第5章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"The Hunchback of Notre Dame",免费读到尾

  BehindNotre-Dame,thecloisteranditsGothicgalleriesspreadouttowardsthenorth;onthesouth,thehalf-Romanpalaceofthebishop;ontheeast,thedesertpointoftheTerrain。Inthisthrongofhousestheeyealsodistinguished,bytheloftyopen-workmitresofstonewhichthencrownedtheroofitself,eventhemostelevatedwindowsofthepalace,theH?telgivenbythecity,underCharlesVI。,toJuvénaldesUrsins;alittlefartheron,thepitch-coveredshedsofthePalusMarket;instillanotherquarterthenewapseofSaint-

  GermainleVieux,lengthenedin1458,withabitoftheRueauxFebves;andthen,inplaces,asquarecrowdedwithpeople;apillory,erectedatthecornerofastreet;afinefragmentofthepavementofPhilipAugustus,amagnificentflagging,groovedforthehorses’feet,inthemiddleoftheroad,andsobadlyreplacedinthesixteenthcenturybythemiserablecobblestones,calledthe\"pavementoftheLeague;\"adesertedbackcourtyard,withoneofthosediaphanousstaircaseturrets,suchaswereerectedinthefifteenthcentury,oneofwhichisstilltobeseenintheRuedesBourdonnais。

  Lastly,attherightoftheSainte-Chapelle,towardsthewest,thePalaisdeJusticeresteditsgroupoftowersattheedgeofthewater。Thethicketsoftheking’sgardens,whichcoveredthewesternpointoftheCity,maskedtheIslandduPasseur。Asforthewater,fromthesummitofthetowersofNotre-Dameonehardlysawit,oneithersideoftheCity;theSeinewashiddenbybridges,thebridgesbyhouses。

  Andwhentheglancepassedthesebridges,whoseroofswerevisiblygreen,renderedmouldybeforetheirtimebythevaporsfromthewater,ifitwasdirectedtotheleft,towardstheUniversity,thefirstedificewhichstruckitwasalarge,lowsheafoftowers,thePetit-Chàtelet,whoseyawninggatedevouredtheendofthePetit-Pont。Then,ifyourviewranalongthebank,fromeasttowest,fromtheTournelletotheTourdeNesle,therewasalongcordonofhouses,withcarvedbeams,stained-glasswindows,eachstoryprojectingoverthatbeneathit,aninterminablezigzagofbourgeoisgables,frequentlyinterruptedbythemouthofastreet,andfromtimetotimealsobythefrontorangleofahugestonemansion,plantedatitsease,withcourtsandgardens,wingsanddetachedbuildings,amidthispopulaceofcrowdedandnarrowhouses,likeagrandgentlemanamongathrongofrustics。

  Therewerefiveorsixofthesemansionsonthequay,fromthehouseofLorraine,whichsharedwiththeBernardinsthegrandenclosureadjoiningtheTournelle,totheH?teldeNesle,whoseprincipaltowerendedParis,andwhosepointedroofswereinaposition,duringthreemonthsoftheyear,toencroach,withtheirblacktriangles,uponthescarletdiskofthesettingsun。

  ThissideoftheSeinewas,however,theleastmercantileofthetwo。Studentsfurnishedmoreofacrowdandmorenoisetherethanartisans,andtherewasnot,properlyspeaking,anyquay,exceptfromthePontSaint-MicheltotheTourdeNesle。TherestofthebankoftheSeinewasnowanakedstrand,thesameasbeyondtheBernardins;again,athrongofhouses,standingwiththeirfeetinthewater,asbetweenthetwobridges。

  Therewasagreatuproaroflaundresses;theyscreamed,andtalked,andsangfrommorningtillnightalongthebeach,andbeatagreatdealoflinenthere,justasinourday。

  ThisisnottheleastofthegayetiesofParis。

  TheUniversitypresentedadensemasstotheeye。Fromoneendtotheother,itwashomogeneousandcompact。Thethousandroofs,dense,angular,clingingtoeachother,composed,nearlyall,ofthesamegeometricalelement,offered,whenviewedfromabove,theaspectofacrystallizationofthesamesubstance。

  Thecapriciousravineofstreetsdidnotcutthisblockofhousesintotoodisproportionateslices。Theforty-twocollegeswerescatteredaboutinafairlyequalmanner,andthereweresomeeverywhere。Theamusinglyvariedcrestsofthesebeautifuledificesweretheproductofthesameartasthesimpleroofswhichtheyovershot,andwere,actually,onlyamultiplicationofthesquareorthecubeofthesamegeometricalfigure。Hencetheycomplicatedthewholeeffect,withoutdisturbingit;completed,withoutoverloadingit。

  Geometryisharmony。Somefinemansionshereandtheremademagnificentoutlinesagainstthepicturesqueatticsoftheleftbank。ThehouseofNevers,thehouseofRome,thehouseofReims,whichhavedisappeared;theH?teldeCluny,whichstillexists,fortheconsolationoftheartist,andwhosetowerwassostupidlydeprivedofitscrownafewyearsago。

  ClosetoCluny,thatRomanpalace,withfineroundarches,wereoncethehotbathsofJulian。Therewereagreatmanyabbeys,ofabeautymoredevout,ofagrandeurmoresolemnthanthemansions,butnotlessbeautiful,notlessgrand。

  ThosewhichfirstcaughttheeyeweretheBernardins,withtheirthreebelltowers;Sainte-Geneviève,whosesquaretower,whichstillexists,makesusregrettherest;theSorbonne,halfcollege,halfmonastery,ofwhichsoadmirableanavesurvives;thefinequadrilateralcloisteroftheMathurins;

  itsneighbor,thecloisterofSaint-Benoit,withinwhosewallstheyhavehadtimetocobbleupatheatre,betweentheseventhandeightheditionsofthisbook;theCordeliers,withtheirthreeenormousadjacentgables;theAugustins,whosegracefulspireformed,aftertheTourdeNesle,theseconddenticulationonthissideofParis,startingfromthewest。

  Thecolleges,whichare,infact,theintermediateringbetweenthecloisterandtheworld,holdthemiddlepositioninthemonumentalseriesbetweentheH?telsandtheabbeys,withaseverityfullofelegance,sculpturelessgiddythanthepalaces,anarchitecturelessseverethantheconvents。Unfortunately,hardlyanythingremainsofthesemonuments,whereGothicartcombinedwithsojustabalance,richnessandeconomy。

  ThechurchesandtheywerenumerousandsplendidintheUniversity,andtheyweregradedtherealsoinalltheagesofarchitecture,fromtheroundarchesofSaint-JuliantothepointedarchesofSaint-Séverin,thechurchesdominatedthewhole;and,likeoneharmonymoreinthismassofharmonies,theypiercedinquicksuccessionthemultipleopenworkofthegableswithslashedspires,withopen-workbelltowers,withslenderpinnacles,whoselinewasalsoonlyamagnificentexaggerationoftheacuteangleoftheroofs。

  ThegroundoftheUniversitywashilly;MountSainte-

  Genevièveformedanenormousmoundtothesouth;anditwasasighttoseefromthesummitofNotre-Damehowthatthrongofnarrowandtortuousstreetsto-daytheLatinQuarter,thosebunchesofhouseswhich,spreadoutineverydirectionfromthetopofthiseminence,precipitatedthemselvesindisorder,andalmostperpendicularlydownitsflanks,nearlytothewater’sedge,havingtheair,someoffalling,othersofclamberingupagain,andallofholdingtooneanother。A

  continualfluxofathousandblackpointswhichpassedeachotheronthepavementsmadeeverythingmovebeforetheeyes;itwasthepopulaceseenthusfromaloftandafar。

  Lastly,intheintervalsoftheseroofs,ofthesespires,oftheseaccidentsofnumberlessedifices,whichbentandwrithed,andjaggedinsoeccentricamannertheextremelineoftheUniversity,onecaughtaglimpse,hereandthere,ofagreatexpanseofmoss-grownwall,athick,roundtower,acrenellatedcitygate,shadowingforththefortress;itwasthewallofPhilipAugustus。Beyond,thefieldsgleamedgreen;beyond,fledtheroads,alongwhichwerescatteredafewmoresuburbanhouses,whichbecamemoreinfrequentastheybecamemoredistant。Someofthesefaubourgswereimportant:therewere,first,startingfromlaTournelle,theBourgSaint-Victor,withitsonearchbridgeovertheBièvre,itsabbeywhereonecouldreadtheepitaphofLouisleGros,~epitaphiumLudoviciGrossi~,anditschurchwithanoctagonalspire,flankedwithfourlittlebelltowersoftheeleventhcenturyasimilaronecanbeseenatEtampes;itisnotyetdestroyed;next,theBourgSaint-

  Marceau,whichalreadyhadthreechurchesandoneconvent;

  then,leavingthemilloftheGobelinsanditsfourwhitewallsontheleft,therewastheFaubourgSaint-Jacqueswiththebeautifulcarvedcrossinitssquare;thechurchofSaint-

  JacquesduHaut-Pas,whichwasthenGothic,pointed,charming;

  Saint-Magloire,afinenaveofthefourteenthcentury,whichNapoleonturnedintoahayloft;Notre-DamedesChamps,wheretherewereByzantinemosaics;lastly,afterhavingleftbehind,fullinthecountry,theMonasterydesChartreux,arichedificecontemporarywiththePalaisdeJustice,withitslittlegardendividedintocompartments,andthehauntedruinsofVauvert,theeyefell,tothewest,uponthethreeRomanspiresofSaint-GermaindesPrés。TheBourgSaint-Germain,alreadyalargecommunity,formedfifteenortwentystreetsintherear;thepointedbelltowerofSaint-

