愤怒的葡萄－2

51
Went pretty good that way.

52
But that was nothin'.

53
I preached a whole sermon once
straddling the ridge¹ pole of a barn.

54
Like this.

55
- Did you see that one?
- No.

56
You didn't?

57
Oh.

58
Well, it's all gone anyway.

59
You should have got yourself a wife.

60
Why, at my meetings, I used to get the giris
a- glory-shoutin' till they about passed out.

61
Then I'd go to comfort 'em.

62
I'd always end up by loving 'em.

63
I'd feel bad and pray and pray,
but it didn't do no good.

64
Next time do it again.

65
I figured I just wasn't worth saving.

66
Pa always says you was never
cut out for no preacher.

67
I never let one get by me if I could catch her.
Have a snort?

68
But you wasn't a preacher.
A girl was just a girl to you.

69
To me they's holy vessels².

70
I was saving their souls.

71
I asked myself,
what is this here called holy spirit?

72
Maybe that's love.

73
Why, I love everybody so much
I'm fit to burst sometimes.

74
So... maybe there ain't no sin
and there ain't no virtue³.

75
It's just what people does.

76
Some things folks do is nice
and some ain't so nice.

77
And that's all any man's got a right to say.

78
Of course, I'll say a grace
if somebody sets out the food.

79
But my heart ain't in it.

80
- Nice drinkin' liquor.
- Ought to be. It's factory liquor. Cost a buck⁴.

81
- You been out travelling around?
- Ain't you heard? It's been in the papers.

82
- No, I never. What?
- I've been in the penitentiary⁵ for four years.

83
Excuse me for asking.

84
I don't mind no more.
I'd do what I done again.

85
Killed a guy in a dance hall.

86
We was drunk. He got a knife in me
and I laid him out with a shovel⁶.

87
- Knocked his head plumb⁷ to squash.
- You ain't ashamed?

88
No. He had a knife in me.
That's why they only gave me seven years.

89
I got out in four. Parole.

90
- Ain't seen your folks since?
- No, but I aim to before sundown.

91
And I'm gettin' excited about it too.

92
- Which way are you goin'?
- Oh, it don't matter.

93
Ever since I lost the spirit, looks like
I'd just as soon go one way as the other.

94
I'll go your way.

95
Maybe Ma will have pork for supper.

96
I ain't had pork but four times in four years.
Every Christmas.

97
I'll be glad to see your pa.

98
Last time I seen him was at a baptising.

99
He had one of the biggest doses
of the holy spirit I ever seen.

100
Got to jumping over bushes.
Howlin' like a dog-wolf at moon-time.