HenceRaphael,MichaelAngelo,JeanGoujon,Palestrina,thosesplendorsofthedazzlingsixteenthcentury。
Thoughtemancipatesitselfinalldirectionsatthesametimeasthearts。Thearch-hereticsoftheMiddleAgeshadalreadymadelargeincisionsintoCatholicism。Thesixteenthcenturybreaksreligiousunity。Beforetheinventionofprinting,reformwouldhavebeenmerelyaschism;printingconverteditintoarevolution。Takeawaythepress;heresyisenervated。
WhetheritbeProvidenceorFate,GutenburgistheprecursorofLuther。
Nevertheless,whenthesunoftheMiddleAgesiscompletelyset,whentheGothicgeniusisforeverextinctuponthehorizon,architecturegrowsdim,losesitscolor,becomesmoreandmoreeffaced。Theprintedbook,thegnawingwormoftheedifice,sucksanddevoursit。Itbecomesbare,denudedofitsfoliage,andgrowsvisiblyemaciated。Itispetty,itispoor,itisnothing。Itnolongerexpressesanything,noteventhememoryoftheartofanothertime。Reducedtoitself,abandonedbytheotherarts,becausehumanthoughtisabandoningit,itsummonsbunglersinplaceofartists。Glassreplacesthepaintedwindows。Thestone-cuttersucceedsthesculptor。
Farewellallsap,alloriginality,alllife,allintelligence。
Itdragsalong,alamentableworkshopmendicant,fromcopytocopy。MichaelAngelo,who,nodoubt,felteveninthesixteenthcenturythatitwasdying,hadalastidea,anideaofdespair。ThatTitanofartpiledthePantheonontheParthenon,andmadeSaint-Peter’satRome。Agreatwork,whichdeservedtoremainunique,thelastoriginalityofarchitecture,thesignatureofagiantartistatthebottomofthecolossalregisterofstonewhichwasclosedforever。WithMichaelAngelodead,whatdoesthismiserablearchitecture,whichsurviveditselfinthestateofaspectre,do?IttakesSaint-PeterinRome,copiesitandparodiesit。Itisamania。
Itisapity。EachcenturyhasitsSaint-Peter’sofRome;intheseventeenthcentury,theVal-de-Grace;intheeighteenth,Sainte-Geneviève。EachcountryhasitsSaint-Peter’sofRome。Londonhasone;Petersburghasanother;Parishastwoorthree。Theinsignificanttestament,thelastdotageofadecrepitgrandartfallingbackintoinfancybeforeitdies。
If,inplaceofthecharacteristicmonumentswhichwehavejustdescribed,weexaminethegeneralaspectofartfromthesixteenthtotheeighteenthcentury,wenoticethesamephenomenaofdecayandphthisis。BeginningwithFran?oisII。,thearchitecturalformoftheedificeeffacesitselfmoreandmore,andallowsthegeometricalform,likethebonystructureofanemaciatedinvalid,tobecomeprominent。Thefinelinesofartgivewaytothecoldandinexorablelinesofgeometry。Anedificeisnolongeranedifice;itisapolyhedron。Meanwhile,architectureistormentedinherstrugglestoconcealthisnudity。LookattheGreekpedimentinscribedupontheRomanpediment,andviceversa。ItisstillthePantheonontheParthenon:Saint-Peter’sofRome。HerearethebrickhousesofHenriIV。,withtheirstonecorners;
thePlaceRoyale,thePlaceDauphine。HerearethechurchesofLouisXIII。,heavy,squat,thickset,crowdedtogether,loadedwithadomelikeahump。HereistheMazarinarchitecture,thewretchedItalianpasticciooftheFourNations。
HerearethepalacesofLouisXIV。,longbarracksforcourtiers,stiff,cold,tiresome。Here,finally,isLouisXV。,withchiccoryleavesandvermicelli,andallthewarts,andallthefungi,whichdisfigurethatdecrepit,toothless,andcoquettisholdarchitecture。FromFran?oisII。toLouisXV。,theevilhasincreasedingeometricalprogression。Arthasnolongeranythingbutskinuponitsbones。Itismiserablyperishing。
Meanwhilewhatbecomesofprinting?Allthelifewhichisleavingarchitecturecomestoit。Inproportionasarchitectureebbs,printingswellsandgrows。Thatcapitalofforceswhichhumanthoughthadbeenexpendinginedifices,ithenceforthexpendsinbooks。Thus,fromthesixteenthcenturyonward,thepress,raisedtothelevelofdecayingarchitecture,contendswithitandkillsit。Intheseventeenthcenturyitisalreadysufficientlythesovereign,sufficientlytriumphant,sufficientlyestablishedinitsvictory,togivetotheworldthefeastofagreatliterarycentury。Intheeighteenth,havingreposedforalongtimeattheCourtofLouisXIV。,itseizesagaintheoldswordofLuther,putsitintothehandofVoltaire,andrushesimpetuouslytotheattackofthatancientEurope,whosearchitecturalexpressionithasalreadykilled。Atthemomentwhentheeighteenthcenturycomestoanend,ithasdestroyedeverything。
Inthenineteenth,itbeginstoreconstruct。
Now,weask,whichofthethreeartshasreallyrepresentedhumanthoughtforthelastthreecenturies?whichtranslatesit?whichexpressesnotonlyitsliteraryandscholasticvagaries,butitsvast,profound,universalmovement?whichconstantlysuperposesitself,withoutabreak,withoutagap,uponthehumanrace,whichwalksamonsterwithathousandlegs?——Architectureorprinting?
Itisprinting。Letthereadermakenomistake;architectureisdead;irretrievablyslainbytheprintedbook,——slainbecauseitenduresforashortertime,——slainbecauseitcostsmore。Everycathedralrepresentsmillions。Letthereadernowimaginewhataninvestmentoffundsitwouldrequiretorewritethearchitecturalbook;tocausethousandsofedificestoswarmoncemoreuponthesoil;toreturntothoseepochswhenthethrongofmonumentswassuch,accordingtothestatementofaneyewitness,"thatonewouldhavesaidthattheworldinshakingitself,hadcastoffitsoldgarmentsinordertocoveritselfwithawhitevestureofchurches。"~Eratenimutsimundus,ipseexcutiendosemet,rejectavetustate,candidaecclesiarumvestemindueret~。GLABERRADOLPHUS。
Abookissosoonmade,costssolittle,andcangosofar!
