Chapter 1

Darkie出生在一片美丽的牧场，主任和母亲对他关怀备至。在他四岁的时候，主人决定开始调教他，给他戴上马鞍、马嚼子、马笼头等马具。由此他开始做一匹真正的马。

The first place I can well remember was a large pleasant field with a small lake in it.

Large trees stood around the lake, and water-lilies（睡莲） grew at the deep end.

Over the trees on one side, we looked towards a farm.

On the other side, we would see a gate that led to our master’s house.

While I was young, I lived upon my mother’s milk, as I could not eat grass.

I ran by her side in the morning and afternoon, and at night I lay down close by her.

When it was hot, we would stand in the shade of the large trees.

When it was cold, we would stay in a small wooden building by the small trees.

As soon as I was old enough to eat grass, my mother used to go out to work as soon as it was daylight and come back in the evening.

There were six young male horses on the field besides me.

We used to run together round and round the field as fast as we could go.

Sometimes we played rather roughly.

They would often bite and kick as well as run.

One day, when there was a good deal of kicking, my mother called me to come to her, and then she said:

“Pay attention to what I am going to say to you.

The male horses are very good horses, but they are young working horses and have not learned the rules.

You have been well-born and well-raised.

I hope you will grow up gentle and good, and never learn bad ways.

Do your work with a good will, lift your feet up well when you walk, and never bite or kick, even in play.”

I have never forgotten my mother’s advice.

I knew she was a wise old horse, and our master thought a great deal of her.

Our master was a good, kind man.

He gave us oats and a good place to live.

He spoke as kindly to us as he did to his little children.

We were all fond of him, and my mother loved him very much.

When she saw him at the gate, she would cry with joy, and walk up to him.

He would pat(轻拍) and stroke(轻抚) her and say, “Well, old Pet, and how is your little Darkie?” I was black, so he called me Darkie.

Then he would give me a piece of very good bread.

Also, Old Daniel looked after the horses, and was just as gentle as our master, so we were well off（生活富足）.

When I was four years old, Squire Gordon came to look at me.

He examined my eyes, my mouth, and my legs, and I had to walk and run before him.

He seemed to like me, and said, “When he has been well trained, he will do very well.”

My master said he would train me himself because he did not like me to be scared or hurt.

Horse training means to teach a horse to learn to wear a saddle(马鞍) and bridle(马笼头), to carry a person on his back, and to go quietly just the way the rider wishes.

Besides, he has to learn to wear a collar and harness(马具), and stand still（静止不动地） while people put them on him.

He then has to walk with a cart(马车) put behind him.

He must go fast or slow as his driver wishes.

He must never be startled(受惊的) by what he sees, nor speak to other horses, nor bite, nor kick, nor have any will of his own.

I was already used to being led about the fields and lanes(小路) with reins(缰绳) and a head harness(马具).

Now, like all grown-up horses, I was going to have a bit and bridle(马笼头).

My master gave me some oats as usual.

He talked to me gently, and finally put the bit into my mouth and fixed the bridle(马笼头).

It was a smelly thing! But I knew that my mother and all other grown-up horses always wore one when they went out.

My master treated me very well, with nice oats and kind words, so I got to wear my bit and bridle(马笼头).

Next came the saddle(马鞍), but that was not nearly so bad.

My master put it on my back very gently, while old Daniel held my head.

He then tightened(拉紧) the strap(皮带) under my body, touching and talking to me all the time.

After that I was given some oats and led out for a walk.

He did this every day till I began to look for oats and the saddle(马鞍).

My master continued to ride me a little every day, so I soon became used to it.

 

I did not like the next step either: putting on the iron shoes.

The blacksmith(铁匠) took my feet in his hand, one after the other, and cut away some of the hard parts of my foot.

It did not hurt me, so I stood still on three legs till he had done them all.

He then took a piece of iron the shape of my foot, and suddenly put it on my foot.

Next, he drove（打、敲、拧、戳） some nails through the shoe quite into my foot so that the shoe was firmly on.

My feet felt very stiff(僵硬的) and heavy, but in time I would get used to it.

There were more new things to wear.

First, I needed to wear a stiff(硬的) heavy strap(皮带) just on my neck.

Second, I wore a bridle(马笼头) with great side-pieces against my eyes, so I could only see straight in front of me.

Third, I had a small saddle(马鞍) with a smelly stiff(硬的) strap(皮带) put right under my tail.

I hated the strap(皮带).

I never felt more like kicking, but of course I could not kick such a good master.

I got used to everything in time, and could do my work as well as my mother.

Chapter 2

主人把他带到铁路旁边的空地上，由最初的看到火车时的害怕到后来的淡然，Darkie渐渐在成长。后来它离开了最初的家，来到一个新的地方。他认识了两个同伴，一个角Merrylegs，另一个角Ginger，但是Ginger喜欢咬人。

I must not forget to mention one part of my training, which I have always considered a very great advantage（得到的益处）.

My master sent me to another farmer’s field on the edge of the railway(铁路).

I joined some sheep and cows there.

I shall never forget the first train that ran by.

I was feeding(吃东西) quietly on an open land that separated the field from the railway(铁路).

Suddenly I heard a strange sound at a distance.

Before I knew, a long black train flew by with loud noises and smoke.

I couldn’t breathe.

I turned and ran to the further side of the field as fast as I could.

I stood there, breathing heavily with surprise and fear.

In the course（过程；in the course of在…期间） of the day, many other trains went by, and sometimes made an awful loud sound.

I thought it very dreadful(可怕的), but the cows went on eating very quietly, and hardly raised their heads when the black scary thing rushed by loudly.

For the first few days, I could not feed(吃东西) in peace.

As I found that this terrible creature never came into the field, or did me any harm, I started paying no attention to it.

And very soon I cared as little about the passing of a train as the cows and sheep did.

Since then I had seen many horses that were very alarmed and uneasy at the sight or sound of a train engine.

Thanks to my good master’s care, I was not afraid at railway stations(火车站) or in my own stable(马厩；稳固的).

My master often drove me together with my mother, because she was steady(沉稳的) and could teach me how to go better.

She told me that the better I worked, the better I should be treated, and that it was wisest always to do my best to please my master.

She said, “There are different kinds of men.

Some, like our master, are good and gentle, and some are bad and cruel.

Besides, there are many foolish and careless men who ruin their horses for no good reason.

I hope you will fall into good hands.

A horse never knows who may buy him, or who may drive him.

It is all chance for us. Always do your best wherever you are, and keep up your good name.”

It was early in May. A man from Squire Gordon’s took me away to the hall.

My master said, “Good-bye, Darkie. Be a good horse, and always do your best.”

I could not say “good-bye”, so I put my nose into his hand.

He patted(轻拍) me kindly and I left my first home.

Squire Gordon’s park was by the village of Birtwick.

There was room for many horses and carriages.

The stable(马厩) into which I was taken was very big, with four good separate spaces.

A large swinging window opened into the yard, which made it fresh and pleasant.

The first space was a large square one, shut in behind with a wooden gate.

The others were common spaces—good, but not nearly so large.

My space was called a loose(宽松的，自由的) box. It was clean, sweet and airy.

The horse that was put into it was not tied up. Instead, he was left loose(自由的) to do as he liked.

The sides of the box were not very high, and so the horse could see all that went on through the iron bars at the top.

I never was in a better box than that.

The groom(马夫) gave me some very nice oats.

He patted(轻拍) me, spoke kindly, and then went away.

When I had eaten my corn, I looked round.

In the space next to mine stood a little fat, gray pony(小型马).

He had thick hair on his head and a big tail.

His head was pretty and his nose was small.

I put my head up to the iron bars at the top of my box, and said, “How do you do? What is your name?”

He turned round as far as the rope around his head would allow, held up his head, and said,

“My name is Merrylegs. Are you going to live next door to me in the box?”

I said, “Yes.”

“Well, then,” he said, “I hope you are a patient horse. I do not like any one next door who bites.”

Just then a horse’s head looked over from the space beyond.

Her ears were laid back, and her eyes showed anger.

This was a tall, red-brown female horse, with a long handsome neck.

She looked across to me and said,

“So it is you who have turned me out of my box. It is a very strange thing for a young male horse like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

“What?” I said, “I have turned no one out. The man who brought me put me here, and I had nothing to do with it.

And I am not a young horse. I have turned four years old and I am a grown-up horse. I never had a quarrel yet with any horse, and it is my wish to live in peace.”

“Well,” she said, “we’ll see. Of course, I do not want to quarrel with a young thing like you.”

I said no more.

 

When she went out in the afternoon, Merrylegs said, “Ginger has a bad habit of biting and losing control of her actions.

When she was in the loose(宽松的，自由的) box, she used to easily lose control.

One day she bit James in the arm and he bled.

Miss Flora and Miss Jessie, who are very fond of me, were afraid to come into the stable(马厩).

I wanted to see them very much. I hope they will now come again, if you do not bite or lose control.”

I told him I never bit anything but grass and corn, and could not think what pleasure Ginger found in biting.

“Well, I don’t think she enjoys it,” says Merrylegs, “it is just a bad habit.

She said that no one was ever kind to her, and why should she not bite?

Of course, it is a very bad habit. But I am sure, if all she says is true, she must have been treated very badly before she came here.

John does all he can to please her, and James also. Our master never hits a horse if he or she acts right.”

“You see,” he went on, with a wise look, “I am twelve years old and I know a great deal.

I can tell you there is not a better place for a horse all around the country than this.

John has been here for fourteen years and taken best care of us. And you never saw such a kind boy as James.

It is all Ginger’s own fault that she did not stay in that box.”

Chapter 3

得益于自身良好的教养，新主人对他宠爱有加，马夫James和John对他也非常喜爱。新主人给了他新的名字，Black Beauty。在这里，他生活的非常快乐，Merrylegs成为了他的好朋友，和Ginger搭档也让他非常愉快。

The next morning John took me into the yard and gave my coat（皮毛） a good brushing.

Just as I was going into my box, with my coat soft and bright, the master came in to look at me, and seemed pleased.

“John,” he said, “I meant to try the new horse this morning, but I have other business.

You can take him around after breakfast.

Go by the common（公共草地） and the Highwood, and back by the watermill(水磨) and the river. That will show how fast he can go.”

“I will, sir,” said John.

After breakfast, he came and fitted me with a bridle(马笼头).

He was very particular in adjusting the straps(皮带).

He wanted to fit my head comfortably.

Then he brought a saddle(马鞍), but it was not wide enough for my back.

He saw it in a minute and went for another, which fitted nicely.

He rode me first slowly, then faster and faster.

When we were on the common, he gave me a light touch with his whip(鞭子), and we had a splendid run.

As we came back through the park, we met Mr. Gordon and his wife, who were having a walk.

They stopped, and John jumped off.

“Well, John, how does he go?”

“First-rate,” answered John, “he is as fast as a deer, and has a fine spirit too.

The lightest touch of the rein(缰绳) will guide him.

We met one of those traveling carts(马车), and as you know, sir, many horses will not pass those carts(马车) quietly.

But he just took a good look at it, and then went on as quiet and pleasant as it could be.

Also there were some people shooting rabbits near the Highwood, and a gun went off close by.

He pulled up a little and looked, but did not move a step to right or left.

It’s my opinion that he has not been frightened or ill-used（虐待） while he was young.”

“That’s good,” said the master, “I will try him myself tomorrow.”

The next day I was brought up for my master.

I remembered my mother’s advice and my good old master’s, and I tried to do exactly what he wanted me to do.

I found he rode on me well and also showed care for his horse.

