the brotherhood of consolation-第16节
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words： TRANSIRE BENEFACIENDO。
〃That is our motto。 If you become one of us； that will be your only
commission。 We read that commission； which we have given to ourselves；
at all times； in the morning when we rise； in the evening when we lie
down； and when we are dressing。 Ah！ if you did but know what immense
pleasures there are in accomplishing that motto！〃
〃Such as？〃 said Godefroid； hoping for further revelations。
〃I must tell you that we are as rich as Baron de Nucingen himself。 But
the 'Imitation of Jesus Christ' forbids us to regard our wealth as our
own。 We are only the spenders of it； and if we had any pride in being
that； we should not be worthy of dispensing it。 It would not be
/transire benefaciendo/； it would be inward enjoyment。 For if you say
to yourself with a swelling of the nostrils； 'I play the part of
Providence！' （as you might have thought if you had been in my place
this morning and saved the future lives of a whole family）； you would
become a Sardanapalus；an evil one！ None of these gentlemen living
here thinks of himself when he does good。 All vanity； all pride； all
self…love； must be stripped off； and that is hard to do；yes； very
hard。〃
Godefroid bade him good…night； and returned to his own room； deeply
affected by this narrative。 But his curiosity was more whetted than
satisfied； for the central figure of the picture was Madame de la
Chanterie。 The history of the life of that woman became of the utmost
importance to him； so that he made the obtaining of it the object of
his stay in that house。 He already perceived in this association of
five persons a vast enterprise of Charity； but he thought far less of
that than he did of its heroine。
VIII
WHO SHE WASWIFE AND MOTHER
The would…be disciple passed many days in observing more carefully
than he had hitherto done the rare persons among whom fate had brought
him； and he became the subject of a moral phenomenon which modern
philosophers have despised；possibly out of ignorance。
The sphere in which he lived had a positive action upon Godefroid。 The
laws which regulate the physical nature under relation to the
atmospheric environment in which it is developed； rule also in the
moral nature。 Hence it follows that the assembling together of
condemned prisoners is one of the greatest of social crimes； and also
that their isolation is an experiment of doubtful success。 Condemned
criminals ought to be in religious institutions； surrounded by
prodigies of Good； instead of being cast as they are into sight and
knowledge of Evil only。 The Church can be expected to show an absolute
devotion in this matter。 If it sends missionaries to heathen or savage
nations； with how much greater joy would it welcome the mission of
redeeming the heathen of civilization？ for all criminals are atheists；
and often without knowing they are so。
Godefroid found these five associated persons endowed with the
qualities they required in him。 They were all without pride； without
vanity； truly humble and pious； also without any of the pretension
which constitutes /devotion/； using that word in its worst sense。
These virtues were contagious； he was filled with a desire to imitate
these hidden heroes； and he ended by passionately studying the book he
had begun by despising。 Within two weeks he reduced his views of life
to its simplest lines；to what it really /is/ when we consider it
from the higher point of view to which the Divine spirit leads us。 His
curiosityworldly at first； and excited by many vulgar and material
motivespurified itself； if he did not renounce it altogether； the
fault was not his； any one would have found it difficult to resign an
interest in Madame de la Chanterie； but Godefroid showed； without
intending it； a discretion which was appreciated by these persons； in
whom the divine Spirit had developed a marvellous power of the
faculties；as； indeed； it often does among recluses。 The
concentration of the moral forces； no matter under what system it may
be effected； increases the compass of them tenfold。
〃Our friend is not yet converted；〃 said the good Abbe de Veze； 〃but he
is seeking to be。〃
An unforeseen circumstance brought about the revelation of Madame de
la Chanterie's history to Godefroid； and so fully was this made to him
that the overpowering interest she excited in his soul was completely
satisfied。
The public mind was at that time much occupied by one of those
horrible criminal trials which mark the annals of our police…courts。
This trial had gathered its chief interest from the character of the
