第6章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"The Hunchback of Notre Dame",免费读到尾

  Itwastheonlyspeechwhichheunderstood,theonlysoundwhichbrokeforhimtheuniversalsilence。Heswelledoutinitasabirddoesinthesun。Allofasudden,thefrenzyofthebellseizeduponhim;hislookbecameextraordinary;

  helayinwaitforthegreatbellasitpassed,asaspiderliesinwaitforafly,andflunghimselfabruptlyuponit,withmightandmain。Then,suspendedabovetheabyss,bornetoandfrobytheformidableswingingofthebell,heseizedthebrazenmonsterbytheear-laps,presseditbetweenbothknees,spurreditonwithhisheels,andredoubledthefuryofthepealwiththewholeshockandweightofhisbody。Meanwhile,thetowertrembled;heshriekedandgnashedhisteeth,hisredhairroseerect,hisbreastheavinglikeabellows,hiseyeflashedflames,themonstrousbellneighed,panting,beneathhim;andthenitwasnolongerthegreatbellofNotre-

  DamenorQuasimodo:itwasadream,awhirlwind,atempest,dizzinessmountedastrideofnoise;aspiritclingingtoaflyingcrupper,astrangecentaur,halfman,halfbell;asortofhorribleAstolphus,borneawayuponaprodigioushippogriffoflivingbronze。

  Thepresenceofthisextraordinarybeingcaused,asitwere,abreathoflifetocirculatethroughouttheentirecathedral。

  Itseemedasthoughthereescapedfromhim,atleastaccordingtothegrowingsuperstitionsofthecrowd,amysteriousemanationwhichanimatedallthestonesofNotre-Dame,andmadethedeepbowelsoftheancientchurchtopalpitate。Itsufficedforpeopletoknowthathewasthere,tomakethembelievethattheybeheldthethousandstatuesofthegalleriesandthefrontsinmotion。Andthecathedraldidindeedseemadocileandobedientcreaturebeneathhishand;itwaitedonhiswilltoraiseitsgreatvoice;itwaspossessedandfilledwithQuasimodo,aswithafamiliarspirit。Onewouldhavesaidthathemadetheimmenseedificebreathe。Hewaseverywhereaboutit;infact,hemultipliedhimselfonallpointsofthestructure。Nowoneperceivedwithaffrightattheverytopofoneofthetowers,afantasticdwarfclimbing,writhing,crawlingonallfours,descendingoutsideabovetheabyss,leapingfromprojectiontoprojection,andgoingtoransackthebellyofsomesculpturedgorgon;itwasQuasimododislodgingthecrows。Again,insomeobscurecornerofthechurchonecameincontactwithasortoflivingchimera,crouchingandscowling;itwasQuasimodoengagedinthought。

  Sometimesonecaughtsight,uponabelltower,ofanenormousheadandabundleofdisorderedlimbsswingingfuriouslyattheendofarope;itwasQuasimodoringingvespersortheAngelus。Oftenatnightahideousformwasseenwanderingalongthefrailbalustradeofcarvedlacework,whichcrownsthetowersandbordersthecircumferenceoftheapse;againitwasthehunchbackofNotre-Dame。Then,saidthewomenoftheneighborhood,thewholechurchtookonsomethingfantastic,supernatural,horrible;eyesandmouthswereopened,hereandthere;oneheardthedogs,themonsters,andthegargoylesofstone,whichkeepwatchnightandday,withoutstretchedneckandopenjaws,aroundthemonstrouscathedral,barking。And,ifitwasaChristmasEve,whilethegreatbell,whichseemedtoemitthedeathrattle,summonedthefaithfultothemidnightmass,suchanairwasspreadoverthesombrefa?adethatonewouldhavedeclaredthatthegrandportalwasdevouringthethrong,andthattherosewindowwaswatchingit。AndallthiscamefromQuasimodo。Egyptwouldhavetakenhimforthegodofthistemple;theMiddleAgesbelievedhimtobeitsdemon:hewasinfactitssoul。

  TosuchanextentwasthisdiseasethatforthosewhoknowthatQuasimodohasexisted,Notre-Dameisto-daydeserted,inanimate,dead。Onefeelsthatsomethinghasdisappearedfromit。Thatimmensebodyisempty;itisaskeleton;thespirithasquittedit,oneseesitsplaceandthatisall。Itislikeaskullwhichstillhasholesfortheeyes,butnolongersight。

  CHAPTERIV。

  THEDOGANDHISMASTER。

  Nevertheless,therewasonehumancreaturewhomQuasimodoexceptedfromhismaliceandfromhishatredforothers,andwhomhelovedevenmore,perhaps,thanhiscathedral:

  thiswasClaudeFrollo。

  Thematterwassimple;ClaudeFrollohadtakenhimin,hadadoptedhim,hadnourishedhim,hadrearedhim。Whenalittlelad,itwasbetweenClaudeFrollo’slegsthathewasaccustomedtoseekrefuge,whenthedogsandthechildrenbarkedafterhim。ClaudeFrollohadtaughthimtotalk,toread,towrite。ClaudeFrollohadfinallymadehimthebellringer。Now,togivethebigbellinmarriagetoQuasimodowastogiveJuliettoRomeo。

  HenceQuasimodo’sgratitudewasprofound,passionate,boundless;andalthoughthevisageofhisadoptedfatherwasoftencloudedorsevere,althoughhisspeechwashabituallycurt,harsh,imperious,thatgratitudeneverwaveredforasinglemoment。ThearchdeaconhadinQuasimodothemostsubmissiveslave,themostdocilelackey,themostvigilantofdogs。Whenthepoorbellringerbecamedeaf,therehadbeenestablishedbetweenhimandClaudeFrollo,alanguageofsigns,mysteriousandunderstoodbythemselvesalone。InthismannerthearchdeaconwasthesolehumanbeingwithwhomQuasimodohadpreservedcommunication。

  Hewasinsympathywithbuttwothingsinthisworld:Notre-

  DameandClaudeFrollo。

  Thereisnothingwhichcanbecomparedwiththeempireofthearchdeaconoverthebellringer;withtheattachmentofthebellringerforthearchdeacon。AsignfromClaudeandtheideaofgivinghimpleasurewouldhavesufficedtomakeQuasimodohurlhimselfheadlongfromthesummitofNotre-

  Dame。Itwasaremarkablething——allthatphysicalstrengthwhichhadreachedinQuasimodosuchanextraordinarydevelopment,andwhichwasplacedbyhimblindlyatthedispositionofanother。Therewasinit,nodoubt,filialdevotion,domesticattachment;therewasalsothefascinationofonespiritbyanotherspirit。Itwasapoor,awkward,andclumsyorganization,whichstoodwithloweredheadandsupplicatingeyesbeforealoftyandprofound,apowerfulandsuperiorintellect。Lastly,andaboveall,itwasgratitude。Gratitudesopushedtoitsextremestlimit,thatwedonotknowtowhattocompareit。Thisvirtueisnotoneofthoseofwhichthefinestexamplesaretobemetwithamongmen。Wewillsaythen,thatQuasimodolovedthearchdeaconasneveradog,neverahorse,neveranelephantlovedhismaster。

  CHAPTERV。

  MOREABOUTCLAUDEFROLLO。

  In1482,Quasimodowasabouttwentyyearsofage;ClaudeFrollo,aboutthirty-six。Onehadgrownup,theotherhadgrownold。

  ClaudeFrollowasnolongerthesimplescholarofthecollegeofTorch,thetenderprotectorofalittlechild,theyounganddreamyphilosopherwhoknewmanythingsandwasignorantofmany。Hewasapriest,austere,grave,morose;onechargedwithsouls;monsieurthearchdeaconofJosas,thebishop’ssecondacolyte,havingchargeofthetwodeaneriesofMontlhéry,andChateaufort,andonehundredandseventy-fourcountrycuracies。Hewasanimposingandsombrepersonage,beforewhomthechoirboysinalbandinjackettrembled,aswellasthemachicots*,andthebrothersofSaint-AugustineandthematutinalclerksofNotre-Dame,whenhepassedslowlybeneaththeloftyarchesofthechoir,majestic,thoughtful,witharmsfoldedandhisheadsobentuponhisbreastthatallonesawofhisfacewashislarge,baldbrow。

  *AnofficialofNotre-Dame,lowerthanabeneficedclergyman,higherthansimplepaidchanters。

  DomClaudeFrollohad,however,abandonedneithersciencenortheeducationofhisyoungbrother,thosetwooccupationsofhislife。Butastimewenton,somebitternesshadbeenmingledwiththesethingswhichweresosweet。Inthelongrun,saysPaulDiacre,thebestlardturnsrancid。LittleJehanFrollo,surnamed~duMoulin~\"oftheMill\"becauseoftheplacewherehehadbeenreared,hadnotgrownupinthedirectionwhichClaudewouldhavelikedtoimposeuponhim。

