第 59 节
作者:想聊      更新:2021-02-19 01:11      字数:9322
  sofa。 We all four turned to each other looks in which admiration for
  that celestial beauty mingled with tears of mourning。 The lights of
  thought announced the return of the Divine Spirit to that glorious
  tabernacle。
  The Abbe Dominis and I spoke in signs; communicating to each other our
  mutual ideas。 Yes; the angels were watching her! yes; their flaming
  swords shone above that noble brow; which the august expression of her
  virtue made; as it were; a visible soul conversing with the spirits of
  its sphere。 The lines of her face cleared; all in her was exalted and
  became majestic beneath the unseen incense of the seraphs who guarded
  her。 The green tints of bodily suffering gave place to pure white
  tones; the cold wan pallor of approaching death。 Jacques and Madeleine
  entered。 Madeleine made us quiver by the adoring impulse which flung
  her on her knees beside the bed; crying out; with clasped hand: 〃My
  mother! here is my mother!〃 Jacques smiled; he knew he would follow
  her where she went。
  〃She is entering the haven;〃 said the Abbe Birotteau。
  The Abbe Dominis looked at me as if to say: 〃Did I not tell you the
  star would rise in all its glory?〃
  Madeleine knelt with her eyes fixed on her mother; breathing when she
  breathed; listening to the soft breath; the last thread by which she
  held to life; and which we followed in terror; fearing that every
  effort of respiration might be the last。 Like an angel at the gates of
  the sanctuary; the young girl was eager yet calm; strong but reverent。
  At that moment the Angelus rang from the village clock…tower。 Waves of
  tempered air brought its reverberations to remind us that this was the
  sacred hour when Christianity repeats the words said by the angel to
  the woman who has redeemed the faults of her sex。 〃Ave Maria!〃
  surely; at this moment the words were a salutation from heaven。 The
  prophecy was so plain; the event so near that we burst into tears。 The
  murmuring sounds of evening; melodious breezes in the leafage; last
  warbling of the birds; the hum and echo of the insects; the voices of
  the waters; the plaintive cry of the tree…frog;all country things
  were bidding farewell to the loveliest lily of the valley; to her
  simple; rural life。 The religious poesy of the hour; now added to that
  of Nature; expressed so vividly the psalm of the departing soul that
  our sobs redoubled。
  Though the door of the chamber was open we were all so plunged in
  contemplation of the scene; as if to imprint its memories forever on
  our souls; that we did not notice the family servants who were
  kneeling as a group and praying fervently。 These poor people; living
  on hope; had believed their mistress might be spared; and this plain
  warning overcame them。 At a sign from the Abbe Birotteau the old
  huntsman went to fetch the curate of Sache。 The doctor; standing by
  the bed; calm as science; and holding the hand of the still sleeping
  woman; had made the confessor a sign to say that this sleep was the
  only hour without pain which remained for the recalled angel。 The
  moment had come to administer the last sacraments of the Church。 At
  nine o'clock she awoke quietly; looked at us with surprised but gentle
  eyes; and we beheld our idol once more in all the beauty of former
  days。
  〃Mother! you are too beautiful to dielife and health are coming back
  to you!〃 cried Madeleine。
  〃Dear daughter; I shall livein thee;〃 she answered; smiling。
  Then followed heart…rending embraces of the mother and her children。
  Monsieur de Mortsauf kissed his wife upon her brow。 She colored when
  she saw me。
  〃Dear Felix;〃 she said; 〃this is; I think; the only grief that I shall
  ever have caused you。 Forget all that I may have said;I; a poor
  creature much beside myself。〃 She held out her hand; I took it and
  kissed it。 Then she said; with her chaste and gracious smile; 〃As in
  the old days; Felix?〃
  We all left the room and went into the salon during the last
  confession。 I approached Madeleine。 In presence of others she could
  not escape me without a breach of civility; but; like her mother; she
  looked at no one; and kept silence without even once turning her eyes
  in my direction。
  〃Dear Madeleine;〃 I said in a low voice; 〃What have you against me?
