苔絲 Chapter12

The nights were as hot as the days. Angel Clare could not sleep. He went out into the darkness to think over what had happened that afternoon. He had come as a student of farming to this dairy， thinking he would be here only a short time. He thought it would be a quiet place. From here he could observe the great world outside， before plunging back into it. But the world outside had lost its interest， and the quiet place was now the centre of all feeling.

夜晚與白天一樣炎熱。安吉爾·克萊爾無法入睡，就來到外面漆黑的夜里，他在思考那天下午發(fā)生的事情。他是作為一名學(xué)習(xí)務(wù)農(nóng)的學(xué)生來到這個牛奶場的，原以為在這兒只待一小段時間。他原以為這兒會是一個平靜的地方。在他重新投入到外面那個偉大的世界中之前，他可以在這兒冷眼旁觀它。但是外部的世界已經(jīng)失去了它的重要性，而這個平靜的地方現(xiàn)在卻成了他所有喜怒哀樂的中心。

Clare was a thoughtful， honest man. He knew Tess was not a toy to play with and throw away when finished with. Her life was as important to her as his was to him. He knew he must treat her affection for him seriously. But if they went on meeting every day， their relationship must develop： he could not stop himself.As he had not decided what purpose their relationship should have， he decided that for the moment they should meet as little as possible. But it was not easy to keep to this decision.He was driven towards her by the heat in his blood.

克萊爾是一個善于思考、誠實正直的人。他知道苔絲不是一個用來戲耍的玩偶，在玩過之后就可以丟棄。她的生活對于她與他的生活對于他同等重要。他知道他必須嚴(yán)肅認(rèn)真地對待她的感情。但是如果他們繼續(xù)保持天天見面，他們的關(guān)系勢必會繼續(xù)發(fā)展：他無法阻止自己。因為他還無法斷定他們的關(guān)系將發(fā)展成什么結(jié)果，于是他決定在這段時間里，他們應(yīng)盡量少見面。但執(zhí)行這樣一個決定絕非易事。他沸騰的熱血在驅(qū)使著他走近她。

He thought he would go and see his family.In less than five months he would have finished his studies here. After a few more months on other farms， he would be ready to start farming himself. Shouldn't a farmer's wife be a woman who understood farming?

他覺得他應(yīng)該回去見見他的家人。再有不到五個月，他在這兒的學(xué)習(xí)就要結(jié)束了。再到別的農(nóng)場學(xué)習(xí)幾個月，他就準(zhǔn)備開始經(jīng)營自己的農(nóng)場了。一個農(nóng)場主的妻子難道不該是個懂農(nóng)務(wù)的女人嗎?

He rode along the narrow road towards Emminster and his parents’ house. His eyes were looking， not at the road， but at next year. He loved her： ought he to marry her? What would his mother and brothers say? What would he himself say two years after the wedding?

他騎馬沿著一條狹長的道路朝愛敏斯特和他父母的房子走去。他的眼睛在展望著什么，不是路面，而是下一個年頭。他愛她：他應(yīng)該娶她嗎?他的母親和哥哥們會怎么說?他自己在結(jié)婚兩年后又會怎么說?

As he rode into the village， he saw a group of young girls waiting outside the church. Walking quickly to join them was Miss Mercy Chant， only daughter of his father's neighbour.His parents quietly hoped Angel would marry Mercy one day. She was very good at giving Bible classes， but in Angel's mind was the face of the pretty milkmaid who hardly ever thought of God.

當(dāng)他騎馬進村時，他看到一群年輕姑娘正等候在教堂外面。默茜·錢特小姐正快步走去加入她們，她是他父親家鄰居的獨生女。他的父母都暗暗地希望有一天安吉爾能和默茜結(jié)婚。她對于傳授《圣經(jīng)》知識非常在行，但安吉爾的心被一張漂亮的面孔占據(jù)了，就是那個幾乎從沒有想起過上帝的擠奶女工的面孔。

His family were delighted，though surprised，to see him.Angel was glad to be at home，and yet he did not feel so much part of the family as he used to. His father's religious belief was very strict， but he was a kind， honest man， and fond of his sons. However， he would have been shocked to know of the pagan pleasure in nature and pretty womanhood experienced by Angel. His mother shared his father's religious views and helped in his church work. His brothers seemed rather unimaginative and narrow-minded， although they were both well educated：they felt that anybody outside the Church or university could not be respected.

