"Listen," said that charming girl, speaking with all the candor1 proper to her age, and all the naivete of her amiable2 character; "listen to me, Therese, I am going to tell you everything, for I see you are a well brought up girl... incapable3 of betraying the secret I am going to confide4 to you.
"Certainly, dear friend, my father could make ends meet without pursuing either of these two occupations; and if he pursues both at once, it is because of the two motives5 I am going to reveal to you. He practices medicine because he has a liking6 for it; he takes keen pleasure in using his skill to make new discoveries, he has made so many of them, he has written so many authoritative7 texts based upon his investigations8 that he is generally acknowledged the most accomplished9 man in France at the present time; he worked for twenty years in Paris, and for the sake of his amusements he retired10 to the country. The real surgeon at Saint-Marcel is someone named Rombeau whom he has taken under his tutelage and with whom he collaborates11 upon experiments; and now, Therese, would you know why he runs a school?... Libertinage12, my child, libertinage alone, a passion he carries to its extremes. My father finds in his pupils of either sex objects whose dependence13 submits them to his inclinations14, and he exploits them.... But wait a moment ... come with me," said Rosalie, "today is Friday, one of the three days during the week when he corrects those who have misbehaved; it is in this kind of punishment my father takes his pleasure; follow me, I tell you, you shall see how he behaves. Everything is visible from a closet in my room which adjoins the one where he concludes his business; let's go there without making any noise, and above all be careful not to say a word both about what I am telling you and about what you are going to witness."
It was a matter of such great importance to familiarize myself with the customs of this person who had offered me asylum15, that I felt I could neglect nothing which might discover them to me; I follow hard upon Rosalie's heels, she situates me near a partition, through cracks between its ill-joined boards one can view everything going on in the neighboring room.
Hardly have we taken up our post when Rodin enters, leading a fourteen-year-old girl, blond and as pretty as Love; the poor creature is sobbing16 away, all too unhappily aware of what awaits her; she comes in with moans and cries; she throws herself down before her implacable instructor17, she entreats18 him to spare her, but his very inexorability fires the first sparks of the unbending Rodin's pleasure, his heart is already aglow19, and his savage20 glances spring alive with an inner light....
"Why, no, no," he cries, "not for one minute, this happens far too frequently, Julie, I repent21 my forbearance and leniency22, their sole result has been repeated misconduct on your part, but could the gravity of this most recent example of it possibly allow me to show clemency23, even supposing I wished to? A note passed to a boy upon entering the classroom!"
"Sir, I protest to you, I did not -"
"Ah I but I saw it, my dear, I saw it."
"Don't believe a word of it," Rosalie whispered to me, "these are trifles he invents by way of pretext25; that little creature is an angel, it is because she resists him he treats her harshly."
Meanwhile, Rodin, greatly aroused, had seized the little girl's hands, tied them to a ring fitted high upon a pillar standing26 in the middle of the punishment room. Julie is without any defense27... any save the lovely face languishingly28 turned toward her executioner, her superb hair in disarray29, and the tears which inundate30 the most beautiful face in the world, the sweetest... the most interesting. Rodin dwells upon the picture, is fired by it, he covers those supplicating31 eyes with a blindfold32, approaches his mouth and dares kiss them, Julie sees nothing more, now able to proceed as he wishes, Rodin removes the veils of modesty33, her blouse is unbuttoned, her stays untied34, she is naked to the waist and yet further below.... What whiteness! What beauty! These are roses strewn upon lilies by the Graces' very hands... what being is so heartless, so cruel as to condemn35 to torture charms so fresh... so poignant36? What is the monster that can seek pleasure in the depths of tears and suffering and woe37? Rodin contemplates38... his inflamed39 eye roves, his hands dare profane40 the flowers his cruelties are about to wither41; all takes place directly before us, not a detail can escape us: now the libertine42 opens and peers into, now he closes up again those dainty features which enchant43 him; he offers them to us under every form, but he confines himself to these only: although the true temple of Love is within his reach, Rodin, faithful to his creed44, casts not so much as a glance in that direction, to judge by his behavior, he fears even the sight of it; if the child's posture45 exposes those charms, he covers them over again; the slightest disturbance46 might upset his homage47, he would have nothing distract him... finally, his mounting wrath48 exceeds all limits, at first he gives vent24 to it through invectives, with menaces and evil language he affrights this poor little wretch49 trembling before the blows wherewith she realizes she is about to be torn; Rodin is beside himself, he snatches up a cat-o'-nine-tails that has been soaking in a vat50 of vinegar to give the thongs51 tartness52 and sting. "Well there," says he, approaching his victim, "prepare yourself, you have got to suffer"; he swings a vigorous arm, the lashes53 are brought whistling down upon every inch of the body exposed to them; twenty-five strokes are applied54; the tender pink rosiness55 of this matchless skin is in a trice run into scarlet56.
Julie emits cries... piercing screams which rend57 me to the soul; tears run down from beneath her blindfold and like pearls shine upon her beautiful cheeks; whereby Rodin is made all the more furious.... He puts his hands upon the molested58 parts, touches, squeezes, worries them, seems to be readying them for further assaults; they follow fast upon the first, Rodin begins again, not a cut he bestows59 is unaccompanied by a curse, a menace, a reproach... blood appears... Rodin is in an ecstasy60; his delight is immense as he muses61 upon the eloquent62 proofs of his ferocity. He can contain himself no longer, the most indecent condition manifests his overwrought state; he fears not to bring everything out of hiding, Julie cannot see it... he moves to the breech and hovers63 there, he would greatly like to mount as a victor, he dares not, instead, he begins to tyrannize anew; Rodin whips with might and main and finally manages, thanks to the leathern stripes, to open this asylum of the Graces and of joy.... He no longer knows who he is or where; his delirium64 has attained65 to such a pitch the use of reason is no longer available to him; he swears, he blasphemes, he storms, nothing is exempt66 from his savage blows, all he can reach is treated with identical fury, but the villain67 pauses nevertheless, he senses the impossibility of going further without risking the loss of the powers which he must preserve for new operations.
