CHAPTER II

      THECARNIVAL

      February20th

      Whatanoiseoutofdoors!Whatisthemeaningoftheseshoutsandcries?Ah!Irecollect:thisisthelastdayoftheCarnival,andthemaskersarepassing.

      Christianityhasnotbeenabletoabolishthenoisybacchanalianfestivalsofthepagantimes,butithaschangedthenames.Thatwhichithasgiventothese"daysofliberty"announcestheendingofthefeasts,andthemonthoffastingwhichshouldfollow;carn-ivalmeans,literally,"farewelltoflesh!"Itisafortydaysfarewelltothe"blessedpulletsandfathams,"socelebratedbyPantagruelsminstrel.

      Manpreparesforprivationbysatiety,andfinisheshissinthoroughlybeforehebeginstorepent.

      Why,inallagesandamongeverypeople,dowemeetwithsomeoneofthesemadfestivals?Mustwebelievethatitrequiressuchaneffortformentobereasonable,thattheweakeroneshaveneedofrestatintervals?ThemonksofLaTrappe,whoarecondemnedtosilencebytheirrule,areallowedtospeakonceinamonth,andonthisdaytheyalltalkatoncefromtherisingtothesettingofthesun.

      Perhapsitisthesameintheworld.Asweareobligedalltheyeartobedecent,orderly,andreasonable,wemakeupforsuchalongrestraintduringtheCarnival.Itisadooropenedtotheincongruousfanciesandwishesthathavehithertobeencrowdedbackintoacornerofourbrain.

      Foramomenttheslavesbecomethemasters,asinthedaysoftheSaturnalia,andallisgivenuptothe"foolsofthefamily."

      Theshoutsinthesquareredouble;thetroopsofmasksincrease——onfoot,incarriages,andonhorseback.Itisnowwhocanattractthemostattentionbymakingafigureforafewhours,orbyexcitingcuriosityorenvy;to-morrowtheywillallreturn,dullandexhausted,totheemploymentsandtroublesofyesterday.

      Alas!thoughtIwithvexation,eachofusislikethesemasqueraders;ourwholelifeisoftenbutanunsightlyCarnival!Andyetmanhasneedofholidays,torelaxhismind,resthisbody,andopenhisheart.Canhenothavethem,then,withthesecoarsepleasures?Economistshavebeenlonginquiringwhatisthebestdisposaloftheindustryofthehumanrace.Ah!ifIcouldonlydiscoverthebestdisposalofitsleisure!Itiseasyenoughtofinditwork;butwhowillfinditrelaxation?Worksuppliesthedailybread;butitischeerfulnessthatgivesitarelish.Ophilosophers!goinquestofpleasure!findusamusementswithoutbrutality,enjoymentswithoutselfishness;inaword,inventaCarnivalthatwillpleaseeverybody,andbringshametonoone.

      Threeoclock——Ihavejustshutmywindow,andstirredupmyfire.Asthisisaholidayforeverybody,Iwillmakeitoneformyself,too.SoIlightthelittlelampoverwhich,ongrandoccasions,ImakeacupofthecoffeethatmyportressssonbroughtfromtheLevant,andIlookinmybookcaseforoneofmyfavoriteauthors.

      First,hereistheamusingparsonofMeudon;buthischaractersaretoofondoftalkingslang:——Voltaire;buthedisheartensmenbyalwaysbanteringthem:——Moliere;buthehindersoneslaughterbymakingonethink:——Lesage;letusstopathim.Beingprofoundratherthangrave,hepreachesvirtuewhileridiculingvice;ifbitternessissometimestobefoundinhiswritings,itisalwaysinthegarbofmirth:heseesthemiseriesoftheworldwithoutdespisingit,andknowsitscowardlytrickswithouthatingit.

      LetuscallupalltheheroesofhisbookGilBlas,Fabrice,Sangrado,theArchbishopofGranada,theDukeofLerma,Aurora,Scipio!

      Yegayorgracefulfigures,risebeforemyeyes,peoplemysolitude;bringhitherformyamusementtheworld-carnival,ofwhichyouarethebrilliantmaskers!

      Unfortunately,attheverymomentImadethisinvocation,IrecollectedIhadalettertowritewhichcouldnotbeputoff.Oneofmyatticneighborscameyesterdaytoaskmetodoit.Heisacheerfuloldman,andhasapassionforpicturesandprints.Hecomeshomealmosteverydaywithadrawingorpainting——probablyoflittlevalue;forIknowhelivespenuriously,andeventheletterthatIamtowriteforhimshowshispoverty.Hisonlyson,whowasmarriedinEngland,isjustdead,andhiswidow——leftwithoutanymeans,andwithanoldmotherandachild——hadwrittentobegforahome.M.Antoineaskedmefirsttotranslatetheletter,andthentowritearefusal.Ihadpromisedthatheshouldhavethisanswerto-day:beforeeverything,letusfulfilourpromises.

