Meanwhile，heheardthedreadfulpealabovehishead，thediabolicallaughterofthevagabonds，andthevoiceofTrouillefousaying，——
\"Pickmeupthatknave，andhanghimwithoutceremony。\"
Herose。Theyhadalreadydetachedthemanikintomakeroomforhim。
Thethievesmadehimmountthestool，Clopincametohim，passedtheropeabouthisneck，and，tappinghimontheshoulder，——
\"Adieu，myfriend。Youcan’tescapenow，evenifyoudigestedwiththepope’sguts。\"
Theword\"Mercy！\"diedawayuponGringoire’slips。Hecasthiseyesabouthim；buttherewasnohope:allwerelaughing。
\"Bellevignedel’Etoile，\"saidtheKingofThunestoanenormousvagabond，whosteppedoutfromtheranks，\"climbuponthecrossbeam。\"
Bellevignedel’Etoilenimblymountedthetransversebeam，andinanotherminute，Gringoire，onraisinghiseyes，beheldhim，withterror，seateduponthebeamabovehishead。
\"Now，\"resumedClopinTrouillefou，\"assoonasIclapmyhands，you，AndrytheRed，willflingthestooltothegroundwithablowofyourknee；you，Fran？oisChante-Prune，willclingtothefeetoftherascal；andyou，Bellevigne，willflingyourselfonhisshoulders；andallthreeatonce，doyouhear？\"
Gringoireshuddered。
\"Areyouready？\"saidClopinTrouillefoutothethreethieves，whoheldthemselvesinreadinesstofalluponGringoire。Amomentofhorriblesuspenseensuedforthepoorvictim，duringwhichClopintranquillythrustintothefirewiththetipofhisfoot，somebitsofvineshootswhichtheflamehadnotcaught。\"Areyouready？\"herepeated，andopenedhishandstoclap。Onesecondmoreandallwouldhavebeenover。
Buthepaused，asthoughstruckbyasuddenthought。
\"Onemoment！\"saidhe；\"Iforgot！Itisourcustomnottohangamanwithoutinquiringwhetherthereisanywomanwhowantshim。Comrade，thisisyourlastresource。Youmustwedeitherafemalevagabondorthenoose。\"
Thislawofthevagabonds，singularasitmaystrikethereader，remainsto-daywrittenoutatlength，inancientEnglishlegislation。See_Burington’sObservations_。
Gringoirebreathedagain。Thiswasthesecondtimethathehadreturnedtolifewithinanhour。Sohedidnotdaretotrusttoittooimplicitly。
\"Holà！\"criedClopin，mountedoncemoreuponhiscask，\"holà！women，females，isthereamongyou，fromthesorceresstohercat，awenchwhowantsthisrascal？Holà，ColettelaCharonne！ElisabethTrouvain！SimoneJodouyne！
MariePiédebou！ThonnelaLongue！BérardeFanouel！MichelleGenaille！ClaudeRonge-oreille！MathurineGirorou！——Holà！
Isabeau-la-Thierrye！Comeandsee！Amanfornothing！
Whowantshim？\"
Gringoire，nodoubt，wasnotveryappetizinginthismiserablecondition。Thefemalevagabondsdidnotseemtobemuchaffectedbytheproposition。Theunhappywretchheardthemanswer:\"No！no！hanghim；there’llbethemorefunforusall！\"
Nevertheless，threeemergedfromthethrongandcametosmellofhim。Thefirstwasabigwench，withasquareface。
Sheexaminedthephilosopher’sdeplorabledoubletattentively。
Hisgarmentwasworn，andmorefullofholesthanastoveforroastingchestnuts。Thegirlmadeawryface。\"Oldrag！\"shemuttered，andaddressingGringoire，\"Let’sseeyourcloak！\"
\"Ihavelostit，\"repliedGringoire。\"Yourhat？\"\"Theytookitawayfromme。\"\"Yourshoes？\"\"Theyhavehardlyanysolesleft。\"\"Yourpurse？\"\"Alas！\"stammeredGringoire，\"I
havenotevenasou。\"\"Letthemhangyou，then，andsay’Thankyou！’\"retortedthevagabondwench，turningherbackonhim。
Thesecond，——old，black，wrinkled，hideous，withanuglinessconspicuousevenintheCourdesMiracles，trottedroundGringoire。
Healmosttrembledlestsheshouldwanthim。Butshemumbledbetweenherteeth，\"He’stoothin，\"andwentoff。
Thethirdwasayounggirl，quitefresh，andnottoougly。
\"Saveme！\"saidthepoorfellowtoher，inalowtone。Shegazedathimforamomentwithanairofpity，thendroppedhereyes，madeaplaitinherpetticoat，andremainedinindecision。
Hefollowedallthesemovementswithhiseyes；itwasthelastgleamofhope。\"No，\"saidtheyounggirl，atlength，\"no！GuillaumeLonguejouewouldbeatme。\"Sheretreatedintothecrowd。
\"Youareunlucky，comrade，\"saidClopin。
Thenrisingtohisfeet，uponhishogshead。\"Noonewantshim，\"heexclaimed，imitatingtheaccentofanauctioneer，tothegreatdelightofall；\"noonewantshim？once，twice，threetimes！\"and，turningtowardsthegibbetwithasignofhishand，\"Gone！\"
Bellevignedel’Etoile，AndrytheRed，Fran？oisChante-Prune，steppeduptoGringoire。
Atthatmomentacryaroseamongthethieves:\"LaEsmeralda！
LaEsmeralda！\"
Gringoireshuddered，andturnedtowardsthesidewhencetheclamorproceeded。
Thecrowdopened，andgavepassagetoapureanddazzlingform。
Itwasthegypsy。
\"LaEsmeralda！\"saidGringoire，stupefiedinthemidstofhisemotions，bytheabruptmannerinwhichthatmagicwordknottedtogetherallhisreminiscencesoftheday。
Thisrarecreatureseemed，evenintheCourdesMiracles，toexerciseherswayofcharmandbeauty。Thevagabonds，maleandfemale，rangedthemselvesgentlyalongherpath，andtheirbrutalfacesbeamedbeneathherglance。
Sheapproachedthevictimwithherlightstep。HerprettyDjalifollowedher。Gringoirewasmoredeadthanalive。Sheexaminedhimforamomentinsilence。
\"Youaregoingtohangthisman？\"shesaidgravely，toClopin。
\"Yes，sister，\"repliedtheKingofThunes，\"unlessyouwilltakehimforyourhusband。\"
Shemadeherprettylittlepoutwithherunderlip。\"I’lltakehim，\"saidshe。
Gringoirefirmlybelievedthathehadbeeninadreameversincemorning，andthatthiswasthecontinuationofit。
Thechangewas，infact，violent，thoughagratifyingone。
Theyundidthenoose，andmadethepoetstepdownfromthestool。Hisemotionwassolivelythathewasobligedtositdown。
TheDukeofEgyptbroughtanearthenwarecrock，withoututteringaword。ThegypsyofferedittoGringoire:\"Flingitontheground，\"saidshe。
Thecrockbrokeintofourpieces。
\"Brother，\"thensaidtheDukeofEgypt，layinghishandsupontheirforeheads，\"sheisyourwife；sister，heisyourhusbandforfouryears。Go。\"
CHAPTERVII。
ABRIDALNIGHT。
Afewmomentslaterourpoetfoundhimselfinatinyarchedchamber，verycosy，verywarm，seatedatatablewhichappearedtoasknothingbetterthantomakesomeloansfromalarderhangingnearby，havingagoodbedinprospect，andalonewithaprettygirl。Theadventuresmackedofenchantment。Hebeganseriouslytotakehimselfforapersonageinafairytale；hecasthiseyesabouthimfromtimetotimetotime，asthoughtoseeifthechariotoffire，harnessedtotwo-wingedchimeras，whichalonecouldhavesorapidlytransportedhimfromTartarustoParadise，werestillthere。Attimes，also，hefixedhiseyesobstinatelyupontheholesinhisdoublet，inordertoclingtoreality，andnotlosethegroundfromunderhisfeetcompletely。Hisreason，tossedaboutinimaginaryspace，nowhungonlybythisthread。
Theyounggirldidnotappeartopayanyattentiontohim；
shewentandcame，displacedastool，talkedtohergoat，andindulgedinapoutnowandthen。Atlastshecameandseatedherselfnearthetable，andGringoirewasabletoscrutinizeherathisease。
