第45章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"JEAN VALJEAN",免费读到尾

  Forthesecondtime,hestoppedshort。

  \"Hullo,\"saidhe,\"it’shim。Goodday,publicorder。\"

  Gavroche’samazementwasalwaysbriefandspeedilythawed。

  \"Whereareyougoing,yourascal?\"shoutedthesergeant。

  \"Citizen,\"retortedGavroche,\"Ihaven’tcalledyou`bourgeois’yet。

  Whydoyouinsultme?\"

  \"Whereareyougoing,yourogue?\"

  \"Monsieur,\"retortedGavroche,\"perhapsyouwereamanofwityesterday,butyouhavedegeneratedthismorning。\"

  \"Iaskyouwhereareyougoing,youvillain?\"

  Gavrochereplied:——

  \"Youspeakprettily。Really,noonewouldsupposeyouasoldasyouare。Yououghttosellallyourhairatahundredfrancsapiece。

  Thatwouldyieldyoufivehundredfrancs。\"

  \"Whereareyougoing?Whereareyougoing?Whereareyougoing,bandit?\"

  Gavrocheretortedagain:——

  \"Whatvillainouswords!Youmustwipeyourmouthbetterthefirsttimethattheygiveyousuck。\"

  Thesergeantloweredhisbayonet。

  \"Willyoutellmewhereyouaregoing,youwretch?\"

  \"General,\"saidGavroche\"I’monmywaytolookforadoctorformywifewhoisinlabor。\"

  \"Toarms!\"shoutedthesergeant。

  Themaster—strokeofstrongmenconsistsinsavingthemselvesbytheverymeansthathaveruinedthem;Gavrochetookinthewholesituationataglance。Itwasthecartwhichhadtoldagainsthim,itwasthecart’splacetoprotecthim。

  AtthemomentwhenthesergeantwasonthepointofmakinghisdescentonGavroche,thecart,convertedintoaprojectileandlaunchedwithallthelatter’smight,rolleddownuponhimfuriously,andthesergeant,struckfullinthestomach,tumbledoverbackwardsintothegutterwhilehisgunwentoffintheair。

  Themenoftheposthadrushedoutpell—mellatthesergeant’sshout;

  theshotbroughtonageneralrandomdischarge,afterwhichtheyreloadedtheirweaponsandbeganagain。

  Thisblind—man’s—buffmusketrylastedforaquarterofanhourandkilledseveralpanesofglass。

  Inthemeanwhile,Gavroche,whohadretracedhisstepsatfullspeed,haltedfiveorsixstreetsdistantandseatedhimself,panting,onthestonepostwhichformsthecorneroftheEnfants—Rouges。

  Helistened。

  Afterpantingforafewminutes,heturnedinthedirectionwherethefusilladewasraging,liftedhislefthandtoalevelwithhisnoseandthrustitforwardthreetimes,asheslappedthebackofhisheadwithhisrighthand;animperiousgestureinwhichParisianstreet—urchindomhascondensedFrenchirony,andwhichisevidentlyefficacious,sinceithasalreadylastedhalfacentury。

  Thisgayetywastroubledbyonebitterreflection。

  \"Yes,\"saidhe,\"I’msplittingwithlaughter,I’mtwistingwithdelight,Iaboundinjoy,butI’mlosingmyway,Ishallhavetotakearoundaboutway。IfIonlyreachthebarricadeinseason!\"

  Thereuponhesetoutagainonarun。

  Andasheran:——

  \"Ah,bytheway,wherewasI?\"saidhe。

  Andheresumedhisditty,asheplungedrapidlythroughthestreets,andthisiswhatdiedawayinthegloom:——

  \"Maisilresteencoredesbastilles,EtjevaismettreleholaDansl’ordepublicquevoila。

  Ouvontlesbellesfilles,Lonla。

  \"Quelqu’unveut—iljouerauxquilles?

  Toutl’ancienmondes’ecroulaQuandlagrossebouleroula。

  Ouvontlesbellesfilles,Lonla。

  \"Vieuxbonpeuple,acoupsdebequilles,CassonsceLouvreous’etalaLamonarchieenfalbala。

  Ouvontlesbellesfilles,Lonla。

  \"Nousenavonsforcelesgrilles,LeroiCharles—Dixcejourla,Tenaitmaletsedecolla。

  Ouvontlesbellesfilles,Lonla。\"[57]

  [57]Butsomeprisonsstillremain,andIamgoingtoputastoptothissortofpublicorder。Doesanyonewishtoplayatskittles?

  Thewholeancientworldfellinruin,whenthebigballrolled。

  Goodoldfolks,letussmashwithourcrutchesthatLouvrewherethemonarchydisplayeditselfinfurbelows。Wehaveforceditsgates。

  Onthatday,KingCharlesX。didnotstickwellandcameunglued。

  Thepost’srecoursetoarmswasnotwithoutresult。Thecartwasconquered,thedrunkenmanwastakenprisoner。Thefirstwasputinthepound,thesecondwaslateronsomewhatharassedbeforethecouncilsofwarasanaccomplice。Thepublicministryofthedayproveditsindefatigablezealinthedefenceofsociety,inthisinstance。

  Gavroche’sadventure,whichhaslingeredasatraditioninthequartersoftheTemple,isoneofthemostterriblesouvenirsoftheelderlybourgeoisoftheMarais,andisentitledintheirmemories:

  \"ThenocturnalattackbythepostoftheRoyalPrintingEstablishment。\"

  [TheendofVolumeIV。\"SaintDenis\"]

  VOLUMEVJEANVALJEAN

  BOOKFIRST。——THEWARBETWEENFOURWALLS

  CHAPTERI

  THECHARYBDISOFTHEFAUBOURGSAINTANTOINEANDTHESCYLLAOFTHE

  FAUBOURGDUTEMPLE

  Thetwomostmemorablebarricadeswhichtheobserverofsocialmaladiescannamedonotbelongtotheperiodinwhichtheactionofthisworkislaid。Thesetwobarricades,bothofthemsymbols,undertwodifferentaspects,ofaredoubtablesituation,sprangfromtheearthatthetimeofthefatalinsurrectionofJune,1848,thegreatestwarofthestreetsthathistoryhaseverbeheld。

  Itsometimeshappensthat,evencontrarytoprinciples,evencontrarytoliberty,equality,andfraternity,evencontrarytotheuniversalvote,evencontrarytothegovernment,byallforall,fromthedepthsofitsanguish,ofitsdiscouragementsanditsdestitutions,ofitsfevers,ofitsdistresses,ofitsmiasmas,ofitsignorances,ofitsdarkness,thatgreatanddespairingbody,therabble,protestsagainst,andthatthepopulacewagesbattleagainst,thepeople。

  Beggarsattackthecommonright;theochlocracyrisesagainstdemos。

  Thesearemelancholydays;forthereisalwaysacertainamountofnighteveninthismadness,thereissuicideinthisduel,andthosewordswhichareintendedtobeinsults——

  beggars,canaille,ochlocracy,populace——exhibit,alas!ratherthefaultofthosewhoreignthanthefaultofthosewhosuffer;

  ratherthefaultoftheprivilegedthanthefaultofthedisinherited。

  Forourownpart,weneverpronouncethosewordswithoutpainandwithoutrespect,forwhenphilosophyfathomsthefactstowhichtheycorrespond,itoftenfindsmanyagrandeurbesidethesemiseries。

  Athenswasanochlocracy;thebeggarswerethemakingofHolland;

  thepopulacesavedRomemorethanonce;andtherabblefollowedJesusChrist。

  Thereisnothinkerwhohasnotattimescontemplatedthemagnificencesofthelowerclasses。

  ItwasofthisrabblethatSaintJeromewasthinking,nodoubt,andofallthesepoorpeopleandallthesevagabondsandallthesemiserablepeoplewhencesprangtheapostlesandthemartyrs,whenheutteredthismysterioussaying:\"Fexurbis,lexorbis,\"——

  thedregsofthecity,thelawoftheearth。

  Theexasperationsofthiscrowdwhichsuffersandbleeds,itsviolencescontrarytoallsense,directedagainsttheprincipleswhichareitslife,itsmasterfuldeedsagainsttheright,areitspopularcoupsd’etatandshouldberepressed。Themanofprobitysacrificeshimself,andoutofhisveryloveforthiscrowd,hecombatsit。Buthowexcusablehefeelsitevenwhileholdingoutagainstit!Howheveneratesitevenwhileresistingit!

