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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/31738-8.txt b/31738-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..20c6ac9 --- /dev/null +++ b/31738-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4731 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rebellion in the Cevennes, an +Historical Novel, by Ludwig Tieck and Madame Burette + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Rebellion in the Cevennes, an Historical Novel + Vol. I. + +Author: Ludwig Tieck + Madame Burette + +Release Date: March 22, 2010 [EBook #31738] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES, VOL I *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans by Google Books. + + + + +Source: +http://www.archive.org/details/rebellioninceve01tiecgoog + + + + + + + THE + + REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES, + + AN HISTORICAL NOVEL + + IN TWO VOLUMES. + + BY LUDWIG TIECK. + + + TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY + MADAME BURETTE. + + + + VOL. I. + + + + LONDON: + D. NUTT, FLEET STREET. + DUBLIN: J. CUMMING.--EDINBURGH: BELL AND BRADFUTE. + 1845. + + + + + PREFACE. + + +A predilection for the productions of TIECK and a desire to introduce +this remarkable work of the great German Poet to a larger circle of the +reading world: were the chief inducements, on the part of the +translator, for causing it to appear in an English form. As far as +regards the manner in which the translation itself has been executed, +the writer will be allowed to affirm, that the original has been, in +every sense, as closely adhered to, as the idiom of the English +language would admit of; to say, however, whether those efforts have +been attended with any corresponding success, must be humbly left to +the judgment of the discerning critic. + + + + + HISTORICAL NOTICE + + OF THE + + "REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES." + +From the German of the CONVERSATIONS LEXICON, 9th edit. Brockhaus. + + +As far back as the twelfth century, religions sects were formed in this +district (the Cevennes) under the names of "The Poor of Lyons," "The +Albigenses," "Waldenses," &c. Notwithstanding the crusades and +inquisitions raised against them by the popes for centuries, numerous +remnants had preserved themselves, who, when the Reformation found a +footing, obtained a signal increase, and finally, through the edict of +Nantes, were protected from further persecutions. But when Louis XIV., +1685, revoked the edict and purposed to reconduct all his subjects by +force into the bosom of the Catholic Church, then began a series of the +most cruel persecutions against the Protestant inhabitants of the +districts bordering on the Cevennes, especially after the peace of +Ryswick, 1697. Missionaries were accompanied by dragoons in order to +support by force of arms the preachings of the monks, (hence these +conversions called _dragoonings_) and the tax collectors were directed +to require all, especially those, suspected of protestantism, to pay up +their taxes. The most savage cruelties, in which children were torn +from their parents, in order to bring them up in the Catholic faith, +men, who were gone to their houses of prayer, sent to the galleys, and +women thrown into prisons, their priests hanged, the churches +destroyed, at length produced despair. Those, who did not emigrate, +fled into the retired mountain districts. + +Prophets and prophetesses arose, promising victory to the peasantry, +and esteeming him a martyr, who fell into the hands of the dragoons. A +remarkable fanaticism took possession of the Protestant people, which, +in many, even in children, shewed itself in the most fantastic trances +of a really epidemic nature. See Bruyes "Histoire du fanatisme de notre +temps" (Utrecht, 1757). The struggle began first with the murder of the +tax-gatherers; the assassination of the Abbé du Chaila, 1703, who was +at the head of those dragoonings, at length gave the signal for a +general rising. The revolted peasants were called "Camisards," either +from the provincial word Camise (shirt) in derision of their poverty, +or, because they wore a shirt in their surprises by which they might +recognise one another, or from the word "Camisade" (nightly surprise). +Their numbers and their fanaticism continued to increase, Louis's power +was rendered the less effective in putting an end to this insurrection, +as the chain of mountains presented sufficient places of refuge, and +his troops were every moment in danger of being cut off and surprised, +or of being destroyed by cold and hunger. The boldness of the Camisards +increased daily, especially as they placed at their head intrepid +leaders, among whom Cavalier[1] particularly distinguished himself. The +state of affairs became most critical, for Louis XIV., when the Spanish +war of succession required him to extend his forces on all sides, and +Marlborough and the Duke of Savoy, through promises and small succours, +fired still more the Camisards. On the other hand, Pope Clement XI. +in 1703, proclaimed a plenary summons to a crusade against them, which +was put in execution. Notwithstanding this, they almost totally +defeated the troops of the Marshal Montrevel sent against them with +20,000 men, in 1703, and the horrible cruelty of the latter only +excited still more their fanaticism. Recompensing evil with evil, they +strangled eighty-four priests in the diocese of Nismes and burned two +hundred churches, after 40,000 of their own party had been put to the +wheel, burnt, and hanged. At length, in order to give to the perilous +state of affairs another turn, Louis recalled Marshal Montrevel, 1704, +and sent Marshal Villars. One of the chiefs of the Camisards meditated +an alliance with the Duke of Savoy in Dauphiné. The whole country from +the coast to the highest crest of the mountains was more or less in +their hands and with the inhabitants of Nismes, Montpellier, Orange, +Uzes, &c., &c., they maintained communications, which secured to them +bread, arms, and other necessaries. A quantity of bells had been melted +down by them to serve for cannons, and Cavalier acquitted himself like +a skilful general. The Catholic peasantry ventured neither to cultivate +the land, nor to carry necessaries of life into the towns. Thus stood +affairs, when Villars on the 21st of April, arrived in Nismes. He too +was incapable, of subduing the insurgents by force of arms. He +therefore decided on trying the effect of milder measures, and +proclaimed a general amnesty for all, who would lay down their arms, +and set at liberty himself such prisoners as swore fealty. In fact he +disarmed in this manner several communities. On the other side he +menaced with the harshest punishment, and to give weight to it, +moveable columns were formed, which marched from a given point in every +direction, upon which again detachments were ordered to remain as a +reserve, to succour those who might make head against the enemy in the +open field. Those, who were made prisoners with arms in their hands, +were either killed on the spot, or hanged, or broken on the wheel in +Alais, Nismes, and St. Hippolyte. Villars succeeded so far, that +already on the 10th of May, Cavalier gave up the cause of the Camisards +as lost, and concluded a treaty, wherein he promised to surrender with +his party on condition that they should obtain liberty of conscience +and the right to assemble privately without the towns for the service +of God, that the prisoners should be set free, the emigrated recalled, +and the confiscated estates and privileges restored. On the 22nd the +confirmation of the treaty arrived from Paris, and at the same time +permission for Cavalier to form a regiment in the King's pay. In the +mean while, however, the affair rapidly took another turn, particularly +in consequence of the activity of Dutch emissaries, who, brought money +and weapons, and promised the support of their republic. Cavalier had +gone to Anglade to superintend the organization of his regiment, when +the wild peasantry, excited by his lieutenant and inspired by their +prophets, set out and marched into the neighbouring woods, declaring +firmly, the King should restore the edict of Nantes, without which +there was no security for them. At length, however, Villars succeeded +by his personal influence and by cutting off from them all means of +subsistence, to bring them under subjection. Many of them fled and +entered into the Piedmontese service, where they formed a regiment that +took part in the Spanish war, and later under Cavalier's command, was +destroyed at the battle of Almanza, which Berwick gave to the Count of +Stahremberg on the 25th of April, 1707. The whole insurrection, +however, was not, quelled by that subjugation. There were still +multitudes, among which one particularly distinguished itself, led on +by a certain Roland; but Villars sought only to become possessed of the +leaders. Roland, when taken prisoner, was shot by a dragoon, whereupon +the remaining leaders surrendered, and cards of security were given to +them, and their adherents by the Marshal, which secured them from every +persecution. Yet, before Villars had fully stilled the rebellion, he +was replaced by the Marshal of Berwick, who fell upon the chief leaders +of the Camisards in Montpellier, caused them to be burnt and broken on +the wheel, and the country cruelly laid waste. Driven to extremity by +this, the Camisards rose once again with more enthusiastic inspiration. +They were, however, too weak to finish this warfare successfully. Thus +they died, some with arms in their hands, some as emigrants, others +submitted in order to preserve their faith, even under the greatest +oppression, or were forcibly constrained to become Catholics. Thus +ended this insurrection with the total devastation of the province and +the annihilation, or exile of a large portion of its inhabitants. Since +then, in the South of France, merely a war of opinion, lay smouldering, +which after the restoration of the Bourbons in the year 1815, gave rise +to frightful scenes in Nismes, and at other places. Only when in March +1819, a great number of the inhabitants of the Cevennes threatened the +town of Nismes--"Thirty thousand men are ready to descend from their +mountains, with the weapons of despair, if the salvation of their +brethren demand it,"--the persecutions of the Protestants were put a +stop to. See "Histoire des Camisards," (2 vols, London, 1744) Court de +Gebelin, "Le Patriote français et impartial," (2 vols, Villefranche +1753) by the same "Histoire des troubles des Cevennes, ou de la guerre +des Camisards," (3 vols, Villefranche, 1760, new edition 1820) Schulz, +"Geschichte der Camisarden" (Weimar 1790), and Tieck's novel, "Der +Aufruhr in den Cevennen" (Berlin 1826). + + +[Footnote 1: Jean Cavalier, principal leader of the Camisards in the +war of the Cevennes, born 1679 in the village of Rebaute, near Anduse, +vas the son of a peasant, he lived at Geneva, and was employed in +agriculture, when the persecutions of the reformed inhabitants of the +Cevennes under Louis XIV. reached their highest pitch, and caused the +breaking out of the troubles, enflaming his enthusiasm for his faith, +and inducing him to return home. He was twenty-four years old, when he +placed himself at the head of armed multitudes, whom he knew how to +discipline with great art, and to rule over with transcendent talent, +leading them, with courage, circumspection and success against the +royal army. The confirmation of the treaty, which he, despairing of the +ultimate success of his cause, had concluded with Marshal Villars, +Louis XIV. sent to him accompanied with the commission of colonel, and +the grant of an annual pension of 1200 livres, permitting him at the +same time to raise a regiment of his own in the king's pay. Called to +Versailles by the Minister Chamillard, he saw that he was watched there +with distrust, and he fled secretly to England by way of Holland, +entering there into military service. In the Spanish war then raging, +he commanded a regiment formed of refugee Camisards in the service of +Piedmont and distinguished himself particularly in the battle of +Almanza, in New Castile, on the 25th of April, 1707, where he was +severely wounded. At a later period he became Major-general and +Governor of Jersey; and died, 1740, at Chelsea.] + + + + + + + THE + REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + +"Is Edmond not yet come home?" asked his father of the servant, as he +walked up and down the great hall of his country mansion. + +"No, my Lord," answered the old man, "and it were well that he +returned before evening; for a storm is gathering over the mountains, +which bodes us no good." + +At this moment a little girl entered with her toys, and sat down at the +large hall table. "The storm is raging again so fearfully up in the +mountains," said she carressingly, "that I will stay near you, dear +papa, I cannot bear such weather, why should there be such noise and +thunder in the world?" + +"Aye, truly," rejoined Frantz, the old domestic, "and all the misery +that has oppressed us for so many years past and to which we see no +end!" + +"He only knows, who has thus afflicted us," replied the father, +sighing; "and he will accomplish his own wise purpose." + +"Papa!" exclaimed the child, looking up from her play, "our good +Eustace, the charcoalburner, who used to bring me such pretty little +stones from the wood, and who lately brought the large wild bird, which +he said, was a thrush; the black good man is now become a satan too." + +"What art thou chattering there about!" said her father angrily; "who +told you this?" + +"Martha, my nurse," replied the child; "for he is now in rebellion +against his God and his king, until they take him prisoner and burn, or +otherwise put him to death, for he will no longer be a Christian; +Martha said so this morning, while she was dressing me, and she intends +going to the town next week to see the other satans put to death; pray, +allow her to go, dear papa? she thinks it will more particularly +confirm and strengthen her in her faith, for she too has gone a little +astray, and has almost fallen into evil ways. The evil one is very +powerful in the neighbourhood, particularly up yonder in the mountains, +he is quite at home there; we are much better down here. Papa, the figs +are becoming ripe already in the garden." + +"Thou chatterer!" said her father, in a tone of displeasure, "I shall +take care that you are not so much alone with the old woman." + +"It is true enough," interrupted the domestic, "Eustace is up in the +mountains with Roland, and has joined the Camisards, his wife and +children sit mourning in their desolate home; they are destitute of +food, and dread being arrested and, perhaps, condemned on his account." + +"I believe," said the Lord of Beauvais, "that you have already relieved +them, my good Frantz, if not, do it now; give them what necessaries +they may require, but do it prudently, that we may not be called upon +to answer for it; for in this general affliction of want and confusion, +every thing is suspicious. A man may do as he pleases provided he +becomes not a tyrant, and places himself on a level with the +executioner." + +"Like our Marshal," exclaimed the old man impetuously, "like our +Intendant; like the lords there in Nismes, who in the name of God +sacrifice their brethren. I have sent some relief to these poor people +already, and will provide them with more; it is only a drop of water in +the sea, but still in this distress it will comfort a few poor +creatures." + +The servant retired, and as her father turned a mournful glance towards +the mountains, his little daughter approached him smilingly, kissed his +hand, and said: "Papa, pray let not you and Frantz became wicked and +rebels, for then brother Edmond and I would go to heaven quite alone, +and I should not like that; I can never agree with Edmond, he is so +terribly pious, you are much better, though your faith may not be of +the best kind." + +"You say truly, _terribly_ pious;" said the old man, "Oh heaven, when +will it please thee to deliver us from these afflictions?" + +"There comes Edmond along the garden," said the child, "it will be +better not to say anything to him about the wicked Eustace, for we +shall have noise and disputes again; he does not like such things at +all." + +Edmond entered, bowed, put his gun in the corner, and laid aside his +pouch. A large dog came bounding up to the little girl, who played with +him, and held up some pieces of broken bread. + +"Where have you been this morning, my son?" inquired his father. + +"At the Intendant's, at the Lord of Basville's," replied Edmond without +raising his eyes. "Yonder in Alais, where he will stop for a few days +in consequence of the trial of the rebels. He commends himself to you, +but he is rather surprised that you should have refused the appointment +offered, and thinks that the Marshal would understand it still less." + + +"The Marshal, my son," began the father, not without emotion, "there +are many things that he cannot understand. I thank my God that I +retired to this solitude more than ten years ago, for were I still in +office, my conscience would compel me to resign it now, and that +perhaps would be still more incomprehensible to these two valiant +gentlemen. I neither envy nor admire their patriotism and God preserve +our family from the fate of rendering such services to the king. +Therefore, my dear, my beloved son, I once more give you a paternal +warning to abandon these men, it would send me to the grave to see you +act like them. What do they require of us? no open, direct service, no +assistance which becomes citizens, and which all honorable men are +ready to render: but we are required to turn spies and betray our +fellow-subjects and our countrymen, to give them up to the rack and to +the stake, and to rejoice in the inhumanity which depopulates the land, +and congratulate ourselves at having incurred the hatred of God and of +all mankind, and if we enquire into this too closely, we are looked +upon as traitors to our king and country." + +"Is it ever permitted to a subject to enquire?" hastily rejoined +Edmond, "I am aware of your sentiments, my father, and I regret them; +but ought the subject to enquire into this? May I be allowed to ask +where is the submission, where are the ties that bind him to the state, +where the holiness, the sublimity, the piety, the honor by which we are +men and citizens, and upon which our virtue and existence repose; if I +am permitted to say: here I renounce my obedience to you, this you dare +not command, though you were my king; though my country, even heaven +itself should speak to me through your revered lips." + +"You are right, my son," replied the old man, "and because you ask +this, you will ever be in the right; the ruler should with humble piety +and with godly fear keep within these limits, respect the conscience of +his subjects, keep inviolate the promises, the oaths which his noble +predecessors made, and which he has repeated after them, and not hurl +with his own hand the burning brand into his granaries, by raising up +extortioners, judges, and persecutors!--And woe to those, who thus +abuse the weakness of his age, his pliable conscience and their own +influence; and woe to him who is appointed to fill these offices to +slaughter good and pious men; but tenfold woe to the upright man, who +from ambition, or a mistaken sense of duty, advances and sets fire to +the stake, and extends the rack still more horribly." + +"It grieves me, my father," said Edmond, suppressing his anger, "I am +overwhelmed with inexpressible anguish at being compelled to feel +myself so immeasurably distant from you in all that is dearest, +holiest, most natural and nearest to my heart! From the moment that I +was capable of thinking and feeling, our ancient and holy religion has +been to me the most sacred, the most sublime, in her alone my heart +lives, all my wishes and aspirations are brightly reflected in this +clear crystal; this which love itself has proclaimed, this which is +itself love, eternal, invisible, to us lost creatures become visible by +descending in the form of a child, as our brother and nearest +neighbour, and then suffering so painful a death for our wanderings and +in this most devoted sacrifice thinking only of us, and of all our +infirmities and corruptions in life and in death:--ought I ever to +forget this, can I disdain it; my heart which this love consumes with +gratitude; ought it to suffer this transcendent miracle of love to be +annihilated, to be trampled in the dust, and all that is most holy +reduced with scornful impiety to ruins, in order to associate it with +all that is most contemptible?" + +"Who requires that, my son?" exclaimed the old man; "even Turks and +Heathens would and could not demand it, still less our brethren, who +only desire to approach in plainness and simplicity that +incomprehensible being, who, notwithstanding his immensity, so +intimately and so closely connects himself with all our hearts in love +and simplicity." + +"In this portrait," said the son, "it would indeed be impossible to +recognise those, who murder our priests, set fire to our sanctuaries, +rob the peasant, and if they are victorious, which God forbid, would +extend their heresy with fire and sword over the land." + +"You see it thus, my son," said the old man, "because you will see it +so; we misunderstand each other in this affair, for you resist +conviction, and certainly as long as you are governed by this feeling, +you will never possess that dispassionate clearness of mind, which +according to my judgment, is necessary to render us susceptible of +religion; and this alone is the true spirit of christianity, for which, +it is true, you struggle with enthusiasm, but you cannot live in true +devoted love." + +The son rose indignantly from his seat, and walked hastily up and down +the saloon, then he seized his father's hand, looked at him earnestly, +and said: "Enthusiasm? with this word then, with this vague sound you +have satisfied yourself, and responded to my sorrowing spirit. This is +it exactly what the world desires, what the despairing one means whose +heart is dead. Is it not so, the martyrs and heroes of the christian +church were merely enthusiasts then?--and those who joyfully shed their +blood and endured martyrdom for Him, to whom they could not offer too +great a sacrifice of love and suffering, were fanatics too, because +they were deficient in understanding and composure? All these miracles +of love are merely the crude wanderings of delirious passion, which +those celestial spirits have contemplated from on high, not with +emotion and joy, but only with compassionate smiles, and those who +expired in ecstasy are immediately greeted with grave looks and +admonishing reproof! Oh, rather than discipline my throbbing heart to +such presumption and vile incredulity, I would tear it palpitating from +my breast, trample it under foot and throw it to the dogs for food." + +"We will drop the subject," said the father, half angry, half moved, +while he took a large book from the mantel-piece. + +"I blame not your sentiments, far be it from me to censure what is +sacred, but you do not know what it is, you have yet to learn that +greatness and truth lie only on the verge, on the transition-point of +this feeling; as we have beheld them in their ecstasy, we must draw +back with timidity and reverence; but should the lying spirit entice us +in our spiritual revellings to higher enthusiasm and visions, we sink +under mental voluptuousness, and delusive images, fearful fancies take +prisoners soul and heart, love dies within us; and you will be obliged +to go through this sad probation, my son, and God knows if the issue +does not leave you a seared, an empty heart, or perhaps a hypocrite, +for thy path through life will not be smooth and easy." + +With these words, the Lord of Beauvais sat down to read, his son took +his hand and said in a gentle tone, "No, no, my father, let us go on +with this subject, which once for all occupies my whole life. Is it +possible that this reading, this reasoning of Plato can interest you at +this moment? Am I permitted to feel as you do, am I not obliged to +blindly obey, if moreover, this obedience accord with my sentiments?" + +"St! st!" exclaimed the little girl playfully, and the dog ran barking +towards the door, and could only be silenced by his master's whistling +to him. "Is it not true," said Eveline, "that Hector is entirely of the +true faith, for he might be so easily set upon the Camisards?" + +"Silly child!" exclaimed Edmond reddening with anger, the father shook +his head at her, but she continued: "Edmond said even now that he would +give his heart to Hector to eat, therefore I may well consider him a +very peculiar sort of dog." "Come Hector, they always do us injustice;" +thus saying, she took the dog by the collar and both went into the +garden. + +"I understand you not, my father," commenced Edmond after a pause, "you +are religious, you visit the church with devotion, I must consider you +attached to it, however often a suspicion to the contrary may occur to +me, and yet can you contemplate it with composure, that destruction +threatens this our church, and does she not in the most gracious manner +fulfil all the desires and yearnings of our hearts? I feel ever +incensed, when many priests urge so strenuously the necessity of good +works, virtue and morality; Heathens can teach us that, and our very +reason exacts it from us; however much these must be respected, it is +the progressive development and formation of the miraculous that I +perceive in history which always so powerfully affect my heart. In the +distance lies the first miracle dark and indistinct; but veiled +entirely in love. The gift of prophecy was not withdrawn after the +apostles; saints and martyrs followed in the steps of the departed, and +fulfilled that which the former predicted, the mystery of love is +interminable, and can only be explained by a new mystery. That the +explanation of the holy sacrament should be sanctioned by decrees of +the church, disturbs me not, while to the worldly only it appears a +mere temporal event; for in the insignificant germ lie already +concealed the blossom and sweetness of the fruit, which become ripe +only by that which we call time. Thus it happened that at a later +period the forebodings of the soul were fulfilled, and she, who had +given birth to the Saviour was worshipped as heavenly; festivals were +celebrated in her honour. Thus the prophetic song from the mouth of one +prophet descends through all ages, and is never silent, even to +futurity. Festival follows festival, temples and images follow statues, +posterity will turn with deep emotion to the love of the present, as we +enraptured trace the past, only through this mutability, through this +re-echoing of the Eternal Word is the truth made manifest to me, +through this alone am I convinced that it went forth in former times, +by this means, that it apparently changes, as the leaf into the +blossom, the flower into the fruit, and the fruit yields again the seed +of the flower, it is a permanent, an eternal truth; through this +endless, this inexhaustible abundance, resembling an ocean of love, by +anticipating each individual sense, by quenching every desire, by +satisfying the hungry: by this only it becomes something simple, +authentic and independent, and I abhor the interpretations of those +innovators, who would treat these miraculous events as a tale, who +venture to call our mass with its symbols, lights, temples, pomp, and +music idolatry, and by thus warring against the most sacred things, +according to the feelings of my heart, they war against God himself, +and they must be rooted out and destroyed like noxious, venemous +reptiles." + +"I understand you, my son, and would willingly believe you in the +right, for in fact you have only been declaring my own sentiments on +this subject. If such are your feelings and this be your faith, there +should be no further strife not only between us, but any one else. If +you feel that Christianity in its various forms, rejects no want, no +desire, that it is permitted to every mind to worship according to its +own light, but in the spirit of truth, the Eternal Being, then those +meek hearts, that shrink affrighted from this parade and song, from +this splendour of the temple and from the artificial culture of +religious mystery, will not be excluded from the community. Those, who +like the disciple John and the apostles of Jesus, visit the wilderness +of Jordan, and there in the dreariness of the mountains and in holy +solitude willingly listen to the Eternal Word, and are anxious to erect +there their church like the hut at Bethlehem, lest their fervid +imaginations might be overwhelmed with the splendour and sculptured +beauty of the statues, and thereby forget their salvation and their +God. These people here are likewise true Christians, my son, whatever +our priests may say to you about it, and the Father will not reject +them. There arose long since in our Cevennes, and in the valleys of the +Albigences, a simple faith, a peaceful retreat, far from the pomp and +ambiguity of the episcopal and popish church. It may be, that for the +good of mankind, for religion, education, and liberty, it was expedient +in those earlier ages, that the Bishop of Rome should declare himself +the head-shepherd and lay the foundation of a spiritual kingdom; but, +that the christian church in later times has declined on that account, +admits of no doubt. The bishops and priests were now no longer simple +teachers of the word and imitators of the apostles, but they became the +head-servants of their spiritual master, who in the disputes of the +times was compelled to think first of himself and of his own power, +while he assigned to religion that only which was not detrimental to +it; therefore it resulted, that when the quiet inhabitants of Alby +assembled in their wooded valleys, resolving to free themselves from +the abuses, the arbitrary dogmas, as well as from the corruptions of +the priests, they were persecuted as heretics, who sought to overturn +the papal chair, and therefore Christianity itself. Had there been +then, as there was formerly, a free independent church of bishops, +these enlightened minds would have found protection and peace, they +would have been allowed to assemble in their houses of prayer with +their priests, and serve God in what manner they thought it their duty +to do, instead of which, crusades were preached against them and their +innocent blood, which has been so inhumanly shed, still cries up to +heaven. Even if the papal hierarchy and Christianity had not been one +and the same thing, there would still have arisen in our mountains +great preachers and reformers of the church. When the papal authority +began to totter, such teachers as these spread themselves among our +mountains and Calvin's disciples found minds, which had been long +prepared to receive his doctrines. This form of faith is here as +natural and holy as yours may be in other parts, and he only could +resolve on extirpating them by persecution, who misunderstands the +beautiful and tolerating spirit of Christianity, indeed it appears to +me, that he must be entirely inimical to this religion of love. Since +Luther and Calvin, a civil war has raged through every province for +nearly a century; dearly was this cherished liberty to be paid for, of +which the popes and bishops have so unjustly robbed mankind. A light +shone in the midst of this gloom, our fourth Henry stepped forward and +extended the olive-branch of peace over all his dominions. By the edict +of Nantes liberty of conscience was ensured by a royal oath, and by the +unanimous consent of the parliament, and confirmed by all the states +and provinces: his successor renewed this oath, and our ruler, Louis +XIV, could not be recognised king, before he agreed to reign over +Evangelical as well as Roman Catholic subjects: thus was the oath which +he took for himself and his posterity ratified to us; he has reigned +many years with happiness and renown, but now in his old age, +surrounded by ambitious and superstitious minds, now that his bright +star has long set, now that his country is impoverished and exhausted; +that his armies are defeated; that enemies threaten his frontiers, and +even his very capital,--now that Germany, England, and Holland, here in +the neighbourhood, Savoy, menace us with the most dire misfortune,--now +his conscience awakes, he thinks to be able to conquer heaven and +fortune, by suffering Catholic subjects only to call him king. He sends +with inconceivable blindness--converting ministers into these +mountains; and threats, compulsion, massacre and pillage are the +exhortations employed towards this unfortunate people; now we have +witnessed these horrors in our very neighbourhood; however zealous you +may be for your party, my son, I know that your humane heart has been +agonised more than once by these proceedings. Suddenly--could he do it, +ask yourself if he might? the king revokes that edict and voluntarily +absolves himself from his oath, without at the same time consulting +that of his predecessors, of the parliament, and of all the states in +the kingdom; he himself destroys, in his religious madness, that which +binds him to the citizen, that attaches the subject to him, the sacred +palladium, the undefilable is profaned and annihilated, and the +wretched inhabitants are yielded a prey to wrath, to murder, and to the +fearful frenzy of the bloodthirsty; the peaceful weaver, the shepherd, +the honest labourer, who was but yesterday a devout Christian, a +respected citizen, a good subject, is through the revocation of the +edict, without any fault of his own, now a rebel, an outlaw, for whom +the wheel and the stake are prepared; against whom all, even the most +savage and disgraceful cruelty is permitted; his temples are closed and +demolished; his priests are exiled and murdered; he is ignorant of his +offence, he only feels his misfortune: in the deepest recesses of the +soul that spirit is aroused which remembers its eternal and +imperishable rights, and again war and murder rage; fury excites fury, +life becomes cheap, martyrdom a pleasure; and if there be evil foes, +they look with a scornful and fiendish laugh from the summits of the +mountains down on this hideous massacre, where the very last traces of +love, godly fear, and humility are covered with reeking blood. Do you +mean that it is thus I must be a Christian, in order to justify the +cruelty of my party; or to be a good subject, must I lend a hand to +these executioners of the Marshal? In this case, indeed, is our respect +for the king, as well as our worship of God infinitely different." + +Edmond had listened to this long harangue of his father, without +testifying any signs of impatience; at length said he, sighing deeply: +"We are standing then on two opposite shores, a wide stream between +us; I understand your meaning so little, that I even shrink with +fear from it, for according to that, our holy religion may vanish in +the empty folly of every fool, who has the arrogance to set himself up +for a teacher, and just enough ability to mislead the ignorant, +novelty-hunting populace; thus then might indeed the sacred edifice of +the state with its, by heaven itself, consecrated representative sink +into the dust, if every malcontent is permitted to dispute with him +those rights by which the king is king, and if lie finds an opportunity +to rob him of them. Then come chaos and anarchy bringing in their train +the hellish fiends of murder, vengeance, fire, and sword, in order to +destroy and slay the friends of the throne, the nobles and the priests. +Oh! my father, to this only then their doctrine tends. Can my king be +no more to me my visible god on earth, to whom I blindly and +unreservedly submitted my whole heart with all its impulses, can I no +longer believe, that to him alone belongs all responsibility? In this +case I can neither act, nor think. Must my church, for which +innumerable miracles, and thousands of the sublimest spirits speak and +confirm it, yield to contemptible communities of yesterday, out of +whatever corner they creep, who seek with gross deception and delirious +ravings to cover and decorate their pitiful wretchedness;--no, I would +just as soon fly to the unenlightened heathens of the North Pole, and +attach myself to their absurd faith." + +"Miracles!" exclaimed the old Lord, "and what then do you call miracles? +the dull eye cannot discern them, just because they are too great and +too mighty. That these poor people, who were perfectly content if they +only had their hardly-earned dry bread, and who in the recesses of +their mountains revered every commander as a deity;--that these should +venture to defy the Intendant, the Marshal with his armies, and even +the king himself;--that these poor, common men were enabled to +sacrifice their wives, their children, and their lives, and die martyrs +for their doctrine: Is this then no miracle? A miserable band without +education, without arms, without having ever seen service, led by young +men, who scarcely know what a sword is, should defeat regular troops +and experienced commanders in more than one battle; and, sometimes too, +one against four: Is that no miracle? How, if these rebels, for such +they are in reality, should desire to found the truth of their doctrine +upon this, what have you to oppose against them?" + +"Rather mention too," said Edmond, with bitterness, "their prophets, +their ecstasies, their absurd convulsive contortions, which the young +learn from the old and deceive and grossly lie with the name of God on +their lips." + +"My son," said his father, sighing, while he gazed with emotion on the +dark eyes of his son. "In all unrestrained passions man is transformed +into an inexplicable but fearful miracle, then becomes realised and +identified with him, what the wildest fancy itself cannot imagine more +irrational. Let every man beware of this state, still less let him seek +it, as you do, Edmond; your fire will consume you. Go not yonder so +often to the lady of Castelnau: this will nourish your enthusiasm and +destroy you." Edmond quitted the hall abruptly without saying a word. +The old man looked after him, sighed and said to himself, "Ardent love +and bigotry encouraged by an enthusiastic woman what may they not +effect in our times in this poor youth; who knows the misery that is +still before me!" + +"For God's sake, my Lord," exclaimed old Frantz, rushing in, "what is +the matter with our son; there he is running up the vineyard without a +hat, and the storm is fast gathering. Oh, if you had but not scolded +him! He will never indeed give up the lady!" + +"How do you know," asked the father, "that the conversation related to +her?" + +"He ran by me," replied Frantz, "and looked at me with that very +peculiar, fierce expression, which he only has, if any one speaks of +the Lady Christine; then only he stamps his feet; he has thrown down +the apple-tree there, and kicked back his own Hector that was running +after him, which he never does at any other time; some harm will yet +befall our Edmond." + +"May God watch over him," said his father; at that moment a flash of +lightning darted from the dark stormy clouds, and cast a singular light +round the vineyards, so violent a clap of thunder immediately +succeeded, that the whole of the great building rocked and creaked. +Hector crouched down by Frantz, and the little Eveline ran into the +hall with her fair locks fluttering behind her, immediately after her +entrance, the rain began to descend in torrents, the herds were seen +everywhere hastily crowding together; the shepherds hallooed to their +flocks, the dogs barked, and in the intervals of the roaring of the +tempest the rustling of the trees was heard; the streams dashed loudly +down the hills and the rain pelted heavily on the roof of the house. +Martha began to chaunt aloud from the upper story; soon after the +trampling of horses and hasty footsteps were heard. The door opened and +three men entered, the foremost of them, who had alighted from his +horse, turned to the proprietor of the house with these words: +"Necessity requires no bidding! the proverb, my Lord Counsellor of +Parliament is quite right, for otherwise I had not ventured to renew a +former acquaintance so unceremoniously: I am the vicar of St. Sulpice, +there beyond St. Hippolite, and take the liberty to beg the shelter of +your roof for a short time in this remote place, against the violence +of the storm." + +"You are welcome, my friend," said the Counsellor of Parliament, "as +well as the other gentlemen; you shall have a fire to warm and dry +yourselves, and you will do well to remain here this evening, for the +storm will certainly last until night, as is usually the case in this +neighbourhood." + +Frantz and another domestic had already lighted a fire in the large +chimney, and the strangers approached the friendly flames in order to +dry their garments, while the vicar begged the servant to take care of +his nag. + +The other two strangers had made their request and testified their +respect for the Counsellor of Parliament only by a silent bow, during +which the little fair girl took advantage of the momentary confusion, +to approach the guests and examine them with curiosity. One of these +appeared to be a huntsman, for he wore a green dress and carried a +couteau-de-chasse and a rifle, the latter, which was loaded, he very +carefully placed on the mantel-piece. During these various proceedings, +Eveline had already in her way formed an acquaintance with the third +stranger, who seemed to be her favorite, for she gave him her +handkerchief to wipe the rain from his face, and offered him some +fruit, which he smilingly declined, and after looking at him for some +time, she said, "Where have you left your hat?" "The storm without has +carried it off from me," said the young stranger, "and blew it far, far +away, so that I could not catch it again." + +"It must have been drole enough," said Eveline, laughing, "you after +the hat, the storm after you, and the rain after the storm, you could +not overtake your hat, but the rain and storm overtook you." + +The Lord of Beauvais drew near, and said, "You entertain this stranger +already?" "Does he not look good and kind;" exclaimed the child, "just +like the schoolmaster in the village, who teaches me to read, but who +is obliged to limp already with his young, thin legs." + +"Behave politely, my child," said the Counsellor kindly, and he put +aside her fair locks from her forehead. He examined his guest while he +was paying the usual compliments. The young stranger appeared to be +about sixteen, or seventeen years of age, he was something below the +middle height, his figure was delicately formed, but as the child had +said, the expression of his countenance was amiability itself. A slight +tinge of red coloured his thin cheeks; his eyes were of the lightest +blue, and had acquired by a mark on the right eye-lid, a very peculiar +expression; short, fair hair lay thick and smooth, over his dazzlingly +pure white forehead: his voice had something effeminate in it from its +high pitch, and from his whole bearing and bashfulness of manner, one +might have easily taken him for a maiden in disguise. + +"I came over to day from Pont-du-gard, and intended to proceed to +Montpellier, when this storm overtook me fortunately just in front of +your door, my Lord Counsellor," said the vicar approaching again. "I +must confess, I should not have thought, that there could be such a +building as this aqueduct, if my own eyes had not convinced me of it. I +doubt that the Coloseum at Rome, or the stupendous church of St. Peter +could have produced so great an impression on my mind, as these +majestic, vaulted arches, and these pillars one over the other, which +so boldly and so easily unite two distant mountains." + +"Whoever has not yet seen this work of antiquity," said the Counsellor, +"may well consider every report of it exaggerated, and, perhaps, +reverend sir, you will not believe either, that it encreases in +grandeur the oftener one looks at it; the eye cannot familiarize itself +with its magnificence, although its first sight is so highly +satisfactory, and in this contemplation of the sublime, the most +pleasing emotions take possession of us. Thus must it ever be with all +that is truly great," "Those heathenish Romans," said the priest, "have +done much in this respect, they must ever be our teachers; but on my +way here, before the commencement of the storm, I heard a great deal of +firing." + +"The Camisards and the royal troops are at it again," said the +huntsman. "But to day, it is said, that the Huguenots have entirely +lost the game." "How so?" demanded the Counsellor. + +"I heard on the other side of the water,--thank God, that I am on +this!--that they had taken prisoner Catinat and Cavalier, and therefore +it is probably all over with the war. What a pity, say I, if they +massacre Cavalier, as they have so many others." + +"Why a pity?" exclaimed the priest hastily, "what else then does the +rebel deserve? perhaps you are also a follower of the new doctrine?" +"No, reverend sir," said the huntsman, "I was one of the every first +that was converted by these gentlemen dragoons. They came in the name +of the king, and--of him whose bread I eat, whose song I sing--they +were not particularly gentle; thirty in the village were massacred: +'Dog,' said they, 'the pure faith, or die!' why so harsh? said I, I am +not at all prejudiced against the creed, only you might have enforced +it with a little more gentleness. When I saw the execrable man[oe]uvre, +my resolution was quickly formed, and I am now in the service of a +right zealous catholic master, the Intendant of Basville. I only mean +that it is a pity for Cavalier for he is a good fellow, and has already +puzzled many a brave officer." + +"That is very true," said the priest a little softened, "he is the only +one among the rebels, who understands how to conduct the affair; +fearless as a lion, generous, ever self-possessed, knowing how to +occupy the best positions, and humane to his prisoners, he is born to +be a hero and a leader, and still more to be admired, for from a +swineherd he rose to greatness. It is through him that I have lost my +vicarage and that I am now making a tour here in Camargue, Nismes, and +Montpellier in order to obtain another appointment." + +"How is that sir?" enquired the Counsellor, "mind your own business! as +the saying is, but we do not always follow this wise maxim," replied +the former, "for hot blood and passion, but to often master our reason. +You know that some time since a sort of crusade was preached against +the Camisards in the Cevennes; the young men in Nismes and in the +surrounding country have enlisted as volunteers and lie in wait for the +rebels wherever they can; the hermit of the Cevennes, an old captain, +has taken the field with a troop of rash, desperate fellows and fights +like a Samson; but it is reported that he is very impartial, for, when +an opportunity offers, he treats friends and foes alike, and has +already plundered many an old Catholic, or stretched him in the +trenches. Now, if such things occur, when all the energies are excited +in the mélée, it is not so much to be wondered at, though they may +happen a little too frequently; verily he has more deliberately counted +over his rosary than he can now the number of murders he commits. It is +curious enough, that a hermit, who had intended to renounce the world +so entirely, should embark again in such adventures; his old military +ardour is probably aroused within him. I too, retired in my solitary +village in the mountains, when I heard of these proceedings was fired, +or inspired with them, and formed the resolution of also rendering my +poor services to God and the king, my parishoners would not hear of it: +by Jove! they have no heroism in them, they have an antipathy to wounds +and death, or they have secret dealings with the Camisards, as I have +always suspected that satan's brood of it, for much as I have loudly +and zealously harangued them in the pulpit, they almost invariably +slept during my sermon: that they were thus insensible to my loud +exhortations, is alone a proof, that they must have been possessed by +the devil. In pursuance of my design, I assembled some people together, +two Spanish deserters, three Savoyards, five fellows who had escaped +from prison, and two prodigiously bold tinkers. It was at the time, +when Cavalier had so incomprehensively taken the town of Sauve in the +middle of the mountains and laid it under contribution. We marched +directly against them, passing St. Hipolite, for I received intelligence +that this rebel commander had abandoned his corps with a small troop. +We met him just as we issued from a narrow defile in the mountains, I +called to him to surrender; he resisted, bang! I shot a fellow dead, +who was standing by him, I fell upon them with sword and gun and broke +their ranks--sir, it was an epoch in my life, it was as if three +regiments were in my body--shots were fired, I looked back,---there lay +my whole army cut down behind me by a few villains--my courage failed, +I rode off as fast as my horse would carry me, it was the same +hungarian horse, my good sir, now, in your stable,--I am saved. + +"Cavalier, as I understand, was a reasonable man, but the knave, who is +called after the late Marshal Catinat, stirred up the others; they +march into my village, persuade my penitents to join them, set fire to +my house and even to my dear dilapidated church, and have sworn to hew +me into ten thousand pieces, if I ever shew myself there again. Now as +I have suffered all this for the sake of my country, it is but just +that reparation should be made to me for the loss I have sustained, and +I am shortly to receive a better living with a good Catholic Christian +community herein the neighbourhood of Nismes. Thus was my chivalrous +expedition terminated; but I have sworn, that wherever I see but one, +or more of these murderous dogs--were there a hundred, to make them +feel my vengeance." + +The Counsellor turned with indignation from the priest and his +countenance brightened as Edmond, in a different dress, entered the +hall. "This is witch's weather," said he, and kissed his father's hand, +which the latter held out to him kindly. He then mingled with the +company and soon entered into conversation with the loquacious priest. + +"As I was saying," recommenced the latter in his clamorous manner, +"these numskulls have something quite peculiar and incomprehensible in +them. Even the children, urchins of three years old, pretend to exhort +and preach atonement, they can speak as familiarly of every sin, as if +they had long ago gone through the whole catalogue of them, this is a +well known fact; moreover, it frequently happens, that these devil's +nurslings even prophecy, and most of them speak in good and distinct +French about what probably they have never heard in their lives--this +may be explained by all who like explanations, some say, that they are +in a fit, others that they are possessed with the devil, those of their +own party take it for inspiration. Above there in Alais, some hundreds +of them assemble, great and small, old and young, prophecying among one +another, that the walls of their prison might be broken down. The +medical college of Montpellier has transferred itself thither, each +doctor has taken with him his hat and cloak; I believe they have also +carried with them the antique mantle of Rabelais, in order to be quite +perfect in their art. I hear they have now observed, discoursed, +disputed, calculated, speculated, deduced, and what is the result? that +we are as wise as before. These learned gentlemen declare, that it +cannot be taken for divine inspiration because it is opposed to the +king and the clergy; and still less can they be possessed by the devil, +in as much as they speak and sing only spiritual things and do not as +yet know the ways of that gentleman, neither, say they, could it +proceed from fits, or any other bodily infirmity, but it was to them +something quite unheard of and new; it may well be termed new, and, +therefore, must appropriately be called fanaticism and the people +denominated fanatics." "There may be many things," interrupted the +huntsman hastily, "that are inexplicable; with your reverence's +permission, my opinion is, that they are all bewitched; for, if you +have no objection, that is the easiest explanation of the matter; +therefore, there is no such great injustice in burning them--always +excepting Mr. Cavalier, for whom I should be very sorry--and the reason +which might tolerate such proceedings is, that they may not by degrees +infect the whole community, for it is very evident that the evil is +spreading daily and is communicated from one to the other. Witchcraft +is just as much something corporeal as well as spiritual, something +visible as well as invisible, and not only men, but also houses, +mountains and rivers may be enchanted; I have experienced this myself +in the course of my life." + +"And how?" enquired the Counsellor. "Do you not know the wide-spreading +ash, which stands in the field between the castle of Castelnau and +the town of Alais? at no great distance from that is the large, old +olive-tree, which, they say, is three, or four hundred years old, but +it is so far certain, that both the trees, particularly the ash, may be +seen at the distance of many miles from the plain as well as from the +mountains." + +"I know both these trees very well," said Edmond. + +"Now," continued the huntsman, "under the ash it is not safe. While I +was yet a boy in the service of the father of the present lady of +Castelnau, who almost always resided at Alais, for the castle was +thought to be too lonely for her, I went out as I often did, to shoot +hares: It was towards evening and a storm like that of to-day overtook +me, I sought shelter under the great ash to escape getting wet through, +but scarcely had I leaned against the trunk, gracious sir, than I was +seized with indescribable agitation and fear, my heart began to beat, a +tremor came over me, I was terrified--I was compelled to quit my +shelter--I was wet through--I returned, and again the same sensations +under the tree; it was not permitted to me to remain there, I was +obliged to go into the open space while the rain was falling as if +heaven and earth would come together. The next morning it was bright +midday and summer weather, said I to myself, dolt! wert thou frightened +because it was dark, perhaps thou wert terrified at the claps of +thunder; wilt thou become a noble huntsman if thou hast such little +heart,--so I went half laughing under the tree, I fancied myself +sleeping under its shade,--but no such thing! I was seized with greater +terror and agitation than ever, my teeth chattered and an icy coldness +chilled me, I fled from the spot.--I mentioned the circumstance to an +old forester: 'Fool!' said he, 'have not the huntsmen told you that the +tree permits no one to stand under it?' It is an old story. He could +not tell me the reason of this, but warned me not to play any tricks +with it. However, I did not follow his advice, but returned to it with +a young lad. To him it was productive of evil, for he became sick unto +death with the fright; since that time, I avoid the tree and so does +every one who knows it. It must have been bewitched some time or +other." + +"Heaven only knows, what may be the meaning of all this," began the +priest, "we live at least in times when events occur, which formerly +would have been deemed impossible. Now there is something +incomprehensible in these prophecying children. It was said, some years +ago, that here, and there, in the Cevennes, in Dauphiné, and in the +neighbouring Beauvarais that such things were practised, and people +travelled to hear and see them. At present whole villages are full of +them, they are to be seen in the market-places, in the public houses +and like the diseases, incidental to childhood formerly, it seems that +all children must undergo the gift of prophecy. Government has thus +sharply reprimanded them, by making the parents responsible, thrown +those into prison and sending the fathers to the galleys, for it was +conjectured that from these alone proceeded the delusion. A peasant, +one of my parishoners, came to me, saying 'for God's sake sir, help me! +my little girl, six years old, began yesterday to prophecy, I am a dead +man if the thing becomes known; my wife and I are certainly of the true +faith as you can testify, but now they will arrest us as rebels, as +they have done to so many others.' + +"Only use the whip," said I, "let the girl hunger and she will soon +forget to prophecy. 'All that has been tried, reverend sir,' groaned +the old man, 'and more than my conscience will justify; the child is +ill from my ill-treatment, for as soon as she begins to prophecy, or to +sing psalms, which she has never heard from me, I have chastised her +severely; I have not given her a morsel of bread for three days, yet +she does not give up, but goes on still worse. Come, I pray, to my +house and see yourself; if she is possessed by a devil, you can +conjure, is it any thing else, you can exhort.' I had never seen such +prophecying creatures, I went therefore out of curiosity with the old +man. As we entered the house, the child was sitting at a spinning +wheel, she was pale and thin, and seemed half silly, she complained of +hunger and pain. I can see nothing in the child, said I, 'oh, if she +was always reasonable like that,' exclaimed the peasant. Presently the +worm was seized with a sobbing in the throat: 'there we have the gift,' +said the old man, 'the disorder is breaking out now--exorcise, reverend +sir!' as the little creature was thus struggling, her body dilated, she +fell on the ground, her bosom throbbed and heaved, and suddenly we +heard as it were quite a strange tone, which did not belong to the +child. 'I tell thee, my child, if thy parents repent and follow the +spirit, all will be right and good, and thou shalt partake of liberty +and of my word.' I was terrified, especially as the devil spoke as pure +French as the child of persons of rank; I sprinkled her with holy +water, I vehemently conjured that the devil, if it was one, might come +out of her; all in vain, the little thing cried out, 'I tell you, the +idolaters shall not prevail against you, and this evil one shall find +the reward of his misdeeds,' thereby meaning myself: the unfortunate +child, because I was so zealous in my calling; then followed +exhortation and singing, and pure fear of God and admonition to +repentance. I could scarcely do it better myself: she then arose and +seemed just as miserable and foolish as before. I cannot help you, said +I to my penitent, you see that the word of God and holy water have no +effect on her; hunger and chastisement just as little, nor has your +persuasion, nor the fear of rendering you unhappy had any weight with +her, leave it to herself. In short, the child ate and drank again, and +became more zealous than ever in preaching repentance; so that at +length the father was converted, or, at least, he ran to the mountains +to the Camisards, and said: 'if he were to be punished, or executed, he +should at least know wherefore.' Thus you see, I lost many penitents +the preceding year, for when they have drawn suspicion on themselves, +they prefer becoming rebels to avoid suffering anxiety, ill-treatment, +and even death without a cause, as one may say. The case of the +shepherd from my adjoining village is still more singular. He was a +wild, reckless fellow, and as strong in the right faith as need be +wished; he had already delivered more than one Camisard and suspected +person up to the executioner. He came running to me one morning at a +very early hour, crying out, 'Help, help, reverend sir!' 'what is the +matter now,' said I, 'have the Camisards set fire to your house, as +they have always threatened to do, on account of your zeal?' 'Ah, much +worse, much worse,' cried the knave, wringing his brown, bony hands. +'Speak out shepherd,' said I, 'Do you know,' he began, 'my son, the +tall Michael,--who does not know the lanky looby--he is known to almost +all the mountaineers, it is indeed the cross of your house, that the +idiot is so useless: he will neither work, nor mind the herds; he is so +stupid, that he is scarcely considered a member of the church, yet he +often enough disturbs the congregation; he is only fit to carry +burdens, and prefers living with the dogs, which he frequents as if +they were his equals: Is he departed this transitory life? rejoice, for +you have one burden less.' 'It is not that indeed,' exclaimed the old +man, incensed, 'Oh, I should not grieve for that: But think, who in the +world would have supposed that the long broom-stick would have become a +prophet?' 'How?' cried I, my mouth and eyes wide open with amazement; +'so, a blockhead, who is good for nothing else in the world, may become +one of their prophets?' I went therefore with the old man, but the +affair turned out still more strangely. As we entered the house, the +thin, bony man was just in the act of prophecying, speaking in a pure +dialect about the deliverance of France, of liberty, of faith, of better +times, encouraging them to fight. I tried to pray, and to exorcise, but +the father seized his great shepherd's stick, brandished it over him, +so that he would have killed him, had I not stopped his arm. We then +listened for a short time, and what ensued? suddenly something gurgled +in the old man's throat, he groaned, turned up his eyes, fell against +the wall and then on the ground, and after a few mighty heavings of the +breast, he too began; he sang psalms, exhorted to repentance, +prophecied the fall of Babel; nothing could equal it: as the old one +sang, the young one twittered; I thought I was bewitched, my priestly +vestments fell from my hands, I could only listen to those two +possessed ones, who were howling out pure piety, and texts from the +Bible, and as I gazed at the astounding wonder with agitation and fear, +I felt a shock through all my limbs, and sir, as true as heaven is +above us, a desire arose within me to be seized with similar fits, and +to take a part in this unhappy affair. I rushed out into the open, +blessed air of heaven. I thought on all dignitaries, of my bishop, of +the great church and organ of Montpellier, of the letter which I +possessed from the murdered Abbot of Chably, of our illustrious Marshal +of Montrevel, of his dress-uniform, and of such things,--and God be +praised, the trembling left my body, and I am now a reasonable man and +a christian priest again. Ever since that time, I look upon the whole +affair with terror. Be it witchcraft, that they are possessed with +devils, bodily and infectious diseases, or the unknown, new fanaticism +of the learned doctors, I have at least discovered that mankind is +easily entrapped, and that the Spaniard is right with his proverb: 'No +man can say of this water I will not drink.' The two shepherd knaves +have now also run into the wilds after Cavalier, and have become great +heroes of the faith." + +The old Counsellor had gone out frequently during these details to give +orders to the domestics, who had in the mean while laid the table and +prepared the evening repast. "My unknown friends," said the old +gentleman affably, "with whose company chance and the bad weather have +so unexpectedly honoured me, and who are to me,--with the exception of +the reverend priest,--total strangers, let us all sociably and without +ceremony take our places at this table, eat and drink, and afterwards +enjoy a refreshing sleep under my roof." Edmond looked up, and could +scarcely believe at first that his father was in earnest; the priest +cast an expressive glance at the huntsman and one of still deeper +meaning at the young man, and smiled as if to hint, that he at all +events should withdraw from this distinguished circle, among which he +himself only had any claim to remain; but the little Eveline hung on +the young man's arm and drew him by her side to the table where he +immediately sat down with her the first without waiting for farther +bidding. "Quite right," said the Counsellor, "No ceremony if you wish +to please me! here are no invited guests, we meet together as if we +were on board a ship or in a wood. I must render you all this +hospitality without distinction." Edmond blushing, placed himself at +the head of the table by his father, the priest seated himself opposite +to him, by the side of the latter sat the huntsman, who left a large +space between himself and his neighbour, and then came Eveline and her +playfellow as he almost appeared. "Quite patriarchal," said the priest, +"those men there, my worthy sir, will not forget to publish throughout +the country, your philanthropy and contempt of prejudices." + +At this moment the veil of clouds in the horizon burst asunder, the sun +in its descent suddenly threw a purple glow over the lowering sky, a +red fire spread itself over the mountain-vineyards, tree and bush, and +vinetendril sparkled in the fiery ray, beyond the woods shone +brilliantly, and as the eye glanced upwards, the summits of the distant +Cevennes were seen glowing in the rosy light; on the left, the +waterfall rushed like blood from the steep rock, and the whole hall, +the table, and the guests, all was as if bathed in blood, so that the +lights just then burned darkly and the fire in the chimney emitted a +blue flame. The rain had ceased, a holy silence reigned throughout all +nature, not a leaf rustled, the red brook only flowed splashingly +along, and the glowing waterfall murmured its melody. The old +Counsellor's eyes were cast upwards as if in fervent prayer, and a tear +glistened in his full eye; the fair young man laid down his knife and +fork and folded his hands; the huntsman glanced timidly from under his +heavy eyebrows; the priest tried to assume a sanctified look; the child +playfully clapped her hands, and Edmond was lost in silent reflection. + +Just as quickly as it was withdrawn, the curtain fell again over the +horizon and extinguished its light, upon which the Counsellor said, +"was not this like an emblem of our country and of our misfortunes? as +necessity unites us all and brings us together, and as the misery that +oppresses us, if I may so express myself, becomes as it were sanctified +and endeared to us? all our countrymen pass through this baptism of +blood, may heaven have pity on us." Edmond cast an expressive look on +his father and then glanced furtively at the huntsman and the young +stranger, as if to intimate, that such thoughts should not have been +expressed in their presence; the old man smiled kindly on his son, but +did not even try to conceal his feelings.-- + +"Papa," cried Eveline, "it was as if the sky wished to play at hide and +seek with us, just as little Dorothea with her plump, rosy cheeks +smiles upon me and then, whisk! creeps under the cloth again." + +"It was like a bleeding world crying for succour," exclaimed the +fair-haired young man. Edmond cast a sidelong glance at him, and said, +"It is perhaps the extinction of the nefarious revolt!" + +"May be so," replied the youth, and raised his blue, child-like eyes to +Edmond, "but I think that everything rests in the hands of the Supreme +Being." + +"Most assuredly," said Edmond sharply, "and the evil would have ceased +long since if so much disaffection, secret abettance, and malicious joy +at the misfortunes of the king had not reigned among the common +people." + +"Every reasonable person must own however," said the young man with a +melancholy smile, "that the evil did not originate with the people; +they were quiet, and although others may suffer, their miseries are +beyond expression." + +The priest left off eating with astonishment, that the little unseemly +man should have the last word with the master of the house opposite to +him; he rolled his eyes up and down as if seeking for some astounding +words of reproof; the little girl pressed the hands of her new friend +for engaging in dispute with Edmond, and the latter as his father +already began to testify his uneasiness at his son's violence, turned +away with an expression of profound contempt, saying, "I know not with +whom I speak, but I think I have some knowledge of you; are you not the +son of the late Huguenot sexton of Besere close by?" + +"No, gracious sir," answered the young man perfectly unembarrassed, "I +have not the honour of being known to you; I am now come to this +neighbourhood for the first time, to make some purchases, my name is +Montan, or simply William, as I am called by the neighbours and by my +father, who is owner of the mill in the deep valley beyond Saumière." + +"Therefore a praiseworthy miller's lad!" said the priest. "It was not +sung to you in your cradle that you should ever sit at table in such +company as this." "No, indeed," said the miller with emotion; "when I +stood before the house, I thought not to find a reception as from the +venerable patriarchs we read of in the Holy Scriptures, I did not +expect to be introduced to a nobleman, who, to my mind and imagination, +presents the most sublime picture of Abraham and Jacob." He wiped his +eyes, and as they were about to rise from table, he lifted his glass, +and said, "pray allow me first, honoured sirs, to empty this glass in +token of my most heartfelt gratitude, and to the unalloyed happiness of +our respected host, and the endless prosperity of his noble house." He +drank, and the old Lord bowed not without emotion, while Edmond and the +priest looked at each other long and enquiringly. The huntsman scraped +and smiled, and the priest in his astonishment forgot to drink. + +They rose from table, and Eveline seated herself again by the side of +her favorite in a corner of the room, and said to him, "That is the +right way, he is too haughty if one allows him to go on." + +Her father approached them, "my child, it is now quite time for you to +retire to bed." "Indeed papa," answered she kissing his hand, "I should +like to remain longer here, but there must be order, as you always say; +I am obedient and will be your comfort, shall I not? it would indeed be +very wicked, and I should vex you, if I turned a prophet like so many +other children in this country." "God bless you, my love," said the old +man resting his hand upon her head; "go to bed, and you, my friend, sit +down here and rest yourself some time longer," said he, pressing the +young miller's hand; when Eveline perceived her father's kindness +towards him, she quickly returned, and throwing herself on the neck of +the young man, kissed him repeatedly, then drawing back a little, she +curtsied gracefully, and in a lady-like manner, and waving her hand, +said: "Au revoir," and followed the domestic who consigned her to her +maid. + +"As you are from Saumière," said the priest, turning to the miller, +"You are surely acquainted with the hermit, who is now the leader of a +troop against the Camisards?" "Oh, I know him very well," replied the +youth, "his cell is in a rocky valley, which is separated from our mill +only by a stony fence; we often visited him on holidays, when the +valley was passable on our side; he is a tall, athletic man, with a +grizly beard and large, grey eyes; he seemed peaceable and quiet until +the war made him a soldier again. Unheard of cruelties are asserted to +have been committed by him; he is said not to know what compassion is, +and must take pleasure in murder; but now his trade is over." "Is he +dead?" enquired the Counsellor. "No, not exactly that," continued the +young man, "but I heard a report on the Vidourla, that he was totally +defeated yesterday by Cavalier, and that, if he consults his own +advantage, he will creep into a cell, for the common people will not +surely trust to him again, when they perceive that he does not +understand his business." + +"He has been a captain, however," said the huntsman. + +"The combat against the rebels," said the priest, "is a difficult +affair, for _that_ courage and the ordinary discipline of a soldier do +not suffice; our Marshal Montrevel would perhaps prefer fighting +against Eugene and Marlborough than with these rag-o-muffins." + +More wood was now piled on the fire. The father sat down, while Edmond +paced up and down the hall in visible inquietude, the priest drew his +chair towards the Counsellor, and said: "You are suffering from the +gout in your left foot, my lord." + +"Why do you conclude so?" asked the old gentleman, "the leg does not +appear to me swoln, although you have guessed rightly." + +"The swelling," continued the priest, "is certainly almost +imperceptible; but you often step lighter and more gently with this +foot, probably without being conscious of it, perhaps this joint is a +little contracted in proportion to the right, and therefore has not the +strength of the latter." + +"That is very critically observed," said the Counsellor. + +"My honoured sir," continued the priest, "it is incredible how +consistent and reasonable nature is in all her productions. To analyse +her in her minutest parts is instructive, however ridiculous it may +appear to the unpractised. More than a century ago, the Neapolitan, De +la Porte, wrote an excellent book on physiognomy comparing the human +and the brutal together; in the earlier ages people tried to read on +the countenance the virtues, vices, and qualities of the disposition: +Believe me, if I could devote my leisure hours to this subject, I am +confident I should carry it so far as to be able to discover from a +shoe, or a boot, that had been worn for a time, many faults or +peculiarities of its possessor." + +"Really?" said the old Lord smiling, "They betray themselves by the +garments, when closely examined; the hasty, or irresolute gait, the +shuffling of the feet, the gliding step of ladies, are certainly very +expressive; a certain nonchalant manner of walking, a haughty tread of +the heel, an affected, frivolous sliding on tip toe, the indecisive +tottering footstep, by which the shoe loses its shape, excepting the +qualities which however demonstrate themselves by the high, or low +instep, or by the flatness of the foot. But now for the legs; if these +were exhibited in their natural state, it would be scarcely possible to +mistake the rank, profession, and way of life; then there are tailor's +and baker's legs, which it is impossible not to recognise, foot and +cavalry soldier's legs, weaver's and joiner's legs, and so on." + +"These are very interesting observations," said the Counsellor, "would +you, for instance, venture to declare the former manner of life of my +Frantz by his legs?" + +"By my legs?" exclaimed the old servant, who was still busied in +clearing away. "Here they are, reverend sir." + +"Stoop a little--now go yonder--come back again--stand perfectly +upright--my Lord Counsellor, I could swear that your Frantz has been in +his youth, nay at a later period of life, a mariner."' + +The servant looked at the priest astounded, and the Lord of Beauvais +said: "You have hit it, my reverend friend; but from what do you draw +your conclusion?" + +"No mariner," said the priest "ever loses entirely the straggling and +somewhat stooping gait which he has acquired on shipboard, he sinks his +loins in walking, and a slight limp remains for the rest of his life." + +When the other servant approached, the priest immediately cried out, +"Give yourself no further trouble, one can see at the distance of a +gun-shot, that the good man has been a tailor in his youth, and that he +certainly pursues the same occupation now, for the bent shins clearly +demonstrate it." "You follow the chase," turning to the huntsman who +was standing; "it must be so, although I should rather have taken you +for a soldier, and from the eye, for a smuggler; by the bye, what is +the matter with your right knee? it certainly is not from attending +mass, from whence then does this slight protuberance proceed? perhaps +you have acquired the strange habit of falling on your right knee when +you shoot?" + +"Reverend sir," exclaimed the huntsman, "you must be a bit of a wizard +yourself, for you have hit the mark. From my youth upwards I have never +been able to shoot but in a kneeling position; should a hare run by +under my nose, I cannot hit it standing, I must first throw myself +down; but I have always been much ridiculed by my companions for it." + +"For the rest," resumed the priest, "you have mountain-legs, and you +must have been born in the Cevennes, or the Pyrenees, your eye too is +characteristic of the mountaineer who is far-sighted." + +"Just so," said the huntsman, "I come from Lozère, the wildest part of +the mountains." + +"Well, my young friend," said the connoisseur in legs, turning to the +young lad,--"You pretend to be a miller and want miller's legs, how +does that happen? observe, that from carrying sacks, the miller's back +is early bent and becomes broad and round, but the principal weight +presses upon the calves of the legs, the sinews of the hams become +disproportionately strong; but with you these are precisely the weakest +parts, the ancles too are not large enough: here, _summa summarum_ +fails the miller's character, for my science cannot deceive." + +"In this I cannot assist you, sir," said the young man petulantly, "for +I am what I am, and will remain so." + +"For my part," quickly rejoined the critic, "I desire not to press too +closely on your miller's honour, you may probably be a spoilt, +effeminate mother's darling, who would not suffer you to be too heavily +laden, your hair and whole countenance have a mealy character, your +voice too sounds like the wheat-bell and the mill-hopper, but when I +look at your knees, they seem to me to be those of a baker, which are +turned in from shoving the bread into the oven and taking it out again; +during this process he is obliged to keep in a stooping position and +rests upon his knees; but I discover the strangest contradiction in +your thighs, for they are those of a horseman and of one who rides +much, your eye too betrays a martial spirit, it darts here and there +and is never quiet as a miller's ought to be, who is attentive to his +business; in short, you are to me in your legs and in your whole person +a very puzzling youth." + +The young man reddened with resentment and the Counsellor endeavoured +to turn the entire affair into merriment and laughter,--when the whole +party was suddenly alarmed by a violent knocking at the front door of +the house, that aroused even Edmond from his reverie. "For God's sake +let me in," roared a voice loudly from without, "open to me in the name +of heaven!" + +At a sign from the Counsellor, who quickly recovered from his surprise, +the servants rushed forward, the company looked at one another in +silence, the bolts were withdrawn, and the tread of heavy footsteps was +heard approaching the hall; the doors were thrown open, and lighted by +the servants, a tall, powerfully-built figure with grey hair and +moustaches of the same hue entered, he held in his hand a massive +staff, that without exaggeration might be termed a club; a long, broad +sword trailed clanging after him, and four pistols were stuck, in a +black leather girdle. On his entrance he approached the host, and said +in a deep, sonorous voice, "Pardon me, my lord, the alarm I must have +caused you, I was benighted, pursued and in danger, therefore I +ventured, certainly rather unceremoniously, to claim the shelter of +your house." + +"Oh heavens, it is the terrible hermit!" exclaimed the miller in a +hoarse voice, "I am he, indeed," replied the gigantic figure, "but why +terrible, my young simpleton? I may surely be permitted to show my face +every where, presumptuous fellow; and I have shown it before other +physiognomies than yours.--Your pardon! Sir Baron, if I give way to my +displeasure at the presumption of this hireling. Yes, reverend sir, I +am he, who under the name of the hermit is not unknown in this part of +the country; in this character I wished to do homage to my God, but an +envious fate thwarts me. To-day my troop has been entirely dispersed, +and I have only saved my own life through the greatest exertions, for I +was pursued even in the darkness of the night; my enemies cannot be far +off, my life is forfeited, if you refuse me your protection." + +"All I possess," said the Counsellor, "is at your service, my house, my +servants and myself will protect you as far as we are able, +independently of the claims of humanity; my duty to my king and country +demand this." + +"You are an honourable man," replied the giant, "such as I had every +reason to expect."--At his invitation, he sat down by the side of the +master of the house to partake of the wine and refreshments, which the +servants placed before him. "I hope," said he, "that the storm and +sudden fall of night have prevented them from tracing my route, but +every moment of this day has been a perilous one to me. Yonder, on the +right at Nages, the body of Camisards has been totally defeated; as I +passed the Vidourla to give the rout to my enemies, I met a flying +detachment of them, who, instead of showing any fear, assembled +together, and fell upon me like so many devils; their number was not +great, but it seemed as if they were aided by magic, a panic seized my +people; they crowded together, they reached the Vidourla, the furious +foes behind them. At that moment the storm burst forth, the waters +rushed down from the mountains and swelled the rapid mountain-stream to +a fearful height, it overflowed its banks, and I saw the dead, the +wounded, and the living ingulphed in the waters; I swang myself upon a +tree, and from that to a barren rock; more than a hundred muskets were +levelled at me, my double-barrelled gun aided me as much as possible, +but my sword was useless, the storm threatened to hurl me down, I tried +to ascend in spite of the wind and the rushing waters, the rock, from +incessant washing, had become slippery as ice, but at length I +succeeded in gaining a footing in the midst of the rolling floods, I +crept up higher, my steps illumined by the dazzling lightning, and the +flashing from the enemy's guns, while the balls wizzed round me: Thus I +arrived at a vineyard: I was compelled to scale the wall, on the other +side I found two daring fellows, who had climbed over there before me, +they fell beneath my sword, I entered a wood, and soon found myself +standing upon a level rock, but without track or foot-path, neither +road nor bridge was to be seen, precipices yawned below me; must I go +back, or down! I slid down, the darkness prevented me from +distinguishing anything; after repeated falls, I felt some shrubs under +me, a huge shepherd's dog of the most ferocious species attempted to +drag me down, there was no herdsman to be seen, or within call, I was +compelled to wrestle with the fierce animal; night had now entirely +closed in, I thought I heard the sound of bells, I groped my way +towards the place from whence the sounds proceeded; soon afterwards I +heard men's voices; are they friends or foes? while I was advancing +with cocked pistols and drawn sword,--'Who's there?' suddenly grated +upon my ears; I discovered they were the Camisards; as I gave no +answer, they fired, and by the flashing I perceived distinctly ten of +my foes standing at the opening of a ravine; no choice was left me, I +advanced, the first fell, shot by my pistol, a second was cut down by +my sword, the obscurity of the ravine favoured me, nothing remained but +to fly, as quick as age and exhaustion would permit, they shouted and +fired after me; at length I perceived I had attained a high road, the +flashing from the fire-aims discovered to me a porch, something +appeared in the distance like barns and buildings, I ran in that +direction, and at last I reached the door of your house." + +"Sir captain," said the Counsellor, "repose is necessary to your old +age after this exertion and fatigue, lie down, and the safety, which my +house is capable of affording, I again assure you, shall be faithfully +granted to you." + +"May heaven reward you," said the captain; "I look upon this untoward +adventure as a hint of fate, warning me to lay down my arms, I shall do +so, and return to a cell, or a cloister. Had Cavalier been with the +troop, I should not have escaped him, for he possesses the utmost +presence of mind, he is the boldest and indeed the most soldierly among +the rebels." + +"It is said that he is taken prisoner," observed the huntsman. + +"The war is over then," exclaimed the hermit, "for, without him, they +can undertake nothing; this powerful man is alone the soul of their +venturous enterprise. The others understand well enough how to kill and +to die, but not how to conduct the war. I wish he had died; for should +he be taken prisoner, his fate will be one worthy of commiseration." + +During this discourse, the priest, who had until then considered +himself of so much importance, now felt lost and dwindled to nothing by +the side of the so far greater adventurer. He would willingly have +testified his veneration for him by an embrace, or, at least, by a +grasping of the hand, but he dared not venture to approach one, whose +wrath was so easily excited by any degree of familiarity. The tall man +paced up and down the hall, examining all present with a scrutinising +look: "Two servants, perhaps, moreover a valet and a huntsman," he +muttered to himself, but loud enough to be heard, "will not indeed be +capable of offering much resistance, the house is by no means fortified +in case of an attack, then the young lord here, a sort of sportsman, +the black one also in case of necessity to engage the enemy, but that +chicken-hearted one, (looking penetratingly at the young miller) that +downy-faced fellow is quite useless. May God forbid, we should be put +to so severe a test." He now, as well as the others, paid their parting +compliments to the Counsellor, as they were retiring for the night; +they were lighted to their apartments by the domestics, and Edmond +alone remained in the hall with his father. The rain had ceased, but +the night was dark and the sky was covered with lowering clouds. The +father and son walked up and down for some time in silence; at length +the Counsellor said: "will you not retire to rest my son?" "I am still +too much agitated and did you not hear, that our last guest feared we +should perhaps have to receive another unexpected visit?"--Silence +ensued, but Edmond after a pause recommenced: "Forgive me, my father, +if I confess, that I have not understood you to-day, that I have not +recognised in you the same person as formerly. That you received these +people and sheltered them from the storm, was natural enough, but how +it could be conformable to your disposition, (or what shall I call it) +to suffer them to eat at your table without distinction, I cannot +explain to myself. Often already have our people entertained menials; +and what countenance shall I assume when this squinting huntsman shall +wait upon me again at the table of the Lord of Basville, I know not; +and what will the Intendant and the Marshal, who certainly must hear of +it, think, or say? How shall I explain it to myself, that you received +that miller's boy not only with kindness and condescension, but yet +with hearty familiarity? who is even too low to be your menial, that +you allow my sister, who is always too forward to play and romp with +him?" + +"My son," said the old man with some emotion, "it seems indeed, that, +the older I become, the less capable do I feel of justifying myself to +you: I might say, accustom yourself to my ways, as I must through +affection bear with yours, though I misunderstand them so often. You +must certainly excuse me, as you did not explain yourself before, our +conversation to-day had made so deep an impression on me, indeed, such +as I have not experienced for a long time. In my emotion I forgot to +attend to the usual etiquette of life, and as I could not avoid +entertaining the priest at our own table, I added the two other poor +fellows, but as to that miller, who has more particularly drawn upon +himself your hatred and contempt, his child-like countenance and frank, +open manners, in my opinion, did more honour to my table, than your +Marshal Montrevel could ever do. Accident, the weather brought us +together; the times are also so changed that we do not yet know, but we +ourselves may be compelled to sue for refuge among the most miserable. +But as you so despise that youth, I still less comprehend that you +should honour him so highly as to argue with him, nay, to seek yourself +for a dispute; for the future interfere not with my ways." + +They sat down and as Edmond was silent, the Counsellor said, after a +pause: "What do you think then of this priest and his manners? such as +these, you see, are appointed to direct and instruct the people, the +unfortunate people! these became combatants and murderers like this +colossus. That my house is compelled to shelter such, that is it indeed +which humbles me. All champions for a good cause may not be +individually good," said Edmond. + +"Retire to rest now, my son," said the Counsellor kindly, "I shall sit +up some time longer, I am too disturbed to be able to sleep, I shall +read yet a little while, rest will then ensue with cooler blood." +Edmond embraced his father, and then retired to his chamber. The old +man gazed sorrowfully after him, and thought upon his son's future +destiny; he sunk into a deep and melancholy reverie, no where did hope, +or comfort seem to await him. He took up his book in order to calm the +perturbation of his spirit, he tried to collect himself; he reflected +upon the wonderful disposition of the mind, to divert itself by that +which is most profound, in order to escape from its own appropriate +feelings, and to be itself again in the inward sanctuary of the spirit. +Thus without reading Plato, which he had laid open before him, he +became more and more absorbed in a contemplative investigation on the +double nature of the soul and of the mind, that reflects on itself and +comprehends its nature and property, which, in thought, at the same +time, views, and proving it, ponders upon this thought, being at once +actor and spectator, and being only at this moment truly conscious of +itself. He did not know how long he might have indulged in these +reflections; when raising his eyes, he was surprised to see his son by +his side. "You are still here, Edmond?" said he wondering. "No, my +father," whispered the son, "I have reposed quite two hours, but just +now when I awoke, I heard under the window a whispering and a movement +as of many men, I approached, but could distinguish nothing, however, +it seemed to me, as if people were gathering round our house, I have +loaded in haste all our fire-arms, and quietly awakened the domestics. +The strangers are still asleep, but they must now assist in our +defence." + +"If it be so, and that you have not been mistaken," said the father, +"promise me only not to be too eager; let us be quiet and collected, +for thereby one may be often enabled to prevent the worst, but I well +know, by experience, that from the love of danger and fiery courage, +which as easily defeat their object as cowardice, misfortune and +destruction may be drawn down upon us. We must not venture alone, you +must not forget your little sister. Now do I wish, that I had been a +soldier, that I might meet this invasion with serenity, should it come +to this, but we shall do what honour demands of us; but more than the +danger itself do I fear your hastiness." In the mean while a murmur and +the approach of footsteps were heard nearer; several voices were +distinguished, a noise proceeded from the road and garden, so that it +appeared, that they were taking possession of all the outlets. +Immediately afterwards a knocking was heard at the door. The servants +drew near, but at a mute signal from their master they remained +tranquil; immediately the tumult became louder and several voices +raised an unintelligible cry, Edmond grew warm, his father looked at +him significantly; but soon, however, the name of the hermit resounded +clearly and distinctly from out of the confused murmur. "They demand +him," cried Edmond; "They are the Camisards!" The cry was repeated, +they knocked louder, they became even noisy, the screams of women and +the cries of children were now also heard; the Counsellor caused all +the weapons to be brought forward, he was hastily distributing them to +the servants, when trembling and ghastly pale the tall figure of the +hermit, half dressed, tottered in, followed by the priest, bewildered +and terrified; both seized the hand of their host, and while they were +firing without, the knocking at the door and demands for the hermit +became more violent. "Oh, heaven! compassion!" exclaimed the latter, +"thou hast heard my oath, that I would in future refrain from blood, +but it is too late, I am a victim to their vengeance!" With these words +the tremendous figure fell senseless to the ground in utter despair! +the child rushed into the hall with her maid; terrified and crying +aloud she threw herself into her father's arms; the latter tried to +comfort her, but one could see in his pale countenance, that he himself +entertained but little hope. "I will protect you as long as I can," +cried he, "but the multitude appears too great to allow of my defending +the house." Fire! fire! cried a hundred voices from without at the same +time, and lighted fire brands were seen through the windows! at that +moment the door was shaken, by large trees, which were thrown against +it like battering rams. "Oh heavens!" cried the priest, while his teeth +chattered, "had I but the tenth part of my former courage,--but I am +not at all prepared for this, I have slept a little already, which has +completely relaxed my spirit." He took off his hat, "how impolite I +am!" sighed he, but it was almost laughable, even in that moment, that +under this he still wore his night-cap, without being aware of it, and +in wandering about in every corner of the hall, he carried his hat in +his hand. The huntsman now stole in, took his loaded gun from the +shelf, and placed himself quietly by the chimney; "whither are you +going" exclaimed Edmond, "out with the rifle, you must all defend +yourselves!" "Impossible," stammered the man, "give up the old villain, +otherwise the whole house is lost, I know the Camisards." "Scoundrel!" +thundered the young man--"where is the miller? Still in bed? all of +you, you miserable varlets, shall defend this place with me, nay, even +that weak, effeminate boy shall make common cause with us." + +"The hermit was praying on the ground, all were shouting confusedly +in the hall, but no word was heard distinctly; all was confounded +with the storm, which every moment became more violent without. The +window-frames were demolished, the door cracked and appeared to give +way, when, with an apparent air of indifference, the young miller +entered, carelessly tying his neckerchief and said: 'Let me out by the +back-door, I will speak to the enraged multitude,--quick, give me the +key!' These last words were uttered in a tone of command. The old Lord +looked at him, took the key from the wall, and opened the door to him +himself, the youth went round to the other side of the house. Edmond +posted himself with a loaded gun opposite the door, in order to fire +among the assailants, in case they succeeded in forcing an entrance. +Suddenly a tremendous shout was raised, which seemed like acclamations +of joy and was reiterated by the crowds surrounding the house. Then all +was still; and after a while a deep voice exclaimed: 'He must come out +the assassin, on this spot he shall be torn to pieces!' 'Merciful God,' +cried the hermit from the ground, where he still lay, 'that is the +terrible Catinat, who knows no compassion!'--after a few words +exchanged among them, the high and almost hoarse voice of the youth was +heard. 'Silence all,' cried he vehemently: nothing more could be +distinguished, for a confused murmur arose. The child glancing from +under her dishevelled fair long tresses, said: 'Observe, my little +David will yet save that great Goliath there.' The crowds without drew +themselves up and marched away, the youth returned again by the +garden-door, much heated and nearly breathless; he approached, the +hermit still lying prostrate, fixed his eyes upon him, then caught him +by the breast and said, 'rise up, God has again spared you to-day, you +are safe, return to the town or to your own house:' He then turned to +the huntsman, whispered something in his ear, whereupon the latter +suddenly fell terrified upon his knees and exclaimed, 'Mercy!' 'Be +silent!' said the young miller hastily. The priest looked as if he +could have embraced the knees of the wonderful youth, who now turned to +the master of the house, and said, in gentle tones: 'my honoured host, +I consider myself fortunate in having been able to protect you; there +were certainly a few Camisards, but the crowd was principally composed +of a number of drunken millers-men from my part of the country, who had +met with some other rough, intoxicated fellows. It was lucky, that I +was known to some of them, in consequence of which, the small number of +Camisards also suffered themselves to be pacified. It seems that they +assembled more for pleasure than for any wicked purpose. Receive my +thanks for your noble hospitality, worthy and honoured man.' He bowed, +the old Lord seemed as if he wished to embrace him, but the opportunity +was lost in irresolution and the stranger was already at the door. + +"Farewell David!" exclaimed the child. He looked back once more with a +serious and enquiring expression, raised his hand and eyes as if +invoking a blessing, and then quitted the hall. + +Those who remained behind, looked at one another as if they had +witnessed the performance of a miracle. The first light of morning +already dawned, and the dense multitude was seen retreating over the +mountains, Edmond was standing in deep thought, and the old Lord, after +having unlocked his gun, gave it to the servant, to carry away. The +hermit drew near abashed, as if he felt considerably diminished in size +since the day before. "I leave your house, my Lord," said he, in a +voice scarcely audible, and with a heart greatly depressed; "I had +almost drawn upon your honoured head the malediction attending my own +errors, but the Lord has averted it." He took the road to Nismes; the +huntsman had already slipped away. + +"My Lord Counsellor of Parliament," cried the priest, "you have not +seen us to-day in the most favourable light, now that all has passed +off happily; I am a man again; courage revives once more within me, I +could now show you that I am no coward, if a few of these villains +would but return. Receive my thanks, honoured sir, and you too my +young--but what do I see?" Now, for the first time, he perceived +that he was politely taking leave with his hat in his hand, and his +night-cap still on his head;--abashed he pulled it off, and thrust it +into his pocket?