  Thebigbrothercounteduponapious,docile,learned,andhonorablepupil。Butthelittlebrother,likethoseyoungtreeswhichdeceivethegardener’shopesandturnobstinatelytothequarterwhencetheyreceivesunandair,thelittlebrotherdidnotgrowanddidnotmultiply,butonlyputforthfinebushyandluxuriantbranchesonthesideoflaziness,ignorance,anddebauchery。Hewasaregulardevil,andaverydisorderlyone,whomadeDomClaudescowl;butverydrollandverysubtle,whichmadethebigbrothersmile。

  ClaudehadconfidedhimtothatsamecollegeofTorchiwherehehadpassedhisearlyyearsinstudyandmeditation;

  anditwasagrieftohimthatthissanctuary,formerlyedifiedbythenameofFrollo,shouldto-daybescandalizedbyit。

  HesometimespreachedJehanverylongandseveresermons,whichthelatterintrepidlyendured。Afterall,theyoungscapegracehadagoodheart,ascanbeseeninallcomedies。

  Butthesermonover,henonethelesstranquillyresumedhiscourseofseditionsandenormities。Nowitwasa~bejaune~oryellowbeakastheycalledthenewarrivalsattheuniversity,whomhehadbeenmaulingbywayofwelcome;aprecioustraditionwhichhasbeencarefullypreservedtoourownday。

  Again,hehadsetinmovementabandofscholars,whohadflungthemselvesuponawine-shopinclassicfashion,quasi~classicoexcitati~,hadthenbeatenthetavern-keeper\"withoffensivecudgels,\"andjoyouslypillagedthetavern,eventosmashinginthehogsheadsofwineinthecellar。AndthenitwasafinereportinLatin,whichthesub-monitorofTorchicarriedpiteouslytoDomClaudewiththisdolorousmarginalcomment,——~Rixa;primacausavinumoptimumpotatum~。Finally,itwassaid,athingquitehorribleinaboyofsixteen,thathisdebaucheryoftenextendedasfarastheRuedeGlatigny。

  Claude,saddenedanddiscouragedinhishumanaffections,byallthis,hadflunghimselfeagerlyintothearmsoflearning,thatsisterwhich,atleastdoesnotlaughinyourface,andwhichalwayspaysyou,thoughinmoneythatissometimesalittlehollow,fortheattentionwhichyouhavepaidtoher。

  Hence,hebecamemoreandmorelearned,and,atthesametime,asanaturalconsequence,moreandmorerigidasapriest,moreandmoresadasaman。Thereareforeachofusseveralparallelismsbetweenourintelligence,ourhabits,andourcharacter,whichdevelopwithoutabreak,andbreakonlyinthegreatdisturbancesoflife。

  AsClaudeFrollohadpassedthroughnearlytheentirecircleofhumanlearning——positive,exterior,andpermissible——sincehisyouth,hewasobliged,unlesshecametoahalt,~ubidefuitorbis~,toproceedfurtherandseekotheralimentsfortheinsatiableactivityofhisintelligence。Theantiquesymboloftheserpentbitingitstailis,aboveall,applicabletoscience。ItwouldappearthatClaudeFrollohadexperiencedthis。Manygravepersonsaffirmthat,afterhavingexhaustedthe~fas~ofhumanlearning,hehaddaredtopenetrateintothe~nefas~。Hehad,theysaid,tastedinsuccessionalltheapplesofthetreeofknowledge,and,whetherfromhungerordisgust,hadendedbytastingtheforbiddenfruit。Hehadtakenhisplacebyturns,asthereaderhasseen,intheconferencesofthetheologiansinSorbonne,——intheassembliesofthedoctorsofart,afterthemannerofSaint-Hilaire,——inthedisputesofthedecretalists,afterthemannerofSaint-Martin,——inthecongregationsofphysiciansattheholywaterfontofNotre-

  Dame,~adcupamNostroe-Dominoe~。Allthedishespermittedandapproved,whichthosefourgreatkitchenscalledthefourfacultiescouldelaborateandservetotheunderstanding,hehaddevoured,andhadbeensatiatedwiththembeforehishungerwasappeased。Thenhehadpenetratedfurther,lower,beneathallthatfinished,material,limitedknowledge;

  hehad,perhaps,riskedhissoul,andhadseatedhimselfinthecavernatthatmysterioustableofthealchemists,oftheastrologers,ofthehermetics,ofwhichAverroès,GillaumedeParis,andNicolasFlamelholdtheendintheMiddleAges;

  andwhichextendsintheEast,bythelightoftheseven-

  branchedcandlestick,toSolomon,Pythagoras,andZoroaster。

  Thatis,atleast,whatwassupposed,whetherrightlyornot。

  ItiscertainthatthearchdeaconoftenvisitedthecemeteryoftheSaints-Innocents,where,itistrue,hisfatherandmotherhadbeenburied,withothervictimsoftheplagueof1466;butthatheappearedfarlessdevoutbeforethecrossoftheirgravethanbeforethestrangefigureswithwhichthetombofNicolasFlamelandClaudePernelle,erectedjustbesideit,wasloaded。

  ItiscertainthathehadfrequentlybeenseentopassalongtheRuedesLombards,andfurtivelyenteralittlehousewhichformedthecorneroftheRuedesEcrivansandtheRueMarivault。ItwasthehousewhichNicolasFlamelhadbuilt,wherehehaddiedabout1417,andwhich,constantlydesertedsincethattime,hadalreadybeguntofallinruins,——sogreatlyhadthehermeticsandthealchemistsofallcountrieswastedawaythewalls,merelybycarvingtheirnamesuponthem。Someneighborsevenaffirmthattheyhadonceseen,throughanair-hole,ArchdeaconClaudeexcavating,turningover,digginguptheearthinthetwocellars,whosesupportshadbeendaubedwithnumberlesscoupletsandhieroglyphicsbyNicolasFlamelhimself。ItwassupposedthatFlamelhadburiedthephilosopher’sstoneinthecellar;andthealchemists,forthespaceoftwocenturies,fromMagistritoFatherPacifique,neverceasedtoworrythesoiluntilthehouse,socruellyransackedandturnedover,endedbyfallingintodustbeneaththeirfeet。

  Again,itiscertainthatthearchdeaconhadbeenseizedwithasingularpassionforthesymbolicaldoorofNotre-

  Dame,thatpageofaconjuringbookwritteninstone,byBishopGuillaumedeParis,whohas,nodoubt,beendamnedforhavingaffixedsoinfernalafrontispiecetothesacredpoemchantedbytherestoftheedifice。ArchdeaconClaudehadthecreditalsoofhavingfathomedthemysteryofthecolossusofSaintChristopher,andofthatlofty,enigmaticalstatuewhichthenstoodattheentranceofthevestibule,andwhichthepeople,inderision,called\"MonsieurLegris。\"But,whateveryonemighthavenoticedwastheinterminablehourswhichheoftenemployed,seatedupontheparapetoftheareainfrontofthechurch,incontemplatingthesculpturesofthefront;examiningnowthefoolishvirginswiththeirlampsreversed,nowthewisevirginswiththeirlampsupright;again,calculatingtheangleofvisionofthatravenwhichbelongstotheleftfront,andwhichislookingatamysteriouspointinsidethechurch,whereisconcealedthephilosopher’sstone,ifitbenotinthecellarofNicolasFlamel。

  Itwas,letusremarkinpassing,asingularfatefortheChurchofNotre-Dameatthatepochtobesobeloved,intwodifferentdegrees,andwithsomuchdevotion,bytwobeingssodissimilarasClaudeandQuasimodo。Belovedbyone,asortofinstinctiveandsavagehalf-man,foritsbeauty,foritsstature,fortheharmonieswhichemanatedfromitsmagnificentensemble;belovedbytheother,alearnedandpassionateimagination,foritsmyth,forthesensewhichitcontains,forthesymbolismscatteredbeneaththesculpturesofitsfront,——likethefirsttextunderneaththesecondinapalimpsest,——inaword,fortheenigmawhichitiseternallypropoundingtotheunderstanding。

  Furthermore,itiscertainthatthearchdeaconhadestablishedhimselfinthatoneofthetwotowerswhichlooksupontheGrève,justbesidetheframeforthebells,averysecretlittlecell,intowhichnoone,noteventhebishop,enteredwithouthisleave,itwassaid。Thistinycellhadformerlybeenmadealmostatthesummitofthetower,amongtheravens’nests,byBishopHugodeBesan?on*whohadwroughtsorcerythereinhisday。Whatthatcellcontained,nooneknew;butfromthestrandoftheTerrain,atnight,therewasoftenseentoappear,disappear,andreappearatbriefandregularintervals,atalittledormerwindowopeninguponthebackofthetower,acertainred,intermittent,singularlightwhichseemedtofollowthepantingbreathsofabellows,andtoproceedfromaflame,ratherthanfromalight。Inthedarkness,atthatheight,itproducedasingulareffect;andthegoodwivessaid:\"There’sthearchdeaconblowing!hellissparklingupyonder!\"

