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diff --git a/1940-h/1940-h.htm b/1940-h/1940-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0f801ee --- /dev/null +++ b/1940-h/1940-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1249 @@ +<?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> + Christ in Flanders, 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 Christ in Flanders, 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: Christ in Flanders + +Author: Honore de Balzac + +Translator: Ellen Marriage + +Release Date: March 6, 2010 [EBook #1940] +Last Updated: April 3, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRIST IN FLANDERS *** + + + + +Produced by John Bickers, and Dagny, and David Widger + + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + CHRIST IN FLANDERS + </h1> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Honore De Balzac + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + Translated by Ellen Marriage + </h3> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + DEDICATION + + To Marcelline Desbordes-Valmore, a daughter of Flanders, of whom + these modern days may well be proud, I dedicate this quaint legend + of old Flanders. + + DE BALZAC. +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + CHRIST IN FLANDERS + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + At a dimly remote period in the history of Brabant, communication between + the Island of Cadzand and the Flemish coast was kept up by a boat which + carried passengers from one shore to the other. Middelburg, the chief town + in the island, destined to become so famous in the annals of + Protestantism, at that time only numbered some two or three hundred + hearths; and the prosperous town of Ostend was an obscure haven, a + straggling village where pirates dwelt in security among the fishermen and + the few poor merchants who lived in the place. + </p> + <p> + But though the town of Ostend consisted altogether of some score of houses + and three hundred cottages, huts or hovels built of the driftwood of + wrecked vessels, it nevertheless rejoiced in the possession of a governor, + a garrison, a forked gibbet, a convent, and a burgomaster, in short, in + all the institutions of an advanced civilization. + </p> + <p> + Who reigned over Brabant and Flanders in those days? On this point + tradition is mute. Let us confess at once that this tale savors strongly + of the marvelous, the mysterious, and the vague; elements which Flemish + narrators have infused into a story retailed so often to gatherings of + workers on winter evenings, that the details vary widely in poetic merit + and incongruity of detail. It has been told by every generation, handed + down by grandames at the fireside, narrated night and day, and the + chronicle has changed its complexion somewhat in every age. Like some + great building that has suffered many modifications of successive + generations of architects, some sombre weather-beaten pile, the delight of + a poet, the story would drive the commentator and the industrious winnower + of words, facts, and dates to despair. The narrator believes in it, as all + superstitious minds in Flanders likewise believe; and is not a whit wiser + nor more credulous than his audience. But as it would be impossible to + make a harmony of all the different renderings, here are the outlines of + the story; stripped, it may be, of its picturesque quaintness, but with + all its bold disregard of historical truth, and its moral teachings + approved by religion—a myth, the blossom of imaginative fancy; an + allegory that the wise may interpret to suit themselves. To each his own + pasturage, and the task of separating the tares from the wheat. + </p> + <p> + The boat that served to carry passengers from the Island of Cadzand to + Ostend was upon the point of departure; but before the skipper loosed the + chain that secured the shallop to the little jetty, where people embarked, + he blew a horn several times, to warn late lingerers, this being his last + journey that day. Night was falling. It was scarcely possible to see the + coast of Flanders by the dying fires of the sunset, or to make out upon + the hither shore any forms of belated passengers hurrying along the wall + of the dykes that surrounded the open country, or among the tall reeds of + the marshes. The boat was full. + </p> + <p> + "What are you waiting for? Let us put off!" they cried. + </p> + <p> + Just at that moment a man appeared a few paces from the jetty, to the + surprise of the skipper, who had heard no sound of footsteps. The traveler + seemed to have sprung up from the earth, like a peasant who had laid + himself down on the ground to wait till the boat should start, and had + slept till the sound of the horn awakened him. Was he a thief? or some one + belonging to the custom-house or the police? + </p> + <p> + As soon as the man appeared on the jetty to which the boat was moored, + seven persons who were standing in the stern of the shallop hastened to + sit down on the benches, so as to leave no room for the newcomer. It was + the swift and instinctive working of the aristocratic spirit, an impulse + of exclusiveness that comes from the rich man's heart. Four of the seven + personages belonged to the most aristocratic families in Flanders. First + among them was a young knight with two beautiful greyhounds; his long hair + flowed from beneath a jeweled cap; he clanked his gilded spurs, curled the + ends of his moustache from time to time with a swaggering grace, and + looked round disdainfully on the rest of the crew. A high-born damsel, + with a falcon on her wrist, only spoke with her mother or with a churchman + of high rank, who was evidently a relation. All these persons made a great + deal of noise, and talked among themselves as though there were no one + else in the boat; yet close beside them sat a man of great importance in + the district, a stout burgher of Bruges, wrapped about with a vast cloak. + His servant, armed to the teeth, had set down a couple of bags filled with + gold at his side. Next to the burgher came a man of learning, a doctor of + the University of Louvain, who was traveling with his clerk. This little + group of folk, who looked contemptuously at each other, was separated from + the passengers in the forward part of the boat by the bench of rowers. + </p> + <p> + The belated traveler glanced about him as he stepped on board, saw that + there was no room for him in the stern, and went to the bows in quest of a + seat. They were all poor people there. At first sight of the bareheaded + man in the brown camlet coat and trunk-hose, and plain stiff linen collar, + they noticed that he wore no ornaments, carried no cap nor bonnet in his + hand, and had neither sword nor purse at his girdle, and one and all took + him for a burgomaster sure of his authority, a worthy and kindly + burgomaster like so many a Fleming of old times, whose homely features and + characters have been immortalized by Flemish painters. The poorer + passengers, therefore, received him with demonstrations of respect that + provoked scornful tittering at the other end of the boat. An old soldier, + inured to toil and hardship, gave up his place on the bench to the + newcomer, and seated himself on the edge of the vessel, keeping his + balance by planting his feet against one of those traverse beams, like the + backbone of a fish, that hold the planks of a boat together. A young + mother, who bore her baby in her arms, and seemed to belong to the working + class in Ostend, moved aside to make room for the stranger. There was + neither servility nor scorn in her manner of doing this; it was a simple + sign of the goodwill by which the poor, who know by long experience the + value of a service and the warmth that fellowship brings, give expression + to the open-heartedness and the natural impulses of their souls; so + artlessly do they reveal their good qualities and their defects. The + stranger thanked her by a gesture full of gracious dignity, and took his + place between the young mother and the old soldier. Immediately behind him + sat a peasant and his son, a boy ten years of age. A beggar woman, old, + wrinkled, and clad in rags, was crouching, with her almost empty wallet, + on a great coil of rope that lay in the prow. One of the rowers, an old + sailor, who had known her in the days of her beauty and prosperity, had + let her come in "for the love of God," in the beautiful phrase that the + common people use. + </p> + <p> + "Thank you kindly, Thomas," the old woman had said. "I will say two <i>Paters</i> + and two <i>Aves</i> for you in my prayers to-night." + </p> + <p> + The skipper blew his horn for the last time, looked along the silent + shore, flung off the chain, ran along the side of the boat, and took up + his position at the helm. He looked at the sky, and as soon as they were + out in the open sea, he shouted to the men: "Pull away, pull with all your + might! The sea is smiling at a squall, the witch! I can feel the swell by + the way the rudder works, and the storm in my wounds." + </p> + <p> + The nautical phrases, unintelligible to ears unused to the sound of the + sea, seemed to put fresh energy into the oars; they kept time together, + the rhythm of the movement was still even and steady, but quite unlike the + previous manner of rowing; it was as if a cantering horse had broken into + a gallop. The gay company seated in the stern amused themselves by + watching the brawny arms, the tanned faces, and sparkling eyes of the + rowers, the play of the tense muscles, the physical and mental forces that + were being exerted to bring them for a trifling toll across the channel. + So far from pitying the rowers' distress, they pointed out the men's faces + to each other, and laughed at the grotesque expressions on the faces of + the crew who were straining every muscle; but in the fore part of the boat + the soldier, the peasant, and the old beggar woman watched the sailors + with the sympathy naturally felt by toilers who live by the sweat of their + brow and know the rough struggle, the strenuous excitement of effort. + These folk, moreover, whose lives were spent in the open air, had all seen + the warnings of danger in the sky, and their faces were grave. The young + mother rocked her child, singing an old hymn of the Church for a lullaby. + </p> + <p> + "If we ever get there at all," the soldier remarked to the peasant, "it + will be because the Almighty is bent on keeping us alive." + </p> + <p> + "Ah! He is the Master," said the old woman, "but I think it will be