the hunchback of notre dame-第80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！



〃~Qui　verbum　meum　audit；　et　credit　ei　qui　misit　me；　habet　vitam　oeternam　et　in　judicium　non　venit；　sed　transit　a　morte　im　vitam~*。〃


*　〃He　that　heareth　my　word　and　believeth　on　Him　that　sent　me；　hath　eternal　life；　and　hath　not　come　into　condemnation；　but　is　passed　from　death　to　life。〃


This　chant；　which　a　few　old　men　buried　in　the　gloom　sang　from　afar　over　that　beautiful　creature；　full　of　youth　and　life；　caressed　by　the　warm　air　of　spring；　inundated　with　sunlight　was　the　mass　for　the　dead。

The　people　listened　devoutly。

The　unhappy　girl　seemed　to　lose　her　sight　and　her　consciousness　in　the　obscure　interior　of　the　church。　　Her　white　lips　moved　as　though　in　prayer；　and　the　headsman's　assistant　who　approached　to　assist　her　to　alight　from　the　cart；　heard　her　repeating　this　word　in　a　low　tone；〃Phoebus。〃

They　untied　her　hands；　made　her　alight；　accompanied　by　her　goat；　which　had　also　been　unbound；　and　which　bleated　with　joy　at　finding　itself　free：　and　they　made　her　walk　barefoot　on　the　hard　pavement　to　the　foot　of　the　steps　leading　to　the　door。　The　rope　about　her　neck　trailed　behind　her。　　One　would　have　said　it　was　a　serpent　following　her。

Then　the　chanting　in　the　church　ceased。　　A　great　golden　cross　and　a　row　of　wax　candles　began　to　move　through　the　gloom。　　The　halberds　of　the　motley　beadles　clanked；　and；　a　few　moments　later；　a　long　procession　of　priests　in　chasubles；　and　deacons　in　dalmatics；　marched　gravely　towards　the　condemned　girl；　as　they　drawled　their　song；　spread　out　before　her　view　and　that　of　the　crowd。　　But　her　glance　rested　on　the　one　who　marched　at　the　head；　immediately　after　the　cross…bearer。

〃Oh！〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice；　and　with　a　shudder；　〃'tis　he　again！　　the　priest！〃

It　was　in　fact；　the　archdeacon。　　On　his　left　he　had　the　sub…　chanter；　on　his　right；　the　chanter；　armed　with　his　official　wand。　　He　advanced　with　head　thrown　back；　his　eyes　fixed　and　wide　open；　intoning　in　a　strong　voice；

〃~De　ventre　inferi　clamavi；　et　exaudisti　vocem　meam~。

〃~Et　projecisti　me　in　profundum　in　corde　mans；　et　flumem　circumdedit　me~*。〃


*　　〃Out　of　the　belly　of　hell　cried　I；　and　thou　heardest　my　voice。　　For　thou　hadst　cast　me　into　the　deep　in　the　midst　of　the　seas；　and　the　floods　compassed　me　about。〃


At　the　moment　when　he　made　his　appearance　in　the　full　daylight　beneath　the　lofty　arched　portal；　enveloped　in　an　ample　cope　of　silver　barred　with　a　black　cross；　he　was　so　pale　that　more　than　one　person　in　the　crowd　thought　that　one　of　the　marble　bishops　who　knelt　on　the　sepulchral　stones　of　the　choir　had　risen　and　was　come　to　receive　upon　the　brink　of　the　tomb；　the　woman　who　was　about　to　die。

She；　no　less　pale；　no　less　like　a　statue；　had　hardly　noticed　that　they　had　placed　in　her　hand　a　heavy；　lighted　candle　of　yellow　wax；　she　had　not　heard　the　yelping　voice　of　the　clerk　reading　the　fatal　contents　of　the　apology；　when　they　told　her　to　respond　with　Amen；　she　responded　Amen。　　She　only　recovered　life　and　force　when　she　beheld　the　priest　make　a　sign　to　her　guards　to　withdraw；　and　himself　advance　alone　towards　her。

