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diff --git a/old/25410-h.htm.2021-01-25 b/old/25410-h.htm.2021-01-25 new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1b16472 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/25410-h.htm.2021-01-25 @@ -0,0 +1,1771 @@ +<?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 Miracle of the Great St. Nicolas, by Anatole France + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; 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"> + +Project Gutenberg's The Miracle Of The Great St. Nicolas, by Anatole France + +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 Miracle Of The Great St. Nicolas + 1920 + +Author: Anatole France + +Editor: James Lewis May And Bernard Miall + +Translator: D. B. Stewart + +Release Date: May 9, 2008 [EBook #25410] +Last Updated: October 5, 2016 + + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREAT ST. NICOLAS *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%"> + <img alt="titlepage (116K)" src="images/titlepage.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE MIRACLE OF THE GREAT ST. NICOLAS + </h1> + <h3> + From “The Seven Wives Of Bluebeard & Other Marvellous Tales” + </h3> + <h2> + By Anatole France + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + Translated by D. B. Stewart <br /> <br /> Edited By James Lewis May And + Bernard Miall + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h5> + John Lane Company MCMXX + </h5> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%"> + <img alt="054 (119K)" src="images/054.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + ST. NICOLAS, Bishop of Myra in Lycia, lived in the time of Constantine the + Great. The most ancient and weighty of those authors who have mentioned + him celebrate his virtues, his labours, and his worth: they give abundant + proofs of his sanctity; but none of them records the miracle of the + salting-tub. Nor is it mentioned in the Golden Legend. This silence is + important: still one does not willingly consent to throw doubt upon a fact + so widely known, which is attested by the ballad which all the world + knows: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “There were three little children + In the fields they went to glean.” + </pre> + <p> + This famous text expressly states that a cruel pork-butcher put the + innocents “like pigs into the salting-vat.” That is to say, he apparently + preserved them, cut into pieces, in a bath of brine. This is, to be sure, + how pork is cured: but one is surprised to read further on that the three + little children remained seven years in pickle, whereas it is usual to + begin withdrawing the pieces of flesh from the tub, with a wooden fork, at + the end of about six weeks. The text is explicit: according to the elegy, + it was seven years after the crime that St. Nicolas entered the accursed + hostelry. He asked for supper. The landlord offered him a piece of ham: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “‘Wilt eat of ham? Tis dainty food.’ + ‘I’ll have no ham: it is not good. + ‘Wilt cat a piece of tender veal? + ‘I will not make of that my meal. + Young salted flesh I want, and that + Has lain seven years within the vat. + Wheras the butcher heard this said + Out of the door full fast he fled.” + </pre> + <p> + The Man of God immediately resuscitated the tender victims by the laying + of hands on the salting-tub. + </p> + <p> + Such is, in substance, the story of the old anonymous rhyme. It bears the + inimitable stamp of honesty and good faith. Scepticism seems ill-inspired + when it attacks the most vital memories of the popular mind. It is not + without a lively satisfaction that I have found myself able to reconcile + the authority of the ballad with the silence of the ancient biographers of + the Lycian pontiff. I am happy to proclaim the result of my long + meditations and scholastic researches. The miracle of the salting-tub is + true, in so far as essentials are concerned, but it was not the blessed + Bishop of Myra who performed it; it was another St. Nicolas, for there + were two: one, as we have already stated, Bishop of Myra in Lycia; the + other more recent, Bishop of Trinqueballe in Vervignole. For me was + reserved the task of distinguishing between them. It was the Bishop of + Trinqueballe who rescued the three little boys from the salting-tub. I + shall establish the fact by authentic documents, and no one will have + occasion to deplore the end of a legend. + </p> + <p> + I have been fortunate enough to recover the entire history of the Bishop + Nicolas and the children whom he resuscitated. I have fashioned it into in + a narrative which will be read, I hope, with both pleasure and profit. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI </a> + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%"> + <img alt="057 (127K)" src="images/057.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER I + </h2> + <p> + NICOLAS, a scion of an illustrious family of Vervignole, showed marks of + sanctity from his earliest childhood, and at the age of fourteen vowed to + consecrate himself to the Lord. Having embraced the ecclesiastical + profession, he was raised, while still young, by popular acclamation and + the wish of the Chapter, to the see of St. Cromadaire, the apostle of + Vervignole, and first Bishop of Trinqueballe. He exercised his pastoral + ministry with piety, governed his clergy with wisdom, taught the people, + and feared not to remind the great of Justice and Moderation. He was + liberal, profuse in almsgiving, and set aside for the poor the greater + part of his wealth. + </p> + <p> + His castle proudly lifted its crenelated walls and pepper-pot roofs from + the summit of a hill overlooking the town. He made of it a refuge where + all who were pursued by the secular arm might find a place of refuge. In + the lower hall, the largest to be seen in all Vervignole, the table laid + for meals was so long that those who sat at one end saw it lose itself in + the distance in an indistinct point, and when the torches upon it were + lighted it recalled the tail of the comet which appeared in Vervignole to + announce the death of King Comus. The holy St. Nicolas sat at the upper + end. There he entertained the principal folk of the town and of the + kingdom, and a multitude of clergy and laymen. But on his right there was + always reserved a seat for the poor man who might come begging for his + bread at the door. + </p> + <p> + Children, particularly, aroused the solicitude of the good St. Nicolas. He + delighted in their innocence, and he felt for them with the heart of a + father and the bowels of a mother. He had the virtues and the morals of an + apostle. Yearly, in the dress of a simple monk, with a white staff in his + hand, he would visit his flock, desirous of seeing everything with his own + eyes; and in order that no adversity or disorder should escape his notice + he would traverse, accompanied by a single priest, the wildest parts of + his diocese, crossing, in winter, the flooded rivers, climbing mountains, + and plunging into the thick forests. One day, having ridden since dawn + upon his mule, in company with the Deacon Modernus, thorny thickets + through which his mount with difficulty forced a winding path. The Deacon + Modernus followed him with much difficulty on his mule, which carried the + baggage. + </p> + <p> + Overcome with hunger and fatigue, the man of God said to Modernus: + </p> + <p> + “Let us halt here, my son, and if you still have a little bread and wine + we will sup here, for I feel that I hardly have the strength to proceed + further, and you, although the younger, must be nearly as tired as I.” + </p> + <p> + “Monseigneur,” answered