  *HugoII。deBisuncio,1326-1332。

  Therewerenogreatproofsofsorceryinthat,afterall,buttherewasstillenoughsmoketowarrantasurmiseoffire,andthearchdeaconboreatolerablyformidablereputation。Weoughttomentionhowever,thatthesciencesofEgypt,thatnecromancyandmagic,eventhewhitest,eventhemostinnocent,hadnomoreenvenomedenemy,nomorepitilessdenunciatorbeforethegentlemenoftheofficialtyofNotre-Dame。

  Whetherthiswassincerehorror,orthegameplayedbythethiefwhoshouts,\"stopthief!\"atallevents,itdidnotpreventthearchdeaconfrombeingconsideredbythelearnedheadsofthechapter,asasoulwhohadventuredintothevestibuleofhell,whowaslostinthecavesofthecabal,gropingamidtheshadowsoftheoccultsciences。Neitherwerethepeopledeceivedthereby;withanyonewhopossessedanysagacity,Quasimodopassedforthedemon;ClaudeFrollo,forthesorcerer。Itwasevidentthatthebellringerwastoservethearchdeaconforagiventime,attheendofwhichhewouldcarryawaythelatter’ssoul,bywayofpayment。Thusthearchdeacon,inspiteoftheexcessiveausterityofhislife,wasinbadodoramongallpioussouls;andtherewasnodevoutnosesoinexperiencedthatitcouldnotsmellhimouttobeamagician。

  Andif,ashegrewolder,abysseshadformedinhisscience,theyhadalsoformedinhisheart。Thatatleast,iswhatonehadgroundsforbelievingonscrutinizingthatfaceuponwhichthesoulwasonlyseentoshinethroughasombrecloud。

  Whencethatlarge,baldbrow?thatheadforeverbent?thatbreastalwaysheavingwithsighs?Whatsecretthoughtcausedhismouthtosmilewithsomuchbitterness,atthesamemomentthathisscowlingbrowsapproachedeachotherliketwobullsonthepointoffighting?Whywaswhathairhehadleftalreadygray?Whatwasthatinternalfirewhichsometimesbrokeforthinhisglance,tosuchadegreethathiseyeresembledaholepiercedinthewallofafurnace?

  Thesesymptomsofaviolentmoralpreoccupation,hadacquiredanespeciallyhighdegreeofintensityattheepochwhenthisstorytakesplace。Morethanonceachoir-boyhadfledinterroratfindinghimaloneinthechurch,sostrangeanddazzlingwashislook。Morethanonce,inthechoir,atthehouroftheoffices,hisneighborinthestallshadheardhimminglewiththeplainsong,~adomnemtonum~,unintelligibleparentheses。MorethanoncethelaundressoftheTerraincharged\"withwashingthechapter\"hadobserved,notwithoutaffright,themarksofnailsandclenchedfingersonthesurpliceofmonsieurthearchdeaconofJosas。

  However,heredoubledhisseverity,andhadneverbeenmoreexemplary。Byprofessionaswellasbycharacter,hehadalwaysheldhimselfalooffromwomen;heseemedtohatethemmorethanever。Themererustlingofasilkenpetticoatcausedhishoodtofalloverhiseyes。Uponthisscorehewassojealousofausterityandreserve,thatwhentheDamedeBeaujeu,theking’sdaughter,cametovisitthecloisterofNotre-Dame,inthemonthofDecember,1481,hegravelyopposedherentrance,remindingthebishopofthestatuteoftheBlackBook,datingfromthevigilofSaint-Barthélemy,1334,whichinterdictsaccesstothecloisterto\"anywomanwhatever,oldoryoung,mistressormaid。\"UponwhichthebishophadbeenconstrainedtorecitetohimtheordinanceofLegateOdo,whichexceptscertaingreatdames,~aliquoemagnatesmulieres,quoesinescandalovitarinonpossunt~。

  Andagainthearchdeaconhadprotested,objectingthattheordinanceofthelegate,whichdatedbackto1207,wasanteriorbyahundredandtwenty-sevenyearstotheBlackBook,andconsequentlywasabrogatedinfactbyit。Andhehadrefusedtoappearbeforetheprincess。

  ItwasalsonoticedthathishorrorforBohemianwomenandgypsieshadseemedtoredoubleforsometimepast。HehadpetitionedthebishopforanedictwhichexpresslyforbadetheBohemianwomentocomeanddanceandbeattheirtambourinesontheplaceoftheParvis;andforaboutthesamelengthoftime,hehadbeenransackingthemouldyplacardsoftheofficialty,inordertocollectthecasesofsorcerersandwitchescondemnedtofireortherope,forcomplicityincrimeswithrams,sows,orgoats。

  CHAPTERVI。

  UNPOPULARITY。

  Thearchdeaconandthebellringer,aswehavealreadysaid,werebutlittlelovedbythepopulacegreatandsmall,inthevicinityofthecathedral。WhenClaudeandQuasimodowentouttogether,whichfrequentlyhappened,andwhentheywereseentraversingincompany,thevaletbehindthemaster,thecold,narrow,andgloomystreetsoftheblockofNotre-Dame,morethanoneevilword,morethanoneironicalquaver,morethanoneinsultingjestgreetedthemontheirway,unlessClaudeFrollo,whichwasrarelythecase,walkedwithheaduprightandraised,showinghissevereandalmostaugustbrowtothedumbfoundedjeerers。

  Bothwereintheirquarterlike\"thepoets\"ofwhomRégnierspeaks,——

  \"Allsortsofpersonsrunafterpoets,Aswarblersflyshriekingafterowls。\"

  SometimesamischievouschildriskedhisskinandbonesfortheineffablepleasureofdrivingapinintoQuasimodo’shump。

  Again,ayounggirl,moreboldandsaucythanwasfitting,brushedthepriest’sblackrobe,singinginhisfacethesardonicditty,\"niche,niche,thedeviliscaught。\"Sometimesagroupofsqualidoldcrones,squattinginafileundertheshadowofthestepstoaporch,scoldednoisilyasthearchdeaconandthebellringerpassed,andtossedthemthisencouragingwelcome,withacurse:\"Hum!there’safellowwhosesoulismadeliketheotherone’sbody!\"Orabandofschoolboysandstreeturchins,playinghop-scotch,roseinabodyandsalutedhimclassically,withsomecryinLatin:\"~Eia!eia!Claudiuscumclaudo~!\"

  Buttheinsultgenerallypassedunnoticedbothbythepriestandthebellringer。Quasimodowastoodeaftohearallthesegraciousthings,andClaudewastoodreamy。

  BOOKFIFTH。

  CHAPTERI。

  ~ABBASBEATIMARTINI~。

  DomClaude’sfamehadspreadfarandwide。Itprocuredforhim,atabouttheepochwhenherefusedtoseeMadamedeBeaujeu,avisitwhichhelongremembered。

  Itwasintheevening。Hehadjustretired,aftertheoffice,tohiscanon’scellinthecloisterofNotre-Dame。Thiscell,withtheexception,possibly,ofsomeglassphials,relegatedtoacorner,andfilledwithadecidedlyequivocalpowder,whichstronglyresembledthealchemist’s\"powderofprojection,\"

  presentednothingstrangeormysterious。Therewere,indeed,hereandthere,someinscriptionsonthewalls,buttheywerepuresentencesoflearningandpiety,extractedfromgoodauthors。Thearchdeaconhadjustseatedhimself,bythelightofathree-jettedcopperlamp,beforeavastcoffercrammedwithmanuscripts。Hehadrestedhiselbowupontheopenvolumeof_Honoriusd’Autun_,~Depredestinationeetliberoarbitrio~,andhewasturningover,indeepmeditation,theleavesofaprintedfoliowhichhehadjustbrought,thesoleproductofthepresswhichhiscellcontained。Inthemidstofhisreverytherecameaknockathisdoor。\"Who’sthere?\"criedthelearnedman,inthegracioustoneofafamisheddog,disturbedoverhisbone。

  Avoicewithoutreplied,\"Yourfriend,JacquesCoictier。\"

  Hewenttoopenthedoor。

  Itwas,infact,theking’sphysician;apersonaboutfiftyyearsofage,whoseharshphysiognomywasmodifiedonlybyacraftyeye。Anothermanaccompaniedhim。Bothworelongslate-coloredrobes,furredwithminever,girdedandclosed,withcapsofthesamestuffandhue。Theirhandswereconcealedbytheirsleeves,theirfeetbytheirrobes,theireyesbytheircaps。

  \"Godhelpme,messieurs!\"saidthearchdeacon,showingthemin;\"Iwasnotexpectingdistinguishedvisitorsatsuchanhour。\"Andwhilespeakinginthiscourteousfashionhecastanuneasyandscrutinizingglancefromthephysiciantohiscompanion。

  \"’TisnevertoolatetocomeandpayavisittosoconsiderablealearnedmanasDomClaudeFrollodeTirechappe,\"repliedDoctorCoictier,whoseFranche-Comtéaccentmadeallhisphrasesdragalongwiththemajestyofatrain-robe。

