"Carlisle swam to France, and continued on through Europe, to the universities there. By night he studied music, science, medicine — and found his calling, his penance, in that, in saving human lives." His expression became awed, almost reverent. "I can't adequately describe the struggle; it took Carlisle two centuries of torturous effort to perfect his self-control. Now he is all but immune to the scent of human blood, and he is able to do the work he loves without agony. He finds a great deal of peace there, at the hospital…" Edward stared off into space for a long moment. Suddenly he seemed to recall his purpose. He tapped his finger against the huge painting in front of us.
“卡莱尔游到了法国,然后继续在欧洲游历,访问那里的学府。夜里他研究音乐,科学,和医学——然后从中发现了他的职业,他的苦修,他可以拯救人类的生命。”他的神情变得敬畏,几近虔诚。“我无法恰当地描述这种挣扎。卡莱尔经过了两个世纪的痛苦的努力才完善了他的自我控制。现在他可以完全对人类血液的味道免疫,可以不受任何困扰地做他所热爱的工作。他从中找到了长久的平和感,在医院里……”爱德华移开视线,盯着空气,看了许久。忽然他似乎想起了自己的目的,他指点着我们面前的那幅巨大的画。
"He was studying in Italy when he discovered the others there. They were much more civilized and educated than the wraiths of the London sewers."
“他在意大利求学的时候,遇到了那里的其他人。他们比伦敦下水道里的那些幽灵更加开化,更有教养。”
He touched a comparatively sedate quartet of figures painted on the highest balcony, looking down calmly on the mayhem below them. I examined the grouping carefully and realized, with a startled laugh, that I recognized the golden-haired man.
他触到画在最高的阳台上的,看起来相对稳重的那四个人,沉着地低下头看着他们之下的一片混乱。我仔细地审视那群人,然后恍然大悟,吃惊地大笑起来,因为我认出了那个金发的男人。
"Solimena was greatly inspired by Carlisle's friends. He often painted them as gods," Edward chuckled. "Aro, Marcus, Caius," he said, indicating the other three, two black-haired, one snowy-white. "Nighttime patrons of the arts."
“索利梅纳的灵感被卡莱尔的朋友大大地激发了,他经常把他们画成天神。”爱德华轻笑起来。“阿罗,马库斯,凯厄斯,”他说着,指点着另外三个人,两个是黑发,一个是如雪白发。“艺术的夜间保护人。”
《暮光之城》与图书题目相得益彰的是,“暮光之城”系列别具匠心的封面设计则很好地传达出了每本书内在的深远寓意。斯蒂芬妮·梅尔指出《暮色》封面上的苹果代表“创世纪” 内善恶树上的禁果。象征贝拉和爱德华之间人类与吸血鬼禁忌的爱恋。在书的开头引用了“创世纪”217页的内容:“只是分别善恶树上的果子,你不可吃,因为你吃的日子必定死。”这同时也代表了贝拉如何分辨善恶——选择是否吃下那颗禁忌的果实,这比喻了选择跟爱德华在一起或远离他。