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Black Beauty: The Autobiography of a Horse by Anna Sewell, Chapter 24. The Lady Anne, or a Runaway Horse

Chapter 24. The Lady Anne, or a Runaway Horse

Early in the spring, Lord W---- and part of his family went up to London, and took York with them. I and Ginger and some other horses were left at home for use, and the head groom was left in charge.

The Lady Harriet, who remained at the hall, was a great invalid, and never went out in the carriage, and the Lady Anne preferred riding on horseback with her brother or cousins. She was a perfect horsewoman, and as gay and gentle as she was beautiful. She chose me for her horse, and named me "Black Auster". I enjoyed these rides very much in the clear cold air, sometimes with Ginger, sometimes with Lizzie. This Lizzie was a bright bay mare, almost thoroughbred, and a great favorite with the gentlemen, on account of her fine action and lively spirit; but Ginger, who knew more of her than I did, told me she was rather nervous.

There was a gentleman of the name of Blantyre staying at the hall; he always rode Lizzie, and praised her so much that one day Lady Anne ordered the side-saddle to be put on her, and the other saddle on me. When we came to the door the gentleman seemed very uneasy.

"How is this?" he said.

"Are you tired of your good Black Auster?" "Oh, no, not at all," she replied, "but I am amiable enough to let you ride him for once, and I will try your charming Lizzie. You must confess that in size and appearance she is far more like a lady's horse than my own favorite." "Do let me advise you not to mount her," he said; "she is a charming creature, but she is too nervous for a lady. I assure you, she is not perfectly safe; let me beg you to have the saddles changed." "My dear cousin," said Lady Anne, laughing, "pray do not trouble your good careful head about me. I have been a horsewoman ever since I was a baby, and I have followed the hounds a great many times, though I know you do not approve of ladies hunting; but still that is the fact, and I intend to try this Lizzie that you gentlemen are all so fond of; so please help me to mount, like a good friend as you are." There was no more to be said; he placed her carefully on the saddle, looked to the bit and curb, gave the reins gently into her hand, and then mounted me. Just as we were moving off a footman came out with a slip of paper and message from the Lady Harriet. "Would they ask this question for her at Dr. Ashley's, and bring the answer?" The village was about a mile off, and the doctor's house was the last in it. We went along gayly enough till we came to his gate. There was a short drive up to the house between tall evergreens.

Blantyre alighted at the gate, and was going to open it for Lady Anne, but she said, "I will wait for you here, and you can hang Auster's rein on the gate." He looked at her doubtfully. "I will not be five minutes," he said. "Oh, do not hurry yourself; Lizzie and I shall not run away from you." He hung my rein on one of the iron spikes, and was soon hidden among the trees. Lizzie was standing quietly by the side of the road a few paces off, with her back to me. My young mistress was sitting easily with a loose rein, humming a little song. I listened to my rider's footsteps until they reached the house, and heard him knock at the door. There was a meadow on the opposite side of the road, the gate of which stood open; just then some cart horses and several young colts came trotting out in a very disorderly manner, while a boy behind was cracking a great whip. The colts were wild and frolicsome, and one of them bolted across the road and blundered up against Lizzie's hind legs, and whether it was the stupid colt, or the loud cracking of the whip, or both together, I cannot say, but she gave a violent kick, and dashed off into a headlong gallop. It was so sudden that Lady Anne was nearly unseated, but she soon recovered herself. I gave a loud, shrill neigh for help; again and again I neighed, pawing the ground impatiently, and tossing my head to get the rein loose. I had not long to wait. Blantyre came running to the gate; he looked anxiously about, and just caught sight of the flying figure, now far away on the road. In an instant he sprang to the saddle. I needed no whip, no spur, for I was as eager as my rider; he saw it, and giving me a free rein, and leaning a little forward, we dashed after them.

