第20章

Nemoregulas，seuconstitutionesnostras，externiscommunicabit。

Thepupilsonedaysucceededingettingpossessionofthisbook，andsettoreadingitwithavidity，areadingwhichwasofteninterruptedbythefearofbeingcaught，whichcausedthemtoclosethevolumeprecipitately。

Fromthegreatdangerthusincurredtheyderivedbutaverymoderateamountofpleasure。Themost"interestingthing"theyfoundweresomeunintelligiblepagesaboutthesinsofyoungboys。

Theyplayedinanalleyofthegardenborderedwithafewshabbyfruit—trees。Inspiteoftheextremesurveillanceandtheseverityofthepunishmentsadministered，whenthewindhadshakenthetrees，theysometimessucceededinpickingupagreenappleoraspoiledapricotoraninhabitedpearonthesly。Iwillnowcedetheprivilegeofspeechtoaletterwhichliesbeforeme，aletterwrittenfiveandtwentyyearsagobyanoldpupil，nowMadamelaDuchessede————

oneofthemostelegantwomeninParis。Iquoteliterally:

"Onehidesone’spearorone’sappleasbestonemay。

Whenonegoesupstairstoputtheveilonthebedbeforesupper，onestuffsthemunderone’spillowandatnightoneeatstheminbed，andwhenonecannotdothat，oneeatstheminthecloset。"

Thatwasoneoftheirgreatestluxuries。

Once——itwasattheepochofthevisitfromthearchbishoptotheconvent——

oneoftheyounggirls，MademoiselleBouchard，whowasconnectedwiththeMontmorencyfamily，laidawagerthatshewouldaskforaday’sleaveofabsence——anenormityinsoaustereacommunity。

Thewagerwasaccepted，butnotoneofthosewhobetbelievedthatshewoulddoit。Whenthemomentcame，asthearchbishopwaspassinginfrontofthepupils，MademoiselleBouchard，totheindescribableterrorofhercompanions，steppedoutoftheranks，andsaid，"Monseigneur，aday’sleaveofabsence。"MademoiselleBouchardwastall，blooming，withtheprettiestlittlerosyfaceintheworld。

M。deQuelensmiledandsaid，"What，mydearchild，aday’sleaveofabsence！Threedaysifyoulike。Igrantyouthreedays。"

Theprioresscoulddonothing；thearchbishophadspoken。

Horroroftheconvent，butjoyofthepupil。Theeffectmaybeimagined。

Thissterncloisterwasnotsowellwalledoff，however，butthatthelifeofthepassionsoftheoutsideworld，drama，andevenromance，didnotmaketheirwayin。Toprovethis，wewillconfineourselvestorecordinghereandtobrieflymentioningarealandincontestablefact，which，however，bearsnoreferenceinitselfto，andisnotconnectedbyanythreadwhateverwiththestorywhichwearerelating。Wementionthefactforthesakeofcompletingthephysiognomyoftheconventinthereader’smind。

Aboutthistimetherewasintheconventamysteriouspersonwhowasnotanun，whowastreatedwithgreatrespect，andwhowasaddressedasMadameAlbertine。Nothingwasknownabouther，savethatshewasmad，andthatintheworldshepassedfordead。

Beneaththishistoryitwassaidtherelaythearrangementsoffortunenecessaryforagreatmarriage。

Thiswoman，hardlythirtyyearsofage，ofdarkcomplexionandtolerablypretty，hadavaguelookinherlargeblackeyes。

Couldshesee？Therewassomedoubtaboutthis。Sheglidedratherthanwalked，sheneverspoke；itwasnotquiteknownwhethershebreathed。Hernostrilswerelividandpinchedasafteryieldinguptheirlastsigh。Totouchherhandwasliketouchingsnow。

Shepossessedastrangespectralgrace。Whereversheentered，peoplefeltcold。Onedayasister，onseeingherpass，saidtoanothersister，"Shepassesforadeadwoman。""Perhapssheisone，"

repliedtheother。

AhundredtalesweretoldofMadameAlbertine。Thisarosefromtheeternalcuriosityofthepupils。InthechapeltherewasagallerycalledL’OEildeBoeuf。Itwasinthisgallery，whichhadonlyacircularbay，anoeildeboeuf，thatMadameAlbertinelistenedtotheoffices。Shealwaysoccupieditalonebecausethisgallery，beingonthelevelofthefirststory，thepreacherortheofficiatingpriestcouldbeseen，whichwasinterdictedtothenuns。

Onedaythepulpitwasoccupiedbyayoungpriestofhighrank，M。LeDucdeRohan，peerofFrance，officeroftheRedMusketeersin1815whenhewasPrincedeLeon，andwhodiedafterward，in1830，ascardinalandArchbishopofBesancon。ItwasthefirsttimethatM。deRohanhadpreachedatthePetit—Picpusconvent。