--"This is the worst of all," said he, his whole face +reddening; "One may thus see to what a sensible man may be reduced in +these troublous times." He again made a hasty bow and retreated. + +"Who was this youth?" asked the old Lord. "Probably one of those +infamous rebels," replied Edmond in great wrath; "I had rendered +perhaps a service to God and the king, if I had sent this ball after +him!" "Father," said the child, "believe me, he was the angel Gabriel, +and brother Edmond will yet be converted, and love him as I do." "Go to +bed again, my little one," said her father, "you require rest, poor +child!" + +"That was no good night," said Eveline, "so now good morning, father! +it grows so beautifully bright!" she retired with the female +attendants, and Edmond and his father alone remained behind in the +saloon. They were both silent for a long time, at length Edmond took +his gun, and said, "what do you think of all this, and especially of +this mysterious fellow, who can demean himself so innocently, and with +so much _naïveté_?" + +"I must not express my thoughts," answered his father, "perhaps they +would sound too romantic. You will leave us again, my son? and probably +will not come back to dinner?" + +"You know," replied Edmond, "my passion for hunting and the delight I +take in mountains and forests; nature elevates us above our suffering; +she strengthens our feelings; she inspires and gives us that noble +vigour, which becomes but too often enervated in society, and in every +day life. This will be a glorious day after the storm; I will forget +all that I have experienced here." + +"Let us but bring to nature a pious and purified spirit," said his +father, "and she becomes to us the holiest of temples, psalms and songs +of praise will then re-echo our holy inspirations; but her gloomy rocks +and waterfalls, her desolate solitude with black masses of clouds +brooding above, her wild echo can also excite still more the uneasy, +agitated mind, and arouse more powerfully the turbulent spirit, for she +answers only as she is questioned." + +"I will therefore speak to her in my way," replied Edmond, half +petulantly, "woods and mountains will perhaps understand me better than +men." He bowed and went through the garden, and descended the vineyards +already glittering, with the first rays of morning. + +"He is going there again to Alais," said his father sighing, "and his +wild enthusiasm for nature gives place to a well-lighted saloon, +card-playing, witticisms, and frivolous conversations. Woe to me that I +must thus recognise in him the characteristics of my youth, disfigured +and exaggerated!" + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + +The candles were already lighted, when Edmond stood before a large +house, undecided if he should enter or not; "she has company again, the +same as ever," said he to himself; "and how shall I in my dusty +shooting-dress present myself among well-dressed ladies? However, she +is kind and indulgent, I am at a distance from home, the strangers too +are already accustomed to this in me." He ascended and laid down his +gun and pouch in the anti-chamber, the servant ushered him in, and he +found only a small circle, the young lady's two old aunts and a few +younger ladies of the town of Nismes, established at two card tables +and entertained, as usual, by an old Captain. They were relating to one +another the defeat of the Camisards on the preceding day, and how they +had assembled again, and how their leaders had escaped. + +"Where is the Lady Christine?" asked Edmond of the Lady de Courtenai. + +"My niece," replied the lady, "is within there, indisposed as she says: +her capricious fits have returned again, and no one can make anything +of her; perhaps you may be able to enliven her, or perhaps she is sad, +because the Marshal is not yet come." + +Edward passed into the adjoining room, the door of which stood open, it +was lighted up, and there, on a sofa with tearfraught eyes sat the Lady +Christine; her lute lay negligently on her arm, as if she would have +played, but she was so deeply plunged in thought, that she started up +terrified, when Edmond greeted her and inquired after her health. +"Lady, dearest," he exclaimed, "what is the matter with you? I have +never yet seen you thus!" + +"Not thus?" said Christine, looking wildly, and with a smile of +bitterness, "and why not, it is thus indeed I should ever be! Only you +do not know, nor understand me; you will not understand me!" + +Edmond drew back bewildered; "how shall I interpret these words?" + +"As you will, or rather as you can." + +"Explain yourself," said the young man; "you have been weeping, you +appear ill." + +"All this is of great importance, is it not?" said she with a +passionate movement. + +"How have I offended you?" asked Edmond with sympathy, "it almost +appears as if I had: are you mortified by me? I do not know myself +guilty in anything; what is it then in the name of all the saints?" + +"That you are a man!" said Christine, while her pale cheeks glowed with +the deepest crimson. + +"Well! really," said Edmond, "this transgression is so new, that I know +not how to answer. Is this the amiable Christine of Castelnau, who thus +greets her friend, who"-- + +"Amiable!" cried she passionately--"what do you call thus, ye friends? +the bad, the wretched, the worthless of this world, with which we cover +our naked misery as with torn purple rags from the worn out, faded +wardrobes of former times, when there were yet clothes, and ornament +and men?--or has the world been always thus miserable?"--she threw the +lute from her as if it terrified her. "This is also one of the +deplorable customs, that we should warble and play, and make grimaces, +though our hearts were to break, in case a particle of heart throb yet +within us." + +"You are ill," exclaimed Edmond, "so ill, that I shall run immediately +to our friend Vila;" "Stop," said Christine, and while they were still +disputing, an equipage quickly rattled up; all arose in the first room, +it was the Marshal of Montrevel, who in his dress-uniform stepped +lightly and gracefully out of the carriage and bounded up the stairs, +and while the folding doors were thrown open, and the ladies and +gentlemen in the room formed a respectful line, he greeted them all +with the most polite condescension, "Good evening ladies," said he +kindly, "I rejoice to see you all well; Captain, Mr. Counsellor, your +servant; ah, my young friend," turning to Edmond, "you are here very +often; but where is our amiable hostess?" + +"She too is not far," said Christine, coming forward. + +"And well?" asked the Marshal; "certainly this charming serenity, this +grace, these divine talents, how could it be otherwise?--I hope ladies +that you will not disturb yourselves; let us all sit down and play, or +converse as best it may seem." + +He laid aside his sword and plumed hat, and with obliging promptitude +placed an armchair near the fire-place for the lady Christine; he took +a footstool and sat on it at her feet, Edmond leaned over the back of +her chair and the rest of the company resumed their play. "At your +feet, loveliest of women," began the Marshal, "must I find again the +peace and tranquillity, which deserted me to-day: yes, this day is one +of the most unfortunate of my life!" "Have the Camisards penetrated +into Nismes?" asked Christine. + +"They will never do that," replied the Marshal smiling, "means have +been taken to prevent it; these miserable men will soon have sung their +last song. Yesterday they were as good as annihilated, and we should +have given them the rout here near Nages, if treachery and wickedness +had not, as usual, rendered our best efforts abortive." + +"Certainly," said Edmond, "if the people were unanimous in their +exertions to extirpate them, the best part would have been achieved." + +"Young man," rejoined the Marshal, "I will annihilate them even without +the assistance of the people, for these associations composed of +citizens, and peasants to oppose them, are more injurious than useful, +these men understand neither service nor war, they rather call forth +the vigour and insolence of the rebels, the soldier alone can put them +down. How unfortunate has it turned out with the good hermit of +Saumière! he is said to have been completely defeated, and at last +drowned." + +Edmond related what he knew of the affair, and the Marshal said +smilingly; "I can easily imagine the anxiety of the old boy; but to +continue: an old Camisard, a squinting, bald-headed man passed over to +us, he was well acquainted with all the secret passes of the mountains; +I think his name is Favart; he promised to deliver into our hands the +leader Cavalier, and his principal troop, together with the infamous +Catinat; we find the matter as he has announced it; the Lord of +Basville had through kindness for the wretched man, taken him into his +service as gamekeeper; and whether it is, that he has not been able to +conquer his old attachment to the rebels, or that he himself did not +know all precisely: the rebel leaders with a numerous troop have +escaped us again, and Cavalier has, as I have just learned from a +courier, defeated a considerable body of our people in the mountains +not far from St. Hypolite." + +"I know Favart," said Christine, "he was in our service for a long +while; a wild but otherwise good man; I am only surprised that he could +have again abandoned his sect. But is this the misfortune that you +bewail so much, Marshal?" "No, beauteous lady," said the Lord of +Montrevel, "such things which are mere trifles to a real soldier cannot +disconcert me, I should blush for myself, if the common accidents of +the field or of life could ruffle my temper." + +"Your beloved then is become faithless? console yourself, there still +remain enough for you," said the young lady drily. + +"Ah, sly one!" said the Marshal, holding up his finger threateningly; +"yes, enchantress, if you feel and return my flame, if you only believe +in it, then would I consider this gloomy day as the happiest of my +life, and to me all the rest of womankind on earth would be as +nothing." He declined all the refreshments presented to him by the +servants: "This is a fast day for me," he continued, "and I have not +yet been permitted to dine to-day." + +"You are too severe," said Christine, "too orthodox, too devout; +moreover, I do not recollect that this is a fast day." + +"It is not that," said the general solemnly; "for, at times, one may +break this fast without any great qualms of conscience; but there are +things which are not really connected with the church or her +ordinances, but which lie in nature, and on that account are more +deeply engraven on our hearts; things which many philosophers, as well +as ecclesiastics censure as prejudice and superstition, and which +nevertheless have, through the implicit faith of millions, been +transmitted to us from the remotest times, and from that very +circumstance possess, yes, I may so express myself, a revered, a holy +authority. These signs and tokens of a dark futurity, the immediate +voice, as it were, of fate, speaks so much the more thrillingly to us +as they appear to the dull eye only ridiculous or, at least, +insignificant, and as every man has his protecting genius, so has he +also all the signs, which are peculiarly suited to him, and which are +of the highest importance, if he attends to them and knows how to apply +to himself their signification." + +"Excellent!" exclaimed the Lady, "now I listen to you willingly, for if +the hero is at the same time a philosopher, I like him all the better +for it." + +"Most bewitching of your sex!" said Montrevel while he attempted to +kiss her hand, which she hastily snatched from his lips. "Being then of +this belief," said the Marshal, "you may judge of my horror as I sat +to-day at table,--the Lord of Basville to whom, on account of his +station, this attention is due, sat near me, my aide-de-camp and a few +officers,--dinner is announced, the plates are changed,--but, my sight +becomes again obscured when I think of it."-- + +"For heaven's sake," said Edmond, "what is it? assuredly some dreadful +wickedness of the rebels, fire-brands and murder, or poison."--"No, +young man," continued the Marshal, somewhat tranquillized, "against +such things I am secure,--my Fleury, the luckless man, my valet, who in +other respects is cleverness and dexterity itself, this man at a sign +from me (for he only waits upon me and therefore the affair is the more +incomprehensible) was handing the salt, and while I was taking it, he +entirely upset the saltcellar before me; a mist came over my eyes, I +was compelled to go to bed, having discharged my valet, and come here +to find consolation and tranquillity." + +Edmond, who turned away with the greater shame and vexation, the more +he had been excited by the narrative; could not sustain the fiery +regards of the Marshal, who, in seeking to arouse sympathy, fixed his +eyes steadfastly upon him and Christine. The latter very +unceremoniously burst into a loud and hearty fit of laughter, while she +looked at Edmond almost maliciously. + +"Well, really! madam," began the Marshal, "this treatment is the more +unexpected, as I am unaccustomed to it from you; if such things can +make you merry, you think too slightly of the happiness, or unhappiness +of your friend." + +"Not so indeed," said Christine, "besides I am not particularly merry, +I think the tale very edifying and dare be sworn, that the woman and +children, whom early this morning you so serenely caused to be shot, +also upset the saltcellar in their hut yesterday evening, but you are +now free from all these accidents, is it not so Marshal?" + +"Is it permitted to ask," said Edmond modestly, "what the affair is?" + +"Early this morning," said the Marshal more composedly, "I was compelled +to sacrifice a few of these unhappy people to the law, for they would +have sent provisions to the rebels in the mountains." + +"The investigation was somewhat precipitate," said Christine, "not much +regard was paid to the denial of the persons arrested; it is true there +was some probability, for the mother had a son among the rebels, who +may have often enough suffered hunger. She was a woman of forty years +of age with two children, one twelve and the other eight years old. +They were led through this street." + +"But not the children?" said Edmond turning pale. + +The Marshal shrugged up his shoulders and answered lightly, "we must +enforce with severity our self-appointed laws, in order to terrify; +they could not themselves shew why they were on the by-road; for that +they still would have gathered fruit is incredible." + +"This mother," interrupted the lady, "with her younger children were +seeking for some beans, they were found in the fields by a party of +soldiers, terror prevented them from replying quickly to their +questions,--and this noble marshal, this gay, gallant, amiable man, +this _bel esprit_, who writes verses, beats his enemies and makes +netting, this tender-hearted man who sheds tears if I suffer from +headache, this hateful monster caused mother and children to be shot, +while he blows a feather from his uniform with infinite grace!" + +"Lady!" screamed the Marshal starting up, Edmond stepped back, the +footstool was upset and the whole company rose from their card-tables +at this sudden uproar. + +"Is it not true," said Christine passionately while she stood in the +middle of the room, "that such conduct is great, heroic and noble? have +our enlightened times come, that we should experience such things? oh, +monster! dare you mention the words friendship and love? have you the +arrogance to wish to pass for estimable and benevolent? yes, you are +also a contemptible creature like your despicable associates, yet you +must have felt, seen, or in your dreams at least experienced what a +dark destiny poverty, sorrow, necessity, and holy compassion is, these +destitute parents, these hungry children; the mother, who with scanty +and meagre food entered her hut, how their eyes sought hers +imploringly; how her glance of consolation shone in the eyes of her +children; how the small supply spread a heaven of tranquil abundance +and mutual love! Had you but the eye of an imprisoned swallow; had you +only understood your dog when he begs some crumbs from you: you would +have trampled your cross of honour under foot rather than have done +that deed. Man only can sink so low; the beast which tears itself is +gentle and innocent; a spark of ancient heaven shines still brighter in +its savage state than in our more degenerate nature. There are tales +for children in which a timid girl is made to kiss a scaly dragon in +order to disenchant him; but I could caress the tiger, extend my hand +and offer my lips to the hideous hyena, rather than polute myself by +being friendly towards you, for I should fear from a woman to be +transformed into a dragon. And yet,--as they passed here, exchanging +farewell glances, these children, who yet knew nothing of life, and +were slaughtered at this tender age--it was indeed as if the last +judgment with all its terrors burst upon my heart; behold, I could have +kissed the dust from your and your executioner's shoes in the public +streets, only to have saved them! I flew to you, I found you not. Yes, +most assuredly, all that was felt in those bitter moments by these +wretched creatures is now changed for them into peace and blessedness; +yes, they have forgotten this life and you, if we do not madly pray to +a tyrant instead of to the God of goodness." + +"You are mad yourself, miserable woman," exclaimed the Marshal +vehemently, "to forget yourself thus--by heaven! you should be shut up +in a madhouse. But, by my honour, you shall never see me again." + +"Never! never!" cried Christine, with flashing eyes, "Oh, already this +is happiness and gain! no, great hero, never, or if you should feel a +desire to come, a large vessel filled with salt shall be upset at your +feet, as people strew salt over the places where the cursed have +dwelt." + +The Marshal trembled so violently with rage, that he was not able to +gird on his sword; he took it under his arm and left the house without +uttering a single word. The captain had already slipped away, when the +conversation took this unexpected turn; the aunts curtesied, mutually +embarrassed, and retired also, as their niece paid no attention to +them; the latter made a sign to the servants to withdraw, and released +and exhausted, she fell prostrate on the ground, while tears burst from +her eyes so unrestrainedly, as if she would thus weeping pass away and +expire. + +Edmond, much embarrassed, drew near, she saw him not, he spoke a few +words, but she heard him not. "Dearest," he exclaimed at length, "you +kill me, you kill yourself! these powerful shocks will destroy your +constitution." "And were it not as well?" said she in a feeble voice, +without restraining her tears, "look on me, here on the ground, weep +with me; all good men should now perish." "Rise, lady," said Edmond, +while he assisted her, "if I must not believe that your reason has +deserted you." + +"It has certainly suffered," said she somewhat tranquillised, while she +stood by him, and continued, "otherwise would I have seen and endured +these things as others do: it is even so, I have had a glance of the +sorrows of the world and of the enormity of mankind and can never more +jest and smile with them as formerly, I am awakened from the mock +existence and therefore you consider me mad; but you, Edmond, you, +among so many, should have known me better!" + +"I am yet as in a dream," said Edmond, "how could you thus give way to +your grief, how so rudely wound the feelings of the Marshal, even +though you were in the right? I no longer recognise you, although I am +acquainted with you for more than a year. You were never thus." + +"Always Edmond," sobbed she, "never otherwise, only that my grief has +burst out too violently. Why do you not understand me? Is your heart +incased in some hard metal that no feeling can penetrate it? Do not +believe that, on that account, I have neglected my mass or vesper to +implore the God of mercy to enlighten these wretches and to succour +these poor persecuted creatures, and that he may also strengthen +myself? Mark me, Edmond, although I do not belong to the community of +Huguenots, but if all these murderers were extirpated in a second by +one tremendous blow, our church should institute a festival of +thanksgiving that this stigma was removed from her, and her holy banner +would be no more dishonoured." + +"I understand you now," said Edmond.--They had stepped into the +antechamber, "by heaven, I shall soon give up all society and rather +hold communion with stones than with men." He took his gun indignantly +from the wall, "How wild, Edmond, how obstinate," said she softly, "is +it then not permitted that men should understand, in love at least, +their confused Babilonean language? disembodied spirits only love--and +you say indeed that I have a place in your heart!" + +"Love!" exclaimed Edmond, "accursed word! execrable equivocation and +madness of mankind! this old misunderstanding, love, this detestable +riddle of the sphynx, that no one has unriddled and for which thousands +have bled--damnation!" He gnashed his teeth and dashed his gun on the +ground, so that it went off and the shot passed through the ceiling. +The women and servants of the Lady Christine hastened towards her; he +looked at her, she was not injured and smiled at him sorrowfully as he +rushed out of the door and to his parting salute only answered by a +strange shake of the head, so that her dark tresses were loosened and +shaded her face. She pressed them to her weeping eyes and went silently +to the garden and out into the fresh night air. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + +The Lord of Beauvais was walking up and down in his garden conversing +on various subjects with his friend; as often as they passed the little +open summer house, Eveline called out to them and directed their +attention to the building, which she was trying to imitate with cards. +The Counsellor of Parliament was violently struggling with his +feelings, and his friend was trying in vain to tranquillise him. + +"I have never yet seen you so obstinate," said the latter, at length, +almost impatiently; "what is it then at last, Edmond is a young man +like many others, let him exhaust his ardour, at a later period he will +afford you satisfaction, for do we not recognise in him strength, +character, and a noble heart, and these must certainly produce +something good hereafter." + +"It is only towards you that I am so communicative," answered the +father, "I control my impatience in the presence of others and +especially before my son, but much as I must love him, I cannot +participate in your hopes. Were he only hasty and inconsiderate, all +might be well for I have been so too, I would even look favourably upon +his extravagant, overstrained religious zeal and all connected with it; +for early in life my own heart singularly experienced these feelings; +if with all this deep-rooted self will, this violent excess in every +thing, he would only add an inclination to activity, if he would but +instruct himself, if he would occupy himself in any way. I feel too +well that he presents but a disfigured resemblance of a part of my own +youth, but inwardly he is most unlike me, and in some measure +inimically opposed to me; thus unhappily is the neglected education of +his childhood avenged. You know well my old friend how much and almost +how culpably he was beloved by my deceased wife, how extravagantly she +admired every idea, impulse and peculiarity of the child, and that Abbé +his tutor also, who only excited his imagination and nourished it with +legends and miracles; his youthful mind was thus dazzled and rendered +incapable of discerning truth and reality, it accustomed him to indulge +freely in all the emotions of his heart and to consider them unerring +and most exalted. Imperceptibly a contempt for all, who did not +coincide with him, crept into his mind, he looked upon them as cold and +perverse, and in his zealous hatred, he believed himself infinitely +superior to them. I was too weak, too irresolute to remedy the evil +while it was yet time, I flattered myself, that it would not take root +so easily, and when at last my suffering wife, whose feelings I ever +feared to distress, died in giving birth to my youngest child, it was +too late." + +"All that may be true," rejoined his friend, "but not so bad however as +you consider it, stupidity and madness are alone incurable; a vein of +good runs through all really excitable natures, and the life of these +irritable and violent men is spent in continual struggles between good +and evil, so that the best part may be extracted and shine forth +glorified." + +"You speak," said the Counsellor, "like a physician and chemist, you +deny that the soul can appropriate to itself immutable perversities +which afterwards constitute its life." + +"So long as a man is young," rejoined the former, "I despair of nothing +and still less of your son, for he has never given himself up to +dissipation. This only and bad company ruin a man entirely, and the +exhaustion is not confined to the body, it also causes vacuity of mind, +it closes up every avenue to the heart, so that, finally, neither +reason nor understanding, nor any feeling for morality or honour +remains. Those are such as are incurable. You reproach yourself for the +indulgent education you have given him, it is not in that alone, +however, my old friend, that you have neglected it; you complain of +your son's want of activity, but you have yourself excluded him from +every means of exercising it. When he had grown up, he was destined to +follow your profession; he had, however, an antipathy to become a +lawyer, and then declared he would rather be shorn and become a monk. I +cannot censure him for this, forgive me, if I am too frank. He desired +to go to sea, you were inflexibly opposed to it: then he wished to try +his fortune in the army, our efforts to win your approbation to this +were equally ineffectual. I pity the young man; it is terrible for a +hair-brained fellow to be irrecoverably destined to sit behind a table, +poring over acts and processes. If you have been too indulgent +formerly, you are now a great deal too severe towards him." + +"You do me wrong, infatuated man," exclaimed the Counsellor vehemently; +"it was not exacting too much to require of him to pursue my profession, +in which I have been so useful myself, it is an honourable and +benevolent one to mankind and corresponds with the noble freedom of our +sentiments; sufficient time remained to stroll about, to read, to make +verses and to indulge his passion for the chase. I was then convinced +that naval and military service were only chosen by him, that he might +escape from my paternal eye. I could not persuade myself that he chose +them as his profession with foresight and reasonable will. It grieved +me to lose him entirely; only too often ill-advised youths seek these +pretexts to sink into a busy idleness: for what is the soldier in +peace? At that time we had no war. I agree with you in what you say +about the dissipated life of our young men; but, perhaps, you will +laugh, when I assert that this passion for hunting is equally +insupportable to me. As soon as I perceived this rising within him, I +considered him as almost lost, for all young people, that I have ever +yet seen, entirely devoted to this occupation, are idlers, who cannot +again settle to any business; this seeming occupation with its +exertions and sacrifices teaches them to despise time, they dream away +their lives until the hour, that calls them up again to follow the hare +and the woodcock. And besides the penchant he has to rove about the +mountains, he frequently does not return for three or four days +together, he then walks about the house without rest or quiet, opens a +dozen books, begins a letter, or a stanza, scolds the servants and then +rushes out again; and thus passes day after day, and week after week." + +The doctor looked at him, smiled, and then, after a pause, said: "Let +him alone, he will soon become tame, I have no fears on that account, +and why do you make yourself uneasy, my good friend? you are quite rich +enough; and even if he earns nothing, if he only learns to take care of +his fortune, to enjoy with moderation his income and to do good to +others, for it often occurs that useful occupations are perilous +undertakings. I understand perfectly all that you represent to me, and +am only surprised that you do not understand it yourself. Give him the +lady of Castelnau, and both will become reasonable, you will be a +grandfather and obtain another toy to amuse you." + +"Never!" exclaimed the Counsellor of Parliament with the utmost +vehemence, "shall that take place as long as I live; it is she, who +bewilders him, who torments him, and yet nourishes all his prejudices. +Never speak to me of that again." + +"You do the girl injustice," said the doctor, "strange she is, indeed, +but good, and out of the two excentricities a tolerable understanding +would arise." At this moment the garden-gate was closed violently, +Edmond entered, and the conversation ended. They saluted one another, +and seated themselves in the summerhouse with the little girl. +"Brother," cried Eveline, "it is all your fault, that my beautiful +house is knocked down. He causes nothing but misfortune." Edmond was in +a kindly mood, and said: "build it up again, my sister, and you will +have so much the more to do."--"Yes," answered she, "if I were allowed +to be as idle as you, it would matter very little, but I have yet to +sew to-day, and then to write and cipher, but you have nothing to care +for, and that is why you give so much trouble to people." + +"What have I done besides upsetting your splendid card-house?" asked +Edmond. + +"Look papa," cried the child, "he has already forgotten that he shot +dead his lady love; Oh, he will kill us all soon, and when he has done +that, he will be satisfied." + +Edmond frowned; the father reprimanded the child's rudeness and the +doctor gave a different turn to the conversation. "Now, dear Edmond," +said he, addressing the young man, "what do you say to the news, that +the Camisards, in spite of their late defeat, still hold out against +the king's troops, that they are masters of the plain, that an English +fleet will land in Getta, that a battle is said to have been lost in +Germany, and that, if only the half of all this be true, we are +thinking how we shall make friends with the rebels, that they may not +put an end to us." + +"Do not jest," said Edmond, "our country has never yet been in such +danger, so long however as such gentle proceedings are used towards +these rebels, we are really standing on a precipice, if the foreign foe +should succeed in landing even a small army and ally itself with them." + +"Do you call their treatment mild?" asked the Counsellor. + +"I do not speak," continued the son, "of the executions, the +ill-treatment and all these cruelties against individuals, they are +severe enough; that even women and children are not spared is enough to +inspire all mankind with horror. I mean the dreadful manner in which +the war is carried on, so that already a royal army has been destroyed +without being able to arrive at the root of the evil itself. Their +warfare consists in skirmishes, in the mountains where the strange +soldier is almost always more easily entrapped; the rebels are +succoured by the mountaineers, who provide them with troops and +provisions, by the war these rude men learn to make war, and although +they cannot succeed in repeating these attacks in full force, and from +all points, at the same time, with military skill and discipline, yet +it is evident that the evil will rage still longer and perhaps they may +finally conquer." + +"You appear to have changed your mind about your Marshal," said the +Lord of Beauvais. + +"My Marshal?" resumed the son, "he is the King's-marshal, and under +this title he serves as a representative of his majesty to us all, +although the better part of the people desire that it should not be +so." + +"Would to heaven," said the doctor, "that he only belonged to one of +us; I at least would make a vigourous attack upon him with pills and +rhubarb, so that he would soon make room for us; he is the only man +against whom I have ever before felt a grudge. Has he not in the space +of eight months sentenced to death more men than all the doctors in the +province would have been able to do. All those yonder in the mountains, +Cavalier and Roland included, he considers merely as his future +patients, and like an ignorant empiric he invariably prescribes one and +the same remedy for the most opposite constitutions. Yesterday, he +again caused twelve prophets to be hanged, who all affirmed, with their +latest breath, that a term would be soon put to his power. What is your +opinion, Ned, about this gift of prophecy, of these ecstasies and +convulsions?" + +"It will not be believed in foreign lands," said the latter, "that such +things are practised, that many reasonable men speak of them as of a +mystery, and that our calender dates 1703." + +"Let it date!" said Vila, "it seems then, my child, that you understand +the affair, inform me a little on the subject, for I do not understand +it at all, or, at least, I cannot express in appropriate words that +which has from time to time passed through my mind." + +"What is there to understand in it?" said the young man impetuously, +"the grossest and most absurd deception that has ever ventured to +present itself to the mind." + +"Not though in the sense in which you take it," said the doctor, "I +have observed many in the prisons, they are very unlike one another and +merit truly a serious consideration. I have never yet been in any of +their assemblies in the open air; or in barns; but I am resolved to +assist at their service yonder there at St. Hilaire, and if you give me +a kind word Ned, you shall have permission to accompany me. I have +brought some peasants clothing in my carriage, so that no one may +recognise us." + +"I will accompany you, my good sir," said Edmond, "to make you ashamed +of having considered these people of any kind of importance. We shall +then be able to be more of one mind concerning this ridiculous +deception." + +"You shall not go my son," said the father, "what can this curiosity +avail? I do not understand you, my friend; are not these unfortunate +men miserable enough? must idle curiosity and petulant caprice also +make a mockery of them? and what, if the oppressed should be betrayed, +or arrested, as it has already so frequently happened, and all +massacred without distinction, who then will have been the dupe to have +slyly insinuated himself among them? or should they recognise or +entertain suspicions of you? + +"Does not the old patron himself talk already like a Camisard?" said +the doctor, laughing, "in short, do you not verily believe that the +prophets would recognise and denounce us as godless people to the +multitude? but tranquillise yourself, my cautious friend, a troop of +the rebels is here in the neighbourhood, on that account the soldiers +dare not trust themselves in the mountains, knowing that they have +these good friends in their rear. I wish, for once, however, to be in +the right, and you Edmond shall learn something; these are indeed a +very singular sort of schools, and information is fetched with +difficulty and in small quantities from over the mountains and rocks; +all men cannot be wholesale dealers like you. In reality, however, it +is my son who has persuaded me to this, and made me promise to bring +you, Edmond, too." + +"Your son?" exclaimed Edmond, with great vivacity, "the friend of my +childhood, is he here again?" + +"And you mention this to us now for the first time?" said the Lord of +Beauvais. + +"You learn it now quite time enough," replied the doctor in his +phlegmatical humour; "yes, indeed, the vagabond is returned after many +years, he has had some experience, the hair-brained fellow. He has +studied in foreign universities, has seen Holland, England, and +Scotland, has wandered among the various tribes of India and now he is +at length returned suddenly and to my great satisfaction just as mad +and wild as ever, but well informed. He has heard wonders related of +our prophets in this country. He has seen many plants and animals of +this species in Asia, and seems as if fallen from the clouds, that, as +he turned his back upon them, a much more extraordinary plant should +have shot up in his own country close on the threshold of his native +home, than any he had observed in tropical climates, nor has he left me +a moments peace, until I promised to set out with him accompanied by +you too. 'But why did he not come here immediately with you?' cried +Edmond. + +"His mother, his cousins, his acquaintances," answered Vila, "The whole +town of St. Hypolite would not let him go so quickly, he is obliged to +narrate until his throat is dry, he now waits to embrace you in the +little inn in the wood, and will then set out with you on your +chivalrous expedition.--Now my old friend, make no objections, grant +this pleasure to the young people." + +"Well, be mad then," said the Counsellor of Parliament, "but there is +something in my breast that disapproves of this step. May heaven guide +you my son!"--They took leave, the carriage drew up, they ascended into +it in order to get over the first few miles. + +Scarcely had they departed, when the servant entered hastily from the +garden. "A brilliant equipage is advancing on the road from Nismes, I +think a visit is intended for you, my Lord." + +The Counsellor of Parliament hurried into the hall. "How," exclaimed he +astonished, "it is the Intendant himself, the Lord of Basville."--The +carriage stopped and a tall grave looking man, advanced in years, +descended and approached the master of the house with solemn steps. +They saluted each other and after a short pause the intendant began: +"You are doubtlessly surprised, my Lord Counsellor, to see me here, but +a matter of importance has led me to you, it appeared to me more +courteous to visit you myself than to request your presence at Nismes, +where, perhaps our conversation would not have been permitted to go on +so uninterruptedly and familiarly." The Counsellor, astonished at this +prelude to the conference, begged that he would immediately disclose +what had procured him the honour of a visit. + +"You are slandered sir," said the Intendant, as he looked at him +fixedly; "I am not so fortunate as to be one of your friends, yet I +assert boldly and safely that they are abominable calumnies which are +brought against you, but which, when all the circumstances are joined +together, might obtain a semblance of veracity with some credulous +people." "Who dares attack my name?" said the Counsellor of Parliament. + +"Many, very many," said the Intendant in a forcible tone, "and among +these are men of importance and respectability. I told you several +months ago, that you would repent refusing your son so resolutely and +inexorably permission to organise also a troop of volunteers to fight +against the rebels and to hunt them out of their hiding-places." + +"I do not yet repent of it in the least, my Lord Intendant," replied +the Counsellor. "Permit me to differ with you on this subject." + +"Had we," continued the Intendant, "obtained the assistance of citizens, +peasants, and principally of the nobles of the land, upon which we +ought to have been permitted to reckon with certainty, our king would +not have been compelled to send an army and a Marshal, who have +produced the war they should have quelled, for it was the peasantry +themselves who annihilated the villains; and like many other worthy +men, you have not offered your assistance, you preferred living in +disunion with your son, who is a spirited young man, and an enthusiast +in the right cause. This might be taken by all for paternal love and +fatherly authority, which certainly are never to be suppressed, but +permit me," continued he in a more rapid tone, as he perceived the +Counsellor's impatience--"this, joined to the opinions to which you +have more than once given utterance in the presence of strangers, +furnished matter for various conversations in the country; and what +took place some days ago, misleads even those who honour you; and this +is what I came here to charge you with." + +"I see, with emotion, that I am esteemed, speak out," said the Lord of +Beauvais. + +"You have," pursued the Intendant with the utmost coolness, "given +refuge to rebels; you have received fugitive Camisards; these villains +have shouted a vivat to you here in front of your house; you have +permitted this rabble to eat at your table; you have yourself opposed +violent resistance, when attempts were made to take them prisoners; and +your son's affianced bride has insulted the Marshal in public company." + +"My lord!" exclaimed the old man entirely beside himself; however, he +said composedly, "the web of these lies is too gross not to be +immediately recognized as falsehood. She, whom you designate as my +son's bride, will never be such with my consent, I know her not, and +cannot love her; my house was open to some unfortunate travellers, and +one of this party whom I protected, and who announced himself by the +name of the Hermit, had nearly drawn destruction upon myself and +family." + +He then related to him the occurrences of that evening, precisely as he +had experienced them and concluded thus: "You now perceive, my Lord +Intendant, how falsely people have judged me in this." + +"I believe you," said the grave-looking man, "but you have forgotten the +saying that walls have ears, it is known how you have spoken sometimes +of the Marshal and of his love-intrigues, which he certainly takes too +little trouble to conceal, in which injurious expressions you have gone +so far as to call him hangman. My severity and inflexibility, for +which I am responsible to my God and to my conscience, you call +blood-thirstiness. You cannot deny that you have sheltered suspected +persons with hospitality, that until now you did not live at variance +with your son; that you have refused to allow him to serve his country +although he is of age; if the Lady of Castelnau insults our Marshal in +the presence of your son, while he keeps silence, one must believe that +he has an understanding with her on that subject, and if this should be +the case, suspicion further concludes, that you must be quite +reconciled and of one mind; therefore, say the malicious, that you must +render assistance every way to the rebels privately as well as openly, +and that we shall be more reproached for neglect, if we suffer it, than +praised for our forbearance; and this admits of no doubt." + +"I desire examination, the strictest examination," exclaimed the +Counsellor of Parliament. "You know," said the Intendant rising, "that +in this perilous confusion there is no time for it; umbrage and +suspicion serve as proofs, the most trifling circumstances, if they +cannot be refuted, condemn; the martial-law, which the king has caused +to be proclaimed to us, must unfortunately take this cursory method, +for the welfare of the country and the preservation of millions demand +it." + +"Then I am condemned without being judged? judged without having been +heard? they commence with the punishment and will be at leisure +afterwards to enquire into the case," said the Counsellor of Parliament +with bitterness. + +"Do not be angry, my worthy sir," said the Lord of Basville. "There is +no question of all this yet, the proofs of it must be much more +positive; but you cannot yourself deny, that one may be allowed to look +upon you with suspicion, when so much is alleged, against you." + +"And what then is required of me?" said the Counsellor. + +"Nothing, unreasonable," replied the man of gravity, "nothing, to which +you can in justice offer any opposition. Yesterday I published a new +manifesto of his Majesty, wherein, nobles and citizens are summoned, +urgently, entreatingly, and commandingly, to stand up unanimously for +their country and religion. Three hundred young men have presented +themselves; let your son be free as his years demand, permit him thus +to testify his attachment to his king, for it is scarcely six weeks +since, when in my apartment, in presence of the Lord Marshal, he +complained with tears in his eyes, that your excessive parental +affection lays a heavy restraint upon him, and prevents him from +showing his zeal. You prevent him now again by your fatherly authority; +now, certainly, these indications joined to your indifference would +with myself weigh heavier in the scale. Your answer, my Lord Counsellor +of Parliament!" "My son," said the father with constrained displeasure, +"is free; he may serve the king according to his wish if he sets his +happiness upon it." + +The Intendant bowed in silence, refused all refreshment and the +afflicted father followed the carriage with tearful eyes, as it rolled +away.--"Is it then, come to this?" exclaimed he, "you have now Edmond, +what you wished, I could not say no. You will now spare the roe and the +deer, and keep your balls for the chace after your brethren!--Oh what +folly to have allowed him to go with that thoughtless old man, under +these circumstances; if these blood-thirsty men knew that!--Aye, we +think to steer the bark of life with foresight and wisdom, and should +the tempest have but a moment's intermission, at the first calm we let +go our oars and dreaming we are wrecked on a rock." + +Eveline entered from the garden, the old man embraced her tenderly and +sighed: "Soon, perhaps, thou wilt be my only child!" + +"Have they taken Edmond away from you?" asked the child. + +"They have indeed, my dear little one," replied the father. + +"They will soon restore him to you again," said Eveline coaxingly, "we +can make better use of him, for others do not know at all what to do +with him." + +All this moment firing was heard in the distance, and the old man +concealed himself with his child in the most retired room of the house. + +He was soon recalled to the saloon, and was not a little surprised to +see his friend, the doctor, standing before him, and in reality clothed +in the dress of a peasant, so that at first he did not recognize him. +"Be not uneasy," said he, "nothing unfortunate has happened to us, but +something very ridiculous to me; only think, scarcely had I disguised +myself in this merry-andrew fashion, and advanced afoot towards the +mountains, than a servant, whether luckily, or unluckily, stepped up to +me, recognized me again and requested my attendance at the Marquis of +Valmont's, who is suddenly taken dangerously ill, the carriage was +waiting ready, I threw myself into it, made them drive as fast as the +horses could run, and here, just before your door, it occurs to me for +the first time, that in the dark and hurry, I left all my unfortunate +wardrobe at the inn in the wood, sword, wig, and every thing. Assist me +quickly with some of your clothes, or I shall not be able to attend the +Marquis." + +"And the two foolish youths," said the Counsellor, "they are now alone, +without your counsel and prudence. Why did I suffer myself to be +infected with your frivolity?" + +"Make no objections, my good friend," exclaimed the former, "all +these are trifles compared to my misery!--He quickly tore off his +clothes;--Bring! give!" + +The domestic who was summoned thither assisted him, "My clothes are too +long, and perhaps too narrow for you," said the Counsellor. "Never +mind," cried the eager doctor, I shall perhaps the more easily impose +on the invalid; the black coat, the neckcloth, the waistcoat descends +to the knee, no harm in that; now for the wig! + +"You know, extraordinary man," said the Lord of Beauvais, "that I have +given up that ornament here in this retirement more than ten years +ago.--There is not one in the house." + +"No wig!" exclaimed Vila, and with horror let fall the black coat, +through one of the sleeves of which he had thrust his arm.--"Not a +single wig! man! now I begin to believe that you have renounced all +faith, what is to be done?" + +The Counsellor and the servant endeavoured to quiet the provoked +friend, but he scarcely even heard their words. "A doctor to go to his +patient without a wig!" repeated he angrily, "it would cause an uproar +in the whole province, it would be reported in Paris, a scandalous +article would be inserted in the 'Mercure de France,' ah the infidel! +it would be even better to have no bread, no catechism in the house +than to want the necessary headgear, and the Marquis will not suffer +himself to be cured by me in this bald-headed condition, and his fever +will have still less respect for me." + +But all his complaints were fruitless, he was forced to depart in this +strange costume, and could not in the least understand the Counsellor's +indifference to his embarrassment, "I should have expected more +friendship from the old heathen," muttered he to himself, "and all that +the Camisards have done, is nothing in comparison to my going without +sword and chapeau bas, dressed in black with ruffles and all the +appurtenances; but to advance to the bed of so distinguished a patient, +without a wig is nothing less than if I had lived among canibals." Thus +did he try by exaggerations to console himself for his plight. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + +A large company was invited at the Marshal's at Nismes. The Intendant, +the Lord of Basville, sat by the side of the Lord of Montrevel, many +officers and respectable inhabitants of the town surrounded the table, +and at the head the beautiful Lady of Andreux added lustre to the +assembly, who with her husband was present to do honour to this +banquet. Some of her female relatives, distinguished ladies of Nismes, +sat between the gentlemen, and all seemed as merry as if they were not +pondering on the common oppression of the country. The Intendant of the +province alone preserved his serious demeanour and joined not in the +repeated laughter of the others; he was deeply engaged in earnest +conversation with Colonel Julien, who also seemed to be totally +regardless of the lively mood of the company. An important advantage +had been obtained the day before over the rebels, and all were +flattering themselves, that in a short time they would see these +unhappy insurrections brought to an end. The Marshal was in higher +spirits than people had been used to see him for a long time; his +sallies were laughed at and the homage which he conspicuously addressed +to the Lady of Andreux, was gratefully received by her and returned +with pointed elegance. + +"Colonel Julien related to the Intendant the wonderful manner in which +he had effected his escape from the recesses of the mountains of the +Cevennes, three months previously. He was in command of a small +expedition and thought to have entirely defeated the rebels in a hot +encounter, when he perceived himself on all sides suddenly surrounded +towards evening. 'Around us,' said he, 'were steep, barren mountains, +while we were preparing for a retreat, all the heights were suddenly +occupied by multitudes of people, before and behind us were swarms of +dark figures, we could not long remain doubtful of our position; for +suddenly large stones rolled down on our troop, which in their heavy +descent crushed our people murderously. Here there was no rallying to +be thought of, therefore we retreated almost flying towards a mill near +a mountain stream. I was convinced I should find this pass also +occupied, and gave myself up for lost. The rocks crushed my soldiers +right and left, resistance being impossible. Now sprung from the other +side, like chamois, more than a hundred down from the steep heights, +and in this disorder, where we could not hold our footing, a bloody +fight ensued; I had been already wounded three times, and my fighting +men were rapidly decreasing, darkness came on, when, in a moment, while +the Camisards burst into their howling hymns, a panic seized the rest +of my troop, and they all rushed towards the opening of the valley. The +victorious band pursued them from the other side, new foes beset them. +Bleeding, I leaned solitarily against a rock and saw through the +twilight my company hewn down, the former could not perceive me, +however, firmly they had sworn my death. I dragged myself sideways +towards the little bridge that leads to the mill on the other side, +certain of meeting death; but I found it undefended. A fault that I +should not have expected from the rebels, for they were headed by +Cavalier, as I heard in the midst of the cries and hubbub. All this +misfortune, however, happened to me only in consequence of false +informers, who brought me lying accounts; men, that I had long known, +and whose fidelity seemed to me to have been tried; but they merely +played this part, the better to deceive me, for they belonged to the +Camisards.' + +"The worst of this is," said the Intendant, "that we dare trust no one, +not a single one. The most sincere, the most zealous patriots in +appearance, betray us. We are reproached for severity and harshness, +but I fear we are yet too mild and compassionate, for these faithless +rebels deserve no quarter; they can only be subdued by continued, +inexorable severity." + +"They should be wholly extirpated," interrupted the Marshal, who in the +middle of his own lively conversation had only listened to the last +words. + +Julien looked gravely at the Intendant, while he sighed: "You really +believe then that these unfortunate men are no longer deserving of +human consideration." "Hardly so indeed," said the Lord of Basville, +"for through their own cruelty and disgraceful conduct of every kind, +they have rendered themselves unworthy of any sympathy. But go on +Colonel: how were you saved in this pressing position?" + +"With scarcely strength sufficient to advance a single step, I dragged +myself across the river, through the copse and over a meadow towards +the mill, for no choice was left me. It was now become quite dark, and +yet I would have willingly avoided this mill, for the people there were +more than merely suspicious. Two of the sons had gone over to the +rebels some time before, and it had been my intention after my victory +to take all these people from their houses along with me, and to have +them interrogated in prison. A dog announced my arrival; this was the +last thing I was conscious of, for I fell fainting before the door of +the house. When I recovered from my insensibility, I found myself +undressed upon a bed, my wounds bound up, and many strange faces +gathered round me, which, by the glimmering light of a lamp caused me a +most disagreeable impression. An old man with white hair, who seemed to +have the most authority, was the only one in whom I could have any +confidence; the more horrible among them, were some women, particularly +an elderly one, whom I took for the old man's wife. 'Your wounds are +not mortal,' said the old miller, 'you will soon recover, be tranquil +on this point.'--May I in reality have no cause for uneasiness? +rejoined I. Am I with loyal subjects of the king?--'By heaven, we are +such!' exclaimed the aged man with tears in his eyes, 'we have already +made many sacrifices to him, and we will protect you, although you seem +to know us well, nor are you either unknown to us. My two sons have +both suffered martyrdom--but the king commanded it should be so, and +God permitted it, we dispute no more with him.' Hereupon the women, +particularly the old ones, set up a terrific howling; some young +fellows gazed at me with cruel, sanguinary looks; I was prepared for +all. 'Peace,' cried the old man, 'this man has not come under my roof +as a foe, but as one requiring assistance, who injures a hair of his +head, will have to answer for it to me!--We found you lifeless at our +door, we recognized you on the spot,' continued he turning to me; 'we +need only to have left you without assistance, and _we_ did not murder +you; but I have staunched the blood, you may return to-morrow to the +town, and I will take care that you shall be conveyed with all speed to +the nearest village in an easy manner, for when our companions arrive +in a mass, as it may happen to-morrow, I might not be able to protect +you any longer.' And so it happened. During the night some rebels, who +were seeking after me, were sent away even in the twilight of morning; +I was placed comfortably in a small vehicle and conveyed to the opening +of the valley from whence I could be carried in safety to the town." + +"We may well be astonished at this false virtue," said the Intendant, +"but we must refuse it our consideration, for that will not be +necessary, if these unfortunate men remain faithful to the king and +obey his mandates." + +The company was still sitting at desert and sipping choice wines, when, +suddenly, a great uproar was raised in the house, several men's +footsteps were heard hastening up the steps, the doors burst open and +in rushed the clergyman of St. Sulpice, pale, and trembling, followed +by a few citizens, and among these a young man who seemed quite beside +himself, "What is the matter?" demanded the Marshal in an authoritative +tone, and the Intendant arose and addressed himself to the young +citizen. "Now Clement," said he, "recollect yourself, what has happened +to you?" "Is not this the leader of the city militia at Nismes?" asked +the Marshal with contempt. + +"Even so," replied the Lord of Basville, "he led the troop of +volunteers." "He seems to have lost the power of speech in his +expedition," said the Lord of Montrevel, laughing. + +"They are behind us--they will be here directly," stammered out young +Clement. + +"Who?" enquired the Marshal, who had resumed his seat. + +"Cavalier and the Camisards!" cried the young man. + +"Not so bad, not quite so bad as that," rejoined the priest, who seemed +more composed. "But our troop is totally defeated and the rebels have +been all along in our rear, and they have the insolence to appear on +the plain of Nismes, as if they were going to threaten the town +itself." + +"Thus it is," said the Marshal cuttingly, "when citizens meddle with +affairs to which they are not equal; give the young man a glass of wine +to revive him." Casting at the same time a side glance at the +Intendant, "Sit down reverend priest," he continued, "you appear more +composed, give us a little more circumstantial account." + +"According to the order of the gracious Lord Marshal," said the priest, +bowing profoundly, "We set fire yesterday to the village, which had +furnished provisions to the rebels, when they had quartered themselves +there; we then set out five hundred men strong, and three hundred +soldiers marched at the same time, with a hundred dragoons on the other +side of the river. The wretched, burned out creatures ran howling into +the wood and we pursued our way whilst we saw about a hundred rebels +flying before us. Behind the wood we joined the royal troops and +surrounded the vineyards on three sides near Nages. Some Camisards +showed themselves sideways, who, however, after a few shots +disappeared, We now advanced on the right, the soldiers on the left, in +between the mountains; we fell among the brambles, and--as if fire was +vomited forth from all sides, balls flew in among us without our being +able to see any one, we hesitate, we halt. Now the villains in the +mountains spring to their feet yelling and psalm-singing bellow down +upon us, together with hissing balls; we defend ourselves and put our +hopes in the royal troops, but the superiority is too great, our people +fall, we are compelled to retreat. Difficult enough it was to retire +from the mountains, the greater part of our men remain lying there: +arriving on the plain, there we beheld the military also beaten and +taking flight." + +"Defeated!" screamed the Marshal. + +"They are most likely following us," replied the priest. + +"The volunteers," said the Intendant, "have apparently not been +properly supported, as it has often happened already, and how shall the +citizen bear up if the soldier takes flight?" + +The Marshal, his face crimsoned, would have retorted angrily, when some +officers, covered in dust and bewildered, entered hastily. "The rebels, +Lord Marshal," said a young captain, "are seen before the gates of +Nismes; Cavalier has played us a fine trick this time; our informers +enticed us among the vineyards, the volunteers did not unite with us as +had been agreed upon and we are entirely routed. Cavalier knows how to +dispose of his men like an old soldier. + +"Lord Marshal," exclaimed a veteran colonel entering the room, "the foe +is without! and the fearful Catinat has, through retribution, as he +calls it, reduced three catholic villages to ashes, and with his own +hands set fire to the churches." + +Some prisoners were brought in, among whom there was a child of twelve +years of age. "What means this lad?" exclaimed the Marshal. + +"He is a brother of Cavalier," replied the old colonel, "we had already +made this dangerous leader prisoner, we had taken possession of a +bridge and he could not rejoin his people, when this brat, this boy +here, rallied the rebels, harangued them, brandished his sword in his +outstretched hand, fell upon us, retook the bridge, made his brother +free, but became himself our prisoner." + +"Satan's brood!" growled the Marshal, "away with them all to prison, +and we, gentlemen, to our posts!" all hastened out, the guests had +already retired without taking leave: the boy looked boldly and +smilingly round the saloon, and carelessly followed his guard; no one +remained behind but Colonel Julien and the Intendant, who took their +hats and sticks to go to their respective houses. "This cannot +continue," said the Lord of Basville, "the king sacrifices his army +fruitlessly and the rebellion becomes more obstinate and stronger." + +"Things will change," said the Colonel, "I have the surest intelligence +from Paris;--but you testify too openly your contempt of him; he also +knows what you report concerning him at court." + +"Can I do otherwise," said the Intendant, "if I am a faithful servant +to the king? you have witnessed all, and must acknowledge in your +heart, that but for this Marshal, this rebellion would never have +become a war; he nourishes it, he is rejoicing at the idea of becoming +important through it, he squanders all his time with women and is brave +as a soldier only through pityful vanity, and he piques himself in +gaining the affections of silly women." + +"If we now obtain a better general," said Julien, "it is to be hoped, +that this system of overreached severity and cruelty would be given up +and trial made of gentle means." + +"No good subject of the king can counsel that," said the Intendant +taking a hasty leave of the Colonel. + +The streets were in an uproar and every one was hastening to make +resistance against the rebels, who appeared more dangerous than ever. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + +Some days had elapsed and the Counsellor of Parliament had not seen his +son. Franz, the old domestic, had in the mean while set out on a +journey, and Joseph, as well as the female servants had not ventured to +disturb Edmond. The father was deeply concerned, for his son had never +before so pointedly avoided him. His grief lay principally in the +feeling, that he could not simply take the shortest and most natural +way, with all a father's authority, to force an entrance into his room, +which was always locked, and to question him about his condition. He +learned from Joseph, that his son always locked himself in, that he was +heard to sigh, nay, to weep, and that at night he would steal out to +wander about on the mountains, and then would as secretly return in the +morning, and avoid every body, in order to go and shut himself up again +as before. He seemed also to observe a rigid fast, for he took no food +and sent away every thing that was offered to him. "I no longer +understand him," said the old man to himself, as he was left once more +alone; "his high-wrought feelings destroy him, and I, his father, must +see him go to ruin without being able to do anything to save him. At +length the dark spirits are roused, that I have so long heard in their +slumbers; they have now assuredly taken possession of his soul." + +It was late, and the night was still and dark; he dismissed the +servants, in order to be able to converse uninterruptedly with his son, +for it appeared to him an indispensable duty to make himself acquainted +with his condition, the uncertainty of which weighed more painfully on +his heart than the conviction of an actual misfortune would have done. +He took therefore the master-key, in order to ascend the great +staircase, when he heard the door of his son's room opened; he stood +still, and a ghastly pale figure in a dusky green coarse doublet, +descended towards him, his gun was slung over his shoulder, his hair in +wild disorder, his eyes dim, "Oh heaven!" exclaimed the father, "I +think I see a spirit, and it is you my son!"--He tottered, and +trembling was compelled to sit down on the stairs. "Is it you in +reality?"--"It is myself," answered Edmond in a hollow voice. "How?" +said the old man, "thus, in this figure? thus ill? in this dress? you +look though as like a Camisard, as if you were one of them."--"It is so +too," answered the son, "I am now going up into the mountains to them." + +The father started up violently, he seized his son powerfully in his +arms, and thus carried him with supernatural strength into the saloon; +he placed him in an armchair, took the candle, looked at him +scrutinizingly and examined his whole figure, seized him by the breast +and cried out vehemently: "Wouldst thou act thus to me, unnatural +son?"-- + +"Yes," answered Edmond coldly, "I cannot do otherwise, I must!--leave +me! I thought, however, for once that I should win your approbation." + +"As a rebel?" cried the Counsellor of Parliament in a vehement voice, +"as a murderer? that I must see die under martyrdom at the gallows? to +outrage my grey hair? one whom the father must deliver up into the +hands of the executioner?" + +The son looked at him fixedly, but coldly and collectedly; the father +was deeply affected at it, but, at this ghastly look, had lost the +strength which supernatural terror had lent him for a moment, and +weeping aloud, he fell upon his son, who threw his arms round him, +embraced him, and by his caresses sought to console the afflicted old +man, "Oh, my son!" began the father, after a long pause, often +interrupted by sobs, "for many years I have not experienced these +tokens of affection in you, and now in this terrible moment, in which +my whole life vanishes as in a dream, in which you have so violently +torn my heart!--I cannot recover myself, I cannot question you, and +what shall I experience if my entreaties, my love, if nothing will +break your stubborn, enigmatical will? Oh, God of love! is there, in +all the feelings thou hast created, one more fervid than that of a +father to a child? and do we know the tremendous affliction we implore, +when we entreat heaven for children?" + +They remained long clasped in each other's arms, at length Edmond said: +"Let me depart with your blessing, my father." + +"That I cannot give to your dreadful designs," replied the Counsellor; +"It is so fearful, that I must still look upon you and myself as two +spectres." + +Both were silent for a long time. At last the father said: "I will not +entreat of you to go to rest, for I greatly fear that you will not obey +me, it is fruitless also that I should seek for repose in sleep, for +slumber would flee from my shaken brain; what I may learn to-morrow, I +may as well hear to-day; if I can conceive, if I can comprehend that +which is incomprehensible, perhaps, it would terrify me less, perhaps, +I shall yield to grief and sorrow, and necessity, as to the storm, +or the earthquake; but from this spectral terror, from this almost +mask-like enigma, which threatens to drive me mad, deliver me at least +from this by speech and narration." + +"Can it be expressed, my father?" began Edmond, "will you comprehend +what I myself cannot understand with my common knowledge? We should not +indeed comprehend, if this hall round us were suddenly turned into +Hesperian gardens, but we should enjoy the fruit, we should live and +exist in the miracle, even though by that means we should forget that +yet some other knowledge were wanting." + +"Has that delirium also taken possession of you," cried the old man, +"in its peculiar way and wrapped you in the folds of its dark +vestments? now I would have sworn that you were free from that! and yet +I should have done wrong, for all fanaticism is but the twinborn of the +apparently most improbable and inimical." + +"You speak what your mind prompts," said the son, "and I understand you +perfectly, but you do not understand me." + +"Well, Edmond, you may be right, only speak, relate to me, perhaps I +may be able to approach nearer to your soul." + +"How much I hated these Huguenots," began Edmond, "how much I abhorred +their war against the king, their fanaticism and prophets, that I +despised the gross deception of those people, I need not tell you, for +my irritated feelings made you unhappy and it seems that I am destined +to cause your misery, I may place myself now as then on whatever side I +like.--" + +He stopped for a short time and then returned; "with these sentiments I +dressed myself in the peasant's clothes, which were so hateful to me, +our friend quitted me, as you know, and I went with his son up into the +mountains. Florentine jested about our expedition, I was much vexed at +and ashamed of my purpose. When we advanced farther into the mountains, +some figures glided before us on the solitary footpath, we followed the +direction they took, and arrived with them in about half an hour at a +lonely barn. They knocked; it was opened to us. I cannot describe the +feeling with which I entered into this rustic assembly. It was a +loathing of mind and body. Some were kneeling, others were standing +praying, I approached the latter and tried to imitate them. Everything +went on quietly, all eyes were bent on the ground, a few old women only +muttered their psalms between their teeth. All at once a boy about +eight years old fell down as if in convulsions. My repugnance was at +its highest pitch, for now I saw before me the deformed spectacle, the +relation of which had for many years previously excited my liveliest +indignation. The child's breast heaved, he leaped up, and threw himself +down again, and I thought to have distinctly perceived the voluntary +exertion. All the faithful, hoping and comforted, turned upon him their +eyes. Never in my life had I more self-possession, never was I so +rock-firm in my conviction; my thoughts became more and more irritated, +I only wished myself back again, in order to give free vent to my hatred. +Suddenly the child exclaimed in a hoarse voice: 'verily I bless ye, +ye shall be blessed!'--Now in the stream which flowed incessantly, +came innumerable prayers and exhortations as well as passages from the +holy scriptures and their explanation, all in reference to existing +circumstances. I was still more astounded, when the boy cried out: +'Beware my brethren; for two traitors have made their way into the +assembly, who intend you evil.' I looked up, young Vila turned pale, he +was standing at the door, and slipped out, when it was opened to new +comers. 'One is escaped,' groaned the child as he still lay with his +eyes and senses closed, 'but the second mocker is still present, he +knows not that I, the Lord, have led him hither, that he may become one +of mine.' I was terrified, my inmost soul was moved and emotions rose +in my heart, which I had never experienced before. They began to sing +psalms, and however discordant they may have sounded, they made no +unpleasant impression on me, my mind followed the glorious words? the +misfortune of these desolate creatures, their contrition before the +Lord, the fearful haughtiness of their adversaries, vibrated and +shrieked heartrendingly in this unharmonious lamentation; it appeared +to me absurd that until now harmony had been necessary to me when I +wished to raise my heart in prayer. Does not the universal lament of +creation strike on his ear? Do not praise and thanksgivings with tears +and cries of sorrow rise equally to his throne? To this feeling were +added many more, and weak, poor and unintelligible did the whole course +of my past life appear to me. Do these statues, lights and temples then +make any difference, said I to myself, with all this pomp of riches and +splendour? will the Lord who walked bound as a slave among us, and +suffered himself to be illtreated, will he not be mocked through it? Do +not these wretched beings represent him anew before our eyes? can I not +in each one of these persecuted ones greet himself? feed, clothe, and +protect him?--Then I felt as if all the sorrow and strife, which these +mountains have endured for years were piercing in countless multitudes +through my own wounded breast. Another boy now fell down and cried, 'go +out into the wood, Elias, Marion, and some of the faithful are +approaching, they have strayed; induce them to come with psalms, for +to-day, you have no persecution to fear.' Some went out from the +assembly, and sang with loud voices, and soon afterwards returned with +a great number of enthusiasts, among whom a tall man advanced, who was +respectfully saluted by all. 'Triumph!' said the child aloud, still +prostrate on the ground, 'the disbeliever is overcome, he will enter +into the kingdom of the Lord.' Then I felt the blow of a great hammer +suddenly against my breast. I struggled with this feeling, and +conquered it. The humble divine worship of this poor pitiable +congregation was continued with psalms, and calmly uttered inspired +discourses. Marion spoke the word of life, which penetrated through all +my faculties; in what dreadful error I had been wandering untill then! +All contingencies vanished, it was granted to me to look upon the Lord, +and the strength of his miracles in their simple glory, and to behold +his meek and lowly form. If until then my soul had been only +overshadowed by pomp, legends, false emotions and artificial +elevations; as splendid hanging of silk and gold only confine the pure +rays of celestial light, and give but a false brilliancy to its glory. +My heart was contrite and as a wound of sorrow and emotion; my spirit +was like that of a child. The Most High stood by my side, and stretched +out his bleeding hand to me, which had been now again pierced by us +miserable wretches. The glance from his tearful eyes went to my soul, +then I was filled with wrathful melancholy and joyful sorrow, and in +this emotion, I was smitten again when the assembly dispersed. What is +nature? this question I had often asked myself when I rambled with +enthusiasm through wooded mountains and verdant valleys magically +lighted and covered with the breath of morning, embalmed by the fresh +zephyrs, and filled with all the lovely presentiments which inspire us +with such pleasing dreams. Oh, my father! now I understand the deep +wailings in the woods and in the mountains, in the gurgling stream, the +word of the Eternal himself and his almighty compassion on us unhappy, +lost creatures, was murmured to me from every wave and from every +bough. With a million of tongues the countless foliage reproached my +negligent tardiness. My eye pierced through the past and future, my +thoughts were adoration, my feelings holy devotion. + +"I plunged into the thickest woods and gave a free course to my flowing +tears, I now received the third summons and I no longer resisted it. In +the solitude of night, my whole being was absorbed in prayer and +thanksgiving, wonderously the strongest words poured forth without the +slightest exertion, as tears flow without design, as wave follows wave +down the stream, as the wind puts in motion the numberless foliage of +the forest, thus led by a higher and invisible spirit, my speech was +changed into prophecy. A new being arose within me, I no longer +recognised that of yesterday. In the mirror of my inmost soul another +eye, different from my own, met mine, nevertheless this was really +myself. Now resting, now walking, I found myself in the twilight of +morning in the district of Sauve among the recesses of the mountains. +You know, my father, the lofty situation of the dreary landscape there, +no tree, no shrub, scarcely a solitary blade of grass upon the barren, +white chalky waste, and as far as the eye extends, trunks of trees, +heaps of lime stones in all shapes, like men, animals and horses, +dazzling and fatiguing the sight, spread about, and at intervals +rolling stones, and a little lower down, the small, gloomy, solitary +town. Here I threw myself down again and gazed upon the waste ruin +around, and upon the dark blue sky above me, strange how my spirit +wandered there! I cannot explain by any human language, how +instantaneously my heart was impressed with every feeling of belief, +with every noble thought, how creation, nature, and the strangest +mystery, man with his wonderful energies and his common dependance on +the elements, how vain, how contradictory and ridiculous all this +appeared to me now. I could not collect myself, I was compelled +incessantly to follow this train of thought and to find relief in loud +laughter. Then there was no God, no spirit, nothing but puerility, +madness, and deformity, in all that creeps, swims, and flies, +especially in this ball that thinks, reflects, and weeps, and +underneath devours and masticates. Oh, let me be silent and not again +discover the maddening images that took possession of my mind, +annihilation, dead, cold non-existence appeared to me alone desirable +and noble. I was utterly undone, and painful was my return to life, but +I at length found it with the help of the compassionate one." The +father seized his son's hand, "Mark my child," said he mildly, "as soon +as all these wonderous sensations shall in wild controversy have +traversed your soul, you will assuredly be yourself again and return to +us entirely. Your lacerated heart will resume its tranquility and +repose after these commotions, and then will your understanding and +free will abandon your fearful purpose." + +"Never! my father," exclaimed the youth with sudden vehemence, "this +was my temptation in the wilderness, which the All Merciful shortened +to a few hours, and then opened his paternal arms to me again. It might +have lasted for weeks and months, had he not been willing to shew +compassion to my weakness. You believe me not, you doubt, but what will +you say if I give you the most undeniable proofs, that this my +enlightening is no false, or artificial one, if you will even be +compelled to own to me, that I not only know myself by this, but also +all that is unconnected with me." + +"What do you mean by that?" demanded the old man bewildered, "I do not +understand you, my son." + +"When I resumed my human feelings and had refreshed myself, I wandered +again to the green wood that extends towards Florac, there, where the +rocks assume a grand character as far as the mountains of Lozere. The +place pleased me and I passed the night in the open air. + +"What did you do on this second night of my absence? where did Franz +remain? do you think that I do not know all?" The father looked at him +with fear. + +"What do you know?" asked he stammering. "When I again turned my +thoughts on the Saviour," said the son, "and endeavoured to account for +my bewilderment, in order to assist my researches, I felt compelled to +think on you, on my sister and on our house, thus will it assuredly be +after death, the soul will still cast lingering looks after its +cherished old nature and be unable for a length of time to comprehend +its new thoughts and strange existence. Suddenly, when my ardent desire +was accomplished; I saw you; all was still in the house, you went with +Franz more quietly than usual and with great caution into the library, +the window shutters and doors were closed, there was only one taper +burning. With the help of Franz you removed the folios, and at the same +time drew back the first bolt of the by chest, the pressure of a spring +you opened the pannel, which slid back into the wall and threw light +into the little enclosed recess. I saw several small chests standing +there, jewels of costly value were in them, that I never knew of and +which you never mentioned to me, but Franz seemed to know all. You +opened the cases, arranged them and added some others to them. Franz +wept and said: 'So now my wish will be at length accomplished of living +at Geneva in future and openly acknowledging the faith that I have been +compelled to deny here.' This also was new and unexpected to me. Then +you embraced the old servant heartily, kissed him on the mouth and said +with emotion: 'You are now no longer my servant, but my friend, my most +confidential friend, for to you I confide my entire welfare, my +property, and my children. God protect you on your way there and back, +give these letters into the right hands at the same time with this +little treasure; steal as you can over the frontiers, then we are safe, +and return directly with favourable answers.' That very night, he +accomplished fifteen leagues." + +The old man trembled violently; he examined his son doubtingly, his +face was pale. "Where have you seen all this?" demanded he at length. +"Yonder in the mountains of Lozere, fourteen leagues from here." There +was a pause. "I must believe you," said the father. "Be it a miracle, +delirium, an undiscovered strength of nature; I see, but I understand +it not. All is in reality as you have said, but your manner is terrible +to me. Do you not then believe, that as you have fallen, in so +unusually strange a manner, into this disposition, conviction, and +miraculous gift, there may be also means, which heaven, if you in faith +and humility call upon God will open to reconduct you into the ordinary +walk of mankind, far from these fearful rocks upon which you must +inevitably founder." + +"You understand me not, I tell you once more," cried the youth, +"although I quite understand your meaning. You do not trust the token +that I have given you. Yet," added, he smiling, "you are not quite so +hardened just now, better thoughts steal over your soul, though also +from the region of unbelief." + +"And what is it?" asked the father, "you will otherwise make me believe +that you are able to penetrate into all the hidden depths of the +heart." + +"You were thinking just now," said Edmond:-- + +"Let him take his course, the evil must now have reached its height, +perhaps God wills that he should find at length by this more than +wonderful means, his salvation, and that he may learn later to cool by +reason and true christian humility, the fanaticism, that now transform +him into a lunatic. Thus do you think of me, thus do you deny the +spirit." "My son," said the old man with uplifted looks, "is it a good +spirit that prompts you? is it not perhaps the wild wandering of nature +herself in you that transports you beyond her own limits?" + +The son cast again that terrifying look on his father, which rendered +him mute. + +"You are free," said the old man, "affection alone, not force should +retain you. Go then and follow the dictates of your own heart. My +prayers shall accompany you, and, may be, they will have the power to +mitigate, or ward off the worst." + +"Surely you are not opposed to my taking to my poor brethren my small +fortune," said Edmond perfectly tranquillised, "they are more in need +of it than we." + +"Take also this purse from me," said the father, "I desire not to know +to what purpose you destine it, but the unfortunate men yonder are in +want of it." + +"Franz is coming!" exclaimed Edmond; "Where?" enquired the +Counsellor:--"He is still far behind the mountains, I see him only with +my inward eyes. The over-cautious old man! he has hidden the letter in +his boot, there he is leaning against an old tree, and is pulling it +out. I could read the letter to you if I liked, but I perceive that it +contains good news for you, let that suffice. Permit me now to go, +before the old man returns to oppress my heart anew with his +lamentations, or to excite my anger." + +Father and son long held each other closely embraced; the old Lord +seemed overpowered with grief and tears; Edmond gently disengaged +himself from his paternal arms, returned once more and kissed his +father. With hasty steps he traversed the garden and ascended the +vineyard; there he stood still once more, and from thence waved a +handkerchief downwards in salutation, while Franz issued from the wood +ou the opposite side and held up the letters exultingly in the +distance. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + +The mountains and the country around were by this time filled with new +tidings that contained representations of the most horrible cruelties, +said to have been practised by the Camisards. Even their best friends +and such as willingly lent them their aid, became displeased, and many +of the rebels themselves ventured not to extenuate the barbarity, which +these had permitted themselves to exercise against catholic priests, +landholders, nay even towards secret protestants. It appeared as if the +weakest party desired, in defying despair to outdo the harshness of +their foes; but this alienated many hearts from them and withheld the +help that otherwise would have been openly lent to them. + +A serene summer morning shed its light over the mountains, when Edmond +with hasty steps took his way towards the secret wilds, where there was +neither track nor footpath, and which was only known to him from +representation. He felt as if his wonderful gift of inward sight was +conducting him in the direct way, for he discovered the most secret +directing signs by which the rebels alone could find a clue to the +hiding-places, without straying among the windings of the rocks, or +being stopped by the appearance of unexpected precipices. He left the +fortress of St. Hyppolite on one side and came in a short time after +having climbed steep mountains, into another rocky district, to which +only small stony paths led, and which far around was torn asunder by +spacious crevices and caverns. Here did the Camisards keep their +severely wounded that had been able to escape from the fight; if this +was impossible, they shot them themselves, in order to deliver them +from the cruel ingenuity of the executioner. In these caves, Roland +also concealed his provision of arms and ammunition, if he should have +a superfluity of them, and also a supply of food and wine, likewise +medicines, and that which was necessary for the care of the sick. +Government had already offered a large reward for the discovery of this +important place of refuge, but until now in vain, for only the most +trustworthy among the rebels were acquainted with this district, who +naturally would not betray it and they took care, that only those among +the country-people, whose integrity could be depended upon, should be +admitted. As Edmond went along the narrow way which lay on the right +under a steep mountain, whilst on the left, at the distance of a few +paces, yawned a giddy abyss; he was just reflecting how easily and +safely this pass might be defended, when he suddenly heard a large +figure with a hairy face and wild, savage expression, call out, +requesting to speak with him. Edmond was going to explain to him for +what purpose he had come there, when the hairy figure without replying +took up his gun and was in the act of firing at him, a cracked voice +from behind a projection of the rock, cried out: "For God's sake stop, +brother Mazel!" at the same moment two naked brown arms fell on the +breast of the armed man and dashed the gun on the ground. "He is no +spy, he cannot be such!" exclaimed the half-naked man, "it is the young +Lord of Beauvais." + +As Edmond looked round he saw Eustace, the charcoal-burner whom he knew +very well, standing before him. + +"How came you to this secret place?" said the invalid, who was taken +care of here. + +Edmond now saw several strange faces which gathered round to examine +him with looks of curiosity. The young man experienced a singular +sensation on beholding these ragged, wretched looking figures, and on +finding himself compelled to tell them wherefore he was come, and that +he intended to live among them as a brother, and to fight for their +abused rights. Eustace clapped his hands in the greatest amazement, and +cried out: "I should have sooner expected the day of judgment! you +cannot conceive bow haughty and indignant this noble gentleman was, +when I once attempted to speak and jest with his little lady sister! +Yes, Abraham, that is a sign from God, to strengthen us in our good +cause. If such a gentleman to whom nothing is wanting, to whom God has +plentifully given whatever human wealth can procure, brought up and +learned in their religion, if he should come over to us, and be willing +to undergo the severity of the weather, storms, hunger, nakedness, and +for the sake of God, perhaps, a disgraceful death: what are we then to +do, whom they have plundered, ill used, whose children they have +slaughtered, whose priests they have murdered; indeed these are signs +which precede judgment?" In the same moment he began to scream out a +psalm; but Mazel said: "Cease now, good brother, for we do not at all +know yet, if brother Roland will accept him, he must first be brought +before him; we have lately been several times too much deceived and the +thing may be only a snare this time also, but Roland and Cavalier know +directly what they are about, no one can deceive these." + +Edmond looked at him with the utmost contempt and exclaimed: "Conduct +me to the wood, to Lord Roland!"-- + +"Brother Roland, if you please," replied the stout Mazel, "among us +there are no Lords; God is our Lord.--Stephen! Favart!" Cried he, in a +commanding tone, and out of the cliffs sprang forward a fair-haired +young man, and behind him stole forth another, whom Edmond immediately +recognised for the old huntsman, that he had met about twelve days +before at his father's house. "Conduct the young man to brother +Roland," said Mazel to both of them, and Edmond accompanied them in +silence, still deeper into the solitude of the mountains. Favart +glanced sideways at the new comrade, while they walked on together, at +length he said: "Lately, but for that young lad, things would have +turned out badly enough." + +"Who was he?" asked Edmond. + +"I do not know," replied the huntsman, "I should like very much to +know who he is; he knew me, although I did not know him. I had +abandoned the brethren for sixteen months, now I am again returned to +them, principally because the young lad said in my ear that I was an +apostate and a traitor to God; now, I know too, how the Lord of +Basville, the Intendant thinks, and all the other godless men. They are +blood-thirsty men." + +Young Stephen drew out a little flute and blew upon it a spiritual +song, which sounded pleasingly far through the mountains. "Leave off +that godless blowing," said Favart. "Why godless?" asked Edmond. "It is +only a worldly little pipe," said the squinting huntsman, "all these +things proceed from the wicked enemy, to ensnare our souls and hearts +through sensual pleasure; in simplicity we should think on the Lord and +our lips alone should laud and praise him, but not artificially and +seducingly, for it is not seemly to make jubelee in our sorrow." + +"You are too severe," said Stephen, "the birds in the woods praise the +Lord and artificially too, in their way." + +"They have no reason, no soul," said Favart, "they are poor beasts, +even if it were the nightingale herself; it is still no praise to the +Lord, they do but call their mates, or brood in their nests, their +godliness is all a lie." + +"As you will," said Stephen, at the same time replacing his flute. They +came to a number of trees hewn down, and placed so as to form a sort of +fence, from out of which a voice exclaimed: "Who goes there?" "Zion!" +replied the two guides; and some large birch-trees were pushed +backwards, and made way on the narrow path. They passed through. "Where +is Roland?" demanded they of the sentinels. "Up there," replied the +latter, "under the great Apostle chesnut tree." + +"We shall soon be there," said Stephen. They already heard a noise in +the distance, talking, singing, and also clattering of iron; and now, +when they had reached the summit of the wooded mountain plain, Edmond +perceived many men in various groups, all brown and burnt by the sun, +the greatest part of them in ragged doublets; some appeared to be +praying, a few were reading, others were reposing on the grass, several +were whetting their jagged swords or cleaning their guns, others were +mending their vestments; many sang psalms. A tall wild-looking man +advanced towards them, he walked up and down agitatedly with his hands +behind his back, huge whiskers descended on either side of his face, +his hair was tightly drawn up to the top of his head; "Good day +brethren," cried he, in a discordant voice, which Edmond immediately +recognised for the same he had heard in the distance on the eventful +night. "The hero Catinat!" exclaimed Favart, shaking the gigantic man +heartily by the hand, "how fares it with you?" "I am accused brother," +said the former, "and Roland will hold no intercourse with me until all +his officers, Cavalier and the rest, have spoken respecting me." + +"Where is Roland?" enquired Edmond, hastily. "It is he yonder, who sits +with his bared neck under the chesnut tree," said Catinat. + +Edmond perceived a man of slight figure and middle age, leaning against +the trunk of the tree, who was looking quietly on the ground and +smoking a short clay tobacco pipe; he had taken off a red silk +neckerchief which lay by his side, and had loosened his waistcoat, so +that his whole breast was laid bare, his head was uncovered, his face +was only shaded by large whiskers. He calmly raised his light brown +eyes, as the three presented themselves before him, and Stephen +explained in a few words Edmond's request. "Indeed!" said Roland, still +continuing to smoke and quickly turning his searching glance from +Edmond; "have a little patience, until I give you my answer, we do +nothing without higher counsel, and I have not been thus blessed. Are +any of our prophets here?" asked he in a loud voice, looking round the +circle. + +"No, brother Roland," resounded from all sides; "Be patient, some of +them will shortly be here, for I do not know you, but nothing can be +concealed from them." + +Edmond felt hurt, his heart was ready to overflow; he related in a few +words his wonderful transformation and how the spirit had led him into +the mountains; "Yes, I myself, unworthy as I may be," concluded he, +with deep emotion, his narration, "I have been blessed with this +wonderful gift of fore-knowledge." + +"Indeed!" said Roland in a drawling tone, while he rather winked than +looked at the youth with his half closed eyes, in which was reflected +either his contempt, or perhaps his envy, the latter was what Edmond +conceived it to indicate. He raised his foot, and knocked the ashes out +of the top of his tobacco pipe; "Go and walk up and down for a short +time, I have some reflections to make; as soon as one of our prophets +arrives, you shall obtain your answer." + +Edmond turned away much annoyed, and cast his eyes over the +interminable mountains; to the immense chain of the Cevennes are joined +the blue summits of the Pyrenees, and on the other side were to be seen +craggy cliffs and masses of rocks, which give so striking a feature to +the right bank of the Rhone. What was Edmond's surprise, when among the +fraternity he recognized two noblemen, whom he had formerly met many +times at Nismes, and who had sunk into universal contempt on account of +their frivolity and bad conduct. Cesar and Mark Anthony were merely +what is usually termed in ordinary life boon companions; they had been +finally compelled, in consequence of their debts to make their escape, +and had, apparently, from absolute necessity alone, sought the society +of these religious mountaineers. However much they tried to imitate the +looks and demeanour of the rest, there still lay concealed even in the +very manner that they greeted Edmond, something of that reckless +insolence and licentious freedom, which all well-principled young men +had excluded from their society many years before. + +When Edmond had taken a survey of the surrounding country and of his +future companions, Roland again called out in a loud voice, as he stood +up: + +"Is no prophet yet arrived?" "Yes," said Favart, "here is brother +Duplant." At the same moment a pale, haggard little man stepped up, who +trembled in every joint as from cold and whose prominent eyes added to +his appearance of illness. "What do you wish brother?" asked he of the +leader in an almost whining tone. + +"Come forward brother," said Roland in a full, sonorous voice; "here is +a new brother, who presents, himself to us from out of the valley, a +rich distinguished man and a catholic; what does the spirit say to you +about it?" + +Duplant opened his light-blue eyes still wider, gazed on Edmond with a +feeble, death-like look, then gathered himself up, shook his head +violently, fell down, and while his breast and the lower part of his +body heaved convulsively, a deep, and to him, unusual voice proceeded +from him, resounding loudly: "I tell thee brother, this is a choice +instrument, he will serve the Lord faithfully; his father in his heart +is in our mountains, rejoice all that he is come among us. Amen!" + +Roland immediately embraced the youth, then extended his hand to him; +"In the name of God then!" said he solemnly, "My vocation must be +true," answered Edmond, "for you have given a reception such as might +well have frightened back an ordinary enthusiast." + +"We cannot do otherwise brother," said Roland, "we are too often put to +the test by spies in various forms; therefore, the Lord, decides among +us, He, who cannot be deceived." + +"It is good for me to be among you and to look upon the faces of all +these, honoured men: but where is Cavalier, the hero, whose name +resounds throughout the whole country? my soul burns to know him and to +fold him in my arms." + +"Yonder he comes with his troop in wonderful array." + +A multitude of Camisards, clad in pillaged uniforms, marched up the +mountain shouting with joy, at their head rode their commander, mounted +on a little horse, one feather in his large hat, a richly embroidered +uniform hung wide and loosely on his little thin body. He sprang from +his horse, and while Edmond was making his way up to him, impressed +with the almost ludicrous appearance of the unbecoming attire, the so +justly renowned Cavalier advanced towards him, and Edmond, in terror +and in deep confusion, stepped back, for the young hero was no other +than that miller-lad, whom he had a short time before in his father's +house treated with so much contempt, nay even with cutting bitterness. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + +The young commander first cast a lengthened look of astonishment on +Edmond, then approached nearer and kindly offered him his hand. "You +are one of us," exclaimed he, "the Lord had so ordained, accept the +assurance of my brotherly love."-- + +Edmond seized the hand of the young man, held it long between his own, +and then said with great emotion: "What have I not to thank you for at +a time, when I neither knew, nor loved you; you it was who saved our +house, myself, my sister and my beloved father! The veil has fallen +from my eyes, and I shall now honour and love you, and all these heroes +of the faith, as brothers." + +A circle had been formed and Roland now stepped with solemn demeanour +into the middle of it. "We are assembled," commenced he, greatly +affected, "in order to pass judgment upon a friend, who is to me one of +the dearest among the most valiant of the fraternity, and in the work +of the Lord a distinguished zealot. Here stands Catinat, the man at +whose name all our foes tremble. You are all here present, Cavalier, +thou Ravanel, Castanet, Duplant, and Salomon, Clary, Abraham Mazel is +also arrived here. I have often spoken on this point already, my dear +friends, and wished to make known to you my opinion, and my sentiments, +that in this war, in which we are fighting for the Lord, we should +refrain from shedding blood as much as possible. No, my beloved +friends, we will not therein follow the example of our adversaries, +that we may excel them in their emulation for murder, incendiarism and +all their works of darkness. Let the enemy, who comes armed against us, +be given up to the sword, the villain, who betrays us and belies the +Lord, let him fall a sacrifice to his own malice, but the harmless +labourer, the helpless priest, the defenceless woman, the child under +age, let them be spared, what have they done to us? what can they +accomplish against us? we have certainly always struggled to put our +enemies to shame and to convince them by Christian charity, that our +course is a just one; but here, Catinat has again acted in opposition +to my express command, in his expedition he has set fire to three +churches with his own hands, he has massacred two priests, his troop +according to his orders has reduced villages to ashes, and women and +children have been murdered and burned in the most terrible manner. +Their lamentations, the cries of the orphans, the wailings of the +parents rise up to heaven, and arouse and call upon the enduring +goodness of the Lord to thrust and to fling us in his wrath far away +from him, like useless vessels. If we ourselves act in this manner, +wherefore should we complain, when the enemies open wide the jaws of +cruelty and show less compassion than the wolf in the wilderness, or +the beast of prey of the mountains, then, with justice, their stakes +blaze threateningly to meet us! why are we angered, when their +barbarous executioners, with greedy looks, grin up towards our +mountains, and in malicious joy whet their instruments of death? then +fight brute against brute, and devil against Belzebub! By what then +shall the good cause be recognised? I will also remind you, my beloved +brethren, that these deeds alienate the best people in the country from +us; not only the Catholic, but such as are in their hearts our +brothers, will desert us, as well as those newly converted ones, who +would willingly help us. Have you then forgotten, how pious men of +foreign lands, priests and leaders of armies, have warned us not to +stain our hands with innocent blood, and our holy cause with firebrands +and cruelty? all pious minds in distant lands who turn looks of love +upon us will be mistaken, and will surely think, that innate cruelty +and savage nature must be alleged for these proceedings, and not our +conscience and the cause of the Lord that we fight for. It is +misfortune enough, that we should be compelled to stand in arms against +our lawful king, who wanted to rob us of our God; let this misfortune +suffice, let us do no more than our conscience demands. Finally, I will +remind you, that by your unanimous consent I am your leader since the +glorious death of my uncle, my command must be held inviolable, and +therefore, he whom I send out and who wilfully and maliciously +transgresses my orders, must be considered a rebel to me, yourselves, +and your holy undertaking. You know, that a like fault would be +punished with death yonder among the royal party; far be it from me to +wish to punish so severely a brother and hero of the faith on account +of his disobedience to me, a weak and miserable instrument of the Lord, +but I propose depriving him of his command, because none should command +who cannot also obey. Now take counsel among yourselves, my valiant and +enlightened friends, whether you will confirm my sentence? once more I +repeat my fear, that by these transgressions of individuals, our great +cause will go to ruin." + +Roland retired from the circle and all were silent. "We will hear what +Catinat says for himself," said the broad, stout Mazel, and Ravanel, a +little swarthy man with dark looks and wild appearance advanced towards +the gigantic man and cried: "speak brother, you know how I love you, I +am yours, unto death, and do not believe that you can ever be in the +wrong, for in your fist is the sword of the Lord!" + +Catinat shook him by the hand, then raised his eyes and glanced with a +calm and penetrating look round the circle, and said: "My valiant +brethren, my fault is evident and undeniable, it consists in +transgression against subordination, and as I have been as good a +soldier as brother Roland, I know well that nothing can be said to +extenuate it. If you speak in accordance with the letter of the law, I +am then condemned, and I will lay down my command as obediently as I +accepted it from Roland. But I again ask you here openly, as I have +already expressed my opinion privately on this point, can we, the +immediate instruments of the Most High, penetrated with his spirit, +measure commands and quietly follow them? shall we, are we permitted to +pursue this war as with men like ourselves, and may we obstinately +withdraw the holy zeal, when the spirit descends upon us, and rules the +sword in our hand, and hurls the burning brand into the idolatrous +temples? Where then is truth, confidence, and faith, if I am not +allowed to do what the Lord himself designs to exact from me. No my +friends, my inspired brethren! let other self-sufficient, self-willed +men then, who fight without heaven be your soldiers, I can never be +such. Roland and Cavalier pardon the prisoners we make, send them back +comforted, refresh and succour their wounded, and hope by their +well-meaning kindness to arouse the hearts of the villains, that they +may feel humane and brotherly towards us. But no such thing! they mock +at this our weakness and call it folly, nay, they publicly term it +cowardice and say, that we dare not act otherwise, for we are only +rebels and outlaws. Assuredly we are a reproach to men, and when they +catch, or wound us, they show us less compassion than they would +testify to a dog, even if it had torn their dearest child to pieces. Is +it then necessary to remind you of the barbarities they have practised +upon our brethren, who have struggled and died for the faith? I will +only recall to your recollection the holy father Brusson, who +gloriously won the crown of martyrdom at Montpellier, the pious man, +who preached the gospel to us poor abandoned flocks in the wilderness, +and then took leave of us, drew no sword, lighted no torch, lived and +died in the spirit of peace, and who only came once more to take a last +farewell of the old mountains, and of the brethren, whom the faith had +collected around him as his own children, with the gospel in his +pocket, and with the bread of tears he wished to return to the strange +land, which had become to him as his native country; and when they +caught him, of what avail was his quiet, peaceable spirit to him? Under +martyrdom, at which the imagination shudders, he was forced to resign +his soul into the hands of the Creator. Need I remind you of the noble +spirit of Seguier, how heroically he died and only scorned the cruel +ingenuity of the executioner? But how then do you forget the wholly +innocent people, who often assembled in the fields to worship God in +secret and were put down by the faithful, as they call themselves, or, +as it often happened, massacred, women and children not excepted? And +you no longer remember, how parents who were suspected had their +children torn from them to be brought up as Catholics, how the mothers +never saw them more and how those under age, who then remained faithful +to the Gospel, were ill-used, suffered martyrdom, or were doomed to +languish in a dungeon? All then has escaped your recollection, what +those priests of the pulpit and the altar have uttered against us, and +the ban and the curse, and that we are no men and unworthy of +commiseration, when we were still constrained to attend their mass? and +is it even permitted that gentleness, virtue, consideration, humanity +and pity, should be observed towards these bloodhounds? No, verily, we +are ruined if we do not pay them in their own coin, return evil for +evil, blood for blood, death for death, rage and fury for their +inflexibility and severity. As they have been mild and compassionate +towards us, let us respond to it; let the Christianity that they +preach, fall burning down upon their own heads, let us dive into their +hearts and entrails, to see where they have concealed pity and the +feelings of humanity. Wherever our name resounds, they must turn pale, +and when we set all against all, we shall then be able to know whether +we lose, or win, we shall extirpate them, or they us; and if we cease +to exist, so may the wasted wilderness, the depopulated land, the +ruined palaces, and burnt-down temples and horror and desolation, +announce to the after-world what we have suffered and done. What are a +priest, country or king in comparison to my faith, in comparison to the +fire that kindles through all my veins and burns in every fibre? Do you +think you are permitted to reason and be men of the ordinary world? +This is precisely what makes our adversaries strong and prepares so +many defeats for us, because we still turn our looks back upon the +world and its wisdom. Here stand our prophets, arrest then the spirit, +exorcise it when it rushes through your souls like a hurricane, like a +flash of lightening and burst forth from their consecrated mouths the +words of the Eternal on the wings of the spirit. You know that this +miraculous gift is denied to me, to Roland and to many, as in our +Duplant, Cavalier, or Salomon, when all recollection vanishes and every +ordinary human feeling becomes extinct, in the same manner does it +happen to me, when we at length fight in the tumult, or pass by +triumphantly the churches of our foes: from every dumb brick their +scorn grins at me, from every beam the blood of our martyrs so +arrogantly shed cries out to me; then, when the malignant followers of +their priests sneak up to me with feigned supplications, then indeed, +something roars within me for revenge, like a lion if he has once +tasted blood, the sword and dagger pierce through their breasts as they +kneel before me, my whole heart bounds, when the laughing flames rise +up triumphantly through the edifice, when in the blaze the beams are +consumed and fall down and bury women and children in the red glow. +This then is no human fancy that gladdened me, but the true spirit of +the Almighty that impels me onward, and the bishop, the king himself, +even our prophets may advance threateningly and imploringly towards me +in vain in these highly consecrated moments, nay should an angel +descend from heaven and call out to me to desist, I would not listen to +it. Thus I am brethren, and I neither can nor will be otherwise, this I +swear here, by the Eternal God!" + +With these last words, he lifted his ponderous sword towards heaven, +and then struck it so forcibly against the rocky ground, that it +clattered loudly, Ravanel exclaimed as if possessed: "An Elias! an +Elias!" and threw himself upon the breast of the ferocious man; the +rest were silent, and Roland again came forward with a calm +countenance, and as if embarrassed. "What is your decision my +brethren?" demanded he with a deep sigh. + +"The decision is difficult," said Constant, a robust, fair young man. +"Let our prophets decide." The deadly pale Duplant immediately came +forward, gave a hollow sigh and fell down; on the other side appeared +Salomon, a diminutive man, he folded his hands, knelt and threw himself +upon the rock. Duplant cried with that peculiarly deep voice: "I tell +you the Hero Catinat has only fulfilled my orders!"--scarcely however +had he uttered these words, than Salomon already groaned forth; "Follow +my servant Roland, for he is my chosen instrument, you know that the +blood of the innocent is an abomination to me." + +The circle now drew closer together, and in the greatest excitement the +pale and swarthy faces were looking over one another's heads, and +between the shoulders of the foremost. Every eye was glowing, and +Ravanel exclaimed: "To me also was given the gift of prophecy, listen +to me, brethren, for perhaps the Spirit may now come over me." "Stop!" +screamed out Abraham Mazel, "I am one of the oldest here, I have a +right to speak before any of you, through me I can boast that this holy +war arose, but here, I think prophecy cannot avail." He had with these +words taken fast hold of the little thing, Ravanel, by the shoulders, +but the latter darted like lightening out of his grasp, threw himself +down by the side of Duplant, who still lay in ecstasy, and cried: "this +is our greatest prophet, for thou hast only two degrees, and him must +we follow." + +"Is not Salomon," said Roland earnestly, "as almighty as he? Here the +word of the Lord contradicts itself: how shall we interpret it?" + +"Not certainly," interrupted Edmond, who could no longer restrain +himself, "As wild passion demands, where doubt exists, mildness and +compassion are the designs of the Lord." He had not yet finished these +words, when he felt the stroke of a sword between his neck and +shoulders, which the wrathful Ravanel aimed at him. The youth tottered +backwards and Cavalier received him in his arms. "How?" exclaimed +several voices, "one brother against another?" many swords were bared, +a wild shout flew over the mountains and all was confusion. "The spirit +moves me: he is a traitor!" said Ravanel. "stop! peace!" cried Roland's +powerful voice in the midst, "brother Duplant has just now prophesied +that he means us fairly, and that he is inspired with the faith!" + +Ravanel turned surlily away and spoke to Duplant, who had in the mean +while awakened. + +A tall, slight man, whose clear brown eyes sparkled brightly, had in +the interim been busied with Edmond: he had quickly torn off his +clothes, examined and bound up the wound, which did not appear to be +dangerous, and had supported him nearly fainting from loss of blood, +between his knees. Cavalier with his kindly, childlike eyes was bending +over him, and the youth fancied that he was again in his father's +house, and that the strange guest was come to seek a reconciliation +with him. "You are my angel," said he in a feeble voice, "you are +indeed Gabriel, as my sister there has just said: take then also +Christine as well as my father under your protection, pious boy, we +shall all see one another cheerfully and happily again, but shine less +brightly." Then he lost all consciousness. + +"He is dying! brother Clary!" exclaimed Cavalier. "No," replied he, who +had bound up his wound, "he will soon revive again; yet Ravanel does +him injustice, for I know by my spirit that this youth is religious, +and will follow our cause with zeal; but the wrathful fire of these +fierce heroes will ruin us all." + +Roland in the meanwhile was going through the assembled groups with +commanding grace, seeking to appease these excited minds. All were +standing in order, as his glance had commanded; Ravanel alone, +conscious of guilt had retired. Cavalier now stepped in among them, and +in his own amiable manner, said, "Brethren, the tie that binds the +whole world, the source of all miracles, the strength of the weak, the +immediate presence of our most holy father, is love, love alone. I am +apprehensive, that we, the oppressed, whose unity is so necessary, may +in this manner be divided, should we forget that we are brethren? Does +not something more exalted than an oath bind us to a holy work? Ravanel +has without doubt grossly sinned against our new brother, but the pious +youth will forgive the enthusiast and Roland and Catinat as brethren +must also shake hands. Forgive the impetuous man, brother Roland, and +pardon him ye remaining friends, who censure his conduct; on his side, +he will promise you to regulate his mind, to restrain himself, and, +except in cases of the greatest emergency, to refrain from giving way +to the impulse of his feelings. When you are once more united, I have +something to report to you that is well worth consideration." + +Catinat went slowly up to Roland; the latter wiped a tear from his eye, +extended his arms, embraced him and cried: "Welcome to me my brother! +thou wouldst dwell entirely in my soul, if thou couldst mix a few drops +of the mind's tranquility with thy burning zeal." Catinat promised to +restrain himself and peace was again restored. + +"My friends," commenced Cavalier anew, "As I a short time since +descended into the plains and valley of Nage, it appeared to me +singularly enigmatical, that in so many places I met with coldness, +disapprobation, and a strange backwardness in the best and most +faithful. Unheard of and wilful barbarities were spoken of, said to +have been practised by our party. I enquired who were the leaders, but +they could not name them to me. Our most devoted friends told me, +however, that this was not the right manner, or the way to fight +through our, besides this, perilous cause. I shuddered when forced to +listen to these accounts. Our enemies have hardly acted towards us with +so much cruelty. I could not avoid shedding tears at the barbarous +manner in which the Marchioness of Miramon has been murdered. You all +know that she was a secret friend to our cause, and that we have +enjoyed many succours from her kindness. This lady frequently +travelled, often met with our people who were all acquainted with her, +and who besides never wilfully injured the peaceable and defenceless +inhabitants, but let them pass freely. Now she intended to quit Usez, +in order to visit her husband at St. Ambroise. She was advised to take +with her an escort, or at least armed servants, but confiding in our +friendship, she refused both. She had already nearly reached the place +of destination, when her carriage was surrounded by dark-looking men; +she and her maids were bound, and neither entreaties, nor tears, nor +the costly jewels that she carried with her, nor promise of much gold +could save these hapless beings from the most disgraceful death. I +contradicted all the exasperated people, that no troop of our party +could have done this, but only a few believed me. Fortunately I have +discovered who these wretches are, who also call themselves Camisards +and dishonour our cause; it is a band of highwaymen and incendiaries +who have come from Provence. Advance friend Degran, and relate to the +brethren how you came up with the villains, and how you escaped from +them." + +A ragged, half-starved looking man with a long beard came forward, whom +some recognised and others examined with surprise. What a change a +period of a few weeks had effected in him! He began in a feeble voice: +"It may now be about a month ago, that I was sent by brother Cavalier +with three of my comrades against Montpellier to watch the enemy, to +purchase ammunition and to summon the attendance of some young men in +the mountains. In order to avoid observation, we set out in the evening +twilight, and just as a storm overtook us in the wood, we were suddenly +surrounded by a number of black-looking men, and commanded to offer no +resistance, the attempt too would have been vain among such a +multitude, the tallest of them advanced towards us and said: 'I see +then before me, some of the brave and valiant Camisards! You are +welcome!' We could not make out who they were, they had not the +appearance of the militia of the country, and were even more fearful +than the madcaps, whom the fierce hermit formerly headed. After we had +examined one another closer, he, who seemed to be the leader said: +'What a miserable perilous life such brave fellows lead, and none to +acknowledge their value; and the sacrifice they make. You are forbidden +to plunder, what do you gain by all your exertions? as we are told, you +are not allowed under penalty of death to plunder even the demolished +churches, and carry off the gold and silver vessels; no, you suffer all +to melt in the flames. We think differently, we are not, it is true, +your companions in faith, but you must make common cause with us. +Behold our party consists of fifty, all united together by solemn +oaths, you can never escape from us again, if you will not join us, you +must die, you know the country and the inhabitants, name to us then the +rich catholics, that we may direct our visits thither, and you shall +have a fair portion of the booty which falls to us.'--What could we do? +we were compelled to conduct them about, as they kept strict watch over +us. I cannot bear to think on the horrors we were forced to witness; +but one, more frightful than the rest, was committed against one of my +comrades, who attempted to escape from them, for our consciences +tortured us day and night. The horrible ill-treatment which had +preceded the murder of our brother, bound us still more firmly to these +highwaymen. The country was soon filled with rumours respecting these +black Camisards, as they were called. Under this mask they were, +however, by no means scrupulous about plundering merely their brothers +in the faith, but they also attacked the houses of the newly converted, +and whose families were known as zealous reformers. One evening when +they surrounded a country house and had dispatched me to inspect the +place more closely, we were surprised and compelled to make a hasty +retreat, and I availed myself of the opportunity to escape into a +garden, and from thence into the wood. They have now however a long +list of wealthy people, whom they intend to rob and murder; the Lord of +Beauvais stands at the head of it, and as his house is rather retired, +it is almost impossible for them not to succeed." + +"Enough, my friend," cried Cavalier, "now Catinat will you accompany me +in order to catch these assassins? This time, I will take only fifty +men with me, and shall return shortly to receive your orders, brother +Roland." + +He made a sign, quickly mounted a little horse, and those, who were +already acquainted with his will, followed him accompanied by Catinat. +The man, who had escaped from the robbers, was also of the party in +order to trace the villains. Edmond in the mean while had been removed. +He lay in a hut formed of plaited branches upon a couch of moss, +Abraham Mazel had followed to take care of him. The other leaders had +also retired deeper into the wood with their troops. Roland, now nearly +alone, walked up and down on the mountain plain, gave out orders, +appointed new posts, and dispatched a troop under Valmal to procure +provisions. Soon afterwards, Roland received intelligence through the +centinels of the outposts, that they perceived in the direction of +Rouergue a great number of men that, from their appearance, might be +taken for the country militia. "These," said Roland, "will not be so +unwise as to attack us in this strong place." A messenger came to +announce that the approaching people had raised a great cry, and were +not marching but advancing without order, and in tumultuous crowds. The +noise was now heard ascending nearer from the rear of the mountain. +"They are peasants," exclaimed Roland, as he came down from the +eminence which he had ascended. "What can they want? Wherefore this +commotion?" the procession drew near; men, women, even children and old +men in the midst of them, all fluried, most of them in tears, each one +would speak first, each presenting a hand to the commander. Those who +were the most exhausted, laid themselves down on the ground, the +younger men placed themselves in order, some had old fowling pieces, +others sides, many were armed with short or long swords, several +carried hatchets and axes. The fighting men amounted at least to two +hundred in number, and when the tumult at length subsided, and Roland +again asked from whence they came and what they required, one of the +oldest among the armed men stepped forward and said, "Roland, you must +know me and my father yonder, as well as many here from the commune of +Melière, we, who have often lent you our help, all in secret attached +to you, and who have daily put up our prayers for you to heaven. You +also know our persecutors; why need I name them to you. But our +calamity is still new to you, and truly one must live in our days to +deem it possible. It is now some months ago, that the Intendant and the +Marshal caused whole communities to be carried off from the middle of +the Cevennes, as well as from Mialet; women, children, and fathers were +thrown into their prisons, merely because they were suspected by them. +Out of one-and-twenty parishes, three hundred young men were seized +from the district of Nismes alone, besides whole families and are shut +up in the dungeons and fortresses of the level country and of the +mountains. The inhuman Intendant trusts no one, and how can the +subject be tranquil and faithful to the king, when the tyrant in his +cold-blooded intrigues only meditates how to make the people wretched? +The terrible man has been heard to say with his own lips, that the best +and the safest method would be to extirpate from the face of the earth +all who are converted, as well as the rebels. The Marshal himself, it +is said, is shocked at these ideas, God and the king have not so far +forgotten us ever to permit such infamy. But since the day before +yesterday----Yes, weep, mourn, ye unfortunate, banished, houseless +people!" And as in chorus there arose a sobbing and lamentation, but +the speaker continued thus, "Early the day before yesterday, as we were +going forth to our field labours, we heard the beating of drums, we +took it for the usual marching of the royal troops through the country, +but they soon drew near, we ascended the mountain and saw that the +extensive mountain district, valley, and ravine, as far as the eye +could reach, were surrounded. They did not leave us long in suspense, +we were summoned to the square of our large village. Thence they +published to our magistrates and to us, that in Nismes a decree had +been pronounced to entirely depopulate our district, and many others, +two-and-thirty parishes, including more than eighty villages and farms, +to send the inhabitants to the open country, to other provinces, to +islands, and to pull down and set fire to all the houses, stables, and +farms without exception. Four regiments are encamped in the district to +accomplish this devilish work. All uttered screams and lamentations, +but they were disregarded, like ill-fated cattle, destined for +slaughter, the wretched creatures suffered themselves, to be driven +forth; and from the neighbouring mountain we already beheld the houses +demolished; the axes resounded, the cattle lowed, and the mountains +groaningly repeated the melancholy echo. As it proceeded too slowly for +the monsters, we soon saw flames too flaring up; like greedy jaws, like +thirsty tongues, did the fire lick up our beloved old dwellings and +swallowed them in flames. The trees before the houses were consumed +with them. Yes, Roland, the district, the dear villages, the hospitable +houses, which so often and so amicably received you and yours, these +are in a brief space reduced to a desert, and in future I shall not be +able perhaps to find a trace of where I lived with my parents, where I +sat with them before the door, and played in the spring, where I became +acquainted with my wife, where she bore me her first son. The stork +will never again familiarly and confidingly take up his lodging on the +roof of my barn, no swallow will again announce to me there the warmth +of spring, and twitter with her young before my window. Oh! and my own +children. Man indeed has no childhood, when he is deprived of his +country. The poor women! how well known to us, how dear was each bush +and running brook. Now we know, for the first time, how we loved our +old cottages and the seats inherited from our great grandfathers. All +that we there in devotion, thought, and prayed, all the delightful +Easter and Whitsuntide festivals, the pleasing solitude of the long +winter evenings, and the exemplary conversations of the old men, all, +all is vanished in this hideous fire." + +"No more! no more!" shrieked the women, and the children wept aloud. + +"All this," continued the speaker, "happened to us, dear Roland, on +your account alone, for they know well, the persecutors! that we have +in our hearts been with you, so many of your bravest men are from among +us. They extirpate us, especially because our valleys and mountains +border on the district of Vivares, and through our country Catinat and +Cavalier attempted to penetrate. Friend, brother! here we are now, and +assuredly many more active men from other districts will run to you, +for they will not suffer what will be required of them. Come, lead us +on, thrust us into the thicket of the fight, when thousands stand close +in front of their cannons, and with swords, sicles, hatchets, and +cudgels we will fall upon them, nay without weapons, with these hands, +with these teeth we will tear them to pieces! Life and pleasure now +consist only in death and destruction; if they only feel how we hate +and abhor them, if but one and then another, and a third be made to +acknowledge to us, struggling in agonising death, and with closing +eyes, that this happens to them for their evil doings." All the men +pressed forward brandishing their weapons and gnashing their teeth. A +smothered cry of rage suddenly burst from every lip. "Controul +yourselves my friends," said Roland, "As well as you can; you, +Bertrand, with your horrifying account have filled my soul with sorrow, +for your woe concerns us altogether and your loss admits of no +restitution. Repose and refresh yourselves here with all that I can +offer you; then follow my counsel, and let the old men, women, and +children return peaceably, for here there is neither shelter nor help +for them. God will ordain, that all shall turn for the best, that the +proprietors find their own again and that your cottages shall rise once +more from their ruins. Only do not despair, bear your calamity with +pain and sorrow, but do not despair, for that belies God, opposes +itself to him, nay, mocks his inscrutable decrees, and in its hellish +dictates, would even annihilate him. Do not give yourselves up to this +feeling, which is unworthy of men. We have all indeed been long since +innured to misery by the hand of the Lord. Shew now that you are +obedient, well conducted children, who though he may look upon you with +a severe and reproving countenance, will not mistake the father." + +All shewed themselves more quiet and the younger men exclaimed, "Give +us weapons! weapons! Roland!" "Those that I have left," replied the +latter, "you shall have; such as cannot obtain any, must wait for the +first combat, and take them from the enemy, for it has been arranged +thus from the beginning. The troops must bring us arms up into the +mountains, and a gun which oneself has wrested from a strange foe is +quite a different arm to what one buys. Pooh! who would give money for +iron and arms, as long as the Marshal will still so kindly give himself +the trouble to send out his people in heat and rain, that they may +laboriously enough provide us very conveniently with arms, which he +himself with his Intendant and his baton will have reason to fear. Thus +thinks a true Camisard. Clothing also shall they deliver up to you, +shoes and boots, but you must learn to be courteous and assist them, my +countrymen, a little to undress. With a hundred such valets, Cavalier +was here a short time since; they were all most gallantly equipped +without being indebted a single denier to draper, or tailor." + +Bertrand, who was resting upon his fowling piece, and whose tears still +trickled down his cheeks, and over his weapon, could not avoid laughing +aloud, and the younger lads joined him. "Yes," cried young François, +"we will peel them like red and yellow apples, only serve us up a dish +of them soon." + +"Shake them bravely out of their uniforms, the season for nut shaking +is near." + +"I will shake them out," cried François "so that they shall fall +rattling at my feet and each one shall shew himself so hollow and +worm-eaten, that I would not seek for his kernel!"--The mother rose +from the ground and embraced her young son, who had just entered into +manhood. "I, and several of us," said another lad, "have already served +many a time under you, Roland; but then we returned afterwards to our +village." + +"This is the best method to carry on the war," replied Roland, "for we +thus sometimes save provisions, and our troops remain fresh and ready +for battle. I know you well Adam, and also that little shoemaker Anton +yonder." + +Anton came forward; "Yes, dear brother, I am so glad that he shoes, +which I made for you hold out still."--He fell down and wished to +embrace his knees, but Roland raised him up. "Look Roland; I love and +honour you so much, that I should like to be your footstool upon which +your tired legs might repose. I formerly fought bravely, but now, it +shall go on quite differently. It shall be stab on stab, and my awl and +thong shall be drawn through their hearts and entrails, so that the +soul shall pipe like an imprisoned rat." + +All appeared seated at the frugal meal more comforted and quiet; at +least the distorted and despairing faces with which they had at first +appeared before the commander, were no longer to be seen. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + +Edmond had again returned to consciousness, and on opening his eyes, he +saw Mazel by his couch and the swarthy Eustace, who although wounded +himself, had stayed to serve him and was kneeling by his bed. He could +not for a long time recall to his recollection how he had come there, +and the fierce looking men, with the view from the hut over the +mountains and woods, threw him into a strange reverie. However, he was +soon enabled to connect one idea with another, and to reassemble all +his faculties. His imagination was still busied with Cavalier, he +fancied he could follow and see him, now, as a shadow, then, brighter +again, yet it seemed as if his feverish state presented him figuring to +himself, in real colours and contour, the portrait of his friends and +the place in which he was. Eustace kissed his hands and bathed them +with tears. "Oh, my dear young master!" cried he then sobbing, "that +you should now come among us, and have been obliged to experience +anything so bad from our wildest prophet! yes, brother Ravanel, is the +worst, should I have said in my stupidity, the most godless: may heaven +forgive me my sins. No, all of us and himself too must often pray, that +the Lord may moderate his ardent zeal, for he is almost always in +anger, and only too frequently as if raving. Are you better now, +gracious sir?" Edmond pressed his hand and said, "I feel that the wound +is not of much consequence, it was the loss of blood alone made me +faint; but brother Eustace, as I am now a brother to you all, leave off +that empty mode of the men of the world, and call me thou, as it is +customary among you." + +"As thou wilt!" exclaimed the former greatly affected: "but I am as if +in heaven, that thou brother, that thou, who wast so proud shouldst +thus converse with me. They always deny miracles, and yet this is truly +one." + +"Leave him to repose, brother Eustace," said Mazel, "do not excite and +tease him any more in order that he may be soon restored." "Relate to +me," said Edmond, "brother Abraham, that my imagination may be directed +to a fixed point, which otherwise in its diseased state is wandering +lost and bewildered. Do I remember rightly, that thou saidst to-day in +that extraordinary dispute, which my soul cannot even yet understand, +thou hadst given rise to the present war. Or was it not so? tell me +something about it, for although I have grown up in this neighbourhood, +I know but little connected with these affairs." + +Mazel replied: "It is true brother Edmond, it is also not true, as one +may consider the matter, and thus it is perhaps with most things in the +world. I was a lad of about twenty years of age, when, suddenly they +abolished our reformed religion, it went to the hearts of all +throughout the whole country. I was then only a forest-ranger in the +service of the Lord of Mende, on the banks of the Rhone. About this +time they began to emigrate from the country. Nobles, merchants, +peasants, and citizens went away (for that was yet permitted) towards +Switzerland, Holland, England and Germany, where they were well +received, for the poorer ones were industrious mechanics, had knowledge +of manufactures, and carried many arts and advantages to other lands. I +had no inclination to go with them. Gracious heaven! home is sweet, +where man is born, air and water seem good to him, where my language is +understood, there is my heart. Added to this, I loved a maiden; and +besides, they intended to make me a royal ranger. The thing pleased me, +and with love, domestic joy and happiness in my native land; I bound up +the mouth of conscience so close, that like a dancing bear, it could +not bite around it. The extensive emigration, the fortune that they +carried away with them, caused a great sensation, this they had never +suspected and probably thought all were quiet cattle like myself, and +just as willing to let themselves be bound to the manger. Now under +pain of being sent to the gallies, every body was prohibited to quit +the country; Ah! that gave a shock, and completely so, when they did it +in reality, and, as an example, several old noblemen were chained to +the oar. The anguish was great in the land. All were forced to attend +mass; the dragoons were sent out; the people tortured; the children +shut up. The most enthusiastic went out together into the woods and +caverns, and prayed there and preached to one another. Whomsoever they +found thus employed, was without further ceremony broken alive on the +wheel; hanging was a favour. Our Intendant thought to crush the affair +with prompt violence, and appalling horror, that old and young needed +only to be quickly reminded of their religion. People often think in +reality, because they are themselves convinced of the matter, and that +it is only carelessness in others: they wish to recall them to +themselves, and often in the midst of their barbarity, they do not mean +so badly towards them." + +"Thou art right Mazel," interrupted Edmond, "I myself was of this +belief a short time ago." "But now," continued the old man in his +relation, "all our souls acquired an entirely different colour, they +were clad in new vestments, for we had not thought of it thus, and we +came to our recollection, but in a very different manner. Were I in the +wood and my dog only whined, it seemed precisely to me as if it were my +conscience. Yes, I was struck, I sought for, but could not find the +hidden jewel. My wife then consoled me once more, and thought that all +would certainly come round again.--Now it was strange enough, that a +pious society had already long since arisen in Dauphiné. An aged man +lived there upon a high mountain in the middle of a wood. He had a +glass-manufactory in that solitude. Now we have all experienced that +mountain and valley, the air that one breathes there, the murmurings, +the singular voices, the cry and the echo, make a man bolder, fresher, +and also more imaginative; he no longer fears his brethren in the +cities, he prizes not so highly the stone-houses and the smooth +streets, and all the singing of bells. The man Du Serre had visions and +revelations. He did not, however, go about preaching. He, as well as +myself, was wanting in that gift, but he was endowed with that of +foresight. Can one learn that from another? we must believe it, and our +times confirm it. But how? there lies the riddle! Should it be called +an art? by no means! The enemies call it imposture, that is impious. +Well, this glass-manufacturer kept fifteen young men in his house, and +his wife as many young girls, they almost all experienced the +enlightening, and the greater part of them the gift of preaching. Thus +then did they go out into the world. The fame of beautiful Isabelle was +soon spread abroad. She seduced every-body to apostacy, as the others +termed it. Still more efficaciously did a youth, named Gabriel Astier, +teach and convert. A part of Dauphiné and our neighbourhood of Vivarès +soon became one flame of religion. The children then already began to +prophecy. But the poor creatures, without weapons of defence in their +too zealous faith, were surprised by the soldiers, and the greatest +number massacred. Our Basville and his son-in-law, the Marshal Broglio, +bore the fame of having massacred them all. Gabriel also, who had +become a soldier in Montpellier, was recognized and executed, and the +lovely Isabelle from fear, in the dungeon of Grenoble, retracted from +her faith, and thus all had the appearance of tranquillity. Sparks of +the faith, however, and of the force of miracles had been scattered and +lost in the Cevennes. For the spirit possesses the property of fire, +which, out of a little spark, by which a small beetle cannot warm +itself, grows, in a few hours, into a brand that lays woods in ashes, +and mocks all human efforts to extinguish it. What may not lie in one +single word? Oh thou mournful sound, like the twittering of the +swallow, thou appearest to die away in the wilderness, the spirit +conducts thee through the world, and puts thee on a coat of mail that +armies grow out of the ground, and horses and riders, and thousands +sent by kings with the thunder of artillery, were not able to make the +little world as quiet and small as it lay formerly in the solitary +cottage. Praised be the Lord!" + +He prayed inwardly, and then continued: "In the meantime, people became +older and wiser but certainly more obstinate, I already began to think +no more of my former faith, nor had the new one either much effect on +my heart. I was an ass between two hayricks, and ate of neither. + +"A man of the name of Beoussan, a man of God, lived first at Nismes, +and afterwards at Toulouse. He was a reformer and a lawyer, who always, +and when the people were poor, gratuitously took up the cause of his +companions of the faith: His was a spirit full of gentleness and +goodness. He went into foreign countries, became a priest in +Switzerland, preached there and in Holland, and edified thousands. Him +did the spirit and his native land lead back into our country and then +the Lord conducted me to him in the wilderness. My wife was dead at +that time, and lonely and childless, as I then was, my whole heart that +had lain so long untilled, was again enabled to bear genuine fruit. It +was, as if I began from that time to imbibe again a portion of heavenly +comfort in my cottage. Thus things went on. I was no longer in +ignorance, but I was not yet happy. This would not last, hail-showers +sometimes destroyed my seed, and when I often lay in wait with the best +dispositions, and with an open and acute mind, loaded and ready to +shoot, there came no game, no animal sprang up in the wilderness of my +heart. Ah, we totter on thus pitiably for years, and time passes as a +dream and intoxication. I glanced round me, I had become old. How! +thought I, when the Lord looks down, he will see furrows on thy old +skin and thou art still neither hot, nor cold. Than came the late Mr. +Beoussan, the holy master, among us. An impulse of the spirit, as he +said, led him to us. He was well and comfortable at home, but, pious +bird of the forest! he wished to visit once more his beloved mountains, +dells, the clear brooks, and to pour so thrillingly, fully, and +affectionately into our hearts the tones of the sweet nightingale, that +burst from his breast, that he must die from the effort.--Amen!--" + +He stopped again, and Edmond said: "I often saw this pious Beoussan at +Nismes, before he was executed. It is not yet five years since he +sealed his doctrine with an ignominious death." + +"Then," pursued Abraham Mazel, "All the former restrictions were +renewed with greater severity. We could not speak, scarcely think +without being betrayed. A year had now elapsed, when an assembly of +religious people in Alais was surprised by Basville, they were all +dragged to prison, and all, without further enquiries, were sentenced +to martyrdom. This took place in October. I had also been present, and +only escaped through a miracle. I had already seen some of the +prophecying children here and there, without profit, my heart became +rather colder at the sight, because the little worms did not please me +in that state. Now, after my day's work was finished, I sat in +solitude, tired and exhausted from riding, and looked round at the +green meadows, the sky and the mountains. I tried, in my inmost soul, +to unravel the mystery, why all should be thus and not otherwise, how +God and man, virtue and sin, in and through one another, and how in +this entwined knot, now and then the rays of eternity shine down into +this temporal world, and how, in one short moment, we feel and +experience within us the whole unfathomable eternity, and many thousand +thoughts and feelings, of which the smallest in the tittle of time, is +allowed no place. Also why we were so miserable, and what was the end +of the Lord in this. Behold, my friend, there descended a vast stream +of thoughts from heaven, (I saw, but knew not one word, one letter of +it) and alighted as with large eagle's wings upon my brain and roared +and murmured there, and the marrow of my back became cold as ice, and +my inmost soul was congealed and frozen, and my teeth chattered with +fear. How the breath lost itself in my breast, and now it was, as if +little cooing doves were flying through the immeasureable space of my +soul. A gentle heat came over me and my heart sprung open as the rose +out of its bud on a spring morning, and the Lord was within me. Then I +fell down and my prayer was prophecy. Oh, how could I have thought that +his presence was so sweet, who, with his glory, almost broke down the +wall of the narrow dwelling. Thanks be to him for ever and ever, Amen!" + +"His wonders are immeasureable and unspeakable," said Edmond. + +"Many," said Abraham in continuation, "whose faith was suspected, +were imprisoned throughout the whole country. They were most +severely treated by the Abbé Chaila who resided in the Château Pont +Mont-de-Verd. Parents, husbands and betrothed mourned for those that +had been carried off. It would have been sinful to place my light under +a bushel. I summoned together a little community of zealous souls in +the forest, there they witnessed my inspiration, and their courage was +raised. It was in the middle of summer, and I prophesied to them that +they should release the prisoners. The following night we assembled +together, and Pervier, a young man, whose bride was languishing in the +prisons, undertook the command. They advanced in front of the dwelling; +the Abbé's servants fired from the windows and killed three of our +friends. We now ceased to sing psalms, and stormed the castle with +trees and firebrands. The gates gave way, we entered, and encountered +the Abbé in his chamber. He suffered his dungeon to be opened, we then +assured him that he should receive no injury. The prisoners came forth; +weeping, joy, sobbing, and singing filled the house. Then they shewed +their wounds, the marks of the torture, dimmed eyes and sunken cheeks. +A shout for murder resounded around. But Pervier and I appeased the +maddened people by word and deed. The Abbé heard the noise, was +terrified at our movements, and to save himself, he sprang from a high +window into the road, and lay dashed to pieces on the ground. His +attendants and many of us ran up to him. 'The Lord has judged him for +his cruelties,' exclaimed several voices; they lay down by his side to +look into his dying eyes. Many, in spite of their emotion, could not +conceal their malicious joy, and thus in reality, our first act was the +beginning of the war, a story, which, in order to defame us, they have +entirely altered." + +"It is believed," said Edmond, "that you criminally and wantonly +murdered him." + +"Had it depended upon the will of one that was among us," continued +Mazel, "that, and much more would have happened. A stout, fierce man +was of our party, who very unwillingly submitted to the commands of the +moderate Pervier; you know him by his fame, Esprit Seguier. In him +already burned the fire, which now shines forth in Catinat and Ravanel, +and even then many were of opinion, that this was the true religion, +and that the zeal of Elias and not the gentleness of St. John should +save us. We all retired quietly, cheerfully, and happily. Not one of us +had been discovered. Then Seguier assembled a troop as fierce as +himself, and while the soldiers were seeking for us, returned to +Pont-de-Verd, burnt the castle, slaughtered all the priests that he +found there, and cut down all whom they encountered. But misfortune +overtook them. They were defeated; when they sought for the leader, he +himself issued from a cottage, and declared his name. 'Wretch!' +exclaimed the commander, what treatment dost thou deserve for thy +deeds?' 'That which I would give thee, wert thou my prisoner,' replied +the enthusiast, 'and verily, such as thy friends would not rejoice +over.' He remained firm to the last. He was burnt alive. A proclamation +was then issued, offering pardon to all that knew anything of the +affair of the Abbé, as well as to such as had been, up to that period, +Huguenots in secret. Innocent beings! poor deluded ones! they presented +themselves, and were all hanged before their doors, even those, who had +never been at Pont-de-Verd. Their anger was now no longer to be +restrained, the young men rebelled, I led them to Pervier, arms were +sought for, those who had none, took hatchet and sicle; a regiment +advanced to oppose us on the left of Karnaulè. As soon as we began to +sing, the troops became intimidated; we rushed upon them, their balls +were of no effect, we hewed them down, five only escaped, to tell the +news of their defeat. Broglio himself then advanced upon us, but he was +driven back! A christian festival of thanksgiving was held in the +forest, and the Lord prophesied out of me to the edification of all +warriors. In our next combat Pervier was wounded, and appointed La +Porte our leader; but he did not feel that he was ordained to suffer +martyrdom, and soon went with his young wife to Geneva. Then the bold +La Porte fought the fearful battle before La Salle, of which thou must +have heard. He soon afterwards died gloriously of his wounds, for they +all opened afresh, when he was nearly cured, he sang psalms at divine +service, with so much ardour, that twenty wounded arteries bled at +once, and thus his soul, in red streams, and while he was still +singing, hastened up to heaven. To him succeeded his nephew, our +brother Roland, in command." + +The latter advanced at that moment and affectionately enquired after +Edmond's health, and then charged Mazel to place sentinels round about, +for that Lord Flotard was coming and had private matters to discuss +with him, which no one was permitted to hear. Abraham retired, and +immediately from the opposite wood issued a richly dressed man, towards +whom Roland politely advanced, and both then hastened to a distance, +where they walked up and down on the skirt of the wood engaged in +earnest conversation. + +"Canst thou hear what they say?" asked Edmond of the aged Eustace. + +"No, brother," replied the latter, "how is that possible, since they +are so far from us, that I can scarcely distinguish them?" + +But Edmond, when he turned his thoughts on Roland, could, to his great +surprise, understand all clearly and distinctly, so that not one word +of the conversation escaped him. + +"I thank you sir," said Roland, "these sums come just in right time, +and will help to supply the unfortunate soldiers with those necessaries +that they have been so long compelled to forego." "And you remain +obstinate," demanded the former, "and will not accept anything for +yourself and the other leaders?" + +"Do not mention that," said Roland, "you ought to know us at last. We +have not undertaken this holy war for robbery and gain: we are all +willing to remain poor. But the succours, where do they tarry? we do +what we can with short means, but a great calamity may annihilate us at +once, and then all assistance from without will come too late, even +now, a small one would be very acceptable. But already I forbode the +future, they will let us languish and perish, and then lament that they +did not lend us assistance sooner. It is ever thus, when one trusts to +foreign aid." + +"Therefore a sum: could--in all cases"--observed the stranger. + +"No," cried Roland with great vehemence; "Oh sir, do you think then +that I anticipate a happy result? I will live and die in this struggle, +end as it may. When I had the courage to take up the sword, I at the +same time threw away the scabbard too. I have devoted myself to ruin. +My name may be stained, the better part of mankind shall feel that I +was not debased, that, notwithstanding all, I was a good subject." + +"A good subject?" said the stranger inquiringly, "I understand the +strangeness of these words. You think that I, a rebel, an outlaw, who +even accepts sums of money from foreign lands, may be purchased at a +cheap rate by the enemies of my king, and that I should maliciously +rejoice at every calamity that befell my sovereign. But it is not thus, +no Frenchman sinks so low. Let the king give us liberty of conscience, +and lame, starved, and bleeding at every pore, we will still fight for +him against England and Germany. And never would I, and my friends lend +our aid to bring our country under a foreign yoke; even should he +persist to act thus cruelly towards us: do not calculate upon that. But +I will fight for my cause in an honourable manner, as long as breath is +in me. Weak as we may be, we occupy a whole army, and with it lend +efficient succour to foreign countries. Do you not think, that with +these sentiments, I may call myself a good subject, though certain of +my ultimate ruin, by acting thus, I spare my king and country? I fall +in the fight here, or imprisonment, ignominy and martyrdom await me, no +spark of commiseration lights me on. I do not kindle the fiery zeal and +wrath of my people, in order, to break blindly into the land, to hazard +all on a dangerous game, by which the infuriated often win, I rather +restrain them. For myself I do nothing, for my party and my religion +everything. Could I but avoid involving these unfortunate men in my +ruin! But the king and fate have ordained it so." + +"I am further to enquire," said Flotard anew, "whether experienced +officers should not be brought into the mountains as leaders?" + +"I oppose that," said Roland gravely, "not on my own account. I know +not how we carry on the war, but still this little mountain-spot +occupies a great number of disciplined troops. We have done more than +we ever dared to think of, even in our dreams. And all those poor +enthusiastic men, who never enquire how numerous the foe may be, rush +with songs of praise upon the bayonet, and into the flames of the +stake; they would follow no foreign leader, who did not share with them +the same faith, and the same distress, for as I have already said, it +is not their wish to be rioters and rebels, and thus follow a foreign +standard, though with greater safety. They fight and conquer only under +their own known country-people, who pray and sing with them, whose +origin they know, and whose prophecies impel them to rush fearlessly +into the most palpable danger." + +"They laugh at those prophets in foreign countries," said Flotard, +"What is your opinion of them?" "I know not what to say to it," +answered Roland; I frequently see the miracle before my eyes, that +these men know things which no one can learn by natural means; but +again it often strikes me, that blind passion alone speaks out of them, +and that they voluntarily excite themselves to this state. The prophets +sometimes contradict one another. They direct our proceedings, and it +occurs occasionally that my regulations deviate from their wishes, but +I have sometimes had reason to repent of this.--Come now to the +magazines, and we shall consider what may be most necessary to us. + +Roland called out, and accompanied by a few followers, they both +penetrated into the darkness of the forest. + + + + + END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. + + + + + PRINTED BY J. 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Vol. I.</title> +<meta name="Author" content="Ludwig Tieck"> +<meta name="Publisher" content="D. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Rebellion in the Cevennes, an Historical Novel + Vol. I. + +Author: Ludwig Tieck + Madame Burette + +Release Date: March 22, 2010 [EBook #31738] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES, VOL I *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans by Google Books. + + + + + +</pre> + +<p>Source:<br> +http://www.archive.org/details/rebellioninceve01tiecgoog</p> + +<br> + +<br> +<div style="line-height:200%"> +<h2>THE</h2> + +<h1>REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES,</h1> + +<h2>AN HISTORICAL NOVEL</h2> + +<h3>IN TWO VOLUMES.</h3> + +<h2>BY LUDWIG TIECK.</h2> +</div> +<div style="margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:36pt"> +<h3>TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY</h3> +<h2>MADAME BURETTE.</h2> +</div> + +<hr class="W10"> +<h3>VOL. I.</h3> +<hr class="W10"> +<br> + +<h2>LONDON:<br> +D. NUTT, FLEET STREET.</h2> +<h3>DUBLIN: J. CUMMING.--EDINBURGH: BELL AND BRADFUTE.</h3> +<h3>1845.</h3> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> +<hr class="W10"> +<p class="continue">A predilection for the productions of <span class="sc">Tieck</span> and a desire to +introduce +this remarkable work of the great German Poet to a larger circle of the +reading world: were the chief inducements, on the part of the +translator, for causing it to appear in an English form. As far as +regards the manner in which the translation itself has been executed, +the writer will be allowed to affirm, that the original has been, in +every sense, as closely adhered to, as the idiom of the English +language would admit of; to say, however, whether those efforts have +been attended with any corresponding success, must be humbly left to +the judgment of the discerning critic.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>HISTORICAL NOTICE</h2> + +<h3>OF THE</h3> + +<h2>"REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES."</h2> + +<h3>From the German of the <span class="sc">Conversations Lexicon</span>, 9th edit. +Brockhaus.</h3> +<hr class="W10"> +<p class="continue">As far back as the twelfth century, religions sects were +formed in this +district (the Cevennes) under the names of "The Poor of Lyons," "The +Albigenses," "Waldenses," &c. Notwithstanding the crusades and +inquisitions raised against them by the popes for centuries, numerous +remnants had preserved themselves, who, when the Reformation found a +footing, obtained a signal increase, and finally, through the edict of +Nantes, were protected from further persecutions. But when Louis XIV., +1685, revoked the edict and purposed to reconduct all his subjects by +force into the bosom of the Catholic Church, then began a series of the +most cruel persecutions against the Protestant inhabitants of the +districts bordering on the Cevennes, especially after the peace of +Ryswick, 1697. Missionaries were accompanied by dragoons in order to +support by force of arms the preachings of the monks, (hence these +conversions called <i>dragoonings</i>) and the tax collectors were directed +to require all, especially those, suspected of protestantism, to pay up +their taxes. The most savage cruelties, in which children were torn +from their parents, in order to bring them up in the Catholic faith, +men, who were gone to their houses of prayer, sent to the galleys, and +women thrown into prisons, their priests hanged, the churches +destroyed, at length produced despair. Those, who did not emigrate, +fled into the retired mountain districts.</p> + +<p class="normal">Prophets and prophetesses arose, promising victory to the +peasantry, +and esteeming him a martyr, who fell into the hands of the dragoons. A +remarkable fanaticism took possession of the Protestant people, which, +in many, even in children, shewed itself in the most fantastic trances +of a really epidemic nature. See Bruyes "Histoire du fanatisme de notre +temps" (Utrecht, 1757). The struggle began first with the murder of the +tax-gatherers; the assassination of the Abbé du Chaila, 1703, who was +at the head of those dragoonings, at length gave the signal for a +general rising. The revolted peasants were called "Camisards," either +from the provincial word Camise (shirt) in derision of their poverty, +or, because they wore a shirt in their surprises by which they might +recognise one another, or from the word "Camisade" (nightly surprise). +Their numbers and their fanaticism continued to increase, Louis's power +was rendered the less effective in putting an end to this insurrection, +as the chain of mountains presented sufficient places of refuge, and +his troops were every moment in danger of being cut off and surprised, +or of being destroyed by cold and hunger. The boldness of the Camisards +increased daily, especially as they placed at their head intrepid +leaders, among whom Cavalier<a name="div2Ref_historical01" href="#div2_historical01"><sup>1</sup></a> particularly distinguished himself. The +state of affairs became most critical, for Louis XIV., when the Spanish +war of succession required him to extend his forces on all sides, and +Marlborough and the Duke of Savoy, through promises and small succours, +fired still more the Camisards. On the other hand, Pope Clement XI. +in 1703, proclaimed a plenary summons to a crusade against them, which +was put in execution. Notwithstanding this, they almost totally +defeated the troops of the Marshal Montrevel sent against them with +20,000 men, in 1703, and the horrible cruelty of the latter only +excited still more their fanaticism. Recompensing evil with evil, they +strangled eighty-four priests in the diocese of Nismes and burned two +hundred churches, after 40,000 of their own party had been put to the +wheel, burnt, and hanged. At length, in order to give to the perilous +state of affairs another turn, Louis recalled Marshal Montrevel, 1704, +and sent Marshal Villars. One of the chiefs of the Camisards meditated +an alliance with the Duke of Savoy in Dauphiné. The whole country from +the coast to the highest crest of the mountains was more or less in +their hands and with the inhabitants of Nismes, Montpellier, Orange, +Uzes, &c., &c., they maintained communications, which secured to them +bread, arms, and other necessaries. A quantity of bells had been melted +down by them to serve for cannons, and Cavalier acquitted himself like +a skilful general. The Catholic peasantry ventured neither to cultivate +the land, nor to carry necessaries of life into the towns. Thus stood +affairs, when Villars on the 21st of April, arrived in Nismes. He too +was incapable, of subduing the insurgents by force of arms. He +therefore decided on trying the effect of milder measures, and +proclaimed a general amnesty for all, who would lay down their arms, +and set at liberty himself such prisoners as swore fealty. In fact he +disarmed in this manner several communities. On the other side he +menaced with the harshest punishment, and to give weight to it, +moveable columns were formed, which marched from a given point in every +direction, upon which again detachments were ordered to remain as a +reserve, to succour those who might make head against the enemy in the +open field. Those, who were made prisoners with arms in their hands, +were either killed on the spot, or hanged, or broken on the wheel in +Alais, Nismes, and St. Hippolyte. Villars succeeded so far, that +already on the 10th of May, Cavalier gave up the cause of the Camisards +as lost, and concluded a treaty, wherein he promised to surrender with +his party on condition that they should obtain liberty of conscience +and the right to assemble privately without the towns for the service +of God, that the prisoners should be set free, the emigrated recalled, +and the confiscated estates and privileges restored. On the 22nd the +confirmation of the treaty arrived from Paris, and at the same time +permission for Cavalier to form a regiment in the King's pay. In the +mean while, however, the affair rapidly took another turn, particularly +in consequence of the activity of Dutch emissaries, who, brought money +and weapons, and promised the support of their republic. Cavalier had +gone to Anglade to superintend the organization of his regiment, when +the wild peasantry, excited by his lieutenant and inspired by their +prophets, set out and marched into the neighbouring woods, declaring +firmly, the King should restore the edict of Nantes, without which +there was no security for them. At length, however, Villars succeeded +by his personal influence and by cutting off from them all means of +subsistence, to bring them under subjection. Many of them fled and +entered into the Piedmontese service, where they formed a regiment that +took part in the Spanish war, and later under Cavalier's command, was +destroyed at the battle of Almanza, which Berwick gave to the Count of +Stahremberg on the 25th of April, 1707. The whole insurrection, +however, was not, quelled by that subjugation. There were still +multitudes, among which one particularly distinguished itself, led on +by a certain Roland; but Villars sought only to become possessed of the +leaders. Roland, when taken prisoner, was shot by a dragoon, whereupon +the remaining leaders surrendered, and cards of security were given to +them, and their adherents by the Marshal, which secured them from every +persecution. Yet, before Villars had fully stilled the rebellion, he +was replaced by the Marshal of Berwick, who fell upon the chief leaders +of the Camisards in Montpellier, caused them to be burnt and broken on +the wheel, and the country cruelly laid waste. Driven to extremity by +this, the Camisards rose once again with more enthusiastic inspiration. +They were, however, too weak to finish this warfare successfully. Thus +they died, some with arms in their hands, some as emigrants, others +submitted in order to preserve their faith, even under the greatest +oppression, or were forcibly constrained to become Catholics. Thus +ended this insurrection with the total devastation of the province and +the annihilation, or exile of a large portion of its inhabitants. Since +then, in the South of France, merely a war of opinion, lay smouldering, +which after the restoration of the Bourbons in the year 1815, gave rise +to frightful scenes in Nismes, and at other places. Only when in March +1819, a great number of the inhabitants of the Cevennes threatened the +town of Nismes--"Thirty thousand men are ready to descend from their +mountains, with the weapons of despair, if the salvation of their +brethren demand it,"--the persecutions of the Protestants were put a +stop to. See "Histoire des Camisards," (2 vols, London, 1744) Court de +Gebelin, "Le Patriote français et impartial," (2 vols, Villefranche +1753) by the same "Histoire des troubles des Cevennes, ou de la guerre +des Camisards," (3 vols, Villefranche, 1760, new edition 1820) Schulz, +"Geschichte der Camisarden" (Weimar 1790), and Tieck's novel, "Der +Aufruhr in den Cevennen" (Berlin 1826).</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_historical01" href="#div2Ref_historical01">Footnote 1</a> Jean Cavalier, principal leader of the Camisards +in the +war of the Cevennes, born 1679 in the village of Rebaute, near Anduse, +vas the son of a peasant, he lived at Geneva, and was employed in +agriculture, when the persecutions of the reformed inhabitants of the +Cevennes under Louis XIV. reached their highest pitch, and caused the +breaking out of the troubles, enflaming his enthusiasm for his faith, +and inducing him to return home. He was twenty-four years old, when he +placed himself at the head of armed multitudes, whom he knew how to +discipline with great art, and to rule over with transcendent talent, +leading them, with courage, circumspection and success against the +royal army. The confirmation of the treaty, which he, despairing of the +ultimate success of his cause, had concluded with Marshal Villars, +Louis XIV. sent to him accompanied with the commission of colonel, and +the grant of an annual pension of 1200 livres, permitting him at the +same time to raise a regiment of his own in the king's pay. Called to +Versailles by the Minister Chamillard, he saw that he was watched there +with distrust, and he fled secretly to England by way of Holland, +entering there into military service. In the Spanish war then raging, +he commanded a regiment formed of refugee Camisards in the service of +Piedmont and distinguished himself particularly in the battle of +Almanza, in New Castile, on the 25th of April, 1707, where he was +severely wounded. At a later period he became Major-general and +Governor of Jersey; and died, 1740, at Chelsea.</p> + +<br> +<br> + +<h2>THE</h2> +<h1>REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES.</h1> + +<br> +<br> +<hr class="W20"> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<p class="normal">"Is Edmond not yet come home?" asked his father of the +servant, as he +walked up and down the great hall of his country mansion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, my Lord," answered the old man, "and it were well that he +returned before evening; for a storm is gathering over the mountains, +which bodes us no good."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this moment a little girl entered with her toys, and sat +down at the +large hall table. "The storm is raging again so fearfully up in the +mountains," said she carressingly, "that I will stay near you, dear +papa, I cannot bear such weather, why should there be such noise and +thunder in the world?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Aye, truly," rejoined Frantz, the old domestic, "and all the +misery +that has oppressed us for so many years past and to which we see no +end!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He only knows, who has thus afflicted us," replied the +father, +sighing; "and he will accomplish his own wise purpose."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Papa!" exclaimed the child, looking up from her play, "our +good +Eustace, the charcoalburner, who used to bring me such pretty little +stones from the wood, and who lately brought the large wild bird, which +he said, was a thrush; the black good man is now become a satan too."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What art thou chattering there about!" said her father +angrily; "who +told you this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Martha, my nurse," replied the child; "for he is now in +rebellion +against his God and his king, until they take him prisoner and burn, or +otherwise put him to death, for he will no longer be a Christian; +Martha said so this morning, while she was dressing me, and she intends +going to the town next week to see the other satans put to death; pray, +allow her to go, dear papa? she thinks it will more particularly +confirm and strengthen her in her faith, for she too has gone a little +astray, and has almost fallen into evil ways. The evil one is very +powerful in the neighbourhood, particularly up yonder in the mountains, +he is quite at home there; we are much better down here. Papa, the figs +are becoming ripe already in the garden."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou chatterer!" said her father, in a tone of displeasure, +"I shall +take care that you are not so much alone with the old woman."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is true enough," interrupted the domestic, "Eustace is up +in the +mountains with Roland, and has joined the Camisards, his wife and +children sit mourning in their desolate home; they are destitute of +food, and dread being arrested and, perhaps, condemned on his account."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe," said the Lord of Beauvais, "that you have already +relieved +them, my good Frantz, if not, do it now; give them what necessaries +they may require, but do it prudently, that we may not be called upon +to answer for it; for in this general affliction of want and confusion, +every thing is suspicious. A man may do as he pleases provided he +becomes not a tyrant, and places himself on a level with the +executioner."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Like our Marshal," exclaimed the old man impetuously, "like +our +Intendant; like the lords there in Nismes, who in the name of God +sacrifice their brethren. I have sent some relief to these poor people +already, and will provide them with more; it is only a drop of water in +the sea, but still in this distress it will comfort a few poor +creatures."</p> + +<p class="normal">The servant retired, and as her father turned a mournful +glance towards +the mountains, his little daughter approached him smilingly, kissed his +hand, and said: "Papa, pray let not you and Frantz became wicked and +rebels, for then brother Edmond and I would go to heaven quite alone, +and I should not like that; I can never agree with Edmond, he is so +terribly pious, you are much better, though your faith may not be of +the best kind."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You say truly, <i>terribly</i> pious;" said the old man, "Oh +heaven, when +will it please thee to deliver us from these afflictions?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There comes Edmond along the garden," said the child, "it +will be +better not to say anything to him about the wicked Eustace, for we +shall have noise and disputes again; he does not like such things at +all."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond entered, bowed, put his gun in the corner, and laid +aside his +pouch. A large dog came bounding up to the little girl, who played with +him, and held up some pieces of broken bread.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where have you been this morning, my son?" inquired his +father.</p> + +<p class="normal">"At the Intendant's, at the Lord of Basville's," replied +Edmond without +raising his eyes. "Yonder in Alais, where he will stop for a few days +in consequence of the trial of the rebels. He commends himself to you, +but he is rather surprised that you should have refused the appointment +offered, and thinks that the Marshal would understand it still less."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Marshal, my son," began the father, not without emotion, +"there +are many things that he cannot understand. I thank my God that I +retired to this solitude more than ten years ago, for were I still in +office, my conscience would compel me to resign it now, and that +perhaps would be still more incomprehensible to these two valiant +gentlemen. I neither envy nor admire their patriotism and God preserve +our family from the fate of rendering such services to the king. +Therefore, my dear, my beloved son, I once more give you a paternal +warning to abandon these men, it would send me to the grave to see you +act like them. What do they require of us? no open, direct service, no +assistance which becomes citizens, and which all honorable men are +ready to render: but we are required to turn spies and betray our +fellow-subjects and our countrymen, to give them up to the rack and to +the stake, and to rejoice in the inhumanity which depopulates the land, +and congratulate ourselves at having incurred the hatred of God and of +all mankind, and if we enquire into this too closely, we are looked +upon as traitors to our king and country."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it ever permitted to a subject to enquire?" hastily +rejoined +Edmond, "I am aware of your sentiments, my father, and I regret them; +but ought the subject to enquire into this? May I be allowed to ask +where is the submission, where are the ties that bind him to the state, +where the holiness, the sublimity, the piety, the honor by which we are +men and citizens, and upon which our virtue and existence repose; if I +am permitted to say: here I renounce my obedience to you, this you dare +not command, though you were my king; though my country, even heaven +itself should speak to me through your revered lips."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right, my son," replied the old man, "and because you +ask +this, you will ever be in the right; the ruler should with humble piety +and with godly fear keep within these limits, respect the conscience of +his subjects, keep inviolate the promises, the oaths which his noble +predecessors made, and which he has repeated after them, and not hurl +with his own hand the burning brand into his granaries, by raising up +extortioners, judges, and persecutors!--And woe to those, who thus +abuse the weakness of his age, his pliable conscience and their own +influence; and woe to him who is appointed to fill these offices to +slaughter good and pious men; but tenfold woe to the upright man, who +from ambition, or a mistaken sense of duty, advances and sets fire to +the stake, and extends the rack still more horribly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It grieves me, my father," said Edmond, suppressing his +anger, "I am +overwhelmed with inexpressible anguish at being compelled to feel +myself so immeasurably distant from you in all that is dearest, +holiest, most natural and nearest to my heart! From the moment that I +was capable of thinking and feeling, our ancient and holy religion has +been to me the most sacred, the most sublime, in her alone my heart +lives, all my wishes and aspirations are brightly reflected in this +clear crystal; this which love itself has proclaimed, this which is +itself love, eternal, invisible, to us lost creatures become visible by +descending in the form of a child, as our brother and nearest +neighbour, and then suffering so painful a death for our wanderings and +in this most devoted sacrifice thinking only of us, and of all our +infirmities and corruptions in life and in death:--ought I ever to +forget this, can I disdain it; my heart which this love consumes with +gratitude; ought it to suffer this transcendent miracle of love to be +annihilated, to be trampled in the dust, and all that is most holy +reduced with scornful impiety to ruins, in order to associate it with +all that is most contemptible?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who requires that, my son?" exclaimed the old man; "even +Turks and +Heathens would and could not demand it, still less our brethren, who +only desire to approach in plainness and simplicity that +incomprehensible being, who, notwithstanding his immensity, so +intimately and so closely connects himself with all our hearts in love +and simplicity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In this portrait," said the son, "it would indeed be +impossible to +recognise those, who murder our priests, set fire to our sanctuaries, +rob the peasant, and if they are victorious, which God forbid, would +extend their heresy with fire and sword over the land."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see it thus, my son," said the old man, "because you will +see it +so; we misunderstand each other in this affair, for you resist +conviction, and certainly as long as you are governed by this feeling, +you will never possess that dispassionate clearness of mind, which +according to my judgment, is necessary to render us susceptible of +religion; and this alone is the true spirit of christianity, for which, +it is true, you struggle with enthusiasm, but you cannot live in true +devoted love."</p> + +<p class="normal">The son rose indignantly from his seat, and walked hastily up +and down +the saloon, then he seized his father's hand, looked at him earnestly, +and said: "Enthusiasm? with this word then, with this vague sound you +have satisfied yourself, and responded to my sorrowing spirit. This is +it exactly what the world desires, what the despairing one means whose +heart is dead. Is it not so, the martyrs and heroes of the christian +church were merely enthusiasts then?--and those who joyfully shed their +blood and endured martyrdom for Him, to whom they could not offer too +great a sacrifice of love and suffering, were fanatics too, because +they were deficient in understanding and composure? All these miracles +of love are merely the crude wanderings of delirious passion, which +those celestial spirits have contemplated from on high, not with +emotion and joy, but only with compassionate smiles, and those who +expired in ecstasy are immediately greeted with grave looks and +admonishing reproof! Oh, rather than discipline my throbbing heart to +such presumption and vile incredulity, I would tear it palpitating from +my breast, trample it under foot and throw it to the dogs for food."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We will drop the subject," said the father, half angry, half +moved, +while he took a large book from the mantel-piece.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I blame not your sentiments, far be it from me to censure +what is +sacred, but you do not know what it is, you have yet to learn that +greatness and truth lie only on the verge, on the transition-point of +this feeling; as we have beheld them in their ecstasy, we must draw +back with timidity and reverence; but should the lying spirit entice us +in our spiritual revellings to higher enthusiasm and visions, we sink +under mental voluptuousness, and delusive images, fearful fancies take +prisoners soul and heart, love dies within us; and you will be obliged +to go through this sad probation, my son, and God knows if the issue +does not leave you a seared, an empty heart, or perhaps a hypocrite, +for thy path through life will not be smooth and easy."</p> + +<p class="normal">With these words, the Lord of Beauvais sat down to read, his +son took +his hand and said in a gentle tone, "No, no, my father, let us go on +with this subject, which once for all occupies my whole life. Is it +possible that this reading, this reasoning of Plato can interest you at +this moment? Am I permitted to feel as you do, am I not obliged to +blindly obey, if moreover, this obedience accord with my sentiments?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"St! st!" exclaimed the little girl playfully, and the dog ran +barking +towards the door, and could only be silenced by his master's whistling +to him. "Is it not true," said Eveline, "that Hector is entirely of the +true faith, for he might be so easily set upon the Camisards?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Silly child!" exclaimed Edmond reddening with anger, the +father shook +his head at her, but she continued: "Edmond said even now that he would +give his heart to Hector to eat, therefore I may well consider him a +very peculiar sort of dog." "Come Hector, they always do us injustice;" +thus saying, she took the dog by the collar and both went into the +garden.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand you not, my father," commenced Edmond after a +pause, "you +are religious, you visit the church with devotion, I must consider you +attached to it, however often a suspicion to the contrary may occur to +me, and yet can you contemplate it with composure, that destruction +threatens this our church, and does she not in the most gracious manner +fulfil all the desires and yearnings of our hearts? I feel ever +incensed, when many priests urge so strenuously the necessity of good +works, virtue and morality; Heathens can teach us that, and our very +reason exacts it from us; however much these must be respected, it is +the progressive development and formation of the miraculous that I +perceive in history which always so powerfully affect my heart. In the +distance lies the first miracle dark and indistinct; but veiled +entirely in love. The gift of prophecy was not withdrawn after the +apostles; saints and martyrs followed in the steps of the departed, and +fulfilled that which the former predicted, the mystery of love is +interminable, and can only be explained by a new mystery. That the +explanation of the holy sacrament should be sanctioned by decrees of +the church, disturbs me not, while to the worldly only it appears a +mere temporal event; for in the insignificant germ lie already +concealed the blossom and sweetness of the fruit, which become ripe +only by that which we call time. Thus it happened that at a later +period the forebodings of the soul were fulfilled, and she, who had +given birth to the Saviour was worshipped as heavenly; festivals were +celebrated in her honour. Thus the prophetic song from the mouth of one +prophet descends through all ages, and is never silent, even to +futurity. Festival follows festival, temples and images follow statues, +posterity will turn with deep emotion to the love of the present, as we +enraptured trace the past, only through this mutability, through this +re-echoing of the Eternal Word is the truth made manifest to me, +through this alone am I convinced that it went forth in former times, +by this means, that it apparently changes, as the leaf into the +blossom, the flower into the fruit, and the fruit yields again the seed +of the flower, it is a permanent, an eternal truth; through this +endless, this inexhaustible abundance, resembling an ocean of love, by +anticipating each individual sense, by quenching every desire, by +satisfying the hungry: by this only it becomes something simple, +authentic and independent, and I abhor the interpretations of those +innovators, who would treat these miraculous events as a tale, who +venture to call our mass with its symbols, lights, temples, pomp, and +music idolatry, and by thus warring against the most sacred things, +according to the feelings of my heart, they war against God himself, +and they must be rooted out and destroyed like noxious, venemous +reptiles."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand you, my son, and would willingly believe you in +the +right, for in fact you have only been declaring my own sentiments on +this subject. If such are your feelings and this be your faith, there +should be no further strife not only between us, but any one else. If +you feel that Christianity in its various forms, rejects no want, no +desire, that it is permitted to every mind to worship according to its +own light, but in the spirit of truth, the Eternal Being, then those +meek hearts, that shrink affrighted from this parade and song, from +this splendour of the temple and from the artificial culture of +religious mystery, will not be excluded from the community. Those, who +like the disciple John and the apostles of Jesus, visit the wilderness +of Jordan, and there in the dreariness of the mountains and in holy +solitude willingly listen to the Eternal Word, and are anxious to erect +there their church like the hut at Bethlehem, lest their fervid +imaginations might be overwhelmed with the splendour and sculptured +beauty of the statues, and thereby forget their salvation and their +God. These people here are likewise true Christians, my son, whatever +our priests may say to you about it, and the Father will not reject +them. There arose long since in our Cevennes, and in the valleys of the +Albigences, a simple faith, a peaceful retreat, far from the pomp and +ambiguity of the episcopal and popish church. It may be, that for the +good of mankind, for religion, education, and liberty, it was expedient +in those earlier ages, that the Bishop of Rome should declare himself +the head-shepherd and lay the foundation of a spiritual kingdom; but, +that the christian church in later times has declined on that account, +admits of no doubt. The bishops and priests were now no longer simple +teachers of the word and imitators of the apostles, but they became the +head-servants of their spiritual master, who in the disputes of the +times was compelled to think first of himself and of his own power, +while he assigned to religion that only which was not detrimental to +it; therefore it resulted, that when the quiet inhabitants of Alby +assembled in their wooded valleys, resolving to free themselves from +the abuses, the arbitrary dogmas, as well as from the corruptions of +the priests, they were persecuted as heretics, who sought to overturn +the papal chair, and therefore Christianity itself. Had there been +then, as there was formerly, a free independent church of bishops, +these enlightened minds would have found protection and peace, they +would have been allowed to assemble in their houses of prayer with +their priests, and serve God in what manner they thought it their duty +to do, instead of which, crusades were preached against them and their +innocent blood, which has been so inhumanly shed, still cries up to +heaven. Even if the papal hierarchy and Christianity had not been one +and the same thing, there would still have arisen in our mountains +great preachers and reformers of the church. When the papal authority +began to totter, such teachers as these spread themselves among our +mountains and Calvin's disciples found minds, which had been long +prepared to receive his doctrines. This form of faith is here as +natural and holy as yours may be in other parts, and he only could +resolve on extirpating them by persecution, who misunderstands the +beautiful and tolerating spirit of Christianity, indeed it appears to +me, that he must be entirely inimical to this religion of love. Since +Luther and Calvin, a civil war has raged through every province for +nearly a century; dearly was this cherished liberty to be paid for, of +which the popes and bishops have so unjustly robbed mankind. A light +shone in the midst of this gloom, our fourth Henry stepped forward and +extended the olive-branch of peace over all his dominions. By the edict +of Nantes liberty of conscience was ensured by a royal oath, and by the +unanimous consent of the parliament, and confirmed by all the states +and provinces: his successor renewed this oath, and our ruler, Louis +XIV, could not be recognised king, before he agreed to reign over +Evangelical as well as Roman Catholic subjects: thus was the oath which +he took for himself and his posterity ratified to us; he has reigned +many years with happiness and renown, but now in his old age, +surrounded by ambitious and superstitious minds, now that his bright +star has long set, now that his country is impoverished and exhausted; +that his armies are defeated; that enemies threaten his frontiers, and +even his very capital,--now that Germany, England, and Holland, here in +the neighbourhood, Savoy, menace us with the most dire misfortune,--now +his conscience awakes, he thinks to be able to conquer heaven and +fortune, by suffering Catholic subjects only to call him king. He sends +with inconceivable blindness--converting ministers into these +mountains; and threats, compulsion, massacre and pillage are the +exhortations employed towards this unfortunate people; now we have +witnessed these horrors in our very neighbourhood; however zealous you +may be for your party, my son, I know that your humane heart has been +agonised more than once by these proceedings. Suddenly--could he do it, +ask yourself if he might? the king revokes that edict and voluntarily +absolves himself from his oath, without at the same time consulting +that of his predecessors, of the parliament, and of all the states in +the kingdom; he himself destroys, in his religious madness, that which +binds him to the citizen, that attaches the subject to him, the sacred +palladium, the undefilable is profaned and annihilated, and the +wretched inhabitants are yielded a prey to wrath, to murder, and to the +fearful frenzy of the bloodthirsty; the peaceful weaver, the shepherd, +the honest labourer, who was but yesterday a devout Christian, a +respected citizen, a good subject, is through the revocation of the +edict, without any fault of his own, now a rebel, an outlaw, for whom +the wheel and the stake are prepared; against whom all, even the most +savage and disgraceful cruelty is permitted; his temples are closed and +demolished; his priests are exiled and murdered; he is ignorant of his +offence, he only feels his misfortune: in the deepest recesses of the +soul that spirit is aroused which remembers its eternal and +imperishable rights, and again war and murder rage; fury excites fury, +life becomes cheap, martyrdom a pleasure; and if there be evil foes, +they look with a scornful and fiendish laugh from the summits of the +mountains down on this hideous massacre, where the very last traces of +love, godly fear, and humility are covered with reeking blood. Do you +mean that it is thus I must be a Christian, in order to justify the +cruelty of my party; or to be a good subject, must I lend a hand to +these executioners of the Marshal? In this case, indeed, is our respect +for the king, as well as our worship of God infinitely different."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond had listened to this long harangue of his father, +without +testifying any signs of impatience; at length said he, sighing deeply: +"We are standing then on two opposite shores, a wide stream between +us; I understand your meaning so little, that I even shrink with +fear from it, for according to that, our holy religion may vanish in +the empty folly of every fool, who has the arrogance to set himself up +for a teacher, and just enough ability to mislead the ignorant, +novelty-hunting populace; thus then might indeed the sacred edifice of +the state with its, by heaven itself, consecrated representative sink +into the dust, if every malcontent is permitted to dispute with him +those rights by which the king is king, and if lie finds an opportunity +to rob him of them. Then come chaos and anarchy bringing in their train +the hellish fiends of murder, vengeance, fire, and sword, in order to +destroy and slay the friends of the throne, the nobles and the priests. +Oh! my father, to this only then their doctrine tends. Can my king be +no more to me my visible god on earth, to whom I blindly and +unreservedly submitted my whole heart with all its impulses, can I no +longer believe, that to him alone belongs all responsibility? In this +case I can neither act, nor think. Must my church, for which +innumerable miracles, and thousands of the sublimest spirits speak and +confirm it, yield to contemptible communities of yesterday, out of +whatever corner they creep, who seek with gross deception and delirious +ravings to cover and decorate their pitiful wretchedness;--no, I would +just as soon fly to the unenlightened heathens of the North Pole, and +attach myself to their absurd faith."