  Thisisoneofthoseraremomentswhen,whiledoingthatwhichitisone’sdutytodo,onefeelssomethingwhichdisconcertsone,andwhichwoulddissuadeonefromproceedingfurther;onepersists,itisnecessary,butconscience,thoughsatisfied,issad,andtheaccomplishmentofdutyiscomplicatedwithapainattheheart。

  June,1848,letushastentosay,wasanexceptionalfact,andalmostimpossibleofclassification,inthephilosophyofhistory。

  Allthewordswhichwehavejustuttered,mustbediscarded,whenitbecomesaquestionofthisextraordinaryrevolt,inwhichonefeelstheholyanxietyoftoilclaimingitsrights。Itwasnecessarytocombatit,andthiswasaduty,foritattackedtherepublic。

  ButwhatwasJune,1848,atbottom?Arevoltofthepeopleagainstitself。

  Wherethesubjectisnotlostsightof,thereisnodigression;

  maywe,then,bepermittedtoarrestthereader’sattentionforamomentonthetwoabsolutelyuniquebarricadesofwhichwehavejustspokenandwhichcharacterizedthisinsurrection。

  OneblockedtheentrancetotheFaubourgSaintAntoine;theotherdefendedtheapproachtotheFaubourgduTemple;thosebeforewhomthesetwofearfulmasterpiecesofcivilwarrearedthemselvesbeneaththebrilliantblueskyofJune,willneverforgetthem。

  TheSaint—Antoinebarricadewastremendous;itwasthreestorieshigh,andsevenhundredfeetwide。Itbarredthevastopeningofthefaubourg,thatistosay,threestreets,fromangletoangle;

  ravined,jagged,cutup,divided,crenelated,withanimmenserent,buttressedwithpilesthatwerebastionsinthemselvesthrowingoutcapeshereandthere,powerfullybackedupbytwogreatpromontoriesofhousesofthefaubourg,itreareditselflikeacyclopeandikeattheendoftheformidableplacewhichhadseenthe14thofJuly。

  Nineteenbarricadeswereranged,onebehindtheother,inthedepthsofthestreetsbehindthisprincipalbarricade。Attheverysightofit,onefelttheagonizingsufferingintheimmensefaubourg,whichhadreachedthatpointofextremitywhenadistressmaybecomeacatastrophe。Ofwhatwasthatbarricademade?Oftheruinsofthreesix—storyhousesdemolishedexpressly,saidsome。

  Oftheprodigyofallwraths,saidothers。Itworethelamentableaspectofallconstructionsofhatred,ruin。Itmightbeasked:

  Whobuiltthis?Itmightalsobesaid:Whodestroyedthis?

  Itwastheimprovisationoftheebullition。Hold!takethisdoor!thisgrating!thispenthouse!thischimney—piece!thisbrokenbrazier!thiscrackedpot!Giveall!castawayall!

  Pushthisroll,dig,dismantle,overturn,ruineverything!

  Itwasthecollaborationofthepavement,theblockofstone,thebeam,thebarofiron,therag,thescrap,thebrokenpane,theunseatedchair,thecabbage—stalk,thetatter,therag,andthemalediction。Itwasgrandanditwaspetty。Itwastheabyssparodiedonthepublicplacebyhubbub。Themassbesidetheatom;

  thestripofruinedwallandthebrokenbowl,——threateningfraternizationofeverysortofrubbish。SisyphushadthrownhisrockthereandJobhispotsherd。Terrible,inshort。Itwastheacropolisofthebarefooted。Overturnedcartsbroketheuniformityoftheslope;animmensedraywasspreadouttherecrossways,itsaxlepointingheavenward,andseemedascaronthattumultuousfacade;

  anomnibushoistedgayly,bymainforce,totheverysummitoftheheap,asthoughthearchitectsofthisbitofsavageryhadwishedtoaddatouchofthestreeturchinhumortotheirterror,presenteditshorseless,unharnessedpoletonooneknowswhathorsesoftheair。Thisgiganticheap,thealluviumoftherevolt,figuredtothemindanOssaonPelionofallrevolutions;’93on’89,the9thofThermidoronthe10thofAugust,the18thofBrumaireonthe11thofJanuary,VendemiaireonPrairial,1848on1830。

  ThesituationdeservedthetroubleandthisbarricadewasworthytofigureontheveryspotwhencetheBastillehaddisappeared。

  Iftheoceanmadedikes,itisthusthatitwouldbuild。

  Thefuryofthefloodwasstampeduponthisshapelessmass。

  Whatflood?Thecrowd。Onethoughtonebeheldhubbubpetrified。

  Onethoughtoneheardhummingabovethisbarricadeasthoughtherehadbeenovertheirhive,enormous,darkbeesofviolentprogress。

  Wasitathicket?Wasitabacchanalia?Wasitafortress?

  Vertigoseemedtohaveconstructeditwithblowsofitswings。

  Therewassomethingofthecess—poolinthatredoubtandsomethingOlympianinthatconfusion。Onetherebeheldinapell—mellfullofdespair,theraftersofroofs,bitsofgarretwindowswiththeirfiguredpaper,windowsasheswiththeirglassplantedthereintheruinsawaitingthecannon,wrecksofchimneys,cupboards,tables,benches,howlingtopsyturveydom,andthosethousandpoverty—strickenthings,theveryrefuseofthemendicant,whichcontainatthesametimefuryandnothingness。Onewouldhavesaidthatitwasthetattersofapeople,ragsofwood,ofiron,ofbronze,ofstone,andthattheFaubourgSaintAntoinehadthrustitthereatitsdoor,withacolossalflourishofthebroommakingofitsmiseryitsbarricade。Blocksresemblingheadsman’sblocks,dislocatedchains,piecesofwoodworkwithbracketshavingtheformofgibbets,horizontalwheelsprojectingfromtherubbish,amalgamatedwiththisedificeofanarchythesombrefigureoftheoldtorturesenduredbythepeople。ThebarricadeSaintAntoineconvertedeverythingintoaweapon;everythingthatcivilwarcouldthrowattheheadofsocietyproceededthence;itwasnotcombat,itwasaparoxysm;thecarbineswhichdefendedthisredoubt,amongwhichthereweresomeblunderbusses,sentbitsofearthenwarebones,coat—buttons,eventhecastersfromnight—stands,dangerousprojectilesonaccountofthebrass。Thisbarricadewasfurious;

  ithurledtothecloudsaninexpressibleclamor;atcertainmoments,whenprovokingthearmy,itwascoveredwiththrongsandtempest;

  atumultuouscrowdofflamingheadscrownedit;aswarmfilledit;

  ithadathornycrestofguns,ofsabres,ofcudgels,ofaxes,ofpikesandofbayonets;avastredflagflappedinthewind;

  shoutsofcommand,songsofattack,therollofdrums,thesobsofwomenandburstsofgloomylaughterfromthestarvingweretobeheardthere。Itwashugeandliving,and,likethebackofanelectricbeast,thereproceededfromitlittleflashesoflightning。

  ThespiritofrevolutioncoveredwithitscloudthissummitwhererumbledthatvoiceofthepeoplewhichresemblesthevoiceofGod;

  astrangemajestywasemittedbythistitanicbasketofrubbish。

  ItwasaheapoffilthanditwasSinai。

  Aswehavesaidpreviously,itattackedinthenameoftherevolution——what?Therevolution。It——thatbarricade,chance,hazard,disorder,terror,misunderstanding,theunknown——

  hadfacingittheConstituentAssembly,thesovereigntyofthepeople,universalsuffrage,thenation,therepublic;

  anditwastheCarmagnolebiddingdefiancetotheMarseillaise。

  Immensebutheroicdefiance,fortheoldfaubourgisahero。

  Thefaubourganditsredoubtlenteachotherassistance。Thefaubourgshoulderedtheredoubt,theredoubttookitsstandundercoverofthefaubourg。ThevastbarricadespreadoutlikeacliffagainstwhichthestrategyoftheAfricangeneralsdasheditself。Itscaverns,itsexcrescences,itswarts,itsgibbosities,grimaced,sotospeak,andgrinnedbeneaththesmoke。Themitraillevanishedinshapelessness;

  thebombsplungedintoit;bulletsonlysucceededinmakingholesinit;whatwastheuseofcannonadingchaos?andtheregiments,accustomedtothefiercestvisionsofwar,gazedwithuneasyeyesonthatspeciesofredoubt,awildbeastinitsboar—likebristlingandamountainbyitsenormoussize。