MadameAlbertineusuallypreservedperfectcalmnessandcompleteimmobilityduringthesermonsandservices。Thatday，assoonasshecaughtsightofM。deRohan，shehalfrose，andsaid，inaloudvoice，amidthesilenceofthechapel，"Ah！Auguste！"Thewholecommunityturnedtheirheadsinamazement，thepreacherraisedhiseyes，butMadameAlbertinehadrelapsedintoherimmobility。

Abreathfromtheouterworld，aflashoflife，hadpassedforaninstantacrossthatcoldandlifelessfaceandhadthenvanished，andthemadwomanhadbecomeacorpseagain。

Thosetwowords，however，hadseteveryoneintheconventwhohadtheprivilegeofspeechtochattering。Howmanythingswerecontainedinthat"Ah！Auguste！"whatrevelations！M。deRohan’snamereallywasAuguste。ItwasevidentthatMadameAlbertinebelongedtotheveryhighestsociety，sincesheknewM。deRohan，andthatherownranktherewasofthehighest，sinceshespokethusfamiliarlyofsogreatalord，andthatthereexistedbetweenthemsomeconnection，ofrelationship，perhaps，butaverycloseoneinanycase，sincesheknewhis"petname。"

Twoverysevereduchesses，MesdamesdeChoiseulanddeSerent，oftenvisitedthecommunity，whithertheypenetrated，nodoubt，invirtueoftheprivilegeMagnatesmulieres，andcausedgreatconsternationintheboarding—school。Whenthesetwooldladiespassedby，allthepooryounggirlstrembledanddroppedtheireyes。

Moreover，M。deRohan，quiteunknowntohimself，wasanobjectofattentiontotheschool—girls。Atthatepochhehadjustbeenmade，whilewaitingfortheepiscopate，vicar—generaloftheArchbishopofParis。ItwasoneofhishabitstocometolerablyoftentocelebratetheofficesinthechapelofthenunsofthePetit—Picpus。Notoneoftheyoungreclusescouldseehim，becauseofthesergecurtain，buthehadasweetandrathershrillvoice，whichtheyhadcometoknowandtodistinguish。Hehadbeenamousquetaire，andthen，hewassaidtobeverycoquettish，thathishandsomebrownhairwasverywelldressedinarollaroundhishead，andthathehadabroadgirdleofmagnificentmoire，andthathisblackcassockwasofthemostelegantcutintheworld。Heheldagreatplaceinalltheseimaginationsofsixteenyears。

Notasoundfromwithoutmadeitswayintotheconvent。Buttherewasoneyearwhenthesoundofaflutepenetratedthither。

Thiswasanevent，andthegirlswhowereatschoolthereatthetimestillrecallit。

Itwasaflutewhichwasplayedintheneighborhood。Thisflutealwaysplayedthesameair，anairwhichisveryfarawaynowadays，——"MyZetulbe，comereigno’ermysoul，"——anditwasheardtwoorthreetimesaday。Theyounggirlspassedhoursinlisteningtoit，thevocalmotherswereupsetbyit，brainswerebusy，punishmentsdescendedinshowers。Thislastedforseveralmonths。

Thegirlswereallmoreorlessinlovewiththeunknownmusician。

EachonedreamedthatshewasZetulbe。ThesoundofthefluteproceededfromthedirectionoftheRueDroit—Mur；andtheywouldhavegivenanything，compromisedeverything，attemptedanythingforthesakeofseeing，ofcatchingaglance，ifonlyforasecond，ofthe"youngman"whoplayedthatflutesodeliciously，andwho，nodoubt，playedonallthesesoulsatthesametime。Thereweresomewhomadetheirescapebyabackdoor，andascendedtothethirdstoryontheRueDroit—Murside，inordertoattempttocatchaglimpsethroughthegaps。Impossible！Oneevenwentsofarastothrustherarmthroughthegrating，andtowaveherwhitehandkerchief。

Twowerestillbolder。Theyfoundmeanstoclimbonaroof，andriskedtheirlivesthere，andsucceededatlastinseeing"theyoungman。"

Hewasanoldemigregentleman，blindandpenniless，whowasplayinghisfluteinhisattic，inordertopassthetime。

