diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 1215-0.txt | 986 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 1215-h/1215-h.htm | 1168 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/1215-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 31255 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/1215-h/1215-h.htm | 1572 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/1215.txt | 1374 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/1215.zip | bin | 0 -> 29779 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/old/20040831-1215.txt | 1450 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/old/20040831-1215.zip | bin | 0 -> 29924 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/old/lxrlf10.txt | 1336 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/old/lxrlf10.zip | bin | 0 -> 27709 bytes |
13 files changed, 7902 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/1215-0.txt b/1215-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..426d341 --- /dev/null +++ b/1215-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,986 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1215 *** + +THE ELIXIR OF LIFE + + +By Honore De Balzac + + +Translated By Clara Bell and James Waring + + + + + +TO THE READER + +At the very outset of the writer's literary career, a friend, long since +dead, gave him the subject of this Study. Later on he found the same +story in a collection published about the beginning of the present +century. To the best of his belief, it is some stray fancy of the brain +of Hoffmann of Berlin; probably it appeared in some German almanac, +and was omitted in the published editions of his collected works. The +_Comedie Humaine_ is sufficiently rich in original creations for the +author to own to this innocent piece of plagiarism; when, like the +worthy La Fontaine, he has told unwittingly, and after his own fashion, +a tale already related by another. This is not one of the hoaxes in +vogue in the year 1830, when every author wrote his "tale of horror" +for the amusement of young ladies. When you have read the account of +Don Juan's decorous parricide, try to picture to yourself the part which +would be played under very similar circumstances by honest folk who, in +this nineteenth century, will take a man's money and undertake to pay +him a life annuity on the faith of a chill, or let a house to an ancient +lady for the term of her natural life! Would they be for resuscitating +their clients? I should dearly like a connoisseur in consciences to +consider how far there is a resemblance between a Don Juan and fathers +who marry their children to great expectations. Does humanity, which, +according to certain philosophers, is making progress, look on the art +of waiting for dead men's shoes as a step in the right direction? To +this art we owe several honorable professions, which open up ways of +living on death. There are people who rely entirely on an expected +demise; who brood over it, crouching each morning upon a corpse, that +serves again for their pillow at night. To this class belong bishops' +coadjutors, cardinals' supernumeraries, _tontiniers_, and the like. +Add to the list many delicately scrupulous persons eager to buy landed +property beyond their means, who calculate with dry logic and in cold +blood the probable duration of the life of a father or of a step-mother, +some old man or woman of eighty or ninety, saying to themselves, "I +shall be sure to come in for it in three years' time, and then----" A +murderer is less loathsome to us than a spy. The murderer may have acted +on a sudden mad impulse; he may be penitent and amend; but a spy is +always a spy, night and day, in bed, at table, as he walks abroad; his +vileness pervades every moment of his life. Then what must it be to live +when every moment of your life is tainted with murder? And have we not +just admitted that a host of human creatures in our midst are led by +our laws, customs, and usages to dwell without ceasing on a +fellow-creature's death? There are men who put the weight of a coffin +into their deliberations as they bargain for Cashmere shawls for their +wives, as they go up the staircase of a theatre, or think of going to +the Bouffons, or of setting up a carriage; who are murderers in thought +when dear ones, with the irresistible charm of innocence, hold up +childish foreheads to be kissed with a "Good-night, father!" Hourly they +meet the gaze of eyes that they would fain close for ever, eyes that +still open each morning to the light, like Belvidero's in this Study. +God alone knows the number of those who are parricides in thought. +Picture to yourself the state of mind of a man who must pay a life +annuity to some old woman whom he scarcely knows; both live in +the country with a brook between them, both sides are free to hate +cordially, without offending against the social conventions that require +two brothers to wear a mask if the older will succeed to the entail, +and the other to the fortune of a younger son. The whole civilization +of Europe turns upon the principle of hereditary succession as upon a +pivot; it would be madness to subvert the principle; but could we not, +in an age that prides itself upon its mechanical inventions, perfect +this essential portion of the social machinery? + +If the author has preserved the old-fashioned style of address _To the +Reader_ before a work wherein he endeavors to represent all literary +forms, it is for the purpose of making a remark that applies to +several of the Studies, and very specially to this. Every one of his +compositions has been based upon ideas more or less novel, which, as +it seemed to him, needed literary expression; he can claim priority for +certain forms and for certain ideas which have since passed into the +domain of literature, and have there, in some instances, become common +property; so that the date of the first publication of each Study cannot +be a matter of indifference to those of his readers who would fain do +him justice. + +Reading brings us unknown friends, and what friend is like a reader? +We have friends in our own circle who read nothing of ours. The author +hopes to pay his debt, by dedicating this work _Diis ignotis_. + + + + + +THE ELIXIR OF LIFE + +One winter evening, in a princely palace at Ferrara, Don Juan Belvidero +was giving a banquet to a prince of the house of Este. A banquet in +those times was a marvelous spectacle which only royal wealth or the +power of a mightly [sic] lord could furnish forth. Seated about a +table lit up with perfumed tapers, seven laughter-loving women were +interchanging sweet talk. The white marble of the noble works of art +about them stood out against the red stucco walls, and made strong +contrasts with the rich Turkey carpets. Clad in satin, glittering with +gold, and covered with gems less brilliant than their eyes, each told +a tale of energetic passions as diverse as their styles of beauty. +They differed neither in their ideas nor in their language; but the +expression of their eyes, their glances, occasional gestures, or +the tones of their voices supplied a commentary, dissolute, wanton, +melancholy, or satirical, to their words. + +One seemed to be saying--"The frozen heart of age might kindle at my +beauty." + +Another--"I love to lounge upon cushions, and think with rapture of my +adorers." + +A third, a neophyte at these banquets, was inclined to blush. "I feel +remorse in the depths of my heart! I am a Catholic, and afraid of hell. +But I love you, I love you so that I can sacrifice my hereafter to you." + +The fourth drained a cup of Chian wine. "Give me a joyous life!" she +cried; "I begin life afresh each day with the dawn. Forgetful of the +past, with the intoxication of yesterday's rapture still upon me, I +drink deep of life--a whole lifetime of pleasure and of love!" + +The woman who sat next to Juan Belvidero looked at him with a feverish +glitter in her eyes. She was silent. Then--"I should need no hired bravo +to kill my lover if he forsook me!" she cried at last, and laughed, but +the marvelously wrought gold comfit box in her fingers was crushed by +her convulsive clutch. + +"When are you to be Grand Duke?" asked the sixth. There was the frenzy +of a Bacchante in her eyes, and her teeth gleamed between the lips +parted with a smile of cruel glee. + +"Yes, when is that father of yours going to die?" asked the seventh, +throwing her bouquet at Don Juan with bewitching playfulness. It was +a childish girl who spoke, and the speaker was wont to make sport of +sacred things. + +"Oh! don't talk about it," cried Don Juan, the young and handsome giver +of the banquet. "There is but one eternal father, and, as ill luck will +have it, he is mine." + +The seven Ferrarese, Don Juan's friends, the Prince himself, gave a cry +of horror. Two hundred years later, in the days of Louis XV., people of +taste would have laughed at this witticism. Or was it, perhaps, that +at the outset of an orgy there is a certain unwonted lucidity of mind? +Despite the taper light, the clamor of the senses, the gleam of gold and +silver, the fumes of wine, and the exquisite beauty of the women, +there may perhaps have been in the depths of the revelers' hearts some +struggling glimmer of reverence for things divine and human, until it +was drowned in glowing floods of wine! Yet even then the flowers had +been crushed, eyes were growing dull, and drunkenness, in Rabelais' +phrase, had "taken possession of them down to their sandals." + +During that brief pause a door opened; and as once the Divine presence +was revealed at Belshazzar's feast, so now it seemed to be manifest +in the apparition of an old white-haired servant, who tottered in, +and looked sadly from under knitted brows at the revelers. He gave +a withering glance at the garlands, the golden cups, the pyramids of +fruit, the dazzling lights of the banquet, the flushed scared faces, the +hues of the cushions pressed by the white arms of the women. + +"My lord, your father is dying!" he said; and at those solemn words, +uttered in hollow tones, a veil of crape seemed to be drawn over the +wild mirth. + +Don Juan rose to his feet with a gesture to his guests that might be +rendered by, "Excuse me; this kind of thing does not happen every day." + +Does it so seldom happen that a father's death surprises youth in the +full-blown splendor of life, in the midst of the mad riot of an orgy? +Death is as unexpected in his caprice as a courtesan in her disdain; but +death is truer--Death has never forsaken any man. + +Don Juan closed the door of the banqueting-hall; and as he went down +the long gallery, through the cold and darkness, he strove to assume an +expression in keeping with the part he had to play; he had thrown off +his mirthful mood, as he had thrown down his table napkin, at the first +thought of this role. The night was dark. The mute servitor, his guide +to the chamber where the dying man lay, lighted the way so dimly that +Death, aided by cold, silence, and darkness, and it may be by a reaction +of drunkenness, could send some sober thoughts through the spendthrift's +soul. He examined his life, and became thoughtful, like a man involved +in a lawsuit on his way to the Court. + +Bartolommeo Belvidero, Don Juan's father, was an old man of ninety, who +had devoted the greatest part of his life to business pursuits. He had +acquired vast wealth in many a journey to magical Eastern lands, and +knowledge, so it was said, more valuable than the gold and diamonds, +which had almost ceased to have any value for him. + +"I would give more to have a tooth in my head than for a ruby," he would +say at times with a smile. The indulgent father loved to hear Don Juan's +story of this and that wild freak of youth. "So long as these follies +amuse you, dear boy----" he would say laughingly, as he lavished money +on his son. Age never took such pleasure in the sight of youth; the fond +father did not remember his own decaying powers while he looked on that +brilliant young life. + +Bartolommeo Belvidero, at the age of sixty, had fallen in love with an +angel of peace and beauty. Don Juan had been the sole fruit of this late +and short-lived love. For fifteen years the widower had mourned the +loss of his beloved Juana; and to this sorrow of age, his son and +his numerous household had attributed the strange habits that he had +contracted. He had shut himself up in the least comfortable wing of his +palace, and very seldom left his apartments; even Don Juan himself must +first ask permission before seeing his father. If this hermit, unbound +by vows, came or went in his palace or in the streets of Ferrara, he +walked as if he were in a dream, wholly engrossed, like a man at strife +with a memory, or a wrestler with some thought. + +The young Don Juan might give princely banquets, the palace might echo +with clamorous mirth, horses pawed the ground in the courtyards, pages +quarreled and flung dice upon the stairs, but Bartolommeo ate his seven +ounces of bread daily and drank water. A fowl was occasionally dressed +for him, simply that the black poodle, his faithful companion, might +have the bones. Bartolommeo never complained of the noise. If the +huntsmen's horns and baying dogs disturbed his sleep during his illness, +he only said, "Ah! Don Juan has come back again." Never on earth +has there been a father so little exacting and so indulgent; and, +in consequence, young Belvidero, accustomed to treat his father +unceremoniously, had all the faults of a spoiled child. He treated +old Bartolommeo as a wilful courtesan treats an elderly adorer; buying +indemnity for insolence with a smile, selling good-humor, submitting to +be loved. + +Don Juan, beholding scene after scene of his younger years, saw that it +would be a difficult task to find his father's indulgence at fault. Some +new-born remorse stirred the depths of his heart; he felt almost ready +to forgive this father now about to die for having lived so long. He +had an accession of filial piety, like a thief's return in thought to +honesty at the prospect of a million adroitly stolen. + +Before long Don Juan had crossed the lofty, chilly suite of rooms in +which his father lived; the penetrating influences of the damp close +air, the mustiness diffused by old tapestries and presses thickly +covered with dust had passed into him, and now he stood in the old man's +antiquated room, in the repulsive presence of the deathbed, beside a +dying fire. A flickering lamp on a Gothic table sent broad uncertain +shafts of light, fainter or brighter, across the bed, so that the dying +man's face seemed to wear a different look at every moment. The bitter +wind whistled through the crannies of the ill-fitting casements; there +was a smothered sound of snow lashing the windows. The harsh contrast of +these sights and sounds with the scenes which Don Juan had just quitted +was so sudden that he could not help shuddering. He turned cold as he +came towards the bed; the lamp flared in a sudden vehement gust of +wind and lighted up his father's face; the features were wasted and +distorted; the skin that cleaved to their bony outlines had taken wan +livid hues, all the more ghastly by force of contrast with the white +pillows on which he lay. The muscles about the toothless mouth had +contracted with pain and drawn apart the lips; the moans that issued +between them with appalling energy found an accompaniment in the howling +of the storm without. + +In spite of every sign of coming dissolution, the most striking thing +about the dying face was its incredible power. It was no ordinary spirit +that wrestled there with Death. The eyes glared with strange fixity of +gaze from the cavernous sockets hollowed by disease. It seemed as if +Bartolommeo sought to kill some enemy sitting at the foot of his bed by +the intent gaze of dying eyes. That steady remorseless look was the +more appalling because the head that lay upon the pillow was passive and +motionless as a skull upon a doctor's table. The outlines of the body, +revealed by the coverlet, were no less rigid and stiff; he lay there as +one dead, save for those eyes. There was something automatic about the +moaning sounds that came from the mouth. Don Juan felt something like +shame that he must be brought thus to his father's bedside, wearing a +courtesan's bouquet, redolent of the fragrance of the banqueting-chamber +and the fumes of wine. + +"You were enjoying yourself!" the old man cried as he saw his son. + +Even as he spoke the pure high notes of a woman's voice, sustained by +the sound of the viol on which she accompanied her song, rose above the +rattle of the storm against the casements, and floated up to the chamber +of death. Don Juan stopped his ears against the barbarous answer to his +father's speech. + +"I bear you no grudge, my child," Bartolommeo went on. + +The words were full of kindness, but they hurt Don Juan; he could not +pardon this heart-searching goodness on his father's part. + +"What a remorseful memory for me!" he cried, hypocritically. + +"Poor Juanino," the dying man went on, in a smothered voice, "I have +always been so kind to you, that you could not surely desire my death?" + +"Oh, if it were only possible to keep you here by giving up a part of my +own life!" cried Don Juan. + +("We can always _say_ this sort of thing," the spendthrift thought; "it +is as if I laid the whole world at my mistress' feet.") + +The thought had scarcely crossed his mind when the old poodle barked. +Don Juan shivered; the response was so intelligent that he fancied the +dog must have understood him. + +"I was sure that I could count upon you, my son!" cried the dying man. +"I shall live. So be it; you shall be satisfied. I shall live, but +without depriving you of a single day of your life." + +"He is raving," thought Don Juan. Aloud he added, "Yes, dearest father, +yes; you shall live, of course, as long as I live, for your image will +be for ever in my heart." + +"It is not that kind of life that I mean," said the old noble, summoning +all his strength to sit up in bed; for a thrill of doubt ran through +him, one of those suspicions that come into being under a dying man's +pillow. "Listen, my son," he went on, in a voice grown weak with that +last effort, "I have no more wish to give up life than you to give up +wine and mistresses, horses and hounds, and hawks and gold----" + +"I can well believe it," thought the son; and he knelt down by the bed +and kissed Bartolommeo's cold hands. "But, father, my dear father," he +added aloud, "we must submit to the will of God." + +"I am God!" muttered the dying man. + +"Do not blaspheme!" cried the other, as he saw the menacing expression +on his father's face. "Beware what you say; you have received extreme +unction, and I should be inconsolable if you were to die before my eyes +in mortal sin." + +"Will you listen to me?" cried Bartolommeo, and his mouth twitched. + +Don Juan held his peace; an ugly silence prevailed. Yet above the +muffled sound of the beating of the snow against the windows rose the +sounds of the beautiful voice and the viol in unison, far off and faint +as the dawn. The dying man smiled. + +"Thank you," he said, "for bringing those singing voices and the music, +a banquet, young and lovely women with fair faces and dark tresses, all +the pleasure of life! Bid them wait for me; for I am about to begin life +anew." + +"The delirium is at its height," said Don Juan to himself. + +"I have found out a way of coming to life again," the speaker went on. +"There, just look in that table drawer, press the spring hidden by the +griffin, and it will fly open." + +"I have found it, father." + +"Well, then, now take out a little phial of rock crystal." + +"I have it." + +"I have spent twenty years in----" but even as he spoke the old man felt +how very near the end had come, and summoned all his dying strength +to say, "As soon as the breath is out of me, rub me all over with that +liquid, and I shall come to life again." + +"There is very little of it," his son remarked. + +Though Bartolommeo could no longer speak, he could still hear and see. +When those words dropped from Don Juan, his head turned with appalling +quickness, his neck was twisted like the throat of some marble statue +which the sculptor had condemned to remain stretched out for ever, the +wide eyes had come to have a ghastly fixity. + +He was dead, and in death he lost his last and sole illusion. + +He had sought a shelter in his son's heart, and it had proved to be a +sepulchre, a pit deeper than men dig for their dead. The hair on his +head had risen and stiffened with horror, his agonized glance still +spoke. He was a father rising in just anger from his tomb, to demand +vengeance at the throne of God. + +"There! it is all over with the old man!" cried Don Juan. + +He had been so interested in holding the mysterious phial to the lamp, +as a drinker holds up the wine-bottle at the end of a meal, that he had +not seen his father's eyes fade. The cowering poodle looked from his +master to the elixir, just as Don Juan himself glanced again and again +from his father to the flask. The lamplight flickered. There was a +deep silence; the viol was mute. Juan Belvidero thought that he saw his +father stir, and trembled. The changeless gaze of those accusing eyes +frightened him; he closed them hastily, as he would have closed a +loose shutter swayed by the wind of an autumn night. He stood there +motionless, lost in a world of thought. + +Suddenly the silence was broken by a shrill sound like the creaking of +a rusty spring. It startled Don Juan; he all but dropped the phial. A +sweat, colder than the blade of a dagger, issued through every pore. It +was only a piece of clockwork, a wooden cock that sprang out and crowed +three times, an ingenious contrivance by which the learned of that epoch +were wont to be awakened at the appointed hour to begin the labors of +the day. Through the windows there came already a flush of dawn. The +thing, composed of wood, and cords, and wheels, and pulleys, was more +faithful in its service than he in his duty to Bartolommeo--he, a man +with that peculiar piece of human mechanism within him that we call a +heart. + +Don Juan the sceptic shut the flask again in the secret drawer in the +Gothic table--he meant to run no more risks of losing the mysterious +liquid. + +Even at that solemn moment he heard the murmur of a crowd in the +gallery, a confused sound of voices, of stifled laughter and light +footfalls, and the rustling of silks--the sounds of a band of revelers +struggling for gravity. The door opened, and in came the Prince and Don +Juan's friends, the seven courtesans, and the singers, disheveled and +wild like dancers surprised by the dawn, when the tapers that have +burned through the night struggle with the sunlight. + +They had come to offer the customary condolence to the young heir. + +"Oho! is poor Don Juan really taking this seriously?" said the Prince in +Brambilla's ear. + +"Well, his father was very good," she returned. + +But Don Juan's night-thoughts had left such unmistakable traces on his +features, that the crew was awed into silence. The men stood motionless. +The women, with wine-parched lips and cheeks marbled with kisses, knelt +down and began a prayer. Don Juan could scarce help trembling when he +saw splendor and mirth and laughter and song and youth and beauty and +power bowed in reverence before Death. But in those times, in that +adorable Italy of the sixteenth century, religion and revelry went hand +in hand; and religious excess became a sort of debauch, and a debauch a +religious rite! + +The Prince grasped Don Juan's hand affectionately, then when all +faces had simultaneously put on the same grimace--half-gloomy, +half-indifferent--the whole masque disappeared, and left the chamber of +death empty. It was like an allegory of life. + +As they went down the staircase, the Prince spoke to Rivabarella: +"Now, who would have taken Don Juan's impiety for a boast? He loves his +father." + +"Did you see that black dog?" asked La Brambilla. + +"He is enormously rich now," sighed Bianca Cavatolino. + +"What is that to me?" cried the proud Veronese (she who had crushed the +comfit-box). + +"What does it matter to you, forsooth?" cried the Duke. "With his money +he is as much a prince as I am." + +At first Don Juan was swayed hither and thither by countless thoughts, +and wavered between two decisions. He took counsel with the gold heaped +up by his father, and returned in the evening to the chamber of death, +his whole soul brimming over with hideous selfishness. He found all his +household busy there. "His lordship" was to lie in state to-morrow; all +Ferrara would flock to behold the wonderful spectacle; and the servants +were busy decking the room and the couch on which the dead man lay. At a +sign from Don Juan all his people stopped, dumfounded and trembling. + +"Leave me alone here," he said, and his voice was changed, "and do not +return until I leave the room." + +When the footsteps of the old servitor, who was the last to go, echoed +but faintly along the paved gallery, Don Juan hastily locked the door, +and sure that he was quite alone, "Let us try," he said to himself. + +Bartolommeo's body was stretched on a long table. The embalmers had +laid a sheet over it, to hide from all eyes the dreadful spectacle of a +corpse so wasted and shrunken that it seemed like a skeleton, and only +the face was uncovered. This mummy-like figure lay in the middle of +the room. The limp clinging linen lent itself to the outlines it +shrouded--so sharp, bony, and thin. Large violet patches had already +begun to spread over the face; the embalmers' work had not been finished +too soon. + +Don Juan, strong as he was in his scepticism, felt a tremor as he opened +the magic crystal flask. When he stood over that face, he was trembling +so violently, that he was actually obliged to wait for a moment. But Don +Juan had acquired an early familiarity with evil; his morals had been +corrupted by a licentious court, a reflection worthy of the Duke of +Urbino crossed his mind, and it was a keen sense of curiosity that +goaded him into boldness. The devil himself might have whispered the +words that were echoing through his brain, _Moisten one of the eyes with +the liquid_! He took up a linen cloth, moistened it sparingly with +the precious fluid, and passed it lightly over the right eyelid of the +corpse. The eye unclosed.... + +"Aha!" said Don Juan. He gripped the flask tightly, as we clutch in +dreams the branch from which we hang suspended over a precipice. + +For the eye was full of life. It was a young child's eye set in a +death's head; the light quivered in the depths of its youthful liquid +brightness. Shaded by the long dark lashes, it sparkled like the strange +lights that travelers see in lonely places in winter nights. The eye +seemed as if it would fain dart fire at Don Juan; he saw it thinking, +upbraiding, condemning, uttering accusations, threatening doom; it cried +aloud, and gnashed upon him. All anguish that shakes human souls was +gathered there; supplications the most tender, the wrath of kings, the +love in a girl's heart pleading with the headsman; then, and after all +these, the deeply searching glance a man turns on his fellows as he +mounts the last step of the scaffold. Life so dilated in this fragment +of life that Don Juan shrank back; he walked up and down the room, he +dared not meet that gaze, but he saw nothing else. The ceiling and +the hangings, the whole room was sown with living points of fire and +intelligence. Everywhere those gleaming eyes haunted him. + +"He might very likely have lived another hundred years!" he cried +involuntarily. Some diabolical influence had drawn him to his father, +and again he gazed at that luminous spark. The eyelid closed and +opened again abruptly; it was like a woman's sign of assent. It was an +intelligent movement. If a voice had cried "Yes!" Don Juan could not +have been more startled. + +"What is to be done?" he thought. + +He nerved himself to try to close the white eyelid. In vain. + +"Kill it? That would perhaps be parricide," he debated with himself. + +"Yes," the eye said, with a strange sardonic quiver of the lid. + +"Aha!" said Don Juan to himself, "here is witchcraft at work!" And he +went closer to crush the thing. A great tear trickled over the hollow +cheeks, and fell on Don Juan's hand. + +"It is scalding!" he cried. He sat down. The struggle exhausted him; it +was as if, like Jacob of old, he was wrestling with an angel. + +At last he rose. "So long as there is no blood----" he muttered. + +Then, summoning all the courage needed for a coward's crime, he +extinguished the eye, pressing it with the linen cloth, turning his head +away. A terrible groan startled him. It was the poor poodle, who died +with a long-drawn howl. + +"Could the brute have been in the secret?" thought Don Juan, looking +down at the faithful creature. + +Don Juan Belvidero was looked upon as a dutiful son. He reared a +white marble monument on his father's tomb, and employed the greatest +sculptors of the time upon it. He did not recover perfect ease of mind +till the day when his father knelt in marble before Religion, and the +heavy weight of the stone had sealed the mouth of the grave in which he +had laid the one feeling of remorse that sometimes flitted through his +soul in moments of physical weariness. + +He had drawn up a list of the wealth heaped up by the old merchant in +the East, and he became a miser: had he not to provide for a second +lifetime? His views of life were the more profound and penetrating; +he grasped its significance, as a whole, the better, because he saw it +across a grave. All men, all things, he analyzed once and for all; he +summed up the Past, represented by its records; the Present in the law, +its crystallized form; the Future, revealed by religion. He took spirit +and matter, and flung them into his crucible, and found--Nothing. +Thenceforward he became DON JUAN. + +At the outset of his life, in the prime of youth and the beauty of +youth, he knew the illusions of life for what they were; he despised +the world, and made the utmost of the world. His felicity could not +have been of the bourgeois kind, rejoicing in periodically recurrent +_bouilli_, in the comforts of a warming-pan, a lamp of a night, and +a new pair of slippers once a quarter. Nay, rather he seized upon +existence as a monkey snatches a nut, and after no long toying with it, +proceeds deftly to strip off the mere husks to reach the savory kernel +within. + +Poetry and the sublime transports of passion scarcely reached +ankle-depth with him now. He in nowise fell into the error of strong +natures who flatter themselves now and again that little souls will +believe in a great soul, and are willing to barter their own lofty +thoughts of the future for the small change of our life-annuity ideas. +He, even as they, had he chosen, might well have walked with his feet +on the earth and his head in the skies; but he liked better to sit on +earth, to wither the soft, fresh, fragrant lips of a woman with kisses, +for like Death, he devoured everything without scruple as he passed; he +would have full fruition; he was an Oriental lover, seeking prolonged +pleasures easily obtained. He sought nothing but a woman in women, and +cultivated cynicism, until it became with him a habit of mind. When +his mistress, from the couch on which she lay, soared and was lost in +regions of ecstatic bliss, Don Juan followed suit, earnest, expansive, +serious as any German student. But he said I, while she, in the +transports of intoxication, said We. He understood to admiration the art +of abandoning himself to the influence of a woman; he was always clever +enough to make her believe that he trembled like some boy fresh from +college before his first partner at a dance, when he asks her, "Do +you like dancing?" But, no less, he could be terrible at need, could +unsheathe a formidable sword and make short work of Commandants. Banter +lurked beneath his simplicity, mocking laughter behind his tears--for +he had tears at need, like any woman nowadays who says to her husband, +"Give me a carriage, or I shall go into a consumption." + +For the merchant the world is a bale of goods or a mass of circulating +bills; for most young men it is a woman, and for a woman here and there +it is a man; for a certain order of mind it is a salon, a coterie, a +quarter of the town, or some single city; but Don Juan found his world +in himself. + +This model of grace and dignity, this captivating wit, moored his bark +by every shore; but wherever he was led he was never carried away, and +was only steered in a course of his own choosing. The more he saw, +the more he doubted. He watched men narrowly, and saw how, beneath +the surface, courage was often rashness; and prudence, cowardice; +generosity, a clever piece of calculation; justice, a wrong; delicacy, +pusillanimity; honesty, a _modus vivendi_; and by some strange +dispensation of fate, he must see that those who at heart were really +honest, scrupulous, just, generous, prudent, or brave were held cheaply +by their fellow-men. + +"What a cold-blooded jest!" said he to himself. "It was not devised by a +God." + +From that time forth he renounced a better world, and never uncovered +himself when a Name was pronounced, and for him the carven saints in the +churches became works of art. He understood the mechanism of society too +well to clash wantonly with its prejudices; for, after all, he was not +as powerful as the executioner, but he evaded social laws with the wit +and grace so well rendered in the scene with M. Dimanche. He was, in +fact, Moliere's Don Juan, Goethe's Faust, Byron's Manfred, Mathurin's +Melmoth--great allegorical figures drawn by the greatest men of genius +in Europe, to which Mozart's harmonies, perhaps, do no more justice than +Rossini's lyre. Terrible allegorical figures that shall endure as long +as the principle of evil existing in the heart of man shall produce +a few copies from century to century. Sometimes the type becomes +half-human when incarnate as a Mirabeau, sometimes it is an inarticulate +force in a Bonaparte, sometimes it overwhelms the universe with irony +as a Rabelais; or, yet again, it appears when a Marechal de Richelieu +elects to laugh at human beings instead of scoffing at things, or when +one of the most famous of our ambassadors goes a step further and +scoffs at both men and things. But the profound genius of Juan Belvidero +anticipated and resumed all these. All things were a jest to him. +His was the life of a mocking spirit. All men, all institutions, all +realities, all ideas were within its scope. As for eternity, after half +an hour of familiar conversation with Pope Julius II. he said, laughing: + +"If it is absolutely necessary to make a choice, I would rather believe +in God than in the Devil; power combined with goodness always offers +more resources than the spirit of Evil can boast." + +"Yes; still God requires repentance in this present world----" + +"So you always think of your indulgences," returned Don Juan Belvidero. +"Well, well, I have another life in reserve in which to repent of the +sins of my previous existence." + +"Oh, if you regard old age in that light," cried the Pope, "you are in +danger on canonization----" + +"After your elevation to the Papacy nothing is incredible." And they +went to watch the workmen who were building the huge basilica dedicated +to Saint Peter. + +"Saint Peter, as the man of genius who laid the foundation of our double +power," the Pope said to Don Juan, "deserves this monument. Sometimes, +though, at night, I think that a deluge will wipe all this out as with a +sponge, and it will be all to begin over again." + +Don Juan and the Pope began to laugh; they understood each other. A +fool would have gone on the morrow to amuse himself with Julius II. in +Raphael's studio or at the delicious Villa Madama; not so Belvidero. He +went to see the Pope as pontiff, to be convinced of any doubts that he +(Don Juan) entertained. Over his cups the Rovere would have been capable +of denying his own infallibility and of commenting on the Apocalypse. + + + +Nevertheless, this legend has not been undertaken to furnish materials +for future biographies of Don Juan; it is intended to prove to +honest folk that Belvidero did not die in a duel with stone, as some +lithographers would have us believe. + +When Don Juan Belvidero reached the age of sixty he settled in Spain, +and there in his old age he married a young and charming Andalusian +wife. But of set purpose he was neither a good husband nor a good +father. He had observed that we are never so tenderly loved as by +women to whom we scarcely give a thought. Dona Elvira had been devoutly +brought up by an old aunt in a castle a few leagues from San-Lucar in +a remote part of Andalusia. She was a model of devotion and grace. Don +Juan foresaw that this would be a woman who would struggle long against +a passion before yielding, and therefore hoped to keep her virtuous +until his death. It was a jest undertaken in earnest, a game of chess +which he meant to reserve till his old age. Don Juan had learned wisdom +from the mistakes made by his father Bartolommeo; he determined that +the least details of his life in old age should be subordinated to one +object--the success of the drama which was to be played out upon his +death-bed. + +For the same reason the largest part of his wealth was buried in the +cellars of his palace at Ferrara, whither he seldom went. As for the +rest of his fortune, it was invested in a life annuity, with a view to +give his wife and children an interest in keeping him alive; but this +Machiavellian piece of foresight was scarcely necessary. His son, young +Felipe Belvidero, grew up as a Spaniard as religiously conscientious +as his father was irreligious, in virtue, perhaps, of the old rule, "A +miser has a spendthrift son." The Abbot of San-Lucar was chosen by Don +Juan to be the director of the consciences of the Duchess of Belvidero +and her son Felipe. The ecclesiastic was a holy man, well shaped, and +admirably well proportioned. He had fine dark eyes, a head like that of +Tiberius, worn with fasting, bleached by an ascetic life, and, like all +dwellers in the wilderness, was daily tempted. The noble lord had hopes, +it may be, of despatching yet another monk before his term of life was +out. + +But whether because the Abbot was every whit as clever as Don Juan +himself, or Dona Elvira possessed more discretion or more virtue than +Spanish wives are usually credited with, Don Juan was compelled to spend +his declining years beneath his own roof, with no more scandal under +it than if he had been an ancient country parson. Occasionally he would +take wife and son to task for negligence in the duties of religion, +peremptorily insisting that they should carry out to the letter the +obligations imposed upon the flock by the Court of Rome. Indeed, he was +never so well pleased as when he had set the courtly Abbot discussing +some case of conscience with Dona Elvira and Felipe. + +At length, however, despite the prodigious care that the great +magnifico, Don Juan Belvidero, took of himself, the days of decrepitude +came upon him, and with those days the constant importunity of physical +feebleness, an importunity all the more distressing by contrast with the +wealth of memories of his impetuous youth and the sensual pleasures of +middle age. The unbeliever who in the height of his cynical humor had +been wont to persuade others to believe in laws and principles at which +he scoffed, must repose nightly upon a _perhaps_. The great Duke, the +pattern of good breeding, the champion of many a carouse, the proud +ornament of Courts, the man of genius, the graceful winner of hearts +that he had wrung as carelessly as a peasant twists an osier withe, +was now the victim of a cough, of a ruthless sciatica, of an unmannerly +gout. His teeth gradually deserted him, as at the end of an evening the +fairest and best-dressed women take their leave one by one till the room +is left empty and desolate. The active hands became palsy-stricken, +the shapely legs tottered as he walked. At last, one night, a stroke of +apoplexy caught him by the throat in its icy clutch. After that fatal +day he grew morose and stern. + +He would reproach his wife and son with their devotion, casting it in +their teeth that the affecting and thoughtful care that they lavished +so tenderly upon him was bestowed because they knew that his money was +invested in a life annuity. Then Elvira and Felipe would shed bitter +tears and redouble their caresses, and the wicked old man's insinuating +voice would take an affectionate tone--"Ah, you will forgive me, will +you not, dear friends, dear wife? I am rather a nuisance. Alas, Lord in +heaven, how canst Thou use me as the instrument by which Thou provest +these two angelic creatures? I who should be the joy of their lives am +become their scourge..." + +In this manner he kept them tethered to his pillow, blotting out the +memory of whole months of fretfulness and unkindness in one short +hour when he chose to display for them the ever-new treasures of his +pinchbeck tenderness and charm of manner--a system of paternity that +yielded him an infinitely better return than his own father's indulgence +had formerly gained. At length his bodily infirmities reached a point +when the task of laying him in bed became as difficult as the navigation +of a felucca in the perils of an intricate channel. Then came the day of +his death; and this brilliant sceptic, whose mental faculties alone had +survived the most dreadful of all destructions, found himself between +his two special antipathies--the doctor and the confessor. But he was +jovial with them. Did he not see a light gleaming in the future +beyond the veil? The pall that is like lead for other men was thin and +translucent for him; the light-footed, irresistible delights of youth +danced beyond it like shadows. + + + +It was on a beautiful summer evening that Don Juan felt the near +approach of