criminals themselves； whose audacity； superior intelligence in evil；
and cynical replies； had horrified the community。 It is a matter
worthy of remark that no newspaper ever found its way into the hotel
de la Chanterie； and Godefroid only heard of the rejection of the
criminals' appeal from his master in book…keeping； for the trial
itself had taken place some time before he came to live in his new
abode。
〃Do you ever encounter；〃 he said to his new friends； 〃such atrocious
villains as those men？ and if you do encounter them； how do you manage
them？〃
〃In the first place；〃 said Monsieur Nicolas； 〃there are no atrocious
villains。 There are diseased natures； to be cared for in asylums； but
outside of those rare medical cases； we find only persons who are
without religion； or who reason ill； and the mission of charity is to
teach them the right use of reason； to encourage the weak； and guide
aright those who go astray。〃
〃And；〃 said the Abbe de Veze； 〃all is possible to such teachers； for
God is with them。〃
〃If they were to send you those criminals； you could do nothing with
them； could you？〃 asked Godefroid。
〃The time would be too short；〃 remarked Monsieur Alain。
〃In general；〃 said Monsieur Nicolas； 〃persons turn over to religion
souls which have reached the last stages of evil； and leave it no time
to do its work。 The criminals of whom you speak were men of remarkable
vigor； could they have been within our hands in time they might have
become distinguished men； but as soon as they committed a murder； it
was no longer possible to interfere； they then belonged to human
justice。〃
〃That must mean；〃 said Godefroid； 〃that you are against the penalty of
death？〃
Monsieur Nicolas rose hastily and left the room。
〃Do not ever mention the penalty of death again before Monsieur
Nicolas；〃 said Monsieur Alain。 〃He recognized in a criminal at whose
execution he was officially present his natural son。〃
〃And the son was innocent！〃 added Monsieur Joseph。
Madame de la Chanterie； who had been absent for a while； returned to
the salon at this moment。
〃But you must admit；〃 said Godefroid； addressing Monsieur Joseph；
〃that society cannot exist without the death penalty； and that those
persons who to…morrow morning will have their heads cut〃
Godefroid felt his mouth suddenly closed by a vigorous hand； and he
saw the abbe leading away Madame de la Chanterie in an almost fainting
condition。
〃What have you done？〃 Monsieur Joseph said to him。 〃Take him away；
Alain！〃 he added； removing the hand with which he had gagged
Godefroid。 Then he followed the Abbe de Veze into Madame de la
Chanterie's room。
〃Come！〃 said Monsieur Alain to Godefroid； 〃you have made it essential
that I should tell you the secrets of Madame's life。〃
They were presently sitting in the old man's room。
〃Well？〃 said Godefroid； whose face showed plainly his regret for
having been the cause of something which； in that peaceful home； might
be called a catastrophe。
〃I am waiting till Manon comes to reassure us；〃 replied the goodman；
listening to the steps of the maid upon the staircase。
〃Madame is better；〃 said Manon。 〃Monsieur l'abbe has deceived her as
to what was said。〃 And she looked at Godefroid angrily。
〃Good God！〃 cried the poor fellow； in distress； the tears coming into
his eyes。
〃Come； sit down；〃 said Monsieur Alain； sitting down himself。 Then he
made a pause as if to gather up his ideas。 〃I don't know；〃 he went on；
〃if I have the talent to worthily relate a life so cruelly tried。 You
must excuse me if the words of so poor a speaker as I are beneath the
level of its actions and catastrophes。 Remember that it is long since
I left school； and that I am the child of a century in which men cared
more for thought than for effect；a prosaic century which knew only
how to call things by their right names。〃
Godefroid made an acquiescing gesture； with an expression of sincere
admiration； and said simply； 〃I am listening。〃
〃You have just had a proof； my young friend；〃 resumed the old man；
〃that it is impossible you should remain among us without knowing at
least some of the terrible facts in the life of that saintly woman。
There are ideas and illusions and fatal words which are completely
interdicted in this house； lest they reopen wounds in Madame's heart；
and cause a suffering which； if again renewed； might kill her。〃
〃Good God！〃 cried Godefroid； 〃what have I done？〃
〃If Monsieur Joseph had not stopped the words on your lips； you were
about to speak of that fatal instrument of death； and that would have
stricken down Madame de la Chanterie lik