  Sulpicemarkedonecornerofthetown。ClosebesideitonedescriedthequadrilateralenclosureofthefairofSaint-

  Germain,wherethemarketissituatedto-day;thentheabbot’spillory,aprettylittleroundtower,wellcappedwithaleadencone;thebrickyardwasfurtheron,andtheRueduFour,whichledtothecommonbakehouse,andthemillonitshillock,andthelazarhouse,atinyhouse,isolatedandhalfseen。

  Butthatwhichattractedtheeyemostofall,andfixeditforalongtimeonthatpoint,wastheabbeyitself。Itiscertainthatthismonastery,whichhadagrandair,bothasachurchandasaseignory;thatabbatialpalace,wherethebishopsofPariscountedthemselveshappyiftheycouldpassthenight;thatrefectory,uponwhichthearchitecthadbestowedtheair,thebeauty,andtherosewindowofacathedral;thatelegantchapeloftheVirgin;thatmonumentaldormitory;thosevastgardens;thatportcullis;thatdrawbridge;thatenvelopeofbattlementswhichnotchedtotheeyetheverdureofthesurroundingmeadows;thosecourtyards,wheregleamedmenatarms,intermingledwithgoldencopes;——thewholegroupedandclusteredaboutthreeloftyspires,withroundarches,wellplanteduponaGothicapse,madeamagnificentfigureagainstthehorizon。

  When,atlength,afterhavingcontemplatedtheUniversityforalongtime,youturnedtowardstherightbank,towardstheTown,thecharacterofthespectaclewasabruptlyaltered。

  TheTown,infactmuchlargerthantheUniversity,wasalsolessofaunit。Atthefirstglance,onesawthatitwasdividedintomanymasses,singularlydistinct。First,totheeastward,inthatpartofthetownwhichstilltakesitsnamefromthemarshwhereCamulogènesentangledCaesar,wasapileofpalaces。Theblockextendedtotheverywater’sedge。FouralmostcontiguousH?tels,Jouy,Sens,Barbeau,thehouseoftheQueen,mirroredtheirslatepeaks,brokenwithslenderturrets,intheSeine。

  ThesefouredificesfilledthespacefromtheRuedesNonaindières,totheabbeyoftheCelestins,whosespiregracefullyrelievedtheirlineofgablesandbattlements。Afewmiserable,greenishhovels,hangingoverthewaterinfrontofthesesumptuousH?tels,didnotpreventonefromseeingthefineanglesoftheirfa?ades,theirlarge,squarewindowswithstonemullions,theirpointedporchesoverloadedwithstatues,thevividoutlinesoftheirwalls,alwaysclearcut,andallthosecharmingaccidentsofarchitecture,whichcauseGothicarttohavetheairofbeginningitscombinationsafreshwitheverymonument。

  Behindthesepalaces,extendedinalldirections,nowbroken,fencedin,battlementedlikeacitadel,nowveiledbygreattreeslikeaCarthusianconvent,theimmenseandmultiformenclosureofthatmiraculousH?teldeSaint-Pol,wheretheKingofFrancepossessedthemeansoflodgingsuperblytwoandtwentyprincesoftherankofthedauphinandtheDukeofBurgundy,withtheirdomesticsandtheirsuites,withoutcountingthegreatlords,andtheemperorwhenhecametoviewParis,andthelions,whohadtheirseparateH?telattheroyalH?tel。Letussayherethataprince’sapartmentwasthencomposedofneverlessthanelevenlargerooms,fromthechamberofstatetotheoratory,nottomentionthegalleries,baths,vapor-baths,andother\"superfluousplaces,\"withwhicheachapartmentwasprovided;nottomentiontheprivategardensforeachoftheking’sguests;nottomentionthekitchens,thecellars,thedomesticoffices,thegeneralrefectoriesofthehouse,thepoultry-yards,wherethereweretwenty-twogenerallaboratories,fromthebakehousestothewine-cellars;gamesofathousandsorts,malls,tennis,andridingatthering;aviaries,fishponds,menageries,stables,barns,libraries,arsenalsandfoundries。Thiswaswhataking’spalace,aLouvre,aH?teldeSaint-Polwasthen。Acitywithinacity。

  Fromthetowerwhereweareplaced,theH?telSaint-Pol,almosthalfhiddenbythefourgreathousesofwhichwehavejustspoken,wasstillveryconsiderableandverymarvelloustosee。Onecouldtheredistinguish,verywell,thoughcleverlyunitedwiththeprincipalbuildingbylonggalleries,deckedwithpaintedglassandslendercolumns,thethreeH?telswhichCharlesV。hadamalgamatedwithhispalace:theH?telduPetit-Muce,withtheairybalustrade,whichformedagracefulbordertoitsroof;theH?teloftheAbbedeSaint-Maur,havingthevanityofastronghold,agreattower,machicolations,loopholes,irongratings,andoverthelargeSaxondoor,thearmorialbearingsoftheabbé,betweenthetwomortisesofthedrawbridge;theH?teloftheComted’Etampes,whosedonjonkeep,ruinedatitssummit,wasroundedandnotchedlikeacock’scomb;hereandthere,threeorfourancientoaks,formingatufttogetherlikeenormouscauliflowers;gambolsofswans,intheclearwaterofthefishponds,allinfoldsoflightandshade;manycourtyardsofwhichonebeheldpicturesquebits;theH?teloftheLions,withitslow,pointedarchesonshort,Saxonpillars,itsirongratingsanditsperpetualroar;shootingupabovethewhole,thescale-

  ornamentedspireoftheAve-Maria;ontheleft,thehouseoftheProvostofParis,flankedbyfoursmalltowers,delicatelygrooved,inthemiddle;attheextremity,theH?telSaint-Pol,properlyspeaking,withitsmultipliedfa?ades,itssuccessiveenrichmentsfromthetimeofCharlesV。,thehybridexcrescences,withwhichthefancyofthearchitectshadloadeditduringthelasttwocenturies,withalltheapsesofitschapels,allthegablesofitsgalleries,athousandweathercocksforthefourwinds,anditstwoloftycontiguoustowers,whoseconicalroof,surroundedbybattlementsatitsbase,lookedlikethosepointedcapswhichhavetheiredgesturnedup。

  Continuingtomountthestoriesofthisamphitheatreofpalacesspreadoutafarupontheground,aftercrossingadeepravinehollowedoutoftheroofsintheTown,whichmarkedthepassageoftheRueSaint-Antoine,theeyereachedthehouseofAngoulême,avastconstructionofmanyepochs,wheretherewereperfectlynewandverywhiteparts,whichmeltednobetterintothewholethanaredpatchonabluedoublet。Nevertheless,theremarkablypointedandloftyroofofthemodernpalace,bristlingwithcarvedeaves,coveredwithsheetsoflead,wherecoiledathousandfantasticarabesquesofsparklingincrustationsofgildedbronze,thatroof,socuriouslydamascened,dartedupwardsgracefullyfromthemidstofthebrownruinsoftheancientedifice;whosehugeandancienttowers,roundedbyagelikecasks,sinkingtogetherwitholdage,andrendingthemselvesfromtoptobottom,resembledgreatbelliesunbuttoned。BehindrosetheforestofspiresofthePalaisdesTournelles。Notaviewintheworld,eitheratChambordorattheAlhambra,ismoremagic,moreaerial,moreenchanting,thanthatthicketofspires,tinybelltowers,chimneys,weather-vanes,windingstaircases,lanternsthroughwhichthedaylightmakesitsway,whichseemcutoutatablow,pavilions,spindle-shapedturrets,or,astheywerethencalled,\"tournelles,\"alldifferinginform,inheight,andattitude。Onewouldhavepronounceditagiganticstonechess-board。

  TotherightoftheTournelles,thattrussofenormoustowers,blackasink,runningintoeachotherandtied,asitwere,byacircularmoat;thatdonjonkeep,muchmorepiercedwithloopholesthanwithwindows;thatdrawbridge,alwaysraised;thatportcullis,alwayslowered,——istheBastille。

  Thosesortsofblackbeakswhichprojectfrombetweenthebattlements,andwhichyoutakefromadistancetobecavespouts,arecannons。

  Beneaththem,atthefootoftheformidableedifice,beholdthePorteSainte-Antoine,buriedbetweenitstwotowers。

  BeyondtheTournelles,asfarasthewallofCharlesV。,spreadout,withrichcompartmentsofverdureandofflowers,avelvetcarpetofcultivatedlandandroyalparks,inthemidstofwhichonerecognized,byitslabyrinthoftreesandalleys,thefamousDaedalusgardenwhichLouisXI。hadgiventoCoictier。Thedoctor’sobservatoryroseabovethelabyrinthlikeagreatisolatedcolumn,withatinyhouseforacapital。Terribleastrologiestookplaceinthatlaboratory。

  Thereto-dayisthePlaceRoyale。

  Aswehavejustsaid,thequarterofthepalace,ofwhichwehavejustendeavoredtogivethereadersomeideabyindicatingonlythechiefpoints,filledtheanglewhichCharlesV。’swallmadewiththeSeineontheeast。ThecentreoftheTownwasoccupiedbyapileofhousesforthepopulace。

