Ididnotnoticeitatfirst,butIseeitnow。Somehowhehasgothisrightarmonhisleftshoulder,andhisleftarmonhisrightshoulder,andthisshowsusthebackofhishandsinbothinstances。Itmakeshimlefthandedallaround,whichisathingwhichhasneverhappenedbefore,exceptperhapsinamuseum。
Thatisthewaywithart,whenitisnotacquiredbutborntoyou:youstartintomakesomesimplelittlething,notsuspectingthatyourgeniusisbeginningtoworkandswellandstraininsecret,andallofasuddenthereisaconvulsionandyoufetchoutsomethingastonishing。Thisiscalledinspiration。
Itisanaccident;youneverknowwhenitiscoming。ImighthavetriedasmuchasayeartothinkofsuchastrangethingasanallaroundlefthandedmanandIcouldnothavedoneit,forthemoreyoutrytothinkofanunthinkablethingthemoreiteludesyou;butitcan’teludeinspiration;youhaveonlytobaitwithinspirationandyouwillgetiteverytime。LookatBotticelli’s"Spring。"Thosesnakywomenwereunthinkable,butinspirationsecuredthemforus,thankstogoodness。Itistoolatetoreorganizethiseditorcriticnow;wewillleavehimasheis。Hewillservetoremindus。
RichardII。next;twentytwoWHITEsquares。(Fig。16。)
WeusethelionagainbecausethisisanotherRichard。LikeEdwardII。,hewasDEPOSED。Heistakingalastsadlookathiscrownbeforetheytakeitaway。TherewasnotroomenoughandI
havemadeittoosmall;butitneverfittedhim,anyway。
NowweturnthecornerofthecenturywithanewlineofmonarchstheLancastriankings。
HenryIV。;fourteensquaresofYELLOWpaper。(Fig。17。)
Thishenhaslaidtheeggofanewdynastyandrealizesthemagnitudeoftheevent。Sheisgivingnoticeintheusualway。
YounoticeIamimprovingintheconstructionofhens。AtfirstImadethemtoomuchlikeotheranimals,butthisoneisorthodox。Imentionthistoencourageyou。Youwillfindthatthemoreyoupracticethemoreaccurateyouwillbecome。Icouldalwaysdrawanimals,butbeforeIwaseducatedIcouldnottellwhatkindtheywerewhenIgotthemdone,butnowIcan。Keepupyourcourage;itwillbethesamewithyou,althoughyoumaynotthinkit。ThisHenrydiedtheyearafterJoanofArcwasborn。
HenryV。;nineBLUEsquares。(Fig。18)
ThereyouseehimlostinmeditationoverthemonumentwhichrecordstheamazingfiguresofthebattleofAgincourt。Frenchhistorysays20,000Englishmenrouted80,000Frenchmenthere;andEnglishhistorianssaythattheFrenchloss,inkilledandwounded,was60,000。
HenryVI。;thirtynineREDsquares。(Fig。19)
ThisispoorHenryVI。,whoreignedlongandscoredmanymisfortunesandhumiliations。Alsotwogreatdisasters:helostFrancetoJoanofArcandhelostthethroneandendedthedynastywhichHenryIV。hadstartedinbusinesswithsuchgoodprospects。Inthepictureweseehimsadandwearyanddowncast,withthescepterfallingfromhisnervelessgrasp。Itisapatheticquenchingofasunwhichhadriseninsuchsplendor。
EdwardIV。;twentytwoLIGHTBROWNsquares。(Fig。20。)
Thatisasocietyeditor,sittingthereelegantlydressed,withhislegscrossedinthatindolentway,observingtheclothestheladieswear,sothathecandescribethemforhispaperandmakethemoutfinerthantheyareandgetbribesforitandbecomewealthy。Thatflowerwhichheiswearinginhisbuttonholeisaroseawhiterose,aYorkroseandwillservetoremindusoftheWaroftheRoses,andthatthewhiteonewasthewinningcolorwhenEdwardgotthethroneanddispossessedtheLancastriandynasty。
EdwardV。;onethirdofaBLACKsquare。(Fig。21。)
HisuncleRichardhadhimmurderedinthetower。Whenyougetthereignsdisplayeduponthewallthisonewillbeconspicuousandeasilyremembered。ItistheshortestoneinEnglishhistoryexceptLadyJaneGrey’s,whichwasonlyninedays。SheisneverofficiallyrecognizedasamonarchofEngland,butifyouorIshouldeveroccupyathroneweshouldliketohavepropernoticetakenofit;anditwouldbeonlyfairandright,too,particularlyifwegainednothingbyitandlostourlivesbesides。
