English
Thesewordswere,sotospeak,thepointofunionoftwoscenes,whichhad,uptothattime,beendevelopedinparallellinesatthesamemoment,eachonitsparticulartheatre;one,thatwhichthereaderhasjustperused,intheRat–Hole;theother,whichheisabouttoread,ontheladderofthepillory.
Thefirsthadforwitnessesonlythethreewomenwithwhomthereaderhasjustmadeacquaintance;thesecondhadforspectatorsallthepublicwhichwehaveseenabove,collectingonthePlacedeGreve,aroundthepilloryandthegibbet.
Thatcrowdwhichthefoursergeantspostedatnineo'clockinthemorningatthefourcornersofthepilloryhadinspiredwiththehopeofsomesortofanexecution,nodoubt,notahanging,butawhipping,acroppingofears,something,inshort,—thatcrowdhadincreasedsorapidlythatthefourpolicemen,toocloselybesieged,hadhadoccasionto"press"it,astheexpressionthenran,morethanonce,bysoundblowsoftheirwhips,andthehaunchesoftheirhorses.
Thispopulace,disciplinedtowaitingforpublicexecutions,didnotmanifestverymuchimpatience.
Itamuseditselfwithwatchingthepillory,averysimplesortofmonument,composedofacubeofmasonryaboutsixfeethighandhollowintheinterior.
Averysteepstaircase,ofunhewnstone,whichwascalledbydistinction"theladder,"ledtotheupperplatform,uponwhichwasvisibleahorizontalwheelofsolidoak.
Thevictimwasbounduponthiswheel,onhisknees,withhishandsbehindhisback.
Awoodenshaft,whichsetinmotionacapstanconcealedintheinteriorofthelittleedifice,impartedarotatorymotiontothewheel,whichalwaysmaintaineditshorizontalposition,andinthismannerpresentedthefaceofthecondemnedmantoallquartersofthesquareinsuccession.
Thiswaswhatwascalled"turning"acriminal.
Asthereaderperceives,thepilloryoftheGrevewasfarfrompresentingalltherecreationsofthepilloryoftheHalles.
Nothingarchitectural,nothingmonumental.
Norooftotheironcross,nooctagonallantern,nofrail,slendercolumnsspreadingoutontheedgeoftheroofintocapitalsofacanthusleavesandflowers,nowaterspoutsofchimerasandmonsters,oncarvedwoodwork,nofinesculpture,deeplysunkinthestone.
Theywereforcedtocontentthemselveswiththosefourstretchesofrubblework,backedwithsandstone,andawretchedstonegibbet,meagreandbare,ononeside.
TheentertainmentwouldhavebeenbutapooroneforloversofGothicarchitecture.
ItistruethatnothingwaseverlesscuriousonthescoreofarchitecturethantheworthygapersoftheMiddleAges,andthattheycaredverylittleforthebeautyofapillory.
Thevictimfinallyarrived,boundtothetailofacart,andwhenhehadbeenhoistedupontheplatform,wherehecouldbeseenfromallpointsofthePlace,boundwithcordsandstrapsuponthewheelofthepillory,aprodigioushoot,mingledwithlaughterandacclamations,burstforthuponthePlace.TheyhadrecognizedQuasimodo.
Itwashe,infact.Thechangewassingular.
Pilloriedontheveryplacewhere,onthedaybefore,hehadbeensaluted,acclaimed,andproclaimedPopeandPrinceofFools,inthecortegeoftheDukeofEgypt,theKingofThunes,andtheEmperorofGalilee!
Onethingiscertain,andthatis,thattherewasnotasoulinthecrowd,notevenhimself,thoughinturntriumphantandthesufferer,whosetforththiscombinationclearlyinhisthought.
Gringoireandhisphilosophyweremissingatthisspectacle.
SoonMichelNoiret,sworntrumpetertotheking,ourlord,imposedsilenceonthelouts,andproclaimedthesentence,inaccordancewiththeorderandcommandofmonsieurtheprovost.
Thenhewithdrewbehindthecart,withhismeninliverysurcoats.