His + good pleasure to take us to Himself. Just look at that light down + there..." and she nodded her head as she spoke towards the sunset. + </p> + <p> + Streaks of fiery red glared from behind the masses of crimson-flushed + brown cloud that seemed about to unloose a furious gale. There was a + smothered murmur of the sea, a moaning sound that seemed to come from the + depths, a low warning growl, such as a dog gives when he only means + mischief as yet. After all, Ostend was not far away. Perhaps painting, + like poetry, could not prolong the existence of the picture presented by + sea and sky at that moment beyond the time of its actual duration. Art + demands vehement contrasts, wherefore artists usually seek out Nature's + most striking effects, doubtless because they despair of rendering the + great and glorious charm of her daily moods; yet the human soul is often + stirred as deeply by her calm as by her emotion, and by silence as by + storm. + </p> + <p> + For a moment no one spoke on board the boat. Every one watched that sea + and sky, either with some presentiment of danger, or because they felt the + influence of the religious melancholy that takes possession of nearly all + of us at the close of the day, the hour of prayer, when all nature is + hushed save for the voices of the bells. The sea gleamed pale and wan, but + its hues changed, and the surface took all the colors of steel. The sky + was almost overspread with livid gray, but down in the west there were + long narrow bars like streaks of blood; while lines of bright light in the + eastern sky, sharp and clean as if drawn by the tip of a brush, were + separated by folds of cloud, like the wrinkles on an old man's brow. The + whole scene made a background of ashen grays and half-tints, in strong + contrast to the bale-fires of the sunset. If written language might borrow + of spoken language some of the bold figures of speech invented by the + people, it might be said with the soldier that "the weather has been + routed," or, as the peasant would say, "the sky glowered like an + executioner." Suddenly a wind arose from the quarter of the sunset, and + the skipper, who never took his eyes off the sea, saw the swell on the + horizon line, and cried: + </p> + <p> + "Stop rowing!" + </p> + <p> + The sailors stopped immediately, and let their oars lie on the water. + </p> + <p> + "The skipper is right," said Thomas coolly. A great wave caught up the + boat, carried it high on its crest, only to plunge it, as it were, into + the trough of the sea that seemed to yawn for them. At this mighty + upheaval, this sudden outbreak of the wrath of the sea, the company in the + stern turned pale, and sent up a terrible cry. + </p> + <p> + "We are lost!" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, not yet!" said the skipper calmly. + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, the clouds immediately above their heads were torn asunder by + the vehemence of the wind. The gray mass was rent and scattered east and + west with ominous speed, a dim uncertain light from the rift in the sky + fell full upon the boat, and the travelers beheld each other's faces. All + of them, the noble and the wealthy, the sailors and the poor passengers + alike, were amazed for a moment by the appearance of the last comer. His + golden hair, parted upon his calm, serene forehead, fell in thick curls + about his shoulders; and his face, sublime in its sweetness and radiant + with divine love, stood out against the surrounding gloom. He had no + contempt for death; he knew that he should not die. But if at the first + the company in the stern forgot for a moment the implacable fury of the + storm that threatened their lives, selfishness and their habits of life + soon prevailed again. + </p> + <p> + "How lucky that stupid burgomaster is, not to see the risks we are all + running! He is just like a dog, he will die without a struggle," said the + doctor. + </p> + <p> + He had scarcely pronounced this highly judicious dictum when the storm + unloosed all its legions. The wind blew from every quarter of the heavens, + the boat span round like a top, and the sea broke in. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! my poor child! my poor child!... Who will save my baby?" the mother + cried in a heart-rending voice. + </p> + <p> + "You yourself will save it," the stranger said. + </p> + <p> + The thrilling tones of that voice went to the young mother's heart and + brought hope with them; she heard the gracious words through all the + whistling of the wind and the shrieks of the passengers. + </p> + <p> + "Holy Virgin of Good Help, who art at Antwerp, I promise thee a thousand + pounds of wax and a statue, if thou wilt rescue me from this!" cried the + burgher, kneeling upon his bags of gold. + </p> + <p> + "The Virgin is no more at Antwerp than she is here," was the doctor's + comment on this appeal. + </p> + <p> + "She is in heaven," said a voice that seemed to come from the sea. + </p> + <p> + "Who said that?" + </p> + <p> + "'Tis the devil!" exclaimed the servant. "He is scoffing at the Virgin of + Antwerp." + </p> + <p> + "Let us have no more of your Holy Virgin at present," the skipper cried to + the passengers. "Put your hands to the scoops and bail the water out of + the boat.