English
Threehundredandforty–eightyears,sixmonths,andnineteendaysagoto–day,theParisiansawoketothesoundofallthebellsinthetriplecircuitofthecity,theuniversity,andthetownringingafullpeal.
ThesixthofJanuary,1482,isnot,however,adayofwhichhistoryhaspreservedthememory.
TherewasnothingnotableintheeventwhichthussetthebellsandthebourgeoisofParisinafermentfromearlymorning.
ItwasneitheranassaultbythePicardsnortheBurgundians,norahuntledalonginprocession,norarevoltofscholarsinthetownofLaas,noranentryof"ourmuchdreadlord,monsieurtheking,"norevenaprettyhangingofmaleandfemalethievesbythecourtsofParis.
Neitherwasitthearrival,sofrequentinthefifteenthcentury,ofsomeplumedandbedizenedembassy.
Itwasbarelytwodayssincethelastcavalcadeofthatnature,thatoftheFlemishambassadorschargedwithconcludingthemarriagebetweenthedauphinandMargueriteofFlanders,hadmadeitsentryintoParis,tothegreatannoyanceofM.leCardinaldeBourbon,who,forthesakeofpleasingtheking,hadbeenobligedtoassumeanamiablemientowardsthiswholerusticrabbleofFlemishburgomasters,andtoregalethemathisHôteldeBourbon,withavery"prettymorality,allegoricalsatire,andfarce,"whileadrivingraindrenchedthemagnificenttapestriesathisdoor.
Whatputthe"wholepopulationofParisincommotion,"asJehandeTroyesexpressesit,onthesixthofJanuary,wasthedoublesolemnity,unitedfromtimeimmemorial,oftheEpiphanyandtheFeastofFools.
Onthatday,therewastobeabonfireonthePlacedeGrève,amaypoleattheChapelledeBraque,andamysteryatthePalaisdeJustice.
Ithadbeencried,tothesoundofthetrumpet,theprecedingeveningatallthecrossroads,bytheprovost'smen,cladinhandsome,short,sleevelesscoatsofvioletcamelot,withlargewhitecrossesupontheirbreasts.
Sothecrowdofcitizens,maleandfemale,havingclosedtheirhousesandshops,throngedfromeverydirection,atearlymorn,towardssomeoneofthethreespotsdesignated.
Eachhadmadehischoice;one,thebonfire;another,themaypole;another,themysteryplay.
Itmustbestated,inhonorofthegoodsenseoftheloungersofParis,thatthegreaterpartofthiscrowddirectedtheirstepstowardsthebonfire,whichwasquiteinseason,ortowardsthemysteryplay,whichwastobepresentedinthegrandhallofthePalaisdeJustice(thecourtsoflaw),whichwaswellroofedandwalled;andthatthecuriousleftthepoor,scantilyfloweredmaypoletoshiverallalonebeneaththeskyofJanuary,inthecemeteryoftheChapelofBraque.
Thepopulacethrongedtheavenuesofthelawcourtsinparticular,becausetheyknewthattheFlemishambassadors,whohadarrivedtwodayspreviously,intendedtobepresentattherepresentationofthemystery,andattheelectionofthePopeoftheFools,whichwasalsototakeplaceinthegrandhall.
Itwasnoeasymatteronthatday,toforceone'swayintothatgrandhall,althoughitwasthenreputedtobethelargestcoveredenclosureintheworld(itistruethatSauvalhadnotyetmeasuredthegrandhalloftheChâteauofMontargis).
Thepalaceplace,encumberedwithpeople,offeredtothecuriousgazersatthewindowstheaspectofasea;intowhichfiveorsixstreets,likesomanymouthsofrivers,dischargedeverymomentfreshfloodsofheads.
Thewavesofthiscrowd,augmentedincessantly,dashedagainsttheanglesofthehouseswhichprojectedhereandthere,likesomanypromontories,intotheirregularbasinoftheplace.
InthecentreoftheloftyGothic*façadeofthepalace,thegrandstaircase,incessantlyascendedanddescendedbyadoublecurrent,which,afterpartingontheintermediatelanding–place,flowedinbroadwavesalongitslateralslopes,—thegrandstaircase,Isay,trickledincessantlyintotheplace,likeacascadeintoalake.
