作者：(英)托马斯·哈代
出版社：外语教学与研究出版社
格式: AZW3, DOCX, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, TXT
苔丝(6级)试读：
简介
小说问世于1891年，至今依然是刻画女性内心情感的最为细腻动人的小说之一。
这是一本忧伤的书：一位少女的生命被慢慢地、但确确实实地毁了——不是被她的敌人，而是被那些自称爱她的人。这是怎样的爱，何以摧毁自己所爱？
悲哀总是在眼睁睁地目睹错误发生却又无力阻拦之时产生。苔丝是一个快乐的姑娘，她的生活本该十分幸福——但合适的人儿犹豫着，不当的人却捷足先登。“别让她走！”我们不禁要大喊，或者“现在就告诉他，以免悔之太晚！”
然而还是太晚了：故事发生在一百年前——其实每天都在重演。我们无能为力，只有眼看着世界在变幻运转着，毁掉了苔丝，又继续变幻运转……仿佛根本未曾有过她。
托马斯·哈代（1840-1928）是英国最伟大的作家之一。他的大部分作品，包括《苔丝》，都是以他的故乡，英国南海岸的多尔塞特为背景的。The Maiden1ne evening at the end of May a middle-aged man was walking home from Shaston to the village of Marlott in the Vale of OBlackmoor. His legs were thin and weak, and he could not walk in a straight line. He had an empty egg-basket on his arm, and his hat was old and worn. After a while he passed an elderly parson riding a grey horse.
'Good night,' said the man with the basket.
'Good night, Sir John,' said the parson.
After another step or two the man stopped and turned round to speak to the parson.
'Now, sir, last market-day we met on this road at the same time, and I said "Good night" and you answered "Good night, Sir John", as you did just now.'
'I did,' said the parson.
'And once before that, almost a month ago.'
'I may have.'
'So why do you call me Sir John, when I am only John Durbeyfield?'
The parson rode nearer, and after a moment's hesitation, explained: 'It was because I've discovered something of historical interest. I am Parson Tringham, the historian. Do you really not know, Durbeyfield, that you are a direct descendant of the ancient and noble family of the d'Urbervilles? They descended from Sir Pagan d'Urberville, who came from Normandy with William the Conqueror in 1066.'
'Never heard that before, sir!'
'Well, it's true. Let me see your face. Yes, you have the d'Urberville nose and chin. D'Urbervilles have owned land and served their King for hundreds of years. There have been many Sir Johns, and you could have been Sir John yourself.'
'Well!' exclaimed the man. 'And how long has this news about me been known, Parson Tringham?'
'Nobody knows about it at all,' said the parson. 'I just happened to discover it last spring, when I was trying to find out more about the d'Urbervilles and noticed your name in the village.'
'I've got an old silver spoon, and an old seal too at home,' said the man, wondering. 'So where do we d'Urbervilles live now, Parson?'
'You don't live anywhere. You have died, as a noble family.'
'That's bad. So where do we lie?'
'In the churchyard at Kingsbere-sub-Greenhill.'
'And where are our family lands?'
'You haven't any.'
John Durbeyfield paused. 'And what should I do about it, sir?'
'Oh, nothing. It's a fact of historical interest, nothing more. Good night.'
'But you'll come and have some beer with me, Parson Tringham?'
'No, thank you, not this evening, Durbeyfield. You've had enough already.' The parson rode away, half regretting that he had told Durbeyfield of his discovery.
Durbeyfield walked on a few steps in a dream, then sat down with his basket. In a few minutes a boy appeared. Durbeyfield called to him.
'Boy! Take this basket! I want you to go and do something for me.'
The boy frowned. 'Who are you, John Durbeyfield, to order me about and call me boy? You know my name as well as I know yours!'
'Do you, do you? That's the secret! Well, Fred, I don't mind telling you that the secret is that I'm one of a noble family.' And Durbeyfield lay back comfortably on the grass. 'Sir John d'Urberville, that's who I am. And I've got the family seal to prove it!'
'Oh?'
'Now take up the basket, and tell them in the village to send a horse and carriage to me immediately. Here's a shilling for you.'
This made a difference to the boy's view of the situation.
'Yes, Sir John. Thank you, Sir John.'
As they spoke, sounds of music came through the evening air from the village.
'What's that?' said Durbeyfield. 'Have they heard my news already?'
'It's the women dancing, Sir John.'
The boy went on his way and Durbeyfield lay waiting in the evening sun. Nobody passed by for a long time, and he could just hear the faint music in the distance.
The village of Marlott lies in the beautiful Vale of Blackmoor. Although this valley is only four hours away from London, it has not yet been discovered by tourists and artists. The best view of the vale is from the hills surrounding it; it looks like a map spread out. It is a quiet, sheltered part of the countryside, where the fields are always green and the rivers never dry up. To the south lies the great dividing line of hills. From here to the coast the hills are open, the sun pours down on the huge dry fields, the atmosphere is colourless. But here in the valley lies a completely different countryside, smaller and more delicate. The fields are tiny, the air makes you sleepy, the sky is of the deepest blue. Everywhere you can see a rich greenery of grass and trees, covering smaller hills and valleys. This is the Vale of Blackmoor.
And in the village of Marlott, following ancient custom, the young women gathered to dance every holiday. For this May Day dance, all wore white dresses. There was a fine, handsome girl among them, with a red ribbon in her hair. As they danced, they noticed a carriage go by. Durbeyfield lay back in it, singing, 'I'm—Sir—John—and—I've—got—a—spoon—and—seal—and—my—family—lies—at—Kingsbere!' The girl with the ribbon, who was called Tess, turned red and said quickly to her friends, 'Father's tired, that's all.' The other girls just laughed but stopped when Tess looked unhappy. The dancing went on.
In the evening the men of the village came to watch and later to join the dancers. Three young strangers, who were passing by, also stopped to look. They explained they were brothers on a walking tour. The older two continued their walk, but the youngest seemed more interested in the girls than his brothers were, and stayed to dance with several of them. As he left the dance, he noticed Tess, who seemed a little sad that he had not chosen her. He looked back from the road, and could still see her in her white dress, standing modestly apart from the dancers. He wished he had danced with her. He wished he had asked her name. But it was too late. He hurried on to join his brothers.
The young stranger had made an impression on Tess. But soon, worried by her father's strange appearance that afternoon, she decided to walk home. After the excitement of the dance, her parents' small cottage was a depressing sight. It was dark inside, as they had only one candle. The furniture was old and worn. There were six children crowded into the tiny space. Their mother was doing the washing at the same time as putting the baby to sleep. Looking after so many children had aged Joan Durbeyfield, but she still showed some of her early prettiness, which Tess had inherited.
'Let me help with the washing, mother,' said Tess gently.
'Oh Tess, I'm glad you've come,' said her mother. 'There's something I must tell you.'
'Is it anything to do with father making such a fool of himself this afternoon?' asked Tess, frowning.
'That's all part of the excitement! They've discovered we're the oldest family in the whole county, going back a long way! And our real name is d'Urberville! Doesn't that make you proud! That's why your father rode home in the carriage, not because he'd been drinking, as people thought.'
'I'm glad of that. Will it do us any good, mother?'
'Oh yes! Great things may come of it. No doubt our noble relations will be arriving in their carriages as soon as they find out.'
'Where is father now?' asked Tess suddenly.
Her mother did not answer directly. 'He saw the doctor today, you know. It's fat round the heart, he says. That's the cause of his illness. He might last ten years... might last ten months or days.'
Tess looked anxious. Her father, suddenly a great man, to die so soon! 'But where is father?' she asked firmly.
'Now don't you get angry!' said Mrs Durbeyfield. 'The poor man was feeling so weak after the news that he went to Rolliver's. He needs to build up his strength to deliver the beehives tomorrow, remember.'
'Oh my God!' cried Tess. 'He went to a public house! And you agreed to it, mother!'
'No, I didn't,' said Mrs Durbeyfield crossly. 'I've been waiting for you to look after the children while I fetch him.'