RichardIII。;twoWHITEsquares。(Fig。22。)
Thatisnotaverygoodlion,butRichardwasnotaverygoodking。Youwouldthinkthatthislionhastwoheads,butthatisnotso;oneisonlyashadow。Therewouldbeshadowsfortherestofhim,buttherewasnotlightenoughtogoround,itbeingadullday,withonlyfleetingsunglimpsesnowandthen。
Richardhadahumpedbackandahardheart,andfellatthebattleofBosworth。Idonotknowthenameofthatflowerinthepot,butwewilluseitasRichard’strademark,foritissaidthatitgrowsinonlyoneplaceintheworldBosworthFieldandtraditionsaysitnevergrewthereuntilRichard’sroyalbloodwarmeditshiddenseedtolifeandmadeitgrow。
HenryVII。;twentyfourBLUEsquares。(Fig。23。)
HenryVII。hadnolikingforwarsandturbulence;hepreferredpeaceandquietandthegeneralprosperitywhichsuchconditionscreate。Helikedtositonthatkindofeggsonhisownprivateaccountaswellasthenation’s,andhatchthemoutandcountuptheirresult。Whenhediedhelefthisheir2,000,000pounds,whichwasamostunusualfortuneforakingtopossessinthosedays。Columbus’sgreatachievementgavehimthediscoveryfever,andhesentSebastianCabottotheNewWorldtosearchoutsomeforeignterritoryforEngland。ThatisCabot’sshipupthereinthecorner。ThiswasthefirsttimethatEnglandwentfarabroadtoenlargeherestatebutnotthelast。
HenryVIII。;thirtyeightREDsquares。(Fig。24。)
ThatisHenryVIII。suppressingamonasteryinhisarrogantfashion。
EdwardVI。;sixsquaresofYELLOWpaper。(Fig。25。)
HeisthelastEdwardtodate。Itisindicatedbythatthingoverhishead,whichisaLASTshoemaker’slast。
Mary;fivesquaresofBLACKpaper。(Fig。26。)
Thepicturerepresentsaburningmartyr。Heisinbackofthesmoke。ThefirstthreelettersofMary’snameandthefirstthreeofthewordmartyrarethesame。Martyrdomwasgoingoutinherdayandmartyrswerebecomingscarcer,butshemadeseveral。ForthisreasonsheissometimescalledBloodyMary。
ThisbringsustothereignofElizabeth,afterpassingthroughaperiodofnearlyfivehundredyearsofEngland’shistory492tobeexact。Ithinkyoumaynowbetrustedtogotherestofthewaywithoutfurtherlessonsinartorinspirationsinthematterofideas。Youhavetheschemenow,andsomethingintheruler’snameorcareerwillsuggestthepictorialsymbol。Theeffortofinventingsuchthingswillnotonlyhelpyourmemory,butwilldeveloporiginalityinart。Seewhatithasdoneforme。IfyoudonotfindtheparlorwallbigenoughforallofEngland’shistory,continueitintothedining
roomandintootherrooms。Thiswillmakethewallsinterestingandinstructiveandreallyworthsomethinginsteadofbeingjustflatthingstoholdthehousetogether。
1。Summerof1899。
THEMEMORABLEASSASSINATION
Note。TheassassinationoftheEmpressofAustriaatGeneva,September10,1898,occurredduringMarkTwain’sAustrianresidence。ThenewscametohimatKaltenleutgeben,asummerresortalittlewayoutofVienna。Tohisfriend,theRev。Jos。
H。Twichell,hewrote:
"Thatgoodandunoffendinglady,theEmpress,iskilledbyamadman,andIamlivinginthemidstofworldhistoryagain。TheQueen’sJubileelastyear,theinvasionoftheReichsrathbythepolice,andnowthismurder,whichwillstillbetalkedofanddescribedandpaintedathousandathousandyearsfromnow。Tohaveapersonalfriendoftheweareroftwocrownsburstinatthegateinthedeepduskoftheeveningandsay,inavoicebrokenwithtears,’MyGod!theEmpressismurdered,’andflytowardherhomebeforewecanutteraquestionwhy,itbringsthegianteventhometoyou,makesyouapartofitandpersonallyinterested;itisasifyourneighbor,Antony,shouldcomeflyingandsay,’Caesarisbutcheredtheheadoftheworldisfallen!’
