第12章

类别:其他 作者:Victor Hugo字数:24807更新时间:18/12/19 16:58:50
Heresumed,—— \"OnedayIwasleaningonthewindowofmycell。WhatbookwasIreadingthen?Oh!allthatisawhirlwindinmyhead。Iwasreading。ThewindowopeneduponaSquare。I heardasoundoftambourineandmusic。Annoyedatbeingthusdisturbedinmyrevery,IglancedintotheSquare。WhatIbeheld,otherssawbesidemyself,andyetitwasnotaspectaclemadeforhumaneyes。There,inthemiddleofthepavement,——itwasmidday,thesunwasshiningbrightly,——acreaturewasdancing。AcreaturesobeautifulthatGodwouldhavepreferredhertotheVirginandhavechosenherforhismotherandhavewishedtobebornofherifshehadbeeninexistencewhenhewasmademan!Hereyeswereblackandsplendid;inthemidstofherblacklocks,somehairsthroughwhichthesunshoneglistenedlikethreadsofgold。Herfeetdisappearedintheirmovementslikethespokesofarapidlyturningwheel。Aroundherhead,inherblacktresses,thereweredisksofmetal,whichglitteredinthesun,andformedacoronetofstarsonherbrow。Herdressthicksetwithspangles,blue,anddottedwithathousandsparks,gleamedlikeasummernight。Herbrown,supplearmstwinedanduntwinedaroundherwaist,liketwoscarfs。Theformofherbodywassurprisinglybeautiful。 Oh!whataresplendentfigurestoodout,likesomethingluminouseveninthesunlight!Alas,younggirl,itwasthou! Surprised,intoxicated,charmed,Iallowedmyselftogazeuponthee。IlookedsolongthatIsuddenlyshudderedwithterror;Ifeltthatfatewasseizingholdofme。\" Thepriestpausedforamoment,overcomewithemotion。 Thenhecontinued,—— \"Alreadyhalffascinated,Itriedtoclingfasttosomethingandholdmyselfbackfromfalling。IrecalledthesnareswhichSatanhadalreadysetforme。Thecreaturebeforemyeyespossessedthatsuperhumanbeautywhichcancomeonlyfromheavenorhell。Itwasnosimplegirlmadewithalittleofourearth,anddimlylightedwithinbythevacillatingrayofawoman’ssoul。Itwasanangel!butofshadowsandflame,andnotoflight。AtthemomentwhenIwasmeditatingthus,Ibeheldbesideyouagoat,abeastofwitches,whichsmiledasitgazedatme。Themiddaysungavehimgoldenhorns。ThenIperceivedthesnareofthedemon,andInolongerdoubtedthatyouhadcomefromhellandthatyouhadcomethenceformyperdition。Ibelievedit。\" Herethepriestlookedtheprisonerfullintheface,andadded,coldly,—— \"Ibelieveitstill。Nevertheless,thecharmoperatedlittlebylittle;yourdancingwhirledthroughmybrain;Ifeltthemysteriousspellworkingwithinme。Allthatshouldhaveawakenedwaslulledtosleep;andlikethosewhodieinthesnow,Ifeltpleasureinallowingthissleeptodrawon。Allatonce,youbegantosing。WhatcouldIdo,unhappywretch?Yoursongwasstillmorecharmingthanyourdancing。 Itriedtoflee。Impossible。Iwasnailed,rootedtothespot。Itseemedtomethatthemarbleofthepavementhadrisentomyknees。Iwasforcedtoremainuntiltheend。 Myfeetwerelikeice,myheadwasonfire。Atlastyoutookpityonme,youceasedtosing,youdisappeared。Thereflectionofthedazzlingvision,thereverberationoftheenchantingmusicdisappearedbydegreesfrommyeyesandmyears。 ThenIfellbackintotheembrasureofthewindow,morerigid,morefeeblethanastatuetornfromitsbase。Thevesperbellrousedme。Idrewmyselfup;Ifled;butalas! somethingwithinmehadfallennevertoriseagain,somethinghadcomeuponmefromwhichIcouldnotflee。\" Hemadeanotherpauseandwenton,—— \"Yes,datingfromthatday,therewaswithinmeamanwhomIdidnotknow。Itriedtomakeuseofallmyremedies。 Thecloister,thealtar,work,books,——follies!Oh,howhollowdoessciencesoundwhenoneindespairdashesagainstitaheadfullofpassions!Doyouknow,younggirl,whatI sawthenceforthbetweenmybookandme?You,yourshade,theimageoftheluminousapparitionwhichhadonedaycrossedthespacebeforeme。Butthisimagehadnolongerthesamecolor;itwassombre,funereal,gloomyastheblackcirclewhichlongpursuesthevisionoftheimprudentmanwhohasgazedintentlyatthesun。 \"Unabletoridmyselfofit,sinceIheardyoursonghummingeverinmyhead,beheldyourfeetdancingalwaysonmybreviary,feltevenatnight,inmydreams,yourformincontactwithmyown,Idesiredtoseeyouagain,totouchyou,toknowwhoyouwere,toseewhetherIshouldreallyfindyouliketheidealimagewhichIhadretainedofyou,toshattermydream,perchance,withreality。Atallevents,I hopedthatanewimpressionwouldeffacethefirst,andthefirsthadbecomeinsupportable。Isoughtyou。Isawyouoncemore。Calamity!WhenIhadseenyoutwice,Iwantedtoseeyouathousandtimes,Iwantedtoseeyoualways。 Then——howstopmyselfonthatslopeofhell?——thenInolongerbelongedtomyself。Theotherendofthethreadwhichthedemonhadattachedtomywingshehadfastenedtohisfoot。Ibecamevagrantandwanderinglikeyourself。 Iwaitedforyouunderporches,Istoodonthelookoutforyouatthestreetcorners,Iwatchedforyoufromthesummitofmytower。EveryeveningIreturnedtomyselfmorecharmed,moredespairing,morebewitched,morelost! \"Ihadlearnedwhoyouwere;anEgyptian,Bohemian,gypsy,zingara。HowcouldIdoubtthemagic?Listen。I hopedthatatrialwouldfreemefromthecharm。AwitchenchantedBrunod’Ast;hehadherburned,andwascured。I knewit。Iwantedtotrytheremedy。FirstItriedtohaveyouforbiddenthesquareinfrontofNotre-Dame,hopingtoforgetyouifyoureturnednomore。Youpaidnoheedtoit。 Youreturned。Thentheideaofabductingyouoccurredtome。OnenightImadetheattempt。Thereweretwoofus。 Wealreadyhadyouinourpower,whenthatmiserableofficercameup。Hedeliveredyou。Thusdidhebeginyourunhappiness,mine,andhisown。Finally,nolongerknowingwhattodo,andwhatwastobecomeofme,Idenouncedyoutotheofficial。 \"IthoughtthatIshouldbecuredlikeBrunod’Ast。Ialsohadaconfusedideathatatrialwoulddeliveryouintomyhands;that,asaprisonerIshouldholdyou,Ishouldhaveyou;thatthereyoucouldnotescapefromme;thatyouhadalreadypossessedmeasufficientlylongtimetogivemetherighttopossessyouinmyturn。Whenonedoeswrong,onemustdoitthoroughly。’Tismadnesstohaltmidwayinthemonstrous!Theextremeofcrimehasitsdeliriumsofjoy。 Apriestandawitchcanmingleindelightuponthetrussofstrawinadungeon! \"Accordingly,Idenouncedyou。ItwasthenthatIterrifiedyouwhenwemet。TheplotwhichIwasweavingagainstyou,thestormwhichIwasheapingupaboveyourhead,burstfrommeinthreatsandlightningglances。Still,Ihesitated。 Myprojecthaditsterriblesideswhichmademeshrinkback。 \"PerhapsImighthaverenouncedit;perhapsmyhideousthoughtwouldhavewitheredinmybrain,withoutbearingfruit。Ithoughtthatitwouldalwaysdependuponmetofollowupordiscontinuethisprosecution。Buteveryevilthoughtisinexorable,andinsistsonbecomingadeed;butwhereIbelievedmyselftobeallpowerful,fatewasmorepowerfulthanI。Alas!’tisfatewhichhasseizedyouanddeliveredyoutotheterriblewheelsofthemachinewhichI hadconstructeddoubly。