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miracles!" exclaimed the old Lord, "and what then do you call +miracles? +the dull eye cannot discern them, just because they are too great and +too mighty. That these poor people, who were perfectly content if they +only had their hardly-earned dry bread, and who in the recesses of +their mountains revered every commander as a deity;--that these should +venture to defy the Intendant, the Marshal with his armies, and even +the king himself;--that these poor, common men were enabled to +sacrifice their wives, their children, and their lives, and die martyrs +for their doctrine: Is this then no miracle? A miserable band without +education, without arms, without having ever seen service, led by young +men, who scarcely know what a sword is, should defeat regular troops +and experienced commanders in more than one battle; and, sometimes too, +one against four: Is that no miracle? How, if these rebels, for such +they are in reality, should desire to found the truth of their doctrine +upon this, what have you to oppose against them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Rather mention too," said Edmond, with bitterness, "their +prophets, +their ecstasies, their absurd convulsive contortions, which the young +learn from the old and deceive and grossly lie with the name of God on +their lips."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My son," said his father, sighing, while he gazed with +emotion on the +dark eyes of his son. "In all unrestrained passions man is transformed +into an inexplicable but fearful miracle, then becomes realised and +identified with him, what the wildest fancy itself cannot imagine more +irrational. Let every man beware of this state, still less let him seek +it, as you do, Edmond; your fire will consume you. Go not yonder so +often to the lady of Castelnau: this will nourish your enthusiasm and +destroy you." Edmond quitted the hall abruptly without saying a word. +The old man looked after him, sighed and said to himself, "Ardent love +and bigotry encouraged by an enthusiastic woman what may they not +effect in our times in this poor youth; who knows the misery that is +still before me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"For God's sake, my Lord," exclaimed old Frantz, rushing in, +"what is +the matter with our son; there he is running up the vineyard without a +hat, and the storm is fast gathering. Oh, if you had but not scolded +him! He will never indeed give up the lady!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How do you know," asked the father, "that the conversation +related to +her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He ran by me," replied Frantz, "and looked at me with that +very +peculiar, fierce expression, which he only has, if any one speaks of +the Lady Christine; then only he stamps his feet; he has thrown down +the apple-tree there, and kicked back his own Hector that was running +after him, which he never does at any other time; some harm will yet +befall our Edmond."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May God watch over him," said his father; at that moment a +flash of +lightning darted from the dark stormy clouds, and cast a singular light +round the vineyards, so violent a clap of thunder immediately +succeeded, that the whole of the great building rocked and creaked. +Hector crouched down by Frantz, and the little Eveline ran into the +hall with her fair locks fluttering behind her, immediately after her +entrance, the rain began to descend in torrents, the herds were seen +everywhere hastily crowding together; the shepherds hallooed to their +flocks, the dogs barked, and in the intervals of the roaring of the +tempest the rustling of the trees was heard; the streams dashed loudly +down the hills and the rain pelted heavily on the roof of the house. +Martha began to chaunt aloud from the upper story; soon after the +trampling of horses and hasty footsteps were heard. The door opened and +three men entered, the foremost of them, who had alighted from his +horse, turned to the proprietor of the house with these words: +"Necessity requires no bidding! the proverb, my Lord Counsellor of +Parliament is quite right, for otherwise I had not ventured to renew a +former acquaintance so unceremoniously: I am the vicar of St. Sulpice, +there beyond St. Hippolite, and take the liberty to beg the shelter of +your roof for a short time in this remote place, against the violence +of the storm."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are welcome, my friend," said the Counsellor of +Parliament, "as +well as the other gentlemen; you shall have a fire to warm and dry +yourselves, and you will do well to remain here this evening, for the +storm will certainly last until night, as is usually the case in this +neighbourhood."</p> + +<p class="normal">Frantz and another domestic had already lighted a fire in the +large +chimney, and the strangers approached the friendly flames in order to +dry their garments, while the vicar begged the servant to take care of +his nag.</p> + +<p class="normal">The other two strangers had made their request and testified +their +respect for the Counsellor of Parliament only by a silent bow, during +which the little fair girl took advantage of the momentary confusion, +to approach the guests and examine them with curiosity. One of these +appeared to be a huntsman, for he wore a green dress and carried a +couteau-de-chasse and a rifle, the latter, which was loaded, he very +carefully placed on the mantel-piece. During these various proceedings, +Eveline had already in her way formed an acquaintance with the third +stranger, who seemed to be her favorite, for she gave him her +handkerchief to wipe the rain from his face, and offered him some +fruit, which he smilingly declined, and after looking at him for some +time, she said, "Where have you left your hat?" "The storm without has +carried it off from me," said the young stranger, "and blew it far, far +away, so that I could not catch it again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It must have been drole enough," said Eveline, laughing, "you +after +the hat, the storm after you, and the rain after the storm, you could +not overtake your hat, but the rain and storm overtook you."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Lord of Beauvais drew near, and said, "You entertain this +stranger +already?" "Does he not look good and kind;" exclaimed the child, "just +like the schoolmaster in the village, who teaches me to read, but who +is obliged to limp already with his young, thin legs."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Behave politely, my child," said the Counsellor kindly, and +he put +aside her fair locks from her forehead. He examined his guest while he +was paying the usual compliments. The young stranger appeared to be +about sixteen, or seventeen years of age, he was something below the +middle height, his figure was delicately formed, but as the child had +said, the expression of his countenance was amiability itself. A slight +tinge of red coloured his thin cheeks; his eyes were of the lightest +blue, and had acquired by a mark on the right eye-lid, a very peculiar +expression; short, fair hair lay thick and smooth, over his dazzlingly +pure white forehead: his voice had something effeminate in it from its +high pitch, and from his whole bearing and bashfulness of manner, one +might have easily taken him for a maiden in disguise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I came over to day from Pont-du-gard, and intended to proceed +to +Montpellier, when this storm overtook me fortunately just in front of +your door, my Lord Counsellor," said the vicar approaching again. "I +must confess, I should not have thought, that there could be such a +building as this aqueduct, if my own eyes had not convinced me of it. I +doubt that the Coloseum at Rome, or the stupendous church of St. Peter +could have produced so great an impression on my mind, as these +majestic, vaulted arches, and these pillars one over the other, which +so boldly and so easily unite two distant mountains."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whoever has not yet seen this work of antiquity," said the +Counsellor, +"may well consider every report of it exaggerated, and, perhaps, +reverend sir, you will not believe either, that it encreases in +grandeur the oftener one looks at it; the eye cannot familiarize itself +with its magnificence, although its first sight is so highly +satisfactory, and in this contemplation of the sublime, the most +pleasing emotions take possession of us. Thus must it ever be with all +that is truly great," "Those heathenish Romans," said the priest, "have +done much in this respect, they must ever be our teachers; but on my +way here, before the commencement of the storm, I heard a great deal of +firing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Camisards and the royal troops are at it again," said the +huntsman. "But to day, it is said, that the Huguenots have entirely +lost the game." "How so?" demanded the Counsellor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I heard on the other side of the water,--thank God, that I am +on +this!--that they had taken prisoner Catinat and Cavalier, and therefore +it is probably all over with the war. What a pity, say I, if they +massacre Cavalier, as they have so many others."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why a pity?" exclaimed the priest hastily, "what else then +does the +rebel deserve? perhaps you are also a follower of the new doctrine?" +"No, reverend sir," said the huntsman, "I was one of the every first +that was converted by these gentlemen dragoons. They came in the name +of the king, and--of him whose bread I eat, whose song I sing--they +were not particularly gentle; thirty in the village were massacred: +'Dog,' said they, 'the pure faith, or die!' why so harsh? said I, I am +not at all prejudiced against the creed, only you might have enforced +it with a little more gentleness. When I saw the execrable manœuvre, +my resolution was quickly formed, and I am now in the service of a +right zealous catholic master, the Intendant of Basville. I only mean +that it is a pity for Cavalier for he is a good fellow, and has already +puzzled many a brave officer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is very true," said the priest a little softened, "he is +the only +one among the rebels, who understands how to conduct the affair; +fearless as a lion, generous, ever self-possessed, knowing how to +occupy the best positions, and humane to his prisoners, he is born to +be a hero and a leader, and still more to be admired, for from a +swineherd he rose to greatness. It is through him that I have lost my +vicarage and that I am now making a tour here in Camargue, Nismes, and +Montpellier in order to obtain another appointment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is that sir?" enquired the Counsellor, "mind your own +business! as +the saying is, but we do not always follow this wise maxim," replied +the former, "for hot blood and passion, but to often master our reason. +You know that some time since a sort of crusade was preached against +the Camisards in the Cevennes; the young men in Nismes and in the +surrounding country have enlisted as volunteers and lie in wait for the +rebels wherever they can; the hermit of the Cevennes, an old captain, +has taken the field with a troop of rash, desperate fellows and fights +like a Samson; but it is reported that he is very impartial, for, when +an opportunity offers, he treats friends and foes alike, and has +already plundered many an old Catholic, or stretched him in the +trenches. Now, if such things occur, when all the energies are excited +in the mélée, it is not so much to be wondered at, though they may +happen a little too frequently; verily he has more deliberately counted +over his rosary than he can now the number of murders he commits. It is +curious enough, that a hermit, who had intended to renounce the world +so entirely, should embark again in such adventures; his old military +ardour is probably aroused within him. I too, retired in my solitary +village in the mountains, when I heard of these proceedings was fired, +or inspired with them, and formed the resolution of also rendering my +poor services to God and the king, my parishoners would not hear of it: +by Jove! they have no heroism in them, they have an antipathy to wounds +and death, or they have secret dealings with the Camisards, as I have +always suspected that satan's brood of it, for much as I have loudly +and zealously harangued them in the pulpit, they almost invariably +slept during my sermon: that they were thus insensible to my loud +exhortations, is alone a proof, that they must have been possessed by +the devil. In pursuance of my design, I assembled some people together, +two Spanish deserters, three Savoyards, five fellows who had escaped +from prison, and two prodigiously bold tinkers. It was at the time, +when Cavalier had so incomprehensively taken the town of Sauve in the +middle of the mountains and laid it under contribution. We marched +directly against them, passing St. Hipolite, for I received intelligence +that this rebel commander had abandoned his corps with a small troop. +We met him just as we issued from a narrow defile in the mountains, I +called to him to surrender; he resisted, bang! I shot a fellow dead, +who was standing by him, I fell upon them with sword and gun and broke +their ranks--sir, it was an epoch in my life, it was as if three +regiments were in my body--shots were fired, I looked back,---there lay +my whole army cut down behind me by a few villains--my courage failed, +I rode off as fast as my horse would carry me, it was the same +hungarian horse, my good sir, now, in your stable,--I am saved.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cavalier, as I understand, was a reasonable man, but the +knave, who is +called after the late Marshal Catinat, stirred up the others; they +march into my village, persuade my penitents to join them, set fire to +my house and even to my dear dilapidated church, and have sworn to hew +me into ten thousand pieces, if I ever shew myself there again. Now as +I have suffered all this for the sake of my country, it is but just +that reparation should be made to me for the loss I have sustained, and +I am shortly to receive a better living with a good Catholic Christian +community herein the neighbourhood of Nismes. Thus was my chivalrous +expedition terminated; but I have sworn, that wherever I see but one, +or more of these murderous dogs--were there a hundred, to make them +feel my vengeance."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Counsellor turned with indignation from the priest and his +countenance brightened as Edmond, in a different dress, entered the +hall. "This is witch's weather," said he, and kissed his father's hand, +which the latter held out to him kindly. He then mingled with the +company and soon entered into conversation with the loquacious priest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"As I was saying," recommenced the latter in his clamorous +manner, +"these numskulls have something quite peculiar and incomprehensible in +them. Even the children, urchins of three years old, pretend to exhort +and preach atonement, they can speak as familiarly of every sin, as if +they had long ago gone through the whole catalogue of them, this is a +well known fact; moreover, it frequently happens, that these devil's +nurslings even prophecy, and most of them speak in good and distinct +French about what probably they have never heard in their lives--this +may be explained by all who like explanations, some say, that they are +in a fit, others that they are possessed with the devil, those of their +own party take it for inspiration. Above there in Alais, some hundreds +of them assemble, great and small, old and young, prophecying among one +another, that the walls of their prison might be broken down. The +medical college of Montpellier has transferred itself thither, each +doctor has taken with him his hat and cloak; I believe they have also +carried with them the antique mantle of Rabelais, in order to be quite +perfect in their art. I hear they have now observed, discoursed, +disputed, calculated, speculated, deduced, and what is the result? that +we are as wise as before. These learned gentlemen declare, that it +cannot be taken for divine inspiration because it is opposed to the +king and the clergy; and still less can they be possessed by the devil, +in as much as they speak and sing only spiritual things and do not as +yet know the ways of that gentleman, neither, say they, could it +proceed from fits, or any other bodily infirmity, but it was to them +something quite unheard of and new; it may well be termed new, and, +therefore, must appropriately be called fanaticism and the people +denominated fanatics." "There may be many things," interrupted the +huntsman hastily, "that are inexplicable; with your reverence's +permission, my opinion is, that they are all bewitched; for, if you +have no objection, that is the easiest explanation of the matter; +therefore, there is no such great injustice in burning them--always +excepting Mr. Cavalier, for whom I should be very sorry--and the reason +which might tolerate such proceedings is, that they may not by degrees +infect the whole community, for it is very evident that the evil is +spreading daily and is communicated from one to the other. Witchcraft +is just as much something corporeal as well as spiritual, something +visible as well as invisible, and not only men, but also houses, +mountains and rivers may be enchanted; I have experienced this myself +in the course of my life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And how?" enquired the Counsellor. "Do you not know the +wide-spreading +ash, which stands in the field between the castle of Castelnau and +the town of Alais? at no great distance from that is the large, old +olive-tree, which, they say, is three, or four hundred years old, but +it is so far certain, that both the trees, particularly the ash, may be +seen at the distance of many miles from the plain as well as from the +mountains."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know both these trees very well," said Edmond.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now," continued the huntsman, "under the ash it is not safe. +While I +was yet a boy in the service of the father of the present lady of +Castelnau, who almost always resided at Alais, for the castle was +thought to be too lonely for her, I went out as I often did, to shoot +hares: It was towards evening and a storm like that of to-day overtook +me, I sought shelter under the great ash to escape getting wet through, +but scarcely had I leaned against the trunk, gracious sir, than I was +seized with indescribable agitation and fear, my heart began to beat, a +tremor came over me, I was terrified--I was compelled to quit my +shelter--I was wet through--I returned, and again the same sensations +under the tree; it was not permitted to me to remain there, I was +obliged to go into the open space while the rain was falling as if +heaven and earth would come together. The next morning it was bright +midday and summer weather, said I to myself, dolt! wert thou frightened +because it was dark, perhaps thou wert terrified at the claps of +thunder; wilt thou become a noble huntsman if thou hast such little +heart,--so I went half laughing under the tree, I fancied myself +sleeping under its shade,--but no such thing! I was seized with greater +terror and agitation than ever, my teeth chattered and an icy coldness +chilled me, I fled from the spot.--I mentioned the circumstance to an +old forester: 'Fool!' said he, 'have not the huntsmen told you that the +tree permits no one to stand under it?' It is an old story. He could +not tell me the reason of this, but warned me not to play any tricks +with it. However, I did not follow his advice, but returned to it with +a young lad. To him it was productive of evil, for he became sick unto +death with the fright; since that time, I avoid the tree and so does +every one who knows it. It must have been bewitched some time or +other."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven only knows, what may be the meaning of all this," +began the +priest, "we live at least in times when events occur, which formerly +would have been deemed impossible. Now there is something +incomprehensible in these prophecying children. It was said, some years +ago, that here, and there, in the Cevennes, in Dauphiné, and in the +neighbouring Beauvarais that such things were practised, and people +travelled to hear and see them. At present whole villages are full of +them, they are to be seen in the market-places, in the public houses +and like the diseases, incidental to childhood formerly, it seems that +all children must undergo the gift of prophecy. Government has thus +sharply reprimanded them, by making the parents responsible, thrown +those into prison and sending the fathers to the galleys, for it was +conjectured that from these alone proceeded the delusion. A peasant, +one of my parishoners, came to me, saying 'for God's sake sir, help me! +my little girl, six years old, began yesterday to prophecy, I am a dead +man if the thing becomes known; my wife and I are certainly of the true +faith as you can testify, but now they will arrest us as rebels, as +they have done to so many others.'</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only use the whip," said I, "let the girl hunger and she will +soon +forget to prophecy. 'All that has been tried, reverend sir,' groaned +the old man, 'and more than my conscience will justify; the child is +ill from my ill-treatment, for as soon as she begins to prophecy, or to +sing psalms, which she has never heard from me, I have chastised her +severely; I have not given her a morsel of bread for three days, yet +she does not give up, but goes on still worse. Come, I pray, to my +house and see yourself; if she is possessed by a devil, you can +conjure, is it any thing else, you can exhort.' I had never seen such +prophecying creatures, I went therefore out of curiosity with the old +man. As we entered the house, the child was sitting at a spinning +wheel, she was pale and thin, and seemed half silly, she complained of +hunger and pain. I can see nothing in the child, said I, 'oh, if she +was always reasonable like that,' exclaimed the peasant. Presently the +worm was seized with a sobbing in the throat: 'there we have the gift,' +said the old man, 'the disorder is breaking out now--exorcise, reverend +sir!' as the little creature was thus struggling, her body dilated, she +fell on the ground, her bosom throbbed and heaved, and suddenly we +heard as it were quite a strange tone, which did not belong to the +child. 'I tell thee, my child, if thy parents repent and follow the +spirit, all will be right and good, and thou shalt partake of liberty +and of my word.' I was terrified, especially as the devil spoke as pure +French as the child of persons of rank; I sprinkled her with holy +water, I vehemently conjured that the devil, if it was one, might come +out of her; all in vain, the little thing cried out, 'I tell you, the +idolaters shall not prevail against you, and this evil one shall find +the reward of his misdeeds,' thereby meaning myself: the unfortunate +child, because I was so zealous in my calling; then followed +exhortation and singing, and pure fear of God and admonition to +repentance. I could scarcely do it better myself: she then arose and +seemed just as miserable and foolish as before. I cannot help you, said +I to my penitent, you see that the word of God and holy water have no +effect on her; hunger and chastisement just as little, nor has your +persuasion, nor the fear of rendering you unhappy had any weight with +her, leave it to herself. In short, the child ate and drank again, and +became more zealous than ever in preaching repentance; so that at +length the father was converted, or, at least, he ran to the mountains +to the Camisards, and said: 'if he were to be punished, or executed, he +should at least know wherefore.' Thus you see, I lost many penitents +the preceding year, for when they have drawn suspicion on themselves, +they prefer becoming rebels to avoid suffering anxiety, ill-treatment, +and even death without a cause, as one may say. The case of the +shepherd from my adjoining village is still more singular. He was a +wild, reckless fellow, and as strong in the right faith as need be +wished; he had already delivered more than one Camisard and suspected +person up to the executioner. He came running to me one morning at a +very early hour, crying out, 'Help, help, reverend sir!' 'what is the +matter now,' said I, 'have the Camisards set fire to your house, as +they have always threatened to do, on account of your zeal?' 'Ah, much +worse, much worse,' cried the knave, wringing his brown, bony hands. +'Speak out shepherd,' said I, 'Do you know,' he began, 'my son, the +tall Michael,--who does not know the lanky looby--he is known to almost +all the mountaineers, it is indeed the cross of your house, that the +idiot is so useless: he will neither work, nor mind the herds; he is so +stupid, that he is scarcely considered a member of the church, yet he +often enough disturbs the congregation; he is only fit to carry +burdens, and prefers living with the dogs, which he frequents as if +they were his equals: Is he departed this transitory life? rejoice, for +you have one burden less.' 'It is not that indeed,' exclaimed the old +man, incensed, 'Oh, I should not grieve for that: But think, who in the +world would have supposed that the long broom-stick would have become a +prophet?' 'How?' cried I, my mouth and eyes wide open with amazement; +'so, a blockhead, who is good for nothing else in the world, may become +one of their prophets?' I went therefore with the old man, but the +affair turned out still more strangely. As we entered the house, the +thin, bony man was just in the act of prophecying, speaking in a pure +dialect about the deliverance of France, of liberty, of faith, of better +times, encouraging them to fight. I tried to pray, and to exorcise, but +the father seized his great shepherd's stick, brandished it over him, +so that he would have killed him, had I not stopped his arm. We then +listened for a short time, and what ensued? suddenly something gurgled +in the old man's throat, he groaned, turned up his eyes, fell against +the wall and then on the ground, and after a few mighty heavings of the +breast, he too began; he sang psalms, exhorted to repentance, +prophecied the fall of Babel; nothing could equal it: as the old one +sang, the young one twittered; I thought I was bewitched, my priestly +vestments fell from my hands, I could only listen to those two +possessed ones, who were howling out pure piety, and texts from the +Bible, and as I gazed at the astounding wonder with agitation and fear, +I felt a shock through all my limbs, and sir, as true as heaven is +above us, a desire arose within me to be seized with similar fits, and +to take a part in this unhappy affair. I rushed out into the open, +blessed air of heaven. I thought on all dignitaries, of my bishop, of +the great church and organ of Montpellier, of the letter which I +possessed from the murdered Abbot of Chably, of our illustrious Marshal +of Montrevel, of his dress-uniform, and of such things,--and God be +praised, the trembling left my body, and I am now a reasonable man and +a christian priest again. Ever since that time, I look upon the whole +affair with terror. Be it witchcraft, that they are possessed with +devils, bodily and infectious diseases, or the unknown, new fanaticism +of the learned doctors, I have at least discovered that mankind is +easily entrapped, and that the Spaniard is right with his proverb: 'No +man can say of this water I will not drink.' The two shepherd knaves +have now also run into the wilds after Cavalier, and have become great +heroes of the faith."</p> + +<p class="normal">The old Counsellor had gone out frequently during these +details to give +orders to the domestics, who had in the mean while laid the table and +prepared the evening repast. "My unknown friends," said the old +gentleman affably, "with whose company chance and the bad weather have +so unexpectedly honoured me, and who are to me,--with the exception of +the reverend priest,--total strangers, let us all sociably and without +ceremony take our places at this table, eat and drink, and afterwards +enjoy a refreshing sleep under my roof." Edmond looked up, and could +scarcely believe at first that his father was in earnest; the priest +cast an expressive glance at the huntsman and one of still deeper +meaning at the young man, and smiled as if to hint, that he at all +events should withdraw from this distinguished circle, among which he +himself only had any claim to remain; but the little Eveline hung on +the young man's arm and drew him by her side to the table where he +immediately sat down with her the first without waiting for farther +bidding. "Quite right," said the Counsellor, "No ceremony if you wish +to please me! here are no invited guests, we meet together as if we +were on board a ship or in a wood. I must render you all this +hospitality without distinction." Edmond blushing, placed himself at +the head of the table by his father, the priest seated himself opposite +to him, by the side of the latter sat the huntsman, who left a large +space between himself and his neighbour, and then came Eveline and her +playfellow as he almost appeared. "Quite patriarchal," said the priest, +"those men there, my worthy sir, will not forget to publish throughout +the country, your philanthropy and contempt of prejudices."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this moment the veil of clouds in the horizon burst +asunder, the sun +in its descent suddenly threw a purple glow over the lowering sky, a +red fire spread itself over the mountain-vineyards, tree and bush, and +vinetendril sparkled in the fiery ray, beyond the woods shone +brilliantly, and as the eye glanced upwards, the summits of the distant +Cevennes were seen glowing in the rosy light; on the left, the +waterfall rushed like blood from the steep rock, and the whole hall, +the table, and the guests, all was as if bathed in blood, so that the +lights just then burned darkly and the fire in the chimney emitted a +blue flame. The rain had ceased, a holy silence reigned throughout all +nature, not a leaf rustled, the red brook only flowed splashingly +along, and the glowing waterfall murmured its melody. The old +Counsellor's eyes were cast upwards as if in fervent prayer, and a tear +glistened in his full eye; the fair young man laid down his knife and +fork and folded his hands; the huntsman glanced timidly from under his +heavy eyebrows; the priest tried to assume a sanctified look; the child +playfully clapped her hands, and Edmond was lost in silent reflection.</p> + +<p class="normal">Just as quickly as it was withdrawn, the curtain fell again +over the +horizon and extinguished its light, upon which the Counsellor said, +"was not this like an emblem of our country and of our misfortunes? as +necessity unites us all and brings us together, and as the misery that +oppresses us, if I may so express myself, becomes as it were sanctified +and endeared to us? all our countrymen pass through this baptism of +blood, may heaven have pity on us." Edmond cast an expressive look on +his father and then glanced furtively at the huntsman and the young +stranger, as if to intimate, that such thoughts should not have been +expressed in their presence; the old man smiled kindly on his son, but +did not even try to conceal his feelings.--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Papa," cried Eveline, "it was as if the sky wished to play at +hide and +seek with us, just as little Dorothea with her plump, rosy cheeks +smiles upon me and then, whisk! creeps under the cloth again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was like a bleeding world crying for succour," exclaimed +the +fair-haired young man. Edmond cast a sidelong glance at him, and said, +"It is perhaps the extinction of the nefarious revolt!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"May be so," replied the youth, and raised his blue, +child-like eyes to +Edmond, "but I think that everything rests in the hands of the Supreme +Being."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most assuredly," said Edmond sharply, "and the evil would +have ceased +long since if so much disaffection, secret abettance, and malicious joy +at the misfortunes of the king had not reigned among the common +people."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Every reasonable person must own however," said the young man +with a +melancholy smile, "that the evil did not originate with the people; +they were quiet, and although others may suffer, their miseries are +beyond expression."</p> + +<p class="normal">The priest left off eating with astonishment, that the little +unseemly +man should have the last word with the master of the house opposite to +him; he rolled his eyes up and down as if seeking for some astounding +words of reproof; the little girl pressed the hands of her new friend +for engaging in dispute with Edmond, and the latter as his father +already began to testify his uneasiness at his son's violence, turned +away with an expression of profound contempt, saying, "I know not with +whom I speak, but I think I have some knowledge of you; are you not the +son of the late Huguenot sexton of Besere close by?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, gracious sir," answered the young man perfectly +unembarrassed, "I +have not the honour of being known to you; I am now come to this +neighbourhood for the first time, to make some purchases, my name is +Montan, or simply William, as I am called by the neighbours and by my +father, who is owner of the mill in the deep valley beyond Saumière."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Therefore a praiseworthy miller's lad!" said the priest. "It +was not +sung to you in your cradle that you should ever sit at table in such +company as this." "No, indeed," said the miller with emotion; "when I +stood before the house, I thought not to find a reception as from the +venerable patriarchs we read of in the Holy Scriptures, I did not +expect to be introduced to a nobleman, who, to my mind and imagination, +presents the most sublime picture of Abraham and Jacob." He wiped his +eyes, and as they were about to rise from table, he lifted his glass, +and said, "pray allow me first, honoured sirs, to empty this glass in +token of my most heartfelt gratitude, and to the unalloyed happiness of +our respected host, and the endless prosperity of his noble house." He +drank, and the old Lord bowed not without emotion, while Edmond and the +priest looked at each other long and enquiringly. The huntsman scraped +and smiled, and the priest in his astonishment forgot to drink.</p> + +<p class="normal">They rose from table, and Eveline seated herself again by the +side of +her favorite in a corner of the room, and said to him, "That is the +right way, he is too haughty if one allows him to go on."</p> + +<p class="normal">Her father approached them, "my child, it is now quite time +for you to +retire to bed." "Indeed papa," answered she kissing his hand, "I should +like to remain longer here, but there must be order, as you always say; +I am obedient and will be your comfort, shall I not? it would indeed be +very wicked, and I should vex you, if I turned a prophet like so many +other children in this country." "God bless you, my love," said the old +man resting his hand upon her head; "go to bed, and you, my friend, sit +down here and rest yourself some time longer," said he, pressing the +young miller's hand; when Eveline perceived her father's kindness +towards him, she quickly returned, and throwing herself on the neck of +the young man, kissed him repeatedly, then drawing back a little, she +curtsied gracefully, and in a lady-like manner, and waving her hand, +said: "Au revoir," and followed the domestic who consigned her to her +maid.</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you are from Saumière," said the priest, turning to the +miller, +"You are surely acquainted with the hermit, who is now the leader of a +troop against the Camisards?" "Oh, I know him very well," replied the +youth, "his cell is in a rocky valley, which is separated from our mill +only by a stony fence; we often visited him on holidays, when the +valley was passable on our side; he is a tall, athletic man, with a +grizly beard and large, grey eyes; he seemed peaceable and quiet until +the war made him a soldier again. Unheard of cruelties are asserted to +have been committed by him; he is said not to know what compassion is, +and must take pleasure in murder; but now his trade is over." "Is he +dead?" enquired the Counsellor. "No, not exactly that," continued the +young man, "but I heard a report on the Vidourla, that he was totally +defeated yesterday by Cavalier, and that, if he consults his own +advantage, he will creep into a cell, for the common people will not +surely trust to him again, when they perceive that he does not +understand his business."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has been a captain, however," said the huntsman.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The combat against the rebels," said the priest, "is a +difficult +affair, for <i>that</i> courage and the ordinary discipline of a soldier do +not suffice; our Marshal Montrevel would perhaps prefer fighting +against Eugene and Marlborough than with these rag-o-muffins."</p> + +<p class="normal">More wood was now piled on the fire. The father sat down, +while Edmond +paced up and down the hall in visible inquietude, the priest drew his +chair towards the Counsellor, and said: "You are suffering from the +gout in your left foot, my lord."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why do you conclude so?" asked the old gentleman, "the leg +does not +appear to me swoln, although you have guessed rightly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The swelling," continued the priest, "is certainly almost +imperceptible; but you often step lighter and more gently with this +foot, probably without being conscious of it, perhaps this joint is a +little contracted in proportion to the right, and therefore has not the +strength of the latter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is very critically observed," said the Counsellor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My honoured sir," continued the priest, "it is incredible how +consistent and reasonable nature is in all her productions. To analyse +her in her minutest parts is instructive, however ridiculous it may +appear to the unpractised. More than a century ago, the Neapolitan, De +la Porte, wrote an excellent book on physiognomy comparing the human +and the brutal together; in the earlier ages people tried to read on +the countenance the virtues, vices, and qualities of the disposition: +Believe me, if I could devote my leisure hours to this subject, I am +confident I should carry it so far as to be able to discover from a +shoe, or a boot, that had been worn for a time, many faults or +peculiarities of its possessor."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Really?" said the old Lord smiling, "They betray themselves +by the +garments, when closely examined; the hasty, or irresolute gait, the +shuffling of the feet, the gliding step of ladies, are certainly very +expressive; a certain nonchalant manner of walking, a haughty tread of +the heel, an affected, frivolous sliding on tip toe, the indecisive +tottering footstep, by which the shoe loses its shape, excepting the +qualities which however demonstrate themselves by the high, or low +instep, or by the flatness of the foot. But now for the legs; if these +were exhibited in their natural state, it would be scarcely possible to +mistake the rank, profession, and way of life; then there are tailor's +and baker's legs, which it is impossible not to recognise, foot and +cavalry soldier's legs, weaver's and joiner's legs, and so on."</p> + +<p class="normal">"These are very interesting observations," said the +Counsellor, "would +you, for instance, venture to declare the former manner of life of my +Frantz by his legs?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"By my legs?" exclaimed the old servant, who was still busied +in +clearing away. "Here they are, reverend sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stoop a little--now go yonder--come back again--stand +perfectly +upright--my Lord Counsellor, I could swear that your Frantz has been in +his youth, nay at a later period of life, a mariner."'</p> + +<p class="normal">The servant looked at the priest astounded, and the Lord of +Beauvais +said: "You have hit it, my reverend friend; but from what do you draw +your conclusion?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No mariner," said the priest "ever loses entirely the +straggling and +somewhat stooping gait which he has acquired on shipboard, he sinks his +loins in walking, and a slight limp remains for the rest of his life."</p> + +<p class="normal">When the other servant approached, the priest immediately +cried out, +"Give yourself no further trouble, one can see at the distance of a +gun-shot, that the good man has been a tailor in his youth, and that he +certainly pursues the same occupation now, for the bent shins clearly +demonstrate it." "You follow the chase," turning to the huntsman who +was standing; "it must be so, although I should rather have taken you +for a soldier, and from the eye, for a smuggler; by the bye, what is +the matter with your right knee? it certainly is not from attending +mass, from whence then does this slight protuberance proceed? perhaps +you have acquired the strange habit of falling on your right knee when +you shoot?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Reverend sir," exclaimed the huntsman, "you must be a bit of +a wizard +yourself, for you have hit the mark. From my youth upwards I have never +been able to shoot but in a kneeling position; should a hare run by +under my nose, I cannot hit it standing, I must first throw myself +down; but I have always been much ridiculed by my companions for it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For the rest," resumed the priest, "you have mountain-legs, +and you +must have been born in the Cevennes, or the Pyrenees, your eye too is +characteristic of the mountaineer who is far-sighted."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just so," said the huntsman, "I come from Lozère, the wildest +part of +the mountains."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, my young friend," said the connoisseur in legs, turning +to the +young lad,--"You pretend to be a miller and want miller's legs, how +does that happen? observe, that from carrying sacks, the miller's back +is early bent and becomes broad and round, but the principal weight +presses upon the calves of the legs, the sinews of the hams become +disproportionately strong; but with you these are precisely the weakest +parts, the ancles too are not large enough: here, <i>summa summarum</i> +fails the miller's character, for my science cannot deceive."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In this I cannot assist you, sir," said the young man +petulantly, "for +I am what I am, and will remain so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For my part," quickly rejoined the critic, "I desire not to +press too +closely on your miller's honour, you may probably be a spoilt, +effeminate mother's darling, who would not suffer you to be too heavily +laden, your hair and whole countenance have a mealy character, your +voice too sounds like the wheat-bell and the mill-hopper, but when I +look at your knees, they seem to me to be those of a baker, which are +turned in from shoving the bread into the oven and taking it out again; +during this process he is obliged to keep in a stooping position and +rests upon his knees; but I discover the strangest contradiction in +your thighs, for they are those of a horseman and of one who rides +much, your eye too betrays a martial spirit, it darts here and there +and is never quiet as a miller's ought to be, who is attentive to his +business; in short, you are to me in your legs and in your whole person +a very puzzling youth."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young man reddened with resentment and the Counsellor +endeavoured +to turn the entire affair into merriment and laughter,--when the whole +party was suddenly alarmed by a violent knocking at the front door of +the house, that aroused even Edmond from his reverie. "For God's sake +let me in," roared a voice loudly from without, "open to me in the name +of heaven!"</p> + +<p class="normal">At a sign from the Counsellor, who quickly recovered from his +surprise, +the servants rushed forward, the company looked at one another in +silence, the bolts were withdrawn, and the tread of heavy footsteps was +heard approaching the hall; the doors were thrown open, and lighted by +the servants, a tall, powerfully-built figure with grey hair and +moustaches of the same hue entered, he held in his hand a massive +staff, that without exaggeration might be termed a club; a long, broad +sword trailed clanging after him, and four pistols were stuck, in a +black leather girdle. On his entrance he approached the host, and said +in a deep, sonorous voice, "Pardon me, my lord, the alarm I must have +caused you, I was benighted, pursued and in danger, therefore I +ventured, certainly rather unceremoniously, to claim the shelter of +your house."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh heavens, it is the terrible hermit!" exclaimed the miller +in a +hoarse voice, "I am he, indeed," replied the gigantic figure, "but why +terrible, my young simpleton? I may surely be permitted to show my face +every where, presumptuous fellow; and I have shown it before other +physiognomies than yours.--Your pardon! Sir Baron, if I give way to my +displeasure at the presumption of this hireling. Yes, reverend sir, I +am he, who under the name of the hermit is not unknown in this part of +the country; in this character I wished to do homage to my God, but an +envious fate thwarts me. To-day my troop has been entirely dispersed, +and I have only saved my own life through the greatest exertions, for I +was pursued even in the darkness of the night; my enemies cannot be far +off, my life is forfeited, if you refuse me your protection."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All I possess," said the Counsellor, "is at your service, my +house, my +servants and myself will protect you as far as we are able, +independently of the claims of humanity; my duty to my king and country +demand this."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are an honourable man," replied the giant, "such as I had +every +reason to expect."--At his invitation, he sat down by the side of the +master of the house to partake of the wine and refreshments, which the +servants placed before him. "I hope," said he, "that the storm and +sudden fall of night have prevented them from tracing my route, but +every moment of this day has been a perilous one to me. Yonder, on the +right at Nages, the body of Camisards has been totally defeated; as I +passed the Vidourla to give the rout to my enemies, I met a flying +detachment of them, who, instead of showing any fear, assembled +together, and fell upon me like so many devils; their number was not +great, but it seemed as if they were aided by magic, a panic seized my +people; they crowded together, they reached the Vidourla, the furious +foes behind them. At that moment the storm burst forth, the waters +rushed down from the mountains and swelled the rapid mountain-stream to +a fearful height, it overflowed its banks, and I saw the dead, the +wounded, and the living ingulphed in the waters; I swang myself upon a +tree, and from that to a barren rock; more than a hundred muskets were +levelled at me, my double-barrelled gun aided me as much as possible, +but my sword was useless, the storm threatened to hurl me down, I tried +to ascend in spite of the wind and the rushing waters, the rock, from +incessant washing, had become slippery as ice, but at length I +succeeded in gaining a footing in the midst of the rolling floods, I +crept up higher, my steps illumined by the dazzling lightning, and the +flashing from the enemy's guns, while the balls wizzed round me: Thus I +arrived at a vineyard: I was compelled to scale the wall, on the other +side I found two daring fellows, who had climbed over there before me, +they fell beneath my sword, I entered a wood, and soon found myself +standing upon a level rock, but without track or foot-path, neither +road nor bridge was to be seen, precipices yawned below me; must I go +back, or down! I slid down, the darkness prevented me from +distinguishing anything; after repeated falls, I felt some shrubs under +me, a huge shepherd's dog of the most ferocious species attempted to +drag me down, there was no herdsman to be seen, or within call, I was +compelled to wrestle with the fierce animal; night had now entirely +closed in, I thought I heard the sound of bells, I groped my way +towards the place from whence the sounds proceeded; soon afterwards I +heard men's voices; are they friends or foes? while I was advancing +with cocked pistols and drawn sword,--'Who's there?' suddenly grated +upon my ears; I discovered they were the Camisards; as I gave no +answer, they fired, and by the flashing I perceived distinctly ten of +my foes standing at the opening of a ravine; no choice was left me, I +advanced, the first fell, shot by my pistol, a second was cut down by +my sword, the obscurity of the ravine favoured me, nothing remained but +to fly, as quick as age and exhaustion would permit, they shouted and +fired after me; at length I perceived I had attained a high road, the +flashing from the fire-aims discovered to me a porch, something +appeared in the distance like barns and buildings, I ran in that +direction, and at last I reached the door of your house."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir captain," said the Counsellor, "repose is necessary to +your old +age after this exertion and fatigue, lie down, and the safety, which my +house is capable of affording, I again assure you, shall be faithfully +granted to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May heaven reward you," said the captain; "I look upon this +untoward +adventure as a hint of fate, warning me to lay down my arms, I shall do +so, and return to a cell, or a cloister. Had Cavalier been with the +troop, I should not have escaped him, for he possesses the utmost +presence of mind, he is the boldest and indeed the most soldierly among +the rebels."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is said that he is taken prisoner," observed the huntsman.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The war is over then," exclaimed the hermit, "for, without +him, they +can undertake nothing; this powerful man is alone the soul of their +venturous enterprise. The others understand well enough how to kill and +to die, but not how to conduct the war. I wish he had died; for should +he be taken prisoner, his fate will be one worthy of commiseration."</p> + +<p class="normal">During this discourse, the priest, who had until then +considered +himself of so much importance, now felt lost and dwindled to nothing by +the side of the so far greater adventurer. He would willingly have +testified his veneration for him by an embrace, or, at least, by a +grasping of the hand, but he dared not venture to approach one, whose +wrath was so easily excited by any degree of familiarity. The tall man +paced up and down the hall, examining all present with a scrutinising +look: "Two servants, perhaps, moreover a valet and a huntsman," he +muttered to himself, but loud enough to be heard, "will not indeed be +capable of offering much resistance, the house is by no means fortified +in case of an attack, then the young lord here, a sort of sportsman, +the black one also in case of necessity to engage the enemy, but that +chicken-hearted one, (looking penetratingly at the young miller) that +downy-faced fellow is quite useless. May God forbid, we should be put +to so severe a test." He now, as well as the others, paid their parting +compliments to the Counsellor, as they were retiring for the night; +they were lighted to their apartments by the domestics, and Edmond +alone remained in the hall with his father. The rain had ceased, but +the night was dark and the sky was covered with lowering clouds. The +father and son walked up and down for some time in silence; at length +the Counsellor said: "will you not retire to rest my son?" "I am still +too much agitated and did you not hear, that our last guest feared we +should perhaps have to receive another unexpected visit?"--Silence +ensued, but Edmond after a pause recommenced: "Forgive me, my father, +if I confess, that I have not understood you to-day, that I have not +recognised in you the same person as formerly. That you received these +people and sheltered them from the storm, was natural enough, but how +it could be conformable to your disposition, (or what shall I call it) +to suffer them to eat at your table without distinction, I cannot +explain to myself. Often already have our people entertained menials; +and what countenance shall I assume when this squinting huntsman shall +wait upon me again at the table of the Lord of Basville, I know not; +and what will the Intendant and the Marshal, who certainly must hear of +it, think, or say? How shall I explain it to myself, that you received +that miller's boy not only with kindness and condescension, but yet +with hearty familiarity? who is even too low to be your menial, that +you allow my sister, who is always too forward to play and romp with +him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My son," said the old man with some emotion, "it seems +indeed, that, +the older I become, the less capable do I feel of justifying myself to +you: I might say, accustom yourself to my ways, as I must through +affection bear with yours, though I misunderstand them so often. You +must certainly excuse me, as you did not explain yourself before, our +conversation to-day had made so deep an impression on me, indeed, such +as I have not experienced for a long time. In my emotion I forgot to +attend to the usual etiquette of life, and as I could not avoid +entertaining the priest at our own table, I added the two other poor +fellows, but as to that miller, who has more particularly drawn upon +himself your hatred and contempt, his child-like countenance and frank, +open manners, in my opinion, did more honour to my table, than your +Marshal Montrevel could ever do. Accident, the weather brought us +together; the times are also so changed that we do not yet know, but we +ourselves may be compelled to sue for refuge among the most miserable. +But as you so despise that youth, I still less comprehend that you +should honour him so highly as to argue with him, nay, to seek yourself +for a dispute; for the future interfere not with my ways."</p> + +<p class="normal">They sat down and as Edmond was silent, the Counsellor said, +after a +pause: "What do you think then of this priest and his manners? such as +these, you see, are appointed to direct and instruct the people, the +unfortunate people! these became combatants and murderers like this +colossus. That my house is compelled to shelter such, that is it indeed +which humbles me. All champions for a good cause may not be +individually good," said Edmond.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Retire to rest now, my son," said the Counsellor kindly, "I +shall sit +up some time longer, I am too disturbed to be able to sleep, I shall +read yet a little while, rest will then ensue with cooler blood." +Edmond embraced his father, and then retired to his chamber. The old +man gazed sorrowfully after him, and thought upon his son's future +destiny; he sunk into a deep and melancholy reverie, no where did hope, +or comfort seem to await him. He took up his book in order to calm the +perturbation of his spirit, he tried to collect himself; he reflected +upon the wonderful disposition of the mind, to divert itself by that +which is most profound, in order to escape from its own appropriate +feelings, and to be itself again in the inward sanctuary of the spirit. +Thus without reading Plato, which he had laid open before him, he +became more and more absorbed in a contemplative investigation on the +double nature of the soul and of the mind, that reflects on itself and +comprehends its nature and property, which, in thought, at the same +time, views, and proving it, ponders upon this thought, being at once +actor and spectator, and being only at this moment truly conscious of +itself. He did not know how long he might have indulged in these +reflections; when raising his eyes, he was surprised to see his son by +his side. "You are still here, Edmond?" said he wondering. "No, my +father," whispered the son, "I have reposed quite two hours, but just +now when I awoke, I heard under the window a whispering and a movement +as of many men, I approached, but could distinguish nothing, however, +it seemed to me, as if people were gathering round our house, I have +loaded in haste all our fire-arms, and quietly awakened the domestics. +The strangers are still asleep, but they must now assist in our +defence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If it be so, and that you have not been mistaken," said the +father, +"promise me only not to be too eager; let us be quiet and collected, +for thereby one may be often enabled to prevent the worst, but I well +know, by experience, that from the love of danger and fiery courage, +which as easily defeat their object as cowardice, misfortune and +destruction may be drawn down upon us. We must not venture alone, you +must not forget your little sister. Now do I wish, that I had been a +soldier, that I might meet this invasion with serenity, should it come +to this, but we shall do what honour demands of us; but more than the +danger itself do I fear your hastiness." In the mean while a murmur and +the approach of footsteps were heard nearer; several voices were +distinguished, a noise proceeded from the road and garden, so that it +appeared, that they were taking possession of all the outlets. +Immediately afterwards a knocking was heard at the door. The servants +drew near, but at a mute signal from their master they remained +tranquil; immediately the tumult became louder and several voices +raised an unintelligible cry, Edmond grew warm, his father looked at +him significantly; but soon, however, the name of the hermit resounded +clearly and distinctly from out of the confused murmur. "They demand +him," cried Edmond; "They are the Camisards!" The cry was repeated, +they knocked louder, they became even noisy, the screams of women and +the cries of children were now also heard; the Counsellor caused all +the weapons to be brought forward, he was hastily distributing them to +the servants, when trembling and ghastly pale the tall figure of the +hermit, half dressed, tottered in, followed by the priest, bewildered +and terrified; both seized the hand of their host, and while they were +firing without, the knocking at the door and demands for the hermit +became more violent. "Oh, heaven! compassion!" exclaimed the latter, +"thou hast heard my oath, that I would in future refrain from blood, +but it is too late, I am a victim to their vengeance!" With these words +the tremendous figure fell senseless to the ground in utter despair! +the child rushed into the hall with her maid; terrified and crying +aloud she threw herself into her father's arms; the latter tried to +comfort her, but one could see in his pale countenance, that he himself +entertained but little hope. "I will protect you as long as I can," +cried he, "but the multitude appears too great to allow of my defending +the house." Fire! fire! cried a hundred voices from without at the same +time, and lighted fire brands were seen through the windows! at that +moment the door was shaken, by large trees, which were thrown against +it like battering rams. "Oh heavens!" cried the priest, while his teeth +chattered, "had I but the tenth part of my former courage,--but I am +not at all prepared for this, I have slept a little already, which has +completely relaxed my spirit." He took off his hat, "how impolite I +am!" sighed he, but it was almost laughable, even in that moment, that +under this he still wore his night-cap, without being aware of it, and +in wandering about in every corner of the hall, he carried his hat in +his hand. The huntsman now stole in, took his loaded gun from the +shelf, and placed himself quietly by the chimney; "whither are you +going" exclaimed Edmond, "out with the rifle, you must all defend +yourselves!" "Impossible," stammered the man, "give up the old villain, +otherwise the whole house is lost, I know the Camisards." "Scoundrel!" +thundered the young man--"where is the miller? Still in bed? all of +you, you miserable varlets, shall defend this place with me, nay, even +that weak, effeminate boy shall make common cause with us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The hermit was praying on the ground, all were shouting +confusedly +in the hall, but no word was heard distinctly; all was confounded +with the storm, which every moment became more violent without. The +window-frames were demolished, the door cracked and appeared to give +way, when, with an apparent air of indifference, the young miller +entered, carelessly tying his neckerchief and said: 'Let me out by the +back-door, I will speak to the enraged multitude,--quick, give me the +key!' These last words were uttered in a tone of command. The old Lord +looked at him, took the key from the wall, and opened the door to him +himself, the youth went round to the other side of the house. Edmond +posted himself with a loaded gun opposite the door, in order to fire +among the assailants, in case they succeeded in forcing an entrance. +Suddenly a tremendous shout was raised, which seemed like acclamations +of joy and was reiterated by the crowds surrounding the house. Then all +was still; and after a while a deep voice exclaimed: 'He must come out +the assassin, on this spot he shall be torn to pieces!' 'Merciful God,' +cried the hermit from the ground, where he still lay, 'that is the +terrible Catinat, who knows no compassion!'--after a few words +exchanged among them, the high and almost hoarse voice of the youth was +heard. 'Silence all,' cried he vehemently: nothing more could be +distinguished, for a confused murmur arose. The child glancing from +under her dishevelled fair long tresses, said: 'Observe, my little +David will yet save that great Goliath there.' The crowds without drew +themselves up and marched away, the youth returned again by the +garden-door, much heated and nearly breathless; he approached, the +hermit still lying prostrate, fixed his eyes upon him, then caught him +by the breast and said, 'rise up, God has again spared you to-day, you +are safe, return to the town or to your own house:' He then turned to +the huntsman, whispered something in his ear, whereupon the latter +suddenly fell terrified upon his knees and exclaimed, 'Mercy!' 'Be +silent!' said the young miller hastily. The priest looked as if he +could have embraced the knees of the wonderful youth, who now turned to +the master of the house, and said, in gentle tones: 'my honoured host, +I consider myself fortunate in having been able to protect you; there +were certainly a few Camisards, but the crowd was principally composed +of a number of drunken millers-men from my part of the country, who had +met with some other rough, intoxicated fellows. It was lucky, that I +was known to some of them, in consequence of which, the small number of +Camisards also suffered themselves to be pacified. It seems that they +assembled more for pleasure than for any wicked purpose. Receive my +thanks for your noble hospitality, worthy and honoured man.' He bowed, +the old Lord seemed as if he wished to embrace him, but the opportunity +was lost in irresolution and the stranger was already at the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Farewell David!" exclaimed the child. He looked back once +more with a +serious and enquiring expression, raised his hand and eyes as if +invoking a blessing, and then quitted the hall.</p> + +<p class="normal">Those who remained behind, looked at one another as if they +had +witnessed the performance of a miracle. The first light of morning +already dawned, and the dense multitude was seen retreating over the +mountains, Edmond was standing in deep thought, and the old Lord, after +having unlocked his gun, gave it to the servant, to carry away. The +hermit drew near abashed, as if he felt considerably diminished in size +since the day before. "I leave your house, my Lord," said he, in a +voice scarcely audible, and with a heart greatly depressed; "I had +almost drawn upon your honoured head the malediction attending my own +errors, but the Lord has averted it." He took the road to Nismes; the +huntsman had already slipped away.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My Lord Counsellor of Parliament," cried the priest, "you +have not +seen us to-day in the most favourable light, now that all has passed +off happily; I am a man again; courage revives once more within me, I +could now show you that I am no coward, if a few of these villains +would but return. Receive my thanks, honoured sir, and you too my +young--but what do I see?" Now, for the first time, he perceived +that he was politely taking leave with his hat in his hand, and his +night-cap still on his head;--abashed he pulled it off, and thrust it +into his pocket?--"This is the worst of all," said he, his whole face +reddening; "One may thus see to what a sensible man may be reduced in +these troublous times." He again made a hasty bow and retreated.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who was this youth?" asked the old Lord. "Probably one of +those +infamous rebels," replied Edmond in great wrath; "I had rendered +perhaps a service to God and the king, if I had sent this ball after +him!" "Father," said the child, "believe me, he was the angel Gabriel, +and brother Edmond will yet be converted, and love him as I do." "Go to +bed again, my little one," said her father, "you require rest, poor +child!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was no good night," said Eveline, "so now good morning, +father! +it grows so beautifully bright!" she retired with the female +attendants, and Edmond and his father alone remained behind in the +saloon. They were both silent for a long time, at length Edmond took +his gun, and said, "what do you think of all this, and especially of +this mysterious fellow, who can demean himself so innocently, and with +so much <i>naïveté</i>?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must not express my thoughts," answered his father, +"perhaps they +would sound too romantic. You will leave us again, my son? and probably +will not come back to dinner?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know," replied Edmond, "my passion for hunting and the +delight I +take in mountains and forests; nature elevates us above our suffering; +she strengthens our feelings; she inspires and gives us that noble +vigour, which becomes but too often enervated in society, and in every +day life. This will be a glorious day after the storm; I will forget +all that I have experienced here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us but bring to nature a pious and purified spirit," said +his +father, "and she becomes to us the holiest of temples, psalms and songs +of praise will then re-echo our holy inspirations; but her gloomy rocks +and waterfalls, her desolate solitude with black masses of clouds +brooding above, her wild echo can also excite still more the uneasy, +agitated mind, and arouse more powerfully the turbulent spirit, for she +answers only as she is questioned."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will therefore speak to her in my way," replied Edmond, +half +petulantly, "woods and mountains will perhaps understand me better than +men." He bowed and went through the garden, and descended the vineyards +already glittering, with the first rays of morning.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is going there again to Alais," said his father sighing, +"and his +wild enthusiasm for nature gives place to a well-lighted saloon, +card-playing, witticisms, and frivolous conversations. Woe to me that I +must thus recognise in him the characteristics of my youth, disfigured +and exaggerated!"</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<p class="continue">The candles were already lighted, when Edmond stood before a +large +house, undecided if he should enter or not; "she has company again, the +same as ever," said he to himself; "and how shall I in my dusty +shooting-dress present myself among well-dressed ladies? However, she +is kind and indulgent, I am at a distance from home, the strangers too +are already accustomed to this in me." He ascended and laid down his +gun and pouch in the anti-chamber, the servant ushered him in, and he +found only a small circle, the young lady's two old aunts and a few +younger ladies of the town of Nismes, established at two card tables +and entertained, as usual, by an old Captain. They were relating to one +another the defeat of the Camisards on the preceding day, and how they +had assembled again, and how their leaders had escaped.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is the Lady Christine?" asked Edmond of the Lady de +Courtenai.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My niece," replied the lady, "is within there, indisposed as +she says: +her capricious fits have returned again, and no one can make anything +of her; perhaps you may be able to enliven her, or perhaps she is sad, +because the Marshal is not yet come."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edward passed into the adjoining room, the door of which stood +open, it +was lighted up, and there, on a sofa with tearfraught eyes sat the Lady +Christine; her lute lay negligently on her arm, as if she would have +played, but she was so deeply plunged in thought, that she started up +terrified, when Edmond greeted her and inquired after her health. +"Lady, dearest," he exclaimed, "what is the matter with you? I have +never yet seen you thus!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not thus?" said Christine, looking wildly, and with a smile +of +bitterness, "and why not, it is thus indeed I should ever be! Only you +do not know, nor understand me; you will not understand me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond drew back bewildered; "how shall I interpret these +words?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you will, or rather as you can."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Explain yourself," said the young man; "you have been +weeping, you +appear ill."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All this is of great importance, is it not?" said she with a +passionate movement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How have I offended you?" asked Edmond with sympathy, "it +almost +appears as if I had: are you mortified by me? I do not know myself +guilty in anything; what is it then in the name of all the saints?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That you are a man!" said Christine, while her pale cheeks +glowed with +the deepest crimson.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well! really," said Edmond, "this transgression is so new, +that I know +not how to answer. Is this the amiable Christine of Castelnau, who thus +greets her friend, who"--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Amiable!" cried she passionately--"what do you call thus, ye +friends? +the bad, the wretched, the worthless of this world, with which we cover +our naked misery as with torn purple rags from the worn out, faded +wardrobes of former times, when there were yet clothes, and ornament +and men?--or has the world been always thus miserable?"--she threw the +lute from her as if it terrified her. "This is also one of the +deplorable customs, that we should warble and play, and make grimaces, +though our hearts were to break, in case a particle of heart throb yet +within us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are ill," exclaimed Edmond, "so ill, that I shall run +immediately +to our friend Vila;" "Stop," said Christine, and while they were still +disputing, an equipage quickly rattled up; all arose in the first room, +it was the Marshal of Montrevel, who in his dress-uniform stepped +lightly and gracefully out of the carriage and bounded up the stairs, +and while the folding doors were thrown open, and the ladies and +gentlemen in the room formed a respectful line, he greeted them all +with the most polite condescension, "Good evening ladies," said he +kindly, "I rejoice to see you all well; Captain, Mr. Counsellor, your +servant; ah, my young friend," turning to Edmond, "you are here very +often; but where is our amiable hostess?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"She too is not far," said Christine, coming forward.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And well?" asked the Marshal; "certainly this charming +serenity, this +grace, these divine talents, how could it be otherwise?--I hope ladies +that you will not disturb yourselves; let us all sit down and play, or +converse as best it may seem."</p> + +<p class="normal">He laid aside his sword and plumed hat, and with obliging +promptitude +placed an armchair near the fire-place for the lady Christine; he took +a footstool and sat on it at her feet, Edmond leaned over the back of +her chair and the rest of the company resumed their play. "At your +feet, loveliest of women," began the Marshal, "must I find again the +peace and tranquillity, which deserted me to-day: yes, this day is one +of the most unfortunate of my life!" "Have the Camisards penetrated +into Nismes?" asked Christine.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They will never do that," replied the Marshal smiling, "means +have +been taken to prevent it; these miserable men will soon have sung their +last song. Yesterday they were as good as annihilated, and we should +have given them the rout here near Nages, if treachery and wickedness +had not, as usual, rendered our best efforts abortive."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," said Edmond, "if the people were unanimous in +their +exertions to extirpate them, the best part would have been achieved."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Young man," rejoined the Marshal, "I will annihilate them +even without +the assistance of the people, for these associations composed of +citizens, and peasants to oppose them, are more injurious than useful, +these men understand neither service nor war, they rather call forth +the vigour and insolence of the rebels, the soldier alone can put them +down. How unfortunate has it turned out with the good hermit of +Saumière! he is said to have been completely defeated, and at last +drowned."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond related what he knew of the affair, and the Marshal +said +smilingly; "I can easily imagine the anxiety of the old boy; but to +continue: an old Camisard, a squinting, bald-headed man passed over to +us, he was well acquainted with all the secret passes of the mountains; +I think his name is Favart; he promised to deliver into our hands the +leader Cavalier, and his principal troop, together with the infamous +Catinat; we find the matter as he has announced it; the Lord of +Basville had through kindness for the wretched man, taken him into his +service as gamekeeper; and whether it is, that he has not been able to +conquer his old attachment to the rebels, or that he himself did not +know all precisely: the rebel leaders with a numerous troop have +escaped us again, and Cavalier has, as I have just learned from a +courier, defeated a considerable body of our people in the mountains +not far from St. Hypolite."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know Favart," said Christine, "he was in our service for a +long +while; a wild but otherwise good man; I am only surprised that he could +have again abandoned his sect. But is this the misfortune that you +bewail so much, Marshal?" "No, beauteous lady," said the Lord of +Montrevel, "such things which are mere trifles to a real soldier cannot +disconcert me, I should blush for myself, if the common accidents of +the field or of life could ruffle my temper."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your beloved then is become faithless? console yourself, +there still +remain enough for you," said the young lady drily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, sly one!" said the Marshal, holding up his finger +threateningly; +"yes, enchantress, if you feel and return my flame, if you only believe +in it, then would I consider this gloomy day as the happiest of my +life, and to me all the rest of womankind on earth would be as +nothing." He declined all the refreshments presented to him by the +servants: "This is a fast day for me," he continued, "and I have not +yet been permitted to dine to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are too severe," said Christine, "too orthodox, too +devout; +moreover, I do not recollect that this is a fast day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not that," said the general solemnly; "for, at times, +one may +break this fast without any great qualms of conscience; but there are +things which are not really connected with the church or her +ordinances, but which lie in nature, and on that account are more +deeply engraven on our hearts; things which many philosophers, as well +as ecclesiastics censure as prejudice and superstition, and which +nevertheless have, through the implicit faith of millions, been +transmitted to us from the remotest times, and from that very +circumstance possess, yes, I may so express myself, a revered, a holy +authority. These signs and tokens of a dark futurity, the immediate +voice, as it were, of fate, speaks so much the more thrillingly to us +as they appear to the dull eye only ridiculous or, at least, +insignificant, and as every man has his protecting genius, so has he +also all the signs, which are peculiarly suited to him, and which are +of the highest importance, if he attends to them and knows how to apply +to himself their signification."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellent!" exclaimed the Lady, "now I listen to you +willingly, for if +the hero is at the same time a philosopher, I like him all the better +for it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most bewitching of your sex!" said Montrevel while he +attempted to +kiss her hand, which she hastily snatched from his lips. "Being then of +this belief," said the Marshal, "you may judge of my horror as I sat +to-day at table,--the Lord of Basville to whom, on account of his +station, this attention is due, sat near me, my aide-de-camp and a few +officers,--dinner is announced, the plates are changed,--but, my sight +becomes again obscured when I think of it."--</p> + +<p class="normal">"For heaven's sake," said Edmond, "what is it? assuredly some +dreadful +wickedness of the rebels, fire-brands and murder, or poison."--"No, +young man," continued the Marshal, somewhat tranquillized, "against +such things I am secure,--my Fleury, the luckless man, my valet, who in +other respects is cleverness and dexterity itself, this man at a sign +from me (for he only waits upon me and therefore the affair is the more +incomprehensible) was handing the salt, and while I was taking it, he +entirely upset the saltcellar before me; a mist came over my eyes, I +was compelled to go to bed, having discharged my valet, and come here +to find consolation and tranquillity."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond, who turned away with the greater shame and vexation, +the more +he had been excited by the narrative; could not sustain the fiery +regards of the Marshal, who, in seeking to arouse sympathy, fixed his +eyes steadfastly upon him and Christine. The latter very +unceremoniously burst into a loud and hearty fit of laughter, while she +looked at Edmond almost maliciously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, really! madam," began the Marshal, "this treatment is +the more +unexpected, as I am unaccustomed to it from you; if such things can +make you merry, you think too slightly of the happiness, or unhappiness +of your friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not so indeed," said Christine, "besides I am not +particularly merry, +I think the tale very edifying and dare be sworn, that the woman and +children, whom early this morning you so serenely caused to be shot, +also upset the saltcellar in their hut yesterday evening, but you are +now free from all these accidents, is it not so Marshal?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it permitted to ask," said Edmond modestly, "what the +affair is?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Early this morning," said the Marshal more composedly, "I was +compelled +to sacrifice a few of these unhappy people to the law, for they would +have sent provisions to the rebels in the mountains."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The investigation was somewhat precipitate," said Christine, +"not much +regard was paid to the denial of the persons arrested; it is true there +was some probability, for the mother had a son among the rebels, who +may have often enough suffered hunger. She was a woman of forty years +of age with two children, one twelve and the other eight years old. +They were led through this street."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But not the children?" said Edmond turning pale.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Marshal shrugged up his shoulders and answered lightly, +"we must +enforce with severity our self-appointed laws, in order to terrify; +they could not themselves shew why they were on the by-road; for that +they still would have gathered fruit is incredible."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This mother," interrupted the lady, "with her younger +children were +seeking for some beans, they were found in the fields by a party of +soldiers, terror prevented them from replying quickly to their +questions,--and this noble marshal, this gay, gallant, amiable man, +this <i>bel esprit</i>, who writes verses, beats his enemies and makes +netting, this tender-hearted man who sheds tears if I suffer from +headache, this hateful monster caused mother and children to be shot, +while he blows a feather from his uniform with infinite grace!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lady!" screamed the Marshal starting up, Edmond stepped back, +the +footstool was upset and the whole company rose from their card-tables +at this sudden uproar.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it not true," said Christine passionately while she stood +in the +middle of the room, "that such conduct is great, heroic and noble? have +our enlightened times come, that we should experience such things? oh, +monster! dare you mention the words friendship and love? have you the +arrogance to wish to pass for estimable and benevolent? yes, you are +also a contemptible creature like your despicable associates, yet you +must have felt, seen, or in your dreams at least experienced what a +dark destiny poverty, sorrow, necessity, and holy compassion is, these +destitute parents, these hungry children; the mother, who with scanty +and meagre food entered her hut, how their eyes sought hers +imploringly; how her glance of consolation shone in the eyes of her +children; how the small supply spread a heaven of tranquil abundance +and mutual love! Had you but the eye of an imprisoned swallow; had you +only understood your dog when he begs some crumbs from you: you would +have trampled your cross of honour under foot rather than have done +that deed. Man only can sink so low; the beast which tears itself is +gentle and innocent; a spark of ancient heaven shines still brighter in +its savage state than in our more degenerate nature. There are tales +for children in which a timid girl is made to kiss a scaly dragon in +order to disenchant him; but I could caress the tiger, extend my hand +and offer my lips to the hideous hyena, rather than polute myself by +being friendly towards you, for I should fear from a woman to be +transformed into a dragon. And yet,--as they passed here, exchanging +farewell glances, these children, who yet knew nothing of life, and +were slaughtered at this tender age--it was indeed as if the last +judgment with all its terrors burst upon my heart; behold, I could have +kissed the dust from your and your executioner's shoes in the public +streets, only to have saved them! I flew to you, I found you not. Yes, +most assuredly, all that was felt in those bitter moments by these +wretched creatures is now changed for them into peace and blessedness; +yes, they have forgotten this life and you, if we do not madly pray to +a tyrant instead of to the God of goodness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are mad yourself, miserable woman," exclaimed the Marshal +vehemently, "to forget yourself thus--by heaven! you should be shut up +in a madhouse. But, by my honour, you shall never see me again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never! never!" cried Christine, with flashing eyes, "Oh, +already this +is happiness and gain! no, great hero, never, or if you should feel a +desire to come, a large vessel filled with salt shall be upset at your +feet, as people strew salt over the places where the cursed have +dwelt."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Marshal trembled so violently with rage, that he was not +able to +gird on his sword; he took it under his arm and left the house without +uttering a single word. The captain had already slipped away, when the +conversation took this unexpected turn; the aunts curtesied, mutually +embarrassed, and retired also, as their niece paid no attention to +them; the latter made a sign to the servants to withdraw, and released +and exhausted, she fell prostrate on the ground, while tears burst from +her eyes so unrestrainedly, as if she would thus weeping pass away and +expire.</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond, much embarrassed, drew near, she saw him not, he spoke +a few +words, but she heard him not. "Dearest," he exclaimed at length, "you +kill me, you kill yourself! these powerful shocks will destroy your +constitution." "And were it not as well?" said she in a feeble voice, +without restraining her tears, "look on me, here on the ground, weep +with me; all good men should now perish." "Rise, lady," said Edmond, +while he assisted her, "if I must not believe that your reason has +deserted you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It has certainly suffered," said she somewhat tranquillised, +while she +stood by him, and continued, "otherwise would I have seen and endured +these things as others do: it is even so, I have had a glance of the +sorrows of the world and of the enormity of mankind and can never more +jest and smile with them as formerly, I am awakened from the mock +existence and therefore you consider me mad; but you, Edmond, you, +among so many, should have known me better!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am yet as in a dream," said Edmond, "how could you thus +give way to +your grief, how so rudely wound the feelings of the Marshal, even +though you were in the right? I no longer recognise you, although I am +acquainted with you for more than a year. You were never thus."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Always Edmond," sobbed she, "never otherwise, only that my +grief has +burst out too violently. Why do you not understand me? Is your heart +incased in some hard metal that no feeling can penetrate it? Do not +believe that, on that account, I have neglected my mass or vesper to +implore the God of mercy to enlighten these wretches and to succour +these poor persecuted creatures, and that he may also strengthen +myself? Mark me, Edmond, although I do not belong to the community of +Huguenots, but if all these murderers were extirpated in a second by +one tremendous blow, our church should institute a festival of +thanksgiving that this stigma was removed from her, and her holy banner +would be no more dishonoured."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand you now," said Edmond.--They had stepped into +the +antechamber, "by heaven, I shall soon give up all society and rather +hold communion with stones than with men." He took his gun indignantly +from the wall, "How wild, Edmond, how obstinate," said she softly, "is +it then not permitted that men should understand, in love at least, +their confused Babilonean language? disembodied spirits only love--and +you say indeed that I have a place in your heart!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Love!" exclaimed Edmond, "accursed word! execrable +equivocation and +madness of mankind! this old misunderstanding, love, this detestable +riddle of the sphynx, that no one has unriddled and for which thousands +have bled--damnation!" He gnashed his teeth and dashed his gun on the +ground, so that it went off and the shot passed through the ceiling. +The women and servants of the Lady Christine hastened towards her; he +looked at her, she was not injured and smiled at him sorrowfully as he +rushed out of the door and to his parting salute only answered by a +strange shake of the head, so that her dark tresses were loosened and +shaded her face. She pressed them to her weeping eyes and went silently +to the garden and out into the fresh night air.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<p class="continue">The Lord of Beauvais was walking up and down in his garden +conversing +on various subjects with his friend; as often as they passed the little +open summer house, Eveline called out to them and directed their +attention to the building, which she was trying to imitate with cards. +The Counsellor of Parliament was violently struggling with his +feelings, and his friend was trying in vain to tranquillise him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have never yet seen you so obstinate," said the latter, at +length, +almost impatiently; "what is it then at last, Edmond is a young man +like many others, let him exhaust his ardour, at a later period he will +afford you satisfaction, for do we not recognise in him strength, +character, and a noble heart, and these must certainly produce +something good hereafter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is only towards you that I am so communicative," answered +the +father, "I control my impatience in the presence of others and +especially before my son, but much as I must love him, I cannot +participate in your hopes. Were he only hasty and inconsiderate, all +might be well for I have been so too, I would even look favourably upon +his extravagant, overstrained religious zeal and all connected with it; +for early in life my own heart singularly experienced these feelings; +if with all this deep-rooted self will, this violent excess in every +thing, he would only add an inclination to activity, if he would but +instruct himself, if he would occupy himself in any way. I feel too +well that he presents but a disfigured resemblance of a part of my own +youth, but inwardly he is most unlike me, and in some measure +inimically opposed to me; thus unhappily is the neglected education of +his childhood avenged. You know well my old friend how much and almost +how culpably he was beloved by my deceased wife, how extravagantly she +admired every idea, impulse and peculiarity of the child, and that Abbé +his tutor also, who only excited his imagination and nourished it with +legends and miracles; his youthful mind was thus dazzled and rendered +incapable of discerning truth and reality, it accustomed him to indulge +freely in all the emotions of his heart and to consider them unerring +and most exalted. Imperceptibly a contempt for all, who did not +coincide with him, crept into his mind, he looked upon them as cold and +perverse, and in his zealous hatred, he believed himself infinitely +superior to them. I was too weak, too irresolute to remedy the evil +while it was yet time, I flattered myself, that it would not take root +so easily, and when at last my suffering wife, whose feelings I ever +feared to distress, died in giving birth to my youngest child, it was +too late."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All that may be true," rejoined his friend, "but not so bad +however as +you consider it, stupidity and madness are alone incurable; a vein of +good runs through all really excitable natures, and the life of these +irritable and violent men is spent in continual struggles between good +and evil, so that the best part may be extracted and shine forth +glorified."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You speak," said the Counsellor, "like a physician and +chemist, you +deny that the soul can appropriate to itself immutable perversities +which afterwards constitute its life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So long as a man is young," rejoined the former, "I despair +of nothing +and still less of your son, for he has never given himself up to +dissipation. This only and bad company ruin a man entirely, and the +exhaustion is not confined to the body, it also causes vacuity of mind, +it closes up every avenue to the heart, so that, finally, neither +reason nor understanding, nor any feeling for morality or honour +remains. Those are such as are incurable. You reproach yourself for the +indulgent education you have given him, it is not in that alone, +however, my old friend, that you have neglected it; you complain of +your son's want of activity, but you have yourself excluded him from +every means of exercising it. When he had grown up, he was destined to +follow your profession; he had, however, an antipathy to become a +lawyer, and then declared he would rather be shorn and become a monk. I +cannot censure him for this, forgive me, if I am too frank. He desired +to go to sea, you were inflexibly opposed to it: then he wished to try +his fortune in the army, our efforts to win your approbation to this +were equally ineffectual. I pity the young man; it is terrible for a +hair-brained fellow to be irrecoverably destined to sit behind a table, +poring over acts and processes. If you have been too indulgent +formerly, you are now a great deal too severe towards him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do me wrong, infatuated man," exclaimed the Counsellor +vehemently; +"it was not exacting too much to require of him to pursue my profession, +in which I have been so useful myself, it is an honourable and +benevolent one to mankind and corresponds with the noble freedom of our +sentiments; sufficient time remained to stroll about, to read, to make +verses and to indulge his passion for the chase. I was then convinced +that naval and military service were only chosen by him, that he might +escape from my paternal eye. I could not persuade myself that he chose +them as his profession with foresight and reasonable will. It grieved +me to lose him entirely; only too often ill-advised youths seek these +pretexts to sink into a busy idleness: for what is the soldier in +peace? At that time we had no war. I agree with you in what you say +about the dissipated life of our young men; but, perhaps, you will +laugh, when I assert that this passion for hunting is equally +insupportable to me. As soon as I perceived this rising within him, I +considered him as almost lost, for all young people, that I have ever +yet seen, entirely devoted to this occupation, are idlers, who cannot +again settle to any business; this seeming occupation with its +exertions and sacrifices teaches them to despise time, they dream away +their lives until the hour, that calls them up again to follow the hare +and the woodcock. And besides the penchant he has to rove about the +mountains, he frequently does not return for three or four days +together, he then walks about the house without rest or quiet, opens a +dozen books, begins a letter, or a stanza, scolds the servants and then +rushes out again; and thus passes day after day, and week after week."</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor looked at him, smiled, and then, after a pause, +said: "Let +him alone, he will soon become tame, I have no fears on that account, +and why do you make yourself uneasy, my good friend? you are quite rich +enough; and even if he earns nothing, if he only learns to take care of +his fortune, to enjoy with moderation his income and to do good to +others, for it often occurs that useful occupations are perilous +undertakings. I understand perfectly all that you represent to me, and +am only surprised that you do not understand it yourself. Give him the +lady of Castelnau, and both will become reasonable, you will be a +grandfather and obtain another toy to amuse you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never!" exclaimed the Counsellor of Parliament with the +utmost +vehemence, "shall that take place as long as I live; it is she, who +bewilders him, who torments him, and yet nourishes all his prejudices. +Never speak to me of that again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do the girl injustice," said the doctor, "strange she is, +indeed, +but good, and out of the two excentricities a tolerable understanding +would arise." At this moment the garden-gate was closed violently, +Edmond entered, and the conversation ended. They saluted one another, +and seated themselves in the summerhouse with the little girl. +"Brother," cried Eveline, "it is all your fault, that my beautiful +house is knocked down. He causes nothing but misfortune." Edmond was in +a kindly mood, and said: "build it up again, my sister, and you will +have so much the more to do."