the wandering jew, volume 9-第13章

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the　mob　still　hesitated　to　begin；　so　greatly　were　they　awed　by　his
appearance　of　herculean　strengththe　only　adversary　worthy　to　cope　with
him　being　the　quarryman；　who　had　been　borne　to　a　distance　by　the　surging
of　the　crowdGoliath；　in　his　rage；　rushed　headlong　upon　the　nearest。
Such　a　struggle　was　too　unequal　to　last　long；　but　despair　redoubled　the
Colossus's　strength；　and　the　combat　was　for　a　moment　terrible。　　The
unfortunate　man　did　not　fall　at　once。　　For　some　seconds；　almost　buried
amid　a　swarm　of　furious　assailants；　one　saw　now　his　mighty　arm　rise　and
fall　like　a　sledge　hammer；　beating　upon　skulls　and　faces；　and　now　his
enormous　head；　livid　and　bloody；　drawn　back　by　some　of　the　combatants
hanging　to　his　tangled　hair。　　Here　and　there　sudden　openings　and　violent
oscillations　of　the　crowd　bore　witness　to　the　incredible　energy　of
Goliath's　defence。　　But　when　the　quarryman　succeeded　in　reaching　him；
Goliath　was　overpowered　and　thrown　down。　　A　long；　savage　cheer　in　triumph
announced　this　fall；　for；　under　such　circumstances；　to　〃go　under〃　is　〃to
die。〃　　Instantly　a　thousand　breathless　and　angry　voices　repeated　the
cry　of　〃Death　to　the　poisoner！〃

Then　began　one　of　those　scenes　of　massacre　and　torture；　worthy　of
cannibals；　horrible　to　relate；　and　the　more　incredible；　that　they　happen
almost　always　in　the　presence；　and　often　with　the　aid；　of　honest　and
humane　people；　who；　blinded　by　false　notions　and　stupid　prejudices；　allow
themselves　to　be　led　into　all　sorts　of　barbarity；　under　the　idea　of
performing　an　act　of　inexorable　justice。　　As　it　frequently　happens；　the
sight　of　the　blood　which　flowed　in　torrents　from　Goliath's　wounds
inflamed　to　madness　the　rage　of　his　assailants。　　A　hundred　fists　struck
at　the　unhappy　man；　he　was　stamped　under　foot；　his　face　and　chest　were
beaten　in。　　Ever　and　anon；　in　the　midst　of　furious　cries　of　〃Death　to　the
poisoner！〃　heavy　blows　were　audible；　followed　by　stifled　groans。　　It　was
a　frightful　butchery。　　Each　individual；　yielding　to　a　sanguinary　frenzy；
came　in　turn　to　strike　his　blow；　or　to　tear　off　his　morsel　of　flesh。
Womenyes；　womenmothers！came　to　spend　their　rage　on　this　mutilated
form。

There　was　one　moment　of　frightful　terror。　　With　his　face　all　bruised　and
covered　with　mud；　his　garments　in　rags；　his　chest　bare；　red；　gaping　with
woundsGoliath；　availing　himself　of　a　moment's　weariness　on　the　part　of
his　assassins；　who　believed　him　already；　finished；　succeeded；　by　one　of
those　convulsive　starts　frequent　in　the　last　agony；　in　raising　himself　to
his　feet　for　a　few　seconds；　then；　blind　with　wounds　and　loss　of　blood；
striking　about　his　arms　in　the　air　as　if　to　parry　blows　that　were　no
longer　struck；　he　muttered　these　words；　which　came　from　his　mouth；
accompanied　by　a　crimson　torrent：　〃Mercy！　I　am　no　poisoner。　　Mercy！〃
This　sort　of　resurrection　produced　so　great　an　effect　on　the　crowd；　that
for　an　instant　they　fell　hack　affrighted。　　The　clamor　ceased；　and　a　small
space　was　left　around　the　victim。　　Some　hearts　began　even　to　feel　pity；
when　the　quarryman；　seeing　Goliath　blinded　with　blood；　groping　before　him
with　his　hands；　exclaimed　in　ferocious　allusion　to　a　well…known　game：
〃Now　for　blind…man's…bluff。〃

Then；　with　a　violent　kick；　he　again　threw　down　the　victim；　whose　head
struck　twice　heavily　on　the　pavement。

Just　as　the　giant　fell　a　voice　from　amongst　the　crowd　exclaimed：　〃It　is
Goliath！　stop！　he　is　innocent。〃

It　was　Father　d'Aigrigny；　who；　yielding　to　a　generous　impulse；　was　making
violent　efforts　to　reach　the　foremost　rank　of　the　actors　in　this　scene；
and　who　cried　out；　as　he　came　nearer；　pale；　indignant；　menacing：　〃You　are
cowards　and　murderers！　This　man　is　innocent。　　I　know　him。　　You　shall
answer　for　his　life。〃