—And the rest of you," he went on, addressing the sailors, + "pull with all your might! Now is the time; in the name of the devil who + is leaving you in this world, be your own Providence! Every one knows that + the channel is fearfully dangerous; I have been to and fro across it these + thirty years. Am I facing a storm for the first time to-night?" + </p> + <p> + He stood at the helm, and looked, as before, at his boat and at the sea + and sky in turn. + </p> + <p> + "The skipper always laughs at everything," muttered Thomas. + </p> + <p> + "Will God leave us to perish along with those wretched creatures?" asked + the haughty damsel of the handsome cavalier. + </p> + <p> + "No, no, noble maiden.... Listen!" and he caught her by the waist and said + in her ear, "I can swim, say nothing about it! I will hold you by your + fair hair and bring you safely to the shore; but I can only save you." + </p> + <p> + The girl looked at her aged mother. The lady was on her knees entreating + absolution of the Bishop, who did not heed her. In the beautiful eyes the + knight read a vague feeling of filial piety, and spoke in a smothered + voice. + </p> + <p> + "Submit yourself to the will of God. If it is His pleasure to take your + mother to Himself, it will doubtless be for her happiness—in another + world," he added, and his voice dropped still lower. "And for ours in + this," he thought within himself. + </p> + <p> + The Dame of Rupelmonde was lady of seven fiefs beside the barony of + Gavres. + </p> + <p> + The girl felt the longing for life in her heart, and for love that spoke + through the handsome adventurer, a young miscreant who haunted churches in + search of a prize, an heiress to marry, or ready money. The Bishop + bestowed his benison on the waves, and bade them be calm; it was all that + he could do. He thought of his concubine, and of the delicate feast with + which she would welcome him; perhaps at that very moment she was bathing, + perfuming herself, robing herself in velvet, fastening her necklace and + her jeweled clasps; and the perverse Bishop, so far from thinking of the + power of Holy Church, of his duty to comfort Christians and exhort them to + trust in God, mingled worldly regrets and lover's sighs with the holy + words of the breviary. By the dim light that shone on the pale faces of + the company, it was possible to see their differing expressions as the + boat was lifted high in air by a wave, to be cast back into the dark + depths; the shallop quivered like a fragile leaf, the plaything of the + north wind in the autumn; the hull creaked, it seemed ready to go to + pieces. Fearful shrieks went up, followed by an awful silence. + </p> + <p> + There was a strange difference between the behavior of the folk in the + bows and that of the rich or great people at the other end of the boat. + The young mother clasped her infant tightly to her breast every time that + a great wave threatened to engulf the fragile vessel; but she clung to the + hope that the stranger's words had set in her heart. Each time that the + eyes turned to his face she drew fresh faith at the sight, the strong + faith of a helpless woman, a mother's faith. She lived by that divine + promise, the loving words from his lips; the simple creature waited + trustingly for them to be fulfilled, and scarcely feared the danger any + longer. + </p> + <p> + The soldier, holding fast to the vessel's side, never took his eyes off + the strange visitor. He copied on his own rough and swarthy features the + imperturbability of the other's face, applying to this task the whole + strength of a will and intelligence but little corrupted in the course of + a life of mechanical and passive obedience. So emulous was he of a calm + and tranquil courage greater than his own, that at last, perhaps + unconsciously, something of that mysterious nature passed into his own + soul. His admiration became an instinctive zeal for this man, a boundless + love for and belief in him, such a love as soldiers feel for their leader + when he has the power of swaying other men, when the halo of victories + surrounds him, and the magical fascination of genius is felt in all that + he does. The poor outcast was murmuring to herself: + </p> + <p> + "Ah! miserable wretch that I am! Have I not suffered enough to expiate the + sins of my youth? Ah! wretched woman, why did you lead the gay life of a + frivolous Frenchwoman? why did you devour the goods of God with churchmen, + the substance of the poor with extortioners and fleecers of the poor? Oh! + I have sinned indeed!