two poets-第18章

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ce　for　the　wine　of　the　country；　they　would　rather　have　it。〃

〃The　French　language　does　not　lend　itself　very　readily　to　poetry；　does　it？〃　Astolphe　remarked　to　Chatelet。　〃Cicero's　prose　is　a　thousand　times　more　poetical　to　my　way　of　thinking。〃

〃The　true　poetry　of　France　is　song；　lyric　verse；〃　Chatelet　answered。

〃Which　proves　that　our　language　is　eminently　adapted　for　music；〃　said　Adrien。

〃I　should　like　very　much　to　hear　the　poetry　that　has　cost　Nais　her　reputation；〃　said　Zephirine；　〃but　after　receiving　Amelie's　request　in　such　a　way；　it　is　not　very　likely　that　she　will　give　us　a　specimen。〃

〃She　ought　to　have　them　recited　in　justice　to　herself；〃　said　Francis。　〃The　little　fellow's　genius　is　his　sole　justification。〃

〃You　have　been　in　the　diplomatic　service；〃　said　Amelie　to　M。　du　Chatelet；　〃go　and　manage　it　somehow。〃

〃Nothing　easier；〃　said　the　Baron。

The　Princess'　private　secretary；　being　accustomed　to　petty　manoeuvres　of　this　kind；　went　to　the　Bishop　and　contrived　to　bring　him　to　the　fore。　At　the　Bishop's　entreaty；　Nais　had　no　choice　but　to　ask　Lucien　to　recite　his　own　verses　for　them；　and　the　Baron　received　a　languishing　smile　from　Amelie　as　the　reward　of　his　prompt　success。

〃Decidedly；　the　Baron　is　a　very　clever　man；〃　she　observed　to　Lolotte。

But　Amelie's　previous　acidulous　remark　about　women　who　made　their　own　dresses　rankled　in　Lolotte's　mind。

〃Since　when　have　you　begun　to　recognize　the　Emperor's　barons？〃　she　asked；　smiling。

Lucien　had　essayed　to　deify　his　beloved　in　an　ode；　dedicated　to　her　under　a　title　in　favor　with　all　lads　who　write　verse　after　leaving　school。　This　ode；　so　fondly　cherished；　so　beautifulsince　it　was　the　outpouring　of　all　the　love　in　his　heart；　seemed　to　him　to　be　the　one　piece　of　his　own　work　that　could　hold　its　own　with　Chenier's　verse；　and　with　a　tolerably　fatuous　glance　at　Mme。　de　Bargeton；　he　announced　〃TO　HER！〃　He　struck　an　attitude　proudly　for　the　delivery　of　the　ambitious　piece；　for　his　author's　self…love　felt　safe　and　at　ease　behind　Mme。　de　Bargeton's　petticoat。　And　at　the　selfsame　moment　Mme。　de　Bargeton　betrayed　her　own　secret　to　the　women's　curious　eyes。　Although　she　had　always　looked　down　upon　this　audience　from　her　own　loftier　intellectual　heights；　she　could　not　help　trembling　for　Lucien。　Her　face　was　troubled；　there　was　a　sort　of　mute　appeal　for　indulgence　in　her　glances；　and　while　the　verses　were　recited　she　was　obliged　to　lower　her　eyes　and　dissemble　her　pleasure　as　stanza　followed　stanza。


TO　HER。

Out　of　the　glowing　heart　of　the　torrent　of　glory　and　light；　　　At　the　foot　of　Jehovah's　throne　where　the　angels　stand　afar；　Each　on　a　seistron　of　gold　repeating　the　prayers　of　the　night；　　　　　　　　　　　Put　up　for　each　by　his　star。

Out　from　the　cherubim　choir　a　bright…haired　Angel　springs；　　　Veiling　the　glory　of　God　that　dwells　on　a　dazzling　brow；　Leaving　the　courts　of　heaven　to　sink　upon　silver　wings　　　　　　　　　　　Down　to　our　world　below。

God　looked　in　pity　on　earth；　and　the　Angel；　reading　His　thought；　　　Came　down　to　lull　the　pain　of　the　mighty　spirit　at　strife；　Reverent　bent　o'er　the　maid；　and　for　age　left　desolate　brought　　　　　　　　　　　Flowers　of　the　springtime　of　life。

Bringing　a　dream　of　hope　to　solace　the　mother's　fears；　　　Hearkening　unto　the　voice　of　the　tardy　repentant　cry；　Glad　as　angels　are　glad；　to　reckon　Earth's　pitying　tears；　　　　　　　　　　　Given　with　alms　of　a　sigh。

One　there　is；　and　but　one；　bright　messenger　sent　from　the　skies　　　Whom　earth　like　a　lover　fain　would　hold　from　the　hea'nward　flight；　But　the　angel；　weeping；　turns　and　gazes　with　sad；　sweet　eyes　　　　　　　　　　　Up　to　the　heaven　of　light。

Not　by　the　radiant　eyes；　not　by　the　kindling　glow　　　Of　virtue　sent　from　God；　did　I　know　the　secret　sign；　Nor　read　the　token　sent　on　a　white　and　dazzling　brow　　　　　　　　　　　Of　an　origin　divine。