"Ofcoursethereisnotalkbutofthis。Themourningisuniversalandgenuine,theconsternationisstupefying。TheAustrianEmpireisbeingdrapedwithblack。ViennawillbeaspectacletoseebynextSaturday,whenthefuneralcort`egemarches。"
Hewasstronglymovedbythetragedy,impelledtowriteconcerningit。Hepreparedthearticlewhichfollows,butdidnotofferitforpublication,perhapsfeelingthathisowncloseassociationwiththecourtcirclesatthemomentprohibitedthispersonalutterance。Thereappearsnosuchreasonforwithholdingitspublicationnow。
A。B。P。
Themoreonethinksoftheassassination,themoreimposingandtremendoustheeventbecomes。Thedestructionofacityisalargeevent,butitisonewhichrepeatsitselfseveraltimesinathousandyears;thedestructionofathirdpartofanationbyplagueandfamineisalargeevent,butithashappenedseveraltimesinhistory;themurderofakingisalargeevent,butithasbeenfrequent。
Themurderofanempressisthelargestofallevents。Onemustgobackabouttwothousandyearstofindaninstancetoputwiththisone。TheoldestfamilyofunchallengeddescentinChristendomlivesinRomeandtracesitslinebackseventeenhundredyears,butnomemberofithasbeenpresentintheearthwhenanempresswasmurdered,untilnow。Manyatimeduringtheseseventeencenturiesmembersofthatfamilyhavebeenstartledwiththenewsofextraordinaryeventsthedestructionofcities,thefallofthrones,themurderofkings,thewreckofdynasties,theextinctionofreligions,thebirthofnewsystemsofgovernment;andtheirdescendantshavebeenbytohearofitandtalkaboutitwhenallthesethingswererepeatedonce,twice,oradozentimesbuttoeventhatfamilyhascomenewsatlastwhichisnotstaledbyuse,hasnoduplicatesinthelongreachofitsmemory。
Itisaneventwhichconfersacuriousdistinctionuponeveryindividualnowlivingintheworld:hehasstoodaliveandbreathinginthepresenceofaneventsuchashasnotfallenwithintheexperienceofanytraceableoruntraceableancestorofhisfortwentycenturies,anditisnotlikelytofallwithintheexperienceofanydescendantofhisfortwentymore。
TimehasmadesomegreatchangessincetheRomandays。ThemurderofanempresstheneventheassassinationofCaesarhimselfcouldnotelectrifytheworldasthismurderhaselectrifiedit。Foronereason,therewasthennotmuchofaworldtoelectrify;itwasasmallworld,astoknownbulk,andithadratherathinpopulation,besides;andforanotherreason,thenewstraveledsoslowlythatitstremendousinitialthrillwastedaway,weekbyweekandmonthbymonth,onthejourney,andbythetimeitreachedtheremoterregionstherewasbutlittleofitleft。Itwasnolongerafreshevent,itwasathingofthefarpast;itwasnotproperlynews,itwashistory。Buttheworldisenormousnow,andprodigiouslypopulatedthatisonechange;andanotheristhelightningswiftnessoftheflightoftidings,goodandbad。"TheEmpressismurdered!"WhenthoseamazingwordsstruckuponmyearinthisAustrianvillagelastSaturday,threehoursafterthedisaster,IknewthatitwasalreadyoldnewsinLondon,Paris,Berlin,NewYork,SanFrancisco,Japan,China,Melbourne,CapeTown,Bombay,Madras,Calcutta,andthattheentireglobewithasinglevoice,wascursingtheperpetratorofit。Sincethetelegraphfirstbegantostretchitselfwiderandwiderabouttheearth,largerandincreasinglylargerareasoftheworldhave,astimewenton,receivedsimultaneouslytheshockofagreatcalamity;butthisisthefirsttimeinhistorythattheentiresurfaceoftheglobehasbeensweptinasingleinstantwiththethrillofsogiganticanevent。