—Oh my God! my God! let me finish my time in + hell here in this world of misery." + </p> + <p> + And again she cried, "Holy Virgin, Mother of God, have pity upon me!" + </p> + <p> + "Be comforted, mother. God is not a Lombard usurer. I may have killed + people good and bad at random in my time, but I am not afraid of the + resurrection." + </p> + <p> + "Ah! master Lancepesade, how happy those fair ladies are, to be so near to + a bishop, a holy man! They will get absolution for their sins," said the + old woman. "Oh! if I could only hear a priest say to me, 'Thy sins are + forgiven!' I should believe it then." + </p> + <p> + The stranger turned towards her, and the goodness in his face made her + tremble. + </p> + <p> + "Have faith," he said, "and you will be saved." + </p> + <p> + "May God reward you, good sir," she answered. "If what you say is true, I + will go on pilgrimage barefooted to Our Lady of Loretto to pray to her for + you and for me." + </p> + <p> + The two peasants, father and son, were silent, patient, and submissive to + the will of God, like folk whose wont it is to fall in instinctively with + the ways of Nature like cattle. At the one end of the boat stood riches, + pride, learning, debauchery, and crime—human society, such as art + and thought and education and worldly interests and laws have made it; and + at this end there was terror and wailing, innumerable different impulses + all repressed by hideous doubts—at this end, and at this only, the + agony of fear. + </p> + <p> + Above all these human lives stood a strong man, the skipper; no doubts + assailed him, the chief, the king, the fatalist among them. He was + trusting in himself rather than in Providence, crying, "Bail away!" + instead of "Holy Virgin," defying the storm, in fact, and struggling with + the sea like a wrestler. + </p> + <p> + But the helpless poor at the other end of the wherry! The mother rocking + on her bosom the little one who smiled at the storm; the woman once so + frivolous and gay, and now tormented with bitter remorse; the old soldier + covered with scars, a mutilated life the sole reward of his unflagging + loyalty and faithfulness. This veteran could scarcely count on the morsel + of bread soaked in tears to keep the life in him, yet he was always ready + to laugh, and went his way merrily, happy when he could drown his glory in + the depths of a pot of beer, or could tell tales of the wars to the + children who admired him, leaving his future with a light heart in the + hands of God. Lastly, there were the two peasants, used to hardships and + toil, labor incarnate, the labor by which the world lives. These simple + folk were indifferent to thought and its treasures, ready to sink them all + in a belief; and their faith was but so much the more vigorous because + they had never disputed about it nor analyzed it. Such a nature is a + virgin soil, conscience has not been tampered with, feeling is deep and + strong; repentance, trouble, love, and work have developed, purified, + concentrated, and increased their force of will a hundred times, the will—the + one thing in man that resembles what learned doctors call the Soul. + </p> + <p> + The boat, guided by the well-nigh miraculous skill of the steersman, came + almost within sight of Ostend, when, not fifty paces from the shore, she + was suddenly struck by a heavy sea and capsized. The stranger with the + light about his head spoke to this little world of drowning creatures: + </p> + <p> + "Those who have faith shall be saved; let them follow me!" + </p> + <p> + He stood upright, and walked with a firm step upon the waves. The young + mother at once took her child in her arms, and followed at his side across + the sea. The soldier too sprang up, saying in his homely fashion, "Ah! <i>nom + d'un pipe</i>! I would follow <i>you</i> to the devil;" and without + seeming astonished by it, he walked on the water. The worn-out sinner, + believing in the omnipotence of God, also followed the stranger. + </p> + <p> + The two peasants said to each other, "If they are walking on the sea, why + should we not do as they do?" and they also arose and hastened after the + others. Thomas tried to follow, but his faith tottered; he sank in the sea + more than once, and rose again, but the third time he also walked on the + sea. The bold steersman clung like a remora to the wreck of his boat. The + miser had had faith, and had risen to go, but he tried to take his gold + with him, and it was his gold that dragged him down to the bottom. The + learned man had scoffed at the charlatan and at the fools who listened to + him; and when he heard the mysterious stranger propose to the passengers + that they should walk on the waves, he began to laugh, and the ocean + swallowed him. The girl was dragged down into the depths by her lover. The + Bishop and the older lady went to the bottom, heavily laden with sins, it + may be, but still more heavily laden with incredulity and confidence in + idols, weighted down by devotion, into which alms-deeds and true religion + entered but little. + </p> + <p> + The faithful flock, who walked with a firm step high and dry above the + surge, heard all about them the dreadful whistling of the blast; great + billows broke across their path, but an irresistible force cleft a way for + them through the sea. These believing ones saw through the spray a dim + speck of light flickering in the window of a fisherman's hut on the shore, + and each one, as he pushed on bravely towards the light, seemed to hear + the voice of his fellow crying, "Courage!" through all the roaring of the + surf; yet no one had spoken a word—so absorbed was each by his own + peril. In this way they reached the shore. + </p> + <p> + When they were all seated near the fisherman's fire, they looked round in + vain for their guide with the light about him. The sea washed up the + steersman at the base of the cliff on which the cottage stood; he was + clinging with might and main to the plank as a sailor can cling when death + stares him in the face; the MAN went