death. The sky of Spain was serene and cloudless; the air +was full of the scent of orange-blossom; the stars shed clear, pure +gleams of light; nature without seemed to give the dying man assurance +of resurrection; a dutiful and obedient son sat there watching him with +loving and respectful eyes. Towards eleven o'clock he desired to be left +alone with this single-hearted being. + +"Felipe," said the father, in tones so soft and affectionate that the +young man trembled, and tears of gladness came to his eyes; never had +that stern father spoken his name in such a tone. "Listen, my son," the +dying man went on. "I am a great sinner. All my life long, however, I +have thought of my death. I was once the friend of the great Pope +Julius II.; and that illustrious Pontiff, fearing lest the excessive +excitability of my senses should entangle me in mortal sin between the +moment of my death and the time of my anointing with the holy oil, gave +me a flask that contains a little of the holy water that once issued +from the rock in the wilderness. I have kept the secret of this +squandering of a treasure belonging to Holy Church, but I am permitted +to reveal the mystery _in articulo mortis_ to my son. You will find the +flask in a drawer in that Gothic table that always stands by the head +of the bed.... The precious little crystal flask may be of use yet again +for you, dearest Felipe. Will you swear to me, by your salvation, to +carry out my instructions faithfully?" + +Felipe looked at his father, and Don Juan was too deeply learned in the +lore of the human countenance not to die in peace with that look as his +warrant, as his own father had died in despair at meeting the expression +in his son's eyes. + +"You deserved to have a better father," Don Juan went on. "I dare +to confess, my child, that while the reverend Abbot of San-Lucar was +administering the Viaticum I was thinking of the incompatibility of the +co-existence of two powers so infinite as God and the Devil----" + +"Oh, father!" + +"And I said to myself, when Satan makes his peace he ought surely to +stipulate for the pardon of his followers, or he will be the veriest +scoundrel. The thought haunted me; so I shall go to hell, my son, unless +you carry out my wishes." + +"Oh, quick; tell me quickly, father." + +"As soon as I have closed my eyes," Don Juan went on, "and that may be +in a few minutes, you must take my body before it grows cold and lay it +on a table in this room. Then put out the lamp; the light of the stars +should be sufficient. Take off my clothes, reciting Aves and Paters the +while, raising your soul to God in prayer, and carefully anoint my +lips and eyes with this holy water; begin with the face, and proceed +successively to my limbs and the rest of my body; my dear son, the power +of God is so great that you must be astonished at nothing." + +Don Juan felt death so near, that he added in a terrible voice, "Be +careful not to drop the flask." + +Then he breathed his last gently in the arms of his son, and his son's +tears fell fast over his sardonic, haggard features. + +It was almost midnight when Don Felipe Belvidero laid his father's body +upon the table. He kissed the sinister brow and the gray hair; then he +put out the lamp. + +By the soft moonlight that lit strange gleams across the country +without, Felipe could dimly see his father's body, a vague white thing +among the shadows. The dutiful son moistened a linen cloth with the +liquid, and, absorbed in prayer, he anointed the revered face. A deep +silence reigned. Felipe heard faint, indescribable rustlings; it was the +breeze in the tree-tops, he thought. But when he had moistened the right +arm, he felt himself caught by the throat, a young strong hand held him +in a tight grip--it was his father's hand! He shrieked aloud; the flask +dropped from his hand and broke in pieces. The liquid evaporated; the +whole household hurried into the room, holding torches aloft. That +shriek had startled them, and filled them with as much terror as if the +Trumpet of the Angel sounding on the Last Day had rung through earth and +sky. The room was full of people, and a horror-stricken crowd beheld the +fainting Felipe upheld by the strong arm of his father, who clutched +him by the throat. They saw another thing, an unearthly spectacle--Don +Juan's face grown young and beautiful as Antinous, with its dark hair +and brilliant eyes and red lips, a head that made horrible efforts, but +could not move the dead, wasted body. + +An old servitor cried, "A miracle! a miracle!" and all the Spaniards +echoed, "A miracle! a miracle!" + +Dona Elvira, too pious to attribute this to magic, sent for the Abbot of +San-Lucar; and the Prior beholding the miracle with his own eyes, being +a clever man, and withal an Abbot desirous of augmenting his revenues, +determined to turn the occasion to profit. He immediately gave out +that Don Juan would certainly be canonized; he appointed a day for the +celebration of the apotheosis in his convent, which thenceforward, he +said, should be called the convent of San Juan of Lucar. At these words +a sufficiently facetious grimace passed over the features of the late +Duke. + +The taste of the Spanish people for ecclesiastical solemnities is so +well known, that it should not be difficult to imagine the religious +pantomime by which the Convent of San-Lucar celebrated the translation +of the _blessed Don Juan Belvidero_ to the abbey-church. The tale of the +partial resurrection had spread so quickly from village to village, that +a day or two after the death of the illustrious nobleman the report had +reached every place within fifty miles of San-Lucar, and it was as good +as a play to see the roads covered already with crowds flocking in on +all sides, their curiosity whetted still further by the prospect of +a _Te Deum_ sung by torchlight. The old abbey church of San-Lucar, a +marvelous building erected by the Moors, a mosque of Allah, which for +three centuries had heard the name of Christ, could not hold the throng +that poured in to see the ceremony. Hidalgos in their velvet mantles, +with their good swords at their sides, swarmed like ants, and were so +tightly packed in among the pillars that they had not room to bend the +knees, which never bent save to God. Charming peasant girls, in the +basquina that defines the luxuriant outlines of their figures, lent an +arm to white-haired old men. Young men, with eyes of fire, walked beside +aged crones in holiday array. Then came couples tremulous with joy, +young lovers led thither by curiosity, newly-wedded folk; children +timidly clasping each other by the hand. This throng, so rich in +coloring, in vivid contrasts, laden with flowers, enameled like a +meadow, sent up a soft murmur through the quiet night. Then the great +doors of the church opened. + +Late comers who remained without saw afar, through the three great open +doorways, a scene of which the theatrical illusions of modern opera can +give but a faint idea. The vast church was lighted up by thousands of +candles, offered by saints and sinners alike eager to win the favor +of this new candidate for canonization, and these self-commending +illuminations turned the great building into an enchanted fairyland. The +black archways, the shafts and capitals, the recessed chapels with gold +and silver gleaming in their depths, the galleries, the Arab traceries, +all the most delicate outlines of that delicate sculpture, burned in +the excess of light like the fantastic figures in the red heart of a +brazier. At the further end of the church, above that blazing sea, rose +the high altar like a splendid dawn. All the glories of the golden lamps +and silver candlesticks, of banners and tassels, of the shrines of the +saints and votive offerings, paled before the gorgeous brightness of +the reliquary in which Don Juan lay. The blasphemer's body sparkled with +gems, and flowers, and crystal, with diamonds and gold, and plumes white +as the wings of seraphim; they had set it up on the altar, where the +pictures of Christ had stood. All about him blazed a host of tall +candles; the air quivered in the radiant light. The worthy Abbot of +San-Lucar, in pontifical robes, with his mitre set with precious stones, +his rochet and golden crosier, sat enthroned in imperial state among his +clergy in the choir. Rows of impassive aged faces, silver-haired old +men clad in fine linen albs, were grouped about him, as the saints who +confessed Christ on earth are set by painters, each in his place, about +the throne of God in heaven. The precentor and the dignitaries of the +chapter, adorned with the gorgeous insignia of ecclesiastical vanity, +came and went through the clouds of incense, like stars upon their +courses in the firmament. + +When the hour of triumph arrived, the bells awoke the echoes far and +wide, and the whole vast crowd raised to God the first cry of praise +that begins the _Te Deum_. A sublime cry! High, pure notes, the voices +of women in ecstasy, mingled in it with the sterner and deeper voices of +men; thousands of voices sent up a volume of sound so mighty, that the +straining, groaning organ-pipes could not dominate that harmony. But +the shrill sound of children's singing among the choristers, the +reverberation of deep bass notes, awakened gracious associations, +visions of childhood, and of man in his strength, and rose above that +entrancing harmony of human voices blended in one sentiment of love. + +_Te Deum laudamus_! + +The chant went up from the black masses of men and women kneeling in +the cathedral, like a sudden breaking out of light in darkness, and the +silence was shattered as by a peal of thunder. The voices floated up +with the clouds of incense that had begun to cast thin bluish veils over +the fanciful marvels of the architecture, and the aisles were filled +with splendor and perfume and light and melody. Even at the moment when +that music of love and thanksgiving soared up to the altar, Don Juan, +too well bred not to express his acknowledgments, too witty not +to understand how to take a jest, bridled up in his reliquary, and +responded with an appalling burst of laughter. Then the Devil having put +him in mind of the risk he was running of being taken for an ordinary +man, a saint, a Boniface, a Pantaleone, he interrupted the melody of +love by a yell, the thousand voices of hell joined in it. Earth blessed, +Heaven banned. The church was shaken to its ancient foundations. + +_Te Deum laudamus_! cried the many voices. + +"Go to the devil, brute beasts that you are! _Dios! Dios! Garajos +demonios!_ Idiots! What fools you are with your dotard God!" and a +torrent of imprecations poured forth like a stream of red-hot lava from +the mouth of Vesuvius. + +"_Deus Sabaoth!... Sabaoth_!" cried the believers. + +"You are insulting the majesty of Hell," shouted Don Juan, gnashing his +teeth. In another moment the living arm struggled out of the reliquary, +and was brandished over the assembly in mockery and despair. + +"The saint is blessing us," cried the old women, children, lovers, and +the credulous among the crowd. + +And note how often we are deceived in the homage we pay; the great man +scoffs at those who praise him, and pays compliments now and again to +those whom he laughs at in the depths of his heart. + +Just as the Abbot, prostrate before the altar, was chanting "_Sancte +Johannes, ora pro noblis_!" he heard a voice exclaim sufficiently +distinctly: "_O coglione_!" + +"What can be going on up there?" cried the Sub-prior, as he saw the +reliquary move. + +"The saint is playing the devil," replied the Abbot. + +Even as he spoke the living head tore itself away from the lifeless +body, and dropped upon the sallow cranium of the officiating priest. + +"Remember Dona Elvira!" cried the thing, with its teeth set fast in the +Abbot's head. + +The Abbot's horror-stricken shriek disturbed the ceremony; all the +ecclesiastics hurried up and crowded about their chief. + +"Idiot, tell us now if there is a God!" the voice cried, as the Abbot, +bitten through the brain, drew his last breath. + + + +PARIS, October 1830. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Elixir of Life, by Honore de Balzac + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1215 *** diff --git a/1215-h/1215-h.htm b/1215-h/1215-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dd82a7a --- /dev/null +++ b/1215-h/1215-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1168 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Elixir of Life, by Honore de Balzac + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1215 ***</div> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE ELIXIR OF LIFE + </h1> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Honore De Balzac + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + Translated By Clara Bell and James Waring + </h3> + <p> + <br /><br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> TO THE READER </a><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0002"> THE ELIXIR OF LIFE </a><br /> + </h3> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + TO THE READER + </h2> + <p> + At the very outset of the writer's literary career, a friend, long since + dead, gave him the subject of this Study. Later on he found the same story + in a collection published about the beginning of the present century. To + the best of his belief, it is some stray fancy of the brain of Hoffmann of + Berlin; probably it appeared in some German almanac, and was omitted in + the published editions of his collected works. The <i>Comedie Humaine</i> + is sufficiently rich in original creations for the author to own to this + innocent piece of plagiarism; when, like the worthy La Fontaine, he has + told unwittingly, and after his own fashion, a tale already related by + another. This is not one of the hoaxes in vogue in the year 1830, when + every author wrote his "tale of horror" for the amusement of young ladies. + When you have read the account of Don Juan's decorous parricide, try to + picture to yourself the part which would be played under very similar + circumstances by honest folk who, in this nineteenth century, will take a + man's money and undertake to pay him a life annuity on the faith of a + chill, or let a house to an ancient lady for the term of her natural life! + Would they be for resuscitating their clients? I should dearly like a + connoisseur in consciences to consider how far there is a resemblance + between a Don Juan and fathers who marry their children to great + expectations. Does humanity, which, according to certain philosophers, is + making progress, look on the art of waiting for dead men's shoes as a step + in the right direction? To this art we owe several honorable professions, + which open up ways of living on death. There are people who rely entirely + on an expected demise; who brood over it, crouching each morning upon a + corpse, that serves again for their pillow at night. To this class belong + bishops' coadjutors, cardinals' supernumeraries, <i>tontiniers</i>, and + the like. Add to the list many delicately scrupulous persons eager to buy + landed property beyond their means, who calculate with dry logic and in + cold blood the probable duration of the life of a father or of a + step-mother, some old man or woman of eighty or ninety, saying to + themselves, "I shall be sure to come in for it in three years' time, and + then——" A murderer is less loathsome to us than a spy. The + murderer may have acted on a sudden mad impulse; he may be penitent and + amend; but a spy is always a spy, night and day, in bed, at table, as he + walks abroad; his vileness pervades every moment of his life. Then what + must it be to live when every moment of your life is tainted with murder? + And have we not just admitted that a host of human creatures in our midst + are led by our laws, customs, and usages to dwell without ceasing on a + fellow-creature's death? There are men who put the weight of a coffin into + their deliberations as they bargain for Cashmere shawls for their wives, + as they go up the staircase of a theatre, or think of going to the + Bouffons, or of setting up a carriage; who are murderers in thought when + dear ones, with the irresistible charm of innocence, hold up childish + foreheads to be kissed with a "Good-night, father!" Hourly they meet the + gaze of eyes that they would fain close for ever, eyes that still open + each morning to the light, like Belvidero's in this Study. God alone knows + the number of those who are parricides in thought. Picture to yourself the + state of mind of a man who must pay a life annuity to some old woman whom + he scarcely knows; both live in the country with a brook between them, + both sides are free to hate cordially, without offending against the + social conventions that require two brothers to wear a mask if the older + will succeed to the entail, and the other to the fortune of a younger son. + The whole civilization of Europe turns upon the principle of hereditary + succession as upon a pivot; it would be madness to subvert the principle; + but could we not, in an age that prides itself upon its mechanical + inventions, perfect this essential portion of the social machinery? + </p> + <p> + If the author has preserved the old-fashioned style of address <i>To the + Reader</i> before a work wherein he endeavors to represent all literary + forms, it is for the purpose of making a remark that applies to several of + the Studies, and very specially to this. Every one of his compositions has + been based upon ideas more or less novel, which, as it seemed to him, + needed literary expression; he can claim priority for certain forms and + for certain ideas which have since passed into the domain of literature, + and have there, in some instances, become common property; so that the + date of the first publication of each Study cannot be a matter of + indifference to those of his readers who would fain do him justice. + </p> + <p> + Reading brings us unknown friends, and what friend is like a reader? We + have friends in our own circle who read nothing of ours. The author hopes + to pay his debt, by dedicating this work <i>Diis ignotis</i>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + THE ELIXIR OF LIFE + </h1> + <p> + One winter evening, in a princely palace at Ferrara, Don Juan Belvidero + was giving a banquet to a prince of the house of Este. A banquet in those + times was a marvelous spectacle which only royal wealth or the power of a + mightly [sic] lord could furnish forth. Seated about a table lit up with + perfumed tapers, seven laughter-loving women were interchanging sweet + talk. The white marble of the noble works of art about them stood out + against the red stucco walls, and made strong contrasts with the rich + Turkey carpets. Clad in satin, glittering with gold, and covered with gems + less brilliant than their eyes, each told a tale of energetic passions as + diverse as their styles of beauty. They differed neither in their ideas + nor in their language; but the expression of their eyes, their glances, + occasional gestures, or the tones of their voices supplied a commentary, + dissolute, wanton, melancholy, or satirical, to their words. + </p> + <p> + One seemed to be saying—"The frozen heart of age might kindle at my + beauty." + </p> + <p> + Another—"I love to lounge upon cushions, and think with rapture of + my adorers." + </p> + <p> + A third, a neophyte at these banquets, was inclined to blush. "I feel + remorse in the depths of my heart! I am a Catholic, and afraid of hell. + But I love you, I love you so that I can sacrifice my hereafter to you." + </p> + <p> + The fourth drained a cup of Chian wine. "Give me a joyous life!" she + cried; "I begin life afresh each day with the dawn. Forgetful of the past, + with the intoxication of yesterday's rapture still upon me, I drink deep + of life—a whole lifetime of pleasure and of love!" + </p> + <p> + The woman who sat next to Juan Belvidero looked at him with a feverish + glitter in her eyes. She was silent. Then—"I should need no hired + bravo to kill my lover if he forsook me!" she cried at last, and laughed, + but the marvelously wrought gold comfit box in her fingers was crushed by + her convulsive clutch. + </p> + <p> + "When are you to be Grand Duke?" asked the sixth. There was the frenzy of + a Bacchante in her eyes, and her teeth gleamed between the lips parted + with a smile of cruel glee. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, when is that father of yours going to die?" asked the seventh, + throwing her bouquet at Don Juan with bewitching playfulness. It was a + childish girl who spoke, and the speaker was wont to make sport of sacred + things. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! don't talk about it," cried Don Juan, the young and handsome giver of + the banquet. "There is but one eternal father, and, as ill luck will have + it, he is mine." + </p> + <p> + The seven Ferrarese, Don Juan's friends, the Prince himself, gave a cry of + horror. Two hundred years later, in the days of Louis XV., people of taste + would have laughed at this witticism. Or was it, perhaps, that at the + outset of an orgy there is a certain unwonted lucidity of mind? Despite + the taper light, the clamor of the senses, the gleam of gold and silver, + the fumes of wine, and the exquisite beauty of the women, there may + perhaps have been in the depths of the revelers' hearts some struggling + glimmer of reverence for things divine and human, until it was drowned in + glowing floods of wine! Yet even then the flowers had been crushed, eyes + were growing dull, and drunkenness, in Rabelais' phrase, had "taken + possession of them down to their sandals." + </p> + <p> + During that brief pause a door opened; and as once the Divine presence was + revealed at Belshazzar's feast, so now it seemed to be manifest in the + apparition of an old white-haired servant, who tottered in, and looked + sadly from under knitted brows at the revelers. He gave a withering glance + at the garlands, the golden cups, the pyramids of fruit, the dazzling + lights of the banquet, the flushed scared faces, the hues of the cushions + pressed by the white arms of the women. + </p> + <p> + "My lord, your father is dying!" he said; and at those solemn words, + uttered in hollow tones, a veil of crape seemed to be drawn over the wild + mirth. + </p> + <p> + Don Juan rose to his feet with a gesture to his guests that might be + rendered by, "Excuse me; this kind of thing does not happen every day." + </p> + <p> + Does it so seldom happen that a father's death surprises youth in the + full-blown splendor of life, in the midst of the mad riot of an orgy? + Death is as unexpected in his caprice as a courtesan in her disdain; but + death is truer—Death has never forsaken any man. + </p> + <p> + Don Juan closed the door of the banqueting-hall; and as he went down the + long gallery, through the cold and darkness, he strove to assume an + expression in keeping with the part he had to play; he had thrown off his + mirthful mood, as he had thrown down his table napkin, at the first + thought of this role. The night was dark. The mute servitor, his guide to + the chamber where the dying man lay, lighted the way so dimly that Death, + aided by cold, silence, and darkness, and it may be by a reaction of + drunkenness, could send some sober thoughts through the spendthrift's + soul. He examined his life, and became thoughtful, like a man involved in + a lawsuit on his way to the Court. + </p> + <p> + Bartolommeo Belvidero, Don Juan's father, was an old man of ninety, who + had devoted the greatest part of his life to business pursuits. He had + acquired vast wealth in many a journey to magical Eastern lands, and + knowledge, so it was said, more valuable than the gold and diamonds, which + had almost ceased to have any value for him. + </p> + <p> + "I would give more to have a tooth in my head than for a ruby," he would + say at times with a smile. The indulgent father loved to hear Don Juan's + story of this and that wild freak of youth. "So long as these follies + amuse you, dear boy——" he would say laughingly, as he lavished + money on his son. Age never took such pleasure in the sight of youth; the + fond father did not remember his own decaying powers while he looked on + that brilliant young life. + </p> + <p> + Bartolommeo Belvidero, at the age of sixty, had fallen in love with an + angel of peace and beauty. Don Juan had been the sole fruit of this late + and short-lived love. For fifteen years the widower had mourned the loss + of his beloved Juana; and to this sorrow of age, his son and his numerous + household had attributed the strange habits that he had contracted. He had + shut himself up in the least comfortable wing of his palace, and very + seldom left his apartments; even Don Juan himself must first ask + permission before seeing his father. If this hermit, unbound by vows, came + or went in his palace or in the streets of Ferrara, he walked as if he + were in a dream, wholly engrossed, like a man at strife with a memory, or + a wrestler with some thought. + </p> + <p> + The young Don Juan might give princely banquets, the palace might echo + with clamorous mirth, horses pawed the ground in the courtyards, pages + quarreled and flung dice upon the stairs, but Bartolommeo ate his seven + ounces of bread daily and drank water. A fowl was occasionally dressed for + him, simply that the black poodle, his faithful companion, might have the + bones. Bartolommeo never complained of the noise. If the huntsmen's horns + and baying dogs disturbed his sleep during his illness, he only said, "Ah! + Don Juan has come back again." Never on earth has there been a father so + little exacting and so indulgent; and, in consequence, young Belvidero, + accustomed to treat his father unceremoniously, had all the faults of a + spoiled child. He treated old Bartolommeo as a wilful courtesan treats an + elderly adorer; buying indemnity for insolence with a smile, selling + good-humor, submitting to be loved. + </p> + <p> + Don Juan, beholding scene after scene of his younger years, saw that it + would be a difficult task to find his father's indulgence at fault. Some + new-born remorse stirred the depths of his heart; he felt almost ready to + forgive this father now about to die for having lived so long. He had an + accession of filial piety, like a thief's return in thought to honesty at + the prospect of a million adroitly stolen. + </p> + <p> + Before long Don Juan had crossed the lofty, chilly suite of rooms in which + his father lived; the penetrating influences of the damp close air, the + mustiness diffused by old tapestries and presses thickly covered with dust + had passed into him, and now he stood in the old man's antiquated room, in + the repulsive presence of the deathbed, beside a dying fire. A flickering + lamp on a Gothic table sent broad uncertain shafts of light, fainter or + brighter, across the bed, so that the dying man's face seemed to wear a + different look at every moment. The bitter wind whistled through the + crannies of the ill-fitting casements; there was a smothered sound of snow + lashing the windows. The harsh contrast of these sights and sounds with + the scenes which Don Juan had just quitted was so sudden that he could not + help shuddering. He turned cold as he came towards the bed; the lamp + flared in a sudden vehement gust of wind and lighted up his father's face; + the features were wasted and distorted; the skin that cleaved to their + bony outlines had taken wan livid hues, all the more ghastly by force of + contrast with the white pillows on which he lay. The muscles about the + toothless mouth had contracted with pain and drawn apart the lips; the + moans that issued between them with appalling energy found an + accompaniment in the howling of the storm without. + </p> + <p> + In spite of every sign of coming dissolution, the most striking thing + about the dying face was its incredible power. It was no ordinary spirit + that wrestled there with Death. The eyes glared with strange fixity of + gaze from the cavernous sockets hollowed by disease. It seemed as if + Bartolommeo sought to kill some enemy sitting at the foot of his bed by + the intent gaze of dying eyes. That steady remorseless look was the more + appalling because the head that lay upon the pillow was passive and + motionless as a skull upon a doctor's table. The outlines of the body, + revealed by the coverlet, were no less rigid and stiff; he lay there as + one dead, save for those eyes. There was something automatic about the + moaning sounds that came from the mouth. Don Juan felt something like + shame that he must be brought thus to his father's bedside, wearing a + courtesan's bouquet, redolent of the fragrance of the banqueting-chamber + and the fumes of wine. + </p> + <p> + "You were enjoying yourself!" the old man cried as he saw his son. + </p> + <p> + Even as he spoke the pure high notes of a woman's voice, sustained by the + sound of the viol on which she accompanied her song, rose above the rattle + of the storm against the casements, and floated up to the chamber of + death. Don Juan stopped his ears against the barbarous answer to his + father's speech. + </p> + <p> + "I bear you no grudge, my child," Bartolommeo went on. + </p> + <p> + The words were full of kindness, but they hurt Don Juan; he could not + pardon this heart-searching goodness on his father's part. + </p> + <p> + "What a remorseful memory for me!" he cried, hypocritically. + </p> + <p> + "Poor Juanino," the dying man went on, in a smothered voice, "I have + always been so kind to you, that you could not surely desire my death?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, if it were only possible to keep you here by giving up a part of my + own life!" cried Don Juan. + </p> + <p> + ("We can always <i>say</i> this sort of thing," the spendthrift thought; + "it is as if I laid the whole world at my mistress' feet.") + </p> + <p> + The thought had scarcely crossed his mind when the old poodle barked. Don + Juan shivered; the response was so intelligent that he fancied the dog + must have understood him. + </p> + <p> + "I was sure that I could count upon you, my son!" cried the dying man. "I + shall live. So be it; you shall be satisfied. I shall live, but without + depriving you of a single day of your life." + </p> + <p> + "He is raving," thought Don Juan. Aloud he added, "Yes, dearest father, + yes; you shall live, of course, as long as I live, for your image will be + for ever in my heart." + </p> + <p> + "It is not that kind of life that I mean," said the old noble, summoning + all his strength to sit up in bed; for a thrill of doubt ran through him, + one of those suspicions that come into being under a dying man's pillow. + "Listen, my son," he went on, in a voice grown weak with that last effort, + "I have no more wish to give up life than you to give up wine and + mistresses, horses and hounds, and hawks and gold——" + </p> + <p> + "I can well believe it," thought the son; and he knelt down by the bed and + kissed Bartolommeo's cold hands. "But, father, my dear father," he added + aloud, "we must submit to the will of God." + </p> + <p> + "I am God!" muttered the dying man. + </p> + <p> + "Do not blaspheme!" cried the other, as he saw the menacing expression on + his father's face. "Beware what you say; you have received extreme + unction, and I should be inconsolable if you were to die before my eyes in + mortal sin." + </p> + <p> + "Will you listen to me?" cried Bartolommeo, and his mouth twitched. + </p> + <p> + Don Juan held his peace; an ugly silence prevailed. Yet above the muffled + sound of the beating of the snow against the windows rose the sounds of + the beautiful voice and the viol in unison, far off and faint as the dawn. + The dying man smiled. + </p> + <p> + "Thank you," he said, "for bringing those singing voices and the music, a + banquet, young and lovely women with fair faces and dark tresses, all the + pleasure of life! Bid them wait for me; for I am about to begin life + anew." + </p> + <p> + "The delirium is at its height," said Don Juan to himself. + </p> + <p> + "I have found out a way of coming to life again," the speaker went on. + "There, just look in that table drawer, press the spring hidden by the + griffin, and it will fly open." + </p> + <p> + "I have found it, father." + </p> + <p> + "Well, then, now take out a little phial of rock crystal." + </p> + <p> + "I have it." + </p> + <p> + "I have spent twenty years in——" but even as he spoke the old + man felt how very near the end had come, and summoned all his dying + strength to say, "As soon as the breath is out of me, rub me all over with + that liquid, and I shall come to life again." + </p> + <p> + "There is very little of it," his son remarked. + </p> + <p> + Though Bartolommeo could no longer speak, he could still hear and see. + When those words dropped from Don Juan, his head turned with appalling + quickness, his neck was twisted like the throat of some marble statue + which the sculptor had condemned to remain stretched out for ever, the + wide eyes had come to have a ghastly fixity. + </p> + <p> + He was dead, and in death he lost his last and sole illusion. + </p> + <p> + He had sought a shelter in his son's heart, and it had proved to be a + sepulchre, a pit deeper than men dig for their dead. The hair on his head + had risen and stiffened with horror, his agonized glance still spoke. He + was a father rising in just anger from his tomb, to demand vengeance at + the throne of God. + </p> + <p> + "There! it is all over with the old man!" cried Don Juan. + </p> + <p> + He had been so interested in holding the mysterious phial to the lamp, as + a drinker holds up the wine-bottle at the end of a meal, that he had not + seen his father's eyes fade. The cowering poodle looked from his master to + the elixir, just as Don Juan himself glanced again and again from his + father to the flask. The lamplight flickered. There was a deep silence; + the viol was mute. Juan Belvidero thought that he saw his father stir, and + trembled. The changeless gaze of those accusing eyes frightened him; he + closed them hastily, as he would have closed a loose shutter swayed by the + wind of an autumn night. He stood there motionless, lost in a world of + thought. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly the silence was broken by a shrill sound like the creaking of a + rusty spring. It startled Don Juan; he all but dropped the phial. A sweat, + colder than the blade of a dagger, issued through every pore. It was only + a piece of clockwork, a wooden cock that sprang out and crowed three + times, an ingenious contrivance by which the learned of that epoch were + wont to be awakened at the appointed hour to begin the labors of the day. + Through the windows there came already a flush of dawn. The thing, + composed of wood, and cords, and wheels, and pulleys, was more faithful in + its service than he in his duty to Bartolommeo—he, a man with that + peculiar piece of human mechanism within him that we call a heart. + </p> + <p> + Don Juan the sceptic shut the flask again in the secret drawer in the + Gothic table—he meant to run no more risks of losing the mysterious + liquid. + </p> + <p> + Even at that solemn moment he heard the murmur of a crowd in the gallery, + a confused sound of voices, of stifled laughter and light footfalls, and + the rustling of silks—the sounds of a band of revelers struggling + for gravity. The door opened, and in came the Prince and Don Juan's + friends, the seven courtesans, and the singers, disheveled and wild like + dancers surprised by the dawn, when the tapers that have burned through + the night struggle with the sunlight. + </p> + <p> + They had come to offer the customary condolence to the young heir. + </p> + <p> + "Oho! is poor Don Juan really taking this seriously?" said the Prince in + Brambilla's ear. + </p> + <p> + "Well, his father was very good," she returned. + </p> + <p> + But Don Juan's night-thoughts had left such unmistakable traces on his + features, that the crew was awed into silence. The men stood motionless. + The women, with wine-parched lips and cheeks marbled with kisses, knelt + down and began a prayer. Don Juan could scarce help trembling when he saw + splendor and mirth and laughter and song and youth and beauty and power + bowed in reverence before Death. But in those times, in that adorable + Italy of the sixteenth century, religion and revelry went hand in hand; + and religious excess became a sort of debauch, and a debauch a religious + rite! + </p> + <p> + The Prince grasped Don Juan's hand affectionately, then when all faces had + simultaneously put on the same grimace—half-gloomy, half-indifferent—the + whole masque disappeared, and left the chamber of death empty. It was like + an allegory of life. + </p> + <p> + As they went down the staircase, the Prince spoke to Rivabarella: "Now, + who would have taken Don Juan's impiety for a boast? He loves his father." + </p> + <p> + "Did you see that black dog?" asked La Brambilla. + </p> + <p> + "He is enormously rich now," sighed Bianca Cavatolino. + </p> + <p> + "What is that to me?" cried the proud Veronese (she who had crushed the + comfit-box). + </p> + <p> + "What does it matter to you, forsooth?" cried the Duke. "With his money he + is as much a prince as I am." + </p> + <p> + At first Don Juan was swayed hither and thither by countless thoughts, and + wavered between two decisions. He took counsel with the gold heaped up by + his father, and returned in the evening to the chamber of death, his whole + soul brimming over with hideous selfishness. He found all his household + busy there. "His lordship" was to lie in state to-morrow; all Ferrara + would flock to behold the wonderful spectacle; and the servants were busy + decking the room and the couch on which the dead man lay. At a sign from + Don Juan all his people stopped, dumfounded and trembling. + </p> + <p> + "Leave me alone here," he said, and his voice was changed, "and do not + return until I leave the room." + </p> + <p> + When the footsteps of the old servitor, who was the last to go, echoed but + faintly along the paved gallery, Don Juan hastily locked the door, and + sure that he was quite alone, "Let us try," he said to himself. + </p> + <p> + Bartolommeo's body was stretched on a long table. The embalmers had laid a + sheet over it, to hide from all eyes the dreadful spectacle of a corpse so + wasted and shrunken that it seemed like a skeleton, and only the face was + uncovered. This mummy-like figure lay in the middle of the room. The limp + clinging linen lent itself to the outlines it shrouded—so sharp, + bony, and thin. Large violet patches had already begun to spread over the + face; the embalmers' work had not been finished too soon. + </p> + <p> + Don Juan, strong as he was in his scepticism, felt a tremor as he opened + the magic crystal flask. When he stood over that face, he was trembling so + violently, that he was actually obliged to wait for a moment. But Don Juan + had acquired an early familiarity with evil; his morals had been corrupted + by a licentious court, a reflection worthy of the Duke of Urbino crossed + his mind, and it was a keen sense of curiosity that goaded him into + boldness. The devil himself might have whispered the words that were + echoing through his brain, <i>Moisten one of the eyes with the liquid</i>! + He took up a linen cloth, moistened it sparingly with the precious fluid, + and passed it lightly over the right eyelid of the corpse. The eye + unclosed.... + </p> + <p> + "Aha!" said Don Juan. He gripped the flask tightly, as we clutch in dreams + the branch from which we hang suspended over a precipice. + </p> + <p> + For the eye was full of life. It was a young child's eye set in a death's + head; the light quivered in the depths of its youthful liquid brightness. + Shaded by the long dark lashes, it sparkled like the strange lights that + travelers see in lonely places in winter nights. The eye seemed as if it + would fain dart fire at Don Juan; he saw it thinking, upbraiding, + condemning, uttering accusations, threatening doom; it cried aloud, and + gnashed upon him. All anguish that shakes human souls was gathered there; + supplications the most tender, the wrath of kings, the love in a girl's + heart pleading with the headsman; then, and after all these, the deeply + searching glance a man turns on his fellows as he mounts the last step of + the scaffold. Life so dilated in this fragment of life that Don Juan + shrank back; he walked up and down the room, he dared not meet that gaze, + but he saw nothing else. The ceiling and the hangings, the whole room was + sown with living points of fire and intelligence. Everywhere those + gleaming eyes haunted him. + </p> + <p> + "He might very likely have lived another hundred years!" he cried + involuntarily. Some diabolical influence had drawn him to his father, and + again he gazed at that luminous spark. The eyelid closed and opened again + abruptly; it was like a woman's sign of assent. It was an intelligent + movement. If a voice had cried "Yes!" Don Juan could not have been more + startled. + </p> + <p> + "What is to be done?" he thought. + </p> + <p> + He nerved himself to try to close the white eyelid. In vain. + </p> + <p> + "Kill it? That would perhaps be parricide," he debated with himself. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," the eye said, with a strange sardonic quiver of the lid. + </p> + <p> + "Aha!" said Don Juan to himself, "here is witchcraft at work!" And he went + closer to crush the thing. A great tear trickled over the hollow cheeks, + and fell on Don Juan's hand. + </p> + <p> + "It is scalding!" he cried. He sat down. The struggle exhausted him; it + was as if, like Jacob of old, he was wrestling with an angel. + </p> + <p> + At last he rose. "So long as there is no blood——" he muttered. + </p> + <p> + Then, summoning all the courage needed for a coward's crime, he + extinguished the eye, pressing it with the linen cloth, turning his head + away. A terrible groan startled him. It was the poor poodle, who died with + a long-drawn howl. + </p> + <p> + "Could the brute have been in the secret?" thought Don Juan, looking down + at the faithful creature. + </p> + <p> + Don Juan Belvidero was looked upon as a dutiful son. He reared a white + marble monument on his father's tomb, and employed the greatest sculptors + of the time upon it. He did not recover perfect ease of mind till the day + when his father knelt in marble before Religion, and the heavy weight of + the stone had sealed the mouth of the grave in which he had laid the one + feeling of remorse that sometimes flitted through his soul in moments of + physical weariness. + </p> + <p> + He had drawn up a list of the wealth heaped up by the old merchant in the + East, and he became a miser: had he not to provide for a second lifetime? + His views of life were the more profound and penetrating; he grasped its + significance, as a whole, the better, because he saw it across a grave. + All men, all things, he analyzed once and for all; he summed up the Past, + represented by its records; the Present in the law, its crystallized form; + the Future, revealed by religion. He took spirit and matter, and flung + them into his crucible, and found—Nothing. Thenceforward he became + DON JUAN. + </p> + <p> + At the outset of his life, in the prime of youth and the beauty of youth, + he knew the illusions of life for what they were; he despised the world, + and made the utmost of the world. His felicity could not have been of the + bourgeois kind, rejoicing in periodically recurrent <i>bouilli</i>, in the + comforts of a warming-pan, a lamp of a night, and a new pair of slippers + once a quarter. Nay, rather he seized upon existence as a monkey snatches + a nut, and after no long toying with it, proceeds deftly to strip off the + mere husks to reach the savory kernel within. + </p> + <p> + Poetry and the sublime transports of passion scarcely reached ankle-depth + with him now. He in nowise fell into the error of strong natures who + flatter themselves now and again that little souls will believe in a great + soul, and are willing to barter their own lofty thoughts of the future for + the small change of our life-annuity ideas. He, even as they, had he + chosen, might well have walked with his feet on the earth and his head in + the skies; but he liked better to sit on earth, to wither the soft, fresh, + fragrant lips of a woman with kisses, for like Death, he devoured + everything without scruple as he passed; he would have full fruition; he + was an Oriental lover, seeking prolonged pleasures easily obtained. He + sought nothing but a woman in women, and cultivated cynicism, until it + became with him a habit of mind. When his mistress, from the couch on + which she lay, soared and was lost in regions of ecstatic bliss, Don Juan + followed suit, earnest, expansive, serious as any German student. But he + said I, while she, in the transports of intoxication, said We. He + understood to admiration the art of abandoning himself to the influence of + a woman; he was always clever enough to make her believe that he trembled + like some boy fresh from college before his first partner at a dance, when + he asks her, "Do you like dancing?" But, no less, he could be terrible at + need, could unsheathe a formidable sword and make short work of + Commandants. Banter lurked beneath his simplicity, mocking laughter behind + his tears—for he had tears at need, like any woman nowadays who says + to her husband, "Give me a carriage, or I shall go into a consumption." + </p> + <p> + For the merchant the world is a bale of goods or a mass of circulating + bills; for most young men it is a woman, and for a woman here and there it + is a man; for a certain order of mind it is a salon, a coterie, a quarter + of the town, or some single city; but Don Juan found his world in himself. + </p> + <p> + This model of grace and dignity, this captivating wit, moored his bark by + every shore; but wherever he was led he was never carried away, and was + only steered in a course of his own choosing. The more he saw, the more he + doubted. He watched men narrowly, and saw how, beneath the surface, + courage was often rashness; and prudence, cowardice; generosity, a clever + piece of calculation; justice, a wrong; delicacy, pusillanimity; honesty, + a <i>modus vivendi</i>; and by some strange dispensation of fate, he must + see that those who at heart were really honest, scrupulous, just, + generous, prudent, or brave were held cheaply by their fellow-men. + </p> + <p> + "What a cold-blooded jest!" said he to himself. "It was not devised by a + God." + </p> + <p> + From that time forth he renounced a better world, and never uncovered + himself when a Name was pronounced, and for him the carven saints in the + churches became works of art. He understood the mechanism of society too + well to clash wantonly with its prejudices; for, after all, he was not as + powerful as the executioner, but he evaded social laws with the wit and + grace so well rendered in the scene with M. Dimanche. He was, in fact, + Moliere's Don Juan, Goethe's Faust, Byron's Manfred, Mathurin's Melmoth—great + allegorical figures drawn by the greatest men of genius in Europe, to + which Mozart's harmonies, perhaps, do no more justice than Rossini's lyre. + Terrible allegorical figures that shall endure as long as the principle of + evil existing in the heart of man shall produce a few copies from century + to century. Sometimes the type becomes half-human when incarnate as a + Mirabeau, sometimes it is an inarticulate force in a Bonaparte, sometimes + it overwhelms the universe with irony as a Rabelais; or, yet again, it + appears when a Marechal de Richelieu elects to laugh at human beings + instead of scoffing at things, or when one of the most famous of our + ambassadors goes a step further and scoffs at both men and things. But the + profound genius of Juan Belvidero anticipated and resumed all these. All + things were a jest to him. His was the life of a mocking spirit. All men, + all institutions, all realities, all ideas were within its scope. As for + eternity, after half an hour of familiar conversation with Pope Julius II. + he said, laughing: + </p> + <p> + "If it is absolutely necessary to make a choice, I would rather believe in + God than in the Devil; power combined with goodness always offers more + resources than the spirit of Evil can boast." + </p> + <p> + "Yes; still God requires repentance in this present world——" + </p> + <p> + "So you always think of your indulgences," returned Don Juan Belvidero. + "Well, well, I have another life in reserve in which to repent of the sins + of my previous existence." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, if you regard old age in that light," cried the Pope, "you are in + danger on canonization——" + </p> + <p> + "After your elevation to the Papacy nothing is incredible." And they went + to watch the workmen who were building the huge basilica dedicated to + Saint Peter. + </p> + <p> + "Saint Peter, as the man of genius who laid the foundation of our double + power," the Pope said to Don Juan, "deserves this monument. Sometimes, + though, at night, I think that a deluge will wipe all this out as with a + sponge, and it will be all to begin over again." + </p> + <p> + Don Juan and the Pope began to laugh; they understood each other. A fool + would have gone on the morrow to amuse himself with Julius II. in + Raphael's studio or at the delicious Villa Madama; not so Belvidero. He + went to see the Pope as pontiff, to be convinced of any doubts that he + (Don Juan) entertained. Over his cups the Rovere would have been capable + of denying his own infallibility and of commenting on the Apocalypse. + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless, this legend has not been undertaken to furnish materials for + future biographies of Don Juan; it is intended to prove to honest folk + that Belvidero did not die in a duel with stone, as some lithographers + would have us believe. + </p> + <p> + When Don Juan Belvidero reached the age of sixty he settled in Spain, and + there in his old age he married a young and charming Andalusian wife. But + of set purpose he was neither a good husband nor a good father. He had + observed that we are never so tenderly loved as by women to whom we + scarcely give a thought. Dona Elvira had been devoutly brought up by an + old aunt in a castle a few leagues from San-Lucar in a remote part of + Andalusia. She was a model of devotion and grace. Don Juan foresaw that + this would be a woman who would struggle long against a passion before + yielding, and therefore hoped to keep her virtuous until his death. It was + a jest undertaken in earnest, a game of chess which he meant to reserve + till his old age. Don Juan had learned wisdom from the mistakes made by + his father Bartolommeo; he determined that the least details of his life + in old age should be subordinated to one object—the success of the + drama which was to be played out upon his death-bed. + </p> + <p> + For the same reason the largest part of his wealth was buried in the + cellars of his palace at Ferrara, whither he seldom went. As for the rest + of his fortune, it was invested in a life annuity, with a view to give his + wife and children an interest in keeping him alive; but this Machiavellian + piece of foresight was scarcely necessary. His son, young Felipe + Belvidero, grew up as a Spaniard as religiously conscientious as his + father was irreligious, in virtue, perhaps, of the old rule, "A miser has + a spendthrift son." The Abbot of San-Lucar was chosen by Don Juan to be + the director of the consciences of the Duchess of Belvidero and her son + Felipe. The ecclesiastic was a holy man, well shaped, and admirably well + proportioned. He had fine dark eyes, a head like that of Tiberius, worn + with fasting, bleached by an ascetic life, and, like all dwellers in the + wilderness, was daily tempted. The noble lord had hopes, it may be, of + despatching yet another monk before his term of life was out. + </p> + <p> + But whether because the Abbot was every whit as clever as Don Juan + himself, or Dona Elvira possessed more discretion or more virtue than + Spanish wives are usually credited with, Don Juan was compelled to spend + his declining years beneath his own roof, with no more scandal under it + than if he had been an ancient country parson. Occasionally he would take + wife and son to task for negligence in the duties of religion, + peremptorily insisting that they should carry out to the letter the + obligations imposed upon the flock by the Court of Rome. Indeed, he was + never so well pleased as when he had set the courtly Abbot discussing some + case of conscience with Dona Elvira and Felipe. + </p> + <p> + At length, however, despite the prodigious care that the great magnifico, + Don Juan Belvidero, took of himself, the days of decrepitude came upon + him, and with those days the constant importunity of physical feebleness, + an importunity all the more distressing by contrast with the wealth of + memories of his impetuous youth and the sensual pleasures of middle age. + The unbeliever who in the height of his cynical humor had been wont to + persuade others to believe in laws and principles at which he scoffed, + must repose nightly upon a <i>perhaps</i>. The great Duke, the pattern of + good breeding, the champion of many a carouse, the proud ornament of + Courts, the man of genius, the graceful winner of hearts that he had wrung + as carelessly as a peasant twists an osier withe, was now the victim of a + cough, of a ruthless sciatica, of an unmannerly gout. His teeth gradually + deserted him, as at the end of an evening the fairest and best-dressed + women take their leave one by one till the room is left empty and + desolate. The active hands became palsy-stricken, the shapely legs + tottered as he walked. At last, one night, a stroke of apoplexy caught him + by the throat in its icy clutch. After that fatal day he grew morose and + stern. + </p> + <p> + He would reproach his wife and son with their devotion, casting it in + their teeth that the affecting and thoughtful care that they lavished so + tenderly upon him was bestowed because they knew that his money was + invested in a life annuity. Then Elvira and Felipe would shed bitter tears + and redouble their caresses, and the wicked old man's insinuating voice + would take an affectionate tone—"Ah, you will forgive me, will you + not, dear friends, dear wife? I am rather a nuisance. Alas, Lord in + heaven, how canst Thou use me as the instrument by which Thou provest + these two angelic creatures? I who should be the joy of their lives am + become their scourge..." + </p> + <p> + In this manner he kept them tethered to his pillow, blotting out the + memory of whole months of fretfulness and unkindness in one short hour + when he chose to display for them the ever-new treasures of his pinchbeck + tenderness and charm of manner—a system of paternity that yielded + him an infinitely better return than his own father's indulgence had + formerly gained. At length his bodily infirmities reached a point when the + task of laying him in bed became as difficult as the navigation of a + felucca in the perils of an intricate channel. Then came the day of his + death; and this brilliant sceptic, whose mental faculties alone had + survived the most dreadful of all destructions, found himself between his + two special antipathies—the doctor and the confessor. But he was + jovial with them. Did he not see a light gleaming in the future beyond the + veil? The pall that is like lead for other men was thin and translucent + for him; the light-footed, irresistible delights of youth danced beyond it + like shadows. + </p> + <p> + It was on a beautiful summer evening that Don Juan felt the near approach + of death. The sky of Spain was serene and cloudless; the air was full of + the scent of orange-blossom; the stars shed clear, pure gleams of light; + nature without seemed to give the dying man assurance of resurrection; a + dutiful and obedient son sat there watching him with loving and respectful + eyes. Towards eleven o'clock he desired to be left alone with this + single-hearted being. + </p> + <p> + "Felipe," said the father, in tones so soft and affectionate that the + young man trembled, and tears of gladness came to his eyes; never had that + stern father spoken his name in such a tone. "Listen, my son," the dying + man went on. "I am a great sinner. All my life long, however, I have + thought of my death. I was once the friend of the great Pope Julius II.; + and that illustrious Pontiff, fearing lest the excessive excitability of + my senses should entangle me in mortal sin between the moment of my death + and the time of my anointing with the holy oil, gave me a flask that + contains a little of the holy water that once issued from the rock in the + wilderness. I have kept the secret of this squandering of a treasure + belonging to Holy Church, but I am permitted to reveal the mystery <i>in + articulo mortis</i> to my son. You will find the flask in a drawer in that + Gothic table that always stands by the head of the bed.... The precious + little crystal flask may be of use yet again for you, dearest Felipe. Will + you swear to me, by your salvation, to carry out my instructions + faithfully?" + </p> + <p> + Felipe looked at his father, and Don Juan was too deeply learned in the + lore of the human countenance not to die in peace with that look as his + warrant, as his own father had died in despair at meeting the expression + in his son's eyes. + </p> + <p> + "You deserved to have a better father," Don Juan went on. "I dare to + confess, my child, that while the reverend Abbot of San-Lucar was + administering the Viaticum I was thinking of the incompatibility of the + co-existence of two powers so infinite as God and the Devil——" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, father!" + </p> + <p> + "And I said to myself, when Satan makes his peace he ought surely to + stipulate for the pardon of his followers, or he will be the veriest + scoundrel. The thought haunted me; so I shall go to hell, my son, unless + you carry out my wishes." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, quick; tell me quickly, father." + </p> + <p> + "As soon as I have closed my eyes," Don Juan went on, "and that may be in + a few minutes, you must take my body before it grows cold and lay it on a + table in this room. Then put out the lamp; the light of the stars should + be sufficient. Take off my clothes, reciting Aves and Paters the while, + raising your soul to God in prayer, and carefully anoint my lips and eyes + with this holy water; begin with the face, and proceed successively to my + limbs and the rest of my body; my dear son, the power of God is so great + that you must be astonished at nothing." + </p> + <p> + Don Juan felt death so near, that he added in a terrible voice, "Be + careful not to drop the flask." + </p> + <p> + Then he breathed his last gently in the arms of his son, and his son's + tears fell fast over his sardonic, haggard features. + </p> + <p> + It was almost midnight when Don Felipe Belvidero laid his father's body + upon the table. He kissed the sinister brow and the gray hair; then he put + out the lamp. + </p> + <p> + By the soft moonlight that lit strange gleams across the country without, + Felipe could dimly see his father's body, a vague white thing among the + shadows. The dutiful son moistened a linen cloth with the liquid, and, + absorbed in prayer, he anointed the revered face. A deep silence reigned. + Felipe heard faint, indescribable rustlings; it was the breeze in the + tree-tops, he thought. But when he had moistened the right arm, he felt + himself caught by the throat, a young strong hand held him in a tight grip—it + was his father's hand! He shrieked aloud; the flask dropped from his hand + and broke in pieces. The liquid evaporated; the whole household hurried + into the room, holding torches aloft. That shriek had startled them, and + filled them with as much terror as if the Trumpet of the Angel sounding on + the Last Day had rung through earth and sky. The room was full of people, + and a horror-stricken crowd beheld the fainting Felipe upheld by the + strong arm of his father, who clutched him by the throat. They saw another + thing, an unearthly spectacle—Don Juan's face grown young and + beautiful as Antinous, with its dark hair and brilliant eyes and red lips, + a head that made horrible efforts, but could not move the dead, wasted + body. + </p> + <p> + An old servitor cried, "A miracle! a miracle!" and all the Spaniards + echoed, "A miracle! a miracle!" + </p> + <p> + Dona Elvira, too pious to attribute this to magic, sent for the Abbot of + San-Lucar; and the Prior beholding the miracle with his own eyes, being a + clever man, and withal an Abbot desirous of augmenting his revenues, + determined to turn the occasion to profit. He immediately gave out that + Don Juan would certainly be canonized; he appointed a day for the + celebration of the apotheosis in his convent, which thenceforward, he + said, should be called the convent of San Juan of Lucar. At these words a + sufficiently facetious grimace passed over the features of the late Duke. + </p> + <p> + The taste of the Spanish people for ecclesiastical solemnities is so well + known, that it should not be difficult to imagine the religious pantomime + by which the Convent of San-Lucar celebrated the translation of the <i>blessed + Don Juan Belvidero</i> to the abbey-church. The tale of the partial + resurrection had spread so quickly from village to village, that a day or + two after the death of the illustrious nobleman the report had reached + every place within fifty miles of San-Lucar, and it was as good as a play + to see the roads covered already with crowds flocking in on all sides, + their curiosity whetted still further by the prospect of a <i>Te Deum</i> + sung by torchlight. The old abbey church of San-Lucar, a marvelous + building erected by the Moors, a mosque of Allah, which for three + centuries had heard the name of Christ, could not hold the throng that + poured in to see the ceremony. Hidalgos in their velvet mantles, with + their good swords at their sides, swarmed like ants, and were so tightly + packed in among the pillars that they had not room to bend the knees, + which never bent save to God. Charming peasant girls, in the basquina that + defines the luxuriant outlines of their figures, lent an arm to + white-haired old men. Young men, with eyes of fire, walked beside aged + crones in holiday array. Then came couples tremulous with joy, young + lovers led thither by curiosity, newly-wedded folk; children timidly + clasping each other by the hand. This throng, so rich in coloring, in + vivid contrasts, laden with flowers, enameled like a meadow, sent up a + soft murmur through the quiet night. Then the great doors of the church + opened. + </p> + <p> + Late comers who remained without saw afar, through the three great open + doorways, a scene of which the theatrical illusions of modern opera can + give but a faint idea. The vast church was lighted up by thousands of + candles, offered by saints and sinners alike eager to win the favor of + this new candidate for canonization, and these self-commending + illuminations turned the great building into an enchanted fairyland. The + black archways, the shafts and capitals, the recessed chapels with gold + and silver gleaming in their depths, the galleries, the Arab traceries, + all the most delicate outlines of that delicate sculpture, burned in the + excess of light like the fantastic figures in the red heart of a brazier. + At the further end of the church, above that blazing sea, rose the high + altar like a splendid dawn. All the glories of the golden lamps and silver + candlesticks, of banners and tassels, of the shrines of the saints and + votive offerings, paled before the gorgeous brightness of the reliquary in + which Don Juan lay. The blasphemer's body sparkled with gems, and flowers, + and crystal, with diamonds and gold, and plumes white as the wings of + seraphim; they had set it up on the altar, where the pictures of Christ + had stood. All about him blazed a host of tall candles; the air quivered + in the radiant light. The worthy Abbot of San-Lucar, in pontifical robes, + with his mitre set with precious stones, his rochet and golden crosier, + sat enthroned in imperial state among his clergy in the choir. Rows of + impassive aged faces, silver-haired old men clad in fine linen albs, were + grouped about him, as the saints who confessed Christ on earth are set by + painters, each in his place, about the throne of God in heaven. The + precentor and the dignitaries of the chapter, adorned with the gorgeous + insignia of ecclesiastical vanity, came and went through the clouds of + incense, like stars upon their courses in the firmament. + </p> + <p> + When the hour of triumph arrived, the bells awoke the echoes far and wide, + and the whole vast crowd raised to God the first cry of praise that begins + the <i>Te Deum</i>. A sublime cry! High, pure notes, the voices of women + in ecstasy, mingled in it with the sterner and deeper voices of men; + thousands of voices sent up a volume of sound so mighty, that the + straining, groaning organ-pipes could not dominate that harmony. But the + shrill sound of children's singing among the choristers, the reverberation + of deep bass notes, awakened gracious associations, visions of childhood, + and of man in his strength, and rose above that entrancing harmony of + human voices blended in one sentiment of love. + </p> + <p> + <i>Te Deum laudamus</i>! + </p> + <p> + The chant went up from the black masses of men and women kneeling in the + cathedral, like a sudden breaking out of light in darkness, and the + silence was shattered as by a peal of thunder. The voices floated up with + the clouds of incense that had begun to cast thin bluish veils over the + fanciful marvels of the architecture, and the aisles were filled with + splendor and perfume and light and melody. Even at the moment when that + music of love and thanksgiving soared up to the altar, Don Juan, too well + bred not to express his acknowledgments, too witty not to understand how + to take a jest, bridled up in his reliquary, and responded with an + appalling burst of laughter. Then the Devil having put him in mind of the + risk he was running of being taken for an ordinary man, a saint, a + Boniface, a Pantaleone, he interrupted the melody of love by a yell, the + thousand voices of hell joined in it. Earth blessed, Heaven banned. The + church was shaken to its ancient foundations. + </p> + <p> + <i>Te Deum laudamus</i>! cried the many voices. + </p> + <p> + "Go to the devil, brute beasts that you are! <i>Dios! Dios! Garajos + demonios!</i> Idiots! What fools you are with your dotard God!" and a + torrent of imprecations poured forth like a stream of red-hot lava from + the mouth of Vesuvius. + </p> + <p> + "<i>Deus Sabaoth!... Sabaoth</i>!" cried the believers. + </p> + <p> + "You are insulting the majesty of Hell," shouted Don Juan, gnashing his + teeth. In another moment the living arm struggled out of the reliquary, + and was brandished over the assembly in mockery and despair. + </p> + <p> + "The saint is blessing us," cried the old women, children, lovers, and the + credulous among the crowd. + </p> + <p> + And note how often we are deceived in the homage we pay; the great man + scoffs at those who praise him, and pays compliments now and again to + those whom he laughs at in the depths of his heart. + </p> + <p> + Just as the Abbot, prostrate before the altar, was chanting "<i>Sancte + Johannes, ora pro noblis</i>!" he heard a voice exclaim sufficiently + distinctly: "<i>O coglione</i>!" + </p> + <p> + "What can be going on up there?" cried the Sub-prior, as he saw the + reliquary move. + </p> + <p> + "The saint is playing the devil," replied the Abbot. + </p> + <p> + Even as he spoke the living head tore itself away from the lifeless body, + and dropped upon the sallow cranium of the officiating priest. + </p> + <p> + "Remember Dona Elvira!" cried the thing, with its teeth set fast in the + Abbot's head. + </p> + <p> + The Abbot's horror-stricken shriek disturbed the ceremony; all the + ecclesiastics hurried up and crowded about their chief. + </p> + <p> + "Idiot, tell us now if there is a God!" the voice cried, as the Abbot, + bitten through the brain, drew his last breath. + </p> + <p> + PARIS, October 1830. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1215 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1d04533 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #1215 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1215) diff --git a/old/1215-h.zip b/old/1215-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..897a146 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/1215-h.zip diff --git a/old/1215-h/1215-h.htm b/old/1215-h/1215-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0c6c285 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/1215-h/1215-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1572 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Elixir of Life, by Honore de Balzac + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Elixir of Life, by Honore de Balzac + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Elixir of Life + +Author: Honore de Balzac + +Translator: Clara Bell and James Waring + +Release Date: February 20, 2010 [EBook #1215] +Last Updated: April 3, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ELIXIR OF LIFE *** + + + + +Produced by Dagny, and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE ELIXIR OF LIFE + </h1> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Honore De Balzac + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + Translated By Clara Bell and James Waring + </h3> + <p> + <br /><br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> TO THE READER </a><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0002"> THE ELIXIR OF LIFE </a><br /> + </h3> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + TO THE READER + </h2> + <p> + At the very outset of the writer's literary career, a friend, long since + dead, gave him the subject of this Study. Later on he found the same story + in a collection published about the beginning of the present century. To + the best of his belief, it is some stray fancy of the brain of Hoffmann of + Berlin; probably it appeared in some German almanac, and was omitted in + the published editions of his collected works. The <i>Comedie Humaine</i> + is sufficiently rich in original creations for the author to own to this + innocent piece of plagiarism; when, like the worthy La Fontaine, he has + told unwittingly, and after his own fashion, a tale already related by + another. This is not one of the hoaxes in vogue in the year 1830, when + every author wrote his "tale of horror" for the amusement of young ladies. + When you have read the account of Don Juan's decorous parricide, try to + picture to yourself the part which would be played under very similar + circumstances by honest folk who, in this nineteenth century, will take a + man's money and undertake to pay him a life annuity on the faith of a + chill, or let a house to an ancient lady for the term of her natural life! + Would they be for resuscitating their clients? I should dearly like a + connoisseur in consciences to consider how far there is a resemblance + between a Don Juan and fathers who marry their children to great + expectations. Does humanity, which, according to certain philosophers, is + making progress, look on the art of waiting for dead men's shoes as a step + in the right direction? To this art we owe several honorable professions, + which open up ways of living on death. There are people who rely entirely + on an expected demise; who brood over it, crouching each morning upon a + corpse, that serves again for their pillow at night. To this class belong + bishops' coadjutors, cardinals' supernumeraries, <i>tontiniers</i>, and + the like. Add to the list many delicately scrupulous persons eager to buy + landed property beyond their means, who calculate with dry logic and in + cold blood the probable duration of the life of a father or of a + step-mother, some old man or woman of eighty or ninety, saying to + themselves, "I shall be sure to come in for it in three years' time, and + then——" A murderer is less loathsome to us than a spy. The + murderer may have acted on a sudden mad impulse; he may be penitent and + amend; but a spy is always a spy, night and day, in bed, at table, as he + walks abroad; his vileness pervades every moment of his life. Then what + must it be to live when every moment of your life is tainted with murder? + And have we not just admitted that a host of human creatures in our midst + are led by our laws, customs, and usages to dwell without ceasing on a + fellow-creature's death? There are men who put the weight of a coffin into + their deliberations as they bargain for Cashmere shawls for their wives, + as they go up the staircase of a theatre, or think of going to the + Bouffons, or of setting up a carriage; who are murderers in thought when + dear ones, with the irresistible charm of innocence, hold up childish + foreheads to be kissed with a "Good-night, father!" Hourly they meet the + gaze of eyes that they would fain close for ever, eyes that still open + each morning to the light, like Belvidero's in this Study. God alone knows + the number of those who are parricides in thought. Picture to yourself the + state of mind of a man who must pay a life annuity to some old woman whom + he scarcely knows; both live in the country with a brook between them, + both sides are free to hate cordially, without offending against the + social conventions that require two brothers to wear a mask if the older + will succeed to the entail, and the other to the fortune of a younger son. + The whole civilization of Europe turns upon the principle of hereditary + succession as upon a pivot; it would be madness to subvert the principle; + but could we not, in an age that prides itself upon its mechanical + inventions, perfect this essential portion of the social machinery? + </p> + <p> + If the author has preserved the old-fashioned style of address <i>To the + Reader</i> before a work wherein he endeavors to represent all literary + forms, it is for the purpose of making a remark that applies to several of + the Studies, and very specially to this. Every one of his compositions has + been based upon ideas more or less novel, which, as it seemed to him, + needed literary expression; he can claim priority for certain forms and + for certain ideas which have since passed into the domain of literature, + and have there, in some instances, become common property; so that the + date of the first publication of each Study cannot be a matter of + indifference to those of his readers who would fain do him justice. + </p> + <p> + Reading brings us unknown friends, and what friend is like a reader? We + have friends in our own circle who read nothing of ours. The author hopes + to pay his debt, by dedicating this work <i>Diis ignotis</i>. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + THE ELIXIR OF LIFE + </h1> + <p> + One winter evening, in a princely palace at Ferrara, Don Juan Belvidero + was giving a banquet to a prince of the house of Este. A banquet in those + times was a marvelous spectacle which only royal wealth or the power of a + mightly [sic] lord could furnish forth. Seated about a table lit up with + perfumed tapers, seven laughter-loving women were interchanging sweet + talk. The white marble of the noble works of art about them stood out + against the red stucco walls, and made strong contrasts with the rich + Turkey carpets. Clad in satin, glittering with gold, and covered with gems + less brilliant than their eyes, each told a tale of energetic passions as + diverse as their styles of beauty. They differed neither in their ideas + nor in their language; but the expression of their eyes, their glances, + occasional gestures, or the tones of their voices supplied a commentary, + dissolute, wanton, melancholy, or satirical, to their words. + </p> + <p> + One seemed to be saying—"The frozen heart of age might kindle at my + beauty." + </p> + <p> + Another—"I love to lounge upon cushions, and think with rapture of + my adorers." + </p> + <p> + A third, a neophyte at these banquets, was inclined to blush. "I feel + remorse in the depths of my heart! I am a Catholic, and afraid of hell. + But I love you, I love you so that I can sacrifice my hereafter to you." + </p> + <p> + The fourth drained a cup of Chian wine. "Give me a joyous life!" she + cried; "I begin life afresh each day with the dawn. Forgetful of the past, + with the intoxication of yesterday's rapture still upon me, I drink deep + of life—a whole lifetime of pleasure and of love!" + </p> + <p> + The woman who sat next to Juan Belvidero looked at him with a feverish + glitter in her eyes. She was silent. Then—"I should need no hired + bravo to kill my lover if he forsook me!" she cried at last, and laughed, + but the marvelously wrought gold comfit box in her fingers was crushed by + her convulsive clutch. + </p> + <p> + "When are you to be Grand Duke?" asked the sixth. There was the frenzy of + a Bacchante in her eyes, and her teeth gleamed between the lips parted + with a smile of cruel glee. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, when is that father of yours going to die?" asked the seventh, + throwing her bouquet at Don Juan with bewitching playfulness. It was a + childish girl who spoke, and the speaker was wont to make sport of sacred + things. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! don't talk about it," cried Don Juan, the young and handsome giver of + the banquet. "There is but one eternal father, and, as ill luck will have + it, he is mine." + </p> + <p> + The seven Ferrarese, Don Juan's friends, the Prince himself, gave a cry of + horror. Two hundred years later, in the days of Louis XV., people of taste + would have laughed at this witticism. Or was it, perhaps, that at the + outset of an orgy there is a certain unwonted lucidity of mind? Despite + the taper light, the clamor of the senses, the gleam of gold and silver, + the fumes of wine, and the exquisite beauty of the women, there may + perhaps have been in the depths of the revelers' hearts some struggling + glimmer of reverence for things divine and human, until it was drowned in + glowing floods of wine! Yet even then the flowers had been crushed, eyes + were growing dull, and drunkenness, in Rabelais' phrase, had "taken + possession of them down to their sandals." + </p> + <p> + During that brief pause a door opened; and as once the Divine presence was + revealed at Belshazzar's feast, so now it seemed to be manifest in the + apparition of an old white-haired servant, who tottered in, and looked + sadly from under knitted brows at the revelers. He gave a withering glance + at the garlands, the golden cups, the pyramids of fruit, the dazzling + lights of the banquet, the flushed scared faces, the hues of the cushions + pressed by the white arms of the women. + </p> + <p> + "My lord, your father is dying!" he said; and at those solemn words, + uttered in hollow tones, a veil of crape seemed to be drawn over the wild + mirth. + </p> + <p> + Don Juan rose to his feet with a gesture to his guests that might be + rendered by, "Excuse me; this kind of thing does not happen every day." + </p> + <p> + Does it so seldom happen that a father's death surprises youth in the + full-blown splendor of life, in the midst of the mad riot of an orgy? + Death is as unexpected in his caprice as a courtesan in her disdain; but + death is truer—Death has never forsaken any man. + </p> + <p> + Don Juan closed the door of the banqueting-hall; and as he went down the + long gallery, through the cold and darkness, he strove to assume an + expression in keeping with the part he had to play; he had thrown off his + mirthful mood, as he had thrown down his table napkin, at the first + thought of this role. The night was dark. The mute servitor, his guide to + the chamber where the dying man lay, lighted the way so dimly that Death, + aided by cold, silence, and darkness, and it may be by a reaction of + drunkenness, could send some sober thoughts through the spendthrift's + soul. He examined his life, and became thoughtful, like a man involved in + a lawsuit on his way to the Court. + </p> + <p> + Bartolommeo Belvidero, Don Juan's father, was an old man of ninety, who + had devoted the greatest part of his life to business pursuits. He had + acquired vast wealth in many a journey to magical Eastern lands, and + knowledge, so it was said, more valuable than the gold and diamonds, which + had almost ceased to have any value for him. + </p> + <p> + "I would give more to have a tooth in my head than for a ruby," he would + say at times with a smile. The indulgent father loved to hear Don Juan's + story of this and that wild freak of youth. "So long as these follies + amuse you, dear boy——" he would say laughingly, as he lavished + money on his son. Age never took such pleasure in the sight of youth; the + fond father did not remember his own decaying powers while he looked on + that brilliant young life. + </p> + <p> + Bartolommeo Belvidero, at the age of sixty, had fallen in love with an + angel of peace and beauty. Don Juan had been the sole fruit of this late + and short-lived love. For fifteen years the widower had mourned the loss + of his beloved Juana; and to this sorrow of age, his son and his numerous + household had attributed the strange habits that he had contracted. He had + shut himself up in the least comfortable wing of his palace, and very + seldom left his apartments; even Don Juan himself must first ask + permission before seeing his father. If this hermit, unbound by vows, came + or went in his palace or in the streets of Ferrara, he walked as if he + were in a dream, wholly engrossed, like a man at strife with a memory, or + a wrestler with some thought. + </p> + <p> + The young Don Juan might give princely banquets, the palace might echo + with clamorous mirth, horses pawed the ground in the courtyards, pages + quarreled and flung dice upon the stairs, but Bartolommeo ate his seven + ounces of bread daily and drank water. A fowl was occasionally dressed for + him, simply that the black poodle, his faithful companion, might have the + bones. Bartolommeo never complained of the noise. If the huntsmen's horns + and baying dogs disturbed his sleep during his illness, he only said, "Ah! + Don Juan has come back again." Never on earth has there been a father so + little exacting and so indulgent; and, in consequence, young Belvidero, + accustomed to treat his father unceremoniously, had all the faults of a + spoiled child. He treated old Bartolommeo as a wilful courtesan treats an + elderly adorer; buying indemnity for insolence with a smile, selling + good-humor, submitting to be loved. + </p> + <p> + Don Juan, beholding scene after scene of his younger years, saw that it + would be a difficult task to find his father's indulgence at fault. Some + new-born remorse stirred the depths of his heart; he felt almost ready to + forgive this father now about to die for having lived so long. He had an + accession of filial piety, like a thief's return in thought to honesty at + the prospect of a million adroitly stolen. + </p> + <p> + Before long Don Juan had crossed the lofty, chilly suite of rooms in which + his father lived; the penetrating influences of the damp close air, the + mustiness diffused by old tapestries and presses thickly covered with dust + had passed into him, and now he stood in the old man's antiquated room, in + the repulsive presence of the deathbed, beside a dying fire. A flickering + lamp on a Gothic table sent broad uncertain shafts of light, fainter or + brighter, across the bed, so that the dying man's face seemed to wear a + different look at every moment. The bitter wind whistled through the + crannies of the ill-fitting casements; there was a smothered sound of snow + lashing the windows. The harsh contrast of these sights and sounds with + the scenes which Don Juan had just quitted was so sudden that he could not + help shuddering. He turned cold as he came towards the bed; the lamp + flared in a sudden vehement gust of wind and lighted up his father's face; + the features were wasted and distorted; the skin that cleaved to their + bony outlines had taken wan livid hues, all the more ghastly by force of + contrast with the white pillows on which he lay. The muscles about the + toothless mouth had contracted with pain and drawn apart the lips; the + moans that issued between them with appalling energy found an + accompaniment in the howling of the storm without. + </p> + <p> + In spite of every sign of coming dissolution, the most striking thing + about the dying face was its incredible power. It was no ordinary spirit + that wrestled there with Death. The eyes glared with strange fixity of + gaze from the cavernous sockets hollowed by disease. It seemed as if + Bartolommeo sought to kill some enemy sitting at the foot of his bed by + the intent gaze of dying eyes. That steady remorseless look was the more + appalling because the head that lay upon the pillow was passive and + motionless as a skull upon a doctor's table. The outlines of the body, + revealed by the coverlet, were no less rigid and stiff; he lay there as + one dead, save for those eyes. There was something automatic about the + moaning sounds that came from the mouth. Don Juan felt something like + shame that he must be brought thus to his father's bedside, wearing a + courtesan's bouquet, redolent of the fragrance of the banqueting-chamber + and the fumes of wine. + </p> + <p> + "You were enjoying yourself!" the old man cried as he saw his son. + </p> + <p> + Even as he spoke the pure high notes of a woman's voice, sustained by the + sound of the viol on which she accompanied her song, rose above the rattle + of the storm against the casements, and floated up to the chamber of + death. Don Juan stopped his ears against the barbarous answer to his + father's speech. + </p> + <p> + "I bear you no grudge, my child," Bartolommeo went on. + </p> + <p> + The words were full of kindness, but they hurt Don Juan; he could not + pardon this heart-searching goodness on his father's part. + </p> + <p> + "What a remorseful memory for me!" he cried, hypocritically. + </p> + <p> + "Poor Juanino," the dying man went on, in a smothered voice, "I have + always been so kind to you, that you could not surely desire my death?