雨果 悲惨世界 英文版1-第28部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　　Fantine　was　beautiful；　without　being　too　conscious　of　it。Those　rare　dreamers；　mysterious　priests　of　the　beautiful　who　silently　confront　everything　with　perfection；　would　have　caught　a　glimpse　in　this　little　working…woman；　through　the　transparency　of　her　Parisian　grace；　of　the　ancient　sacred　euphony。
　　This　daughter　of　the　shadows　was　thoroughbred。
　　She　was　beautiful　in　the　two　ways　style　and　rhythm。
　　Style　is　the　form　of　the　ideal；　rhythm　is　its　movement。
　　We　have　said　that　Fantine　was　joy；　she　was　also　modesty。
　　To　an　observer　who　studied　her　attentively；　that　which　breathed　from　her　athwart　all　the　intoxication　of　her　age；　the　season；　and　her　love　affair；　was　an　invincible　expression　of　reserve　and　modesty。She　remained　a　little　astonished。
　　This　chaste　astonishment　is　the　shade　of　difference　which　separates　Psyche　from　Venus。Fantine　had　the　long；　white；　fine　fingers　of　the　vestal　virgin　who　stirs　the　ashes　of　the　sacred　fire　with　a　golden　pin。
　　Although　she　would　have　refused　nothing　to　Tholomyes；　as　we　shall　have　more　than　ample　opportunity　to　see；　her　face　in　repose　was　supremely　virginal；　a　sort　of　serious　and　almost　austere　dignity　suddenly　overwhelmed　her　at　certain　times；　and　there　was　nothing　more　singular　and　disturbing　than　to　see　gayety　bee　so　suddenly　extinct　there；　and　meditation　succeed　to　cheerfulness　without　any　transition　state。This　sudden　and　sometimes　severely　accentuated　gravity　resembled　the　disdain　of　a　goddess。
　　Her　brow；　her　nose；　her　chin；　presented　that　equilibrium　of　outline　which　is　quite　distinct　from　equilibrium　of　proportion；　and　from　which　harmony　of　countenance　results；　in　the　very　characteristic　interval　which　separates　the　base　of　the　nose　from　the　upper　lip；　she　had　that　imperceptible　and　charming　fold；　a　mysterious　sign　of　chastity；　which　makes　Barberousse　fall　in　love　with　a　Diana　found　in　the　treasures　of　Iconia。
　　Love　is　a　fault；　so　be　it。
　　Fantine　was　innocence　floating　high　over　fault。


BOOK　THIRD。IN　THE　YEAR　1817
CHAPTER　IV　
　　THOLOMYES　IS　SO　MERRY　THAT　HE　SINGS　A　SPANISH　DITTY
　　That　day　was　posed　of　dawn；　from　one　end　to　the　other。All　nature　seemed　to　be　having　a　holiday；　and　to　be　laughing。The　flower…beds　of　Saint…Cloud　perfumed　the　air；　the　breath　of　the　Seine　rustled　the　leaves　vaguely；　the　branches　gesticulated　in　the　wind；　bees　pillaged　the　jasmines；　a　whole　bohemia　of　butterflies　swooped　down　upon　the　yarrow；　the　clover；　and　the　sterile　oats；　in　the　august　park　of　the　King　of　France　there　was　a　pack　of　vagabonds；　the　birds。
　　The　four　merry　couples；　mingled　with　the　sun；　the　fields；　the　flowers；　the　trees；　were　resplendent。
　　And　in　this　munity　of　Paradise；　talking；　singing；　running；　dancing；　chasing　butterflies；　plucking　convolvulus；　wetting　their　pink；　open…work　stockings　in　the　tall　grass；　fresh；　wild；　without　malice；　all　received；　to　some　extent；　the　kisses　of　all；　with　the　exception　of　Fantine；　who　was　hedged　about　with　that　vague　resistance　of　hers　posed　of　dreaminess　and　wildness；　and　who　was　in　love。〃You　always　have　a　queer　look　about　you；〃　said　Favourite　to　her。
　　Such　things　are　joys。
　　These　passages　of　happy　couples　are　a　profound　appeal　to　life　and　nature；　and　make　a　caress　and　light　spring　forth　from　everything。
　　There　was　once　a　fairy　who　created　the　fields　and　forests　expressly　for　those　in　love；in　that　eternal　hedge…school　of　lovers；　which　is　forever　beginning　anew；　and　which　will　last　as　long　as　there　are　hedges　and　scholars。Hence　the　popularity　of　spring　among　thinkers。
　　The　patrician　and　the　knife…grinder；　the　duke　and　the　peer；　the　limb　of　the　law；　the　courtiers　and　townspeople；　as　they　used　to　say　in　olden　times；　all　are　subjects　of　this　fairy。