For about a mile and a half the road ran straight, and then bent to the right, after which it divided into two roads. Long before we came to the bend she was out of sight. Which way had she turned? A woman was standing at her garden gate, shading her eyes with her hand, and looking eagerly up the road. Scarcely drawing the rein, Blantyre shouted, "Which way?" "To the right!" cried the woman, pointing with her hand, and away we went up the right-hand road; then for a moment we caught sight of her; another bend and she was hidden again. Several times we caught glimpses, and then lost them. We scarcely seemed to gain ground upon them at all. An old road-mender was standing near a heap of stones, his shovel dropped and his hands raised. As we came near he made a sign to speak. Blantyre drew the rein a little. "To the common, to the common, sir; she has turned off there." I knew this common very well; it was for the most part very uneven ground, covered with heather and dark-green furze bushes, with here and there a scrubby old thorn-tree; there were also open spaces of fine short grass, with ant-hills and mole-turns everywhere; the worst place I ever knew for a headlong gallop.

We had hardly turned on the common, when we caught sight again of the green habit flying on before us. My lady's hat was gone, and her long brown hair was streaming behind her. Her head and body were thrown back, as if she were pulling with all her remaining strength, and as if that strength were nearly exhausted. It was clear that the roughness of the ground had very much lessened Lizzie's speed, and there seemed a chance that we might overtake her. While we were on the highroad, Blantyre had given me my head; but now, with a light hand and a practiced eye, he guided me over the ground in such a masterly manner that my pace was scarcely slackened, and we were decidedly gaining on them.

About halfway across the heath there had been a wide dike recently cut, and the earth from the cutting was cast up roughly on the other side. Surely this would stop them! But no; with scarcely a pause Lizzie took the leap, stumbled among the rough clods and fell. Blantyre groaned, "Now, Auster, do your best!" He gave me a steady rein. I gathered myself well together and with one determined leap cleared both dike and bank.

Motionless among the heather, with her face to the earth, lay my poor young mistress. Blantyre kneeled down and called her name: there was no sound. Gently he turned her face upward: it was ghastly white and the eyes were closed. "Annie, dear Annie, do speak!" But there was no answer. He unbuttoned her habit, loosened her collar, felt her hands and wrist, then started up and looked wildly round him for help.

At no great distance there were two men cutting turf, who, seeing Lizzie running wild without a rider, had left their work to catch her.

Blantyre's halloo soon brought them to the spot. The foremost man seemed much troubled at the sight, and asked what he could do.

"Can you ride?" "Well, sir, I bean't much of a horseman, but I'd risk my neck for the Lady Anne; she was uncommon good to my wife in the winter." "Then mount this horse, my friend--your neck will be quite safe--and ride to the doctor's and ask him to come instantly; then on to the hall; tell them all that you know, and bid them send me the carriage, with Lady Anne's maid and help. I shall stay here." "All right, sir, I'll do my best, and I pray God the dear young lady may open her eyes soon." Then, seeing the other man, he called out, "Here, Joe, run for some water, and tell my missis to come as quick as she can to the Lady Anne." He then somehow scrambled into the saddle, and with a "Gee up" and a clap on my sides with both his legs, he started on his journey, making a little circuit to avoid the dike. He had no whip, which seemed to trouble him; but my pace soon cured that difficulty, and he found the best thing he could do was to stick to the saddle and hold me in, which he did manfully. I shook him as little as I could help, but once or twice on the rough ground he called out, "Steady! Woah! Steady!" On the highroad we were all right; and at the doctor's and the hall he did his errand like a good man and true. They asked him in to take a drop of something. "No, no," he said; "I'll be back to 'em again by a short cut through the fields, and be there afore the carriage." There was a great deal of hurry and excitement after the news became known. I was just turned into my box; the saddle and bridle were taken off, and a cloth thrown over me.

Ginger was saddled and sent off in great haste for Lord George, and I soon heard the carriage roll out of the yard.

It seemed a long time before Ginger came back, and before we were left alone; and then she told me all that she had seen.

"I can't tell much," she said. "We went a gallop nearly all the way, and got there just as the doctor rode up. There was a woman sitting on the ground with the lady's head in her lap. The doctor poured something into her mouth, but all that I heard was, 'She is not dead.' Then I was led off by a man to a little distance. After awhile she was taken to the carriage, and we came home together. I heard my master say to a gentleman who stopped him to inquire, that he hoped no bones were broken, but that she had not spoken yet." When Lord George took Ginger for hunting, York shook his head; he said it ought to be a steady hand to train a horse for the first season, and not a random rider like Lord George.

