the hunchback of notre dame-第26章

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



And　if　you　wish　to　receive　of　the　ancient　city　an　impression　with　which　the　modern　one　can　no　longer　furnish　you；　climbon　the　morning　of　some　grand　festival；　beneath　the　rising　sun　of　Easter　or　of　Pentecostclimb　upon　some　elevated　point；　whence　you　command　the　entire　capital；　and　be　present　at　the　wakening　of　the　chimes。　　Behold；　at　a　signal　given　from　heaven；　for　it　is　the　sun　which　gives　it；　all　those　churches　quiver　simultaneously。　　First　come　scattered　strokes；　running　from　one　church　to　another；　as　when　musicians　give　warning　that　they　are　about　to　begin。　　Then；　all　at　once；　behold！for　it　seems　at　times；　as　though　the　ear　also　possessed　a　sight　of　its　own；behold；　rising　from　each　bell　tower；　something　like　a　column　of　sound；　a　cloud　of　harmony。　　First；　the　vibration　of　each　bell　mounts　straight　upwards；　pure　and；　so　to　speak；　isolated　from　the　others；　into　the　splendid　morning　sky；　then；　little　by　little；　as　they　swell　they　melt　together；　mingle；　are　lost　in　each　other；　and　amalgamate　in　a　magnificent　concert。　It　is　no　longer　anything　but　a　mass　of　sonorous　vibrations　incessantly　sent　forth　from　the　numerous　belfries；　floats；　undulates；　bounds；　whirls　over　the　city；　and　prolongs　far　beyond　the　horizon　the　deafening　circle　of　its　oscillations。

Nevertheless；　this　sea　of　harmony　is　not　a　chaos；　great　and　profound　as　it　is；　it　has　not　lost　its　transparency；　you　behold　the　windings　of　each　group　of　notes　which　escapes　from　the　belfries。　　You　can　follow　the　dialogue；　by　turns　grave　and　shrill；　of　the　treble　and　the　bass；　you　can　see　the　octaves　leap　from　one　tower　to　another；　you　watch　them　spring　forth；　winged；　light；　and　whistling；　from　the　silver　bell；　to　fall；　broken　and　limping　from　the　bell　of　wood；　you　admire　in　their　midst　the　rich　gamut　which　incessantly　ascends　and　re…ascends　the　seven　bells　of　Saint…Eustache；　you　see　light　and　rapid　notes　running　across　it；　executing　three　or　four　luminous　zigzags；　and　vanishing　like　flashes　of　lightning。　　Yonder　is　the　Abbey　of　Saint…Martin；　a　shrill；　cracked　singer；　here　the　gruff　and　gloomy　voice　of　the　Bastille；　at　the　other　end；　the　great　tower　of　the　Louvre；　with　its　bass。　　The　royal　chime　of　the　palace　scatters　on　all　sides；　and　without　relaxation；　resplendent　trills；　upon　which　fall；　at　regular　intervals；　the　heavy　strokes　from　the　belfry　of　Notre…Dame；　which　makes　them　sparkle　like　the　anvil　under　the　hammer。　　At　intervals　you　behold　the　passage　of　sounds　of　all　forms　which　come　from　the　triple　peal　of　Saint…Germaine　des　Prés。　　Then；　again；　from　time　to　time；　this　mass　of　sublime　noises　opens　and　gives　passage　to　the　beats　of　the　Ave　Maria；　which　bursts　forth　and　sparkles　like　an　aigrette　of　stars。　　Below；　in　the　very　depths　of　the　concert；　you　confusedly　distinguish　the　interior　chanting　of　the　churches；　which　exhales　through　the　vibrating　pores　of　their　vaulted　roofs。

Assuredly；　this　is　an　opera　which　it　is　worth　the　trouble　of　listening　to。　　Ordinarily；　the　noise　which　escapes　from　Paris　by　day　is　the　city　speaking；　by　night；　it　is　the　city　breathing；　in　this　case；　it　is　the　city　singing。　　Lend　an　ear；　then；　to　this　concert　of　bell　towers；　spread　over　all　the　murmur　of　half　a　million　men；　the　eternal　plaint　of　the　river；　the　infinite　breathings　of　the　wind；　the　grave　and　distant　quartette　of　the　four　forests　arranged　upon　the　hills；　on　the　horizon；　like　immense　stacks　of　organ　pipes；　extinguish；　as　in　a　half　shade；　all　that　is　too　hoarse　and　too　shrill　about　the　central　chime；　and　say　whether　you　know　anything　in　the　world　more　rich　and　joyful；　more　golden；　more　dazzling；　than　this　tumult　of　bells　and　chimes；than　this　furnace　of　music；than　these　ten　thousand　brazen　voices　chanting　simultaneously　in　the　flutes　of　stone；　three　hundred　feet　high；than　this　city　which　is　no　longer　anything　but　an　orchestra；than　this　symphony　which　produces　the　noise　of　a　tempest。





