×

Usamos cookies para ayudar a mejorar LingQ. Al visitar este sitio, aceptas nuestras politicas de cookie.


image

Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, CHAPTER I

CHAPTER I

On an evening in the latter part of May a middle-aged man was walking homeward from Shaston to the village of Marlott, in the adjoining Vale of Blakemore, or Blackmoor.

The pair of legs that carried him were rickety, and there was a bias in his gait which inclined him somewhat to the left of a straight line. He occasionally gave a smart nod, as if in confirmation of some opinion, though he was not thinking of anything in particular. An empty egg-basket was slung upon his arm, the nap of his hat was ruffled, a patch being quite worn away at its brim where his thumb came in taking it off. Presently he was met by an elderly parson astride on a gray mare, who, as he rode, hummed a wandering tune. "Good night t'ee," said the man with the basket.

"Good night, Sir John," said the parson.

The pedestrian, after another pace or two, halted, and turned round.

"Now, sir, begging your pardon; we met last market-day on this road about this time, and I said 'Good night,' and you made reply ' Good night, Sir John ,' as now.

"I did," said the parson.

"And once before that—near a month ago.

"I may have.

"Then what might your meaning be in calling me 'Sir John' these different times, when I be plain Jack Durbeyfield, the haggler?

The parson rode a step or two nearer.

"It was only my whim," he said; and, after a moment's hesitation: "It was on account of a discovery I made some little time ago, whilst I was hunting up pedigrees for the new county history.

I am Parson Tringham, the antiquary, of Stagfoot Lane. Don't you really know, Durbeyfield, that you are the lineal representative of the ancient and knightly family of the d'Urbervilles, who derive their descent from Sir Pagan d'Urberville, that renowned knight who came from Normandy with William the Conqueror, as appears by Battle Abbey Roll? "Never heard it before, sir!

"Well it's true.

Throw up your chin a moment, so that I may catch the profile of your face better. Yes, that's the d'Urberville nose and chin—a little debased. Your ancestor was one of the twelve knights who assisted the Lord of Estremavilla in Normandy in his conquest of Glamorganshire. Branches of your family held manors over all this part of England; their names appear in the Pipe Rolls in the time of King Stephen. In the reign of King John one of them was rich enough to give a manor to the Knights Hospitallers; and in Edward the Second's time your forefather Brian was summoned to Westminster to attend the great Council there. You declined a little in Oliver Cromwell's time, but to no serious extent, and in Charles the Second's reign you were made Knights of the Royal Oak for your loyalty. Aye, there have been generations of Sir Johns among you, and if knighthood were hereditary, like a baronetcy, as it practically was in old times, when men were knighted from father to son, you would be Sir John now. "Ye don't say so!

"In short," concluded the parson, decisively smacking his leg with his switch, "there's hardly such another family in England.

"Daze my eyes, and isn't there?

said Durbeyfield. "And here have I been knocking about, year after year, from pillar to post, as if I was no more than the commonest feller in the parish… And how long hev this news about me been knowed, Pa'son Tringham? The clergyman explained that, as far as he was aware, it had quite died out of knowledge, and could hardly be said to be known at all.

His own investigations had begun on a day in the preceding spring when, having been engaged in tracing the vicissitudes of the d'Urberville family, he had observed Durbeyfield's name on his waggon, and had thereupon been led to make inquiries about his father and grandfather till he had no doubt on the subject. "At first I resolved not to disturb you with such a useless piece of information," said he.

"However, our impulses are too strong for our judgement sometimes. I thought you might perhaps know something of it all the while. "Well, I have heard once or twice, 'tis true, that my family had seen better days afore they came to Blackmoor.

But I took no notice o't, thinking it to mean that we had once kept two horses where we now keep only one. I've got a wold silver spoon, and a wold graven seal at home, too; but, Lord, what's a spoon and seal? … And to think that I and these noble d'Urbervilles were one flesh all the time. 'Twas said that my gr't-granfer had secrets, and didn't care to talk of where he came from… And where do we raise our smoke, now, parson, if I may make so bold; I mean, where do we d'Urbervilles live? "You don't live anywhere.