      Thesheetof"Bath"paperisbeforeme,Ihavedippedmypenintotheink,andIrubmyforeheadtoinviteforthasallyofideas,whenIperceivethatIhavenotmydictionary.Now,aParisianwhowouldspeakEnglishwithoutadictionaryislikeachildwithoutleading-strings;thegroundtremblesunderhim,andhestumblesatthefirststep.Irunthentothebookbinders,whereIleftmyJohnson,wholivesclosebyinthesquare.

      Thedoorishalfopen;Ihearlowgroans;Ienterwithoutknocking,andIseethebookbinderbythebedsideofhisfellow-lodger.Thislatterhasaviolentfeveranddelirium.Pierrelooksathimperplexedandoutofhumor.Ilearnfromhimthathiscomradewasnotabletogetupinthemorning,andthatsincethenhehasbecomeworseeveryhour.

      Iaskwhethertheyhavesentforadoctor.

      "Oh,yes,indeed!"repliedPierre,roughly;"onemusthavemoneyinonespocketforthat,andthisfellowhasonlydebtsinsteadofsavings."

      "Butyou,"saidI,ratherastonished;"areyounothisfriend?"

      "Friend!"interruptedthebookbinder."Yes,asmuchastheshaft-horseisfriendtotheleader——onconditionthateachwilltakehisshareofthedraught,andeathisfeedbyhimself."

      "Youdonotintend,however,toleavehimwithoutanyhelp?"

      "Bah!hemaykeepinhisbedtillto-morrow,asImgoingtotheball."

      "Youmeantoleavehimalone?"

      "Well!mustImissapartyofpleasureatCourtville——[AParisiansummerresort.]——becausethisfellowislightheaded?"askedPierre,sharply.

      "IhavepromisedtomeetsomefriendsatoldDesnoyers.Thosewhoaresickmaytaketheirbroth;myphysiciswhitewine."

      Sosaying,heuntiedabundle,outofwhichhetookthefancycostumeofawaterman,andproceededtodresshimselfinit.

      InvainItriedtoawakensomefellow-feelingfortheunfortunatemanwholaygroaningthereclosebyhim;beingentirelytakenupwiththethoughtsofhisexpectedpleasure,Pierrewouldhardlysomuchashearme.Atlasthiscoarseselfishnessprovokedme.Ibeganreproachinginsteadofremonstratingwithhim,andIdeclaredhimresponsiblefortheconsequenceswhichsuchadesertionmustbringuponthesickman.

      Atthisthebookbinder,whowasjustgoing,stoppedwithanoath,andstampedhisfoot."AmItospendmyCarnivalinheatingwaterforfootbaths,pray?"

      "Youmustnotleaveyourcomradetodiewithouthelp!"Ireplied.

      "Lethimgotothehospital,then!"

      "Howcanhebyhimself?"

      Pierreseemedtomakeuphismind.

      "Well,Imgoingtotakehim,"resumedhe;"besides,Ishallgetridofhimsooner.Come,getup,comrade!"Heshookhiscomrade,whohadnottakenoffhisclothes.Iobservedthathewastooweaktowalk,butthebookbinderwouldnotlisten:hemadehimgetup,andhalfdragged,halfsupportedhimtothelodgeoftheporter,whoranforahackneycarriage.

      Isawthesickmangetintoit,almostfainting,withtheimpatientwaterman;andtheybothsetoff,oneperhapstodie,theothertodineatCourtvilleGardens!

      Sixoclock——Ihavebeentoknockatmyneighborsdoor,whoopenedithimself;andIhavegivenhimhisletter,finishedatlast,anddirectedtohissonswidow.M.Antoinethankedmegratefully,andmademesitdown.

      ItwasthefirsttimeIhadbeenintotheatticoftheoldamateur.

      Curtainsstainedwithdampandhangingdowninrags,acoldstove,abedofstraw,twobrokenchairs,composedallthefurniture.Attheendoftheroomwereagreatnumberofprintsinaheap,andpaintingswithoutframesturnedagainstthewall.

      AtthemomentIcamein,theoldmanwasmakinghisdinneronsomehardcrustsofbread,whichhewassoakinginaglassofeausucree.Heperceivedthatmyeyesfelluponhishermitfare,andhelookedalittleashamed.

      "Thereisnothingtotemptyouinmysupper,neighbor,"saidhe,withasmile.

      IrepliedthatatleastIthoughtitaveryphilosophicalonefortheCarnival.

      M.Antoineshookhishead,andwentonagainwithhissupper.

