由 英语数字智库 了解更多：英语四六级分类词汇短语目录
《Master and Man》《主人与仆人》节选
作者：Leo Tolstoy（列夫·托尔斯泰）
首次发表日期：1895年3月5日
首次发表刊物：《北方通报》Severnyi Vestnik
创作背景：
本文节选于托尔斯泰晚年现实主义短篇小说代表作。
文章以俄国冬日暴风雪旷野为叙事场景。
依托商人与雇工迷途遇险的真实情节。
深刻探讨阶级差异、人性善恶与生命救赎的宏大主题。
以冷静客观的写实笔法，还原十九世纪俄国底层社会风貌与人性本真。
英文原文
Vasili Andreevich Brekhunov, a merchant,
was in a hurry to start,
lest buyers from the town might forestall him
in making a profitable purchase.
The youthful landowner was asking ten thousand rubles for the grove,
simply because Vasili Andreevich was offering seven thousand.
Seven thousand was, however, only a third of its real value.
Vasili Andreevich might perhaps have got it down to his own price,
for the woods were in his district,
and he had a long-standing agreement with the other village dealers
that no one should run up the price in another’s district.
But he had now learnt that some timber-dealers from town
meant to bid for the Goryachkin grove,
and he resolved to go at once and get the matter settled.
So as soon as the feast was over,
he took seven hundred rubles from his strong box,
added to them two thousand three hundred rubles of church money he had in his keeping,
so as to make up the sum to three thousand.
He carefully counted the notes,
and having put them into his pocket-book made haste to start.
Nikita, the only one of Vasili Andreevich’s labourers who was not drunk that day,
ran to harness the horse.
Nikita, though an habitual drunkard,
was not drunk that day,
because since the last day before the fast,
when he had drunk till he lost his senses,
he had abstained from alcohol completely.
He knew that his master had urgent business which would take him far away,
and that he must prepare the sledge and the horse for the journey.
Vasili Andreevich was dressed in two thick fur coats,
one worn over the other,
and a wide girdle was tightly bound round his waist.
He walked out into the cold yard,
and stepped forward towards the waiting sledge.
His wife, pregnant, thin and pale,
with her head and shoulders wrapped tightly in a thick woollen shawl,
stood in the vestibule to see him off.
She could barely show her eyes from beneath the wrapped shawl,
and spoke to her husband in a timid and anxious tone.
“Now really, you ought to take Nikita with you,”
she said timidly, stepping out from the dark doorway.
Vasili Andreevich did not answer a single word.
Her cautious words evidently annoyed him greatly,
and he frowned angrily and spat on the ground.
“You have large sums of money on you,”
she continued in a soft and plaintive voice.
“What if the terrible winter weather gets worse on the open steppe!
Do take him with you, for goodness’ sake!”
“Why? Don’t I know the road perfectly well,
that I must needs take a guide with me?”
exclaimed Vasili Andreevich impatiently.
He uttered every word very distinctly,
and compressed his lips unnaturally,
just as he usually did when bargaining with buyers and sellers.
“Really you ought to take him.
I beg you in God’s name to listen to me!”
his wife repeated anxiously,
wrapping her shawl more closely around her head and body.
“There, she sticks to her words like a stubborn leech!
Where am I to take him on such a short journey?”
Vasili Andreevich complained angrily.
“I am quite ready and willing to go with you, Vasili Andreevich,”
said Nikita cheerfully and respectfully.
“But someone must feed and look after the horses while I am away,”
he added, turning gently to his master’s wife.
“I will look after them carefully, Nikita dear.
I will tell Simon to tend the stables,”
replied the mistress in a gentle voice.
“Well, Vasili Andreevich, am I to come with you?”
said Nikita, standing straight and awaiting his master’s final decision.
“It seems I must humour my old woman’s endless worry.
Get in the sledge, if you are coming,”
said Vasili Andreevich reluctantly.
He firmly took the reins of the horse,
and the sturdy horse started forward at a slow walking pace.
They soon left the quiet village far behind them.
The bitter wind was blowing sharply from the side,
and countless flying snowflakes drove straight in their faces.
Mukhorty, the faithful horse,
stepped forward steadily on the snowy road,
shaking his head constantly to free himself
from the thick snow that settled on his forelock and mane.
Vasili Andreevich wrapped his double fur coat tightly round his body,
and tried his best to shelter himself from the piercing cold wind.
