文章点睛
文中的玛蒂尔德是个小职员的女儿，不涉世事，在她被告知所赔项链是假的之前，她单纯地认为有钱人用的东西都是正品，且从不怀疑，从借到赔，这一还就还了十年。总之，他和她的丈夫是实诚到了极点。她从没想过买假项链装扮自己，所以赔偿时也没想到买假的赔偿。
一串富人用于装饰的真钻石项链夫妇俩用二十年艰辛劳作和省吃俭用才能还清，（好在这对夫妇有一万八千
法郎的遗产，他们只辛苦了十年）有钱人和穷人的生活是大不同。玛蒂尔德的不幸仅仅是因为她虚荣吗？不尽然。生活中的玛蒂尔德就算没因爱慕虚荣丢失项链，可玛蒂尔德和她的丈夫却不可能一帆风顺到不遭遇大灾小难，生活中总有那么些无法预测却随时可能发生的动辄花钱的地方，这些都同样可能使经济承受能力有限的玛蒂尔德坠入困顿。天灾人祸随时会让一个小职员破产，更遑论穷人。有一妇女在被检查出患了癌症后，丈夫变卖家中仅有的几样家具后就玩起了消失，重症的妻子带着女儿苦苦盼归。回来又能怎么样呢，拮据的家庭仍不能承受昂贵的治疗费用，妻子会死去，留给丈夫的是高筑的债台。穷人生活在风雨飘摇之中，一点风吹草动就会让他们原有的生活秩序完全改变。玛蒂尔德的出身就已注定了她无法轻松应对命运的劫难，把她的不幸归结为虚荣也显得何其牵强。
She， was one of those pretty and charming girls born，as though fate had blundered[1]over her，into a family of artisans[2].She had no marriage portion，no expectations，no means of getting known，understood，loved，and wedded by a man of wealth and distinction[3]；and she let herself be married off to a little clerk in the Ministry of Education.Her tastes were ****** because she had never been able to afford any other，but she was as unhappy as though she had married beneath her；for women have no caste[4]or class，their beauty，grace，and charm serving them for birth or family，their natural delicacy，their instinctive elegance，their nimbleness of wit，are their only mark of rank，and put the slum[5]girl on a level with the highest lady in the land.
She suffered endlessly，feeling herself born for every delicacy and luxury.She suffered from the poorness of her house，from its mean walls，worn chairs，and ugly curtains.All these things，of which other women of her class would not even have been aware，tormented and insulted her.The sight of the little Breton girl who came to do the work in her little house aroused heart-broken regrets and hopeless dreams in her mind.She imagined silent antechambers[6]，heavy with Oriental tapestries，lit by torches in lofty bronze sockets，with two tall footmen in knee-breeches[7]sleeping in large arm-chairs，overcome by the heavy warmth of the stove.She imagined vast saloons hung with antique silks，exquisite pieces of furniture supporting priceless ornaments，and small，charming，perfumed rooms，created just for little parties of intimate friends，men who were famous and sought after，whose homage[8]roused every other woman’s envious longings.
When ，she sat down for dinner at the round table covered with a three-days-old cloth，opposite her husband，who took the cover off the soup-tureen[9]，exclaiming delightedly：“Aha！Scotch broth！What could be better？”she imagined delicate meals，gleaming silver，tapestries peopling the walls with folk of a past age and strange birds in faery forests；she imagined delicate food served in marvellous dishes，murmured gallantries[10]，listened to with an inscrutable[11]smile as one trifled with the rosy flesh of trout or wings of asparagus[12]chicken.
She had no clothes，no jewels，nothing.And these were the only things she loved；she felt that she was made for them.She had longed so eagerly to charm，to be desired，to be wildly attractive and sought after.
She had a rich friend，an old school friend whom she refused to visit，because she suffered so keenly when she returned home.She would weep whole days，with grief，regret，despair，and misery.
One ，evening her husband came home with an exultant[13]air，holding a large envelope in his hand.
“Here’s something for you，”he said.
Swiftly， she tore the paper and drew out a printed card on which were these words：
“The Minister of Education and Madame Ramponneau request the pleasure of the company of Monsieur and Madame Loisel at the Ministry on the evening of Monday，January the 18th.”
Instead of being delighted，as her husband hoped，she flung the invitation petulantly[14]across the table，murmuring：
“What do you want me to do with this？”
“Why，darling，I thought you’d be pleased.You never go out，and this is a great occasion.I had tremendous trouble to get it.Every one wants one；it’s very select，and very few go to the clerks.You’ll see all the really big people there.”
