English
Dayfollowedday.CalmgraduallyreturnedtothesouloflaEsmeralda.
Excessofgrief,likeexcessofjoyisaviolentthingwhichlastsbutashorttime.
Theheartofmancannotremainlonginoneextremity.
Thegypsyhadsufferedsomuch,thatnothingwasleftherbutastonishment.
Withsecurity,hopehadreturnedtoher.
Shewasoutsidethepaleofsociety,outsidethepaleoflife,butshehadavaguefeelingthatitmightnotbeimpossibletoreturntoit.
Shewaslikeadeadperson,whoshouldholdinreservethekeytohertomb.
Shefelttheterribleimageswhichhadsolongpersecutedher,graduallydeparting.Allthehideousphantoms,PierratTorterue,JacquesCharmolue,wereeffacedfromhermind,all,eventhepriest.
Andthen,Phoebuswasalive;shewassureofit,shehadseenhim.
ToherthefactofPhoebusbeingalivewaseverything.
Aftertheseriesoffatalshockswhichhadoverturnedeverythingwithinher,shehadfoundbutonethingintactinhersoul,onesentiment,—herloveforthecaptain.
Loveislikeatree;itsproutsforthofitself,sendsitsrootsoutdeeplythroughourwholebeing,andoftencontinuestoflourishgreenlyoveraheartinruins.
Andtheinexplicablepointaboutitisthatthemoreblindisthispassion,themoretenaciousitis.Itisnevermoresolidthanwhenithasnoreasoninit.
LaEsmeraldadidnotthinkofthecaptainwithoutbitterness,nodoubt.
Nodoubtitwasterriblethathealsoshouldhavebeendeceived;thatheshouldhavebelievedthatimpossiblething,thathecouldhaveconceivedofastabdealtbyherwhowouldhavegivenathousandlivesforhim.
But,afterall,shemustnotbetooangrywithhimforit;hadshenotconfessedhercrime?
hadshenotyielded,weakwomanthatshewas,totorture?Thefaultwasentirelyhers.
Sheshouldhaveallowedherfingernailstobetornoutratherthansuchawordtobewrenchedfromher.
Inshort,ifshecouldbutseePhoebusoncemore,forasingleminute,onlyonewordwouldberequired,onelook,inordertoundeceivehim,tobringhimback.Shedidnotdoubtit.
Shewasastonishedalsoatmanysingularthings,attheaccidentofPhoebus'spresenceonthedayofthepenance,attheyounggirlwithwhomhehadbeen.Shewashissister,nodoubt.
Anunreasonableexplanation,butshecontentedherselfwithit,becausesheneededtobelievethatPhoebusstilllovedher,andlovedheralone.Hadhenotswornittoher?
Whatmorewasneeded,simpleandcredulousasshewas?
Andthen,inthismatter,werenotappearancesmuchmoreagainstherthanagainsthim?Accordingly,shewaited.Shehoped.
Letusaddthatthechurch,thatvastchurch,whichsurroundedheroneveryside,whichguardedher,whichsavedher,wasitselfasovereigntranquillizer.
Thesolemnlinesofthatarchitecture,thereligiousattitudeofalltheobjectswhichsurroundedtheyounggirl,thesereneandpiousthoughtswhichemanated,sotospeak,fromalltheporesofthatstone,acteduponherwithoutherbeingawareofit.
Theedificehadalsosoundsfraughtwithsuchbenedictionandsuchmajesty,thattheysoothedthisailingsoul.
Themonotonouschantingofthecelebrants,theresponsesofthepeopletothepriest,sometimesinarticulate,sometimesthunderous,theharmonioustremblingofthepaintedwindows,theorgan,burstingforthlikeahundredtrumpets,thethreebelfries,humminglikehivesofhugebees,thatwholeorchestraonwhichboundedagiganticscale,ascending,descendingincessantlyfromthevoiceofathrongtothatofonebell,dulledhermemory,herimagination,hergrief.
Thebells,inparticular,lulledher.
Itwassomethinglikeapowerfulmagnetismwhichthosevastinstrumentsshedoverheringreatwaves.
Thuseverysunrisefoundhermorecalm,breathingbetter,lesspale.