盡管有些驚訝，他的家人見到他還是很高興?；氐郊野布獱栆哺械胶苡淇?，然而他不再像過去那樣覺得自己是這個家庭的重要組成部分了。他父親恪守宗教信條，非常嚴(yán)格，但他是個和善正直的人，深愛著他的孩子們。然而，他若是知道安吉爾從自然界和漂亮女人身上所獲得的非基督教的快樂，一定會感到震驚的。他母親有著同父親一樣的宗教觀念，并幫助父親從事教堂的工作。他的哥哥們看起來相當(dāng)枯燥死板，而且心胸狹窄，盡管他們倆都受過良好的教育，但他們覺得任何教堂或大學(xué)外的人都不應(yīng)受到尊敬。

As he walked with his brothers， Angel felt that， however lucky they were to have a university education， neither of them really saw life as it was lived. They thought farming was a poor man's job， not suitable for a gentleman. Angel felt all the more determined to keep to his choice.

當(dāng)他和哥哥們走在一起時，安吉爾感覺到，盡管他們倆很幸運地接受了大學(xué)教育，但沒有一個能實事求是地看待生活。他們認(rèn)為務(wù)農(nóng)是窮人的職業(yè)，對一個紳士來說是不合適的。安吉爾堅持自己選擇的決心更堅定了。

In the evening he spoke to his father alone after prayers. Mr Clare told his son he had been saving the money he would have spent on his university education for him. This encouraged Angel to ask his father what sort of wife a farmer needed.

晚上做完禱告之后，他和父親單獨談了談?？巳R爾先生告訴兒子，他一直都在積攢那筆該用來給他支付大學(xué)教育費用的錢。這讓安吉爾有了勇氣，問父親一個農(nóng)場主需要什么樣的妻子。

‘A really Christian woman. Nothing else matters.For example，my neighbour Dr Chant…’

“一個虔誠的基督教徒，別的什么都不重要。比如說，我的鄰居錢特醫(yī)生……”

‘But isn't the main thing that she should be able to milk cows，churn good butter， value animals and direct farm workers?’

“但是難道這點不重要嗎?就是她要會擠牛奶，攪制出上等的黃油，珍惜動物，并指導(dǎo)農(nóng)場工人?”

Mr Clare had clearly never thought of this before.

很明顯，克萊爾先生以前從未想過這個方面。

‘Yes，yes， certainly. But I was going to say that you will never find a purer woman than Mercy Chant. Your mother and I would be very happy if you…’

“是的，是的，當(dāng)然。但我要說的是，你不可能再遇到一位比默茜·錢特更純潔的姑娘啦。你母親和我會非常高興的，如果你……”

‘Yes，yes，Mercy is good， I know.But，father，don't you think that one who is just as good and pure，and who understands farm life as well as the farmer， would be much better?’

“是的，是的，我知道默茜是個好姑娘。但是，爸爸，難道你不認(rèn)為一位同樣純潔善良的姑娘，像一個農(nóng)場主一樣了解農(nóng)場生活的姑娘，會更合適嗎?”

After much discussion Angel got down to details.He explained he had met a woman who was ideally suited to be a farmer's wife， who went to church reqularly， who was honest， sensitive， intelligent， graceful， pure as snow， and extremely beautiful.

商討了好一陣之后，安吉爾開始細細闡述。他解釋道，他遇上了一位非常適合做農(nóng)場主妻子的姑娘，她經(jīng)常去教堂，她真誠、聰慧、機智、可愛，雪一般地純潔，而且極其美麗。

‘Is she of a good family， like Mercy?’ asked his surprised mother， who had come in during the conversation.

“她是位大家閨秀嗎?像默茜一樣?”頗感意外的母親問道，她是在他們談話時進來的。

‘She is not what we call a lady，’ said Angel firmly.‘ She is a cottager's daughter.What's the advantage of good family to me? My wife will have to work hard and manage with very little money.’

“她不是一位我們印象中的小姐，”安吉爾毫不退縮地說道，“她是一個農(nóng)村人家的姑娘。大家閨秀能給我?guī)硎裁春锰幠?我的妻子要賣力地工作，還要會安排那點微不足道的收入。”

‘Mercy is educated. That has its charm，’ said his mother，looking at him through her silver glasses.

“默茜受過教育，這是她的迷人之處。”他母親透過她的銀邊眼鏡看著他，說道。

‘I shall help her with her reading. She will learn fast. She's full of poetry， real poetry. She lives what poets only write.And she is a good Christian girl. I'm sure you'll value her for that.’

“我將幫助她讀書。她很快就能學(xué)會的。她充滿了詩意，真正的詩意。她充滿詩意地生活著，而詩人們只有在筆下流露這些。而且她還是位虔誠的基督教徒，我相信你們會因為這點珍視她的。”

His parents already doubted Angel's religious belief， so they were almost relieved to hear this of his future wife. They told him not to act in a hurry， but they would like to see her.Although Angel was free to marry or not as he wished， he did not want to hurt his parents， and he accepted their advice.

