English
Nevertheless,asbeharanguedthem,thesatisfactionandadmirationunanimouslyexcitedbyhiscostumeweredissipatedbyhiswords;andwhenhereachedthatuntowardconclusion:"Assoonashisillustriouseminence,thecardinal,arrives,wewillbegin,"hisvoicewasdrownedinathunderofhooting.
"Begininstantly!Themystery!themysteryimmediately!"shriekedthepeople.
Andaboveallthevoices,thatofJohannesdeMolendinowasaudible,piercingtheuproarlikethefife'sderisiveserenade:"Commenceinstantly!"yelpedthescholar.
"DownwithJupiterandtheCardinaldeBourbon!"vociferatedRobinPoussepainandtheotherclerksperchedinthewindow.
"Themoralitythisveryinstant!"repeatedthecrowd;"thisveryinstant!thesackandtheropeforthecomedians,andthecardinal!"
PoorJupiter,haggard,frightened,palebeneathhisrouge,droppedhisthunderbolt,tookhiscapinhishand;thenhebowedandtrembledandstammered:"Hiseminence—theambassadors—MadameMargueriteofFlanders—."Hedidnotknowwhattosay.Intruth,hewasafraidofbeinghung.
Hungbythepopulaceforwaiting,hungbythecardinalfornothavingwaited,hesawbetweenthetwodilemmasonlyanabyss;thatistosay,agallows.
Luckily,someonecametorescuehimfromhisembarrassment,andassumetheresponsibility.
Anindividualwhowasstandingbeyondtherailing,inthefreespacearoundthemarbletable,andwhomnoonehadyetcaughtsightof,sincehislong,thinbodywascompletelyshelteredfromeveryvisualraybythediameterofthepillaragainstwhichhewasleaning;thisindividual,wesay,tall,gaunt,pallid,blond,stillyoung,althoughalreadywrinkledaboutthebrowandcheeks,withbrillianteyesandasmilingmouth,cladingarmentsofblackserge,wornandshiningwithage,approachedthemarbletable,andmadeasigntothepoorsufferer.
Buttheotherwassoconfusedthathedidnotseehim.Thenewcomeradvancedanotherstep.
"Jupiter,"saidhe,"mydearJupiter!"
Theotherdidnothear.
Atlast,thetallblond,drivenoutofpatience,shriekedalmostinhisface,—
"MichelGiborne!"
"Whocallsme?"saidJupiter,asthoughawakenedwithastart.
"I,"repliedthepersoncladinblack.
"Ah!"saidJupiter.
"Beginatonce,"wentontheother."Satisfythepopulace;Iundertaketoappeasethebailiff,whowillappeasemonsieurthecardinal."
Jupiterbreathedoncemore.
"Messeigneursthebourgeois,"hecried,atthetopofhislungstothecrowd,whichcontinuedtohoothim,"wearegoingtobeginatonce."
"~EvoeJupiter!Plauditecives~!Allhail,Jupiter!Applaud,citizens!"shoutedthescholars.
"Noel!Noel!good,good,"shoutedthepeople.
Thehandclappingwasdeafening,andJupiterhadalreadywithdrawnunderhistapestry,whilethehallstilltrembledwithacclamations.
Inthemeanwhile,thepersonagewhohadsomagicallyturnedthetempestintodeadcalm,asouroldanddearCorneilleputsit,hadmodestlyretreatedtothehalf–shadowofhispillar,andwould,nodoubt,haveremainedinvisiblethere,motionless,andmuteasbefore,hadhenotbeenpluckedbythesleevebytwoyoungwomen,who,standinginthefrontrowofthespectators,hadnoticedhiscolloquywithMichelGiborne–Jupiter.
"Master,"saidoneofthem,makinghimasigntoapproach.
"Holdyourtongue,mydearLiénarde,"saidherneighbor,pretty,fresh,andverybrave,inconsequenceofbeingdressedupinherbestattire.
"Heisnotaclerk,heisalayman;youmustnotsaymastertohim,butmessire."
"Messire,"saidLiénarde.
Thestrangerapproachedtherailing.
"Whatwouldyouhaveofme,damsels?"heasked,withalacrity.