Inproportionasherinwardwoundsclosed,hergraceandbeautyblossomedoncemoreonhercountenance,butmorethoughtful,morereposeful.
Herformercharacteralsoreturnedtoher,somewhatevenofhergayety,herprettypout,herloveforhergoat,herloveforsinging,hermodesty.
Shetookcaretodressherselfinthemorninginthecornerofhercellforfearsomeinhabitantsoftheneighboringatticsmightseeherthroughthewindow.
WhenthethoughtofPhoebuslefthertime,thegypsysometimesthoughtofQuasimodo.
Hewasthesolebond,thesoleconnection,thesolecommunicationwhichremainedtoherwithmen,withtheliving.Unfortunategirl!
shewasmoreoutsidetheworldthanQuasimodo.
Sheunderstoodnotintheleastthestrangefriendwhomchancehadgivenher.
Sheoftenreproachedherselffornotfeelingagratitudewhichshouldclosehereyes,butdecidedly,shecouldnotaccustomherselftothepoorbellringer.Hewastoougly.
Shehadleftthewhistlewhichhehadgivenherlyingontheground.
ThisdidnotpreventQuasimodofrommakinghisappearancefromtimetotimeduringthefirstfewdays.
Shedidherbestnottoturnasidewithtoomuchrepugnancewhenhecametobringherherbasketofprovisionsorherjugofwater,buthealwaysperceivedtheslightestmovementofthissort,andthenhewithdrewsadly.
OncehecameatthemomentwhenshewascaressingDjali.
Hestoodpensivelyforseveralminutesbeforethisgracefulgroupofthegoatandthegypsy;atlasthesaid,shakinghisheavyandill–formedhead,—
"MymisfortuneisthatIstillresembleamantoomuch.Ishouldliketobewhollyabeastlikethatgoat."
Shegazedathiminamazement.
Herepliedtotheglance,—
"Oh!Iwellknowwhy,"andhewentaway.
Onanotheroccasionhepresentedhimselfatthedoorofthecell(whichheneverentered)atthemomentwhenlaEsmeraldawassinginganoldSpanishballad,thewordsofwhichshedidnotunderstand,butwhichhadlingeredinherearbecausethegypsywomenhadlulledhertosleepwithitwhenshewasalittlechild.
Atthesightofthatvillanousformwhichmadeitsappearancesoabruptlyinthemiddleofhersong,theyounggirlpausedwithaninvoluntarygestureofalarm.
Theunhappybellringerfelluponhiskneesonthethreshold,andclaspedhislarge,misshapenhandswithasuppliantair."Oh!"
hesaid,sorrowfully,"continue,Iimploreyou,anddonotdrivemeaway."
Shedidnotwishtopainhim,andresumedherlay,tremblingallover.
Bydegrees,however,herterrordisappeared,andsheyieldedherselfwhollytotheslowandmelancholyairwhichshewassinging.
Heremainedonhiskneeswithhandsclasped,asinprayer,attentive,hardlybreathing,hisgazeriveteduponthegypsy'sbrillianteyes.
Onanotheroccasion,hecametoherwithanawkwardandtimidair.
"Listen,"hesaid,withaneffort;"Ihavesomethingtosaytoyou."
Shemadehimasignthatshewaslistening.
Thenhebegantosigh,halfopenedhislips,appearedforamomenttobeonthepointofspeaking,thenhelookedatheragain,shookhishead,andwithdrewslowly,withhisbrowinhishand,leavingthegypsystupefied.
Amongthegrotesquepersonagessculpturedonthewall,therewasonetowhomhewasparticularlyattached,andwithwhichheoftenseemedtoexchangefraternalglances.Oncethegypsyheardhimsayingtoit,—
"Oh!whyamnotIofstone,likeyou!"
Atlast,onemorning,laEsmeraldahadadvancedtotheedgeoftheroof,andwaslookingintothePlaceoverthepointedroofofSaint–JeanleRond.Quasimodowasstandingbehindher.
Hehadplacedhimselfinthatpositioninordertosparetheyounggirl,asfaraspossible,thedispleasureofseeinghim.
