the magic skin(驴皮记)-第10章

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〃Won't　you　tell　us　something　new？　You　have　made　fun　of　authority　of
all　sorts　to…day；　which　is　every　bit　as　vulgar　as　denying　the
existence　of　God。　So　you　have　no　belief　left；　and　the　century　is　like
an　old　Sultan　worn　out　by　debauchery！　Your　Byron；　in　short；　sings　of
crime　and　its　emotions　in　a　final　despair　of　poetry。〃

〃Don't　you　know；〃　replied　Bianchon；　quite　drunk　by　this　time；　〃that　a
dose　of　phosphorus　more　or　less　makes　the　man　of　genius　or　the
scoundrel；　a　clever　man　or　an　idiot；　a　virtuous　person　or　a　criminal？〃

〃Can　any　one　treat　of　virtue　thus？〃　cried　Cursy。　〃Virtue；　the　subject
of　every　drama　at　the　theatre；　the　denoument　of　every　play；　the
foundation　of　every　court　of　law。　。　。　。〃

〃Be　quiet；　you　ass。　You　are　an　Achilles　for　virtue；　without　his　heel；〃
said　Bixiou。

〃Some　drink！〃

〃What　will　you　bet　that　I　will　drink　a　bottle　of　champagne　like　a
flash；　at　one　pull？〃

〃What　a　flash　of　wit！〃

〃Drunk　as　lords；〃　muttered　a　young　man　gravely；　trying　to　give　some
wine　to　his　waistcoat。

〃Yes；　sir；　real　government　is　the　art　of　ruling　by　public　opinion。〃

〃Opinion？　That　is　the　most　vicious　jade　of　all。　According　to　you
moralists　and　politicians；　the　laws　you　set　up　are　always　to　go　before
those　of　nature；　and　opinion　before　conscience。　You　are　right　and
wrong　both。　Suppose　society　bestows　down　pillows　on　us；　that　benefit
is　made　up　for　by　the　gout；　and　justice　is　likewise　tempered　by　red…
tape；　and　colds　accompany　cashmere　shawls。〃

〃Wretch！〃　Emile　broke　in　upon　the　misanthrope；　〃how　can　you　slander
civilization　here　at　table；　up　to　the　eyes　in　wines　and　exquisite
dishes？　Eat　away　at　that　roebuck　with　the　gilded　horns　and　feet；　and
do　not　carp　at　your　mother。　。　。〃

〃Is　it　any　fault　of　mine　if　Catholicism　puts　a　million　deities　in　a
sack　of　flour；　that　Republics　will　end　in　a　Napoleon；　that　monarchy
dwells　between　the　assassination　of　Henry　IV。　and　the　trial　of　Louis
XVI。；　and　Liberalism　produces　Lafayettes？〃

〃Didn't　you　embrace　him　in　July？〃

〃No。〃

〃Then　hold　your　tongue；　you　sceptic。〃

〃Sceptics　are　the　most　conscientious　of　men。〃

〃They　have　no　conscience。〃

〃What　are　you　saying？　They　have　two　apiece　at　least！〃

〃So　you　want　to　discount　heaven；　a　thoroughly　commercial　notion。
Ancient　religions　were　but　the　unchecked　development　of　physical
pleasure；　but　we　have　developed　a　soul　and　expectations；　some　advance
has　been　made。〃

〃What　can　you　expect；　my　friends；　of　a　century　filled　with　politics　to
repletion？〃　asked　Nathan。　〃What　befell　The　History　of　the　King　of
Bohemia　and　his　Seven　Castles；　a　most　entrancing　conception？　。　。　。〃

〃I　say；〃　the　would…be　critic　cried　down　the　whole　length　of　the　table。
〃The　phrases　might　have　been　drawn　at　hap…hazard　from　a　hat；　'twas　a
work　written　'down　to　Charenton。'　〃

〃You　are　a　fool！〃

〃And　you　are　a　rogue！〃

〃Oh！　oh！〃

〃Ah！　ah！〃

〃They　are　going　to　fight。〃

〃No；　they　aren't。〃

〃You　will　find　me　to…morrow；　sir。〃

〃This　very　moment；〃　Nathan　answered。

〃Come；　come；　you　pair　of　fire…eaters！〃

〃You　are　another！〃　said　the　prime　mover　in　the　quarrel。

〃Ah；　I　can't　stand　upright；　perhaps？〃　asked　the　pugnacious　Nathan；
straightening　himself　up　like　a　stag…beetle　about　to　fly。

He　stared　stupidly　round　the　table；　then；　completely　exhausted　by　the
effort；　sank　back　into　his　chair；　and　mutely　hung　his　head。

〃Would　it　not　have　been　nice；〃　the　critic　said　to　his　neighbor；　〃to
fight　about　a　book　I　have　neither　read　nor　seen？〃