These　vehement　words　were　received　with　loud　murmurs。

〃You　know　that　poisoner；〃　cried　the　quarryman；　seizing　the　Jesuit　by　the
collar；　〃then　perhaps　you　are　a　poisoner　too。

〃Wretch；〃　exclaimed　Father　d'Aigrigny；　endeavoring　to　shake　himself　loose
from　the　grasp；　〃do　you　dare　to　lay　hand　upon　me？〃

〃Yes；　I　dare　do　anything；〃　answered　the　quarryman。

〃He　knows　him：　he's　a　poisoner　like　the　other；〃　cried　the　crowd；　pressing
round　the　two　adversaries；　whilst　Goliath；　who　had　fractured　his　skull　in
the　fall；　uttered　a　long　death…rattle。

At　a　sudden　movement　of　Father　d'Aigrigny；　who　disengaged　himself　from
the　quarryman；　a　large　glass　phial　of　peculiar　form；　very　thick；　and
filled　with　a　greenish　liquor；　fell　from　his　pocket；　and　rolled　close　to
the　dying　Goliath。　　At　sight　of　this　phial；　many　voices　exclaimed
together：　〃It　is　poison！　Only　see！　He　had　poison　upon　him。〃

The　clamor　redoubled　at　this　accusation；　and　they　pressed　so　close　to
Abbe　d'Aigrigny；　that　he　exclaimed：　〃Do　not　touch　me！　do　not　approach
me！〃

〃If　he　is　a　poisoner；〃　said　a　voice；　〃no　more　mercy　for　him　than　for　the
other。〃

〃I　a　poisoner？〃　said　the　abbe；　struck　with　horror。

Ciboule　had　darted　upon　the　phial；　the　quarryman　seized　it　from　her；
uncorked　it　and　presenting　it　to　Father　d'Aigrigny；　said　to　him：　〃Now
tell　us　what　is　that？〃

〃It　is　not　poison；〃　cried　Father　d'Aigrigny。

〃Then　drink　it！〃　returned　the　quarryman。

〃Yes；　yes！　let　him　drink　it！〃　cried　the　mob。

〃Never；〃　answered　Father　d'Aigrigny；　in　extreme　alarm。　　And　he　drew　back
as　he　spoke；　pushing　away　the　phial　with　his　hand。

〃Do　you　see？　　It　is　poison。　　He　dares　not　drink　it；〃　they　exclaimed。
Hemmed　in　on　every　side；　Father　d'Aigrigny　stumbled　against　the　body　of
Goliath。

〃My　friends；〃　cried　the　Jesuit；　who；　without　being　a　poisoner；　found
himself　exposed　to　a　terrible　alternative；　for　his　phial　contained
aromatic　salts　of　extraordinary　strength；　designed　for　a　preservative
against　the　cholera；　and　as　dangerous　to　swallow　as　any　poison；　〃my　good
friends；　you　are　in　error。　　I　conjure　you；　in　the　name　of　heaven〃

〃If　that　is　not　poison；　drink　it！〃　interrupted　the　quarryman；　as　he　again
offered　the　bottle　to　the　Jesuit。

〃If　he　does　not　drink　it；　death　to　the　poisoner　of　the　poor！〃

〃Yes！death　to　him！　death　to　him！〃

〃Unhappy　men！〃　cried　Father　d'Aigrigny；　whilst　his　hair　stood　on　end　with
terror；　〃do　you　mean　to　murder　me？〃

〃What　about　all　those；　that　you　and　your　mate　have　killed；　you　wretch？〃

〃But　it　is　not　trueand〃

〃Drink；　then！〃　repeated　the　inflexible　quarryman；　〃I　ask　you　for　the　last
time。〃

〃To　drink　that　would　be　death；〃　cried　Father　d'Aigrigny。

〃Oh！　only　hear　the　wretch！〃　cried　the　mob；　pressing　closer　to　him；　〃he
has　confessedhe　has　confessed！〃

〃He　has　betrayed　himself！〃＇40＇

〃He　said；　‘to　drink　that　would　be　death！'〃

〃But　listen　to　me；〃　cried　the　abbe；　clasping　his　hands　together；　〃this
phial　is〃

Furious　cries　interrupted　Father　d'Aigrigny。　　〃Ciboule；　make　an　end　of
that　one！〃　cried　the　quarryman；　spurning　Goliath　with　his　foot。　　〃I　will
begin　this　one！〃　And　he　seized　Father　d'Aigrigny　by　the　throat。

At　these　words；　two　different　groups　formed　themselves。　　One；　led　by
Ciboule；　〃made　an　end〃　of　Goliath；　with　kicks　and　blows；　stones　and
wooden　shoes；　his　body　was　soon　reduced　to　a　horrible　thing；　mutilated；
nameless；　formlessa　mere　inert　mass　of　filth　and　mangled　flesh。
Ciboule　gave　her　cloak；　which　they　tied　to　one　of　the　dislocated　ankles
of　the　body；　and　thus　dragged　it　to　the　parapet　of　the　quay。　　There；　with
shouts　of　ferocious　joy；　they　precipitated　the　bloody　remains　into　the
river。　　Now　who　does　not　shudder　at　the　thought　that；　in　a　time　of
popular　commotion；　a　word；　a　single　word；　spoken　imprudently；　even　by　an
honest　man；　and　without　hatred；　will　suffice　to　provoke　so　horrible　a
murder。