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, if it were only possible to keep you here by giving up a part of my + own life!" cried Don Juan. + </p> + <p> + ("We can always <i>say</i> this sort of thing," the spendthrift thought; + "it is as if I laid the whole world at my mistress' feet.") + </p> + <p> + The thought had scarcely crossed his mind when the old poodle barked. Don + Juan shivered; the response was so intelligent that he fancied the dog + must have understood him. + </p> + <p> + "I was sure that I could count upon you, my son!" cried the dying man. "I + shall live. So be it; you shall be satisfied. I shall live, but without + depriving you of a single day of your life." + </p> + <p> + "He is raving," thought Don Juan. Aloud he added, "Yes, dearest father, + yes; you shall live, of course, as long as I live, for your image will be + for ever in my heart." + </p> + <p> + "It is not that kind of life that I mean," said the old noble, summoning + all his strength to sit up in bed; for a thrill of doubt ran through him, + one of those suspicions that come into being under a dying man's pillow. + "Listen, my son," he went on, in a voice grown weak with that last effort, + "I have no more wish to give up life than you to give up wine and + mistresses, horses and hounds, and hawks and gold——" + </p> + <p> + "I can well believe it," thought the son; and he knelt down by the bed and + kissed Bartolommeo's cold hands. "But, father, my dear father," he added + aloud, "we must submit to the will of God." + </p> + <p> + "I am God!" muttered the dying man. + </p> + <p> + "Do not blaspheme!" cried the other, as he saw the menacing expression on + his father's face. "Beware what you say; you have received extreme + unction, and I should be inconsolable if you were to die before my eyes in + mortal sin." + </p> + <p> + "Will you listen to me?" cried Bartolommeo, and his mouth twitched. + </p> + <p> + Don Juan held his peace; an ugly silence prevailed. Yet above the muffled + sound of the beating of the snow against the windows rose the sounds of + the beautiful voice and the viol in unison, far off and faint as the dawn. + The dying man smiled. + </p> + <p> + "Thank you," he said, "for bringing those singing voices and the music, a + banquet, young and lovely women with fair faces and dark tresses, all the + pleasure of life! Bid them wait for me; for I am about to begin life + anew." + </p> + <p> + "The delirium is at its height," said Don Juan to himself. + </p> + <p> + "I have found out a way of coming to life again," the speaker went on. + "There, just look in that table drawer, press the spring hidden by the + griffin, and it will fly open." + </p> + <p> + "I have found it, father." + </p> + <p> + "Well, then, now take out a little phial of rock crystal." + </p> + <p> + "I have it." + </p> + <p> + "I have spent twenty years in——" but even as he spoke the old + man felt how very near the end had come, and summoned all his dying + strength to say, "As soon as the breath is out of me, rub me all over with + that liquid, and I shall come to life again." + </p> + <p> + "There is very little of it," his son remarked. + </p> + <p> + Though Bartolommeo could no longer speak, he could still hear and see. + When those words dropped from Don Juan, his head turned with appalling + quickness, his neck was twisted like the throat of some marble statue + which the sculptor had condemned to remain stretched out for ever, the + wide eyes had come to have a ghastly fixity. + </p> + <p> + He was dead, and in death he lost his last and sole illusion. + </p> + <p> + He had sought a shelter in his son's heart, and it had proved to be a + sepulchre, a pit deeper than men dig for their dead. The hair on his head + had risen and stiffened with horror, his agonized glance still spoke. He + was a father rising in just anger from his tomb, to demand vengeance at + the throne of God. + </p> + <p> + "There! it is all over with the old man!" cried Don Juan. + </p> + <p> + He had been so interested in holding the mysterious phial to the lamp, as + a drinker holds up the wine-bottle at the end of a meal, that he had not + seen his father's eyes fade. The cowering poodle looked from his master to + the elixir, just as Don Juan himself glanced again and again from his + father to the flask. The lamplight flickered. There was a deep silence; + the viol was mute. Juan Belvidero thought that he saw his father stir, and + trembled. The changeless gaze of those accusing eyes frightened him; he + closed them hastily, as he would have closed a loose shutter swayed by the + wind of an autumn night. He stood there motionless, lost in a world of + thought. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly the silence was broken by a shrill sound like the creaking of a + rusty spring. It startled Don Juan; he all but dropped the phial. A sweat, + colder than the blade of a dagger, issued through every pore. It was only + a piece of clockwork, a wooden cock that sprang out and crowed three + times, an ingenious contrivance by which the learned of that epoch were + wont to be awakened at the appointed hour to begin the labors of the day. + Through the windows there came already a flush of dawn. The thing, + composed of wood, and cords, and wheels, and pulleys, was more faithful in + its service than he in his duty to Bartolommeo—he, a man with that + peculiar piece of human mechanism within him that we call a heart. + </p> + <p> + Don Juan the sceptic shut the flask again in the secret drawer in the + Gothic table—he meant to run no more risks of losing the mysterious + liquid. + </p> + <p> + Even at that solemn moment he heard the murmur of a crowd in the gallery, + a confused sound of voices, of stifled laughter and light footfalls, and + the rustling of silks—the sounds of a band of revelers struggling + for gravity. The door opened, and in came the Prince and Don Juan's + friends, the seven courtesans, and the singers, disheveled and wild like + dancers surprised by the dawn, when the tapers that have burned through + the night struggle with the sunlight. + </p> + <p> + They had come to offer the customary condolence to the young heir. + </p> + <p> + "Oho! is poor Don Juan really taking this seriously?" said the Prince in + Brambilla's ear. + </p> + <p> + "Well, his father was very good," she returned. + </p> + <p> + But Don Juan's night-thoughts had left such unmistakable traces on his + features, that the crew was awed into silence. The men stood motionless. + The women, with wine-parched lips and cheeks marbled with kisses, knelt + down and began a prayer. Don Juan could scarce help trembling when he saw + splendor and mirth and laughter and song and youth and beauty and power + bowed in reverence before Death. But in those times, in that adorable + Italy of the sixteenth century, religion and revelry went hand in hand; + and religious excess became a sort of debauch, and a debauch a religious + rite! + </p> + <p> + The Prince grasped Don Juan's hand affectionately, then when all faces had + simultaneously put on the same grimace—half-gloomy, half-indifferent—the + whole masque disappeared, and left the chamber of death empty. It was like + an allegory of life. + </p> + <p> + As they went down the staircase, the Prince spoke to Rivabarella: "Now, + who would have taken Don Juan's impiety for a boast? He loves his father." + </p> + <p> + "Did you see that black dog?" asked La Brambilla. + </p> + <p> + "He is enormously rich now," sighed Bianca Cavatolino. + </p> + <p> + "What is that to me?" cried the proud Veronese (she who had crushed the + comfit-box). + </p> + <p> + "What does it matter to you, forsooth?" cried the Duke. "With his money he + is as much a prince as I am." + </p> + <p> + At first Don Juan was swayed hither and thither by countless thoughts, and + wavered between two decisions. He took counsel with the gold heaped up by + his father, and returned in the evening to the chamber of death, his whole + soul brimming over with hideous selfishness. He found all his household + busy there. "His lordship" was to lie in state to-morrow; all Ferrara + would flock to behold the wonderful spectacle; and the servants were busy + decking the room and the couch on which the dead man lay. At a sign from + Don Juan all his people stopped, dumfounded and trembling. + </p> + <p> + "Leave me alone here," he said, and his voice was changed, "and do not + return until I leave the room." + </p> + <p> + When the footsteps of the old servitor, who was the last to go, echoed but + faintly along the paved gallery, Don Juan hastily locked the door, and + sure that he was quite alone, "Let us try," he said to himself. + </p> + <p> + Bartolommeo's body was stretched on a long table. The embalmers had laid a + sheet over it, to hide from all eyes the dreadful spectacle of a corpse so + wasted and shrunken that it seemed like a skeleton, and only the face was + uncovered. This mummy-like figure lay in the middle of the room. The limp + clinging linen lent itself to the outlines it shrouded—so sharp, + bony, and thin. Large violet patches had already begun to spread over the + face; the embalmers' work had not been finished too soon. + </p> + <p> + Don Juan, strong as he was in his scepticism, felt a tremor as he opened + the magic crystal flask. When he stood over that face, he was trembling so + violently, that he was actually obliged to wait for a moment. But Don Juan + had acquired an early familiarity with evil; his morals had been corrupted + by a licentious court, a reflection worthy of the Duke of Urbino crossed + his mind, and it was a keen sense of curiosity that goaded him into + boldness. The devil himself might have whispered the words that were + echoing through his brain, <i>Moisten one of the eyes with the liquid</i>! + He took up a linen cloth, moistened it sparingly with the precious fluid, + and passed it lightly over the right eyelid of the corpse. The eye + unclosed.... + </p> + <p> + "Aha!" said Don Juan. He gripped the flask tightly, as we clutch in dreams + the branch from which we hang suspended over a precipice. + </p> + <p> + For the eye was full of life. It was a young child's eye set in a death's + head; the light quivered in the depths of its youthful liquid brightness. + Shaded by the long dark lashes, it sparkled like the strange lights that + travelers see in lonely places in winter nights. The eye seemed as if it + would fain dart fire at Don Juan; he saw it thinking, upbraiding, + condemning, uttering accusations, threatening doom; it cried aloud, and + gnashed upon him. All anguish that shakes human souls was gathered there; + supplications the most tender, the wrath of kings, the love in a girl's + heart pleading with the headsman; then, and after all these, the deeply + searching glance a man turns on his fellows as he mounts the last step of + the scaffold. Life so dilated in this fragment of life that Don Juan + shrank back; he walked up and down the room, he dared not meet that gaze, + but he saw nothing else. The ceiling and the hangings, the whole room was + sown with living points of fire and intelligence. Everywhere those + gleaming eyes haunted him. + </p> + <p> + "He might very likely have lived another hundred years!" he cried + involuntarily. Some diabolical influence had drawn him to his father, and + again he gazed at that luminous spark. The eyelid closed and opened again + abruptly; it was like a woman's sign of assent. It was an intelligent + movement. If a voice had cried "Yes!" Don Juan could not have been more + startled. + </p> + <p> + "What is to be done?" he thought. + </p> + <p> + He nerved himself to try to close the white eyelid. In vain. + </p> + <p> + "Kill it? That would perhaps be parricide," he debated with himself. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," the eye said, with a strange sardonic quiver of the lid. + </p> + <p> + "Aha!" said Don Juan to himself, "here is witchcraft at work!" And he went + closer to crush the thing. A great tear trickled over the hollow cheeks, + and fell on Don Juan's hand. + </p> + <p> + "It is scalding!" he cried. He sat down. The struggle exhausted him; it + was as if, like Jacob of old, he was wrestling with an angel. + </p> + <p> + At last he rose. "So long as there is no blood——" he muttered. + </p> + <p> + Then, summoning all the courage needed for a coward's crime, he + extinguished the eye, pressing it with the linen cloth, turning his head + away. A terrible groan startled him. It was the poor poodle, who died with + a long-drawn howl. + </p> + <p> + "Could the brute have been in the secret?" thought Don Juan, looking down + at the faithful creature. + </p> + <p> + Don Juan Belvidero was looked upon as a dutiful son. He reared a white + marble monument on his father's tomb, and employed the greatest sculptors + of the time upon it. He did not recover perfect ease of mind till the day + when his father knelt in marble before Religion, and the heavy weight of + the stone had sealed the mouth of the grave in which he had laid the one + feeling of remorse that sometimes flitted through his soul in moments of + physical weariness. + </p> + <p> + He had drawn up a list of the wealth heaped up by the old merchant in the + East, and he became a miser: had he not to provide for a second lifetime? + His views of life were the more profound and penetrating; he grasped its + significance, as a whole, the better, because he saw it across a grave. + All men, all things, he analyzed once and for all; he summed up the Past, + represented by its records; the Present in the law, its crystallized form; + the Future, revealed by religion. He took spirit and matter, and flung + them into his crucible, and found—Nothing. Thenceforward he became + DON JUAN. + </p> + <p> + At the outset of his life, in the prime of youth and the beauty of youth, + he knew the illusions of life for what they were; he despised the world, + and made the utmost of the world. His felicity could not have been of the + bourgeois kind, rejoicing in periodically recurrent <i>bouilli</i>, in the + comforts of a warming-pan, a lamp of a night, and a new pair of slippers + once a quarter. Nay, rather he seized upon existence as a monkey snatches + a nut, and after no long toying with it, proceeds deftly to strip off the + mere husks to reach the savory kernel within. + </p> + <p> + Poetry and the sublime transports of passion scarcely reached ankle-depth + with him now. He in nowise fell into the error of strong natures who + flatter themselves now and again that little souls will believe in a great + soul, and are willing to barter their own lofty thoughts of the future for + the small change of our life-annuity ideas. He, even as they, had he + chosen, might well have walked with his feet on the earth and his head in + the skies; but he liked better to sit on earth, to wither the soft, fresh, + fragrant lips of a woman with kisses, for like Death, he devoured + everything without scruple as he passed; he would have full fruition; he + was an Oriental lover, seeking prolonged pleasures easily obtained. He + sought nothing but a woman in women, and cultivated cynicism, until it + became with him a habit of mind. When his mistress, from the couch on + which she lay, soared and was lost in regions of ecstatic bliss, Don Juan + followed suit, earnest, expansive, serious as any German student. But he + said I, while she, in the transports of intoxication, said We. He + understood to admiration the art of abandoning himself to the influence of + a woman; he was always clever enough to make her believe that he trembled + like some boy fresh from college before his first partner at a dance, when + he asks her, "Do you like dancing?" But, no less, he could be terrible at + need, could unsheathe a formidable sword and make short work of + Commandants. Banter lurked beneath his simplicity, mocking laughter behind + his tears—for he had tears at need, like any woman nowadays who says + to her husband, "Give me a carriage, or I shall go into a consumption." + </p> + <p> + For the merchant the world is a bale of goods or a mass of circulating + bills; for most young men it is a woman, and for a woman here and there it + is a man; for a certain order of mind it is a salon, a coterie, a quarter + of the town, or some single city; but Don Juan found his world in himself. + </p> + <p> + This model of grace and dignity, this captivating wit, moored his bark by + every shore; but wherever he was led he was never carried away, and was + only steered in a course of his own choosing. The more he saw, the more he + doubted. He watched men narrowly, and saw how, beneath the surface, + courage was often rashness; and prudence, cowardice; generosity, a clever + piece of calculation; justice, a wrong; delicacy, pusillanimity; honesty, + a <i>modus vivendi</i>; and by some strange dispensation of fate, he must + see that those who at heart were really honest, scrupulous, just, + generous, prudent, or brave were held cheaply by their fellow-men. + </p> + <p> + "What a cold-blooded jest!" said he to himself. "It was not devised by a + God." + </p> + <p> + From that time forth he renounced a better world, and never uncovered + himself when a Name was pronounced, and for him the carven saints in the + churches became works of art. He understood the mechanism of society too + well to clash wantonly with its prejudices; for, after all, he was not as + powerful as the executioner, but he evaded social laws with the wit and + grace so well rendered in the scene with M. Dimanche. He was, in fact, + Moliere's Don Juan, Goethe's Faust, Byron's Manfred, Mathurin's Melmoth—great + allegorical figures drawn by the greatest men of genius in Europe, to + which Mozart's harmonies, perhaps, do no more justice than Rossini's lyre. + Terrible allegorical figures that shall endure as long as the principle of + evil existing in the heart of man shall produce a few copies from century + to century. Sometimes the type becomes half-human when incarnate as a + Mirabeau, sometimes it is an inarticulate force in a Bonaparte, sometimes + it overwhelms the universe with irony as a Rabelais; or, yet again, it + appears when a Marechal de Richelieu elects to laugh at human beings + instead of scoffing at things, or when one of the most famous of our + ambassadors goes a step further and scoffs at both men and things. But the + profound genius of Juan Belvidero anticipated and resumed all these. All + things were a jest to him. His was the life of a mocking spirit. All men, + all institutions, all realities, all ideas were within its scope. As for + eternity, after half an hour of familiar conversation with Pope Julius II. + he said, laughing: + </p> + <p> + "If it is absolutely necessary to make a choice, I would rather believe in + God than in the Devil; power combined with goodness always offers more + resources than the spirit of Evil can boast." + </p> + <p> + "Yes; still God requires repentance in this present world——" + </p> + <p> + "So you always think of your indulgences," returned Don Juan Belvidero. + "Well, well, I have another life in reserve in which to repent of the sins + of my previous existence." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, if you regard old age in that light," cried the Pope, "you are in + danger on canonization——" + </p> + <p> + "After your elevation to the Papacy nothing is incredible." And they went + to watch the workmen who were building the huge basilica dedicated to + Saint Peter. + </p> + <p> + "Saint Peter, as the man of genius who laid the foundation of our double + power," the Pope said to Don Juan, "deserves this monument. Sometimes, + though, at night, I think that a deluge will wipe all this out as with a + sponge, and it will be all to begin over again." + </p> + <p> + Don Juan and the Pope began to laugh; they understood each other. A fool + would have gone on the morrow to amuse himself with Julius II. in + Raphael's studio or at the delicious Villa Madama; not so Belvidero. He + went to see the Pope as pontiff, to be convinced of any doubts that he + (Don Juan) entertained. Over his cups the Rovere would have been capable + of denying his own infallibility and of commenting on the Apocalypse. + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless, this legend has not been undertaken to furnish materials for + future biographies of Don Juan; it is intended to prove to honest folk + that Belvidero did not die in a duel with stone, as some lithographers + would have us believe. + </p> + <p> + When Don Juan Belvidero reached the age of sixty he settled in Spain, and + there in his old age he married a young and charming Andalusian wife. But + of set purpose he was neither a good husband nor a good father. He had + observed that we are never so tenderly loved as by women to whom we + scarcely give a thought. Dona Elvira had been devoutly brought up by an + old aunt in a castle a few leagues from San-Lucar in a remote part of + Andalusia. She was a model of devotion and grace. Don Juan foresaw that + this would be a woman who would struggle long against a passion before + yielding, and therefore hoped to keep her virtuous until his death. It was + a jest undertaken in earnest, a game of chess which he meant to reserve + till his old age. Don Juan had learned wisdom from the mistakes made by + his father Bartolommeo; he determined that the least details of his life + in old age should be subordinated to one object—the success of the + drama which was to be played out upon his death-bed. + </p> + <p> + For the same reason the largest part of his wealth was buried in the + cellars of his palace at Ferrara, whither he seldom went. As for the rest + of his fortune, it was invested in a life annuity, with a view to give his + wife and children an interest in keeping him alive; but this Machiavellian + piece of foresight was scarcely necessary. His son, young Felipe + Belvidero, grew up as a Spaniard as religiously conscientious as his + father was irreligious, in virtue, perhaps, of the old rule, "A miser has + a spendthrift son." The Abbot of San-Lucar was chosen by Don Juan to be + the director of the consciences of the Duchess of Belvidero and her son + Felipe. The ecclesiastic was a holy man, well shaped, and admirably well + proportioned. He had fine dark eyes, a head like that of Tiberius, worn + with fasting, bleached by an ascetic life, and, like all dwellers in the + wilderness, was daily tempted. The noble lord had hopes, it may be, of + despatching yet another monk before his term of life was out. + </p> + <p> + But whether because the Abbot was every whit as clever as Don Juan + himself, or Dona Elvira possessed more discretion or more virtue than + Spanish wives are usually credited with, Don Juan was compelled to spend + his declining years beneath his own roof, with no more scandal under it + than if he had been an ancient country parson. Occasionally he would take + wife and son to task for negligence in the duties of religion, + peremptorily insisting that they should carry out to the letter the + obligations imposed upon the flock by the Court of Rome. Indeed, he was + never so well pleased as when he had set the courtly Abbot discussing some + case of conscience with Dona Elvira and Felipe. + </p> + <p> + At length, however, despite the prodigious care that the great magnifico, + Don Juan Belvidero, took of himself, the days of decrepitude came upon + him, and with those days the constant importunity of physical feebleness, + an importunity all the more distressing by contrast with the wealth of + memories of his impetuous youth and the sensual pleasures of middle age. + The unbeliever who in the height of his cynical humor had been wont to + persuade others to believe in laws and principles at which he scoffed, + must repose nightly upon a <i>perhaps</i>. The great Duke, the pattern of + good breeding, the champion of many a carouse, the proud ornament of + Courts, the man of genius, the graceful winner of hearts that he had wrung + as carelessly as a peasant twists an osier withe, was now the victim of a + cough, of a ruthless sciatica, of an unmannerly gout. His teeth gradually + deserted him, as at the end of an evening the fairest and best-dressed + women take their leave one by one till the room is left empty and + desolate. The active hands became palsy-stricken, the shapely legs + tottered as he walked. At last, one night, a stroke of apoplexy caught him + by the throat in its icy clutch. After that fatal day he grew morose and + stern. + </p> + <p> + He would reproach his wife and son with their devotion, casting it in + their teeth that the affecting and thoughtful care that they lavished so + tenderly upon him was bestowed because they knew that his money was + invested in a life annuity. Then Elvira and Felipe would shed bitter tears + and redouble their caresses, and the wicked old man's insinuating voice + would take an affectionate tone—"Ah, you will forgive me, will you + not, dear friends, dear wife? I am rather a nuisance. Alas, Lord in + heaven, how canst Thou use me as the instrument by which Thou provest + these two angelic creatures? I who should be the joy of their lives am + become their scourge..." + </p> + <p> + In this manner he kept them tethered to his pillow, blotting out the + memory of whole months of fretfulness and unkindness in one short hour + when he chose to display for them the ever-new treasures of his pinchbeck + tenderness and charm of manner—a system of paternity that yielded + him an infinitely better return than his own father's indulgence had + formerly gained. At length his bodily infirmities reached a point when the + task of laying him in bed became as difficult as the navigation of a + felucca in the perils of an intricate channel. Then came the day of his + death; and this brilliant sceptic, whose mental faculties alone had + survived the most dreadful of all destructions, found himself between his + two special antipathies—the doctor and the confessor. But he was + jovial with them. Did he not see a light gleaming in the future beyond the + veil? The pall that is like lead for other men was thin and translucent + for him; the light-footed, irresistible delights of youth danced beyond it + like shadows. + </p> + <p> + It was on a beautiful summer evening that Don Juan felt the near approach + of death. The sky of Spain was serene and cloudless; the air was full of + the scent of orange-blossom; the stars shed clear, pure gleams of light; + nature without seemed to give the dying man assurance of resurrection; a + dutiful and obedient son sat there watching him with loving and respectful + eyes. Towards eleven o'clock he desired to be left alone with this + single-hearted being. + </p> + <p> + "Felipe," said the father, in tones so soft and affectionate that the + young man trembled, and tears of gladness came to his eyes; never had that + stern father spoken his name in such a tone. "Listen, my son," the dying + man went on. "I am a great sinner. All my life long, however, I have + thought of my death. I was once the friend of the great Pope Julius II.; + and that illustrious Pontiff, fearing lest the excessive excitability of + my senses should entangle me in mortal sin between the moment of my death + and the time of my anointing with the holy oil, gave me a flask that + contains a little of the holy water that once issued from the rock in the + wilderness. I have kept the secret of this squandering of a treasure + belonging to Holy Church, but I am permitted to reveal the mystery <i>in + articulo mortis</i> to my son. You will find the flask in a drawer in that + Gothic table that always stands by the head of the bed.... The precious + little crystal flask may be of use yet again for you, dearest Felipe. Will + you swear to me, by your salvation, to carry out my instructions + faithfully?" + </p> + <p> + Felipe looked at his father, and Don Juan was too deeply learned in the + lore of the human countenance not to die in peace with that look as his + warrant, as his own father had died in despair at meeting the expression + in his son's eyes. + </p> + <p> + "You deserved to have a better father," Don Juan went on. "I dare to + confess, my child, that while the reverend Abbot of San-Lucar was + administering the Viaticum I was thinking of the incompatibility of the + co-existence of two powers so infinite as God and the Devil——" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, father!" + </p> + <p> + "And I said to myself, when Satan makes his peace he ought surely to + stipulate for the pardon of his followers, or he will be the veriest + scoundrel. The thought haunted me; so I shall go to hell, my son, unless + you carry out my wishes." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, quick; tell me quickly, father." + </p> + <p> + "As soon as I have closed my eyes," Don Juan went on, "and that may be in + a few minutes, you must take my body before it grows cold and lay it on a + table in this room. Then put out the lamp; the light of the stars should + be sufficient. Take off my clothes, reciting Aves and Paters the while, + raising your soul to God in prayer, and carefully anoint my lips and eyes + with this holy water; begin with the face, and proceed successively to my + limbs and the rest of my body; my dear son, the power of God is so great + that you must be astonished at nothing." + </p> + <p> + Don Juan felt death so near, that he added in a terrible voice, "Be + careful not to drop the flask." + </p> + <p> + Then he breathed his last gently in the arms of his son, and his son's + tears fell fast over his sardonic, haggard features. + </p> + <p> + It was almost midnight when Don Felipe Belvidero laid his father's body + upon the table. He kissed the sinister brow and the gray hair; then he put + out the lamp. + </p> + <p> + By the soft moonlight that lit strange gleams across the country without, + Felipe could dimly see his father's body, a vague white thing among the + shadows. The dutiful son moistened a linen cloth with the liquid, and, + absorbed in prayer, he anointed the revered face. A deep silence reigned. + Felipe heard faint, indescribable rustlings; it was the breeze in the + tree-tops, he thought. But when he had moistened the right arm, he felt + himself caught by the throat, a young strong hand held him in a tight grip—it + was his father's hand! He shrieked aloud; the flask dropped from his hand + and broke in pieces. The liquid evaporated; the whole household hurried + into the room, holding torches aloft. That shriek had startled them, and + filled them with as much terror as if the Trumpet of the Angel sounding on + the Last Day had rung through earth and sky. The room was full of people, + and a horror-stricken crowd beheld the fainting Felipe upheld by the + strong arm of his father, who clutched him by the throat. They saw another + thing, an unearthly spectacle—Don Juan's face grown young and + beautiful as Antinous, with its dark hair and brilliant eyes and red lips, + a head that made horrible efforts, but could not move the dead, wasted + body. + </p> + <p> + An old servitor cried, "A miracle! a miracle!" and all the Spaniards + echoed, "A miracle! a miracle!" + </p> + <p> + Dona Elvira, too pious to attribute this to magic, sent for the Abbot of + San-Lucar; and the Prior beholding the miracle with his own eyes, being a + clever man, and withal an Abbot desirous of augmenting his revenues, + determined to turn the occasion to profit. He immediately gave out that + Don Juan would certainly be canonized; he appointed a day for the + celebration of the apotheosis in his convent, which thenceforward, he + said, should be called the convent of San Juan of Lucar. At these words a + sufficiently facetious grimace passed over the features of the late Duke. + </p> + <p> + The taste of the Spanish people for ecclesiastical solemnities is so well + known, that it should not be difficult to imagine the religious pantomime + by which the Convent of San-Lucar celebrated the translation of the <i>blessed + Don Juan Belvidero</i> to the abbey-church. The tale of the partial + resurrection had spread so quickly from village to village, that a day or + two after the death of the illustrious nobleman the report had reached + every place within fifty miles of San-Lucar, and it was as good as a play + to see the roads covered already with crowds flocking in on all sides, + their curiosity whetted still further by the prospect of a <i>Te Deum</i> + sung by torchlight. The old abbey church of San-Lucar, a marvelous + building erected by the Moors, a mosque of Allah, which for three + centuries had heard the name of Christ, could not hold the throng that + poured in to see the ceremony. Hidalgos in their velvet mantles, with + their good swords at their sides, swarmed like ants, and were so tightly + packed in among the pillars that they had not room to bend the knees, + which never bent save to God. Charming peasant girls, in the basquina that + defines the luxuriant outlines of their figures, lent an arm to + white-haired old men. Young men, with eyes of fire, walked beside aged + crones in holiday array. Then came couples tremulous with joy, young + lovers led thither by curiosity, newly-wedded folk; children timidly + clasping each other by the hand. This throng, so rich in coloring, in + vivid contrasts, laden with flowers, enameled like a meadow, sent up a + soft murmur through the quiet night. Then the great doors of the church + opened. + </p> + <p> + Late comers who remained without saw afar, through the three great open + doorways, a scene of which the theatrical illusions of modern opera can + give but a faint idea. The vast church was lighted up by thousands of + candles, offered by saints and sinners alike eager to win the favor of + this new candidate for canonization, and these self-commending + illuminations turned the great building into an enchanted fairyland. The + black archways, the shafts and capitals, the recessed chapels with gold + and silver gleaming in their depths, the galleries, the Arab traceries, + all the most delicate outlines of that delicate sculpture, burned in the + excess of light like the fantastic figures in the red heart of a brazier. + At the further end of the church, above that blazing sea, rose the high + altar like a splendid dawn. All the glories of the golden lamps and silver + candlesticks, of banners and tassels, of the shrines of the saints and + votive offerings, paled before the gorgeous brightness of the reliquary in + which Don Juan lay. The blasphemer's body sparkled with gems, and flowers, + and crystal, with diamonds and gold, and plumes white as the wings of + seraphim; they had set it up on the altar, where the pictures of Christ + had stood. All about him blazed a host of tall candles; the air quivered + in the radiant light. The worthy Abbot of San-Lucar, in pontifical robes, + with his mitre set with precious stones, his rochet and golden crosier, + sat enthroned in imperial state among his clergy in the choir. Rows of + impassive aged faces, silver-haired old men clad in fine linen albs, were + grouped about him, as the saints who confessed Christ on earth are set by + painters, each in his place, about the throne of God in heaven. The + precentor and the dignitaries of the chapter, adorned with the gorgeous + insignia of ecclesiastical vanity, came and went through the clouds of + incense, like stars upon their courses in the firmament. + </p> + <p> + When the hour of triumph arrived, the bells awoke the echoes far and wide, + and the whole vast crowd raised to God the first cry of praise that begins + the <i>Te Deum</i>. A sublime cry! High, pure notes, the voices of women + in ecstasy, mingled in it with the sterner and deeper voices of men; + thousands of voices sent up a volume of sound so mighty, that the + straining, groaning organ-pipes could not dominate that harmony. But the + shrill sound of children's singing among the choristers, the reverberation + of deep bass notes, awakened gracious associations, visions of childhood, + and of man in his strength, and rose above that entrancing harmony of + human voices blended in one sentiment of love. + </p> + <p> + <i>Te Deum laudamus</i>! + </p> + <p> + The chant went up from the black masses of men and women kneeling in the + cathedral, like a sudden breaking out of light in darkness, and the + silence was shattered as by a peal of thunder. The voices floated up with + the clouds of incense that had begun to cast thin bluish veils over the + fanciful marvels of the architecture, and the aisles were filled with + splendor and perfume and light and melody. Even at the moment when that + music of love and thanksgiving soared up to the altar, Don Juan, too well + bred not to express his acknowledgments, too witty not to understand how + to take a jest, bridled up in his reliquary, and responded with an + appalling burst of laughter. Then the Devil having put him in mind of the + risk he was running of being taken for an ordinary man, a saint, a + Boniface, a Pantaleone, he interrupted the melody of love by a yell, the + thousand voices of hell joined in it. Earth blessed, Heaven banned. The + church was shaken to its ancient foundations. + </p> + <p> + <i>Te Deum laudamus</i>! cried the many voices. + </p> + <p> + "Go to the devil, brute beasts that you are! <i>Dios! Dios! Garajos + demonios!</i> Idiots! What fools you are with your dotard God!" and a + torrent of imprecations poured forth like a stream of red-hot lava from + the mouth of Vesuvius. + </p> + <p> + "<i>Deus Sabaoth!... Sabaoth</i>!" cried the believers. + </p> + <p> + "You are insulting the majesty of Hell," shouted Don Juan, gnashing his + teeth. In another moment the living arm struggled out of the reliquary, + and was brandished over the assembly in mockery and despair. + </p> + <p> + "The saint is blessing us," cried the old women, children, lovers, and the + credulous among the crowd. + </p> + <p> + And note how often we are deceived in the homage we pay; the great man + scoffs at those who praise him, and pays compliments now and again to + those whom he laughs at in the depths of his heart. + </p> + <p> + Just as the Abbot, prostrate before the altar, was chanting "<i>Sancte + Johannes, ora pro noblis</i>!" he heard a voice exclaim sufficiently + distinctly: "<i>O coglione</i>!" + </p> + <p> + "What can be going on up there?" cried the Sub-prior, as he saw the + reliquary move. + </p> + <p> + "The saint is playing the devil," replied the Abbot. + </p> + <p> + Even as he spoke the living head tore itself away from the lifeless body, + and dropped upon the sallow cranium of the officiating priest. + </p> + <p> + "Remember Dona Elvira!" cried the thing, with its teeth set fast in the + Abbot's head. + </p> + <p> + The Abbot's horror-stricken shriek disturbed the ceremony; all the + ecclesiastics hurried up and crowded about their chief. + </p> + <p> + "Idiot, tell us now if there is a God!" the voice cried, as the Abbot, + bitten through the brain, drew his last breath. + </p> + <p> + PARIS, October 1830. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Elixir of Life, by Honore de Balzac + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ELIXIR OF LIFE *** + +***** This file should be named 1215-h.htm or 1215-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/1/1215/ + +Produced by Dagny, and David Widger + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + </body> +</html> diff --git a/old/1215.txt b/old/1215.