It was toward four o'clock in the afternoon when we entered the forest. Until then Saint-Florent had not once contradicted himself: always the same propriety1, always the same eagerness to prove his sentiments for me; I should not have thought myself more secure had I been with my father. The shades of night began to descend2 upon the forest and to inspire that kind of religious horror which at once causes the birth of fear in timorous3 spirits and criminal projects in ferocious4 hearts. We followed mere5 paths; I was walking ahead, and I turned to ask Saint-Florent whether these obscure trails were really the ones we ought to be following, whether perchance he had not lost his bearings, whether he thought we were going to arrive soon.
"We have arrived, whore," the villain6 replied, toppling me with a blow of his cane7 brought down upon my head; I fell unconscious... Oh, Madame, I have no idea what that man afterward8 said or did; but the state I was in when I returned to my senses advised me only too well to what point I had been his victim. I was darkest night when I awoke; I was at the foot of a tree, away from any road, injured, bleeding... dishonored, Madame; such had been the reward of all I had just done for the unlucky man; and carrying infamy9 to its ultimate degree, the wretch10, after having done to me all he had wished, after having abused me in every manner, even in that which most outrages11 Nature, had taken my purse... containing the same money I had so generously offered him. He had torn my clothing, most of it lay in shreds12 and ribbons about me, I was virtually naked, and several parts of my body were lacerated, clawed; you may appreciate my situation: there in the depths of the night, without resources, without honor, without hope, exposed to every peril13: I wished to put an end to my days: had a weapon been presented to me, I would have laid hands on it and abridged14 this unhappy life full only of plagues for me... the monster! What did I do to him, I asked myself, to have deserved such cruel treatment at his hands? I save his life, restore his fortune to him, he snatches away what is most dear to me! A savage15 beast would have been less cruel! O man, thus are you when you heed16 nothing but your passions! Tigers that dwell in the wildest jungles would quail17 before such ignominies... these first pangs18 of suffering were succeeded by some few minutes of exhaustion19; my eyes, brimming over with tears, turned mechanically towards the sky; my heart did spring to the feet of the Master who dwelleth there... that pure glittering vault20... that imposing21 stillness of the night... that terror which numbed22 my senses... that image of Nature in peace, nigh unto my whelmed, distraught soul... all distilled23 a somber24 horror into me, whence there was soon born the need to pray. I cast myself down, kneeling before that potent25 God denied by the impious, hope of the poor and the downtrodden.
"Holy Majesty26, Saintly One," I cried out in tears, "Thou Who in this dreadful moment deign27 to flood my soul with a celestial28 joy, Who doubtless hath prevented me from attempting my life; O my Protector and my Guide, I aspire29 to Thy bounties30, I implore31 Thy clemency32, behold33 my miseries34 and my torments35, my resignation, and hear Thou my entreaties36: Powerful God I Thou knowst it, I am innocent and weak, I am betrayed and mistreated; I have wished to do well in imitation of Thee, and Thy will hath punished it in me: may Thy will be done, O my God I all its sacred effects are cherished by me, I respect them and cease to complain of them; but if however I am to find naught37 but stings and nettles38 terrestrially, is it to offend Thee, O my Sovereign Master, to supplicate39 Thy puissance to take me into Thy bosom40, in order untroubled to adore Thee, to worship Thee far away from these perverse41 men who, alas42 I have made me meet with evils only, and whose bloodied43 and perfidious44 hands at their pleasure drown my sorrowful days in a torrent45 of tears and in an abyss of agonies."
Prayer is the misfortunate's sweetest comfort; strength reenters him once he has fulfilled this duty. My courage renewed, I raised myself up, I gathered together the rags the villain had left me, and I hid myself in a thicket46 so as to pass the night in less danger. The security I believed I enjoyed, the satisfaction I had just tasted by communing with my God, all combined to help me rest a few hours, and the sun was already risen high when I opened my eyes. For the wretched, the instant of awakening47 is hideous48: the imagination, refreshed by sleep's sweet ministrations, very rapidly and lugubriously49 fills with the evils these moments of deceiving repose50 have smoothed into oblivion.
Very well, I said as I examined myself, it is then true that there are human creatures Nature reduces to the level of wild beasts! Lurking51 in this forest, like them flying the sight of man, what difference now exists between them and me? Is it worth being born for a fate so pitiable?... And my tears flowed abundantly as I meditated52 in sorrow; I had scarcely finished with my reflections when I heard sounds somewhere about; little by little, two men hove into view. I pricked53 up my ears:
"Come, dear friend," said one of them, "this place will suit us admirably; the cruel and fatal presence of an aunt I abhor54 will not prevent me from tasting a moment with you the pleasures I cherish."