Ginger used to like it very much, but sometimes when she came back I could see that she had been very much strained, and now and then she gave a short cough. She had too much spirit to complain, but I could not help feeling anxious about her.

Two days after the accident Blantyre paid me a visit; he patted me and praised me very much; he told Lord George that he was sure the horse knew of Annie's danger as well as he did. "I could not have held him in if I would," said he, "she ought never to ride any other horse." I found by their conversation that my young mistress was now out of danger, and would soon be able to ride again. This was good news to me and I looked forward to a happy life.

Chapter 24. The Lady Anne, or a Runaway Horse ||||||Durchgegangenes Pferd| 第 24 章安妮夫人,还是一匹脱缰的马

Early in the spring, Lord W---- and part of his family went up to London, and took York with them. I and Ginger and some other horses were left at home for use, and the head groom was left in charge. 我和金杰还有其他几匹马留在家里备用,马夫长负责。

The Lady Harriet, who remained at the hall, was a great invalid, and never went out in the carriage, and the Lady Anne preferred riding on horseback with her brother or cousins. 留在大厅里的哈丽特夫人身体虚弱,从不坐马车出门,而安妮夫人更喜欢和她的兄弟或堂兄弟一起骑马。 She was a perfect horsewoman, and as gay and gentle as she was beautiful. She chose me for her horse, and named me "Black Auster". I enjoyed these rides very much in the clear cold air, sometimes with Ginger, sometimes with Lizzie. This Lizzie was a bright bay mare, almost thoroughbred, and a great favorite with the gentlemen, on account of her fine action and lively spirit; but Ginger, who knew more of her than I did, told me she was rather nervous. 这匹莉齐是一匹明亮的月桂母马,几乎是纯种马,由于她动作灵敏、活泼开朗,深受绅士们的喜爱。但是金杰比我更了解她,她告诉我她很紧张。

There was a gentleman of the name of Blantyre staying at the hall; he always rode Lizzie, and praised her so much that one day Lady Anne ordered the side-saddle to be put on her, and the other saddle on me. 大厅里住着一位名叫布兰太尔的绅士。他总是骑着莉齐,对她赞不绝口,以至于有一天安妮夫人下令把侧鞍放在她身上,另一个鞍放在我身上。 When we came to the door the gentleman seemed very uneasy.

"How is this?" he said.

"Are you tired of your good Black Auster?" “你厌倦了你的好黑奥斯特吗?” "Oh, no, not at all," she replied, "but I am amiable enough to let you ride him for once, and I will try your charming Lizzie. You must confess that in size and appearance she is far more like a lady's horse than my own favorite." "Do let me advise you not to mount her," he said; "she is a charming creature, but she is too nervous for a lady. I assure you, she is not perfectly safe; let me beg you to have the saddles changed." 我向你保证,她并不完全安全;让我求求你把马鞍换了。” "My dear cousin," said Lady Anne, laughing, "pray do not trouble your good careful head about me. “我亲爱的表妹,”安妮夫人笑着说,“请不要为我担心你那细心的头脑。 I have been a horsewoman ever since I was a baby, and I have followed the hounds a great many times, though I know you do not approve of ladies hunting; but still that is the fact, and I intend to try this Lizzie that you gentlemen are all so fond of; so please help me to mount, like a good friend as you are." 我从小就是个女骑手,跟着猎犬跑过很多次,虽然我知道你不赞成女士们打猎;但这仍然是事实,我打算试试你们先生们都非常喜欢的莉齐;所以请像你这样的好朋友帮助我上马。” There was no more to be said; he placed her carefully on the saddle, looked to the bit and curb, gave the reins gently into her hand, and then mounted me. 没有更多可说的了;他小心翼翼地把她放在马鞍上,看了看马鞍和路边,轻轻地把缰绳交给她的手,然后骑上了我。 Just as we were moving off a footman came out with a slip of paper and message from the Lady Harriet. 就在我们离开时,一个男仆拿着一张纸条走了出来,上面写着哈丽特夫人的留言。 "Would they ask this question for her at Dr. Ashley's, and bring the answer?" “他们会在阿什利医生那里为她问这个问题,并给出答案吗?” The village was about a mile off, and the doctor's house was the last in it. 村子离村子大约一英里,医生的房子是最后一个。 We went along gayly enough till we came to his gate. 我们一路欢快地走到他的门口。 There was a short drive up to the house between tall evergreens. 在高大的常青树之间有很短的车程到房子。