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..062abe1 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/1215.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1374 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Elixir of Life, by Honore de Balzac + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Elixir of Life + +Author: Honore de Balzac + +Translator: Clara Bell and James Waring + +Release Date: February, 1998 [Etext #1215] +Posting Date: February 20, 2010 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ELIXIR OF LIFE *** + + + + +Produced by Dagny + + + + + +THE ELIXIR OF LIFE + + +By Honore De Balzac + + +Translated By Clara Bell and James Waring + + + + + +TO THE READER + +At the very outset of the writer's literary career, a friend, long since +dead, gave him the subject of this Study. Later on he found the same +story in a collection published about the beginning of the present +century. To the best of his belief, it is some stray fancy of the brain +of Hoffmann of Berlin; probably it appeared in some German almanac, +and was omitted in the published editions of his collected works. The +_Comedie Humaine_ is sufficiently rich in original creations for the +author to own to this innocent piece of plagiarism; when, like the +worthy La Fontaine, he has told unwittingly, and after his own fashion, +a tale already related by another. This is not one of the hoaxes in +vogue in the year 1830, when every author wrote his "tale of horror" +for the amusement of young ladies. When you have read the account of +Don Juan's decorous parricide, try to picture to yourself the part which +would be played under very similar circumstances by honest folk who, in +this nineteenth century, will take a man's money and undertake to pay +him a life annuity on the faith of a chill, or let a house to an ancient +lady for the term of her natural life! Would they be for resuscitating +their clients? I should dearly like a connoisseur in consciences to +consider how far there is a resemblance between a Don Juan and fathers +who marry their children to great expectations. Does humanity, which, +according to certain philosophers, is making progress, look on the art +of waiting for dead men's shoes as a step in the right direction? To +this art we owe several honorable professions, which open up ways of +living on death. There are people who rely entirely on an expected +demise; who brood over it, crouching each morning upon a corpse, that +serves again for their pillow at night. To this class belong bishops' +coadjutors, cardinals' supernumeraries, _tontiniers_, and the like. +Add to the list many delicately scrupulous persons eager to buy landed +property beyond their means, who calculate with dry logic and in cold +blood the probable duration of the life of a father or of a step-mother, +some old man or woman of eighty or ninety, saying to themselves, "I +shall be sure to come in for it in three years' time, and then----" A +murderer is less loathsome to us than a spy. The murderer may have acted +on a sudden mad impulse; he may be penitent and amend; but a spy is +always a spy, night and day, in bed, at table, as he walks abroad; his +vileness pervades every moment of his life. Then what must it be to live +when every moment of your life is tainted with murder? And have we not +just admitted that a host of human creatures in our midst are led by +our laws, customs, and usages to dwell without ceasing on a +fellow-creature's death? There are men who put the weight of a coffin +into their deliberations as they bargain for Cashmere shawls for their +wives, as they go up the staircase of a theatre, or think of going to +the Bouffons, or of setting up a carriage; who are murderers in thought +when dear ones, with the irresistible charm of innocence, hold up +childish foreheads to be kissed with a "Good-night, father!" Hourly they +meet the gaze of eyes that they would fain close for ever, eyes that +still open each morning to the light, like Belvidero's in this Study. +God alone knows the number of those who are parricides in thought. +Picture to yourself the state of mind of a man who must pay a life +annuity to some old woman whom he scarcely knows; both live in +the country with a brook between them, both sides are free to hate +cordially, without offending against the social conventions that require +two brothers to wear a mask if the older will succeed to the entail, +and the other to the fortune of a younger son. The whole civilization +of Europe turns upon the principle of hereditary succession as upon a +pivot; it would be madness to subvert the principle; but could we not, +in an age that prides itself upon its mechanical inventions, perfect +this essential portion of the social machinery? + +If the author has preserved the old-fashioned style of address _To the +Reader_ before a work wherein he endeavors to represent all literary +forms, it is for the purpose of making a remark that applies to +several of the Studies, and very specially to this. Every one of his +compositions has been based upon ideas more or less novel, which, as +it seemed to him, needed literary expression; he can claim priority for +certain forms and for certain ideas which have since passed into the +domain of literature, and have there, in some instances, become common +property; so that the date of the first publication of each Study cannot +be a matter of indifference to those of his readers who would fain do +him justice. + +Reading brings us unknown friends, and what friend is like a reader? +We have friends in our own circle who read nothing of ours. The author +hopes to pay his debt, by dedicating this work _Diis ignotis_. + + + + + +THE ELIXIR OF LIFE + +One winter evening, in a princely palace at Ferrara, Don Juan Belvidero +was giving a banquet to a prince of the house of Este. A banquet in +those times was a marvelous spectacle which only royal wealth or the +power of a mightly [sic] lord could furnish forth. Seated about a +table lit up with perfumed tapers, seven laughter-loving women were +interchanging sweet talk. The white marble of the noble works of art +about them stood out against the red stucco walls, and made strong +contrasts with the rich Turkey carpets. Clad in satin, glittering with +gold, and covered with gems less brilliant than their eyes, each told +a tale of energetic passions as diverse as their styles of beauty. +They differed neither in their ideas nor in their language; but the +expression of their eyes, their glances, occasional gestures, or +the tones of their voices supplied a commentary, dissolute, wanton, +melancholy, or satirical, to their words. + +One seemed to be saying--"The frozen heart of age might kindle at my +beauty." + +Another--"I love to lounge upon cushions, and think with rapture of my +adorers." + +A third, a neophyte at these banquets, was inclined to blush. "I feel +remorse in the depths of my heart! I am a Catholic, and afraid of hell. +But I love you, I love you so that I can sacrifice my hereafter to you." + +The fourth drained a cup of Chian wine. "Give me a joyous life!" she +cried; "I begin life afresh each day with the dawn. Forgetful of the +past, with the intoxication of yesterday's rapture still upon me, I +drink deep of life--a whole lifetime of pleasure and of love!" + +The woman who sat next to Juan Belvidero looked at him with a feverish +glitter in her eyes. She was silent. Then--"I should need no hired bravo +to kill my lover if he forsook me!" she cried at last, and laughed, but +the marvelously wrought gold comfit box in her fingers was crushed by +her convulsive clutch. + +"When are you to be Grand Duke?" asked the sixth. There was the frenzy +of a Bacchante in her eyes, and her teeth gleamed between the lips +parted with a smile of cruel glee. + +"Yes, when is that father of yours going to die?" asked the seventh, +throwing her bouquet at Don Juan with bewitching playfulness. It was +a childish girl who spoke, and the speaker was wont to make sport of +sacred things. + +"Oh! don't talk about it," cried Don Juan, the young and handsome giver +of the banquet. "There is but one eternal father, and, as ill luck will +have it, he is mine." + +The seven Ferrarese, Don Juan's friends, the Prince himself, gave a cry +of horror. Two hundred years later, in the days of Louis XV., people of +taste would have laughed at this witticism. Or was it, perhaps, that +at the outset of an orgy there is a certain unwonted lucidity of mind? +Despite the taper light, the clamor of the senses, the gleam of gold and +silver, the fumes of wine, and the exquisite beauty of the women, +there may perhaps have been in the depths of the revelers' hearts some +struggling glimmer of reverence for things divine and human, until it +was drowned in glowing floods of wine! Yet even then the flowers had +been crushed, eyes were growing dull, and drunkenness, in Rabelais' +phrase, had "taken possession of them down to their sandals." + +During that brief pause a door opened; and as once the Divine presence +was revealed at Belshazzar's feast, so now it seemed to be manifest +in the apparition of an old white-haired servant, who tottered in, +and looked sadly from under knitted brows at the revelers. He gave +a withering glance at the garlands, the golden cups, the pyramids of +fruit, the dazzling lights of the banquet, the flushed scared faces, the +hues of the cushions pressed by the white arms of the women. + +"My lord, your father is dying!" he said; and at those solemn words, +uttered in hollow tones, a veil of crape seemed to be drawn over the +wild mirth. + +Don Juan rose to his feet with a gesture to his guests that might be +rendered by, "Excuse me; this kind of thing does not happen every day." + +Does it so seldom happen that a father's death surprises youth in the +full-blown splendor of life, in the midst of the mad riot of an orgy? +Death is as unexpected in his caprice as a courtesan in her disdain; but +death is truer--Death has never forsaken any man. + +Don Juan closed the door of the banqueting-hall; and as he went down +the long gallery, through the cold and darkness, he strove to assume an +expression in keeping with the part he had to play; he had thrown off +his mirthful mood, as he had thrown down his table napkin, at the first +thought of this role. The night was dark. The mute servitor, his guide +to the chamber where the dying man lay, lighted the way so dimly that +Death, aided by cold, silence, and darkness, and it may be by a reaction +of drunkenness, could send some sober thoughts through the spendthrift's +soul. He examined his life, and became thoughtful, like a man involved +in a lawsuit on his way to the Court. + +Bartolommeo Belvidero, Don Juan's father, was an old man of ninety, who +had devoted the greatest part of his life to business pursuits. He had +acquired vast wealth in many a journey to magical Eastern lands, and +knowledge, so it was said, more valuable than the gold and diamonds, +which had almost ceased to have any value for him. + +"I would give more to have a tooth in my head than for a ruby," he would +say at times with a smile. The indulgent father loved to hear Don Juan's +story of this and that wild freak of youth. "So long as these follies +amuse you, dear boy----" he would say laughingly, as he lavished money +on his son. Age never took such pleasure in the sight of youth; the fond +father did not remember his own decaying powers while he looked on that +brilliant young life. + +Bartolommeo Belvidero, at the age of sixty, had fallen in love with an +angel of peace and beauty. Don Juan had been the sole fruit of this late +and short-lived love. For fifteen years the widower had mourned the +loss of his beloved Juana; and to this sorrow of age, his son and +his numerous household had attributed the strange habits that he had +contracted. He had shut himself up in the least comfortable wing of his +palace, and very seldom left his apartments; even Don Juan himself must +first ask permission before seeing his father. If this hermit, unbound +by vows, came or went in his palace or in the streets of Ferrara, he +walked as if he were in a dream, wholly engrossed, like a man at strife +with a memory, or a wrestler with some thought. + +The young Don Juan might give princely banquets, the palace might echo +with clamorous mirth, horses pawed the ground in the courtyards, pages +quarreled and flung dice upon the stairs, but Bartolommeo ate his seven +ounces of bread daily and drank water. A fowl was occasionally dressed +for him, simply that the black poodle, his faithful companion, might +have the bones. Bartolommeo never complained of the noise. If the +huntsmen's horns and baying dogs disturbed his sleep during his illness, +he only said, "Ah! Don Juan has come back again." Never on earth +has there been a father so little exacting and so indulgent; and, +in consequence, young Belvidero, accustomed to treat his father +unceremoniously, had all the faults of a spoiled child. He treated +old Bartolommeo as a wilful courtesan treats an elderly adorer; buying +indemnity for insolence with a smile, selling good-humor, submitting to +be loved. + +Don Juan, beholding scene after scene of his younger years, saw that it +would be a difficult task to find his father's indulgence at fault. Some +new-born remorse stirred the depths of his heart; he felt almost ready +to forgive this father now about to die for having lived so long. He +had an accession of filial piety, like a thief's return in thought to +honesty at the prospect of a million adroitly stolen. + +Before long Don Juan had crossed the lofty, chilly suite of rooms in +which his father lived; the penetrating influences of the damp close +air, the mustiness diffused by old tapestries and presses thickly +covered with dust had passed into him, and now he stood in the old man's +antiquated room, in the repulsive presence of the deathbed, beside a +dying fire. A flickering lamp on a Gothic table sent broad uncertain +shafts of light, fainter or brighter, across the bed, so that the dying +man's face seemed to wear a different look at every moment. The bitter +wind whistled through the crannies of the ill-fitting casements; there +was a smothered sound of snow lashing the windows. The harsh contrast of +these sights and sounds with the scenes which Don Juan had just quitted +was so sudden that he could not help shuddering. He turned cold as he +came towards the bed; the lamp flared in a sudden vehement gust of +wind and lighted up his father's face; the features were wasted and +distorted; the skin that cleaved to their bony outlines had taken wan +livid hues, all the more ghastly by force of contrast with the white +pillows on which he lay. The muscles about the toothless mouth had +contracted with pain and drawn apart the lips; the moans that issued +between them with appalling energy found an accompaniment in the howling +of the storm without. + +In spite of every sign of coming dissolution, the most striking thing +about the dying face was its incredible power. It was no ordinary spirit +that wrestled there with Death. The eyes glared with strange fixity of +gaze from the cavernous sockets hollowed by disease. It seemed as if +Bartolommeo sought to kill some enemy sitting at the foot of his bed by +the intent gaze of dying eyes. That steady remorseless look was the +more appalling because the head that lay upon the pillow was passive and +motionless as a skull upon a doctor's table. The outlines of the body, +revealed by the coverlet, were no less rigid and stiff; he lay there as +one dead, save for those eyes. There was something automatic about the +moaning sounds that came from the mouth. Don Juan felt something like +shame that he must be brought thus to his father's bedside, wearing a +courtesan's bouquet, redolent of the fragrance of the banqueting-chamber +and the fumes of wine. + +"You were enjoying yourself!" the old man cried as he saw his son. + +Even as he spoke the pure high notes of a woman's voice, sustained by +the sound of the viol on which she accompanied her song, rose above the +rattle of the storm against the casements, and floated up to the chamber +of death. Don Juan stopped his ears against the barbarous answer to his +father's speech. + +"I bear you no grudge, my child," Bartolommeo went on. + +The words were full of kindness, but they hurt Don Juan; he could not +pardon this heart-searching goodness on his father's part. + +"What a remorseful memory for me!" he cried, hypocritically. + +"Poor Juanino," the dying man went on, in a smothered voice, "I have +always been so kind to you, that you could not surely desire my death?" + +"Oh, if it were only possible to keep you here by giving up a part of my +own life!" cried Don Juan. + +("We can always _say_ this sort of thing," the spendthrift thought; "it +is as if I laid the whole world at my mistress' feet.") + +The thought had scarcely crossed his mind when the old poodle barked. +Don Juan shivered; the response was so intelligent that he fancied the +dog must have understood him. + +"I was sure that I could count upon you, my son!" cried the dying man. +"I shall live. So be it; you shall be satisfied. I shall live, but +without depriving you of a single day of your life." + +"He is raving," thought Don Juan. Aloud he added, "Yes, dearest father, +yes; you shall live, of course, as long as I live, for your image will +be for ever in my heart." + +"It is not that kind of life that I mean," said the old noble, summoning +all his strength to sit up in bed; for a thrill of doubt ran through +him, one of those suspicions that come into being under a dying man's +pillow. "Listen, my son," he went on, in a voice grown weak with that +last effort, "I have no more wish to give up life than you to give up +wine and mistresses, horses and hounds, and hawks and gold----" + +"I can well believe it," thought the son; and he knelt down by the bed +and kissed Bartolommeo's cold hands. "But, father, my dear father," he +added aloud, "we must submit to the will of God." + +"I am God!" muttered the dying man. + +"Do not blaspheme!" cried the other, as he saw the menacing expression +on his father's face. "Beware what you say; you have received extreme +unction, and I should be inconsolable if you were to die before my eyes +in mortal sin." + +"Will you listen to me?" cried Bartolommeo, and his mouth twitched. + +Don Juan held his peace; an ugly silence prevailed. Yet above the +muffled sound of the beating of the snow against the windows rose the +sounds of the beautiful voice and the viol in unison, far off and faint +as the dawn. The dying man smiled. + +"Thank you," he said, "for bringing those singing voices and the music, +a banquet, young and lovely women with fair faces and dark tresses, all +the pleasure of life! Bid them wait for me; for I am about to begin life +anew." + +"The delirium is at its height," said Don Juan to himself. + +"I have found out a way of coming to life again," the speaker went on. +"There, just look in that table drawer, press the spring hidden by the +griffin, and it will fly open." + +"I have found it, father." + +"Well, then, now take out a little phial of rock crystal." + +"I have it." + +"I have spent twenty years in----" but even as he spoke the old man felt +how very near the end had come, and summoned all his dying strength +to say, "As soon as the breath is out of me, rub me all over with that +liquid, and I shall come to life again." + +"There is very little of it," his son remarked. + +Though Bartolommeo could no longer speak, he could still hear and see. +When those words dropped from Don Juan, his head turned with appalling +quickness, his neck was twisted like the throat of some marble statue +which the sculptor had condemned to remain stretched out for ever, the +wide eyes had come to have a ghastly fixity. + +He was dead, and in death he lost his last and sole illusion. + +He had sought a shelter in his son's heart, and it had proved to be a +sepulchre, a pit deeper than men dig for their dead. The hair on his +head had risen and stiffened with horror, his agonized glance still +spoke. He was a father rising in just anger from his tomb, to demand +vengeance at the throne of God. + +"There! it is all over with the old man!" cried Don Juan. + +He had been so interested in holding the mysterious phial to the lamp, +as a drinker holds up the wine-bottle at the end of a meal, that he had +not seen his father's eyes fade. The cowering poodle looked from his +master to the elixir, just as Don Juan himself glanced again and again +from his father to the flask. The lamplight flickered. There was a +deep silence; the viol was mute. Juan Belvidero thought that he saw his +father stir, and trembled. The changeless gaze of those accusing eyes +frightened him; he closed them hastily, as he would have closed a +loose shutter swayed by the wind of an autumn night. He stood there +motionless, lost in a world of thought. + +Suddenly the silence was broken by a shrill sound like the creaking of +a rusty spring. It startled Don Juan; he all but dropped the phial. A +sweat, colder than the blade of a dagger, issued through every pore. It +was only a piece of clockwork, a wooden cock that sprang out and crowed +three times, an ingenious contrivance by which the learned of that epoch +were wont to be awakened at the appointed hour to begin the labors of +the day. Through the windows there came already a flush of dawn. The +thing, composed of wood, and cords, and wheels, and pulleys, was more +faithful in its service than he in his duty to Bartolommeo--he, a man +with that peculiar piece of human mechanism within him that we call a +heart. + +Don Juan the sceptic shut the flask again in the secret drawer in the +Gothic table--he meant to run no more risks of losing the mysterious +liquid. + +Even at that solemn moment he heard the murmur of a crowd in the +gallery, a confused sound of voices, of stifled laughter and light +footfalls, and the rustling of silks--the sounds of a band of revelers +struggling for gravity. The door opened, and in came the Prince and Don +Juan's friends, the seven courtesans, and the singers, disheveled and +wild like dancers surprised by the dawn, when the tapers that have +burned through the night struggle with the sunlight. + +They had come to offer the customary condolence to the young heir. + +"Oho! is poor Don Juan really taking this seriously?" said the Prince in +Brambilla's ear. + +"Well, his father was very good," she returned. + +But Don Juan's night-thoughts had left such unmistakable traces on his +features, that the crew was awed into silence. The men stood motionless. +The women, with wine-parched lips and cheeks marbled with kisses, knelt +down and began a prayer. Don Juan could scarce help trembling when he +saw splendor and mirth and laughter and song and youth and beauty and +power bowed in reverence before Death. But in those times, in that +adorable Italy of the sixteenth century, religion and revelry went hand +in hand; and religious excess became a sort of debauch, and a debauch a +religious rite! + +The Prince grasped Don Juan's hand affectionately, then when all +faces had simultaneously put on the same grimace--half-gloomy, +half-indifferent--the whole masque disappeared, and left the chamber of +death empty. It was like an allegory of life. + +As they went down the staircase, the Prince spoke to Rivabarella: +"Now, who would have taken Don Juan's impiety for a boast? He loves his +father." + +"Did you see that black dog?" asked La Brambilla. + +"He is enormously rich now," sighed Bianca Cavatolino. + +"What is that to me?" cried the proud Veronese (she who had crushed the +comfit-box). + +"What does it matter to you, forsooth?" cried the Duke. "With his money +he is as much a prince as I am." + +At first Don Juan was swayed hither and thither by countless thoughts, +and wavered between two decisions. He took counsel with the gold heaped +up by his father, and returned in the evening to the chamber of death, +his whole soul brimming over with hideous selfishness. He found all his +household busy there. "His lordship" was to lie in state to-morrow; all +Ferrara would flock to behold the wonderful spectacle; and the servants +were busy decking the room and the couch on which the dead man lay. At a +sign from Don Juan all his people stopped, dumfounded and trembling. + +"Leave me alone here," he said, and his voice was changed, "and do not +return until I leave the room." + +When the footsteps of the old servitor, who was the last to go, echoed +but faintly along the paved gallery, Don Juan hastily locked the door, +and sure that he was quite alone, "Let us try," he said to himself. + +Bartolommeo's body was stretched on a long table. The embalmers had +laid a sheet over it, to hide from all eyes the dreadful spectacle of a +corpse so wasted and shrunken that it seemed like a skeleton, and only +the face was uncovered. This mummy-like figure lay in the middle of +the room. The limp clinging linen lent itself to the outlines it +shrouded--so sharp, bony, and thin. Large violet patches had already +begun to spread over the face; the embalmers' work had not been finished +too soon. + +Don Juan, strong as he was in his scepticism, felt a tremor as he opened +the magic crystal flask. When he stood over that face, he was trembling +so violently, that he was actually obliged to wait for a moment. But Don +Juan had acquired an early familiarity with evil; his morals had been +corrupted by a licentious court, a reflection worthy of the Duke of +Urbino crossed his mind, and it was a keen sense of curiosity that +goaded him into boldness. The devil himself might have whispered the +words that were echoing through his brain, _Moisten one of the eyes with +the liquid_! He took up a linen cloth, moistened it sparingly with +the precious fluid, and passed it lightly over the right eyelid of the +corpse. The eye unclosed.... + +"Aha!" said Don Juan. He gripped the flask tightly, as we clutch in +dreams the branch from which we hang suspended over a precipice. + +For the eye was full of life. It was a young child's eye set in a +death's head; the light quivered in the depths of its youthful liquid +brightness. Shaded by the long dark lashes, it sparkled like the strange +lights that travelers see in lonely places in winter nights. The eye +seemed as if it would fain dart fire at Don Juan; he saw it thinking, +upbraiding, condemning, uttering accusations, threatening doom; it cried +aloud, and gnashed upon him. All anguish that shakes human souls was +gathered there; supplications the most tender, the wrath of kings, the +love in a girl's heart pleading with the headsman; then, and after all +these, the deeply searching glance a man turns on his fellows as he +mounts the last step of the scaffold. Life so dilated in this fragment +of life that Don Juan shrank back; he walked up and down the room, he +dared not meet that gaze, but he saw nothing else. The ceiling and +the hangings, the whole room was sown with living points of fire and +intelligence. Everywhere those gleaming eyes haunted him. + +"He might very likely have lived another hundred years!" he cried +involuntarily. Some diabolical influence had drawn him to his father, +and again he gazed at that luminous spark. The eyelid closed and +opened again abruptly; it was like a woman's sign of assent. It was an +intelligent movement. If a voice had cried "Yes!" Don Juan could not +have been more startled. + +"What is to be done?" he thought. + +He nerved himself to try to close the white eyelid. In vain. + +"Kill it? That would perhaps be parricide," he debated with himself. + +"Yes," the eye said, with a strange sardonic quiver of the lid. + +"Aha!" said Don Juan to himself, "here is witchcraft at work!" And he +went closer to crush the thing. A great tear trickled over the hollow +cheeks, and fell on Don Juan's hand. + +"It is scalding!" he cried. He sat down. The struggle exhausted him; it +was as if, like Jacob of old, he was wrestling with an angel. + +At last he rose. "So long as there is no blood----" he muttered. + +Then, summoning all the courage needed for a coward's crime, he +extinguished the eye, pressing it with the linen cloth, turning his head +away. A terrible groan startled him. It was the poor poodle, who died +with a long-drawn howl. + +"Could the brute have been in the secret?" thought Don Juan, looking +down at the faithful creature. + +Don Juan Belvidero was looked upon as a dutiful son. He reared a +white marble monument on his father's tomb, and employed the greatest +sculptors of the time upon it. He did not recover perfect ease of mind +till the day when his father knelt in marble before Religion, and the +heavy weight of the stone had sealed the mouth of the grave in which he +had laid the one feeling of remorse that sometimes flitted through his +soul in moments of physical weariness. + +He had drawn up a list of the wealth heaped up by the old merchant in +the East, and he became a miser: had he not to provide for a second +lifetime? His views of life were the more profound and penetrating; +he grasped its significance, as a whole, the better, because he saw it +across a grave. All men, all things, he analyzed once and for all; he +summed up the Past, represented by its records; the Present in the law, +its crystallized form; the Future, revealed by religion. He took spirit +and matter, and flung them into his crucible, and found--Nothing. +Thenceforward he became DON JUAN. + +At the outset of his life, in the prime of youth and the beauty of +youth, he knew the illusions of life for what they were; he despised +the world, and made the utmost of the world. His felicity could not +have been of the bourgeois kind, rejoicing in periodically recurrent +_bouilli_, in the comforts of a warming-pan, a lamp of a night, and +a new pair of slippers once a quarter. Nay, rather he seized upon +existence as a monkey snatches a nut, and after no long toying with it, +proceeds deftly to strip off the mere husks to reach the savory kernel +within. + +Poetry and the sublime transports of passion scarcely reached +ankle-depth with him now. He in nowise fell into the error of strong +natures who flatter themselves now and again that little souls will +believe in a great soul, and are willing to barter their own lofty +thoughts of the future for the small change of our life-annuity ideas. +He, even as they, had he chosen, might well have walked with his feet +on the earth and his head in the skies; but he liked better to sit on +earth, to wither the soft, fresh, fragrant lips of a woman with kisses, +for like Death, he devoured everything without scruple as he passed; he +would have full fruition; he was an Oriental lover, seeking prolonged +pleasures easily obtained. He sought nothing but a woman in women, and +cultivated cynicism, until it became with him a habit of mind. When +his mistress, from the couch on which she lay, soared and was lost in +regions of ecstatic bliss, Don Juan followed suit, earnest, expansive, +serious as any German student. But he said I, while she, in the +transports of intoxication, said We. He understood to admiration the art +of abandoning himself to the influence of a woman; he was always clever +enough to make her believe that he trembled like some boy fresh from +college before his first partner at a dance, when he asks her, "Do +you like dancing?" But, no less, he could be terrible at need, could +unsheathe a formidable sword and make short work of Commandants. Banter +lurked beneath his simplicity, mocking laughter behind his tears--for +he had tears at need, like any woman nowadays who says to her husband, +"Give me a carriage, or I shall go into a consumption." + +For the merchant the world is a bale of goods or a mass of circulating +bills; for most young men it is a woman, and for a woman here and there +it is a man; for a certain order of mind it is a salon, a coterie, a +quarter of the town, or some single city; but Don Juan found his world +in himself. + +This model of grace and dignity, this captivating wit, moored his bark +by every shore; but wherever he was led he was never carried away, and +was only steered in a course of his own choosing. The more he saw, +the more he doubted. He watched men narrowly, and saw how, beneath +the surface, courage was often rashness; and prudence, cowardice; +generosity, a clever piece of calculation; justice, a wrong; delicacy, +pusillanimity; honesty, a _modus vivendi_; and by some strange +dispensation of fate, he must see that those who at heart were really +honest, scrupulous, just, generous, prudent, or brave were held cheaply +by their fellow-men. + +"What a cold-blooded jest!" said he to himself. "It was not devised by a +God." + +From that time forth he renounced a better world, and never uncovered +himself when a Name was pronounced, and for him the carven saints in the +churches became works of art. He understood the mechanism of society too +well to clash wantonly with its prejudices; for, after all, he was not +as powerful as the executioner, but he evaded social laws with the wit +and grace so well rendered in the scene with M. Dimanche. He was, in +fact, Moliere's Don Juan, Goethe's Faust, Byron's Manfred, Mathurin's +Melmoth--great allegorical figures drawn by the greatest men of genius +in Europe, to which Mozart's harmonies, perhaps, do no more justice than +Rossini's lyre. Terrible allegorical figures that shall endure as long +as the principle of evil existing in the heart of man shall produce +a few copies from century to century. Sometimes the type becomes +half-human when incarnate as a Mirabeau, sometimes it is an inarticulate +force in a Bonaparte, sometimes it overwhelms the universe with irony +as a Rabelais; or, yet again, it appears when a Marechal de Richelieu +elects to laugh at human beings instead of scoffing at things, or when +one of the most famous of our ambassadors goes a step further and +scoffs at both men and things. But the profound genius of Juan Belvidero +anticipated and resumed all these. All things were a jest to him. +His was the life of a mocking spirit. All men, all institutions, all +realities, all ideas were within its scope. As for eternity, after half +an hour of familiar conversation with Pope Julius II. he said, laughing: + +"If it is absolutely necessary to make a choice, I would rather believe +in God than in the Devil; power combined with goodness always offers +more resources than the spirit of Evil can boast." + +"Yes; still God requires repentance in this present world----" + +"So you always think of your indulgences," returned Don Juan Belvidero. +"Well, well, I have another life in reserve in which to repent of the +sins of my previous existence." + +"Oh, if you regard old age in that light," cried the Pope, "you are in +danger on canonization----" + +"After your elevation to the Papacy nothing is incredible." And they +went to watch the workmen who were building the huge basilica dedicated +to Saint Peter. + +"Saint Peter, as the man of genius who laid the foundation of our double +power," the Pope said to Don Juan, "deserves this monument. Sometimes, +though, at night, I think that a deluge will wipe all this out as with a +sponge, and it will be all to begin over again." + +Don Juan and the Pope began to laugh; they understood each other. A +fool would have gone on the morrow to amuse himself with Julius II. in +Raphael's studio or at the delicious Villa Madama; not so Belvidero. He +went to see the Pope as pontiff, to be convinced of any doubts that he +(Don Juan) entertained. Over his cups the Rovere would have been capable +of denying his own infallibility and of commenting on the Apocalypse. + + + +Nevertheless, this legend has not been undertaken to furnish materials +for future biographies of Don Juan; it is intended to prove to +honest folk that Belvidero did not die in a duel with stone, as some +lithographers would have us believe. + +When Don Juan Belvidero reached the age of sixty he settled in Spain, +and there in his old age he married a young and charming Andalusian +wife. But of set purpose he was neither a good husband nor a good +father. He had observed that we are never so tenderly loved as by +women to whom we scarcely give a thought. Dona Elvira had been devoutly +brought up by an old aunt in a castle a few leagues from San-Lucar in +a remote part of Andalusia. She was a model of devotion and grace. Don +Juan foresaw that this would be a woman who would struggle long against +a passion before yielding, and therefore hoped to keep her virtuous +until his death. It was a jest undertaken in earnest, a game of chess +which he meant to reserve till his old age. Don Juan had learned wisdom +from the mistakes made by his father Bartolommeo; he determined that +the least details of his life in old age should be subordinated to one +object--the success of the drama which was to be played out upon his +death-bed. + +For the same reason the largest part of his wealth was buried in the +cellars of his palace at Ferrara, whither he seldom went. As for the +rest of his fortune, it was invested in a life annuity, with a view to +give his wife and children an interest in keeping him alive; but this +Machiavellian piece of foresight was scarcely necessary. His son, young +Felipe Belvidero, grew up as a Spaniard as religiously conscientious +as his father was irreligious, in virtue, perhaps, of the old rule, "A +miser has a spendthrift son." The Abbot of San-Lucar was chosen by Don +Juan to be the director of the consciences of the Duchess of Belvidero +and her son Felipe. The ecclesiastic was a holy man, well shaped, and +admirably well proportioned. He had fine dark eyes, a head like that of +Tiberius, worn with fasting, bleached by an ascetic life, and, like all +dwellers in the wilderness, was daily tempted. The noble lord had hopes, +it may be, of despatching yet another monk before his term of life was +out. + +But whether because the Abbot was every whit as clever as Don Juan +himself, or Dona Elvira possessed more discretion or more virtue than +Spanish wives are usually credited with, Don Juan was compelled to spend +his declining years beneath his own roof, with no more scandal under +it than if he had been an ancient country parson. Occasionally he would +take wife and son to task for negligence in the duties of religion, +peremptorily insisting that they should carry out to the letter the +obligations imposed upon the flock by the Court of Rome. Indeed, he was +never so well pleased as when he had set the courtly Abbot discussing +some case of conscience with Dona Elvira and Felipe. + +At length, however, despite the prodigious care that the great +magnifico, Don Juan Belvidero, took of himself, the days of decrepitude +came upon him, and with those days the constant importunity of physical +feebleness, an importunity all the more distressing by contrast with the +wealth of memories of his impetuous youth and the sensual pleasures of +middle age. The unbeliever who in the height of his cynical humor had +been wont to persuade others to believe in laws and principles at which +he scoffed, must repose nightly upon a _perhaps_. The great Duke, the +pattern of good breeding, the champion of many a carouse, the proud +ornament of Courts, the man of genius, the graceful winner of hearts +that he had wrung as carelessly as a peasant twists an osier withe, +was now the victim of a cough, of a ruthless sciatica, of an unmannerly +gout. His teeth gradually deserted him, as at the end of an evening the +fairest and best-dressed women take their leave one by one till the room +is left empty and desolate. The active hands became palsy-stricken, +the shapely legs tottered as he walked. At last, one night, a stroke of +apoplexy caught him by the throat in its icy clutch. After that fatal +day he grew morose and stern. + +He would reproach his wife and son with their devotion, casting it in +their teeth that the affecting and thoughtful care that they lavished +so tenderly upon him was bestowed because they knew that his money was +invested in a life annuity. Then Elvira and Felipe would shed bitter +tears and redouble their caresses, and the wicked old man's insinuating +voice would take an affectionate tone--"Ah, you will forgive me, will +you not, dear friends, dear wife? I am rather a nuisance. Alas, Lord in +heaven, how canst Thou use me as the instrument by which Thou provest +these two angelic creatures? I who should be the joy of their lives am +become their scourge..." + +In this manner he kept them tethered to his pillow, blotting out the +memory of whole months of fretfulness and unkindness in one short +hour when he chose to display for them the ever-new treasures of his +pinchbeck tenderness and charm of manner--a system of paternity that +yielded him an infinitely better return than his own father's indulgence +had formerly gained. At length his bodily infirmities reached a point +when the task of laying him in bed became as difficult as the navigation +of a felucca in the perils of an intricate channel. Then came the day of +his death; and this brilliant sceptic, whose mental faculties alone had +survived the most dreadful of all destructions, found himself between +his two special antipathies--the doctor and the confessor. But he was +jovial with them. Did he not see a light gleaming in the future +beyond the veil? The pall that is like lead for other men was thin and +translucent for him; the light-footed, irresistible delights of youth +danced beyond it like shadows. + + + +It was on a beautiful summer evening that Don Juan felt the near +approach of death. The sky of Spain was serene and cloudless; the air +was full of the scent of orange-blossom; the stars shed clear, pure +gleams of light; nature without seemed to give the dying man assurance +of resurrection; a dutiful and obedient son sat there watching him with +loving and respectful eyes. Towards eleven o'clock he desired to be left +alone with this single-hearted being. + +"Felipe," said the father, in tones so soft and affectionate that the +young man trembled, and tears of gladness came to his eyes; never