  Itwasthere,infact,thatthethreebridgesdisgorgedupontherightbank,andbridgesleadtothebuildingofhousesratherthanpalaces。Thatcongregationofbourgeoishabitations,pressedtogetherlikethecellsinahive,hadabeautyofitsown。Itiswiththeroofsofacapitalaswiththewavesofthesea,——theyaregrand。Firstthestreets,crossedandentangled,formingahundredamusingfiguresintheblock;

  aroundthemarket-place,itwaslikeastarwithathousandrays。

  TheRuesSaint-DenisandSaint-Martin,withtheirinnumerableramifications,roseoneaftertheother,liketreesintertwiningtheirbranches;andthenthetortuouslines,theRuesdelaPlatrerie,delaVerrerie,delaTixeranderie,etc。,meanderedoverall。Therewerealsofineedificeswhichpiercedthepetrifiedundulationsofthatseaofgables。AttheheadofthePontauxChangeurs,behindwhichonebeheldtheSeinefoamingbeneaththewheelsofthePontauxMeuniers,therewastheChalelet,nolongeraRomantower,asunderJuliantheApostate,butafeudaltowerofthethirteenthcentury,andofastonesohardthatthepickaxecouldnotbreakawaysomuchasthethicknessofthefistinaspaceofthreehours;therewastherichsquarebelltowerofSaint-

  JacquesdelaBoucherie,withitsanglesallfrothingwithcarvings,alreadyadmirable,althoughitwasnotfinishedinthefifteenthcentury。Itlacked,inparticular,thefourmonsters,which,stillperchedto-dayonthecornersofitsroof,havetheairofsomanysphinxeswhoarepropoundingtonewParistheriddleoftheancientParis。Rault,thesculptor,onlyplacedtheminpositionin1526,andreceivedtwentyfrancsforhispains。TherewastheMaison-aux-Piliers,thePillarHouse,openinguponthatPlacedeGrèveofwhichwehavegiventhereadersomeidea;therewasSaint-Gervais,whichafront\"ingoodtaste\"hassincespoiled;Saint-Méry,whoseancientpointedarcheswerestillalmostroundarches;

  Saint-Jean,whosemagnificentspirewasproverbial;thereweretwentyothermonuments,whichdidnotdisdaintoburytheirwondersinthatchaosofblack,deep,narrowstreets。

  Addthecrossesofcarvedstone,morelavishlyscatteredthroughthesquaresthaneventhegibbets;thecemeteryoftheInnocents,whosearchitecturalwallcouldbeseeninthedistanceabovetheroofs;thepilloryoftheMarkets,whosetopwasvisiblebetweentwochimneysoftheRuedelaCossonnerie;theladderoftheCroix-du-Trahoir,initssquarealwaysblackwithpeople;thecircularbuildingsofthewheatmart;thefragmentsofPhilipAugustus’sancientwall,whichcouldbemadeouthereandthere,drownedamongthehouses,itstowersgnawedbyivy,itsgatesinruins,withcrumblinganddeformedstretchesofwall;thequaywithitsthousandshops,anditsbloodyknacker’syards;theSeineencumberedwithboats,fromthePortauFointoPort-l’Evêque,andyouwillhaveaconfusedpictureofwhatthecentraltrapeziumoftheTownwaslikein1482。

  Withthesetwoquarters,oneofH?tels,theotherofhouses,thethirdfeatureofaspectpresentedbythecitywasalongzoneofabbeys,whichbordereditinnearlythewholeofitscircumference,fromtherisingtothesettingsun,and,behindthecircleoffortificationswhichhemmedinParis,formedasecondinteriorenclosureofconventsandchapels。Thus,immediatelyadjoiningtheparkdesTournelles,betweentheRueSaint-AntoineandtheVielleRueduTemple,therestoodSainte-Catherine,withitsimmensecultivatedlands,whichwereterminatedonlybythewallofParis。BetweentheoldandthenewRueduTemple,therewastheTemple,asinistergroupoftowers,lofty,erect,andisolatedinthemiddleofavast,battlementedenclosure。BetweentheRueNeuve-du-

  TempleandtheRueSaint-Martin,therewastheAbbeyofSaint-Martin,inthemidstofitsgardens,asuperbfortifiedchurch,whosegirdleoftowers,whosediademofbelltowers,yieldedinforceandsplendoronlytoSaint-GermaindesPrés。BetweentheRueSaint-MartinandtheRueSaint-

  Denis,spreadtheenclosureoftheTrinité。

  Lastly,betweentheRueSaint-Denis,andtheRueMontorgueil,stoodtheFilles-Dieu。Ononeside,therottingroofsandunpavedenclosureoftheCourdesMiraclescouldbedescried。Itwasthesoleprofaneringwhichwaslinkedtothatdevoutchainofconvents。

  Finally,thefourthcompartment,whichstretcheditselfoutintheagglomerationoftheroofsontherightbank,andwhichoccupiedthewesternangleoftheenclosure,andthebanksoftheriverdownstream,wasafreshclusterofpalacesandH?telspressedcloseaboutthebaseoftheLouvre。TheoldLouvreofPhilipAugustus,thatimmenseedificewhosegreattowerralliedaboutitthreeandtwentychieftowers,nottoreckonthelessertowers,seemedfromadistancetobeenshrinedintheGothicroofsoftheH?teld’Alen?on,andthePetit-Bourbon。Thishydraoftowers,giantguardianofParis,withitsfourandtwentyheads,alwayserect,withitsmonstroushaunches,loadedorscaledwithslates,andallstreamingwithmetallicreflections,terminatedwithwonderfuleffecttheconfigurationoftheTowntowardsthewest。

  Thusanimmenseblock,whichtheRomanscalled~iusula~,orisland,ofbourgeoishouses,flankedontherightandtheleftbytwoblocksofpalaces,crowned,theonebytheLouvre,theotherbytheTournelles,borderedonthenorthbyalonggirdleofabbeysandcultivatedenclosures,allamalgamatedandmeltedtogetherinoneview;uponthesethousandsofedifices,whosetiledandslatedroofsoutlineduponeachothersomanyfantasticchains,thebelltowers,tattooed,fluted,andornamentedwithtwistedbands,ofthefourandfortychurchesontherightbank;myriadsofcrossstreets;forboundaryononeside,anenclosureofloftywallswithsquaretowersthatoftheUniversityhadroundtowers;ontheother,theSeine,cutbybridges,andbearingonitsbosomamultitudeofboats;

  beholdtheTownofParisinthefifteenthcentury。

  Beyondthewalls,severalsuburbanvillagespressedcloseaboutthegates,butlessnumerousandmorescatteredthanthoseoftheUniversity。BehindtheBastillethereweretwentyhovelsclusteredroundthecurioussculpturesoftheCroix-FaubinandtheflyingbuttressesoftheAbbeyofSaint-

  AntoinedesChamps;thenPopincourt,lostamidwheatfields;

  thenlaCourtille,amerryvillageofwine-shops;thehamletofSaint-Laurentwithitschurchwhosebelltower,fromafar,seemedtoadditselftothepointedtowersofthePorteSaint-

  Martin;theFaubourgSaint-Denis,withthevastenclosureofSaint-Ladre;beyondtheMontmartreGate,theGrange-

  Batelière,encircledwithwhitewalls;behindit,withitschalkyslopes,Montmartre,whichhadthenalmostasmanychurchesaswindmills,andwhichhaskeptonlythewindmills,forsocietynolongerdemandsanythingbutbreadforthebody。Lastly,beyondtheLouvre,theFaubourgSaint-

  Honoré,alreadyconsiderableatthattime,couldbeseenstretchingawayintothefields,andPetit-Bretagnegleaminggreen,andtheMarchéauxPourceauxspreadingabroad,inwhosecentreswelledthehorribleapparatususedforboilingcounterfeiters。BetweenlaCourtilleandSaint-Laurent,youreyehadalreadynoticed,onthesummitofaneminencecrouchingamiddesertplains,asortofedificewhichresembledfromadistancearuinedcolonnade,mounteduponabasementwithitsfoundationlaidbare。ThiswasneitheraParthenon,noratempleoftheOlympianJupiter。ItwasMontfau?on。

  Now,iftheenumerationofsomanyedifices,summaryaswehaveendeavoredtomakeit,hasnotshatteredinthereader’smindthegeneralimageofoldParis,aswehaveconstructedit,wewillrecapitulateitinafewwords。Inthecentre,theislandoftheCity,resemblingastoformanenormoustortoise,andthrowingoutitsbridgeswithtilesforscales;likelegsfrombeneathitsgrayshellofroofs。Ontheleft,themonolithictrapezium,firm,dense,bristling,oftheUniversity;ontheright,thevastsemicircleoftheTown,muchmoreintermixedwithgardensandmonuments。Thethreeblocks,city,university,andtown,marbledwithinnumerablestreets。Acrossall,theSeine,\"foster-motherSeine,\"

  assaysFatherDuBreul,blockedwithislands,bridges,andboats。Allaboutanimmenseplain,patchedwithathousandsortsofcultivatedplots,sownwithfinevillages。Ontheleft,Issy,Vanvres,Vaugirarde,Montrouge,Gentilly,withitsroundtoweranditssquaretower,etc。;ontheright,twentyothers,fromConflanstoVille-l’Evêque。Onthehorizon,aborderofhillsarrangedinacircleliketherimofthebasin。Finally,farawaytotheeast,Vincennes,anditssevenquadrangulartowerstothesouth,Bicêtreanditspointedturrets;tothenorth,Saint-Denisanditsspire;tothewest,SaintCloudanditsdonjonkeep。SuchwasthePariswhichtheravens,wholivedin1482,beheldfromthesummitsofthetowersofNotre-Dame。