  Therethenensuedbetweenthephysicianandthearchdeacononeofthosecongratulatoryprologueswhich,inaccordancewithcustom,atthatepochprecededallconversationsbetweenlearnedmen,andwhichdidnotpreventthemfromdetestingeachotherinthemostcordialmannerintheworld。

  However,itisthesamenowadays;everywiseman’smouthcomplimentinganotherwisemanisavaseofhoneyedgall。

  ClaudeFrollo’sfelicitationstoJacquesCoictierborereferenceprincipallytothetemporaladvantageswhichtheworthyphysicianhadfoundmeanstoextract,inthecourseofhismuchenviedcareer,fromeachmaladyoftheking,anoperationofalchemymuchbetterandmorecertainthanthepursuitofthephilosopher’sstone。

  \"Intruth,MonsieurleDocteurCoictier,Ifeltgreatjoyonlearningofthebishopricgivenyournephew,myreverendseigneurPierreVerse。IshenotBishopofAmiens?\"

  \"Yes,monsieurArchdeacon;itisagraceandmercyofGod。\"

  \"DoyouknowthatyoumadeagreatfigureonChristmasDayatthebeadofyourcompanyofthechamberofaccounts,MonsieurPresident?\"

  \"Vice-President,DomClaude。Alas!nothingmore。\"

  \"HowisyoursuperbhouseintheRueSaint-AndrédesArcscomingon?’TisaLouvre。Ilovegreatlytheapricottreewhichiscarvedonthedoor,withthisplayofwords:

  ’AL’ABRI-COTIER——Shelteredfromreefs。’\"

  \"Alas!MasterClaude,allthatmasonrycostethmedear。

  Inproportionasthehouseiserected,Iamruined。\"

  \"Ho!haveyounotyourrevenuesfromthejail,andthebailiwickofthePalais,andtherentsofallthehouses,sheds,stalls,andboothsoftheenclosure?’Tisafinebreasttosuck。\"

  \"MycastellanyofPoissyhasbroughtmeinnothingthisyear。\"

  \"ButyourtollsofTriel,ofSaint-James,ofSaint-Germainen-Layearealwaysgood。\"

  \"Sixscorelivres,andnotevenParisianlivresatthat。\"

  \"Youhaveyourofficeofcounsellortotheking。Thatisfixed。\"

  \"Yes,brotherClaude;butthataccursedseigneuryofPoligny,whichpeoplemakesomuchnoiseabout,isworthnotsixtygoldcrowns,yearoutandyearin。\"

  InthecomplimentswhichDomClaudeaddressedtoJacquesCoictier,therewasthatsardonical,biting,andcovertlymockingaccent,andthesadcruelsmileofasuperiorandunhappymanwhotoysforamoment,bywayofdistraction,withthedenseprosperityofavulgarman。Theotherdidnotperceiveit。

  \"Uponmysoul,\"saidClaudeatlength,pressinghishand,\"Iamgladtoseeyouandinsuchgoodhealth。\"

  \"Thanks,MasterClaude。\"

  \"Bytheway,\"exclaimedDomClaude,\"howisyourroyalpatient?\"

  \"Hepayethnotsufficientlyhisphysician,\"repliedthedoctor,castingasideglanceathiscompanion。

  \"Thinkyouso,GossipCoictier,\"saidthelatter。

  Thesewords,utteredinatoneofsurpriseandreproach,drewuponthisunknownpersonagetheattentionofthearchdeaconwhich,totellthetruth,hadnotbeendivertedfromhimasinglemomentsincethestrangerhadsetfootacrossthethresholdofhiscell。IthadevenrequiredallthethousandreasonswhichhehadforhandlingtenderlyDoctorJacquesCoictier,theall-powerfulphysicianofKingLouisXI。,toinducehimtoreceivethelatterthusaccompanied。Hence,therewasnothingverycordialinhismannerwhenJacquesCoictiersaidtohim,——

  \"Bytheway,DomClaude,Ibringyouacolleaguewhohasdesiredtoseeyouonaccountofyourreputation。\"

  \"Monsieurbelongstoscience?\"askedthearchdeacon,fixinghispiercingeyeuponCoictier’scompanion。Hefoundbeneaththebrowsofthestrangeraglancenolesspiercingorlessdistrustfulthanhisown。

  Hewas,sofarasthefeeblelightofthelamppermittedonetojudge,anoldmanaboutsixtyyearsofageandofmediumstature,whoappearedsomewhatsicklyandbrokeninhealth。Hisprofile,althoughofaveryordinaryoutline,hadsomethingpowerfulandsevereaboutit;hiseyessparkledbeneathaverydeepsuperciliaryarch,likealightinthedepthsofacave;andbeneathhiscapwhichwaswelldrawndownandfelluponhisnose,onerecognizedthebroadexpanseofabrowofgenius。

  Hetookituponhimselftoreplytothearchdeacon’squestion,——

  \"Reverendmaster,\"hesaidinagravetone,\"yourrenownhasreachedmyears,andIwishtoconsultyou。Iambutapoorprovincialgentleman,whoremovethhisshoesbeforeenteringthedwellingsofthelearned。Youmustknowmyname。IamcalledGossipTourangeau。\"

  \"Strangenameforagentleman,\"saidthearchdeacontohimself。

  Nevertheless,hehadafeelingthathewasinthepresenceofastrongandearnestcharacter。TheinstinctofhisownloftyintellectmadehimrecognizeanintellectnolessloftyunderGossipTourangeau’sfurredcap,andashegazedatthesolemnface,theironicalsmilewhichJacquesCoictier’spresencecalledforthonhisgloomyface,graduallydisappearedastwilightfadesonthehorizonofnight。

  Sternandsilent,hehadresumedhisseatinhisgreatarmchair;hiselbowrestedasusual,onthetable,andhisbrowonhishand。Afterafewmomentsofreflection,hemotionedhisvisitorstobeseated,and,turningtoGossipTourangeauhesaid,——

  \"Youcometoconsultme,master,anduponwhatscience?\"

  \"Yourreverence,\"repliedTourangeau,\"Iamill,veryill。

  YouaresaidtobegreatAEsculapius,andIamcometoaskyouradviceinmedicine。\"

  \"Medicine!\"saidthearchdeacon,tossinghishead。Heseemedtomeditateforamoment,andthenresumed:\"GossipTourangeau,sincethatisyourname,turnyourhead,youwillfindmyreplyalreadywrittenonthewall。\"

  GossipTourangeauobeyed,andreadthisinscriptionengravedabovehishead:\"Medicineisthedaughterofdreams——JAMBLIQUE。\"

  Meanwhile,DoctorJacquesCoictierhadheardhiscompanion’squestionwithadispleasurewhichDomClaude’sresponsehadbutredoubled。HebentdowntotheearofGossipTourangeau,andsaidtohim,softlyenoughnottobeheardbythearchdeacon:\"Iwarnedyouthathewasmad。

  Youinsistedonseeinghim。\"

  \"’Tisverypossiblethatheisright,madmanasheis,DoctorJacques,\"repliedhiscomradeinthesamelowtone,andwithabittersmile。

  \"Asyouplease,\"repliedCoictierdryly。Then,addressingthearchdeacon:\"Youarecleveratyourtrade,DomClaude,andyouarenomoreatalossoverHippocratesthanamonkeyisoveranut。Medicineadream!Isuspectthatthepharmacopolistsandthemasterphysicianswouldinsistuponstoningyouiftheywerehere。Soyoudenytheinfluenceofphiltresupontheblood,andunguentsontheskin!Youdenythateternalpharmacyofflowersandmetals,whichiscalledtheworld,madeexpresslyforthateternalinvalidcalledman!\"

  \"Ideny,\"saidDomClaudecoldly,\"neitherpharmacynortheinvalid。Irejectthephysician。\"

  \"Thenitisnottrue,\"resumedCoictierhotly,\"thatgoutisaninternaleruption;thatawoundcausedbyartilleryistobecuredbytheapplicationofayoungmouseroasted;thatyoungblood,properlyinjected,restoresyouthtoagedveins;

  itisnottruethattwoandtwomakefour,andthatemprostathonosfollowsopistathonos。\"

  Thearchdeaconrepliedwithoutperturbation:\"TherearecertainthingsofwhichIthinkinacertainfashion。\"

  Coictierbecamecrimsonwithanger。

  \"There,there,mygoodCoictier,letusnotgetangry,\"saidGossipTourangeau。\"Monsieurthearchdeaconisourfriend。\"

  Coictiercalmeddown,mutteringinalowtone,——

  \"Afterall,he’smad。\"

  \"~Pasque-dieu~,MasterClaude,\"resumedGossipTourangeau,afterasilence,\"Youembarrassmegreatly。Ihadtwothingstoconsultyouupon,onetouchingmyhealthandtheothertouchingmystar。\"

