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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/31739-8.txt b/31739-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..41e7ad4 --- /dev/null +++ b/31739-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4164 @@ +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. II. + +Author: Ludwig Tieck + Madame Burette + +Release Date: March 22, 2010 [EBook #31739] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES, VOL II *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans by Google Books. + + + + +Source Web Archive: +http://www.archive.org/details/rebellioninceve00tiecgoog + + + + + THE + + REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES, + + AN HISTORICAL NOVEL + + + + IN TWO VOLUMES. + + + + BY LUDWIG TIECK. + + + + TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY + MADAME BURETTE. + + + + VOL. II. + + + + LONDON: + D. NUTT, FLEET STREET. + DUBLIN: J. CUMMING.--EDINBURGH: BELL AND BRADFUTE. + 1845. + + + + + + + THE + + REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + +The next morning Edmond felt himself considerably better. Cavalier +continually flitted before his eyes, and it appeared to him as if arms +lifted him from his couch, in order to follow his friends. When Eustace +had fallen asleep towards noon, he arose quietly, took his rifle and +with light footsteps hastily descended the mountain path. He felt light +and well, it seemed as if he had never yet walked so rapidly and so +indefatigably. He avoided the high road, and again a sort of +instinctive knowledge conducted him through the shortest and safest +ways. + +When the sun went down and the shadows became darker, images arose in +his imagination more clear and defined with the encreasing obscurity. +When night came on, he also distinguished the other forms in the group, +his father, Franz, the paternal home and the little slumbering Eveline +appeared to him, dark figures were lurking about, threatening +destruction. + +An hour before midnight, he was standing on the top of a mountain, +beneath him lay a dark valley, a large house, lights gleamed from only +a few of the windows. What was his surprise on recovering his +recollection. It was his home, and he arrived at it by a road that he +had never before trodden. Here he had lately waved a last farewell to +his father. He descended. He heard whisperings in the vineyard, he +perceived figures moving along creeping. Familiar as he was with the +place, he easily gained the back of a rocky wall of a grotto in which +he heard voices speaking. "It must soon take place," said a hoarse +voice, "and truly as I have arranged, it would be better from the +garden, let us all assemble in the vaulted passage, from thence we +shall with greater facility reach the lower window. Two or three others +might in the mean while ascend the ladder and enter by the window there +above. The old man, the child and the domestics must be put to death. +But no shooting, I tell you, for there are royal troops quite close, +who would most certainly forbid us to plunder, on that account also you +must not set fire to the house." + +Edmond stole down, behind the barn he found Cavalier and his troop, who +were amazed at seeing him so suddenly and rejoiced at the news he +brought. He conducted them by a different way into the garden and +posted them at the back of the entwined arbour, which, moreover, had no +opening at the sides. He took half of the troops with him to guard the +entrance. The robbers were already in the dark beach avenue; when they +saw men advancing towards them they retreated, but Edmond pursued them; +a fray ensued in the obscurity, and Cavalier and his party now also +appeared and surrounded the assassins. Cavalier quickly caused a torch +to be lighted and after a short, but murderous combat, when the bravest +of the robbers had fallen, the rest were compelled to surrender, +Cavalier caused them to be bound and carried away by his soldiers. + +Edmond accompanied by a few followers went in the stillness of night +round the house. He found a ladder ready placed by which it was evident +that some of the robbers intended to enter. He could not resist the +inclination to visit again the house of his childhood. When he reached +the top, he found the whole household asleep, all the lights were +extinguished. He now opened the hall door, there sat his venerable +father, sleeping in an arm-chair, a night lamp by his side, the holy +scriptures open before him. How pale and suffering he looked; for in +the night, fatigue had overpowered him in his meditations. Edmond +approached softly, and with a beating heart. "He has given his angels +charge over thee, that they may keep thee in all thy ways." This +passage presented itself to his eyes from the open book. Inspired he +looked up, wrote his name on a slip of paper and placed it upon this +text of the bible. Then in his dream the old man sighed, "Edmond! my +son!"--"Oh how unworthy am I of these tones, this affection, this +attachment!" said Edmond to himself. He was impelled downwards, he +kissed his fathers feet and then departed.--He shut the window, caused +the ladder to be carried into the garden and then followed Cavalier's +troop through the night back into the wood. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + +They proceeded with the troop in silence. In order to elude the king's +soldiers, who were in the neighbourhood, they were compelled to make a +circuit. Catinat with his band conducted the prisoners that they might +be delivered up to Roland, to pronounce sentence on them in the lonely +mountains, and Cavalier and Edmond separated from their companions in +order to reach the distant height by a footpath through the wood. + +They walked together in silence for a long time. In Edmond's mind all +that had appeared to him solid was by the late crowding events thrown +confusedly together. The wound and the weakness that it occasioned, the +wandering in the night and the emotions which alternately shook him, +had at first wonderfully raised his mental and physical strength, and +now almost entirely exhausted it. As they advanced farther into the +obscurity of the wood, he thought of himself and his concerns as of a +stranger; what he had experienced, what desired and effected flitted in +his memory as a strange tale of by-gone times, and Cavalier appeared +either to respect his silence, or to be himself too much occupied with +weighty thoughts to require any conversation. On issuing from the wood, +the light of the moon broke forth from behind heavy, lowering clouds. +As the silvery light with its calm brightness spread over the rocks, +the venerable head of his father presented itself to the imagination of +the youth, and a refreshing and reviving flood of tears gushed from his +eyes. He turned to his companion to excuse his long protracted silence. + +"Brother," replied the latter, "the spirit has also visited me and +shewn me visions in which I viewed a consoling futurity. Oh that that, +which I know will and must take place, would soon happen, to spare the +blood and sorrow of the poor people." + +"What has been revealed to thee beloved brother," asked Edmond. + +They seated themselves on a flat piece of rock which bordered on a +precipice, and Cavalier began: "I imagined myself transported far, far +from hence, beyond our mountains, our plains and rivers. I quitted my +native mountains reluctantly. I saw foreign cities, I heard the various +tones of different men. As I was carried away through the immensity of +space, a beautiful, a very beautiful garden opened to my view, many +cascades were throwing their waters up in the warm summer air, and +beneath them there were strange figures of men and fish, and naked +women, and marine animals, artificially hewn out of brilliant stone, +every thing, such as I had never before seen, and I know not if I ever +heard of them. A large and very extensive palace shone and dazzled with +its innumerable columns and windows. While I was viewing all in +amazement, I suddenly felt a conviction that I should immediately see +our king, our Louis, descend from the great steps before which I stood, +that I should speak to him, that he had already been waiting for me; +and thus it happened, in all the splendour of majesty, surrounded by +his whole court, he descended. He did not embarrass me, it was merely +dazzling, as when the sun upon his journey suddenly darts through a +vapour, and we still retain and know all our ideas and purposes. Now +then was the moment upon which the fate of our country hung, in which +to say all to him, who had requested to speak to me, and to move his +humane, his kingly heart. This hour will come, in which the salvation +of many, many thousands will repose on my tongue, and the Lord will +then lay his fiery flame upon it, that its brand may also light his +spirit; then will our brethren and our faith be free, then will all our +foes fall powerless to the ground, and the sword be no more required. I +will pray that this glorious day may only soon arrive, soon be sent by +the Lord; that there may be an end to this unhappy warfare. When, just +as I intended to address the King, we issued from the wood; thou +spakest to me, and the prophetic vision disappeared." "How camest thou +lately, my friend and brother, into our house?" asked Edmond, "a +multiplicity of events has prevented me until this moment from asking +you about it." + +"That was a very, very disastrous day," replied Cavalier, as they +proceeded onwards. "We were surrounded on all sides, by the treachery +of a few faithless brethren, we were enticed down into the plain, the +spirit was silent within us and we thought ourselves secure. A part of +my people had gone to encounter the hermit and I heard (a false report +as I afterwards learned) that he had been entirely routed, when, +suddenly, another new army was in our rear. The fugitives before us +rallied again and faced round. We were compelled to fight our way +through in order to find the mountain footpath, where the heavy horse +of the royal party could not follow; with great loss, it is true, but, +still fortunately, I led my people through, I succeeded in turning the +enemy, so that we had them only on one side of us. Fighting and flying +we reached the wood and being one of the last that I might secure the +retreat of my party, I found myself suddenly cut off. My horse carried +me at full gallop as far as it could, I shot dead two dragoons, who were +pursuing me, but the noble beast fell down; I lost sword, hat, and +fire-arms, while I was disengaging myself from the saddle scarcely +quick enough, I changed clothes with a peasant in a field; soldiers +were scouring in every direction, at the risk of being recognised. I +was forced to seek a shelter, and moreover the storm burst forth, and +thus the Lord conducted me to the house of your venerable father. A few +days after, things would have been much worse with me, if my younger +brother, who is now a prisoner at Nismes, had not liberated me." + +"With what admiration I must look upon thee, brother," resumed Edmond, +"thou who younger than I, hast already done such great things, who hast +had so much success, that the whole country speaks of thee. From whence +proceeds this daring, yet circumspect courage, this experience, this +skill to deceive the enemy, to conquer them, or to escape their artful +snares! where couldst thou have learned all this?" + +"I have not learned it," replied Cavalier, "nor do I know if the like +can be learned. You esteem me too highly, brother Edmond, if you +believe, that that which I do proceeds from reflection or skill. It is +true I do not lose courage, I preserve my _sang froid_, although I see +before and around me a thousand foes with their swords and guns, but +such is my nature, there is no merit or extraordinary courage in this. +When I was yet a little boy, minding my good old nobleman's sheep, I +was never frightened when I perceived the wolf. I remained calm, and +slew two of these bad fellows, whereupon every body admired my great +courage, and I could not at all understand what they meant by it. Thus, +then, my spirit was roused, and I engaged in this war, in which I soon +succeeded in liberating my brethren and defeating the enemy, so that +all the companions of the faith placed their full confidence in me, and +expected the blessing and success of their hopes from me; but brother +Roland is much wiser and more experienced, he has more penetration and +I must be considered only as a learner in comparison to him, yet the +Lord had not endowed him with so much success as me, on that account +the combatants preferred following me. Now when I lead out the +brethren, and the affair does not turn out as we have arranged and +thought, the spirit suddenly directs me, I see, I remark all that which +was before unknown to me, of its own accord my mouth gives the right +orders, it soars, it hovers round me, so that I know not what to say, +and it leads me and my followers through the enemy's troops. Like +joyous intoxication, it flies with me through the tumult, and the +victory is won." + +"Thou wast a shepherd then in thy childhood?" said Edmond; "how fitting +if they compare thee to David." + +"I grew up poor and desolate in the solitude of the mountains," replied +the former: "I had forgotten myself, I could never have thought that I +should at some future period have to fight for the Lord, for my faith +had died within me; and I agreed to all they proposed. Until then, +zealous brethren rekindled the extinguished embers into flame, so that +my life was restored, and I was enabled to seek and find the Lord. +Afterwards, when they had so cruelly murdered our brethren, zealous +wrath drove me into their holy community. And since then, I am an +humble instrument in the hand of the Most High. I could not believe, +that I should have been so highly honored, when I was compelled to +endure all the drudgery of an apprentice at St. Hypolite, and my +master, the baker, for a slight, often for no reason at all, beat me +and pulled my hair; yet he was one of our firm companions in the faith, +who, however could not control his passion." + +"So the priest was right after all," said Edmond with a smile, "when he +would recognise you for a baker by your knees." "Well," said Cavalier, +"the singular man is not deficient in intellect and penetration. If he +knew more of men than of their legs, perhaps he would be less impious, +for, from the foot, he ought at length to arrive at the heart, and +finally at the mind. It is true we probably stand in the same relation +to great nature; and if the Lord in his mercy does not approach us +personally, we cannot succeed even in loosening the thongs of his +shoes, if it is indeed permitted to talk of him in such a worldly +manner." + +Just as daylight was extending itself over every object, and when they +had turned round a projecting rock, they perceived in the valley +beneath then, the Camisards marching with their prisoners. At the same +moment old Favart came running up and announced to them, that Roland +had descended with a troop from, the summit of that mountain, but that +Colonel Julien with a considerable body of men, was now posted between +them both, and that it would be very difficult to turn them. Catinat +marched forward with his band and was highly exasperated on perceiving +the obstacle to his further progress. "Mameluke!" exclaimed he, "this +Julien whose death I have long since sworn, crosses all our +undertakings. No mercy, should he once fall into our hands, nor need he +expect any either, as he is an apostate brother, who has abandoned our +reformed community, merely to please the government and to enjoy +worldly honour." + +A loud shouting was heard, and Ravanel with a band, who had fortunately +escaped the royal troops, rushed from a narrow defile. They halted upon +the summit and the prisoners were brought forward. The court martial, +which was quickly held, sentenced them all to death, and scarcely were +the words pronounced, when the ready Ravanel shot the foremost dead +with his pistol, so that the gushing blood sprinkled Edmond, who was +standing close by. The fallen man expired instantly after a few +struggles. Edmond drew back pale and horrified. + +"Thou hast surely not seen much blood yet, young man?" cried Ravanel +mockingly; "Thou oughtst to celebrate thy consecration to-day, and +massacre some of those wretches thyself." + +"Not now, brother Ravanel," said Catinat, "the royal troops are +stationed so near and we do not know their number, therefore we must +not attract them hither by our firing. It would be difficult enough to +disengage ourselves from them afterwards." + +"But the villains must not be suffered to live!" exclaimed Ravanel, his +anger aroused anew, drawing his sword he struck the next prisoner to +him, who also fell instantly weltering in his blood. + +"Ought a brother to be blood thirsty?" asked Edmond. + +"He ought well be so," cried Ravanel turning angrily towards him: "Oh +my friend, he, who has once tasted the pleasure of stretching an enemy +at his feet, becomes like a lion after the palatable sweetness, +scarcely able to spare his keeper. I am feeble and weak when I am long +without seeing blood; it ascends like the smoke of a lamp in the +mournful twilight, as the rosy dawn after the darkness of night." + +Cavalier reprimanded the enthusiast for his cruelty, and Catinat led +the remaining prisoners to the brink of a precipice, when they fell +under the swords of the Camisards. Their leader the fiercest among them +all, only remained alive. He now called out in a powerful voice: "Stay! +far be it from me to beg for my life, I would not for once owe an +obligation to such pitiable people, though, what I require, you may +grant me without prejudice to yourselves." + +"What dost thou require, knave?" asked Cavalier, while the others +clustered still closer round him, "That you unbind my arms," said the +fierce, wild man with an expression of the most profound contempt: +"that I may once more, and for the last time, put my flask to my +parched lips, which has been a friend and comforter to me in all my +sorrows, and that you will afterwards be careful to deliver me speedily +from such contemptible society as yours." + +The Camisards murmured and would have cut him down, but at a sign from +Catinat, they drew back, he himself unloosed the arms of the prisoner, +and watched him with his drawn sword in his hand, lest despair, +perhaps, might at the moment of his death, impel him to some fool-hardy +attempt. But the powerful old man looked round him with the greatest +composure, shook his arms and shoulders that he might feel his freedom +after the restraint he had endured, then took a flask of wine from his +bosom and emptying it jocosely, dashed it against the rock, where it +broke in pieces, then turned to the bystanders, baring his neck as he +said: "Now, if it please you!" Even Ravanel measured him with a look of +surprise; and Edmond, who had watched all his movements, felt himself +impelled by an inexplicable feeling to save the life of so ruthless a +man. "Strange as I may appear to you, beloved brethren," cried he aloud +advancing into the circle, "I entreat you nevertheless by the high +esteem with which you honour me to make over this luckless man to me, +that his fate may rest in my hands. Shall this lost creature, so +unprepared, in all the nakedness of his crimes, go before his accusing +Judge? shall we not try to moderate the fierce temperament and to lead +the apostate closer to his Maker? Grant me this favour ye friends, do +not refuse my petition and accept my own life as a pledge, that he will +not repay this deliverance by treachery and falsehood?" Cavalier, from +affection to Edmond, joined his entreaties to those of the youth, and +after a short opposition from Ravanel and some murmurs from the troop, +all unanimously consented to pardon the robber. Cavalier informed him +that his sentence was remitted, that he might, added he, feel, that +mercy which exists even in an enemy and that he might also seek for +mercy at the throne of justice of the Eternal. The robber looked long +and searchingly with his large fire-darting eyes on Edmond. He now +bowed low to the little Cavalier, and said with a laughing countenance: +"Ah! my little man! from whence derivest thou thy knowledge of Him on +the throne of justice, that thou chatterest about him as if one had +only to go round the corner there and knock at his house, and fee the +doorkeeper for admission? You think, therefore, that I shall breathe +the air within me, some time longer, and look upon this light which I +have done for almost these seventy years past? Be it so. But I will not +deceive you, you shall not give me this wretched life in order to +rejoice at my conversion, for you have just pitched on the wrong one +with all your atonement, godliness, and love. I will have nothing to do +with your stories and fanaticism, with prayers and singing you shall +also spare me, though I should have no objection to march out with you +and fight valiantly, because I must do something, or other, and for the +present I have nothing better to do." + +Again a murmour arose, but now, there was no time to pass sentence, or +to dispute, for the royal troops were already seen marching by. Each +leader quickly betook himself to his troop, called to them, gave the +word of command, and in a short time order was restored, and all in +readiness to await the attack, Edmond and the robber, whose life he had +solicited, stood in the ranks together. While each ranged himself in +opposition to the other, several Camisards fell at the first salvo of +the small cannon, but undismayed, they marched forward, singing their +psalms aloud. They soon met hand to hand, and all appeared one confused +mêleé, for Ravanel and his troop rushed like frantic upon the enemy, +who soon gave way on that side; others tried to come to the help of the +panic-striken men, and thus the mass fought confusedly on the limited +space of ground. A stout officer seized Edmond, while a second raised +his arm to hew down the youth, when the robber with gigantic strength, +seized both the soldiers by the hair, and knocked their heads so +forcibly together, that they fell senseless to the ground. But Edmond +was rescued only for a moment, for he found himself directly afterwards +engaged in a combat with several, and a heavy blow upon the arm +disabled him. He was taken prisoner, while the king's troops were +compelled by his friends to give way. They fled with their leaders, and +carried him with them. He saw himself lost, without hope of +deliverance. + +In the wood Colonel Julien drew near and viewed his prisoners with +surprise. He sent detachments hither and thither to reconnoitre the +wood; he also sent a troop backwards, to see whether the rebels would +turn, or if they intended to follow them. + +"Leave this single prisoner to me," cried he to the last, which he also +sent forward in some minutes. "I will soon dispose of this unarmed man. +Is it needful?" turned he to Edmond, when he found himself quite alone +with the latter; "So young man, must we see each other again? I would +not believe the reports, nay, I can scarcely trust my own eyes now! Oh +thou miserable father of so degenerate a son!" + +"Apostate!" bitterly exclaimed Edmond, "hast thou indeed the right to +use such language?" + +"Go, fly," said Julien with an expression of the most contemptuous +pity; "hasten into this thick underwood, I will pretend not to have +seen you. Escape ignominy and execution, before my companions return +and render it impossible." + +Edmond sprang into the thick wood, enraged, ashamed and vexed: he ran +without stopping, and was soon in the most lonely part, and when at +last he fell exhausted and breathless in the cleft of a rock, he found +the stout robber reposing there, whose life he had, through pity, +generously solicited, as he in return had been obliged to accept his +own from the hands of a former friend, who now despised him. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + +"Are you satiated with the buffoonery?" asked the fierce man of the +youth after some time. "I should have thought that you had served your +apprenticeship, and were now looking about for some more profitable +business." + +"Wretched man!" exclaimed Edmond, "thou, who neither believest in God, +nor man, begone from my presence, for thy thoughts poison my mind." + +"Not so haughty, young gentleman," cried the former in a bantering +tone! "today my fist, in spite of my poisonous thoughts, has rendered +you good service, that is, if you do not estimate life as cheaply as I +do; but, as yet, your milky face has not the appearance of that. Why +then are you of a disposition so inhumanly virtuous? Let me still +continue to enjoy your gracious society, for I am indeed yours; early +to-day, you begged me off indeed almost like a dog, therefore, you must +allow me to bark and to remain near you, so that no other may bite +you." + +"How couldst thou then have sunk so low?" asked Edmond with some little +sympathy. "I have merely remained stationary," said the former +composedly, "I have only not been enabled to raise myself, and as I +have perceived no wings on my shoulders, I had no wish to put any on, +and still less to address myself on the subject to the first best goose +I met, who, moreover, could not have assisted me." + +"Thou meanest," said Edmond, "that thou hast formerly been a man like +others?" + +"Very probably," replied the robber: "now perhaps there is not so great +a gulf between you and me. If one man rates himself so highly, then +certainly to the mind the distance appears immeasureable as between the +king and the beggar; but place both naked on a desert island together, +then are they brothers and boon companions, provided the one does not +devour the other. Thus is it also with the so called souls: when they +compose verses, or are in love, then indeed they think themselves +miracles enshrined, but let them but fall into despair, become utterly +wild and untractable, then all affectation disappears like the rouge +from the cheeks of the harlot when she is compelled to wander about in +a shower of rain." + +"Have you never heard my name perchance? I am called Lacoste, I should +be surprised if you had not." Edmond became thoughtful. "It occurs to +me," said he after a while, "that this name is not totally unknown to +me; but I cannot revive my memory." + +"Aye, good, young soul," continued Lacoste in his peculiar way. "In +your green age, I was a gallant spendthrift, a sweet rabbit, that with +rosy smiling lips, flattered every one, only tell me, have you ever yet +loved passionately?" + +"Oh silence!" angrily exclaimed Edmond: "who now would speak of that +with you?" + +"A curious discourse that we are holding," said Lacoste coolly; "if you +know nothing of it, so much the better for you, but at your age, I was +so thoroughly in love and enraptured, that a mere touch from me would +have made a thousand men in love, as by the magnet the bar of iron +acquires the power of attraction. At that time, the earth, with all its +stones, appeared to me transparent, I was so benevolent and +affectionate, that I would willingly have given my eye-brows to the +nightingales, that they might carry them to their nests, to make a bed +for their young brood. And beautiful was my beloved, the blind might +almost have been aware of it, she was even still more loving and +compassionate than I was. She would indeed have voluntarily taken upon +herself all the suffering and sorrows of the whole world, would have +even suffered herself to be condemned, could she thereby have released +from hell, and make the hungry and sick, rich and healthy." + +"Even in your wickedness," said Edmond, softened, "you represent this +girl as a noble one, who was well worthy of her heavenly origin." + +"Heavenly," said the former, "to disgust: quite natural. That is just +what I mean. To every beggar she would have freely given her all; but +to me--she saw my love, my despair, how I only breathed in her looks, +how I withered away, and my grief, my inexpressible misery would +assuredly have driven me to the grave or to madness.--But that was +indifferent to her, more even then indifferent, it was pleasing to her." + +"But how is such a thing possible?" asked Edmond. + +"Every thing has its drawback," resumed Lacoste. "It is but just, when +senseless fools, such as I was, are ill-treated by women, that they may +serve as an example to other simpletons. But she would however have +leant to mercy's rather than to justice's side, had it not been for a +fault that lay within myself and which still oppresses me, although I +do not see it as such." + +"And what is it?" + +"The same upon which our conversation commenced; those same wings which +always sit so ridiculously upon us. To come to the point, I was not +religious; I could by no means comprehend how people made this +discovery. I had learned to think, to judge, to fancy, but I could +believe neither of the new lights of which I had heard so much. From +whence was I to derive it too? I exist, I rejoice if all goes on well +with me, shall I render thanks for that? be resigned and humble? Well, +to whom am I to rescribe the innumerable sorrows? all the sufferings of +this wretched life? the multiplied griefs? There is no one whom I dare +accuse of it. But even all this I am to receive with joy and humility! +If it go well with me: superabundant benevolence; if wrong: parental +correction. I cannot conceive such things as other brains have done. +The nameless Being, whom I know not how to represent to myself at all, +or only with giddiness and with terror, sustains worlds, permits +shipwrecks, wars and earthquakes, therefore he may now suffer me and my +thoughts. But he will, he cannot approach me closely, as they say, if I +do not draw near him with contrition, if I do not believe and speak +thus and thus of him; edifices, words, prostrations, belong thereto, in +order to lay him as by magic in fetters, that he may take an interest +in me, that he may love me, he must even first excite my commiseration. +Aye, truly all this roused my wrath. Instead of these loving, religious +men having patience, instructing and sympathising with me, they imagine +they can offer no satisfaction to their God of love, if they do not +hold me in execration." + +"Fearful man!" exclaimed Edmonds "how could they do otherwise? if the +flame of the stake be kindly; it certainly is so for such as you." + +"Naturally!" said Lacoste, with a loud laugh. "As the jews burn gold +out of old garments, so also out of the most hardened, callous and +heartless sinner, a little spark of religion may be extracted by +burning. The best and most supportable of all this, is that they +massacre and inflict martyrdom on one another for the sake of this +faith of love, and each treats the other as heretic, each curses the +other and gives him up to hell, but, however much all parties may rage +against one another, they still invariably agree in my damnation." "A +sign," said the youth, "that though all may err in themselves, with +regard to you, they still possess the truth." + +"I envy them not their possession," replied the old man; "my life, all +my sorrows, even when I became wicked and with justice so, I have +only to thank this egoism, which calls itself humility, inspiration, +love, or religion; I was rejected, persecuted, nay to use the silly +expression, misunderstood, for what man knows another, or even himself? +Impoverished, brokenhearted, I went forth, and my friends gladly saw me +depart. In every country this self-same miserable farce was repeated. +They would willingly have lent me their aid, confided in me, probably +have loved me, had I but possessed this so called religion. The foolish +virtue of my probity was lost sight of, that I would pretend to none, +even to the very best of them. A few marriages which were almost +decided upon with me, were broken off for the same cause. It did not +fare better with me in other quarters of the world; thus am I become an +old man, thus am I become a villain, and I returned, to revenge myself +on my beloved countrymen, and on my friends. Then you came and spoiled +the thing with me: just, you yourself! strange enough!" + +"How so?" asked Edmond excited. + +"Come let us go," said the stranger, "we ought to seek our comrades +again." + +They arose and walked as chance directed through mountain and wood. +When they ascended higher, they observed a thick smoke advancing +towards them, blackening the heavens with dark clouds. A distant cry +directed their steps. As they proceeded, they beheld on the summit of +the mountain a number of rebels moving hurriedly to and fro. When +Edmond approached he thought he recognised Roland. It was he too, but +before he was able to advance towards the leader, a young man rushed +with a terrific shout, to meet him. "Brother!" exclaimed he, +interrupted by sobs and rage, "brother, all is over! The incendiaries +have rendered thee for ever unhappy." + +It was difficult for Edmond to recognise his young friend Vila. "What +is the matter with thee? whence comest thou?" asked he at length, +amazed. + +"I am now one of yours!" exclaimed Vila: "I have not been able to +govern my heart, since I beheld the affliction of our people. Yes, I +will assist you to annihilate, to murder, to tear to pieces these +murderous slaves, which, to the shame of all created beings, bear but +the figures of men." When Edmond desired to question, to gain some +information, Vila drew him higher up the mountain, and the youth stood +again above, and looked down, as on that night, upon his father's +garden and house; but the house was in ruins, the fire was still raging +through the apartments, and thick columns of smoke arose, between which +was seen a consuming glow, that frequently sent red streams sideways +and upwards; shepherds and peasants stood beneath, many were gazing +fixedly on the spectacle, some seeking powerless help and deliverance. + +"Where is my father?" exclaimed Edmond, when he had recovered from the +first shock. "Fled," answered Vila, "no one knows whither; child, +servants, all were compelled to escape, for the Marshal and the +Intendant had summoned him to a severe account at Nismes. When +miscreants, who call themselves soldiers, found the house quite empty, +they plundered, and then set fire to it." + +"I have now nothing more to care for," said Edmond coldly. + +"Ah! ha!" cried Lacoste, "has it then fared so ill with the old Lord, +my ancient rival, my former friend and foe? see now yourself, we had +lately scarcely an idea of worse than what has now happened, when you, +Ned, stopped us in the business." + +No one heard him, and all gazed in silence, Edmond with deadly pale +countenance, down on the raging fire. + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + +The greatest agitation prevailed in the city of Nismes. New arrests had +taken place, suspicion had increased still more, and many noblemen, who +until then had escaped observation, were shut up in the prisons. No +condition, no inhabitant was now deemed in safety, treachery lurked in +every house. The Marshal had brought some of his ci-devant friends, +even ladies, to a strict trial. + +The amiable hero was concealed in the severe judge. The Intendant had +never yet been so pleased with his opponent. The consternation was +still greater in the country, and those who dwelt in the château, no +longer knew how to escape the mistrust and suspicion of the rebellion, +particularly the newly converted, whose assurances were not trusted, +and whose devotedness and patriotism were no longer valued. + +The physician, Vila, was also obliged to proceed to the city to answer +numerous accusations against him. Deeply afflicted as he was, he +however testified no depression or humiliation before his judges, but +was able to refute with perfect composure all that they would lay to +his charge. The Intendant as well as the Marshal were undecided, +whether they ought to impute his self-possession and security to +innocence, or to the obstinacy of a rebel. + +"No, my honoured lords," said he, as he stood before them in the hall +surrounded by a great number of officers and civilians; "I have nothing +to do with these most unfortunate affairs, for it is impossible that +any one would lay to my charge as evil propense, that I recently +intended to cure the Lord Marquis without a wig, an occurrence, which +may indeed be astonishing enough, but which however does not render the +extremity necessary, that you should now immediately cause my head to +be taken off; whereby I should become an entirely useless and +slaughtered man." + +"Be serious sir," replied the Intendant in the greatest anger, but with +a calm exterior: "what took you to the mountains some time since? +wherefore that disguise of which you yourself have complained?" + +"Irrepressible curiosity, my noble Lord," said Vila, "as an inquisitive +doctor, I also wished to thrust my nose for once into these spiritual +monstrosities. In my youth, I knew only of four great and twelve lesser +prophets of the bible, the thousand great, and twenty thousand lesser +of our times seemed to me so little plausible, that I wished to see +some examples of them in my proximity, and to examine myself their +ascribed characters." + +"And you persuaded your son and the young Edmond to accompany you +there?" + +The old man paused a while, and was obliged to wipe his eyes. "Pardon," +said he then, "man is affected, though already old, by certain +sensations, a kind of cold, which operates on the tear vessels; perhaps +you may have already experienced this. Strong snuff produces the +sensation. Yes, it was I indeed that induced the young men to this folly. +I could never have thought that the young lads would have made a serious +affair of it. They should only have reflected on themselves, collect +psychological observations, to strengthen thereby their own mature wisdom +and corroborate all noble religion; and the simpletons act like that +peasant, who is to take only twelve drops daily from a phial, and would +rather swallow down the whole bottle with cork and label. But believe me +the cholic will not delay coming, and it will require skill to empty the +body of the devilry again." + +"You appear to consider the affair on the jesting side," cried the +Marshal. + +"Certainly," said the old man, who could not however restrain his +tears, and was obliged to repress his sob by a strong effort; "it is +still pleasant enough, that I have not slept since the last three days, +still less have I been able to enjoy anything: that my cursed +imagination represents my unhappy son upon the scaffold, suffering the +most ingenious martyrdom, and looking upon me with the same dark eyes +that sparkled in his childhood when he ardently desired a fruit, or a +toy. I believe too that I look rather pale and sorrowful, and whatever +you may ordain, I shall bear my head heavily on my weary shoulders for +the future." + +"You know then that your son as well as the young Edmond has gone over +to the rebels?" said the Intendant sharply with his icy coldness: "and +who will assure us that this did not happen by your counsel and +suggestions?" + +"No man will be security for me," answered, the father with quiet +composure, "and of myself, of my many years of probity and an +assurance, by my honour, I will not even speak, for that appears to +myself absurd. No, my highly honoured lords, my counsel would never +have been able to produce so strange a metamorphosis in a vagabond, who +has hitherto only interested himself in plants and antiquities, or to +make of a catholic enthusiast a fanatic and a rebel; but if I may be +permitted to speak for a moment as a father, it rather appears to me, +that you, my most worthy judges, are the authors of it, without its +being exactly your intention it is true, and may be the cause why so +many other fanatics will run to the mountains." + +"Well, this impudence," exclaimed the Marshal. + +"Suffer the unhappy man to speak," interrupted the Intendant, "he is +doting in his sorrow, and it is not unreasonable to hear all that he +may bring forward for his defence." "I only say," continued Vila, +"that, with the very best intentions to put down this rebellion, you +add strength to it, for it is precisely the peculiarity and perversity +of the human mind, (and in this I only say what has been of very old +standing) that prohibitions and obstructions irritate and place the +punishable case in a seductive, enchanting light. That, which at first +appeared indifferent and often unimportant, now presents itself with a +kind of glory, danger entices; if only a few victims deriding it, have +fallen, passions master the heart, and the same, who a short time +previously preserved his faith in silent doubt, feels now in each +emotion of caprice, and of anger, the immediate voice of his persecuted +God. He now refutes his adversary with murder and massacre, as if he +would correct the erroneous reading of his mind in his mangled body. +The true believer cannot naturally bear such a turning over the leaf, +he waits with stump and stalk to root out of the breast the perverted +and corrupted text. On both sides the commentators excite one another, +each becomes fiercer and more violent, reconciliation is no longer to +be thought of, instruction profits not, and whoever wishes to step in +coolly and moderately between them is a horror to both parties. You see +indeed all the pills, that you, my honoured Lord Marshal cause to be +turned and moulded and which the thousand surgeons press Upon the +perverted, have not purged them of the evil, nor even ameliorated it. +What does it profit then that the busy men so diligently assist with +their bayonets, nor do these lances, nor the incisions of the gentlemen +dragoons improve the blood. Also your imprisonments and executions in +the public places have no success. What can your reasoning, your cold, +calm persuasions effect, that the whole country, frankly speaking, +stands like a great, disbanded madhouse, where the lunatics with their +dogmas rage against one another, and like dogs, set on to fight, gnash +with their teeth. I think the air is infectuous, and renders insane, +and thus it has happened to young Edmond and my poor son. Whom the devil +rides, cannot certainly affirm that he possesses an abundance of free +will to go and come; but what could have bribed me to lay the stirrup +on the shoulders of my only son, in order that the black raven father +of all lies might be able to mount him more comfortably? only reflect +on that yourselves, generous men." + +"I but half understand you," said the Marshal. + +"I pardon much in consideration of your grief," replied the Intendant. + +"But why as not the Lord of Beauvais appeared at our trial?" +recommenced the general; "wherefore is he fled? Does not that action +bespeak him criminal? and do you know anything of him and of his +retreat? can you impart to us some information of his proceedings? do +you keep him concealed? confess the whole truth." + +"Your excellency," said the doctor, "the old sinner has assuredly +escaped because he is indeed suspected, even by me, and certainly could +not appear here with safety and decency." + +"Proceed," said the Lord of Basville, "you are approaching nearer the +point to my satisfaction." + +"You know it as well as I do," replied Vila, "the scandal is notorious +throughout the whole country. He would have been forced to come here +baldheaded to speak and answer. I will even consent that one may +dispense with ruffles, lay down his sword, embroidery on the garments, +or the cravat may also without herisy be esteemed as superfluous; but +if you consider, that for more than ten years, he lived there yonder in +his desert without a wig like a Theban hermit, you cannot then possibly +have any confidence in the orthodoxy of his sentiments. How should his +head remain sound, when he gives himself up, thus naked to all +weathers, all society, all sorts of phrases, wit, and nonsense. It is +indeed like a fortress, where they have broken down the walls and +redoubt. There, in war, all the rabble ride in without obstruction." +"You are childish," said the Lord of Basville, "but where does the Lady +of Castelnau remain, you must know that she has disappeared. In all +these circumstances we see, say what you will, a concerted plot." + +"Ah poor Christine!" sighed Vila plaintively; "I now know for the first +time, how much I have loved the noble girl. She is no longer indeed in +her house, but the Lord Marshal will best be able to give intelligence +of her retreat." + +"I?" demanded the latter. + +"All the world says, at least," continued the doctor, "that you have +caused her to be incarcerated, and that is not entirely without +probability, as the imprudent girl, some time ago, wholly lost sight of +the esteem she owes you." + +"It were derogatory to my dignity," said the Marshal, "to revenge +inpertinences by means of my office. + +"Where one cannot inspire love," said the doctor, "which one may +reasonably expect, then terror and the due punishment of the object +must suffice." "I give you my word of honour, I know nothing of the +little fool!" said the Marshal blushing. + +"It is very possible," answered Vila, "that you do not know exactly in +which dungeon she languishes, since within the last few years we have +considerably increased these establishments." + +"Sir!" exclaimed the Marshal,--"I think, my Lord Intendant, we may +dismiss this dotard, for it is in vain to hope to hear a word of sense +from him. You may thank the Lord Marquis and his zealous intercession, +or rather his caprice, not to suffer himself to be cured by any one +else, that your insolence, which affects madness, is permitted to go +from hence unchastised. But beware that you hold no correspondence with +the rebels and suspected persons, or we shall speak again together and +then in a higher tone." + +"As it may please you to order it," said the doctor, and retired with a +low bow. His carriage stood at the door, he went however first into the +stables of the court to seek an old servant, whom he intended to take +to St. Hypolite with him, the latter advanced groaning, limping and +with head and arm bound up. "Coachman," cried Vila to his driver, "make +room on the box for this old servant of mine." + +In the mean while Colonel Julien came down the street; "What sort of +merchandise are you carrying off with you there?" asked he, +scrutinising the wounded man. + +"My superannuated Conrad," replied the doctor; "the stupid knave found +himself in a village yesterday and took it into his head to engage in +the conversion of a Camisard, who in the true rebel fashion began to +deal out blows, my decrepid enthusiast would let neither his king, nor +his Lord God be outraged and on that account is so bedecked, that our +Phylax at home will scarcely recognise him again." "Look," said the +Colonel, "the poor cripple trembles so, that he cannot attain the high +coach-box. He does not appear accustomed to such a place. Help him a +little, reverend priest." + +The sturdy vicar of St. Sulpice, who had pressed forward, helped up the +old man with arms and shoulders. "Accustomed, or not accustomed!" cried +Vila, vexedly, "he may thank heaven, that I take him with me at all. A +knave, who at his years still addicts himself to pugilism, is good for +nothing in my peaceable house. Times, indeed, seem strange enough, so +that the rabble will soon, perhaps, assert their pretensions to ride +with me in my carriage." + +"You would have room enough," said the Colonel, taking leave of the +doctor, who had already seated himself at his ease.-- + +"Now, drive on!" said Vila, "and not too fast, particularly over the +stones, for all my sides, and my head into the bargain, are as if they +were crushed, and take care that that old spectre does not perchance +tumble from the box,--Adieu, reverend priest!"--The coach drove down +the street and out through the gate. + +The high road was filled with soldiers and militia, the coach was +forced to stop in many places to let the troops go by. At length, when +they had taken another road towards the mountains, the journey could be +continued without interruption. The doctor was very uneasy, and looked +round on all sides, muttered to himself, and was alternately moved, and +vexed. At last, when the country became rather solitary he ordered the +carriage to stop, descended and assisted the wounded Conrad, as he had +called him in the town, himself, from the coach box. "My poor, old +friend!" exclaimed he embracing him with the greatest emotion: "How +fares it with you? do you feel fatigued? come now inside here with me, +and pardon all that I have been forced to do for your safety." + +"I am tolerably well, my kind, faithful friend," answered the Lord of +Beauvais: "but render me one more loving service, that we may once more +visit the ruins of my dwelling." + +Vila gave directions to the coachman, and they both ascended into the +carriage. + +"But why will you make your heart still heavier?" commenced the doctor. +"Come rather directly with me, that I may conduct you to the little +rural asylum, in order to conceal you there until better times. For it +is not to be thought of, that they will now be able to carry you over +the frontiers in safety." + +"Oh my poor country!" sighed the Counsellor of Parliament: "men of +probity must now seek hiding-places like criminals. I will only go once +more to the great hall: an iron closet has perhaps been spared by the +robbers and the flames, in it lies the portrait of my wife, which in +the hurry, I forgot to pack up. It would be very painful to me to lose +this dear remembrance." The sun had already set, and they were now +approaching their native, well-known place. From the blackened walls, +dense, smoky clouds were still rising, although the fire appeared +extinguished. The carriage stopped, the travellers descended from it; a +lantern was lighted, and the Counsellor could not avoid wondering at +the difficulty he experienced in finding his way through the formerly +so well-known mansion. Fallen beams reduced to cinders lay +extinguished, and obstructed the entrance to the hall, ashes and +rubbish filled the vast space, it was impossible to recognise any +thing, the walls alone still indicated the former seat of happiness and +peace. The lantern threw a pale wavering glimmer over the sad +destruction, and while the father tremblingly felt about by its light +for the closet, he thought he heard a voice in another apartment. + +As he listened more attentively, all was still; yet after a short +interval, a deep, painful sigh was heard again, and then as if from a +heavily oppressed bosom resounded these words: "Yes, my sinful fire has +laid this dwelling in ashes, my wicked impetuosity has murdered the +happiness of this beloved house." + +"Oh my unhappy son!" exclaimed the old man as he endeavoured to reach +that apartment; but Edmond advanced immediately, sank down before him +and embraced his knees. "Can you forgive? can you still love me?" cried +he in violent emotion; "I, I, wretch that I am, have flung the brand +into this house, I have rendered you and my sister miserable, I am +indeed the cause of your death. Oh, most gracious, mildest of men, with +what a torn heart do I lie here at your feet, unworthy to embrace them, +unworthy of the dust.--" + +The old man raised, pressed him to his heart and said: "Not so, +my son, we are not to criticise and blame the ways of destiny in so +short-sighted a manner. It was you, as I well know, who delivered me +from the hands of the incendiaries. Your heart has remained to me; +those walls, this inanimate possession belonged not to my happiness and +existence, you are nearer to me, you are, God be praised! not lost to +me. Let me enjoy the satisfaction of having found you again among the +ruins, and I will thank Heaven with heartfelt tears for my calamity. +Follow me now and abandon your unfortunate covenant. The time and +favourable moment will be found, when we may fly over the frontiers of +our native land, and under another sky be permitted to rear the +blessing of our love again." + +"Only require not this of me, generous man," cried Edmond, as if in +unconscious anger: "at least I must punish, avenge, retaliate, in some +degree on our and God's foes. Oh Catinat! how unjust I have been in +censuring thee. No, I will not degrade mercy so far by wasting it on +these wretches, who might take the tiger in apprenticeship in order to +augment his malice and cruelty." + +Vila came up with the lantern and turned the light upon the youth's +pale, agitated countenance, saying with the greatest good nature: "ah! +Ned! my boy! be advised: now for once only follow your aged parent +there, who has ever merely required from you what is quite reasonable." + +"Leave vengeance to Him," said the father in a powerful voice, "to Him, +who rules, permits and superintends all, and in whose almighty arm our +wrath and weakness, are no longer vengeance! I do not understand the +word. Our hearts were not created for this feeling." + +"Still and ever the same folly!" cried a deep voice from behind and the +gaunt figure of the grey-headed Lacoste was groping his way towards +them in the dark, over heaps of rubbish. "Vengeance! hatred!" exclaimed +he; "who knows not those sentiments, knows love but in part. Knowest +thou me still, thy rival, the Lacoste, whom thou renderedst many years +ago so unhappy? Who meant thee evil were it not for thy gallant +Edmond." + +"How comest thou here?" cried the father astounded. "What art thou +doing here?" + +"I am become thy son's dog," replied the former, "I do him what service +I can, at least I run after him, out of gratitude, because he has saved +my life." + +"I have scarcely time and feeling," said the Lord of Beauvais, "to +wonder at this extraordinary rencontre." + +"The hour presses indeed," cried Vila, "we have yet a long way before +us and we must take advantage of the night." + +"Here is the concealed closet still unconsumed," cried the Counsellor +of Parliament, "just as I had supposed." He took a key, opened and held +a light into it, among various articles, which were kept there, he +found the picture in a little casket. He gazed upon it with tears, and +was going to attach it to his person, when Lacoste seized his hand and +said: "Only one moment, for the sake of former acquaintance and +friendship: suffer this face after so many years to blossom once again +in my desolate heart." + +The father gave it to him trembling; Lacoste held it close to the light +and gazed fixedly on it with his widely opened grey eyes; a tear +unconsciously escaped him, he imprinted a kiss on the portrait and +returned it to the Counsellor. "See, see," said he to himself, "every +man remains still a fool, let him behave as he will. If they can feel +and imagine as much over their relics, as I at this moment feel, then +the unfortunate ones are not so entirely in error." + +"Roland is stationed in the neighbourhood with his troops; a few of us +may conduct your dear father, as far as you wish, so that at least our +party does not harm you." + +"Prudently spoken," said Lacoste, "for we are, with permission, very +outrageous people." + +The Counsellor of Parliament re-ascended the carriage with his friend, +saying: "We are now indeed so far on our road, that the usual +precaution becomes superfluous. Let us only be careful, that our friend +Vila meets with no misfortune on our account." "Were my son only +reasonable," said the latter, "they might do what they liked with me, +old, half dead and worn out sinner; to die is almost a diversion to be +sought for, to that have the ruling lords pushed affairs." + +They drove off, and Edmond and Lacoste followed on horseback, in order +to accompany them to Roland's troop. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + +When the night was nearly elapsed and that Roland had long with-drawn +with his troop into the distance, the little escorting band of +Camisards was suddenly surprised, out of an ambush, by a considerable +multitude of royalists. It was in the direction of Florac, where Vila +with his friend had intended to seek a place of refuge, which he deemed +safe. The confusion was general, and it seemed, that the destruction of +the little troop of Camisards, as well as that of the travellers, was +absolutely inevitable. During the firing and cries, Vila sprang from +the carriage with pistols in his hand, and the Counsellor of Parliament +followed him, without knowing clearly what was going to happen. By the +grey light of the morning it was discovered that the attack was given +from a valley lying sideways; the travellers were on the heights. The +Counsellor of Parliament, who had quitted the carriage the last, saw +immediately, that all were engaged in a mêleé, the royalists seemed to +give way, when a second troop rushed out of the underwood of whom it +was difficult to decide whether they were soldiers, or rebels. Before +however the Counsellor was able to gain any certainty, or to form any +resolution, the coachman laid hold of him, pressed him urgently to get +into the carriage, and as he saw the old man's hesitation, he lifted +him into it almost forcibly. "Better without the master, than to perish +here with him, he will soon find us again," cried he in the utmost +anxiety, and whipped the horses, so that they started off snorting in +full gallop over hill and dale. After some time the Lord of Beauvais +recovered his recollection and with much argument and dispute, he +compelled the obstinate man to stand still again. On the summit of a +mountain, from whence they could overlook the whole surrounding +country, they awaited the one, who had remained behind. Of the combat +nothing more was to be discovered: it seemed as if far in the distance +a band of fugitives was flying; but nothing could be clearly +distinguished. At length they espied two riders emerge from a copse, +who pursued the same road. They approached nearer and the doctor was +now seen waving a handkerchief and working his way up to the summit, +mounted on a little horse. A young lad with his head bound up was +following him. "You did well," cried he, when he arrived at the top, +"to retreat immediately at the commencement of the battle; that is +dull, insipid business, which does not suit us civilians." + +"There Martin, for such is your name, take the nag again to yourself +and do what you will with him." With these words he dismounted, and +betook himself to the carriage, where he was first obliged to listen to +many self-praises from his coachman, who wished to appropriate to +himself the whole credit of this clever retreat, and on account of +whose over-haste, the Lord of Beauvais abashed, entreated the pardon of +his old friend. "It was no over-haste," cried Vila, "but the most +prudent that could have occurred, I ought to have remained sitting in +the carriage, for my little bit of firing was like a drop in the stream +compared to the bravery of the Camisards; with them none of us can +engage. These knaves understand no reason, whether balls fly, or swords +glitter, it is to them mere pastime, and the smallest boys, who are +scarcely weaned from their mother's breast, are just as much infatuated +with this devilry as any of the oldest grey beards. I have seen that, +for once quite close, which I could not have believed by hearsay; but +now that I have witnessed it, it is enough for the rest of my life." + +They stopped at a lonely inn to refresh the horses, and while they were +enjoying their breakfast the doctor proceeded to relate the sequel of +the event to his old friend. "How fortunate." he commenced, "that you +were not present at our battle, for only think, your Edmond continued +to accompany us, he would not be dissuaded from attending in person to +your safety. When the scene now opened he was ever foremost. There was +a young lad, who then came forward. 'From whence come you?' shouted the +Camisards.--'What's that to you,' answered the impudent fellow,--'You +are a traitor.'--'Wherefore insult,' cried the little man, 'honest +people act not thus.'--'Hew him down!' cried another.--'Hew me down;' +said the hop of my thumb, 'when I would sacrifice my life for +you.'--'Who art thou?' was again reiterated.--'My name is Martin, +further it is not necessary for you to know.'--Inquiry was cut short by +firing and hewing down. It came near me, and I felt a goose-skin all +over my body. I had already spent my powder without, perhaps, having +hit any one, when the gigantic Lacoste took compassion on my trouble, +and hewed down the knaves together as if they had been merely poppy +heads. But Edmond who tried to cut his way through to me, got into a +desperate mêlée. Two dragoons fell upon him, and struck furiously; but +before they were able to hit, behold, my dear friend--the little rascal +Martin, cut down one of them from his horse, and shot the other at the +same moment almost through the breast, as if the urchin had been +accustomed to nothing else all his life long. The stout Lacoste, the +dog as he styles himself, was not tardy either, and your son lost +neither courage nor strength; the Camisards were like so many devils, +and thus those of the true faith were obliged to leave the field to us, +on which a great number of their friends remained lying.--I could not +discern my poor, dear son; he may very likely have gone with the main +body of the troops; if they have not already slain, or taken him +prisoner." + +"And Martin! the boy, of whom you spoke, who so valiantly saved my +son's life?" inquired the Lord of Beauvais. + +"Martin;" cried the doctor aloud: "where then do you hide yourself? +yes, that's true indeed, you are both indebted to the stripling. He +wore, when he entered, a thick handkerchief round his head, it may have +been from a blow that reached him; after he had rescued your son, he +received a right deep cut in the head again from a sabre, so that a +stream of blood gushed out. As if for a change, he wiped his nose and +without ceremony bound a second turban over the first, though he turned +ghastly pale from it.--Martin! Where then is the rascal!" But there was +no one to answer his call. "Thus is it with foolish youth," said the +doctor vexedly: "he has misunderstood me about taking back the horse, +and in his simplicity returned immediately. Poor youth! I trust no +fever may be added to it." + +"It would make me miserable," said the Counsellor, "if I should not be +able to testify my thanks to the dear boy. If I were persuaded that he +was suffering, ill, helpless, or dying, I should weep tears of blood." + +"It will not turn out so bad as that," muttered Vila chagrined: "Why +should the oaf run off thus, as if----Aye! Aye! at least I would have +bound up his wounds for him. But now, the devil will not catch him +directly. Such Camisard webs are usually formed of very tough +materials." + +"They were compelled to proceed again, in order to reach with safety +the solitary village in the mountain heights." "You must know," said +the doctor, when they were again seated in the coach, "that it is +merely to an old maidservant of mine I am now conducting you, a simple +person, who served me long, but who is, however, so faithful and +honest, that it is almost a scandal, what perhaps many free thinking +exquisites would say of her. She has married a gardener, or peasant, +who also plays the surgeon in the mountains. There you will pass for an +old invalid cousin, whose house and farm the Camisards have set fire +to; you will find your daughter there already, the intelligent child +however must not betray you; the husband and wife would suffer +themselves to be torn to pieces rather than give out any thing else of +you. If you will but sit half an hour in the room with Barbara, she +herself will take you for her cousin, and there will be no further +necessity for lying. That is why such things often succeed better in +this class than in a higher one: education they have none, but they +possess the proper capacity for belief. Only lose not courage yourself, +and in that solitude there do not become a timid hare's foot. All may +yet be well." With these and similar conversations they, at length, +arrived in the afternoon at the village in the centre of the mountains. +The houses lay dispersed midway, or above the declivity of the +mountain; each had a garden and shrubbery attached to it, and the +church situated on the highest point, looked down on the lowly +cottages. The little dwellings after which the travellers were obliged +to inquire, stood at the extremity of the village, immediately over a +rapidly flowing brook, a kitchen-garden was in front and a few chesnut, +ash, and plantain-trees spread a shade and freshness around. When the +travellers alighted, the rather elderly hostess advanced to the little +vestibule to meet them. "Welcome! right welcome!" said she half +jestingly, but with the heartiest good will: "So the old gentleman is +my cousin? I rejoice in the acquisition of his relationship." "Where is +my daughter?" asked the Lord of Beauvais. + +"Hush! hush!" said Barbara with a significant look; "my little cousin +sleeps in the room above--which you too will now inhabit, my much +honoured cousin." + +"That's all right," said the doctor: "only study nicely your +expressions; and what is sick Joseph doing?" + +"Ah, heaven!" said the old woman, he did not get over his fright, "the +poor man has died at the next village below there, for when he was +obliged to make off so quickly, helter skelter with my little cousin, +and had lost his master, who had taken another road, and that the +police officers became so troublesome, and the militia would also +interfere, then all that affected his liver and spleen, and he died of +it. + +"Poor Joseph!" sighed the Counsellor. + +"But pray, make yourselves comfortable," pursued the old hostess,--"sit +down then cousin, poor man, there on that soft chair; you must now +forget, that you were formerly accustomed to anything better." + +"Well," asked Vila, "and the household, how fares it? what is your +husband doing?" + +"Thanks for the kind inquiry," answered the chatterer; "Ah! dear God! +nothing can be done with him, he will remain a boaster his life long." + +"Wait until he comes a little to years," said Vila, "his petulance will +then pass away." + +"Ah good heaven!" exclaimed she, "he is already past fifty; it does not +depend upon that, God has permitted him to arrive at years of +discretion, youth no longer oppresses him, but he is past all hope of +amendment." + +"Is he idle then? or does he squander your substance?" + +"No," continued she quickly, "that must not be said against him, he +spends nothing on himself, scarcely will he allow himself the extreme +necessaries, and as to running about, working and lending a hand, he is +not remiss, but he lays by no store. Indeed times are no longer as they +were formerly." + +"You get no profit then?" + +"Just so, most respected doctor. Look you, here among us in the +country, my old husband is called nothing, far and wide, but the clever +man. Where an animal is sick, where a man is infirm, there is he +called, and it must be true, that heaven has placed a very peculiar +blessing in his hands, for almost whatever he merely touches becomes +better. Where his misicaments, or his proscriptions fail, he is then +compelled to have recourse to symphonies, or what you call the +sympathretical system, and that is always among the peasantry most +liked and most fructifying." + +"You have then learned something from him," observed Vila. + +"Should not something have devolved to me in so many years?" replied +she modestly. "But if he would only not do so much without +remuneration, all would be well and good. Look you, instead of planting +cabbage, our little garden is full of learned rampons, and horse radish +and onions with Latin names, which he then mingles or distils, as he +calls it, and economises powders and opiates out of them that cannot be +equalled. But they know already throughout the whole neighbourhood that +he is a fool, for they frequently knock him up at midnight and summon +him to a sick child, or to a tom-cat or taby-cat that has eaten or +drank too much. And when they are to pay, the service is forgotten and +there is no money in the coffers. 'They are poor people,' says the +good-for-nothing fellow, 'they have already misery enough; and God be +praised, we have never yet been in want of bread.' + +"Thus was he ever," remarked Vila. "I thought he would become more +reasonable, and learn to think a little of himself. He was always too +devout." + +"Devout!" exclaimed the wife: "ah heavens! your honour, we now come in +earnest to the foul spot. No, Monsieur Vila, religion, or what people +so call christianity, he is utterly deficient in." + +"How then has he thus fallen into error?" asked the old man. + +"The Lord knows best," answered she, "who has created him so confused. +He will ruin himself yet with his curing. Look you, it is not alone his +companions of the faith, the Catholic Christians that he succours +without remuneration, if they only give him the least hint of poverty; +nay also--God be with us--the Huguenots and even the Camisards he +attends, as one of us, if he can find an opportunity. The wounded whom +they ought to have taken off to Florac swarmed here; look you, the +God-forgetting man quartered, healed and fed them and occupied himself +so much with them, that they were able afterwards to run off in health, +and I will not answer for it, that he did not also give them money and +the worth of money to take with them on the road. No, not a spark of +true genuine faith and of proper christianity is in the man." + +"He is probably a sort of Samaritan," said Vila affected. + +"You are right, good sir," continued Barbara, "Samariter, or Samoid, +and if he only does not turn out an anibaptist in his old days. Would +you believe it, six weeks ago, when they gave up so many of those poor +sinners to justice at Florac, thither did he run the first, and bound +up the wounds of the sick and set their broken limbs. Husband, said I, +they will certainly be put to the wheel, and hanged, there is nothing +more to heal in them. Then said the simple fellow, God or nature had +taken so much pains to suffer their joints, bones, muscles, and I know +not what else to grow, that one is obliged out of charity to spare and +take care of them as long as they will last. Look you, he has such +enthusiasm stuff in his head that, as the saying is, he is Jack in +every corner, where there is only any thing to doctor, should it even +be the greatest criminal, there he is." + +"I shall read him a sermon on that point," said Vila. + +"That's right!" cried she joyfully, "scold him a skin full, for he +always says, that I am too stupid; and my persuasions tend to nothing." +The woman had got up several times to look at the little bed. +"Perhaps, you have a sick child there?" asked the doctor.--"Child!" +answered she somewhat mockingly! "quite otherwise! only look at the +present!"--when she removed the cushion, there lay a cur dog with +bandaged paws.--"The history," commenced the narrator, "correcterises +exactly the simple man. The people about here often make him their +laughing stock, because he is such a good-humoured, easy fellow; and so +the smith at length gave him his dog to doctor, having in a passion +broken its hind-paws in two with a hammer. My Godfred wrapped up the +dog and dragged it home to me, bound up its wounds himself, laid him +down, raised him up, suffered him not to run about, bound the cushion +tight over him, made him a kind of maskinnery for his legs, because he +said the dog would not be taken proper care of at home, and that he +must have it under his own eyes. Well, my good smith's dog became +healthy again, and went off without saying good day, or by your leave. +That may be about two months ago; last week, towards evening, something +came scratching at our room door; come in! no one opened; but the +scraping and scratching continued: so my Godfred opened the door and +looked out, in springs our old smith's dog like a fool and behind him +came hobling the diseased thing, the cur there with a broken leg +dragging behind him, and the smith's dog danced and sprang round my +husband, as if to beg, and thus supplicated him that he would also +doctor his comrade. In my rage, I seized the botanix stick from my old +man to cudgel the curs out of the room. But he, as if affected, said, +'Never could I have imagined so much understanding and gratitude in a +dog,' and immediately took him in his arms, examined his foot, bandaged +it, and busied himself about the animal. Gratitude! cried I, you +call it thus, if the bull dog recommenders you to the cur which will +afterwards spread the story about among all the dogs in the country, so +that finally with all the fame of dog-pratix, you will no longer be +able to stand, or walk? But all in vain! there is the beast, and I must +attend to it, when the old fool is not at home." + +The husband now returned, his arm full of herbs, which he immediately +carried into a closet; he then saluted his guests quietly and affably, +and before he sat down he looked after his four-legged patient, which +in gratitude licked his hands, and looked fondly in his face. With the +greatest composure and as if there was nothing remarkable in it, he +rebandaged the foot, placed the invalid again in its bed, which he also +bound fast, then pressed its head down on the cushion, as if to +intimate that it must now go to sleep. The dog seemed also to +understand him, for he only blinked a few times up at his benefactor, +and then resigned himself to sleep. + +"Your wife here," commenced the doctor, "complains of you, that you do +not think enough of your own concerns, you cure every body, even dogs +and cats, and receive nothing for it, for this dog as little as for the +former; have they not paid your bills yet?" + +"I made none for them," said the old man with the driest gravity. + +"Then I must make them out for you; you negligent fellow!" exclaimed +Vila vehemently: "What; write out prescriptions for nothing? truly you +degrade our whole art. Take this then on account of what the poor +sinners, the wounded, the beggar-train, and the oppressed race of +animals owe you up to the present."--He threw to the astonished and +perplexed individual a heavy purse of gold, and without waiting for his +thanks, he hastened out, and was already seated in the carriage before +the rustic practioner had recovered from his astonishment. The Lord of +Beauvais gazed with emotion after his rapidly departing friend. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + +The father went up to his daughter, who now awaked from her refreshing +sleep. The little girl, in a flood of tears threw herself into the arms +of the new comer, and was never weary of kissing his hands and cheeks: +it seemed as if it were a necessity for her to indulge this once, in an +unrestrained declaration, and expression of her love. "Man, indeed," +thought the Lord of Beauvais within himself, "has nothing else but +these poor tokens, or the action of alleviating sorrow, and +administering food, clothing the naked, or affording warmth to the +freezing: perhaps it may be that in a future state spirits intermingle +in love." When both were more composed, the father said, "Eveline, you +have ever been a sensible child, but now you have an opportunity of +shewing it in deed for my safety; and for your own also. Never must a +word escape your lips here of our former residence of my friends, or of +your brother. When we are both quite alone, you may then talk of these +things, but below, or when anybody is present, you must ever be the +little cousin of our good hosts. Be therefore in company rather +perfectly quiet, or try to accommodate your behaviour for a short time +to these people; for your father's life depends on our not being +discovered and spied out in this place of concealment." "My dear, my +poor father," said Eveline, "all this will not be difficult to me, now +that you are with me again. You know well how our great Hector always +looked up to my brother, or to Frantz, and from a sign understood, when +he was to go, to stay, to lie down, or to eat; the animal has never +once made a mistake: Now, dear papa, thus will your little pet dog +attend to the slightest sign from your dear eyes and understand, and +conceive everything. I was not allowed to speak of many things in the +presence of my brother, many things that Martha related I was unable to +tell you, because you were angry with my nurse formerly; one must, +indeed, learn from childhood to suit one's self to the world. But shall +we see Frantz and Hector again? my brother too? ah, it has ever floated +in my mind, that he would one day become downright godless; for no good +can come of it, when men approach God as it were too rudely." + +The father descended again, and was very much surprised to find a newly +arrived guest in his host's room. Old Godfred was at that moment +employed in dressing two deep and dangerous wounds in the head of a +young lad, who seemed scarcely fourteen years of age. "See now, +cousin," cried the talkative Barbara, turning towards him, "as I told +you, our Sam-Rocious, as the old gentleman called him, a short time +ago, is again seized with a vertigo, a real vagabond, as they call such +deserters; who asks here in the village after such and such an one, +after a coach and strange travellers, and immediately our dealer in +herbs there brings him to our house, because he has something to cure, +which is once for all his greatest passibility." The Counsellor of +Parliament listened not to the chattering, but examined with the +greatest attention the handsome countenance and noble expression of the +stranger, who seemed to be yet almost a boy. This sight attracted him +the more, as the supposition occurred to him, that this wounded youth +might probably be that Martin of whose astonishing fearlessness the +doctor had spoken. Emotion and gratitude mingled therefore in those +feelings of sympathy which drew him towards the sufferer, and he only +waited for the others to retire to interrogate him. The surgeon Godfred +seemed dissatisfied at the appearance of the wounds, he comforted the +youth, and cut his short brown hair still shorter, and stroked his +handsome head with tender sympathy. "The Lord has blessed us with +money," exclaimed he aloud, "it shall benefit you, not only thee, I was +going to say, dear old cousin, but this young patient here as well. I +will run directly to the town and fetch better food, for wounds must +not be neglected by any means." + +A gaunt, haggered-looking man, in a tattered uniform entered, the +surgeon sprang joyfully to meet him, and shook his meagre hand so +heartily, that his long arm quivered with emotion, and a grim smile of +affability passed over his pale face, under a large hat, which he still +kept on. The new comer who now perceived the Counsellor, took off his +hat, and said: "I did not know, gossip, that you had strangers." + +"Not exactly strangers," immediately replied dame Barbara, preventing +her husband's reply, "but a dear cousin of ours, Mr. Peter Florval, who +possessed a pretty house and garden below there in the fruitful +Camargue. The antichrists, the rebellious Camisards have plundered and +burnt every thing, and it was with difficulty that he saved himself +with our little cousin; he will now remain here contenting himself with +our poor house until better times." The stranger drew near, and said +solemnly, while he extended his hand to the Counsellor with a certain +majestic air; "Venerable Mr. Peter Florval, be but at peace and let not +your spirits flag, these times will pass quickly and in less than a +year you will be happy again. I have had dreams, which have predicted +this and still more to me, and my dreams never deceive, as I know how +to give them the right interpretation. The abominable Cavalier has +appeared to me, I could have painted him; behold: a head taller than +myself, broad, muscular as a hercules, moustaches that he might have +twisted twice round his whole head, which he did too, several times, to +make himself look still more terrible. He came up to me, he had a +guard's uniform in his hand: sergeant, I shall be once more under the +banners of the royal guards, and that shall be the sign, that this day +twelve months I shall wear this uniform, and then peace will be in the +land, for without my supernatural giant-strength the rebels would be +unable to do anything, and would be obliged to surrender. Remember +Gerard Dubois, my good Peter, when the thing comes to pass." + +Without paying particular attention to the speaker, the surgeon had +again devoted himself to the invalids for whom he had also made up a +bed in the hay loft. He looked after the dog too once more, then gave +his hand to the Counsellor and fetched his hat and stick. "I will go +with you," said Gerard, "if you do not botanise, for I cannot endure +that cursed stooping and mountain-climbing." On learning that the walk +was only to the neighbouring market-town, he took leave, rejoiced to +have an opportunity of accompanying his gossip. + +"Look you, dear cousin," commenced the old dame, immediately again, +"that great herculus is also the cause, that my old man will not be +anything as long as he lives. He seduces him fearfully to idleness, +because he himself has nothing to do. He has been formerly a dreampeter +in the royal guards, but as he was weak at the chest, he obtained his +discharge and a pension, and with a small fortune, he plays the +nobleman here, and gives himself such intolerable airs, that he +addresses almost every body with familiarity. He was so enamoured with +blowing, that they were obliged to pull the dreampet forcibly out of +his mouth, for he is phthisical, properly hictical, as my old man calls +it, for he looks wicked enough for it. Now the great beast stalks about +here, and no one can bear him, because he is so very haughty and +moreover wearisome and quite ennuiyant when he speaks of his +forefathers. My good calf, however, will suit him, he might easily +speak and listen to him in his leisure hours, and often may be thinking +of other things at the same time; but this is not the case, he has +nothing to think of, and is delighted when the bully goes on with his +gasconading to him. Only think, cousin, because he is not permitted to +blow any more, he whistles, or lisps a little with his tongue all his +old dreampeter airs for hours together into my husband's ears; when he +tells of campaigns, at times, with his mouth screwed up, he imitates +the sounds of appelle, and retreat, the attack, every thing; or he +beats it with his long stork-fingers on the table, which then is to +represent the dulcimer or the harpichord, and thus does he play the +harpichord as it is called before my old husband the live-long day and +he talks of x sharp and z soft, and crosses and stories of fughes and +passages, such gibberdish, that one might loose one's senses, looking +at these two fools wasting their time. The lanky fellow frequently +assists in searching, for herbs, and makes out of old rags a lineament +for wounds, or cooks a mixture, and syrup quackery, and as they are +almost always together, he seduces my old husband away from me. They +will no longer suffer the long Urian in the public-house, because he +drives away all the guests with his blowing and harpchord playing, even +the common people are wise enough for that, my Godfred alone suffers +himself to betaken in. But this quick dreampeter-blower is an arrant +rogue. He tices my old husband out of his chimistical experiments and +begins to doctor patients, but he principally makes use of symphonies, +which besides is much easier when one is once in the way of it, and the +silly peasants therefore begin to have faith in the spoil-trade. What +does a physician know of symphony; books and study appertain to that, +and no little dreampeters. Moreover, he is for ever telling his stupid +dreams. The times are so very bad, because now children, and old +people, women and maid-servants, almost every one in the country, when +they at once gave up the faith, began with prophecying and prediction +to prepare misfortune; formerly my husband was asked this thing and +that, he also looked at the hands to see whether they would get rich +husbands and so forth; he drew their line of life longer, once even he +cast the Hurenskorp of a right noble lady, yonder in Florac, for he was +much renowned at that time; but since this new-fashioned superstition +has arisen, hardly any one inquires after him, all tell their own +fortunes, or run to the unbelieving children, and what can these +urchins know of philosophy or chiromantic and particularly of the +stars; as if one only needed to take a horn in the mouth in order to +obtain any knowledge of astrology and of all the abstract or dried-up +sciences; for which purpose a great deal more is required." The old +dame would have still run on, if she had not thought that she heard a +pot boiling over in the kitchen; she ran therefore hastily out, leaving +the Counsellor of Parliament alone with the young man. "My son," began +the Lord of Beauvais, "could you be the same of whom a friend of mine +has spoken to me? perhaps your name may be Martin?" + +"It is so," said the youth; approaching nearer and seizing the +Counsellor's hand, over which he bent with deep emotion. + +"And this blood."