　　They　laugh　and　hunt；　and　there　is　in　the　air　the　brilliance　of　an　apotheosiswhat　a　transfiguration　effected　by　love！
　　Notaries'　clerks　are　gods。
　　And　the　little　cries；　the　pursuits　through　the　grass；　the　waists　embraced　on　the　fly；　those　jargons　which　are　melodies；　those　adorations　which　burst　forth　in　the　manner　of　pronouncing　a　syllable；　those　cherries　torn　from　one　mouth　by　another；all　this　blazes　forth　and　takes　its　place　among　the　celestial　glories。
　　Beautiful　women　waste　themselves　sweetly。
　　They　think　that　this　will　never　e　to　an　end。Philosophers；　poets；　painters；　observe　these　ecstasies　and　know　not　what　to　make　of　it；　so　greatly　are　they　dazzled　by　it。
　　The　departure　for　Cythera！　exclaims　Watteau；　Lancret；　the　painter　of　plebeians；　contemplates　his　bourgeois；　who　have　flitted　away　into　the　azure　sky；　Diderot　stretches　out　his　arms　to　all　these　love　idyls；　and　d'Urfe　mingles　druids　with　them。
　　After　breakfast　the　four　couples　went　to　what　was　then　called　the　King's　Square　to　see　a　newly　arrived　plant　from　India；　whose　name　escapes　our　memory　at　this　moment；　and　which；　at　that　epoch；　was　attracting　all　Paris　to　Saint…Cloud。　It　was　an　odd　and　charming　shrub　with　a　long　stem；　whose　numerous　branches；　bristling　and　leafless　and　as　fine　as　threads；　were　covered　with　a　million　tiny　white　rosettes；　this　gave　the　shrub　the　air　of　a　head　of　hair　studded　with　flowers。There　was　always　an　admiring　crowd　about　it。
　　After　viewing　the　shrub；　Tholomyes　exclaimed；　〃I　offer　you　asses！〃　and　having　agreed　upon　a　price　with　the　owner　of　the　asses；　they　returned　by　way　of　Vanvres　and　Issy。
　　At　Issy　an　incident　occurred。The　truly　national　park；　at　that　time　owned　by　Bourguin　the　contractor；　happened　to　be　wide　open。
　　They　passed　the　gates；　visited　the　manikin　anchorite　in　his　grotto；　tried　the　mysterious　little　effects　of　the　famous　cabinet　of　mirrors；　the　wanton　trap　worthy　of　a　satyr　bee　a　millionaire　or　of　Turcaret　metamorphosed　into　a　Priapus。They　had　stoutly　shaken　the　swing　attached　to　the　two　chestnut…trees　celebrated　by　the　Abbe　de　Bernis。
　　As　he　swung　these　beauties；　one　after　the　other；　producing　folds　in　the　fluttering　skirts　which　Greuze　would　have　found　to　his　taste；　amid　peals　of　laughter；　the　Toulousan　Tholomyes；　who　was　somewhat　of　a　Spaniard；　Toulouse　being　the　cousin　of　Tolosa；　sang；　to　a　melancholy　chant；　the　old　ballad　gallega；　probably　inspired　by　some　lovely　maid　dashing　in　full　flight　upon　a　rope　between　two　trees：　
　　〃Soy　de　Badajoz；　
　　〃Badajoz　is　my　home；　
　　　Amor　me　llama；　
　　And　Love　is　my　name；　
　　　Toda　mi　alma；　
　　　To　my　eyes　in　flame；　
　　　Es　en　mi　ojos；　
　　All　my　soul　doth　e；　
　　　Porque　ensenas；
　　　For　instruction　meet　
　　　A　tuas　piernas。　
　　　I　receive　at　thy　feet〃
　　Fantine　alone　refused　to　swing。
　　〃I　don't　like　to　have　people　put　on　airs　like　that；〃　muttered　Favourite；　with　a　good　deal　of　acrimony。
　　After　leaving　the　asses　there　was　a　fresh　delight；　they　crossed　the　Seine　in　a　boat；　and　proceeding　from　Passy　on　foot　they　reached　the　barrier　of　l'Etoile。　They　had　been　up　since　five　o'clock　that　morning；　as　the　reader　will　remember；　but　bah！　there　is　no　such　thing　as　fatigue　on　Sunday；　said　Favourite；　on　Sunday　fatigue　does　not　work。
　　About　three　o'clock　the　four　couples；　frightened　at　their　happiness；　were　sliding　down　the　Russian　mountains；　a　singular　edifice　which　then　occupied　the　heights　of　Beaujon；　and　whose　undulating　line　was　visible　above　the　trees　of　the　Champs　Elysees。
　　From　time　to　time　Favourite　exclaimed：
　　〃And　the　surprise？
　　I　claim　the　surprise。〃
　　〃Patience；〃　replied　Tholomyes。


BOOK　THIRD。IN　THE　YEAR　1817
CHAPTER　V　
　　AT　BOMBARDA'S