  Aquarterofaleagueaway,fromthecorneroftheRueduTemplewhichdebouchesontheboulevardneartheChateaud’Eau,ifonethrustone’sheadbodilybeyondthepointformedbythefrontoftheDallemagneshop,oneperceivedinthedistance,beyondthecanal,inthestreetwhichmountstheslopesofBellevilleattheculminatingpointoftherise,astrangewallreachingtothesecondstoryofthehousefronts,asortofhyphenbetweenthehousesontherightandthehousesontheleft,asthoughthestreethadfoldedbackonitselfitsloftiestwallinordertocloseitselfabruptly。

  Thiswallwasbuiltofpaving—stones。Itwasstraight,correct,cold,perpendicular,levelledwiththesquare,laidoutbyruleandline。

  Cementwaslacking,ofcourse,but,asinthecaseofcertainRomanwalls,withoutinterferingwithitsrigidarchitecture。

  Theentablaturewasmathematicallyparallelwiththebase。

  Fromdistancetodistance,onecoulddistinguishonthegraysurface,almostinvisibleloopholeswhichresembledblackthreads。

  Theseloopholeswereseparatedfromeachotherbyequalspaces。

  Thestreetwasdesertedasfarastheeyecouldreach。Allwindowsanddoorswereclosed。Inthebackgroundrosethisbarrier,whichmadeablindthoroughfareofthestreet,amotionlessandtranquilwall;

  noonewasvisible,nothingwasaudible;notacry,notasound,notabreath。Asepulchre。

  ThedazzlingsunofJuneinundatedthisterriblethingwithlight。

  ItwasthebarricadeoftheFaubourgoftheTemple。

  Assoonasonearrivedonthespot,andcaughtsightofit,itwasimpossible,evenfortheboldest,nottobecomethoughtfulbeforethismysteriousapparition。Itwasadjusted,jointed,imbricated,rectilinear,symmetricalandfunereal。Scienceandgloommetthere。Onefeltthatthechiefofthisbarricadewasageometricianoraspectre。Onelookedatitandspokelow。

  Fromtimetotime,ifsomesoldier,anofficerorrepresentativeofthepeople,chancedtotraversethedesertedhighway,afaint,sharpwhistlewasheard,andthepasser—byfelldeadorwounded,or,ifheescapedthebullet,sometimesabiscaienwasseentoensconceitselfinsomeclosedshutter,intheintersticebetweentwoblocksofstone,orintheplasterofawall。Forthemeninthebarricadehadmadethemselvestwosmallcannonsoutoftwocast—ironlengthsofgas—pipe,pluggedupatoneendwithtowandfire—clay。

  Therewasnowasteofuselesspowder。Nearlyeveryshottold。

  Therewerecorpseshereandthere,andpoolsofbloodonthepavement。

  Irememberawhitebutterflywhichwentandcameinthestreet。

  Summerdoesnotabdicate。

  Intheneighborhood,thespacesbeneaththeportescochereswereencumberedwithwounded。

  Onefeltoneselfaimedatbysomepersonwhomonedidnotsee,andoneunderstoodthatgunswerelevelledatthewholelengthofthestreet。

  MassedbehindthesortofslopingridgewhichthevaultedcanalformsattheentrancetotheFaubourgduTemple,thesoldiersoftheattackingcolumn,gravelyandthoughtfully,watchedthisdismalredoubt,thisimmobility,thispassivity,whencesprangdeath。

  Somecrawledflatontheirfacesasfarasthecrestofthecurveofthebridge,takingcarethattheirshakosdidnotprojectbeyondit。

  ThevaliantColonelMonteynardadmiredthisbarricadewithashudder。——\"Howthatisbuilt!\"hesaidtoaRepresentative。

  \"Notonepaving—stoneprojectsbeyonditsneighbor。Itismadeofporcelain。\"——Atthatmoment,abulletbrokethecrossonhisbreast,andhefell。

  \"Thecowards!\"peoplesaid。\"Letthemshowthemselves。Letusseethem!Theydarenot!Theyarehiding!\"

  ThebarricadeoftheFaubourgduTemple,defendedbyeightymen,attackedbytenthousand,heldoutforthreedays。Onthefourth,theydidasatZaatcha,asatConstantine,theypiercedthehouses,theycameovertheroofs,thebarricadewastaken。Notoneoftheeightycowardsthoughtofflight,allwerekilledtherewiththeexceptionoftheleader,Barthelemy,ofwhomweshallspeakpresently。

  TheSaint—Antoinebarricadewasthetumultofthunders;thebarricadeoftheTemplewassilence。Thedifferencebetweenthesetworedoubtswasthedifferencebetweentheformidableandthesinister。

  Oneseemedamaw;theotheramask。

  AdmittingthatthegiganticandgloomyinsurrectionofJunewascomposedofawrathandofanenigma,onedivinedinthefirstbarricadethedragon,andbehindthesecondthesphinx。

  Thesetwofortresseshadbeenerectedbytwomennamed,theone,Cournet,theother,Barthelemy。CournetmadetheSaint—Antoinebarricade;BarthelemythebarricadeoftheTemple。

  Eachwastheimageofthemanwhohadbuiltit。

  Cournetwasamanofloftystature;hehadbroadshoulders,aredface,acrushingfist,aboldheart,aloyalsoul,asincereandterribleeye。

  Intrepid,energetic,irascible,stormy;themostcordialofmen,themostformidableofcombatants。War,strife,conflict,weretheveryairhebreathedandputhiminagoodhumor。Hehadbeenanofficerinthenavy,and,fromhisgesturesandhisvoice,onedivinedthathesprangfromtheocean,andthathecamefromthetempest;

  hecarriedthehurricaneonintobattle。Withtheexceptionofthegenius,therewasinCournetsomethingofDanton,as,withtheexceptionofthedivinity,therewasinDantonsomethingofHercules。

  Barthelemy,thin,feeble,pale,taciturn,wasasortoftragicstreeturchin,who,havinghadhisearsboxedbyapoliceman,layinwaitforhim,andkilledhim,andatseventeenwassenttothegalleys。Hecameoutandmadethisbarricade。

  Lateron,fatalcircumstance,inLondon,proscribedbyall,BarthelemyslewCournet。Itwasafunerealduel。Sometimeafterwards,caughtinthegearingofoneofthosemysteriousadventuresinwhichpassionplaysapart,acatastropheinwhichFrenchjusticeseesextenuatingcircumstances,andinwhichEnglishjusticeseesonlydeath,Barthelemywashanged。Thesombresocialconstructionissomadethat,thankstomaterialdestitution,thankstomoralobscurity,thatunhappybeingwhopossessedanintelligence,certainlyfirm,possiblygreat,beganinFrancewiththegalleys,andendedinEnglandwiththegallows。Barthelemy,onoccasion,flewbutoneflag,theblackflag。

  CHAPTERII

  WHATISTOBEDONEINTHEABYSSIFONEDOESNOTCONVERSE

  Sixteenyearscountinthesubterraneaneducationofinsurrection,andJune,1848,knewagreatdealmoreaboutitthanJune,1832。

  SothebarricadeoftheRuedelaChanvreriewasonlyanoutline,andanembryocomparedtothetwocolossalbarricadeswhichwehavejustsketched;butitwasformidableforthatepoch。

  TheinsurgentsundertheeyeofEnjolras,forMariusnolongerlookedafteranything,hadmadegooduseofthenight。Thebarricadehadbeennotonlyrepaired,butaugmented。Theyhadraisedittwofeet。

  Barsofironplantedinthepavementresembledlancesinrest。

  Allsortsofrubbishbroughtandaddedfromalldirectionscomplicatedtheexternalconfusion。Theredoubthadbeencleverlymadeover,intoawallontheinsideandathicketontheoutside。

  Thestaircaseofpaving—stoneswhichpermittedonetomountitlikethewallofacitadelhadbeenreconstructed。

  Thebarricadehadbeenputinorder,thetap—roomdisencumbered,thekitchenappropriatedfortheambulance,thedressingofthewoundedcompleted,thepowderscatteredonthegroundandonthetableshadbeengatheredup,bulletsrun,cartridgesmanufactured,lintscraped,thefallenweaponsre—distributed,theinterioroftheredoubtcleaned,therubbishsweptup,corpsesremoved。

  TheylaidthedeadinaheapintheMondetourlane,ofwhichtheywerestillthemasters。Thepavementwasredforalongtimeatthatspot。

  AmongthedeadtherewerefourNationalGuardsmenofthesuburbs。

  Enjolrashadtheiruniformslaidaside。

  Enjolrashadadvisedtwohoursofsleep。AdvicefromEnjolraswasacommand。Still,onlythreeorfourtookadvantageofit。

  Feuillyemployedthesetwohoursinengravingthisinscriptiononthewallwhichfacedthetavern:——

  LONGLIVETHEPEOPLES!