Listen。Iamnearingtheend。 \"Oneday,——againthesunwasshiningbrilliantly——Ibeholdmanpassmeutteringyournameandlaughing,whocarriessensualityinhiseyes。Damnation!Ifollowedhim;youknowtherest。\" Heceased。 Theyounggirlcouldfindbutoneword: \"Oh,myPhoebus!\" \"Notthatname!\"saidthepriest,graspingherarmviolently。\"Utternotthatname!Oh!miserablewretchesthatweare,’tisthatnamewhichhasruinedus!or,ratherwehaveruinedeachotherbytheinexplicableplayoffate! youaresuffering,areyounot?youarecold;thenightmakesyoublind,thedungeonenvelopsyou;butperhapsyoustillhavesomelightinthebottomofyoursoul,wereitonlyyourchildishloveforthatemptymanwhoplayedwithyourheart,whileIbearthedungeonwithinme;withinmethereiswinter,ice,despair;Ihavenightinmysoul。 \"DoyouknowwhatIhavesuffered?Iwaspresentatyourtrial。Iwasseatedontheofficial’sbench。Yes,underoneofthepriests’cowls,therewerethecontortionsofthedamned。Whenyouwerebroughtin,Iwasthere;whenyouwerequestioned,Iwasthere——Denofwolves!——Itwasmycrime,itwasmygallowsthatIbeheldbeingslowlyrearedoveryourhead。Iwasthereforeverywitness,everyproof,everyplea; Icouldcounteachofyourstepsinthepainfulpath;Iwasstilltherewhenthatferociousbeast——oh!Ihadnotforeseentorture!Listen。Ifollowedyoutothatchamberofanguish。 Ibeheldyoustrippedandhandled,halfnaked,bytheinfamoushandsofthetormentor。Ibeheldyourfoot,thatfootwhichIwouldhavegivenanempiretokissanddie,thatfoot,beneathwhichtohavehadmyheadcrushedIshouldhavefeltsuchrapture,——Ibehelditencasedinthathorribleboot,whichconvertsthelimbsofalivingbeingintoonebloodyclod。Oh,wretch!whileIlookedonatthat,Iheldbeneathmyshroudadagger,withwhichIlaceratedmybreast。Whenyouutteredthatcry,Iplungeditintomyflesh;atasecondcry,itwouldhaveenteredmyheart。Look!Ibelievethatitstillbleeds。\" Heopenedhiscassock。Hisbreastwasinfact,mangledasbytheclawofatiger,andonhissidehehadalargeandbadlyhealedwound。 Theprisonerrecoiledwithhorror。 \"Oh!\"saidthepriest,\"younggirl,havepityuponme! Youthinkyourselfunhappy;alas!alas!youknownotwhatunhappinessis。Oh!toloveawoman!tobeapriest!tobehated!tolovewithallthefuryofone’ssoul;tofeelthatonewouldgivefortheleastofhersmiles,one’sblood,one’svitals,one’sfame,one’ssalvation,one’simmortalityandeternity,thislifeandtheother;toregretthatoneisnotaking,emperor,archangel,God,inorderthatonemightplaceagreaterslavebeneathherfeet;toclasphernightanddayinone’sdreamsandone’sthoughts,andtobeholdherinlovewiththetrappingsofasoldierandtohavenothingtoofferherbutapriest’sdirtycassock,whichwillinspireherwithfearanddisgust!Tobepresentwithone’sjealousyandone’srage,whileshelavishesonamiserable,blusteringimbecile,treasuresofloveandbeauty!Tobeholdthatbodywhoseformburnsyou,thatbosomwhichpossessessomuchsweetness,thatfleshpalpitateandblushbeneaththekissesofanother! Ohheaven!toloveherfoot,herarm,hershoulder,tothinkofherblueveins,ofherbrownskin,untilonewrithesforwholenightstogetheronthepavementofone’scell,andtobeholdallthosecaresseswhichonehasdreamedof,endintorture!Tohavesucceededonlyinstretchingherupontheleatherbed!Oh!thesearetheveritablepincers,reddenedinthefiresofhell。Oh!blessedishewhoissawnbetweentwoplanks,ortorninpiecesbyfourhorses!Doyouknowwhatthattortureis,whichisimposeduponyouforlongnightsbyyourburningarteries,yourburstingheart,yourbreakinghead,yourteeth-knawedhands;madtormentorswhichturnyouincessantly,asuponared-hotgridiron,toathoughtoflove,ofjealousy,andofdespair!Younggirl,mercy!atruceforamoment!afewashesontheselivecoals!Wipeaway,Ibeseechyou,theperspirationwhichtricklesingreatdropsfrommybrow!Child!torturemewithonehand,butcaressmewiththeother!Havepity,younggirl!Havepityuponme!\" Thepriestwrithedonthewetpavement,beatinghisheadagainstthecornersofthestonesteps。Theyounggirlgazedathim,andlistenedtohim。 Whenheceased,exhaustedandpanting,sherepeatedinalowvoice,—— \"OhmyPhoebus!\" Thepriestdraggedhimselftowardsheronhisknees。 \"Ibeseechyou,\"hecried,\"ifyouhaveanyheart,donotrepulseme!Oh!Iloveyou!Iamawretch!Whenyouutterthatname,unhappygirl,itisasthoughyoucrushedallthefibresofmyheartbetweenyourteeth。Mercy!IfyoucomefromhellIwillgothitherwithyou。Ihavedoneeverythingtothatend。Thehellwhereyouare,shallheparadise;thesightofyouismorecharmingthanthatofGod! Oh!speak!youwillhavenoneofme?Ishouldhavethoughtthemountainswouldbeshakenintheirfoundationsonthedaywhenawomanwouldrepulsesuchalove。Oh!ifyouonlywould!Oh!howhappywemightbe。Wewouldflee——I wouldhelpyoutoflee,——wewouldgosomewhere,wewouldseekthatspotonearth,wherethesunisbrightest,theskythebluest,wherethetreesaremostluxuriant。Wewouldloveeachother,wewouldpourourtwosoulsintoeachother,andwewouldhaveathirstforourselveswhichwewouldquenchincommonandincessantlyatthatfountainofinexhaustiblelove。\" Sheinterruptedwithaterribleandthrillinglaugh。 \"Look,father,youhavebloodonyourfingers!\" Thepriestremainedforseveralmomentsasthoughpetrified,withhiseyesfixeduponhishand。 \"Well,yes!\"heresumedatlast,withstrangegentleness,\"insultme,scoffatme,overwhelmmewithscorn!butcome,come。Letusmakehaste。Itistobeto-morrow,Itellyou。 ThegibbetontheGrève,youknowit?itstandsalwaysready。Itishorrible!toseeyourideinthattumbrel!Ohmercy!UntilnowIhaveneverfeltthepowerofmyloveforyou——Oh!followme。YoushalltakeyourtimetolovemeafterIhavesavedyou。Youshallhatemeaslongasyouwill。Butcome。To-morrow!to-morrow!thegallows!yourexecution!Oh!saveyourself!spareme!\" Heseizedherarm,hewasbesidehimself,hetriedtodragheraway。 Shefixedhereyeintentlyonhim。 \"WhathasbecomeofmyPhoebus?\" \"Ah!\"saidthepriest,releasingherarm,\"youarepitiless。\" \"WhathasbecomeofPhoebus?\"sherepeatedcoldly。 \"Heisdead!\"criedthepriest。 \"Dead!\"saidshe,stillicyandmotionless\"thenwhydoyoutalktomeofliving?\" Hewasnotlisteningtoher。 \"Oh!yes,\"saidhe,asthoughspeakingtohimself,\"hecertainlymustbedead。Thebladepierceddeeply。IbelieveItouchedhisheartwiththepoint。Oh!myverysoulwasattheendofthedagger!\" Theyounggirlflungherselfuponhimlikearagingtigress,andpushedhimuponthestepsofthestaircasewithsupernaturalforce。 \"Begone,monster!Begone,assassin!Leavemetodie! Maythebloodofbothofusmakeaneternalstainuponyourbrow!Bethine,priest!Never!never!Nothingshalluniteus!nothellitself!Go,accursedman!Never!\" Thepriesthadstumbledonthestairs。