雙語故事:The Crimson Candle 深紅色的蠟燭

A man lying at the point of death called his wife to his bedside and said: "I am about to leave you forever; give me, therefore, one last proof of your affection and fidelity, for, according to our holy religion, a married man seeking admittance at the gate of Heaven is required to swear that he has never defiled himself with an unworthy woman. In my desk you will find a crimson candle, which has been blessed by the High Priest and has a peculiar mystical significance. Swear to me that while it is in existence you will not remarry." The Woman swore and the Man died. At the funeral the Woman stood at the head of the bier, holding a lighted crimson candle till it was wasted entirely away.

一個男人，在彌留之際把妻子叫到牀邊，對她說：“我就要永遠地離你而去，因此，請最後一次向我證明你的愛和忠貞。因爲按照我們神聖的宗教，已婚男人在進入天堂之門時，首先必須發誓：他決不會讓一個不忠貞的女人玷污自身。你在我書桌裏會找到一根深紅色的蠟燭，它受過主教賜福，具有奇特的神祕意義。現在你向我發誓：只要它存在，你就不會再婚。”女人發了誓，男人也死了。葬禮上，女人站在棺材前，手託一根點燃的深紅色蠟燭，直到它全部燃盡。