down and rescued the almost exhausted + seaman; then he said, as he held out a succoring hand above the man's + head: + </p> + <p> + "Good, for this once; but do not try it again; the example would be too + bad." + </p> + <p> + He took the skipper on his shoulders, and carried him to the fisherman's + door; knocked for admittance for the exhausted man; then, when the door of + the humble refuge opened, the Saviour disappeared. + </p> + <p> + The Convent of Mercy was built for sailors on this spot, where for long + afterwards (so it was said) the footprints of Jesus Christ could be seen + in the sand; but in 1793, at the time of the French invasion, the monks + carried away this precious relic, that bore witness to the Saviour's last + visit to earth. + </p> + <p> + There at the convent I found myself shortly after the Revolution of 1830. + I was weary of life. If you had asked me the reason of my despair, I + should have found it almost impossible to give it, so languid had grown + the soul that was melted within me. The west wind had slackened the + springs of my intelligence. A cold gray light poured down from the + heavens, and the murky clouds that passed overhead gave a boding look to + the land; all these things, together with the immensity of the sea, said + to me, "Die to-day or die to-morrow, still must we not die?" And then—I + wandered on, musing on the doubtful future, on my blighted hopes. Gnawed + by these gloomy thoughts, I turned mechanically into the convent church, + with the gray towers that loomed like ghosts though the sea mists. I + looked round with no kindling of the imagination at the forest of columns, + at the slender arches set aloft upon the leafy capitals, a delicate + labyrinth of sculpture. I walked with careless eyes along the side aisles + that opened out before me like vast portals, ever turning upon their + hinges. It was scarcely possible to see, by the dim light of the autumn + day, the sculptured groinings of the roof, the delicate and clean-cut + lines of the mouldings of the graceful pointed arches. The organ pipes + were mute. There was no sound save the noise of my own footsteps to awaken + the mournful echoes lurking in the dark chapels. I sat down at the base of + one of the four pillars that supported the tower, near the choir. Thence I + could see the whole of the building. I gazed, and no ideas connected with + it arose in my mind. I saw without seeing the mighty maze of pillars, the + great rose windows that hung like a network suspended as by a miracle in + air above the vast doorways. I saw the doors at the end of the side + aisles, the aerial galleries, the stained glass windows framed in + archways, divided by slender columns, fretted into flower forms and + trefoil by fine filigree work of carved stone. A dome of glass at the end + of the choir sparkled as if it had been built of precious stones set + cunningly. In contrast to the roof with its alternating spaces of + whiteness and color, the two aisles lay to right and left in shadow so + deep that the faint gray outlines of their hundred shafts were scarcely + visible in the gloom. I gazed at the marvelous arcades, the scroll-work, + the garlands, the curving lines, and arabesques interwoven and interlaced, + and strangely lighted, until by sheer dint of gazing my perceptions became + confused, and I stood upon the borderland between illusion and reality, + taken in the snare set for the eyes, and almost light-headed by reason of + the multitudinous changes of the shapes about me. + </p> + <p> + Imperceptibly a mist gathered about the carven stonework, and I only + beheld it through a haze of fine golden dust, like the motes that hover in + the bars of sunlight slanting through the air of a chamber. Suddenly the + stone lacework of the rose windows gleamed through this vapor that had + made all forms so shadowy. Every moulding, the edges of every carving, the + least detail of the sculpture was dipped in silver. The sunlight kindled + fires in the stained windows, their rich colors sent out glowing sparks of + light. The shafts began to tremble, the capitals were gently shaken. A + light shudder as of delight ran through the building, the stones were + loosened in their setting, the wall-spaces swayed with graceful caution. + Here and there a ponderous pier moved as solemnly as a dowager when she + condescends to complete a quadrille at the close of a ball. A few slender + and graceful columns, their heads adorned with wreaths of trefoil, began + to laugh and dance here and there. Some of the pointed arches dashed at + the tall lancet windows, who, like ladies of the Middle Ages, wore the + armorial bearings of their houses emblazoned on their golden robes. The + dance of the mitred arcades with the slender windows became like a fray at + a tourney. + </p> + <p> + In another moment every stone in the church vibrated, without leaving its + place; for the organ-pipes spoke, and I heard divine music mingling with + the songs of angels, and unearthly harmony, accompanied by the deep notes + of the bells, that boomed as the giant towers rocked and swayed on their + square bases. This strange Sabbath seemed to me the most natural thing in + the world; and I, who had seen Charles X. hurled from his throne, was no + longer amazed by anything. Nay, I