She ，looked at him out of furious eyes，and said impatiently：“And what do you suppose I am to wear at such an affair？”
He had not thought about it；he stammered：
“Why，the dress you go to the theatre in.It looks very nice，to me ……”
He stopped，stupefied[15]and utterly at a loss when he saw that his wife was beginning to cry.Two large tears ran slowly down from the corners of her eyes towards the corners of her mouth.
“What’s the matter with you？What’s the matter with you？”he faltered[16]。
But， with a violent effort she overcame her grief and replied in a calm voice，wiping her wet cheeks：
“Nothing.Only I haven’t a dress and so I can’t go to this party.Give your invitation to some friend of yours whose wife will be turned out better than I shall.”
He was heart-broken.
“Look here，Mathilde，”he persisted.“What would be the cost of a suitable dress，which you could use on other occasions as well，something very ******？”
She thought for several seconds，reckoning up prices and also wondering for how large a sum she could ask without bringing upon herself an immediate refusal and an exclamation of horror from the careful-minded clerk.
At last， she replied with some hesitation：
“I don’t know exactly，but I think I could do it on four hundred francs.”
He grew slightly pale，for this was exactly the amount he had been saving for a gun，intending to get a little shooting next summer on the plain of Nanterre with some friends who went lark-shooting there on Sundays.
Nevertheless he said：“Very well.I’ll give you four hundred francs.But try and get a really nice dress with the money.”
The day of the party drew near，and Madame Loisel seemed sad，uneasy and anxious.Her dress was ready，however.One evening her husband said to her：
“What’s the matter with you？You’ve been very odd for the last three days.”
“I’m utterly miserable at not having any jewels，not a single stone，to wear，”she replied.“I shall look absolutely no one.I would almost rather not go to the party.”
“Wear flowers，”he said.“They’re very smart at this time of the year.For ten francs you could get two or three gorgeous[17]roses.”
She was not convinced.
“No ……there’s nothing so humiliating as looking poor in the middle of a lot of rich women.”
“How stupid you are！”exclaimed her husband.“Go and see Madame Forestier and ask her to lend you some jewels.You know her quite well enough for that.”
She uttered a cry of delight.
“That’s true.I never thought of it.”
Next day ，she went to see her friend and told her her trouble.
Madame ，Forestier went to her dressing-table，took up a large box，brought it to Madame Loisel，opened it，and said：
“Choose，my dear.”
First she saw some bracelets，then a pearl necklace，then a Venetian cross in gold and gems，of exquisite[18]workmanship.She tried the effect of the jewels before the mirror，hesitating，unable to make up her mind to leave them，to give them up.She kept on asking：
“Haven’t you anything else？”
“Yes.Look for yourself.I don’t know what you would like best.”
Suddenly she discovered，in a black satin case，a superb diamond necklace；her heart began to beat covetously[19].Her hands trembled as she lifted it.She fastened it round her neck，upon her high dress，and remained in ecstasy at sight of herself.
Then，with hesitation，she asked in anguish[20]：
“Could you lend me this，just this alone？”
“Yes，of course.”
She flung herself on her friend’s breast，embraced her frenziedly[21]，and went away with her treasure.The day of the party arrived.Madame Loisel was a success.She was the prettiest woman present，elegant，graceful，smiling，and quite above herself with happiness.All the men stared at her，inquired her name，and asked to be introduced to her.All the Under-Secretaries of State were eager to waltz with her.The Minister noticed her.
She danced madly，ecstatically，drunk with pleasure，with no thought for anything，in the triumph of her beauty，in the pride of her success，in a cloud of happiness made up of this universal homage and admiration，of the desires she had aroused，of the completeness of a victory so dear to her feminine heart.
She left about four o’clock in the morning.Since midnight her husband had been dozing in a deserted little room，in company with three other men whose wives were having a good time.He threw over her shoulders the garments he had brought for them to go home in，modest everyday clothes，whose poverty clashed with the beauty of the ball-dress.She was conscious of this and was anxious to hurry away，so that she should not be noticed by the other women putting on their costly furs.
Loisel restrained her.
“Wait a little.You’ll catch cold in the open.I’m going to fetch a cab.”
But， she did not listen to him and rapidly descended the staircase.When they were out in the street they could not find a cab；they began to look for one，shouting at the drivers whom they saw passing in the distance.
