英语沙龙:克拉丽莎节选(在线收听

Expert from Clarissaa

Indifferent as my head was,I had a little time to consider the man and his behaviour.He terrified me with his looks,and with his violent emotions,as he gazed upon me.Evident joy-suppressed emotions,as I have since recollected.His sentences short,and pronounced as if his breath were touched.Never saw I his abominable eyes look as then they looked--triumph in them.--fierce and wild;and more disagreeable than the women's at the vile house appeared to me when I first saw them:and at times,such a leering,mischief-bodingcast. I would have given the world to have been a hundred miles from him.Yet his behaviour was decent--a decency,however,that I might have seen to be struggled for--for he snatched my hand two or three times,with a vehemence in his grasp that hurt me;speaking words of tenderness through his shut teeth,as it seemed;and let it go with a beggar-voiced humble accent;yet his words and manner carrying the appearance of strong and almost convulsed passion. O my dear. What mischiefs was he not then meditating.

I complained once or twice of thirst.I called for water:some table-beer was brought me:beer,I suppose,was a better vehicle(if I were not dosed enough before)for their potions.I told the maid that she knew I seldom tasted malt-liquor:yet,suspecting nothing of this nature,being extremely thirsty,I drank it and instantly,as it were,found myself much worse than before;as if inebriated,I should fancy:I know not how.

His servant was gone twice as long as he needed:and just before his return,came one of the pretended Lady Betty's with a letter for Mr.Lovelace.

He sent it up to me.I read it:and then it was that I thought myself a lost creature;it being to put off her going to Hampstead that night,on account of violent fits which Miss Montague was pretended to be seized with;for then immediately came into my head his vile attempt upon me in this house.

I then insisted upon going directly to Lady Betty's lodgings.

Mrs.Lesson's was now a crowded house,he said,and as my earnestness could be owing to nothing but groundless apprehension(and O what vows,what protestations of his honour did he make.),he hoped I would not add to their present concern.Charlotte,indeed,was used to fits,he said,upon any great surprises,whether of joy or grief;and they would hold her for a week together,if not got off in a few hours.

You are an observer of eyes,my dear,said the villain;perhaps in secret insult:saw you not in Miss Montague's now and then,at Hampstead,something wildish?I was afraid for her then.Silence and quiet only do her good:your concern for her,and her love for you,will but augment the poor girl's disorder,if you should go.

All impatient with grief and apprehension,I still declared myself resolved not to stay in that house till morning.All I had in t he world,my rings,my watch,my little money,for a coach;or,if one were not to be got,I would go on foot to Hampstead that night,though I walked it by myself.

A coach was hereupon sent for,or pretended to be sent for.Any price,he said,he would give to oblige me,late as it was;and he would attend me with all his soul.But no coach was to be got.

Let me cut short the rest.I grew worse and worse in my head;now stupid,now raving,now senseless.The vilest of vile women was brought to frighten me.Never was there so horrible a creature as she appeared to me at that time.

I remember I pleaded for mercy.I remember that I said I would be his--indeed I would be his--to obtain his mercy.But no mercy found I.My strength,my intellects,failed me--and then such scenes followed--O my dear,such dreadful scenes.--fits upon fits(faintly indeed and imperfectly remembered)procuring me no compassion--but death was withheld from me.That would have been too great a mercy!

Thus i was tricked and deluded back by blacker hearts of my own sex than I thought there were in the world;who appeared to me to be persons of honour,and,when in his power,thus barbarously was I treated by this villainous man.

克拉丽莎节选

英国18世纪感伤主义小说家塞缪尔•理查逊(Samuel Richardson,1689~1761),自学成才,以印刷出版为业。50岁以后才开始写书信、日记体的小说,篇幅都很长,经他自己多次修改出版。共计三部:《帕梅拉》(Pamela,1740~1741,四卷)、《克拉丽莎》(Clarissa,1748~1749,八卷,百万字)和《查尔斯•格兰迪森爵士》(Sir Charles Grandison,1753~1754,七卷)。《克拉丽莎》的少女主角拒绝听从父母之命嫁给富家,受英俊荡子勒夫莱斯(Lovelace)怂恿欺骗,随他出逃伦敦。她被带到一家高级妓院,经一些假冒的贵妇人包围,多方诱劝,始终珍视贞操,不肯失身。后来勒夫莱斯下狠心用药将克拉丽莎麻醉,施行强暴。即使这样,女方也坚决不肯嫁他,后来终于获救,她的堂兄和勒夫莱斯决斗,将勒杀死。全书用克拉丽莎给密友的信和其他人写的信组成,从多种角度描述了事情的经过。所谓“感伤主义”(sentimentalism)是18世纪中后期一种描写人物感情曲折变化,并故意以此引起读者同情的文学风格,它离开了冷淡的理性主义,但还没有彻底解放为热情的浪漫主义。感伤主义作品使人感到处处不脱旧式道德观念的束缚,有些矫揉造作,吞吞吐吐。这里选介的一段,出自克拉丽莎在遭强奸后给密友安娜•豪的信,追述自己怎样受骗上当,当时的心情变化又是如何。