had +that stern father spoken his name in such a tone. "Listen, my son," the +dying man went on. "I am a great sinner. All my life long, however, I +have thought of my death. I was once the friend of the great Pope +Julius II.; and that illustrious Pontiff, fearing lest the excessive +excitability of my senses should entangle me in mortal sin between the +moment of my death and the time of my anointing with the holy oil, gave +me a flask that contains a little of the holy water that once issued +from the rock in the wilderness. I have kept the secret of this +squandering of a treasure belonging to Holy Church, but I am permitted +to reveal the mystery _in articulo mortis_ to my son. You will find the +flask in a drawer in that Gothic table that always stands by the head +of the bed.... The precious little crystal flask may be of use yet again +for you, dearest Felipe. Will you swear to me, by your salvation, to +carry out my instructions faithfully?" + +Felipe looked at his father, and Don Juan was too deeply learned in the +lore of the human countenance not to die in peace with that look as his +warrant, as his own father had died in despair at meeting the expression +in his son's eyes. + +"You deserved to have a better father," Don Juan went on. "I dare +to confess, my child, that while the reverend Abbot of San-Lucar was +administering the Viaticum I was thinking of the incompatibility of the +co-existence of two powers so infinite as God and the Devil----" + +"Oh, father!" + +"And I said to myself, when Satan makes his peace he ought surely to +stipulate for the pardon of his followers, or he will be the veriest +scoundrel. The thought haunted me; so I shall go to hell, my son, unless +you carry out my wishes." + +"Oh, quick; tell me quickly, father." + +"As soon as I have closed my eyes," Don Juan went on, "and that may be +in a few minutes, you must take my body before it grows cold and lay it +on a table in this room. Then put out the lamp; the light of the stars +should be sufficient. Take off my clothes, reciting Aves and Paters the +while, raising your soul to God in prayer, and carefully anoint my +lips and eyes with this holy water; begin with the face, and proceed +successively to my limbs and the rest of my body; my dear son, the power +of God is so great that you must be astonished at nothing." + +Don Juan felt death so near, that he added in a terrible voice, "Be +careful not to drop the flask." + +Then he breathed his last gently in the arms of his son, and his son's +tears fell fast over his sardonic, haggard features. + +It was almost midnight when Don Felipe Belvidero laid his father's body +upon the table. He kissed the sinister brow and the gray hair; then he +put out the lamp. + +By the soft moonlight that lit strange gleams across the country +without, Felipe could dimly see his father's body, a vague white thing +among the shadows. The dutiful son moistened a linen cloth with the +liquid, and, absorbed in prayer, he anointed the revered face. A deep +silence reigned. Felipe heard faint, indescribable rustlings; it was the +breeze in the tree-tops, he thought. But when he had moistened the right +arm, he felt himself caught by the throat, a young strong hand held him +in a tight grip--it was his father's hand! He shrieked aloud; the flask +dropped from his hand and broke in pieces. The liquid evaporated; the +whole household hurried into the room, holding torches aloft. That +shriek had startled them, and filled them with as much terror as if the +Trumpet of the Angel sounding on the Last Day had rung through earth and +sky. The room was full of people, and a horror-stricken crowd beheld the +fainting Felipe upheld by the strong arm of his father, who clutched +him by the throat. They saw another thing, an unearthly spectacle--Don +Juan's face grown young and beautiful as Antinous, with its dark hair +and brilliant eyes and red lips, a head that made horrible efforts, but +could not move the dead, wasted body. + +An old servitor cried, "A miracle! a miracle!" and all the Spaniards +echoed, "A miracle! a miracle!" + +Dona Elvira, too pious to attribute this to magic, sent for the Abbot of +San-Lucar; and the Prior beholding the miracle with his own eyes, being +a clever man, and withal an Abbot desirous of augmenting his revenues, +determined to turn the occasion to profit. He immediately gave out +that Don Juan would certainly be canonized; he appointed a day for the +celebration of the apotheosis in his convent, which thenceforward, he +said, should be called the convent of San Juan of Lucar. At these words +a sufficiently facetious grimace passed over the features of the late +Duke. + +The taste of the Spanish people for ecclesiastical solemnities is so +well known, that it should not be difficult to imagine the religious +pantomime by which the Convent of San-Lucar celebrated the translation +of the _blessed Don Juan Belvidero_ to the abbey-church. The tale of the +partial resurrection had spread so quickly from village to village, that +a day or two after the death of the illustrious nobleman the report had +reached every place within fifty miles of San-Lucar, and it was as good +as a play to see the roads covered already with crowds flocking in on +all sides, their curiosity whetted still further by the prospect of +a _Te Deum_ sung by torchlight. The old abbey church of San-Lucar, a +marvelous building erected by the Moors, a mosque of Allah, which for +three centuries had heard the name of Christ, could not hold the throng +that poured in to see the ceremony. Hidalgos in their velvet mantles, +with their good swords at their sides, swarmed like ants, and were so +tightly packed in among the pillars that they had not room to bend the +knees, which never bent save to God. Charming peasant girls, in the +basquina that defines the luxuriant outlines of their figures, lent an +arm to white-haired old men. Young men, with eyes of fire, walked beside +aged crones in holiday array. Then came couples tremulous with joy, +young lovers led thither by curiosity, newly-wedded folk; children +timidly clasping each other by the hand. This throng, so rich in +coloring, in vivid contrasts, laden with flowers, enameled like a +meadow, sent up a soft murmur through the quiet night. Then the great +doors of the church opened. + +Late comers who remained without saw afar, through the three great open +doorways, a scene of which the theatrical illusions of modern opera can +give but a faint idea. The vast church was lighted up by thousands of +candles, offered by saints and sinners alike eager to win the favor +of this new candidate for canonization, and these self-commending +illuminations turned the great building into an enchanted fairyland. The +black archways, the shafts and capitals, the recessed chapels with gold +and silver gleaming in their depths, the galleries, the Arab traceries, +all the most delicate outlines of that delicate sculpture, burned in +the excess of light like the fantastic figures in the red heart of a +brazier. At the further end of the church, above that blazing sea, rose +the high altar like a splendid dawn. All the glories of the golden lamps +and silver candlesticks, of banners and tassels, of the shrines of the +saints and votive offerings, paled before the gorgeous brightness of +the reliquary in which Don Juan lay. The blasphemer's body sparkled with +gems, and flowers, and crystal, with diamonds and gold, and plumes white +as the wings of seraphim; they had set it up on the altar, where the +pictures of Christ had stood. All about him blazed a host of tall +candles; the air quivered in the radiant light. The worthy Abbot of +San-Lucar, in pontifical robes, with his mitre set with precious stones, +his rochet and golden crosier, sat enthroned in imperial state among his +clergy in the choir. Rows of impassive aged faces, silver-haired old +men clad in fine linen albs, were grouped about him, as the saints who +confessed Christ on earth are set by painters, each in his place, about +the throne of God in heaven. The precentor and the dignitaries of the +chapter, adorned with the gorgeous insignia of ecclesiastical vanity, +came and went through the clouds of incense, like stars upon their +courses in the firmament. + +When the hour of triumph arrived, the bells awoke the echoes far and +wide, and the whole vast crowd raised to God the first cry of praise +that begins the _Te Deum_. A sublime cry! High, pure notes, the voices +of women in ecstasy, mingled in it with the sterner and deeper voices of +men; thousands of voices sent up a volume of sound so mighty, that the +straining, groaning organ-pipes could not dominate that harmony. But +the shrill sound of children's singing among the choristers, the +reverberation of deep bass notes, awakened gracious associations, +visions of childhood, and of man in his strength, and rose above that +entrancing harmony of human voices blended in one sentiment of love. + +_Te Deum laudamus_! + +The chant went up from the black masses of men and women kneeling in +the cathedral, like a sudden breaking out of light in darkness, and the +silence was shattered as by a peal of thunder. The voices floated up +with the clouds of incense that had begun to cast thin bluish veils over +the fanciful marvels of the architecture, and the aisles were filled +with splendor and perfume and light and melody. Even at the moment when +that music of love and thanksgiving soared up to the altar, Don Juan, +too well bred not to express his acknowledgments, too witty not +to understand how to take a jest, bridled up in his reliquary, and +responded with an appalling burst of laughter. Then the Devil having put +him in mind of the risk he was running of being taken for an ordinary +man, a saint, a Boniface, a Pantaleone, he interrupted the melody of +love by a yell, the thousand voices of hell joined in it. Earth blessed, +Heaven banned. The church was shaken to its ancient foundations. + +_Te Deum laudamus_! cried the many voices. + +"Go to the devil, brute beasts that you are! _Dios! Dios! Garajos +demonios!_ Idiots! What fools you are with your dotard God!" and a +torrent of imprecations poured forth like a stream of red-hot lava from +the mouth of Vesuvius. + +"_Deus Sabaoth!... Sabaoth_!" cried the believers. + +"You are insulting the majesty of Hell," shouted Don Juan, gnashing his +teeth. In another moment the living arm struggled out of the reliquary, +and was brandished over the assembly in mockery and despair. + +"The saint is blessing us," cried the old women, children, lovers, and +the credulous among the crowd. + +And note how often we are deceived in the homage we pay; the great man +scoffs at those who praise him, and pays compliments now and again to +those whom he laughs at in the depths of his heart. + +Just as the Abbot, prostrate before the altar, was chanting "_Sancte +Johannes, ora pro noblis_!" he heard a voice exclaim sufficiently +distinctly: "_O coglione_!" + +"What can be going on up there?" cried the Sub-prior, as he saw the +reliquary move. + +"The saint is playing the devil," replied the Abbot. + +Even as he spoke the living head tore itself away from the lifeless +body, and dropped upon the sallow cranium of the officiating priest. + +"Remember Dona Elvira!" cried the thing, with its teeth set fast in the +Abbot's head. + +The Abbot's horror-stricken shriek disturbed the ceremony; all the +ecclesiastics hurried up and crowded about their chief. + +"Idiot, tell us now if there is a God!" the voice cried, as the Abbot, +bitten through the brain, drew his last breath. + + + +PARIS, October 1830. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Elixir of Life, by Honore de Balzac + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ELIXIR OF LIFE *** + +***** This file should be named 1215.txt or 1215.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/1/1215/ + +Produced by Dagny + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/1215.zip b/old/1215.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3425697 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/1215.zip diff --git a/old/old/20040831-1215.txt b/old/old/20040831-1215.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..60c5b48 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/20040831-1215.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1450 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Elixir of Life, by Honore de Balzac + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net + + +Title: The Elixir of Life + +Author: Honore de Balzac + +Release Date: August 31, 2004 [EBook #1215] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ELIXIR OF LIFE *** + + + + +Produced by Dagny + + + + + THE ELIXIR OF LIFE + + BY + + HONORE DE BALZAC + + + + Translated By + Clara Bell & James Waring + + + + TO THE READER + +At the very outset of the writer's literary career, a friend, +long since dead, gave him the subject of this Study. Later on he +found the same story in a collection published about the +beginning of the present century. To the best of his belief, it +is some stray fancy of the brain of Hoffmann of Berlin; probably +it appeared in some German almanac, and was omitted in the +published editions of his collected works. The _Comedie Humaine_ +is sufficiently rich in original creations for the author to own +to this innocent piece of plagiarism; when, like the worthy La +Fontaine, he has told unwittingly, and after his own fashion, a +tale already related by another. This is not one of the hoaxes in +vogue in the year 1830, when every author wrote his "tale of +horror" for the amusement of young ladies. When you have read the +account of Don Juan's decorous parricide, try to picture to +yourself the part which would be played under very similar +circumstances by honest folk who, in this nineteenth century, +will take a man's money and undertake to pay him a life annuity +on the faith of a chill, or let a house to an ancient lady for +the term of her natural life! Would they be for resuscitating +their clients? I should dearly like a connoisseur in consciences +to consider how far there is a resemblance between a Don Juan and +fathers who marry their children to great expectations. Does +humanity, which, according to certain philosophers, is making +progress, look on the art of waiting for dead men's shoes as a +step in the right direction? To this art we owe several honorable +professions, which open up ways of living on death. There are +people who rely entirely on an expected demise; who brood over +it, crouching each morning upon a corpse, that serves again for +their pillow at night. To this class belong bishops' coadjutors, +cardinals' supernumeraries, _tontiniers_, and the like. Add to the +list many delicately scrupulous persons eager to buy landed +property beyond their means, who calculate with dry logic and in +cold blood the probable duration of the life of a father or of a +step-mother, some old man or woman of eighty or ninety, saying to +themselves, "I shall be sure to come in for it in three years' +time, and then----" A murderer is less loathsome to us than a +spy. The murderer may have acted on a sudden mad impulse; he may +be penitent and amend; but a spy is always a spy, night and day, +in bed, at table, as he walks abroad; his vileness pervades every +moment of his life. Then what must it be to live when every +moment of your life is tainted with murder? And have we not just +admitted that a host of human creatures in our midst are led by +our laws, customs, and usages to dwell without ceasing on a +fellow-creature's death? There are men who put the weight of a +coffin into their deliberations as they bargain for Cashmere +shawls for their wives, as they go up the staircase of a theatre, +or think of going to the Bouffons, or of setting up a carriage; +who are murderers in thought when dear ones, with the +irresistible charm of innocence, hold up childish foreheads to be +kissed with a "Good-night, father!" Hourly they meet the gaze of +eyes that they would fain close for ever, eyes that still open +each morning to the light, like Belvidero's in this Study. God +alone knows the number of those who are parricides in thought. +Picture to yourself the state of mind of a man who must pay a +life annuity to some old woman whom he scarcely knows; both live +in the country with a brook between them, both sides are free to +hate cordially, without offending against the social conventions +that require two brothers to wear a mask if the older will +succeed to the entail, and the other to the fortune of a younger +son. The whole civilization of Europe turns upon the principle of +hereditary succession as upon a pivot; it would be madness to +subvert the principle; but could we not, in an age that prides +itself upon its mechanical inventions, perfect this essential +portion of the social machinery? + +If the author has preserved the old-fashioned style of address _To +the Reader_ before a work wherein he endeavors to represent all +literary forms, it is for the purpose of making a remark that +applies to several of the Studies, and very specially to this. +Every one of his compositions has been based upon ideas more or +less novel, which, as it seemed to him, needed literary +expression; he can claim priority for certain forms and for +certain ideas which have since passed into the domain of +literature, and have there, in some instances, become common +property; so that the date of the first publication of each Study +cannot be a matter of indifference to those of his readers who +would fain do him justice. + +Reading brings us unknown friends, and what friend is like a +reader? We have friends in our own circle who read nothing of +ours. The author hopes to pay his debt, by dedicating this work +_Diis ignotis_. + + + + THE ELIXIR OF LIFE + +One winter evening, in a princely palace at Ferrara, Don Juan +Belvidero was giving a banquet to a prince of the house of Este. +A banquet in those times was a marvelous spectacle which only +royal wealth or the power of a mightly [sic] lord could furnish +forth. Seated about a table lit up with perfumed tapers, seven +laughter-loving women were interchanging sweet talk. The white +marble of the noble works of art about them stood out against the +red stucco walls, and made strong contrasts with the rich Turkey +carpets. Clad in satin, glittering with gold, and covered with +gems less brilliant than their eyes, each told a tale of +energetic passions as diverse as their styles of beauty. They +differed neither in their ideas nor in their language; but the +expression of their eyes, their glances, occasional gestures, or +the tones of their voices supplied a commentary, dissolute, +wanton, melancholy, or satirical, to their words. + +One seemed to be saying--"The frozen heart of age might kindle at +my beauty." + +Another--"I love to lounge upon cushions, and think with rapture +of my adorers." + +A third, a neophyte at these banquets, was inclined to blush. "I +feel remorse in the depths of my heart! I am a Catholic, and +afraid of hell. But I love you, I love you so that I can +sacrifice my hereafter to you." + +The fourth drained a cup of Chian wine. "Give me a joyous life!" +she cried; "I begin life afresh each day with the dawn. Forgetful +of the past, with the intoxication of yesterday's rapture still +upon me, I drink deep of life--a whole lifetime of pleasure and +of love!" + +The woman who sat next to Juan Belvidero looked at him with a +feverish glitter in her eyes. She was silent. Then--"I should +need no hired bravo to kill my lover if he forsook me!" she cried +at last, and laughed, but the marvelously wrought gold comfit box +in her fingers was crushed by her convulsive clutch. + +"When are you to be Grand Duke?" asked the sixth. There was the +frenzy of a Bacchante in her eyes, and her teeth gleamed between +the lips parted with a smile of cruel glee. + +"Yes, when is that father of yours going to die?" asked the +seventh, throwing her bouquet at Don Juan with bewitching +playfulness. It was a childish girl who spoke, and the speaker +was wont to make sport of sacred things. + +"Oh! don't talk about it," cried Don Juan, the young and handsome +giver of the banquet. "There is but one eternal father, and, as +ill luck will have it, he is mine." + +The seven Ferrarese, Don Juan's friends, the Prince himself, gave +a cry of horror. Two hundred years later, in the days of Louis +XV., people of taste would have laughed at this witticism. Or was +it, perhaps, that at the outset of an orgy there is a certain +unwonted lucidity of mind? Despite the taper light, the clamor of +the senses, the gleam of gold and silver, the fumes of wine, and +the exquisite beauty of the women, there may perhaps have been in +the depths of the revelers' hearts some struggling glimmer of +reverence for things divine and human, until it was drowned in +glowing floods of wine! Yet even then the flowers had been +crushed, eyes were growing dull, and drunkenness, in Rabelais' +phrase, had "taken possession of them down to their sandals." + +During that brief pause a door opened; and as once the Divine +presence was revealed at Belshazzar's feast, so now it seemed to +be manifest in the apparition of an old white-haired servant, who +tottered in, and looked sadly from under knitted brows at the +revelers. He gave a withering glance at the garlands, the golden +cups, the pyramids of fruit, the dazzling lights of the banquet, +the flushed scared faces, the hues of the cushions pressed by the +white arms of the women. + +"My lord, your father is dying!" he said; and at those solemn +words, uttered in hollow tones, a veil of crape seemed to be +drawn over the wild mirth. + +Don Juan rose to his feet with a gesture to his guests that might +be rendered by, "Excuse me; this kind of thing does not happen +every day." + +Does it so seldom happen that a father's death surprises youth in +the full-blown splendor of life, in the midst of the mad riot of +an orgy? Death is as unexpected in his caprice as a courtesan in +her disdain; but death is truer--Death has never forsaken any +man. + +Don Juan closed the door of the banqueting-hall; and as he went +down the long gallery, through the cold and darkness, he strove +to assume an expression in keeping with the part he had to play; +he had thrown off his mirthful mood, as he had thrown down his +table napkin, at the first thought of this role. The night was +dark. The mute servitor, his guide to the chamber where the dying +man lay, lighted the way so dimly that Death, aided by cold, +silence, and darkness, and it may be by a reaction of drunkenness, +could send some sober thoughts through the spendthrift's soul. He +examined his life, and became thoughtful, like a man involved in +a lawsuit on his way to the Court. + +Bartolommeo Belvidero, Don Juan's father, was an old man of +ninety, who had devoted the greatest part of his life to business +pursuits. He had acquired vast wealth in many a journey to +magical Eastern lands, and knowledge, so it was said, more +valuable than the gold and diamonds, which had almost ceased to +have any value for him. + +"I would give more to have a tooth in my head than for a ruby," +he would say at times with a smile. The indulgent father loved to +hear Don Juan's story of this and that wild freak of youth. "So +long as these follies amuse you, dear boy----" he would say +laughingly, as he lavished money on his son. Age never took such +pleasure in the sight of youth; the fond father did not remember +his own decaying powers while he looked on that brilliant young +life. + +Bartolommeo Belvidero, at the age of sixty, had fallen in love +with an angel of peace and beauty. Don Juan had been the sole +fruit of this late and short-lived love. For fifteen years the +widower had mourned the loss of his beloved Juana; and to this +sorrow of age, his son and his numerous household had attributed +the strange habits that he had contracted. He had shut himself up +in the least comfortable wing of his palace, and very seldom left +his apartments; even Don Juan himself must first ask permission +before seeing his father. If this hermit, unbound by vows, came +or went in his palace or in the streets of Ferrara, he walked as +if he were in a dream, wholly engrossed, like a man at strife +with a memory, or a wrestler with some thought. + +The young Don Juan might give princely banquets, the palace might +echo with clamorous mirth, horses pawed the ground in the +courtyards, pages quarreled and flung dice upon the stairs, but +Bartolommeo ate his seven ounces of bread daily and drank water. +A fowl was occasionally dressed for him, simply that the black +poodle, his faithful companion, might have the bones. Bartolommeo +never complained of the noise. If the huntsmen's horns and baying +dogs disturbed his sleep during his illness, he only said, "Ah! +Don Juan has come back again." Never on earth has there been a +father so little exacting and so indulgent; and, in consequence, +young Belvidero, accustomed to treat his father unceremoniously, +had all the faults of a spoiled child. He treated old Bartolommeo +as a wilful courtesan treats an elderly adorer; buying indemnity +for insolence with a smile, selling good-humor, submitting to be +loved. + +Don Juan, beholding scene after scene of his younger years, saw +that it would be a difficult task to find his father's indulgence +at fault. Some new-born remorse stirred the depths of his heart; +he felt almost ready to forgive this father now about to die for +having lived so long. He had an accession of filial piety, like a +thief's return in thought to honesty at the prospect of a million +adroitly stolen. + +Before long Don Juan had crossed the lofty, chilly suite of rooms +in which his father lived; the penetrating influences of the damp +close air, the mustiness diffused by old tapestries and presses +thickly covered with dust had passed into him, and now he stood +in the old man's antiquated room, in the repulsive presence of +the deathbed, beside a dying fire. A flickering lamp on a Gothic +table sent broad uncertain shafts of light, fainter or brighter, +across the bed, so that the dying man's face seemed to wear a +different look at every moment. The bitter wind whistled through +the crannies of the ill-fitting casements; there was a smothered +sound of snow lashing the windows. The harsh contrast of these +sights and sounds with the scenes which Don Juan had just quitted +was so sudden that he could not help shuddering. He turned cold +as he came towards the bed; the lamp flared in a sudden vehement +gust of wind and lighted up his father's face; the features were +wasted and distorted; the skin that cleaved to their bony +outlines had taken wan livid hues, all the more ghastly by force +of contrast with the white pillows on which he lay. The muscles +about the toothless mouth had contracted with pain and drawn +apart the lips; the moans that issued between them with appalling +energy found an accompaniment in the howling of the storm +without. + +In spite of every sign of coming dissolution, the most striking +thing about the dying face was its incredible power. It was no +ordinary spirit that wrestled there with Death. The eyes glared +with strange fixity of gaze from the cavernous sockets hollowed +by disease. It seemed as if Bartolommeo sought to kill some enemy +sitting at the foot of his bed by the intent gaze of dying eyes. +That steady remorseless look was the more appalling because the +head that lay upon the pillow was passive and motionless as a +skull upon a doctor's table. The outlines of the body, revealed +by the coverlet, were no less rigid and stiff; he lay there as +one dead, save for those eyes. There was something automatic +about the moaning sounds that came from the mouth. Don Juan felt +something like shame that he must be brought thus to his father's +bedside, wearing a courtesan's bouquet, redolent of the fragrance +of the banqueting-chamber and the fumes of wine. + +"You were enjoying yourself!" the old man cried as he saw his +son. + +Even as he spoke the pure high notes of a woman's voice, +sustained by the sound of the viol on which she accompanied her +song, rose above the rattle of the storm against the casements, +and floated up to the chamber of death. Don Juan stopped his ears +against the barbarous answer to his father's speech. + +"I bear you no grudge, my child," Bartolommeo went on. + +The words were full of kindness, but they hurt Don Juan; he could +not pardon this heart-searching goodness on his father's part. + +"What a remorseful memory for me!" he cried, hypocritically. + +"Poor Juanino," the dying man went on, in a smothered voice, "I +have always been so kind to you, that you could not surely desire +my death?" + +"Oh, if it were only possible to keep you here by giving up a +part of my own life!" cried Don Juan. + +("We can always _say_ this sort of thing," the spendthrift thought; +"it is as if I laid the whole world at my mistress' feet.") + +The thought had scarcely crossed his mind when the old poodle +barked. Don Juan shivered; the response was so intelligent that +he fancied the dog must have understood him. + +"I was sure that I could count upon you, my son!" cried the dying +man. "I shall live. So be it; you shall be satisfied. I shall +live, but without depriving you of a single day of your life." + +"He is raving," thought Don Juan. Aloud he added, "Yes, dearest +father, yes; you shall live, of course, as long as I live, for +your image will be for ever in my heart." + +"It is not that kind of life that I mean," said the old noble, +summoning all his strength to sit up in bed; for a thrill of +doubt ran through him, one of those suspicions that come into +being under a dying man's pillow. "Listen, my son," he went on, +in a voice grown weak with that last effort, "I have no more wish +to give up life than you to give up wine and mistresses, horses +and hounds, and hawks and gold----" + +"I can well believe it," thought the son; and he knelt down by +the bed and kissed Bartolommeo's cold hands. "But, father, my +dear father," he added aloud, "we must submit to the will of +God." + +"I am God!" muttered the dying man. + +"Do not blaspheme!" cried the other, as he saw the menacing +expression on his father's face. "Beware what you say; you have +received extreme unction, and I should be inconsolable if you +were to die before my eyes in mortal sin." + +"Will you listen to me?" cried Bartolommeo, and his mouth +twitched. + +Don Juan held his peace; an ugly silence prevailed. Yet above the +muffled sound of the beating of the snow against the windows rose +the sounds of the beautiful voice and the viol in unison, far off +and faint as the dawn. The dying man smiled. + +"Thank you," he said, "for bringing those singing voices and the +music, a banquet, young and lovely women with fair faces and dark +tresses, all the pleasure of life! Bid them wait for me; for I am +about to begin life anew." + +"The delirium is at its height," said Don Juan to himself. + +"I have found out a way of coming to life again," the speaker +went on. "There, just look in that table drawer, press the spring +hidden by the griffin, and it will fly open." + +"I have found it, father." + +"Well, then, now take out a little phial of rock crystal." + +"I have it." + +"I have spent twenty years in----" but even as he spoke the old +man felt how very near the end had come, and summoned all his +dying strength to say, "As soon as the breath is out of me, rub +me all over with that liquid, and I shall come to life again." + +"There is very little of it," his son remarked. + +Though Bartolommeo could no longer speak, he could still hear and +see. When those words dropped from Don Juan, his head turned with +appalling quickness, his neck was twisted like the throat of some +marble statue which the sculptor had condemned to remain +stretched out for ever, the wide eyes had come to have a ghastly +fixity. + +He was dead, and in death he lost his last and sole illusion. + +He had sought a shelter in his son's heart, and it had proved to +be a sepulchre, a pit deeper than men dig for their dead. The +hair on his head had risen and stiffened with horror, his +agonized glance still spoke. He was a father rising in just anger +from his tomb, to demand vengeance at the throne of God. + +"There! it is all over with the old man!" cried Don Juan. + +He had been so interested in holding the mysterious phial to the +lamp, as a drinker holds up the wine-bottle at the end of a meal, +that he had not seen his father's eyes fade. The cowering poodle +looked from his master to the elixir, just as Don Juan himself +glanced again and again from his father to the flask. The +lamplight flickered. There was a deep silence; the viol was mute. +Juan Belvidero thought that he saw his father stir, and trembled. +The changeless gaze of those accusing eyes frightened him; he +closed them hastily, as he would have closed a loose shutter +swayed by the wind of an autumn night. He stood there motionless, +lost in a world of thought. + +Suddenly the silence was broken by a shrill sound like the +creaking of a rusty spring. It startled Don Juan; he all but +dropped the phial. A sweat, colder than the blade of a dagger, +issued through every pore. It was only a piece of clockwork, a +wooden cock that sprang out and crowed three times, an ingenious +contrivance by which the learned of that epoch were wont to be +awakened at the appointed hour to begin the labors of the day. +Through the windows there came already a flush of dawn. The +thing, composed of wood, and cords, and wheels, and pulleys, was +more faithful in its service than he in his duty to Bartolommeo +--he, a man with that peculiar piece of human mechanism within +him that we call a heart. + +Don Juan the sceptic shut the flask again in the secret drawer in +the Gothic table--he meant to run no more risks of losing the +mysterious liquid. + +Even at that solemn moment he heard the murmur of a crowd in the +gallery, a confused sound of voices, of stifled laughter and +light footfalls, and the rustling of silks--the sounds of a band +of revelers struggling for gravity. The door opened, and in came +the Prince and Don Juan's friends, the seven courtesans, and the +singers, disheveled and wild like dancers surprised by the dawn, +when the tapers that have burned through the night struggle with +the sunlight. + +They had come to offer the customary condolence to the young +heir. + +"Oho! is poor Don Juan really taking this seriously?" said the +Prince in Brambilla's ear. + +"Well, his father was very good," she returned. + +But Don Juan's night-thoughts had left such unmistakable traces +on his features, that the crew was awed into silence. The men +stood motionless. The women, with wine-parched lips and cheeks +marbled with kisses, knelt down and began a prayer. Don Juan +could scarce help trembling when he saw splendor and mirth and +laughter and song and youth and beauty and power bowed in +reverence before Death. But in those times, in that adorable +Italy of the sixteenth century, religion and revelry went hand in +hand; and religious excess became a sort of debauch, and a +debauch a religious rite! + +The Prince grasped Don Juan's hand affectionately, then when all +faces had simultaneously put on the same grimace--half-gloomy, +half-indifferent--the whole masque disappeared, and left the +chamber of death empty. It was like an allegory of life. + +As they went down the staircase, the Prince spoke to Rivabarella: +"Now, who would have taken Don Juan's impiety for a boast? He +loves his father." + +"Did you see that black dog?" asked La Brambilla. + +"He is enormously rich now," sighed Bianca Cavatolino. + +"What is that to me?" cried the proud Veronese (she who had +crushed the comfit-box). + +"What does it matter to you, forsooth?" cried the Duke. "With his +money he is as much a prince as I am." + +At first Don Juan was swayed hither and thither by countless +thoughts, and wavered between two decisions. He took counsel with +the gold heaped up by his father, and returned in the evening to +the chamber of death, his whole soul brimming over with hideous +selfishness. He found all his household busy there. "His +lordship" was to lie in state to-morrow; all Ferrara would flock +to behold the wonderful spectacle; and the servants were busy +decking the room and the couch on which the dead man lay. At a +sign from Don Juan all his people stopped, dumfounded and +trembling. + +"Leave me alone here," he said, and his voice was changed, "and +do not return until I leave the room." + +When the footsteps of the old servitor, who was the last to go, +echoed but faintly along the paved gallery, Don Juan hastily +locked the door, and sure that he was quite alone, "Let us try," +he said to himself. + +Bartolommeo's body was stretched on a long table. The embalmers +had laid a sheet over it, to hide from all eyes the dreadful +spectacle of a corpse so wasted and shrunken that it seemed like +a skeleton, and only the face was uncovered. This mummy-like +figure lay in the middle of the room. The limp clinging linen +lent itself to the outlines it shrouded--so sharp, bony, and +thin. Large violet patches had already begun to spread over the +face; the embalmers' work had not been finished too soon. + +Don Juan, strong as he was in his scepticism, felt a tremor as he +opened the magic crystal flask. When he stood over that face, he +was trembling so violently, that he was actually obliged to wait +for a moment. But Don Juan had acquired an early familiarity with +evil; his morals had been corrupted by a licentious court, a +reflection worthy of the Duke of Urbino crossed his mind, and it +was a keen sense of curiosity that goaded him into boldness. The +devil himself might have whispered the words that were echoing +through his brain, _Moisten one of the eyes with the liquid_! He +took up a linen cloth, moistened it sparingly with the precious +fluid, and passed it lightly over the right eyelid of the corpse. +The eye unclosed. . . . + +"Aha!" said Don Juan. He gripped the flask tightly, as we clutch +in dreams the branch from which we hang suspended over a +precipice. + +For the eye was full of life. It was a young child's eye set in a +death's head; the light quivered in the depths of its youthful +liquid brightness. Shaded by the long dark lashes, it sparkled +like the strange lights that travelers see in lonely places in +winter nights. The eye seemed as if it would fain dart fire at +Don Juan; he saw it thinking, upbraiding, condemning, uttering +accusations, threatening doom; it cried aloud, and gnashed upon +him. All anguish that shakes human souls was gathered there; +supplications the most tender, the wrath of kings, the love in a +girl's heart pleading with the headsman; then, and after all +these, the deeply searching glance a man turns on his fellows as +he mounts the last step of the scaffold. Life so dilated in this +fragment of life that Don Juan shrank back; he walked up and down +the room, he dared not meet that gaze, but he saw nothing else. +The ceiling and the hangings, the whole room was sown with living +points of fire and intelligence. Everywhere those gleaming eyes +haunted him. + +"He might very likely have lived another hundred years!" he cried +involuntarily. Some diabolical influence had drawn him to his +father, and again he gazed at that luminous spark. The eyelid +closed and opened again abruptly; it was like a woman's sign of +assent. It was an intelligent movement. If a voice had cried +"Yes!" Don Juan could not have been more startled. + +"What is to be done?" he thought. + +He nerved himself to try to close the white eyelid. In vain. + +"Kill it? That would perhaps be parricide," he debated with +himself. + +"Yes," the eye said, with a strange sardonic quiver of the lid. + +"Aha!" said Don Juan to himself, "here is witchcraft at work!" +And he went closer to crush the thing. A great tear trickled over +the hollow cheeks, and fell on Don Juan's hand. + +"It is scalding!" he cried. He sat down. The struggle exhausted +him; it was as if, like Jacob of old, he was wrestling with an +angel. + +At last he rose. "So long as there is no blood----" he muttered. + +Then, summoning all the courage needed for a coward's crime, he +extinguished the eye, pressing it with the linen cloth, turning +his head away. A terrible groan startled him. It was the poor +poodle, who died with a long-drawn howl. + +"Could the brute have been in the secret?" thought Don Juan, +looking down at the faithful creature. + +Don Juan Belvidero was looked upon as a dutiful son. He reared a +white marble monument on his father's tomb, and employed the +greatest sculptors of the time upon it. He did not recover +perfect ease of mind till the day when his father knelt in marble +before Religion, and the heavy weight of the stone had sealed the +mouth of the grave in which he had laid the one feeling of +remorse that sometimes flitted through his soul in moments of +physical weariness. + +He had drawn up a list of the wealth heaped up by the old +merchant in the East, and he became a miser: had he not to +provide for a second lifetime? His views of life were the more +profound and penetrating; he grasped its significance, as a +whole, the better, because he saw it across a grave. All men, all +things, he analyzed once and for all; he summed up the Past, +represented by its records; the Present in the law, its +crystallized form; the Future, revealed by religion. He took +spirit and matter, and flung them into his crucible, and found +--Nothing. Thenceforward he became DON JUAN. + +At the outset of his life, in the prime of youth and the beauty +of youth, he knew the illusions of life for what they were; he +despised the world, and made the utmost of the world. His +felicity could not have been of the bourgeois kind, rejoicing in +periodically recurrent _bouilli_, in the comforts of a warming-pan, +a lamp of a night, and a new pair of slippers once a quarter. +Nay, rather he seized upon existence as a monkey snatches a nut, +and after no long toying with it, proceeds deftly to strip off +the mere husks to reach the savory