  Nevertheless,Voltairesaidofthiscity,that\"beforeLouisXIV。,itpossessedbutfourfinemonuments\":thedomeoftheSorbonne,theVal-de-Grace,themodernLouvre,andI

  knownotwhatthefourthwas——theLuxembourg,perhaps。

  Fortunately,Voltairewastheauthorof\"Candide\"inspiteofthis,andinspiteofthis,heis,amongallthemenwhohavefollowedeachotherinthelongseriesofhumanity,theonewhohasbestpossessedthediabolicallaugh。Moreover,thisprovesthatonecanbeafinegenius,andyetunderstandnothingofanarttowhichonedoesnotbelong。DidnotMoliereimaginethathewasdoingRaphaelandMichael-Angeloaverygreathonor,bycallingthem\"thoseMignardsoftheirage?\"

  LetusreturntoParisandtothefifteenthcentury。

  Itwasnotthenmerelyahandsomecity;itwasahomogeneouscity,anarchitecturalandhistoricalproductoftheMiddleAges,achronicleinstone。Itwasacityformedoftwolayersonly;theRomanesquelayerandtheGothiclayer;

  fortheRomanlayerhaddisappearedlongbefore,withtheexceptionoftheHotBathsofJulian,whereitstillpiercedthroughthethickcrustoftheMiddleAges。AsfortheCelticlayer,nospecimenswereanylongertobefound,evenwhensinkingwells。

  Fiftyyearslater,whentheRenaissancebegantominglewiththisunitywhichwassosevereandyetsovaried,thedazzlingluxuryofitsfantasiesandsystems,itsdebasementsofRomanroundarches,Greekcolumns,andGothicbases,itssculpturewhichwassotenderandsoideal,itspeculiartasteforarabesquesandacanthusleaves,itsarchitecturalpaganism,contemporarywithLuther,Paris,wasperhaps,stillmorebeautiful,althoughlessharmonioustotheeye,andtothethought。

  Butthissplendidmomentlastedonlyforashorttime;theRenaissancewasnotimpartial;itdidnotcontentitselfwithbuilding,itwishedtodestroy;itistruethatitrequiredtheroom。ThusGothicPariswascompleteonlyforamoment。Saint-

  JacquesdelaBoucheriehadbarelybeencompletedwhenthedemolitionoftheoldLouvrewasbegun。

  Afterthat,thegreatcitybecamemoredisfiguredeveryday。

  GothicParis,beneathwhichRomanPariswaseffaced,waseffacedinitsturn;butcananyonesaywhatParishasreplacedit?

  ThereistheParisofCatherinedeMedicisattheTuileries;*——theParisofHenriII。,attheH?teldeVille,twoedificesstillinfinetaste;——theParisofHenriIV。,atthePlaceRoyale:fa?adesofbrickwithstonecorners,andslatedroofs,tri-coloredhouses;——theParisofLouisXIII。,attheVal-de-

  Grace:acrushedandsquatarchitecture,withvaultslikebasket-handles,andsomethingindescribablypot-belliedinthecolumn,andthicksetinthedome;——theParisofLouisXIV。,intheInvalides:grand,rich,gilded,cold;——theParisofLouisXV。,inSaint-Sulpice:volutes,knotsofribbon,clouds,vermicelliandchiccoryleaves,allinstone;——theParisofLouisXVI。,inthePantheon:SaintPeterofRome,badlycopiedtheedificeisawkwardlyheapedtogether,whichhasnotamendeditslines;——theParisoftheRepublic,intheSchoolofMedicine:apoorGreekandRomantaste,whichresemblestheColiseumortheParthenonastheconstitutionoftheyearIII。,resemblesthelawsofMinos,——itiscalledinarchitecture,\"theMessidor\"**taste;——theParisofNapoleoninthePlaceVendome:thisoneissublime,acolumnofbronzemadeofcannons;——theParisoftheRestoration,attheBourse:averywhitecolonnadesupportingaverysmoothfrieze;thewholeissquareandcosttwentymillions。

  *Wehaveseenwithsorrowmingledwithindignation,thatitistheintentiontoincrease,torecast,tomakeover,thatistosay,todestroythisadmirablepalace。ThearchitectsofourdayhavetooheavyahandtotouchthesedelicateworksoftheRenaissance。Westillcherishahopethattheywillnotdare。

  Moreover,thisdemolitionoftheTuileriesnow,wouldbenotonlyabrutaldeedofviolence,whichwouldmakeadrunkenvandalblush——itwouldbeanactoftreason。TheTuileriesisnotsimplyamasterpieceoftheartofthesixteenthcentury,itisapageofthehistoryofthenineteenth。Thispalacenolongerbelongstotheking,buttothepeople。Letusleaveitasitis。Ourrevolutionhastwicesetitssealuponitsfront。Ononeofitstwofa?ades,therearethecannon-ballsofthe10thofAugust;

  ontheother,theballsofthe29thofJuly。Itissacred。

  Paris,April1,1831。Notetothefifthedition。

  **ThetenthmonthoftheFrenchrepublicancalendar,fromthe19thofJunetothe18thofJuly。

  Toeachofthesecharacteristicmonumentsthereisattachedbyasimilarityoftaste,fashion,andattitude,acertainnumberofhousesscatteredaboutindifferentquartersandwhichtheeyesoftheconnoisseureasilydistinguishesandfurnisheswithadate。Whenoneknowshowtolook,onefindsthespiritofacentury,andthephysiognomyofaking,evenintheknockeronadoor。

  TheParisofthepresentdayhasthen,nogeneralphysiognomy。Itisacollectionofspecimensofmanycenturies,andthefinesthavedisappeared。Thecapitalgrowsonlyinhouses,andwhathouses!

  AttherateatwhichParisisnowproceeding,itwillrenewitselfeveryfiftyyears。

  Thusthehistoricalsignificanceofitsarchitectureisbeingeffacedeveryday。Monumentsarebecomingrarerandrarer,andoneseemstoseethemgraduallyengulfed,bythefloodofhouses。OurfathershadaParisofstone;oursonswillhaveoneofplaster。

  SofarasthemodernmonumentsofnewParisareconcerned,wewouldgladlybeexcusedfrommentioningthem。Itisnotthatwedonotadmirethemastheydeserve。TheSainte-GenevièveofM。SoufflotiscertainlythefinestSavoycakethathaseverbeenmadeinstone。ThePalaceoftheLegionofHonorisalsoaverydistinguishedbitofpastry。

  ThedomeofthewheatmarketisanEnglishjockeycap,onagrandscale。ThetowersofSaint-Sulpicearetwohugeclarinets,andtheformisasgoodasanyother;thetelegraph,contortedandgrimacing,formsanadmirableaccidentupontheirroofs。

  Saint-Rochhasadoorwhich,formagnificence,iscomparableonlytothatofSaint-Thomasd’Aquin。Ithas,also,acrucifixioninhighrelief,inacellar,withasunofgildedwood。Thesethingsarefairlymarvellous。ThelanternofthelabyrinthoftheJardindesPlantesisalsoveryingenious。

  AsforthePalaceoftheBourse,whichisGreekastoitscolonnade,Romanintheroundarchesofitsdoorsandwindows,oftheRenaissancebyvirtueofitsflattenedvault,itisindubitablyaverycorrectandverypuremonument;theproofisthatitiscrownedwithanattic,suchaswasneverseeninAthens,abeautiful,straightline,gracefullybrokenhereandtherebystovepipes。Letusaddthatifitisaccordingtorulethatthearchitectureofabuildingshouldbeadaptedtoitspurposeinsuchamannerthatthispurposeshallbeimmediatelyapparentfromthemereaspectofthebuilding,onecannotbetoomuchamazedatastructurewhichmightbeindifferently——thepalaceofaking,achamberofcommunes,atown-hall,acollege,ariding-school,anacademy,awarehouse,acourt-house,amuseum,abarracks,asepulchre,atemple,oratheatre。However,itisanExchange。Anedificeoughttobe,moreover,suitabletotheclimate。Thisoneisevidentlyconstructedexpresslyforourcoldandrainyskies。

  IthasaroofalmostasflatasroofsintheEast,whichinvolvessweepingtheroofinwinter,whenitsnows;andofcourseroofsaremadetobeswept。Asforitspurpose,ofwhichwejustspoke,itfulfilsittoamarvel;itisabourseinFranceasitwouldhavebeenatempleinGreece。Itistruethatthearchitectwasatagooddealoftroubletoconcealtheclockface,whichwouldhavedestroyedthepurityofthefinelinesofthefa?ade;but,ontheotherhand,wehavethatcolonnadewhichcirclesroundtheedificeandunderwhich,ondaysofhighreligiousceremony,thetheoriesofthestock-brokersandthecourtiersofcommercecanbedevelopedsomajestically。

  Theseareverysuperbstructures。Letusaddaquantityoffine,amusing,andvariedstreets,liketheRuedeRivoli,andIdonotdespairofParispresentingtotheeye,whenviewedfromaballoon,thatrichnessofline,thatopulenceofdetail,thatdiversityofaspect,thatgrandiosesomethinginthesimple,andunexpectedinthebeautiful,whichcharacterizesachecker-board。

