بدبختانه آنقدر قوی نبود که به تنهائی این کار را انجام دهد و جرأت نمیکرد که از پدرش کمک بخواهد، اما کلفت حتماً اینکار را قبول نمیکرد زیرا اگر این دختر شانزده‌ساله پس از رفتن آشپز قدیم با شجاعت «ایستادگی» مینمود بشرط این بود که دائماً پشت در آشپزخانه را سنگربندی بکند و باز نکند مگر در اثر فرمان عاجل. پس برای دختر جوان راه دیگری نماند مگر اینکه روزیکه پدر غایب است از مادرش کمک بخواهد.

But she was in no position to do this by herself. She did not dare to ask her father to help, and the servant girl would certainly not have assisted her, for although this girl, about sixteen years old, had courageously remained since the dismissal of the previous cook, she had begged for the privilege of being allowed to stay permanently confined to the kitchen and of having to open the door only in answer to a special summons. Thus, his sister had no other choice but to involve his mother while his father was absent.

مادر در حالیکه اظهار شادی میکرد که جلو در اطاق گره گوار احساساتش فروکش کرد حاضر شد.

His mother approached Gregor’s room with cries of excited joy, but she fell silent at the door.

خواهر آمد تفتیش قبلی کرد و مادر را نگذاشت داخل شود مگر بعد از آنکه تفتیش او خاتمه یافت.

Of course, his sister first checked whether everything in the room was in order. Only then did she let his mother walk in.

گره گوار دستپاچه شمد را باز هم بیش از معمول پائین آورد و چین زیادی به آن داد بطوریکه بمجموع آن حالت طبیعت بی‌جان ساده را داد.

In great haste Gregor had drawn the sheet down even further and wrinkled it more. The whole thing really looked just like a coverlet thrown carelessly over the couch.

این دفعه صرف نظر کرد که از زیر شمد مواظب باشد و مادرش را تماشا بکند فقط از آمدنش خوشحال بود.

On this occasion, Gregor held back from spying out from under the sheet. Thus, he refrained from looking at his mother this time and was just happy that she had come.

دختر جوان گفت: «تو میتوانی بیائی چون دیده نمیشود.» و در حالیکه دست مادرش را گرفته بود او را وارد کرد!

“Come on; he is not visible,” said his sister, and evidently led his mother by the hand.

اکنون گره گوار صدای دو زن ناتوان را میشنید که برای جابجا کردن دولابچهٔ کهنه تقلا میکردند. این مبل وزن سنگینی داشت خواهر با وجود نصیحت مادر که میترسید مبادا بخودش صدمه بزند دشوارترین وظایف را بعهده گرفته بود.

Now Gregor listened as these two weak women shifted the still heavy old chest of drawers from its position, and as his sister constantly took on herself the greatest part of the work, without listening to the warnings of his mother who was afraid that she would strain herself.

این کار خیلی وقت صرف کرد.

The work lasted a long time.

چهار ساعت میگذشت که آنها سر آن عرق میریختند تا وقتیکه مادر اظهار داشت که بهتر است دولابچه سر جای خود باشد زیرا برای آنها زیاد سنگین بود و قبل از آمدن پدر به انجام این کار موفق نخواهند شد و مبل که میان اطاق آمده بود راه آمد و شد را از هر طرف مسدود میکرد بالاخره و مخصوصاً معلوم نبود که گره گوار از نبودن اثاثیهٔ اطاقش راضی باشد.

After about a quarter of an hour had already gone by his mother said that it would be better if they left the chest of drawers where it was, because, in the first place, it was too heavy: they would not be finished before his father’s arrival, and with the chest of drawers in the middle of the room it would block all Gregor’s pathways, but, in the second place, it might not be certain that Gregor would be pleased with the removal of the furniture.

مادر پیش خود فکر میکرد که: نه، منظرهٔ لخت دیوار قلبش را خواهد فشرد، چرا گره گوار همین احساس نمیکرد. او که از دیر زمانی به اثاثیهٔ خود عادت کرده بود حس خواهد کرد که او را در اطاق خالی وا گذاشته‌اند.

To her the reverse seemed to be true; the sight of the empty walls pierced her right to the heart, and why should Gregor not feel the same, since he had been accustomed to the room furnishings for a long time and in an empty room would thus feel himself abandoned.

مادر با صدای بسیار آهسته نتیجه گرفت: «این به چه چیز میماند؟» اول پچ پچ میکرد، مثل اینکه میترسید گره گوار که نمی‌دانست کجا پنهان شده صدایش را بشنود ـ مقصود معنی کلمات نبود چون مطمئن بود که گره گوار نخواهد فهمید ولی نمیخواست که حتی صدایش را بشنود: «آیا از برچیدن اثاثیه‌اش اینطور وانمود نمیکنیم که از امید معالجه‌اش صرف نظر کرده‌ایم و از بدجنسی او را بحال خود وا میگذاریم؟

“And is it not the case,” his mother concluded very quietly, almost whispering as if she wished to prevent Gregor, whose exact location she really didn’t know, from hearing even the sound of her voice (for she was convinced that he did not understand her words), “and isn’t it a fact that by removing the furniture we’re showing that we’re giving up all hope of an improvement and are leaving him to his own resources without any consideration?

گمان میکنم بهتر است که اطاق دست‌نخورده مثل سابق بماند، برای اینکه وقتی گره گوار حالش دوباره جا آمد هیچ تغییری نه‌بیند و زودتر فراموش بکند.»

I think it would be best if we tried to keep the room exactly in the condition in which it was before, so that, when Gregor returns to us, he finds everything unchanged and can forget the intervening time all the more easily.”

گره گوار از شنیدن کلمات مادرش، پی برد که در طی دو ماه زندگی یکنواخت که هیچکس با او حرف نزده مشاعرش مختل شده بود و گرنه نمیتوانست طور دیگری این تمایل را تعبیر بکند که در اطاق لخت منزل داشته باشد،

As he heard his mother’s words Gregor realized that the lack of all immediate human contact, together with the monotonous life surrounded by the family over the course of these two months must have confused his understanding, because otherwise he couldn’t explain to himself that he in all seriousness could’ve been so keen to have his room emptied.