Blantyre alighted at the gate, and was going to open it for Lady Anne, but she said, "I will wait for you here, and you can hang Auster's rein on the gate." 布兰太尔在城门下了车,正要为安妮夫人开门,她却说:“我在这里等你,你可以把奥斯特的缰绳挂在城门上。” He looked at her doubtfully. "I will not be five minutes," he said. "Oh, do not hurry yourself; Lizzie and I shall not run away from you." “哦,别着急,莉齐和我不会从你身边跑掉的。” He hung my rein on one of the iron spikes, and was soon hidden among the trees. Lizzie was standing quietly by the side of the road a few paces off, with her back to me. 莉齐静静地站在路边几步远的地方,背对着我。 My young mistress was sitting easily with a loose rein, humming a little song. I listened to my rider's footsteps until they reached the house, and heard him knock at the door. There was a meadow on the opposite side of the road, the gate of which stood open; just then some cart horses and several young colts came trotting out in a very disorderly manner, while a boy behind was cracking a great whip. 路对面有一片草地,草地的大门开着。正在这时,几匹车马和几匹小马狼狈地跑了出来,后面一个童子抽着一根大鞭子。 The colts were wild and frolicsome, and one of them bolted across the road and blundered up against Lizzie's hind legs, and whether it was the stupid colt, or the loud cracking of the whip, or both together, I cannot say, but she gave a violent kick, and dashed off into a headlong gallop. It was so sudden that Lady Anne was nearly unseated, but she soon recovered herself. I gave a loud, shrill neigh for help; again and again I neighed, pawing the ground impatiently, and tossing my head to get the rein loose. I had not long to wait. Blantyre came running to the gate; he looked anxiously about, and just caught sight of the flying figure, now far away on the road. 布兰太尔跑到门口;他焦急地四下张望,刚好看见那个飞来飞去的身影,现在已经远远地停在路上了。 In an instant he sprang to the saddle. I needed no whip, no spur, for I was as eager as my rider; he saw it, and giving me a free rein, and leaning a little forward, we dashed after them.

For about a mile and a half the road ran straight, and then bent to the right, after which it divided into two roads. Long before we came to the bend she was out of sight. Which way had she turned? A woman was standing at her garden gate, shading her eyes with her hand, and looking eagerly up the road. Scarcely drawing the rein, Blantyre shouted, "Which way?" 布兰太尔几乎没有拉缰绳,就喊道:“往哪边走?” "To the right!" cried the woman, pointing with her hand, and away we went up the right-hand road; then for a moment we caught sight of her; another bend and she was hidden again. Several times we caught glimpses, and then lost them. We scarcely seemed to gain ground upon them at all. An old road-mender was standing near a heap of stones, his shovel dropped and his hands raised. 一位老修路工站在一堆石头旁边,他的铲子掉在地上,双手高举。 As we came near he made a sign to speak. Blantyre drew the rein a little. "To the common, to the common, sir; she has turned off there." “对普通人,对普通人,先生;她已经在那儿关掉了。” I knew this common very well; it was for the most part very uneven ground, covered with heather and dark-green furze bushes, with here and there a scrubby old thorn-tree; there were also open spaces of fine short grass, with ant-hills and mole-turns everywhere; the worst place I ever knew for a headlong gallop. 我非常了解这个共同点;大部分地方的地面很不平坦,上面长满了石南花和深绿色的金雀花灌木丛,零星地长着一棵矮小的老荆棘树。还有开阔的矮草地,到处都是蚁丘和鼹鼠弯。这是我所知道的最糟糕的地方。