  However,admirableastheParisofto-daymayseemtoyou,reconstructtheParisofthefifteenthcentury,callitupbeforeyouinthought;lookattheskyathwartthatsurprisingforestofspires,towers,andbelfries;spreadoutinthecentreofthecity,tearawayatthepointoftheislands,foldatthearchesofthebridges,theSeine,withitsbroadgreenandyellowexpanses,morevariablethantheskinofaserpent;

  projectclearlyagainstanazurehorizontheGothicprofileofthisancientParis。Makeitscontourfloatinawinter’smistwhichclingstoitsnumerouschimneys;drownitinprofoundnightandwatchtheoddplayoflightsandshadowsinthatsombrelabyrinthofedifices;castuponitarayoflightwhichshallvaguelyoutlineitandcausetoemergefromthefogthegreatheadsofthetowers;ortakethatblacksilhouetteagain,enlivenwithshadowthethousandacuteanglesofthespiresandgables,andmakeitstartoutmoretoothedthanashark’sjawagainstacopper-coloredwesternsky,——andthencompare。

  Andifyouwishtoreceiveoftheancientcityanimpressionwithwhichthemodernonecannolongerfurnishyou,climb——onthemorningofsomegrandfestival,beneaththerisingsunofEasterorofPentecost——climbuponsomeelevatedpoint,whenceyoucommandtheentirecapital;andbepresentatthewakeningofthechimes。Behold,atasignalgivenfromheaven,foritisthesunwhichgivesit,allthosechurchesquiversimultaneously。Firstcomescatteredstrokes,runningfromonechurchtoanother,aswhenmusiciansgivewarningthattheyareabouttobegin。Then,allatonce,behold!——foritseemsattimes,asthoughtheearalsopossessedasightofitsown,——behold,risingfromeachbelltower,somethinglikeacolumnofsound,acloudofharmony。First,thevibrationofeachbellmountsstraightupwards,pureand,sotospeak,isolatedfromtheothers,intothesplendidmorningsky;then,littlebylittle,astheyswelltheymelttogether,mingle,arelostineachother,andamalgamateinamagnificentconcert。

  Itisnolongeranythingbutamassofsonorousvibrationsincessantlysentforthfromthenumerousbelfries;floats,undulates,bounds,whirlsoverthecity,andprolongsfarbeyondthehorizonthedeafeningcircleofitsoscillations。

  Nevertheless,thisseaofharmonyisnotachaos;greatandprofoundasitis,ithasnotlostitstransparency;youbeholdthewindingsofeachgroupofnoteswhichescapesfromthebelfries。Youcanfollowthedialogue,byturnsgraveandshrill,ofthetrebleandthebass;youcanseetheoctavesleapfromonetowertoanother;youwatchthemspringforth,winged,light,andwhistling,fromthesilverbell,tofall,brokenandlimpingfromthebellofwood;youadmireintheirmidsttherichgamutwhichincessantlyascendsandre-ascendsthesevenbellsofSaint-Eustache;youseelightandrapidnotesrunningacrossit,executingthreeorfourluminouszigzags,andvanishinglikeflashesoflightning。YonderistheAbbeyofSaint-Martin,ashrill,crackedsinger;herethegruffandgloomyvoiceoftheBastille;attheotherend,thegreattoweroftheLouvre,withitsbass。Theroyalchimeofthepalacescattersonallsides,andwithoutrelaxation,resplendenttrills,uponwhichfall,atregularintervals,theheavystrokesfromthebelfryofNotre-Dame,whichmakesthemsparkleliketheanvilunderthehammer。AtintervalsyoubeholdthepassageofsoundsofallformswhichcomefromthetriplepealofSaint-GermainedesPrés。Then,again,fromtimetotime,thismassofsublimenoisesopensandgivespassagetothebeatsoftheAveMaria,whichburstsforthandsparkleslikeanaigretteofstars。Below,intheverydepthsoftheconcert,youconfusedlydistinguishtheinteriorchantingofthechurches,whichexhalesthroughthevibratingporesoftheirvaultedroofs。

  Assuredly,thisisanoperawhichitisworththetroubleoflisteningto。Ordinarily,thenoisewhichescapesfromParisbydayisthecityspeaking;bynight,itisthecitybreathing;

  inthiscase,itisthecitysinging。Lendanear,then,tothisconcertofbelltowers;spreadoverallthemurmurofhalfamillionmen,theeternalplaintoftheriver,theinfinitebreathingsofthewind,thegraveanddistantquartetteofthefourforestsarrangeduponthehills,onthehorizon,likeimmensestacksoforganpipes;extinguish,asinahalfshade,allthatistoohoarseandtooshrillaboutthecentralchime,andsaywhetheryouknowanythingintheworldmorerichandjoyful,moregolden,moredazzling,thanthistumultofbellsandchimes;——thanthisfurnaceofmusic,——thanthesetenthousandbrazenvoiceschantingsimultaneouslyintheflutesofstone,threehundredfeethigh,——thanthiscitywhichisnolongeranythingbutanorchestra,——thanthissymphonywhichproducesthenoiseofatempest。

  BOOKFOURTH。

  CHAPTERI。

  GOODSOULS。

  Sixteenyearsprevioustotheepochwhenthisstorytakesplace,onefinemorning,onQuasimodoSunday,alivingcreaturehadbeendeposited,aftermass,inthechurchofNotre-

  Dame,onthewoodenbedsecurelyfixedinthevestibuleontheleft,oppositethatgreatimageofSaintChristopher,whichthefigureofMessireAntoinedesEssarts,chevalier,carvedinstone,hadbeengazingatonhiskneessince1413,whentheytookitintotheirheadstooverthrowthesaintandthefaithfulfollower。Uponthisbedofwooditwascustomarytoexposefoundlingsforpubliccharity。Whoevercaredtotakethemdidso。Infrontofthewoodenbedwasacopperbasinforalms。

  ThesortoflivingbeingwhichlayuponthatplankonthemorningofQuasimodo,intheyearoftheLord,1467,appearedtoexcitetoahighdegree,thecuriosityofthenumerousgroupwhichhadcongregatedaboutthewoodenbed。Thegroupwasformedforthemostpartofthefairsex。Hardlyanyonewasthereexceptoldwomen。

  Inthefirstrow,andamongthosewhoweremostbentoverthebed,fourwerenoticeable,who,fromtheirgray~cagoule~,asortofcassock,wererecognizableasattachedtosomedevoutsisterhood。Idonotseewhyhistoryhasnottransmittedtoposteritythenamesofthesefourdiscreetandvenerabledamsels。TheywereAgneslaHerme,JehannedelaTarme,HenriettelaGaultière,GauchèrelaViolette,allfourwidows,allfourdamesoftheChapelEtienneHaudry,whohadquittedtheirhousewiththepermissionoftheirmistress,andinconformitywiththestatutesofPierred’Ailly,inordertocomeandhearthesermon。

  However,ifthesegoodHaudrietteswere,forthemoment,complyingwiththestatutesofPierred’Ailly,theycertainlyviolatedwithjoythoseofMicheldeBrache,andtheCardinalofPisa,whichsoinhumanlyenjoinedsilenceuponthem。

  \"Whatisthis,sister?\"saidAgnestoGauchère,gazingatthelittlecreatureexposed,whichwasscreamingandwrithingonthewoodenbed,terrifiedbysomanyglances。

  \"Whatistobecomeofus,\"saidJehanne,\"ifthatisthewaychildrenaremadenow?\"

  \"I’mnotlearnedinthematterofchildren,\"resumedAgnes,\"butitmustbeasintolookatthisone。\"

  \"’Tisnotachild,Agnes。\"

  \"’Tisanabortionofamonkey,\"remarkedGauchère。

  \"’Tisamiracle,\"interposedHenriettelaGaultière。

  \"Then,\"remarkedAgnes,\"itisthethirdsincetheSundayofthe~Loetare~:for,inlessthanaweek,wehadthemiracleofthemockerofpilgrimsdivinelypunishedbyNotre-Damed’Aubervilliers,andthatwasthesecondmiraclewithinamonth。\"

  \"Thispretendedfoundlingisarealmonsterofabomination,\"

  resumedJehanne。

  \"Heyellsloudenoughtodeafenachanter,\"continuedGauchère。

  \"Holdyourtongue,youlittlehowler!\"

  \"TothinkthatMonsieurofReimssentthisenormitytoMonsieurofParis,\"addedlaGaultière,claspingherhands。

  \"Iimagine,\"saidAgneslaHerme,\"thatitisabeast,ananimal,——thefruitof——aJewandasow;somethingnotChristian,inshort,whichoughttobethrownintothefireorintothewater。\"

  \"Ireallyhope,\"resumedlaGaultière,\"thatnobodywillapplyforit。\"

  \"Ah,goodheavens!\"exclaimedAgnes;\"thosepoornursesyonderinthefoundlingasylum,whichformsthelowerendofthelaneasyougototheriver,justbesideMonseigneurthebishop!whatifthislittlemonsterweretobecarriedtothemtosuckle?I’drathergivesucktoavampire。\"

  \"HowinnocentthatpoorlaHermeis!\"resumedJehanne;\"don’tyousee,sister,thatthislittlemonsterisatleastfouryearsold,andthathewouldhavelessappetiteforyourbreastthanforaturnspit。\"

  The\"littlemonster\"weshouldfinditdifficultourselvestodescribehimotherwise,was,infact,notanew-bornchild。Itwasaveryangularandverylivelylittlemass,imprisonedinitslinensack,stampedwiththecipherofMessireGuillaumeChartier,thenbishopofParis,withaheadprojecting。Thatheadwasdeformedenough;onebeheldonlyaforestofredhair,oneeye,amouth,andteeth。Theeyewept,themouthcried,andtheteethseemedtoaskonlytobeallowedtobite。Thewholestruggledinthesack,tothegreatconsternationofthecrowd,whichincreasedandwasrenewedincessantlyaroundit。

