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We went on at a walk; outside the village a man of about forty over—took us. He was tall and thin, with a small and erect head. It was Kalinitch. His good—humoured; swarthy face, somewhat pitted with small—pox, pleased me from the first glance. Kalinitch （as I learnt afterwards）went hunting every day with his master, carried his bag, and sometimes also his gun, noted where game was to be found, fetched water, built shanties, and gathered strawberries, and ran behind the droshky; Mr. Polutikin could not stir a step without him. Kalinitch was a man of the merriest and gentlest disposition; he was constantly singing to himself in a low voice, and looking carelessly about him. He spoke a little through his nose, with a laughing twinkle in his light blue eyes, and he had a habit of plucking at his scanty, wedge—shaped beard with his hand. He walked not rapidly, but with long strides, leaning lightly on a long thin staff. He addressed me more than once during the day, and he waited on me without, obsequiousness, but he looked after his master as if he were a child. When the unbearable heat drove us at mid—day to seek shelter, he took us to his beehouse in the very heart of the forest. There Kalinitch opened the little hut for us, which was hung round with bunches of dry scented herbs. He made us comfortable on some dry hay, and then put a kind of bag of network over his head, took a knife, a little pot, and a smouldering stick, and went to the hive to cut us out some honey—comb. We had a draught of spring water after the warm transparent honey, and then dropped asleep to the sound of the monotonous humming of the bees and the rustling chatter of the leaves.
我们继续向前走着，出了村子以后，一个四十岁左右的人赶上了我们。他又高又瘦，小脑袋摆得很正。这就是加利尼奇。他给人一种愉快的感觉，脸色黝黑，还有带点麻斑，我一见他就很喜欢。加利尼奇（我后来才知道）每天都陪他的主人去打猎，帮他背袋子，有时还帮他背枪，需要侦查寻找猎物、取水、搭棚屋、采草莓，还有跟在四轮马车后面跑。波卢特金先生要是没有他便寸步难行。加利尼奇是个性情极为乐观、极为温和的人，他时常低声哼小曲给自己听，还漫不经心地朝四处张望。他说话时带一点鼻音，淡蓝色的眼睛里闪烁着笑意，还习惯用手拨弄他那稀疏的楔形胡须。他走路不快，但步子却很大，还轻轻地拄着一根细长的拐棍。那天他跟我聊了几回，照顾我的时候并没有谄媚之意，但照顾他的主人时却像对待小孩一般。中午时分，酷热难耐，我们不得不去寻找阴凉地，他便带我们去了他在树林中心的养蜂房。加利尼奇为我们打开了小屋的门，屋里挂着一束束晒干的熏香草药。他把我们安顿在干草上舒舒服服地休息，然后把一个网兜套在他的头上，拿了一把刀、一个小罐子，还有一根燃着的枝条，去蜂房给我们割蜂蜜了。我们喝了温热透明的蜂蜜泡的泉水，然后伴着蜜蜂单调的嗡嗡声和树叶沙沙的絮语声进入了梦乡。
A slight gust of wind awakened me.... I opened my eyes and saw Kalinitch: he was sitting on the threshold of the half—opened door, carving a spoon with his knife. I gazed a long time admiring his face, as sweet and clear as an evening sky. Mr. Polutikin too woke up. We did not get up at once. After our long walk and our deep sleep it was pleasant to lie without moving in the hay; we felt weary and languid in body, our faces were in a slight glow of warmth, our eyes were closed in delicious laziness. At last we got up, and set off on our wanderings again till evening.
突然刮起一阵微风，把我吹醒了……我睁开眼睛，看见加利尼奇：门半开着，他坐在门槛上，正在用刀刻一个木勺。我盯着他的脸，欣赏了很久，这张脸是如此地美好纯净，就像黄昏时的天空一样。波卢特金先生也醒了。我们没有立即起身。我们已经走了很久的路，一阵酣睡之后，只是一动不动地躺在干草上，感到很是惬意；我们感觉浑身疲倦乏力、脸颊微热，香甜的倦意袭来，我们合上了双眼。最后我们还是起来了，又开始去闲逛，直到傍晚才回来。
At supper I began again to talk of Hor and Kalinitch. "Kalinitch is a good peasant, " Mr. Polutikin told me; "he is a willing and useful peasant; he can't farm his land properly; I am always taking him away from it. He goes out hunting every day with me.... You can judge for yourself how his farming must fare.”