He kept looking straight ahead at the familiar winter road,
which he knew extremely well,
and which he expected to follow without any difficulty at all.
But the snow fell thicker and thicker as they travelled forward,
and the wild wind rose higher and higher across the open plain.
Presently the original road track became less and less visible.
All traces of wheel marks and footprints were gradually covered.
Vasili Andreevich began to strain his eyes hard,
trying desperately to distinguish the wooden boundary marks
that ran regularly along both sides of the country road.
Nikita sat silently in front of the sledge,
not speaking a single word throughout the journey.
He only drew his head deeper down into his collar,
as the freezing cold wind cut sharper against their skin.
After travelling a long and difficult distance,
Vasili Andreevich suddenly stopped the tired horse.
He jumped down from the sledge
and walked forward carefully to look for the boundary mark.
But he could not find any road marks anywhere on the plain.
The whole wide steppe was covered
with one uniform endless sheet of dazzling white snow.
“Well, what are we going to do now?”
said Nikita in a low voice.
“Do you think we have completely lost the road?”
“Of course we have lost our way,”
answered Vasili Andreevich crossly and irritably.
“We have no choice but to try back along our old track.”
They turned the horse and drove backward for a long time,
hoping anxiously to strike the main road once again.
But the original road was completely gone forever,
buried deep and thoroughly under the heavy drifting snow.
The thick darkness of night began to settle slowly over the lonely steppe,
and the violent winter storm raged wildly without any pause.
The two men were trapped in the boundless snowfield,
facing the severe test of cold, darkness and despair.
译文
瓦西里·安德烈耶维奇·布雷胡诺夫是一名商人，
他急于收拾行装动身出发，
唯恐城里的木材买家抢先出手，
夺走这笔利润丰厚的林地买卖。
年轻的地主为这片林地开价一万卢布，
仅仅因为瓦西里·安德烈耶维奇出价七千卢布。
而这七千卢布的报价，
仅仅是这片林地实际价值的三分之一。
瓦西里·安德烈耶维奇原本可以将价格压至自己的心理预期，
因为这片林地处于他熟悉的管辖片区，
他与周边村镇商人早已达成长期约定，
互不抬高对方片区内的林地价格。
但他近日得知，城里的木材商人准备竞拍这片林地，
于是他下定决心即刻动身，
提前敲定这笔交易，抢占商机。
节日庆典刚刚结束，
他从自家保险柜取出七百卢布现金，
又拿出自己代为保管的两千三百卢布教会公款，
凑齐整整三千卢布的交易资金。
他仔细清点所有纸币，
将钱款妥善放进皮夹后，