--"Yes," answered she, "if I were allowed +to be as idle as you, it would matter very little, but I have yet to +sew to-day, and then to write and cipher, but you have nothing to care +for, and that is why you give so much trouble to people."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What have I done besides upsetting your splendid card-house?" +asked +Edmond.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Look papa," cried the child, "he has already forgotten that +he shot +dead his lady love; Oh, he will kill us all soon, and when he has done +that, he will be satisfied."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond frowned; the father reprimanded the child's rudeness +and the +doctor gave a different turn to the conversation. "Now, dear Edmond," +said he, addressing the young man, "what do you say to the news, that +the Camisards, in spite of their late defeat, still hold out against +the king's troops, that they are masters of the plain, that an English +fleet will land in Getta, that a battle is said to have been lost in +Germany, and that, if only the half of all this be true, we are +thinking how we shall make friends with the rebels, that they may not +put an end to us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not jest," said Edmond, "our country has never yet been in +such +danger, so long however as such gentle proceedings are used towards +these rebels, we are really standing on a precipice, if the foreign foe +should succeed in landing even a small army and ally itself with them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you call their treatment mild?" asked the Counsellor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not speak," continued the son, "of the executions, the +ill-treatment and all these cruelties against individuals, they are +severe enough; that even women and children are not spared is enough to +inspire all mankind with horror. I mean the dreadful manner in which +the war is carried on, so that already a royal army has been destroyed +without being able to arrive at the root of the evil itself. Their +warfare consists in skirmishes, in the mountains where the strange +soldier is almost always more easily entrapped; the rebels are +succoured by the mountaineers, who provide them with troops and +provisions, by the war these rude men learn to make war, and although +they cannot succeed in repeating these attacks in full force, and from +all points, at the same time, with military skill and discipline, yet +it is evident that the evil will rage still longer and perhaps they may +finally conquer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You appear to have changed your mind about your Marshal," +said the +Lord of Beauvais.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My Marshal?" resumed the son, "he is the King's-marshal, and +under +this title he serves as a representative of his majesty to us all, +although the better part of the people desire that it should not be +so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would to heaven," said the doctor, "that he only belonged to +one of +us; I at least would make a vigourous attack upon him with pills and +rhubarb, so that he would soon make room for us; he is the only man +against whom I have ever before felt a grudge. Has he not in the space +of eight months sentenced to death more men than all the doctors in the +province would have been able to do. All those yonder in the mountains, +Cavalier and Roland included, he considers merely as his future +patients, and like an ignorant empiric he invariably prescribes one and +the same remedy for the most opposite constitutions. Yesterday, he +again caused twelve prophets to be hanged, who all affirmed, with their +latest breath, that a term would be soon put to his power. What is your +opinion, Ned, about this gift of prophecy, of these ecstasies and +convulsions?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will not be believed in foreign lands," said the latter, +"that such +things are practised, that many reasonable men speak of them as of a +mystery, and that our calender dates 1703."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let it date!" said Vila, "it seems then, my child, that you +understand +the affair, inform me a little on the subject, for I do not understand +it at all, or, at least, I cannot express in appropriate words that +which has from time to time passed through my mind."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is there to understand in it?" said the young man +impetuously, +"the grossest and most absurd deception that has ever ventured to +present itself to the mind."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not though in the sense in which you take it," said the +doctor, "I +have observed many in the prisons, they are very unlike one another and +merit truly a serious consideration. I have never yet been in any of +their assemblies in the open air; or in barns; but I am resolved to +assist at their service yonder there at St. Hilaire, and if you give me +a kind word Ned, you shall have permission to accompany me. I have +brought some peasants clothing in my carriage, so that no one may +recognise us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will accompany you, my good sir," said Edmond, "to make you +ashamed +of having considered these people of any kind of importance. We shall +then be able to be more of one mind concerning this ridiculous +deception."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall not go my son," said the father, "what can this +curiosity +avail? I do not understand you, my friend; are not these unfortunate +men miserable enough? must idle curiosity and petulant caprice also +make a mockery of them? and what, if the oppressed should be betrayed, +or arrested, as it has already so frequently happened, and all +massacred without distinction, who then will have been the dupe to have +slyly insinuated himself among them? or should they recognise or +entertain suspicions of you?</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does not the old patron himself talk already like a +Camisard?" said +the doctor, laughing, "in short, do you not verily believe that the +prophets would recognise and denounce us as godless people to the +multitude? but tranquillise yourself, my cautious friend, a troop of +the rebels is here in the neighbourhood, on that account the soldiers +dare not trust themselves in the mountains, knowing that they have +these good friends in their rear. I wish, for once, however, to be in +the right, and you Edmond shall learn something; these are indeed a +very singular sort of schools, and information is fetched with +difficulty and in small quantities from over the mountains and rocks; +all men cannot be wholesale dealers like you. In reality, however, it +is my son who has persuaded me to this, and made me promise to bring +you, Edmond, too."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your son?" exclaimed Edmond, with great vivacity, "the friend +of my +childhood, is he here again?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you mention this to us now for the first time?" said the +Lord of +Beauvais.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You learn it now quite time enough," replied the doctor in +his +phlegmatical humour; "yes, indeed, the vagabond is returned after many +years, he has had some experience, the hair-brained fellow. He has +studied in foreign universities, has seen Holland, England, and +Scotland, has wandered among the various tribes of India and now he is +at length returned suddenly and to my great satisfaction just as mad +and wild as ever, but well informed. He has heard wonders related of +our prophets in this country. He has seen many plants and animals of +this species in Asia, and seems as if fallen from the clouds, that, as +he turned his back upon them, a much more extraordinary plant should +have shot up in his own country close on the threshold of his native +home, than any he had observed in tropical climates, nor has he left me +a moments peace, until I promised to set out with him accompanied by +you too. 'But why did he not come here immediately with you?' cried +Edmond.</p> + +<p class="normal">"His mother, his cousins, his acquaintances," answered Vila, +"The whole +town of St. Hypolite would not let him go so quickly, he is obliged to +narrate until his throat is dry, he now waits to embrace you in the +little inn in the wood, and will then set out with you on your +chivalrous expedition.--Now my old friend, make no objections, grant +this pleasure to the young people."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, be mad then," said the Counsellor of Parliament, "but +there is +something in my breast that disapproves of this step. May heaven guide +you my son!"--They took leave, the carriage drew up, they ascended into +it in order to get over the first few miles.</p> + +<p class="normal">Scarcely had they departed, when the servant entered hastily +from the +garden. "A brilliant equipage is advancing on the road from Nismes, I +think a visit is intended for you, my Lord."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Counsellor of Parliament hurried into the hall. "How," +exclaimed he +astonished, "it is the Intendant himself, the Lord of Basville."--The +carriage stopped and a tall grave looking man, advanced in years, +descended and approached the master of the house with solemn steps. +They saluted each other and after a short pause the intendant began: +"You are doubtlessly surprised, my Lord Counsellor, to see me here, but +a matter of importance has led me to you, it appeared to me more +courteous to visit you myself than to request your presence at Nismes, +where, perhaps our conversation would not have been permitted to go on +so uninterruptedly and familiarly." The Counsellor, astonished at this +prelude to the conference, begged that he would immediately disclose +what had procured him the honour of a visit.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are slandered sir," said the Intendant, as he looked at +him +fixedly; "I am not so fortunate as to be one of your friends, yet I +assert boldly and safely that they are abominable calumnies which are +brought against you, but which, when all the circumstances are joined +together, might obtain a semblance of veracity with some credulous +people." "Who dares attack my name?" said the Counsellor of Parliament.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Many, very many," said the Intendant in a forcible tone, "and +among +these are men of importance and respectability. I told you several +months ago, that you would repent refusing your son so resolutely and +inexorably permission to organise also a troop of volunteers to fight +against the rebels and to hunt them out of their hiding-places."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not yet repent of it in the least, my Lord Intendant," +replied +the Counsellor. "Permit me to differ with you on this subject."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Had we," continued the Intendant, "obtained the assistance of +citizens, +peasants, and principally of the nobles of the land, upon which we +ought to have been permitted to reckon with certainty, our king would +not have been compelled to send an army and a Marshal, who have +produced the war they should have quelled, for it was the peasantry +themselves who annihilated the villains; and like many other worthy +men, you have not offered your assistance, you preferred living in +disunion with your son, who is a spirited young man, and an enthusiast +in the right cause. This might be taken by all for paternal love and +fatherly authority, which certainly are never to be suppressed, but +permit me," continued he in a more rapid tone, as he perceived the +Counsellor's impatience--"this, joined to the opinions to which you +have more than once given utterance in the presence of strangers, +furnished matter for various conversations in the country; and what +took place some days ago, misleads even those who honour you; and this +is what I came here to charge you with."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see, with emotion, that I am esteemed, speak out," said the +Lord of +Beauvais.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have," pursued the Intendant with the utmost coolness, +"given +refuge to rebels; you have received fugitive Camisards; these villains +have shouted a vivat to you here in front of your house; you have +permitted this rabble to eat at your table; you have yourself opposed +violent resistance, when attempts were made to take them prisoners; and +your son's affianced bride has insulted the Marshal in public company."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My lord!" exclaimed the old man entirely beside himself; +however, he +said composedly, "the web of these lies is too gross not to be +immediately recognized as falsehood. She, whom you designate as my +son's bride, will never be such with my consent, I know her not, and +cannot love her; my house was open to some unfortunate travellers, and +one of this party whom I protected, and who announced himself by the +name of the Hermit, had nearly drawn destruction upon myself and +family."</p> + +<p class="normal">He then related to him the occurrences of that evening, +precisely as he +had experienced them and concluded thus: "You now perceive, my Lord +Intendant, how falsely people have judged me in this."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe you," said the grave-looking man, "but you have +forgotten the +saying that walls have ears, it is known how you have spoken sometimes +of the Marshal and of his love-intrigues, which he certainly takes too +little trouble to conceal, in which injurious expressions you have gone +so far as to call him hangman. My severity and inflexibility, for +which I am responsible to my God and to my conscience, you call +blood-thirstiness. You cannot deny that you have sheltered suspected +persons with hospitality, that until now you did not live at variance +with your son; that you have refused to allow him to serve his country +although he is of age; if the Lady of Castelnau insults our Marshal in +the presence of your son, while he keeps silence, one must believe that +he has an understanding with her on that subject, and if this should be +the case, suspicion further concludes, that you must be quite +reconciled and of one mind; therefore, say the malicious, that you must +render assistance every way to the rebels privately as well as openly, +and that we shall be more reproached for neglect, if we suffer it, than +praised for our forbearance; and this admits of no doubt."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I desire examination, the strictest examination," exclaimed +the +Counsellor of Parliament. "You know," said the Intendant rising, "that +in this perilous confusion there is no time for it; umbrage and +suspicion serve as proofs, the most trifling circumstances, if they +cannot be refuted, condemn; the martial-law, which the king has caused +to be proclaimed to us, must unfortunately take this cursory method, +for the welfare of the country and the preservation of millions demand +it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I am condemned without being judged? judged without +having been +heard? they commence with the punishment and will be at leisure +afterwards to enquire into the case," said the Counsellor of Parliament +with bitterness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not be angry, my worthy sir," said the Lord of Basville. +"There is +no question of all this yet, the proofs of it must be much more +positive; but you cannot yourself deny, that one may be allowed to look +upon you with suspicion, when so much is alleged, against you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what then is required of me?" said the Counsellor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing, unreasonable," replied the man of gravity, "nothing, +to which +you can in justice offer any opposition. Yesterday I published a new +manifesto of his Majesty, wherein, nobles and citizens are summoned, +urgently, entreatingly, and commandingly, to stand up unanimously for +their country and religion. Three hundred young men have presented +themselves; let your son be free as his years demand, permit him thus +to testify his attachment to his king, for it is scarcely six weeks +since, when in my apartment, in presence of the Lord Marshal, he +complained with tears in his eyes, that your excessive parental +affection lays a heavy restraint upon him, and prevents him from +showing his zeal. You prevent him now again by your fatherly authority; +now, certainly, these indications joined to your indifference would +with myself weigh heavier in the scale. Your answer, my Lord Counsellor +of Parliament!" "My son," said the father with constrained displeasure, +"is free; he may serve the king according to his wish if he sets his +happiness upon it."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Intendant bowed in silence, refused all refreshment and +the +afflicted father followed the carriage with tearful eyes, as it rolled +away.--"Is it then, come to this?" exclaimed he, "you have now Edmond, +what you wished, I could not say no. You will now spare the roe and the +deer, and keep your balls for the chace after your brethren!--Oh what +folly to have allowed him to go with that thoughtless old man, under +these circumstances; if these blood-thirsty men knew that!--Aye, we +think to steer the bark of life with foresight and wisdom, and should +the tempest have but a moment's intermission, at the first calm we let +go our oars and dreaming we are wrecked on a rock."</p> + +<p class="normal">Eveline entered from the garden, the old man embraced her +tenderly and +sighed: "Soon, perhaps, thou wilt be my only child!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have they taken Edmond away from you?" asked the child.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They have indeed, my dear little one," replied the father.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They will soon restore him to you again," said Eveline +coaxingly, "we +can make better use of him, for others do not know at all what to do +with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">All this moment firing was heard in the distance, and the old +man +concealed himself with his child in the most retired room of the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was soon recalled to the saloon, and was not a little +surprised to +see his friend, the doctor, standing before him, and in reality clothed +in the dress of a peasant, so that at first he did not recognize him. +"Be not uneasy," said he, "nothing unfortunate has happened to us, but +something very ridiculous to me; only think, scarcely had I disguised +myself in this merry-andrew fashion, and advanced afoot towards the +mountains, than a servant, whether luckily, or unluckily, stepped up to +me, recognized me again and requested my attendance at the Marquis of +Valmont's, who is suddenly taken dangerously ill, the carriage was +waiting ready, I threw myself into it, made them drive as fast as the +horses could run, and here, just before your door, it occurs to me for +the first time, that in the dark and hurry, I left all my unfortunate +wardrobe at the inn in the wood, sword, wig, and every thing. Assist me +quickly with some of your clothes, or I shall not be able to attend the +Marquis."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the two foolish youths," said the Counsellor, "they are +now alone, +without your counsel and prudence. Why did I suffer myself to be +infected with your frivolity?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Make no objections, my good friend," exclaimed the former, +"all +these are trifles compared to my misery!--He quickly tore off his +clothes;--Bring! give!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The domestic who was summoned thither assisted him, "My +clothes are too +long, and perhaps too narrow for you," said the Counsellor. "Never +mind," cried the eager doctor, I shall perhaps the more easily impose +on the invalid; the black coat, the neckcloth, the waistcoat descends +to the knee, no harm in that; now for the wig!</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know, extraordinary man," said the Lord of Beauvais, +"that I have +given up that ornament here in this retirement more than ten years +ago.--There is not one in the house."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No wig!" exclaimed Vila, and with horror let fall the black +coat, +through one of the sleeves of which he had thrust his arm.--"Not a +single wig! man! now I begin to believe that you have renounced all +faith, what is to be done?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Counsellor and the servant endeavoured to quiet the +provoked +friend, but he scarcely even heard their words. "A doctor to go to his +patient without a wig!" repeated he angrily, "it would cause an uproar +in the whole province, it would be reported in Paris, a scandalous +article would be inserted in the 'Mercure de France,' ah the infidel! +it would be even better to have no bread, no catechism in the house +than to want the necessary headgear, and the Marquis will not suffer +himself to be cured by me in this bald-headed condition, and his fever +will have still less respect for me."</p> + +<p class="normal">But all his complaints were fruitless, he was forced to depart +in this +strange costume, and could not in the least understand the Counsellor's +indifference to his embarrassment, "I should have expected more +friendship from the old heathen," muttered he to himself, "and all that +the Camisards have done, is nothing in comparison to my going without +sword and chapeau bas, dressed in black with ruffles and all the +appurtenances; but to advance to the bed of so distinguished a patient, +without a wig is nothing less than if I had lived among canibals." Thus +did he try by exaggerations to console himself for his plight.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<p class="continue">A large company was invited at the Marshal's at Nismes. The +Intendant, +the Lord of Basville, sat by the side of the Lord of Montrevel, many +officers and respectable inhabitants of the town surrounded the table, +and at the head the beautiful Lady of Andreux added lustre to the +assembly, who with her husband was present to do honour to this +banquet. Some of her female relatives, distinguished ladies of Nismes, +sat between the gentlemen, and all seemed as merry as if they were not +pondering on the common oppression of the country. The Intendant of the +province alone preserved his serious demeanour and joined not in the +repeated laughter of the others; he was deeply engaged in earnest +conversation with Colonel Julien, who also seemed to be totally +regardless of the lively mood of the company. An important advantage +had been obtained the day before over the rebels, and all were +flattering themselves, that in a short time they would see these +unhappy insurrections brought to an end. The Marshal was in higher +spirits than people had been used to see him for a long time; his +sallies were laughed at and the homage which he conspicuously addressed +to the Lady of Andreux, was gratefully received by her and returned +with pointed elegance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Colonel Julien related to the Intendant the wonderful manner +in which +he had effected his escape from the recesses of the mountains of the +Cevennes, three months previously. He was in command of a small +expedition and thought to have entirely defeated the rebels in a hot +encounter, when he perceived himself on all sides suddenly surrounded +towards evening. 'Around us,' said he, 'were steep, barren mountains, +while we were preparing for a retreat, all the heights were suddenly +occupied by multitudes of people, before and behind us were swarms of +dark figures, we could not long remain doubtful of our position; for +suddenly large stones rolled down on our troop, which in their heavy +descent crushed our people murderously. Here there was no rallying to +be thought of, therefore we retreated almost flying towards a mill near +a mountain stream. I was convinced I should find this pass also +occupied, and gave myself up for lost. The rocks crushed my soldiers +right and left, resistance being impossible. Now sprung from the other +side, like chamois, more than a hundred down from the steep heights, +and in this disorder, where we could not hold our footing, a bloody +fight ensued; I had been already wounded three times, and my fighting +men were rapidly decreasing, darkness came on, when, in a moment, while +the Camisards burst into their howling hymns, a panic seized the rest +of my troop, and they all rushed towards the opening of the valley. The +victorious band pursued them from the other side, new foes beset them. +Bleeding, I leaned solitarily against a rock and saw through the +twilight my company hewn down, the former could not perceive me, +however, firmly they had sworn my death. I dragged myself sideways +towards the little bridge that leads to the mill on the other side, +certain of meeting death; but I found it undefended. A fault that I +should not have expected from the rebels, for they were headed by +Cavalier, as I heard in the midst of the cries and hubbub. All this +misfortune, however, happened to me only in consequence of false +informers, who brought me lying accounts; men, that I had long known, +and whose fidelity seemed to me to have been tried; but they merely +played this part, the better to deceive me, for they belonged to the +Camisards.'</p> + +<p class="normal">"The worst of this is," said the Intendant, "that we dare +trust no one, +not a single one. The most sincere, the most zealous patriots in +appearance, betray us. We are reproached for severity and harshness, +but I fear we are yet too mild and compassionate, for these faithless +rebels deserve no quarter; they can only be subdued by continued, +inexorable severity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They should be wholly extirpated," interrupted the Marshal, +who in the +middle of his own lively conversation had only listened to the last +words.</p> + +<p class="normal">Julien looked gravely at the Intendant, while he sighed: "You +really +believe then that these unfortunate men are no longer deserving of +human consideration." "Hardly so indeed," said the Lord of Basville, +"for through their own cruelty and disgraceful conduct of every kind, +they have rendered themselves unworthy of any sympathy. But go on +Colonel: how were you saved in this pressing position?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"With scarcely strength sufficient to advance a single step, I +dragged +myself across the river, through the copse and over a meadow towards +the mill, for no choice was left me. It was now become quite dark, and +yet I would have willingly avoided this mill, for the people there were +more than merely suspicious. Two of the sons had gone over to the +rebels some time before, and it had been my intention after my victory +to take all these people from their houses along with me, and to have +them interrogated in prison. A dog announced my arrival; this was the +last thing I was conscious of, for I fell fainting before the door of +the house. When I recovered from my insensibility, I found myself +undressed upon a bed, my wounds bound up, and many strange faces +gathered round me, which, by the glimmering light of a lamp caused me a +most disagreeable impression. An old man with white hair, who seemed to +have the most authority, was the only one in whom I could have any +confidence; the more horrible among them, were some women, particularly +an elderly one, whom I took for the old man's wife. 'Your wounds are +not mortal,' said the old miller, 'you will soon recover, be tranquil +on this point.'--May I in reality have no cause for uneasiness? +rejoined I. Am I with loyal subjects of the king?--'By heaven, we are +such!' exclaimed the aged man with tears in his eyes, 'we have already +made many sacrifices to him, and we will protect you, although you seem +to know us well, nor are you either unknown to us. My two sons have +both suffered martyrdom--but the king commanded it should be so, and +God permitted it, we dispute no more with him.' Hereupon the women, +particularly the old ones, set up a terrific howling; some young +fellows gazed at me with cruel, sanguinary looks; I was prepared for +all. 'Peace,' cried the old man, 'this man has not come under my roof +as a foe, but as one requiring assistance, who injures a hair of his +head, will have to answer for it to me!--We found you lifeless at our +door, we recognized you on the spot,' continued he turning to me; 'we +need only to have left you without assistance, and <i>we</i> did not murder +you; but I have staunched the blood, you may return to-morrow to the +town, and I will take care that you shall be conveyed with all speed to +the nearest village in an easy manner, for when our companions arrive +in a mass, as it may happen to-morrow, I might not be able to protect +you any longer.' And so it happened. During the night some rebels, who +were seeking after me, were sent away even in the twilight of morning; +I was placed comfortably in a small vehicle and conveyed to the opening +of the valley from whence I could be carried in safety to the town."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We may well be astonished at this false virtue," said the +Intendant, +"but we must refuse it our consideration, for that will not be +necessary, if these unfortunate men remain faithful to the king and +obey his mandates."</p> + +<p class="normal">The company was still sitting at desert and sipping choice +wines, when, +suddenly, a great uproar was raised in the house, several men's +footsteps were heard hastening up the steps, the doors burst open and +in rushed the clergyman of St. Sulpice, pale, and trembling, followed +by a few citizens, and among these a young man who seemed quite beside +himself, "What is the matter?" demanded the Marshal in an authoritative +tone, and the Intendant arose and addressed himself to the young +citizen. "Now Clement," said he, "recollect yourself, what has happened +to you?" "Is not this the leader of the city militia at Nismes?" asked +the Marshal with contempt.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Even so," replied the Lord of Basville, "he led the troop of +volunteers." "He seems to have lost the power of speech in his +expedition," said the Lord of Montrevel, laughing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are behind us--they will be here directly," stammered +out young +Clement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who?" enquired the Marshal, who had resumed his seat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cavalier and the Camisards!" cried the young man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not so bad, not quite so bad as that," rejoined the priest, +who seemed +more composed. "But our troop is totally defeated and the rebels have +been all along in our rear, and they have the insolence to appear on +the plain of Nismes, as if they were going to threaten the town +itself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thus it is," said the Marshal cuttingly, "when citizens +meddle with +affairs to which they are not equal; give the young man a glass of wine +to revive him." Casting at the same time a side glance at the +Intendant, "Sit down reverend priest," he continued, "you appear more +composed, give us a little more circumstantial account."</p> + +<p class="normal">"According to the order of the gracious Lord Marshal," said +the priest, +bowing profoundly, "We set fire yesterday to the village, which had +furnished provisions to the rebels, when they had quartered themselves +there; we then set out five hundred men strong, and three hundred +soldiers marched at the same time, with a hundred dragoons on the other +side of the river. The wretched, burned out creatures ran howling into +the wood and we pursued our way whilst we saw about a hundred rebels +flying before us. Behind the wood we joined the royal troops and +surrounded the vineyards on three sides near Nages. Some Camisards +showed themselves sideways, who, however, after a few shots +disappeared, We now advanced on the right, the soldiers on the left, in +between the mountains; we fell among the brambles, and--as if fire was +vomited forth from all sides, balls flew in among us without our being +able to see any one, we hesitate, we halt. Now the villains in the +mountains spring to their feet yelling and psalm-singing bellow down +upon us, together with hissing balls; we defend ourselves and put our +hopes in the royal troops, but the superiority is too great, our people +fall, we are compelled to retreat. Difficult enough it was to retire +from the mountains, the greater part of our men remain lying there: +arriving on the plain, there we beheld the military also beaten and +taking flight."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Defeated!" screamed the Marshal.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are most likely following us," replied the priest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The volunteers," said the Intendant, "have apparently not +been +properly supported, as it has often happened already, and how shall the +citizen bear up if the soldier takes flight?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Marshal, his face crimsoned, would have retorted angrily, +when some +officers, covered in dust and bewildered, entered hastily. "The rebels, +Lord Marshal," said a young captain, "are seen before the gates of +Nismes; Cavalier has played us a fine trick this time; our informers +enticed us among the vineyards, the volunteers did not unite with us as +had been agreed upon and we are entirely routed. Cavalier knows how to +dispose of his men like an old soldier.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lord Marshal," exclaimed a veteran colonel entering the room, +"the foe +is without! and the fearful Catinat has, through retribution, as he +calls it, reduced three catholic villages to ashes, and with his own +hands set fire to the churches."</p> + +<p class="normal">Some prisoners were brought in, among whom there was a child +of twelve +years of age. "What means this lad?" exclaimed the Marshal.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is a brother of Cavalier," replied the old colonel, "we +had already +made this dangerous leader prisoner, we had taken possession of a +bridge and he could not rejoin his people, when this brat, this boy +here, rallied the rebels, harangued them, brandished his sword in his +outstretched hand, fell upon us, retook the bridge, made his brother +free, but became himself our prisoner."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Satan's brood!" growled the Marshal, "away with them all to +prison, +and we, gentlemen, to our posts!" all hastened out, the guests had +already retired without taking leave: the boy looked boldly and +smilingly round the saloon, and carelessly followed his guard; no one +remained behind but Colonel Julien and the Intendant, who took their +hats and sticks to go to their respective houses. "This cannot +continue," said the Lord of Basville, "the king sacrifices his army +fruitlessly and the rebellion becomes more obstinate and stronger."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Things will change," said the Colonel, "I have the surest +intelligence +from Paris;--but you testify too openly your contempt of him; he also +knows what you report concerning him at court."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can I do otherwise," said the Intendant, "if I am a faithful +servant +to the king? you have witnessed all, and must acknowledge in your +heart, that but for this Marshal, this rebellion would never have +become a war; he nourishes it, he is rejoicing at the idea of becoming +important through it, he squanders all his time with women and is brave +as a soldier only through pityful vanity, and he piques himself in +gaining the affections of silly women."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If we now obtain a better general," said Julien, "it is to be +hoped, +that this system of overreached severity and cruelty would be given up +and trial made of gentle means."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No good subject of the king can counsel that," said the +Intendant +taking a hasty leave of the Colonel.</p> + +<p class="normal">The streets were in an uproar and every one was hastening to +make +resistance against the rebels, who appeared more dangerous than ever.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<p class="continue">Some days had elapsed and the Counsellor of Parliament had not +seen his +son. Franz, the old domestic, had in the mean while set out on a +journey, and Joseph, as well as the female servants had not ventured to +disturb Edmond. The father was deeply concerned, for his son had never +before so pointedly avoided him. His grief lay principally in the +feeling, that he could not simply take the shortest and most natural +way, with all a father's authority, to force an entrance into his room, +which was always locked, and to question him about his condition. He +learned from Joseph, that his son always locked himself in, that he was +heard to sigh, nay, to weep, and that at night he would steal out to +wander about on the mountains, and then would as secretly return in the +morning, and avoid every body, in order to go and shut himself up again +as before. He seemed also to observe a rigid fast, for he took no food +and sent away every thing that was offered to him. "I no longer +understand him," said the old man to himself, as he was left once more +alone; "his high-wrought feelings destroy him, and I, his father, must +see him go to ruin without being able to do anything to save him. At +length the dark spirits are roused, that I have so long heard in their +slumbers; they have now assuredly taken possession of his soul."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was late, and the night was still and dark; he dismissed +the +servants, in order to be able to converse uninterruptedly with his son, +for it appeared to him an indispensable duty to make himself acquainted +with his condition, the uncertainty of which weighed more painfully on +his heart than the conviction of an actual misfortune would have done. +He took therefore the master-key, in order to ascend the great +staircase, when he heard the door of his son's room opened; he stood +still, and a ghastly pale figure in a dusky green coarse doublet, +descended towards him, his gun was slung over his shoulder, his hair in +wild disorder, his eyes dim, "Oh heaven!" exclaimed the father, "I +think I see a spirit, and it is you my son!"--He tottered, and +trembling was compelled to sit down on the stairs. "Is it you in +reality?"--"It is myself," answered Edmond in a hollow voice. "How?" +said the old man, "thus, in this figure? thus ill? in this dress? you +look though as like a Camisard, as if you were one of them."--"It is so +too," answered the son, "I am now going up into the mountains to them."</p> + +<p class="normal">The father started up violently, he seized his son powerfully +in his +arms, and thus carried him with supernatural strength into the saloon; +he placed him in an armchair, took the candle, looked at him +scrutinizingly and examined his whole figure, seized him by the breast +and cried out vehemently: "Wouldst thou act thus to me, unnatural +son?"--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," answered Edmond coldly, "I cannot do otherwise, I +must!--leave +me! I thought, however, for once that I should win your approbation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As a rebel?" cried the Counsellor of Parliament in a vehement +voice, +"as a murderer? that I must see die under martyrdom at the gallows? to +outrage my grey hair? one whom the father must deliver up into the +hands of the executioner?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The son looked at him fixedly, but coldly and collectedly; the +father +was deeply affected at it, but, at this ghastly look, had lost the +strength which supernatural terror had lent him for a moment, and +weeping aloud, he fell upon his son, who threw his arms round him, +embraced him, and by his caresses sought to console the afflicted old +man, "Oh, my son!" began the father, after a long pause, often +interrupted by sobs, "for many years I have not experienced these +tokens of affection in you, and now in this terrible moment, in which +my whole life vanishes as in a dream, in which you have so violently +torn my heart!--I cannot recover myself, I cannot question you, and +what shall I experience if my entreaties, my love, if nothing will +break your stubborn, enigmatical will? Oh, God of love! is there, in +all the feelings thou hast created, one more fervid than that of a +father to a child? and do we know the tremendous affliction we implore, +when we entreat heaven for children?"</p> + +<p class="normal">They remained long clasped in each other's arms, at length +Edmond said: +"Let me depart with your blessing, my father."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I cannot give to your dreadful designs," replied the +Counsellor; +"It is so fearful, that I must still look upon you and myself as two +spectres."</p> + +<p class="normal">Both were silent for a long time. At last the father said: "I +will not +entreat of you to go to rest, for I greatly fear that you will not obey +me, it is fruitless also that I should seek for repose in sleep, for +slumber would flee from my shaken brain; what I may learn to-morrow, I +may as well hear to-day; if I can conceive, if I can comprehend that +which is incomprehensible, perhaps, it would terrify me less, perhaps, +I shall yield to grief and sorrow, and necessity, as to the storm, +or the earthquake; but from this spectral terror, from this almost +mask-like enigma, which threatens to drive me mad, deliver me at least +from this by speech and narration."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can it be expressed, my father?" began Edmond, "will you +comprehend +what I myself cannot understand with my common knowledge? We should not +indeed comprehend, if this hall round us were suddenly turned into +Hesperian gardens, but we should enjoy the fruit, we should live and +exist in the miracle, even though by that means we should forget that +yet some other knowledge were wanting."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has that delirium also taken possession of you," cried the +old man, +"in its peculiar way and wrapped you in the folds of its dark +vestments? now I would have sworn that you were free from that! and yet +I should have done wrong, for all fanaticism is but the twinborn of the +apparently most improbable and inimical."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You speak what your mind prompts," said the son, "and I +understand you +perfectly, but you do not understand me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, Edmond, you may be right, only speak, relate to me, +perhaps I +may be able to approach nearer to your soul."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How much I hated these Huguenots," began Edmond, "how much I +abhorred +their war against the king, their fanaticism and prophets, that I +despised the gross deception of those people, I need not tell you, for +my irritated feelings made you unhappy and it seems that I am destined +to cause your misery, I may place myself now as then on whatever side I +like.--"</p> + +<p class="normal">He stopped for a short time and then returned; "with these +sentiments I +dressed myself in the peasant's clothes, which were so hateful to me, +our friend quitted me, as you know, and I went with his son up into the +mountains. Florentine jested about our expedition, I was much vexed at +and ashamed of my purpose. When we advanced farther into the mountains, +some figures glided before us on the solitary footpath, we followed the +direction they took, and arrived with them in about half an hour at a +lonely barn. They knocked; it was opened to us. I cannot describe the +feeling with which I entered into this rustic assembly. It was a +loathing of mind and body. Some were kneeling, others were standing +praying, I approached the latter and tried to imitate them. Everything +went on quietly, all eyes were bent on the ground, a few old women only +muttered their psalms between their teeth. All at once a boy about +eight years old fell down as if in convulsions. My repugnance was at +its highest pitch, for now I saw before me the deformed spectacle, the +relation of which had for many years previously excited my liveliest +indignation. The child's breast heaved, he leaped up, and threw himself +down again, and I thought to have distinctly perceived the voluntary +exertion. All the faithful, hoping and comforted, turned upon him their +eyes. Never in my life had I more self-possession, never was I so +rock-firm in my conviction; my thoughts became more and more irritated, +I only wished myself back again, in order to give free vent to my hatred. +Suddenly the child exclaimed in a hoarse voice: 'verily I bless ye, +ye shall be blessed!'--Now in the stream which flowed incessantly, +came innumerable prayers and exhortations as well as passages from the +holy scriptures and their explanation, all in reference to existing +circumstances. I was still more astounded, when the boy cried out: +'Beware my brethren; for two traitors have made their way into the +assembly, who intend you evil.' I looked up, young Vila turned pale, he +was standing at the door, and slipped out, when it was opened to new +comers. 'One is escaped,' groaned the child as he still lay with his +eyes and senses closed, 'but the second mocker is still present, he +knows not that I, the Lord, have led him hither, that he may become one +of mine.' I was terrified, my inmost soul was moved and emotions rose +in my heart, which I had never experienced before. They began to sing +psalms, and however discordant they may have sounded, they made no +unpleasant impression on me, my mind followed the glorious words? the +misfortune of these desolate creatures, their contrition before the +Lord, the fearful haughtiness of their adversaries, vibrated and +shrieked heartrendingly in this unharmonious lamentation; it appeared +to me absurd that until now harmony had been necessary to me when I +wished to raise my heart in prayer. Does not the universal lament of +creation strike on his ear? Do not praise and thanksgivings with tears +and cries of sorrow rise equally to his throne? To this feeling were +added many more, and weak, poor and unintelligible did the whole course +of my past life appear to me. Do these statues, lights and temples then +make any difference, said I to myself, with all this pomp of riches and +splendour? will the Lord who walked bound as a slave among us, and +suffered himself to be illtreated, will he not be mocked through it? Do +not these wretched beings represent him anew before our eyes? can I not +in each one of these persecuted ones greet himself? feed, clothe, and +protect him?--Then I felt as if all the sorrow and strife, which these +mountains have endured for years were piercing in countless multitudes +through my own wounded breast. Another boy now fell down and cried, 'go +out into the wood, Elias, Marion, and some of the faithful are +approaching, they have strayed; induce them to come with psalms, for +to-day, you have no persecution to fear.' Some went out from the +assembly, and sang with loud voices, and soon afterwards returned with +a great number of enthusiasts, among whom a tall man advanced, who was +respectfully saluted by all. 'Triumph!' said the child aloud, still +prostrate on the ground, 'the disbeliever is overcome, he will enter +into the kingdom of the Lord.' Then I felt the blow of a great hammer +suddenly against my breast. I struggled with this feeling, and +conquered it. The humble divine worship of this poor pitiable +congregation was continued with psalms, and calmly uttered inspired +discourses. Marion spoke the word of life, which penetrated through all +my faculties; in what dreadful error I had been wandering untill then! +All contingencies vanished, it was granted to me to look upon the Lord, +and the strength of his miracles in their simple glory, and to behold +his meek and lowly form. If until then my soul had been only +overshadowed by pomp, legends, false emotions and artificial +elevations; as splendid hanging of silk and gold only confine the pure +rays of celestial light, and give but a false brilliancy to its glory. +My heart was contrite and as a wound of sorrow and emotion; my spirit +was like that of a child. The Most High stood by my side, and stretched +out his bleeding hand to me, which had been now again pierced by us +miserable wretches. The glance from his tearful eyes went to my soul, +then I was filled with wrathful melancholy and joyful sorrow, and in +this emotion, I was smitten again when the assembly dispersed. What is +nature? this question I had often asked myself when I rambled with +enthusiasm through wooded mountains and verdant valleys magically +lighted and covered with the breath of morning, embalmed by the fresh +zephyrs, and filled with all the lovely presentiments which inspire us +with such pleasing dreams. Oh, my father! now I understand the deep +wailings in the woods and in the mountains, in the gurgling stream, the +word of the Eternal himself and his almighty compassion on us unhappy, +lost creatures, was murmured to me from every wave and from every +bough. With a million of tongues the countless foliage reproached my +negligent tardiness. My eye pierced through the past and future, my +thoughts were adoration, my feelings holy devotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I plunged into the thickest woods and gave a free course to +my flowing +tears, I now received the third summons and I no longer resisted it. In +the solitude of night, my whole being was absorbed in prayer and +thanksgiving, wonderously the strongest words poured forth without the +slightest exertion, as tears flow without design, as wave follows wave +down the stream, as the wind puts in motion the numberless foliage of +the forest, thus led by a higher and invisible spirit, my speech was +changed into prophecy. A new being arose within me, I no longer +recognised that of yesterday. In the mirror of my inmost soul another +eye, different from my own, met mine, nevertheless this was really +myself. Now resting, now walking, I found myself in the twilight of +morning in the district of Sauve among the recesses of the mountains. +You know, my father, the lofty situation of the dreary landscape there, +no tree, no shrub, scarcely a solitary blade of grass upon the barren, +white chalky waste, and as far as the eye extends, trunks of trees, +heaps of lime stones in all shapes, like men, animals and horses, +dazzling and fatiguing the sight, spread about, and at intervals +rolling stones, and a little lower down, the small, gloomy, solitary +town. Here I threw myself down again and gazed upon the waste ruin +around, and upon the dark blue sky above me, strange how my spirit +wandered there! I cannot explain by any human language, how +instantaneously my heart was impressed with every feeling of belief, +with every noble thought, how creation, nature, and the strangest +mystery, man with his wonderful energies and his common dependance on +the elements, how vain, how contradictory and ridiculous all this +appeared to me now. I could not collect myself, I was compelled +incessantly to follow this train of thought and to find relief in loud +laughter. Then there was no God, no spirit, nothing but puerility, +madness, and deformity, in all that creeps, swims, and flies, +especially in this ball that thinks, reflects, and weeps, and +underneath devours and masticates. Oh, let me be silent and not again +discover the maddening images that took possession of my mind, +annihilation, dead, cold non-existence appeared to me alone desirable +and noble. I was utterly undone, and painful was my return to life, but +I at length found it with the help of the compassionate one." The +father seized his son's hand, "Mark my child," said he mildly, "as soon +as all these wonderous sensations shall in wild controversy have +traversed your soul, you will assuredly be yourself again and return to +us entirely. Your lacerated heart will resume its tranquility and +repose after these commotions, and then will your understanding and +free will abandon your fearful purpose."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never! my father," exclaimed the youth with sudden vehemence, +"this +was my temptation in the wilderness, which the All Merciful shortened +to a few hours, and then opened his paternal arms to me again. It might +have lasted for weeks and months, had he not been willing to shew +compassion to my weakness. You believe me not, you doubt, but what will +you say if I give you the most undeniable proofs, that this my +enlightening is no false, or artificial one, if you will even be +compelled to own to me, that I not only know myself by this, but also +all that is unconnected with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you mean by that?" demanded the old man bewildered, +"I do not +understand you, my son."</p> + +<p class="normal">"When I resumed my human feelings and had refreshed myself, I +wandered +again to the green wood that extends towards Florac, there, where the +rocks assume a grand character as far as the mountains of Lozere. The +place pleased me and I passed the night in the open air.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What did you do on this second night of my absence? where did +Franz +remain? do you think that I do not know all?" The father looked at him +with fear.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you know?" asked he stammering. "When I again turned +my +thoughts on the Saviour," said the son, "and endeavoured to account for +my bewilderment, in order to assist my researches, I felt compelled to +think on you, on my sister and on our house, thus will it assuredly be +after death, the soul will still cast lingering looks after its +cherished old nature and be unable for a length of time to comprehend +its new thoughts and strange existence. Suddenly, when my ardent desire +was accomplished; I saw you; all was still in the house, you went with +Franz more quietly than usual and with great caution into the library, +the window shutters and doors were closed, there was only one taper +burning. With the help of Franz you removed the folios, and at the same +time drew back the first bolt of the by chest, the pressure of a spring +you opened the pannel, which slid back into the wall and threw light +into the little enclosed recess. I saw several small chests standing +there, jewels of costly value were in them, that I never knew of and +which you never mentioned to me, but Franz seemed to know all. You +opened the cases, arranged them and added some others to them. Franz +wept and said: 'So now my wish will be at length accomplished of living +at Geneva in future and openly acknowledging the faith that I have been +compelled to deny here.' This also was new and unexpected to me. Then +you embraced the old servant heartily, kissed him on the mouth and said +with emotion: 'You are now no longer my servant, but my friend, my most +confidential friend, for to you I confide my entire welfare, my +property, and my children. God protect you on your way there and back, +give these letters into the right hands at the same time with this +little treasure; steal as you can over the frontiers, then we are safe, +and return directly with favourable answers.' That very night, he +accomplished fifteen leagues."</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man trembled violently; he examined his son +doubtingly, his +face was pale. "Where have you seen all this?" demanded he at length. +"Yonder in the mountains of Lozere, fourteen leagues from here." There +was a pause. "I must believe you," said the father. "Be it a miracle, +delirium, an undiscovered strength of nature; I see, but I understand +it not. All is in reality as you have said, but your manner is terrible +to me. Do you not then believe, that as you have fallen, in so +unusually strange a manner, into this disposition, conviction, and +miraculous gift, there may be also means, which heaven, if you in faith +and humility call upon God will open to reconduct you into the ordinary +walk of mankind, far from these fearful rocks upon which you must +inevitably founder."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You understand me not, I tell you once more," cried the +youth, +"although I quite understand your meaning. You do not trust the token +that I have given you. Yet," added, he smiling, "you are not quite so +hardened just now, better thoughts steal over your soul, though also +from the region of unbelief."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what is it?" asked the father, "you will otherwise make +me believe +that you are able to penetrate into all the hidden depths of the +heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You were thinking just now," said Edmond:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let him take his course, the evil must now have reached its +height, +perhaps God wills that he should find at length by this more than +wonderful means, his salvation, and that he may learn later to cool by +reason and true christian humility, the fanaticism, that now transform +him into a lunatic. Thus do you think of me, thus do you deny the +spirit." "My son," said the old man with uplifted looks, "is it a good +spirit that prompts you? is it not perhaps the wild wandering of nature +herself in you that transports you beyond her own limits?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The son cast again that terrifying look on his father, which +rendered +him mute.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are free," said the old man, "affection alone, not force +should +retain you. Go then and follow the dictates of your own heart. My +prayers shall accompany you, and, may be, they will have the power to +mitigate, or ward off the worst."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Surely you are not opposed to my taking to my poor brethren +my small +fortune," said Edmond perfectly tranquillised, "they are more in need +of it than we."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take also this purse from me," said the father, "I desire not +to know +to what purpose you destine it, but the unfortunate men yonder are in +want of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Franz is coming!" exclaimed Edmond; "Where?" enquired the +Counsellor:--"He is still far behind the mountains, I see him only with +my inward eyes. The over-cautious old man! he has hidden the letter in +his boot, there he is leaning against an old tree, and is pulling it +out. I could read the letter to you if I liked, but I perceive that it +contains good news for you, let that suffice. Permit me now to go, +before the old man returns to oppress my heart anew with his +lamentations, or to excite my anger."</p> + +<p class="normal">Father and son long held each other closely embraced; the old +Lord +seemed overpowered with grief and tears; Edmond gently disengaged +himself from his paternal arms, returned once more and kissed his +father. With hasty steps he traversed the garden and ascended the +vineyard; there he stood still once more, and from thence waved a +handkerchief downwards in salutation, while Franz issued from the wood +ou the opposite side and held up the letters exultingly in the +distance.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<p class="continue">The mountains and the country around were by this time filled +with new +tidings that contained representations of the most horrible cruelties, +said to have been practised by the Camisards. Even their best friends +and such as willingly lent them their aid, became displeased, and many +of the rebels themselves ventured not to extenuate the barbarity, which +these had permitted themselves to exercise against catholic priests, +landholders, nay even towards secret protestants. It appeared as if the +weakest party desired, in defying despair to outdo the harshness of +their foes; but this alienated many hearts from them and withheld the +help that otherwise would have been openly lent to them.</p> + +<p class="normal">A serene summer morning shed its light over the mountains, +when Edmond +with hasty steps took his way towards the secret wilds, where there was +neither track nor footpath, and which was only known to him from +representation. He felt as if his wonderful gift of inward sight was +conducting him in the direct way, for he discovered the most secret +directing signs by which the rebels alone could find a clue to the +hiding-places, without straying among the windings of the rocks, or +being stopped by the appearance of unexpected precipices. He left the +fortress of St. Hyppolite on one side and came in a short time after +having climbed steep mountains, into another rocky district, to which +only small stony paths led, and which far around was torn asunder by +spacious crevices and caverns. Here did the Camisards keep their +severely wounded that had been able to escape from the fight; if this +was impossible, they shot them themselves, in order to deliver them +from the cruel ingenuity of the executioner. In these caves, Roland +also concealed his provision of arms and ammunition, if he should have +a superfluity of them, and also a supply of food and wine, likewise +medicines, and that which was necessary for the care of the sick. +Government had already offered a large reward for the discovery of this +important place of refuge, but until now in vain, for only the most +trustworthy among the rebels were acquainted with this district, who +naturally would not betray it and they took care, that only those among +the country-people, whose integrity could be depended upon, should be +admitted. As Edmond went along the narrow way which lay on the right +under a steep mountain, whilst on the left, at the distance of a few +paces, yawned a giddy abyss; he was just reflecting how easily and +safely this pass might be defended, when he suddenly heard a large +figure with a hairy face and wild, savage expression, call out, +requesting to speak with him. Edmond was going to explain to him for +what purpose he had come there, when the hairy figure without replying +took up his gun and was in the act of firing at him, a cracked voice +from behind a projection of the rock, cried out: "For God's sake stop, +brother Mazel!" at the same moment two naked brown arms fell on the +breast of the armed man and dashed the gun on the ground. "He is no +spy, he cannot be such!" exclaimed the half-naked man, "it is the young +Lord of Beauvais."</p> + +<p class="normal">As Edmond looked round he saw Eustace, the charcoal-burner +whom he knew +very well, standing before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How came you to this secret place?" said the invalid, who was +taken +care of here.</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond now saw several strange faces which gathered round to +examine +him with looks of curiosity. The young man experienced a singular +sensation on beholding these ragged, wretched looking figures, and on +finding himself compelled to tell them wherefore he was come, and that +he intended to live among them as a brother, and to fight for their +abused rights. Eustace clapped his hands in the greatest amazement, and +cried out: "I should have sooner expected the day of judgment! you +cannot conceive bow haughty and indignant this noble gentleman was, +when I once attempted to speak and jest with his little lady sister! +Yes, Abraham, that is a sign from God, to strengthen us in our good +cause. If such a gentleman to whom nothing is wanting, to whom God has +plentifully given whatever human wealth can procure, brought up and +learned in their religion, if he should come over to us, and be willing +to undergo the severity of the weather, storms, hunger, nakedness, and +for the sake of God, perhaps, a disgraceful death: what are we then to +do, whom they have plundered, ill used, whose children they have +slaughtered, whose priests they have murdered; indeed these are signs +which precede judgment?" In the same moment he began to scream out a +psalm; but Mazel said: "Cease now, good brother, for we do not at all +know yet, if brother Roland will accept him, he must first be brought +before him; we have lately been several times too much deceived and the +thing may be only a snare this time also, but Roland and Cavalier know +directly what they are about, no one can deceive these."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond looked at him with the utmost contempt and exclaimed: +"Conduct +me to the wood, to Lord Roland!"--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Brother Roland, if you please," replied the stout Mazel, +"among us +there are no Lords; God is our Lord.--Stephen! Favart!" Cried he, in a +commanding tone, and out of the cliffs sprang forward a fair-haired +young man, and behind him stole forth another, whom Edmond immediately +recognised for the old huntsman, that he had met about twelve days +before at his father's house. "Conduct the young man to brother +Roland," said Mazel to both of them, and Edmond accompanied them in +silence, still deeper into the solitude of the mountains. Favart +glanced sideways at the new comrade, while they walked on together, at +length he said: "Lately, but for that young lad, things would have +turned out badly enough."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who was he?" asked Edmond.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know," replied the huntsman, "I should like very +much to +know who he is; he knew me, although I did not know him. I had +abandoned the brethren for sixteen months, now I am again returned to +them, principally because the young lad said in my ear that I was an +apostate and a traitor to God; now, I know too, how the Lord of +Basville, the Intendant thinks, and all the other godless men. They are +blood-thirsty men."</p> + +<p class="normal">Young Stephen drew out a little flute and blew upon it a +spiritual +song, which sounded pleasingly far through the mountains. "Leave off +that godless blowing," said Favart. "Why godless?" asked Edmond. "It is +only a worldly little pipe," said the squinting huntsman, "all these +things proceed from the wicked enemy, to ensnare our souls and hearts +through sensual pleasure; in simplicity we should think on the Lord and +our lips alone should laud and praise him, but not artificially and +seducingly, for it is not seemly to make jubelee in our sorrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are too severe," said Stephen, "the birds in the woods +praise the +Lord and artificially too, in their way."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They have no reason, no soul," said Favart, "they are poor +beasts, +even if it were the nightingale herself; it is still no praise to the +Lord, they do but call their mates, or brood in their nests, their +godliness is all a lie."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you will," said Stephen, at the same time replacing his +flute. They +came to a number of trees hewn down, and placed so as to form a sort of +fence, from out of which a voice exclaimed: "Who goes there?" "Zion!" +replied the two guides; and some large birch-trees were pushed +backwards, and made way on the narrow path. They passed through. "Where +is Roland?" demanded they of the sentinels. "Up there," replied the +latter, "under the great Apostle chesnut tree."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We shall soon be there," said Stephen. They already heard a +noise in +the distance, talking, singing, and also clattering of iron; and now, +when they had reached the summit of the wooded mountain plain, Edmond +perceived many men in various groups, all brown and burnt by the sun, +the greatest part of them in ragged doublets; some appeared to be +praying, a few were reading, others were reposing on the grass, several +were whetting their jagged swords or cleaning their guns, others were +mending their vestments; many sang psalms. A tall wild-looking man +advanced towards them, he walked up and down agitatedly with his hands +behind his back, huge whiskers descended on either side of his face, +his hair was tightly drawn up to the top of his head; "Good day +brethren," cried he, in a discordant voice, which Edmond immediately +recognised for the same he had heard in the distance on the eventful +night. "The hero Catinat!" exclaimed Favart, shaking the gigantic man +heartily by the hand, "how fares it with you?" "I am accused brother," +said the former, "and Roland will hold no intercourse with me until all +his officers, Cavalier and the rest, have spoken respecting me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is Roland?" enquired Edmond, hastily. "It is he yonder, +who sits +with his bared neck under the chesnut tree," said Catinat.</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond perceived a man of slight figure and middle age, +leaning against +the trunk of the tree, who was looking quietly on the ground and +smoking a short clay tobacco pipe; he had taken off a red silk +neckerchief which lay by his side, and had loosened his waistcoat, so +that his whole breast was laid bare, his head was uncovered, his face +was only shaded by large whiskers. He calmly raised his light brown +eyes, as the three presented themselves before him, and Stephen +explained in a few words Edmond's request. "Indeed!" said Roland, still +continuing to smoke and quickly turning his searching glance from +Edmond; "have a little patience, until I give you my answer, we do +nothing without higher counsel, and I have not been thus blessed. Are +any of our prophets here?" asked he in a loud voice, looking round the +circle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, brother Roland," resounded from all sides; "Be patient, +some of +them will shortly be here, for I do not know you, but nothing can be +concealed from them."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond felt hurt, his heart was ready to overflow; he related +in a few +words his wonderful transformation and how the spirit had led him into +the mountains; "Yes, I myself, unworthy as I may be," concluded he, +with deep emotion, his narration, "I have been blessed with this +wonderful gift of fore-knowledge."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed!" said Roland in a drawling tone, while he rather +winked than +looked at the youth with his half closed eyes, in which was reflected +either his contempt, or perhaps his envy, the latter was what Edmond +conceived it to indicate. He raised his foot, and knocked the ashes out +of the top of his tobacco pipe; "Go and walk up and down for a short +time, I have some reflections to make; as soon as one of our prophets +arrives, you shall obtain your answer."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond turned away much annoyed, and cast his eyes over the +interminable mountains; to the immense chain of the Cevennes are joined +the blue summits of the Pyrenees, and on the other side were to be seen +craggy cliffs and masses of rocks, which give so striking a feature to +the right bank of the Rhone. What was Edmond's surprise, when among the +fraternity he recognized two noblemen, whom he had formerly met many +times at Nismes, and who had sunk into universal contempt on account of +their frivolity and bad conduct. Cesar and Mark Anthony were merely +what is usually termed in ordinary life boon companions; they had been +finally compelled, in consequence of their debts to make their escape, +and had, apparently, from absolute necessity alone, sought the society +of these religious mountaineers. However much they tried to imitate the +looks and demeanour of the rest, there still lay concealed even in the +very manner that they greeted Edmond, something of that reckless +insolence and licentious freedom, which all well-principled young men +had excluded from their society many years before.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Edmond had taken a survey of the surrounding country and +of his +future companions, Roland again called out in a loud voice, as he stood +up:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is no prophet yet arrived?" "Yes," said Favart, "here is +brother +Duplant." At the same moment a pale, haggard little man stepped up, who +trembled in every joint as from cold and whose prominent eyes added to +his appearance of illness. "What do you wish brother?" asked he of the +leader in an almost whining tone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come forward brother," said Roland in a full, sonorous voice; +"here is +a new brother, who presents, himself to us from out of the valley, a +rich distinguished man and a catholic; what does the spirit say to you +about it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Duplant opened his light-blue eyes still wider, gazed on +Edmond with a +feeble, death-like look, then gathered himself up, shook his head +violently, fell down, and while his breast and the lower part of his +body heaved convulsively, a deep, and to him, unusual voice proceeded +from him, resounding loudly: "I tell thee brother, this is a choice +instrument, he will serve the Lord faithfully; his father in his heart +is in our mountains, rejoice all that he is come among us. Amen!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Roland immediately embraced the youth, then extended his hand +to him; +"In the name of God then!" said he solemnly, "My vocation must be +true," answered Edmond, "for you have given a reception such as might +well have frightened back an ordinary enthusiast."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We cannot do otherwise brother," said Roland, "we are too +often put to +the test by spies in various forms; therefore, the Lord, decides among +us, He, who cannot be deceived."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is good for me to be among you and to look upon the faces +of all +these, honoured men: but where is Cavalier, the hero, whose name +resounds throughout the whole country? my soul burns to know him and to +fold him in my arms."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yonder he comes with his troop in wonderful array."</p> + +<p class="normal">A multitude of Camisards, clad in pillaged uniforms, marched +up the +mountain shouting with joy, at their head rode their commander, mounted +on a little horse, one feather in his large hat, a richly embroidered +uniform hung wide and loosely on his little thin body. He sprang from +his horse, and while Edmond was making his way up to him, impressed +with the almost ludicrous appearance of the unbecoming attire, the so +justly renowned Cavalier advanced towards him, and Edmond, in terror +and in deep confusion, stepped back, for the young hero was no other +than that miller-lad, whom he had a short time before in his father's +house treated with so much contempt, nay even with cutting bitterness.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<p class="continue">The young commander first cast a lengthened look of +astonishment on +Edmond, then approached nearer and kindly offered him his hand. "You +are one of us," exclaimed he, "the Lord had so ordained, accept the +assurance of my brotherly love."--</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond seized the hand of the young man, held it long between +his own, +and then said with great emotion: "What have I not to thank you for at +a time, when I neither knew, nor loved you; you it was who saved our +house, myself, my sister and my beloved father! The veil has fallen +from my eyes, and I shall now honour and love you, and all these heroes +of the faith, as brothers."</p> + +<p class="normal">A circle had been formed and Roland now stepped with solemn +demeanour +into the middle of it. "We are assembled," commenced he, greatly +affected, "in order to pass judgment upon a friend, who is to me one of +the dearest among the most valiant of the fraternity, and in the work +of the Lord a distinguished zealot. Here stands Catinat, the man at +whose name all our foes tremble. You are all here present, Cavalier, +thou Ravanel, Castanet, Duplant, and Salomon, Clary, Abraham Mazel is +also arrived here. I have often spoken on this point already, my dear +friends, and wished to make known to you my opinion, and my sentiments, +that in this war, in which we are fighting for the Lord, we should +refrain from shedding blood as much as possible. No, my beloved +friends, we will not therein follow the example of our adversaries, +that we may excel them in their emulation for murder, incendiarism and +all their works of darkness. Let the enemy, who comes armed against us, +be given up to the sword, the villain, who betrays us and belies the +Lord, let him fall a sacrifice to his own malice, but the harmless +labourer, the helpless priest, the defenceless woman, the child under +age, let them be spared, what have they done to us? what can they +accomplish against us? we have certainly always struggled to put our +enemies to shame and to convince them by Christian charity, that our +course is a just one; but here, Catinat has again acted in opposition +to my express command, in his expedition he has set fire to three +churches with his own hands, he has massacred two priests, his troop +according to his orders has reduced villages to ashes, and women and +children have been murdered and burned in the most terrible manner. +Their lamentations, the cries of the orphans, the wailings of the +parents rise up to heaven, and arouse and call upon the enduring +goodness of the Lord to thrust and to fling us in his wrath far away +from him, like useless vessels. If we ourselves act in this manner, +wherefore should we complain, when the enemies open wide the jaws of +cruelty and show less compassion than the wolf in the wilderness, or +the beast of prey of the mountains, then, with justice, their stakes +blaze threateningly to meet us! why are we angered, when their +barbarous executioners, with greedy looks, grin up towards our +mountains, and in malicious joy whet their instruments of death? then +fight brute against brute, and devil against Belzebub! By what then +shall the good cause be recognised? I will also remind you, my beloved +brethren, that these deeds alienate the best people in the country from +us; not only the Catholic, but such as are in their hearts our +brothers, will desert us, as well as those newly converted ones, who +would willingly help us. Have you then forgotten, how pious men of +foreign lands, priests and leaders of armies, have warned us not to +stain our hands with innocent blood, and our holy cause with firebrands +and cruelty? all pious minds in distant lands who turn looks of love +upon us will be mistaken, and will surely think, that innate cruelty +and savage nature must be alleged for these proceedings, and not our +conscience and the cause of the Lord that we fight for. It is +misfortune enough, that we should be compelled to stand in arms against +our lawful king, who wanted to rob us of our God; let this misfortune +suffice, let us do no more than our conscience demands. Finally, I will +remind you, that by your unanimous consent I am your leader since the +glorious death of my uncle, my command must be held inviolable, and +therefore, he whom I send out and who wilfully and maliciously +transgresses my orders, must be considered a rebel to me, yourselves, +and your holy undertaking. You know, that a like fault would be +punished with death yonder among the royal party; far be it from me to +wish to punish so severely a brother and hero of the faith on account +of his disobedience to me, a weak and miserable instrument of the Lord, +but I propose depriving him of his command, because none should command +who cannot also obey. Now take counsel among yourselves, my valiant and +enlightened friends, whether you will confirm my sentence? once more I +repeat my fear, that by these transgressions of individuals, our great +cause will go to ruin."</p> + +<p class="normal">Roland retired from the circle and all were silent. "We will +hear what +Catinat says for himself," said the broad, stout Mazel, and Ravanel, a +little swarthy man with dark looks and wild appearance advanced towards +the gigantic man and cried: "speak brother, you know how I love you, I +am yours, unto death, and do not believe that you can ever be in the +wrong, for in your fist is the sword of the Lord!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Catinat shook him by the hand, then raised his eyes and +glanced with a +calm and penetrating look round the circle, and said: "My valiant +brethren, my fault is evident and undeniable, it consists in +transgression against subordination, and as I have been as good a +soldier as brother Roland, I know well that nothing can be said to +extenuate it. If you speak in accordance with the letter of the law, I +am then condemned, and I will lay down my command as obediently as I +accepted it from Roland. But I again ask you here openly, as I have +already expressed my opinion privately on this point, can we, the +immediate instruments of the Most High, penetrated with his spirit, +measure commands and quietly follow them? shall we, are we permitted to +pursue this war as with men like ourselves, and may we obstinately +withdraw the holy zeal, when the spirit descends upon us, and rules the +sword in our hand, and hurls the burning brand into the idolatrous +temples? Where then is truth, confidence, and faith, if I am not +allowed to do what the Lord himself designs to exact from me. No my +friends, my inspired brethren! let other self-sufficient, self-willed +men then, who fight without heaven be your soldiers, I can never be +such. Roland and Cavalier pardon the prisoners we make, send them back +comforted, refresh and succour their wounded, and hope by their +well-meaning kindness to arouse the hearts of the villains, that they +may feel humane and brotherly towards us. But no such thing! they mock +at this our weakness and call it folly, nay, they publicly term it +cowardice and say, that we dare not act otherwise, for we are only +rebels and outlaws. Assuredly we are a reproach to men, and when they +catch, or wound us, they show us less compassion than they would +testify to a dog, even if it had torn their dearest child to pieces. Is +it then necessary to remind you of the barbarities they have practised +upon our brethren, who have struggled and died for the faith? I will +only recall to your recollection the holy father Brusson, who +gloriously won the crown of martyrdom at Montpellier, the pious man, +who preached the gospel to us poor abandoned flocks in the wilderness, +and then took leave of us, drew no sword, lighted no torch, lived and +died in the spirit of peace, and who only came once more to take a last +farewell of the old mountains, and of the brethren, whom the faith had +collected around him as his own children, with the gospel in his +pocket, and with the bread of tears he wished to return to the strange +land, which had become to him as his native country; and when they +caught him, of what avail was his quiet, peaceable spirit to him? Under +martyrdom, at which the imagination shudders, he was forced to resign +his soul into the hands of the Creator. Need I remind you of the noble +spirit of Seguier, how heroically he died and only scorned the cruel +ingenuity of the executioner? But how then do you forget the wholly +innocent people, who often assembled in the fields to worship God in +secret and were put down by the faithful, as they call themselves, or, +as it often happened, massacred, women and children not excepted? And +you no longer remember, how parents who were suspected had their +children torn from them to be brought up as Catholics, how the mothers +never saw them more and how those under age, who then remained faithful +to the Gospel, were ill-used, suffered martyrdom, or were doomed to +languish in a dungeon? All then has escaped your recollection, what +those priests of the pulpit and the altar have uttered against us, and +the ban and the curse, and that we are no men and unworthy of +commiseration, when we were still constrained to attend their mass? and +is it even permitted that gentleness, virtue, consideration, humanity +and pity, should be observed towards these bloodhounds? No, verily, we +are ruined if we do not pay them in their own coin, return evil for +evil, blood for blood, death for death, rage and fury for their +inflexibility and severity. As they have been mild and compassionate +towards us, let us respond to it; let the Christianity that they +preach, fall burning down upon their own heads, let us dive into their +hearts and entrails, to see where they have concealed pity and the +feelings of humanity. Wherever our name resounds, they must turn pale, +and when we set all against all, we shall then be able to know whether +we lose, or win, we shall extirpate them, or they us; and if we cease +to exist, so may the wasted wilderness, the depopulated land, the +ruined palaces, and burnt-down temples and horror and desolation, +announce to the after-world what we have suffered and done. What are a +priest, country or king in comparison to my faith, in comparison to the +fire that kindles through all my veins and burns in every fibre? Do you +think you are permitted to reason and be men of the ordinary world? +This is precisely what makes our adversaries strong and prepares so +many defeats for us, because we still turn our looks back upon the +world and its wisdom. Here stand our prophets, arrest then the spirit, +exorcise it when it rushes through your souls like a hurricane, like a +flash of lightening and burst forth from their consecrated mouths the +words of the Eternal on the wings of the spirit. You know that this +miraculous gift is denied to me, to Roland and to many, as in our +Duplant, Cavalier, or Salomon, when all recollection vanishes and every +ordinary human feeling becomes extinct, in the same manner does it +happen to me, when we at length fight in the tumult, or pass by +triumphantly the churches of our foes: from every dumb brick their +scorn grins at me, from every beam the blood of our martyrs so +arrogantly shed cries out to me; then, when the malignant followers of +their priests sneak up to me with feigned supplications, then indeed, +something roars within me for revenge, like a lion if he has once +tasted blood, the sword and dagger pierce through their breasts as they +kneel before me, my whole heart bounds, when the laughing flames rise +up triumphantly through the edifice, when in the blaze the beams are +consumed and fall down and bury women and children in the red glow. +This then is no human fancy that gladdened me, but the true spirit of +the Almighty that impels me onward, and the bishop, the king himself, +even our prophets may advance threateningly and imploringly towards me +in vain in these highly consecrated moments, nay should an angel +descend from heaven and call out to me to desist, I would not listen to +it. Thus I am brethren, and I neither can nor will be otherwise, this I +swear here, by the Eternal God!"</p> + +<p class="normal">With these last words, he lifted his ponderous sword towards +heaven, +and then struck it so forcibly against the rocky ground, that it +clattered loudly, Ravanel exclaimed as if possessed: "An Elias! an +Elias!" and threw himself upon the breast of the ferocious man; the +rest were silent, and Roland again came forward with a calm +countenance, and as if embarrassed. "What is your decision my +brethren?" demanded he with a deep sigh.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The decision is difficult," said Constant, a robust, fair +young man. +"Let our prophets decide." The deadly pale Duplant immediately came +forward, gave a hollow sigh and fell down; on the other side appeared +Salomon, a diminutive man, he folded his hands, knelt and threw himself +upon the rock. Duplant cried with that peculiarly deep voice: "I tell +you the Hero Catinat has only fulfilled my orders!"--scarcely however +had he uttered these words, than Salomon already groaned forth; "Follow +my servant Roland, for he is my chosen instrument, you know that the +blood of the innocent is an abomination to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">The circle now drew closer together, and in the greatest +excitement the +pale and swarthy faces were looking over one another's heads, and +between the shoulders of the foremost. Every eye was glowing, and +Ravanel exclaimed: "To me also was given the gift of prophecy, listen +to me, brethren, for perhaps the Spirit may now come over me." "Stop!" +screamed out Abraham Mazel, "I am one of the oldest here, I have a +right to speak before any of you, through me I can boast that this holy +war arose, but here, I think prophecy cannot avail." He had with these +words taken fast hold of the little thing, Ravanel, by the shoulders, +but the latter darted like lightening out of his grasp, threw himself +down by the side of Duplant, who still lay in ecstasy, and cried: "this +is our greatest prophet, for thou hast only two degrees, and him must +we follow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is not Salomon," said Roland earnestly, "as almighty as he? +Here the +word of the Lord contradicts itself: how shall we interpret it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not certainly," interrupted Edmond, who could no longer +restrain +himself, "As wild passion demands, where doubt exists, mildness and +compassion are the designs of the Lord." He had not yet finished these +words, when he felt the stroke of a sword between his neck and +shoulders, which the wrathful Ravanel aimed at him. The youth tottered +backwards and Cavalier received him in his arms. "How?" exclaimed +several voices, "one brother against another?" many swords were bared, +a wild shout flew over the mountains and all was confusion. "The spirit +moves me: he is a traitor!" said Ravanel. "stop! peace!" cried Roland's +powerful voice in the midst, "brother Duplant has just now prophesied +that he means us fairly, and that he is inspired with the faith!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Ravanel turned surlily away and spoke to Duplant, who had in +the mean +while awakened.</p> + +<p class="normal">A tall, slight man, whose clear brown eyes sparkled brightly, +had in +the interim been busied with Edmond: he had quickly torn off his +clothes, examined and bound up the wound, which did not appear to be +dangerous, and had supported him nearly fainting from loss of blood, +between his knees. Cavalier with his kindly, childlike eyes was bending +over him, and the youth fancied that he was again in his father's +house, and that the strange guest was come to seek a reconciliation +with him. "You are my angel," said he in a feeble voice, "you are +indeed Gabriel, as my sister there has just said: take then also +Christine as well as my father under your protection, pious boy, we +shall all see one another cheerfully and happily again, but shine less +brightly." Then he lost all consciousness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is dying! brother Clary!" exclaimed Cavalier. "No," +replied he, who +had bound up his wound, "he will soon revive again; yet Ravanel does +him injustice, for I know by my spirit that this youth is religious, +and will follow our cause with zeal; but the wrathful fire of these +fierce heroes will ruin us all."</p> + +<p class="normal">Roland in the meanwhile was going through the assembled groups +with +commanding grace, seeking to appease these excited minds. All were +standing in order, as his glance had commanded; Ravanel alone, +conscious of guilt had retired. Cavalier now stepped in among them, and +in his own amiable manner, said, "Brethren, the tie that binds the +whole world, the source of all miracles, the strength of the weak, the +immediate presence of our most holy father, is love, love alone. I am +apprehensive, that we, the oppressed, whose unity is so necessary, may +in this manner be divided, should we forget that we are brethren? Does +not something more exalted than an oath bind us to a holy work? Ravanel +has without doubt grossly sinned against our new brother, but the pious +youth will forgive the enthusiast and Roland and Catinat as brethren +must also shake hands. Forgive the impetuous man, brother Roland, and +pardon him ye remaining friends, who censure his conduct; on his side, +he will promise you to regulate his mind, to restrain himself, and, +except in cases of the greatest emergency, to refrain from giving way +to the impulse of his feelings. When you are once more united, I have +something to report to you that is well worth consideration."</p> + +<p class="normal">Catinat went slowly up to Roland; the latter wiped a tear from +his eye, +extended his arms, embraced him and cried: "Welcome to me my brother! +thou wouldst dwell entirely in my soul, if thou couldst mix a few drops +of the mind's tranquility with thy burning zeal." Catinat promised to +restrain himself and peace was again restored.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My friends," commenced Cavalier anew, "As I a short time +since +descended into the plains and valley of Nage, it appeared to me +singularly enigmatical, that in so many places I met with coldness, +disapprobation, and a strange backwardness in the best and most +faithful. Unheard of and wilful barbarities were spoken of, said to +have been practised by our party. I enquired who were the leaders, but +they could not name them to me. Our most devoted friends told me, +however, that this was not the right manner, or the way to fight +through our, besides this, perilous cause. I shuddered when forced to +listen to these accounts. Our enemies have hardly acted towards us with +so much cruelty. I could not avoid shedding tears at the barbarous +manner in which the Marchioness of Miramon has been murdered. You all +know that she was a secret friend to our cause, and that we have +enjoyed many succours from her kindness. This lady frequently +travelled, often met with our people who were all acquainted with her, +and who besides never wilfully injured the peaceable and defenceless +inhabitants, but let them pass freely. Now she intended to quit Usez, +in order to visit her husband at St. Ambroise. She was advised to take +with her an escort, or at least armed servants, but confiding in our +friendship, she refused both. She had already nearly reached the place +of destination, when her carriage was surrounded by dark-looking men; +she and her maids were bound, and neither entreaties, nor tears, nor +the costly jewels that she carried with her, nor promise of much gold +could save these hapless beings from the most disgraceful death. I +contradicted all the exasperated people, that no troop of our party +could have done this, but only a few believed me. Fortunately I have +discovered who these wretches are, who also call themselves Camisards +and dishonour our cause; it is a band of highwaymen and incendiaries +who have come from Provence. Advance friend Degran, and relate to the +brethren how you came up with the villains, and how you escaped from +them."</p> + +<p class="normal">A ragged, half-starved looking man with a long beard came +forward, whom +some recognised and others examined with surprise. What a change a +period of a few weeks had effected in him! He began in a feeble voice: +"It may now be about a month ago, that I was sent by brother Cavalier +with three of my comrades against Montpellier to watch the enemy, to +purchase ammunition and to summon the attendance of some young men in +the mountains. In order to avoid observation, we set out in the evening +twilight, and just as a storm overtook us in the wood, we were suddenly +surrounded by a number of black-looking men, and commanded to offer no +resistance, the attempt too would have been vain among such a +multitude, the tallest of them advanced towards us and said: 'I see +then before me, some of the brave and valiant Camisards! You are +welcome!' We could not make out who they were, they had not the +appearance of the militia of the country, and were even more fearful +than the madcaps, whom the fierce hermit formerly headed. After we had +examined one another closer, he, who seemed to be the leader said: +'What a miserable perilous life such brave fellows lead, and none to +acknowledge their value; and the sacrifice they make. You are forbidden +to plunder, what do you gain by all your exertions? as we are told, you +are not allowed under penalty of death to plunder even the demolished +churches, and carry off the gold and silver vessels; no, you suffer all +to melt in the flames. We think differently, we are not, it is true, +your companions in faith, but you must make common cause with us. +Behold our party consists of fifty, all united together by solemn +oaths, you can never escape from us again, if you will not join us, you +must die, you know the country and the inhabitants, name to us then the +rich catholics, that we may direct our visits thither, and you shall +have a fair portion of the booty which falls to us.'