Between where the mountains of the Cévennes rise in tumultuous confusion, with, towering above them all, the gigantic Lozère and La Manzerre whence springs the beauteous Loire; between this vast mountainous region, which gives to the mind of him who beholds1 it the idea of a world falling to ruin and perishing of its own worn-out antiquity2, and the Rh?ne, the road to the north winds through a fertile valley--a valley where the meadows and the orchards3 and the vineyards run down to the river on which the rafts and boats float along until the stream empties itself into the Mediterranean5 at last; boats from which are wafted6 the perfume of the new-mown hay, or the fruits which they are conveying. A valley this in which are little houses set in among the pear trees and the chestnuts8, and covered with bird-swarming ivy9 wherein the southern oriole builds its nest and rears its young; houses in front of which the fair roses of Provence grow in great clusters as they have grown there for centuries, and over which the pigeons whirl in their flight.
Once, not twenty years before the period of this narrative10, and before a reformed wanton had urged a superstitious11 king (already then growing old and shuddering12 at the phantoms13 that arose from his evil and unclean past, as well as from the fear of what his enemies--the whole world!--might wreak14 upon him in the shape of human vengeance15) to wage what he termed a holy war, this valley had been one of a thousand in France where peace and contentment had reigned16. Peace and contentment coupled, it is true, with, in most cases, a simple humble17 life, yet still a life free from care. An existence scarce disturbed by aught more serious than some trifling18 ailments19 of the children who ran about barefooted in the long lush grass, or plunged20 into the cool stream that watered the land, or by the sound of the passing bell telling at solemn intervals21 how one who had lived there all his days was going to his rest. A life spent in the open air all through the summer time, or by the blazing chestnut7 logs when the snows of winter kept all shut up in their cottages, carding, weaving, combing, earning their living thus as in the golden prime of July they earned it by gathering22 fruit, or cutting the corn and sheaving it, or rearing the cattle.
Now all was changed, all but the beauty of the land. The red-roofed houses on whose tiles the topmost boughs23 of the pear trees rested, borne down with fruit, were closed; the wicker basket in which the thrushes and blackbirds had sung so joyously24, not deeming their lives captivity25, were empty; so, too, were the stalls where once the kine had lowed and the horses trampled26 as daybreak stole over the mountain tops. All were gone now. The old grandam who had looked after the children; the children themselves; the stalwart fathers; the dark-eyed, brown-bosomed women whose black tresses hung down their backs and served as ropes for their babes to tug27 at.
Gone--but where?
Half of the men to the galleys28, to toil29 until their hearts burst and they died, worn to skeletons by belabourings and thrashings, starvation and ill usage; the other half to the mountains, there to meditate30 upon, and afterward31 to take, a hideous32, black revenge on those who had driven them from their homes. The old women gone also, some to fester in the prison cellars of N?mes, Uzès, Alais, Niort, and Montpellier. The black-haired mothers to do the same, to groan33 in the dungeons34 for water, even though it were but one drop to cool their tongues; to shriek35 to God to take their lives, even though they were sacrificed in the flames of the market place; to pray to their Creator to let them die and join their slaughtered36 babes once more; see again the husbands from whom the gibbet and the wheel had torn them forever in this world.
Because they were Protestants, Reformés, Huguenots! That was their crime! The crime that had roused the woman in Paris--la femme célèbre et fatale--to urge on her husband the devastation37 of the Garden of France.
Down this road now, which wound between the base of the Cévennes and the banks of the rapid Rh?ne, upon a sunny afternoon in September--when all the uncut corn (there being no one to gather it) was bending on its stalks upon which, later, it would rot, past a burned and ruined church, past, too, a wheel on which a dried, half-mummified body was bound and left to shrivel--there came a cortége. A cortége consisting first of a troop of dragoons of the regiment38 of Hérault, their sabres drawn39 and flashing in the sun, their musketoons slung40 ready at their backs, their glances wary41 and eager. Ahead of them rode their captain, a man tall and muscular, burned black almost from constant exposure to the sun and by taking part in many campaigns from his youth, commencing in Germany and Austria. This was Poul, a Carcassonnais, who, since the outbreak of the Cévennes rising, had been distinguished42 as one of the most determined43 opponents of the attroupés. Also he was a marked man, doomed44 to death by them, and he knew it. But over his midnight draughts45 of Hermitage he had sworn often that, ere his fate overtook him, many of the canaille should also meet theirs.
Behind his troop of dragoons, numbering thirty-five men, there came a travelling carriage, large, roomy, and much ornamented46, and drawn by four horses. In it there sat Urbaine Ducaire on her way to Langogne, the first stage on the road to Paris. By her side was seated a middle-aged47 gouvernante or companion, whom Baville had told off to accompany her until she reached Avignon, where she would be safe outside the troubles of Languedoc and where she was to continue her journey under the protection of the Duchess d'Uzès. Above the carriage was piled up her valises and portmanteaux; also upon it were three footmen armed with fusils, all of which were ready to their hands; also a waiting maid who was always in attendance upon Urbaine. To complete her guard, behind the great carriage marched a company of the fusileers of Barre and Pompidon, headed by a mounted officer.