晚餐的时候我又聊起了霍尔和加利尼奇。 “加利尼奇是个好农民，” 波卢特金先生对我说， “他是个肯干、有用的农民，不过他没法好好经营他的田地，因为我总是把他带出去。他每天都陪我出去打猎……您想想看，他的庄稼会长成什么样呢。”
I agreed with him, and we went to bed.
我很赞同波卢特金先生说的话，接着我们就睡觉去了。
The next day Mr. Polutikin was obliged to go to town about some business with his neighbour Pitchukoff. This neighbour Pitchukoff had ploughed over some land of Polutikin's, and had flogged a peasant woman of his on this same piece of land. I went out hunting alone, and before evening I turned into Hor's house. On the threshold of the cottage I was met by an old man—bald, short, broad—shouldered, and stout—Hor himself. I looked with curiosity at the man. The cut of his face recalled Socrates: there was the same high, knobby forehead, the same little eyes, the same snub nose. We went into the cottage together. The same Fedya brought me some milk and black bread. Hor sat down on a bench, and, quietly stroking his curly beard, entered into conversation with me. He seemed to know his own value; he spoke and moved slowly; from time to time a chuckle came from between his long moustaches.
第二天，波卢特金先生不得不进城去同他的邻居皮丘可夫进行交涉。这位叫皮丘可夫的邻居侵占了波卢特金的地，还在那块耕地上鞭打了他的一个农妇。我便独自出去打猎，临近傍晚时分，还去了趟霍尔家。在小屋门口，我碰到一个老头——他头顶光秃、身材矮小、肩膀宽阔、体格结实——这就是霍尔本人。我好奇地看着这个人。他的脸长得很像苏格拉底：同样疙疙瘩瘩的高额头，同样的小眼睛，同样的翘鼻子。我们一起走进了小屋。我之前见过的那个费佳给我拿来了些牛奶和黑面包。霍尔坐在长凳上，轻轻地捋着他那卷曲的胡须，和我聊了起来。他似乎知道自己受尊重，言谈举止都慢悠悠的，还不时地从他那长长的小胡子间传出咯咯的笑声。
We discussed the sowing, the crops, the peasant's life.... He always seemed to agree with me; only afterwards I had a sense of awkwardness and felt I was talking foolishly.... In this way our conversation was rather curious. Hor, doubtless through caution, expressed himself very obscurely at times.... Here is a specimen of our talk.
我们聊了聊播种、收成和农民的生活……他好像总是很赞同我说的话，只是后来我感到尴尬，觉得自己说的话很愚蠢……这样一来，我们的谈话便有些奇怪了。霍尔可能是出于谨慎，有时话说得很含糊……这里有一个我们谈话的例子。
"Tell me, Hor, " I said to him, "why don't you buy your freedom from your master?”
“霍尔，给我说说，” 我对他说， “你为什么不向你的主人赎身呢？”
"And what would I buy my freedom for? Now I know my master, and I know my rent.... We have a good master. "
“我为什么要赎身啊？现在我很了解我的主人，也很清楚该付多少租金……我们有一个好主人。”
"It's always better to be free, " I remarked.
“自由点总要更好些吧。” 我说。
Hor gave me a dubious look.
霍尔疑惑地看了我一眼。
"Surely, " he said.
“当然了。” 他答道。
"Well, then, why don't you buy your freedom?”
“那么，你为什么不赎身呢？”
Hor shook his head. "What would you have me buy it with, your honour? "
霍尔摇了摇头。 “老爷，您叫我拿什么赎身啊？”
"Oh, come, now, old man! "
“哎，得了吧，老头！”
"If Hor were thrown among free men, " he continued in an undertone, as though to himself, "everyone without a beard would be a better man than Hor. "
“要是霍尔做了自由人，” 他接着小声说道，仿佛在自言自语， “那么凡是没有胡子的人就都比霍尔强了。”
"Then shave your beard. "
“那么你也把胡子剃掉呀。”
"What is a beard? A beard is grass: one can cut it.”
“胡子是什么？胡子就是草，是可以割掉的。”
"Well, then? "
“既然如此，还等什么？”
"But Hor will be a merchant straight away; and merchants have a fine life, and they have beards. "
“不过霍尔会马上去做商人，商人生活过得好，而他们留胡子。”
"Why, do you do a little trading too? " I asked him.
“怎么，你现在不也做着一点买卖吗？” 我问他。
"We trade a little in a little butter and a little tar.... Would your honour like the cart put to? "
“我们只是做一点黄油和柏油的小买卖……老爷，要不要准备马车？”
"You're a close man and keep a tight rein on your tongue, " I thought to myself. "No, " I said aloud, "I don't want the cart; I shall want to be near your homestead to—morrow, and if you will let me, I will stay the night in your hay—barn.”
