adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第2节
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Shake off dull sloth。。。
Here some measurement was to be taken which required more
concentrated attention； and the sonorous voice subsided into a low
whistle； but it presently broke out again with renewed vigour—
“Let all thy converse be sincere；
Thy conscience as the noonday clear。
Such a voice could only come from a broad chest； and the broad
chest belonged to a large…boned； muscular man nearly six feet
high； with a back so flat and a head so well poised that when he
drew himself up to take a more distant survey of his work； he had
the air of a soldier standing at ease。 The sleeve rolled up above the
elbow showed an arm that was likely to win the prize for feats of
strength； yet the long supple hand； with its broad finger…tips；
looked ready for works of skill。 In his tall stalwartness Adam Bede
was a Saxon； and justified his name； but the jet…black hair； made
the more noticeable by its contrast with the light paper cap； and
the keen glance of the dark eyes that shone from under strongly
marked； prominent and mobile eyebrows； indicated a mixture of
Celtic blood。 The face was large and roughly hewn； and when in
repose had no other beauty than such as belongs to an expression
of good…humoured honest intelligence。
It is clear at a glance that the next workman is Adam’s brother。
He is nearly as tall； he has the same type of features； the same hue
of hair and complexion； but the strength of the family likeness
seems only to render more conspicuous the remarkable difference
of expression both in form and face。 Seth’s broad shoulders have a
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slight stoop； his eyes are grey； his eyebrows have less prominence
and more repose than his brother’s； and his glance； instead of
being keen； is confiding and benign。 He has thrown off his paper
cap； and you see that his hair is not thick and straight； like
Adam’s； but thin and wavy； allowing you to discern the exact
contour of a coronal arch that predominates very decidedly over
the brow。
The idle tramps always felt sure they could get a copper from
Seth； they scarcely ever spoke to Adam。
The concert of the tools and Adam’s voice was at last broken by
Seth； who； lifting the door at which he had been working intently；
placed it against the wall； and said； “There！ I’ve finished my door
to…day； anyhow。”
The workmen all looked up； Jim Salt； a burly； red…haired man
known as Sandy Jim； paused from his planing； and Adam said to
Seth； with a sharp glance of surprise； “What！ Dost think thee ’st
finished the door？”
“Aye； sure；” said Seth； with answering surprise； “what’s
awanting to ’t？”
A loud roar of laughter from the other three workmen made
Seth look round confusedly。 Adam did not join in the laughter； but
there was a slight smile on his face as he said； in a gentler tone
than before； “Why； thee ’st forgot the panels。”
The laughter burst out afresh as Seth clapped his hands to his
head； and coloured over brow and crown。
“Hoorray！” shouted a small lithe fellow called Wiry Ben；
running forward and seizing the door。 “We’ll hang up th’ door at
fur end o’ th’ shop an’ write on ’t ‘Seth Bede； the Methody； his
work。’ Here； Jim； lend’s hould o’ th’ red pot。”
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“Nonsense！” said Adam。 “Let it alone； Ben Cranage。 You’ll
mayhap be making such a slip yourself some day； you’ll laugh o’
th’ other side o’ your mouth then。”
“Catch me at it； Adam。 It’ll be a good while afore my head’s full
o’ th’ Methodies；” said Ben。
“Nay； but it’s often full o’ drink； and that’s worse。”
Ben； however； had now got the “red pot” in his hand； and was
about to begin writing his inscription； making； by way of
preliminary； an imaginary S in the air。
“Let it alone； will you？” Adam called out； laying down his tools；
striding up to Ben； and seizing his right shoulder。 “Let it alone； or
I’ll shake the soul out o’ your body。”
Ben shook in Adam’s iron grasp； but； like a plucky small man as
he was； he didn’t mean to give in。 With his left hand he snatched
the brush from his powerless right； and made a movement as if he
would perform the feat of writing with his left。 In a moment Adam
turned him round； seized his other shoulder； and； pushing him
along； pinned him against the wall。 But now Seth spoke。
“Let be； Addy； let be。 Ben will be joking。 Why； he’s i’ the right to
laugh at me—I canna help laughing at myself。”
“I shan’t loose him till he promises to let the door alone；” said
Adam。
“Come； Ben； lad；” said Seth； in a persuasive tone； “don’t let’s
have a quarrel about it。 You know Adam will have his way。 You
may ’s well try to turn a waggon in a narrow lane。 Say you’ll leave
the door alone； and make an end on ’t。”
“I binna frighted at Adam；” said Ben； “but I donna mind sayin’
as I’ll let ’t alone at your askin’； Seth。”
“Come； that’s wise of you； Ben；” said Adam； laughing and
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relaxing his grasp。
They all returned to their work now； but Wiry Ben； having had
the worst in the bodily contest； was bent on retrieving that
humiliation by a success in sarcasm。
“Which was ye thinkin’ on； Seth；” he began—“the pretty
parson’s face or her sarmunt； when ye forgot the panels？”
“Come and hear her； Ben；” said Seth； good…humouredly； “she’s
going to preach on the Green to…night； happen ye’d get something
to think on yourself then； instead o’ those wicked songs you’re so
fond on。 Ye might get religion； and that ’ud be the best day’s
earnings y’ ever made。”
“All i’ good time for that； Seth； I’ll think about that when I’m a…
goin’ to settle i’ life； bachelors doesn’t want such heavy earnin’s。
Happen I shall do the coortin’ an’ the religion both together； as ye
do； Seth； but ye wouldna ha’ me get converted an’ chop in atween
ye an’ the pretty preacher； an’ carry her aff？”
“No fear o’ that； Ben； she’s neither for you nor for me to win； I
doubt。 Only you come and hear her； and you won’t speak lightly
on her again。”
“Well； I’m half a mind t’ ha’ a look at her to…night； if there isn’t
good company at th’ Holly Bush。 What’ll she take for her text？
Happen ye can tell me； Seth； if so be as I shouldna come up i’ time
for ’t。 Will ’t be—what come ye out for to see？ A prophetess？ Yea； I
say unto you； and more than a prophetess—a uncommon pretty
young woman。”
“Come； Ben；” said Adam； rather sternly； “you let the words o’
the Bible alone； you’re going too far now。”
“What！ Are ye a…turnin’ roun’； Adam？ I thought ye war dead
again th’ women preachin’； a while agoo？”
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“Nay； I’m not turnin’ noway。 I said nought about the women
preachin’。 I said； You let the Bible alone： you’ve got a jest…book；
han’t you； as you’re rare and proud on？ Keep your dirty fingers to
that。”
“Why； y’ are gettin’ as big a saint as Seth。 Y’are goin’ to th’
preachin’ to…night； I should think。 Ye’ll do finely t’ lead the singin’。
But I don’ know what Parson Irwine ’ull say at his gran’ favright
Adam Bede a…turnin’ Methody。”
“Never do you bother yourself about me； Ben。 I’m not a…going
to turn Methodist any more nor you are—though it’s like enough
you’ll turn to something worse。 Mester Irwi