  Thesefourwords,hollowedoutintheroughstonewithanail,couldbestillreadonthewallin1848。

  Thethreewomenhadprofitedbytherespiteofthenighttovanishdefinitely;whichallowedtheinsurgentstobreathemorefreely。

  Theyhadfoundmeansoftakingrefugeinsomeneighboringhouse。

  Thegreaterpartofthewoundedwereable,andwished,tofightstill。

  Onalitterofmattressesandtrussesofstrawinthekitchen,whichhadbeenconvertedintoanambulance,therewerefivemengravelywounded,twoofwhomweremunicipalguardsmen。Themunicipalguardsmenwereattendedtofirst。

  Inthetap—roomthereremainedonlyMabeufunderhisblackclothandJavertboundtohispost。

  \"Thisisthehallofthedead,\"saidEnjolras。

  Intheinteriorofthishall,barelylightedbyacandleatoneend,themortuarytablebeingbehindthepostlikeahorizontalbar,asortofvast,vaguecrossresultedfromJaverterectandMabeuflyingprone。

  Thepoleoftheomnibus,althoughsnappedoffbythefusillade,wasstillsufficientlyuprighttoadmitoftheirfasteningtheflagtoit。

  Enjolras,whopossessedthatqualityofaleader,ofalwaysdoingwhathesaid,attachedtothisstaffthebullet—riddenandbloodycoatoftheoldman’s。

  Norepasthadbeenpossible。Therewasneitherbreadnormeat。

  Thefiftymeninthebarricadehadspeedilyexhaustedthescantyprovisionsofthewine—shopduringthesixteenhourswhichtheyhadpassedthere。Atagivenmoment,everybarricadeinevitablybecomestheraftoflaMeduse。Theywereobligedtoresignthemselvestohunger。

  TheyhadthenreachedthefirsthoursofthatSpartandayofthe6thofJunewhen,inthebarricadeSaint—Merry,Jeanne,surroundedbytheinsurgentswhodemandedbread,repliedtoallcombatantscrying:

  \"Somethingtoeat!\"with:\"Why?Itisthreeo’clock;atfourweshallbedead。\"

  Astheycouldnolongereat,Enjolrasforbadethemtodrink。

  Heinterdictedwine,andportionedoutthebrandy。

  Theyhadfoundinthecellarfifteenfullbottleshermeticallysealed。

  EnjolrasandCombeferreexaminedthem。Combeferrewhenhecameupagainsaid:——\"It’stheoldstockofFatherHucheloup,whobeganbusinessasagrocer。\"——\"Itmustberealwine,\"

  observedBossuet。\"It’sluckythatGrantaireisasleep。Ifhewereonfoot,therewouldbeagooddealofdifficultyinsavingthosebottles。\"——Enjolras,inspiteofallmurmurs,placedhisvetoonthefifteenbottles,and,inorderthatnoonemighttouchthem,hehadthemplacedunderthetableonwhichFatherMabeufwaslying。

  Abouttwoo’clockinthemorning,theyreckoneduptheirstrength。

  Therewerestillthirty—sevenofthem。

  Thedaybegantodawn。Thetorch,whichhadbeenreplacedinitscavityinthepavement,hadjustbeenextinguished。Theinteriorofthebarricade,thatspeciesoftinycourtyardappropriatedfromthestreet,wasbathedinshadows,andresembled,athwartthevague,twilighthorror,thedeckofadisabledship。Thecombatants,astheywentandcame,movedabouttherelikeblackforms。

  Abovethatterriblenesting—placeofgloomthestoriesofthemutehouseswerelividlyoutlined;attheverytop,thechimneysstoodpalelyout。Theskywasofthatcharming,undecidedhue,whichmaybewhiteandmaybeblue。Birdsflewaboutinitwithcriesofjoy。Theloftyhousewhichformedthebackofthebarricade,beingturnedtotheEast,haduponitsroofarosyreflection。

  Themorningbreezeruffledthegrayhairontheheadofthedeadmanatthethird—storywindow。

  \"Iamdelightedthatthetorchhasbeenextinguished,\"saidCourfeyractoFeuilly。\"Thattorchflickeringinthewindannoyedme。

  Ithadtheappearanceofbeingafraid。Thelightoftorchesresemblesthewisdomofcowards;itgivesabadlightbecauseittrembles。\"

  Dawnawakensmindsasitdoesthebirds;allbegantotalk。

  Joly,perceivingacatprowlingonagutter,extractedphilosophyfromit。

  \"Whatisthecat?\"heexclaimed。\"Itisacorrective。ThegoodGod,havingmadethemouse,said:`Hullo!Ihavecommittedablunder。’

  Andsohemadethecat。Thecatistheerratumofthemouse。

  Themouse,plusthecat,istheproofofcreationrevisedandcorrected。\"

  Combeferre,surroundedbystudentsandartisans,wasspeakingofthedead,ofJeanProuvaire,ofBahorel,ofMabeuf,andevenofCabuc,andofEnjolras’sadseverity。Hesaid:——

  \"HarmodiusandAristogiton,Brutus,Chereas,Stephanus,Cromwell,CharlotteCorday,Sand,haveallhadtheirmomentofagonywhenitwastoolate。Ourheartsquiverso,andhumanlifeissuchamysterythat,eveninthecaseofacivicmurder,eveninamurderforliberation,iftherebesuchathing,theremorseforhavingstruckamansurpassesthejoyofhavingservedthehumanrace。\"

  And,sucharethewindingsoftheexchangeofspeech,that,amomentlater,byatransitionbroughtaboutthroughJeanProuvaire’sverses,CombeferrewascomparingthetranslatorsoftheGeorgics,RauxwithCournand,CournandwithDelille,pointingoutthepassagestranslatedbyMalfilatre,particularlytheprodigiesofCaesar’sdeath;

  andatthatword,Caesar,theconversationrevertedtoBrutus。

  \"Caesar,\"saidCombeferre,\"felljustly。CicerowasseveretowardsCaesar,andhewasright。Thatseverityisnotdiatribe。WhenZoilusinsultsHomer,whenMaeviusinsultsVirgil,whenViseinsultsMoliere,whenPopeinsultsShakspeare,whenFredericinsultsVoltaire,itisanoldlawofenvyandhatredwhichisbeingcarriedout;

  geniusattractsinsult,greatmenarealwaysmoreorlessbarkedat。

  ButZoilusandCiceroaretwodifferentpersons。Ciceroisanarbiterinthought,justasBrutusisanarbiterbythesword。Formyownpart,Iblamethatlastjustice,theblade;but,antiquityadmittedit。

  Caesar,theviolatoroftheRubicon,conferring,asthoughtheycamefromhim,thedignitieswhichemanatedfromthepeople,notrisingattheentranceofthesenate,committedtheactsofakingandalmostofatyrant,regiaacpenetyrannica。

  Hewasagreatman;somuchtheworse,orsomuchthebetter;

  thelessonisbutthemoreexalted。Histwenty—threewoundstouchmelessthanthespittinginthefaceofJesusChrist。

  Caesarisstabbedbythesenators;Christiscuffedbylackeys。

  OnefeelstheGodthroughthegreateroutrage。\"

  Bossuet,whotoweredabovetheinterlocutorsfromthesummitofaheapofpaving—stones,exclaimed,rifleinhand:——

  \"OhCydathenaeum,OhMyrrhinus,OhProbalinthus,OhgracesoftheAEantides!Oh!WhowillgrantmetopronouncetheversesofHomerlikeaGreekofLauriumorofEdapteon?\"

  CHAPTERIII

  LIGHTANDSHADOW

  Enjolrashadbeentomakeareconnaissance。HehadmadehiswayoutthroughMondetourlane,glidingalongclosetothehouses。