kernel within. + +Poetry and the sublime transports of passion scarcely reached +ankle-depth with him now. He in nowise fell into the error of +strong natures who flatter themselves now and again that little +souls will believe in a great soul, and are willing to barter +their own lofty thoughts of the future for the small change of +our life-annuity ideas. He, even as they, had he chosen, might +well have walked with his feet on the earth and his head in the +skies; but he liked better to sit on earth, to wither the soft, +fresh, fragrant lips of a woman with kisses, for like Death, he +devoured everything without scruple as he passed; he would have +full fruition; he was an Oriental lover, seeking prolonged +pleasures easily obtained. He sought nothing but a woman in +women, and cultivated cynicism, until it became with him a habit +of mind. When his mistress, from the couch on which she lay, +soared and was lost in regions of ecstatic bliss, Don Juan +followed suit, earnest, expansive, serious as any German student. +But he said I, while she, in the transports of intoxication, said +We. He understood to admiration the art of abandoning himself to +the influence of a woman; he was always clever enough to make her +believe that he trembled like some boy fresh from college before +his first partner at a dance, when he asks her, "Do you like +dancing?" But, no less, he could be terrible at need, could +unsheathe a formidable sword and make short work of Commandants. +Banter lurked beneath his simplicity, mocking laughter behind his +tears--for he had tears at need, like any woman nowadays who says +to her husband, "Give me a carriage, or I shall go into a +consumption." + +For the merchant the world is a bale of goods or a mass of +circulating bills; for most young men it is a woman, and for a +woman here and there it is a man; for a certain order of mind it +is a salon, a coterie, a quarter of the town, or some single +city; but Don Juan found his world in himself. + +This model of grace and dignity, this captivating wit, moored his +bark by every shore; but wherever he was led he was never carried +away, and was only steered in a course of his own choosing. The +more he saw, the more he doubted. He watched men narrowly, and +saw how, beneath the surface, courage was often rashness; and +prudence, cowardice; generosity, a clever piece of calculation; +justice, a wrong; delicacy, pusillanimity; honesty, a _modus +vivendi_; and by some strange dispensation of fate, he must see +that those who at heart were really honest, scrupulous, just, +generous, prudent, or brave were held cheaply by their +fellow-men. + +"What a cold-blooded jest!" said he to himself. "It was not +devised by a God." + +From that time forth he renounced a better world, and never +uncovered himself when a Name was pronounced, and for him the +carven saints in the churches became works of art. He understood +the mechanism of society too well to clash wantonly with its +prejudices; for, after all, he was not as powerful as the +executioner, but he evaded social laws with the wit and grace so +well rendered in the scene with M. Dimanche. He was, in fact, +Moliere's Don Juan, Goethe's Faust, Byron's Manfred, Mathurin's +Melmoth--great allegorical figures drawn by the greatest men of +genius in Europe, to which Mozart's harmonies, perhaps, do no +more justice than Rossini's lyre. Terrible allegorical figures +that shall endure as long as the principle of evil existing in +the heart of man shall produce a few copies from century to +century. Sometimes the type becomes half-human when incarnate as +a Mirabeau, sometimes it is an inarticulate force in a Bonaparte, +sometimes it overwhelms the universe with irony as a Rabelais; +or, yet again, it appears when a Marechal de Richelieu elects to +laugh at human beings instead of scoffing at things, or when one +of the most famous of our ambassadors goes a step further and +scoffs at both men and things. But the profound genius of Juan +Belvidero anticipated and resumed all these. All things were a +jest to him. His was the life of a mocking spirit. All men, all +institutions, all realities, all ideas were within its scope. As +for eternity, after half an hour of familiar conversation with +Pope Julius II. he said, laughing: + +"If it is absolutely necessary to make a choice, I would rather +believe in God than in the Devil; power combined with goodness +always offers more resources than the spirit of Evil can boast." + +"Yes; still God requires repentance in this present world----" + +"So you always think of your indulgences," returned Don Juan +Belvidero. "Well, well, I have another life in reserve in which +to repent of the sins of my previous existence." + +"Oh, if you regard old age in that light," cried the Pope, "you +are in danger on canonization----" + +"After your elevation to the Papacy nothing is incredible." And +they went to watch the workmen who were building the huge +basilica dedicated to Saint Peter. + +"Saint Peter, as the man of genius who laid the foundation of our +double power," the Pope said to Don Juan, "deserves this +monument. Sometimes, though, at night, I think that a deluge will +wipe all this out as with a sponge, and it will be all to begin +over again." + +Don Juan and the Pope began to laugh; they understood each other. +A fool would have gone on the morrow to amuse himself with Julius +II. in Raphael's studio or at the delicious Villa Madama; not so +Belvidero. He went to see the Pope as pontiff, to be convinced of +any doubts that he (Don Juan) entertained. Over his cups the +Rovere would have been capable of denying his own infallibility +and of commenting on the Apocalypse. + + + +Nevertheless, this legend has not been undertaken to furnish +materials for future biographies of Don Juan; it is intended to +prove to honest folk that Belvidero did not die in a duel with +stone, as some lithographers would have us believe. + +When Don Juan Belvidero reached the age of sixty he settled in +Spain, and there in his old age he married a young and charming +Andalusian wife. But of set purpose he was neither a good husband +nor a good father. He had observed that we are never so tenderly +loved as by women to whom we scarcely give a thought. Dona Elvira +had been devoutly brought up by an old aunt in a castle a few +leagues from San-Lucar in a remote part of Andalusia. She was a +model of devotion and grace. Don Juan foresaw that this would be +a woman who would struggle long against a passion before +yielding, and therefore hoped to keep her virtuous until his +death. It was a jest undertaken in earnest, a game of chess which +he meant to reserve till his old age. Don Juan had learned wisdom +from the mistakes made by his father Bartolommeo; he determined +that the least details of his life in old age should be +subordinated to one object--the success of the drama which was to +be played out upon his death-bed. + +For the same reason the largest part of his wealth was buried in +the cellars of his palace at Ferrara, whither he seldom went. As +for the rest of his fortune, it was invested in a life annuity, +with a view to give his wife and children an interest in keeping +him alive; but this Machiavellian piece of foresight was scarcely +necessary. His son, young Felipe Belvidero, grew up as a Spaniard +as religiously conscientious as his father was irreligious, in +virtue, perhaps, of the old rule, "A miser has a spendthrift +son." The Abbot of San-Lucar was chosen by Don Juan to be the +director of the consciences of the Duchess of Belvidero and her +son Felipe. The ecclesiastic was a holy man, well shaped, and +admirably well proportioned. He had fine dark eyes, a head like +that of Tiberius, worn with fasting, bleached by an ascetic life, +and, like all dwellers in the wilderness, was daily tempted. The +noble lord had hopes, it may be, of despatching yet another monk +before his term of life was out. + +But whether because the Abbot was every whit as clever as Don +Juan himself, or Dona Elvira possessed more discretion or more +virtue than Spanish wives are usually credited with, Don Juan was +compelled to spend his declining years beneath his own roof, with +no more scandal under it than if he had been an ancient country +parson. Occasionally he would take wife and son to task for +negligence in the duties of religion, peremptorily insisting that +they should carry out to the letter the obligations imposed upon +the flock by the Court of Rome. Indeed, he was never so well +pleased as when he had set the courtly Abbot discussing some case +of conscience with Dona Elvira and Felipe. + +At length, however, despite the prodigious care that the great +magnifico, Don Juan Belvidero, took of himself, the days of +decrepitude came upon him, and with those days the constant +importunity of physical feebleness, an importunity all the more +distressing by contrast with the wealth of memories of his +impetuous youth and the sensual pleasures of middle age. The +unbeliever who in the height of his cynical humor had been wont +to persuade others to believe in laws and principles at which he +scoffed, must repose nightly upon a _perhaps_. The great Duke, +the pattern of good breeding, the champion of many a carouse, the +proud ornament of Courts, the man of genius, the graceful winner +of hearts that he had wrung as carelessly as a peasant twists an +osier withe, was now the victim of a cough, of a ruthless +sciatica, of an unmannerly gout. His teeth gradually deserted +him, as at the end of an evening the fairest and best-dressed +women take their leave one by one till the room is left empty and +desolate. The active hands became palsy-stricken, the shapely +legs tottered as he walked. At last, one night, a stroke of +apoplexy caught him by the throat in its icy clutch. After that +fatal day he grew morose and stern. + +He would reproach his wife and son with their devotion, casting +it in their teeth that the affecting and thoughtful care that +they lavished so tenderly upon him was bestowed because they knew +that his money was invested in a life annuity. Then Elvira and +Felipe would shed bitter tears and redouble their caresses, and +the wicked old man's insinuating voice would take an affectionate +tone--"Ah, you will forgive me, will you not, dear friends, dear +wife? I am rather a nuisance. Alas, Lord in heaven, how canst +Thou use me as the instrument by which Thou provest these two +angelic creatures? I who should be the joy of their lives am +become their scourge . . ." + +In this manner he kept them tethered to his pillow, blotting out +the memory of whole months of fretfulness and unkindness in one +short hour when he chose to display for them the ever-new +treasures of his pinchbeck tenderness and charm of manner--a +system of paternity that yielded him an infinitely better return +than his own father's indulgence had formerly gained. At length +his bodily infirmities reached a point when the task of laying +him in bed became as difficult as the navigation of a felucca in +the perils of an intricate channel. Then came the day of his +death; and this brilliant sceptic, whose mental faculties alone +had survived the most dreadful of all destructions, found himself +between his two special antipathies--the doctor and the +confessor. But he was jovial with them. Did he not see a light +gleaming in the future beyond the veil? The pall that is like +lead for other men was thin and translucent for him; the +light-footed, irresistible delights of youth danced beyond it +like shadows. + + + +It was on a beautiful summer evening that Don Juan felt the near +approach of death. The sky of Spain was serene and cloudless; the +air was full of the scent of orange-blossom; the stars shed +clear, pure gleams of light; nature without seemed to give the +dying man assurance of resurrection; a dutiful and obedient son +sat there watching him with loving and respectful eyes. Towards +eleven o'clock he desired to be left alone with this +single-hearted being. + +"Felipe," said the father, in tones so soft and affectionate that +the young man trembled, and tears of gladness came to his eyes; +never had that stern father spoken his name in such a tone. +"Listen, my son," the dying man went on. "I am a great sinner. +All my life long, however, I have thought of my death. I was once +the friend of the great Pope Julius II.; and that illustrious +Pontiff, fearing lest the excessive excitability of my senses +should entangle me in mortal sin between the moment of my death +and the time of my anointing with the holy oil, gave me a flask +that contains a little of the holy water that once issued from +the rock in the wilderness. I have kept the secret of this +squandering of a treasure belonging to Holy Church, but I am +permitted to reveal the mystery _in articulo mortis_ to my son. +You will find the flask in a drawer in that Gothic table that +always stands by the head of the bed. . . . The precious little +crystal flask may be of use yet again for you, dearest Felipe. +Will you swear to me, by your salvation, to carry out my +instructions faithfully?" + +Felipe looked at his father, and Don Juan was too deeply learned +in the lore of the human countenance not to die in peace with +that look as his warrant, as his own father had died in despair +at meeting the expression in his son's eyes. + +"You deserved to have a better father," Don Juan went on. "I dare +to confess, my child, that while the reverend Abbot of San-Lucar +was administering the Viaticum I was thinking of the +incompatibility of the co-existence of two powers so infinite as +God and the Devil----" + +"Oh, father!" + +"And I said to myself, when Satan makes his peace he ought surely +to stipulate for the pardon of his followers, or he will be the +veriest scoundrel. The thought haunted me; so I shall go to hell, +my son, unless you carry out my wishes." + +"Oh, quick; tell me quickly, father." + +"As soon as I have closed my eyes," Don Juan went on, "and that +may be in a few minutes, you must take my body before it grows +cold and lay it on a table in this room. Then put out the lamp; +the light of the stars should be sufficient. Take off my clothes, +reciting Aves and Paters the while, raising your soul to God in +prayer, and carefully anoint my lips and eyes with this holy +water; begin with the face, and proceed successively to my limbs +and the rest of my body; my dear son, the power of God is so +great that you must be astonished at nothing." + +Don Juan felt death so near, that he added in a terrible voice, +"Be careful not to drop the flask." + +Then he breathed his last gently in the arms of his son, and his +son's tears fell fast over his sardonic, haggard features. + +It was almost midnight when Don Felipe Belvidero laid his +father's body upon the table. He kissed the sinister brow and the +gray hair; then he put out the lamp. + +By the soft moonlight that lit strange gleams across the country +without, Felipe could dimly see his father's body, a vague white +thing among the shadows. The dutiful son moistened a linen cloth +with the liquid, and, absorbed in prayer, he anointed the revered +face. A deep silence reigned. Felipe heard faint, indescribable +rustlings; it was the breeze in the tree-tops, he thought. But +when he had moistened the right arm, he felt himself caught by +the throat, a young strong hand held him in a tight grip--it was +his father's hand! He shrieked aloud; the flask dropped from his +hand and broke in pieces. The liquid evaporated; the whole +household hurried into the room, holding torches aloft. That +shriek had startled them, and filled them with as much terror as +if the Trumpet of the Angel sounding on the Last Day had rung +through earth and sky. The room was full of people, and a +horror-stricken crowd beheld the fainting Felipe upheld by the +strong arm of his father, who clutched him by the throat. They +saw another thing, an unearthly spectacle--Don Juan's face grown +young and beautiful as Antinous, with its dark hair and brilliant +eyes and red lips, a head that made horrible efforts, but could +not move the dead, wasted body. + +An old servitor cried, "A miracle! a miracle!" and all the +Spaniards echoed, "A miracle! a miracle!" + +Dona Elvira, too pious to attribute this to magic, sent for the +Abbot of San-Lucar; and the Prior beholding the miracle with his +own eyes, being a clever man, and withal an Abbot desirous of +augmenting his revenues, determined to turn the occasion to +profit. He immediately gave out that Don Juan would certainly be +canonized; he appointed a day for the celebration of the +apotheosis in his convent, which thenceforward, he said, should +be called the convent of San Juan of Lucar. At these words a +sufficiently facetious grimace passed over the features of the +late Duke. + +The taste of the Spanish people for ecclesiastical solemnities is +so well known, that it should not be difficult to imagine the +religious pantomime by which the Convent of San-Lucar celebrated +the translation of the _blessed Don Juan Belvidero_ to the +abbey-church. The tale of the partial resurrection had spread so +quickly from village to village, that a day or two after the +death of the illustrious nobleman the report had reached every +place within fifty miles of San-Lucar, and it was as good as a +play to see the roads covered already with crowds flocking in on +all sides, their curiosity whetted still further by the prospect +of a _Te Deum_ sung by torchlight. The old abbey church of +San-Lucar, a marvelous building erected by the Moors, a mosque of +Allah, which for three centuries had heard the name of Christ, +could not hold the throng that poured in to see the ceremony. +Hidalgos in their velvet mantles, with their good swords at their +sides, swarmed like ants, and were so tightly packed in among the +pillars that they had not room to bend the knees, which never +bent save to God. Charming peasant girls, in the basquina that +defines the luxuriant outlines of their figures, lent an arm to +white-haired old men. Young men, with eyes of fire, walked beside +aged crones in holiday array. Then came couples tremulous with +joy, young lovers led thither by curiosity, newly-wedded folk; +children timidly clasping each other by the hand. This throng, so +rich in coloring, in vivid contrasts, laden with flowers, +enameled like a meadow, sent up a soft murmur through the quiet +night. Then the great doors of the church opened. + +Late comers who remained without saw afar, through the three +great open doorways, a scene of which the theatrical illusions of +modern opera can give but a faint idea. The vast church was +lighted up by thousands of candles, offered by saints and sinners +alike eager to win the favor of this new candidate for +canonization, and these self-commending illuminations turned the +great building into an enchanted fairyland. The black archways, +the shafts and capitals, the recessed chapels with gold and +silver gleaming in their depths, the galleries, the Arab +traceries, all the most delicate outlines of that delicate +sculpture, burned in the excess of light like the fantastic +figures in the red heart of a brazier. At the further end of the +church, above that blazing sea, rose the high altar like a +splendid dawn. All the glories of the golden lamps and silver +candlesticks, of banners and tassels, of the shrines of the +saints and votive offerings, paled before the gorgeous brightness +of the reliquary in which Don Juan lay. The blasphemer's body +sparkled with gems, and flowers, and crystal, with diamonds and +gold, and plumes white as the wings of seraphim; they had set it +up on the altar, where the pictures of Christ had stood. All +about him blazed a host of tall candles; the air quivered in the +radiant light. The worthy Abbot of San-Lucar, in pontifical +robes, with his mitre set with precious stones, his rochet and +golden crosier, sat enthroned in imperial state among his clergy +in the choir. Rows of impassive aged faces, silver-haired old men +clad in fine linen albs, were grouped about him, as the saints +who confessed Christ on earth are set by painters, each in his +place, about the throne of God in heaven. The precentor and the +dignitaries of the chapter, adorned with the gorgeous insignia of +ecclesiastical vanity, came and went through the clouds of +incense, like stars upon their courses in the firmament. + +When the hour of triumph arrived, the bells awoke the echoes far +and wide, and the whole vast crowd raised to God the first cry of +praise that begins the _Te Deum_. A sublime cry! High, pure notes, +the voices of women in ecstasy, mingled in it with the sterner +and deeper voices of men; thousands of voices sent up a volume of +sound so mighty, that the straining, groaning organ-pipes could +not dominate that harmony. But the shrill sound of children's +singing among the choristers, the reverberation of deep bass +notes, awakened gracious associations, visions of childhood, and +of man in his strength, and rose above that entrancing harmony of +human voices blended in one sentiment of love. + +_Te Deum laudamus_! + +The chant went up from the black masses of men and women kneeling +in the cathedral, like a sudden breaking out of light in +darkness, and the silence was shattered as by a peal of thunder. +The voices floated up with the clouds of incense that had begun +to cast thin bluish veils over the fanciful marvels of the +architecture, and the aisles were filled with splendor and +perfume and light and melody. Even at the moment when that music +of love and thanksgiving soared up to the altar, Don Juan, too +well bred not to express his acknowledgments, too witty not to +understand how to take a jest, bridled up in his reliquary, and +responded with an appalling burst of laughter. Then the Devil +having put him in mind of the risk he was running of being taken +for an ordinary man, a saint, a Boniface, a Pantaleone, he +interrupted the melody of love by a yell, the thousand voices of +hell joined in it. Earth blessed, Heaven banned. The church was +shaken to its ancient foundations. + +_Te Deum laudamus_! cried the many voices. + +"Go to the devil, brute beasts that you are! _Dios! Dios! Garajos +demonios!_ Idiots! What fools you are with your dotard God!" and a +torrent of imprecations poured forth like a stream of red-hot +lava from the mouth of Vesuvius. + +"_Deus Sabaoth! . . . Sabaoth_!" cried the believers. + +"You are insulting the majesty of Hell," shouted Don Juan, +gnashing his teeth. In another moment the living arm struggled +out of the reliquary, and was brandished over the assembly in +mockery and despair. + +"The saint is blessing us," cried the old women, children, +lovers, and the credulous among the crowd. + +And note how often we are deceived in the homage we pay; the +great man scoffs at those who praise him, and pays compliments +now and again to those whom he laughs at in the depths of his +heart. + +Just as the Abbot, prostrate before the altar, was chanting +"_Sancte Johannes, ora pro noblis_!" he heard a voice exclaim +sufficiently distinctly: "_O coglione_!" + +"What can be going on up there?" cried the Sub-prior, as he saw +the reliquary move. + +"The saint is playing the devil," replied the Abbot. + +Even as he spoke the living head tore itself away from the +lifeless body, and dropped upon the sallow cranium of the +officiating priest. + +"Remember Dona Elvira!" cried the thing, with its teeth set fast +in the Abbot's head. + +The Abbot's horror-stricken shriek disturbed the ceremony; all +the ecclesiastics hurried up and crowded about their chief. + +"Idiot, tell us now if there is a God!" the voice cried, as the +Abbot, bitten through the brain, drew his last breath. + + + +PARIS, October 1830. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Elixir of Life, by Honore de Balzac + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ELIXIR OF LIFE *** + +***** This file should be named 1215.txt or 1215.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.net/1/2/1/1215/ + +Produced by Dagny + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.net/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.net + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/old/20040831-1215.zip b/old/old/20040831-1215.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b1f677c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/20040831-1215.zip diff --git a/old/old/lxrlf10.txt b/old/old/lxrlf10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3b5ce66 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/lxrlf10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1336 @@ +Project Gutenberg Etext of The Elixir of Life by Honore de Balzac +(Translated by Clara Bell and James Waring) +#4 in our series by Balzac + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. We need your donations. + + +The Elixir of Life + +by Honore de Balzac + +(Translated by Clara Bell and James Waring) + +February, 1998 [Etext #1215] + + +Project Gutenberg Etext of The Elixir of Life by Honore de Balzac +*******This file should be named lxrlf10.txt or lxrlf10.zip****** + +--> Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, lxrlf11.txt. +--> VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, lxrlf10a.txt. + + +This etext was prepared by Dagny (dagnyj@hotmail.com) + + +Project Gutenberg Etexts are usually created from multiple editions, +all of which are in the Public Domain in the United States, unless a +copyright notice is included. Therefore, we do NOT keep these books +in compliance with any particular paper edition, usually otherwise. + + +We are now trying to release all our books one month in advance +of the official release dates, for time for better editing. + +Please note: neither this list nor its contents are final till +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. To be sure you have an +up to date first edition [xxxxx10x.xxx] please check file sizes +in the first week of the next month. Since our ftp program has +a bug in it that scrambles the date [tried to fix and failed] a +look at the file size will have to do, but we will try to see a +new copy has at least one byte more or less. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +fifty hours is one conservative estimate for how long it we take +to get any etext selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. This +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If our value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour this year as we release thirty-two text +files per month, or 384 more Etexts in 1997 for a total of 1000+ +If these reach just 10% of the computerized population, then the +total should reach over 100 billion Etexts given away. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away One Trillion Etext +Files by the December 31, 2001. [10,000 x 100,000,000=Trillion] +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only 10% of the present number of computer users. 2001 +should have at least twice as many computer users as that, so it +will require us reaching less than 5% of the users in 2001. + + +We need your donations more than ever! + + +All donations should be made to "Project Gutenberg/CMU": and are +tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. (CMU = Carnegie- +Mellon University). + +For these and other matters, please mail to: + +Project Gutenberg +P. O. Box 2782 +Champaign, IL 61825 + +When all other email fails try our Executive Director: +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +We would prefer to send you this information by email +(Internet, Bitnet, Compuserve, ATTMAIL or MCImail). + +****** +If you have an FTP program (or emulator), please +FTP directly to the Project Gutenberg archives: +[Mac users, do NOT point and click. . .type] + +ftp uiarchive.cso.uiuc.edu +login: anonymous +password: your@login +cd etext/etext90 through /etext96 +or cd etext/articles [get suggest gut for more information] +dir [to see files] +get or mget [to get files. . .set bin for zip files] +GET INDEX?00.GUT +for a list of books +and +GET NEW GUT for general information +and +MGET GUT* for newsletters. + +**Information prepared by the Project Gutenberg legal advisor** +(Three Pages) + + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this etext, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you can distribute copies of this etext if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS ETEXT +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +etext, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this etext by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this etext on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM ETEXTS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG- +tm etexts, is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor +Michael S. Hart through the Project Gutenberg Association at +Carnegie-Mellon University (the "Project"). Among other +things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this etext +under the Project's "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +To create these etexts, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's etexts and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other etext medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] the Project (and any other party you may receive this +etext from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext) disclaims all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this etext within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS ETEXT IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE ETEXT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold the Project, its directors, +officers, members and agents harmless from all liability, cost +and expense, including legal fees, that arise directly or +indirectly from any of the following that you do or cause: +[1] distribution of this etext, [2] alteration, modification, +or addition to the etext, or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this etext electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + etext or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this etext in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word pro- + cessing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The etext, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The etext may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the etext (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + etext in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the etext refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Project of 20% of the + net profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association/Carnegie-Mellon + University" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Carnegie-Mellon University". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +Typed and first proof by Dagny +dagnyj@hotmail.com + + + + + +THE ELIXIR OF LIFE + +BY + +HONORE DE BALZAC + + + +Translated By +Clara Bell & James Waring + + + +TO THE READER + +At the very outset of the writer's literary career, a friend, +long since dead, gave him the subject of this Study. Later on he +found the same story in a collection published about the +beginning of the present century. To the best of his belief, it +is some stray fancy of the brain of Hoffmann of Berlin; probably +it appeared in some German almanac, and was omitted in the +published editions of his collected works. The Comedie Humaine is +sufficiently rich in original creations for the author to own to +this innocent piece of plagiarism; when, like the worthy La +Fontaine, he has told unwittingly, and after his own fashion, a +tale already related by another. This is not one of the hoaxes in +vogue in the year 1830, when every author wrote his "tale of +horror" for the amusement of young ladies. When you have read the +account of Don Juan's decorous parricide, try to picture to +yourself the part which would be played under very similar +circumstances by honest folk who, in this nineteenth century, +will take a man's money and undertake to pay him a life annuity +on the faith of a chill, or let a house to an ancient lady for +the term of her natural life! Would they be for resuscitating +their clients? I should dearly like a connoisseur in consciences +to consider how far there is a resemblance between a Don Juan and +fathers who marry their children to great expectations. Does +humanity, which, according to certain philosophers, is making +progress, look on the art of waiting for dead men's shoes as a +step in the right direction? To this art we owe several honorable +professions, which open up ways of living on death. There are +people who rely entirely on an expected demise; who brood over +it, crouching each morning upon a corpse, that serves again for +their pillow at night. To this class belong bishops' coadjutors, +cardinals' supernumeraries, tontiniers, and the like. Add to the +list many delicately scrupulous persons eager to buy landed +property beyond their means, who calculate with dry logic and in +cold blood the probable duration of the life of a father or of a +step-mother, some old man or woman of eighty or ninety, saying to +themselves, "I shall be sure to come in for it in three years' +time, and then----" A murderer is less loathsome to us than a +spy. The murderer may have acted on a sudden mad impulse; he may +be penitent and amend; but a spy is always a spy, night and day, +in bed, at table, as he walks abroad; his vileness pervades every +moment of his life. Then what must it be to live when every +moment of your life is tainted with murder? And have we not just +admitted that a host of human creatures in our midst are led by +our laws, customs, and usages to dwell without ceasing on a +fellow-creature's death? There are men who put the weight of a +coffin into their deliberations as they bargain for Cashmere +shawls for their wives, as they go up the staircase of a theatre, +or think of going to the Bouffons, or of setting up a carriage; +who are murderers in thought when dear ones, with the +irresistible charm of innocence, hold up childish foreheads to be +kissed with a "Good-night, father!" Hourly they meet the gaze of +eyes that they would fain close for ever, eyes that still open +each morning to the light, like Belvidero's in this Study. God +alone knows the number of those who are parricides in thought. +Picture to yourself the state of mind of a man who must pay a +life annuity to some old woman whom he scarcely knows; both live +in the country with a brook between them, both sides are free to +hate cordially, without offending against the social conventions +that require two brothers to wear a mask if the older will +succeed to the entail, and the other to the fortune of a younger +son. The whole civilization of Europe turns upon the principle of +hereditary succession as upon a pivot; it would be madness to +subvert the principle; but could we not, in an age that prides +itself upon its mechanical inventions, perfect this essential +portion of the social machinery? + +If the author has preserved the old-fashioned style of address To +the Reader before a work wherein he endeavors to represent all +literary forms, it is for the purpose of making a remark that +applies to several of the Studies, and very specially to this. +Every one of his compositions has been based upon ideas more or +less novel, which, as it seemed to him, needed literary +expression; he can claim priority for certain forms and for +certain ideas which have since passed into the domain of +literature, and have there, in some instances, become common +property; so that the date of the first publication of each Study +cannot be a matter of indifference to those of his readers who +would fain do him justice. + +Reading brings us unknown friends, and what friend is like a +reader? We have friends in our own circle who read nothing of +ours. The author hopes to pay his debt, by dedicating this work +Diis ignotis. + + + +THE ELIXIR OF LIFE + +One winter evening, in a princely palace at Ferrara, Don Juan +Belvidero was giving a banquet to a prince of the house of Este. +A banquet in those times was a marvelous spectacle which only +royal wealth or the power of a mightly [sic] lord could furnish +forth. Seated about a table lit up with perfumed tapers, seven +laughter-loving women were interchanging sweet talk. The white +marble of the noble works of art about them stood out against the +red stucco walls, and made strong contrasts with the rich Turkey +carpets. Clad in satin, glittering with gold, and covered with +gems less brilliant than their eyes, each told a tale of +energetic passions as diverse as their styles of beauty. They +differed neither in their ideas nor in their language; but the +expression of their eyes, their glances, occasional gestures, or +the tones of their voices supplied a commentary, dissolute, +wanton, melancholy, or satirical, to their words. + +One seemed to be saying--"The frozen heart of age might kindle at +my beauty." + +Another--"I love to lounge upon cushions, and think with rapture +of my adorers." + +A third, a neophyte at these banquets, was inclined to blush. "I +feel remorse in the depths of my heart! I am a Catholic, and +afraid of hell. But I love you, I love you so that I can +sacrifice my hereafter to you." + +The fourth drained a cup of Chian wine. "Give me a joyous life!" +she cried; "I begin life afresh each day with the dawn. Forgetful +of the past, with the intoxication of yesterday's rapture still +upon me, I drink deep of life--a whole lifetime of pleasure and +of love!" + +The woman who sat next to Juan Belvidero looked at him with a +feverish glitter in her eyes. She was silent. Then--"I should +need no hired bravo to kill my lover if he forsook me!" she cried +at last, and laughed, but the marvelously wrought gold comfit box +in her fingers was crushed by her convulsive clutch. + +"When are you to be Grand Duke?" asked the sixth. There was the +frenzy of a Bacchante in her eyes, and her teeth gleamed between +the lips parted with a smile of cruel glee. + +"Yes, when is that father of yours going to die?" asked the +seventh, throwing her bouquet at Don Juan with bewitching +playfulness. It was a childish girl who spoke, and the speaker +was wont to make sport of sacred things. + +"Oh! don't talk about it," cried Don Juan, the young and handsome +giver of the banquet. "There is but one eternal father, and, as +ill luck will have it, he is mine." + +The seven Ferrarese, Don Juan's friends, the Prince himself, gave +a cry of horror. Two hundred years later, in the days of Louis +XV., people of taste would have laughed at this witticism. Or was +it, perhaps, that at the outset of an orgy there is a certain +unwonted lucidity of mind? Despite the taper light, the clamor of +the senses, the gleam of gold and silver, the fumes of wine, and +the exquisite beauty of the women, there may perhaps have been in +the depths of the revelers' hearts some struggling glimmer of +reverence for things divine and human, until it was drowned in +glowing floods of wine! Yet even then the flowers had been +crushed, eyes were growing dull, and drunkenness, in Rabelais' +phrase, had "taken possession of them down to their sandals." + +During that brief pause a door opened; and as once the Divine +presence was revealed at Belshazzar's feast, so now it seemed to +be manifest in the apparition of an old white-haired servant, who +tottered in, and looked sadly from under knitted brows at the +revelers. He gave a withering glance at the garlands, the golden +cups, the pyramids of fruit, the dazzling lights of the banquet, +the flushed scared faces, the hues of the cushions pressed by the +white arms of the women. + +"My lord, your father is dying!" he said; and at those solemn +words, uttered in hollow tones, a veil of crape [sic] seemed to +be drawn over the wild mirth. + +Don Juan rose to his feet with a gesture to his guests that might +be rendered by, "Excuse me; this kind of thing does not happen +every day." + +Does it so seldom happen that a father's death surprises youth in +the full-blown splendor of life, in the midst of the mad riot of +an orgy? Death is as unexpected in his caprice as a courtesan in +her disdain; but death is truer--Death has never forsaken any +man. + +Don Juan closed the door of the banqueting-hall; and as he went +down the long gallery, through the cold and darkness, he strove +to assume an expression in keeping with the part he had to play; +he had thrown off his mirthful mood, as he had thrown down his +table napkin, at the first thought of this role. The night was +dark. The mute servitor, his guide to the chamber where the dying +man lay, lighted the way so dimly that Death, aided by cold, +silence, and darkness, and it may be by a reaction of +drunkenness, could send some sober thoughts through the +spendthrift's soul. He examined his life, and became thoughtful, +like a man involved in a lawsuit on his way to the Court. + +Bartolommeo Belvidero, Don Juan's father, was an old man of +ninety, who had devoted the greatest part of his life to business +pursuits. He had acquired vast wealth in many a journey to +magical Eastern lands, and knowledge, so it was said, more +valuable than the gold and diamonds, which had almost ceased to +have any value for him. + +"I would give more to have a tooth in my head than for a ruby," +he would say at times with a smile. The indulgent father loved to +hear Don Juan's story of this and that wild freak of youth. "So +long as these follies amuse you, dear boy----" he would say +laughingly, as he lavished money on his son. Age never took such +pleasure in the sight of youth; the fond father did not remember +his own decaying powers while he looked on that brilliant young +life. + +Bartolommeo Belvidero, at the age of sixty, had fallen in love +with an angel of peace and beauty. Don Juan had been the sole +fruit of this late and short-lived love. For fifteen years the +widower had mourned the loss of his beloved Juana; and to this +sorrow of age, his son and his numerous household had attributed +the strange habits that he had contracted. He had shut himself up +in