English
WhenPierreGringoirearrivedonthePlacedeGrève,hewasparalyzed.
HehaddirectedhiscourseacrossthePontauxMeuniers,inordertoavoidtherabbleonthePontauChange,andthepennonsofJehanFourbault;butthewheelsofallthebishop'smillshadsplashedhimashepassed,andhisdoubletwasdrenched;itseemedtohimbesides,thatthefailureofhispiecehadrenderedhimstillmoresensibletocoldthanusual.
Hencehemadehastetodrawnearthebonfire,whichwasburningmagnificentlyinthemiddleofthePlace.
Butaconsiderablecrowdformedacirclearoundit.
"AccursedParisians!"hesaidtohimself(forGringoire,likeatruedramaticpoet,wassubjecttomonologues)"theretheyareobstructingmyfire!
Nevertheless,Iamgreatlyinneedofachimneycorner;myshoesdrinkinthewater,andallthosecursedmillsweptuponme!
ThatdevilofaBishopofParis,withhismills!
I'djustliketoknowwhatuseabishopcanmakeofamill!
Doesheexpecttobecomeamillerinsteadofabishop?
Ifonlymymaledictionisneededforthat,Ibestowituponhim!andhiscathedral,andhismills!
Justseeifthoseboobieswillputthemselvesout!Moveaside!
I'dliketoknowwhattheyaredoingthere!
Theyarewarmingthemselves,muchpleasuremayitgivethem!
Theyarewatchingahundredfagotsburn;afinespectacle!"
Onlookingmoreclosely,heperceivedthatthecirclewasmuchlargerthanwasrequiredsimplyforthepurposeofgettingwarmattheking'sfire,andthatthisconcourseofpeoplehadnotbeenattractedsolelybythebeautyofthehundredfagotswhichwereburning.
Inavastspaceleftfreebetweenthecrowdandthefire,ayounggirlwasdancing.
Whetherthisyounggirlwasahumanbeing,afairy,oranangel,iswhatGringoire,scepticalphilosopherandironicalpoetthathewas,couldnotdecideatthefirstmoment,sofascinatedwashebythisdazzlingvision.
Shewasnottall,thoughsheseemedso,soboldlydidherslenderformdartabout.
Shewasswarthyofcomplexion,butonedivinedthat,byday,herskinmustpossessthatbeautifulgoldentoneoftheAndalusiansandtheRomanwomen.
Herlittlefoot,too,wasAndalusian,foritwasbothpinchedandateaseinitsgracefulshoe.
Shedanced,sheturned,shewhirledrapidlyaboutonanoldPersianrug,spreadnegligentlyunderherfeet;andeachtimethatherradiantfacepassedbeforeyou,asshewhirled,hergreatblackeyesdartedaflashoflightningatyou.
Allaroundher,allglanceswereriveted,allmouthsopen;and,infact,whenshedancedthus,tothehummingoftheBasquetambourine,whichhertwopure,roundedarmsraisedaboveherhead,slender,frailandvivaciousasawasp,withhercorsageofgoldwithoutafold,hervariegatedgownpuffingout,herbareshoulders,herdelicatelimbs,whichherpetticoatrevealedattimes,herblackhair,hereyesofflame,shewasasupernaturalcreature.
"Intruth,"saidGringoiretohimself,"sheisasalamander,sheisanymph,sheisagoddess,sheisabacchanteoftheMeneleanMount!"
Atthatmoment,oneofthesalamander'sbraidsofhairbecameunfastened,andapieceofyellowcopperwhichwasattachedtoit,rolledtotheground.
"Hé,no!"saidhe,"sheisagypsy!"
Allillusionshaddisappeared.
Shebeganherdanceoncemore;shetookfromthegroundtwoswords,whosepointssherestedagainstherbrow,andwhichshemadetoturninonedirection,whilesheturnedintheother;itwasapurelygypsyeffect.
But,disenchantedthoughGringoirewas,thewholeeffectofthispicturewasnotwithoutitscharmanditsmagic;thebonfireilluminated,witharedflaringlight,whichtrembled,allalive,overthecircleoffacesinthecrowd,onthebrowoftheyounggirl,andatthebackgroundofthePlacecastapallidreflection,ononesideupontheancient,black,andwrinkledfaadeoftheHouseofPillars,ontheother,upontheoldstonegibbet.