myself was gently swaying with a see-saw + movement that influenced my nerves pleasurably in a manner of which it is + impossible to give any idea. Yet in the midst of this heated riot, the + cathedral choir felt cold as if it were a winter day, and I became aware + of a multitude of women, robed in white, silent, and impassive, sitting + there. The sweet incense smoke that arose from the censers was grateful to + my soul. The tall wax candles flickered. The lectern, gay as a chanter + undone by the treachery of wine, was skipping about like a peal of Chinese + bells. + </p> + <p> + Then I knew that the whole cathedral was whirling round so fast that + everything appeared to be undisturbed. The colossal Figure on the crucifix + above the altar smiled upon me with a mingled malice and benevolence that + frightened me; I turned my eyes away, and marveled at the bluish vapor + that slid across the pillars, lending to them an indescribable charm. Then + some graceful women's forms began to stir on the friezes. The cherubs who + upheld the heavy columns shook out their wings. I felt myself uplifted by + some divine power that steeped me in infinite joy, in a sweet and languid + rapture. I would have given my life, I think, to have prolonged these + phantasmagoria for a little, but suddenly a shrill voice clamored in my + ears: + </p> + <p> + "Awake and follow me!" + </p> + <p> + A withered woman took my hand in hers; its icy coldness crept through + every nerve. The bones of her face showed plainly through the sallow, + almost olive-tinted wrinkles of the skin. The shrunken, ice-cold old woman + wore a black robe, which she trailed in the dust, and at her throat there + was something white, which I dared not examine. I could scarcely see her + wan and colorless eyes, for they were fixed in a stare upon the heavens. + She drew me after her along the aisles, leaving a trace of her presence in + the ashes that she shook from her dress. Her bones rattled as she walked, + like the bones of a skeleton; and as we went I heard behind me the + tinkling of a little bell, a thin, sharp sound that rang through my head + like the notes of a harmonica. + </p> + <p> + "Suffer!" she cried, "suffer! So it must be!" + </p> + <p> + We came out of the church; we went through the dirtiest streets of the + town, till we came at last to a dingy dwelling, and she bade me enter in. + She dragged me with her, calling to me in a harsh, tuneless voice like a + cracked bell: + </p> + <p> + "Defend me! defend me!" + </p> + <p> + Together we went up a winding staircase. She knocked at a door in the + darkness, and a mute, like some familiar of the Inquisition, opened to + her. In another moment we stood in a room hung with ancient, ragged + tapestry, amid piles of old linen, crumpled muslin, and gilded brass. + </p> + <p> + "Behold the wealth that shall endure for ever!" said she. + </p> + <p> + I shuddered with horror; for just then, by the light of a tall torch and + two altar candles, I saw distinctly that this woman was fresh from the + graveyard. She had no hair. I turned to fly. She raised her fleshless arm + and encircled me with a band of iron set with spikes, and as she raised it + a cry went up all about us, the cry of millions of voices—the + shouting of the dead! + </p> + <p> + "It is my purpose to make thee happy for ever," she said. "Thou art my + son." + </p> + <p> + We were sitting before the hearth, the ashes lay cold upon it; the old + shrunken woman grasped my hand so tightly in hers that I could not choose + but stay. I looked fixedly at her, striving to read the story of her life + from the things among which she was crouching. Had she indeed any life in + her? It was a mystery. Yet I saw plainly that once she must have been + young and beautiful; fair, with all the charm of simplicity, perfect as + some Greek statue, with the brow of a vestal. + </p> + <p> + "Ah! ah!" I cried, "now I know thee! Miserable woman, why hast thou + prostituted thyself? In the age of thy passions, in the time of thy + prosperity, the grace and purity of thy youth were forgotten. Forgetful of + thy heroic devotion, thy pure life, thy abundant faith, thou didst resign + thy primitive power and thy spiritual supremacy for fleshly power. Thy + linen vestments, thy couch of moss, the cell in the rock, bright with rays + of the Light Divine, was forsaken; thou hast sparkled with diamonds, and + shone with the glitter of luxury and pride. Then, grown bold and insolent, + seizing and overturning all things in thy course like a courtesan eager + for pleasure in her days of splendor, thou hast steeped thyself in blood + like some queen stupefied by empery. Dost thou not remember to have been + dull and heavy at times, and the sudden marvelous lucidity of other + moments; as when Art emerges from an orgy? Oh! poet, painter, and singer, + lover of splendid ceremonies and protector of the arts, was thy friendship + for art perchance a caprice, that so thou shouldst sleep beneath + magnificent canopies? Was there not a day when, in thy fantastic pride, + though chastity and humility were prescribed to thee, thou hadst brought + all things beneath thy feet, and set thy foot on the necks of princes; + when earthly dominion, and wealth, and the mind of man bore thy yoke? + Exulting in the abasement