　　The　Russian　mountains　having　been　exhausted；　they　began　to　think　about　dinner；　and　the　radiant　party　of　eight；　somewhat　weary　at　last；　became　stranded　in　Bombarda's　public　house；　a　branch　establishment　which　had　been　set　up　in　the　Champs…Elysees　by　that　famous　restaurant…keeper；　Bombarda；　whose　sign　could　then　be　seen　in　the　Rue　de　Rivoli；　near　Delorme　Alley。
　　A　large　but　ugly　room；　with　an　alcove　and　a　bed　at　the　end　（they　had　been　obliged　to　put　up　with　this　acmodation　in　view　of　the　Sunday　crowd）；　two　windows　whence　they　could　survey　beyond　the　elms；　the　quay　and　the　river；　a　magnificent　August　sunlight　lightly　touching　the　panes；　two　tables；　upon　one　of　them　a　triumphant　mountain　of　bouquets；　mingled　with　the　hats　of　men　and　women；　at　the　other　the　four　couples　seated　round　a　merry　confusion　of　platters；　dishes；　glasses；　and　bottles；　jugs　of　beer　mingled　with　flasks　of　wine；　very　little　order　on　the　table；　some　disorder　beneath　it；　
　　　〃They　made　beneath　the　table　A　noise；　a　clatter　of　the　feet　that　was　abominable；〃
　　says　Moliere。
　　This　was　the　state　which　the　shepherd　idyl；　begun　at　five　o'clock　in　the　morning；　had　reached　at　half…past　four　in　the　afternoon。The　sun　was　setting；　their　appetites　were　satisfied。
　　The　Champs…Elysees；　filled　with　sunshine　and　with　people；　were　nothing　but　light　and　dust；　the　two　things　of　which　glory　is　posed。The　horses　of　Marly；　those　neighing　marbles；　were　prancing　in　a　cloud　of　gold。
　　Carriages　were　going　and　ing。
　　A　squadron　of　magnificent　body…guards；　with　their　clarions　at　their　head；　were　descending　the　Avenue　de　Neuilly；　the　white　flag；　showing　faintly　rosy　in　the　setting　sun；　floated　over　the　dome　of　the　Tuileries。The　Place　de　la　Concorde；　which　had　bee　the　Place　Louis　XV。once　more；　was　choked　with　happy　promenaders。
　　Many　wore　the　silver　fleur…de…lys　suspended　from　the　white…watered　ribbon；　which　had　not　yet　wholly　disappeared　from　button…holes　in　the　year　1817。Here　and　there　choruses　of　little　girls　threw　to　the　winds；　amid　the　passersby；　who　formed　into　circles　and　applauded；　the　then　celebrated　Bourbon　air；　which　was　destined　to　strike　the　Hundred　Days　with　lightning；　and　which　had　for　its　refrain：　〃Rendez…nous　notre　pere　de　Gand；　Rendez…nous　notre　pere。〃　〃Give　us　back　our　father　from　Ghent；　Give　us　back　our　father。〃
　　Groups　of　dwellers　in　the　suburbs；　in　Sunday　array；　sometimes　even　decorated　with　the　fleur…de…lys；　like　the　bourgeois；　scattered　over　the　large　square　and　the　Marigny　square；　were　playing　at　rings　and　revolving　on　the　wooden　horses；　others　were　engaged　in　drinking；　some　journeyman　printers　had　on　paper　caps；　their　laughter　was　audible。Every　thing　was　radiant。
　　It　was　a　time　of　undisputed　peace　and　profound　royalist　security；　it　was　the　epoch　when　a　special　and　private　report　of　Chief　of　Police　Angeles　to　the　King；　on　the　subject　of　the　suburbs　of　Paris；　terminated　with　these　lines：
　　〃Taking　all　things　into　consideration；　Sire；　there　is　nothing　to　be　feared　from　these　people。
　　They　are　as　heedless　and　as　indolent　as　cats。The　populace　is　restless　in　the　provinces；　it　is　not　in　Paris。These　are　very　pretty　men；　Sire。
　　It　would　take　all　of　two　of　them　to　make　one　of　your　grenadiers。
　　There　is　nothing　to　be　feared　on　the　part　of　the　populace　of　Paris　the　capital。
　　It　is　remarkable　that　the　stature　of　this　population　should　have　diminished　in　the　last　fifty　years；　and　the　populace　of　the　suburbs　is　still　more　puny　than　at　the　time　of　the　Revolution。
　　It　is　not　dangerous。In　short；　it　is　an　amiable　rabble。〃
　　Prefects　of　the　police　do　not　deem　it　possible　that　a　cat　can　transform　itself　into　a　lion；　that　does　happen；　however；　and　in　that　lies　the　miracle　wrought　by　the　populace　of　Paris。
　　Moreover；　the　cat　so　despised　by　Count　Angles　possessed　the　esteem　of