CHAPTERVI

THELITTLECONVENT

InthisenclosureofthePetit—Picpustherewerethreeperfectlydistinctbuildings，——theGreatConvent，inhabitedbythenuns，theBoarding—school，wherethescholarswerelodged；andlastly，whatwascalledtheLittleConvent。Itwasabuildingwithagarden，inwhichlivedallsortsofagednunsofvariousorders，therelicsofcloistersdestroyedintheRevolution；areunionofalltheblack，gray，andwhitemedleysofallcommunitiesandallpossiblevarieties；

whatmightbecalled，ifsuchacouplingofwordsispermissible，asortofharlequinconvent。

WhentheEmpirewasestablished，allthesepoorolddispersedandexiledwomenhadbeenaccordedpermissiontocomeandtakeshelterunderthewingsoftheBernardines—Benedictines。Thegovernmentpaidthemasmallpension，theladiesofthePetit—Picpusreceivedthemcordially。Itwasasingularpell—mell。Eachfollowedherownrule，Sometimesthepupilsoftheboarding—schoolwereallowed，asagreatrecreation，topaythemavisit；theresultis，thatallthoseyoungmemorieshaveretainedamongothersouvenirsthatofMotherSainte—Bazile，MotherSainte—Scolastique，andMotherJacob。

Oneoftheserefugeesfoundherselfalmostathome。ShewasanunofSainte—Aure，theonlyoneofherorderwhohadsurvived。

TheancientconventoftheladiesofSainte—Aureoccupied，atthebeginningoftheeighteenthcentury，thisveryhouseofthePetit—Picpus，whichbelongedlatertotheBenedictinesofMartinVerga。Thisholywoman，toopoortowearthemagnificenthabitofherorder，whichwasawhiterobewithascarletscapulary，hadpiouslyputitonalittlemanikin，whichsheexhibitedwithcomplacencyandwhichshebequeathedtothehouseatherdeath。

In1824，onlyonenunofthisorderremained；to—day，thereremainsonlyadoll。

Inadditiontotheseworthymothers，someoldsocietywomenhadobtainedpermissionoftheprioress，likeMadameAlbertine，toretireintotheLittleConvent。AmongthenumberwereMadameBeaufortd’HautpoulandMarquiseDufresne。Anotherwasneverknownintheconventexceptbytheformidablenoisewhichshemadewhensheblewhernose。ThepupilscalledherMadameVacarmini（hubbub）。

About1820or1821，MadamedeGenlis，whowasatthattimeeditingalittleperiodicalpublicationcalledl’Intrepide，askedtobeallowedtoentertheconventofthePetit—Picpusasladyresident。

TheDucd’Orleansrecommendedher。Uproarinthehive；thevocal—motherswereallinaflutter；MadamedeGenlishadmaderomances。

Butshedeclaredthatshewasthefirsttodetestthem，andthen，shehadreachedherfiercestageofdevotion。WiththeaidofGod，andofthePrince，sheentered。Shedepartedattheendofsixoreightmonths，allegingasareason，thattherewasnoshadeinthegarden。Thenunsweredelighted。Althoughveryold，shestillplayedtheharp，anddiditverywell。

Whenshewentawayshelefthermarkinhercell。MadamedeGenliswassuperstitiousandaLatinist。Thesetwowordsfurnishatolerablygoodprofileofher。Afewyearsago，therewerestilltobeseen，pastedintheinsideofalittlecupboardinhercellinwhichshelockeduphersilverwareandherjewels，thesefivelinesinLatin，writtenwithherownhandinredinkonyellowpaper，andwhich，inheropinion，possessedthepropertyoffrighteningawayrobbers:——

Imparibusmeritispendenttriacorporaramis:[15]

DismasetGesmas，mediaestdivinapotestas；

AltapetitDismas，infelix，infima，Gesmas；

Nosetresnostrasconservetsummapotestas。

Hosversusdicas，netufurtotuaperdas。

[15]Ontheboughshangthreebodiesofunequalmerits:

DismasandGesmas，betweenisthedivinepower。Dismasseekstheheights，Gesmas，unhappyman，thelowestregions；thehighestpowerwillpreserveusandoureffects。Ifyourepeatthisverse，youwillnotloseyourthingsbytheft。

TheseversesinsixthcenturyLatinraisethequestionwhetherthetwothievesofCalvarywerenamed，asiscommonlybelieved，DismasandGestas，orDismasandGesmas。ThisorthographymighthaveconfoundedthepretensionsputforwardinthelastcenturybytheVicomtedeGestas，ofadescentfromthewickedthief。

However，theusefulvirtueattachedtotheseversesformsanarticleoffaithintheorderoftheHospitallers。