Tess knew that her mother greatly looked forward to these trips to Rolliver's. There she could sit by her husband's side among the beer-drinkers, and forget that the children existed. It was one of the few bright moments in her hardworking life. Mrs Durbeyfield went out, and Tess was left with the children. They were very young, and totally dependent on the Durbeyfield couple:six helpless creatures who had not asked to be born at all, much less to be part of the irresponsible Durbeyfield family.
maiden n. young unmarried woman. 少女。
parson n. clergyman. 牧师。
hesitation n. state of hesitating. 犹豫。
descendant n. person who is descended from (the person or persons named). 后裔；后代。
conqueror n. one who conquers. 征服者。
serve v. be a servant to (sb); work for (sb). 做（某人）的仆人；为（某人）工作。
discover v. find out. 发现。
pause n. short interval or stop (while doing or saying sth). 中止；暂停。
regret v. be sorry (to say, etc, that...). 懊悔。
appear v. become visible. 出现。
secret n. sth kept from the knowledge or view of others. 秘密。
immediately adv. at once; without delay. 立刻；立即。
in the distance far away. 在远处。
shelter n. condition of being kept safe, for example, from rain, danger. 遮蔽；庇护。
atmosphere n. air in any place.（任何地方之）空气。
custom n. usual and generally accepted behaviour among members of a social group. 风俗；习俗。
ribbon n. (piece or length of) silk or other material woven in a long, narrow strip or band, used for ornamenting, for tying things, etc. 丝质或其他质料的狭长带子（用以作装饰或绑东西等）。
modestly adv. in a manner which cares not to do or say anything impure or improper. 谨慎地；庄重地；有礼貌地。
impression n. effect produced on the mind or feelings. 印象。
furniture n. all those movable things needed in a house. 家具。
inherit v. derive (qualities, etc) from ancestors. 由遗传而得。
carriage n. vehicle, especially one with four wheels, pulled by a horses or horse, for carrying people. 四轮马车。
noble adj. of high rank, title or birth. 贵族的；高贵的。
anxious adj. feeling anxiety; troubled. 忧虑的；担心的。
fetch v. go for and bring back. 接来（人）。
irresponsible adj. (doing things) without a proper sense of responsibility.（做事）无责任感的。1 处女
5月末的一天傍晚，有个中年汉子正从夏斯顿回家到黑荒野山谷的马勒特村去。他双腿瘦弱，一路东倒西歪。他手挽一个盛鸡蛋用的空篮子，帽子又旧又破。走了一会儿，他遇见了一位骑匹灰马的老牧师。“晚安。”挽着篮子的人说。“晚安，约翰爵士，”牧师说道。
刚走出一两步，这人停了下来，转过身对牧师说：“嗯，先生，上次赶集那天，大约也是这个时候，我们在这条路上碰到过的。当时我向您道声‘晚安’，您也和刚才一样回答说‘晚安，约翰爵士’。”“我是那么说的，”牧师说道。“而且更早以前还曾有过一回——将近一个月以前吧。”“我也许是说过的。”“那么您为什么要称呼我‘约翰爵士’呢？我只不过是约翰·德北呀。”
牧师拍马走近，略一犹豫，便解释道：“那是因为最近我发现了一些史实。我是特林厄姆牧师，历史学家。德北呀，难道你真的不知道自己是那古老而高贵的德伯家族的一支直系后裔吗？这个家族起始于培根·德伯爵士，他是在1066年随同征服者威廉国王从诺曼底来到英格兰的。”“这事我以前可从没听说过，先生！”“哟，这可是千真万确的。让我看看你的脸。没错，你有德伯家的鼻子和下巴。德伯家族拥有大片土地，而且数百年来效忠于国王。哦，对啦，你们家族中有过好多个约翰爵士呐，而你自己就可能是一个。”“哦！”这人惊呼道，“特林厄姆先生，有关我的事情，被发现有多久了？”“根本没有人知道，”牧师说，“我是去年春天碰巧发现的，那时我正在努力发掘有关德伯家族的更多情况，于是在村子里注意到了你的姓氏。”“我家里倒是有一把银匙和一枚旧印。”这人思忖道，“那么你说，我们德伯家族的人现在住在哪儿呢？”“你们家族的人哪儿都没有了。你们这个豪门望族，算是已经完结了。”“真可悲呀。那么，我们家族埋在哪儿？”“绿山底王陴那儿的教堂墓地。”“我们家族的田地在哪儿呢？”“你们什么都没有了。”
过了一会儿，约翰·德北又问：“那这事我该怎么办呢，先生？”“哦，说说而已。这只是有关历史的一桩事实，别无他意。告辞了。”“特林厄姆牧师，您愿意来同我一起喝杯啤酒吗？”“不，谢谢你啦，今晚不喝了，德北。你已经喝得够多了。”牧师拍马离去，有些后悔对德北说了他的发现。
德北走了几步，做梦一般。随后，他就挎着篮子坐了下来。过了几分钟，来了一个男孩，德北朝他喊道：“小家伙，拎着我的篮子！我想要你替我办点事儿。”
男孩皱起眉头：“你是谁哟，约翰·德北，对我这么吆三喝四的，还叫我‘小家伙’？咱们俩谁还不知道谁叫什么呀！”“你知道？你知道我的名字？这可是秘密。嗯，弗雷德，我不妨告诉你吧。这个秘密就是我是贵族人家的一员。”德北美滋滋地在草地上躺下来。“约翰·德伯爵士——那便是我，我有家族的印章可以证明！”“哦？”“现在，你拎上篮子，告诉村里的人立即给我派一辆单马马车来。这是给你的一先令。”
有了这钱，小伙子对这事儿的想法就不同了。“遵命，约翰爵士。谢谢您啦，约翰爵士。”
他们正说着话，一阵音乐声穿过夜空从村头传来。“怎么回事？”德北说，“他们已经得知我的新闻了吗？”“那是妇女舞会，约翰爵士。”
男孩上路走了，德北躺在夕阳下等着。好长一段时间，没有人路过那儿，他只听到那悠远的音乐。
马勒特村坐落在美丽的黑荒野山谷。虽然山谷距伦敦只有四小时的路程，却尚未被游客和艺术家们发现。眺望山谷的最好视角是在环绕的山峦上；从那儿看过去，它宛如一幅平展的地图。这是一片峦嶂掩蔽的宁静乡村，田地总是郁郁葱葱的，溪流从不干涸。往南是耸立的山脉。由此往海岸去，山峦平缓开阔，阳光倾射在大片干涸的土地上，空气了无色彩。但在这里的山谷间，却是一派迥异的乡村景致，更小更精巧。田地不大，空气催人入梦，天空是最深最深的湛蓝。处处可见那树木草地的欲滴翠绿，覆盖了满山遍谷。这就是黑荒野山谷。
马勒特村有个古老的习俗，每到假日，年轻妇女们都聚在一起跳舞。为这一次五月节，妇女们都身穿白衣裳。其中有一位纤秀好看的姑娘，头戴红色的发带。就在她们跳着舞时，她们看到一辆马车驰过。德北正仰身坐靠其中，唱道：“我是约翰爵士，我有银匙和印章，我的家庭埋在王陴那里。”那个头戴红发带、名叫苔丝的姑娘脸都涨红了，赶忙对伙伴们说：“父亲累了，就这么回事。”其他的姑娘全都大笑起来，但当她们察觉到苔丝的不悦时便停住了。舞会仍在继续进行着。
傍晚，村里的男人们赶来观看，并跟着跳了起来。还有三个路过的陌生人也停下来看了一会儿。他们解释说，他们兄弟三人正在远足旅行的途中。后来两个哥哥继续赶路了，而老三似乎比哥哥们对姑娘更感兴趣。他待了会儿，并和几个姑娘跳了舞。就在他离开舞会时，他注意到了苔丝。她看起来有点儿伤心，因为他没有邀她跳舞。当他在路上回头张望时，仍能见到穿着一身白色衣裙的她，优雅端庄地站在一群跳舞者的旁边。他真希望自己当初请她跳了舞，还想问问她的芳名，但现在已经来不及了。他要尽快赶上他的哥哥们。
陌生的年轻人给苔丝留下了印象，但很快苔丝想起了父亲下午古怪的模样，有些担心。于是她决定走回家去。她刚刚走出舞会，有些兴奋，她们家的小屋便显得有些抑郁。因为只有一根蜡烛，屋子里很昏暗。家具都是又旧又破的，还有六个孩子挤在这么一个小地方。苔丝的母亲一边在哄小宝宝入睡，一边洗着衣服。一个人要照料这么多孩子，这加速了琼·德北的衰老，但从她身上仍不难看出几分年轻时的姿色。苔丝承袭了母亲的美貌。“让我帮你洗吧，妈，”苔丝温柔地说。“哟，苔丝，你回来了我真高兴，”她母亲说，“我正有事儿要跟你说呢。”“是关于爸爸下午出丑的事儿吗？”苔丝皱着眉头问道。“就是那件让人激动的事儿！有人发现我们是整个郡里最古老的家族。有好长的历史哩！我们的真实姓氏是德伯！这不让你觉得骄傲吗？你爸爸就是因为这个才乘着马车回家的，可不像人家想的那样，是因为喝醉了酒。”“我很高兴有这么回事儿。这对我们有什么好处吗，妈？”“哦，当然！没准儿能由此产生一些大好事儿呢！毫无疑问，我们那些高贵的亲戚一旦得知此事，就会乘坐马车来看望我们的。”“现在爸爸在哪儿？”苔丝突然问道。
母亲没有直接回答：“你知道他今天去看医生了。说病因是心脏周围堆了脂肪。也许他能再活十年……再活十个月或者十天。”
苔丝愁容满面。她的父亲，一个突然间变得如此伟大的人物，会这么快就死去！“但爸爸在哪儿啊？”她加重语气问道。“嗯，你可别生气，”德北夫人说，“这可怜的人儿在听说了那则特大消息后，就浑身酥软啦，他只好去了罗里弗酒店。他需要积蓄点儿力气，要知道，明早他还得赶运那些蜂箱呢。”“哦，天哪！”苔丝叫了起来，“他上酒店了！而你却同意了，妈！”“不，我没有同意。”德北夫人生气地说。“我一直在等着你回来照看孩子们，这样我就可以去接他了。”
苔丝知道母亲非常希望到罗里弗酒店去。在那儿，她可以挨着丈夫坐在一群喝啤酒的人当中，忘掉孩子们的存在。这是她繁重的生活中难得的一小段幸福时光。德北夫人出去了，苔丝留下来与弟弟妹妹们在一起。他们都还这么小，还全得依靠德北夫妇：六个无助的小生命，他们自己并没有要求降临到这个世界上，更没有想要成为（这样）不能尽责的德北家庭中的成员。2t was eleven o'clock before all the family were in bed, and two Io'clock next morning was the latest time to set off with the beehives. It was a distance of twenty or thirty miles on bad roads to Casterbridge, where the Saturday market was held. At half-past one Mrs Durbeyfield came into the bedroom where Tess and all the children slept.
