CHAPTER II

    THECARNIVAL
    February20th
    Whatanoiseoutofdoors!Whatisthemeaningoftheseshoutsandcries?Ah!Irecollect:thisisthelastdayoftheCarnival,andthemaskersarepassing.
    Christianityhasnotbeenabletoabolishthenoisybacchanalianfestivalsofthepagantimes,butithaschangedthenames.Thatwhichithasgiventothese"daysofliberty"announcestheendingofthefeasts,andthemonthoffastingwhichshouldfollow;carn-ivalmeans,literally,"farewelltoflesh!"Itisafortydaysfarewelltothe"blessedpulletsandfathams,"socelebratedbyPantagruelsminstrel.
    Manpreparesforprivationbysatiety,andfinisheshissinthoroughlybeforehebeginstorepent.
    Why,inallagesandamongeverypeople,dowemeetwithsomeoneofthesemadfestivals?Mustwebelievethatitrequiressuchaneffortformentobereasonable,thattheweakeroneshaveneedofrestatintervals?ThemonksofLaTrappe,whoarecondemnedtosilencebytheirrule,areallowedtospeakonceinamonth,andonthisdaytheyalltalkatoncefromtherisingtothesettingofthesun.
    Perhapsitisthesameintheworld.Asweareobligedalltheyeartobedecent,orderly,andreasonable,wemakeupforsuchalongrestraintduringtheCarnival.Itisadooropenedtotheincongruousfanciesandwishesthathavehithertobeencrowdedbackintoacornerofourbrain.
    Foramomenttheslavesbecomethemasters,asinthedaysoftheSaturnalia,andallisgivenuptothe"foolsofthefamily."
    Theshoutsinthesquareredouble;thetroopsofmasksincrease——onfoot,incarriages,andonhorseback.Itisnowwhocanattractthemostattentionbymakingafigureforafewhours,orbyexcitingcuriosityorenvy;to-morrowtheywillallreturn,dullandexhausted,totheemploymentsandtroublesofyesterday.
    Alas!thoughtIwithvexation,eachofusislikethesemasqueraders;ourwholelifeisoftenbutanunsightlyCarnival!Andyetmanhasneedofholidays,torelaxhismind,resthisbody,andopenhisheart.Canhenothavethem,then,withthesecoarsepleasures?Economistshavebeenlonginquiringwhatisthebestdisposaloftheindustryofthehumanrace.Ah!ifIcouldonlydiscoverthebestdisposalofitsleisure!Itiseasyenoughtofinditwork;butwhowillfinditrelaxation?Worksuppliesthedailybread;butitischeerfulnessthatgivesitarelish.Ophilosophers!goinquestofpleasure!findusamusementswithoutbrutality,enjoymentswithoutselfishness;inaword,inventaCarnivalthatwillpleaseeverybody,andbringshametonoone.
    Threeoclock——Ihavejustshutmywindow,andstirredupmyfire.Asthisisaholidayforeverybody,Iwillmakeitoneformyself,too.SoIlightthelittlelampoverwhich,ongrandoccasions,ImakeacupofthecoffeethatmyportressssonbroughtfromtheLevant,andIlookinmybookcaseforoneofmyfavoriteauthors.
    First,hereistheamusingparsonofMeudon;buthischaractersaretoofondoftalkingslang:——Voltaire;buthedisheartensmenbyalwaysbanteringthem:——Moliere;buthehindersoneslaughterbymakingonethink:——Lesage;letusstopathim.Beingprofoundratherthangrave,hepreachesvirtuewhileridiculingvice;ifbitternessissometimestobefoundinhiswritings,itisalwaysinthegarbofmirth:heseesthemiseriesoftheworldwithoutdespisingit,andknowsitscowardlytrickswithouthatingit.
    LetuscallupalltheheroesofhisbookGilBlas,Fabrice,Sangrado,theArchbishopofGranada,theDukeofLerma,Aurora,Scipio!
    Yegayorgracefulfigures,risebeforemyeyes,peoplemysolitude;bringhitherformyamusementtheworld-carnival,ofwhichyouarethebrilliantmaskers!
    Unfortunately,attheverymomentImadethisinvocation,IrecollectedIhadalettertowritewhichcouldnotbeputoff.Oneofmyatticneighborscameyesterdaytoaskmetodoit.Heisacheerfuloldman,andhasapassionforpicturesandprints.Hecomeshomealmosteverydaywithadrawingorpainting——probablyoflittlevalue;forIknowhelivespenuriously,andeventheletterthatIamtowriteforhimshowshispoverty.Hisonlyson,whowasmarriedinEngland,isjustdead,andhiswidow——leftwithoutanymeans,andwithanoldmotherandachild——hadwrittentobegforahome.M.Antoineaskedmefirsttotranslatetheletter,andthentowritearefusal.Ihadpromisedthatheshouldhavethisanswerto-day:beforeeverything,letusfulfilourpromises.