Thechurchofthehouse，constructedinsuchamannerastoseparatetheGreatConventfromtheBoarding—schoollikeaveritableintrenchment，was，ofcourse，commontotheBoarding—school，theGreatConvent，andtheLittleConvent。Thepublicwasevenadmittedbyasortoflazarettoentranceonthestreet。Butallwassoarranged，thatnoneoftheinhabitantsofthecloistercouldseeafacefromtheoutsideworld。Supposeachurchwhosechoirisgraspedinagigantichand，andfoldedinsuchamannerastoform，not，asinordinarychurches，aprolongationbehindthealtar，butasortofhall，orobscurecellar，totherightoftheofficiatingpriest；

supposethishalltobeshutoffbyacurtainsevenfeetinheight，ofwhichwehavealreadyspoken；intheshadowofthatcurtain，pileuponwoodenstallsthenunsinthechoirontheleft，theschool—girlsontheright，thelay—sistersandthenovicesatthebottom，andyouwillhavesomeideaofthenunsofthePetit—Picpusassistingatdivineservice。Thatcavern，whichwascalledthechoir，communicatedwiththecloisterbyalobby。Thechurchwaslightedfromthegarden。Whenthenunswerepresentatserviceswheretheirruleenjoinedsilence，thepublicwaswarnedoftheirpresenceonlybythefoldingseatsofthestallsnoisilyrisingandfalling。

CHAPTERVII

SOMESILHOUETTESOFTHISDARKNESS

Duringthesixyearswhichseparate1819from1825，theprioressofthePetit—PicpuswasMademoiselledeBlemeur，whosename，inreligion，wasMotherInnocente。ShecameofthefamilyofMargueritedeBlemeur，authorofLivesoftheSaintsoftheOrderofSaint—Benoit。Shehadbeenre—elected。Shewasawomanaboutsixtyyearsofage，short，thick，"singinglikeacrackedpot，"saystheletterwhichwehavealreadyquoted；anexcellentwoman，moreover，andtheonlymerryoneinthewholeconvent，andforthatreasonadored。

Shewaslearned，erudite，wise，competent，curiouslyproficientinhistory，crammedwithLatin，stuffedwithGreek，fullofHebrew，andmoreofaBenedictinemonkthanaBenedictinenun。

Thesub—prioresswasanoldSpanishnun，MotherCineres，whowasalmostblind。

ThemostesteemedamongthevocalmotherswereMotherSainte—Honorine；

thetreasurer，MotherSainte—Gertrude，thechiefmistressofthenovices；

Mother—Saint—Ange，theassistantmistress；MotherAnnonciation，thesacristan；MotherSaint—Augustin，thenurse，theonlyoneintheconventwhowasmalicious；thenMotherSainte—Mechtilde（MademoiselleGauvain），veryyoungandwithabeautifulvoice；

MotherdesAnges（MademoiselleDrouet），whohadbeenintheconventoftheFilles—Dieu，andintheconventduTresor，betweenGisorsandMagny；MotherSaint—Joseph（MademoiselledeCogolludo），MotherSainte—Adelaide（Mademoiselled’Auverney），MotherMisericorde（MademoiselledeCifuentes，whocouldnotresistausterities），MotherCompassion（MademoiselledelaMiltiere，receivedattheageofsixtyindefianceoftherule，andverywealthy）；

MotherProvidence（MademoiselledeLaudiniere），MotherPresentation（MademoiselledeSiguenza），whowasprioressin1847；andfinally，MotherSainte—Celigne（sisterofthesculptorCeracchi），whowentmad；

MotherSainte—Chantal（MademoiselledeSuzon），whowentmad。

Therewasalso，amongtheprettiestofthem，acharminggirlofthreeandtwenty，whowasfromtheIsledeBourbon，adescendantoftheChevalierRoze，whosenamehadbeenMademoiselleRoze，andwhowascalledMotherAssumption。

MotherSainte—Mechtilde，intrustedwiththesingingandthechoir，wasfondofmakinguseofthepupilsinthisquarter。Sheusuallytookacompletescaleofthem，thatistosay，seven，fromtentosixteenyearsofage，inclusive，ofassortedvoicesandsizes，whomshemadesingstanding，drawnupinaline，sidebyside，accordingtoage，fromthesmallesttothelargest。Thispresentedtotheeye，somethinginthenatureofareed—pipeofyounggirls，asortoflivingPan—pipemadeofangels。

Thoseofthelay—sisterswhomthescholarslovedmostwereSisterEuphrasie，SisterSainte—Marguerite，SisterSainte—Marthe，whowasinherdotage，andSisterSainte—Michel，whoselongnosemadethemlaugh。

Allthesewomenweregentlewiththechildren。Thenunsweresevereonlytowardsthemselves。Nofirewaslightedexceptintheschool，andthefoodwaschoicecomparedtothatintheconvent。

Moreover，theylavishedathousandcaresontheirscholars。Only，whenachildpassednearanunandaddressedher，thenunneverreplied。