Then　she　felt　her　blood　boil　in　her　head；　and　a　remnant　of　indignation　flashed　up　in　that　soul　already　benumbed　and　cold。

The　archdeacon　approached　her　slowly；　even　in　that　extremity；　she　beheld　him　cast　an　eye　sparkling　with　sensuality；　jealousy；　and　desire；　over　her　exposed　form。　　Then　he　said　aloud；

〃Young　girl；　have　you　asked　God's　pardon　for　your　faults　and　shortcomings？〃

He　bent　down　to　her　ear；　and　added　（the　spectators　supposed　that　he　was　receiving　her　last　confession）：　〃Will　you　have　me？　　I　can　still　save　you！〃

She　looked　intently　at　him：　〃Begone；　demon；　or　I　will　denounce　you！〃

He　gave　vent　to　a　horrible　smile：　〃You　will　not　be　believed。　You　will　only　add　a　scandal　to　a　crime。　　Reply　quickly！　　Will　you　have　me？〃

〃What　have　you　done　with　my　Phoebus？〃

〃He　is　dead！〃　said　the　priest。

At　that　moment　the　wretched　archdeacon　raised　his　head　mechanically　and　beheld　at　the　other　end　of　the　Place；　in　the　balcony　of　the　Gondelaurier　mansion；　the　captain　standing　beside　Fleur…de…Lys。　　He　staggered；　passed　his　hand　across　his　eyes；　looked　again；　muttered　a　curse；　and　all　his　features　were　violently　contorted。

〃Well；　die　then！〃　he　hissed　between　his　teeth。　　〃No　one　shall　have　you。〃　　Then；　raising　his　hand　over　the　gypsy；　he　exclaimed　in　a　funereal　voice：〃~I　nunc；　anima　anceps；　et　sit　tibi　Deus　misenicors~！〃*


*　　〃Go　now；　soul；　trembling　in　the　balance；　and　God　have　mercy　upon　thee。〃


This　was　the　dread　formula　with　which　it　was　the　custom　to　conclude　these　gloomy　ceremonies。　　It　was　the　signal　agreed　upon　between　the　priest　and　the　executioner。

The　crowd　knelt。

〃~Kyrie　eleison~；〃*　said　the　priests；　who　had　remained　beneath　the　arch　of　the　portal。


*　　〃Lord　have　mercy　upon　us。〃


〃~Kyrie　eleison~；〃　repeated　the　throng　in　that　murmur　which　runs　over　all　heads；　like　the　waves　of　a　troubled　sea。

〃Amen；〃　said　the　archdeacon。

He　turned　his　back　on　the　condemned　girl；　his　head　sank　upon　his　breast　once　more；　he　crossed　his　hands　and　rejoined　his　escort　of　priests；　and　a　moment　later　he　was　seen　to　disappear；　with　the　cross；　the　candles；　and　the　copes；　beneath　the　misty　arches　of　the　cathedral；　and　his　sonorous　voice　was　extinguished　by　degrees　in　the　choir；　as　he　chanted　this　verse　of　despair；

〃~Omnes　gurgites　tui　et　fluctus　tui　super　me　transierunt。〃*


*　　〃All　thy　waves　and　thy　billows　have　gone　over　me。〃

At　the　same　time；　the　intermittent　clash　of　the　iron　butts　of　the　beadles'　halberds；　gradually　dying　away　among　the　columns　of　the　nave；　produced　the　effect　of　a　clock　hammer　striking　the　last　hour　of　the　condemned。

The　doors　of　Notre…Dame　remained　open；　allowing　a　view　of　the　empty　desolate　church；　draped　in　mourning；　without　candles；　and　without　voices。

The　condemned　girl　remained　motionless　in　her　place；　waiting　to　be　disposed　of。　　One　of　the　sergeants　of　police　was　obliged　to　notify　Master　Charmolue　of　the　fact；　as　the　latter；　during　this　entire　scene；　had　been　engaged　in　studying　the　bas…relief　of　the　grand　portal　which　represents；　according　to　some；　the　sacrifice　of　Abraham；　according　to　others；　the　philosopher's　alchemical　operation：　the　sun　being　figured　forth　by　the　angel；　the　fire；　by　the　fagot；　the　artisan；　by　Abraham。