Howcanitsurpriseusthatallhumanthoughtflowsinthischannel?Thisdoesnotmeanthatarchitecturewillnotstillhaveafinemonument,anisolatedmasterpiece,hereandthere。Wemaystillhavefromtimetotime,underthereignofprinting,acolumnmadeIsuppose,byawholearmyfrommeltedcannon,aswehadunderthereignofarchitecture,IliadsandRomanceros,Mahabahrata,andNibelungenLieds,madebyawholepeople,withrhapsodiespiledupandmeltedtogether。Thegreataccidentofanarchitectofgeniusmayhappeninthetwentiethcentury,likethatofDanteinthethirteenth。Butarchitecturewillnolongerbethesocialart,thecollectiveart,thedominatingart。Thegrandpoem,thegrandedifice,thegrandworkofhumanitywillnolongerbebuilt:itwillbeprinted。
Andhenceforth,ifarchitectureshouldariseagainaccidentally,itwillnolongerbemistress。Itwillbesubservienttothelawofliterature,whichformerlyreceivedthelawfromit。Therespectivepositionsofthetwoartswillbeinverted。Itiscertainthatinarchitecturalepochs,thepoems,rareitistrue,resemblethemonuments。InIndia,Vyasaisbranching,strange,impenetrableasapagoda。InEgyptianOrient,poetryhasliketheedifices,grandeurandtranquillityofline;inantiqueGreece,beauty,serenity,calm;inChristianEurope,theCatholicmajesty,thepopularnaivete,therichandluxuriantvegetationofanepochofrenewal。
TheBibleresemblesthePyramids;theIliad,theParthenon;
Homer,Phidias。DanteinthethirteenthcenturyisthelastRomanesquechurch;Shakespeareinthesixteenth,thelastGothiccathedral。
Thus,tosumupwhatwehavehithertosaid,inafashionwhichisnecessarilyincompleteandmutilated,thehumanracehastwobooks,tworegisters,twotestaments:masonryandprinting;theBibleofstoneandtheBibleofpaper。Nodoubt,whenonecontemplatesthesetwoBibles,laidsobroadlyopeninthecenturies,itispermissibletoregretthevisiblemajestyofthewritingofgranite,thosegiganticalphabetsformulatedincolonnades,inpylons,inobelisks,thosesortsofhumanmountainswhichcovertheworldandthepast,fromthepyramidtothebelltower,fromCheopstoStrasburg。
Thepastmustberereaduponthesepagesofmarble。Thisbook,writtenbyarchitecture,mustbeadmiredandperusedincessantly;butthegrandeuroftheedificewhichprintingerectsinitsturnmustnotbedenied。
Thatedificeiscolossal。Somecompilerofstatisticshascalculated,thatifallthevolumeswhichhaveissuedfromthepresssinceGutenberg’sdayweretobepiledoneuponanother,theywouldfillthespacebetweentheearthandthemoon;
butitisnotthatsortofgrandeurofwhichwewishedtospeak。Nevertheless,whenonetriestocollectinone’smindacomprehensiveimageofthetotalproductsofprintingdowntoourowndays,doesnotthattotalappeartouslikeanimmenseconstruction,restingupontheentireworld,atwhichhumanitytoilswithoutrelaxation,andwhosemonstrouscrestislostintheprofoundmistsofthefuture?Itistheanthillofintelligence。Itisthehivewhithercomeallimaginations,thosegoldenbees,withtheirhoney。
Theedificehasathousandstories。Hereandthereonebeholdsonitsstaircasesthegloomycavernsofsciencewhichpierceitsinterior。Everywhereuponitssurface,artcausesitsarabesques,rosettes,andlacestothriveluxuriantlybeforetheeyes。There,everyindividualwork,howevercapriciousandisolateditmayseem,hasitsplaceanditsprojection。
Harmonyresultsfromthewhole。FromthecathedralofShakespearetothemosqueofByron,athousandtinybelltowersarepiledpell-mellabovethismetropolisofuniversalthought。Atitsbasearewrittensomeancienttitlesofhumanitywhicharchitecturehadnotregistered。Totheleftoftheentrancehasbeenfixedtheancientbas-relief,inwhitemarble,ofHomer;totheright,thepolyglotBiblerearsitssevenheads。ThehydraoftheRomanceroandsomeotherhybridforms,theVedasandtheNibelungenbristlefurtheron。
Nevertheless,theprodigiousedificestillremainsincomplete。
Thepress,thatgiantmachine,whichincessantlypumpsalltheintellectualsapofsociety,belchesforthwithoutpausefreshmaterialsforitswork。Thewholehumanraceisonthescaffoldings。Eachmindisamason。Thehumblestfillshishole,orplaceshisstone。RetifdèleBretonnebringshishodofplaster。Everydayanewcourserises。Independentlyoftheoriginalandindividualcontributionofeachwriter,therearecollectivecontingents。Theeighteenthcenturygivesthe_Encyclopedia_,therevolutiongivesthe_Moniteur_。Assuredly,itisaconstructionwhichincreasesandpilesupinendlessspirals;therealsoareconfusionoftongues,incessantactivity,indefatigablelabor,eagercompetitionofallhumanity,refugepromisedtointelligence,anewFloodagainstanoverflowofbarbarians。ItisthesecondtowerofBabelofthehumanrace。
BOOKSIXTH。
CHAPTERI。
ANIMPARTIALGLANCEATTHEANCIENTMAGISTRACY。
Averyhappypersonageintheyearofgrace1482,wasthenoblegentlemanRobertd’Estouteville,chevalier,SieurdeBeyne,Barond’IvryandSaintAndryenlaMarche,counsellorandchamberlaintotheking,andguardoftheprovostshipofParis。Itwasalreadynearlyseventeenyearssincehehadreceivedfromtheking,onNovember7,1465,thecometyear,*thatfinechargeoftheprovostshipofParis,whichwasreputedratheraseigneurythananoffice。~Dignitas~,saysJoannesLoemnoeus,~quoecumnonexiguapotestatepolitiamconcernente,atqueproerogativismultisetjuribusconjunctaest~。Amarvellousthingin’82wasagentlemanbearingtheking’scommission,andwhoselettersofinstitutionranbacktotheepochofthemarriageofthenaturaldaughterofLouisXI。withMonsieurtheBastardofBourbon。
*ThiscometagainstwhichPopeCalixtus,uncleofBorgia,orderedpublicprayers,isthesamewhichreappearedin1835。
ThesamedayonwhichRobertd’EstoutevilletooktheplaceofJacquesdeVilliersintheprovostshipofParis,MasterJehanDauvetreplacedMessireHelyedeThorrettesinthefirstpresidencyoftheCourtofParliament,JehanJouveneldesUrsinssupplantedPierredeMorvilliersintheofficeofchancellorofFrance,RegnaultdesDormansoustedPierrePuyfromthechargeofmasterofrequestsinordinaryoftheking’shousehold。Now,uponhowmanyheadshadthepresidency,thechancellorship,themastershippassedsinceRobertd’EstoutevillehadheldtheprovostshipofParis。Ithadbeen"grantedtohimforsafekeeping,"astheletterspatentsaid;
andcertainlyhekeptitwell。Hehadclungtoit,hehadincorporatedhimselfwithit,hehadsoidentifiedhimselfwithitthathehadescapedthatfuryforchangewhichpossessedLouisXI。,atormentingandindustriousking,whosepolicyitwastomaintaintheelasticityofhispowerbyfrequentappointmentsandrevocations。Morethanthis;thebravechevalierhadobtainedthereversionoftheofficeforhisson,andfortwoyearsalready,thenameofthenoblemanJacquesd’Estouteville,equerry,hadfiguredbesidehisattheheadoftheregisterofthesalarylistoftheprovostshipofParis。Arareandnotablefavorindeed!ItistruethatRobertd’Estoutevillewasagoodsoldier,thathehadloyallyraisedhispennonagainst"theleagueofpublicgood,"andthathehadpresentedtothequeenaverymarvellousstaginconfectioneryonthedayofherentrancetoParisin14……
Moreover,hepossessedthegoodfriendshipofMessireTristanl’Hermite,provostofthemarshalsoftheking’shousehold。
HenceaverysweetandpleasantexistencewasthatofMessireRobert。Inthefirstplace,verygoodwages,towhichwereattached,andfromwhichhung,likeextrabunchesofgrapesonhisvine,therevenuesofthecivilandcriminalregistriesoftheprovostship,plusthecivilandcriminalrevenuesofthetribunalsofEmbasoftheChatelet,withoutreckoningsomelittletollfromthebridgesofMantesandofCorbeil,andtheprofitsonthecraftofShagreen-makersofParis,onthecordersoffirewoodandthemeasurersofsalt。
Addtothisthepleasureofdisplayinghimselfinridesaboutthecity,andofmakinghisfinemilitarycostume,whichyoumaystilladmiresculpturedonhistombintheabbeyofValmontinNormandy,andhismorion,allembossedatMontlhéry,standoutacontrastagainsttheparti-coloredredandtawnyrobesofthealdermenandpolice。Andthen,wasitnothingtowieldabsolutesupremacyoverthesergeantsofthepolice,theporterandwatchoftheChatelet,thetwoauditorsoftheChatelet,~auditorescastelleti~,thesixteencommissionersofthesixteenquarters,thejaileroftheChatelet,thefourenfeoffedsergeants,thehundredandtwentymountedsergeants,withmaces,thechevalierofthewatchwithhiswatch,hissub-watch,hiscounter-watchandhisrear-watch?
Wasitnothingtoexercisehighandlowjustice,therighttointerrogate,tohangandtodraw,withoutreckoningpettyjurisdictioninthefirstresort~inprimainstantia~,asthecharterssay,onthatviscomtyofParis,sonoblyappanagedwithsevennoblebailiwicks?Cananythingsweeterbeimaginedthanrenderingjudgmentsanddecisions,asMessireRobertd’EstoutevilledailydidintheGrandChatelet,underthelargeandflattenedarchesofPhilipAugustus?andgoing,ashewaswonttodoeveryevening,tothatcharminghousesituatedintheRueGalilee,intheenclosureoftheroyalpalace,whichheheldinrightofhiswife,MadameAmbroisedeLore,toreposeafterthefatigueofhavingsentsomepoorwretchtopassthenightin"thatlittlecelloftheRuedeEscorcherie,whichtheprovostsandaldermenofParisusedtomaketheirprison;thesamebeingelevenfeetlong,sevenfeetandfourincheswide,andelevenfeethigh?"*
*Comptesdudomaine,1383。
AndnotonlyhadMessireRobertd’EstoutevillehisspecialcourtasprovostandvicomteofParis;butinadditionhehadashare,bothforeyeandtooth,inthegrandcourtoftheking。Therewasnoheadintheleastelevatedwhichhadnotpassedthroughhishandsbeforeitcametotheheadsman。ItwashewhowenttoseekM。deNemoursattheBastilleSaintAntoine,inordertoconducthimtotheHalles;andtoconducttotheGrèveM。deSaint-Pol,whoclamoredandresisted,tothegreatjoyoftheprovost,whodidnotlovemonsieurtheconstable。
Here,assuredly,ismorethansufficienttorenderalifehappyandillustrious,andtodeservesomedayanotablepageinthatinterestinghistoryoftheprovostsofParis,whereonelearnsthatOudarddeVilleneuvehadahouseintheRuedesBoucheries,thatGuillaumedeHangestpurchasedthegreatandthelittleSavoy,thatGuillaumeThiboustgavethenunsofSainte-GenevièvehishousesintheRueClopin,thatHuguesAubriotlivedintheH?telduPore-Epic,andotherdomesticfacts。
Nevertheless,withsomanyreasonsfortakinglifepatientlyandjoyously,MessireRobertd’EstoutevillewokeuponthemorningoftheseventhofJanuary,1482,inaverysurlyandpeevishmood。Whencecamethisilltemper?Hecouldnothavetoldhimself。Wasitbecausetheskywasgray?orwasthebuckleofhisoldbeltofMontlhérybadlyfastened,sothatitconfinedhisprovostalportlinesstooclosely?hadhebeheldribaldfellows,marchinginbandsoffour,beneathhiswindow,andsettinghimatdefiance,indoubletsbutnoshirts,hatswithoutcrowns,withwalletandbottleattheirside?