Quasimodo,impassible,didnotwince.Allresistancehadbeenrenderedimpossibletohimbywhatwasthencalled,inthestyleofthecriminalchancellery,"thevehemenceandfirmnessofthebonds"whichmeansthatthethongsandchainsprobablycutintohisflesh;moreover,itisatraditionofjailandwardens,whichhasnotbeenlost,andwhichthehandcuffsstillpreciouslypreserveamongus,acivilized,gentle,humanepeople(thegalleysandtheguillotineinparentheses).
Hehadallowedhimselftobeled,pushed,carried,lifted,bound,andboundagain.
Nothingwastobeseenuponhiscountenancebuttheastonishmentofasavageoranidiot.
Hewasknowntobedeaf;onemighthavepronouncedhimtobeblind.
Theyplacedhimonhiskneesonthecircularplank;hemadenoresistance.
Theyremovedhisshirtanddoubletasfarashisgirdle;heallowedthemtohavetheirway.
Theyentangledhimunderafreshsystemofthongsandbuckles;heallowedthemtobindandbucklehim.
Onlyfromtimetotimehesnortednoisily,likeacalfwhoseheadishangingandbumpingovertheedgeofabutcher'scart.
"Thedolt,"saidJehanFrollooftheMill,tohisfriendRobinPoussepain(forthetwostudentshadfollowedtheculprit,aswastohavebeenexpected),"heunderstandsnomorethanacockchafershutupinabox!"
TherewaswildlaughteramongthecrowdwhentheybeheldQuasimodo'shump,hiscamel'sbreast,hiscallousandhairyshoulderslaidbare.
Duringthisgayety,amanintheliveryofthecity,shortofstatureandrobustofmien,mountedtheplatformandplacedhimselfnearthevictim.
Hisnamespeedilycirculatedamongthespectators.
ItwasMasterPierratTorterue,officialtorturertotheChâtelet.
Hebeganbydepositingonanangleofthepilloryablackhour–glass,theupperlobeofwhichwasfilledwithredsand,whichitallowedtoglideintothelowerreceptacle;thenheremovedhisparti–coloredsurtout,andtherebecamevisible,suspendedfromhisrighthand,athinandtaperingwhipoflong,white,shining,knotted,plaitedthongs,armedwithmetalnails.
Withhislefthand,henegligentlyfoldedbackhisshirtaroundhisrightarm,totheveryarmpit.
Inthemeantime,JehanFrollo,elevatinghiscurlyblondeheadabovethecrowd(hehadmountedupontheshouldersofRobinPoussepainforthepurpose),shouted:"Comeandlook,gentleladiesandmen!
theyaregoingtoperemptorilyflagellateMasterQuasimodo,thebellringerofmybrother,monsieurthearchdeaconofJosas,aknaveoforientalarchitecture,whohasabacklikeadome,andlegsliketwistedcolumns!"
Andthecrowdburstintoalaugh,especiallytheboysandyounggirls.
Atlengththetorturerstampedhisfoot.Thewheelbegantoturn.Quasimodowaveredbeneathhisbonds.
Theamazementwhichwassuddenlydepicteduponhisdeformedfacecausedtheburstsoflaughtertoredoublearoundhim.
Allatonce,atthemomentwhenthewheelinitsrevolutionpresentedtoMasterPierrat,thehumpedbackofQuasimodo,MasterPierratraisedhisarm;thefinethongswhistledsharplythroughtheair,likeahandfulofadders,andfellwithfuryuponthewretch'sshoulders.
Quasimodoleapedasthoughawakenedwithastart.Hebegantounderstand.
Hewrithedinhisbonds;aviolentcontractionofsurpriseandpaindistortedthemusclesofhisface,butheutterednotasinglesigh.
Hemerelyturnedhisheadbackward,totheright,thentotheleft,balancingitasabulldoeswhohasbeenstungintheflanksbyagadfly.
Asecondblowfollowedthefirst,thenathird,andanotherandanother,andstillothers.Thewheeldidnotceasetoturn,northeblowstoraindown.
Soonthebloodburstforth,andcouldbeseentricklinginathousandthreadsdownthehunchback'sblackshoulders;andtheslenderthongs,intheirrotatorymotionwhichrenttheair,sprinkleddropsofituponthecrowd.
Quasimodohadresumed,toallappearance,hisfirstimperturbability.