You are extinct—as a county family. "That's bad.

"Yes—what the mendacious family chronicles call extinct in the male line—that is, gone down—gone under.

"Then where do we lie?

"At Kingsbere-sub-Greenhill: rows and rows of you in your vaults, with your effigies under Purbeck-marble canopies.

"And where be our family mansions and estates?

"You haven't any.

"Oh?

No lands neither? "None; though you once had 'em in abundance, as I said, for you family consisted of numerous branches.

In this county there was a seat of yours at Kingsbere, and another at Sherton, and another in Millpond, and another at Lullstead, and another at Wellbridge. "And shall we ever come into our own again?

"Ah—that I can't tell!

"And what had I better do about it, sir?

asked Durbeyfield, after a pause. "Oh—nothing, nothing; except chasten yourself with the thought of 'how are the mighty fallen.

It is a fact of some interest to the local historian and genealogist, nothing more. There are several families among the cottagers of this county of almost equal lustre. Good night. "But you'll turn back and have a quart of beer wi' me on the strength o't, Pa'son Tringham?

There's a very pretty brew in tap at The Pure Drop—though, to be sure, not so good as at Rolliver's. "No, thank you—not this evening, Durbeyfield.

You've had enough already." Concluding thus, the parson rode on his way, with doubts as to his discretion in retailing this curious bit of lore. When he was gone, Durbeyfield walked a few steps in a profound reverie, and then sat down upon the grassy bank by the roadside, depositing his basket before him.

In a few minutes a youth appeared in the distance, walking in the same direction as that which had been pursued by Durbeyfield. The latter, on seeing him, held up his hand, and the lad quickened his pace and came near. "Boy, take up that basket!

I want 'ee to go on an errand for me. The lath-like stripling frowned.

"Who be you, then, 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—that's the secret! Now obey my orders, and take the message I'm going to charge 'ee wi'… Well, Fred, I don't mind telling you that the secret is that I'm one of a noble race—it has been just found out by me this present afternoon, p.m." And as he made the announcement, Durbeyfield, declining from his sitting position, luxuriously stretched himself out upon the bank among the daisies. The lad stood before Durbeyfield, and contemplated his length from crown to toe.

"Sir John d'Urberville—that's who I am," continued the prostrate man.

"That is if knights were baronets—which they be. 'Tis recorded in history all about me. Dost know of such a place, lad, as Kingsbere-sub-Greenhill? "Ees.

I've been there to Greenhill Fair. "Well, under the church of that city there lie—"

"'Tisn't a city, the place I mean; leastwise 'twaddn' when I was there—'twas a little one-eyed, blinking sort o' place.

"Never you mind the place, boy, that's not the question before us.

Under the church of that there parish lie my ancestors—hundreds of 'em—in coats of mail and jewels, in gr't lead coffins weighing tons and tons. There's not a man in the county o' South-Wessex that's got grander and nobler skillentons in his family than I. "Oh?

"Now take up that basket, and goo on to Marlott, and when you've come to The Pure Drop Inn, tell 'em to send a horse and carriage to me immed'ately, to carry me hwome.

And in the bottom o' the carriage they be to put a noggin o' rum in a small bottle, and chalk it up to my account. And when you've done that goo on to my house with the basket, and tell my wife to put away that washing, because she needn't finish it, and wait till I come hwome, as I've news to tell her. As the lad stood in a dubious attitude, Durbeyfield put his hand in his pocket, and produced a shilling, one of the chronically few that he possessed.

"Here's for your labour, lad.

This made a difference in the young man's estimate of the position.

"Yes, Sir John.

Thank 'ee. Anything else I can do for 'ee, Sir John? "Tell 'em at hwome that I should like for supper,—well, lamb's fry if they can get it; and if they can't, black-pot; and if they can't get that, well chitterlings will do.