Amongthethousandsofvisageswhichthatlighttingedwithscarlet,therewasonewhichseemed,evenmorethanalltheothers,absorbedincontemplationofthedancer.
Itwasthefaceofaman,austere,calm,andsombre.
Thisman,whosecostumewasconcealedbythecrowdwhichsurroundedhim,didnotappeartobemorethanfiveandthirtyyearsofage;nevertheless,hewasbald;hehadmerelyafewtuftsofthin,grayhaironhistemples;hisbroad,highforeheadhadbeguntobefurrowedwithwrinkles,buthisdeep–seteyessparkledwithextraordinaryyouthfulness,anardentlife,aprofoundpassion.
Hekeptthemfixedincessantlyonthegypsy,and,whilethegiddyyounggirlofsixteendancedandwhirled,forthepleasureofall,hisreveryseemedtobecomemoreandmoresombre.
Fromtimetotime,asmileandasighmetuponhislips,butthesmilewasmoremelancholythanthesigh.
Theyounggirl,stoppedatlength,breathless,andthepeopleapplaudedherlovingly.
"Djali!"saidthegypsy.
ThenGringoiresawcomeuptoher,aprettylittlewhitegoat,alert,wide–awake,glossy,withgildedhorns,gildedhoofs,andgildedcollar,whichhehadnothithertoperceived,andwhichhadremainedlyingcurledupononecornerofthecarpetwatchinghismistressdance.
"Djali!"saidthedancer,"itisyourturn."
And,seatingherself,shegracefullypresentedhertambourinetothegoat.
"Djali,"shecontinued,"whatmonthisthis?"
Thegoatlifteditsforefoot,andstruckoneblowuponthetambourine.Itwasthefirstmonthintheyear,infact.
"Djali,"pursuedtheyounggirl,turninghertambourineround,"whatdayofthemonthisthis?"
Djaliraisedhislittlegilthoof,andstrucksixblowsonthetambourine.
"Djali,"pursuedtheEgyptian,withstillanothermovementofthetambourine,"whathourofthedayisit?"
Djalistrucksevenblows.Atthatmoment,theclockofthePillarHouserangoutseven.
Thepeoplewereamazed.
"There'ssorceryatthebottomofit,"saidasinistervoiceinthecrowd.Itwasthatofthebaldman,whoneverremovedhiseyesfromthegypsy.
Sheshudderedandturnedround;butapplausebrokeforthanddrownedthemoroseexclamation.
Iteveneffaceditsocompletelyfromhermind,thatshecontinuedtoquestionhergoat.
"Djali,whatdoesMasterGuichardGrand–Remy,captainofthepistoliersofthetowndo,attheprocessionofCandlemas?"
Djalirearedhimselfonhishindlegs,andbegantobleat,marchingalongwithsomuchdaintygravity,thattheentirecircleofspectatorsburstintoalaughatthisparodyoftheinteresteddevoutnessofthecaptainofpistoliers.
"Djali,"resumedtheyounggirl,emboldenedbyhergrowingsuccess,"howpreachesMasterJacquesCharmolue,procuratortothekingintheecclesiasticalcourt?"
Thegoatseatedhimselfonhishindquarters,andbegantobleat,wavinghisforefeetinsostrangeamanner,that,withtheexceptionofthebadFrench,andworseLatin,JacquesCharmoluewastherecomplete,—gesture,accent,andattitude.
Andthecrowdapplaudedlouderthanever.
"Sacrilege!profanation!"resumedthevoiceofthebaldman.
Thegypsyturnedroundoncemore.
"Ah!"saidshe,"'tisthatvillanousman!"
Then,thrustingherunderlipoutbeyondtheupper,shemadealittlepout,whichappearedtobefamiliartoher,executedapirouetteonherheel,andsetaboutcollectinginhertambourinethegiftsofthemultitude.
Bigblanks,littleblanks,targes*andeagleliardsshoweredintoit.
*Ablank:anoldFrenchcoin;sixblankswereworthtwosousandahalf;targe,anancientcoinofBurgundy,afarthing.
Allatonce,shepassedinfrontofGringoire.
Gringoireputhishandsorecklesslyintohispocketthatshehalted."Thedevil!"
saidthepoet,findingatthebottomofhispocketthereality,thatis,tosay,avoid.
Inthemeantime,theprettygirlstoodthere,gazingathimwithherbigeyes,andholdingouthertambourinetohimandwaiting.
Gringoirebrokeintoaviolentperspiration.