BOOK　FOURTH。






CHAPTER　I。

GOOD　SOULS。



Sixteen　years　previous　to　the　epoch　when　this　story　takes　place；　one　fine　morning；　on　Quasimodo　Sunday；　a　living　creature　had　been　deposited；　after　mass；　in　the　church　of　Notre…　Dame；　on　the　wooden　bed　securely　fixed　in　the　vestibule　on　the　left；　opposite　that　great　image　of　Saint　Christopher；　which　the　figure　of　Messire　Antoine　des　Essarts；　chevalier；　carved　in　stone；　had　been　gazing　at　on　his　knees　since　1413；　when　they　took　it　into　their　heads　to　overthrow　the　saint　and　the　faithful　follower。　　Upon　this　bed　of　wood　it　was　customary　to　expose　foundlings　for　public　charity。　　Whoever　cared　to　take　them　did　so。　　In　front　of　the　wooden　bed　was　a　copper　basin　for　alms。

The　sort　of　living　being　which　lay　upon　that　plank　on　the　morning　of　Quasimodo；　in　the　year　of　the　Lord；　1467；　appeared　to　excite　to　a　high　degree；　the　curiosity　of　the　numerous　group　which　had　congregated　about　the　wooden　bed。　　The　group　was　formed　for　the　most　part　of　the　fair　sex。　　Hardly　any　one　was　there　except　old　women。

In　the　first　row；　and　among　those　who　were　most　bent　over　the　bed；　four　were　noticeable；　who；　from　their　gray　~cagoule~；　a　sort　of　cassock；　were　recognizable　as　attached　to　some　devout　sisterhood。　　I　do　not　see　why　history　has　not　transmitted　to　posterity　the　names　of　these　four　discreet　and　venerable　damsels。　　They　were　Agnes　la　Herme；　Jehanne　de　la　Tarme；　Henriette　la　Gaultière；　Gauchère　la　Violette；　all　four　widows；　all　four　dames　of　the　Chapel　Etienne　Haudry；　who　had　quitted　their　house　with　the　permission　of　their　mistress；　and　in　conformity　with　the　statutes　of　Pierre　d'Ailly；　in　order　to　come　and　hear　the　sermon。

However；　if　these　good　Haudriettes　were；　for　the　moment；　complying　with　the　statutes　of　Pierre　d'Ailly；　they　certainly　violated　with　joy　those　of　Michel　de　Brache；　and　the　Cardinal　of　Pisa；　which　so　inhumanly　enjoined　silence　upon　them。

〃What　is　this；　sister？〃　said　Agnes　to　Gauchère；　gazing　at　the　little　creature　exposed；　which　was　screaming　and　writhing　on　the　wooden　bed；　terrified　by　so　many　glances。

〃What　is　to　become　of　us；〃　said　Jehanne；　〃if　that　is　the　way　children　are　made　now？〃

〃I'm　not　learned　in　the　matter　of　children；〃　resumed　Agnes；　〃but　it　must　be　a　sin　to　look　at　this　one。〃

〃'Tis　not　a　child；　Agnes。〃

〃'Tis　an　abortion　of　a　monkey；〃　remarked　Gauchère。

〃'Tis　a　miracle；〃　interposed　Henriette　la　Gaultière。

〃Then；〃　remarked　Agnes；　〃it　is　the　third　since　the　Sunday　of　the　~Loetare~：　for；　in　less　than　a　week；　we　had　the　miracle　of　the　mocker　of　pilgrims　divinely　punished　by　Notre…Dame　d'Aubervilliers；　and　that　was　the　second　miracle　within　a　month。〃

〃This　pretended　foundling　is　a　real　monster　of　abomination；〃　resumed　Jehanne。

〃He　yells　loud　enough　to　deafen　a　chanter；〃　continued　Gauchère。　〃Hold　your　tongue；　you　little　howler！〃

〃To　think　that　Monsieur　of　Reims　sent　this　enormity　to　Monsieur　of　Paris；〃　added　la　Gaultière；　clasping　her　hands。

〃I　imagine；〃　said　Agnes　la　Herme；　〃that　it　is　a　beast；　an　animal；the　fruit　ofa　Jew　and　a　sow；　something　not　Christian；　in　short；　which　ought　to　be　thrown　into　the　fire　or　into　the　water。〃

〃I　really　hope；〃　resumed　la　Gaultière；　〃that　nobody　will　apply　for　it。〃

〃Ah；　good　heavens！〃　exclaimed　Agnes；　〃those　poor　nurses　yonder　in　the　foundling　asylum；　which　forms　the　lower　end　of　the　lane　as　you　go　to　the　river；　just　beside　Monseigneur　the　bishop！　what　if　this　little　monster　were　to　be　carried　to　them　to　suckle？　　I'd　rather　give　suck　to　a　vampire。〃

〃How　innocent　that　poor　la　Herme　is！〃　resumed　Jehanne；　〃don't　you　see；　sister；　that　this　little　monster　is　at　least　four　years　old；　and　that　he　would　have　less　appetite　for　your　breast　than　for　a　turnspit。〃