Andwhoisthemiracleworkerwhohasfurnishedtotheworldthisspectacle?Alltheironiesarecompactedintheanswer。Heisatthebottomofthehumanladder,astheacceptedestimatesofdegreeandvaluego:asoiledandpatchedyoungloafer,withoutgifts,withouttalents,withouteducation,withoutmorals,withoutcharacter,withoutanyborncharmoranyacquiredonethatwinsorbeguilesorattracts;withoutasinglegraceofmindorheartorhandthatanytramporprostitutecouldenvyhim;anunfaithfulprivateintheranks,anincompetentstone
cutter,aninefficientlackey;inaword,amangy,offensive,empty,unwashed,vulgar,gross,mephitic,timid,sneaking,humanpolecat。Anditwaswithintheprivilegesandpowersofthissarcasmuponthehumanracetoreachupupupandstrikefromitsfarsummitinthesocialskiestheworld’sacceptedidealofGloryandMightandSplendorandSacredness!Itrealizestouswhatsorryshowsandshadowsweare。Withoutourclothesandourpedestalswearepoorthingsandmuchofasize;ourdignitiesarenotreal,ourpompsareshams。Atourbestandstateliestwearenotsuns,aswepretended,andteach,andbelieve,butonlycandles;andanybummercanblowusout。
Andnowwegetrealizedtousoncemoreanotherthingwhichweoftenforgetortryto:thatnomanhasawhollyundiseasedmind;thatinonewayoranotherallmenaremad。Manyaremadformoney。Whenthismadnessisinamildformitisharmlessandthemanpassesforsane;butwhenitdevelopspowerfullyandtakespossessionoftheman,itcanmakehimcheat,rob,andkill;andwhenhehasgothisfortuneandlostitagainitcanlandhimintheasylumorthesuicide’scoffin。Loveisamadness;ifthwarteditdevelopsfast;itcangrowtoafrenzyofdespairandmakeanotherwisesaneandhighlygiftedprince,likeRudolph,throwawaythecrownofanempireandsnuffouthisownlife。Allthewholelistofdesires,predilections,aversions,ambitions,passions,cares,griefs,regrets,remorses,areincipientmadness,andreadytogrow,spread,andconsume,whentheoccasioncomes。Therearenohealthyminds,andnothingsavesanymanbutaccidenttheaccidentofnothavinghismaladyputtothesupremetest。
Oneofthecommonestformsofmadnessisthedesiretobenoticed,thepleasurederivedfrombeingnoticed。Perhapsitisnotmerelycommon,butuniversal。Initsmildestformitdoubtlessisuniversal。Everychildispleasedatbeingnoticed;
manyintolerablechildrenputintheirwholetimeindistressingandidioticefforttoattracttheattentionofvisitors;boysarealways"showingoff";apparentlyallmenandwomenaregladandgratefulwhentheyfindthattheyhavedoneathingwhichhasliftedthemforamomentoutofobscurityandcausedwonderingtalk。Thiscommonmadnesscandevelop,bynurture,intoahungerfornotorietyinone,forfameinanother。Itisthismadnessforbeingnoticedandtalkedaboutwhichhasinventedkingshipandthethousandotherdignities,andtrickedthemoutwithprettyandshowyfineries;ithasmadekingspickoneanother’spockets,scrambleforoneanother’scrownsandestates,slaughteroneanother’ssubjects;ithasraisedupprizefighters,andpoets,andvillagesmayors,andlittleandbigpoliticians,andbigandlittlecharityfounders,andbicyclechampions,andbandittichiefs,andfrontierdesperadoes,andNapoleons。
Anythingtogetnotoriety;anythingtosetthevillage,orthetownship,orthecity,ortheState,orthenation,ortheplanetshouting,"Looktherehegoesthatistheman!"Andinfiveminutes’time,atnocostofbrain,orlabor,orgeniusthismangyItaliantramphasbeatenthemall,transcendedthemall,outstrippedthemall,forintimetheirnameswillperish;butbythefriendlyhelpoftheinsanenewspapersandcourtsandkingsandhistorians,hisissafeandliveandthunderintheworldalldowntheagesaslongashumanspeechshallendure!Oh,ifitwerenotsotragichowludicrousitwouldbe!