〃Emile；　look　out　for　your　coat；　your　neighbor　is　growing　pale；〃　said
Bixiou。

〃Kant？　Yet　another　ball　flung　out　for　fools　to　sport　with；　sir！
Materialism　and　spiritualism　are　a　fine　pair　of　battledores　with　which
charlatans　in　long　gowns　keep　a　shuttlecock　a…going。　Suppose　that　God
is　everywhere；　as　Spinoza　says；　or　that　all　things　proceed　from　God；
as　says　St。　Paul　。　。　。　the　nincompoops；　the　door　shuts　or　opens；　but
isn't　the　movement　the　same？　Does　the　fowl　come　from　the　egg；　or　the
egg　from　the　fowl？　。　。　。　Just　hand　me　some　duck　。　。　。　and　there；　you
have　all　science。〃

〃Simpleton！〃　cried　the　man　of　science；　〃your　problem　is　settled　by
fact！〃

〃What　fact？〃

〃Professors'　chairs　were　not　made　for　philosophy；　but　philosophy　for
the　professors'　chairs。　Put　on　a　pair　of　spectacles　and　read　the
budget。〃

〃Thieves！〃

〃Nincompoops！〃

〃Knaves！〃

〃Gulls！〃

〃Where　but　in　Paris　will　you　find　such　a　ready　and　rapid　exchange　of
thought？〃　cried　Bixiou　in　a　deep；　bass　voice。

〃Bixiou！　Act　a　classical　farce　for　us！　Come　now。〃

〃Would　you　like　me　to　depict　the　nineteenth　century？〃

〃Silence。〃

〃Pay　attention。〃

〃Clap　a　muffle　on　your　trumpets。〃

〃Shut　up；　you　Turk！〃

〃Give　him　some　wine；　and　let　that　fellow　keep　quiet。〃

〃Now；　then；　Bixiou！〃

The　artist　buttoned　his　black　coat　to　the　collar；　put　on　yellow
gloves；　and　began　to　burlesque　the　Revue　des　Deux　Mondes　by　acting　a
squinting　old　lady；　but　the　uproar　drowned　his　voice；　and　no　one　heard
a　word　of　the　satire。　Still；　if　he　did　not　catch　the　spirit　of　the
century；　he　represented　the　Revue　at　any　rate；　for　his　own　intentions
were　not　very　clear　to　him。

Dessert　was　served　as　if　by　magic。　A　huge　epergne　of　gilded　bronze
from　Thomire's　studio　overshadowed　the　table。　Tall　statuettes；　which　a
celebrated　artist　had　endued　with　ideal　beauty　according　to
conventional　European　notions；　sustained　and　carried　pyramids　of
strawberries；　pines；　fresh　dates；　golden　grapes；　clear…skinned
peaches；　oranges　brought　from　Setubal　by　steamer；　pomegranates；
Chinese　fruit；　in　short；　all　the　surprises　of　luxury；　miracles　of
confectionery；　the　most　tempting　dainties；　and　choicest　delicacies。
The　coloring　of　this　epicurean　work　of　art　was　enhanced　by　the
splendors　of　porcelain；　by　sparkling　outlines　of　gold；　by　the　chasing
of　the　vases。　Poussin's　landscapes；　copied　on　Sevres　ware；　were
crowned　with　graceful　fringes　of　moss；　green；　translucent；　and　fragile
as　ocean　weeds。

The　revenue　of　a　German　prince　would　not　have　defrayed　the　cost　of
this　arrogant　display。　Silver　and　mother…of…pearl；　gold　and　crystal；
were　lavished　afresh　in　new　forms；　but　scarcely　a　vague　idea　of　this
almost　Oriental　fairyland　penetrated　eyes　now　heavy　with　wine；　or
crossed　the　delirium　of　intoxication。　The　fire　and　fragrance　of　the
wines　acted　like　potent　philters　and　magical　fumes；　producing　a　kind
of　mirage　in　the　brain；　binding　feet；　and　weighing　down　hands。　The
clamor　increased。　Words　were　no　longer　distinct；　glasses　flew　in
pieces；　senseless　peals　of　laughter　broke　out。　Cursy　snatched　up　a
horn　and　struck　up　a　flourish　on　it。　It　acted　like　a　signal　given　by
the　devil。　Yells；　hisses；　songs；　cries；　and　groans　went　up　from　the
maddened　crew。　You　might　have　smiled　to　see　men；　light…hearted　by
nature；　grow　tragical　as　Crebillon's　dramas；　and　pensive　as　a　sailor
in　a　coach。　Hard…headed　men　blabbed　secrets　to　the　inquisitive；　who
were　long　past　heeding　them。　Saturnine　faces　were　wreathed　in　smiles
worthy　of　a　pirouetting　dancer。　Claude　Vignon　shuffled　about　like　a
bear　in　a　cage。　Intimate　friends　began　to　fight。

Animal　likenesses；　so　curiously　traced　by　physiologists　in　human
faces；　came　out　in　gestures　and　behavior。　A　book　lay　open　for　a　Bichat
if　he　had　repaired　thither　fasting　and　collected。　The　master　of　the
house；　knowing　his　condition；　did　not　dare　stir；　but　encouraged　his
guests'　extravangances　with　a　fixed　grimacing　smile；　meant　to　be
hospitable　and　appropriate。　His　large　face；　turning　from　blue　and　red
to　a　purple　shade　terrible　to　see；　partook　of　the　general　commotion　by
movements　like　the　heaving　and　pitching　of　a　brig。

