تدريب Shadowing: The Candle. A Short Story by Leo Tolstoy - تعلم التحدث بالإنجليزية مع YouTube
B2
⏸ متوقف مؤقتاً
The Candle, a short story by Leo Tolstoy.
264 جمل
إذا كانت الجمل قصيرة أو طويلة جدًا، انقر على Edit لتعديلها.
1
The Candle, a short story by Leo Tolstoy.
2
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
3
But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil.
4
St Matthew, verses 38-39.
5
It was in the time of serfdom, many years before Alexander II's liberation of the 60 million serfs in 1862.
6
In those days the people were ruled by different kinds of lords.
7
There were not a few who, remembering God, treated their slaves in a humane manner and not as beasts of burden,
8
while there were others who were seldom known to perform a kind or generous action.
9
But the most barbarous and tyrannical of all were those former serfs who arose from the dirt, and became princes.
10
It was this latter class who made life literally a burden to those who were unfortunate enough to come under their rule.
11
Many of them had arisen from the ranks of the peasantry to become superintendents of noblemen's estates.
12
The peasants were obliged to work for their master a certain number of days each week.
13
There was plenty of land and water and the soil was rich and fertile,
14
while the meadows and forests were sufficient to supply the needs of both the peasants and their lord.
15
There was a certain nobleman who had chosen a superintendent from the peasantry on one of his other estates.
16
No sooner had the power to govern, been vested in this newly made official,
17
than he began to practice the most outrageous cruelties upon the poor serfs who had been placed under his control.
18
Although this man had a wife and two married daughters
19
and was making so much money that he could have lived happily without transgressing in any way against either God or man,
20
yet he was filled with envy and jealousy and deeply sunk in sin.
21
Michael Simeonovich began his persecutions by compelling the peasants to perform
22
more days of service on the estate every week than the laws obliged them to work.
23
He established a brickyard, in which he forced the men and women to do excessive labour, selling the bricks for his own profit.
24
On one occasion, the overworked serfs sent a delegation to Moscow to complain of their treatment to their lord, but they obtained no satisfaction.
25
When the poor peasants returned disconsolate from the noblemen, their superintendent determined to have revenge for their boldness in going above him for redress,
26
and their life and that of their fellow victims became worse than before.
27
It happened
28
that among the serfs there were some very treacherous people who would falsely accuse their fellows of wrongdoing
29
and sow seeds of discord among the peasantry, whereupon Michael would become greatly enraged,
30
while his poor subjects had began to live in fear of their lives.
31
When the superintendent passed through the village, the people would run and hide themselves as from a wild beast.
32
Seeing thus the terror which he had struck to the hearts of the Mujiks, Michael's treatment of them became still more vindictive,
33
so that from overwork and ill usage, the lot of the poor serfs was indeed a hard one.
34
There was a time when it was possible for the peasants,
35
when driven to despair, to devise means whereby they could rid themselves of an inhuman monster such as Simeonovich,
36
and so these unfortunate people began to consider whether something could not be done to relieve them of their intolerable yoke.
37
They would hold little meetings in secret places to bewail their misery
38
and to confer with one another as to which would be the best way to act.
39
Now and then, the boldest of the gathering would rise and address his companions in this strain.
40
How much longer can we tolerate such a villain to rule over us?
41
Let us make an end of it at once, for it were better for us to perish than to suffer.
42
It is surely not a sin to kill such a devil in human form.
43
It happened once, before the Easter holidays, that one of these meetings was held in the woods, where Michael had sent the serfs to make a clearance for their master.
44
At noon they assembled to eat their dinner and to hold a consultation.
45
Why can't we leave now? said one.
46
Very soon we shall be reduced to nothing.
47
Already we are almost worked to death, there being no rest, night or day, either for us or our poor women.
48
If anything should be done in a way not exactly to please him, he will find fault and perhaps flog some of us to death, death, as was the case with poor Simeon,
49
whom he killed not long ago.
50
Only recently Anissim was tortured in irons till he died.
51
We certainly cannot stand this much longer.
52
Yes, said another.
53
What is the use of waiting?
54
Let us act at once.
