现代大学英语精读4Unit2SpringSowing原文Word文件下载.docx

现代大学英语精读4Unit2SpringSowing原文Word文件下载.docx

《现代大学英语精读4Unit2SpringSowing原文Word文件下载.docx》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《现代大学英语精读4Unit2SpringSowing原文Word文件下载.docx（5页珍藏版）》请在冰豆网上搜索。

Aren'

tweboastfulthisearlyhourofthemorning?

MaybeI'

llwaittillsunsettoseewhatkindofamanIhavegot."

Theworkbegan.Martinmeasuredthegroundbythesouthernfenceforthefirstridge,astripofgroundfourfeetwide,andheplacedthelinealongtheedgeandpeggeditateachend.Thenhespreadfreshseaweedoverthestrip.Maryfilledherapronwithseedsandbegantolaytheminrows.Whenshewasalittledistancedowntheridge,Martinadvancedwithhisspadetothehead,eagertocommence.

NowinthenameofGod,"

hecried,spittingonhispalms,"

letusraisethefirstsod!

Oh,Martin,waittillI'

mwithyou!

criedMary,droppingherseedsontheridgeandrunninguptohim.Herfingersoutsideherwoolenmittenswerenumbwiththecold,andshecouldn'

twipetheminherapron.Hercheeksseemedtobeonfire.SheputanarmroundMartin'

swaistandstoodlookingatthegreensodhisspadewasgoingtocut,withtheexcitementofalittlechild.

NowforGod'

ssake,girl,keepback!

saidMartingruffly."

Supposeanybodysawuslikethisinthefieldofourspringsowing,whatwouldtheytakeusforbutapairofuseless,soft,empty-headedpeoplethatwouldbesuretodieofhunger?

Huh!

Hespokeveryrapidly,andhiseyeswerefixedonthegroundbeforehm.Hiseyeshadawild,eagerlightinthemasifsomeprimevalimpulsewereburningwithinhisbrainanddrivingouteveryotherdesirebutthatofassertinghismanhoodandofsubjugatingtheearth.

Oh,whatdowecarewhoislooking?

saidMary;

butshedrewbackatthesametimeandgazeddistantlyattheground.ThenMartincutthesod,andpressingthespadedeepintotheearthwithhisfoot,heturnedupthefirstsodwithacrunchingsoundasthegrassrootsweredraggedoutoftheearth.Marysighedandwalkedbackhurriedlytoherseedswithfurrowedbrows.Shepickedupherseedsandbegantospreadthemrapidlytodriveoutthesuddenterrorthathadseizedheratthatmomentwhenshesawthefierce,hardlookinherhusband'

seyesthatwereunconsciousofherpresence.Shebecamesuddenlyafraidofthatpitiless,cruelearth,thepeasant'

sslavemasterthatwouldkeepherchainedtohardworkandpovertyallherlifeuntilshewouldsinkagainintoitsbosom.Hershort-livedlovewasgone.Henceforthshewasonlyherhusband'

shelpertotilltheearth.AndMartin,absolutelywithoutthought,workedfuriously,coveringtheridgewithblockearth,hissharpspadegleamingwhiteashewhirleditsidewaystobeatthesods.

Then,asthesunrose,thelittlevalleybeneaththeivy-coveredhillsbecamedottedwithwhiteshirts,andeverywheremenworkedmadly,withoutspeaking,andwomenspreadseeds.Therewasnoheatinthelightofthesun,andtherewasasharpnessinthestillthinairthatmadethemenjumpontheirspadehaltsferociouslyandbeatthesodsasiftheywerelivingenemies.Birdshoppedsilentlybeforethespades,withtheirheadscockedsideways,watchingforworms.Madebravebyhunger,theyoftendashedunderthespadestosecuretheirfood.

Then,whenthesunreachedacertainpoint,allthewomenwentbacktothevillagetogetdinnerfortheirmen,andthemenworkedonwithoutstopping.Thenthewomenreturned,almostrunning,eachcarryingatincanwithaflanneltiedarounditandalittlebundletiedwithawhitecloth,MartinthrewdownhisspadewhenMaryarrivedbackinthefield.Smilingatoneanothertheysatunderthehillfortheirmeal.Itwasthesameastheirbreakfast,teaandbreadandbutter.

Ah,"

saidMartin,whenhehadtakenalongdraughtofteaformhismug,"

isthereanythinginthisworldasfineaseatingdinneroutintheopenlikethisafterdoingagoodmorning'

swork?

There,Ihavedonetworidgesandahalf.That'

smorethananymaninthevillagecoulddo.Ha!

Andhelookedathiswifeproudly.

Yes,isn'

titlovely,"

saidMary,lookingatthebackridgeswistfully.Shewasjustmunchingherbreadandbutter.Thehurriedtriptothevillageandthetroubleofgettingtheteareadyhadrobbedherofherappetite.Shehadtokeepblowingattheturffirewiththerimofherskirt,andthesmokenearlyblindedher.Butnow,sittingonthatgrassyknoll,withthevalleyallroundglisteningwithfreshseaweedandalightsmokerisingfromthefreshlyturnedearth,astrangejoysweptoverher.Itoverpoweredthatotherfellingofdreadthathadbeenwithherduringthemorning.

Martinateheartily,revelinginhisgreatthirstandhisgreathunger,witheveryporeofhisbodyopentothepureair.Andhelookedaroundathisneighbors'

fieldsboastfully,comparingthemwithhisown.Thenhelookedathiswife'

slittleroundblackheadandfeltveryproudofhavingherashisown.Heleanedbackonhiselbowandtookherhandinhis.Shylyandinsilence,notknowingwhattosayandashamedoftheirgentlefeelings,theyfinishedeatingandstillsathandinhandlookingawayintothedistance.Everywherethesowerswererestingonlittleknolls,men,womenandchildrensittinginsilence.Andthegreatcalmofnatureinspringfilledtheatmospherearoundthem.Everythingseemedtositstillandwaituntilmiddayhadpassed.Onlythegleamingsunchasedwestwardsatamightypace,inandoutthroughwhiteclouds.

Theninadistantfieldanoldmangotup,tookhisspadeandbegantocleantheearthfromitwithapieceofstone.Theraspingnoisecarriedalongwayinthesilence.Thatwasthesignalforageneralrisingallalongthelittlevalley.Youngmenstretchedthemselvesandyawned.Theywalkedslowlybacktotheirridges.

Martin'

sbackandhiswristsweregettingsore,andMaryfeltthatifshestoopedagainoverherseedsherneckwouldbreak,butneithersaidanythingandsoontheyhadforgottentheirtirednessinthemechanicalmovementoftheirbodies.Thestrongsmelloftheupturnedearthactedlikeadrugontheirnerves.

Intheafternoon,whenthesunwasstrongest,theoldmenofthevillagecameouttolookattheirpeoplesowing.Martin'

sgrandfather,almostbentdoubleoverhisthickstickstoppedinthelandoutsidethefieldandgroaningloudly,heleanedoverthefence.

“Godblessthework,"

hecalledwheezily.

Andyou,grandfather,"

repliedthecoupletogether,buttheydidnotstopworking.

'

Ha!

mutteredtheoldmantohimself."

Hesowswellandthatwomanisgoodtoo.Theyarebeginningwell."

ItwasfiftyyearssincehehadbegunwithhisMary,fullofhopeandpride,andthe

mercilesssoilhadhuggedthemtoitsbosomeversince,eachspringwithoutrest.Today,theoldman,withhishugerednoseandthespottedhandkerchieftiedaroundhisskullunderhisblacksoftfelthat,watchedhisgrandsonworkandgavehimadvice.

Don'

tcutyoursodssolong,"

hewouldwheeze,"

youareputtingtoomuchsoilonyour

ridge."

Ahwoman!

Don'

tplantaseedsoneartheedge.Thestalkwillcomeoutsideways."

Andtheypaidnoheedtohim.

grumbledtheoldman,"

inmyyoungdays,whenmenworkedfrommorningtillnightwithouttastingfood,betterworkwasdone.Butofcourseitcan'

tbeexpectedtobethesamenow.Thebreedisgettingweaker.Soitis."

Thenhebegantocoughinhischestandhobbledawaytoanotherfieldwherehisson

Michaelwasworking.

BysundownMartinhadfiveridgesfinished.Hethrewdownhisspadeandstretchedhimself.Allhisbonesachedandhewantedtoliedownandrest."

It'

stimetobegoinghome,Mary,"

hesaid.

Marystraightenedherself,butshewastootiredtoreply.ShelookedatMartinwearilyanditseemedtoherthatitwasagreatmanyyearssincetheyhadsetoutthatmorning.Thenshethoughtofthejourneyhomeandthetroubleoffeedingthepigs,puttingthefowlsintotheircoopsandgettingthesupperready,andamomentaryflashofrebellionagainsttheslaveryofbeingapeasant'

swifecrossedhermind.Itpassedinamoment.Martinwassaying,ashedressedhimself:

Ithasbeenagoodday'

swork.Fiveridgesdone,andeachoneofthemasstraightasasteelrod.ByGodMary,it'

snoboastingtosaythatyoumightwellbeproudofbeingthewifeofMartinDelaney.Andthat'

snotsayingthewholeofit,mygirl.YoudidyoursharebetterthananywomaninInveraracoulddoitthisblessedday."

Theystoodforafewmomentsinsilence,lookingattheworktheyhaddone.AllherdissatisfactionandwearinessvanishedformMary'

smindwiththedeliciousfeelingofcomfortthatovercameherathavingdonethisworkwithherhusband.Theyhaddoneittogether.Theyhadplantedseedsintheearth.Thenextdayandthenextandalltheirlives,whenspringcametheywouldhavetobendtheirbacksanddoituntiltheirhandsandbonesgottwistedwithrheumatism.Butnightwouldalwaysbringsleepandforgetfulness.

Astheywalkedhomeslowly,Martinwalkedinfrontwithanotherpeasanttalkingaboutthesowing,andMarywalkedbehind,withhereyesontheground,thinking.Cowswerelowingatadistance.