Allatoncethegypsystarted,atearandaflashofjoygleamedsimultaneouslyinhereyes,shekneltonthebrinkoftheroofandextendedherarmstowardsthePlacewithanguish,exclaiming:"Phoebus!come!come!
aword,asinglewordinthenameofheaven!Phoebus!Phoebus!"
Hervoice,herface,hergesture,herwholepersonboretheheartrendingexpressionofashipwreckedmanwhoismakingasignalofdistresstothejoyousvesselwhichispassingafaroffinarayofsunlightonthehorizon.
QuasimodoleanedoverthePlace,andsawthattheobjectofthistenderandagonizingprayerwasayoungman,acaptain,ahandsomecavalierallglitteringwitharmsanddecorations,prancingacrosstheendofthePlace,andsalutingwithhisplumeabeautifulladywhowassmilingathimfromherbalcony.
However,theofficerdidnotheartheunhappygirlcallinghim;hewastoofaraway.
Butthepoordeafmanheard.Aprofoundsighheavedhisbreast;heturnedround;hisheartwasswollenwithallthetearswhichhewasswallowing;hisconvulsively–clenchedfistsstruckagainsthishead,andwhenhewithdrewthemtherewasabunchofredhairineachhand.
Thegypsypaidnoheedtohim.Hesaidinalowvoiceashegnashedhisteeth,—
"Damnation!Thatiswhatoneshouldbelike!'Tisonlynecessarytobehandsomeontheoutside!"
Meanwhile,sheremainedkneeling,andcriedwithextraor–dinaryagitation,—"Oh!thereheisalightingfromhishorse!Heisabouttoenterthathouse!—Phoebus!—Hedoesnothearme!Phoebus!
—Howwickedthatwomanistospeaktohimatthesametimewithme!Phoebus!Phoebus!"
Thedeafmangazedather.Heunderstoodthispantomime.
Thepoorbellringer'seyefilledwithtears,butheletnonefall.
Allatoncehepulledhergentlybytheborderofhersleeve.Sheturnedround.
Hehadassumedatranquilair;hesaidtoher,—
"Wouldyouliketohavemebringhimtoyou?"
Sheutteredacryofjoy.
"Oh!go!hasten!run!quick!thatcaptain!thatcaptain!bringhimtome!Iwillloveyouforit!"
Sheclaspedhisknees.Hecouldnotrefrainfromshakinghisheadsadly.
"Iwillbringhimtoyou,"hesaid,inaweakvoice.Thenheturnedhisheadandplungeddownthestaircasewithgreatstrides,stiflingwithsobs.
WhenhereachedthePlace,henolongersawanythingexceptthehandsomehorsehitchedatthedooroftheGondelaurierhouse;thecaptainhadjustenteredthere.
Heraisedhiseyestotheroofofthechurch.
LaEsmeraldawasthereinthesamespot,inthesameattitude.
Hemadeherasadsignwithhishead;thenheplantedhisbackagainstoneofthestonepostsoftheGondelaurierporch,determinedtowaituntilthecaptainshouldcomeforth.
IntheGondelaurierhouseitwasoneofthosegaladayswhichprecedeawedding.
Quasimodobeheldmanypeopleenter,butnoonecomeout.
Hecastaglancetowardstherooffromtimetotime;thegypsydidnotstiranymorethanhimself.
Agroomcameandunhitchedthehorseandledittothestableofthehouse.
Theentiredaypassedthus,Quasimodoathispost,laEsmeraldaontheroof,Phoebus,nodoubt,atthefeetofFleur–de–Lys.
Atlengthnightcame,amoonlessnight,adarknight.
QuasimodofixedhisgazeinvainuponlaEsmeralda;soonshewasnomorethanawhitenessamidthetwilight;thennothing.Allwaseffaced,allwasblack.
QuasimodobeheldthefrontwindowsfromtoptobottomoftheGondelauriermansionilluminated;hesawtheothercasementsinthePlacelightedonebyone,healsosawthemextinguishedtotheverylast,forheremainedthewholeeveningathispost.Theofficerdidnotcomeforth.
Whenthelastpassers–byhadreturnedhome,whenthewindowsofalltheotherhouseswereextinguished,Quasimodowasleftentirelyalone,entirelyinthedark.
