After I had answered these questions in all modesty1, with great sincerity2, and most naively3: "Very well," said the monk4, rising and taking me by the hand, "come, my child, tomorrow I shall procure6 you the sweet satisfaction of communing at the feet of the image you have come to visit; let us begin by supplying your primary needs," and he led me toward the depths of the church....
"Why!" said I, sensing a vague inquietude arise in me despite myself, "what is this, Father? Why are we going inside?"
"And where else, my charming pilgrim?" answered the monk, introducing me into the sacristy. "Do you really fear to spend the night with four saintly anchorites? Oh, we shall find the means to succor7 you, my dearest angel, and if we do not procure you very great pleasures, you will at least serve ours in their most extreme amplitude8." These words sent a thrill of horror through me; I burst out in a cold sweat, I fell to shivering; it was night, no light guided our footsteps, my terrified imagination raised up the specter of death brandishing9 its scythe10 over my head; my knees were buckling11... and at this point a sudden shift occurred in the monk's speech. He jerked me upright and hissed12:
"Whore, pick up your feet and get along; no complaints, don't try resistance, not here, it would be useless."
These cruel words restore my strength, I sense that if I falter13 I am doomed14, I straighten myself. "O Heaven!" I say to the traitor15, "must I then be once again my good sentiments' victim, must the desire to approach what is most respectable in Religion be once again punished as a crime..."
We continue to walk, we enter obscure byways, I know not where I am, where I am going. I was advancing a pace ahead of Dom Severino; his breathing was labored16, words flowed incoherently from his lips, one might have thought he was drunk; now and again he stopped me, twined his left arm about my waist while his right hand, sliding beneath my skirts from the rear, wandered impudently17 over that unseemly part of ourselves which, likening us to men, is the unique object of the homages of those who prefer that sex for their shameful18 pleasures. Several times the libertine19 even dared apply his mouth to these areas' most secluded20 lair21; and then we recommenced our march. A stairway appears before us; we climb thirty steps or forty, a door opens, brightness dazzles my eyes, we emerge into a charmingly appointed, magnificently illuminated22 room; there, I see three monks23 and four girls grouped around a table served by four other women, completely naked. At the spectacle I recoil24, trembling; Severino shoves me forward over the threshold and I am in the room with him.
"Gentlemen," says he as we enter, "allow me to present you with one of the veritable wonders of the world, a Lucretia who simultaneously25 carries upon her shoulder the mark stigmatizing26 girls who are of evil repute, and, in her conscience, all the candor27, all the naivete of a virgin28.... One lone29 violation30, friends, and that six years ago; hence, practically a vestal... indeed, I do give her to you as such... the most beautiful, moreover... Oh Clement31! how that cheerless countenance32 of yours will light up when you fall to work on those handsome masses... what elasticity33, my good fellow! what rosiness34!"
"Ah, fuck!" cried the half-intoxicated Clement, getting to his feet and lurching toward me: "we are pleasantly met, and let us verify the facts."
I will leave you for the briefest possible time in suspense35 about my situation, Madame, said Therese, but the necessity to portray36 these other persons in whose midst I discovered myself obliges me to interrupt the thread of my story. You have been made acquainted with Dom Severino, you suspect what may be his predilections37; alas38, in these affairs his depravation was such he had never tasted other pleasures and what an inconsistency in Nature's operations was here! for with the bizarre fantasy of choosing none but the straiter path, this monster was outfitted39 with faculties40 so gigantic that even the broadest thoroughfares would still have appeared too narrow for him.
As for Clement, he has been drawn41 for you already. To the superficies I have delineated, join ferocity, a disposition42 to sarcasm43, the most dangerous roguishness, intemperance44 in every point, a mordant45, satirical mind, a corrupt46 heart, the cruel tastes Rodin displayed with his young charges, no feelings, no delicacy47, no religion, the temperament48 of one who for five years had not been in a state to procure himself other joys than those for which savagery49 gave him an appetite and you have there the most complete characterization of this horrid50 man.
Antonin, the third protagonist51 in these detestable orgies, was forty; small, slight of frame but very vigorous, as formidably organized as Severino and almost as wicked as Clement; an enthusiast52 of that colleague's pleasures, but giving himself over to them with a somewhat less malignant53 intention; for while Clement, when exercising this curious mania54, had no objective but to vex55, to tyrannize a woman, and could not enjoy her in any other way, Antonin using it with delight in all its natural purity, had recourse to the flagellative aspect only in order to give additional fire and further energy to her whom he was honoring with his favors. In a word, one was brutal56 by taste, the other by refinement57.
Jerome, the eldest58 of the four recluses59, was also the most debauched; every taste, every passion, every one of the most bestial60 irregularities were combined in this monk's soul; to the caprices rampant61 in the others, he joined that of loving to receive what his comrades distributed amongst the girls, and if he gave (which frequently happened), it was always upon condition of being treated likewise in his turn: all the temples of Venus were, what was more, as one to him, but his powers were beginning to decline and for several years he had preferred that which, requiring no effort of the agent, left to the patient the task of arousing the sensations and of producing the ecstasy62. The mouth was his favorite temple, the shrine63 where he liked best to offer, and while he was in the pursuit of those choice pleasures, he would keep a second woman active: she warmed him with the lash64. This man's character was quite as cunning, quite as wicked as that of the others; in whatever shape or aspect vice65 could exhibit itself, certain it was immediately to find a spectator in this infernal household. You will understand it more easily, Madame, if I explain how the society was organized. Prodigious66 funds had been poured by the Order into this obscene institution, it had been in existence for above a century, and had always been inhabited by the four richest monks, the most powerful in the Order's hierarchy67, they of the highest birth and of a libertinage68 of sufficient moment to require burial in this obscure retreat, the disclosure of whose secret was well provided against as my further explanations will cause you to see in the sequel; but let us return to the portraits.
The eight girls who were present at the supper were so much separated by age I cannot describe them collectively, but only one by one; that they were so unlike with respect to their years astonished me I will speak first of the youngest and continue in order.
This youngest one of the girls was scarcely ten: pretty but irregular features, a look of humiliation69 because of her fate, an air of sorrow and trepidation70.
The second was fifteen: the same trouble written over her countenance, a quality of modesty degraded, but a bewitching face, of considerable interest all in all.
The third was twenty: pretty as a picture, the loveliest blond hair; fine, regular, gentle features; she appeared less restive71, more broken to the saddle.
The fourth was thirty: she was one of the most beautiful women imaginable; candor, quality, decency72 in her bearing, and all a gentle spirit's virtues73.
The fifth was a girl of thirty-six, six months pregnant; dark- haired, very lively, with beautiful eyes, but having, so it seemed to me, lost all remorse75, all decency, all restraint.
The sixth was of the same age: a tall creature of grandiose76 proportions, a true giantess, fair of face but whose figure was already ruined in excess flesh; when I first saw her she was naked, and I was readily able to notice that not one part of her body was unstamped by signs of the brutality77 of those villains78 whose pleasures her unlucky star had fated her to serve.
The seventh and eighth were two very lovely women of about forty.
Let us continue with the story of my arrival in this impure79 place.
I did tell you that no sooner had I entered than each one approached me: Clement was the most brazen80, his foul81 lips were soon glued to my mouth; I twisted away in horror, but I was advised all resistance was pure affectation, pretense82, and useless; I should do best by imitating my companions.
"You may without difficulty imagine," declared Dom Severino, "that a recalcitrant83 attitude will be to no purpose in this inaccessible84 retreat. You have, you say, undergone much suffering; but that greatest of all woes85 a virtuous86 girl can know is yet missing from the catalogue of your troubles. Is it not high time that lofty pride be humbled87? and may one still expect to be nearly a virgin at twenty- two? You see about you companions who, upon entering here, like yourself thought to resist and who, as prudence88 will bid you to do, ended by submitting when they noticed that stubbornness could lead them to incur89 penalties; for I might just as well declare to you, Therese," the superior continued, showing me scourges90, ferules, withes, cords, and a thousand other instruments of torture, "yes, you might just as well know it: there you see what we use upon unmanageable girls; decide whether you wish to be convinced. What do you expect to find here? Mercy? we know it not; humaneness91? our sole pleasure is the violation of its laws. Religion? 'tis as naught92 to us, our contempt for it grows the better acquainted with it we become; allies... kin5... friends... judges? there's none of that in this place, dear girl, you will discover nothing but cruelty, egoism, and the most sustained debauchery and impiety93. The completest submissiveness is your lot, and that is all; cast a glance about the impenetrable asylum94 which shelters you: never has an outsider invaded these premises95: the monastery96 could be taken, searched, sacked, and burned, and this retreat would still be perfectly97 safe from discovery: we are in an isolated98 outbuilding, as good as buried within the six walls of incredible thickness surrounding us entirely99, and here you are, my child, in the midst of four libertines100 who surely have no inclination101 to spare you and whom your entreaties102, your tears, your speeches, your genuflections, and your outcries will only further inflame103. To whom then will you have recourse? to what? Will it be to that God you have just implored104 with such earnestness and who, by way of reward for your fervor105, only precipitates106 you into further snares107, each more fatal than the last? to that illusory God we ourselves outrage108 all day long by insulting his vain commandments?... And so, Therese, you conceive that there is no power, of whatever species you may suppose, which could possibly deliver you out of our hands, and there is neither in the category of things real nor in that of miracles, any sort of means which might permit you successfully to retain this virtue74 you yet glory in; which might, in fine, prevent you from becoming, in every sense and in every manner, the prey109 of the libidinous110 excesses to which we, all four of us, are going to abandon ourselves with you... Therefore, little slut, off with your clothes, offer your body to our lusts111, let it be soiled by them instantly or the severest treatment will prove to you what risks a wretch112 like yourself runs by disobeying us."
收听单词发音 |
1
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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naively
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| adv. 天真地 | |
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monk
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| n.和尚，僧侣，修道士 | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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succor
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| n.援助，帮助；v.给予帮助 | |
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amplitude
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| n.广大；充足；振幅 | |
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brandishing
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| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
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scythe
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| n. 长柄的大镰刀，战车镰； v. 以大镰刀割 | |
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buckling
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| 扣住 | |
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hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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falter
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| vi.(嗓音)颤抖，结巴地说；犹豫；蹒跚 | |
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doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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impudently
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shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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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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secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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lair
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| n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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recoil
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| vi.退却，退缩，畏缩 | |
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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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stigmatizing
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| v.使受耻辱，指责，污辱( stigmatize的现在分词 ) | |
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candor
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| n.坦白，率真 | |
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virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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violation
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| n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯 | |
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clement
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| adj.仁慈的；温和的 | |
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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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elasticity
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| n.弹性，伸缩力 | |
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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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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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portray
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| v.描写，描述；画(人物、景象等) | |
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predilections
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| n.偏爱，偏好，嗜好( predilection的名词复数 ) | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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outfitted
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| v.装备，配置设备，供给服装( outfit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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41
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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42
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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43
sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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intemperance
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| n.放纵 | |
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mordant
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| adj.讽刺的；尖酸的 | |
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corrupt
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| v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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49
savagery
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| n.野性 | |
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50
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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51
protagonist
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| n.(思想观念的)倡导者；主角，主人公 | |
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52
enthusiast
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| n.热心人，热衷者 | |
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53
malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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54
mania
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| n.疯狂；躁狂症，狂热，癖好 | |
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55
vex
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| vt.使烦恼，使苦恼 | |
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56
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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recluses
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| n.隐居者，遁世者，隐士( recluse的名词复数 ) | |
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bestial
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| adj.残忍的；野蛮的 | |
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rampant
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| adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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64
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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hierarchy
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| n.等级制度；统治集团，领导层 | |
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libertinage
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| n.放荡，自由观点 | |
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humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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trepidation
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| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
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restive
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| adj.不安宁的，不安静的 | |
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decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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grandiose
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| adj.宏伟的，宏大的，堂皇的，铺张的 | |
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brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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impure
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| adj.不纯净的，不洁的；不道德的，下流的 | |
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brazen
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| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
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81
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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pretense
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| n.矫饰，做作，借口 | |
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recalcitrant
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| adj.倔强的 | |
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inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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85
woes
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| 困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉 | |
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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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humbled
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| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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incur
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| vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇 | |
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90
scourges
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| 带来灾难的人或东西，祸害( scourge的名词复数 )； 鞭子 | |
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humaneness
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| n.深情，慈悲 | |
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naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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impiety
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| n.不敬；不孝 | |
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asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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monastery
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| n.修道院，僧院，寺院 | |
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97
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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99
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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100
libertines
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| n.放荡不羁的人，淫荡的人( libertine的名词复数 ) | |
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101
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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102
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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103
inflame
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| v.使燃烧；使极度激动；使发炎 | |
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implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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fervor
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| n.热诚；热心；炽热 | |
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106
precipitates
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的第三人称单数 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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107
snares
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| n.陷阱( snare的名词复数 )；圈套；诱人遭受失败（丢脸、损失等）的东西；诱惑物v.用罗网捕捉，诱陷，陷害( snare的第三人称单数 ) | |
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108
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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109
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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110
libidinous
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| adj.淫荡的 | |
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111
lusts
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| 贪求（lust的第三人称单数形式） | |
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112
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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