Hehadatfirsttried,inaquietwayandwithoutmuchoutwardmovement,tobreakhisbonds.
Hiseyehadbeenseentolightup,hismusclestostiffen,hismemberstoconcentratetheirforce,andthestrapstostretch.
Theeffortwaspowerful,prodigious,desperate;buttheprovost'sseasonedbondsresisted.Theycracked,andthatwasall.Quasimodofellbackexhausted.
Amazementgaveway,onhisfeatures,toasentimentofprofoundandbitterdiscouragement.
Heclosedhissingleeye,allowedhisheadtodroopuponhisbreast,andfeigneddeath.
Fromthatmomentforth,hestirrednomore.
Nothingcouldforceamovementfromhim.
Neitherhisblood,whichdidnotceasetoflow,northeblowswhichredoubledinfury,northewrathofthetorturer,whogrewexcitedhimselfandintoxicatedwiththeexecution,northesoundofthehorriblethongs,moresharpandwhistlingthantheclawsofscorpions.
AtlengthabailifffromtheChâteletcladinblack,mountedonablackhorse,whohadbeenstationedbesidetheladdersincethebeginningoftheexecution,extendedhisebonywandtowardsthehour–glass.Thetorturerstopped.Thewheelstopped.Quasimodo'seyeopenedslowly.
Thescourgingwasfinished.Twolackeysoftheofficialtorturerbathedthebleedingshouldersofthepatient,anointedthemwithsomeunguentwhichimmediatelyclosedallthewounds,andthrewuponhisbackasortofyellowvestment,incutlikeachasuble.
Inthemeanwhile,PierratTorterueallowedthethongs,redandgorgedwithblood,todripuponthepavement.
AllwasnotoverforQuasimodo.HehadstilltoundergothathourofpillorywhichMasterFlorianBarbediennehadsojudiciouslyaddedtothesentenceofMessireRobertd'Estouteville;alltothegreatergloryoftheoldphysiologicalandpsychologicalplayuponwordsofJeandeCumne,~Surdusabsurdus~:adeafmanisabsurd.
Sothehour–glasswasturnedoveroncemore,andtheyleftthehunchbackfastenedtotheplank,inorderthatjusticemightbeaccomplishedtotheveryend.
Thepopulace,especiallyintheMiddleAges,isinsocietywhatthechildisinthefamily.
Aslongasitremainsinitsstateofprimitiveignorance,ofmoralandintellectualminority,itcanbesaidofitasofthechild,—
'Tisthepitilessage.
WehavealreadyshownthatQuasimodowasgenerallyhated,formorethanonegoodreason,itistrue.
TherewashardlyaspectatorinthatcrowdwhohadnotorwhodidnotbelievethathehadreasontocomplainofthemalevolenthunchbackofNotre–Dame.
Thejoyatseeinghimappearthusinthepilloryhadbeenuniversal;andtheharshpunishmentwhichhehadjustsuffered,andthepitifulconditioninwhichithadlefthim,farfromsofteningthepopulacehadrendereditshatredmoremaliciousbyarmingitwithatouchofmirth.
Hence,the"publicprosecution"satisfied,asthebigwigsofthelawstillexpressitintheirjargon,theturncameofathousandprivatevengeances.
Here,asintheGrandHall,thewomenrenderedthemselvesparticularlyprominent.
Allcherishedsomerancoragainsthim,someforhismalice,othersforhisugliness.Thelatterwerethemostfurious.
"Oh!maskofAntichrist!"saidone.
"Rideronabroomhandle!"criedanother.
"Whatafinetragicgrimace,"howledathird,"andwhowouldmakehimPopeoftheFoolsifto–daywereyesterday?"
"'Tiswell,"struckinanoldwoman."Thisisthegrimaceofthepillory.Whenshallwehavethatofthegibbet?"
"Whenwillyoubecoiffedwithyourbigbellahundredfeetunderground,cursedbellringer?"
"But'tisthedevilwhoringstheAngelus!"
"Oh!thedeafman!theone–eyedcreature!thehunch–back!themonster!"
"Afacetomakeawomanmiscarrybetterthanallthedrugsandmedicines!"