      "Everyonekeepshisholidaysinhisownway,"resumedhe,beginningagaintodipacrustintohisglass."Thereareseveralsortsofepicures,andnotallfeastsaremeanttoregalethepalate;therearesomealsofortheearsandtheeyes."

      Ilookedinvoluntarilyroundme,asiftoseekfortheinvisiblebanquetwhichcouldmakeuptohimforsuchasupper.

      Withoutdoubtheunderstoodme;forhegotupslowly,and,withthemagisterialairofamanconfidentinwhatheisabouttodo,herummagedbehindseveralpictureframes,drewforthapainting,overwhichhepassedhishand,andsilentlyplaceditunderthelightofthelamp.

      Itrepresentedafine-lookingoldman,seatedattablewithhiswife,hisdaughter,andhischildren,andsingingtotheaccompanimentofmusicianswhoappearedinthebackground.AtfirstsightIrecognizedthesubject,whichIhadoftenadmiredattheLouvre,andIdeclaredittobeasplendidcopyofJordaens.

      "Acopy!"criedM.Antoine;"sayanoriginal,neighbor,andanoriginalretouchedbyRubens!Lookcloserattheheadoftheoldman,thedressoftheyoungwoman,andtheaccessories.Onecancountthepencil-strokesoftheHerculesofpainters.Itisnotonlyamasterpiece,sir;itisatreasure——arelic!ThepictureattheLouvremaybeapearl,thisisadiamond!"

      Andrestingitagainstthestove,soastoplaceitinthebestlight,hefellagaintosoakinghiscrusts,withouttakinghiseyesoffthewonderfulpicture.Onewouldhavesaidthatthesightofitgavethecrustsanunexpectedrelish,forhechewedthemslowly,andemptiedhisglassbylittlesips.Hisshrivelledfeaturesbecamesmooth,hisnostrilsexpanded;itwasindeed,ashesaidhimself,"afeastfortheeyes."

      "YouseethatIalsohavemytreat,"heresumed,noddinghisheadwithanairoftriumph."Othersmayrunafterdinnersandballs;asforme,thisisthepleasureIgivemyselfformyCarnival."

      "Butifthispaintingisreallysoprecious,"repliedI,"itoughttobeworthahighprice."

      "Eh!eh!"saidM.Antoine,withanairofproudindifference."Ingoodtimes,agoodjudgemightvalueitatsomewhereabouttwentythousandfrancs."

      Istartedback.

      "Andyouhaveboughtit?"criedI.

      "Fornothing,"repliedhe,loweringhisvoice."Thesebrokersareasses;minemistookthisforastudentscopy;heletmehaveitforfiftylouis,readymoney!ThismorningItookthemtohim,andnowhewishestobeoffthebargain."

      "Thismorning!"repeatedI,involuntarilycastingmyeyesonthelettercontainingtherefusalthatM.Antoinehadmademewritetohissonswidow,whichwasstillonthelittletable.

      Hetooknonoticeofmyexclamation,andwentoncontemplatingtheworkofJordaensinanecstasy.

      "Whataknowledgeofchiaroscuro!"hemurmured,bitinghislastcrustindelight."Whatrelief!whatfire!Wherecanonefindsuchtransparencyofcolor!suchmagicallights!suchforce!suchnature!"

      AsIwaslisteningtohiminsilence,hemistookmyastonishmentforadmiration,andclappedmeontheshoulder.

      "Youaredazzled,"saidhemerrily;"youdidnotexpectsuchatreasure!

      WhatdoyousaytothebargainIhavemade?"

      "Pardonme,"repliedI,gravely;"butIthinkyoumighthavedonebetter."

      M.Antoineraisedhishead.

      "How!"criedhe;"doyoutakemeforamanlikelytobedeceivedaboutthemeritorvalueofapainting?"

      "Ineitherdoubtyourtastenoryourskill;butIcannothelpthinkingthat,forthepriceofthispictureofafamilyparty,youmighthavehad——"

      "Whatthen?"

      "Thefamilyitself,sir."

      Theoldamateurcastalookatme,notofanger,butofcontempt.

      InhiseyesIhadevidentlyjustprovedmyselfabarbarian,incapableofunderstandingthearts,andunworthyofenjoyingthem.Hegotupwithoutansweringme,hastilytookuptheJordaens,andreplaceditinitshiding-placebehindtheprints.

      Itwasasortofdismissal;Itookleaveofhim,andwentaway.

      Sevenoclock——WhenIcomeinagain,Ifindmywaterboilingovermylamp,andIbusymyselfingrindingmyMocha,andsettingoutmycoffee-things.

      Thegettingcoffeereadyisthemostdelicateandmostattractiveofdomesticoperationstoonewholivesalone:itisthegrandworkofabachelorshousekeeping.