'The poor man can't go,' she whispered. Tess sat up in bed.
'But it's late for the bees already. We must take them today.'
'Maybe a young man would go?' asked Mrs Durbeyfield doubtfully. 'One of the ones dancing with you yesterday?'
'Oh no, not for the world!' said Tess proudly. 'And let everybody know the reason? I'd be so ashamed! I think I could go if little Abraham came with me.'
Tess and Abraham dressed, led out the old horse Prince with the loaded waggon, and set off in the dark. They cheered themselves up with bread and butter and conversation.
'Tess!' said Abraham, after a silence.
'Yes, Abraham.'
'Aren't you glad that we're a noble family?'
'Not particularly.'
'But you're glad you're going to marry a gentleman?'
'What?' said Tess, lifting her face.
'Our noble relations are going to help you marry a gentleman.'
'Me? Our noble relations? We haven't any. Whatever put that into your head?'
'I heard them talking about it at home. There's a rich lady of our family out at Trantridge, and mother said that if you claimed relationship with her, she'd help you marry a gentleman.'
His sister became suddenly silent. Abraham talked on, not noticing her lack of attention.
'Did you say the stars were worlds, Tess?'
'Yes.'
'All like ours?'
'They seem like our apples—most of them good, a few bad.'
'Which do we live on? A good one or a bad one?'
'A bad one.'
'If we lived on a good one, how would things be different?'
'Well, father wouldn't be ill and cough as he does, and mother wouldn't always be washing.'
'And you would have been a ready-made rich lady, and not have to marry a gentleman.'
'Oh, Aby, don't—don't talk of that any more!'
Abraham finally went to sleep on the waggon. Tess drove the horse. Gradually she fell into a dream. She could see her father, foolish in his pride, and the rich gentleman of her mother's imagination laughing at the poor Durbeyfield family.
Suddenly she awoke from her dream to noise and violent movement. Something terrible had happened. She jumped down and discovered that the post carriage, speeding along the dark road, had driven into her slow and unlighted waggon. Poor Prince was seriously hurt, and as she watched he fell to the ground.
'You were on the wrong side,' said the post driver. 'I must go on with the post, but I'll send somebody to help you as soon as I can. You'd better stay here with your waggon.'
He went on his way, while Tess stood and waited, tears pouring down her cheeks. Daylight came. Prince lay there, unmoving, his eyes half open.
'It's all my fault,' cried Tess. 'What will mother and father live on now? Aby, Aby, wake up! We can't go on with our beehives—Prince is dead!' When Aby realized what had happened, his face looked like an old man's.
'It's because we live on a bad star, isn't it, Tess?' he said through his tears.
Finally a man arrived with a horse, to take the waggon on to Casterbridge to deliver the beehives, and then collect Prince on the way back. When they got home, Tess broke the news to her parents. They were not angry with her, but she blamed herself completely.
When Durbeyfield heard he would only get a few shillings for Prince's dead body, he rose to the occasion.
'We d'Urbervilles don't sell our horses for cat's meat!' he insisted. And the following day he worked harder than usual in digging a grave, where Prince was buried. All the children cried.
'Has he gone to heaven?' asked Abraham in tears. But Tess did not cry. Her face was dry and pale. She felt she had murdered a friend.
beehive n. box for bees to live in. 蜂房。
ashamed adj. feeling shame. 感到羞耻的。
waggon n. four-wheeled vehicle for carrying goods, pulled by horses or oxen. 四轮运货马（牛）车。
relationship n. relative. 亲戚关系。
silent adj. saying little or nothing; giving no answer, views. 沉默的。
gradually adv. by degrees. 逐渐。
foolish adj. silly. 傻的。
violent adj. accompanied by great force. 猛烈的。
seriously adv. severely. 严重地。
realize v. understand. 了解。
occasion n. time at which a particular event takes place.（发生特殊事情的）时机。
grave n. hole dug in the ground for a corpse. 坟墓。
murder v. kill unlawfully and on purpose. 谋杀。2
过了11点钟，这一家人才全都上了床。要带着这些蜂箱上路，最迟也不能迟于翌晨两点钟出发。由那条糟糕的路去卡斯特桥市有二三十英里的路，那儿星期六有集市。在一点半钟的时候，德北夫人走进苔丝和其他孩子们睡觉的卧室。“那个可怜的人儿去不了啦，”她轻轻说道。苔丝从床上坐了起来。“但是已经迟了，我们必须在今天把蜂箱带到！”“也许哪个年轻小伙子能去？”德北夫人有些迟疑。“叫个昨天跟你跳舞的小伙子？”“哦，不，绝对不行！”苔丝自尊地说，“难道要让所有的人都知道缘由吗？我会感到很羞耻的！我想我可以去，如果小亚伯拉罕能陪我的话。”
苔丝和亚伯拉罕穿好了衣服，牵出了那匹名叫“王子”的老马。马车已经上好了货。在黑暗中，他们出发了。他们吃了点儿面包黄油，让自己振奋起精神，还聊起了天。“苔丝！”一阵沉默之后，亚伯拉罕开口了。“嗯，亚伯拉罕。”“我们是贵族家庭，难道你不高兴吗？”“没有特别高兴。”“但是，你要同一位先生结婚了，你会高兴吗？”“什么？”苔丝仰起了脸，问道：“我们的贵族亲戚会帮助你同一位先生结婚的。”“我？我们的贵族亲戚？我们没有这样的亲戚呀。是什么让你脑子里有这种想法的？”“我在家里听到他们谈起这件事。在纯瑞脊那儿，有一位我们家族的有钱太太。妈妈说如果你和她攀上亲，她会帮你嫁给一位先生的。”
他姐姐突然沉默了。亚伯拉罕没有注意到姐姐已无心在听，还在继续说着。“苔丝，你说过这些星星就是一个个世界吧？”“是的。”“全都像我们这儿的世界吗？”“它们就像我们的苹果一样——大多数是好的，也有一些是坏的。”“我们住在哪颗星星上呢？好的，还是坏的？”“坏的。”“假如我们住在一颗好的星星上，会有什么不同吗？”“那样，爸爸就不会像现在这样生病，也不会咳嗽，而妈妈也不会总是洗个没完。”“而你也早是一位有钱的小姐，用不着非得嫁给一位先生不可了。”“哦，亚比，别说了——别再说这个了！”
亚伯拉罕后来在货车上睡着了。苔丝赶着马，也渐渐地进入了梦乡。在梦里她看见父亲荒唐可笑地沉浸在骄傲中，而那位她母亲想象中的有钱绅士嘲笑着贫穷的德北家。
一阵响声和剧烈的震动突然把苔丝从梦中惊醒。发生了什么可怕的事情。她从车上跳了下来，发现是一辆沿着漆黑的马路急速行驶的邮车撞上了她那辆慢吞吞、没点灯的货车。可怜的“王子”伤势严重，苔丝眼看着它倒在了地上。“你的车跑错道了，”邮车车夫说道，“我必须继续赶送邮件。不过，我会尽快派人来帮助你。你最好和货车一起在这儿等着。”
邮车驰走了。苔丝站在一旁等着。眼泪不住地从脸颊上流下来。天亮起来了。“王子”躺在那儿，一动不动，半睁着眼睛。“这全都是我的过错，”苔丝哭着说，“现在爸妈靠什么生活呢？亚比，亚比，快醒醒！我们的蜂箱运不成了——‘王子’死了！”亚比明白了所发生的事情时，露出了饱经沧桑的老人才有的表情。“这是因为我们生活在一颗坏星星上，是不是，苔丝？”他眼泪汪汪地说道。
终于有人牵着匹马过来了。这匹马拉着货车把蜂箱送到了卡斯特桥，并在返回途中把“王子”的尸体捎了上来。到了家之后，苔丝把这事儿跟父母讲了。他们并没有生她的气，反而是苔丝自己陷入了深深的自责中。
当德北听说“王子”的尸体只能换几个先令时，他改变了主意。“我们德伯家绝不会把我们的马卖掉换猫食的！”他坚持说。第二天，他比平常更卖劲儿地挖坟墓。“王子”下葬时，孩子们都哭了。“他会去天堂吗？”亚伯拉罕流着泪问。但苔丝没有哭。她的脸干巴巴的，没有一丝血色。她觉得自己杀死了一个朋友。3ife now became rather difficult for the Durbeyfields. Without Prince Lto carry loads, John Durbeyfield could not buy and sell as he used to. He had never worked hard or regularly, and now he only occasionally felt like working. Tess wondered how she could help her parents. One day her mother made a suggestion.