Andthetwoscholars,JehanduMoulin,andRobinPoussepain,sangatthetopoftheirlungs,theancientrefrain,—
"~UnehartPourlependard!UnfagotPourlemagot~!"*
*Aropeforthegallowsbird!Afagotfortheape.
Athousandotherinsultsraineddownuponhim,andhootsandimprecations,andlaughter,andnowandthen,stones.
Quasimodowasdeafbuthissightwasclear,andthepublicfurywasnolessenergeticallydepictedontheirvisagesthanintheirwords.
Moreover,theblowsfromthestonesexplainedtheburstsoflaughter.
Atfirstheheldhisground.Butlittlebylittlethatpatiencewhichhadborneupunderthelashofthetorturer,yieldedandgavewaybeforeallthesestingsofinsects.
ThebulloftheAsturiaswhohasbeenbutlittlemovedbytheattacksofthepicadorgrowsirritatedwiththedogsandbanderilleras.
Hefirstcastaroundaslowglanceofhatreduponthecrowd.
Butboundashewas,hisglancewaspowerlesstodriveawaythoseflieswhichwerestinginghiswound.
Thenhemovedinhisbonds,andhisfuriousexertionsmadetheancientwheelofthepilloryshriekonitsaxle.
Allthisonlyincreasedthederisionandhooting.
Thenthewretchedman,unabletobreakhiscollar,likethatofachainedwildbeast,becametranquiloncemore;onlyatintervalsasighofrageheavedthehollowsofhischest.
Therewasneithershamenorrednessonhisface.
Hewastoofarfromthestateofsociety,andtoonearthestateofnaturetoknowwhatshamewas.
Moreover,withsuchadegreeofdeformity,isinfamyathingthatcanbefelt?
Butwrath,hatred,despair,slowlyloweredoverthathideousvisageacloudwhichgrewevermoreandmoresombre,evermoreandmorechargedwithelectricity,whichburstforthinathousandlightningflashesfromtheeyeofthecyclops.
Nevertheless,thatcloudclearedawayforamoment,atthepassageofamulewhichtraversedthecrowd,bearingapriest.
Asfarawayashecouldseethatmuleandthatpriest,thepoorvictim'svisagegrewgentler.
Thefurywhichhadcontracteditwasfollowedbyastrangesmilefullofineffablesweetness,gentleness,andtenderness.
Inproportionasthepriestapproached,thatsmilebecamemoreclear,moredistinct,moreradiant.
ItwaslikethearrivalofaSaviour,whichtheunhappymanwasgreeting.
Butassoonasthemulewasnearenoughtothepillorytoallowofitsriderrecognizingthevictim,thepriestdroppedhiseyes,beatahastyretreat,spurredonrigorously,asthoughinhastetoridhimselfofhumiliatingappeals,andnotatalldesirousofbeingsalutedandrecognizedbyapoorfellowinsuchapredicament.
ThispriestwasArchdeaconDomClaudeFrollo.
TheclouddescendedmoreblacklythaneveruponQuasimodo'sbrow.Thesmilewasstillmingledwithitforatime,butwasbitter,discouraged,profoundlysad.
Timepassedon.Hehadbeenthereatleastanhourandahalf,lacerated,maltreated,mockedincessantly,andalmoststoned.
Allatoncehemovedagaininhischainswithredoubleddespair,whichmadethewholeframeworkthatborehimtremble,and,breakingthesilencewhichhehadobstinatelypreservedhitherto,hecriedinahoarseandfuriousvoice,whichresembledabarkratherthanahumancry,andwhichwasdrownedinthenoiseofthehoots—"Drink!"
Thisexclamationofdistress,farfromexcitingcompassion,onlyaddedamusementtothegoodParisianpopulacewhosurroundedtheladder,andwho,itmustbeconfessed,takeninthemassandasamultitude,wasthennolesscruelandbrutalthanthathorribletribeofrobbersamongwhomwehavealreadyconductedthereader,andwhichwassimplythelowerstratumofthepopulace.
Notavoicewasraisedaroundtheunhappyvictim,excepttojeerathisthirst.
Itiscertainthatatthatmomenthewasmoregrotesqueandrepulsivethanpitiable,withhisfacepurpleanddripping,hiseyewild,hismouthfoamingwithrageandpain,andhistonguelollinghalfout.