When he came home, his wife was at the hall door.

“Well, my dear,” she said, “how do you like him?”

“He is exactly what John said,” he replied, “a friendly creature I never wish to（从来没想过） mount(骑上（马）). What shall we call him?”

“He is really quite a beauty, and he has such a nice and sweet face, and such a fine, intelligent eye. What do you say to calling him Black Beauty?”

“Black Beauty—I think that is a very good name.”

John seemed very proud of me.

He used to make the hair on my head and tail almost as smooth as a lady’s hair.

He would talk to me a great deal. Of course, I did not understand all he said.

However, I learned more and more to know what he meant, and what he wanted me to do.

He was so gentle and kind, and I grew very fond of him.

He seemed to know just how a horse felt.

When he cleaned me, he knew the tender(易痛的，幼嫩的) places and the sensitive(敏感的) places.

When he brushed my head, he went carefully over my eyes as if they were his own, and never made me angry.

James, the stable(马厩) boy, was just as gentle and pleasant as John, so I thought myself well off.

A few days after this, I had to go out with Ginger in the carriage.

I wondered how we would get on together, but she acted very well.

She did her work honestly, and did her full share（应做的）. I never wish to have a better partner.

After we had been out two or three times together, we grew quite friendly, which made me feel very much at home.

 

As for Merrylegs, he and I soon became great friends.

Our master had two other horses in another stable(马厩). One was Justice, and the other was Sir Oliver.

We were quite happy in our new place.

Sometimes we had some free time for a few hours on fine summer Sundays.

The carriage never went out on Sundays, so we were all taken out into the home field or the old orchard(果园).

The grass was so cool and soft to our feet. The air was so sweet.

The freedom to do what we liked was so pleasant.

We ran, lay down, rolled over on our backs, and ate a little of the sweet grass.

Then it was a very good time for talking, as we stood together under the shade of the large tree.

Chapter 4

主人的马厩里还有另外两匹马，Justice和Sir Oliver。有一天啊，这些马儿们在果园里开始了一场谈话，话题围绕Sir Oliver的尾巴展开。

I had often wondered why Sir Oliver had such a very short tail.

On one of our holidays in the orchard(果园), I tried to ask him by what accident he had lost his tail.

“Accident!” he breathed heavily with a fierce look, “it was no accident! It was a cruel and cold-blooded act!

When I was young, I was taken to a place where these cruel things were done.

I was tied up, and held tightly(紧紧地) so that I could not move.

Then a man came and cut off my long and beautiful tail, through the flesh（肉） and through the bone, and took it away.”

 

“How dreadful(可怕的)!” I cried.

“It was dreadful(可怕的). I felt awfully bad not only because of the lasting pain, but because I could no longer get the flies off my sides and back-legs.

I tell you it is a wrong（不公平，冤屈） and loss for my entire life. But thank heaven, people don’t do it now.”

“Why did men do it then?” said Ginger.

“For fashion(时尚)!” said the old horse, putting his foot down on the ground hard.

“Every young horse from a good family in my time had his tail cut in that cruel way.”

“I suppose fashion(时尚) made people pull back our heads with those bits in London,” said Ginger.

“Of course it did,” said he, “to my mind, fashion(时尚) is one of the worst things in the world.

Now, for instance, look at the way they treat dogs.

They cut off dogs’ tails to make them look lively.

They cut off hair on their pretty little ears to a point to make them look sharp（伶俐，机灵）.

If these are true, why don’t they cut their own children’s ears into points to make them look sharp?

Why don’t they cut the end off their noses to make them look lively?

One would be just as sensible(有感知的。sensitive，敏感的) as the other.

What right do men have to completely change the appearance of God’s creatures and make them suffer?”

Ginger was very much excited.

She suddenly raised her head with flashing eyes and enlarged nostrils（鼻孔）, saying that men were both cruel and stupid.

To me, what Sir Oliver said was all new and very dreadful(可怕的).

I felt a bitter feeling towards men, which I had never felt before.

To turn the subject, I said, “Can anyone tell me the use of blinkers?”

“They are of no use,” said Sir Oliver shortly.

“They are supposed to prevent horses from getting frightened, moving suddenly, and causing accidents,” said Justice.

“Then what is the reason they do not put blinkers on riding horses, especially on ladies’ horses?” said I.

“There is no reason at all except the fashion(时尚),” said Justice quietly.

“I believe,” said Sir Oliver, “blinkers are dangerous things at night.

We horses can see much better in the dark than men can, and many accidents will never happen if horses have the full use of their eyes.”

“I should say,” said Ginger, moving her nostrils,

“that these men, who are so wise, had better give orders that in the future all young horses should be born with their eyes set just in the middle of their foreheads, instead of on the side.

Men always think they can improve upon nature and change what God has made.”

 

Things were getting rather angry, when Merrylegs held up his knowing（心照不宣的） little face and said,

“It is all true, but I’ll tell you a secret: I believe John does not agree on blinkers.

I heard him talking with master about it one day.

The master said that ‘if horses had been used to blinkers, it might be dangerous in some situations to leave them off’.

And John said he thought it would be a good thing if all young horses were trained without blinkers.

Our master and his wife are good and kind to everybody and everything—not only men and women, but horses and donkeys(驴), dogs and cats, cattle and birds.

There was no unfairly-treated or ill-used creature here.

And their servants took the same tone(风格，气氛；语气). John and James are always good to us too.

So talking against men in such a place as this doesn’t seem fair or grateful.

There are good masters and good grooms(马夫) besides ours, though of course ours are the best.”

This wise speech of good little Merrylegs, which we knew was quite true, calmed us all down,

especially Sir Oliver, who was dearly fond of his master.

“Let us be happy and have a run to the other end of the fruit farm.

I believe the wind has blown down some apples, and we might just as well（最好还是） eat them before the worms do,” Merrylegs suggested.

The suggestion could not be resisted(拒绝), so we broke off our long conversation.

We got up our spirits by eating some very sweet apples lying on the grass.

The longer I lived at Birtwick, the more proud and happy I felt at having such a place.

Chapter 5

那一整天都风雨交加，马夫约翰驾着由黑骏马牵引的双轮马车，随主人在外出差。一路颠簸，在晚上返程途中被一棵倒下的橡树阻挡了去路，他们不得不返回交叉路口。到过桥时，黑骏马却迟迟不肯上前。原来是因为桥面坍塌，过桥无疑是死路一条，黑骏马因此而拯救了主人和约翰的生命。

One day late in the autumn, my master had to make a long journey for his business.

I was put into the dog-cart(双轮马车), and John went with his master.

I always liked to go in the dog-cart(双轮马车), because it was so light and the high wheels ran along so pleasantly.

It was raining hard, and now a strong wind blew the dry leaves across the road in the rain.

We went along happily till we came to a toll-gate and a low wooden bridge.

The man at the gate said the river was rising fast, and he feared it would be a bad night.

When we went across the bridge, in one low part of the road, the water was halfway up to my knees.

But as master drove gently, it was not a problem.

When we got to the town, of course, I had a good meal.

However, as the master spent a long time on his business, we did not start for home till rather late in the afternoon.

The wind was then much higher, and I heard the master say to John that he had never been out in such a storm.

As we went along the edge of a wood, the great branches were moving from side to side and the rushing sound was terrible.

“I wish we were well out of this wood,” said my master.

“Yes, sir,” said John, “it would be rather hard to manage if one of these branches came down upon us.”

The words were hardly out of his mouth when there was suddenly a groan(嘎吱声), and a crack(折断声), and a splitting(断裂的) sound.

An oak(橡树), torn up by the roots, fell down across the road just before us.

I stopped still.

I would never say I was not frightened, because I was.

Of course, I did not turn round or run away.

I was not brought up to that. John jumped out and was in a moment at my head.

“That was a very narrow escape,” said my master. “What’s to be done now?”

“Well, sir, we can’t drive over that tree, nor get round it. There’s nothing we can do but go back to the crossroads.

That will be six miles before we get round to the wooden bridge again. It will make us late, but the horse is fresh.”

So we went back to the crossroads.

By the time we got to the bridge, it was dark, and we could just see that the water was over the middle of it.

The master did not stop.

We were going along at a good pace, but the moment my feet touched the first part of the bridge, I felt sure there was something wrong.

I dare not go forward, and I made a dead stop.

“Go on, Beauty,” said my master, and he gave me a touch with the whip(鞭子), but I dare not move.

He gave me another sharp whip(鞭打).

I jumped, but I dared not go forward.

“There’s something wrong, sir,” said John, and he sprang out of the dog-cart(双轮马车) and came to my head and looked all round.

He tried to lead me forward. “Come on, Beauty, what’s the matter?” Of course I could not tell him, but I knew very well that the bridge was not safe.

Just then the man at the toll-gate on the other side ran out of the house, crazily moving a torch(火把) side to side.

“Stop! Stop!” he cried.

“What’s the matter?” shouted my master.

“The bridge is broken in the middle, and part of it is carried away. If you go on, you’ll fall into the river.”

“Thank God!” said my master.

“You Beauty!” said John.

He took the bridle(马笼头) and gently turned me round to the right-hand road by the river side.

 

It grew darker and darker, and the wind died down.

I walked quietly along, the wheels hardly making a sound on the soft road.

For a while, neither master nor John spoke, and then master began in a serious voice.

I could not understand much of what they said, but I understood what they thought.

If I had gone on as the master wanted me, most likely the bridge would have given way under us.

If that had happened, horse, carriage, master, and man would have fallen into the river.

As the current was flowing very strongly, and there was no light and no help, it was more than likely we should all have died in the water.

At last we came to the park gates, and John took me to the stable(马厩).

Oh, what a good supper he gave me that night, good bran(米糠) and some beans with my oats, and such a thick bed of straws!

And I was glad of it, for I was tired.

Chapter 6

有一天，主人拿着一封信来到马厩，神情严肃。在对詹姆斯的人品做了一系列考究后，他向约翰和詹姆斯解释了这封信的由来。詹姆斯即将离开大家，在去往新地方之前，需要不断练习赶马。恰逢主人决定拜访远方的老友，于是决定由詹姆斯赶车。

Early one morning in December, John had just led me into my box after my daily exercise.

He was putting my cloth on, and James was coming in from the corn chamber(室) with some oats, when the master came into the stable(马厩).

He looked rather serious, and held an open letter in his hand.

John locked the door of my box, touched his cap, and waited for orders.

“Good morning, John,” said the master. “I want to know if you have anything to say against James.”

“No, sir. James is hard working and friendly to everyone. He works hard, even when my back is turned.”

“That’s good! But I must put another question:

Have you ever seen that he stops to talk to his friends when he goes out with the horses to exercise them or to take a message?

Or would he leave the horse outside while he goes into his friend’s house? ”

“Certainly not. I will say this, sir, that I never had a more steady(沉着的), honest, and clever young fellow like him in this stable(马厩).

I can trust his word, and I can trust his work. He is gentle and clever with the horses.

I would rather have them in charge with him than with half the young men in fancy hats and clothes.”

The master stood grave(严肃的) all this time and listened carefully.

As John finished his speech, a big smile spread over the master’s face.

The master looked kindly across at James and said, “James, my young man, set down the oats and come here.

I am very glad to find that John’s opinion of your character agrees so exactly with my own.

I have a letter from Sir Clifford Williams of Clifford Hall.

He wants me to find him a young stable(马厩) keeper that can be trusted.

His old carriage driver is getting weak.

He wants a man to work with the old man, get into his ways, and step into his place when the old man retires.

