Furbelow, astonished at this sudden change, and catching18, with all the mysterious rapidity of instinct peculiar19 to the lower animals, at the enigmatical character of the situation, turned his pleading, melancholy20 eyes from one to another of the motionless three, as if begging that his humble21 intellect (pardon me, naturalists22, for the use of this word “intellect” in the matter of a monkey!) should be enlightened as speedily as possible. Not receiving the desired information, he, after the manner of trained animals, returned to his muttons; in other words, he conceived that this unusual entrance, and consequent dramatic tableau23, meant “shop.” He therefore dropped Zonela’s hand and pattered on his velvety24 little feet over towards the grim figure of the Wondersmith, holding out his poor little paw for the customary copper25. He had but one idea drilled into him — soulless creature that he was — and that was, alms. But I have seen creatures that professed26 to have souls, and that would have been indignant, if you had denied them immortality27, who took to the soliciting28 of alms as naturally as if beggary had been the original sin, and was regularly born with them, and never baptized out of them. I will give these Bandits of the Order of Charity this credit, however, that they knew the best highways and the richest founts of benevolence29 — unlike to Furbelow, who, unreasoning and undiscriminating, begged from the first person that was near. Burbelow, owing to this intellectual inferiority to the before-mentioned Alsatians, frequently got more kicks than coppers30, and the present supplication31 which he indulged in towards the Wondersmith was a terrible confirmation32 of the rule. The reply to the extended pleading paw was what might be called a double-barrelled kick — a kick to be represented by the power of two when the foot touched the object, multiplied by four when the entire leg formed an angle of 45 deg. with the spinal33 column. The long, nervous leg of the Wondersmith caught the little creature in the centre of the body, doubled up his brown, hairy form, till he looked like a fur driving~glove, and sent him whizzing across the room into a far corner, where he dropped senseless and flaccid.
This vengeance34 which Herr Hippe executed upon Furbelow seemed to have operated as a sort of escape-valve, and he found voice. He hissed35 out the question, “Who are you?” to the hunchback; and in listening to that essence of sibilation, it really seemed as if it proceeded from the serpent that curled upon his upper lip.
“Who are you? Deformed36 dog, who are you? What do you here?”
“My name is Solon,” answered the fearless head of the hunchback, while the frail37, cowardly body shivered and trembled inch by inch into a corner.
“So you come to visit my daughter in the night-time, when I am away?” continued the Wondersmith, with a sneering38 tone that dropped from his snake-wreathed mouth like poison. “You are a brave and gallant39 lover, are you not? Where did you win that Order of the Curse of God that decorates your shoulders? The women turn their heads and look after you in the street, when you pass, do they not? lost in admiration40 of that symmetrical figure, those graceful41 limbs, that neck pliant as the stem that moors42 the lotus! Elegant, conquering Christian43 cripple, what do you here in my daughter’s room?”
Can you imagine Jove, limitless in power and wrath44, hurling45 from his vast grasp mountain after mountain upon the struggling Enceladus — and picture the Titan sinking, sinking, deeper and deeper into the earth, crushed and dying, with nothing visible through the super-incumbent masses of Pelion and Ossa, but a gigantic head and two flaming eyes, that, despite the death which is creeping through each vein46, still flash back defiance48 to the divine enemy? Well, Solon and Herr Hippe presented such a picture, seen through the wrong end of a telescope — reduced in proportion, but alike in action. Solon’s feeble body seemed to sink into utter annihilation beneath the horrible taunts49 that his enemy hurled50 at him, while the large, brave brow and unconquered eyes still sent forth51 a magnetic resistance.
Suddenly the poor hunchback felt his arm grasped. A thrill seemed to run through his entire body. A warm atmosphere, invigorating and full of delicious odor, surrounded him. It appeared as if invisible bandages were twisted all about his limbs, giving him a strange strength. His sinking legs straightened. His powerless arms were braced52. Astonished, he glanced round for an instant, and beheld53 Zonela, with a world of love burning in her large lambent eyes, wreathing her round white arms about his humped shoulders. Then the poet knew the great sustaining power of love. Solon reared himself boldly.