    Thesheetof"Bath"paperisbeforeme,Ihavedippedmypenintotheink,andIrubmyforeheadtoinviteforthasallyofideas,whenIperceivethatIhavenotmydictionary.Now,aParisianwhowouldspeakEnglishwithoutadictionaryislikeachildwithoutleading-strings;thegroundtremblesunderhim,andhestumblesatthefirststep.Irunthentothebookbinders,whereIleftmyJohnson,wholivesclosebyinthesquare.
    Thedoorishalfopen;Ihearlowgroans;Ienterwithoutknocking,andIseethebookbinderbythebedsideofhisfellow-lodger.Thislatterhasaviolentfeveranddelirium.Pierrelooksathimperplexedandoutofhumor.Ilearnfromhimthathiscomradewasnotabletogetupinthemorning,andthatsincethenhehasbecomeworseeveryhour.
    Iaskwhethertheyhavesentforadoctor.
    "Oh,yes,indeed!"repliedPierre,roughly;"onemusthavemoneyinonespocketforthat,andthisfellowhasonlydebtsinsteadofsavings."
    "Butyou,"saidI,ratherastonished;"areyounothisfriend?"
    "Friend!"interruptedthebookbinder."Yes,asmuchastheshaft-horseisfriendtotheleader——onconditionthateachwilltakehisshareofthedraught,andeathisfeedbyhimself."
    "Youdonotintend,however,toleavehimwithoutanyhelp?"
    "Bah!hemaykeepinhisbedtillto-morrow,asImgoingtotheball."
    "Youmeantoleavehimalone?"
    "Well!mustImissapartyofpleasureatCourtville——[AParisiansummerresort.]——becausethisfellowislightheaded?"askedPierre,sharply.
    "IhavepromisedtomeetsomefriendsatoldDesnoyers.Thosewhoaresickmaytaketheirbroth;myphysiciswhitewine."
    Sosaying,heuntiedabundle,outofwhichhetookthefancycostumeofawaterman,andproceededtodresshimselfinit.
    InvainItriedtoawakensomefellow-feelingfortheunfortunatemanwholaygroaningthereclosebyhim;beingentirelytakenupwiththethoughtsofhisexpectedpleasure,Pierrewouldhardlysomuchashearme.Atlasthiscoarseselfishnessprovokedme.Ibeganreproachinginsteadofremonstratingwithhim,andIdeclaredhimresponsiblefortheconsequenceswhichsuchadesertionmustbringuponthesickman.
    Atthisthebookbinder,whowasjustgoing,stoppedwithanoath,andstampedhisfoot."AmItospendmyCarnivalinheatingwaterforfootbaths,pray?"
    "Youmustnotleaveyourcomradetodiewithouthelp!"Ireplied.
    "Lethimgotothehospital,then!"
    "Howcanhebyhimself?"
    Pierreseemedtomakeuphismind.
    "Well,Imgoingtotakehim,"resumedhe;"besides,Ishallgetridofhimsooner.Come,getup,comrade!"Heshookhiscomrade,whohadnottakenoffhisclothes.Iobservedthathewastooweaktowalk,butthebookbinderwouldnotlisten:hemadehimgetup,andhalfdragged,halfsupportedhimtothelodgeoftheporter,whoranforahackneycarriage.
    Isawthesickmangetintoit,almostfainting,withtheimpatientwaterman;andtheybothsetoff,oneperhapstodie,theothertodineatCourtvilleGardens!
    Sixoclock——Ihavebeentoknockatmyneighborsdoor,whoopenedithimself;andIhavegivenhimhisletter,finishedatlast,anddirectedtohissonswidow.M.Antoinethankedmegratefully,andmademesitdown.
    ItwasthefirsttimeIhadbeenintotheatticoftheoldamateur.
    Curtainsstainedwithdampandhangingdowninrags,acoldstove,abedofstraw,twobrokenchairs,composedallthefurniture.Attheendoftheroomwereagreatnumberofprintsinaheap,andpaintingswithoutframesturnedagainstthewall.
    AtthemomentIcamein,theoldmanwasmakinghisdinneronsomehardcrustsofbread,whichhewassoakinginaglassofeausucree.Heperceivedthatmyeyesfelluponhishermitfare,andhelookedalittleashamed.
    "Thereisnothingtotemptyouinmysupper,neighbor,"saidhe,withasmile.
    IrepliedthatatleastIthoughtitaveryphilosophicalonefortheCarnival.
    M.Antoineshookhishead,andwentonagainwithhissupper.
