Carmen adapted by Kirill Ole Thompson from “Carmen” by Prosper Mérimée

I am a French archaeologist. I traveled in Spain in 1830 to search for Munda, the place

where Julius Caesar defeated rival Roman armies in 45 B.C.E. I have figured out where the

battle site is. But, before I reveal the spot, I want to tell you a little story.

During my travel in Spain, I saw a man resting near a pond. The man looked strong and

athletic. I thought he had the look of a smuggler or a robber. I had read about a local robber

named Don José. This man matched his description: “blond hair, blue eyes, large mouth, and

good teeth.” I shared my lunch with the man by the pond. Later, we went to an inn to spend

the night. When we entered the inn, the innkeeper called the man, “Don José.” After supper,

we went to bed. Soon, my guide awakened me; he

wanted to get the police to arrest Don José. I let him

go, but then I awakened Don José to warn him.

When Don José was ready to leave, I gave him some

cigars before he fled. Six horsemen arrived two

hours later, and I told them that Don José was gone.

A few months later, I met a lady by the river

wall in Cordova, Spain. We started to talk. She told

me she was Carmen, a gypsy, and she offered to tell

me my fortune. She was pretty, so I asked her to take

me to tell me my fortune. At her home, Carmen got

a deck of tarot cards to read my fortune. Soon, a

man entered the room; it was Don José. Don José

looked unhappy and took me outside. He advised

me to leave because Carmen would steal my money,

wallet, and watch. Sadly, I returned to the inn, where

I found out that my watch was missing.

Several months later, I was taken to see poor Don José in prison. I brought him some

cigars, and he thanked me. Then, he told me about several sad incidents that had taken place

since I last saw him.

His full name was Don José Lizarrabengoa; he was Basque. The Basque are

hard-working country folks in Spain with their own language and culture. In youth, Don José

became friends with some soldiers. Admiring them, he joined their unit. He had the

makings of a good soldier.

Don José first saw Carmen when he was guarding a factory where she worked. She

looked stunning in a short skirt, white silk socks, and red shoes, and she swayed her hips as

she walked. The next time on guard duty, he saw her again. They exchanged glances, and she

teased him. Don José began to love her.

After Carmen had stabbed another female factory worker, Don José was ordered to take

her to prison. On the way to the prison, she begged him to let her escape and told him a plan.

Following the plan, she pushed him down and ran away. Don José could not catch her in the

crowded alleys. Later, blaming and demoting him for her escape, his commander sent him

to jail for one month.

After Don José was released from prison, he spent the whole day with Carmen. They

bought many fruits, candies, and a bottle of wine. They ate, drank, sang, and danced all day.

When it was time for him to go back to the unit, she begged him to stay. He spent the night

with her, and they parted the next morning.

Some time later, Don José was sent to guard a town gate that was near a breach in the

town wall. That evening, Carmen approached and said, “Some people will be coming with

bundles. Let them pass through the breach.” At first, Don José refused, but Carmen begged

him to let them pass. That night, he let five gypsies passed through the wall, carrying English

goods.

Don José didn’t see Carmen again for a while. One night at a friend’s place, he saw her

walk in with a lieutenant from his unit. He and the lieutenant stared at each other, and then

the lieutenant ordered him to get out. Don José hesitated, so the lieutenant shook him and

they both drew their swords. The lieutenant swung his sword and cut Don José’s forehead.

Then, he charged at Don José but ran straight into the tip of Don José’s sword, and he died.

Carmen helped Don José escape from the city and join a band of gypsy smugglers. By

smuggling, Don José started to have money, and Carmen became more affectionate. Still, she

told Don José to keep their relationship secret from the gang members.

It turned out that Carmen had a husband in prison. She helped him to get out and

brought him to the gang. Don José was jealous because the man was married to Carmen, and

he thought Carmen’s husband was a nasty person. So, Don José planned to kill him. One

2｜News Messenger

night, playing innocent, he asked Carmen’s husband to play cards. In the second game, Don

José accused him of cheating and threw the cards at his face to provoke a fight. They both

rose and drew their knives. They fought, and Don José stabbed Carmen’s husband to death.