“你这个人说话真谨慎，还守口如瓶。” 我心里想。 “不用了，” 我大声说， “我不用马车，我明天想在你这农庄附近逛逛，如果你同意的话，我还想在你的干草棚里过夜。”
"You are very welcome. But will you be comfortable in the barn? I will tell the women to lay a sheet and put you a pillow.... Hey, girls! " he cried, getting up from his place; "here, girls!... And you, Fedya, go with them. Women, you know, are foolish folk. "
“非常欢迎。可是您在干草棚里能住得舒坦吗？我让女人们给您铺好床单放好枕头……嘿，女人们！” 他边站起来边叫道， “过来，女人们……还有你，费佳，跟着她们一起去。你也知道，这些女人们都是些蠢货。”
A quarter of an hour later Fedya conducted me with a lantern to the barn. I threw myself down on the fragrant hay; my dog curled himself up at my feet; Fedya wished me good—night; the door creaked and slammed to. For rather a long time I could not get to sleep. A cow came up to the door, and breathed heavily twice; the dog growled at her with dignity; a pig passed by, grunting pensively; a horse somewhere near began to munch the hay and snort.... At last I fell asleep.
一刻钟之后，费佳提着个灯笼，带我去了干草棚。我倒在了芳香的干草上，我的狗在我脚边蜷作一团，费佳向我道了晚安，然后门吱的一响，然后砰地关上了。过了很长时间，我都没睡着。一头母牛走到了门边，喘了两口粗气；狗威严地向它狂吠了起来；一头猪从门外走过，焦虑地哼哼着；附近某个地方有一匹马开始大声嚼起了干草，还一边打着响鼻……最后我还是睡着了。
At sunrise Fedya awakened me. This brisk, lively young man pleased me; and, from what I could see, he was old Hor's favourite too. They used to banter one another in a very friendly way. The old man came to meet me. Whether because I had spent the night under his roof, or for some other reason, Hor certainly treated me far more cordially than the day before.
黎明时，费佳叫醒了我。这个活泼伶俐的小伙子很讨人喜欢，并且据我观察，老霍尔也最喜欢他。他们爷俩常常很亲密地相互开玩笑。老头出来向我问了早安。不知道是因为我在他家过了夜，还是其他什么原因，霍尔对我的态度无疑比头天热情得多了。
"The samovar is ready, " he told me with a smile; "let us come and have tea. "
“茶饮已经准备好了，” 他微笑着对我说， “咱们去喝点茶吧。”
We took our seats at the table. A robust—looking peasant woman, one of his daughters—in—law, brought in a jug of milk. All his sons came one after another into the cottage.
我们在桌子旁坐了下来。一个看上去很强壮的农妇，是他的儿媳之一，端来了一大罐牛奶。他所有的儿子都一个接一个地走进了屋里。
"What a fine set of fellows you have! " I remarked to the old man.
“看，你这些儿子多好啊！” 我对老头说。
"Yes, " he said, breaking off a tiny piece of sugar with his teeth; "me and my old woman have nothing to complain of, seemingly. "
“是啊，” 他用牙咬下一小口糖说， “我和老伴对他们似乎还真没什么好抱怨的。”
"And do they all live with you? "
“他们都和你住在一起吗？”
"Yes; they choose to, themselves, and so they live here. "
“是的，是他们自己决定的，所以都住在这里。”
"And are they all married? "
“他们都成家吗了？”
"Here's one not married, the scamp! " he answered, pointing to Fedya, who was leaning as before against the door. "Vaska, he's still too young; he can wait.”
“还有一个没成家，就是这个捣蛋鬼！” 他答道，手指着费佳，那家伙还是照旧倚在门上， “瓦夏嘛，还太小了，可以再等等。”
"And why should I get married? " retorted Fedya; "I 'm very well off as I am. What do I want a wife for? To squabble with, eh?”
“我为什么要成家啊？” 费佳回嘴说， “我现在过得就很好，要媳妇干嘛？要来吵架，是吗？”
"Now then, you... ah, I know you! you wear a silver ring.... You'd always be after the girls up at the manor house.... 'Have done, do, for shame! '” the old man went on, mimicking the servant girls. " Ah, I know you, you white—handed rascal!”