便匆忙整理行装，即刻启程。
尼基塔是主人家中当天唯一没有醉酒的雇工，
他立刻跑出去为马匹套上雪橇挽具，
为主人的远行做好准备。
尼基塔平日里嗜酒成性，
唯独这一天保持清醒，
因为斋戒日前一次醉酒失态之后，
他便一直严格克制，滴酒未沾。
他清楚主人身负紧急外出事务，
因此自觉提前备好马匹与雪橇，
随时听从主人安排。
瓦西里·安德烈耶维奇里外穿戴两件厚实皮大衣，
层层叠加抵御严寒，
腰间紧紧束着一根宽腰带，
全副武装准备远行。
他走出冰冷的院落，
稳步走向停放在院中雪橇。
他的妻子身怀有孕，身形单薄、面色苍白，
头肩部位被厚实的羊毛披肩紧紧包裹，
独自站在门廊之中为丈夫送行。
厚重的披肩几乎遮盖她整张脸庞，
只露出双眼凝望远行的方向，
语气怯懦又满是担忧。
“真心劝你，带上尼基塔一同上路吧。”
她怯生生走出幽暗的门口，轻声劝说。
瓦西里·安德烈耶维奇对此一言不发，
妻子的劝阻明显令他心生厌烦，
他恼怒地皱起眉头，朝地面啐了一口。
“你身上携带巨额钱款，路途凶险，”
她依旧带着哀怨恳切的语气继续劝说。
“若是旷野上的风雪骤然加剧该如何是好！
求求你，带上他一同去吧！”
“这条道路我熟稔于心，从未出错，
何须多余向导引路？”
瓦西里·安德烈耶维奇不耐烦地高声反驳。
他说话字字用力、唇形紧绷，
神态僵硬刻板，
完全是平日与商贩议价时的冷漠姿态。
“你一定要带上他，
我以神明之名恳切恳求你！”
妻子再次焦急劝说，
将披肩再次收紧，牢牢裹住全身。
“你实在纠缠不休、固执至极！
短短路途何须多带一人！”
瓦西里·安德烈耶维奇满心烦躁地抱怨。
“我随时可以陪同您远行，主人。”
尼基塔态度恭顺、神色坦然地主动请缨。
“只是我离家之后，
需要有人代为照料家中马匹。”
他转头诚恳地对女主人补充道。
“我会悉心照料马匹的，尼基塔，
我会吩咐西蒙打理马厩。”
女主人温柔回应。
“瓦西里·安德烈耶维奇，请问我随您一同前往吗？”
尼基塔端正站立，
静静等候主人的最终决断。
“看来我只能迁就老婆子无谓的担忧。
要去就赶紧上雪橇。”
瓦西里·安德烈耶维奇万般无奈地应允。
他紧握手中缰绳，
健壮的马匹缓步前行，
载着二人驶离村庄。
他们很快将宁静的村庄抛在身后，
凛冽的寒风从侧面肆意袭来，
漫天飞雪迎面扑打在二人脸庞之上。
骏马穆霍尔蒂稳步踏雪前行，
不断晃动头颅，
抖落堆积在鬃毛与额前的积雪。
瓦西里·安德烈耶维奇将双层皮大衣紧紧裹紧，
竭尽全力遮挡刺骨寒风，抵御严寒。
他始终凝望前方熟稔的道路，
自认对路况了然于心，
坚信此次旅途必定一帆风顺、毫无阻碍。
可前行途中，落雪愈发密集厚重，
旷野之上的狂风愈发肆虐猛烈。
没过多久，原本清晰的道路痕迹渐渐模糊，
车轮印记、行人足迹尽数被积雪覆盖，
难以辨认分毫。
瓦西里·安德烈耶维奇极力睁大双眼，
竭力辨认道路两侧整齐排布的木质界标，
试图依靠界标找准前行方向。
尼基塔始终静坐雪橇前端，
全程缄默不语、一言不发。
凛冽寒风愈发刺骨，
他只能不断将头颅缩进衣领，
抵御旷野之中的酷寒风雪。
艰难跋涉许久之后，
瓦西里·安德烈耶维奇勒令马匹停下前行。
他跳下雪橇，
徒步向前仔细搜寻道路界标，
可整片荒原空空荡荡，
四处都找不到任何道路标识。
辽阔的草原被一望无际的白雪覆盖，
天地间只剩茫茫纯白，毫无边界。
“我们现在该如何是好？”
尼基塔低声询问。
“我们是不是已经彻底迷路了？”
“毫无疑问，我们已经迷路了。”
瓦西里·安德烈耶维奇满心烦躁地答道。
“我们只能调转方向，原路折返尝试寻路。”
二人调转马头，反向行驶许久，
满心期盼能够重新寻回主干道。
但原本清晰的乡间道路已然彻底消失，
被层层堆叠的风雪彻底掩埋，不见踪迹。
沉沉夜幕缓缓笼罩孤寂的荒原，
狂暴的暴风雪无休无止、肆意肆虐。
主仆二人深陷无边雪原之中，
在严寒、黑暗与绝望之中，
迎来生死绝境的严峻考验。
🔍长难句赏析与拆解
原句一
Vasili Andreevich Brekhunov, a merchant,
was in a hurry to start,
lest buyers from the town might forestall him
in making a profitable purchase.
句式解读
本句为英语文学经典主从复合句结构，
整体主干为简单的主系表句式。
句中插入名词同位语 a merchant，
用于补充说明主人公的身份属性。
句尾由 lest 引导目的状语从句，
该从句自带虚拟语气语法特征，
专门用于表达“唯恐、以免”的预判性目的逻辑。
从句内部嵌套介词短语 in making a profitable purchase，
作为从句的方式状语，
精准交代人物行为的核心场景与动机。
整句结构主次分明、修饰严谨，
是英文小说开篇交代人物、动机、处境的标准高阶句式。
句子主干
Vasili Andreevich Brekhunov was in a hurry to start.
原句二
Nikita, the only one of Vasili Andreevich’s labourers who was not drunk that day,
ran to harness the horse.
