一次卷軸校勘的嘗試
AnAccounting of the Scrolls
一次卷軸校勘的嘗試
byQuintus Nerevelus, Former Imperial Librarian
昆塔斯納勒威樂斯，前任帝國圖書管理員著
After the supposed theft of an Elder Scroll from our
自從我們發現並認定一卷上古卷軸從帝國圖書館被竊走之後，我一直致力於撰寫
Imperial Library, I endeavored to find any sort of index
一份能夠清楚排列我們所擁有的所有在館卷軸的清單，這樣就能避免這種情況的
or catalogue of the Scrolls in our possession so thatsuch
再次發生(或者至少能在發生後恰當地核對丟失的是哪一卷)。令人沮喪的是，
situations may be avoided (or at least properly verified)
我發現聖蛾祭司確實如史書中記載的那樣不靠譜，他們總是説不清現在究竟還存
in the future. To my dismay, I discovered that the MothPriests are notoriously inexact when it comes to the actual
有多少保存完好的卷軸，也不知道他們手頭上有幾個，以及卷軸的記載順序。
physical manifestations of the Scrolls, and had no ideahow
many they held, or how they were organized. Merely asking
我曾嘗試向他們抱怨過這種記載不清的問題，但每次我得到的迴應都是一陣咯咯
the question evoked chuckles, as if a child was askingwhy
輕笑，像是聽到小孩子詢問他們為什麼狗不會説人話一樣。
dogs cannot talk.
I will confess, my jealousy of the ones who can read the
我必須得承認，我一直很嫉妒這些聖蛾祭司能夠閲讀並理解卷軸裏面的內容及記
Scrolls grows, but I am not yet willing to sacrifice my
載的知識，但我還不想用自己的視覺來換取這種閲讀的能力。那個上了年紀的聖
sight to alleged knowledge. The older Moth Priests I
蛾祭司似乎跟其他那些已經失去理智的長老一樣瘋瘋癲癲的，所以即使我一直嘗
attempt to engage in conversation seem as batty as any
試着跟他溝通，但關於各個卷軸所記載的具體是什麼知識還是沒什麼進展。
other elder who has lost their mind, so I fail to seewhat wisdom is imparted from the reading.
In any case, I set out to create my own index of theElder
不管怎樣，我還是打算開始着手於上古卷軸檢索目錄的編寫工作，當然得跟
Scrolls, in cooperation with the monks. Day by day, wewent
那些僧侶合作。就這樣，我和僧侶們日復一日地穿梭在高聳的塔樓大廳裏，他們
through the tower halls, with them telling me the general
簡要地告訴我每個上古卷軸的主要內容，然後我記下它們各自的位置。我必須一
nature of each Elder Scroll so that I might record itslocation. Always careful never to glimpse the writings
直注意着不讓自己看見那些卷軸，用眼角餘光也不行，我只能憑藉着僧侶們的口
myself, I had only their word to go on. I meticulouslydrew
述來進行記錄。同時我也細緻地畫出一份關於各個房間的地圖，這樣我就能知曉
out a map of the chambers, where Scrolls relating tovarious
哪裏存放着一個記載着一段神奇預言的卷軸，哪裏又收藏着一段鮮為人知的歷史。
specific prophecies were located, where particularperiods of history were housed. In all, it took nearly a year of
這種枯燥而乏味的記錄工作總共持續了一年，但至少我已經粗糙地記錄下整座圖
plodding, but at last I had rough notes on the entiretyof
書館的卷軸收藏，緊接着便能開始詳細地校對了。
the library to begin my collation.
It was here that things began to go amiss. In studying my
很快我發現，從這一步開始，一切都變得不對頭了。在研究我的筆記的過程中，
notes, I found many areas of overlap and outright
我發現許多重疊的部分，甚至有不少完全矛盾的記錄。有時候，不同的僧侶在敍
contradiction. In some cases different monks would claim
説同一個卷軸的位置時，會指向塔樓完全相反的兩端。要不是我心裏清楚他們決
the same scroll to be at opposite ends of the tower. Iknow
不是那種有幽默細胞的人，我甚至會懷疑我是被他們共同組織的一場惡作劇所愚
they have no taste for jesting, or else I would suspect I
弄了。
was being made the fool in some game of theirs.
I spoke to one of the older monks to relate my concerns,
我會一位較為年長的祭司談起這個問題，他為我在這一年來所做的無用功而可惜
and he hung his head in sorrow for my wasted time."Did I
地垂下腦袋。“我沒告訴過你嗎?”他輕咳一聲説道，“這個工作從一開始就註定
not tell you," he coughed, "when you startedthis that all
是不會成功的。這些上古卷軸從來就不是區區數字能夠統計的。”
efforts would be futile? The Scrolls do not exist incountable form."
"I had thought you meant there were too many to becounted."
“我以前以為您指的是這些卷軸數量太多而無法統計。”
"There are, but that is not the least of theircomplexities.
“卷軸的數量確實很多，但這不是事情的複雜性所在。轉身看看你身後的那個書Turn tothe repository behind you, and tell me how many
架，然後告訴我那裏放着多少卷軸。”
Scrolls are locked therein."
I ran my fingers over the metal casings, tallying each
我將手指劃過封存卷軸的金屬外殼，數着手指劃過的每一個圓滑的邊緣。接着
rounded edge that they encountered. I turned back –
轉身看向老者—“十四個，”我説。
"Fourteen," I said.
"Hand me the eighth one," he said, reaching outhis hand.
“將第八個卷軸遞給我，”他説着伸出他的手。
I guided the cylinder into his palm, and he gave a slight
我拿起第八個圓筒並將它放進老者的手心，他輕點了點頭。“現在，再數一遍。”
nod to acknowledge it. "Now, count again."
Humoring him, I again passed my hands over the Scrolls,but
我服從他的指令，再次將手指劃過書架上的圓筒，但無法相信我感受到的一切。
could not believe what I was feeling.
"Now... now there are eighteen!" I gasped.
“現在…現在有十八個卷軸!”我不敢置信地喘着氣説道。
The old monk chuckled, his cheeks pushing up hisblindfold
年邁的僧侶咯咯笑了起來，他的臉頰向上鼓起，把遮眼布推起來，直到和上面的
until it folded over itself. "And in fact," hesaid, "there
布重疊起來。“實際上，”他説，“一直都是十八個。”
always were."
It was then that I enrolled as the oldest novice ever
那件事之後，我便作為最老的學徒加入了先祖聖蛾教。
accepted into the Cult of the Ancestor Moth.
趣味遊戲館