〃Perhaps　it　is　a　poisoner！〃　said　one　of　the　drinkers　in　the　tavern　of　the
Rue　de　la　Calandrenothing　moreand　Goliath　had　been　pitilessly
murdered。

What　imperious　reasons　for　penetrating　the　lowest　depths　of　the　masses
with　instruction　and　with　lightto　enable　unfortunate　creatures　to
defend　themselves　from　so　many　stupid　prejudices；　so　many　fatal
superstitions；　so　much　implacable　fanaticism！How　can　we　ask　for
calmness；　reflection；　self…control；　or　the　sentiment　of　justice　from
abandoned　beings；　whom　ignorance　has　brutalized；　and　misery　depraved；　and
suffering　made　ferocious；　and　of　whom　society　takes　no　thought；　except
when　it　chains　them　to　the　galleys；　or　binds　them　ready　for　the
executioner！　The　terrible　cry　which　had　so　startled　Morok　was　uttered　by
Father　d'Aigrigny　as　the　quarryman　laid　his　formidable　hand　upon　him；
saying　to　Ciboule：　〃Make　an　end　of　that　oneI　will　begin　this　one！〃

＇40＇　This　fact　is　historical。　　A　man　was　murdered　because　a　phial　full　of
ammonia　was　found　upon　him。　　On　his　refusal　to　drink　it；　the　populace；
persuaded　that　the　bottle　contained　poison；　tore　him　to　pieces。




CHAPTER　XXIV。

IN　THE　CATHEDRAL。

Night　was　almost　come；　as　the　mutilated　body　of　Goliath　was　thrown　into
the　river。　　The　oscillations　of　the　mob　had　carried　into　the　street；
which　runs　along　the　left　side　of　the　cathedral；　the　group　into　whose
power　Father　d'Aigrigny　had　fallen。　　Having　succeeded　in　freeing　himself
from　the　grasp　of　the　quarryman；　but　still　closely　pressed　by　the
multitude　that　surrounded　him；　crying；　〃Death　to　the　poisoner！〃　he
retreated　step　by　step；　trying　to　parry　the　blows　that　were　dealt　him。
By　presence　of　mind；　address；　and　courage；　recovering　at　that　critical
moment　his　old　military　energy；　he　had　hitherto　been　able　to　resist　and
to　remain　firm　on　his　feetknowing；　by　the　example　of　Goliath；　that　to
fall　was　to　die。　　Though　he　had　little　hope　of　being　heard　to　any
purpose；　the　abbe　continued　to　call　for　help　with　all　his　might。
Disputing　the　ground　inch　by　inch；　he　manoeuvred　so　as　to　draw　near　one
of　the　lateral　walls　of　the　church；　and　at　length　succeeded　in　ensconcing
himself　in　a　corner　formed　by　the　projection　of　a　buttress；　and　close　by
a　little　door。

This　position　was　rather　favorable。　　Leaning　with　his　back　against　the
wall；　Father　d'Aigrigny　was　sheltered　from　the　attacks　of　a　portion　of
his　assailants。　　But　the　quarryman；　wishing　to　deprive　him　of　this　last
chance　of　safety；　rushed　upon　him；　with　the　intention　of　dragging　him　out
into　the　circle　where　he　would　have　been　trampled　under　foot。　　The　fear
of　death　gave　Father　d'Aigrigny　extraordinary　strength；　and　he　was　able
once　more　to　repulse　the　quarryman；　and　remain　entrenched　in　the　corner
where　he　had　taken　refuge。　　The　resistance　of　the　victim　redoubled　the
rage　of　the　assailants。　　Cries　of　murderous　import　resounded　with　new
violence。　　The　quarryman　again　rushed　upon　Father　d'Aigrigny；　saying；
〃Follow　me；　friends！　this　lasts　too　long。　　Let　us　make　an　end　of　it。〃

Father　d'Aigrigny　saw　that　he　was　lost。　　His　strength　was　exhausted；　and
he　felt　himself　sinking；　his　legs　trembled　under　him；　and　a　cloud
obscured　his　sight；　the　howling　of　the　furious　mob　began　to　sound　dull
upon　his　ear。　　The　effects　of　violent　contusions；　received　during　the
struggle；　both　on　the　head　and　chest；　were　now　very　perceptible。　　Two　or
three　times；　a　mixture　of　blood　and　foam　rose　to　the　lips　of　the　abbe；
his　position　was　a　desperate　one。

〃To　be　slaughtered　by　these　brutes；　after　escaping　death　so　often　in
war！〃　Such　was　the　thought　of　Father　d'Aigrigny；　as　the　quarryman　rushed
upon　him。