He would have eighteen shillings a week at first, a stable(马厩) suit, a driving suit, a bedroom over the driver’s house, and a boy under him.

Sir Clifford is a good master, and if you could get the place, it would be a good start for you.

I don’t want to part with you, and if you left us, I know John would lose his right hand.”

“That I should, sir,” said John, “but I would not stand in his light for the world.

He is as steady(沉着的) as a man, and is strong, and well grown.

Although he has not had much experience in driving, he has a light firm hand and a quick eye, and he is very careful.

I am quite sure no horse of his will be ill-treated.”

 

“Your word will go the furthest,” said the master,

“so, James, young man, think it over, talk to your mother at dinner-time, and then let me know what you wish.”

In a few days after this conversation, it was fully settled.

James would go to Clifford Hall in a month or six weeks.

As his new master required, he was to get all the practice in driving that could be given to him.

So, now, when Ginger and I were put in the carriage, James drove us.

At first, John rode with him on the box, telling him this and that, and after that James drove alone.

After this, my master and his wife decided to pay a visit to some friends who lived about forty-six miles from our home.

James was to drive them.

There were some long, heavy hills, but James drove so carefully that we were not upset at all.

He never forgot to put on the brake(刹车) as we went downhill, and he would remember to take it off.

He kept our feet on the smoothest part of the road.

If the uphill was very long, he would give us a break.

All these little things help a horse very much.

Just as the sun was going down, we reached the town.

We were to spend the night there.

We stopped at the biggest hotel, and two stable(马厩) keepers came to take us out.

The head keeper was a pleasant, active little man.

I never saw a man undo(解开) harness(马具) so quickly as he did.

With a pat(轻拍) and a good word, he led me to a long stable(马厩).

There were two or three horses, and six or eight separate spaces in it.

The other man brought Ginger.

James stood by while we were rubbed(梳刷（马毛）) down and cleaned.

I never met a man who cleaned me so lightly and quickly.

When he had done, James stepped up and felt me over, as if he thought I could not be completely done.

However, he found my coat as clean and smooth as silk.

“Well,” he said, “I thought I was pretty quick, and our John quicker. But you do beat us both. You are quick and complete at the same time.”

“Practice makes perfect,” said the little stable(马厩) keeper.

“This black horse is pleasant and quiet. He turns about just as you want him, and holds up his feet to be cleaned out.

It is quite a pleasure to handle an animal like this, who comes from a good family, acts well, and is well cared for.”

During this time the other man had finished Ginger.

Having brought our corn, James and the old man left the stable(马厩) together.

Chapter 7

太阳落山时，他们来到一个小镇留宿。正当夜深人静，一股令人窒息的浓烟扑面而来，原来是马厩失火了。黑骏马和其他马儿一样惊慌失措，危急时刻，詹姆斯应声而来，解救了在浓烟中挣扎的黑骏马和金吉儿。

Later on in the evening, a traveler’s horse was brought in by the second stable(马厩) keeper.

While he was cleaning him, a young man, with a pipe in his mouth, slowly walked into the stable(马厩).

“Towler,” said the stable(马厩) keeper, “lay down your pipe, and put some hay(干草) down for this horse, will you?”

“All right,” said Towler, and he went up to the area overhead where the hay(干草) was stored.

I heard him step across the floor overhead and put down the hay(干草).

James came to look at us before he slept.

Then the door was locked for the day.

I cannot say how long I had slept, nor what time in the night it was.

But I woke up very uncomfortable. I got up, for the air seemed all thick and choking(令人窒息的).

I heard Ginger coughing and one of the other horses seemed very worried and kept moving.

It was quite dark, and I could see nothing.

The stable(马厩) seemed full of smoke, and I could hardly breathe.

The entrance to the hay(干草) store had been left open, and I thought that was the place the smoke came from.

I listened, and heard a breaking sound.

I did not know what it was, but there was something in the sound so strange that it made me frightened.

The other horses were all awake.

Some were pulling at their reins(缰绳), and others, putting down their feet heavily on the ground.

Then I heard a cry of “Fire!” outside, and the old stable(马厩) keeper quietly and quickly came in.

He got one horse out, and went to another.

The flames were playing round the entrance to the hay(干草) store, and the loud sound overhead was dreadful(可怕的).

The next thing I heard was James’ voice, quiet and happy, as it always was.

“Come, Beauty, it’s time for us to be off. We’ll soon be out of this smoke.”

He took the scarf off his neck, and tied it lightly over my eyes.

With patting(轻拍) and persuasion, he led me out of the stable(马厩).

Safe in the yard, he slipped(松开) the scarf off my eyes, and shouted, “Here somebody! Take this horse while I go back for the other.”

A tall, large man stepped forward and took me, and James ran back into the stable(马厩).

I made a loud cry as I saw him go.

Ginger told me afterward that my cry was the best thing I had done for her.

She would never have had courage to come out if she had not heard me outside.

 

There was much confusion(混乱) in the yard, and I could see flashes of red light.

At that moment, I heard a loud, clear voice, which I knew was master’s, “James! James! Are you there?”

There was no answer, but I heard something falling in the stable(马厩). We were all nervous!

A few minutes later, I gave a loud, happy cry when I saw James coming through the smoke, leading Ginger with him.

She was coughing violently, and he was not able to speak.

“My brave young man!” said master, laying his hand on his shoulder, “Are you hurt?”

James shook his head, for he could not yet speak.

“And now,” said master, “when you have got your breath, we’ll get out of this place as quickly as we can.”

We got out as fast as we could into the quiet open space.

There, we heard a dreadful(可怕的) sound—it was the cries of those poor horses that were burning to death in the stable(马厩).

It was terrible! It made both Ginger and me feel very bad.

However, we were safe now.

Then the master led the way to a large hotel on the other side, and as soon as the stable(马厩) keeper came, he said,

“James, I must now hurry to my wife as quickly as possible.

I trust the horses entirely to you, order whatever you think is needed,” and with that he was gone.

The next morning, the master came to see how we were and to speak to James.

I did not hear much, for the stable(马厩) keeper was cleaning me.

I could see that James looked very happy, and I thought the master was proud of him.

The master’s wife had been so much alarmed in the night that the journey was put off till the afternoon.

Therefore, James had the morning free, and went first to the hotel to see about our harness(马具) and the carriage, and then to hear more about the fire.

When he came back, we heard him tell the stable(马厩) keeper about it.

At first, no one could guess how the fire had been caused.

But finally, a man said he saw Towler go into the stable(马厩) with a pipe in his mouth.

When he came out, he no longer had one, and went for another.

Then the stable(马厩) keeper also said he had asked Towler to go up the ladder to put down some hay(干草), but told him to lay down his pipe first.

Towler denied(否认) taking the pipe with him, but no one believed him.

The whole thing reminded me of our John’s rule—never to allow a pipe in the stable(马厩).

I thought it ought to be the rule everywhere.

The rest of our journey was very easy, and a little after sunset we reached the house of my master’s friend.

We were taken into a clean, warm stable(马厩).

And there was a kind carriage driver, who made us very comfortable.

We stopped two or three days at this place and then returned home.

Chapter 8

詹姆斯离开大家的日子越来越近，主人也找到了詹姆斯的接替者乔·格林。离别时，詹姆斯和约翰展开了一场兄弟之间的对话，令人动容。最后大家在依依不舍中送别了詹姆斯。

All went well on the journey.

We were glad to be in our own stable(马厩) again, and John was equally glad to see us.

Before he and James left us for the night, James said, “I wonder who is coming to replace me.”

“Little Joe Green, from the small house,” said John.

“Little Joe Green! Why, he’s a child!”

“Yes, he is small, but he is quick and willing, and kind-hearted, too. He wishes very much to come, and his father would like it.

I know the master would like to give him the chance. The master said if I thought Joe would not do, he would look out for a bigger boy.

But I said I was quite ready to try him for six weeks.”

“Six weeks!” said James, “why, it will be six months before he can be of much use! It will be lots of work for you, John.”

“Well,” said John with a laugh, “work and I are very good friends. I was never afraid of work yet.”

“You are a very good man,” said James. “I wish I may ever be like you.”

“James, we may get into trouble sometimes in our life, but we shall get out again.

There’s nothing like doing a kindness when it’s put in your way, and I am glad I can do it.”

James smiled at this. But his voice trembled(颤抖) when he said, “You have been my best friend except my mother. I hope you won’t forget me.”

“No, young man, no!” said John, “I’ll miss you very much, and I hope you won’t forget me.”

The next day Joe came to the stables(马厩) to learn all he could before James left.

He learned to clean the stable(马厩), and to bring in the straw and hay(干草).

And he began to clean the harness(马具), and helped to wash the carriage.

He was still too short to do anything about grooming(给（动物）梳毛，刷洗) Ginger and me.

Therefore, James taught him using Merrylegs, because he was to have full charge of the horse under John.

He was a nice little bright fellow, and always came whistling to his work.

 

Merrylegs was quite annoyed at being “attacked”, as he said, “by a boy who knew nothing.”

But towards the end of the second week, he told me secretly that he thought the boy would turn out well.

At last, the day came when James had to leave us.

Even though he almost always looked cheerful, that morning he looked quite down-hearted.

 

“You see,” he said to John, “I am leaving a great deal behind—my mother, you, and a good master and his wife, and then the horses, and my old Merrylegs.

I won’t know anyone at the new place. If it were not that I could get a better job to help my mother more, I don’t think I would want to go. I am sad.”

“Yes, James, so it is. But I should not think much of you if you could leave your home for the first time and not feel it.

Be happy, you’ll make friends there. If you get on well, as I am sure you will, it will be a fine thing for your mother.

She will be proud enough that you have got into such a good place as that.”

So John made him feel happier.

Everyone was sorry to lose James.

As for Merrylegs, he missed him a lot for several days, and didn’t want to eat.

So John took him out several mornings with a leading rein(缰绳) when he exercised me.

Walking and running by my side, the little fellow started to feel happier again, and he was soon all right.

Joe’s father would often come in and give a little help, as he understood the work.

Joe tried very hard to learn, and John was quite encouraged about him.

Chapter 9

某天晚上，约翰急匆匆地把黑骏马从睡梦中叫醒。情况紧急，因为主人的妻子生病了。所以黑骏马担负起寻医大任。黑骏马来回奔波，几乎用尽了全部的力气。由于乔的照顾不周，黑骏马因此而生病。

One night, a few days after James had left, I had eaten my hay(干草) and was lying down in my straw fast asleep.

Suddenly I was woken up by the stable(马厩) bell ringing very loud.

I heard the door of John’s house open, and his feet running up to the hall.

He was back again in no time. He opened the stable(马厩) door, and came in, calling out,

“Wake up, Beauty! You must go faster now than you ever have before.”

Almost before I could think, he had got the saddle(马鞍) on my back and the bridle(马笼头) on my head.

He collected his coat, and then took me at a quick walk up to the hall door.

The master stood there, with a lamp in his hand.

“Now, John,” he said, “ride for my wife’s life. There is not a moment to lose.

Give this note to Dr. White. Rest your horse at the hotel, and come back as soon as you can.”

John said, “Yes, sir,” and was on my back in a minute.

Away we went through the park, the village, and down the hill till we came to the toll-gate.

John called very loud and knocked hard at the door.

The man was soon out, and quickly opened the gate.

“Now,” said John, “keep the gate open for the doctor. Here’s the money,” and off he went again.

There was before us a long piece of flat road by the river side.

John said to me, “Now, Beauty, do your best,” and so I did.