“得了，你啊……我还不知道你吗！你戴着个银戒指……你整天缠着老爷家的那些女孩们…… ‘得了吧，真不要脸！’” 老头接着模仿那些女仆们的口气说道， “呀，我知道你这小子，你这个不干活的捣蛋鬼！”
"But what's the good of a peasant woman?”
“可是，娶个农妇有什么好的？”
"A peasant woman—is a labourer, " said Hor seriously, "she is the peasant's servant.”
“农妇——就是劳力，” 霍尔严肃地说， “她能伺候农民。”
"And what do I want with a labourer? "
“那我要劳力做什么？”
"I dare say; you'd like to play with the fire and let others burn their fingers: we know the sort of chap you are.”
“我想，你就是喜欢玩火，然后让别人帮你承担后果，我可清楚你是哪种家伙。”
"Well, marry me, then. Well, why don't you answer?”
“即然这样，那就给我娶一个呗。喂，你怎么不说话啦？”
"There, that's enough, that's enough, giddy pate! You see we're disturbing the gentleman. I'll marry you, depend on it.... And you, your honour, don't be vexed with him; you see, he's only a baby; he's not had time to get much sense.”
“哎呀，得了，得了，调皮鬼！你看看，咱们打扰到老爷了。我会给你娶一个的，放心吧……老爷，请您别生他的气，您瞧，他还是个孩子，还不懂规矩。”
Fedya shook his head.
费佳摇了摇头。
"Is Hor at home? " sounded a well—known voice; and Kalinitch came into the cottage with a bunch of wild strawberries in his hands, which he had gathered for his friend Hor. The old man gave him a warm welcome. I looked with surprise at Kalinitch. I confess I had not expected such a delicate attention on the part of a peasant.
“霍尔在家吗？” 门外传来一阵熟悉的声音，然后加利尼奇进了屋，手里拿着一束野草莓，这是他特意采来给他朋友霍尔的。老头热情地迎接了他。我惊奇地看着加利尼奇。说真的，我并未料到这个农民的心思会如此细腻。
That day I started out to hunt four hours later than usual, and the following three days I spent at Hor's. My new friends interested me. I don't know how I had gained their confidence, but they began to talk to me without constraint. The two friends were not at all alike. Hor was a positive, practical man, with a head for management, a rationalist; Kalinitch, on the other hand, belonged to the order of idealists and dreamers, of romantic and enthusiastic spirits. Hor had a grasp of actuality—that is to say, he looked ahead, was saving a little money, kept on good terms with his master and the other authorities; Kalinitch wore shoes of bast, and lived from hand to mouth. Hor had reared a large family, who were obedient and united; Kalinitch had once had a wife, whom he had been afraid of, and he had had no children. Hor took a very critical view of Mr. Polutikin; Kalinitch revered his master. Hor loved Kalinitch, and took protecting care of him; Kalinitch loved and respected Hor. Hor spoke little, chuckled, and thought for himself; Kalinitch expressed himself with warmth, though he had not the flow of fine language of a smart factory hand. But Kalinitch was endowed with powers which even Hor recognised; he could charm away haemorrhages, fits, madness, and worms; his bees always did well; he had a light hand. Hor asked him before me to introduce a newly bought horse to his stable, and with scrupulous gravity Kalinitch carried out the old sceptic's request. Kalinitch was in closer contact with nature; Hor with men and society. Kalinitch had no liking for argument, and believed in everything blindly; Hor had reached even an ironical point of view of life. He had seen and experienced much, and I learnt a good deal from him. For instance, from his account I learnt that every year before mowing—time a small, peculiar—looking cart makes its appearance in the villages. In this cart sits a man in a long coat, who sells scythes. He charges one rouble twenty—five copecks—a rouble and a half in notes—for ready money; four roubles if he gives credit. All the peasants, of course, take the scythes from him on credit. In two or three weeks he reappears and asks for the money. As the peasant has only just cut his oats, he is able to pay him; he goes with the merchant to the tavern, and there the debt is settled. Some landowners conceived the idea of buying the scythes themselves for ready money and letting the peasants have them on credit for the same price; but the peasants seemed dissatisfied, even dejected; they had deprived them of the pleasure of tapping the scythe and listening to the ring of the metal, turning it over and over in their hands, and telling the scoundrelly city—trader twenty times over, "Eh, my friend, you won't take me in with your scythe!”
