A son who has towards his father the sentiments of a slave toward his master; a father who habitually1 shows towards his son a dislike bordering on hatred3—such are the sad subjects for study that I have found here. At first I wished to persuade myself that M. Leminof was simply a cold hard character, a skeptic4 by disposition5, a blase6 grandee7, who believed it a duty to himself to openly testify his scorn for all the humbug8 of sentiment. He is nothing of the kind. The Count's mind is diseased, his soul tormented9, his heart eaten by a secret ulcer11 and he avenges12 its sufferings by making others suffer. Yes, the misanthrope13 seeks vengeance14 for some deadly affront15 which has been put upon him by man or by fate; his irony16 breathes anger and hatred; it conceals17 deep resentment19 which breaks out occasionally in his voice, in his look and in his unexpected and violent acts; for he is not always master of himself. At certain times the varnish20 of cold politeness and icy sportiveness with which he ordinarily conceals his passions, scales off suddenly and falls into dust, and his soul appears in its nakedness. During the first weeks of my residence here he controlled himself in my presence, now I have the honor of possessing his confidence, and he no longer deems it necessary to hide his face from me, nor does he try any longer to deceive me.
It is singular, I thought myself entirely21 master of my glances, but in spite of myself, they betrayed too much curiosity on one occasion. The other day while I was working with him in his study, he suddenly became dreamy and absent, his brow was like a thundercloud; he neither saw nor heard me. When he came out of his reverie his eyes met mine fixed22 upon his face, and he saw that I was observing him too attentively23.
"Come now," said he brusquely, "you remember our stipulations; we are two egotists who have made a bargain with each other. Egotists are not curious; the only thing which interests them in the mind of a fellow-creature, is in the domain24 of utility."
And then fearing that he had offended me, he continued in a softer tone:
"I am the least interesting soul in the world to know. My nerves are very sensitive, and let me say to you once for all, that this is the secret of all the disorders25 which you may observe in my poor machine."
"No, Count Kostia, this is not your secret!" I was tempted26 to answer. "It is not your nerves which torment10 you. I would wager27 that in despite of your cynicism and skepticism, you have once believed in something, or in some one who has broken faith with you," but I was careful not to let him suspect my conjectures28. I believe he would have devoured29 me. The anger of this man is terrible, and he does not always spare me the sight of it. Yesterday especially, he was transported beyond himself, to such an extent that I blushed for him. Stephane had gone to ride with Ivan. The dinner-bell rang and they had not returned. The Count himself went to the entrance of the court to wait for them. His lips were pale, his voice harsh and grating, veiled by a hoarseness30 which always comes with his gusts31 of passion. When the delinquents32 appeared at the end of the path, he ran to them, and measured Stephane from head to foot with a glance so menacing that the child trembled in every limb; but his anger exploded itself entirely upon Ivan. The poor jailer had, however, good excuses to offer: Stephane's horse had stumbled and cut his knee, and they had been obliged to slacken their pace. The Count appeared to hear nothing. He signed to Ivan to dismount; which having done, he seized him by the collar, tore from him his whip and beat him like a dog. The unhappy serf allowed himself to be whipped without uttering a cry, without making a movement. The idea of flight or self-defense never occurred to him. Riveted33 to the spot, his eyes closed, he was the living image of slavery resigned to the last outrages34. Indeed I believe that during this punishment I suffered more than he. My throat was parched35, my blood boiled in my veins36. My first impulse was to throw myself upon the Count, but I restrained myself; such a violent interference would but have aggravated37 the fate of Ivan. I clasped my hands and with a stifled38 voice cried: "Mercy! mercy!" The Count did not hear me. Then I threw myself between the executioner and his victim. Stupefied, with arm raised and immovable, the Count stared at me with flaming eyes; little by little he became calm, and his face resumed its ordinary expression.
"Let it pass for this time," said he at last, in a hollow voice; "but in future meddle39 no more in my affairs!"
Then dropping the whip to the ground, he strode away. Ivan raised his eyes to me full of tears, his glance expressed at once tenderness, gratitude40, and admiration41. He seized my hands and covered them with kisses, after which he passed his handkerchief over his face, streaming with perspiration42, foam43, and blood, and taking the two horses by the bridles44, quietly led them to the stable. I found the Count at the table; he had recovered his good humor; he discharged several arrows of playful sarcasm45 at my "heresies46" in matters of history. It was not without effort that I answered him, for at this moment he inspired me with an aversion that I could hardly conceal18. But I felt bound to recognize the victory which he had gained over himself in abridging47 Ivan's punishment. After dinner he sent for the serf, who appeared with his forehead and hands furrowed48 with bloody49 scars. His lips bore their habitual2 smile, which was always a mystery to me. His master ordered him to take off his vest, turn down his shirt, and kneel before him; then drawing from his pocket a vial full of some ointment50 whose virtues51 he lauded52 highly, he dressed the wounds of the moujik with his own hands. This operation finished, he said to him:
"That will amount to nothing, my son. Go and sin no more."