Modernus, “there remains neither a drop of wine + nor a crumb of bread; for, by your orders, I gave all to some people on + the road, who had less need of it than ourselves.” + </p> + <p> + “Without a doubt,” replied the Bishop, “had there been a few scraps left + in your wallet we should have eaten them with pleasure, for it is fitting + that those who govern the Church should be nourished on the leavings of + the poor. But since you have nothing left it is because God has desired it + so, and He has surely desired it for our good and profit. It is possible + that He will for ever hide from us the reason of this favour: perhaps, on + the other hand, He will quickly make it manifest. Meanwhile, I think the + only thing left for us is to push on until we find some arbutus berries + and blackberries for our own nourishment, and some grass for our mules, + and, being thus refreshed, to lie down upon a bed of leaves.” + </p> + <p> + “As you please, Monseigneur,” answered Modernus, pricking his mount. + </p> + <p> + They travelled all night, and a part of the following morning; then, + having climbed a fairly steep ascent, they suddenly found themselves at + the border of the wood, and beheld at their feet a plain covered by a + yellowish sky, and crossed by four white roads, which lost themselves in + the mist. They took that to the left, an old Roman road, formerly + frequented by merchants and pilgrims, but deserted since the war had laid + waste this part of Vervignole. Dense clouds were gathering in the sky, + across which birds were flying; a stifling atmosphere weighed down upon + the dumb, livid earth. Lightning flashed on the horizon. They urged on + their wearied mules. Suddenly a mighty wind bent the tops of the trees, + making the boughs crack and the battered foliage moan. The thunder + muttered, and heavy drops of rain began to fall. + </p> + <p> + As they made their way through the storm, the lightning flashing about + them, along a road which had become a torrent, they perceived, by the + light of a flash, a house outside which there hung a branch of holly, the + sign of hospitality. + </p> + <p> + The inn appeared deserted; nevertheless, the host advanced towards them, a + man fierce yet humble, with a great knife at his belt, and asked what they + wished for. + </p> + <p> + “A lodging, and a scrap of bread, with a drop of wine,” answered the + Bishop, “for we are weary and benumbed with cold.” + </p> + <p> + While the host was fetching wine from the cellar, and Modernus was taking + the mules to the stable, St. Nicolas, sitting at the hearth beside a dying + fire, cast a glance round the smoky room. Dust and dirt covered the + benches and casks; spiders spun their webs between the worm-eaten joists, + whence hung scanty bunches of onions. In a dark corner the salting-tub + displayed its iron-hooped belly. + </p> + <p> + In those days the demons used to take a hand in domestic life in a far + more intimate fashion than they do to-day. They haunted houses, concealed + in the salt-box, the butter-tub, or some other hiding-place; they spied + upon the people of the house, and watched for the opportunity to tempt + them and lead them into evil. Then, too, the angels made more frequent + appearances among Christian folk. + </p> + <p> + Now a devil, as big as a hazel-nut, who was hidden among the burning logs, + spoke up and said to the holy Bishop: + </p> + <p> + “Look at that salting-tub, Father; it is well worth a look. It is the best + salting-tub in the whole of Vervignole. It is, indeed, the model and + paragon of salting-tubs. When the master here, Seigneur Garum, received it + from the hands of a skilful cooper he perfumed it with juniper, thyme, and + rosemary. Seigneur Garum has not his equal in bleeding the meat, boning + it, and cutting it up, carefully, thoughtfully, and lovingly, and steeping + it in salted liquors by which it is preserved and embalmed. He is without + a rival for seasoning, concentrating, boiling down, skimming, straining, + and decanting the pickle. Taste his mild-cured pork, father, and you will + lick your fingers: taste his mild-cured pork, Nicolas, and you will have + something to say about it.” + </p> + <p> + But in these words, and above all in the voice that uttered them (it + grated like a saw), the holy Bishop recognized an evil spirit. He made the + sign of the Cross, whereupon the little devil exploded with a horrible + noise and a very bad smell, just like a chestnut thrown into the fire + without having had its skin split. + </p> + <p> + And an angel from Heaven appeared, resplendent in light and said to + Nicolas: + </p> + <p> + “Nicolas, beloved of the Lord, you must know that three little children + have been in that salting-tub for seven years; Garum, the innkeeper, cut + up these tender infants, and put them in salt and pickle. Arise, Nicolas, + and pray that they may come to life again. For, if you intercede for them, + O Pontiff, the Lord, who loves you, will restore them to life.” + </p> + <p> + During this speech Modernus entered the room, but he did not see the + angel, nor did he hear him, for he was not sufficiently holy to be able to + communicate with the heavenly spirits. + </p> + <p> + The angel further said: + </p> + <p> + “Nicolas, son of God, lay your hands on the salting-tub, and the three + children will be resuscitated.” + </p> + <p> + The blessed Nicolas, filled with horror, pity, zeal, and hope, gave thanks + to God, and when the innkeeper reappeared with a jug in either hand, the + Saint said to him in a terrible voice: + </p> + <p> + “Garum, open the salting-tub!” + </p> + <p> + Whereupon, Garum, overcome by fear, dropped both his jugs. + </p> + <p> + And the saintly Bishop Nicolas stretched out his hands, and said: + </p> + <p> + “Children, arise!” + </p> + <p> + At these words, the lid of the salting-tub was lifted up, and three young + boys emerged. + </p> + <p> + “Children,” said the Bishop, “give thanks to God, who through me, has + raised you from out the salting-tub.” + </p> + <p> + And turning towards the innkeeper, who was trembling in every limb, he + said: + </p> + <p> + “Cruel man, recognize the three children whom you shamefully put to death. + May you loathe your crime, and repent, that God may pardon you!” + </p> + <p> + The innkeeper, filled with terror, fled into the storm, amidst the thunder + and lightning. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%"> + <img alt="065 (129K)" src="images/065.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER II + </h2> + <p> + ST. NICOLAS embraced the three children and gently questioned them about + the miserable death which they had suffered. They related that Garum, + having approached them while they were gleaning in the fields, had lured + them into his inn, had made them drink wine, and had cut their throats + while they slept. + </p> + <p> + They still wore the rags in which they had been clothed on the day of + their death, and they retained, after their resurrection, a wild and timid + air. The sturdiest of the three, Maxime, was the son of a half-witted + woman, who followed the soldiers to war, mounted on an ass. One night he + fell from the pannier in which she carried him, and was left abandoned by + the roadside. From that time forward he had lived solely by theft. The + feeblest, Robin, could hardly recall his parents, peasants in the + highlands, who being too poor or too avaricious to support him had + deserted him in the forest. The third, Sulpice, knew nothing of his birth, + but a priest had taught him his alphabet. The storm had ceased; in the + buoyant, limpid air the birds were calling loudly to one another. The + smiling earth was green. Modernus having fetched the mules, Bishop