Thecries,thelaughter,thetramplingofthosethousandsoffeet,producedagreatnoiseandagreatclamor.
Fromtimetotime,thisnoiseandclamorredoubled;thecurrentwhichdrovethecrowdtowardsthegrandstaircaseflowedbackwards,becametroubled,formedwhirlpools.
Thiswasproducedbythebuffetofanarcher,orthehorseofoneoftheprovost'ssergeants,whichkickedtorestoreorder;anadmirabletraditionwhichtheprovostshiphasbequeathedtotheconstablery,theconstablerytothe~maréchaussée~,the~maréchaussée~toour~gendarmeri~ofParis.
*ThewordGothic,inthesenseinwhichitisgenerallyemployed,iswhollyunsuitable,butwhollyconsecrated.
Henceweacceptitandweadoptit,likealltherestoftheworld,tocharacterizethearchitectureofthesecondhalfoftheMiddleAges,wheretheogiveistheprinciplewhichsucceedsthearchitectureofthefirstperiod,ofwhichthesemi–circleisthefather.
Thousandsofgood,calm,bourgeoisfacesthrongedthewindows,thedoors,thedormerwindows,theroofs,gazingatthepalace,gazingatthepopulace,andaskingnothingmore;formanyParisianscontentthemselveswiththespectacleofthespectators,andawallbehindwhichsomethingisgoingonbecomesatonce,forus,averycuriousthingindeed.
Ifitcouldbegrantedtous,themenof1830,tomingleinthoughtwiththoseParisiansofthefifteenthcentury,andtoenterwiththem,jostled,elbowed,pulledabout,intothatimmensehallofthepalace,whichwassocrampedonthatsixthofJanuary,1482,thespectaclewouldnotbedevoidofeitherinterestorcharm,andweshouldhaveaboutusonlythingsthatweresooldthattheywouldseemnew.
Withthereader'sconsent,wewillendeavortoretraceinthought,theimpressionwhichhewouldhaveexperiencedincompanywithusoncrossingthethresholdofthatgrandhall,inthemidstofthattumultuouscrowdinsurcoats,short,sleevelessjackets,anddoublets.
And,firstofall,thereisabuzzingintheears,adazzlementintheeyes.
Aboveourheadsisadoubleogivevault,panelledwithwoodcarving,paintedazure,andsownwithgoldenfleurs–de–lis;beneathourfeetapavementofblackandwhitemarble,alternating.
Afewpacesdistant,anenormouspillar,thenanother,thenanother;sevenpillarsinall,downthelengthofthehall,sustainingthespringofthearchesofthedoublevault,inthecentreofitswidth.
Aroundfourofthepillars,stallsofmerchants,allsparklingwithglassandtinsel;aroundthelastthree,benchesofoak,wornandpolishedbythetrunkhoseofthelitigants,andtherobesoftheattorneys.
Aroundthehall,alongtheloftywall,betweenthedoors,betweenthewindows,betweenthepillars,theinterminablerowofallthekingsofFrance,fromPharamonddown:thelazykings,withpendentarmsanddowncasteyes;thevaliantandcombativekings,withheadsandarmsraisedboldlyheavenward.
Theninthelong,pointedwindows,glassofathousandhues;atthewideentrancestothehall,richdoors,finelysculptured;andall,thevaults,pillars,walls,jambs,panelling,doors,statues,coveredfromtoptobottomwithasplendidblueandgoldillumination,which,atrifletarnishedattheepochwhenwebeholdit,hadalmostentirelydisappearedbeneathdustandspidersintheyearofgrace,1549,whenduBreulstilladmireditfromtradition.
Letthereaderpicturetohimselfnow,thisimmense,oblonghall,illuminatedbythepallidlightofaJanuaryday,invadedbyamotleyandnoisythrongwhichdriftsalongthewalls,andeddiesroundthesevenpillars,andhewillhaveaconfusedideaofthewholeeffectofthepicture,whosecuriousdetailsweshallmakeanefforttoindicatewithmoreprecision.