'It's lucky we've found out about your noble blood, Tess. Do you know there's a very rich lady called Mrs d'Urberville living on the other side of the wood? She must be our relation. You must go to her and claim relationship with her, and ask for some help in our trouble.'
'I wouldn't like to do that,' said Tess. 'If there is such a lady, it would be enough to be friendly. We can't expect help from her.'
'You could persuade anybody, my dear. Besides, something else might happen. You never know.' And her mother nodded wisely.
'I'd rather try to get work,' said Tess sadly.
'What do you say, Durbeyfield?' said his wife, turning to him.
'I don't like my children asking for help,' said he proudly. 'I'm the head of the oldest branch of the family and a noble family like ours shouldn't have to ask for help.' Tess could not accept his reasons for not going.
'Well, as I killed the horse, mother, I suppose I ought to go. But don't start thinking about her finding a husband for me.'
'Who said I had such an idea?' asked Joan innocently.
'I know you, mother.But I'll go.'
Next morning Tess walked to Shaston, a town she hardly knew, and went on by waggon to Trantridge. The Vale of Blackmoor was her only world, and she had never been far outside the valley. All the knowledge she had came from her lessons in the village school, which she had left a year or two earlier. As soon as she left school she had tried to earn a little money by helping in the fields or milking cows or making butter. She blamed her mother for thoughtlessly producing so many children. Joan Durbeyfield was like a child herself, and never thought about the future. It was Tess who worried and worked and felt responsible for her little brothers and sisters. So naturally it was Tess who should represent her family at the d'Urberville home.
From Trantridge she walked up a hill, and turning a corner, saw the house. She stopped in amazement. It was large and almost new, a rich red against the green of the bushes around it. Behind it lay the woods called The Chase, an ancient forest. There were greenhouses and well-kept gardens. There was no lack of money here. Tess hesitated, almost frightened.
'I thought we were an old family!' she said to herself, 'but this is all new!' She wished she had not come.
She was right in a way. All this was owned by the d'Urbervilles, or the Stoke-d'Urbervilles as they called themselves at first. The Stokes were a northern business family who took an old-sounding name to add to their own when they moved into the south. So Tess was more of a d'Urberville than any of them, but did not know it.
A young man appeared in the garden. He looked about twenty-four, and was tall and dark, with full red lips and a black moustache curled at the ends.
'Well, my beauty, what can I do for you?' he said, looking interestedly at her. 'I'm Mr d'Urberville.'
It needed all Tess's courage to reply. 'I came to see your mother, sir.'
'I'm afraid you can't see her. She's ill. What do you want to see her about?'
'I... I... it seems so foolish!'
'Never mind,' said he kindly. 'I like foolish things. Try again, my dear.'
'I came, sir, to tell you we are of the same family as you.'
'Aha! Poor relations?'
'Yes.'
'Stokes?'
'No, d'Urbervilles.'
'Oh yes, of course, I mean d'Urbervilles.'
'We have several proofs that we are d'Urbervilles. We have an old silver spoon and a seal at home. But mother uses the spoon to stir the soup. Mother said we ought to tell you, as we are the oldest branch of the family and we've lost our horse in an accident.'
'Very kind of your mother,' said Alec d'Urberville, 'and I certainly don't regret it.' He looked admiringly at Tess, whose face blushed a deep pink. 'And so you've come on a friendly visit?'
'I suppose I have,' murmured Tess, looking uncomfortable.
'Let us walk round the gardens until you have to go home, my pretty cousin.' Tess wanted to leave as soon as possible, but the young man insisted. He took her to the greenhouses.
'Do you like strawberries?' he asked.
'Yes,' said Tess, 'when they are ready.'
'These are ready now,' and so saying, d'Urberville picked one and held it to her mouth.
'No, no!' she said. 'I'd rather take it myself.'
But Alec put it into her mouth. He put roses into her hair and filled her basket with strawberries and flowers. He gave her food to eat, and watched her, while he quietly smoked a cigarette. She looked more adult and womanly than she really was. Alec could not take his eyes off her. She did not know as she smiled innocently at the flowers that behind the cigarette smoke was the cause of future sorrow in her life.
'What is your name?' asked Alec.
'Tess Durbeyfield. We live at Marlott.'
'I must see if my mother can find a place for you.' They said goodbye and she set off home carrying her strawberries and flowers.
This then was the beginning. Why did she have to meet the wrong man, and one who was so strongly attracted to her? Yet to the right man, she was only a half-forgotten impression from an evening's dancing in a country field. In life, the right man to love hardly ever comes at the right time for loving. Nature does not often answer a call for love, until the caller is tired of calling. In this case, as in millions, it was not the two halves of a perfect whole who met. A missing half wandered somewhere else, arriving much later. This delay was to have tragic results.
