第 25 节
作者:铲除不公      更新:2021-02-20 18:50      字数:9321
  Five hundred persons from Nimes were awaiting him; refreshments were
  offered to him; which he accepted gratefully; thanking all those who
  had gathered together to meet him。  At last he went off to St。
  Denoise; where he was to sup and sleep; but before going to bed he
  offered up supplications in a loud voice for the king; for M。 de
  Villars; for M。 de Lalande; and even for M。 de Baville。
  The next morning; Cavalier; according to promise; sent a copy of his
  demands to M。 de Villars; who caused it to be laid before the king;
  along with a full report of all that had passed at the interview at
  Nimes。  As soon as the young chief had sent off his missive; he
  rejoined his troops at Tarnac; and related all that had passed to
  Roland; urging him to follow his example。  That night he slept at
  Sauves; having passed through Durfort at the head of his men; a
  captain of dragoons named Montgros; with twenty…five soldiers;
  accompanying him everywhere; by M。 de Villars' orders; and seeing
  that the villages through which they passed furnished him with all
  that was needed。  They left Sauves on May 16th very early in the
  morning; in order to get to Calvisson; which; as our readers may
  remember; was the place appointed for the residence of Cavalier
  during the truce。  In passing through Quissac; where they stopped for
  refreshments; they were joined by Castanet who delivered a long
  sermon; at which all the Protestants of the neighbourhood were
  present。
  The two battalions of the Charolais regiment which were quartered at
  Calvisson had received orders on the evening of the 17th to march out
  next morning; so as to make room for the Camisards。
  On the 18th the head of the commissary department; Vincel; ordered
  suitable accommodation to be provided for Cavalier and his troops;
  the muster roll being in the hands of M。 d'Aygaliers; it would be
  sent by him or brought in the course of the day。  In the meantime;
  vans were arriving filled with all sorts of provisions; followed by
  droves of cattle; while a commissary and several clerks; charged with
  the distribution of rations; brought up the rear。
  On the 19th; Catinat; accompanied by twelve Camisards; rode into the
  town; and was met at the barrier by the commandant and eighty
  townspeople。  As soon as the little band came in sight the commandant
  reiterated his orders that nothing should be said or done in the
  town; on pain of corporal punishment; that could offend the
  Camisards。
  At one o'clock P。 M。 Baron d'Aygaliers arrived; followed in his turn
  by the chief of the commissariat; Vincel; by Captain Cappon; two
  other officers named Viala and Despuech; and six dragoons。  These
  were the hostages Cavalier had given。
  At six o'clock there was heard a great noise; and shouts of
  〃Cavalier!  Cavalier!〃 resounded on all sides。  The young Cevenol was
  in sight; and the whole population hastened to meet him。  He rode at
  the head of his cavalry; the infantry following; and the whole
  numberabout six hundred mensang psalms in a loud voice。
  When they reached the church; Cavalier drew up before it with all his
  men in review order; and for some time the singing went on。  When it
  stopped; a long prayer was offered up; which was most edifying to all
  the bystanders; and this being over; Cavalier went to the quarters
  assigned him; which were in the best house in Calvisson。  Arrived
  there; he sent out for a dozen loaves that he might judge how his men
  were going to be fed; not finding them white enough; he complained to
  M。 Vincel; whom he sent for; and who promised that in future the
  bread should be of a better quality。  Having received this assurance;
  Cavalier gave orders that the loaves in hand should be distributed
  for that day; but probably fearing poison; he first made M。 de Vincel
  and his clerks taste them in his presence。  These duties
  accomplished; he visited in person all the gates of the town; placed
  guards and posted sentinels at all the entrances and along all the
  avenues; the most advanced being three…quarters of a league from the
  town。  Besides this; he placed guards in the streets; and a sentinel
  at each door of the house he occupied; in addition; thirty guards
  always slept outside the door of his bedroom; and these accompanied
  him as an escort when he went out; not that he was afraid; for he was
  not of a mistrustful character; but that he thought it politic to
  give people an exalted idea of his importance。  As to his soldiers;
  they were billeted on the inhabitants; and received each as daily
  rations a pound of meat; a quart of wine; and two and a half pounds