the least comfortable wing of his palace, and very seldom left +his apartments; even Don Juan himself must first ask permission +before seeing his father. If this hermit, unbound by vows, came +or went in his palace or in the streets of Ferrara, he walked as +if he were in a dream, wholly engrossed, like a man at strife +with a memory, or a wrestler with some thought. + +The young Don Juan might give princely banquets, the palace might +echo with clamorous mirth, horses pawed the ground in the +courtyards, pages quarreled and flung dice upon the stairs, but +Bartolommeo ate his seven ounces of bread daily and drank water. +A fowl was occasionally dressed for him, simply that the black +poodle, his faithful companion, might have the bones. Bartolommeo +never complained of the noise. If the huntsmen's horns and baying +dogs disturbed his sleep during his illness, he only said, "Ah! +Don Juan has come back again." Never on earth has there been a +father so little exacting and so indulgent; and, in consequence, +young Belvidero, accustomed to treat his father unceremoniously, +had all the faults of a spoiled child. He treated old Bartolommeo +as a wilful courtesan treats an elderly adorer; buying indemnity +for insolence with a smile, selling good-humor, submitting to be +loved. + +Don Juan, beholding scene after scene of his younger years, saw +that it would be a difficult task to find his father's indulgence +at fault. Some new-born remorse stirred the depths of his heart; +he felt almost ready to forgive this father now about to die for +having lived so long. He had an accession of filial piety, like a +thief's return in thought to honesty at the prospect of a million +adroitly stolen. + +Before long Don Juan had crossed the lofty, chilly suite of rooms +in which his father lived; the penetrating influences of the damp +close air, the mustiness diffused by old tapestries and presses +thickly covered with dust had passed into him, and now he stood +in the old man's antiquated room, in the repulsive presence of +the deathbed, beside a dying fire. A flickering lamp on a Gothic +table sent broad uncertain shafts of light, fainter or brighter, +across the bed, so that the dying man's face seemed to wear a +different look at every moment. The bitter wind whistled through +the crannies of the ill-fitting casements; there was a smothered +sound of snow lashing the windows. The harsh contrast of these +sights and sounds with the scenes which Don Juan had just quitted +was so sudden that he could not help shuddering. He turned cold +as he came towards the bed; the lamp flared in a sudden vehement +gust of wind and lighted up his father's face; the features were +wasted and distorted; the skin that cleaved to their bony +outlines had taken wan livid hues, all the more ghastly by force +of contrast with the white pillows on which he lay. The muscles +about the toothless mouth had contracted with pain and drawn +apart the lips; the moans that issued between them with appalling +energy found an accompaniment in the howling of the storm +without. + +In spite of every sign of coming dissolution, the most striking +thing about the dying face was its incredible power. It was no +ordinary spirit that wrestled there with Death. The eyes glared +with strange fixity of gaze from the cavernous sockets hollowed +by disease. It seemed as if Bartolommeo sought to kill some enemy +sitting at the foot of his bed by the intent gaze of dying eyes. +That steady remorseless look was the more appalling because the +head that lay upon the pillow was passive and motionless as a +skull upon a doctor's table. The outlines of the body, revealed +by the coverlet, were no less rigid and stiff; he lay there as +one dead, save for those eyes. There was something automatic +about the moaning sounds that came from the mouth. Don Juan felt +something like shame that he must be brought thus to his father's +bedside, wearing a courtesan's bouquet, redolent of the fragrance +of the banqueting-chamber and the fumes of wine. + +"You were enjoying yourself!" the old man cried as he saw his +son. + +Even as he spoke the pure high notes of a woman's voice, +sustained by the sound of the viol on which she accompanied her +song, rose above the rattle of the storm against the casements, +and floated up to the chamber of death. Don Juan stopped his ears +against the barbarous answer to his father's speech. + +"I bear you no grudge, my child," Bartolommeo went on. + +The words were full of kindness, but they hurt Don Juan; he could +not pardon this heart-searching goodness on his father's part. + +"What a remorseful memory for me!" he cried, hypocritically. + +"Poor Juanino," the dying man went on, in a smothered voice, "I +have always been so kind to you, that you could not surely desire +my death?" + +"Oh, if it were only possible to keep you here by giving up a +part of my own life!" cried Don Juan. + +("We can always SAY this sort of thing," the spendthrift thought; +"it is as if I laid the whole world at my mistress' feet.") + +The thought had scarcely crossed his mind when the old poodle +barked. Don Juan shivered; the response was so intelligent that +he fancied the dog must have understood him. + +"I was sure that I could count upon you, my son!" cried the dying +man. "I shall live. So be it; you shall be satisfied. I shall +live, but without depriving you of a single day of your life." + +"He is raving," thought Don Juan. Aloud he added, "Yes, dearest +father, yes; you shall live, of course, as long as I live, for +your image will be for ever in my heart." + +"It is not that kind of life that I mean," said the old noble, +summoning all his strength to sit up in bed; for a thrill of +doubt ran through him, one of those suspicions that come into +being under a dying man's pillow. "Listen, my son," he went on, +in a voice grown weak with that last effort, "I have no more wish +to give up life than you to give up wine and mistresses, horses +and hounds, and hawks and gold----" + +"I can well believe it," thought the son; and he knelt down by +the bed and kissed Bartolommeo's cold hands. "But, father, my +dear father," he added aloud, "we must submit to the will of +God." + +"I am God!" muttered the dying man. + +"Do not blaspheme!" cried the other, as he saw the menacing +expression on his father's face. "Beware what you say; you have +received extreme unction, and I should be inconsolable if you +were to die before my eyes in mortal sin." + +"Will you listen to me?" cried Bartolommeo, and his mouth +twitched. + +Don Juan held his peace; an ugly silence prevailed. Yet above the +muffled sound of the beating of the snow against the windows rose +the sounds of the beautiful voice and the viol in unison, far off +and faint as the dawn. The dying man smiled. + +"Thank you," he said, "for bringing those singing voices and the +music, a banquet, young and lovely women with fair faces and dark +tresses, all the pleasure of life! Bid them wait for me; for I am +about to begin life anew." + +"The delirium is at its height," said Don Juan to himself. + +"I have found out a way of coming to life again," the speaker +went on. "There, just look in that table drawer, press the spring +hidden by the griffin, and it will fly open." + +"I have found it, father." + +"Well, then, now take out a little phial of rock crystal." + +"I have it." + +"I have spent twenty years in----" but even as he spoke the old +man felt how very near the end had come, and summoned all his +dying strength to say, "As soon as the breath is out of me, rub +me all over with that liquid, and I shall come to life again." + +"There is very little of it," his son remarked. + +Though Bartolommeo could no longer speak, he could still hear and +see. When those words dropped from Don Juan, his head turned with +appalling quickness, his neck was twisted like the throat of some +marble statue which the sculptor had condemned to remain +stretched out for ever, the wide eyes had come to have a ghastly +fixity. + +He was dead, and in death he lost his last and sole illusion. + +He had sought a shelter in his son's heart, and it had proved to +be a sepulchre, a pit deeper than men dig for their dead. The +hair on his head had risen and stiffened with horror, his +agonized glance still spoke. He was a father rising in just anger +from his tomb, to demand vengeance at the throne of God. + +"There! it is all over with the old man!" cried Don Juan. + +He had been so interested in holding the mysterious phial to the +lamp, as a drinker holds up the wine-bottle at the end of a meal, +that he had not seen his father's eyes fade. The cowering poodle +looked from his master to the elixir, just as Don Juan himself +glanced again and again from his father to the flask. The +lamplight flickered. There was a deep silence; the viol was mute. +Juan Belvidero thought that he saw his father stir, and trembled. +The changeless gaze of those accusing eyes frightened him; he +closed them hastily, as he would have closed a loose shutter +swayed by the wind of an autumn night. He stood there motionless, +lost in a world of thought. + +Suddenly the silence was broken by a shrill sound like the +creaking of a rusty spring. It startled Don Juan; he all but +dropped the phial. A sweat, colder than the blade of a dagger, +issued through every pore. It was only a piece of clockwork, a +wooden cock that sprang out and crowed three times, an ingenious +contrivance by which the learned of that epoch were wont to be +awakened at the appointed hour to begin the labors of the day. +Through the windows there came already a flush of dawn. The +thing, composed of wood, and cords, and wheels, and pulleys, was +more faithful in its service than he in his duty to Bartolommeo-- +he, a man with that peculiar piece of human mechanism within him +that we call a heart. + +Don Juan the sceptic shut the flask again in the secret drawer in +the Gothic table--he meant to run no more risks of losing the +mysterious liquid. + +Even at that solemn moment he heard the murmur of a crowd in the +gallery, a confused sound of voices, of stifled laughter and +light footfalls, and the rustling of silks--the sounds of a band +of revelers struggling for gravity. The door opened, and in came +the Prince and Don Juan's friends, the seven courtesans, and the +singers, disheveled and wild like dancers surprised by the dawn, +when the tapers that have burned through the night struggle with +the sunlight. + +They had come to offer the customary condolence to the young +heir. + +"Oho! is poor Don Juan really taking this seriously?" said the +Prince in Brambilla's ear. + +"Well, his father was very good," she returned. + +But Don Juan's night-thoughts had left such unmistakable traces +on his features, that the crew was awed into silence. The men +stood motionless. The women, with wine-parched lips and cheeks +marbled with kisses, knelt down and began a prayer. Don Juan +could scarce help trembling when he saw splendor and mirth and +laughter and song and youth and beauty and power bowed in +reverence before Death. But in those times, in that adorable +Italy of the sixteenth century, religion and revelry went hand in +hand; and religious excess became a sort of debauch, and a +debauch a religious rite! + +The Prince grasped Don Juan's hand affectionately, then when all +faces had simultaneously put on the same grimace--half-gloomy, +half-indifferent--the whole masque disappeared, and left the +chamber of death empty. It was like an allegory of life. + +As they went down the staircase, the Prince spoke to Rivabarella: +"Now, who would have taken Don Juan's impiety for a boast? He +loves his father." + +"Did you see that black dog?" asked La Brambilla. + +"He is enormously rich now," sighed Bianca Cavatolino. + +"What is that to me?" cried the proud Veronese (she who had +crushed the comfit-box). + +"What does it matter to you, forsooth?" cried the Duke. "With his +money he is as much a prince as I am." + +At first Don Juan was swayed hither and thither by countless +thoughts, and wavered between two decisions. He took counsel with +the gold heaped up by his father, and returned in the evening to +the chamber of death, his whole soul brimming over with hideous +selfishness. He found all his household busy there. "His +lordship" was to lie in state to-morrow; all Ferrara would flock +to behold the wonderful spectacle; and the servants were busy +decking the room and the couch on which the dead man lay. At a +sign from Don Juan all his people stopped, dumfounded and +trembling. + +"Leave me alone here," he said, and his voice was changed, "and +do not return until I leave the room." + +When the footsteps of the old servitor, who was the last to go, +echoed but faintly along the paved gallery, Don Juan hastily +locked the door, and sure that he was quite alone, "Let us try," +he said to himself. + +Bartolommeo's body was stretched on a long table. The embalmers +had laid a sheet over it, to hide from all eyes the dreadful +spectacle of a corpse so wasted and shrunken that it seemed like +a skeleton, and only the face was uncovered. This mummy-like +figure lay in the middle of the room. The limp clinging linen +lent itself to the outlines it shrouded--so sharp, bony, and +thin. Large violet patches had already begun to spread over the +face; the embalmers' work had not been finished too soon. + +Don Juan, strong as he was in his scepticism, felt a tremor as he +opened the magic crystal flask. When he stood over that face, he +was trembling so violently, that he was actually obliged to wait +for a moment. But Don Juan had acquired an early familiarity with +evil; his morals had been corrupted by a licentious court, a +reflection worthy of the Duke of Urbino crossed his mind, and it +was a keen sense of curiosity that goaded him into boldness. The +devil himself might have whispered the words that were echoing +through his brain, Moisten one of the eyes with the liquid! He +took up a linen cloth, moistened it sparingly with the precious +fluid, and passed it lightly over the right eyelid of the corpse. +The eye unclosed. . . . + +"Aha!" said Don Juan. He gripped the flask tightly, as we clutch +in dreams the branch from which we hang suspended over a +precipice. + +For the eye was full of life. It was a young child's eye set in a +death's head; the light quivered in the depths of its youthful +liquid brightness. Shaded by the long dark lashes, it sparkled +like the strange lights that travelers see in lonely places in +winter nights. The eye seemed as if it would fain dart fire at +Don Juan; he saw it thinking, upbraiding, condemning, uttering +accusations, threatening doom; it cried aloud, and gnashed upon +him. All anguish that shakes human souls was gathered there; +supplications the most tender, the wrath of kings, the love in a +girl's heart pleading with the headsman; then, and after all +these, the deeply searching glance a man turns on his fellows as +he mounts the last step of the scaffold. Life so dilated in this +fragment of life that Don Juan shrank back; he walked up and down +the room, he dared not meet that gaze, but he saw nothing else. +The ceiling and the hangings, the whole room was sown with living +points of fire and intelligence. Everywhere those gleaming eyes +haunted him. + +"He might very likely have lived another hundred years!" he cried +involuntarily. Some diabolical influence had drawn him to his +father, and again he gazed at that luminous spark. The eyelid +closed and opened again abruptly; it was like a woman's sign of +assent. It was an intelligent movement. If a voice had cried +"Yes!" Don Juan could not have been more startled. + +"What is to be done?" he thought. + +He nerved himself to try to close the white eyelid. In vain. + +"Kill it? That would perhaps be parricide," he debated with +himself. + +"Yes," the eye said, with a strange sardonic quiver of the lid. + +"Aha!" said Don Juan to himself, "here is witchcraft at work!" +And he went closer to crush the thing. A great tear trickled over +the hollow cheeks, and fell on Don Juan's hand. + +"It is scalding!" he cried. He sat down. The struggle exhausted +him; it was as if, like Jacob of old, he was wrestling with an +angel. + +At last he rose. "So long as there is no blood----" he muttered. + +Then, summoning all the courage needed for a coward's crime, he +extinguished the eye, pressing it with the linen cloth, turning +his head away. A terrible groan startled him. It was the poor +poodle, who died with a long-drawn howl. + +"Could the brute have been in the secret?" thought Don Juan, +looking down at the faithful creature. + +Don Juan Belvidero was looked upon as a dutiful son. He reared a +white marble monument on his father's tomb, and employed the +greatest sculptors of the time upon it. He did not recover +perfect ease of mind till the day when his father knelt in marble +before Religion, and the heavy weight of the stone had sealed the +mouth of the grave in which he had laid the one feeling of +remorse that sometimes flitted through his soul in moments of +physical weariness. + +He had drawn up a list of the wealth heaped up by the old +merchant in the East, and he became a miser: had he not to +provide for a second lifetime? His views of life were the more +profound and penetrating; he grasped its significance, as a +whole, the better, because he saw it across a grave. All men, all +things, he analyzed once and for all; he summed up the Past, +represented by its records; the Present in the law, its +crystallized form; the Future, revealed by religion. He took +spirit and matter, and flung them into his crucible, and found-- +Nothing. Thenceforward he became DON JUAN. + +At the outset of his life, in the prime of youth and the beauty +of youth, he knew the illusions of life for what they were; he +despised the world, and made the utmost of the world. His +felicity could not have been of the bourgeois kind, rejoicing in +periodically recurrent bouilli, in the comforts of a warming-pan, +a lamp of a night, and a new pair of slippers once a quarter. +Nay, rather he seized upon existence as a monkey snatches a nut, +and after no long toying with it, proceeds deftly to strip off +the mere husks to reach the savory kernel within. + +Poetry and the sublime transports of passion scarcely reached +ankle-depth with him now. He in nowise fell into the error of +strong natures who flatter themselves now and again that little +souls will believe in a great soul, and are willing to barter +their own lofty thoughts of the future for the small change of +our life-annuity ideas. He, even as they, had he chosen, might +well have walked with his feet on the earth and his head in the +skies; but he liked better to sit on earth, to wither the soft, +fresh, fragrant lips of a woman with kisses, for like Death, he +devoured everything without scruple as he passed; he would have +full fruition; he was an Oriental lover, seeking prolonged +pleasures easily obtained. He sought nothing but a woman in +women, and cultivated cynicism, until it became with him a habit +of mind. When his mistress, from the couch on which she lay, +soared and was lost in regions of ecstatic bliss, Don Juan +followed suit, earnest, expansive, serious as any German student. +But he said I, while she, in the transports of intoxication, said +We. He understood to admiration the art of abandoning himself to +the influence of a woman; he was always clever enough to make her +believe that he trembled like some boy fresh from college before +his first partner at a dance, when he asks her, "Do you like +dancing?" But, no less, he could be terrible at need, could +unsheathe a formidable sword and make short work of Commandants. +Banter lurked beneath his simplicity, mocking laughter behind his +tears--for he had tears at need, like any woman nowadays who says +to her husband, "Give me a carriage, or I shall go into a +consumption." + +For the merchant the world is a bale of goods or a mass of +circulating bills; for most young men it is a woman, and for a +woman here and there it is a man; for a certain order of mind it +is a salon, a coterie, a quarter of the town, or some single +city; but Don Juan found his world in himself. + +This model of grace and dignity, this captivating wit, moored his +bark by every shore; but wherever he was led he was never carried +away, and was only steered in a course of his own choosing. The +more he saw, the more he doubted. He watched men narrowly, and +saw how, beneath the surface, courage was often rashness; and +prudence, cowardice; generosity, a clever piece of calculation; +justice, a wrong; delicacy, pusillanimity; honesty, a modus +vivendi; and by some strange dispensation of fate, he must see +that those who at heart were really honest, scrupulous, just, +generous, prudent, or brave were held cheaply by their fellow- +men. + +"What a cold-blooded jest!" said he to himself. "It was not +devised by a God." + +From that time forth he renounced a better world, and never +uncovered himself when a Name was pronounced, and for him the +carven saints in the churches became works of art. He understood +the mechanism of society too well to clash wantonly with its +prejudices; for, after all, he was not as powerful as the +executioner, but he evaded social laws with the wit and grace so +well rendered in the scene with M. Dimanche. He was, in fact, +Moliere's Don Juan, Goethe's Faust, Byron's Manfred, Mathurin's +Melmoth--great allegorical figures drawn by the greatest men of +genius in Europe, to which Mozart's harmonies, perhaps, do no +more justice than Rossini's lyre. Terrible allegorical figures +that shall endure as long as the principle of evil existing in +the heart of man shall produce a few copies from century to +century. Sometimes the type becomes half-human when incarnate as +a Mirabeau, sometimes it is an inarticulate force in a Bonaparte, +sometimes it overwhelms the universe with irony as a Rabelais; +or, yet again, it appears when a Marechal de Richelieu elects to +laugh at human beings instead of scoffing at things, or when one +of the most famous of our ambassadors goes a step further and +scoffs at both men and things. But the profound genius of Juan +Belvidero anticipated and resumed all these. All things were a +jest to him. His was the life of a mocking spirit. All men, all +institutions, all realities, all ideas were within its scope. As +for eternity, after half an hour of familiar conversation with +Pope Julius II. he said, laughing: + +"If it is absolutely necessary to make a choice, I would rather +believe in God than in the Devil; power combined with goodness +always offers more resources than the spirit of Evil can boast." + +"Yes; still God requires repentance in this present world----" + +"So you always think of your indulgences," returned Don Juan +Belvidero. "Well, well, I have another life in reserve in which +to repent of the sins of my previous existence." + +"Oh, if you regard old age in that light," cried the Pope, "you +are in danger on canonization----" + +"After your elevation to the Papacy nothing is incredible." And +they went to watch the workmen who were building the huge +basilica dedicated to Saint Peter. + +"Saint Peter, as the man of genius who laid the foundation of our +double power," the Pope said to Don Juan, "deserves this +monument. Sometimes, though, at night, I think that a deluge will +wipe all this out as with a sponge, and it will be all to begin +over again." + +Don Juan and the Pope began to laugh; they understood each other. +A fool would have gone on the morrow to amuse himself with Julius +II. in Raphael's studio or at the delicious Villa Madama; not so +Belvidero. He went to see the Pope as pontiff, to be convinced of +any doubts that he (Don Juan) entertained. Over his cups the +Rovere would have been capable of denying his own infallibility +and of commenting on the Apocalypse. + + + +Nevertheless, this legend has not been undertaken to furnish +materials for future biographies of Don Juan; it is intended to +prove to honest folk that Belvidero did not die in a duel with +stone, as some lithographers would have us believe. + +When Don Juan Belvidero reached the age of sixty he settled in +Spain, and there in his old age he married a young and charming +Andalusian wife. But of set purpose he was neither a good husband +nor a good father. He had observed that we are never so tenderly +loved as by women to whom we scarcely give a thought. Dona Elvira +had been devoutly brought up by an old aunt in a castle a few +leagues from San-Lucar in a remote part of Andalusia. She was a +model of devotion and grace. Don Juan foresaw that this would be +a woman who would struggle long against a passion before +yielding, and therefore hoped to keep her virtuous until his +death. It was a jest undertaken in earnest, a game of chess which +he meant to reserve till his old age. Don Juan had learned wisdom +from the mistakes made by his father Bartolommeo; he determined +that the least details of his life in old age should be +subordinated to one object--the success of the drama which was to +be played out upon his death-bed. + +For the same reason the largest part of his wealth was buried in +the cellars of his palace at Ferrara, whither he seldom went. As +for the rest of his fortune, it was invested in a life annuity, +with a view to give his wife and children an interest in keeping +him alive; but this Machiavellian piece of foresight was scarcely +necessary. His son, young Felipe Belvidero, grew up as a Spaniard +as religiously conscientious as his father was irreligious, in +virtue, perhaps, of the old rule, "A miser has a spendthrift +son." The Abbot of San-Lucar was chosen by Don Juan to be the +director of the consciences of the Duchess of Belvidero and her +son Felipe. The ecclesiastic was a holy man, well shaped, and +admirably well proportioned. He had fine dark eyes, a head like +that of Tiberius, worn with fasting, bleached by an ascetic life, +and, like all dwellers in the wilderness, was daily tempted. The +noble lord had hopes, it may be, of despatching yet another monk +before his term of life was out. + +But whether because the Abbot was every whit as clever as Don +Juan himself, or Dona Elvira possessed more discretion or more +virtue than Spanish wives are usually credited with, Don Juan was +compelled to spend his declining years beneath his own roof, with +no more scandal under it than if he had been an ancient country +parson. Occasionally he would take wife and son to task for +negligence in the duties of religion, peremptorily insisting that +they should carry out to the letter the obligations imposed upon +the flock by the Court of Rome. Indeed, he was never so well +pleased as when he had set the courtly Abbot discussing some case +of conscience with Dona Elvira and Felipe. + +At length, however, despite the prodigious care that the great +magnifico, Don Juan Belvidero, took of himself, the days of +decrepitude came upon him, and with those days the constant +importunity of physical feebleness, an importunity all the more +distressing by contrast with the wealth of memories of his +impetuous youth and the sensual pleasures of middle age. The +unbeliever who in the height of his cynical humor had been wont +to persuade others to believe in laws and principles at which he +scoffed, must repose nightly upon a PERHAPS. The great Duke, the +pattern of good breeding, the champion of many a carouse, the +proud ornament of Courts, the man of genius, the graceful winner +of hearts that he had wrung as carelessly as a peasant twists an +osier withe, was now the victim of a cough, of a ruthless +sciatica, of an unmannerly gout. His teeth gradually deserted +him, as at the end of an evening the fairest and best-dressed +women take their leave one by one till the room is left empty and +desolate. The active hands became palsy-stricken, the shapely +legs tottered as he walked. At last, one night, a stroke of +apoplexy caught him by the throat in its icy clutch. After that +fatal day he grew morose and stern. + +He would reproach his wife and son with their devotion, casting +it in their teeth that the affecting and thoughtful care that +they lavished so tenderly upon him was bestowed because they knew +that his money was invested in a life annuity. Then Elvira and +Felipe would shed bitter tears and redouble their caresses, and +the wicked old man's insinuating voice would take an affectionate +tone--"Ah, you will forgive me, will you not, dear friends, dear +wife? I am rather a nuisance. Alas, Lord in heaven, how canst +Thou use me as the instrument by which Thou provest these two +angelic creatures? I who should be the joy of their lives am +become their scourge . . ." + +In this manner he kept them tethered to his pillow, blotting out +the memory of whole months of fretfulness and unkindness in one +short hour when he chose to display for them the ever-new +treasures of his pinchbeck tenderness and charm of manner--a +system of paternity that yielded him an infinitely better return +than his own father's indulgence had formerly gained. At length +his bodily infirmities reached a point when the task of laying +him in bed became as difficult as the navigation of a felucca in +the perils of an intricate channel. Then came the day of his +death; and this brilliant sceptic, whose mental faculties alone +had survived the most dreadful of all destructions, found himself +between his two special antipathies--the doctor and the +confessor. But he was jovial with them. Did he not see a light +gleaming in the future beyond the veil? The pall that is like +lead for other men was thin and translucent for him; the light- +footed, irresistible delights of youth danced beyond it like +shadows. + + + +It was on a beautiful summer evening that Don Juan felt the near +approach of death. The sky of Spain was serene and cloudless; the +air was full of the scent of orange-blossom; the stars shed +clear, pure gleams of light; nature without seemed to give the +dying man assurance of resurrection; a dutiful and obedient son +sat there watching him with loving and respectful eyes. Towards +eleven o'clock he desired to be left alone with this single- +hearted being. + +"Felipe," said the father, in tones so soft and affectionate that +the young man trembled, and tears of gladness came to his eyes; +never had that stern father spoken his name in such a tone. +"Listen, my son," the dying man went on. "I am a great sinner. +All my life long, however, I have thought of my death. I was once +the friend of the great Pope Julius II.; and that illustrious +Pontiff, fearing lest the excessive excitability of my senses +should entangle me in mortal sin between the moment of my death +and the time of my anointing with the holy oil, gave me a flask +that contains a little of the holy water that once issued from +the rock in the wilderness. I have kept the secret of this +squandering of a treasure belonging to Holy Church, but I am +permitted to reveal the mystery in articulo mortis to my son. You +will find the flask in a drawer in that Gothic table that always +stands by the head of the bed. . . . The precious little crystal +flask may be of use yet again for you, dearest Felipe. Will you +swear to me, by your salvation, to carry out my instructions +faithfully?" + +Felipe looked at his father, and Don Juan was too deeply learned +in the lore of the human countenance not to die in peace with +that look as his warrant, as his own father had died in despair +at meeting the expression in his son's eyes. + +"You deserved to have a better father," Don Juan went on. "I dare +to confess, my child, that while the reverend Abbot of San-Lucar +was administering the Viaticum I was thinking of the +incompatibility of the co-existence of two powers so infinite as +God and the Devil----" + +"Oh, father!" + +"And I said to myself, when Satan makes his peace he ought surely +to stipulate for the pardon of his followers, or he will be the +veriest scoundrel. The thought haunted me; so I shall go to hell, +my son, unless you carry out my wishes." + +"Oh, quick; tell me quickly, father." + +"As soon as I have closed my eyes," Don Juan went on, "and that +may be in a few minutes, you must take my body before it grows +cold and lay it on a table in this room. Then put out the lamp; +the light of the stars should be sufficient. Take off my clothes, +reciting Aves and Paters the while, raising your soul to God in +prayer, and carefully anoint my lips and eyes with this holy +water; begin with the face, and proceed successively to my limbs +and the rest of my body; my dear son, the power of God is so +great that you must be astonished at nothing." + +Don Juan felt death so near, that he added in a terrible voice, +"Be careful not to drop the flask." + +Then he breathed his last gently in the arms of his son, and his +son's tears fell fast over his sardonic, haggard features. + +It was almost midnight when Don Felipe Belvidero laid his +father's body upon the table. He kissed the sinister brow and the +gray hair; then he put out the lamp. + +By the soft moonlight that lit strange gleams across the country +without, Felipe could dimly see his father's body, a vague white +thing among the shadows. The dutiful son moistened a linen cloth +with the liquid, and, absorbed in prayer, he anointed the revered +face. A deep silence reigned. Felipe heard faint, indescribable +rustlings; it was the breeze in the tree-tops, he thought. But +when he had moistened the right arm, he felt himself caught by +the throat, a young strong hand held him in a tight grip--it was +his father's hand! He shrieked aloud; the flask dropped from his +hand and broke in pieces. The liquid evaporated; the whole +household hurried into the room, holding torches aloft. That +shriek had startled them, and filled them with as much terror as +if the Trumpet of the Angel sounding on the Last Day had rung +through earth and sky. The room was full of people, and a horror- +stricken crowd beheld the fainting Felipe upheld by the strong +arm of his father, who clutched him by the throat. They saw +another thing, an unearthly spectacle--Don Juan's face grown +young and beautiful as Antinous, with its dark hair and brilliant +eyes and red lips, a head that made horrible efforts, but could +not move the dead, wasted body. + +An old servitor cried, "A miracle! a miracle!" and all the +Spaniards echoed, "A miracle! a miracle!" + +Dona Elvira, too pious to attribute this to magic, sent for the +Abbot of San-Lucar; and the Prior beholding the miracle with his +own eyes, being a clever man, and withal an Abbot desirous of +augmenting his revenues, determined to turn the occasion to +profit. He immediately gave out that Don Juan would certainly be +canonized; he appointed a day for the celebration of the +apotheosis in his convent, which thenceforward, he said, should +be called the convent of San Juan of Lucar. At these words a +sufficiently facetious grimace passed over the features of the +late Duke. + +The taste of the Spanish people for ecclesiastical solemnities is +so well known, that it should not be difficult to imagine the +religious pantomime by which the Convent of San-Lucar celebrated +the translation of the blessed Don Juan Belvidero to the abbey- +church. The tale of the partial resurrection had spread so +quickly from village to village, that a day or two after the +death of the illustrious nobleman the report had reached every +place within fifty miles of San-Lucar, and it was as good as a +play to see the roads covered already with crowds flocking in on +all sides, their curiosity whetted still further by the prospect +of a Te Deum sung by torchlight. The old abbey church of San- +Lucar, a marvelous building erected by the Moors, a mosque of +Allah, which for three centuries had heard the name of Christ, +could not hold the throng that poured in to see the ceremony. +Hidalgos in their velvet mantles, with their good swords at their +sides, swarmed like ants, and were so tightly packed in among the +pillars that they had not room to bend the knees, which never +bent save to God. Charming peasant girls, in the basquina that +defines the luxuriant outlines of their figures, lent an arm to +white-haired old men. Young men, with eyes of fire, walked beside +aged crones in holiday array. Then came couples tremulous with +joy, young lovers led thither by curiosity, newly-wedded folk; +children timidly clasping each other by the hand. This throng, so +rich in coloring, in vivid contrasts, laden with flowers, +enameled like a meadow, sent up a soft murmur through the quiet +night. Then the great doors of the church opened. + +Late comers who remained without saw afar, through the three +great open doorways, a scene of which the theatrical illusions of +modern opera can give but a faint idea. The vast church was +lighted up by thousands of candles, offered by saints and sinners +alike eager to win the favor of this new candidate for +canonization, and these self-commending illuminations turned the +great building into an enchanted fairyland. The black archways, +the shafts and capitals, the recessed chapels with gold and +silver gleaming in their depths, the galleries, the Arab +traceries, all the most delicate outlines of that delicate +sculpture, burned in the excess of light like the fantastic +figures in the red heart of a brazier. At the further end of the +church, above that blazing sea, rose the high altar like a +splendid dawn. All the glories of the golden lamps and silver +candlesticks, of banners and tassels, of the shrines of the +saints and votive offerings, paled before the gorgeous brightness +of the reliquary in which Don Juan lay. The blasphemer's body +sparkled with gems, and flowers, and crystal, with diamonds and +gold, and plumes white as the wings of seraphim; they had set it +up on the altar, where the pictures of Christ had stood. All +about him blazed a host of tall candles; the air quivered in the +radiant light. The worthy Abbot of San-Lucar, in pontifical +robes, with his mitre set with precious stones, his rochet and +golden crosier, sat enthroned in imperial state among his clergy +in the choir. Rows of impassive aged faces, silver-haired old men +clad in fine linen albs, were grouped about him, as the saints +who confessed Christ on earth are set by painters, each in his +place, about the throne of God in heaven. The precentor and the +dignitaries of the chapter, adorned with the gorgeous insignia of +ecclesiastical vanity, came and went through the clouds of +incense, like stars upon their courses in the firmament. + +When the hour of triumph arrived, the bells awoke the echoes far +and wide, and the whole vast crowd raised to God the first cry of +praise that begins the Te Deum. A sublime cry! High, pure notes, +the voices of women in ecstasy, mingled in it with the sterner +and deeper voices of men; thousands of voices sent up a volume of +sound so mighty, that the straining, groaning organ-pipes could +not dominate that harmony. But the shrill sound of children's +singing among the choristers, the reverberation of deep bass +notes, awakened gracious associations, visions of childhood, and +of man in his strength, and rose above that entrancing harmony of +human voices blended in one sentiment of love. + +Te Deum laudamus! + +The chant went up from the black masses of men and women kneeling +in the cathedral, like a sudden breaking out of light in +darkness, and the silence was shattered as by a peal of thunder. +The voices floated up with the clouds of incense that had begun +to cast thin bluish veils over the fanciful marvels of the +architecture, and the aisles were filled with splendor and +perfume and light and melody. Even at the moment when that music +of love and thanksgiving soared up to the altar, Don Juan, too +well bred not to express his acknowledgments, too witty not to +understand how to take a jest, bridled up in his reliquary, and +responded with an appalling burst of laughter. Then the Devil +having put him in mind of the risk he was running of being taken +for an ordinary man, a saint, a Boniface, a Pantaleone, he +interrupted the melody of love by a yell, the thousand voices of +hell joined in it. Earth blessed, Heaven banned. The church was +shaken to its ancient foundations. + +Te Deum laudamus! cried the many voices. + +"Go to the devil, brute beasts that you are! Dios! Dios! Garajos +demonios! Idiots! What fools you are with your dotard God!" and a +torrent of imprecations poured forth like a stream of red-hot +lava from the mouth of Vesuvius. + +"Deus Sabaoth! . . . Sabaoth!" cried the believers. + +"You are insulting the majesty of Hell," shouted Don Juan, +gnashing his teeth. In another moment the living arm struggled +out of the reliquary, and was brandished over the assembly in +mockery and despair. + +"The saint is blessing us," cried the old women, children, +lovers, and the credulous among the crowd. + +And note how often we are deceived in the homage we pay; the +great man scoffs at those who praise him, and pays compliments +now and again to those whom he laughs at in the depths of his +heart. + +Just as the Abbot, prostrate before the altar, was chanting +"Sancte Johannes, ora pro noblis!" he heard a voice exclaim +sufficiently distinctly: "O coglione!" + +"What can be going on up there?" cried the Sub-prior, as he saw +the reliquary move. + +"The saint is playing the devil," replied the Abbot. + +Even as he spoke the living head tore itself away from the +lifeless body, and dropped upon the sallow cranium of the +officiating priest. + +"Remember Dona Elvira!" cried the thing, with its teeth set fast +in the Abbot's head. + +The Abbot's horror-stricken shriek disturbed the ceremony; all +the ecclesiastics hurried up and crowded about their chief. + +"Idiot, tell us now if there is a God!" the voice cried, as the +Abbot, bitten through the brain, drew his last breath. + + + +PARIS, October 1830. + + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Elixir of Life + diff --git a/old/old/lxrlf10.zip b/old/old/lxrlf10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0fe0e7b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/lxrlf10.zip |