Itmustalsobestatedthatifacharitablesoulofabourgeoisor~bourgeoise~,intherabble,hadattemptedtocarryaglassofwatertothatwretchedcreatureintorment,therereignedaroundtheinfamousstepsofthepillorysuchaprejudiceofshameandignominy,thatitwouldhavesufficedtorepulsethegoodSamaritan.
Attheexpirationofafewmoments,Quasimodocastadesperateglanceuponthecrowd,andrepeatedinavoicestillmoreheartrending:"Drink!"
Andallbegantolaugh.
"Drinkthis!"criedRobinPoussepain,throwinginhisfaceaspongewhichhadbeensoakedinthegutter."There,youdeafvillain,I'myourdebtor."
Awomanhurledastoneathishead,—
"Thatwillteachyoutowakeusupatnightwithyourpealofadammedsoul."
"He,good,myson!"howledacripple,makinganefforttoreachhimwithhiscrutch,"willyoucastanymorespellsonusfromthetopofthetowersofNotre–Dame?"
"Here'sadrinkingcup!"chimedinaman,flingingabrokenjugathisbreast."'Twasyouthatmademywife,simplybecauseshepassednearyou,givebirthtoachildwithtwoheads!"
"Andmycatbringforthakittenwithsixpaws!"yelpedanoldcrone,launchingabrickathim.
"Drink!"repeatedQuasimodopanting,andforthethirdtime.
Atthatmomenthebeheldthecrowdgiveway.
Ayounggirl,fantasticallydressed,emergedfromthethrong.
Shewasaccompaniedbyalittlewhitegoatwithgildedhorns,andcarriedatambourineinherhand.
Quasimodo'seyessparkled.Itwasthegypsywhomhehadattemptedtocarryoffontheprecedingnight,amisdeedforwhichhewasdimlyconsciousthathewasbeingpunishedatthatverymoment;whichwasnotintheleastthecase,sincehewasbeingchastisedonlyforthemisfortuneofbeingdeaf,andofhavingbeenjudgedbyadeafman.
Hedoubtednotthatshehadcometowreakhervengeancealso,andtodealherblowliketherest.
Hebeheldher,infact,mounttheladderrapidly.Wrathandspitesuffocatehim.
Hewouldhavelikedtomakethepillorycrumbleintoruins,andifthelightningofhiseyecouldhavedealtdeath,thegypsywouldhavebeenreducedtopowderbeforeshereachedtheplatform.
Sheapproached,withoututteringasyllable,thevictimwhowrithedinavainefforttoescapeher,anddetachingagourdfromhergirdle,sheraiseditgentlytotheparchedlipsofthemiserableman.
Then,fromthateyewhichhadbeen,uptothatmoment,sodryandburning,abigtearwasseentofall,androllslowlydownthatdeformedvisagesolongcontractedwithdespair.
Itwasthefirst,inallprobability,thattheunfortunatemanhadevershed.
Meanwhile,behadforgottentodrink.Thegypsymadeherlittlepout,fromimpatience,andpressedthespouttothetuskedmonthofQuasimodo,withasmile.
Hedrankwithdeepdraughts.Histhirstwasburning.
Whenhehadfinished,thewretchprotrudedhisblacklips,nodoubt,withtheobjectofkissingthebeautifulhandwhichhadjustsuccouredhim.
Buttheyounggirl,whowas,perhaps,somewhatdistrustful,andwhorememberedtheviolentattemptofthenight,withdrewherhandwiththefrightenedgestureofachildwhoisafraidofbeingbittenbyabeast.
Thenthepoordeafmanfixedonheralookfullofreproachandinexpressiblesadness.
Itwouldhavebeenatouchingspectacleanywhere,—thisbeautiful,fresh,pure,andcharminggirl,whowasatthesametimesoweak,thushasteningtothereliefofsomuchmisery,deformity,andmalevolence.
Onthepillory,thespectaclewassublime.
Theverypopulacewerecaptivatedbyit,andbegantoclaptheirhands,crying,—
"Noel!Noel!"
Itwasatthatmomentthatthereclusecaughtsight,fromthewindowofherbole,ofthegypsyonthepillory,andhurledatherhersinisterimprecation,—
"Accursedbethou,daughterofEgypt!Accursed!accursed!"
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