Thisruleofsilencehadhadthiseffect，thatthroughoutthewholeconvent，speechhadbeenwithdrawnfromhumancreatures，andbestowedoninanimateobjects。Nowitwasthechurch—bellwhichspoke，nowitwasthegardener’sbell。Averysonorousbell，placedbesidetheportress，andwhichwasaudiblethroughoutthehouse，indicatedbyitsvariedpeals，whichformedasortofacoustictelegraph，alltheactionsofmateriallifewhichweretobeperformed，andsummonedtotheparlor，incaseofneed，suchorsuchaninhabitantofthehouse。Eachpersonandeachthinghaditsownpeal。Theprioresshadoneandone，thesub—prioressoneandtwo。Six—fiveannouncedlessons，sothatthepupilsneversaid"togotolessons，"but"togotosix—five。"Four—fourwasMadamedeGenlis’ssignal。Itwasveryoftenheard。"C’estlediableaquatre，——it’stheverydeuce——saidtheuncharitable。

Tenninestrokesannouncedagreatevent。Itwastheopeningofthedoorofseclusion，afrightfulsheetofironbristlingwithboltswhichonlyturnedonitshingesinthepresenceofthearchbishop。

Withtheexceptionofthearchbishopandthegardener，nomanenteredtheconvent，aswehavealreadysaid。Theschoolgirlssawtwoothers:one，thechaplain，theAbbeBanes，oldandugly，whomtheywerepermittedtocontemplateinthechoir，throughagrating；

theotherthedrawing—master，M。Ansiaux，whomtheletter，ofwhichwehaveperusedafewlines，callsM。Anciot，anddescribesasafrightfuloldhunchback。

Itwillbeseenthatallthesemenwerecarefullychosen。

Suchwasthiscurioushouse。

CHAPTERVIII

POSTCORDALAPIDES

Afterhavingsketcheditsmoralface，itwillnotproveunprofitabletopointout，inafewwords，itsmaterialconfiguration。

Thereaderalreadyhassomeideaofit。

TheconventofthePetit—Picpus—Sainte—AntoinefilledalmostthewholeofthevasttrapeziumwhichresultedfromtheintersectionoftheRuePolonceau，theRueDroit—Mur，theRuePetit—Picpus，andtheunusedlane，calledRueAumaraisonoldplans。

Thesefourstreetssurroundedthistrapeziumlikeamoat。

Theconventwascomposedofseveralbuildingsandagarden。

Theprincipalbuilding，takeninitsentirety，wasajuxtapositionofhybridconstructionswhich，viewedfromabird’s—eyeview，outlined，withconsiderableexactness，agibbetlaidflatontheground。

ThemainarmofthegibbetoccupiedthewholeofthefragmentoftheRueDroit—MurcomprisedbetweentheRuePetit—PicpusandtheRuePolonceau；thelesserarmwasalofty，gray，severegratedfacadewhichfacedtheRuePetit—Picpus；thecarriageentranceNo。62

markeditsextremity。Towardsthecentreofthisfacadewasalow，archeddoor，whitenedwithdustandashes，wherethespiderswovetheirwebs，andwhichwasopenonlyforanhourortwoonSundays，andonrareoccasions，whenthecoffinofanunlefttheconvent。

Thiswasthepublicentranceofthechurch。Theelbowofthegibbetwasasquarehallwhichwasusedastheservants’hall，andwhichthenunscalledthebuttery。Inthemainarmwerethecellsofthemothers，thesisters，andthenovices。Inthelesserarmlaythekitchens，therefectory，backedupbythecloistersandthechurch。BetweenthedoorNo。62andthecorneroftheclosedlaneAumarais，wastheschool，whichwasnotvisiblefromwithout。

Theremainderofthetrapeziumformedthegarden，whichwasmuchlowerthantheleveloftheRuePolonceau，whichcausedthewallstobeverymuchhigherontheinsidethanontheoutside。

Thegarden，whichwasslightlyarched，hadinitscentre，onthesummitofahillock，afinepointedandconicalfir—tree，whenceran，asfromthepeakedbossofashield，fourgrandalleys，and，rangedbytwosinbetweenthebranchingsofthese，eightsmallones，sothat，iftheenclosurehadbeencircular，thegeometricalplanofthealleyswouldhaveresembledacrosssuperposedonawheel。

Asthealleysallendedintheveryirregularwallsofthegarden，theywereofunequallength。Theywereborderedwithcurrantbushes。

Atthebottom，analleyoftallpoplarsranfromtheruinsoftheoldconvent，whichwasattheangleoftheRueDroit—MurtothehouseoftheLittleConvent，whichwasattheangleoftheAumaraislane。

InfrontoftheLittleConventwaswhatwascalledthelittlegarden。

Tothiswhole，letthereaderaddacourtyard，allsortsofvariedanglesformedbytheinteriorbuildings，prisonwalls，thelongblacklineofroofswhichborderedtheothersideoftheRuePolonceauforitssoleperspectiveandneighborhood，andhewillbeabletoformforhimselfacompleteimageofwhatthehouseoftheBernardinesofthePetit—Picpuswasfortyyearsago。

Thisholyhousehadbeenbuiltontheprecisesiteofafamoustennis—groundofthefourteenthtothesixteenthcentury，whichwascalledthe"tennis—groundoftheeleventhousanddevils。"