Shewassoblameless,theEmpress;andsobeautiful,inmindandheart,inpersonandspirit;andwhetherwithacrownuponherheadorwithoutitandnameless,agracetothehumanrace,andalmostajustificationofitscreation;WOULDbe,indeed,butthattheanimalthatstruckherdownreestablishesthedoubt。
Inhercharacterwaseveryqualitythatinwomaninvitesandengagesrespect,esteem,affection,andhomage。Hertastes,herinstincts,andheraspirationswereallhighandfineandallherlifeherheartandbrainwerebusywithactivitiesofanoblesort。Shehadhadbittergriefs,buttheydidnotsourherspirit,andshehadhadthehighesthonorsintheworld’sgift,butshewenthersimplewayunspoiled。Sheknewallranks,andwonthemall,andmadethemherfriends。AnEnglishfisherman’swifesaid,"Whenabodywasintroubleshedidn’tsendherhelp,shebroughtitherself。"Crownshaveadornedothers,butsheadornedhercrowns。
Itwasaswiftcelebritytheassassinachieved。Anditismarkedbysomecuriouscontrasts。Atnoonlast,Saturdaytherewasnooneintheworldwhowouldhaveconsideredacquaintanceshipwithhimathingworthclaimingormentioning;
noonewouldhavebeenvainofsuchanacquaintanceship;thehumblesthonestbootblackwouldnothavevaluedthefactthathehadmethimorseenhimatsometimeorother;hewassunkinabysmalobscurity,hewasawaybeneaththenoticeofthebottomgradesofofficialdom。Threehourslaterhewastheonesubjectofconversationintheworld,thegildedgeneralsandadmiralsandgovernorswerediscussinghim,allthekingsandqueensandemperorshadputasidetheirotherintereststotalkabouthim。
Andwherevertherewasaman,atthesummitoftheworldorthebottomofit,whobychancehadatsometimeorothercomeacrossthatcreature,heremembereditwithasecretsatisfaction,andMENTIONEDitforitwasadistinction,now!Itbringshumandignityprettylow,andforamomentthethingisnotquiterealizablebutitisperfectlytrue。Ifthereisakingwhocanremember,now,thatheoncesawthatcreatureinatimepast,hehasletthatfactout,inamoreorlessstudiedlycasualandindifferentway,somedozensoftimesduringthepastweek。Forakingismerelyhuman;theinsideofhimisexactlyliketheinsideofanyotherperson;anditishumantofindsatisfactioninbeinginakindofpersonalwayconnectedwithamazingevents。
Weareallprivatelyvainofsuchathing;weareallalike;akingisakingbyaccident;thereasontherestofusarenotkingsismerelyduetoanotheraccident;weareallmadeoutofthesameclay,anditisasufficientpoorquality。
Belowthekings,theseremarksareintheairthesedays;I
knowitwellasifIwerehearingthem:
THECOMMANDER:"Hewasinmyarmy。"
THEGENERAL:"Hewasinmycorps。"
THECOLONEL:"Hewasinmyregiment。Abrute。Irememberhimwell。"
THECAPTAIN:"Hewasinmycompany。Atroublesomescoundrel。Irememberhimwell。"
THESERGEANT:"DidIknowhim?AswellasIknowyou。
Why,everymorningIusedto"etc。,etc。;aglad,longstory,toldtodevouringears。
THELANDLADY:"Many’sthetimeheboardedwithme。Icanshowyouhisveryroom,andtheverybedhesleptin。Andthecharcoalmarkthereonthewallhemadethat。MylittleJohnnysawhimdoitwithhisowneyes。Didn’tyou,Johnny?"
