honore de balzac-第28节
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is beard； all combine to give him the air of a festive wild boar； that the modern sculptors would have difficulty in reproducing。〃
Arriving in Paris a few days before the Revolution； Balzac witnessed the turbulent scenes of 1848。 It is said that he was one of the first to reach the Tuileries； mingling with the excited populace； and he brought away a fragment of the tapestry which covered the throne of Louis…Philippe。 He attended an Assembly of Men…of…Letters； which met to decide what their attitude should be towards the provisional government； but he had an absent…minded and detached air； as though he found himself a stranger among all those writers。 He found no one he knew； and seemed to be searching for his comrades of earlier days。 His frequent journeys outside of France； which began in 1845； his long periods of residence in foreign countries； in company with Mme。 Hanska； seemed to have weaned him away from the environment in which he had lived and developed； and fitted him for a different mode of life。
The club of Universal Fraternity； in Paris； having placed him upon its list of candidates for the legislative elections； he sent to its president the following public letter； proud and somewhat disillusioned； in reply to the question of a member； who wished to know his political opinions：
〃I have already stated that if the functions of a representative were entrusted to me I would accept them。 But I thought from the beginning and I still think that it is superfluous for any man whose life and works have been public property for twenty years to make a profession of faith。
〃There are some men whom the votes solicit； and there are others who must solicit votes； and it is the latter who must prove the soundness of their political views。 But； as to me； if I have not taken my place； through my writings； amongst the nine hundred individuals who represent in our country either intelligence； or power； or commercial activity； or a knowledge of laws and men and business； the ballot will tell me so！〃
But although Balzac had for twenty years had an ambition to hold political office； to be a cabinet minister and have a share in the government； he witnessed the Revolution of 1848 with no other feeling than sorrow； for he felt that it augured no good for France。 Besides； at this time he had no other wish than to return to Russia； join Mme。 Hanska； and close the great mystery of his life with a glorious marriage。 During the few months that he remained in Paris； from February to September； 1848； he showed nothing of his customary literary activity； and seems to have had no other thought than that of putting his new home in order； and transforming it into a sumptuous abode。 And when everything was ready to receive the future bride he set out for Wierzchownia； at the end of September； leaving his home in the care of his mother； with whom he had often had clashes and periods of coldness； yet who had never refused her son a devotion which； although at times somewhat churlish； was based upon a deep affection and a precise recognition of her duties。
Accordingly Mme。 de Balzac watched over his interests； just as she formerly did in 1832； when he had gone to Aix in the company of Mme。 de Castries； and Balzac sent instructions to her from Russia； but their tone showed an assurance； a certain complete tranquillity； which he had not had in the days of his laborious youth。 These instructions related to business ventures which he was thinking of undertaking；during his first sojourn he had considered the plan of utilising Count Mnizscek's forests by converting them into railway ties；and now he wanted her to send him a work by Vicat； treating of mortars and hydraulic cement； then there were orders relating to the care he wished to be given to the final settling of his home；which cost him not less than four hundred thousand francs。 Mme。 de Balzac must needs oversee the various contractors； Grohe； the upholsterer； Paillard； who had the contract for furnishing the parlour； Feuchere； the worker in bronze； from whom Balzac wished his mother to order two brackets in gilded copper； while at the same time she was to send him a complete list of all his table silver。 He went into the most minute details； which showed his love of order； begging his mother to remind Francois； one of his servants； to fill and clean the lamps； 〃for that is an essential matter；〃 he insisted。 Each of these letters to his mother contains some such trivial recommendation； which goes to show that he had the instinct of a careful housekeeper who hates needless waste。
From Russia he continued to supervise his theatrical interests； and entrusted them so far as they related to Mercadet； to his friend； Laurent…Jan； while at the same time he protested against a performance of Vautrin which he had not authorised。 He announced to Laurent…Jan that he was hard at work and was preparing some scenarios for him。 He had not renounced the idea of making money through the dramatic branch of his art。 For there were times when Mme。 Hanska became anxious regarding his personal debts； which were not yet wholly paid off； as well as their mutual debts incurred in relation to their future home and its furnishings。 He feared that his mother； who was herself easily alarmed； might write some discouraging news as to his financial position； and in this way alarm the countess。 Accordingly he sent her one day a secret letter； through the post…office in Berditcheff； in which he gave her most explicit orders in this connection。 For he had now been in Wierzchownia almost twelve months； and his marriage； although ostensibly agreed upon； had not yet taken place； and he knew that in such a case the whole thing might fall through at any time； up to the very moment of the ceremony。 As a matter of fact； he was a sick man； his heart and lungs were both affected； he had lost the last of his teeth； and there were some days when he found it impossible even to move his arms without a sense of suffocation。
Nevertheless his constancy was at last recompensed； after months of despair； during which he said； 〃I must regard the project which brought me here as indefinitely postponed。〃 In March； 1850； preparations were made for the marriage； and in announcing it to his mother he said that he would notify her of the day of his return； so that she could decorate the rooms with flowers； 〃beautiful； beautiful flowers。〃 And on March 15th he despatched two letters； one to Mme。 de Balzac and the other to Laure； in which he announced the event so long delayed。 〃Yesterday； at Berditcheff； in the parish church of St。 Barbara； a delegate of the bishop Jatomir； a saintly and virtuous priest； closely resembling our own Abbe Henaux； confessor of the Duchess of Angouleme； blessed and celebrated our marriage。〃 And he signed the letter to his sister： 〃Your brother； Honore； at the pinnacle of happiness！〃
The happiness was brief。 Balzac seems to have been destined to have a life made up solely of toil and struggles； and at the very moment when he had forced his way out of the jungle of obstacles and superhuman efforts； and had reached that vast plain where travellers along the path of life repose； destiny forbade him any joy。 At the moment when he was hoping for happiness； peace； and love； death was at his elbow。
He returned with his wife to Paris towards the end of May； 1850； in a state of exhaustion； and yet full of dreams； projects and hopes；but only to take to his bed and await his destined hour。 nothing could be more dramatic than his last weeks。 He suffered from heart； lungs and liver。 Every care was taken of him； and hope was offered of a cure； yet he never rose again。 His work had killed him。 No one can read without emotion the simple line that he traced on June 20； 1850； on a letter dictated to his wife for Theophile Gautier； who had called to see him： 〃I can no longer read nor write！〃
Honore de Balzac died during the night of August 18； 1850； at a time when his beautiful and weary eyes had barely caught a fleeting glimpse of fortune； glory and peace。
Victor Hugo was notified and hurried to his bedside。
〃We traversed a corridor；〃 he has recorded； 〃we ascended a staircase covered with a red carpet and encumbered with works of art； vases； statues； paintings； cabinets containing enamels； then another corridor； and I saw a door standing open。 I heard a rattling breath； loud and sinister。 I found myself in Balzac's bedroom。
〃A bed stood in the middle of the chamber。 It was a bed of acacia wood； at the head and foot of which were cross…pieces and straps； apparently forming part of an apparatus for lifting and moving the sick man。 M。 de Balzac lay in this bed； with his head supported on a pile of pillows； to which had been added some red damask cushions taken from the sofa in the same room。 His face was purple； almost black； and was turned towards the right。 He was unshaven； but his gray hair was cut short。 His eyes were wide open and staring。 I saw him in profile； and； seen thus； he resembled the emperor。
〃An old woman； the nurse； and a man…servant were standing； one on each side of the bed。 A candle was burning behind the headboard on a table； and another on a commode near the door。 On still another table a silver vase had be
