods and goddesses of Tamriel's pantheon, and the heroes who served them.
The old man chuckled. "The gods have an unusual origin, if some of the oldest tales are true. The oldest inhabitants of this world -- no one seems to be sure what race they were -- had a system of myths that they believed in for a thousand years. The people of et'Ada believed for so long and so well, that their beliefs may, just may, have drawn upon the energies surrounding Tamriel to bring the gods themselves into being. If that is so, the conflict between the Light and the Dark provided the energy, and the et'Adans the structure, that created the gods of Tamriel. No one really knows since it was so long ago and so little survives from that time. It no longer matters; the gods have their own existence now, and mostly align with the Light, except for a few who are, shall we say, a little ambiguous."
"Why do we have to remember, Granther? What is the danger you spoke of? If the Light and Dark are so big and powerful, can we influence them? Should we try? What should we fight for?"
"I see that your critical faculties are developing, Solara. That is good. The answer is simple, but quite large enough for mere mortals like us. The Light and Dark are evenly matched, and perhaps will never resolve their conflict. Mortals and the beings of the Aetherius sometimes can perceive traces of them. Therein lies the danger; to most of us the Light is more congenial, even inspiring, and moves us to behavior that we would call good. To creatures like us, the Dark is -- horrible. Those who have visions of it are often driven mad, and the ones who are not would be better dead. The Dark is to us a monstrous emptiness, an emptiness that sucks the soul toward it -- to be twisted, maimed, and ultimately destroyed. What we can see of it seems utterly evil. Perhaps somewhere else this would not be so, but in our world, it is."
The old man paused to gather his thoughts, gazing once more at the fresh new life of spring. "What we must do is never to forget that the Dark is always there, beckoning to the weak-souled among us. Should it gain ascendancy over Tamriel, through agents perverted by its awful attraction, terrible things could happen. All that we hold beautiful or desirable, even love itself, would be swept away. Peace and hope would be no more. For Tamriel, that would be the worst possible disaster. What I saw during Jagar's reign nearly killed me, almost destroyed my mind. When he was destroyed, I thought the worst was over, but it was not. The forces of the Dark are on the march again, and new heroes must rise to join the Eternal Champion in the fight against them."
The old man and the two children sat in silence for several minutes. Finally, the children assisted their grandfather to his feet, and they walked slowly away. Toward home, and hearth, and lunch.
沪公网安备 31011002002714 号