  Theinsurgents,wewillremark,werefullofhope。Themannerinwhichtheyhadrepulsedtheattackoftheprecedingnighthadcausedthemtoalmostdisdaininadvancetheattackatdawn。Theywaitedforitwithasmile。Theyhadnomoredoubtastotheirsuccessthanastotheircause。Moreover,succorwas,evidently,onthewaytothem。

  Theyreckonedonit。WiththatfacilityoftriumphantprophecywhichisoneofthesourcesofstrengthintheFrenchcombatant,theydividedthedaywhichwasathandintothreedistinctphases。

  Atsixo’clockinthemorningaregiment\"whichhadbeenlaboredwith,\"wouldturn;atnoon,theinsurrectionofallParis;

  atsunset,revolution。

  TheyheardthealarmbellofSaint—Merry,whichhadnotbeensilentforaninstantsincethenightbefore;aproofthattheotherbarricade,thegreatone,Jeanne’s,stillheldout。

  Allthesehopeswereexchangedbetweenthedifferentgroupsinasortofgayandformidablewhisperwhichresembledthewarlikehumofahiveofbees。

  Enjolrasreappeared。Hereturnedfromhissombreeagleflightintoouterdarkness。Helistenedforamomenttoallthisjoywithfoldedarms,andonehandonhismouth。Then,freshandrosyinthegrowingwhitenessofthedawn,hesaid:

  \"ThewholearmyofParisistostrike。Athirdofthearmyisbearingdownuponthebarricadesinwhichyounoware。ThereistheNationalGuardinaddition。Ihavepickedouttheshakosofthefifthoftheline,andthestandard—bearersofthesixthlegion。Inonehouryouwillbeattacked。Asforthepopulace,itwasseethingyesterday,to—dayitisnotstirring。Thereisnothingtoexpect;nothingtohopefor。

  Neitherfromafaubourgnorfromaregiment。Youareabandoned。\"

  Thesewordsfelluponthebuzzingofthegroups,andproducedonthemtheeffectcausedonaswarmofbeesbythefirstdropsofastorm。

  Amomentofindescribablesilenceensued,inwhichdeathmighthavebeenheardflittingby。

  Thismomentwasbrief。

  AvoicefromtheobscurestdepthsofthegroupsshoutedtoEnjolras:

  \"Sobeit。Letusraisethebarricadetoaheightoftwentyfeet,andletusallremaininit。Citizens,letusoffertheprotestsofcorpses。Letusshowthat,ifthepeopleabandontherepublicans,therepublicansdonotabandonthepeople。\"

  Thesewordsfreedthethoughtofallfromthepainfulcloudofindividualanxieties。Itwashailedwithanenthusiasticacclamation。

  Nooneeverhasknownthenameofthemanwhospokethus;hewassomeunknownblouse—wearer,astranger,amanforgotten,apassinghero,thatgreatanonymous,alwaysmingledinhumancrisesandinsocialgeneseswho,atagivenmoment,uttersinasupremefashionthedecisiveword,andwhovanishesintotheshadowsafterhavingrepresentedforaminute,inalightningflash,thepeopleandGod。

  Thisinexorableresolutionsothoroughlyimpregnatedtheairofthe6thofJune,1832,that,almostattheverysamehour,onthebarricadeSaint—Merry,theinsurgentswereraisingthatclamorwhichhasbecomeamatterofhistoryandwhichhasbeenconsignedtothedocumentsinthecase:——\"Whatmattersitwhethertheycometoourassistanceornot?Letusgetourselveskilledhere,totheverylastman。\"

  Asthereadersees,thetwobarricades,thoughmateriallyisolated,wereincommunicationwitheachother。

  CHAPTERIV

  MINUSFIVE,PLUSONE

  Afterthemanwhodecreedthe\"protestofcorpses\"hadspoken,andhadgiventhisformulaoftheircommonsoul,thereissuedfromallmouthsastrangelysatisfiedandterriblecry,funerealinsenseandtriumphantintone:

  \"Longlivedeath!Letusallremainhere!\"

  \"Whyall?\"saidEnjolras。

  \"All!All!\"

  Enjolrasresumed:

  \"Thepositionisgood;thebarricadeisfine。Thirtymenareenough。

  Whysacrificeforty?\"

  Theyreplied:

  \"Becausenotonewillgoaway。\"

  \"Citizens,\"criedEnjolras,andtherewasanalmostirritatedvibrationinhisvoice,\"thisrepublicisnotrichenoughinmentoindulgeinuselessexpenditureofthem。Vain—gloryiswaste。

  Ifthedutyofsomeistodepart,thatdutyshouldbefulfilledlikeanyother。\"

  Enjolras,theman—principle,hadoverhisco—religioniststhatsortofomnipotentpowerwhichemanatesfromtheabsolute。Still,greataswasthisomnipotence,amurmurarose。Aleadertotheveryfinger—tips,Enjolras,seeingthattheymurmured,insisted。Heresumedhaughtily:

  \"Letthosewhoareafraidofnotnumberingmorethanthirtysayso。\"

  Themurmursredoubled。

  \"Besides,\"observedavoiceinonegroup,\"itiseasyenoughtotalkaboutleaving。Thebarricadeishemmedin。\"

  \"NotonthesideoftheHalles,\"saidEnjolras。\"TheRueMondetourisfree,andthroughtheRuedesPrecheursonecanreachtheMarchedesInnocents。\"

  \"Andthere,\"wentonanothervoice,\"youwouldbecaptured。

  Youwouldfallinwithsomegrandguardofthelineorthesuburbs;

  theywillspyamanpassinginblouseandcap。`Whencecomeyou?’

  `Don’tyoubelongtothebarricade?’Andtheywilllookatyourhands。

  Yousmellofpowder。Shot。\"

  Enjolras,withoutmakinganyreply,touchedCombeferre’sshoulder,andthetwoenteredthetap—room。

  Theyemergedthenceamomentlater。Enjolrasheldinhisoutstretchedhandsthefouruniformswhichhehadlaidaside。

  Combeferrefollowed,carryingtheshoulder—beltsandtheshakos。

  \"Withthisuniform,\"saidEnjolras,\"youcanminglewiththeranksandescape;hereisenoughforfour。\"Andheflungontheground,deprivedofitspavement,thefouruniforms。

  Nowaveringtookplaceinhisstoicalaudience。Combeferretooktheword。

  \"Come,saidhe,\"youmusthavealittlepity。Doyouknowwhatthequestionishere?Itisaquestionofwomen。Seehere。Aretherewomenoraretherenot?Aretherechildrenoraretherenot?

  Aretheremothers,yesorno,whorockcradleswiththeirfootandwhohavealotoflittleonesaroundthem?Letthatmanofyouwhohasneverbeheldanurse’sbreastraisehishand。Ah!youwanttogetyourselveskilled,sodoI——I,whoamspeakingtoyou;

  butIdonotwanttofeelthephantomsofwomenwreathingtheirarmsaroundme。Die,ifyouwill,butdon’tmakeothersdie。

  Suicideslikethatwhichisonthebrinkofaccomplishmentherearesublime;butsuicideisnarrow,anddoesnotadmitofextension;

  andassoonasittouchesyourneighbors,suicideismurder。

  Thinkofthelittleblondheads;thinkofthewhitelocks。

  Listen,EnjolrashasjusttoldmethathesawatthecorneroftheRueduCygnealightedcasement,acandleinapoorwindow,onthefifthfloor,andonthepanethequiveringshadowoftheheadofanoldwoman,whohadtheairofhavingspentthenightinwatching。

  Perhapssheisthemotherofsomeoneofyou。Well,letthatmango,andmakehaste,tosaytohismother:`HereIam,mother!’Lethimfeelatease,thetaskherewillbeperformedallthesame。

  Whenonesupportsone’srelativesbyone’stoil,onehasnottherighttosacrificeone’sself。Thatisdesertingone’sfamily。

  Andthosewhohavedaughters!whatareyouthinkingof?Yougetyourselveskilled,youaredead,thatiswell。Andtomorrow?Younggirlswithoutbread——thatisaterriblething。Manbegs,womansells。

  Ah!thosecharmingandgraciousbeings,sograciousandsosweet,whohavebonnetsofflowers,whofillthehousewithpurity,whosingandprattle,whoarelikealivingperfume,whoprovetheexistenceofangelsinheavenbythepurityofvirginsonearth,thatJeanne,thatLise,thatMimi,thoseadorableandhonestcreatureswhoareyourblessingsandyourpride,ah!goodGod,theywillsufferhunger!