Hesilentlydisentangledhisfeetfromthefoldsofhisrobe,pickeduphislanternagain,andslowlybegantheascentofthestepswhichledtothedoor;heopenedthedoorandpassedthroughit。 Allatonce,theyounggirlbeheldhisheadreappear;itworeafrightfulexpression,andhecried,hoarsewithrageanddespair,—— \"Itellyouheisdead!\" Shefellfacedownwardsuponthefloor,andtherewasnolongeranysoundaudibleinthecellthanthesobofthedropofwaterwhichmadethepoolpalpitateamidthedarkness。 CHAPTERV。 THEMOTHER。 Idonotbelievethatthereisanythingsweeterintheworldthantheideaswhichawakeinamother’sheartatthesightofherchild’stinyshoe;especiallyifitisashoeforfestivals,forSunday,forbaptism,theshoeembroideredtotheverysole,ashoeinwhichtheinfanthasnotyettakenastep。 Thatshoehassomuchgraceanddaintiness,itissoimpossibleforittowalk,thatitseemstothemotherasthoughshesawherchild。Shesmilesuponit,shekissesit,shetalkstoit;sheasksherselfwhethertherecanactuallybeafootsotiny;andifthechildbeabsent,theprettyshoesufficestoplacethesweetandfragilecreaturebeforehereyes。Shethinkssheseesit,shedoesseeit,complete,living,joyous,withitsdelicatehands,itsroundhead,itspurelips,itssereneeyeswhosewhiteisblue。Ifitisinwinter,itisyonder,crawlingonthecarpet,itislaboriouslyclimbinguponanottoman,andthemothertrembleslestitshouldapproachthefire。Ifitissummertime,itcrawlsabouttheyard,inthegarden,plucksupthegrassbetweenthepaving-stones,gazesinnocentlyatthebigdogs,thebighorses,withoutfear,playswiththeshells,withtheflowers,andmakesthegardenergrumblebecausehefindssandintheflower-bedsandearthinthepaths。Everythinglaughs,andshinesandplaysaroundit,likeit,eventhebreathofairandtherayofsunwhichviewitheachotherindisportingamongthesilkyringletsofitshair。Theshoeshowsallthistothemother,andmakesherheartmeltasfiremeltswax。 Butwhenthechildislost,thesethousandimagesofjoy,ofcharms,oftenderness,whichthrongaroundthelittleshoe,becomesomanyhorriblethings。Theprettybroideredshoeisnolongeranythingbutaninstrumentoftorturewhicheternallycrushestheheartofthemother。Itisalwaysthesamefibrewhichvibrates,thetenderestandmostsensitive; butinsteadofanangelcaressingit,itisademonwhoiswrenchingatit。 OneMaymorning,whenthesunwasrisingononeofthosedarkblueskiesagainstwhichGarofololovestoplacehisDescentsfromtheCross,therecluseoftheTour-Rolandheardasoundofwheels,ofhorsesandironsinthePlacedeGrève。 Shewassomewhatarousedbyit,knottedherhairuponherearsinordertodeafenherself,andresumedhercontemplation,onherknees,oftheinanimateobjectwhichshehadadoredforfifteenyears。Thislittleshoewastheuniversetoher,aswehavealreadysaid。Herthoughtwasshutupinit,andwasdestinednevermoretoquititexceptatdeath。 ThesombrecaveoftheTour-Rolandaloneknewhowmanybitterimprecations,touchingcomplaints,prayersandsobsshehadwaftedtoheaveninconnectionwiththatcharmingbaubleofrose-coloredsatin。Neverwasmoredespairbestoweduponaprettierandmoregracefulthing。 Itseemedasthoughhergriefwerebreakingforthmoreviolentlythanusual;andshecouldbeheardoutsidelamentinginaloudandmonotonousvoicewhichrenttheheart。 \"Ohmydaughter!\"shesaid,\"mydaughter,mypoor,dearlittlechild,soIshallneverseetheemore!Itisover! Italwaysseemstomethatithappenedyesterday!MyGod! myGod!itwouldhavebeenbetternottogivehertomethantotakeherawaysosoon。Didyounotknowthatourchildrenarepartofourselves,andthatamotherwhohaslostherchildnolongerbelievesinGod?Ah!wretchthatIamtohavegoneoutthatday!Lord!Lord!tohavetakenherfrommethus;youcouldneverhavelookedatmewithher,whenIwasjoyouslywarmingheratmyfire,whenshelaughedasshesuckled,whenImadehertinyfeetcreepupmybreasttomylips?Oh!ifyouhadlookedatthat,myGod,youwouldhavetakenpityonmyjoy;youwouldnothavetakenfrommetheonlylovewhichlingered,inmyheart! WasIthen,Lord,somiserableacreature,thatyoucouldnotlookatmebeforecondemningme?——Alas!Alas!hereistheshoe;whereisthefoot?whereistherest?Whereisthechild?Mydaughter!mydaughter!whatdidtheydowiththee?Lord,giveherbacktome。Mykneeshavebeenwornforfifteenyearsinprayingtothee,myGod!Isnotthatenough?Giveherbacktomeoneday,onehour,oneminute;oneminute,Lord!andthencastmetothedemonforalleternity!Oh!ifIonlyknewwheretheskirtofyourgarmenttrails,Iwouldclingtoitwithbothhands,andyouwouldbeobligedtogivemebackmychild!Haveyounopityonherprettylittleshoe?Couldyoucondemnapoormothertothistortureforfifteenyears?GoodVirgin!goodVirginofheaven!myinfantJesushasbeentakenfromme,hasbeenstolenfromme;theydevouredheronaheath,theydrankherblood,theycrackedherbones!GoodVirgin,havepityuponme。Mydaughter,Iwantmydaughter!Whatisittomethatsheisinparadise?Idonotwantyourangel,I wantmychild!Iamalioness,Iwantmywhelp。Oh!Iwillwritheontheearth,Iwillbreakthestoneswithmyforehead,andIwilldamnmyself,andIwillcurseyou,Lord,ifyoukeepmychildfromme!youseeplainlythatmyarmsareallbitten,Lord!HasthegoodGodnomercy?——Oh!givemeonlysaltandblackbread,onlyletmehavemydaughtertowarmmelikeasun!Alas!LordmyGod。Alas!LordmyGod,Iamonlyavilesinner;butmydaughtermademepious。 Iwasfullofreligionfortheloveofher,andIbeheldyouthroughhersmileasthroughanopeningintoheaven。Oh! ifIcouldonlyonce,justoncemore,asingletime,putthisshoeonherprettylittlepinkfoot,Iwoulddieblessingyou,goodVirgin。Ah!fifteenyears!shewillbegrownupnow!—— Unhappychild!what!itisreallytruethenIshallneverseehermore,noteveninheaven,forIshallnotgotheremyself。Oh!whatmiserytothinkthathereishershoe,andthatthatisall!\" Theunhappywomanflungherselfuponthatshoe;herconsolationandherdespairforsomanyyears,andhervitalswererentwithsobsasonthefirstday;because,foramotherwhohaslostherchild,itisalwaysthefirstday。Thatgriefnevergrowsold。Themourninggarmentsmaygrowwhiteandthreadbare,theheartremainsdark。 Atthatmoment,thefreshandjoyouscriesofchildrenpassedinfrontofthecell。Everytimethatchildrencrossedhervisionorstruckherear,thepoormotherflungherselfintothedarkestcornerofhersepulchre,andonewouldhavesaid,thatshesoughttoplungeherheadintothestoneinordernottohearthem。Thistime,onthecontrary,shedrewherselfuprightwithastart,andlistenedeagerly。Oneofthelittleboyshadjustsaid,—— \"Theyaregoingtohangagypsyto-day。\" Withtheabruptleapofthatspiderwhichwehaveseenflingitselfuponaflyatthetremblingofitsweb,sherushedtoherair-hole,whichopenedasthereaderknows,onthePlacedeGrève。Aladderhad,infact,beenraisedupagainstthepermanentgibbet,andthehangman’sassistantwasbusyinghimselfwithadjustingthechainswhichhadbeenrustedbytherain。