第 7 节
作者:猜火车      更新:2021-02-21 11:56      字数:9321
  Mr。 Titmarsh; there is no subject; however solemn; but he treats it
  with flippant irreverence; and no character; however great; at whom
  he does not sneer。〃
  Ah; my dear! you are young now and enthusiastic; and your Titmarsh
  is old; very old; sad; and gray…headed。  I have seen a poor mother
  buy a halfpenny wreath at the gate of Montmartre burying…ground; and
  go with it to her little child's grave; and hang it there over the
  little humble stone; and if ever you saw me scorn the mean offering
  of the poor shabby creature; I will give you leave to be as angry as
  you will。  They say that on the passage of Napoleon's coffin down
  the Seine; old soldiers and country people walked miles from their
  villages just to catch a sight of the boat which carried his body
  and to kneel down on the shore and pray for him。  God forbid that we
  should quarrel with such prayers and sorrow; or question their
  sincerity。  Something great and good must have been in this man;
  something loving and kindly; that has kept his name so cherished in
  the popular memory; and gained him such lasting reverence and
  affection。
  But; Madam; one may respect the dead without feeling awe…stricken at
  the plumes of the hearse; and I see no reason why one should
  sympathize with the train of mutes and undertakers; however deep may
  be their mourning。  Look; I pray you; at the manner in which the
  French nation has performed Napoleon's funeral。  Time out of mind;
  nations have raised; in memory of their heroes; august mausoleums;
  grand pyramids; splendid statues of gold or marble; sacrificing
  whatever they had that was most costly and rare; or that was most
  beautiful in art; as tokens of their respect and love for the dead
  person。  What a fine example of this sort of sacrifice is that
  (recorded in a book of which Simplicity is the great characteristic)
  of the poor woman who brought her pot of precious ointmenther all;
  and laid it at the feet of the Object which; upon earth; she most
  loved and respected。  〃Economists and calculators〃 there were even
  in those days who quarrelled with the manner in which the poor woman
  lavished so much 〃capital;〃 but you will remember how nobly and
  generously the sacrifice was appreciated; and how the economists
  were put to shame。
  With regard to the funeral ceremony that has just been performed
  here; it is said that a famous public personage and statesman;
  Monsieur Thiers indeed; spoke with the bitterest indignation of the
  general style of the preparations; and of their mean and tawdry
  character。  He would have had a pomp as magnificent; he said; as
  that of Rome at the triumph of Aurelian: he would have decorated the
  bridges and avenues through which the procession was to pass; with
  the costliest marbles and the finest works of art; and have had them
  to remain there for ever as monuments of the great funeral。
  The economists and calculators might here interpose with a great
  deal of reason; for; indeed; there was no reason why a nation should
  impoverish itself to do honor to the memory of an individual for
  whom; after all; it can feel but a qualified enthusiasm: but it
  surely might have employed the large sum voted for the purpose more
  wisely and generously; and recorded its respect for Napoleon by some
  worthy and lasting memorial; rather than have erected yonder
  thousand vain heaps of tinsel; paint; and plaster; that are already
  cracking and crumbling in the frost; at three days old。
  Scarcely one of the statues; indeed; deserves to last a month: some
  are odious distortions and caricatures; which never should have been
  allowed to stand for a moment。  On the very day of the fete; the
  wind was shaking the canvas pedestals; and the flimsy wood…work had
  begun to gape and give way。  At a little distance; to be sure; you
  could not see the cracks; and pedestals and statues LOOKED like
  marble。  At some distance; you could not tell but that the wreaths
  and eagles were gold embroidery; and not gilt paperthe great
  tricolor flags damask; and not striped calico。  One would think that
  these sham splendors betokened sham respect; if one had not known
  that the name of Napoleon is held in real reverence; and observed
  somewhat of the character of the nation。  Real feelings they have;
  but they distort them by exaggeration; real courage; which they
  render ludicrous by intolerable braggadocio; and I think the above