Itiscertain,thatifRavaillachadnotassassinatedHenriIV.,therewouldhavebeennodocumentsinthetrialofRavaillacdepositedintheclerk'sofficeofthePalaisdeJustice,noaccomplicesinterestedincausingthesaiddocumentstodisappear;hence,noincendiariesobliged,forlackofbettermeans,toburntheclerk'sofficeinordertoburnthedocuments,andtoburnthePalaisdeJusticeinordertoburntheclerk'soffice;consequently,inshort,noconflagrationin1618.
TheoldPalaiswouldbestandingstill,withitsancientgrandhall;Ishouldbeabletosaytothereader,"Goandlookatit,"andweshouldthusbothescapethenecessity,—Iofmaking,andheofreading,adescriptionofit,suchasitis.
Whichdemonstratesanewtruth:thatgreateventshaveincalculableresults.
Itistruethatitmaybequitepossible,inthefirstplace,thatRavaillachadnoaccomplices;andinthesecond,thatifhehadany,theywereinnowayconnectedwiththefireof1618.
Twootherveryplausibleexplanationsexist:First,thegreatflamingstar,afootbroad,andacubithigh,whichfellfromheaven,aseveryoneknows,uponthelawcourts,aftermidnightontheseventhofMarch;second,Théophile'squatrain,—
"Sure,'twasbutasorrygameWhenatParis,DameJustice,Throughhavingeatentoomuchspice,Setthepalaceallaflame."
Whatevermaybethoughtofthistripleexplanation,political,physical,andpoetical,oftheburningofthelawcourtsin1618,theunfortunatefactofthefireiscertain.
Verylittleto–dayremains,thankstothiscatastrophe,—thanks,aboveall,tothesuccessiverestorationswhichhavecompletedwhatitspared,—verylittleremainsofthatfirstdwellingofthekingsofFrance,—ofthatelderpalaceoftheLouvre,alreadysooldinthetimeofPhiliptheHandsome,thattheysoughtthereforthetracesofthemagnificentbuildingserectedbyKingRobertanddescribedbyHelgaldus.
Nearlyeverythinghasdisappeared.
Whathasbecomeofthechamberofthechancellery,whereSaintLouisconsummatedhismarriage?
thegardenwhereheadministeredjustice,"cladinacoatofcamelot,asurcoatoflinsey–woolsey,withoutsleeves,andasur–mantleofblacksandal,ashelayuponthecarpetwithJoinville?"
WhereisthechamberoftheEmperorSigismond?andthatofCharlesIV.?thatofJeantheLandless?
Whereisthestaircase,fromwhichCharlesVI.promulgatedhisedictofpardon?
theslabwhereMarcelcutthethroatsofRobertdeClermontandtheMarshalofChampagne,inthepresenceofthedauphin?
thewicketwherethebullsofPopeBenedictweretorn,andwhencethosewhohadbroughtthemdeparteddeckedout,inderision,incopesandmitres,andmakinganapologythroughallParis?
andthegrandhall,withitsgilding,itsazure,itsstatues,itspointedarches,itspillars,itsimmensevault,allfrettedwithcarvings?andthegildedchamber?
andthestonelion,whichstoodatthedoor,withloweredheadandtailbetweenhislegs,likethelionsonthethroneofSolomon,inthehumiliatedattitudewhichbefitsforceinthepresenceofjustice?andthebeautifuldoors?andthestainedglass?
andthechasedironwork,whichdroveBiscornettetodespair?andthedelicatewoodworkofHancy?
Whathastime,whathavemendonewiththesemarvels?
WhathavetheygivenusinreturnforallthisGallichistory,forallthisGothicart?
TheheavyflattenedarchesofM.deBrosse,thatawkwardarchitectoftheSaint–Gervaisportal.
Somuchforart;and,asforhistory,wehavethegossipingreminiscencesofthegreatpillar,stillringingwiththetattleofthePatru.
Itisnotmuch.Letusreturntotheveritablegrandhalloftheveritableoldpalace.
