小編導(dǎo)讀：《捕蛇者說》寫于作者被貶到永州（現(xiàn)在湖南零陵）時，是柳宗元的散文名篇。柳宗元的貶地永州，在當(dāng)時是相當(dāng)荒僻落后的地區(qū)。司馬是刺史的助手，有職無權(quán)。柳宗元在這里住了將近10年，到元和十年（公元815年）才被改派到柳州當(dāng)刺史。在刺史任上，他“因其土俗，為設(shè)教禁”取得顯著政績。但因長期內(nèi)心抑郁，健康狀況惡化，終于病死在柳州，年僅47歲。文章通過捕蛇者蔣氏對其祖孫三代為免交賦稅而寧愿冒著死亡威脅捕捉毒蛇的自述，反映了中唐時期我國勞動人民的悲慘生活，深刻地揭露了封建統(tǒng)治階級對勞動人民的殘酷壓迫和剝削，表達(dá)了作者對勞動人民的深切同情。反映了當(dāng)時“苛政猛于虎”的稅收情況。

柳宗元 《捕蛇者說》

永州之野產(chǎn)異蛇，黑質(zhì)而白章，觸草木盡死；以嚙人，無御之者。然得而臘之以為餌，可以已大風(fēng)、攣踠、瘺、癘，去死肌，殺三蟲。其始，太醫(yī)以王命聚之，歲賦其二。募有能捕之者，當(dāng)其租入。永之人爭奔走焉。

有蔣氏者，專其利三世矣。問之，則曰：“吾祖死于是，吾父死于是，今吾嗣為之十二年，幾死者數(shù)矣。”言之，貌若甚戚者。

余悲之，且曰：“若毒之乎？余將告于蒞事者，更若役，復(fù)若賦，則如何？”

蔣氏大戚，汪然出涕，曰：“君將哀而生之乎？則吾斯役之不幸，未若復(fù)吾賦不幸之甚也。向吾不為斯役，則久已病矣。自吾氏三世居是鄉(xiāng)，積于今六十歲矣。而鄉(xiāng)鄰之生日蹙，殫其地之出，竭其廬之入，號呼而轉(zhuǎn)徙，餓渴而頓踣。觸風(fēng)雨，犯寒暑，呼噓毒癘，往往而死者相藉也。曩與吾祖居者，今其室十無一焉；與吾父居者，今其室十無二三焉。與吾居十二年者，今其室十無四五焉。非死即徙爾，而吾以捕蛇獨(dú)存。悍吏之來吾鄉(xiāng)，叫囂乎東西，隳突乎南北；嘩然而駭者，雖雞狗不得寧焉。吾恂恂而起，視其缶，而吾蛇尚存，則弛然而臥。謹(jǐn)食之，時而獻(xiàn)焉。退而甘食其土之有，以盡吾齒。蓋一歲之犯死者二焉，其余則熙熙而樂，豈若吾鄉(xiāng)鄰之旦旦有是哉！今雖死乎此，比吾鄉(xiāng)鄰之死則已后矣，又安敢毒耶？”

余聞而愈悲，孔子曰：“苛政猛于虎也！”吾嘗疑乎是。今以蔣氏觀之，猶信。嗚呼！孰知賦斂之毒有甚是蛇者乎！故為之說，以俟夫觀人風(fēng)者得焉。

The Snake-Catcher
Liu Zongyuan

The country around Yongzhou yields a curious snake — black withwhite spots. Any plant it touches dies, and its bite is fatal. But if caughtand dried for medicine, it cures leprosy, palsy and boils, heals putrid soresand checks all noxious humours. In earlier times it was decreed that two snakesshould be presented each year to the imperial physician, and that those whocaptured them should be exempted from other taxes. So the people of Yongzhoumade every effort to catch them.

I questioned a man named Jiang, whose family had made a living inthis way for three generations.

“My grandfather died of snake-bite,so did my father,” he told me in great distress. “Now I have followed in theirsteps for twelve years, and narrowly escaped death several times.”

I pitied him.

“If you hate this calling,” I said,“I can ask the authorities to release you from it and let you pay land taxinstead. What do you say?”

Jiang was appalled. Tears welled up in his eyes.

“Have pity on me, sir!” he cried.“Though this is a wretched life, it is better than paying taxes. If not forthese snakes, I would have come to grief long ago. For the sixty years that mygrandfather, father and I have lived here, our neighbours have been more andmore hard put to it every day. When their soil is exhausted, their savingsspent, they leave their homes lamenting to fall hungry and thirsty by thewayside; or toil winter and summer in the wind and rain, contracting diseasestill their corpses pile up. Of my grandfather's generation, not one in ten isleft; not three in ten of my father's; and not five in ten of those who were myneighbours twelve years ago. The rest are dead or gone while I alone live on —because I catch snakes. When those bullying tax-collectors come to our area,they bellow and curse from east to west and rampage from north to south, makingsuch a fearful din that the very birds and dogs have no peace. Then I tiptoefrom my bed to look into my pitcher, but breathe freely again at the sight ofmy snakes and lie down once more. I feed my snakes carefully, and present themin due season, then come home to enjoy the fruits of my fields in comfort. Irisk death twice a year, but live happily for the rest, unlike my neighbourswho face death every day. Though I die of snake-bite, I shall have outlivedmost of them. How could I hate this calling?”

At this I pitied the fellow even more.

I used to doubt that saying of Confucius: “Tyranny is more rapaciousthan a tiger.” But Jiang's case convinced me of its truth. Alas, to think thattaxation can prove more dire than a poisonous snake! So I have written thisessay for those who study conditions in the countryside.

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