"Oh!nothing,"repliedLiénarde,ingreatconfusion;"itismyneighbor,GisquettelaGencienne,whowishestospeakwithyou."
"Notso,"repliedGisquette,blushing;"itwasLiénardewhocalledyoumaster;Ionlytoldhertosaymessire."
Thetwoyounggirlsdroppedtheireyes.Theman,whoaskednothingbetterthantoenterintoconversation,lookedatthemwithasmile.
"Soyouhavenothingtosaytome,damsels?"
"Oh!nothingatall,"repliedGisquette.
"Nothing,"saidLiénarde.
Thetall,light–hairedyoungmanretreatedastep;butthetwocuriousmaidenshadnomindtoletsliptheirprize.
"Messire,"saidGisquette,withtheimpetuosityofanopensluice,orofawomanwhohasmadeuphermind,"doyouknowthatsoldierwhoistoplaythepartofMadametheVirgininthemystery?"
"YoumeanthepartofJupiter?"repliedthestranger.
"Hé!yes,"saidLiénarde,"isn'tshestupid?SoyouknowJupiter?"
"MichelGiborne?"repliedtheunknown;"yes,madam."
"Hehasafinebeard!"saidLiénarde.
"Willwhattheyareabouttosayherebefine?"inquiredGisquette,timidly.
"Veryfine,mademoiselle,"repliedtheunknown,withouttheslightesthesitation.
"Whatisittobe?"saidLiénarde.
"'TheGoodJudgmentofMadametheVirgin,'—amorality,ifyouplease,damsel."
"Ah!thatmakesadifference,"respondedLiénarde.
Abriefsilenceensued—brokenbythestranger.
"Itisaperfectlynewmorality,andonewhichhasneveryetbeenplayed."
"Thenitisnotthesameone,"saidGisquette,"thatwasgiventwoyearsago,onthedayoftheentranceofmonsieurthelegate,andwherethreehandsomemaidsplayedtheparts—"
"Ofsirens,"saidLiénarde.
"Andallnaked,"addedtheyoungman.
Liénardeloweredhereyesmodestly.Gisquetteglancedatheranddidthesame.Hecontinued,withasmile,—
"Itwasaverypleasantthingtosee.To–dayitisamoralitymadeexpresslyforMadametheDemoiselleofFlanders."
"Willtheysingshepherdsongs?"inquiredGisquette.
"Fie!"saidthestranger,"inamorality?youmustnotconfoundstyles.Ifitwereafarce,wellandgood."
"Thatisapity,"resumedGisquette."Thatday,atthePonceauFountain,therewerewildmenandwomen,whofoughtandassumedmanyaspects,astheysanglittlemotetsandbergerettes."
"Thatwhichissuitableforalegate,"returnedthestranger,withagooddealofdryness,"isnotsuitableforaprincess."
"Andbesidethem,"resumedLiénarde,"playedmanybrassinstruments,makinggreatmelodies."
"Andfortherefreshmentofthepassers–by,"continuedGisquette,"thefountainspoutedthroughthreemouths,wine,milk,andhippocrass,ofwhicheveryonedrankwhowished."
"AndalittlebelowthePonceau,attheTrinity,"pursuedLiénarde,"therewasapassionperformed,andwithoutanyspeaking."
"HowwellIrememberthat!"exclaimedGisquette;"Godonthecross,andthetwothievesontherightandtheleft."
Heretheyounggossips,growingwarmatthememoryoftheentranceofmonsieurthelegate,bothbegantotalkatonce.
"And,furtheron,atthePainters'Gate,therewereotherpersonages,veryrichlyclad."
"AndatthefountainofSaint–Innocent,thathuntsman,whowaschasingahindwithgreatclamorofdogsandhunting–horns."
"And,attheParisslaughter–houses,stages,representingthefortressofDieppe!"
"Andwhenthelegatepassed,youremember,Gisquette?theymadetheassault,andtheEnglishallhadtheirthroatscut."
"AndagainstthegateoftheChâtelet,therewereveryfinepersonages!"
"AndonthePortauChange,whichwasalldrapedabove!"
"Andwhenthelegatepassed,theyletflyonthebridgemorethantwohundredsortsofbirds;wasn'titbeautiful,Liénarde?"