Thetwoextremitiesofthisgiganticparallelogramwereoccupied,theonebythefamousmarbletable,solong,sobroad,andsothickthat,astheancientlandrolls—inastylethatwouldhavegivenGargantuaanappetite—say,"suchasliceofmarbleaswasneverbeheldintheworld";theotherbythechapelwhereLouisXI.
hadhimselfsculpturedonhiskneesbeforetheVirgin,andwhitherhecausedtobebrought,withoutheedingthetwogapsthusmadeintherowofroyalstatues,thestatuesofCharlemagneandofSaintLouis,twosaintswhomhesupposedtobegreatinfavorinheaven,askingsofFrance.
Thischapel,quitenew,havingbeenbuiltonlysixyears,wasentirelyinthatcharmingtasteofdelicatearchitecture,ofmarvelloussculpture,offineanddeepchasing,whichmarkswithustheendoftheGothicera,andwhichisperpetuatedtoaboutthemiddleofthesixteenthcenturyinthefairylikefanciesoftheRenaissance.
Thelittleopen–workrosewindow,piercedabovetheportal,was,inparticular,amasterpieceoflightnessandgrace;onewouldhavepronounceditastaroflace.
Inthemiddleofthehall,oppositethegreatdoor,aplatformofgoldbrocade,placedagainstthewall,aspecialentrancetowhichhadbeeneffectedthroughawindowinthecorridorofthegoldchamber,hadbeenerectedfortheFlemishemissariesandtheothergreatpersonagesinvitedtothepresentationofthemysteryplay.
Itwasuponthemarbletablethatthemysterywastobeenacted,asusual.
Ithadbeenarrangedforthepurpose,earlyinthemorning;itsrichslabsofmarble,allscratchedbytheheelsoflawclerks,supportedacageofcarpenter'sworkofconsiderableheight,theuppersurfaceofwhich,withinviewofthewholehall,wastoserveasthetheatre,andwhoseinterior,maskedbytapestries,wastotaketheplaceofdressing–roomsforthepersonagesofthepiece.
Aladder,naivelyplacedontheoutside,wastoserveasmeansofcommunicationbetweenthedressing–roomandthestage,andlenditsruderungstoentrancesaswellastoexits.
Therewasnopersonage,howeverunexpected,nosuddenchange,notheatricaleffect,whichwasnotobligedtomountthatladder.
Innocentandvenerableinfancyofartandcontrivances!
Fourofthebailiffofthepalace'ssergeants,perfunctoryguardiansofallthepleasuresofthepeople,ondaysoffestivalaswellasondaysofexecution,stoodatthefourcornersofthemarbletable.
Thepiecewasonlytobeginwiththetwelfthstrokeofthegreatpalaceclocksoundingmidday.
Itwasverylate,nodoubt,foratheatricalrepresentation,buttheyhadbeenobligedtofixthehourtosuittheconvenienceoftheambassadors.
Now,thiswholemultitudehadbeenwaitingsincemorning.
Agoodlynumberofcurious,goodpeoplehadbeenshiveringsincedaybreakbeforethegrandstaircaseofthepalace;someevenaffirmedthattheyhadpassedthenightacrossthethresholdofthegreatdoor,inordertomakesurethattheyshouldbethefirsttopassin.
Thecrowdgrewmoredenseeverymoment,and,likewater,whichrisesaboveitsnormallevel,begantomountalongthewalls,toswellaroundthepillars,tospreadoutontheentablatures,onthecornices,onthewindow–sills,onallthesalientpointsofthearchitecture,onallthereliefsofthesculpture.
Hence,discomfort,impatience,weariness,thelibertyofadayofcynicismandfolly,thequarrelswhichbreakforthforallsortsofcauses—apointedelbow,aniron–shodshoe,thefatigueoflongwaiting—hadalready,longbeforethehourappointedforthearrivaloftheambassadors,impartedaharshandbitteraccenttotheclamorofthesepeoplewhowereshutin,fittedintoeachother,pressed,trampledupon,stifled.
NothingwastobeheardbutimprecationsontheFlemish,theprovostofthemerchants,theCardinaldeBourbon,thebailiffofthecourts,MadameMargueriteofAustria,thesergeantswiththeirrods,thecold,theheat,thebadweather,theBishopofParis,thePopeoftheFools,thepillars,thestatues,thatcloseddoor,thatopenwindow;alltothevastamusementofabandofscholarsandlackeysscatteredthroughthemass,whomingledwithallthisdiscontenttheirteasingremarks,andtheirmalicioussuggestions,andprickedthegeneralbadtemperwithapin,sotospeak.