اما حقیقةً مایل بود این اطاق گرم که از لحاظ آسایش با اثاثیهٔ خانوادگی آراسته شده بود بیک غار تبدیل گردد و بطور کامل و سریعی بشریت گذشتهٔ او فراموش بشود برای اینکه روی دیوارها خل خلبازی در بیاورد و بگردد؟

Was he really eager to let the warm room, comfortably furnished with pieces he had inherited, be turned into a cavern in which he would, of course, then be able to crawl about in all directions without disturbance, but at the same time with a quick and complete forgetting of his human past as well?

باین جهت بود که فراموشی کار خود را انجام میداد و برای اینکه از حال کرختی بیرون بیاید فقط شنیدن صدای مادرش که از دیر زمانی نشنیده بود کافی بود.

Was he then at this point already on the verge of forgetting and was it only the voice of his mother, which he had not heard for along time, that had aroused him?

نه، بهیچ چیز دست نزنید همه چیز سر جایش بماند. او نباید از تأثیر سودمند اثاثیه محروم بشود و بر فرض که اثاثیه مانع بشود که او روی دیوار بخزد این موضوع نه بزیان بلکه بسود او خواهد بود.

Nothing was to be removed; everything must remain. In his condition he couldn’t function without the beneficial influences of his furniture. And if the furniture prevented him from carrying out his senseless crawling about all over the place, then there was no harm in that, but rather a great benefit.

بدبختانه خواهرش با این عقیده همراه نبود و با پدر و مادرش عادت کرده بود که راجع به گره گوار مستبدالرأی باشد و این هم بی‌دلیل نبود. این دفعه پیشنهاد مادرش سبب شد که تصمیم بگیرد نه تنها میز و دولابچه که منظور اساسی او بود بلکه همهٔ اثاثیهٔ دیگر را هم بیرون ببرد بجز نیم‌تخت که وجودش لازم بود،

But his sister unfortunately thought otherwise. She had grown accustomed, certainly not without justification, so far as the discussion of matters concerning Gregor was concerned, to act as an special expert with respect to their parents, and so now the mother’s advice was for his sister sufficient reason to insist on the removal, not only of the chest of drawers and the writing desk, which were the only items she had thought about at first, but also of all the furniture, with the exception of the indispensable couch.

پافشاری او از لجاجت بچگانه و یا حس جدید اعتماد بخود که بطرز دشواری بدست آورده بود سرچشمه نمیگرفت. نه، در حقیقت ملاحظه کرده بود که گره گوار برای گردشهایش بفضای زیادی احتیاج داشت و چنین بنظر میآمد که هرگز اثاثیه را استعمال نمیکند.

Of course, it was not only childish defiance and her recent very unexpected and hard won self-confidence which led her to this demand. She had also actually observed that Gregor needed a great deal of room to creep about; the furniture, on the other hand, as far as one could see, was not of the slightest use.

اما شاید فکر احساساتی دختربچه‌های همسن او در تصمیمش بدون دخالت نبود یعنی اخلاق متغیری که در هر مورد میخواهد کامیاب شود و درین لحظه او را وادار کرده بود که وضع برادرش را بطرز فجیعی نمایش بدهد.

But perhaps the enthusiastic sensibility of young women of her age also played a role. This feeling sought release at every opportunity, and with it Grete now felt tempted to want to make Gregor’s situation even more terrifying, so that then she would be able to do even more for him than now.

برای اینکه فداکاری خود را بهتر ثابت کند، زیرا از این ببعد هیچکس بغیر از گرت جرأت نداشت بمحلی بیاید که گره گوار به تنهائی روی دیوارهای لخت فرمانروائی داشت.

For surely no one except Grete would ever trust themselves to enter a room in which Gregor ruled the empty walls all by himself.

لذا از تصمیم خود بوسیلهٔ مادرش که محیط این اطاق او را پریشان و بی‌اراده کرده بود برنگشت و طولی نکشید که برای حمل دولابچه به دشواری با او کمک کرد.

And so she did not let herself be dissuaded from her decision by her mother, who in this room seemed uncertain of herself in her sheer agitation and soon kept quiet, helping his sister with all her energy to get the chest of drawers out of the room.

گره گوار میتوانست از دولابچه چشم بپوشد.

Now, Gregor could still do without the chest of drawers if need be, but the writing desk really had to stay.

اما میز میبایستی سر جایش بماند و همینکه زنها دولابچه را نفس‌زنان بیرون بردند گره گوار با احتیاط و زرنگی سر خود را بیرون آورد تا موقع مناسب را برای دخالت بسنجد.

And scarcely had the women left the room with the chest of drawers, groaning as they pushed it, when Gregor stuck his head out from under the sofa to take a look how he could intervene cautiously and with as much consideration as possible.

از قضا اول مادر وارد شد، زیرا گرت در اطاق مجاور بازوها را دور دولابچه انداخته بود و از چپ براست آنرا تکان میداد بی‌آنکه بتواند جابجایش بکند.

But unfortunately it was his mother who came back into the room first, while Grete had her arms wrapped around the chest of drawers in the next room and was rocking it back and forth by herself, without moving it from its position.

مادر عادت داشت که گره گوار را به‌بیند گمان کرد که اختلال فکری باو دست داده، ترسید و تا آنطرف نیم‌تخت دستپاچه عقب رفت

His mother was not used to the sight of Gregor; he could have made her ill, and so, frightened, Gregor scurried backwards right to the other end of the sofa, but he could no longer prevent the sheet from moving forward a little.

ولی نتوانست مانع حرکت خفیف جلو شمد بشود که توجه زن مسن را بخود جلب کرد،

That was enough to catch his mother’s attention.

بی‌درنگ ایست نمود لحظه‌ای سر جای خود خشک شد و بالاخره بسوی گرت برگشت.

She came to a halt, stood still for a moment, and then went back to Grete.

گره گوار بخودش دلداری میداد که اتفاق فوق‌العاده رخ نداده و فقط چند تکه چوب و تخته را جابجا میکنند. از آمد و شد زنها و اظهار تعجبی که میکردند و صدای لغزش اثاثیه روی کف اطاق تأثیر هیاهوی غریبی را میکرد که از هر سو طنین‌انداز شده بود و هر چه سرش را بشدت تو میکشید و پاهایش را جمع میکرد و بزمین میچسبید، باید اقرار کرد که تحمل این شکنجه در مدت طویلی برایش مقدور نبود.