They walked down towards the Seine，desperate and shivering.At last they found on the quay one of those old nightprowling[22]carriages which are only to be seen in Paris after dark，as though they were ashamed of their shabbiness in the daylight.
It brought， them to their door in the Rue des Martyrs，and sadly they walked up to their own apartment.It was the end，for her.As for him，he was thinking that he must be at the office at ten.
She took off the garments i，n which she had wrapped her shoulders，so as to see herself in all her glory before the mirror.But suddenly she uttered a cry.The necklace was no longer round her neck！
居依？德？莫泊桑
世上有些贫穷人家的姑娘，身段漂亮，相貌迷人，而且充满罗曼蒂克的想法。然而，尽管她们做着美丽浪漫的梦，却嫁给了平民百姓为妻。玛蒂尔德？卢瓦泽尔便是其中之一，她的丈夫只是教育部里的一名小职员。
一天晚上，她丈夫神采飞扬地回到家里。
“我有样好东西送给你，”他说道，递给她一个大信封。
她拆开信封，里面装着一张请柬，上面印着：
“教育部长乔治？朗蓬诺夫人 敬请卢瓦泽尔先生及夫人光临1月18日星期一晚上在本部大楼举行的晚会。”
她似乎一点也不高兴，反而把请柬扔在桌上，没好气地说：
“那跟我有啥关系？”
“嗨，亲爱的，我原以为你会高兴的。你喜欢跳舞，不是吗？你几乎从不出门，这次对你来说可真是一次极好的机会呀。我费了九牛二虎之力才弄到这张请柬。所有的官员都要到场。你知道，每个人都想要，但只邀请了极少数的职员。”
她悲戚地望着他，叫喊道：
“在那种聚会上你叫我穿什么嘛？”
他从未想过，她既没有漂亮衣服，也没有珠宝首饰。他吞吞吐吐地说道：
“嗯，呃，我看，你上剧院穿的那套就挺不错。”
她的眼泪不禁夺眶而出。她为什么要嫁给这样一个木讷、愚笨的家伙？只因为她生在贫寒人家。唉，命运是多么残酷啊！
“干嘛哭啊？”他焦急地问道。
“没什么，”她费力地说道，“只是我没有合适的衣服，因此我不能去参加舞会。你哪位朋友的夫人有比我更漂亮的衣服，就把请柬送给他好了。”
这是令人心碎的自白。“得啦，玛蒂尔德，亲爱的，”窘迫之极的丈夫说，“你认为买一件合适的，就是说简单些并且以后在其他场合还能穿的衣服要花多少钱？”
她想了一会，脑子里飞快地盘算开来。要不吓着她那节俭的丈夫，使他不会断然拒绝，说多少才好呢？
“我也说不上来，不过我想400法郎就够开销了。”
丈夫脸色略微发白。她所报的数目正好是他存着买枪，准备和他的几个朋友到明年夏天去南特尔平原打猎用的。
但他回答道：
“好吧，我给你400法郎。不过，一定得买一件漂漂亮亮的衣服。”
舞会的日子愈来愈近了。虽然卢瓦泽尔太太得到了想要的衣服，似乎她还是一点也不高兴。
“怎么啦？”她丈夫问道。“这些天你怎么没精打采的？”
“想起来就烦人，我连一件珠宝都没有戴的。我最好还是呆在家里，比在晚会上做出一副可怜相强。”她回答道。
“那你认为戴鲜花怎样？”她丈夫建议道。“现在很时兴。花10法郎就可以买两三朵上等的玫瑰花。”
“你如此愚蠢的念头是从哪里冒出来的？”她答道，“你难道就想象不出站在一群贵妇人中间我会显得多寒酸？”
“呃，那么，”她丈夫说，“你为什么不去找你的朋友福雷斯蒂埃夫人，向她借些首饰呢？她是你的好朋友，她有许多珠宝，不是吗？”
“是啊！当然行，”她兴奋得高声说道，“我怎么就没想到这点呢？”