Upon which the serf raised himself and left the room, smiling throughout. Ivan's smile is an exotic plant which I am not acquainted with, and which only grows in Slavonic soil, a strange smile,—real prodigy53 of baseness or heroism54. Which is it? I am sure I cannot tell.
In spite of my trouble, I had been able to observe Stephane at the beginning of the punishment. At the first blow, a flash of triumphant55 joy passed over his face; but when the blood started he became horribly pale, and pressed one of his hands to his throat as if to arrest a cry of horror, and with the other he covered his eyes to shut out the sight; then not being able to contain himself, he hurried away. God be praised! compassion56 had triumphed in his heart over the joy of seeing his jailer chastised57. There is in this young soul, embittered58 as it is by long sufferings, a fund of generosity59 and goodness; but will it not in time lose the last vestiges60 of its native qualities? Three years hence will Stephane cover his eyes to avoid the sight of an enemy's punishment? Within three years will not the habit of suffering have stifled pity in his breast? To-morrow, to-morrow perhaps, will not his heart have uttered its last cry!
Since you have no tender words for him, Count Kostia, would that I could close his ears to the desolating61 lessons that you give him! Do you not see that the life he leads is enough to teach him to hate men and life, without the necessity of your interference? He knows nothing of humanity, but what he sees through the bars of his prison; and imagines that there is nothing in the world but capricious tyrants62 and trembling, degraded slaves. Why thus kill in his heart every germ of enthusiasm, of hope, of manly63 and generous faith?
But may not Stephane be a vicious child, whose perverse64 instincts a justly provoked father seeks to curb65 by a pitiless discipline? No, a thousand times no! It is false, it is impossible; it is only necessary to look at him to be satisfied of this. His face is often hard, cold, scornful; but it never expresses a low thought, a pollution of soul, or a precocious66 corruption67 of mind. In his quiet moods there is upon his brow a stamp of infantile purity. I was wrong in supposing that his soul had lost its youth.
Alas68! with what cruel harshness they dispute the little pleasures which remain to him. In spite of his jests over the periwinkles, he has a taste for flowers, and had obtained from the gardener the concession69 of a little plot of ground to cultivate according to his fancy. The Count, it appears, had ratified70 this favor; but this unheard-of condescension71 proved to be but a refinement72 of cruelty. For some time, every evening after dinner, Stephane passed an hour in his little parterre; he plucked out the weeds, planted, watered, and watched with a paternal73 eye the growth of his favorites. Yesterday, an hour after the sanguinary castigation74, while his father was dressing75 Ivan's wounds, he had gone out on tiptoe. Some minutes after, as I was walking upon the terrace, I saw him occupied. with absorbing gravity, in this great work of watering. I was but a few paces from him, when the gardener approached, pickax in hand, and, without a word, struck it violently into the middle of a tuft of verbenas which grew at one end of the plot of ground. Stephane raised himself briskly, and, believing him stupid, threw himself upon him, crying out:
"I am doing what his excellency ordered me to," answered the gardener.
At this moment the Count strolled toward us, his hands in his pockets, humming an aria77, and an expression of amiable78 good humor on his face. Stephane extended his arms towards him, but one of those looks which always petrifies79 him kept him silent and motionless in the middle of the pathway. He watched with wild eyes the fatal pickax ravage80 by degrees his beloved garden. In vain he tried to disguise his despair; his legs trembled and his heart throbbed81 violently. He fixed his large eyes upon his dear, devastated82 treasures; two great tears escaped them and rolled slowly down his cheeks. But when the instrument of destruction approached a magnificent carnation83, the finest ornament84 of his garden, his heart failed him, he uttered a piercing cry, and raising his hands to Heaven, ran away sobbing85. The Count looked after him as he fled, and an atrocious smile passed over his lips! Ah! if this father does not hate his son, I know not what hatred is, nor how it depicts86 itself upon a human face. Meantime I threw myself between the carnation and the pickax, as an hour before between the knout and Ivan. Stephane's despair had rent my heart; I wished at any cost to preserve this flower which was so dear to him. The face of Kostia Petrovitch took all hope from me. It seemed to say:
"You still indulge in sentiment; this is a little too much of it."
"This plant is beautiful," I said to him; "why destroy it?"
"Ah! you love flowers, my dear Gilbert;" answered he, with an air of diabolical87 malice88. "I am truly glad of it!"
And turning to the gardener, he added:
"You will carefully take up all these flowers and place them in pots—they shall decorate Monsieur's room. I am delighted to have it in my power to do him this little favor."
Thus speaking, he rubbed his hands gleefully, and turning his back upon me, commenced humming his tune89 again. He was evidently satisfied with his day's work.
And now Stephane's flowers are here under my eyes, they have become my property. Oh! if he knew it! I do not doubt that M. Leminof wishes his son to hate me; and his wish is gratified. Overwhelmed with respect and attentions, petted, praised, extolled90, treated as a favorite and grand vizier, how can I be otherwise than an object of scorn and aversion to this young man? But could he read my heart! what would he read there, after all? An impotent pity from which his pride would revolt. I can do nothing for him; I could not mitigate91 his misfortunes or pour balm into his wounds.