Carmen knew a rich English lord and his friend in Gibraltar, and she persuaded Don

José and another gypsy to steal their shirts, money and watches. Afterward, the gypsy said to

Don José, “You lost your head over a pretty girl, and for her you killed a man and became a

robber.”

Carmen next met a rich Spanish merchant from Málaga, and she intended Don José to

rob the merchant as he had robbed the English lord. Don José thought she was going too far

and took her off before she could carry out her plan. She became enraged and quarreled

with him. Finally, she told him, “I feel I don’t care for you like I did before.”

Soon afterward, Don José was shot and seriously wounded when some soldiers attacked

the gang. He sought shelter in the woods, and Carmen came to take care of him for two

weeks. Then she sent him to a friend’s house in Granada, where he rested for over six weeks.

He thought about his life and planned to change his ways. He suggested to Carmen that they

start an honest life in America, but she was not interested and started making new plans for

the next crime.

Next, Carmen met a handsome picador named Lucas. She told Don José she wanted to

befriend Lucas and then to steal money from him—or to enlist him in the gang. Don José

got angry and told her not to speak to Lucas again. She got angry, and they quarreled; Don

José lost control and hit Carmen. She cried bitterly. He felt sorry, but she was inconsolable

and left. Later, she returned in a happy mood,

and their love was rekindled.

Finally, Don José saw Carmen with Lucas

again, and he dragged her away. Feeling furious,

Carmen told Don José that she didn’t love him

anymore. Heartbroken, Don José offered to do

anything she wanted if only she would love him

again. In a fit of anger, she shouted, “That’s not

possible!” Half crazy, he drew his knife to

frighten her, but she boldly threw away the ring

he’d given her. In a fury, he stabbed her twice.

Suddenly silent, she fell to the ground. Her eyes

grew dim and shut as she died. Sadly, Don José

buried her in a grave and then went to the

police to confess.

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Reading Comprehension

( ) 1. What is the second paragraph mainly about? (main idea)

(A) How Don José first met Carmen. (B) How the narrator first met Don José.

(C) Where Don José first met Carmen. (D) Where the narrator first met Carmen.

( ) 2. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true? (supporting details)

(A) The narrator is an archaeologist. (B) Carmen had blue eyes and blond hair.

(C) The narrator first met Don José in prison. (D) The name of Carmen’s husband was Lucas.

( ) 3. Who does “them” in the last sentence of the second paragraph most likely refer to? (reference)

(A) A group of gypsies. (B) A group of horsemen.

(C) Don José and his commander. (D) Carmen and the picador, Lucas.

( ) 4. By which can the word “stunning” in the sixth paragraph be best replaced? (words in context)

(A) Shocking. (B) Surprised.

(C) Attractive. (D) Attracted.

( ) 5. Which of the following best describes the tone of this passage? (tone)

(A) Angry. (B) Critical. (C) Humorous. (D) Objective.

Open Questions:

� If you were Don José in the story, what would you do?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

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Vocabulary and Phrases

1. figure out phr. 弄明白，弄懂

2. gypsy [δΖΙπσΙ] n. [C] 吉普賽人

3. deck [δΕκ] n. [C] (紙牌的)一副

4. sway [σωε] vt. 擺動，搖擺

5. commander [κ1µ8νδ2] n. [C] 指揮官，司令官

6. lieutenant [λυτΕν1ντ] n. [C] 中尉

7. affectionate [1φΕκΣ1νΙτ] adj. 充滿愛意的

8. nasty [ν8στΙ] adj. 惡劣的，令人討厭的

9. lose one’s head phr. 失去理智

10. go too far phr. 做得太過火

11. dim [δΙµ] adj. (目光等)朦朧的

Words for Recognition

1. archaeologist [&ΑρκΙΑλ1ΓΙστ] n. [C] 考古學家

2. tarot [τ8ρο] n. [U] 塔羅牌

3. have the makings of phr. 具備成為…的條件

4. demote [δΙµοτ] vt. 將…降職

5. breach [βριτΣ] n. [C] (城牆等的)裂縫，缺口

6. enrage [ΙνρεδΖ] vt. 激怒

7. picador [πΙκ1&δΟρ] n. [C] 鬥牛士

8. befriend [βΙφρΕνδ] vt. 和…成為朋友

9. enlist [ΙνλΙστ] vt. 爭取…的參與或幫助等

10. inconsolable [&Ινκ1νσολ1βΛ] adj. 傷心欲絕的

11. rekindle [ρικΙνδΛ] vt. 重燃，重拾(熱情等)

4｜News Messenger

Did You Know?