Nicolas + mounted his, and carried Maxime wrapped in his cloak: the deacon took + Sulpice and Robin upon his crupper, and they set off toward the city of + Trinqueballe. + </p> + <p> + The road unfolded itself between fields of corn, vineyards, and meadows. + As they went along the great Saint Nicolas who already loved the children + with all his heart, examined them on subjects suitable to their age, and + asked them easy questions such as: “How much is five times five?” or “What + is God?” He obtained no satisfactory answers. But, far from shaming them + for their ignorance, he thought only of gradually dissipating it by the + application of the best pedagogic methods. + </p> + <p> + “Modernus,” he said, “we will teach them firstly the truths necessary for + salvation, and secondly the liberal arts, especially music, so that they + may sing the praises of the Lord. It will also be expedient to teach them + rhetoric, philosophy, and the history of men, plants, and animals. I + desire that they shall study, in their habits and their structure, the + animals, all of whose organs, in their wonderful perfection, attest the + glory of the Creator.” + </p> + <p> + Scarcely had the venerable Pontiff concluded this speech when a peasant + woman passed along the road, dragging by the halter an old mare so heavily + laden with branches cut with their leaves on that her knees were + trembling, and she stumbled at every step. + </p> + <p> + “Alas,” sighed the great St. Nicolas, “here is a poor horse carrying more + than its burden. He has unfortunately fallen into the hands of unjust and + hard-hearted masters. One should not overload any creature, not even + beasts of burden.” + </p> + <p> + At these words the three boys burst out laughing. The Bishop having asked + why they laughed so loudly: + </p> + <p> + “Because——” said Robin. + </p> + <p> + “That is——” said Sulpice. + </p> + <p> + “We laughed,” said Maxime, “because you mistook a mare for a horse. Can’t + you see the difference? It is very plain to me. Don’t you know anything + about animals?” + </p> + <p> + “I think,” said Modernus, “the first thing is to teach these children + manners.” + </p> + <p> + At every town, borough, village, hamlet or castle by which he passed, St. + Nicolas showed the people the children rescued from the salting-tub, and + related the great miracle performed by God, on his intercession; whereupon + they were all very joyful, and blessed him. Informed by messengers and + travellers of so prodigious an occurrence, the entire population of + Trinqueballe came out to meet their pastor, unrolling precious carpets and + scattering flowers in his path. The citizens, their eyes wet with tears, + gazed at the three victims who had escaped from the salting-tub, and + cried: “The Lord be praised!” But the poor children knew no better than to + laugh and stick out their tongues; this caused further wonder and + compassion, as being a palpable proof of their innocence and misfortune. + </p> + <p> + The saintly Bishop Nicolas had an orphan niece, Mirande by name, who had + just reached her seventh year, and was dearer to him than the light of his + eyes. A worthy widow by name Basine was rearing her in piety, good + manners, and ignorance of evil. The three miraculously saved children were + confided to the care of this lady. She was not lacking in judgment. She + quickly saw that Maxime had courage, Robin prudence, and Sulpice the power + of reflection. She devoted herself to confirming these good qualities, + which, by the corruption common to the whole human race, tended + unceasingly to become perverted and distorted; for Robin’s cautiousness + turned easily into hypocrisy, and mostly hid a greedy covetousness; Maxime + was subject to fits of rage, and Sulpice frequently and obstinately + expressed false ideas in very important matters. However, they were but + mere children who went bird’s-nesting, stole the garden fruit, tied + cooking-pots to dogs’ tails, put ink the holy water font, and cow-itch in + Modernus’ bed. + </p> + <p> + At night, wrapped in white sheets and walking on stilts, they would go + into the gardens, and frighten into a swoon the serving-maids belated in + their lovers’ arms. They would cover the seat which Madame Basine was wont + to use with bristling spikes, and when she sat down they would delight in + her sufferings, observing the confusion with which she openly applied a + heedful and comforting hand to the damaged spot, for she would not for all + the world have been lacking in modesty. + </p> + <p> + In spite of her age and virtues, this lady inspired them with neither love + nor fear. Robin called her an old goat, Maxime an old she-ass, and + Sulpice, the ass of Balaam. They teased little Mirande in all sorts of + ways; they would dirty her pretty clothes by making her fall face downward + on the stones. Once they pushed her head right up to the neck into a + barrel of treacle. They taught her to sit astride railings, and to climb + trees, contrary to the decorum of her sex; they taught her words and + manners that smacked of the inn and the salting-tub. Following their + example, she called Madame Bassne “an old goat,” and even, taking the part + for the whole, “old goat’s rump.” But she remained completely innocent. + The purity of her soul was unchangeable. + </p> + <p> + “I am fortunate,” said the holy Bishop Nicolas, “in that I rescued these + children from the salting-tub, to make them good Christians. They will + become faithful servants of God, and their merits will be accounted to + me.” + </p> + <p> + Now, by the third year after their resurrection, when they were already + tall and well-made, on a day of spring, as they were all playing in the + field beside the river, Maxime in a moment of facetiousness and natural + high spirits, threw the Deacon Modernus into the water. Hanging on to the + branch of a willow-tree, Modernus called for help. Robin ran up, made as + though to draw him out by the hand, took off his ring, and fled. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, Sulpice, sitting motionless on the bank with his arms crossed, + said: + </p> + <p> + “Modernus is making a bad end. I can see six devils, in the form of + flittermice, ready to seize his soul as it comes out of his mouth.” + </p> + <p> + When this serious affair was reported to him by Madame Basine and + Modernus, the holy Bishop was much afflicted and fell a-sighing. + </p> + <p> + “These children,” he said, “were reared in suffering, by unworthy parents. + The excess of their misfortunes has caused the deformity of their + characters. We must redress their wrongs by enduring patience, and + persevering kindness.” + </p> + <p> + “Monseigneur,” answered Modernus, who was chattering with fever in his + dressing-gown, and sneezing under his nightcap, for his bath had given him + a cold, “it is possible that their wickedness is derived from the + wickedness of their parents. But how do you explain, father, the fact that + neglect has produced in each of them different and, so to speak, contrary + vices, and that the desertion and destitution into which they were thrown + before they were put in the salting-tub has made one avaricious, a second + violent, and the third a visionary? And in your place, my Lord, I should + feel most uneasy about the last.” + </p> + <p> + “Each of these children,” answered the Bishop, “has yielded in his weak + spot. Ill-treatment has deformed their souls in those portions that + offered the least resistance. Let us straighten them out with a thousand + precautions, for fear of increasing the evil instead of diminishing it. + Mildness, clemency, and forbearance are the only means which should ever + be employed for the improvement of