Wasitavaguepresentimentofthethreehundredandseventylivres,sixteensous,eightfarthings,whichthefutureKingCharlesVII。wastocutofffromtheprovostshipinthefollowingyear?Thereadercantakehischoice;we,forourpart,aremuchinclinedtobelievethathewasinabadhumor,simplybecausehewasinabadhumor。
Moreover,itwasthedayafterafestival,atiresomedayforeveryone,andaboveallforthemagistratewhoischargedwithsweepingawayallthefilth,properlyandfigurativelyspeaking,whichafestivaldayproducesinParis。AndthenhehadtoholdasittingattheGrandChatelet。Now,wehavenoticedthatjudgesingeneralsoarrangemattersthattheirdayofaudienceshallalsobetheirdayofbadhumor,sothattheymayalwayshavesomeoneuponwhomtoventitconveniently,inthenameoftheking,law,andjustice。
However,theaudiencehadbegunwithouthim。Hislieutenants,civil,criminal,andprivate,weredoinghiswork,accordingtousage;andfromeighto’clockinthemorning,somescoresofbourgeoisand~bourgeoises~,heapedandcrowdedintoanobscurecorneroftheaudiencechamberofEmbasduChatelet,betweenastoutoakenbarrierandthewall,hadbeengazingblissfullyatthevariedandcheerfulspectacleofcivilandcriminaljusticedispensedbyMasterFlorianBarbedienne,auditoroftheChatelet,lieutenantofmonsieurtheprovost,inasomewhatconfusedandutterlyhaphazardmanner。
Thehallwassmall,low,vaulted。Atablestuddedwithfleurs-de-lisstoodatoneend,withalargearm-chairofcarvedoak,whichbelongedtotheprovostandwasempty,andastoolontheleftfortheauditor,MasterFlorian。Belowsattheclerkofthecourt,scribbling;oppositewasthepopulace;andinfrontofthedoor,andinfrontofthetableweremanysergeantsoftheprovostshipinsleevelessjacketsofvioletcamlet,withwhitecrosses。TwosergeantsoftheParloir-
aux-Bourgeois,clothedintheirjacketsofToussaint,halfred,halfblue,werepostedassentinelsbeforealow,closeddoor,whichwasvisibleattheextremityofthehall,behindthetable。Asinglepointedwindow,narrowlyencasedinthethickwall,illuminatedwithapalerayofJanuarysuntwogrotesquefigures,——thecapriciousdemonofstonecarvedasatail-pieceinthekeystoneofthevaultedceiling,andthejudgeseatedattheendofthehallonthefleurs-de-lis。
Imagine,infact,attheprovost’stable,leaninguponhiselbowsbetweentwobundlesofdocumentsofcases,withhisfootonthetrainofhisrobeofplainbrowncloth,hisfaceburiedinhishoodofwhitelamb’sskin,ofwhichhisbrowsseemedtobeofapiece,red,crabbed,winking,bearingmajesticallytheloadoffatonhischeekswhichmetunderhischin,MasterFlorianBarbedienne,auditoroftheChatelet。
Now,theauditorwasdeaf。Aslightdefectinanauditor。
MasterFloriandeliveredjudgment,nonetheless,withoutappealandverysuitably。Itiscertainlyquitesufficientforajudgetohavethe。airoflistening;andthevenerableauditorfulfilledthiscondition,thesoleoneinjustice,allthebetterbecausehisattentioncouldnotbedistractedbyanynoise。
Moreover,hehadintheaudience,apitilesscensorofhisdeedsandgestures,inthepersonofourfriendJehanFrolloduMoulin,thatlittlestudentofyesterday,that"stroller,"
whomonewassureofencounteringalloverParis,anywhereexceptbeforetherostrumsoftheprofessors。
"Stay,"hesaidinalowtonetohiscompanion,RobinPoussepain,whowasgrinningathisside,whilehewasmakinghiscommentsonthesceneswhichwerebeingunfoldedbeforehiseyes,"yonderisJehannetonduBuisson。ThebeautifuldaughterofthelazydogattheMarché-Neuf!——Uponmysoul,heiscondemningher,theoldrascal!hehasnomoreeyesthanears。Fifteensous,fourfarthings,parisian,forhavingworntworosaries!’Tissomewhatdear。~Lexduricarminis~。Who’sthat?RobinChief-de-Ville,hauberkmaker。Forhavingbeenpassedandreceivedmasterofthesaidtrade!That’shisentrancemoney。He!twogentlemenamongtheseknaves!AigletdeSoins,HutindeMaillyTwoequerries,~CorpusChristi~!Ah!theyhavebeenplayingatdice。WhenshallIseeourrectorhere?Ahundredlivresparisian,finetotheking!ThatBarbediennestrikeslikeadeafman,——asheis!I’llbemybrotherthearchdeacon,ifthatkeepsmefromgaming;gamingbyday,gamingbynight,livingatplay,dyingatplay,andgamingawaymysoulaftermyshirt。HolyVirgin,whatdamsels!Oneaftertheothermylambs。AmbroiseLécuyere,IsabeaulaPaynette,BérardeGironin!Iknowthemall,byHeavens!Afine!afine!
That’swhatwillteachyoutoweargildedgirdles!tensousparisis!youcoquettes!Oh!theoldsnoutofajudge!deafandimbecile!Oh!Florianthedolt!Oh!Barbediennetheblockhead!Thereheisatthetable!He’seatingtheplaintiff,he’seatingthesuits,heeats,hechews,hecrams,hefillshimself。Fines,lostgoods,taxes,expenses,loyalcharges,salaries,damages,andinterests,gehenna,prison,andjail,andfetterswithexpensesareChristmasspicecakeandmarchpanesofSaint-Johntohim!Lookathim,thepig!——Come!
Good!Anotheramorouswoman!Thibaud-la-Thibaude,neithermorenorless!ForhavingcomefromtheRueGlatigny!Whatfellowisthis?GieffroyMabonne,gendarmebearingthecrossbow。HehascursedthenameoftheFather。AfineforlaThibaude!AfineforGieffroy!A
fineforthemboth!Thedeafoldfool!hemusthavemixedupthetwocases!Tentoonethathemakesthewenchpayfortheoathandthegendarmefortheamour!Attention,RobinPoussepain!Whataretheygoingtobringin?Herearemanysergeants!ByJupiter!allthebloodhoundsofthepackarethere。Itmustbethegreatbeastofthehunt——awildboar。And’tisone,Robin,’tisone。Andafineonetoo!
~Hercle~!’tisourprinceofyesterday,ourPopeoftheFools,ourbellringer,ourone-eyedman,ourhunchback,ourgrimace!
’TisQuasimodo!"