---- + +"It is mine, mingled with that of your son." "Thanks then," exclaimed +the father and embraced the youth much affected. "You know then who I +am?" + +"Yes," replied Martin, "in the fight your son pointed you out to me; +Vila spoke of you, and now, my honoured sir, as I have discovered you, +as I enjoy such kind care here, and as I shall soon be cured, grant +that I may remain by you, and be your servant. Your domestic household +is far from you, flown, dead, your tender child requires more +affectionate, more gentle attendance, than these people here, with all +their good will, are able to bestow. I shall be wretched, if you reject +my petition." + +The Counsellor gazed long on the youth's dark, sparkling eyes. "My +dear, beloved son," said he then, "I am indeed bound to you by the +dearest ties; oh, ought I not call it friendship cemented with blood? +How shall I command you, as you are here the guest of our benevolent +host? I dare not now have any attendants, I must conceal myself, I must +appear as a poor man of inferior condition. Would you wish to belong to +me, so that I might put full confidence in you, you must give me +further knowledge of yourself. Who are you? from whence come you? your +appearance is too refined and delicate for service to be your vocation; +this small, nobly-formed hand has not yet been hardened by any labour, +your pale face has never yet been exposed to the inclemency +of the seasons; tell me then what is your parentage, your name, how you +became a member of this unfortunate rebellion?" + +"Dear, beloved, paternal friend," said the pale Martin with a gush of +tears, "did you but know the excruciating pain you give my heart by +these questions, you would spare me. Will it not suffice, that I +venerate your family, that it has long been my desire to be at your +beloved side? you can guide, you can reform me; let my whole life be +consecrated to you. I can, I dare not return, they would seize and +sentence me to an ignominious death; my brethren too, the Camisards, +distrust me and hold me for a traitor. Why put my poor parents to the +blush, by naming them at this moment? They brought me up with +tenderness and affection, and the more bitter must their sorrow be, to +behold me degenerate, and liable to be executed. They are wealthy, but +not of such high rank as to have their name disgraced by my humble +services in my attendance on the noblest of men." + +"I will believe you, young man!" cried the Lord of Beauvais; "could +such an eye as that deceive? Be to me in lieu of child, of son, perhaps +soon----." He could not proceed from emotion, and Martin also appeared +deeply moved. + +The repast was served up and Godfred also returned from his wandering +loaded with poultry, and delicate vegetables, Eveline descended, who in +her peasant's attire appeared very attractive; the Counsellor placed a +chair for Martin, by the side of Eveline, saying at the same time, "My +dear cousins, this young man belongs to me, he is related to me, and +whatever expenses you may incur for him, I shall return to you again: +only do me the favour to call him also cousin Martin and be kind to +him." + +"Aye! aye!" Smiled Barbara, "last week, I could not have supposed, that +all on a sudden my family would thus increase, sit down then, cousin +Martin, and you Godfred, take care only not to make blunders before +strangers." Grace was said, and the little Eveline made the sign of the +cross, just as gravely as she saw the old people do; Godfred had +prepared a separate soup for the invalid Martin, and would not allow +him to eat of such meats as he deemed injurious to him. Godfred spoke +little, he seemed as if he had almost entirely renounced the habit of +speech in the society of his too loquacious spouse, but on that account +he had imbibed the peculiarity of frequently expressing aloud, when a +pause occurred, whatever was at that moment passing in the train of his +thoughts, for he listened but seldom to Barbara's wonderful +phraseology. + +"The fever will now be kept under," said he; just then Martin perceived +that he was the subject of discourse, and the Lord of Beauvais would +willingly have inquired more closely into the state of the invalid, if +the dame had not again launched out into narrations and far-fetched +ideas. + +"A little deeper and all would have been over," continued Godfred. + +After the repast, Martin, for whom a room had been prepared near the +Counsellor of Parliament, lay down. The rustic doctor, who had already +fed the dog, now examined his wounds; Eveline and her father retired to +the room up stairs. + +"Have I done all well?" asked the little girl. "Quite well, my child," +answered the father, "I am satisfied with you." + +"That is a beautiful rule," recommenced Eveline, "to pray before and +after the repast. Why did we not do the same at home?" + +"You are not wrong, my child," replied the Counsellor; "for fear of +being like tradespeople, or appearing very hypocritical, much that is +good is neglected!" + +"Ah! what a beautiful prayer the old woman said before dinner," +continued Eveline: "All eyes wait upon thee!"--"Do you know too, papa, +how at home, when our Hector, or the other dogs, were fed in the hall, +all gazed up so fixedly into the eyes of old Frantz? and as he turned +his head, so went all the eyes like so many torches, right and left, +still peeping at the old man, without ever blinking, until they at +length obtained their portions. No other animal, no ox, tat, nor horse +can so affectionately gaze into the eyes as the faithful dog. Even the +smallest child is ashamed, when it begs so fervently. That sick dog +looks thus hungrily at old Godfred, and immediately shuts its eyes, +when dame Barbara glances that way. That is indeed a glorious thought, +that here, in all towns, in all France, in all countries, and in the +whole world, all hungry eyes, young and old, rise up to our Heavenly +Father so devoutly, so confidingly, and it must also be pleasing to +him, mighty and great as he is, when he beholds prayers and confidence +shining from all parts wherever he turns. But indeed all men are not, +or perhaps at all times grateful. Ah! dearest papa, how often have I, +in my short little life, already been ungrateful to you! Forgive me, +pray, good papa, how often have I sulked, when you would not give me a +toy, or when you have kept me steadily to work, for then I forgot so +intentionly in my ill-humour and wickedness, how much I ought to thank +you, how you love me, and care for me. That God exists and gives me +every thing, I have often forgotten the whole day long. But I will +become better and more reasonable." + +The father took his child in his arms, and his heart was gladdened by +the prattle of simplicity. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + +Roland had in the mean while by several successful engagements entirely +cleared the higher mountainland of the royal troops. The Camisards were +incamped in safety in the woods, and upon the lofty mountain table +lands, and all were rejoicing in the hope of soon beholding their +worship and liberty of conscience reestablished. Edmond had been but +slightly wounded in the last combat, and was now sitting by the side of +Roland, that he might converse with him on the probable issue of the +war. Cavalier was incamped opposite on the confines of the wood, +surrounded by Clary, Marion, and other religious men, who were +discoursing on ghostly matters. Upon the most elevated height stood +Mazel, the charcoal-burner, Eustace, young Stephen, and a swarm of +young people, all in the greatest excitement, for they were expecting +the commander Castanet, who on this day intended to conduct Mariette, +his bride, from the village below, in order to unite himself with her +in the bonds of marriage. "So the God of love," said Lacoste +deridingly, "has made his way even to these solitary mountains, and +what is still more, into the enlightened hearts of such pious rebels of +the woods? The old heathens were certainly quite right to call him, +although a boy, the greatest among all the Gods." + +"Cease your profitless mockery," said Marion, who had also climbed up +to the summit, "our brother has been long since betrothed to her; the +poor girl is there exposed to the daily peril of her life, because her +connexion is known, here at least she will share the fortunes of her +husband, and shall be protected by us; and if marriage be a holy +ordinance, why should not the command of the Lord be fulfilled in the +solitude of the mountains, under oppression and distress, with a +religious, modest mind and christian humility?" "Do not trouble +yourself," said Lacoste, "at least no expence or parade will attend the +marriage, I think too, that neither bridegroom, nor any of the guests +will retire nosily to bed." + +At that moment Castanet, his bride and a croud of his friends issued +from the wood, Cavalier and all the others advanced to greet them with +kindness. The young girl was dark and not particularly tall: a peasant +girl of a healthy robust appearance, a little embarrassed at first but +in a short time she conducted herself with a composed and easy bearing +in the circle of the brethren. + +"Brother Castanet," said the tall slender Marion, "it is you that I +have to thank for my conversion, but for your early admonitions, I +should perhaps now be wandering in error, permit your grateful pupil +here in the circle of the brethren; to bless you in your new condition, +under the Almighty eye religiously and christian-like." Roland and +Edmond had also approached, and Elias and Marion delivered a short, +touching discourse concerning their oppression, the distress of the +times, and how by reason of the perishable tenure of all earthly goods, +and the ever increasing danger, it was expedient to unite together in +the name of the Lord, in life and in death; that they might find solace +and strength in general consolation of love and mutual perseverance. A +simple meal was prepared, and in peaceable enjoyment, the various +groups dispersed; while many sang psalms, and others discussed their +past adventures. It was announced that a troop was approaching, and the +pale, sickly Duplant advanced with a band of men leading a number of +prisoners, among whom were Clement and the Vicar, who had again headed +the volunteers in an expedition against the Camisards. Roland and the +others now arose, and formed a large circle to pass sentence on the +unfortunate men. Young Clement trembled violently on seeing himself +exposed to the cruel arbitration of his enemies, and the Vicar looked +round, to try and discover an acquaintance, to be able to find, at any +rate, some means of deliverance, or mitigation of his condition. At +length he perceived Cavalier, who with the rest had approached nearer, +and cried: "Oh! best of young men, I know not 'tis true, who you may +be, but you have, as you know, rescued us formerly, intercede for me +now, for I perceive clearly that you must be quite at home here among +you comrades." + +"Have not you and your fellows," said Roland, with the greatest +gravity, "reduced to ashes that same benevolent house since that time, +which then saved our brother Cavalier, as well as yourself, and the +execrable hermit." "There is not much to say in reply to this," said +the priest, opening wide his eyes, "than that I am wondering, that the +little delicate fellow should be nothing less than Cavalier." + +Duplant said, "The Lord has given you into our hands at the moment that +you were in the act of plundering a commune after having slain several +of our friends. We came unexpectedly, to the succour of the oppressed, +many have fallen, some escaped, but these, forty in number, have become +our prisoners." + +"Shall they die?" + +"Have mercy on us," whined Clement, as he threw himself down before +Roland. + +"I cannot give you grace," said the latter retiring from the circle, +"you spare none of us and with your own free will you urge on to +murder: endure then your fate." + +"Little man," cried the Vicar, "world-renowned Cavalier, listen to +reason and be humane." + +"Is it seemly in you to speak thus?" replied the young commander, "you, +who revel in cruelty; who has called upon you to dye your hands with +the blood of innocence." + +Castanet came forward: "Will you, beloved, honoured brethren, deliver +the execrable wretches up into my hands?" asked he, looking round the +circle. "Yes! yes!" resounded from all sides, "this solemn day belongs +to you, annihilate them, command, do with them what you will, they are +given up to you." + +"Now we are falling out of the frying-pan into the fire," said the +priest to Clement, "for the thick, stout, prophecying man will play an +ugly game with us, even the gentle Cavalier would not grant us grace; +courage! make the best of a bad game, and do not be so chop-fallen." + +Castanet took Mariette, by the hand, who was weeping bitterly, for, a +short time before, these men had slain, or delivered up her brothers to +be executed; "Weep not," said he, with suppressed sorrow! "let us give +an example to these miserable wretches, that we think better than they; +that our union may not be stained with blood. I pity these poor, these +erring men, and this timid youth. Return without danger to you +dwellings and preach mercy to your party; refrain from blood and tell +your magistrates, who call their cruel bloodthirstiness justice, how +much better are our sentiments, how much better we are than they. +Heaven will the more readily bless my marriage the less I indulge my +wrath and desire of vengeance." Young Clement threw himself again on +his knees, weeping with gratitude; the others, who had already given +themselves up as lost, followed his example, the priest alone drew +himself up after a very low bow, and said stammering with +embarrassment: "You are a generous man, Mr. Castanet, and I shall know +how to extend your fame, although people are loath to believe anything +of the kind of such as you; I however have experienced it myself, and +thank you for it in my own name, and in that of these prisoners. Mr. +Cavalier, let us commend ourselves to God, au revoir!" "No, not au +revoir!" cried Cavalier, hastily advancing, "this may only happen in +one way, in the field, and I counsel you with your bold, unblushing +manner not to reckon again on our generosity, nor brave our +condescending flexibility; for mercy and love are not always to be +dispensed, and should we see each other a third time, it will be your +death, thus does the spirit prophecy to me." + +"Let the spirit rest, Sir Captain," said the clergyman, as he again +made a low bow and retired with the volunteers and Clement, who all +more or less testified their gratitude and emotion. + +Lacoste now came forward and said laughing: "Generosity, as I observe, +is common among you, and your turn is come do-day, thick, little stump. +Thus every trade, even that of incendiary, has its good side; nothing +in the world is perfectly bad, as there is nothing perfectly good to be +found in it. To-day, however, there is a greater extension of +generosity than what was lately accorded, when I alone remained, though +my companions were not a whit worse than myself. But such magnificence +suits so festive and splendid a wedding, and the short-legged fellow +has delivered his speech in quite a royal style and in a most +impressive tone. You, rosy-cheeked, stunted-grown, and brown-armed +spouse, be now the Queen and Princess of these mountains. Infanta of +have-nothing, Dauphiness of hunger-sufferings, heiress of all the airy +castles, and governess of all mad-visionaries, I present you my sincere +congratulations, and hope to see you soon rise to the rank of the +prophets." + +"Scoffer!" said Castanet reddening; "your presence would not suit our +assembly, if your speeches were not useful in rendering our humility +still more humble, and to make our reproach before men, and our misery +still more conspicuous to us." + +"That thereby spiritual pride be so much the more glorified! Be not +however disturbed in your feelings and convictions by me; compared with +a christian, my speech is merely the barking of a dog, and in this +animal dignity, I now indeed follow my illustrious patron, the +spiritually-minded Edmond, and prophet also by the grace of God." + +A murmur arose round about, which probably would have broken out into +anger and tumult, had not Cavalier directed the attention of the +brethren to a different subject. "My friends," cried he in a lively +manner, "I have just had a vision. At this very moment the commandant +of Usez has sent a courier with important dispatches to the Marshal at +Nismes. New troops are to arrive, and they intend hemming us in on all +sides. But little was said, neither could I distinguish all. The enemy +has just ridden out of the gates of the city; Bertrand, if thou wilt +seize him, thou wilt meet him in the ravine two miles from hence. He is +not to be mistaken, he wears a red coat, and a blue cloak over it, in +consequence of the threatening rain, he has spread his white +handkerchief over his new hat, by these marks he will be clearly enough +known to you: he is an elderly man, who, I should think, has never been +a soldier. Bring him here safe and sound with his dispatches." + +Bertrand took with him two assistants, and mounted on light ponies, +they hurried down the mountain towards the well known ravine. + +Lacoste listened to these instructions with staring eyes: "Little +brother," said he thoughtfully, "if thy information be at all true, thy +little finger has more penetration than the whole of my large body. But +I still believe, thy red-coated courier will not be found in the circle +of created beings, and good Bertrand will have been made a little bit +of an April-fool by his general, in order to afford some innocent +amusement to the bridal pair. If it's not all a humbug, well and good, +more must be said about it when an opportunity occurs." + +"May it not be allowed to-day," began young Stephen, blushing up to the +eyes, "to play a little on the flute?" while he was yet asking, he took +it in his hand, and Roland smilingly gave his assent. He first played a +psalm, and after they had gravely chimed in with him, the fair-haired +amateur, to please the company, gave a few worldly, airs. The swarthy +Eustace, who was now quite convalescent sprang merrily forward, and +cried: "Brother! if thou lovest me, play, to enliven me, the old dance +of the Cevennes, to which formerly, in my youth, we tripped so gaily." + +The young man modestly commenced his melody, and as he received no +interruption, he continued to play with renewed vigour, and it was not +long before several, castanets were heard with their pleasing +clattering, so that Eustace could no longer, resist singing aloud, with +the most grotesque gestures, and jumping round the circle highly +delighted. The little shoemaker Anton, as well as the still younger +François could not withstand so enticing an invitation, they danced as +partners, and several other young people came forward to exhibit their +rustic dexterity. + +An old, careworn man now came from the wood and cried: "As this is to +be a day of merriment, suffer then my son, the silly Michael, to +receive a little honor; besides, consider his small capacity for +prophecying, formerly when a shepherd in the fields, he learned several +inimitable capers, which well deserve to be seen. The tall lad has such +strong legs, that he can spring almost to the height of a man." + +Michael, a robust, tall lad of an idiotic appearance, advanced +sneakingly and lazily, turning his little blue eyes timidly and +inquisitively round on the circle, and as he thought he perceived no +disapprobation any where, he suddenly changed his lagging laziness into +the most surprising activity, and jumped backwards two or three yards +high, turned head-over-heels in the air, and ran over the ground in the +same manner, and was so souple in all his motions, that it was scarcely +possible for the eyes to follow his changes. Eustace, in amazement, +clapped his hands over his head, and the young lads in admiration tried +to imitate their unattainable model. With the loud laughter, which the +comical jestures and attitudes excited, the merry Stephen was compelled +to suspend his blowing for awhile, and the whole enclosure, when the +old and religious men had retired, appeared only a merry, nay, +extravagantly joyous company, which the bride, and even the grave +Castanet, by their loud applause encouraged to new and still more +extraordinary feats of skill. + +As the grass was already tolerably beaten down, the dance might be +continued with greater safety; and now old Favart stepped upon the +level ground, and said: "As we are celebrating a festival to-day, pray +permit for once, that the brothers Mark Anthony and Cesar may perform +some of their exploits, they think, that they know some more refined +amusements, which would contrast very well with the high leaping and +peasant dances." + +The two ci-devant noblemen after this short preface, exhibited in the +then customary dances of the more refined society, but these did not +excite that admiration among the spectators, with which Michael had +been encouraged; the wilder exertions therefore resumed their place, +and the noblemen found themselves compelled to conform to this taste, +if they wished to share in the festivity. Many other instruments struck +up, a flute resounded, a hautboy was raised, and between these and +Stephen's pipe a flageolet was heard, mingled at intervals with the +loud and merry song of the mountaineers; now the air of a dance, now +old national songs, and merriment and jesting resounded loudly through +the wood, so that the cliffs of the adjacent precipices repeated with +joyful echo the tones of wild gaiety. + +The merry-making, that to-day, once in motion, would have lasted +longer, had it not been suddenly interrupted and broken up by a +terrible outcry. The fearful sound proceeded from the summit of a +pointed cliff, which rose almost perpendicularly over the green sward +to the scene of the joyous tumult. All eyes turned quickly thither, and +they beheld a demoniacal figure with upraised, extended arms, face, +head, and body coloured and besmeared with blood. Once again the +lunatic shouted, and then ran and precipitated himself down the steep +rock into the arms of the brethren. It was the wrathful Ravanel. "Curse +you! curse! ye apostates!" screamed he, "as if mad; that ye thus forget +the Lord! Lamenting, mourning, discoloured with the blood of our +brethren, of the enemy and with my own, shed in the holy cause, I +returned to summon ye to vengeance, and I find the idolators here in +the heathenish dance round the golden calf. Thus Moses descending from +Sinai, in his wrath broke the tables of the law, as I now in my burning +zeal, curse the bond that unites me to ye, ye impious ones!" + +They tried to pacify the zealot. Stephen had long since replaced his +pipe, the dancers stood at an embarrassed distance, and Eustace, who +could as quickly turn from prayer to the dance as from this to that, +was already sunk in profound meditation. "My brother," shouted the +infuriated man anew, "has been executed to-day at Florac, ten believers +have suffered martyrdom with him; I wished to rescue them, but have +been beaten back with my brethren with a great deal of bloodshed, and +in the mean while we forget our God, our misery, our faith, thus +scandalously bring curses on yourselves, voluntarily draw down the +malediction of heaven, the scornful laugh of hell voluntarily upon +ye,--does no fire then fall down upon the scum? does not the earth open +and swallow the iniquitous bands? Howl! howl! ye laden with sin, and +roll in the dust, smite on your stony hearts and be contrite before +the Almighty, that peradventure his mercy may awaken and a look of +grace from the fiery wrath of his eye may light upon ye." + +He threw himself down and writhed on the ground. "Mercy! mercy!" roared +he in convulsions,--"No, there is no compassion, mercy is a lie, love +is no more!"--"Now is woe come upon us!" sighed Eustace, "our brother is +again fallen into his ravings! assist me with your prayers, beloved +brethren, that his reason may become strong again.--" He threw himself +on his knees by his side and prayed fervently. Duplant and Salomon came +forward, that they might help the old man in his supplications; but for +the present their good intention had no influence on the lunatic, who +was exclaiming as if unconsciously, while he was trying to tear himself +away from the arms of his friends who were supporting him. "Whither art +thou fled," cried he, "lost, wandered away, thou great inexpressible +being, whom we with stammering tongue wish to call God? It was a +fearful, a terrible event, when before the beginning of time, created +spirits in their arrogance rebelled against him, and would be God and +ruler and crush and annihilate him. Then he withdrew himself from the +rebels through the whole heaven of heavens, through all the starry +infinities, through the immensity of space, which thought alone can +reach, presentiment alone can fathom, and the audacious ones lonely and +abandoned, in their malice, bitter as gall in their wrathful fire, in +impotent fury, were transfixed and turned to stone and in their dark +interior their last, their expiring consciousness is lost, those are +the cliffs, the stony rocks, the deep masses of granite, which reach +far into the centre of the earth and still rise up in defiance over +clouds and vapour: that is the flesh and bone of the arrogants that the +earth is now compelled to bind together as with a cramp iron. Then +malice, wrath and discontent as if extinct; Yea, the flame expired, +when it should have nourished itself. Was it lost, departed love +recovering itself again, which would collect and burst from its +powerless state. Figures move in the sea, in the air, and on the earth, +and all persecute, hate, kill one another; bloodthirstiness is delight, +lacerations, tearing asunder, martyrdom and devourings of one another +are raiment and food. Yea, malice is now for the first time awakened +into life, if it contracts and unites itself with the sentiment of +love, thou hoary darkness of the primeval rocks, and as a lighted brand +penetrates into the bones of the snuffing lions and tigers, and roars +in the waterfall, that crumbles the mountains and thirst in the fiery +torrent, that greedily eats its way to the stream and siding with his +brother, the storm, swallows up woods and fields, and mocking as dead +spits forth from itself the former existence as dead, cold as ashes." + +Edmond turned away with indignation, and said: "Woe to thee slanderous +tongue that in perverted folly takest upon thee to disfigure the most +holy, and inspirest superstitious rage." + +"Why are you thus unjust?" said Lacoste smiling, "it affords me +inexpressible pleasure to hear for once so cool and impartial a +philosopher reason thus conclusively. One does not meet every day with +anything so good." The others became outrageous, and were still more +fervent in their prayers. Ravanel foamed and continued crying out: "But +how pious is the world, how mildly the brand still searches into the +bowels of all! Then man came forth, the image of God, as he calls +himself, and now in him hell first broke out in glowing, purple +triumph, the loud joyful laugh of inward horror. Whatever subtilty can +invent, imagination create, the wildest dream depict, and +voluptuousness can attain, will turn into martyrdom, into cutting off +the beings that give themselves out as their brother. All the pulses of +the everlasting Satan beat joyously. Here is God! exclaims the brood, +murder, torture them! here is Christ! roar the others, and slay the +adversaries. Does an eye from heaven behold? Do the stars know of us? +will the lost, the nameless one after eternity find himself once more +in his, by himself accursed creation, and will he not then send forth, +epidemics, pestilences, famines, fiery flames, and floods of waters, +together with earth-quakes and a thousand all-powerful deaths on white +horses, in order to crush this his brood, to grind, to powder into +nothing, who scandalously imagine that the sparks of his spirit dwell +in them. He, He himself inspires them? Yea no future hell; we are it +and live in it, prophecied from the ancient prophets mouth. We dust of +dust, we curse of curse!" + +Now the prayer of the prophet seemed to operate with greater fervour, +for the voice of Ravanel died away, he appeared to sink into slumber +totally exhausted, and Lacoste said: "Oh that this pithy syllogism +should be thus interrupted, he might have added to the preceding +several other arguments just as bold and subtle." + +Bertrand now returned with the courier prisoner, whom he had met in the +ravine. "Behold," said Lacoste to himself, "all corresponds, either +these are slyer devils, than they have ever been considered, or there +is some other devilry in the game, which is still strange enough." + +The courier, a rather elderly man, was raised from his horse, his +dispatches had already been taken from him. "Who are you?" asked +Cavalier. "Ah your excellency," stammered the embarrassed man, "Now I +am, indeed, nothing but an insignificant ambassador, formerly a surgeon +in the royal guards." + +"Your Name?" + +"Dubois, by your leave." + +When he announced himself as surgeon, he was commanded to bind up the +wounds of Ravanel and several of the other brethren. Cavalier and +Roland discovered from the papers the position of the royal troops, and +it was decided to anticipate the attack. As they intended to dispatch a +trusty person to reconnoitre the country, Edmond stepped forward and +said: "As yet I have not been able to do any thing for you, my dearest +brethren, intrust this commission to me." It was granted to him, and he +retired to dress according to his own ideas, in a manner befitting his +design; Lacoste, who would never separate from him, now pressed forward +again as his companion. As soon as they had discussed and ordered every +thing, Cavalier proposed, that the courier should be detained until +they should have brought their plan to a fortunate conclusion, and +Castanet with his young wife repaired to the leafy hut, that had been +got ready for them both, while the darkness of night set in. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + +Edmond intended visiting the valleys under pretext of inquiring after +and purchasing an estate and castle in the district, that were +abandoned by the owner, and now for sale. He had become acquainted with +an aged secular priest, who dwelt in a beautifully situated village of +a charming valley, and his companion had under other pretences taken up +his quarters in a neighbouring village. As Edmond wandered solitarily +through the enchanting landscape, for the purpose of acquainting +himself with its conveniences, his heart became oppressed as he +struggled to know if the object, that led him hither might in itself be +a good, whether it might be a justifiable one. "Shall I," said he to +himself, "bring war into these peaceful valleys, where hitherto no +noise of arms has ever resounded? Here the monsters still slumber, +which we are going to awaken, in order to provide victims even in these +communes for their grim jaws." He quieted his perturbed feelings with +the thought, that without his assistance the royalists would march +hither, for the purpose of entangling and, if possible, extirpating his +new brethren from this part of the country, which was almost wholly in +the possession of Catholic inhabitants. + +His host, the Catholic priest, was a very little grey-haired man, who, +with just as old and amiable a housekeeper lived under the vines and +olive trees, that shaded his dwelling so quietly and peaceably, that +Edmond on his first entrance was involuntarily reminded of the fable of +Philemon and Baucis. He could not divest himself of the idea, that in +this habitation the earliest and dearest recollections of his childhood +were hovering round him, he was confounded at himself, that his wrath, +his burning, religious zeal seemed here nearly exhausted, he was almost +obliged to confess that it was forgotten. He meditated and dreamed in +the rustling of the trees, by the murmuring of the little waterfall, +how softly his soul melted away, and his resolution, like that of +Rinaldo's in the enchanted garden of Armida, lost all its strength. +When he could not regain his former energy in his waking dreams, as he +strolled by the side of the brook, he called it the stream of oblivion, +where he now enjoyed the vernal gales and flower breathing elysium and +in Lethe separating himself for ever from the world of strife and +suffering. + +The clergyman had also received the youth with the greatest cordiality; +whenever Edmond returned from his rambles, such pleasure beamed on the +countenance of the old man, that the stranger felt himself bound to his +host by kindliness and emotion. The latter frequently examined him +fixedly and as if he had known him already at an earlier period, and +then sank into a reverie as if he could not connect his recollections. + +"My dear Chevalier de Valmont," (thus Edmond had named himself) +commenced the old man on the second day, as they sat at table, "the +longer you are with me, the greater pleasure do I experience in your +society. An extraordinary resemblance to an old friend almost compels +me to treat you as a beloved brother, nay, I may say as a son. It is +long since any stranger has visited me in my solitude, here I learn but +little of the world, and that is why such a visit as yours is so +acceptable to me." "I too am delighted with your society," replied +Edmond, "and I ask myself not without sadness, wherefore it should not +be granted to man to spend his days in peaceful quiet, elevated and +instructed by nature, enlivened and comforted by the simplest and most +delightful enjoyments." + +"Perhaps this will be your fate my good sir." answered the priest with +vivacity, "perhaps we may then see each other very often and +confidentially, if you should only, become the possessor of yonder +castle, which is scarcely half a league distant from hence." + +"And," said Edmond hesitatingly,--"if the war should rush down here +also? should this castle, this house here be consumed in flames? Where +is safety in our times?" "The Lord will protect us replied the priest, +as he has done heretofore." "And should he confer victory on the foes?" +"His will be done," prayed the old man, "for his decree is wisdom, he +is just and good, and with his might dwells love." "It almost appears," +said Edmond surprised, "that you will not be disinclined to grant +victory to the rebels; at least you express yourself so mildly, that I +do not recognise in you the Catholic, as zealous for his religion as, +however, he ought to be." + +"Let us not misunderstand each other," replied the priest, "I only +mean, that I surrender myself intirely, wholly, and unconditionally to +the will of my Lord, and resign the reins to him without murmuring, or +contending. But I love my religion, I am thoroughly imbued with it, and +on that very account be it far from me to banish these poor deluded +ones and to call down a curse upon their heads." + +"You are thus a worthy servant of your religion," answered Edmond, "and +deserve that the enlightening should be made manifest to you." + +The venerable man looked smilingly on the youth and said: "You have now +betrayed yourself young gentleman,--do not blush," continued he in the +mildest tone, "fear nothing from me; you are not the less welcome to me +on that account. Perhaps we shall understand, when we have learnt to +know each other and perhaps not; but you shall ever remain my beloved +guest, may become also my friend, although it may happen that I should +blame your enthusiasm, or your fanaticism. How many worthy, noble, +truly inspired, loving minds have I also known among the Huguenots and +how many harsh and pitiless ones in my own church. It is now indeed a +woeful time in our country, and moreover, we see as yet no end to the +misery." + +Edmond had recovered from his surprise and embarrassment, and said: "Is +it though right, to remain thus indifferent and irresolute as you +appear to me to be? Yet, perhaps, at a later period of life I shall +also feel thus, for my father, to my sorrow, spoke almost as you do." + +"You do not know me yet," answered the priest, "and I may well assert, +without pretention, that sentence ought not to be pronounced so hastily +and so readily on a man, who has had such experience of himself and of +the world, who has reflected and really lived. In religious affairs +particularly, my brain whirls in agony, when I see how so many place +the whole tenor of a profound mystery in a book, an expression, a +phrase, or even a syllable, and weigh the immensity of love in grains +and scruples, that they may know the faster how surely their brother is +to be damned, who in other countries and with different vessels draws +out of the ocean of grace. Whoever too hastily gives a yes, or a no to +the interrogations of the conscience, in such assuredly neither doubt, +nor conviction is as yet awakened. That exhaustion, that mournful +faintness which comes over us, when we see all parties fallen into +error, all truth and inspiration mingled and disfigured by human +passion, is not to be called indifference. Whom the revealed word has +once enlightened can never again forget the glance of love, that has +arisen in his inmost soul, he would rather forfeit his life than his +conviction, he requires no proofs, no renewing to confirm him, no +passion, no illusion, or miracle to ground him more firmly in himself, +as little will raillery, or doubt, brilliant talent, or presumptuous +philosophy, again be able to displace in his heart that directing +star." + +Edmond became thoughtful. "You are recalling," said he at length, +"my former existence within me; I believe I comprehend you, and +yet formerly I did not understand myself. You even mention the +miraculous and similar things slightingly, do we not live in the age of +such things? Oh! my honoured, venerable friend, could you have beheld +what I have seen, could I tell you what I have myself experienced, you +would then be bewildered at yourself and your own conviction, but you +content yourself in peace, that you may escape the conflict, you deny +the gift of prophecy, the visions, the wonderful state of these +children and inspired Camisards, or censure with your church all, as +deception and falsehood, if perchance you do not, as however I cannot +believe of you, agree with the most infamous, and declare it the work +of Satan and of hell." "Aye, no, my young enthusiast," cried the old +man, "nothing of all this; I have spoken with sensible men, and I have +witnessed myself years ago similar singularities: Why should I deny +these miracles, and may be, here and there mingled with lies, what +should deter me from believing in them?" + +"Well, nevertheless," interrupted Edmond passionately, "you will +withdraw from the truth, you will uphold only your church as truly +orthodox?" + +"Has mine then no miracles to bring forward?" said the old man meekly: +"and why should I not recognise them? But should the truth of +revelation be grounded upon these alone, we were then indeed entrapped +in the worst of errors. That, which habit renders necessary to us, we +call nature and its laws: When I see a deviation from this, which +surprises and confounds me, I speak of miracles; as if these so named +laws were not likewise miracles; as if I were able to interpret, to +comprehend and explain the daily phenomena; as if each flower did not +blossom before me as a miracle; my origin, growth and decay, sun, moon, +and stars, light, air, and water, nay, the organisation of the smallest +fly were not also miracles like horror and spectre. All life surrounds +me spiritually, miraculously; or, if my spirit is torn out of the +peaceful element of its heavenly atmosphere; then love becomes hatred +and despair, and wisdom as well as the revealed word of the Lord +madness and blasphemy." Edmond was mute. "Know I then," continued the +old man, "that which I call nature and its energies, the mind and its +faculties? how each day it varies in different men for the most +insignificant occasions! The poet, the artist knows how to speak of +feelings, which to the uninitiated must appear as delirium, or miracle: +energies unfold themselves, of which the former world was ignorant, +many others have in the course of time declined, or have been +forgotten; they appear again probably to astonish, or to give a firmer +foundation to true science. Would my mind set limits to the Almighty, +and know I, what God from wise, unsearchable causes will permit or +execute? but no miracle can ever be elevated to a religious mystery; +revelation requires not this to announce its eternal truth; the Saviour +himself did not perform his miracles for that purpose, and reproaches +the pharasees and people; miracle seeking testifies disbelief and +irreligion, and where passion, party or sect, in the conflict of +opinions, relies upon these inexplicable phenomena and wish to found +conviction, or even to prove and explain for ever and ever out of what +is indefinite, then is it all over long since with every sincere +examination, with all true religion." + +"And the resurrection of the Lord?" said Edmond. "Is not," said the +former, "to be reckoned among the phenomena, commonly called miracles, +if the grosser, unenlightened mind can indeed comprehend them only in +this manner." "Go on," said Edmond, "to make your opinions clear to me, +I am not yet too old to learn." "It happens not unfrequently," resumed +the priest "that remorse and despair either in criminals or in weak, +sickly men have produced a sudden cure of old paralysis, so that the +strength of the arm has been able to tear off their fetters, or to +break iron posts; passion or terror exasperated that man, and gave him +what in an ordinary state he did not possess. In dreams, in sickness, +strange worlds are often discovered to us, and unknown feelings, +scarcely foreboded, are presented to our view, and thus it may well +happen, nay, I have myself experienced it, that in excited minds, +inspired by enthusiasm, remorse, and passion, a state, as if between +sleep and wakefulness, originates, in which, in the struggles of the +organs, the spirit breaks in a short time through the bonds that +confine it; it sees and hears as a spirit, distance approaches it, +barriers obstruct not its view, futurity becomes the present, and in +this total overthrow, the original vigour of the soul resumes its own +appropriate right." + +"And wherefore should not this, according to your own words," said +Edmond, "be able to be pure and heavenly?" + +"I will neither combat, condemn, nor ratify it," answered the +clergyman, "were our nature entirely pure and refined, had we never +falsified our heavenly origin, then indeed might these phenomena +deserve our praise and thanksgiving to the Almighty, who again ever +raises us to the rank of apostles, and denies us not the gift of +prophecy. But frivolity, mortality, and evil have penetrated into us, +this death obscures our life, this annihilation struggles against our +spirit, as we are of heavenly origin; our outward existence is, +however, as well as our spiritual operations continually exposed to +this pitiful enemy, as the shadow, it follows every thought and every +deed, and to combat it in thought and action, as well as in pure faith +and devotion, is the task of our existence; the past must be +continually put aside to make room for the coming, of the Lord. But woe +to us when that wonderful excitement of the mind, when these gifts of +prophecy associate themselves with this nullity, this chaos, and all +the dark passions! Then eternal truth, which never slumbers within us, +summons falsehood, vanity, pride, wickedness, and bloodthirstiness, to +enter into the shadowed gloom of our dark deformed soul, hyenas and +tigers then tear themselves free from their fetters, and hapless man +imagines, while the spirit of murder is roaring within him, that the +Spirit of the Lord is prophesying directly from out of his mouth." + +Edmond looked at him searchingly. "Often, however," pursued the old man +composedly, "it is only the Immortal Spirit, that collects all its +present and future energies, that it may step beyond the ordinary +limits of nature, and that it merely takes with it the images of folly, +and the almost innocent mask, in order to announce even in the +supernatural, that which is absurd and contrary to nature." + +"If you are right." said Edmond, "what do you counsel those, who are +thus gifted? This state must be a most critical one; but how +disembarrass yourself of it?" + +"By simplicity of conduct," replied the old man, "by estrangement from +all passion and pride, and by pure prayer for the deliverance from this +error, and from the deluding gift." + +"That signifies," answered Edmond passionately and bitterly, "I ought +to entreat the Lord to withdraw from me, I ought to pray to him to +remain far away from me; in order to become godly, I must commence with +consummate impiety. Is it thus that a priest of the Lord can exhort and +counsel? but thus they are, thus they speak, these persecutors. And if +they be but consistent, they must also entirely deny the miracles of +their church, nay, even censure sacred Scripture as a lie." + +"You have not indeed completely understood me, young man," answered the +priest. "May not the ardour of love kindle so intensely, that the +matter, the obscurity, the nothingness in us, may become temporally +annihilated, and our speech, with the Lord's permission working in his +strength may issue forth? That this may be possible, the example of the +apostles teaches us, the prophets bear witness; that many great saints +whom the world venerated, may have thus spoken and worked, is certainly +credible.--And thus belief may move and elevate, it may be a positive +crime to mock reservation,--but what can this avail true religion, or +its mysteries? How weak would it be, if these supports, as I have +already said, were indispensable to it! The miracle of all miracles, my +young friend, is the great moment which is revealed to all sinning, +hapless mortals in their limited life, when the lord himself advances +to meet the penitent, the indifferent, and creates his heart anew. This +metamorphosis is more wonderful incomprehensible, and more mysterious +than all the overthrows of the laws of nature, which attract the eye +searching for miracles, for here out of nothing something is brought +forth, out of death, suddenly like a flash of lightning, life is +created." + +They were disturbed at this moment by several peasants, who were +begging directions from their priest how to proceed respecting the +approaching festival and procession. Edmond in the mean while walked +about the little garden, variously excited and inclined to +contemplation, for his earlier youth had been recalled to his +remembrance, many of his father's words, many of his early +instructor's, his mother's admonitions were again revived within him. +The clergyman returned after a short time and said: "Still I must ever +lovingly admire the human mind, when it preserves itself pure, and so +many sentiments and customs affect, while they appear to us childish, +and foolish. Let no severe judge expunge these feelings from our +religion, for even, these sucklings will hang on their mother's breast, +and while they nourish themselves, they gaze in her dark eyes, whose +expression they understand more from the instinct of childhood than +from knowledge. We have here in our little church a miraculous portrait +of the mother of God, which is renowned and honored far and wide by the +country-people of the mountain. An old shapeless figure cut in wood of +small size, probably in the early age of art, when it was yet scarcely +aware of its own existence. I have seen the sick, when they prayed +before the altar, restored to health, for faith and the commotions of +the mind are able to bring forth the strongest phenomena in our +delicate nature. Now when I reflect that upon this little spot so many +thousands have for centuries derived consolation and joy, I cannot look +upon her without emotion. The war has rendered a festival impossible +this year, which otherwise has annually been celebrated on the morrow. +From several village communities, even from those which lie twelve +leagues off, processions of the communities arrived; eight young girls +crowned with flowers bore the portrait of the Madonna of their church, +singing all those hymns, which sound so beautifully in the mountain +dialect in their tunes: Thus they walked round the church and one +procession after another brought many with spiritual songs into our +temple, here the strange visitor must bow low before ours, who then in +a chaunt thanked and praised the Lord, in the song which our young +women here sing most enchantingly in alternate chorusses. Thus all the +processions bring in their mother of God quite similar to the theories +of the ancient Greeks, and retired again in praise and thanks. This +ceremony, which to the wise may only appear puerile, has, since I have +been able to observe the people here, always produced much good and +salutary fruit. The common man (though what do I say, who among us that +calls himself the educated,) need not such things at times. The whole +village all the winter long rejoiced in the anticipation of this day, +the possession of this Marie endears this spot of the mountain, and +renders it invaluable to them, the pilgrimage church here dazzles to +the absent from a distance as if surrounded with a glory. The wandering +through unknown districts encouraged the young and old, the visitings +of a foreign nature, made the accustomed home more agreeable to them. +Religious sentiments, pious designs, were developed, and at a later +period, in peace brought to perfection. On the road they encountered +the poor and sick, who needed assistance, all the feelings of the heart +were renewed and reinvigorated, for man requires a similar renewal at +times, that he may not become too monotonous to himself. Shall I also +remind you, that by this means their native land became to all more +endeared and beloved? without mentioning, that people from far +countries became acquainted, and one heard of this and that from +another; affection and also marriages were contracted among the distant +mountaineers, and thus the useful, the good with piety and an +inclination for the wonderful, as well as the love of nature went hand +in hand." "All this," said Edmond, "however much you may speak in its +favour, the Huguenots call idolatry." + +"It would be so too," answered the old man, "if persecution, hatred and +malice, were excited by this love and festivity. It might be perilous +to celebrate the festival now, especially if it should be interrupted +by enthusiasts of the other party. In bygone years, however, I have +seen even protestants, who were unable to look upon the puerile +ceremony without shedding tears. For it is just in a similar way, when +man suffers himself to yield to his most cherished sentiments as if he +were at home, when in an entirely childish and artless spirit he draws +near to his God, or to his representative, his mother, or the saints, +(whom he believes nearer to the nameless one,) plays and sports with +the dreaded, the worshipped, laying aside all solemnity and all serious +pomp, then does mankind appear purest and simplest. All ages, all +nations are the same, let them think and worship as they like, have +never been able to do entirely without it, and what we are often +compelled to hear from free-thinkers or reformers, that we have again +introduced the old overthrown idolatry, is only, if rightly understood, +in the spirit of love, the regeneration of the human mind, which will +never permit this source of its holy thirst to be exhausted. But abuse +and error attach themselves to everything human. Indeed, the most +beautiful body consists merely of earth, and dust; and yet beauty is +more sublime than the moist clay of the fields." + +Thus was Edmond compelled to hear from strange lips his former thoughts +detailed. He was so affected by the presence of the old man, that he +felt himself compelled to discover to him what a zealous catholic he +himself had once been and had but a short time previously turned to the +Huguenot faith; he was silent, however, respecting his alliance with +the Camisards, and the purpose for which he had descended into the +valleys. + +"It is easy to understand," answered the old man, "how lively minds in +these troublous times forsake their party and seek on the opposite +side, what is wanting to them; that love makes such attempts to become +reconciled with itself, even though these attempts should fail. My +dear, young friend, you recall to my mind by your confession, your +countenance and presence my own past youth in the most lively colours, +and I cannot refrain from exchanging confession for confession, +confidence for confidence. I am indeed tempted to impart to you the +history of my little limited life, that has almost only experienced +emotions of the mind." + +They seated themselves in an arbour, before which stood plantains +entwined with vines, the green wooded mountains were open, and the +murmuring of the brook resounded pleasingly through the solitude, while +from to time to time, the bells of the village church on account of the +festival on the morrow, rang out their monotonous and solemn tones. + +"I come from the Netherlands," commenced the priest, "born of +Huguenot parents, whom I lost at a very early period. My guardians, +worldly-minded men, troubled themselves more about the preservation of +my small fortune than of giving me a sound education, and therefore it +happened that I was consigned to a tutor, with whom they, as well as +myself, were very well pleased. He was a man of extensive information, +who had also travelled much, and had resided a considerable time in +London. As he was descended from a good family, and possessed himself +some tact, he became acquainted with and acquired each day the +confidence of many beaux esprits and of the courtiers here, and +although his morals had not suffered as much as one might well have +been led to fear, his religious principles at least, which may never +have been very strong, were by this intercourse entirely stifled and +destroyed. Knowledge, understanding were the most important to him, +however he devoted himself with religious worship to poetry, as well as +to the history of the ancient Greeks. No one could be more eloquent +than he, when he enlarged upon these subjects. That these sentiments, +as I was of a very lively disposition, should influence me, was very +natural; my tutor seemed to me the most gifted of mortals, and his +decisions were my oracles. Though I may still honour his memory, I must +nevertheless censure as a weakness in what then certainly appeared to +me his greatest forte, namely, his unwearied mockery of Christianity +and of every religion; all others rather than the various sects of the +Christian Church, found a release from his satires; the present, as +well as the past, the history of the development, its mysteries, all +was a subject of his derision, and the apostles, even the Saviour +himself, were not spared by him, how much less Luther, or Calvin, and +Zwingli, or even those so named mystics, who desire to form in +themselves a peculiar spirit to recognise God. My mind had soon become +so intimately connected with his, that I could not endure that there +should be any religion for me on the earth, that any pious sentiments +should ever arise in my heart. I had indeed my heroes of the former +world, the Grecian antiquity, the high-minded Romans, in whose +patriotism I glowed in dreams, the boundless fields of poetry with its +gardens of wit and humour; and out of Sophocles and Eschylus, those +dreamers of a world of spirits not understood, these seemed to me the +most sublime objects that could ever have the power to shake my soul. +In a short time I was honestly and truly ashamed of being a Christian, +when I thought of the variegated world of fiction, of the ambiguous +Grecian mythology, of those feasts and spectacles, lofty statues, and +noble temples: Where then were the deliverer on the ignominious cross, +and his impoverished disciples? how this faith of poverty and +misfortune dwindled into nothing compared with those sacrifices and +public parade, and the jubilee of the Pindaric hymns? neither did I +reckon myself among the community, and the dullest day of my young, +life, was that on which I was received into the church of our sect with +the customary ceremonies. Each word seemed nonsense to me, all +solemnity degradation, in anger only I responded to the questions, and +while still in the church, I swore never again to visit it: A +contradictory and foolish oath, which, however, I long observed. At a +later period, when I reentered into the world, I remarked that all, who +were called strong-minded, were either privately or publicly of my +belief. All did not openly mock; the weak disapproved of this outrage, +but only from the feeling of not making weak men err, or become +unhappy, who though had nothing better themselves, or were not able to +produce any thing but the old, miserable tale, that, without a +connexion, one often contradicts the other. Many forcibly denied +altogether the history of the Saviour, with others still worse, he was +merely an unfortunate rebel, and to the best, a moral man, but who +indeed, according to their views must be far inferior to Socrates, +whose life was clearer, and whose doctrines seemed more comprehensible. +Several of these free-thinkers, to whom the catholic church was a +stumbling block, and who, that they might not be considered as +antichristians, turned all the strength of their mind, under pretext of +protecting the protestant freedom, to tear to atoms and to disfigure +their catholic brethren, the history of the church, spiritual and +temporal ordinances, in the most barbarous manner: thus behind this +rampart, they imagined under false names, to be able to annihilate +Christianity itself, for this it was which was hateful to them, not +this, or that party. All this was very evident to me, and I lent my aid +as much as my limited power would permit. I arrived at the age of +maturity, and my opinions only became still more deeply rooted. I +travelled, I saw the world, but only on the side, which confirmed my +prejudices. If I met with pious enlightened Christians, they appeared +to me only as strange disordered spirits, worthy of remark perhaps, of +pity assuredly. In a German town I took out of sheer insolence the book +of a German mystic from the library to my own dwelling, that I might +for want of better amusement, divert myself in the spirit of derision +with the madness of the absurd and the foolish. Unconsciously, I had +brought the fire-brand into my house, which soon set in flames all this +edifice of pride and worldly impiety. I turned over the leaves, read +and laughed, read again and found the puerility at least poetical. The +book left me no rest, I felt as it were attracted to it, it tortured +me, and to my shame I was soon forced to confess to myself, that it +contained connexion, strength, and spirit, that it instructed me, and +that gardens, flowers, and trees of love bloomed, where I had only seen +a waste desert. The presentiment seized me, that another God might rule +the universe than he, whom in my enthusiastic views of nature, or in my +poetical inspirations, I had been willing to discover, or to +acknowledge in the vortex of frivolity. + +"My mind much affected, after some weeks of anxiety and meditation, +longed ardently to read the Holy Scriptures. None of my numerous +acquaintances, even such as were book collectors, or who possessed +extensive libraries, had this book in their households. I felt ashamed, +that I too had never required it. From that time this treasure became +my faithful companion on my travels. I read in solitary and consecrated +moments, and experienced what every thirsty one feels, who is +susceptible of humiliation, in whom the utter sense of helplessness is +not entirely extinct, which, indeed, is so indispensably necessary +before the spiritual word can take root in the uncultivated heart. +Faith! this so often disputed, attacked and variously explained word. +Oh! who has experienced it, in whom it has arisen with its strength, he +will not dispute it. I could not withdraw myself from the revelation, +the faith, so triumphantly did the words, the images, the language of +the gospel glittering in the splendour of arms pierce through my soul, +and all my energies became the prisoners of eternal love, and were now +happy and blessed in the service, in the sweet slavery. My former +rebellion against the Lord appeared to me mean and despicable, and my +contempt turned from its course, no longer understood the folly of its +early wisdom. Many indeed imagine, that faith, humility, and unbounded +trust in the Lord, are nothing else than killing our energies, nay the +faculty of thinking, and consequently withdraw in anger or in trembling +from that work of regeneration, which, nevertheless speaks sometimes +from afar indirectly to their insensible hearts. Unhappy men! This so +much dreaded faith would first elevate their capacities to energies and +kindle new lights and flames in their spirits. Without him, the +revealed Christ, no sense in profound thought, no spirit in history, no +consolation in nature and no peculiarity in our existence. Art, love, +humour, who possesses him, they are then free play-fellows. How joyous, +sweet, yea intoxicating and full of merriment, cheerful, and smiling +does Christianity appear through all the genuine works of modern art, +how blessed and pleasing are they, when in the greatness and fulness of +the old world, yet like a spirit of gentle melancholy that passes away +as the cloud, momentarily over the beautiful landscape in the +brilliancy of spring." The old man paused, and Edmond said: "Oh! how +willingly I listen to you, and remember all the sentiments and +vicissitudes of my stormy youth." + +"What I had before rejected," continued the priest, "now became the +most urgent want of my soul, for I felt, how much a christian +congregation, in unison together, must strengthen and elevate the +individual. I visited the church therefore and wished to join in the +worship of my sect. But whether it was that my mind was too much +agitated, or that I had perhaps fallen on the wrong one, it appeared to +me that every where the church overreached itself by preaching. All +preferred their own explanations, and their close reasoning philosophy +to the word of the Lord, they were all ashamed of Christ and denied him +in artfully spun phrases, they misinterpreted him, merely that they +might bring him nearer to their own weak necessities, as if he and his +disciples must be subservient to their enlightened times, as servants +and sextons of the church. I knew well, that every believing auditor +and layman must be a priest himself to be able by his own power to +transform the worthless into the good, but all my vital energies sank +in the midst of that which surrounded me; the shrill singing stunned +me, and the whole left a void and almost brought me back again to the +state of a despairing infidel. It was certainly unreasonable on my part +to require that all should partake of the intoxication of my newly +planted vineyard. I was now compelled to feel, that fanaticism, and +stepping beyond the limits was yet worse than remaining cold and +apathetic below the mark. I continued my travels, and quarrelled on the +way with my companion, already an old acquaintance, who neither could, +or would not share in all my feelings. Thus we arrived at Nismes; there +my destiny ordained, that I should long remain, in order that my whole +life fully aroused should be determined and resolved. My companion, a +certain Lacoste, introduced me to a house, where new feelings awaited +me, to torture as much as to bless me." + +"Lacoste!" exclaimed Edmond, "should he, perhaps--but proceed my +venerable friend, I may be mistaken." + +"My former friend," pursued the priest, "was tall and robust, a +handsome man in every sense of the word, feeling and kind, but +frivolous, and as far from every religion, as I had been a short time +previously. This friend introduced me to the family of a worthy +magistrate, which soon, as the good man and his excellent wife received +me so hospitably, became my daily abode. They had a son, an amiable +youth whose enthusiasm quickly procured him my confidence, for just as +much as Lacoste disputed all religious principles, young Beauvais +warmly cherished them, voluntary lived in and for religion: he was the +most zealous defender of his Catholic party, that I have ever been +acquainted with." + +"Heavens!" exclaimed Edmond, "you are then, venerable man, the Edmond +Watelet, of whom I have so often heard the Counsellor of Parliament +speak, as the favourite friend of his youth?" + +A long pause ensued.--"It is indeed so," said the aged priest wiping +away his tears, "the young enthusiastic Beauvais must now be an old +man; I too though am become old! Aye, truly, there is a period which +our heart refuses to believe, it is that alone which exalts the life of +each one of us to a strange fiction, to a wonderful tale. He is still +living then? ah, my dear Chevalier, you are yourself very like him. +That is the spell, which so inseparably bound me to you." + +Edmond talked of his father, but notwithstanding his deep emotion, he +felt it was impossible to discover to him at that moment, that he was +his son. After a time during which the old man recovered from his +agitation, he continued more calmly: "That which most contributed to +convert the paternal dwelling of my young friend into an enchanted +garden for me, was the society of the young and beautiful women, who +assembled there. Ha himself was affianced to a lovely girl, and he +ardently anticipated his union with her. His Lucy's sentiments +corresponded exactly with his own, and all that drew them nearer to +each other was more or less imbibed into their existence and grew with +the inspired hymn. The elder Beauvais only smiled at the high-strained +feeling of the young people, for though he was himself pious, he rather +feared that overreaching, and this religious ecstasy appeared to him as +such. I now visited the temple in high spirits with my enthusiastic +friend. The solemnity of God's service, the stillness, the enchanting +singing, the dread-inspiring presentiment which hovered over every +mystery that here tried to present itself visibly to the necessitous, +languishing senses, transported my heart. Already accustomed to look +upon every thing as a riddle, as a concealed mystery of love, the +celebration of the Mass appeared to me as elevated and divine, as +revelation and work of art, as type and fulfilment at the same time, +and each word spoken, or sung as it fell on my ear in the full force of +its signification, drove back a bolt from my heart. Art and nature +changed before my eyes, the element of water became glorified, in the +fire, in the light of the church tapers as well as that of the house, I +perceived and recognised the whole tenor of the secret of nature. The +nights became too short to enable us to impart to each other all that +arose in our minds. A young abbé, a mild, miracle-believing enthusiast +was often the third in our consultations in the open air or within +doors, and his learning, his knowledge in old legends and histories of +the church gave to all our spiritual movements body and presence, yes, +my friend, this rosy period of my youth was like the wedding festival +of my soul, and griefs not to be named were already preparing in the +midst of this enjoyment, in order to teach me how weak, how frail man +is and remains." + +"And this abbé," exclaimed Edmond, who had scarcely heard the last +words, "was he not named Aubigny?" + +"Exactly so," replied the pastor with much astonishment, "it seems +indeed that you know all the companions of my youth." + +"Through the Counsellor of Parliament," answered Edmond, "who also +likes to recall to his memory the season of his youth. But I pray you +to continue your narrative. I fear that that Lacoste did not wish to be +the fourth in your alliance." + +"The unfortunate man," said the priest, "who had already become so +confidential with us, withdrew from us day by day, although he still +continued to visit frequently the paternal dwelling. Notwithstanding +that we had agreed to deal mildly with him, his derision of us excited +our anger, and his coldness refused all our conciliatory endeavours. It +was not predestined, that our days should flow along in peaceful, +undisturbed cheerfulness. + +"Among the young girls that visited my friend's house, the next in +loveliness to his bride, was one Euphemie the most delicate and +beautiful apparition that my eyes had ever beheld. She dazzled less +than Lucy, but she was still more refined more etherial. Her mind was +also already abstracted from this world, her wishes were directed to +the cloister, the life of a nun seemed to her most desirable. +Fortunately this inclination coincided with the views of her parents, +who as it so often happens, wished the whole of the fortune to devolve +on the son, so that he might be able to occupy a more important station +in the world. In order to complete my reformation, the knowledge of +love was only wanting to my deeply affected mind. Euphemie and I drew +near to each other, we became as quickly familiarised as if our being +had for many years been only waiting for this acquaintance. We were as +brother and sister, before we had yet been able to wonder at the +rapidity of this mutual confidence. We soon felt that we could not do +without each other, she could tell me all her thoughts and feelings +more easily and confidingly than she could impart them to her parents, +even more than she ventured to do to her female friends. My heart +floated in the sweetest repose; at the sound of her voice, at the +glance of her mild eye, when I heard her footstep, when she walked in +the garden, nay even when I only thought of her, my mind was as if +plunged in bliss. Even thus the spirits of the pure soar glorified +towards their sacred destiny, estranged from all passion and +inquietude, from all violent incitements. And yet I knew not that I +loved: I had never permitted this word to enter into my mind. + +"We conversed on her future cloistered life, on the saints and their +miracles, and Euphemie had in me the most believing pupil. She lent an +equally attentive ear to my enthusiasm and days and weeks passed away +in a pleasing dream. That Italy, whither indeed I was journeying, was +in the world, I had totally forgotten. + +"Beauvais took possession of a country house, that lay in the most +beautiful part of the country. I followed the family and my adored +Euphemie also accompanied her friends, for the mother, as well as the +son's future bride respected the wonderful girl. What singular +conversations and outpourings of the heart! the earth and all that +surrounded us, to which we must indeed have applied names, vanished +from us, and our spirits as if in the innocence of Paradise lulled +themselves, void of every want, but penetrated with the most innate, +the most holy love. We understood each other without words, and as all +that was earthly had fled, no feelings of jealousy, suspicion, or +distrust arose in our souls. + +"The legends, many of which express a heavenly spirit of resignation to +the mysterious will of the Most High, a renunciation, nay almost an +annihilation of self in fervent love of Christ, a profound mortal +compassion in the endearing adoration, our inebriated enthusiasm was +awakened and nourished especially by those feelings. Many of these +tales are repulsive and contrary to every sentiment, these we discussed +with subtle and ingenious commentaries in order to garnish them with a +milder spirit. But the most beautiful that this species of tradition +has preserved to us, is that, which, however, at the same time is the +most misconceived by the unawakened soul of and which is found absurd +and repulsive by the worldly minded. The life and history of the old +hermits, there may be also much of later invention, to the mind which +is once moved by spiritual things, they present a touching miracle. +What shall I say of the meditations of St. Francis, of his ardent love +and of the visions which arose and were present to this man in the +perfect humility, the compassion, and fervour of his unfettered heart? +He only who has once known the splendour of the world, the insolent +strength appertaining to it, can rightly comprehend this temper of +mind. We also often read the Gospel, and then a trembling, such as has +been frequently observed in many enthusiasts, came over my whole body, +especially when in solitude, for timidity and shame restrained me in +society from exposing my deep emotions to observation. In this frame of +mind, I left Euphemie one morning, some chapters of the Holy Scriptures +had just been read. I threw myself down in the most retired spot in the +garden, in order to give a free course to my tears. The whole world +awakened feelings of pity within me, I experienced such an overflow of +love in my oppressed heart, that it almost burst, in the excess of its +own enjoyment; I read over again the passages in Luke, how Christ met +the poor widow and the dead body of her son, and compassionately +aroused the youth from death. There are no words that can describe the +state of my mind. The elder Beauvais with a suite of servants was just +returning from the chase. He might well be astonished at finding me in +this condition, but he passed me with a mute salutation. I arose, and +now as with a tremendous power it took possession of me. Verily, said I +to myself, as thee no man has ever yet loved; it is the spirit of God, +of the Father himself that stirs within thee to gladden to love, to +sympathise with all; in these, these exalted moments I felt impressed +with the eternal truth, that I myself, I was the son, the God from +God,---and what should prevent me from moving these trees, these stones +with the word of life, that they might change into other forms, and +attest my might, shall I beckon to the angels that hover round me, +visibly to appear to do my service?--Yes! let it be attempted, +ventured--Then trembling and fear came over me, I was stunned and in +despair; in contrite humility I cast myself down before my Creator, I +felt myself undone, now that I perceived my devilish arrogance which +had risen out of pure humility and love; I had experienced the most +fearful apostacy from God, just at the moment when with all my +faculties I felt myself nearer to him. + +"This moment in which my spirit became dizzy on the verge of insanity +and frenzy, has since then ever seemed to me the most terrible one in +my life. I now understood myself and human nature, and also the danger +of enthusiastic raptures of love. I had then indeed myself trodden the +bridge over which all enthusiasts have passed, the narrow path (ever +shining brightly, though hell lies beneath it) between virtue and vice, +between wisdom and presumption, which leads from love and kindliness to +hatred and murder, and I had now learned what an unholy spirit had +moved the Anabaptists, and Adamites, and perhaps now glows and rages in +many a heart among the rebels. Oh! my son, man is a most frail and +pitiable being, the more is lent to him, the more has he to answer for, +the brighter the spirit of love glows within him, the darker burns his +reprobation; his gifts granted to him from heaven, may become his dire +enemies, there is no one either that stands so fast, but that he may +also fall. My legends had already taught me that, but I was doomed to +feel it first in this fatal downfall." + +"Therefore still hell and devil?" cried Edmond after a long pause. +"However mildly you spoke and sentenced at first, the priestly +condemnation follows in the end. Oh thou unfortunate Cavalier and +Marion! and ye unhappy children, on whose lisping tongues Satan himself +laid the name of the Lord, and the awaking to repentance." + +"What then shall we call that?" said the old man mildly, "which works +directly against God? We require not certainly that fearful figure, +which perversity has imagined, in order to represent him personally; we +need not indeed ascribe to him those tremendous attributes, which the +miracle-seeking has invented, fabulously enough, but so much the worse +for us, the weaker, the more powerless he in himself is: how feeble are +we then to permit ourselves to be so ignominously overcome by this +shadow, this delusion, this inefficiency, this nothingness? How our +priests may censure these suggestions and represent them as devilish I +know not, but it suffices for me, that I have experienced in myself, +that such a feeling of all our energies may exist in us in divine love, +which then does not proceed from God, but from his despicable +adversary, and of which we must beware, because we, the image of God, +through our own demerits are, as it were, only shadows of shadows." + +The old man arose, and walked several times up and down the garden, to +subdue the emotion, which these recollections had excited. Edmond +remained behind in deep thought, and compared the narrative of the +pastor with his own experience. Should he now view them in an other +light, or wish them effaced from the career of his life? He would have +been more satisfied, could he have heartily embittered his feelings +against the old man, towards whom, however, inclination as well as the +intercourse of soul in which he had spent his youth with his own parent +attracted him. The pastor came back smiling, and seated himself again +by the side of the subtle investigator. "It cannot be otherwise in +life," recommenced he, "each sentiment, each society, each disposition +and friendship has its history, all ascends, attains the highest summit +and falls again. Thus had the most delightful concord in our singular +intimacy already vanished, before we had been able to perceive a +change. The impetuous Lacoste had conceived a violent passion for Lucy, +and the gentle, pious creature felt very unhappy on that account, +although she at same time became reserved towards young Beauvais. At +first the latter was embarrassed at this, then vexed and irritated +against Lacoste, to whom until now he had been greatly attached, whilst +he thought that a secret inclination for this impetuous man had thus +visibly estranged his bride from him. In this mutual constraint, the +two friends avoided each other, they were however compelled to meet in +company: An explicit communication and reciprocal understanding seemed +impossible, so that the rancour took even deeper root, especially with +Lacoste, who, after some time, made but little effort to restrain from +publicly betraying his aversion to Beauvais. But the state of my own +feelings was such, that I was soon disqualified from observing others +around me. Euphemie's brother, the pride of his family, fell into an +illness, which had all the appearance of consumption, and now the +parents thought of marrying their daughter to a man of distinction, +that through her their name and large fortune might be perpetuated in +the world. When Euphemie first spoke to me on this subject, she was +wholly unembarrassed; her voice was as firm and steady as if she were +speaking of a friend. I felt as if she were relating to me a silly +improbable tale, so pure, exalted, and unattainable had my fancy +painted her. I could almost just as easily have persuaded myself that a +scheme of marriage was projecting with the evening star. But at night, +on my solitary couch, the aspect of affairs took another form: Again +was I doomed to learn, and how painfully! to know myself and the world. +Is she to belong to the world? I asked myself, wherefore then not first +to me? To me, to whom she already belongs, as my soul dwells in hers! + +"The concealed ardour, which until now had slumbered in the sweetest +intoxication, burst through its bud and blossomed, and shone forth like +a rare flower, which unfolded a thousand purple leaves. I felt now +thoroughly, for the first time, that what until then I had considered +merely earthly, was of heavenly origin. I deemed myself called upon in +my pure love to renew as a real sacrament, the sublime symbol of +marriage, in such holy perfection as it is seldom, perhaps never, found +on earth. Euphemie was terrified at my plans, my ardent persuasions, +and my enterprising spirit. The more her hesitation, her timidity +increased my passion, the more did I appear to her a strange being, +whom until then she had not known at all. She was to be awakened from +her peaceful repose, thus my love desired it, but she was shocked at +the thought of grieving her parents in any way, to oppose them was with +her an unnatural sin, and all that I urged about elopement, force, and +death, only confused her delicate mind, as in the roaring of the +waterfall no speech can be heard. My high wrought passion grew almost +to frenzy; that she did not love me, that I was hateful to her, that +already she turned her affections on her bridegroom, whom I jealously +cursed, menacing to kill both him and myself: to all these frantic +expressions she listened with a suffering and endearing patience. Thus +then was this heaven destroyed for me, and black demons grinned on me +from the same places, where before my intoxicated ear had heard the +flapping of angel's wings, from whence formerly a sweet smile from a +radiant countenance bloomed on me like roses sparkling with dew in the +rosy light of morning. + +"Verily my soul becomes young again, when I think on those days. Oh! he +grows not old, who lives only in the solitude of his recollections, as +I do. With poor Lacoste things went on still worse than with myself. He +wasted away, and wished for death. Often did he call upon it with +fearful words. There was something heart-rending in his look. My friend +Beauvais had also become pale, his youth was evaporating. Oh! there is +nothing so terrible as to be compelled to doubt the worth of the +beloved object; that gives more pain than despised affection. And in +these pangs the hapless man was now perishing. Lucy was a puzzle to me +also, when I was able to direct a look at her, she as well as Euphemie +were constrained and timid, sought, and at the same tine avoided +solitude, longed to pour out the overflowings of the heart to each +other or their beloved, yet could not find the time, or perhaps, could +not exert sufficient courage. All the same men, who, but a short time +previously sounded in concord together like heavenly tones, now +screamed in yelling discord against one another; the apparent sanctity +had changed into human folly, and each understood the other as little +as himself. The elder Beauvais seemed to guess a little the horrible +confusion, for he frequently looked at us all with dark and penetrating +glances. + +"At length this twisted knot disentangled itself again. Euphemie's +brother began to recover, the former projects were brought forward +again, and my overwhelming passion was compelled to give place by +degrees to a calm resignation. This only was the case, for I was +determined to make good my supposed rights, until I perceived that the +delicate Euphemie must perish in this storm; Lucy at length declared +herself for Beauvais, and it was discovered, that his too intimate +intercourse with Lacoste was alone the cause of her reserve towards +him. The fear had risen within her, that he himself might be inclined +to the free-thinking opinions of his rival. So great was her love to +her church, that she had resolved, rather to sacrifice her dear +betrothed than to live in the proximity of persuasions, which she +considered as utterly profane. And it is true, the more zealous we were +to recognise truth and divinity in one form only, the more did Lacoste +seize every opportunity to express his incredulity. Indeed, however, +miserable he felt within himself, he sought by a certain vanity to +avail himself of every occasion to prove his strength of mind in +mockery, and in violent bursts of passion, his wretchedness had given +such a bitter turn to his feelings, that sometimes he stood amongst us +like an inspired prophet of Atheism, used such singular similies and +figurative expressions, in a language so touching and elevated, that +the pious maidens turned away from him with inward terror. + +"We had all ceased to weep, we were reconciled and of peaceable, quiet +hearts, when Lacoste entered in the midst of our pathetic emotion and +religious conversation. Beauvais made known to him what he had learned +from Lucy, and that he (Lacoste) must quit our society in order that he +might not disturb the happiness of the lovers and their approaching +marriage, perhaps even render it impossible. This blow fell +unexpectedly on the unfortunate Lacoste; his whole emaciated, care-worn +frame trembled violently as if in convulsions, he was unable for a long +time to find words, and when at last they flowed from his colourless +lips, he tried to persuade us, that such a sentence of banishment from +former friends was at least too hard, that he was not able to subdue +his passion so quickly, or entirely to get rid of his persuasions, but +that he combated both, and would strive against them with still greater +energy in our company. But Beauvais was on this day armed with manly +courage and resolution, his intercourse hitherto with Lucy had +made him too unhappy; he insisted on the immediate departure of the +peace-destroyer; the Abbé Aubigny sided with him, the gentle Euphemie +was anxious, and Lucy herself the most decided; I also joined in this +chorus, and we all unanimously declared, as with one voice, that the +godless one should no longer linger near us; it was our duty, the love +of Christ itself required of us to banish him, because through his +intercourse with us, our religion would be sullied, perhaps even +endangered. When Lacoste perceived we were firm in our religious zeal, +he left off prayers and humiliations, and a tremendous fury overcame +the mortified man, his eyes flashed fire, and he cursed himself and us +with the bitterest execrations--that we might never find happiness, +that misery might pursue us, that Beauvais might reap nothing but grief +and sorrow from this marriage, and that he might live to see calamity, +distress, and crime on his dearest children." + +Edmond sighed deeply. "Thus," continued the priest, "did the wretched +man leave us, and rushed like a madman out of the house; but a short +time only was requisite to recall us to our senses, and to penetrate us +with a burning shame. In the most devout temper of mind, in feelings of +the purest love, as we fancied, we had been cruel towards a fellow +brother, towards a friend, who deserved forbearance and compassion, +although he might have strayed into the path of error. Beauvais was the +first to recollect himself, and was angry with himself and all of us; +he rebuked us as inquisitors, who condemn in cold blood to the stake +all those that differ in opinion with them. A messenger was quickly +dispatched to his residence in town, but he had already in his fury +departed thence, no one knew whither. He had smashed to pieces +everything in the house there, and with his gigantic strength had so +ill-used a young waiter, who had attempted to appease him, that the +unfortunate lad had been given up to the surgeons as dead. He had so +cut his head with tables and chairs that he threw at the defenceless +boy and crushed both his legs, that it was doubtful whether he would +recover. If we had first been ashamed, we would now have concealed +ourselves in the caverns of the earth, when we learned that this young +lad, bred up in the most ordinary manner, and without any information, +as soon as he had recovered his senses, during excruciating tortures +from the dressing of his wounds, had prayed to God for the man, who had +injured him, that he would forgive and succour the unhappy man, who +must have been inexpressibly, infinitely wretched to have been prompted +in his sorrow to fall upon an innocent person. Who is the true +Christian? we asked ourselves, who the professor of the religion of +love? Ah! we were so zealous, we thought we had learned so much, that +we were able to teach the profoundest doctrine, we looked down daily +with contemptuous pity on those who were less enlightened, who were not +susceptible of our sublime emotions,--but now we were forced to confess +to ourselves, that we were yet standing on the other side of the +commencement; it was just, that we as miserable scholars, should be +compelled to go for instruction to a young and ignorant waiter at an +inn. + +"I will conclude. Before my friend had yet celebrated his marriage, my +Euphemie took the veil. On the same day, we had thus arranged it, I +caused myself to be received into the bosom of her church. At first I +intended to become a monk, but as I had delayed, I suffered myself to +be consecrated a priest at a distance, and was transferred to this +solitary part of the mountains. Since then, I have never heard of my +friends, of Euphemie; I even wished to avoid ever seeing them again, +that I might not renew the pains of deep, vital wounds. And yet it is +but weakness, to turn away from the path of sorrow.