"Yes, Sir John.

The boy took up the basket, and as he set out the notes of a brass band were heard from the direction of the village.

"What's that?

said Durbeyfield. "Not on account o' I? "'Tis the women's club-walking, Sir John.

Why, your da'ter is one o' the members. "To be sure—I'd quite forgot it in my thoughts of greater things!

Well, vamp on to Marlott, will ye, and order that carriage, and maybe I'll drive round and inspect the club. The lad departed, and Durbeyfield lay waiting on the grass and daisies in the evening sun.

Not a soul passed that way for a long while, and the faint notes of the band were the only human sounds audible within the rim of blue hills.


CHAPTER I KAPITEL I CAPÍTULO I CHAPITRE I 제1장 CAPÍTULO I ГЛАВА I BÖLÜM I 第一章

On an evening in the latter part of May a middle-aged man was walking homeward from Shaston to the village of Marlott, in the adjoining Vale of Blakemore, or Blackmoor. Un soir de la fin du mois de mai, un homme d'âge moyen rentrait chez lui de Shaston au village de Marlott, dans la vallée voisine de Blakemore, ou Blackmoor. Em uma noite no final de maio, um homem de meia-idade estava voltando para casa de Shaston para a aldeia de Marlott, no adjacente Vale de Blakemore, ou Blackmoor.

The pair of legs that carried him were rickety, and there was a bias in his gait which inclined him somewhat to the left of a straight line. La paire de jambes qui le portait était branlante, et il y avait un biais dans sa démarche qui l'inclinait un peu à gauche d'une ligne droite. O par de pernas que o carregava era frágil, e havia um viés em seu andar que o inclinava um pouco para a esquerda de uma linha reta. Ноги, которые несли его, были шаткими, и в его походке была некоторая неустойчивость, которая несколько наклоняла его влево от прямой линии. He occasionally gave a smart nod, as if in confirmation of some opinion, though he was not thinking of anything in particular. Il faisait parfois un hochement de tête intelligent, comme pour confirmer une opinion, même s'il ne pensait à rien en particulier. An empty egg-basket was slung upon his arm, the nap of his hat was ruffled, a patch being quite worn away at its brim where his thumb came in taking it off. Une corbeille d'œufs vide était suspendue à son bras, le poil de son chapeau était ébouriffé, une pièce était assez usée à son bord où son pouce venait l'enlever. Uma cesta de ovos vazia estava pendurada em seu braço, a aba de seu chapéu estava arrepiada, com um remendo bastante gasto na aba onde seu polegar entrou ao removê-lo. Presently he was met by an elderly parson astride on a gray mare, who, as he rode, hummed a wandering tune. À présent, il a été rencontré par un pasteur âgé à califourchon sur une jument grise, qui, pendant qu'il chevauchait, fredonnait un air errant. Logo ele foi recebido por um pároco idoso montado em uma égua cinza, que, enquanto cavalgava, cantarolava uma melodia errante. "Good night t’ee," said the man with the basket. "Bonne nuit, t'ee," dit l'homme avec le panier.

"Good night, Sir John," said the parson.

The pedestrian, after another pace or two, halted, and turned round. O pedestre, depois de mais um ou dois passos, parou e deu meia-volta.

"Now, sir, begging your pardon; we met last market-day on this road about this time, and I said 'Good night,' and you made reply ' Good night, Sir John ,' as now. « Maintenant, monsieur, je vous demande pardon ; nous nous sommes rencontrés le dernier jour de marché sur cette route à peu près à cette heure, et j'ai dit « Bonne nuit », et vous avez répondu « Bonne nuit, Sir John », comme maintenant. “Agora, senhor, desculpe-nos; nós nos encontramos no último dia de mercado nesta estrada por volta desta hora, e eu disse 'Boa noite', e você respondeu 'Boa noite, Sir John', como agora.

"I did," said the parson.

"And once before that—near a month ago.

"I may have.

"Then what might your meaning be in calling me 'Sir John' these different times, when I be plain Jack Durbeyfield, the haggler? « Alors, qu'est-ce que ça peut bien vouloir dire en m'appelant « Sir John » à ces différentes époques, alors que je suis tout simplement Jack Durbeyfield, le marchand ? "Então, qual seria o seu significado em me chamar de 'Sir John' nessas diferentes ocasiões, quando eu sou simplesmente Jack Durbeyfield, o pechinchador?

The parson rode a step or two nearer. Le curé s'approcha d'un pas ou deux.

"It was only my whim," he said; and, after a moment’s hesitation: "It was on account of a discovery I made some little time ago, whilst I was hunting up pedigrees for the new county history. « Ce n'était que mon caprice, dit-il ; et, après un moment d'hésitation : « C'était à cause d'une découverte que j'ai faite il y a peu de temps, alors que je cherchais des pedigrees pour la nouvelle histoire du comté. "Foi apenas um capricho meu", disse ele; e, após um momento de hesitação: "Foi por causa de uma descoberta que fiz há pouco tempo, enquanto procurava pedigrees para a nova história do condado.

I am Parson Tringham, the antiquary, of Stagfoot Lane. Je suis Parson Tringham, l'antiquaire, de Stagfoot Lane. Sou o pároco Tringham, o antiquário de Stagfoot Lane. Don’t you really know, Durbeyfield, that you are the lineal representative of the ancient and knightly family of the d’Urbervilles, who derive their descent from Sir Pagan d’Urberville, that renowned knight who came from Normandy with William the Conqueror, as appears by Battle Abbey Roll? Ne sais-tu pas vraiment, Durbeyfield, que tu es le représentant en ligne directe de l'ancienne et chevaleresque famille des d'Urberville, qui tire sa descendance de Sir Pagan d'Urberville, ce célèbre chevalier venu de Normandie avec Guillaume le Conquérant, tel qu'il apparaît par Battle Abbey Roll? Você realmente não sabe, Durbeyfield, que você é o representante direto da antiga e cavalheiresca família dos d'Urbervilles, que derivam sua descendência de Sir Pagan d'Urberville, aquele renomado cavaleiro que veio da Normandia com Guilherme, o Conquistador, como aparece por Battle Abbey Roll? "Never heard it before, sir!

"Well it’s true.

Throw up your chin a moment, so that I may catch the profile of your face better. Levez le menton un instant, afin que je puisse mieux saisir le profil de votre visage. Levante o queixo por um momento, para que eu possa captar melhor o perfil do seu rosto. Yes, that’s the d’Urberville nose and chin—a little debased. Oui, c'est le nez et le menton d'Urberville, un peu avili. Sim, esse é o nariz e o queixo d'Urberville — um pouco degradados. Your ancestor was one of the twelve knights who assisted the Lord of Estremavilla in Normandy in his conquest of Glamorganshire. Votre ancêtre était l'un des douze chevaliers qui ont aidé le seigneur d'Estremavilla en Normandie à conquérir le Glamorganshire. Seu ancestral foi um dos doze cavaleiros que ajudaram o Lorde de Estremavilla na Normandia em sua conquista de Glamorganshire. Branches of your family held manors over all this part of England; their names appear in the Pipe Rolls in the time of King Stephen. Des branches de votre famille possédaient des manoirs dans toute cette partie de l'Angleterre ; leurs noms apparaissent dans les Pipe Rolls à l'époque du roi Stephen. Ramos de sua família mantinham feudos em toda esta parte da Inglaterra; seus nomes aparecem no Pipe Rolls na época do rei Stephen. In the reign of King John one of them was rich enough to give a manor to the Knights Hospitallers; and in Edward the Second’s time your forefather Brian was summoned to Westminster to attend the great Council there. Sous le règne du roi Jean, l'un d'eux était assez riche pour donner un manoir aux chevaliers hospitaliers ; et à l'époque d'Edouard II, votre ancêtre Brian a été convoqué à Westminster pour y assister au grand Conseil. No reinado de D. João um deles era rico o suficiente para dar um feudo aos Cavaleiros Hospitalários; e na época de Eduardo II, seu antepassado Brian foi convocado a Westminster para participar do grande Conselho de lá. You declined a little in Oliver Cromwell’s time, but to no serious extent, and in Charles the Second’s reign you were made Knights of the Royal Oak for your loyalty. Vous avez un peu décliné à l'époque d'Oliver Cromwell, mais sans gravité, et sous le règne de Charles II, vous avez été nommés chevaliers du Royal Oak pour votre loyauté. Vocês declinaram um pouco na época de Oliver Cromwell, mas não muito, e no reinado de Carlos II vocês foram nomeados Cavaleiros do Carvalho Real por sua lealdade. Aye, there have been generations of Sir Johns among you, and if knighthood were hereditary, like a baronetcy, as it practically was in old times, when men were knighted from father to son, you would be Sir John now. Oui, il y a eu des générations de Sir John parmi vous, et si la chevalerie était héréditaire, comme une baronnie, comme c'était pratiquement le cas dans les temps anciens, lorsque les hommes étaient anoblis de père en fils, vous seriez maintenant Sir John. Sim, houve gerações de Sir Johns entre vocês, e se a cavalaria fosse hereditária, como um baronato, como praticamente era nos velhos tempos, quando os homens eram nomeados cavaleiros de pai para filho, você seria Sir John agora. "Ye don’t say so! "Vous ne dites pas cela ! "Você não diz isso!

"In short," concluded the parson, decisively smacking his leg with his switch, "there’s hardly such another family in England. « En bref », a conclu le pasteur en se frappant la jambe de manière décisive avec son interrupteur, « il n'y a guère une telle autre famille en Angleterre. "Em resumo", concluiu o pároco, batendo decisivamente na perna com o bastão, "dificilmente existe outra família assim na Inglaterra.

"Daze my eyes, and isn’t there? « Étourdissez mes yeux, et n'est-ce pas ? "Daze meus olhos, e não é?

said Durbeyfield. "And here have I been knocking about, year after year, from pillar to post, as if I was no more than the commonest feller in the parish… And how long hev this news about me been knowed, Pa’son Tringham? « Et voilà que je me promène, année après année, de pilier en poteau, comme si je n'étais que le plus petit abatteur de la paroisse… Et depuis combien de temps cette nouvelle à mon sujet est-elle connue, Pa'son Tringham ? “E aqui estou, ano após ano, de pilar em poste, como se não fosse mais do que o sujeito mais comum da paróquia... E há quanto tempo esta notícia sobre mim é conhecida, Pa'son Tringham? The clergyman explained that, as far as he was aware, it had quite died out of knowledge, and could hardly be said to be known at all. L'ecclésiastique expliqua que, pour autant qu'il le sache, cela s'était complètement éteint à cause de la connaissance et qu'on pouvait à peine dire qu'il était connu du tout. O clérigo explicou que, até onde ele sabia, havia morrido sem conhecimento e dificilmente poderia ser considerado conhecido.

His own investigations had begun on a day in the preceding spring when, having been engaged in tracing the vicissitudes of the d’Urberville family, he had observed Durbeyfield’s name on his waggon, and had thereupon been led to make inquiries about his father and grandfather till he had no doubt on the subject. Ses propres investigations avaient commencé un jour du printemps précédent où, occupé à retracer les vicissitudes de la famille d'Urberville, il avait remarqué le nom de Durbeyfield sur son chariot, et avait alors été amené à s'enquérir de son père et de son grand-père. jusqu'à ce qu'il n'ait aucun doute à ce sujet. Suas próprias investigações começaram em um dia na primavera anterior quando, tendo se empenhado em rastrear as vicissitudes da família d'Urberville, ele observou o nome de Durbeyfield em sua carroça e, a partir daí, foi levado a fazer perguntas sobre seu pai e seu avô. até que ele não teve nenhuma dúvida sobre o assunto. "At first I resolved not to disturb you with such a useless piece of information," said he. "A princípio resolvi não incomodá-lo com uma informação tão inútil", disse ele.

"However, our impulses are too strong for our judgement sometimes. "Cependant, nos impulsions sont parfois trop fortes pour notre jugement. I thought you might perhaps know something of it all the while. J'ai pensé que vous pourriez peut-être en savoir quelque chose pendant tout ce temps. "Well, I have heard once or twice, 'tis true, that my family had seen better days afore they came to Blackmoor. « Eh bien, j'ai entendu une ou deux fois, c'est vrai, que ma famille avait connu des jours meilleurs avant de venir à Blackmoor.

But I took no notice o’t, thinking it to mean that we had once kept two horses where we now keep only one. Mais je n'y prêtai pas attention, pensant que cela signifiait que nous avions autrefois gardé deux chevaux alors que nous n'en gardons plus qu'un. I’ve got a wold silver spoon, and a wold graven seal at home, too; but, Lord, what’s a spoon and seal? J'ai une cuillère en argent du monde, et un sceau gravé du monde à la maison aussi; mais, Seigneur, qu'est-ce qu'une cuillère et un sceau ? … And to think that I and these noble d’Urbervilles were one flesh all the time. … Et dire que moi et ces nobles d'Urberville étions une seule chair tout le temps. 'Twas said that my gr’t-granfer had secrets, and didn’t care to talk of where he came from… And where do we raise our smoke, now, parson, if I may make so bold; I mean, where do we d’Urbervilles live? « On a dit que mon grand-grand avait des secrets et qu'il se moquait bien de parler d'où il venait… Et d'où élevons-nous notre fumée, maintenant, curé, si je puis me permettre ; Je veux dire, où vivons-nous les Urbervilles ? "You don’t live anywhere.

You are extinct—as a county family. Vous avez disparu en tant que famille du comté. "That’s bad.

"Yes—what the mendacious family chronicles call extinct in the male line—that is, gone down—gone under. « Oui, ce que les chroniques familiales mensongères appellent éteint dans la lignée masculine, c'est-à-dire descendu, descendu.

"Then where do we lie? "Alors, où allons-nous nous allonger ?

"At Kingsbere-sub-Greenhill: rows and rows of you in your vaults, with your effigies under Purbeck-marble canopies. « À Kingsbere-sub-Greenhill : des rangées et des rangées de vous dans vos voûtes, avec vos effigies sous des auvents en marbre de Purbeck.

"And where be our family mansions and estates?

"You haven’t any.

"Oh?

No lands neither? "None; though you once had 'em in abundance, as I said, for you family consisted of numerous branches. "Aucun, bien que vous en ayez eu en abondance, comme je l'ai dit, car votre famille était composée de nombreuses branches.

In this county there was a seat of yours at Kingsbere, and another at Sherton, and another in Millpond, and another at Lullstead, and another at Wellbridge. Dans ce comté, il y avait un siège à vous à Kingsbere, et un autre à Sherton, et un autre à Millpond, et un autre à Lullstead, et un autre à Wellbridge. "And shall we ever come into our own again? « Et deviendrons-nous jamais nous-mêmes à nouveau ?

"Ah—that I can’t tell!

"And what had I better do about it, sir? « Et qu'est-ce que je ferais de mieux à ce sujet, monsieur ?

asked Durbeyfield, after a pause. "Oh—nothing, nothing; except chasten yourself with the thought of 'how are the mighty fallen. « Oh, rien, rien ; à part vous châtier en pensant à « comment les puissants sont-ils tombés ».

It is a fact of some interest to the local historian and genealogist, nothing more. There are several families among the cottagers of this county of almost equal lustre. Il y a plusieurs familles parmi les chalets de ce comté d'un éclat presque égal. Good night. "But you’ll turn back and have a quart of beer wi' me on the strength o’t, Pa’son Tringham? « Mais tu vas faire demi-tour et prendre un litre de bière avec moi sur la force, Pa'son Tringham ?

There’s a very pretty brew in tap at The Pure Drop—though, to be sure, not so good as at Rolliver’s. Il y a une très jolie bière au robinet chez The Pure Drop, même si, bien sûr, pas aussi bonne que chez Rolliver's. "No, thank you—not this evening, Durbeyfield.

You’ve had enough already." Concluding thus, the parson rode on his way, with doubts as to his discretion in retailing this curious bit of lore. Concluant ainsi, le curé partit à cheval, avec des doutes quant à sa discrétion dans la vente au détail de ce curieux morceau de savoir. When he was gone, Durbeyfield walked a few steps in a profound reverie, and then sat down upon the grassy bank by the roadside, depositing his basket before him.

In a few minutes a youth appeared in the distance, walking in the same direction as that which had been pursued by Durbeyfield. Au bout de quelques minutes, un jeune homme apparut au loin, marchant dans la même direction que celui qui avait été poursuivi par Durbeyfield. The latter, on seeing him, held up his hand, and the lad quickened his pace and came near. Ce dernier, en le voyant, lui tendit la main, et le jeune homme accéléra le pas et s'approcha. "Boy, take up that basket! "Garçon, prends ce panier !

I want 'ee to go on an errand for me. Je veux faire une course pour moi. The lath-like stripling frowned. L'adolescent en forme de latte fronça les sourcils.

"Who be you, then, John Durbeyfield, to order me about and call me 'boy'? « Qui êtes-vous, alors, John Durbeyfield, pour m'ordonner et m'appeler « garçon » ? You know my name as well as I know yours! "Do you, do you?

That’s the secret—that’s the secret! C'est ça le secret, c'est ça le secret ! Now obey my orders, and take the message I’m going to charge 'ee wi'… Well, Fred, I don’t mind telling you that the secret is that I’m one of a noble race—it has been just found out by me this present afternoon, p.m." Maintenant obéis à mes ordres et prends le message que je vais charger 'ee wi'… Eh bien, Fred, ça ne me dérange pas de te dire que le secret est que je fais partie d'une race noble—il vient juste d'être trouvé dehors par moi cet après-midi présent, pm" And as he made the announcement, Durbeyfield, declining from his sitting position, luxuriously stretched himself out upon the bank among the daisies. Et alors qu'il faisait l'annonce, Durbeyfield, en déclinant sa position assise, s'étendit luxueusement sur la rive parmi les marguerites. The lad stood before Durbeyfield, and contemplated his length from crown to toe. Le garçon se tenait devant Durbeyfield et contemplait sa longueur de la couronne aux pieds.

"Sir John d’Urberville—that’s who I am," continued the prostrate man. — Sir John d'Urberville, voilà qui je suis, reprit l'homme prostré.

"That is if knights were baronets—which they be. « C'est si les chevaliers étaient des baronnets, ce qu'ils sont. 'Tis recorded in history all about me. 'Tis enregistré dans l'histoire tout de moi. Dost know of such a place, lad, as Kingsbere-sub-Greenhill? Connaissez-vous un endroit comme Kingsbere-sous-Greenhill, mon garçon ? "Ees.

I’ve been there to Greenhill Fair. J'ai participé à la foire de Greenhill. "Well, under the church of that city there lie—"

"'Tisn’t a city, the place I mean; leastwise 'twaddn' when I was there—'twas a little one-eyed, blinking sort o' place. "'Ce n'est pas une ville, l'endroit que je veux dire; le moins sage 'twaddn' quand j'étais là-bas - c'était un petit endroit borgne, clignant des yeux.