of humanity, joying to witness the uttermost + lengths to which man's folly would go, thou hast bidden thy lovers walk on + all fours, and required of them their lands and wealth, nay, even their + wives if they were worth aught to thee. Thou hast devoured millions of men + without a cause; thou hast flung away lives like sand blown by the wind + from West to East. Thou hast come down from the heights of thought to sit + among the kings of men. Woman! instead of comforting men, thou hast + tormented and afflicted them! Knowing that thou couldst ask and have, thou + hast demanded—blood! A little flour surely should have contented + thee, accustomed as thou hast been to live on bread and to mingle water + with thy wine. Unlike all others in all things, formerly thou wouldst bid + thy lovers fast, and they obeyed. Why should thy fancies have led thee to + require things impossible? Why, like a courtesan spoiled by her lovers, + hast thou doted on follies, and left those undeceived who sought to + explain and justify all thy errors? Then came the days of thy later + passions, terrible like the love of a woman of forty years, with a fierce + cry thou hast sought to clasp the whole universe in one last embrace—and + thy universe recoiled from thee! + </p> + <p> + "Then old men succeeded to thy young lovers; decrepitude came to thy feet + and made thee hideous. Yet, even then, men with the eagle power of vision + said to thee in a glance, 'Thou shalt perish ingloriously, because thou + hast fallen away, because thou hast broken the vows of thy maidenhood. The + angel with peace written on her forehead, who should have shed light and + joy along her path, has been a Messalina, delighting in the circus, in + debauchery, and abuse of power. The days of thy virginity cannot return; + henceforward thou shalt be subject to a master. Thy hour has come; the + hand of death is upon thee. Thy heirs believe that thou art rich; they + will kill thee and find nothing. Yet try at least to fling away this + raiment no longer in fashion; be once more as in the days of old!—Nay, + thou art dead, and by thy own deed!' + </p> + <p> + "Is not this thy story?" so I ended. "Decrepit, toothless, shivering + crone, now forgotten, going thy ways without so much as a glance from + passers-by! Why art thou still alive? What doest thou in that beggar's + garb, uncomely and desired of none? Where are thy riches?—for what + were they spent? Where are thy treasures?—what great deeds hast thou + done?" + </p> + <p> + At this demand, the shriveled woman raised her bony form, flung off her + rags, and grew tall and radiant, smiling as she broke forth from the dark + chrysalid sheath. Then like a butterfly, this diaphanous creature emerged, + fair and youthful, clothed in white linen, an Indian from creation issuing + her palms. Her golden hair rippled over her shoulders, her eyes glowed, a + bright mist clung about her, a ring of gold hovered above her head, she + shook the flaming blade of a sword towards the spaces of heaven. + </p> + <p> + "See and believe!" she cried. + </p> + <p> + And suddenly I saw, afar off, many thousands of cathedrals like the one + that I had just quitted; but these were covered with pictures and with + frescoes, and I heard them echo with entrancing music. Myriads of human + creatures flocked to these great buildings, swarming about them like ants + on an ant-heap. Some were eager to rescue books from oblivion or to copy + manuscripts, others were helping the poor, but nearly all were studying. + Up above this countless multitude rose giant statues that they had erected + in their midst, and by the gleams of a strange light from some luminary as + powerful as the sun, I read the inscriptions on the bases of the statues—Science, + History, Literature. + </p> + <p> + The light died out. Again I faced the young girl. Gradually she slipped + into the dreary sheath, into the ragged cere-cloths, and became an aged + woman again. Her familiar brought her a little dust, and she stirred it + into the ashes of her chafing-dish, for the weather was cold and stormy; + and then he lighted for her, whose palaces had been lit with thousands of + wax-tapers, a little cresset, that she might see to read her prayers + through the hours of night. + </p> + <p> + "There is no faith left in the earth!..." she said. + </p> + <p> + In such a perilous plight did I behold the fairest and the greatest, the + truest and most life-giving of all Powers. + </p> + <p> + "Wake up, sir, the doors are just about to be shut," said a hoarse voice. + I turned and beheld the beadle's ugly countenance; the man was shaking me + by the arm, and the cathedral lay wrapped in shadows as a man is wrapped + in his cloak. + </p> + <p> + "Belief," I said to myself, "is Life! I have just witnessed the funeral of + a monarchy, now we must defend the church." + </p> + <p> + PARIS, February 1831. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Christ in Flanders, by Honore de Balzac + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRIST IN FLANDERS *** + +***** This file should be named 1940-h.htm or 1940-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/4/1940/ + +Produced by John Bickers, and 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. 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