Itwasheindeed。
ItwasQuasimodo,bound,encircled,roped,pinioned,andundergoodguard。Thesquadofpolicemenwhosurroundedhimwasassistedbythechevalierofthewatchinperson,wearingthearmsofFranceembroideredonhisbreast,andthearmsofthecityonhisback。Therewasnothing,however,aboutQuasimodo,excepthisdeformity,whichcouldjustifythedisplayofhalberdsandarquebuses;hewasgloomy,silent,andtranquil。Onlynowandthendidhissingleeyecastaslyandwrathfulglanceuponthebondswithwhichhewasloaded。
Hecastthesameglanceabouthim,butitwassodullandsleepythatthewomenonlypointedhimouttoeachotherinderision。
MeanwhileMasterFlorian,theauditor,turnedoverattentivelythedocumentinthecomplaintenteredagainstQuasimodo,whichtheclerkhandedhim,and,havingthusglancedatit,appearedtoreflectforamoment。Thankstothisprecaution,whichhealwayswascarefultotakeatthemomentwhenonthepointofbeginninganexamination,heknewbeforehandthenames,titles,andmisdeedsoftheaccused,madecutanddriedresponsestoquestionsforeseen,andsucceededinextricatinghimselffromallthewindingsoftheinterrogationwithoutallowinghisdeafnesstobetooapparent。Thewrittenchargesweretohimwhatthedogistotheblindman。Ifhisdeafnessdidhappentobetrayhimhereandthere,bysomeincoherentapostropheorsomeunintelligiblequestion,itpassedforprofunditywithsome,andforimbecilitywithothers。Inneithercasedidthehonorofthemagistracysustainanyinjury;foritisfarbetterthatajudgeshouldbereputedimbecileorprofoundthandeaf。Hencehetookgreatcaretoconcealhisdeafnessfromtheeyesofall,andhegenerallysucceededsowellthathehadreachedthepointofdeludinghimself,whichis,bytheway,easierthanissupposed。Allhunchbackswalkwiththeirheadsheldhigh,allstutterersharangue,alldeafpeoplespeaklow。Asforhim,hebelieved,atthemost,thathisearwasalittlerefractory。Itwasthesoleconcessionwhichhemadeonthispointtopublicopinion,inhismomentsoffranknessandexaminationofhisconscience。
Having,then,thoroughlyruminatedQuasimodo’saffair,hethrewbackhisheadandhalfclosedhiseyes,forthesakeofmoremajestyandimpartiality,sothat,atthatmoment,hewasbothdeafandblind。Adoublecondition,withoutwhichnojudgeisperfect。Itwasinthismagisterialattitudethathebegantheexamination。
"Yourname?"
Nowthiswasacasewhichhadnotbeen"providedforbylaw,"whereadeafmanshouldbeobligedtoquestionadeafman。
Quasimodo,whomnothingwarnedthataquestionhadbeenaddressedtohim,continuedtostareintentlyatthejudge,andmadenoreply。Thejudge,beingdeaf,andbeinginnowaywarnedofthedeafnessoftheaccused,thoughtthatthelatterhadanswered,asallaccuseddoingeneral,andthereforehepursued,withhismechanicalandstupidself-possession,——
"Verywell。Andyourage?"
AgainQuasimodomadenoreplytothisquestion。Thejudgesupposedthatithadbeenrepliedto,andcontinued,——
"Now,yourprofession?"
Stillthesamesilence。Thespectatorshadbegun,meanwhile,towhispertogether,andtoexchangeglances。
"Thatwilldo,"wentontheimperturbableauditor,whenhesupposedthattheaccusedhadfinishedhisthirdreply。"Youareaccusedbeforeus,~primo~,ofnocturnaldisturbance;
~secundo~,ofadishonorableactofviolenceuponthepersonofafoolishwoman,~inproejudiciummeretricis;tertio~,ofrebellionanddisloyaltytowardsthearchersofthepoliceofourlord,theking。Explainyourselfuponallthesepoints——Clerk,haveyouwrittendownwhattheprisonerhassaidthusfar?"
Atthisunluckyquestion,aburstoflaughterrosefromtheclerk’stablecaughtbytheaudience,soviolent,sowild,socontagious,souniversal,thatthetwodeafmenwereforcedtoperceiveit。Quasimodoturnedround,shrugginghishumpwithdisdain,whileMasterFlorian,equallyastonished,andsupposingthatthelaughterofthespectatorshadbeenprovokedbysomeirreverentreplyfromtheaccused,renderedvisibletohimbythatshrugoftheshoulders,apostrophizedhimindignantly,——
"Youhaveutteredareply,knave,whichdeservesthehalter。
Doyouknowtowhomyouarespeaking?"
Thissallywasnotfittedtoarresttheexplosionofgeneralmerriment。Itstruckallassowhimsical,andsoridiculous,thatthewildlaughterevenattackedthesergeantsoftheParloi-
aux-Bourgeois,asortofpikemen,whosestupiditywaspartoftheiruniform。Quasimodoalonepreservedhisseriousness,forthegoodreasonthatheunderstoodnothingofwhatwasgoingonaroundhim。Thejudge,moreandmoreirritated,thoughtithisdutytocontinueinthesametone,hopingtherebytostriketheaccusedwithaterrorwhichshouldreactupontheaudience,andbringitbacktorespect。
"Sothisisasmuchastosay,perverseandthievingknavethatyouare,thatyoupermityourselftobelackinginrespecttowardstheAuditoroftheChatelet,tothemagistratecommittedtothepopularpoliceofParis,chargedwithsearchingoutcrimes,delinquencies,andevilconduct;withcontrollingalltrades,andinterdictingmonopoly;withmaintainingthepavements;withdebarringthehuckstersofchickens,poultry,andwater-fowl;ofsuperintendingthemeasuringoffagotsandothersortsofwood;ofpurgingthecityofmud,andtheairofcontagiousmaladies;inaword,withattendingcontinuallytopublicaffairs,withoutwagesorhopeofsalary!DoyouknowthatIamcalledFlorianBarbedienne,actuallieutenanttomonsieurtheprovost,and,moreover,commissioner,inquisitor,controller,andexaminer,withequalpowerinprovostship,bailiwick,preservation,andinferiorcourtofjudicature?——"
Thereisnoreasonwhyadeafmantalkingtoadeafmanshouldstop。GodknowswhereandwhenMasterFlorianwouldhavelanded,whenthuslaunchedatfullspeedinloftyeloquence,ifthelowdoorattheextremeendoftheroomhadnotsuddenlyopened,andgivenentrancetotheprovostinperson。AthisentranceMasterFloriandidnotstopshort,but,makingahalf-turnonhisheels,andaimingattheprovosttheharanguewithwhichhehadbeenwitheringQuasimodoamomentbefore,——
"Monseigneur,"saidhe,"Idemandsuchpenaltyasyoushalldeemfittingagainsttheprisonerherepresent,forgraveandaggravatedoffenceagainstthecourt。"
Andheseatedhimself,utterlybreathless,wipingawaythegreatdropsofsweatwhichfellfromhisbrowanddrenched,liketears,theparchmentsspreadoutbeforehim。MessireRobertd’EstoutevillefrownedandmadeagesturesoimperiousandsignificanttoQuasimodo,thatthedeafmaninsomemeasureunderstoodit。
Theprovostaddressedhimwithseverity,"Whathaveyoudonethatyouhavebeenbroughthither,knave?"
Thepoorfellow,supposingthattheprovostwasaskinghisname,brokethesilencewhichhehabituallypreserved,andreplied,inaharshandgutturalvoice,"Quasimodo。"
Thereplymatchedthequestionsolittlethatthewildlaughbegantocirculateoncemore,andMessireRobertexclaimed,redwithwrath,——
"Areyoumockingmealso,youarrantknave?"
"BellringerofNotre-Dame,"repliedQuasimodo,supposingthatwhatwasrequiredofhimwastoexplaintothejudgewhohewas。
"Bellringer!"interpolatedtheprovost,whohadwakedupearlyenoughtobeinasufficientlybadtemper,aswehavesaid,nottorequiretohavehisfuryinflamedbysuchstrangeresponses。"Bellringer!I’llplayyouachimeofrodsonyourbackthroughthesquaresofParis!Doyouhear,knave?"