  Why do you show such coldness in the presence of death; which ought to
  reconcile us all?〃
  〃I hear in my heart what my mother is saying at this moment;〃 she
  replied; with a look which Ingres gave to his 〃Mother of God;〃that
  virgin; already sorrowful; preparing herself to protect the world for
  which her son was about to die。
  〃And you condemn me at the moment when your mother absolves me;if
  indeed I am guilty。〃
  〃You; YOU;〃 she said; 〃always YOUR SELF!〃
  The tones of her voice revealed the determined hatred of a Corsican;
  implacable as the judgments of those who; not having studied life;
  admit of no extenuation of faults committed against the laws of the
  heart。
  An hour went by in deepest silence。 The Abbe Birotteau came to us
  after receiving the countess's general confession; and we followed him
  back to the room where Henriette; under one of those impulses which
  often come to noble minds; all sisters of one intent; had made them
  dress her in the long white garment which was to be her shroud。 We
  found her sitting up; beautiful from expiation; beautiful in hope。 I
  saw in the fireplace the black ashes of my letters which had just been
  burned; a sacrifice which; as her confessor afterwards told me; she
  had not been willing to make until the hour of her death。 She smiled
  upon us all with the smile of other days。 Her eyes; moist with tears;
  gave evidence of inward lucidity; she saw the celestial joys of the
  promised land。
  〃Dear Felix;〃 she said; holding out her hand and pressing mine; 〃stay
  with us。 You must be present at the last scene of my life; not the
  least painful among many such; but one in which you are concerned。〃
  She made a sign and the door was closed。 At her request the count sat
  down; the Abbe Birotteau and I remained standing。 Then with Manette's
  help the countess rose and knelt before the astonished count;
  persisting in remaining there。 A moment after; when Manette had left
  the room; she raised her head which she had laid upon her husband's
  knees。
  〃Though I have been a faithful wife to you;〃 she said; in a faint
  voice; 〃I have sometimes failed in my duty。 I have just prayed to God
  to give me strength to ask your pardon。 I have given to a friendship
  outside of my family more affectionate care than I have shown to you。
  Perhaps I have sometimes irritated you by the comparisons you may have
  made between these cares; these thoughts; and those I gave to you。 I
  have had;〃 she said; in a sinking voice; 〃a deep friendship; which no
  one; not even he who has been its object; has fully known。 Though I
  have continued virtuous according to all human laws; though I have
  been a irreproachable wife to you; still other thoughts; voluntary or
  involuntary; have often crossed my mind and; in this hour; I fear I
  have welcomed them too warmly。 But as I have tenderly loved you; and
  continued to be your submissive wife; and as the clouds passing
  beneath the sky do not alter its purity; I now pray for your blessing
  with a clean heart。 I shall die without one bitter thought if I can
  hear from your lips a tender word for your Blanche; for the mother of
  your children;if I know that you forgive her those things for which
  she did not forgive herself till reassured by the great tribunal which
  pardons all。〃
  〃Blanche; Blanche!〃 cried the broken man; shedding tears upon his
  wife's head; 〃Would you kill me?〃 He raised her with a strength
  unusual to him; kissed her solemnly on the forehead; and thus holding
  her continued: 〃Have I no forgiveness to ask of you? Have I never been
  harsh? Are you not making too much of your girlish scruples?〃
  〃Perhaps;〃 she said。 〃But; dear friend; indulge the weakness of a
  dying woman; tranquillize my mind。 When you reach this hour you will
  remember that I left you with a blessing。 Will you grant me permission
  to leave to our friend now here that pledge of my affection?〃 she
  continued; showing a letter that was on the mantelshelf。 〃He is now my
  adopted son; and that is all。 The heart; dear friend; makes its
  bequests; my last wishes impose a sacred duty on that dear Felix。 I
  think I do not put too great a burden on him; grant that I do not ask
  too much of you in desiring to leave him these last words。 You see; I
  am always a woman;〃 she said; bending her head with mournful
  sweetness; 〃after obtaining pardon I ask a giftRead this;〃 she
  added; giving me the letter; 〃but not until after my death。〃
  The count saw her color change: he lifted her and carried her himself
  to the bed; where we all surrounded her。
  〃Felix;〃 she said; 〃I may have done something wrong to you。 Often I
  gave you pain by letting you hope for that I could not give you; b