55
Michael will be here this evening, and will be certain to abuse us shamefully.
56
Let us then thrust him from his horse and with one blow of an axe give him what he deserves, and thus end our misery.
57
We can then dig a big hole and bury him like a dog, and no one will know what became of him.
58
Now let us come to an agreement.
59
To stand together as one man, and not to betray one another.
60
The last speaker was Vasily Minayev, who, if possible, had more cause to complain of Michael's cruelty than any of his fellow serfs.
61
The superintendent was in the habit of flogging him severely every week, and he took also Vasili's wife to serve him as cook.
62
Accordingly, during the evening that followed this meeting in the woods, Michael arrived on the scene on horseback.
63
He began at once to find fault with the manner in which the work had been done, and to complain because some lime trees had been cut down.
64
I told you not to cut down any lime trees, shouted the enraged superintendent.
65
Who did this thing?
66
Tell me at once, or I shall flog every one of you.
67
On investigation, a peasant named Cedar was pointed out as the guilty one, and his face was roundly slapped.
68
Michael also severely punished Vasili because he had not done sufficient work, after which the master rode safely home.
69
In the evening the serfs again assembled, and poor Vasily said, Oh, what kind of people are we anyway?
70
We are only sparrows and not men at all.
71
We agree to stand by each other, but as soon as the time for action comes, we all run and hide.
72
Once a lot of sparrows conspired against a hawk, but no sooner did the bird of prey appear than they sneaked off in the grass.
73
Selecting one of the choicest sparrows, the hawk took it away to eat, after which the others came out crying,
74
Tweetweet, and found that one was missing.
75
Who is killed? they asked.
76
Vanka!
77
Well, he deserved it.
78
You, my friends, are acting in just the same manner.
79
When Michael attacked Cedar, you should have stood by your promise.
80
Why didn't you arise, and with one stroke put an end to him and to our misery?
81
The effect of this speech was to make the peasants more firm in their determination to kill their superintendent.
82
The latter had already given orders
83
that they should be ready to plough during the Easter holidays and to sow the field with oats,
84
whereupon the serfs became stricken with grief and gathered in Vasili's house to hold another indignation meeting.
85
If he has really forgotten God, they said, and shall continue to commit such crimes against us, it is truly necessary that we should kill him.
86
If not, let us perish, for it can make no difference to us now.
87
This despairing programme, however, met with considerable opposition from a peaceably inclined man named Peter Mikheyev.
88
Brethren, said he, you are contemplating a grievous sin.
89
The taking of human life is a very serious matter.
90
Of course, it is easy to end the mortal existence of a man, but what will become of the souls of those who commit the deed?
91
If Michael continues to act toward us unjustly, God will surely punish him.
92
But my friends, we must have patience.
93
This specific utterance only served to intensify the anger of Vasili, said he.
94
Peter is forever repeating the same old story, it is a sin to kill anyone.
95
Certainly it is sinful to murder, but we should consider the kind of man we are dealing with.
96
We all know it is wrong to kill a good man, but even God would take away the life of such a dog as he is.
97
It is our duty, if we have any love for mankind, to shoot a dog that is mad.
98
It is a sin to let him live.
99
If, therefore, we are to suffer at all, let it be in the interests of the people, and they will thank us for it.
100
If we remain quiet any longer, a flogging will be our only reward.
101
You are talking nonsense, Mikhaef.
102
Why don't you think of the sin we shall be committing if we work during the Easter holidays, for you will refuse to work then yourself?
103
Well then, replied Peter, if they shall send me to plough I will go, but I shall not be going of my own free will, and God will know whose sin it is,
104
and shall punish the offender accordingly.
105
yet we must not forget him.
106
Brethren, I am not giving you my own views only.
107
The law of God is not to return evil for evil.
108
Indeed, if you try in this way to stamp out wickedness, it will come upon you all the stronger.
109
It is not difficult for you to kill the man, but his blood will surely stain your own soul.
110
You may think you have killed a bad man, that you have gotten rid of evil,
111
But you will soon find out that the seeds of still greater wickedness have been planted within you.
112
If you yield to misfortune, it will surely come to you.