  Whatdoyouwantmetosaytoyou?Thereisamarketforhumanflesh;

  anditisnotwithyourshadowyhands,shudderingaroundthem,thatyouwillpreventthemfromenteringit!Thinkofthestreet,thinkofthepavementcoveredwithpassers—by,thinkoftheshopspastwhichwomengoandcomewithnecksallbare,andthroughthemire。

  Thesewomen,too,werepureonce。Thinkofyoursisters,thoseofyouwhohavethem。Misery,prostitution,thepolice,Saint—Lazare——

  thatiswhatthosebeautiful,delicategirls,thosefragilemarvelsofmodesty,gentlenessandloveliness,fresherthanlilacsinthemonthofMay,willcometo。Ah!youhavegotyourselveskilled!

  Youarenolongeronhand!Thatiswell;youhavewishedtoreleasethepeoplefromRoyalty,andyoudeliveroveryourdaughterstothepolice。Friends,haveacare,havemercy。Women,unhappywomen,wearenotinthehabitofbestowingmuchthoughtonthem。

  Wetrusttothewomennothavingreceivedaman’seducation,wepreventtheirreading,wepreventtheirthinking,wepreventtheiroccupyingthemselveswithpolitics;willyoupreventthemfromgoingtothedead—housethisevening,andrecognizingyourbodies?

  Letussee,thosewhohavefamiliesmustbetractable,andshakehandswithusandtakethemselvesoff,andleaveusherealonetoattendtothisaffair。Iknowwellthatcourageisrequiredtoleave,thatitishard;buttheharderitis,themoremeritorious。

  Yousay:`Ihaveagun,Iamatthebarricade;somuchtheworse,Ishallremainthere。’Somuchtheworseiseasilysaid。Myfriends,thereisamorrow;youwillnotbehereto—morrow,butyourfamilieswill;

  andwhatsufferings!See,hereisapretty,healthychild,withcheekslikeanapple,whobabbles,prattles,chatters,wholaughs,whosmellssweetbeneathyourkiss,——anddoyouknowwhatbecomesofhimwhenheisabandoned?Ihaveseenone,averysmallcreature,notallerthanthat。Hisfatherwasdead。Poorpeoplehadtakenhiminoutofcharity,buttheyhadbreadonlyforthemselves。

  Thechildwasalwayshungry。Itwaswinter。Hedidnotcry。

  Youcouldseehimapproachthestove,inwhichtherewasneveranyfire,andwhosepipe,youknow,wasofmasticandyellowclay。

  Hisbreathingwashoarse,hisfacelivid,hislimbsflaccid,hisbellyprominent。Hesaidnothing。Ifyouspoketohim,hedidnotanswer。Heisdead。HewastakentotheNeckerHospital,whereIsawhim。Iwashouse—surgeoninthathospital。Now,ifthereareanyfathersamongyou,fatherswhosehappinessitistostrollonSundaysholdingtheirchild’stinyhandintheirrobusthand,leteachoneofthosefathersimaginethatthischildishisown。

  Thatpoorbrat,Iremember,andIseemtoseehimnow,whenhelaynudeonthedissectingtable,howhisribsstoodoutonhisskinlikethegravesbeneaththegrassinacemetery。Asortofmudwasfoundinhisstomach。Therewereashesinhisteeth。Come,letusexamineourselvesconscientiouslyandtakecounselwithourheart。

  Statisticsshowthatthemortalityamongabandonedchildrenisfifty—fivepercent。Irepeat,itisaquestionofwomen,itconcernsmothers,itconcernsyounggirls,itconcernslittlechildren。Whoistalkingtoyouofyourselves?Weknowwellwhatyouare;weknowwellthatyouareallbrave,parbleu!weknowwellthatyouallhaveinyoursoulsthejoyandthegloryofgivingyourlifeforthegreatcause;

  weknowwellthatyoufeelyourselveselectedtodieusefullyandmagnificently,andthateachoneofyouclingstohisshareinthetriumph。Verywell。Butyouarenotaloneinthisworld。

  Thereareotherbeingsofwhomyoumustthink。Youmustnotbeegoists。\"

  Alldroppedtheirheadswithagloomyair。

  Strangecontradictionsofthehumanheartatitsmostsublimemoments。Combeferre,whospokethus,wasnotanorphan。

  Herecalledthemothersofothermen,andforgothisown。

  Hewasabouttogethimselfkilled。Hewas\"anegoist。\"

  Marius,fasting,fevered,havingemergedinsuccessionfromallhope,andhavingbeenstrandedingrief,themostsombreofshipwrecks,andsaturatedwithviolentemotionsandconsciousthattheendwasnear,hadplungeddeeperanddeeperintothatvisionarystuporwhichalwaysprecedesthefatalhourvoluntarilyaccepted。

  Aphysiologistmighthavestudiedinhimthegrowingsymptomsofthatfebrileabsorptionknownto,andclassifiedby,science,andwhichistosufferingwhatvoluptuousnessistopleasure。

  Despair,also,hasitsecstasy。Mariushadreachedthispoint。

  Helookedonateverythingasfromwithout;aswehavesaid,thingswhichpassedbeforehimseemedfaraway;hemadeoutthewhole,butdidnotperceivethedetails。Hebeheldmengoingandcomingasthroughaflame。Heheardvoicesspeakingasatthebottomofanabyss。

  Butthismovedhim。Therewasinthissceneapointwhichpiercedandrousedevenhim。Hehadbutoneideanow,todie;

  andhedidnotwishtobeturnedasidefromit,buthereflected,inhisgloomysomnambulism,thatwhiledestroyinghimself,hewasnotprohibitedfromsavingsomeoneelse。

  Heraisedhisvoice。

  \"EnjolrasandCombeferreareright,\"saidhe;\"nounnecessarysacrifice。

  Ijointhem,andyoumustmakehaste。Combeferrehassaidconvincingthingstoyou。Therearesomeamongyouwhohavefamilies,mothers,sisters,wives,children。Letsuchleavetheranks。\"

  Noonestirred。

  \"Marriedmenandthesupportersoffamilies,stepoutoftheranks!\"

  repeatedMarius。

  Hisauthoritywasgreat。Enjolraswascertainlytheheadofthebarricade,butMariuswasitssavior。

  \"Iorderit,\"criedEnjolras。

  \"Ientreatyou,\"saidMarius。

  Then,touchedbyCombeferre’swords,shakenbyEnjolras’order,touchedbyMarius’entreaty,theseheroicmenbegantodenounceeachother。——\"Itistrue,\"saidoneyoungmantoafullgrownman,\"youarethefatherofafamily。Go。\"——\"Itisyourdutyrather,\"

  retortedtheman,\"youhavetwosisterswhomyoumaintain。\"——

  Andanunprecedentedcontroversybrokeforth。Eachstruggledtodeterminewhichshouldnotallowhimselftobeplacedatthedoorofthetomb。

  \"Makehaste,\"saidCourfeyrac,\"inanotherquarterofanhouritwillbetoolate。\"

  \"Citizens,\"pursuedEnjolras,\"thisistheRepublic,anduniversalsuffragereigns。Doyouyourselvesdesignatethosewhoaretogo。\"

  Theyobeyed。Aftertheexpirationofafewminutes,fivewereunanimouslyselectedandsteppedoutoftheranks。

  \"Therearefiveofthem!\"exclaimedMarius。

  Therewereonlyfouruniforms。

  \"Well,\"beganthefive,\"onemuststaybehind。\"

  Andthenastrugglearoseastowhoshouldremain,andwhoshouldfindreasonsfortheothersnotremaining。Thegenerousquarrelbeganafresh。

  \"Youhaveawifewholovesyou。\"——\"Youhaveyouragedmother。\"——\"

  Youhaveneitherfathernormother,andwhatistobecomeofyourthreelittlebrothers?\"——\"Youarethefatheroffivechildren。\"——\"Youhavearighttolive,youareonlyseventeen,itistooearlyforyoutodie。\"

  Thesegreatrevolutionarybarricadeswereassemblingpointsforheroism。

  Theimprobablewassimplethere。Thesemendidnotastonisheachother。

  \"Bequick,\"repeatedCourfeyrac。

  MenshoutedtoMariusfromthegroups:

  \"Doyoudesignatewhoistoremain。\"

  \"Yes,\"saidthefive,\"choose。Wewillobeyyou。\"

  Mariusdidnotbelievethathewascapableofanotheremotion。

  Still,atthisidea,thatofchoosingamanfordeath,hisbloodrushedbacktohisheart。Hewouldhaveturnedpale,haditbeenpossibleforhimtobecomeanypaler。

  Headvancedtowardsthefive,whosmileduponhim,andeach,withhiseyesfullofthatgrandflamewhichonebeholdsinthedepthsofhistoryhoveringoverThermopylae,criedtohim:

  \"Me!me!me!\"

  AndMariusstupidlycountedthem;therewerestillfiveofthem!

