Rimbaud's girl

Speaking of Oscar Wilde, Oxford University has a Newdigate Award, which is awarded to Oxford University students for English works. This year's winning work is Oscar Wilde's long poem "Ravenna".

"Breathing the air of Italy a year ago—

I think spring in the north is very pleasant——

The fields are bright with March flowers,

The thrush-thrush sings loudly in the long-haired pine,

The crow croaks and the woodpecker flies away,

Blossoming white clouds in the sky, you swim and I run,

……

goodbye!goodbye!the moon, the silver lamp,

Make our midnights as bright as day,

Illuminate your tower, guard the holy place,

Where Dante slept and Byron once lived. "

This poem is seven stanzas long and has hundreds of sentences, which can be said to be the perfect embodiment of Wilde's aesthetic theory.As usual, it was still ridiculed by Arthur Rimbaud as "too refined cliché" and "pretentious petty bourgeois pale and boring".Arthur did not compete for this award. Firstly, the award must be written in English, and secondly, he no longer writes poetry.

Most Oxford students can read and write French proficiently, and almost everyone has read Arthur's two volumes of poetry; except for a small group of Wilde and his friends, most people admit that in terms of rhythm and musicality, "Ravenna" has indeed reached the top of poetry, but it can't compare with the passion in Byron's poems. It is indeed a bit too refined. In pursuit of beauty, it gave up passion, and it cannot be compared with Byron;

As for Rimbaud, if he writes long poems in English, this year's Newdigate Award will have nothing to do with Oscar Wilde.

One can imagine how angry and ashamed Wilde was.

Coupled with his failure to compete for student representatives, the relationship between the two classmates is even worse than before.

But of course, if they meet in public, the two of them can still maintain superficial peace.

Dinner was good.

Vitaly ate some vegetarian dishes, two oysters, and shellfish can be kept in a bucket, which is better for keeping fresh.In fact, the fish are also kept fresh in buckets, and they are all slaughtered live, but she can't smell the fishy smell.

Neither Gabriel nor Arthur ate fish to accommodate her.

Gabriel always felt that she was eating too little, afraid that she would be hungry, and thought that if she was hungry, he would ask Leila to come to the restaurant to get some food back. The restaurant would be open until ten o'clock in the evening, which would be convenient.

After dinner, the three of them went for a walk on the deck together.

Just at night, the sea breeze is rustling and slightly cool.

Arthur put a woolen scarf on her, "Don't freeze."

"I'm in good health!"

"That can't be careless. Isabel usually looks healthy, but this time she was seriously ill, and my mother almost thought she would not get better." Arthur sighed.How important it is to have a healthy body!

Gabriel also said: "You haven't been very energetic recently, is there something uncomfortable? You must tell me if you feel uncomfortable."

Vitaly thought about it, "I don't feel uncomfortable at all, I just want to sleep. The boat is still too stuffy, and walking around is a small place on the deck."

"I asked the captain, and I'll be in New York in 10 days." Gabriel said hastily, "Charles said that New York is not bad, but of course it can't compare with London and Paris. Maybe you will be much better on land." , I will accompany you to go shopping in New York, you may be able to find the subject of the next book."

"I haven't finished writing the book in my hand." She said lazily.

"Write slowly, I'm not in a hurry." Gabriel said jokingly.

"And you, Arthur? Where's your new book?"

"I just finished writing a book and haven't revised it yet."

"What did you write? You never said it before."

"The life of an aristocratic youth hastily ended."

She said dissatisfiedly: "This is too short! It's really boring to talk about it like this!"

Arthur smiled, "I found inspiration in Mr. Flaubert's letters. A young man in Paris named Alan traveled in Europe. He lived a very indulgent life, drinking the best wine and riding the strongest horse. He does whatever stimulates him; he climbs the steepest mountain in Europe without fear of falling to his death; he spends thousands of dollars on fine wine, and often drinks a whole bottle in the same day;

He chased the most beautiful women in the city, went to great lengths to seduce them into bed, and turned on them the next day; he was seriously ill, nearly dying, and once he recovered, he went back to chasing beauties and having fun. "

Vitaly thought for a while, "It's so boring. What about the ending?"

"At the end, he broke both his legs while climbing a mountain, and he was lying in bed, so he had time to reflect on his life: who he was, what he did, what satisfaction he got, what he had Life is regretful, is he happy? Is he sad? Can he survive? In the end, he decided to commit suicide and end his life.”

She looked at him in surprise: both the Rimbaud family and the Oran family were Catholics. Although they could not be said to be too devout, there was one thing recognized by Catholics, "suicides go to hell."

Why did he write such a story?Did he contemplate suicide?

She didn't dare to ask him.

