English
Inthetwinklingofaneye,allwasreadytoexecuteCoppenole'sidea.
Bourgeois,scholarsandlawclerksallsettowork.
Thelittlechapelsituatedoppositethemarbletablewasselectedforthesceneofthegrinningmatch.
Apanebrokenintheprettyrosewindowabovethedoor,leftfreeacircleofstonethroughwhichitwasagreedthatthecompetitorsshouldthrusttheirheads.
Inordertoreachit,itwasonlynecessarytomountuponacoupleofhogsheads,whichhadbeenproducedfromIknownotwhere,andperchedoneupontheother,afterafashion.
Itwassettledthateachcandidate,manorwoman(foritwaspossibletochooseafemalepope),should,forthesakeofleavingtheimpressionofhisgrimacefreshandcomplete,coverhisfaceandremainconcealedinthechapeluntilthemomentofhisappearance.
Inlessthananinstant,thechapelwascrowdedwithcompetitors,uponwhomthedoorwasthenclosed.
Coppenole,fromhispost,orderedall,directedall,arrangedall.
Duringtheuproar,thecardinal,nolessabashedthanGringoire,hadretiredwithallhissuite,underthepretextofbusinessandvespers,withoutthecrowdwhichhisarrivalhadsodeeplystirredbeingintheleastmovedbyhisdeparture.
GuillaumeRymwastheonlyonewhonoticedhiseminence'sdiscomfiture.
Theattentionofthepopulace,likethesun,pursueditsrevolution;havingsetoutfromoneendofthehall,andhaltedforaspaceinthemiddle,ithadnowreachedtheotherend.
Themarbletable,thebrocadedgalleryhadeachhadtheirday;itwasnowtheturnofthechapelofLouisXI.
Henceforth,thefieldwasopentoallfolly.
Therewasnoonetherenow,buttheFlemingsandtherabble.
Thegrimacesbegan.Thefirstfacewhichappearedattheaperture,witheyelidsturneduptothereds,amouthopenlikeamaw,andabrowwrinkledlikeourhussarbootsoftheEmpire,evokedsuchaninextinguishablepealoflaughterthatHomerwouldhavetakenalltheseloutsforgods.
Nevertheless,thegrandhallwasanythingbutOlympus,andGringoire'spoorJupiterknewitbetterthananyoneelse.
Asecondandthirdgrimacefollowed,thenanotherandanother;andthelaughterandtransportsofdelightwentonincreasing.
Therewasinthisspectacle,apeculiarpowerofintoxicationandfascination,ofwhichitwouldbedifficulttoconveytothereaderofourdayandoursalonsanyidea.
Letthereaderpicturetohimselfaseriesofvisagespresentingsuccessivelyallgeometricalforms,fromthetriangletothetrapezium,fromtheconetothepolyhedron;allhumanexpressions,fromwrathtolewdness;allages,fromthewrinklesofthenew–bornbabetothewrinklesoftheagedanddying;allreligiousphantasmagories,fromFauntoBeelzebub;allanimalprofiles,fromthemawtothebeak,fromthejowltothemuzzle.
LetthereaderimagineallthesegrotesquefiguresofthePontNeuf,thosenightmarespetrifiedbeneaththehandofGermainPilon,assuminglifeandbreath,andcominginturntostareyouinthefacewithburningeyes;allthemasksoftheCarnivalofVenicepassinginsuccessionbeforeyourglass,—inaword,ahumankaleidoscope.
TheorgygrewmoreandmoreFlemish.Tenierscouldhavegivenbutaveryimperfectideaofit.
Letthereaderpicturetohimselfinbacchanalform,SalvatorRosa'sbattle.
Therewerenolongereitherscholarsorambassadorsorbourgeoisormenorwomen;therewasnolongeranyClopinTrouillefou,norGillesLecornu,norMarieQuatrelivres,norRobinPoussepain.Allwasuniversallicense.
Thegrandhallwasnolongeranythingbutavastfurnaceofeffrontryandjoviality,whereeverymouthwasacry,everyindividualaposture;everythingshoutedandhowled.
Thestrangevisageswhichcame,inturn,tognashtheirteethintherosewindow,werelikesomanybrandscastintothebrazier;andfromthewholeofthiseffervescingcrowd,thereescaped,asfromafurnace,asharp,piercing,stingingnoise,hissinglikethewingsofagnat.
"Hohé!curseit!"
"Justlookatthatface!"
"It'snotgoodforanything."
"GuillemetteMaugerepuis,justlookatthatbull'smuzzle;itonlylacksthehorns.Itcan'tbeyourhusband."
"Another!"
"Bellyofthepope!whatsortofagrimaceisthat?"
"Holahé!that'scheating.Onemustshowonlyone'sface."
"ThatdamnedPerretteCallebotte!she'scapableofthat!"
"Good!Good!"
"I'mstifling!"
"There'safellowwhoseearswon'tgothrough!"Etc.,etc.
ButwemustdojusticetoourfriendJehan.
Inthemidstofthiswitches'sabbath,hewasstilltobeseenonthetopofhispillar,likethecabin–boyonthetopmast.
Heflounderedaboutwithincrediblefury.