Itiseasytosee,bythepapers,thatthemagistrateandtheconstablesandthejailertreasureuptheassassin’sdailyremarksanddoingsaspreciousthings,andaswallowingthisweekinseasofblissfuldistinction。Theinterviewer,too;hetriedtoletonthatheisnotvainofhisprivilegeofcontactwiththismanwhomfewothersareallowedtogazeupon,butheishuman,liketherest,andcannomorekeephisvanitycorkedinthancouldyouorI。
SomethinkthatthismurderisafrenziedrevoltagainstthecriminalmilitarismwhichisimpoverishingEuropeanddrivingthestarvingpoormad。Thathasmanycrimestoanswerfor,butnotthisone,Ithink。Onemaynotattributetothismanagenerousindignationagainstthewrongsdonethepoor;onemaynotdignifyhimwithagenerousimpulseofanykind。Whenhesawhisphotographandsaid,"Ishallbecelebrated,"helaidbaretheimpulsethatpromptedhim。Itwasamerehungerfornotoriety。
ThereisanotherconfessedcaseofthekindwhichisasoldashistorytheburningofthetempleofEphesus。
Amongtheinadequateattemptstoaccountfortheassassinationwemustconcedehighranktothemanywhichhavedescribeditasa"peculiarlybrutalcrime"andthenaddedthatitwas"ordainedfromabove。"Ithinkthisverdictwillnotbepopular"above。"Ifthedeedwasordainedfromabove,thereisnorationalwayofmakingthisprisonerevenpartiallyresponsibleforit,andtheGenevancourtcannotcondemnhimwithoutmanifestlycommittingacrime。Logicislogic,andbydisregardingitslawseventhemostpiousandshowytheologianmaybebeguiledintopreferringchargeswhichshouldnotbeventureduponexceptintheshelterofplentyoflightningrods。
Iwitnessedthefuneralprocession,incompanywithfriends,fromthewindowsoftheKrantz,Vienna’ssumptuousnewhotel。Wecameintotowninthemiddleoftheforenoon,andIwentonfootfromthestation。Blackflagshungdownfromallthehouses;theaspectswereSundaylike;thecrowdsonthesidewalkswerequietandmovedslowly;veryfewpeopleweresmoking;manyladiesworedeepmourning,gentlemenwereinblackasarule;carriageswerespeedinginalldirections,withfootmenandcoachmeninblackclothesandwearingblackcockedhats;theshopswereclosed;inmanywindowswerepicturesoftheEmpress:asabeautifulyoungbrideofseventeen;asasereneandmajesticladywithaddedyears;andfinallyindeepblackandwithoutornamentsthecostumeshealwaysworeafterthetragicdeathofhersonnineyearsago,forherheartbrokethen,andlifelostalmostallitsvalueforher。Thepeoplestoodgroupedbeforethesepictures,andnowandthenonesawwomenandgirlsturnawaywipingthetearsfromtheireyes。
InfrontoftheKrantzisanopensquare;overthewaywasthechurchwherethefuneralserviceswouldbeheld。Itissmallandoldandseverelyplain,plasteredoutsideandwhitewashedorpainted,andwithnoornamentbutastatueofamonkinanicheoverthedoor,andabovethatasmallblackflag。ButinitscryptlieseveralofthegreatdeadoftheHouseofHabsburg,amongthemMariaTheresaandNapoleon’sson,theDukeofReichstadt。
HereaboutswasaRomancamp,once,andinittheEmperorMarcusAureliusdiedathousandyearsbeforethefirstHabsburgruledinVienna,whichwassixhundredyearsagoandmore。
