madame bovary-第68部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


odours；　then　upon　the　mouth；　that　had　uttered　lies；　that　had
curled　with　pride　and　cried　out　in　lewdness；　then　upon　the　hands
that　had　delighted　in　sensual　touches；　and　finally　upon　the　soles
of　the　feet；　so　swift　of　yore；　when　she　was　running　to　satisfy
her　desires；　and　that　would　now　walk　no　more。

The　cure　wiped　his　fingers；　threw　the　bit　of　cotton　dipped　in　oil
into　the　fire；　and　came　and　sat　down　by　the　dying　woman；　to　tell
her　that　she　must　now　blend　her　sufferings　with　those　of　Jesus
Christ　and　abandon　herself　to　the　divine　mercy。

Finishing　his　exhortations；　he　tried　to　place　in　her　hand　a
blessed　candle；　symbol　of　the　celestial　glory　with　which　she　was
soon　to　be　surrounded。　Emma；　too　weak；　could　not　close　her
fingers；　and　the　taper；　but　for　Monsieur　Bournisien　would　have
fallen　to　the　ground。

However；　she　was　not　quite　so　pale；　and　her　face　had　an
expression　of　serenity　as　if　the　sacrament　had　cured　her。

The　priest　did　not　fail　to　point　this　out；　he　even　explained　to
Bovary　that　the　Lord　sometimes　prolonged　the　life　of　persons　when
he　thought　it　meet　for　their　salvation；　and　Charles　remembered
the　day　when；　so　near　death；　she　had　received　the　communion。
Perhaps　there　was　no　need　to　despair；　he　thought。

In　fact；　she　looked　around　her　slowly；　as　one　awakening　from　a
dream；　then　in　a　distinct　voice　she　asked　for　her　looking…glass；
and　remained　some　time　bending　over　it；　until　the　big　tears　fell
from　her　eyes。　Then　she　turned　away　her　head　with　a　sigh　and　fell
back　upon　the　pillows。

Her　chest　soon　began　panting　rapidly；　the　whole　of　her　tongue
protruded　from　her　mouth；　her　eyes；　as　they　rolled；　grew　paler；
like　the　two　globes　of　a　lamp　that　is　going　out；　so　that　one
might　have　thought　her　already　dead　but　for　the　fearful　labouring
of　her　ribs；　shaken　by　violent　breathing；　as　if　the　soul　were
struggling　to　free　itself。　Felicite　knelt　down　before　the
crucifix；　and　the　druggist　himself　slightly　bent　his　knees；　while
Monsieur　Canivet　looked　out　vaguely　at　the　Place。　Bournisien　had
again　begun　to　pray；　his　face　bowed　against　the　edge　of　the　bed；
his　long　black　cassock　trailing　behind　him　in　the　room。　Charles
was　on　the　other　side；　on　his　knees；　his　arms　outstretched
towards　Emma。　He　had　taken　her　hands　and　pressed　them；　shuddering
at　every　beat　of　her　heart；　as　at　the　shaking　of　a　falling　ruin。
As　the　death…rattle　became　stronger　the　priest　prayed　faster；　his
prayers　mingled　with　the　stifled　sobs　of　Bovary；　and　sometimes
all　seemed　lost　in　the　muffled　murmur　of　the　Latin　syllables　that
tolled　like　a　passing　bell。

Suddenly　on　the　pavement　was　heard　a　loud　noise　of　clogs　and　the
clattering　of　a　stick；　and　a　voice　rosea　raucous　voicethat
sang

〃Maids　an　the　warmth　of　a　summer　day
Dream　of　love　and　of　love　always〃

Emma　raised　herself　like　a　galvanised　corpse；　her　hair　undone；
her　eyes　fixed；　staring。

〃Where　the　sickle　blades　have　been；
Nannette；　gathering　ears　of　corn；
Passes　bending　down；　my　queen；
To　the　earth　where　they　were　born。〃

