condensed novels(压缩小说)-第25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！
but honest。〃 I say； Bah！
Bishop Myriel bought six bunches of asparagus。 This good man had
one charming failing； he was fond of asparagus。 He gave her a franc and
received three sous change。
The sous were bad；counterfeit。 What did this good Bishop do？ He
said： 〃I should not have taken change from a poor woman。〃
Then afterwards； to his housekeeper： 〃Never take change from a poor
woman。〃
Then he added to himself： 〃For the sous will probably be bad。〃
II。
When a man commits a crime； society claps him in prison。 A prison is
one of the worst hotels imaginable。 The people there are low and vulgar。
The butter is bad； the coffee is green。 Ah； it is horrible！
In prison； as in a bad hotel； a man soon loses； not only his morals； but
what is much worse to a Frenchman； his sense of refinement and delicacy。
Jean Valjean came from prison with confused notions of society。 He
forgot the modern peculiarities of hospitality。 So he walked off with the
Bishop's candlesticks。
Let us consider： candlesticks were stolen； that was evident。 Society put
Jean Valjean in prison； that was evident； too。 In prison； Society took away
his refinement； that is evident； likewise。
Who is Society？
You and I are Society。
My friend； you and I stole those candlesticks！
136
… Page 137…
CONDENSED NOVELS
III。
The Bishop thought so； too。 He meditated profoundly for six days。
On the morning of the seventh he went to the Prefecture of Police。
He said： 〃Monsieur； have me arrested。 I have stolen candlesticks。〃
The official was governed by the law of Society； and refused。
What did this Bishop do？
He had a charming ball and chain made； affixed to his leg； and wore it
the rest of his life。
This is a fact！
IV。
Love is a mystery。
A little friend of mine down in the country； at Auvergne； said to me
one day： 〃Victor； Love is the world；it contains everything。〃
She was only sixteen； this sharp…witted little girl； and a beautiful
blonde。 She thought everything of me。
Fantine was one of those women who do wrong in the most virtuous
and touching manner。 This is a peculiarity of French grisettes。
You are an Englishman； and you don't understand。 Learn； my friend；
learn。 Come to Paris and improve your morals。
Fantine was the soul of modesty。 She always wore high…neck dresses。
High…neck dresses are a sign of modesty。
Fantine loved Tholmoyes。 Why？ My God！ What are you to do？ It was
the fault of her parents； and she hadn't any。 How shall you teach her？ You
must teach the parent if you wish to educate the child。 How would you
become virtuous？
Teach your grandmother！
V。
When Tholmoyes ran away from Fantine；which was done in a
charming； gentlemanly manner；Fantine became convinced that a rigid
sense of propriety might look upon her conduct as immoral。 She was a
creature of sensitiveness；and her eyes were opened。
She was virtuous still； and resolved to break off the liaison at once。
So she put up her wardrobe and baby in a bundle。 Child as she was；
137
… Page 138…
CONDENSED NOVELS
she loved them both。 Then left Paris。
VI。
Fantine's native place had changed。
M。 Madelinean angel； and inventor of jet workhad been teaching
the villagers how to make spurious jet。
This is a progressive age。 Those Americans；children of the West；
they make nutmegs out of wood。
I； myself； have seen hams made of pine； in the wigwams of those
children of the forest。
But civilization has acquired deception too。 Society is made up of
deception。 Even the best French society。
Still there was one sincere episode。
Eh？
The French Revolution！
VII。
M。 Madeline was； if anything； better than Myriel。
M。 Myriel was a saint。 M。 Madeline a good man。
M。 Myriel was dead。 M。 Madeline was living。
That made all the difference。
M。 Madeline made virtue profitable。 I have seen it written：
〃Be virtuous and you will be happy。〃
Where did I see this written？ In the modern Bible？ No。 In the Koran？
No。 In Rousseau？ No。 Diderot？ No。 Where then？
In a copy…book。
VIII。
M。 Madeline was M。 le Maire。
This is how it came about。
For a long time he refused the honor。 One day an old woman； standing
on the steps； said：
〃Bah； a good mayor is a good thing。
〃You are a good thing。
〃Be a good mayor。〃
This woman was a rhetorician。 She understood inductive ratiocination。
138
… Page 139…
CONDENSED NOVELS
IX。
When this good M。 Madeline； whom the reader will perceive must
have been a former convict； and a very bad man； gave himself up to justice
as the real Jean Valjean； about this same time； Fantine was turned away
from the manufactory； and met with a number of losses from society。
Society attacked her； and this is what she lost：
First her lover。
Then her child。
Then her place。
Then her hair。
Then her teeth。
Then her liberty。
Then her life。
What do you think of society after that？ I tell you the present social
system is a humbug。
X。
This is necessarily the end of Fantine。 There are other things that will
be stated in other volumes to follow。 Don't be alarmed； there are plenty of
miserable people left。
Au revoirmy friend。
139
… Page 140…
CONDENSED NOVELS
〃LA FEMME。〃AFTER THE
FRENCH OF M。 MICHELET。
140
… Page 141…
CONDENSED NOVELS
I。
WOMEN AS AN INSTITUTION。
〃If it were not for women； few of us would at present be in
existence。〃 This is the remark of a cautious and discreet writer。 He was
also sagacious and intelligent。
Woman！ Look upon her and admire her。 Gaze upon her and love her。 If
she wishes to embrace you； permit her。 Remember she is weak and you are
strong。
But don't treat her unkindly。 Don't make love to another woman before
her face； even if she be your wife。 Don't do it。 Always be polite； even
should she fancy somebody better than you。
If your mother； my dear Amadis； had not fancied your father better
than somebody； you might have been that somebody's son。 Consider this。
Always be a philosopher； even about women。
Few men understand women。 Frenchmen； perhaps； better than any one
else。 I am a Frenchman。
II。
THE INFANT。
She is a childa little thingan infant。
She has a mother and father。 Let us suppose； for example； they are
married。 Let us be moral if we cannot be happy and freethey are married…
…perhapsthey love one anotherwho knows？
But she knows nothing of this； she is an infanta small thinga trifle！
She is not lovely at first。 It is cruel； perhaps； but she is red； and
positively ugly。 She feels this keenly and cries。 She weeps。 Ah； my God；
how she weeps！ Her cries and lamentations now are really distressing。
Tears stream from her in floods。 She feels deeply and copiously like M。
Alphonse de Lamartine in his Confessions。
If you are her mother； Madame； you will fancy worms； you will
examine her linen for pins； and what not。 Ah； hypocrite！ you； even YOU；
misunderstand her。
141
… Pa