那天，我比平时晚了四个钟头才出发去打猎，而之后的三天我都住在霍尔家。我的新朋友们让我颇感兴趣。我不知道自己如何博得了他们的信任，不过他们都开始无拘无束地跟我聊了起来。这两位朋友可一点都不像。霍尔是个自信、务实、理性、有经营头脑的人；而加利尼奇则正相反，属于抱有空想和梦想、富于浪漫情怀和热情的那一类人。霍尔懂得现实生活，也就是说，他为将来做打算，攒了点钱，还与主人和其他有权势的人保持良好的关系；而加利尼奇则穿着树皮鞋，勉强糊口度日。霍尔养着一大家子人，家里人对他言听计从，都团结在他的周围；加利尼奇以前娶过一个老婆，但他很怕她，也没有生过孩子。霍尔把波卢特金先生看得很透彻，而加利尼奇则很敬畏他的主人。霍尔喜欢加利尼奇，对他爱护有加；加利尼奇也喜欢并尊敬霍尔。霍尔话不多，脸上笑呵呵的，而心里却很有打算；加利尼奇很爱说话，尽管他并不像伶俐的工人那样能说会道。不过加利尼奇也有一些天赋，这些天赋甚至得到了霍尔的认可；他似乎能行魔法治愈出血、平复慌乱、制服疯癫、驱赶蚊虫；他的蜜蜂都听他的话；他的手也很巧。霍尔曾当着我的面请加利尼奇把一匹新买的马牵进马厩里，而加利尼奇便认真、严肃地完成了这个老怀疑论者的要求。加利尼奇与大自然比较亲近，霍尔则与人和社会亲近。加利尼奇不喜欢辩论，盲目地相信一切；而霍尔则以讥讽的眼光看待人生。霍尔见多识广，我从他那里学到了很多东西。比如说，从他口中我得知，每年收割庄稼之前，都会有一辆样子独特的二轮运货小马车出现在各个村庄里。在这辆二轮运货马车里，坐着一个身穿长外套的人，出售长柄大镰刀。要是付现钱，他就卖1.25卢布一把；要是付票据，他就卖1.5卢布一把；要是赊账，他就卖4卢布一把。当然了，所有向他购买长柄大镰刀的农民都会赊账的。过了两三个星期，他就会再次出现，来讨账。这个时候农民都刚割了燕麦，就有钱付给他；农民就和这个商贩一同去小酒馆，把账结清。有些地主想自己用现钱买些长柄大镰刀，然后再以同样的价钱赊给农民，但是农民们似乎不太满意，甚至感到沮丧；因为要是这样的话，这些地主就夺去了农民们的那种乐趣，即用指头弹弹长柄大镰刀，听听金属的响声，把它拿在手里翻来覆去地看，无数次地探问那个缺德的商贩： “嘿，伙计，你拿这把长柄大镰刀可骗不了我啊！”
The same tricks are played over the sale of sickles, only with this difference, that the women have a hand in the business then, and they sometimes drive the trader himself to the necessity—for their good, of course—of beating them. But the women suffer most ill—treatment through the following circumstances. Contractors for the supply of stuff for paper factories employ for the purchase of rags a special class of men, who in some districts are called eagles. Such an "eagle" receives two hundred roubles in bank—notes from the merchant, and starts off in search of his prey. But, unlike the noble bird from whom he has derived his name, he does not swoop down openly and boldly upon it; quite the contrary; the "eagle" has recourse to deceit and cunning. He leaves his cart somewhere in a thicket near the village, and goes himself to the back—yards and back—doors, like someone casually passing, or simply a tramp. The women scent out his proximity and steal out to meet him. The bargain is hurriedly concluded. For a few copper half—pence a woman gives the "eagle" not only every useless rag she has, but often even her husband's shirt and her own petticoat. Of late the women have thought it profitable to steal even from themselves, and to sell hemp in the same way—a great extension and improvement of the business for the "eagles"! To meet this, however, the peasants have grown more cunning in their turn, and on the slightest suspicion, on the most distant rumors of the approach of an "eagle, " they have prompt and sharp recourse to corrective and preventive measures. And, after all, wasn't it disgraceful? To sell the hemp was the men's business—and they certainly do sell it—not in the town （they would have to drag it there themselves）, but to traders who come for it, who, for want of scales, reckon forty handfuls to the pood—and you know what a Russian's hand is and what it can hold, especially when he "tries his best"!