Go, then, Gilbert, occupy yourself with the Byzantines! Remember your contract, Gilbert! The master of this house has made you promise not to meddle in his affairs. Translate Greek, my friend, and, in your leisure moments, amuse yourself with your puppets. Beyond that, closed eyes and sealed mouth; that must be your motto. But do you say, "I shall become a wretch in seeing this child suffer"? Well! if your useless pity proves too much of a burden, six months hence you can break your bonds, resume your liberty, and with three hundred crowns in your pocket, you can undertake that journey to Italy,—object of your secret dreams and most ardent92 longing93. Happy man! arming yourself with the white staff of the pilgrim, you will shake the dust of Geierfels from your feet, and go far away to forget, before the facades94 of Venetian palaces, the dark mysteries of the old Gothic castle and its wicked occupants.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
habitually
|
|
| ad.习惯地，通常地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
habitual
|
|
| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
hatred
|
|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
skeptic
|
|
| n.怀疑者，怀疑论者，无神论者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
disposition
|
|
| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
blase
|
|
| adj.厌烦于享乐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
grandee
|
|
| n.贵族；大公 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
humbug
|
|
| n.花招，谎话，欺骗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
tormented
|
|
| 饱受折磨的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
torment
|
|
| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
ulcer
|
|
| n.溃疡，腐坏物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
avenges
|
|
| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的第三人称单数 )；为…报复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
misanthrope
|
|
| n.恨人类的人；厌世者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
vengeance
|
|
| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
affront
|
|
| n./v.侮辱，触怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
irony
|
|
| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
conceals
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
resentment
|
|
| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
varnish
|
|
| n.清漆；v.上清漆；粉饰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
attentively
|
|
| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
domain
|
|
| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
disorders
|
|
| n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
tempted
|
|
| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
wager
|
|
| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
conjectures
|
|
| 推测，猜想( conjecture的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
devoured
|
|
| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
hoarseness
|
|
| n.嘶哑， 刺耳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
gusts
|
|
| 一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
delinquents
|
|
| n.（尤指青少年）有过失的人，违法的人( delinquent的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
riveted
|
|
| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
outrages
|
|
| 引起…的义愤，激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
parched
|
|
| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
veins
|
|
| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
aggravated
|
|
| 使恶化( aggravate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使更严重； 激怒； 使恼火 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
stifled
|
|
| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
meddle
|
|
| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
perspiration
|
|
| n.汗水；出汗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
foam
|
|
| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
bridles
|
|
| 约束( bridle的名词复数 )； 限动器； 马笼头； 系带 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
sarcasm
|
|
| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
heresies
|
|
| n.异端邪说，异教( heresy的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
abridging
|
|
| 节略( abridge的现在分词 )； 减少； 缩短； 剥夺（某人的）权利（或特权等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
furrowed
|
|
| v.犁田，开沟( furrow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
bloody
|
|
| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
ointment
|
|
| n.药膏，油膏，软膏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
virtues
|
|
| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
lauded
|
|
| v.称赞，赞美( laud的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
prodigy
|
|
| n.惊人的事物，奇迹，神童，天才，预兆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
heroism
|
|
| n.大无畏精神，英勇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
triumphant
|
|
| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
compassion
|
|
| n.同情，怜悯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
chastised
|
|
| v.严惩（某人）（尤指责打）( chastise的过去式 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
embittered
|
|
| v.使怨恨，激怒( embitter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
generosity
|
|
| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
vestiges
|
|
| 残余部分( vestige的名词复数 )； 遗迹； 痕迹； 毫不 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
desolating
|
|
| 毁坏( desolate的现在分词 )； 极大地破坏； 使沮丧； 使痛苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
tyrants
|
|
| 专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
manly
|
|
| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
perverse
|
|
| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
curb
|
|
| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
precocious
|
|
| adj.早熟的；较早显出的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
corruption
|
|
| n.腐败，堕落，贪污 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
alas
|
|
| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
concession
|
|
| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
ratified
|
|
| v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
condescension
|
|
| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
refinement
|
|
| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
paternal
|
|
| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
castigation
|
|
| n.申斥，强烈反对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
dressing
|
|
| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
wretch
|
|
| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
aria
|
|
| n.独唱曲，咏叹调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
amiable
|
|
| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
petrifies
|
|
| v.吓呆，使麻木( petrify的第三人称单数 )；使吓呆，使惊呆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
ravage
|
|
| vt.使...荒废，破坏...；n.破坏，掠夺，荒废 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
throbbed
|
|
| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
devastated
|
|
| v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
carnation
|
|
| n.康乃馨（一种花） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
ornament
|
|
| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
sobbing
|
|
| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
depicts
|
|
| 描绘，描画( depict的第三人称单数 )； 描述 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
diabolical
|
|
| adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
malice
|
|
| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
tune
|
|
| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
extolled
|
|
| v.赞颂，赞扬，赞美( extol的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
mitigate
|
|
| vt.（使）减轻，（使）缓和 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
ardent
|
|
| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
longing
|
|
| n.（for）渴望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
facades
|
|
| n.（房屋的）正面( facade的名词复数 )；假象，外观 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |