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Chapter 23
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I saw Strickland not infrequently, and now and then played chess with him. He was of uncertain temper. Sometimes he would sit silent and abstracted, taking no notice of anyone; and at others, when he was in a good humour, he would talk in his own halting way. He never said a clever thing, but he had a vein1 of brutal2 sarcasm3 which was not ineffective, and he always said exactly what he thought. He was indifferent to the susceptibilities of others, and when he wounded them was amused. He was constantly offending Dirk Stroeve so bitterly that he flung away, vowing4 he would never speak to him again; but there was a solid force in Strickland that attracted the fat Dutchman against his will, so that he came back, fawning5 like a clumsy dog, though he knew that his only greeting would be the blow he dreaded6.

I do not know why Strickland put up with me. Our relations were peculiar7. One day he asked me to lend him fifty francs.

"I wouldn't dream of it, " I replied.

"Why not?"

"It wouldn't amuse me. "

"I'm frightfully hard up, you know. "

"I don't care. "

"You don't care if I starve?"

"Why on earth should I?" I asked in my turn.

He looked at me for a minute or two, pulling his untidy beard. I smiled at him.

"What are you amused at?" he said, with a gleam of anger in his eyes.

"You're so simple. You recognise no obligations. No one is under any obligation to you. "

"Wouldn't it make you uncomfortable if I went and hanged myself because I'd been turned out of my room as I couldn't pay the rent?"

"Not a bit. "

He chuckled8.

"You're bragging9. If I really did you'd be overwhelmed with remorse10. "

"Try it, and we'll see, " I retorted.

A smile flickered11 in his eyes, and he stirred his absinthe in silence.

"Would you like to play chess?" I asked.

"I don't mind. "

We set up the pieces, and when the board was ready he considered it with a comfortable eye. There is a sense of satisfaction in looking at your men all ready for the fray12.

"Did you really think I'd lend you money?" I asked.

"I didn't see why you shouldn't. "

"You surprise me. "

"Why?"

"It's disappointing to find that at heart you are sentimental13. I should have liked you better if you hadn't made that ingenuous14 appeal to my sympathies. "

"I should have despised you if you'd been moved by it, " he answered.

"That's better, " I laughed.

We began to play. We were both absorbed in the game. When it was finished I said to him:

"Look here, if you're hard up, let me see your pictures. If there's anything I like I'll buy it. "

"Go to hell, " he answered.

He got up and was about to go away. I stopped him.

"You haven't paid for your absinthe, " I said, smiling.

He cursed me, flung down the money and left.

I did not see him for several days after that, but one evening, when I was sitting in the cafe, reading a paper, he came up and sat beside me.

"You haven't hanged yourself after all, " I remarked.

"No. I've got a commission. I'm painting the portrait of a retired15 plumber16 for two hundred francs. "(5)

(5) This picture, formerly17 in the possession of a wealthy manufacturer at Lille, who fled from that city on the approach of the Germans, is now in the National Gallery at Stockholm. The Swede is adept18 at the gentle pastime of fishing in troubled waters.

"How did you manage that?"

"The woman where I get my bread recommended me. He'd told her he was looking out for someone to paint him. I've got to give her twenty francs. "

"What's he like?"

"Splendid. He's got a great red face like a leg of mutton, and on his right cheek there's an enormous mole19 with long hairs growing out of it. "

Strickland was in a good humour, and when Dirk Stroeve came up and sat down with us he attacked him with ferocious20 banter21. He showed a skill I should never have credited him with in finding the places where the unhappy Dutchman was most sensitive. Strickland employed not the rapier of sarcasm but the bludgeon of invective22. The attack was so unprovoked that Stroeve, taken unawares, was defenceless. He reminded you of a frightened sheep running aimlessly hither and thither23. He was startled and amazed. At last the tears ran from his eyes. And the worst of it was that, though you hated Strickland, and the exhibition was horrible, it was impossible not to laugh. Dirk Stroeve was one of those unlucky persons whose most sincere emotions are ridiculous.

But after all when I look back upon that winter in Paris, my pleasantest recollection is of Dirk Stroeve. There was something very charming in his little household. He and his wife made a picture which the imagination gratefully dwelt upon, and the simplicity24 of his love for her had a deliberate grace. He remained absurd, but the sincerity25 of his passion excited one's sympathy. I could understand how his wife must feel for him, and I was glad that her affection was so tender. If she had any sense of humour, it must amuse her that he should place her on a pedestal and worship her with such an honest idolatry, but even while she laughed she must have been pleased and touched. He was the constant lover, and though she grew old, losing her rounded lines and her fair comeliness26, to him she would certainly never alter. To him she would always be the loveliest woman in the world. There was a pleasing grace in the orderliness of their lives. They had but the studio, a bedroom, and a tiny kitchen. Mrs. Stroeve did all the housework herself; and while Dirk painted bad pictures, she went marketing27, cooked the luncheon28, sewed, occupied herself like a busy ant all the day; and in the evening sat in the studio, sewing again, while Dirk played music which I am sure was far beyond her comprehension. He played with taste, but with more feeling than was always justified29, and into his music poured all his honest, sentimental, exuberant30 soul.

Their life in its own way was an idyl, and it managed to achieve a singular beauty. The absurdity31 that clung to everything connected with Dirk Stroeve gave it a curious note, like an unresolved discord32, but made it somehow more modern, more human; like a rough joke thrown into a serious scene, it heightened the poignancy33 which all beauty has.

 

我常常见到思特里克兰德,有时候同他下下棋。他的脾气时好时坏。有些时候他神思不定地坐在那里,一言不发,任何人都不理;另外一些时候他的兴致比较好,就磕磕巴巴地同你闲扯。他说不出什么寓意深长的话来,但是他惯用恶毒的语言挖苦讽刺,不由你不被打动;此外,他总是把心里想的如实说出来,一点也不隐讳。他丝毫也不理会别人是否经受得住;如果他把别人刺伤了,就感到得意非常。他总是不断刻薄戴尔克·施特略夫,弄得施特略夫气冲冲地走开,发誓再也不同他谈话了。但是在思特里克兰德身上却有一股强大的力量,这位肥胖的荷兰人身不由己地被它吸引着,最终还是跑了回来,象只笨拙的小狗一样向他摇尾巴,尽管他心里一清二楚,迎接他的将是他非常害怕的当头一棒。

我不知道为什么思特里克兰德对我始终保留着情面。我们两人的关系有些特殊。有一天他开口向我借五十法郎。

“这真是我连做梦也没想到的事,”我回答说。

“为什么没有?”

“这不是一件使我感到有趣的事。”

“我已经穷得叮当响了,知道吧?”

“我管不着。”

“我饿死你也管不着吗?”

“我为什么要管呢?”我反问道。

他盯着我看了一两分钟,一面揪着他那乱蓬蓬的胡子。我对他笑了笑。

“你有什么好笑的?”他说,眼睛里闪现出一丝恼怒的神色。

“你这人太没心眼了。你从来不懂欠人家的情。谁也不欠你的情。”

“如果我因为交不起房租被撵了出来,逼得去上了吊,你不觉得心里不安吗?”

“一点也不觉得。”

他咯咯地笑起来。

“你在说大话。如果我真的上了吊你会后悔一辈子的。”

“你不妨试一试,就知道我后悔不后悔了。”

他的眼睛里露出一丝笑意,默默地搅和着他的苦艾酒。

“想不想下棋?”我问他说。

“我不反对。”

我们开始摆棋子,摆好以后,他注视着面前的棋盘,带着一副自得其乐的样子。当你看到自己兵马都已进入阵地,就要开始一场大厮杀,总禁不住有一种快慰的感觉。

“你真的以为我会借钱给你吗?”我问他。

“我想不出来为什么你会不借给我。”

“你使我感到吃惊。”

“为什么?”

“发现你心里还是人情味十足让我失望。如果你不那么天真,想利用我的同情心来打动我,我会更喜欢你一些。”

“如果你被我打动,我会鄙视你的。”他回答说。

“那就好了。”我笑起来。

我们开始走棋。两个人的精神都被当前的一局棋吸引住。一盘棋下完以后,我对他说:

“你听我说,如果你缺钱花,让我去看看你的画怎么样?如果有我喜欢的,我会买你一幅。”

“你见鬼去吧!”他说。

他站起来准备走,我把他拦住了。

“你还没有付酒帐呢。”我笑着说。

他骂了我一句,把钱往桌上一扔就走了。

这件事过去以后,我有几天没有看见他,但是有一天晚上我正坐在咖啡馆里看报纸的时候,思特里克兰德走了过来,在我身旁边坐下。

“你原来并没有上吊啊。”我说。

“没有。有人请我画一幅画。我现在正给一个退休的铅管工画像,可以拿到两百法郎。”①

①这幅画原来在里尔的一个阔绰的厂商手里,德国人逼近里尔时他逃赴外地。现在这幅画收藏在斯德哥尔摩国家美术馆。瑞典人是很善于这种混水摸鱼的小把戏的。(作者注)

“你怎么弄到这笔买卖的?”

“卖我面包的那个女人把我介绍去的。他同她说过,要找一个人给他画像。我得给她二十法郎介绍费。”

“是怎样一个人?”

“太了不起了。一张大红脸象条羊腿。右脸上有一颗大痣,上面还长着大长毛。”

思特里克兰德这天情绪很好,当戴尔克·施特略夫走来同我们坐在一起时,思特里克兰德马上冷嘲热讽地对他大肆攻击起来。他惯会寻找这位不幸的荷兰人的痛处,技巧的高超实在令我钦佩。他这次用的不是讥刺的细剑,而是谩骂的大棒。他的攻击来得非常突然。施特略夫被打得个措手不及,完全失掉防卫能力。象一只受了惊的小羊,没有目的地东跑西窜,张皇失措,晕头转向。最后,泪珠扑簌簌地从他眼睛里滚出来。这件事最糟糕的地方在于,尽管你非常恼恨思特里克兰德,尽管你感到这出戏很可怕,你还是禁不住要笑起来。有一些人很不幸,即使他们流露的是最真挚的感情也令人感到滑稽可笑,戴尔克·施特略夫正是这样一个人。

但是尽管如此,在我回顾我在巴黎度过的这个冬天时,戴尔克·施特略夫还是给我留下了最愉快的回忆。他的小家庭有一种魅力,他同他的妻子是一幅叫你思念不置的图画;他对自己妻子的纯真的爱情使人感到是娴雅而高尚的。尽管他的举止还是那么滑稽,但他的感情的真挚却不由你不被感动。我可以理解他的妻子对他的反应,我很高兴她对他也非常温柔体贴。如果她有幽默感的话,看到自己的丈夫这样把她放在宝座上,当作偶像般地顶礼膜拜,她一定也会觉得好笑的;但是尽管她会笑他,一定也会觉得得意,被他感动。他是一个忠贞不渝的爱人,当她老了以后,当她失去了圆润的线条和秀丽的形体以后,她在他的眼睛里仍然会是个美人,美貌一点也不减当年。对他说来,她永远是世界上最美丽的女人。他们的井然有序的生活安详娴雅,令人非常愉快。他们住房只有一个画室,一间卧室和一个小厨房。所有家务事都是施特略夫太太自己做;在戴尔克埋头绘画的当儿,她就到市场上去买东西,做午饭,缝衣服,象勤快的蚂蚁一样终日忙碌着。吃过晚饭,她坐在画室里继续做针线活,而戴尔克则演奏一些我猜想她很难听懂的乐曲。他的演奏有一定的艺术水平,但是常常带着过多的感情,他把自己的诚实的、多情的、充满活力的灵魂完全倾注到音乐里去了。

他们的生活从某一方面看象是一曲牧歌,具有一种独特的美。戴尔克·施特略夫的一言一行必然会表现出的荒诞滑稽都给予这首牧歌添上一个奇怪的调子,好象一个无法调整的不谐和音,但是这反而使这首乐曲更加现代化,更富于人情味,象是在严肃的场景中插入一个粗俗的打诨,更加激化了美所具备的犀利的性质。


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 vein fi9w0     
n.血管,静脉;叶脉,纹理;情绪;vt.使成脉络
参考例句:
  • The girl is not in the vein for singing today.那女孩今天没有心情唱歌。
  • The doctor injects glucose into the patient's vein.医生把葡萄糖注射入病人的静脉。
2 brutal bSFyb     
adj.残忍的,野蛮的,不讲理的
参考例句:
  • She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
  • They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼,骨子里却是野蛮残忍。
3 sarcasm 1CLzI     
n.讥讽,讽刺,嘲弄,反话 (adj.sarcastic)
参考例句:
  • His sarcasm hurt her feelings.他的讽刺伤害了她的感情。
  • She was given to using bitter sarcasm.她惯于用尖酸刻薄语言挖苦人。
4 vowing caf27b27bed50d27c008858260bc9998     
起誓,发誓(vow的现在分词形式)
参考例句:
  • President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
  • President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。
5 fawning qt7zLh     
adj.乞怜的,奉承的v.(尤指狗等)跳过来往人身上蹭以示亲热( fawn的现在分词 );巴结;讨好
参考例句:
  • The servant worn a fawning smile. 仆人的脸上露出一种谄笑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Then, what submission, what cringing and fawning, what servility, what abject humiliation! 好一个低眉垂首、阿谀逢迎、胁肩谄笑、卑躬屈膝的场面! 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
6 dreaded XuNzI3     
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)
参考例句:
  • The dreaded moment had finally arrived. 可怕的时刻终于来到了。
  • He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital. 他害怕非得在医院过圣诞节不可。 来自《用法词典》
7 peculiar cinyo     
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的
参考例句:
  • He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
  • He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。
8 chuckled 8ce1383c838073977a08258a1f3e30f8     
轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
  • She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情,她就轻轻地暗自发笑。
9 bragging 4a422247fd139463c12f66057bbcffdf     
v.自夸,吹嘘( brag的现在分词 );大话
参考例句:
  • He's always bragging about his prowess as a cricketer. 他总是吹嘘自己板球水平高超。 来自辞典例句
  • Now you're bragging, darling. You know you don't need to brag. 这就是夸口,亲爱的。你明知道你不必吹。 来自辞典例句
10 remorse lBrzo     
n.痛恨,悔恨,自责
参考例句:
  • She had no remorse about what she had said.她对所说的话不后悔。
  • He has shown no remorse for his actions.他对自己的行为没有任何悔恨之意。
11 flickered 93ec527d68268e88777d6ca26683cc82     
(通常指灯光)闪烁,摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The lights flickered and went out. 灯光闪了闪就熄了。
  • These lights flickered continuously like traffic lights which have gone mad. 这些灯象发狂的交通灯一样不停地闪动着。
12 fray NfDzp     
v.争吵;打斗;磨损,磨破;n.吵架;打斗
参考例句:
  • Why should you get involved in their fray?你为什么要介入他们的争吵呢?
  • Tempers began to fray in the hot weather.大热天脾气烦燥。
13 sentimental dDuzS     
adj.多愁善感的,感伤的
参考例句:
  • She's a sentimental woman who believes marriage comes by destiny.她是多愁善感的人,她相信姻缘命中注定。
  • We were deeply touched by the sentimental movie.我们深深被那感伤的电影所感动。
14 ingenuous mbNz0     
adj.纯朴的,单纯的;天真的;坦率的
参考例句:
  • Only the most ingenuous person would believe such a weak excuse!只有最天真的人才会相信这么一个站不住脚的借口!
  • With ingenuous sincerity,he captivated his audience.他以自己的率真迷住了观众。
15 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的
参考例句:
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
16 plumber f2qzM     
n.(装修水管的)管子工
参考例句:
  • Have you asked the plumber to come and look at the leaking pipe?你叫管道工来检查漏水的管子了吗?
  • The plumber screwed up the tap by means of a spanner.管子工用板手把龙头旋紧。
17 formerly ni3x9     
adv.从前,以前
参考例句:
  • We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
  • This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。
18 adept EJIyO     
adj.老练的,精通的
参考例句:
  • When it comes to photography,I'm not an adept.要说照相,我不是内行。
  • He was highly adept at avoiding trouble.他十分善于避开麻烦。
19 mole 26Nzn     
n.胎块;痣;克分子
参考例句:
  • She had a tiny mole on her cheek.她的面颊上有一颗小黑痣。
  • The young girl felt very self- conscious about the large mole on her chin.那位年轻姑娘对自己下巴上的一颗大痣感到很不自在。
20 ferocious ZkNxc     
adj.凶猛的,残暴的,极度的,十分强烈的
参考例句:
  • The ferocious winds seemed about to tear the ship to pieces.狂风仿佛要把船撕成碎片似的。
  • The ferocious panther is chasing a rabbit.那只凶猛的豹子正追赶一只兔子。
21 banter muwzE     
n.嘲弄,戏谑;v.取笑,逗弄,开玩笑
参考例句:
  • The actress exchanged banter with reporters.女演员与记者相互开玩笑。
  • She engages in friendly banter with her customers.她常和顾客逗乐。
22 invective y4xxa     
n.痛骂,恶意抨击
参考例句:
  • He retorted the invective on her.他用恶言讽刺还击她。
  • His command of irony and invective was said to be very classic and lethal.据说他嬉笑怒骂的本领是极其杰出的,令人无法招架的。
23 thither cgRz1o     
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的
参考例句:
  • He wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate.他逛来逛去找玩伴。
  • He tramped hither and thither.他到处流浪。
24 simplicity Vryyv     
n.简单,简易;朴素;直率,单纯
参考例句:
  • She dressed with elegant simplicity.她穿着朴素高雅。
  • The beauty of this plan is its simplicity.简明扼要是这个计划的一大特点。
25 sincerity zyZwY     
n.真诚,诚意;真实
参考例句:
  • His sincerity added much more authority to the story.他的真诚更增加了故事的说服力。
  • He tried hard to satisfy me of his sincerity.他竭力让我了解他的诚意。
26 comeliness comeliness     
n. 清秀, 美丽, 合宜
参考例句:
  • Your comeliness is law with Mr. Wildeve. 你的美貌,对于韦狄先生,就是律令。
  • Her comeliness overwhelmed him. 她的清秀美丽使他倾倒。
27 marketing Boez7e     
n.行销,在市场的买卖,买东西
参考例句:
  • They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
  • He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。
28 luncheon V8az4     
n.午宴,午餐,便宴
参考例句:
  • We have luncheon at twelve o'clock.我们十二点钟用午餐。
  • I have a luncheon engagement.我午饭有约。
29 justified 7pSzrk     
a.正当的,有理的
参考例句:
  • She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
  • The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。
30 exuberant shkzB     
adj.充满活力的;(植物)繁茂的
参考例句:
  • Hothouse plants do not possess exuberant vitality.在温室里培养出来的东西,不会有强大的生命力。
  • All those mother trees in the garden are exuberant.果园里的那些母树都长得十分茂盛。
31 absurdity dIQyU     
n.荒谬,愚蠢;谬论
参考例句:
  • The proposal borders upon the absurdity.这提议近乎荒谬。
  • The absurdity of the situation made everyone laugh.情况的荒谬可笑使每个人都笑了。
32 discord iPmzl     
n.不和,意见不合,争论,(音乐)不和谐
参考例句:
  • These two answers are in discord.这两个答案不一样。
  • The discord of his music was hard on the ear.他演奏的不和谐音很刺耳。
33 poignancy xOMx3     
n.辛酸事,尖锐
参考例句:
  • As she sat in church her face had a pathos and poignancy. 当她坐在教堂里时,脸上带着一种哀婉和辛辣的表情。
  • The movie, "Trains, Planes, and Automobiles" treats this with hilarity and poignancy. 电影“火车,飞机和汽车”是以欢娱和热情庆祝这个节日。


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