Thelittlechurchispackedinamonggreatmodernstoresandhouses,andthewindowsofthemwerefullofpeople。Behindthevastplateglasswindowsoftheupperfloorsofthehouseonthecorneroneglimpsedterracedmassesoffineclothedmenandwomen,dimandshimmery,likepeopleunderwater。Underusthesquarewasnoiseless,butitwasfullofcitizens;officialsinfineuniformswereflittingaboutonerrands,andinadoorstepsatafigureintheuttermostraggednessofpoverty,thefeetbare,theheadbenthumblydown;ayouthofeighteenortwenty,hewas,andthroughthefieldglassonecouldseethathewastearingapartandmunchingriffraffthathehadgatheredsomewhere。Blazinguniformsflashedbyhim,makingasparklingcontrastwithhisdroopingruinofmoldyrags,buthetooknotnotice;hewasnottheretogrieveforanation’sdisaster;hehadhisowncares,anddeeper。Fromtwodirectionstwolongfilesofinfantrycameplowingthroughthepackandpressinsilence;therewasalow,crisporderandthecrowdvanished,thesquaresavethesidewalkswasempty,theprivatemournerwasgone。Anotherorder,thesoldiersfellapartandenclosedthesquareinadoublerankedhumanfence。Itwasallsoswift,noiseless,exactlikeabeautifullyorderedmachine。
Itwasnoon,now。Twohoursofstillnessandwaitingfollowed。Thencarriagesbegantoflowpastanddeliverthetwoandthreehundredcourtpersonagesandhighnobilitiesprivilegedtoenterthechurch。Thenthesquarefilledup;notwithcivilians,butwitharmyandnavyofficersinshowyandbeautifuluniforms。Theyfilleditcompactly,leavingonlyanarrowcarriagepathinfrontofthechurch,buttherewasnocivilianamongthem。Anditwasbetterso;dullclotheswouldhavemarredtheradiantspectacle。Inthejaminfrontofthechurch,onitssteps,andonthesidewalkwasabunchofuniformswhichmadeablazingsplotchofcolorintensered,gold,andwhitewhichdimmedthebrillianciesaroundthem;andoppositethemontheothersideofthepathwasabunchofcascadedbrightgreenplumesabovepaleblueshoulderswhichmadeanothersplotchofsplendoremphaticandconspicuousinitsglowingsurroundings。
Itwasaseaofflashingcolorallabout,butthesetwogroupswerethehighnotes。ThegreenplumeswerewornbyfortyorfiftyAustriangenerals,thegroupoppositethemwerechieflyKnightsofMaltaandknightsofaGermanorder。Themassofheadsinthesquarewerecoveredbygilthelmetsandbymilitarycapsroofedwithamirrorlikegaze,andthemovementsofthewearerscausedthesethingstocatchthesunrays,andtheeffectwasfinetoseethesquarewaslikeagardenofrichlycoloredflowerswithamultitudeofblindingandflashinglittlesunsdistributedoverit。
ThinkofititwasbycommandofthatItalianloaferyonderonhisimperialthroneintheGenevaprisonthatthissplendidmultitudewasassembledthere;andthekingsandemperorsthatwereenteringthechurchfromasidestreetweretherebyhiswill。
Itissostrange,sounrealizable。
Atthreeo’clockthecarriageswerestillstreamingbyinsinglefile。Atthreefiveacardinalarriveswithhisattendants;latersomebishops;thenanumberofarchdeaconsallinstrikingcolorsthataddtotheshow。Atthreetenaprocessionofpriestspassedalong,withcrucifix。Anotherone,presently;afteraninterval,twomore;atthreefiftyanotheroneverylong,withmanycrosses,goldembroideredrobes,andmuchwhitelace;alsogreatpicturedbanners,atintervals,recedingintothedistance。
