the crime of sylvestre bonnard(西维斯特·博拉德的罪行)-第3节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
was particularly significant； being the legend of the first abbot of my dear
Abbey。 The poem in French verse on the burial of Saint…Germain led me
actually into the nave of that venerable basilica which was the umbilicus
of Christian Gaul。
The 〃Golden Legend〃 is in itself a vast and gracious work。 Jacques de
8
… Page 9…
The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
Voragine； Definitor of the Order of Saint…Dominic； and Archbishop of
Genoa； collected in the thirteenth century the various legends of Catholic
saints； and formed so rich a compilation that from all the monasteries and
castles of the time there arouse the cry： 〃This is the 'Golden Legend。'〃 The
〃Legende Doree〃 was especially opulent in Roman hagiography。 Edited by
an Italian monk； it reveals its best merits in the treatment of matters
relating to the terrestrial domains of Saint Peter。 Voragine can only
perceive the greater saints of the Occident as through a cold mist。 For this
reason the Aquitanian and Saxon translators of the good legend…writer
were careful to add to his recital the lives of their own national saints。
I have read and collated a great many manuscripts of the 〃Golden
Legend。〃 I know all those described by my learned colleague； M。 Paulin
Paris； in his handsome catalogue of the MSS。 of the Biblotheque du Roi。
There were two among them which especially drew my attention。 One is
of the fourteenth century and contains a translation by Jean Belet； the
other； younger by a century； presents the version of Jacques Vignay。 Both
come from the Colbert collection； and were placed on the shelves of that
glorious Colbertine library by the Librarian Baluzewhose name I can
never pronounce without uncovering my head； for even in the century of
the giants of erudition； Baluze astounds by his greatness。 I know also a
very curious codex in the Bigot collection； I know seventy…four printed
editions of the work； commencing with the venerable ancestor of allthe
Gothic of Strasburg； begun in 1471； and finished in 1475。 But no one of
those MSS。； no one of those editions； contains the legends of Saints
Ferreol； Ferrution； Germain； Vincent； and Droctoveus； no one bears the
name of the Clerk Alexander； no one； in find； came from the Abbey of
Saint…Germain…des…Pres。 Compared with the MS。 described by Mr。
Thompson； they are only as straw to gold。 I have seen with my eyes； I
have touched with my fingers； an incontrovertible testimony to the
existence of this document。 But the document itselfwhat has become of it？
Sir Thomas Raleigh went to end his days by the shores of the Lake of
Como； whither he carried with him a part of his literary wealth。 Where did
the books go after the death of that aristocratic collector？ Where could the
manuscript of the Clerk Alexander have gone？
9
… Page 10…
The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
〃And why；〃 I asked myself； 〃why should I have learned that this
precious book exists； if I am never to possess itnever even to see it？ I
would go to seek it in the burning heart of Africa； or in the icy regions of
the Pole if I knew it were there。 But I do not know where it is。 I do not
know if it be guarded in a triple… locked iron case by some jealous
biblomaniac。 I do not know if it be growing mouldy in the attic of some
ignoramus。 I shudder at the thought that perhaps its tore…out leaves may
have been used to cover the pickle…jars of some housekeeper。〃
August 30； 1850
The heavy heat compelled me to walk slowly。 I kept close to the
walls of the north quays； and； in the lukewarm shade； the shops of the
dealers in old books； engravings； and antiquated furniture drew my eyes
and appealed to my fancy。 Rummaging and idling among these； I hastily
enjoyed some verses spiritedly thrown off by a poet of the Pleiad。 I
examined an elegant Masquerade by Watteau。 I felt； with my eye； the
weight of a two…handed sword； a steel gorgerin； a morion。 What a thick
helmet！ What a ponderous breastplate Seigneur！ A giant's garb？ Nothe
carapace of an insect。 The men of those days were cuirassed like beetles；
their weakness was within them。 To…day； on the contrary； our strength is
interior； and our armed souls dwell in feeble bodies。
。。。Here is a pastel…portrait of a lady of the old timethe face； vague like
a shadow； smiles； and a hand； gloved with an openwork mitten； retains
upon her satiny knees a lap…dog； with a ribbon about its neck。 That picture
fills me with a sort of charming melancholy。 Let those who have no half…
effaced pastels in their own hearts laugh at me！ Like the horse that scents
the stable； I hasten my pace as I near my lodgings。 There it isthat great
human hive； in which I have a cell； for the purpose of therein distilling the
somewhat acrid honey of erudition。 I climb the stairs with slow effort。
Only a few steps more； and I shall be at my own door。 But I divine； rather
than see； a robe descending with a sound of rustling silk。 I stop； and press
myself against the balustrade to make room。 The lady who is coming
down is bareheaded； shi is young； she sings； her eyes and teeth gleam in
the shadow； for she laughs with lips and eyes at the same time。 She is
10
… Page 11…
The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
certainly a neighbor； and a very familiar one。 She holds in her arms a
pretty child； a little boy quite naked； like the son of a goddess； he has a
medal hung round his neck by a little silver chain。 I see him sucking his
thumb and looking at me with those big eyes so newly opened on this old
universe。 The mother simultaneously looks at me in a sly； mysterious way；
she stopsI think blushes a littleand holds out the little creature to me。
The baby has a pretty wrinkle between wrist and arm； a pretty wrinkle
about his neck； and all over him； from head to foot； the daintiest dimples
laugh in his rosy flesh。
The mamma shows him to me with pride。
〃Monsieur；〃 she says； 〃don't you think he is very prettymy little
boy？〃
She takes one tiny hand； lifts it to the child's own lips； and； drawing
out the darling pink fingers again towards me； says；
〃Baby； throw the gentleman a kiss。〃
Then； folding the little being in her arms； she flees away with the
agility of a cat； and is lost to sight in a corridor which； judging by the
odour； must lead to some kitchen。
I enter my own quarters。
〃Therese； who can that young mother be whom I saw bareheaded on
the stairs just now； with a pretty little boy？〃
And Therese replies that it was Madame Coccoz。
I stare up at the ceiling； as if trying to obtain some further illumination。
Therese then recalls to me the little book…peddler who tried to sell me
almanacs last year； while his wife was lying in。
〃And Coccoz himself？〃 I asked。
I was answered that I would never see him again。 The poor little man
had been laid away underground； without my knowledge； and； indeed；
with the knowledge of very few people； on a short time after the happy
delivery of Madame Coccoz。 I leaned that his wife had been able to
console herself： I did likewise。
〃But； Therese；〃 I asked； 〃has Madame Coccoz got everything she
needs in that attic of hers？〃
〃You would be a great dupe； Monsieur；〃 replied my housekeeper； 〃if
11
… Page 12…
The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
you should bother yourself about that creature。 They gave her notice to
quit the attic when the roof was repaired。 But she stays there yetin spite
of the proprietor； the agent； the concierge； and the bailiffs。 I think she has
bewitched every one of them。 She will leave the attic when she pleases；
Monsieur； but she is going to leave in her own carriage。