  \"Monsieur,\"returnedthearchdeacon,\"ifthatbeyourmotive,youwouldhavedoneaswellnottoputyourselfoutofbreathclimbingmystaircase。IdonotbelieveinMedicine。

  IdonotbelieveinAstrology。\"

  \"Indeed!\"saidtheman,withsurprise。

  Coictiergaveaforcedlaugh。

  \"Youseethatheismad,\"hesaid,inalowtone,toGossipTourangeau。\"Hedoesnotbelieveinastrology。\"

  \"Theideaofimagining,\"pursuedDomClaude,\"thateveryrayofastarisathreadwhichisfastenedtotheheadofaman!\"

  \"Andwhatthen,doyoubelievein?\"exclaimedGossipTourangeau。

  Thearchdeaconhesitatedforamoment,thenheallowedagloomysmiletoescape,whichseemedtogivethelietohisresponse:\"~CredoinDeum~。\"

  \"~Dominumnostrum~,\"addedGossipTourangeau,makingthesignofthecross。

  \"Amen,\"saidCoictier。

  \"Reverendmaster,\"resumedTourangeau,\"Iamcharmedinsoultoseeyouinsuchareligiousframeofmind。Buthaveyoureachedthepoint,greatsavantasyouare,ofnolongerbelievinginscience?\"

  \"No,\"saidthearchdeacon,graspingthearmofGossipTourangeau,andarayofenthusiasmlighteduphisgloomyeyes,\"no,Idonotrejectscience。Ihavenotcrawledsolong,flatonmybelly,withmynailsintheearth,throughtheinnumerableramificationsofitscaverns,withoutperceivingfarinfrontofme,attheendoftheobscuregallery,alight,aflame,asomething,thereflection,nodoubt,ofthedazzlingcentrallaboratorywherethepatientandthewisehavefoundoutGod。\"

  \"Andinshort,\"interruptedTourangeau,\"whatdoyouholdtobetrueandcertain?\"

  \"Alchemy。\"

  Coictierexclaimed,\"Pardieu,DomClaude,alchemyhasitsuse,nodoubt,butwhyblasphememedicineandastrology?\"

  \"Naughtisyourscienceofman,naughtisyourscienceofthestars,\"saidthearchdeacon,commandingly。

  \"That’sdrivingEpidaurusandChaldeaveryfast,\"repliedthephysicianwithagrin。

  \"Listen,MessireJacques。Thisissaidingoodfaith。I

  amnottheking’sphysician,andhismajestyhasnotgivenmetheGardenofDaedalusinwhichtoobservetheconstellations。Don’tgetangry,butlistentome。Whattruthhaveyoudeduced,Iwillnotsayfrommedicine,whichistoofoolishathing,butfromastrology?Citetomethevirtuesoftheverticalboustrophedon,thetreasuresofthenumberziruphandthoseofthenumberzephirod!\"

  \"Willyoudeny,\"saidCoictier,\"thesympatheticforceofthecollarbone,andthecabalisticswhicharederivedfromit?\"

  \"Anerror,MessireJacques!Noneofyourformulasendinreality。Alchemyontheotherhandhasitsdiscoveries。Willyoucontestresultslikethis?Iceconfinedbeneaththeearthforathousandyearsistransformedintorockcrystals。Leadistheancestorofallmetals。Forgoldisnotametal,goldislight。Leadrequiresonlyfourperiodsoftwohundredyearseach,topassinsuccessionfromthestateoflead,tothestateofredarsenic,fromredarsenictotin,fromtintosilver。Arenotthesefacts?Buttobelieveinthecollarbone,inthefulllineandinthestars,isasridiculousastobelievewiththeinhabitantsofGrand-Cathaythatthegoldenorioleturnsintoamole,andthatgrainsofwheatturnintofishofthecarpspecies。\"

  \"Ihavestudiedhermeticscience!\"exclaimedCoictier,\"andIaffirm——\"

  Thefieryarchdeacondidnotallowhimtofinish:\"AndI

  havestudiedmedicine,astrology,andhermetics。Herealoneisthetruth。\"Ashespokethus,hetookfromthetopofthecofferaphialfilledwiththepowderwhichwehavementionedabove,\"herealoneislight!Hippocratesisadream;Uraniaisadream;Hermes,athought。Goldisthesun;tomakegoldistobeGod。Hereinliestheoneandonlyscience。

  Ihavesoundedthedepthsofmedicineandastrology,Itellyou!Naught,nothingness!Thehumanbody,shadows!theplanets,shadows!\"

  Andhefellbackinhisarmchairinacommandingandinspiredattitude。GossipTouraugeauwatchedhiminsilence。

  Coictiertriedtogrin,shruggedhisshouldersimperceptibly,andrepeatedinalowvoice,——

  \"Amadman!\"

  \"And,\"saidTourangeausuddenly,\"thewondrousresult,——

  haveyouattainedit,haveyoumadegold?\"

  \"IfIhadmadeit,\"repliedthearchdeacon,articulatinghiswordsslowly,likeamanwhoisreflecting,\"thekingofFrancewouldbenamedClaudeandnotLouis。\"

  Thestrangerfrowned。

  \"WhatamIsaying?\"resumedDomClaude,withasmileofdisdain。\"WhatwouldthethroneofFrancebetomewhenIcouldrebuildtheempireoftheOrient?\"

  \"Verygood!\"saidthestranger。

  \"Oh,thepoorfool!\"murmuredCoictier。

  Thearchdeaconwenton,appearingtoreplynowonlytohisthoughts,——

  \"Butno,Iamstillcrawling;Iamscratchingmyfaceandkneesagainstthepebblesofthesubterraneanpathway。I

  catchaglimpse,Idonotcontemplate!Idonotread,I

  spellout!\"

  \"Andwhenyouknowhowtoread!\"demandedthestranger,\"willyoumakegold?\"

  \"Whodoubtsit?\"saidthearchdeacon。

  \"InthatcaseOurLadyknowsthatIamgreatlyinneedofmoney,andIshouldmuchdesiretoreadinyourbooks。Tellme,reverendmaster,isyourscienceinimicalordispleasingtoOurLady?\"

  \"WhosearchdeaconIam?\"DomClaudecontentedhimselfwithreplying,withtranquilhauteur。

  \"Thatistrue,mymaster。Well!willitpleaseyoutoinitiateme?Letmespellwithyou。\"

  ClaudeassumedthemajesticandpontificalattitudeofaSamuel。

  \"Oldman,itrequireslongeryearsthanremaintoyou,toundertakethisvoyageacrossmysteriousthings。Yourheadisverygray!Onecomesforthfromthecavernonlywithwhitehair,butonlythosewithdarkhairenterit。Sciencealoneknowswellhowtohollow,wither,anddryuphumanfaces;sheneedsnottohaveoldagebringherfacesalreadyfurrowed。Nevertheless,ifthedesirepossessesyouofputtingyourselfunderdisciplineatyourage,andofdecipheringtheformidablealphabetofthesages,cometome;’tiswell,Iwillmaketheeffort。Iwillnottellyou,pooroldman,togoandvisitthesepulchralchambersofthepyramids,ofwhichancientHerodotusspeaks,northebricktowerofBabylon,northeimmensewhitemarblesanctuaryoftheIndiantempleofEklinga。I,nomorethanyourself,haveseentheChaldeanmasonryworksconstructedaccordingtothesacredformoftheSikra,northetempleofSolomon,whichisdestroyed,northestonedoorsofthesepulchreofthekingsofIsrael,whicharebroken。WewillcontentourselveswiththefragmentsofthebookofHermeswhichwehavehere。

  IwillexplaintoyouthestatueofSaintChristopher,thesymbolofthesower,andthatofthetwoangelswhichareonthefrontoftheSainte-Chapelle,andoneofwhichholdsinhishandsavase,theother,acloud——\"

  HereJacquesCoictier,whohadbeenunhorsedbythearchdeacon’simpetuousreplies,regainedhissaddle,andinterruptedhimwiththetriumphanttoneofonelearnedmancorrectinganother,——\"~ErrasamiceClaudi~。Thesymbolisnotthenumber。YoutakeOrpheusforHermes。\"

  \"’Tisyouwhoareinerror,\"repliedthearchdeacon,gravely。

  \"Daedalusisthebase;Orpheusisthewall;Hermesistheedifice,——thatisall。Youshallcomewhenyouwill,\"hecontinued,turningtoTourangeau,\"IwillshowyouthelittleparcelsofgoldwhichremainedatthebottomofNicholasFlamel’salembic,andyoushallcomparethemwiththegoldofGuillaumedeParis。IwillteachyouthesecretvirtuesoftheGreekword,~peristera~。But,firstofall,Iwillmakeyouread,oneaftertheother,themarblelettersofthealphabet,thegranitepagesofthebook。WeshallgototheportalofBishopGuillaumeandofSaint-JeanleRondattheSainte-