difficult adj. not easy. 困难的。
suggestion n. sth put forward for consideration. 建议。
expect v. think or believe that sth will happen or come, that sb will come. 盼望。
accept v. agree. 同意。
suppose v. let it be thought that. 认定。
innocently adv. in a manner which is not guilty. 无辜地。
knowledge n. familiarity gained by experience. 知识。
amazement n. great surprise or wonder. 愕然。
moustache n. hair allowed to grow on the upper lip. 唇髭。
spoon n. utensil with a shallow bowl on a handle, used for stirring, serving and taking up food. 匙；调羹。
seal n. piece of metal, etc, on which is a design and which is used to stamp on wax, etc. 印章；图章。
accident n. sth that happens without a cause that can be seen at once, usually sth unfortunate and undesirable. 意外事件。
murmur v. utter in a low voice. 低声说。
strawberry n. juicy red fruit with tiny yellow seeds on its surface, eaten raw and in jam. 草莓。
cigarette n. roll of shredded tobacco enclosed in thin paper for smoking. 香烟。
attract v. get the attention of; arouse interest or pleasure in. 引起……之注意或兴趣。
nature n. forces controlling the phenomena of the physical world. 自然力。
tragic adj. of tragedy. 悲惨的。3
德北一家的生活陷入了困境。没有“王子”运货，约翰·德北就不能像过去那样做买卖了。他从来没有坚持卖力地干过活儿，现在也就偶尔才会想找点活儿干。苔丝琢磨着怎样才能帮上父母的忙。一天，她母亲提出了一个建议。“苔丝，得知你有高贵的血统是件幸运的事。你知道在林子那头儿有位非常有钱的德伯太太吗？她准是我们的亲戚。你应当上她那儿去，说明和她的亲戚关系。就说我们处境困难，请求她帮帮忙。”“我不愿做这种事，”苔丝说，“如果真有这么一位太太，只要她对我们友善，就足够了。我们不能指望从她那儿得到帮助。”“你能打动任何人，亲爱的。而且，也许会有别的什么你意想不到的事儿发生呢。”她母亲自作聪明地点着头。“我宁愿去找工作。”苔丝伤心地说。“你认为怎样，德北？”妻子转向丈夫，问道。“我不愿意我的孩子去求别人帮助。”他骄傲地说，“我是这个家族里最古老一支的家长，像我们这样高贵的家庭是不应该求助于人的。”他的这些不让去的理由让苔丝无法接受。“好吧，妈，是我害死了马，我想我该去一趟。不过别指望她会替我找个丈夫。”“谁说我这么想啦？”琼显得很无辜地问道。“我知道你怎么想，妈。不过，我会去的。”
第二天早晨，苔丝步行到夏斯顿，一个她很陌生的城镇，然后搭上一辆马车前往纯瑞脊。黑荒野山谷是苔丝生活的整个世界，她从来没有远离过那个山谷。她一两年前离开了村里的学校，她所有的知识就是从那儿的课上学来的。一离开学校，她就在地里帮着干活，挤牛奶或是做黄油，靠这些来挣点小钱。她责怪母亲不加考虑地生了那么多孩子。而琼·德北自己还像个孩子似的，从不为将来打算。倒是苔丝又操心又干活，觉得对弟弟妹妹们负有责任。因此，很自然地，她就要作为家庭代表前往德伯家。
到了纯瑞脊，苔丝爬上了一个小山坡，拐过一个弯后，就看到了一座房子。她诧异地停住了脚步。这是一座很大而且几乎全新的艳红色房子，被绿色灌木围绕着。在它后面是一片叫做逐猎林的树林，这是一片原始森林。还有温室花房和保养得很好的花园。这里是不会缺钱的。苔丝踌躇着，几乎有些惊恐不安了。“我还以为我们是古老的家族呢，”她自言自语道，“但这儿都是全新的！”她真希望她没来。
在某些方面她是想对了。这一切都归德伯，或如他们最初称呼自己的那样，归斯托克—德伯家所有。斯托克是北部一个经商的家庭，当他们迁居到南方时，就给自己加了一个听起来古老高贵的姓氏。因此，比起他们中的任何人来，苔丝都更有资格是德伯家族的一员，但对此她一无所知。
一个年轻人从花园里走了出来。他看起来有二十四岁左右，高大，黝黑，嘴唇肥厚红润，留着打卷的黑髭须。“喂，我的美人儿，我能为你效劳吗？”他说道，一边颇有兴趣地看着她。“我是德伯先生。”
苔丝鼓足了所有的勇气，回答道：“我是来看望你母亲的，先生。”“恐怕你不能见她，她病了。你见她有什么事儿吗？”“我……我……这事显得太傻了！”“不要紧，”他温和地说，“我就爱听傻事儿。说吧，亲爱的。”“我来这儿是想告诉你们，我们是同族的亲戚，先生。”“啊，穷亲戚吧？”“是的。”“斯托克家的人吗？”“不是，是德伯家的。”“哦，对，当然，我指的是德伯家。”“我们有根据说自己是德伯家的人。我们家有个旧银匙，还有个印章。但我母亲用那个银匙搅汤。母亲说我们应该来告诉你们，因为我们是这个家族最古老的一支。还有，在一次事故中，我们连马都失去了。”“你母亲可真是一片好意。”亚历克·德伯说，“我当然不会为此感到遗憾。”他倾慕地盯着她，这使苔丝的脸变得绯红。“那么你是来做一次友好访问的喽？”“我想是的。”苔丝低声说，显得有些局促不安。“在你必须回家之前，让我们在花园里转转吧，我的漂亮表妹！”虽然苔丝想尽快离开，但这年轻人坚持不让。他带她来到温室。“你喜欢吃草莓吗？”他问。“是的！”苔丝说，“等它们熟透了的时候。”“它们已经熟透了。”说着，德伯就摘了一个，准备塞到苔丝嘴里。“哦，不！”她说，“我宁愿自己来。”
但是亚历克还是把草莓放进了她嘴里。他还采了玫瑰别在她头上，并在她的篮子里装满了草莓和鲜花。他拿东西给她，自己就静静地抽着烟看她吃。苔丝看起来比实际上的她更成熟也更具有女人味儿。亚历克无法将视线从她身上移开。她不会想到，就在她天真无邪地对着那些鲜花微笑时，坐在雪茄烟雾后面的，正是会给她未来生活带来痛苦的冤家对头。“你叫什么名字？”亚历克问道。“苔丝·德北。我家在马勒特村。”“我一定留意看看我母亲是否能给你找份工作。”他们告别之后，苔丝带着一篮子草莓和鲜花回去了。
事情就这样开了头。为什么她一定要遇上这个不合适却如此垂涎于她的男人？而对那个适合于她的男人，留下的只不过是一个来自乡间黄昏舞会的已经模糊了的印象。在生活中，适合于爱的男人很少在适合于爱的时间出现。上天总是无视人们对爱的呼唤，直至人们呼唤得精疲力竭。这只不过是无数个阴差阳错的故事中的一个。两个无法完美结合的一半相遇了，而丢失的另一半还在别处徘徊，姗姗来迟。这样的延误即将导致悲剧的结局。4hen Tess arrived home the following afternoon a letter had Walready been received by her mother. It appeared to come from Mrs d'Urberville, and offered Tess work looking after chickens. Joan Durbeyfield was delighted.
'It's just a way of getting you there without raising your hopes. She's going to recognize you as family, I'm sure of it.'
'I would rather stay here with father and you,' said Tess, looking out of the window.
'But why?'
'I'd rather not tell you, mother. I don't really know.'
A few days later when Tess came back from looking for work, the children came running out and danced round her.
'The gentleman's been here!' they shouted.
Joan was full of smiles. Mrs d'Urberville's son had called, and asked if Tess could come or not.
'He's a very handsome man!' said Mrs Durbeyfield.
'I don't think so,' said Tess coldly. 'I'll think it over.' She left the room.
'He's in love with her, you can see that,' said Mrs Durbeyfield to her husband. 'No doubt he'll marry her and she'll be a fine lady.'
John Durbeyfield had more pride in his new-found blood than energy or health. 'That's what young Mr d'Urberville is trying to do! Improve his blood by marrying into the old line!'
Persuaded by her mother and the children, Tess finally agreed to go. Mrs Durbeyfield secretly made wedding plans. Then the day came when Tess, wearing her best Sunday clothes on her mother's orders, said goodbye to her family.
'Goodbye, my girl,' said Sir John, waking from a short sleep. 'Tell young d'Urberville I'll sell him the title, yes, sell it, at a reasonable price.'
'Not for less than a thousand pounds!' cried Lady Durbeyfield.
'No, tell him he can have it for a hundred! No, fifty, no—twenty! Yes, twenty pounds, that's the lowest. Family honour is family honour and I won't take any less!'
Tess felt like crying but turned quickly and went out. Her mother went with her to the edge of the village. There she stopped and stood waving goodbye, and watched her daughter walking away into the distance. A waggon came to take her bags, and then a fashionable little carriage appeared. It was driven by a well-dressed young man smoking a cigar. After a moment's hesitation, Tess stepped in.
Joan Durbeyfield, watching, wondered for the first time if she had been right in encouraging Tess to go. That night she said to her husband, 'Perhaps I should have found out how the gentleman really feels about her.'
'Yes, perhaps you ought,' murmured John, half asleep. Joan's natural trust in the future came back to her.
'Well, if he doesn t marry her before, he'll marry her after. If she plays her cards right.'
'If he knows about her d'Urberville blood, you mean?'
'No, stupid, if she shows him her pretty face.'
Meanwhile Alec d'Urberville was whipping his horse and driving the carriage faster and faster downhill. The trees rushed past at great speed. Tess was feeling thoroughly frightened. He took no notice when she asked him to slow down. She cried out and held on to his arm in fear.
'Don't touch my arm, hold on to my waist!' he shouted. At the top of another hill he said, laughing, 'Put your arms around me again, my beauty!'
'Never!' said Tess independently.
'Let me give you one little kiss, Tess, and I'll stop!'