Nay；　it　was　Love　grown　blind　and　dazed　with　excess　of　light；　　　Striving　and　striving　in　vain　to　mingle　Earth　and　Heaven；　Helpless　and　powerless　against　the　invincible　armor　bright　　　　　　　　　　　By　the　dread　archangel　given。

Ah！　be　wary；　take　heed；　lest　aught　should　be　seen　or　heard　　　Of　the　shining　seraph　band；　as　they　take　the　heavenward　way；　Too　soon　the　Angel　on　Earth　will　learn　the　magical　word　　　　　　　　　　　Sung　at　the　close　of　the　day。

Then　you　shall　see　afar；　rifting　the　darkness　of　night；　　　A　gleam　as　of　dawn　that　spread　across　the　starry　floor；　And　the　seaman　that　watch　for　a　sign　shall　mark　the　track　of　their　flight；　　　　　　　　　　　A　luminous　pathway　in　Heaven　and　a　beacon　for　evermore。

〃Do　you　read　the　riddle？〃　said　Amelie；　giving　M。　du　Chatelet　a　coquettish　glance。

〃It　is　the　sort　of　stuff　that　we　all　of　us　wrote　more　or　less　after　we　left　school；〃　said　the　Baron　with　a　bored　expressionhe　was　acting　his　part　of　arbiter　of　taste　who　has　seen　everything。　〃We　used　to　deal　in　Ossianic　mists；　Malvinas　and　Fingals　and　cloudy　shapes；　and　warriors　who　got　out　of　their　tombs　with　stars　above　their　heads。　Nowadays　this　poetical　frippery　has　been　replaced　by　Jehovah；　angels；　seistrons；　the　plumes　of　seraphim；　and　all　the　paraphernalia　of　paradise　freshened　up　with　a　few　new　words　such　as　'immense；　infinite；　solitude；　intelligence'；　you　have　lakes；　and　the　words　of　the　Almighty；　a　kind　of　Christianized　Pantheism；　enriched　with　the　most　extraordinary　and　unheard…of　rhymes。　We　are　in　quite　another　latitude；　in　fact；　we　have　left　the　North　for　the　East；　but　the　darkness　is　just　as　thick　as　before。〃

〃If　the　ode　is　obscure；　the　declaration　is　very　clear；　it　seems　to　me；〃　said　Zephirine。

〃And　the　archangel's　armor　is　a　tolerably　thin　gauze　robe；〃　said　Francis。

Politeness　demanded　that　the　audience　should　profess　to　be　enchanted　with　the　poem；　and　the　women；　furious　because　they　had　no　poets　in　their　train　to　extol　them　as　angels；　rose；　looked　bored　by　the　reading；　murmuring；　〃Very　nice！〃　〃Charming！〃　〃Perfect！〃　with　frigid　coldness。

〃If　you　love　me；　do　not　congratulate　the　poet　or　his　angel；〃　Lolotte　laid　her　commands　on　her　dear　Adrien　in　imperious　tones；　and　Adrien　was　fain　to　obey。

〃Empty　words；　after　all；〃　Zephirine　remarked　to　Francis；　〃and　love　is　a　poem　that　we　live。〃

〃You　have　just　expressed　the　very　thing　that　I　was　thinking；　Zizine；　but　I　should　not　have　put　it　so　neatly；〃　said　Stanislas；　scanning　himself　from　top　to　toe　with　loving　attention。

〃I　would　give；　I　don't　know　how　much；　to　see　Nais'　pride　brought　down　a　bit；〃　said　Amelie；　addressing　Chatelet。　〃Nais　sets　up　to　be　an　archangel；　as　if　she　were　better　than　the　rest　of　us；　and　mixes　us　up　with　low　people；　his　father　was　an　apothecary；　and　his　mother　is　a　nurse；　his　sister　works　in　a　laundry；　and　he　himself　is　a　printer's　foreman。〃

〃If　his　father　sold　biscuits　for　worms〃　（vers）；　said　Jacques；　〃he　ought　to　have　made　his　son　take　them。〃

〃He　is　continuing　in　his　father's　line　of　business；　for　the　stuff　that　he　has　just　been　reading　to　us　is　a　drug　in　the　market；　it　seems；〃　said　Stanislas；　striking　one　of　his　most　killing　attitudes。　〃Drug　for　drug；　I　would　rather　have　something　else。〃

Every　one　apparently　combined　to　humiliate　Lucien　by　various　aristocrats'　sarcasms。　Lili　the　religious　thought　it　a　charitable　deed　to　use　any　means　of　enlightening　Nais；　and　Nais　was　on　the　brink　of　a　piece　of　folly。　Francis　the　diplomatist　undertook　the　direction　of　the　silly　conspiracy；　every　one　was　interested　in　the　progress　of　the　drama；　it　would　be　something　to　talk　about　to…morrow。　The　ex…consul；　being　far　from　anxious　to　engage　in　a　duel　with　a　young　poet　who　would　fly　into　a　rage　at　the　first　hint　of　insult　under　his　lady's　eyes；　was　wise　enough　to　see　that　the　only　way　of　dealing　Lucien　his　deathblow　was　by　the　spiritual　arm　which　was　safe　from　vengeance。　He　therefore　followed　the　example　set　by　Chatelet　the　astute；　and　went　to　the　Bishop。　Him　he　proceeded　to　mystify。