〃The　blind　man！〃　she　cried。　And　Emma　began　to　laugh；　an
atrocious；　frantic；　despairing　laugh；　thinking　she　saw　the
hideous　face　of　the　poor　wretch　that　stood　out　against　the
eternal　night　like　a　menace。

〃The　wind　is　strong　this　summer　day；
Her　petticoat　has　flown　away。〃

She　fell　back　upon　the　mattress　in　a　convulsion。　They　all　drew
near。　She　was　dead。



Chapter　Nine

There　is　always　after　the　death　of　anyone　a　kind　of　stupefaction；
so　difficult　is　it　to　grasp　this　advent　of　nothingness　and　to
resign　ourselves　to　believe　in　it。　But　still；　when　he　saw　that
she　did　not　move；　Charles　threw　himself　upon　her；　crying

〃Farewell！　farewell！〃

Homais　and　Canivet　dragged　him　from　the　room。

〃Restrain　yourself　〃

〃Yes。〃　said　he；　struggling；　〃I'll　be　quiet。　I'll　not　do　anything。
But　leave　me　alone。　I　want　to　see　her。　She　is　my　wife！〃

And　he　wept。

〃Cry；〃　said　the　chemist；　〃let　nature　take　her　course；　that　will
solace　you。〃

Weaker　than　a　child；　Charles　let　himself　be　led　downstairs　into
the　sitting…room；　and　Monsieur　Homais　soon　went　home。　On　the
Place　he　was　accosted　by　the　blind　man；　who；　having　dragged
himself　as　far　as　Yonville；　in　the　hope　of　getting　the
antiphlogistic　pomade；　was　asking　every　passer…by　where　the
druggist　lived。

〃There　now！　as　if　I　hadn't　got　other　fish　to　fry。　Well；　so　much
the　worse；　you　must　come　later　on。〃

And　he　entered　the　shop　hurriedly。

He　had　to　write　two　letters；　to　prepare　a　soothing　potion　for
Bovary；　to　invent　some　lie　that　would　conceal　the　poisoning；　and
work　it　up　into　an　article　for　the　〃Fanal；〃　without　counting　the
people　who　were　waiting　to　get　the　news　from　him；　and　when　the
Yonvillers　had　all　heard　his　story　of　the　arsenic　that　she　had
mistaken　for　sugar　in　making　a　vanilla　cream。　Homais　once　more
returned　to　Bovary's。

He　found　him　alone　（Monsieur　Canivet　had　left）；　sitting　in　an
arm…chair　near　the　window；　staring　with　an　idiotic　look　at　the
flags　of　the　floor。

〃Now；〃　said　the　chemist；　〃you　ought　yourself　to　fix　the　hour　for
the　ceremony。〃

〃Why？　What　ceremony？〃　Then；　in　a　stammering；　frightened　voice；
〃Oh；　no！　not　that。　No！　I　want　to　see　her　here。〃

Homais；　to　keep　himself　in　countenance；　took　up　a　water…bottle　on
the　whatnot　to　water　the　geraniums。

〃Ah！　thanks；〃　said　Charles；　〃you　are　good。〃

But　he　did　not　finish；　choking　beneath　the　crowd　of　memories　that
this　action　of　the　druggist　recalled　to　him。

Then　to　distract　him；　Homais　thought　fit　to　talk　a　little
horticulture：　plants　wanted　humidity。　Charles　bowed　his　head　in
sign　of　approbation。

〃Besides；　the　fine　days　will　soon　be　here　again。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Bovary。

The　druggist；　at　his　wit's　end；　began　softly　to　draw　aside　the
small　window…curtain。

〃Hallo！　there's　Monsieur　Tuvache　passing。〃

Charles　repeated　like　a　machine…

〃Monsieur　Tuvache　passing！〃

Homais　did　not　dare　to　speak　to　him　again　about　the　funeral
arrangements；　it　was　the　priest　who　succeeded　in　reconciling　him
to　them。

He　shut　himself　up　in　his　consulting…room；　took　a　pen；　and　after
sobbing　for　some　time；　wrote