men, heretics of course excepted.” + </p> + <p> + “No doubt, Monseigneur, no doubt,” said Modernus, sneezing three times. + “But you cannot have a good education without chastisement, nor discipline + without discipline. I know what I am about. If you do not punish these + three little ragamuffins, they will grow up worse than Herod. I assure you + I am right.” + </p> + <p> + “Modernus could not be mistaken,” said Madame Basine. + </p> + <p> + The Bishop did not answer. With the widow and the Deacon, he paced the + length of a hawthorn hedge, which breathed forth an agreeable fragrance of + honey and bitter almonds. In a slight hollow, where the soil received the + water from a neighbouring spring, he stopped before a bush, whose twisted, + close-packed branches were covered with gleaming, clean-cut leaves and + white clusters of flowers. + </p> + <p> + “Look,” he said, “at this leafy, fragrant shrub, this lovely may, this + noble thorn-bush, so strong and vigorous. Observe that it is in more + abundant leaf, and more glorious with bloom, than all the other thorns in + the hedge. But notice also that the pale bark of its branches bears only a + few thorns, which are weak and soft and blunt. What is the reason of this? + It is because, growing in a rich, moist soil, quiet and secure in the + wealth which sustains its life, it has utilized all the juices of the + earth to augment its power and its glory, and being too strong to dream of + arming against its feeble enemies, it has devoted itself entirely to the + joys of its magnificent and delicious fertility. Now come a few steps up + this rising path, and look at this other hawthorn, which having with + difficulty issued from a dry, stony soil, languishes, deficient in both + wood and leaves, and has had no other thought during its hard life than to + defend itself against the innumerable enemies that threaten the weal. It + is nothing but a bundle of thorns. It has employed the little sap which it + received in fashioning innumerable spears, broad at the base, hard and + sharp, which but ill restore confidence to its apprehensive weakness. It + has nothing left over for fruitful and fragrant blossom. My friends, we + are like the hawthorns. The care given to our childhood makes us better. + Too harsh an up bringing hardens us.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%"> + <img alt="074 (137K)" src="images/074.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER III + </h2> + <p> + WHEN Maxime was approaching his seventeenth year he filled the holy Bishop + Nicolas with grief and the diocese with scandal by forming and training a + company of rogues of his own age, with a view to kidnapping the girls of a + village called Grosses-Nates, situated at a distance of four leagues from + Trinqueballe. The expedition was marvellously successful. The ravishers + entered the village by night, clasping to their bosoms the dishevelled + virgins, who vainly uplifted to heaven their burning eyes and imploring + hands. But when the fathers, brothers, and betrothed of these ravished + maidens sought them out, they refused to return to the place of their + birth, alleging that they felt too deeply shamed, and preferred to hide + their dishonour in <i>the</i> arms that had caused it. Maxime, who, for + his share, had taken the three most beautiful, was living in their company + in a little manor dependent upon the episcopal See. In the absence of + their ravisher, the Deacon Modernus arrived, by order of the Bishop, to + knock at their door, answering that he came to set them free. They refused + to open; and when he represented to them the abomination of their lives + they dropped upon his head a crockful of dishwater, with the crock, by + which his skull was fractured. + </p> + <p> + Armed with a gentle severity, the holy Bishop reproached Maxime for this + violence and disorder: + </p> + <p> + “Alas,” he said, “did I draw you from out of the salting-box to the ruin + of the virgins of Vervignole?” + </p> + <p> + And he reproached him with the magnitude of his offence. But Maxime + shrugged his shoulders, and turned his back, without making any reply. + </p> + <p> + At that moment King Berlu, in the fourteenth year of his reign, was + assembling a powerful army to fight the Mambournians, the determined + enemies of his kingdom, who, having entered Vervignole, were ravaging and + depopulating the richest provinces of that great country. + </p> + <p> + Maxime left Trinqueballe without saying goodbye to a soul. When he was + some leagues distant from the town, seeing in a field a mare of moderate + quality, except that she was blind in one eye and lame, he jumped on her + back and galloped off. On the following morning, accidentally meeting a + farm lad who was taking a great plough horse to water, he immediately + dismounted, bestrode the great horse, and ordered the lad to mount the + blind mare, and to follow him, saying that he would take him for his + squire should he prove satisfactory. Thus equipped Maxime presented + himself to King Berlu, who accepted his services. He became in a very + short time one of Vervignole’s greatest captains. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, Sulpice was giving the holy Bishop cause for perhaps more + cruel, and certainly more momentous, uneasiness; for if Maxime sinned + grievously, he sinned without malice, and offending God without thought, + and, so to speak, unknowingly. But Sulpice set himself to do evil with a + greater and more unusual malignity. Being destined from early youth for + the Church he assiduously studied letters, both sacred and profane; but + his soul was a corrupted vessel, wherein Truth was turned into Error. He + sinned in spirit; he erred in matters of faith with surprising precocity. + At an age when people have as yet no ideas at all, he overflowed with + wrong ones. A thought occurred to him which was doubtless suggested by the + devil. In a field belonging to the Bishop he gathered a multitude of boys + and girls of his own age and, climbing into a tree, he exhorted them to + leave their fathers and mothers to follow Jesus Christ, and to go in, + parties through the country-side, burning priories and presbyteries in + order to lead the Church back into evangelical poverty. This youthful mob, + led away by emotion, followed the sinner along the roads of Vervignole, + singing canticles, burning barns, pillaging chapels, and devastating the + ecclesiastical lands. Many of these crazy creatures perished of fatigue, + hunger, and cold, or were killed by villagers. The episcopal palace + re-echoed with the complaints of the priesthood and the lamentations of + mothers. + </p> + <p> + The pious Bishop Nicolas sent for the originator of these disorders. With + extreme mildness, and infinite sadness, he reproached him for having + misused the Word for the misleading of souls, and reminded him that God + had not picked him out of the salting-tub in order that he should attack + the property of our Holy Mother, the Church. + </p> + <p> + “Consider, my son,” he said, “the greatness of your offence. You appear + before your pastor charged with turmoil, sedition, and murder.” + </p> + <p> + But young Sulpice, maintaining a horrid calm, answered with a voice full + of assurance, that he had not sinned, neither had he offended God; but, on + the contrary, he had acted in accordance with the bidding of Heaven, for + the good of the Church. And he professed before the dismayed Bishop the + false doctrines of the Manicheans, the Arians, the Nestorians, the + Sabellians, the Vaudois, the Albigenses, and the Bégards. So eager was he + to embrace these monstrous errors that he did not see how they + contradicted one another, and were