'Will nothing else do?' cried Tess in despair. 'Oh, very well!'
As they raced on, he was on the point of kissing her, when she suddenly moved aside, so that he almost fell off.
'I'll break both our necks!' he swore passionately.
'I thought you would be kind to me,' said Tess, her eyes filling with tears. 'I don't want to kiss anybody!'
But he insisted, so in the end she sat still and d'Urberville kissed her. No sooner had he done so than she wiped the place on her cheek with her handkerchief.Just then her hat blew off into the road and d'Urberville stopped the horse. Tess jumped down to get it, then turned triumphantly to Alec.
'I shall walk from here,' she said firmly.
'But it's five or six miles more.'
'I don't care.'
'You made that hat blow off on purpose! You did, didn't you?'
She was silent. He swore angrily at her.
'Don't use such bad words!' cried Tess. 'I shall go back to mother! I hate you!'
D'Urberville suddenly started laughing.
'Look, I promise never to do that again,' he said. 'Come, let me take you in the carriage.'
But she refused, and began to walk in the direction of Trantridge. So they progressed slowly, d'Urberville driving the carriage beside Tess.
delight v. give great pleasure to. 使非常高兴。
recognize v. be willing to accept (sb or sth) as what he or it claims to be or has been in the part. 承认；认可。
handsome adj. (of men) good-looking, having virile beauty. （指男子）漂亮的；英俊的。
energy n. force, vigour. 精力；活力。
persuade v. cause (sb) by reasoning (to do sth). 说服。
reasonable adj. neither more nor less than seems right or acceptable. 公道的。
fashionable adj. following the fashion. 时髦的。
encourage v. give hope, courage or confidence to. 鼓励。
meanwhile adv. in or during the time between. 其时；此际。
thoroughly adv. completely. 完全地。
frightened v. filled with fright or terror. 使惊骇。
passionate adj. filled with, showing passion. 热情的；多情的。
on purpose by intention, not by chance. 故意地；不是偶然地。
refuse v. say "no" to (a request or offer). 拒绝。4
第二天下午，没等苔丝回到家，她母亲就先收到了一封信。信像是德伯夫人写来的，她给苔丝提供了一份养鸡的差事。琼·德北非常高兴。“这是让你去他们那里，同时不要抱太大希望。我相信她一定会把你当做一家人看待的。”“我宁愿留在家里跟你和爸爸在一起。”苔丝看着窗外说。“那又为什么？”“还是别对你说的好，妈妈，我也不太清楚。”
几天过后，当苔丝外出找工作回来时，孩子们都跑了出来，围着她手舞足蹈。“有位先生来过这儿！”他们嚷嚷道。
琼笑意盎然。德伯夫人的儿子来拜访过，他问苔丝还能否去他那儿。“他很英俊！”德北夫人说。“我可不觉得。”苔丝冷漠地说，“我会仔细考虑的。”说完，她离开了房间。“看得出来，他爱上她了。”德北夫人对她丈夫说，“毫无疑问，他会跟她结婚的，她就快是一个贵妇人啦。”
与体力或健康相比，约翰·德北更为他那新发现的血统感到自豪。“跟古老的家族联姻，使自己的血统变得更高贵，这就是年轻的德伯先生想要做的事！”
经过母亲和孩子们的劝说，苔丝终于决定去了。德北夫人则暗自筹划着婚礼。到了要走的那天，苔丝依照母亲的吩咐穿上了最好的节日礼服，跟家人告别了。“再见，我的孩子。”约翰爵士说道，他刚刚睡了一小觉。“告诉年轻的德伯，我愿意把爵士头衔卖给他。对，卖给他，如果价钱合理的话。”“少于一千英镑就不卖！”德北夫人喊道。“不，告诉他一百也行！不，五十，不，二十！对，二十英镑是最低价了。家族荣誉到底是家族荣誉，再少我就不干了！”
苔丝直觉得想哭，但她还是迅速转身走了。她母亲陪她走到了村头。在那儿停住，挥手道别后，母亲就看着女儿渐渐走远了。一辆货车驶过来，装上了苔丝的行李，然后又有一辆时髦的小马车出现在她面前。驾车的是一个抽着雪茄、穿着讲究的年轻人。苔丝犹豫了一下，然后上了车。
琼·德北瞪大了眼睛，头一次怀疑起她鼓励苔丝去到底正确与否。那天晚上，她对丈夫说：“也许我应该先弄清楚那位先生对她的真实感情才对。”“是的，也许你该这样。”约翰嘀咕着，半睡半醒。琼那对未来充满信心的天性又恢复了。“嗯，就算他早不娶她，他晚也会娶她。要是苔丝有点儿心计的话。”“你是说如果他知道了她的德伯家血统？”“不，傻瓜，如果她向他展示她的漂亮脸蛋儿。”
就在这时，亚历克·德伯正鞭打着马，驾驭着他的马车以越来越快的速度下山。树木在飞快地倒退着。苔丝觉得自己简直要被吓蒙了。她请求他放慢速度，他根本不予理睬。苔丝尖叫着，恐惧中她抓住了他的手臂。“别碰我的手臂，抱着我的腰！”他叫道。又到了另一座山头，他笑着说道：“伸出你的手抱着我吧，我的美人儿！”“决不！”苔丝的语气表明她不愿再求助于他。“苔丝，让我轻轻地吻你一下，我就停下来！”“非这样做不可吗？”苔丝绝望地哭了。“哦，那好吧！”
马车还在急驶着。当他正准备吻她时，苔丝突然躲开了，以至于他几乎摔了下去。“我会让我们俩的脖子一起摔断的！”他暴躁地咒骂道。“我原以为你不会欺侮我的。”苔丝说，她的眼眶盈满了泪水。“我不想亲任何人！”
但是他坚持要这样。因此，最后她只好坐着不动，让德伯吻了她一下，但她立即就用手帕擦拭脸上被吻过的地方。就在这时，她的帽子被风吹到了地上。德伯停住了车，苔丝跳下车捡起了帽子，然后带着胜利的神情转向亚历克。“我从这儿走着去。”苔丝说得很坚决。“但还有五六英里路呢！”“我不在乎。”“你是故意让帽子被风吹掉的！肯定是这样的，对吗？”
她没做声，他怒气冲冲地对她破口大骂开了。“请不要说这么脏的话！”苔丝叫道，“我要回到妈妈那儿去，我恨你！”
德伯突然间大笑起来。“好了，我保证再也不这样了。”他说，“上来吧，让我用车载你去。”
但她拒绝了，并朝纯瑞脊方向走去。因此，德伯只好驾着车跟在她身旁。两个人就这样缓缓前行着。5he chickens for which Tess was responsible lived in an old Tcottage on Mrs d'Urberville's land. On her first day Tess had to take some of the chickens to show to their owner. She immediately realized the old lady was blind. Mrs d'Urberville held each bird and felt it carefully to see that it was in good health. At the end she suddenly asked Tess a question.
'Can you whistle?'
'Whistle, Ma'am?'
'Yes, whistle tunes. I want you to practise and whistle to my birds every day.'
'Yes, Ma'am.'
Tess was not surprised at Mrs d'Urberville's cold manner, and did not expect any more of such a great lady. However, she did not realize that the old lady had never even heard about the family connection.
Tess began to enjoy her new work with the chickens, and the next day in the cottage garden she decided to practise whistling as instructed. She was shocked to find that she had completely forgotten how to whistle. Suddenly she noticed a movement behind a tree near the wall. It was Alec d'Urberville.
'Well, cousin Tess,' he said, 'I've never seen such a beautiful thing as you! I've been watching you from over the wall. Look, I can give you a lesson or two.'
'Oh no you won't!' cried Tess, going back towards the door.
'Don't worry, I won't touch you. Just look...' and he showed her how to whistle. From that moment Tess found she could whistle tunes to the birds just as Mrs d'Urberville wanted. And as the weeks passed, she often met d'Urberville in the garden and began to lose her shyness of him.
Every Saturday night the other farm workers from the surrounding area used to go to drink and dance in the market town two or three miles away. On Sundays they would sleep late. For a long time Tess did not go with them. But after a while she wanted a change from her routine and began to go on the weekly trips regularly. She always came home with the others at night, preferring the protection of being in a group. One Saturday night she was in the town looking for her companions as it was time to go home, when she met Alec d'Urberville.
'What, my beauty? Here so late?' he said, smiling at her.
'I'm just waiting for my friends,' she answered.
'I'll see you again,' he said as she moved away.