“Sneer at my poor form,” he cried, in strong vibrating tones, flinging out one long arm and one thin finger at the Wondersmith, as if he would have impaled54 him like a beetle55. “Humiliate me, if you can. I care not. You are a wretch56, and I am honest and pure. This girl is not your daughter. You are like one of those demons57 in the fairy tales that held beauty and purity locked in infernal spells. I do not fear you, Herr Hippe. There are stories abroad about you in the neighborhood, and when you pass, people say that they feel evil and blight58 hovering59 over their thresholds. You persecute60 this girl. You are her tyrant61. You hate her. I am a cripple. Providence62 has cast this lump upon my shoulders. But that is nothing. The camel, that is the salvation63 of the children of the desert, has been given his hump in order that he might bear his human burden better. This girl, who is homeless as the Arab, is my appointed load in life, and, please God, I will carry her on this back, hunched64 though it may be. I have come to see her, because I love her — because she loves me. You have no claim on her; so I will take her from you.”
Quick as lightning, the Wondersmith had stridden a few paces, and grasped the poor cripple, who was yet quivering with the departing thunder of his passion. He seized him in his bony, muscular grasp, as he would have seized a puppet, and held him at arm’s length gasping65 and powerless; while Zonela, pale, breathless, entreating66, sank half~kneeling on the floor.
“Your skeleton will be interesting to science when you are dead, Mr. Solon,” hissed the Wondersmith. “But before I have the pleasure of reducing you to an anatomy67, which I will assuredly do, I wish to compliment you on your power of penetration68, or sources of information; for I know not if you have derived69 your knowledge from your own mental research or the efforts of others. You are perfectly70 correct in your statement, that this charming young person, who day after day parades the streets with a barrel-organ and a monkey — the last unhappily indisposed at present — listening to the degrading jokes of ribald boys and depraved men — you are quite correct, Sir, in stating that she is not my daughter. On the contrary, she is the daughter of an Hungarian nobleman who had the misfortune to incur71 my displeasure. I had a son, crooked72 spawn73 of a Christian! — a son, not like you, cankered, gnarled stump74 of life that you are — but a youth tall and fair and noble in aspect, as became a child of one whose lineage makes Pharaoh modern — a youth whose foot in the dance was as swift and beautiful to look at as the golden sandals of the sun when he dances upon the sea in summer. This youth was virtuous75 and good; and being of good race, and dwelling76 in a country where his rank, gypsy as he was, was recognized, he mixed with the proudest of the land. One day he fell in with this accursed Hungarian, a fierce drinker of that Devil’s blood called brandy. My child until that hour had avoided this bane of our race. Generous wine he drank, because the soul of the sun our ancestor palpitated in its purple waves. But brandy, which is fallen and accursed wine, as devils are fallen and accursed angels, had never crossed his lips, until in an evil hour he was reduced by this Christian hog77, and from that day forth his life was one fiery78 debauch79, which set only in the black waves of death. I vowed80 vengeance on the destroyer of my child, and I kept my word. I have destroyed his child — not compassed her death, but blighted81 her life, steeped her in misery82 and poverty, and now, thanks to the thousand devils, I have discovered a new torture for her heart. She thought to solace83 her life with a love-episode! Sweet little epicure84 that she was! She shall have her little crooked lover, shan’t she? Oh, yes! She shall have him, cold and stark85 and livid, with that great, black, heavy hunch4, which no back, however broad, can bear, Death, sitting between his shoulders!”
There was something so awful and demoniac in this entire speech and the manner in which it was delivered, that it petrified Zonela into a mere86 inanimate figure, whose eyes seemed unalterably fixed87 on the fierce, cruel face of the Wondersmith. As for Solon, he was paralyzed in the grasp of his foe88. He heard, but could not reply. His large eyes, dilated89 with horror to far beyond their ordinary size, expressed unutterable agony.
The last sentence had hardly been hissed out by the gypsy when he took from his pocket a long, thin coil of whipcord, which he entangled90 in a complicated mesh91 around the cripple’s body. It was not the ordinary binding92 of a prisoner. The slender lash47 passed and repassed in a thousand intricate folds over the powerless limbs of the poor humpback. When the operation was completed, he looked as if he had been sewed from head to foot in some singularly ingenious species of network.