French writer Prosper Mérimée was born on September 28, 1803. His novella, Carmen, published in

1845, was the basis of the famous opera of the same title by Georges Bizet.

Prosper Mérimée was also a noted historian and archaeologist. He studied law in college but had passion

for literature. He often visited salons and made friends with a number of writers in Paris. Besides French, he

mastered several foreign languages, including English, Spanish, and Russian. He had some long trips, which

provided material for much of his writing. For example, his travel to Spain helped his writing of Carmen.

Prosper Mérimée’s Carmen was adapted into an opera by Georges Bizet, and the opera was first

performed in Paris on March 3, 1875. There are some differences between the opera and the novella. Based

mainly on the third part of the novella, the opera omits many elements. For example, Carmen’s husband

doesn’t appear in the opera. However, several female singing roles other than Carmen in the opera do not

have counterparts in the novella.

The following is a list of some related words:

novella 中短篇小說

adapt 改編

opera 歌劇

premiere 首演；首映

composer 作曲家

librettist (歌劇等的)詞作者

crime of passion 情殺

For more information, scan the picture with COCOAR2, or visit https://goo.gl/gNJFFY.

閱讀測驗解答：1. B 2. A 3. B 4. C 5. D （圖片來源：Shutterstock、Depositphotos）

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Scan with COCOAR2 for more information!