Amongtheresttherewasagroupofthosemerryimps,who,aftersmashingtheglassinawindow,hadseatedthemselveshardilyontheentablature,andfromthatpointdespatchedtheirgazeandtheirrailleriesbothwithinandwithout,uponthethronginthehall,andthethronguponthePlace.
Itwaseasytosee,fromtheirparodiedgestures,theirringinglaughter,thebanteringappealswhichtheyexchangedwiththeircomrades,fromoneendofthehalltotheother,thattheseyoungclerksdidnotsharethewearinessandfatigueoftherestofthespectators,andthattheyunderstoodverywelltheartofextracting,fortheirownprivatediversionfromthatwhichtheyhadundertheireyes,aspectaclewhichmadethemawaittheotherwithpatience.
"Uponmysoul,soit'syou,'JoannesFrollodeMolendino!'"
criedoneofthem,toasortoflittle,light–hairedimp,withawell–favoredandmaligncountenance,clingingtotheacanthusleavesofacapital;"youarewellnamedJohnoftheMill,foryourtwoarmsandyourtwolegshavetheairoffourwingsflutteringonthebreeze.Howlonghaveyoubeenhere?"
"Bythemercyofthedevil,"retortedJoannesFrollo,"thesefourhoursandmore;andIhopethattheywillbereckonedtomycreditinpurgatory.
IheardtheeightsingersoftheKingofSicilyintonethefirstverseofseveno'clockmassintheSainte–Chapelle."
"Finesingers!"repliedtheother,"withvoicesevenmorepointedthantheircaps!
BeforefoundingamassforMonsieurSaintJohn,thekingshouldhaveinquiredwhetherMonsieurSaintJohnlikesLatindronedoutinaProvençalaccent."
"HediditforthesakeofemployingthoseaccursedsingersoftheKingofSicily!"
criedanoldwomansharplyfromamongthecrowdbeneaththewindow."Ijustputittoyou!Athousand~livresparisi~foramass!
andoutofthetaxonseafishinthemarketsofParis,toboot!"
"Peace,oldcrone,"saidatall,graveperson,stoppinguphisnoseonthesidetowardsthefishwife;"amasshadtobefounded.Wouldyouwishthekingtofallillagain?"
"Bravelyspoken,SireGillesLecornu,masterfurrierofking'srobes!"criedthelittlestudent,clingingtothecapital.
Ashoutoflaughterfromallthestudentsgreetedtheunluckynameofthepoorfurrieroftheking'srobes.
"Lecornu!GillesLecornu!"saidsome.
"~Cornutusethirsutus~,hornedandhairy,"anotherwenton.
"He!ofcourse,"continuedthesmallimponthecapital,"Whataretheylaughingat?
AnhonorablemanisGillesLecornu,brotherofMasterJehanLecornu,provostoftheking'shouse,sonofMasterMahietLecornu,firstporteroftheBoisdeVincennes,—allbourgeoisofParis,allmarried,fromfathertoson."
Thegayetyredoubled.Thebigfurrier,withoututteringawordinreply,triedtoescapealltheeyesriveteduponhimfromallsides;butheperspiredandpantedinvain;likeawedgeenteringthewood,hiseffortsservedonlytoburystillmoredeeplyintheshouldersofhisneighbors,hislarge,apoplecticface,purplewithspiteandrage.
Atlengthoneofthese,asfat,short,andvenerableashimself,cametohisrescue.
"Abomination!scholarsaddressingabourgeoisinthatfashioninmydaywouldhavebeenfloggedwithafagot,whichwouldhaveafterwardsbeenusedtoburnthem."
Thewholebandburstintolaughter.
"Holáhé!whoisscoldingso?Whoisthatscreechowlofevilfortune?"
"Hold,Iknowhim"saidoneofthem;"'tisMasterAndryMusnier."
"Becauseheisoneofthefourswornbooksellersoftheuniversity!"saidtheother.
"Everythinggoesbyfoursinthatshop,"criedathird;"thefournations,thefourfaculties,thefourfeasts,thefourprocurators,thefourelectors,thefourbooksellers."