Youhavebeenachild，reader，andyouwould，perhaps，beveryhappytobeonestill。Itisquitecertainthatyouhavenot，morethanonceandformypart，Ihavepassedwholedays，thebestemployedofmylife，atitfollowedfromthickettothicket，bythesideofrunningwater，onasunnyday，abeautifulgreenorbluedragon-fly，breakingitsflightinabruptangles，andkissingthetipsofallthebranches。
Yourecollectwithwhatamorouscuriosityyourthoughtandyourgazewereriveteduponthislittlewhirlwind，hissingandhummingwithwingsofpurpleandazure，inthemidstofwhichfloatedanimperceptiblebody，veiledbytheveryrapidityofitsmovement。Theaerialbeingwhichwasdimlyoutlinedamidthisquiveringofwings，appearedtoyouchimerical，imaginary，impossibletotouch，impossibletosee。
Butwhen，atlength，thedragon-flyalightedonthetipofareed，and，holdingyourbreaththewhile，youwereabletoexaminethelong，gauzewings，thelongenamelrobe，thetwoglobesofcrystal，whatastonishmentyoufelt，andwhatfearlestyoushouldagainbeholdtheformdisappearintoashade，andthecreatureintoachimera！Recalltheseimpressions，andyouwillreadilyappreciatewhatGringoirefeltoncontemplating，beneathhervisibleandpalpableform，thatEsmeraldaofwhom，uptothattime，hehadonlycaughtaglimpse，amidstawhirlwindofdance，song，andtumult。
Sinkingdeeperanddeeperintohisrevery:\"Sothis，\"
hesaidtohimself，followinghervaguelywithhiseyes，\"islaEsmeralda！acelestialcreature！astreetdancer！somuch，andsolittle！’Twasshewhodealtthedeath-blowtomymysterythismorning，’tisshewhosavesmylifethisevening！Myevilgenius！Mygoodangel！Aprettywoman，onmyword！andwhomustneedslovememadlytohavetakenmeinthatfashion。Bytheway，\"saidhe，risingsuddenly，withthatsentimentofthetruewhichformedthefoundationofhischaracterandhisphilosophy，\"Idon’tknowverywellhowithappens，butIamherhusband！\"
Withthisideainhisheadandinhiseyes，hesteppeduptotheyounggirlinamannersomilitaryandsogallantthatshedrewback。
\"Whatdoyouwantofme？\"saidshe。
\"Canyouaskme，adorableEsmeralda？\"repliedGringoire，withsopassionateanaccentthathewashimselfastonishedatitonhearinghimselfspeak。
Thegypsyopenedhergreateyes。\"Idon’tknowwhatyoumean。\"
\"What！\"resumedGringoire，growingwarmerandwarmer，andsupposingthat，afterall，hehadtodealmerelywithavirtueoftheCourdesMiracles；\"amInotthine，sweetfriend，artthounotmine？\"
And，quiteingenuously，heclaspedherwaist。
Thegypsy’scorsageslippedthroughhishandsliketheskinofaneel。Sheboundedfromoneendofthetinyroomtotheother，stoopeddown，andraisedherselfagain，withalittleponiardinherhand，beforeGringoirehadevenhadtimetoseewhencetheponiardcame；proudandangry，withswellinglipsandinflatednostrils，hercheeksasredasanapiapple，*andhereyesdartinglightnings。Atthesametime，thewhitegoatplaceditselfinfrontofher，andpresentedtoGringoireahostilefront，bristlingwithtwoprettyhorns，gildedandverysharp。Allthistookplaceinthetwinklingofaneye。
*Asmalldessertapple，brightredononesideandgreenish-
whiteontheother。
Thedragon-flyhadturnedintoawasp，andaskednothingbetterthantosting。
Ourphilosopherwasspeechless，andturnedhisastonishedeyesfromthegoattotheyounggirl。\"HolyVirgin！\"hesaidatlast，whensurprisepermittedhimtospeak，\"herearetwoheartydames！\"
Thegypsybrokethesilenceonherside。
\"Youmustbeaveryboldknave！\"
\"Pardon，mademoiselle，\"saidGringoire，withasmile。\"Butwhydidyoutakemeforyourhusband？\"
\"ShouldIhaveallowedyoutobehanged？\"
\"So，\"saidthepoet，somewhatdisappointedinhisamoroushopes。\"Youhadnootherideainmarryingmethantosavemefromthegibbet？\"
\"AndwhatotherideadidyousupposethatIhad？\"
Gringoirebithislips。\"Come，\"saidhe，\"IamnotyetsotriumphantinCupido，asIthought。Butthen，whatwasthegoodofbreakingthatpoorjug？\"
MeanwhileEsmeralda’sdaggerandthegoat’shornswerestilluponthedefensive。
\"MademoiselleEsmeralda，\"saidthepoet，\"letuscometoterms。Iamnotaclerkofthecourt，andIshallnotgotolawwithyouforthuscarryingadaggerinParis，intheteethoftheordinancesandprohibitionsofM。theProvost。
Nevertheless，youarenotignorantofthefactthatNoelLescrivainwascondemned，aweekago，topaytenParisiansous，forhavingcarriedacutlass。Butthisisnoaffairofmine，andIwillcometothepoint。Isweartoyou，uponmyshareofParadise，nottoapproachyouwithoutyourleaveandpermission，butdogivemesomesupper。\"
Thetruthis，Gringoirewas，likeM。Despreaux，\"notveryvoluptuous。\"Hedidnotbelongtothatchevalierandmusketeerspecies，whotakeyounggirlsbyassault。Inthematteroflove，asinallotheraffairs，hewillinglyassentedtotemporizingandadjustingterms；andagoodsupper，andanamiabletête-a-têteappearedtohim，especiallywhenhewashungry，anexcellentinterludebetweentheprologueandthecatastropheofaloveadventure。
Thegypsydidnotreply。Shemadeherdisdainfullittlegrimace，drewupherheadlikeabird，thenburstoutlaughing，andthetinyponiarddisappearedasithadcome，withoutGringoirebeingabletoseewherethewaspconcealeditssting。
Amomentlater，therestooduponthetablealoafofryebread，asliceofbacon，somewrinkledapplesandajugofbeer。Gringoirebegantoeateagerly。Onewouldhavesaid，tohearthefuriousclashingofhisironforkandhisearthenwareplate，thatallhislovehadturnedtoappetite。
Theyounggirlseatedoppositehim，watchedhiminsilence，visiblypreoccupiedwithanotherthought，atwhichshesmiledfromtimetotime，whilehersofthandcaressedtheintelligentheadofthegoat，gentlypressedbetweenherknees。
Acandleofyellowwaxilluminatedthissceneofvoracityandrevery。
Meanwhile，thefirstcravingsofhisstomachhavingbeenstilled，Gringoirefeltsomefalseshameatperceivingthatnothingremainedbutoneapple。
\"Youdonoteat，MademoiselleEsmeralda？\"
Sherepliedbyanegativesignofthehead，andherpensiveglancefixeditselfuponthevaultoftheceiling。
\"Whatthedeuceisshethinkingof？\"thoughtGringoire，staringatwhatshewasgazingat；\"’tisimpossiblethatitcanbethatstonedwarfcarvedinthekeystoneofthatarch，whichthusabsorbsherattention。Whatthedeuce！Icanbearthecomparison！\"
Heraisedhisvoice，\"Mademoiselle！\"
Sheseemednottohearhim。
Herepeated，stillmoreloudly，\"MademoiselleEsmeralda！\"
Troublewasted。Theyounggirl’smindwaselsewhere，andGringoire’svoicehadnotthepowertorecallit。Fortunately，thegoatinterfered。Shebegantopullhermistressgentlybythesleeve。
\"Whatdostthouwant，Djali？\"saidthegypsy，hastily，asthoughsuddenlyawakened。
\"Sheishungry，\"saidGringoire，charmedtoenterintoconversation。
Esmeraldabegantocrumblesomebread，whichDjaliategracefullyfromthehollowofherhand。
Moreover，Gringoiredidnotgivehertimetoresumeherrevery。Hehazardedadelicatequestion。
\"Soyoudon’twantmeforyourhusband？\"
Theyounggirllookedathimintently，andsaid，\"No。\"
\"Foryourlover？\"wentonGringoire。
Shepouted，andreplied，\"No。\"
\"Foryourfriend？\"pursuedGringoire。
Shegazedfixedlyathimagain，andsaid，afteramomentaryreflection，\"Perhaps。\"