〃I　wish　her　to　be　buried　in　her　wedding…dress；　with　white　shoes；
and　a　wreath。　Her　hair　is　to　be　spread　out　over　her　shoulders。
Three　coffins；　one　of　oak；　one　of　mahogany；　one　of　lead。　Let　no
one　say　anything　to　me。　I　shall　have　strength。　Over　all　there　is
to　be　placed　a　large　piece　of　green　velvet。　This　is　my　wish；　see
that　it　is　done。〃

The　two　men　were　much　surprised　at　Bovary's　romantic　ideas。　The
chemist　at　once　went　to　him　and　said

〃This　velvet　seems　to　me　a　superfetation。　Besides；　the　expense〃

〃What's　that　to　you？〃　cried　Charles。　〃Leave　me！　You　did　not　love
her。　Go！〃

The　priest　took　him　by　the　arm　for　a　turn　in　the　garden。　He
discoursed　on　the　vanity　of　earthly　things。　God　was　very　great；
was　very　good：　one　must　submit　to　his　decrees　without　a　murmur；
nay；　must　even　thank　him。

Charles　burst　out　into　blasphemies：　〃I　hate　your　God！〃

〃The　spirit　of　rebellion　is　still　upon　you；〃　sighed　the
ecclesiastic。

Bovary　was　far　away。　He　was　walking　with　great　strides　along　by
the　wall；　near　the　espalier；　and　he　ground　his　teeth；　he　raised
to　heaven　looks　of　malediction；　but　not　so　much　as　a　leaf
stirred。

A　fine　rain　was　falling：　Charles；　whose　chest　was　bare；　at　last
began　to　shiver；　he　went　in　and　sat　down　in　the　kitchen。

At　six　o'clock　a　noise　like　a　clatter　of　old　iron　was　heard　on
the　Place；　it　was　the　〃Hirondelle〃　coming　in；　and　he　remained
with　his　forehead　against　the　windowpane；　watching　all　the
passengers　get　out；　one　after　the　other。　Felicite　put　down　a
mattress　for　him　in　the　drawing…room。　He　threw　himself　upon　it
and　fell　asleep。

Although　a　philosopher；　Monsieur　Homais　respected　the　dead。　So
bearing　no　grudge　to　poor　Charles；　he　came　back　again　in　the
evening　to　sit　up　with　the　body；　bringing　with　him　three　volumes
and　a　pocket…book　for　taking　notes。

Monsieur　Bournisien　was　there；　and　two　large　candles　were　burning
at　the　head　of　the　bed；　that　had　been　taken　out　of　the　alcove。
The　druggist；　on　whom　the　silence　weighed；　was　not　long　before　he
began　formulating　some　regrets　about　this　〃unfortunate　young
woman。〃　and　the　priest　replied　that　there　was　nothing　to　do　now
but　pray　for　her。

〃Yet；〃　Homais　went　on；　〃one　of　two　things；　either　she　died　in　a
state　of　grace　（as　the　Church　has　it）；　and　then　she　has　no　need
of　our　prayers；　or　else　she　departed　impertinent　（that　is；　I
believe；　the　ecclesiastical　expression）；　and　then〃

Bournisien　interrupted　him；　replying　testily　that　it　was　none　the
less　necessary　to　pray。

〃But；〃　objected　the　chemist；　〃since　God　knows　all　our　needs；　what
can　be　the　good　of　prayer？〃

〃What！〃　cried　the　ecclesiastic；　〃prayer！　Why；　aren't　you　a
Christian？〃

〃Excuse　me；〃　said　Homais；　〃I　admire　Christianity。　To　begin　with；
it　enfranchised　the　slaves；　introduced　into　the　world　a
morality〃

〃That　isn't　the　question。　All　the　texts…〃

〃Oh！　oh！　As　to　texts；　look　at　history；　it；　is　known　that　all　the
texts　have　been　falsified　by　the　Jesuits。〃

Charles　came　in；　and　advancing　towards　the　bed；　slowly　drew　the
curtains。

Emma's　head　was　turned　towards　her　right　shoulder；　the　corner　of