Passing the broken and mutilated corpse48 upon the wheel, Poul pointed49 to it with his glove and laughed; then, reining50 back his horse until the dragoons had gone by, he looked in at the great window and remarked to Urbaine:
"Mademoiselle perceives the canaille are not always triumphant51. As it is with that crushed rat there, so it will be with all. Time! Time! Our vengeance will come."
But the girl, after casting one horrified52 glance at the thing which was shrivelling in the broiling53 September sun, had shrunk back affrighted into the depths of the great travelling carriage and thrown up her hands before her eyes while the gouvernante, addressing Poul, said:
"Monsieur le Capitaine, why call our attention to that? It is no pleasing sight even to a devout54 Catholic, moreover a bitter one when we remember the fearful retaliation55 that has been exacted. Have you forgotten the Abbé du Chaila, the curé of Frugéres?"
"Forgotten!" exclaimed the rough Carcassonnais, "forgotten! Ventre bleu! I have forgotten nothing. Else why am I here? Beautiful as is the freight of this carriage," and he made a rough bow "it needs no Capitaine Poul to command the dragoons who escort it in safety. Any porte drapeau, or unfledged lieutenant56, could do that. Nay57, it is in hopes that we may meet some of these singing, snivel-nosed Calvinists that I ride with you to-day. Oh, for the chance!"
"Send him away," whispered Urbaine; "he terrifies me. Would that my father had chosen some other officer."
Ere, however, her companion could do as she requested, Poul had turned his wrist and ridden again to the head of his troops, a fierce look of eagerness on his face, a gleam in his coal-black eyes. For from ahead of where the cavalcade58 had now arrived--a shady part of the road, on one side of which there rose precipitously some rocks crowned with bushes, while on the other was a meadow--he heard a sound which told him his wish was very likely to be granted.
A sound of singing, of many voices in unison59. Voices uttering words which reached the ears of all, causing the dragoons and fusileers to look to their arms and the women and footmen to turn white with apprehension60.
A sound of singing that rose and fell upon the soft afternoon air as though somewhere a conventicle was being held. And these the words they sung:
Dieu! que Juda connait: Dieu! qu' Israel adore
Salem est ta demeure et Sion ton autel!
Ton bras de nos tyrans a rompu Tare61 sonore,
La glaive qui dévore
Et le combat mortel.
"Ha!" called out Poul, his dark face now more suffused62 with rage than before, "they are near at hand. Swords out, mes dragons, avancez--en double ligne de Colonne; here is more garbage for the wheel. En avance les fusiliers--the carriage behind. Tambours battants. En avant!"
And while the women screamed, Urbaine burying her fair head for a moment on the gouvernante's shoulder, the dragoons fell into double line, and the fusileers of Barre and Pompidon, passing swiftly on on either side of the great carriage formed up behind them, their drums beating scornfully.
At first they saw no enemy, scarce expected to see any, since all knew by now that these mountaineers fought on the system of those dreaded63 Indians whom some of this force had already encountered on the shores of the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi--namely, by sheltering themselves behind every available tree or rock, or even shrub64, from which they fired on their foes65 with deadly effect. But they heard them. Heard again the solemn hymn66 they sang in the hour of battle, of death, and of vengeance:
Aux éclairs de ta foudre, à sa fumante trombe Le c?ur manque an vaillant, le bras échappé au fort Le char4 d'airain se brise, et le coursier succombe,
Et le guerrier qui tombe
S'assoupit dans la mort!
Then a moment later they saw their foes, or some of them.
Upon the summit of the rock sixty feet above their heads, amid the stunted67 trees and bushes that grew thereon, they saw appear a strange crowd. Men, tall and swarthy, some old, some almost boys, while there was one of the latter whose fantastic attire--a vest of bleached68 Holland garnished69 with silver buttons, culottes of chamois leather, gold-gallooned, ivory-hilted sword, scarlet70 mantle71 and black felt hat, with long white ostrich72 feather--would better have become one of Luxembourg's dandy cavaliers than an attroupé of the mountains. Also three men, venerable-looking, yet fierce and stern, two having beards that flowed over their chests, all of whom joined in the hymn that was being sung by a larger body that was ahead of the place where the Royalist troops were--ahead, yet advancing toward those who had been caught in the snare73, advancing singing and firing. And by the side of these three, who were Prophets--Inspirés--there stood a girl, black and swarthy, too, a bracelet74 on her arm and in her hands a musketoon, which she raised and, aiming at the carriage below, fired.