This\"perhaps，\"sodeartophilosophers，emboldenedGringoire。
\"Doyouknowwhatfriendshipis？\"heasked。
\"Yes，\"repliedthegypsy；\"itistobebrotherandsister；twosoulswhichtouchwithoutmingling，twofingersononehand。\"
\"Andlove？\"pursuedGringoire。
\"Oh！love！\"saidshe，andhervoicetrembled，andhereyebeamed。\"Thatistobetwoandtobebutone。Amanandawomanmingledintooneangel。Itisheaven。\"
Thestreetdancerhadabeautyasshespokethus，thatstruckGringoiresingularly，andseemedtohiminperfectkeepingwiththealmostorientalexaltationofherwords。
Herpure，redlipshalfsmiled；hersereneandcandidbrowbecametroubled，atintervals，underherthoughts，likeamirrorunderthebreath；andfrombeneathherlong，drooping，blackeyelashes，thereescapedasortofineffablelight，whichgavetoherprofilethatidealserenitywhichRaphaelfoundatthemysticpointofintersectionofvirginity，maternity，anddivinity。
Nevertheless，Gringoirecontinued，——
\"Whatmustonebethen，inordertopleaseyou？\"
\"Aman。\"
\"AndI——\"saidhe，\"what，then，amI？\"
\"Amanhasahemletonhishead，aswordinhishand，andgoldenspursonhisheels。\"
\"Good，\"saidGringoire，\"withoutahorse，noman。Doyouloveanyone？\"
\"Asalover？——\"
\"Yes。\"
Sheremainedthoughtfulforamoment，thensaidwithapeculiarexpression:\"ThatIshallknowsoon。\"
\"Whynotthisevening？\"resumedthepoettenderly。\"Whynotme？\"
Shecastagraveglanceuponhimandsaid，——
\"Icanneverloveamanwhocannotprotectme。\"
Gringoirecolored，andtookthehint。Itwasevidentthattheyounggirlwasalludingtotheslightassistancewhichhehadrenderedherinthecriticalsituationinwhichshehadfoundherselftwohourspreviously。Thismemory，effacedbyhisownadventuresoftheevening，nowrecurredtohim。Hesmotehisbrow。
\"Bytheway，mademoiselle，Ioughttohavebegunthere。
Pardonmyfoolishabsenceofmind。HowdidyoucontrivetoescapefromtheclawsofQuasimodo？\"
Thisquestionmadethegypsyshudder。
\"Oh！thehorriblehunchback，\"saidshe，hidingherfaceinherhands。Andsheshudderedasthoughwithviolentcold。
\"Horrible，intruth，\"saidGringoire，whoclungtohisidea；
\"buthowdidyoumanagetoescapehim？\"
LaEsmeraldasmiled，sighed，andremainedsilent。
\"Doyouknowwhyhefollowedyou？\"beganGringoireagain，seekingtoreturntohisquestionbyacircuitousroute。
\"Idon’tknow，\"saidtheyounggirl，andsheaddedhastily，\"butyouwerefollowingmealso，whywereyoufollowingme？\"
\"Ingoodfaith，\"respondedGringoire，\"Idon’tknoweither。\"
Silenceensued。Gringoireslashedthetablewithhisknife。
Theyounggirlsmiledandseemedtobegazingthroughthewallatsomething。Allatonceshebegantosinginabarelyarticulatevoice，——
~Quandolaspintadasaves，Mudasestan，ylatierra~——*
*Whenthegay-plumagedbirdsgrowweary，andtheearth——
Shebrokeoffabruptly，andbegantocaressDjali。
\"That’saprettyanimalofyours，\"saidGringoire。
\"Sheismysister，\"sheanswered。
\"Whyareyoucalled’laEsmeralda？’\"askedthepoet。
\"Idonotknow。\"
\"Butwhy？\"
Shedrewfromherbosomasortoflittleoblongbag，suspendedfromherneckbyastringofadrézarachbeads。Thisbagexhaledastrongodorofcamphor。Itwascoveredwithgreensilk，andboreinitscentrealargepieceofgreenglass，inimitationofanemerald。
\"Perhapsitisbecauseofthis，\"saidshe。
Gringoirewasonthepointoftakingthebaginhishand。
Shedrewback。
\"Don’ttouchit！Itisanamulet。Youwouldinjurethecharmorthecharmwouldinjureyou。\"
Thepoet’scuriositywasmoreandmorearoused。
\"Whogaveittoyou？\"
Shelaidonefingeronhermouthandconcealedtheamuletinherbosom。Hetriedafewmorequestions，butshehardlyreplied。
\"Whatisthemeaningofthewords，’laEsmeralda？’\"
\"Idon’tknow，\"saidshe。
\"Towhatlanguagedotheybelong？\"
\"TheyareEgyptian，Ithink。\"
\"Isuspectedasmuch，\"saidGringoire，\"youarenotanativeofFrance？\"
\"Idon’tknow。\"
\"Areyourparentsalive？\"
Shebegantosing，toanancientair，——
~Monpèreestoiseau，Mamèreestoiselle。
B
Jepassel’eausansnacelle，Jepassel’eausansbateau，Mamèreestoiselle，Monpèreestoiseau~。*
*Myfatherisabird，mymotherisabird。Icrossthewaterwithoutabarque，Icrossthewaterwithoutaboat。
Mymotherisabird，myfatherisabird。
\"Good，\"saidGringoire。\"AtwhatagedidyoucometoFrance？\"
\"WhenIwasveryyoung。\"
\"AndwhentoParis？\"
\"Lastyear。AtthemomentwhenwewereenteringthepapalgateIsawareedwarblerflitthroughtheair，thatwasattheendofAugust；Isaid，itwillbeahardwinter。\"
\"Soitwas，\"saidGringoire，delightedatthisbeginningofaconversation。\"Ipasseditinblowingmyfingers。Soyouhavethegiftofprophecy？\"
Sheretiredintoherlaconicsagain。
\"IsthatmanwhomyoucalltheDukeofEgypt，thechiefofyourtribe？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Butitwashewhomarriedus，\"remarkedthepoettimidly。
Shemadehercustomaryprettygrimace。
\"Idon’tevenknowyourname。\"
\"Myname？Ifyouwantit，hereitis，——PierreGringoire。\"
\"Iknowaprettierone，\"saidshe。
\"Naughtygirl！\"retortedthepoet。\"Nevermind，youshallnotprovokeme。Wait，perhapsyouwilllovememorewhenyouknowmebetter；andthen，youhavetoldmeyourstorywithsomuchconfidence，thatIoweyoualittleofmine。Youmustknow，then，thatmynameisPierreGringoire，andthatIamasonofthefarmerofthenotary’sofficeofGonesse。
MyfatherwashungbytheBurgundians，andmymotherdisembowelledbythePicards，atthesiegeofParis，twentyyearsago。Atsixyearsofage，therefore，Iwasanorphan，withoutasoletomyfootexceptthepavementsofParis。IdonotknowhowIpassedtheintervalfromsixtosixteen。Afruitdealergavemeaplumhere，abakerflungmeacrustthere；
intheeveningIgotmyselftakenupbythewatch，whothrewmeintoprison，andthereIfoundabundleofstraw。Allthisdidnotpreventmygrowingupandgrowingthin，asyousee。
InthewinterIwarmedmyselfinthesun，undertheporchoftheH？teldeSens，andIthoughtitveryridiculousthatthefireonSaintJohn’sDaywasreservedforthedogdays。Atsixteen，Iwishedtochooseacalling。Itriedallinsuccession。
Ibecameasoldier；butIwasnotbraveenough。Ibecameamonk；butIwasnotsufficientlydevout；andthenI’mabadhandatdrinking。Indespair，Ibecameanapprenticeofthewoodcutters，butIwasnotstrongenough；Ihadmoreofaninclinationtobecomeaschoolmaster；’tistruethatIdidnotknowhowtoread，butthat’snoreason。Iperceivedattheendofacertaintime，thatIlackedsomethingineverydirection；andseeingthatIwasgoodfornothing，ofmyownfreewillIbecameapoetandrhymester。Thatisatradewhichonecanalwaysadoptwhenoneisavagabond，andit’sbetterthanstealing，assomeyoungbrigandsofmyacquaintanceadvisedmetodo。OnedayImetbyluck，DomClaudeFrollo，thereverendarchdeaconofNotre-Dame。Hetookaninterestinme，anditistohimthatIto-dayoweitthatIamaveritablemanofletters，whoknowsLatinfromthe~deOfficiis~
ofCicerotothemortuologyoftheCelestineFathers，andabarbarianneitherinscholastics，norinpolitics，norinrhythmics，thatsophismofsophisms。IamtheauthoroftheMysterywhichwaspresentedto-daywithgreattriumphandagreatconcourseofpopulace，inthegrandhallofthePalaisdeJustice。