He　told　the　Bishop　that　Lucien's　mother　was　a　woman　of　uncommon　powers　and　great　modesty；　and　that　it　was　she　who　found　the　subjects　for　her　son's　verses。　Nothing　pleased　Lucien　so　much；　according　to　the　guileful　Francis；　as　any　recognition　of　her　talentshe　worshiped　his　mother。　Then；　having　inculcated　these　notions；　he　left　the　rest　to　time。　His　lordship　was　sure　to　bring　out　the　insulting　allusion；　for　which　he　had　been　so　carefully　prepared；　in　the　course　of　conversation。

When　Francis　and　the　Bishop　joined　the　little　group　where　Lucien　stood；　the　circle　who　gave　him　the　cup　of　hemlock　to　drain　by　little　sips　watched　him　with　redoubled　interest。　The　poet；　luckless　young　man；　being　a　total　stranger；　and　unaware　of　the　manners　and　customs　of　the　house；　could　only　look　at　Mme。　de　Bargeton　and　give　embarrassed　answers　to　embarrassing　questions。　He　knew　neither　the　names　nor　condition　of　the　people　about　him；　the　women's　silly　speeches　made　him　blush　for　them；　and　he　was　at　his　wits'　end　for　a　reply。　He　felt；　moreover；　how　very　far　removed　he　was　from　these　divinities　of　Angouleme　when　he　heard　himself　addressed　sometimes　as　M。　Chardon；　sometimes　as　M。　de　Rubempre；　while　they　addressed　each　other　as　Lolotte；　Adrien；　Astolphe；　Lili　and　Fifine。　His　confusion　rose　to　a　height　when；　taking　Lili　for　a　man's　surname；　he　addressed　the　coarse　M。　de　Senonches　as　M。　Lili；　that　Nimrod　broke　in　upon　him　with　a　〃MONSIEUR　LULU？〃　and　Mme。　de　Bargeton　flushed　red　to　the　eyes。

〃A　woman　must　be　blind　indeed　to　bring　this　little　fellow　among　us！〃　muttered　Senonches。

Zephirine　turned　to　speak　to　the　Marquise　de　Pimentel〃Do　you　not　see　a　strong　likeness　between　M。　Chardon　and　M。　de　Cante…Croix；　madame？〃　she　asked　in　a　low　but　quite　audible　voice。

〃The　likeness　is　ideal；〃　smiled　Mme。　de　Pimentel。

〃Glory　has　a　power　of　attraction　to　which　we　can　confess；〃　said　Mme。　de　Bargeton；　addressing　the　Marquise。　〃Some　women　are　as　much　attracted　by　greatness　as　others　by　littleness；〃　she　added；　looking　at　Francis。

The　was　beyond　Zephirine's　comprehension；　she　thought　her　consul　a　very　great　man；　but　the　Marquise　laughed；　and　her　laughter　ranged　her　on　Nais'　side。

〃You　are　very　fortunate；　monsieur；〃　said　the　Marquis　de　Pimentel；　addressing　Lucien　for　the　purpose　of　calling　him　M。　de　Rubempre；　and　not　M。　Chardon；　as　before；　〃you　should　never　find　time　heavy　on　your　hands。〃

〃Do　you　work　quickly？〃　asked　Lolotte；　much　in　the　way　that　she　would　have　asked　a　joiner　〃if　it　took　long　to　make　a　box。〃

The　bludgeon　stroke　stunned　Lucien；　but　he　raised　his　head　at　Mme。　de　Bargeton's　reply

〃My　dear；　poetry　does　not　grow　in　M。　de　Rubempre's　head　like　grass　in　our　courtyards。〃

〃Madame；　we　cannot　feel　too　reverently　towards　the　noble　spirits　in　whom　God　has　set　some　ray　of　this　light；〃　said　the　Bishop；　addressing　Lolotte。　〃Yes；　poetry　is　something　holy。　Poetry　implies　suffering。　How　many　silent　nights　those　verses　that　you　admire　have　cost！　We　should　bow　in　love　and　reverence　before　the　poet；　his　life　here　is　almost　always　a　life　of　sorrow；　but　God　doubtless　reserves　a　place　in　heaven　for　him　among　His　prophets。　This　young　man　is　a　poet；〃　he　added　laying　a　hand　on　Lucien's　head；　〃do　you　not　see　the　sign　of　Fate　set　on　that　high　forehead　of　his？〃

Glad　to　be　so　generously　championed；　Lucien　made　his　acknowledgments　in　a　grateful　look；　not　knowing　that　the　worthy　prelate　was　to　deal　his　deathblow。

Mme。　de　Bargeton's　eyes　traveled　round　the　hostile　circle。　Her　glances