  of bread。
  The same day a convocation was held on the site of the old
  meeting…house which had been destroyed by the Catholics。  It was a
  very numerous assembly; to which crowds of people came from all
  parts; but on the following days it was still more numerous ; for; as
  the news spread; people ran with great eagerness to hear the
  preaching of the word of which they had been so long deprived。
  D'Aygaliers tells us in his Memoirs that〃No one could help being
  touched to see a whole people just escaped from fire and sword;
  coming together in multitudes to mingle their tears and sighs。  So
  famished were they for the manna divine; that they were like people
  coming out of a besieged city; after a long and cruel famine; to whom
  peace has brought food in abundance; and who; first devouring it with
  their eyes; then throw themselves on it; devouring it bodilymeat;
  bread; and fruitas it comes to hand。  So it was with the
  unfortunate inhabitants of La Vannage; and even of places more
  distant still。  They saw their brethren assembling in the meadows and
  at the gates of Calvisson; gathering in crowds and pressing round
  anyone who started singing a psalm; until at last four or five
  thousand persons; singing; weeping; and praying; were gathered
  together; and remained there all day; supplicating God with a
  devotion that went to every heart and made a deep impression。  All
  night the same things went on; nothing was to be heard but preaching;
  singing; praying; and prophesying。〃
  But if it was a time of joy for the Protestants; it was a time of
  humiliation for the Catholics。  〃Certainly;〃 says a contemporary
  historian; 〃it was a very surprising thing; and quite a novelty; to
  see in a province like Languedoc; where so many troops were
  quartered; such a large number of villainsall murderers;
  incendiaries; and guilty of sacrilegegathered together in one place
  by permission of those in command of the troops; tolerated in their
  eccentricities; fed at the public expense; flattered by everyone; and
  courteously; received by people sent specially to meet them。〃
  One of those who was most indignant at this state of things was M。 de
  Baville。  He was so eager to put an end to it that he went to see the
  governor; and told him the scandal was becoming too great in his
  opinion: the assemblies ought to be put an end to by allowing the
  troops to fall upon them and disperse them; but the governor thought
  quite otherwise; and told Baville that to act according to his advice
  would be to set fire to the province again and to scatter for ever
  people whom they had got together with such difficulty。  In any case;
  he reminded Baville that what he objected to would be over in a few
  days。  His opinion was that de Baville might stifle the expression of
  his dissatisfaction for a little; to bring about a great good。  〃More
  than that;〃 added the marechal; 〃the impatience of the priests is
  most ridiculous。  Besides your remonstrances; of which I hope I have
  now heard the last; I have received numberless letters full of such
  complaints that it would seem as if the prayers of the Camisards not
  only grated on the ears of the clergy but flayed them alive。  I
  should like above everything to find out the writers of these
  letters; in order to have them flogged; but they have taken good care
  to put no signatures。  I regard it as a very great impertinence for
  those who caused these disturbances to grumble and express their
  disapproval at my efforts to bring them to an end。〃  After this
  speech; M; de Baville saw there was nothing for him to do but to let
  things take their course。
  The course that they took turned Cavalier's head more and more; for
  thanks to the injunctions of M。 de Villars; all the orders that
  Cavalier gave were obeyed as if they had been issued by the governor
  himself。  He had a court like a prince; lieutenants like a general;
  and secretaries like a statesman。  It was the duty of one secretary
  to give leave of absence to those Camisards who had business to
  attend to or who desired to visit their relations。  The following is
  a copy of the form used for these passports:
  〃We; the undersigned; secretary to Brother Cavalier; generalissimo of
  the Huguenots; permit by this order given by him to absent himself on
  business for three days。
  〃(Signed DUPONT。
  〃Calvisson; this〃
  And these safe…conducts were as much respected as if they had been
  signed 〃Marechal de Villars。〃
  On the 22nd M。 de Saint…Pierre arrived from the court; bringing the
  reply of the king to the proposals which Cavalier had submitted to
  M。 de Lalande。  What this reply