同样的把戏在买卖小镰刀的时候也会上演，不过不同的是，那时女人们也会掺和进去，她们有时候逼得这商贩不得不动手打人，当然，这样反而对女人们更有利了。不过，最让女人们吃亏的是下面这种情况。造纸厂的原料供应承包商会请一些专门的人去收购废布，这些人在一些县被称为 “鹰” 。这种 “鹰” 从商人那里领取200卢布的银行券，然后就出发去寻找他的猎物了。不过，他和他被冠名的那种高尚的鸟不同，他不是公开勇敢地去进攻；正相反，这种 “鹰” 依靠欺骗和奸诈行事。他把他的马车停在村子附近某处的灌木丛里，自己则溜达到村里各家的后院或后门，就像某个碰巧路过，或是没事闲逛的人。女人们感觉到他来了，就偷偷地出去见他。买卖就这么匆忙地做成了。为了几个铜板，女人不仅把自己一切没用的破布卖给 “鹰” ，甚至还把丈夫的衬衫和自己的裙子也卖了。后来，女人们甚至发现从自家偷些东西出来也能赚钱，她们就这样卖大麻给他们—— “鹰” 们的生意可是越做越红火了。然而，为了应对此事，农民们也相应地变狡猾了，他们一觉得有点可疑，远远地听到 “鹰” 来了的消息，就立刻警惕地采取各种预防措施。但这毕竟不光彩啊！卖大麻本来是人们自己的事情，他们确实会卖，不过不是在城里卖（那样的话他们得自己运过去），而是卖给专门来收购大麻的商贩，由于没有秤，就估计四十把算一普特，可您也知道俄国人的手有多大，能抓多少，特别是他 “尽力” 的时候！
As I had had no experience and was not "country—bred" （as they say in Orel）I heard plenty of such descriptions. But Hor was not always the narrator; he questioned me too about many things. He learned that I had been in foreign parts, and his curiosity was aroused.... Kalinitch was not behind him in curiosity; but he was more attracted by descriptions of nature, of mountains and waterfalls, extraordinary buildings and great towns; Hor was interested in questions of government and administration. He went through everything in order. "Well, is that with them as it is with us, or different?... Come, tell us, your honour, how is it? " "Ah, Lord, thy will be done! " Kalinitch would exclaim while I told my story; Hor did not speak, but frowned with his bushy eyebrows, only observing at times, "That wouldn't do for us; still, it's a good thing—it's right.”
我没经历过这种事，也不是 “在乡下长大的” （用奥廖尔省人的话说），但像这样的故事我也听到了许多。不过霍尔并不是自己一个劲地讲，他也问了我很多问题。他得知我曾去过外国后，非常地好奇……加利尼奇也同他一样，但是加利尼奇对大自然、高山瀑布、非凡的建筑物和大城镇的描述更感兴趣，而霍尔则对政府和行政管理感兴趣。他把所有的事情都挨个仔细琢磨了一番。 “那么，这事在他们那里和咱们这里一样，还是不一样？来吧，老爷，给我们说说，这是怎么回事？” “啊，上帝，真绝了！” 加利尼奇在我讲述自己的经历的时候会发出感叹；霍尔却默不作声，浓眉紧蹙，只是偶尔说： “这种事也许在咱们这里行不通，不过，这是好事，很不错。”
All his inquiries, I cannot recount, and it is unnecessary; but from our conversations I carried away one conviction, which my readers will certainly not anticipate.... the conviction that Peter the Great was pre—eminently a Russian—Russian, above all, in his reforms. The Russian is so convinced of his own strength and powers that he is not afraid of putting himself to severe strain; he takes little interest in his past, and looks boldly forward. What is good he likes, what is sensible he will have, and where it comes from he does not care. His vigorous sense is fond of ridiculing the thin theorising of the German; but, in Hor's words, "The Germans are curious folk, " and he was ready to learn from them a little. Thanks to his exceptional position, his practical independence, Hor told me a great deal which you could not screw or—as the peasants say—grind with a grindstone, out of any other man. He did, in fact, understand his position. Talking with Hor, I for the first time listened to the simple, wise discourse of the Russian peasant. His acquirements were, in his own opinion, wide enough; but he could not read, though Kalinitch could.
我无法一一复述他所有的问题，当然也没那个必要；但是从我们的谈话中，我得出一种信念，我的读者们也许无论如何都料想不到……这种信念就是：彼得大帝是位杰出的俄国人，尤其是位赋有革命精神的俄国人。俄国人非常相信自己的力量和能力，甚至敢于把自己置于紧张的状态中；他们很少沉溺于过去，总是大胆地向前看。凡是好的他们都喜欢，凡是合理的他们都接纳，他们并不在乎这些出于何处。他们头脑活跃，喜欢嘲笑德国人乏味的理论；不过，用霍尔的话说： “德国人是赋有好奇心的民族，” 他准备向他们学一些东西。由于他地位特殊，而且拥有独立性，霍尔对我说了很多话，这在别人那里，是拧也拧不出——就像农民们所说的——用磨也磨不出来的。他确实很清楚自己的地位。与霍尔聊天，我才头一回听到了俄国农民质朴而睿智的谈话。他的学识，在他自己看来，已经足够广博了，但是他不识字，而加利尼奇却识字。
"That ne 'er—do—weel has school—learning, " observed Hor, and his bees never die in the winter.