I wanted no whip(鞭打), and for two miles I ran as fast as I could.

When we came to the bridge, John pulled me up(减速) a little and patted(轻拍) my neck.

“Well done, Beauty! Good old fellow.” He would have let me go slower, but my spirit was up, and I was off again as fast as before.

We came through a village, then through a dark wood, then uphill, then downhill.

After running eight miles, we came to the town, through the streets and into the market-place.

Everybody was asleep.

It was all quite still except for the sound of my feet on the stones.

The church clock struck three as we drew up at Dr. White’s door.

John rang the bell twice, and then knocked at the door hard and loudly.

A window was thrown up, and Dr. White put his head out and said, “What do you want?”

“Mrs. Gordon is very ill, sir. My master wants you to come at once. He thinks she will die if you cannot get there. Here is a note.”

“Wait,” he said, “I will come.”

He shut the window, and was soon at the door.

“The worst of it is,” he said, “that my horse has been out all day and is quite tired.

My son has just been called to see a patient, and he has taken the other horse. What is to be done? Can I have your horse?”

“He ran nearly all the way, and I was to give him a rest here. But I think my master would not be against it, if you think fit, sir.”

“All right,” he said, “I will soon be ready.”

John stood by me and patted(轻拍) my neck. I was very hot.

The doctor came out with his whip(鞭子).

“You need not take that, sir,” said John, “Black Beauty will go till he drops. Take care of him if you can, sir. I do not like any harm to come to him.”

“Yes, I will,” said the doctor, and in a minute we had left John far behind.

The doctor was a heavier man than John, and not so good a rider.

However, I did my very best.

The man at the toll-gate had it open.

When we came to the hill, the doctor stopped me. “Now, my good fellow,” he said, “take some breath.”

I was glad, for I had almost used up my energy, and that breathing helped me on.

Soon we reached my master’s property.

Joe was at the gate of the small house at the entrance, and my master was at the hall door, for he had heard us coming.

He spoke not a word. The doctor went into the house with him, and Joe led me to the stable(马厩).

My legs shook under me, and I could only stand and breathe heavily.

I had not a dry hair on my body.

The sweat ran down my legs, and I was hot all over. Hot like a pot on the fire.

Poor Joe! He was young and small, and as yet he knew very little.

His father, who would have helped him, had been sent to the next village.

But I am sure he did the very best he knew.

He rubbed(揉擦) my legs and my chest, but he did not put my warm cloth on me.

He thought I was so hot that I should not like it.

Then he gave me a bucket(一桶) of water to drink.

It was cold and very good, and I drank it all.

Then he gave me some hay(干草) and some corn, and thinking he had done right, he went away.

Soon I began to shake and turned deadly cold.

My legs ached; my lower back ached; my chest ached; and I ached all over.

Oh! How I wished for my warm, thick cloth, as I stood and shook.

I wished for John, but he had eight miles to walk, so I lay down in my straw and tried to go to sleep.

After a long while, I heard John at the door.

I gave a low cry, for I was in great pain.

He was at my side in a moment, bending down by me.

I could not tell him how I felt, but he seemed to know it all.

He covered me up with two or three warm cloths, and then ran to the house for some hot water.

He made me some warm oat(燕麦) soup, and then I went to sleep.

 

John seemed to be very angry. I heard him say to himself over and over again,

“Stupid boy! Stupid boy! No cloth put on, and I dare say the water was cold, too. Boys are no good.” But Joe was a good boy, after all.

I was now very ill—my lungs were inflamed(发炎的), and I could not draw my breath without pain.

John took care of me night and day.

He would get up two or three times in the night to come to me.

My master, too, often came to see me.

“My poor Beauty,” he said one day, “my good horse, you saved my wife’s life, Beauty. Yes, you saved her life.”

I was very glad to hear that, for it seemed the doctor had said if we had been a little longer, it would have been too late.

John told my master he never saw a horse go so fast in his life, and that it seemed as if the horse knew what the matter was.

Of course I did, though John did not know that.

At least I knew that John and I must go at top speed, to save our master’s wife.

Chapter 10

黑骏马变得非常虚弱，高烧让他的听觉变得非常敏感。一天，他在马厩里休息，听到约翰和乔的父亲汤姆的对话。约翰对汤姆对于儿子的所作所为只是因为无知的言论非常不赞同。黑骏马在那里生活了三年之后，得知主人将搬离英国。大家都非常难过。

I do not know how long I was ill.

Mr. Bond, the horse-doctor, came every day.

One day he made me lose some blood.

John held a bucket(一桶) for the blood.

I felt very faint(虚弱的) after it and thought I should die, and I believe they all thought so too.

Ginger and Merrylegs had been moved into the other stable(马厩) so that I might have some quiet.

The fever made my hearing very sensitive(灵敏的)—any little noise seemed quite loud.

One night John had to give me some medicine.

Tom Green came in to help him.

After I had taken it, John had made me as comfortable as he could, and he said he would stay half an hour to see if the medicine worked.

Tom said he would stay with him.

For a while both men sat silent, and then Tom Green said in a low voice:

“John, I wish you’d say a bit of a kind word to Joe. The boy is quite broken-hearted.

He can’t eat his meals, and he can’t smile.

He says it was all his fault, though he is sure he did the best he knew.

He says if Beauty dies, no one will ever speak to him again. It breaks my heart to hear him.

I think you might give him just a word. He is not a bad boy.”

After a short pause, John said slowly,

“You must not be too hard upon me, Tom. I know he meant no harm. I never said he did. I know he is not a bad boy.

But you see, I feel pain myself. That horse is the pride of my heart, and a favorite with the master and his wife.

To think that his life may be thrown away in this manner is more than I can bear.

But if you think I am hard on the boy, I will try to give him a good word tomorrow—that is, I mean if Beauty is better.”

“Well, John, thank you. I knew you did not wish to be too hard, and I am glad you see it as only ignorance(无知).”

John’s voice almost startled(使吓一跳) me as he answered, “Only ignorance(无知)! Only ignorance(无知)! How can you talk about only ignorance(无知)?

Don’t you know that it is the worst thing in the world, next to wickedness(邪恶)?

If people can say, ‘Oh! I did not know, I did not mean any harm,’ they think it is all right.

I suppose Martha Mulwash did not mean to kill that baby when she gave it too much sleeping medicine; but she did kill it, and the police came for her.”

“And so they should have, too,” said Tom. “A woman should not try to take care of a tender(脆弱的) little child without knowing what is good and what is bad for it.”

“And you were very upset yourself, Tom,

two weeks ago, when those young ladies left your greenhouse(温室) door open, with a cold east wind blowing right in; you said it killed many of your plants.”

“A good many!” said Tom, “there was not one of the tender(幼嫩的) young plants that survived.

I shall have to start all over again, and the worst of it is that I don’t know where to go to get fresh ones.

I was nearly mad when I came in and saw what they had done.”

“And yet,” said John, “I am sure the young ladies did not mean it; it was only ignorance(无知).”

 

I heard no more of this conversation, for the medicine did well and sent me to sleep, and in the morning I felt much better.

But I often thought of John’s words when I came to know more of the world.

In the next months, Joe Green went on very well.

He learned quickly, and was very careful and paid close attention.

John began to trust him in many things.

It was wonderful what changes had come over Joe.

John laughed, and said he had grown an inch taller in those months, and I believe he had.

He was just as kind and gentle as before.

But there was more purpose and strong will in all that he did, as if he had grown at once from a boy into a man.

Now I had lived in this happy place for three years, but sad changes were about to come over us.

We heard from time to time that Mrs. Gordon was ill.

The doctor was often at the house, and the master looked serious and anxious.

Then we heard that she must leave her home at once, and go to a warm country for two or three years.

The news fell upon the household(一家人) like the sound of a bell announcing a death.

Everybody was sorry.

But the master began to make arrangements for his properties and prepare to leave England.

We used to hear about it in our stable(马厩).

Indeed, nothing else was talked about.

John went about his work silent and sad, and Joe hardly whistled.

There was a great deal of coming and going.

Ginger and I had lots of work.

Chapter 11

在昨天的内容中，我们得知主人和他的妻子将搬离英国。John和Little Joe为他们送行，依依惜别之后的第二天，John带Black Beauty和Ginger来到他们的新家。John向新的马车夫说明了两匹马的习性，他的声音听起来非常悲伤。说完之后就离开了，Black Beauty再也没有见过他。

The first of the party who went were Miss Jessie and Flora, with their teacher.

They came to say good-bye.

They hugged poor Merrylegs like an old friend, and so indeed he was.

Then we heard what had been arranged for us.

Master had sold Ginger and me to his old friend, the Earl of W-, for he thought we should have a good place there.

He had given Merrylegs to the priest(牧师), who needed a small horse for Mrs. Blomefield.

But it was on the condition that Merrylegs should never be sold.

Joe was going to take care of Merrylegs and to help in the house, so I thought that Merrylegs was well off.

John had the offer of several good places, but he said he would wait a little and look round.

The evening before they left, the master came into the stable(马厩) to give some directions, and to give his horses the last pat(轻拍).

He seemed very sad. I knew that by his voice.

I believe we horses can tell more by the voice than many men can.

Master then thanked John for his long and loyal(忠心的) service.

But that was too much for John.

“Don’t, sir, I can’t bear it. You have done so much for me that I could never repay(报答) it.

We shall never forget you, and please God, we may some day see Mrs. Gordon back again like herself. We must keep up hope, sir.”

The master gave John his hand, but he did not speak, and they both left the stable(马厩).

The last sad day had come.

Ginger and I brought the carriage up to the hall door for the last time.

When all were arranged, the master came down the steps carrying his wife in his arms.

He placed her carefully in the carriage, while the house servants stood round crying.

“Good-bye, again,” he said, “we shall not forget any of you,” and he got in. “Drive on, John.”

We trotted(慢跑) slowly through the master’s property and then through the village.

The village people were standing at their doors to have a last look and to say, “Good luck.”

When we reached the railway station(火车站), the master’s wife walked from the carriage to the waiting-room.

I heard her say in her own sweet voice, “Good-bye, John. Good luck.”

I felt the rein(缰绳) move, but John made no answer. Perhaps he could not speak.

As soon as Joe had taken the bags out of the carriage, John called him to stand by the horses, while he went onto the platform.

Poor Joe! He stood close up to our heads to hide his tears.

Very soon the train came into the station and stopped for two or three minutes.

Then the doors were closed, the guard whistled, and the train went away, leaving behind it only clouds of white smoke and some very heavy hearts.

When it was quite out of sight, John came back.

“We shall never see her again,” he said, “never.” He took the reins(缰绳), put on the box, and drove slowly home with Joe. But it was not our home now.

 

The next morning John put the saddle(马鞍) on Ginger and the leading rein(控制方向的缰绳) on me.

Then he rode us across the country to Earlshall Park, where the Earl of W- lived.

There was a very fine house and many stables(马厩) with lots of light and space for many horses.

We were placed in boxes next to each other, cleaned and fed(喂食).

Then John and Mr. York, who was to be our new carriage driver, came in to see us.

“Now, Mr. John,” he said, after carefully looking at us both,

“I would like to know if there is anything particular in either of these that you would like to mention.”

“The black one is the most patient I ever knew. I suppose he has never known a hard word or a blow.

The red-brown horse must have had bad treatment, but when she found what sort of place ours was, she slowly started to improve.

So, if she is well treated, there is not a better, more willing animal than she is.

If she is badly used or unfairly treated, she will be likely to act in a bad way.”

“You know it’s not easy to have very good and responsible(负责的) grooms(马夫) in stables(马厩) like these.