Ihavealsomadeabookwhichwillcontainsixhundredpages，onthewonderfulcometof1465，whichsentonemanmad。Ihaveenjoyedstillothersuccesses。Beingsomewhatofanartillerycarpenter，IlentahandtoJeanMangue’sgreatbombard，whichburst，asyouknow，onthedaywhenitwastested，onthePontdeCharenton，andkilledfourandtwentycuriousspectators。YouseethatIamnotabadmatchinmarriage。Iknowagreatmanysortsofveryengagingtricks，whichIwillteachyourgoat；forexample，tomimictheBishopofParis，thatcursedPhariseewhosemillwheelssplashpassers-bythewholelengthofthePontauxMeuniers。
Andthenmymysterywillbringmeinagreatdealofcoinedmoney，iftheywillonlypayme。Andfinally，Iamatyourorders，Iandmywits，andmyscienceandmyletters，readytolivewithyou，damsel，asitshallpleaseyou，chastelyorjoyously；husbandandwife，ifyouseefit；brotherandsister，ifyouthinkthatbetter。\"
Gringoireceased，awaitingtheeffectofhisharangueontheyounggirl。Hereyeswerefixedontheground。
\"’Phoebus，’\"shesaidinalowvoice。Then，turningtowardsthepoet，\"’Phoebus’，——whatdoesthatmean？\"
Gringoire，withoutexactlyunderstandingwhattheconnectioncouldbebetweenhisaddressandthisquestion，wasnotsorrytodisplayhiserudition。Assuminganairofimportance，hereplied，——
\"ItisaLatinwordwhichmeans’sun。’\"
\"Sun！\"sherepeated。
\"Itisthenameofahandsomearcher，whowasagod，\"
addedGringoire。
\"Agod！\"repeatedthegypsy，andtherewassomethingpensiveandpassionateinhertone。
Atthatmoment，oneofherbraceletsbecameunfastenedandfell。Gringoirestoopedquicklytopickitup；whenhestraightenedup，theyounggirlandthegoathaddisappeared。
Heheardthesoundofabolt。Itwasalittledoor，communicating，nodoubt，withaneighboringcell，whichwasbeingfastenedontheoutside。
\"Hassheleftmeabed，atleast？\"saidourphilosopher。
Hemadethetourofhiscell。Therewasnopieceoffurnitureadaptedtosleepingpurposes，exceptatolerablylongwoodencoffer；anditscoverwascarved，toboot；whichaffordedGringoire，whenhestretchedhimselfoutuponit，asensationsomewhatsimilartothatwhichMicromégaswouldfeelifheweretoliedownontheAlps。
\"Come！\"saidhe，adjustinghimselfaswellaspossible，\"I
mustresignmyself。Buthere’sastrangenuptialnight。’Tisapity。Therewassomethinginnocentandantediluvianaboutthatbrokencrock，whichquitepleasedme。\"
BOOKTHIRD。
CHAPTERI。
NOTRE-DAME。
ThechurchofNotre-DamedeParisisstillnodoubt，amajesticandsublimeedifice。But，beautifulasithasbeenpreservedingrowingold，itisdifficultnottosigh，nottowaxindignant，beforethenumberlessdegradationsandmutilationswhichtimeandmenhavebothcausedthevenerablemonumenttosuffer，withoutrespectforCharlemagne，wholaiditsfirststone，orforPhilipAugustus，wholaidthelast。
Onthefaceofthisagedqueenofourcathedrals，bythesideofawrinkle，onealwaysfindsascar。~Tempusedax，homoedacior*~；whichIshouldbegladtotranslatethus:
timeisblind，manisstupid。
*Timeisadevourer；man，moreso。
Ifwehadleisuretoexaminewiththereader，onebyone，thediversetracesofdestructionimprintedupontheoldchurch，time’ssharewouldbetheleast，theshareofmenthemost，especiallythemenofart，sincetherehavebeenindividualswhoassumedthetitleofarchitectsduringthelasttwocenturies。
And，inthefirstplace，tociteonlyafewleadingexamples，therecertainlyarefewfinerarchitecturalpagesthanthisfa？ade，where，successivelyandatonce，thethreeportalshollowedoutinanarch；thebroideredanddentatedcordonoftheeightandtwentyroyalniches；theimmensecentralrosewindow，flankedbyitstwolateralwindows，likeapriestbyhisdeaconandsubdeacon；thefrailandloftygalleryoftrefoilarcades，whichsupportsaheavyplatformaboveitsfine，slendercolumns；andlastly，thetwoblackandmassivetowerswiththeirslatepenthouses，harmoniouspartsofamagnificentwhole，superposedinfivegiganticstories；——developthemselvesbeforetheeye，inamassandwithoutconfusion，withtheirinnumerabledetailsofstatuary，carving，andsculpture，joinedpowerfullytothetranquilgrandeurofthewhole；avastsymphonyinstone，sotospeak；thecolossalworkofonemanandonepeople，alltogetheroneandcomplex，liketheIliadsandtheRomanceros，whosesisteritis；prodigiousproductofthegroupingtogetherofalltheforcesofanepoch，where，uponeachstone，oneseesthefancyoftheworkmandisciplinedbythegeniusoftheartiststartforthinahundredfashions；asortofhumancreation，inaword，powerfulandfecundasthedivinecreationofwhichitseemstohavestolenthedoublecharacter，——variety，eternity。
Andwhatweheresayofthefa？ademustbesaidoftheentirechurch；andwhatwesayofthecathedralchurchofParis，mustbesaidofallthechurchesofChristendomintheMiddleAges。Allthingsareinplaceinthatart，self-created，logical，andwellproportioned。Tomeasurethegreattoeofthefootistomeasurethegiant。
Letusreturntothefa？adeofNotre-Dame，asitstillappearstous，whenwegopiouslytoadmirethegraveandpuissantcathedral，whichinspiresterror，soitschroniclesassert:~quoemolesuaterroremincutitspectantibus~。
Threeimportantthingsareto-daylackinginthatfa？ade:
inthefirstplace，thestaircaseofelevenstepswhichformerlyraiseditabovethesoil；next，thelowerseriesofstatueswhichoccupiedthenichesofthethreeportals；andlastlytheupperseries，ofthetwenty-eightmostancientkingsofFrance，whichgarnishedthegalleryofthefirststory，beginningwithChildebert，andendingwithPhillipAugustus，holdinginhishand\"theimperialapple。\"
Timehascausedthestaircasetodisappear，byraisingthesoilofthecitywithaslowandirresistibleprogress；but，whilethuscausingtheelevenstepswhichaddedtothemajesticheightoftheedifice，tobedevoured，onebyone，bytherisingtideofthepavementsofParis，——timehasbestoweduponthechurchperhapsmorethanithastakenaway，foritistimewhichhasspreadoverthefa？adethatsombrehueofthecenturieswhichmakestheoldageofmonumentstheperiodoftheirbeauty。
Butwhohasthrowndownthetworowsofstatues？whohasleftthenichesempty？whohascut，intheverymiddleofthecentralportal，thatnewandbastardarch？whohasdaredtoframethereinthatcommonplaceandheavydoorofcarvedwood，àlaLouisXV。，besidethearabesquesofBiscornette？
Themen，thearchitects，theartistsofourday。
Andifweentertheinterioroftheedifice，whohasoverthrownthatcolossusofSaintChristopher，proverbialformagnitudeamongstatues，asthegrandhallofthePalaisdeJusticewasamonghalls，asthespireofStrasbourgamongspires？
Andthosemyriadsofstatues，whichpeopledallthespacesbetweenthecolumnsofthenaveandthechoir，kneeling，standing，equestrian，men，women，children，kings，bishops，gendarmes，instone，inmarble，ingold，insilver，incopper，inwaxeven，——whohasbrutallysweptthemaway？
Itisnottime。
Andwhosubstitutedfortheancientgothicaltar，splendidlyencumberedwithshrinesandreliquaries，thatheavymarblesarcophagus，withangels’headsandclouds，whichseemsaspecimenpillagedfromtheVal-de-GraceortheInvalides？
