the wandering jew, volume 10-第19节

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suffused　with　a　deep　blush；　his　heart　throbbed　violently；　he　remembered
that　he　too　had　once　known　the　ardent　intoxication　of　a　guilty　and　hidden
love。　　Though　the　day　was　closing　rapidly；　Rodin　cast　a　sidelong　glance
at　Hardy；　and　perceived　the　impression　he　had　made。　　〃Some　times；〃　he
continued；　〃thinking　of　the　dangers　to　which　his　mistress　was　exposed；　if
their　connection　should　be　discovered；　Rancey　wished　to　sever　these
delicious　ties；　but　the　girl；　beside　herself　with　passion；　threw　herself
on　the　neck　of　her　lover；　and　threatened　him；　in　the　language　of　intense
excitement；　to　reveal　and　to　brave　all；　if　he　thought　of　leaving　her。
Too　weak　and　loving　to　resist　the　prayers　of　his　mistress；　Rancey　again
and　again　yielded；　and　they　both　gave　themselves　up　to　a　torrent　of
delight；　which　carried　them　along；　forgetful　of　earth　and　heaven！〃

M。　Hardy　listened　to　Rodin　with　feverish　and　devouring　avidity。　　The
Jesuit；　in　painting；　with　these　almost　sensual　colors；　an　ardent　and
secret　love；　revived　in　Hardy　burning　memories；　which　till　now　had　been
drowned　in　tears。　　To　the　beneficent　calm　produced　by　the　mild　language
of　Gabriel　had　succeeded　a　painful　agitation；　which；　mingled　with　the
reaction　of　the　shocks　received　that　day；　began　to　throw　his　mind　into　a
strange　state　of　confusion。

Rodin；　having　so　far　succeeded　in　his　object；　continued　as　follows：　〃A
fatal　day　came　at　last。　　Rancey；　obliged　to　go　to　the　wars；　quitted　the
girl；　but；　after　a　short　campaign；　he　returned；　more　in　love　than　ever。
He　had　written　privately；　to　say　he　would　arrive　almost　immediately　after
his　letter。　　He　came　accordingly。　　It　was　night。　　He　ascended；　as　usual；
the　private　staircase　which　led　to　the　chamber　of　his　mistress；　he
entered　the　room；　his　heart　beating　with　love　and　hope。　　His　mistress　had
died　that　morning！〃

〃Ah！〃　cried　Hardy；　covering　his　face　with　his　hands；　in　terror。

〃She　was　dead；〃　resumed　Rodin。　　〃Two　wax…candles　were　burning　beside　the
funeral　couch。　　Rancey　could　not；　would　not　believe　that　she　was　dead。
He　threw　himself　on　his　knees　by　the　corpse。　　In　his　delirium；　he　seized
that　fair；　beloved　head；　to　cover　it　with　kisses。　　The　head　parted　from
the　body；　and　remained　in　his　hands！　　Yes；〃　resumed　Rodin　as　Hardy　drew
back；　pale　and　mute　with　terror；　〃yes；　the　girl　had　fallen　a　victim　to　so
swift　and　extraordinary　a　disease；　that　she　had　not　been　able　to　receive
the　last　sacraments。　　After　her　death；　the　doctors；　in　the　hope　of
discovering　the　cause　of　this　unknown　malady；　had　begun　to　dissect　that
fair　form〃

As　Rodin　reached　this　part　of　his　narrative；　night　was　almost　come。　　A
sort　of　hazy　twilight　alone　reigned　in　this　silent　chamber；　in　the　centre
of　which　appeared　the　pale　and　ghastly　form　of　Rodin；　clad　in　his　long
black　gown；　whilst　his　eyes　seemed　to　sparkle　with　diabolic　fire。
Overcome　by　the　violent　emotions　occasioned　by　this　story；　in　which
thoughts　of　death　and　voluptuousness；　love　and　horror；　were　so　strangely
mingled；　Hardy　remained　fixed　and　motionless；　waiting　for　the　words　of
Rodin；　with　a　combination　of　curiosity；　anguish　and　alarm。