Although Gregor kept repeating to himself over and over that really nothing unusual was going on, that only a few pieces of furniture were being rearranged, he soon had to admit to himself that the movements of the women to and fro, their quiet conversations, the scratching of the furniture on the floor affected him like a great swollen commotion on all sides, and, so firmly was he pulling in his head and legs and pressing his body into the floor, he had to tell himself unequivocally that he wouldn’t be able to endure all this much longer.

اطاق او را خالی میکردند و آنچه را که دوست میداشت میبردند. تا کنون دولابچه را که اره برش چوب و تمام افزارش در آن بود برده بودند، حالا میز تحریرش را که از وقتیکه سر خدمت میرفت بسختی روی زمین لنگر انداخته بود، این میز که تکالیف مدرسهٔ تجارت و همچنین مدرسهٔ ابتدائی را رویش نوشته بود، جابجا میکردند، نه، قطعاً او نمیتوانست با آنها موافق باشد، بعد هم حضورشان را کاملاً فراموش کرده بود زیرا آنها از خستگی خاموش شده بودند و فقط صدای سنگین پایشان شنیده میشد.

They were cleaning out his room, taking away from him everything he cherished; they had already dragged out the chest of drawers in which the fret saw and other tools were kept, and they were now loosening the writing desk which was fixed tight to the floor, the desk on which he, as a business student, a school student, indeed even as an elementary school student, had written out his assignments. At that moment he really didn’t have any more time to check the good intentions of the two women, whose existence he had in any case almost forgotten, because in their exhaustion they were working really silently, and the heavy stumbling of their feet was the only sound to be heard.

هنگامیکه در اطاق مجاور آنها به میز تکیه کرده بودند برای اینکه نفس تازه کنند گره گوار بیرون دوید و بقدری پریشان بود که چهار بار جهت خود را تغییر داد، زیرا نمیدانست از چه راهی باید اقدام به نجات خود بنماید. ناگهان متوجه تصویر زنی شد که خودش را در پوست پیچیده و روی دیوار لخت اهمیت بسزائی بخود گرفته بود. بتعجیل از جدار دیوار بالا رفت روی شیشه تنه داد و شیشه بشکم سوزانش چسبید و بطرز گوارائی او را خنک کرد.

And so he scuttled out (the women were just propping themselves up on the writing desk in the next room in order to take a breather) changing the direction of his path four times. He really didn’t know what he should rescue first. Then he saw hanging conspicuously on the wall, which was otherwise already empty, the picture of the woman dressed in nothing but fur. He quickly scurried up over it and pressed himself against the glass that held it in place and which made his hot abdomen feel good.

گره گوار که با تن خود کاملاً روی این تصویر را پوشانیده بود تا اقلاً کسی نتواند بیاید و آنرا بردارد،

At least this picture, which Gregor at the moment completely concealed, surely no one would now take away.

سرش را بطرف اطاق ناهار خوری برگردانید تا زنها را در موقع مراجعت به‌بیند.

He twisted his head towards the door of the living room to observe the women as they came back in.

آنها هم اجازهٔ استراحت طولانی بخود نداده و باطاق او میآمدند. گرت تقریباً کمر مادرش را گرفته بود و او را با خود میآورد. بهر طرف نگاهی کرد و گفت: «حالا نوبت کیست؟»

They had not allowed themselves very much rest and were coming back right away. Grete had placed her arm around her mother and held her tightly. “So what shall we take now?” said Grete and looked around her.

چشمهایش توی چشمهای گره گوار افتاد که بدیوار چسبیده بود،

Then her glance crossed with Gregor’s from the wall.

اگر خونسردی خود را حفظ کرد فقط برای خاطر مادرش بود. سرش را بجانب او خم کرد تا مانع بشود که مادرش گره گوار را به‌بیند با وجود اینکه نتوانست جلو لرزهٔ خود را بگیرد با شتاب اظهار داشت: «زود باش برویم، بهتر است که یک دقیقه در اطاق ناهارخوری بمانیم.»

She kept her composure only because her mother was there. She bent her face towards her mother in order to prevent her from looking around, and said, although in a trembling voice and too quickly, “Come, wouldn’t it be better to go back to the living room for just another moment?”

گره گوار فهمید که تصمیم دختر جوان قطعی است زیرا میخواست ابتدا مادر را در جای امن بگذارد و بعد او را از روی عکس براند.

Grete’s purpose was clear to Gregor: she wanted to bring his mother to a safe place and then chase him down from the wall.

اگر جرأت میکرد میتوانست امتحان کند،

Well, let her just attempt that!

و چون گره گوار روی تصویر خوابیده بود بآسانی از آن دست نمی‌کشید

He squatted on his picture and did not hand it over.

حتی حاضر بود که به صورت خواهرش بجهد.

He would sooner spring into Grete’s face.

اما در اثر حرف گرت مادرش مضطرب برگشت و لکهٔ بزرگ قهوه‌ای را روی کاغذ دیوار دید و قبل از اینکه بتواند گره گوار را بشناسد با صدای دو رگهٔ خراشیده‌ای فریاد زد.: «آه خدایا، خدایا!» با حرکت تسلیم کامل دستها را بشکل صلیب رویهم گذاشت و روی نیم تخت غلتید و از هوش رفت.

But Grete’s words had immediately made the mother very uneasy. She walked to the side, caught sight of the enormous brown splotch on the flowered wallpaper, and, before she became truly aware that what she was looking at was Gregor, screamed out in a high pitched raw voice “Oh God, oh God” and fell with outstretched arms, as if she was surrendering everything, down onto the couch and lay there motionless.

خواهر مشتش را بلند کرده نگاه زهر آلودی به گره گوار انداخت و گفت! «اوه! گره گوار!»

“Gregor, you…,” cried out his sister with a raised fist and an urgent glare.

این اولین کلمه‌ای بود که پس از تغییر شکل باو خطاب کرد،

Since his transformation those were the first words which she had directed right at him.