She became worried when she realized the workers were still dancing wildly and would not be going home soon. Again she caught sight of Alec, waiting in a doorway, his cigar glowing red in the dark. Eventually she joined a group wandering home. They had all been drinking, but she felt safer with them than alone. But after a while she became involved in a quarrel with them, and was trying to get away from the angry group, when Alec d'Urberville rode by. He offered to take her home on the back of his horse. She hesitated, then accepted.
Together they rode along in the dark, Tess holding on to Alec. She was very tired: every day that week she had got up at five. So she did not notice that they were riding off the main road and into The Chase, the oldest wood in England. It began to get foggy, and finally Alec admitted honestly that he was lost.
'Put me down here, sir,' cried Tess at once. 'Let me walk home from here. How wrong of you to bring me away from the main road! I knew I shouldn't trust you!'
'Don't worry, my beauty,' laughed Alec. 'I thought you would enjoy a longer ride on such a lovely night. But I can't let you go. The fog is so bad now that you couldn't possibly find your way. I'll leave you here and go to find out where we are. When I come back, I'll tell you, and you can come with me on horseback or go alone on foot—just as you like.'
She agreed to this. 'Shall I hold the horse?' she asked.
'No, he'll stay quiet,' answered Alec. 'By the way, your father has a new horse today. And the children have some new toys.'
'Was it... was it you who gave them? Oh, how good of you!' murmured Tess with a heavy heart. 'I almost wish you hadn't!'
'Tessy, don't you love me just a little now?'
'I'm grateful,' she admitted, 'but I'm afraid I don't...' and slowly she started to cry.
'Now don't cry, my dear. Sit here and wait for me.' He made a bed for the tired girl among the dead leaves, and covered her with his coat. He set off into the fog to find out where he was, and came back to find Tess fast asleep. He saw her in her white dress among the leaves, a pale, shining figure in the dark. He bent down and touched her cheek with his. Everywhere there was darkness and silence. The birds and animals slept, safe in and under the trees. But who was looking after Tess? Who was protecting her innocence?
'Tess!' said d'Urberville, and lay down beside her. The girl was not strong enough to resist him.
Why was Tess's girlish purity lost? Why does the wrong man take the wrong woman? Why do the bad so often ruin the good? Why is beauty damaged by ugliness? Thousands of years of philosophy cannot give us the answers to these questions. These things happen, and have always happened. Perhaps in the past, rolling home after a battle, Tess's ancestors, the real d'Urbervilles, had done the same, even more cruelly, to young country girls. But we cannot accept that that is Tess's fault, and should happen to her. As the people of her village say, 'It was to be.' And from now on, Tess's life was to be completely different.
cottage n. small house, especially in the country. 茅舍；农舍。
blind adj. without the power to see. 瞎的。
practise v. do sth repeatedly or regularly in order to become skilful. 练习。
whistle v. make a signal (to) by blowing through the rounded lips. 吹口哨。
tune n. succession of notes forming a melody. 曲；调子。
routine n. fixed and regular way of doing things. 例行手续；常规。
protection n. protecting or being protected. 保护。
wander v. go from place to place without any special purpose or destination. 漫步；徘徊。
foggy adj. dense, not clear, because of fog. 有浓雾的。
honestly adv. in an honest manner. 诚实地。
trust v. believe in the honesty and reliability of. 信赖。
possibly adv. in accordance with what is possible. 可能地。
grateful adj. feeling or showing thanks. 感激的。
cover v. place (one substance or thing) over or in front of (another). 用东西盖住。
purity n. state or quality of being pure. 纯净。5
苔丝要养的鸡关在德伯夫人庄园的一间旧茅舍里。第一天她就要带着几只鸡去见它们的主人。她马上就意识到这个老妇人已经双目失明。德伯夫人一只只地抱过她的鸡，仔细地抚摩着，以便确认它们全都很好。之后，她突然向苔丝问道：“你会吹口哨吗？”“吹口哨，夫人？”“对，吹点儿曲调。我要你练习每天给我的鸡儿们吹口哨。”“是，夫人。”
苔丝对德伯夫人的冷漠并不感到惊讶，她本来就没对这样一位贵妇人抱更多的期望。然而她并不了解，这个老妇人根本就没听人说起过她们的亲戚关系。
苔丝开始喜欢上了这份养鸡的差事。第二天，在鸡舍的院子里，她决定奉命练习吹口哨，但她震惊地发现她把怎么吹口哨全给忘光了。突然，她发觉围墙附近一棵树后有响动，是亚历克·德伯在那儿。“喂，苔丝表妹，”他说，“我从来没见过像你这么漂亮的姑娘！我一直在墙这边观察你。瞧，我可以教你一两下。”“哦，不，你不能这样。”苔丝叫道，转身朝房门走去。“别担心，我不会碰你的。看着……”他开始给她示范如何吹口哨。从那以后，苔丝发现自己可以按照德伯夫人的心意对着那些鸡儿吹调子了。几个星期来，她经常在花园里遇见德伯，渐渐地在他面前也就不再感到害羞了。
每个星期六晚上，附近地区的农民们都会到两三英里以外的镇上喝酒、跳舞，然后在星期天睡个懒觉。很长一段时间，苔丝都没有跟他们去。但过了一阵子，苔丝想改变一下原来一成不变的生活，就开始有规律地去参加这一周一次的活动。夜里她总是和大伙儿结伴回来，在一群人当中，她可以寻得保护。一个周六的晚上，她正在镇上寻找同伴儿，因为到该回去的时候了。这时，她遇上了亚历克·德伯。“怎么了，我的美人儿？这么晚了还在这儿？”他笑着对她说。“我只不过在等我的朋友们。”她回答道。“我会再找你的，”当她走开时他说道。
她看到那些人还在疯狂地跳着舞，不像就要回去的样子，于是变得焦急起来。她又一次看到了亚历克，他正等在门口，雪茄烟在黑暗中闪烁着红光。最后她还是跟着一群人逛着回去，他们全都喝了酒，但是她觉得这样也比孤身一人安全些。但是过了一会儿，她卷入了一场争吵中，正极力想从愤怒的人群中脱开身时，亚历克骑着马过来了。他叫她坐在他的马背上，要带她回去。她犹豫了一下，同意了。
他们在黑暗中往前骑着，苔丝紧紧抓着亚历克。她太累了，那个星期她每天都5点钟起床。因此，她没有注意到他们已经偏离了大道，进入逐猎林，那片英格兰最古老的森林。空气中开始弥漫着雾霭。终于，亚历克老实地承认他迷路了。“放我下马吧，先生。”苔丝立即哭叫道，“让我从这儿走回去！你不该把我从大道带到这儿来，这太过分了！我早知道不该相信你的！”“别着急，我的美人儿，”亚历克笑着说，“我以为你会喜欢在这样美丽的夜晚多骑一会儿的。但我不能让你走。现在雾这么大，你是根本找不着路的。我把你放在这儿等着，我去看看我们现在到了哪儿。我回来以后就告诉你。那时，你可以跟我骑马回去，也可以一个人走回去——随你的便。”
这么一说她便同意了。“我需要牵着马吗？”她问。“不，它会乖乖地待着的，”亚历克回答道，“顺便告诉你，你父亲今天有匹新马了，孩子们也得到了一些新玩具。”“是……是你送给他们的吗？哦，真得谢谢你的一片好心！”苔丝心情沉重地嘀咕着，“我真有点儿希望你没这么做！”“苔丝，现在你会爱我一点了吧？”“我很感激你，”她承认道，“但是，恐怕我并不……”她开始哭了起来。“别哭，我的宝贝儿。现在你就坐在这儿，等我回来吧！”他用枯叶给这疲倦的女孩儿铺了张床，还给她披上了自己的衣服。然后他离开了她，走入大雾中，试图辨别他所在的地方。回来时他发现苔丝早已熟睡。他看到了在一堆树叶中穿着白色衣裙的她，黑暗中一个柔弱、美丽的身影。他俯下身来，用自己的脸颊贴着她的。这儿到处都那么漆黑、静谧。鸟兽们都安全地在树上或树下睡着了。但是有谁会来照料苔丝？又有谁会来保护她的贞节呢？“苔丝！”德伯唤道，并在她身边躺了下来。这个柔弱的女子是无力抵挡他的。
为什么苔丝会失去少女的贞操？为什么不合适的男人要与不合适的女人结合？为什么坏人总是毁灭好人？为什么美丽总被邪恶践踏？数千年来的哲理无法给予我们这些问题的答案。这些事情发生着，总在发生着。也许过去，苔丝的祖先们，那些真正的德伯家的人，在经历了一场战斗返回时，曾对乡村的姑娘们做过同样的事，甚至更残酷的事。但我们不能认为这是苔丝的过错，应由她来偿还。也许就像她村子里的人们说的那样：“这一切都是命中注定的。”从这以后，苔丝的生活就截然不同了。Maiden No More6t was a Sunday morning in late October about four months after Tess's arrival at Trantridge, and a few weeks after the night ride in IThe Chase. Carrying a heavy basket and bundle, Tess was walking towards the hills which divided her from the Vale, her place of birth. The scenery and people on this side were very different from those in her village. Marlott people mainly thought and travelled northward and westward, while on this side people were interested in the east and the south. She walked up the same hill which d'Urberville had driven down so wildly that June day. On reaching the top of the hill, Tess paused and looked for a long time at the familiar green world of home. It was always beautiful from here, but since she had last seen it, her view of life had changed. She had learnt that wickedness exists, even where there is beauty, and now she could hardly bear to look down into the Vale.