With a shriek the gouvernante fell back on to the cushions dead; with another, Urbaine flung her arms about her, moaning, while now, from all around, the sound of firing was heard, and, pealing75 high, above all else, the voice of Poul, howling orders, yelling curses, laughing defiantly76. Yet why he laughed none knew, for already the saddles of the dragoons were being emptied rapidly; the ground was strewn, too, with the bodies of the fusileers of Barre and Pompidon, those who still lived being driven back.
Fear paralyzes sometimes; sometimes also inspires with a terrible and desperate courage. It was thus with Urbaine Ducaire at this moment. She screamed and moaned no more, let the poor dead woman's body lie back in the carriage, put out her hand to the door that was farthest away from the rock on which the visible portion of the enemy was, and endeavoured to turn the handle.
Yet, ere she did so, she saw a sight that might well have unnerved her, have struck her dead with horror.
Upon the rock-side of the vehicle she saw Poul fighting like a demon77 possessed78, or, better, like a doomed brave man. She saw his sabre dart79 through one fanatic's throat, then through another's breast; she heard his hoarse80, triumphant shouts and terrible oaths, also his words of bitter scorn and hatred81 of the canaille as he thrust at them, then nearly fainted at what she saw next: A lad standing82 by the side of the girl armed with the musketoon, while still she fired as fast as she could load it--a lad who adjusted a huge stone in a sling83, and then, watching his opportunity and whirling the latter round his head, discharged the missile, which crashed with fatal effect full on Poul's forehead. And as the brave, rough soldier, with a cry of hideous, awful agony, fell to the earth, the youth, shouting in his rough patois84 that the soul of David had descended85 through countless86 ages to enter his body, leaped down the crags of the rock, fell upon the unhappy man, and, seizing his sword, began to hack87 his head off.
"I can bear no more," Urbaine murmured, "no more! Pray God the next bullet fired enters my heart! Otherwise I must die of horror." And she sank to the bottom of the carriage, her head on the dead woman's knees, sank back and lay there in a stupor88.
Whereby she knew not that, even as she did so, across the meadow a man had ridden on a rawboned horse as fast as he could urge it, had gained the road, and, swiftly dismounting amid the rain of bullets and stones from above, had wrenched89 open the carriage door and lifted her out in his arms. Knew not that in his strength he had tossed her on to the neck of the horse and quickly remounted, having but one hand to use in doing so, and that, amid a storm of more bullets, he had carried her off from where the carnage still raged, while in his ears he heard more than once the cry--
"Voilà ton Poul! He is well trussed. Eat him!"
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收听单词发音
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1
beholds
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| v.看，注视( behold的第三人称单数 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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2
antiquity
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| n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹 | |
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3
orchards
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| （通常指围起来的）果园( orchard的名词复数 ) | |
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4
char
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| v.烧焦；使...燃烧成焦炭 | |
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5
Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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6
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
chestnut
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| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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8
chestnuts
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| n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 )；栗色；栗树；栗色马 | |
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ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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10
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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11
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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12
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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13
phantoms
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| n.鬼怪，幽灵( phantom的名词复数 ) | |
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14
wreak
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| v.发泄；报复 | |
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15
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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16
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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17
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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18
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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19
ailments
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| 疾病（尤指慢性病），不适( ailment的名词复数 ) | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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21
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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22
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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23
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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24
joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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25
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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26
trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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27
tug
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| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
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28
galleys
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| n.平底大船，战舰( galley的名词复数 )；（船上或航空器上的）厨房 | |
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29
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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30
meditate
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| v.想，考虑，（尤指宗教上的）沉思，冥想 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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32
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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33
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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dungeons
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| n.地牢( dungeon的名词复数 ) | |
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35
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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slaughtered
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| v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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devastation
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| n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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39
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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40
slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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41
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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42
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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43
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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44
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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45
draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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46
ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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48
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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49
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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50
reining
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的现在分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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51
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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52
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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53
broiling
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| adj.酷热的，炽热的，似烧的v.（用火）烤（焙、炙等）( broil的现在分词 )；使卷入争吵；使混乱；被烤（或炙） | |
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54
devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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55
retaliation
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| n.报复，反击 | |
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56
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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57
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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58
cavalcade
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| n.车队等的行列 | |
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59
unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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60
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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61
tare
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| n.皮重；v.量皮重 | |
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62
suffused
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| v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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64
shrub
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| n.灌木，灌木丛 | |
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65
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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66
hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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67
stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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68
bleached
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| 漂白的，晒白的，颜色变浅的 | |
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69
garnished
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| v.给（上餐桌的食物）加装饰( garnish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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71
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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72
ostrich
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| n.鸵鸟 | |
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73
snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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74
bracelet
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| n.手镯，臂镯 | |
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75
pealing
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| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的现在分词 ) | |
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76
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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77
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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78
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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79
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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80
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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81
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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82
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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83
sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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84
patois
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| n.方言；混合语 | |
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85
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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86
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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87
hack
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| n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳 | |
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88
stupor
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| v.昏迷；不省人事 | |
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89
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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