--It had become +dark, and the two friends repaired to the lighted room, to partake of +the little evening meal. The young peasants who had been there before, +reentered, and led with them a young and beautiful girl. The latter +shewed the pastor the flowers and the ornaments, with which they +intended on the morrow to adorn the image of the mother of God. 'Now, +at last,' said the young and happy Caspar, 'is the time come, reverend +sir, that I can lead home my Louison, my bride. You know very well how +she desired to spend to-morrow's festival still as a virgin, in order +that she might be able to carry our Mary, and sing too. It has been +sorrow enough to me, to be compelled to defer my happiness for so long +a time; but for once she has persisted in her pious obstinacy. Well, +truly it is precious to have such a christian wife, such a holy +treasure. All is well, that everything has been so prosperous as yet; +for who can tell what evil may come between, when man places his fate +on such trials as these, and binds himself to hours and days. However +everything is already arranged for the wedding, and all danger and fear +is surmounted.' 'How thou talkest.' said the blushing Louison, from +whose eyes laughed her approaching happiness; and the fulfilment of all +her wishes. 'I have been friendly to thee for two years past, but must +I on that account love the mother of God less? Ah! the history as it +has come down to us, is too affecting, and therefore we must be +thankful towards her. Look you, my strange young gentleman, before +the village stood here, there was nothing far around but field and +forest. No vine, no olive-tree was to be found here. Then went a poor +wood-cutter, who had come from a distance into the wild forest to cut +down a tree for his trade. And as he applied his hatched to it, he heard +a sigh, and as he listened, a singing. A light appeared in the gloomy +forest, and above in the tree, in the oak trunk, there sat as if in a +hollow the mother of God, and commanded him to build a church on that +very spot. The man made known the miracle, the wood was cleared, and +behind the altar of our church stands still the same old oak trunk, in +which the holy virgin already dwelt from time immemorial as a testimony +and a remembrance. Thus was our good church founded, thus has the +village risen, and men have drawn near the beloved spot, for our Mary +would not thus dwell in solitude any longer. Look Caspar, thus but for +our gracious mother, there would be no house, no man here, and our dear +parent's house, and I, and thou would not be in the world, and upon +this spot of earth, and for all this must we be thankful to her.' + +"All well and good," said Caspar, "but just because she is so amiable, +she would certainly have granted us with all her heart, our happiness a +long while ago. God and the saints are not like us men, who are so +ambitious on one little point, that we neglect true honour." "Is it not +true, Caspar," said Louison, laughing, "if thy new jacket with shining +buttons had not been ready, thou wouldst willingly have deferred the +wedding?" Thus laughing and jesting they withdrew again to go and seek +the clerk with whom they wished to consult how best they might attach +the flowers and garlands to the altar. The old man felt happy that his +penitents loved to approach him with this child-like confidence, and +respected him just as much as a father, while at the same time they +fearlessly associated with him in play and merriment. Edmond was grave +and melancholy; when it was time to separate to sleep, he abruptly +asked the priest, as he grasped his hand: "Well, reverend sir, did you +then afterwards in your station find that happiness of which you +dreamed in your youth?" + +"Happiness," said the old man, "what is it men call thus? and of what +avail would their dreams be then, if it were to be met with in reality. +I soon saw in the beginning, with bitter sorrow, that I was too +enthusiastic, that my companions in the same calling, my superiors, did +not partake of my burning zeal; disapproved of it indeed, or declared +it heresy and false enthusiasm. They were too much occupied about their +community, the ensuring of their condition, their influence in the +world, and the binding of souls, to have kindled ardour within them, or +to have sought that faith in emotions, which was so necessary to my +life. Well, somewhat late, I undertook to examine the teachers of my +now abandoned church, and discovered that they were not altogether so +inimical to Christianity as I had fancied. I thought that I perceived +more and more distinctly that many roads lead to the Lord, and that he, +as he himself has promised, has prepared many dwellings in his house. +What the innovators, who have split asunder the church, desire, many of +the apostles and earlier teachers have already wished. I hope, this +disunion will just preserve the eternity of the Word. I also perceived, +that to form a spiritual state, to represent a great community, a great +deal by far of that enthusiasm of solitude must be checked, if it were +only to preserve the constitution pure, the strength which alone +renders possible that innate spirit of love for the present as well as +for the future, and prepares for it an asylum. It was granted to my +desire to live here in a small commune, retired from the whole world, +almost like a hermit and thus to suffice for myself. I honour the body +of our church, and am not angry with it, because it has no spirit; I +forgive it the letter, if sometimes it appears to annihilate the +spirit, because I trust in the wisdom and love of the Almighty, who +thus accomplishes all to his ends." + +Thus they separated, Edmond could not sleep. How agitatingly did all +this old man's words work upon him, whom he had so unexpectedly met of +whom his father had so often spoken to him in his childhood. He felt +troubled, and prayed fervently, that at length this rebellion, which he +had been sent forth to excite, might not rage in this valley over the +venerable head of this peaceful hermit. But he indeed knew best how +impossible this was, how inevitable must be the dreadful event. In +short slumbers, fearful dreams tormented him, and with the dawn of +morning, he hastened over the mountain to Lacoste to send him off to +Roland and Cavalier. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + +In the mean while Martin's wound, through the watchful care of his +doctor, had astonishingly improved. Eveline had soon become +familiarised with him, and the young man seemed even more than the +father to doat on her. He exerted himself with humble devotedness to +perform every little service, and was only happy when he was able to +win a smile from the Lord of Beauvais. When the father now returned +from the fields with his daughter, the latter said to him: "Is it not +true, papa, that when I am grown up, I too shall be obliged to marry." + +"Probably," answered the Lord of Beauvais, "Well then," continued she, +"give me the young handsome Martin for a husband." "Does he then please +thee so very much?" asked the father. + +"Not merely on that account," said Eveline, "but because I should like +to make a good marriage, and such, as I have heard, one does not +frequently meet with. But with our Martin I should be perfectly happy, +and he behaves himself already quite as if he were your son. And I, +when I say to him, Martin! sit thee down here by me! Get up again! +Fetch that flower there for me! Now tell me something! or, Go away, I +should now like to be alone awhile! thus he does everything so exactly +at a signal, as I have never before seen. Neither Martha nor Joseph, +and least of all the old obstinate Frantz, that was eternally scolding, +would thus have obeyed me at a word; with such a smart, well-dressed, +sensible husband, the thing might turn out worse, and therefore I will +choose Martin, if you will allow me." "But he is only a servant," said +the Counsellor. "You have said yourself," prattled the child, "that +there was something in his appearance more than ordinary. He is +certainly the son of respectable people; through the rebellion we too +have fallen into misery, and it may be worse with us yet, one must +therefore look about by times for help." + +"And if he will not have you?" + +"I have already asked him this morning, then he laughed out quite loud, +what I had never seen him do before, but afterwards he became quite +grave again, sighed, and kissed me on the forehead. That I think is +quite answer enough." + +In the little garden under the trellaced bower, they found Godfred and +the tall Dubois sitting at the oaken table; the wife was busy in the +kitchen. They sat down by them both; the musician was at that moment in +the midst of a lively performance. "Do you hear, gossip," cried he, +"the sound when I press and keep it down, do you know what that means?" + +"Yes," said Godfrey, "it is pretty enough." "Well, attend," said +Dubois, "how I now pass over and strike the quaver, which afterwards +quivers in the deep tones, and how in the mean while my hand works here +in the bass. You now understand this many-voiced composition? Listen! +see, that is what I call fundamental composition." + +"Yes, it is pretty," said Godfred--"he can now move all his paws." + +"Do not think of your stupid dog," exclaimed Dubois, "you will not +often be so fortunate as to hear a sonata of Lulli. Collect your +thoughts well together. Hist! now we are passing over suddenly to the +flats? St! do you hear? Ah! the passage is exquisite." + +"He must eat a rice mess this evening," said Godfred. + +"Can you endure music, Peter Florval?" cried the musician, eagerly +addressing the State Counsellor; "Many nerves are unable to support it. +Now we are coming to the conclusion. Forte! forte! bound! continue! +what do you think? Ah, now comes, the most difficult passage. That is a +composition that requires fingering and skill. It flies right and left. +Now I play over with my right hand in the bass, now the into the +treble. See, now I work away crossing hands; now with all ten fingers! +and again! and again! I need indeed take my elbows to help. Over, over! +dispatch! Ah, it is admirably written. Do you not think so, gossip?" + +"At first though he must only be allowed to run with caution," said +Godfred. + +"Still those doggish vagaries?" said Dubois, sullenly, "banish, I pray, +those four-legged thoughts from your mind, and for once live entirely +for art." + +"I must afterwards though cut the divining-rod," said Godfred in a loud +voice to himself. + +"Stop!" cried the long musician, as he jumped up, "you here remind me +of a thought, I have wished for some time to impart to you. Do you know +what to do with such things?" + +"So, so," said Godfred, "I discovered my well for myself by means of +it, and thus served several neighbours." + +"And treasures!" cried Dubois. + +"Water," said the surgeon, "is sufficiently precious; I have never +attempted anything else." + +"You know, perhaps," continued the gossip; "It is not yet ten years +ago, since Jacob Aymar, from Dauphiné discovered by means of his +divining-rod, a murder that had been committed long before. The story +created the greatest sensation in Paris and at Lyons at the time. I was +then in Paris with my brother, the universally celebrated great doctor, +and saw myself the simple peasant, who could perform such miraculous +deeds. My brother, who is a very speculating philosopher, repaired +hither at this extraordinary discovery, and employed all sorts of +remarkable essays, so-called experiments in the presence of persons of +distinction, and they succeeded admirably. But the rod must be cut from +a hazel branch at midnight, at the full moon, and without uttering a +word at the time." + +"That is superstition," said Godfred, "any rod can answer the purpose, +if the hand possesses the gift." + +"What do you know," exclaimed the former, hastily, "about Philosophia +Occulta? you are always on the side of the sceptics, in everything. Do +you think that Moses' staff was anything else than such a divining-rod? +It must discover money just as easily as water; indeed, it must guess +the thoughts, and thereby ward off future crimes. Every city, every +village under a reasonable government should have its priviledged +rod-walker." + +"Impiety," said Godfred, "sufficient calamity happens already without +this superstition. The silly hazel-rod should be applied to the backs +of all such fellows." + +The musician made a wry face and would have answered angrily, when +Eveline uttered a loud joyous "Ah!" an old peasant passed by, followed +by a large dog. The Lord of Beauvais had risen, Eveline blushed, and at +a sign from her father remained behind. The old peasant cast a +searching glance into the bower, but the Counsellor looked a negative, +without those present being able to observe it, and the peasant +proceeded on his way without forming an acquaintance with the company. +But not so the great dog, that no sooner had he snuffed the air, than +he instantly leaped over the palings of the garden, and howling and +whining with joy, jumped in a hundred playful gambols round the +Counsellor and his daughter, and then lay down, placed his two paws on +their persons and recommenced his frolics anew. It was in vain that +Eveline cried out, "Away, away! what does this nasty strange dog want +here?" she wished to pretend to be angry, but the absurd antics of the +well-known Hector, forced her to burst into a loud laugh. + +"Peter Florval," said Dubois, "you must be known to the dog." + +"Not that I know of," replied the Counsellor, somewhat embarrassed; "he +must have come from some farm in my former neighbourhood." + +"It may be so," answered the musician, "but the peasant though ought to +have come in here; what frightened him away from us? surely we are not +such great folks." + +Hector, that now heard old Frantz whistle from a distance, stood +irresolute on the alert, looked inquiringly at the Counsellor, and then +seemed to wait for Frantz, and danced round Eveline again; at length, +however, a second loud whistle called him away. The Counsellor said, "I +must go and see whether the old man is known to me, come with me +daughter." They both, left the garden. "One easily becomes over +cautious," observed he, after having heartily welcomed his faithful +servant; "Had you only known for what we pass here, it had been better +to have come in at once. But you have not yet spoken with Mr. Vila?" "It +has been impossible for me to visit him yet," said Frantz, "for my +journey detained me too long: an accident brings me to this village, +where, indeed, I did not suppose you to be, the royalists, who in large +bands keep the mountains in a state of siege, obliged me to turn away +from the high road. But now, my dear master, no one can pass over the +frontiers, the watches and precautions have been redoubled; every one +in the country is already suspected, how much more so should he desire +to quit it, even the passports from government are no longer +respected." + +It was agreed upon, that Franz should go to St. Hippolite to Vila, and +return after some time with news, but never, as had been determined at +an earlier period between the friends, to bring letter, or papers. When +the Counsellor returned to his dwelling with his child, the latter +said, "I should never in my life have thought Hector so stupid; he did +not pay the slightest attention, I might have made signs to him as long +as I liked, and yet he can hunt and perform other feats of skill, which +I should never have been able to learn; but whenever indeed I have +wished to tell him about the slightest fun, or when my brother was gone +out and that he would soon return, he has never understood me. If it is +only not the case with us human beings also. Perhaps we run thus along +just like little dogs by the side of angels, who insinuate much to us, +yet whose language and real meaning we can never comprehend." + +"At least," said the father, "man should not dive too deeply into that, +nor with daring enthusiasm desire to confine to himself that which is +denied him by his Creator. But you cannot, however, understand that +yet, my little girl." + +"It must be glorious," answered the little one, "to understand all the +thoughts which are permitted to us by God. All that he does grant to us +by degrees, if we are pious and kind! What I have always with delight +seen you do, when for whole hours you used to sit at your great books, +of which I did not understand a single word, and you so often lifted up +your eyes joyfully, and continued to reflect; you cannot think how well +it looks, and what a beautiful sight it is to behold a sensible man +engaged in deep meditation." + +They had returned to their friendly home, and Martin with the others +were waiting for them. "It is really abominable," began dame Barbara, +"that the Camelsarts have become so impious, that this year no +processions can go to the village, which lies only six leagues from +hence. One may pass over the mountain in three hours, and I have never +before spent a year in the neglect of edifying things." + +"There is no church festival then now a-days?" enquired Dubois. "Well +no wonder; nay, even the great annual markets have been abolished." + +"The turkish great sultan and the heathenish Marrelburgh must have +negociated an alliance with the rebels, that we completely fall into +miserere, for one cannot know what the political conjunctive may +produce to us in this year: All indicatives, said our pastor only +yesterday, promise no particular property, and we may indeed be stuck +fast in the mud by the new year." + +"Pray, spare us Gossip," said Dubois smiling, "the learned words, in +which indeed you have ever contrary wind, and you do not rightly +understand the tacking about (Laviren)." + +"By, expressing myself thus," rejoined Barbara impatiently, "do I then +in any way squander your capital interest? I merely add thereto my own, +and whenever I may require mesicaments, there stands my old man, and +you need not offer me any strange Laxirung. + +"Such phrases and notions are indeed not at all proper. What must my +honoured cousin think? he certainly imagines we live quite freely with +each other as if we had been married together. It remains a constant +truth, that whoever has been once a virtoso, can never again become a +simple-minded man, he is for ever lost to pomology, kindheartedness, or +hormanity." + +"Do not become warm about it gossip," said the musician, "I have never +dreamed of offending you." + +"No more," said she angrily, "to me of dreams and dreampeter stories; +for they are just as unsufferable to me as your sonneteering on my +table there. It too has not once dreamed, that in its old age it would +serve as a finger board.-- + +"Peace," said Godfred, "you do not understand all that, Barbara, for +the people over there are assembling: What is the matter then. Let our +gossip play the harpsichord, he uses his own fingers for it and not +yours, but something new must have occurred, I should like to hear, we +must question our neighbours." + +Thus throwing unconsciously the different conversations together, +because he was curious, and yet he also wished to answer, he now +demanded of one that was running by, why the neighbourhood seemed thus +in an uproar. Now smart firing was heard close by. "There must be great +confusion on all sides in the valley," said a country woman. + +All quitted the garden, and the firing of small guns was distinctly +heard as it was borne on the air. + +"Ugh!" sighed Dubois, who could now climb the mountain. "One must hear +it much more distinctly up there." + +"I like not," said Godfred, "to have any thing to do with war and war +cries. The unfortunate, beautiful, peaceful villages, until now we have +heard nothing of it, except once at the very beginning, now again we +receive the evil visit." + +"There yonder," thought the woman, "they have the miracle-working +statue of the Mother of God, that will protect them all, the rebels +cannot effect any thing in opposition to that: Fire and sword, balls +and blows cannot prevail against the heavenly miracle." + +Detached light cavalry scoured the village. They enquired the way and +desired to rejoin their companions from whom they had been cut off on +the mountains. + +The trumpeter approached the officer with a face of importance, while +he pointed out to him a mountain road, upon which the horses, in a case +of necessity, could make their way through. "I have myself had the +honour to serve in the royal guards;" added he proudly. "As what?" +asked the young officer. "It was granted to me," said the former, "to +be first trumpeter of the regiment. How goes it, sir captain, with the +rebels?" "Grant to me, trumpeter," answered the leader, "to owe you the +answer until we meet again. The knaves are possessed by the devil, and +it faires badly with us. If you could blow them away, we would then +take you with us." + +Thereupon they all galloped away, whilst the whole body raised a burst +of laughter. "Service is no longer as it was formerly," observed +Dubois, "the old, genuine soldier-like gallantry must give place to new +fashioned boasting, and venerable age and experience are of no value +among the raw striplings." + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + +In the mean while the calamity in which Edmond took a leading part and +too late repented, now burst forth. Cavalier, who this time conducted +every movement of the troops, had so prudently contrived his plans; +valour, and fortune were so favorable to him in their execution, and at +his command on all sides, that the enemy, who thought to have hemmed +him in, saw themselves surrounded. The royalists were forced to give +way, and were decoyed and driven into the narrow valleys, where they +could not employ their strength, the cavalry was cut off, and on +whatever side the soldiers turned, they met with their adversaries, who +fought from the advantageously situated heights. + +In the morning, conformably to the arrangement made, the village +procession was put in motion at the festive sound of bells. The church +was beautifully decorated with garlands and flowers; the clerk began to +play the organ, and old and young assembled on the common dressed in +their holiday clothes, in order to join the young girls and follow the +procession into the church. The aged priest was standing already before +the altar, awaiting the congregation, when suddenly a panic seized and +rendered them motionless, for a loud and reiterated firing was +distinctly heard close at hand. "Jesus, Maria!" exclaimed the girls, +and the chains of flowers fell from their arms, the young men spoke of +weapons and defence, and the old looked at one another in alarm. The +firing approached nearer, and the priest and clerk had already quitted +the church. All was in fearful and anxious expectation. Psalm singing +was now heard from over the steep mountain. "They are the Camisards!" +shrieked all aloud and in terror; at the same moment a regiment in +reserve rushed from the left into the valley. The Camisards moved from +above precipitatedly, and jumped and slid down the vineyards, while +they hurled stones and balls among the bewildered, stupified, and +discouraged mass of soldiers. In vain the officers inspirited them, +some fell with their horses, others sought to retreat towards the +outlet of the valley on the right. The procession and the clergy, as +well as the congregation were mingled with the combatants, before they +were yet able to recover their senses. A few only succeeded in flying +to their houses. + +"They are beaten!" cried Catinat furiously, who mounted on a great +black horse and roared, "After them! destroy them in the name of the +Lord! and throw fire and sword into these cottages and idolatrous +temples!" Ravanel rode on a small horse at his side and was already +stained with blood, for he was ever foremost in the slaughter. Favart, +Stephen, Anton, and the diminutive François had nimbly clambered down +the mountain. Houses were already seen burning in the distance, the cry +of murder from the inhabitants mingled with the rejoicing shouts of the +victors and the clashing of arms. Stephen now attempted to take the +crucifix, which the youthful Caspar, as leader of the procession +carried, but the latter struck him so forcibly on the head with it, +that his fair locks were smeared with blood, and the youth without +drawing another breath, fell to the ground. When Anton, the shoemaker +saw this, he fell furiously upon Caspar: "Tear the cruel idolaters to +pieces!" screamed he, and struck Caspar with his short sword, who was +on the point of using his weapons on the neck, so that in a moment he +was red with a stream of blood. Louison, who saw that her beloved was +lost, uttered a piercing shriek of woe, tore the short, stumpy Anton by +the hair to the ground, and battered his brains out with the bar of the +crucifix, which Caliper had now let fall. A murderous shout of +bloodthirstiness rang fearfully through the troops of exasperated +rebels, and François was the first to cut down the beautiful Louison, +whereupon an indiscriminate massacre raged in every cottage, in every +street, upon every little bridge, and in the already burning church, so +that the gurgling brook soon rolled in blood-red waves. + +In the meanwhile Edmond stood gloomy and despairingly above on the +steep rock, and saw now distinctly, now obscured by the smoke the +streets and houses of the village beneath him. The smoke now rolled +away, the royalists had all fled, a short cry and wailing, the +inhabitants were all slain, cottages burned right and left, the fire +shone through all the trees, and now the flames arose in the church and +the peaceful dwelling under his feet, which had hospitably sheltered +him that very night, already rolled in columns of smoke, the fire +shortly raised the roof, and below was a universal glow of destruction +and death, reflected in the bloody, splashing brook, all like a fiery +river of hell, where yesterday an Eden had bloomed. The green trees +defended themselves from the fiery streams, but they were compelled to +bend and yield to its force. The glowing waves burst up to the heavens +over the church tower, and as a child, unconsciously smiling, plays +even in death, the clock struck the hour once more, and for the last +time, and then fell with the tower and the beams of the roof with a +loud crash into the abyss of fire and smoke. + +Edmond sat down indifferent to all, and incapable of further thought. +After a while he saw a troop of his brethren ascending the heights by +different routes. Bertrand appeared soon afterwards on another road +mounted with several horsemen. "Are you defeated?" asked Edmond, as +they assembled near him. "No," cried Bertrand, "God has given us +compete victory, the valleys are strewed with the bodies of the +royalists; Cavalier has advanced yonder against the fugitives; Roland +has now probably beaten another column, and Solomon their third +division. But, as Cavalier knows, that several horsemen have fled, he +fears they might make a circuit and fall upon him in the rear, we must +therefore still occupy these heights." + +Edmond had not the courage to ask what had taken place in the village +below, but Bertrand began of his own accord. "Now, for once, the hard +hearts have been compelled to taste our vengeance, we have at length +washed our hands in their blood. They will fear us, brother; the +trembling of those that have escaped to-day will teach the others to +tremble too. Like destroying angels, Ravanel and Catinat cut their way +through them, where these stand, not one of the enemy expects mercy. I +have now though been enabled to celebrate a great festival, such a +jubilee as I have ever wished for. But many of our brethren, and our +best lie there below. The despairing peasants have armed themselves +almost in greater numbers than the soldiers. Ah! poor François, the +child has been torn by the beasts, Anton, and the flute player, +Stephen, have had their beads smashed, one of the villains threw my +brother, when the poor fellow was already wounded, into the fire, even +the wretched clerk was massacred by our Everard, whereupon I pitched +the rogue head over heels directly into a deep well." + +"And the aged priest?" asked Edmond, scarcely audible, + +"Him," said one of the troop, "I saw for a long while standing with his +prayer-book in the midst of the tumult on the common; right and left +men and women were slain by his side, so that I thought, now, now this +one or that must strike him. But it was as if they did not see him at +all. I afterwards lost sight of him; surely he must be lying there +among the dead bodies. Do you know anything of him, brother +Christophe?" + +A wild looking man, spotted with blood, diminutive and black, his whole +face almost overgrown with bristly hair, said grinning: "The old +grey-headed knave is certainly a sorcerer, for when I had already +killed several of the idolaters, and that he still continued to stand +quietly there, and I was vexed that none of my comrades had ever aimed +at him, in my fury I advanced to hew him down; already I raised my arm, +then the spectre looked quite quietly at me, and his old thin lips +smiled at it, almost as if he would have wept, but I tell you, from his +large blue eyes such a spell shot through my eyes into my heart, that +terrified I let foil my arm and was unable to do any thing to the +rascal. A long time after, wishing to rest myself a little, I perceived +him still in his black garments like a dark cloud between the +combatants, wandering through flame and smoke and over the slain, +perfectly collected and as if no one could do him harm. I think he is +gone into the burning church and will probably be burned there." + +Edmond awoke from his dreams to life again at this fearful recital. +"Thus, does the guest requite," said he to himself, "the hopeful son of +the friend, of thy youth. Is not that called love for love? Now I am no +longer indebted to thee for thy hospitable reception." + +"Hollo! hollo!" shouted Christophe wildly. "Our brethren yonder are +bringing the sacrificing priest of Baal. So much the better, he shall +be slain here before the eyes of the all seeing God." + +Edmond cast a withering glance on the wretch, then looked down and +recognised already close beneath him the pastor bound, whom Favart, the +swarthy Eustace and other Camisards were dragging up. "Here we bring +the knave dear brethren," exclaimed Favart, just as they gained a firm +footing on the level rock, and dragged up the old man with cords. + +When the exhausted priest was drawn up, he cast such a look of +lassitude, pity, and resignation to the will of heaven on the youth, +that the hair of the latter stood on end with terror. "God greet you +with your booty!" roared he to Favart and Eustace, "but woe to him +among you, who approaches the old man even by a look, for such a one +will I tear with my teeth." Favart and Eustace stepped back, turning +pale, and Edmond loosened himself the cords of the venerable man, then +pressed him in his arms, laid his grey head upon his throbbing breast, +and a convulsive sobbing prevented all utterance and restrained his +tears. "Why," said the aged man, "should I alone remain of all the +rest? the poor shepherd, whose flock they have slaughtered?" "What is +that?" vociferated Christophe, stammering with rage; "will they rob us +of our property that we have purchased with our blood? we have left +gold and silver to be consumed in the burning churches, but the life of +the idolater is our booty. And who will take it from us? A coward, who +without drawing a sword, here safe in the distance, has contemplated +our life endangering labour. Away with that! Apostates are we ourselves +if we bear the like from an idolater, who has not yet abandoned his +former wickedness." + +He would have rushed upon the holy man but Edmond intercepted him with +the swiftness of lightning, and threw him with such giant strength upon +the rock that all his limbs rattled, and he remained lying apparently +senseless. Old Favart beheld this with anger, and Eustace, the +charcoal-burner, became wrathful. Bertrand stepped wildly forward, and +a group of clamorous Camisards pressed round Edmond and the priest. +"Who art thou?" exclaimed Favart, "that thou darest play the master +here? Wilt thou act the nobleman here?"--He seized the priest, and +Eustace also laid a hand upon him. Though as Edmond stepped up to them, +Eustace, from old accustomed obedience, let go his hold, and Favart was +torn back by the powerful youth. "Lord, Edmond, Beauvais!" cried the +man, "our king!" They struggled with each other, and Edmond hurled him +down the mountain. "Our brother's neck is broken!" cried they all +wildly together, and rushed upon Edmond with drawn weapons, who in this +moment had been lost, if Abraham Mazel with a fresh troop had not +arrived: Clary, Castanet, Marion, and Vila were among these. Through +respect for Mazel they were quiet, and Edmond was enabled to lay the +affair before the friends. "We would not be cruel towards the +defenceless," said Mazel. Clary remembered Roland's express command to +spare the priest; the eloquent Marion exhorted and persuaded the +grumblers, and it was determined that the priest, while the guides +should clothe themselves in the uniforms of the slaughtered, should be +conducted to Florac, that he might there claim the protection of his +superior. Edmond offered to take this service upon himself, and Eustace +and several of the brethren would accompany him on this expedition. + +Conversation and dispute were interrupted, while this scattered and cut +off band advanced, whose union with the defeated soldiers Cavalier +wished to prevent. The few cavalry went to meet them, the infantry +placed themselves in order, and a sanguinary combat began anew on the +height. Mazel led them on, and the bravery of the rebels made the +military, who were already discouraged, give way. Edmond and his +followers were with the young captain and his light horse, who were +exposed at a distance in an obstinate combat. The horse of the young +man was already killed, but he fought intrepidly and indefatigably, +however little he could promise him>self a fortunate issue. Edmond +advanced, and cried out, "Surrender young man; you behave gallantly, it +would grieve me were you killed here uselessly. I promise you +protection and good treatment until you are exchanged for some of ours +taken prisoners." + +"Miserable rebel!" exclaimed the captain, "dost thou think, that I would +receive pardon from such a villain as thou? I know thee, Beauvais, +perjurer, apostate; the executioner at Nismes awaits thee already. +Look down into that valley, incendiary, and still speak of good +treatment!"---He looked searchingly at the youth, glanced down on his +sword and fired his pistol at Edmond, it missed, and Edmond at the same +moment shot a ball through his breast, so that he fell dead. The +remainder were killed in the mêlée, the sergeant, who was still mounted +fled precipitately from the height down the rock, Mazel and his +followers were already far distant pursuing the enemy. + +Edmond descended with those who would accompany him. In a vineyard they +enjoyed the repose and frugal fare which could be quickly prepared for +them. The old man was revived by a few drops of wine. "Beauvais, art +thou my son?" began he, as he saw himself alone with Edmond.--"I am +called," said the latter, "after your baptismal name, Edmond; as a +testimony how my father has ever loved you." + +"Ah, thou dear friend of my youth," said the old man with a deep sigh, +"why must I become acquainted with thy son under such circumstances? In +this way then have the dreams of thy love, our religious inspirations +been embodied? Thus are our fanatic presentiments fulfilled? To these +murders and burnings, to these horrible cruelties must we awaken and +call our whole youth folly and illusion? Ah! verily poor Louison, thy +love to thy protectress has been badly recompensed. You were right +unfortunate Caspar, that you did not know in what moment and in what +sufferings your happiness would terminate. Now you lie together in a +bloody embrace. Why cannot I say to myself, no, this is but a dream! +Awake thou miserable old man, and find thy commune, thy children, the +former tranquil repose, the sweet peace, and thy beloved church again! +Woe! woe! to ye, ye poor, ye innocent! and threefold woe upon the +wretches who brought this horror into these distant valleys."--He +covered his head, and wept bitterly. + +The twilight was extending itself. The pastor wished to visit once more +the ruins of his church, and they descended the mountain. Edmond and +the priest went alone among the fallen walls. All was destroyed +together, the alter only still remained and the statue of the virgin +was blackened, though tolerably preserved. The old man took it down and +buried it at some distance. "Wherefore?" asked Edmond. "Will not the +multitude," said the aged man, "cry out a miracle again, when they find +this statue the only thing still nearly preserved in this heap of +ashes? Who knows what horrible blood-thirstiness may be enflamed by +this accident, what monstrous, insatiable vengeance attached to this +wooden symbol in the name of God, in order to satisfy under pretext of +eternal love, the horrible feeling, which never should be awakened in +the breast of man. No, what may be an innocent amusement in times of +peace and happiness, and serve as an exalting, edifying, pious +institution, often becomes a banner for the human mind if once wild +rebellion has swayed, it followed exultingly by all the horrors of +hell. I should consider myself a murderer, if I did not bury this +protectress to-day, as our neighbours will inter the poor unprotected +to-morrow. Should the Eternal Decree will it otherwise, he will easily +render my trouble unnecessary." + +As they again issued from the ruins, they were met by the tall figure +of Lacoste. "Edmond," cried he, "you and your compeers carry on a +damnable trade. I have kept myself concealed the whole day, that I +might not look upon the enormity. The ceremony of your worship is too +severe. Your God is indulgent, for otherwise he would shew himself +somewhat more rigorous in it. I thought I had already experienced every +thing and understood every body; but in my present high school I still +learn many new things." + +How astounded were Lacoste and the priest as each found again a friend +of his youth in the other. "You are then that pious, sighing, youth," +exclaimed Lacoste in amazement, who in the eyes of his Euphemie would +see and find the whole Empyraeum? We now wander afar over the flowers +of your religious elysium. But tread firmly, for these eyes and noses +no longer feel our heels, these faces are only the discarded masks, +which still lie about from yesterday's gala. Yes, these masqueraders +have destroyed much clothing, that can never be mended again, they have +been reduced to tatters at once by extravagant insolence. Aye! aye! +Edmond, your reverend cordelier, his hair is become white since then, +like the yellow flowers of the meadow, which the first blast uproots. +Where is Euphemie? Where Lucy, where our tears and sighs of those days? +You have become a little old man in an instant: and, is it not true, +that those youthful feelings appeal to you even now sometimes, but like +dumb children, with their countenances? Now perform a little bit of a +miracle with your superabundant love, and awaken these dead again which +lie here in our way. But the question is, whether they would thank you +for it, since they have once made a step to the other side, though +rather in a neck-breaking manner; for if examined closely, that so +called life is a cursedly tedious and base affair, and if one is to +expect jokes like these every day, such as have been practised on these +fellows here, then really one must be damnably sunk in bad habits, not +to put an end to this miserable existence by a single gash on the +throat. But thus indeed are we all. + +In these conversations they passed the night. The venerable pastor +replied but little. Neither did his exhaustion permit him, which was so +great, that he was often compelled to rest. As the hours passed the +more agitated he became and the more he wished to end quickly his days +in the ruins of his beloved commune, for he did not know why he should +still wish to live. Edmond talked to him filially and affectionately, +as a son, and the old man heartily forgave all the evil that the youth +had drawn upon him, "If I could, only see thy father once more before +my death!" exclaimed he much affected, or--grief did not permit him to +say more, but Edmond guessed what he meant. After they had reposed +several times, with the early dawn they reached a village, which lay +pleasantly among some green trees. They determined on breakfasting +here, in order to be able to continue their way to Florac, Edmond felt +as if his whole life and being would dissolve in dream and mist. As +they arrived before a small house, in the upper story of which some men +appeared, but who quickly drew back at the sight of the regimentals, +Edmond said to himself, "I am on the point of becoming mad, for I now +see the figures of my mind; it was indeed as if I perceived my father +and Christine, and Eveline; and only because I here escort the two +friends of his youth." They were going to inquire for the inn of an old +man, who was gathering herbs in a small garden, when the wife came out +of the house and begged of them to accompany her, since she herself had +business at the inn, and that it was not so easy to find it, because it +lay in another street, and in an out of the way place, where there was +but very little business carried on, and had no communication with any +high road. + +With this information, the chatterer accompanied them to the neat +little inn of the place. The people had only just risen, and were +terrified when they saw the soldiers, for since the attack on the not +far distant district, the whole country was filled with terror. Wine, +bread, and warm drink also revived the weary travellers, and Eustace +and Bertrand with some others kept watch, that they might not be +unexpectedly surprised. "Who lives in the upper story of your house?" +inquired Edmond of the old woman. + +"Ah! good heavens!" responded she, "they are poor unfortunate people, +whose property the wicked rebels have burnt. A peasant, a poor cousin +of mine, has now fled to me with his daughter and his sister's son, and +who knows whether the flambeau of wrath, with which the Lord of Hosts +in his anger will light us home, is not already on its way to our +little cottage. For where is safety, or security now a days as +formerly? Verily, all is affliction and warfare, and the strangest +fatality drives men here and there, as has happened only in old +marvelous stories, and the troubles only increase, and suspicion +becomes greater. Where one only sees a soldier, one might creep into a +mole's hole, even though one should be of the very best and exact +faith." + +"Is your trumpeter not come back yet?" + +"He must have clean disappeared," answered the old woman; "but my +foolish husband grieves about the knave, and thinks that some +misfortune must have happened to him in the mountains, because the long +bellows was already old and broken down, and is sometimes troubled with +a bad cough. As if it mattered much about such vagabonds, when so many +respectable people bite the grass, who have more connexion and +authority than the adventurer, who wants to play Moonseignor here." + +"Aye, truly," said the landlord, "but how goes it though with the +Catholics, particularly with the poor clergy, as well as with the old, +venerable lord there, who has now fled likewise? Some of them are said +to have already arrived at Florac yesterday. The convents too suffer. A +wayfarer arrived here in the night, who brought intelligence of an +attack on a castle, where several holy women had been on a visit, who +may belong to Nismes or Montpellier. Crosses and misery are in the +whole land. And whence has the misfortune come? Each party lays the +blame on the other." + +They set forward again, and those who were placed to keep watch +rejoined the troop. A fiery red had spread itself over the whole +heavens, as far as the eye could reach, when they emerged from the +valley, the sky was illumined with the most singular and varied burning +lights. From a wood, situated on an eminence on the left, rushed an +aged female attendant, and cried, "Oh, God be praised, that I see royal +troops! Help, my good mistress!" she ran back, and led an old nun, who +appeared fainting. They approached, they revived her with wine. When +the priest heard her family name called, he exclaimed, "Euphemie!" and +dropped down before her. It was she, she had escaped with difficulty +with her attendant from the burning castle, where she had passed the +night in the greatest anguish. The old man told her his name. "Hast +thou then at times thought of our youth?" asked he in a trembling +voice, "Can one forget life?" replied the dying Euphemie, with closing +eyes. "And thou, Edmond?"----"I lived for thee, I die with thee," spoke +the aged man, and both expired exhausted by the too strong emotion +caused by finding each other again so wonderfully, while the rays of +morning shone like a glory on their sanctified features. + +Carts which came from Florac, and whose owners heard from Edmond the +brief account, conveyed the bodies to the town, that they might be +interred in consecrated ground. + + + + + END OF THE SECOND 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 II *** + +***** This file should be named 31739-8.txt or 31739-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/7/3/31739/ + +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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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/31739-8.zip b/31739-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c455fc3 --- /dev/null +++ b/31739-8.zip diff --git a/31739-h.zip b/31739-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..929a538 --- /dev/null +++ b/31739-h.zip diff --git a/31739-h/31739-h.htm b/31739-h/31739-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3f365ff --- /dev/null +++ b/31739-h/31739-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3975 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>The Rebellion in the Cevennes, an Historical Novel. Vol. II.</title> +<meta name="Author" content="Ludwig Tieck"> +<meta name="Publisher" content="D. Nutt"> +<meta name="Date" content="1845"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +body {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%;} + +p.normal {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify;} +p.center {text-align:center; margin-top:9pt;} + +i {color:red} + +p.right {text-align:right; margin-right:5%;} + +p.continue {text-indent: 0in; margin-top:9pt;} + +.quote {font-size:90%} + + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 {text-align: center;} + +span.sc {font-variant: small-caps;} +span.space {letter-spacing: 1em; } + + +hr.W10 {width:10%; margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt; + color:black;} + +hr.W20 {width:20%; margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt; + color:black;} + + +p.hang1 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:-3em;} +p.hang2 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:0;} + +.poem { + margin-left : 10%; + margin-right : 5%; + text-align : left; + } + .poem .stanza { + margin : 1em 0; + margin-top:24pt; + } + .poem p { + margin : 0; + padding-left : 3em; + text-indent : -3em; + } + .poem p.i0 { + margin-left : 0em; + } + .poem p.i4 { + margin-left : 2em; + } + .poem p.i6 { + margin-left : 3em; + } + .poem p.i8 { + margin-left : 4em; + } + .poem p.i10 { + margin-left : 5em; +} + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +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. II. + +Author: Ludwig Tieck + Madame Burette + +Release Date: March 22, 2010 [EBook #31739] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES, VOL II *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans by Google Books. + + + + + +</pre> + +<p>Source: http://www.archive.org/details/rebellioninceve01tiecgoog</p> + + + + +<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. II.</h3> +<hr class="W10"> + + +<h2>LONDON: D. NUTT, FLEET STREET.</h2> +<h3>DUBLIN: J. CUMMING.--EDINBURGH: BELL AND BRADFUTE.</h3> +<h3>1845.</h3> + +<br> +<br> + +<h2>THE</h2> +<h1>REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES.</h1> + +<br> +<br> +<hr class="W20"> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<p class="continue">The next morning Edmond felt himself considerably better. +Cavalier continually flitted before his eyes, and it appeared to him as if arms +lifted him from his couch, in order to follow his friends. When Eustace had +fallen asleep towards noon, he arose quietly, took his rifle and with light +footsteps hastily descended the mountain path. He felt light and well, it seemed +as if he had never yet walked so rapidly and so indefatigably. He avoided the +high road, and again a sort of instinctive knowledge conducted him through the +shortest and safest ways.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the sun went down and the shadows became darker, images +arose in his imagination more clear and defined with the encreasing obscurity. +When night came on, he also distinguished the other forms in the group, his +father, Franz, the paternal home and the little slumbering Eveline appeared to +him, dark figures were lurking about, threatening destruction.</p> + +<p class="normal">An hour before midnight, he was standing on the top of a +mountain, beneath him lay a dark valley, a large house, lights gleamed from only +a few of the windows. What was his surprise on recovering his recollection. It +was his home, and he arrived at it by a road that he had never before trodden. +Here he had lately waved a last farewell to his father. He descended. He heard +whisperings in the vineyard, he perceived figures moving along creeping. +Familiar as he was with the place, he easily gained the back of a rocky wall of +a grotto in which he heard voices speaking. "It must soon take place," said a +hoarse voice, "and truly as I have arranged, it would be better from the garden, +let us all assemble in the vaulted passage, from thence we shall with greater +facility reach the lower window. Two or three others might in the mean while +ascend the ladder and enter by the window there above. The old man, the child +and the domestics must be put to death. But no shooting, I tell you, for there +are royal troops quite close, who would most certainly forbid us to plunder, on +that account also you must not set fire to the house."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond stole down, behind the barn he found Cavalier and his +troop, who were amazed at seeing him so suddenly and rejoiced at the news he +brought. He conducted them by a different way into the garden and posted them at +the back of the entwined arbour, which, moreover, had no opening at the sides. +He took half of the troops with him to guard the entrance. The robbers were +already in the dark beach avenue; when they saw men advancing towards them they +retreated, but Edmond pursued them; a fray ensued in the obscurity, and Cavalier +and his party now also appeared and surrounded the assassins. Cavalier quickly +caused a torch to be lighted and after a short, but murderous combat, when the +bravest of the robbers had fallen, the rest were compelled to surrender, +Cavalier caused them to be bound and carried away by his soldiers.</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond accompanied by a few followers went in the stillness of +night round the house. He found a ladder ready placed by which it was evident +that some of the robbers intended to enter. He could not resist the inclination +to visit again the house of his childhood. When he reached the top, he found the +whole household asleep, all the lights were extinguished. He now opened the hall +door, there sat his venerable father, sleeping in an arm-chair, a night lamp by +his side, the holy scriptures open before him. How pale and suffering he looked; +for in the night, fatigue had overpowered him in his meditations. Edmond +approached softly, and with a beating heart. "He has given his angels charge +over thee, that they may keep thee in all thy ways." This passage presented +itself to his eyes from the open book. Inspired he looked up, wrote his name on +a slip of paper and placed it upon this text of the bible. Then in his dream the +old man sighed, "Edmond! my son!"--"Oh how unworthy am I of these tones, this +affection, this attachment!" said Edmond to himself. He was impelled downwards, +he kissed his fathers feet and then departed.--He shut the window, caused the +ladder to be carried into the garden and then followed Cavalier's troop through +the night back into the wood.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<p class="continue">They proceeded with the troop in silence. In order to elude +the king's soldiers, who were in the neighbourhood, they were compelled to make +a circuit. Catinat with his band conducted the prisoners that they might be +delivered up to Roland, to pronounce sentence on them in the lonely mountains, +and Cavalier and Edmond separated from their companions in order to reach the +distant height by a footpath through the wood.</p> + +<p class="normal">They walked together in silence for a long time. In Edmond's +mind all that had appeared to him solid was by the late crowding events thrown +confusedly together. The wound and the weakness that it occasioned, the +wandering in the night and the emotions which alternately shook him, had at +first wonderfully raised his mental and physical strength, and now almost +entirely exhausted it. As they advanced farther into the obscurity of the wood, +he thought of himself and his concerns as of a stranger; what he had +experienced, what desired and effected flitted in his memory as a strange tale +of by-gone times, and Cavalier appeared either to respect his silence, or to be +himself too much occupied with weighty thoughts to require any conversation. On +issuing from the wood, the light of the moon broke forth from behind heavy, +lowering clouds. As the silvery light with its calm brightness spread over the +rocks, the venerable head of his father presented itself to the imagination of +the youth, and a refreshing and reviving flood of tears gushed from his eyes. He +turned to his companion to excuse his long protracted silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Brother," replied the latter, "the spirit has also visited me +and shewn me visions in which I viewed a consoling futurity. Oh that that, which +I know will and must take place, would soon happen, to spare the blood and +sorrow of the poor people."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What has been revealed to thee beloved brother," asked +Edmond.</p> + +<p class="normal">They seated themselves on a flat piece of rock which bordered +on a precipice, and Cavalier began: "I imagined myself transported far, far from +hence, beyond our mountains, our plains and rivers. I quitted my native +mountains reluctantly. I saw foreign cities, I heard the various tones of +different men. As I was carried away through the immensity of space, a +beautiful, a very beautiful garden opened to my view, many cascades were +throwing their waters up in the warm summer air, and beneath them there were +strange figures of men and fish, and naked women, and marine animals, +artificially hewn out of brilliant stone, every thing, such as I had never +before seen, and I know not if I ever heard of them. A large and very extensive +palace shone and dazzled with its innumerable columns and windows. While I was +viewing all in amazement, I suddenly felt a conviction that I should immediately +see our king, our Louis, descend from the great steps before which I stood, that +I should speak to him, that he had already been waiting for me; and thus it +happened, in all the splendour of majesty, surrounded by his whole court, he +descended. He did not embarrass me, it was merely dazzling, as when the sun upon +his journey suddenly darts through a vapour, and we still retain and know all +our ideas and purposes. Now then was the moment upon which the fate of our +country hung, in which to say all to him, who had requested to speak to me, and +to move his humane, his kingly heart. This hour will come, in which the +salvation of many, many thousands will repose on my tongue, and the Lord will +then lay his fiery flame upon it, that its brand may also light his spirit; then +will our brethren and our faith be free, then will all our foes fall powerless +to the ground, and the sword be no more required. I will pray that this glorious +day may only soon arrive, soon be sent by the Lord; that there may be an end to +this unhappy warfare. When, just as I intended to address the King, we issued +from the wood; thou spakest to me, and the prophetic vision disappeared." "How +camest thou lately, my friend and brother, into our house?" asked Edmond, "a +multiplicity of events has prevented me until this moment from asking you about +it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was a very, very disastrous day," replied Cavalier, as +they proceeded onwards. "We were surrounded on all sides, by the treachery of a +few faithless brethren, we were enticed down into the plain, the spirit was +silent within us and we thought ourselves secure. A part of my people had gone +to encounter the hermit and I heard (a false report as I afterwards learned) +that he had been entirely routed, when, suddenly, another new army was in our +rear. The fugitives before us rallied again and faced round. We were compelled +to fight our way through in order to find the mountain footpath, where the heavy +horse of the royal party could not follow; with great loss, it is true, but, +still fortunately, I led my people through, I succeeded in turning the enemy, so +that we had them only on one side of us. Fighting and flying we reached the wood +and being one of the last that I might secure the retreat of my party, I found +myself suddenly cut off. My horse carried me at full gallop as far as it could, I +shot dead two dragoons, who were pursuing me, but the noble beast fell down; I +lost sword, hat, and fire-arms, while I was disengaging myself from the saddle +scarcely quick enough, I changed clothes with a peasant in a field; soldiers +were scouring in every direction, at the risk of being recognised. I was forced +to seek a shelter, and moreover the storm burst forth, and thus the Lord +conducted me to the house of your venerable father. A few days after, things +would have been much worse with me, if my younger brother, who is now a prisoner +at Nismes, had not liberated me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"With what admiration I must look upon thee, brother," resumed +Edmond, "thou who younger than I, hast already done such great things, who hast +had so much success, that the whole country speaks of thee. From whence proceeds +this daring, yet circumspect courage, this experience, this skill to deceive the +enemy, to conquer them, or to escape their artful snares! where couldst thou +have learned all this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have not learned it," replied Cavalier, "nor do I know if +the like can be learned. You esteem me too highly, brother Edmond, if you +believe, that that which I do proceeds from reflection or skill. It is true I do +not lose courage, I preserve my <i>sang froid</i>, although I see before and around +me a thousand foes with their swords and guns, but such is my nature, there is +no merit or extraordinary courage in this. When I was yet a little boy, minding +my good old nobleman's sheep, I was never frightened when I perceived the wolf. +I remained calm, and slew two of these bad fellows, whereupon every body admired +my great courage, and I could not at all understand what they meant by it. Thus, +then, my spirit was roused, and I engaged in this war, in which I soon succeeded +in liberating my brethren and defeating the enemy, so that all the companions of +the faith placed their full confidence in me, and expected the blessing and +success of their hopes from me; but brother Roland is much wiser and more +experienced, he has more penetration and I must be considered only as a learner +in comparison to him, yet the Lord had not endowed him with so much success as +me, on that account the combatants preferred following me. Now when I lead out +the brethren, and the affair does not turn out as we have arranged and thought, +the spirit suddenly directs me, I see, I remark all that which was before +unknown to me, of its own accord my mouth gives the right orders, it soars, it +hovers round me, so that I know not what to say, and it leads me and my +followers through the enemy's troops. Like joyous intoxication, it flies with me +through the tumult, and the victory is won."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou wast a shepherd then in thy childhood?" said Edmond; +"how fitting if they compare thee to David."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I grew up poor and desolate in the solitude of the +mountains," replied the former: "I had forgotten myself, I could never have +thought that I should at some future period have to fight for the Lord, for my +faith had died within me; and I agreed to all they proposed. Until then, zealous +brethren rekindled the extinguished embers into flame, so that my life was +restored, and I was enabled to seek and find the Lord. Afterwards, when they had +so cruelly murdered our brethren, zealous wrath drove me into their holy +community. And since then, I am an humble instrument in the hand of the Most +High. I could not believe, that I should have been so highly honored, when I was +compelled to endure all the drudgery of an apprentice at St. Hypolite, and my +master, the baker, for a slight, often for no reason at all, beat me and pulled +my hair; yet he was one of our firm companions in the faith, who, however could +not control his passion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So the priest was right after all," said Edmond with a smile, +"when he would recognise you for a baker by your knees." "Well," said Cavalier, +"the singular man is not deficient in intellect and penetration. If he knew more +of men than of their legs, perhaps he would be less impious, for, from the foot, +he ought at length to arrive at the heart, and finally at the mind. It is true +we probably stand in the same relation to great nature; and if the Lord in his +mercy does not approach us personally, we cannot succeed even in loosening the +thongs of his shoes, if it is indeed permitted to talk of him in such a worldly +manner."</p> + +<p class="normal">Just as daylight was extending itself over every object, and +when they had turned round a projecting rock, they perceived in the valley +beneath then, the Camisards marching with their prisoners. At the same moment +old Favart came running up and announced to them, that Roland had descended with +a troop from, the summit of that mountain, but that Colonel Julien with a +considerable body of men, was now posted between them both, and that it would be +very difficult to turn them. Catinat marched forward with his band and was +highly exasperated on perceiving the obstacle to his further progress. +"Mameluke!" exclaimed he, "this Julien whose death I have long since sworn, +crosses all our undertakings. No mercy, should he once fall into our hands, nor +need he expect any either, as he is an apostate brother, who has abandoned our +reformed community, merely to please the government and to enjoy worldly +honour."</p> + +<p class="normal">A loud shouting was heard, and Ravanel with a band, who had +fortunately escaped the royal troops, rushed from a narrow defile. They halted +upon the summit and the prisoners were brought forward. The court martial, which +was quickly held, sentenced them all to death, and scarcely were the words +pronounced, when the ready Ravanel shot the foremost dead with his pistol, so +that the gushing blood sprinkled Edmond, who was standing close by. The fallen +man expired instantly after a few struggles. Edmond drew back pale and +horrified.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou hast surely not seen much blood yet, young man?" cried +Ravanel mockingly; "Thou oughtst to celebrate thy consecration to-day, and +massacre some of those wretches thyself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not now, brother Ravanel," said Catinat, "the royal troops +are stationed so near and we do not know their number, therefore we must not +attract them hither by our firing. It would be difficult enough to disengage +ourselves from them afterwards."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the villains must not be suffered to live!" exclaimed +Ravanel, his anger aroused anew, drawing his sword he struck the next prisoner +to him, who also fell instantly weltering in his blood.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ought a brother to be blood thirsty?" asked Edmond.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He ought well be so," cried Ravanel turning angrily towards +him: "Oh my friend, he, who has once tasted the pleasure of stretching an enemy +at his feet, becomes like a lion after the palatable sweetness, scarcely able to +spare his keeper. I am feeble and weak when I am long without seeing blood; it +ascends like the smoke of a lamp in the mournful twilight, as the rosy dawn +after the darkness of night."</p> + +<p class="normal">Cavalier reprimanded the enthusiast for his cruelty, and +Catinat led the remaining prisoners to the brink of a precipice, when they fell +under the swords of the Camisards. Their leader the fiercest among them all, +only remained alive. He now called out in a powerful voice: "Stay! far be it +from me to beg for my life, I would not for once owe an obligation to such +pitiable people, though, what I require, you may grant me without prejudice to +yourselves."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What dost thou require, knave?" asked Cavalier, while the +others clustered still closer round him, "That you unbind my arms," said the +fierce, wild man with an expression of the most profound contempt: "that I may +once more, and for the last time, put my flask to my parched lips, which has +been a friend and comforter to me in all my sorrows, and that you will +afterwards be careful to deliver me speedily from such contemptible society as +yours."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Camisards murmured and would have cut him down, but at a +sign from Catinat, they drew back, he himself unloosed the arms of the prisoner, +and watched him with his drawn sword in his hand, lest despair, perhaps, might +at the moment of his death, impel him to some fool-hardy attempt. But the +powerful old man looked round him with the greatest composure, shook his arms +and shoulders that he might feel his freedom after the restraint he had endured, +then took a flask of wine from his bosom and emptying it jocosely, dashed it +against the rock, where it broke in pieces, then turned to the bystanders, +baring his neck as he said: "Now, if it please you!" Even Ravanel measured him +with a look of surprise; and Edmond, who had watched all his movements, felt +himself impelled by an inexplicable feeling to save the life of so ruthless a +man. "Strange as I may appear to you, beloved brethren," cried he aloud +advancing into the circle, "I entreat you nevertheless by the high esteem with +which you honour me to make over this luckless man to me, that his fate may rest +in my hands. Shall this lost creature, so unprepared, in all the nakedness of +his crimes, go before his accusing Judge? shall we not try to moderate the +fierce temperament and to lead the apostate closer to his Maker? Grant me this +favour ye friends, do not refuse my petition and accept my own life as a pledge, +that he will not repay this deliverance by treachery and falsehood?" Cavalier, +from affection to Edmond, joined his entreaties to those of the youth, and after +a short opposition from Ravanel and some murmurs from the troop, all unanimously +consented to pardon the robber. Cavalier informed him that his sentence was +remitted, that he might, added he, feel, that mercy which exists even in an +enemy and that he might also seek for mercy at the throne of justice of the +Eternal. The robber looked long and searchingly with his large fire-darting eyes +on Edmond. He now bowed low to the little Cavalier, and said with a laughing +countenance: "Ah! my little man! from whence derivest thou thy knowledge of Him +on the throne of justice, that thou chatterest about him as if one had only to +go round the corner there and knock at his house, and fee the doorkeeper for +admission? You think, therefore, that I shall breathe the air within me, some +time longer, and look upon this light which I have done for almost these seventy +years past? Be it so. But I will not deceive you, you shall not give me this +wretched life in order to rejoice at my conversion, for you have just pitched on +the wrong one with all your atonement, godliness, and love. I will have nothing +to do with your stories and fanaticism, with prayers and singing you shall also +spare me, though I should have no objection to march out with you and fight +valiantly, because I must do something, or other, and for the present I have +nothing better to do."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again a murmour arose, but now, there was no time to pass +sentence, or to dispute, for the royal troops were already seen marching by. +Each leader quickly betook himself to his troop, called to them, gave the word +of command, and in a short time order was restored, and all in readiness to +await the attack, Edmond and the robber, whose life he had solicited, stood in +the ranks together. While each ranged himself in opposition to the other, +several Camisards fell at the first salvo of the small cannon, but undismayed, +they marched forward, singing their psalms aloud. They soon met hand to hand, +and all appeared one confused mêleé, for Ravanel and his troop rushed like +frantic upon the enemy, who soon gave way on that side; others tried to come to +the help of the panic-striken men, and thus the mass fought confusedly on the +limited space of ground. A stout officer seized Edmond, while a second raised +his arm to hew down the youth, when the robber with gigantic strength, seized +both the soldiers by the hair, and knocked their heads so forcibly together, +that they fell senseless to the ground. But Edmond was rescued only for a +moment, for he found himself directly afterwards engaged in a combat with +several, and a heavy blow upon the arm disabled him. He was taken prisoner, +while the king's troops were compelled by his friends to give way. They fled +with their leaders, and carried him with them. He saw himself lost, without hope +of deliverance.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the wood Colonel Julien drew near and viewed his prisoners +with surprise. He sent detachments hither and thither to reconnoitre the wood; +he also sent a troop backwards, to see whether the rebels would turn, or if they +intended to follow them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Leave this single prisoner to me," cried he to the last, +which he also sent forward in some minutes. "I will soon dispose of this unarmed +man. Is it needful?" turned he to Edmond, when he found himself quite alone with +the latter; "So young man, must we see each other again? I would not believe the +reports, nay, I can scarcely trust my own eyes now! Oh thou miserable father of +so degenerate a son!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Apostate!" bitterly exclaimed Edmond, "hast thou indeed the +right to use such language?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Go, fly," said Julien with an expression of the most +contemptuous pity; "hasten into this thick underwood, I will pretend not to have +seen you. Escape ignominy and execution, before my companions return and render +it impossible."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond sprang into the thick wood, enraged, ashamed and vexed: +he ran without stopping, and was soon in the most lonely part, and when at last +he fell exhausted and breathless in the cleft of a rock, he found the stout +robber reposing there, whose life he had, through pity, generously solicited, as +he in return had been obliged to accept his own from the hands of a former +friend, who now despised him.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<p class="continue">"Are you satiated with the buffoonery?" asked the fierce man +of the youth after some time. "I should have thought that you had served your +apprenticeship, and were now looking about for some more profitable business."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wretched man!" exclaimed Edmond, "thou, who neither believest +in God, nor man, begone from my presence, for thy thoughts poison my mind."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not so haughty, young gentleman," cried the former in a +bantering tone! "today my fist, in spite of my poisonous thoughts, has rendered +you good service, that is, if you do not estimate life as cheaply as I do; but, +as yet, your milky face has not the appearance of that. Why then are you of a +disposition so inhumanly virtuous? Let me still continue to enjoy your gracious +society, for I am indeed yours; early to-day, you begged me off indeed almost +like a dog, therefore, you must allow me to bark and to remain near you, so that +no other may bite you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How couldst thou then have sunk so low?" asked Edmond with +some little sympathy. "I have merely remained stationary," said the former +composedly, "I have only not been enabled to raise myself, and as I have +perceived no wings on my shoulders, I had no wish to put any on, and still less +to address myself on the subject to the first best goose I met, who, moreover, +could not have assisted me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou meanest," said Edmond, "that thou hast formerly been a +man like others?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very probably," replied the robber: "now perhaps there is not +so great a gulf between you and me. If one man rates himself so highly, then +certainly to the mind the distance appears immeasureable as between the king and +the beggar; but place both naked on a desert island together, then are they +brothers and boon companions, provided the one does not devour the other. Thus +is it also with the so called souls: when they compose verses, or are in love, +then indeed they think themselves miracles enshrined, but let them but fall into +despair, become utterly wild and untractable, then all affectation disappears +like the rouge from the cheeks of the harlot when she is compelled to wander +about in a shower of rain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you never heard my name perchance? I am called Lacoste, +I should be surprised if you had not." Edmond became thoughtful. "It occurs to +me," said he after a while, "that this name is not totally unknown to me; but I +cannot revive my memory."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Aye, good, young soul," continued Lacoste in his peculiar +way. "In your green age, I was a gallant spendthrift, a sweet rabbit, that with +rosy smiling lips, flattered every one, only tell me, have you ever yet loved +passionately?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh silence!" angrily exclaimed Edmond: "who now would speak +of that with you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A curious discourse that we are holding," said Lacoste +coolly; "if you know nothing of it, so much the better for you, but at your age, +I was so thoroughly in love and enraptured, that a mere touch from me would have +made a thousand men in love, as by the magnet the bar of iron acquires the power +of attraction. At that time, the earth, with all its stones, appeared to me +transparent, I was so benevolent and affectionate, that I would willingly have +given my eye-brows to the nightingales, that they might carry them to their +nests, to make a bed for their young brood. And beautiful was my beloved, the +blind might almost have been aware of it, she was even still more loving and +compassionate than I was. She would indeed have voluntarily taken upon herself +all the suffering and sorrows of the whole world, would have even suffered +herself to be condemned, could she thereby have released from hell, and make the +hungry and sick, rich and healthy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Even in your wickedness," said Edmond, softened, "you +represent this girl as a noble one, who was well worthy of her heavenly origin."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heavenly," said the former, "to disgust: quite natural. That +is just what I mean. To every beggar she would have freely given her all; but to +me--she saw my love, my despair, how I only breathed in her looks, how I +withered away, and my grief, my inexpressible misery would assuredly have driven +me to the grave or to madness.--But that was indifferent to her, more even then +indifferent, it was pleasing to her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But how is such a thing possible?" asked Edmond.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Every thing has its drawback," resumed Lacoste. "It is but +just, when senseless fools, such as I was, are ill-treated by women, that they +may serve as an example to other simpletons. But she would however have leant to +mercy's rather than to justice's side, had it not been for a fault that lay +within myself and which still oppresses me, although I do not see it as such."