    "Everyonekeepshisholidaysinhisownway,"resumedhe,beginningagaintodipacrustintohisglass."Thereareseveralsortsofepicures,andnotallfeastsaremeanttoregalethepalate;therearesomealsofortheearsandtheeyes."
    Ilookedinvoluntarilyroundme,asiftoseekfortheinvisiblebanquetwhichcouldmakeuptohimforsuchasupper.
    Withoutdoubtheunderstoodme;forhegotupslowly,and,withthemagisterialairofamanconfidentinwhatheisabouttodo,herummagedbehindseveralpictureframes,drewforthapainting,overwhichhepassedhishand,andsilentlyplaceditunderthelightofthelamp.
    Itrepresentedafine-lookingoldman,seatedattablewithhiswife,hisdaughter,andhischildren,andsingingtotheaccompanimentofmusicianswhoappearedinthebackground.AtfirstsightIrecognizedthesubject,whichIhadoftenadmiredattheLouvre,andIdeclaredittobeasplendidcopyofJordaens.
    "Acopy!"criedM.Antoine;"sayanoriginal,neighbor,andanoriginalretouchedbyRubens!Lookcloserattheheadoftheoldman,thedressoftheyoungwoman,andtheaccessories.Onecancountthepencil-strokesoftheHerculesofpainters.Itisnotonlyamasterpiece,sir;itisatreasure——arelic!ThepictureattheLouvremaybeapearl,thisisadiamond!"
    Andrestingitagainstthestove,soastoplaceitinthebestlight,hefellagaintosoakinghiscrusts,withouttakinghiseyesoffthewonderfulpicture.Onewouldhavesaidthatthesightofitgavethecrustsanunexpectedrelish,forhechewedthemslowly,andemptiedhisglassbylittlesips.Hisshrivelledfeaturesbecamesmooth,hisnostrilsexpanded;itwasindeed,ashesaidhimself,"afeastfortheeyes."
    "YouseethatIalsohavemytreat,"heresumed,noddinghisheadwithanairoftriumph."Othersmayrunafterdinnersandballs;asforme,thisisthepleasureIgivemyselfformyCarnival."
    "Butifthispaintingisreallysoprecious,"repliedI,"itoughttobeworthahighprice."
    "Eh!eh!"saidM.Antoine,withanairofproudindifference."Ingoodtimes,agoodjudgemightvalueitatsomewhereabouttwentythousandfrancs."
    Istartedback.
    "Andyouhaveboughtit?"criedI.
    "Fornothing,"repliedhe,loweringhisvoice."Thesebrokersareasses;minemistookthisforastudentscopy;heletmehaveitforfiftylouis,readymoney!ThismorningItookthemtohim,andnowhewishestobeoffthebargain."
    "Thismorning!"repeatedI,involuntarilycastingmyeyesonthelettercontainingtherefusalthatM.Antoinehadmademewritetohissonswidow,whichwasstillonthelittletable.
    Hetooknonoticeofmyexclamation,andwentoncontemplatingtheworkofJordaensinanecstasy.
    "Whataknowledgeofchiaroscuro!"hemurmured,bitinghislastcrustindelight."Whatrelief!whatfire!Wherecanonefindsuchtransparencyofcolor!suchmagicallights!suchforce!suchnature!"
    AsIwaslisteningtohiminsilence,hemistookmyastonishmentforadmiration,andclappedmeontheshoulder.
    "Youaredazzled,"saidhemerrily;"youdidnotexpectsuchatreasure!
    WhatdoyousaytothebargainIhavemade?"
    "Pardonme,"repliedI,gravely;"butIthinkyoumighthavedonebetter."
    M.Antoineraisedhishead.
    "How!"criedhe;"doyoutakemeforamanlikelytobedeceivedaboutthemeritorvalueofapainting?"
    "Ineitherdoubtyourtastenoryourskill;butIcannothelpthinkingthat,forthepriceofthispictureofafamilyparty,youmighthavehad——"
    "Whatthen?"
    "Thefamilyitself,sir."
    Theoldamateurcastalookatme,notofanger,butofcontempt.
    InhiseyesIhadevidentlyjustprovedmyselfabarbarian,incapableofunderstandingthearts,andunworthyofenjoyingthem.Hegotupwithoutansweringme,hastilytookuptheJordaens,andreplaceditinitshiding-placebehindtheprints.
    Itwasasortofdismissal;Itookleaveofhim,andwentaway.
    Sevenoclock——WhenIcomeinagain,Ifindmywaterboilingovermylamp,andIbusymyselfingrindingmyMocha,andsettingoutmycoffee-things.
    Thegettingcoffeereadyisthemostdelicateandmostattractiveofdomesticoperationstoonewholivesalone:itisthegrandworkofabachelorshousekeeping.