mutually devoured in the bosom that + cherished and revived them. + </p> + <p> + The pious Bishop endeavoured to lead Sulpice back into the right path, but + he failed to overcome the unhappy lad’s obstinacy. + </p> + <p> + Having dismissed him, he knelt and prayed. + </p> + <p> + “I thank thee, O Lord, for having sent me this young man, as a whetstone + on which to sharpen my patience and my charity.” + </p> + <p> + While two of the children he had rescued from the salting-tub were causing + him so much pain, St. Nicolas was obtaining some consolation from the + third. Robin showed himself neither violent in his actions nor arrogant in + his thoughts. He had not the sturdy, ruddy appearance of Maxime; nor the + grave, audacious manner of Sulpice. Small, thin, yellow, lined, and + shrunken, of humble, obsequious and reverential bearing, he devoted + himself to assisting the Bishop and clergy, helping the clerks to keep the + accounts of the episcopal revenues, and making complicated calculations + with the assistance of balls threaded on rods; he even multiplied and + divided numbers in his head, without the use of slate or pencil, with a + rapidity and accuracy that would have been admired even in a past master + of money and finance. For him it was a pleasure to keep the books of the + Deacon Modernus, who, growing old, used to muddle the figures and fall + asleep at his desk. To oblige the Bishop, and obtain money for him, he + spared neither trouble nor fatigue. From the Lombards, he learnt how to + calculate both the simple and compound interest on a sum of money for a + day, week, month, or year; he feared not to visit the filthy Jews in the + black lanes of the Ghetto, in order to learn, by mingling with them, the + standard of metals, the price of precious stones, and the art of clipping + coin. Ultimately, with a little store which he had accumulated by + marvellous industry in Vervignole, in Mondousiana, and even in Mambournia, + he attended the fairs, tournaments, pardons, and jubilees, to which people + of all conditions flocked from all parts of Christendom: peasants, + burghers, clerics, and <i>seigneurs</i>; there he changed their money, and + every time he returned a little richer than he had departed. Robin did not + spend the money he had made, but brought it to the Bishop. + </p> + <p> + St. Nicolas was extremely hospitable, and very liberal in almsgiving. He + spent all his property and that of the Church in making gifts to pilgrims + and assisting the unfortunate. Thus he continually found himself short of + money; and he was much obliged to Robin for the skill and energy with + which the young treasurer obtained the sums which he required. The + condition of penury in which the holy Bishop had placed himself owing to + his magnificence and liberality was greatly aggravated by the condition of + the times. The war which was ravaging Vervignole also ruined the Church in + Trinqueballe. The soldiery who were fighting in the country-side about the + town pillaged the farms, levied contributions on the peasantry, drove out + the religious orders, and burned the castles and abbeys. + </p> + <p> + The clergy and the faithful could no longer contribute to the expenses of + their creed, and thousands of peasants, fleeing from the free-booters came + daily to beg their bread at the door of the episcopal palace. For their + sakes, the good St. Nicolas felt the poverty which he had never felt for + his own. Fortunately, Robin was always ready to lend him money, which the + holy pontiff naturally agreed to return in more prosperous times. + </p> + <p> + Alas, the war was now raging throughout the kingdom, from north to south, + from east to west, attended by its two inseparable companions, famine and + pestilence. The peasantry turned robbers, and the monks followed the + armies. The inhabitants of Trinqueballe, having neither wood for firing, + nor bread to eat, died like flies at the approach of winter. Wolves + entered the outlying parts of the town, devouring little children. At this + sad juncture, Robin came to inform the Bishop that not only was he unable + to provide any further sum of money, however small, but that being unable + to obtain anything from his debtors, and being pressed by his creditors, + he had been compelled to hand over all his assets to the Jews. + </p> + <p> + He brought this distressing news to his benefactor with the obsequious + politeness which was usual to him; but he appeared a great deal less + afflicted than he might have been in this grevions extremity. As a matter + of fact, he was hard put to it to conceal, under a long face, his joyous + feelings and his lively satisfaction. The parchment of his dry, humble, + yellow eyelids ill concealed the light of joy which shone from his sharp + eyes. + </p> + <p> + Sadly stricken, St. Nicolas remained quiet and serene under the blow. + </p> + <p> + “God will soon re-establish our declining affairs,” he said. “He will not + permit the house which He has built to be overthrown.” + </p> + <p> + “That is true,” said Modernus, “but you may be sure that Robin, whom you + drew out of the salting-tub, has made an arrangement with the Lombards of + Pont-Vieux and the Jews of the Ghetto to despoil you, and that he is + retaining the lion’s share of the plunder.” + </p> + <p> + Modernus spoke the truth. Robin had lost no money. He was richer than + ever, and had just been appointed treasurer to the King. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%"> + <img alt="082 (134K)" src="images/082.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV + </h2> + <p> + AT this time Mirande was nearing the close of her seventeenth year. She + was beautiful, and well grown. An air of purity, innocence, and + artlessness hung round her like a veil. The length of her eyelashes, which + barred her blue eyes, and the childlike smallness of her mouth, gave the + impression that evil could never find means to enter into her. Her ears + were so tiny, so fine, so finished and so delicate, that the least modest + of men could never have dared to breathe into them any but the most + innocent of speeches. In the whole of Ver-vigbole no virgin inspired so + much respect, and none had greater need to do so, for she was marvellously + simple, credulous, and defenceless. + </p> + <p> + The pious Bishop Nicolas, her uncle, cherished her more dearly every day, + and was more deeply attached to her than one should be to any of God’s + creatures. He loved her, undoubtedly, in God; but he also loved her for + herself; he took great delight in her, and he loved to love her; it was + his only weakness. The Saints themselves are not always able to cut + through all the ties of the flesh. + </p> + <p> + St. Nicolas loved his niece, with a pure love, but not without + gratification of the senses. On the day following that on which he had + learned of Robin’s bankruptcy, he went to see Mirande in order to hold + pious converse with her, as was his duty, for he stood in the place of a + father to her, and had taken charge of her education. + </p> + <p> + She lived in the upper town, near the Cathedral in a house called “The + House of the Musicians,” because there were to be seen on its front men + and animals playing on divers instruments. There were, notably, an ass + playing a flute, and a philosopher, recognizable by his long beard and + ink-horn, clashing cymbals. Every one explained these figures according to + his fancy. It was the finest dwelling-house in the town. + </p> + <p> + The Bishop found his niece crouching on the floor, with dishevelled hair, + her eyes glittering with tears, by the side of an empty, open coffer, in a + room full of confusion. + </p> + <p> + He inquired of her the