They draw near, they station themselves squarely in front of me and so proximately that not one of their words, not one of their gestures is able to escape me, and I observe... Just Heaven, Madame, said Therese, interrupting herself, is it possible that destiny has placed me in none but situations so critical that it becomes quite as difficult for Virtue55 to hear them recited as for modesty56 to describe them? That horrible crime which equally outrages both Nature and social conventions, that heinous57 deed, in a word, which the hand of God has so often smitten58, rationalized, legitimized by Coeur-de-fer, proposed by him to the unhappy Therese, despite her wishes consummated59 against her by the butcher who has just immolated61 her, in brief, I did see that revolting execration62 carried out before my own eyes, together with all the impure63 gropings and fumblings, all the frightful64 episodes the most meditated depravity can devise. One of the men, he who gave himself, was twenty-four years old, of such a bearing and presence one might suppose him of an elevated degree, the other, of about the same age, appeared to be one of his domestics. The act was scandalous and prolonged. Bending over, supported by his hands, leaning upon the crest65 of a little hillock facing the thicket where I lay, the young master exposed naked to his companion in debauch66 the impious sacrificial altar, and the latter, whom the spectacle filled with ardor67, caressed68 the idol69, ready to immolate60 it with a spear far more awful and far more colossal70 than the one wherewith the captain of the brigands71 of Bondy had menaced me; but, in no wise intimidated72, the young master seemed prepared unhesitatingly to brave the shaft73 that was presented to him; he teased it, he excited it, covered it with kisses; seized it, plunged74 it into himself, was in an ecstasy75 as he swallowed it up; aroused by criminal caresses76, the infamous77 creature writhed78 and struggled under the iron and seemed to regret it was not yet more terrible; he withstood its blows, he rose to anticipate them, he repelled79 them.... A tender couple lawfully80 connected would not have caressed one another so passionately81... their mouths were pressed together, their sighs intermingled, their tongues entwined, and I witnessed each of them, drunk with lust82, bring his perfidious horrors to completion in the very vortex of delight. The homage83 is renewed, and in order to fire the incense84 nothing is neglected by him who cries aloud his demand for it; kisses, fingerings, pollutions, debauchery's most appalling85 refinements86, everything is employed to revive sinking strength, and it all succeeds in reanimating them five times in swift succession; but that without either of them changing his role. The young lord was constantly the woman and although there was about him what suggested the possibility he could have acted the man in his turn, he had not for one instant even the appearance of wishing to. If he visited the altar corresponding to the one in him where sacrifices were performed, it was in the other idol's behalf, and there was never any indication the latter was threatened by assault.
Ah, how slowly the time seemed to pass! I dared not budge87 for fear of detection; at last, the criminal actors in this indecent drama, no doubt surfeited88, got up and were prepared to start along the road that was to take them home, when the master drew near the bush which hid me; my bonnet89 betrayed me... he caught sight of it....
"Jasmin," said he to his valet, "we are discovered... a girl has beheld90 our mysteries.... Come hither, flush the bitch into the open, let's find out why she is here."
I did not put them to the trouble of dragging me from my sanctuary91; I stepped forward immediately and, falling at their feet,
"Oh, Messieurs!" I cried, stretching my arms toward them, "deign to have pity upon an unhappy creature whose fate more deserves your compassion92 than you may think; there are very few misfortunes which can equal mine; do not let the posture93 wherein you discover me cause any suspicion to be born in you; it is rather the consequence of my misery94 than of my faults; do not augment95 the ills which overwhelm me, be so kind as to diminish them by making available to me the means to escape the furies that hound me."
The Comte de Bressac (that was the name of the young man into whose hands I had fallen) possessed96 a mind containing a great fund of wickedness and libertinage97; no very abundant amount of sympathy dwelled in his heart. Unfortunately, it is only too common to find men in whom pity has been obliterated98 by libertinage, whose ordinary effect is to harden: whether it be that the major part of his excesses necessitates99 apathy100 in the soul, or that the violent shock passion imparts to the nervous system decreases the vigor101 of its action, the fact always remains102 that a libertine103 is rarety a man of sensibility. But in addition to this harshness native to the species whose character I am sketching104, there was also in Monsieur de Bressac a disgust for our sex so inveterate105, a hatred106 so powerful for all that distinguishes it, that I encountered considerable difficulty introducing the affections into his soul wherewith I strove to move him.