Then she looked behind her and saw a carriage coming up the same hill that she had just climbed, with a man leading the horse. Soon he caught up with her.
'Why did you slip away in secret like that?' asked d'Urberville breathlessly. 'I've been driving like mad to catch up with you. Just look at my horse! You know nobody would have prevented you from going. I'm going to drive you the rest of the way, if you won't come back with me.'
'I won't come back,' she said quietly.
'I thought so! Well, let me help you up. Give me your basket.'
She stepped up into the carriage and sat beside him. She had no fear of him now. The reason for this was also the reason for her sorrow. They drove along, d'Urberville making conversation and Tess thinking her own thoughts. When they approached the village of Marlott a tear rolled down her cheek.
'Why are you crying?' he asked coldly.
'I was only thinking I was born over there.'
'Well, we must all be born somewhere.'
'I wish I had never been born, there or anywhere else!' she said quietly.
'Well, you shouldn't have come to Trantridge if you didn't want to. You didn't come for love of me, anyway.'
'That's quite true. If I had ever loved you, if I loved you still, I could not hate myself for my weakness as much as I do now.'
He did not look at her.
She added, 'I didn't understand your intention until it was too late.'
'That's what every woman says.'
'How dare you say that!' she cried angrily, her eyes flashing at him. 'My God! I could hit you! Did you never think that some women may not only say but feel it?'
'All right,' he said laughing, 'I am sorry to hurt you. I did wrong—I admit it. Only don't keep accusing me. I am ready to pay for it. You need never work on the farms again.'
Her lip lifted slightly as she replied, 'I will not take anything from you! I cannot!'
'One would think you were a queen as well as being one of the real d'Urbervilles! Well, Tess dear, I suppose I'm a bad sort of man. I've always been one, and I always will be one. But I promise I won't be bad to you again. And if anything should happen—you understand—if you are in any trouble or need anything, just drop me a line and I'll send by return whatever you want.'
She stepped down from the carriage and was going to leave him, when he stopped her and said, 'You're not going to turn away from me like that, dear? Come, let me kiss you!'
'If you wish,' she answered coldly. She offered her cool cheek to him, but her eyes rested on a distant tree as if the kiss had nothing to do with her.
'You don't give me your lips, Tess. I'm afraid you'll never love me.'
'It's true. I have never loved you, and I never can.' She added sadly, 'Perhaps I should tell a lie and then I could lead a comfortable life. But I have enough honour not to tell that lie. If I loved you, I might have a very good reason to tell you so. But I don't.'
Alec sighed heavily, as if this scene were depressing him.
'Well, you're very sad, Tess, and you have no reason to be. You're still the prettiest girl for miles around. Will you come back with me? Say you will!'
'Never, never! I've made up my mind, and I won't come.'
'Then goodbye!' and Alec jumped up into his carriage and drove off.
Tess did not watch him go, but continued her walk alone. It was still early in the day and the sun was not yet giving any warmth. Tess felt even sadder than the autumn sadness which surrounded her.
But soon a man came up behind her, a man with a pot of red paint in his hand.
'Good morning,' he said, and offered to carry her basket. 'You're up early on a Sunday,' he continued.
'Yes,' said Tess.
'A day of rest for most people, although I do more real work today than in the rest of the week put together.'
'Do you?'
'In the week I work for man, but on Sunday I work for God. That's better work, don't you think? Wait a moment, I have something to do here.' He stopped at a gate, and in large red letters on the middle bar of the gate he painted some words from the Bible:PUNISHMENT AWAITS YOU
In the soft air, against the gentle green of the trees and the peaceful fields, these great red words stared at Tess. They pointed a finger at her. This man was a stranger and could not know her story, but the words accused her.
'Do you believe what you paint?' she asked in a low voice.
'Do I believe those words? Do I believe I am alive!'
'But,' she whispered, trembling, 'suppose you were forced to do wrong?'
He shook his head. 'I can't answer that question. I paint the words and leave others to think about them in their own hearts.'
'I think they are horrible words!' cried Tess. 'I'll take my basket and go now,' and she walked away from him, her heart beating fast. 'I don't believe God said those things!' she thought, as she reached her village.
There was smoke coming from her father's chimney, but seeing the inside of the cottage made her heart ache. It was as poor as ever. Her mother jumped up, surprised to see her.
'Well, my dear Tess!' she said, kissing her. 'How are you? Have you come home to be married?'
'No, not for that, mother.'
'What, isn't your cousin going to marry you?'
'He's not my cousin, and he's not going to marry me.'
Her mother looked at her closely. 'Come, you haven't told me everything.'
Then Tess went up to her mother, put her head on Joan's shoulder, and told her the whole story.
'And you haven't persuaded him to marry you!' cried Joan. 'What's the good of going there? Why didn't you think of doing some good for your family instead of thinking only of yourself?'
Tess was confused. Alec had never mentioned marriage to her. But even if he had, she would never have accepted him, because she did not love him. This made her hate herself for what she had done. She would certainly never love him in the future. She did not quite hate him, but did not wish to marry him, even to remain respectable.
'You ought to have been more careful if you didn't want to marry him!'
'Oh mother!' cried the poor girl, her heart breaking. 'Why didn't you warn me about men? I was a child when I left home! I didn't know how dangerous they can be, and you didn't tell me!'
'Well, we must make the best of it,' said her mother. 'It's only human nature, after all.'
That afternoon the little cottage was full of Tess's friends, girls who lived in the village and who had missed her while she had been away. They whispered to each other that Tess was sure to marry that handsome gentleman. Fortunately Tess did not hear them. She joined in their laughing and talking, and for a short time almost forgot her shame.
But the next day was Monday, the beginning of the working week, when there were no best clothes and no visitors. She awoke with the innocent children asleep around her, she who had lost her innocence. She looked into her future, and grew very depressed. She knew she had to travel on a long, stony road, without help or sympathy. She had nothing to look forward to, and she wanted to die.
In the next few weeks, however, she became more cheerful, and went to church one Sunday morning. She loved listening to the well-known tunes, and gave herself up to the beauty of the music. She wondered at the composer's power. From the grave he could make a girl like her, who had never known him, feel extremes of emotion. She sat in a quiet, dark corner listening to the service. But when the village people arrived at church they noticed her and started whispering to each other. She knew what they were saying and realized she could come to church no more.
So she spent almost all her time in her bedroom, which she shared with the children. From here she watched the wind, the snow, the rain, beautiful sunsets and full moons, one after another. People began to think she had gone away. She only went out after dark, to walk in the woods and the fields. She was not afraid of the dark or the shadows; it was people she was anxious to avoid. She was at home on the lonely hills, but she felt guilty surrounded by innocent nature. When it rained, she thought nature was crying at her weakness, and when the midnight wind blew she thought nature was angry with her. But she did not realize that although she had broken an accepted social rule, she had done nothing against nature. She was as innocent as the sleeping birds in the trees, or the small field animals in the hedges.
bundle n. number of articles fastened, tied, or wrapped together. 包裹。
scenery n. general natural features of a district. 风景。
familiar adj. having a good knowledge of. 熟悉。
prevent v. stop or hinder. 阻止。
conversation n. talking. 谈话。
approach v. come near(er) (to). 接近。
intention n. aim. 目的。
flash v. send, give out, a sudden bright light. 闪光；闪烁。
accuse v. say that (sb) has done wrong, broken the law, is to be
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