"Ifitismyagethatyouwishtoknow,"saidQuasimodo,"IthinkthatIshallbetwentyatSaintMartin’sday。"
Thiswastoomuch;theprovostcouldnolongerrestrainhimself。
"Ah!youarescoffingattheprovostship,wretch!Messieursthesergeantsofthemace,youwilltakemethisknavetothepilloryoftheGrève,youwillfloghim,andturnhimforanhour。Heshallpaymeforit,~têteDieu~!AndI
orderthatthepresentjudgmentshallbecried,withtheassistanceoffoursworntrumpeters,inthesevencastellaniesoftheviscomtyofParis。"
Theclerksettoworkincontinentlytodrawuptheaccountofthesentence。
"~VentreDieu~!’tiswelladjudged!"criedthelittlescholar,JehanFrolloduMoulin,fromhiscorner。
TheprovostturnedandfixedhisflashingeyesoncemoreonQuasimodo。"Ibelievetheknavesaid’~VentreDieu~’Clerk,addtwelvedeniersParisianfortheoath,andletthevestryofSaintEustachehavethehalfofit;IhaveaparticulardevotionforSaintEustache。"
Inafewminutesthesentencewasdrawnup。Itstenorwassimpleandbrief。ThecustomsoftheprovostshipandtheviscomtyhadnotyetbeenworkedoverbyPresidentThibautBaillet,andbyRogerBarmne,theking’sadvocate;
theyhadnotbeenobstructed,atthattime,bythatloftyhedgeofquibblesandprocedures,whichthetwojurisconsultsplantedthereatthebeginningofthesixteenthcentury。Allwasclear,expeditious,explicit。Onewentstraighttothepointthen,andattheendofeverypaththerewasimmediatelyvisible,withoutthicketsandwithoutturnings;thewheel,thegibbet,orthepillory。Oneatleastknewwhitheronewasgoing。
Theclerkpresentedthesentencetotheprovost,whoaffixedhissealtoit,anddepartedtopursuehisroundoftheaudiencehall,inaframeofmindwhichseemeddestinedtofillallthejailsinParisthatday。JehanFrolloandRobinPoussepainlaughedintheirsleeves。Quasimodogazedonthewholewithanindifferentandastonishedair。
However,atthemomentwhenMasterFlorianBarbediennewasreadingthesentenceinhisturn,beforesigningit,theclerkfelthimselfmovedwithpityforthepoorwretchofaprisoner,and,inthehopeofobtainingsomemitigationofthepenalty,heapproachedasneartheauditor’searaspossible,andsaid,pointingtoQuasimodo,"Thatmanisdeaf。"
HehopedthatthiscommunityofinfirmitywouldawakenMasterFlorian’sinterestinbehalfofthecondemnedman。
But,inthefirstplace,wehavealreadyobservedthatMasterFloriandidnotcaretohavehisdeafnessnoticed。Inthenextplace,hewassohardofhearingThathedidnotcatchasinglewordofwhattheclerksaidtohim;nevertheless,hewishedtohavetheappearanceofhearing,andreplied,"Ah!
ah!thatisdifferent;Ididnotknowthat。Anhourmoreofthepillory,inthatcase。"
Andhesignedthesentencethusmodified。
"’Tiswelldone,"saidRobinPoussepain,whocherishedagrudgeagainstQuasimodo。"Thatwillteachhimtohandlepeopleroughly。"
THERAT-HOLE。
ThereadermustpermitustotakehimbacktothePlacedeGrève,whichwequittedyesterdaywithGringoire,inordertofollowlaEsmeralda。
Itisteno’clockinthemorning;everythingisindicativeofthedayafterafestival。Thepavementiscoveredwithrubbish;
ribbons,rags,feathersfromtuftsofplumes,dropsofwaxfromthetorches,crumbsofthepublicfeast。Agoodlynumberofbourgeoisare"sauntering,"aswesay,hereandthere,turningoverwiththeirfeettheextinctbrandsofthebonfire,goingintorapturesinfrontofthePillarHouse,overthememoryofthefinehangingsofthedaybefore,andto-daystaringatthenailsthatsecuredthemalastpleasure。
Thevendersofciderandbeerarerollingtheirbarrelsamongthegroups。Somebusypassers-bycomeandgo。Themerchantsconverseandcalltoeachotherfromthethresholdsoftheirshops。Thefestival,theambassadors,Coppenole,thePopeoftheFools,areinallmouths;theyviewitheachother,eachtryingtocriticiseitbestandlaughthemost。
And,meanwhile,fourmountedsergeants,whohavejustpostedthemselvesatthefoursidesofthepillory,havealreadyconcentratedaroundthemselvesagoodlyproportionofthepopulacescatteredonthePlace,whocondemnthemselvestoimmobilityandfatigueinthehopeofasmallexecution。
Ifthereader,afterhavingcontemplatedthislivelyandnoisyscenewhichisbeingenactedinallpartsofthePlace,willnowtransferhisgazetowardsthatancientdemi-Gothic,demi-RomanesquehouseoftheTour-Roland,whichformsthecorneronthequaytothewest,hewillobserve,attheangleofthefa?ade,alargepublicbreviary,withrichilluminations,protectedfromtherainbyalittlepenthouse,andfromthievesbyasmallgrating,which,however,permitsoftheleavesbeingturned。Besidethisbreviaryisanarrow,archedwindow,closedbytwoironbarsintheformofacross,andlookingonthesquare;theonlyopeningwhichadmitsasmallquantityoflightandairtoalittlecellwithoutadoor,constructedontheground-floor,inthethicknessofthewallsoftheoldhouse,andfilledwithapeaceallthemoreprofound,withasilenceallthemoregloomy,becauseapublicplace,themostpopulousandmostnoisyinParisswarmsandshrieksaroundit。
ThislittlecellhadbeencelebratedinParisfornearlythreecenturies,eversinceMadameRolandedelaTour-Roland,inmourningforherfatherwhodiedintheCrusades,hadcausedittobehollowedoutinthewallofherownhouse,inordertoimmureherselfthereforever,keepingofallherpalaceonlythislodgingwhosedoorwaswalledup,andwhosewindowstoodopen,winterandsummer,givingalltheresttothepoorandtoGod。Theafflicteddamselhad,infact,waitedtwentyyearsfordeathinthisprematuretomb,prayingnightanddayforthesoulofherfather,sleepinginashes,withoutevenastoneforapillow,clothedinablacksack,andsubsistingonthebreadandwaterwhichthecompassionofthepassers-byledthemtodepositontheledgeofherwindow,thusreceivingcharityafterhavingbestowedit。Atherdeath,atthemomentwhenshewaspassingtotheothersepulchre,shehadbequeathedthisoneinperpetuitytoafflictedwomen,mothers,widows,ormaidens,whoshouldwishtopraymuchforothersorforthemselves,andwhoshoulddesiretointerthemselvesaliveinagreatgrieforagreatpenance。Thepoorofherdayhadmadeherafinefuneral,withtearsandbenedictions;but,totheirgreatregret,thepiousmaidhadnotbeencanonized,forlackofinfluence。Thoseamongthemwhowerealittleinclinedtoimpiety,hadhopedthatthemattermightbeaccomplishedinParadisemoreeasilythanatRome,andhadfranklybesoughtGod,insteadofthepope,inbehalfofthedeceased。ThemajorityhadcontentedthemselveswithholdingthememoryofRolandesacred,andconvertingherragsintorelics。Thecity,onitsside,hadfoundedinhonorofthedamoiselle,apublicbreviary,whichhadbeenfastenednearthewindowofthecell,inorderthatpassers-bymighthalttherefromtimetotime,wereitonlytopray;thatprayermightremindthemofalms,andthatthepoorrecluses,heiressesofMadameRolande’svault,mightnotdieoutrightofhungerandforgetfulness。
Moreover,thissortoftombwasnotsoveryrareathinginthecitiesoftheMiddleAges。Oneoftenencounteredinthemostfrequentedstreet,inthemostcrowdedandnoisymarket,intheverymiddle,underthefeetofthehorses,underthewheelsofthecarts,asitwere,acellar,awell,atinywalledandgratedcabin,atthebottomofwhichahumanbeingprayednightandday,voluntarilydevotedtosomeeternallamentation,tosomegreatexpiation。Andallthereflectionswhichthatstrangespectaclewouldawakeninusto-day;
thathorriblecell,asortofintermediarylinkbetweenahouseandthetomb,thecemeteryandthecity;thatlivingbeingcutofffromthehumancommunity,andthenceforthreckonedamongthedead;thatlampconsumingitslastdropofoilinthedarkness;thatremnantoflifeflickeringinthegrave;
thatbreath,thatvoice,thateternalprayerinaboxofstone;
thatfaceforeverturnedtowardstheotherworld;thateyealreadyilluminatedwithanothersun;thatearpressedtothewallsofatomb;thatsoulaprisonerinthatbody;thatbodyaprisonerinthatdungeoncell,andbeneaththatdoubleenvelopeoffleshandgranite,themurmurofthatsoulinpain;——nothingofallthiswasperceivedbythecrowd。
