Among the latter were Marie Grubbe and S?ren.
Their clothing was coarse and ragged5, and they looked as if they had not had enough to eat every day; and no wonder, for it was not a profitable trade they plied6. In an inn between Aarhus and Randers, S?ren had met a poor sick German, who for twenty marks had sold him a small, badly battered7 hurdy-gurdy, a motley fool’s suit, and an old checked rug. With these he and Marie gained their livelihood8, going from market to market; she would turn the hurdy-gurdy, and he would stand on the checked rug, dressed in the motley clothes, lifting and doing tricks with some huge iron weights and long iron bars, which they borrowed of the tradesmen.
It was the market that had brought them to Ribe.
They were standing9 near the door, where a faint, faded strip of light shone on their pale faces and the dark mass of heads behind them. People were coming singly or in pairs or small groups, talking and laughing in well-bred manner to the very threshold of the church, but there they suddenly became silent, gazed gravely straight before them, and changed their gait.
S?ren was seized with a desire to see more of the show, - 236 - and whispered to Marie that they ought to go in; there was no harm in trying, nothing worse could happen to them than to be turned out. Marie shuddered11 inwardly at the thought that she should be turned out from a place where common artisans could freely go, and she held back S?ren, who was trying to draw her on; but suddenly she changed her mind, pressed eagerly forward, pulling S?ren after her, and walked in without the slightest trace of shrinking timidity or stealthy caution; indeed, she seemed determined12 to be noticed and turned out. At first no one stopped them, but just as she was about to step into the well-lit, crowded nave, a church warden13, who was stationed there, caught sight of them. After casting one horrified14 glance up through the church, he advanced quickly upon them with lifted and outstretched hands, as if pushing them before him to the very threshold, and over it. He stood there for a moment, looking reproachfully at the crowd, as if he blamed it for what had occurred, then returned with measured tread, and took up his post, shuddering15.
The crowd met the ejected ones with a burst of jeering16 laughter and a shower of mocking questions, which made S?ren growl17 and look around savagely18, but Marie was content; she had bent19 to receive the blow which the respectable part of society always has ready for such as he, and the blow had fallen.
On the night before St. Oluf’s market, four men were sitting in one of the poorest inns at Aarhus, playing cards.
One of the players was S?ren. His partner, a handsome man with coal-black hair and a dark skin, was known as Jens Bottom, and was a juggler20. The other two members of the party were joint21 owners of a mangy bear. Both were unusually - 237 - hideous22: one had a horrible harelip, while the other was one-eyed, heavy jowled, and pock-marked, and was known as Rasmus Squint23, plainly because the skin around the injured eye was drawn24 together in such a manner as to give him the appearance of being always ready to peer through a key-hole or some such small aperture25.
The players were sitting at one end of the long table which ran under the window and held a candle and an earless cruse. Opposite them was a folding-table, fastened up against the wall with an iron hook. A bar ran across the other end of the room, and a thin, long-wicked candle, stuck into an old inverted26 funnel27, threw a sleepy light over the shelf above, where some large, square flasks28 of brandy and bitters, some quart and pint29 measures, and half-a-dozen glasses had plenty of room beside a basket full of mustard seed and a large lantern with panes30 of broken glass. In one corner outside of the bar sat Marie Grubbe, knitting and drowsing, and in the other sat a man with body bent forward and elbows resting on his knees. He seemed intent on pulling his black felt hat as far down over his head as possible, and when that was accomplished31, he would clutch the wide brim, slowly work the hat up from his head again, his eyes pinched together and the corners of his mouth twitching32, probably with the pain of pulling his hair, then presently begin all over again.
“Then this is the last game to play,” said Jens Bottom, whose lead it was.
Rasmus Squint pounded the table with his knuckles33 as a sign to his partner, Salmand, to cover.
Salmand played two of trumps34.
“A two!” cried Rasmus; “have you nothing but twos and threes in your hand?”
- 238 -
“Lord,” growled35 Salmand, “there’s always been poor folks and a few beggars.”
S?ren trumped36 with a six.