他的父母已經(jīng)懷疑安吉爾的宗教信仰了，因此他關(guān)于未來妻子的這一番話，倒讓他們覺得寬心了。他們叫他別草率行事，表示愿意見見她。盡管安吉爾能夠自由地選擇結(jié)婚或不結(jié)婚，但他卻不愿傷害他的父母。因此，他接受了他們的建議。

As he set off to return to the dairy and Tess， his father rode with him a little way. Mr Clare was telling his son about the new d’Urberville family who had taken the ancient name and lived near Trantridge. There was a young man and his blind mother. Preaching in the church there one day， Mr Clare had spoken out bravely against the well-known wickedness of young d’Urberville， who， after this， had publicly insulted him when they met later.

當(dāng)他起身返回奶場和苔絲身邊時，他父親伴他同騎了一段路?？巳R爾先生向兒子講起了那個住在純?nèi)鸺垢浇?、襲用了這個古老姓氏的新的德伯家庭。家里有一個年輕小伙子和他的雙目失明的母親。有一天在那兒的教堂布道時，克萊爾先生大膽地譴責(zé)了年輕人德伯的那些臭名昭著的惡行。此后，在他們碰面時，德伯公然地對他進行了辱罵。

Angel was angry with d’Urberville.Dear father，you should not let yourself be insulted like that!’

安吉爾對德伯感到非常生氣。“親愛的爸爸，你不該讓自己被這樣辱罵!”

‘It doesn't matter to me. I have a duty to point out where people go wrong. Often men have hit me， but then at least they haven't hit their families. And they live to thank me， and praise God.’

“這對我來說不要緊。我有責(zé)任指出人們做錯的地方。經(jīng)常會有人攻擊我，但是至少，這樣，他們就不會攻擊家人了。他們在日后會感激我，贊美上帝。”

‘I hope this young man does the same!’ said Angel warmly.‘But it doesn't seem likely.’

“我希望這個年輕人也能如此!”安吉爾熱心地說，“但是看起來不太可能。”

‘We'll hope anyway，’said Mr Clare.‘Maybe one of my words may grow like a seed in his heart one day.’

“不管怎樣，我們不要放棄希望。”克萊爾先生說道，“也許我的某一句話有一天會在他心里像種子一樣生根發(fā)芽的。”

Angel could not accept his father's narrow religious beliefs，but he loved him for his courage. He remembered that his father had not once asked whether Tess had money or not.This lack of interest in money meant that all the brothers would probably be poor for ever， but Angel still admired his father's belief that money was not important.

安吉爾無法接受他父親狹隘的宗教信仰，但他為他的勇氣敬愛他。他想起父親從來沒有問過苔絲是否有錢。這種對金錢的淡漠意味著也許他們兄弟幾個會永遠地一貧如洗，但是安吉爾仍然欽佩父親關(guān)于金錢并不重要的觀念。

When he returned to the dairy，in the sleepy afternoon heat， nobody was awake. Getting up so early in the morning meant the milkers really needed a sleep before the afternoon milking. It was three o’clock， time for skimming.There was a slight noise upstairs，then Tess appeared before his eyes.She did not see him， and stretched one arm up above her head.She yawned like a cat and he saw the red inside of her mouth. Her whole soul breathed out physical beauty. Then her eyes flashed as she recognized him.

當(dāng)他回到牛奶場時，正值叫人昏昏欲睡的炎熱下午，沒有人醒著。擠奶工們早上起得如此早，因此在下午工作之前，他們非常需要睡上一覺?，F(xiàn)在是3點鐘，到了該撇牛奶的時間了。樓上發(fā)出了一陣輕微的響動，然后苔絲出現(xiàn)在他的眼前。她沒有看見他，正把一只胳膊舉過頭頂伸展著。她像貓一樣打呵欠，他看到了她嘴里紅紅的東西。她的整個靈魂呼出了她外在的美麗。她發(fā)現(xiàn)他時，眼睛猛地一亮。

‘Oh Mr Clar! How you frightened me—I…’she said，looking glad， shy and surprised at the same time.

“哦，克萊爾先生!你把我嚇壞了——我……”她說道，神情里帶著喜悅，又帶有幾分羞澀和驚訝。

Clare stepped forward to put his arms round her.

克萊爾走上前去，擁抱她。

‘Dear， darling Tessy!’he whispered， putting his face to her warm cheek.‘Don't call me Mr Clare any more! I've hurried back because of you!’

“親愛的，寶貝苔絲!”他輕喚道，把自己的臉貼到了她溫暖的臉頰上。“不要再稱呼我克萊爾先生了!我這么匆忙趕回來，就是為了你!”

They stood holding each other， the sun warming them through the window He looked deep into her eyes of blue and black and grey. She looked at him as Eve must have looked at Adam.