尽管我的头脑并不出众,我还是有点时间考虑这个人和他的举止。在他盯着我时,他的外表、狂暴的脾气吓坏了我。回忆起来是明显的压抑快乐型性格,就象我具有的那样。他说话很简短,他发出声音时,仿佛呼吸被阻碍。当他们随后再看时,我从没见过他这么可恶的目光--他们获得了成功!--凶猛又野蛮;比我在邪恶的房屋中第一次见到的那些女人的目光更令人恶心;不时还投来些不怀好意、恶作剧的目光。如果可以的话,我宁愿和他有100英里远。可是他的举止是有分寸的--还算庄重,可是,我本应反抗--因为他有两三次抓住我的手,十分热情,但这伤害了我;他的言语很柔和,但他说话时似乎不张开嘴;更不用说他乞丐般卑贱的腔调了;然而他的话和行为带着一种强烈的表情和几乎震颤的情绪!哦,天哪!他是多么坏,后来却不去反省。

我说了一两次我口渴了。我想要水:他们给我一些轻啤酒:我想,啤酒,是他们加放他们药剂的不错工具(如果以前的剂量还不够大的话)。我告诉那个使女她知道我以前很少喝麦芽洒:可是,我没有考虑我这种习惯,因为我实在太渴了,所以立刻喝下了酒,当时好像是,我发现情况比以前更糟;像喝醉了一样,我应该问问自己:我不知道如何这样。

他命令他的仆人出去两次:就在他返回之前,送来了其中一位假扮的贝蒂夫人给勒夫莱斯先生的信。

他把信交给了我。我读了:此后我认为我不知如何是好;由于蒙塔古小姐假装突然发作的强烈的惊风,那夜她将推迟前往汉普斯蒂德;那时我突然意识到他在这所房子里对我可耻的阴谋。

后来我坚持直接前往贝蒂夫人的住所。

他说,莱森太太家里现在正十分拥挤,我的固执是出于毫无根据的恐惧(哦,他那时做的是怎样的誓言,此后怎么以他的名誉起誓!),他希望我不要给她们添麻烦。他显得异常吃惊(不知是出于高兴还是悲伤),说夏洛特实际上以前就常惊风;如果她几小时内不动身的话,他们将留她在一起呆一周。

也许带些侮辱的意味,这个坏人说,亲爱的,你只相信你的眼睛;你只看到你偶尔不在汉普斯蒂德的蒙塔古小姐家里,而且有点荒凉?那么我很担心她。安静对她正有好处;但如果你去的话你对她的关心,她对你的爱,只会增添这可怜女孩的病痛。

悲伤和恐惧带来心烦意乱,我仍然表示第二天早晨以前决不呆在这间房子里。我所有的全部,我的戒指、我的表、我的一点钱都用来雇马车;否则的话,如果找不到别人,我会在那晚上走到汉普斯蒂德,尽管是我一个人走。

于是他派人去叫一辆马车,他们假装去叫。他说,不管什么价格,他都会帮助我的,尽管很晚了;他将全心全意照顾我。但找不到马车。

我还是把其余部分讲短些。我的头越来越痛;我变得迟钝、狂乱、不省人事。天底下最坏的女人被叫来吓唬我。在那时,对我来说世界上没什么生灵比她更可怕了。

我记得我乞求慈悲。我记得我说我会是他的--实际上确实将是他的--以获得他的慈悲。但我没找到丝毫怜悯。我的力量、我的智慧都没能帮助我--接着就发生了以下情景--哦,天哪,这些可怕的情景!--我一次次地痉挛使我失去了意识(的确很虚弱,不能记清楚当时的情况了),但我却没有死。这真是万幸。

因此我被我以前意想不到的同性别的黑心肠的人欺骗、迷惑了,她们是作为贵妇人出现在我面前的,并且,我落在他手中,因此我被这个邪恶的人下流地侮辱了。

  原文地址:http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/yyslhj/531181.html