"Itwillbebetterto–day,"finallyresumedtheirinterlocutor,whoseemedtolistentothemwithimpatience.
"Doyoupromiseusthatthismysterywillbefine?"saidGisquette.
"Withoutdoubt,"hereplied;thenheadded,withacertainemphasis,—"Iamtheauthorofit,damsels."
"Truly?"saidtheyounggirls,quitetakenaback.
"Truly!"repliedthepoet,bridlingalittle;"thatis,tosay,therearetwoofus;JehanMarchand,whohassawedtheplanksanderectedtheframeworkofthetheatreandthewoodwork;andI,whohavemadethepiece.MynameisPierreGringoire."
Theauthorofthe"Cid"couldnothavesaid"PierreCorneille"withmorepride.
Ourreadershavebeenabletoobserve,thatacertainamountoftimemusthavealreadyelapsedfromthemomentwhenJupiterhadretiredbeneaththetapestrytotheinstantwhentheauthorofthenewmoralityhadthusabruptlyrevealedhimselftotheinnocentadmirationofGisquetteandLiénarde.
Remarkablefact:thatwholecrowd,sotumultuousbutafewmomentsbefore,nowwaitedamiablyonthewordofthecomedian;whichprovestheeternaltruth,stillexperiencedeverydayinourtheatres,thatthebestmeansofmakingthepublicwaitpatientlyistoassurethemthatoneisabouttobegininstantly.
However,scholarJohanneshadnotfallenasleep.
"Holáhé!"heshoutedsuddenly,inthemidstofthepeaceablewaitingwhichhadfollowedthetumult.
"Jupiter,MadametheVirgin,buffoonsofthedevil!areyoujeeringatus?Thepiece!thepiece!commenceorwewillcommenceagain!"
Thiswasallthatwasneeded.
Themusicofhighandlowinstrumentsimmediatelybecameaudiblefromtheinteriorofthestage;thetapestrywasraised;fourpersonages,inmotleyattireandpaintedfaces,emergedfromit,climbedthesteepladderofthetheatre,and,arrivedupontheupperplatform,arrangedthemselvesinalinebeforethepublic,whomtheysalutedwithprofoundreverences;thenthesymphonyceased.
Themysterywasabouttobegin.
Thefourpersonages,afterhavingreapedarichrewardofapplausefortheirreverences,began,inthemidstofprofoundsilence,aprologue,whichwegladlysparethereader.
Moreover,ashappensinourownday,thepublicwasmoreoccupiedwiththecostumesthattheactorsworethanwiththerolesthattheywereenacting;and,intruth,theywereright.
Allfourweredressedinparti–coloredrobesofyellowandwhite,whichweredistinguishedfromeachotheronlybythenatureofthestuff;thefirstwasofgoldandsilverbrocade;thesecond,ofsilk;thethird,ofwool;thefourth,oflinen.
Thefirstofthesepersonagescarriedinhisrighthandasword;thesecond,twogoldenkeys;thethird,apairofscales;thefourth,aspade:and,inordertoaidsluggishmindswhichwouldnothaveseenclearlythroughthetransparencyoftheseattributes,therewastoberead,inlarge,blackletters,onthehemoftherobeofbrocade,MYNAMEISNOBILITY;onthehemofthesilkenrobe,MYNAMEISCLERGY;onthehemofthewoolenrobe,MYNAMEISMERCHANDISE;onthehemofthelinenrobe,MYNAMEISLABOR.
Thesexofthetwomalecharacterswasbrieflyindicatedtoeveryjudiciousspectator,bytheirshorterrobes,andbythecapwhichtheyworeontheirheads;whilethetwofemalecharacters,lessbrieflyclad,werecoveredwithhoods.
Muchill–willwouldalsohavebeenrequired,nottocomprehend,throughthemediumofthepoetryoftheprologue,thatLaborwasweddedtoMerchandise,andClergytoNobility,andthatthetwohappycouplespossessedincommonamagnificentgoldendolphin,whichtheydesiredtoadjudgetothefairestonly.
