文档介绍：Madame Bovary
By Gustave Flaubert
Translated from the French by Eleanor Marx-Aveling
To Marie-Antoine-Jules Senard
Member of the Paris Bar, Ex-President of the National Assembly,
and Former Minister of the Interior
Dear and Illustrious Friend,
Permit me to inscribe your name at the head of this book, and
above its dedication; for it is to you, before all, that I owe
its publication. Reading over your magnificent defence, my work
has acquired for myself, as it were, an unexpected authority.
Accept, then, here, the homage of my gratitude, which, how great
soever it is, will never attain the height of your eloquence and
your devotion.
Gustave Flaubert
Paris, 12 April 1857
MADAME BOVARY
Part I
Chapter One
We were in class when the head-master came in, followed by a "new
fellow," not wearing the school uniform, and a school servant
carrying a large desk. Those who had been asleep woke up, and
every one rose as if just surprised at his work.
The head-master made a sign to us to sit down. Then, turning to
the class-master, he said to him in a low voice--
"Monsieur Roger, here is a pupil whom I mend to your care;
he'll be in the second. If his work and conduct are satisfactory,
he will go into one of the upper classes, as es his age."
The "new fellow," standing in the corner behind the door so that
he could hardly be seen, was a country lad of about fifteen, and
taller than any of us. His hair was cut square on his forehead
like a village chorister's; he looked reliable, but very ill at
ease. Although he was not broad-shouldered, his short school
jacket of green cloth with black buttons must have been tight
about the arm-holes, and showed at the opening of the cuffs red
wrists accustomed to being bare. His legs, in blue stockings,
looked out from beneath yellow trousers, drawn tight by braces,
He wore stout, ill-cleaned, hob-nailed boots.
We began repeating the lesson. He listened with all his ears, as
attentive as if at a sermon, not