I do my best. I’ll remember what you have said about the female horse.” said York.

“I had better mention that we have never used the bearing rein(颈上控缰) with either of them.

The black horse never had one on, and the seller said it was the bridle(马笼头) that made the female horse lose patience.”

“If they come here, they must wear the bearing rein(颈上控缰). I prefer a loose(宽松的) bearing rein(颈上控缰) myself, and the Earl is always very reasonable about horses.

But my lady—it must be tight up when she rides!”

John came round to each of us to pat(轻拍) and speak to us for the last time.

His voice sounded very sad. I held my face close to him. That was all I could do to say good-bye.

Then he was gone, and I never saw him since.

Chapter 12

在昨天的内容中，黑骏马和金吉儿必须戴着颈上控缰工作，这让金吉儿非常的不适应。于是她抓住机会，向马夫们示威。一番头破血流之后，她再也不被允许拉马车。黑骏马还提到了一个人，名叫史密斯。他是个一流的骑手，但有个致命的弱点，酗酒。

The next day in the afternoon, harnesses(马具) were put on us.

We were put in the carriage and led round to the front of the house.

This was my first time wearing a bearing rein(颈上控缰).

It was certainly annoying not to be able to get my head down now and then, but luckily, the rein(缰绳) did not pull my head higher than before.

I felt anxious about Ginger, but she seemed to be quiet and content.

We heard the rubbing(摩擦) sound of a silk dress, and the lady came down the steps.

In a loud voice she said, “York, you must put those horses’ heads higher. They are not fit to be seen.”

York said very politely,

“I beg your pardon, my lady, but these horses have not been reined up for three years, and my lord said it would be safer to bring them to it by degrees.

But if you lady would like, I can take them up a little more.”

“Do so,” she said.

York came round to our heads and shortened the rein(缰绳).

That day we had a high hill to go up.

I had to pull with my head up and that took all the spirit out of me, and the strain(损伤，拉伤) came on my back and legs.

Day by day, hole by hole, our bearing reins(颈上控缰) were shortened.

Instead of looking forward with pleasure to having my harness(马具) put on, I began to be scared of it.

Ginger, too, seemed scared, though she said very little.

At last, I thought the worst was over, for several days there was no more shortening.

However, the worst burst out.

One day my lady came down later than usual, and the silk rubbed(摩擦) more than ever.

“Drive to the Duchess of B-’s,” she said, and then after a pause, “are you never going to get those horses’ heads up, York? Raise them at once.”

York came to me first, he drew my head back and fixed the rein(缰绳) so tight that it was very uncomfortable.

Then he went to Ginger. She had a good idea of what was coming.

She took her opportunity, and rose on her back legs so suddenly that York had his nose roughly hit and his hat knocked off.

The other groom(马夫) was nearly thrown off his legs.

At once they both flew to her head.

But she was a match for them, and went on jumping, rising on back legs, and kicking in a most desperate(拼命的) manner.

At last, she kicked right over the carriage pole(杆子) and fell down, after giving me a severe(重的) blow on my side.

York immediately sat himself down flat on her head to prevent her moving.

The groom(马夫) soon set me free from the carriage, and then led me to my box and ran back to York.

Before long, Ginger was led in by two grooms(马夫), a good deal knocked about and hurt.

Ginger was never put into the carriage again.

When her wounds were healed(愈合), one of the Lord W-’s younger sons said he would like to have her.

He was sure she would make a good hunter.

As for me, I still had to go in the carriage.

 

It would be hard to describe what I suffered with that rein(缰绳) for four long months in my lady’s carriage.

York might have known how that rein(缰绳) bothered(使烦扰) me.

But nothing was done to help me.

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.

The head groom(马夫), Reuben Smith, was left in charge of the stables(马厩).

Now I must say a little about Reuben Smith.

When he was all right, there could not be a more faithful or valuable man.

He was gentle and very clever in his management of horses;

he was a first-rate driver, and he could manage four horses all pulling a carriage together;

he was a handsome man, and had very good manners.

I believe everybody liked him, and certainly the horses did.

But he had one great fault, and that was the love of drink.

He was not like some men, always at it.

He used to stay away from drink for weeks or months together.

Then he would break out and have a lot of it.

However, he was so useful that two or three times York hadn’t talked about the matter with others and kept it from the Earl’s knowledge.

Reuben had made a firm promise that he would never taste another drop as long as he lived there.

He had kept his promise so well that York thought Smith might be safely trusted to fill his place while he was away.

Chapter 13

在昨天的内容中，Smith放任自己，在醉酒的情况下骑马摔死。黑骏马也因此而受伤。经过一番调查，黑骏马没有被问责。
查看本章讲义

In early April, Colonel Blantyre, the nephew of Earl’s, was forced to return to his army group.

It was arranged that Reuben would drive him to the town, and ride back.

For this purpose I was chosen for the journey.

At the station, the colonel put some money into Reuben’s hand and said good-bye.

Then Reuben rode me to the White Lion.

He ordered the stable(马厩) keeper to feed(喂养) me well, and have me ready for him at four o’clock.

Reuben did not come into the yard till five, and then he said he would not leave till six, as he had met with some old friends.

The stable(马厩) keeper told him that a nail in one of my front shoes had come loose(松动的), and asked if he would have the shoe taken care of.

“No,” said Reuben, “that will be all right till we get home.”

He spoke in a very loud, rude way.

I thought it very unlike him not to take care of the shoe, as he used to be very careful about loose(松动的) nails in our shoes.

He did not come at six nor seven, nor eight. It was nearly nine o’clock before he called for me with a loud, rough voice.

He seemed angry and was rude to the stable(马厩) keeper, though I could not tell why.

The stable(马厩) keeper stood at the door and said, “Have a care, Mr. Smith!” but he answered angrily with bad words.

Almost before he was out of the town, he began to run.

He frequently gave me sharp cuts with his whip(鞭子), though I was going at full speed.

The moon had not yet risen, and it was very dark.

The roads were uneven, having been recently repaired.

Going over them at this pace, my shoe became looser, and as we neared the main road gate, it came off.

Reuben should have noticed something wrong with the way I was running, but he didn’t. He was too drunk.

Beyond the main road, there was a long piece of road where fresh stones had just been laid.

No horse could be quickly driven on those large sharp stones without any risk of danger.

Over this road, with one shoe gone, I was forced to run at my top speed.

Meanwhile, my rider cut into me with his whip(鞭子), and angrily urged(催促) me to go still faster.

Of course my foot without the shoe suffered dreadfully.

The hoof(马蹄) was broken and split(裂开) down to the flesh, and the inside was terribly cut by the sharpness of the stones.

This could not go on. The pain was too great. I lost control, and fell with violence on both my knees.

Reuben was thrown off by my fall, and due to the speed I was going at, he must have fallen with great force.

The moon had just risen, and by its light I could see Reuben lying a few yards beyond me.

He did not rise. He made one slight effort to do so, and then there was a heavy cry.

 

One more heavy cry came from Reuben.

Although he now lay in the full moonlight, I could see no motion(动作).

I could do nothing for him nor for myself.

How I listened for the sound of horse, or wheels, or footsteps!

But the road was not much traveled, and at this time of the night we might wait for hours before help came to us.

It must have been nearly midnight when I heard the sound of a horse’s feet at a great distance.

I hoped it might be someone coming in search of us.

As the sound came nearer and nearer, I was almost sure it was Ginger’s step.

I cried loudly, and was excited to hear an answer from Ginger, and men’s voices.

They came slowly over the stones, and stopped at the dark figure that lay upon the ground.

One of the men jumped out, and bent down over it. “It is Reuben, Ned,” he said, “and he does not move!”

Ned followed, bent over him, and said, “He’s dead, Robert, feel how cold his hands are.”

They raised him up, and his hair was wet with blood.

They came and looked at me and soon saw my cut knees.

“The horse has been down and thrown him! Reuben must have been lying here for hours!

Odd(奇怪), too, that the horse has not moved from the place.” said Robert.

He attempted to lead me forward. I made a step, but almost fell again.

“He’s bad in his foot as well as his knees. Look here—his hoof(马蹄) is cut all to pieces. No wonder the poor horse fell!

Ned, I’m afraid Reuben has some problems. Just think of his riding a horse over these stones without a shoe!

He would never do such a thing normally, any more than he would try to ride a horse over the moon. I’m afraid he must be drunk.

What must we do? There’s the horse to get home as well as the body, and that will be no easy matter.”

Then they agreed that Robert would lead me, and Ned took the body.

When Ned started off very slowly with his sad load, Robert came and looked at my foot again.

He took a piece of cloth and bound(包扎) it closely round, and so he led me home.

Robert led me on very slowly, and I walked slowly with great pain.

At last, I reached my own box, and had some corn.

After Robert had bound(包扎) my knees in wet cloths, he tied up my foot in a piece of warm cloth, to draw out the heat and to clean it before the horse-doctor saw it in the morning.

I managed to get myself down on the straw, and slept in spite of the pain.

The next day, after the doctor had examined my foot and knees, he said he hoped the joint(关节) was not hurt.

If it was hurt, I should not be made to work.

I believe they did the best to make a good cure, but it was a long and painful one.

The flesh of my knees became infected(感染), and had to be burned out with a chemical.

When at last it was all good, they put very hot water over the front of both knees to get rid of all the hair.

They had some reason for this, and I suppose it was all right.

 

As Smith’s death had been so sudden, and no one was there to see it, there was an examination of the cause.

The stable(马厩) keeper at the White Lion, with several other people, gave evidence that he was drunk when he started from the hotel.

The keeper of the toll-gate said he rode at a hard run through the gate, and my shoe was picked up among the stones.

The case was quite plain to them, and I was cleared of all blame.

Chapter 14

在昨天的内容中，由于黑骏马膝盖受伤，于是主人决定卖掉他。黑骏马因此和金吉儿分开。主人把他卖去做了“出租马”，在这段经历期间，他遇到了很多不懂骑马的人，但是也有对他很友好的骑手。那位先生把他介绍给了他的一位朋友，巴里先生。

As soon as my knees became sufficiently(足够地，充分地) well, I was turned into a small field for a month or two.

No other creature was there. I felt very lonely, and now I missed Ginger’s company very much.

Till one morning the gate was opened, and old Ginger came in.

She had been damaged by hard riding, and was now given a chance to see what rest would do.

We both felt in ourselves that we were not what we had been.

However, that did not reduce the pleasure we had in each other’s company.

We used to feed(吃东西), lie down together, and stand for hours under the big lime-trees with our heads close to each other.

And so we passed our time till the family returned from town.

One day we saw the Earl come into the field, and York was with him.

They examined us carefully.

The Earl seemed very angry.

“These were fine horses who cost me a lot of money, but what I care most about is that these horses of my old friend,

who thought they would find a good home with me, are damaged.

The female horse shall have a year’s run, and we shall see what that will do for her.

But the black one, he must be sold. It’s a great pity, but I cannot have knees like these in my stables(马厩).”

“Of course not, my lord, but he might get a place where appearance is not of much importance, and still be well treated.

I know a man in Bath, the master of some rental-horse stables(马厩), who often wants a good horse at a low price.”

“You had better write to him, York. I would be more particular about the place than the money he would pay.”

After this they left us.

About a week after this, Robert came into the field with a bearing rein(颈上控缰), and led me away.

There was no chance to say goodbye to Ginger. We cried to each other as I was led off.

She walked anxiously along by the small trees, calling to me as long as she could hear the sound of my feet.

