第 14 节
作者:这就是结局      更新:2021-02-20 15:57      字数:9321
  sufferings of the night。  He expressed his gratitude to his
  preserver with tearful fervour; and stated that he had already
  sent for a relation who would make arrangements for his future
  safety and mode of life。  〃For I have money yet left;〃 said the
  old man; 〃and henceforth have no motive to be a miser。〃  He
  proceeded then briefly to relate the origin and circumstances of
  his connection with his intended murderer。
  It seems that in earlier life he had quarrelled with his
  relations;from a difference in opinions of belief。  Rejecting
  all religion as a fable; he yet cultivated feelings that inclined
  himfor though his intellect was weak; his dispositions were
  goodto that false and exaggerated sensibility which its dupes
  so often mistake for benevolence。  He had no children; he
  resolved to adopt an enfant du peuple。  He resolved to educate
  this boy according to 〃reason。〃  He selected an orphan of the
  lowest extraction; whose defects of person and constitution only
  yet the more moved his pity; and finally engrossed his affection。
  In this outcast he not only loved a son; he loved a theory!  He
  brought him up most philosophically。  Helvetius had proved to him
  that education can do all; and before he was eight years old; the
  little Jean's favourite expressions were; 〃La lumiere et la
  vertu。〃  (Light and virtue。)  The boy showed talents; especially
  in art。
  The protector sought for a master who was as free from
  〃superstition〃 as himself; and selected the painter David。  That
  person; as hideous as his pupil; and whose dispositions were as
  vicious as his professional abilities were undeniable; was
  certainly as free from 〃superstition〃 as the protector could
  desire。  It was reserved for Robespierre hereafter to make the
  sanguinary painter believe in the Etre Supreme。  The boy was
  early sensible of his ugliness; which was almost preternatural。
  His benefactor found it in vain to reconcile him to the malice of
  Nature by his philosophical aphorisms; but when he pointed out to
  him that in this world money; like charity; covers a multitude of
  defects; the boy listened eagerly and was consoled。  To save
  money for his protege;for the only thing in the world he
  loved;this became the patron's passion。  Verily; he had met
  with his reward。
  〃But I am thankful he has escaped;〃 said the old man; wiping his
  eyes。  〃Had he left me a beggar; I could never have accused him。〃
  〃No; for you are the author of his crimes。〃
  〃How!  I; who never ceased to inculcate the beauty of virtue?
  Explain yourself。〃
  〃Alas! if thy pupil did not make this clear to thee last night
  from his own lips; an angel might come from heaven to preach to
  thee in vain。〃
  The old man moved uneasily; and was about to reply; when the
  relative he had sent forand who; a native of Nancy; happened to
  be at Paris at the timeentered the room。  He was a man somewhat
  past thirty; and of a dry; saturnine; meagre countenance;
  restless eyes; and compressed lips。  He listened; with many
  ejaculations of horror; to his relation's recital; and sought
  earnestly; but in vain; to induce him to give information against
  his protege。
  〃Tush; tush; Rene Dumas!〃 said the old man; 〃you are a lawyer。
  You are bred to regard human life with contempt。  Let any man
  break a law; and you shout; 'Execute him!'〃
  〃I!〃 cried Dumas; lifting up his hands and eyes:  〃venerable
  sage; how you misjudge me!  I lament more than any one the
  severity of our code。  I think the state never should take away
  life;no; not even the life of a murderer。  I agree with that
  young statesman;Maximilien Robespierre;that the executioner
  is the invention of the tyrant。  My very attachment to our
  advancing revolution is; that it must sweep away this legal
  butchery。〃
  The lawyer paused; out of breath。  The stranger regarded him
  fixedly and turned pale。
  〃You change countenance; sir;〃 said Dumas; 〃you do not agree with
  me。〃
  〃Pardon me; I was at that moment repressing a vague fear which
  seemed prophetic。〃
  〃And that〃
  〃Was that we should meet again; when your opinions on Death and
  the philosophy of Revolutions might be different。〃
  〃Never!〃
  〃You enchant me; Cousin Rene;〃 said the old man; who had listened
  to his relation with delight。  〃Ah; I see you have proper
  sentiments of justice and philanthropy。  Why did I not seek to
  know you before?  You admire the Revolution;you; equally with
  me; detest the barbarity of kings and the fraud of priests?〃
  〃Detest!  How could I love mankind if I did not?〃
  〃And;〃 said the old man; hesitatingly; 〃you do not think; with
  this noble gentleman; that I erred in the precepts I instilled
  into that wretched man?〃
  〃Erred!  Was Socrates to blame if Alcibiades was an adulterer and
  a traitor?〃
  〃You hear him; you hear him!  But Socrates had also a Plato;
  henceforth you shall be a Plato to me。  You hear him?〃 exclaimed
  the old man; turning to the stranger。
  But the latter was at the threshold。  Who shall argue with the
  most stubborn of all bigotries;the fanaticism of unbelief?
