droll stories-3-第2部分
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the author's naive confession。
Certain evil…disposed people will still cry out at this； but can you
find a man perfectly contented on this lump of mud？ Is it not a shame？
In this the author has wisely comported himself in imitation of a
higher power； and he proves it by /atqui/。 Listen。 Is it not most
clearly demonstrated to the learned that the sovereign Lord of worlds
has made an infinite number of heavy； weighty； and serious machines
with great wheels； large chains； terrible notches； and frightfully
complicated screws and weights like the roasting jack； but also has
amused Himself with little trifles and grotesque things light as
zephyrs； and has made also naive and pleasant creations； at which you
laugh directly you see them？ Is it not so？ Then in all eccentric
works； such as the very spacious edifice undertaken by the author； in
order to model himself upon the laws of the above…named Lord； it is
necessary to fashion certain delicate flowers； pleasant insects； fine
dragons well twisted； imbricated； and colourednay； even gilt；
although he is often short of goldand throw them at the feet of his
snow…clad mountains； piles of rocks； and other cloud…capped
philosophers； long and terrible works； marble columns； real thoughts
carved in porphyry。
Ah！ unclean beasts； who despise and repudiate the figures； phantasies；
harmonies； and roulades of the fair muse of drollery； will you not
pare your claws； so that you may never again scratch her white skin；
all azure with veins； her amorous reins； her flanks of surpassing
elegance； her feet that stay modestly in bed； her satin face； her
lustrous features； her heart devoid of bitterness？ Ah！ wooden…heads；
what will you say when you find that this merry lass springs from the
heart of France； agrees with all that is womanly in nature； has been
saluted with a polite /Ave/！ by the angels in the person of their
spokesman； Mercury； and finally； is the clearest quintessence of Art。
In this work are to be met with necessity； virtue； whim； the desire of
a woman； the votive offering of a stout Pantagruelist； all are here。
Hold your peace； then； drink to the author； and let his inkstand with
the double cup endow the Gay Science with a hundred glorious Droll
Tales。
Stand back then； curs； strike up the music！ Silence； bigots； out of
the way； dunces！ step forward my merry wags！my little pages！ give
your soft hand to the ladies； and tickle theirs in the centre in a
pretty manner； saying to them； 〃Read to laugh。〃 Afterwards you can
tell them some mere jest to make them roar； since when they are
laughing their lips are apart； and they make but a faint resistance to
love。
PERSEVERANCE IN LOVE
During the first years of the thirteenth century after the coming of
our Divine Saviour there happened in the City of Paris an amorous
adventure； through the deed of a man of Tours； of which the town and
even the king's court was never tired of speaking。 As to the clergy；
you will see by that which is related the part they played in this
history； the testimony of which was by them preserved。 This said man；
called the Touranian by the common people； because he had been born in
our merry Touraine； had for his true name that of Anseau。 In his
latter days the good man returned into his own country and was mayor
of St。 Martin； according to the chronicles of the abbey of that town；
but at Paris he was a great silversmith。
But now in his prime； by his great honesty； his labours； and so forth；
he became a citizen of Paris and subject of the king； whose protection
he bought； according to the custom of the period。 He had a house built
for him free of all quit…rent； close the Church of St。 Leu； in the Rue
St。 Denis； where his forge was well…known by those in want of fine
jewels。 Although he was a Touranian； and had plenty of spirit and
animation； he kept himself virtuous as a true saint； in spite of the
blandishments of the city； and had passed the days of his green season
without once dragging his good name through the mire。 Many will say
this passes the bounds of that faculty of belief which God has placed
in us to aid that faith due to the mysteries of our holy religion； so
it is needful to demonstrate abundantly the secret cause of this
silversmith's chastity。 And； first remember that he came into the town
on foot； poor as Job； according to the old saying； and unlike all the
inhabitants of our part of the country； who have but one passion； he
had a character of iron； and persevered in the path he had chosen as
steadily as a monk in vengeance。 As a workman； he laboured from morn
to night； become a master； he laboured still； always learning new
secrets； seeking new receipts； and in seeking； meeting with inventions
of all kinds。 Late idlers； watchmen； and vagrants saw always a modest
lamp shining through the silversmith's window； and the good man
tapping； sculpting； rounding； distilling； modeling； and finishing；
with his apprentices； his door closed and his ears open。 Poverty
engendered hard work； hard work engendered his wonderful virtue； and
his virtue engendered his great wealth。 Take this to heart； ye
children of Cain who eat doubloons and micturate water。 If the good
silversmith felt himself possessed with wild desires； which now in one
way； now another； seize upon an unhappy bachelor when the devil tries
to get hold of him； making the sign of the cross； the Touranian
hammered away at his metal； drove out the rebellious spirits from his
brain by bending down over the exquisite works of art； little
engravings； figures of gold and silver forms； with which he appeased
the anger of his Venus。 Add to this that this Touranian was an artless
man； of simple understanding； fearing God above all things； then
robbers； next to that of nobles； and more than all； a disturbance。
Although if he had two hands； he never did more than one thing at a
time。 His voice was as gentle as that of a bridegroom before marriage。
Although the clergy； the military； and others gave him no reputation
for knowledge； he knew well his mother's Latin； and spoke it correctly
without waiting to be asked。 Latterly the Parisians had taught him to
walk uprightly； not to beat the bush for others； to measure his
passions by the rule of his revenues； not to let them take his leather
to make other's shoes； to trust no one farther then he could see them；
never to say what he did； and always to do what he said； never to
spill anything but water； to have a better memory than flies usually
have； to keep his hands to himself； to do the same with his purse； to
avoid a crowd at the corner of a street； and sell his jewels for more
than they cost him； all things； the sage observance of which gave him
as much wisdom as he had need of to do business comfortably and
pleasantly。 And so he did； without troubling anyone else。 And watching
this good little man unobserved； many said；
〃By my faith； I should like to be this jeweller； even were I obliged
to splash myself up to the eyes with the mud of Paris during a hundred
years for it。〃
They might just as well have wished to be king of France； seeing that
the silversmith had great powerful nervous arms； so wonderfully strong
that when he closed his fist the cleverest trick of the roughest
fellow could not open it； from which you may be sure that whatever he
got hold of he stuck to。 More than this； he had teeth fit to masticate
iron； a stomach to dissolve it； a duodenum to digest it； a sphincter
to let it out again without tearing； and shoulders that would bear a
universe upon them； like that pagan gentleman to whom the job was
confided； and whom the timely arrival of Jesus Christ discharged from
the duty。 He was； in fact； a man made with one stroke； and they are
the best； for those who have to be touched are worth nothing； being
patched up and finished at odd times。 In short； Master Anseau was a
thorough man； with a lion's face； and under his eyebrows a glance that
would melt his gold if the fire of his forge had gone out； but a
limpid water placed in his eyes by the great Moderator of all things
tempered this great ardour； without which he would have burnt up
everything。 Was he not a splendid specimen of a man？
With such a sample of his cardinal virtues； some persist in asking why
the good silversmith remained as unmarried as an oyster； seeing that
these properties of nature are of good use in all places。 But these
opinionated critics； do they know what it is to love？ Ho！ Ho！ Easy！
The vocation of a lover is to go； to come； to listen； to watch； to
hold his tongue； to talk； to stick in a corner； to make himself big；
to make himself little； to agree； to play music； to drudge； to go to
the devil wherever he may be； to count the gray peas in the dovecote；
to find flowers under the snow； to say paternosters to the moon； to
pat the cat and pat the dog； to salute the friends； to flatter the
gout； or the cold o