Sotheywereroamingabouttheworldseekingandsearchingforthisbeauty,and,afterhavingsuccessivelyrejectedtheQueenofGolconda,thePrincessofTrebizonde,thedaughteroftheGrandKhanofTartary,etc.,LaborandClergy,NobilityandMerchandise,hadcometorestuponthemarbletableofthePalaisdeJustice,andtoutter,inthepresenceofthehonestaudience,asmanysentencesandmaximsascouldthenbedispensedattheFacultyofArts,atexaminations,sophisms,determinances,figures,andacts,wherethemasterstooktheirdegrees.
Allthiswas,infact,veryfine.
Nevertheless,inthatthrong,uponwhichthefourallegoriesviedwitheachotherinpouringoutfloodsofmetaphors,therewasnoearmoreattentive,noheartthatpalpitatedmore,notaneyewasmorehaggard,noneckmoreoutstretched,thantheeye,theear,theneck,andtheheartoftheauthor,ofthepoet,ofthatbravePierreGringoire,whohadnotbeenabletoresist,amomentbefore,thejoyoftellinghisnametotwoprettygirls.
Hehadretreatedafewpacesfromthem,behindhispillar,andtherehelistened,looked,enjoyed.
Theamiableapplausewhichhadgreetedthebeginningofhisprologuewasstillechoinginhisbosom,andhewascompletelyabsorbedinthatspeciesofecstaticcontemplationwithwhichanauthorbeholdshisideasfall,onebyone,fromthemouthoftheactorintothevastsilenceoftheaudience.WorthyPierreGringoire!
Itpainsustosayit,butthisfirstecstasywasspeedilydisturbed.HardlyhadGringoireraisedthisintoxicatingcupofjoyandtriumphtohislips,whenadropofbitternesswasmingledwithit.
Atatteredmendicant,whocouldnotcollectanycoins,lostashewasinthemidstofthecrowd,andwhohadnotprobablyfoundsufficientindemnityinthepocketsofhisneighbors,hadhitupontheideaofperchinghimselfuponsomeconspicuouspoint,inordertoattractlooksandalms.
Hehad,accordingly,hoistedhimself,duringthefirstversesoftheprologue,withtheaidofthepillarsofthereservegallery,tothecornicewhichranroundthebalustradeatitsloweredge;andtherehehadseatedhimself,solicitingtheattentionandthepityofthemultitude,withhisragsandahideoussorewhichcoveredhisrightarm.However,heutterednotaword.
Thesilencewhichhepreservedallowedtheprologuetoproceedwithouthindrance,andnoperceptibledisorderwouldhaveensued,ifill–luckhadnotwilledthatthescholarJoannesshouldcatchsight,fromtheheightsofhispillar,ofthemendicantandhisgrimaces.
Awildfitoflaughtertookpossessionoftheyoungscamp,who,withoutcaringthathewasinterruptingthespectacle,anddisturbingtheuniversalcomposure,shoutedboldly,—
"Look!seethatsicklycreatureaskingalms!"
Anyonewhohasthrownastoneintoafrogpond,orfiredashotintoacoveyofbirds,canformanideaoftheeffectproducedbytheseincongruouswords,inthemidstofthegeneralattention.
ItmadeGringoireshudderasthoughithadbeenanelectricshock.
Theprologuestoppedshort,andallheadsturnedtumultuouslytowardsthebeggar,who,farfrombeingdisconcertedbythis,saw,inthisincident,agoodopportunityforreapinghisharvest,andwhobegantowhineinadolefulway,halfclosinghiseyesthewhile,—"Charity,please!"
"Well—uponmysoul,"resumedJoannes,"it'sClopinTrouillefou!
Holáhe,myfriend,didyoursorebotheryouontheleg,thatyouhavetransferredittoyourarm?"
Sosaying,withthedexterityofamonkey,heflungabitofsilverintothegrayfelthatwhichthebeggarheldinhisailingarm.
Themendicantreceivedboththealmsandthesarcasmwithoutwincing,andcontinued,inlamentabletones,—
"Charity,please!"
Thisepisodeconsiderablydistractedtheattentionoftheaudience;andagoodlynumberofspectators,amongthemRobinPoussepain,andalltheclerksattheirhead,gaylyapplaudedthiseccentricduet,whichthescholar,withhisshrillvoice,andthemendicanthadjustimprovisedinthemiddleoftheprologue.
