Bouvard and Pecuchet Part 53

"It is infernal, a life like this. I much prefer death. Adieu!"

He s.n.a.t.c.hed up the candlestick and rushed out, slamming the door behind him.

Bouvard, plunged in darkness, found some difficulty in opening it. He ran after Pecuchet, and followed him up to the garret.

The candle was on the floor, and Pecuchet was standing on one of the chairs, with a rope in his hand. The spirit of imitation got the better of Bouvard.

"Wait for me!"

And he had just got up on the other chair when, suddenly stopping:

"Why, we have not made our wills!"

"Hold on! That's quite true!"

Their b.r.e.a.s.t.s swelled with sobs. They leaned against the skylight to take breath.

The air was chilly and a mult.i.tude of stars glittered in a sky of inky blackness.

The whiteness of the snow that covered the earth was lost in the haze of the horizon.

They perceived, close to the ground, little lights, which, as they drew near, looked larger, all reaching up to the side of the church.

Curiosity drove them to the spot. It was the midnight ma.s.s. These lights came from shepherds' lanterns. Some of them were shaking their cloaks under the porch.

The serpent snorted; the incense smoked. Gla.s.ses suspended along the nave represented three crowns of many-coloured flames; and, at the end of the perspective at the two sides of the tabernacle, immense wax tapers were pointed with red flames. Above the heads of the crowd and the broad-brimmed hats of the women, beyond the chanters, the priest could be distinguished in his chasuble of gold. To his sharp voice responded the strong voices of the men who filled up the gallery, and the wooden vault quivered above its stone arches. The walls were decorated with the stations of the Cross. In the midst of the choir, before the altar, a lamb was lying down, with its feet under its belly and its ears erect.

The warm temperature imparted to them both a strange feeling of comfort, and their thoughts, which had been so tempestuous only a short time before, became peaceful, like waves when they are calmed.

They listened to the Gospel and the _Credo_, and watched the movements of the priest. Meanwhile, the old, the young, the beggar women in rags, the mothers in high caps, the strong young fellows with tufts of fair down on their faces, were all praying, absorbed in the same deep joy, and saw the body of the Infant Christ shining, like a sun, upon the straw of a stable. This faith on the part of others touched Bouvard in spite of his reason, and Pecuchet in spite of the hardness of his heart.

There was a silence; every back was bent, and, at the tinkling of a bell, the little lamb bleated.

The host was displayed by the priest, as high as possible between his two hands. Then burst forth a strain of gladness inviting the whole world to the feet of the King of Angels. Bouvard and Pecuchet involuntarily joined in it, and they felt, as it were, a new dawn rising in their souls.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Roughly speaking, about 93 acres.--TRANSLATOR.

[2] _Cuscute_--dodder.

[3] One hectare contains 2 acres 1 rood 38 perches.--TRANSLATOR.

[4] The [Text missing in original.--_Transcriber._]

[5] Raspail, the author of the work here referred to, was called in to attend Gustave Flaubert's sister Caroline before her death in 1846.--TRANSLATOR.

[6] A decalitre contains over two gallons.--TRANSLATOR.

[7] A myriametre is over six miles.--TRANSLATOR.

[8] This would, roughly speaking, be about eleven yards.--TRANSLATOR.

[9]

_Oui, prince, je languis, je brule pour Thesee-- Je l'aime!_

[10] The Vinegar Merchant's Wheelbarrow.

[11]

_Des flammes de les yeux inonde ma paupiere.

Chante-moi quelque chant, comme parfois, le soir, Tu m'en chantais, avec des pleurs dans ton oeil noir._

[12]

_Soyons heureux! buvons! car la coupe est remplie, Car cette heure est a moi, et le reste est folie!_

[13]

_N'est-ce pas qu'il est doux D'aimer, et savoir qu'on vous aime a genoux?_

[14]

_Oh! laisse-moi dormir et rever sur ton sein, Dona Sol, ma beaute, mon amour!_

[15]

_Que dans tous vos discours la pa.s.sion emue Aille chercher le coeur, l'echauffe et le remue._

[16] _La savate_--a military practice of beating with an old shoe soldiers unskilful at drill.--TRANSLATOR.

[17]

_A nous l'animal timide!

Atteignons le cerf rapide!

Oui! nous vaincons!

Courons! courons! courons!_