A few days later, Vitaly took a bath in the bathtub before going to bed, and fainted when she got out of the bathtub, which frightened Gabriel.He quickly carried her out of the bathroom, put her on the bed, slapped her face hard, and woke her up.

Vitaly was in a daze, only feeling dizzy, and called him softly, "Gabriel—"

"Here I am. Darling, what do you think?" He put her nightgown on and buttoned it up. "Layla's off work. I just went over to find Arthur and told him to get the doctor to come and show you. You're freaking me out."

His voice was crying and trembling slightly, obviously he was really frightened.

"What's wrong with me?"

"You fainted, but fortunately you didn't fall somewhere. Do you have any pain? Does it hurt? Do you have a headache?"

"It doesn't seem to be. What's wrong with you? Don't cry, I seem to be fine."

"You have always been in good health, but what's wrong with you now?" He cried, "I'm really worried about you, I'm afraid you'll get sick, but we still have at least five days to go to New York. The Fajang steamer arrives in New York tomorrow!"

He held her hand and kept kissing the back of her hand, "What if you are sick, and very sick? What should I do?"

What a silly boy!

"You think too much."

He continued to cry, "We have only been married for one year, how happy I am this year! Darling, only you can make me happy, and I panic when I think that you will not be by my side in the future! You can't leave me, Absolutely not!"

Young birthday!She wondered how she had never noticed that this guy was so aggressive, she just fainted, and he imagined that she was dying of illness.

What is this man thinking?

If she had the strength, she would hold him down and beat him violently!

Arthur finally came with the doctor.

He was also very nervous, "Vitale, how are you? Are you okay? Look at your face! You are as white as a piece of paper!"

The doctor chased them all out, "Shut up and keep quiet, gentlemen."

The two young men paced up and down the living room anxiously, anxiously.

Arthur was afraid that she would be sick, and the ocean liner was not a good place to recuperate; Gabriel had already thought that if Vitaly couldn't get sick, he would become a widower at a young age, which was really tragic up!

It may be that their life was too happy before, it was a life like heaven!Vitaly loved him with all her heart, and they hadn't even had a petty argument, let alone a fight.His Vitaly!She is so beautiful that she is not docile, but she has other advantages that can make up for this "flaw".

——That's not a "defect".He liked everything about her, and there was nothing he didn't like. He thought that they would live together for decades, how could they be facing life and death now?

He was tearful, pitiful, overcompensated, anxious and sad.

r/>The doctor stayed in the bedroom for more than 20 minutes and came out.

As soon as Gabriel heard the door opened, he rushed over, "Doctor, how is she?"

The doctor said cheerfully, "Don't worry, young sir. Although I'm not a specialist, let me tell you that the young lady is in good health and there is nothing wrong with it."

"She fainted! How could she be all right?" He was so anxious to death!

"Oh! You are so careless! But it must be, you are so young, and this must be your first child—"

Gabriel was stunned, "What are you talking about? What child? Child!" He suddenly reacted and exclaimed, "Is she not sick, but pregnant?"

Only then did Arthur let go of his hanging heart, "My God! My God!"

Gabriel had already rushed into the bedroom.

Arthur restrained himself and sent the doctor out, "Then do you think we need to do something? She hasn't slept well recently, and she doesn't eat very well."

The doctor was still cheerful, "It's all right, it's just like this when she was pregnant, let her lie on the bed for a few days and rest more, if the sun is sunny at noon, take a walk with her on the deck, don't walk too fast. Nothing else. She can eat whatever she wants, as long as it's available on board."

Gabriel smiled foolishly, "Darling, Darling, Mybaby."

Kissing the back of her hand, then kissing her face, forehead, and lips, "Did you know? Child! Our! Our child!"

He was so happy that he didn't know what to say, "Oh my God!"

Vitaly was so disgusted, "I only knew about it 2 minutes earlier than you."

well!Although this child came very suddenly, it seems that there is nothing wrong with it, that is——

"Unfortunately, condoms are not [-] percent guaranteed to work."

"Fool! What are you talking about!" He was overjoyed, "Say, which time will it be? How long did the doctor say you were pregnant? Oh! When was it last month? Or last month? I don't remember date."

"It should be less than two months, or just two months."

"But you should have bleeding every month."

Of course, she can't have sex during her menstrual period. He knows this, but it happens every month, so he doesn't remember the specific date.

"Yeah, I didn't expect that. I only had a little blood last month. I thought I might have some kind of disease. It's a bit more troublesome for a married woman." At that time, she was worried about some gynecological disease, but it didn't hurt. There is nothing unusual about the itching, so I thought to wait until the next month's menstrual period to have a look. If there is no problem, forget it. If there is still only a little bleeding, I have to go to a gynecologist.

She didn't expect to be pregnant, of course it was also because it was her first time, okay, how could she have experience!

Arthur came in. "How are you? Are you feeling better?"

She nodded obediently, "It's much better."

