the crime of sylvestre bonnard(西维斯特·博拉德的罪行)-第6部分
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water sprinklers with which tow rival 〃rats d'eglise〃 seemed desirous of
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
barring my way。
At all events it was certainly my own Alexander！ there could be no
more doubt possible； the translator of the 〃Golden Legend；〃 the author of
the saints lives of Saints Germain； Vincent； Ferreol； Ferrution； and
Droctoveus was； just as I had supposed； a monk of Saint…Germain…des…
Pres。 And what a monk； toopious and generous！ He had a silver chin； a
silver head； and a silver foot made； that certain precious remains should be
covered with an incorruptible envelope！ But shall I never be able to view
his handiwork？ or is this new discovery only destined to increase my
regrets？
August 20； 1859。
〃I； that please some； try all； both joy and terror Of good and bad； that
make and unfold error Now take upon me； in the name of Time To use
my wings。 Impute it not a crime To me or my swift passage； that I slide
O'er years。〃
Who speaks thus？ 'Tis an old man whom I know too well。 It is Time。
Shakespeare； after having terminated the third act of the 〃Winter's
Tale；〃 pauses in order to leave time for little Perdita to grow up in wisdom
and in beauty； and when he raises the curtain again he evokes the ancient
Scythe…bearer upon the stage to render account to the audience of those
many long days which have weighted down upon the head of the jealous
Leontes。
Like Shakespeare in his play； I have left in this diary of mine a long
interval to oblivion； and after the fashion of the poet； I make Time himself
intervene to explain the omission of ten whole years。 Ten whole years；
indeed； have passed since I wrote one single line in this diary； and now
that I take up the pen again； I have not the pleasure； alas！ to describe a
Perdita 〃now grown in grace。〃 Youth and beauty are the faithful
companions of poets； but those charming phantoms scarcely visit the rest
of us； even for the space of a season。 We do not know how to retain them
with us。 If the fair shade of some Perdita should ever； through some
inconceivable whim； take a notion to traverse my brain； she would hurt
herself horribly against heaps of dog…eared parchments。 Happy the poets！
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
their white hairs never scare away the hovering shades of Helens；
Francescas； Juliets； Julias； and Dorotheas！ But the nose alone of Sylvestre
Bonnard would put to flight the whole swarm of love's heroines。
Yet I； like others； have felt beauty； I have known that mysterious
charm which Nature has lent to animate form； and the clay which lives has
given to me that shudder of delight which makes the lover and the poet。
But I have never known either how to love or how to sing。 Now in my
memoryall encumbered as it is with the rubbish of old textsI can
discern again； like a miniature forgotten in some attic； a certain bright
young face； with violet eyes。。。。 Why； Bonnard； my friend； what an old fool
you are becoming！ Read that catalogue which a Florentine bookseller sent
you this very morning。 It is a catalogue of Manuscripts； and he promises
you a description of several famous ones； long preserved by the collectors
of Italy and Sicily。 There is something better suited to you； something
more in keeping with your present appearance。
I read； I cry out！ Hamilcar； who has assumed with the approach of age
an air of gravity that intimidates me； looks at me reproachfully； and seems
to ask me whether there is any rest in this world； since he cannot enjoy it
beside me； who am old also like himself。
In the sudden joy of my discovery； I need a confidant； and it is to the
sceptic Hamilcar that I address myself with all the effusion of a happy
man。
〃No； Hamilcar！ no；〃 I said to him； 〃there is no rest in this world； and
the quietude which you long for is incompatible with the duties of life。
And you say that we are old； indeed！ Listen to what I read in this
catalogue； and then tell me whether this is a time to be reposing：
〃'LA LEGENDE DOREE DE JACQUES DE VORAGINE；trduction
francaise du quatorzieme sicle； par le Clerc Alexandre。
〃'Superb MS。； ornamented with two miniatures； wonderfully executed；
and in a perfect state of preservation：one representing the Purification of
the Virgin； the other the Coronation of Proserpine。
〃'At the termination of the 〃Legende Doree〃 are the Legends of Saints
Ferreol； Ferrution； Germain； and Droctoveus （xxxviij pp。） and the
Miraculous Sepulture of Monsieur Saint…Germain d'Auxerre （xij pp。）。
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〃'This rare manuscript； which formed part of the collection of Sir
Thomas Raleigh； is now in the private study of Signor Michel…Angelo
Polizzi； of Girgenti。'〃
〃You hear that； Hamilcar？ The manuscript of the Clerk Alexander is in
Sicily； at the house of Michel…Angelo Polizzi。 Heaven grant he may be a
friend of learned men！ I am going to write him！〃
Which I did forthwith。 In my letter I requested Signor Polizzi to allow
me to examine the manuscript of Clerk Alexander； stating on what
grounds I ventured to consider myself worthy of so great a favour。 I
offered at the same time to put at his disposal several unpublished texts in
my own possession； not devoid of interest。 I begged him to favour me with
a prompt reply； and below my signature I wrote down all my honorary
titles。
〃Monsieur！ Monsieur！ where are you running like that？〃 cried Therese；
quite alarmed； coming down the stairs in pursuit of me； four steps at a time；
with my hat in her hand。
〃I am going to post a letter； Therese。〃
〃Good God！ is that a way to run out in the street； bareheaded； like a
crazy man？〃
〃I am crazy； I know； Therese。 But who is not？ Give me my hat； quick！〃
〃And your gloves； Monsieur！ and your umbrella！〃
I had reached the bottom of the stairs； but still heard her protesting and
lamenting。
October 10； 1859。
I awaited Signor Polizzi's reply with ill…contained impatience。 I could
not even remain quiet； I would make sudden nervous gestures open
books and violently close them again。 One day I happened to upset a book
with my elbowa volume of Moreri。 Hamilcar； who was washing himself；
suddenly stopped； and looked angrily at me； with his paw over his ear。
Was this the tumultuous existence he must expect under my roof？ Had
there not been a tacit understanding between us that we should live a
peaceful life？ I had broken the covenant。
〃My poor dear comrade；〃 I made answer； 〃I am the victim of a violent
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The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
passion； which agitates and masters me。 The passions are enemies of peace
and quiet； I acknowledge； but without them there would be no arts or
industries in the world。 Everybody would sleep naked on a dung…heap； and
you would not be able； Hamilcar； to repose all day on a silken cushion； in
the City of Books。〃
I expatiated no further to Hamilcar on the theory of the passions；
however； because my housekeeper brought me a letter。 It bore the
postmark of Naples and read as follows：
〃Most Illustrious Sir；I do indeed possess that incomparable
manuscript of the 'Golden Legend' which could not escape your keen
observation。 All…important reasons； however； forbid me； imperiously；
tyrannically； to let the manuscript go out of my possession for a single day；
for even a single minute。 It will be a joy and pride for me to have you
examine it in my humble home in Girgenti； which will be embellished and
illuminated by your presence。 It is with the most anxious expectation of
yo