IfhehadallPeruinhispocket,hewouldcertainlyhavegivenittothedancer;butGringoirehadnotPeru,and,moreover,Americahadnotyetbeendiscovered.
Happily,anunexpectedincidentcametohisrescue.
"Willyoutakeyourselfoff,youEgyptiangrasshopper?"criedasharpvoice,whichproceededfromthedarkestcornerofthePlace.
Theyounggirlturnedroundinaffright.Itwasnolongerthevoiceofthebaldman;itwasthevoiceofawoman,bigotedandmalicious.
However,thiscry,whichalarmedthegypsy,delightedatroopofchildrenwhowereprowlingaboutthere.
"ItistherecluseoftheTour–Roland,"theyexclaimed,withwildlaughter,"itisthesackednunwhoisscolding!Hasn'tshesupped?Let'scarryhertheremainsofthecityrefreshments!"
AllrushedtowardsthePillarHouse.
Inthemeanwhile,Gringoirehadtakenadvantageofthedancer'sembarrassment,todisappear.
Thechildren'sshoutshadremindedhimthathe,also,hadnotsupped,soherantothepublicbuffet.
Butthelittlerascalshadbetterlegsthanhe;whenhearrived,theyhadstrippedthetable.
Thereremainednotsomuchasamiserable~camichon~atfivesousthepound.
Nothingremaineduponthewallbutslenderfleurs–de–lis,mingledwithrosebushes,paintedin1434byMathieuBiterne.Itwasameagresupper.
Itisanunpleasantthingtogotobedwithoutsupper,itisastilllesspleasantthingnottosupandnottoknowwhereoneistosleep.ThatwasGringoire'scondition.
Nosupper,noshelter;hesawhimselfpressedonallsidesbynecessity,andhefoundnecessityverycrabbed.
Hehadlongagodiscoveredthetruth,thatJupitercreatedmenduringafitofmisanthropy,andthatduringawiseman'swholelife,hisdestinyholdshisphilosophyinastateofsiege.
Asforhimself,hehadneverseentheblockadesocomplete;heheardhisstomachsoundingaparley,andheconsidereditverymuchoutofplacethatevildestinyshouldcapturehisphilosophybyfamine.
Thismelancholyreverywasabsorbinghimmoreandmore,whenasong,quaintbutfullofsweetness,suddenlytorehimfromit.Itwastheyounggypsywhowassinging.
Hervoicewaslikeherdancing,likeherbeauty.
Itwasindefinableandcharming;somethingpureandsonorous,aerial,winged,sotospeak.
Therewerecontinualoutbursts,melodies,unexpectedcadences,thensimplephrasesstrewnwithaerialandhissingnotes;thenfloodsofscaleswhichwouldhaveputanightingaletorout,butinwhichharmonywasalwayspresent;thensoftmodulationsofoctaveswhichroseandfell,likethebosomoftheyoungsinger.
Herbeautifulfacefollowed,withsingularmobility,allthecapricesofhersong,fromthewildestinspirationtothechastestdignity.
Onewouldhavepronouncedhernowamadcreature,nowaqueen.
ThewordswhichshesangwereinatongueunknowntoGringoire,andwhichseemedtohimtobeunknowntoherself,solittlerelationdidtheexpressionwhichsheimpartedtohersongbeartothesenseofthewords.
Thus,thesefourlines,inhermouth,weremadlygay,—
~UncofredegranriquezaHallarondentrounpilar,Dentrodel,nuevasbanderasConfigurasdeespantar~.*
*AcofferofgreatrichnessInapillar'shearttheyfound,Withinitlaynewbanners,Withfigurestoastound.
Andaninstantafterwards,attheaccentswhichsheimpartedtothisstanza,—
~AlarabesdecavalloSinpodersemenear,Conespadas,yloscuellos,Ballestasdebuenechar~,
Gringoirefeltthetearsstarttohiseyes.Nevertheless,hersongbreathedjoy,mostofall,andsheseemedtosinglikeabird,fromserenityandheedlessness.
Thegypsy'ssonghaddisturbedGringoire'sreveryastheswandisturbsthewater.
Helistenedinasortofrapture,andforgetfulnessofeverything.
Itwasthefirstmomentinthecourseofmanyhourswhenhedidnotfeelthathesuffered.
Themomentwasbrief.
Thesamewoman'svoice,whichhadinterruptedthegypsy'sdance,interruptedhersong.