Thereweresomepeoplestandingabout。 Thelaughinggroupofchildrenwasalreadyfaraway。Thesackednunsoughtwithhereyessomepasser-bywhomshemightquestion。Allatonce,besidehercell,sheperceivedapriestmakingapretextofreadingthepublicbreviary,butwhowasmuchlessoccupiedwiththe\"lecternoflatticediron,\"thanwiththegallows,towardwhichhecastafierceandgloomyglancefromtimetotime。SherecognizedmonsieurthearchdeaconofJosas,aholyman。 \"Father,\"sheinquired,\"whomaretheyabouttohangyonder?\" Thepriestlookedatherandmadenoreply;sherepeatedherquestion。Thenhesaid,—— \"Iknownot。\" \"Somechildrensaidthatitwasagypsy,\"wentontherecluse。 \"Ibelieveso,\"saidthepriest。 ThenPaquettelaChantefleurieburstintohyena-likelaughter。 \"Sister,\"saidthearchdeacon,\"doyouthenhatethegypsiesheartily?\" \"DoIhatethem!\"exclaimedtherecluse,\"theyarevampires,stealersofchildren!Theydevouredmylittledaughter,mychild,myonlychild!Ihavenolongeranyheart,theydevouredit!\" Shewasfrightful。Thepriestlookedathercoldly。 \"ThereisoneinparticularwhomIhate,andwhomIhavecursed,\"sheresumed;\"itisayoungone,oftheagewhichmydaughterwouldbeifhermotherhadnoteatenmydaughter。 Everytimethatthatyoungviperpassesinfrontofmycell,shesetsmybloodinaferment。\" \"Well,sister,rejoice,\"saidthepriest,icyasasepulchralstatue;\"thatistheonewhomyouareabouttoseedie。\" Hisheadfelluponhisbosomandhemovedslowlyaway。 Thereclusewrithedherarmswithjoy。 \"Ipredicteditforher,thatshewouldascendthither! Thanks,priest!\"shecried。 Andshebegantopaceupanddownwithlongstridesbeforethegratingofherwindow,herhairdishevelled,hereyesflashing,withhershoulderstrikingagainstthewall,withthewildairofafemalewolfinacage,whohaslongbeenfamished,andwhofeelsthehourforherrepastdrawingnear。 CHAPTERVI。 THREEHUMANHEARTSDIFFERENTLYCONSTRUCTED。 Phoebuswasnotdead,however。Menofthatstampdiehard。WhenMasterPhilippeLheulier,advocateextraordinaryoftheking,hadsaidtopoorEsmeralda;\"Heisdying,\" itwasanerrororajest。Whenthearchdeaconhadrepeatedtothecondemnedgirl;\"Heisdead,\"thefactisthatheknewnothingaboutit,butthathebelievedit,thathecountedonit,thathedidnotdoubtit,thathedevoutlyhopedit。Itwouldhavebeentoohardforhimtogivefavorablenewsofhisrivaltothewomanwhomheloved。 Anymanwouldhavedonethesameinhisplace。 ItwasnotthatPhoebus’swoundhadnotbeenserious,butithadnotbeenasmuchsoasthearchdeaconbelieved。Thephysician,towhomthesoldiersofthewatchhadcarriedhimatthefirstmoment,hadfearedforhislifeduringthespaceofaweek,andhadeventoldhimsoinLatin。Butyouthhadgainedtheupperhand;and,asfrequentlyhappens,inspiteofprognosticationsanddiagnoses,naturehadamusedherselfbysavingthesickmanunderthephysician’sverynose。Itwaswhilehewasstilllyingontheleech’spalletthathehadsubmittedtotheinterrogationsofPhilippeLheulierandtheofficialinquisitors,whichhadannoyedhimgreatly。Hence,onefinemorning,feelinghimselfbetter,hehadlefthisgoldenspurswiththeleechaspayment,andhadslippedaway。Thishadnot,however,interferedwiththeprogressoftheaffair。Justice,atthatepoch,troubleditselfverylittleabouttheclearnessanddefinitenessofacriminalsuit。Providedthattheaccusedwashung,thatwasallthatwasnecessary。NowthejudgehadplentyofproofsagainstlaEsmeralda。TheyhadsupposedPhoebustobedead,andthatwastheendofthematter。 Phoebus,onhisside,hadnotfledfar。HehadsimplyrejoinedhiscompanyingarrisonatQueue-en-Brie,intheIsle-de-France,afewstagesfromParis。 Afterall,itdidnotpleasehimintheleasttoappearinthissuit。Hehadavaguefeelingthatbeshouldplayaridiculousfigureinit。Onthewhole,hedidnotknowwhattothinkofthewholeaffair。Superstitious,andnotgiventodevoutness,likeeverysoldierwhoisonlyasoldier,whenhecametoquestionhimselfaboutthisadventure,hedidnotfeelassuredastothegoat,astothesingularfashioninwhichhehadmetLaEsmeralda,astothenolessstrangemannerinwhichshehadallowedhimtodivineherlove,astohercharacterasagypsy,andlastly,astothesurlymonk。 Heperceivedinalltheseincidentsmuchmoremagicthanlove,probablyasorceress,perhapsthedevil;acomedy,inshort,ortospeakinthelanguageofthatday,averydisagreeablemystery,inwhichheplayedaveryawkwardpart,theroleofblowsandderision。Thecaptainwasquiteputoutofcountenanceaboutit;heexperiencedthatsortofshamewhichourLaFontainehassoadmirablydefined,—— Ashamedasafoxwhohasbeencaughtbyafowl。 Moreover,hehopedthattheaffairwouldnotgetnoisedabroad,thathisnamewouldhardlybepronouncedinit,andthatinanycaseitwouldnotgobeyondthecourtsoftheTournelle。Inthishewasnotmistaken,therewasthenno\"GazettedesTribunaux;\"andasnotaweekpassedwhichhadnotitscounterfeitertoboil,oritswitchtohang,oritsheretictoburn,atsomeoneoftheinnumerablejusticesofParis,peopleweresoaccustomedtoseeinginallthesquarestheancientfeudalThemis,barearmed,withsleevesstrippedup,performingherdutyatthegibbets,theladders,andthepillories,thattheyhardlypaidanyheedtoit。Fashionablesocietyofthatdayhardlyknewthenameofthevictimwhopassedbyatthecornerofthestreet,anditwasthepopulaceatthemostwhoregaledthemselveswiththiscoarsefare。Anexecutionwasanhabitualincidentofthepublichighways,likethebraising-panofthebakerortheslaughter-houseoftheknacker。Theexecutionerwasonlyasortofbutcherofalittledeeperdyethantherest。 HencePhoebus’smindwassoonateaseonthescoreoftheenchantressEsmeralda,orSimilar,ashecalledher,concerningtheblowfromthedaggeroftheBohemianorofthesurlymonk(itmatteredlittlewhichtohim),andastotheissueofthetrial。Butassoonashisheartwasvacantinthatdirection,Fleur-de-Lysreturnedtoit。CaptainPhoebus’sheart,likethephysicsofthatday,abhorredavacuum。 Queue-en-Briewasaveryinsipidplacetostayatthen,avillageoffarriers,andcow-girlswithchappedhands,alonglineofpoordwellingsandthatchedcottages,whichbordersthegrandroadonbothsidesforhalfaleague;atail(queue),inshort,asitsnameimports。 Fleur-de-Lyswashislastpassionbutone,aprettygirl,acharmingdowry;accordingly,onefinemorning,quitecured,andassumingthat,afterthelapseoftwomonths,theBohemianaffairmustbecompletelyfinishedandforgotten,theamorouscavalierarrivedonaprancinghorseatthedooroftheGondelauriermansion。 HepaidnoattentiontoatolerablynumerousrabblewhichhadassembledinthePlaceduParvis,beforetheportalofNotre-Dame;herememberedthatitwasthemonthofMay; hesupposedthatitwassomeprocession,somePentecost,somefestival,hitchedhishorsetotheringatthedoor,andgaylyascendedthestairstohisbeautifulbetrothed。 