Allthesestreets，moreover，weremoreancientthanParis。Thesenames，Droit—MurandAumarais，areveryancient；thestreetswhichbearthemareverymuchmoreancientstill。AumaraisLanewascalledMaugoutLane；theRueDroit—MurwascalledtheRuedesEglantiers，forGodopenedflowersbeforemancutstones。

CHAPTERIX

ACENTURYUNDERAGUIMPE

SinceweareengagedingivingdetailsastowhattheconventofthePetit—Picpuswasinformertimes，andsincewehaveventuredtoopenawindowonthatdiscreetretreat，thereaderwillpermitusoneotherlittledigression，utterlyforeigntothisbook，butcharacteristicanduseful，sinceitshowsthatthecloisterevenhasitsoriginalfigures。

IntheLittleConventtherewasacentenarianwhocamefromtheAbbeyofFontevrault。ShehadevenbeeninsocietybeforetheRevolution。

ShetalkedagreatdealofM。deMiromesnil，KeeperoftheSealsunderLouisXVI。andofaPresidentessDuplat，withwhomshehadbeenveryintimate。Itwasherpleasureandhervanitytodraginthesenamesoneverypretext。ShetoldwondersoftheAbbeyofFontevrault，——

thatitwaslikeacity，andthattherewerestreetsinthemonastery。

ShetalkedwithaPicardaccentwhichamusedthepupils。Everyyear，shesolemnlyrenewedhervows，andatthemomentoftakingtheoath，shesaidtothepriest，"MonseigneurSaint—FrancoisgaveittoMonseigneurSaint—Julien，MonseigneurSaint—JuliengaveittoMonseigneurSaint—Eusebius，MonseigneurSaint—EusebiusgaveittoMonseigneurSaint—Procopius，etc。，etc。；andthusIgiveittoyou，father。"Andtheschool—girlswouldbegintolaugh，notintheirsleeves，butundertheirveils；charminglittlestifledlaughswhichmadethevocalmothersfrown。

Onanotheroccasion，thecentenarianwastellingstories。ShesaidthatinheryouththeBernardinemonkswereeverywhitasgoodasthemousquetaires。Itwasacenturywhichspokethroughher，butitwastheeighteenthcentury。Shetoldaboutthecustomofthefourwines，whichexistedbeforetheRevolutioninChampagneandBourgogne。

Whenagreatpersonage，amarshalofFrance，aprince，aduke，andapeer，traversedatowninBurgundyorChampagne，thecityfatherscameouttoharanguehimandpresentedhimwithfoursilvergondolasintowhichtheyhadpouredfourdifferentsortsofwine。

Onthefirstgobletthisinscriptioncouldberead，monkeywine；

onthesecond，lionwine；onthethird，sheepwine；onthefourth，hogwine。Thesefourlegendsexpressthefourstagesdescendedbythedrunkard；thefirst，intoxication，whichenlivens；thesecond，thatwhichirritates；thethird，thatwhichdulls；andthefourth，thatwhichbrutalizes。

Inacupboard，underlockandkey，shekeptamysteriousobjectofwhichshethoughtagreatdeal。TheruleofFontevraultdidnotforbidthis。Shewouldnotshowthisobjecttoanyone。

Sheshutherselfup，whichherruleallowedhertodo，andhidherself，everytimethatshedesiredtocontemplateit。

Ifsheheardafootstepinthecorridor，sheclosedthecupboardagainashastilyasitwaspossiblewithheragedhands。Assoonasitwasmentionedtoher，shebecamesilent，shewhowassofondoftalking。Themostcuriouswerebaffledbyhersilenceandthemosttenaciousbyherobstinacy。Thusitfurnishedasubjectofcommentforallthosewhowereunoccupiedorboredintheconvent。

Whatcouldthattreasureofthecentenarianbe，whichwassopreciousandsosecret？Someholybook，nodoubt？Someuniquechaplet？

Someauthenticrelic？Theylostthemselvesinconjectures。

Whenthepooroldwomandied，theyrushedtohercupboardmorehastilythanwasfitting，perhaps，andopenedit。Theyfoundtheobjectbeneathatriplelinencloth，likesomeconsecratedpaten。

ItwasaFaenzaplatterrepresentinglittleLovesflittingawaypursuedbyapothecaryladsarmedwithenormoussyringes。

Thechaseaboundsingrimacesandincomicalpostures。OneofthecharminglittleLovesisalreadyfairlyspitted。Heisresisting，flutteringhistinywings，andstillmakinganefforttofly，butthedancerislaughingwithasatanicalair。Moral:Loveconqueredbythecolic。Thisplatter，whichisverycurious，andwhichhad，possibly，thehonoroffurnishingMolierewithanidea，wasstillinexistenceinSeptember，1845；itwasforsalebyabric—a—bracmerchantintheBoulevardBeaumarchais。