"Never you mind the place, boy, that’s not the question before us. "Peu importe l'endroit, mon garçon, ce n'est pas la question dont nous sommes saisis.

Under the church of that there parish lie my ancestors—hundreds of 'em—in coats of mail and jewels, in gr’t lead coffins weighing tons and tons. Sous l'église de cette paroisse reposent mes ancêtres, des centaines d'entre eux, vêtus de cottes de mailles et de bijoux, dans de gros cercueils de plomb pesant des tonnes et des tonnes. There’s not a man in the county o' South-Wessex that’s got grander and nobler skillentons in his family than I. Il n'y a pas un homme dans le comté du Sud-Wessex qui ait des talents plus grands et plus nobles dans sa famille que moi. "Oh?

"Now take up that basket, and goo on to Marlott, and when you’ve come to The Pure Drop Inn, tell 'em to send a horse and carriage to me immed’ately, to carry me hwome. "Maintenant, prenez ce panier et continuez jusqu'à Marlott, et quand vous arriverez à l'Auberge de la Goutte Pure, dites-leur de m'envoyer immédiatement un cheval et une voiture pour me ramener à la maison.

And in the bottom o' the carriage they be to put a noggin o' rum in a small bottle, and chalk it up to my account. Et au fond de la voiture, ils doivent mettre une caboche de rhum dans une petite bouteille, et la mettre à la craie sur mon compte. And when you’ve done that goo on to my house with the basket, and tell my wife to put away that washing, because she needn’t finish it, and wait till I come hwome, as I’ve news to tell her. Et quand vous aurez fait cela, allez chez moi avec le panier, et dites à ma femme de ranger ce linge, parce qu'elle n'a pas besoin de le finir, et attendez que je rentre chez moi, car j'ai des nouvelles à lui dire. As the lad stood in a dubious attitude, Durbeyfield put his hand in his pocket, and produced a shilling, one of the chronically few that he possessed. Alors que le garçon se tenait dans une attitude douteuse, Durbeyfield mit sa main dans sa poche et produisit un shilling, l'un des rares qu'il possédait de façon chronique.

"Here’s for your labour, lad.

This made a difference in the young man’s estimate of the position. Cela a fait une différence dans l'estimation du jeune homme de la position.

"Yes, Sir John.

Thank 'ee. Anything else I can do for 'ee, Sir John? "Tell 'em at hwome that I should like for supper,—well, lamb’s fry if they can get it; and if they can’t, black-pot; and if they can’t get that, well chitterlings will do. « Dites-leur à la maison que j'aimerais souper ; eh bien, des frites d'agneau s'ils peuvent en avoir ; et s'ils ne peuvent pas, de la marmite ; et s'ils ne peuvent pas en avoir, des andouilles feront l'affaire.

"Yes, Sir John.

The boy took up the basket, and as he set out the notes of a brass band were heard from the direction of the village. Le garçon prit le panier, et alors qu'il partait, les notes d'une fanfare se firent entendre de la direction du village.

"What’s that?

said Durbeyfield. "Not on account o' I? « Pas à cause de moi ? "'Tis the women’s club-walking, Sir John. " C'est le club de marche des femmes, Sir John.

Why, your da’ter is one o' the members. Eh bien, votre dater est l'un des membres. "To be sure—I’d quite forgot it in my thoughts of greater things! "C'est sûr, je l'avais oublié dans mes pensées plus importantes !

Well, vamp on to Marlott, will ye, and order that carriage, and maybe I’ll drive round and inspect the club. Eh bien, vampez-vous chez Marlott, voulez-vous, et commandez cette voiture, et peut-être que je ferai le tour et inspecterai le club. The lad departed, and Durbeyfield lay waiting on the grass and daisies in the evening sun.

Not a soul passed that way for a long while, and the faint notes of the band were the only human sounds audible within the rim of blue hills. Pas une âme ne passa par là pendant longtemps, et les notes faibles du groupe étaient les seuls sons humains audibles au bord des collines bleues.