father goriot(高老头)-第1章

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Father　Goriot

by　Honore　de　Balzac

Translated　by　Ellen　Marriage





To　the　great　and　illustrious　Geoffroy　Saint…Hilaire；　a　token　of　admiration　for　his　works　and　genius。　DE　BALZAC。



Mme。　Vauquer　（nee　de　Conflans）　is　an　elderly　person；　who　for　the　past　forty　years　has　kept　a　lodging…house　in　the　Rue　Nueve…　Sainte…Genevieve；　in　the　district　that　lies　between　the　Latin　Quarter　and　the　Faubourg　Saint…Marcel。　Her　house　（known　in　the　neighborhood　as　the　Maison　Vauquer）　receives　men　and　women；　old　and　young；　and　no　word　has　ever　been　breathed　against　her　respectable　establishment；　but；　at　the　same　time；　it　must　be　said　that　as　a　matter　of　fact　no　young　woman　has　been　under　her　roof　for　thirty　years；　and　that　if　a　young　man　stays　there　for　any　length　of　time　it　is　a　sure　sign　that　his　allowance　must　be　of　the　slenderest。　In　1819；　however；　the　time　when　this　drama　opens；　there　was　an　almost　penniless　young　girl　among　Mme。　Vauquer's　boarders。

That　word　drama　has　been　somewhat　discredited　of　late；　it　has　been　overworked　and　twisted　to　strange　uses　in　these　days　of　dolorous　literature；　but　it　must　do　service　again　here；　not　because　this　story　is　dramatic　in　the　restricted　sense　of　the　word；　but　because　some　tears　may　perhaps　be　shed　intra　et　extra　muros　before　it　is　over。

Will　any　one　without　the　walls　of　Paris　understand　it？　It　is　open　to　doubt。　The　only　audience　who　could　appreciate　the　results　of　close　observation；　the　careful　reproduction　of　minute　detail　and　local　color；　are　dwellers　between　the　heights　of　Montrouge　and　Montmartre；　in　a　vale　of　crumbling　stucco　watered　by　streams　of　black　mud；　a　vale　of　sorrows　which　are　real　and　joys　too　often　hollow；　but　this　audience　is　so　accustomed　to　terrible　sensations；　that　only　some　unimaginable　and　well…neigh　impossible　woe　could　produce　any　lasting　impression　there。　Now　and　again　there　are　tragedies　so　awful　and　so　grand　by　reason　of　the　complication　of　virtues　and　vices　that　bring　them　about；　that　egotism　and　selfishness　are　forced　to　pause　and　are　moved　to　pity；　but　the　impression　that　they　receive　is　like　a　luscious　fruit；　soon　consumed。　Civilization；　like　the　car　of　Juggernaut；　is　scarcely　stayed　perceptibly　in　its　progress　by　a　heart　less　easy　to　break　than　the　others　that　lie　in　its　course；　this　also　is　broken；　and　Civilization　continues　on　her　course　triumphant。　And　you；　too；　will　do　the　like；　you　who　with　this　book　in　your　white　hand　will　sink　back　among　the　cushions　of　your　armchair；　and　say　to　yourself；　〃Perhaps　this　may　amuse　me。〃　You　will　read　the　story　of　Father　Goriot's　secret　woes；　and；　dining　thereafter　with　an　unspoiled　appetite；　will　lay　the　blame　of　your　insensibility　upon　the　writer；　and　accuse　him　of　exaggeration；　of　writing　romances。　Ah！　once　for　all；　this　drama　is　neither　a　fiction　nor　a　romance！　ALL　IS　TRUE；so　true；　that　every　one　can　discern　the　elements　of　the　tragedy　in　his　own　house；　perhaps　in　his　own　heart。

The　lodging…house　is　Mme。　Vauquer's　own　property。　It　is　still　standing　in　the　lower　end　of　the　Rue　Nueve…Sainte…Genevieve；　just　where　the　road　slopes　so　sharply　down　to　the　Rue　de　l'Arbalete；　that　wheeled　traffic　seldom　passes　that　way；　because　it　is　so　stony　and　steep。　This　position　is　sufficient　to　account　for　the　silence　prevalent　in　the　streets　shut　in　between　the　dome　of　the　Pantheon　and　the　dome　of　the　Val…de…Grace；　two　conspicuous　public　buildings　which　give　a　yellowish　tone　to　the　landscape　and　darken　the　whole　district　that　lies　beneath　the　shadow　of　their　leaden…　hued　cupolas。