      Coffeeis,sotosay,justthemid-pointbetweenbodilyandspiritualnourishment.Itactsagreeably,andatthesametime,uponthesensesandthethoughts.Itsveryfragrancegivesasortofdelightfulactivitytothewits;itisageniusthatlendswingstoourfancy,andtransportsittothelandoftheArabianNights.

      WhenIamburiedinmyoldeasy-chair,myfeetonthefenderbeforeablazingfire,myearsoothedbythesingingofthecoffee-pot,whichseemstogossipwithmyfire-irons,thesenseofsmellgentlyexcitedbythearomaoftheArabianbean,andmyeyesshadedbymycappulleddownoverthem,itoftenseemsasifeachcloudofthefragrantsteamtookadistinctform.Asinthemiragesofthedesert,ineachasitrises,Iseesomeimageofwhichmymindhadbeenlongingforthereality.

      Atfirstthevaporincreases,anditscolordeepens.Iseeacottageonahillside:behindisagardenshutinbyawhitethornhedge,andthroughthegardenrunsabrook,onthebanksofwhichIhearthebeeshumming.

      Thentheviewopensstillmore.Seethosefieldsplantedwithapple-trees,inwhichIcandistinguishaploughandhorseswaitingfortheirmaster!Fartheron,inapartofthewoodwhichringswiththesoundoftheaxe,Iperceivethewoodsmanshut,roofedwithturfandbranches;and,inthemidstofalltheseruralpictures,Iseemtoseeafigureofmyselfglidingabout.Itismyghostwalkinginmydream!

      Thebubblingofthewater,readytoboilover,compelsmetobreakoffmymeditations,inordertofillupthecoffee-pot.IthenrememberthatIhavenocream;Itakemytincanoffthehookandgodowntothemilkwomans.

      MotherDenisisahalecountrywomanfromSavoy,whichsheleftwhenquiteyoung;and,contrarytothecustomoftheSavoyards,shehasnotgonebacktoitagain.Shehasneitherhusbandnorchild,notwithstandingthetitletheygiveher;butherkindness,whichneversleeps,makesherworthyofthenameofmother.

      Abravecreature!Leftbyherselfinthebattleoflife,shemakesgoodherhumbleplaceinitbyworking,singing,helpingothers,andleavingtheresttoGod.

      Atthedoorofthemilk-shopIhearloudburstsoflaughter.Inoneofthecornersoftheshopthreechildrenaresittingontheground.TheywearthesootydressofSavoyardboys,andintheirhandstheyholdlargeslicesofbreadandcheese.Theyoungestisbesmeareduptotheeyeswithhis,andthatisthereasonoftheirmirth.

      MotherDenispointsthemouttome.

      "Lookatthelittlelambs,howtheyenjoythemselves!"saidshe,puttingherhandontheheadofthelittleglutton.

      "Hehashadnobreakfast,"putsinoneoftheothersbywayofexcuse.

      "Poorlittlething,"saidthemilkwoman;"heisleftaloneinthestreetsofParis,wherehecanfindnootherfatherthantheAll-goodGod!"

      "Andthatiswhyyoumakeyourselfamothertothem?"Ireplied,gently.

      "WhatIdoislittleenough,"saidMotherDenis,measuringoutmymilk;"buteverydayIgetsomeofthemtogetheroutofthestreet,thatforoncetheymayhaveenoughtoeat.Dearchildren!theirmotherswillmakeupforitinheaven.Nottomentionthattheyrecallmynativemountainstome:whentheysinganddance,Iseemtoseeouroldfatheragain."

      Herehereyesfilledwithtears.

      "Soyouarerepaidbyyourrecollectionsforthegoodyoudothem?"

      resumedI.

      "Yes!yes!"saidshe,"andbytheirhappiness,too!Thelaughteroftheselittleones,sir,islikeabirdssong;itmakesyougay,andgivesyouhearttolive."

      Asshespokeshecutsomefreshslicesofbreadandcheese,andaddedsomeapplesandahandfulofnutstothem.

      "Come,mylittledears,"shecried,"puttheseintoyourpocketsagainstto-morrow."

      Then,turningtome:

      "To-dayIamruiningmyself,"addedshe;"butwemustallhaveourCarnival."

      Icameawaywithoutsayingaword:Iwastoomuchaffected.

      AtlastIhavediscoveredwhattruepleasureis.Afterbeholdingtheegotismofsensualityandofintellect,Ihavefoundthehappyself-sacrificeofgoodness.Pierre,M.Antoine,andMotherDenishadallkepttheirCarnival;butforthefirsttwo,itwasonlyafeastforthesensesorthemind;whileforthethird,itwasafeastfortheheart.