Shewasalonewithhermother。 Thesceneofthewitch,hergoat,hercursedalphabet,andPhoebus’slongabsences,stillweighedonFleur-de-Lys’sheart。 Nevertheless,whenshebeheldhercaptainenter,shethoughthimsohandsome,hisdoubletsonew,hisbaldricksoshining,andhisairsoimpassioned,thatsheblushedwithpleasure。 Thenobledamselherselfwasmorecharmingthanever。Hermagnificentblondhairwasplaitedinaravishingmanner,shewasdressedentirelyinthatskybluewhichbecomesfairpeoplesowell,abitofcoquetrywhichshehadlearnedfromColombe,andhereyeswereswimminginthatlanguoroflovewhichbecomesthemstillbetter。 Phoebus,whohadseennothinginthelineofbeauty,sinceheleftthevillagemaidsofQueue-en-Brie,wasintoxicatedwithFleur-de-Lys,whichimpartedtoourofficersoeagerandgallantanair,thathispeacewasimmediatelymade。MadamedeGondelaurierherself,stillmaternallyseatedinherbigarm- chair,hadnotthehearttoscoldhim。AsforFleur-de-Lys’sreproaches,theyexpiredintendercooings。 TheyounggirlwasseatednearthewindowstillembroideringhergrottoofNeptune。Thecaptainwasleaningoverthebackofherchair,andshewasaddressinghercaressingreproachestohiminalowvoice。 \"Whathasbecomeofyouthesetwolongmonths,wickedman?\" \"Isweartoyou,\"repliedPhoebus,somewhatembarrassedbythequestion,\"thatyouarebeautifulenoughtosetanarchbishoptodreaming。\" Shecouldnotrepressasmile。 \"Good,good,sir。Letmybeautyaloneandanswermyquestion。Afinebeauty,insooth!\" \"Well,mydearcousin,Iwasrecalledtothegarrison。 \"Andwhereisthat,ifyouplease?andwhydidnotyoucometosayfarewell?\" \"AtQueue-en-Brie。\" Phoebuswasdelightedwiththefirstquestion,whichhelpedhimtoavoidthesecond。 \"Butthatisquitecloseby,monsieur。Whydidyounotcometoseemeasingletime?\" HerePhoebuswasratherseriouslyembarrassed。 \"Because——theservice——andthen,charmingcousin,Ihavebeenill。\" \"Ill!\"sherepeatedinalarm。 \"Yes,wounded!\" \"Wounded!\" Shepoorchildwascompletelyupset。 \"Oh!donotbefrightenedatthat,\"saidPhoebus,carelessly,\"itwasnothing。Aquarrel,aswordcut;whatisthattoyou?\" \"Whatisthattome?\"exclaimedFleur-de-Lys,raisingherbeautifuleyesfilledwithtears。\"Oh!youdonotsaywhatyouthinkwhenyouspeakthus。Whatswordcutwasthat? Iwishtoknowall。\" \"Well,mydearfairone,IhadafallingoutwithMahèFédy,youknow?thelieutenantofSaint-Germain-en-Laye,andwerippedopenafewinchesofskinforeachother。Thatisall。\" Themendaciouscaptainwasperfectlywellawarethatanaffairofhonoralwaysmakesamanstandwellintheeyesofawoman。Infact,Fleur-de-Lyslookedhimfullintheface,allagitatedwithfear,pleasure,andadmiration。Still,shewasnotcompletelyreassured。 \"Providedthatyouarewhollycured,myPhoebus!\"saidshe。\"IdonotknowyourMahèFédy,butheisavillanousman。Andwhencearosethisquarrel?\" HerePhoebus,whoseimaginationwasendowedwithbutmediocrepowerofcreation,begantofindhimselfinaquandaryastoameansofextricatinghimselfforhisprowess。 \"Oh!howdoIknow?——amerenothing,ahorse,aremark! Faircousin,\"heexclaimed,forthesakeofchangingtheconversation,\"whatnoiseisthisintheCathedralSquare?\" Heapproachedthewindow。 \"Oh!~MonDieu~,faircousin,howmanypeoplethereareonthePlace!\" \"Iknownot,\"saidFleur-de-Lys;\"itappearsthatawitchistodopenancethismorningbeforethechurch,andthereaftertobehung。\" ThecaptainwassothoroughlypersuadedthatlaEsmeralda’saffairwasconcluded,thathewasbutlittledisturbedbyFleur- de-Lys’swords。Still,heaskedheroneortwoquestions。 \"Whatisthenameofthiswitch?\" \"Idonotknow,\"shereplied。 \"Andwhatisshesaidtohavedone?\" Sheshruggedherwhiteshoulders。 \"Iknownot。\" \"Oh,~monDieu~Jesus!\"saidhermother;\"therearesomanywitchesnowadaysthatIdaresaytheyburnthemwithoutknowingtheirnames。Onemightaswellseekthenameofeverycloudinthesky。Afterall,onemaybetranquil。 ThegoodGodkeepshisregister。\"Herethevenerabledameroseandcametothewindow。\"GoodLord!youareright,Phoebus,\"saidshe。\"Therabbleisindeedgreat。Therearepeopleonalltheroofs,blessedbeGod!Doyouknow,Phoebus,thisremindsmeofmybestdays。TheentranceofKingCharlesVII。,when,also,thereweremanypeople。Inolongerrememberinwhatyearthatwas。WhenIspeakofthistoyou,itproducesuponyoutheeffect,——doesitnot?——theeffectofsomethingveryold,anduponmeofsomethingveryyoung。Oh!thecrowdwasfarfinerthanatthepresentday。 TheyevenstooduponthemachicolationsofthePorteSainte- Antoine。Thekinghadthequeenonapillion,andaftertheirhighnessescamealltheladiesmountedbehindallthelords。Irememberthattheylaughedloudly,becausebesideAmanyondeGarlande,whowasveryshortofstature,thererodetheSireMatefelon,achevalierofgiganticsize,whohadkilledheapsofEnglish。Itwasveryfine。AprocessionofallthegentlemenofFrance,withtheiroriflammeswavingredbeforetheeye。Thereweresomewithpennonsandsomewithbanners。HowcanItell?theSiredeCalmwithapennon;JeandeChateaumorantwithabanner;theSiredeCourcywithabanner,andamoreampleonethananyoftheothersexcepttheDucdeBourbon。Alas!’tisasadthingtothinkthatallthathasexistedandexistsnolonger!\" Thetwoloverswerenotlisteningtothevenerabledowager。Phoebushadreturnedandwasleaningonthebackofhisbetrothed’schair,acharmingpostwhencehislibertineglanceplungedintoalltheopeningsofFleur-de-Lys’sgorget。 Thisgorgetgapedsoconveniently,andallowedhimtoseesomanyexquisitethingsandtodivinesomanymore,thatPhoebus,dazzledbythisskinwithitsgleamsofsatin,saidtohimself,\"Howcananyoneloveanythingbutafairskin?\" Bothweresilent。Theyounggirlraisedsweet,enrapturedeyestohimfromtimetotime,andtheirhairmingledinarayofspringsunshine。 \"Phoebus,\"saidFleur-de-Lyssuddenly,inalowvoice,\"wearetobemarriedthreemonthshence;sweartomethatyouhaveneverlovedanyotherwomanthanmyself。\" \"Iswearit,fairangel!\"repliedPhoebus,andhispassionateglancesaidedthesinceretoneofhisvoiceinconvincingFleur-de-Lys。 Meanwhile,thegoodmother,charmedtoseethebetrothedpairontermsofsuchperfectunderstanding,hadjustquittedtheapartmenttoattendtosomedomesticmatter;Phoebusobservedit,andthissoemboldenedtheadventurouscaptainthatverystrangeideasmountedtohisbrain。Fleur-de-Lyslovedhim,hewasherbetrothed;shewasalonewithhim; hisformertasteforherhadre-awakened,notwithallitsfresh- nessbutwithallitsardor;afterall,thereisnogreatharmintastingone’swheatwhileitisstillintheblade;Idonotknowwhethertheseideaspassedthroughhismind,butonethingiscertain,thatFleur-de-Lyswassuddenlyalarmedbytheexpressionofhisglance。Shelookedroundandsawthathermotherwasnolongerthere。 \"Goodheavens!