“Oh, oh,” Rasmus moaned, “are you goin’ to let him have it for a six? What the devil are you so stingy with your old cards for, Salmand?”
He played, and S?ren won the trick.
“Kerstie Meek,” said S?ren, playing four of hearts.
“And her half-crazy sister,” continued Rasmus, putting on four of diamonds.
“Maybe an ace10 is good enough,” said S?ren, covering with ace of trumps.
“Play, man, play, if you never played before!” cried Rasmus.
“That’s too costly,” whimpered Salmand, taking his turn.
“Then I’ll put on my seven and another seven,” said Jens.
S?ren turned the trick.
“And then nine of trumps,” Jens went on, leading.
“Then I’ll have to bring on my yellow nag,” cried Salmand, playing two of hearts.
“You’ll never stable it,” laughed S?ren, covering with four of spades.
“Forfeit!” roared Rasmus Squint, throwing down his cards. “Forfeit with two of hearts, that’s a good day’s work! Nay37, nay, ’tis a good thing we’re not goin’ to play any more. Now let them kiss the cards that have won.”
They began to count the tricks, and while they were busy with this, a stout38, opulently dressed man came in. He went at once to the folding-table, let it down, and took a seat nearest the wall. As he passed the players, he touched - 239 - his hat with his silver-knobbed cane39, and said: “Good even to the house!”
“Thanks,” they replied, and all four spat40.
The newcomer took out a paper full of tobacco and a long clay pipe, filled it, and pounded the table with his cane.
A barefoot girl brought him a brazier full of hot coals and a large earthenware41 cruse with a pewter cover. He took out from his vest-pocket a pair of small copper42 pincers, which he used to pick up bits of coal and put them in his pipe, drew the cruse to him, leaned back, and made himself as comfortable as the small space would allow.
“How much do you have to pay for a paper o’ tobacco like the one you’ve got there, master?” asked Salmand, as he began to fill his little pipe from a sealskin pouch43 held together with a red string.
“Sixpence,” said the man, adding, as if to apologize for such extravagance, “it’s very good for the lungs, as you might say.”
“How’s business?” Salmand went on, striking fire to light his pipe.
“Well enough, and thank you kindly44 for asking, well enough, but I’m getting old, as you might say.”
“Well,” said Rasmus Squint, “but then you’ve no need to run after customers, since they’re all brought to you.”
“Ay,” laughed the man, “in respect of that, it’s a good business, and, moreover, you don’t have to talk yourself hoarse45 persuading folks to buy your wares46; they have to take ’em as they come, they can’t pick and choose.”
“And they don’t want anything thrown in,” Rasmus went on, “and don’t ask for more than what’s rightly comin’ to ’em.”
- 240 -
“Master, do they scream much?” asked S?ren in a half whisper.
“Well, they don’t often laugh.”
“Faugh, what an ugly business!”
“Then there’s no use my counting on one of you for help, I suppose.”
“Are you countin’ on us to help you?” asked Rasmus, and rose angrily.
“I’m not counting on anything, but I’m looking for a young man to help me and to take the business after me, that’s what I’m looking for, as you might say.”
“And what wages might a man get for that?” asked Jens Bottom, earnestly.
“Fifteen dollars per annum in ready money, one-third of the clothing, and one mark out of every dollar earned according to the fixed47 rate.”
“And what might that be?”
“The rate is this, that I get five dollars for whipping at the post, seven dollars for whipping from town, four dollars for turning out of the county, and the same for branding with hot iron.”
“And for the bigger work?”
“Alack, that does not come so often, but it’s eight dollars for cutting off a man’s head, that is with an axe48: with a sword it’s ten, but that may not occur once in seven years. Hanging is fourteen rix-dollars, ten for the job itself and four for taking the body down from the gallows49. Breaking on the wheel is seven dollars, that is for a whole body, but I must find the stake and put it up too. And now, is there anything more? Ay, crushing arms and legs according to the new German fashion and breaking on the wheel, that’s fourteen—that’s fourteen, and for quartering and - 241 - breaking on the wheel I get twelve, and then there’s pinching with red-hot pincers, that’s two dollars for every pinch, and that’s all; there’s nothing more except such extras as may come up.”