 

Through York’s good words, I was bought by the master of the rental-horse stables(马厩).

When I arrived, I found myself in a quite comfortable stable(马厩) and well attended to.

Our master took as much care of us as he could.

He kept a good many horses and carriages of different kinds for rent.

Sometimes his own men drove them.

At other times, the horse and seat were rented out to gentlemen or ladies who drove themselves.

Until now I had always been driven by people who at least knew how to drive.

However, in this place, I was to get my experience of all the different kinds of bad driving, for I was a “job-horse”.

It would take a long time to tell people about all the different driving styles, but I will mention a few of them.

First were the tight-rein(紧缰绳) drivers—men held the reins(缰绳) as hard as they could, and never relaxed the pull on the horse’s mouth, or gave him the least freedom of movement.

Then were the loose-rein(松缰绳) drivers, who let the reins(缰绳) lie easily on our back, and their own hand rest lazily on their knees.

If a horse suddenly moves, or startles(受惊), or falls, the harm is done.

Besides, some drivers didn’t pay attention at all, and would attend to anything else more than their horses.

I went out in the carriage one day with one of them.

 

He shook the reins(缰绳) as we started, and of course gave me several meaningless cuts with the whip(鞭子).

There had been a good deal of road-repair going on, and there were a great many loose(松动的) stones around.

And so it easily happened that I got a stone in one of my front feet.

My driver was laughing and joking with the lady and the children, but never thought he should keep an eye on me.

He drove me with that stone in my foot for a good half-mile.

At last a farmer saw and got it out.

My driver shook the reins(缰绳) again.

This was the sort of experience we job-horses often had.

Of course we sometimes had good drivers also.

One morning I was put into the light carriage and taken to a house.

Two gentlemen came out.

The taller of them came round to my head and took a look at the bearing rein(颈上控缰).

“I don’t like it,” said the gentleman, “I’ll take it off, and put the leading rein(控制方向的缰绳) in.

An easy mouth is a great thing on a long journey. Isn’t that right, old fellow?” he said, patting(轻拍) my neck.

Then he took the reins(缰绳), and they both got up.

I can remember now how quietly he turned me round.

With a light feel of the rein(缰绳), and a gentle drawing of the whip(鞭子) across my back, we were off.

I bent my neck and set off at my best pace.

I found I had someone behind me who knew how a good horse ought to be driven.

It seemed like old times again, and made me feel quite happy.

This gentleman liked me very much.

After trying me several times, he talked my master into selling me to a friend of his.

His friend wanted a safe, pleasant horse for riding.

In the summer I was sold to Mr. Barry.

Chapter 15

新主人巴里先生给黑骏马提供了很好的宿食，但他不懂马，所以马夫Filcher负责全权照顾黑骏马。但是Filcher后来被发现是个十足的小偷加骗子，在行窃过程中抓住后被判入狱。而新马夫Alfred Smirk也是个不折不扣的小人，由于他的虚伪和懒惰，黑骏马受到感染。主人对自己连续被骗两次感到恼怒，于是不想再养马。黑骏马因此被卖到了马市，一个温和善良的人把他买回了家。

My new master rented a stable(马厩) a short distance from his house, and asked a man named Filcher to be the groom(马夫).

My master knew very little about horses, but he ordered the best hay(干草) with plenty of oats, beans, and bran(米糠).

And my groom(马夫) understood his business.

He kept the stable(马厩) clean and fresh, and groomed(给（动物）梳毛，刷洗) me carefully.

He was never otherwise than gentle.

I thought I was well off.

After a while, it seemed to me that my oats came very short.

I had the beans, but bran(米糠) was given with them instead of oats.

In two or three weeks, this began to tell upon my strength and spirits.

And it went on for about two months, and I couldn’t keep up my condition anymore.

My master didn’t see that anything was wrong, for he knew little about horses.

It was a friend of his, a gentleman farmer, who told him maybe someone ate his corn.

Yes, if I could have spoken, I could have told my master where his oats went to.

Filcher used to come every morning about six o’clock with his little son.

I could see them fill a little bag with oats out of the bucket(桶), and then off.

 

One morning, just as they had left the stable(马厩), the door was pushed open, and a policeman walked in and caught him stealing.

Filcher was sentenced to prison for two months.

His son was found not guilty, because he was so young.

In a few days my new groom(马夫) came.

If ever there was a liar in the shape of a groom(马夫), Alfred Smirk was the man.

When his master was there to see it, he was very civil to me, and never treated me badly.

In fact, he did a great deal of touching and patting(拍打).

Mr. Barry thought he was very lucky to meet with Alfred.

I should say Alfred was the laziest, most conceited(傲慢的) fellow I ever came near.

The fact was that when his master wasn’t there, he hardly ever exercised me or gave me a meal of green meat or bran(米糠).

I had a loose(宽松的，自由的) box, and might have been very comfortable if he had not been too lazy to clean it.

But he cleaned out the old straw, and the smell from what lay below was very bad.

The strong gas that rose made my eyes hurt and swell(肿胀).

Once the master couldn’t bear the bad smell, and asked him to deep clean my separate space and throw down plenty of water.

But he didn’t do so, and the smell in my box was as bad as ever.

But that was not all: standing as I did on a quantity of wet straw, my feet grew unhealthy and painful.

One day my feet were so painful that, trotting(小跑) over some fresh stones with my master on my back, I almost fell twice.

As he came down Lansdown into the city, my master stopped at the animal doctor’s, and asked him to see what the matter was with me.

The man took up my feet one by one and examined them.

Then standing up and dusting his hands one against the other, he said:

“Your horse has got an infection(感染), and a bad one, too.”

Then I had my feet deep cleaned and treated with some strong cream(乳膏).

The doctor ordered all the straw to be taken out of my box every day, and the floor to be kept very clean.

Then I was to have bran(米糠), a little green food, and not so much corn, till my feet were well again.

With this treatment, I soon got my spirits back.

Mr. Barry was so much mad at being twice lied by his grooms(马夫) that he determined to rent whenever he wanted one instead of keeping a horse himself.

I was therefore kept till my feet were quite healthy, and then I was then to be sold at the horse fair.

In the horse fair, I was put with two or three other strong, useful-looking horses, and many people came to look at us.

They first pulled my mouth open and looked at my eyes.

Then they felt all the way down my legs, and felt my skin and flesh closely.

At last they tried to see how fast I could go.

But the gentlemen always turned away from me when they saw my broken knees.

There was one man of whom I thought that if he would buy me, I should be happy.

I knew in a moment by the way he handled me that he was used to horses.

He spoke gently, and his gray eyes had a kindly, happy look in it.

The clean, fresh smell from him made me like him.

There was no smell of old beer and smoking, which I hated, but a fresh smell of hay(干草).

He offered twenty-three pounds for me, but that was refused, and he walked away.

I looked after him, but he was gone.

Then a very hard-looking, loud-voiced man came.

I was dreadfully afraid he would have me. Luckily, he left again.

Just then the gray-eyed man came back again.

I could not help reaching out my head toward him. He touched my face kindly.

“Well, old man,” he said, “I think we shall suit each other. I’ll give twenty-four for him.”

“Say twenty-five and you shall have him.”

“Twenty-four ten,” said my friend, in a very decided tone(语气), “and not another sixpence(六便士，钱币)—yes or no?”

“Done,” said the salesman.

The money was paid on the spot.

My new master took my rein(缰绳), and led me out of the fair to a hotel.

He had a saddle(马鞍) and bridle(马笼头) ready at the hotel.

He gave me a good feed(饲料) of oats and stood by while I ate them, talking to himself and talking to me.

Then we were on our way to London, through pleasant lanes(小巷) and country roads.

We traveled steadily on the great London main road till it was almost completely dark.

Half an hour later, my owner pulled up at one of the houses and whistled.

The door flew open, and a young woman, followed by a little girl and boy, ran out.

My rider was talking to them excitedly as he got off me.

“Harry, my boy, open the gates, and mother will bring us the lantern.”

The next minute they were all standing round me in a small stable(马厩)-yard.

“Is he gentle, father?”

“Yes, Dolly, as gentle as your own kitten(小猫). Come and pat(轻拍) him.”

At once the little hand was patting(轻拍) about all over my shoulder without fear. How good it felt!

“Let me get him some bran(米糠) while you rub(梳刷（马毛）) him down,” said the mother.

“Do, Polly, it’s just what he wants, and I know you’ve got very good bran(米糠) ready for me.”

“Sausages and apple pie!” shouted the boy, which set them all laughing.

I was led into a comfortable, clean-smelling space in a stable(马厩), with plenty of dry straw.

After a wonderful supper I lay down, thinking I was going to be happy.

Chapter 16

新主人的名字叫Jerry，他做着一份拉马车的工作。于是黑骏马成为了Jerry的新搭档。第一周的工作让黑骏马很不适应，但是他充分相信Jerry，于是慢慢接受了新工作。选举日人多嘈杂，那天的工作非常忙碌。善良的Jerry免费护送一位年轻妈妈和她的小孩到医院，临走的时候遇到了一位旧相识。

Jeremiah Barker was my new master’s name, but as everyone called him Jerry, I shall do the same.

Polly, his wife, was just as good a match as a man could have.

She was a clean and happy little woman.

Harry was twelve years old, a tall, straightforward(坦率的), patient young boy.

Little Dorothy (Dolly they called her) looked just like her mother, at eight years old.

They were all very fond of each other. I never knew such a happy family before or since.

Jerry had a cab(马车) of his own, and two horses, which he drove and attended to himself.

His other horse was a tall, white, rather large-boned animal called Captain.

The next morning, when I was well groomed(梳毛，刷洗) by Jerry, Polly and Dolly came into the yard to see me and make friends.

Polly brought me a slice(薄片) of apple, and Dolly, a piece of bread.

They paid so much attention to me as if I had been the “Black Beauty” that I was in my youth.

It was a great treat to be treated like a good pet again and talked to in a gentle voice.

I let them see, as well as I could, that I wished to be friendly.

Polly thought I was very handsome, and a great deal too good for a cab(马车), if it was not for the broken knees.

“Of course there’s no one to tell us whose fault that was,” said Jerry,

“and as long as I don’t know, I shall give him the benefit of the doubt, for a better horse I never rode.

We’ll call him ‘Jack’, after the old one—shall we, Polly?”

“Do,” she said, “for I like to keep a good name going.”

Harry came in after school to feed(喂食) me and give me water.

In the afternoon I was put into the cab(马车).

Jerry was very careful to make sure that the collar and bridle(马笼头) fitted comfortably.

When the rein(缰绳) was let out a hole or two, it all fitted well.

Then after driving through a side street, we came to the large cabstand(马车出租站).

There was no bearing rein(颈上控缰), but a plain ring bit. What luck that was!

The first week of my life as a cab(马车) horse was very difficult.

I had never been used to London.

The noise, the hurry, the crowds of horses, carts(马车), and carriages that I had to make my way through made me feel anxious and upset.

But I soon found that I could perfectly trust my driver, and then I relaxed and got used to it.

Jerry was as good a driver as I had ever known, and he took as much thought for his horses as he did for himself.

He soon found out that I was willing to work and do my best.

He never laid the whip(鞭子) on me unless by gently drawing the end of it over my back when I was to go on.

But generally, I knew this quite well by the way in which he took up the reins(缰绳).

 

In the stable(马厩), too, he did all that he could for our comfort.

Jerry kept us very clean, and gave us as much change of food as he could, and always plenty of it.

What’s more, he always gave us plenty of clean fresh water that he put next to us both night and day.