收听单词发音 |
1
propriety
|
|
| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
descend
|
|
| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
timorous
|
|
| adj.胆怯的，胆小的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
ferocious
|
|
| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
villain
|
|
| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
cane
|
|
| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
afterward
|
|
| adv.后来；以后 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
infamy
|
|
| n.声名狼藉，出丑，恶行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
wretch
|
|
| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
outrages
|
|
| 引起…的义愤，激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
shreds
|
|
| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的第三人称单数 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
peril
|
|
| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
abridged
|
|
| 削减的，删节的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
heed
|
|
| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
quail
|
|
| n.鹌鹑；vi.畏惧，颤抖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
pangs
|
|
| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
exhaustion
|
|
| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
vault
|
|
| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
imposing
|
|
| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
numbed
|
|
| v.使麻木，使麻痹( numb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
distilled
|
|
| adj.由蒸馏得来的v.蒸馏( distil的过去式和过去分词 )；从…提取精华 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
somber
|
|
| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
potent
|
|
| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
majesty
|
|
| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
deign
|
|
| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
celestial
|
|
| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
aspire
|
|
| vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
bounties
|
|
| （由政府提供的）奖金( bounty的名词复数 )； 赏金； 慷慨； 大方 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
implore
|
|
| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
clemency
|
|
| n.温和，仁慈，宽厚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
miseries
|
|
| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
torments
|
|
| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
entreaties
|
|
| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
naught
|
|
| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
nettles
|
|
| n.荨麻( nettle的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
supplicate
|
|
| v.恳求；adv.祈求地，哀求地，恳求地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
perverse
|
|
| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
alas
|
|
| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
bloodied
|
|
| v.血污的( bloody的过去式和过去分词 )；流血的；屠杀的；残忍的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
perfidious
|
|
| adj.不忠的，背信弃义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
torrent
|
|
| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
thicket
|
|
| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
awakening
|
|
| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
hideous
|
|
| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
lugubriously
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
repose
|
|
| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
lurking
|
|
| 潜在 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
meditated
|
|
| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
pricked
|
|
| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
abhor
|
|
| v.憎恶；痛恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
virtue
|
|
| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
modesty
|
|
| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
heinous
|
|
| adj.可憎的，十恶不赦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
smitten
|
|
| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
consummated
|
|
| v.使结束( consummate的过去式和过去分词 )；使完美；完婚；（婚礼后的）圆房 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
immolate
|
|
| v.牺牲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
immolated
|
|
| v.宰杀…作祭品( immolate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
execration
|
|
| n.诅咒，念咒，憎恶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
impure
|
|
| adj.不纯净的，不洁的；不道德的，下流的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
frightful
|
|
| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
crest
|
|
| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
debauch
|
|
| v.使堕落，放纵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
ardor
|
|
| n.热情，狂热 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
caressed
|
|
| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
idol
|
|
| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
colossal
|
|
| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
brigands
|
|
| n.土匪，强盗( brigand的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
intimidated
|
|
| v.恐吓；威胁adj.害怕的；受到威胁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
shaft
|
|
| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
ecstasy
|
|
| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
caresses
|
|
| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
infamous
|
|
| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
writhed
|
|
| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
repelled
|
|
| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
lawfully
|
|
| adv.守法地，合法地；合理地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
passionately
|
|
| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
lust
|
|
| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
homage
|
|
| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
incense
|
|
| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
appalling
|
|
| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
refinements
|
|
| n.（生活）风雅；精炼( refinement的名词复数 )；改良品；细微的改良；优雅或高贵的动作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
budge
|
|
| v.移动一点儿；改变立场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
surfeited
|
|
| v.吃得过多( surfeit的过去式和过去分词 )；由于过量而厌腻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
bonnet
|
|
| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
beheld
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
sanctuary
|
|
| n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
compassion
|
|
| n.同情，怜悯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
posture
|
|
| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
misery
|
|
| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
augment
|
|
| vt.(使)增大，增加，增长，扩张 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
libertinage
|
|
| n.放荡，自由观点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
obliterated
|
|
| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
necessitates
|
|
| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
apathy
|
|
| n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
vigor
|
|
| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
libertine
|
|
| n.淫荡者；adj.放荡的，自由思想的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
sketching
|
|
| n.草图 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
inveterate
|
|
| adj.积习已深的，根深蒂固的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
hatred
|
|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |