Far from the Madding Crowd (Excerpt)《远离尘嚣》（节选）

Thomas Hardy

《遠离尘嚣》发表于1874年，是英国小说家托马斯·哈代创作的第一部成功的长篇小说，也是他此后一系列以威塞克斯乡村为背景的优秀长篇小说的第一部。这一系列作品反映了资本主义发展在英国农村城镇的社会、经济、道德、人伦、风俗等方面引起的深刻而剧烈的变化，表现了现存道德观念和法律制度与这一变化之间的冲突，以及处于这一变化冲突间的“威塞克斯乡民”的惶惑和抗争。

本文节选自托马斯·哈代的《远离尘嚣》，节选时有删改。勤劳能干的加布里埃尔·奥克在准备找一个干草堆休息的时候，发现了不远处的干草堆着火了，如果不及时灭火，附近一整排的麦垛都会燃烧起来。于是他迅速组织农场工人们灭火，并成功将火扑灭。

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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