We had hardly turned on the common, when we caught sight again of the green habit flying on before us. 当我们再次看到在我们面前飞驰的绿色习惯时,我们几乎没有打开共同点。 My lady's hat was gone, and her long brown hair was streaming behind her. 我夫人的帽子不见了,她长长的棕色头发在她身后飘扬。 Her head and body were thrown back, as if she were pulling with all her remaining strength, and as if that strength were nearly exhausted. 她的头和身体向后仰着,仿佛用尽了所有剩余的力气,又好像那股力气快要耗尽了。 It was clear that the roughness of the ground had very much lessened Lizzie's speed, and there seemed a chance that we might overtake her. 很明显,崎岖不平的地面大大降低了莉齐的速度,我们似乎有机会超过她。 While we were on the highroad, Blantyre had given me my head; but now, with a light hand and a practiced eye, he guided me over the ground in such a masterly manner that my pace was scarcely slackened, and we were decidedly gaining on them. 我们在公路上时,布兰太尔把我的头给了我;但是现在,他用一双轻巧的手和一双熟练的眼睛,以一种熟练的方式引导我在地面上前进,以至于我的步伐几乎没有放慢,我们显然正在追上他们。

About halfway across the heath there had been a wide dike recently cut, and the earth from the cutting was cast up roughly on the other side. 在荒地的一半左右,有一条最近开凿的宽堤坝,开凿的泥土粗鲁地堆在另一边。 Surely this would stop them! But no; with scarcely a pause Lizzie took the leap, stumbled among the rough clods and fell. 但不是;莉齐几乎没有停顿一下就跳了起来,在粗糙的土块中跌跌撞撞地摔倒了。 Blantyre groaned, "Now, Auster, do your best!" 布兰太尔呻吟道:“现在,奥斯特,全力以赴!” He gave me a steady rein. I gathered myself well together and with one determined leap cleared both dike and bank.

Motionless among the heather, with her face to the earth, lay my poor young mistress. 我可怜的年轻女主人一动不动地躺在石南花丛中,脸朝地。 Blantyre kneeled down and called her name: there was no sound. Gently he turned her face upward: it was ghastly white and the eyes were closed. 他轻轻地把她的脸翻过来:脸色惨白,双眼紧闭。 "Annie, dear Annie, do speak!" But there was no answer. He unbuttoned her habit, loosened her collar, felt her hands and wrist, then started up and looked wildly round him for help. 他解开她的衣服,松开她的衣领,摸摸她的手和手腕,然后起身疯狂地环顾四周,寻求帮助。

At no great distance there were two men cutting turf, who, seeing Lizzie running wild without a rider, had left their work to catch her. 在不远的地方,有两个正在割草的男人,他们看到莉齐在没有骑手的情况下狂奔,于是离开了他们的工作去接她。

Blantyre's halloo soon brought them to the spot. 布兰太尔的呼喊很快把他们带到了现场。 The foremost man seemed much troubled at the sight, and asked what he could do.