“It can’t be very hard to learn, is it?”
“The business? Well, any one can do it, but how—that’s another matter. There’s a certain knack50 about it that one gets with practice, just like any other handicraft. There’s whipping at the post, that’s not so easy, if ’tis to be done right,—three flicks52 with each whip, quick and light like waving a bit of cloth, and yet biting the flesh with due chastisement53, as the rigor54 of the law and the betterment of the sinner require.”
“I think I might do it,” said Jens, sighing as he spoke55.
“Here’s the earnest-penny,” tempted56 the man at the folding-table, putting a few bright silver coins out before him.
“Think well!” begged S?ren.
“Think and starve, wait and freeze—that’s two pair of birds that are well mated,” answered Jens, rising. “Farewell as an honest and true guild-man,” he went on, giving S?ren his hand.
“Farewell, guild-mate, and godspeed,” replied S?ren.
He went round the table with the same farewell and got the same answer. Then he shook hands with Marie and with the man in the corner, who had to let go his hat for the moment.
Jens proceeded to the man at the folding-table, who settled his face in solemn folds and said: “I, Master Herman K?ppen, executioner in the town of Aarhus, take you in the presence of these honest men, a journeyman to be and a journeyman’s work to perform, to the glory of God, your - 242 - own preferment, and the benefit of myself and the honorable office of executioner,” and as he made this unnecessarily pompous57 speech, which seemed to give him immense satisfaction, he pressed the bright earnest-penny into Jens’s hand. Then he rose, took off his hat, bowed, and asked whether he might not have the honor of offering the honest men who had acted as witnesses a drink of half and half.
The three men at the long table looked inquiringly at one another, then nodded as with one accord.
The barefoot girl brought a clumsy earthenware cruse, and three green glasses on which splotches of red and yellow stars were still visible. She set the cruse down before Jens and the glasses before S?ren and the bear-baiters, and fetched a large wooden mug from which she filled first the glasses of the three honest men, then the earthenware cruse, and finally Master Herman’s private goblet58.
Rasmus drew his glass toward him and spat, the two others followed suit, and they sat a while looking at one another, as if none of them liked to begin drinking. Meanwhile Marie Grubbe came up to S?ren and whispered something in his ear, to which he replied by shaking his head. She tried to whisper again, but S?ren would not listen. For a moment she stood uncertain, then caught up the glass and emptied the contents on the floor, saying that he mustn’t drink the hangman’s liquor. S?ren sprang up, seized her arm in a hard grip, and pushed her out of the door, gruffly ordering her to go upstairs. Then he called for a half pint of brandy and resumed his place.
“I’d like to ha’ seen my Abelone—God rest her soul—try a thing like that on me,” said Rasmus, drinking.
“Ay,” said Salmand, “she can thank the Lord she isn’t - 243 - my woman, I’d ha’ given her somethin’ else to think o’ besides throwin’ the gifts o’ God in the dirt.”
“But look ’ee, Salmand,” said Rasmus, with a sly glance in Master Herman’s direction, “your wife she isn’t a fine lady of the gentry, she’s only a poor common thing like the rest of us, and so she gets her trouncin’ when she needs it, as the custom is among common people; but if instead she’d been one of the quality, you’d never ha’ dared to flick51 her noble back, you’d ha’ let her spit you in the face, if she pleased.”
“No, by the Lord Harry59, I wouldn’t,” swore Salmand, “I’d ha’ dressed her down till she couldn’t talk or see, and I’d ha’ picked the maggots out o’ her. You just ask mine if she knows the thin strap60 bruin’s tied up in—you’ll see it’ll make her back ache just to think of it. But if she’d tried to come as I’m sitting here and pour my liquor on the floor, I’d ha’ trounced her, if she was the emperor’s own daughter, as long’s I could move a hand, or there was breath in my body. What is she thinking about,—the fine doll,—does she think she’s better than anybody else’s wife, since she’s got the impudence61 to come here and put shame on her husband in the company of honest men? Does she s’pose it ’ud hurt her if you came near her after drinkin’ the liquor of this honorable man? Mind what I say, S?ren, and”—he made a motion as if he were beating some one—“or else you’ll never in the wide world get any good out of her.”