reason of this affliction, and of the disorder that + prevailed around her. Turning upon him her despairing gaze, she told him + with a thousand sighs that Robin, the Robin who had escaped from the + salting-tub, the darling Robin, having many a time told her that if she + ever wanted a dress, an ornament or a jewel, he would gladly lend her the + money wherewith to buy it, she had frequently had recourse to his + kindness, which appeared inexhaustible; but that very morning a Jew called + Seligmann had come to her with four sheriff’s officers, had presented the + notes, signed by herself, which she had given Robin, and as she had not + the money to pay them he had taken away all the clothes, head-dresses and + jewels which she possessed. + </p> + <p> + “He has taken,” she sobbed, “my bodices and petticoats of velvet, brocade + and lace; my diamonds, my emeralds, my sapphires, my jacinths, my + amethysts, my rubies, my garnets, and my turquoises; he has taken my great + diamond cross, with angels’ heads in enamel, my large necklace, consisting + of two table diamonds, three cabochons, and six knots each of four pearls; + he has taken my great collar of thirteen table diamonds, and twenty + hanging pearls!” + </p> + <p> + And without saying more she wept bitterly into her handkerchief. + </p> + <p> + “My daughter,” answered the saintly Bishop, “a Christian virgin is + sufficiently adorned when she wears modesty for a necklace, and chastity + for a girdle. None the less, as the scion of a most noble and most + illustrious family it was right that you should wear diamonds and pearls. + Your jewels were the treasury of the poor, and I deplore the fact that + they should have been snatched from you.” + </p> + <p> + He assured her that she would certainly recover them, either in this world + or the next; he said everything possible to assuage her regret, and soothe + her sorrow, and he comforted her. For she had a tender soul, which longed + for consolation. But he himself left her full of affliction. + </p> + <p> + On the following day, as he was about to celebrate Mass in the cathedral, + the holy Bishop saw coming towards him, in the sacristy, the three Jews, + Seligmann, Issachar, and Meyer, who, wearing green hats and fillets upon + their shoulders, very humbly presented him the notes which Robin had made + over to them. As the venerable pontiff could not pay diem, they called up + twenty porters, with baskets, sacks, picklocks, carts, cords, and ladders, + and commenced to pick the locks of the wardrobes, coffers, and + tabernacles. The holy man cast on them a look which would have destroyed + three Christians. He threatened them with the penalties of sacrilege, both + in this world and the next, he pointed out that their mere presence in the + house of the God, whom they had crucified, called down the fire of heaven + upon their heads. They listened with the calm of people for whom anathema, + reprobation, malediction, and execration were their daily bread. He then + prayed to them, besought them, and promised to pay as soon as he could, + twofold, threefold, tenfold, a hundredfold, the debt which they had + acquired. They excused themselves politely for being unable to postpone + the little transaction. The Bishop threatened to sound the tocsin, to + rouse against them the people who would kill them like dogs for profaning, + violating, and stealing the miraculous images and holy relics. They + smilingly pointed to the sheriff’s officers, who were guarding them. They + were protected by King Berln, for they lent him money. At this sight the + holy Bishop, recognizing that resistance would be rebellion, and + remembering Him who replaced the ear of Malchus, remained inert and + speechless, and bitter tears dropped from his eyes. Seligmann, Issachar, + and Meyer took away the golden shrines enriched with precious stones, + enamels and cabochons, the reliquaries in the form of chalices, lanterns, + naves, and towers, the portable altars of alabaster encased in gold and + silver, the coffers enamelled by the skilful craftsmen of Limoges and the + Rhine, the altar-crosses, the Gospels bound in carved ivory and antique + cameos, the desks ornamented with festoons of trailing vines, the consular + registers, the pyxes, the candelabra and candlesticks, the lamp, of which + they blew out the sacred flame, and spilt the blessed oil on the tiles, + the chandeliers like enormous crowns, the duplets with beads of pearl and + amber, the eucharistie doves, the ciboria, the chalices, the patens, the + kisses of peace, incense boxes and flagons, the innumerable ex-votos—hands, + arms, legs, eyes, mouths, and hearts, all of silver—the nose of King + Sidoc, the breast of Queen Blandine, and the head in solid gold of Saint + Cromadaire, the first apostle of Vervignole, and the blessed patron of + Trinqueballe. They even carried off the miraculous image of St. Gibbosine, + whom the people of Vervignole had never invoked in vain in time of + pestilence, famine, or war. This very ancient and venerable image was made + of leaves of beaten gold nailed upon a core of cedar-wood, and was covered + with precious stones of the bigness of ducks’ eggs, which emitted fiery + rays of red, blue, yellow and violet and white. For the past three hundred + years her enamelled eyes, wide open in her golden face, had compelled such + respect from the inhabitants of Trinqueballe that they saw her in their + dreams, splendid and terrible, threatening them with the direst penalties + if they failed to supply her with sufficient quantities of virgin- wax and + crown-pieces. St. Gibbosine groaned, trembled, and tottered on her + pedestal, and allowed herself to be carried away without resistance, out + of the basilica to which, from time immemorial, she had drawn innumerable + pilgrims. + </p> + <p> + After the departure of these sacrilegious thieves the holy Bishop Nicolas + ascended the steps of the despoiled altar, and consecrated the blood of + our Lord in an old silver chalice, of German origin, thin and deeply + dented. He prayed for the afflicted, and in particular for Robin, whom, by + the will of God, he had rescued from the salting-box. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%"> + <img alt="089 (128K)" src="images/089.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER V + </h2> + <p> + SHORTLY after this, King Berlu defeated the Mambournians in a great + battle. He was, at first, unaware of the fact, for armed conflicts always + present a great confusion, and during the last two hundred years the + Vervignolians had lost the habit of victory. But the precipitate and + disordered flight of the Mambournians informed him of his advantage. + Instead of fighting a rear-guard action he pursued the enemy, and regained + half his kingdom. The victorious army entered the city of Trinqueballe, + all beflagged and beflowered in its honour, and in that illustrious + capital of Vervignole it committed a great number of rapes, thefts, + murders, and other cruelties, burnt several houses, sacked the churches, + and took from the cathedral all that the Jews had left there, which, truth + to tell, was not much. + </p> + <p> + Maxime, who having become a knight and commander of eighty lances, had + largely contributed to the victory, was one of the first to enter the + city, and repaired straightway to the House of the Musicians, where dwelt + the beautiful Mirande, whom he had not seen since his departure for the + war. He found her in her bower, plying her distaff, and fell upon her with + such impetuosity that the young lady lost her innocence without, so to + speak, realizing that she had done so. And when, having recovered from her + surprise, she exclaimed: “Is it you, Seigneur