\"saidshe,blushinganduneasy,\"howverywarmIam?\" \"Ithink,infact,\"repliedPhoebus,\"thatitcannotbefarfrommidday。Thesunistroublesome。Weneedonlylowerthecurtains。\" \"No,no,\"exclaimedthepoorlittlething,\"onthecontrary,Ineedair。\" Andlikeafawnwhofeelsthebreathofthepackofhounds,sherose,rantothewindow,openedit,andrusheduponthebalcony。 Phoebus,muchdiscomfited,followedher。 ThePlaceduParvisNotre-Dame,uponwhichthebalconylooked,asthereaderknows,presentedatthatmomentasingularandsinisterspectaclewhichcausedthefrightofthetimidFleur-de-Lystochangeitsnature。 Animmensecrowd,whichoverflowedintoalltheneighboringstreets,encumberedthePlace,properlyspeaking。Thelittlewall,breasthigh,whichsurroundedthePlace,wouldnothavesufficedtokeepitfreehaditnotbeenlinedwithathickhedgeofsergeantsandhackbuteers,culverinesinhand。Thankstothisthicketofpikesandarquebuses,theParviswasempty。Itsentrancewasguardedbyaforceofhalberdierswiththearmorialbearingsofthebishop。Thelargedoorsofthechurchwereclosed,andformedacontrastwiththeinnumerablewindowsonthePlace,which,opentotheirverygables,allowedaviewofthousandsofheadsheapedupalmostlikethepilesofbulletsinaparkofartillery。 Thesurfaceofthisrabblewasdingy,dirty,earthy。Thespectaclewhichitwasexpectingwasevidentlyoneofthesortwhichpossesstheprivilegeofbringingoutandcallingtogetherthevilestamongthepopulace。Nothingissohideousasthenoisewhichwasmadebythatswarmofyellowcapsanddirtyheads。Inthatthrongthereweremorelaughsthancries,morewomenthanmen。 Fromtimetotime,asharpandvibratingvoicepiercedthegeneralclamor。 \"Ohé!MahietBaliffre!Isshetobehungyonder?\" \"Fool!t’isherethatsheistomakeherapologyinhershift!thegoodGodisgoingtocoughLatininherface! Thatisalwaysdonehere,atmidday。If’tisthegallowsthatyouwish,gototheGrève。\" \"Iwillgothere,afterwards。\" \"Tellme,laBoucanbry?Isittruethatshehasrefusedaconfessor?\" \"Itappearsso,LaBechaigne。\" \"Youseewhatapagansheis!\" \"’Tisthecustom,monsieur。Thebailiffofthecourtsisboundtodeliverthemalefactorreadyjudgedforexecutionifhebealayman,totheprovostofParis;ifaclerk,totheofficialofthebishopric。\" \"Thankyou,sir。\" \"Oh,God!\"saidFleur-de-Lys,\"thepoorcreature!\" Thisthoughtfilledwithsadnesstheglancewhichshecastuponthepopulace。Thecaptain,muchmoreoccupiedwithherthanwiththatpackoftherabble,wasamorouslyrumplinghergirdlebehind。Sheturnedround,entreatingandsmiling。 \"Pleaseletmealone,Phoebus!Ifmymotherweretoreturn,shewouldseeyourhand!\" Atthatmoment,middayrangslowlyoutfromtheclockofNotre-Dame。Amurmurofsatisfactionbrokeoutinthecrowd。Thelastvibrationofthetwelfthstrokehadhardlydiedawaywhenallheadssurgedlikethewavesbeneathasquall,andanimmenseshoutwentupfromthepavement,thewindows,andtheroofs,\"Theresheis!\" Fleur-de-Lyspressedherhandstohereyes,thatshemightnotsee。 \"Charminggirl,\"saidPhoebus,\"doyouwishtowithdraw?\" \"No,\"shereplied;andsheopenedthroughcuriosity,theeyeswhichshehadclosedthroughfear。 AtumbreldrawnbyastoutNormanhorse,andallsurroundedbycavalryinvioletliverywithwhitecrosses,hadjustdeboucheduponthePlacethroughtheRueSaint-Pierre- aux-Boeufs。Thesergeantsofthewatchwereclearingapassageforitthroughthecrowd,bystoutblowsfromtheirclubs。 Besidethecartrodeseveralofficersofjusticeandpolice,recognizablebytheirblackcostumeandtheirawkwardnessinthesaddle。MasterJacquesCharmolueparadedattheirhead。 Inthefatalcartsatayounggirlwithherarmstiedbehindherback,andwithnopriestbesideher。Shewasinhershift; herlongblackhair(thefashionthenwastocutitoffonlyatthefootofthegallows)fellindisorderuponherhalf-baredthroatandshoulders。 Athwartthatwavinghair,moreglossythantheplumageofaraven,athick,rough,grayropewasvisible,twistedandknotted,chafingherdelicatecollar-bonesandtwiningroundthecharmingneckofthepoorgirl,likeanearthwormroundaflower。Beneaththatropeglitteredatinyamuletornamentedwithbitsofgreenglass,whichhadbeenlefttohernodoubt,becausenothingisrefusedtothosewhoareabouttodie。Thespectatorsinthewindowscouldseeinthebottomofthecarthernakedlegswhichshestrovetohidebeneathher,asbyafinalfeminineinstinct。Atherfeetlayalittlegoat,bound。Thecondemnedgirlheldtogetherwithherteethherimperfectlyfastenedshift。Onewouldhavesaidthatshesufferedstillmoreinhermiseryfrombeingthusexposedalmostnakedtotheeyesofall。Alas!modestyisnotmadeforsuchshocks。 \"Jesus!\"saidFleur-de-Lyshastilytothecaptain。\"Lookfaircousin,’tisthatwretchedBohemianwiththegoat。\" Sosaying,sheturnedtoPhoebus。Hiseyeswerefixedonthetumbrel。Hewasverypale。 \"WhatBohemianwiththegoat?\"hestammered。 \"What!\"resumedFleur-de-Lys,\"doyounotremember?\" Phoebusinterruptedher。 \"Idonotknowwhatyoumean。\" Hemadeasteptore-entertheroom,butFleur-de-Lys,whosejealousy,previouslysovividlyarousedbythissamegypsy,hadjustbeenre-awakened,Fleur-de-Lysgavehimalookfullofpenetrationanddistrust。Shevaguelyrecalledatthatmomenthavingheardofacaptainmixedupinthetrialofthatwitch。 \"Whatisthematterwithyou?\"shesaidtoPhoebus,\"onewouldsay,thatthiswomanhaddisturbedyou。\" Phoebusforcedasneer,—— \"Me!Nottheleastintheworld!Ah!yes,certainly!\" \"Remain,then!\"shecontinuedimperiously,\"andletusseetheend。\" Theunluckycaptainwasobligedtoremain。Hewassomewhatreassuredbythefactthatthecondemnedgirlneverremovedhereyesfromthebottomofthecart。ItwasbuttoosurelylaEsmeralda。Inthislaststageofopprobriumandmisfortune,shewasstillbeautiful;hergreatblackeyesappearedstilllarger,becauseoftheemaciationofhercheeks; herpaleprofilewaspureandsublime。Sheresembledwhatshehadbeen,inthesamedegreethatavirginbyMasaccio,resemblesavirginofRaphael,——weaker,thinner,moredelicate。 Moreover,therewasnothinginherwhichwasnotshakeninsomesort,andwhichwiththeexceptionofhermodesty,shedidnotletgoatwill,soprofoundlyhadshebeenbrokenbystuporanddespair。Herbodyboundedateveryjoltofthetumbrellikeadeadorbrokenthing;hergazewasdullandimbecile。Atearwasstillvisibleinhereyes,butmotionlessandfrozen,sotospeak。 Meanwhile,thelugubriouscavalcadehastraversedthecrowdamidcriesofjoyandcuriousattitudes。Butasafaithfulhistorian,wemuststatethatonbeholdinghersobeautiful,sodepressed,manyweremovedwithpity,evenamongthehardestofthem。 ThetumbrelhadenteredtheParvis。 Ithaltedbeforethecentralportal。Theescortrangedthemselvesinlineonbothsides。Thecrowdbecamesilent,and,inthemidstofthissilencefullofanxietyandsolemnity,thetwoleavesofthegranddoorswungback,asofthemselves,ontheirhinges,whichgaveacreaklikethesoundofafife。