And the best thing we had here was our Sunday rest.

We worked so hard in the week that I do not think we could have kept up to it if not for that day.

Besides, we then had time to enjoy each other’s company.

Time went by, and the election(选举) day came.

We were so busy that there was no lack of work for Jerry and me.

First came a fat, solid(结实的)-looking gentleman who wanted to go to the Bishopsgate Station.

Then we were called by a party who wished to be taken to Regent’s Park.

And next we were wanted by a shy, anxious old lady.

Just as we had set her down, a red-faced gentleman came running up out of breath.

Before Jerry could get down, he had opened the door, got inside, and called out, “Bow Street Police Station, quick!”

When we came back, Jerry put on my nose-bag and he said,

“We must eat when we can on such days as these. So eat away, Jack, and make the best of your time, old boy.”

Jerry and I had not eaten much of our food before a poor young woman, carrying a heavy child, came along the street.

She was looking this way and that way, and seemed quite confused(困惑的).

Presently she made her way up to Jerry and asked if he could tell her the way to St. Thomas’ Hospital, and how far it was to get there.

She said she had come from the country that morning.

She did not know about the election(选举), and was quite a stranger in London.

She had got an order to take her little boy to the hospital.

The child was crying with a very weak cry.

“Ma’am,” said Jerry, “you can’t get there walking through crowds like this! It is three miles away, and that child is heavy.

You can’t do it! You might be knocked down and the child be run over.

Now look here, just get into this cab(马车), and I’ll drive you safe to the hospital. Don’t you see the rain is coming on?”

“No, sir, no. I can’t do that. I have only just money enough to get back with. Please tell me the way.”

Jerry replied, “I’ve got a wife and dear children at home, and I know a father’s feelings.

Now get you into that cab(马车), and I’ll take you there for nothing. I’d be ashamed of myself to let a woman and a sick child run a risk like that.”

“Thank you!” said the woman, and burst into tears.

“Relax, my dear, I’ll soon take you there. Come, let me put you inside.”

We were soon on our way to the hospital, going as fast as possible through side streets.

Jerry rang the great bell and helped the young woman out.

“Thank you a thousand times,” she said, “I could never have got here alone.”

“You’re kindly welcome, and I hope the dear child will soon be better.”

 

He watched her go in at the door, and turned round.

The rain was now coming down fast, and just as we were leaving, the hospital door opened again, and a hospital worker called out, “Cab(马车)!”

We stopped, and a lady came down the steps. Jerry seemed to know her at once.

She put back her veil(面纱) and said, “Barker! Jeremiah Barker, is that you? I am very glad to find you here.

You are just the friend I want, for it is very difficult to get a cab(马车) in this part of London today.”

“I shall be proud to serve you, ma’am. Where may I take you to?”

“To Paddington Station, and then if we are in good time, as I think we will be, you can tell me all about Polly and the children.”

I found Polly had worked for her. After many inquiries(询问) about Polly, she said:

“Well, Barker. It would be a great pity if you were to seriously risk your health in this work, not only for your own good but for Polly’s and the children’s good.

There are many places where good drivers or good grooms(马夫) are wanted.

If ever you think you ought to give up this cab(马车) work, let me know. I’ll help you.”

Then, sending some kind messages to Polly, she put something into his hand, saying,

“There are five shillings each for the two children. Polly will know how to spend it.”

Jerry thanked her and seemed very pleased, and left the station.

At last we reached home.

Chapter 17

圣诞和新年交替之际，Jerry的马车工作也非常忙碌。某个暴风雨的夜晚，他们护送两位先生去玩牌，先生们让他们十一点去接他们，结果Jerry和黑骏马等到凌晨一点多。Jerry的咳嗽因此加重，躺在床上不能工作。于是前文提到的旧相识，即Polly的前雇主雪中送炭。Jerry一家决定搬去她那里，黑骏马再一次面临被卖的命运。

For some people, Christmas and the New Year are very happy times.

But for cabmen and cabmen’s horses, it is no holiday, though it may be a time to make good money.

There are so many parties, dances, and places of entertainment(娱乐，消遣) open that the work is hard and often late.

Sometimes drivers and horses have to wait for hours in the rain, shaking with the cold, while the happy people within are dancing away to the music.

We had a great deal of late work in the Christmas week, and Jerry’s cough was bad.

But however late we were, Polly sat up for him, and came out with a lantern to meet him, looking anxious and troubled.

On the evening of the New Year, we had to take two gentlemen to a house in one of the West End Squares.

We set them down at nine o’clock, and were told to come again at eleven.

They told us that they would be playing cards, so they might be a few minutes late. But we shouldn’t be.

As the clock struck eleven, we were at the door, for Jerry was always on time.

The clock sounded the quarters, one, two, three, and then struck twelve, but the door did not open.

The wind had been changing a lot, with a storm of rain during the day, but now sharp, driving icy rain started, which seemed to come from every direction.

It was very cold, and there was no shelter(掩蔽处).

Jerry got off his box, and came and pulled one of my cloths a little more over my neck.

Then he walked up and down for a while, stamping his feet.

Then he began to beat his arms against his body, but that made him start coughing.

So he opened the cab(马车) door and sat at the bottom with his feet on the street, and was a little sheltered(有遮蔽物的).

Still the clock sounded the quarters, and no one came.

At half-past twelve, Jerry rang the bell and asked the servant if he would be wanted that night.

“Oh, yes, you’ll be wanted safe enough,” said the man, “you must not go. It will soon be over.”

And again Jerry sat down, but his voice was so hoarse(沙哑的) that I could hardly hear.

At a quarter past one, the door opened, and the two gentlemen came out.

They got into the cab(马车) without a word, and told Jerry where to drive.

That was nearly two miles.

My legs felt nothing due to coldness, and I thought I should have fallen.

When the men got out, they never said they were sorry to have kept us waiting so long, but were angry at the charge.

However, as Jerry never charged more than was his due, so he never took less, and they had to pay for the two hours and a quarter of waiting.

It took a lot of efforts for Jerry to make it.

 

At last we got home. Jerry could hardly speak, and his cough was dreadful(极严重的).

Polly asked no questions, but opened the door and held the lantern for him.

“Can’t I do something?” she said.

“Yes, get Jack something warm, and then cook me a hot meal.”

This was said in a hoarse(沙哑的) voice.

He could hardly get his breath, but he gave me a rub(擦拭)-down as usual,

and even went up into the room where the straw was kept for extra straw for my bed.

Polly brought me warm food that made me comfortable, and then they locked the door.

It was late the next morning before anyone came, and then it was only Harry.

He cleaned us and fed(喂食) us, and cleaned our spaces, then he put the straw back again as if it was Sunday.

He was very still, and neither whistled nor sang.

At noon he came again and gave us our food and water.

This time Dolly came with him.

She was crying, and I could gather from what they said that Jerry was dangerously ill, and the doctor said it was a bad case.

They call it “bronchitis(支气管炎)”.

The doctor thought it would turn one way or another tonight.

Early next morning Harry was happy there and said his father was better. Thank god!

Jerry grew better steadily in the next days.

But the doctor said that he must never go back to cab(马车) work again if he wished to live to be an old man.

 

One afternoon while Harry was cleaning the mud(泥巴) off my body and legs, Dolly came in, looking as if she had some important news.

“Who lives at Fairstowe, Harry? Mother has got a letter from Fairstowe. She seemed so glad, and ran upstairs to father with it.”

“Don’t you know? It is the name of Mrs. Fowler’s place—mother used to work for her, you know—the lady that father met last summer, who sent you and me five shillings each.”

“Oh! Mrs. Fowler. Of course, I know all about her. I wonder why she wrote to mother.”

“Mrs. Fowler told father if ever he gave up the cab(马车) work, she would like to know. I wonder what she says, so run in and see, Dolly.”

In a few minutes, Dolly came dancing into the stable(马厩).

“Oh! Harry, there never was anything so beautiful. Mrs. Fowler says we are all to go and live near her.

Her carriage driver is going away in the spring, and then she will want father in his place.

There is a cottage now empty that will just suit us, with a garden, a henhouse(鸡舍), apple-trees, and everything!

And there are good families round, where you can get a place in the garden or the stable(马厩). And there’s a good school for me.

Mother is laughing and crying by turns, and father does look so happy!”

“That’s just great,” said Harry, “and just the right thing. It will suit father and mother both.”

It was quickly settled that as soon as Jerry was well enough, they should move to the country.

The cab(马车) and horses were to be sold as soon as possible.

This was bad news for me, for I was not young now, and I could not look for any improvement in my condition.

And since I left Birtwick, I had never been so happy as with my dear master Jerry.

The day came when they were to go away.

Jerry, Polly and the children came to say good-bye.

“Poor old Jack! Dear old Jack! I wish we could take you with us,” she said.

Laying her hand on my hair, she put her face close to my neck and kissed me.

Dolly was crying and kissed me too.

Jerry and Harry patted(轻拍) me a great deal, but said nothing.

So I was led away to my new place.

Chapter 18

黑骏马被卖之后的生活过得极其悲惨，自此他知道了一个拉马车的马的生活可以那么不如意。这一次，黑骏马倒下了，他觉得自己马上就要死掉了。黑骏马去鬼门关兜了一圈之后，主人不愿意再养他这样一匹体力耗尽的马，于是他又要被卖掉了。

I was sold to a person who sold corn and made bread.

Jerry knew him, and he thought I should have good food and fair work.

In the first Jerry was quite right.

But there was a manager who was always hurrying and driving everyone.

And when I had a full load, he would order something else to be taken.

My carriage driver, whose name was Jakes, always had the bearing rein(颈上控缰) up, which kept me from moving easily.

What’s worse, he always used the whip(鞭子), though I had used all my strength.

By the time I had been there three or four months, I found the work telling very much on my strength.

I was getting so totally worn out from this cause that a younger horse was bought in to take my place.

I may as well mention here what I suffered at this time from another cause.

I had heard horses speak of it, but had never had experience of the problem myself.

This was a badly-lighted stable(马厩).

There was only one very small window at the end, and so the separated spaces for horses were almost dark.

This miserable(痛苦的) thing not only affected my spirits, but also made my sight worse,

and when I was suddenly brought out of the darkness into the bright light, it was very painful to my eyes.

Several times I fell over the step, and could hardly see where I was going.

I believe, if I stayed there very long, I would have become totally blind, and that would be a great problem.

I heard men say that a completely blind horse was safer to drive than one which had weak sight, as poor sight generally made them very scared.

However, I escaped without any permanent(永久的) damage to my sight, and was sold to a large cab(马车) owner.

My new master I shall never forget. His name was Nicholas Skinner.

I have heard men say that seeing is believing.

But I would say that feeling is believing, for though I had seen much before, I never knew the total misery(不幸) of a cab(马车)-horse’s life till now.

Skinner had a bad set of cabs(马车) and a bad set of drivers.

He was hard on the men, and the men were hard on the horses.

In this place we had no Sunday rest.

Sometimes a party of people looking for fun would rent the cab(马车) for the day—four of them inside and another with the driver.

I had to take them ten or fifteen miles out into the country and back again.

None of them would ever get down to walk up a hill, no matter how high the hill was or how hot the day was.

They only got down when the driver was afraid I would not manage it.

My driver was just as hard as his master.

He had a cruel whip(鞭子) with something so sharp at the end that it sometimes drew blood.

He would even whip(鞭打) me under the belly(腹部), and at my head.

This kind of bad treatment took the heart out of me terribly, but still I did my best and was never lazy.

For, as poor Ginger said, it was no use. Men are the strongest.