WhostupidlysealedthatheavyanachronismofstoneintheCarlovingianpavementofHercandus？WasitnotLouisXIV。，fulfillingtherequestofLouisXIII。？
Andwhoputthecold，whitepanesintheplaceofthosewindows，\"highincolor，\"whichcausedtheastonishedeyesofourfatherstohesitatebetweentheroseofthegrandportalandthearchesoftheapse？Andwhatwouldasub-chanterofthesixteenthcenturysay，onbeholdingthebeautifulyellowwash，withwhichourarchiepiscopalvandalshavedesmearedtheircathedral？Hewouldrememberthatitwasthecolorwithwhichthehangmansmeared\"accursed\"
edifices；hewouldrecalltheH？telduPetit-Bourbon，allsmearedthus，onaccountoftheconstable’streason。\"Yellow，afterall，ofsogoodaquality，\"saidSauval，\"andsowellrecommended，thatmorethanacenturyhasnotyetcausedittoloseitscolor。\"Hewouldthinkthatthesacredplacehadbecomeinfamous，andwouldflee。
Andifweascendthecathedral，withoutmentioningathousandbarbarismsofeverysort，——whathasbecomeofthatcharminglittlebelltower，whichresteduponthepointofintersectionofthecross-roofs，andwhich，nolessfrailandnolessboldthanitsneighboralsodestroyed，thespireoftheSainte-Chapelle，burieditselfinthesky，fartherforwardthanthetowers，slender，pointed，sonorous，carvedinopenwork。
Anarchitectofgoodtasteamputatedit1787，andconsidereditsufficienttomaskthewoundwiththatlarge，leadenplaster，whichresemblesapotcover。
’TisthusthatthemarvellousartoftheMiddleAgeshasbeentreatedinnearlyeverycountry，especiallyinFrance。
Onecandistinguishonitsruinsthreesortsoflesions，allthreeofwhichcutintoitatdifferentdepths；first，time，whichhasinsensiblynotcheditssurfacehereandthere，andgnawediteverywhere；next，politicalandreligiousrevolution，which，blindandwrathfulbynature，haveflungthemselvestumultuouslyuponit，tornitsrichgarmentofcarvingandsculpture，burstitsrosewindows，brokenitsnecklaceofarabesquesandtinyfigures，tornoutitsstatues，sometimesbecauseoftheirmitres，sometimesbecauseoftheircrowns；
lastly，fashions，evenmoregrotesqueandfoolish，which，sincetheanarchicalandsplendiddeviationsoftheRenaissance，havefollowedeachotherinthenecessarydecadenceofarchitecture。Fashionshavewroughtmoreharmthanrevolutions。
Theyhavecuttothequick；theyhaveattackedtheveryboneandframeworkofart；theyhavecut，slashed，disorganized，killedtheedifice，informasinthesymbol，initsconsistencyaswellasinitsbeauty。Andthentheyhavemadeitover；apresumptionofwhichneithertimenorrevolutionsatleasthavebeenguilty。Theyhaveaudaciouslyadjusted，inthenameof\"goodtaste，\"uponthewoundsofgothicarchitecture，theirmiserablegewgawsofaday，theirribbonsofmarble，theirpomponsofmetal，averitableleprosyofegg-shapedornaments，volutes，whorls，draperies，garlands，fringes，stoneflames，bronzeclouds，pudgycupids，chubby-
cheekedcherubim，whichbegintodevourthefaceofartintheoratoryofCatherinedeMedicis，andcauseittoexpire，twocenturieslater，torturedandgrimacing，intheboudoiroftheDubarry。
Thus，tosumupthepointswhichwehavejustindicated，threesortsofravagesto-daydisfigureGothicarchitecture。
Wrinklesandwartsontheepidermis；thisistheworkoftime。Deedsofviolence，brutalities，contusions，fractures；
thisistheworkoftherevolutionsfromLuthertoMirabeau。
Mutilations，amputations，dislocationofthejoints，\"restorations\"；thisistheGreek，Roman，andbarbarianworkofprofessorsaccordingtoVitruviusandVignole。ThismagnificentartproducedbytheVandalshasbeenslainbytheacademies。Thecenturies，therevolutions，whichatleastdevastatewithimpartialityandgrandeur，havebeenjoinedbyacloudofschoolarchitects，licensed，sworn，andboundbyoath；
defacingwiththediscernmentandchoiceofbadtaste，substitutingthe~chicorées~ofLouisXV。fortheGothiclace，forthegreatergloryoftheParthenon。Itisthekickoftheassatthedyinglion。Itistheoldoakcrowningitself，andwhich，toheapthemeasurefull，isstung，bitten，andgnawedbycaterpillars。
HowfaritisfromtheepochwhenRobertCenalis，comparingNotre-DamedeParistothefamoustempleofDianaatEphesus，*somuchlaudedbytheancientpagans*，whichErostatus*has*immortalized，foundtheGallictemple\"moreexcellentinlength，breadth，height，andstructure。\"*
*_HistoireGallicane_，liv。II。PeriodeIII。fo。130，p。1。
Notre-Dameisnot，moreover，whatcanbecalledacomplete，definite，classifiedmonument。ItisnolongeraRomanesquechurch；norisitaGothicchurch。Thisedificeisnotatype。Notre-DamedeParishasnot，liketheAbbeyofTournus，thegraveandmassiveframe，thelargeandroundvault，theglacialbareness，themajesticsimplicityoftheedificeswhichhavetheroundedarchfortheirprogenitor。Itisnot，liketheCathedralofBourges，themagnificent，light，multiform，tufted，bristlingefflorescentproductofthepointedarch。Impossibletoclassitinthatancientfamilyofsombre，mysteriouschurches，lowandcrushedasitwerebytheroundarch，almostEgyptian，withtheexceptionoftheceiling；allhieroglyphics，allsacerdotal，allsymbolical，moreloadedintheirornaments，withlozengesandzigzags，thanwithflowers，withflowersthanwithanimals，withanimalsthanwithmen；
theworkofthearchitectlessthanofthebishop；firsttransformationofart，allimpressedwiththeocraticandmilitarydiscipline，takingrootintheLowerEmpire，andstoppingwiththetimeofWilliamtheConqueror。ImpossibletoplaceourCathedralinthatotherfamilyoflofty，aerialchurches，richinpaintedwindowsandsculpture；pointedinform，boldinattitude；communalandbourgeoisaspoliticalsymbols；free，capricious，lawless，asaworkofart；secondtransformationofarchitecture，nolongerhieroglyphic，immovableandsacerdotal，butartistic，progressive，andpopular，whichbeginsatthereturnfromthecrusades，andendswithLouisIX。Notre-DamedeParisisnotofpureRomanesque，likethefirst；norofpureArabianrace，likethesecond。
Itisanedificeofthetransitionperiod。TheSaxonarchitectcompletedtheerectionofthefirstpillarsofthenave，whenthepointedarch，whichdatesfromtheCrusade，arrivedandplaceditselfasaconqueroruponthelargeRomanesquecapitalswhichshouldsupportonlyroundarches。Thepointedarch，mistresssincethattime，constructedtherestofthechurch。Nevertheless，timidandinexperiencedatthestart，itsweepsout，growslarger，restrainsitself，anddaresnolongerdartupwardsinspiresandlancetwindows，asitdidlateron，insomanymarvellouscathedrals。OnewouldsaythatitwereconsciousofthevicinityoftheheavyRomanesquepillars。
However，theseedificesofthetransitionfromtheRomanesquetotheGothic，arenolesspreciousforstudythanthepuretypes。Theyexpressashadeoftheartwhichwouldbelostwithoutthem。Itisthegraftofthepointedupontheroundarch。