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what is it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The same upon which our conversation commenced; those same +wings which always sit so ridiculously upon us. To come to the point, I was not +religious; I could by no means comprehend how people made this discovery. I had +learned to think, to judge, to fancy, but I could believe neither of the new +lights of which I had heard so much. From whence was I to derive it too? I +exist, I rejoice if all goes on well with me, shall I render thanks for that? be +resigned and humble? Well, to whom am I to rescribe the innumerable sorrows? all +the sufferings of this wretched life? the multiplied griefs? There is no one +whom I dare accuse of it. But even all this I am to receive with joy and +humility! If it go well with me: superabundant benevolence; if wrong: parental +correction. I cannot conceive such things as other brains have done. The +nameless Being, whom I know not how to represent to myself at all, or only with +giddiness and with terror, sustains worlds, permits shipwrecks, wars and +earthquakes, therefore he may now suffer me and my thoughts. But he will, he +cannot approach me closely, as they say, if I do not draw near him with +contrition, if I do not believe and speak thus and thus of him; edifices, words, +prostrations, belong thereto, in order to lay him as by magic in fetters, that +he may take an interest in me, that he may love me, he must even first excite my +commiseration. Aye, truly all this roused my wrath. Instead of these loving, +religious men having patience, instructing and sympathising with me, they +imagine they can offer no satisfaction to their God of love, if they do not hold +me in execration."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fearful man!" exclaimed Edmonds "how could they do otherwise? +if the flame of the stake be kindly; it certainly is so for such as you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Naturally!" said Lacoste, with a loud laugh. "As the jews +burn gold out of old garments, so also out of the most hardened, callous and +heartless sinner, a little spark of religion may be extracted by burning. The +best and most supportable of all this, is that they massacre and inflict +martyrdom on one another for the sake of this faith of love, and each treats the +other as heretic, each curses the other and gives him up to hell, but, however +much all parties may rage against one another, they still invariably agree in my +damnation." "A sign," said the youth, "that though all may err in themselves, +with regard to you, they still possess the truth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I envy them not their possession," replied the old man; "my +life, all my sorrows, even when I became wicked and with justice so, I have +only to thank this egoism, which calls itself humility, inspiration, love, or +religion; I was rejected, persecuted, nay to use the silly expression, +misunderstood, for what man knows another, or even himself? Impoverished, +brokenhearted, I went forth, and my friends gladly saw me depart. In every +country this self-same miserable farce was repeated. They would willingly have +lent me their aid, confided in me, probably have loved me, had I but possessed +this so called religion. The foolish virtue of my probity was lost sight of, +that I would pretend to none, even to the very best of them. A few marriages +which were almost decided upon with me, were broken off for the same cause. It +did not fare better with me in other quarters of the world; thus am I become an +old man, thus am I become a villain, and I returned, to revenge myself on my +beloved countrymen, and on my friends. Then you came and spoiled the thing with +me: just, you yourself! strange enough!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How so?" asked Edmond excited.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come let us go," said the stranger, "we ought to seek our +comrades again."</p> + +<p class="normal">They arose and walked as chance directed through mountain and +wood. When they ascended higher, they observed a thick smoke advancing towards +them, blackening the heavens with dark clouds. A distant cry directed their +steps. As they proceeded, they beheld on the summit of the mountain a number of +rebels moving hurriedly to and fro. When Edmond approached he thought he +recognised Roland. It was he too, but before he was able to advance towards the +leader, a young man rushed with a terrific shout, to meet him. "Brother!" +exclaimed he, interrupted by sobs and rage, "brother, all is over! The +incendiaries have rendered thee for ever unhappy."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was difficult for Edmond to recognise his young friend +Vila. "What is the matter with thee? whence comest thou?" asked he at length, +amazed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am now one of yours!" exclaimed Vila: "I have not been able +to govern my heart, since I beheld the affliction of our people. Yes, I will +assist you to annihilate, to murder, to tear to pieces these murderous slaves, +which, to the shame of all created beings, bear but the figures of men." When +Edmond desired to question, to gain some information, Vila drew him higher up +the mountain, and the youth stood again above, and looked down, as on that +night, upon his father's garden and house; but the house was in ruins, the fire +was still raging through the apartments, and thick columns of smoke arose, +between which was seen a consuming glow, that frequently sent red streams +sideways and upwards; shepherds and peasants stood beneath, many were gazing +fixedly on the spectacle, some seeking powerless help and deliverance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is my father?" exclaimed Edmond, when he had recovered +from the first shock. "Fled," answered Vila, "no one knows whither; child, +servants, all were compelled to escape, for the Marshal and the Intendant had +summoned him to a severe account at Nismes. When miscreants, who call themselves +soldiers, found the house quite empty, they plundered, and then set fire to it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have now nothing more to care for," said Edmond coldly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! ha!" cried Lacoste, "has it then fared so ill with the +old Lord, my ancient rival, my former friend and foe? see now yourself, we had +lately scarcely an idea of worse than what has now happened, when you, Ned, +stopped us in the business."</p> + +<p class="normal">No one heard him, and all gazed in silence, Edmond with deadly +pale countenance, down on the raging fire.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<p class="continue">The greatest agitation prevailed in the city of Nismes. New +arrests had taken place, suspicion had increased still more, and many noblemen, +who until then had escaped observation, were shut up in the prisons. No +condition, no inhabitant was now deemed in safety, treachery lurked in every +house. The Marshal had brought some of his ci-devant friends, even ladies, to a +strict trial.</p> + +<p class="normal">The amiable hero was concealed in the severe judge. The +Intendant had never yet been so pleased with his opponent. The consternation was +still greater in the country, and those who dwelt in the château, no longer knew +how to escape the mistrust and suspicion of the rebellion, particularly the +newly converted, whose assurances were not trusted, and whose devotedness and +patriotism were no longer valued.</p> + +<p class="normal">The physician, Vila, was also obliged to proceed to the city +to answer numerous accusations against him. Deeply afflicted as he was, he +however testified no depression or humiliation before his judges, but was able +to refute with perfect composure all that they would lay to his charge. The +Intendant as well as the Marshal were undecided, whether they ought to impute +his self-possession and security to innocence, or to the obstinacy of a rebel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, my honoured lords," said he, as he stood before them in +the hall surrounded by a great number of officers and civilians; "I have nothing +to do with these most unfortunate affairs, for it is impossible that any one +would lay to my charge as evil propense, that I recently intended to cure the +Lord Marquis without a wig, an occurrence, which may indeed be astonishing +enough, but which however does not render the extremity necessary, that you +should now immediately cause my head to be taken off; whereby I should become an +entirely useless and slaughtered man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be serious sir," replied the Intendant in the greatest anger, +but with a calm exterior: "what took you to the mountains some time since? +wherefore that disguise of which you yourself have complained?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Irrepressible curiosity, my noble Lord," said Vila, "as an +inquisitive doctor, I also wished to thrust my nose for once into these +spiritual monstrosities. In my youth, I knew only of four great and twelve +lesser prophets of the bible, the thousand great, and twenty thousand lesser of +our times seemed to me so little plausible, that I wished to see some examples +of them in my proximity, and to examine myself their ascribed characters."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you persuaded your son and the young Edmond to accompany +you there?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man paused a while, and was obliged to wipe his eyes. +"Pardon," said he then, "man is affected, though already old, by certain +sensations, a kind of cold, which operates on the tear vessels; perhaps you may +have already experienced this. Strong snuff produces the sensation. Yes, it was +I indeed that induced the young men to this folly. I could never have thought +that the young lads would have made a serious affair of it. They should only +have reflected on themselves, collect psychological observations, to strengthen +thereby their own mature wisdom and corroborate all noble religion; and the +simpletons act like that peasant, who is to take only twelve drops daily from a +phial, and would rather swallow down the whole bottle with cork and label. But +believe me the cholic will not delay coming, and it will require skill to empty +the body of the devilry again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You appear to consider the affair on the jesting side," cried +the Marshal.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," said the old man, who could not however restrain +his tears, and was obliged to repress his sob by a strong effort; "it is still +pleasant enough, that I have not slept since the last three days, still less +have I been able to enjoy anything: that my cursed imagination represents my +unhappy son upon the scaffold, suffering the most ingenious martyrdom, and +looking upon me with the same dark eyes that sparkled in his childhood when he +ardently desired a fruit, or a toy. I believe too that I look rather pale and +sorrowful, and whatever you may ordain, I shall bear my head heavily on my weary +shoulders for the future."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know then that your son as well as the young Edmond has +gone over to the rebels?" said the Intendant sharply with his icy coldness: "and +who will assure us that this did not happen by your counsel and suggestions?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No man will be security for me," answered, the father with +quiet composure, "and of myself, of my many years of probity and an assurance, +by my honour, I will not even speak, for that appears to myself absurd. No, my +highly honoured lords, my counsel would never have been able to produce so +strange a metamorphosis in a vagabond, who has hitherto only interested himself +in plants and antiquities, or to make of a catholic enthusiast a fanatic and a +rebel; but if I may be permitted to speak for a moment as a father, it rather +appears to me, that you, my most worthy judges, are the authors of it, without +its being exactly your intention it is true, and may be the cause why so many +other fanatics will run to the mountains."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, this impudence," exclaimed the Marshal.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Suffer the unhappy man to speak," interrupted the Intendant, +"he is doting in his sorrow, and it is not unreasonable to hear all that he may +bring forward for his defence." "I only say," continued Vila, "that, with the +very best intentions to put down this rebellion, you add strength to it, for it +is precisely the peculiarity and perversity of the human mind, (and in this I +only say what has been of very old standing) that prohibitions and obstructions +irritate and place the punishable case in a seductive, enchanting light. That, +which at first appeared indifferent and often unimportant, now presents itself +with a kind of glory, danger entices; if only a few victims deriding it, have +fallen, passions master the heart, and the same, who a short time previously +preserved his faith in silent doubt, feels now in each emotion of caprice, and +of anger, the immediate voice of his persecuted God. He now refutes his +adversary with murder and massacre, as if he would correct the erroneous reading +of his mind in his mangled body. The true believer cannot naturally bear such a +turning over the leaf, he waits with stump and stalk to root out of the breast +the perverted and corrupted text. On both sides the commentators excite one +another, each becomes fiercer and more violent, reconciliation is no longer to +be thought of, instruction profits not, and whoever wishes to step in coolly and +moderately between them is a horror to both parties. You see indeed all the +pills, that you, my honoured Lord Marshal cause to be turned and moulded and +which the thousand surgeons press Upon the perverted, have not purged them of +the evil, nor even ameliorated it. What does it profit then that the busy men so +diligently assist with their bayonets, nor do these lances, nor the incisions of +the gentlemen dragoons improve the blood. Also your imprisonments and executions +in the public places have no success. What can your reasoning, your cold, calm +persuasions effect, that the whole country, frankly speaking, stands like a +great, disbanded madhouse, where the lunatics with their dogmas rage against one +another, and like dogs, set on to fight, gnash with their teeth. I think the air +is infectuous, and renders insane, and thus it has happened to young Edmond and +my poor son. Whom the devil rides, cannot certainly affirm that he possesses an +abundance of free will to go and come; but what could have bribed me to lay the +stirrup on the shoulders of my only son, in order that the black raven father of +all lies might be able to mount him more comfortably? only reflect on that +yourselves, generous men."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I but half understand you," said the Marshal.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I pardon much in consideration of your grief," replied the +Intendant.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But why as not the Lord of Beauvais appeared at our trial?" +recommenced the general; "wherefore is he fled? Does not that action bespeak him +criminal? and do you know anything of him and of his retreat? can you impart to +us some information of his proceedings? do you keep him concealed? confess the +whole truth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your excellency," said the doctor, "the old sinner has +assuredly escaped because he is indeed suspected, even by me, and certainly +could not appear here with safety and decency."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Proceed," said the Lord of Basville, "you are approaching +nearer the point to my satisfaction."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know it as well as I do," replied Vila, "the scandal is +notorious throughout the whole country. He would have been forced to come here +baldheaded to speak and answer. I will even consent that one may dispense with +ruffles, lay down his sword, embroidery on the garments, or the cravat may also +without herisy be esteemed as superfluous; but if you consider, that for more +than ten years, he lived there yonder in his desert without a wig like a Theban +hermit, you cannot then possibly have any confidence in the orthodoxy of his +sentiments. How should his head remain sound, when he gives himself up, thus +naked to all weathers, all society, all sorts of phrases, wit, and nonsense. It +is indeed like a fortress, where they have broken down the walls and redoubt. +There, in war, all the rabble ride in without obstruction." "You are childish," +said the Lord of Basville, "but where does the Lady of Castelnau remain, you +must know that she has disappeared. In all these circumstances we see, say what +you will, a concerted plot."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah poor Christine!" sighed Vila plaintively; "I now know for +the first time, how much I have loved the noble girl. She is no longer indeed in +her house, but the Lord Marshal will best be able to give intelligence of her +retreat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I?" demanded the latter.</p> + +<p class="normal">"All the world says, at least," continued the doctor, "that +you have caused her to be incarcerated, and that is not entirely without +probability, as the imprudent girl, some time ago, wholly lost sight of the +esteem she owes you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It were derogatory to my dignity," said the Marshal, "to +revenge inpertinences by means of my office.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where one cannot inspire love," said the doctor, "which one +may reasonably expect, then terror and the due punishment of the object must +suffice." "I give you my word of honour, I know nothing of the little fool!" +said the Marshal blushing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is very possible," answered Vila, "that you do not know +exactly in which dungeon she languishes, since within the last few years we have +considerably increased these establishments."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir!" exclaimed the Marshal,--"I think, my Lord Intendant, we +may dismiss this dotard, for it is in vain to hope to hear a word of sense from +him. You may thank the Lord Marquis and his zealous intercession, or rather his +caprice, not to suffer himself to be cured by any one else, that your insolence, +which affects madness, is permitted to go from hence unchastised. But beware +that you hold no correspondence with the rebels and suspected persons, or we +shall speak again together and then in a higher tone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As it may please you to order it," said the doctor, and +retired with a low bow. His carriage stood at the door, he went however first +into the stables of the court to seek an old servant, whom he intended to take +to St. Hypolite with him, the latter advanced groaning, limping and with head +and arm bound up. "Coachman," cried Vila to his driver, "make room on the box +for this old servant of mine."</p> + +<p class="normal">In the mean while Colonel Julien came down the street; "What +sort of merchandise are you carrying off with you there?" asked he, scrutinising +the wounded man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My superannuated Conrad," replied the doctor; "the stupid +knave found himself in a village yesterday and took it into his head to engage +in the conversion of a Camisard, who in the true rebel fashion began to deal out +blows, my decrepid enthusiast would let neither his king, nor his Lord God be +outraged and on that account is so bedecked, that our Phylax at home will +scarcely recognise him again." "Look," said the Colonel, "the poor +cripple trembles so, that +he cannot attain the high coach-box. He does not appear accustomed to such a +place. Help him a little, reverend priest."</p> + +<p class="normal">The sturdy vicar of St. Sulpice, who had pressed forward, +helped up the old man with arms and shoulders. "Accustomed, or not accustomed!" +cried Vila, vexedly, "he may thank heaven, that I take him with me at all. A +knave, who at his years still addicts himself to pugilism, is good for nothing +in my peaceable house. Times, indeed, seem strange enough, so that the rabble +will soon, perhaps, assert their pretensions to ride with me in my carriage."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You would have room enough," said the Colonel, taking leave +of the doctor, who had already seated himself at his ease.--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, drive on!" said Vila, "and not too fast, particularly +over the stones, for all my sides, and my head into the bargain, are as if they +were crushed, and take care that that old spectre does not perchance tumble from +the box,--Adieu, reverend priest!"--The coach drove down the street and out +through the gate.</p> + +<p class="normal">The high road was filled with soldiers and militia, the coach +was forced to stop in many places to let the troops go by. At length, when they +had taken another road towards the mountains, the journey could be continued +without interruption. The doctor was very uneasy, and looked round on all sides, +muttered to himself, and was alternately moved, and vexed. At last, when the +country became rather solitary he ordered the carriage to stop, descended and +assisted the wounded Conrad, as he had called him in the town, himself, from the +coach box. "My poor, old friend!" exclaimed he embracing him with the greatest +emotion: "How fares it with you? do you feel fatigued? come now inside here with +me, and pardon all that I have been forced to do for your safety."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am tolerably well, my kind, faithful friend," answered the +Lord of Beauvais: "but render me one more loving service, that we may once more +visit the ruins of my dwelling."</p> + +<p class="normal">Vila gave directions to the coachman, and they both ascended +into the carriage.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But why will you make your heart still heavier?" commenced +the doctor. "Come rather directly with me, that I may conduct you to the little +rural asylum, in order to conceal you there until better times. For it is not to +be thought of, that they will now be able to carry you over the frontiers in +safety."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh my poor country!" sighed the Counsellor of Parliament: +"men of probity must now seek hiding-places like criminals. I will only go once +more to the great hall: an iron closet has perhaps been spared by the robbers +and the flames, in it lies the portrait of my wife, which in the hurry, I forgot +to pack up. It would be very painful to me to lose this dear remembrance." The +sun had already set, and they were now approaching their native, well-known +place. From the blackened walls, dense, smoky clouds were still rising, although +the fire appeared extinguished. The carriage stopped, the travellers descended +from it; a lantern was lighted, and the Counsellor could not avoid wondering at +the difficulty he experienced in finding his way through the formerly so +well-known mansion. Fallen beams reduced to cinders lay extinguished, and +obstructed the entrance to the hall, ashes and rubbish filled the vast space, it +was impossible to recognise any thing, the walls alone still indicated the +former seat of happiness and peace. The lantern threw a pale wavering glimmer +over the sad destruction, and while the father tremblingly felt about by its +light for the closet, he thought he heard a voice in another apartment.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he listened more attentively, all was still; yet after a +short interval, a deep, painful sigh was heard again, and then as if from a +heavily oppressed bosom resounded these words: "Yes, my sinful fire has laid +this dwelling in ashes, my wicked impetuosity has murdered the happiness of this +beloved house."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh my unhappy son!" exclaimed the old man as he endeavoured +to reach that apartment; but Edmond advanced immediately, sank down before him +and embraced his knees. "Can you forgive? can you still love me?" cried he in +violent emotion; "I, I, wretch that I am, have flung the brand into this house, +I have rendered you and my sister miserable, I am indeed the cause of your +death. Oh, most gracious, mildest of men, with what a torn heart do I lie here +at your feet, unworthy to embrace them, unworthy of the dust.--"</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man raised, pressed him to his heart and said: "Not +so, my son, we are not to criticise and blame the ways of destiny in so +short-sighted a manner. It was you, as I well know, who delivered me from the +hands of the incendiaries. Your heart has remained to me; those walls, this +inanimate possession belonged not to my happiness and existence, you are nearer +to me, you are, God be praised! not lost to me. Let me enjoy the satisfaction of +having found you again among the ruins, and I will thank Heaven with heartfelt +tears for my calamity. Follow me now and abandon your unfortunate covenant. The +time and favourable moment will be found, when we may fly over the frontiers of +our native land, and under another sky be permitted to rear the blessing of our +love again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only require not this of me, generous man," cried Edmond, as +if in unconscious anger: "at least I must punish, avenge, retaliate, in some +degree on our and God's foes. Oh Catinat! how unjust I have been in censuring +thee. No, I will not degrade mercy so far by wasting it on these wretches, who +might take the tiger in apprenticeship in order to augment his malice and +cruelty."</p> + +<p class="normal">Vila came up with the lantern and turned the light upon the +youth's pale, agitated countenance, saying with the greatest good nature: "ah! +Ned! my boy! be advised: now for once only follow your aged parent there, who +has ever merely required from you what is quite reasonable."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Leave vengeance to Him," said the father in a powerful voice, +"to Him, who rules, permits and superintends all, and in whose almighty arm our +wrath and weakness, are no longer vengeance! I do not understand the word. Our +hearts were not created for this feeling."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Still and ever the same folly!" cried a deep voice from +behind and the gaunt figure of the grey-headed Lacoste was groping his way +towards them in the dark, over heaps of rubbish. "Vengeance! hatred!" exclaimed +he; "who knows not those sentiments, knows love but in part. Knowest thou me +still, thy rival, the Lacoste, whom thou renderedst many years ago so unhappy? +Who meant thee evil were it not for thy gallant Edmond."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How comest thou here?" cried the father astounded. "What art +thou doing here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am become thy son's dog," replied the former, "I do him +what service I can, at least I run after him, out of gratitude, because he has +saved my life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have scarcely time and feeling," said the Lord of Beauvais, +"to wonder at this extraordinary rencontre."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The hour presses indeed," cried Vila, "we have yet a long way +before us and we must take advantage of the night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here is the concealed closet still unconsumed," cried the +Counsellor of Parliament, "just as I had supposed." He took a key, opened and +held a light into it, among various articles, which were kept there, he found +the picture in a little casket. He gazed upon it with tears, and was going to +attach it to his person, when Lacoste seized his hand and said: "Only one +moment, for the sake of former acquaintance and friendship: suffer this face +after so many years to blossom once again in my desolate heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">The father gave it to him trembling; Lacoste held it close to +the light and gazed fixedly on it with his widely opened grey eyes; a tear +unconsciously escaped him, he imprinted a kiss on the portrait and returned it +to the Counsellor. "See, see," said he to himself, "every man remains still a +fool, let him behave as he will. If they can feel and imagine as much over their +relics, as I at this moment feel, then the unfortunate ones are not so entirely +in error."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Roland is stationed in the neighbourhood with his troops; a +few of us may conduct your dear father, as far as you wish, so that at least our +party does not harm you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Prudently spoken," said Lacoste, "for we are, with +permission, very outrageous people."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Counsellor of Parliament re-ascended the carriage with his +friend, saying: "We are now indeed so far on our road, that the usual precaution +becomes superfluous. Let us only be careful, that our friend Vila meets with no +misfortune on our account." "Were my son only reasonable," said the latter, +"they might do what they liked with me, old, half dead and worn out sinner; to +die is almost a diversion to be sought for, to that have the ruling lords pushed +affairs."</p> + +<p class="normal">They drove off, and Edmond and Lacoste followed on horseback, +in order to accompany them to Roland's troop.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<p class="continue">When the night was nearly elapsed and that Roland had long +with-drawn with his troop into the distance, the little escorting band of +Camisards was suddenly surprised, out of an ambush, by a considerable multitude +of royalists. It was in the direction of Florac, where Vila with his friend had +intended to seek a place of refuge, which he deemed safe. The confusion was +general, and it seemed, that the destruction of the little troop of Camisards, +as well as that of the travellers, was absolutely inevitable. During the firing +and cries, Vila sprang from the carriage with pistols in his hand, and the +Counsellor of Parliament followed him, without knowing clearly what was going to +happen. By the grey light of the morning it was discovered that the attack was +given from a valley lying sideways; the travellers were on the heights. The +Counsellor of Parliament, who had quitted the carriage the last, saw +immediately, that all were engaged in a mêleé, the royalists seemed to give way, +when a second troop rushed out of the underwood of whom it was difficult to +decide whether they were soldiers, or rebels. Before however the Counsellor was +able to gain any certainty, or to form any resolution, the coachman laid hold of +him, pressed him urgently to get into the carriage, and as he saw the old man's +hesitation, he lifted him into it almost forcibly. "Better without the master, +than to perish here with him, he will soon find us again," cried he in the +utmost anxiety, and whipped the horses, so that they started off snorting in +full gallop over hill and dale. After some time the Lord of Beauvais recovered +his recollection and with much argument and dispute, he compelled the obstinate +man to stand still again. On the summit of a mountain, from whence they could +overlook the whole surrounding country, they awaited the one, who had remained +behind. Of the combat nothing more was to be discovered: it seemed as if far in +the distance a band of fugitives was flying; but nothing could be clearly +distinguished. At length they espied two riders emerge from a copse, who pursued +the same road. They approached nearer and the doctor was now seen waving a +handkerchief and working his way up to the summit, mounted on a little horse. A +young lad with his head bound up was following him. "You did well," cried he, +when he arrived at the top, "to retreat immediately at the commencement of the +battle; that is dull, insipid business, which does not suit us civilians."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There Martin, for such is your name, take the nag again to +yourself and do what you will with him." With these words he dismounted, and +betook himself to the carriage, where he was first obliged to listen to many +self-praises from his coachman, who wished to appropriate to himself the whole +credit of this clever retreat, and on account of whose over-haste, the Lord of +Beauvais abashed, entreated the pardon of his old friend. "It was no +over-haste," cried Vila, "but the most prudent that could have occurred, I ought +to have remained sitting in the carriage, for my little bit of firing was like a +drop in the stream compared to the bravery of the Camisards; with them none of +us can engage. These knaves understand no reason, whether balls fly, or swords +glitter, it is to them mere pastime, and the smallest boys, who are scarcely +weaned from their mother's breast, are just as much infatuated with this devilry +as any of the oldest grey beards. I have seen that, for once quite close, which +I could not have believed by hearsay; but now that I have witnessed it, it is +enough for the rest of my life."</p> + +<p class="normal">They stopped at a lonely inn to refresh the horses, and while +they were enjoying their breakfast the doctor proceeded to relate the sequel of +the event to his old friend. "How fortunate." he commenced, "that you were not +present at our battle, for only think, your Edmond continued to accompany us, he +would not be dissuaded from attending in person to your safety. When the scene +now opened he was ever foremost. There was a young lad, who then came forward. +'From whence come you?' shouted the Camisards.--'What's that to you,' answered +the impudent fellow,--'You are a traitor.'--'Wherefore insult,' cried the little +man, 'honest people act not thus.'--'Hew him down!' cried another.--'Hew me +down;' said the hop of my thumb, 'when I would sacrifice my life for you.'--'Who +art thou?' was again reiterated.--'My name is Martin, further it is not +necessary for you to know.'--Inquiry was cut short by firing and hewing down. It +came near me, and I felt a goose-skin all over my body. I had already spent my +powder without, perhaps, having hit any one, when the gigantic Lacoste took +compassion on my trouble, and hewed down the knaves together as if they had been +merely poppy heads. But Edmond who tried to cut his way through to me, got into +a desperate mêlée. Two dragoons fell upon him, and struck furiously; but before +they were able to hit, behold, my dear friend--the little rascal Martin, cut +down one of them from his horse, and shot the other at the same moment almost +through the breast, as if the urchin had been accustomed to nothing else all his +life long. The stout Lacoste, the dog as he styles himself, was not tardy +either, and your son lost neither courage nor strength; the Camisards were like +so many devils, and thus those of the true faith were obliged to leave the field +to us, on which a great number of their friends remained lying.--I could not +discern my poor, dear son; he may very likely have gone with the main body of +the troops; if they have not already slain, or taken him prisoner."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And Martin! the boy, of whom you spoke, who so valiantly +saved my son's life?" inquired the Lord of Beauvais.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Martin;" cried the doctor aloud: "where then do you hide +yourself? yes, that's true indeed, you are both indebted to the stripling. He +wore, when he entered, a thick handkerchief round his head, it may have been +from a blow that reached him; after he had rescued your son, he received a right +deep cut in the head again from a sabre, so that a stream of blood gushed out. +As if for a change, he wiped his nose and without ceremony bound a second turban +over the first, though he turned ghastly pale from it.--Martin! Where then is +the rascal!" But there was no one to answer his call. "Thus is it with foolish +youth," said the doctor vexedly: "he has misunderstood me about taking back the +horse, and in his simplicity returned immediately. Poor youth! I trust no fever +may be added to it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would make me miserable," said the Counsellor, "if I +should not be able to testify my thanks to the dear boy. If I were persuaded +that he was suffering, ill, helpless, or dying, I should weep tears of blood."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will not turn out so bad as that," muttered Vila +chagrined: "Why should the oaf run off thus, as if----Aye! Aye! at least I would +have bound up his wounds for him. But now, the devil will not catch him +directly. Such Camisard webs are usually formed of very tough materials."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They were compelled to proceed again, in order to reach with +safety the solitary village in the mountain heights." "You must know," said the +doctor, when they were again seated in the coach, "that it is merely to an old +maidservant of mine I am now conducting you, a simple person, who served me +long, but who is, however, so faithful and honest, that it is almost a scandal, +what perhaps many free thinking exquisites would say of her. She has married a +gardener, or peasant, who also plays the surgeon in the mountains. There you +will pass for an old invalid cousin, whose house and farm the Camisards have set +fire to; you will find your daughter there already, the intelligent child +however must not betray you; the husband and wife would suffer themselves to be +torn to pieces rather than give out any thing else of you. If you will but sit +half an hour in the room with Barbara, she herself will take you for her cousin, +and there will be no further necessity for lying. That is why such things often +succeed better in this class than in a higher one: education they have none, but +they possess the proper capacity for belief. Only lose not courage yourself, and +in that solitude there do not become a timid hare's foot. All may yet be well." +With these and similar conversations they, at length, arrived in the afternoon +at the village in the centre of the mountains. The houses lay dispersed midway, +or above the declivity of the mountain; each had a garden and shrubbery attached +to it, and the church situated on the highest point, looked down on the lowly +cottages. The little dwellings after which the travellers were obliged to +inquire, stood at the extremity of the village, immediately over a rapidly +flowing brook, a kitchen-garden was in front and a few chesnut, ash, and +plantain-trees spread a shade and freshness around. When the travellers +alighted, the rather elderly hostess advanced to the little vestibule to meet +them. "Welcome! right welcome!" said she half jestingly, but with the heartiest +good will: "So the old gentleman is my cousin? I rejoice in the acquisition of +his relationship." "Where is my daughter?" asked the Lord of Beauvais.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hush! hush!" said Barbara with a significant look; "my little +cousin sleeps in the room above--which you too will now inhabit, my much +honoured cousin."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's all right," said the doctor: "only study nicely your +expressions; and what is sick Joseph doing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, heaven!" said the old woman, he did not get over his +fright, "the poor man has died at the next village below there, for when he was +obliged to make off so quickly, helter skelter with my little cousin, and had +lost his master, who had taken another road, and that the police officers became +so troublesome, and the militia would also interfere, then all that affected his +liver and spleen, and he died of it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Poor Joseph!" sighed the Counsellor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But pray, make yourselves comfortable," pursued the old +hostess,--"sit down then cousin, poor man, there on that soft chair; you must +now forget, that you were formerly accustomed to anything better."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," asked Vila, "and the household, how fares it? what is +your husband doing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thanks for the kind inquiry," answered the chatterer; "Ah! +dear God! nothing can be done with him, he will remain a boaster his life long."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wait until he comes a little to years," said Vila, "his +petulance will then pass away."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah good heaven!" exclaimed she, "he is already past fifty; it +does not depend upon that, God has permitted him to arrive at years of +discretion, youth no longer oppresses him, but he is past all hope of +amendment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is he idle then? or does he squander your substance?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," continued she quickly, "that must not be said against +him, he spends nothing on himself, scarcely will he allow himself the extreme +necessaries, and as to running about, working and lending a hand, he is not +remiss, but he lays by no store. Indeed times are no longer as they were +formerly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You get no profit then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just so, most respected doctor. Look you, here among us in +the country, my old husband is called nothing, far and wide, but the clever man. +Where an animal is sick, where a man is infirm, there is he called, and it must +be true, that heaven has placed a very peculiar blessing in his hands, for +almost whatever he merely touches becomes better. Where his misicaments, or his +proscriptions fail, he is then compelled to have recourse to symphonies, or what +you call the sympathretical system, and that is always among the peasantry most +liked and most fructifying."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have then learned something from him," observed Vila.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Should not something have devolved to me in so many years?" +replied she modestly. "But if he would only not do so much without remuneration, +all would be well and good. Look you, instead of planting cabbage, our little +garden is full of learned rampons, and horse radish and onions with Latin names, +which he then mingles or distils, as he calls it, and economises powders and +opiates out of them that cannot be equalled. But they know already throughout +the whole neighbourhood that he is a fool, for they frequently knock him up at +midnight and summon him to a sick child, or to a tom-cat or taby-cat that has +eaten or drank too much. And when they are to pay, the service is forgotten and +there is no money in the coffers. 'They are poor people,' says the +good-for-nothing fellow, 'they have already misery enough; and God be praised, +we have never yet been in want of bread.'</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thus was he ever," remarked Vila. "I thought he would become +more reasonable, and learn to think a little of himself. He was always too +devout."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Devout!" exclaimed the wife: "ah heavens! your honour, we now +come in earnest to the foul spot. No, Monsieur Vila, religion, or what people so +call christianity, he is utterly deficient in."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How then has he thus fallen into error?" asked the old man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Lord knows best," answered she, "who has created him so +confused. He will ruin himself yet with his curing. Look you, it is not alone +his companions of the faith, the Catholic Christians that he succours without +remuneration, if they only give him the least hint of poverty; nay also--God be +with us--the Huguenots and even the Camisards he attends, as one of us, if he +can find an opportunity. The wounded whom they ought to have taken off to Florac +swarmed here; look you, the God-forgetting man quartered, healed and fed them +and occupied himself so much with them, that they were able afterwards to run +off in health, and I will not answer for it, that he did not also give them +money and the worth of money to take with them on the road. No, not a spark of +true genuine faith and of proper christianity is in the man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is probably a sort of Samaritan," said Vila affected.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right, good sir," continued Barbara, "Samariter, or +Samoid, and if he only does not turn out an anibaptist in his old days. Would +you believe it, six weeks ago, when they gave up so many of those poor sinners +to justice at Florac, thither did he run the first, and bound up the wounds of +the sick and set their broken limbs. Husband, said I, they will certainly be put +to the wheel, and hanged, there is nothing more to heal in them. Then said the +simple fellow, God or nature had taken so much pains to suffer their joints, +bones, muscles, and I know not what else to grow, that one is obliged out of +charity to spare and take care of them as long as they will last. Look you, he +has such enthusiasm stuff in his head that, as the saying is, he is Jack in +every corner, where there is only any thing to doctor, should it even be the +greatest criminal, there he is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall read him a sermon on that point," said Vila.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's right!" cried she joyfully, "scold him a skin full, +for he always says, that I am too stupid; and my persuasions tend to nothing." +The woman had got up several times to look at the little bed. "Perhaps, you have +a sick child there?" asked the doctor.--"Child!" answered she somewhat +mockingly! "quite otherwise! only look at the present!"--when she removed the +cushion, there lay a cur dog with bandaged paws.--"The history," commenced the +narrator, "correcterises exactly the simple man. The people about here often +make him their laughing stock, because he is such a good-humoured, easy fellow; +and so the smith at length gave him his dog to doctor, having in a passion +broken its hind-paws in two with a hammer. My Godfred wrapped up the dog and +dragged it home to me, bound up its wounds himself, laid him down, raised him +up, suffered him not to run about, bound the cushion tight over him, made him a +kind of maskinnery for his legs, because he said the dog would not be taken +proper care of at home, and that he must have it under his own eyes. Well, my +good smith's dog became healthy again, and went off without saying good day, or +by your leave. That may be about two months ago; last week, towards evening, +something came scratching at our room door; come in! no one opened; but the +scraping and scratching continued: so my Godfred opened the door and looked out, +in springs our old smith's dog like a fool and behind him came hobling the +diseased thing, the cur there with a broken leg dragging behind him, and the +smith's dog danced and sprang round my husband, as if to beg, and thus +supplicated him that he would also doctor his comrade. In my rage, I seized the +botanix stick from my old man to cudgel the curs out of the room. But he, as if +affected, said, 'Never could I have imagined so much understanding and gratitude +in a dog,' and immediately took him in his arms, examined his foot, bandaged it, +and busied himself about the animal. Gratitude! cried I, you call it thus, if +the bull dog recommenders you to the cur which will afterwards spread the story +about among all the dogs in the country, so that finally with all the fame of +dog-pratix, you will no longer be able to stand, or walk? But all in vain! there +is the beast, and I must attend to it, when the old fool is not at home."</p> + +<p class="normal">The husband now returned, his arm full of herbs, which he +immediately carried into a closet; he then saluted his guests quietly and +affably, and before he sat down he looked after his four-legged patient, which +in gratitude licked his hands, and looked fondly in his face. With the greatest +composure and as if there was nothing remarkable in it, he rebandaged the foot, +placed the invalid again in its bed, which he also bound fast, then pressed its +head down on the cushion, as if to intimate that it must now go to sleep. The +dog seemed also to understand him, for he only blinked a few times up at his +benefactor, and then resigned himself to sleep.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your wife here," commenced the doctor, "complains of you, +that you do not think enough of your own concerns, you cure every body, even +dogs and cats, and receive nothing for it, for this dog as little as for the +former; have they not paid your bills yet?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I made none for them," said the old man with the driest +gravity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I must make them out for you; you negligent fellow!" +exclaimed Vila vehemently: "What; write out prescriptions for nothing? truly you +degrade our whole art. Take this then on account of what the poor sinners, the +wounded, the beggar-train, and the oppressed race of animals owe you up to the +present."--He threw to the astonished and perplexed individual a heavy purse of +gold, and without waiting for his thanks, he hastened out, and was already +seated in the carriage before the rustic practioner had recovered from his +astonishment. The Lord of Beauvais gazed with emotion after his rapidly +departing friend.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<p class="continue">The father went up to his daughter, who now awaked from her +refreshing sleep. The little girl, in a flood of tears threw herself into the +arms of the new comer, and was never weary of kissing his hands and cheeks: it +seemed as if it were a necessity for her to indulge this once, in an +unrestrained declaration, and expression of her love. "Man, indeed," thought the +Lord of Beauvais within himself, "has nothing else but these poor tokens, or the +action of alleviating sorrow, and administering food, clothing the naked, or +affording warmth to the freezing: perhaps it may be that in a future state +spirits intermingle in love." When both were more composed, the father said, +"Eveline, you have ever been a sensible child, but now you have an opportunity +of shewing it in deed for my safety; and for your own also. Never must a word +escape your lips here of our former residence of my friends, or of your brother. +When we are both quite alone, you may then talk of these things, but below, or +when anybody is present, you must ever be the little cousin of our good hosts. +Be therefore in company rather perfectly quiet, or try to accommodate your +behaviour for a short time to these people; for your father's life depends on +our not being discovered and spied out in this place of concealment." "My dear, +my poor father," said Eveline, "all this will not be difficult to me, now that +you are with me again. You know well how our great Hector always looked up to my +brother, or to Frantz, and from a sign understood, when he was to go, to stay, +to lie down, or to eat; the animal has never once made a mistake: Now, dear +papa, thus will your little pet dog attend to the slightest sign from your dear +eyes and understand, and conceive everything. I was not allowed to speak of many +things in the presence of my brother, many things that Martha related I was +unable to tell you, because you were angry with my nurse formerly; one must, +indeed, learn from childhood to suit one's self to the world. But shall we see +Frantz and Hector again? my brother too? ah, it has ever floated in my mind, +that he would one day become downright godless; for no good can come of it, when +men approach God as it were too rudely."</p> + +<p class="normal">The father descended again, and was very much surprised to +find a newly arrived guest in his host's room. Old Godfred was at that moment +employed in dressing two deep and dangerous wounds in the head of a young lad, +who seemed scarcely fourteen years of age. "See now, cousin," cried the +talkative Barbara, turning towards him, "as I told you, our Sam-Rocious, as the +old gentleman called him, a short time ago, is again seized with a vertigo, a +real vagabond, as they call such deserters; who asks here in the village after +such and such an one, after a coach and strange travellers, and immediately our +dealer in herbs there brings him to our house, because he has something to cure, +which is once for all his greatest passibility." The Counsellor of Parliament +listened not to the chattering, but examined with the greatest attention the +handsome countenance and noble expression of the stranger, who seemed to be yet +almost a boy. This sight attracted him the more, as the supposition occurred to +him, that this wounded youth might probably be that Martin of whose astonishing +fearlessness the doctor had spoken. Emotion and gratitude mingled therefore in +those feelings of sympathy which drew him towards the sufferer, and he only +waited for the others to retire to interrogate him. The surgeon Godfred seemed +dissatisfied at the appearance of the wounds, he comforted the youth, and cut +his short brown hair still shorter, and stroked his handsome head with tender +sympathy. "The Lord has blessed us with money," exclaimed he aloud, "it shall +benefit you, not only thee, I was going to say, dear old cousin, but this young +patient here as well. I will run directly to the town and fetch better food, for +wounds must not be neglected by any means."</p> + +<p class="normal">A gaunt, haggered-looking man, in a tattered uniform entered, +the surgeon sprang joyfully to meet him, and shook his meagre hand so heartily, +that his long arm quivered with emotion, and a grim smile of affability passed +over his pale face, under a large hat, which he still kept on. The new comer who +now perceived the Counsellor, took off his hat, and said: "I did not know, +gossip, that you had strangers."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not exactly strangers," immediately replied dame Barbara, +preventing her husband's reply, "but a dear cousin of ours, Mr. Peter Florval, +who possessed a pretty house and garden below there in the fruitful Camargue. +The antichrists, the rebellious Camisards have plundered and burnt every thing, +and it was with difficulty that he saved himself with our little cousin; he will +now remain here contenting himself with our poor house until better times." The +stranger drew near, and said solemnly, while he extended his hand to the +Counsellor with a certain majestic air; "Venerable Mr. Peter Florval, be but at +peace and let not your spirits flag, these times will pass quickly and in less +than a year you will be happy again. I have had dreams, which have predicted +this and still more to me, and my dreams never deceive, as I know how to give +them the right interpretation. The abominable Cavalier has appeared to me, I +could have painted him; behold: a head taller than myself, broad, muscular as a +hercules, moustaches that he might have twisted twice round his whole head, +which he did too, several times, to make himself look still more terrible. He +came up to me, he had a guard's uniform in his hand: sergeant, I shall be once +more under the banners of the royal guards, and that shall be the sign, that +this day twelve months I shall wear this uniform, and then peace will be in the +land, for without my supernatural giant-strength the rebels would be unable to +do anything, and would be obliged to surrender. Remember Gerard Dubois, my good +Peter, when the thing comes to pass."</p> + +<p class="normal">Without paying particular attention to the speaker, the +surgeon had again devoted himself to the invalids for whom he had also made up a +bed in the hay loft. He looked after the dog too once more, then gave his hand +to the Counsellor and fetched his hat and stick. "I will go with you," said +Gerard, "if you do not botanise, for I cannot endure that cursed stooping and +mountain-climbing." On learning that the walk was only to the neighbouring +market-town, he took leave, rejoiced to have an opportunity of accompanying his +gossip.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Look you, dear cousin," commenced the old dame, immediately +again, "that great herculus is also the cause, that my old man will not be +anything as long as he lives. He seduces him fearfully to idleness, because he +himself has nothing to do. He has been formerly a dreampeter in the royal +guards, but as he was weak at the chest, he obtained his discharge and a +pension, and with a small fortune, he plays the nobleman here, and gives himself +such intolerable airs, that he addresses almost every body with familiarity. He +was so enamoured with blowing, that they were obliged to pull the dreampet +forcibly out of his mouth, for he is phthisical, properly hictical, as my old +man calls it, for he looks wicked enough for it. Now the great beast stalks +about here, and no one can bear him, because he is so very haughty and moreover +wearisome and quite ennuiyant when he speaks of his forefathers. My good calf, +however, will suit him, he might easily speak and listen to him in his leisure +hours, and often may be thinking of other things at the same time; but this is +not the case, he has nothing to think of, and is delighted when the bully goes +on with his gasconading to him. Only think, cousin, because he is not permitted +to blow any more, he whistles, or lisps a little with his tongue all his old +dreampeter airs for hours together into my husband's ears; when he tells of +campaigns, at times, with his mouth screwed up, he imitates the sounds of +appelle, and retreat, the attack, every thing; or he beats it with his long +stork-fingers on the table, which then is to represent the dulcimer or the +harpichord, and thus does he play the harpichord as it is called before my old +husband the live-long day and he talks of x sharp and z soft, and crosses and +stories of fughes and passages, such gibberdish, that one might loose one's +senses, looking at these two fools wasting their time. The lanky fellow +frequently assists in searching, for herbs, and makes out of old rags a +lineament for wounds, or cooks a mixture, and syrup quackery, and as they are +almost always together, he seduces my old husband away from me. They will no +longer suffer the long Urian in the public-house, because he drives away all the +guests with his blowing and harpchord playing, even the common people are wise +enough for that, my Godfred alone suffers himself to betaken in. But this quick +dreampeter-blower is an arrant rogue. He tices my old husband out of his +chimistical experiments and begins to doctor patients, but he principally makes +use of symphonies, which besides is much easier when one is once in the way of +it, and the silly peasants therefore begin to have faith in the spoil-trade. +What does a physician know of symphony; books and study appertain to that, and +no little dreampeters. Moreover, he is for ever telling his stupid dreams. The +times are so very bad, because now children, and old people, women and +maid-servants, almost every one in the country, when they at once gave up the +faith, began with prophecying and prediction to prepare misfortune; formerly my +husband was asked this thing and that, he also looked at the hands to see +whether they would get rich husbands and so forth; he drew their line of life +longer, once even he cast the Hurenskorp of a right noble lady, yonder in +Florac, for he was much renowned at that time; but since this new-fashioned +superstition has arisen, hardly any one inquires after him, all tell their own +fortunes, or run to the unbelieving children, and what can these urchins know of +philosophy or chiromantic and particularly of the stars; as if one only needed +to take a horn in the mouth in order to obtain any knowledge of astrology and of +all the abstract or dried-up sciences; for which purpose a great deal more is +required." The old dame would have still run on, if she had not thought that she +heard a pot boiling over in the kitchen; she ran therefore hastily out, leaving +the Counsellor of Parliament alone with the young man. "My son," began the Lord +of Beauvais, "could you be the same of whom a friend of mine has spoken to me? +perhaps your name may be Martin?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is so," said the youth; approaching nearer and seizing the +Counsellor's hand, over which he bent with deep emotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And this blood."----</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is mine, mingled with that of your son." "Thanks then," +exclaimed the father and embraced the youth much affected. "You know then who I +am?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," replied Martin, "in the fight your son pointed you out +to me; Vila spoke of you, and now, my honoured sir, as I have discovered you, as +I enjoy such kind care here, and as I shall soon be cured, grant that I may +remain by you, and be your servant. Your domestic household is far from you, +flown, dead, your tender child requires more affectionate, more gentle +attendance, than these people here, with all their good will, are able to +bestow. I shall be wretched, if you reject my petition."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Counsellor gazed long on the youth's dark, sparkling eyes. +"My dear, beloved son," said he then, "I am indeed bound to you by the dearest +ties; oh, ought I not call it friendship cemented with blood? How shall I +command you, as you are here the guest of our benevolent host? I dare not now +have any attendants, I must conceal myself, I must appear as a poor man of +inferior condition. Would you wish to belong to me, so that I might put full +confidence in you, you must give me further knowledge of yourself. Who are you? +from whence come you? your appearance is too refined and delicate for service to +be your vocation; this small, nobly-formed hand has not yet been hardened by any +labour, your pale face has never yet been exposed to the inclemency of the +seasons; tell me then what is your parentage, your name, how you became a member +of this unfortunate rebellion?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dear, beloved, paternal friend," said the pale Martin with a +gush of tears, "did you but know the excruciating pain you give my heart by +these questions, you would spare me. Will it not suffice, that I venerate your +family, that it has long been my desire to be at your beloved side? you can +guide, you can reform me; let my whole life be consecrated to you. I can, I dare +not return, they would seize and sentence me to an ignominious death; my +brethren too, the Camisards, distrust me and hold me for a traitor. Why put my +poor parents to the blush, by naming them at this moment? They brought me up +with tenderness and affection, and the more bitter must their sorrow be, to +behold me degenerate, and liable to be executed. They are wealthy, but not of +such high rank as to have their name disgraced by my humble services in my +attendance on the noblest of men."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will believe you, young man!" cried the Lord of Beauvais; +"could such an eye as that deceive? Be to me in lieu of child, of son, perhaps +soon----." He could not proceed from emotion, and Martin also appeared deeply +moved.</p> + +<p class="normal">The repast was served up and Godfred also returned from his +wandering loaded with poultry, and delicate vegetables, Eveline descended, who +in her peasant's attire appeared very attractive; the Counsellor placed a chair +for Martin, by the side of Eveline, saying at the same time, "My dear cousins, +this young man belongs to me, he is related to me, and whatever expenses you may +incur for him, I shall return to you again: only do me the favour to call him +also cousin Martin and be kind to him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Aye! aye!" Smiled Barbara, "last week, I could not have +supposed, that all on a sudden my family would thus increase, sit down then, +cousin Martin, and you Godfred, take care only not to make blunders before +strangers." Grace was said, and the little Eveline made the sign of the cross, +just as gravely as she saw the old people do; Godfred had prepared a separate +soup for the invalid Martin, and would not allow him to eat of such meats as he +deemed injurious to him. Godfred spoke little, he seemed as if he had almost +entirely renounced the habit of speech in the society of his too loquacious +spouse, but on that account he had imbibed the peculiarity of frequently +expressing aloud, when a pause occurred, whatever was at that moment passing in +the train of his thoughts, for he listened but seldom to Barbara's wonderful +phraseology.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The fever will now be kept under," said he; just then Martin +perceived that he was the subject of discourse, and the Lord of Beauvais would +willingly have inquired more closely into the state of the invalid, if the dame +had not again launched out into narrations and far-fetched ideas.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A little deeper and all would have been over," continued +Godfred.</p> + +<p class="normal">After the repast, Martin, for whom a room had been prepared +near the Counsellor of Parliament, lay down. The rustic doctor, who had already +fed the dog, now examined his wounds; Eveline and her father retired to the room +up stairs.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have I done all well?" asked the little girl. "Quite well, my +child," answered the father, "I am satisfied with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is a beautiful rule," recommenced Eveline, "to pray +before and after the repast. Why did we not do the same at home?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are not wrong, my child," replied the Counsellor; "for +fear of being like tradespeople, or appearing very hypocritical, much that is +good is neglected!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! what a beautiful prayer the old woman said before +dinner," continued Eveline: "All eyes wait upon thee!"--"Do you know too, papa, +how at home, when our Hector, or the other dogs, were fed in the hall, all gazed +up so fixedly into the eyes of old Frantz? and as he turned his head, so went +all the eyes like so many torches, right and left, still peeping at the old man, +without ever blinking, until they at length obtained their portions. No other +animal, no ox, tat, nor horse can so affectionately gaze into the eyes as the +faithful dog. Even the smallest child is ashamed, when it begs so fervently. +That sick dog looks thus hungrily at old Godfred, and immediately shuts its +eyes, when dame Barbara glances that way. That is indeed a glorious thought, +that here, in all towns, in all France, in all countries, and in the whole +world, all hungry eyes, young and old, rise up to our Heavenly Father so +devoutly, so confidingly, and it must also be pleasing to him, mighty and great +as he is, when he beholds prayers and confidence shining from all parts wherever +he turns. But indeed all men are not, or perhaps at all times grateful. Ah! +dearest papa, how often have I, in my short little life, already been ungrateful +to you! Forgive me, pray, good papa, how often have I sulked, when you would not +give me a toy, or when you have kept me steadily to work, for then I forgot so +intentionly in my ill-humour and wickedness, how much I ought to thank you, how +you love me, and care for me. That God exists and gives me every thing, I have +often forgotten the whole day long. But I will become better and more +reasonable."</p> + +<p class="normal">The father took his child in his arms, and his heart was +gladdened by the prattle of simplicity.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<p class="continue">Roland had in the mean while by several successful engagements +entirely cleared the higher mountainland of the royal troops. The Camisards were +incamped in safety in the woods, and upon the lofty mountain table lands, and +all were rejoicing in the hope of soon beholding their worship and liberty of +conscience reestablished. Edmond had been but slightly wounded in the last +combat, and was now sitting by the side of Roland, that he might converse with +him on the probable issue of the war. Cavalier was incamped opposite on the +confines of the wood, surrounded by Clary, Marion, and other religious men, who +were discoursing on ghostly matters. Upon the most elevated height stood Mazel, +the charcoal-burner, Eustace, young Stephen, and a swarm of young people, all in +the greatest excitement, for they were expecting the commander Castanet, who on +this day intended to conduct Mariette, his bride, from the village below, in +order to unite himself with her in the bonds of marriage. "So the God of love," +said Lacoste deridingly, "has made his way even to these solitary mountains, and +what is still more, into the enlightened hearts of such pious rebels of the +woods? The old heathens were certainly quite right to call him, although a boy, +the greatest among all the Gods."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cease your profitless mockery," said Marion, who had also +climbed up to the summit, "our brother has been long since betrothed to her; the +poor girl is there exposed to the daily peril of her life, because her connexion +is known, here at least she will share the fortunes of her husband, and shall be +protected by us; and if marriage be a holy ordinance, why should not the command +of the Lord be fulfilled in the solitude of the mountains, under oppression and +distress, with a religious, modest mind and christian humility?" "Do not trouble +yourself," said Lacoste, "at least no expence or parade will attend the +marriage, I think too, that neither bridegroom, nor any of the guests will +retire nosily to bed."</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment Castanet, his bride and a croud of his friends +issued from the wood, Cavalier and all the others advanced to greet them with +kindness. The young girl was dark and not particularly tall: a peasant girl of a +healthy robust appearance, a little embarrassed at first but in a short time she +conducted herself with a composed and easy bearing in the circle of the +brethren.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Brother Castanet," said the tall slender Marion, "it is you +that I have to thank for my conversion, but for your early admonitions, I should +perhaps now be wandering in error, permit your grateful pupil here in the circle +of the brethren; to bless you in your new condition, under the Almighty eye +religiously and christian-like." Roland and Edmond had also approached, and +Elias and Marion delivered a short, touching discourse concerning their +oppression, the distress of the times, and how by reason of the perishable +tenure of all earthly goods, and the ever increasing danger, it was expedient to +unite together in the name of the Lord, in life and in death; that they might +find solace and strength in general consolation of love and mutual perseverance. +A simple meal was prepared, and in peaceable enjoyment, the various groups +dispersed; while many sang psalms, and others discussed their past adventures. +It was announced that a troop was approaching, and the pale, sickly Duplant +advanced with a band of men leading a number of prisoners, among whom were +Clement and the Vicar, who had again headed the volunteers in an expedition +against the Camisards. Roland and the others now arose, and formed a large +circle to pass sentence on the unfortunate men. Young Clement trembled violently +on seeing himself exposed to the cruel arbitration of his enemies, and the Vicar +looked round, to try and discover an acquaintance, to be able to find, at any +rate, some means of deliverance, or mitigation of his condition. At length he +perceived Cavalier, who with the rest had approached nearer, and cried: "Oh! +best of young men, I know not 'tis true, who you may be, but you have, as you +know, rescued us formerly, intercede for me now, for I perceive clearly that you +must be quite at home here among you comrades."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have not you and your fellows," said Roland, with the +greatest gravity, "reduced to ashes that same benevolent house since that time, +which then saved our brother Cavalier, as well as yourself, and the execrable +hermit." "There is not much to say in reply to this," said the priest, opening +wide his eyes, "than that I am wondering, that the little delicate fellow should +be nothing less than Cavalier."</p> + +<p class="normal">Duplant said, "The Lord has given you into our hands at the +moment that you were in the act of plundering a commune after having slain +several of our friends. We came unexpectedly, to the succour of the oppressed, +many have fallen, some escaped, but these, forty in number, have become our +prisoners."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shall they die?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have mercy on us," whined Clement, as he threw himself down +before Roland.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot give you grace," said the latter retiring from the +circle, "you spare none of us and with your own free will you urge on to murder: +endure then your fate."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Little man," cried the Vicar, "world-renowned Cavalier, +listen to reason and be humane."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it seemly in you to speak thus?" replied the young +commander, "you, who revel in cruelty; who has called upon you to dye your hands +with the blood of innocence."</p> + +<p class="normal">Castanet came forward: "Will you, beloved, honoured brethren, +deliver the execrable wretches up into my hands?" asked he, looking round the +circle. "Yes! yes!" resounded from all sides, "this solemn day belongs to you, +annihilate them, command, do with them what you will, they are given up to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now we are falling out of the frying-pan into the fire," said +the priest to Clement, "for the thick, stout, prophecying man will play an ugly +game with us, even the gentle Cavalier would not grant us grace; courage! make +the best of a bad game, and do not be so chop-fallen."</p> + +<p class="normal">Castanet took Mariette, by the hand, who was weeping bitterly, +for, a short time before, these men had slain, or delivered up her brothers to +be executed; "Weep not," said he, with suppressed sorrow! "let us give an +example to these miserable wretches, that we think better than they; that our +union may not be stained with blood. I pity these poor, these erring men, and +this timid youth. Return without danger to you dwellings and preach mercy to +your party; refrain from blood and tell your magistrates, who call their cruel +bloodthirstiness justice, how much better are our sentiments, how much better we +are than they. Heaven will the more readily bless my marriage the less I indulge +my wrath and desire of vengeance." Young Clement threw himself again on his +knees, weeping with gratitude; the others, who had already given themselves up +as lost, followed his example, the priest alone drew himself up after a very low +bow, and said stammering with embarrassment: "You are a generous man, Mr. +Castanet, and I shall know how to extend your fame, although people are loath to +believe anything of the kind of such as you; I however have experienced it +myself, and thank you for it in my own name, and in that of these prisoners. Mr. +Cavalier, let us commend ourselves to God, au revoir!" "No, not au revoir!" +cried Cavalier, hastily advancing, "this may only happen in one way, in the +field, and I counsel you with your bold, unblushing manner not to reckon again +on our generosity, nor brave our condescending flexibility; for mercy and love +are not always to be dispensed, and should we see each other a third time, it +will be your death, thus does the spirit prophecy to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let the spirit rest, Sir Captain," said the clergyman, as he +again made a low bow and retired with the volunteers and Clement, who all more +or less testified their gratitude and emotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lacoste now came forward and said laughing: "Generosity, as I +observe, is common among you, and your turn is come do-day, thick, little stump. +Thus every trade, even that of incendiary, has its good side; nothing in the +world is perfectly bad, as there is nothing perfectly good to be found in it. +To-day, however, there is a greater extension of generosity than what was lately +accorded, when I alone remained, though my companions were not a whit worse than +myself. But such magnificence suits so festive and splendid a wedding, and the +short-legged fellow has delivered his speech in quite a royal style and in a +most impressive tone. You, rosy-cheeked, stunted-grown, and brown-armed spouse, +be now the Queen and Princess of these mountains. Infanta of have-nothing, +Dauphiness of hunger-sufferings, heiress of all the airy castles, and governess +of all mad-visionaries, I present you my sincere congratulations, and hope to +see you soon rise to the rank of the prophets."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Scoffer!" said Castanet reddening; "your presence would not +suit our assembly, if your speeches were not useful in rendering our humility +still more humble, and to make our reproach before men, and our misery still +more conspicuous to us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That thereby spiritual pride be so much the more glorified! +Be not however disturbed in your feelings and convictions by me; compared with a +christian, my speech is merely the barking of a dog, and in this animal dignity, +I now indeed follow my illustrious patron, the spiritually-minded Edmond, and +prophet also by the grace of God."</p> + +<p class="normal">A murmur arose round about, which probably would have broken +out into anger and tumult, had not Cavalier directed the attention of the +brethren to a different subject. "My friends," cried he in a lively manner, "I +have just had a vision. At this very moment the commandant of Usez has sent a +courier with important dispatches to the Marshal at Nismes. New troops are to +arrive, and they intend hemming us in on all sides. But little was said, neither +could I distinguish all. The enemy has just ridden out of the gates of the city; +Bertrand, if thou wilt seize him, thou wilt meet him in the ravine two miles +from hence. He is not to be mistaken, he wears a red coat, and a blue cloak over +it, in consequence of the threatening rain, he has spread his white handkerchief +over his new hat, by these marks he will be clearly enough known to you: he is +an elderly man, who, I should think, has never been a soldier. Bring him here +safe and sound with his dispatches."</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertrand took with him two assistants, and mounted on light +ponies, they hurried down the mountain towards the well known ravine.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lacoste listened to these instructions with staring eyes: +"Little brother," said he thoughtfully, "if thy information be at all true, thy +little finger has more penetration than the whole of my large body. But I still +believe, thy red-coated courier will not be found in the circle of created +beings, and good Bertrand will have been made a little bit of an April-fool by +his general, in order to afford some innocent amusement to the bridal pair. If +it's not all a humbug, well and good, more must be said about it when an +opportunity occurs."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May it not be allowed to-day," began young Stephen, blushing +up to the eyes, "to play a little on the flute?" while he was yet asking, he +took it in his hand, and Roland smilingly gave his assent. He first played a +psalm, and after they had gravely chimed in with him, the fair-haired amateur, +to please the company, gave a few worldly, airs. The swarthy Eustace, who was +now quite convalescent sprang merrily forward, and cried: "Brother! if thou +lovest me, play, to enliven me, the old dance of the Cevennes, to which +formerly, in my youth, we tripped so gaily."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young man modestly commenced his melody, and as he +received no interruption, he continued to play with renewed vigour, and it was +not long before several, castanets were heard with their pleasing clattering, so +that Eustace could no longer, resist singing aloud, with the most grotesque +gestures, and jumping round the circle highly delighted. The little shoemaker +Anton, as well as the still younger François could not withstand so enticing an +invitation, they danced as partners, and several other young people came forward +to exhibit their rustic dexterity.</p> + +<p class="normal">An old, careworn man now came from the wood and cried: "As +this is to be a day of merriment, suffer then my son, the silly Michael, to +receive a little honor; besides, consider his small capacity for prophecying, +formerly when a shepherd in the fields, he learned several inimitable capers, +which well deserve to be seen. The tall lad has such strong legs, that he can +spring almost to the height of a man."</p> + +<p class="normal">Michael, a robust, tall lad of an idiotic appearance, advanced +sneakingly and lazily, turning his little blue eyes timidly and inquisitively +round on the circle, and as he thought he perceived no disapprobation any where, +he suddenly changed his lagging laziness into the most surprising activity, and +jumped backwards two or three yards high, turned head-over-heels in the air, and +ran over the ground in the same manner, and was so souple in all his motions, +that it was scarcely possible for the eyes to follow his changes. Eustace, in +amazement, clapped his hands over his head, and the young lads in admiration +tried to imitate their unattainable model. With the loud laughter, which the +comical jestures and attitudes excited, the merry Stephen was compelled to +suspend his blowing for awhile, and the whole enclosure, when the old and +religious men had retired, appeared only a merry, nay, extravagantly joyous +company, which the bride, and even the grave Castanet, by their loud applause +encouraged to new and still more extraordinary feats of skill.</p> + +<p class="normal">As the grass was already tolerably beaten down, the dance +might be continued with greater safety; and now old Favart stepped upon the +level ground, and said: "As we are celebrating a festival to-day, pray permit +for once, that the brothers Mark Anthony and Cesar may perform some of their +exploits, they think, that they know some more refined amusements, which would +contrast very well with the high leaping and peasant dances."</p> + +<p class="normal">The two ci-devant noblemen after this short preface, exhibited +in the then customary dances of the more refined society, but these did not +excite that admiration among the spectators, with which Michael had been +encouraged; the wilder exertions therefore resumed their place, and the noblemen +found themselves compelled to conform to this taste, if they wished to share in +the festivity. Many other instruments struck up, a flute resounded, a hautboy +was raised, and between these and Stephen's pipe a flageolet was heard, mingled +at intervals with the loud and merry song of the mountaineers; now the air of a +dance, now old national songs, and merriment and jesting resounded loudly +through the wood, so that the cliffs of the adjacent precipices repeated with +joyful echo the tones of wild gaiety.</p> + +<p class="normal">The merry-making, that to-day, once in motion, would have +lasted longer, had it not been suddenly interrupted and broken up by a terrible +outcry. The fearful sound proceeded from the summit of a pointed cliff, which +rose almost perpendicularly over the green sward to the scene of the joyous +tumult. All eyes turned quickly thither, and they beheld a demoniacal figure +with upraised, extended arms, face, head, and body coloured and besmeared with +blood. Once again the lunatic shouted, and then ran and precipitated himself +down the steep rock into the arms of the brethren. It was the wrathful Ravanel. +"Curse you! curse! ye apostates!" screamed he, "as if mad; that ye thus forget +the Lord! Lamenting, mourning, discoloured with the blood of our brethren, of +the enemy and with my own, shed in the holy cause, I returned to summon ye to +vengeance, and I find the idolators here in the heathenish dance round the +golden calf. Thus Moses descending from Sinai, in his wrath broke the tables of +the law, as I now in my burning zeal, curse the bond that unites me to ye, ye +impious ones!"