句式解读
本句为嵌套多重修饰成分的主谓宾完整句式，
主语 Nikita 之后嵌套双层修饰结构。
第一层为名词短语同位语，
限定尼基塔在雇工群体中的特殊状态。
第二层为 who 引导的限制性定语从句，
精准修饰先行词 labourers，
进一步细化人物背景信息。
句尾不定式短语 to harness the horse，
作为全句目的状语，
清晰说明人物动作的最终目的。
整句层层修饰、逻辑严密，
兼具人物介绍与情节推进的双重作用，
是英文叙事文本的核心经典句式。
句子主干
Nikita ran to harness the horse.
📖全篇句式特点
全篇严格沿用托尔斯泰原版英文叙事文风，
整体句式排布规整有序、疏密得当。
文本以基础陈述句作为叙事主体，
大量运用同位语、定语从句、目的状语从句、
分词修饰结构与介词短语后置修饰。
全文长短句交替排布，
平缓叙事场景多用长句铺陈环境与背景，
冲突对话场景多用短句强化情绪与张力。
整体语言风格客观克制、朴素严谨，
无华丽冗余修饰、无主观抒情赘述，
完全依托人物动作、对话、环境推进情节。
语法考点密集、句式范式经典，
适配高中及大学英语精读教学、句法拆解、
文学赏析与英文写作仿写训练。
核心词汇
1. forestall
/fɔːˈstɔːl/
抢先行动，先发制人
动词（v.）
2. profitable
/ˈprɒfɪtəbl/
利润丰厚的，有利可图的
形容词（adj.）
3. grove
/ɡrəʊv/
林地，小树林
名词（n.）
4. habitual
/həˈbɪtʃuəl/
习惯性的，积习的
形容词（adj.）
5. abstain
/əbˈsteɪn/
戒除，克制
动词（v.）
6. vestibule
/ˈvestɪbjuːl/
门廊，前厅
名词（n.）
7. plaintive
/ˈpleɪntɪv/
哀怨的，恳切悲诉的
形容词（adj.）
8. reluctantly
/rɪˈlʌktəntli/
不情愿地，勉强地
副词（adv.）
9. pierce
/pɪəs/
刺穿，穿透
动词（v.）
10. uniform
/ˈjuːnɪfɔːm/
清一色的，毫无变化的
形容词（adj.）
📜文学赏析
本篇选段出自托尔斯泰经典现实主义短篇作品，
作者以极致克制、冷静客观的写实笔触展开叙事。
全文摒弃主观说教与刻意抒情，
完全依托环境变化、人物对话与行为细节塑造人物。
文章以冬日暴风雪的恶劣自然环境为叙事载体，
层层推进情节矛盾，
将世俗功利与人性本真放置于绝境之中对照。
作者精准刻画主人公瓦西里逐利偏执、
自负固执的世俗人性弱点，
同时细腻描摹底层雇工尼基塔温顺质朴、
隐忍踏实的纯粹品性。
风雪不仅是自然环境的客观描写，
更是隐喻世俗困境与人性试炼的精神意象。
恶劣的自然绝境，
逐步剥离人的身份、财富、阶级等外在标签，
为后文人性觉醒、自我救赎的核心情节，
埋下坚实且深刻的叙事伏笔。
全篇文字质朴厚重、叙事沉稳凝练，
以平凡的旅途小事承载深刻的人性命题，
充分彰显俄国现实主义文学的深度与厚度。
💡主旨品读
本文以十九世纪俄国乡村冬日风雪旅途为叙事线索，
完整铺陈商人与雇工出行遇险、迷途绝境的全过程。
文章首先交代人物身份、阶级差异与出行缘由，
凸显主人公追逐利益、固执自负的性格特征。
通过妻子恳切劝阻、主人一意孤行、
风雪肆虐迷途的层层情节递进，
逐步营造绝境氛围，
放大世俗欲望与现实困境的强烈冲突。
作者以冷静中立的叙事视角，
客观呈现不同阶层人物的生存状态与人性特质。
在严酷的自然灾难面前，
财富、地位、阶级的世俗价值彻底崩塌，
唯有生命平等、人性善恶永恒存在。
选段通过绝境困境的铺垫，
深刻揭示虚荣功利的人性短板，
赞美底层民众淳朴本分的本真品性，
暗含作者对人性救赎、生命平等、
善良本心的深度思考与价值追求。
全文立意深远、逻辑严谨、层次清晰，
兼具叙事美感与人文深度，
是现实主义短篇小说精读教学的经典范本。
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