The chaser/追擊者 John Collier(1901-1980)
關於作者
約翰・柯利爾是一位英國出身的短篇小說作家，他的作品在1930至1950年代期間頻繁刊登於美國各大雜誌。除了文學創作，柯利爾也曾涉足好萊塢，擔任編劇，其中最著名的作品便是經典電影《非洲女王》的第一稿。柯利爾的作品以其精湛的對白、敏銳的觀察力以及將奇幻或恐怖元素巧妙融入現實生活的風格著稱。他的作品曾多次結集成書，並持續收錄於各類短篇小說選集。小說家安東尼・伯吉斯曾高度評價柯利爾，認為他善於嘲諷好萊塢電影和當時流行的浪漫愛情小說。貝蒂・理查森於1981年出版的《約翰・柯利爾》一書，為我們提供了對這位作家生平與作品的全面性研究。
John Collier was a British short story writer whose works were frequently featured in American magazines during the 1930s and 1950s. Beyond his literary pursuits, Collier also ventured into Hollywood as a screenwriter, most notably penning the first draft of the classic film, "The African Queen." Collier's works are renowned for their witty dialogue, keen observations, and his ability to seamlessly blend elements of fantasy or horror into the realities of everyday life. His stories have been compiled into numerous collections and continue to be included in various anthologies of short fiction. Novelist Anthony Burgess highly praised Collier, commending his skill in satirizing Hollywood films and the popular romance novels of his time. Betty Richardson's 1981 book, "John Collier," offers a comprehensive exploration of the author's life and works.
The Chased and the Chaser: A Dionysian Pursuit
在科利爾的《追擊者》中，年輕男子對心儀的戴安娜無可奈何，愛意如同一隻緊張的小貓般躁動不安。而這位戴安娜，代表著狩獵與月亮的女神，其名字本身就暗示了情感的捉摸不定與愛情的追逐。
In Collier's The Chaser, the young man's affection for the alluring Diana is a restless kitten, its love both fervent and uncertain. Diana, a name evocative of the huntress and moon goddess, embodies the capricious nature of emotion and the pursuit of love.
故事中的“追擊者”一詞，甚至代表著一種飲品，更象徵著情感的層次與轉變。或許是年輕男子對愛情的狂熱與痴迷，烈酒般濃烈而灼熱；而“追擊者”，則可能代表著男主角想要快速獲得愛情的捷徑。這種情感的“追逐”過程，充滿了浪漫的色彩。
The term "chaser," which also refers to a type of drink in the story, symbolizes the layers and transformations of emotion. The drink might represent the young man's ardent infatuation, a fiery liquor. The "chaser," on the other hand, could signify his desire for a quick path to love. This pursuit of affection is imbued with romantic hues.
這篇故事的小說，相當具有文學性，甚至多年回顧後，會有看不太懂的狀況，但許多的比喻，卻讓這篇故事畫上了浪漫的色彩
This literary piece is rich with symbolism and nuance. Even upon revisiting it after many years, one may find passages that remain elusive. Yet, the abundant metaphors lend the story a romantic aura.
「愛情魔藥的諷刺：一場對愛情的實驗」
The Irony of a Love Potion: An Experiment in Love"
艾倫·奧斯汀被形容成是緊張得像小貓一樣的男人，故事從他走上了佩爾街附近一棟老舊樓房的黑暗樓梯開始。
而他的目的就是找到在這棟老舊樓房中的神祕老人，且是為了老人販賣的神奇藥物而來。
Alan Austin, a man as nervous as a kitten, ascended the dark stairs of an old building on Pell Street. His mission: to find the mysterious old man rumored to dwell within its walls, and to purchase a peculiar potion.
老人首先推薦了他的毒藥，無色無味，且非常的厲害，就算最後第三個人解剖了飲用的屍體也找不出原因，甚至稱它為生命清潔劑。價格一小勺就要5000美元，但這時候的艾倫想要的卻是愛情魔藥，而老人卻語重心長的說了「用一種商品取悅一個顧客，他就會在需要其他東西的時候再來。即使價格更高。如果需要，他會為此存錢。」。
The old man first offered his poison, a colorless, odorless concoction of unparalleled potency. So lethal, he claimed, that even a post-mortem autopsy couldn't detect it. He called it a "life cleanser," and it was priced at a steep $5000 a spoonful. But Alan was seeking a love potion. The old man, wise and world-weary, replied, "Satisfy a customer with one item, and they'll return for more, even at a higher price. They'll save up for it if they must."
接著才介紹了艾倫想要購買的愛情魔藥，並說明這個魔藥可以放在橙汁、湯或雞尾酒中是難以被察覺的，且向艾倫述說這個魔藥可以完全改變黛安娜，讓黛安娜可以完全把艾倫當作是她的中心。
Finally, the old man produced the love potion. He explained that it could be slipped into orange juice, soup, or a cocktail without detection, and assured Alan that it would completely transform Diana, making him the center of her universe.
最後的故事揭曉了愛情魔藥的價格，只要一美元，但老人似乎很信誓旦旦的年輕人會再回來，存夠錢買這瓶5000美元的生命清潔劑。而現在社會中，總是過度強調著愛情的美好和重要，卻往往都將生命的價值忽略了。
The story concluded with the revelation of the love potion's price: a mere dollar. Yet, the old man seemed certain that the young man would return, eventually saving up for that $5000 life cleanser.
這是一個看起來諷刺的小故事，愛情的價格相當的廉價，但生命的價格卻相當的高，年輕人往往只追求了愛情，忽視了生命，但年長的人卻有不一樣的看法。
Society often overemphasizes the beauty and importance of love while neglecting the value of life. This tale is a satirical commentary on that very notion. Love is cheap, but life is priceless. The young man, driven by his desire for love, overlooks the value of life. The older man, however, has a different perspective.
不管最後這個艾倫有沒有後悔這瓶愛情魔藥的效果，但回頭看看目前自己在年輕時對愛情的渴望，和邁入中年時對生命的渴望，似乎真的因為時間的過去，渴望的事情已經悄悄有了轉變。
Whether or not Alan regrets the effects of his love potion is left unanswered. However, reflecting on one's younger self, consumed by the pursuit of love, and comparing it to one's middle-aged self, with a newfound appreciation for life, reveals a significant shift in priorities over time.
當年少我們在追求愛情的同時，是否忽略了生命中更重要的東西？愛情固然美好，但它並非生命的全部。隨著年歲的增長，我們對生命的理解會更加深刻，對愛情的態度也會更加成熟。
In our youth, as we chase after love, do we overlook more important aspects of life? Love is wonderful, but it is not everything. With age, our understanding of life deepens, and our attitude towards love matures.
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