“Now, my pretty lop-sided little lover,” laughed Herr Hippe, flinging Solon over his shoulder, as a fisherman might fling a net-full of fish, “we will proceed to put you into your little cage until your little coffin93 is quite ready. Meanwhile we will lock up your darling beggar-girl to mourn over your untimely end.”
So saying, he stepped from the room with his captive, and securely locked the door behind him.
When he had disappeared, the frozen Zonela thawed94, and with a shriek95 of anguish96 flung herself on the inanimate body of Furbelow.
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收听单词发音
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1
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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3
scorch
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| v.烧焦，烤焦；高速疾驶；n.烧焦处，焦痕 | |
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4
hunch
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| n.预感，直觉 | |
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physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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6
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
baneful
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| adj.有害的 | |
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redeem
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| v.买回，赎回，挽回，恢复，履行（诺言等） | |
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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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10
pliant
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| adj.顺从的；可弯曲的 | |
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11
supple
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| adj.柔软的，易弯的，逢迎的，顺从的，灵活的；vt.使柔软，使柔顺，使顺从；vi.变柔软，变柔顺 | |
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12
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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13
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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14
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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15
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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16
elasticity
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| n.弹性，伸缩力 | |
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17
petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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18
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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19
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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21
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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naturalists
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| n.博物学家( naturalist的名词复数 )；（文学艺术的）自然主义者 | |
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tableau
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| n.画面，活人画（舞台上活人扮的静态画面） | |
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velvety
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| adj. 像天鹅绒的, 轻软光滑的, 柔软的 | |
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25
copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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26
professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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27
immortality
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| n.不死，不朽 | |
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28
soliciting
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| v.恳求( solicit的现在分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求 | |
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benevolence
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| n.慈悲，捐助 | |
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coppers
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| 铜( copper的名词复数 )； 铜币 | |
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31
supplication
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| n.恳求，祈愿，哀求 | |
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32
confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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spinal
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| adj.针的，尖刺的，尖刺状突起的；adj.脊骨的，脊髓的 | |
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34
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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35
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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36
deformed
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| adj.畸形的；变形的；丑的，破相了的 | |
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frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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38
sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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39
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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40
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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41
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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moors
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| v.停泊，系泊（船只）( moor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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44
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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45
hurling
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| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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46
vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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47
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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48
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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49
taunts
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| 嘲弄的言语，嘲笑，奚落( taunt的名词复数 ) | |
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50
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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51
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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52
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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53
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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54
impaled
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| 钉在尖桩上( impale的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
beetle
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| n.甲虫，近视眼的人 | |
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56
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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57
demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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58
blight
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| n.枯萎病；造成破坏的因素；vt.破坏，摧残 | |
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59
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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persecute
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| vt.迫害，虐待；纠缠，骚扰 | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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63
salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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64
hunched
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| （常指因寒冷、生病或愁苦）耸肩弓身的，伏首前倾的 | |
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gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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66
entreating
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的现在分词 ) | |
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67
anatomy
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| n.解剖学，解剖；功能，结构，组织 | |
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68
penetration
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| n.穿透，穿人，渗透 | |
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69
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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70
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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71
incur
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| vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇 | |
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72
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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73
spawn
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| n.卵，产物，后代，结果；vt.产卵，种菌丝于，产生，造成；vi.产卵，大量生产 | |
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74
stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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75
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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76
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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77
hog
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| n.猪；馋嘴贪吃的人；vt.把…占为己有，独占 | |
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78
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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79
debauch
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| v.使堕落，放纵 | |
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80
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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81
blighted
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| adj.枯萎的，摧毁的 | |
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82
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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83
solace
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| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
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84
epicure
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| n.行家，美食家 | |
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85
stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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86
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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87
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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88
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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89
dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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90
entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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91
mesh
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| n.网孔，网丝，陷阱；vt.以网捕捉，啮合，匹配；vi.适合； [计算机]网络 | |
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92
binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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93
coffin
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| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
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94
thawed
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| 解冻 | |
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95
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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96
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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