"Are you hungry? What do you want to eat? There are some fruits outside, do you want to eat?"

"I want to drink some water. The honey water, the thermos and the cup are all in the cabinet."

Gabriel said, "I'm going to get some water. Arthur, stay with her for a while."

But in the living room, he forgot what he was supposed to do.He kept laughing foolishly: Our boy!Me and Vitaly's baby!

Then I thought, the ship will arrive in New York in a few days, should they stay in the United States, or return to England immediately?This had to be discussed with Vitaly and Arthur, he couldn't make a decision by himself.He also thought that the doctor is not a professional obstetrician and gynecologist, so there is nothing to ask the doctor, but this is not a big deal, there are several wives with children in the first class, and he can ask those wives what they should pay attention to.

They could live in New York for a few months, he would take care of her while he was busy with business, and he would write to his parents when he got off the ship, or wait another month.Heard that the first few months of pregnancy can be risky and miscarriages can be very easy - oops!God!This is not good!

He panicked again.

Gabriel did not want to leave his wife for a single step.

Bring breakfast to bed every day and watch her finish it;

Lunch and dinner are eaten on the terrace, and she can eat whatever she wants as long as there is food on board;

I'm afraid she's not feeling well, and I wish she could stay in bed 24 hours a day.

Vitaly disliked him very much, "I'm not going to faint even if I walk around the room."

"But you have fainted once in the bathroom. If I hadn't found out in time, who knows what would have happened to you?" He said unconvinced.Arthur praised him severely for this.

Arthur, a young man so impatient with common things, went to ask the ladies what a newly pregnant woman should pay attention to.He has a handsome appearance and a pleasant smile, and the ladies like him very much. When they learn that the young pregnant woman is his sister, they answer all their questions.

Several wives had already inquired about whether he was married or engaged. Hearing that he was still a bachelor, several wives invited him to the last ball before the ship landed.

There were two dances on board after sailing, and Vitaly attended the first dance, but she didn't go to the second dance and slept in her room; this would be the third dance.

Gabriel talks about Arthur agreeing to go to the ball.

"You go too, don't make you stop going to the dance because of me." She said hypocritically.

"No," he replied instinctively, "who shall I dance with when you are not here?"

She smiled, "I see there are quite a few young ladies in the first class."

"Come on! You'll let me dance with other girls?"

"Why not? You danced with other people at our engagement ball."

He kept laughing, "Those are all my cousins, you are pretending to be generous now, I will not be fooled."

"Are you really not going?"

"No. When we get to New York and you're better, we can go to the prom together." He brushed her forehead, "Darling, I love you."

"I love you too."

"You will work very hard. I really don't want to part with your hard work in the next few months. Darling, baby, for our children, please persevere in these few months."

She sighed, "It's really unfair! You guys have a few minutes of passion, but you make a woman suffer from nine months of overload."

Face to face, whispered in her ear: "Don't you like it? You obviously like it too."

"You are not good at technology." Disgusted.

"Who said that? Obviously... the technique is very good. Besides, you haven't tried other men at all, so you can't compare."

"Yeah, what a pity—oh! What are you doing!"

"Don't say such things casually." He was aggrieved.

"You said it first."

He froze for a moment, "Did I say that? Damn it! I'm such an idiot!" Seeing her lazily yawning, he hurriedly said, "Are you sleepy? Go to sleep, I'll go out."

"Don't go," pulling his sleeve, "accompany me."

"Okay, sleep well and sleep a little longer." He arranged the pillow, helped her lie down, half-lyed beside her, talked to her, and asked her if she wanted a boy or a girl. He thought both boys and girls were fine. , but don't want twins, it's very hard to conceive one, and it's too difficult to have two.

"Yeah, the proportion of twins with dystocia has increased dramatically. Your family and mine have not had twins for several generations. I should not be pregnant with two at once..."

While talking, she fell asleep.

The author has something to say: *The poem "Ravenna" is really super long!It's a bit too neat. In 1878, he won the Newdigate Prize of Oxford University. Wilde was very popular at that time.The excerpts here are a short paragraph at the beginning and a short paragraph at the end, translated by Yuan Xianjun.

*The plot is designed according to the character of the protagonist. Alice insists on "I will not marry or have children". Even if she has a very good admirer, she will not marry even if she loves Oliver; Vitaly does not necessarily love Gabriel deeply However, she conforms to social rules, does not resist marriage, and is willing to have children.Of course, after all, the risk of childbearing was much smaller at the end of the 19th century than at the beginning of the 19th century, and medicine has been advancing.

Some people think that Vitaly is becoming mediocre, not like a "time traveler", but who said that after time travel, Jiang Jiang Niang Niang will not take the usual path or even make big news?In fact, being a maverick will be very tiring, life should be calmer and sweeter.