Hismouthwaswideopen,andfromitthereescapedacrywhichnooneheard,notthatitwascoveredbythegeneralclamor,greatasthatwasbutbecauseitattained,nodoubt,thelimitofperceptiblesharpsounds,thethousandvibrationsofSauveur,ortheeightthousandofBiot.
AsforGringoire,thefirstmomentofdepressionhavingpassed,hehadregainedhiscomposure.
Hehadhardenedhimselfagainstadversity.—–"Continue!"
hehadsaidforthethirdtime,tohiscomedians,speakingmachines;thenashewasmarchingwithgreatstridesinfrontofthemarbletable,afancyseizedhimtogoandappearinhisturnattheapertureofthechapel,wereitonlyforthepleasureofmakingagrimaceatthatungratefulpopulace.
—"Butno,thatwouldnotbeworthyofus;no,vengeance!
letuscombatuntiltheend,"herepeatedtohimself;"thepowerofpoetryoverpeopleisgreat;Iwillbringthemback.
Weshallseewhichwillcarrytheday,grimacesorpoliteliterature."
Alas!hehadbeenleftthesolespectatorofhispiece.Itwasfarworsethanithadbeenalittlewhilebefore.Henolongerbeheldanythingbutbacks.
Iammistaken.Thebig,patientman,whomhehadalreadyconsultedinacriticalmoment,hadremainedwithhisfaceturnedtowardsthestage.
AsforGisquetteandLiénarde,theyhaddesertedhimlongago.
Gringoirewastouchedtotheheartbythefidelityofhisonlyspectator.
Heapproachedhimandaddressedhim,shakinghisarmslightly;forthegoodmanwasleaningonthebalustradeanddozingalittle.
"Monsieur,"saidGringoire,"Ithankyou!"
"Monsieur,"repliedthebigmanwithayawn,"forwhat?"
"Iseewhatweariesyou,"resumedthepoet;"'tisallthisnoisewhichpreventsyourhearingcomfortably.Butbeatease!yournameshalldescendtoposterity!Yourname,ifyouplease?"
"RenauldChateau,guardianofthesealsoftheChâteletofParis,atyourservice."
"Monsieur,youaretheonlyrepresentiveofthemuseshere,"saidGringoire.
"Youaretookind,sir,"saidtheguardianofthesealsattheChâtelet.
"Youaretheonlyone,"resumedGringoire,"whohaslistenedtothepiecedecorously.Whatdoyouthinkofit?"
"He!he!"repliedthefatmagistrate,halfaroused,"it'stolerablyjolly,that'safact."
Gringoirewasforcedtocontenthimselfwiththiseulogy;forathunderofapplause,mingledwithaprodigiousacclamation,cuttheirconversationshort.ThePopeoftheFoolshadbeenelected.
"Noel!Noel!Noel!"*shoutedthepeopleonallsides.
Thatwas,infact,amarvellousgrimacewhichwasbeamingatthatmomentthroughtheapertureintherosewindow.
Afterallthepentagonal,hexagonal,andwhimsicalfaces,whichhadsucceededeachotheratthatholewithoutrealizingtheidealofthegrotesquewhichtheirimaginations,excitedbytheorgy,hadconstructed,nothinglesswasneededtowintheirsuffragesthanthesublimegrimacewhichhadjustdazzledtheassembly.
MasterCoppenolehimselfapplauded,andClopinTrouillefou,whohadbeenamongthecompetitors(andGodknowswhatintensityofuglinesshisvisagecouldattain),confessedhimselfconquered:Wewilldothesame.
Weshallnottrytogivethereaderanideaofthattetrahedralnose,thathorseshoemouth;thatlittlelefteyeobstructedwithared,bushy,bristlingeyebrow,whiletherighteyedisappearedentirelybeneathanenormouswart;ofthoseteethindisarray,brokenhereandthere,liketheembattledparapetofafortress;ofthatcallouslip,uponwhichoneoftheseteethencroached,likethetuskofanelephant;ofthatforkedchin;andaboveall,oftheexpressionspreadoverthewhole;ofthatmixtureofmalice,amazement,andsadness.
Letthereaderdreamofthiswhole,ifhecan.
*TheancientFrenchhurrah.
Theacclamationwasunanimous;peoplerushedtowardsthechapel.
TheymadetheluckyPopeoftheFoolscomeforthintriumph.
Butitwasthenthatsurpriseandadmirationattainedtheirhighestpitch;thegrimacewashisface.
Orrather,hiswholepersonwasagrimace.
Ahugehead,bristlingwithredhair;betweenhisshouldersanenormoushump,acounterpartperceptibleinfront;asystemofthighsandlegssostrangelyastraythattheycouldtoucheachotheronlyattheknees,and,viewedfromthefront,resembledthecrescentsoftwoscythesjoinedbythehandles;largefeet,monstroushands;and,withallthisdeformity,anindescribableandredoubtableairofvigor,agility,andcourage,—strangeexceptiontotheeternalrulewhichwillsthatforceaswellasbeautyshallbetheresultofharmony.
Suchwasthepopewhomthefoolshadjustchosenforthemselves.