Notre-DamedeParisis，inparticular，acuriousspecimenofthisvariety。Eachface，eachstoneofthevenerablemonument，isapagenotonlyofthehistoryofthecountry，butofthehistoryofscienceandartaswell。Thus，inordertoindicatehereonlytheprincipaldetails，whilethelittleRedDooralmostattainstothelimitsoftheGothicdelicacyofthefifteenthcentury，thepillarsofthenave，bytheirsizeandweight，gobacktotheCarlovingianAbbeyofSaint-GermaindesPrés。Onewouldsupposethatsixcenturiesseparatedthesepillarsfromthatdoor。Thereisnoone，noteventhehermetics，whodoesnotfindinthesymbolsofthegrandportalasatisfactorycompendiumoftheirscience，ofwhichtheChurchofSaint-JacquesdelaBoucheriewassocompleteahieroglyph。Thus，theRomanabbey，thephilosophers’church，theGothicart，Saxonart，theheavy，roundpillar，whichrecallsGregoryVII。，thehermeticsymbolism，withwhichNicolasFlamelplayedthepreludetoLuther，papalunity，schism，Saint-GermaindesPrés，Saint-JacquesdelaBoucherie，——allaremingled，combined，amalgamatedinNotre-Dame。Thiscentralmotherchurchis，amongtheancientchurchesofParis，asortofchimera；ithastheheadofone，thelimbsofanother，thehaunchesofanother，somethingofall。
Werepeatit，thesehybridconstructionsarenottheleastinterestingfortheartist，fortheantiquarian，forthehistorian。
Theymakeonefeeltowhatadegreearchitectureisaprimitivething，bydemonstratingwhatisalsodemonstratedbythecyclopeanvestiges，thepyramidsofEgypt，thegiganticHindoopagodasthatthegreatestproductsofarchitecturearelesstheworksofindividualsthanofsociety；rathertheoffspringofanation’seffort，thantheinspiredflashofamanofgenius；thedepositleftbyawholepeople；theheapsaccumulatedbycenturies；theresidueofsuccessiveevaporationsofhumansociety，——inaword，speciesofformations。
Eachwaveoftimecontributesitsalluvium，eachracedepositsitslayeronthemonument，eachindividualbringshisstone。Thusdothebeavers，thusdothebees，thusdomen。Thegreatsymbolofarchitecture，Babel，isahive。
Greatedifices，likegreatmountains，aretheworkofcenturies。
Artoftenundergoesatransformationwhiletheyarepending，~pendentoperainterrupta~；theyproceedquietlyinaccordancewiththetransformedart。Thenewarttakesthemonumentwhereitfindsit，incrustsitselfthere，assimilatesittoitself，developsitaccordingtoitsfancy，andfinishesitifitcan。
Thethingisaccomplishedwithouttrouble，withouteffort，withoutreaction，——followinganaturalandtranquillaw。Itisagraftwhichshootsup，asapwhichcirculates，avegetationwhichstartsforthanew。Certainlythereismatterhereformanylargevolumes，andoftentheuniversalhistoryofhumanityinthesuccessiveengraftingofmanyartsatmanylevels，uponthesamemonument。Theman，theartist，theindividual，iseffacedinthesegreatmasses，whichlackthenameoftheirauthor；humanintelligenceistheresummedupandtotalized。Timeisthearchitect，thenationisthebuilder。
NottoconsiderhereanythingexcepttheChristianarchitectureofEurope，thatyoungersisterofthegreatmasonriesoftheOrient，itappearstotheeyesasanimmenseformationdividedintothreewell-definedzones，whicharesuperposed，theoneupontheother:theRomanesquezone*，theGothiczone，thezoneoftheRenaissance，whichwewouldgladlycalltheGreco-Romanzone。TheRomanlayer，whichisthemostancientanddeepest，isoccupiedbytheroundarch，whichreappears，supportedbytheGreekcolumn，inthemodernandupperlayeroftheRenaissance。Thepointedarchisfoundbetweenthetwo。Theedificeswhichbelongexclusivelytoanyoneofthesethreelayersareperfectlydistinct，uniform，andcomplete。ThereistheAbbeyofJumiéges，thereistheCathedralofReims，thereistheSainte-CroixofOrleans。Butthethreezonesmingleandamalgamatealongtheedges，likethecolorsinthesolarspectrum。Hence，complexmonuments，edificesofgradationandtransition。OneisRomanatthebase，Gothicinthemiddle，Greco-Romanatthetop。Itisbecauseitwassixhundredyearsinbuilding。Thisvarietyisrare。Thedonjonkeepofd’Etampesisaspecimenofit。Butmonumentsoftwoformationsaremorefrequent。ThereisNotre-DamedeParis，apointed-archedifice，whichisimbeddedbyitspillarsinthatRomanzone，inwhichareplungedtheportalofSaint-Denis，andthenaveofSaint-GermaindesPrés。Thereisthecharming，half-Gothicchapter-houseofBocherville，wheretheRomanlayerextendshalfwayup。ThereisthecathedralofRouen，whichwouldbeentirelyGothicifitdidnotbathethetipofitscentralspireinthezoneoftheRenaissance。**
*Thisisthesamewhichiscalled，accordingtolocality，climate，andraces，Lombard，Saxon，orByzantine。Therearefoursisterandparallelarchitectures，eachhavingitsspecialcharacter，butderivedfromthesameorigin，theroundarch。
~Faciesnonomnibusuna，Nodiversatamen，qualem~，etc。
Theirfacesnotallalike，noryetdifferent，butsuchasthefacesofsistersoughttobe。
**Thisportionofthespire，whichwasofwoodwork，ispreciselythatwhichwasconsumedbylightning，in1823。
However，alltheseshades，allthesedifferences，donotaffectthesurfacesofedificesonly。Itisartwhichhaschangeditsskin。TheveryconstitutionoftheChristianchurchisnotattackedbyit。Thereisalwaysthesameinternalwoodwork，thesamelogicalarrangementofparts。
Whatevermaybethecarvedandembroideredenvelopeofacathedral，onealwaysfindsbeneathit——inthestateofagerm，andofarudimentattheleast——theRomanbasilica。
Itiseternallydevelopeduponthesoilaccordingtothesamelaw。Thereare，invariably，twonaves，whichintersectinacross，andwhoseupperportion，roundedintoanapse，formsthechoir；therearealwaysthesideaisles，forinteriorprocessions，forchapels，——asortoflateralwalksorpromenadeswheretheprincipalnavedischargesitselfthroughthespacesbetweenthepillars。Thatsettled，thenumberofchapels，doors，belltowers，andpinnaclesaremodifiedtoinfinity，accordingtothefancyofthecentury，thepeople，andart。
Theserviceofreligiononceassuredandprovidedfor，architecturedoeswhatshepleases。Statues，stainedglass，rosewindows，arabesques，denticulations，capitals，bas-reliefs，——shecombinesalltheseimaginingsaccordingtothearrangementwhichbestsuitsher。Hence，theprodigiousexteriorvarietyoftheseedifices，atwhosefoundationdwellssomuchorderandunity。Thetrunkofatreeisimmovable；thefoliageiscapricious。
CHAPTERII。
ABIRD’S-EYEVIEWOFPARIS。
Wehavejustattemptedtorestore，forthereader’sbenefit，thatadmirablechurchofNotre-DamedeParis。Wehavebrieflypointedoutthegreaterpartofthebeautieswhichitpossessedinthefifteenthcentury，andwhichitlacksto-day；
butwehaveomittedtheprincipalthing，——theviewofPariswhichwasthentobeobtainedfromthesummitsofitstowers。
Thatwas，infact，——when，afterhavinglonggropedone’swayupthedarkspiralwhichperpendicularlypiercesthethickwallofthebelfries，oneemerged，atlastabruptly，upononeoftheloftyplatformsinundatedwithlightandair，——thatwas，infact，afinepicturewhichspreadout，onallsidesatonce，beforetheeye；aspectacle~suigeneris~，ofwhichthoseofourreaderswhohavehadthegoodfortunetoseeaGothiccityentire，complete，homogeneous，——afewofwhichstillremain，NuremberginBavariaandVittoriainSpain，——canreadilyformanidea；orevensmallerspecimens，providedthattheyarewellpreserved，——VitréinBrittany，NordhauseninPrussia。