In　that　district　the　pavements　are　clean　and　dry；　there　is　neither　mud　nor　water　in　the　gutters；　grass　grows　in　the　chinks　of　the　walls。　The　most　heedless　passer…by　feels　the　depressing　influences　of　a　place　where　the　sound　of　wheels　creates　a　sensation；　there　is　a　grim　look　about　the　houses；　a　suggestion　of　a　jail　about　those　high　garden　walls。　A　Parisian　straying　into　a　suburb　apparently　composed　of　lodging…houses　and　public　institutions　would　see　poverty　and　dullness；　old　age　lying　down　to　die；　and　joyous　youth　condemned　to　drudgery。　It　is　the　ugliest　quarter　of　Paris；　and；　it　may　be　added；　the　least　known。　But；　before　all　things；　the　Rue　Nueve…Sainte…Genevieve　is　like　a　bronze　frame　for　a　picture　for　which　the　mind　cannot　be　too　well　prepared　by　the　contemplation　of　sad　hues　and　sober　images。　Even　so；　step　by　step　the　daylight　decreases；　and　the　cicerone's　droning　voice　grows　hollower　as　the　traveler　descends　into　the　Catacombs。　The　comparison　holds　good！　Who　shall　say　which　is　more　ghastly；　the　sight　of　the　bleached　skulls　or　of　dried…up　human　hearts？



The　front　of　the　lodging…house　is　at　right　angles　to　the　road；　and　looks　out　upon　a　little　garden；　so　that　you　see　the　side　of　the　house　in　section；　as　it　were；　from　the　Rue　Nueve…Sainte…　Genevieve。　Beneath　the　wall　of　the　house　front　there　lies　a　channel；　a　fathom　wide；　paved　with　cobble…stones；　and　beside　it　runs　a　graveled　walk　bordered　by　geraniums　and　oleanders　and　pomegranates　set　in　great　blue　and　white　glazed　earthenware　pots。　Access　into　the　graveled　walk　is　afforded　by　a　door；　above　which　the　words　MAISON　VAUQUER　may　be　read；　and　beneath；　in　rather　smaller　letters；　〃Lodgings　for　both　sexes；　etc。〃

During　the　day　a　glimpse　into　the　garden　is　easily　obtained　through　a　wicket　to　which　a　bell　is　attached。　On　the　opposite　wall；　at　the　further　end　of　the　graveled　walk；　a　green　marble　arch　was　painted　once　upon　a　time　by　a　local　artist；　and　in　this　semblance　of　a　shrine　a　statue　representing　Cupid　is　installed；　a　Parisian　Cupid；　so　blistered　and　disfigured　that　he　looks　like　a　candidate　for　one　of　the　adjacent　hospitals；　and　might　suggest　an　allegory　to　lovers　of　symbolism。　The　half…obliterated　inscription　on　the　pedestal　beneath　determines　the　date　of　this　work　of　art；　for　it　bears　witness　to　the　widespread　enthusiasm　felt　for　Voltaire　on　his　return　to　Paris　in　1777：

　　〃Whoe'er　thou　art；　thy　master　see；　　　He　is；　or　was；　or　ought　to　be。〃

At　night　the　wicket　gate　is　replaced　by　a　solid　door。　The　little　garden　is　no　wider　than　the　front　of　the　house；　it　is　shut　in　between　the　wall　of　the　street　and　the　partition　wall　of　the　neighboring　house。　A　mantle　of　ivy　conceals　the　bricks　and　attracts　the　eyes　of　passers…by　to　an　effect　which　is　picturesque　in　Paris；　for　each　of　the　walls　is　covered　with　trellised　vines　that　yield　a　scanty　dusty　crop　of　fruit；　and　furnish　besides　a　subject　of　conversation　for　Mme。　Vauquer　and　her　lodgers；　every　year　the　widow　trembles　for　her　vintage。

A　straight　path　beneath　the　walls　on　either　side　of　the　garden　leads　to　a　clump　of　lime…trees　at　the　further　end　of　it；　LINE…　trees；　as　Mme。　Vauquer　persists　in　calling　them；　in　spite　of　the　fact　that　she　was　a　de　Conflans；　and　regardless　of　repeated　corrections　from　her　lodgers。

The　central　space　between　the　walls　is　filled　with　artichokes　and　rows　of　pyramid　fruit…trees；　and　surrounded　by　a　border　of　lettuce；　pot…herbs；　and　parsley。　Under　the　lime…trees　there　are　a　few　green…painted　garden　seats　and　a　wooden　table；　and　hither；　during　the　dog…days；　such　of　the　lodgers　as　are　rich　enough　to　indulge　in　a　cup　of　coffee　come　to　take　their　pleasure；　though　it　is　hot　enough　to　roast　eggs　even　in　the　shade。