Thepietyofthatage,notverysubtlenormuchgiventoreasoning,didnotseesomanyfacetsinanactofreligion。
Ittookthethingintheblock,honored,venerated,hallowedthesacrificeatneed,butdidnotanalyzethesufferings,andfeltbutmoderatepityforthem。Itbroughtsomepittancetothemiserablepenitentfromtimetotime,lookedthroughtheholetoseewhetherhewerestillliving,forgothisname,hardlyknewhowmanyyearsagohehadbeguntodie,andtothestranger,whoquestionedthemaboutthelivingskeletonwhowasperishinginthatcellar,theneighborsrepliedsimply,"Itistherecluse。"
Everythingwasthenviewedwithoutmetaphysics,withoutexaggeration,withoutmagnifyingglass,withthenakedeye。
Themicroscopehadnotyetbeeninvented,eitherforthingsofmatterorforthingsofthemind。
Moreover,althoughpeoplewerebutlittlesurprisedbyit,theexamplesofthissortofcloistrationintheheartsofcitieswereintruthfrequent,aswehavejustsaid。TherewereinParisaconsiderablenumberofthesecells,forprayingtoGodanddoingpenance;theywerenearlyalloccupied。Itistruethattheclergydidnotliketohavethemempty,sincethatimpliedlukewarmnessinbelievers,andthatleperswereputintothemwhentherewerenopenitentsonhand。BesidesthecellontheGrève,therewasoneatMontfau?on,oneattheCharnierdesInnocents,anotherIhardlyknowwhere,——attheClichonHouse,Ithink;othersstillatmanyspotswheretracesofthemarefoundintraditions,indefaultofmemorials。
TheUniversityhadalsoitsown。OnMountSainte-GenevièveasortofJoboftheMiddleAges,forthespaceofthirtyyears,chantedthesevenpenitentialpsalmsonadunghillatthebottomofacistern,beginninganewwhenhehadfinished,singingloudestatnight,~magnavoceperumbras~,andto-day,theantiquaryfanciesthathehearshisvoiceasheenterstheRueduPuits-qui-parle——thestreetofthe"SpeakingWell。"
ToconfineourselvestothecellintheTour-Roland,wemustsaythatithadneverlackedrecluses。AfterthedeathofMadameRoland,ithadstoodvacantforayearortwo,thoughrarely。Manywomenhadcomethithertomourn,untiltheirdeath,forrelatives,lovers,faults。Parisianmalice,whichthrustsitsfingerintoeverything,evenintothingswhichconcernittheleast,affirmedthatithadbeheldbutfewwidowsthere。
Inaccordancewiththefashionoftheepoch,aLatininscriptiononthewallindicatedtothelearnedpasser-bythepiouspurposeofthiscell。Thecustomwasretaineduntilthemiddleofthesixteenthcenturyofexplaininganedificebyabriefdeviceinscribedabovethedoor。Thus,onestillreadsinFrance,abovethewicketoftheprisonintheseignorialmansionofTourville,~Siletoetspera~;inIreland,beneaththearmorialbearingswhichsurmountthegranddoortoFortescueCastle,~Fortescutum,salusducum~;inEngland,overtheprincipalentrancetothehospitablemansionoftheEarlsCowper:~Tuumest~。Atthattimeeveryedificewasathought。
AstherewasnodoortothewalledcelloftheTour-Roland,thesetwowordshadbeencarvedinlargeRomancapitalsoverthewindow,——
TU,ORA。
Andthiscausedthepeople,whosegoodsensedoesnotperceivesomuchrefinementinthings,andlikestotranslate_LudovicoMagno_by"PorteSaint-Denis,"togivetothisdark,gloomy,dampcavity,thenameof"TheRat-Hole。"Anexplanationlesssublime,perhaps,thantheother;but,ontheotherhand,morepicturesque。
CHAPTERIII。
HISTORYOFALEAVENEDCAKEOFMAIZE。
Attheepochofthishistory,thecellintheTour-Rolandwasoccupied。Ifthereaderdesirestoknowbywhom,hehasonlytolendaneartotheconversationofthreeworthygossips,who,atthemomentwhenwehavedirectedhisattentiontotheRat-Hole,weredirectingtheirstepstowardsthesamespot,comingupalongthewater’sedgefromtheChatelet,towardstheGrève。
Twoofthesewomenweredressedlikegood~bourgeoises~ofParis。Theirfinewhiteruffs;theirpetticoatsoflinsey-
woolsey,stripedredandblue;theirwhiteknittedstockings,withclocksembroideredincolors,welldrawnupontheirlegs;thesquare-toedshoesoftawnyleatherwithblacksoles,and,aboveall,theirheadgear,thatsortoftinselhorn,loadeddownwithribbonsandlaces,whichthewomenofChampagnestillwear,incompanywiththegrenadiersoftheimperialguardofRussia,announcedthattheybelongedtothatclasswiveswhichholdsthemiddlegroundbetweenwhatthelackeyscallawomanandwhattheytermalady。Theyworeneitherringsnorgoldcrosses,anditwaseasytoseethat,intheirease,thisdidnotproceedfrompoverty,butsimplyfromfearofbeingfined。Theircompanionwasattiredinverymuchthesamemanner;buttherewasthatindescribablesomethingaboutherdressandbearingwhichsuggestedthewifeofaprovincialnotary。Onecouldsee,bythewayinwhichhergirdleroseaboveherhips,thatshehadnotbeenlonginParis——Addtothisaplaitedtucker,knotsofribbononhershoes——andthatthestripesofherpetticoatranhorizontallyinsteadofvertically,andathousandotherenormitieswhichshockedgoodtaste。
ThetwofirstwalkedwiththatsteppeculiartoParisianladies,showingParistowomenfromthecountry。Theprovincialheldbythehandabigboy,whoheldinhisalarge,flatcake。
Weregrettobeobligedtoadd,that,owingtotherigoroftheseason,hewasusinghistongueasahandkerchief。
Thechildwasmakingthemdraghimalong,~nonpassibusCequis~,asVirgilsays,andstumblingateverymoment,tothegreatindignationofhismother。Itistruethathewaslookingathiscakemorethanatthepavement。Someseriousmotive,nodoubt,preventedhisbitingitthecake,forhecontentedhimselfwithgazingtenderlyatit。Butthemothershouldhaverathertakenchargeofthecake。ItwascrueltomakeaTantalusofthechubby-checkedboy。
Meanwhile,thethreedemoisellesforthenameofdameswasthenreservedfornoblewomenwerealltalkingatonce。
"Letusmakehaste,DemoiselleMahiette,"saidtheyoungestofthethree,whowasalsothelargest,totheprovincial,"Igreatlyfearthatweshallarrivetoolate;theytoldusattheChateletthattheyweregoingtotakehimdirectlytothepillory。"
"Ah,bah!whatareyousaying,DemoiselleOudardeMusnier?"interposedtheotherParisienne。"Therearetwohoursyettothepillory。Wehavetimeenough。Haveyoueverseenanyonepilloried,mydearMahiette?"
"Yes,"saidtheprovincial,"atReims。"
"Ah,bah!WhatisyourpilloryatReims?Amiserablecageintowhichonlypeasantsareturned。Agreataffair,truly!"
"Onlypeasants!"saidMahiette,"attheclothmarketinReims!Wehaveseenveryfinecriminalsthere,whohavekilledtheirfatherandmother!Peasants!Forwhatdoyoutakeus,Gervaise?"
Itiscertainthattheprovincialwasonthepointoftakingoffence,forthehonorofherpillory。Fortunately,thatdiscreetdamoiselle,OudardeMusnier,turnedtheconversationintime。
"Bytheway,DamoiselleMahiette,whatsayyoutoourFlemishAmbassadors?HaveyouasfineonesatReims?"
"Iadmit,"repliedMahiette,"thatitisonlyinParisthatsuchFlemingscanbeseen。"
"Didyouseeamongtheembassy,thatbigambassadorwhoisahosier?"askedOudarde。
"Yes,"saidMahiette。"HehastheeyeofaSaturn。"
"Andthebigfellowwhosefaceresemblesabarebelly?"
resumedGervaise。"Andthelittleone,withsmalleyesframedinredeyelids,pareddownandslasheduplikeathistlehead?"
"’Tistheirhorsesthatareworthseeing,"saidOudarde,"caparisonedastheyareafterthefashionoftheircountry!"
"Ahmydear,"interruptedprovincialMahiette,assuminginherturnanairofsuperiority,"whatwouldyousaythen,ifyouhadseenin’61,attheconsecrationatReims,eighteenyearsago,thehorsesoftheprincesandoftheking’scompany?Housingsandcaparisonsofallsorts;someofdamaskcloth,offineclothofgold,furredwithsables;othersofvelvet,furredwithermine;othersallembellishedwithgoldsmith’sworkandlargebellsofgoldandsilver!Andwhatmoneythathadcost!Andwhathandsomeboypagesrodeuponthem!"