"Well,"beganJeanFrollooncemore,"wemustplaythedevilwiththem."*
*~Fairelediableaquatre~.
"Musnier,we'llburnyourbooks."
"Musnier,we'llbeatyourlackeys."
"Musnier,we'llkissyourwife."
"Thatfine,bigMademoiselleOudarde."
"Whoisasfreshandasgayasthoughshewereawidow."
"Deviltakeyou!"growledMasterAndryMusnier.
"MasterAndry,"pursuedJeanJehan,stillclingingtohiscapital,"holdyourtongue,orI'lldroponyourhead!"
MasterAndryraisedhiseyes,seemedtomeasureinaninstanttheheightofthepillar,theweightofthescamp,mentallymultipliedthatweightbythesquareofthevelocityandremainedsilent.
Jehan,masterofthefieldofbattle,pursuedtriumphantly:
"That'swhatI'lldo,evenifIamthebrotherofanarchdeacon!"
"Finegentryareourpeopleoftheuniversity,nottohavecausedourprivilegestoberespectedonsuchadayasthis!
However,thereisamaypoleandabonfireinthetown;amystery,PopeoftheFools,andFlemishambassadorsinthecity;and,attheuniversity,nothing!"
"Nevertheless,thePlaceMaubertissufficientlylarge!"interposedoneoftheclerksestablishedonthewindow–sill.
"Downwiththerector,theelectors,andtheprocurators!"criedJoannes.
"WemusthaveabonfirethiseveningintheChamp–Gaillard,"wentontheother,"madeofMasterAndry'sbooks."
"Andthedesksofthescribes!"addedhisneighbor.
"Andthebeadles'wands!"
"Andthespittoonsofthedeans!"
"Andthecupboardsoftheprocurators!"
"Andthehutchesoftheelectors!"
"Andthestoolsoftherector!"
"Downwiththem!"putinlittleJehan,ascounterpoint;"downwithMasterAndry,thebeadlesandthescribes;thetheologians,thedoctorsandthedecretists;theprocurators,theelectorsandtherector!"
"Theendoftheworldhascome!,'mutteredMasterAndry,stoppinguphisears.
"Bytheway,there'stherector!see,heispassingthroughthePlace,"criedoneofthoseinthewindow.
EachrivalledhisneighborinhishastetoturntowardsthePlace.
"Isitreallyourvenerablerector,MasterThibaut?"demandedJehanFrolloduMoulin,who,ashewasclingingtooneoftheinnerpillars,couldnotseewhatwasgoingonoutside.
"Yes,yes,"repliedalltheothers,"itisreallyhe,MasterThibaut,therector."
Itwas,infact,therectorandallthedignitariesoftheuniversity,whoweremarchinginprocessioninfrontoftheembassy,andatthatmomenttraversingthePlace.
Thestudentscrowdedintothewindow,salutedthemastheypassedwithsarcasmsandironicalapplause.
Therector,whowaswalkingattheheadofhiscompany,hadtosupportthefirstbroadside;itwassevere.
"Goodday,monsieurlerecteur!Holáhé!gooddaythere!"
"Howdoeshemanagetobehere,theoldgambler?Hasheabandonedhisdice?"
"Howhetrotsalongonhismule!herearsarenotsolongashis!"
"Holáhé!goodday,monsieurlerecteurThibaut!~Tybaldealeator~!Oldfool!oldgambler!"
"Godpreserveyou!Didyouthrowdoublesixoftenlastnight?"
"Oh!whatadecrepitface,lividandhaggardanddrawnwiththeloveofgamblingandofdice!"
"Whereareyouboundforinthatfashion,Thibaut,~Tybaldeaddados~,withyourbackturnedtotheuniversity,andtrottingtowardsthetown?"
"Heisonhisway,nodoubt,toseekalodgingintheRueThibautodé?"*criedJehanduM.Moulin.
*~Thibautaudes~,—Thibautofthedice.
Theentirebandrepeatedthisquipinavoiceofthunder,clappingtheirhandsfuriously.
"YouaregoingtoseekalodgingintheRueThibautodé,areyounot,monsieurlerecteur,gamesteronthesideofthedevil?"