Gringoirewashighlydispleased.Onrecoveringfromhisfirststupefaction,hebestirredhimselftoshout,tothefourpersonagesonthestage,"Goon!Whatthedevil!—goon!"
—withoutevendeigningtocastaglanceofdisdainuponthetwointerrupters.
Atthatmoment,hefeltsomeonepluckatthehemofhissurtout;heturnedround,andnotwithoutill–humor,andfoundconsiderabledifficultyinsmiling;buthewasobligedtodoso,nevertheless.
ItwastheprettyarmofGisquettelaGencienne,which,passedthroughtherailing,wassolicitinghisattentioninthismanner.
"Monsieur,"saidtheyounggirl,"aretheygoingtocontinue?"
"Ofcourse,"repliedGringoire,agooddealshockedbythequestion.
"Inthatcase,messire,"sheresumed,"wouldyouhavethecourtesytoexplaintome—"
"Whattheyareabouttosay?"interruptedGringoire."Well,listen."
"No,"saidGisquette,"butwhattheyhavesaidsofar."
Gringoirestarted,likeamanwhosewoundhasbeenprobedtothequick.
"Aplagueonthestupidanddull–wittedlittlegirl!"hemuttered,betweenhisteeth.
Fromthatmomentforth,Gisquettewasnothingtohim.
Inthemeantime,theactorshadobeyedhisinjunction,andthepublic,seeingthattheywerebeginningtospeakagain,beganoncemoretolisten,notwithouthavinglostmanybeautiesinthesortofsolderedjointwhichwasformedbetweenthetwoportionsofthepiecethusabruptlycutshort.
Gringoirecommentedonitbitterlytohimself.
Nevertheless,tranquillitywasgraduallyrestored,thescholarheldhispeace,themendicantcountedoversomecoinsinhishat,andthepieceresumedtheupperhand.
Itwas,infact,averyfinework,andonewhich,asitseemstous,mightbeputtouseto–day,bytheaidofalittlerearrangement.
Theexposition,ratherlongandratherempty,thatistosay,accordingtotherules,wassimple;andGringoire,inthecandidsanctuaryofhisownconscience,admireditsclearness.
Asthereadermaysurmise,thefourallegoricalpersonagesweresomewhatwearywithhavingtraversedthethreesectionsoftheworld,withouthavingfoundsuitableopportunityforgettingridoftheirgoldendolphin.
Thereuponaeulogyofthemarvellousfish,withathousanddelicateallusionstotheyoungbetrothedofMargueriteofFlanders,thensadlycloisteredinatAmboise,andwithoutasuspicionthatLaborandClergy,NobilityandMerchandisehadjustmadethecircuitoftheworldinhisbehalf.
Thesaiddauphinwasthenyoung,washandsome,wasstout,and,aboveall(magnificentoriginofallroyalvirtues),hewasthesonoftheLionofFrance.
Ideclarethatthisboldmetaphorisadmirable,andthatthenaturalhistoryofthetheatre,onadayofallegoryandroyalmarriagesongs,isnotintheleaststartledbyadolphinwhoisthesonofalion.
ItispreciselytheserareandPindaricmixtureswhichprovethepoet'senthusiasm.
Nevertheless,inordertoplaythepartofcriticalso,thepoetmighthavedevelopedthisbeautifulideainsomethinglessthantwohundredlines.
Itistruethatthemysterywastolastfromnoonuntilfouro'clock,inaccordancewiththeordersofmonsieurtheprovost,andthatitwasnecessarytosaysomething.Besides,thepeoplelistenedpatiently.
Allatonce,intheverymiddleofaquarrelbetweenMademoiselleMerchandiseandMadameNobility,atthemomentwhenMonsieurLaborwasgivingutterancetothiswonderfulline,—
Inforestne'erwasseenamoretriumphantbeast;
thedoorofthereservedgallerywhichhadhithertoremainedsoinopportunelyclosed,openedstillmoreinopportunely;andtheringingvoiceoftheusherannouncedabruptly,"Hiseminence,MonseigneurtheCardinaldeBourbon."
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