سپس دوید از اطاق ناهارخوری نمک بیاورد تا مادرش را بهوش بیاورد. گره گوار تصمیم گرفت که کمکش بکند ـ اینکار مانع نمیشد که در موقع لزوم از تصویر دفاع بنماید ـ افسوس! سخت بشیشه چسبیده بود و میبایستی کوشش دشواری بکند تا از آن کنده بشود. بعد دوید در اطاق ناهارخوری مثل اینکه میتوانست نصیحت مؤثری بخواهرش بکند، اما فقط راضی شد در مدتی که او شیشه‌ها را بهم میزد بآرامی پشت سرش بایستد. زمانیکه گرت برگشت وحشت غریبی باو دست داد. یک شیشه افتاد و روی زمین شکست، خرده‌های آن صورت گره گوار را خراشید و دوای تندی به پاهایش شتک زد. گرت هم بی‌آنکه تأمل کند با تمام شیشه‌هائی که میتوانست بردارد شتاب زده بطرف مادرش رفت و با ضربت پا در را بست.

She ran into the room next door to bring some spirits or other with which she could revive her mother from her fainting spell. Gregor wanted to help as well (there was time enough to save the picture), but he was stuck fast on the glass and had to tear himself loose forcefully. Then he also scurried into the next room, as if he could give his sister some advice, as in earlier times, but then he had to stand there idly behind her, while she rummaged about among various small bottles. Still, she was frightened when she turned around. A bottle fell onto the floor and shattered. A splinter of glass wounded Gregor in the face, some corrosive medicine or other dripped over him. Now, without lingering any longer, Grete took as many small bottles as she could hold and ran with them into her mother. She slammed the door shut with her foot.

باین وسیله گره گوار از مادرش که در اثر خطای او شاید رو بمرگ بود جدا ماند و بفکر اینکه مبادا باعث بشود خواهرش که وظیفهٔ او ماندن پهلوی ناخوش بود بیرون برود نخواست در را باز بکند پس کار دیگری از او ساخته نبود مگر اینکه انتظار بکشد و در حالیکه پریشان و شرمگین بود شروع بجولان روی دیوارها و اثاثیه و سقف کرد. آنقدر گشت زد که همه چیز در اطرافش چرخید و با ناامیدی میان میز بزرگ افتاد.

Gregor was now shut off from his mother, who was perhaps near death, thanks to him. He could not open the door, and he did not want to chase away his sister who had to remain with her mother. At this point he had nothing to do but wait, and overwhelmed with self-reproach and worry, he began to creep and crawl over everything: walls, furniture, and ceiling,. Finally, in his despair, as the entire room started to spin around him, he fell onto the middle of the large table.

لحظه‌ای گذشت، گره گوار از خستگی در آنجا دراز کشید و اطرافش را سکوت فرا گرفته بود.

A short time elapsed. Gregor lay there limply. All around was still. Perhaps that was a good sign.

این را بفال نیک گرفت ولی ناگهان شنید که زنگ در را زدند.

Then there was ring at the door.

کلفت طبیعةً در آشپزخانه جلو خودش را سنگربندی کرده بود. گرت رفت و در را باز کرد.

The servant girl was naturally shut up in her kitchen, and Grete must therefore go to open the door.

پدر وارد شد فوراً پرسید: «چه شده است؟» بی‌شک از حالت شوریدهٔ گرت بو برد.

The father had arrived. “What’s happened,” were his first words. Grete’s appearance had told him everything.

دختر جوان با صدای خفه‌ای جواب داد ـ احتمال داشت که صورتش را روی سینهٔ پدر گذاشته بود ـ «از دست گره گوار مادرجانم غش کرده اما حالش بهتر است.»

Grete replied with a dull voice; evidently she was pressing her face into her father’s chest: “Mother fainted, but she’s getting better now. Gregor has broken loose.”

پدر جواب داد: «من میدانستم و بارها بشما گفته بودم اما زنها حرف سرشان نمیشود.»

“Yes, I have expected that,” said his father, “I always told you that, but you women don’t want to listen.”

گره گوار از این کلمات فهمید که پدرش حرف گرت را بد تعبیر کرده و گمان میکند که از پسرش کارهائی سر زده.

It was clear to Gregor that his father had badly misunderstood Grete’s short message and was assuming that Gregor had committed some violent crime or other.

موقع این نبود که بشود ذهنش را روشن کرد میبایست با ملایمت با او رفتار بکند.

Thus, Gregor now had to find his father to calm him down, for he had neither the time nor the opportunity to clarify things for him.

لذا گره گوار بطرف در اطاقش پناه برد و عجله کرد برای اینکه پدرش در موقع ورود از توی دالان به‌بیند که او تصمیم قطعی دارد و میخواهد فوراً بمحل خودش برگردد از این قرار لازم نبود که با اقدامات شدید او را مجبور به این کار بنماید زیرا اگر در را برویش باز میکردند بزودی ناپدید میشد.

And so he rushed away to the door of his room and pushed himself against it, so that his father could see right away as he entered from the hall that Gregor fully intended to return at once to his room, that it was not necessary to drive him back, but that one only needed to open the door and he would disappear immediately.

اما پدر سر دماغ نبود که باین ریزه‌کاریها پی ببرد از دور با لحن آمیخته با خشم و شادی فریاد زد: «آه!. آه!»

But his father was not in the mood to observe such niceties. “Ah,” he yelled as soon as he entered, with a tone as if he were all at once angry and pleased.

گره گوار سرش را از بغل در برداشت و بسوی آقای سامسا بلند کرد.

Gregor pulled his head back from the door and raised it in the direction of his father.

بوضعی که او را دید تعجب نمود زیرا نمیتوانست تصورش را بکند. درست که اخیراً فراموش کرده بود که مثل سابق مراقب وقایع خانه باشد و بجای آن روش نوین گشت و گذار روی دیوارها را پیش گرفته بود. اما میبایستی منتظر تغییراتی نزد اقوامش بوده باشد.

He had not really pictured his father as he now stood there. Of course, what with his new style of creeping all around, he had in the past while neglected to pay attention to what was going on in the rest of the apartment, as he had done before, and really should have grasped the fact that he would encounter different conditions.