  DameAloisedeGondelaurier,arichandnoblewoman,whoheldbythehandaprettygirlaboutfiveorsixyearsofage,anddraggedalongveilabout,suspendedtothegoldenhornofherheaddress,haltedasshepassedthewoodenbed,andgazedforamomentatthewretchedcreature,whilehercharminglittledaughter,Fleur-de-LysdeGondelaurier,spelledoutwithhertiny,prettyfinger,thepermanentinscriptionattachedtothewoodenbed:\"Foundlings。\"

  \"Really,\"saidthedame,turningawayindisgust,\"Ithoughtthattheyonlyexposedchildrenhere。\"

  Sheturnedherback,throwingintothebasinasilverflorin,whichrangamongtheliards,andmadethepoorgoodwivesofthechapelofEtienneHaudryopentheireyes。

  Amomentlater,thegraveandlearnedRobertMistricolle,theking’sprotonotary,passed,withanenormousmissalunderonearmandhiswifeontheotherDamoiselleGuillemettelaMairesse,havingthusbyhissidehistworegulators,——spiritualandtemporal。

  \"Foundling!\"hesaid,afterexaminingtheobject;\"found,apparently,onthebanksoftheriverPhlegethon。\"

  \"Onecanonlyseeoneeye,\"observedDamoiselleGuillemette;

  \"thereisawartontheother。\"

  \"It’snotawart,\"returnedMasterRobertMistricolle,\"itisaneggwhichcontainsanotherdemonexactlysimilar,whobearsanotherlittleeggwhichcontainsanotherdevil,andsoon。\"

  \"Howdoyouknowthat?\"askedGuillemettelaMairesse。

  \"Iknowitpertinently,\"repliedtheprotonotary。

  \"Monsieurleprotonotare,\"askedGauchère,\"whatdoyouprognosticateofthispretendedfoundling?\"

  \"Thegreatestmisfortunes,\"repliedMistricolle。

  \"Ah!goodheavens!\"saidanoldwomanamongthespectators,\"andthatbesidesourhavinghadaconsiderablepestilencelastyear,andthattheysaythattheEnglisharegoingtodisembarkinacompanyatHarfleur。\"

  \"PerhapsthatwillpreventthequeenfromcomingtoParisinthemonthofSeptember,\"interposedanother;\"tradeissobadalready。\"

  \"Myopinionis,\"exclaimedJehannedelaTarme,\"thatitwouldbebetterfortheloutsofParis,ifthislittlemagicianwereputtobedonafagotthanonaplank。\"

  \"Afine,flamingfagot,\"addedtheoldwoman。

  \"Itwouldbemoreprudent,\"saidMistricolle。

  Forseveralminutes,ayoungpriesthadbeenlisteningtothereasoningoftheHaudriettesandthesentencesofthenotary。Hehadasevereface,withalargebrow,aprofoundglance。Hethrustthecrowdsilentlyaside,scrutinizedthe\"littlemagician,\"andstretchedouthishanduponhim。Itwashightime,forallthedevoteeswerealreadylickingtheirchopsoverthe\"fine,flamingfagot。\"

  \"Iadoptthischild,\"saidthepriest。

  Hetookitinhiscassockandcarrieditoff。Thespectatorsfollowedhimwithfrightenedglances。Amomentlater,hehaddisappearedthroughthe\"RedDoor,\"whichthenledfromthechurchtothecloister。

  Whenthefirstsurprisewasover,JehannedelaTarmebentdowntotheearoflaGaultière,——

  \"Itoldyouso,sister,——thatyoungclerk,MonsieurClaudeFrollo,isasorcerer。\"

  CHAPTERII。

  CLAUDEFROLLO。

  Infact,ClaudeFrollowasnocommonperson。

  Hebelongedtooneofthosemiddle-classfamilieswhichwerecalledindifferently,intheimpertinentlanguageofthelastcentury,thehigh~bourgeoise~orthepettynobility。ThisfamilyhadinheritedfromthebrothersPacletthefiefofTirechappe,whichwasdependentupontheBishopofParis,andwhosetwenty-onehouseshadbeeninthethirteenthcenturytheobjectofsomanysuitsbeforetheofficial。Aspossessorofthisfief,ClaudeFrollowasoneofthetwenty-sevenseigneurskeepingclaimtoamanorinfeeinParisanditssuburbs;andforalongtime,hisnamewastobeseeninscribedinthisquality,betweentheH?teldeTancarville,belongingtoMasterFran?oisLeRez,andthecollegeofTours,intherecordsdepositedatSaintMartindesChamps。

  ClaudeFrollohadbeendestinedfrominfancy,byhisparents,totheecclesiasticalprofession。HehadbeentaughttoreadinLatin;hehadbeentrainedtokeephiseyesonthegroundandtospeaklow。Whilestillachild,hisfatherhadcloisteredhiminthecollegeofTorchiintheUniversity。

  Thereitwasthathehadgrownup,onthemissalandthelexicon。

  Moreover,hewasasad,grave,seriouschild,whostudiedardently,andlearnedquickly;heneverutteredaloudcryinrecreationhour,mixedbutlittleinthebacchanalsoftheRueduFouarre,didnotknowwhatitwasto~darealapasetcapilloslaniare~,andhadcutnofigureinthatrevoltof1463,whichtheannalistsregistergravely,underthetitleof\"ThesixthtroubleoftheUniversity。\"HeseldomralliedthepoorstudentsofMontaiguonthe~cappettes~fromwhichtheyderivedtheirname,orthebursarsofthecollegeofDormansontheirshavedtonsure,andtheirsurtoutparti-coloredofbluish-green,blue,andvioletcloth,~azurinicolorisetbruni~,assaysthecharteroftheCardinaldesQuatre-Couronnes。

  Ontheotherhand,hewasassiduousatthegreatandthesmallschoolsoftheRueSaintJeandeBeauvais。ThefirstpupilwhomtheAbbédeSaintPierredeVal,atthemomentofbeginninghisreadingoncanonlaw,alwaysperceived,gluedtoapillaroftheschoolSaint-Vendregesile,oppositehisrostrum,wasClaudeFrollo,armedwithhishornink-bottle,bitinghispen,scribblingonhisthreadbareknee,and,inwinter,blowingonhisfingers。ThefirstauditorwhomMessireMilesd’Isliers,doctorindecretals,sawarriveeveryMondaymorning,allbreathless,attheopeningofthegatesoftheschooloftheChef-Saint-Denis,wasClaudeFrollo。Thus,atsixteenyearsofage,theyoungclerkmighthaveheldhisown,inmysticaltheology,againstafatherofthechurch;incanonicaltheology,againstafatherofthecouncils;inscholastictheology,againstadoctorofSorbonne。

  Theologyconquered,hehadplungedintodecretals。Fromthe\"MasterofSentences,\"hehadpassedtothe\"CapitulariesofCharlemagne;\"andhehaddevouredinsuccession,inhisappetiteforscience,decretalsupondecretals,thoseofTheodore,BishopofHispalus;thoseofBouchard,BishopofWorms;thoseofYves,BishopofChartres;nextthedecretalofGratian,whichsucceededthecapitulariesofCharlemagne;

  thenthecollectionofGregoryIX。;thentheEpistleof~Superspecula~,ofHonoriusIII。Herenderedclearandfamiliartohimselfthatvastandtumultuousperiodofcivillawandcanonlawinconflictandatstrifewitheachother,inthechaosoftheMiddleAges,——aperiodwhichBishopTheodoreopensin618,andwhichPopeGregoryclosesin1227。

  Decretalsdigested,heflunghimselfuponmedicine,ontheliberalarts。Hestudiedthescienceofherbs,thescienceofunguents;hebecameanexpertinfeversandincontusions,insprainsandabcesses。Jacquesd’Esparswouldhavereceivedhimasaphysician;RichardHellain,asasurgeon。

  Healsopassedthroughallthedegreesoflicentiate,master,anddoctorofarts。Hestudiedthelanguages,Latin,Greek,Hebrew,atriplesanctuarythenverylittlefrequented。Hiswasaveritablefeverforacquiringandhoarding,inthematterofscience。Attheageofeighteen,hehadmadehiswaythroughthefourfaculties;itseemedtotheyoungmanthatlifehadbutonesoleobject:learning。

  Itwastowardsthisepoch,thattheexcessiveheatofthesummerof1466causedthatgrandoutburstoftheplaguewhichcarriedoffmorethanfortythousandsoulsinthevicomtyofParis,andamongothers,asJeandeTroyesstates,\"MasterArnoul,astrologertotheking,whowasaveryfineman,bothwiseandpleasant。\"TherumorspreadintheUniversitythattheRueTirechappewasespeciallydevastatedbythemalady。ItwastherethatClaude’sparentsresided,inthemidstoftheirfief。Theyoungscholarrushedingreatalarmtothepaternalmansion。Whenheenteredit,hefoundthatbothfatherandmotherhaddiedontheprecedingday。

  Averyyoungbrotherofhis,whowasinswaddlingclothes,wasstillaliveandcryingabandonedinhiscradle。ThiswasallthatremainedtoClaudeofhisfamily;theyoungmantookthechildunderhisarmandwentoffinapensivemood。