  Chapelle,thentothehouseofNicholasFlamel,RueManvault,tohistomb,whichisattheSaints-Innocents,tohistwohospitals,RuedeMontmorency。IwillmakeyoureadthehieroglyphicswhichcoverthefourgreatironcrampsontheportalofthehospitalSaint-Gervais,andoftheRuedelaFerronnerie。Wewillspelloutincompany,also,thefa?adeofSaint-Come,ofSainte-Geneviève-des-Ardents,ofSaintMartin,ofSaint-JacquesdelaBoucherie。\"

  Foralongtime,GossipTourangeau,intelligentaswashisglance,hadappearednottounderstandDomClaude。Heinterrupted。

  \"~Pasque-dieu~!whatareyourbooks,then?\"

  \"Hereisoneofthem,\"saidthearchdeacon。

  AndopeningthewindowofhiscellhepointedoutwithhisfingertheimmensechurchofNotre-Dame,which,outliningagainstthestarryskytheblacksilhouetteofitstwotowers,itsstoneflanks,itsmonstroushaunches,seemedanenormoustwo-headedsphinx,seatedinthemiddleofthecity。

  Thearchdeacongazedatthegiganticedificeforsometimeinsilence,thenextendinghisrighthand,withasigh,towardstheprintedbookwhichlayopenonthetable,andhislefttowardsNotre-Dame,andturningasadglancefromthebooktothechurch,——\"Alas,\"hesaid,\"thiswillkillthat。\"

  Coictier,whohadeagerlyapproachedthebook,couldnotrepressanexclamation。\"Hé,butnow,whatistheresoformidableinthis:’GLOSSAINEPISTOLASD。PAULI,~Norimbergoe,AntoniusKoburger~,1474。’Thisisnotnew。’TisabookofPierreLombard,theMasterofSentences。Isitbecauseitisprinted?\"

  \"Youhavesaidit,\"repliedClaude,whoseemedabsorbedinaprofoundmeditation,andstoodresting,hisforefingerbentbackwardonthefoliowhichhadcomefromthefamouspressofNuremberg。Thenheaddedthesemysteriouswords:

  \"Alas!alas!smallthingscomeattheendofgreatthings;atoothtriumphsoveramass。TheNileratkillsthecrocodile,theswordfishkillsthewhale,thebookwillkilltheedifice。\"

  ThecurfewofthecloistersoundedatthemomentwhenMasterJacqueswasrepeatingtohiscompanioninlowtones,hiseternalrefrain,\"Heismad!\"Towhichhiscompanionthistimereplied,\"Ibelievethatheis。\"

  Itwasthehourwhennostrangercouldremaininthecloister。Thetwovisitorswithdrew。\"Master,\"saidGossipTourangeau,ashetookleaveofthearchdeacon,\"Ilovewisemenandgreatminds,andIholdyouinsingularesteem。

  Cometo-morrowtothePalacedesTournelles,andinquirefortheAbbédeSainte-Martin,ofTours。\"

  Thearchdeaconreturnedtohischamberdumbfounded,comprehendingatlastwhoGossipTourangeauwas,andrecallingthatpassageoftheregisterofSainte-Martin,ofTours:——

  ~AbbasbeatiMartini,SCILICETREXFRANCIAE,estcanonicusdeconsuetudineethabetparvamproebendamquamhabetsanctusVenantius,etdebetsedereinsedethesaurarii~。

  ItisassertedthatafterthatepochthearchdeaconhadfrequentconferenceswithLouisXI。,whenhismajestycametoParis,andthatDomClaude’sinfluencequiteovershadowedthatofOlivierleDaimandJacquesCoictier,who,aswashishabit,rudelytookthekingtotaskonthataccount。

  CHAPTERII。

  THISWILLKILLTHAT。

  Ourladyreaderswillpardonusifwepauseforamomenttoseekwhatcouldhavebeenthethoughtconcealedbeneaththoseenigmaticwordsofthearchdeacon:\"Thiswillkillthat。Thebookwillkilltheedifice。\"

  Toourmind,thisthoughthadtwofaces。Inthefirstplace,itwasapriestlythought。Itwastheaffrightofthepriestinthepresenceofanewagent,theprintingpress。Itwastheterroranddazzledamazementofthemenofthesanctuary,inthepresenceoftheluminouspressofGutenberg。Itwasthepulpitandthemanuscripttakingthealarmattheprintedword:somethingsimilartothestuporofasparrowwhichshouldbeholdtheangelLegionunfoldhissixmillionwings。

  Itwasthecryoftheprophetwhoalreadyhearsemancipatedhumanityroaringandswarming;whobeholdsinthefuture,intelligencesappingfaith,opiniondethroningbelief,theworldshakingoffRome。Itwastheprognosticationofthephilosopherwhoseeshumanthought,volatilizedbythepress,evaporatingfromthetheocraticrecipient。Itwastheterrorofthesoldierwhoexaminesthebrazenbatteringram,andsays:——\"Thetowerwillcrumble。\"Itsignifiedthatonepowerwasabouttosucceedanotherpower。Itmeant,\"Thepresswillkillthechurch。\"

  Butunderlyingthisthought,thefirstandmostsimpleone,nodoubt,therewasinouropinionanother,newerone,acorollaryofthefirst,lesseasytoperceiveandmoreeasytocontest,aviewasphilosophicalandbelongingnolongertothepriestalonebuttothesavantandtheartist。Itwasapresentimentthathumanthought,inchangingitsform,wasabouttochangeitsmodeofexpression;thatthedominantideaofeachgenerationwouldnolongerbewrittenwiththesamematter,andinthesamemanner;thatthebookofstone,sosolidandsodurable,wasabouttomakewayforthebookofpaper,moresolidandstillmoredurable。Inthisconnectionthearchdeacon’svagueformulahadasecondsense。

  Itmeant,\"Printingwillkillarchitecture。\"

  Infact,fromtheoriginofthingsdowntothefifteenthcenturyoftheChristianera,inclusive,architectureisthegreatbookofhumanity,theprincipalexpressionofmaninhisdifferentstagesofdevelopment,eitherasaforceorasanintelligence。

  Whenthememoryofthefirstracesfeltitselfoverloaded,whenthemassofreminiscencesofthehumanracebecamesoheavyandsoconfusedthatspeechnakedandflying,rantheriskoflosingthemontheway,mentranscribedthemonthesoilinamannerwhichwasatoncethemostvisible,mostdurable,andmostnatural。Theysealedeachtraditionbeneathamonument。

  Thefirstmonumentsweresimplemassesofrock,\"whichtheironhadnottouched,\"asMosessays。Architecturebeganlikeallwriting。Itwasfirstanalphabet。Menplantedastoneupright,itwasaletter,andeachletterwasahieroglyph,anduponeachhieroglyphrestedagroupofideas,likethecapitalonthecolumn。Thisiswhattheearliestracesdideverywhere,atthesamemoment,onthesurfaceoftheentireworld。Wefindthe\"standingstones\"oftheCeltsinAsianSiberia;inthepampasofAmerica。

  Lateron,theymadewords;theyplacedstoneuponstone,theycoupledthosesyllablesofgranite,andattemptedsomecombinations。TheCelticdolmenandcromlech,theEtruscantumulus,theHebrewgalgal,arewords。Some,especiallythetumulus,arepropernames。Sometimeseven,whenmenhadagreatdealofstone,andavastplain,theywroteaphrase。

  TheimmensepileofKarnacisacompletesentence。

  Atlasttheymadebooks。Traditionshadbroughtforthsymbols,beneathwhichtheydisappearedlikethetrunkofatreebeneathitsfoliage;allthesesymbolsinwhichhumanityplacedfaithcontinuedtogrow,tomultiply,tointersect,tobecomemoreandmorecomplicated;thefirstmonumentsnolongersufficedtocontainthem,theywereoverflowingineverypart;thesemonumentshardlyexpressednowtheprimitivetradition,simplelikethemselves,nakedandproneupontheearth。Thesymbolfelttheneedofexpansionintheedifice。

  Thenarchitecturewasdevelopedinproportionwithhumanthought;itbecameagiantwithathousandheadsandathousandarms,andfixedallthisfloatingsymbolisminaneternal,visible,palpableform。WhileDaedalus,whoisforce,measured;whileOrpheus,whoisintelligence,sang;——thepillar,whichisaletter;thearcade,whichisasyllable;thepyramid,whichisaword,——allsetinmovementatoncebyalawofgeometryandbyalawofpoetry,groupedthemselves,combined,amalgamated,descended,ascended,placedthemselvessidebysideonthesoil,rangedthemselvesinstoriesinthesky,untiltheyhadwrittenunderthedictationofthegeneralideaofanepoch,thosemarvellousbookswhichwerealsomarvellousedifices:thePagodaofEklinga,theRhamseionofEgypt,theTempleofSolomon。