--What could we do? +we were compelled to conduct them about, as they kept strict watch over +us. I cannot bear to think on the horrors we were forced to witness; +but one, more frightful than the rest, was committed against one of my +comrades, who attempted to escape from them, for our consciences +tortured us day and night. The horrible ill-treatment which had +preceded the murder of our brother, bound us still more firmly to these +highwaymen. The country was soon filled with rumours respecting these +black Camisards, as they were called. Under this mask they were, +however, by no means scrupulous about plundering merely their brothers +in the faith, but they also attacked the houses of the newly converted, +and whose families were known as zealous reformers. One evening when +they surrounded a country house and had dispatched me to inspect the +place more closely, we were surprised and compelled to make a hasty +retreat, and I availed myself of the opportunity to escape into a +garden, and from thence into the wood. They have now however a long +list of wealthy people, whom they intend to rob and murder; the Lord of +Beauvais stands at the head of it, and as his house is rather retired, +it is almost impossible for them not to succeed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Enough, my friend," cried Cavalier, "now Catinat will you +accompany me +in order to catch these assassins? This time, I will take only fifty +men with me, and shall return shortly to receive your orders, brother +Roland."</p> + +<p class="normal">He made a sign, quickly mounted a little horse, and those, who +were +already acquainted with his will, followed him accompanied by Catinat. +The man, who had escaped from the robbers, was also of the party in +order to trace the villains. Edmond in the mean while had been removed. +He lay in a hut formed of plaited branches upon a couch of moss, +Abraham Mazel had followed to take care of him. The other leaders had +also retired deeper into the wood with their troops. Roland, now nearly +alone, walked up and down on the mountain plain, gave out orders, +appointed new posts, and dispatched a troop under Valmal to procure +provisions. Soon afterwards, Roland received intelligence through the +centinels of the outposts, that they perceived in the direction of +Rouergue a great number of men that, from their appearance, might be +taken for the country militia. "These," said Roland, "will not be so +unwise as to attack us in this strong place." A messenger came to +announce that the approaching people had raised a great cry, and were +not marching but advancing without order, and in tumultuous crowds. The +noise was now heard ascending nearer from the rear of the mountain. +"They are peasants," exclaimed Roland, as he came down from the +eminence which he had ascended. "What can they want? Wherefore this +commotion?" the procession drew near; men, women, even children and old +men in the midst of them, all fluried, most of them in tears, each one +would speak first, each presenting a hand to the commander. Those who +were the most exhausted, laid themselves down on the ground, the +younger men placed themselves in order, some had old fowling pieces, +others sides, many were armed with short or long swords, several +carried hatchets and axes. The fighting men amounted at least to two +hundred in number, and when the tumult at length subsided, and Roland +again asked from whence they came and what they required, one of the +oldest among the armed men stepped forward and said, "Roland, you must +know me and my father yonder, as well as many here from the commune of +Melière, we, who have often lent you our help, all in secret attached +to you, and who have daily put up our prayers for you to heaven. You +also know our persecutors; why need I name them to you. But our +calamity is still new to you, and truly one must live in our days to +deem it possible. It is now some months ago, that the Intendant and the +Marshal caused whole communities to be carried off from the middle of +the Cevennes, as well as from Mialet; women, children, and fathers were +thrown into their prisons, merely because they were suspected by them. +Out of one-and-twenty parishes, three hundred young men were seized +from the district of Nismes alone, besides whole families and are shut +up in the dungeons and fortresses of the level country and of the +mountains. The inhuman Intendant trusts no one, and how can the +subject be tranquil and faithful to the king, when the tyrant in his +cold-blooded intrigues only meditates how to make the people wretched? +The terrible man has been heard to say with his own lips, that the best +and the safest method would be to extirpate from the face of the earth +all who are converted, as well as the rebels. The Marshal himself, it +is said, is shocked at these ideas, God and the king have not so far +forgotten us ever to permit such infamy. But since the day before +yesterday----Yes, weep, mourn, ye unfortunate, banished, houseless +people!" And as in chorus there arose a sobbing and lamentation, but +the speaker continued thus, "Early the day before yesterday, as we were +going forth to our field labours, we heard the beating of drums, we +took it for the usual marching of the royal troops through the country, +but they soon drew near, we ascended the mountain and saw that the +extensive mountain district, valley, and ravine, as far as the eye +could reach, were surrounded. They did not leave us long in suspense, +we were summoned to the square of our large village. Thence they +published to our magistrates and to us, that in Nismes a decree had +been pronounced to entirely depopulate our district, and many others, +two-and-thirty parishes, including more than eighty villages and farms, +to send the inhabitants to the open country, to other provinces, to +islands, and to pull down and set fire to all the houses, stables, and +farms without exception. Four regiments are encamped in the district to +accomplish this devilish work. All uttered screams and lamentations, +but they were disregarded, like ill-fated cattle, destined for +slaughter, the wretched creatures suffered themselves, to be driven +forth; and from the neighbouring mountain we already beheld the houses +demolished; the axes resounded, the cattle lowed, and the mountains +groaningly repeated the melancholy echo. As it proceeded too slowly for +the monsters, we soon saw flames too flaring up; like greedy jaws, like +thirsty tongues, did the fire lick up our beloved old dwellings and +swallowed them in flames. The trees before the houses were consumed +with them. Yes, Roland, the district, the dear villages, the hospitable +houses, which so often and so amicably received you and yours, these +are in a brief space reduced to a desert, and in future I shall not be +able perhaps to find a trace of where I lived with my parents, where I +sat with them before the door, and played in the spring, where I became +acquainted with my wife, where she bore me her first son. The stork +will never again familiarly and confidingly take up his lodging on the +roof of my barn, no swallow will again announce to me there the warmth +of spring, and twitter with her young before my window. Oh! and my own +children. Man indeed has no childhood, when he is deprived of his +country. The poor women! how well known to us, how dear was each bush +and running brook. Now we know, for the first time, how we loved our +old cottages and the seats inherited from our great grandfathers. All +that we there in devotion, thought, and prayed, all the delightful +Easter and Whitsuntide festivals, the pleasing solitude of the long +winter evenings, and the exemplary conversations of the old men, all, +all is vanished in this hideous fire."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No more! no more!" shrieked the women, and the children wept +aloud.</p> + +<p class="normal">"All this," continued the speaker, "happened to us, dear +Roland, on +your account alone, for they know well, the persecutors! that we have +in our hearts been with you, so many of your bravest men are from among +us. They extirpate us, especially because our valleys and mountains +border on the district of Vivares, and through our country Catinat and +Cavalier attempted to penetrate. Friend, brother! here we are now, and +assuredly many more active men from other districts will run to you, +for they will not suffer what will be required of them. Come, lead us +on, thrust us into the thicket of the fight, when thousands stand close +in front of their cannons, and with swords, sicles, hatchets, and +cudgels we will fall upon them, nay without weapons, with these hands, +with these teeth we will tear them to pieces! Life and pleasure now +consist only in death and destruction; if they only feel how we hate +and abhor them, if but one and then another, and a third be made to +acknowledge to us, struggling in agonising death, and with closing +eyes, that this happens to them for their evil doings." All the men +pressed forward brandishing their weapons and gnashing their teeth. A +smothered cry of rage suddenly burst from every lip. "Controul +yourselves my friends," said Roland, "As well as you can; you, +Bertrand, with your horrifying account have filled my soul with sorrow, +for your woe concerns us altogether and your loss admits of no +restitution. Repose and refresh yourselves here with all that I can +offer you; then follow my counsel, and let the old men, women, and +children return peaceably, for here there is neither shelter nor help +for them. God will ordain, that all shall turn for the best, that the +proprietors find their own again and that your cottages shall rise once +more from their ruins. Only do not despair, bear your calamity with +pain and sorrow, but do not despair, for that belies God, opposes +itself to him, nay, mocks his inscrutable decrees, and in its hellish +dictates, would even annihilate him. Do not give yourselves up to this +feeling, which is unworthy of men. We have all indeed been long since +innured to misery by the hand of the Lord. Shew now that you are +obedient, well conducted children, who though he may look upon you with +a severe and reproving countenance, will not mistake the father."</p> + +<p class="normal">All shewed themselves more quiet and the younger men +exclaimed, "Give +us weapons! weapons! Roland!" "Those that I have left," replied the +latter, "you shall have; such as cannot obtain any, must wait for the +first combat, and take them from the enemy, for it has been arranged +thus from the beginning. The troops must bring us arms up into the +mountains, and a gun which oneself has wrested from a strange foe is +quite a different arm to what one buys. Pooh! who would give money for +iron and arms, as long as the Marshal will still so kindly give himself +the trouble to send out his people in heat and rain, that they may +laboriously enough provide us very conveniently with arms, which he +himself with his Intendant and his baton will have reason to fear. Thus +thinks a true Camisard. Clothing also shall they deliver up to you, +shoes and boots, but you must learn to be courteous and assist them, my +countrymen, a little to undress. With a hundred such valets, Cavalier +was here a short time since; they were all most gallantly equipped +without being indebted a single denier to draper, or tailor."</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertrand, who was resting upon his fowling piece, and whose +tears still +trickled down his cheeks, and over his weapon, could not avoid laughing +aloud, and the younger lads joined him. "Yes," cried young François, +"we will peel them like red and yellow apples, only serve us up a dish +of them soon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shake them bravely out of their uniforms, the season for nut +shaking +is near."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will shake them out," cried François "so that they shall +fall +rattling at my feet and each one shall shew himself so hollow and +worm-eaten, that I would not seek for his kernel!"--The mother rose +from the ground and embraced her young son, who had just entered into +manhood. "I, and several of us," said another lad, "have already served +many a time under you, Roland; but then we returned afterwards to our +village."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is the best method to carry on the war," replied Roland, +"for we +thus sometimes save provisions, and our troops remain fresh and ready +for battle. I know you well Adam, and also that little shoemaker Anton +yonder."</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton came forward; "Yes, dear brother, I am so glad that he +shoes, +which I made for you hold out still."--He fell down and wished to +embrace his knees, but Roland raised him up. "Look Roland; I love and +honour you so much, that I should like to be your footstool upon which +your tired legs might repose. I formerly fought bravely, but now, it +shall go on quite differently. It shall be stab on stab, and my awl and +thong shall be drawn through their hearts and entrails, so that the +soul shall pipe like an imprisoned rat."</p> + +<p class="normal">All appeared seated at the frugal meal more comforted and +quiet; at +least the distorted and despairing faces with which they had at first +appeared before the commander, were no longer to be seen.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<p class="continue">Edmond had again returned to consciousness, and on opening his +eyes, he +saw Mazel by his couch and the swarthy Eustace, who although wounded +himself, had stayed to serve him and was kneeling by his bed. He could +not for a long time recall to his recollection how he had come there, +and the fierce looking men, with the view from the hut over the +mountains and woods, threw him into a strange reverie. However, he was +soon enabled to connect one idea with another, and to reassemble all +his faculties. His imagination was still busied with Cavalier, he +fancied he could follow and see him, now, as a shadow, then, brighter +again, yet it seemed as if his feverish state presented him figuring to +himself, in real colours and contour, the portrait of his friends and +the place in which he was. Eustace kissed his hands and bathed them +with tears. "Oh, my dear young master!" cried he then sobbing, "that +you should now come among us, and have been obliged to experience +anything so bad from our wildest prophet! yes, brother Ravanel, is the +worst, should I have said in my stupidity, the most godless: may heaven +forgive me my sins. No, all of us and himself too must often pray, that +the Lord may moderate his ardent zeal, for he is almost always in +anger, and only too frequently as if raving. Are you better now, +gracious sir?" Edmond pressed his hand and said, "I feel that the wound +is not of much consequence, it was the loss of blood alone made me +faint; but brother Eustace, as I am now a brother to you all, leave off +that empty mode of the men of the world, and call me thou, as it is +customary among you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As thou wilt!" exclaimed the former greatly affected: "but I +am as if +in heaven, that thou brother, that thou, who wast so proud shouldst +thus converse with me. They always deny miracles, and yet this is truly +one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Leave him to repose, brother Eustace," said Mazel, "do not +excite and +tease him any more in order that he may be soon restored." "Relate to +me," said Edmond, "brother Abraham, that my imagination may be directed +to a fixed point, which otherwise in its diseased state is wandering +lost and bewildered. Do I remember rightly, that thou saidst to-day in +that extraordinary dispute, which my soul cannot even yet understand, +thou hadst given rise to the present war. Or was it not so? tell me +something about it, for although I have grown up in this neighbourhood, +I know but little connected with these affairs."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mazel replied: "It is true brother Edmond, it is also not +true, as one +may consider the matter, and thus it is perhaps with most things in the +world. I was a lad of about twenty years of age, when, suddenly they +abolished our reformed religion, it went to the hearts of all +throughout the whole country. I was then only a forest-ranger in the +service of the Lord of Mende, on the banks of the Rhone. About this +time they began to emigrate from the country. Nobles, merchants, +peasants, and citizens went away (for that was yet permitted) towards +Switzerland, Holland, England and Germany, where they were well +received, for the poorer ones were industrious mechanics, had knowledge +of manufactures, and carried many arts and advantages to other lands. I +had no inclination to go with them. Gracious heaven! home is sweet, +where man is born, air and water seem good to him, where my language is +understood, there is my heart. Added to this, I loved a maiden; and +besides, they intended to make me a royal ranger. The thing pleased me, +and with love, domestic joy and happiness in my native land; I bound up +the mouth of conscience so close, that like a dancing bear, it could +not bite around it. The extensive emigration, the fortune that they +carried away with them, caused a great sensation, this they had never +suspected and probably thought all were quiet cattle like myself, and +just as willing to let themselves be bound to the manger. Now under +pain of being sent to the gallies, every body was prohibited to quit +the country; Ah! that gave a shock, and completely so, when they did it +in reality, and, as an example, several old noblemen were chained to +the oar. The anguish was great in the land. All were forced to attend +mass; the dragoons were sent out; the people tortured; the children +shut up. The most enthusiastic went out together into the woods and +caverns, and prayed there and preached to one another. Whomsoever they +found thus employed, was without further ceremony broken alive on the +wheel; hanging was a favour. Our Intendant thought to crush the affair +with prompt violence, and appalling horror, that old and young needed +only to be quickly reminded of their religion. People often think in +reality, because they are themselves convinced of the matter, and that +it is only carelessness in others: they wish to recall them to +themselves, and often in the midst of their barbarity, they do not mean +so badly towards them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou art right Mazel," interrupted Edmond, "I myself was of +this +belief a short time ago." "But now," continued the old man in his +relation, "all our souls acquired an entirely different colour, they +were clad in new vestments, for we had not thought of it thus, and we +came to our recollection, but in a very different manner. Were I in the +wood and my dog only whined, it seemed precisely to me as if it were my +conscience. Yes, I was struck, I sought for, but could not find the +hidden jewel. My wife then consoled me once more, and thought that all +would certainly come round again.--Now it was strange enough, that a +pious society had already long since arisen in Dauphiné. An aged man +lived there upon a high mountain in the middle of a wood. He had a +glass-manufactory in that solitude. Now we have all experienced that +mountain and valley, the air that one breathes there, the murmurings, +the singular voices, the cry and the echo, make a man bolder, fresher, +and also more imaginative; he no longer fears his brethren in the +cities, he prizes not so highly the stone-houses and the smooth +streets, and all the singing of bells. The man Du Serre had visions and +revelations. He did not, however, go about preaching. He, as well as +myself, was wanting in that gift, but he was endowed with that of +foresight. Can one learn that from another? we must believe it, and our +times confirm it. But how? there lies the riddle! Should it be called +an art? by no means! The enemies call it imposture, that is impious. +Well, this glass-manufacturer kept fifteen young men in his house, and +his wife as many young girls, they almost all experienced the +enlightening, and the greater part of them the gift of preaching. Thus +then did they go out into the world. The fame of beautiful Isabelle was +soon spread abroad. She seduced every-body to apostacy, as the others +termed it. Still more efficaciously did a youth, named Gabriel Astier, +teach and convert. A part of Dauphiné and our neighbourhood of Vivarès +soon became one flame of religion. The children then already began to +prophecy. But the poor creatures, without weapons of defence in their +too zealous faith, were surprised by the soldiers, and the greatest +number massacred. Our Basville and his son-in-law, the Marshal Broglio, +bore the fame of having massacred them all. Gabriel also, who had +become a soldier in Montpellier, was recognized and executed, and the +lovely Isabelle from fear, in the dungeon of Grenoble, retracted from +her faith, and thus all had the appearance of tranquillity. Sparks of +the faith, however, and of the force of miracles had been scattered and +lost in the Cevennes. For the spirit possesses the property of fire, +which, out of a little spark, by which a small beetle cannot warm +itself, grows, in a few hours, into a brand that lays woods in ashes, +and mocks all human efforts to extinguish it. What may not lie in one +single word? Oh thou mournful sound, like the twittering of the +swallow, thou appearest to die away in the wilderness, the spirit +conducts thee through the world, and puts thee on a coat of mail that +armies grow out of the ground, and horses and riders, and thousands +sent by kings with the thunder of artillery, were not able to make the +little world as quiet and small as it lay formerly in the solitary +cottage. Praised be the Lord!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He prayed inwardly, and then continued: "In the meantime, +people became +older and wiser but certainly more obstinate, I already began to think +no more of my former faith, nor had the new one either much effect on +my heart. I was an ass between two hayricks, and ate of neither.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A man of the name of Beoussan, a man of God, lived first at +Nismes, +and afterwards at Toulouse. He was a reformer and a lawyer, who always, +and when the people were poor, gratuitously took up the cause of his +companions of the faith: His was a spirit full of gentleness and +goodness. He went into foreign countries, became a priest in +Switzerland, preached there and in Holland, and edified thousands. Him +did the spirit and his native land lead back into our country and then +the Lord conducted me to him in the wilderness. My wife was dead at +that time, and lonely and childless, as I then was, my whole heart that +had lain so long untilled, was again enabled to bear genuine fruit. It +was, as if I began from that time to imbibe again a portion of heavenly +comfort in my cottage. Thus things went on. I was no longer in +ignorance, but I was not yet happy. This would not last, hail-showers +sometimes destroyed my seed, and when I often lay in wait with the best +dispositions, and with an open and acute mind, loaded and ready to +shoot, there came no game, no animal sprang up in the wilderness of my +heart. Ah, we totter on thus pitiably for years, and time passes as a +dream and intoxication. I glanced round me, I had become old. How! +thought I, when the Lord looks down, he will see furrows on thy old +skin and thou art still neither hot, nor cold. Than came the late Mr. +Beoussan, the holy master, among us. An impulse of the spirit, as he +said, led him to us. He was well and comfortable at home, but, pious +bird of the forest! he wished to visit once more his beloved mountains, +dells, the clear brooks, and to pour so thrillingly, fully, and +affectionately into our hearts the tones of the sweet nightingale, that +burst from his breast, that he must die from the effort.--Amen!--"</p> + +<p class="normal">He stopped again, and Edmond said: "I often saw this pious +Beoussan at +Nismes, before he was executed. It is not yet five years since he +sealed his doctrine with an ignominious death."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then," pursued Abraham Mazel, "All the former restrictions +were +renewed with greater severity. We could not speak, scarcely think +without being betrayed. A year had now elapsed, when an assembly of +religious people in Alais was surprised by Basville, they were all +dragged to prison, and all, without further enquiries, were sentenced +to martyrdom. This took place in October. I had also been present, and +only escaped through a miracle. I had already seen some of the +prophecying children here and there, without profit, my heart became +rather colder at the sight, because the little worms did not please me +in that state. Now, after my day's work was finished, I sat in +solitude, tired and exhausted from riding, and looked round at the +green meadows, the sky and the mountains. I tried, in my inmost soul, +to unravel the mystery, why all should be thus and not otherwise, how +God and man, virtue and sin, in and through one another, and how in +this entwined knot, now and then the rays of eternity shine down into +this temporal world, and how, in one short moment, we feel and +experience within us the whole unfathomable eternity, and many thousand +thoughts and feelings, of which the smallest in the tittle of time, is +allowed no place. Also why we were so miserable, and what was the end +of the Lord in this. Behold, my friend, there descended a vast stream +of thoughts from heaven, (I saw, but knew not one word, one letter of +it) and alighted as with large eagle's wings upon my brain and roared +and murmured there, and the marrow of my back became cold as ice, and +my inmost soul was congealed and frozen, and my teeth chattered with +fear. How the breath lost itself in my breast, and now it was, as if +little cooing doves were flying through the immeasureable space of my +soul. A gentle heat came over me and my heart sprung open as the rose +out of its bud on a spring morning, and the Lord was within me. Then I +fell down and my prayer was prophecy. Oh, how could I have thought that +his presence was so sweet, who, with his glory, almost broke down the +wall of the narrow dwelling. Thanks be to him for ever and ever, Amen!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"His wonders are immeasureable and unspeakable," said Edmond.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Many," said Abraham in continuation, "whose faith was +suspected, +were imprisoned throughout the whole country. They were most +severely treated by the Abbé Chaila who resided in the Château Pont +Mont-de-Verd. Parents, husbands and betrothed mourned for those that +had been carried off. It would have been sinful to place my light under +a bushel. I summoned together a little community of zealous souls in +the forest, there they witnessed my inspiration, and their courage was +raised. It was in the middle of summer, and I prophesied to them that +they should release the prisoners. The following night we assembled +together, and Pervier, a young man, whose bride was languishing in the +prisons, undertook the command. They advanced in front of the dwelling; +the Abbé's servants fired from the windows and killed three of our +friends. We now ceased to sing psalms, and stormed the castle with +trees and firebrands. The gates gave way, we entered, and encountered +the Abbé in his chamber. He suffered his dungeon to be opened, we then +assured him that he should receive no injury. The prisoners came forth; +weeping, joy, sobbing, and singing filled the house. Then they shewed +their wounds, the marks of the torture, dimmed eyes and sunken cheeks. +A shout for murder resounded around. But Pervier and I appeased the +maddened people by word and deed. The Abbé heard the noise, was +terrified at our movements, and to save himself, he sprang from a high +window into the road, and lay dashed to pieces on the ground. His +attendants and many of us ran up to him. 'The Lord has judged him for +his cruelties,' exclaimed several voices; they lay down by his side to +look into his dying eyes. Many, in spite of their emotion, could not +conceal their malicious joy, and thus in reality, our first act was the +beginning of the war, a story, which, in order to defame us, they have +entirely altered."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is believed," said Edmond, "that you criminally and +wantonly +murdered him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Had it depended upon the will of one that was among us," +continued +Mazel, "that, and much more would have happened. A stout, fierce man +was of our party, who very unwillingly submitted to the commands of the +moderate Pervier; you know him by his fame, Esprit Seguier. In him +already burned the fire, which now shines forth in Catinat and Ravanel, +and even then many were of opinion, that this was the true religion, +and that the zeal of Elias and not the gentleness of St. John should +save us. We all retired quietly, cheerfully, and happily. Not one of us +had been discovered. Then Seguier assembled a troop as fierce as +himself, and while the soldiers were seeking for us, returned to +Pont-de-Verd, burnt the castle, slaughtered all the priests that he +found there, and cut down all whom they encountered. But misfortune +overtook them. They were defeated; when they sought for the leader, he +himself issued from a cottage, and declared his name. 'Wretch!' +exclaimed the commander, what treatment dost thou deserve for thy +deeds?' 'That which I would give thee, wert thou my prisoner,' replied +the enthusiast, 'and verily, such as thy friends would not rejoice +over.' He remained firm to the last. He was burnt alive. A proclamation +was then issued, offering pardon to all that knew anything of the +affair of the Abbé, as well as to such as had been, up to that period, +Huguenots in secret. Innocent beings! poor deluded ones! they presented +themselves, and were all hanged before their doors, even those, who had +never been at Pont-de-Verd. Their anger was now no longer to be +restrained, the young men rebelled, I led them to Pervier, arms were +sought for, those who had none, took hatchet and sicle; a regiment +advanced to oppose us on the left of Karnaulè. As soon as we began to +sing, the troops became intimidated; we rushed upon them, their balls +were of no effect, we hewed them down, five only escaped, to tell the +news of their defeat. Broglio himself then advanced upon us, but he was +driven back! A christian festival of thanksgiving was held in the +forest, and the Lord prophesied out of me to the edification of all +warriors. In our next combat Pervier was wounded, and appointed La +Porte our leader; but he did not feel that he was ordained to suffer +martyrdom, and soon went with his young wife to Geneva. Then the bold +La Porte fought the fearful battle before La Salle, of which thou must +have heard. He soon afterwards died gloriously of his wounds, for they +all opened afresh, when he was nearly cured, he sang psalms at divine +service, with so much ardour, that twenty wounded arteries bled at +once, and thus his soul, in red streams, and while he was still +singing, hastened up to heaven. To him succeeded his nephew, our +brother Roland, in command."</p> + +<p class="normal">The latter advanced at that moment and affectionately enquired +after +Edmond's health, and then charged Mazel to place sentinels round about, +for that Lord Flotard was coming and had private matters to discuss +with him, which no one was permitted to hear. Abraham retired, and +immediately from the opposite wood issued a richly dressed man, towards +whom Roland politely advanced, and both then hastened to a distance, +where they walked up and down on the skirt of the wood engaged in +earnest conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Canst thou hear what they say?" asked Edmond of the aged +Eustace.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, brother," replied the latter, "how is that possible, +since they +are so far from us, that I can scarcely distinguish them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But Edmond, when he turned his thoughts on Roland, could, to +his great +surprise, understand all clearly and distinctly, so that not one word +of the conversation escaped him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you sir," said Roland, "these sums come just in right +time, +and will help to supply the unfortunate soldiers with those necessaries +that they have been so long compelled to forego." "And you remain +obstinate," demanded the former, "and will not accept anything for +yourself and the other leaders?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not mention that," said Roland, "you ought to know us at +last. We +have not undertaken this holy war for robbery and gain: we are all +willing to remain poor. But the succours, where do they tarry? we do +what we can with short means, but a great calamity may annihilate us at +once, and then all assistance from without will come too late, even +now, a small one would be very acceptable. But already I forbode the +future, they will let us languish and perish, and then lament that they +did not lend us assistance sooner. It is ever thus, when one trusts to +foreign aid."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Therefore a sum: could--in all cases"--observed the stranger.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," cried Roland with great vehemence; "Oh sir, do you think +then +that I anticipate a happy result? I will live and die in this struggle, +end as it may. When I had the courage to take up the sword, I at the +same time threw away the scabbard too. I have devoted myself to ruin. +My name may be stained, the better part of mankind shall feel that I +was not debased, that, notwithstanding all, I was a good subject."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A good subject?" said the stranger inquiringly, "I understand +the +strangeness of these words. You think that I, a rebel, an outlaw, who +even accepts sums of money from foreign lands, may be purchased at a +cheap rate by the enemies of my king, and that I should maliciously +rejoice at every calamity that befell my sovereign. But it is not thus, +no Frenchman sinks so low. Let the king give us liberty of conscience, +and lame, starved, and bleeding at every pore, we will still fight for +him against England and Germany. And never would I, and my friends lend +our aid to bring our country under a foreign yoke; even should he +persist to act thus cruelly towards us: do not calculate upon that. But +I will fight for my cause in an honourable manner, as long as breath is +in me. Weak as we may be, we occupy a whole army, and with it lend +efficient succour to foreign countries. Do you not think, that with +these sentiments, I may call myself a good subject, though certain of +my ultimate ruin, by acting thus, I spare my king and country? I fall +in the fight here, or imprisonment, ignominy and martyrdom await me, no +spark of commiseration lights me on. I do not kindle the fiery zeal and +wrath of my people, in order, to break blindly into the land, to hazard +all on a dangerous game, by which the infuriated often win, I rather +restrain them. For myself I do nothing, for my party and my religion +everything. Could I but avoid involving these unfortunate men in my +ruin! But the king and fate have ordained it so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am further to enquire," said Flotard anew, "whether +experienced +officers should not be brought into the mountains as leaders?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I oppose that," said Roland gravely, "not on my own account. +I know +not how we carry on the war, but still this little mountain-spot +occupies a great number of disciplined troops. We have done more than +we ever dared to think of, even in our dreams. And all those poor +enthusiastic men, who never enquire how numerous the foe may be, rush +with songs of praise upon the bayonet, and into the flames of the +stake; they would follow no foreign leader, who did not share with them +the same faith, and the same distress, for as I have already said, it +is not their wish to be rioters and rebels, and thus follow a foreign +standard, though with greater safety. They fight and conquer only under +their own known country-people, who pray and sing with them, whose +origin they know, and whose prophecies impel them to rush fearlessly +into the most palpable danger."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They laugh at those prophets in foreign countries," said +Flotard, +"What is your opinion of them?" "I know not what to say to it," +answered Roland; I frequently see the miracle before my eyes, that +these men know things which no one can learn by natural means; but +again it often strikes me, that blind passion alone speaks out of them, +and that they voluntarily excite themselves to this state. The prophets +sometimes contradict one another. They direct our proceedings, and it +occurs occasionally that my regulations deviate from their wishes, but +I have sometimes had reason to repent of this.--Come now to the +magazines, and we shall consider what may be most necessary to us.</p> + +<p class="normal">Roland called out, and accompanied by a few followers, they +both +penetrated into the darkness of the forest.</p> + +<br> +<br> + +<h3>END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.</h3> +<br> +<br> + + + +<h4>PRINTED BY J. TEUTEN, BOND STREET, CHELSEA.</h4> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rebellion in the Cevennes, an +Historical Novel, by Ludwig Tieck and Madame Burette + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES, VOL I *** + +***** This file should be named 31738-h.htm or 31738-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/7/3/31738/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans by Google Books. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Rebellion in the Cevennes, an Historical Novel + Vol. I. + +Author: Ludwig Tieck + Madame Burette + +Release Date: March 22, 2010 [EBook #31738] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES, VOL I *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans by Google Books. + + + + +Source: +http://www.archive.org/details/rebellioninceve01tiecgoog + + + + + + + THE + + REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES, + + AN HISTORICAL NOVEL + + IN TWO VOLUMES. + + BY LUDWIG TIECK. + + + TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY + MADAME BURETTE. + + + + VOL. I. + + + + LONDON: + D. NUTT, FLEET STREET. + DUBLIN: J. CUMMING.--EDINBURGH: BELL AND BRADFUTE. + 1845. + + + + + PREFACE. + + +A predilection for the productions of TIECK and a desire to introduce +this remarkable work of the great German Poet to a larger circle of the +reading world: were the chief inducements, on the part of the +translator, for causing it to appear in an English form. As far as +regards the manner in which the translation itself has been executed, +the writer will be allowed to affirm, that the original has been, in +every sense, as closely adhered to, as the idiom of the English +language would admit of; to say, however, whether those efforts have +been attended with any corresponding success, must be humbly left to +the judgment of the discerning critic. + + + + + HISTORICAL NOTICE + + OF THE + + "REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES." + +From the German of the CONVERSATIONS LEXICON, 9th edit. Brockhaus. + + +As far back as the twelfth century, religions sects were formed in this +district (the Cevennes) under the names of "The Poor of Lyons," "The +Albigenses," "Waldenses," &c. Notwithstanding the crusades and +inquisitions raised against them by the popes for centuries, numerous +remnants had preserved themselves, who, when the Reformation found a +footing, obtained a signal increase, and finally, through the edict of +Nantes, were protected from further persecutions. But when Louis XIV., +1685, revoked the edict and purposed to reconduct all his subjects by +force into the bosom of the Catholic Church, then began a series of the +most cruel persecutions against the Protestant inhabitants of the +districts bordering on the Cevennes, especially after the peace of +Ryswick, 1697. Missionaries were accompanied by dragoons in order to +support by force of arms the preachings of the monks, (hence these +conversions called _dragoonings_) and the tax collectors were directed +to require all, especially those, suspected of protestantism, to pay up +their taxes. The most savage cruelties, in which children were torn +from their parents, in order to bring them up in the Catholic faith, +men, who were gone to their houses of prayer, sent to the galleys, and +women thrown into prisons, their priests hanged, the churches +destroyed, at length produced despair. Those, who did not emigrate, +fled into the retired mountain districts. + +Prophets and prophetesses arose, promising victory to the peasantry, +and esteeming him a martyr, who fell into the hands of the dragoons. A +remarkable fanaticism took possession of the Protestant people, which, +in many, even in children, shewed itself in the most fantastic trances +of a really epidemic nature. See Bruyes "Histoire du fanatisme de notre +temps" (Utrecht, 1757). The struggle began first with the murder of the +tax-gatherers; the assassination of the Abbe du Chaila, 1703, who was +at the head of those dragoonings, at length gave the signal for a +general rising. The revolted peasants were called "Camisards," either +from the provincial word Camise (shirt) in derision of their poverty, +or, because they wore a shirt in their surprises by which they might +recognise one another, or from the word "Camisade" (nightly surprise). +Their numbers and their fanaticism continued to increase, Louis's power +was rendered the less effective in putting an end to this insurrection, +as the chain of mountains presented sufficient places of refuge, and +his troops were every moment in danger of being cut off and surprised, +or of being destroyed by cold and hunger. The boldness of the Camisards +increased daily, especially as they placed at their head intrepid +leaders, among whom Cavalier[1] particularly distinguished himself. The +state of affairs became most critical, for Louis XIV., when the Spanish +war of succession required him to extend his forces on all sides, and +Marlborough and the Duke of Savoy, through promises and small succours, +fired still more the Camisards. On the other hand, Pope Clement XI. +in 1703, proclaimed a plenary summons to a crusade against them, which +was put in execution. Notwithstanding this, they almost totally +defeated the troops of the Marshal Montrevel sent against them with +20,000 men, in 1703, and the horrible cruelty of the latter only +excited still more their fanaticism. Recompensing evil with evil, they +strangled eighty-four priests in the diocese of Nismes and burned two +hundred churches, after 40,000 of their own party had been put to the +wheel, burnt, and hanged. At length, in order to give to the perilous +state of affairs another turn, Louis recalled Marshal Montrevel, 1704, +and sent Marshal Villars. One of the chiefs of the Camisards meditated +an alliance with the Duke of Savoy in Dauphine. The whole country from +the coast to the highest crest of the mountains was more or less in +their hands and with the inhabitants of Nismes, Montpellier, Orange, +Uzes, &c., &c., they maintained communications, which secured to them +bread, arms, and other necessaries. A quantity of bells had been melted +down by them to serve for cannons, and Cavalier acquitted himself like +a skilful general. The Catholic peasantry ventured neither to cultivate +the land, nor to carry necessaries of life into the towns. Thus stood +affairs, when Villars on the 21st of April, arrived in Nismes. He too +was incapable, of subduing the insurgents by force of arms. He +therefore decided on trying the effect of milder measures, and +proclaimed a general amnesty for all, who would lay down their arms, +and set at liberty himself such prisoners as swore fealty. In fact he +disarmed in this manner several communities. On the other side he +menaced with the harshest punishment, and to give weight to it, +moveable columns were formed, which marched from a given point in every +direction, upon which again detachments were ordered to remain as a +reserve, to succour those who might make head against the enemy in the +open field. Those, who were made prisoners with arms in their hands, +were either killed on the spot, or hanged, or broken on the wheel in +Alais, Nismes, and St. Hippolyte. Villars succeeded so far, that +already on the 10th of May, Cavalier gave up the cause of the Camisards +as lost, and concluded a treaty, wherein he promised to surrender with +his party on condition that they should obtain liberty of conscience +and the right to assemble privately without the towns for the service +of God, that the prisoners should be set free, the emigrated recalled, +and the confiscated estates and privileges restored. On the 22nd the +confirmation of the treaty arrived from Paris, and at the same time +permission for Cavalier to form a regiment in the King's pay. In the +mean while, however, the affair rapidly took another turn, particularly +in consequence of the activity of Dutch emissaries, who, brought money +and weapons, and promised the support of their republic. Cavalier had +gone to Anglade to superintend the organization of his regiment, when +the wild peasantry, excited by his lieutenant and inspired by their +prophets, set out and marched into the neighbouring woods, declaring +firmly, the King should restore the edict of Nantes, without which +there was no security for them. At length, however, Villars succeeded +by his personal influence and by cutting off from them all means of +subsistence, to bring them under subjection. Many of them fled and +entered into the Piedmontese service, where they formed a regiment that +took part in the Spanish war, and later under Cavalier's command, was +destroyed at the battle of Almanza, which Berwick gave to the Count of +Stahremberg on the 25th of April, 1707. The whole insurrection, +however, was not, quelled by that subjugation. There were still +multitudes, among which one particularly distinguished itself, led on +by a certain Roland; but Villars sought only to become possessed of the +leaders. Roland, when taken prisoner, was shot by a dragoon, whereupon +the remaining leaders surrendered, and cards of security were given to +them, and their adherents by the Marshal, which secured them from every +persecution. Yet, before Villars had fully stilled the rebellion, he +was replaced by the Marshal of Berwick, who fell upon the chief leaders +of the Camisards in Montpellier, caused them to be burnt and broken on +the wheel, and the country cruelly laid waste. Driven to extremity by +this, the Camisards rose once again with more enthusiastic inspiration. +They were, however, too weak to finish this warfare successfully. Thus +they died, some with arms in their hands, some as emigrants, others +submitted in order to preserve their faith, even under the greatest +oppression, or were forcibly constrained to become Catholics. Thus +ended this insurrection with the total devastation of the province and +the annihilation, or exile of a large portion of its inhabitants. Since +then, in the South of France, merely a war of opinion, lay smouldering, +which after the restoration of the Bourbons in the year 1815, gave rise +to frightful scenes in Nismes, and at other places. Only when in March +1819, a great number of the inhabitants of the Cevennes threatened the +town of Nismes--"Thirty thousand men are ready to descend from their +mountains, with the weapons of despair, if the salvation of their +brethren demand it,"--the persecutions of the Protestants were put a +stop to. See "Histoire des Camisards," (2 vols, London, 1744) Court de +Gebelin, "Le Patriote francais et impartial," (2 vols, Villefranche +1753) by the same "Histoire des troubles des Cevennes, ou de la guerre +des Camisards," (3 vols, Villefranche, 1760, new edition 1820) Schulz, +"Geschichte der Camisarden" (Weimar 1790), and Tieck's novel, "Der +Aufruhr in den Cevennen" (Berlin 1826). + + +[Footnote 1: Jean Cavalier, principal leader of the Camisards in the +war of the Cevennes, born 1679 in the village of Rebaute, near Anduse, +vas the son of a peasant, he lived at Geneva, and was employed in +agriculture, when the persecutions of the reformed inhabitants of the +Cevennes under Louis XIV. reached their highest pitch, and caused the +breaking out of the troubles, enflaming his enthusiasm for his faith, +and inducing him to return home. He was twenty-four years old, when he +placed himself at the head of armed multitudes, whom he knew how to +discipline with great art, and to rule over with transcendent talent, +leading them, with courage, circumspection and success against the +royal army. The confirmation of the treaty, which he, despairing of the +ultimate success of his cause, had concluded with Marshal Villars, +Louis XIV. sent to him accompanied with the commission of colonel, and +the grant of an annual pension of 1200 livres, permitting him at the +same time to raise a regiment of his own in the king's pay. Called to +Versailles by the Minister Chamillard, he saw that he was watched there +with distrust, and he fled secretly to England by way of Holland, +entering there into military service. In the Spanish war then raging, +he commanded a regiment formed of refugee Camisards in the service of +Piedmont and distinguished himself particularly in the battle of +Almanza, in New Castile, on the 25th of April, 1707, where he was +severely wounded. At a later period he became Major-general and +Governor of Jersey; and died, 1740, at Chelsea.] + + + + + + + THE + REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + +"Is Edmond not yet come home?" asked his father of the servant, as he +walked up and down the great hall of his country mansion. + +"No, my Lord," answered the old man, "and it were well that he +returned before evening; for a storm is gathering over the mountains, +which bodes us no good." + +At this moment a little girl entered with her toys, and sat down at the +large hall table. "The storm is raging again so fearfully up in the +mountains," said she carressingly, "that I will stay near you, dear +papa, I cannot bear such weather, why should there be such noise and +thunder in the world?" + +"Aye, truly," rejoined Frantz, the old domestic, "and all the misery +that has oppressed us for so many years past and to which we see no +end!" + +"He only knows, who has thus afflicted us," replied the father, +sighing; "and he will accomplish his own wise purpose." + +"Papa!" exclaimed the child, looking up from her play, "our good +Eustace, the charcoalburner, who used to bring me such pretty little +stones from the wood, and who lately brought the large wild bird, which +he said, was a thrush; the black good man is now become a satan too." + +"What art thou chattering there about!" said her father angrily; "who +told you this?" + +"Martha, my nurse," replied the child; "for he is now in rebellion +against his God and his king, until they take him prisoner and burn, or +otherwise put him to death, for he will no longer be a Christian; +Martha said so this morning, while she was dressing me, and she intends +going to the town next week to see the other satans put to death; pray, +allow her to go, dear papa? she thinks it will more particularly +confirm and strengthen her in her faith, for she too has gone a little +astray, and has almost fallen into evil ways. The evil one is very +powerful in the neighbourhood, particularly up yonder in the mountains, +he is quite at home there; we are much better down here. Papa, the figs +are becoming ripe already in the garden." + +"Thou chatterer!" said her father, in a tone of displeasure, "I shall +take care that you are not so much alone with the old woman." + +"It is true enough," interrupted the domestic, "Eustace is up in the +mountains with Roland, and has joined the Camisards, his wife and +children sit mourning in their desolate home; they are destitute of +food, and dread being arrested and, perhaps, condemned on his account." + +"I believe," said the Lord of Beauvais, "that you have already relieved +them, my good Frantz, if not, do it now; give them what necessaries +they may require, but do it prudently, that we may not be called upon +to answer for it; for in this general affliction of want and confusion, +every thing is suspicious. A man may do as he pleases provided he +becomes not a tyrant, and places himself on a level with the +executioner." + +"Like our Marshal," exclaimed the old man impetuously, "like our +Intendant; like the lords there in Nismes, who in the name of God +sacrifice their brethren. I have sent some relief to these poor people +already, and will provide them with more; it is only a drop of water in +the sea, but still in this distress it will comfort a few poor +creatures." + +The servant retired, and as her father turned a mournful glance towards +the mountains, his little daughter approached him smilingly, kissed his +hand, and said: "Papa, pray let not you and Frantz became wicked and +rebels, for then brother Edmond and I would go to heaven quite alone, +and I should not like that; I can never agree with Edmond, he is so +terribly pious, you are much better, though your faith may not be of +the best kind." + +"You say truly, _terribly_ pious;" said the old man, "Oh heaven, when +will it please thee to deliver us from these afflictions?" + +"There comes Edmond along the garden," said the child, "it will be +better not to say anything to him about the wicked Eustace, for we +shall have noise and disputes again; he does not like such things at +all." + +Edmond entered, bowed, put his gun in the corner, and laid aside his +pouch. A large dog came bounding up to the little girl, who played with +him, and held up some pieces of broken bread. + +"Where have you been this morning, my son?" inquired his father. + +"At the Intendant's, at the Lord of Basville's," replied Edmond without +raising his eyes. "Yonder in Alais, where he will stop for a few days +in consequence of the trial of the rebels. He commends himself to you, +but he is rather surprised that you should have refused the appointment +offered, and thinks that the Marshal would understand it still less." + + +"The Marshal, my son," began the father, not without emotion, "there +are many things that he cannot understand. I thank my God that I +retired to this solitude more than ten years ago, for were I still in +office, my conscience would compel me to resign it now, and that +perhaps would be still more incomprehensible to these two valiant +gentlemen. I neither envy nor admire their patriotism and God preserve +our family from the fate of rendering such services to the king. +Therefore, my dear, my beloved son, I once more give you a paternal +warning to abandon these men, it would send me to the grave to see you +act like them. What do they require of us? no open, direct service, no +assistance which becomes citizens, and which all honorable men are +ready to render: but we are required to turn spies and betray our +fellow-subjects and our countrymen, to give them up to the rack and to +the stake, and to rejoice in the inhumanity which depopulates the land, +and congratulate ourselves at having incurred the hatred of God and of +all mankind, and if we enquire into this too closely, we are looked +upon as traitors to our king and country." + +"Is it ever permitted to a subject to enquire?" hastily rejoined +Edmond, "I am aware of your sentiments, my father, and I regret them; +but ought the subject to enquire into this? May I be allowed to ask +where is the submission, where are the ties that bind him to the state, +where the holiness, the sublimity, the piety, the honor by which we are +men and citizens, and upon which our virtue and existence repose; if I +am permitted to say: here I renounce my obedience to you, this you dare +not command, though you were my king; though my country, even heaven +itself should speak to me through your revered lips." + +"You are right, my son," replied the old man, "and because you ask +this, you will ever be in the right; the ruler should with humble piety +and with godly fear keep within these limits, respect the conscience of +his subjects, keep inviolate the promises, the oaths which his noble +predecessors made, and which he has repeated after them, and not hurl +with his own hand the burning brand into his granaries, by raising up +extortioners, judges, and persecutors!--And woe to those, who thus +abuse the weakness of his age, his pliable conscience and their own +influence; and woe to him who is appointed to fill these offices to +slaughter good and pious men; but tenfold woe to the upright man, who +from ambition, or a mistaken sense of duty, advances and sets fire to +the stake, and extends the rack still more horribly." + +"It grieves me, my father," said Edmond, suppressing his anger, "I am +overwhelmed with inexpressible anguish at being compelled to feel +myself so immeasurably distant from you in all that is dearest, +holiest, most natural and nearest to my heart! From the moment that I +was capable of thinking and feeling, our ancient and holy religion has +been to me the most sacred, the most sublime, in her alone my heart +lives, all my wishes and aspirations are brightly reflected in this +clear crystal; this which love itself has proclaimed, this which is +itself love, eternal, invisible, to us lost creatures become visible by +descending in the form of a child, as our brother and nearest +neighbour, and then suffering so painful a death for our wanderings and +in this most devoted sacrifice thinking only of us, and of all our +infirmities and corruptions in life and in death:--ought I ever to +forget this, can I disdain it; my heart which this love consumes with +gratitude; ought it to suffer this transcendent miracle of love to be +annihilated, to be trampled in the dust, and all that is most holy +reduced with scornful impiety to ruins, in order to associate it with +all that is most contemptible?" + +"Who requires that, my son?" exclaimed the old man; "even Turks and +Heathens would and could not demand it, still less our brethren, who +only desire to approach in plainness and simplicity that +incomprehensible being, who, notwithstanding his immensity, so +intimately and so closely connects himself with all our hearts in love +and simplicity." + +"In this portrait," said the son, "it would indeed be impossible to +recognise those, who murder our priests, set fire to our sanctuaries, +rob the peasant, and if they are victorious, which God forbid, would +extend their heresy with fire and sword over the land." + +"You see it thus, my son," said the old man, "because you will see it +so; we misunderstand each other in this affair, for you resist +conviction, and certainly as long as you are governed by this feeling, +you will never possess that dispassionate clearness of mind, which +according to my judgment, is necessary to render us susceptible of +religion; and this alone is the true spirit of christianity, for which, +it is true, you struggle with enthusiasm, but you cannot live in true +devoted love." + +The son rose indignantly from his seat, and walked hastily up and down +the saloon, then he seized his father's hand, looked at him earnestly, +and said: "Enthusiasm? with this word then, with this vague sound you +have satisfied yourself, and responded to my sorrowing spirit. This is +it exactly what the world desires, what the despairing one means whose +heart is dead. Is it not so, the martyrs and heroes of the christian +church were merely enthusiasts then?--and those who joyfully shed their +blood and endured martyrdom for Him, to whom they could not offer too +great a sacrifice of love and suffering, were fanatics too, because +they were deficient in understanding and composure? All these miracles +of love are merely the crude wanderings of delirious passion, which +those celestial spirits have contemplated from on high, not with +emotion and joy, but only with compassionate smiles, and those who +expired in ecstasy are immediately greeted with grave looks and +admonishing reproof! Oh, rather than discipline my throbbing heart to +such presumption and vile incredulity, I would tear it palpitating from +my breast, trample it under foot and throw it to the dogs for food." + +"We will drop the subject," said the father, half angry, half moved, +while he took a large book from the mantel-piece. + +"I blame not your sentiments, far be it from me to censure what is +sacred, but you do not know what it is, you have yet to learn that +greatness and truth lie only on the verge, on the transition-point of +this feeling; as we have beheld them in their ecstasy, we must draw +back with timidity and reverence; but should the lying spirit entice us +in our spiritual revellings to higher enthusiasm and visions, we sink +under mental voluptuousness, and delusive images, fearful fancies take +prisoners soul and heart, love dies within us; and you will be obliged +to go through this sad probation, my son, and God knows if the issue +does not leave you a seared, an empty heart, or perhaps a hypocrite, +for thy path through life will not be smooth and easy." + +With these words, the Lord of Beauvais sat down to read, his son took +his hand and said in a gentle tone, "No, no, my father, let us go on +with this subject, which once for all occupies my whole life. Is it +possible that this reading, this reasoning of Plato can interest you at +this moment? Am I permitted to feel as you do, am I not obliged to +blindly obey, if moreover, this obedience accord with my sentiments?" + +"St! st!" exclaimed the little girl playfully, and the dog ran barking +towards the door, and could only be silenced by his master's whistling +to him. "Is it not true," said Eveline, "that Hector is entirely of the +true faith, for he might be so easily set upon the Camisards?" + +"Silly child!" exclaimed Edmond reddening with anger, the father shook +his head at her, but she continued: "Edmond said even now that he would +give his heart to Hector to eat, therefore I may well consider him a +very peculiar sort of dog." "Come Hector, they always do us injustice;" +thus saying, she took the dog by the collar and both went into the +garden. + +"I understand you not, my father," commenced Edmond after a pause, "you +are religious, you visit the church with devotion, I must consider you +attached to it, however often a suspicion to the contrary may occur to +me, and yet can you contemplate it with composure, that destruction +threatens this our church, and does she not in the most gracious manner +fulfil all the desires and yearnings of our hearts? I feel ever +incensed, when many priests urge so strenuously the necessity of good +works, virtue and morality; Heathens can teach us that, and our very +reason exacts it from us; however much these must be respected, it is +the progressive development and formation of the miraculous that I +perceive in history which always so powerfully affect my heart. In the +distance lies the first miracle dark and indistinct; but veiled +entirely in love. The gift of prophecy was not withdrawn after the +apostles; saints and martyrs followed in the steps of the departed, and +fulfilled that which the former predicted, the mystery of love is +interminable, and can only be explained by a new mystery. That the +explanation of the holy sacrament should be sanctioned by decrees of +the church, disturbs me not, while to the worldly only it appears a +mere temporal event; for in the insignificant germ lie already +concealed the blossom and sweetness of the fruit, which become ripe +only by that which we call time. Thus it happened that at a later +period the forebodings of the soul were fulfilled, and she, who had +given birth to the Saviour was worshipped as heavenly; festivals were +celebrated in her honour. Thus the prophetic song from the mouth of one +prophet descends through all ages, and is never silent, even to +futurity. Festival follows festival, temples and images follow statues, +posterity will turn with deep emotion to the love of the present, as we +enraptured trace the past, only through this mutability, through this +re-echoing of the Eternal Word is the truth made manifest to me, +through this alone am I convinced that it went forth in former times, +by this means, that it apparently changes, as the leaf into the +blossom, the flower into the fruit, and the fruit yields again the seed +of the flower, it is a permanent, an eternal truth; through this +endless, this inexhaustible abundance, resembling an ocean of love, by +anticipating each individual sense, by quenching every desire, by +satisfying the hungry: by this only it becomes something simple, +authentic and independent, and I abhor the interpretations of those +innovators, who would treat these miraculous events as a tale, who +venture to call our mass with its symbols, lights, temples, pomp, and +music idolatry, and by thus warring against the most sacred things, +according to the feelings of my heart, they war against God himself, +and they must be rooted out and destroyed like noxious, venemous +reptiles." + +"I understand you, my son, and would willingly believe you in the +right, for in fact you have only been declaring my own sentiments on +this subject. If such are your feelings and this be your faith, there +should be no further strife not only between us, but any one else. If +you feel that Christianity in its various forms, rejects no want, no +desire, that it is permitted to every mind to worship according to its +own light, but in the spirit of truth, the Eternal Being, then those +meek hearts, that shrink affrighted from this parade and song, from +this splendour of the temple and from the artificial culture of +religious mystery, will not be excluded from the community. Those, who +like the disciple John and the apostles of Jesus, visit the wilderness +of Jordan, and there in the dreariness of the mountains and in holy +solitude willingly listen to the Eternal Word, and are anxious to erect +there their church like the hut at Bethlehem, lest their fervid +imaginations might be overwhelmed with the splendour and sculptured +beauty of the statues, and thereby forget their salvation and their +God. These people here are likewise true Christians, my son, whatever +our priests may say to you about it, and the Father will not reject +them. There arose long since in our Cevennes, and in the valleys of the +Albigences, a simple faith, a peaceful retreat, far from the pomp and +ambiguity of the episcopal and popish church. It may be, that for the +good of mankind, for religion, education, and liberty, it was expedient +in those earlier ages, that the Bishop of Rome should declare himself +the head-shepherd and lay the foundation of a spiritual kingdom; but, +that the christian church in later times has declined on that account, +admits of no doubt. The bishops and priests were now no longer simple +teachers of the word and imitators of the apostles, but they became the +head-servants of their spiritual master, who in the disputes of the +times was compelled to think first of himself and of his own power, +while he assigned to religion that only which was not detrimental to +it; therefore it resulted, that when the quiet inhabitants of Alby +assembled in their wooded valleys, resolving to free themselves from +the abuses, the arbitrary dogmas, as well as from the corruptions of +the priests, they were persecuted as heretics, who sought to overturn +the papal chair, and therefore Christianity itself. Had there been +then, as there was formerly, a free independent church of bishops, +these enlightened minds would have found protection and peace, they +would have been allowed to assemble in their houses of prayer with +their priests, and serve God in what manner they thought it their duty +to do, instead of which, crusades were preached against them and their +innocent blood, which has been so inhumanly shed, still cries up to +heaven. Even if the papal hierarchy and Christianity had not been one +and the same thing, there would still have arisen in our mountains +great preachers and reformers of the church. When the papal authority +began to totter, such teachers as these spread themselves among our +mountains and Calvin's disciples found minds, which had been long +prepared to receive his doctrines. This form of faith is here as +natural and holy as yours may be in other parts, and he only could +resolve on extirpating them by persecution, who misunderstands the +beautiful and tolerating spirit of Christianity, indeed it appears to +me, that he must be entirely inimical to this religion of love. Since +Luther and Calvin, a civil war has raged through every province for +nearly a century; dearly was this cherished liberty to be paid for, of +which the popes and bishops have so unjustly robbed mankind. A light +shone in the midst of this gloom, our fourth Henry stepped forward and +extended the olive-branch of peace over all his dominions. By the edict +of Nantes liberty of conscience was ensured by a royal oath, and by the +unanimous consent of the parliament, and confirmed by all the states +and provinces: his successor renewed this oath, and our ruler, Louis +XIV, could not be recognised king, before he agreed to reign over +Evangelical as well as Roman Catholic subjects: thus was the oath which +he took for himself and his posterity ratified to us; he has reigned +many years with happiness and renown, but now in his old age, +surrounded by ambitious and superstitious minds, now that his bright +star has long set, now that his country is impoverished and exhausted; +that his armies are defeated; that enemies threaten his frontiers, and +even his very capital,--now that Germany, England, and Holland, here in +the neighbourhood, Savoy, menace us with the most dire misfortune,--now +his conscience awakes, he thinks to be able to conquer heaven and +fortune, by suffering Catholic subjects only to call him king. He sends +with inconceivable blindness--converting ministers into these +mountains; and threats, compulsion, massacre and pillage are the +exhortations employed towards this unfortunate people; now we have +witnessed these horrors in our very neighbourhood; however zealous you +may be for your party, my son, I know that your humane heart has been +agonised more than once by these proceedings. Suddenly--could he do it, +ask yourself if he might? the king revokes that edict and voluntarily +absolves himself from his oath, without at the same time consulting +that of his predecessors, of the parliament, and of all the states in +the kingdom; he himself destroys, in his religious madness, that which +binds him to the citizen, that attaches the subject to him, the sacred +palladium, the undefilable is profaned and annihilated, and the +wretched inhabitants are yielded a prey to wrath, to murder, and to the +fearful frenzy of the bloodthirsty; the peaceful weaver, the shepherd, +the honest labourer, who was but yesterday a devout Christian, a +respected citizen, a good subject, is through the revocation of the +edict, without any fault of his own, now a rebel, an outlaw, for whom +the wheel and the stake are prepared; against whom all, even the most +savage and disgraceful cruelty is permitted; his temples are closed and +demolished; his priests are exiled and murdered; he is ignorant of his +offence, he only feels his misfortune: in the deepest recesses of the +soul that spirit is aroused which remembers its eternal and +imperishable rights, and again war and murder rage; fury excites fury, +life becomes cheap, martyrdom a pleasure; and if there be evil foes, +they look with a scornful and fiendish laugh from the summits of the +mountains down on this hideous massacre, where the very last traces of +love, godly fear, and humility are covered with reeking blood. Do you +mean that it is thus I must be a Christian, in order to justify the +cruelty of my party; or to be a good subject, must I lend a hand to +these executioners of the Marshal? In this case, indeed, is our respect +for the king, as well as our worship of God infinitely different." + +Edmond had listened to this long harangue of his father, without +testifying any signs of impatience; at length said he, sighing deeply: +"We are standing then on two opposite shores, a wide stream between +us; I understand your meaning so little, that I even shrink with +fear from it, for according to that, our holy religion may vanish in +the empty folly of every fool, who has the arrogance to set himself up +for a teacher, and just enough ability to mislead the ignorant, +novelty-hunting populace; thus then might indeed the sacred edifice of +the state with its, by heaven itself, consecrated representative sink +into the dust, if every malcontent is permitted to dispute with him +those rights by which the king is king, and if lie finds an opportunity +to rob him of them. Then come chaos and anarchy bringing in their train +the hellish fiends of murder, vengeance, fire, and sword, in order to +destroy and slay the friends of the throne, the nobles and the priests. +Oh! my father, to this only then their doctrine tends. Can my king be +no more to me my visible god on earth, to whom I blindly and +unreservedly submitted my whole heart with all its impulses, can I no +longer believe, that to him alone belongs all responsibility? In this +case I can neither act, nor think. Must my church, for which +innumerable miracles, and thousands of the sublimest spirits speak and +confirm it, yield to contemptible communities of yesterday, out of +whatever corner they creep, who seek with gross deception and delirious +ravings to cover and decorate their pitiful wretchedness;--no, I would +just as soon fly to the unenlightened heathens of the North Pole, and +attach myself to their absurd faith." + +"Miracles!" exclaimed the old Lord, "and what then do you call miracles? +the dull eye cannot discern them, just because they are too great and +too mighty. That these poor people, who were perfectly content if they +only had their hardly-earned dry bread, and who in the recesses of +their mountains revered every commander as a deity;--that these should +venture to defy the Intendant, the Marshal with his armies, and even +the king himself;--that these poor, common men were enabled to +sacrifice their wives, their children, and their lives, and die martyrs +for their doctrine: Is this then no miracle? A miserable band without +education, without arms, without having ever seen service, led by young +men, who scarcely know what a sword is, should defeat regular troops +and experienced commanders in more than one battle; and, sometimes too, +one against four: Is that no miracle? How, if these rebels, for such +they are in reality, should desire to found the truth of their doctrine +upon this, what have you to oppose against them?" + +"Rather mention too," said Edmond, with bitterness, "their prophets, +their ecstasies, their absurd convulsive contortions, which the young +learn from the old and deceive and grossly lie with the name of God on +their lips." + +"My son," said his father, sighing, while he gazed with emotion on the +dark eyes of his son. "In all unrestrained passions man is transformed +into an inexplicable but fearful miracle, then becomes realised and +identified with him, what the wildest fancy itself cannot imagine more +irrational. Let every man beware of this state, still less let him seek +it, as you do, Edmond; your fire will consume you. Go not yonder so +often to the lady of Castelnau: this will nourish your enthusiasm and +destroy you." Edmond quitted the hall abruptly without saying a word. +The old man looked after him, sighed and said to himself, "Ardent love +and bigotry encouraged by an enthusiastic woman what may they not +effect in our times in this poor youth; who knows the misery that is +still before me!" + +"For God's sake, my Lord," exclaimed old Frantz, rushing in, "what is +the matter with our son; there he is running up the vineyard without a +hat, and the storm is fast gathering. Oh, if you had but not scolded +him! He will never indeed give up the lady!" + +"How do you know," asked the father, "that the conversation related to +her?" + +"He ran by me," replied Frantz, "and looked at me with that very +peculiar, fierce expression, which he only has, if any one speaks of +the Lady Christine; then only he stamps his feet; he has thrown down +the apple-tree there, and kicked back his own Hector that was running +after him, which he never does at any other time; some harm will yet +befall our Edmond." + +"May God watch over him," said his father; at that moment a flash of +lightning darted from the dark stormy clouds, and cast a singular light +round the vineyards, so violent a clap of thunder immediately +succeeded, that the whole of the great building rocked and creaked. +Hector crouched down by Frantz, and the little Eveline ran into the +hall with her fair locks fluttering behind her, immediately after her +entrance, the rain began to descend in torrents, the herds were seen +everywhere hastily crowding together; the shepherds hallooed to their +flocks, the dogs barked, and in the intervals of the roaring of the +tempest the rustling of the trees was heard; the streams dashed loudly +down the hills and the rain pelted heavily on the roof of the house. +Martha began to chaunt aloud from the upper story; soon after the +trampling of horses and hasty footsteps were heard. The door opened and +three men entered, the foremost of them, who had alighted from his +horse, turned to the proprietor of the house with these words: +"Necessity requires no bidding! the proverb, my Lord Counsellor of +Parliament is quite right, for otherwise I had not ventured to renew a +former acquaintance so unceremoniously: I am the vicar of St. Sulpice, +there beyond St. Hippolite, and take the liberty to beg the shelter of +your roof for a short time in this remote place, against the violence +of the storm." + +"You are welcome, my friend," said the Counsellor of Parliament, "as +well as the other gentlemen; you shall have a fire to warm and dry +yourselves, and you will do well to remain here this evening, for the +storm will certainly last until night, as is usually the case in this +neighbourhood." + +Frantz and another domestic had already lighted a fire in the large +chimney, and the strangers approached the friendly flames in order to +dry their garments, while the vicar begged the servant to take care of +his nag. + +The other two strangers had made their request and testified their +respect for the Counsellor of Parliament only by a silent bow, during +which the little fair girl took advantage of the momentary confusion, +to approach the guests and examine them with curiosity. One of these +appeared to be a huntsman, for he wore a green dress and carried a +couteau-de-chasse and a rifle, the latter, which was loaded, he very +carefully placed on the mantel-piece. During these various proceedings, +Eveline had already in her way formed an acquaintance with the third +stranger, who seemed to be her favorite, for she gave him her +handkerchief to wipe the rain from his face, and offered him some +fruit, which he smilingly declined, and after looking at him for some +time, she said, "Where have you left your hat?" "The storm without has +carried it off from me," said the young stranger, "and blew it far, far +away, so that I could not catch it again." + +"It must have been drole enough," said Eveline, laughing, "you after +the hat, the storm after you, and the rain after the storm, you could +not overtake your hat, but the rain and storm overtook you." + +The Lord of Beauvais drew near, and said, "You entertain this stranger +already?" "Does he not look good and kind;" exclaimed the child, "just +like the schoolmaster in the village, who teaches me to read, but who +is obliged to limp already with his young, thin legs." + +"Behave politely, my child," said the Counsellor kindly, and he put +aside her fair locks from her forehead. He examined his guest while he +was paying the usual compliments. The young stranger appeared to be +about sixteen, or seventeen years of age, he was something below the +middle height, his figure was delicately formed, but as the child had +said, the expression of his countenance was amiability itself. A slight +tinge of red coloured his thin cheeks; his eyes were of the lightest +blue, and had acquired by a mark on the right eye-lid, a very peculiar +expression; short, fair hair lay thick and smooth, over his dazzlingly +pure white forehead: his voice had something effeminate in it from its +high pitch, and from his whole bearing and bashfulness of manner, one +might have easily taken him for a maiden in disguise. + +"I came over to day from Pont-du-gard, and intended to proceed to +Montpellier, when this storm overtook me fortunately just in front of +your door, my Lord Counsellor," said the vicar approaching again. "I +must confess, I should not have thought, that there could be such a +building as this aqueduct, if my own eyes had not convinced me of it. I +doubt that the Coloseum at Rome, or the stupendous church of St. Peter +could have produced so great an impression on my mind, as these +majestic, vaulted arches, and these pillars one over the other, which +so boldly and so easily unite two distant mountains." + +"Whoever has not yet seen this work of antiquity," said the Counsellor, +"may well consider every report of it exaggerated, and, perhaps, +reverend sir, you will not believe either, that it encreases in +grandeur the oftener one looks at it; the eye cannot familiarize itself +with its magnificence, although its first sight is so highly +satisfactory, and in this contemplation of the sublime, the most +pleasing emotions take possession of us. Thus must it ever be with all +that is truly great," "Those heathenish Romans," said the priest, "have +done much in this respect, they must ever be our teachers; but on my +way here, before the commencement of the storm, I heard a great deal of +firing." + +"The Camisards and the royal troops are at it again," said the +huntsman. "But to day, it is said, that the Huguenots have entirely +lost the game." "How so?" demanded the Counsellor. + +"I heard on the other side of the water,--thank God, that I am on +this!--that they had taken prisoner Catinat and Cavalier, and therefore +it is probably all over with the war. What a pity, say I, if they +massacre Cavalier, as they have so many others." + +"Why a pity?" exclaimed the priest hastily, "what else then does the +rebel deserve? perhaps you are also a follower of the new doctrine?" +"No, reverend sir," said the huntsman, "I was one of the every first +that was converted by these gentlemen dragoons. They came in the name +of the king, and--of him whose bread I eat, whose song I sing--they +were not particularly gentle; thirty in the village were massacred: +'Dog,' said they, 'the pure faith, or die!' why so harsh? said I, I am +not at all prejudiced against the creed, only you might have enforced +it with a little more gentleness. When I saw the execrable man[oe]uvre, +my resolution was quickly formed, and I am now in the service of a +right zealous catholic master, the Intendant of Basville. I only mean +that it is a pity for Cavalier for he is a good fellow, and has already +puzzled many a brave officer." + +"That is very true," said the priest a little softened, "he is the only +one among the rebels, who understands how to conduct the affair; +fearless as a lion, generous, ever self-possessed, knowing how to +occupy the best positions, and humane to his prisoners, he is born to +be a hero and a leader, and still more to be admired, for from a +swineherd he rose to greatness. It is through him that I have lost my +vicarage and that I am now making a tour here in Camargue, Nismes, and +Montpellier in order to obtain another appointment." + +"How is that sir?" enquired the Counsellor, "mind your own business! as +the saying is, but we do not always follow this wise maxim," replied +the former, "for hot blood and passion, but to often master our reason. +You know that some time since a sort of crusade was preached against +the Camisards in the Cevennes; the young men in Nismes and in the +surrounding country have enlisted as volunteers and lie in wait for the +rebels wherever they can; the hermit of the Cevennes, an old captain, +has taken the field with a troop of rash, desperate fellows and fights +like a Samson; but it is reported that he is very impartial, for, when +an opportunity offers, he treats friends and foes alike, and has +already plundered many an old Catholic, or stretched him in the +trenches. Now, if such things occur, when all the energies are excited +in the melee, it is not so much to be wondered at, though they may +happen a little too frequently; verily he has more deliberately counted +over his rosary than he can now the number of murders he commits. It is +curious enough, that a hermit, who had intended to renounce the world +so entirely, should embark again in such adventures; his old military +ardour is probably aroused within him. I too, retired in my solitary +village in the mountains, when I heard of these proceedings was fired, +or inspired with them, and formed the resolution of also rendering my +poor services to God and the king, my parishoners would not hear of it: +by Jove! they have no heroism in them, they have an antipathy to wounds +and death, or they have secret dealings with the Camisards, as I have +always suspected that satan's brood of it, for much as I have loudly +and zealously harangued them in the pulpit, they almost invariably +slept during my sermon: that they were thus insensible to my loud +exhortations, is alone a proof, that they must have been possessed by +the devil. In pursuance of my design, I assembled some people together, +two Spanish deserters, three Savoyards, five fellows who had escaped +from prison, and two prodigiously bold tinkers. It was at the time, +when Cavalier had so incomprehensively taken the town of Sauve in the +middle of the mountains and laid it under contribution. We marched +directly against them, passing St. Hipolite, for I received intelligence +that this rebel commander had abandoned his corps with a small troop. +We met him just as we issued from a narrow defile in the mountains, I +called to him to surrender; he resisted, bang! I shot a fellow dead, +who was standing by him, I fell upon them with sword and gun and broke +their ranks--sir, it was an epoch in my life, it was as if three +regiments were in my body--shots were fired, I looked back,---there lay +my whole army cut down behind me by a few villains--my courage failed, +I rode off as fast as my horse would carry me, it was the same +hungarian horse, my good sir, now, in your stable,--I am saved. + +"Cavalier, as I understand, was a reasonable man, but the knave, who is +called after the late Marshal Catinat, stirred up the others; they +march into my village, persuade my penitents to join them, set fire to +my house and even to my dear dilapidated church, and have sworn to hew +me into ten thousand pieces, if I ever shew myself there again. Now as +I have suffered all this for the sake of my country, it is but just +that reparation should be made to me for the loss I have sustained, and +I am shortly to receive a better living with a good Catholic Christian +community herein the neighbourhood of Nismes. Thus was my chivalrous +expedition terminated; but I have sworn, that wherever I see but one, +or more of these murderous dogs--were there a hundred, to make them +feel my vengeance." + +The Counsellor turned with indignation from the priest and his +countenance brightened as Edmond, in a different dress, entered the +hall. "This is witch's weather," said he, and kissed his father's hand, +which the latter held out to him kindly. He then mingled with the +company and soon entered into conversation with the loquacious priest. + +"As I was saying," recommenced the latter in his clamorous manner, +"these numskulls have something quite peculiar and incomprehensible in +them. Even the children, urchins of three years old, pretend to exhort +and preach atonement, they can speak as familiarly of every sin, as if +they had long ago gone through the whole catalogue of them, this is a +well known fact; moreover, it frequently happens, that these devil's +nurslings even prophecy, and most of them speak in good and distinct +French about what probably they have never heard in their lives--this +may be explained by all who like explanations, some say, that they are +in a fit, others that they are possessed with the devil, those of their +own party take it for inspiration. Above there in Alais, some hundreds +of them assemble, great and small, old and young, prophecying among one +another, that the walls of their prison might be broken down. The +medical college of Montpellier has transferred itself thither, each +doctor has taken with him his hat and cloak; I believe they have also +carried with them the antique mantle of Rabelais, in order to be quite +perfect in their art. I hear they have now observed, discoursed, +disputed, calculated, speculated, deduced, and what is the result? that +we are as wise as before. These learned gentlemen declare, that it +cannot be taken for divine inspiration because it is opposed to the +king and the clergy; and still less can they be possessed by the devil, +in as much as they speak and sing only spiritual things and do not as +yet know the ways of that gentleman, neither, say they, could it +proceed from fits, or any other bodily infirmity, but it was to them +something quite unheard of and new; it may well be termed new, and, +therefore, must appropriately be called fanaticism and the people +denominated fanatics." "There may be many things," interrupted the +huntsman hastily, "that are inexplicable; with your reverence's +permission, my opinion is, that they are all bewitched; for, if you +have no objection, that is the easiest explanation of the matter; +therefore, there is no such great injustice in burning them--always +excepting Mr. Cavalier, for whom I should be very sorry--and the reason +which might tolerate such proceedings is, that they may not by degrees +infect the whole community, for it is very evident that the evil is +spreading daily and is communicated from one to the other. Witchcraft +is just as much something corporeal as well as spiritual, something +visible as well as invisible, and not only men, but also houses, +mountains and rivers may be enchanted; I have experienced this myself +in the course of my life." + +"And how?" enquired the Counsellor. "Do you not know the wide-spreading +ash, which stands in the field between the castle of Castelnau and +the town of Alais? at no great distance from that is the large, old +olive-tree, which, they say, is three, or four hundred years old, but +it is so far certain, that both the trees, particularly the ash, may be +seen at the distance of many miles from the plain as well as from the +mountains." + +"I know both these trees very well," said Edmond. + +"Now," continued the huntsman, "under the ash it is not safe. While I +was yet a boy in the service of the father of the present lady of +Castelnau, who almost always resided at Alais, for the castle was +thought to be too lonely for her, I went out as I often did, to shoot +hares: It was towards evening and a storm like that of to-day overtook +me, I sought shelter under the great ash to escape getting wet through, +but scarcely had I leaned against the trunk, gracious sir, than I was +seized with indescribable agitation and fear, my heart began to beat, a +tremor came over me, I was terrified--I was compelled to quit my +shelter--I was wet through--I returned, and again the same sensations +under the tree; it was not permitted to me to remain there, I was +obliged to go into the open space while the rain was falling as if +heaven and earth would come together. The next morning it was bright +midday and summer weather, said I to myself, dolt! wert thou frightened +because it was dark, perhaps thou wert terrified at the claps of +thunder; wilt thou become a noble huntsman if thou hast such little +heart,--so I went half laughing under the tree, I fancied myself +sleeping under its shade,--but no such thing! I was seized with greater +terror and agitation than ever, my teeth chattered and an icy coldness +chilled me, I fled from the spot.--I mentioned the circumstance to an +old forester: 'Fool!' said he, 'have not the huntsmen told you that the +tree permits no one to stand under it?' It is an old story. He could +not tell me the reason of this, but warned me not to play any tricks +with it. However, I did not follow his advice, but returned to it with +a young lad. To him it was productive of evil, for he became sick unto +death with the fright; since that time, I avoid the tree and so does +every one who knows it. It must have been bewitched some time or +other." + +"Heaven only knows, what may be the meaning of all this," began the +priest, "we live at least in times when events occur, which formerly +would have been deemed impossible. Now there is something +incomprehensible in these prophecying children. It was said, some years +ago, that here, and there, in the Cevennes, in Dauphine, and in the +neighbouring Beauvarais that such things were practised, and people +travelled to hear and see them. At present whole villages are full of +them, they are to be seen in the market-places, in the public houses +and like the diseases, incidental to childhood formerly, it seems that +all children must undergo the gift of prophecy. Government has thus +sharply reprimanded them, by making the parents responsible, thrown +those into prison and sending the fathers to the galleys, for it was +conjectured that from these alone proceeded the delusion. A peasant, +one of my parishoners, came to me, saying 'for God's sake sir, help me! +my little girl, six years old, began yesterday to prophecy, I am a dead +man if the thing becomes known; my wife and I are certainly of the true +faith as you can testify, but now they will arrest us as rebels, as +they have done to so many others.' + +"Only use the whip," said I, "let the girl hunger and she will soon +forget to prophecy. 'All that has been tried, reverend sir,' groaned +the old man, 'and more than my conscience will justify; the child is +ill from my ill-treatment, for as soon as she begins to prophecy, or to +sing psalms, which she has never heard from me, I have chastised her +severely; I have not given her a morsel of bread for three days, yet +she does not give up, but goes on still worse. Come, I pray, to my +house and see yourself; if she is possessed by a devil, you can +conjure, is it any thing else, you can exhort.' I had never seen such +prophecying creatures, I went therefore out of curiosity with the old +man. As we entered the house, the child was sitting at a spinning +wheel, she was pale and thin, and seemed half silly, she complained of +hunger and pain. I can see nothing in the child, said I, 'oh, if she +was always reasonable like that,' exclaimed the peasant. Presently the +worm was seized with a sobbing in the throat: 'there we have the gift,' +said the old man, 'the disorder is breaking out now--exorcise, reverend +sir!' as the little creature was thus struggling, her body dilated, she +fell on the ground, her bosom throbbed and heaved, and suddenly we +heard as it were quite a strange tone, which did not belong to the +child. 'I tell thee, my child, if thy parents repent and follow the +spirit, all will be right and good, and thou shalt partake of liberty +and of my word.' I was terrified, especially as the devil spoke as pure +French as the child of persons of rank; I sprinkled her with holy +water, I vehemently conjured that the devil, if it was one, might come +out of her; all in vain, the little thing cried out, 'I tell you, the +idolaters shall not prevail against you, and this evil one shall find +the reward of his misdeeds,' thereby meaning myself: the unfortunate +child, because I was so zealous in my calling; then followed +exhortation and singing, and pure fear of God and admonition to +repentance. I could scarcely do it better myself: she then arose and +seemed just as miserable and foolish as before. I cannot help you, said +I to my penitent, you see that the word of God and holy water have no +effect on her; hunger and chastisement just as little, nor has your +persuasion, nor the fear of rendering you unhappy had any weight with +her, leave it to herself. In short, the child ate and drank again, and +became more zealous than ever in preaching repentance; so that at +length the father was converted, or, at least, he ran to the mountains +to the Camisards, and said: 'if he were to be punished, or executed, he +should at least know wherefore.' Thus you see, I lost many penitents +the preceding year, for when they have drawn suspicion on themselves, +they prefer becoming rebels to avoid suffering anxiety, ill-treatment, +and even death without a cause, as one may say. The case of the +shepherd from my adjoining village is still more singular. He was a +wild, reckless fellow, and as strong in the right faith as need be +wished; he had already delivered more than one Camisard and suspected +person up to the executioner. He came running to me one morning at a +very early hour, crying out, 'Help, help, reverend sir!' 'what is the +matter now,' said I, 'have the Camisards set fire to your house, as +they have always threatened to do, on account of your zeal?' 