My life was now so utterly(完全地) miserable(悲惨的) that I wished I might drop down dead at my work and be out of my misery(悲惨的生活).

One day my wish very nearly came true.

I went to the cabstand(马车出租站) at eight in the morning and did a good amount of work when we had to take two passengers to the railway(铁路).

Then at the railway station(火车站) my driver picked up a party of four with a great deal of baggage.

The little girl was worried that the load might be too heavy, but her father told her that it wasn’t his business to worry about the health of cab(马车)-horses.

The load was very heavy, and I had had neither food nor rest since morning.

But I did my best, as I always had done, in spite of the bad and miserable(令人痛苦的) way I was treated.

I went along fairly well till we came to Ludgate Hill.

There the heavy load was too much and I lost my strength.

I was trying so hard to keep on, with the driver whipping(鞭打) me and pulling on my reins(缰绳).

In a single moment, my feet slipped(滑倒) from under me, and I fell heavily to the ground on my side.

The sudden force with which I fell seemed to beat all the breath out of my body.

I lay perfectly still. I had no power to move, and I thought now I was going to die.

I heard a sort of confusion(混乱) round me, loud angry voices, and the getting down of the baggage.

Someone came and made the throat strap(皮带) of my bridle(马笼头) loose(宽松的), and untied the tight collar upon me.

Then I could hear a policeman giving orders, but I did not even open my eyes.

I could only draw a deep breath now and then.

Some cold water was thrown over my head, and some healing(康复) medicine was poured into my mouth, and something was covered over me.

I cannot tell how long I lay there, but I found my life coming back, and a kind-voiced man was patting(轻拍) me and encouraging me to rise.

After some more medicine, and after one or two attempts, I moved slowly to stand on my feet.

And I was gently led to some stables(马厩) which were close by.

Here I was put into a clean space, and some warm food was brought to me, which I ate thankfully.

 

In the evening I was well enough to be led back to Skinner’s stables(马厩), where they did the best for me they could.

The next morning, Skinner came with an animal doctor to look at me.

He examined me very closely and said:

“This is a case of overwork(过度劳累) more than disease, and if you could give him a run off for six months, he would be able to work again. But now there is no strength left in him.”

“Then he must be sold,” said Skinner.

“I have no field to nurse sick horses in—he might get well or he might not. That sort of thing doesn’t suit my business.

My plan is to work them as long as they’ll go, and then sell them for whatever someone will pay, even for horsemeat if I have to.”

On the twelfth day after I fell, I was taken to a sale, a few miles out of London.

I felt that any change from my present place must be an improvement, so I held up my head, and hoped for the best.

Chapter 19

一个好心的老先生和他的孙子买下了黑骏马，他们准备让黑骏马再一次“恢复年轻”。于是在几个月的休养生息之后，他们决定试马。老先生和孙子对黑骏马都非常满意，准备给他物色一个好人家。

At this sale, I found myself in company with many old broken-down horses.

The buyers and sellers were bargaining(讨价还价).

Some of the buyers looked poor and shabby(衣着寒酸的), but kind and gentle.

I could trust them, and I would willingly use the last of my strength in serving them.

Coming from the better part of the fair, I noticed a gentleman farmer with a young boy by his side.

When he came up to me, he stood still and looked at me with pity in his eyes.

I saw his eye rest on me.

I had still a good appearance.

I looked at him and listened carefully.

“There’s a horse that has known better days, Willie.”

“Poor old fellow!” said the boy, “Do you think, grandpa, he was ever a carriage horse?”

“Yes! He might have been anything when he was young. Look at his nostrils and his ears, the shape of his neck and shoulder.

His father and mother must have been very good horses,” said the old man, putting out his hand and giving me a kind pat(轻拍) on the neck.

I put out my nose in answer to his kindness; the boy gently touched my face.

“See, grandpa, how well he understands kindness. Could not you buy him and make him young again as you did with Ladybird?”

“My dear boy, I can’t make all old horses young.”

“Well, grandpa. Though he is very thin, his eyes are not sunk like some old horses. I am sure he would grow young in our field.”

The man who had brought me for sale now put in his word.

“Sir, this horse is just exhausted(疲惫不堪的) with overwork(过度劳累) pulling cabs(马车). He’s not an old one, and I heard that a six months’ rest would set him right up.

I’ve taken care of him for the past ten days, and he is the happiest and most thankful animal that I have ever met.”

The little boy looked eagerly, so the farmer slowly felt my legs, which were much swelled(肿胀的) and strained(疲惫的); then he looked at my mouth. “Just walk him out, will you?”

I arched(拱起) my poor thin neck, raised my tail a little, and threw out my legs as well as I could.

“What is the lowest you will take for him?” said the farmer as I came back.

“Five pounds, sir; that was the lowest price my master set.”

“It’s a risk, but…” said the old gentleman, drawing out his wallet and counting the money into his hand.

They walked forward, and I was led behind.

The boy could hardly control his delight, and the old gentleman seemed to enjoy his pleasure.

I had a good feed(一餐) at the hotel, and was then gently ridden home by a servant of my new master’s, and turned into a large field.

 

Mr. Thoroughgood was the name of the old gentleman who bought me.

He gave orders that I should have hay(干草) and oats every night and morning, and run in the field during the day.

He also said, “Willie, you must take care of him. I give him in charge to you.”

The boy was proud of his charge, and took it very seriously.

There was not a day when he did not pay me a visit;

sometimes paying special attention to me and giving me a bit of carrot, or sometimes standing by me while I ate my oats.

He always came with kind words and a gentle touch.

Sometimes he brought his grandfather, who always looked closely at my legs.

The perfect rest, the good food, the soft grass, and gentle exercise soon began to improve my condition and my spirits.

I began to feel quite young again.

One day in spring, Mr. Thoroughgood determined to try me in the carriage.

I was well pleased, and he and Willie drove me a few miles.

My legs were not stiff(僵硬的) now, and I did the work with perfect ease.

“He’s growing young, and we must give him a little gentle work now.”

“Oh, grandpa, how glad I am that you bought him!”

“So am I. We must now be looking out for a good and quiet place for him, where he will be valued.”

Chapter 20

One day during the summer, the groom(马夫) cleaned my feet and legs, brushed my hoofs, even parted the hair on my forehead.

He dressed me with such special care.

I thought some new change must be at hand.

Willie seemed half-anxious and half-happy, as he got into the carriage with his grandfather.

“If the ladies like him,” said the old gentleman, “they’ll be pleased and he’ll be pleased. We can but try.”

At the distance of a mile or two from the village, we came to a pretty, small house.

Willie rang the bell, and asked if Miss Blomefield or Miss Ellen was at home.

Yes, they were. So, while Willie stayed with me, Mr. Thoroughgood went into the house.

In about ten minutes he returned, followed by three ladies.

They all came and looked at me and asked questions.

Miss Ellen liked me very much.

But Miss Lavinia said that she would always be nervous when riding behind me.

She thought that I might fall again because I had once been down.

“Many first-rate horses have had their knees broken because of the carelessness of their drivers. It was not the horse’s fault.

I can tell he is a very good horse. Of course I do not wish to influence you. If you want, you can have him on trial.

Then your carriage driver will see what he thinks of the horse,” said Mr. Thoroughgood.

“You have always been such a good adviser to us about our horses,” said Miss Blomefield,

“your good words would go a long way with me. If my sister Lavinia is willing, we will accept your offer of a trial, with thanks.”

It was then arranged that I would be sent for the next day.

In the next morning, a smart-looking(长得机灵的) young man came for me. At first he looked pleased.

But when he saw my knees, he said in a sad voice, “I don’t think, sir, you should send my ladies a horse with a problem like that.”

“You are only taking him on trial, young man. If he is not as safe as any horse you ever drove, send him back,” said my master.

I was led to my new home, placed in a comfortable stable(马厩), fed(喂食), and left to myself.

The next day, when the groom(马夫) was cleaning my face, he said, “That white mark on his face is just like the one that ‘Black Beauty’ had;

he is much the same height, too. I wonder where he is now.”

Then he came to my neck and saw the little knot(伤疤) in the skin.

He almost started, and began to look me over carefully, talking to himself.

“White star in the forehead, one white foot on the off side, this little knot(伤疤) just in that place.”

Then looking at the middle of my back, he said, “and, as I am alive, there is that little part of white hair that John used to call ‘Beauty’s three-penny coin’.

It must be ‘Black Beauty’! Beauty! Beauty! Do you know me?—little Joe Green, that almost killed you?”

And he began patting(轻拍) and patting(轻拍) me as if he was quite excited.

 

I could not say that I remembered him, for now he was a fine grown young man.

But I was sure that he knew me, and that he was Joe Green.

I was very glad. I put my nose up to him, and tried to say that we were friends.

I never saw a man so pleased.

In the afternoon I was put into a low open carriage and brought to the door.

Miss Ellen was going to try me, and Joe went with her.

I soon found that she was a good driver, and she seemed pleased with my speed.

I heard Joe telling her about me, and that he was sure I was Squire Gordon’s old “Black Beauty”.

When we returned, the other sisters came out to hear how well I did.

Miss Ellen told them what she had just heard, and said,

“I shall certainly write to Mrs. Gordon, and tell her that the horse she liked the most has come to us. How pleased she will be!”

After this I was driven every day for a week or so.

As I appeared to be quite safe, Miss Lavinia at last tried out in the small closed carriage.

Then the ladies decided to keep me, and call me by my old name of “Black Beauty”.

My ladies have promised that I shall never be sold, so I have nothing to fear.

I have now lived in this happy place for a whole year.

Joe is the best and kindest groom(马夫).

My work is easy and pleasant, and I feel my strength and spirits all coming back again.

Here my story ends. My troubles are all over, and I am at home.

And often before I am quite awake, I fancy I am still in the fruit farm at Birtwick, standing with my old friends under the apple-trees.

每日一句

1. Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened. 不要因为结束而哭泣，要为曾经拥有而微笑。
2. God helps those who help themselves. 天助自助者。
3. A day is a miniature of eternity. 一天是永恒的缩影。
4. Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create. 与其担心你无法掌控的，不如将精力花在你能创造的。
5. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live. 不要沉湎于梦想而忘记生活。
6. Take responsibility of your own happiness, never put it in other people’s hands. 对自己的幸福负责，不要把它托付在别人手中。
7. Enough is as good as feast. 知足常乐。
8. Being on sea, sail; being on land, settle. 随遇而安。
9. Silence is the most powerful cry. 沉默是最有力量的呐喊。
10. Life is like live TV show. There is no rehearsal. 人生没有彩排，只有现场直播。
11. If you are fine, the sun will always shine. 你若安好，便是晴天。
12. A day without laughter  is a day wasted. 没有笑声的一天是被浪费了的一天。
13. There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in. 万物皆有裂痕，那正是光照进的地方。
14. The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time. 你所享受的无所事事就不是虚度光阴。
15. However long the night, the dawn will break. 不管黑夜多长，黎明总会到来。
16. Not everything is meant to be, but everything is worth a try. 并非所有事情都能如愿以偿，但是所有事情都值得一试。
17. A plant may produce new flowers; man is young but once. 花有重开日，人无再少年。
18. Everyday may not be good, but there’s something good in every day. 也许不是每天都那么美好，但是每天都会有一些小美好存在。
19. Being different is one of the most beautiful things in the world; so embrace yourself. 拥抱最真实的自我，你的不同才是你得天独厚的美。
20. No matter what people think of you, always keep singing your own song.  走自己的路，让别人说去吧。