Thisgoodoldwomanwouldnotreceiveanyvisitsfromoutsidebecause，saidshe，theparloristoogloomy。

CHAPTERX

ORIGINOFTHEPERPETUALADORATION

However，thisalmostsepulchralparlor，ofwhichwehavesoughttoconveyanidea，isapurelylocaltraitwhichisnotreproducedwiththesameseverityinotherconvents。AttheconventoftheRueduTemple，inparticular，whichbelonged，intruth，toanotherorder，theblackshutterswerereplacedbybrowncurtains，andtheparloritselfwasasalonwithapolishedwoodfloor，whosewindowsweredrapedinwhitemuslincurtainsandwhosewallsadmittedallsortsofframes，aportraitofaBenedictinenunwithunveiledface，paintedbouquets，andeventheheadofaTurk。

ItisinthatgardenoftheTempleconvent，thatstoodthatfamouschestnut—treewhichwasrenownedasthefinestandthelargestinFrance，andwhichborethereputationamongthegoodpeopleoftheeighteenthcenturyofbeingthefatherofallthechestnuttreesoftherealm。

Aswehavesaid，thisconventoftheTemplewasoccupiedbyBenedictinesofthePerpetualAdoration，BenedictinesquitedifferentfromthosewhodependedonCiteaux。ThisorderofthePerpetualAdorationisnotveryancientanddoesnotgobackmorethantwohundredyears。

In1649theholysacramentwasprofanedontwooccasionsafewdaysapart，intwochurchesinParis，atSaint—SulpiceandatSaint—JeanenGreve，arareandfrightfulsacrilegewhichsetthewholetowninanuproar。M。thePriorandVicar—GeneralofSaint—GermaindesPresorderedasolemnprocessionofallhisclergy，inwhichthePope’sNuncioofficiated。Butthisexpiationdidnotsatisfytwosaintedwomen，MadameCourtin，MarquisedeBoucs，andtheComtessedeChateauvieux。Thisoutragecommittedon"themostholysacramentofthealtar，"thoughbuttemporary，wouldnotdepartfromtheseholysouls，anditseemedtothemthatitcouldonlybeextenuatedbya"PerpetualAdoration"insomefemalemonastery。

Bothofthem，onein1652，theotherin1653，madedonationsofnotablesumstoMotherCatherinedeBar，calledoftheHolySacrament，aBenedictinenun，forthepurposeoffounding，tothispiousend，amonasteryoftheorderofSaint—Benoit；thefirstpermissionforthisfoundationwasgiventoMotherCatherinedeBarbyM。deMetz，AbbeofSaint—Germain，"onconditionthatnowomancouldbereceivedunlessshecontributedthreehundredlivresincome，whichamountstosixthousandlivres，totheprincipal。"

AftertheAbbeofSaint—Germain，thekingaccordedletters—patent；

andalltherest，abbatialcharter，androyalletters，wasconfirmedin1654bytheChamberofAccountsandtheParliament。

SuchistheoriginofthelegalconsecrationoftheestablishmentoftheBenedictinesofthePerpetualAdorationoftheHolySacramentatParis。Theirfirstconventwas"anewbuilding"intheRueCassette，outofthecontributionsofMesdamesdeBoucsanddeChateauvieux。

Thisorder，asitwillbeseen，wasnottobeconfoundedwiththeBenedictinenunsofCiteaux。ItmountedbacktotheAbbeofSaint—GermaindesPres，inthesamemannerthattheladiesoftheSacredHeartgobacktothegeneraloftheJesuits，andthesistersofcharitytothegeneraloftheLazarists。

ItwasalsototallydifferentfromtheBernardinesofthePetit—Picpus，whoseinteriorwehavejustshown。In1657，PopeAlexanderVII。

hadauthorized，byaspecialbrief，theBernardinesoftheRuePetit—Picpus，topractisethePerpetualAdorationliketheBenedictinenunsoftheHolySacrament。Butthetwoordersremaineddistinctnonetheless。

CHAPTERXI

ENDOFTHEPETIT—PICPUS

AtthebeginningoftheRestoration，theconventofthePetit—Picpuswasinitsdecay；thisformsapartofthegeneraldeathoftheorder，which，aftertheeighteenthcentury，hasbeendisappearinglikeallthereligiousorders。Contemplationis，likeprayer，oneofhumanity’sneeds；but，likeeverythingwhichtheRevolutiontouched，itwillbetransformed，andfrombeinghostiletosocialprogress，itwillbecomefavorabletoit。

ThehouseofthePetit—Picpuswasbecomingrapidlydepopulated。

In1840，theLittleConventhaddisappeared，theschoolhaddisappeared。

Therewerenolongeranyoldwomen，noryounggirls；thefirstweredead，thelatterhadtakentheirdeparture。Volaverunt。