'Ah, much +worse, much worse,' cried the knave, wringing his brown, bony hands. +'Speak out shepherd,' said I, 'Do you know,' he began, 'my son, the +tall Michael,--who does not know the lanky looby--he is known to almost +all the mountaineers, it is indeed the cross of your house, that the +idiot is so useless: he will neither work, nor mind the herds; he is so +stupid, that he is scarcely considered a member of the church, yet he +often enough disturbs the congregation; he is only fit to carry +burdens, and prefers living with the dogs, which he frequents as if +they were his equals: Is he departed this transitory life? rejoice, for +you have one burden less.' 'It is not that indeed,' exclaimed the old +man, incensed, 'Oh, I should not grieve for that: But think, who in the +world would have supposed that the long broom-stick would have become a +prophet?' 'How?' cried I, my mouth and eyes wide open with amazement; +'so, a blockhead, who is good for nothing else in the world, may become +one of their prophets?' I went therefore with the old man, but the +affair turned out still more strangely. As we entered the house, the +thin, bony man was just in the act of prophecying, speaking in a pure +dialect about the deliverance of France, of liberty, of faith, of better +times, encouraging them to fight. I tried to pray, and to exorcise, but +the father seized his great shepherd's stick, brandished it over him, +so that he would have killed him, had I not stopped his arm. We then +listened for a short time, and what ensued? suddenly something gurgled +in the old man's throat, he groaned, turned up his eyes, fell against +the wall and then on the ground, and after a few mighty heavings of the +breast, he too began; he sang psalms, exhorted to repentance, +prophecied the fall of Babel; nothing could equal it: as the old one +sang, the young one twittered; I thought I was bewitched, my priestly +vestments fell from my hands, I could only listen to those two +possessed ones, who were howling out pure piety, and texts from the +Bible, and as I gazed at the astounding wonder with agitation and fear, +I felt a shock through all my limbs, and sir, as true as heaven is +above us, a desire arose within me to be seized with similar fits, and +to take a part in this unhappy affair. I rushed out into the open, +blessed air of heaven. I thought on all dignitaries, of my bishop, of +the great church and organ of Montpellier, of the letter which I +possessed from the murdered Abbot of Chably, of our illustrious Marshal +of Montrevel, of his dress-uniform, and of such things,--and God be +praised, the trembling left my body, and I am now a reasonable man and +a christian priest again. Ever since that time, I look upon the whole +affair with terror. Be it witchcraft, that they are possessed with +devils, bodily and infectious diseases, or the unknown, new fanaticism +of the learned doctors, I have at least discovered that mankind is +easily entrapped, and that the Spaniard is right with his proverb: 'No +man can say of this water I will not drink.' The two shepherd knaves +have now also run into the wilds after Cavalier, and have become great +heroes of the faith." + +The old Counsellor had gone out frequently during these details to give +orders to the domestics, who had in the mean while laid the table and +prepared the evening repast. "My unknown friends," said the old +gentleman affably, "with whose company chance and the bad weather have +so unexpectedly honoured me, and who are to me,--with the exception of +the reverend priest,--total strangers, let us all sociably and without +ceremony take our places at this table, eat and drink, and afterwards +enjoy a refreshing sleep under my roof." Edmond looked up, and could +scarcely believe at first that his father was in earnest; the priest +cast an expressive glance at the huntsman and one of still deeper +meaning at the young man, and smiled as if to hint, that he at all +events should withdraw from this distinguished circle, among which he +himself only had any claim to remain; but the little Eveline hung on +the young man's arm and drew him by her side to the table where he +immediately sat down with her the first without waiting for farther +bidding. "Quite right," said the Counsellor, "No ceremony if you wish +to please me! here are no invited guests, we meet together as if we +were on board a ship or in a wood. I must render you all this +hospitality without distinction." Edmond blushing, placed himself at +the head of the table by his father, the priest seated himself opposite +to him, by the side of the latter sat the huntsman, who left a large +space between himself and his neighbour, and then came Eveline and her +playfellow as he almost appeared. "Quite patriarchal," said the priest, +"those men there, my worthy sir, will not forget to publish throughout +the country, your philanthropy and contempt of prejudices." + +At this moment the veil of clouds in the horizon burst asunder, the sun +in its descent suddenly threw a purple glow over the lowering sky, a +red fire spread itself over the mountain-vineyards, tree and bush, and +vinetendril sparkled in the fiery ray, beyond the woods shone +brilliantly, and as the eye glanced upwards, the summits of the distant +Cevennes were seen glowing in the rosy light; on the left, the +waterfall rushed like blood from the steep rock, and the whole hall, +the table, and the guests, all was as if bathed in blood, so that the +lights just then burned darkly and the fire in the chimney emitted a +blue flame. The rain had ceased, a holy silence reigned throughout all +nature, not a leaf rustled, the red brook only flowed splashingly +along, and the glowing waterfall murmured its melody. The old +Counsellor's eyes were cast upwards as if in fervent prayer, and a tear +glistened in his full eye; the fair young man laid down his knife and +fork and folded his hands; the huntsman glanced timidly from under his +heavy eyebrows; the priest tried to assume a sanctified look; the child +playfully clapped her hands, and Edmond was lost in silent reflection. + +Just as quickly as it was withdrawn, the curtain fell again over the +horizon and extinguished its light, upon which the Counsellor said, +"was not this like an emblem of our country and of our misfortunes? as +necessity unites us all and brings us together, and as the misery that +oppresses us, if I may so express myself, becomes as it were sanctified +and endeared to us? all our countrymen pass through this baptism of +blood, may heaven have pity on us." Edmond cast an expressive look on +his father and then glanced furtively at the huntsman and the young +stranger, as if to intimate, that such thoughts should not have been +expressed in their presence; the old man smiled kindly on his son, but +did not even try to conceal his feelings.-- + +"Papa," cried Eveline, "it was as if the sky wished to play at hide and +seek with us, just as little Dorothea with her plump, rosy cheeks +smiles upon me and then, whisk! creeps under the cloth again." + +"It was like a bleeding world crying for succour," exclaimed the +fair-haired young man. Edmond cast a sidelong glance at him, and said, +"It is perhaps the extinction of the nefarious revolt!" + +"May be so," replied the youth, and raised his blue, child-like eyes to +Edmond, "but I think that everything rests in the hands of the Supreme +Being." + +"Most assuredly," said Edmond sharply, "and the evil would have ceased +long since if so much disaffection, secret abettance, and malicious joy +at the misfortunes of the king had not reigned among the common +people." + +"Every reasonable person must own however," said the young man with a +melancholy smile, "that the evil did not originate with the people; +they were quiet, and although others may suffer, their miseries are +beyond expression." + +The priest left off eating with astonishment, that the little unseemly +man should have the last word with the master of the house opposite to +him; he rolled his eyes up and down as if seeking for some astounding +words of reproof; the little girl pressed the hands of her new friend +for engaging in dispute with Edmond, and the latter as his father +already began to testify his uneasiness at his son's violence, turned +away with an expression of profound contempt, saying, "I know not with +whom I speak, but I think I have some knowledge of you; are you not the +son of the late Huguenot sexton of Besere close by?" + +"No, gracious sir," answered the young man perfectly unembarrassed, "I +have not the honour of being known to you; I am now come to this +neighbourhood for the first time, to make some purchases, my name is +Montan, or simply William, as I am called by the neighbours and by my +father, who is owner of the mill in the deep valley beyond Saumiere." + +"Therefore a praiseworthy miller's lad!" said the priest. "It was not +sung to you in your cradle that you should ever sit at table in such +company as this." "No, indeed," said the miller with emotion; "when I +stood before the house, I thought not to find a reception as from the +venerable patriarchs we read of in the Holy Scriptures, I did not +expect to be introduced to a nobleman, who, to my mind and imagination, +presents the most sublime picture of Abraham and Jacob." He wiped his +eyes, and as they were about to rise from table, he lifted his glass, +and said, "pray allow me first, honoured sirs, to empty this glass in +token of my most heartfelt gratitude, and to the unalloyed happiness of +our respected host, and the endless prosperity of his noble house." He +drank, and the old Lord bowed not without emotion, while Edmond and the +priest looked at each other long and enquiringly. The huntsman scraped +and smiled, and the priest in his astonishment forgot to drink. + +They rose from table, and Eveline seated herself again by the side of +her favorite in a corner of the room, and said to him, "That is the +right way, he is too haughty if one allows him to go on." + +Her father approached them, "my child, it is now quite time for you to +retire to bed." "Indeed papa," answered she kissing his hand, "I should +like to remain longer here, but there must be order, as you always say; +I am obedient and will be your comfort, shall I not? it would indeed be +very wicked, and I should vex you, if I turned a prophet like so many +other children in this country." "God bless you, my love," said the old +man resting his hand upon her head; "go to bed, and you, my friend, sit +down here and rest yourself some time longer," said he, pressing the +young miller's hand; when Eveline perceived her father's kindness +towards him, she quickly returned, and throwing herself on the neck of +the young man, kissed him repeatedly, then drawing back a little, she +curtsied gracefully, and in a lady-like manner, and waving her hand, +said: "Au revoir," and followed the domestic who consigned her to her +maid. + +"As you are from Saumiere," said the priest, turning to the miller, +"You are surely acquainted with the hermit, who is now the leader of a +troop against the Camisards?" "Oh, I know him very well," replied the +youth, "his cell is in a rocky valley, which is separated from our mill +only by a stony fence; we often visited him on holidays, when the +valley was passable on our side; he is a tall, athletic man, with a +grizly beard and large, grey eyes; he seemed peaceable and quiet until +the war made him a soldier again. Unheard of cruelties are asserted to +have been committed by him; he is said not to know what compassion is, +and must take pleasure in murder; but now his trade is over." "Is he +dead?" enquired the Counsellor. "No, not exactly that," continued the +young man, "but I heard a report on the Vidourla, that he was totally +defeated yesterday by Cavalier, and that, if he consults his own +advantage, he will creep into a cell, for the common people will not +surely trust to him again, when they perceive that he does not +understand his business." + +"He has been a captain, however," said the huntsman. + +"The combat against the rebels," said the priest, "is a difficult +affair, for _that_ courage and the ordinary discipline of a soldier do +not suffice; our Marshal Montrevel would perhaps prefer fighting +against Eugene and Marlborough than with these rag-o-muffins." + +More wood was now piled on the fire. The father sat down, while Edmond +paced up and down the hall in visible inquietude, the priest drew his +chair towards the Counsellor, and said: "You are suffering from the +gout in your left foot, my lord." + +"Why do you conclude so?" asked the old gentleman, "the leg does not +appear to me swoln, although you have guessed rightly." + +"The swelling," continued the priest, "is certainly almost +imperceptible; but you often step lighter and more gently with this +foot, probably without being conscious of it, perhaps this joint is a +little contracted in proportion to the right, and therefore has not the +strength of the latter." + +"That is very critically observed," said the Counsellor. + +"My honoured sir," continued the priest, "it is incredible how +consistent and reasonable nature is in all her productions. To analyse +her in her minutest parts is instructive, however ridiculous it may +appear to the unpractised. More than a century ago, the Neapolitan, De +la Porte, wrote an excellent book on physiognomy comparing the human +and the brutal together; in the earlier ages people tried to read on +the countenance the virtues, vices, and qualities of the disposition: +Believe me, if I could devote my leisure hours to this subject, I am +confident I should carry it so far as to be able to discover from a +shoe, or a boot, that had been worn for a time, many faults or +peculiarities of its possessor." + +"Really?" said the old Lord smiling, "They betray themselves by the +garments, when closely examined; the hasty, or irresolute gait, the +shuffling of the feet, the gliding step of ladies, are certainly very +expressive; a certain nonchalant manner of walking, a haughty tread of +the heel, an affected, frivolous sliding on tip toe, the indecisive +tottering footstep, by which the shoe loses its shape, excepting the +qualities which however demonstrate themselves by the high, or low +instep, or by the flatness of the foot. But now for the legs; if these +were exhibited in their natural state, it would be scarcely possible to +mistake the rank, profession, and way of life; then there are tailor's +and baker's legs, which it is impossible not to recognise, foot and +cavalry soldier's legs, weaver's and joiner's legs, and so on." + +"These are very interesting observations," said the Counsellor, "would +you, for instance, venture to declare the former manner of life of my +Frantz by his legs?" + +"By my legs?" exclaimed the old servant, who was still busied in +clearing away. "Here they are, reverend sir." + +"Stoop a little--now go yonder--come back again--stand perfectly +upright--my Lord Counsellor, I could swear that your Frantz has been in +his youth, nay at a later period of life, a mariner."' + +The servant looked at the priest astounded, and the Lord of Beauvais +said: "You have hit it, my reverend friend; but from what do you draw +your conclusion?" + +"No mariner," said the priest "ever loses entirely the straggling and +somewhat stooping gait which he has acquired on shipboard, he sinks his +loins in walking, and a slight limp remains for the rest of his life." + +When the other servant approached, the priest immediately cried out, +"Give yourself no further trouble, one can see at the distance of a +gun-shot, that the good man has been a tailor in his youth, and that he +certainly pursues the same occupation now, for the bent shins clearly +demonstrate it." "You follow the chase," turning to the huntsman who +was standing; "it must be so, although I should rather have taken you +for a soldier, and from the eye, for a smuggler; by the bye, what is +the matter with your right knee? it certainly is not from attending +mass, from whence then does this slight protuberance proceed? perhaps +you have acquired the strange habit of falling on your right knee when +you shoot?" + +"Reverend sir," exclaimed the huntsman, "you must be a bit of a wizard +yourself, for you have hit the mark. From my youth upwards I have never +been able to shoot but in a kneeling position; should a hare run by +under my nose, I cannot hit it standing, I must first throw myself +down; but I have always been much ridiculed by my companions for it." + +"For the rest," resumed the priest, "you have mountain-legs, and you +must have been born in the Cevennes, or the Pyrenees, your eye too is +characteristic of the mountaineer who is far-sighted." + +"Just so," said the huntsman, "I come from Lozere, the wildest part of +the mountains." + +"Well, my young friend," said the connoisseur in legs, turning to the +young lad,--"You pretend to be a miller and want miller's legs, how +does that happen? observe, that from carrying sacks, the miller's back +is early bent and becomes broad and round, but the principal weight +presses upon the calves of the legs, the sinews of the hams become +disproportionately strong; but with you these are precisely the weakest +parts, the ancles too are not large enough: here, _summa summarum_ +fails the miller's character, for my science cannot deceive." + +"In this I cannot assist you, sir," said the young man petulantly, "for +I am what I am, and will remain so." + +"For my part," quickly rejoined the critic, "I desire not to press too +closely on your miller's honour, you may probably be a spoilt, +effeminate mother's darling, who would not suffer you to be too heavily +laden, your hair and whole countenance have a mealy character, your +voice too sounds like the wheat-bell and the mill-hopper, but when I +look at your knees, they seem to me to be those of a baker, which are +turned in from shoving the bread into the oven and taking it out again; +during this process he is obliged to keep in a stooping position and +rests upon his knees; but I discover the strangest contradiction in +your thighs, for they are those of a horseman and of one who rides +much, your eye too betrays a martial spirit, it darts here and there +and is never quiet as a miller's ought to be, who is attentive to his +business; in short, you are to me in your legs and in your whole person +a very puzzling youth." + +The young man reddened with resentment and the Counsellor endeavoured +to turn the entire affair into merriment and laughter,--when the whole +party was suddenly alarmed by a violent knocking at the front door of +the house, that aroused even Edmond from his reverie. "For God's sake +let me in," roared a voice loudly from without, "open to me in the name +of heaven!" + +At a sign from the Counsellor, who quickly recovered from his surprise, +the servants rushed forward, the company looked at one another in +silence, the bolts were withdrawn, and the tread of heavy footsteps was +heard approaching the hall; the doors were thrown open, and lighted by +the servants, a tall, powerfully-built figure with grey hair and +moustaches of the same hue entered, he held in his hand a massive +staff, that without exaggeration might be termed a club; a long, broad +sword trailed clanging after him, and four pistols were stuck, in a +black leather girdle. On his entrance he approached the host, and said +in a deep, sonorous voice, "Pardon me, my lord, the alarm I must have +caused you, I was benighted, pursued and in danger, therefore I +ventured, certainly rather unceremoniously, to claim the shelter of +your house." + +"Oh heavens, it is the terrible hermit!" exclaimed the miller in a +hoarse voice, "I am he, indeed," replied the gigantic figure, "but why +terrible, my young simpleton? I may surely be permitted to show my face +every where, presumptuous fellow; and I have shown it before other +physiognomies than yours.--Your pardon! Sir Baron, if I give way to my +displeasure at the presumption of this hireling. Yes, reverend sir, I +am he, who under the name of the hermit is not unknown in this part of +the country; in this character I wished to do homage to my God, but an +envious fate thwarts me. To-day my troop has been entirely dispersed, +and I have only saved my own life through the greatest exertions, for I +was pursued even in the darkness of the night; my enemies cannot be far +off, my life is forfeited, if you refuse me your protection." + +"All I possess," said the Counsellor, "is at your service, my house, my +servants and myself will protect you as far as we are able, +independently of the claims of humanity; my duty to my king and country +demand this." + +"You are an honourable man," replied the giant, "such as I had every +reason to expect."--At his invitation, he sat down by the side of the +master of the house to partake of the wine and refreshments, which the +servants placed before him. "I hope," said he, "that the storm and +sudden fall of night have prevented them from tracing my route, but +every moment of this day has been a perilous one to me. Yonder, on the +right at Nages, the body of Camisards has been totally defeated; as I +passed the Vidourla to give the rout to my enemies, I met a flying +detachment of them, who, instead of showing any fear, assembled +together, and fell upon me like so many devils; their number was not +great, but it seemed as if they were aided by magic, a panic seized my +people; they crowded together, they reached the Vidourla, the furious +foes behind them. At that moment the storm burst forth, the waters +rushed down from the mountains and swelled the rapid mountain-stream to +a fearful height, it overflowed its banks, and I saw the dead, the +wounded, and the living ingulphed in the waters; I swang myself upon a +tree, and from that to a barren rock; more than a hundred muskets were +levelled at me, my double-barrelled gun aided me as much as possible, +but my sword was useless, the storm threatened to hurl me down, I tried +to ascend in spite of the wind and the rushing waters, the rock, from +incessant washing, had become slippery as ice, but at length I +succeeded in gaining a footing in the midst of the rolling floods, I +crept up higher, my steps illumined by the dazzling lightning, and the +flashing from the enemy's guns, while the balls wizzed round me: Thus I +arrived at a vineyard: I was compelled to scale the wall, on the other +side I found two daring fellows, who had climbed over there before me, +they fell beneath my sword, I entered a wood, and soon found myself +standing upon a level rock, but without track or foot-path, neither +road nor bridge was to be seen, precipices yawned below me; must I go +back, or down! I slid down, the darkness prevented me from +distinguishing anything; after repeated falls, I felt some shrubs under +me, a huge shepherd's dog of the most ferocious species attempted to +drag me down, there was no herdsman to be seen, or within call, I was +compelled to wrestle with the fierce animal; night had now entirely +closed in, I thought I heard the sound of bells, I groped my way +towards the place from whence the sounds proceeded; soon afterwards I +heard men's voices; are they friends or foes? while I was advancing +with cocked pistols and drawn sword,--'Who's there?' suddenly grated +upon my ears; I discovered they were the Camisards; as I gave no +answer, they fired, and by the flashing I perceived distinctly ten of +my foes standing at the opening of a ravine; no choice was left me, I +advanced, the first fell, shot by my pistol, a second was cut down by +my sword, the obscurity of the ravine favoured me, nothing remained but +to fly, as quick as age and exhaustion would permit, they shouted and +fired after me; at length I perceived I had attained a high road, the +flashing from the fire-aims discovered to me a porch, something +appeared in the distance like barns and buildings, I ran in that +direction, and at last I reached the door of your house." + +"Sir captain," said the Counsellor, "repose is necessary to your old +age after this exertion and fatigue, lie down, and the safety, which my +house is capable of affording, I again assure you, shall be faithfully +granted to you." + +"May heaven reward you," said the captain; "I look upon this untoward +adventure as a hint of fate, warning me to lay down my arms, I shall do +so, and return to a cell, or a cloister. Had Cavalier been with the +troop, I should not have escaped him, for he possesses the utmost +presence of mind, he is the boldest and indeed the most soldierly among +the rebels." + +"It is said that he is taken prisoner," observed the huntsman. + +"The war is over then," exclaimed the hermit, "for, without him, they +can undertake nothing; this powerful man is alone the soul of their +venturous enterprise. The others understand well enough how to kill and +to die, but not how to conduct the war. I wish he had died; for should +he be taken prisoner, his fate will be one worthy of commiseration." + +During this discourse, the priest, who had until then considered +himself of so much importance, now felt lost and dwindled to nothing by +the side of the so far greater adventurer. He would willingly have +testified his veneration for him by an embrace, or, at least, by a +grasping of the hand, but he dared not venture to approach one, whose +wrath was so easily excited by any degree of familiarity. The tall man +paced up and down the hall, examining all present with a scrutinising +look: "Two servants, perhaps, moreover a valet and a huntsman," he +muttered to himself, but loud enough to be heard, "will not indeed be +capable of offering much resistance, the house is by no means fortified +in case of an attack, then the young lord here, a sort of sportsman, +the black one also in case of necessity to engage the enemy, but that +chicken-hearted one, (looking penetratingly at the young miller) that +downy-faced fellow is quite useless. May God forbid, we should be put +to so severe a test." He now, as well as the others, paid their parting +compliments to the Counsellor, as they were retiring for the night; +they were lighted to their apartments by the domestics, and Edmond +alone remained in the hall with his father. The rain had ceased, but +the night was dark and the sky was covered with lowering clouds. The +father and son walked up and down for some time in silence; at length +the Counsellor said: "will you not retire to rest my son?" "I am still +too much agitated and did you not hear, that our last guest feared we +should perhaps have to receive another unexpected visit?"--Silence +ensued, but Edmond after a pause recommenced: "Forgive me, my father, +if I confess, that I have not understood you to-day, that I have not +recognised in you the same person as formerly. That you received these +people and sheltered them from the storm, was natural enough, but how +it could be conformable to your disposition, (or what shall I call it) +to suffer them to eat at your table without distinction, I cannot +explain to myself. Often already have our people entertained menials; +and what countenance shall I assume when this squinting huntsman shall +wait upon me again at the table of the Lord of Basville, I know not; +and what will the Intendant and the Marshal, who certainly must hear of +it, think, or say? How shall I explain it to myself, that you received +that miller's boy not only with kindness and condescension, but yet +with hearty familiarity? who is even too low to be your menial, that +you allow my sister, who is always too forward to play and romp with +him?" + +"My son," said the old man with some emotion, "it seems indeed, that, +the older I become, the less capable do I feel of justifying myself to +you: I might say, accustom yourself to my ways, as I must through +affection bear with yours, though I misunderstand them so often. You +must certainly excuse me, as you did not explain yourself before, our +conversation to-day had made so deep an impression on me, indeed, such +as I have not experienced for a long time. In my emotion I forgot to +attend to the usual etiquette of life, and as I could not avoid +entertaining the priest at our own table, I added the two other poor +fellows, but as to that miller, who has more particularly drawn upon +himself your hatred and contempt, his child-like countenance and frank, +open manners, in my opinion, did more honour to my table, than your +Marshal Montrevel could ever do. Accident, the weather brought us +together; the times are also so changed that we do not yet know, but we +ourselves may be compelled to sue for refuge among the most miserable. +But as you so despise that youth, I still less comprehend that you +should honour him so highly as to argue with him, nay, to seek yourself +for a dispute; for the future interfere not with my ways." + +They sat down and as Edmond was silent, the Counsellor said, after a +pause: "What do you think then of this priest and his manners? such as +these, you see, are appointed to direct and instruct the people, the +unfortunate people! these became combatants and murderers like this +colossus. That my house is compelled to shelter such, that is it indeed +which humbles me. All champions for a good cause may not be +individually good," said Edmond. + +"Retire to rest now, my son," said the Counsellor kindly, "I shall sit +up some time longer, I am too disturbed to be able to sleep, I shall +read yet a little while, rest will then ensue with cooler blood." +Edmond embraced his father, and then retired to his chamber. The old +man gazed sorrowfully after him, and thought upon his son's future +destiny; he sunk into a deep and melancholy reverie, no where did hope, +or comfort seem to await him. He took up his book in order to calm the +perturbation of his spirit, he tried to collect himself; he reflected +upon the wonderful disposition of the mind, to divert itself by that +which is most profound, in order to escape from its own appropriate +feelings, and to be itself again in the inward sanctuary of the spirit. +Thus without reading Plato, which he had laid open before him, he +became more and more absorbed in a contemplative investigation on the +double nature of the soul and of the mind, that reflects on itself and +comprehends its nature and property, which, in thought, at the same +time, views, and proving it, ponders upon this thought, being at once +actor and spectator, and being only at this moment truly conscious of +itself. He did not know how long he might have indulged in these +reflections; when raising his eyes, he was surprised to see his son by +his side. "You are still here, Edmond?" said he wondering. "No, my +father," whispered the son, "I have reposed quite two hours, but just +now when I awoke, I heard under the window a whispering and a movement +as of many men, I approached, but could distinguish nothing, however, +it seemed to me, as if people were gathering round our house, I have +loaded in haste all our fire-arms, and quietly awakened the domestics. +The strangers are still asleep, but they must now assist in our +defence." + +"If it be so, and that you have not been mistaken," said the father, +"promise me only not to be too eager; let us be quiet and collected, +for thereby one may be often enabled to prevent the worst, but I well +know, by experience, that from the love of danger and fiery courage, +which as easily defeat their object as cowardice, misfortune and +destruction may be drawn down upon us. We must not venture alone, you +must not forget your little sister. Now do I wish, that I had been a +soldier, that I might meet this invasion with serenity, should it come +to this, but we shall do what honour demands of us; but more than the +danger itself do I fear your hastiness." In the mean while a murmur and +the approach of footsteps were heard nearer; several voices were +distinguished, a noise proceeded from the road and garden, so that it +appeared, that they were taking possession of all the outlets. +Immediately afterwards a knocking was heard at the door. The servants +drew near, but at a mute signal from their master they remained +tranquil; immediately the tumult became louder and several voices +raised an unintelligible cry, Edmond grew warm, his father looked at +him significantly; but soon, however, the name of the hermit resounded +clearly and distinctly from out of the confused murmur. "They demand +him," cried Edmond; "They are the Camisards!" The cry was repeated, +they knocked louder, they became even noisy, the screams of women and +the cries of children were now also heard; the Counsellor caused all +the weapons to be brought forward, he was hastily distributing them to +the servants, when trembling and ghastly pale the tall figure of the +hermit, half dressed, tottered in, followed by the priest, bewildered +and terrified; both seized the hand of their host, and while they were +firing without, the knocking at the door and demands for the hermit +became more violent. "Oh, heaven! compassion!" exclaimed the latter, +"thou hast heard my oath, that I would in future refrain from blood, +but it is too late, I am a victim to their vengeance!" With these words +the tremendous figure fell senseless to the ground in utter despair! +the child rushed into the hall with her maid; terrified and crying +aloud she threw herself into her father's arms; the latter tried to +comfort her, but one could see in his pale countenance, that he himself +entertained but little hope. "I will protect you as long as I can," +cried he, "but the multitude appears too great to allow of my defending +the house." Fire! fire! cried a hundred voices from without at the same +time, and lighted fire brands were seen through the windows! at that +moment the door was shaken, by large trees, which were thrown against +it like battering rams. "Oh heavens!" cried the priest, while his teeth +chattered, "had I but the tenth part of my former courage,--but I am +not at all prepared for this, I have slept a little already, which has +completely relaxed my spirit." He took off his hat, "how impolite I +am!" sighed he, but it was almost laughable, even in that moment, that +under this he still wore his night-cap, without being aware of it, and +in wandering about in every corner of the hall, he carried his hat in +his hand. The huntsman now stole in, took his loaded gun from the +shelf, and placed himself quietly by the chimney; "whither are you +going" exclaimed Edmond, "out with the rifle, you must all defend +yourselves!" "Impossible," stammered the man, "give up the old villain, +otherwise the whole house is lost, I know the Camisards." "Scoundrel!" +thundered the young man--"where is the miller? Still in bed? all of +you, you miserable varlets, shall defend this place with me, nay, even +that weak, effeminate boy shall make common cause with us." + +"The hermit was praying on the ground, all were shouting confusedly +in the hall, but no word was heard distinctly; all was confounded +with the storm, which every moment became more violent without. The +window-frames were demolished, the door cracked and appeared to give +way, when, with an apparent air of indifference, the young miller +entered, carelessly tying his neckerchief and said: 'Let me out by the +back-door, I will speak to the enraged multitude,--quick, give me the +key!' These last words were uttered in a tone of command. The old Lord +looked at him, took the key from the wall, and opened the door to him +himself, the youth went round to the other side of the house. Edmond +posted himself with a loaded gun opposite the door, in order to fire +among the assailants, in case they succeeded in forcing an entrance. +Suddenly a tremendous shout was raised, which seemed like acclamations +of joy and was reiterated by the crowds surrounding the house. Then all +was still; and after a while a deep voice exclaimed: 'He must come out +the assassin, on this spot he shall be torn to pieces!' 'Merciful God,' +cried the hermit from the ground, where he still lay, 'that is the +terrible Catinat, who knows no compassion!'--after a few words +exchanged among them, the high and almost hoarse voice of the youth was +heard. 'Silence all,' cried he vehemently: nothing more could be +distinguished, for a confused murmur arose. The child glancing from +under her dishevelled fair long tresses, said: 'Observe, my little +David will yet save that great Goliath there.' The crowds without drew +themselves up and marched away, the youth returned again by the +garden-door, much heated and nearly breathless; he approached, the +hermit still lying prostrate, fixed his eyes upon him, then caught him +by the breast and said, 'rise up, God has again spared you to-day, you +are safe, return to the town or to your own house:' He then turned to +the huntsman, whispered something in his ear, whereupon the latter +suddenly fell terrified upon his knees and exclaimed, 'Mercy!' 'Be +silent!' said the young miller hastily. The priest looked as if he +could have embraced the knees of the wonderful youth, who now turned to +the master of the house, and said, in gentle tones: 'my honoured host, +I consider myself fortunate in having been able to protect you; there +were certainly a few Camisards, but the crowd was principally composed +of a number of drunken millers-men from my part of the country, who had +met with some other rough, intoxicated fellows. It was lucky, that I +was known to some of them, in consequence of which, the small number of +Camisards also suffered themselves to be pacified. It seems that they +assembled more for pleasure than for any wicked purpose. Receive my +thanks for your noble hospitality, worthy and honoured man.' He bowed, +the old Lord seemed as if he wished to embrace him, but the opportunity +was lost in irresolution and the stranger was already at the door. + +"Farewell David!" exclaimed the child. He looked back once more with a +serious and enquiring expression, raised his hand and eyes as if +invoking a blessing, and then quitted the hall. + +Those who remained behind, looked at one another as if they had +witnessed the performance of a miracle. The first light of morning +already dawned, and the dense multitude was seen retreating over the +mountains, Edmond was standing in deep thought, and the old Lord, after +having unlocked his gun, gave it to the servant, to carry away. The +hermit drew near abashed, as if he felt considerably diminished in size +since the day before. "I leave your house, my Lord," said he, in a +voice scarcely audible, and with a heart greatly depressed; "I had +almost drawn upon your honoured head the malediction attending my own +errors, but the Lord has averted it." He took the road to Nismes; the +huntsman had already slipped away. + +"My Lord Counsellor of Parliament," cried the priest, "you have not +seen us to-day in the most favourable light, now that all has passed +off happily; I am a man again; courage revives once more within me, I +could now show you that I am no coward, if a few of these villains +would but return. Receive my thanks, honoured sir, and you too my +young--but what do I see?" Now, for the first time, he perceived +that he was politely taking leave with his hat in his hand, and his +night-cap still on his head;--abashed he pulled it off, and thrust it +into his pocket?--"This is the worst of all," said he, his whole face +reddening; "One may thus see to what a sensible man may be reduced in +these troublous times." He again made a hasty bow and retreated. + +"Who was this youth?" asked the old Lord. "Probably one of those +infamous rebels," replied Edmond in great wrath; "I had rendered +perhaps a service to God and the king, if I had sent this ball after +him!" "Father," said the child, "believe me, he was the angel Gabriel, +and brother Edmond will yet be converted, and love him as I do." "Go to +bed again, my little one," said her father, "you require rest, poor +child!" + +"That was no good night," said Eveline, "so now good morning, father! +it grows so beautifully bright!" she retired with the female +attendants, and Edmond and his father alone remained behind in the +saloon. They were both silent for a long time, at length Edmond took +his gun, and said, "what do you think of all this, and especially of +this mysterious fellow, who can demean himself so innocently, and with +so much _naivete_?" + +"I must not express my thoughts," answered his father, "perhaps they +would sound too romantic. You will leave us again, my son? and probably +will not come back to dinner?" + +"You know," replied Edmond, "my passion for hunting and the delight I +take in mountains and forests; nature elevates us above our suffering; +she strengthens our feelings; she inspires and gives us that noble +vigour, which becomes but too often enervated in society, and in every +day life. This will be a glorious day after the storm; I will forget +all that I have experienced here." + +"Let us but bring to nature a pious and purified spirit," said his +father, "and she becomes to us the holiest of temples, psalms and songs +of praise will then re-echo our holy inspirations; but her gloomy rocks +and waterfalls, her desolate solitude with black masses of clouds +brooding above, her wild echo can also excite still more the uneasy, +agitated mind, and arouse more powerfully the turbulent spirit, for she +answers only as she is questioned." + +"I will therefore speak to her in my way," replied Edmond, half +petulantly, "woods and mountains will perhaps understand me better than +men." He bowed and went through the garden, and descended the vineyards +already glittering, with the first rays of morning. + +"He is going there again to Alais," said his father sighing, "and his +wild enthusiasm for nature gives place to a well-lighted saloon, +card-playing, witticisms, and frivolous conversations. Woe to me that I +must thus recognise in him the characteristics of my youth, disfigured +and exaggerated!" + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + +The candles were already lighted, when Edmond stood before a large +house, undecided if he should enter or not; "she has company again, the +same as ever," said he to himself; "and how shall I in my dusty +shooting-dress present myself among well-dressed ladies? However, she +is kind and indulgent, I am at a distance from home, the strangers too +are already accustomed to this in me." He ascended and laid down his +gun and pouch in the anti-chamber, the servant ushered him in, and he +found only a small circle, the young lady's two old aunts and a few +younger ladies of the town of Nismes, established at two card tables +and entertained, as usual, by an old Captain. They were relating to one +another the defeat of the Camisards on the preceding day, and how they +had assembled again, and how their leaders had escaped. + +"Where is the Lady Christine?" asked Edmond of the Lady de Courtenai. + +"My niece," replied the lady, "is within there, indisposed as she says: +her capricious fits have returned again, and no one can make anything +of her; perhaps you may be able to enliven her, or perhaps she is sad, +because the Marshal is not yet come." + +Edward passed into the adjoining room, the door of which stood open, it +was lighted up, and there, on a sofa with tearfraught eyes sat the Lady +Christine; her lute lay negligently on her arm, as if she would have +played, but she was so deeply plunged in thought, that she started up +terrified, when Edmond greeted her and inquired after her health. +"Lady, dearest," he exclaimed, "what is the matter with you? I have +never yet seen you thus!" + +"Not thus?" said Christine, looking wildly, and with a smile of +bitterness, "and why not, it is thus indeed I should ever be! Only you +do not know, nor understand me; you will not understand me!" + +Edmond drew back bewildered; "how shall I interpret these words?" + +"As you will, or rather as you can." + +"Explain yourself," said the young man; "you have been weeping, you +appear ill." + +"All this is of great importance, is it not?" said she with a +passionate movement. + +"How have I offended you?" asked Edmond with sympathy, "it almost +appears as if I had: are you mortified by me? I do not know myself +guilty in anything; what is it then in the name of all the saints?" + +"That you are a man!" said Christine, while her pale cheeks glowed with +the deepest crimson. + +"Well! really," said Edmond, "this transgression is so new, that I know +not how to answer. Is this the amiable Christine of Castelnau, who thus +greets her friend, who"-- + +"Amiable!" cried she passionately--"what do you call thus, ye friends? +the bad, the wretched, the worthless of this world, with which we cover +our naked misery as with torn purple rags from the worn out, faded +wardrobes of former times, when there were yet clothes, and ornament +and men?--or has the world been always thus miserable?"--she threw the +lute from her as if it terrified her. "This is also one of the +deplorable customs, that we should warble and play, and make grimaces, +though our hearts were to break, in case a particle of heart throb yet +within us." + +"You are ill," exclaimed Edmond, "so ill, that I shall run immediately +to our friend Vila;" "Stop," said Christine, and while they were still +disputing, an equipage quickly rattled up; all arose in the first room, +it was the Marshal of Montrevel, who in his dress-uniform stepped +lightly and gracefully out of the carriage and bounded up the stairs, +and while the folding doors were thrown open, and the ladies and +gentlemen in the room formed a respectful line, he greeted them all +with the most polite condescension, "Good evening ladies," said he +kindly, "I rejoice to see you all well; Captain, Mr. Counsellor, your +servant; ah, my young friend," turning to Edmond, "you are here very +often; but where is our amiable hostess?" + +"She too is not far," said Christine, coming forward. + +"And well?" asked the Marshal; "certainly this charming serenity, this +grace, these divine talents, how could it be otherwise?--I hope ladies +that you will not disturb yourselves; let us all sit down and play, or +converse as best it may seem." + +He laid aside his sword and plumed hat, and with obliging promptitude +placed an armchair near the fire-place for the lady Christine; he took +a footstool and sat on it at her feet, Edmond leaned over the back of +her chair and the rest of the company resumed their play. "At your +feet, loveliest of women," began the Marshal, "must I find again the +peace and tranquillity, which deserted me to-day: yes, this day is one +of the most unfortunate of my life!" "Have the Camisards penetrated +into Nismes?" asked Christine. + +"They will never do that," replied the Marshal smiling, "means have +been taken to prevent it; these miserable men will soon have sung their +last song. Yesterday they were as good as annihilated, and we should +have given them the rout here near Nages, if treachery and wickedness +had not, as usual, rendered our best efforts abortive." + +"Certainly," said Edmond, "if the people were unanimous in their +exertions to extirpate them, the best part would have been achieved." + +"Young man," rejoined the Marshal, "I will annihilate them even without +the assistance of the people, for these associations composed of +citizens, and peasants to oppose them, are more injurious than useful, +these men understand neither service nor war, they rather call forth +the vigour and insolence of the rebels, the soldier alone can put them +down. How unfortunate has it turned out with the good hermit of +Saumiere! he is said to have been completely defeated, and at last +drowned." + +Edmond related what he knew of the affair, and the Marshal said +smilingly; "I can easily imagine the anxiety of the old boy; but to +continue: an old Camisard, a squinting, bald-headed man passed over to +us, he was well acquainted with all the secret passes of the mountains; +I think his name is Favart; he promised to deliver into our hands the +leader Cavalier, and his principal troop, together with the infamous +Catinat; we find the matter as he has announced it; the Lord of +Basville had through kindness for the wretched man, taken him into his +service as gamekeeper; and whether it is, that he has not been able to +conquer his old attachment to the rebels, or that he himself did not +know all precisely: the rebel leaders with a numerous troop have +escaped us again, and Cavalier has, as I have just learned from a +courier, defeated a considerable body of our people in the mountains +not far from St. Hypolite." + +"I know Favart," said Christine, "he was in our service for a long +while; a wild but otherwise good man; I am only surprised that he could +have again abandoned his sect. But is this the misfortune that you +bewail so much, Marshal?" "No, beauteous lady," said the Lord of +Montrevel, "such things which are mere trifles to a real soldier cannot +disconcert me, I should blush for myself, if the common accidents of +the field or of life could ruffle my temper." + +"Your beloved then is become faithless? console yourself, there still +remain enough for you," said the young lady drily. + +"Ah, sly one!" said the Marshal, holding up his finger threateningly; +"yes, enchantress, if you feel and return my flame, if you only believe +in it, then would I consider this gloomy day as the happiest of my +life, and to me all the rest of womankind on earth would be as +nothing." He declined all the refreshments presented to him by the +servants: "This is a fast day for me," he continued, "and I have not +yet been permitted to dine to-day." + +"You are too severe," said Christine, "too orthodox, too devout; +moreover, I do not recollect that this is a fast day." + +"It is not that," said the general solemnly; "for, at times, one may +break this fast without any great qualms of conscience; but there are +things which are not really connected with the church or her +ordinances, but which lie in nature, and on that account are more +deeply engraven on our hearts; things which many philosophers, as well +as ecclesiastics censure as prejudice and superstition, and which +nevertheless have, through the implicit faith of millions, been +transmitted to us from the remotest times, and from that very +circumstance possess, yes, I may so express myself, a revered, a holy +authority. These signs and tokens of a dark futurity, the immediate +voice, as it were, of fate, speaks so much the more thrillingly to us +as they appear to the dull eye only ridiculous or, at least, +insignificant, and as every man has his protecting genius, so has he +also all the signs, which are peculiarly suited to him, and which are +of the highest importance, if he attends to them and knows how to apply +to himself their signification." + +"Excellent!" exclaimed the Lady, "now I listen to you willingly, for if +the hero is at the same time a philosopher, I like him all the better +for it." + +"Most bewitching of your sex!" said Montrevel while he attempted to +kiss her hand, which she hastily snatched from his lips. "Being then of +this belief," said the Marshal, "you may judge of my horror as I sat +to-day at table,--the Lord of Basville to whom, on account of his +station, this attention is due, sat near me, my aide-de-camp and a few +officers,--dinner is announced, the plates are changed,--but, my sight +becomes again obscured when I think of it."-- + +"For heaven's sake," said Edmond, "what is it? assuredly some dreadful +wickedness of the rebels, fire-brands and murder, or poison."--"No, +young man," continued the Marshal, somewhat tranquillized, "against +such things I am secure,--my Fleury, the luckless man, my valet, who in +other respects is cleverness and dexterity itself, this man at a sign +from me (for he only waits upon me and therefore the affair is the more +incomprehensible) was handing the salt, and while I was taking it, he +entirely upset the saltcellar before me; a mist came over my eyes, I +was compelled to go to bed, having discharged my valet, and come here +to find consolation and tranquillity." + +Edmond, who turned away with the greater shame and vexation, the more +he had been excited by the narrative; could not sustain the fiery +regards of the Marshal, who, in seeking to arouse sympathy, fixed his +eyes steadfastly upon him and Christine. The latter very +unceremoniously burst into a loud and hearty fit of laughter, while she +looked at Edmond almost maliciously. + +"Well, really! madam," began the Marshal, "this treatment is the more +unexpected, as I am unaccustomed to it from you; if such things can +make you merry, you think too slightly of the happiness, or unhappiness +of your friend." + +"Not so indeed," said Christine, "besides I am not particularly merry, +I think the tale very edifying and dare be sworn, that the woman and +children, whom early this morning you so serenely caused to be shot, +also upset the saltcellar in their hut yesterday evening, but you are +now free from all these accidents, is it not so Marshal?" + +"Is it permitted to ask," said Edmond modestly, "what the affair is?" + +"Early this morning," said the Marshal more composedly, "I was compelled +to sacrifice a few of these unhappy people to the law, for they would +have sent provisions to the rebels in the mountains." + +"The investigation was somewhat precipitate," said Christine, "not much +regard was paid to the denial of the persons arrested; it is true there +was some probability, for the mother had a son among the rebels, who +may have often enough suffered hunger. She was a woman of forty years +of age with two children, one twelve and the other eight years old. +They were led through this street." + +"But not the children?" said Edmond turning pale. + +The Marshal shrugged up his shoulders and answered lightly, "we must +enforce with severity our self-appointed laws, in order to terrify; +they could not themselves shew why they were on the by-road; for that +they still would have gathered fruit is incredible." + +"This mother," interrupted the lady, "with her younger children were +seeking for some beans, they were found in the fields by a party of +soldiers, terror prevented them from replying quickly to their +questions,--and this noble marshal, this gay, gallant, amiable man, +this _bel esprit_, who writes verses, beats his enemies and makes +netting, this tender-hearted man who sheds tears if I suffer from +headache, this hateful monster caused mother and children to be shot, +while he blows a feather from his uniform with infinite grace!" + +"Lady!" screamed the Marshal starting up, Edmond stepped back, the +footstool was upset and the whole company rose from their card-tables +at this sudden uproar. + +"Is it not true," said Christine passionately while she stood in the +middle of the room, "that such conduct is great, heroic and noble? have +our enlightened times come, that we should experience such things? oh, +monster! dare you mention the words friendship and love? have you the +arrogance to wish to pass for estimable and benevolent? yes, you are +also a contemptible creature like your despicable associates, yet you +must have felt, seen, or in your dreams at least experienced what a +dark destiny poverty, sorrow, necessity, and holy compassion is, these +destitute parents, these hungry children; the mother, who with scanty +and meagre food entered her hut, how their eyes sought hers +imploringly; how her glance of consolation shone in the eyes of her +children; how the small supply spread a heaven of tranquil abundance +and mutual love! Had you but the eye of an imprisoned swallow; had you +only understood your dog when he begs some crumbs from you: you would +have trampled your cross of honour under foot rather than have done +that deed. Man only can sink so low; the beast which tears itself is +gentle and innocent; a spark of ancient heaven shines still brighter in +its savage state than in our more degenerate nature. There are tales +for children in which a timid girl is made to kiss a scaly dragon in +order to disenchant him; but I could caress the tiger, extend my hand +and offer my lips to the hideous hyena, rather than polute myself by +being friendly towards you, for I should fear from a woman to be +transformed into a dragon. And yet,--as they passed here, exchanging +farewell glances, these children, who yet knew nothing of life, and +were slaughtered at this tender age--it was indeed as if the last +judgment with all its terrors burst upon my heart; behold, I could have +kissed the dust from your and your executioner's shoes in the public +streets, only to have saved them! I flew to you, I found you not. Yes, +most assuredly, all that was felt in those bitter moments by these +wretched creatures is now changed for them into peace and blessedness; +yes, they have forgotten this life and you, if we do not madly pray to +a tyrant instead of to the God of goodness." + +"You are mad yourself, miserable woman," exclaimed the Marshal +vehemently, "to forget yourself thus--by heaven! you should be shut up +in a madhouse. But, by my honour, you shall never see me again." + +"Never! never!" cried Christine, with flashing eyes, "Oh, already this +is happiness and gain! no, great hero, never, or if you should feel a +desire to come, a large vessel filled with salt shall be upset at your +feet, as people strew salt over the places where the cursed have +dwelt." + +The Marshal trembled so violently with rage, that he was not able to +gird on his sword; he took it under his arm and left the house without +uttering a single word. The captain had already slipped away, when the +conversation took this unexpected turn; the aunts curtesied, mutually +embarrassed, and retired also, as their niece paid no attention to +them; the latter made a sign to the servants to withdraw, and released +and exhausted, she fell prostrate on the ground, while tears burst from +her eyes so unrestrainedly, as if she would thus weeping pass away and +expire. + +Edmond, much embarrassed, drew near, she saw him not, he spoke a few +words, but she heard him not. "Dearest," he exclaimed at length, "you +kill me, you kill yourself! these powerful shocks will destroy your +constitution." "And were it not as well?" said she in a feeble voice, +without restraining her tears, "look on me, here on the ground, weep +with me; all good men should now perish." "Rise, lady," said Edmond, +while he assisted her, "if I must not believe that your reason has +deserted you." + +"It has certainly suffered," said she somewhat tranquillised, while she +stood by him, and continued, "otherwise would I have seen and endured +these things as others do: it is even so, I have had a glance of the +sorrows of the world and of the enormity of mankind and can never more +jest and smile with them as formerly, I am awakened from the mock +existence and therefore you consider me mad; but you, Edmond, you, +among so many, should have known me better!" + +"I am yet as in a dream," said Edmond, "how could you thus give way to +your grief, how so rudely wound the feelings of the Marshal, even +though you were in the right? I no longer recognise you, although I am +acquainted with you for more than a year. You were never thus." + +"Always Edmond," sobbed she, "never otherwise, only that my grief has +burst out too violently. Why do you not understand me? Is your heart +incased in some hard metal that no feeling can penetrate it? Do not +believe that, on that account, I have neglected my mass or vesper to +implore the God of mercy to enlighten these wretches and to succour +these poor persecuted creatures, and that he may also strengthen +myself? Mark me, Edmond, although I do not belong to the community of +Huguenots, but if all these murderers were extirpated in a second by +one tremendous blow, our church should institute a festival of +thanksgiving that this stigma was removed from her, and her holy banner +would be no more dishonoured." + +"I understand you now," said Edmond.--They had stepped into the +antechamber, "by heaven, I shall soon give up all society and rather +hold communion with stones than with men." He took his gun indignantly +from the wall, "How wild, Edmond, how obstinate," said she softly, "is +it then not permitted that men should understand, in love at least, +their confused Babilonean language? disembodied spirits only love--and +you say indeed that I have a place in your heart!" + +"Love!" exclaimed Edmond, "accursed word! execrable equivocation and +madness of mankind! this old misunderstanding, love, this detestable +riddle of the sphynx, that no one has unriddled and for which thousands +have bled--damnation!" He gnashed his teeth and dashed his gun on the +ground, so that it went off and the shot passed through the ceiling. +The women and servants of the Lady Christine hastened towards her; he +looked at her, she was not injured and smiled at him sorrowfully as he +rushed out of the door and to his parting salute only answered by a +strange shake of the head, so that her dark tresses were loosened and +shaded her face. She pressed them to her weeping eyes and went silently +to the garden and out into the fresh night air. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + +The Lord of Beauvais was walking up and down in his garden conversing +on various subjects with his friend; as often as they passed the little +open summer house, Eveline called out to them and directed their +attention to the building, which she was trying to imitate with cards. +The Counsellor of Parliament was violently struggling with his +feelings, and his friend was trying in vain to tranquillise him. + +"I have never yet seen you so obstinate," said the latter, at length, +almost impatiently; "what is it then at last, Edmond is a young man +like many others, let him exhaust his ardour, at a later period he will +afford you satisfaction, for do we not recognise in him strength, +character, and a noble heart, and these must certainly produce +something good hereafter." + +"It is only towards you that I am so communicative," answered the +father, "I control my impatience in the presence of others and +especially before my son, but much as I must love him, I cannot +participate in your hopes. Were he only hasty and inconsiderate, all +might be well for I have been so too, I would even look favourably upon +his extravagant, overstrained religious zeal and all connected with it; +for early in life my own heart singularly experienced these feelings; +if with all this deep-rooted self will, this violent excess in every +thing, he would only add an inclination to activity, if he would but +instruct himself, if he would occupy himself in any way. I feel too +well that he presents but a disfigured resemblance of a part of my own +youth, but inwardly he is most unlike me, and in some measure +inimically opposed to me; thus unhappily is the neglected education of +his childhood avenged. You know well my old friend how much and almost +how culpably he was beloved by my deceased wife, how extravagantly she +admired every idea, impulse and peculiarity of the child, and that Abbe +his tutor also, who only excited his imagination and nourished it with +legends and miracles; his youthful mind was thus dazzled and rendered +incapable of discerning truth and reality, it accustomed him to indulge +freely in all the emotions of his heart and to consider them unerring +and most exalted. Imperceptibly a contempt for all, who did not +coincide with him, crept into his mind, he looked upon them as cold and +perverse, and in his zealous hatred, he believed himself infinitely +superior to them. I was too weak, too irresolute to remedy the evil +while it was yet time, I flattered myself, that it would not take root +so easily, and when at last my suffering wife, whose feelings I ever +feared to distress, died in giving birth to my youngest child, it was +too late." + +"All that may be true," rejoined his friend, "but not so bad however as +you consider it, stupidity and madness are alone incurable; a vein of +good runs through all really excitable natures, and the life of these +irritable and violent men is spent in continual struggles between good +and evil, so that the best part may be extracted and shine forth +glorified." + +"You speak," said the Counsellor, "like a physician and chemist, you +deny that the soul can appropriate to itself immutable perversities +which afterwards constitute its life." + +"So long as a man is young," rejoined the former, "I despair of nothing +and still less of your son, for he has never given himself up to +dissipation. This only and bad company ruin a man entirely, and the +exhaustion is not confined to the body, it also causes vacuity of mind, +it closes up every avenue to the heart, so that, finally, neither +reason nor understanding, nor any feeling for morality or honour +remains. Those are such as are incurable. You reproach yourself for the +indulgent education you have given him, it is not in that alone, +however, my old friend, that you have neglected it; you complain of +your son's want of activity, but you have yourself excluded him from +every means of exercising it. When he had grown up, he was destined to +follow your profession; he had, however, an antipathy to become a +lawyer, and then declared he would rather be shorn and become a monk. I +cannot censure him for this, forgive me, if I am too frank. He desired +to go to sea, you were inflexibly opposed to it: then he wished to try +his fortune in the army, our efforts to win your approbation to this +were equally ineffectual. I pity the young man; it is terrible for a +hair-brained fellow to be irrecoverably destined to sit behind a table, +poring over acts and processes. If you have been too indulgent +formerly, you are now a great deal too severe towards him." + +"You do me wrong, infatuated man," exclaimed the Counsellor vehemently; +"it was not exacting too much to require of him to pursue my profession, +in which I have been so useful myself, it is an honourable and +benevolent one to mankind and corresponds with the noble freedom of our +sentiments; sufficient time remained to stroll about, to read, to make +verses and to indulge his passion for the chase. I was then convinced +that naval and military service were only chosen by him, that he might +escape from my paternal eye. I could not persuade myself that he chose +them as his profession with foresight and reasonable will. It grieved +me to lose him entirely; only too often ill-advised youths seek these +pretexts to sink into a busy idleness: for what is the soldier in +peace? At that time we had no war. I agree with you in what you say +about the dissipated life of our young men; but, perhaps, you will +laugh, when I assert that this passion for hunting is equally +insupportable to me. As soon as I perceived this rising within him, I +considered him as almost lost, for all young people, that I have ever +yet seen, entirely devoted to this occupation, are idlers, who cannot +again settle to any business; this seeming occupation with its +exertions and sacrifices teaches them to despise time, they dream away +their lives until the hour, that calls them up again to follow the hare +and the woodcock. And besides the penchant he has to rove about the +mountains, he frequently does not return for three or four days +together, he then walks about the house without rest or quiet, opens a +dozen books, begins a letter, or a stanza, scolds the servants and then +rushes out again; and thus passes day after day, and week after week." + +The doctor looked at him, smiled, and then, after a pause, said: "Let +him alone, he will soon become tame, I have no fears on that account, +and why do you make yourself uneasy, my good friend? you are quite rich +enough; and even if he earns nothing, if he only learns to take care of +his fortune, to enjoy with moderation his income and to do good to +others, for it often occurs that useful occupations are perilous +undertakings. I understand perfectly all that you represent to me, and +am only surprised that you do not understand it yourself. Give him the +lady of Castelnau, and both will become reasonable, you will be a +grandfather and obtain another toy to amuse you." + +"Never!" exclaimed the Counsellor of Parliament with the utmost +vehemence, "shall that take place as long as I live; it is she, who +bewilders him, who torments him, and yet nourishes all his prejudices. +Never speak to me of that again." + +"You do the girl injustice," said the doctor, "strange she is, indeed, +but good, and out of the two excentricities a tolerable understanding +would arise." At this moment the garden-gate was closed violently, +Edmond entered, and the conversation ended. They saluted one another, +and seated themselves in the summerhouse with the little girl. +"Brother," cried Eveline, "it is all your fault, that my beautiful +house is knocked down. He causes nothing but misfortune." Edmond was in +a kindly mood, and said: "build it up again, my sister, and you will +have so much the more to do."--"Yes," answered she, "if I were allowed +to be as idle as you, it would matter very little, but I have yet to +sew to-day, and then to write and cipher, but you have nothing to care +for, and that is why you give so much trouble to people." + +"What have I done besides upsetting your splendid card-house?" asked +Edmond. + +"Look papa," cried the child, "he has already forgotten that he shot +dead his lady love; Oh, he will kill us all soon, and when he has done +that, he will be satisfied." + +Edmond frowned; the father reprimanded the child's rudeness and the +doctor gave a different turn to the conversation. "Now, dear Edmond," +said he, addressing the young man, "what do you say to the news, that +the Camisards, in spite of their late defeat, still hold out against +the king's troops, that they are masters of the plain, that an English +fleet will land in Getta, that a battle is said to have been lost in +Germany, and that, if only the half of all this be true, we are +thinking how we shall make friends with the rebels, that they may not +put an end to us." + +"Do not jest," said Edmond, "our country has never yet been in such +danger, so long however as such gentle proceedings are used towards +these rebels, we are really standing on a precipice, if the foreign foe +should succeed in landing even a small army and ally itself with them." + +"Do you call their treatment mild?" asked the Counsellor. + +"I do not speak," continued the son, "of the executions, the +ill-treatment and all these cruelties against individuals, they are +severe enough; that even women and children are not spared is enough to +inspire all mankind with horror. I mean the dreadful manner in which +the war is carried on, so that already a royal army has been destroyed +without being able to arrive at the root of the evil itself. Their +warfare consists in skirmishes, in the mountains where the strange +soldier is almost always more easily entrapped; the rebels are +succoured by the mountaineers, who provide them with troops and +provisions, by the war these rude men learn to make war, and although +they cannot succeed in repeating these attacks in full force, and from +all points, at the same time, with military skill and discipline, yet +it is evident that the evil will rage still longer and perhaps they may +finally conquer." + +"You appear to have changed your mind about your Marshal," said the +Lord of Beauvais. + +"My Marshal?" resumed the son, "he is the King's-marshal, and under +this title he serves as a representative of his majesty to us all, +although the better part of the people desire that it should not be +so." + +"Would to heaven," said the doctor, "that he only belonged to one of +us; I at least would make a vigourous attack upon him with pills and +rhubarb, so that he would soon make room for us; he is the only man +against whom I have ever before felt a grudge. Has he not in the space +of eight months sentenced to death more men than all the doctors in the +province would have been able to do. All those yonder in the mountains, +Cavalier and Roland included, he considers merely as his future +patients, and like an ignorant empiric he invariably prescribes one and +the same remedy for the most opposite constitutions. Yesterday, he +again caused twelve prophets to be hanged, who all affirmed, with their +latest breath, that a term would be soon put to his power. What is your +opinion, Ned, about this gift of prophecy, of these ecstasies and +convulsions?" + +"It will not be believed in foreign lands," said the latter, "that such +things are practised, that many reasonable men speak of them as of a +mystery, and that our calender dates 1703." + +"Let it date!" said Vila, "it seems then, my child, that you understand +the affair, inform me a little on the subject, for I do not understand +it at all, or, at least, I cannot express in appropriate words that +which has from time to time passed through my mind." + +"What is there to understand in it?" said the young man impetuously, +"the grossest and most absurd deception that has ever ventured to +present itself to the mind." + +"Not though in the sense in which you take it," said the doctor, "I +have observed many in the prisons, they are very unlike one another and +merit truly a serious consideration. I have never yet been in any of +their assemblies in the open air; or in barns; but I am resolved to +assist at their service yonder there at St. Hilaire, and if you give me +a kind word Ned, you shall have permission to accompany me. I have +brought some peasants clothing in my carriage, so that no one may +recognise us." + +"I will accompany you, my good sir," said Edmond, "to make you ashamed +of having considered these people of any kind of importance. We shall +then be able to be more of one mind concerning this ridiculous +deception." + +"You shall not go my son," said the father, "what can this curiosity +avail? I do not understand you, my friend; are not these unfortunate +men miserable enough? must idle curiosity and petulant caprice also +make a mockery of them? and what, if the oppressed should be betrayed, +or arrested, as it has already so frequently happened, and all +massacred without distinction, who then will have been the dupe to have +slyly insinuated himself among them? or should they recognise or +entertain suspicions of you? + +"Does not the old patron himself talk already like a Camisard?" said +the doctor, laughing, "in short, do you not verily believe that the +prophets would recognise and denounce us as godless people to the +multitude? but tranquillise yourself, my cautious friend, a troop of +the rebels is here in the neighbourhood, on that account the soldiers +dare not trust themselves in the mountains, knowing that they have +these good friends in their rear. I wish, for once, however, to be in +the right, and you Edmond shall learn something; these are indeed a +very singular sort of schools, and information is fetched with +difficulty and in small quantities from over the mountains and rocks; +all men cannot be wholesale dealers like you. In reality, however, it +is my son who has persuaded me to this, and made me promise to bring +you, Edmond, too." + +"Your son?" exclaimed Edmond, with great vivacity, "the friend of my +childhood, is he here again?" + +"And you mention this to us now for the first time?" said the Lord of +Beauvais. + +"You learn it now quite time enough," replied the doctor in his +phlegmatical humour; "yes, indeed, the vagabond is returned after many +years, he has had some experience, the hair-brained fellow. He has +studied in foreign universities, has seen Holland, England, and +Scotland, has wandered among the various tribes of India and now he is +at length returned suddenly and to my great satisfaction just as mad +and wild as ever, but well informed. He has heard wonders related of +our prophets in this country. He has seen many plants and animals of +this species in Asia, and seems as if fallen from the clouds, that, as +he turned his back upon them, a much more extraordinary plant should +have shot up in his own country close on the threshold of his native +home, than any he had observed in tropical climates, nor has he left me +a moments peace, until I promised to set out with him accompanied by +you too. 'But why did he not come here immediately with you?' cried +Edmond. + +"His mother, his cousins, his acquaintances," answered Vila, "The whole +town of St. Hypolite would not let him go so quickly, he is obliged to +narrate until his throat is dry, he now waits to embrace you in the +little inn in the wood, and will then set out with you on your +chivalrous expedition.--Now my old friend, make no objections, grant +this pleasure to the young people." + +"Well, be mad then," said the Counsellor of Parliament, "but there is +something in my breast that disapproves of this step. May heaven guide +you my son!"--They took leave, the carriage drew up, they ascended into +it in order to get over the first few miles. + +Scarcely had they departed, when the servant entered hastily from the +garden. "A brilliant equipage is advancing on the road from Nismes, I +think a visit is intended for you, my Lord." + +The Counsellor of Parliament hurried into the hall. "How," exclaimed he +astonished, "it is the Intendant himself, the Lord of Basville."--The +carriage stopped and a tall grave looking man, advanced in years, +descended and approached the master of the house with solemn steps. +They saluted each other and after a short pause the intendant began: +"You are doubtlessly surprised, my Lord Counsellor, to see me here, but +a matter of importance has led me to you, it appeared to me more +courteous to visit you myself than to request your presence at Nismes, +where, perhaps our conversation would not have been permitted to go on +so uninterruptedly and familiarly." The Counsellor, astonished at this +prelude to the conference, begged that he would immediately disclose +what had procured him the honour of a visit. + +"You are slandered sir," said the Intendant, as he looked at him +fixedly; "I am not so fortunate as to be one of your friends, yet I +assert boldly and safely that they are abominable calumnies which are +brought against you, but which, when all the circumstances are joined +together, might obtain a semblance of veracity with some credulous +people." "Who dares attack my name?" said the Counsellor of Parliament. + +"Many, very many," said the Intendant in a forcible tone, "and among +these are men of importance and respectability. I told you several +months ago, that you would repent refusing your son so resolutely and +inexorably permission to organise also a troop of volunteers to fight +against the rebels and to hunt them out of their hiding-places." + +"I do not yet repent of it in the least, my Lord Intendant," replied +the Counsellor. "Permit me to differ with you on this subject." + +"Had we," continued the Intendant, "obtained the assistance of citizens, +peasants, and principally of the nobles of the land, upon which we +ought to have been permitted to reckon with certainty, our king would +not have been compelled to send an army and a Marshal, who have +produced the war they should have quelled, for it was the peasantry +themselves who annihilated the villains; and like many other worthy +men, you have not offered your assistance, you preferred living in +disunion with your son, who is a spirited young man, and an enthusiast +in the right cause. This might be taken by all for paternal love and +fatherly authority, which certainly are never to be suppressed, but +permit me," continued he in a more rapid tone, as he perceived the +Counsellor's impatience--"this, joined to the opinions to which you +have more than once given utterance in the presence of strangers, +furnished matter for various conversations in the country; and what +took place some days ago, misleads even those who honour you; and this +is what I came here to charge you with." + +"I see, with emotion, that I am esteemed, speak out," said the Lord of +Beauvais. + +"You have," pursued the Intendant with the utmost coolness, "given +refuge to rebels; you have received fugitive Camisards; these villains +have shouted a vivat to you here in front of your house; you have +permitted this rabble to eat at your table; you have yourself opposed +violent resistance, when attempts were made to take them prisoners; and +your son's affianced bride has insulted the Marshal in public company." + +"My lord!" exclaimed the old man entirely beside himself; however, he +said composedly, "the web of these lies is too gross not to be +immediately recognized as falsehood. She, whom you designate as my +son's bride, will never be such with my consent, I know her not, and +cannot love her; my house was open to some unfortunate travellers, and +one of this party whom I protected, and who announced himself by the +name of the Hermit, had nearly drawn destruction upon myself and +family." + +He then related to him the occurrences of that evening, precisely as he +had experienced them and concluded thus: "You now perceive, my Lord +Intendant, how falsely people have judged me in this." + +"I believe you," said the grave-looking man, "but you have forgotten the +saying that walls have ears, it is known how you have spoken sometimes +of the Marshal and of his love-intrigues, which he certainly takes too +little trouble to conceal, in which injurious expressions you have gone +so far as to call him hangman. My severity and inflexibility, for +which I am responsible to my God and to my conscience, you call +blood-thirstiness. You cannot deny that you have sheltered suspected +persons with hospitality, that until now you did not live at variance +with your son; that you have refused to allow him to serve his country +although he is of age; if the Lady of Castelnau insults our Marshal in +the presence of your son, while he keeps silence, one must believe that +he has an understanding with her on that subject, and if this should be +the case, suspicion further concludes, that you must be quite +reconciled and of one mind; therefore, say the malicious, that you must +render assistance every way to the rebels privately as well as openly, +and that we shall be more reproached for neglect, if we suffer it, than +praised for our forbearance; and this admits of no doubt." + +"I desire examination, the strictest examination," exclaimed the +Counsellor of Parliament. "You know," said the Intendant rising, "that +in this perilous confusion there is no time for it; umbrage and +suspicion serve as proofs, the most trifling circumstances, if they +cannot be refuted, condemn; the martial-law, which the king has caused +to be proclaimed to us, must unfortunately take this cursory method, +for the welfare of the country and the preservation of millions demand +it." + +"Then I am condemned without being judged? judged without having been +heard? they commence with the punishment and will be at leisure +afterwards to enquire into the case," said the Counsellor of Parliament +with bitterness. + +"Do not be angry, my worthy sir," said the Lord of Basville. "There is +no question of all this yet, the proofs of it must be much more +positive; but you cannot yourself deny, that one may be allowed to look +upon you with suspicion, when so much is alleged, against you." + +"And what then is required of me?" said the Counsellor. + +"Nothing, unreasonable," replied the man of gravity, "nothing, to which +you can in justice offer any opposition. Yesterday I published a new +manifesto of his Majesty, wherein, nobles and citizens are summoned, +urgently, entreatingly, and commandingly, to stand up unanimously for +their country and religion. Three hundred young men have presented +themselves; let your son be free as his years demand, permit him thus +to testify his attachment to his king, for it is scarcely six weeks +since, when in my apartment, in presence of the Lord Marshal, he +complained with tears in his eyes, that your excessive parental +affection lays a heavy restraint upon him, and prevents him from +showing his zeal. You prevent him now again by your fatherly authority; +now, certainly, these indications joined to your indifference would +with myself weigh heavier in the scale. Your answer, my Lord Counsellor +of Parliament!" "My son," said the father with constrained displeasure, +"is free; he may serve the king according to his wish if he sets his +happiness upon it." + +The Intendant bowed in silence, refused all refreshment and the +afflicted father followed the carriage with tearful eyes, as it rolled +away.--"Is it then, come to this?" exclaimed he, "you have now Edmond, +what you wished, I could not say no. You will now spare the roe and the +deer, and keep your balls for the chace after your brethren!--Oh what +folly to have allowed him to go with that thoughtless old man, under +these circumstances; if these blood-thirsty men knew that!--Aye, we +think to steer the bark of life with foresight and wisdom, and should +the tempest have but a moment's intermission, at the first calm we let +go our oars and dreaming we are wrecked on a rock." + +Eveline entered from the garden, the old man embraced her tenderly and +sighed: "Soon, perhaps, thou wilt be my only child!" + +"Have they taken Edmond away from you?" asked the child. + +"They have indeed, my dear little one," replied the father. + +"They will soon restore him to you again," said Eveline coaxingly, "we +can make better use of him, for others do not know at all what to do +with him." + +All this moment firing was heard in the distance, and the old man +concealed himself with his child in the most retired room of the house. + +He was soon recalled to the saloon, and was not a little surprised to +see his friend, the doctor, standing before him, and in reality clothed +in the dress of a peasant, so that at first he did not recognize him. +"Be not uneasy," said he, "nothing unfortunate has happened to us, but +something very ridiculous to me; only think, scarcely had I disguised +myself in this merry-andrew fashion, and advanced afoot towards the +mountains, than a servant, whether luckily, or unluckily, stepped up to +me, recognized me again and requested my attendance at the Marquis of +Valmont's, who is suddenly taken dangerously ill, the carriage was +waiting ready, I threw myself into it, made them drive as fast as the +horses could run, and here, just before your door, it occurs to me for +the first time, that in the dark and hurry, I left all my unfortunate +wardrobe at the inn in the wood, sword, wig, and every thing. Assist me +quickly with some of your clothes, or I shall not be able to attend the +Marquis." + +"And the two foolish youths," said the Counsellor, "they are now alone, +without your counsel and prudence. Why did I suffer myself to be +infected with your frivolity?" + +"Make no objections, my good friend," exclaimed the former, "all +these are trifles compared to my misery!--He quickly tore off his +clothes;--Bring! give!" + +The domestic who was summoned thither assisted him, "My clothes are too +long, and perhaps too narrow for you," said the Counsellor. "Never +mind," cried the eager doctor, I shall perhaps the more easily impose +on the invalid; the black coat, the neckcloth, the waistcoat descends +to the knee, no harm in that; now for the wig! + +"You know, extraordinary man," said the Lord of Beauvais, "that I have +given up that ornament here in this retirement more than ten years +ago.--There is not one in the house." + +"No wig!" exclaimed Vila, and with horror let fall the black coat, +through one of the sleeves of which he had thrust his arm.--"Not a +single wig! man! now I begin to believe that you have renounced all +faith, what is to be done?" + +The Counsellor and the servant endeavoured to quiet the provoked +friend, but he scarcely even heard their words. "A doctor to go to his +patient without a wig!" repeated he angrily, "it would cause an uproar +in the whole province, it would be reported in Paris, a scandalous +article would be inserted in the 'Mercure de France,' ah the infidel! +it would be even better to have no bread, no catechism in the house +than to want the necessary headgear, and the Marquis will not suffer +himself to be cured by me in this bald-headed condition, and his fever +will have still less respect for me." + +But all his complaints were fruitless, he was forced to depart in this +strange costume, and could not in the least understand the Counsellor's +indifference to his embarrassment, "I should have expected more +friendship from the old heathen," muttered he to himself, "and all that +the Camisards have done, is nothing in comparison to my going without +sword and chapeau bas, dressed in black with ruffles and all the +appurtenances; but to advance to the bed of so distinguished a patient, +without a wig is nothing less than if I had lived among canibals." Thus +did he try by exaggerations to console himself for his plight. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + +A large company was invited at the Marshal's at Nismes. The Intendant, +the Lord of Basville, sat by the side of the Lord of Montrevel, many +officers and respectable inhabitants of the town surrounded the table, +and at the head the beautiful Lady of Andreux added lustre to the +assembly, who with her husband was present to do honour to this +banquet. Some of her female relatives, distinguished ladies of Nismes, +sat between the gentlemen, and all seemed as merry as if they were not +pondering on the common oppression of the country. The Intendant of the +province alone preserved his serious demeanour and joined not in the +repeated laughter of the others; he was deeply engaged in earnest +conversation with Colonel Julien, who also seemed to be totally +regardless of the lively mood of the company. An important advantage +had been obtained the day before over the rebels, and all were +flattering themselves, that in a short time they would see these +unhappy insurrections brought to an end. The Marshal was in higher +spirits than people had been used to see him for a long time; his +sallies were laughed at and the homage which he conspicuously addressed +to the Lady of Andreux, was gratefully received by her and returned +with pointed elegance. + +"Colonel Julien related to the Intendant the wonderful manner in which +he had effected his escape from the recesses of the mountains of the +Cevennes, three months previously. He was in command of a small +expedition and thought to have entirely defeated the rebels in a hot +encounter, when he perceived himself on all sides suddenly surrounded +towards evening. 'Around us,' said he, 'were steep, barren mountains, +while we were preparing for a retreat, all the heights were suddenly +occupied by multitudes of people, before and behind us were swarms of +dark figures, we could not long remain doubtful of our position; for +suddenly large stones rolled down on our troop, which in their heavy +descent crushed our people murderously. Here there was no rallying to +be thought of, therefore we retreated almost flying towards a mill near +a mountain stream. I was convinced I should find this pass also +occupied, and gave myself up for lost. The rocks crushed my soldiers +right and left, resistance being impossible. Now sprung from the other +side, like chamois, more than a hundred down from the steep heights, +and in this disorder, where we could not hold our footing, a bloody +fight ensued; I had been already wounded three times, and my fighting +men were rapidly decreasing, darkness came on, when, in a moment, while +the Camisards burst into their howling hymns, a panic seized the rest +of my troop, and they all rushed towards the opening of the valley. The +victorious band pursued them from the other side, new foes beset them. +Bleeding, I leaned solitarily against a rock and saw through the +twilight my company hewn down, the former could not perceive me, +however, firmly they had sworn my death. I dragged myself sideways +towards the little bridge that leads to the mill on the other side, +certain of meeting death; but I found it undefended. A fault that I +should not have expected from the rebels, for they were headed by +Cavalier, as I heard in the midst of the cries and hubbub. All this +misfortune, however, happened to me only in consequence of false +informers, who brought me lying accounts; men, that I had long known, +and whose fidelity seemed to me to have been tried; but they merely +played this part, the better to deceive me, for they belonged to the +Camisards.' + +"The worst of this is," said the Intendant, "that we dare trust no one, +not a single one. The most sincere, the most zealous patriots in +appearance, betray us. We are reproached for severity and harshness, +but I fear we are yet too mild and compassionate, for these faithless +rebels deserve no quarter; they can only be subdued by continued, +inexorable severity." + +"They should be wholly extirpated," interrupted the Marshal, who in the +middle of his own lively conversation had only listened to the last +words. + +Julien looked gravely at the Intendant, while he sighed: "You really +believe then that these unfortunate men are no longer deserving of +human consideration." "Hardly so indeed," said the Lord of Basville, +"for through their own cruelty and disgraceful conduct of every kind, +they have rendered themselves unworthy of any sympathy. But go on +Colonel: how were you saved in this pressing position?" + +"With scarcely strength sufficient to advance a single step, I dragged +myself across the river, through the copse and over a meadow towards +the mill, for no choice was left me. It was now become quite dark, and +yet I would have willingly avoided this mill, for the people there were +more than merely suspicious. Two of the sons had gone over to the +rebels some time before, and it had been my intention after my victory +to take all these people from their houses along with me, and to have +them interrogated in prison. A dog announced my arrival; this was the +last thing I was conscious of, for I fell fainting before the door of +the house. When I recovered from my insensibility, I found myself +undressed upon a bed, my wounds bound up, and many strange faces +gathered round me, which, by the glimmering light of a lamp caused me a +most disagreeable impression. An old man with white hair, who seemed to +have the most authority, was the only one in whom I could have any +confidence; the more horrible among them, were some women, particularly +an elderly one, whom I took for the old man's wife. 'Your wounds are +not mortal,' said the old miller, 'you will soon recover, be tranquil +on this point.'--May I in reality have no cause for uneasiness? +rejoined I. Am I with loyal subjects of the king?--'By heaven, we are +such!' exclaimed the aged man with tears in his eyes, 'we have already +made many sacrifices to him, and we will protect you, although you seem +to know us well, nor are you either unknown to us. My two sons have +both suffered martyrdom--but the king commanded it should be so, and +God permitted it, we dispute no more with him.' Hereupon the women, +particularly the old ones, set up a terrific howling; some young +fellows gazed at me with cruel, sanguinary looks; I was prepared for +all. 'Peace,' cried the old man, 'this man has not come under my roof +as a foe, but as one requiring assistance, who injures a hair of his +head, will have to answer for it to me!