"Dress yourself," he says to Julie, loosening her bonds and readjusting his own costume, "and if you are once again guilty of similar misconduct, bear it firmly in mind you will not get off quite so lightly."
Julie returns to her class, Rodin goes into the boys' and immediately brings back a young scholar of fifteen, lovely as the day; Rodin scolds him; doubtless more at his ease with the lad, he wheedles68 and kisses while lecturing him.
"You deserve to be punished," he observes, "and you are going to be."
Having uttered these words, he oversteps the last bounds of modesty with the child; for in this case, everything is of interest to him, nothing is excluded, the veils are drawn69 aside, everything is palpated indiscriminately; Rodin alternates threats, caresses70, kisses, curses; his impious fingers attempt to generate voluptuous71 sentiments in the boy and, in his turn, Rodin demands identical ministrations.
"Very well," cries the satyr, spying his success, "there you are in the state I forbade.... I dare swear that with two more movements you'd have the impudence72 to spit at me...."
But too sure of the titillations he has produced, the libertine advances to gather a homage, and his mouth is the temple offered to the sweet incense73; his hands excite it to jet forth74, he meets the spurts75, devours76 them, and is himself ready to explode, but he wishes to persevere77 to the end.
"Ah, I am going to make you pay for this stupidity!" says he and gets to his feet.
He takes the youth's two hands, he clutches them tight, and offers himself entirely78 to the altar at which his fury would perform a sacrifice. He opens it, his kisses roam over it, his tongue drives deep into it, is lost in it. Drunk with love and ferocity, Rodin mingles79 the expressions and sentiments of each....
"Ah, little weasel!" he cries, "I must avenge80 myself upon the illusion you create in me."
The whips are picked up, Rodin flogs; clearly more excited by the boy than he was by the vestal, his blows become both much more powerful and far more numerous: the child bursts into tears, Rodin is in seventh heaven, but new pleasures call, he releases the boy and flies to other sacrifices. A little girl of thirteen is the boy's successor, and she is followed by another youth who is in turn abandoned for a girl; Rodin whips nine: five boys, four girls; the last is a lad of fourteen, endowed with a delicious countenance81: Rodin wishes to amuse himself, the pupil resists; out of his mind with lust82, he beats him, and the villain, losing all control of himself, hurls83 his flame's scummy jets upon his young charge's injured parts, he wets him from waist to heels; enraged84 at not having had strength enough to hold himself in check until the end, our corrector releases the child very testily85, and after warning him against such tricks in the future, he sends him back to the class: such are the words I heard, those the scenes which I witnessed.
收听单词发音 |
1
candor
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| n.坦白，率真 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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authoritative
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| adj.有权威的，可相信的；命令式的；官方的 | |
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investigations
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| （正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究 | |
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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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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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collaborates
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| 合作( collaborate的第三人称单数 )； 勾结叛国 | |
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libertinage
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| n.放荡，自由观点 | |
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dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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inclinations
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| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
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asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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entreats
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的第三人称单数 ) | |
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aglow
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| adj.发亮的；发红的；adv.发亮地 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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leniency
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| n.宽大（不严厉） | |
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clemency
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| n.温和，仁慈，宽厚 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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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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defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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languishingly
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| 渐渐变弱地，脉脉含情地 | |
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disarray
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| n.混乱，紊乱，凌乱 | |
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inundate
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| vt.淹没，泛滥，压倒 | |
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supplicating
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| v.祈求，哀求，恳求( supplicate的现在分词 ) | |
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blindfold
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| vt.蒙住…的眼睛；adj.盲目的；adv.盲目地；n.蒙眼的绷带[布等]； 障眼物，蒙蔽人的事物 | |
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modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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untied
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| 松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决 | |
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condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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poignant
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| adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的 | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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contemplates
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的第三人称单数 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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39
inflamed
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| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
profane
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| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
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41
wither
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| vt.使凋谢，使衰退，(用眼神气势等)使畏缩；vi.枯萎，衰退，消亡 | |
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libertine
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| n.淫荡者；adj.放荡的，自由思想的 | |
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enchant
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| vt.使陶醉，使入迷；使着魔，用妖术迷惑 | |
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creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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47
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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48
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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50
vat
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| n.(=value added tax)增值税，大桶 | |
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51
thongs
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| 的东西 | |
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52
tartness
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| n.酸，锋利 | |
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53
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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rosiness
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| n.玫瑰色；淡红色；光明；有希望 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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rend
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| vt.把…撕开，割裂；把…揪下来，强行夺取 | |
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molested
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| v.骚扰( molest的过去式和过去分词 )；干扰；调戏；猥亵 | |
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bestows
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的第三人称单数 ) | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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muses
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的第三人称单数 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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hovers
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| 鸟( hover的第三人称单数 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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delirium
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| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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exempt
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| adj.免除的；v.使免除；n.免税者，被免除义务者 | |
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villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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wheedles
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| v.骗取（某物），哄骗（某人干某事）( wheedle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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caresses
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| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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voluptuous
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| adj.肉欲的，骄奢淫逸的 | |
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impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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spurts
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| 短暂而突然的活动或努力( spurt的名词复数 )； 突然奋起 | |
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devours
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| 吞没( devour的第三人称单数 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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persevere
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| v.坚持，坚忍，不屈不挠 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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mingles
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| 混合，混入( mingle的第三人称单数 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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82
lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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83
hurls
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的第三人称单数 )；大声叫骂 | |
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enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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testily
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| adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地 | |
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