113
As Peter was not without sympathizers among the peasants, the poor serfs were consequently divided into two groups,
114
the followers of Vasily and those who held the views of Mikhaif.
115
On Easter Sunday, no work was done.
116
Toward the evening, an elder came to the peasants from the nobleman's court and said,
117
Our superintendent, Michael Simeonovich, orders you to go tomorrow to plough the field for the oats.
118
Thus the official went through the village and directed the men to prepare for work the next day, some by the river and others by the roadway.
119
The poor people were almost overcome with grief, many of them shedding tears, but none dared to disobey the orders of their master.
120
On the morning of Easter Monday, while the church bells were calling the inhabitants to religious services, and while everyone else was about to enjoy a holiday,
121
the unfortunate serfs started for the field to plough.
122
Michael arose rather late and took a walk about the farm.
123
The domestic servants were through with their work and had dressed themselves for the day, while Michael's wife and their widowed daughter,
124
who was visiting them, as was her custom on holidays, had been to church and returned.
125
A steaming samovar awaited them and they began to drink tea with Michael, who, after lighting his pipe, called the elder to him.
126
Well, said the superintendent, have you ordered the Mujiks to plough today?
127
Yes, sir, I did, was the reply.
128
Have they all gone to the field?
129
Yes, sir, all of them.
130
I directed them myself where to begin.
131
That is all very well.
132
You gave the orders, but are they ploughing?
133
Go at once and see, and you may tell them that I shall be there after dinner.
134
I shall expect to find one and a half acres done for every two ploughs, and the work must be well done.
135
Otherwise they shall be severely punished, notwithstanding the holiday.
136
I hear, sir, and obey.
137
The elder started to go, but Michael called him back.
138
After hesitating for some time, as if he felt very uneasy, he said, By the way, listen to what those scoundrels say about me.
139
Doubtless some of them will curse me, and I want you to report the exact words.
140
I know what villains they are.
141
They don't find work at all pleasant.
142
They would rather lie down all day and do nothing.
143
They would like to eat and drink and make merry on holidays, but they forget that if the ploughing is not done it will soon be too late,
144
so you go and listen to what is said and tell it to me in detail.
145
Go at once.
146
I hear, sir, and obey.
147
Turning his back and mounting his horse, the elder was soon at the field where the serfs were hard at work.
148
It happened that Michael's wife, a very good-hearted woman, overheard the conversation which her husband had just been holding with the elder.
149
Approaching him, she said, My good friend,
150
Mishinka, diminutive of Michael, I beg of you to consider the importance and solemnity of this holy day.
151
Do not sin for Christ's sake.
152
Let the poor Mujiks go home.
153
Michael laughed, but made no reply to his wife's humane request.
154
Finally he said to her, you've not been whipped for a very long time,
155
and now you have become bold enough to interfere in affairs that are not your own.
156
Mishinka, she persisted, I have had a frightful dream concerning you.
157
You had better let the Mujiks go.
158
Yes, said he, I perceive that you have gained
159
so much flesh of late that you think you would not feel the whip.
160
Look out.
161
Rudely thrusting his hot pipe against her cheek, Michael chased his wife from the room, after which he ordered his dinner.
162
After eating a hearty meal consisting of cabbage soup, roast pig, meat cake, pastry with milk, jelly, sweet cakes and vodka,
163
he called his woman cook to him and ordered her to be seated and sing songs, Simeonovich accompanying her on the guitar.
164
While the superintendent was thus enjoying himself to the fullest satisfaction in the musical society of his cook,
165
the elder returned and making a low bow to his superior, proceeded to give the desired information concerning the serfs.
166
Well? asked Michael.
167
Did they plough?
168
Yes, replied the elder.
169
They have accomplished about half the field.
170
Is there no fault to be found?
171
Not that I could discover.
172
The work seems to be well done.
173
They are evidently afraid of you.
174
How is the soil?
175
Very good.
176
It appears to be quite soft.
177
Well, said Simeonovich after a pause, what did they say about me?
178
Cursed me, I suppose.
179
As the elder hesitated somewhat, Michael commanded him to speak and tell him the whole truth.
180
Tell me all, said he.