Thentherebecamevisibleinallitslength,thedeep,gloomychurch,hunginblack,sparelylightedwithafewcandlesgleamingafaroffontheprincipalaltar,openedinthemidstofthePlacewhichwasdazzlingwithlight,likethemouthofacavern。Attheveryextremity,inthegloomoftheapse,agiganticsilvercrosswasvisibleagainstablackdraperywhichhungfromthevaulttothepavement。Thewholenavewasdeserted。Butafewheadsofpriestscouldbeseenmovingconfusedlyinthedistantchoirstalls,and,atthemomentwhenthegreatdooropened,thereescapedfromthechurchaloud,solemn,andmonotonouschanting,whichcastovertheheadofthecondemnedgirl,ingusts,fragmentsofmelancholypsalms,—— \"~Nontimebomilliapopulicircumdantisme:exsurge,Domine; salvummefac,Deus~!\" \"~Salvummefac,Deus,quoniamintraveruntaquoeusqueadanimammeam~。 \"~Infixussuminlimoprofundi;etnonestsubstantia~。\" Atthesametime,anothervoice,separatefromthechoir,intoneduponthestepsofthechiefaltar,thismelancholyoffertory,- \"~Quiverbummeumaudit,etcrediteiquimisitme,habetvitamoeternametinjudiciumnonvenit;sedtransitamorteimvitam~*。\" *\"HethathearethmywordandbelievethonHimthatsentme,hatheternallife,andhathnotcomeintocondemnation;butispassedfromdeathtolife。\" Thischant,whichafewoldmenburiedinthegloomsangfromafaroverthatbeautifulcreature,fullofyouthandlife,caressedbythewarmairofspring,inundatedwithsunlightwasthemassforthedead。 Thepeoplelisteneddevoutly。 Theunhappygirlseemedtolosehersightandherconsciousnessintheobscureinteriorofthechurch。Herwhitelipsmovedasthoughinprayer,andtheheadsman’sassistantwhoapproachedtoassisthertoalightfromthecart,heardherrepeatingthiswordinalowtone,——\"Phoebus。\" Theyuntiedherhands,madeheralight,accompaniedbyhergoat,whichhadalsobeenunbound,andwhichbleatedwithjoyatfindingitselffree:andtheymadeherwalkbarefootonthehardpavementtothefootofthestepsleadingtothedoor。 Theropeabouthernecktrailedbehindher。Onewouldhavesaiditwasaserpentfollowingher。 Thenthechantinginthechurchceased。Agreatgoldencrossandarowofwaxcandlesbegantomovethroughthegloom。Thehalberdsofthemotleybeadlesclanked;and,afewmomentslater,alongprocessionofpriestsinchasubles,anddeaconsindalmatics,marchedgravelytowardsthecondemnedgirl,astheydrawledtheirsong,spreadoutbeforeherviewandthatofthecrowd。Butherglancerestedontheonewhomarchedatthehead,immediatelyafterthecross-bearer。 \"Oh!\"shesaidinalowvoice,andwithashudder,\"’tisheagain!thepriest!\" Itwasinfact,thearchdeacon。Onhislefthehadthesub- chanter,onhisright,thechanter,armedwithhisofficialwand。Headvancedwithheadthrownback,hiseyesfixedandwideopen,intoninginastrongvoice,—— \"~Deventreinfericlamavi,etexaudistivocemmeam~。 \"~Etprojecistimeinprofundumincordemans,etflumemcircumdeditme~*。\" *\"OutofthebellyofhellcriedI,andthouheardestmyvoice。Forthouhadstcastmeintothedeepinthemidstoftheseas,andthefloodscompassedmeabout。\" Atthemomentwhenhemadehisappearanceinthefulldaylightbeneaththeloftyarchedportal,envelopedinanamplecopeofsilverbarredwithablackcross,hewassopalethatmorethanonepersoninthecrowdthoughtthatoneofthemarblebishopswhokneltonthesepulchralstonesofthechoirhadrisenandwascometoreceiveuponthebrinkofthetomb,thewomanwhowasabouttodie。 She,nolesspale,nolesslikeastatue,hadhardlynoticedthattheyhadplacedinherhandaheavy,lightedcandleofyellowwax;shehadnotheardtheyelpingvoiceoftheclerkreadingthefatalcontentsoftheapology;whentheytoldhertorespondwithAmen,sherespondedAmen。Sheonlyrecoveredlifeandforcewhenshebeheldthepriestmakeasigntoherguardstowithdraw,andhimselfadvancealonetowardsher。 Thenshefeltherbloodboilinherhead,andaremnantofindignationflashedupinthatsoulalreadybenumbedandcold。 Thearchdeaconapproachedherslowly;eveninthatextremity,shebeheldhimcastaneyesparklingwithsensuality,jealousy,anddesire,overherexposedform。Thenhesaidaloud,—— \"Younggirl,haveyouaskedGod’spardonforyourfaultsandshortcomings?\" Hebentdowntoherear,andadded(thespectatorssupposedthathewasreceivingherlastconfession):\"Willyouhaveme?Icanstillsaveyou!\" Shelookedintentlyathim:\"Begone,demon,orIwilldenounceyou!\" Hegaveventtoahorriblesmile:\"Youwillnotbebelieved。 Youwillonlyaddascandaltoacrime。Replyquickly!Willyouhaveme?\" \"WhathaveyoudonewithmyPhoebus?\" \"Heisdead!\"saidthepriest。 AtthatmomentthewretchedarchdeaconraisedhisheadmechanicallyandbeheldattheotherendofthePlace,inthebalconyoftheGondelauriermansion,thecaptainstandingbesideFleur-de-Lys。Hestaggered,passedhishandacrosshiseyes,lookedagain,mutteredacurse,andallhisfeatureswereviolentlycontorted。 \"Well,diethen!\"hehissedbetweenhisteeth。\"Nooneshallhaveyou。\"Then,raisinghishandoverthegypsy,heexclaimedinafunerealvoice:——\"~Inunc,animaanceps,etsittibiDeusmisenicors~!\"* *\"Gonow,soul,tremblinginthebalance,andGodhavemercyuponthee。\" Thiswasthedreadformulawithwhichitwasthecustomtoconcludethesegloomyceremonies。Itwasthesignalagreeduponbetweenthepriestandtheexecutioner。 Thecrowdknelt。 \"~Kyrieeleison~,\"*saidthepriests,whohadremainedbeneaththearchoftheportal。 *\"Lordhavemercyuponus。\" \"~Kyrieeleison~,\"repeatedthethronginthatmurmurwhichrunsoverallheads,likethewavesofatroubledsea。 \"Amen,\"saidthearchdeacon。 Heturnedhisbackonthecondemnedgirl,hisheadsankuponhisbreastoncemore,hecrossedhishandsandrejoinedhisescortofpriests,andamomentlaterhewasseentodisappear,withthecross,thecandles,andthecopes,beneaththemistyarchesofthecathedral,andhissonorousvoicewasextinguishedbydegreesinthechoir,ashechantedthisverseofdespair,—— \"~Omnesgurgitestuietfluctustuisupermetransierunt。\"* *\"Allthywavesandthybillowshavegoneoverme。\" Atthesametime,theintermittentclashoftheironbuttsofthebeadles’halberds,graduallydyingawayamongthecolumnsofthenave,producedtheeffectofaclockhammerstrikingthelasthourofthecondemned。 ThedoorsofNotre-Dameremainedopen,allowingaviewoftheemptydesolatechurch,drapedinmourning,withoutcandles,andwithoutvoices。 Thecondemnedgirlremainedmotionlessinherplace,waitingtobedisposedof。OneofthesergeantsofpolicewasobligedtonotifyMasterCharmolueofthefact,asthelatter,duringthisentirescene,hadbeenengagedinstudyingthebas-reliefofthegrandportalwhichrepresents,accordingtosome,thesacrificeofAbraham;accordingtoothers,thephilosopher’salchemicaloperation:thesunbeingfiguredforthbytheangel;thefire,bythefagot;theartisan,byAbraham。 