“If he only dared,” teased Rasmus, looking at S?ren.
“Careful, Squint, or I’ll tickle62 your hide.”
With that he left them. When he came into the room where Marie was, he closed the door after him with a kick, and began to untie63 the rope that held their little bundle of clothing.
- 244 -
Marie was sitting on the edge of the rough board frame that served as a bed. “Are you angry, S?ren?” she said.
“I’ll show you,” said S?ren.
“Have a care, S?ren! No one yet has offered me blows since I came of age, and I will not bear it.”
He replied that she could do as she pleased, he meant to beat her.
“S?ren, for God’s sake, for God’s sake, don’t lay violent hands on me, you will repent64 it!”
But S?ren caught her by the hair, and beat her with the rope. She did not cry out, but merely moaned under the blows.
“There!” said S?ren, and threw himself on the bed.
Marie lay still on the floor. She was utterly65 amazed at herself. She expected to feel a furious hatred66 against S?ren rising in her soul, an implacable, relentless67 hatred, but no such thing happened. Instead she felt a deep, gentle sorrow, a quiet regret at a hope that had burst—how could he?
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收听单词发音
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1
tapers
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| （长形物体的）逐渐变窄( taper的名词复数 )； 微弱的光； 极细的蜡烛 | |
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gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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nave
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| n.教堂的中部；本堂 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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6
plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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7
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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livelihood
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| n.生计，谋生之道 | |
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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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ace
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| n.A牌；发球得分；佼佼者；adj.杰出的 | |
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11
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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warden
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| n.监察员，监狱长，看守人，监护人 | |
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14
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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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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16
jeering
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| adj.嘲弄的，揶揄的v.嘲笑( jeer的现在分词 ) | |
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17
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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18
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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juggler
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| n. 变戏法者, 行骗者 | |
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21
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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22
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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23
squint
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| v. 使变斜视眼, 斜视, 眯眼看, 偏移, 窥视; n. 斜视, 斜孔小窗; adj. 斜视的, 斜的 | |
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24
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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26
inverted
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| adj.反向的，倒转的v.使倒置，使反转( invert的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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funnel
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| n.漏斗；烟囱；v.汇集 | |
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flasks
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| n.瓶，长颈瓶， 烧瓶( flask的名词复数 ) | |
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pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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30
panes
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| 窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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33
knuckles
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| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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34
trumps
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| abbr.trumpets 喇叭；小号；喇叭形状的东西；喇叭筒v.（牌戏）出王牌赢（一牌或一墩）( trump的过去式 )；吹号公告，吹号庆祝；吹喇叭；捏造 | |
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35
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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36
trumped
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| v.（牌戏）出王牌赢（一牌或一墩）( trump的过去分词 )；吹号公告，吹号庆祝；吹喇叭；捏造 | |
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37
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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39
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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40
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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41
earthenware
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| n.土器，陶器 | |
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42
copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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43
pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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44
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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45
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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46
wares
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| n. 货物, 商品 | |
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47
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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48
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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49
gallows
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| n.绞刑架，绞台 | |
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50
knack
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| n.诀窍，做事情的灵巧的，便利的方法 | |
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51
flick
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| n.快速的轻打，轻打声，弹开；v.轻弹，轻轻拂去，忽然摇动 | |
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52
flicks
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的第三人称单数 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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53
chastisement
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| n.惩罚 | |
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54
rigor
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| n.严酷，严格，严厉 | |
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55
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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56
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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57
pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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58
goblet
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| n.高脚酒杯 | |
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59
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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60
strap
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| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
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61
impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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62
tickle
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| v.搔痒，胳肢；使高兴；发痒；n.搔痒，发痒 | |
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63
untie
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| vt.解开，松开；解放 | |
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64
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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65
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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66
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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67
relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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