181
I want to know their exact words.
182
If you tell me the truth, I shall reward you.
183
But if you conceal anything from me, you will be punished.
184
See here, Catherine, pour out a glass of vodka to give him courage.
185
After drinking to the health of his superior, the elder said to himself, It is not my fault if they do not praise him.
186
I shall tell him the truth.
187
Then, turning suddenly to the superintendent, he said, They complain, Michael Simeonovich.
188
They complain bitterly.
189
But what did they say? demanded Michael.
190
Tell me.
191
Well, one thing they said was, he does not believe in God.
192
Michael laughed.
193
Who said that? he asked.
194
It seemed to be their unanimous opinion.
195
He has been overcome by the evil one, they said.
196
Very good, laughed the superintendent, but tell me what each of them said.
197
What did Vasily say?
198
The elder did not wish to betray his people, but he had a certain grudge against Vasili, and he said, he cursed you more than did any of the others.
199
But what did he say?
200
It is awful to repeat it, sir.
201
Vasili said, he shall die like a dog, having no chance to repent.
202
Oh, the villain, exclaimed Michael, he would kill me if he were not afraid.
203
All right, Vasily, we shall have an accounting with you, and Tishka.
204
He called me a dog, I suppose.
205
Well, said the elder, they all spoke of you in anything but complimentary terms, but it is mean in me to repeat what they said.
206
Mean or not, you must tell me, I say.
207
Some of them declared that your back should be broken.
208
Simeonovich appeared to enjoy this immensely, for he laughed outright.
209
We shall see whose back will be the first to be broken, said he. Was that Tishka's opinion?
210
While I did not suppose they would say anything good about me, I did not expect such curses and threats.
211
And Peter Mikhaev.
212
Was that fool cursing me too?
213
No, he did not curse you at all.
214
He appeared to be the only silent one among them.
215
Mikhaev is a very wise Mujik and he surprises me very much.
216
At his actions all the other peasants seemed amazed.
217
What did he do?
218
He did something remarkable.
219
He was diligently ploughing and as I approached him I heard someone singing very sweetly.
220
Looking between the ploughshares I observed a bright object shining.
221
Well, what was it?
222
Hurry up!
223
It was a small five-kopeck wax candle burning brightly, and the wind was unable to blow it out.
224
Peter, wearing a new shirt, sang beautiful hymns as he ploughed, and no matter how he handled the implement, the candle continued to burn.
225
In my presence, he fixed the plough, shaking it violently, but the bright little object between the colters remained undisturbed.
226
And what did Mikhaef say?
227
He said nothing, except when, on seeing me, he gave me the holy day salutation, after which he went on his way singing and ploughing as before.
228
I did not say anything to him, but on approaching the other Mujiks, I found that they were laughing and making sport of their silent companion.
229
It is a great sin to plough on Easter Monday.
230
They said, You could not get absolution from your sin if you were to pray all your life.
231
And did Mikhaev make no reply?
232
He stood long enough to say, There should be peace on earth and goodwill to men.
233
After which he resumed his ploughing and singing, the candle burning even more brightly than before.
234
Simeonovich had now ceased to ridicule, and putting aside his guitar, his head dropped on his breast and he became lost in thought.
235
Presently he ordered the elder and cook to depart, after which Michael went behind a screen and threw himself upon the bed.
236
He was sighing and moaning, as if in great distress, when his wife came in and spoke kindly to him.
237
He refused to listen to her, exclaiming, He has conquered me and my end is near.
238
Mishinka, said the woman, arise and go to the Mujiks in the field.
239
Let them go home and everything will be all right.
240
Heretofore you have run far greater risks without any fear, but now you appear to be very much alarmed.
241
He has conquered me, he repeated.
242
I am lost.
243
What do you mean? demanded his wife angrily.
244
If you will go and do as I tell you, there will be no danger.
245
Come, Mishinka, she added tenderly.
246
I shall have the saddle horse brought for you at once.
247
When the horse arrived, the woman persuaded her husband to mount the animal and to fulfil her request concerning the serfs.
248
When he reached the village, a woman opened the gate for him to enter, and as he did so,
249
the inhabitants, seeing the brutal superintendent whom everybody feared, ran to hide themselves in their houses,
250
gardens and other secluded places.