〃And　Rancey？〃　said　he；　at　last；　in　an　agitated　voice；　whilst　he　wiped　the
cold　sweat　from　his　brow。

〃After　two　days　of　furious　delirium；〃　resumed　Rodin；　〃he　renounced　the
world；　and　shut　himself　up　in　impenetrable　solitude。　　The　first　period　of
his　retreat　was　frightful；　in　his　despair；　he　uttered　loud　yells　of　grief
and　rage；　that　were　audible　at　some　distance。　　Twice　he　attempted
suicide；　to　escape　from　the　terrible　visions。〃

〃He　had　visions；　then？〃　said　Hardy；　with　an　increased　agony　of　curiosity。

〃Yes；〃　replied　Rodin；　in　a　solemn　tone；　〃he　had　fearful　visions。　　He　saw
the　girl；　who；　for　his　sake；　had　died　in　mortal　sin；　plunged　in　the　heat
of　the　everlasting　flames　of　hell！　　On　that　fair　face；　disfigured　by
infernal　tortures；　was　stamped　the　despairing　laugh　of　the　damned！　　Her
teeth　gnashed　with　pain；　her　arms　writhed　in　anguish！　　She　wept　tears　of
blood；　and；　with　an　agonized　and　avenging　voice；　she　cried　to　her
seducer：　'Thou　art　the　cause　of　my　perditionmy　curse；　my　curse　be　upon
thee！'〃

As　he　pronounced　these　last　words；　Rodin　advanced　three　steps　nearer　to
Hardy；　accompanying　each　step　with　a　menacing　gesture。　　If　we　remember
the　state　of　weakness；　trouble；　and　fear；　in　which　M。　Hardy　wasif　we
remember　that　the　Jesuit　had　just　roused　in　the　soul　of　this　unfortunate
man　all　the　sensual　and　spiritual　memories　of　a　love；　cooled；　but　not
extinguished；　in　tearsif　we　remember；　too；　that　Hardy　reproached
himself　with　the　seduction　of　a　beloved　object；　whom　her　departure　from
her　duties　might　（according　to　the　Catholic　faith）　doom　to　everlasting
flameswe　shall　not　wonder　at　the　terrible　effect　of　this
phantasmagoria；　conjured　up　in　silence　and　solitude；　in　the　evening　dusk；
by　this　fearful　priest。

The　effect　on　Hardy　was　indeed　striking；　and　the　more　dangerous；　that　the
Jesuit；　with　diabolical　craft；　seemed　only　to　be　carrying　out；　from
another　point　of　view；　the　ideas　of　Gabriel。　　Had　not　the　young　priest
convinced　Hardy　that　nothing　is　sweeter；　than　to　ask　of　heaven
forgiveness　for　those　who　have　sinned；　or　whom　we　have　led　astray？　　But
forgiveness　implies　punishment；　and　it　was　to　the　punishment　alone　that
Rodin　drew　the　attention　of　his　victim；　by　painting　it　in　these　terrible
hues。　　With　hands　clasped　together；　and　eye　fixed　and　dilated；　Hardy
trembled　in　all　his　limbs；　and　seemed　still　listening　to　Rodin；　though
the　latter　had　ceased　to　speak。　　Mechanically；　he　repeated：　〃My　curse；　my
curse　be　upon　thee？〃

Then　suddenly　he　exclaimed；　in　a　kind　of　frenzy：　〃The　curse　is　on　me
also！　　The　woman；　whom　I　taught　to　forget　her　sacred　duties；　and　to
commit　mortal　sinone　day　plunged　in　the　everlasting　flamesher　arms
writhing　in　agonyweeping　tears　of　bloodwill　cry　to　me　from　the
bottomless　pit：　‘My　curse；　my　curse　be　upon　thee！'One　day；〃　he　added；
with　redoubled　terror；　〃one　day？who　knows？　perhaps　at　this　moment！for
if　the　sea　voyage　had　been　fatal　to　herif　a　shipwreckoh；　God！　she　too
would　have　died　in　mortal　sinlost；　lost；　forever！Oh；　have　mercy　on
her；　my　God！　Crush　me　in　Thy　wrathbut　have　mercy　on　herfor　I　alone　am
guilty！〃