  Uptothatmoment,hehadlivedonlyinscience;henowbegantoliveinlife。

  ThiscatastrophewasacrisisinClaude’sexistence。

  Orphaned,theeldest,headofthefamilyattheageofnineteen,hefelthimselfrudelyrecalledfromthereveriesofschooltotherealitiesofthisworld。Then,movedwithpity,hewasseizedwithpassionanddevotiontowardsthatchild,hisbrother;asweetandstrangethingwasahumanaffectiontohim,whohadhithertolovedhisbooksalone。

  Thisaffectiondevelopedtoasingularpoint;inasoulsonew,itwaslikeafirstlove。Separatedsinceinfancyfromhisparents,whomhehadhardlyknown;cloisteredandimmured,asitwere,inhisbooks;eageraboveallthingstostudyandtolearn;exclusivelyattentiveuptothattime,tohisintelligencewhichbroadenedinscience,tohisimagination,whichexpandedinletters,——thepoorscholarhadnotyethadtimetofeeltheplaceofhisheart。

  Thisyoungbrother,withoutmotherorfather,thislittlechildwhichhadfallenabruptlyfromheavenintohisarms,madeanewmanofhim。HeperceivedthattherewassomethingelseintheworldbesidesthespeculationsoftheSorbonne,andtheversesofHomer;thatmanneededaffections;thatlifewithouttendernessandwithoutlovewasonlyasetofdry,shrieking,andrendingwheels。Only,heimagined,forhewasattheagewhenillusionsareasyetreplacedonlybyillusions,thattheaffectionsofbloodandfamilywerethesoleonesnecessary,andthatalittlebrothertolovesufficedtofillanentireexistence。

  Hethrewhimself,therefore,intotheloveforhislittleJehanwiththepassionofacharacteralreadyprofound,ardent,concentrated;thatpoorfrailcreature,pretty,fair-

  haired,rosy,andcurly,——thatorphanwithanotherorphanforhisonlysupport,touchedhimtothebottomofhisheart;

  andgravethinkerashewas,hesettomeditatinguponJehanwithaninfinitecompassion。Hekeptwatchandwardoverhimasoversomethingveryfragile,andveryworthyofcare。

  Hewasmorethanabrothertothechild;hebecameamothertohim。

  LittleJehanhadlosthismotherwhilehewasstillatthebreast;Claudegavehimtoanurse。BesidesthefiefofTirechappe,hehadinheritedfromhisfatherthefiefofMoulin,whichwasadependencyofthesquaretowerofGentilly;

  itwasamillonahill,nearthechateauofWinchestreBicêtre。Therewasamiller’swifetherewhowasnursingafinechild;itwasnotfarfromtheuniversity,andClaudecarriedthelittleJehantoherinhisownarms。

  Fromthattimeforth,feelingthathehadaburdentobear,hetooklifeveryseriously。Thethoughtofhislittlebrotherbecamenotonlyhisrecreation,buttheobjectofhisstudies。

  HeresolvedtoconsecratehimselfentirelytoafutureforwhichhewasresponsibleinthesightofGod,andnevertohaveanyotherwife,anyotherchildthanthehappinessandfortuneofhisbrother。Therefore,heattachedhimselfmorecloselythanevertotheclericalprofession。Hismerits,hislearning,hisqualityofimmediatevassaloftheBishopofParis,threwthedoorsofthechurchwideopentohim。Attheageoftwenty,byspecialdispensationoftheHolySee,hewasapriest,andservedastheyoungestofthechaplainsofNotre-Damethealtarwhichiscalled,becauseofthelatemasswhichissaidthere,~altarepigrorum~。

  There,plungedmoredeeplythaneverinhisdearbooks,whichhequittedonlytorunforanhourtothefiefofMoulin,thismixtureoflearningandausterity,sorareathisage,hadpromptlyacquiredforhimtherespectandadmirationofthemonastery。Fromthecloister,hisreputationasalearnedmanhadpassedtothepeople,amongwhomithadchangedalittle,afrequentoccurrenceatthattime,intoreputationasasorcerer。

  Itwasatthemomentwhenhewasreturning,onQuasimododay,fromsayinghismassattheAltaroftheLazy,whichwasbythesideofthedoorleadingtothenaveontheright,neartheimageoftheVirgin,thathisattentionhadbeenattractedbythegroupofoldwomenchatteringaroundthebedforfoundlings。

  Thenitwasthatheapproachedtheunhappylittlecreature,whichwassohatedandsomenaced。Thatdistress,thatdeformity,thatabandonment,thethoughtofhisyoungbrother,theideawhichsuddenlyoccurredtohim,thatifheweretodie,hisdearlittleJehanmightalsobeflungmiserablyontheplankforfoundlings,——allthishadgonetohisheartsimultaneously;agreatpityhadmovedinhim,andhehadcarriedoffthechild。

  Whenheremovedthechildfromthesack,hefounditgreatlydeformed,inverysooth。Thepoorlittlewretchhadawartonhislefteye,hisheadplaceddirectlyonhisshoulders,hisspinalcolumnwascrooked,hisbreastboneprominent,andhislegsbowed;butheappearedtobelively;andalthoughitwasimpossibletosayinwhatlanguagehelisped,hiscryindicatedconsiderableforceandhealth。Claude’scompassionincreasedatthesightofthisugliness;andhemadeavowinhishearttorearthechildfortheloveofhisbrother,inorderthat,whatevermightbethefuturefaultsofthelittleJehan,heshouldhavebesidehimthatcharitydoneforhissake。Itwasasortofinvestmentofgoodworks,whichhewaseffectinginthenameofhisyoungbrother;itwasastockofgoodworkswhichhewishedtoamassinadvanceforhim,incasethelittlerogueshouldsomedayfindhimselfshortofthatcoin,theonlysortwhichisreceivedatthetoll-barofparadise。

  Hebaptizedhisadoptedchild,andgavehimthenameofQuasimodo,eitherbecausehedesiredtherebytomarktheday,whenhehadfoundhim,orbecausehewishedtodesignatebythatnametowhatadegreethepoorlittlecreaturewasincomplete,andhardlysketchedout。Infact,Quasimodo,blind,hunchbacked,knock-kneed,wasonlyan\"almost。\"

  CHAPTERIII。

  ~IMMANISPECORISCUSTOS,IMMANIORIPSE~。

  Now,in1482,Quasimodohadgrownup。HehadbecomeafewyearspreviouslythebellringerofNotre-Dame,thankstohisfatherbyadoption,ClaudeFrollo,——whohadbecomearchdeaconofJosas,thankstohissuzerain,MessireLouisdeBeaumont,——whohadbecomeBishopofParis,atthedeathofGuillaumeChartierin1472,thankstohispatron,OlivierLeDaim,barbertoLouisXI。,kingbythegraceofGod。

  SoQuasimodowastheringerofthechimesofNotre-Dame。

  Inthecourseoftimetherehadbeenformedacertainpeculiarlyintimatebondwhichunitedtheringertothechurch。

  Separatedforeverfromtheworld,bythedoublefatalityofhisunknownbirthandhisnaturaldeformity,imprisonedfromhisinfancyinthatimpassabledoublecircle,thepoorwretchhadgrownusedtoseeingnothinginthisworldbeyondthereligiouswallswhichhadreceivedhimundertheirshadow。

  Notre-Damehadbeentohimsuccessively,ashegrewupanddeveloped,theegg,thenest,thehouse,thecountry,theuniverse。

  Therewascertainlyasortofmysteriousandpre-existingharmonybetweenthiscreatureandthischurch。When,stillalittlefellow,hehaddraggedhimselftortuouslyandbyjerksbeneaththeshadowsofitsvaults,heseemed,withhishumanfaceandhisbestiallimbs,thenaturalreptileofthathumidandsombrepavement,uponwhichtheshadowoftheRomanesquecapitalscastsomanystrangeforms。

  Lateron,thefirsttimethathecaughthold,mechanically,oftheropestothetowers,andhungsuspendedfromthem,andsetthebelltoclanging,itproduceduponhisadoptedfather,Claude,theeffectofachildwhosetongueisunloosedandwhobeginstospeak。

  Itisthusthat,littlebylittle,developingalwaysinsympathywiththecathedral,livingthere,sleepingthere,hardlyeverleavingit,subjecteveryhourtothemysteriousimpress,hecametoresembleit,heincrustedhimselfinit,sotospeak,andbecameanintegralpartofit。Hissalientanglesfittedintotheretreatinganglesofthecathedralifwemaybeallowedthisfigureofspeech,andheseemednotonlyitsinhabitantbutmorethanthat,itsnaturaltenant。Onemightalmostsaythathehadassumeditsform,asthesnailtakesontheformofitsshell。Itwashisdwelling,hishole,hisenvelope。

  Thereexistedbetweenhimandtheoldchurchsoprofoundaninstinctivesympathy,somanymagneticaffinities,somanymaterialaffinities,thatheadheredtoitsomewhatasatortoiseadherestoitsshell。Theroughandwrinkledcathedralwashisshell。

  Itisuselesstowarnthereadernottotakeliterallyallthesimileswhichweareobligedtoemployheretoexpressthesingular,symmetrical,direct,almostconsubstantialunionofamanandanedifice。Itisequallyunnecessarytostatetowhatadegreethatwholecathedralwasfamiliartohim,aftersolongandsointimateacohabitation。Thatdwellingwaspeculiartohim。IthadnodepthstowhichQuasimodohadnotpenetrated,noheightwhichhehadnotscaled。Heoftenclimbedmanystonesupthefront,aidedsolelybytheunevenpointsofthecarving。Thetowers,onwhoseexteriorsurfacehewasfrequentlyseenclambering,likealizardglidingalongaperpendicularwall,thosetwogigantictwins,solofty,somenacing,soformidable,possessedforhimneithervertigo,norterror,norshocksofamazement。