"Willyouholdyourtongue,youcricketofhell?"itcried,stillfromthesameobscurecorneroftheplace.
Thepoor"cricket"stoppedshort.Gringoirecovereduphisears.
"Oh!"heexclaimed,"accursedsawwithmissingteeth,whichcomestobreakthelyre!"
Meanwhile,theotherspectatorsmurmuredlikehimself;"Tothedevilwiththesackednun!"saidsomeofthem.
Andtheoldinvisiblekill–joymighthavehadoccasiontorepentofheraggressionsagainstthegypsyhadtheirattentionnotbeendivertedatthismomentbytheprocessionofthePopeoftheFools,which,afterhavingtraversedmanystreetsandsquares,debouchedonthePlacedeGrève,withallitstorchesandallitsuproar.
Thisprocession,whichourreadershaveseensetoutfromthePalaisdeJustice,hadorganizedontheway,andhadbeenrecruitedbyalltheknaves,idlethieves,andunemployedvagabondsinParis;sothatitpresentedaveryrespectableaspectwhenitarrivedattheGrève.
FirstcameEgypt.TheDukeofEgyptheadedit,onhorseback,withhiscountsonfootholdinghisbridleandstirrupsforhim;behindthem,themaleandfemaleEgyptians,pell–mell,withtheirlittlechildrencryingontheirshoulders;all—duke,counts,andpopulace—inragsandtatters.
ThencametheKingdomofArgot;thatistosay,allthethievesofFrance,arrangedaccordingtotheorderoftheirdignity;theminorpeoplewalkingfirst.
Thusdefiledbyfours,withthediversinsigniaoftheirgrades,inthatstrangefaculty,mostofthemlame,somecripples,othersone–armed,shopclerks,pilgrim,~hubins~,bootblacks,thimble–riggers,streetarabs,beggars,theblear–eyedbeggars,thieves,theweakly,vagabonds,merchants,shamsoldiers,goldsmiths,passedmastersofpickpockets,isolatedthieves.AcataloguethatwouldwearyHomer.
Inthecentreoftheconclaveofthepassedmastersofpickpockets,onehadsomedifficultyindistinguishingtheKingofArgot,thegrandcoesre,socalled,crouchinginalittlecartdrawnbytwobigdogs.
AfterthekingdomoftheArgotiers,cametheEmpireofGalilee.
GuillaumeRousseau,EmperoroftheEmpireofGalilee,marchedmajesticallyinhisrobeofpurple,spottedwithwine,precededbybuffoonswrestlingandexecutingmilitarydances;surroundedbyhismacebearers,hispickpocketsandclerksofthechamberofaccounts.
Lastofallcamethecorporationoflawclerks,withitsmaypolescrownedwithflowers,itsblackrobes,itsmusicworthyoftheorgy,anditslargecandlesofyellowwax.
Inthecentreofthiscrowd,thegrandofficersoftheBrotherhoodofFoolsboreontheirshouldersalittermoreloadeddownwithcandlesthanthereliquaryofSainte–Geneviveintimeofpest;andonthislittershoneresplendent,withcrosier,cope,andmitre,thenewPopeoftheFools,thebellringerofNotre–Dame,Quasimodothehunchback.
Eachsectionofthisgrotesqueprocessionhaditsownmusic.
TheEgyptiansmadetheirdrumsandAfricantambourinesresound.
Theslangmen,notaverymusicalrace,stillclungtothegoat'shorntrumpetandtheGothicrubebbeofthetwelfthcentury.
TheEmpireofGalileewasnotmuchmoreadvanced;amongitsmusiconecouldhardlydistinguishsomemiserablerebec,fromtheinfancyoftheart,stillimprisonedinthe~re–la–mi~.
ButitwasaroundthePopeoftheFoolsthatallthemusicalrichesoftheepochweredisplayedinamagnificentdiscord.
Itwasnothingbutsopranorebecs,counter–tenorrebecs,andtenorrebecs,nottoreckontheflutesandbrassinstruments.Alas!
ourreaderswillrememberthatthiswasGringoire'sorchestra.
ItisdifficulttoconveyanideaofthedegreeofproudandblissfulexpansiontowhichthesadandhideousvisageofQuasimodohadattainedduringthetransitfromthePalaisdeJustice,tothePlacedeGrève.
Itwasthefirstenjoymentofself–lovethathehadeverexperienced.
Downtothatday,hehadknownonlyhumiliation,disdainforhiscondition,disgustforhisperson.