〃Now；　did　you　murder　them？〃　Emile　asked　him。

〃Capital　punishment　is　going　to　be　abolished；　they　say；　in　favor　of
the　Revolution　of　July；〃　answered　Taillefer；　raising　his　eyebrows　with

drunken　sagacity。

〃Don't　they　rise　up　before　you　in　dreams　at　times？〃　Raphael　persisted。

〃There's　a　statute　of　limitations；〃　said　the　murderer…Croesus。

〃And　on　his　tombstone；〃　Emile　began；　with　a　sardonic　laugh；　〃the
stonemason　will　carve　'Passer…by；　accord　a　tear；　in　memory　of　one
that's　here！'　Oh；〃　he　continued；　〃I　would　cheerfully　pay　a　hundred
sous　to　any　mathematician　who　would　prove　the　existence　of　hell　to　me
by　an　algebraical　equation。〃

He　flung　up　a　coin　and　cried：

〃Heads　for　the　existence　of　God！〃

〃Don't　look！〃　Raphael　cried；　pouncing　upon　it。　〃Who　knows？　Suspense　is
so　pleasant。〃

〃Unluckily；〃　Emile　said；　with　burlesque　melancholy；　〃I　can　see　no
halting…place　between　the　unbeliever's　arithmetic　and　the　papal　Pater
noster。　Pshaw！　let　us　drink。　Trinq　was；　I　believe；　the　oracular　answer
of　the　dive　bouteille　and　the　final　conclusion　of　Pantagruel。〃

〃We　owe　our　arts　and　monuments　to　the　Pater　noster；　and　our　knowledge；
too；　perhaps；　and　a　still　greater　benefitmodern　governmentwhereby
a　vast　and　teeming　society　is　wondrously　represented　by　some　five
hundred　intellects。　It　neutralizes　opposing　forces　and　gives　free　play
to　CIVILIZATION；　that　Titan　queen　who　has　succeeded　the　ancient
terrible　figure　of　the　KING；　that　sham　Providence；　reared　by　man
between　himself　and　heaven。　In　the　face　of　such　achievements；　atheism
seems　like　a　barren　skeleton。　What　do　you　say？〃

〃I　am　thinking　of　the　seas　of　blood　shed　by　Catholicism。〃　Emile
replied；　quite　unimpressed。　〃It　has　drained　our　hearts　and　veins　dry
to　make　a　mimic　deluge。　No　matter！　Every　man　who　thinks　must　range
himself　beneath　the　banner　of　Christ；　for　He　alone　has　consummated　the
triumph　of　spirit　over　matter；　He　alone　has　revealed　to　us；　like　a
poet；　an　intermediate　world　that　separates　us　from　the　Deity。〃

〃Believest　thou？〃　asked　Raphael　with　an　unaccountable　drunken　smile。
〃Very　good；　we　must　not　commit　ourselves；　so　we　will　drink　the
celebrated　toast；　Diis　ignotis！〃

And　they　drained　the　chalice　filled　up　with　science；　carbonic　acid
gas；　perfumes；　poetry；　and　incredulity。

〃If　the　gentlemen　will　go　to　the　drawing…room；　coffee　is　ready　for
them；〃　said　the　major…domo。

There　was　scarcely　one　of　those　present　whose　mind　was　not　floundering
by　this　time　in　the　delights　of　chaos；　where　every　spark　of
intelligence　is　quenched；　and　the　body；　set　free　from　its　tyranny；
gives　itself　up　to　the　frenetic　joys　of　liberty。　Some　who　had　arrived
at　the　apogee　of　intoxication　were　dejected；　as　they　painfully　tried
to　arrest　a　single　thought　which　might　assure　them　of　their　own
existence；　others；　deep　in　the　heavy　morasses　of　indigestion；　denied
the　possibility　of　movement。　The　noisy　and　the　silent　were　oddly
assorted。

For　all　that；　when　new　joys　were　announced　to　them　by　the　stentorian
tones　of　the　servant；　who　spoke　on　his　master's　behalf；　they　all　rose；
leaning　upon；　dragging　or　carrying　one　another。　But　on　the　threshold
of　the　room　the　entire　crew　paused　for　a　moment；　motionless；　as　if
fascinated。　The　intemperate　pleasures　of　the　banquet　seemed　to　fade
away　at　this　titillating　spectacle；　prepared　by　their　amphitryon　to
appeal　to　the　most　sensual　of　their　instincts。

Beneath　the　shining　wax…lights　in　a　golden　chandelier；　round　about　a
table　inlaid　with　gilded　metal；　a　group　of　women；　whose　eyes　shone
like　diamonds；　suddenly　met　the　stupefied　stare　of　the　revelers。　Their
toilettes　w