  Toseethemsogentleunderhishand,soeasytoscale,onewouldhavesaidthathehadtamedthem。Bydintofleaping,climbing,gambollingamidtheabyssesofthegiganticcathedralhehadbecome,insomesort,amonkeyandagoat,liketheCalabrianchildwhoswimsbeforehewalks,andplayswiththeseawhilestillababe。

  Moreover,itwasnothisbodyalonewhichseemedfashionedaftertheCathedral,buthismindalso。Inwhatconditionwasthatmind?Whatbenthaditcontracted,whatformhaditassumedbeneaththatknottedenvelope,inthatsavagelife?Thisitwouldbehardtodetermine。Quasimodohadbeenbornone-eyed,hunchbacked,lame。Itwaswithgreatdifficulty,andbydintofgreatpatiencethatClaudeFrollohadsucceededinteachinghimtotalk。Butafatalitywasattachedtothepoorfoundling。BellringerofNotre-Dameattheageoffourteen,anewinfirmityhadcometocompletehismisfortunes:thebellshadbrokenthedrumsofhisears;

  hehadbecomedeaf。Theonlygatewhichnaturehadleftwideopenforhimhadbeenabruptlyclosed,andforever。

  Inclosing,ithadcutofftheonlyrayofjoyandoflightwhichstillmadeitswayintothesoulofQuasimodo。Hissoulfellintoprofoundnight。Thewretchedbeing’smiserybecameasincurableandascompleteashisdeformity。Letusaddthathisdeafnessrenderedhimtosomeextentdumb。

  For,inordernottomakeotherslaugh,theverymomentthathefoundhimselftobedeaf,heresolveduponasilencewhichheonlybrokewhenhewasalone。HevoluntarilytiedthattonguewhichClaudeFrollohadtakensomuchpainstounloose。

  Hence,itcameabout,thatwhennecessityconstrainedhimtospeak,histonguewastorpid,awkward,andlikeadoorwhosehingeshavegrownrusty。

  IfnowweweretotrytopenetratetothesoulofQuasimodothroughthatthick,hardrind;ifwecouldsoundthedepthsofthatbadlyconstructedorganism;ifitweregrantedtoustolookwithatorchbehindthosenon-transparentorganstoexploretheshadowyinteriorofthatopaquecreature,toelucidatehisobscurecorners,hisabsurdno-thoroughfares,andsuddenlytocastavividlightuponthesoulenchainedattheextremityofthatcave,weshould,nodoubt,findtheunhappyPsycheinsomepoor,cramped,andrickettyattitude,likethoseprisonersbeneaththeLeadsofVenice,whogrewoldbentdoubleinastoneboxwhichwasbothtoolowandtooshortforthem。

  Itiscertainthatthemindbecomesatrophiedinadefectivebody。Quasimodowasbarelyconsciousofasoulcastinhisownimage,movingblindlywithinhim。Theimpressionsofobjectsunderwentaconsiderablerefractionbeforereachinghismind。Hisbrainwasapeculiarmedium;theideaswhichpassedthroughitissuedforthcompletelydistorted。Thereflectionwhichresultedfromthisrefractionwas,necessarily,divergentandperverted。

  Henceathousandopticalillusions,athousandaberrationsofjudgment,athousanddeviations,inwhichhisthoughtstrayed,nowmad,nowidiotic。

  Thefirsteffectofthisfatalorganizationwastotroubletheglancewhichhecastuponthings。Hereceivedhardlyanyimmediateperceptionofthem。Theexternalworldseemedmuchfartherawaytohimthanitdoestous。

  Thesecondeffectofhismisfortunewastorenderhimmalicious。

  Hewasmalicious,infact,becausehewassavage;hewassavagebecausehewasugly。Therewaslogicinhisnature,asthereisinours。

  Hisstrength,soextraordinarilydeveloped,wasacauseofstillgreatermalevolence:\"~Maluspuerrobustus~,\"saysHobbes。

  Thisjusticemust,howeverberenderedtohim。Malevolencewasnot,perhaps,innateinhim。Fromhisveryfirststepsamongmen,hehadfelthimself,lateronhehadseenhimself,spewedout,blasted,rejected。Humanwordswere,forhim,alwaysarailleryoramalediction。Ashegrewup,hehadfoundnothingbuthatredaroundhim。Hehadcaughtthegeneralmalevolence。Hehadpickeduptheweaponwithwhichhehadbeenwounded。

  Afterall,heturnedhisfacetowardsmenonlywithreluctance;hiscathedralwassufficientforhim。Itwaspeopledwithmarblefigures,——kings,saints,bishops,——whoatleastdidnotburstoutlaughinginhisface,andwhogazeduponhimonlywithtranquillityandkindliness。Theotherstatues,thoseofthemonstersanddemons,cherishednohatredforhim,Quasimodo。Heresembledthemtoomuchforthat。

  Theyseemedrather,tobescoffingatothermen。Thesaintswerehisfriends,andblessedhim;themonsterswerehisfriendsandguardedhim。Soheheldlongcommunionwiththem。Hesometimespassedwholehourscrouchingbeforeoneofthesestatues,insolitaryconversationwithit。Ifanyonecame,hefledlikealoversurprisedinhisserenade。

  Andthecathedralwasnotonlysocietyforhim,buttheuniverse,andallnaturebeside。Hedreamedofnootherhedgerowsthanthepaintedwindows,alwaysinflower;noothershadethanthatofthefoliageofstonewhichspreadout,loadedwithbirds,inthetuftsoftheSaxoncapitals;ofnoothermountainsthanthecolossaltowersofthechurch;ofnootheroceanthanParis,roaringattheirbases。

  Whathelovedaboveallelseinthematernaledifice,thatwhicharousedhissoul,andmadeitopenitspoorwings,whichitkeptsomiserablyfoldedinitscavern,thatwhichsometimesrenderedhimevenhappy,wasthebells。Helovedthem,fondledthem,talkedtothem,understoodthem。

  Fromthechimeinthespire,overtheintersectionoftheaislesandnave,tothegreatbellofthefront,hecherishedatendernessforthemall。Thecentralspireandthetwotowersweretohimasthreegreatcages,whosebirds,rearedbyhimself,sangforhimalone。Yetitwastheseverybellswhichhadmadehimdeaf;butmothersoftenlovebestthatchildwhichhascausedthemthemostsuffering。

  Itistruethattheirvoicewastheonlyonewhichhecouldstillhear。Onthisscore,thebigbellwashisbeloved。Itwasshewhomhepreferredoutofallthatfamilyofnoisygirlswhichbustledabovehim,onfestivaldays。ThisbellwasnamedMarie。Shewasaloneinthesoutherntower,withhersisterJacqueline,abelloflessersize,shutupinasmallercagebesidehers。ThisJacquelinewassocalledfromthenameofthewifeofJeanMontagu,whohadgivenittothechurch,whichhadnotpreventedhisgoingandfiguringwithouthisheadatMontfau?on。Inthesecondtowerthereweresixotherbells,and,finally,sixsmalleronesinhabitedthebelfryoverthecrossing,withthewoodenbell,whichrangonlybetweenafterdinneronGoodFridayandthemorningofthedaybeforeEaster。SoQuasimodohadfifteenbellsinhisseraglio;butbigMariewashisfavorite。

  Noideacanbeformedofhisdelightondayswhenthegrandpealwassounded。Atthemomentwhenthearchdeacondismissedhim,andsaid,\"Go!\"hemountedthespiralstaircaseoftheclocktowerfasterthananyoneelsecouldhavedescendedit。Heenteredperfectlybreathlessintotheaerialchamberofthegreatbell;hegazedatheramoment,devoutlyandlovingly;thenhegentlyaddressedherandpattedherwithhishand,likeagoodhorse,whichisabouttosetoutonalongjourney。Hepitiedherforthetroublethatshewasabouttosuffer。Afterthesefirstcaresses,heshoutedtohisassistants,placedinthelowerstoryofthetower,tobegin。Theygraspedtheropes,thewheelcreaked,theenormouscapsuleofmetalstartedslowlyintomotion。

  Quasimodofolloweditwithhisglanceandtrembled。Thefirstshockoftheclapperandthebrazenwallmadetheframeworkuponwhichitwasmountedquiver。Quasimodovibratedwiththebell。

  \"Vah!\"hecried,withasenselessburstoflaughter。However,themovementofthebasswasaccelerated,and,inproportionasitdescribedawiderangle,Quasimodo’seyeopenedalsomoreandmorewidely,phosphoricandflaming。Atlengththegrandpealbegan;thewholetowertrembled;

  woodwork,leads,cutstones,allgroanedatonce,fromthepilesofthefoundationtothetrefoilsofitssummit。ThenQuasimodoboiledandfrothed;hewentandcame;hetrembledfromheadtofootwiththetower。Thebell,furious,runningriot,presentedtothetwowallsofthetoweralternatelyitsbrazenthroat,whenceescapedthattempestuousbreath,whichisaudibleleaguesaway。Quasimodostationedhimselfinfrontofthisopenthroat;hecrouchedandrosewiththeoscillationsofthebell,breathedinthisoverwhelmingbreath,gazedbyturnsatthedeepplace,whichswarmedwithpeople,twohundredfeetbelowhim,andatthatenormous,brazentonguewhichcame,secondaftersecond,tohowlinhisear。

点击下载App,搜索"The Hunchback of Notre Dame",免费读到尾