Maxime? What are you doing + here?” and was preparing as in duty bound to resist her aggressor, he was + quietly walking down the street, readjusting his armour and ogling the + girls. + </p> + <p> + Possibly she would have entirely overlooked this offence, had it not been + that some time later she found that she was about to become a mother. + Captain Maxime was then fighting in Mambournia. All the town knew her + shame: she confided it to the great St. Nicolas, who, on learning this + astonishing news, lifted his eyes to heaven, and said: + </p> + <p> + “Lord, did you rescue this man from the salting-tub only as a ravening + wolf to devour my sheep? Your wisdom is adorable; but your ways are dark, + and your designs mysterious.” + </p> + <p> + And in that same year, on the Sunday of Mid-Lent, Sulpice threw himself at + the feet of the holy Bishop, saying: + </p> + <p> + “From my earliest youth, my keenest wish has been to consecrate myself to + the Lord. Allow me, father, to embrace the monastic state, and to make my + profession in the monastery of the mendicant friars of Trinqueballe.” + </p> + <p> + “My son,” answered the good St. Nikolas, “there is no worthier condition + than that of the monk. Happy is he who in the shade of the cloister takes + shelter from the tempests of the age. But of what avail to flee the storm + if the storm is within oneself? Of what avail to affect an outward show of + humility, if one’s bosom contains a heart full of pride? What shall you + profit by donning the livery of obedience if your soul be in revolt? I + have seen you, my son, fall into more errors than Sabellius, Alius, + Nestorius, Eutyches, Manes, Pelagius, and Pachosius combined, and revive, + before your twentieth year, twelve centuries of peculiar opinions. It is + true that you have not been very obstinate in any of them, but your + successive recantations appear to betray less submission to our Holy + Mother the Church than eagerness to rush from one error to another, to + leap from Manicheeism to Sabellianism, and from the crime of the + Albigenses to the ignominies of the Vaudois.” + </p> + <p> + Sulpice listened to this discourse with a contrite heart, a simplicity of + mind and submissiveness, that drew tears from the great St. Nicolas. + </p> + <p> + “I deplore, repudiate, condemn, reprove, detest, execrate, and abominate + my errors, past, present, and future,” he said. “I submit myself to the + Church fully and entirely, totally and generally, purely and simply; and I + have no belief but her belief, no faith but her faith, no knowledge but + her knowledge: I neither see, hear, nor feel, save only through her. She + might tell me that the fly which has but now settled on the nose of the + Deacon Modernus was a camel, and I should incontinently, without dispute, + contest, murmur, resistance, hesitation or doubt, believe, declare, + proclaim, and confess, under torture and unto death, that it was a camel + that settled on the nose of the Deacon Modernus. For the Church is the + Fountain of Truth, and I am nought by myself but a vile receptacle of + Error.” + </p> + <p> + “Take care, my father,” said Modernus. “Sulpice is capable of overdoing + submission to the Church even to the point of Heresy. Do you not see that + he submits with frenzy, in transports and swooning? Is wallowing in + submission a good way of submitting? He is annihilating himself; he is + committing suicide.” + </p> + <p> + But the Bishop reprimanded his deacon for holding such ideas, which were + contrary to charity, and sent the postulant to the noviciate of the + mendicant friars of Trinqueballe. + </p> + <p> + Alas, at the end of a year those priests, till then so quiet and humble, + were torn by frightful schisms, plunged into a thousand errors against the + Catholic truth, their days filled with disorder, and their souls with + sedition! Sulpice inspired the brothers with this poison. He sustained + against his superiors that there was no longer any true Pope, since + miracles no longer accompanied the elections of the Sovereign Pontiffs; + nor, rightly speaking, any Church, since Christians had ceased to live the + life of the apostles and the first of the faithful; that there was no + purgatory; that it was not necessary to confess to a priest if one + confessed to God; that men do wrong in making use of moneys of gold and + silver, for they should share in common the fruits of the earth. These + abominable maxims, which he forcibly sustained, were combated by some, and + adopted by others, causing horrible scandals. A little later Sulpice + taught the doctrine of perfect purity, which nothing can soil, and the + good brothers’ monastery became like a cage of monkeys. This pestilence + did not remain confined within the walls of a monastery. Sulpice went + preaching through the city; his eloquence, the internal fire by which he + was consumed, the simplicity of his life, and his unshakable courage + touched all hearts. + </p> + <p> + On hearing the voice of the reformer, the ancient city, evangelized by St. + Cromadaire, and enlightened by St. Gibbosine, fell into disorder and + dissolution; every sort of extravagance and impiety was committed there, + by day and by night. In vain did the great St. Nicolas warn his flock by + exhortations, threats, and fulminations. The evil increased unchecked, and + it was sad to see the contagion spreading itself among the well-to-do + townsfolk, the lords, and the clergy, as much as and more than among the + poor artisans and the small tradesfolk. + </p> + <p> + One day when the man of God was lamenting the deplorable state of the + church of Vervignole in the cloister of the cathedral, his meditations + were disturbed by strange shrieks, and he saw a woman, stark naked, + walking on all fours, with a peacock’s feather for a tail. As she came + nearer, she barked, sniffed, and licked the ground. Her fair head was + covered with mud, and her whole body was a mass of filth. In this unhappy + creature the holy Bishop Nicolas recognized his niece Mirande. + </p> + <p> + “What do you there, my daughter?” he cried. “Why are you naked, and + wherefore do you walk on your hands and knees? Have you no shame?” + </p> + <p> + “No, uncle, I am not ashamed,” sweetly replied Mirande. “I should, on the + contrary, be ashamed of any other gesture, or method of progression. If + one wishes to please God, it is thus that one should behave. The holy + Brother Sulpice taught me to conduct myself thus, in order to resemble the + beasts, who are nearer to God than is Man, in that they have not sinned. + So long as I am in the state in which you see me, there will be no danger + of my sinning. I have come, uncle, to beg you in all love and charity to + do likewise; for unless you do you cannot be saved. Remove, I beg, your + clothes, and adopt the posture of the animals, in whom God joyfully sees + His image which has not been distorted by sin. I give you this advice by + order of the holy brother Sulpice, and consequently by order of God + Himself, for the holy brother is in the Lord’s secrets. Strip yourself + naked, uncle, and come with me, so that we may show ourselves to the + people for their edification.” + </p> + <p> + “Can I believe my eyes and ears?” gasped the holy Bishop, whose voice was + stifled by sobs. “I had a niece blooming in beauty, virtue, and piety; the + three children whom I rescued from the salting-tub have reduced her to the + miserable condition in which I now see her. The first has despoiled her of + all her property, an abundant source of alms, and the patrimony of the + poor; the second has robbed her of her honour, and the third has turned + her into a heretic.” + </p> + <p> + He threw himself on the