carmen(卡门)-第1节
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CARMEN
CARMEN
by PROSPER MERIMEE
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CARMEN
CHAPTER I
I had always suspected the geographical authorities did not know what
they were talking about when they located the battlefield of Munda in the
county of the Bastuli…Poeni； close to the modern Monda； some two
leagues north of Marbella。
According to my own surmise； founded on the text of the anonymous
author of the /Bellum Hispaniense/； and on certain information culled
from the excellent library owned by the Duke of Ossuna； I believed the
site of the memorable struggle in which Caesar played double or quits；
once and for all； with the champions of the Republic； should be sought in
the neighbourhood of Montilla。
Happening to be in Andalusia during the autumn of 1830； I made a
somewhat lengthy excursion； with the object of clearing up certain doubts
which still oppressed me。 A paper which I shall shortly publish will； I trust；
remove any hesitation that may still exist in the minds of all honest
archaeologists。 But before that dissertation of mine finally settles the
geographical problem on the solution of which the whole of learned
Europe hangs； I desire to relate a little tale。 It will do no prejudice to the
interesting question of the correct locality of Monda。
I had hired a guide and a couple of horses at Cordova； and had started
on my way with no luggage save a few shirts； and Caesar's
/Commentaries/。 As I wandered； one day； across the higher lands of the
Cachena plain； worn with fatigue； parched with thirst； scorched by a
burning sun； cursing Caesar and Pompey's sons alike； most heartily； my
eye lighted； at some distance from the path I was following； on a little
stretch of green sward dotted with reeds and rushes。 That betokened the
neighbourhood of some spring； and； indeed； as I drew nearer I perceived
that what had looked like sward was a marsh； into which a stream； which
seemed to issue from a narrow gorge between two high spurs of the Sierra
di Cabra； ran and disappeared。
If I rode up that stream； I argued； I was likely to find cooler water；
fewer leeches and frogs； and mayhap a little shade among the rocks。
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At the mouth of the gorge； my horse neighed； and another horse；
invisible to me； neighed back。 Before I had advanced a hundred paces； the
gorge suddenly widened； and I beheld a sort of natural amphitheatre；
thoroughly shaded by the steep cliffs that lay all around it。 It was
impossible to imagine any more delightful halting place for a traveller。 At
the foot of the precipitous rocks； the stream bubbled upward and fell into a
little basin； lined with sand that was as white as snow。 Five or six splendid
evergreen oaks； sheltered from the wind； and cooled by the spring； grew
beside the pool； and shaded it with their thick foliage。 And round about it a
close and glossy turf offered the wanderer a better bed than he could have
found in any hostelry for ten leagues round。
The honour of discovering this fair spot did not belong to me。 A man
was resting there alreadysleeping； no doubtbefore I reached it。 Roused
by the neighing of the horses； he had risen to his feet and had moved over
to his mount； which had been taking advantage of its master's slumbers to
make a hearty feed on the grass that grew around。 He was an active young
fellow； of middle height； but powerful in build； and proud and sullen…
looking in expression。 His complexion； which may once have been fine；
had been tanned by the sun till it was darker than his hair。 One of his
hands grasped his horse's halter。 In the other he held a brass blunderbuss。
At the first blush； I confess； the blunderbuss； and the savage looks of
the man who bore it； somewhat took me aback。 But I had heard so much
about robbers； that； never seeing any； I had ceased to believe in their
existence。 And further； I had seen so many honest farmers arm themselves
to the teeth before they went out to market； that the sight of firearms gave
me no warrant for doubting the character of any stranger。 〃And then；〃
quoth I to myself； 〃what could he do with my shirts and my Elzevir edition
of Caesar's /Commentaries/？〃 So I bestowed a friendly nod on the man
with the blunderbuss； and inquired； with a smile； whether I had disturbed
his nap。 Without any answer； he looked me over from head to foot。 Then；
as if the scrutiny had satisfied him； he looked as closely at my guide； who
was just coming up。 I saw the guide turn pale； and pull up with an air of
evident alarm。 〃An unlucky meeting！〃 thought I to myself。 But prudence
instantly counselled me not to let any symptom of anxiety escape me。 So I
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dismounted。 I told the guide to take off the horses' bridles； and kneeling
down beside the spring； I laved my head and hands and then drank a long
draught； lying flat on my belly； like Gideon's soldiers。
Meanwhile； I watched the stranger； and my own guide。 This last
seemed to come forward unwillingly。 But the other did not appear to have
any evil designs upon us。 For he had turned his horse loose； and the
blunderbuss； which he had been holding horizontally； was now dropped
earthward。
Not thinking it necessary to take offence at the scant attention paid me；
I stretched myself full length upon the grass； and calmly asked the owner
of the blunderbuss whether he had a light about him。 At the same time I
pulled out my cigar…case。 The stranger； still without opening his lips； took
out his flint； and lost no time in getting me a light。 He was evidently
growing tamer； for he sat down opposite to me； though he still grasped his
weapon。 When I had lighted my cigar； I chose out the best I had left； and
asked him whether he smoked。
〃Yes； senor；〃 he replied。 These were the first words I had heard him
speak； and I noticed that he did not pronounce the letter /s/* in the
Andalusian fashion； whence I concluded he was a traveller； like myself；
though； maybe； somewhat less of an archaeologist。
* The Andalusians aspirate the /s/； and pronounce it like the soft
/c/ and the /z/； which Spaniards pronounce like the English /th/。 An
Andalusian may always be recognised by the way in which he says
/senor/。
〃You'll find this a fairly good one；〃 said I； holding out a real Havana
regalia。
He bowed his head slightly； lighted his cigar at mine； thanked me with
another nod； and began to smoke with a most lively appearance of
enjoyment。
〃Ah！〃 he exclaimed； as he blew his first puff of smoke slowly out of
his ears and nostrils。 〃What a time it is since I've had a smoke！〃
In Spain the giving and accepting of a cigar establishes bonds of
hospitality similar to those founded in Eastern countries on the partaking
of bread and salt。 My friend turned out more talkative than I had hoped。
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However； though he claimed to belong to the /partido/ of Montilla； he
seemed very ill…informed about the country。 He did not know the name of
the delightful valley in which we were sitting； he could not tell me the
names of any of the neighbouring villages； and when I inquired whether
he had not noticed any broken…down walls； broad…rimmed tiles； or carved
stones in the vicinity； he confessed he had never paid any heed to such
matters。 On the other hand； he showed himself an expert in horseflesh；
found fault with my mountnot a difficult affairand gave me a pedigree
of his own； which had come from the famous stud at Cordova。 It was a
splendid creature； indeed； so tough； according to