Hence,deafthoughhewas,heenjoyed,likeaveritablepope,theacclamationsofthatthrong,whichhehatedbecausehefeltthathewashatedbyit.
Whatmattereditthathispeopleconsistedofapackoffools,cripples,thieves,andbeggars?
itwasstillapeopleandhewasitssovereign.
Andheacceptedseriouslyallthisironicalapplause,allthisderisiverespect,withwhichthecrowdmingled,itmustbeadmitted,agooddealofveryrealfear.
Forthehunchbackwasrobust;forthebandy–leggedfellowwasagile;forthedeafmanwasmalicious:threequalitieswhichtemperridicule.
Wearefarfrombelieving,however,thatthenewPopeoftheFoolsunderstoodboththesentimentswhichhefeltandthesentimentswhichheinspired.
Thespiritwhichwaslodgedinthisfailureofabodyhad,necessarily,somethingincompleteanddeafaboutit.
Thus,whathefeltatthemomentwastohim,absolutelyvague,indistinct,andconfused.
Onlyjoymadeitselffelt,onlypridedominated.
Aroundthatsombreandunhappyface,therehungaradiance.
Itwas,then,notwithoutsurpriseandalarm,thatattheverymomentwhenQuasimodowaspassingthePillarHouse,inthatsemi–intoxicatedstate,amanwasseentodartfromthecrowd,andtotearfromhishands,withagestureofanger,hiscrosierofgildedwood,theemblemofhismockpopeship.
Thisman,thisrashindividual,wasthemanwiththebaldbrow,who,amomentearlier,standingwiththegypsy'sgrouphadchilledthepoorgirlwithhiswordsofmenaceandofhatred.
Hewasdressedinaneccleslasticalcostume.
Atthemomentwhenhestoodforthfromthecrowd,Gringoire,whohadnotnoticedhimuptothattime,recognizedhim:"Hold!"
hesaid,withanexclamationofastonishment."Eh!
'tismymasterinHermes,DomClaudeFrollo,thearchdeacon!
Whatthedevildoeshewantofthatoldone–eyedfellow?He'llgethimselfdevoured!"
Acryofterrorarose,infact.TheformidableQuasimodohadhurledhimselffromthelitter,andthewomenturnedasidetheireyesinordernottoseehimtearthearchdeaconasunder.
Hemadeoneboundasfarasthepriest,lookedathim,andfelluponhisknees.
Thepriesttoreoffhistiara,brokehiscrozier,andrenthistinselcope.
Quasimodoremainedonhisknees,withheadbentandhandsclasped.
Thentherewasestablishedbetweenthemastrangedialogueofsignsandgestures,forneitherofthemspoke.
Thepriest,erectonhisfeet,irritated,threatening,imperious;Quasimodo,prostrate,humble,suppliant.
And,nevertheless,itiscertainthatQuasimodocouldhavecrushedthepriestwithhisthumb.
Atlengththearchdeacon,givingQuasimodo'spowerfulshoulderaroughshake,madehimasigntoriseandfollowhim.
Quasimodorose.
ThentheBrotherhoodofFools,theirfirststuporhavingpassedoff,wishedtodefendtheirpope,soabruptlydethroned.
TheEgyptians,themenofslang,andallthefraternityoflawclerks,gatheredhowlingroundthepriest.
Quasimodoplacedhimselfinfrontofthepriest,setinplaythemusclesofhisathleticfists,andglaredupontheassailantswiththesnarlofanangrytiger.
Thepriestresumedhissombregravity,madeasigntoQuasimodo,andretiredinsilence.
Quasimodowalkedinfrontofhim,scatteringthecrowdashepassed.
WhentheyhadtraversedthepopulaceandthePlace,thecloudofcuriousandidleweremindedtofollowthem.
Quasimodothenconstitutedhimselftherearguard,andfollowedthearchdeacon,walkingbackwards,squat,surly,monstrous,bristling,gatheringuphislimbs,lickinghisboar'stusks,growlinglikeawildbeast,andimpartingtothecrowdimmensevibrations,withalookoragesture.
Bothwereallowedtoplungeintoadarkandnarrowstreet,wherenoonedaredtoventureafterthem;sothoroughlydidthemerechimeraofQuasimodognashinghisteethbartheentrance.
"Here'samarvellousthing,"saidGringoire;"butwherethedeuceshallIfindsomesupper?"
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