Translation

卡門

我是一個法國考古學家，1830 年時在西班牙尋找西元前 45 年凱撒擊敗敵對羅馬軍隊的地方——孟

達。我已經弄清楚戰場的位置，但在解答之前，我想先說一個小故事。

我在西班牙旅行期間，曾遇到一名在池塘邊歇腳的男子。那名男子看起來體格強健。我覺得他看起

來像個走私者或強盜。我之前已經知道當地有一名叫做唐．若瑟的搶匪，而這名男子的外形符合描述：「金

髮、藍眼、濶嘴，和一口好牙。」我在池塘邊和這名男子分享午餐。我們後來一起投宿一家客棧，進門

時，客棧老闆喚那男子「唐．若瑟」。我們在晚飯後就寢。沒多久，我的嚮導就把我弄醒；他想報警逮捕

唐．若瑟。我讓他去，但我接著就叫醒唐．若瑟警告他。唐．若瑟收拾好行李要逃跑時，我在他走前塞

了一些雪茄給他。兩小時後來了六名騎兵，我跟他們說唐．若瑟溜了。

幾個月後，我在西班牙哥多華的河畔遇到一名女子並和她聊了起來。她自稱卡門，是個吉普賽人，

願意幫我算命。她很漂亮，所以我請她帶我去算命。在她家，卡門拿了一副塔羅牌幫我算命。沒多久，

一個男人進入房間——是唐．若瑟。他表情不悅地把我帶到外面並建議我離開，因為卡門會偷走我的錢、

皮夾和手錶。可惜我回到旅店才發現手錶不見了。

又過了幾個月後，有人帶我到監獄探視可憐的唐．若瑟。我帶了些雪茄給他，他向我道謝。然後，

他告訴我自從上次見面後發生的幾樁慘事。

他的全名是唐．若瑟．里薩拉本戈亞；他是巴斯克人。巴斯克人是群勤奮的西班牙鄉間村民，有自

己的語言和文化。唐．若瑟年輕時和一群士兵成為好友。因為敬佩他們，他加入了部隊。他有著成為優

秀士兵的條件。

唐．若瑟初次見到卡門時，正在守衛她上工的工廠。她穿著短裙、絲質白襪和紅鞋，非常漂亮迷人，

走起路來婀娜多姿。他再次站崗時又看見她。他們互看了幾眼，而她跟他開玩笑。唐．若瑟就這樣愛上

了她。

卡門刺傷另一名女工後，唐．若瑟奉命送她去坐牢。在去監獄的路上，卡門求唐．若瑟放她走，還

出了個主意。卡門按照計畫推倒他後跑走。唐．若瑟沒能在擁擠的巷弄裡抓住她。之後，唐．若瑟的指

揮官責怪他讓人脫逃，因此把他降職還讓他入獄一個月。

唐．若瑟出獄後，和卡門共度了一整天。他們買了很多水果、糖果和一瓶紅酒，整天吃吃喝喝、唱

歌跳舞。等到該回部隊報到時，卡門求唐．若瑟留下來。他與她共度春宵，隔天早上才分開。

過了一陣子，唐．若瑟被派去看守城門，那附近的城牆上有一個缺口。那晚，卡門來跟他說：「有人

會帶著大包小包來，讓他們從缺口過去吧。」唐．若瑟起初拒絕了，但卡門苦苦哀求他放行。當晚，他

讓五個吉普賽人帶著英國貨穿過了城牆。

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唐．若瑟有好一段時間沒再看到卡門。某天晚上在朋友家，他看到她和他部隊裡的一位中尉一起進

門。唐．若瑟和中尉互瞪，中尉命令他離開。唐．若瑟猶豫難決，中尉就動手推他，結果兩人都拔出劍

來。中尉揮劍劃傷了唐．若瑟的額頭，並接著衝向唐．若瑟，但卻直接撞上唐．若瑟的劍尖而送命。

卡門幫唐．若瑟逃出城，並讓他加入一群吉普賽走私客。唐．若瑟因為走私開始有錢，卡門也變得

更親熱。不過儘管如此，她還是叫唐．若瑟別讓走私幫派的成員知道他倆的關係。

原來，卡門有個丈夫在坐牢。她救他出獄，並帶他加入幫派。唐．若瑟嫉妒那男人娶了卡門，而且

認為他是個糟糕的傢伙，所以計畫殺了他。一天晚上，唐．若瑟若無其事地要卡門的丈夫一起玩牌。玩

到第二局時，唐．若瑟指控他作弊，把牌扔到他臉上挑釁。他們起身拔刀互鬥，唐．若瑟刺死了卡門的

丈夫。

卡門在直布羅陀認識了一位有錢的英國貴族和他的朋友，她說服唐．若瑟和另一名吉普賽人偷走他

們的襯衫、錢財和手錶。那個吉普賽人後來對唐．若瑟說：「你因為一個漂亮女孩失去理智，為了她，你

殺了人還做了強盜。」

接著，卡門遇到來自馬拉加的西班牙富商，想叫唐．若瑟像之前搶英國貴族那樣搶劫富商。唐．若

瑟認為她太超過了，便在她實行計畫之前把她帶走。卡門發火跟他大吵。最後，她告訴他：「我覺得自己

不像以前那麼喜歡你了。」

不久之後，有士兵圍攻幫派，唐．若瑟中槍受了重傷。他躲在樹林裡，卡門來照顧他兩週，然後送

他到格拉納達一位朋友家。唐．若瑟在那裡休養了六個多星期。他思考自己的人生，打算改變生活方式。

他向卡門提議一起到美國安分過日子，但她不感興趣，又開始為下次犯案籌謀策劃。

接著，卡門遇到了一位名叫盧卡斯的俊俏鬥牛士。卡門告訴唐．若瑟她想和盧卡斯做朋友，然後偷

他的錢——或是拉他入幫。唐．若瑟大發雷霆，叫她不要再和盧卡斯說話。卡門很生氣，兩人因此吵起

來，而唐．若瑟失控打了她。卡門痛哭失聲。唐．若瑟感到抱歉，但卡門傷心欲絕拂袖而去。後來，她

心情愉悅地回來，兩人又重修舊好。

但最後，唐．若瑟又看到卡門和盧卡斯在一起，於是就把她拖走。火大的卡門告訴唐．若瑟她已經

不愛他了。心碎的唐．若瑟說只要卡門能再愛他，他願意為她做任何事。卡門在盛怒中大叫：「那是不可

能的！」唐．若瑟在半瘋狂的狀態下拔刀嚇唬她，卡門卻大膽地扔掉他之前送的戒指。唐．若瑟勃然大

怒，拿刀刺了卡門兩下。她突然安靜了下來，倒地不起。她眼神逐漸渙散，然後閉上眼睛死了。唐．若

瑟悲痛地埋葬了卡門，然後去向警方自首。

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