ولی… ولی… آیا این پدرش بود؟

Nevertheless, nevertheless, was that still his father?

آیا این همان مردی بود که وقتی گره گوار سابق بمسافرت میرفت او خسته در رختخواب قایم میشد؟ و در هنگام مراجعت او را با لباس خانگی در یک صندلی راحتی که نمیتوانست از روی آن بلند بشود پذیرائی میکرد یعنی اکتفا مینمود که بازوهایش را بسوی آسمان بلند بکند و اظهار شادی بنماید؟ این پیرمرد که در گردشهای نادر خانوادگی یعنی دو سه یکشنبه در سال و روز جشنهای بزرگ بین گره گوار و مادر که آهسته راه میرفتند خودش را بزمین میکشید؟ این مرد که خودش را در لبادهٔ کهنه‌ای میپیچید، با احتیاط عصا میزد برای اینکه جلو برود و مجبور بود برای اینکه حرف بزند هر سه قدمی بایستد و همراهان خود را بیاد بیاورد؟ از آن ببعد چطور قد برافراشته بود!

Was that the same man who had lain exhausted and buried in bed in earlier days when Gregor was setting out on a business trip, who had received him on the evenings of his return in a sleeping gown and arm chair, totally incapable of standing up, who had only lifted his arm as a sign of happiness, and who in their rare strolls together a few Sundays a year and on the important holidays made his way slowly forwards between Gregor and his mother (who themselves moved slowly), always a bit more slowly than them, bundled up in his old coat, all the time setting down his walking stick carefully, and who, when he had wanted to say something, almost always stood still and gathered his entourage around him?

لباس متحدالشکل آبی بدون یک چین با دگمه‌های طلائی ببر داشت. مثل لباس اعضای بانک بالای یخهٔ بلند او غبغبش با خطهای محکمی بزرگ شده بود زیر ابروهای پرپشت نگاه سرزندهٔ چشمهای سیاهش بحالت جوانی خیره میشد، موهای سفیدش که معمولاً ژولیده بود شانه کرده و عقب زده و براق بود.

But now he was standing up really straight, dressed in a tight fitting blue uniform with gold buttons, like the ones servants wear in a banking company. Above the high stiff collar of his jacket his firm double chin stuck out prominently, beneath his bushy eyebrows the glance of his black eyes was freshly penetrating and alert, his otherwise disheveled white hair was combed down into a carefully exact shining part.

ابتدا کلاهش را که با نشان طلائی یکی از بنگاه‌های مالی مزین بود برداشت و دایره‌وار دور اطاق گردانید و روی نیم‌تخت انداخت بعد دستها را در جیب شلوارش کرد پشت لباس متحدالشکل عقب رفت و بحالت تهدیدکننده بطرف گره گوار آمد.

He threw his cap, on which a gold monogram (apparently the symbol of the bank) was affixed, in an arc across the entire room onto the sofa and moved, throwing back the edge of the long coat of his uniform, with his hands in his trouser pockets and a grim face, right up to Gregor.

شاید خودش نمی‌دانست که چه میخواهد بکند بهر حال پاهایش را خیلی بالا میگرفت و گره گوار از هیکل نخراشیدهٔ تخت کفشهایش بحیرت افتاد.

He really didn’t know what he had in mind, but he raised his foot uncommonly high anyway, and Gregor was astonished at the gigantic size of his sole of his boot.

از ماندن سرجایش احتراز کرد چون از روز اول تغییر شکل پی برده بود که پدر معتقد است خشونت شدید یگانه طرز رفتار پسندیده نسبت باوست.

However, he did not linger on that point. For he knew from the first day of his new life that as far as he was concerned his father considered the greatest force the only appropriate response.

لذا شروع به پس رفتن کرد و هر وقت که پدرش مکث میکرد او هم می‌ایستاد و فوراً بکوچکترین حرکت مخاصم راه می‌افتاد.

And so he scurried away from his father, stopped when his father remained standing, and scampered forward again when his father merely stirred.

این روش ثابت شد که بدون نتیجهٔ قطعی چندین بار دور اطاق گردش کردند. عملیات جنبهٔ تعاقب را هم نداشت زیرا آهنگ حرکات بسیار دقیق بود.

In this way they made their way around the room repeatedly, without anything decisive taking place; indeed because of the slow pace it didn’t look like a chase.

از این قرار گره گوار موقتاً روی زمین ماند، بخصوص میترسید که هر گاه پدرش او را ببیند که از دیوار یا سقف بالا میرود این دسیسه را بمنزلهٔ شرارت زیرکانه‌ای تلقی بکند.

Gregor remained on the floor for the time being, especially as he was afraid that his father could take a flight up onto the wall or the ceiling as an act of real malice.

معهذا بایستی بزودی اقرار نماید که با این وضع مدت زیادی نمیتواند مقاومت بکند، در مدت کمی که پدرش یک قدم برمیداشت گره گوار همان مدت را باید صرف یک رشته ورزشهائی بکند

At any event Gregor had to tell himself that he couldn’t keep up this running around for a long time, because whenever his father took a single step, he had to go through an enormous number of movements.

و بعد هم چون ریه‌هایش قوی نبود به نفس افتاده بود، افتان و خیزان خودش را میکشید و برای یگانه پرش فرجامین قوایش را جمع میکرد.

Already he was starting to suffer from a shortage of breath, just as in his earlier days his lungs had been quite unreliable.

بدشواری میتوانست که چشمش را باز بکند و آنقدر گیج شده بود که نجات خود را در دویدن میدانست در صورتیکه دیوارها در مقابلش بود ـ بله دیوارهای اطاق ناهارخوری با اثاثیه‌ای که رویش بدقت کنده‌کاری شده بود و ریشه و منگوله بآن آویخته بود، ولی دیوارها، معهذا دیوارها ـ ناگهان یا اللّٰه! چیزی پهلوی او پرید زمین خورد و غلتید و کمی دورتر ایستاد.