Onewouldhavepronouncedhimagiantwhohadbeenbrokenandbadlyputtogetheragain.
Whenthisspeciesofcyclopsappearedonthethresholdofthechapel,motionless,squat,andalmostasbroadashewastall;squaredonthebase,asagreatmansays;withhisdoublethalfred,halfviolet,sownwithsilverbells,and,aboveall,intheperfectionofhisugliness,thepopulacerecognizedhimontheinstant,andshoutedwithonevoice,—
"'TisQuasimodo,thebellringer!'tisQuasimodo,thehunchbackofNotre–Dame!Quasimodo,theone–eyed!Quasimodo,thebandy–legged!Noel!Noel!"
Itwillbeseenthatthepoorfellowhadachoiceofsurnames.
"Letthewomenwithchildbeware!"shoutedthescholars.
"Orthosewhowishtobe,"resumedJoannes.
Thewomendid,infact,hidetheirfaces.
"Oh!thehorriblemonkey!"saidoneofthem.
"Aswickedasheisugly,"retortedanother.
"He'sthedevil,"addedathird.
"IhavethemisfortunetolivenearNotre–Dame;Ihearhimprowlingroundtheeavesbynight."
"Withthecats."
"He'salwaysonourroofs."
"Hethrowsspellsdownourchimneys."
"Theotherevening,hecameandmadeagrimaceatmethroughmyatticwindow.Ithoughtthatitwasaman.SuchafrightasIhad!"
"I'msurethathegoestothewitches'sabbath.Onceheleftabroomonmyleads."
"Oh!whatadispleasinghunchback'sface!"
"Oh!whatanill–favoredsoul!"
"Whew!"
Themen,onthecontrary,weredelightedandapplauded.Quasimodo,theobjectofthetumult,stillstoodonthethresholdofthechapel,sombreandgrave,andallowedthemtoadmirehim.
Onescholar(RobinPoussepain,Ithink),cameandlaughedinhisface,andtooclose.
Quasimodocontentedhimselfwithtakinghimbythegirdle,andhurlinghimtenpacesoffamidthecrowd;allwithoututteringaword.
MasterCoppenole,inamazement,approachedhim.
"CrossofGod!HolyFather!youpossessthehandsomestuglinessthatIhaveeverbeheldinmylife.YouwoulddeservetobepopeatRome,aswellasatParis."
Sosaying,heplacedhishandgaylyonhisshoulder.Quasimododidnotstir.Coppenolewenton,—
"YouarearoguewithwhomIhaveafancyforcarousing,wereittocostmeanewdozenoftwelvelivresofTours.Howdoesitstrikeyou?"
Quasimodomadenoreply.
"CrossofGod!"saidthehosier,"areyoudeaf?"
Hewas,intruth,deaf.
Nevertheless,hebegantogrowimpatientwithCoppenole'sbehavior,andsuddenlyturnedtowardshimwithsoformidableagnashingofteeth,thattheFlemishgiantrecoiled,likeabull–dogbeforeacat.
Thentherewascreatedaroundthatstrangepersonage,acircleofterrorandrespect,whoseradiuswasatleastfifteengeometricalfeet.AnoldwomanexplainedtoCoppenolethatQuasimodowasdeaf.
"Deaf!"saidthehosier,withhisgreatFlemishlaugh."CrossofGod!He'saperfectpope!"
"He!Irecognizehim,"exclaimedJehan,whohad,atlast,descendedfromhiscapital,inordertoseeQuasimodoatcloserquarters,"he'sthebellringerofmybrother,thearchdeacon.Good–day,Quasimodo!"
"Whatadevilofaman!"saidRobinPoussepainstillallbruisedwithhisfall."Heshowshimself;he'sahunchback.Hewalks;he'sbandy–legged.Helooksatyou;he'sone–eyed.Youspeaktohim;he'sdeaf.
AndwhatdoesthisPolyphemusdowithhistongue?"
"Hespeakswhenhechooses,"saidtheoldwoman;"hebecamedeafthroughringingthebells.Heisnotdumb."
"Thathelacks,"remarksJehan.
"Andhehasoneeyetoomany,"addedRobinPoussepain.
"Notatall,"saidJehanwisely."Aone–eyedmanisfarlesscompletethanablindman.Heknowswhathelacks."
Inthemeantime,allthebeggars,allthelackeys,allthecutpurses,joinedwiththescholars,hadgoneinprocessiontoseek,inthecupboardofthelawclerks'company,thecardboardtiara,andthederisiverobeofthePopeoftheFools.
Quasimodoallowedthemtoarrayhiminthemwithoutwincing,andwithasortofprouddocility.
Thentheymadehimseathimselfonamotleylitter.
Twelveofficersofthefraternityoffoolsraisedhimontheirshoulders;andasortofbitteranddisdainfuljoylightedupthemorosefaceofthecyclops,whenhebeheldbeneathhisdeformedfeetallthoseheadsofhandsome,straight,well–mademen.
Thentheraggedandhowlingprocessionsetoutonitsmarch,accordingtocustom,aroundtheinnergalleriesoftheCourts,beforemakingthecircuitofthestreetsandsquares.
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