</p> + +<p class="normal">They tried to pacify the zealot. Stephen had long since +replaced his pipe, the dancers stood at an embarrassed distance, and Eustace, +who could as quickly turn from prayer to the dance as from this to that, was +already sunk in profound meditation. "My brother," shouted the infuriated man +anew, "has been executed to-day at Florac, ten believers have suffered martyrdom +with him; I wished to rescue them, but have been beaten back with my brethren +with a great deal of bloodshed, and in the mean while we forget our God, our +misery, our faith, thus scandalously bring curses on yourselves, voluntarily +draw down the malediction of heaven, the scornful laugh of hell voluntarily upon +ye,--does no fire then fall down upon the scum? does not the earth open and +swallow the iniquitous bands? Howl! howl! ye laden with sin, and roll in the +dust, smite on your stony hearts and be contrite before the Almighty, that +peradventure his mercy may awaken and a look of grace from the fiery wrath of +his eye may light upon ye."</p> + +<p class="normal">He threw himself down and writhed on the ground. "Mercy! +mercy!" roared he in convulsions,--"No, there is no compassion, mercy is a lie, +love is no more!"--"Now is woe come upon us!" sighed Eustace, "our brother is +again fallen into his ravings! assist me with your prayers, beloved brethren, +that his reason may become strong again.--" He threw himself on his knees by his +side and prayed fervently. Duplant and Salomon came forward, that they might +help the old man in his supplications; but for the present their good intention +had no influence on the lunatic, who was exclaiming as if unconsciously, while +he was trying to tear himself away from the arms of his friends who were +supporting him. "Whither art thou fled," cried he, "lost, wandered away, thou +great inexpressible being, whom we with stammering tongue wish to call God? It +was a fearful, a terrible event, when before the beginning of time, created +spirits in their arrogance rebelled against him, and would be God and ruler and +crush and annihilate him. Then he withdrew himself from the rebels through the +whole heaven of heavens, through all the starry infinities, through the +immensity of space, which thought alone can reach, presentiment alone can +fathom, and the audacious ones lonely and abandoned, in their malice, bitter as +gall in their wrathful fire, in impotent fury, were transfixed and turned to +stone and in their dark interior their last, their expiring consciousness is +lost, those are the cliffs, the stony rocks, the deep masses of granite, which +reach far into the centre of the earth and still rise up in defiance over clouds +and vapour: that is the flesh and bone of the arrogants that the earth is now +compelled to bind together as with a cramp iron. Then malice, wrath and +discontent as if extinct; Yea, the flame expired, when it should have nourished +itself. Was it lost, departed love recovering itself again, which would collect +and burst from its powerless state. Figures move in the sea, in the air, and on +the earth, and all persecute, hate, kill one another; bloodthirstiness is +delight, lacerations, tearing asunder, martyrdom and devourings of one another +are raiment and food. Yea, malice is now for the first time awakened into life, +if it contracts and unites itself with the sentiment of love, thou hoary +darkness of the primeval rocks, and as a lighted brand penetrates into the bones +of the snuffing lions and tigers, and roars in the waterfall, that crumbles the +mountains and thirst in the fiery torrent, that greedily eats its way to the +stream and siding with his brother, the storm, swallows up woods and fields, and +mocking as dead spits forth from itself the former existence as dead, cold as +ashes."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond turned away with indignation, and said: "Woe to thee +slanderous tongue that in perverted folly takest upon thee to disfigure the most +holy, and inspirest superstitious rage."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why are you thus unjust?" said Lacoste smiling, "it affords +me inexpressible pleasure to hear for once so cool and impartial a philosopher +reason thus conclusively. One does not meet every day with anything so good." +The others became outrageous, and were still more fervent in their prayers. +Ravanel foamed and continued crying out: "But how pious is the world, how mildly +the brand still searches into the bowels of all! Then man came forth, the image +of God, as he calls himself, and now in him hell first broke out in glowing, +purple triumph, the loud joyful laugh of inward horror. Whatever subtilty can +invent, imagination create, the wildest dream depict, and voluptuousness can +attain, will turn into martyrdom, into cutting off the beings that give +themselves out as their brother. All the pulses of the everlasting Satan beat +joyously. Here is God! exclaims the brood, murder, torture them! here is Christ! +roar the others, and slay the adversaries. Does an eye from heaven behold? Do +the stars know of us? will the lost, the nameless one after eternity find +himself once more in his, by himself accursed creation, and will he not then +send forth, epidemics, pestilences, famines, fiery flames, and floods of waters, +together with earth-quakes and a thousand all-powerful deaths on white horses, +in order to crush this his brood, to grind, to powder into nothing, who +scandalously imagine that the sparks of his spirit dwell in them. He, He himself +inspires them? Yea no future hell; we are it and live in it, prophecied from the +ancient prophets mouth. We dust of dust, we curse of curse!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Now the prayer of the prophet seemed to operate with greater +fervour, for the voice of Ravanel died away, he appeared to sink into slumber +totally exhausted, and Lacoste said: "Oh that this pithy syllogism should be +thus interrupted, he might have added to the preceding several other arguments +just as bold and subtle."</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertrand now returned with the courier prisoner, whom he had +met in the ravine. "Behold," said Lacoste to himself, "all corresponds, either +these are slyer devils, than they have ever been considered, or there is some +other devilry in the game, which is still strange enough."</p> + +<p class="normal">The courier, a rather elderly man, was raised from his horse, +his dispatches had already been taken from him. "Who are you?" asked Cavalier. +"Ah your excellency," stammered the embarrassed man, "Now I am, indeed, nothing +but an insignificant ambassador, formerly a surgeon in the royal guards."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Name?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dubois, by your leave."</p> + +<p class="normal">When he announced himself as surgeon, he was commanded to bind +up the wounds of Ravanel and several of the other brethren. Cavalier and Roland +discovered from the papers the position of the royal troops, and it was decided +to anticipate the attack. As they intended to dispatch a trusty person to +reconnoitre the country, Edmond stepped forward and said: "As yet I have not +been able to do any thing for you, my dearest brethren, intrust this commission +to me." It was granted to him, and he retired to dress according to his own +ideas, in a manner befitting his design; Lacoste, who would never separate from +him, now pressed forward again as his companion. As soon as they had discussed +and ordered every thing, Cavalier proposed, that the courier should be detained +until they should have brought their plan to a fortunate conclusion, and +Castanet with his young wife repaired to the leafy hut, that had been got ready +for them both, while the darkness of night set in.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<p class="continue">Edmond intended visiting the valleys under pretext of +inquiring after and purchasing an estate and castle in the district, that were +abandoned by the owner, and now for sale. He had become acquainted with an aged +secular priest, who dwelt in a beautifully situated village of a charming +valley, and his companion had under other pretences taken up his quarters in a +neighbouring village. As Edmond wandered solitarily through the enchanting +landscape, for the purpose of acquainting himself with its conveniences, his +heart became oppressed as he struggled to know if the object, that led him +hither might in itself be a good, whether it might be a justifiable one. "Shall +I," said he to himself, "bring war into these peaceful valleys, where hitherto +no noise of arms has ever resounded? Here the monsters still slumber, which we +are going to awaken, in order to provide victims even in these communes for +their grim jaws." He quieted his perturbed feelings with the thought, that +without his assistance the royalists would march hither, for the purpose of +entangling and, if possible, extirpating his new brethren from this part of the +country, which was almost wholly in the possession of Catholic inhabitants.</p> + +<p class="normal">His host, the Catholic priest, was a very little grey-haired +man, who, with just as old and amiable a housekeeper lived under the vines and +olive trees, that shaded his dwelling so quietly and peaceably, that Edmond on +his first entrance was involuntarily reminded of the fable of Philemon and +Baucis. He could not divest himself of the idea, that in this habitation the +earliest and dearest recollections of his childhood were hovering round him, he +was confounded at himself, that his wrath, his burning, religious zeal seemed +here nearly exhausted, he was almost obliged to confess that it was forgotten. +He meditated and dreamed in the rustling of the trees, by the murmuring of the +little waterfall, how softly his soul melted away, and his resolution, like that +of Rinaldo's in the enchanted garden of Armida, lost all its strength. When he +could not regain his former energy in his waking dreams, as he strolled by the +side of the brook, he called it the stream of oblivion, where he now enjoyed the +vernal gales and flower breathing elysium and in Lethe separating himself for +ever from the world of strife and suffering.</p> + +<p class="normal">The clergyman had also received the youth with the greatest +cordiality; whenever Edmond returned from his rambles, such pleasure beamed on +the countenance of the old man, that the stranger felt himself bound to his host +by kindliness and emotion. The latter frequently examined him fixedly and as if +he had known him already at an earlier period, and then sank into a reverie as +if he could not connect his recollections.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Chevalier de Valmont," (thus Edmond had named +himself) commenced the old man on the second day, as they sat at table, "the +longer you are with me, the greater pleasure do I experience in your society. An +extraordinary resemblance to an old friend almost compels me to treat you as a +beloved brother, nay, I may say as a son. It is long since any stranger has +visited me in my solitude, here I learn but little of the world, and that is why +such a visit as yours is so acceptable to me." "I too am delighted with your +society," replied Edmond, "and I ask myself not without sadness, wherefore it +should not be granted to man to spend his days in peaceful quiet, elevated and +instructed by nature, enlivened and comforted by the simplest and most +delightful enjoyments."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps this will be your fate my good sir." answered the +priest with vivacity, "perhaps we may then see each other very often and +confidentially, if you should only, become the possessor of yonder castle, which +is scarcely half a league distant from hence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And," said Edmond hesitatingly,--"if the war should rush down +here also? should this castle, this house here be consumed in flames? Where is +safety in our times?" "The Lord will protect us replied the priest, as he has +done heretofore." "And should he confer victory on the foes?" "His will be +done," prayed the old man, "for his decree is wisdom, he is just and good, and +with his might dwells love." "It almost appears," said Edmond surprised, "that +you will not be disinclined to grant victory to the rebels; at least you express +yourself so mildly, that I do not recognise in you the Catholic, as zealous for +his religion as, however, he ought to be."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us not misunderstand each other," replied the priest, "I +only mean, that I surrender myself intirely, wholly, and unconditionally to the +will of my Lord, and resign the reins to him without murmuring, or contending. +But I love my religion, I am thoroughly imbued with it, and on that very account +be it far from me to banish these poor deluded ones and to call down a curse +upon their heads."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are thus a worthy servant of your religion," answered +Edmond, "and deserve that the enlightening should be made manifest to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">The venerable man looked smilingly on the youth and said: "You +have now betrayed yourself young gentleman,--do not blush," continued he in the +mildest tone, "fear nothing from me; you are not the less welcome to me on that +account. Perhaps we shall understand, when we have learnt to know each other and +perhaps not; but you shall ever remain my beloved guest, may become also my +friend, although it may happen that I should blame your enthusiasm, or your +fanaticism. How many worthy, noble, truly inspired, loving minds have I also +known among the Huguenots and how many harsh and pitiless ones in my own church. +It is now indeed a woeful time in our country, and moreover, we see as yet no +end to the misery."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond had recovered from his surprise and embarrassment, and +said: "Is it though right, to remain thus indifferent and irresolute as you +appear to me to be? Yet, perhaps, at a later period of life I shall also feel +thus, for my father, to my sorrow, spoke almost as you do."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do not know me yet," answered the priest, "and I may well +assert, without pretention, that sentence ought not to be pronounced so hastily +and so readily on a man, who has had such experience of himself and of the +world, who has reflected and really lived. In religious affairs particularly, my +brain whirls in agony, when I see how so many place the whole tenor of a +profound mystery in a book, an expression, a phrase, or even a syllable, and +weigh the immensity of love in grains and scruples, that they may know the +faster how surely their brother is to be damned, who in other countries and with +different vessels draws out of the ocean of grace. Whoever too hastily gives a +yes, or a no to the interrogations of the conscience, in such assuredly neither +doubt, nor conviction is as yet awakened. That exhaustion, that mournful +faintness which comes over us, when we see all parties fallen into error, all +truth and inspiration mingled and disfigured by human passion, is not to be +called indifference. Whom the revealed word has once enlightened can never again +forget the glance of love, that has arisen in his inmost soul, he would rather +forfeit his life than his conviction, he requires no proofs, no renewing to +confirm him, no passion, no illusion, or miracle to ground him more firmly in +himself, as little will raillery, or doubt, brilliant talent, or presumptuous +philosophy, again be able to displace in his heart that directing star."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond +became thoughtful. "You are recalling," said he at length, "my former existence +within me; I believe I comprehend you, and yet formerly I did not understand +myself. You even mention the miraculous and similar things slightingly, do we +not live in the age of such things? Oh! my honoured, venerable friend, could you +have beheld what I have seen, could I tell you what I have myself experienced, +you would then be bewildered at yourself and your own conviction, but you +content yourself in peace, that you may escape the conflict, you deny the gift +of prophecy, the visions, the wonderful state of these children and inspired +Camisards, or censure with your church all, as deception and falsehood, if +perchance you do not, as however I cannot believe of you, agree with the most +infamous, and declare it the work of Satan and of hell." "Aye, no, my young +enthusiast," cried the old man, "nothing of all this; I have spoken with +sensible men, and I have witnessed myself years ago similar singularities: Why +should I deny these miracles, and may be, here and there mingled with lies, what +should deter me from believing in them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, nevertheless," interrupted Edmond passionately, "you +will withdraw from the truth, you will uphold only your church as truly +orthodox?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has mine then no miracles to bring forward?" said the old man +meekly: "and why should I not recognise them? But should the truth of revelation +be grounded upon these alone, we were then indeed entrapped in the worst of +errors. That, which habit renders necessary to us, we call nature and its laws: +When I see a deviation from this, which surprises and confounds me, I speak of +miracles; as if these so named laws were not likewise miracles; as if I were +able to interpret, to comprehend and explain the daily phenomena; as if each +flower did not blossom before me as a miracle; my origin, growth and decay, sun, +moon, and stars, light, air, and water, nay, the organisation of the smallest +fly were not also miracles like horror and spectre. All life surrounds me +spiritually, miraculously; or, if my spirit is torn out of the peaceful element +of its heavenly atmosphere; then love becomes hatred and despair, and wisdom as +well as the revealed word of the Lord madness and blasphemy." Edmond was mute. +"Know I then," continued the old man, "that which I call nature and its +energies, the mind and its faculties? how each day it varies in different men +for the most insignificant occasions! The poet, the artist knows how to speak of +feelings, which to the uninitiated must appear as delirium, or miracle: energies +unfold themselves, of which the former world was ignorant, many others have in +the course of time declined, or have been forgotten; they appear again probably +to astonish, or to give a firmer foundation to true science. Would my mind set +limits to the Almighty, and know I, what God from wise, unsearchable causes will +permit or execute? but no miracle can ever be elevated to a religious mystery; +revelation requires not this to announce its eternal truth; the Saviour himself +did not perform his miracles for that purpose, and reproaches the pharasees and +people; miracle seeking testifies disbelief and irreligion, and where passion, +party or sect, in the conflict of opinions, relies upon these inexplicable +phenomena and wish to found conviction, or even to prove and explain for ever +and ever out of what is indefinite, then is it all over long since with every +sincere examination, with all true religion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the resurrection of the Lord?" said Edmond. "Is not," +said the former, "to be reckoned among the phenomena, commonly called miracles, +if the grosser, unenlightened mind can indeed comprehend them only in this +manner." "Go on," said Edmond, "to make your opinions clear to me, I am not yet +too old to learn." "It happens not unfrequently," resumed the priest "that +remorse and despair either in criminals or in weak, sickly men have produced a +sudden cure of old paralysis, so that the strength of the arm has been able to +tear off their fetters, or to break iron posts; passion or terror exasperated +that man, and gave him what in an ordinary state he did not possess. In dreams, +in sickness, strange worlds are often discovered to us, and unknown feelings, +scarcely foreboded, are presented to our view, and thus it may well happen, nay, +I have myself experienced it, that in excited minds, inspired by enthusiasm, +remorse, and passion, a state, as if between sleep and wakefulness, originates, +in which, in the struggles of the organs, the spirit breaks in a short time +through the bonds that confine it; it sees and hears as a spirit, distance +approaches it, barriers obstruct not its view, futurity becomes the present, and +in this total overthrow, the original vigour of the soul resumes its own +appropriate right."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And wherefore should not this, according to your own words," +said Edmond, "be able to be pure and heavenly?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will neither combat, condemn, nor ratify it," answered the +clergyman, "were our nature entirely pure and refined, had we never falsified +our heavenly origin, then indeed might these phenomena deserve our praise and +thanksgiving to the Almighty, who again ever raises us to the rank of apostles, +and denies us not the gift of prophecy. But frivolity, mortality, and evil have +penetrated into us, this death obscures our life, this annihilation struggles +against our spirit, as we are of heavenly origin; our outward existence is, +however, as well as our spiritual operations continually exposed to this pitiful +enemy, as the shadow, it follows every thought and every deed, and to combat it +in thought and action, as well as in pure faith and devotion, is the task of our +existence; the past must be continually put aside to make room for the coming, +of the Lord. But woe to us when that wonderful excitement of the mind, when +these gifts of prophecy associate themselves with this nullity, this chaos, and +all the dark passions! Then eternal truth, which never slumbers within us, +summons falsehood, vanity, pride, wickedness, and bloodthirstiness, to enter +into the shadowed gloom of our dark deformed soul, hyenas and tigers then tear +themselves free from their fetters, and hapless man imagines, while the spirit +of murder is roaring within him, that the Spirit of the Lord is prophesying +directly from out of his mouth."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond looked at him searchingly. "Often, however," pursued +the old man composedly, "it is only the Immortal Spirit, that collects all its +present and future energies, that it may step beyond the ordinary limits of +nature, and that it merely takes with it the images of folly, and the almost +innocent mask, in order to announce even in the supernatural, that which is +absurd and contrary to nature."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you are right." said Edmond, "what do you counsel those, +who are thus gifted? This state must be a most critical one; but how +disembarrass yourself of it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"By simplicity of conduct," replied the old man, "by +estrangement from all passion and pride, and by pure prayer for the deliverance +from this error, and from the deluding gift."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That signifies," answered Edmond passionately and bitterly, +"I ought to entreat the Lord to withdraw from me, I ought to pray to him to +remain far away from me; in order to become godly, I must commence with +consummate impiety. Is it thus that a priest of the Lord can exhort and counsel? +but thus they are, thus they speak, these persecutors. And if they be but +consistent, they must also entirely deny the miracles of their church, nay, even +censure sacred Scripture as a lie."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have not indeed completely understood me, young man," +answered the priest. "May not the ardour of love kindle so intensely, that the +matter, the obscurity, the nothingness in us, may become temporally annihilated, +and our speech, with the Lord's permission working in his strength may issue +forth? That this may be possible, the example of the apostles teaches us, the +prophets bear witness; that many great saints whom the world venerated, may have +thus spoken and worked, is certainly credible.--And thus belief may move and +elevate, it may be a positive crime to mock reservation,--but what can this +avail true religion, or its mysteries? How weak would it be, if these supports, +as I have already said, were indispensable to it! The miracle of all miracles, +my young friend, is the great moment which is revealed to all sinning, hapless +mortals in their limited life, when the lord himself advances to meet the +penitent, the indifferent, and creates his heart anew. This metamorphosis is +more wonderful incomprehensible, and more mysterious than all the overthrows of +the laws of nature, which attract the eye searching for miracles, for here out +of nothing something is brought forth, out of death, suddenly like a flash of +lightning, life is created."</p> + +<p class="normal">They were disturbed at this moment by several peasants, who +were begging directions from their priest how to proceed respecting the +approaching festival and procession. Edmond in the mean while walked about the +little garden, variously excited and inclined to contemplation, for his earlier +youth had been recalled to his remembrance, many of his father's words, many of +his early instructor's, his mother's admonitions were again revived within him. +The clergyman returned after a short time and said: "Still I must ever lovingly +admire the human mind, when it preserves itself pure, and so many sentiments and +customs affect, while they appear to us childish, and foolish. Let no severe +judge expunge these feelings from our religion, for even, these sucklings will +hang on their mother's breast, and while they nourish themselves, they gaze in +her dark eyes, whose expression they understand more from the instinct of +childhood than from knowledge. We have here in our little church a miraculous +portrait of the mother of God, which is renowned and honored far and wide by the +country-people of the mountain. An old shapeless figure cut in wood of small +size, probably in the early age of art, when it was yet scarcely aware of its +own existence. I have seen the sick, when they prayed before the altar, restored +to health, for faith and the commotions of the mind are able to bring forth the +strongest phenomena in our delicate nature. Now when I reflect that upon this +little spot so many thousands have for centuries derived consolation and joy, I +cannot look upon her without emotion. The war has rendered a festival impossible +this year, which otherwise has annually been celebrated on the morrow. From +several village communities, even from those which lie twelve leagues off, +processions of the communities arrived; eight young girls crowned with flowers +bore the portrait of the Madonna of their church, singing all those hymns, which +sound so beautifully in the mountain dialect in their tunes: Thus they walked +round the church and one procession after another brought many with spiritual +songs into our temple, here the strange visitor must bow low before ours, who +then in a chaunt thanked and praised the Lord, in the song which our young women +here sing most enchantingly in alternate chorusses. Thus all the processions +bring in their mother of God quite similar to the theories of the ancient +Greeks, and retired again in praise and thanks. This ceremony, which to the wise +may only appear puerile, has, since I have been able to observe the people here, +always produced much good and salutary fruit. The common man (though what do I +say, who among us that calls himself the educated,) need not such things at +times. The whole village all the winter long rejoiced in the anticipation of +this day, the possession of this Marie endears this spot of the mountain, and +renders it invaluable to them, the pilgrimage church here dazzles to the absent +from a distance as if surrounded with a glory. The wandering through unknown +districts encouraged the young and old, the visitings of a foreign nature, made +the accustomed home more agreeable to them. Religious sentiments, pious designs, +were developed, and at a later period, in peace brought to perfection. On the +road they encountered the poor and sick, who needed assistance, all the feelings +of the heart were renewed and reinvigorated, for man requires a similar renewal +at times, that he may not become too monotonous to himself. Shall I also remind +you, that by this means their native land became to all more endeared and +beloved? without mentioning, that people from far countries became acquainted, +and one heard of this and that from another; affection and also marriages were +contracted among the distant mountaineers, and thus the useful, the good with +piety and an inclination for the wonderful, as well as the love of nature went +hand in hand." "All this," said Edmond, "however much you may speak in its +favour, the Huguenots call idolatry."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would be so too," answered the old man, "if persecution, +hatred and malice, were excited by this love and festivity. It might be perilous +to celebrate the festival now, especially if it should be interrupted by +enthusiasts of the other party. In bygone years, however, I have seen even +protestants, who were unable to look upon the puerile ceremony without shedding +tears. For it is just in a similar way, when man suffers himself to yield to his +most cherished sentiments as if he were at home, when in an entirely childish +and artless spirit he draws near to his God, or to his representative, his +mother, or the saints, (whom he believes nearer to the nameless one,) plays and +sports with the dreaded, the worshipped, laying aside all solemnity and all +serious pomp, then does mankind appear purest and simplest. All ages, all +nations are the same, let them think and worship as they like, have never been +able to do entirely without it, and what we are often compelled to hear from +free-thinkers or reformers, that we have again introduced the old overthrown +idolatry, is only, if rightly understood, in the spirit of love, the +regeneration of the human mind, which will never permit this source of its holy +thirst to be exhausted. But abuse and error attach themselves to everything +human. Indeed, the most beautiful body consists merely of earth, and dust; and +yet beauty is more sublime than the moist clay of the fields."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus was Edmond compelled to hear from strange lips his former +thoughts detailed. He was so affected by the presence of the old man, that he +felt himself compelled to discover to him what a zealous catholic he himself had +once been and had but a short time previously turned to the Huguenot faith; he +was silent, however, respecting his alliance with the Camisards, and the purpose +for which he had descended into the valleys.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is easy to understand," answered the old man, "how lively +minds in these troublous times forsake their party and seek on the opposite +side, what is wanting to them; that love makes such attempts to become +reconciled with itself, even though these attempts should fail. My dear, young +friend, you recall to my mind by your confession, your countenance and presence +my own past youth in the most lively colours, and I cannot refrain from +exchanging confession for confession, confidence for confidence. I am indeed +tempted to impart to you the history of my little limited life, that has almost +only experienced emotions of the mind."</p> + +<p class="normal">They seated themselves in an arbour, before which stood +plantains entwined with vines, the green wooded mountains were open, and the +murmuring of the brook resounded pleasingly through the solitude, while from to +time to time, the bells of the village church on account of the festival on the +morrow, rang out their monotonous and solemn tones.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I come from the Netherlands," commenced the priest, "born of +Huguenot parents, whom I lost at a very early period. My guardians, +worldly-minded men, troubled themselves more about the preservation of my small +fortune than of giving me a sound education, and therefore it happened that I +was consigned to a tutor, with whom they, as well as myself, were very well +pleased. He was a man of extensive information, who had also travelled much, and +had resided a considerable time in London. As he was descended from a good +family, and possessed himself some tact, he became acquainted with and acquired +each day the confidence of many beaux esprits and of the courtiers here, and +although his morals had not suffered as much as one might well have been led to +fear, his religious principles at least, which may never have been very strong, +were by this intercourse entirely stifled and destroyed. Knowledge, +understanding were the most important to him, however he devoted himself with +religious worship to poetry, as well as to the history of the ancient Greeks. No +one could be more eloquent than he, when he enlarged upon these subjects. That +these sentiments, as I was of a very lively disposition, should influence me, +was very natural; my tutor seemed to me the most gifted of mortals, and his +decisions were my oracles. Though I may still honour his memory, I must +nevertheless censure as a weakness in what then certainly appeared to me his +greatest forte, namely, his unwearied mockery of Christianity and of every +religion; all others rather than the various sects of the Christian Church, +found a release from his satires; the present, as well as the past, the history +of the development, its mysteries, all was a subject of his derision, and the +apostles, even the Saviour himself, were not spared by him, how much less +Luther, or Calvin, and Zwingli, or even those so named mystics, who desire to +form in themselves a peculiar spirit to recognise God. My mind had soon become +so intimately connected with his, that I could not endure that there should be +any religion for me on the earth, that any pious sentiments should ever arise in +my heart. I had indeed my heroes of the former world, the Grecian antiquity, the +high-minded Romans, in whose patriotism I glowed in dreams, the boundless fields +of poetry with its gardens of wit and humour; and out of Sophocles and Eschylus, +those dreamers of a world of spirits not understood, these seemed to me the most +sublime objects that could ever have the power to shake my soul. In a short time +I was honestly and truly ashamed of being a Christian, when I thought of the +variegated world of fiction, of the ambiguous Grecian mythology, of those feasts +and spectacles, lofty statues, and noble temples: Where then were the deliverer +on the ignominious cross, and his impoverished disciples? how this faith of +poverty and misfortune dwindled into nothing compared with those sacrifices and +public parade, and the jubilee of the Pindaric hymns? neither did I reckon +myself among the community, and the dullest day of my young, life, was that on +which I was received into the church of our sect with the customary ceremonies. +Each word seemed nonsense to me, all solemnity degradation, in anger only I +responded to the questions, and while still in the church, I swore never again +to visit it: A contradictory and foolish oath, which, however, I long observed. +At a later period, when I reentered into the world, I remarked that all, who +were called strong-minded, were either privately or publicly of my belief. All +did not openly mock; the weak disapproved of this outrage, but only from the +feeling of not making weak men err, or become unhappy, who though had nothing +better themselves, or were not able to produce any thing but the old, miserable +tale, that, without a connexion, one often contradicts the other. Many forcibly +denied altogether the history of the Saviour, with others still worse, he was +merely an unfortunate rebel, and to the best, a moral man, but who indeed, +according to their views must be far inferior to Socrates, whose life was +clearer, and whose doctrines seemed more comprehensible. Several of these +free-thinkers, to whom the catholic church was a stumbling block, and who, that +they might not be considered as antichristians, turned all the strength of their +mind, under pretext of protecting the protestant freedom, to tear to atoms and +to disfigure their catholic brethren, the history of the church, spiritual and +temporal ordinances, in the most barbarous manner: thus behind this rampart, +they imagined under false names, to be able to annihilate Christianity itself, +for this it was which was hateful to them, not this, or that party. All this was +very evident to me, and I lent my aid as much as my limited power would permit. +I arrived at the age of maturity, and my opinions only became still more deeply +rooted. I travelled, I saw the world, but only on the side, which confirmed my +prejudices. If I met with pious enlightened Christians, they appeared to me only +as strange disordered spirits, worthy of remark perhaps, of pity assuredly. In a +German town I took out of sheer insolence the book of a German mystic from the +library to my own dwelling, that I might for want of better amusement, divert +myself in the spirit of derision with the madness of the absurd and the foolish. +Unconsciously, I had brought the fire-brand into my house, which soon set in +flames all this edifice of pride and worldly impiety. I turned over the leaves, +read and laughed, read again and found the puerility at least poetical. The book +left me no rest, I felt as it were attracted to it, it tortured me, and to my +shame I was soon forced to confess to myself, that it contained connexion, +strength, and spirit, that it instructed me, and that gardens, flowers, and +trees of love bloomed, where I had only seen a waste desert. The presentiment +seized me, that another God might rule the universe than he, whom in my +enthusiastic views of nature, or in my poetical inspirations, I had been willing +to discover, or to acknowledge in the vortex of frivolity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My mind much affected, after some weeks of anxiety and +meditation, longed ardently to read the Holy Scriptures. None of my numerous +acquaintances, even such as were book collectors, or who possessed extensive +libraries, had this book in their households. I felt ashamed, that I too had +never required it. From that time this treasure became my faithful companion on +my travels. I read in solitary and consecrated moments, and experienced what +every thirsty one feels, who is susceptible of humiliation, in whom the utter +sense of helplessness is not entirely extinct, which, indeed, is so +indispensably necessary before the spiritual word can take root in the +uncultivated heart. Faith! this so often disputed, attacked and variously +explained word. Oh! who has experienced it, in whom it has arisen with its +strength, he will not dispute it. I could not withdraw myself from the +revelation, the faith, so triumphantly did the words, the images, the language +of the gospel glittering in the splendour of arms pierce through my soul, and +all my energies became the prisoners of eternal love, and were now happy and +blessed in the service, in the sweet slavery. My former rebellion against the +Lord appeared to me mean and despicable, and my contempt turned from its course, +no longer understood the folly of its early wisdom. Many indeed imagine, that +faith, humility, and unbounded trust in the Lord, are nothing else than killing +our energies, nay the faculty of thinking, and consequently withdraw in anger or +in trembling from that work of regeneration, which, nevertheless speaks +sometimes from afar indirectly to their insensible hearts. Unhappy men! This so +much dreaded faith would first elevate their capacities to energies and kindle +new lights and flames in their spirits. Without him, the revealed Christ, no +sense in profound thought, no spirit in history, no consolation in nature and no +peculiarity in our existence. Art, love, humour, who possesses him, they are +then free play-fellows. How joyous, sweet, yea intoxicating and full of +merriment, cheerful, and smiling does Christianity appear through all the +genuine works of modern art, how blessed and pleasing are they, when in the +greatness and fulness of the old world, yet like a spirit of gentle melancholy +that passes away as the cloud, momentarily over the beautiful landscape in the +brilliancy of spring." The old man paused, and Edmond said: "Oh! how willingly I +listen to you, and remember all the sentiments and vicissitudes of my stormy +youth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What I had before rejected," continued the priest, "now +became the most urgent want of my soul, for I felt, how much a christian +congregation, in unison together, must strengthen and elevate the individual. I +visited the church therefore and wished to join in the worship of my sect. But +whether it was that my mind was too much agitated, or that I had perhaps fallen +on the wrong one, it appeared to me that every where the church overreached +itself by preaching. All preferred their own explanations, and their close +reasoning philosophy to the word of the Lord, they were all ashamed of Christ +and denied him in artfully spun phrases, they misinterpreted him, merely that +they might bring him nearer to their own weak necessities, as if he and his +disciples must be subservient to their enlightened times, as servants and +sextons of the church. I knew well, that every believing auditor and layman must +be a priest himself to be able by his own power to transform the worthless into +the good, but all my vital energies sank in the midst of that which surrounded +me; the shrill singing stunned me, and the whole left a void and almost brought +me back again to the state of a despairing infidel. It was certainly +unreasonable on my part to require that all should partake of the intoxication +of my newly planted vineyard. I was now compelled to feel, that fanaticism, and +stepping beyond the limits was yet worse than remaining cold and apathetic below +the mark. I continued my travels, and quarrelled on the way with my companion, +already an old acquaintance, who neither could, or would not share in all my +feelings. Thus we arrived at Nismes; there my destiny ordained, that I should +long remain, in order that my whole life fully aroused should be determined and +resolved. My companion, a certain Lacoste, introduced me to a house, where new +feelings awaited me, to torture as much as to bless me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lacoste!" exclaimed Edmond, "should he, perhaps--but proceed +my venerable friend, I may be mistaken."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My former friend," pursued the priest, "was tall and robust, +a handsome man in every sense of the word, feeling and kind, but frivolous, and +as far from every religion, as I had been a short time previously. This friend +introduced me to the family of a worthy magistrate, which soon, as the good man +and his excellent wife received me so hospitably, became my daily abode. They +had a son, an amiable youth whose enthusiasm quickly procured him my confidence, +for just as much as Lacoste disputed all religious principles, young Beauvais +warmly cherished them, voluntary lived in and for religion: he was the most +zealous defender of his Catholic party, that I have ever been acquainted with."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heavens!" exclaimed Edmond, "you are then, venerable man, the +Edmond Watelet, of whom I have so often heard the Counsellor of Parliament +speak, as the favourite friend of his youth?"</p> + +<p class="normal">A long pause ensued.--"It is indeed so," said the aged priest +wiping away his tears, "the young enthusiastic Beauvais must now be an old man; +I too though am become old! Aye, truly, there is a period which our heart +refuses to believe, it is that alone which exalts the life of each one of us to +a strange fiction, to a wonderful tale. He is still living then? ah, my dear +Chevalier, you are yourself very like him. That is the spell, which so +inseparably bound me to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond talked of his father, but notwithstanding his deep +emotion, he felt it was impossible to discover to him at that moment, that he +was his son. After a time during which the old man recovered from his agitation, +he continued more calmly: "That which most contributed to convert the paternal +dwelling of my young friend into an enchanted garden for me, was the society of +the young and beautiful women, who assembled there. Ha himself was affianced to +a lovely girl, and he ardently anticipated his union with her. His Lucy's +sentiments corresponded exactly with his own, and all that drew them nearer to +each other was more or less imbibed into their existence and grew with the +inspired hymn. The elder Beauvais only smiled at the high-strained feeling of +the young people, for though he was himself pious, he rather feared that +overreaching, and this religious ecstasy appeared to him as such. I now visited +the temple in high spirits with my enthusiastic friend. The solemnity of God's +service, the stillness, the enchanting singing, the dread-inspiring presentiment +which hovered over every mystery that here tried to present itself visibly to +the necessitous, languishing senses, transported my heart. Already accustomed to +look upon every thing as a riddle, as a concealed mystery of love, the +celebration of the Mass appeared to me as elevated and divine, as revelation and +work of art, as type and fulfilment at the same time, and each word spoken, or +sung as it fell on my ear in the full force of its signification, drove back a +bolt from my heart. Art and nature changed before my eyes, the element of water +became glorified, in the fire, in the light of the church tapers as well as that +of the house, I perceived and recognised the whole tenor of the secret of +nature. The nights became too short to enable us to impart to each other all +that arose in our minds. A young abbé, a mild, miracle-believing enthusiast was +often the third in our consultations in the open air or within doors, and his +learning, his knowledge in old legends and histories of the church gave to all +our spiritual movements body and presence, yes, my friend, this rosy period of +my youth was like the wedding festival of my soul, and griefs not to be named +were already preparing in the midst of this enjoyment, in order to teach me how +weak, how frail man is and remains."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And this abbé," exclaimed Edmond, who had scarcely heard the +last words, "was he not named Aubigny?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Exactly so," replied the pastor with much astonishment, "it +seems indeed that you know all the companions of my youth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Through the Counsellor of Parliament," answered Edmond, "who +also likes to recall to his memory the season of his youth. But I pray you to +continue your narrative. I fear that that Lacoste did not wish to be the fourth +in your alliance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The unfortunate man," said the priest, "who had already +become so confidential with us, withdrew from us day by day, although he still +continued to visit frequently the paternal dwelling. Notwithstanding that we had +agreed to deal mildly with him, his derision of us excited our anger, and his +coldness refused all our conciliatory endeavours. It was not predestined, that +our days should flow along in peaceful, undisturbed cheerfulness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Among the young girls that visited my friend's house, the +next in loveliness to his bride, was one Euphemie the most delicate and +beautiful apparition that my eyes had ever beheld. She dazzled less than Lucy, +but she was still more refined more etherial. Her mind was also already +abstracted from this world, her wishes were directed to the cloister, the life +of a nun seemed to her most desirable. Fortunately this inclination coincided +with the views of her parents, who as it so often happens, wished the whole of +the fortune to devolve on the son, so that he might be able to occupy a more +important station in the world. In order to complete my reformation, the +knowledge of love was only wanting to my deeply affected mind. Euphemie and I +drew near to each other, we became as quickly familiarised as if our being had +for many years been only waiting for this acquaintance. We were as brother and +sister, before we had yet been able to wonder at the rapidity of this mutual +confidence. We soon felt that we could not do without each other, she could tell +me all her thoughts and feelings more easily and confidingly than she could +impart them to her parents, even more than she ventured to do to her female +friends. My heart floated in the sweetest repose; at the sound of her voice, at +the glance of her mild eye, when I heard her footstep, when she walked in the +garden, nay even when I only thought of her, my mind was as if plunged in bliss. +Even thus the spirits of the pure soar glorified towards their sacred destiny, +estranged from all passion and inquietude, from all violent incitements. And yet +I knew not that I loved: I had never permitted this word to enter into my mind.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We conversed on her future cloistered life, on the saints and +their miracles, and Euphemie had in me the most believing pupil. She lent an +equally attentive ear to my enthusiasm and days and weeks passed away in a +pleasing dream. That Italy, whither indeed I was journeying, was in the world, I +had totally forgotten.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Beauvais took possession of a country house, that lay in the +most beautiful part of the country. I followed the family and my adored Euphemie +also accompanied her friends, for the mother, as well as the son's future bride +respected the wonderful girl. What singular conversations and outpourings of the +heart! the earth and all that surrounded us, to which we must indeed have +applied names, vanished from us, and our spirits as if in the innocence of +Paradise lulled themselves, void of every want, but penetrated with the most +innate, the most holy love. We understood each other without words, and as all +that was earthly had fled, no feelings of jealousy, suspicion, or distrust arose +in our souls.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The legends, many of which express a heavenly spirit of +resignation to the mysterious will of the Most High, a renunciation, nay almost +an annihilation of self in fervent love of Christ, a profound mortal compassion +in the endearing adoration, our inebriated enthusiasm was awakened and nourished +especially by those feelings. Many of these tales are repulsive and contrary to +every sentiment, these we discussed with subtle and ingenious commentaries in +order to garnish them with a milder spirit. But the most beautiful that this +species of tradition has preserved to us, is that, which, however, at the same +time is the most misconceived by the unawakened soul of and which is found +absurd and repulsive by the worldly minded. The life and history of the old +hermits, there may be also much of later invention, to the mind which is once +moved by spiritual things, they present a touching miracle. What shall I say of +the meditations of St. Francis, of his ardent love and of the visions which +arose and were present to this man in the perfect humility, the compassion, and +fervour of his unfettered heart? He only who has once known the splendour of the +world, the insolent strength appertaining to it, can rightly comprehend this +temper of mind. We also often read the Gospel, and then a trembling, such as has +been frequently observed in many enthusiasts, came over my whole body, +especially when in solitude, for timidity and shame restrained me in society +from exposing my deep emotions to observation. In this frame of mind, I left +Euphemie one morning, some chapters of the Holy Scriptures had just been read. I +threw myself down in the most retired spot in the garden, in order to give a +free course to my tears. The whole world awakened feelings of pity within me, I +experienced such an overflow of love in my oppressed heart, that it almost +burst, in the excess of its own enjoyment; I read over again the passages in +Luke, how Christ met the poor widow and the dead body of her son, and +compassionately aroused the youth from death. There are no words that can +describe the state of my mind. The elder Beauvais with a suite of servants was +just returning from the chase. He might well be astonished at finding me in this +condition, but he passed me with a mute salutation. I arose, and now as with a +tremendous power it took possession of me. Verily, said I to myself, as thee no +man has ever yet loved; it is the spirit of God, of the Father himself that +stirs within thee to gladden to love, to sympathise with all; in these, these +exalted moments I felt impressed with the eternal truth, that I myself, I was +the son, the God from God,---and what should prevent me from moving these trees, +these stones with the word of life, that they might change into other forms, and +attest my might, shall I beckon to the angels that hover round me, visibly to +appear to do my service?--Yes! let it be attempted, ventured--Then trembling and +fear came over me, I was stunned and in despair; in contrite humility I cast +myself down before my Creator, I felt myself undone, now that I perceived my +devilish arrogance which had risen out of pure humility and love; I had +experienced the most fearful apostacy from God, just at the moment when with all +my faculties I felt myself nearer to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This moment in which my spirit became dizzy on the verge of +insanity and frenzy, has since then ever seemed to me the most terrible one in +my life. I now understood myself and human nature, and also the danger of +enthusiastic raptures of love. I had then indeed myself trodden the bridge over +which all enthusiasts have passed, the narrow path (ever shining brightly, +though hell lies beneath it) between virtue and vice, between wisdom and +presumption, which leads from love and kindliness to hatred and murder, and I +had now learned what an unholy spirit had moved the Anabaptists, and Adamites, +and perhaps now glows and rages in many a heart among the rebels. Oh! my son, +man is a most frail and pitiable being, the more is lent to him, the more has he +to answer for, the brighter the spirit of love glows within him, the darker +burns his reprobation; his gifts granted to him from heaven, may become his dire +enemies, there is no one either that stands so fast, but that he may also fall. +My legends had already taught me that, but I was doomed to feel it first in this +fatal downfall."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Therefore still hell and devil?" cried Edmond after a long +pause. "However mildly you spoke and sentenced at first, the priestly +condemnation follows in the end. Oh thou unfortunate Cavalier and Marion! and ye +unhappy children, on whose lisping tongues Satan himself laid the name of the +Lord, and the awaking to repentance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What then shall we call that?" said the old man mildly, +"which works directly against God? We require not certainly that fearful figure, +which perversity has imagined, in order to represent him personally; we need not +indeed ascribe to him those tremendous attributes, which the miracle-seeking has +invented, fabulously enough, but so much the worse for us, the weaker, the more +powerless he in himself is: how feeble are we then to permit ourselves to be so +ignominously overcome by this shadow, this delusion, this inefficiency, this +nothingness? How our priests may censure these suggestions and represent them as +devilish I know not, but it suffices for me, that I have experienced in myself, +that such a feeling of all our energies may exist in us in divine love, which +then does not proceed from God, but from his despicable adversary, and of which +we must beware, because we, the image of God, through our own demerits are, as +it were, only shadows of shadows."</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man arose, and walked several times up and down the +garden, to subdue the emotion, which these recollections had excited. Edmond +remained behind in deep thought, and compared the narrative of the pastor with +his own experience. Should he now view them in an other light, or wish them +effaced from the career of his life? He would have been more satisfied, could he +have heartily embittered his feelings against the old man, towards whom, +however, inclination as well as the intercourse of soul in which he had spent +his youth with his own parent attracted him. The pastor came back smiling, and +seated himself again by the side of the subtle investigator. "It cannot be +otherwise in life," recommenced he, "each sentiment, each society, each +disposition and friendship has its history, all ascends, attains the highest +summit and falls again. Thus had the most delightful concord in our singular +intimacy already vanished, before we had been able to perceive a change. The +impetuous Lacoste had conceived a violent passion for Lucy, and the gentle, +pious creature felt very unhappy on that account, although she at same time +became reserved towards young Beauvais. At first the latter was embarrassed at +this, then vexed and irritated against Lacoste, to whom until now he had been +greatly attached, whilst he thought that a secret inclination for this impetuous +man had thus visibly estranged his bride from him. In this mutual constraint, +the two friends avoided each other, they were however compelled to meet in +company: An explicit communication and reciprocal understanding seemed +impossible, so that the rancour took even deeper root, especially with Lacoste, +who, after some time, made but little effort to restrain from publicly betraying +his aversion to Beauvais. But the state of my own feelings was such, that I was +soon disqualified from observing others around me. Euphemie's brother, the pride +of his family, fell into an illness, which had all the appearance of +consumption, and now the parents thought of marrying their daughter to a man of +distinction, that through her their name and large fortune might be perpetuated +in the world. When Euphemie first spoke to me on this subject, she was wholly +unembarrassed; her voice was as firm and steady as if she were speaking of a +friend. I felt as if she were relating to me a silly improbable tale, so pure, +exalted, and unattainable had my fancy painted her. I could almost just as +easily have persuaded myself that a scheme of marriage was projecting with the +evening star. But at night, on my solitary couch, the aspect of affairs took +another form: Again was I doomed to learn, and how painfully! to know myself and +the world. Is she to belong to the world? I asked myself, wherefore then not +first to me? To me, to whom she already belongs, as my soul dwells in hers!</p> + +<p class="normal">"The concealed ardour, which until now had slumbered in the +sweetest intoxication, burst through its bud and blossomed, and shone forth like +a rare flower, which unfolded a thousand purple leaves. I felt now thoroughly, +for the first time, that what until then I had considered merely earthly, was of +heavenly origin. I deemed myself called upon in my pure love to renew as a real +sacrament, the sublime symbol of marriage, in such holy perfection as it is +seldom, perhaps never, found on earth. Euphemie was terrified at my plans, my +ardent persuasions, and my enterprising spirit. The more her hesitation, her +timidity increased my passion, the more did I appear to her a strange being, +whom until then she had not known at all. She was to be awakened from her +peaceful repose, thus my love desired it, but she was shocked at the thought of +grieving her parents in any way, to oppose them was with her an unnatural sin, +and all that I urged about elopement, force, and death, only confused her +delicate mind, as in the roaring of the waterfall no speech can be heard. My +high wrought passion grew almost to frenzy; that she did not love me, that I was +hateful to her, that already she turned her affections on her bridegroom, whom I +jealously cursed, menacing to kill both him and myself: to all these frantic +expressions she listened with a suffering and endearing patience. Thus then was +this heaven destroyed for me, and black demons grinned on me from the same +places, where before my intoxicated ear had heard the flapping of angel's wings, +from whence formerly a sweet smile from a radiant countenance bloomed on me like +roses sparkling with dew in the rosy light of morning.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Verily my soul becomes young again, when I think on those +days. Oh! he grows not old, who lives only in the solitude of his recollections, +as I do. With poor Lacoste things went on still worse than with myself. He +wasted away, and wished for death. Often did he call upon it with fearful words. +There was something heart-rending in his look. My friend Beauvais had also +become pale, his youth was evaporating. Oh! there is nothing so terrible as to +be compelled to doubt the worth of the beloved object; that gives more pain than +despised affection. And in these pangs the hapless man was now perishing. Lucy +was a puzzle to me also, when I was able to direct a look at her, she as well as +Euphemie were constrained and timid, sought, and at the same tine avoided +solitude, longed to pour out the overflowings of the heart to each other or +their beloved, yet could not find the time, or perhaps, could not exert +sufficient courage. All the same men, who, but a short time previously sounded +in concord together like heavenly tones, now screamed in yelling discord against +one another; the apparent sanctity had changed into human folly, and each +understood the other as little as himself. The elder Beauvais seemed to guess a +little the horrible confusion, for he frequently looked at us all with dark and +penetrating glances.</p> + +<p class="normal">"At length this twisted knot disentangled itself again. +Euphemie's brother began to recover, the former projects were brought forward +again, and my overwhelming passion was compelled to give place by degrees to a +calm resignation. This only was the case, for I was determined to make good my +supposed rights, until I perceived that the delicate Euphemie must perish in +this storm; Lucy at length declared herself for Beauvais, and it was discovered, +that his too intimate intercourse with Lacoste was alone the cause of her +reserve towards him. The fear had risen within her, that he himself might be +inclined to the free-thinking opinions of his rival. So great was her love to +her church, that she had resolved, rather to sacrifice her dear betrothed than +to live in the proximity of persuasions, which she considered as utterly +profane. And it is true, the more zealous we were to recognise truth and +divinity in one form only, the more did Lacoste seize every opportunity to +express his incredulity. Indeed, however, miserable he felt within himself, he +sought by a certain vanity to avail himself of every occasion to prove his +strength of mind in mockery, and in violent bursts of passion, his wretchedness +had given such a bitter turn to his feelings, that sometimes he stood amongst us +like an inspired prophet of Atheism, used such singular similies and figurative +expressions, in a language so touching and elevated, that the pious maidens +turned away from him with inward terror.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We had all ceased to weep, we were reconciled and of +peaceable, quiet hearts, when Lacoste entered in the midst of our pathetic +emotion and religious conversation. Beauvais made known to him what he had +learned from Lucy, and that he (Lacoste) must quit our society in order that he +might not disturb the happiness of the lovers and their approaching marriage, +perhaps even render it impossible. This blow fell unexpectedly on the +unfortunate Lacoste; his whole emaciated, care-worn frame trembled violently as +if in convulsions, he was unable for a long time to find words, and when at last +they flowed from his colourless lips, he tried to persuade us, that such a +sentence of banishment from former friends was at least too hard, that he was +not able to subdue his passion so quickly, or entirely to get rid of his +persuasions, but that he combated both, and would strive against them with still +greater energy in our company. But Beauvais was on this day armed with manly +courage and resolution, his intercourse hitherto with Lucy had made him too +unhappy; he insisted on the immediate departure of the peace-destroyer; the Abbé +Aubigny sided with him, the gentle Euphemie was anxious, and Lucy herself the +most decided; I also joined in this chorus, and we all unanimously declared, as +with one voice, that the godless one should no longer linger near us; it was our +duty, the love of Christ itself required of us to banish him, because through +his intercourse with us, our religion would be sullied, perhaps even endangered. +When Lacoste perceived we were firm in our religious zeal, he left off prayers +and humiliations, and a tremendous fury overcame the mortified man, his eyes +flashed fire, and he cursed himself and us with the bitterest execrations--that +we might never find happiness, that misery might pursue us, that Beauvais might +reap nothing but grief and sorrow from this marriage, and that he might live to +see calamity, distress, and crime on his dearest children."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond sighed deeply. "Thus," continued the priest, "did the +wretched man leave us, and rushed like a madman out of the house; but a short +time only was requisite to recall us to our senses, and to penetrate us with a +burning shame. In the most devout temper of mind, in feelings of the purest +love, as we fancied, we had been cruel towards a fellow brother, towards a +friend, who deserved forbearance and compassion, although he might have strayed +into the path of error. Beauvais was the first to recollect himself, and was +angry with himself and all of us; he rebuked us as inquisitors, who condemn in +cold blood to the stake all those that differ in opinion with them. A messenger +was quickly dispatched to his residence in town, but he had already in his fury +departed thence, no one knew whither. He had smashed to pieces everything in the +house there, and with his gigantic strength had so ill-used a young waiter, who +had attempted to appease him, that the unfortunate lad had been given up to the +surgeons as dead. He had so cut his head with tables and chairs that he threw at +the defenceless boy and crushed both his legs, that it was doubtful whether he +would recover. If we had first been ashamed, we would now have concealed +ourselves in the caverns of the earth, when we learned that this young lad, bred +up in the most ordinary manner, and without any information, as soon as he had +recovered his senses, during excruciating tortures from the dressing of his +wounds, had prayed to God for the man, who had injured him, that he would +forgive and succour the unhappy man, who must have been inexpressibly, +infinitely wretched to have been prompted in his sorrow to fall upon an innocent +person. Who is the true Christian? we asked ourselves, who the professor of the +religion of love? Ah! we were so zealous, we thought we had learned so much, +that we were able to teach the profoundest doctrine, we looked down daily with +contemptuous pity on those who were less enlightened, who were not susceptible +of our sublime emotions,--but now we were forced to confess to ourselves, that +we were yet standing on the other side of the commencement; it was just, that we +as miserable scholars, should be compelled to go for instruction to a young and +ignorant waiter at an inn.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will conclude. Before my friend had yet celebrated his +marriage, my Euphemie took the veil. On the same day, we had thus arranged it, I +caused myself to be received into the bosom of her church. At first I intended +to become a monk, but as I had delayed, I suffered myself to be consecrated a +priest at a distance, and was transferred to this solitary part of the +mountains. Since then, I have never heard of my friends, of Euphemie; I even +wished to avoid ever seeing them again, that I might not renew the pains of +deep, vital wounds. And yet it is but weakness, to turn away from the path of +sorrow.--It had become dark, and the two friends repaired to the lighted room, +to partake of the little evening meal. The young peasants who had been there +before, reentered, and led with them a young and beautiful girl. The latter +shewed the pastor the flowers and the ornaments, with which they intended on the +morrow to adorn the image of the mother of God. 'Now, at last,' said the young +and happy Caspar, 'is the time come, reverend sir, that I can lead home my +Louison, my bride. You know very well how she desired to spend to-morrow's +festival still as a virgin, in order that she might be able to carry our Mary, +and sing too. It has been sorrow enough to me, to be compelled to defer my +happiness for so long a time; but for once she has persisted in her pious +obstinacy. Well, truly it is precious to have such a christian wife, such a holy +treasure. All is well, that everything has been so prosperous as yet; for who +can tell what evil may come between, when man places his fate on such trials as +these, and binds himself to hours and days. However everything is already +arranged for the wedding, and all danger and fear is surmounted.' 'How thou +talkest.' said the blushing Louison, from whose eyes laughed her approaching +happiness; and the fulfilment of all her wishes. 'I have been friendly to thee +for two years past, but must I on that account love the mother of God less? Ah! +the history as it has come down to us, is too affecting, and therefore we must +be thankful towards her. Look you, my strange young gentleman, before the +village stood here, there was nothing far around but field and forest. No vine, +no olive-tree was to be found here. Then went a poor wood-cutter, who had come +from a distance into the wild forest to cut down a tree for his trade. And as he +applied his hatched to it, he heard a sigh, and as he listened, a singing. A +light appeared in the gloomy forest, and above in the tree, in the oak trunk, +there sat as if in a hollow the mother of God, and commanded him to build a +church on that very spot. The man made known the miracle, the wood was cleared, +and behind the altar of our church stands still the same old oak trunk, in which +the holy virgin already dwelt from time immemorial as a testimony and a +remembrance. Thus was our good church founded, thus has the village risen, and +men have drawn near the beloved spot, for our Mary would not thus dwell in +solitude any longer. Look Caspar, thus but for our gracious mother, there would +be no house, no man here, and our dear parent's house, and I, and thou would not +be in the world, and upon this spot of earth, and for all this must we be +thankful to her.'</p> + +<p class="normal">"All well and good," said Caspar, "but just because she is so +amiable, she would certainly have granted us with all her heart, our happiness a +long while ago. God and the saints are not like us men, who are so ambitious on +one little point, that we neglect true honour." "Is it not true, Caspar," said +Louison, laughing, "if thy new jacket with shining buttons had not been ready, +thou wouldst willingly have deferred the wedding?" Thus laughing and jesting +they withdrew again to go and seek the clerk with whom they wished to consult +how best they might attach the flowers and garlands to the altar. The old man +felt happy that his penitents loved to approach him with this child-like +confidence, and respected him just as much as a father, while at the same time +they fearlessly associated with him in play and merriment. Edmond was grave and +melancholy; when it was time to separate to sleep, he abruptly asked the priest, +as he grasped his hand: "Well, reverend sir, did you then afterwards in your +station find that happiness of which you dreamed in your youth?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Happiness," said the old man, "what is it men call thus? and +of what avail would their dreams be then, if it were to be met with in reality. +I soon saw in the beginning, with bitter sorrow, that I was too enthusiastic, +that my companions in the same calling, my superiors, did not partake of my +burning zeal; disapproved of it indeed, or declared it heresy and false +enthusiasm. They were too much occupied about their community, the ensuring of +their condition, their influence in the world, and the binding of souls, to have +kindled ardour within them, or to have sought that faith in emotions, which was +so necessary to my life. Well, somewhat late, I undertook to examine the +teachers of my now abandoned church, and discovered that they were not +altogether so inimical to Christianity as I had fancied. I thought that I +perceived more and more distinctly that many roads lead to the Lord, and that +he, as he himself has promised, has prepared many dwellings in his house. What +the innovators, who have split asunder the church, desire, many of the apostles +and earlier teachers have already wished. I hope, this disunion will just +preserve the eternity of the Word. I also perceived, that to form a spiritual +state, to represent a great community, a great deal by far of that enthusiasm of +solitude must be checked, if it were only to preserve the constitution pure, the +strength which alone renders possible that innate spirit of love for the present +as well as for the future, and prepares for it an asylum. It was granted to my +desire to live here in a small commune, retired from the whole world, almost +like a hermit and thus to suffice for myself. I honour the body of our church, +and am not angry with it, because it has no spirit; I forgive it the letter, if +sometimes it appears to annihilate the spirit, because I trust in the wisdom and +love of the Almighty, who thus accomplishes all to his ends."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus they separated, Edmond could not sleep. How agitatingly +did all this old man's words work upon him, whom he had so unexpectedly met of +whom his father had so often spoken to him in his childhood. He felt troubled, +and prayed fervently, that at length this rebellion, which he had been sent +forth to excite, might not rage in this valley over the venerable head of this +peaceful hermit. But he indeed knew best how impossible this was, how inevitable +must be the dreadful event. In short slumbers, fearful dreams tormented him, and +with the dawn of morning, he hastened over the mountain to Lacoste to send him +off to Roland and Cavalier.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<p class="continue">In the mean while Martin's wound, through the watchful care of +his doctor, had astonishingly improved. Eveline had soon become familiarised +with him, and the young man seemed even more than the father to doat on her. He +exerted himself with humble devotedness to perform every little service, and was +only happy when he was able to win a smile from the Lord of Beauvais. When the +father now returned from the fields with his daughter, the latter said to him: +"Is it not true, papa, that when I am grown up, I too shall be obliged to +marry."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Probably," answered the Lord of Beauvais, "Well then," +continued she, "give me the young handsome Martin for a husband." "Does he then +please thee so very much?" asked the father.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not merely on that account," said Eveline, "but because I +should like to make a good marriage, and such, as I have heard, one does not +frequently meet with. But with our Martin I should be perfectly happy, and he +behaves himself already quite as if he were your son. And I, when I say to him, +Martin! sit thee down here by me! Get up again! Fetch that flower there for me! +Now tell me something! or, Go away, I should now like to be alone awhile! thus +he does everything so exactly at a signal, as I have never before seen. Neither +Martha nor Joseph, and least of all the old obstinate Frantz, that was eternally +scolding, would thus have obeyed me at a word; with such a smart, well-dressed, +sensible husband, the thing might turn out worse, and therefore I will choose +Martin, if you will allow me." "But he is only a servant," said the Counsellor. +"You have said yourself," prattled the child, "that there was something in his +appearance more than ordinary. He is certainly the son of respectable people; +through the rebellion we too have fallen into misery, and it may be worse with +us yet, one must therefore look about by times for help."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And if he will not have you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have already asked him this morning, then he laughed out +quite loud, what I had never seen him do before, but afterwards he became quite +grave again, sighed, and kissed me on the forehead. That I think is quite answer +enough."</p> + +<p class="normal">In the little garden under the trellaced bower, they found +Godfred and the tall Dubois sitting at the oaken table; the wife was busy in the +kitchen. They sat down by them both; the musician was at that moment in the +midst of a lively performance. "Do you hear, gossip," cried he, "the sound when +I press and keep it down, do you know what that means?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," said Godfrey, "it is pretty enough." "Well, attend," +said Dubois, "how I now pass over and strike the quaver, which afterwards +quivers in the deep tones, and how in the mean while my hand works here in the +bass. You now understand this many-voiced composition? Listen! see, that is what +I call fundamental composition."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, it is pretty," said Godfred--"he can now move all his +paws."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not think of your stupid dog," exclaimed Dubois, "you will +not often be so fortunate as to hear a sonata of Lulli. Collect your thoughts +well together. Hist! now we are passing over suddenly to the flats? St! do you +hear? Ah! the passage is exquisite."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He must eat a rice mess this evening," said Godfred.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can you endure music, Peter Florval?" cried the musician, +eagerly addressing the State Counsellor; "Many nerves are unable to support it. +Now we are coming to the conclusion. Forte! forte! bound! continue! what do you +think? Ah, now comes, the most difficult passage. That is a composition that +requires fingering and skill. It flies right and left. Now I play over with my +right hand in the bass, now the into the treble. See, now I work away crossing +hands; now with all ten fingers! and again! and again! I need indeed take my +elbows to help. Over, over! dispatch! Ah, it is admirably written. Do you not +think so, gossip?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"At first though he must only be allowed to run with caution," +said Godfred.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Still those doggish vagaries?" said Dubois, sullenly, +"banish, I pray, those four-legged thoughts from your mind, and for once live +entirely for art."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must afterwards though cut the divining-rod," said Godfred +in a loud voice to himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stop!" cried the long musician, as he jumped up, "you here +remind me of a thought, I have wished for some time to impart to you. Do you +know what to do with such things?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"So, so," said Godfred, "I discovered my well for myself by +means of it, and thus served several neighbours."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And treasures!" cried Dubois.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Water," said the surgeon, "is sufficiently precious; I have +never attempted anything else."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know, perhaps," continued the gossip; "It is not yet ten +years ago, since Jacob Aymar, from Dauphiné discovered by means of his +divining-rod, a murder that had been committed long before. The story created +the greatest sensation in Paris and at Lyons at the time. I was then in Paris +with my brother, the universally celebrated great doctor, and saw myself the +simple peasant, who could perform such miraculous deeds. My brother, who is a +very speculating philosopher, repaired hither at this extraordinary discovery, +and employed all sorts of remarkable essays, so-called experiments in the +presence of persons of distinction, and they succeeded admirably. But the rod +must be cut from a hazel branch at midnight, at the full moon, and without +uttering a word at the time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is superstition," said Godfred, "any rod can answer the +purpose, if the hand possesses the gift."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you know," exclaimed the former, hastily, "about +Philosophia Occulta? you are always on the side of the sceptics, in everything. +Do you think that Moses' staff was anything else than such a divining-rod? It +must discover money just as easily as water; indeed, it must guess the thoughts, +and thereby ward off future crimes. Every city, every village under a reasonable +government should have its priviledged rod-walker."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Impiety," said Godfred, "sufficient calamity happens already +without this superstition. The silly hazel-rod should be applied to the backs of +all such fellows."</p> + +<p class="normal">The musician made a wry face and would have answered angrily, +when Eveline uttered a loud joyous "Ah!" an old peasant passed by, followed by a +large dog. The Lord of Beauvais had risen, Eveline blushed, and at a sign from +her father remained behind. The old peasant cast a searching glance into the +bower, but the Counsellor looked a negative, without those present being able to +observe it, and the peasant proceeded on his way without forming an acquaintance +with the company. But not so the great dog, that no sooner had he snuffed the +air, than he instantly leaped over the palings of the garden, and howling and +whining with joy, jumped in a hundred playful gambols round the Counsellor and +his daughter, and then lay down, placed his two paws on their persons and +recommenced his frolics anew. It was in vain that Eveline cried out, "Away, +away! what does this nasty strange dog want here?" she wished to pretend to be +angry, but the absurd antics of the well-known Hector, forced her to burst into +a loud laugh.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Peter Florval," said Dubois, "you must be known to the dog."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not that I know of," replied the Counsellor, somewhat +embarrassed; "he must have come from some farm in my former neighbourhood."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It may be so," answered the musician, "but the peasant though +ought to have come in here; what frightened him away from us? surely we are not +such great folks."