As he now staggered around in this way in order to gather all his energies for running, hardly keeping his eyes open, in his listlessness he had no notion at all of any escape other than by running and had almost already forgotten that the walls were available to him, although they were obstructed by carefully carved furniture full of sharp points and spikes — at that moment something or other thrown casually flew down close by and rolled in front of him.

این سیبی بود که سر سرکی انداخته بودند، بزودی یکی دیگر دنبالش آمد، گره گوار از وحشت سر جایش خشک شد و ماند. حرکت او بیهوده بود زیرا پدرش تصمیم داشت او را بمباران بکند.

It was an apple; immediately a second one flew after it. Gregor stood still in fright. Further flight was useless, for his father had decided to bombard him.

ظرف میوه را از توی گنجه خالی کرده بود و جیبهایش پر از گلوله بود، حالا یکی بعد از دیگری

From the fruit bowl on the sideboard his father had filled his pockets, and now, without for the moment taking accurate aim, was throwing apple after apple.

و بی‌آنکه هنوز نشان بگیرد پرت میکرد این گلوله‌های کوچک مثل گویهای برقی روی زمین می‌غلتیدند و بهم می‌خوردند.

These small red apples rolled as if electrified around on the floor and collided with each other.

یک سیب که بآرامی پرتاب شده بود روی پشت گره گوار لغزید بی‌آنکه صدمه برساند،

A weakly thrown apple grazed Gregor’s back but skidded off harmlessly.

ولی سیب بعدی تماماً در پشتش فرو رفت. خواست دورتر برود تا شاید بوسیلهٔ این حرکت از درد شدیدی که به او عارض شده بود بکاهد ولی حس کرد که سرجایش میخکوب شده و خمیازه‌ای کشید بی‌آنکه بذاند که چه میکند.

However another thrown immediately after that one drove into Gregor’s back really hard. Gregor wanted to drag himself off, as if the unexpected and incredible pain would go away if he changed his position. But he felt as if he was nailed in place and lay stretched out completely confused in all his senses.

در آخرین نگاهی که انداخت دید در اطاقش ناگهان باز شد، خواهرش فریاد میزد و مادر به تعجیل دنبال او میآمد. دختر جوان بدون سینه‌بند بود زیرا لباسش را کنده بود برای اینکه در موقع بیهوشی تنفس مصنوعی به مادر بدهد ـ مادرش حالا هم که بطرف پدر میدوید دامن لباسش بزمین کشیده میشد و خرده خرده توی پاهایش می پیچید. بطرف شوهرش پرش کرد او را در آغوش کشید و بخودش چسبانید. دستهایش را بشکل صلیب روی گردن شوهر گذاشت و از او خواهش میکرد که بجان بچه‌شان سوء قصدی نکند. گره گوار دیگر چیزی نمیدید.

Only with his final glance did he notice how the door of his room was pulled open and how, right in front of his sister (who was yelling), his mother ran out in her undergarments, for his sister had undressed her in order to give her some freedom to breathe in her fainting spell, and how his mother then ran up to his father, on the way her tied up skirts one after the other slipped toward the floor, and how, tripping over her skirts, she hurled herself onto his father and, throwing her arms around him, in complete union with him — but at this moment Gregor’s powers of sight gave way — as her hands reached to the back of his father’s head and she begged him to spare Gregor’s life.

۳

III

سیبی را که هیچکس جرأت نکرد از پشت گره گوار در بیاورد در گوشت تنش بمنزلهٔ یادبود محسوسی از آن پیش‌آمد باقی ماند، و زخم خطرناکی که بیش از یک‌ماه می‌گذشت که گره گوار برداشته بود بنظر آمد که بالاخره به پدر فهماند که پسرش، با وجود تغییر شکل غمناک و تنفرآمیزش یکی از اعضای خانواده بوده و نمیبایستی با او مانند یک دشمن معامله بکند. برعکس وظیفه چنین تقاضا میکرد که جلو تنفر خود را بگیرد و گره گوار را متحمل بشود، فقط او را تحمل بکند.

Gregor’s serious wound, from which he suffered for over a month (since no one ventured to remove the apple, it remained in his flesh as a visible reminder), seemed by itself to have reminded the father that, in spite of his present unhappy and hateful appearance, Gregor was a member of the family, something one should not treat as an enemy, and that it was, on the contrary, a requirement of family duty to suppress one’s aversion and to endure — nothing else, just endure.

زخمی که برداشته بود بطور حتمی و علاج ناپذیری از چالاکی او کاست. فقط برای پیمودن اطاقش مثل یک نفر معیوب زمان طویلی را لازم داشت، اما راجع، بگردشهای روی دیوار میبایستی که فاتحه‌اش را بخواند. ولی از طرف دیگر بعقیدهٔ او این وخامت حالش جبران میشد باین معنی که حالا هر شب در اطاق ناهارخوری را باز میگذاشتند. انتظار این پیش‌آمد را دو ساعت میکشید و در سایهٔ اطاقش کز میکرد، بطوریکه برای کسانی که مشغول صرف غذا بودند نامرئی بود، اما او میتوانست همهٔ خانواده را که جلو روشنائی لامپا جمع شده بودند به‌بیند و با اجازهٔ همه حق داشت گفتگوی آنها را بشنود و این خیلی بهتر از سابق بود.

And if through his wound Gregor had now apparently lost for good his ability to move and for the time being needed many many minutes to crawl across this room, like an aged invalid (so far as creeping up high was concerned, that was unimaginable), nevertheless for this worsening of his condition, in his opinion, he did get completely satisfactory compensation, because every day towards evening the door to the living room, which he was in the habit of keeping a sharp eye on even one or two hours beforehand, was opened, so that he, lying down in the darkness of his room, invisible from the living room, could see the entire family at the illuminated table and listen to their conversation, to a certain extent with their common permission, a situation quite different from what happened before.

بطور یقین حالا موضوع صحبت بگرمی قدیم نبود زیرا پیشتر وقتیکه میخواست در تخت‌خواب نمناک یکی از اطاقهای کوچک مهمانخانه بلغزد با تأسف بیاد آن میافتاد.

Of course, it was no longer the animated social interaction of former times, about which Gregor in small hotel rooms had always thought about with a certain longing, when, tired out, he had to throw himself in the damp bedclothes.