  〃Are you going?〃 exclaimed Dumas; 〃and before I have thanked you;
  blessed you; for the life of this dear and venerable man?  Oh; if
  ever I can repay you;if ever you want the heart's blood of Rene
  Dumas!〃  Thus volubly delivering himself; he followed the
  stranger to the threshold of the second chamber; and there;
  gently detaining him; and after looking over his shoulder; to be
  sure that he was not heard by the owner; he whispered; 〃I ought
  to return to Nancy。  One would not lose one's time;you don't
  think; sir; that that scoundrel took away ALL the old fool's
  money?〃
  〃Was it thus Plato spoke of Socrates; Monsieur Dumas?〃
  〃Ha; ha!you are caustic。  Well; you have a right。  Sir; we
  shall meet again。〃
  〃AGAIN!〃 muttered the stranger; and his brow darkened。  He
  hastened to his chamber; he passed the day and the night alone;
  and in studies; no matter of what nature;they served to
  increase his gloom。
  What could ever connect his fate with Rene Dumas; or the fugitive
  assassin?  Why did the buoyant air of Paris seem to him heavy
  with the steams of blood; why did an instinct urge him to fly
  from those sparkling circles; from that focus of the world's
  awakened hopes; warning him from return?he; whose lofty
  existence defiedbut away these dreams and omens!  He leaves
  France behind。  Back; O Italy; to thy majestic wrecks!  On the
  Alps his soul breathes the free air once more。  Free air!  Alas!
  let the world…healers exhaust their chemistry; man never shall be
  as free in the marketplace as on the mountain。  But we; reader;
  we too escape from these scenes of false wisdom clothing godless
  crime。  Away; once more
  〃In den heitern Regionen
  Wo die reinen Formen wohnen。〃
  Away; to the loftier realm where the pure dwellers are。
  Unpolluted by the Actual; the Ideal lives only with Art and
  Beauty。  Sweet Viola; by the shores of the blue Parthenope; by
  Virgil's tomb; and the Cimmerian cavern; we return to thee once
  more。
  CHAPTER 1。IX。
  Che non vuol che 'l destrier piu vada in alto;
  Poi lo lega nel margine marino
  A un verde mirto in mezzo un lauro E UN PINO。
  〃Orlando Furioso;〃 c。 vi。 xxiii。
  (As he did not wish that his charger (the hippogriff) should take
  any further excursions into the higher regions for the present;
  he bound him at the sea…shore to a green myrtle between a laurel
  and a pine。)
  O Musician! art thou happy now?  Thou art reinstalled at thy
  stately desk;thy faithful barbiton has its share in the
  triumph。  It is thy masterpiece which fills thy ear; it is thy
  daughter who fills the scene;the music; the actress; so united;
  that applause to one is applause to both。  They make way for
  thee; at the orchestra;they no longer jeer and wink; when; with
  a fierce fondness; thou dost caress thy Familiar; that plains;
  and wails; and chides; and growls; under thy remorseless hand。
  They understand now how irregular is ever the symmetry of real
  genius。  The inequalities in its surface make the moon luminous
  to man。  Giovanni Paisiello; Maestro di Capella; if thy gentle
  soul could know envy; thou must sicken to see thy Elfrida and thy
  Pirro laid aside; and all Naples turned fanatic to the Siren; at
  whose measures shook querulously thy gentle head!  But thou;
  Paisiello; calm in the long prosperity of fame; knowest that the
  New will have its day; and comfortest thyself that the Elfrida
  and the Pirro will live forever。  Perhaps a mistake; but it is by
  such mistakes that true genius conquers envy。  〃To be immortal;〃
  says Schiller; 〃live in the whole。〃  To be superior to the hour;
  live in thy self…esteem。  The audience now would give their ears
  for those variations and flights they were once wont to hiss。
  No!Pisani has been two…thirds of a life at silent work on his
  masterpiece:  there is nothing he can add to THAT; however he