Ahumoftollingbellsmakesitselfheard,butnotsharply。
Atthreefiftyeightawaitinginterval。Presentlyalongprocessionofgentlemenineveningdresscomesinsightandapproachesuntilitisneartothesquare,thenfallsbackagainstthewallofsoldiersatthesidewalk,andthewhiteshirtfrontsshowlikesnowflakesandareveryconspicuouswheresomuchwarmcolorisallabout。
Awaitingpause。Atfourtwelvetheheadofthefuneralprocessioncomesintoviewatlast。First,abodyofcavalry,fourabreast,towidenthepath。Next,agreatbodyoflancers,inblue,withgilthelmets。Next,threesixhorsemourning
coaches;outridersandcoachmeninblack,withcockedhatsandwhitewigs。Next,troopsinsplendiduniforms,red,gold,andwhite,exceedinglyshowy。
Nowthemultitudeuncover。Thesoldierspresentarms;thereisalowrumbleofdrums;thesumptuousgreathearseapproaches,drawnatawalkbyeightblackhorsesplumedwithblackbunchesofnoddingostrichfeathers;thecoffinisborneintothechurch,thedoorsareclosed。
Themultitudecovertheirheads,andtherestoftheprocessionmovesby;firsttheHungarianGuardintheirindescribablybrilliantandpicturesqueandbeautifuluniform,inheritedfromtheagesofbarbaricsplendor,andafterthemothermountedforces,alongandshowyarray。
Thentheshiningcrowninthesquarecrumbledapart,awreckedrainbow,andmeltedawayinradiantstreams,andintheturnofawristthethreedirtiestandraggedestandcheerfulestlittleslumgirlsinAustriawerecaperingaboutinthespaciousvacancy。Itwasadayofcontrasts。
TwicetheEmpressenteredViennainstate。Thefirsttimewasin1854,whenshewasabrideofseventeen,andthensherodeinmeasurelesspompandwithblareofmusicthroughaflutteringworldofgayflagsanddecorations,downstreetswalledonbothhandswithapressofshoutingandwelcomingsubjects;andthesecondtimewaslastWednesday,whensheenteredthecityinhercoffinandmoveddownthesamestreetsinthedeadofthenightunderswayingblackflags,betweenpackedhumanwallsagain;buteverywherewasadeepstillness,nowastillnessemphasized,ratherthanbroken,bythemuffledhoofbeatsofthelongcavalcadeoverpavementscushionedwithsand,andthelowsobbingofgrayheadedwomenwhohadwitnessedthefirstentryfortyfouryearsbefore,whensheandtheywereyoungandunaware!
AcharacterinBaronvonBerger’srecentfairydrama"Habsburg"tellsaboutthefirstcomingofthegirlishEmpress
Queen,andinhishistorydrawsafinepicture:Icannotmakeaclosetranslationofit,butwilltrytoconveythespiritoftheverses:
Isawthestatelypageantpass:
InherhighplaceIsawtheEmpressQueen:
IcouldnottakemyeyesawayFromthatfairvision,spiritlikeandpure,Thatroseserene,sublime,andfiguredtomysenseAnobleAlpfarlightedintheblue,ThatinthefloodofmorningrendsitsveilofcloudAndstandsadreamofglorytothegazeOfthemthatintheValleytoilandplod。
ENGLISHASSHEISTAUGHT
IntheappendixtoCroker’sBoswell’sJohnsononefindsthisanecdote:
CATO’SSOLILOQUY。OnedayMrs。Gastrelsetalittlegirltorepeattohim[Dr。SamuelJohnson]Cato’sSoliloquy,whichshewentthroughverycorrectly。TheDoctor,afterapause,askedthechild:
"WhatwastobringCatotoanend?"
Shesaiditwasaknife。
第8章