Far from the Madding Crowd (Excerpt)《遠離塵囂》（節(jié)選）

Thomas Hardy

《遠離塵囂》發(fā)表于1874年，是英國小說家托馬斯·哈代創(chuàng)作的第一部成功的長篇小說，也是他此后一系列以威塞克斯鄉(xiāng)村為背景的優(yōu)秀長篇小說的第一部。這一系列作品反映了資本主義發(fā)展在英國農(nóng)村城鎮(zhèn)的社會、經(jīng)濟、道德、人倫、風俗等方面引起的深刻而劇烈的變化，表現(xiàn)了現(xiàn)存道德觀念和法律制度與這一變化之間的沖突，以及處于這一變化沖突間的“威塞克斯鄉(xiāng)民”的惶惑和抗爭。

本文節(jié)選自托馬斯·哈代的《遠離塵囂》，節(jié)選時有刪改。勤勞能干的加布里埃爾·奧克在準備找一個干草堆休息的時候，發(fā)現(xiàn)了不遠處的干草堆著火了，如果不及時滅火，附近一整排的麥垛都會燃燒起來。于是他迅速組織農(nóng)場工人們滅火，并成功將火撲滅。

Gabriel climbed a gate into a field， intendingto sleep for the rest of the night undera hayrick（干草堆）， but then he noticedan unusual light in the darkness，about half a mile away. Something was onfire.

He hurried across the fields towardsthe fire. Soon， in the rich orange light ofthe flames， he could see a hayrickburningfiercely. It was too late to save the rick，so for a few minutes he stood and stared atthe flames. But when the smoke cleared for a moment， he was horrified to see， very close to the burning rick， a whole row ofwheatricks.These probably containedmost of the wheat produced on the farmthat year， and could catch fire at any moment.

As he rushed towards the wheatrickthat was most in danger， he saw he was notalone. A crowd of farm workers had seenthe fire and run into the field to help savethe wheat， but they were so confused thatthey did not know what to do. Gabriel tookcontrol and gave orders.

“Get a large cloth！”he shouted.“Putit over the wheatrick，so the wind can’tblow the flames from the hayrickon to it！Now， you， stand here with a bucket of waterand keep the cloth wet！”The men hurriedto obey him. The flames， preventedfrom burning the bottom and sides of thewheatrick，began to attack its roof.

“Get me a ladder！” cried Gabriel.“And a branch， and some water！” Heclimbed up the wheatrickand sat on thetop， beating down the flames with thebranch. Billy Smallbury， one of the menwho had been in the cart， climbed up witha bucket of water to throw water on Gabrieland keep the flames off him. The smokewas at its thickest at this corner of therick， but Gabriel never stopped his work.

On the ground the villagers were doingwhat they could to stop the fire， whichwas not much. A little further away was ayoung woman who had just arrived on herhorse， with her maid on foot. They werewatching the fire and discussing Gabriel.

“He’s a fine young man， ma’am，”saidLiddy， the maid.“And look at his clothes！They’re all burnt！”“Who does he work for？”asked the woman in a clear voice.“Idon’t know， ma’am， nor do the others. He’sa stranger.”“Jan Coggan！” called thewoman to one of her workers.“Do youthink the wheat is safe now？”

“I think so， yes， ma’am，”he answered.“If the fire had spread to this wheatrick，all the other ricks would have caught firetoo. That brave young man up there on topof the rick is the one who’s saved yourwheat.”

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