"That,"repliedOudardedryly,"doesnotpreventtheFlemingshavingveryfinehorses,andhavinghadasuperbsupperyesterdaywithmonsieur,theprovostofthemerchants,attheH?tel-de-Ville,wheretheywereservedwithcomfitsandhippocras,andspices,andothersingularities。"
"Whatareyousaying,neighbor!"exclaimedGervaise。
"Itwaswithmonsieurthecardinal,atthePetitBourbonthattheysupped。"
"Notatall。AttheH?tel-de-Ville。
"Yes,indeed。AtthePetitBourbon!"
"ItwasattheH?tel-de-Ville,"retortedOudardesharply,"andDr。ScourableaddressedthemaharangueinLatin,whichpleasedthemgreatly。Myhusband,whoisswornbooksellertoldme。"
"ItwasatthePetitBourbon,"repliedGervaise,withnolessspirit,"andthisiswhatmonsieurthecardinal’sprocuratorpresentedtothem:twelvedoublequartsofhippocras,white,claret,andred;twenty-fourboxesofdoubleLyonsmarchpane,gilded;asmanytorches,worthtwolivresapiece;
andsixdemi-queues*ofBeaunewine,whiteandclaret,thebestthatcouldbefound。Ihaveitfrommyhusband,whoisacinquantenier**,attheParloir-auxBourgeois,andwhowasthismorningcomparingtheFlemishambassadorswiththoseofPresterJohnandtheEmperorofTrebizond,whocamefromMesopotamiatoParis,underthelastking,andwhoworeringsintheirears。"
*AQueuewasacaskwhichheldahogsheadandahalf。
**Acaptainoffiftymen。
"SotrueisitthattheysuppedattheH?tel-de-Ville,"
repliedOudardebutlittleaffectedbythiscatalogue,"thatsuchatriumphofviandsandcomfitshasneverbeenseen。"
"ItellyouthattheywereservedbyLeSec,sergeantofthecity,attheH?telduPetit-Bourbon,andthatthatiswhereyouaremistaken。"
"AttheH?tel-de-Ville,Itellyou!"
"AtthePetit-Bourbon,mydear!andtheyhadilluminatedwithmagicglassesthewordhope,whichiswrittenonthegrandportal。"
"AttheH?tel-de-Ville!AttheH?tel-de-Ville!AndHusson-le-Voirplayedtheflute!"
"Itellyou,no!"
"Itellyou,yes!"
"Isay,no!"
PlumpandworthyOudardewaspreparingtoretort,andthequarrelmight,perhaps,haveproceededtoapullingofcaps,hadnotMahiettesuddenlyexclaimed,——"Lookatthosepeopleassembledyonderattheendofthebridge!Thereissomethingintheirmidstthattheyarelookingat!"
"Insooth,"saidGervaise,"Ihearthesoundsofatambourine。Ibelieve’tisthelittleEsmeralda,whoplayshermummerieswithhergoat。Eh,bequick,Mahiette!redoubleyourpaceanddragalongyourboy。YouarecomehithertovisitthecuriositiesofParis。YousawtheFlemingsyesterday;youmustseethegypsyto-day。"
"Thegypsy!"saidMahiette,suddenlyretracinghersteps,andclaspingherson’sarmforcibly。"Godpreservemefromit!Shewouldstealmychildfromme!Come,Eustache!"
AndshesetoutonarunalongthequaytowardstheGrève,untilshehadleftthebridgefarbehindher。Inthemeanwhile,thechildwhomshewasdraggingafterherfelluponhisknees;shehaltedbreathless。OudardeandGervaiserejoinedher。
"Thatgypsystealyourchildfromyou!"saidGervaise。
"That’sasingularfreakofyours!"
Mahietteshookherheadwithapensiveair。
"Thesingularpointis,"observedOudarde,"that~lasachette~
hasthesameideaabouttheEgyptianwoman。"
"Whatis~lasachette~?"askedMahiette。
"Hé!"saidOudarde,"SisterGudule。"
"AndwhoisSisterGudule?"persistedMahiette。
"YouarecertainlyignorantofallbutyourReims,nottoknowthat!"repliedOudarde。"’TistherecluseoftheRat-Hole。"
"What!"demandedMahiette,"thatpoorwomantowhomwearecarryingthiscake?"
Oudardenoddedaffirmatively。
"Precisely。YouwillseeherpresentlyatherwindowontheGrève。ShehasthesameopinionasyourselfofthesevagabondsofEgypt,whoplaythetambourineandtellfortunestothepublic。NooneknowswhencecomesherhorrorofthegypsiesandEgyptians。Butyou,Mahiette——whydoyourunsoatthemeresightofthem?"
"Oh!"saidMahiette,seizingherchild’sroundheadinbothhands,"Idon’twantthattohappentomewhichhappenedtoPaquettelaChantefleurie。"
"Oh!youmusttellusthatstory,mygoodMahiette,"saidGervaise,takingherarm。
"Gladly,"repliedMahiette,"butyoumustbeignorantofallbutyourParisnottoknowthat!Iwilltellyouthenbut’tisnotnecessaryforustohaltthatImaytellyouthetale,thatPaquettelaChantefleuriewasaprettymaidofeighteenwhenIwasonemyself,thatistosay,eighteenyearsago,and’tisherownfaultifsheisnotto-day,likeme,agood,plump,freshmotherofsixandthirty,withahusbandandason。
However,aftertheageoffourteen,itwastoolate!Well,shewasthedaughterofGuybertant,minstrelofthebargesatReims,thesamewhohadplayedbeforeKingCharlesVII。,athiscoronation,whenhedescendedourriverVeslefromSillerytoMuison,whenMadametheMaidofOrleanswasalsointheboat。TheoldfatherdiedwhenPaquettewasstillamerechild;shehadthennoonebuthermother,thesisterofM。
Pradon,master-brazierandcoppersmithinParis,RueFarm-
Garlin,whodiedlastyear。Youseeshewasofgoodfamily。
Themotherwasagoodsimplewoman,unfortunately,andshetaughtPaquettenothingbutabitofembroideryandtoy-makingwhichdidnotpreventthelittleonefromgrowingverylargeandremainingverypoor。TheybothdweltatReims,ontheriverfront,RuedeFolle-Peine。Markthis:
ForIbelieveitwasthiswhichbroughtmisfortunetoPaquette。
In’61,theyearofthecoronationofourKingLouisXI。
whomGodpreserve!Paquettewassogayandsoprettythatshewascalledeverywherebynoothernamethan"laChantefleurie"——blossomingsong。Poorgirl!Shehadhandsometeeth,shewasfondoflaughinganddisplayingthem。Now,amaidwholovestolaughisontheroadtoweeping;handsometeethruinhandsomeeyes。SoshewaslaChantefleurie。Sheandhermotherearnedaprecariousliving;theyhadbeenverydestitutesincethedeathoftheminstrel;theirembroiderydidnotbringtheminmorethansixfarthingsaweek,whichdoesnotamounttoquitetwoeagleliards。WherewerethedayswhenFatherGuybertanthadearnedtwelvesousparisian,inasinglecoronation,withasong?Onewinteritwasinthatsameyearof’61,whenthetwowomenhadneitherfagotsnorfirewood,itwasverycold,whichgavelaChantefleuriesuchafinecolorthatthemencalledherPaquette!*andmanycalledherPàquerette!**andshewasruined——Eustache,justletmeseeyoubitethatcakeifyoudare!——Weimmediatelyperceivedthatshewasruined,oneSundaywhenshecametochurchwithagoldcrossaboutherneck。
Atfourteenyearsofage!doyousee?FirstitwastheyoungVicomtedeCormontreuil,whohashisbelltowerthreeleaguesdistantfromReims;thenMessireHenrideTriancourt,equerrytotheKing;thenlessthanthat,ChiartdeBeaulion,sergeant-at-arms;then,stilldescending,GueryAubergeon,carvertotheKing;then,MacedeFrépus,barbertomonsieurthedauphin;then,ThéveninleMoine,King’scook;then,themengrowingcontinuallyyoungerandlessnoble,shefelltoGuillaumeRacine,minstrelofthehurdygurdyandtoThierrydeMer,lamplighter。Then,poorChantefleurie,shebelongedtoeveryone:shehadreachedthelastsouofhergoldpiece。WhatshallIsaytoyou,mydamoiselles?Atthecoronation,inthesameyear,’61,’twasshewhomadethebedofthekingofthedebauchees!Inthesameyear!"