“那个鬼家伙上过学呢，” 霍尔说， “他养的蜜蜂在冬天从没死过。”
"But haven't you had your children taught to read?”
“那么你让你的孩子们学识字了吗？”
Hor was silent a minute. "Fedya can read. "
霍尔沉默了片刻，说： “费佳识字。”
"And the others? "
“那其他几个呢？”
"The others can't.”
“其他几个不识字。”
"And why? "
“为什么呢？”
The old man made no answer, and changed the subject. However, sensible as he was, he had many prejudices and crotchets. He despised women, for instance, from the depths of his soul, and in his merry moments he amused himself by jesting at their expense. His wife was a cross old woman who lay all day long on the stove, incessantly grumbling and scolding; her sons paid no attention to her, but she kept her daughters—in—law in the fear of God. Very significantly the mother—in—law sings in the Russian ballad: "What a son art thou to me! What a head of a household! Thou dost not beat thy wife; thou dost not beat thy young wife.... " I once attempted to intercede for the daughters—in—law, and tried to rouse Hor's sympathy; but he met me with the tranquil rejoinder, "Why did I want to trouble about such... trifles; let the women fight it out.... If anything separates them, it only makes it worse... and it's not worth dirtying one's hands over.”
老头没有回答，而是转换了话题。然而，不管他有多明智，他也有不少偏见和怪癖。比如说，他打心眼里看不起女人，他高兴的时候就拿她们打趣，嘲笑她们来娱乐自己。他老婆是个暴躁的老妇人，整天躺在炕上，不停地抱怨和责骂；她的儿子们都不搭理她，但是她的儿媳妇们却都怕她怕得要命。难怪俄国民歌中婆婆唱到： “我怎么有你这样的儿子！你算什么一家之主啊！你不揍媳妇，不揍新媳妇……” 我曾经打算替那些儿媳妇们说情，想博得霍尔的同情，但他却冷静地反驳我道： “我为什么要为这些……小事烦心啊，让女人们闹去吧……要是去拉开她们，情况只会更糟……也不值得去招惹那种麻烦。”
Sometimes the spiteful old woman got down from the stove and called the yard dog out of the hay, crying, "Here, here, doggie"; and then beat it on its thin back with the poker, or she would stand in the porch and "snarl, " as Hor expressed it, at everyone that passed. She stood in awe of her husband though, and would return, at his command, to her place on the stove. It was specially curious to hear Hor and Kalinitch dispute whenever Mr. Polutikin was touched upon.
有时候那个凶恶的老太婆从炕上下来，把看门狗从干草堆里叫出来，喊道： “过来，过来，小狗” ，然后便用拨火棍打它那瘦骨嶙峋的背，或者她会站在门廊里，正如霍尔所说，朝着路过的每一个人 “咆哮” 。不过她却很怕她丈夫，只要他一声令下，她就会回到她的炕上去。在谈到波卢特金先生时，去听听霍尔和加利尼奇是怎么拌嘴的，这特别有趣。
"There, Hor, do let him alone, " Kalinitch would say.
“得啦，霍尔，别招惹他。” 加利尼奇会说。
"But why doesn't order some boots for you? " Hor retorted.
“但是为什么他没给你添置双靴子呢？” 霍尔反驳道。
"Eh? boots!... what do I want with boots? I am a peasant. "
“嗯？靴子！……我要靴子干啥？我是个农民。”
"Well, so am I a peasant, but look! " And Hor lifted up his leg and showed Kalinitch a boot which looked as if it had been cut out of a mammoth's hide.
“喂，我也是农民啊，可是你瞧！” 霍尔便抬起腿来，给加利尼奇看那只看起来像是用长毛象皮做成的靴子。
"As if you were like one of us! " replied Kalinitch.