  Thenhisglancedroppedtothefouruniforms。

  Atthatmoment,afifthuniformfell,asiffromheaven,upontheotherfour。

  Thefifthmanwassaved。

  MariusraisedhiseyesandrecognizedM。Fauchelevent。

  JeanValjeanhadjustenteredthebarricade。

  HehadarrivedbywayofMondetourlane,whitherbydintofinquiriesmade,orbyinstinct,orchance。ThankstohisdressofaNationalGuardsman,hehadmadehiswaywithoutdifficulty。

  ThesentinelstationedbytheinsurgentsintheRueMondetourhadnooccasiontogivethealarmforasingleNationalGuardsman,andhehadallowedthelattertoentanglehimselfinthestreet,sayingtohimself:\"Probablyitisareinforcement,inanycaseitisaprisoner。\"Themomentwastoogravetoadmitofthesentinelabandoninghisdutyandhispostofobservation。

  AtthemomentwhenJeanValjeanenteredtheredoubt,noonehadnoticedhim,alleyesbeingfixedonthefivechosenmenandthefouruniforms。JeanValjeanalsohadseenandheard,andhehadsilentlyremovedhiscoatandflungitonthepilewiththerest。

  Theemotionarousedwasindescribable。

  \"Whoisthisman?\"demandedBossuet。

  \"Heisamanwhosavesothers,\"repliedCombeferre。

  Mariusaddedinagravevoice:

  \"Iknowhim。\"

  Thisguaranteesatisfiedeveryone。

  EnjolrasturnedtoJeanValjean。

  \"Welcome,citizen。\"

  Andheadded:

  \"Youknowthatweareabouttodie。\"

  JeanValjean,withoutreplying,helpedtheinsurgentwhomhewassavingtodonhisuniform。

  CHAPTERV

  THEHORIZONWHICHONEBEHOLDSFROMTHESUMMITOFABARRICADE

  Thesituationofallinthatfatalhourandthatpitilessplace,hadasresultandculminatingpointEnjolras’suprememelancholy。

  Enjolrasborewithinhimtheplenitudeoftherevolution;

  hewasincomplete,however,sofarastheabsolutecanbeso;

  hehadtoomuchofSaint—Justabouthim,andnotenoughofAnacharsisCloots;still,hismind,inthesocietyoftheFriendsoftheABC,hadendedbyundergoingacertainpolarizationfromCombeferre’sideas;forsometimepast,hehadbeengraduallyemergingfromthenarrowformofdogma,andhadallowedhimselftoinclinetothebroadeninginfluenceofprogress,andhehadcometoaccept,asadefinitiveandmagnificentevolution,thetransformationofthegreatFrenchRepublic,intotheimmensehumanrepublic。

  Asfarastheimmediatemeanswereconcerned,aviolentsituationbeinggiven,hewishedtobeviolent;onthatpoint,henevervaried;

  andheremainedofthatepicandredoubtableschoolwhichissummedupinthewords:\"Eighty—three。\"Enjolraswasstandingerectonthestaircaseofpaving—stones,oneelbowrestingonthestockofhisgun。Hewasengagedinthought;hequivered,asatthepassageofpropheticbreaths;placeswheredeathishavetheseeffectsoftripods。Asortofstifledfiredartedfromhiseyes,whichwerefilledwithaninwardlook。Allatoncehethrewbackhishead,hisblondlocksfellbacklikethoseofanangelonthesombrequadrigamadeofstars,theywerelikethemaneofastartledlionintheflamingofanhalo,andEnjolrascried:

  \"Citizens,doyoupicturethefuturetoyourselves?Thestreetsofcitiesinundatedwithlight,greenbranchesonthethresholds,nationssisters,menjust,oldmenblessingchildren,thepastlovingthepresent,thinkersentirelyatliberty,believersontermsoffullequality,forreligionheaven,Godthedirectpriest,humanconsciencebecomeanaltar,nomorehatreds,thefraternityoftheworkshopandtheschool,forsolepenaltyandrecompensefame,workforall,rightforall,peaceoverall,nomorebloodshed,nomorewars,happymothers!Toconquermatteristhefirststep;

  torealizetheidealisthesecond。Reflectonwhatprogresshasalreadyaccomplished。Formerly,thefirsthumanracesbeheldwithterrorthehydrapassbeforetheireyes,breathingonthewaters,thedragonwhichvomitedflame,thegriffinwhowasthemonsteroftheair,andwhoflewwiththewingsofaneagleandthetalonsofatiger;fearfulbeastswhichwereaboveman。

  Man,nevertheless,spreadhissnares,consecratedbyintelligence,andfinallyconqueredthesemonsters。Wehavevanquishedthehydra,anditiscalledthelocomotive;weareonthepointofvanquishingthegriffin,wealreadygraspit,anditiscalledtheballoon。

  OnthedaywhenthisPrometheantaskshallbeaccomplished,andwhenmanshallhavedefinitelyharnessedtohiswillthetripleChimaeraofantiquity,thehydra,thedragonandthegriffin,hewillbethemasterofwater,fire,andofair,andhewillbefortherestofanimatedcreationthatwhichtheancientgodsformerlyweretohim。Courage,andonward!Citizens,whitherarewegoing?Tosciencemadegovernment,totheforceofthingsbecomethesolepublicforce,tothenaturallaw,havinginitselfitssanctionanditspenaltyandpromulgatingitselfbyevidence,toadawnoftruthcorrespondingtoadawnofday。Weareadvancingtotheunionofpeoples;weareadvancingtotheunityofman。

  Nomorefictions;nomoreparasites。Therealgovernedbythetrue,thatisthegoal。CivilizationwillholditsassizesatthesummitofEurope,and,lateron,atthecentreofcontinents,inagrandparliamentoftheintelligence。Somethingsimilarhasalreadybeenseen。Theamphictyonshadtwosittingsayear,oneatDelphostheseatofthegods,theotheratThermopylae,theplaceofheroes。Europewillhaveheramphictyons;theglobewillhaveitsamphictyons。Francebearsthissublimefutureinherbreast。Thisisthegestationofthenineteenthcentury。

  ThatwhichGreecesketchedoutisworthyofbeingfinishedbyFrance。

  Listentome,you,Feuilly,valiantartisan,manofthepeople。

  Irevereyou。Yes,youclearlybeholdthefuture,yes,youareright。

  Youhadneitherfathernormother,Feuilly;youadoptedhumanityforyourmotherandrightforyourfather。Youareabouttodie,thatistosaytotriumph,here。Citizens,whateverhappensto—day,throughourdefeataswellasthroughourvictory,itisarevolutionthatweareabouttocreate。Asconflagrationslightupawholecity,sorevolutionsilluminatethewholehumanrace。

  Andwhatistherevolutionthatweshallcause?Ihavejusttoldyou,theRevolutionoftheTrue。Fromapoliticalpointofview,thereisbutasingleprinciple;thesovereigntyofmanoverhimself。

  ThissovereigntyofmyselfovermyselfiscalledLiberty。Wheretwoorthreeofthesesovereigntiesarecombined,thestatebegins。

  Butinthatassociationthereisnoabdication。Eachsovereigntyconcedesacertainquantityofitself,forthepurposeofformingthecommonright。Thisquantityisthesameforallofus。

  Thisidentityofconcessionwhicheachmakestoall,iscalledEquality。

  Commonrightisnothingelsethantheprotectionofallbeamingontherightofeach。ThisprotectionofallovereachiscalledFraternity。Thepointofintersectionofalltheseassembledsovereigntiesiscalledsociety。Thisintersectionbeingajunction,thispointisaknot。Hencewhatiscalledthesocialbond。

  Somesaysocialcontract;whichisthesamething,thewordcontractbeingetymologicallyformedwiththeideaofabond。