251
At length Michael reached the other gate, which he found closed also, and being unable to open it himself while seated on his horse,
252
he called loudly for assistance.
253
As no one responded to his shouts, he dismounted and opened the gate, but as he was about to remount and had one foot in the stirrup,
254
the horse became frightened at some pigs and sprang suddenly to one side.
255
The superintendent fell across the fence and a very sharp picket pierced his stomach when Michael fell unconscious to the ground.
256
Toward the evening, when the serfs arrived at the village gate, their horses refused to enter.
257
On looking around, the peasants discovered the dead body of their superintendent lying face
258
downward in a pool of blood where he had fallen from the fence
259
peter mikhayev alone had sufficient courage to dismount and approach the prostrate form
260
his companions riding around the village and entering by way of the backyards
261
peter closed the dead man's eyes after which he put the body in a wagon and took it home
262
When the nobleman learned of the fatal accident which had befallen his superintendent, and of the brutal treatment which he had meted out to those under him,
263
he freed the serfs, exacting a small rent for the use of his land and the other agricultural opportunities.
264
And thus the peasants clearly understood that the power of God is manifested not in evil, but in goodness.
تنزيل التطبيق
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Why Practice Speaking with This Video?
Practicing with "The Candle" by Leo Tolstoy is a fantastic way to boost your English speaking skills! The video’s narrative style—rich with historical context and emotional storytelling—gives you a natural "shadowing" opportunity. Shadowing, where you repeat phrases aloud as you hear them, helps you mimic rhythm, intonation, and fluency. This story’s mix of dialogue and descriptive language also exposes you to real-world context, making it easier to apply what you learn to daily conversations. Plus, using a YouTube video like this turns learning into an engaging activity—no boring drills! Whether you’re a beginner or intermediate learner, this content helps you build confidence in expressing complex ideas, all while exploring a classic tale.
Grammar & Expressions in Context
The video is packed with useful grammar structures and expressions. Let’s break down a few:
- Past Perfect Tense: "No sooner had the power to govern been vested in this official than he began..." This structure ("no sooner...than") emphasizes a quick action after another. Practice it to describe immediate reactions, like "No sooner had I arrived than the meeting started."
- Modal Verbs for Possibility: "It was possible for the peasants...to devise means whereby they could rid themselves..." Phrases like "it was possible" and "could" show past ability or potential. Use them to talk about past opportunities, e.g., "We could have finished early if we’d started sooner."
- Conditional Statements: "It were better for us to perish than to suffer." This old-fashioned "were" (subjunctive) expresses a hypothetical situation. Modern equivalents include "It would be better to..." but understanding this form helps with classic literature and formal speech.
Common Pronunciation Traps
Some words in the video might trip you up—let’s tackle them!
- Serfdom (pronounced "surf-dum"): Don’t stress the second syllable; keep it short.
- Barbarous (pronounced "bar-buh-ruhs"): The middle "a" is soft, like "uh." Avoid saying "bar-BAH-ruhs."
- Mujiks (pronounced "moo-jiks"): This term for Russian peasants has a long "oo" sound, not "myoo."
Using the shadowing technique with this video helps you master these tricky sounds. A good shadowing site can even let you slow down the audio to practice. Remember, every mistake is a step forward—keep repeating, and your pronunciation will shine!
Ready to start? Press play, follow along, and let "The Candle" guide you to better English. With tools like YouTube and the shadowing technique, improving your skills has never been more accessible. Happy learning!
ما هي تقنية التظليل الصوتي؟
التظليل الصوتي (Shadowing) تقنية تعلم لغة مدعومة علمياً، طُورت أصلاً لتدريب المترجمين الفوريين المحترفين. الطريقة بسيطة لكنها قوية: تستمع لصوت إنجليزي أصلي وتكرره فوراً بصوت عالٍ — كظل يتبع المتحدث بتأخير 1-2 ثانية. تُظهر الأبحاث تحسناً كبيراً في دقة النطق والتنغيم والإيقاع وربط الأصوات والاستماع والطلاقة.