    Coffeeis,sotosay,justthemid-pointbetweenbodilyandspiritualnourishment.Itactsagreeably,andatthesametime,uponthesensesandthethoughts.Itsveryfragrancegivesasortofdelightfulactivitytothewits;itisageniusthatlendswingstoourfancy,andtransportsittothelandoftheArabianNights.
    WhenIamburiedinmyoldeasy-chair,myfeetonthefenderbeforeablazingfire,myearsoothedbythesingingofthecoffee-pot,whichseemstogossipwithmyfire-irons,thesenseofsmellgentlyexcitedbythearomaoftheArabianbean,andmyeyesshadedbymycappulleddownoverthem,itoftenseemsasifeachcloudofthefragrantsteamtookadistinctform.Asinthemiragesofthedesert,ineachasitrises,Iseesomeimageofwhichmymindhadbeenlongingforthereality.
    Atfirstthevaporincreases,anditscolordeepens.Iseeacottageonahillside:behindisagardenshutinbyawhitethornhedge,andthroughthegardenrunsabrook,onthebanksofwhichIhearthebeeshumming.
    Thentheviewopensstillmore.Seethosefieldsplantedwithapple-trees,inwhichIcandistinguishaploughandhorseswaitingfortheirmaster!Fartheron,inapartofthewoodwhichringswiththesoundoftheaxe,Iperceivethewoodsmanshut,roofedwithturfandbranches;and,inthemidstofalltheseruralpictures,Iseemtoseeafigureofmyselfglidingabout.Itismyghostwalkinginmydream!
    Thebubblingofthewater,readytoboilover,compelsmetobreakoffmymeditations,inordertofillupthecoffee-pot.IthenrememberthatIhavenocream;Itakemytincanoffthehookandgodowntothemilkwomans.
    MotherDenisisahalecountrywomanfromSavoy,whichsheleftwhenquiteyoung;and,contrarytothecustomoftheSavoyards,shehasnotgonebacktoitagain.Shehasneitherhusbandnorchild,notwithstandingthetitletheygiveher;butherkindness,whichneversleeps,makesherworthyofthenameofmother.
    Abravecreature!Leftbyherselfinthebattleoflife,shemakesgoodherhumbleplaceinitbyworking,singing,helpingothers,andleavingtheresttoGod.
    Atthedoorofthemilk-shopIhearloudburstsoflaughter.Inoneofthecornersoftheshopthreechildrenaresittingontheground.TheywearthesootydressofSavoyardboys,andintheirhandstheyholdlargeslicesofbreadandcheese.Theyoungestisbesmeareduptotheeyeswithhis,andthatisthereasonoftheirmirth.
    MotherDenispointsthemouttome.
    "Lookatthelittlelambs,howtheyenjoythemselves!"saidshe,puttingherhandontheheadofthelittleglutton.
    "Hehashadnobreakfast,"putsinoneoftheothersbywayofexcuse.
    "Poorlittlething,"saidthemilkwoman;"heisleftaloneinthestreetsofParis,wherehecanfindnootherfatherthantheAll-goodGod!"
    "Andthatiswhyyoumakeyourselfamothertothem?"Ireplied,gently.
    "WhatIdoislittleenough,"saidMotherDenis,measuringoutmymilk;"buteverydayIgetsomeofthemtogetheroutofthestreet,thatforoncetheymayhaveenoughtoeat.Dearchildren!theirmotherswillmakeupforitinheaven.Nottomentionthattheyrecallmynativemountainstome:whentheysinganddance,Iseemtoseeouroldfatheragain."
    Herehereyesfilledwithtears.
    "Soyouarerepaidbyyourrecollectionsforthegoodyoudothem?"
    resumedI.
    "Yes!yes!"saidshe,"andbytheirhappiness,too!Thelaughteroftheselittleones,sir,islikeabirdssong;itmakesyougay,andgivesyouhearttolive."
    Asshespokeshecutsomefreshslicesofbreadandcheese,andaddedsomeapplesandahandfulofnutstothem.
    "Come,mylittledears,"shecried,"puttheseintoyourpocketsagainstto-morrow."
    Then,turningtome:
    "To-dayIamruiningmyself,"addedshe;"butwemustallhaveourCarnival."
    Icameawaywithoutsayingaword:Iwastoomuchaffected.
    AtlastIhavediscoveredwhattruepleasureis.Afterbeholdingtheegotismofsensualityandofintellect,Ihavefoundthehappyself-sacrificeofgoodness.Pierre,M.Antoine,andMotherDenishadallkepttheirCarnival;butforthefirsttwo,itwasonlyafeastforthesensesorthemind;whileforthethird,itwasafeastfortheheart.