The　〃little　monster〃　we　should　find　it　difficult　ourselves　to　describe　him　otherwise；　was；　in　fact；　not　a　new…born　child。　　It　was　a　very　angular　and　very　lively　little　mass；　imprisoned　in　its　linen　sack；　stamped　with　the　cipher　of　Messire　Guillaume　Chartier；　then　bishop　of　Paris；　with　a　head　projecting。　　That　head　was　deformed　enough；　one　beheld　only　a　forest　of　red　hair；　one　eye；　a　mouth；　and　teeth。　　The　eye　wept；　the　mouth　cried；　and　the　teeth　seemed　to　ask　only　to　be　allowed　to　bite。　　The　whole　struggled　in　the　sack；　to　the　great　consternation　of　the　crowd；　which　increased　and　was　renewed　incessantly　around　it。

Dame　Aloise　de　Gondelaurier；　a　rich　and　noble　woman；　who　held　by　the　hand　a　pretty　girl　about　five　or　six　years　of　age；　and　dragged　a　long　veil　about；　suspended　to　the　golden　horn　of　her　headdress；　halted　as　she　passed　the　wooden　bed；　and　gazed　for　a　moment　at　the　wretched　creature；　while　her　charming　little　daughter；　Fleur…de…Lys　de　Gondelaurier；　spelled　out　with　her　tiny；　pretty　finger；　the　permanent　inscription　attached　to　the　wooden　bed：　〃Foundlings。〃

〃Really；〃　said　the　dame；　turning　away　in　disgust；　〃I　thought　that　they　only　exposed　children　here。〃

She　turned　her　back；　throwing　into　the　basin　a　silver　florin；　which　rang　among　the　liards；　and　made　the　poor　goodwives　of　the　chapel　of　Etienne　Haudry　open　their　eyes。

A　moment　later；　the　grave　and　learned　Robert　Mistricolle；　the　king's　protonotary；　passed；　with　an　enormous　missal　under　one　arm　and　his　wife　on　the　other　（Damoiselle　Guillemette　la　Mairesse）；　having　thus　by　his　side　his　two　regulators；spiritual　and　temporal。

〃Foundling！〃　he　said；　after　examining　the　object；　〃found；　apparently；　on　the　banks　of　the　river　Phlegethon。〃

〃One　can　only　see　one　eye；〃　observed　Damoiselle　Guillemette；　〃there　is　a　wart　on　the　other。〃

〃It's　not　a　wart；〃　returned　Master　Robert　Mistricolle；　〃it　is　an　egg　which　contains　another　demon　exactly　similar；　who　bears　another　little　egg　which　contains　another　devil；　and　so　on。〃

〃How　do　you　know　that？〃　asked　Guillemette　la　Mairesse。

〃I　know　it　pertinently；〃　replied　the　protonotary。

〃Monsieur　le　protonotare；〃　asked　Gauchère；　〃what　do　you　prognosticate　of　this　pretended　foundling？〃

〃The　greatest　misfortunes；〃　replied　Mistricolle。

〃Ah！　good　heavens！〃　said　an　old　woman　among　the　spectators；　〃and　that　besides　our　having　had　a　considerable　pestilence　last　year；　and　that　they　say　that　the　English　are　going　to　disembark　in　a　company　at　Harfleur。〃

〃Perhaps　that　will　prevent　the　queen　from　coming　to　Paris　in　the　month　of　September；〃　interposed　another；　〃trade　is　so　bad　already。〃

〃My　opinion　is；〃　exclaimed　Jehanne　de　la　Tarme；　〃that　it　would　be　better　for　the　louts　of　Paris；　if　this　little　magician　were　put　to　bed　on　a　fagot　than　on　a　plank。〃

〃A　fine；　flaming　fagot；〃　added　the　old　woman。

〃It　would　be　more　prudent；〃　said　Mistricolle。

For　several　minutes；　a　young　priest　had　been　listening　to　the　reasoning　of　the　Haudriettes　and　the　sentences　of　the　notary。　　He　had　a　severe　face；　with　a　large　brow；　a　profound　glance。　　He　thrust　the　crowd　silently　aside；　scrutinized　the　〃little　magician；〃　and　stretched　out　his　hand　upon　him。　　It　was　high　time；　for　all　the　devotees　were　already　licking　their　chops　over　the　〃fine；　flaming　fagot。〃

〃I　adopt　this　child；〃　said　the　priest。

He　took　it　in　his　cassock　and　carried　it　off。　　The　spectators　followed　him　with　frightened　glances。　　A　moment　later；　he　had　disappeared　through　the　〃Red　Door；〃　which　then　led　from　the　church　to　the　cloister。

When　the　first　surprise　was　over；　Jehanne　de　la　Tarme　bent　down　to　the　ear　of　la　Gaultière；

〃I　told　you　so；　sister；