"Can you ride?" "Well, sir, I bean't much of a horseman, but I'd risk my neck for the Lady Anne; she was uncommon good to my wife in the winter." “好吧,先生,我不太会骑马,但我愿意为安妮夫人冒生命危险;她在冬天对我妻子非常好。” "Then mount this horse, my friend--your neck will be quite safe--and ride to the doctor's and ask him to come instantly; then on to the hall; tell them all that you know, and bid them send me the carriage, with Lady Anne's maid and help. “然后骑上这匹马,我的朋友——你的脖子会很安全——骑到医生那里,让他立即过来;然后到大厅;告诉他们你所知道的一切,并让他们把马车送我,在安妮夫人的女仆和帮助下。 I shall stay here." 我要留在这里。” "All right, sir, I'll do my best, and I pray God the dear young lady may open her eyes soon." Then, seeing the other man, he called out, "Here, Joe, run for some water, and tell my missis to come as quick as she can to the Lady Anne." He then somehow scrambled into the saddle, and with a "Gee up" and a clap on my sides with both his legs, he started on his journey, making a little circuit to avoid the dike. 然后他不知何故爬上马鞍,“加油”并用双腿拍打我的身体,他开始了他的旅程,绕了一小圈以避开堤坝。 He had no whip, which seemed to trouble him; but my pace soon cured that difficulty, and he found the best thing he could do was to stick to the saddle and hold me in, which he did manfully. 他没有鞭子,这似乎让他很烦恼。但我的步伐很快就解决了这个困难,他发现他能做的最好的事情就是坚持坐在马鞍上,把我抱在里面,他勇敢地做到了。 I shook him as little as I could help, but once or twice on the rough ground he called out, "Steady! 我尽可能地摇晃他,但有一两次他在粗糙的地面上喊道:“稳住! Woah! Steady!" On the highroad we were all right; and at the doctor's and the hall he did his errand like a good man and true. 在高速公路上,我们一切都好;在医生和大厅里,他像个好人一样诚实地办事。 They asked him in to take a drop of something. 他们请他进去喝一滴东西。 "No, no," he said; "I'll be back to 'em again by a short cut through the fields, and be there afore the carriage." “不,不,”他说。 “我会走一条穿过田野的捷径再次回到他们身边,在马车前到达那里。” There was a great deal of hurry and excitement after the news became known. 消息传开后,人们感到非常匆忙和兴奋。 I was just turned into my box; the saddle and bridle were taken off, and a cloth thrown over me. 我刚刚变成了我的盒子;马鞍和缰绳被取下,一块布盖在我身上。

Ginger was saddled and sent off in great haste for Lord George, and I soon heard the carriage roll out of the yard. 金杰备好马鞍,匆匆赶往乔治勋爵,我很快就听到马车驶出院子的声音。

It seemed a long time before Ginger came back, and before we were left alone; and then she told me all that she had seen.

"I can't tell much," she said. "We went a gallop nearly all the way, and got there just as the doctor rode up. “我们几乎一路疾驰,就在医生骑马过来的时候到了。 There was a woman sitting on the ground with the lady's head in her lap. 有一个女人坐在地上,女士的头枕在她的腿上。 The doctor poured something into her mouth, but all that I heard was, 'She is not dead.' Then I was led off by a man to a little distance. After awhile she was taken to the carriage, and we came home together. 过了一会儿,她被带到马车上,我们一起回家了。 I heard my master say to a gentleman who stopped him to inquire, that he hoped no bones were broken, but that she had not spoken yet." 我听见我师父对一位拦住他询问的绅士说,他希望没有骨折,但她还没有说话。” When Lord George took Ginger for hunting, York shook his head; he said it ought to be a steady hand to train a horse for the first season, and not a random rider like Lord George. 当乔治勋爵带金杰去打猎时,约克摇了摇头;他说第一个赛季训练马匹应该是一个稳定的手,而不是像乔治勋爵那样随意的骑手。

Ginger used to like it very much, but sometimes when she came back I could see that she had been very much strained, and now and then she gave a short cough. 姜以前很喜欢,但有时候她回来的时候,我看得出来她很用力,不时地咳嗽几声。 She had too much spirit to complain, but I could not help feeling anxious about her. 她有太多的精神抱怨,但我不禁为她感到焦虑。

Two days after the accident Blantyre paid me a visit; he patted me and praised me very much; he told Lord George that he was sure the horse knew of Annie's danger as well as he did. 事故发生两天后,布兰太尔拜访了我;他拍拍我,夸奖我。他告诉乔治勋爵,他相信这匹马和他一样知道安妮的危险。 "I could not have held him in if I would," said he, "she ought never to ride any other horse." “要是我愿意,我也拦不住他,”他说,“她不应该骑别的马。” I found by their conversation that my young mistress was now out of danger, and would soon be able to ride again. 我从他们的谈话中得知,我的少奶奶现在已经脱离了生命危险,很快就可以骑车了。 This was good news to me and I looked forward to a happy life.