第二天，她就去拜访福雷斯蒂埃夫人，给她讲了自己的难处。福雷斯蒂埃夫人走到衣橱前，取出一只大珠宝箱，把它打开放在她朋友面前。
“亲爱的，看上哪件就挑哪件吧。”她说。
卢瓦泽尔夫人首先看了一些手镯，然后看了一串珍珠项链，接着又看了一个威尼斯式的镶宝石的金十字架，这件精致的项链手工极棒。她站在镜子前面一件一件地试戴，拿不准选哪件才好。
“你还有没有别的？”她问道。
“啊，有，你自个儿挑吧。我不知道你最喜欢什么。”
突然，卢瓦泽尔夫人发现了一个黑色缎面的首饰盒，里面装着一串上等的钻石项链。她的心怦怦直跳。她用哆嗦着的手取出项链，把它扣在脖子上，然后站在镜子面前出神地欣赏着自己。
她犹犹豫豫地问道：
“你能把这串借给我吗？其他的我就不用了。”
“啊，当然可以。”
卢瓦泽尔夫人一把搂住她朋友的脖子，吻了她就急忙出门而去，惟恐她朋友会改变主意。
舞会之夜终于来临。卢瓦泽尔太太非常成功。她看上去比所有在场的女人都漂亮。她满怀喜悦，温文尔雅，迈着令人赞叹的舞步，洋洋自得地瞟着舞伴投来的痴迷的目光。所有的男人都在打听她的姓名，求人介绍，请她跳华尔兹舞，甚至连部长本人也注意到了她。
她感到自己仿佛做着美丽的梦，陶醉在欢乐之中。啊，这一刻她已盼了多久了！
直到早晨大约4点钟，她才依依不舍地离开舞会。她丈夫自午夜起就在一间弃而未用的小客厅里打瞌睡，另外还有三位先生，他们的夫人也正尽情地跳着舞。
他把夫人日常穿的披风披在她的肩头。与她在舞会上穿的那件体面的衣服相比，这件披风显得格外地不相称。为急于逃脱那些身着名贵裘衣的女人们的注意，她匆匆忙忙地跑下楼梯。
街上一辆马车也找不着，他们冷得直打哆嗦，朝著塞纳河吃力地走下去。在码头，他们终于找到一辆破旧的摇摇晃晃的出租马车，这种车白天在巴黎街头是见不到的。到了住所，在死一般的沉寂中，他们爬上楼梯回到家里。
她站在镜子前脱去外套。她想趁现在满身荣耀，把自己再多瞧一眼。突然，她惊叫起来。戴在自己脖子上的项链不见了！
作者简介
About the Author
Guy de Maupassant：莫泊桑，19世纪后半期法国优秀的批判现实主义作家。一生创作了6部长篇小说和356多篇中短篇小说，他的文学成就以短篇小说最为突出，被誉为“短篇小说之王”，对后世产生极大影响。
莫泊桑出身于一个没落贵族之家，母亲醉心文艺。他受老师、诗人路易？布那影响，开始多种体裁的文学习作，后在福楼拜亲自指导下练习写作，参加了以左拉为首的自然主义作家集团的活动。他以《羊脂球》（1880）入选《梅塘晚会》短篇小说集，一跃登上法国文坛，其创作盛期是19世纪80年代。10年间，他创作了6部长篇小说：《一生》（1883）、《俊友》（1885）、《温泉》（1886）、《皮埃尔和若望》（1887）、《像死一般坚强》（1889）、《我们的心》（1890）。这些作品揭露了第三共和国的黑暗内幕：内阁要员从金融巨头的利益出发，欺骗议会和民众，发动掠夺非洲殖民地摩洛哥的帝国主义战争；也抨击了统治集团的腐朽、贪婪、尔虞我诈和荒淫无耻。
V
词汇扫雷
ocabulary
1.blunder：疏忽，犯错误
2.artisan：工匠，手艺人
3.distinction：地位显赫
4.caste：社会阶层
5.slum：（城市中的）贫民窟，贫民区
6.antechamber：前厅，外室
7.knee-breeches：齐膝的束脚马裤
8.homage：瞻仰
9.soup-tureen：汤碗
10.gallantry：（男子对女子所表现的）殷勤
11.inscrutable：深不可测的
12.asparagus：芦笋
13.exultant：兴奋的，兴高采烈的
14.petulantly：任性的，脾气暴躁的
15.stupefied：闷声不吭的
16.falter：声音变弱
17.gorgeous：沉鱼落雁的，令人神魂颠倒的
18.exquisite：精湛的
19.covetously：贪婪地
20.anguish：渴望
21.frenziedly：疯狂地
22.nightprowling：在暗夜来回游走的
小编点评
莫泊桑的《项链》是家喻户晓的名篇，几乎连小学生也能把情节一五一十地道出，但是读过英文版The Necklace的朋友应该不是很多吧。在此献上英汉对照的《项链》，希望您能品出与儿时阅读这一短篇不同的味道。