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hector, that now heard old Frantz whistle from a distance, +stood irresolute on the alert, looked inquiringly at the Counsellor, and then +seemed to wait for Frantz, and danced round Eveline again; at length, however, a +second loud whistle called him away. The Counsellor said, "I must go and see +whether the old man is known to me, come with me daughter." They both, left the +garden. "One easily becomes over cautious," observed he, after having heartily +welcomed his faithful servant; "Had you only known for what we pass here, it had +been better to have come in at once. But you have not yet spoken with Mr. Vila?" +"It has been impossible for me to visit him yet," said Frantz, "for my journey +detained me too long: an accident brings me to this village, where, indeed, I +did not suppose you to be, the royalists, who in large bands keep the mountains +in a state of siege, obliged me to turn away from the high road. But now, my +dear master, no one can pass over the frontiers, the watches and precautions +have been redoubled; every one in the country is already suspected, how much +more so should he desire to quit it, even the passports from government are no +longer respected."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was agreed upon, that Franz should go to St. Hippolite to +Vila, and return after some time with news, but never, as had been determined at +an earlier period between the friends, to bring letter, or papers. When the +Counsellor returned to his dwelling with his child, the latter said, "I should +never in my life have thought Hector so stupid; he did not pay the slightest +attention, I might have made signs to him as long as I liked, and yet he can +hunt and perform other feats of skill, which I should never have been able to +learn; but whenever indeed I have wished to tell him about the slightest fun, or +when my brother was gone out and that he would soon return, he has never +understood me. If it is only not the case with us human beings also. Perhaps we +run thus along just like little dogs by the side of angels, who insinuate much +to us, yet whose language and real meaning we can never comprehend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At least," said the father, "man should not dive too deeply +into that, nor with daring enthusiasm desire to confine to himself that which is +denied him by his Creator. But you cannot, however, understand that yet, my +little girl."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It must be glorious," answered the little one, "to understand +all the thoughts which are permitted to us by God. All that he does grant to us +by degrees, if we are pious and kind! What I have always with delight seen you +do, when for whole hours you used to sit at your great books, of which I did not +understand a single word, and you so often lifted up your eyes joyfully, and +continued to reflect; you cannot think how well it looks, and what a beautiful +sight it is to behold a sensible man engaged in deep meditation."</p> + +<p class="normal">They had returned to their friendly home, and Martin with the +others were waiting for them. "It is really abominable," began dame Barbara, +"that the Camelsarts have become so impious, that this year no processions can +go to the village, which lies only six leagues from hence. One may pass over the +mountain in three hours, and I have never before spent a year in the neglect of +edifying things."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is no church festival then now a-days?" enquired +Dubois. "Well no wonder; nay, even the great annual markets have been +abolished."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The turkish great sultan and the heathenish Marrelburgh must +have negociated an alliance with the rebels, that we completely fall into +miserere, for one cannot know what the political conjunctive may produce to us +in this year: All indicatives, said our pastor only yesterday, promise no +particular property, and we may indeed be stuck fast in the mud by the new +year."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray, spare us Gossip," said Dubois smiling, "the learned +words, in which indeed you have ever contrary wind, and you do not rightly +understand the tacking about (Laviren)."</p> + +<p class="normal">"By, expressing myself thus," rejoined Barbara impatiently, +"do I then in any way squander your capital interest? I merely add thereto my +own, and whenever I may require mesicaments, there stands my old man, and you +need not offer me any strange Laxirung.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Such phrases and notions are indeed not at all proper. What +must my honoured cousin think? he certainly imagines we live quite freely with +each other as if we had been married together. It remains a constant truth, that +whoever has been once a virtoso, can never again become a simple-minded man, he +is for ever lost to pomology, kindheartedness, or hormanity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not become warm about it gossip," said the musician, "I +have never dreamed of offending you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No more," said she angrily, "to me of dreams and dreampeter +stories; for they are just as unsufferable to me as your sonneteering on my +table there. It too has not once dreamed, that in its old age it would serve as +a finger board.--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Peace," said Godfred, "you do not understand all that, +Barbara, for the people over there are assembling: What is the matter then. Let +our gossip play the harpsichord, he uses his own fingers for it and not yours, +but something new must have occurred, I should like to hear, we must question +our neighbours."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus throwing unconsciously the different conversations +together, because he was curious, and yet he also wished to answer, he now +demanded of one that was running by, why the neighbourhood seemed thus in an +uproar. Now smart firing was heard close by. "There must be great confusion on +all sides in the valley," said a country woman.</p> + +<p class="normal">All quitted the garden, and the firing of small guns was +distinctly heard as it was borne on the air.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ugh!" sighed Dubois, who could now climb the mountain. "One +must hear it much more distinctly up there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I like not," said Godfred, "to have any thing to do with war +and war cries. The unfortunate, beautiful, peaceful villages, until now we have +heard nothing of it, except once at the very beginning, now again we receive the +evil visit."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There yonder," thought the woman, "they have the +miracle-working statue of the Mother of God, that will protect them all, the +rebels cannot effect any thing in opposition to that: Fire and sword, balls and +blows cannot prevail against the heavenly miracle."</p> + +<p class="normal">Detached light cavalry scoured the village. They enquired the +way and desired to rejoin their companions from whom they had been cut off on +the mountains.</p> + +<p class="normal">The trumpeter approached the officer with a face of +importance, while he pointed out to him a mountain road, upon which the horses, +in a case of necessity, could make their way through. "I have myself had the +honour to serve in the royal guards;" added he proudly. "As what?" asked the +young officer. "It was granted to me," said the former, "to be first trumpeter +of the regiment. How goes it, sir captain, with the rebels?" "Grant to me, +trumpeter," answered the leader, "to owe you the answer until we meet again. The +knaves are possessed by the devil, and it faires badly with us. If you could +blow them away, we would then take you with us."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thereupon they all galloped away, whilst the whole body raised +a burst of laughter. "Service is no longer as it was formerly," observed Dubois, +"the old, genuine soldier-like gallantry must give place to new fashioned +boasting, and venerable age and experience are of no value among the raw +striplings."</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<p class="continue">In the mean while the calamity in which Edmond took a leading +part and too late repented, now burst forth. Cavalier, who this time conducted +every movement of the troops, had so prudently contrived his plans; valour, and +fortune were so favorable to him in their execution, and at his command on all +sides, that the enemy, who thought to have hemmed him in, saw themselves +surrounded. The royalists were forced to give way, and were decoyed and driven +into the narrow valleys, where they could not employ their strength, the cavalry +was cut off, and on whatever side the soldiers turned, they met with their +adversaries, who fought from the advantageously situated heights.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the morning, conformably to the arrangement made, the +village procession was put in motion at the festive sound of bells. The church +was beautifully decorated with garlands and flowers; the clerk began to play the +organ, and old and young assembled on the common dressed in their holiday +clothes, in order to join the young girls and follow the procession into the +church. The aged priest was standing already before the altar, awaiting the +congregation, when suddenly a panic seized and rendered them motionless, for a +loud and reiterated firing was distinctly heard close at hand. "Jesus, Maria!" +exclaimed the girls, and the chains of flowers fell from their arms, the young +men spoke of weapons and defence, and the old looked at one another in alarm. +The firing approached nearer, and the priest and clerk had already quitted the +church. All was in fearful and anxious expectation. Psalm singing was now heard +from over the steep mountain. "They are the Camisards!" shrieked all aloud and +in terror; at the same moment a regiment in reserve rushed from the left into +the valley. The Camisards moved from above precipitatedly, and jumped and slid +down the vineyards, while they hurled stones and balls among the bewildered, +stupified, and discouraged mass of soldiers. In vain the officers inspirited +them, some fell with their horses, others sought to retreat towards the outlet +of the valley on the right. The procession and the clergy, as well as the +congregation were mingled with the combatants, before they were yet able to +recover their senses. A few only succeeded in flying to their houses.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are beaten!" cried Catinat furiously, who mounted on a +great black horse and roared, "After them! destroy them in the name of the Lord! +and throw fire and sword into these cottages and idolatrous temples!" Ravanel +rode on a small horse at his side and was already stained with blood, for he was +ever foremost in the slaughter. Favart, Stephen, Anton, and the diminutive +François had nimbly clambered down the mountain. Houses were already seen +burning in the distance, the cry of murder from the inhabitants mingled with the +rejoicing shouts of the victors and the clashing of arms. Stephen now attempted +to take the crucifix, which the youthful Caspar, as leader of the procession +carried, but the latter struck him so forcibly on the head with it, that his +fair locks were smeared with blood, and the youth without drawing another +breath, fell to the ground. When Anton, the shoemaker saw this, he fell +furiously upon Caspar: "Tear the cruel idolaters to pieces!" screamed he, and +struck Caspar with his short sword, who was on the point of using his weapons on +the neck, so that in a moment he was red with a stream of blood. Louison, who +saw that her beloved was lost, uttered a piercing shriek of woe, tore the short, +stumpy Anton by the hair to the ground, and battered his brains out with the bar +of the crucifix, which Caliper had now let fall. A murderous shout of +bloodthirstiness rang fearfully through the troops of exasperated rebels, and +François was the first to cut down the beautiful Louison, whereupon an +indiscriminate massacre raged in every cottage, in every street, upon every +little bridge, and in the already burning church, so that the gurgling brook +soon rolled in blood-red waves.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meanwhile Edmond stood gloomy and despairingly above on +the steep rock, and saw now distinctly, now obscured by the smoke the streets +and houses of the village beneath him. The smoke now rolled away, the royalists +had all fled, a short cry and wailing, the inhabitants were all slain, cottages +burned right and left, the fire shone through all the trees, and now the flames +arose in the church and the peaceful dwelling under his feet, which had +hospitably sheltered him that very night, already rolled in columns of smoke, +the fire shortly raised the roof, and below was a universal glow of destruction +and death, reflected in the bloody, splashing brook, all like a fiery river of +hell, where yesterday an Eden had bloomed. The green trees defended themselves +from the fiery streams, but they were compelled to bend and yield to its force. +The glowing waves burst up to the heavens over the church tower, and as a child, +unconsciously smiling, plays even in death, the clock struck the hour once more, +and for the last time, and then fell with the tower and the beams of the roof +with a loud crash into the abyss of fire and smoke.</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond sat down indifferent to all, and incapable of further +thought. After a while he saw a troop of his brethren ascending the heights by +different routes. Bertrand appeared soon afterwards on another road mounted with +several horsemen. "Are you defeated?" asked Edmond, as they assembled near him. +"No," cried Bertrand, "God has given us compete victory, the valleys are strewed +with the bodies of the royalists; Cavalier has advanced yonder against the +fugitives; Roland has now probably beaten another column, and Solomon their +third division. But, as Cavalier knows, that several horsemen have fled, he +fears they might make a circuit and fall upon him in the rear, we must therefore +still occupy these heights."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond had not the courage to ask what had taken place in the +village below, but Bertrand began of his own accord. "Now, for once, the hard +hearts have been compelled to taste our vengeance, we have at length washed our +hands in their blood. They will fear us, brother; the trembling of those that +have escaped to-day will teach the others to tremble too. Like destroying +angels, Ravanel and Catinat cut their way through them, where these stand, not +one of the enemy expects mercy. I have now though been enabled to celebrate a +great festival, such a jubilee as I have ever wished for. But many of our +brethren, and our best lie there below. The despairing peasants have armed +themselves almost in greater numbers than the soldiers. Ah! poor François, the +child has been torn by the beasts, Anton, and the flute player, Stephen, have +had their beads smashed, one of the villains threw my brother, when the poor +fellow was already wounded, into the fire, even the wretched clerk was massacred +by our Everard, whereupon I pitched the rogue head over heels directly into a +deep well."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the aged priest?" asked Edmond, scarcely audible,</p> + +<p class="normal">"Him," said one of the troop, "I saw for a long while standing +with his prayer-book in the midst of the tumult on the common; right and left +men and women were slain by his side, so that I thought, now, now this one or +that must strike him. But it was as if they did not see him at all. I afterwards +lost sight of him; surely he must be lying there among the dead bodies. Do you +know anything of him, brother Christophe?"</p> + +<p class="normal">A wild looking man, spotted with blood, diminutive and black, +his whole face almost overgrown with bristly hair, said grinning: "The old +grey-headed knave is certainly a sorcerer, for when I had already killed several +of the idolaters, and that he still continued to stand quietly there, and I was +vexed that none of my comrades had ever aimed at him, in my fury I advanced to +hew him down; already I raised my arm, then the spectre looked quite quietly at +me, and his old thin lips smiled at it, almost as if he would have wept, but I +tell you, from his large blue eyes such a spell shot through my eyes into my +heart, that terrified I let foil my arm and was unable to do any thing to the +rascal. A long time after, wishing to rest myself a little, I perceived him +still in his black garments like a dark cloud between the combatants, wandering +through flame and smoke and over the slain, perfectly collected and as if no one +could do him harm. I think he is gone into the burning church and will probably +be burned there."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond awoke from his dreams to life again at this fearful +recital. "Thus, does the guest requite," said he to himself, "the hopeful son of +the friend, of thy youth. Is not that called love for love? Now I am no longer +indebted to thee for thy hospitable reception."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hollo! hollo!" shouted Christophe wildly. "Our brethren +yonder are bringing the sacrificing priest of Baal. So much the better, he shall +be slain here before the eyes of the all seeing God."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond cast a withering glance on the wretch, then looked down +and recognised already close beneath him the pastor bound, whom Favart, the +swarthy Eustace and other Camisards were dragging up. "Here we bring the knave +dear brethren," exclaimed Favart, just as they gained a firm footing on the +level rock, and dragged up the old man with cords.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the exhausted priest was drawn up, he cast such a look of +lassitude, pity, and resignation to the will of heaven on the youth, that the +hair of the latter stood on end with terror. "God greet you with your booty!" +roared he to Favart and Eustace, "but woe to him among you, who approaches the +old man even by a look, for such a one will I tear with my teeth." Favart and +Eustace stepped back, turning pale, and Edmond loosened himself the cords of the +venerable man, then pressed him in his arms, laid his grey head upon his +throbbing breast, and a convulsive sobbing prevented all utterance and +restrained his tears. "Why," said the aged man, "should I alone remain of all +the rest? the poor shepherd, whose flock they have slaughtered?" "What is that?" +vociferated Christophe, stammering with rage; "will they rob us of our property +that we have purchased with our blood? we have left gold and silver to be +consumed in the burning churches, but the life of the idolater is our booty. And +who will take it from us? A coward, who without drawing a sword, here safe in +the distance, has contemplated our life endangering labour. Away with that! +Apostates are we ourselves if we bear the like from an idolater, who has not yet +abandoned his former wickedness."</p> + +<p class="normal">He would have rushed upon the holy man but Edmond intercepted +him with the swiftness of lightning, and threw him with such giant strength upon +the rock that all his limbs rattled, and he remained lying apparently senseless. +Old Favart beheld this with anger, and Eustace, the charcoal-burner, became +wrathful. Bertrand stepped wildly forward, and a group of clamorous Camisards +pressed round Edmond and the priest. "Who art thou?" exclaimed Favart, "that +thou darest play the master here? Wilt thou act the nobleman here?"--He seized +the priest, and Eustace also laid a hand upon him. Though as Edmond stepped up +to them, Eustace, from old accustomed obedience, let go his hold, and Favart was +torn back by the powerful youth. "Lord, Edmond, Beauvais!" cried the man, "our +king!" They struggled with each other, and Edmond hurled him down the mountain. +"Our brother's neck is broken!" cried they all wildly together, and rushed upon +Edmond with drawn weapons, who in this moment had been lost, if Abraham Mazel +with a fresh troop had not arrived: Clary, Castanet, Marion, and Vila were among +these. Through respect for Mazel they were quiet, and Edmond was enabled to lay +the affair before the friends. "We would not be cruel towards the defenceless," +said Mazel. Clary remembered Roland's express command to spare the priest; the +eloquent Marion exhorted and persuaded the grumblers, and it was determined that +the priest, while the guides should clothe themselves in the uniforms of the +slaughtered, should be conducted to Florac, that he might there claim the +protection of his superior. Edmond offered to take this service upon himself, +and Eustace and several of the brethren would accompany him on this expedition.</p> + +<p class="normal">Conversation and dispute were interrupted, while this +scattered and cut off band advanced, whose union with the defeated soldiers +Cavalier wished to prevent. The few cavalry went to meet them, the infantry +placed themselves in order, and a sanguinary combat began anew on the height. +Mazel led them on, and the bravery of the rebels made the military, who were +already discouraged, give way. Edmond and his followers were with the young +captain and his light horse, who were exposed at a distance in an obstinate +combat. The horse of the young man was already killed, but he fought intrepidly +and indefatigably, however little he could promise him>self a fortunate issue. +Edmond advanced, and cried out, "Surrender young man; you behave gallantly, it +would grieve me were you killed here uselessly. I promise you protection and +good treatment until you are exchanged for some of ours taken prisoners."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miserable rebel!" exclaimed the captain, "dost thou think, +that I would receive pardon from such a villain as thou? I know thee, Beauvais, +perjurer, apostate; the executioner at Nismes awaits thee already. Look down +into that valley, incendiary, and still speak of good treatment!"---He looked +searchingly at the youth, glanced down on his sword and fired his pistol at +Edmond, it missed, and Edmond at the same moment shot a ball through his breast, +so that he fell dead. The remainder were killed in the mêlée, the sergeant, who +was still mounted fled precipitately from the height down the rock, Mazel and +his followers were already far distant pursuing the enemy.</p> + +<p class="normal">Edmond descended with those who would accompany him. In a +vineyard they enjoyed the repose and frugal fare which could be quickly prepared +for them. The old man was revived by a few drops of wine. "Beauvais, art thou my +son?" began he, as he saw himself alone with Edmond.--"I am called," said the +latter, "after your baptismal name, Edmond; as a testimony how my father has +ever loved you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, thou dear friend of my youth," said the old man with a +deep sigh, "why must I become acquainted with thy son under such circumstances? +In this way then have the dreams of thy love, our religious inspirations been +embodied? Thus are our fanatic presentiments fulfilled? To these murders and +burnings, to these horrible cruelties must we awaken and call our whole youth +folly and illusion? Ah! verily poor Louison, thy love to thy protectress has +been badly recompensed. You were right unfortunate Caspar, that you did not know +in what moment and in what sufferings your happiness would terminate. Now you +lie together in a bloody embrace. Why cannot I say to myself, no, this is but a +dream! Awake thou miserable old man, and find thy commune, thy children, the +former tranquil repose, the sweet peace, and thy beloved church again! Woe! woe! +to ye, ye poor, ye innocent! and threefold woe upon the wretches who brought +this horror into these distant valleys."--He covered his head, and wept +bitterly.</p> + +<p class="normal">The twilight was extending itself. The pastor wished to visit +once more the ruins of his church, and they descended the mountain. Edmond and +the priest went alone among the fallen walls. All was destroyed together, the +alter only still remained and the statue of the virgin was blackened, though +tolerably preserved. The old man took it down and buried it at some distance. +"Wherefore?" asked Edmond. "Will not the multitude," said the aged man, "cry out +a miracle again, when they find this statue the only thing still nearly +preserved in this heap of ashes? Who knows what horrible blood-thirstiness may +be enflamed by this accident, what monstrous, insatiable vengeance attached to +this wooden symbol in the name of God, in order to satisfy under pretext of +eternal love, the horrible feeling, which never should be awakened in the breast +of man. No, what may be an innocent amusement in times of peace and happiness, +and serve as an exalting, edifying, pious institution, often becomes a banner +for the human mind if once wild rebellion has swayed, it followed exultingly by +all the horrors of hell. I should consider myself a murderer, if I did not bury +this protectress to-day, as our neighbours will inter the poor unprotected +to-morrow. Should the Eternal Decree will it otherwise, he will easily render my +trouble unnecessary."</p> + +<p class="normal">As they again issued from the ruins, they were met by the tall +figure of Lacoste. "Edmond," cried he, "you and your compeers carry on a +damnable trade. I have kept myself concealed the whole day, that I might not +look upon the enormity. The ceremony of your worship is too severe. Your God is +indulgent, for otherwise he would shew himself somewhat more rigorous in it. I +thought I had already experienced every thing and understood every body; but in +my present high school I still learn many new things."</p> + +<p class="normal">How astounded were Lacoste and the priest as each found again +a friend of his youth in the other. "You are then that pious, sighing, youth," +exclaimed Lacoste in amazement, who in the eyes of his Euphemie would see and +find the whole Empyraeum? We now wander afar over the flowers of your religious +elysium. But tread firmly, for these eyes and noses no longer feel our heels, +these faces are only the discarded masks, which still lie about from yesterday's +gala. Yes, these masqueraders have destroyed much clothing, that can never be +mended again, they have been reduced to tatters at once by extravagant +insolence. Aye! aye! Edmond, your reverend cordelier, his hair is become white +since then, like the yellow flowers of the meadow, which the first blast +uproots. Where is Euphemie? Where Lucy, where our tears and sighs of those days? +You have become a little old man in an instant: and, is it not true, that those +youthful feelings appeal to you even now sometimes, but like dumb children, with +their countenances? Now perform a little bit of a miracle with your +superabundant love, and awaken these dead again which lie here in our way. But +the question is, whether they would thank you for it, since they have once made +a step to the other side, though rather in a neck-breaking manner; for if +examined closely, that so called life is a cursedly tedious and base affair, and +if one is to expect jokes like these every day, such as have been practised on +these fellows here, then really one must be damnably sunk in bad habits, not to +put an end to this miserable existence by a single gash on the throat. But thus +indeed are we all.</p> + +<p class="normal">In these conversations they passed the night. The venerable +pastor replied but little. Neither did his exhaustion permit him, which was so +great, that he was often compelled to rest. As the hours passed the more +agitated he became and the more he wished to end quickly his days in the ruins +of his beloved commune, for he did not know why he should still wish to live. +Edmond talked to him filially and affectionately, as a son, and the old man +heartily forgave all the evil that the youth had drawn upon him, "If I could, +only see thy father once more before my death!" exclaimed he much affected, +or--grief did not permit him to say more, but Edmond guessed what he meant. +After they had reposed several times, with the early dawn they reached a +village, which lay pleasantly among some green trees. They determined on +breakfasting here, in order to be able to continue their way to Florac, Edmond +felt as if his whole life and being would dissolve in dream and mist. As they +arrived before a small house, in the upper story of which some men appeared, but +who quickly drew back at the sight of the regimentals, Edmond said to himself, +"I am on the point of becoming mad, for I now see the figures of my mind; it was +indeed as if I perceived my father and Christine, and Eveline; and only because +I here escort the two friends of his youth." They were going to inquire for the +inn of an old man, who was gathering herbs in a small garden, when the wife came +out of the house and begged of them to accompany her, since she herself had +business at the inn, and that it was not so easy to find it, because it lay in +another street, and in an out of the way place, where there was but very little +business carried on, and had no communication with any high road.</p> + +<p class="normal">With this information, the chatterer accompanied them to the +neat little inn of the place. The people had only just risen, and were terrified +when they saw the soldiers, for since the attack on the not far distant +district, the whole country was filled with terror. Wine, bread, and warm drink +also revived the weary travellers, and Eustace and Bertrand with some others +kept watch, that they might not be unexpectedly surprised. "Who lives in the +upper story of your house?" inquired Edmond of the old woman.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! good heavens!" responded she, "they are poor unfortunate +people, whose property the wicked rebels have burnt. A peasant, a poor cousin of +mine, has now fled to me with his daughter and his sister's son, and who knows +whether the flambeau of wrath, with which the Lord of Hosts in his anger will +light us home, is not already on its way to our little cottage. For where is +safety, or security now a days as formerly? Verily, all is affliction and +warfare, and the strangest fatality drives men here and there, as has happened +only in old marvelous stories, and the troubles only increase, and suspicion +becomes greater. Where one only sees a soldier, one might creep into a mole's +hole, even though one should be of the very best and exact faith."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is your trumpeter not come back yet?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He must have clean disappeared," answered the old woman; "but +my foolish husband grieves about the knave, and thinks that some misfortune must +have happened to him in the mountains, because the long bellows was already old +and broken down, and is sometimes troubled with a bad cough. As if it mattered +much about such vagabonds, when so many respectable people bite the grass, who +have more connexion and authority than the adventurer, who wants to play +Moonseignor here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Aye, truly," said the landlord, "but how goes it though with +the Catholics, particularly with the poor clergy, as well as with the old, +venerable lord there, who has now fled likewise? Some of them are said to have +already arrived at Florac yesterday. The convents too suffer. A wayfarer arrived +here in the night, who brought intelligence of an attack on a castle, where +several holy women had been on a visit, who may belong to Nismes or Montpellier. +Crosses and misery are in the whole land. And whence has the misfortune come? +Each party lays the blame on the other."</p> + +<p class="normal">They set forward again, and those who were placed to keep +watch rejoined the troop. A fiery red had spread itself over the whole heavens, +as far as the eye could reach, when they emerged from the valley, the sky was +illumined with the most singular and varied burning lights. From a wood, +situated on an eminence on the left, rushed an aged female attendant, and cried, +"Oh, God be praised, that I see royal troops! Help, my good mistress!" she ran +back, and led an old nun, who appeared fainting. They approached, they revived +her with wine. When the priest heard her family name called, he exclaimed, +"Euphemie!" and dropped down before her. It was she, she had escaped with +difficulty with her attendant from the burning castle, where she had passed the +night in the greatest anguish. The old man told her his name. "Hast thou then at +times thought of our youth?" asked he in a trembling voice, "Can one forget +life?" replied the dying Euphemie, with closing eyes. "And thou, Edmond?"----"I +lived for thee, I die with thee," spoke the aged man, and both expired exhausted +by the too strong emotion caused by finding each other again so wonderfully, +while the rays of morning shone like a glory on their sanctified features.</p> + +<p class="normal">Carts which came from Florac, and whose owners heard from +Edmond the brief account, conveyed the bodies to the town, that they might be +interred in consecrated ground.</p> + +<br> +<br> + +<h3>END OF THE SECOND 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 II *** + +***** This file should be named 31739-h.htm or 31739-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/7/3/31739/ + +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. II. + +Author: Ludwig Tieck + Madame Burette + +Release Date: March 22, 2010 [EBook #31739] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES, VOL II *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans by Google Books. + + + + +Source Web Archive: +http://www.archive.org/details/rebellioninceve00tiecgoog + + + + + THE + + REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES, + + AN HISTORICAL NOVEL + + + + IN TWO VOLUMES. + + + + BY LUDWIG TIECK. + + + + TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY + MADAME BURETTE. + + + + VOL. II. + + + + LONDON: + D. NUTT, FLEET STREET. + DUBLIN: J. CUMMING.--EDINBURGH: BELL AND BRADFUTE. + 1845. + + + + + + + THE + + REBELLION IN THE CEVENNES. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + +The next morning Edmond felt himself considerably better. Cavalier +continually flitted before his eyes, and it appeared to him as if arms +lifted him from his couch, in order to follow his friends. When Eustace +had fallen asleep towards noon, he arose quietly, took his rifle and +with light footsteps hastily descended the mountain path. He felt light +and well, it seemed as if he had never yet walked so rapidly and so +indefatigably. He avoided the high road, and again a sort of +instinctive knowledge conducted him through the shortest and safest +ways. + +When the sun went down and the shadows became darker, images arose in +his imagination more clear and defined with the encreasing obscurity. +When night came on, he also distinguished the other forms in the group, +his father, Franz, the paternal home and the little slumbering Eveline +appeared to him, dark figures were lurking about, threatening +destruction. + +An hour before midnight, he was standing on the top of a mountain, +beneath him lay a dark valley, a large house, lights gleamed from only +a few of the windows. What was his surprise on recovering his +recollection. It was his home, and he arrived at it by a road that he +had never before trodden. Here he had lately waved a last farewell to +his father. He descended. He heard whisperings in the vineyard, he +perceived figures moving along creeping. Familiar as he was with the +place, he easily gained the back of a rocky wall of a grotto in which +he heard voices speaking. "It must soon take place," said a hoarse +voice, "and truly as I have arranged, it would be better from the +garden, let us all assemble in the vaulted passage, from thence we +shall with greater facility reach the lower window. Two or three others +might in the mean while ascend the ladder and enter by the window there +above. The old man, the child and the domestics must be put to death. +But no shooting, I tell you, for there are royal troops quite close, +who would most certainly forbid us to plunder, on that account also you +must not set fire to the house." + +Edmond stole down, behind the barn he found Cavalier and his troop, who +were amazed at seeing him so suddenly and rejoiced at the news he +brought. He conducted them by a different way into the garden and +posted them at the back of the entwined arbour, which, moreover, had no +opening at the sides. He took half of the troops with him to guard the +entrance. The robbers were already in the dark beach avenue; when they +saw men advancing towards them they retreated, but Edmond pursued them; +a fray ensued in the obscurity, and Cavalier and his party now also +appeared and surrounded the assassins. Cavalier quickly caused a torch +to be lighted and after a short, but murderous combat, when the bravest +of the robbers had fallen, the rest were compelled to surrender, +Cavalier caused them to be bound and carried away by his soldiers. + +Edmond accompanied by a few followers went in the stillness of night +round the house. He found a ladder ready placed by which it was evident +that some of the robbers intended to enter. He could not resist the +inclination to visit again the house of his childhood. When he reached +the top, he found the whole household asleep, all the lights were +extinguished. He now opened the hall door, there sat his venerable +father, sleeping in an arm-chair, a night lamp by his side, the holy +scriptures open before him. How pale and suffering he looked; for in +the night, fatigue had overpowered him in his meditations. Edmond +approached softly, and with a beating heart. "He has given his angels +charge over thee, that they may keep thee in all thy ways." This +passage presented itself to his eyes from the open book. Inspired he +looked up, wrote his name on a slip of paper and placed it upon this +text of the bible. Then in his dream the old man sighed, "Edmond! my +son!"--"Oh how unworthy am I of these tones, this affection, this +attachment!" said Edmond to himself. He was impelled downwards, he +kissed his fathers feet and then departed.--He shut the window, caused +the ladder to be carried into the garden and then followed Cavalier's +troop through the night back into the wood. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + +They proceeded with the troop in silence. In order to elude the king's +soldiers, who were in the neighbourhood, they were compelled to make a +circuit. Catinat with his band conducted the prisoners that they might +be delivered up to Roland, to pronounce sentence on them in the lonely +mountains, and Cavalier and Edmond separated from their companions in +order to reach the distant height by a footpath through the wood. + +They walked together in silence for a long time. In Edmond's mind all +that had appeared to him solid was by the late crowding events thrown +confusedly together. The wound and the weakness that it occasioned, the +wandering in the night and the emotions which alternately shook him, +had at first wonderfully raised his mental and physical strength, and +now almost entirely exhausted it. As they advanced farther into the +obscurity of the wood, he thought of himself and his concerns as of a +stranger; what he had experienced, what desired and effected flitted in +his memory as a strange tale of by-gone times, and Cavalier appeared +either to respect his silence, or to be himself too much occupied with +weighty thoughts to require any conversation. On issuing from the wood, +the light of the moon broke forth from behind heavy, lowering clouds. +As the silvery light with its calm brightness spread over the rocks, +the venerable head of his father presented itself to the imagination of +the youth, and a refreshing and reviving flood of tears gushed from his +eyes. He turned to his companion to excuse his long protracted silence. + +"Brother," replied the latter, "the spirit has also visited me and +shewn me visions in which I viewed a consoling futurity. Oh that that, +which I know will and must take place, would soon happen, to spare the +blood and sorrow of the poor people." + +"What has been revealed to thee beloved brother," asked Edmond. + +They seated themselves on a flat piece of rock which bordered on a +precipice, and Cavalier began: "I imagined myself transported far, far +from hence, beyond our mountains, our plains and rivers. I quitted my +native mountains reluctantly. I saw foreign cities, I heard the various +tones of different men. As I was carried away through the immensity of +space, a beautiful, a very beautiful garden opened to my view, many +cascades were throwing their waters up in the warm summer air, and +beneath them there were strange figures of men and fish, and naked +women, and marine animals, artificially hewn out of brilliant stone, +every thing, such as I had never before seen, and I know not if I ever +heard of them. A large and very extensive palace shone and dazzled with +its innumerable columns and windows. While I was viewing all in +amazement, I suddenly felt a conviction that I should immediately see +our king, our Louis, descend from the great steps before which I stood, +that I should speak to him, that he had already been waiting for me; +and thus it happened, in all the splendour of majesty, surrounded by +his whole court, he descended. He did not embarrass me, it was merely +dazzling, as when the sun upon his journey suddenly darts through a +vapour, and we still retain and know all our ideas and purposes. Now +then was the moment upon which the fate of our country hung, in which +to say all to him, who had requested to speak to me, and to move his +humane, his kingly heart. This hour will come, in which the salvation +of many, many thousands will repose on my tongue, and the Lord will +then lay his fiery flame upon it, that its brand may also light his +spirit; then will our brethren and our faith be free, then will all our +foes fall powerless to the ground, and the sword be no more required. I +will pray that this glorious day may only soon arrive, soon be sent by +the Lord; that there may be an end to this unhappy warfare. When, just +as I intended to address the King, we issued from the wood; thou +spakest to me, and the prophetic vision disappeared." "How camest thou +lately, my friend and brother, into our house?" asked Edmond, "a +multiplicity of events has prevented me until this moment from asking +you about it." + +"That was a very, very disastrous day," replied Cavalier, as they +proceeded onwards. "We were surrounded on all sides, by the treachery +of a few faithless brethren, we were enticed down into the plain, the +spirit was silent within us and we thought ourselves secure. A part of +my people had gone to encounter the hermit and I heard (a false report +as I afterwards learned) that he had been entirely routed, when, +suddenly, another new army was in our rear. The fugitives before us +rallied again and faced round. We were compelled to fight our way +through in order to find the mountain footpath, where the heavy horse +of the royal party could not follow; with great loss, it is true, but, +still fortunately, I led my people through, I succeeded in turning the +enemy, so that we had them only on one side of us. Fighting and flying +we reached the wood and being one of the last that I might secure the +retreat of my party, I found myself suddenly cut off. My horse carried +me at full gallop as far as it could, I shot dead two dragoons, who were +pursuing me, but the noble beast fell down; I lost sword, hat, and +fire-arms, while I was disengaging myself from the saddle scarcely +quick enough, I changed clothes with a peasant in a field; soldiers +were scouring in every direction, at the risk of being recognised. I +was forced to seek a shelter, and moreover the storm burst forth, and +thus the Lord conducted me to the house of your venerable father. A few +days after, things would have been much worse with me, if my younger +brother, who is now a prisoner at Nismes, had not liberated me." + +"With what admiration I must look upon thee, brother," resumed Edmond, +"thou who younger than I, hast already done such great things, who hast +had so much success, that the whole country speaks of thee. From whence +proceeds this daring, yet circumspect courage, this experience, this +skill to deceive the enemy, to conquer them, or to escape their artful +snares! where couldst thou have learned all this?" + +"I have not learned it," replied Cavalier, "nor do I know if the like +can be learned. You esteem me too highly, brother Edmond, if you +believe, that that which I do proceeds from reflection or skill. It is +true I do not lose courage, I preserve my _sang froid_, although I see +before and around me a thousand foes with their swords and guns, but +such is my nature, there is no merit or extraordinary courage in this. +When I was yet a little boy, minding my good old nobleman's sheep, I +was never frightened when I perceived the wolf. I remained calm, and +slew two of these bad fellows, whereupon every body admired my great +courage, and I could not at all understand what they meant by it. Thus, +then, my spirit was roused, and I engaged in this war, in which I soon +succeeded in liberating my brethren and defeating the enemy, so that +all the companions of the faith placed their full confidence in me, and +expected the blessing and success of their hopes from me; but brother +Roland is much wiser and more experienced, he has more penetration and +I must be considered only as a learner in comparison to him, yet the +Lord had not endowed him with so much success as me, on that account +the combatants preferred following me. Now when I lead out the +brethren, and the affair does not turn out as we have arranged and +thought, the spirit suddenly directs me, I see, I remark all that which +was before unknown to me, of its own accord my mouth gives the right +orders, it soars, it hovers round me, so that I know not what to say, +and it leads me and my followers through the enemy's troops. Like +joyous intoxication, it flies with me through the tumult, and the +victory is won." + +"Thou wast a shepherd then in thy childhood?" said Edmond; "how fitting +if they compare thee to David." + +"I grew up poor and desolate in the solitude of the mountains," replied +the former: "I had forgotten myself, I could never have thought that I +should at some future period have to fight for the Lord, for my faith +had died within me; and I agreed to all they proposed. Until then, +zealous brethren rekindled the extinguished embers into flame, so that +my life was restored, and I was enabled to seek and find the Lord. +Afterwards, when they had so cruelly murdered our brethren, zealous +wrath drove me into their holy community. And since then, I am an +humble instrument in the hand of the Most High. I could not believe, +that I should have been so highly honored, when I was compelled to +endure all the drudgery of an apprentice at St. Hypolite, and my +master, the baker, for a slight, often for no reason at all, beat me +and pulled my hair; yet he was one of our firm companions in the faith, +who, however could not control his passion." + +"So the priest was right after all," said Edmond with a smile, "when he +would recognise you for a baker by your knees." "Well," said Cavalier, +"the singular man is not deficient in intellect and penetration. If he +knew more of men than of their legs, perhaps he would be less impious, +for, from the foot, he ought at length to arrive at the heart, and +finally at the mind. It is true we probably stand in the same relation +to great nature; and if the Lord in his mercy does not approach us +personally, we cannot succeed even in loosening the thongs of his +shoes, if it is indeed permitted to talk of him in such a worldly +manner." + +Just as daylight was extending itself over every object, and when they +had turned round a projecting rock, they perceived in the valley +beneath then, the Camisards marching with their prisoners. At the same +moment old Favart came running up and announced to them, that Roland +had descended with a troop from, the summit of that mountain, but that +Colonel Julien with a considerable body of men, was now posted between +them both, and that it would be very difficult to turn them. Catinat +marched forward with his band and was highly exasperated on perceiving +the obstacle to his further progress. "Mameluke!" exclaimed he, "this +Julien whose death I have long since sworn, crosses all our +undertakings. No mercy, should he once fall into our hands, nor need he +expect any either, as he is an apostate brother, who has abandoned our +reformed community, merely to please the government and to enjoy +worldly honour." + +A loud shouting was heard, and Ravanel with a band, who had fortunately +escaped the royal troops, rushed from a narrow defile. They halted upon +the summit and the prisoners were brought forward. The court martial, +which was quickly held, sentenced them all to death, and scarcely were +the words pronounced, when the ready Ravanel shot the foremost dead +with his pistol, so that the gushing blood sprinkled Edmond, who was +standing close by. The fallen man expired instantly after a few +struggles. Edmond drew back pale and horrified. + +"Thou hast surely not seen much blood yet, young man?" cried Ravanel +mockingly; "Thou oughtst to celebrate thy consecration to-day, and +massacre some of those wretches thyself." + +"Not now, brother Ravanel," said Catinat, "the royal troops are +stationed so near and we do not know their number, therefore we must +not attract them hither by our firing. It would be difficult enough to +disengage ourselves from them afterwards." + +"But the villains must not be suffered to live!" exclaimed Ravanel, his +anger aroused anew, drawing his sword he struck the next prisoner to +him, who also fell instantly weltering in his blood. + +"Ought a brother to be blood thirsty?" asked Edmond. + +"He ought well be so," cried Ravanel turning angrily towards him: "Oh +my friend, he, who has once tasted the pleasure of stretching an enemy +at his feet, becomes like a lion after the palatable sweetness, +scarcely able to spare his keeper. I am feeble and weak when I am long +without seeing blood; it ascends like the smoke of a lamp in the +mournful twilight, as the rosy dawn after the darkness of night." + +Cavalier reprimanded the enthusiast for his cruelty, and Catinat led +the remaining prisoners to the brink of a precipice, when they fell +under the swords of the Camisards. Their leader the fiercest among them +all, only remained alive. He now called out in a powerful voice: "Stay! +far be it from me to beg for my life, I would not for once owe an +obligation to such pitiable people, though, what I require, you may +grant me without prejudice to yourselves." + +"What dost thou require, knave?" asked Cavalier, while the others +clustered still closer round him, "That you unbind my arms," said the +fierce, wild man with an expression of the most profound contempt: +"that I may once more, and for the last time, put my flask to my +parched lips, which has been a friend and comforter to me in all my +sorrows, and that you will afterwards be careful to deliver me speedily +from such contemptible society as yours." + +The Camisards murmured and would have cut him down, but at a sign from +Catinat, they drew back, he himself unloosed the arms of the prisoner, +and watched him with his drawn sword in his hand, lest despair, +perhaps, might at the moment of his death, impel him to some fool-hardy +attempt. But the powerful old man looked round him with the greatest +composure, shook his arms and shoulders that he might feel his freedom +after the restraint he had endured, then took a flask of wine from his +bosom and emptying it jocosely, dashed it against the rock, where it +broke in pieces, then turned to the bystanders, baring his neck as he +said: "Now, if it please you!" Even Ravanel measured him with a look of +surprise; and Edmond, who had watched all his movements, felt himself +impelled by an inexplicable feeling to save the life of so ruthless a +man. "Strange as I may appear to you, beloved brethren," cried he aloud +advancing into the circle, "I entreat you nevertheless by the high +esteem with which you honour me to make over this luckless man to me, +that his fate may rest in my hands. Shall this lost creature, so +unprepared, in all the nakedness of his crimes, go before his accusing +Judge? shall we not try to moderate the fierce temperament and to lead +the apostate closer to his Maker? Grant me this favour ye friends, do +not refuse my petition and accept my own life as a pledge, that he will +not repay this deliverance by treachery and falsehood?" Cavalier, from +affection to Edmond, joined his entreaties to those of the youth, and +after a short opposition from Ravanel and some murmurs from the troop, +all unanimously consented to pardon the robber. Cavalier informed him +that his sentence was remitted, that he might, added he, feel, that +mercy which exists even in an enemy and that he might also seek for +mercy at the throne of justice of the Eternal. The robber looked long +and searchingly with his large fire-darting eyes on Edmond. He now +bowed low to the little Cavalier, and said with a laughing countenance: +"Ah! my little man! from whence derivest thou thy knowledge of Him on +the throne of justice, that thou chatterest about him as if one had +only to go round the corner there and knock at his house, and fee the +doorkeeper for admission? You think, therefore, that I shall breathe +the air within me, some time longer, and look upon this light which I +have done for almost these seventy years past? Be it so. But I will not +deceive you, you shall not give me this wretched life in order to +rejoice at my conversion, for you have just pitched on the wrong one +with all your atonement, godliness, and love. I will have nothing to do +with your stories and fanaticism, with prayers and singing you shall +also spare me, though I should have no objection to march out with you +and fight valiantly, because I must do something, or other, and for the +present I have nothing better to do." + +Again a murmour arose, but now, there was no time to pass sentence, or +to dispute, for the royal troops were already seen marching by. Each +leader quickly betook himself to his troop, called to them, gave the +word of command, and in a short time order was restored, and all in +readiness to await the attack, Edmond and the robber, whose life he had +solicited, stood in the ranks together. While each ranged himself in +opposition to the other, several Camisards fell at the first salvo of +the small cannon, but undismayed, they marched forward, singing their +psalms aloud. They soon met hand to hand, and all appeared one confused +melee, for Ravanel and his troop rushed like frantic upon the enemy, +who soon gave way on that side; others tried to come to the help of the +panic-striken men, and thus the mass fought confusedly on the limited +space of ground. A stout officer seized Edmond, while a second raised +his arm to hew down the youth, when the robber with gigantic strength, +seized both the soldiers by the hair, and knocked their heads so +forcibly together, that they fell senseless to the ground. But Edmond +was rescued only for a moment, for he found himself directly afterwards +engaged in a combat with several, and a heavy blow upon the arm +disabled him. He was taken prisoner, while the king's troops were +compelled by his friends to give way. They fled with their leaders, and +carried him with them. He saw himself lost, without hope of +deliverance. + +In the wood Colonel Julien drew near and viewed his prisoners with +surprise. He sent detachments hither and thither to reconnoitre the +wood; he also sent a troop backwards, to see whether the rebels would +turn, or if they intended to follow them. + +"Leave this single prisoner to me," cried he to the last, which he also +sent forward in some minutes. "I will soon dispose of this unarmed man. +Is it needful?" turned he to Edmond, when he found himself quite alone +with the latter; "So young man, must we see each other again? I would +not believe the reports, nay, I can scarcely trust my own eyes now! Oh +thou miserable father of so degenerate a son!" + +"Apostate!" bitterly exclaimed Edmond, "hast thou indeed the right to +use such language?" + +"Go, fly," said Julien with an expression of the most contemptuous +pity; "hasten into this thick underwood, I will pretend not to have +seen you. Escape ignominy and execution, before my companions return +and render it impossible." + +Edmond sprang into the thick wood, enraged, ashamed and vexed: he ran +without stopping, and was soon in the most lonely part, and when at +last he fell exhausted and breathless in the cleft of a rock, he found +the stout robber reposing there, whose life he had, through pity, +generously solicited, as he in return had been obliged to accept his +own from the hands of a former friend, who now despised him. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + +"Are you satiated with the buffoonery?" asked the fierce man of the +youth after some time. "I should have thought that you had served your +apprenticeship, and were now looking about for some more profitable +business." + +"Wretched man!" exclaimed Edmond, "thou, who neither believest in God, +nor man, begone from my presence, for thy thoughts poison my mind." + +"Not so haughty, young gentleman," cried the former in a bantering +tone! "today my fist, in spite of my poisonous thoughts, has rendered +you good service, that is, if you do not estimate life as cheaply as I +do; but, as yet, your milky face has not the appearance of that. Why +then are you of a disposition so inhumanly virtuous? Let me still +continue to enjoy your gracious society, for I am indeed yours; early +to-day, you begged me off indeed almost like a dog, therefore, you must +allow me to bark and to remain near you, so that no other may bite +you." + +"How couldst thou then have sunk so low?" asked Edmond with some little +sympathy. "I have merely remained stationary," said the former +composedly, "I have only not been enabled to raise myself, and as I +have perceived no wings on my shoulders, I had no wish to put any on, +and still less to address myself on the subject to the first best goose +I met, who, moreover, could not have assisted me." + +"Thou meanest," said Edmond, "that thou hast formerly been a man like +others?" + +"Very probably," replied the robber: "now perhaps there is not so great +a gulf between you and me. If one man rates himself so highly, then +certainly to the mind the distance appears immeasureable as between the +king and the beggar; but place both naked on a desert island together, +then are they brothers and boon companions, provided the one does not +devour the other. Thus is it also with the so called souls: when they +compose verses, or are in love, then indeed they think themselves +miracles enshrined, but let them but fall into despair, become utterly +wild and untractable, then all affectation disappears like the rouge +from the cheeks of the harlot when she is compelled to wander about in +a shower of rain." + +"Have you never heard my name perchance? I am called Lacoste, I should +be surprised if you had not." Edmond became thoughtful. "It occurs to +me," said he after a while, "that this name is not totally unknown to +me; but I cannot revive my memory." + +"Aye, good, young soul," continued Lacoste in his peculiar way. "In +your green age, I was a gallant spendthrift, a sweet rabbit, that with +rosy smiling lips, flattered every one, only tell me, have you ever yet +loved passionately?" + +"Oh silence!" angrily exclaimed Edmond: "who now would speak of that +with you?" + +"A curious discourse that we are holding," said Lacoste coolly; "if you +know nothing of it, so much the better for you, but at your age, I was +so thoroughly in love and enraptured, that a mere touch from me would +have made a thousand men in love, as by the magnet the bar of iron +acquires the power of attraction. At that time, the earth, with all its +stones, appeared to me transparent, I was so benevolent and +affectionate, that I would willingly have given my eye-brows to the +nightingales, that they might carry them to their nests, to make a bed +for their young brood. And beautiful was my beloved, the blind might +almost have been aware of it, she was even still more loving and +compassionate than I was. She would indeed have voluntarily taken upon +herself all the suffering and sorrows of the whole world, would have +even suffered herself to be condemned, could she thereby have released +from hell, and make the hungry and sick, rich and healthy." + +"Even in your wickedness," said Edmond, softened, "you represent this +girl as a noble one, who was well worthy of her heavenly origin." + +"Heavenly," said the former, "to disgust: quite natural. That is just +what I mean. To every beggar she would have freely given her all; but +to me--she saw my love, my despair, how I only breathed in her looks, +how I withered away, and my grief, my inexpressible misery would +assuredly have driven me to the grave or to madness.--But that was +indifferent to her, more even then indifferent, it was pleasing to her." + +"But how is such a thing possible?" asked Edmond. + +"Every thing has its drawback," resumed Lacoste. "It is but just, when +senseless fools, such as I was, are ill-treated by women, that they may +serve as an example to other simpletons. But she would however have +leant to mercy's rather than to justice's side, had it not been for a +fault that lay within myself and which still oppresses me, although I +do not see it as such." + +"And what is it?" + +"The same upon which our conversation commenced; those same wings which +always sit so ridiculously upon us. To come to the point, I was not +religious; I could by no means comprehend how people made this +discovery. I had learned to think, to judge, to fancy, but I could +believe neither of the new lights of which I had heard so much. From +whence was I to derive it too? I exist, I rejoice if all goes on well +with me, shall I render thanks for that? be resigned and humble? Well, +to whom am I to rescribe the innumerable sorrows? all the sufferings of +this wretched life? the multiplied griefs? There is no one whom I dare +accuse of it. But even all this I am to receive with joy and humility! +If it go well with me: superabundant benevolence; if wrong: parental +correction. I cannot conceive such things as other brains have done. +The nameless Being, whom I know not how to represent to myself at all, +or only with giddiness and with terror, sustains worlds, permits +shipwrecks, wars and earthquakes, therefore he may now suffer me and my +thoughts. But he will, he cannot approach me closely, as they say, if I +do not draw near him with contrition, if I do not believe and speak +thus and thus of him; edifices, words, prostrations, belong thereto, in +order to lay him as by magic in fetters, that he may take an interest +in me, that he may love me, he must even first excite my commiseration. +Aye, truly all this roused my wrath. Instead of these loving, religious +men having patience, instructing and sympathising with me, they imagine +they can offer no satisfaction to their God of love, if they do not +hold me in execration." + +"Fearful man!" exclaimed Edmonds "how could they do otherwise? if the +flame of the stake be kindly; it certainly is so for such as you." + +"Naturally!" said Lacoste, with a loud laugh. "As the jews burn gold +out of old garments, so also out of the most hardened, callous and +heartless sinner, a little spark of religion may be extracted by +burning. The best and most supportable of all this, is that they +massacre and inflict martyrdom on one another for the sake of this +faith of love, and each treats the other as heretic, each curses the +other and gives him up to hell, but, however much all parties may rage +against one another, they still invariably agree in my damnation." "A +sign," said the youth, "that though all may err in themselves, with +regard to you, they still possess the truth." + +"I envy them not their possession," replied the old man; "my life, all +my sorrows, even when I became wicked and with justice so, I have +only to thank this egoism, which calls itself humility, inspiration, +love, or religion; I was rejected, persecuted, nay to use the silly +expression, misunderstood, for what man knows another, or even himself? +Impoverished, brokenhearted, I went forth, and my friends gladly saw me +depart. In every country this self-same miserable farce was repeated. +They would willingly have lent me their aid, confided in me, probably +have loved me, had I but possessed this so called religion. The foolish +virtue of my probity was lost sight of, that I would pretend to none, +even to the very best of them. A few marriages which were almost +decided upon with me, were broken off for the same cause. It did not +fare better with me in other quarters of the world; thus am I become an +old man, thus am I become a villain, and I returned, to revenge myself +on my beloved countrymen, and on my friends. Then you came and spoiled +the thing with me: just, you yourself! strange enough!" + +"How so?" asked Edmond excited. + +"Come let us go," said the stranger, "we ought to seek our comrades +again." + +They arose and walked as chance directed through mountain and wood. +When they ascended higher, they observed a thick smoke advancing +towards them, blackening the heavens with dark clouds. A distant cry +directed their steps. As they proceeded, they beheld on the summit of +the mountain a number of rebels moving hurriedly to and fro. When +Edmond approached he thought he recognised Roland. It was he too, but +before he was able to advance towards the leader, a young man rushed +with a terrific shout, to meet him. "Brother!" exclaimed he, +interrupted by sobs and rage, "brother, all is over! The incendiaries +have rendered thee for ever unhappy." + +It was difficult for Edmond to recognise his young friend Vila. "What +is the matter with thee? whence comest thou?" asked he at length, +amazed. + +"I am now one of yours!" exclaimed Vila: "I have not been able to +govern my heart, since I beheld the affliction of our people. Yes, I +will assist you to annihilate, to murder, to tear to pieces these +murderous slaves, which, to the shame of all created beings, bear but +the figures of men." When Edmond desired to question, to gain some +information, Vila drew him higher up the mountain, and the youth stood +again above, and looked down, as on that night, upon his father's +garden and house; but the house was in ruins, the fire was still raging +through the apartments, and thick columns of smoke arose, between which +was seen a consuming glow, that frequently sent red streams sideways +and upwards; shepherds and peasants stood beneath, many were gazing +fixedly on the spectacle, some seeking powerless help and deliverance. + +"Where is my father?" exclaimed Edmond, when he had recovered from the +first shock. "Fled," answered Vila, "no one knows whither; child, +servants, all were compelled to escape, for the Marshal and the +Intendant had summoned him to a severe account at Nismes. When +miscreants, who call themselves soldiers, found the house quite empty, +they plundered, and then set fire to it." + +"I have now nothing more to care for," said Edmond coldly. + +"Ah! ha!" cried Lacoste, "has it then fared so ill with the old Lord, +my ancient rival, my former friend and foe? see now yourself, we had +lately scarcely an idea of worse than what has now happened, when you, +Ned, stopped us in the business." + +No one heard him, and all gazed in silence, Edmond with deadly pale +countenance, down on the raging fire. + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + +The greatest agitation prevailed in the city of Nismes. New arrests had +taken place, suspicion had increased still more, and many noblemen, who +until then had escaped observation, were shut up in the prisons. No +condition, no inhabitant was now deemed in safety, treachery lurked in +every house. The Marshal had brought some of his ci-devant friends, +even ladies, to a strict trial. + +The amiable hero was concealed in the severe judge. The Intendant had +never yet been so pleased with his opponent. The consternation was +still greater in the country, and those who dwelt in the chateau, no +longer knew how to escape the mistrust and suspicion of the rebellion, +particularly the newly converted, whose assurances were not trusted, +and whose devotedness and patriotism were no longer valued. + +The physician, Vila, was also obliged to proceed to the city to answer +numerous accusations against him. Deeply afflicted as he was, he +however testified no depression or humiliation before his judges, but +was able to refute with perfect composure all that they would lay to +his charge. The Intendant as well as the Marshal were undecided, +whether they ought to impute his self-possession and security to +innocence, or to the obstinacy of a rebel. + +"No, my honoured lords," said he, as he stood before them in the hall +surrounded by a great number of officers and civilians; "I have nothing +to do with these most unfortunate affairs, for it is impossible that +any one would lay to my charge as evil propense, that I recently +intended to cure the Lord Marquis without a wig, an occurrence, which +may indeed be astonishing enough, but which however does not render the +extremity necessary, that you should now immediately cause my head to +be taken off; whereby I should become an entirely useless and +slaughtered man." + +"Be serious sir," replied the Intendant in the greatest anger, but with +a calm exterior: "what took you to the mountains some time since? +wherefore that disguise of which you yourself have complained?" + +"Irrepressible curiosity, my noble Lord," said Vila, "as an inquisitive +doctor, I also wished to thrust my nose for once into these spiritual +monstrosities. In my youth, I knew only of four great and twelve lesser +prophets of the bible, the thousand great, and twenty thousand lesser +of our times seemed to me so little plausible, that I wished to see +some examples of them in my proximity, and to examine myself their +ascribed characters." + +"And you persuaded your son and the young Edmond to accompany you +there?" + +The old man paused a while, and was obliged to wipe his eyes. "Pardon," +said he then, "man is affected, though already old, by certain +sensations, a kind of cold, which operates on the tear vessels; perhaps +you may have already experienced this. Strong snuff produces the +sensation. Yes, it was I indeed that induced the young men to this folly. +I could never have thought that the young lads would have made a serious +affair of it. They should only have reflected on themselves, collect +psychological observations, to strengthen thereby their own mature wisdom +and corroborate all noble religion; and the simpletons act like that +peasant, who is to take only twelve drops daily from a phial, and would +rather swallow down the whole bottle with cork and label. But believe me +the cholic will not delay coming, and it will require skill to empty the +body of the devilry again." + +"You appear to consider the affair on the jesting side," cried the +Marshal. + +"Certainly," said the old man, who could not however restrain his +tears, and was obliged to repress his sob by a strong effort; "it is +still pleasant enough, that I have not slept since the last three days, +still less have I been able to enjoy anything: that my cursed +imagination represents my unhappy son upon the scaffold, suffering the +most ingenious martyrdom, and looking upon me with the same dark eyes +that sparkled in his childhood when he ardently desired a fruit, or a +toy. I believe too that I look rather pale and sorrowful, and whatever +you may ordain, I shall bear my head heavily on my weary shoulders for +the future." + +"You know then that your son as well as the young Edmond has gone over +to the rebels?" said the Intendant sharply with his icy coldness: "and +who will assure us that this did not happen by your counsel and +suggestions?" + +"No man will be security for me," answered, the father with quiet +composure, "and of myself, of my many years of probity and an +assurance, by my honour, I will not even speak, for that appears to +myself absurd. No, my highly honoured lords, my counsel would never +have been able to produce so strange a metamorphosis in a vagabond, who +has hitherto only interested himself in plants and antiquities, or to +make of a catholic enthusiast a fanatic and a rebel; but if I may be +permitted to speak for a moment as a father, it rather appears to me, +that you, my most worthy judges, are the authors of it, without its +being exactly your intention it is true, and may be the cause why so +many other fanatics will run to the mountains." + +"Well, this impudence," exclaimed the Marshal. + +"Suffer the unhappy man to speak," interrupted the Intendant, "he is +doting in his sorrow, and it is not unreasonable to hear all that he +may bring forward for his defence." "I only say," continued Vila, +"that, with the very best intentions to put down this rebellion, you +add strength to it, for it is precisely the peculiarity and perversity +of the human mind, (and in this I only say what has been of very old +standing) that prohibitions and obstructions irritate and place the +punishable case in a seductive, enchanting light. That, which at first +appeared indifferent and often unimportant, now presents itself with a +kind of glory, danger entices; if only a few victims deriding it, have +fallen, passions master the heart, and the same, who a short time +previously preserved his faith in silent doubt, feels now in each +emotion of caprice, and of anger, the immediate voice of his persecuted +God. He now refutes his adversary with murder and massacre, as if he +would correct the erroneous reading of his mind in his mangled body. +The true believer cannot naturally bear such a turning over the leaf, +he waits with stump and stalk to root out of the breast the perverted +and corrupted text. On both sides the commentators excite one another, +each becomes fiercer and more violent, reconciliation is no longer to +be thought of, instruction profits not, and whoever wishes to step in +coolly and moderately between them is a horror to both parties. You see +indeed all the pills, that you, my honoured Lord Marshal cause to be +turned and moulded and which the thousand surgeons press Upon the +perverted, have not purged them of the evil, nor even ameliorated it. +What does it profit then that the busy men so diligently assist with +their bayonets, nor do these lances, nor the incisions of the gentlemen +dragoons improve the blood. Also your imprisonments and executions in +the public places have no success. What can your reasoning, your cold, +calm persuasions effect, that the whole country, frankly speaking, +stands like a great, disbanded madhouse, where the lunatics with their +dogmas rage against one another, and like dogs, set on to fight, gnash +with their teeth. I think the air is infectuous, and renders insane, +and thus it has happened to young Edmond and my poor son. Whom the devil +rides, cannot certainly affirm that he possesses an abundance of free +will to go and come; but what could have bribed me to lay the stirrup +on the shoulders of my only son, in order that the black raven father +of all lies might be able to mount him more comfortably? only reflect +on that yourselves, generous men." + +"I but half understand you," said the Marshal. + +"I pardon much in consideration of your grief," replied the Intendant. + +"But why as not the Lord of Beauvais appeared at our trial?" +recommenced the general; "wherefore is he fled? Does not that action +bespeak him criminal? and do you know anything of him and of his +retreat? can you impart to us some information of his proceedings? do +you keep him concealed? confess the whole truth." + +"Your excellency," said the doctor, "the old sinner has assuredly +escaped because he is indeed suspected, even by me, and certainly could +not appear here with safety and decency." + +"Proceed," said the Lord of Basville, "you are approaching nearer the +point to my satisfaction." + +"You know it as well as I do," replied Vila, "the scandal is notorious +throughout the whole country. He would have been forced to come here +baldheaded to speak and answer. I will even consent that one may +dispense with ruffles, lay down his sword, embroidery on the garments, +or the cravat may also without herisy be esteemed as superfluous; but +if you consider, that for more than ten years, he lived there yonder in +his desert without a wig like a Theban hermit, you cannot then possibly +have any confidence in the orthodoxy of his sentiments. How should his +head remain sound, when he gives himself up, thus naked to all +weathers, all society, all sorts of phrases, wit, and nonsense. It is +indeed like a fortress, where they have broken down the walls and +redoubt. There, in war, all the rabble ride in without obstruction." +"You are childish," said the Lord of Basville, "but where does the Lady +of Castelnau remain, you must know that she has disappeared. In all +these circumstances we see, say what you will, a concerted plot." + +"Ah poor Christine!" sighed Vila plaintively; "I now know for the first +time, how much I have loved the noble girl. She is no longer indeed in +her house, but the Lord Marshal will best be able to give intelligence +of her retreat." + +"I?" demanded the latter. + +"All the world says, at least," continued the doctor, "that you have +caused her to be incarcerated, and that is not entirely without +probability, as the imprudent girl, some time ago, wholly lost sight of +the esteem she owes you." + +"It were derogatory to my dignity," said the Marshal, "to revenge +inpertinences by means of my office. + +"Where one cannot inspire love," said the doctor, "which one may +reasonably expect, then terror and the due punishment of the object +must suffice." "I give you my word of honour, I know nothing of the +little fool!" said the Marshal blushing. + +"It is very possible," answered Vila, "that you do not know exactly in +which dungeon she languishes, since within the last few years we have +considerably increased these establishments." + +"Sir!" exclaimed the Marshal,--"I think, my Lord Intendant, we may +dismiss this dotard, for it is in vain to hope to hear a word of sense +from him. You may thank the Lord Marquis and his zealous intercession, +or rather his caprice, not to suffer himself to be cured by any one +else, that your insolence, which affects madness, is permitted to go +from hence unchastised. But beware that you hold no correspondence with +the rebels and suspected persons, or we shall speak again together and +then in a higher tone." + +"As it may please you to order it," said the doctor, and retired with a +low bow. His carriage stood at the door, he went however first into the +stables of the court to seek an old servant, whom he intended to take +to St. Hypolite with him, the latter advanced groaning, limping and +with head and arm bound up. "Coachman," cried Vila to his driver, "make +room on the box for this old servant of mine." + +In the mean while Colonel Julien came down the street; "What sort of +merchandise are you carrying off with you there?" asked he, +scrutinising the wounded man. + +"My superannuated Conrad," replied the doctor; "the stupid knave found +himself in a village yesterday and took it into his head to engage in +the conversion of a Camisard, who in the true rebel fashion began to +deal out blows, my decrepid enthusiast would let neither his king, nor +his Lord God be outraged and on that account is so bedecked, that our +Phylax at home will scarcely recognise him again." "Look," said the +Colonel, "the poor cripple trembles so, that he cannot attain the high +coach-box. He does not appear accustomed to such a place. Help him a +little, reverend priest." + +The sturdy vicar of St. Sulpice, who had pressed forward, helped up the +old man with arms and shoulders. "Accustomed, or not accustomed!" cried +Vila, vexedly, "he may thank heaven, that I take him with me at all. A +knave, who at his years still addicts himself to pugilism, is good for +nothing in my peaceable house. Times, indeed, seem strange enough, so +that the rabble will soon, perhaps, assert their pretensions to ride +with me in my carriage." + +"You would have room enough," said the Colonel, taking leave of the +doctor, who had already seated himself at his ease.-- + +"Now, drive on!" said Vila, "and not too fast, particularly over the +stones, for all my sides, and my head into the bargain, are as if they +were crushed, and take care that that old spectre does not perchance +tumble from the box,--Adieu, reverend priest!"--The coach drove down +the street and out through the gate. + +The high road was filled with soldiers and militia, the coach was +forced to stop in many places to let the troops go by. At length, when +they had taken another road towards the mountains, the journey could be +continued without interruption. The doctor was very uneasy, and looked +round on all sides, muttered to himself, and was alternately moved, and +vexed. At last, when the country became rather solitary he ordered the +carriage to stop, descended and assisted the wounded Conrad, as he had +called him in the town, himself, from the coach box. "My poor, old +friend!" exclaimed he embracing him with the greatest emotion: "How +fares it with you? do you feel fatigued? come now inside here with me, +and pardon all that I have been forced to do for your safety." + +"I am tolerably well, my kind, faithful friend," answered the Lord of +Beauvais: "but render me one more loving service, that we may once more +visit the ruins of my dwelling." + +Vila gave directions to the coachman, and they both ascended into the +carriage. + +"But why will you make your heart still heavier?" commenced the doctor. +"Come rather directly with me, that I may conduct you to the little +rural asylum, in order to conceal you there until better times. For it +is not to be thought of, that they will now be able to carry you over +the frontiers in safety." + +"Oh my poor country!" sighed the Counsellor of Parliament: "men of +probity must now seek hiding-places like criminals. I will only go once +more to the great hall: an iron closet has perhaps been spared by the +robbers and the flames, in it lies the portrait of my wife, which in +the hurry, I forgot to pack up. It would be very painful to me to lose +this dear remembrance." The sun had already set, and they were now +approaching their native, well-known place. From the blackened walls, +dense, smoky clouds were still rising, although the fire appeared +extinguished. The carriage stopped, the travellers descended from it; a +lantern was lighted, and the Counsellor could not avoid wondering at +the difficulty he experienced in finding his way through the formerly +so well-known mansion. Fallen beams reduced to cinders lay +extinguished, and obstructed the entrance to the hall, ashes and +rubbish filled the vast space, it was impossible to recognise any +thing, the walls alone still indicated the former seat of happiness and +peace. The lantern threw a pale wavering glimmer over the sad +destruction, and while the father tremblingly felt about by its light +for the closet, he thought he heard a voice in another apartment. + +As he listened more attentively, all was still; yet after a short +interval, a deep, painful sigh was heard again, and then as if from a +heavily oppressed bosom resounded these words: "Yes, my sinful fire has +laid this dwelling in ashes, my wicked impetuosity has murdered the +happiness of this beloved house." + +"Oh my unhappy son!" exclaimed the old man as he endeavoured to reach +that apartment; but Edmond advanced immediately, sank down before him +and embraced his knees. "Can you forgive? can you still love me?" cried +he in violent emotion; "I, I, wretch that I am, have flung the brand +into this house, I have rendered you and my sister miserable, I am +indeed the cause of your death. Oh, most gracious, mildest of men, with +what a torn heart do I lie here at your feet, unworthy to embrace them, +unworthy of the dust.