  Thegeneratingidea,theword,wasnotonlyatthefoundationofalltheseedifices,butalsointheform。ThetempleofSolomon,forexample,wasnotalonethebindingoftheholybook;itwastheholybookitself。Oneachoneofitsconcentricwalls,thepriestscouldreadthewordtranslatedandmanifestedtotheeye,andthustheyfolloweditstransformationsfromsanctuarytosanctuary,untiltheyseizeditinitslasttabernacle,underitsmostconcreteform,whichstillbelongedtoarchitecture:thearch。Thusthewordwasenclosedinanedifice,butitsimagewasuponitsenvelope,likethehumanformonthecoffinofamummy。

  Andnotonlytheformofedifices,butthesitesselectedforthem,revealedthethoughtwhichtheyrepresented,accordingasthesymboltobeexpressedwasgracefulorgrave。

  Greececrownedhermountainswithatempleharmonioustotheeye;Indiadisembowelledhers,tochiselthereinthosemonstroussubterraneanpagodas,borneupbygiganticrowsofgraniteelephants。

  Thus,duringthefirstsixthousandyearsoftheworld,fromthemostimmemorialpagodaofHindustan,tothecathedralofCologne,architecturewasthegreathandwritingofthehumanrace。Andthisissotrue,thatnotonlyeveryreligioussymbol,buteveryhumanthought,hasitspageanditsmonumentinthatimmensebook。

  Allcivilizationbeginsintheocracyandendsindemocracy。

  Thislawoflibertyfollowingunityiswritteninarchitecture。

  For,letusinsistuponthispoint,masonrymustnotbethoughttobepowerfulonlyinerectingthetempleandinexpressingthemythandsacerdotalsymbolism;ininscribinginhieroglyphsuponitspagesofstonethemysterioustablesofthelaw。Ifitwerethus,——astherecomesinallhumansocietyamomentwhenthesacredsymboliswornoutandbecomesobliteratedunderfreedomofthought,whenmanescapesfromthepriest,whentheexcrescenceofphilosophiesandsystemsdevourthefaceofreligion,——architecturecouldnotreproducethisnewstateofhumanthought;itsleaves,socrowdedontheface,wouldbeemptyontheback;itsworkwouldbemutilated;

  itsbookwouldheincomplete。Butno。

  LetustakeasanexampletheMiddleAges,whereweseemoreclearlybecauseitisnearertous。Duringitsfirstperiod,whiletheocracyisorganizingEurope,whiletheVaticanisrallyingandreclassingaboutitselftheelementsofaRomemadefromtheRomewhichliesinruinsaroundtheCapitol,whileChristianityisseekingallthestagesofsocietyamidtherubbishofanteriorcivilization,andrebuildingwithitsruinsanewhierarchicuniverse,thekeystonetowhosevaultisthepriest——onefirsthearsadullechofromthatchaos,andthen,littlebylittle,onesees,arisingfrombeneaththebreathofChristianity,frombeneaththehandofthebarbarians,fromthefragmentsofthedeadGreekandRomanarchitectures,thatmysteriousRomanesquearchitecture,sisterofthetheocraticmasonryofEgyptandofIndia,inalterableemblemofpurecatholicism,unchangeablehieroglyphofthepapalunity。Allthethoughtofthatdayiswritten,infact,inthissombre,Romanesquestyle。Onefeelseverywhereinitauthority,unity,theimpenetrable,theabsolute,GregoryVII。;alwaysthepriest,nevertheman;everywherecaste,neverthepeople。

  ButtheCrusadesarrive。Theyareagreatpopularmovement,andeverygreatpopularmovement,whatevermaybeitscauseandobject,alwayssetsfreethespiritoflibertyfromitsfinalprecipitate。Newthingsspringintolifeeveryday。HereopensthestormyperiodoftheJacqueries,Pragueries,andLeagues。Authoritywavers,unityisdivided。

  Feudalismdemandstosharewiththeocracy,whileawaitingtheinevitablearrivalofthepeople,whowillassumethepartofthelion:~Quianominorleo~。Seignorypiercesthroughsacerdotalism;thecommonality,throughseignory。ThefaceofEuropeischanged。Well!thefaceofarchitectureischangedalso。Likecivilization,ithasturnedapage,andthenewspiritofthetimefindsherreadytowriteatitsdictation。

  Itreturnsfromthecrusadeswiththepointedarch,likethenationswithliberty。

  Then,whileRomeisundergoinggradualdismemberment,Romanesquearchitecturedies。Thehieroglyphdesertsthecathedral,andbetakesitselftoblazoningthedonjonkeep,inordertolendprestigetofeudalism。Thecathedralitself,thatedificeformerlysodogmatic,invadedhenceforthbythebourgeoisie,bythecommunity,byliberty,escapesthepriestandfallsintothepoweroftheartist。Theartistbuildsitafterhisownfashion。Farewelltomystery,myth,law。Fancyandcaprice,welcome。Providedthepriesthashisbasilicaandhisaltar,hehasnothingtosay。Thefourwallsbelongtotheartist。Thearchitecturalbookbelongsnolongertothepriest,toreligion,toRome;itisthepropertyofpoetry,ofimagination,ofthepeople。Hencetherapidandinnumerabletransformationsofthatarchitecturewhichownsbutthreecenturies,sostrikingafterthestagnantimmobilityoftheRomanesquearchitecture,whichownssixorseven。

  Nevertheless,artmarchesonwithgiantstrides。Populargeniusamidoriginalityaccomplishthetaskwhichthebishopsformerlyfulfilled。Eachracewritesitslineuponthebook,asitpasses;iterasestheancientRomanesquehieroglyphsonthefrontispiecesofcathedrals,andatthemostoneonlyseesdogmacroppingouthereandthere,beneaththenewsymbolwhichithasdeposited。Thepopulardraperyhardlypermitsthereligiousskeletontobesuspected。Onecannotevenformanideaofthelibertieswhichthearchitectsthentake,eventowardtheChurch。Therearecapitalsknittedofnunsandmonks,shamelesslycoupled,asonthehallofchimneypiecesinthePalaisdeJustice,inParis。ThereisNoah’sadventurecarvedtothelastdetail,asunderthegreatportalofBourges。

  Thereisabacchanalianmonk,withass’searsandglassinhand,laughinginthefaceofawholecommunity,asonthelavatoryoftheAbbeyofBocherville。Thereexistsatthatepoch,forthoughtwritteninstone,aprivilegeexactlycomparabletoourpresentlibertyofthepress。Itisthelibertyofarchitecture。

  Thislibertygoesveryfar。Sometimesaportal,afa?ade,anentirechurch,presentsasymbolicalsenseabsolutelyforeigntoworship,orevenhostiletotheChurch。Inthethirteenthcentury,GuillaumedeParis,andNicholasFlamel,inthefifteenth,wrotesuchseditiouspages。Saint-JacquesdelaBoucheriewasawholechurchoftheopposition。

  Thoughtwasthenfreeonlyinthismanner;henceitneverwroteitselfoutcompletelyexceptonthebookscallededifices。

  Thought,undertheformofedifice,couldhavebehelditselfburnedinthepublicsquarebythehandsoftheexecutioner,initsmanuscriptform,ifithadbeensufficientlyimprudenttoriskitselfthus;thought,asthedoorofachurch,wouldhavebeenaspectatorofthepunishmentofthoughtasabook。Havingthusonlythisresource,masonry,inordertomakeitswaytothelight,flungitselfuponitfromallquarters。

  HencetheimmensequantityofcathedralswhichhavecoveredEurope——anumbersoprodigiousthatonecanhardlybelieveitevenafterhavingverifiedit。Allthematerialforces,alltheintellectualforcesofsocietyconvergedtowardsthesamepoint:architecture。Inthismanner,underthepretextofbuildingchurchestoGod,artwasdevelopedinitsmagnificentproportions。

  Thenwhoeverwasbornapoetbecameanarchitect。

  Genius,scatteredinthemasses,repressedineveryquarterunderfeudalismasundera~testudo~ofbrazenbucklers,findingnoissueexceptinthedirectionofarchitecture,——gushedforththroughthatart,anditsIliadsassumedtheformofcathedrals。Allotherartsobeyed,andplacedthemselvesunderthedisciplineofarchitecture。Theyweretheworkmenofthegreatwork。Thearchitect,thepoet,themaster,summedupinhispersonthesculpturewhichcarvedhisfa?ades,paintingwhichilluminatedhiswindows,musicwhichsethisbellstopealing,andbreathedintohisorgans。Therewasnothingdowntopoorpoetry,——properlyspeaking,thatwhichpersistedinvegetatinginmanuscripts,——whichwasnotforced,inordertomakesomethingofitself,tocomeandframeitselfintheedificeintheshapeofahymnorofprose;thesamepart,afterall,whichthetragediesofAEschylushadplayedinthesacerdotalfestivalsofGreece;Genesis,inthetempleofSolomon。