TherewereatthattimenolampsinthesquarebeforeNotre–Dame.
Meanwhile,thewindowsoftheGondelauriermansionremainedlighted,evenaftermidnight.
Quasimodo,motionlessandattentive,beheldathrongoflively,dancingshadowspassathwartthemany–coloredpaintedpanes.
Hadhenotbeendeaf,hewouldhaveheardmoreandmoredistinctly,inproportionasthenoiseofsleepingParisdiedaway,asoundoffeasting,laughter,andmusicintheGondelauriermansion.
Towardsoneo'clockinthemorning,theguestsbegantotaketheirleave.
Quasimodo,shroudedindarknesswatchedthemallpassoutthroughtheporchilluminatedwithtorches.Noneofthemwasthecaptain.
Hewasfilledwithsadthoughts;attimeshelookedupwardsintotheair,likeapersonwhoiswearyofwaiting.
Greatblackclouds,heavy,torn,split,hunglikecrapehammocksbeneaththestarrydomeofnight.
Onewouldhavepronouncedthemspiders'websofthevaultofheaven.
Inoneofthesemomentshesuddenlybeheldthelongwindowonthebalcony,whosestonebalustradeprojectedabovehishead,openmysteriously.
Thefrailglassdoorgavepassagetotwopersons,andclosednoiselesslybehindthem;itwasamanandawoman.
ItwasnotwithoutdifficultythatQuasimodosucceededinrecognizinginthemanthehandsomecaptain,inthewomantheyoungladywhomhehadseenwelcometheofficerinthemorningfromthatverybalcony.
Theplacewasperfectlydark,andadoublecrimsoncurtainwhichhadfallenacrossthedoortheverymomentitclosedagain,allowednolighttoreachthebalconyfromtheapartment.
Theyoungmanandtheyounggirl,sofarasourdeafmancouldjudge,withouthearingasingleoneoftheirwords,appearedtoabandonthemselvestoaverytendertte–a–tte.
Theyounggirlseemedtohaveallowedtheofficertomakeagirdleforherofhisarm,andgentlyrepulsedakiss.
Quasimodolookedonfrombelowatthisscenewhichwasallthemorepleasingtowitnessbecauseitwasnotmeanttobeseen.
Hecontemplatedwithbitternessthatbeauty,thathappiness.
Afterall,naturewasnotdumbinthepoorfellow,andhishumansensibility,allmaliciouslycontortedasitwas,quiverednolessthananyother.
HethoughtofthemiserableportionwhichProvidencehadallottedtohim;thatwomanandthepleasureoflove,wouldpassforeverbeforehiseyes,andthatheshouldneverdoanythingbutbeholdthefelicityofothers.
Butthatwhichrenthisheartmostinthissight,thatwhichmingledindignationwithhisanger,wasthethoughtofwhatthegypsywouldsuffercouldshebeholdit.
Itistruethatthenightwasverydark,thatlaEsmeralda,ifshehadremainedatherpost(andhehadnodoubtofthis),wasveryfaraway,andthatitwasallthathehimselfcoulddotodistinguishtheloversonthebalcony.Thisconsoledhim.
Meanwhile,theirconversationgrewmoreandmoreanimated.
Theyoungladyappearedtobeentreatingtheofficertoasknothingmoreofher.
OfallthisQuasimodocoulddistinguishonlythebeautifulclaspedhands,thesmilesmingledwithtears,theyounggirl'sglancesdirectedtothestars,theeyesofthecaptainloweredardentlyuponher.
Fortunately,fortheyounggirlwasbeginningtoresistbutfeebly,thedoorofthebalconysuddenlyopenedoncemoreandanolddameappeared;thebeautyseemedconfused,theofficerassumedanairofdispleasure,andallthreewithdrew.
Amomentlater,ahorsewaschampinghisbitundertheporch,andthebrilliantofficer,envelopedinhisnightcloak,passedrapidlybeforeQuasimodo.
Thebellringerallowedhimtoturnthecornerofthestreet,thenheranafterhimwithhisape–likeagility,shouting:"Heythere!captain!"
Thecaptainhalted.
