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！
to her。
Such things are joys。
These passages of happy couples are a profound appeal to life and nature； and make a caress and light spring forth from everything。
There was once a fairy who created the fields and forests expressly for those in love；in that eternal hedge…school of lovers； which is forever beginning anew； and which will last as long as there are hedges and scholars。Hence the popularity of spring among thinkers。
The patrician and the knife…grinder； the duke and the peer； the limb of the law； the courtiers and townspeople； as they used to say in olden times； all are subjects of this fairy。
They laugh and hunt； and there is in the air the brilliance of an apotheosiswhat a transfiguration effected by love！
Notaries' clerks are gods。
And the little cries； the pursuits through the grass； the waists embraced on the fly； those jargons which are melodies； those adorations which burst forth in the manner of pronouncing a syllable； those cherries torn from one mouth by another；all this blazes forth and takes its place among the celestial glories。
Beautiful women waste themselves sweetly。
They think that this will never e to an end。Philosophers； poets； painters； observe these ecstasies and know not what to make of it； so greatly are they dazzled by it。
The departure for Cythera！ exclaims Watteau； Lancret； the painter of plebeians； contemplates his bourgeois； who have flitted away into the azure sky； Diderot stretches out his arms to all these love idyls； and d'Urfe mingles druids with them。
After breakfast the four couples went to what was then called the King's Square to see a newly arrived plant from India； whose name escapes our memory at this moment； and which； at that epoch； was attracting all Paris to Saint…Cloud。 It was an odd and charming shrub with a long stem； whose numerous branches； bristling and leafless and as fine as threads； were covered with a million tiny white rosettes； this gave the shrub the air of a head of hair studded with flowers。There was always an admiring crowd about it。
After viewing the shrub； Tholomyes exclaimed； 〃I offer you asses！〃 and having agreed upon a price with the owner of the asses； they returned by way of Vanvres and Issy。
At Issy an incident occurred。The truly national park； at that time owned by Bourguin the contractor； happened to be wide open。
They passed the gates； visited the manikin anchorite in his grotto； tried the mysterious little effects of the famous cabinet of mirrors； the wanton trap worthy of a satyr bee a millionaire or of Turcaret metamorphosed into a Priapus。They had stoutly shaken the swing attached to the two chestnut…trees celebrated by the Abbe de Bernis。
As he swung these beauties； one after the other； producing folds in the fluttering skirts which Greuze would have found to his taste； amid peals of laughter； the Toulousan Tholomyes； who was somewhat of a Spaniard； Toulouse being the cousin of Tolosa； sang； to a melancholy chant； the old ballad gallega； probably inspired by some lovely maid dashing in full flight upon a rope between two trees：
〃Soy de Badajoz；
〃Badajoz is my home；
Amor me llama；
And Love is my name；
Toda mi alma；
To my eyes in flame；
Es en mi ojos；
All my soul doth e；
Porque ensenas；
For instruction meet
A tuas piernas。
I receive at thy feet〃
Fantine alone refused to swing。
〃I don't like to have people put on airs like that；〃 muttered Favourite； with a good deal of acrimony。
After leaving the asses there was a fresh delight； they crossed the Seine in a boat； and proceeding from Passy on foot they reached the barrier of l'Etoile。 They had been up since five o'clock that morning； as the reader will remember； but bah！ there is no such thing as fatigue on Sunday； said Favourite； on Sunday fatigue does not work。
About three o'clock the four couples； frightened at their happiness； were sliding down the Russian mountains； a singular edifice which then occupied the heights of Beaujon； and whose undulating line was visible above the trees of the Champs Elysees。
From time to time Favourite exclaimed：
〃And the surprise？
I claim the surprise。〃
〃Patience；〃 replied Tholomyes。
BOOK THIRD。IN THE YEAR 1817
CHAPTER V
AT BOMBARDA'S
The Russian mountains having been exhausted； they began to think about dinner； and the radiant party of eight； somewhat weary at last； became stranded in Bombarda's public house； a branch establishment which had been set up in the Champs…Elysees by that famous restaurant…keeper； Bombarda； whose sign could then be seen in the Rue de Rivoli； near Delorme Alley。
A large but ugly room； with an alcove and a bed at the end （they had been obliged to put up with this acmodation in view of the Sunday crowd）； two windows whence they could survey beyond the elms； the quay and the river； a magnificent August sunlight lightly touching the panes； two tables； upon one of them a triumphant mountain of bouquets； mingled with the hats of men and women； at the other the four couples seated round a merry confusion of platters； dishes； glasses； and bottles； jugs of beer mingled with flasks of wine； very little order on the table； some disorder beneath it；
〃They made beneath the table A noise； a clatter of the feet that was abominable；〃
says Moliere。
This was the state which the shepherd idyl； begun at five o'clock in the morning； had reached at half…past four in the afternoon。The sun was setting； their appetites were satisfied。
The Champs…Elysees； filled with sunshine and with people； were nothing but light and dust； the two things of which glory is posed。The horses of Marly； those neighing marbles； were prancing in a cloud of gold。
Carriages were going and ing。
A squadron of magnificent body…guards； with their clarions at their head； were descending the Avenue de Neuilly； the white flag； showing faintly rosy in the setting sun； floated over the dome of the Tuileries。The Place de la Concorde； which had bee the Place Louis XV。once more； was choked with happy promenaders。
Many wore the silver fleur…de…lys sus