flagstones, embracing his niece, begging her to + renounce so evil a way of life, and adjuring her to reclothe herself, and + walk on her feet like a human being, ransomed by the blood of Jesus + Christ. + </p> + <p> + But she replied only by sharp yelps and lamentable shrieks. + </p> + <p> + Before long the town of Trinqueballe was filled with naked men and women, + walking on all fours and barking; they called themselves the Edenites, and + their ambition was to lead back the world to the times of perfect + innocence, before the unfortunate creation of Adam and Eve. + </p> + <p> + The Reverend Father Gilles Caquerole, a Dominican, inquisitor of the faith + in the city, university, and ecclesiastical province of Trinqueballe, + became uneasy concerning this novelty, and proceeded to look into it + minutely. In the most urgent fashion, by letters under his seal, he + invited the Bishop Nicolas, in co-operation with himself, to arrest, + imprison, interrogate, and sentence these enemies of God, and especially + their principal leaders, the Franciscan monk, Sulpice, and a dissolute + woman named Mirande. The great St. Nicolas burned with an ardent zeal for + the unity of the Church and the destruction of heresy, but he dearly loved + his niece. He hid her in the episcopal palace, and refused to hand her + over to the inquisitor Caquerole, who denounced him to the Pope as an + abettor of disorder and the propagator of a new and very detestable + heresy. The Pope enjoined Nicolas to no longer withhold the guilty one + from her legitimate judges. Nicolas eluded the injunction, protested his + obedience, and did not obey. The Pope fulminated against him in the Bull + <i>Maleficus pastor</i>, in which the venerable pontiff was accused of + being a disobedient member of the Church, a heretic, or one smelling of + heresy, a keeper of concubines, a committer of incest, a corrupter of the + people, an old woman and a meddling old fool, and was passionately + admonished. + </p> + <p> + In this way the Bishop did himself a great deal of harm without any + benefit to his beloved niece. King Berlu, having been threatened with + excommunication if he did not lend his secular arm to the Church in + pursuit of the Edenites, sent some men-at-arms to the episcopal palace of + Trinqueballe. + </p> + <p> + They tore Mirande from her asylum: she was brought before the inquisitor + Caquerole, thrown into a deep dungeon, and fed upon bread which the + jailers’ dogs had refused; but what afflicted her most was that she was + forcibly compelled to don an old frock and a hood, and that she could no + longer be certain of not sinning. + </p> + <p> + The monk Sulpice escaped the investigations of the Holy Office and + succeeded in reaching Mambournia, and found an asylum in a monastery of + that kingdom, where he established new sects even more pernicious than the + previous one. + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless, heresy, fortified by persecution, and exulting in danger, + now spread its ravages over the whole of Vervignole. All over the kingdom + there were seen in the fields thousands of naked men and women, nibbling + the grass, bleating, lowing, roaring, neighing, and contending at night + with sheep, cattle, and horses for the use of stable and manger. The + inquisitor informed the Holy Father of these horrible scandals, and warned + him that so long as the Protector of the Edenites, the odious Nicolas, + remained seated on the throne of St. Cromadaire, the evil could only + continue to increase. Conformably with this advice the Pope hurled against + the Bishop, like a thunderbolt, the Bull <i>Deterrima quondam</i>, by + which he deprived him of all his ecclesiastical functions, and cut him off + from the communion of the faithful. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%"> + <img alt="099 (129K)" src="images/099.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI + </h2> + <p> + CRUSHED by the Vicar of Jesus Christ, steeped in bitterness, overwhelmed + by affliction, the holy Nicolas stepped down without regret from his + illustrious seat, and departed, no more to return thither, from the city + of Trinqueballe, which for thirty years had witnessed his pontifical + virtues and apostolic labours. There is in western Vervignole a lofty + mountain, whose peals are covered with perpetual snow; from its flanks + there descend, in spring, the foaming sonorous cascades that fill the + valley torrents with a water as blue as the sky. There, in a region where + grow the larch, the arbutus, and the hazel, some hermits supported + themselves on berries and milk. This mountain is called that of the + Saviour. It was here that St. Nicolas resolved to take refuge, and, far + from the world, to weep for his sins and those of man. + </p> + <p> + As he was climbing the mountain in search of some wild spot where he might + establish his habitation, having emerged above the clouds which are almost + always gathered about the flanks of the peak, he saw upon the threshold of + a hut an old man sharing his bread with a tame hind. His hair fell over + his forehead, and nothing could be perceived of his face but the tip of + his nose and a long white beard. + </p> + <p> + The holy Nicolas greeted him with these words: + </p> + <p> + “Peace be with you, brother.” + </p> + <p> + “It delights to dwell upon this mountain,” answered the recluse. + </p> + <p> + “I also,” replied the holy Nicolas, “have come hither to end, in calm, + days which have been disturbed by the tumult of the times and the + malignity of men.” + </p> + <p> + As he was speaking in this wise, the hermit gazed at him attentively. + </p> + <p> + “Are you not,” he said at length, “the Bishop of Trinqueballe, that + Nicolas whose work and virtues are extolled by men?” + </p> + <p> + When, by a sign, the holy pontiff admitted that he was that man, the + hermit threw himself at his feet. + </p> + <p> + “Monseigneur, to you I owe the saving of my soul, if, as I hope, my soul + is saved.” + </p> + <p> + Nicolas raised him with kindness, and asked him: + </p> + <p> + “My brother, how have I had the happiness to work for your salvation?” + </p> + <p> + “Twenty years ago,” replied the recluse, “when I was an innkeeper at the + edge of a wood, on a deserted road, I saw one day, in a field, three + little children gleaning. I lured them to my house, gave them wine to + drink, cut their throats in their sleep, cut them up into small pieces, + and salted them. On seeing them emerge from the salting-tub I was frozen + with terror; owing to your exhortations my heart melted; I experienced a + salutary repentance, and, fleeing from men, I came to this mountain, where + I consecrated my days to God. He bestowed His peace upon me.” + </p> + <p> + “What,” cried the holy Bishop, “you are that cruel Garum, guilty of so + heinous a crime! I praise God that he has accorded you a peaceful heart, + after the horrible murder of three children, whom you put in the + salting-tub like pigs; but as for me, alas! for having drawn them out of + it my life has been filled with tribulation, my soul steeped in + bitterness, and my Bishopric laid wholly desolate. I have been deposed, + excommunicated by the common Father of the Faithful. Why have I been so + cruelly punished for what I did?” + </p> + <p> + “Let us worship God,” said Garum, “and let us not ask His motives.” + </p> + <p> + The great St. Nicolas, with his own hands, built a hut near that of Garum, + and there, in prayer and penitence, he ended his days. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Miracle Of The Great St. Nicolas, by +Anatole France + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREAT ST. 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