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