There　was　considerable　difficulty　in　drawing　him　away　from　that　contemplation；　but　at　length　he　turned　round；　and；　at　a　signal　which　he　gave；　two　men　clad　in　yellow；　the　executioner's　assistants；　approached　the　gypsy　to　bind　her　hands　once　more。

The　unhappy　creature；　at　the　moment　of　mounting　once　again　the　fatal　cart；　and　proceeding　to　her　last　halting…place；　was　seized；　possibly；　with　some　poignant　clinging　to　life。　She　raised　her　dry；　red　eyes　to　heaven；　to　the　sun；　to　the　silvery　clouds；　cut　here　and　there　by　a　blue　trapezium　or　triangle；　then　she　lowered　them　to　objects　around　her；　to　the　earth；　the　throng；　the　houses；　all　at　once；　while　the　yellow　man　was　binding　her　elbows；　she　uttered　a　terrible　cry；　a　cry　of　joy。　　Yonder；　on　that　balcony；　at　the　corner　of　the　Place；　she　had　just　caught　sight　of　him；　of　her　friend；　her　lord；　Phoebus；　the　other　apparition　of　her　life！

The　judge　had　lied！　the　priest　had　lied！　it　was　certainly　he；　she　could　not　doubt　it；　he　was　there；　handsome；　alive；　dressed　in　his　brilliant　uniform；　his　plume　on　his　head；　his　sword　by　his　side！

〃Phoebus！〃　she　cried；　〃my　Phoebus！〃

And　she　tried　to　stretch　towards　him　arms　trembling　with　love　and　rapture；　but　they　were　bound。

Then　she　saw　the　captain　frown；　a　beautiful　young　girl　who　was　leaning　against　him　gazed　at　him　with　disdainful　lips　and　irritated　eyes；　then　Phoebus　uttered　some　words　which　did　not　reach　her；　and　both　disappeared　precipitately　behind　the　window　opening　upon　the　balcony；　which　closed　after　them。

〃Phoebus！〃　she　cried　wildly；　〃can　it　be　you　believe　it？〃　A　monstrous　thought　had　just　presented　itself　to　her。　　She　remembered　that　she　had　been　condemned　to　death　for　murder　committed　on　the　person　of　Phoebus　de　Chateaupers。

She　had　borne　up　until　that　moment。　　But　this　last　blow　was　too　harsh。　　She　fell　lifeless　on　the　pavement。

〃Come；〃　said　Charmolue；　〃carry　her　to　the　cart；　and　make　an　end　of　it。〃

No　one　had　yet　observed　in　the　gallery　of　the　statues　of　the　kings；　carved　directly　above　the　arches　of　the　portal；　a　strange　spectator；　who　had；　up　to　that　time；　observed　everything　with　such　impassiveness；　with　a　neck　so　strained；　a　visage　so　hideous　that；　in　his　motley　accoutrement　of　red　and　violet；　he　might　have　been　taken　for　one　of　those　stone　monsters　through　whose　mouths　the　long　gutters　of　the　cathedral　have　discharged　their　waters　for　six　hundred　years。　　This　spectator　had　missed　nothing　that　had　taken　place　since　midday　in　front　of　the　portal　of　Notre…Dame。　　And　at　the　very　beginning　he　had　securely　fastened　to　one　of　the　small　columns　a　large　knotted　rope；　one　end　of　which　trailed　on　the　flight　of　steps　below。　　This　being　done；　he　began　to　look　on　tranquilly；　whistling　from　time　to　time　when　a　blackbird　flitted　past。　Suddenly；　at　the　moment　when　the　superintendent's　assistants　were　preparing　to　execute　Charmolue's　phlegmatic　order；　he　threw　his　leg　over　the　balustrade　of　the　gallery；　seized　t