اغلب حتی بعد از غذا هم چیز زیادی نمیگفتند.

For the most part what went on now was very quiet.

پدر بزودی روی صندلی راحتی چرت میزد، مادر و دختر در خاموشی بهم نصیحت می‌کردند. مادر زیر روشنائی خمیده بود و پارچه‌های کتانی برای مغازهٔ لباس زیر فروشی میدوخت و خواهر که بعنوان فروشنده در محلی استخدام شده بود تندنویسی و یا فرانسه مطالعه میکرد بامید اینکه بعدها وضع خود را بهتر کند.

After the evening meal the father fell asleep quickly in his arm chair; the mother and sister talked guardedly to each other in the stillness. Bent far over, the mother sewed fine undergarments for a fashion shop. The sister, who had taken on a job as a salesgirl, in the evening studied stenography and French, so as perhaps later to obtain a better position.

گاهی پدر از خواب میپرید و مثل اینکه نمیدانست خواب بوده بمادر میگفت: «امروز چقدر چیز میدوزی!» بعد بخواب میرفت، در صورتیکه مادر و خواهر لبخند خسته‌ای با هم رد و بدل میکردند.

Sometimes the father woke up and, as if he was quite ignorant that he had been asleep, said to the mother “How long you have been sewing today!” and went right back to sleep, while the mother and the sister smiled tiredly to each other.

پدر، با لجاجت بوالهوسانه از کندن لباس رسمی خود پرهیز میکرد، لبادهٔ خانگی او مانند چیز بیمصرف به رخت‌آویز بود حتی در داخل منزل، با لباس متحدالشکل چرت میزد، مثل اینکه میخواست برای اجرای فرمان مافوق همیشه آماده باشد و حتی در خانه بنظر میآمد که گوش بزنگ فرمان رئیس است.

With a sort of stubbornness the father refused to take off his servant’s uniform even at home, and while his sleeping gown hung unused on the coat hook, the father dozed completely dressed in his place, as if he was always ready for his responsibility and even here was waiting for the voice of his superior.

از اینقرار لباس رسمی که وقتی باو داده بودند نو نبود با وجود دقت این دو زن هر روز از جلایش میکاست و گره گوار اغلب شبهایش را به تماشای این لباس که پر از لک بود و دگمه‌های برق انداخته‌اش همیشه میدرخشید و زیر آن مرد مسن در سکوت و ناراحتی میخوابید میگذرانید.

As a result, in spite of all the care of the mother and sister, his uniform, which even at the start was not new, grew dirty, and Gregor looked, often for the entire evening, at this clothing, with stains all over it and with its gold buttons always polished, in which the old man, although very uncomfortable, slept peacefully nonetheless.

ساعت دیواری که زنگ ده را میزد مادر سعی میکرد که با صدای خفه‌ای پدر را بیدار کند و او را اجباراً به رختخواب ببرد و میگفت که خواب در حالت نشسته سر جمع خواب نیست و برای اینکه سر ساعت شش پی خدمت برود باید بطور معمول استراحت بنماید.

As soon as the clock struck ten, the mother tried encouraging the father gently to wake up and then persuading him to go to bed, on the ground that he couldn’t get a proper sleep here and the father, who had to report for service at six o’clock, really needed a good sleep.

ولی از زمانیکه دستورهای اکید از طرف بانک باو میدادند سرسختی نشان میداد و لجاجت میکرد که سر میز بماند. هر چند مرتب بخواب میرفت و خیلی دشوار بود که صندلی راحتی را مبدل به تخت خواب بکنند.

But in his stubbornness, which had gripped him since he had become a servant, he insisted always on staying even longer by the table, although he regularly fell asleep and then could only be prevailed upon with the greatest difficulty to trade his chair for the bed.

مادر و خواهر بیهوده او را وادار میکردند و اندرزهای پیاپی میدادند ولی او ربع ساعتهائی را در آنجا میگذرانید و سرش را آهسته تکان میداد، چشمهایش بسته بود و نمیخواست بلند بشود.

No matter how much the mother and sister might at that point work on him with small admonitions, for a quarter of an hour he would remain shaking his head slowly, his eyes closed, without standing up.

مادر آستین او را میکشید و در گوشش چیزهای خوش‌آیند میگفت، خواهر تکالیف خود را کنار میگذاشت برای اینکه باو کمک بکند ولی همهٔ این کارها بی‌نتیجه بود.

The mother would pull him by the sleeve and speak flattering words into his ear; the sister would leave her work to help her mother, but that would not have the desired effect on the father.

فقط در صندلی راحتی قدری بیشتر فرو میرفت

He would settle himself even more deeply in his arm chair.

و بایستی زنها زیر بازویش را بگیرند تا مژه‌هایش باز بشود. آنوقت آنها را یکی‌یکی نگاه میکرد و معمولاً میگفت: «اینهم زندگیست! مثلاً این آسایش سرِ پیری منست؟»

Only when the two women grabbed him under the armpits would he throw his eyes open, look back and forth at the mother and sister, and habitually say “This is a life. This is the peace and quiet of my old age.”

بعد تکیه بدو زن میکرد و بزحمت بلند میشد مثل اینکه برای خودش هم بار سنگینی بود و دم در زن و دخترش او را میبردند بعد بآنها اشاره میکرد که بروند و باقی راه را به‌تنهائی می‌پیمود، در صورتیکه مادر و خواهر دستپاچه یکی قلم و دیگری سوزنش را زمین میگذاشت و دنبال او میدویدند که باز هم کمکش بکنند.

And propped up by both women, he would heave himself up, elaborately, as if for him it was the greatest travail, allow himself to be led to the door by the women, wave them away there, and proceed on his own from there, while the mother quickly threw down her sewing implements and the sister her pen in order to run after the father and help him some more.

در این خانواده که اعضای آن از کار و خستگی درمانده بودند بجز در موارد ضروری، کی فرصت داشت که بفکر گره گوار باشد؟

In this overworked and exhausted family who had time to worry any longer about Gregor more than was absolutely necessary?