Therewasconsiderabledifficultyindrawinghimawayfromthatcontemplation,butatlengthheturnedround;and,atasignalwhichhegave,twomencladinyellow,theexecutioner’sassistants,approachedthegypsytobindherhandsoncemore。 Theunhappycreature,atthemomentofmountingonceagainthefatalcart,andproceedingtoherlasthalting-place,wasseized,possibly,withsomepoignantclingingtolife。 Sheraisedherdry,redeyestoheaven,tothesun,tothesilveryclouds,cuthereandtherebyabluetrapeziumortriangle;thensheloweredthemtoobjectsaroundher,totheearth,thethrong,thehouses;allatonce,whiletheyellowmanwasbindingherelbows,sheutteredaterriblecry,acryofjoy。Yonder,onthatbalcony,atthecornerofthePlace,shehadjustcaughtsightofhim,ofherfriend,herlord,Phoebus,theotherapparitionofherlife! Thejudgehadlied!thepriesthadlied!itwascertainlyhe,shecouldnotdoubtit;hewasthere,handsome,alive,dressedinhisbrilliantuniform,hisplumeonhishead,hisswordbyhisside! \"Phoebus!\"shecried,\"myPhoebus!\" Andshetriedtostretchtowardshimarmstremblingwithloveandrapture,buttheywerebound。 Thenshesawthecaptainfrown,abeautifulyounggirlwhowasleaningagainsthimgazedathimwithdisdainfullipsandirritatedeyes;thenPhoebusutteredsomewordswhichdidnotreachher,andbothdisappearedprecipitatelybehindthewindowopeninguponthebalcony,whichclosedafterthem。 \"Phoebus!\"shecriedwildly,\"canitbeyoubelieveit?\" Amonstrousthoughthadjustpresenteditselftoher。SherememberedthatshehadbeencondemnedtodeathformurdercommittedonthepersonofPhoebusdeChateaupers。 Shehadborneupuntilthatmoment。Butthislastblowwastooharsh。Shefelllifelessonthepavement。 \"Come,\"saidCharmolue,\"carryhertothecart,andmakeanendofit。\" Noonehadyetobservedinthegalleryofthestatuesofthekings,carveddirectlyabovethearchesoftheportal,astrangespectator,whohad,uptothattime,observedeverythingwithsuchimpassiveness,withanecksostrained,avisagesohideousthat,inhismotleyaccoutrementofredandviolet,hemighthavebeentakenforoneofthosestonemonstersthroughwhosemouthsthelongguttersofthecathedralhavedischargedtheirwatersforsixhundredyears。ThisspectatorhadmissednothingthathadtakenplacesincemiddayinfrontoftheportalofNotre-Dame。Andattheverybeginninghehadsecurelyfastenedtooneofthesmallcolumnsalargeknottedrope,oneendofwhichtrailedontheflightofstepsbelow。Thisbeingdone,hebegantolookontranquilly,whistlingfromtimetotimewhenablackbirdflittedpast。 Suddenly,atthemomentwhenthesuperintendent’sassistantswerepreparingtoexecuteCharmolue’sphlegmaticorder,hethrewhislegoverthebalustradeofthegallery,seizedtheropewithhisfeet,hiskneesandhishands;thenhewasseentoglidedownthefa?ade,asadropofrainslipsdownawindow- pane,rushtothetwoexecutionerswiththeswiftnessofacatwhichhasfallenfromaroof,knockthemdownwithtwoenormousfists,pickupthegypsywithonehand,asachildwouldherdoll,anddashbackintothechurchwithasinglebound,liftingtheyounggirlabovehisheadandcryinginaformidablevoice,—— \"Sanctuary!\" Thiswasdonewithsuchrapidity,thathadittakenplaceatnight,thewholeofitcouldhavebeenseeninthespaceofasingleflashoflightning。 \"Sanctuary!Sanctuary!\"repeatedthecrowd;andtheclappingoftenthousandhandsmadeQuasimodo’ssingleeyesparklewithjoyandpride。 Thisshockrestoredthecondemnedgirltohersenses。Sheraisedhereyelids,lookedatQuasimodo,thenclosedthemagainsuddenly,asthoughterrifiedbyherdeliverer。 Charmoluewasstupefied,aswellastheexecutionersandtheentireescort。Infact,withintheboundsofNotre-Dame,thecondemnedgirlcouldnotbetouched。Thecathedralwasaplaceofrefuge。Alltemporaljurisdictionexpireduponitsthreshold。 Quasimodohadhaltedbeneaththegreatportal,hishugefeetseemedassolidonthepavementofthechurchastheheavyRomanpillars。Hisgreat,bushyheadsatlowbetweenhisshoulders,liketheheadsoflions,whoalsohaveamaneandnoneck。Heheldtheyounggirl,whowasquiveringallover,suspendedfromhishornyhandslikeawhitedrapery; buthecarriedherwithasmuchcareasthoughhefearedtobreakherorblighther。Onewouldhavesaidthathefeltthatshewasadelicate,exquisite,preciousthing,madeforotherhandsthanhis。Thereweremomentswhenhelookedasifnotdaringtotouchher,evenwithhisbreath。Then,allatonce,hewouldpressherforciblyinhisarms,againsthisangularbosom,likehisownpossession,histreasure,asthemotherofthatchildwouldhavedone。Hisgnome’seye,fasteneduponher,inundatedherwithtenderness,sadness,andpity,andwassuddenlyraisedfilledwithlightnings。Thenthewomenlaughedandwept,thecrowdstampedwithenthusiasm,for,atthatmomentQuasimodohadabeautyofhisown。Hewashandsome;he,thatorphan,thatfoundling,thatoutcast,hefelthimselfaugustandstrong,hegazedinthefaceofthatsocietyfromwhichhewasbanished,andinwhichhehadsopowerfullyintervened,ofthathumanjusticefromwhichhehadwrencheditsprey,ofallthosetigerswhosejawswereforcedtoremainempty,ofthosepolicemen,thosejudges,thoseexecutioners,ofallthatforceofthekingwhichhe,themeanestofcreatures,hadjustbroken,withtheforceofGod。 Andthen,itwastouchingtobeholdthisprotectionwhichhadfallenfromabeingsohideousuponabeingsounhappy,acreaturecondemnedtodeathsavedbyQuasimodo。Theyweretwoextremesofnaturalandsocialwretchedness,comingintocontactandaidingeachother。 Meanwhile,afterseveralmomentsoftriumph,Quasimodohadplungedabruptlyintothechurchwithhisburden。Thepopulace,fondofallprowess,soughthimwiththeireyes,beneaththegloomynave,regrettingthathehadsospeedilydisappearedfromtheiracclamations。Allatonce,hewasseentore-appearatoneoftheextremitiesofthegalleryofthekingsofFrance;hetraversedit,runninglikeamadman,raisinghisconquesthighinhisarmsandshouting:\"Sanctuary!\" Thecrowdbrokeforthintofreshapplause。Thegallerypassed,heplungedoncemoreintotheinteriorofthechurch。Amomentlater,here-appearedupontheupperplatform,withthegypsystillinhisarms,stillrunningmadly,stillcrying,\"Sanctuary!\"andthethrongapplauded。 Finally,hemadehisappearanceforthethirdtimeuponthesummitofthetowerwherehungthegreatbell;fromthatpointheseemedtobeshowingtotheentirecitythegirlwhomhehadsaved,andhisvoiceofthunder,thatvoicewhichwassorarelyheard,andwhichheneverheardhimself,repeatedthricewithfrenzy,eventotheclouds:\"Sanctuary! Sanctuary!Sanctuary!\" \"Noel!Noel!\"shoutedthepopulaceinitsturn;andthatimmenseacclamationflewtoastonishthecrowdassembledattheGrèveontheotherbank,andthereclusewhowasstillwaitingwithhereyesrivetedonthegibbet。 BOOKNINTH。