  Thus,downtothetimeofGutenberg,architectureistheprincipalwriting,theuniversalwriting。Inthatgranitebook,begunbytheOrient,continuedbyGreekandRomanantiquity,theMiddleAgeswrotethelastpage。Moreover,thisphenomenonofanarchitectureofthepeoplefollowinganarchitectureofcaste,whichwehavejustbeenobservingintheMiddleAges,isreproducedwitheveryanalogousmovementinthehumanintelligenceattheothergreatepochsofhistory。Thus,inordertoenunciatehereonlysummarily,alawwhichitwouldrequirevolumestodevelop:

  inthehighOrient,thecradleofprimitivetimes,afterHindooarchitecturecamePhoenicianarchitecture,thatopulentmotherofArabianarchitecture;inantiquity,afterEgyptianarchitecture,ofwhichEtruscanstyleandcyclopeanmonumentsarebutonevariety,cameGreekarchitectureofwhichtheRomanstyleisonlyacontinuation,surchargedwiththeCarthaginiandome;inmoderntimes,afterRomanesquearchitecturecameGothicarchitecture。Andbyseparatingtherethreeseriesintotheircomponentparts,weshallfindinthethreeeldestsisters,Hindooarchitecture,Egyptianarchitecture,Romanesquearchitecture,thesamesymbol;thatistosay,theocracy,caste,unity,dogma,myth,God:andforthethreeyoungersisters,Phoenicianarchitecture,Greekarchitecture,Gothicarchitecture,whatever,nevertheless,maybethediversityofforminherentintheirnature,thesamesignificationalso;thatistosay,liberty,thepeople,man。

  IntheHindu,Egyptian,orRomanesquearchitecture,onefeelsthepriest,nothingbutthepriest,whetherhecallshimselfBrahmin,Magian,orPope。Itisnotthesameinthearchitecturesofthepeople。Theyarericherandlesssacred。

  InthePhoenician,onefeelsthemerchant;intheGreek,therepublican;intheGothic,thecitizen。

  Thegeneralcharacteristicsofalltheocraticarchitectureareimmutability,horrorofprogress,thepreservationoftraditionallines,theconsecrationoftheprimitivetypes,theconstantbendingofalltheformsofmenandofnaturetotheincomprehensiblecapricesofthesymbol。Thesearedarkbooks,whichtheinitiatedaloneunderstandhowtodecipher。

  Moreover,everyform,everydeformityeven,hasthereasensewhichrendersitinviolable。DonotaskofHindoo,Egyptian,Romanesquemasonrytoreformtheirdesign,ortoimprovetheirstatuary。Everyattemptatperfectingisanimpietytothem。Inthesearchitecturesitseemsasthoughtherigidityofthedogmahadspreadoverthestonelikeasortofsecondpetrifaction。Thegeneralcharacteristicsofpopularmasonry,onthecontrary,areprogress,originality,opulence,perpetualmovement。Theyarealreadysufficientlydetachedfromreligiontothinkoftheirbeauty,totakecareofit,tocorrectwithoutrelaxationtheirparureofstatuesorarabesques。Theyareoftheage。Theyhavesomethinghuman,whichtheymingleincessantlywiththedivinesymbolunderwhichtheystillproduce。Hence,edificescomprehensibletoeverysoul,toeveryintelligence,toeveryimagination,symbolicalstill,butaseasytounderstandasnature。Betweentheocraticarchitectureandthisthereisthedifferencethatliesbetweenasacredlanguageandavulgarlanguage,betweenhieroglyphicsandart,betweenSolomonandPhidias。

  Ifthereaderwillsumupwhatwehavehithertobriefly,verybriefly,indicated,neglectingathousandproofsandalsoathousandobjectionsofdetail,bewillbeledtothis:thatarchitecturewas,downtothefifteenthcentury,thechiefregisterofhumanity;thatinthatintervalnotathoughtwhichisinanydegreecomplicatedmadeitsappearanceintheworld,whichhasnotbeenworkedintoanedifice;thateverypopularidea,andeveryreligiouslaw,hashaditsmonumentalrecords;thatthehumanracehas,inshort,hadnoimportantthoughtwhichithasnotwritteninstone。Andwhy?

  Becauseeverythought,eitherphilosophicalorreligious,isinterestedinperpetuatingitself;becausetheideawhichhasmovedonegenerationwishestomoveothersalso,andleaveatrace。Now,whataprecariousimmortalityisthatofthemanuscript!Howmuchmoresolid,durable,unyielding,isabookofstone!Inordertodestroythewrittenword,atorchandaTurkaresufficient。Todemolishtheconstructedword,asocialrevolution,aterrestrialrevolutionarerequired。

  ThebarbarianspassedovertheColiseum;thedeluge,perhaps,passedoverthePyramids。

  Inthefifteenthcenturyeverythingchanges。

  Humanthoughtdiscoversamodeofperpetuatingitself,notonlymoredurableandmoreresistingthanarchitecture,butstillmoresimpleandeasy。Architectureisdethroned。

  Gutenberg’slettersofleadareabouttosupersedeOrpheus’slettersofstone。

  *Thebookisabouttokilltheedifice*。

  Theinventionofprintingisthegreatesteventinhistory。

  Itisthemotherofrevolution。Itisthemodeofexpressionofhumanitywhichistotallyrenewed;itishumanthoughtstrippingoffoneformanddonninganother;itisthecompleteanddefinitivechangeofskinofthatsymbolicalserpentwhichsincethedaysofAdamhasrepresentedintelligence。

  Initsprintedform,thoughtismoreimperishablethanever;itisvolatile,irresistible,indestructible。Itismingledwiththeair。Inthedaysofarchitectureitmadeamountainofitself,andtookpowerfulpossessionofacenturyandaplace。Nowitconvertsitselfintoaflockofbirds,scattersitselftothefourwinds,andoccupiesallpointsofairandspaceatonce。

  Werepeat,whodoesnotperceivethatinthisformitisfarmoreindelible?Itwassolid,ithasbecomealive。

  Itpassesfromdurationintimetoimmortality。Onecandemolishamass;bowcanoneextirpateubiquity?Ifafloodcomes,themountainswillhavelongdisappearedbeneaththewaves,whilethebirdswillstillbeflyingabout;andifasinglearkfloatsonthesurfaceofthecataclysm,theywillalightuponit,willfloatwithit,willbepresentwithitattheebbingofthewaters;andthenewworldwhichemergesfromthischaoswillbehold,onitsawakening,thethoughtoftheworldwhichhasbeensubmergedsoaringaboveit,wingedandliving。

  Andwhenoneobservesthatthismodeofexpressionisnotonlythemostconservative,butalsothemostsimple,themostconvenient,themostpracticableforall;whenonereflectsthatitdoesnotdragafteritbulkybaggage,anddoesnotsetinmotionaheavyapparatus;whenonecomparesthoughtforced,inordertotransformitselfintoanedifice,toputinmotionfourorfiveotherartsandtonsofgold,awholemountainofstones,awholeforestoftimber-work,awholenationofworkmen;whenonecomparesittothethoughtwhichbecomesabook,andforwhichalittlepaper,alittleink,andapensuffice,——howcanonebesurprisedthathumanintelligenceshouldhavequittedarchitectureforprinting?

  Cuttheprimitivebedofariverabruptlywithacanalhollowedoutbelowitslevel,andtheriverwilldesertitsbed。

  Beholdhow,beginningwiththediscoveryofprinting,architecturewithersawaylittlebylittle,becomeslifelessandbare。Howonefeelsthewatersinking,thesapdeparting,thethoughtofthetimesandofthepeoplewithdrawingfromit!Thechillisalmostimperceptibleinthefifteenthcentury;thepressis,asyet,tooweak,and,atthemost,drawsfrompowerfularchitectureasuperabundanceoflife。Butpracticallybeginningwiththesixteenthcentury,themaladyofarchitectureisvisible;itisnolongertheexpressionofsociety;

  itbecomesclassicartinamiserablemanner;frombeingGallic,European,indigenous,itbecomesGreekandRoman;

  frombeingtrueandmodern,itbecomespseudo-classic。ItisthisdecadencewhichiscalledtheRenaissance。Amagnificentdecadence,however,fortheancientGothicgenius,thatsunwhichsetsbehindthegiganticpressofMayence,stillpenetratesforawhilelongerwithitsraysthatwholehybridpileofLatinarcadesandCorinthiancolumns。

  Itisthatsettingsunwhichwemistakeforthedawn。

  Nevertheless,fromthemomentwhenarchitectureisnolongeranythingbutanartlikeanyother;assoonasitisnolongerthetotalart,thesovereignart,thetyrantart,——ithasnolongerthepowertoretaintheotherarts。Sotheyemancipatethemselves,breaktheyokeofthearchitect,andtakethemselvesoff,eachoneinitsowndirection。Eachoneofthemgainsbythisdivorce。Isolationaggrandizeseverything。

  Sculpturebecomesstatuary,theimagetradebecomespainting,thecanonbecomesmusic。OnewouldpronounceitanempiredismemberedatthedeathofitsAlexander,andwhoseprovincesbecomekingdoms。

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