بودجهٔ منزل را کم کم تقلیل دادند و بالاخره کلفت را جواب کردند. یک زن تنومند سرپائی با استخوان بندی درشت و موهای سفیدی که دور سرش موج میزد از این ببعد جانشینش شد که صبح و عصر کارهای سنگین را بکند. حال باقی کارها را مادر با وجود وصله زدن به جورابهائی که تمامی نداشت بعهده گرفته بود.

The household was constantly getting smaller. The servant girl was now let go. A huge bony cleaning woman with white hair flapping all over her head came in the morning and the evening to do the heaviest work. The mother took care of everything else in addition to her considerable sewing work.

ناچار شدند جواهرهای خانواده را که سابقاً در مجالس پذیرائی و جشنها باعث سرافرازی مادر و خواهر بود بفروشند، گره گوار در یکی از شب‌زنده‌داری‌های خود شنید که راجع به ارزش آنها مباحثه میکردند.

It even happened that various pieces of family jewelry, which previously the mother and sister had been overjoyed to wear on social and festive occasions, were sold, as Gregor found out in the evening from the general discussion of the prices they had fetched.

ولی موضوع عمده بخصوص شکایت از کرایهٔ این آپارتمان بود که برای کیسهٔ خانه گران تمام میشد و اشکال گره گوار بود نمیدانستند چطور باید حملش کرد زیرا نمیتوانستند او را ترک بگویند. هیهات!

But the greatest complaint was always that they could not leave this apartment, which was too big for their present means, since it was impossible to imagine how Gregor might be moved.

گره گوار بخوبی میفهمید که ملاحظهٔ او مانع اساسی تغییر منزل نبود زیرا بخوبی میتوانستند او را در صندوق چوبی که هواخور داشته باشد بگذارند و حملش بکنند. نه، مانع اساسی ناامیدی خانواده‌اش بود. فکر اینکه بدبختی بی‌سابقه‌ای در تاریخ خانوادگی و محیط به آنها روی آورده بود.

But Gregor fully recognized that it was not just consideration for him which was preventing a move (for he could have been transported easily in a suitable box with a few air holes); the main thing holding the family back from a change in living quarters was far more their complete hopelessness and the idea that they had been struck by a misfortune like no one else in their entire circle of relatives and acquaintances.

و از جمله بلائی که روزگار ممکن است به درماندگان تحمیل بکند حالا هیچ یک را دربارهٔ آنها فروگذار نکرده بود. پدر مأمور حمل ناهار کارمندان جزء بانک بود. مادر خودش را میکشت که لباس زیر خارجیها را بشوید، خواهر پشت پیش بساطی سفارش مشتریها را انجام میداد. بیش از این نمی‌شد متوقع بود زیرا توانائی آنها اجازه نمیداد.

What the world demands of poor people they now carried out to an extreme degree. The father brought breakfast to the petty officials at the bank, the mother sacrificed herself for the undergarments of strangers, the sister behind her desk was at the beck and call of customers, but the family’s energies did not extend any further.

گره گوار بیچاره حس کرد که زخمش سر باز کرده وقتیکه مادر و خواهرش بعد از آنکه پدر را خوابانیدند کار خود را ول کردند و صندلیهایشان را بهم نزدیک برده تقریباً پهلوی هم نشستند و مادر در حالیکه اطاق گره گوار را نشان میداد گفت: «گرت، در را به‌بند». گره گوار در سایه واقع شده بود در صورتیکه در آنطرف اشکهای دو زن بهم آمیخته میشد و یا بدتر با چشم خشک خیره خیره بمیز نگاه میکردند.

And the wound in his back began to pain Gregor all over again, when now mother and sister, after they had escorted the father to bed, came back, let their work lie, moved close together, and sat cheek to cheek and when his mother would now say, pointing to Gregor’s room, “Close the door, Grete,” and when Gregor was again in the darkness, while close by the women mingled their tears or, quite dry eyed, stared at the table.

گره‌گوار شبها و روزها خوابش نمیبرد.

Gregor spent his nights and days with hardly any sleep.

گاهگاهی بفکر می‌افتاد که مثل سابق بمحض اینکه در باز بشود کارهای خانواده را بعهده بگیرد، بعد از مدتها فراموشی یکروز رئیس، معاون، مأمورین تجارتخانه، مباشرین جزء، خدمتگذاران را با افکار محدودشان و دو سه تا رفیق که در تجارتخانه‌های دیگر کار میکردند همه را بخاطر آورد. یک کلفت مهمانخانهٔ شهرهای اطراف را که یادبود گذرنده و پرخرجی برایش گذاشته بود و یک زن صندوقدار کلاه‌فروشی را که جداً ولی خیلی با تأنی او را تعقیب میکرد بیاد آورد. آدمها از برابرش در میان ابر میگذشتند و بطور مبهمی قیافه‌های خارجی‌ها و صورتهائی که فراموش کرده بود با آنهمه مخلوط میشد، ولی هیچکدام از آنها نمیتوانست نه به او و نه به خانواده‌اش کمک بکند. آنها بدرد نمیخوردند و خوشوقت بود که از بین رفته بودند.

Sometimes he thought that the next time the door opened he would take over the family arrangements just as he had earlier. In his imagination appeared again, after a long time, his employer and supervisor and the apprentices, the excessively gormless custodian, two or three friends from other businesses, a chambermaid from a hotel in the provinces, a loving fleeting memory, a female cashier from a hat shop, whom he had seriously, but too slowly courted — they all appeared mixed in with strangers or people he had already forgotten, but instead of helping him and his family, they were all unapproachable, and he was happy to see them disappear.

این منظره میل آنرا که در کار خویشانش علاقه بخرج بدهد سلب کرد، برعکس فکر شورش در او تولید شد زیرا به زخمش رسیدگی نمیکردند و هر چند چیزی که بتواند اشتهای او را تهییج بنماید نمیشد تصور کرد او مایل بود به محل اغذیه سرکشی کند و خوراکهائی را که طبیعةً باب دندانش بود گرچه اشتها نداشت از نظر بگذراند.

But then he was in no mood to worry about his family. He was filled with sheer anger over the wretched care he was getting, even though he couldn’t imagine anything for which he might have an appetite. Still, he made plans about how he could take from the larder what he at all account deserved, even if he wasn’t hungry.