"Whatwantsthisknavewithme?"hesaid,catchingsightthroughthegloomofthathipshotformwhichranlimpingafterhim.
Meanwhile,Quasimodohadcaughtupwithhim,andhadboldlygraspedhishorse'sbridle:"Followme,captain;thereisoneherewhodesirestospeakwithyou!
"~Cornemahom~!"grumbledPhoebus,"here'savillanous;ruffledbirdwhichIfancyIhaveseensomewhere.Holámaster,willyouletmyhorse'sbridlealone?"
"Captain,"repliedthedeafman,"doyounotaskmewhoitis?"
"Itellyoutoreleasemyhorse,"retortedPhoebus,impatiently."Whatmeanstheknavebyclingingtothebridleofmysteed?Doyoutakemyhorseforagallows?"
Quasimodo,farfromreleasingthebridle,preparedtoforcehimtoretracehissteps.Unabletocomprehendthecaptain'sresistance,hehastenedtosaytohim,—
"Come,captain,'tisawomanwhoiswaitingforyou."Headdedwithaneffort:"Awomanwholovesyou."
"Ararerascal!"saidthecaptain,"whothinksmeobligedtogotoallthewomenwholoveme!orwhosaytheydo.
Andwhatif,bychance,sheshouldresembleyou,youfaceofascreech–owl?
TellthewomanwhohassentyouthatIamabouttomarry,andthatshemaygotothedevil!"
"Listen,"exclaimedQuasimodo,thinkingtoovercomehishesitationwithaword,"come,monseigneur!'tisthegypsywhomyouknow!"
Thisworddid,indeed,produceagreateffectonPhoebus,butnotofthekindwhichthedeafmanexpected.
ItwillberememberedthatourgallantofficerhadretiredwithFleur–de–LysseveralmomentsbeforeQuasimodohadrescuedthecondemnedgirlfromthehandsofCharmolue.
Afterwards,inallhisvisitstotheGondelauriermansionhehadtakencarenottomentionthatwoman,thememoryofwhomwas,afterall,painfultohim;andonherside,Fleur–de–Lyshadnotdeemeditpolitictotellhimthatthegypsywasalive.
HencePhoebusbelievedpoor"Similar"tobedead,andthatamonthortwohadelapsedsinceherdeath.
Letusaddthatforthelastfewmomentsthecaptainhadbeenreflectingontheprofounddarknessofthenight,thesupernaturalugliness,thesepulchralvoiceofthestrangemessenger;thatitwaspastmidnight;thatthestreetwasdeserted,asontheeveningwhenthesurlymonkhadaccostedhim;andthathishorsesnortedasitlookedatQuasimodo.
"Thegypsy!"heexclaimed,almostfrightened."Lookhere,doyoucomefromtheotherworld?"
Andhelaidhishandonthehiltofhisdagger.
"Quick,quick,"saidthedeafman,endeavoringtodragthehorsealong;"thisway!"
Phoebusdealthimavigorouskickinthebreast.
Quasimodo'seyeflashed.Hemadeamotiontoflinghimselfonthecaptain.Thenhedrewhimselfupstifflyandsaid,—
"Oh!howhappyyouaretohavesomeonewholovesyou!"
Heemphasizedthewords"someone,"andloosingthehorse'sbridle,—
"Begone!"
Phoebusspurredoninallhaste,swearing.Quasimodowatchedhimdisappearintheshadesofthestreet.
"Oh!"saidthepoordeafman,inaverylowvoice;"torefusethat!"
Here–enteredNotre–Dame,lightedhislampandclimbedtothetoweragain.Thegypsywasstillinthesameplace,ashehadsupposed.
Sheflewtomeethimasfaroffasshecouldseehim."Alone!"shecried,claspingherbeautifulhandssorrowfully.
"Icouldnotfindhim,"saidQuasimodocoldly.
"Youshouldhavewaitedallnight,"shesaidangrily.
Hesawhergestureofwrath,andunderstoodthereproach.
"Iwilllieinwaitforhimbetteranothertime,"hesaid,droppinghishead.
"Begone!"shesaidtohim.
Helefther.Shewasdispleasedwithhim.Hepreferredtohaveherabusehimratherthantohaveafflictedher.Hehadkeptallthepaintohimself.