*Ox-eyedaisy。
**Easterdaisy。
Mahiettesighed,andwipedawayatearwhichtrickledfromhereyes。
"Thisisnoveryextraordinaryhistory,"saidGervaise,"andinthewholeofitIseenothingofanyEgyptianwomenorchildren。"
"Patience!"resumedMahiette,"youwillseeonechild——In’66,’twillbesixteenyearsagothismonth,atSainte-
Paule’sday,Paquettewasbroughttobedofalittlegirl。
Theunhappycreature!itwasagreatjoytoher;shehadlongwishedforachild。Hermother,goodwoman,whohadneverknownwhattodoexcepttoshuthereyes,hermotherwasdead。Paquettehadnolongeranyonetoloveintheworldoranyonetoloveher。LaChantefleuriehadbeenapoorcreatureduringthefiveyearssinceherfall。Shewasalone,aloneinthislife,fingerswerepointedather,shewashootedatinthestreets,beatenbythesergeants,jeeredatbythelittleboysinrags。Andthen,twentyhadarrived:andtwentyisanoldageforamorouswomen。Follybegantobringherinnomorethanhertradeofembroideryinformerdays;foreverywrinklethatcame,acrownfled;winterbecamehardtoheroncemore,woodbecamerareagaininherbrazier,andbreadinhercupboard。Shecouldnolongerworkbecause,inbecomingvoluptuous,shehadgrownlazy;andshesufferedmuchmorebecause,ingrowinglazy,shehadbecomevoluptuous。
Atleast,thatisthewayinwhichmonsieurthecureofSaint-Remyexplainswhythesewomenarecolderandhungrierthanotherpoorwomen,whentheyareold。"
"Yes,"remarkedGervaise,"butthegypsies?"
"Onemoment,Gervaise!"saidOudarde,whoseattentionwaslessimpatient。"Whatwouldbeleftfortheendifallwereinthebeginning?Continue,Mahiette,Ientreatyou。
ThatpoorChantefleurie!"
Mahiettewenton。
"Soshewasverysad,verymiserable,andfurrowedhercheekswithtears。Butinthemidstofhershame,herfolly,herdebauchery,itseemedtoherthatsheshouldbelesswild,lessshameful,lessdissipated,ifthereweresomethingorsomeoneintheworldwhomshecouldlove,andwhocouldloveher。Itwasnecessarythatitshouldbeachild,becauseonlyachildcouldbesufficientlyinnocentforthat。Shehadrecognizedthisfactafterhavingtriedtoloveathief,theonlymanwhowantedher;butafterashorttime,sheperceivedthatthethiefdespisedher。Thosewomenofloverequireeitheraloverorachildtofilltheirhearts。Otherwise,theyareveryunhappy。Asshecouldnothavealover,sheturnedwhollytowardsadesireforachild,andasshehadnotceasedtobepious,shemadeherconstantprayertothegoodGodforit。SothegoodGodtookpityonher,andgaveheralittledaughter。Iwillnotspeaktoyouofherjoy;itwasafuryoftears,andcaresses,andkisses。Shenursedherchildherself,madeswaddling-bandsforitoutofhercoverlet,theonlyonewhichshehadonherbed,andnolongerfelteithercoldorhunger。Shebecamebeautifuloncemore,inconsequenceofit。Anoldmaidmakesayoungmother。Gallantryclaimedheroncemore;mencametoseelaChantefleurie;shefoundcustomersagainforhermerchandise,andoutofallthesehorrorsshemadebabyclothes,capsandbibs,bodiceswithshoulder-strapsoflace,andtinybonnetsofsatin,withouteventhinkingofbuyingherselfanothercoverlet——MasterEustache,Ihavealreadytoldyounottoeatthatcake——ItiscertainthatlittleAgnes,thatwasthechild’sname,abaptismalname,foritwasalongtimesincelaChantefleuriehadhadanysurname——itiscertainthatthatlittleonewasmoreswathedinribbonsandembroideriesthanadauphinessofDauphiny!Amongotherthings,shehadapairoflittleshoes,thelikeofwhichKingLouisXI。certainlyneverhad!Hermotherhadstitchedandembroideredthemherself;shehadlavishedonthemallthedelicaciesofherartofembroideress,andalltheembellishmentsofarobeforthegoodVirgin。Theycertainlywerethetwoprettiestlittlepinkshoesthatcouldbeseen。Theywerenolongerthanmythumb,andonehadtoseethechild’slittlefeetcomeoutofthem,inordertobelievethattheyhadbeenabletogetintothem。’Tistruethatthoselittlefeetweresosmall,sopretty,sorosy!rosierthanthesatinoftheshoes!Whenyouhavechildren,Oudarde,youwillfindthatthereisnothingprettierthanthoselittlehandsandfeet。"
"Iasknobetter,"saidOudardewithasigh,"butIamwaitinguntilitshallsuitthegoodpleasureofM。AndryMusnier。"
"However,Paquette’schildhadmorethatwasprettyaboutitbesidesitsfeet。Isawherwhenshewasonlyfourmonthsold;shewasalove!Shehadeyeslargerthanhermouth,andthemostcharmingblackhair,whichalreadycurled。Shewouldhavebeenamagnificentbrunetteattheageofsixteen!
Hermotherbecamemorecrazyoverhereveryday。Shekissedher,caressedher,tickledher,washedher,deckedherout,devouredher!Shelostherheadoverher,shethankedGodforher。Herpretty,littlerosyfeetaboveallwereanendlesssourceofwonderment,theywereadeliriumofjoy!
Shewasalwayspressingherlipstothem,andshecouldneverrecoverfromheramazementattheirsmallness。Sheputthemintothetinyshoes,tookthemout,admiredthem,marvelledatthem,lookedatthelightthroughthem,wascurioustoseethemtrytowalkonherbed,andwouldgladlyhavepassedherlifeonherknees,puttingonandtakingofftheshoesfromthosefeet,asthoughtheyhadbeenthoseofanInfantJesus。"
"Thetaleisfairandgood,"saidGervaiseinalowtone;
"butwheredogypsiescomeintoallthat?"
"Here,"repliedMahiette。"OnedaytherearrivedinReimsaveryqueersortofpeople。Theywerebeggarsandvagabondswhowereroamingoverthecountry,ledbytheirdukeandtheircounts。Theywerebrownedbyexposuretothesun,theyhadcloselycurlinghair,andsilverringsintheirears。Thewomenwerestilluglierthanthemen。Theyhadblackerfaces,whichwerealwaysuncovered,amiserablefrockontheirbodies,anoldclothwovenofcordsboundupontheirshoulder,andtheirhairhanginglikethetailofahorse。Thechildrenwhoscrambledbetweentheirlegswouldhavefrightenedasmanymonkeys。Abandofexcommunicates。
AllthesepersonscamedirectfromlowerEgypttoReimsthroughPoland。ThePopehadconfessedthem,itwassaid,andhadprescribedtothemaspenancetoroamthroughtheworldforsevenyears,withoutsleepinginabed;andsotheywerecalledpenancers,andsmelthorribly。ItappearsthattheyhadformerlybeenSaracens,whichwaswhytheybelievedinJupiter,andclaimedtenlivresofTournayfromallarchbishops,bishops,andmitredabbotswithcroziers。
AbullfromthePopeempoweredthemtodothat。TheycametoReimstotellfortunesinthenameoftheKingofAlgiers,andtheEmperorofGermany。Youcanreadilyimaginethatnomorewasneededtocausetheentrancetothetowntobeforbiddenthem。ThenthewholebandcampedwithgoodgraceoutsidethegateofBraine,onthathillwherestandsamill,besidethecavitiesoftheancientchalkpits。AndeverybodyinReimsviedwithhisneighboringoingtoseethem。
Theylookedatyourhand,andtoldyoumarvellousprophecies;
theywereequaltopredictingtoJudasthathewouldbecomePope。Nevertheless,uglyrumorswereincirculationinregardtothem;aboutchildrenstolen,pursescut,andhumanfleshdevoured。Thewisepeoplesaidtothefoolish:"Don’tgothere!"andthenwentthemselvesonthesly。Itwasaninfatuation。Thefactis,thattheysaidthingsfittoastonishacardinal。MotherstriumphedgreatlyovertheirlittleonesaftertheEgyptianshadreadintheirhandsallsortsofmarvelswritteninpaganandinTurkish。Onehadanemperor;
another,apope;another,acaptain。PoorChantefleuriewasseizedwithcuriosity;shewishedtoknowaboutherself,andwhetherherprettylittleAgneswouldnotbecomesomedayEmpressofArmenia,orsomethingelse。SoshecarriedhertotheEgyptians;andtheEgyptianwomenfelltoadmiringthechild,andtocaressingit,andtokissingitwiththeirblackmouths,andtomarvellingoveritslittleband,alas!tothegreatjoyofthemother。Theywereespeciallyenthusiasticoverherprettyfeetandshoes。Thechildwasnotyetayearold。Shealreadylispedalittle,laughedathermotherlikealittlemadthing,wasplumpandquiteround,andpossessedathousandcharminglittlegesturesoftheangelsofparadise。