Thencametheturnsoftheotherdignitaries.
"Downwiththebeadles!downwiththemace–bearers!"
"Tellme,RobinPouissepain,whoisthatyonder?"
"HeisGilbertdeSuilly,~GilbertusdeSoliaco~,thechancelloroftheCollegeofAutun."
"Holdon,here'smyshoe;youarebetterplacedthanI,flingitinhisface."
"~Saturnalitiasmittimuseccenuces~."
"Downwiththesixtheologians,withtheirwhitesurplices!"
"Arethosethetheologians?IthoughttheywerethewhitegeesegivenbySainte–Genevièvetothecity,forthefiefofRoogny."
"Downwiththedoctors!"
"Downwiththecardinaldisputations,andquibblers!"
"Mycaptoyou,ChancellorofSainte–Geneviève!Youhavedonemeawrong.
'Tistrue;hegavemyplaceinthenationofNormandytolittleAscanioFalzapada,whocomesfromtheprovinceofBourges,sinceheisanItalian."
"Thatisaninjustice,"saidallthescholars."DownwiththeChancellorofSainte–Geneviève!"
"Hohé!MasterJoachimdeLadehors!Hohé!LouisDahuille!HoheLambertHoctement!"
"MaythedevilstifletheprocuratoroftheGermannation!"
"AndthechaplainsoftheSainte–Chapelle,withtheirgray~amices;cumtunicesgrisis~!"
"~Seudepellibusgrisisfourratis~!"
"Holáhé!MastersofArts!Allthebeautifulblackcopes!allthefineredcopes!"
"Theymakeafinetailfortherector."
"OnewouldsaythathewasaDogeofVeniceonhiswaytohisbridalwiththesea."
"Say,Jehan!herearethecanonsofSainte–Geneviève!"
"Tothedeucewiththewholesetofcanons!"
"AbbéClaudeChoart!DoctorClaudeChoart!AreyouinsearchofMarielaGiffarde?"
"SheisintheRuedeGlatigny."
"Sheismakingthebedofthekingofthedebauchees."Sheispayingherfourdeniers*~quatuordenarios~."
*AnoldFrenchcoin,equaltothetwohundredandfortiethpartofapound.
"~Autunumbombum~."
"Wouldyouliketohaveherpayyouintheface?"
"Comrades!MasterSimonSanguin,theElectorofPicardy,withhiswifeonthecrupper!"
"~Postequitemsecletatraeura~—behindthehorsemansitsblackcare."
"Courage,MasterSimon!"
"Goodday,MisterElector!"
"Goodnight,MadameElectress!"
"Howhappytheyaretoseeallthat!"sighedJoannesdeMolendino,stillperchedinthefoliageofhiscapital.
Meanwhile,theswornbookselleroftheuniversity,MasterAndryMusnier,wasinclininghiseartothefurrieroftheking'srobes,MasterGillesLecornu.
"Itellyou,sir,thattheendoftheworldhascome.
Noonehaseverbeheldsuchoutbreaksamongthestudents!
Itistheaccursedinventionsofthiscenturythatareruiningeverything,—artilleries,bombards,and,aboveall,printing,thatotherGermanpest.Nomoremanuscripts,nomorebooks!printingwillkillbookselling.
Itistheendoftheworldthatisdrawingnigh."
"Iseethatplainly,fromtheprogressofvelvetstuffs,"saidthefur–merchant.
Atthismoment,middaysounded.
"Ha!"exclaimedtheentirecrowd,inonevoice.
Thescholarsheldtheirpeace.Thenagreathurly–burlyensued;avastmovementoffeet,hands,andheads;ageneraloutbreakofcoughsandhandkerchiefs;eachonearrangedhimself,assumedhispost,raisedhimselfup,andgroupedhimself.
Thencameagreatsilence;allnecksremainedoutstretched,allmouthsremainedopen,allglancesweredirectedtowardsthemarbletable.Nothingmadeitsappearancethere.
Thebailiff'sfoursergeantswerestillthere,stiff,motionless,aspaintedstatues.
AlleyesturnedtotheestradereservedfortheFlemishenvoys.
Thedoorremainedclosed,theplatformempty.
