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madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第1章

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Madame Bovary
By Gustave Flaubert
Translated from the French by Eleanor Marx…Aveling
To Marie…Antoine…Jules Senard
Member of the Paris Bar; Ex…President of the National Assembly;
and Former Minister of the Interior
Dear and Illustrious Friend;
Permit me to inscribe your name at the head of this book; and
above its dedication; for it is to you; before all; that I owe
its publication。 Reading over your magnificent defence; my work
has acquired for myself; as it were; an unexpected authority。
Accept; then; here; the homage of my gratitude; which; how great
soever it is; will never attain the height of your eloquence and
your devotion。
Gustave Flaubert
Paris; 12 April 1857

MADAME BOVARY
Part I
Chapter One
We were in class when the head…master came in; followed by a 〃new
fellow;〃 not wearing the school uniform; and a school servant
carrying a large desk。 Those who had been asleep woke up; and
every one rose as if just surprised at his work。
The head…master made a sign to us to sit down。 Then; turning to
the class…master; he said to him in a low voice
〃Monsieur Roger; here is a pupil whom I recommend to your care;
he'll be in the second。 If his work and conduct are satisfactory;
he will go into one of the upper classes; as becomes his age。〃
The 〃new fellow;〃 standing in the corner behind the door so that
he could hardly be seen; was a country lad of about fifteen; and
taller than any of us。 His hair was cut square on his forehead
like a village chorister's; he looked reliable; but very ill at
ease。 Although he was not broad…shouldered; his short school
jacket of green cloth with black buttons must have been tight
about the arm…holes; and showed at the opening of the cuffs red
wrists accustomed to being bare。 His legs; in blue stockings;
looked out from beneath yellow trousers; drawn tight by braces;
He wore stout; ill…cleaned; hob…nailed boots。
We began repeating the lesson。 He listened with all his ears; as
attentive as if at a sermon; not daring even to cross his legs or
lean on his elbow; and when at two o'clock the bell rang; the
master was obliged to tell him to fall into line with the rest of
us。
When we came back to work; we were in the habit of throwing our
caps on the ground so as to have our hands more free; we used
from the door to toss them under the form; so that they hit
against the wall and made a lot of dust: it was 〃the thing。〃
But; whether he had not noticed the trick; or did not dare to
attempt it; the 〃new fellow;〃 was still holding his cap on his
knees even after prayers were over。 It was one of those
head…gears of composite order; in which we can find traces of the
bearskin; shako; billycock hat; sealskin cap; and cotton
night…cap; one of those poor things; in fine; whose dumb ugliness
has depths of expression; like an imbecile's face。 Oval;
stiffened with whalebone; it began with three round knobs; then
came in succession lozenges of velvet and rabbit…skin separated
by a red band; after that a sort of bag that ended in a cardboard
polygon covered with complicated braiding; from which hung; at
the end of a long thin cord; small twisted gold threads in the
manner of a tassel。 The cap was new; its peak shone。
〃Rise;〃 said the master。
He stood up; his cap fell。 The whole class began to laugh。 He
stooped to pick it up。 A neighbor knocked it down again with his
elbow; he picked it up once more。
〃Get rid of your helmet;〃 said the master; who was a bit of a
wag。
There was a burst of laughter from the boys; which so thoroughly
put the poor lad out of countenance that he did not know whether
to keep his cap in his hand; leave it on the ground; or put it on
his head。 He sat down again and placed it on his knee。
〃Rise;〃 repeated the master; 〃and tell me your name。〃
The new boy articulated in a stammering voice an unintelligible
name。
〃Again!〃
The same sputtering of syllables was heard; drowned by the
tittering of the class。
〃Louder!〃 cried the master; 〃louder!〃
The 〃new fellow〃 then took a supreme resolution; opened an
inordinately large mouth; and shouted at the top of his voice as
if calling someone in the word 〃Charbovari。〃
A hubbub broke out; rose in crescendo with bursts of shrill
voices (they yelled; barked; stamped; repeated 〃Charbovari!
Charbovari〃); then died away into single notes; growing quieter
only with great difficulty; and now and again suddenly
recommencing along the line of a form whence rose here and there;
like a damp cracker going off; a stifled laugh。
However; amid a rain of impositions; order was gradually
re…established in the class; and the master having succeeded in
catching the name of 〃Charles Bovary;〃 having had it dictated to
him; spelt out; and re…read; at once ordered the poor devil to go
and sit down on the punishment form at the foot of the master's
desk。 He got up; but before going hesitated。
〃What are you looking for?〃 asked the master。
〃My c…a…p;〃 timidly said the 〃new fellow;〃 casting troubled looks
round him。
〃Five hundred lines for all the class!〃 shouted in a furious
voice stopped; like the Quos ego*; a fresh outburst。 〃Silence!〃
continued the master indignantly; wiping his brow with his
handkerchief; which he had just taken from his cap。 〃As to you;
'new boy;' you will conjugate 'ridiculus sum'** twenty times。〃
Then; in a gentler tone; 〃Come; you'll find your cap again; it
hasn't been stolen。〃
*A quotation from the Aeneid signifying a threat。
**I am ridiculous。
Quiet was restored。 Heads bent over desks; and the 〃new fellow〃
remained for two hours in an exemplary attitude; although from
time to time some paper pellet flipped from the tip of a pen came
bang in his face。 But he wiped his face with one hand and
continued motionless; his eyes lowered。
In the evening; at preparation; he pulled out his pens from his
desk; arranged his small belongings; and carefully ruled his
paper。 We saw him working conscientiously; looking up every word
in the dictionary; and taking the greatest pains。 Thanks; no
doubt; to the willingness he showed; he had not to go down to the
class below。 But though he knew his rules passably; he had little
finish in composition。 It was the cure of his village who had
taught him his first Latin; his parents; from motives of economy;
having sent him to school as late as possible。
His father; Monsieur Charles Denis Bartolome Bovary; retired
assistant…surgeon…major; compromised about 1812 in certain
conscription scandals; and forced at this time to leave the
service; had taken advantage of his fine figure to get hold of a
dowry of sixty thousand francs that offered in the person of a
hosier's daughter who had fallen in love with his good looks。  A
fine man; a great talker; making his spurs ring as he walked;
wearing whiskers that ran into his moustache; his fingers always
garnished with rings and dressed in loud colours; he had the dash
of a military man with the easy go of a commercial traveller。
Once married; he lived for three or four years on his wife's
fortune; dining well; rising late; smoking long porcelain pipes;
not coming in at night till after the theatre; and haunting
cafes。 The father…in…law died; leaving little; he was indigna
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