“说得好像您跟我们一样似的！” 加利尼奇答道。
"Well, at least he might pay for your bast shoes; you go out hunting with him; you must use a pair a day. "
“那他至少得给你买树皮鞋的钱嘛，你陪他出去打猎的，一天就得穿一双树皮鞋吧。”
"He does give me something for bast shoes. "
“他是给我买树皮鞋的钱了。”
"Yes, he gave you two coppers last year. "
“是啊，他去年给过你两个铜板。”
Kalinitch turned away in vexation, but Hor went off into a chuckle, during which his little eyes completely disappeared.
加利尼奇恼火地转过头去，而霍尔则咯咯地笑了起来，这时候他那双小眼睛便完全不见了。
Kalinitch sang rather sweetly and played a little on the balalaika. Hor was never weary of listening to him: all at once he would let his head drop on one side and begin to chime in, in a lugubrious voice. He was particularly fond of the song, "Ah, my fate, my fate! " Fedya never lost an opportunity of making fun of his father, saying, "What are you so mournful about, old man? " But Hor leaned his cheek on his hand, covered his eyes, and continued to mourn over his fate.... Yet at other times there could not be a more active man; he was always busy over something—mending the cart, patching up the fence, looking after the harness. He did not insist on a very high degree of cleanliness, however; and, in answer to some remark of mine, said once, "A cottage ought to smell as if it were lived in. "
加利尼奇唱歌唱得很动听，还弹了一会儿三弦琴。霍尔听他唱歌从来都听不烦，听着听着，会突然把头歪朝一边，开始跟着唱起来，声音悲伤。霍尔最爱这首歌 “啊！我的命运，我的命运！” 费佳从不放过取笑他父亲的机会，说道： “老头子，你伤感些什么呀？” 而霍尔只是用手托着脸颊，闭着眼睛，继续为自己的命运哀伤……但在其他时候，没有人比他更勤快了，他总是在忙着干些什么：修修马车、补补篱笆、查看一下马具。不过，他不是很讲卫生，我曾对他说过这事，他却答道： “有人住的屋子，就会有气味的嘛。”
"Look, " I answered, "how clean it is in Kalinitch's beehouse.”
“你看，” 我回答道， “加利尼奇的蜂房多干净啊。”
"The bees would not live there else, your honour, " he said with a sigh.
“老爷，蜂房要是不干净的话，蜜蜂就不会住在里面了。” 他叹了口气说。
"Tell me, " he asked me another time, "have you an estate of your own? "
“请问，” 他有一次问我， “您有自己的庄园吗？”
"Yes. "
“有啊。”
"Far from here? "
“离这里远吗？”
"A hundred miles. "
“有100英里远吧。”
"Do you live on your land, your honour? "
“老爷，您是住在自己的土地上吗？”
"Yes. "
“是的。”
"But you like your gun best, I dare say? "
“不过，我觉得您最喜欢玩枪吧？”
"Yes, I must confess I do. "
“是的，我承认我喜欢。”
"And you do well, your honour; shoot grouse to your heart's content, and change your bailiff pretty often.”
“老爷，您做得挺好的；尽情地去打打松鸡吧，不过得常换管家。”
On the fourth day Mr. Polutikin sent for me in the evening. I was sorry to part from the old man. I took my seat with Kalinitch in the trap.
到了第四天的傍晚，波卢特金先生派人来接我。我依依不舍地同老头告了别。我同加利尼奇一起坐上了双轮轻便马车。
"Well, good—bye, Hor—good luck to you, " I said; "good—bye, Fedya.”
“喂，再见了，霍尔，祝你好运，” 我说道， “再见，费佳。”
"Good—bye, your honour, good—bye; don't forget us.” We started; there was the first red glow of sunset. " It will be a fine day to—morrow, "I remarked looking at the clear sky.
“再见了，老爷，再见，可别忘了我们啊。” 我们动身了，这时晚霞刚刚泛起了红光。 “明天会是个好天气。” 我看着晴朗的天空说。
"No, it will rain, " Kalinitch replied; "the ducks yonder are splashing, and the scent of the grass is strong. "
“不，会下雨的，” 加利尼奇回答道， “那边的鸭子拍打着水游动，草地散发出的气味也很浓。”
We drove into the copse. Kalinitch began singing in an undertone as he was jolted up and down on the driver's seat, and he kept gazing and gazing at the sunset.
我们的马车驶进了杂树林。加利尼奇坐在驾驶座上一起一伏地颠簸着，他开始低声哼起了歌，眼睛却一直盯着晚霞。
The next day I left the hospitable roof of Mr. Polutikin.
第二天，我从好客的波卢特金先生家里离开了。
CHAPTER II YERMOLAI AND THE MILLER 'S WIFE