Thiscrowdhadbeenwaitingsincedaybreakforthreethings:noonday,theembassyfromFlanders,themysteryplay.Noondayalonehadarrivedontime.
Onthisoccasion,itwastoomuch.
Theywaitedone,two,three,fiveminutes,aquarterofanhour;nothingcame.
Thedaisremainedempty,thetheatredumb.
Inthemeantime,wrathhadsucceededtoimpatience.
Irritatedwordscirculatedinalowtone,still,itistrue."Themystery!themystery!"theymurmured,inhollowvoices.Headsbegantoferment.
Atempest,whichwasonlyrumblinginthedistanceasyet,wasfloatingonthesurfaceofthiscrowd.
ItwasJehanduMoulinwhostruckthefirstsparkfromit.
"Themystery,andtothedevilwiththeFlemings!"heexclaimedatthefullforceofhislungs,twininglikeaserpentaroundhispillar.
Thecrowdclappedtheirhands.
"Themystery!"itrepeated,"andmayallthedevilstakeFlanders!"
"Wemusthavethemysteryinstantly,"resumedthestudent;"orelse,myadviceisthatweshouldhangthebailiffofthecourts,bywayofamoralityandacomedy."
"Wellsaid,"criedthepeople,"andletusbeginthehangingwithhissergeants."
Agrandacclamationfollowed.Thefourpoorfellowsbegantoturnpale,andtoexchangeglances.
Thecrowdhurleditselftowardsthem,andtheyalreadybeheldthefrailwoodenrailing,whichseparatedthemfromit,givingwayandbendingbeforethepressureofthethrong.
Itwasacriticalmoment.
"Tothesack,tothesack!"rosethecryonallsides.
Atthatmoment,thetapestryofthedressing–room,whichwehavedescribedabove,wasraised,andaffordedpassagetoapersonage,themeresightofwhomsuddenlystoppedthecrowd,andchangeditswrathintocuriosityasbyenchantment.
"Silence!silence!"
Thepersonage,butlittlereassured,andtremblingineverylimb,advancedtotheedgeofthemarbletablewithavastamountofbows,which,inproportionashedrewnearer,moreandmoreresembledgenuflections.
Inthemeanwhile,tranquillityhadgraduallybeenrestored.A1lthatremainedwasthatslightmurmurwhichalwaysrisesabovethesilenceofacrowd.
"Messieursthebourgeois,"saidhe,"andmesdemoisellesthe~bourgeoises~,weshallhavethehonorofdeclaimingandrepresenting,beforehiseminence,monsieurthecardinal,averybeautifulmoralitywhichhasforitstitle,'TheGoodJudgmentofMadametheVirginMary.'IamtoplayJupiter.
Hiseminenceis,atthismoment,escortingtheveryhonorableembassyoftheDukeofAustria;whichisdetained,atpresent,listeningtotheharangueofmonsieurtherectoroftheuniversity,atthegateBaudets.
Assoonashisillustriouseminence,thecardinal,arrives,wewillbegin."
Itiscertain,thatnothinglessthantheinterventionofJupiterwasrequiredtosavethefourunfortunatesergeantsofthebailiffofthecourts.
Ifwehadthehappinessofhavinginventedthisveryveracioustale,andofbeing,inconsequence,responsibleforitbeforeourLadyCriticism,itisnotagainstusthattheclassicprecept,~Necdeusintersit~,couldbeinvoked.
Moreover,thecostumeofSeigneurJupiter,wasveryhandsome,andcontributednotalittletowardscalmingthecrowd,byattractingallitsattention.
Jupiterwascladinacoatofmail,coveredwithblackvelvet,withgiltnails;andhaditnotbeenfortherouge,andthehugeredbeard,eachofwhichcoveredone–halfofhisface,—haditnotbeenfortherollofgildedcardboard,spangled,andallbristlingwithstripsoftinsel,whichheheldinhishand,andinwhichtheeyesoftheinitiatedeasilyrecognizedthunderbolts,—hadnothisfeetbeenflesh–colored,andbandedwithribbonsinGreekfashion,hemighthavebornecomparison,sofarastheseverityofhismienwasconcerned,withaBretonarcherfromtheguardofMonsieurdeBerry.
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