  official account of the Prince de Joinville's proceedings; of the
  manner in which the Emperor's remains have been treated in their
  voyage to the capital; and of the preparations made to receive him
  in it; will give my dear Miss Smith some means of understanding the
  social and moral condition of this worthy people of France。
  III。
  ON THE FUNERAL CEREMONY。
  Shall I tell you; my dear; that when Francois woke me at a very
  early hour on this eventful morning; while the keen stars were still
  glittering overhead; a half…moon; as sharp as a razor; beaming in
  the frosty sky; and a wicked north wind blowing; that blew the blood
  out of one's fingers and froze your leg as you put it out of bed;
  shall I tell you; my dear; that when Francois called me; and said;
  〃V'la vot' cafe; Monsieur Titemasse; buvez…le; tiens; il est tout
  chaud;〃 I felt myself; after imbibing the hot breakfast; so
  comfortable under three blankets and a mackintosh; that for at least
  a quarter of an hour no man in Europe could say whether Titmarsh
  would or would not be present at the burial of the Emperor Napoleon。
  Besides; my dear; the cold; there was another reason for doubting。
  Did the French nation; or did they not; intend to offer up some of
  us English over the imperial grave?  And were the games to be
  concluded by a massacre?  It was said in the newspapers that Lord
  Granville had despatched circulars to all the English resident in
  Paris; begging them to keep their homes。  The French journals
  announced this news; and warned us charitably of the fate intended
  for us。  Had Lord Granville written?  Certainly not to me。  Or had
  he written to all EXCEPT ME?  And was I THE VICTIMthe doomed one?
  to be seized directly I showed my face in the Champs Elysees; and
  torn in pieces by French Patriotism to the frantic chorus of the
  〃Marseillaise?〃  Depend on it; Madam; that high and low in this city
  on Tuesday were not altogether at their ease; and that the bravest
  felt no small tremor!  And be sure of this; that as his Majesty
  Louis Philippe took his nightcap off his royal head that morning; he
  prayed heartily that he might; at night; put it on in safety。
  Well; as my companion and I came out of doors; being bound for the
  Church of the Invalides; for which a Deputy had kindly furnished us
  with tickets; we saw the very prettiest sight of the whole day; and
  I can't refrain from mentioning it to my dear; tender…hearted Miss
  Smith。
  In the same house where I live (but about five stories nearer the
  ground) lodges an English family; consisting of  1。  A great…
  grandmother; a hale; handsome old lady of seventy; the very best…
  dressed and neatest old lady in Paris。  2。  A grandfather and
  grandmother; tolerably young to bear that title。  3。  A daughter。
  And 4。  Two little great…grand; or grandchildren; that may be of the
  age of three and one; and belong to a son and daughter who are in
  India。  The grandfather; who is as proud of his wife as he was
  thirty years ago when he married; and pays her compliments still
  twice or thrice in a day; and when he leads her into a room looks
  round at the persons assembled; and says in his heart; 〃Here;
  gentlemen; here is my wifeshow me such another woman in England;〃
  this gentleman had hired a room on the Champs Elysees; for he would
  not have his wife catch cold by exposing her to the balconies in the
  open air。
  When I came to the street; I found the family assembled in the
  following order of march:
  No。 1; the great…grandmother walking daintily along; supported by
  No。 3; her granddaughter。
  A nurse carrying No。 4 junior; who was sound asleep: and a huge
  basket containing saucepans; bottles of milk; parcels of infants'
  food; certain dimity napkins; a child's coral; and a little horse
  belonging to No。 4 senior。
  A servant bearing a basket of condiments。
  No。 2; grandfather; spick and span; clean shaved; hat brushed;
  white buckskin gloves; bamboo cane; brown great…coat; walking as
  upright and solemn as may be; having his lady on his arm。
  No。 4; senior; with mottled legs and a tartan costume; who was
  frisking about between his grandpapa's legs; who heartily wished him
  at home。
  〃My dear;〃 his face seemed to say to his lady; 〃I think you might
  have left the little things in the nursery; for we shall have to
  squeeze through a terrible crowd in the Champs Elysees。〃
  The lady was going out for a day's pleasure; and her face was full
  of care: she had to look first after her old mother who was walking
  ahead; then