他們站立著互相擁抱，陽光透過窗戶暖暖地照在他們身上。他深情地注視著她那雙又藍又黑又灰的眼睛，而她看他的眼神尤如夏娃看著亞當(dāng)。

‘I must go skimming，’she said Together they went to the milk-house.

“我得去撇牛奶了，”她說。于是他們一起去了牛奶貯藏室。

Perhaps the Talbothays milk was not very well skimmed that afternoon. Tess was in a dream as she skimmed.The heat of his love made her feel like a plant under a burning sun.

也許那天下午，塔爾勃塞的牛奶撇得質(zhì)量不太高。苔絲干活的時候，一直神情恍惚。他的愛的熱量讓她覺得自己像炎炎烈日烘烤下的一株植物。

‘Theres’ s something very practical that I want to ask you，’he said gently.‘I shall sonn want to marry. Being a farmer， I need a wife who knows all about farms. Will you be that woman， Tessy?

“我有一個非常實際的問題要問你，”他溫柔地說，“我打算不久就結(jié)婚。作為一個農(nóng)場主，我需要一位對農(nóng)場事務(wù)樣樣通曉的妻子。苔絲，你愿意做這樣一位妻子嗎?”

She looked quite worried.She had accepted that she could not help loving him， but she had not expected this result.With bitter pain she replied as she had promised herself she would.

“啊，克萊爾先生——我不能成為你的妻子——我不能!”說出這些話時，她的心都要碎了。

‘Oh Mr Clare—I cannot be your wife… I cannot be!’The sound of these words seemed to break her very heart.

“可是，苔絲!”他叫道。對她的回答他大感驚詫，更緊地抱住了她。

‘But Tess!’he said， amazed at her answer and holding her still closer.‘Surely you love me?’

“想必你是愛我的吧?”

‘Oh yes， yes! And I would rather be yours than anybody's in the whole world! But I cannot marry you!’cried the sweet and honest voice miserably.

“嗯，是的，愛你!比起世界上任何人來，我都更愿做你的妻子，但是我不能嫁給你!”她難過地用甜蜜而誠實的聲音說。

‘Tess， have， you agreed to marry someone else?’

“苔絲，是不是你已經(jīng)同意嫁給別人了?”

‘No， no!’

“不，不是的!”

‘Then why do you refuse me?’

“那么你為什么拒絕我呢?”

‘Your father is a parson， and your mother will want you to marry a lady，’said poor Tess， desperately trying to find an excuse.

“你父親是位牧師，你母親會要你娶一位小姐的。”可憐的苔絲說道，迫切地想找一個借口。

‘No， certainly not， that's why I went home， to talk to them both.’

“不，當(dāng)然不會，這次我回家的原因，就是要跟他們倆都談?wù)劇?rdquo;

‘I feel I cannot—never， never!’

“我覺得自己不能——永遠不能，永遠不能!”

‘Is it too sudden， my pretty? I'll give you time. I won't mention it again for a while.’

“是不是太突然了，我的美人兒?我會給你時間的。這會兒，我不再提這件事啦。”

She tried to skim again， but her tears fell so that she could not do it. She could never explain her sadness， even to this her best friend. Clare began to talk more generally， to calm her.He talked about his father's religious views， and the good work he did. He mentioned the insults his father had received from a young man near Trantridge who had a blind mother.

她想接著干活，但是她的眼淚滴落下來，讓她無法繼續(xù)下去。她永遠無法解釋她的悲傷，哪怕是對這樣一個她最親密的朋友?？巳R爾開始用更一般的口氣跟她談話，好讓她平靜下來。他談起了他父親的宗教觀念，以及他做的善事。他提起了一個住在純?nèi)鸺垢浇那嗄耆枇R他父親的事，他有個雙目失明的母親。

Tess now looked hard and worn，and her mouth was tragic.Clare did not notice. They finished skimming and he said to her softly：

現(xiàn)在苔絲的臉變得嚴(yán)峻和焦慮起來，她的嘴顯露出了不幸?？巳R爾沒有注意到。他們撇完牛奶后，他柔聲向她問道：

‘And my question， Tessy?’

“苔絲，我的問題怎么樣了?”

‘Oh no—no!’ she replied， hopelessly， thinking bitterly of Alec d’Urberville.‘ It can't be!’

“哦，不——不行!”她絕望地回答道，痛苦地想起了亞歷克·德伯。“這絕不可能!”

She went out with the other milkmaids to the cows in the fields. Angel watched her moving freely in the air like a swimmer on a wave.He knew he was right to choose a wife from nature， not from civilization.

她和其他擠奶女工一起，朝牧場的牛群走去。安吉爾看著她在戶外的空氣中自由地移動著步伐，就像水波中的游泳者。他知道他是正確的，他要選擇一位來自自然而不是來自文明社會的妻子。