the ways of men(人们的手段)-第31章
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understand their orders backwards are struggling with the throng； whose
entrance they are apparently obstructing by every means in their power。
Once seated； and having a wait of an hour before us； we amused ourselves
watching the crowd filling in every corner of the vast building； like a
rising tide of multi…colored water。
We had purposely chosen places on the highest and most remote
benches； to test the vaunted acoustic qualities of the auditorium； and to
obtain a view of the half…circle of humanity； the gigantic wall back of the
stage； and the surrounding country。
As day softened into twilight； and twilight deepened into a luminous
Southern night； the effect was incomparable。 The belfries and roofs of
mediaeval Orange rose in the clear air； overtopping the half ruined theatre
in many places。 The arch of Marius gleamed white against the surrounding
hills； themselves violet and purple in the sunset； their shadow broken here
and there by the outline of a crumbling chateau or the lights of a village。
Behind us the sentries paced along the wall； wrapped in their dark
cloaks； and over all the scene； one snowtopped peak rose white on the
horizon； like some classic virgin assisting at an Olympian solemnity。
On the stage； partly cleared of the debris of fifteen hundred years； trees
had been left where they had grown； among fallen columns； fragments of
capital and statue； near the front a superb rose…laurel recalled the Attic
shores。 To the right； wild grasses and herbs alternated with thick shrubbery；
among which Orestes hid later； during the lamentations of his sister。 To the
left a gigantic fig…tree； growing again the dark wall； threw its branches far
out over the stage。
It was from behind its foliage that 〃Gaul；〃 〃Provence；〃 and 〃France；〃
personated by three actresses of the 〃Francais；〃 advanced to salute Apollo；
seated on his rustic throne； in the prologue which began the performance。
Since midday the weather had been threatening。 At seven o'clock there
was almost a shower … a moment of terrible anxiety。 What a misfortune if
it should rain； just as the actors were to appear； here； where it had not
rained for nearly four months！ My right…hand neighbor； a citizen of
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Beaucaire； assures me； 〃It will be nothing； only a strong ‘mistral' for to…
morrow。〃 An electrician is putting the finishing touches to his
arrangements。 He tries vainly to concentrate some light on the box where
the committee is to sit； which is screened by a bit of crumbling wall； but
finally gives it up。
Suddenly the bugles sound； the orchestra rings out the Marseillaise； it
is eight o'clock。 The sky is wild and threatening。 An unseen hand strikes
the three traditional blows。 The Faun Lybrian slips down from a branch of
a great elm； and throws himself on the steps that later are to represent the
entrance to the palace of Agamemnon； and commences the prologue （an
invocation to Apollo）； in the midst of such confusion that we hear hardly a
word。 Little by little； however； the crowd quiets down； and I catch Louis
Gallet's fine lines； marvellously phrased by Mesdames Bartet； Dudlay；
Moreno； and the handsome Fenoux as Apollo。
The real interest of the public is only aroused； however； when THE
ERYNNIES begins。 This powerful adaptation from the tragedy of
AEschylus is THE CHEF D'OEUVRE of Leconte de Lisle。 The silence is
now complete。 One feels in the air that the moment so long and so
anxiously awaited has come； that a great event is about to take place。
Every eye is fixed on the stage； waiting to see what will appear from
behind the dark arches of the proscenium。 A faint； plaintive strain of music
floats out on the silence。 Demons crawl among the leafy shadows。 Not a
light is visible； yet the centre of the stage is in strong relief； shading off
into a thousand fantastic shadows。 The audience sits in complete darkness。
Then we see the people of Argos； winding toward us from among the trees；
lamenting； as they have done each day for ten years； the long absence of
their sons and their king。 The old men no longer dare to consult the oracles；
fearing to learn that all is lost。 The beauty of this lament roused the first
murmur of applause； each word； each syllable； chiming out across that
vast semicircle with a clearness and an effect impossible to describe。
Now it is the sentinel； who from his watch…tower has caught the first
glimpse of the returning army。 We hear him dashing like a torrent down
the turret stair； at the doorway； his garments blown by the wind； his body
bending forward in a splendid pose of joy and exultation； he announces in