--" + +The old man raised, pressed him to his heart and said: "Not so, +my son, we are not to criticise and blame the ways of destiny in so +short-sighted a manner. It was you, as I well know, who delivered me +from the hands of the incendiaries. Your heart has remained to me; +those walls, this inanimate possession belonged not to my happiness and +existence, you are nearer to me, you are, God be praised! not lost to +me. Let me enjoy the satisfaction of having found you again among the +ruins, and I will thank Heaven with heartfelt tears for my calamity. +Follow me now and abandon your unfortunate covenant. The time and +favourable moment will be found, when we may fly over the frontiers of +our native land, and under another sky be permitted to rear the +blessing of our love again." + +"Only require not this of me, generous man," cried Edmond, as if in +unconscious anger: "at least I must punish, avenge, retaliate, in some +degree on our and God's foes. Oh Catinat! how unjust I have been in +censuring thee. No, I will not degrade mercy so far by wasting it on +these wretches, who might take the tiger in apprenticeship in order to +augment his malice and cruelty." + +Vila came up with the lantern and turned the light upon the youth's +pale, agitated countenance, saying with the greatest good nature: "ah! +Ned! my boy! be advised: now for once only follow your aged parent +there, who has ever merely required from you what is quite reasonable." + +"Leave vengeance to Him," said the father in a powerful voice, "to Him, +who rules, permits and superintends all, and in whose almighty arm our +wrath and weakness, are no longer vengeance! I do not understand the +word. Our hearts were not created for this feeling." + +"Still and ever the same folly!" cried a deep voice from behind and the +gaunt figure of the grey-headed Lacoste was groping his way towards +them in the dark, over heaps of rubbish. "Vengeance! hatred!" exclaimed +he; "who knows not those sentiments, knows love but in part. Knowest +thou me still, thy rival, the Lacoste, whom thou renderedst many years +ago so unhappy? Who meant thee evil were it not for thy gallant +Edmond." + +"How comest thou here?" cried the father astounded. "What art thou +doing here?" + +"I am become thy son's dog," replied the former, "I do him what service +I can, at least I run after him, out of gratitude, because he has saved +my life." + +"I have scarcely time and feeling," said the Lord of Beauvais, "to +wonder at this extraordinary rencontre." + +"The hour presses indeed," cried Vila, "we have yet a long way before +us and we must take advantage of the night." + +"Here is the concealed closet still unconsumed," cried the Counsellor +of Parliament, "just as I had supposed." He took a key, opened and held +a light into it, among various articles, which were kept there, he +found the picture in a little casket. He gazed upon it with tears, and +was going to attach it to his person, when Lacoste seized his hand and +said: "Only one moment, for the sake of former acquaintance and +friendship: suffer this face after so many years to blossom once again +in my desolate heart." + +The father gave it to him trembling; Lacoste held it close to the light +and gazed fixedly on it with his widely opened grey eyes; a tear +unconsciously escaped him, he imprinted a kiss on the portrait and +returned it to the Counsellor. "See, see," said he to himself, "every +man remains still a fool, let him behave as he will. If they can feel +and imagine as much over their relics, as I at this moment feel, then +the unfortunate ones are not so entirely in error." + +"Roland is stationed in the neighbourhood with his troops; a few of us +may conduct your dear father, as far as you wish, so that at least our +party does not harm you." + +"Prudently spoken," said Lacoste, "for we are, with permission, very +outrageous people." + +The Counsellor of Parliament re-ascended the carriage with his friend, +saying: "We are now indeed so far on our road, that the usual +precaution becomes superfluous. Let us only be careful, that our friend +Vila meets with no misfortune on our account." "Were my son only +reasonable," said the latter, "they might do what they liked with me, +old, half dead and worn out sinner; to die is almost a diversion to be +sought for, to that have the ruling lords pushed affairs." + +They drove off, and Edmond and Lacoste followed on horseback, in order +to accompany them to Roland's troop. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + +When the night was nearly elapsed and that Roland had long with-drawn +with his troop into the distance, the little escorting band of +Camisards was suddenly surprised, out of an ambush, by a considerable +multitude of royalists. It was in the direction of Florac, where Vila +with his friend had intended to seek a place of refuge, which he deemed +safe. The confusion was general, and it seemed, that the destruction of +the little troop of Camisards, as well as that of the travellers, was +absolutely inevitable. During the firing and cries, Vila sprang from +the carriage with pistols in his hand, and the Counsellor of Parliament +followed him, without knowing clearly what was going to happen. By the +grey light of the morning it was discovered that the attack was given +from a valley lying sideways; the travellers were on the heights. The +Counsellor of Parliament, who had quitted the carriage the last, saw +immediately, that all were engaged in a melee, the royalists seemed to +give way, when a second troop rushed out of the underwood of whom it +was difficult to decide whether they were soldiers, or rebels. Before +however the Counsellor was able to gain any certainty, or to form any +resolution, the coachman laid hold of him, pressed him urgently to get +into the carriage, and as he saw the old man's hesitation, he lifted +him into it almost forcibly. "Better without the master, than to perish +here with him, he will soon find us again," cried he in the utmost +anxiety, and whipped the horses, so that they started off snorting in +full gallop over hill and dale. After some time the Lord of Beauvais +recovered his recollection and with much argument and dispute, he +compelled the obstinate man to stand still again. On the summit of a +mountain, from whence they could overlook the whole surrounding +country, they awaited the one, who had remained behind. Of the combat +nothing more was to be discovered: it seemed as if far in the distance +a band of fugitives was flying; but nothing could be clearly +distinguished. At length they espied two riders emerge from a copse, +who pursued the same road. They approached nearer and the doctor was +now seen waving a handkerchief and working his way up to the summit, +mounted on a little horse. A young lad with his head bound up was +following him. "You did well," cried he, when he arrived at the top, +"to retreat immediately at the commencement of the battle; that is +dull, insipid business, which does not suit us civilians." + +"There Martin, for such is your name, take the nag again to yourself +and do what you will with him." With these words he dismounted, and +betook himself to the carriage, where he was first obliged to listen to +many self-praises from his coachman, who wished to appropriate to +himself the whole credit of this clever retreat, and on account of +whose over-haste, the Lord of Beauvais abashed, entreated the pardon of +his old friend. "It was no over-haste," cried Vila, "but the most +prudent that could have occurred, I ought to have remained sitting in +the carriage, for my little bit of firing was like a drop in the stream +compared to the bravery of the Camisards; with them none of us can +engage. These knaves understand no reason, whether balls fly, or swords +glitter, it is to them mere pastime, and the smallest boys, who are +scarcely weaned from their mother's breast, are just as much infatuated +with this devilry as any of the oldest grey beards. I have seen that, +for once quite close, which I could not have believed by hearsay; but +now that I have witnessed it, it is enough for the rest of my life." + +They stopped at a lonely inn to refresh the horses, and while they were +enjoying their breakfast the doctor proceeded to relate the sequel of +the event to his old friend. "How fortunate." he commenced, "that you +were not present at our battle, for only think, your Edmond continued +to accompany us, he would not be dissuaded from attending in person to +your safety. When the scene now opened he was ever foremost. There was +a young lad, who then came forward. 'From whence come you?' shouted the +Camisards.--'What's that to you,' answered the impudent fellow,--'You +are a traitor.'--'Wherefore insult,' cried the little man, 'honest +people act not thus.'--'Hew him down!' cried another.--'Hew me down;' +said the hop of my thumb, 'when I would sacrifice my life for +you.'--'Who art thou?' was again reiterated.--'My name is Martin, +further it is not necessary for you to know.'--Inquiry was cut short by +firing and hewing down. It came near me, and I felt a goose-skin all +over my body. I had already spent my powder without, perhaps, having +hit any one, when the gigantic Lacoste took compassion on my trouble, +and hewed down the knaves together as if they had been merely poppy +heads. But Edmond who tried to cut his way through to me, got into a +desperate melee. Two dragoons fell upon him, and struck furiously; but +before they were able to hit, behold, my dear friend--the little rascal +Martin, cut down one of them from his horse, and shot the other at the +same moment almost through the breast, as if the urchin had been +accustomed to nothing else all his life long. The stout Lacoste, the +dog as he styles himself, was not tardy either, and your son lost +neither courage nor strength; the Camisards were like so many devils, +and thus those of the true faith were obliged to leave the field to us, +on which a great number of their friends remained lying.--I could not +discern my poor, dear son; he may very likely have gone with the main +body of the troops; if they have not already slain, or taken him +prisoner." + +"And Martin! the boy, of whom you spoke, who so valiantly saved my +son's life?" inquired the Lord of Beauvais. + +"Martin;" cried the doctor aloud: "where then do you hide yourself? +yes, that's true indeed, you are both indebted to the stripling. He +wore, when he entered, a thick handkerchief round his head, it may have +been from a blow that reached him; after he had rescued your son, he +received a right deep cut in the head again from a sabre, so that a +stream of blood gushed out. As if for a change, he wiped his nose and +without ceremony bound a second turban over the first, though he turned +ghastly pale from it.--Martin! Where then is the rascal!" But there was +no one to answer his call. "Thus is it with foolish youth," said the +doctor vexedly: "he has misunderstood me about taking back the horse, +and in his simplicity returned immediately. Poor youth! I trust no +fever may be added to it." + +"It would make me miserable," said the Counsellor, "if I should not be +able to testify my thanks to the dear boy. If I were persuaded that he +was suffering, ill, helpless, or dying, I should weep tears of blood." + +"It will not turn out so bad as that," muttered Vila chagrined: "Why +should the oaf run off thus, as if----Aye! Aye! at least I would have +bound up his wounds for him. But now, the devil will not catch him +directly. Such Camisard webs are usually formed of very tough +materials." + +"They were compelled to proceed again, in order to reach with safety +the solitary village in the mountain heights." "You must know," said +the doctor, when they were again seated in the coach, "that it is +merely to an old maidservant of mine I am now conducting you, a simple +person, who served me long, but who is, however, so faithful and +honest, that it is almost a scandal, what perhaps many free thinking +exquisites would say of her. She has married a gardener, or peasant, +who also plays the surgeon in the mountains. There you will pass for an +old invalid cousin, whose house and farm the Camisards have set fire +to; you will find your daughter there already, the intelligent child +however must not betray you; the husband and wife would suffer +themselves to be torn to pieces rather than give out any thing else of +you. If you will but sit half an hour in the room with Barbara, she +herself will take you for her cousin, and there will be no further +necessity for lying. That is why such things often succeed better in +this class than in a higher one: education they have none, but they +possess the proper capacity for belief. Only lose not courage yourself, +and in that solitude there do not become a timid hare's foot. All may +yet be well." With these and similar conversations they, at length, +arrived in the afternoon at the village in the centre of the mountains. +The houses lay dispersed midway, or above the declivity of the +mountain; each had a garden and shrubbery attached to it, and the +church situated on the highest point, looked down on the lowly +cottages. The little dwellings after which the travellers were obliged +to inquire, stood at the extremity of the village, immediately over a +rapidly flowing brook, a kitchen-garden was in front and a few chesnut, +ash, and plantain-trees spread a shade and freshness around. When the +travellers alighted, the rather elderly hostess advanced to the little +vestibule to meet them. "Welcome! right welcome!" said she half +jestingly, but with the heartiest good will: "So the old gentleman is +my cousin? I rejoice in the acquisition of his relationship." "Where is +my daughter?" asked the Lord of Beauvais. + +"Hush! hush!" said Barbara with a significant look; "my little cousin +sleeps in the room above--which you too will now inhabit, my much +honoured cousin." + +"That's all right," said the doctor: "only study nicely your +expressions; and what is sick Joseph doing?" + +"Ah, heaven!" said the old woman, he did not get over his fright, "the +poor man has died at the next village below there, for when he was +obliged to make off so quickly, helter skelter with my little cousin, +and had lost his master, who had taken another road, and that the +police officers became so troublesome, and the militia would also +interfere, then all that affected his liver and spleen, and he died of +it. + +"Poor Joseph!" sighed the Counsellor. + +"But pray, make yourselves comfortable," pursued the old hostess,--"sit +down then cousin, poor man, there on that soft chair; you must now +forget, that you were formerly accustomed to anything better." + +"Well," asked Vila, "and the household, how fares it? what is your +husband doing?" + +"Thanks for the kind inquiry," answered the chatterer; "Ah! dear God! +nothing can be done with him, he will remain a boaster his life long." + +"Wait until he comes a little to years," said Vila, "his petulance will +then pass away." + +"Ah good heaven!" exclaimed she, "he is already past fifty; it does not +depend upon that, God has permitted him to arrive at years of +discretion, youth no longer oppresses him, but he is past all hope of +amendment." + +"Is he idle then? or does he squander your substance?" + +"No," continued she quickly, "that must not be said against him, he +spends nothing on himself, scarcely will he allow himself the extreme +necessaries, and as to running about, working and lending a hand, he is +not remiss, but he lays by no store. Indeed times are no longer as they +were formerly." + +"You get no profit then?" + +"Just so, most respected doctor. Look you, here among us in the +country, my old husband is called nothing, far and wide, but the clever +man. Where an animal is sick, where a man is infirm, there is he +called, and it must be true, that heaven has placed a very peculiar +blessing in his hands, for almost whatever he merely touches becomes +better. Where his misicaments, or his proscriptions fail, he is then +compelled to have recourse to symphonies, or what you call the +sympathretical system, and that is always among the peasantry most +liked and most fructifying." + +"You have then learned something from him," observed Vila. + +"Should not something have devolved to me in so many years?" replied +she modestly. "But if he would only not do so much without +remuneration, all would be well and good. Look you, instead of planting +cabbage, our little garden is full of learned rampons, and horse radish +and onions with Latin names, which he then mingles or distils, as he +calls it, and economises powders and opiates out of them that cannot be +equalled. But they know already throughout the whole neighbourhood that +he is a fool, for they frequently knock him up at midnight and summon +him to a sick child, or to a tom-cat or taby-cat that has eaten or +drank too much. And when they are to pay, the service is forgotten and +there is no money in the coffers. 'They are poor people,' says the +good-for-nothing fellow, 'they have already misery enough; and God be +praised, we have never yet been in want of bread.' + +"Thus was he ever," remarked Vila. "I thought he would become more +reasonable, and learn to think a little of himself. He was always too +devout." + +"Devout!" exclaimed the wife: "ah heavens! your honour, we now come in +earnest to the foul spot. No, Monsieur Vila, religion, or what people +so call christianity, he is utterly deficient in." + +"How then has he thus fallen into error?" asked the old man. + +"The Lord knows best," answered she, "who has created him so confused. +He will ruin himself yet with his curing. Look you, it is not alone his +companions of the faith, the Catholic Christians that he succours +without remuneration, if they only give him the least hint of poverty; +nay also--God be with us--the Huguenots and even the Camisards he +attends, as one of us, if he can find an opportunity. The wounded whom +they ought to have taken off to Florac swarmed here; look you, the +God-forgetting man quartered, healed and fed them and occupied himself +so much with them, that they were able afterwards to run off in health, +and I will not answer for it, that he did not also give them money and +the worth of money to take with them on the road. No, not a spark of +true genuine faith and of proper christianity is in the man." + +"He is probably a sort of Samaritan," said Vila affected. + +"You are right, good sir," continued Barbara, "Samariter, or Samoid, +and if he only does not turn out an anibaptist in his old days. Would +you believe it, six weeks ago, when they gave up so many of those poor +sinners to justice at Florac, thither did he run the first, and bound +up the wounds of the sick and set their broken limbs. Husband, said I, +they will certainly be put to the wheel, and hanged, there is nothing +more to heal in them. Then said the simple fellow, God or nature had +taken so much pains to suffer their joints, bones, muscles, and I know +not what else to grow, that one is obliged out of charity to spare and +take care of them as long as they will last. Look you, he has such +enthusiasm stuff in his head that, as the saying is, he is Jack in +every corner, where there is only any thing to doctor, should it even +be the greatest criminal, there he is." + +"I shall read him a sermon on that point," said Vila. + +"That's right!" cried she joyfully, "scold him a skin full, for he +always says, that I am too stupid; and my persuasions tend to nothing." +The woman had got up several times to look at the little bed. +"Perhaps, you have a sick child there?" asked the doctor.--"Child!" +answered she somewhat mockingly! "quite otherwise! only look at the +present!"--when she removed the cushion, there lay a cur dog with +bandaged paws.--"The history," commenced the narrator, "correcterises +exactly the simple man. The people about here often make him their +laughing stock, because he is such a good-humoured, easy fellow; and so +the smith at length gave him his dog to doctor, having in a passion +broken its hind-paws in two with a hammer. My Godfred wrapped up the +dog and dragged it home to me, bound up its wounds himself, laid him +down, raised him up, suffered him not to run about, bound the cushion +tight over him, made him a kind of maskinnery for his legs, because he +said the dog would not be taken proper care of at home, and that he +must have it under his own eyes. Well, my good smith's dog became +healthy again, and went off without saying good day, or by your leave. +That may be about two months ago; last week, towards evening, something +came scratching at our room door; come in! no one opened; but the +scraping and scratching continued: so my Godfred opened the door and +looked out, in springs our old smith's dog like a fool and behind him +came hobling the diseased thing, the cur there with a broken leg +dragging behind him, and the smith's dog danced and sprang round my +husband, as if to beg, and thus supplicated him that he would also +doctor his comrade. In my rage, I seized the botanix stick from my old +man to cudgel the curs out of the room. But he, as if affected, said, +'Never could I have imagined so much understanding and gratitude in a +dog,' and immediately took him in his arms, examined his foot, bandaged +it, and busied himself about the animal. Gratitude! cried I, you +call it thus, if the bull dog recommenders you to the cur which will +afterwards spread the story about among all the dogs in the country, so +that finally with all the fame of dog-pratix, you will no longer be +able to stand, or walk? But all in vain! there is the beast, and I must +attend to it, when the old fool is not at home." + +The husband now returned, his arm full of herbs, which he immediately +carried into a closet; he then saluted his guests quietly and affably, +and before he sat down he looked after his four-legged patient, which +in gratitude licked his hands, and looked fondly in his face. With the +greatest composure and as if there was nothing remarkable in it, he +rebandaged the foot, placed the invalid again in its bed, which he also +bound fast, then pressed its head down on the cushion, as if to +intimate that it must now go to sleep. The dog seemed also to +understand him, for he only blinked a few times up at his benefactor, +and then resigned himself to sleep. + +"Your wife here," commenced the doctor, "complains of you, that you do +not think enough of your own concerns, you cure every body, even dogs +and cats, and receive nothing for it, for this dog as little as for the +former; have they not paid your bills yet?" + +"I made none for them," said the old man with the driest gravity. + +"Then I must make them out for you; you negligent fellow!" exclaimed +Vila vehemently: "What; write out prescriptions for nothing? truly you +degrade our whole art. Take this then on account of what the poor +sinners, the wounded, the beggar-train, and the oppressed race of +animals owe you up to the present."--He threw to the astonished and +perplexed individual a heavy purse of gold, and without waiting for his +thanks, he hastened out, and was already seated in the carriage before +the rustic practioner had recovered from his astonishment. The Lord of +Beauvais gazed with emotion after his rapidly departing friend. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + +The father went up to his daughter, who now awaked from her refreshing +sleep. The little girl, in a flood of tears threw herself into the arms +of the new comer, and was never weary of kissing his hands and cheeks: +it seemed as if it were a necessity for her to indulge this once, in an +unrestrained declaration, and expression of her love. "Man, indeed," +thought the Lord of Beauvais within himself, "has nothing else but +these poor tokens, or the action of alleviating sorrow, and +administering food, clothing the naked, or affording warmth to the +freezing: perhaps it may be that in a future state spirits intermingle +in love." When both were more composed, the father said, "Eveline, you +have ever been a sensible child, but now you have an opportunity of +shewing it in deed for my safety; and for your own also. Never must a +word escape your lips here of our former residence of my friends, or of +your brother. When we are both quite alone, you may then talk of these +things, but below, or when anybody is present, you must ever be the +little cousin of our good hosts. Be therefore in company rather +perfectly quiet, or try to accommodate your behaviour for a short time +to these people; for your father's life depends on our not being +discovered and spied out in this place of concealment." "My dear, my +poor father," said Eveline, "all this will not be difficult to me, now +that you are with me again. You know well how our great Hector always +looked up to my brother, or to Frantz, and from a sign understood, when +he was to go, to stay, to lie down, or to eat; the animal has never +once made a mistake: Now, dear papa, thus will your little pet dog +attend to the slightest sign from your dear eyes and understand, and +conceive everything. I was not allowed to speak of many things in the +presence of my brother, many things that Martha related I was unable to +tell you, because you were angry with my nurse formerly; one must, +indeed, learn from childhood to suit one's self to the world. But shall +we see Frantz and Hector again? my brother too? ah, it has ever floated +in my mind, that he would one day become downright godless; for no good +can come of it, when men approach God as it were too rudely." + +The father descended again, and was very much surprised to find a newly +arrived guest in his host's room. Old Godfred was at that moment +employed in dressing two deep and dangerous wounds in the head of a +young lad, who seemed scarcely fourteen years of age. "See now, +cousin," cried the talkative Barbara, turning towards him, "as I told +you, our Sam-Rocious, as the old gentleman called him, a short time +ago, is again seized with a vertigo, a real vagabond, as they call such +deserters; who asks here in the village after such and such an one, +after a coach and strange travellers, and immediately our dealer in +herbs there brings him to our house, because he has something to cure, +which is once for all his greatest passibility." The Counsellor of +Parliament listened not to the chattering, but examined with the +greatest attention the handsome countenance and noble expression of the +stranger, who seemed to be yet almost a boy. This sight attracted him +the more, as the supposition occurred to him, that this wounded youth +might probably be that Martin of whose astonishing fearlessness the +doctor had spoken. Emotion and gratitude mingled therefore in those +feelings of sympathy which drew him towards the sufferer, and he only +waited for the others to retire to interrogate him. The surgeon Godfred +seemed dissatisfied at the appearance of the wounds, he comforted the +youth, and cut his short brown hair still shorter, and stroked his +handsome head with tender sympathy. "The Lord has blessed us with +money," exclaimed he aloud, "it shall benefit you, not only thee, I was +going to say, dear old cousin, but this young patient here as well. I +will run directly to the town and fetch better food, for wounds must +not be neglected by any means." + +A gaunt, haggered-looking man, in a tattered uniform entered, the +surgeon sprang joyfully to meet him, and shook his meagre hand so +heartily, that his long arm quivered with emotion, and a grim smile of +affability passed over his pale face, under a large hat, which he still +kept on. The new comer who now perceived the Counsellor, took off his +hat, and said: "I did not know, gossip, that you had strangers." + +"Not exactly strangers," immediately replied dame Barbara, preventing +her husband's reply, "but a dear cousin of ours, Mr. Peter Florval, who +possessed a pretty house and garden below there in the fruitful +Camargue. The antichrists, the rebellious Camisards have plundered and +burnt every thing, and it was with difficulty that he saved himself +with our little cousin; he will now remain here contenting himself with +our poor house until better times." The stranger drew near, and said +solemnly, while he extended his hand to the Counsellor with a certain +majestic air; "Venerable Mr. Peter Florval, be but at peace and let not +your spirits flag, these times will pass quickly and in less than a +year you will be happy again. I have had dreams, which have predicted +this and still more to me, and my dreams never deceive, as I know how +to give them the right interpretation. The abominable Cavalier has +appeared to me, I could have painted him; behold: a head taller than +myself, broad, muscular as a hercules, moustaches that he might have +twisted twice round his whole head, which he did too, several times, to +make himself look still more terrible. He came up to me, he had a +guard's uniform in his hand: sergeant, I shall be once more under the +banners of the royal guards, and that shall be the sign, that this day +twelve months I shall wear this uniform, and then peace will be in the +land, for without my supernatural giant-strength the rebels would be +unable to do anything, and would be obliged to surrender. Remember +Gerard Dubois, my good Peter, when the thing comes to pass." + +Without paying particular attention to the speaker, the surgeon had +again devoted himself to the invalids for whom he had also made up a +bed in the hay loft. He looked after the dog too once more, then gave +his hand to the Counsellor and fetched his hat and stick. "I will go +with you," said Gerard, "if you do not botanise, for I cannot endure +that cursed stooping and mountain-climbing." On learning that the walk +was only to the neighbouring market-town, he took leave, rejoiced to +have an opportunity of accompanying his gossip. + +"Look you, dear cousin," commenced the old dame, immediately again, +"that great herculus is also the cause, that my old man will not be +anything as long as he lives. He seduces him fearfully to idleness, +because he himself has nothing to do. He has been formerly a dreampeter +in the royal guards, but as he was weak at the chest, he obtained his +discharge and a pension, and with a small fortune, he plays the +nobleman here, and gives himself such intolerable airs, that he +addresses almost every body with familiarity. He was so enamoured with +blowing, that they were obliged to pull the dreampet forcibly out of +his mouth, for he is phthisical, properly hictical, as my old man calls +it, for he looks wicked enough for it. Now the great beast stalks about +here, and no one can bear him, because he is so very haughty and +moreover wearisome and quite ennuiyant when he speaks of his +forefathers. My good calf, however, will suit him, he might easily +speak and listen to him in his leisure hours, and often may be thinking +of other things at the same time; but this is not the case, he has +nothing to think of, and is delighted when the bully goes on with his +gasconading to him. Only think, cousin, because he is not permitted to +blow any more, he whistles, or lisps a little with his tongue all his +old dreampeter airs for hours together into my husband's ears; when he +tells of campaigns, at times, with his mouth screwed up, he imitates +the sounds of appelle, and retreat, the attack, every thing; or he +beats it with his long stork-fingers on the table, which then is to +represent the dulcimer or the harpichord, and thus does he play the +harpichord as it is called before my old husband the live-long day and +he talks of x sharp and z soft, and crosses and stories of fughes and +passages, such gibberdish, that one might loose one's senses, looking +at these two fools wasting their time. The lanky fellow frequently +assists in searching, for herbs, and makes out of old rags a lineament +for wounds, or cooks a mixture, and syrup quackery, and as they are +almost always together, he seduces my old husband away from me. They +will no longer suffer the long Urian in the public-house, because he +drives away all the guests with his blowing and harpchord playing, even +the common people are wise enough for that, my Godfred alone suffers +himself to betaken in. But this quick dreampeter-blower is an arrant +rogue. He tices my old husband out of his chimistical experiments and +begins to doctor patients, but he principally makes use of symphonies, +which besides is much easier when one is once in the way of it, and the +silly peasants therefore begin to have faith in the spoil-trade. What +does a physician know of symphony; books and study appertain to that, +and no little dreampeters. Moreover, he is for ever telling his stupid +dreams. The times are so very bad, because now children, and old +people, women and maid-servants, almost every one in the country, when +they at once gave up the faith, began with prophecying and prediction +to prepare misfortune; formerly my husband was asked this thing and +that, he also looked at the hands to see whether they would get rich +husbands and so forth; he drew their line of life longer, once even he +cast the Hurenskorp of a right noble lady, yonder in Florac, for he was +much renowned at that time; but since this new-fashioned superstition +has arisen, hardly any one inquires after him, all tell their own +fortunes, or run to the unbelieving children, and what can these +urchins know of philosophy or chiromantic and particularly of the +stars; as if one only needed to take a horn in the mouth in order to +obtain any knowledge of astrology and of all the abstract or dried-up +sciences; for which purpose a great deal more is required." The old +dame would have still run on, if she had not thought that she heard a +pot boiling over in the kitchen; she ran therefore hastily out, leaving +the Counsellor of Parliament alone with the young man. "My son," began +the Lord of Beauvais, "could you be the same of whom a friend of mine +has spoken to me? perhaps your name may be Martin?" + +"It is so," said the youth; approaching nearer and seizing the +Counsellor's hand, over which he bent with deep emotion. + +"And this blood."---- + +"It is mine, mingled with that of your son." "Thanks then," exclaimed +the father and embraced the youth much affected. "You know then who I +am?" + +"Yes," replied Martin, "in the fight your son pointed you out to me; +Vila spoke of you, and now, my honoured sir, as I have discovered you, +as I enjoy such kind care here, and as I shall soon be cured, grant +that I may remain by you, and be your servant. Your domestic household +is far from you, flown, dead, your tender child requires more +affectionate, more gentle attendance, than these people here, with all +their good will, are able to bestow. I shall be wretched, if you reject +my petition." + +The Counsellor gazed long on the youth's dark, sparkling eyes. "My +dear, beloved son," said he then, "I am indeed bound to you by the +dearest ties; oh, ought I not call it friendship cemented with blood? +How shall I command you, as you are here the guest of our benevolent +host? I dare not now have any attendants, I must conceal myself, I must +appear as a poor man of inferior condition. Would you wish to belong to +me, so that I might put full confidence in you, you must give me +further knowledge of yourself. Who are you? from whence come you? your +appearance is too refined and delicate for service to be your vocation; +this small, nobly-formed hand has not yet been hardened by any labour, +your pale face has never yet been exposed to the inclemency +of the seasons; tell me then what is your parentage, your name, how you +became a member of this unfortunate rebellion?" + +"Dear, beloved, paternal friend," said the pale Martin with a gush of +tears, "did you but know the excruciating pain you give my heart by +these questions, you would spare me. Will it not suffice, that I +venerate your family, that it has long been my desire to be at your +beloved side? you can guide, you can reform me; let my whole life be +consecrated to you. I can, I dare not return, they would seize and +sentence me to an ignominious death; my brethren too, the Camisards, +distrust me and hold me for a traitor. Why put my poor parents to the +blush, by naming them at this moment? They brought me up with +tenderness and affection, and the more bitter must their sorrow be, to +behold me degenerate, and liable to be executed. They are wealthy, but +not of such high rank as to have their name disgraced by my humble +services in my attendance on the noblest of men." + +"I will believe you, young man!" cried the Lord of Beauvais; "could +such an eye as that deceive? Be to me in lieu of child, of son, perhaps +soon----." He could not proceed from emotion, and Martin also appeared +deeply moved. + +The repast was served up and Godfred also returned from his wandering +loaded with poultry, and delicate vegetables, Eveline descended, who in +her peasant's attire appeared very attractive; the Counsellor placed a +chair for Martin, by the side of Eveline, saying at the same time, "My +dear cousins, this young man belongs to me, he is related to me, and +whatever expenses you may incur for him, I shall return to you again: +only do me the favour to call him also cousin Martin and be kind to +him." + +"Aye! aye!" Smiled Barbara, "last week, I could not have supposed, that +all on a sudden my family would thus increase, sit down then, cousin +Martin, and you Godfred, take care only not to make blunders before +strangers." Grace was said, and the little Eveline made the sign of the +cross, just as gravely as she saw the old people do; Godfred had +prepared a separate soup for the invalid Martin, and would not allow +him to eat of such meats as he deemed injurious to him. Godfred spoke +little, he seemed as if he had almost entirely renounced the habit of +speech in the society of his too loquacious spouse, but on that account +he had imbibed the peculiarity of frequently expressing aloud, when a +pause occurred, whatever was at that moment passing in the train of his +thoughts, for he listened but seldom to Barbara's wonderful +phraseology. + +"The fever will now be kept under," said he; just then Martin perceived +that he was the subject of discourse, and the Lord of Beauvais would +willingly have inquired more closely into the state of the invalid, if +the dame had not again launched out into narrations and far-fetched +ideas. + +"A little deeper and all would have been over," continued Godfred. + +After the repast, Martin, for whom a room had been prepared near the +Counsellor of Parliament, lay down. The rustic doctor, who had already +fed the dog, now examined his wounds; Eveline and her father retired to +the room up stairs. + +"Have I done all well?" asked the little girl. "Quite well, my child," +answered the father, "I am satisfied with you." + +"That is a beautiful rule," recommenced Eveline, "to pray before and +after the repast. Why did we not do the same at home?" + +"You are not wrong, my child," replied the Counsellor; "for fear of +being like tradespeople, or appearing very hypocritical, much that is +good is neglected!" + +"Ah! what a beautiful prayer the old woman said before dinner," +continued Eveline: "All eyes wait upon thee!"--"Do you know too, papa, +how at home, when our Hector, or the other dogs, were fed in the hall, +all gazed up so fixedly into the eyes of old Frantz? and as he turned +his head, so went all the eyes like so many torches, right and left, +still peeping at the old man, without ever blinking, until they at +length obtained their portions. No other animal, no ox, tat, nor horse +can so affectionately gaze into the eyes as the faithful dog. Even the +smallest child is ashamed, when it begs so fervently. That sick dog +looks thus hungrily at old Godfred, and immediately shuts its eyes, +when dame Barbara glances that way. That is indeed a glorious thought, +that here, in all towns, in all France, in all countries, and in the +whole world, all hungry eyes, young and old, rise up to our Heavenly +Father so devoutly, so confidingly, and it must also be pleasing to +him, mighty and great as he is, when he beholds prayers and confidence +shining from all parts wherever he turns. But indeed all men are not, +or perhaps at all times grateful. Ah! dearest papa, how often have I, +in my short little life, already been ungrateful to you! Forgive me, +pray, good papa, how often have I sulked, when you would not give me a +toy, or when you have kept me steadily to work, for then I forgot so +intentionly in my ill-humour and wickedness, how much I ought to thank +you, how you love me, and care for me. That God exists and gives me +every thing, I have often forgotten the whole day long. But I will +become better and more reasonable." + +The father took his child in his arms, and his heart was gladdened by +the prattle of simplicity. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + +Roland had in the mean while by several successful engagements entirely +cleared the higher mountainland of the royal troops. The Camisards were +incamped in safety in the woods, and upon the lofty mountain table +lands, and all were rejoicing in the hope of soon beholding their +worship and liberty of conscience reestablished. Edmond had been but +slightly wounded in the last combat, and was now sitting by the side of +Roland, that he might converse with him on the probable issue of the +war. Cavalier was incamped opposite on the confines of the wood, +surrounded by Clary, Marion, and other religious men, who were +discoursing on ghostly matters. Upon the most elevated height stood +Mazel, the charcoal-burner, Eustace, young Stephen, and a swarm of +young people, all in the greatest excitement, for they were expecting +the commander Castanet, who on this day intended to conduct Mariette, +his bride, from the village below, in order to unite himself with her +in the bonds of marriage. "So the God of love," said Lacoste +deridingly, "has made his way even to these solitary mountains, and +what is still more, into the enlightened hearts of such pious rebels of +the woods? The old heathens were certainly quite right to call him, +although a boy, the greatest among all the Gods." + +"Cease your profitless mockery," said Marion, who had also climbed up +to the summit, "our brother has been long since betrothed to her; the +poor girl is there exposed to the daily peril of her life, because her +connexion is known, here at least she will share the fortunes of her +husband, and shall be protected by us; and if marriage be a holy +ordinance, why should not the command of the Lord be fulfilled in the +solitude of the mountains, under oppression and distress, with a +religious, modest mind and christian humility?" "Do not trouble +yourself," said Lacoste, "at least no expence or parade will attend the +marriage, I think too, that neither bridegroom, nor any of the guests +will retire nosily to bed." + +At that moment Castanet, his bride and a croud of his friends issued +from the wood, Cavalier and all the others advanced to greet them with +kindness. The young girl was dark and not particularly tall: a peasant +girl of a healthy robust appearance, a little embarrassed at first but +in a short time she conducted herself with a composed and easy bearing +in the circle of the brethren. + +"Brother Castanet," said the tall slender Marion, "it is you that I +have to thank for my conversion, but for your early admonitions, I +should perhaps now be wandering in error, permit your grateful pupil +here in the circle of the brethren; to bless you in your new condition, +under the Almighty eye religiously and christian-like." Roland and +Edmond had also approached, and Elias and Marion delivered a short, +touching discourse concerning their oppression, the distress of the +times, and how by reason of the perishable tenure of all earthly goods, +and the ever increasing danger, it was expedient to unite together in +the name of the Lord, in life and in death; that they might find solace +and strength in general consolation of love and mutual perseverance. A +simple meal was prepared, and in peaceable enjoyment, the various +groups dispersed; while many sang psalms, and others discussed their +past adventures. It was announced that a troop was approaching, and the +pale, sickly Duplant advanced with a band of men leading a number of +prisoners, among whom were Clement and the Vicar, who had again headed +the volunteers in an expedition against the Camisards. Roland and the +others now arose, and formed a large circle to pass sentence on the +unfortunate men. Young Clement trembled violently on seeing himself +exposed to the cruel arbitration of his enemies, and the Vicar looked +round, to try and discover an acquaintance, to be able to find, at any +rate, some means of deliverance, or mitigation of his condition. At +length he perceived Cavalier, who with the rest had approached nearer, +and cried: "Oh! best of young men, I know not 'tis true, who you may +be, but you have, as you know, rescued us formerly, intercede for me +now, for I perceive clearly that you must be quite at home here among +you comrades." + +"Have not you and your fellows," said Roland, with the greatest +gravity, "reduced to ashes that same benevolent house since that time, +which then saved our brother Cavalier, as well as yourself, and the +execrable hermit." "There is not much to say in reply to this," said +the priest, opening wide his eyes, "than that I am wondering, that the +little delicate fellow should be nothing less than Cavalier." + +Duplant said, "The Lord has given you into our hands at the moment that +you were in the act of plundering a commune after having slain several +of our friends. We came unexpectedly, to the succour of the oppressed, +many have fallen, some escaped, but these, forty in number, have become +our prisoners." + +"Shall they die?" + +"Have mercy on us," whined Clement, as he threw himself down before +Roland. + +"I cannot give you grace," said the latter retiring from the circle, +"you spare none of us and with your own free will you urge on to +murder: endure then your fate." + +"Little man," cried the Vicar, "world-renowned Cavalier, listen to +reason and be humane." + +"Is it seemly in you to speak thus?" replied the young commander, "you, +who revel in cruelty; who has called upon you to dye your hands with +the blood of innocence." + +Castanet came forward: "Will you, beloved, honoured brethren, deliver +the execrable wretches up into my hands?" asked he, looking round the +circle. "Yes! yes!" resounded from all sides, "this solemn day belongs +to you, annihilate them, command, do with them what you will, they are +given up to you." + +"Now we are falling out of the frying-pan into the fire," said the +priest to Clement, "for the thick, stout, prophecying man will play an +ugly game with us, even the gentle Cavalier would not grant us grace; +courage! make the best of a bad game, and do not be so chop-fallen." + +Castanet took Mariette, by the hand, who was weeping bitterly, for, a +short time before, these men had slain, or delivered up her brothers to +be executed; "Weep not," said he, with suppressed sorrow! "let us give +an example to these miserable wretches, that we think better than they; +that our union may not be stained with blood. I pity these poor, these +erring men, and this timid youth. Return without danger to you +dwellings and preach mercy to your party; refrain from blood and tell +your magistrates, who call their cruel bloodthirstiness justice, how +much better are our sentiments, how much better we are than they. +Heaven will the more readily bless my marriage the less I indulge my +wrath and desire of vengeance." Young Clement threw himself again on +his knees, weeping with gratitude; the others, who had already given +themselves up as lost, followed his example, the priest alone drew +himself up after a very low bow, and said stammering with +embarrassment: "You are a generous man, Mr. Castanet, and I shall know +how to extend your fame, although people are loath to believe anything +of the kind of such as you; I however have experienced it myself, and +thank you for it in my own name, and in that of these prisoners. Mr. +Cavalier, let us commend ourselves to God, au revoir!" "No, not au +revoir!" cried Cavalier, hastily advancing, "this may only happen in +one way, in the field, and I counsel you with your bold, unblushing +manner not to reckon again on our generosity, nor brave our +condescending flexibility; for mercy and love are not always to be +dispensed, and should we see each other a third time, it will be your +death, thus does the spirit prophecy to me." + +"Let the spirit rest, Sir Captain," said the clergyman, as he again +made a low bow and retired with the volunteers and Clement, who all +more or less testified their gratitude and emotion. + +Lacoste now came forward and said laughing: "Generosity, as I observe, +is common among you, and your turn is come do-day, thick, little stump. +Thus every trade, even that of incendiary, has its good side; nothing +in the world is perfectly bad, as there is nothing perfectly good to be +found in it. To-day, however, there is a greater extension of +generosity than what was lately accorded, when I alone remained, though +my companions were not a whit worse than myself. But such magnificence +suits so festive and splendid a wedding, and the short-legged fellow +has delivered his speech in quite a royal style and in a most +impressive tone. You, rosy-cheeked, stunted-grown, and brown-armed +spouse, be now the Queen and Princess of these mountains. Infanta of +have-nothing, Dauphiness of hunger-sufferings, heiress of all the airy +castles, and governess of all mad-visionaries, I present you my sincere +congratulations, and hope to see you soon rise to the rank of the +prophets." + +"Scoffer!" said Castanet reddening; "your presence would not suit our +assembly, if your speeches were not useful in rendering our humility +still more humble, and to make our reproach before men, and our misery +still more conspicuous to us." + +"That thereby spiritual pride be so much the more glorified! Be not +however disturbed in your feelings and convictions by me; compared with +a christian, my speech is merely the barking of a dog, and in this +animal dignity, I now indeed follow my illustrious patron, the +spiritually-minded Edmond, and prophet also by the grace of God." + +A murmur arose round about, which probably would have broken out into +anger and tumult, had not Cavalier directed the attention of the +brethren to a different subject. "My friends," cried he in a lively +manner, "I have just had a vision. At this very moment the commandant +of Usez has sent a courier with important dispatches to the Marshal at +Nismes. New troops are to arrive, and they intend hemming us in on all +sides. But little was said, neither could I distinguish all. The enemy +has just ridden out of the gates of the city; Bertrand, if thou wilt +seize him, thou wilt meet him in the ravine two miles from hence. He is +not to be mistaken, he wears a red coat, and a blue cloak over it, in +consequence of the threatening rain, he has spread his white +handkerchief over his new hat, by these marks he will be clearly enough +known to you: he is an elderly man, who, I should think, has never been +a soldier. Bring him here safe and sound with his dispatches." + +Bertrand took with him two assistants, and mounted on light ponies, +they hurried down the mountain towards the well known ravine. + +Lacoste listened to these instructions with staring eyes: "Little +brother," said he thoughtfully, "if thy information be at all true, thy +little finger has more penetration than the whole of my large body. But +I still believe, thy red-coated courier will not be found in the circle +of created beings, and good Bertrand will have been made a little bit +of an April-fool by his general, in order to afford some innocent +amusement to the bridal pair. If it's not all a humbug, well and good, +more must be said about it when an opportunity occurs." + +"May it not be allowed to-day," began young Stephen, blushing up to the +eyes, "to play a little on the flute?" while he was yet asking, he took +it in his hand, and Roland smilingly gave his assent. He first played a +psalm, and after they had gravely chimed in with him, the fair-haired +amateur, to please the company, gave a few worldly, airs. The swarthy +Eustace, who was now quite convalescent sprang merrily forward, and +cried: "Brother! if thou lovest me, play, to enliven me, the old dance +of the Cevennes, to which formerly, in my youth, we tripped so gaily." + +The young man modestly commenced his melody, and as he received no +interruption, he continued to play with renewed vigour, and it was not +long before several, castanets were heard with their pleasing +clattering, so that Eustace could no longer, resist singing aloud, with +the most grotesque gestures, and jumping round the circle highly +delighted. The little shoemaker Anton, as well as the still younger +Francois could not withstand so enticing an invitation, they danced as +partners, and several other young people came forward to exhibit their +rustic dexterity. + +An old, careworn man now came from the wood and cried: "As this is to +be a day of merriment, suffer then my son, the silly Michael, to +receive a little honor; besides, consider his small capacity for +prophecying, formerly when a shepherd in the fields, he learned several +inimitable capers, which well deserve to be seen. The tall lad has such +strong legs, that he can spring almost to the height of a man." + +Michael, a robust, tall lad of an idiotic appearance, advanced +sneakingly and lazily, turning his little blue eyes timidly and +inquisitively round on the circle, and as he thought he perceived no +disapprobation any where, he suddenly changed his lagging laziness into +the most surprising activity, and jumped backwards two or three yards +high, turned head-over-heels in the air, and ran over the ground in the +same manner, and was so souple in all his motions, that it was scarcely +possible for the eyes to follow his changes. Eustace, in amazement, +clapped his hands over his head, and the young lads in admiration tried +to imitate their unattainable model. With the loud laughter, which the +comical jestures and attitudes excited, the merry Stephen was compelled +to suspend his blowing for awhile, and the whole enclosure, when the +old and religious men had retired, appeared only a merry, nay, +extravagantly joyous company, which the bride, and even the grave +Castanet, by their loud applause encouraged to new and still more +extraordinary feats of skill. + +As the grass was already tolerably beaten down, the dance might be +continued with greater safety; and now old Favart stepped upon the +level ground, and said: "As we are celebrating a festival to-day, pray +permit for once, that the brothers Mark Anthony and Cesar may perform +some of their exploits, they think, that they know some more refined +amusements, which would contrast very well with the high leaping and +peasant dances." + +The two ci-devant noblemen after this short preface, exhibited in the +then customary dances of the more refined society, but these did not +excite that admiration among the spectators, with which Michael had +been encouraged; the wilder exertions therefore resumed their place, +and the noblemen found themselves compelled to conform to this taste, +if they wished to share in the festivity. Many other instruments struck +up, a flute resounded, a hautboy was raised, and between these and +Stephen's pipe a flageolet was heard, mingled at intervals with the +loud and merry song of the mountaineers; now the air of a dance, now +old national songs, and merriment and jesting resounded loudly through +the wood, so that the cliffs of the adjacent precipices repeated with +joyful echo the tones of wild gaiety. + +The merry-making, that to-day, once in motion, would have lasted +longer, had it not been suddenly interrupted and broken up by a +terrible outcry. The fearful sound proceeded from the summit of a +pointed cliff, which rose almost perpendicularly over the green sward +to the scene of the joyous tumult. All eyes turned quickly thither, and +they beheld a demoniacal figure with upraised, extended arms, face, +head, and body coloured and besmeared with blood. Once again the +lunatic shouted, and then ran and precipitated himself down the steep +rock into the arms of the brethren. It was the wrathful Ravanel. "Curse +you! curse! ye apostates!" screamed he, "as if mad; that ye thus forget +the Lord! Lamenting, mourning, discoloured with the blood of our +brethren, of the enemy and with my own, shed in the holy cause, I +returned to summon ye to vengeance, and I find the idolators here in +the heathenish dance round the golden calf. Thus Moses descending from +Sinai, in his wrath broke the tables of the law, as I now in my burning +zeal, curse the bond that unites me to ye, ye impious ones!" + +They tried to pacify the zealot. Stephen had long since replaced his +pipe, the dancers stood at an embarrassed distance, and Eustace, who +could as quickly turn from prayer to the dance as from this to that, +was already sunk in profound meditation. "My brother," shouted the +infuriated man anew, "has been executed to-day at Florac, ten believers +have suffered martyrdom with him; I wished to rescue them, but have +been beaten back with my brethren with a great deal of bloodshed, and +in the mean while we forget our God, our misery, our faith, thus +scandalously bring curses on yourselves, voluntarily draw down the +malediction of heaven, the scornful laugh of hell voluntarily upon +ye,--does no fire then fall down upon the scum? does not the earth open +and swallow the iniquitous bands? Howl! howl! ye laden with sin, and +roll in the dust, smite on your stony hearts and be contrite before +the Almighty, that peradventure his mercy may awaken and a look of +grace from the fiery wrath of his eye may light upon ye." + +He threw himself down and writhed on the ground. "Mercy! mercy!" roared +he in convulsions,--"No, there is no compassion, mercy is a lie, love +is no more!"--"Now is woe come upon us!" sighed Eustace, "our brother is +again fallen into his ravings! assist me with your prayers, beloved +brethren, that his reason may become strong again.--" He threw himself +on his knees by his side and prayed fervently. Duplant and Salomon came +forward, that they might help the old man in his supplications; but for +the present their good intention had no influence on the lunatic, who +was exclaiming as if unconsciously, while he was trying to tear himself +away from the arms of his friends who were supporting him. "Whither art +thou fled," cried he, "lost, wandered away, thou great inexpressible +being, whom we with stammering tongue wish to call God? It was a +fearful, a terrible event, when before the beginning of time, created +spirits in their arrogance rebelled against him, and would be God and +ruler and crush and annihilate him. Then he withdrew himself from the +rebels through the whole heaven of heavens, through all the starry +infinities, through the immensity of space, which thought alone can +reach, presentiment alone can fathom, and the audacious ones lonely and +abandoned, in their malice, bitter as gall in their wrathful fire, in +impotent fury, were transfixed and turned to stone and in their dark +interior their last, their expiring consciousness is lost, those are +the cliffs, the stony rocks, the deep masses of granite, which reach +far into the centre of the earth and still rise up in defiance over +clouds and vapour: that is the flesh and bone of the arrogants that the +earth is now compelled to bind together as with a cramp iron. Then +malice, wrath and discontent as if extinct; Yea, the flame expired, +when it should have nourished itself. Was it lost, departed love +recovering itself again, which would collect and burst from its +powerless state. Figures move in the sea, in the air, and on the earth, +and all persecute, hate, kill one another; bloodthirstiness is delight, +lacerations, tearing asunder, martyrdom and devourings of one another +are raiment and food. Yea, malice is now for the first time awakened +into life, if it contracts and unites itself with the sentiment of +love, thou hoary darkness of the primeval rocks, and as a lighted brand +penetrates into the bones of the snuffing lions and tigers, and roars +in the waterfall, that crumbles the mountains and thirst in the fiery +torrent, that greedily eats its way to the stream and siding with his +brother, the storm, swallows up woods and fields, and mocking as dead +spits forth from itself the former existence as dead, cold as ashes." + +Edmond turned away with indignation, and said: "Woe to thee slanderous +tongue that in perverted folly takest upon thee to disfigure the most +holy, and inspirest superstitious rage." + +"Why are you thus unjust?" said Lacoste smiling, "it affords me +inexpressible pleasure to hear for once so cool and impartial a +philosopher reason thus conclusively. One does not meet every day with +anything so good." The others became outrageous, and were still more +fervent in their prayers. Ravanel foamed and continued crying out: "But +how pious is the world, how mildly the brand still searches into the +bowels of all! Then man came forth, the image of God, as he calls +himself, and now in him hell first broke out in glowing, purple +triumph, the loud joyful laugh of inward horror. Whatever subtilty can +invent, imagination create, the wildest dream depict, and +voluptuousness can attain, will turn into martyrdom, into cutting off +the beings that give themselves out as their brother. All the pulses of +the everlasting Satan beat joyously. Here is God! exclaims the brood, +murder, torture them! here is Christ! roar the others, and slay the +adversaries. Does an eye from heaven behold? Do the stars know of us? +will the lost, the nameless one after eternity find himself once more +in his, by himself accursed creation, and will he not then send forth, +epidemics, pestilences, famines, fiery flames, and floods of waters, +together with earth-quakes and a thousand all-powerful deaths on white +horses, in order to crush this his brood, to grind, to powder into +nothing, who scandalously imagine that the sparks of his spirit dwell +in them. He, He himself inspires them? Yea no future hell; we are it +and live in it, prophecied from the ancient prophets mouth. We dust of +dust, we curse of curse!" + +Now the prayer of the prophet seemed to operate with greater fervour, +for the voice of Ravanel died away, he appeared to sink into slumber +totally exhausted, and Lacoste said: "Oh that this pithy syllogism +should be thus interrupted, he might have added to the preceding +several other arguments just as bold and subtle." + +Bertrand now returned with the courier prisoner, whom he had met in the +ravine. "Behold," said Lacoste to himself, "all corresponds, either +these are slyer devils, than they have ever been considered, or there +is some other devilry in the game, which is still strange enough." + +The courier, a rather elderly man, was raised from his horse, his +dispatches had already been taken from him. "Who are you?" asked +Cavalier. "Ah your excellency," stammered the embarrassed man, "Now I +am, indeed, nothing but an insignificant ambassador, formerly a surgeon +in the royal guards." + +"Your Name?" + +"Dubois, by your leave." + +When he announced himself as surgeon, he was commanded to bind up the +wounds of Ravanel and several of the other brethren. Cavalier and +Roland discovered from the papers the position of the royal troops, and +it was decided to anticipate the attack. As they intended to dispatch a +trusty person to reconnoitre the country, Edmond stepped forward and +said: "As yet I have not been able to do any thing for you, my dearest +brethren, intrust this commission to me." It was granted to him, and he +retired to dress according to his own ideas, in a manner befitting his +design; Lacoste, who would never separate from him, now pressed forward +again as his companion. As soon as they had discussed and ordered every +thing, Cavalier proposed, that the courier should be detained until +they should have brought their plan to a fortunate conclusion, and +Castanet with his young wife repaired to the leafy hut, that had been +got ready for them both, while the darkness of night set in. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + +Edmond intended visiting the valleys under pretext of inquiring after +and purchasing an estate and castle in the district, that were +abandoned by the owner, and now for sale. He had become acquainted with +an aged secular priest, who dwelt in a beautifully situated village of +a charming valley, and his companion had under other pretences taken up +his quarters in a neighbouring village. As Edmond wandered solitarily +through the enchanting landscape, for the purpose of acquainting +himself with its conveniences, his heart became oppressed as he +struggled to know if the object, that led him hither might in itself be +a good, whether it might be a justifiable one. "Shall I," said he to +himself, "bring war into these peaceful valleys, where hitherto no +noise of arms has ever resounded? Here the monsters still slumber, +which we are going to awaken, in order to provide victims even in these +communes for their grim jaws." He quieted his perturbed feelings with +the thought, that without his assistance the royalists would march +hither, for the purpose of entangling and, if possible, extirpating his +new brethren from this part of the country, which was almost wholly in +the possession of Catholic inhabitants. + +His host, the Catholic priest, was a very little grey-haired man, who, +with just as old and amiable a housekeeper lived under the vines and +olive trees, that shaded his dwelling so quietly and peaceably, that +Edmond on his first entrance was involuntarily reminded of the fable of +Philemon and Baucis. He could not divest himself of the idea, that in +this habitation the earliest and dearest recollections of his childhood +were hovering round him, he was confounded at himself, that his wrath, +his burning, religious zeal seemed here nearly exhausted, he was almost +obliged to confess that it was forgotten. He meditated and dreamed in +the rustling of the trees, by the murmuring of the little waterfall, +how softly his soul melted away, and his resolution, like that of +Rinaldo's in the enchanted garden of Armida, lost all its strength. +When he could not regain his former energy in his waking dreams, as he +strolled by the side of the brook, he called it the stream of oblivion, +where he now enjoyed the vernal gales and flower breathing elysium and +in Lethe separating himself for ever from the world of strife and +suffering. + +The clergyman had also received the youth with the greatest cordiality; +whenever Edmond returned from his rambles, such pleasure beamed on the +countenance of the old man, that the stranger felt himself bound to his +host by kindliness and emotion. The latter frequently examined him +fixedly and as if he had known him already at an earlier period, and +then sank into a reverie as if he could not connect his recollections. + +"My dear Chevalier de Valmont," (thus Edmond had named himself) +commenced the old man on the second day, as they sat at table, "the +longer you are with me, the greater pleasure do I experience in your +society. An extraordinary resemblance to an old friend almost compels +me to treat you as a beloved brother, nay, I may say as a son. It is +long since any stranger has visited me in my solitude, here I learn but +little of the world, and that is why such a visit as yours is so +acceptable to me." "I too am delighted with your society," replied +Edmond, "and I ask myself not without sadness, wherefore it should not +be granted to man to spend his days in peaceful quiet, elevated and +instructed by nature, enlivened and comforted by the simplest and most +delightful enjoyments." + +"Perhaps this will be your fate my good sir." answered the priest with +vivacity, "perhaps we may then see each other very often and +confidentially, if you should only, become the possessor of yonder +castle, which is scarcely half a league distant from hence." + +"And," said Edmond hesitatingly,--"if the war should rush down here +also? should this castle, this house here be consumed in flames? Where +is safety in our times?" "The Lord will protect us replied the priest, +as he has done heretofore." "And should he confer victory on the foes?" +"His will be done," prayed the old man, "for his decree is wisdom, he +is just and good, and with his might dwells love." "It almost appears," +said Edmond surprised, "that you will not be disinclined to grant +victory to the rebels; at least you express yourself so mildly, that I +do not recognise in you the Catholic, as zealous for his religion as, +however, he ought to be." + +"Let us not misunderstand each other," replied the priest, "I only +mean, that I surrender myself intirely, wholly, and unconditionally to +the will of my Lord, and resign the reins to him without murmuring, or +contending. But I love my religion, I am thoroughly imbued with it, and +on that very account be it far from me to banish these poor deluded +ones and to call down a curse upon their heads." + +"You are thus a worthy servant of your religion," answered Edmond, "and +deserve that the enlightening should be made manifest to you." + +The venerable man looked smilingly on the youth and said: "You have now +betrayed yourself young gentleman,--do not blush," continued he in the +mildest tone, "fear nothing from me; you are not the less welcome to me +on that account. Perhaps we shall understand, when we have learnt to +know each other and perhaps not; but you shall ever remain my beloved +guest, may become also my friend, although it may happen that I should +blame your enthusiasm, or your fanaticism. How many worthy, noble, +truly inspired, loving minds have I also known among the Huguenots and +how many harsh and pitiless ones in my own church. It is now indeed a +woeful time in our country, and moreover, we see as yet no end to the +misery." + +Edmond had recovered from his surprise and embarrassment, and said: "Is +it though right, to remain thus indifferent and irresolute as you +appear to me to be? Yet, perhaps, at a later period of life I shall +also feel thus, for my father, to my sorrow, spoke almost as you do." + +"You do not know me yet," answered the priest, "and I may well assert, +without pretention, that sentence ought not to be pronounced so hastily +and so readily on a man, who has had such experience of himself and of +the world, who has reflected and really lived. In religious affairs +particularly, my brain whirls in agony, when I see how so many place +the whole tenor of a profound mystery in a book, an expression, a +phrase, or even a syllable, and weigh the immensity of love in grains +and scruples, that they may know the faster how surely their brother is +to be damned, who in other countries and with different vessels draws +out of the ocean of grace. Whoever too hastily gives a yes, or a no to +the interrogations of the conscience, in such assuredly neither doubt, +nor conviction is as yet awakened. That exhaustion, that mournful +faintness which comes over us, when we see all parties fallen into +error, all truth and inspiration mingled and disfigured by human +passion, is not to be called indifference. Whom the revealed word has +once enlightened can never again forget the glance of love, that has +arisen in his inmost soul, he would rather forfeit his life than his +conviction, he requires no proofs, no renewing to confirm him, no +passion, no illusion, or miracle to ground him more firmly in himself, +as little will raillery, or doubt, brilliant talent, or presumptuous +philosophy, again be able to displace in his heart that directing +star." + +Edmond became thoughtful. "You are recalling," said he at length, +"my former existence within me; I believe I comprehend you, and +yet formerly I did not understand myself. You even mention the +miraculous and similar things slightingly, do we not live in the age of +such things? Oh! my honoured, venerable friend, could you have beheld +what I have seen, could I tell you what I have myself experienced, you +would then be bewildered at yourself and your own conviction, but you +content yourself in peace, that you may escape the conflict, you deny +the gift of prophecy, the visions, the wonderful state of these +children and inspired Camisards, or censure with your church all, as +deception and falsehood, if perchance you do not, as however I cannot +believe of you, agree with the most infamous, and declare it the work +of Satan and of hell." "Aye, no, my young enthusiast," cried the old +man, "nothing of all this; I have spoken with sensible men, and I have +witnessed myself years ago similar singularities: Why should I deny +these miracles, and may be, here and there mingled with lies, what +should deter me from believing in them?" + +"Well, nevertheless," interrupted Edmond passionately, "you will +withdraw from the truth, you will uphold only your church as truly +orthodox?" + +"Has mine then no miracles to bring forward?" said the old man meekly: +"and why should I not recognise them? But should the truth of +revelation be grounded upon these alone, we were then indeed entrapped +in the worst of errors. That, which habit renders necessary to us, we +call nature and its laws: When I see a deviation from this, which +surprises and confounds me, I speak of miracles; as if these so named +laws were not likewise miracles; as if I were able to interpret, to +comprehend and explain the daily phenomena; as if each flower did not +blossom before me as a miracle; my origin, growth and decay, sun, moon, +and stars, light, air, and water, nay, the organisation of the smallest +fly were not also miracles like horror and spectre. All life surrounds +me spiritually, miraculously; or, if my spirit is torn out of the +peaceful element of its heavenly atmosphere; then love becomes hatred +and despair, and wisdom as well as the revealed word of the Lord +madness and blasphemy." Edmond was mute. "Know I then," continued the +old man, "that which I call nature and its energies, the mind and its +faculties? how each day it varies in different men for the most +insignificant occasions! The poet, the artist knows how to speak of +feelings, which to the uninitiated must appear as delirium, or miracle: +energies unfold themselves, of which the former world was ignorant, +many others have in the course of time declined, or have been +forgotten; they appear again probably to astonish, or to give a firmer +foundation to true science. Would my mind set limits to the Almighty, +and know I, what God from wise, unsearchable causes will permit or +execute? but no miracle can ever be elevated to a religious mystery; +revelation requires not this to announce its eternal truth; the Saviour +himself did not perform his miracles for that purpose, and reproaches +the pharasees and people; miracle seeking testifies disbelief and +irreligion, and where passion, party or sect, in the conflict of +opinions, relies upon these inexplicable phenomena and wish to found +conviction, or even to prove and explain for ever and ever out of what +is indefinite, then is it all over long since with every sincere +examination, with all true religion." + +"And the resurrection of the Lord?" said Edmond. "Is not," said the +former, "to be reckoned among the phenomena, commonly called miracles, +if the grosser, unenlightened mind can indeed comprehend them only in +this manner." "Go on," said Edmond, "to make your opinions clear to me, +I am not yet too old to learn." "It happens not unfrequently," resumed +the priest "that remorse and despair either in criminals or in weak, +sickly men have produced a sudden cure of old paralysis, so that the +strength of the arm has been able to tear off their fetters, or to +break iron posts; passion or terror exasperated that man, and gave him +what in an ordinary state he did not possess. In dreams, in sickness, +strange worlds are often discovered to us, and unknown feelings, +scarcely foreboded, are presented to our view, and thus it may well +happen, nay, I have myself experienced it, that in excited minds, +inspired by enthusiasm, remorse, and passion, a state, as if between +sleep and wakefulness, originates, in which, in the struggles of the +organs, the spirit breaks in a short time through the bonds that +confine it; it sees and hears as a spirit, distance approaches it, +barriers obstruct not its view, futurity becomes the present, and in +this total overthrow, the original vigour of the soul resumes its own +appropriate right." + +"And wherefore should not this, according to your own words," said +Edmond, "be able to be pure and heavenly?" + +"I will neither combat, condemn, nor ratify it," answered the +clergyman, "were our nature entirely pure and refined, had we never +falsified our heavenly origin, then indeed might these phenomena +deserve our praise and thanksgiving to the Almighty, who again ever +raises us to the rank of apostles, and denies us not the gift of +prophecy. But frivolity, mortality, and evil have penetrated into us, +this death obscures our life, this annihilation struggles against our +spirit, as we are of heavenly origin; our outward existence is, +however, as well as our spiritual operations continually exposed to +this pitiful enemy, as the shadow, it follows every thought and every +deed, and to combat it in thought and action, as well as in pure faith +and devotion, is the task of our existence; the past must be +continually put aside to make room for the coming, of the Lord. But woe +to us when that wonderful excitement of the mind, when these gifts of +prophecy associate themselves with this nullity, this chaos, and all +the dark passions! Then eternal truth, which never slumbers within us, +summons falsehood, vanity, pride, wickedness, and bloodthirstiness, to +enter into the shadowed gloom of our dark deformed soul, hyenas and +tigers then tear themselves free from their fetters, and hapless man +imagines, while the spirit of murder is roaring within him, that the +Spirit of the Lord is prophesying directly from out of his mouth." + +Edmond looked at him searchingly. "Often, however," pursued the old man +composedly, "it is only the Immortal Spirit, that collects all its +present and future energies, that it may step beyond the ordinary +limits of nature, and that it merely takes with it the images of folly, +and the almost innocent mask, in order to announce even in the +supernatural, that which is absurd and contrary to nature." + +"If you are right." said Edmond, "what do you counsel those, who are +thus gifted? This state must be a most critical one; but how +disembarrass yourself of it?" + +"By simplicity of conduct," replied the old man, "by estrangement from +all passion and pride, and by pure prayer for the deliverance from this +error, and from the deluding gift." + +"That signifies," answered Edmond passionately and bitterly, "I ought +to entreat the Lord to withdraw from me, I ought to pray to him to +remain far away from me; in order to become godly, I must commence with +consummate impiety. Is it thus that a priest of the Lord can exhort and +counsel? but thus they are, thus they speak, these persecutors. And if +they be but consistent, they must also entirely deny the miracles of +their church, nay, even censure sacred Scripture as a lie." + +"You have not indeed completely understood me, young man," answered the +priest. "May not the ardour of love kindle so intensely, that the +matter, the obscurity, the nothingness in us, may become temporally +annihilated, and our speech, with the Lord's permission working in his +strength may issue forth? That this may be possible, the example of the +apostles teaches us, the prophets bear witness; that many great saints +whom the world venerated, may have thus spoken and worked, is certainly +credible.