Fromthatdayforth,thegypsynolongersawhim.Heceasedtocometohercell.
Atthemostsheoccasionallycaughtaglimpseatthesummitofthetowers,ofthebellringer'sfaceturnedsadlytoher.
Butassoonassheperceivedhim,hedisappeared.
Wemustadmitthatshewasnotmuchgrievedbythisvoluntaryabsenceonthepartofthepoorhunchback.
Atthebottomofherheartshewasgratefultohimforit.
Moreover,Quasimododidnotdeceivehimselfonthispoint.
Shenolongersawhim,butshefeltthepresenceofagoodgeniusabouther.
Herprovisionswerereplenishedbyaninvisiblehandduringherslumbers.
Onemorningshefoundacageofbirdsonherwindow.
Therewasapieceofsculptureaboveherwindowwhichfrightenedher.
ShehadshownthismorethanonceinQuasimodo'spresence.
Onemorning,forallthesethingshappenedatnight,shenolongersawit,ithadbeenbroken.
Thepersonwhohadclimbeduptothatcarvingmusthaveriskedhislife.
Sometimes,intheevening,sheheardavoice,concealedbeneaththewindscreenofthebelltower,singingasad,strangesong,asthoughtolullhertosleep.
Thelineswereunrhymed,suchasadeafpersoncanmake.
~Neregardepaslafigure,
Jeunefille,regardelecoeur.
Lecoeurd'unbeaujeunehommeestsouventdifforme.
Ilyadescoeursoul'amourneseconservepas~.
~Jeunefille,lesapinn'estpasbeau,
N'estpasbeaucommelepeuplier,
Maisilgardesonfeuillagel'hiver~.
~Hélas!aquoibondirecela?
Cequin'estpasbeauatortd'tre;
Labeautén'aimequelabeauté,
AvriltourneledosaJanvier~.
~Labeautéestparfaite,
Labeautépeuttout,Labeautéestlaseulechosequin'existepásademi~.
~Lecorbeaunevolequelejour,
Lehibounevolequelanuit,
Lecygnevolelanuitetlejour~.*
*Looknotattheface,younggirl,lookattheheart.
Theheartofahandsomeyoungmanisoftendeformed.
Thereareheartsinwhichlovedoesnotkeep.
Younggirl,thepineisnotbeautiful;itisnotbeautifullikethepoplar,butitkeepsitsfoliageinwinter.Alas!Whatistheuseofsayingthat?
Thatwhichisnotbeautifulhasnorighttoexist;beautylovesonlybeauty;AprilturnsherbackonJanuary.
Beautyisperfect,beautycandoallthings,beautyistheonlythingwhichdoesnotexistbyhalves.
Theravenfliesonlybyday,theowlfliesonlybynight,theswanfliesbydayandbynight.
Onemorning,onawaking,shesawonherwindowtwovasesfilledwithflowers.
Onewasaverybeautifulandverybrilliantbutcrackedvaseofglass.
Ithadallowedthewaterwithwhichithadbeenfilledtoescape,andtheflowerswhichitcontainedwerewithered.
Theotherwasanearthenwarepot,coarseandcommon,butwhichhadpreservedallitswater,anditsflowersremainedfreshandcrimson.
Iknownotwhetheritwasdoneintentionally,butLaEsmeraldatookthefadednosegayandworeitalldaylonguponherbreast.
Thatdayshedidnothearthevoicesinginginthetower.
Shetroubledherselfverylittleaboutit.
ShepassedherdaysincaressingDjali,inwatchingthedooroftheGondelaurierhouse,intalkingtoherselfaboutPhoebus,andincrumblingupherbreadfortheswallows.
ShehadentirelyceasedtoseeorhearQuasimodo.
Thepoorbellringerseemedtohavedisappearedfromthechurch.
Onenight,nevertheless,whenshewasnotasleep,butwasthinkingofherhandsomecaptain,sheheardsomethingbreathingnearhercell.
Sheroseinalarm,andsawbythelightofthemoon,ashapelessmasslyingacrossherdoorontheoutside.
ItwasQuasimodoasleepthereuponthestones.
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