And　the　unfortunate　man；　almost　delirious；　sank　with　clasped　hands　upon
the　ground。

〃Sir；〃　cried　Rodin；　in　an　affectionate　voice；　as　he　hastened　to　lift　him
up；　〃my　dear　sirmy　dear　friendbe　calm！　Comfort　yourself。　　I　cannot
bear　to　see　you　despond。　　Alas！　my　intention　was　quite　the　contrary　to
that。〃

〃The　curse！　the　curse！　yes；　she　will　curse　me　alsoshe；　that　I　loved　so
muchin　the　everlasting　flames！〃　murmured　Hardy；　shuddering；　and
apparently　insensible　to　the　other's　words。

〃But；　my　dear　sir；　listen　to　me；　I　entreat　you；〃　resumed　the　latter；　〃let
me　finish　my　story；　and　then　you　will　find　it　as　consoling　as　it　now
seems　terrible。　　For　heaven's　sake；　remember　the　adorable　words　of　our
angelic　Abbe　Gabriel；　with　regard　to　the　sweetness　of　prayer。〃

At　the　name　of　Gabriel；　Hardy　recovered　himself　a　little；　and　exclaimed；
in　a　heart…rending　tone：　〃Ay！　his　words　were　sweet　and　beneficent。　　Where
are　they　now？　　For　mercy's　sake；　repeat　to　me　those　consoling　words。〃

〃Our　angelic　Abbe　Gabriel；〃　resumed　Rodin；　〃spoke　to　you　of　the　sweetness
of　prayer〃

〃Oh；　yes！　prayer！〃

〃Well；　my　dear　sir；　listen　to　me；　and　you　shall　see　how　prayer　saved
Rancey；　and　made　a　saint　of　him。　　Yes；　these　frightful　torments；　that　I
have　just　described；　these　threatening　visions；　were　all　conquered　by
prayer；　and　changed　into　celestial　delights。〃

〃I　beg　of　you；〃　said　Hardy；　in　a　faint　voice；　〃speak　to　me　of　Gabriel；
speak　to　me　of　heavenbut　no　more　flamesno　more　hellwhere　sinful
women　weep　tears　of　blood〃

〃No；　no；〃　replied　Rodin；　and　even　as；　in　describing　hell；　his　tone　had
been　harsh　and　threatening；　it　now　became　warm　and　tender；　as　he　uttered
the　following　words：　〃No；　we　will　have　no　more　images　of　despairfor；　as
I　have　told　you；　after　suffering　infernal　tortures；　Rancey；　thanks　to　the
power　of　prayer；　enjoyed　the　delights　of　paradise。〃

〃The　delights　of　paradise？〃　repeated　Hardy；　listening　with　anxious
attention。

〃One　day；　at　the　height　of　his　grief；　a　priest；　a　good　priestanother
Abbe　Gabrielcame　to　Rancey。　　Oh；　happiness！　oh；　providential　change！
In　a　few　days；　he　taught　the　sufferer　the　sacred　mysteries　of　prayer
that　pious　intercession　of　the　creature；　addressed　to　the　Creator；　in
favor　of　a　soul　exposed　to　the　wrath　of　heaven。　　Then　Rancey　seemed
transformed。　　His　grief　was　at　once　appeased。　　He　prayed；　and　the　more　he
prayed；　the　greater　was　his　hope。　　He　felt　that　God　listened　to　his
prayer。　　Instead　of　trying　to　forget　his　beloved；　he　now　thought　of　her
constantly；　and　prayed　for　her　salvation。　　Happy　in　his　obscure　cell；
alone　with　that　adored　remembrance；　he　passed　days　and　nights　in　praying
for　herplunged　in　an　ineffable；　burning；　I　had　almost　said　amorous
ecstasy。〃

It　is　impossible　to　give　an　idea　of　the　tone　of　almost　sensual　energy
with　which　Rodin　pronounced　the　word　〃amorous。〃　Hardy　started；　changing
from　hot　to　cold。　　For　the　first　time；　his　weakened　mind　caught　a　glimpse
of　the　fatal　pleasures　of　a