--And thus belief may move and elevate, it may be a positive +crime to mock reservation,--but what can this avail true religion, or +its mysteries? How weak would it be, if these supports, as I have +already said, were indispensable to it! The miracle of all miracles, my +young friend, is the great moment which is revealed to all sinning, +hapless mortals in their limited life, when the lord himself advances +to meet the penitent, the indifferent, and creates his heart anew. This +metamorphosis is more wonderful incomprehensible, and more mysterious +than all the overthrows of the laws of nature, which attract the eye +searching for miracles, for here out of nothing something is brought +forth, out of death, suddenly like a flash of lightning, life is +created." + +They were disturbed at this moment by several peasants, who were +begging directions from their priest how to proceed respecting the +approaching festival and procession. Edmond in the mean while walked +about the little garden, variously excited and inclined to +contemplation, for his earlier youth had been recalled to his +remembrance, many of his father's words, many of his early +instructor's, his mother's admonitions were again revived within him. +The clergyman returned after a short time and said: "Still I must ever +lovingly admire the human mind, when it preserves itself pure, and so +many sentiments and customs affect, while they appear to us childish, +and foolish. Let no severe judge expunge these feelings from our +religion, for even, these sucklings will hang on their mother's breast, +and while they nourish themselves, they gaze in her dark eyes, whose +expression they understand more from the instinct of childhood than +from knowledge. We have here in our little church a miraculous portrait +of the mother of God, which is renowned and honored far and wide by the +country-people of the mountain. An old shapeless figure cut in wood of +small size, probably in the early age of art, when it was yet scarcely +aware of its own existence. I have seen the sick, when they prayed +before the altar, restored to health, for faith and the commotions of +the mind are able to bring forth the strongest phenomena in our +delicate nature. Now when I reflect that upon this little spot so many +thousands have for centuries derived consolation and joy, I cannot look +upon her without emotion. The war has rendered a festival impossible +this year, which otherwise has annually been celebrated on the morrow. +From several village communities, even from those which lie twelve +leagues off, processions of the communities arrived; eight young girls +crowned with flowers bore the portrait of the Madonna of their church, +singing all those hymns, which sound so beautifully in the mountain +dialect in their tunes: Thus they walked round the church and one +procession after another brought many with spiritual songs into our +temple, here the strange visitor must bow low before ours, who then in +a chaunt thanked and praised the Lord, in the song which our young +women here sing most enchantingly in alternate chorusses. Thus all the +processions bring in their mother of God quite similar to the theories +of the ancient Greeks, and retired again in praise and thanks. This +ceremony, which to the wise may only appear puerile, has, since I have +been able to observe the people here, always produced much good and +salutary fruit. The common man (though what do I say, who among us that +calls himself the educated,) need not such things at times. The whole +village all the winter long rejoiced in the anticipation of this day, +the possession of this Marie endears this spot of the mountain, and +renders it invaluable to them, the pilgrimage church here dazzles to +the absent from a distance as if surrounded with a glory. The wandering +through unknown districts encouraged the young and old, the visitings +of a foreign nature, made the accustomed home more agreeable to them. +Religious sentiments, pious designs, were developed, and at a later +period, in peace brought to perfection. On the road they encountered +the poor and sick, who needed assistance, all the feelings of the heart +were renewed and reinvigorated, for man requires a similar renewal at +times, that he may not become too monotonous to himself. Shall I also +remind you, that by this means their native land became to all more +endeared and beloved? without mentioning, that people from far +countries became acquainted, and one heard of this and that from +another; affection and also marriages were contracted among the distant +mountaineers, and thus the useful, the good with piety and an +inclination for the wonderful, as well as the love of nature went hand +in hand." "All this," said Edmond, "however much you may speak in its +favour, the Huguenots call idolatry." + +"It would be so too," answered the old man, "if persecution, hatred and +malice, were excited by this love and festivity. It might be perilous +to celebrate the festival now, especially if it should be interrupted +by enthusiasts of the other party. In bygone years, however, I have +seen even protestants, who were unable to look upon the puerile +ceremony without shedding tears. For it is just in a similar way, when +man suffers himself to yield to his most cherished sentiments as if he +were at home, when in an entirely childish and artless spirit he draws +near to his God, or to his representative, his mother, or the saints, +(whom he believes nearer to the nameless one,) plays and sports with +the dreaded, the worshipped, laying aside all solemnity and all serious +pomp, then does mankind appear purest and simplest. All ages, all +nations are the same, let them think and worship as they like, have +never been able to do entirely without it, and what we are often +compelled to hear from free-thinkers or reformers, that we have again +introduced the old overthrown idolatry, is only, if rightly understood, +in the spirit of love, the regeneration of the human mind, which will +never permit this source of its holy thirst to be exhausted. But abuse +and error attach themselves to everything human. Indeed, the most +beautiful body consists merely of earth, and dust; and yet beauty is +more sublime than the moist clay of the fields." + +Thus was Edmond compelled to hear from strange lips his former thoughts +detailed. He was so affected by the presence of the old man, that he +felt himself compelled to discover to him what a zealous catholic he +himself had once been and had but a short time previously turned to the +Huguenot faith; he was silent, however, respecting his alliance with +the Camisards, and the purpose for which he had descended into the +valleys. + +"It is easy to understand," answered the old man, "how lively minds in +these troublous times forsake their party and seek on the opposite +side, what is wanting to them; that love makes such attempts to become +reconciled with itself, even though these attempts should fail. My +dear, young friend, you recall to my mind by your confession, your +countenance and presence my own past youth in the most lively colours, +and I cannot refrain from exchanging confession for confession, +confidence for confidence. I am indeed tempted to impart to you the +history of my little limited life, that has almost only experienced +emotions of the mind." + +They seated themselves in an arbour, before which stood plantains +entwined with vines, the green wooded mountains were open, and the +murmuring of the brook resounded pleasingly through the solitude, while +from to time to time, the bells of the village church on account of the +festival on the morrow, rang out their monotonous and solemn tones. + +"I come from the Netherlands," commenced the priest, "born of +Huguenot parents, whom I lost at a very early period. My guardians, +worldly-minded men, troubled themselves more about the preservation of +my small fortune than of giving me a sound education, and therefore it +happened that I was consigned to a tutor, with whom they, as well as +myself, were very well pleased. He was a man of extensive information, +who had also travelled much, and had resided a considerable time in +London. As he was descended from a good family, and possessed himself +some tact, he became acquainted with and acquired each day the +confidence of many beaux esprits and of the courtiers here, and +although his morals had not suffered as much as one might well have +been led to fear, his religious principles at least, which may never +have been very strong, were by this intercourse entirely stifled and +destroyed. Knowledge, understanding were the most important to him, +however he devoted himself with religious worship to poetry, as well as +to the history of the ancient Greeks. No one could be more eloquent +than he, when he enlarged upon these subjects. That these sentiments, +as I was of a very lively disposition, should influence me, was very +natural; my tutor seemed to me the most gifted of mortals, and his +decisions were my oracles. Though I may still honour his memory, I must +nevertheless censure as a weakness in what then certainly appeared to +me his greatest forte, namely, his unwearied mockery of Christianity +and of every religion; all others rather than the various sects of the +Christian Church, found a release from his satires; the present, as +well as the past, the history of the development, its mysteries, all +was a subject of his derision, and the apostles, even the Saviour +himself, were not spared by him, how much less Luther, or Calvin, and +Zwingli, or even those so named mystics, who desire to form in +themselves a peculiar spirit to recognise God. My mind had soon become +so intimately connected with his, that I could not endure that there +should be any religion for me on the earth, that any pious sentiments +should ever arise in my heart. I had indeed my heroes of the former +world, the Grecian antiquity, the high-minded Romans, in whose +patriotism I glowed in dreams, the boundless fields of poetry with its +gardens of wit and humour; and out of Sophocles and Eschylus, those +dreamers of a world of spirits not understood, these seemed to me the +most sublime objects that could ever have the power to shake my soul. +In a short time I was honestly and truly ashamed of being a Christian, +when I thought of the variegated world of fiction, of the ambiguous +Grecian mythology, of those feasts and spectacles, lofty statues, and +noble temples: Where then were the deliverer on the ignominious cross, +and his impoverished disciples? how this faith of poverty and +misfortune dwindled into nothing compared with those sacrifices and +public parade, and the jubilee of the Pindaric hymns? neither did I +reckon myself among the community, and the dullest day of my young, +life, was that on which I was received into the church of our sect with +the customary ceremonies. Each word seemed nonsense to me, all +solemnity degradation, in anger only I responded to the questions, and +while still in the church, I swore never again to visit it: A +contradictory and foolish oath, which, however, I long observed. At a +later period, when I reentered into the world, I remarked that all, who +were called strong-minded, were either privately or publicly of my +belief. All did not openly mock; the weak disapproved of this outrage, +but only from the feeling of not making weak men err, or become +unhappy, who though had nothing better themselves, or were not able to +produce any thing but the old, miserable tale, that, without a +connexion, one often contradicts the other. Many forcibly denied +altogether the history of the Saviour, with others still worse, he was +merely an unfortunate rebel, and to the best, a moral man, but who +indeed, according to their views must be far inferior to Socrates, +whose life was clearer, and whose doctrines seemed more comprehensible. +Several of these free-thinkers, to whom the catholic church was a +stumbling block, and who, that they might not be considered as +antichristians, turned all the strength of their mind, under pretext of +protecting the protestant freedom, to tear to atoms and to disfigure +their catholic brethren, the history of the church, spiritual and +temporal ordinances, in the most barbarous manner: thus behind this +rampart, they imagined under false names, to be able to annihilate +Christianity itself, for this it was which was hateful to them, not +this, or that party. All this was very evident to me, and I lent my aid +as much as my limited power would permit. I arrived at the age of +maturity, and my opinions only became still more deeply rooted. I +travelled, I saw the world, but only on the side, which confirmed my +prejudices. If I met with pious enlightened Christians, they appeared +to me only as strange disordered spirits, worthy of remark perhaps, of +pity assuredly. In a German town I took out of sheer insolence the book +of a German mystic from the library to my own dwelling, that I might +for want of better amusement, divert myself in the spirit of derision +with the madness of the absurd and the foolish. Unconsciously, I had +brought the fire-brand into my house, which soon set in flames all this +edifice of pride and worldly impiety. I turned over the leaves, read +and laughed, read again and found the puerility at least poetical. The +book left me no rest, I felt as it were attracted to it, it tortured +me, and to my shame I was soon forced to confess to myself, that it +contained connexion, strength, and spirit, that it instructed me, and +that gardens, flowers, and trees of love bloomed, where I had only seen +a waste desert. The presentiment seized me, that another God might rule +the universe than he, whom in my enthusiastic views of nature, or in my +poetical inspirations, I had been willing to discover, or to +acknowledge in the vortex of frivolity. + +"My mind much affected, after some weeks of anxiety and meditation, +longed ardently to read the Holy Scriptures. None of my numerous +acquaintances, even such as were book collectors, or who possessed +extensive libraries, had this book in their households. I felt ashamed, +that I too had never required it. From that time this treasure became +my faithful companion on my travels. I read in solitary and consecrated +moments, and experienced what every thirsty one feels, who is +susceptible of humiliation, in whom the utter sense of helplessness is +not entirely extinct, which, indeed, is so indispensably necessary +before the spiritual word can take root in the uncultivated heart. +Faith! this so often disputed, attacked and variously explained word. +Oh! who has experienced it, in whom it has arisen with its strength, he +will not dispute it. I could not withdraw myself from the revelation, +the faith, so triumphantly did the words, the images, the language of +the gospel glittering in the splendour of arms pierce through my soul, +and all my energies became the prisoners of eternal love, and were now +happy and blessed in the service, in the sweet slavery. My former +rebellion against the Lord appeared to me mean and despicable, and my +contempt turned from its course, no longer understood the folly of its +early wisdom. Many indeed imagine, that faith, humility, and unbounded +trust in the Lord, are nothing else than killing our energies, nay the +faculty of thinking, and consequently withdraw in anger or in trembling +from that work of regeneration, which, nevertheless speaks sometimes +from afar indirectly to their insensible hearts. Unhappy men! This so +much dreaded faith would first elevate their capacities to energies and +kindle new lights and flames in their spirits. Without him, the +revealed Christ, no sense in profound thought, no spirit in history, no +consolation in nature and no peculiarity in our existence. Art, love, +humour, who possesses him, they are then free play-fellows. How joyous, +sweet, yea intoxicating and full of merriment, cheerful, and smiling +does Christianity appear through all the genuine works of modern art, +how blessed and pleasing are they, when in the greatness and fulness of +the old world, yet like a spirit of gentle melancholy that passes away +as the cloud, momentarily over the beautiful landscape in the +brilliancy of spring." The old man paused, and Edmond said: "Oh! how +willingly I listen to you, and remember all the sentiments and +vicissitudes of my stormy youth." + +"What I had before rejected," continued the priest, "now became the +most urgent want of my soul, for I felt, how much a christian +congregation, in unison together, must strengthen and elevate the +individual. I visited the church therefore and wished to join in the +worship of my sect. But whether it was that my mind was too much +agitated, or that I had perhaps fallen on the wrong one, it appeared to +me that every where the church overreached itself by preaching. All +preferred their own explanations, and their close reasoning philosophy +to the word of the Lord, they were all ashamed of Christ and denied him +in artfully spun phrases, they misinterpreted him, merely that they +might bring him nearer to their own weak necessities, as if he and his +disciples must be subservient to their enlightened times, as servants +and sextons of the church. I knew well, that every believing auditor +and layman must be a priest himself to be able by his own power to +transform the worthless into the good, but all my vital energies sank +in the midst of that which surrounded me; the shrill singing stunned +me, and the whole left a void and almost brought me back again to the +state of a despairing infidel. It was certainly unreasonable on my part +to require that all should partake of the intoxication of my newly +planted vineyard. I was now compelled to feel, that fanaticism, and +stepping beyond the limits was yet worse than remaining cold and +apathetic below the mark. I continued my travels, and quarrelled on the +way with my companion, already an old acquaintance, who neither could, +or would not share in all my feelings. Thus we arrived at Nismes; there +my destiny ordained, that I should long remain, in order that my whole +life fully aroused should be determined and resolved. My companion, a +certain Lacoste, introduced me to a house, where new feelings awaited +me, to torture as much as to bless me." + +"Lacoste!" exclaimed Edmond, "should he, perhaps--but proceed my +venerable friend, I may be mistaken." + +"My former friend," pursued the priest, "was tall and robust, a +handsome man in every sense of the word, feeling and kind, but +frivolous, and as far from every religion, as I had been a short time +previously. This friend introduced me to the family of a worthy +magistrate, which soon, as the good man and his excellent wife received +me so hospitably, became my daily abode. They had a son, an amiable +youth whose enthusiasm quickly procured him my confidence, for just as +much as Lacoste disputed all religious principles, young Beauvais +warmly cherished them, voluntary lived in and for religion: he was the +most zealous defender of his Catholic party, that I have ever been +acquainted with." + +"Heavens!" exclaimed Edmond, "you are then, venerable man, the Edmond +Watelet, of whom I have so often heard the Counsellor of Parliament +speak, as the favourite friend of his youth?" + +A long pause ensued.--"It is indeed so," said the aged priest wiping +away his tears, "the young enthusiastic Beauvais must now be an old +man; I too though am become old! Aye, truly, there is a period which +our heart refuses to believe, it is that alone which exalts the life of +each one of us to a strange fiction, to a wonderful tale. He is still +living then? ah, my dear Chevalier, you are yourself very like him. +That is the spell, which so inseparably bound me to you." + +Edmond talked of his father, but notwithstanding his deep emotion, he +felt it was impossible to discover to him at that moment, that he was +his son. After a time during which the old man recovered from his +agitation, he continued more calmly: "That which most contributed to +convert the paternal dwelling of my young friend into an enchanted +garden for me, was the society of the young and beautiful women, who +assembled there. Ha himself was affianced to a lovely girl, and he +ardently anticipated his union with her. His Lucy's sentiments +corresponded exactly with his own, and all that drew them nearer to +each other was more or less imbibed into their existence and grew with +the inspired hymn. The elder Beauvais only smiled at the high-strained +feeling of the young people, for though he was himself pious, he rather +feared that overreaching, and this religious ecstasy appeared to him as +such. I now visited the temple in high spirits with my enthusiastic +friend. The solemnity of God's service, the stillness, the enchanting +singing, the dread-inspiring presentiment which hovered over every +mystery that here tried to present itself visibly to the necessitous, +languishing senses, transported my heart. Already accustomed to look +upon every thing as a riddle, as a concealed mystery of love, the +celebration of the Mass appeared to me as elevated and divine, as +revelation and work of art, as type and fulfilment at the same time, +and each word spoken, or sung as it fell on my ear in the full force of +its signification, drove back a bolt from my heart. Art and nature +changed before my eyes, the element of water became glorified, in the +fire, in the light of the church tapers as well as that of the house, I +perceived and recognised the whole tenor of the secret of nature. The +nights became too short to enable us to impart to each other all that +arose in our minds. A young abbe, a mild, miracle-believing enthusiast +was often the third in our consultations in the open air or within +doors, and his learning, his knowledge in old legends and histories of +the church gave to all our spiritual movements body and presence, yes, +my friend, this rosy period of my youth was like the wedding festival +of my soul, and griefs not to be named were already preparing in the +midst of this enjoyment, in order to teach me how weak, how frail man +is and remains." + +"And this abbe," exclaimed Edmond, who had scarcely heard the last +words, "was he not named Aubigny?" + +"Exactly so," replied the pastor with much astonishment, "it seems +indeed that you know all the companions of my youth." + +"Through the Counsellor of Parliament," answered Edmond, "who also +likes to recall to his memory the season of his youth. But I pray you +to continue your narrative. I fear that that Lacoste did not wish to be +the fourth in your alliance." + +"The unfortunate man," said the priest, "who had already become so +confidential with us, withdrew from us day by day, although he still +continued to visit frequently the paternal dwelling. Notwithstanding +that we had agreed to deal mildly with him, his derision of us excited +our anger, and his coldness refused all our conciliatory endeavours. It +was not predestined, that our days should flow along in peaceful, +undisturbed cheerfulness. + +"Among the young girls that visited my friend's house, the next in +loveliness to his bride, was one Euphemie the most delicate and +beautiful apparition that my eyes had ever beheld. She dazzled less +than Lucy, but she was still more refined more etherial. Her mind was +also already abstracted from this world, her wishes were directed to +the cloister, the life of a nun seemed to her most desirable. +Fortunately this inclination coincided with the views of her parents, +who as it so often happens, wished the whole of the fortune to devolve +on the son, so that he might be able to occupy a more important station +in the world. In order to complete my reformation, the knowledge of +love was only wanting to my deeply affected mind. Euphemie and I drew +near to each other, we became as quickly familiarised as if our being +had for many years been only waiting for this acquaintance. We were as +brother and sister, before we had yet been able to wonder at the +rapidity of this mutual confidence. We soon felt that we could not do +without each other, she could tell me all her thoughts and feelings +more easily and confidingly than she could impart them to her parents, +even more than she ventured to do to her female friends. My heart +floated in the sweetest repose; at the sound of her voice, at the +glance of her mild eye, when I heard her footstep, when she walked in +the garden, nay even when I only thought of her, my mind was as if +plunged in bliss. Even thus the spirits of the pure soar glorified +towards their sacred destiny, estranged from all passion and +inquietude, from all violent incitements. And yet I knew not that I +loved: I had never permitted this word to enter into my mind. + +"We conversed on her future cloistered life, on the saints and their +miracles, and Euphemie had in me the most believing pupil. She lent an +equally attentive ear to my enthusiasm and days and weeks passed away +in a pleasing dream. That Italy, whither indeed I was journeying, was +in the world, I had totally forgotten. + +"Beauvais took possession of a country house, that lay in the most +beautiful part of the country. I followed the family and my adored +Euphemie also accompanied her friends, for the mother, as well as the +son's future bride respected the wonderful girl. What singular +conversations and outpourings of the heart! the earth and all that +surrounded us, to which we must indeed have applied names, vanished +from us, and our spirits as if in the innocence of Paradise lulled +themselves, void of every want, but penetrated with the most innate, +the most holy love. We understood each other without words, and as all +that was earthly had fled, no feelings of jealousy, suspicion, or +distrust arose in our souls. + +"The legends, many of which express a heavenly spirit of resignation to +the mysterious will of the Most High, a renunciation, nay almost an +annihilation of self in fervent love of Christ, a profound mortal +compassion in the endearing adoration, our inebriated enthusiasm was +awakened and nourished especially by those feelings. Many of these +tales are repulsive and contrary to every sentiment, these we discussed +with subtle and ingenious commentaries in order to garnish them with a +milder spirit. But the most beautiful that this species of tradition +has preserved to us, is that, which, however, at the same time is the +most misconceived by the unawakened soul of and which is found absurd +and repulsive by the worldly minded. The life and history of the old +hermits, there may be also much of later invention, to the mind which +is once moved by spiritual things, they present a touching miracle. +What shall I say of the meditations of St. Francis, of his ardent love +and of the visions which arose and were present to this man in the +perfect humility, the compassion, and fervour of his unfettered heart? +He only who has once known the splendour of the world, the insolent +strength appertaining to it, can rightly comprehend this temper of +mind. We also often read the Gospel, and then a trembling, such as has +been frequently observed in many enthusiasts, came over my whole body, +especially when in solitude, for timidity and shame restrained me in +society from exposing my deep emotions to observation. In this frame of +mind, I left Euphemie one morning, some chapters of the Holy Scriptures +had just been read. I threw myself down in the most retired spot in the +garden, in order to give a free course to my tears. The whole world +awakened feelings of pity within me, I experienced such an overflow of +love in my oppressed heart, that it almost burst, in the excess of its +own enjoyment; I read over again the passages in Luke, how Christ met +the poor widow and the dead body of her son, and compassionately +aroused the youth from death. There are no words that can describe the +state of my mind. The elder Beauvais with a suite of servants was just +returning from the chase. He might well be astonished at finding me in +this condition, but he passed me with a mute salutation. I arose, and +now as with a tremendous power it took possession of me. Verily, said I +to myself, as thee no man has ever yet loved; it is the spirit of God, +of the Father himself that stirs within thee to gladden to love, to +sympathise with all; in these, these exalted moments I felt impressed +with the eternal truth, that I myself, I was the son, the God from +God,---and what should prevent me from moving these trees, these stones +with the word of life, that they might change into other forms, and +attest my might, shall I beckon to the angels that hover round me, +visibly to appear to do my service?--Yes! let it be attempted, +ventured--Then trembling and fear came over me, I was stunned and in +despair; in contrite humility I cast myself down before my Creator, I +felt myself undone, now that I perceived my devilish arrogance which +had risen out of pure humility and love; I had experienced the most +fearful apostacy from God, just at the moment when with all my +faculties I felt myself nearer to him. + +"This moment in which my spirit became dizzy on the verge of insanity +and frenzy, has since then ever seemed to me the most terrible one in +my life. I now understood myself and human nature, and also the danger +of enthusiastic raptures of love. I had then indeed myself trodden the +bridge over which all enthusiasts have passed, the narrow path (ever +shining brightly, though hell lies beneath it) between virtue and vice, +between wisdom and presumption, which leads from love and kindliness to +hatred and murder, and I had now learned what an unholy spirit had +moved the Anabaptists, and Adamites, and perhaps now glows and rages in +many a heart among the rebels. Oh! my son, man is a most frail and +pitiable being, the more is lent to him, the more has he to answer for, +the brighter the spirit of love glows within him, the darker burns his +reprobation; his gifts granted to him from heaven, may become his dire +enemies, there is no one either that stands so fast, but that he may +also fall. My legends had already taught me that, but I was doomed to +feel it first in this fatal downfall." + +"Therefore still hell and devil?" cried Edmond after a long pause. +"However mildly you spoke and sentenced at first, the priestly +condemnation follows in the end. Oh thou unfortunate Cavalier and +Marion! and ye unhappy children, on whose lisping tongues Satan himself +laid the name of the Lord, and the awaking to repentance." + +"What then shall we call that?" said the old man mildly, "which works +directly against God? We require not certainly that fearful figure, +which perversity has imagined, in order to represent him personally; we +need not indeed ascribe to him those tremendous attributes, which the +miracle-seeking has invented, fabulously enough, but so much the worse +for us, the weaker, the more powerless he in himself is: how feeble are +we then to permit ourselves to be so ignominously overcome by this +shadow, this delusion, this inefficiency, this nothingness? How our +priests may censure these suggestions and represent them as devilish I +know not, but it suffices for me, that I have experienced in myself, +that such a feeling of all our energies may exist in us in divine love, +which then does not proceed from God, but from his despicable +adversary, and of which we must beware, because we, the image of God, +through our own demerits are, as it were, only shadows of shadows." + +The old man arose, and walked several times up and down the garden, to +subdue the emotion, which these recollections had excited. Edmond +remained behind in deep thought, and compared the narrative of the +pastor with his own experience. Should he now view them in an other +light, or wish them effaced from the career of his life? He would have +been more satisfied, could he have heartily embittered his feelings +against the old man, towards whom, however, inclination as well as the +intercourse of soul in which he had spent his youth with his own parent +attracted him. The pastor came back smiling, and seated himself again +by the side of the subtle investigator. "It cannot be otherwise in +life," recommenced he, "each sentiment, each society, each disposition +and friendship has its history, all ascends, attains the highest summit +and falls again. Thus had the most delightful concord in our singular +intimacy already vanished, before we had been able to perceive a +change. The impetuous Lacoste had conceived a violent passion for Lucy, +and the gentle, pious creature felt very unhappy on that account, +although she at same time became reserved towards young Beauvais. At +first the latter was embarrassed at this, then vexed and irritated +against Lacoste, to whom until now he had been greatly attached, whilst +he thought that a secret inclination for this impetuous man had thus +visibly estranged his bride from him. In this mutual constraint, the +two friends avoided each other, they were however compelled to meet in +company: An explicit communication and reciprocal understanding seemed +impossible, so that the rancour took even deeper root, especially with +Lacoste, who, after some time, made but little effort to restrain from +publicly betraying his aversion to Beauvais. But the state of my own +feelings was such, that I was soon disqualified from observing others +around me. Euphemie's brother, the pride of his family, fell into an +illness, which had all the appearance of consumption, and now the +parents thought of marrying their daughter to a man of distinction, +that through her their name and large fortune might be perpetuated in +the world. When Euphemie first spoke to me on this subject, she was +wholly unembarrassed; her voice was as firm and steady as if she were +speaking of a friend. I felt as if she were relating to me a silly +improbable tale, so pure, exalted, and unattainable had my fancy +painted her. I could almost just as easily have persuaded myself that a +scheme of marriage was projecting with the evening star. But at night, +on my solitary couch, the aspect of affairs took another form: Again +was I doomed to learn, and how painfully! to know myself and the world. +Is she to belong to the world? I asked myself, wherefore then not first +to me? To me, to whom she already belongs, as my soul dwells in hers! + +"The concealed ardour, which until now had slumbered in the sweetest +intoxication, burst through its bud and blossomed, and shone forth like +a rare flower, which unfolded a thousand purple leaves. I felt now +thoroughly, for the first time, that what until then I had considered +merely earthly, was of heavenly origin. I deemed myself called upon in +my pure love to renew as a real sacrament, the sublime symbol of +marriage, in such holy perfection as it is seldom, perhaps never, found +on earth. Euphemie was terrified at my plans, my ardent persuasions, +and my enterprising spirit. The more her hesitation, her timidity +increased my passion, the more did I appear to her a strange being, +whom until then she had not known at all. She was to be awakened from +her peaceful repose, thus my love desired it, but she was shocked at +the thought of grieving her parents in any way, to oppose them was with +her an unnatural sin, and all that I urged about elopement, force, and +death, only confused her delicate mind, as in the roaring of the +waterfall no speech can be heard. My high wrought passion grew almost +to frenzy; that she did not love me, that I was hateful to her, that +already she turned her affections on her bridegroom, whom I jealously +cursed, menacing to kill both him and myself: to all these frantic +expressions she listened with a suffering and endearing patience. Thus +then was this heaven destroyed for me, and black demons grinned on me +from the same places, where before my intoxicated ear had heard the +flapping of angel's wings, from whence formerly a sweet smile from a +radiant countenance bloomed on me like roses sparkling with dew in the +rosy light of morning. + +"Verily my soul becomes young again, when I think on those days. Oh! he +grows not old, who lives only in the solitude of his recollections, as +I do. With poor Lacoste things went on still worse than with myself. He +wasted away, and wished for death. Often did he call upon it with +fearful words. There was something heart-rending in his look. My friend +Beauvais had also become pale, his youth was evaporating. Oh! there is +nothing so terrible as to be compelled to doubt the worth of the +beloved object; that gives more pain than despised affection. And in +these pangs the hapless man was now perishing. Lucy was a puzzle to me +also, when I was able to direct a look at her, she as well as Euphemie +were constrained and timid, sought, and at the same tine avoided +solitude, longed to pour out the overflowings of the heart to each +other or their beloved, yet could not find the time, or perhaps, could +not exert sufficient courage. All the same men, who, but a short time +previously sounded in concord together like heavenly tones, now +screamed in yelling discord against one another; the apparent sanctity +had changed into human folly, and each understood the other as little +as himself. The elder Beauvais seemed to guess a little the horrible +confusion, for he frequently looked at us all with dark and penetrating +glances. + +"At length this twisted knot disentangled itself again. Euphemie's +brother began to recover, the former projects were brought forward +again, and my overwhelming passion was compelled to give place by +degrees to a calm resignation. This only was the case, for I was +determined to make good my supposed rights, until I perceived that the +delicate Euphemie must perish in this storm; Lucy at length declared +herself for Beauvais, and it was discovered, that his too intimate +intercourse with Lacoste was alone the cause of her reserve towards +him. The fear had risen within her, that he himself might be inclined +to the free-thinking opinions of his rival. So great was her love to +her church, that she had resolved, rather to sacrifice her dear +betrothed than to live in the proximity of persuasions, which she +considered as utterly profane. And it is true, the more zealous we were +to recognise truth and divinity in one form only, the more did Lacoste +seize every opportunity to express his incredulity. Indeed, however, +miserable he felt within himself, he sought by a certain vanity to +avail himself of every occasion to prove his strength of mind in +mockery, and in violent bursts of passion, his wretchedness had given +such a bitter turn to his feelings, that sometimes he stood amongst us +like an inspired prophet of Atheism, used such singular similies and +figurative expressions, in a language so touching and elevated, that +the pious maidens turned away from him with inward terror. + +"We had all ceased to weep, we were reconciled and of peaceable, quiet +hearts, when Lacoste entered in the midst of our pathetic emotion and +religious conversation. Beauvais made known to him what he had learned +from Lucy, and that he (Lacoste) must quit our society in order that he +might not disturb the happiness of the lovers and their approaching +marriage, perhaps even render it impossible. This blow fell +unexpectedly on the unfortunate Lacoste; his whole emaciated, care-worn +frame trembled violently as if in convulsions, he was unable for a long +time to find words, and when at last they flowed from his colourless +lips, he tried to persuade us, that such a sentence of banishment from +former friends was at least too hard, that he was not able to subdue +his passion so quickly, or entirely to get rid of his persuasions, but +that he combated both, and would strive against them with still greater +energy in our company. But Beauvais was on this day armed with manly +courage and resolution, his intercourse hitherto with Lucy had +made him too unhappy; he insisted on the immediate departure of the +peace-destroyer; the Abbe Aubigny sided with him, the gentle Euphemie +was anxious, and Lucy herself the most decided; I also joined in this +chorus, and we all unanimously declared, as with one voice, that the +godless one should no longer linger near us; it was our duty, the love +of Christ itself required of us to banish him, because through his +intercourse with us, our religion would be sullied, perhaps even +endangered. When Lacoste perceived we were firm in our religious zeal, +he left off prayers and humiliations, and a tremendous fury overcame +the mortified man, his eyes flashed fire, and he cursed himself and us +with the bitterest execrations--that we might never find happiness, +that misery might pursue us, that Beauvais might reap nothing but grief +and sorrow from this marriage, and that he might live to see calamity, +distress, and crime on his dearest children." + +Edmond sighed deeply. "Thus," continued the priest, "did the wretched +man leave us, and rushed like a madman out of the house; but a short +time only was requisite to recall us to our senses, and to penetrate us +with a burning shame. In the most devout temper of mind, in feelings of +the purest love, as we fancied, we had been cruel towards a fellow +brother, towards a friend, who deserved forbearance and compassion, +although he might have strayed into the path of error. Beauvais was the +first to recollect himself, and was angry with himself and all of us; +he rebuked us as inquisitors, who condemn in cold blood to the stake +all those that differ in opinion with them. A messenger was quickly +dispatched to his residence in town, but he had already in his fury +departed thence, no one knew whither. He had smashed to pieces +everything in the house there, and with his gigantic strength had so +ill-used a young waiter, who had attempted to appease him, that the +unfortunate lad had been given up to the surgeons as dead. He had so +cut his head with tables and chairs that he threw at the defenceless +boy and crushed both his legs, that it was doubtful whether he would +recover. If we had first been ashamed, we would now have concealed +ourselves in the caverns of the earth, when we learned that this young +lad, bred up in the most ordinary manner, and without any information, +as soon as he had recovered his senses, during excruciating tortures +from the dressing of his wounds, had prayed to God for the man, who had +injured him, that he would forgive and succour the unhappy man, who +must have been inexpressibly, infinitely wretched to have been prompted +in his sorrow to fall upon an innocent person. Who is the true +Christian? we asked ourselves, who the professor of the religion of +love? Ah! we were so zealous, we thought we had learned so much, that +we were able to teach the profoundest doctrine, we looked down daily +with contemptuous pity on those who were less enlightened, who were not +susceptible of our sublime emotions,--but now we were forced to confess +to ourselves, that we were yet standing on the other side of the +commencement; it was just, that we as miserable scholars, should be +compelled to go for instruction to a young and ignorant waiter at an +inn. + +"I will conclude. Before my friend had yet celebrated his marriage, my +Euphemie took the veil. On the same day, we had thus arranged it, I +caused myself to be received into the bosom of her church. At first I +intended to become a monk, but as I had delayed, I suffered myself to +be consecrated a priest at a distance, and was transferred to this +solitary part of the mountains. Since then, I have never heard of my +friends, of Euphemie; I even wished to avoid ever seeing them again, +that I might not renew the pains of deep, vital wounds. And yet it is +but weakness, to turn away from the path of sorrow.--It had become +dark, and the two friends repaired to the lighted room, to partake of +the little evening meal. The young peasants who had been there before, +reentered, and led with them a young and beautiful girl. The latter +shewed the pastor the flowers and the ornaments, with which they +intended on the morrow to adorn the image of the mother of God. 'Now, +at last,' said the young and happy Caspar, 'is the time come, reverend +sir, that I can lead home my Louison, my bride. You know very well how +she desired to spend to-morrow's festival still as a virgin, in order +that she might be able to carry our Mary, and sing too. It has been +sorrow enough to me, to be compelled to defer my happiness for so long +a time; but for once she has persisted in her pious obstinacy. Well, +truly it is precious to have such a christian wife, such a holy +treasure. All is well, that everything has been so prosperous as yet; +for who can tell what evil may come between, when man places his fate +on such trials as these, and binds himself to hours and days. However +everything is already arranged for the wedding, and all danger and fear +is surmounted.' 'How thou talkest.' said the blushing Louison, from +whose eyes laughed her approaching happiness; and the fulfilment of all +her wishes. 'I have been friendly to thee for two years past, but must +I on that account love the mother of God less? Ah! the history as it +has come down to us, is too affecting, and therefore we must be +thankful towards her. Look you, my strange young gentleman, before +the village stood here, there was nothing far around but field and +forest. No vine, no olive-tree was to be found here. Then went a poor +wood-cutter, who had come from a distance into the wild forest to cut +down a tree for his trade. And as he applied his hatched to it, he heard +a sigh, and as he listened, a singing. A light appeared in the gloomy +forest, and above in the tree, in the oak trunk, there sat as if in a +hollow the mother of God, and commanded him to build a church on that +very spot. The man made known the miracle, the wood was cleared, and +behind the altar of our church stands still the same old oak trunk, in +which the holy virgin already dwelt from time immemorial as a testimony +and a remembrance. Thus was our good church founded, thus has the +village risen, and men have drawn near the beloved spot, for our Mary +would not thus dwell in solitude any longer. Look Caspar, thus but for +our gracious mother, there would be no house, no man here, and our dear +parent's house, and I, and thou would not be in the world, and upon +this spot of earth, and for all this must we be thankful to her.' + +"All well and good," said Caspar, "but just because she is so amiable, +she would certainly have granted us with all her heart, our happiness a +long while ago. God and the saints are not like us men, who are so +ambitious on one little point, that we neglect true honour." "Is it not +true, Caspar," said Louison, laughing, "if thy new jacket with shining +buttons had not been ready, thou wouldst willingly have deferred the +wedding?" Thus laughing and jesting they withdrew again to go and seek +the clerk with whom they wished to consult how best they might attach +the flowers and garlands to the altar. The old man felt happy that his +penitents loved to approach him with this child-like confidence, and +respected him just as much as a father, while at the same time they +fearlessly associated with him in play and merriment. Edmond was grave +and melancholy; when it was time to separate to sleep, he abruptly +asked the priest, as he grasped his hand: "Well, reverend sir, did you +then afterwards in your station find that happiness of which you +dreamed in your youth?" + +"Happiness," said the old man, "what is it men call thus? and of what +avail would their dreams be then, if it were to be met with in reality. +I soon saw in the beginning, with bitter sorrow, that I was too +enthusiastic, that my companions in the same calling, my superiors, did +not partake of my burning zeal; disapproved of it indeed, or declared +it heresy and false enthusiasm. They were too much occupied about their +community, the ensuring of their condition, their influence in the +world, and the binding of souls, to have kindled ardour within them, or +to have sought that faith in emotions, which was so necessary to my +life. Well, somewhat late, I undertook to examine the teachers of my +now abandoned church, and discovered that they were not altogether so +inimical to Christianity as I had fancied. I thought that I perceived +more and more distinctly that many roads lead to the Lord, and that he, +as he himself has promised, has prepared many dwellings in his house. +What the innovators, who have split asunder the church, desire, many of +the apostles and earlier teachers have already wished. I hope, this +disunion will just preserve the eternity of the Word. I also perceived, +that to form a spiritual state, to represent a great community, a great +deal by far of that enthusiasm of solitude must be checked, if it were +only to preserve the constitution pure, the strength which alone +renders possible that innate spirit of love for the present as well as +for the future, and prepares for it an asylum. It was granted to my +desire to live here in a small commune, retired from the whole world, +almost like a hermit and thus to suffice for myself. I honour the body +of our church, and am not angry with it, because it has no spirit; I +forgive it the letter, if sometimes it appears to annihilate the +spirit, because I trust in the wisdom and love of the Almighty, who +thus accomplishes all to his ends." + +Thus they separated, Edmond could not sleep. How agitatingly did all +this old man's words work upon him, whom he had so unexpectedly met of +whom his father had so often spoken to him in his childhood. He felt +troubled, and prayed fervently, that at length this rebellion, which he +had been sent forth to excite, might not rage in this valley over the +venerable head of this peaceful hermit. But he indeed knew best how +impossible this was, how inevitable must be the dreadful event. In +short slumbers, fearful dreams tormented him, and with the dawn of +morning, he hastened over the mountain to Lacoste to send him off to +Roland and Cavalier. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + +In the mean while Martin's wound, through the watchful care of his +doctor, had astonishingly improved. Eveline had soon become +familiarised with him, and the young man seemed even more than the +father to doat on her. He exerted himself with humble devotedness to +perform every little service, and was only happy when he was able to +win a smile from the Lord of Beauvais. When the father now returned +from the fields with his daughter, the latter said to him: "Is it not +true, papa, that when I am grown up, I too shall be obliged to marry." + +"Probably," answered the Lord of Beauvais, "Well then," continued she, +"give me the young handsome Martin for a husband." "Does he then please +thee so very much?" asked the father. + +"Not merely on that account," said Eveline, "but because I should like +to make a good marriage, and such, as I have heard, one does not +frequently meet with. But with our Martin I should be perfectly happy, +and he behaves himself already quite as if he were your son. And I, +when I say to him, Martin! sit thee down here by me! Get up again! +Fetch that flower there for me! Now tell me something! or, Go away, I +should now like to be alone awhile! thus he does everything so exactly +at a signal, as I have never before seen. Neither Martha nor Joseph, +and least of all the old obstinate Frantz, that was eternally scolding, +would thus have obeyed me at a word; with such a smart, well-dressed, +sensible husband, the thing might turn out worse, and therefore I will +choose Martin, if you will allow me." "But he is only a servant," said +the Counsellor. "You have said yourself," prattled the child, "that +there was something in his appearance more than ordinary. He is +certainly the son of respectable people; through the rebellion we too +have fallen into misery, and it may be worse with us yet, one must +therefore look about by times for help." + +"And if he will not have you?" + +"I have already asked him this morning, then he laughed out quite loud, +what I had never seen him do before, but afterwards he became quite +grave again, sighed, and kissed me on the forehead. That I think is +quite answer enough." + +In the little garden under the trellaced bower, they found Godfred and +the tall Dubois sitting at the oaken table; the wife was busy in the +kitchen. They sat down by them both; the musician was at that moment in +the midst of a lively performance. "Do you hear, gossip," cried he, +"the sound when I press and keep it down, do you know what that means?" + +"Yes," said Godfrey, "it is pretty enough." "Well, attend," said +Dubois, "how I now pass over and strike the quaver, which afterwards +quivers in the deep tones, and how in the mean while my hand works here +in the bass. You now understand this many-voiced composition? Listen! +see, that is what I call fundamental composition." + +"Yes, it is pretty," said Godfred--"he can now move all his paws." + +"Do not think of your stupid dog," exclaimed Dubois, "you will not +often be so fortunate as to hear a sonata of Lulli. Collect your +thoughts well together. Hist! now we are passing over suddenly to the +flats? St! do you hear? Ah! the passage is exquisite." + +"He must eat a rice mess this evening," said Godfred. + +"Can you endure music, Peter Florval?" cried the musician, eagerly +addressing the State Counsellor; "Many nerves are unable to support it. +Now we are coming to the conclusion. Forte! forte! bound! continue! +what do you think? Ah, now comes, the most difficult passage. That is a +composition that requires fingering and skill. It flies right and left. +Now I play over with my right hand in the bass, now the into the +treble. See, now I work away crossing hands; now with all ten fingers! +and again! and again! I need indeed take my elbows to help. Over, over! +dispatch! Ah, it is admirably written. Do you not think so, gossip?" + +"At first though he must only be allowed to run with caution," said +Godfred. + +"Still those doggish vagaries?" said Dubois, sullenly, "banish, I pray, +those four-legged thoughts from your mind, and for once live entirely +for art." + +"I must afterwards though cut the divining-rod," said Godfred in a loud +voice to himself. + +"Stop!" cried the long musician, as he jumped up, "you here remind me +of a thought, I have wished for some time to impart to you. Do you know +what to do with such things?" + +"So, so," said Godfred, "I discovered my well for myself by means of +it, and thus served several neighbours." + +"And treasures!" cried Dubois. + +"Water," said the surgeon, "is sufficiently precious; I have never +attempted anything else." + +"You know, perhaps," continued the gossip; "It is not yet ten years +ago, since Jacob Aymar, from Dauphine discovered by means of his +divining-rod, a murder that had been committed long before. The story +created the greatest sensation in Paris and at Lyons at the time. I was +then in Paris with my brother, the universally celebrated great doctor, +and saw myself the simple peasant, who could perform such miraculous +deeds. My brother, who is a very speculating philosopher, repaired +hither at this extraordinary discovery, and employed all sorts of +remarkable essays, so-called experiments in the presence of persons of +distinction, and they succeeded admirably. But the rod must be cut from +a hazel branch at midnight, at the full moon, and without uttering a +word at the time." + +"That is superstition," said Godfred, "any rod can answer the purpose, +if the hand possesses the gift." + +"What do you know," exclaimed the former, hastily, "about Philosophia +Occulta? you are always on the side of the sceptics, in everything. Do +you think that Moses' staff was anything else than such a divining-rod? +It must discover money just as easily as water; indeed, it must guess +the thoughts, and thereby ward off future crimes. Every city, every +village under a reasonable government should have its priviledged +rod-walker." + +"Impiety," said Godfred, "sufficient calamity happens already without +this superstition. The silly hazel-rod should be applied to the backs +of all such fellows." + +The musician made a wry face and would have answered angrily, when +Eveline uttered a loud joyous "Ah!" an old peasant passed by, followed +by a large dog. The Lord of Beauvais had risen, Eveline blushed, and at +a sign from her father remained behind. The old peasant cast a +searching glance into the bower, but the Counsellor looked a negative, +without those present being able to observe it, and the peasant +proceeded on his way without forming an acquaintance with the company. +But not so the great dog, that no sooner had he snuffed the air, than +he instantly leaped over the palings of the garden, and howling and +whining with joy, jumped in a hundred playful gambols round the +Counsellor and his daughter, and then lay down, placed his two paws on +their persons and recommenced his frolics anew. It was in vain that +Eveline cried out, "Away, away! what does this nasty strange dog want +here?" she wished to pretend to be angry, but the absurd antics of the +well-known Hector, forced her to burst into a loud laugh. + +"Peter Florval," said Dubois, "you must be known to the dog." + +"Not that I know of," replied the Counsellor, somewhat embarrassed; "he +must have come from some farm in my former neighbourhood." + +"It may be so," answered the musician, "but the peasant though ought to +have come in here; what frightened him away from us? surely we are not +such great folks." + +Hector, that now heard old Frantz whistle from a distance, stood +irresolute on the alert, looked inquiringly at the Counsellor, and then +seemed to wait for Frantz, and danced round Eveline again; at length, +however, a second loud whistle called him away. The Counsellor said, "I +must go and see whether the old man is known to me, come with me +daughter." They both, left the garden. "One easily becomes over +cautious," observed he, after having heartily welcomed his faithful +servant; "Had you only known for what we pass here, it had been better +to have come in at once. But you have not yet spoken with Mr. Vila?" "It +has been impossible for me to visit him yet," said Frantz, "for my +journey detained me too long: an accident brings me to this village, +where, indeed, I did not suppose you to be, the royalists, who in large +bands keep the mountains in a state of siege, obliged me to turn away +from the high road. But now, my dear master, no one can pass over the +frontiers, the watches and precautions have been redoubled; every one +in the country is already suspected, how much more so should he desire +to quit it, even the passports from government are no longer +respected." + +It was agreed upon, that Franz should go to St. Hippolite to Vila, and +return after some time with news, but never, as had been determined at +an earlier period between the friends, to bring letter, or papers. When +the Counsellor returned to his dwelling with his child, the latter +said, "I should never in my life have thought Hector so stupid; he did +not pay the slightest attention, I might have made signs to him as long +as I liked, and yet he can hunt and perform other feats of skill, which +I should never have been able to learn; but whenever indeed I have +wished to tell him about the slightest fun, or when my brother was gone +out and that he would soon return, he has never understood me. If it is +only not the case with us human beings also. Perhaps we run thus along +just like little dogs by the side of angels, who insinuate much to us, +yet whose language and real meaning we can never comprehend." + +"At least," said the father, "man should not dive too deeply into that, +nor with daring enthusiasm desire to confine to himself that which is +denied him by his Creator. But you cannot, however, understand that +yet, my little girl." + +"It must be glorious," answered the little one, "to understand all the +thoughts which are permitted to us by God. All that he does grant to us +by degrees, if we are pious and kind! What I have always with delight +seen you do, when for whole hours you used to sit at your great books, +of which I did not understand a single word, and you so often lifted up +your eyes joyfully, and continued to reflect; you cannot think how well +it looks, and what a beautiful sight it is to behold a sensible man +engaged in deep meditation." + +They had returned to their friendly home, and Martin with the others +were waiting for them. "It is really abominable," began dame Barbara, +"that the Camelsarts have become so impious, that this year no +processions can go to the village, which lies only six leagues from +hence. One may pass over the mountain in three hours, and I have never +before spent a year in the neglect of edifying things." + +"There is no church festival then now a-days?" enquired Dubois. "Well +no wonder; nay, even the great annual markets have been abolished." + +"The turkish great sultan and the heathenish Marrelburgh must have +negociated an alliance with the rebels, that we completely fall into +miserere, for one cannot know what the political conjunctive may +produce to us in this year: All indicatives, said our pastor only +yesterday, promise no particular property, and we may indeed be stuck +fast in the mud by the new year." + +"Pray, spare us Gossip," said Dubois smiling, "the learned words, in +which indeed you have ever contrary wind, and you do not rightly +understand the tacking about (Laviren)." + +"By, expressing myself thus," rejoined Barbara impatiently, "do I then +in any way squander your capital interest? I merely add thereto my own, +and whenever I may require mesicaments, there stands my old man, and +you need not offer me any strange Laxirung. + +"Such phrases and notions are indeed not at all proper. What must my +honoured cousin think? he certainly imagines we live quite freely with +each other as if we had been married together. It remains a constant +truth, that whoever has been once a virtoso, can never again become a +simple-minded man, he is for ever lost to pomology, kindheartedness, or +hormanity." + +"Do not become warm about it gossip," said the musician, "I have never +dreamed of offending you." + +"No more," said she angrily, "to me of dreams and dreampeter stories; +for they are just as unsufferable to me as your sonneteering on my +table there. It too has not once dreamed, that in its old age it would +serve as a finger board.-- + +"Peace," said Godfred, "you do not understand all that, Barbara, for +the people over there are assembling: What is the matter then. Let our +gossip play the harpsichord, he uses his own fingers for it and not +yours, but something new must have occurred, I should like to hear, we +must question our neighbours." + +Thus throwing unconsciously the different conversations together, +because he was curious, and yet he also wished to answer, he now +demanded of one that was running by, why the neighbourhood seemed thus +in an uproar. Now smart firing was heard close by. "There must be great +confusion on all sides in the valley," said a country woman. + +All quitted the garden, and the firing of small guns was distinctly +heard as it was borne on the air. + +"Ugh!" sighed Dubois, who could now climb the mountain. "One must hear +it much more distinctly up there." + +"I like not," said Godfred, "to have any thing to do with war and war +cries. The unfortunate, beautiful, peaceful villages, until now we have +heard nothing of it, except once at the very beginning, now again we +receive the evil visit." + +"There yonder," thought the woman, "they have the miracle-working +statue of the Mother of God, that will protect them all, the rebels +cannot effect any thing in opposition to that: Fire and sword, balls +and blows cannot prevail against the heavenly miracle." + +Detached light cavalry scoured the village. They enquired the way and +desired to rejoin their companions from whom they had been cut off on +the mountains. + +The trumpeter approached the officer with a face of importance, while +he pointed out to him a mountain road, upon which the horses, in a case +of necessity, could make their way through. "I have myself had the +honour to serve in the royal guards;" added he proudly. "As what?" +asked the young officer. "It was granted to me," said the former, "to +be first trumpeter of the regiment. How goes it, sir captain, with the +rebels?" "Grant to me, trumpeter," answered the leader, "to owe you the +answer until we meet again. The knaves are possessed by the devil, and +it faires badly with us. If you could blow them away, we would then +take you with us." + +Thereupon they all galloped away, whilst the whole body raised a burst +of laughter. "Service is no longer as it was formerly," observed +Dubois, "the old, genuine soldier-like gallantry must give place to new +fashioned boasting, and venerable age and experience are of no value +among the raw striplings." + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + +In the mean while the calamity in which Edmond took a leading part and +too late repented, now burst forth. Cavalier, who this time conducted +every movement of the troops, had so prudently contrived his plans; +valour, and fortune were so favorable to him in their execution, and at +his command on all sides, that the enemy, who thought to have hemmed +him in, saw themselves surrounded. The royalists were forced to give +way, and were decoyed and driven into the narrow valleys, where they +could not employ their strength, the cavalry was cut off, and on +whatever side the soldiers turned, they met with their adversaries, who +fought from the advantageously situated heights. + +In the morning, conformably to the arrangement made, the village +procession was put in motion at the festive sound of bells. The church +was beautifully decorated with garlands and flowers; the clerk began to +play the organ, and old and young assembled on the common dressed in +their holiday clothes, in order to join the young girls and follow the +procession into the church. The aged priest was standing already before +the altar, awaiting the congregation, when suddenly a panic seized and +rendered them motionless, for a loud and reiterated firing was +distinctly heard close at hand. "Jesus, Maria!" exclaimed the girls, +and the chains of flowers fell from their arms, the young men spoke of +weapons and defence, and the old looked at one another in alarm. The +firing approached nearer, and the priest and clerk had already quitted +the church. All was in fearful and anxious expectation. Psalm singing +was now heard from over the steep mountain. "They are the Camisards!" +shrieked all aloud and in terror; at the same moment a regiment in +reserve rushed from the left into the valley. The Camisards moved from +above precipitatedly, and jumped and slid down the vineyards, while +they hurled stones and balls among the bewildered, stupified, and +discouraged mass of soldiers. In vain the officers inspirited them, +some fell with their horses, others sought to retreat towards the +outlet of the valley on the right. The procession and the clergy, as +well as the congregation were mingled with the combatants, before they +were yet able to recover their senses. A few only succeeded in flying +to their houses. + +"They are beaten!" cried Catinat furiously, who mounted on a great +black horse and roared, "After them! destroy them in the name of the +Lord! and throw fire and sword into these cottages and idolatrous +temples!" Ravanel rode on a small horse at his side and was already +stained with blood, for he was ever foremost in the slaughter. Favart, +Stephen, Anton, and the diminutive Francois had nimbly clambered down +the mountain. Houses were already seen burning in the distance, the cry +of murder from the inhabitants mingled with the rejoicing shouts of the +victors and the clashing of arms. Stephen now attempted to take the +crucifix, which the youthful Caspar, as leader of the procession +carried, but the latter struck him so forcibly on the head with it, +that his fair locks were smeared with blood, and the youth without +drawing another breath, fell to the ground. When Anton, the shoemaker +saw this, he fell furiously upon Caspar: "Tear the cruel idolaters to +pieces!" screamed he, and struck Caspar with his short sword, who was +on the point of using his weapons on the neck, so that in a moment he +was red with a stream of blood. Louison, who saw that her beloved was +lost, uttered a piercing shriek of woe, tore the short, stumpy Anton by +the hair to the ground, and battered his brains out with the bar of the +crucifix, which Caliper had now let fall. A murderous shout of +bloodthirstiness rang fearfully through the troops of exasperated +rebels, and Francois was the first to cut down the beautiful Louison, +whereupon an indiscriminate massacre raged in every cottage, in every +street, upon every little bridge, and in the already burning church, so +that the gurgling brook soon rolled in blood-red waves. + +In the meanwhile Edmond stood gloomy and despairingly above on the +steep rock, and saw now distinctly, now obscured by the smoke the +streets and houses of the village beneath him. The smoke now rolled +away, the royalists had all fled, a short cry and wailing, the +inhabitants were all slain, cottages burned right and left, the fire +shone through all the trees, and now the flames arose in the church and +the peaceful dwelling under his feet, which had hospitably sheltered +him that very night, already rolled in columns of smoke, the fire +shortly raised the roof, and below was a universal glow of destruction +and death, reflected in the bloody, splashing brook, all like a fiery +river of hell, where yesterday an Eden had bloomed. The green trees +defended themselves from the fiery streams, but they were compelled to +bend and yield to its force. The glowing waves burst up to the heavens +over the church tower, and as a child, unconsciously smiling, plays +even in death, the clock struck the hour once more, and for the last +time, and then fell with the tower and the beams of the roof with a +loud crash into the abyss of fire and smoke. + +Edmond sat down indifferent to all, and incapable of further thought. +After a while he saw a troop of his brethren ascending the heights by +different routes. Bertrand appeared soon afterwards on another road +mounted with several horsemen. "Are you defeated?" asked Edmond, as +they assembled near him. "No," cried Bertrand, "God has given us +compete victory, the valleys are strewed with the bodies of the +royalists; Cavalier has advanced yonder against the fugitives; Roland +has now probably beaten another column, and Solomon their third +division. But, as Cavalier knows, that several horsemen have fled, he +fears they might make a circuit and fall upon him in the rear, we must +therefore still occupy these heights." + +Edmond had not the courage to ask what had taken place in the village +below, but Bertrand began of his own accord. "Now, for once, the hard +hearts have been compelled to taste our vengeance, we have at length +washed our hands in their blood. They will fear us, brother; the +trembling of those that have escaped to-day will teach the others to +tremble too. Like destroying angels, Ravanel and Catinat cut their way +through them, where these stand, not one of the enemy expects mercy. I +have now though been enabled to celebrate a great festival, such a +jubilee as I have ever wished for. But many of our brethren, and our +best lie there below. The despairing peasants have armed themselves +almost in greater numbers than the soldiers. Ah! poor Francois, the +child has been torn by the beasts, Anton, and the flute player, +Stephen, have had their beads smashed, one of the villains threw my +brother, when the poor fellow was already wounded, into the fire, even +the wretched clerk was massacred by our Everard, whereupon I pitched +the rogue head over heels directly into a deep well." + +"And the aged priest?" asked Edmond, scarcely audible, + +"Him," said one of the troop, "I saw for a long while standing with his +prayer-book in the midst of the tumult on the common; right and left +men and women were slain by his side, so that I thought, now, now this +one or that must strike him. But it was as if they did not see him at +all. I afterwards lost sight of him; surely he must be lying there +among the dead bodies. Do you know anything of him, brother +Christophe?" + +A wild looking man, spotted with blood, diminutive and black, his whole +face almost overgrown with bristly hair, said grinning: "The old +grey-headed knave is certainly a sorcerer, for when I had already +killed several of the idolaters, and that he still continued to stand +quietly there, and I was vexed that none of my comrades had ever aimed +at him, in my fury I advanced to hew him down; already I raised my arm, +then the spectre looked quite quietly at me, and his old thin lips +smiled at it, almost as if he would have wept, but I tell you, from his +large blue eyes such a spell shot through my eyes into my heart, that +terrified I let foil my arm and was unable to do any thing to the +rascal. A long time after, wishing to rest myself a little, I perceived +him still in his black garments like a dark cloud between the +combatants, wandering through flame and smoke and over the slain, +perfectly collected and as if no one could do him harm. I think he is +gone into the burning church and will probably be burned there." + +Edmond awoke from his dreams to life again at this fearful recital. +"Thus, does the guest requite," said he to himself, "the hopeful son of +the friend, of thy youth. Is not that called love for love? Now I am no +longer indebted to thee for thy hospitable reception." + +"Hollo! hollo!" shouted Christophe wildly. "Our brethren yonder are +bringing the sacrificing priest of Baal. So much the better, he shall +be slain here before the eyes of the all seeing God." + +Edmond cast a withering glance on the wretch, then looked down and +recognised already close beneath him the pastor bound, whom Favart, the +swarthy Eustace and other Camisards were dragging up. "Here we bring +the knave dear brethren," exclaimed Favart, just as they gained a firm +footing on the level rock, and dragged up the old man with cords. + +When the exhausted priest was drawn up, he cast such a look of +lassitude, pity, and resignation to the will of heaven on the youth, +that the hair of the latter stood on end with terror. "God greet you +with your booty!" roared he to Favart and Eustace, "but woe to him +among you, who approaches the old man even by a look, for such a one +will I tear with my teeth." Favart and Eustace stepped back, turning +pale, and Edmond loosened himself the cords of the venerable man, then +pressed him in his arms, laid his grey head upon his throbbing breast, +and a convulsive sobbing prevented all utterance and restrained his +tears. "Why," said the aged man, "should I alone remain of all the +rest? the poor shepherd, whose flock they have slaughtered?" "What is +that?" vociferated Christophe, stammering with rage; "will they rob us +of our property that we have purchased with our blood? we have left +gold and silver to be consumed in the burning churches, but the life of +the idolater is our booty. And who will take it from us? A coward, who +without drawing a sword, here safe in the distance, has contemplated +our life endangering labour. Away with that! Apostates are we ourselves +if we bear the like from an idolater, who has not yet abandoned his +former wickedness." + +He would have rushed upon the holy man but Edmond intercepted him with +the swiftness of lightning, and threw him with such giant strength upon +the rock that all his limbs rattled, and he remained lying apparently +senseless. Old Favart beheld this with anger, and Eustace, the +charcoal-burner, became wrathful. Bertrand stepped wildly forward, and +a group of clamorous Camisards pressed round Edmond and the priest. +"Who art thou?" exclaimed Favart, "that thou darest play the master +here? Wilt thou act the nobleman here?"--He seized the priest, and +Eustace also laid a hand upon him. Though as Edmond stepped up to them, +Eustace, from old accustomed obedience, let go his hold, and Favart was +torn back by the powerful youth. "Lord, Edmond, Beauvais!" cried the +man, "our king!" They struggled with each other, and Edmond hurled him +down the mountain. "Our brother's neck is broken!" cried they all +wildly together, and rushed upon Edmond with drawn weapons, who in this +moment had been lost, if Abraham Mazel with a fresh troop had not +arrived: Clary, Castanet, Marion, and Vila were among these. Through +respect for Mazel they were quiet, and Edmond was enabled to lay the +affair before the friends. "We would not be cruel towards the +defenceless," said Mazel. Clary remembered Roland's express command to +spare the priest; the eloquent Marion exhorted and persuaded the +grumblers, and it was determined that the priest, while the guides +should clothe themselves in the uniforms of the slaughtered, should be +conducted to Florac, that he might there claim the protection of his +superior. Edmond offered to take this service upon himself, and Eustace +and several of the brethren would accompany him on this expedition. + +Conversation and dispute were interrupted, while this scattered and cut +off band advanced, whose union with the defeated soldiers Cavalier +wished to prevent. The few cavalry went to meet them, the infantry +placed themselves in order, and a sanguinary combat began anew on the +height. Mazel led them on, and the bravery of the rebels made the +military, who were already discouraged, give way. Edmond and his +followers were with the young captain and his light horse, who were +exposed at a distance in an obstinate combat. The horse of the young +man was already killed, but he fought intrepidly and indefatigably, +however little he could promise him>self a fortunate issue. Edmond +advanced, and cried out, "Surrender young man; you behave gallantly, it +would grieve me were you killed here uselessly. I promise you +protection and good treatment until you are exchanged for some of ours +taken prisoners." + +"Miserable rebel!" exclaimed the captain, "dost thou think, that I would +receive pardon from such a villain as thou? I know thee, Beauvais, +perjurer, apostate; the executioner at Nismes awaits thee already. +Look down into that valley, incendiary, and still speak of good +treatment!"---He looked searchingly at the youth, glanced down on his +sword and fired his pistol at Edmond, it missed, and Edmond at the same +moment shot a ball through his breast, so that he fell dead. The +remainder were killed in the melee, the sergeant, who was still mounted +fled precipitately from the height down the rock, Mazel and his +followers were already far distant pursuing the enemy. + +Edmond descended with those who would accompany him. In a vineyard they +enjoyed the repose and frugal fare which could be quickly prepared for +them. The old man was revived by a few drops of wine. "Beauvais, art +thou my son?" began he, as he saw himself alone with Edmond.--"I am +called," said the latter, "after your baptismal name, Edmond; as a +testimony how my father has ever loved you." + +"Ah, thou dear friend of my youth," said the old man with a deep sigh, +"why must I become acquainted with thy son under such circumstances? In +this way then have the dreams of thy love, our religious inspirations +been embodied? Thus are our fanatic presentiments fulfilled? To these +murders and burnings, to these horrible cruelties must we awaken and +call our whole youth folly and illusion? Ah! verily poor Louison, thy +love to thy protectress has been badly recompensed. You were right +unfortunate Caspar, that you did not know in what moment and in what +sufferings your happiness would terminate. Now you lie together in a +bloody embrace. Why cannot I say to myself, no, this is but a dream! +Awake thou miserable old man, and find thy commune, thy children, the +former tranquil repose, the sweet peace, and thy beloved church again! +Woe! woe! to ye, ye poor, ye innocent! and threefold woe upon the +wretches who brought this horror into these distant valleys."--He +covered his head, and wept bitterly. + +The twilight was extending itself. The pastor wished to visit once more +the ruins of his church, and they descended the mountain. Edmond and +the priest went alone among the fallen walls. All was destroyed +together, the alter only still remained and the statue of the virgin +was blackened, though tolerably preserved. The old man took it down and +buried it at some distance. "Wherefore?" asked Edmond. "Will not the +multitude," said the aged man, "cry out a miracle again, when they find +this statue the only thing still nearly preserved in this heap of +ashes? Who knows what horrible blood-thirstiness may be enflamed by +this accident, what monstrous, insatiable vengeance attached to this +wooden symbol in the name of God, in order to satisfy under pretext of +eternal love, the horrible feeling, which never should be awakened in +the breast of man. No, what may be an innocent amusement in times of +peace and happiness, and serve as an exalting, edifying, pious +institution, often becomes a banner for the human mind if once wild +rebellion has swayed, it followed exultingly by all the horrors of +hell. I should consider myself a murderer, if I did not bury this +protectress to-day, as our neighbours will inter the poor unprotected +to-morrow. Should the Eternal Decree will it otherwise, he will easily +render my trouble unnecessary." + +As they again issued from the ruins, they were met by the tall figure +of Lacoste. "Edmond," cried he, "you and your compeers carry on a +damnable trade. I have kept myself concealed the whole day, that I +might not look upon the enormity. The ceremony of your worship is too +severe. Your God is indulgent, for otherwise he would shew himself +somewhat more rigorous in it. I thought I had already experienced every +thing and understood every body; but in my present high school I still +learn many new things." + +How astounded were Lacoste and the priest as each found again a friend +of his youth in the other. "You are then that pious, sighing, youth," +exclaimed Lacoste in amazement, who in the eyes of his Euphemie would +see and find the whole Empyraeum? We now wander afar over the flowers +of your religious elysium. But tread firmly, for these eyes and noses +no longer feel our heels, these faces are only the discarded masks, +which still lie about from yesterday's gala. Yes, these masqueraders +have destroyed much clothing, that can never be mended again, they have +been reduced to tatters at once by extravagant insolence. Aye! aye! +Edmond, your reverend cordelier, his hair is become white since then, +like the yellow flowers of the meadow, which the first blast uproots. +Where is Euphemie? Where Lucy, where our tears and sighs of those days? +You have become a little old man in an instant: and, is it not true, +that those youthful feelings appeal to you even now sometimes, but like +dumb children, with their countenances? Now perform a little bit of a +miracle with your superabundant love, and awaken these dead again which +lie here in our way. But the question is, whether they would thank you +for it, since they have once made a step to the other side, though +rather in a neck-breaking manner; for if examined closely, that so +called life is a cursedly tedious and base affair, and if one is to +expect jokes like these every day, such as have been practised on these +fellows here, then really one must be damnably sunk in bad habits, not +to put an end to this miserable existence by a single gash on the +throat. But thus indeed are we all. + +In these conversations they passed the night. The venerable pastor +replied but little. Neither did his exhaustion permit him, which was so +great, that he was often compelled to rest. As the hours passed the +more agitated he became and the more he wished to end quickly his days +in the ruins of his beloved commune, for he did not know why he should +still wish to live. Edmond talked to him filially and affectionately, +as a son, and the old man heartily forgave all the evil that the youth +had drawn upon him, "If I could, only see thy father once more before +my death!" exclaimed he much affected, or--grief did not permit him to +say more, but Edmond guessed what he meant. After they had reposed +several times, with the early dawn they reached a village, which lay +pleasantly among some green trees. They determined on breakfasting +here, in order to be able to continue their way to Florac, Edmond felt +as if his whole life and being would dissolve in dream and mist. As +they arrived before a small house, in the upper story of which some men +appeared, but who quickly drew back at the sight of the regimentals, +Edmond said to himself, "I am on the point of becoming mad, for I now +see the figures of my mind; it was indeed as if I perceived my father +and Christine, and Eveline; and only because I here escort the two +friends of his youth." They were going to inquire for the inn of an old +man, who was gathering herbs in a small garden, when the wife came out +of the house and begged of them to accompany her, since she herself had +business at the inn, and that it was not so easy to find it, because it +lay in another street, and in an out of the way place, where there was +but very little business carried on, and had no communication with any +high road. + +With this information, the chatterer accompanied them to the neat +little inn of the place. The people had only just risen, and were +terrified when they saw the soldiers, for since the attack on the not +far distant district, the whole country was filled with terror. Wine, +bread, and warm drink also revived the weary travellers, and Eustace +and Bertrand with some others kept watch, that they might not be +unexpectedly surprised. "Who lives in the upper story of your house?" +inquired Edmond of the old woman. + +"Ah! good heavens!" responded she, "they are poor unfortunate people, +whose property the wicked rebels have burnt. A peasant, a poor cousin +of mine, has now fled to me with his daughter and his sister's son, and +who knows whether the flambeau of wrath, with which the Lord of Hosts +in his anger will light us home, is not already on its way to our +little cottage. For where is safety, or security now a days as +formerly? Verily, all is affliction and warfare, and the strangest +fatality drives men here and there, as has happened only in old +marvelous stories, and the troubles only increase, and suspicion +becomes greater. Where one only sees a soldier, one might creep into a +mole's hole, even though one should be of the very best and exact +faith." + +"Is your trumpeter not come back yet?" + +"He must have clean disappeared," answered the old woman; "but my +foolish husband grieves about the knave, and thinks that some +misfortune must have happened to him in the mountains, because the long +bellows was already old and broken down, and is sometimes troubled with +a bad cough. As if it mattered much about such vagabonds, when so many +respectable people bite the grass, who have more connexion and +authority than the adventurer, who wants to play Moonseignor here." + +"Aye, truly," said the landlord, "but how goes it though with the +Catholics, particularly with the poor clergy, as well as with the old, +venerable lord there, who has now fled likewise? Some of them are said +to have already arrived at Florac yesterday. The convents too suffer. A +wayfarer arrived here in the night, who brought intelligence of an +attack on a castle, where several holy women had been on a visit, who +may belong to Nismes or Montpellier. Crosses and misery are in the +whole land. And whence has the misfortune come? Each party lays the +blame on the other." + +They set forward again, and those who were placed to keep watch +rejoined the troop. A fiery red had spread itself over the whole +heavens, as far as the eye could reach, when they emerged from the +valley, the sky was illumined with the most singular and varied burning +lights. From a wood, situated on an eminence on the left, rushed an +aged female attendant, and cried, "Oh, God be praised, that I see royal +troops! Help, my good mistress!" she ran back, and led an old nun, who +appeared fainting. They approached, they revived her with wine. When +the priest heard her family name called, he exclaimed, "Euphemie!" and +dropped down before her. It was she, she had escaped with difficulty +with her attendant from the burning castle, where she had passed the +night in the greatest anguish. The old man told her his name. "Hast +thou then at times thought of our youth?" asked he in a trembling +voice, "Can one forget life?" replied the dying Euphemie, with closing +eyes. "And thou, Edmond?"----"I lived for thee, I die with thee," spoke +the aged man, and both expired exhausted by the too strong emotion +caused by finding each other again so wonderfully, while the rays of +morning shone like a glory on their sanctified features. + +Carts which came from Florac, and whose owners heard from Edmond the +brief account, conveyed the bodies to the town, that they might be +interred in consecrated ground. + + + + + END OF THE SECOND VOLUME. + + + + PRINTED BY J. 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