  Letuscometoanunderstandingaboutequality;for,iflibertyisthesummit,equalityisthebase。Equality,citizens,isnotwhollyasurfacevegetation,asocietyofgreatbladesofgrassandtinyoaks;

  aproximityofjealousieswhichrendereachothernullandvoid;

  legallyspeaking,itisallaptitudespossessedofthesameopportunity;

  politically,itisallvotespossessedofthesameweight;

  religiously,itisallconsciencespossessedofthesameright。

  Equalityhasanorgan:gratuitousandobligatoryinstruction。

  Therighttothealphabet,thatiswherethebeginningmustbemade。Theprimaryschoolimposedonall,thesecondaryschoolofferedtoall,thatisthelaw。Fromanidenticalschool,anidenticalsocietywillspring。Yes,instruction!light!light!

  everythingcomesfromlight,andtoiteverythingreturns。

  Citizens,thenineteenthcenturyisgreat,butthetwentiethcenturywillbehappy。Then,therewillbenothingmorelikethehistoryofold,weshallnolonger,asto—day,havetofearaconquest,aninvasion,ausurpation,arivalryofnations,armsinhand,aninterruptionofcivilizationdependingonamarriageofkings,onabirthinhereditarytyrannies,apartitionofpeoplesbyacongress,adismembermentbecauseofthefailureofadynasty,acombatoftworeligionsmeetingfacetoface,liketwobucksinthedark,onthebridgeoftheinfinite;weshallnolongerhavetofearfamine,farmingout,prostitutionarisingfromdistress,miseryfromthefailureofworkandthescaffoldandthesword,andbattlesandtheruffianismofchanceintheforestofevents。

  Onemightalmostsay:Therewillbenomoreevents。Weshallbehappy。Thehumanracewillaccomplishitslaw,astheterrestrialglobeaccomplishesitslaw;harmonywillbere—establishedbetweenthesoulandthestar;thesoulwillgravitatearoundthetruth,astheplanetaroundthelight。Friends,thepresenthourinwhichI

  amaddressingyou,isagloomyhour;buttheseareterriblepurchasesofthefuture。Arevolutionisatoll。Oh!thehumanracewillbedelivered,raisedup,consoled!Weaffirmitonthisbarrier。

  Whenceshouldproceedthatcryoflove,ifnotfromtheheightsofsacrifice?Ohmybrothers,thisisthepointofjunction,ofthosewhothinkandofthosewhosuffer;thisbarricadeisnotmadeofpaving—stones,norofjoists,norofbitsofiron;

  itismadeoftwoheaps,aheapofideas,andaheapofwoes。

  Heremiserymeetstheideal。Thedayembracesthenight,andsaystoit:`Iamabouttodie,andthoushaltbebornagainwithme。’Fromtheembraceofalldesolationsfaithleapsforth。

  Sufferingsbringhithertheiragonyandideastheirimmortality。

  Thisagonyandthisimmortalityareabouttojoinandconstituteourdeath。Brothers,hewhodiesherediesintheradianceofthefuture,andweareenteringatomballfloodedwiththedawn。\"

  Enjolraspausedratherthanbecamesilent;hislipscontinuedtomovesilently,asthoughheweretalkingtohimself,whichcausedthemalltogazeattentivelyathim,intheendeavortohearmore。

  Therewasnoapplause;buttheywhisperedtogetherforalongtime。

  Speechbeingabreath,therustlingofintelligencesresemblestherustlingofleaves。

  CHAPTERVI

  MARIUSHAGGARD,JAVERTLACONIC

  LetusnarratewhatwaspassinginMarius’thoughts。

  Letthereaderrecallthestateofhissoul。Wehavejustrecalledit,everythingwasavisiontohimnow。Hisjudgmentwasdisturbed。

  Marius,letusinsistonthispoint,wasundertheshadowofthegreat,darkwingswhicharespreadoverthoseinthedeathagony。

  Hefeltthathehadenteredthetomb,itseemedtohimthathewasalreadyontheothersideofthewall,andhenolongerbeheldthefacesofthelivingexceptwiththeeyesofonedead。

  HowdidM。Faucheleventcomethere?Whywashethere?Whathadhecometheretodo?Mariusdidnotaddressallthesequestionstohimself。Besides,sinceourdespairhasthispeculiarity,thatitenvelopsothersaswellasourselves,itseemedlogicaltohimthatalltheworldshouldcomethithertodie。

  Only,hethoughtofCosettewithapangathisheart。

  However,M。Faucheleventdidnotspeaktohim,didnotlookathim,andhadnoteventheairofhearinghim,whenMariusraisedhisvoicetosay:\"Iknowhim。\"

  AsfarasMariuswasconcerned,thisattitudeofM。Faucheleventwascomforting,and,ifsuchawordcanbeusedforsuchimpressions,weshouldsaythatitpleasedhim。Hehadalwaysfelttheabsoluteimpossibilityofaddressingthatenigmaticalman,whowas,inhiseyes,bothequivocalandimposing。Moreover,ithadbeenalongtimesincehehadseenhim;andthisstillfurtheraugmentedtheimpossibilityforMarius’timidandreservednature。

  ThefivechosenmenleftthebarricadebywayofMondetourlane;

  theyboreaperfectresemblancetomembersoftheNationalGuard。

  Oneofthemweptashetookhisleave。Beforesettingout,theyembracedthosewhoremained。

  Whenthefivemensentbacktolifehadtakentheirdeparture,Enjolrasthoughtofthemanwhohadbeencondemnedtodeath。

  Heenteredthetap—room。Javert,stillboundtothepost,wasengagedinmeditation。

  \"Doyouwantanything?\"Enjolrasaskedhim。

  \"Javertreplied:\"Whenareyougoingtokillme?\"

  \"Wait。Weneedallourcartridgesjustatpresent。\"

  \"Thengivemeadrink,\"saidJavert。

  Enjolrashimselfofferedhimaglassofwater,and,asJavertwaspinioned,hehelpedhimtodrink。

  \"Isthatall?\"inquiredEnjolras。

  \"Iamuncomfortableagainstthispost,\"repliedJavert。

  \"Youarenottendertohaveleftmetopassthenighthere。

  Bindmeasyouplease,butyousurelymightlaymeoutonatablelikethatotherman。\"

  Andwithamotionofthehead,heindicatedthebodyofM。Mabeuf。

  Therewas,asthereaderwillremember,along,broadtableattheendoftheroom,onwhichtheyhadbeenrunningbulletsandmakingcartridges。Allthecartridgeshavingbeenmade,andallthepowderused,thistablewasfree。

  AtEnjolras’command,fourinsurgentsunboundJavertfromthepost。

  Whiletheywereloosinghim,afifthheldabayonetagainsthisbreast。

  Leavinghisarmstiedbehindhisback,theyplacedabouthisfeetaslenderbutstoutwhip—cord,asisdonetomenonthepointofmountingthescaffold,whichallowedhimtotakestepsaboutfifteeninchesinlength,andmadehimwalktothetableattheendoftheroom,wheretheylaidhimdown,closelyboundaboutthemiddleofthebody。

  Bywayoffurthersecurity,andbymeansofaropefastenedtohisneck,theyaddedtothesystemofligatureswhichrenderedeveryattemptatescapeimpossible,thatsortofbondwhichiscalledinprisonsamartingale,which,startingattheneck,forksonthestomach,andmeetsthehands,afterpassingbetweenthelegs。

  WhiletheywerebindingJavert,amanstandingonthethresholdwassurveyinghimwithsingularattention。TheshadowcastbythismanmadeJavertturnhishead。Heraisedhiseyes,andrecognizedJeanValjean。Hedidnotevenstart,butdroppedhislidsproudlyandconfinedhimselftotheremark:\"Itisperfectlysimple。\"

  CHAPTERVII

  THESITUATIONBECOMESAGGRAVATED

  Thedaylightwasincreasingrapidly。Notawindowwasopened,notadoorstoodajar;itwasthedawnbutnottheawaking。

  TheendoftheRuedelaChanvrerie,oppositethebarricade,hadbeenevacuatedbythetroops,aswehavestateditseemedtobefree,andpresenteditselftopassers—bywithasinistertranquillity。

  TheRueSaint—DeniswasasdumbastheavenueofSphinxesatThebes。

  Notalivingbeinginthecross—roads,whichgleamedwhiteinthelightofthesun。Nothingissomournfulasthislightindesertedstreets。

  Nothingwastobeseen,buttherewassomethingtobeheard。

点击下载App,搜索"JEAN VALJEAN",免费读到尾