TheParisofthreehundredandfiftyyearsago——theParisofthefifteenthcentury——wasalreadyagiganticcity。WeParisiansgenerallymakeamistakeastothegroundwhichwethinkthatwehavegained，sinceParishasnotincreasedmuchoverone-thirdsincethetimeofLouisXI。Ithascertainlylostmoreinbeautythanithasgainedinsize。
Parishaditsbirth，asthereaderknows，inthatoldislandoftheCitywhichhastheformofacradle。Thestrandofthatislandwasitsfirstboundarywall，theSeineitsfirstmoat。Parisremainedformanycenturiesinitsislandstate，withtwobridges，oneonthenorth，theotheronthesouth；
andtwobridgeheads，whichwereatthesametimeitsgatesanditsfortresses，——theGrand-Chateletontherightbank，thePetit-Chateletontheleft。Then，fromthedateofthekingsofthefirstrace，Paris，beingtoocribbedandconfinedinitsisland，andunabletoreturnthither，crossedthewater。Then，beyondtheGrand，beyondthePetit-Chatelet，afirstcircleofwallsandtowersbegantoinfringeuponthecountryonthetwosidesoftheSeine。Somevestigesofthisancientenclosurestillremainedinthelastcentury；to-day，onlythememoryofitisleft，andhereandthereatradition，theBaudetsorBaudoyergate，\"PorteBagauda\"。
Littlebylittle，thetideofhouses，alwaysthrustfromtheheartofthecityoutwards，overflows，devours，wearsaway，andeffacesthiswall。PhilipAugustusmakesanewdikeforit。HeimprisonsParisinacircularchainofgreattowers，bothloftyandsolid。Fortheperiodofmorethanacentury，thehousespressuponeachother，accumulate，andraisetheirlevelinthisbasin，likewaterinareservoir。Theybegintodeepen；theypilestoryuponstory；theymountuponeachother；theygushforthatthetop，likealllaterallycompressedgrowth，andthereisarivalryastowhichshallthrustitsheadaboveitsneighbors，forthesakeofgettingalittleair。Thestreetglowsnarroweranddeeper，everyspaceisoverwhelmedanddisappears。ThehousesfinallyleapthewallofPhilipAugustus，andscatterjoyfullyovertheplain，withoutorder，andallaskew，likerunaways。Theretheyplantthemselvessquarely，cutthemselvesgardensfromthefields，andtaketheirease。Beginningwith1367，thecityspreadstosuchanextentintothesuburbs，thatanewwallbecomesnecessary，particularlyontherightbank；CharlesV。
buildsit。ButacitylikeParisisperpetuallygrowing。Itisonlysuchcitiesthatbecomecapitals。Theyarefunnels，intowhichallthegeographical，political，moral，andintellectualwater-shedsofacountry，allthenaturalslopesofapeople，pour；wellsofcivilization，sotospeak，andalsosewers，wherecommerce，industry，intelligence，population，——allthatissap，allthatislife，allthatisthesoulofanation，filtersandamassesunceasingly，dropbydrop，centurybycentury。
SoCharlesV。’swallsufferedthefateofthatofPhilipAugustus。Attheendofthefifteenthcentury，theFaubourgstridesacrossit，passesbeyondit，andrunsfarther。Inthesixteenth，itseemstoretreatvisibly，andtoburyitselfdeeperanddeeperintheoldcity，sothickhadthenewcityalreadybecomeoutsideofit。Thus，beginningwiththefifteenthcentury，whereourstoryfindsus，Parishadalreadyoutgrownthethreeconcentriccirclesofwallswhich，fromthetimeofJuliantheApostate，existed，sotospeak，ingermintheGrand-ChateletandthePetit-Chatelet。Themightycityhadcracked，insuccession，itsfourenclosuresofwalls，likeachildgrowntoolargeforhisgarmentsoflastyear。UnderLouisXI。，thisseaofhouseswasseentobepiercedatintervalsbyseveralgroupsofruinedtowers，fromtheancientwall，likethesummitsofhillsinaninundation，——likearchipelagosoftheoldParissubmergedbeneaththenew。
SincethattimeParishasundergoneyetanothertransformation，unfortunatelyforoureyes；butithaspassedonlyonemorewall，thatofLouisXV。，thatmiserablewallofmudandspittle，worthyofthekingwhobuiltit，worthyofthepoetwhosungit，——
~LemurmurantParisrendParismurmurant~。*
*ThewallwallingParismakesParismurmur。
Inthefifteenthcentury，Pariswasstilldividedintothreewhollydistinctandseparatetowns，eachhavingitsownphysiognomy，itsownspecialty，itsmanners，customs，privileges，andhistory:theCity，theUniversity，theTown。TheCity，whichoccupiedtheisland，wasthemostancient，thesmallest，andthemotheroftheothertwo，crowdedinbetweenthemlikemaywebepardonedthecomparisonalittleoldwomanbetweentwolargeandhandsomemaidens。TheUniversitycoveredtheleftbankoftheSeine，fromtheTournelletotheTourdeNesle，pointswhichcorrespondintheParisofto-day，theonetothewinemarket，theothertothemint。ItswallincludedalargepartofthatplainwhereJulianhadbuilthishotbaths。ThehillofSainte-Genevièvewasenclosedinit。
TheculminatingpointofthissweepofwallswasthePapalgate，thatistosay，nearthepresentsiteofthePantheon。
TheTown，whichwasthelargestofthethreefragmentsofParis，heldtherightbank。Itsquay，brokenorinterruptedinmanyplaces，ranalongtheSeine，fromtheTourdeBillytotheTourduBois；thatistosay，fromtheplacewherethegranarystandsto-day，tothepresentsiteoftheTuileries。
Thesefourpoints，wheretheSeineintersectedthewallofthecapital，theTournelleandtheTourdeNesleontheright，theTourdeBillyandtheTourduBoisontheleft，werecalledpre-eminently，\"thefourtowersofParis。\"TheTownencroachedstillmoreextensivelyuponthefieldsthantheUniversity。
TheculminatingpointoftheTownwallthatofCharlesV。
wasatthegatesofSaint-DenisandSaint-Martin，whosesituationhasnotbeenchanged。
Aswehavejustsaid，eachofthesethreegreatdivisionsofPariswasatown，buttoospecialatowntobecomplete，acitywhichcouldnotgetalongwithouttheothertwo。Hencethreeentirelydistinctaspects:churchesaboundedintheCity；palaces，intheTown；andcolleges，intheUniversity。Neglectingheretheoriginalities，ofsecondaryimportanceinoldParis，andthecapriciousregulationsregardingthepublichighways，wewillsay，fromageneralpointofview，takingonlymassesandthewholegroup，inthischaosofcommunaljurisdictions，thattheislandbelongedtothebishop，therightbanktotheprovostofthemerchants，theleftbanktotheRector；overallruledtheprovostofParis，aroyalnotamunicipalofficial。TheCityhadNotre-Dame；theTown，theLouvreandtheH？teldeVille；theUniversity，theSorbonne。
TheTownhadthemarketsHalles；thecity，theHospital；
theUniversity，thePré-aux-Clercs。Offencescommittedbythescholarsontheleftbankweretriedinthelawcourtsontheisland，andwerepunishedontherightbankatMontfau？on；
unlesstherector，feelingtheuniversitytobestrongandthekingweak，intervened；foritwasthestudents’privilegetobehangedontheirowngrounds。
Thegreaterpartoftheseprivileges，itmaybenotedinpassing，andthereweresomeevenbetterthantheabove，hadbeenextortedfromthekingsbyrevoltsandmutinies。Itisthecourseofthingsfromtimeimmemorial；thekingonlyletsgowhenthepeopletearaway。Thereisanoldcharterwhichputsthematternaively:aproposoffidelity:~Civibusfidelitasinreges，quoetamenaliquotiesseditionibusinterrypta，multapeperitprivileyia~。