The　house　itself　is　three　stories　high；　without　counting　the　attics　under　the　roof。　It　is　built　of　rough　stone；　and　covered　with　the　yellowish　stucco　that　gives　a　mean　appearance　to　almost　every　house　in　Paris。　There　are　five　windows　in　each　story　in　the　front　of　the　house；　all　the　blinds　visible　through　the　small　square　panes　are　drawn　up　awry；　so　that　the　lines　are　all　at　cross　purposes。　At　the　side　of　the　house　there　are　but　two　windows　on　each　floor；　and　the　lowest　of　all　are　adorned　with　a　heavy　iron　grating。

Behind　the　house　a　yard　extends　for　some　twenty　feet；　a　space　inhabited　by　a　happy　family　of　pigs；　poultry；　and　rabbits；　the　wood…shed　is　situated　on　the　further　side；　and　on　the　wall　between　the　wood…shed　and　the　kitchen　window　hangs　the　meat…safe；　just　above　the　place　where　the　sink　discharges　its　greasy　streams。　The　cook　sweeps　all　the　refuse　out　through　a　little　door　into　the　Rue　Nueve…Sainte…Genevieve；　and　frequently　cleanses　the　yard　with　copious　supplies　of　water；　under　pain　of　pestilence。

The　house　might　have　been　built　on　purpose　for　its　present　uses。　Access　is　given　by　a　French　window　to　the　first　room　on　the　ground　floor；　a　sitting…room　which　looks　out　upon　the　street　through　the　two　barred　windows　already　mentioned。　Another　door　opens　out　of　it　into　the　dining…room；　which　is　separated　from　the　kitchen　by　the　well　of　the　staircase；　the　steps　being　constructed　partly　of　wood；　partly　of　tiles；　which　are　colored　and　beeswaxed。　Nothing　can　be　more　depressing　than　the　sight　of　that　sitting…　room。　The　furniture　is　covered　with　horse　hair　woven　in　alternate　dull　and　glossy　stripes。　There　is　a　round　table　in　the　middle；　with　a　purplish…red　marble　top；　on　which　there　stands；　by　way　of　ornament；　the　inevitable　white　china　tea…service；　covered　with　a　half…effaced　gilt　network。　The　floor　is　sufficiently　uneven；　the　wainscot　rises　to　elbow　height；　and　the　rest　of　the　wall　space　is　decorated　with　a　varnished　paper；　on　which　the　principal　scenes　from　Telemaque　are　depicted；　the　various　classical　personages　being　colored。　The　subject　between　the　two　windows　is　the　banquet　given　by　Calypso　to　the　son　of　Ulysses；　displayed　thereon　for　the　admiration　of　the　boarders；　and　has　furnished　jokes　these　forty　years　to　the　young　men　who　show　themselves　superior　to　their　position　by　making　fun　of　the　dinners　to　which　poverty　condemns　them。　The　hearth　is　always　so　clean　and　neat　that　it　is　evident　that　a　fire　is　only　kindled　there　on　great　occasions；　the　stone　chimney…piece　is　adorned　by　a　couple　of　vases　filled　with　faded　artificial　flowers　imprisoned　under　glass　shades；　on　either　side　of　a　bluish　marble　clock　in　the　very　worst　taste。

The　first　room　exhales　an　odor　for　which　there　is　no　name　in　the　language；　and　which　should　be　called　the　odeur　de　pension。　The　damp　atmosphere　sends　a　chill　through　you　as　you　breathe　it；　it　has　a　stuffy；　musty；　and　rancid　quality；　it　permeates　your　clothing；　after…dinner　scents　seem　to　be　mingled　in　it　with　smells　from　the　kitchen　and　scullery　and　the　reek　of　a　hospital。　It　might　be　possible　to　describe　it　if　some　one　should　discover　a　process　by　which　to　distil　from　the　atmosphere　all　the　nauseating　elements　with　which　it　is　charged　by　the　catarrhal　exhalations　of　every　individual　lodger；　young　or　old。　Yet；　in　spite　of　these　stale　horrors；　the　sitting…room　is　as　charming　and　as　delicately　perfumed　as　a　boudoir；　when　compared　with　the　adjoining　dining…　room。

The　paneled　walls　of　that　apartment　were　once　painted　some　color；　now　a　matter　of　conjecture；　for　the　surface　is　incrusted　with　accumulated　layers　of　grimy　deposit；　which　cover　it　with　fantastic　outlines。　A　collection　of　dim…ribbed　glass　decanters；　metal　discs　with　a　satin　sheen　on　them；　and　piles　of　blue…edged　earthenware　plates　of　Touraine　ware　cover　the　sticky　surfaces　of　the　sideboards　that　line　the　room。　In　a　corner　stands　a　box　containing　a　set　of　numbered　pigeon…holes；　in　which　the　lodgers'　table　napkins；　more　or　less　soiled　and　stained　with　wine；　are　kept。　Here　you　see　that　indestructible　furniture　never　met　with　elsewher