--We found you lifeless at our +door, we recognized you on the spot,' continued he turning to me; 'we +need only to have left you without assistance, and _we_ did not murder +you; but I have staunched the blood, you may return to-morrow to the +town, and I will take care that you shall be conveyed with all speed to +the nearest village in an easy manner, for when our companions arrive +in a mass, as it may happen to-morrow, I might not be able to protect +you any longer.' And so it happened. During the night some rebels, who +were seeking after me, were sent away even in the twilight of morning; +I was placed comfortably in a small vehicle and conveyed to the opening +of the valley from whence I could be carried in safety to the town." + +"We may well be astonished at this false virtue," said the Intendant, +"but we must refuse it our consideration, for that will not be +necessary, if these unfortunate men remain faithful to the king and +obey his mandates." + +The company was still sitting at desert and sipping choice wines, when, +suddenly, a great uproar was raised in the house, several men's +footsteps were heard hastening up the steps, the doors burst open and +in rushed the clergyman of St. Sulpice, pale, and trembling, followed +by a few citizens, and among these a young man who seemed quite beside +himself, "What is the matter?" demanded the Marshal in an authoritative +tone, and the Intendant arose and addressed himself to the young +citizen. "Now Clement," said he, "recollect yourself, what has happened +to you?" "Is not this the leader of the city militia at Nismes?" asked +the Marshal with contempt. + +"Even so," replied the Lord of Basville, "he led the troop of +volunteers." "He seems to have lost the power of speech in his +expedition," said the Lord of Montrevel, laughing. + +"They are behind us--they will be here directly," stammered out young +Clement. + +"Who?" enquired the Marshal, who had resumed his seat. + +"Cavalier and the Camisards!" cried the young man. + +"Not so bad, not quite so bad as that," rejoined the priest, who seemed +more composed. "But our troop is totally defeated and the rebels have +been all along in our rear, and they have the insolence to appear on +the plain of Nismes, as if they were going to threaten the town +itself." + +"Thus it is," said the Marshal cuttingly, "when citizens meddle with +affairs to which they are not equal; give the young man a glass of wine +to revive him." Casting at the same time a side glance at the +Intendant, "Sit down reverend priest," he continued, "you appear more +composed, give us a little more circumstantial account." + +"According to the order of the gracious Lord Marshal," said the priest, +bowing profoundly, "We set fire yesterday to the village, which had +furnished provisions to the rebels, when they had quartered themselves +there; we then set out five hundred men strong, and three hundred +soldiers marched at the same time, with a hundred dragoons on the other +side of the river. The wretched, burned out creatures ran howling into +the wood and we pursued our way whilst we saw about a hundred rebels +flying before us. Behind the wood we joined the royal troops and +surrounded the vineyards on three sides near Nages. Some Camisards +showed themselves sideways, who, however, after a few shots +disappeared, We now advanced on the right, the soldiers on the left, in +between the mountains; we fell among the brambles, and--as if fire was +vomited forth from all sides, balls flew in among us without our being +able to see any one, we hesitate, we halt. Now the villains in the +mountains spring to their feet yelling and psalm-singing bellow down +upon us, together with hissing balls; we defend ourselves and put our +hopes in the royal troops, but the superiority is too great, our people +fall, we are compelled to retreat. Difficult enough it was to retire +from the mountains, the greater part of our men remain lying there: +arriving on the plain, there we beheld the military also beaten and +taking flight." + +"Defeated!" screamed the Marshal. + +"They are most likely following us," replied the priest. + +"The volunteers," said the Intendant, "have apparently not been +properly supported, as it has often happened already, and how shall the +citizen bear up if the soldier takes flight?" + +The Marshal, his face crimsoned, would have retorted angrily, when some +officers, covered in dust and bewildered, entered hastily. "The rebels, +Lord Marshal," said a young captain, "are seen before the gates of +Nismes; Cavalier has played us a fine trick this time; our informers +enticed us among the vineyards, the volunteers did not unite with us as +had been agreed upon and we are entirely routed. Cavalier knows how to +dispose of his men like an old soldier. + +"Lord Marshal," exclaimed a veteran colonel entering the room, "the foe +is without! and the fearful Catinat has, through retribution, as he +calls it, reduced three catholic villages to ashes, and with his own +hands set fire to the churches." + +Some prisoners were brought in, among whom there was a child of twelve +years of age. "What means this lad?" exclaimed the Marshal. + +"He is a brother of Cavalier," replied the old colonel, "we had already +made this dangerous leader prisoner, we had taken possession of a +bridge and he could not rejoin his people, when this brat, this boy +here, rallied the rebels, harangued them, brandished his sword in his +outstretched hand, fell upon us, retook the bridge, made his brother +free, but became himself our prisoner." + +"Satan's brood!" growled the Marshal, "away with them all to prison, +and we, gentlemen, to our posts!" all hastened out, the guests had +already retired without taking leave: the boy looked boldly and +smilingly round the saloon, and carelessly followed his guard; no one +remained behind but Colonel Julien and the Intendant, who took their +hats and sticks to go to their respective houses. "This cannot +continue," said the Lord of Basville, "the king sacrifices his army +fruitlessly and the rebellion becomes more obstinate and stronger." + +"Things will change," said the Colonel, "I have the surest intelligence +from Paris;--but you testify too openly your contempt of him; he also +knows what you report concerning him at court." + +"Can I do otherwise," said the Intendant, "if I am a faithful servant +to the king? you have witnessed all, and must acknowledge in your +heart, that but for this Marshal, this rebellion would never have +become a war; he nourishes it, he is rejoicing at the idea of becoming +important through it, he squanders all his time with women and is brave +as a soldier only through pityful vanity, and he piques himself in +gaining the affections of silly women." + +"If we now obtain a better general," said Julien, "it is to be hoped, +that this system of overreached severity and cruelty would be given up +and trial made of gentle means." + +"No good subject of the king can counsel that," said the Intendant +taking a hasty leave of the Colonel. + +The streets were in an uproar and every one was hastening to make +resistance against the rebels, who appeared more dangerous than ever. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + +Some days had elapsed and the Counsellor of Parliament had not seen his +son. Franz, the old domestic, had in the mean while set out on a +journey, and Joseph, as well as the female servants had not ventured to +disturb Edmond. The father was deeply concerned, for his son had never +before so pointedly avoided him. His grief lay principally in the +feeling, that he could not simply take the shortest and most natural +way, with all a father's authority, to force an entrance into his room, +which was always locked, and to question him about his condition. He +learned from Joseph, that his son always locked himself in, that he was +heard to sigh, nay, to weep, and that at night he would steal out to +wander about on the mountains, and then would as secretly return in the +morning, and avoid every body, in order to go and shut himself up again +as before. He seemed also to observe a rigid fast, for he took no food +and sent away every thing that was offered to him. "I no longer +understand him," said the old man to himself, as he was left once more +alone; "his high-wrought feelings destroy him, and I, his father, must +see him go to ruin without being able to do anything to save him. At +length the dark spirits are roused, that I have so long heard in their +slumbers; they have now assuredly taken possession of his soul." + +It was late, and the night was still and dark; he dismissed the +servants, in order to be able to converse uninterruptedly with his son, +for it appeared to him an indispensable duty to make himself acquainted +with his condition, the uncertainty of which weighed more painfully on +his heart than the conviction of an actual misfortune would have done. +He took therefore the master-key, in order to ascend the great +staircase, when he heard the door of his son's room opened; he stood +still, and a ghastly pale figure in a dusky green coarse doublet, +descended towards him, his gun was slung over his shoulder, his hair in +wild disorder, his eyes dim, "Oh heaven!" exclaimed the father, "I +think I see a spirit, and it is you my son!"--He tottered, and +trembling was compelled to sit down on the stairs. "Is it you in +reality?"--"It is myself," answered Edmond in a hollow voice. "How?" +said the old man, "thus, in this figure? thus ill? in this dress? you +look though as like a Camisard, as if you were one of them."--"It is so +too," answered the son, "I am now going up into the mountains to them." + +The father started up violently, he seized his son powerfully in his +arms, and thus carried him with supernatural strength into the saloon; +he placed him in an armchair, took the candle, looked at him +scrutinizingly and examined his whole figure, seized him by the breast +and cried out vehemently: "Wouldst thou act thus to me, unnatural +son?"-- + +"Yes," answered Edmond coldly, "I cannot do otherwise, I must!--leave +me! I thought, however, for once that I should win your approbation." + +"As a rebel?" cried the Counsellor of Parliament in a vehement voice, +"as a murderer? that I must see die under martyrdom at the gallows? to +outrage my grey hair? one whom the father must deliver up into the +hands of the executioner?" + +The son looked at him fixedly, but coldly and collectedly; the father +was deeply affected at it, but, at this ghastly look, had lost the +strength which supernatural terror had lent him for a moment, and +weeping aloud, he fell upon his son, who threw his arms round him, +embraced him, and by his caresses sought to console the afflicted old +man, "Oh, my son!" began the father, after a long pause, often +interrupted by sobs, "for many years I have not experienced these +tokens of affection in you, and now in this terrible moment, in which +my whole life vanishes as in a dream, in which you have so violently +torn my heart!--I cannot recover myself, I cannot question you, and +what shall I experience if my entreaties, my love, if nothing will +break your stubborn, enigmatical will? Oh, God of love! is there, in +all the feelings thou hast created, one more fervid than that of a +father to a child? and do we know the tremendous affliction we implore, +when we entreat heaven for children?" + +They remained long clasped in each other's arms, at length Edmond said: +"Let me depart with your blessing, my father." + +"That I cannot give to your dreadful designs," replied the Counsellor; +"It is so fearful, that I must still look upon you and myself as two +spectres." + +Both were silent for a long time. At last the father said: "I will not +entreat of you to go to rest, for I greatly fear that you will not obey +me, it is fruitless also that I should seek for repose in sleep, for +slumber would flee from my shaken brain; what I may learn to-morrow, I +may as well hear to-day; if I can conceive, if I can comprehend that +which is incomprehensible, perhaps, it would terrify me less, perhaps, +I shall yield to grief and sorrow, and necessity, as to the storm, +or the earthquake; but from this spectral terror, from this almost +mask-like enigma, which threatens to drive me mad, deliver me at least +from this by speech and narration." + +"Can it be expressed, my father?" began Edmond, "will you comprehend +what I myself cannot understand with my common knowledge? We should not +indeed comprehend, if this hall round us were suddenly turned into +Hesperian gardens, but we should enjoy the fruit, we should live and +exist in the miracle, even though by that means we should forget that +yet some other knowledge were wanting." + +"Has that delirium also taken possession of you," cried the old man, +"in its peculiar way and wrapped you in the folds of its dark +vestments? now I would have sworn that you were free from that! and yet +I should have done wrong, for all fanaticism is but the twinborn of the +apparently most improbable and inimical." + +"You speak what your mind prompts," said the son, "and I understand you +perfectly, but you do not understand me." + +"Well, Edmond, you may be right, only speak, relate to me, perhaps I +may be able to approach nearer to your soul." + +"How much I hated these Huguenots," began Edmond, "how much I abhorred +their war against the king, their fanaticism and prophets, that I +despised the gross deception of those people, I need not tell you, for +my irritated feelings made you unhappy and it seems that I am destined +to cause your misery, I may place myself now as then on whatever side I +like.--" + +He stopped for a short time and then returned; "with these sentiments I +dressed myself in the peasant's clothes, which were so hateful to me, +our friend quitted me, as you know, and I went with his son up into the +mountains. Florentine jested about our expedition, I was much vexed at +and ashamed of my purpose. When we advanced farther into the mountains, +some figures glided before us on the solitary footpath, we followed the +direction they took, and arrived with them in about half an hour at a +lonely barn. They knocked; it was opened to us. I cannot describe the +feeling with which I entered into this rustic assembly. It was a +loathing of mind and body. Some were kneeling, others were standing +praying, I approached the latter and tried to imitate them. Everything +went on quietly, all eyes were bent on the ground, a few old women only +muttered their psalms between their teeth. All at once a boy about +eight years old fell down as if in convulsions. My repugnance was at +its highest pitch, for now I saw before me the deformed spectacle, the +relation of which had for many years previously excited my liveliest +indignation. The child's breast heaved, he leaped up, and threw himself +down again, and I thought to have distinctly perceived the voluntary +exertion. All the faithful, hoping and comforted, turned upon him their +eyes. Never in my life had I more self-possession, never was I so +rock-firm in my conviction; my thoughts became more and more irritated, +I only wished myself back again, in order to give free vent to my hatred. +Suddenly the child exclaimed in a hoarse voice: 'verily I bless ye, +ye shall be blessed!'--Now in the stream which flowed incessantly, +came innumerable prayers and exhortations as well as passages from the +holy scriptures and their explanation, all in reference to existing +circumstances. I was still more astounded, when the boy cried out: +'Beware my brethren; for two traitors have made their way into the +assembly, who intend you evil.' I looked up, young Vila turned pale, he +was standing at the door, and slipped out, when it was opened to new +comers. 'One is escaped,' groaned the child as he still lay with his +eyes and senses closed, 'but the second mocker is still present, he +knows not that I, the Lord, have led him hither, that he may become one +of mine.' I was terrified, my inmost soul was moved and emotions rose +in my heart, which I had never experienced before. They began to sing +psalms, and however discordant they may have sounded, they made no +unpleasant impression on me, my mind followed the glorious words? the +misfortune of these desolate creatures, their contrition before the +Lord, the fearful haughtiness of their adversaries, vibrated and +shrieked heartrendingly in this unharmonious lamentation; it appeared +to me absurd that until now harmony had been necessary to me when I +wished to raise my heart in prayer. Does not the universal lament of +creation strike on his ear? Do not praise and thanksgivings with tears +and cries of sorrow rise equally to his throne? To this feeling were +added many more, and weak, poor and unintelligible did the whole course +of my past life appear to me. Do these statues, lights and temples then +make any difference, said I to myself, with all this pomp of riches and +splendour? will the Lord who walked bound as a slave among us, and +suffered himself to be illtreated, will he not be mocked through it? Do +not these wretched beings represent him anew before our eyes? can I not +in each one of these persecuted ones greet himself? feed, clothe, and +protect him?--Then I felt as if all the sorrow and strife, which these +mountains have endured for years were piercing in countless multitudes +through my own wounded breast. Another boy now fell down and cried, 'go +out into the wood, Elias, Marion, and some of the faithful are +approaching, they have strayed; induce them to come with psalms, for +to-day, you have no persecution to fear.' Some went out from the +assembly, and sang with loud voices, and soon afterwards returned with +a great number of enthusiasts, among whom a tall man advanced, who was +respectfully saluted by all. 'Triumph!' said the child aloud, still +prostrate on the ground, 'the disbeliever is overcome, he will enter +into the kingdom of the Lord.' Then I felt the blow of a great hammer +suddenly against my breast. I struggled with this feeling, and +conquered it. The humble divine worship of this poor pitiable +congregation was continued with psalms, and calmly uttered inspired +discourses. Marion spoke the word of life, which penetrated through all +my faculties; in what dreadful error I had been wandering untill then! +All contingencies vanished, it was granted to me to look upon the Lord, +and the strength of his miracles in their simple glory, and to behold +his meek and lowly form. If until then my soul had been only +overshadowed by pomp, legends, false emotions and artificial +elevations; as splendid hanging of silk and gold only confine the pure +rays of celestial light, and give but a false brilliancy to its glory. +My heart was contrite and as a wound of sorrow and emotion; my spirit +was like that of a child. The Most High stood by my side, and stretched +out his bleeding hand to me, which had been now again pierced by us +miserable wretches. The glance from his tearful eyes went to my soul, +then I was filled with wrathful melancholy and joyful sorrow, and in +this emotion, I was smitten again when the assembly dispersed. What is +nature? this question I had often asked myself when I rambled with +enthusiasm through wooded mountains and verdant valleys magically +lighted and covered with the breath of morning, embalmed by the fresh +zephyrs, and filled with all the lovely presentiments which inspire us +with such pleasing dreams. Oh, my father! now I understand the deep +wailings in the woods and in the mountains, in the gurgling stream, the +word of the Eternal himself and his almighty compassion on us unhappy, +lost creatures, was murmured to me from every wave and from every +bough. With a million of tongues the countless foliage reproached my +negligent tardiness. My eye pierced through the past and future, my +thoughts were adoration, my feelings holy devotion. + +"I plunged into the thickest woods and gave a free course to my flowing +tears, I now received the third summons and I no longer resisted it. In +the solitude of night, my whole being was absorbed in prayer and +thanksgiving, wonderously the strongest words poured forth without the +slightest exertion, as tears flow without design, as wave follows wave +down the stream, as the wind puts in motion the numberless foliage of +the forest, thus led by a higher and invisible spirit, my speech was +changed into prophecy. A new being arose within me, I no longer +recognised that of yesterday. In the mirror of my inmost soul another +eye, different from my own, met mine, nevertheless this was really +myself. Now resting, now walking, I found myself in the twilight of +morning in the district of Sauve among the recesses of the mountains. +You know, my father, the lofty situation of the dreary landscape there, +no tree, no shrub, scarcely a solitary blade of grass upon the barren, +white chalky waste, and as far as the eye extends, trunks of trees, +heaps of lime stones in all shapes, like men, animals and horses, +dazzling and fatiguing the sight, spread about, and at intervals +rolling stones, and a little lower down, the small, gloomy, solitary +town. Here I threw myself down again and gazed upon the waste ruin +around, and upon the dark blue sky above me, strange how my spirit +wandered there! I cannot explain by any human language, how +instantaneously my heart was impressed with every feeling of belief, +with every noble thought, how creation, nature, and the strangest +mystery, man with his wonderful energies and his common dependance on +the elements, how vain, how contradictory and ridiculous all this +appeared to me now. I could not collect myself, I was compelled +incessantly to follow this train of thought and to find relief in loud +laughter. Then there was no God, no spirit, nothing but puerility, +madness, and deformity, in all that creeps, swims, and flies, +especially in this ball that thinks, reflects, and weeps, and +underneath devours and masticates. Oh, let me be silent and not again +discover the maddening images that took possession of my mind, +annihilation, dead, cold non-existence appeared to me alone desirable +and noble. I was utterly undone, and painful was my return to life, but +I at length found it with the help of the compassionate one." The +father seized his son's hand, "Mark my child," said he mildly, "as soon +as all these wonderous sensations shall in wild controversy have +traversed your soul, you will assuredly be yourself again and return to +us entirely. Your lacerated heart will resume its tranquility and +repose after these commotions, and then will your understanding and +free will abandon your fearful purpose." + +"Never! my father," exclaimed the youth with sudden vehemence, "this +was my temptation in the wilderness, which the All Merciful shortened +to a few hours, and then opened his paternal arms to me again. It might +have lasted for weeks and months, had he not been willing to shew +compassion to my weakness. You believe me not, you doubt, but what will +you say if I give you the most undeniable proofs, that this my +enlightening is no false, or artificial one, if you will even be +compelled to own to me, that I not only know myself by this, but also +all that is unconnected with me." + +"What do you mean by that?" demanded the old man bewildered, "I do not +understand you, my son." + +"When I resumed my human feelings and had refreshed myself, I wandered +again to the green wood that extends towards Florac, there, where the +rocks assume a grand character as far as the mountains of Lozere. The +place pleased me and I passed the night in the open air. + +"What did you do on this second night of my absence? where did Franz +remain? do you think that I do not know all?" The father looked at him +with fear. + +"What do you know?" asked he stammering. "When I again turned my +thoughts on the Saviour," said the son, "and endeavoured to account for +my bewilderment, in order to assist my researches, I felt compelled to +think on you, on my sister and on our house, thus will it assuredly be +after death, the soul will still cast lingering looks after its +cherished old nature and be unable for a length of time to comprehend +its new thoughts and strange existence. Suddenly, when my ardent desire +was accomplished; I saw you; all was still in the house, you went with +Franz more quietly than usual and with great caution into the library, +the window shutters and doors were closed, there was only one taper +burning. With the help of Franz you removed the folios, and at the same +time drew back the first bolt of the by chest, the pressure of a spring +you opened the pannel, which slid back into the wall and threw light +into the little enclosed recess. I saw several small chests standing +there, jewels of costly value were in them, that I never knew of and +which you never mentioned to me, but Franz seemed to know all. You +opened the cases, arranged them and added some others to them. Franz +wept and said: 'So now my wish will be at length accomplished of living +at Geneva in future and openly acknowledging the faith that I have been +compelled to deny here.' This also was new and unexpected to me. Then +you embraced the old servant heartily, kissed him on the mouth and said +with emotion: 'You are now no longer my servant, but my friend, my most +confidential friend, for to you I confide my entire welfare, my +property, and my children. God protect you on your way there and back, +give these letters into the right hands at the same time with this +little treasure; steal as you can over the frontiers, then we are safe, +and return directly with favourable answers.' That very night, he +accomplished fifteen leagues." + +The old man trembled violently; he examined his son doubtingly, his +face was pale. "Where have you seen all this?" demanded he at length. +"Yonder in the mountains of Lozere, fourteen leagues from here." There +was a pause. "I must believe you," said the father. "Be it a miracle, +delirium, an undiscovered strength of nature; I see, but I understand +it not. All is in reality as you have said, but your manner is terrible +to me. Do you not then believe, that as you have fallen, in so +unusually strange a manner, into this disposition, conviction, and +miraculous gift, there may be also means, which heaven, if you in faith +and humility call upon God will open to reconduct you into the ordinary +walk of mankind, far from these fearful rocks upon which you must +inevitably founder." + +"You understand me not, I tell you once more," cried the youth, +"although I quite understand your meaning. You do not trust the token +that I have given you. Yet," added, he smiling, "you are not quite so +hardened just now, better thoughts steal over your soul, though also +from the region of unbelief." + +"And what is it?" asked the father, "you will otherwise make me believe +that you are able to penetrate into all the hidden depths of the +heart." + +"You were thinking just now," said Edmond:-- + +"Let him take his course, the evil must now have reached its height, +perhaps God wills that he should find at length by this more than +wonderful means, his salvation, and that he may learn later to cool by +reason and true christian humility, the fanaticism, that now transform +him into a lunatic. Thus do you think of me, thus do you deny the +spirit." "My son," said the old man with uplifted looks, "is it a good +spirit that prompts you? is it not perhaps the wild wandering of nature +herself in you that transports you beyond her own limits?" + +The son cast again that terrifying look on his father, which rendered +him mute. + +"You are free," said the old man, "affection alone, not force should +retain you. Go then and follow the dictates of your own heart. My +prayers shall accompany you, and, may be, they will have the power to +mitigate, or ward off the worst." + +"Surely you are not opposed to my taking to my poor brethren my small +fortune," said Edmond perfectly tranquillised, "they are more in need +of it than we." + +"Take also this purse from me," said the father, "I desire not to know +to what purpose you destine it, but the unfortunate men yonder are in +want of it." + +"Franz is coming!" exclaimed Edmond; "Where?" enquired the +Counsellor:--"He is still far behind the mountains, I see him only with +my inward eyes. The over-cautious old man! he has hidden the letter in +his boot, there he is leaning against an old tree, and is pulling it +out. I could read the letter to you if I liked, but I perceive that it +contains good news for you, let that suffice. Permit me now to go, +before the old man returns to oppress my heart anew with his +lamentations, or to excite my anger." + +Father and son long held each other closely embraced; the old Lord +seemed overpowered with grief and tears; Edmond gently disengaged +himself from his paternal arms, returned once more and kissed his +father. With hasty steps he traversed the garden and ascended the +vineyard; there he stood still once more, and from thence waved a +handkerchief downwards in salutation, while Franz issued from the wood +ou the opposite side and held up the letters exultingly in the +distance. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + +The mountains and the country around were by this time filled with new +tidings that contained representations of the most horrible cruelties, +said to have been practised by the Camisards. Even their best friends +and such as willingly lent them their aid, became displeased, and many +of the rebels themselves ventured not to extenuate the barbarity, which +these had permitted themselves to exercise against catholic priests, +landholders, nay even towards secret protestants. It appeared as if the +weakest party desired, in defying despair to outdo the harshness of +their foes; but this alienated many hearts from them and withheld the +help that otherwise would have been openly lent to them. + +A serene summer morning shed its light over the mountains, when Edmond +with hasty steps took his way towards the secret wilds, where there was +neither track nor footpath, and which was only known to him from +representation. He felt as if his wonderful gift of inward sight was +conducting him in the direct way, for he discovered the most secret +directing signs by which the rebels alone could find a clue to the +hiding-places, without straying among the windings of the rocks, or +being stopped by the appearance of unexpected precipices. He left the +fortress of St. Hyppolite on one side and came in a short time after +having climbed steep mountains, into another rocky district, to which +only small stony paths led, and which far around was torn asunder by +spacious crevices and caverns. Here did the Camisards keep their +severely wounded that had been able to escape from the fight; if this +was impossible, they shot them themselves, in order to deliver them +from the cruel ingenuity of the executioner. In these caves, Roland +also concealed his provision of arms and ammunition, if he should have +a superfluity of them, and also a supply of food and wine, likewise +medicines, and that which was necessary for the care of the sick. +Government had already offered a large reward for the discovery of this +important place of refuge, but until now in vain, for only the most +trustworthy among the rebels were acquainted with this district, who +naturally would not betray it and they took care, that only those among +the country-people, whose integrity could be depended upon, should be +admitted. As Edmond went along the narrow way which lay on the right +under a steep mountain, whilst on the left, at the distance of a few +paces, yawned a giddy abyss; he was just reflecting how easily and +safely this pass might be defended, when he suddenly heard a large +figure with a hairy face and wild, savage expression, call out, +requesting to speak with him. Edmond was going to explain to him for +what purpose he had come there, when the hairy figure without replying +took up his gun and was in the act of firing at him, a cracked voice +from behind a projection of the rock, cried out: "For God's sake stop, +brother Mazel!" at the same moment two naked brown arms fell on the +breast of the armed man and dashed the gun on the ground. "He is no +spy, he cannot be such!" exclaimed the half-naked man, "it is the young +Lord of Beauvais." + +As Edmond looked round he saw Eustace, the charcoal-burner whom he knew +very well, standing before him. + +"How came you to this secret place?" said the invalid, who was taken +care of here. + +Edmond now saw several strange faces which gathered round to examine +him with looks of curiosity. The young man experienced a singular +sensation on beholding these ragged, wretched looking figures, and on +finding himself compelled to tell them wherefore he was come, and that +he intended to live among them as a brother, and to fight for their +abused rights. Eustace clapped his hands in the greatest amazement, and +cried out: "I should have sooner expected the day of judgment! you +cannot conceive bow haughty and indignant this noble gentleman was, +when I once attempted to speak and jest with his little lady sister! +Yes, Abraham, that is a sign from God, to strengthen us in our good +cause. If such a gentleman to whom nothing is wanting, to whom God has +plentifully given whatever human wealth can procure, brought up and +learned in their religion, if he should come over to us, and be willing +to undergo the severity of the weather, storms, hunger, nakedness, and +for the sake of God, perhaps, a disgraceful death: what are we then to +do, whom they have plundered, ill used, whose children they have +slaughtered, whose priests they have murdered; indeed these are signs +which precede judgment?" In the same moment he began to scream out a +psalm; but Mazel said: "Cease now, good brother, for we do not at all +know yet, if brother Roland will accept him, he must first be brought +before him; we have lately been several times too much deceived and the +thing may be only a snare this time also, but Roland and Cavalier know +directly what they are about, no one can deceive these." + +Edmond looked at him with the utmost contempt and exclaimed: "Conduct +me to the wood, to Lord Roland!"-- + +"Brother Roland, if you please," replied the stout Mazel, "among us +there are no Lords; God is our Lord.--Stephen! Favart!" Cried he, in a +commanding tone, and out of the cliffs sprang forward a fair-haired +young man, and behind him stole forth another, whom Edmond immediately +recognised for the old huntsman, that he had met about twelve days +before at his father's house. "Conduct the young man to brother +Roland," said Mazel to both of them, and Edmond accompanied them in +silence, still deeper into the solitude of the mountains. Favart +glanced sideways at the new comrade, while they walked on together, at +length he said: "Lately, but for that young lad, things would have +turned out badly enough." + +"Who was he?" asked Edmond. + +"I do not know," replied the huntsman, "I should like very much to +know who he is; he knew me, although I did not know him. I had +abandoned the brethren for sixteen months, now I am again returned to +them, principally because the young lad said in my ear that I was an +apostate and a traitor to God; now, I know too, how the Lord of +Basville, the Intendant thinks, and all the other godless men. They are +blood-thirsty men." + +Young Stephen drew out a little flute and blew upon it a spiritual +song, which sounded pleasingly far through the mountains. "Leave off +that godless blowing," said Favart. "Why godless?" asked Edmond. "It is +only a worldly little pipe," said the squinting huntsman, "all these +things proceed from the wicked enemy, to ensnare our souls and hearts +through sensual pleasure; in simplicity we should think on the Lord and +our lips alone should laud and praise him, but not artificially and +seducingly, for it is not seemly to make jubelee in our sorrow." + +"You are too severe," said Stephen, "the birds in the woods praise the +Lord and artificially too, in their way." + +"They have no reason, no soul," said Favart, "they are poor beasts, +even if it were the nightingale herself; it is still no praise to the +Lord, they do but call their mates, or brood in their nests, their +godliness is all a lie." + +"As you will," said Stephen, at the same time replacing his flute. They +came to a number of trees hewn down, and placed so as to form a sort of +fence, from out of which a voice exclaimed: "Who goes there?" "Zion!" +replied the two guides; and some large birch-trees were pushed +backwards, and made way on the narrow path. They passed through. "Where +is Roland?" demanded they of the sentinels. "Up there," replied the +latter, "under the great Apostle chesnut tree." + +"We shall soon be there," said Stephen. They already heard a noise in +the distance, talking, singing, and also clattering of iron; and now, +when they had reached the summit of the wooded mountain plain, Edmond +perceived many men in various groups, all brown and burnt by the sun, +the greatest part of them in ragged doublets; some appeared to be +praying, a few were reading, others were reposing on the grass, several +were whetting their jagged swords or cleaning their guns, others were +mending their vestments; many sang psalms. A tall wild-looking man +advanced towards them, he walked up and down agitatedly with his hands +behind his back, huge whiskers descended on either side of his face, +his hair was tightly drawn up to the top of his head; "Good day +brethren," cried he, in a discordant voice, which Edmond immediately +recognised for the same he had heard in the distance on the eventful +night. "The hero Catinat!" exclaimed Favart, shaking the gigantic man +heartily by the hand, "how fares it with you?" "I am accused brother," +said the former, "and Roland will hold no intercourse with me until all +his officers, Cavalier and the rest, have spoken respecting me." + +"Where is Roland?" enquired Edmond, hastily. "It is he yonder, who sits +with his bared neck under the chesnut tree," said Catinat. + +Edmond perceived a man of slight figure and middle age, leaning against +the trunk of the tree, who was looking quietly on the ground and +smoking a short clay tobacco pipe; he had taken off a red silk +neckerchief which lay by his side, and had loosened his waistcoat, so +that his whole breast was laid bare, his head was uncovered, his face +was only shaded by large whiskers. He calmly raised his light brown +eyes, as the three presented themselves before him, and Stephen +explained in a few words Edmond's request. "Indeed!" said Roland, still +continuing to smoke and quickly turning his searching glance from +Edmond; "have a little patience, until I give you my answer, we do +nothing without higher counsel, and I have not been thus blessed. Are +any of our prophets here?" asked he in a loud voice, looking round the +circle. + +"No, brother Roland," resounded from all sides; "Be patient, some of +them will shortly be here, for I do not know you, but nothing can be +concealed from them." + +Edmond felt hurt, his heart was ready to overflow; he related in a few +words his wonderful transformation and how the spirit had led him into +the mountains; "Yes, I myself, unworthy as I may be," concluded he, +with deep emotion, his narration, "I have been blessed with this +wonderful gift of fore-knowledge." + +"Indeed!" said Roland in a drawling tone, while he rather winked than +looked at the youth with his half closed eyes, in which was reflected +either his contempt, or perhaps his envy, the latter was what Edmond +conceived it to indicate. He raised his foot, and knocked the ashes out +of the top of his tobacco pipe; "Go and walk up and down for a short +time, I have some reflections to make; as soon as one of our prophets +arrives, you shall obtain your answer." + +Edmond turned away much annoyed, and cast his eyes over the +interminable mountains; to the immense chain of the Cevennes are joined +the blue summits of the Pyrenees, and on the other side were to be seen +craggy cliffs and masses of rocks, which give so striking a feature to +the right bank of the Rhone. What was Edmond's surprise, when among the +fraternity he recognized two noblemen, whom he had formerly met many +times at Nismes, and who had sunk into universal contempt on account of +their frivolity and bad conduct. Cesar and Mark Anthony were merely +what is usually termed in ordinary life boon companions; they had been +finally compelled, in consequence of their debts to make their escape, +and had, apparently, from absolute necessity alone, sought the society +of these religious mountaineers. However much they tried to imitate the +looks and demeanour of the rest, there still lay concealed even in the +very manner that they greeted Edmond, something of that reckless +insolence and licentious freedom, which all well-principled young men +had excluded from their society many years before. + +When Edmond had taken a survey of the surrounding country and of his +future companions, Roland again called out in a loud voice, as he stood +up: + +"Is no prophet yet arrived?" "Yes," said Favart, "here is brother +Duplant." At the same moment a pale, haggard little man stepped up, who +trembled in every joint as from cold and whose prominent eyes added to +his appearance of illness. "What do you wish brother?" asked he of the +leader in an almost whining tone. + +"Come forward brother," said Roland in a full, sonorous voice; "here is +a new brother, who presents, himself to us from out of the valley, a +rich distinguished man and a catholic; what does the spirit say to you +about it?" + +Duplant opened his light-blue eyes still wider, gazed on Edmond with a +feeble, death-like look, then gathered himself up, shook his head +violently, fell down, and while his breast and the lower part of his +body heaved convulsively, a deep, and to him, unusual voice proceeded +from him, resounding loudly: "I tell thee brother, this is a choice +instrument, he will serve the Lord faithfully; his father in his heart +is in our mountains, rejoice all that he is come among us. Amen!" + +Roland immediately embraced the youth, then extended his hand to him; +"In the name of God then!" said he solemnly, "My vocation must be +true," answered Edmond, "for you have given a reception such as might +well have frightened back an ordinary enthusiast." + +"We cannot do otherwise brother," said Roland, "we are too often put to +the test by spies in various forms; therefore, the Lord, decides among +us, He, who cannot be deceived." + +"It is good for me to be among you and to look upon the faces of all +these, honoured men: but where is Cavalier, the hero, whose name +resounds throughout the whole country? my soul burns to know him and to +fold him in my arms." + +"Yonder he comes with his troop in wonderful array." + +A multitude of Camisards, clad in pillaged uniforms, marched up the +mountain shouting with joy, at their head rode their commander, mounted +on a little horse, one feather in his large hat, a richly embroidered +uniform hung wide and loosely on his little thin body. He sprang from +his horse, and while Edmond was making his way up to him, impressed +with the almost ludicrous appearance of the unbecoming attire, the so +justly renowned Cavalier advanced towards him, and Edmond, in terror +and in deep confusion, stepped back, for the young hero was no other +than that miller-lad, whom he had a short time before in his father's +house treated with so much contempt, nay even with cutting bitterness. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + +The young commander first cast a lengthened look of astonishment on +Edmond, then approached nearer and kindly offered him his hand. "You +are one of us," exclaimed he, "the Lord had so ordained, accept the +assurance of my brotherly love."-- + +Edmond seized the hand of the young man, held it long between his own, +and then said with great emotion: "What have I not to thank you for at +a time, when I neither knew, nor loved you; you it was who saved our +house, myself, my sister and my beloved father! The veil has fallen +from my eyes, and I shall now honour and love you, and all these heroes +of the faith, as brothers." + +A circle had been formed and Roland now stepped with solemn demeanour +into the middle of it. "We are assembled," commenced he, greatly +affected, "in order to pass judgment upon a friend, who is to me one of +the dearest among the most valiant of the fraternity, and in the work +of the Lord a distinguished zealot. Here stands Catinat, the man at +whose name all our foes tremble. You are all here present, Cavalier, +thou Ravanel, Castanet, Duplant, and Salomon, Clary, Abraham Mazel is +also arrived here. I have often spoken on this point already, my dear +friends, and wished to make known to you my opinion, and my sentiments, +that in this war, in which we are fighting for the Lord, we should +refrain from shedding blood as much as possible. No, my beloved +friends, we will not therein follow the example of our adversaries, +that we may excel them in their emulation for murder, incendiarism and +all their works of darkness. Let the enemy, who comes armed against us, +be given up to the sword, the villain, who betrays us and belies the +Lord, let him fall a sacrifice to his own malice, but the harmless +labourer, the helpless priest, the defenceless woman, the child under +age, let them be spared, what have they done to us? what can they +accomplish against us? we have certainly always struggled to put our +enemies to shame and to convince them by Christian charity, that our +course is a just one; but here, Catinat has again acted in opposition +to my express command, in his expedition he has set fire to three +churches with his own hands, he has massacred two priests, his troop +according to his orders has reduced villages to ashes, and women and +children have been murdered and burned in the most terrible manner. +Their lamentations, the cries of the orphans, the wailings of the +parents rise up to heaven, and arouse and call upon the enduring +goodness of the Lord to thrust and to fling us in his wrath far away +from him, like useless vessels. If we ourselves act in this manner, +wherefore should we complain, when the enemies open wide the jaws of +cruelty and show less compassion than the wolf in the wilderness, or +the beast of prey of the mountains, then, with justice, their stakes +blaze threateningly to meet us! why are we angered, when their +barbarous executioners, with greedy looks, grin up towards our +mountains, and in malicious joy whet their instruments of death? then +fight brute against brute, and devil against Belzebub! By what then +shall the good cause be recognised? I will also remind you, my beloved +brethren, that these deeds alienate the best people in the country from +us; not only the Catholic, but such as are in their hearts our +brothers, will desert us, as well as those newly converted ones, who +would willingly help us. Have you then forgotten, how pious men of +foreign lands, priests and leaders of armies, have warned us not to +stain our hands with innocent blood, and our holy cause with firebrands +and cruelty? all pious minds in distant lands who turn looks of love +upon us will be mistaken, and will surely think, that innate cruelty +and savage nature must be alleged for these proceedings, and not our +conscience and the cause of the Lord that we fight for. It is +misfortune enough, that we should be compelled to stand in arms against +our lawful king, who wanted to rob us of our God; let this misfortune +suffice, let us do no more than our conscience demands. Finally, I will +remind you, that by your unanimous consent I am your leader since the +glorious death of my uncle, my command must be held inviolable, and +therefore, he whom I send out and who wilfully and maliciously +transgresses my orders, must be considered a rebel to me, yourselves, +and your holy undertaking. You know, that a like fault would be +punished with death yonder among the royal party; far be it from me to +wish to punish so severely a brother and hero of the faith on account +of his disobedience to me, a weak and miserable instrument of the Lord, +but I propose depriving him of his command, because none should command +who cannot also obey. Now take counsel among yourselves, my valiant and +enlightened friends, whether you will confirm my sentence? once more I +repeat my fear, that by these transgressions of individuals, our great +cause will go to ruin." + +Roland retired from the circle and all were silent. "We will hear what +Catinat says for himself," said the broad, stout Mazel, and Ravanel, a +little swarthy man with dark looks and wild appearance advanced towards +the gigantic man and cried: "speak brother, you know how I love you, I +am yours, unto death, and do not believe that you can ever be in the +wrong, for in your fist is the sword of the Lord!" + +Catinat shook him by the hand, then raised his eyes and glanced with a +calm and penetrating look round the circle, and said: "My valiant +brethren, my fault is evident and undeniable, it consists in +transgression against subordination, and as I have been as good a +soldier as brother Roland, I know well that nothing can be said to +extenuate it. If you speak in accordance with the letter of the law, I +am then condemned, and I will lay down my command as obediently as I +accepted it from Roland. But I again ask you here openly, as I have +already expressed my opinion privately on this point, can we, the +immediate instruments of the Most High, penetrated with his spirit, +measure commands and quietly follow them? shall we, are we permitted to +pursue this war as with men like ourselves, and may we obstinately +withdraw the holy zeal, when the spirit descends upon us, and rules the +sword in our hand, and hurls the burning brand into the idolatrous +temples? Where then is truth, confidence, and faith, if I am not +allowed to do what the Lord himself designs to exact from me. No my +friends, my inspired brethren! let other self-sufficient, self-willed +men then, who fight without heaven be your soldiers, I can never be +such. Roland and Cavalier pardon the prisoners we make, send them back +comforted, refresh and succour their wounded, and hope by their +well-meaning kindness to arouse the hearts of the villains, that they +may feel humane and brotherly towards us. But no such thing! they mock +at this our weakness and call it folly, nay, they publicly term it +cowardice and say, that we dare not act otherwise, for we are only +rebels and outlaws. Assuredly we are a reproach to men, and when they +catch, or wound us, they show us less compassion than they would +testify to a dog, even if it had torn their dearest child to pieces. Is +it then necessary to remind you of the barbarities they have practised +upon our brethren, who have struggled and died for the faith? I will +only recall to your recollection the holy father Brusson, who +gloriously won the crown of martyrdom at Montpellier, the pious man, +who preached the gospel to us poor abandoned flocks in the wilderness, +and then took leave of us, drew no sword, lighted no torch, lived and +died in the spirit of peace, and who only came once more to take a last +farewell of the old mountains, and of the brethren, whom the faith had +collected around him as his own children, with the gospel in his +pocket, and with the bread of tears he wished to return to the strange +land, which had become to him as his native country; and when they +caught him, of what avail was his quiet, peaceable spirit to him? Under +martyrdom, at which the imagination shudders, he was forced to resign +his soul into the hands of the Creator. Need I remind you of the noble +spirit of Seguier, how heroically he died and only scorned the cruel +ingenuity of the executioner? But how then do you forget the wholly +innocent people, who often assembled in the fields to worship God in +secret and were put down by the faithful, as they call themselves, or, +as it often happened, massacred, women and children not excepted? And +you no longer remember, how parents who were suspected had their +children torn from them to be brought up as Catholics, how the mothers +never saw them more and how those under age, who then remained faithful +to the Gospel, were ill-used, suffered martyrdom, or were doomed to +languish in a dungeon? All then has escaped your recollection, what +those priests of the pulpit and the altar have uttered against us, and +the ban and the curse, and that we are no men and unworthy of +commiseration, when we were still constrained to attend their mass? and +is it even permitted that gentleness, virtue, consideration, humanity +and pity, should be observed towards these bloodhounds? No, verily, we +are ruined if we do not pay them in their own coin, return evil for +evil, blood for blood, death for death, rage and fury for their +inflexibility and severity. As they have been mild and compassionate +towards us, let us respond to it; let the Christianity that they +preach, fall burning down upon their own heads, let us dive into their +hearts and entrails, to see where they have concealed pity and the +feelings of humanity. Wherever our name resounds, they must turn pale, +and when we set all against all, we shall then be able to know whether +we lose, or win, we shall extirpate them, or they us; and if we cease +to exist, so may the wasted wilderness, the depopulated land, the +ruined palaces, and burnt-down temples and horror and desolation, +announce to the after-world what we have suffered and done. What are a +priest, country or king in comparison to my faith, in comparison to the +fire that kindles through all my veins and burns in every fibre? Do you +think you are permitted to reason and be men of the ordinary world? +This is precisely what makes our adversaries strong and prepares so +many defeats for us, because we still turn our looks back upon the +world and its wisdom. Here stand our prophets, arrest then the spirit, +exorcise it when it rushes through your souls like a hurricane, like a +flash of lightening and burst forth from their consecrated mouths the +words of the Eternal on the wings of the spirit. You know that this +miraculous gift is denied to me, to Roland and to many, as in our +Duplant, Cavalier, or Salomon, when all recollection vanishes and every +ordinary human feeling becomes extinct, in the same manner does it +happen to me, when we at length fight in the tumult, or pass by +triumphantly the churches of our foes: from every dumb brick their +scorn grins at me, from every beam the blood of our martyrs so +arrogantly shed cries out to me; then, when the malignant followers of +their priests sneak up to me with feigned supplications, then indeed, +something roars within me for revenge, like a lion if he has once +tasted blood, the sword and dagger pierce through their breasts as they +kneel before me, my whole heart bounds, when the laughing flames rise +up triumphantly through the edifice, when in the blaze the beams are +consumed and fall down and bury women and children in the red glow. +This then is no human fancy that gladdened me, but the true spirit of +the Almighty that impels me onward, and the bishop, the king himself, +even our prophets may advance threateningly and imploringly towards me +in vain in these highly consecrated moments, nay should an angel +descend from heaven and call out to me to desist, I would not listen to +it. Thus I am brethren, and I neither can nor will be otherwise, this I +swear here, by the Eternal God!" + +With these last words, he lifted his ponderous sword towards heaven, +and then struck it so forcibly against the rocky ground, that it +clattered loudly, Ravanel exclaimed as if possessed: "An Elias! an +Elias!" and threw himself upon the breast of the ferocious man; the +rest were silent, and Roland again came forward with a calm +countenance, and as if embarrassed. "What is your decision my +brethren?" demanded he with a deep sigh. + +"The decision is difficult," said Constant, a robust, fair young man. +"Let our prophets decide." The deadly pale Duplant immediately came +forward, gave a hollow sigh and fell down; on the other side appeared +Salomon, a diminutive man, he folded his hands, knelt and threw himself +upon the rock. Duplant cried with that peculiarly deep voice: "I tell +you the Hero Catinat has only fulfilled my orders!"--scarcely however +had he uttered these words, than Salomon already groaned forth; "Follow +my servant Roland, for he is my chosen instrument, you know that the +blood of the innocent is an abomination to me." + +The circle now drew closer together, and in the greatest excitement the +pale and swarthy faces were looking over one another's heads, and +between the shoulders of the foremost. Every eye was glowing, and +Ravanel exclaimed: "To me also was given the gift of prophecy, listen +to me, brethren, for perhaps the Spirit may now come over me." "Stop!" +screamed out Abraham Mazel, "I am one of the oldest here, I have a +right to speak before any of you, through me I can boast that this holy +war arose, but here, I think prophecy cannot avail." He had with these +words taken fast hold of the little thing, Ravanel, by the shoulders, +but the latter darted like lightening out of his grasp, threw himself +down by the side of Duplant, who still lay in ecstasy, and cried: "this +is our greatest prophet, for thou hast only two degrees, and him must +we follow." + +"Is not Salomon," said Roland earnestly, "as almighty as he? Here the +word of the Lord contradicts itself: how shall we interpret it?" + +"Not certainly," interrupted Edmond, who could no longer restrain +himself, "As wild passion demands, where doubt exists, mildness and +compassion are the designs of the Lord." He had not yet finished these +words, when he felt the stroke of a sword between his neck and +shoulders, which the wrathful Ravanel aimed at him. The youth tottered +backwards and Cavalier received him in his arms. "How?" exclaimed +several voices, "one brother against another?" many swords were bared, +a wild shout flew over the mountains and all was confusion. "The spirit +moves me: he is a traitor!" said Ravanel. "stop! peace!" cried Roland's +powerful voice in the midst, "brother Duplant has just now prophesied +that he means us fairly, and that he is inspired with the faith!" + +Ravanel turned surlily away and spoke to Duplant, who had in the mean +while awakened. + +A tall, slight man, whose clear brown eyes sparkled brightly, had in +the interim been busied with Edmond: he had quickly torn off his +clothes, examined and bound up the wound, which did not appear to be +dangerous, and had supported him nearly fainting from loss of blood, +between his knees. Cavalier with his kindly, childlike eyes was bending +over him, and the youth fancied that he was again in his father's +house, and that the strange guest was come to seek a reconciliation +with him. "You are my angel," said he in a feeble voice, "you are +indeed Gabriel, as my sister there has just said: take then also +Christine as well as my father under your protection, pious boy, we +shall all see one another cheerfully and happily again, but shine less +brightly." Then he lost all consciousness. + +"He is dying! brother Clary!" exclaimed Cavalier. "No," replied he, who +had bound up his wound, "he will soon revive again; yet Ravanel does +him injustice, for I know by my spirit that this youth is religious, +and will follow our cause with zeal; but the wrathful fire of these +fierce heroes will ruin us all." + +Roland in the meanwhile was going through the assembled groups with +commanding grace, seeking to appease these excited minds. All were +standing in order, as his glance had commanded; Ravanel alone, +conscious of guilt had retired. Cavalier now stepped in among them, and +in his own amiable manner, said, "Brethren, the tie that binds the +whole world, the source of all miracles, the strength of the weak, the +immediate presence of our most holy father, is love, love alone. I am +apprehensive, that we, the oppressed, whose unity is so necessary, may +in this manner be divided, should we forget that we are brethren? Does +not something more exalted than an oath bind us to a holy work? Ravanel +has without doubt grossly sinned against our new brother, but the pious +youth will forgive the enthusiast and Roland and Catinat as brethren +must also shake hands. Forgive the impetuous man, brother Roland, and +pardon him ye remaining friends, who censure his conduct; on his side, +he will promise you to regulate his mind, to restrain himself, and, +except in cases of the greatest emergency, to refrain from giving way +to the impulse of his feelings. When you are once more united, I have +something to report to you that is well worth consideration." + +Catinat went slowly up to Roland; the latter wiped a tear from his eye, +extended his arms, embraced him and cried: "Welcome to me my brother! +thou wouldst dwell entirely in my soul, if thou couldst mix a few drops +of the mind's tranquility with thy burning zeal." Catinat promised to +restrain himself and peace was again restored. + +"My friends," commenced Cavalier anew, "As I a short time since +descended into the plains and valley of Nage, it appeared to me +singularly enigmatical, that in so many places I met with coldness, +disapprobation, and a strange backwardness in the best and most +faithful. Unheard of and wilful barbarities were spoken of, said to +have been practised by our party. I enquired who were the leaders, but +they could not name them to me. Our most devoted friends told me, +however, that this was not the right manner, or the way to fight +through our, besides this, perilous cause. I shuddered when forced to +listen to these accounts. Our enemies have hardly acted towards us with +so much cruelty. I could not avoid shedding tears at the barbarous +manner in which the Marchioness of Miramon has been murdered. You all +know that she was a secret friend to our cause, and that we have +enjoyed many succours from her kindness. This lady frequently +travelled, often met with our people who were all acquainted with her, +and who besides never wilfully injured the peaceable and defenceless +inhabitants, but let them pass freely. Now she intended to quit Usez, +in order to visit her husband at St. Ambroise. She was advised to take +with her an escort, or at least armed servants, but confiding in our +friendship, she refused both. She had already nearly reached the place +of destination, when her carriage was surrounded by dark-looking men; +she and her maids were bound, and neither entreaties, nor tears, nor +the costly jewels that she carried with her, nor promise of much gold +could save these hapless beings from the most disgraceful death. I +contradicted all the exasperated people, that no troop of our party +could have done this, but only a few believed me. Fortunately I have +discovered who these wretches are, who also call themselves Camisards +and dishonour our cause; it is a band of highwaymen and incendiaries +who have come from Provence. Advance friend Degran, and relate to the +brethren how you came up with the villains, and how you escaped from +them." + +A ragged, half-starved looking man with a long beard came forward, whom +some recognised and others examined with surprise. What a change a +period of a few weeks had effected in him! He began in a feeble voice: +"It may now be about a month ago, that I was sent by brother Cavalier +with three of my comrades against Montpellier to watch the enemy, to +purchase ammunition and to summon the attendance of some young men in +the mountains. In order to avoid observation, we set out in the evening +twilight, and just as a storm overtook us in the wood, we were suddenly +surrounded by a number of black-looking men, and commanded to offer no +resistance, the attempt too would have been vain among such a +multitude, the tallest of them advanced towards us and said: 'I see +then before me, some of the brave and valiant Camisards! You are +welcome!' We could not make out who they were, they had not the +appearance of the militia of the country, and were even more fearful +than the madcaps, whom the fierce hermit formerly headed. After we had +examined one another closer, he, who seemed to be the leader said: +'What a miserable perilous life such brave fellows lead, and none to +acknowledge their value; and the sacrifice they make. You are forbidden +to plunder, what do you gain by all your exertions? as we are told, you +are not allowed under penalty of death to plunder even the demolished +churches, and carry off the gold and silver vessels; no, you suffer all +to melt in the flames. We think differently, we are not, it is true, +your companions in faith, but you must make common cause with us. +Behold our party consists of fifty, all united together by solemn +oaths, you can never escape from us again, if you will not join us, you +must die, you know the country and the inhabitants, name to us then the +rich catholics, that we may direct our visits thither, and you shall +have a fair portion of the booty which falls to us.'--What could we do? +we were compelled to conduct them about, as they kept strict watch over +us. I cannot bear to think on the horrors we were forced to witness; +but one, more frightful than the rest, was committed against one of my +comrades, who attempted to escape from them, for our consciences +tortured us day and night. The horrible ill-treatment which had +preceded the murder of our brother, bound us still more firmly to these +highwaymen. The country was soon filled with rumours respecting these +black Camisards, as they were called. Under this mask they were, +however, by no means scrupulous about plundering merely their brothers +in the faith, but they also attacked the houses of the newly converted, +and whose families were known as zealous reformers. One evening when +they surrounded a country house and had dispatched me to inspect the +place more closely, we were surprised and compelled to make a hasty +retreat, and I availed myself of the opportunity to escape into a +garden, and from thence into the wood. They have now however a long +list of wealthy people, whom they intend to rob and murder; the Lord of +Beauvais stands at the head of it, and as his house is rather retired, +it is almost impossible for them not to succeed." + +"Enough, my friend," cried Cavalier, "now Catinat will you accompany me +in order to catch these assassins? This time, I will take only fifty +men with me, and shall return shortly to receive your orders, brother +Roland." + +He made a sign, quickly mounted a little horse, and those, who were +already acquainted with his will, followed him accompanied by Catinat. +The man, who had escaped from the robbers, was also of the party in +order to trace the villains. Edmond in the mean while had been removed. +He lay in a hut formed of plaited branches upon a couch of moss, +Abraham Mazel had followed to take care of him. The other leaders had +also retired deeper into the wood with their troops. Roland, now nearly +alone, walked up and down on the mountain plain, gave out orders, +appointed new posts, and dispatched a troop under Valmal to procure +provisions. Soon afterwards, Roland received intelligence through the +centinels of the outposts, that they perceived in the direction of +Rouergue a great number of men that, from their appearance, might be +taken for the country militia. "These," said Roland, "will not be so +unwise as to attack us in this strong place." A messenger came to +announce that the approaching people had raised a great cry, and were +not marching but advancing without order, and in tumultuous crowds. The +noise was now heard ascending nearer from the rear of the mountain. +"They are peasants," exclaimed Roland, as he came down from the +eminence which he had ascended. "What can they want? Wherefore this +commotion?" the procession drew near; men, women, even children and old +men in the midst of them, all fluried, most of them in tears, each one +would speak first, each presenting a hand to the commander. Those who +were the most exhausted, laid themselves down on the ground, the +younger men placed themselves in order, some had old fowling pieces, +others sides, many were armed with short or long swords, several +carried hatchets and axes. The fighting men amounted at least to two +hundred in number, and when the tumult at length subsided, and Roland +again asked from whence they came and what they required, one of the +oldest among the armed men stepped forward and said, "Roland, you must +know me and my father yonder, as well as many here from the commune of +Meliere, we, who have often lent you our help, all in secret attached +to you, and who have daily put up our prayers for you to heaven. You +also know our persecutors; why need I name them to you. But our +calamity is still new to you, and truly one must live in our days to +deem it possible. It is now some months ago, that the Intendant and the +Marshal caused whole communities to be carried off from the middle of +the Cevennes, as well as from Mialet; women, children, and fathers were +thrown into their prisons, merely because they were suspected by them. +Out of one-and-twenty parishes, three hundred young men were seized +from the district of Nismes alone, besides whole families and are shut +up in the dungeons and fortresses of the level country and of the +mountains. The inhuman Intendant trusts no one, and how can the +subject be tranquil and faithful to the king, when the tyrant in his +cold-blooded intrigues only meditates how to make the people wretched? +The terrible man has been heard to say with his own lips, that the best +and the safest method would be to extirpate from the face of the earth +all who are converted, as well as the rebels. The Marshal himself, it +is said, is shocked at these ideas, God and the king have not so far +forgotten us ever to permit such infamy. But since the day before +yesterday----Yes, weep, mourn, ye unfortunate, banished, houseless +people!" And as in chorus there arose a sobbing and lamentation, but +the speaker continued thus, "Early the day before yesterday, as we were +going forth to our field labours, we heard the beating of drums, we +took it for the usual marching of the royal troops through the country, +but they soon drew near, we ascended the mountain and saw that the +extensive mountain district, valley, and ravine, as far as the eye +could reach, were surrounded. They did not leave us long in suspense, +we were summoned to the square of our large village. Thence they +published to our magistrates and to us, that in Nismes a decree had +been pronounced to entirely depopulate our district, and many others, +two-and-thirty parishes, including more than eighty villages and farms, +to send the inhabitants to the open country, to other provinces, to +islands, and to pull down and set fire to all the houses, stables, and +farms without exception. Four regiments are encamped in the district to +accomplish this devilish work. All uttered screams and lamentations, +but they were disregarded, like ill-fated cattle, destined for +slaughter, the wretched creatures suffered themselves, to be driven +forth; and from the neighbouring mountain we already beheld the houses +demolished; the axes resounded, the cattle lowed, and the mountains +groaningly repeated the melancholy echo. As it proceeded too slowly for +the monsters, we soon saw flames too flaring up; like greedy jaws, like +thirsty tongues, did the fire lick up our beloved old dwellings and +swallowed them in flames. The trees before the houses were consumed +with them. Yes, Roland, the district, the dear villages, the hospitable +houses, which so often and so amicably received you and yours, these +are in a brief space reduced to a desert, and in future I shall not be +able perhaps to find a trace of where I lived with my parents, where I +sat with them before the door, and played in the spring, where I became +acquainted with my wife, where she bore me her first son. The stork +will never again familiarly and confidingly take up his lodging on the +roof of my barn, no swallow will again announce to me there the warmth +of spring, and twitter with her young before my window. Oh! and my own +children. Man indeed has no childhood, when he is deprived of his +country. The poor women! how well known to us, how dear was each bush +and running brook. Now we know, for the first time, how we loved our +old cottages and the seats inherited from our great grandfathers. All +that we there in devotion, thought, and prayed, all the delightful +Easter and Whitsuntide festivals, the pleasing solitude of the long +winter evenings, and the exemplary conversations of the old men, all, +all is vanished in this hideous fire." + +"No more! no more!" shrieked the women, and the children wept aloud. + +"All this," continued the speaker, "happened to us, dear Roland, on +your account alone, for they know well, the persecutors! that we have +in our hearts been with you, so many of your bravest men are from among +us. They extirpate us, especially because our valleys and mountains +border on the district of Vivares, and through our country Catinat and +Cavalier attempted to penetrate. Friend, brother! here we are now, and +assuredly many more active men from other districts will run to you, +for they will not suffer what will be required of them. Come, lead us +on, thrust us into the thicket of the fight, when thousands stand close +in front of their cannons, and with swords, sicles, hatchets, and +cudgels we will fall upon them, nay without weapons, with these hands, +with these teeth we will tear them to pieces! Life and pleasure now +consist only in death and destruction; if they only feel how we hate +and abhor them, if but one and then another, and a third be made to +acknowledge to us, struggling in agonising death, and with closing +eyes, that this happens to them for their evil doings." All the men +pressed forward brandishing their weapons and gnashing their teeth. A +smothered cry of rage suddenly burst from every lip. "Controul +yourselves my friends," said Roland, "As well as you can; you, +Bertrand, with your horrifying account have filled my soul with sorrow, +for your woe concerns us altogether and your loss admits of no +restitution. Repose and refresh yourselves here with all that I can +offer you; then follow my counsel, and let the old men, women, and +children return peaceably, for here there is neither shelter nor help +for them. God will ordain, that all shall turn for the best, that the +proprietors find their own again and that your cottages shall rise once +more from their ruins. Only do not despair, bear your calamity with +pain and sorrow, but do not despair, for that belies God, opposes +itself to him, nay, mocks his inscrutable decrees, and in its hellish +dictates, would even annihilate him. Do not give yourselves up to this +feeling, which is unworthy of men. We have all indeed been long since +innured to misery by the hand of the Lord. Shew now that you are +obedient, well conducted children, who though he may look upon you with +a severe and reproving countenance, will not mistake the father." + +All shewed themselves more quiet and the younger men exclaimed, "Give +us weapons! weapons! Roland!" "Those that I have left," replied the +latter, "you shall have; such as cannot obtain any, must wait for the +first combat, and take them from the enemy, for it has been arranged +thus from the beginning. The troops must bring us arms up into the +mountains, and a gun which oneself has wrested from a strange foe is +quite a different arm to what one buys. Pooh! who would give money for +iron and arms, as long as the Marshal will still so kindly give himself +the trouble to send out his people in heat and rain, that they may +laboriously enough provide us very conveniently with arms, which he +himself with his Intendant and his baton will have reason to fear. Thus +thinks a true Camisard. Clothing also shall they deliver up to you, +shoes and boots, but you must learn to be courteous and assist them, my +countrymen, a little to undress. With a hundred such valets, Cavalier +was here a short time since; they were all most gallantly equipped +without being indebted a single denier to draper, or tailor." + +Bertrand, who was resting upon his fowling piece, and whose tears still +trickled down his cheeks, and over his weapon, could not avoid laughing +aloud, and the younger lads joined him. "Yes," cried young Francois, +"we will peel them like red and yellow apples, only serve us up a dish +of them soon." + +"Shake them bravely out of their uniforms, the season for nut shaking +is near." + +"I will shake them out," cried Francois "so that they shall fall +rattling at my feet and each one shall shew himself so hollow and +worm-eaten, that I would not seek for his kernel!"--The mother rose +from the ground and embraced her young son, who had just entered into +manhood. "I, and several of us," said another lad, "have already served +many a time under you, Roland; but then we returned afterwards to our +village." + +"This is the best method to carry on the war," replied Roland, "for we +thus sometimes save provisions, and our troops remain fresh and ready +for battle. I know you well Adam, and also that little shoemaker Anton +yonder." + +Anton came forward; "Yes, dear brother, I am so glad that he shoes, +which I made for you hold out still."--He fell down and wished to +embrace his knees, but Roland raised him up. "Look Roland; I love and +honour you so much, that I should like to be your footstool upon which +your tired legs might repose. I formerly fought bravely, but now, it +shall go on quite differently. It shall be stab on stab, and my awl and +thong shall be drawn through their hearts and entrails, so that the +soul shall pipe like an imprisoned rat." + +All appeared seated at the frugal meal more comforted and quiet; at +least the distorted and despairing faces with which they had at first +appeared before the commander, were no longer to be seen. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + +Edmond had again returned to consciousness, and on opening his eyes, he +saw Mazel by his couch and the swarthy Eustace, who although wounded +himself, had stayed to serve him and was kneeling by his bed. He could +not for a long time recall to his recollection how he had come there, +and the fierce looking men, with the view from the hut over the +mountains and woods, threw him into a strange reverie. However, he was +soon enabled to connect one idea with another, and to reassemble all +his faculties. His imagination was still busied with Cavalier, he +fancied he could follow and see him, now, as a shadow, then, brighter +again, yet it seemed as if his feverish state presented him figuring to +himself, in real colours and contour, the portrait of his friends and +the place in which he was. Eustace kissed his hands and bathed them +with tears. "Oh, my dear young master!" cried he then sobbing, "that +you should now come among us, and have been obliged to experience +anything so bad from our wildest prophet! yes, brother Ravanel, is the +worst, should I have said in my stupidity, the most godless: may heaven +forgive me my sins. No, all of us and himself too must often pray, that +the Lord may moderate his ardent zeal, for he is almost always in +anger, and only too frequently as if raving. Are you better now, +gracious sir?" Edmond pressed his hand and said, "I feel that the wound +is not of much consequence, it was the loss of blood alone made me +faint; but brother Eustace, as I am now a brother to you all, leave off +that empty mode of the men of the world, and call me thou, as it is +customary among you." + +"As thou wilt!" exclaimed the former greatly affected: "but I am as if +in heaven, that thou brother, that thou, who wast so proud shouldst +thus converse with me. They always deny miracles, and yet this is truly +one." + +"Leave him to repose, brother Eustace," said Mazel, "do not excite and +tease him any more in order that he may be soon restored." "Relate to +me," said Edmond, "brother Abraham, that my imagination may be directed +to a fixed point, which otherwise in its diseased state is wandering +lost and bewildered. Do I remember rightly, that thou saidst to-day in +that extraordinary dispute, which my soul cannot even yet understand, +thou hadst given rise to the present war. Or was it not so? tell me +something about it, for although I have grown up in this neighbourhood, +I know but little connected with these affairs." + +Mazel replied: "It is true brother Edmond, it is also not true, as one +may consider the matter, and thus it is perhaps with most things in the +world. I was a lad of about twenty years of age, when, suddenly they +abolished our reformed religion, it went to the hearts of all +throughout the whole country. I was then only a forest-ranger in the +service of the Lord of Mende, on the banks of the Rhone. About this +time they began to emigrate from the country. Nobles, merchants, +peasants, and citizens went away (for that was yet permitted) towards +Switzerland, Holland, England and Germany, where they were well +received, for the poorer ones were industrious mechanics, had knowledge +of manufactures, and carried many arts and advantages to other lands. I +had no inclination to go with them. Gracious heaven! home is sweet, +where man is born, air and water seem good to him, where my language is +understood, there is my heart. Added to this, I loved a maiden; and +besides, they intended to make me a royal ranger. The thing pleased me, +and with love, domestic joy and happiness in my native land; I bound up +the mouth of conscience so close, that like a dancing bear, it could +not bite around it. The extensive emigration, the fortune that they +carried away with them, caused a great sensation, this they had never +suspected and probably thought all were quiet cattle like myself, and +just as willing to let themselves be bound to the manger. Now under +pain of being sent to the gallies, every body was prohibited to quit +the country; Ah! that gave a shock, and completely so, when they did it +in reality, and, as an example, several old noblemen were chained to +the oar. The anguish was great in the land. All were forced to attend +mass; the dragoons were sent out; the people tortured; the children +shut up. The most enthusiastic went out together into the woods and +caverns, and prayed there and preached to one another. Whomsoever they +found thus employed, was without further ceremony broken alive on the +wheel; hanging was a favour. Our Intendant thought to crush the affair +with prompt violence, and appalling horror, that old and young needed +only to be quickly reminded of their religion. People often think in +reality, because they are themselves convinced of the matter, and that +it is only carelessness in others: they wish to recall them to +themselves, and often in the midst of their barbarity, they do not mean +so badly towards them." + +"Thou art right Mazel," interrupted Edmond, "I myself was of this +belief a short time ago." "But now," continued the old man in his +relation, "all our souls acquired an entirely different colour, they +were clad in new vestments, for we had not thought of it thus, and we +came to our recollection, but in a very different manner. Were I in the +wood and my dog only whined, it seemed precisely to me as if it were my +conscience. Yes, I was struck, I sought for, but could not find the +hidden jewel. My wife then consoled me once more, and thought that all +would certainly come round again.--Now it was strange enough, that a +pious society had already long since arisen in Dauphine. An aged man +lived there upon a high mountain in the middle of a wood. He had a +glass-manufactory in that solitude. Now we have all experienced that +mountain and valley, the air that one breathes there, the murmurings, +the singular voices, the cry and the echo, make a man bolder, fresher, +and also more imaginative; he no longer fears his brethren in the +cities, he prizes not so highly the stone-houses and the smooth +streets, and all the singing of bells. The man Du Serre had visions and +revelations. He did not, however, go about preaching. He, as well as +myself, was wanting in that gift, but he was endowed with that of +foresight. Can one learn that from another? we must believe it, and our +times confirm it. But how? there lies the riddle! Should it be called +an art? by no means! The enemies call it imposture, that is impious. +Well, this glass-manufacturer kept fifteen young men in his house, and +his wife as many young girls, they almost all experienced the +enlightening, and the greater part of them the gift of preaching. Thus +then did they go out into the world. The fame of beautiful Isabelle was +soon spread abroad. She seduced every-body to apostacy, as the others +termed it. Still more efficaciously did a youth, named Gabriel Astier, +teach and convert. A part of Dauphine and our neighbourhood of Vivares +soon became one flame of religion. The children then already began to +prophecy. But the poor creatures, without weapons of defence in their +too zealous faith, were surprised by the soldiers, and the greatest +number massacred. Our Basville and his son-in-law, the Marshal Broglio, +bore the fame of having massacred them all. Gabriel also, who had +become a soldier in Montpellier, was recognized and executed, and the +lovely Isabelle from fear, in the dungeon of Grenoble, retracted from +her faith, and thus all had the appearance of tranquillity. Sparks of +the faith, however, and of the force of miracles had been scattered and +lost in the Cevennes. For the spirit possesses the property of fire, +which, out of a little spark, by which a small beetle cannot warm +itself, grows, in a few hours, into a brand that lays woods in ashes, +and mocks all human efforts to extinguish it. What may not lie in one +single word? Oh thou mournful sound, like the twittering of the +swallow, thou appearest to die away in the wilderness, the spirit +conducts thee through the world, and puts thee on a coat of mail that +armies grow out of the ground, and horses and riders, and thousands +sent by kings with the thunder of artillery, were not able to make the +little world as quiet and small as it lay formerly in the solitary +cottage. Praised be the Lord!" + +He prayed inwardly, and then continued: "In the meantime, people became +older and wiser but certainly more obstinate, I already began to think +no more of my former faith, nor had the new one either much effect on +my heart. I was an ass between two hayricks, and ate of neither. + +"A man of the name of Beoussan, a man of God, lived first at Nismes, +and afterwards at Toulouse. He was a reformer and a lawyer, who always, +and when the people were poor, gratuitously took up the cause of his +companions of the faith: His was a spirit full of gentleness and +goodness. He went into foreign countries, became a priest in +Switzerland, preached there and in Holland, and edified thousands. Him +did the spirit and his native land lead back into our country and then +the Lord conducted me to him in the wilderness. My wife was dead at +that time, and lonely and childless, as I then was, my whole heart that +had lain so long untilled, was again enabled to bear genuine fruit. It +was, as if I began from that time to imbibe again a portion of heavenly +comfort in my cottage. Thus things went on. I was no longer in +ignorance, but I was not yet happy. This would not last, hail-showers +sometimes destroyed my seed, and when I often lay in wait with the best +dispositions, and with an open and acute mind, loaded and ready to +shoot, there came no game, no animal sprang up in the wilderness of my +heart. Ah, we totter on thus pitiably for years, and time passes as a +dream and intoxication. I glanced round me, I had become old. How! +thought I, when the Lord looks down, he will see furrows on thy old +skin and thou art still neither hot, nor cold. Than came the late Mr. +Beoussan, the holy master, among us. An impulse of the spirit, as he +said, led him to us. He was well and comfortable at home, but, pious +bird of the forest! he wished to visit once more his beloved mountains, +dells, the clear brooks, and to pour so thrillingly, fully, and +affectionately into our hearts the tones of the sweet nightingale, that +burst from his breast, that he must die from the effort.--Amen!--" + +He stopped again, and Edmond said: "I often saw this pious Beoussan at +Nismes, before he was executed. It is not yet five years since he +sealed his doctrine with an ignominious death." + +"Then," pursued Abraham Mazel, "All the former restrictions were +renewed with greater severity. We could not speak, scarcely think +without being betrayed. A year had now elapsed, when an assembly of +religious people in Alais was surprised by Basville, they were all +dragged to prison, and all, without further enquiries, were sentenced +to martyrdom. This took place in October. I had also been present, and +only escaped through a miracle. I had already seen some of the +prophecying children here and there, without profit, my heart became +rather colder at the sight, because the little worms did not please me +in that state. Now, after my day's work was finished, I sat in +solitude, tired and exhausted from riding, and looked round at the +green meadows, the sky and the mountains. I tried, in my inmost soul, +to unravel the mystery, why all should be thus and not otherwise, how +God and man, virtue and sin, in and through one another, and how in +this entwined knot, now and then the rays of eternity shine down into +this temporal world, and how, in one short moment, we feel and +experience within us the whole unfathomable eternity, and many thousand +thoughts and feelings, of which the smallest in the tittle of time, is +allowed no place. Also why we were so miserable, and what was the end +of the Lord in this. Behold, my friend, there descended a vast stream +of thoughts from heaven, (I saw, but knew not one word, one letter of +it) and alighted as with large eagle's wings upon my brain and roared +and murmured there, and the marrow of my back became cold as ice, and +my inmost soul was congealed and frozen, and my teeth chattered with +fear. How the breath lost itself in my breast, and now it was, as if +little cooing doves were flying through the immeasureable space of my +soul. A gentle heat came over me and my heart sprung open as the rose +out of its bud on a spring morning, and the Lord was within me. Then I +fell down and my prayer was prophecy. Oh, how could I have thought that +his presence was so sweet, who, with his glory, almost broke down the +wall of the narrow dwelling. Thanks be to him for ever and ever, Amen!" + +"His wonders are immeasureable and unspeakable," said Edmond. + +"Many," said Abraham in continuation, "whose faith was suspected, +were imprisoned throughout the whole country. They were most +severely treated by the Abbe Chaila who resided in the Chateau Pont +Mont-de-Verd. Parents, husbands and betrothed mourned for those that +had been carried off. It would have been sinful to place my light under +a bushel. I summoned together a little community of zealous souls in +the forest, there they witnessed my inspiration, and their courage was +raised. It was in the middle of summer, and I prophesied to them that +they should release the prisoners. The following night we assembled +together, and Pervier, a young man, whose bride was languishing in the +prisons, undertook the command. They advanced in front of the dwelling; +the Abbe's servants fired from the windows and killed three of our +friends. We now ceased to sing psalms, and stormed the castle with +trees and firebrands. The gates gave way, we entered, and encountered +the Abbe in his chamber. He suffered his dungeon to be opened, we then +assured him that he should receive no injury. The prisoners came forth; +weeping, joy, sobbing, and singing filled the house. Then they shewed +their wounds, the marks of the torture, dimmed eyes and sunken cheeks. +A shout for murder resounded around. But Pervier and I appeased the +maddened people by word and deed. The Abbe heard the noise, was +terrified at our movements, and to save himself, he sprang from a high +window into the road, and lay dashed to pieces on the ground. His +attendants and many of us ran up to him. 'The Lord has judged him for +his cruelties,' exclaimed several voices; they lay down by his side to +look into his dying eyes. Many, in spite of their emotion, could not +conceal their malicious joy, and thus in reality, our first act was the +beginning of the war, a story, which, in order to defame us, they have +entirely altered." + +"It is believed," said Edmond, "that you criminally and wantonly +murdered him." + +"Had it depended upon the will of one that was among us," continued +Mazel, "that, and much more would have happened. A stout, fierce man +was of our party, who very unwillingly submitted to the commands of the +moderate Pervier; you know him by his fame, Esprit Seguier. In him +already burned the fire, which now shines forth in Catinat and Ravanel, +and even then many were of opinion, that this was the true religion, +and that the zeal of Elias and not the gentleness of St. John should +save us. We all retired quietly, cheerfully, and happily. Not one of us +had been discovered. Then Seguier assembled a troop as fierce as +himself, and while the soldiers were seeking for us, returned to +Pont-de-Verd, burnt the castle, slaughtered all the priests that he +found there, and cut down all whom they encountered. But misfortune +overtook them. They were defeated; when they sought for the leader, he +himself issued from a cottage, and declared his name. 'Wretch!' +exclaimed the commander, what treatment dost thou deserve for thy +deeds?' 'That which I would give thee, wert thou my prisoner,' replied +the enthusiast, 'and verily, such as thy friends would not rejoice +over.' He remained firm to the last. He was burnt alive. A proclamation +was then issued, offering pardon to all that knew anything of the +affair of the Abbe, as well as to such as had been, up to that period, +Huguenots in secret. Innocent beings! poor deluded ones! they presented +themselves, and were all hanged before their doors, even those, who had +never been at Pont-de-Verd. Their anger was now no longer to be +restrained, the young men rebelled, I led them to Pervier, arms were +sought for, those who had none, took hatchet and sicle; a regiment +advanced to oppose us on the left of Karnaule. As soon as we began to +sing, the troops became intimidated; we rushed upon them, their balls +were of no effect, we hewed them down, five only escaped, to tell the +news of their defeat. Broglio himself then advanced upon us, but he was +driven back! A christian festival of thanksgiving was held in the +forest, and the Lord prophesied out of me to the edification of all +warriors. In our next combat Pervier was wounded, and appointed La +Porte our leader; but he did not feel that he was ordained to suffer +martyrdom, and soon went with his young wife to Geneva. Then the bold +La Porte fought the fearful battle before La Salle, of which thou must +have heard. He soon afterwards died gloriously of his wounds, for they +all opened afresh, when he was nearly cured, he sang psalms at divine +service, with so much ardour, that twenty wounded arteries bled at +once, and thus his soul, in red streams, and while he was still +singing, hastened up to heaven. To him succeeded his nephew, our +brother Roland, in command." + +The latter advanced at that moment and affectionately enquired after +Edmond's health, and then charged Mazel to place sentinels round about, +for that Lord Flotard was coming and had private matters to discuss +with him, which no one was permitted to hear. Abraham retired, and +immediately from the opposite wood issued a richly dressed man, towards +whom Roland politely advanced, and both then hastened to a distance, +where they walked up and down on the skirt of the wood engaged in +earnest conversation. + +"Canst thou hear what they say?" asked Edmond of the aged Eustace. + +"No, brother," replied the latter, "how is that possible, since they +are so far from us, that I can scarcely distinguish them?" + +But Edmond, when he turned his thoughts on Roland, could, to his great +surprise, understand all clearly and distinctly, so that not one word +of the conversation escaped him. + +"I thank you sir," said Roland, "these sums come just in right time, +and will help to supply the unfortunate soldiers with those necessaries +that they have been so long compelled to forego." "And you remain +obstinate," demanded the former, "and will not accept anything for +yourself and the other leaders?" + +"Do not mention that," said Roland, "you ought to know us at last. We +have not undertaken this holy war for robbery and gain: we are all +willing to remain poor. But the succours, where do they tarry? we do +what we can with short means, but a great calamity may annihilate us at +once, and then all assistance from without will come too late, even +now, a small one would be very acceptable. But already I forbode the +future, they will let us languish and perish, and then lament that they +did not lend us assistance sooner. It is ever thus, when one trusts to +foreign aid." + +"Therefore a sum: could--in all cases"--observed the stranger. + +"No," cried Roland with great vehemence; "Oh sir, do you think then +that I anticipate a happy result? I will live and die in this struggle, +end as it may. When I had the courage to take up the sword, I at the +same time threw away the scabbard too. I have devoted myself to ruin. +My name may be stained, the better part of mankind shall feel that I +was not debased, that, notwithstanding all, I was a good subject." + +"A good subject?" said the stranger inquiringly, "I understand the +strangeness of these words. You think that I, a rebel, an outlaw, who +even accepts sums of money from foreign lands, may be purchased at a +cheap rate by the enemies of my king, and that I should maliciously +rejoice at every calamity that befell my sovereign. But it is not thus, +no Frenchman sinks so low. Let the king give us liberty of conscience, +and lame, starved, and bleeding at every pore, we will still fight for +him against England and Germany. And never would I, and my friends lend +our aid to bring our country under a foreign yoke; even should he +persist to act thus cruelly towards us: do not calculate upon that. But +I will fight for my cause in an honourable manner, as long as breath is +in me. Weak as we may be, we occupy a whole army, and with it lend +efficient succour to foreign countries. Do you not think, that with +these sentiments, I may call myself a good subject, though certain of +my ultimate ruin, by acting thus, I spare my king and country? I fall +in the fight here, or imprisonment, ignominy and martyrdom await me, no +spark of commiseration lights me on. I do not kindle the fiery zeal and +wrath of my people, in order, to break blindly into the land, to hazard +all on a dangerous game, by which the infuriated often win, I rather +restrain them. For myself I do nothing, for my party and my religion +everything. Could I but avoid involving these unfortunate men in my +ruin! But the king and fate have ordained it so." + +"I am further to enquire," said Flotard anew, "whether experienced +officers should not be brought into the mountains as leaders?" + +"I oppose that," said Roland gravely, "not on my own account. I know +not how we carry on the war, but still this little mountain-spot +occupies a great number of disciplined troops. We have done more than +we ever dared to think of, even in our dreams. And all those poor +enthusiastic men, who never enquire how numerous the foe may be, rush +with songs of praise upon the bayonet, and into the flames of the +stake; they would follow no foreign leader, who did not share with them +the same faith, and the same distress, for as I have already said, it +is not their wish to be rioters and rebels, and thus follow a foreign +standard, though with greater safety. They fight and conquer only under +their own known country-people, who pray and sing with them, whose +origin they know, and whose prophecies impel them to rush fearlessly +into the most palpable danger." + +"They laugh at those prophets in foreign countries," said Flotard, +"What is your opinion of them?" "I know not what to say to it," +answered Roland; I frequently see the miracle before my eyes, that +these men know things which no one can learn by natural means; but +again it often strikes me, that blind passion alone speaks out of them, +and that they voluntarily excite themselves to this state. The prophets +sometimes contradict one another. They direct our proceedings, and it +occurs occasionally that my regulations deviate from their wishes, but +I have sometimes had reason to repent of this.--Come now to the +magazines, and we shall consider what may be most necessary to us. + +Roland called out, and accompanied by a few followers, they both +penetrated into the darkness of the forest. + + + + + END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. + + + + + PRINTED BY J. TEUTEN, BOND STREET, CHELSEA. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rebellion in the Cevennes, an +Historical Novel, by Ludwig Tieck and Madame Burette + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES, VOL I *** + +***** This file should be named 31738.txt or 31738.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/7/3/31738/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans by Google Books. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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