Inthefifteenthcentury，theSeinebathedfiveislandswithinthewallsofParis:Louviersisland，wheretherewerethentrees，andwherethereisnolongeranythingbutwood；l’ileauxVaches，andl’ileNotre-Dame，bothdeserted，withtheexceptionofonehouse，bothfiefsofthebishop——intheseventeenthcentury，asingleislandwasformedoutofthesetwo，whichwasbuiltuponandnamedl’ileSaint-Louis——，lastlytheCity，andatitspoint，thelittleisletofthecowtender，whichwasafterwardsengulfedbeneaththeplatformofthePont-Neuf。TheCitythenhadfivebridges:threeontheright，thePontNotre-Dame，andthePontauChange，ofstone，thePontauxMeuniers，ofwood；twoontheleft，thePetitPont，ofstone，thePontSaint-Michel，ofwood；allloadedwithhouses。
TheUniversityhadsixgates，builtbyPhilipAugustus；
therewere，beginningwithlaTournelle，thePorteSaint-
Victor，thePorteBordelle，thePortePapale，thePorteSaint-
Jacques，thePorteSaint-Michel，thePorteSaint-Germain。
TheTownhadsixgates，builtbyCharlesV。；beginningwiththeTourdeBillytheywere:thePorteSaint-Antoine，thePorteduTemple，thePorteSaint-Martin，thePorteSaint-Denis，thePorteMontmartre，thePorteSaint-Honoré。Allthesegateswerestrong，andalsohandsome，whichdoesnotdetractfromstrength。Alarge，deepmoat，withabriskcurrentduringthehighwaterofwinter，bathedthebaseofthewallroundParis；theSeinefurnishedthewater。Atnight，thegateswereshut，theriverwasbarredatbothendsofthecitywithhugeironchains，andParisslepttranquilly。
Fromabird’s-eyeview，thesethreeburgs，theCity，theTown，andtheUniversity，eachpresentedtotheeyeaninextricableskeinofeccentricallytangledstreets。Nevertheless，atfirstsight，onerecognizedthefactthatthesethreefragmentsformedbutonebody。Oneimmediatelyperceivedthreelongparallelstreets，unbroken，undisturbed，traversing，almostinastraightline，allthreecities，fromoneendtotheother；
fromNorthtoSouth，perpendicularly，totheSeine，whichboundthemtogether，mingledthem，infusedthemineachother，pouredandtransfusedthepeopleincessantly，fromonetotheother，andmadeoneoutofthethree。ThefirstofthesestreetsranfromthePorteSaint-Martin:itwascalledtheRueSaint-JacquesintheUniversity，RuedelaJuiverieintheCity，RueSaint-MartinintheTown；itcrossedthewatertwice，underthenameofthePetitPontandthePontNotre-
Dame。Thesecond，whichwascalledtheRuedelaHarpeontheleftbank，RuedelaBarilleriéintheisland，RueSaint-
Denisontherightbank，PontSaint-MichelononearmoftheSeine，PontauChangeontheother，ranfromthePorteSaint-MichelintheUniversity，tothePorteSaint-DenisintheTown。However，underallthesenames，therewerebuttwostreets，parentstreets，generatingstreets，——thetwoarteriesofParis。Alltheotherveinsofthetriplecityeitherderivedtheirsupplyfromthemoremptiedintothem。
Independentlyofthesetwoprincipalstreets，piercingParisdiametricallyinitswholebreadth，fromsidetoside，commontotheentirecapital，theCityandtheUniversityhadalsoeachitsowngreatspecialstreet，whichranlengthwisebythem，paralleltotheSeine，cutting，asitpassed，atrightangles，thetwoarterialthoroughfares。Thus，intheTown，onedescendedinastraightlinefromthePorteSaint-AntoinetothePorteSaint-Honoré；intheUniversityfromthePorteSaint-VictortothePorteSaint-Germain。Thesetwogreatthoroughfaresintersectedbythetwofirst，formedthecanvasuponwhichreposed，knottedandcrowdedtogetheroneveryhand，thelabyrinthinenetworkofthestreetsofParis。Intheincomprehensibleplanofthesestreets，onedistinguishedlikewise，onlookingattentively，twoclustersofgreatstreets，likemagnifiedsheavesofgrain，oneintheUniversity，theotherintheTown，whichspreadoutgraduallyfromthebridgestothegates。
Sometracesofthisgeometricalplanstillexistto-day。
Now，whataspectdidthiswholepresent，when，asviewedfromthesummitofthetowersofNotre-Dame，in1482？
Thatweshalltrytodescribe。
Forthespectatorwhoarrived，panting，uponthatpinnacle，itwasfirstadazzlingconfusingviewofroofs，chimneys，streets，bridges，places，spires，belltowers。Everythingstruckyoureyeatonce:thecarvedgable，thepointedroof，theturretssuspendedattheanglesofthewalls；thestonepyramidsoftheeleventhcentury，theslateobelisksofthefifteenth；theround，baretowerofthedonjonkeep；thesquareandfrettedtowerofthechurch；thegreatandthelittle，themassiveandtheaerial。Theeyewas，foralongtime，whollylostinthislabyrinth，wheretherewasnothingwhichdidnotpossessitsoriginality，itsreason，itsgenius，itsbeauty，——nothingwhichdidnotproceedfromart；beginningwiththesmallesthouse，withitspaintedandcarvedfront，withexternalbeams，ellipticaldoor，withprojectingstories，totheroyalLouvre，whichthenhadacolonnadeoftowers。Butthesearetheprincipalmasseswhichwerethentobedistinguishedwhentheeyebegantoaccustomitselftothistumultofedifices。
Inthefirstplace，theCity——\"TheislandoftheCity，\"asSauvalsays，who，inspiteofhisconfusedmedley，sometimeshassuchhappyturnsofexpression，——\"theislandofthecityismadelikeagreatship，stuckinthemudandrunagroundinthecurrent，nearthecentreoftheSeine。\"
Wehavejustexplainedthat，inthefifteenthcentury，thisshipwasanchoredtothetwobanksoftheriverbyfivebridges。Thisformofashiphadalsostrucktheheraldicscribes；foritisfromthat，andnotfromthesiegebytheNormans，thattheshipwhichblazonstheoldshieldofParis，comes，accordingtoFavynandPasquier。Forhimwhounderstandshowtodecipherthem，armorialbearingsarealgebra，armorialbearingshaveatongue。ThewholehistoryofthesecondhalfoftheMiddleAgesiswritteninarmorialbearings，——thefirsthalfisinthesymbolismoftheRomanchurches。Theyarethehieroglyphicsoffeudalism，succeedingthoseoftheocracy。
ThustheCityfirstpresenteditselftotheeye，withitssterntotheeast，anditsprowtothewest。Turningtowardstheprow，onehadbeforeoneaninnumerableflockofancientroofs，overwhicharchedbroadlythelead-coveredapseoftheSainte-Chapelle，likeanelephant’shaunchesloadedwithitstower。Onlyhere，thistowerwasthemostaudacious，themostopen，themostornamentedspireofcabinet-maker’sworkthateverlettheskypeepthroughitsconeoflace。InfrontofNotre-Dame，andverynearathand，threestreetsopenedintothecathedralsquare，——afinesquare，linedwithancienthouses。Overthesouthsideofthisplacebentthewrinkledandsullenfa？adeoftheH？telDieu，anditsroof，whichseemedcoveredwithwartsandpustules。Then，ontherightandtheleft，toeastandwest，withinthatwalloftheCity，whichwasyetsocontracted，rosethebelltowersofitsoneandtwentychurches，ofeverydate，ofeveryform，ofeverysize，fromthelowandwormeatenbelfryofSaint-DenisduPas~CarcerGlaueini~totheslenderneedlesofSaint-PierreauxBoeufsandSaint-Landry。