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a voice of thunder the arrival of the king。
So completely are the twenty thousand spectators under the spell of the
drama that at this news one can feel a thrill pass over the throng； whom the
splendid verses hold palpitating under their charm； awaiting only the end
of the tirade to break into applause。
From that moment the performance is one long triumph。 Clytemnestra
（Madame Lerou） comes with her suite to receive the king （Mounet…Sully）；
the conqueror！ I never realized before all the perfection that training can
give the speaking voice。 Each syllable seemed to ring out with a bell…like
clearness。 As she gradually rose in the last act to the scene with Orestes； I
understood the use of the great wall behind the actors。 It increased the
power of the voices and lent them a sonority difficult to believe。 The effect
was overwhelming when； unable to escape death； Clytemnestra cries out
her horrible imprecations。
Mounet…Sully surpassed himself。 Paul Mounet gave us the complete
illusion of a monster thirsting for blood； even his mother's！ When striking
her as she struck his father； he answers her despairing query； 〃Thou
wouldst not slay thy mother？〃 〃Woman； thou hast ceased to be a mother！〃
Dudlay （as Cassandra） reaches a splendid climax when she prophesies the
misfortune hanging over her family； which she is powerless to avert。
It is impossible in feeble prose to give any idea of the impression those
lines produce in the stupendous theatre； packed to its utmost limits … the
wild night； with a storm in the air； a stage which seems like a clearing in
some forest inhabited by Titans； the terrible tragedy of AEschylus
following the graceful fete of Apollo。
After the unavoidable confusion at the beginning； the vast audience
listen in profound silence to an expression of pure art。 They are no longer
actors we hear； but demi…gods。 With voices of the storm； possessed by
some divine afflatus； thundering out verses of fire … carried out of
themselves in a whirlwind of passion； like antique prophets and Sibyls
foretelling the misfortunes of the world！
That night will remain immutably fixed in my memory； if I live to be
as old as the theatre itself。 We were so moved； my companion and I； and
had seen the crowd so moved； that fearing to efface the impression if we
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returned the second night to see ANTIGONE； we came quietly away；
pondering over it all； and realizing once again that a thing of beauty is a
source of eternal delight。
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CHAPTER 26 … Pre…palatial
Newport
THE historic Ocean House of Newport is a ruin。 Flames have laid
low the unsightly structure that was at one time the best…known hotel in
America。 Its fifty…odd years of existence； as well as its day； are over。
Having served a purpose； it has departed； together with the generation and
habits of life that produced it； into the limbo where old houses； old
customs； and superannuated ideas survive； … the memory of the few who
like to recall other days and wander from time to time in a reconstructed
past。
There was a certain appropriateness in the manner of its taking off。
The proud old structure had doubtless heard projects of rebuilding
discussed by its owners （who for some years had been threatening to tear
it down）； wounded doubtless by unflattering truths； the hotel decided that
if its days were numbered； an exit worthy of a leading role was at least
possible。 〃Pull me down； indeed！ That is all very well for ordinary
hostleries； but from an establishment of my pretensions； that has received
the aristocracy of the country； and countless foreign swells； something
more is expected！〃
So it turned the matter over and debated within its shaky old brain
（Mrs。 Skewton fashion） what would be the most becoming and effective
way of retiring from the social whirl。 Balls have been overdone； people
are no longer tempted by receptions； a banquet was out of the question。
Suddenly the wily building hit on an idea。 〃I'll give them a FEU
D'ARTIFICE。 There hasn't been a first…class fire here since I burned
myself down fifty…three years ago！ That kind of entertainment hasn't been
run into the ground like everything else in these degenerate days！ I'll do it
in the best and most complete way； and give Newport something to talk
about； whenever my name shall be mentioned in the future！〃
Daudet； in his L'IMMORTEL； shows us how some people are born
lucky。 His 〃Loisel of the Institute；〃 although an insignificant and
commonplace man； succeeded all through life in keeping himself before
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the public； and getti