TheruleofthePerpetualAdorationissorigidinitsnaturethatitalarms，vocationsrecoilbeforeit，theorderreceivesnorecruits。In1845，itstillobtainedlay—sistershereandthere。

Butofprofessednuns，noneatall。Fortyyearsago，thenunsnumberednearlyahundred；fifteenyearsagotherewerenotmorethantwenty—eightofthem。Howmanyarethereto—day？In1847，theprioresswasyoung，asignthatthecircleofchoicewasrestricted。

Shewasnotfortyyearsold。Inproportionasthenumberdiminishes，thefatigueincreases，theserviceofeachbecomesmorepainful；

themomentcouldthenbeseendrawingnearwhentherewouldbebutadozenbentandachingshoulderstobeartheheavyruleofSaint—Benoit。Theburdenisimplacable，andremainsthesameforthefewasforthemany。Itweighsdown，itcrushes。Thustheydie。

AttheperiodwhentheauthorofthisbookstilllivedinParis，twodied。Onewastwenty—fiveyearsold，theothertwenty—three。

Thislattercansay，likeJuliaAlpinula:"Hicjaceo。Vixiannosvigintiettres。"Itisinconsequenceofthisdecaythattheconventgaveuptheeducationofgirls。

Wehavenotfeltabletopassbeforethisextraordinaryhousewithoutenteringit，andwithoutintroducingthemindswhichaccompanyus，andwhicharelisteningtoourtale，totheprofitofsome，perchance，ofthemelancholyhistoryofJeanValjean。

Wehavepenetratedintothiscommunity，fullofthoseoldpracticeswhichseemsonovelto—day。Itistheclosedgarden，hortusconclusus。

Wehavespokenofthissingularplaceindetail，butwithrespect，insofar，atleast，asdetailandrespectarecompatible。

Wedonotunderstandall，butweinsultnothing。WeareequallyfarremovedfromthehosannaofJosephdeMaistre，whowoundupbyanointingtheexecutioner，andfromthesneerofVoltaire，whoevengoessofarastoridiculethecross。

AnillogicalactonVoltaire’spart，wemayremark，bytheway；

forVoltairewouldhavedefendedJesusashedefendedCalas；

andevenforthosewhodenysuperhumanincarnations，whatdoesthecrucifixrepresent？Theassassinatedsage。

Inthisnineteenthcentury，thereligiousideaisundergoingacrisis。Peopleareunlearningcertainthings，andtheydowell，providedthat，whileunlearningthemtheylearnthis:Thereisnovacuuminthehumanheart。Certaindemolitionstakeplace，anditiswellthattheydo，butonconditionthattheyarefollowedbyreconstructions。

Inthemeantime，letusstudythingswhicharenomore。Itisnecessarytoknowthem，ifonlyforthepurposeofavoidingthem。Thecounterfeitsofthepastassumefalsenames，andgladlycallthemselvesthefuture。

Thisspectre，thispast，isgiventofalsifyingitsownpassport。

Letusinformourselvesofthetrap。Letusbeonourguard。

Thepasthasavisage，superstition，andamask，hypocrisy。Letusdenouncethevisageandletustearoffthemask。

Asforconvents，theypresentacomplexproblem，——aquestionofcivilization，whichcondemnsthem；aquestionofliberty，whichprotectsthem。

BOOKSEVENTH。——PARENTHESIS

CHAPTERI

THECONVENTASANABSTRACTIDEA

Thisbookisadrama，whoseleadingpersonageistheInfinite。

Manisthesecond。

Suchbeingthecase，andaconventhavinghappenedtobeonourroad，ithasbeenourdutytoenterit。Why？Becausetheconvent，whichiscommontotheOrientaswellastotheOccident，toantiquityaswellastomoderntimes，topaganism，toBuddhism，toMahometanism，aswellastoChristianity，isoneoftheopticalapparatusesappliedbymantotheInfinite。

Thisisnottheplaceforenlargingdisproportionatelyoncertainideas；nevertheless，whileabsolutelymaintainingourreserves，ourrestrictions，andevenourindignations，wemustsaythateverytimeweencountermanintheInfinite，eitherwellorillunderstood，wefeelourselvesoverpoweredwithrespect。

Thereis，inthesynagogue，inthemosque，inthepagoda，inthewigwam，ahideoussidewhichweexecrate，andasublimeside，whichweadore。Whatacontemplationforthemind，andwhatendlessfoodforthought，isthereverberationofGoduponthehumanwall！

CHAPTERII

THECONVENTASANHISTORICALFACT

Fromthepointofviewofhistory，ofreason，andoftruth，monasticismiscondemned。Monasteries，whentheyaboundinanation，areclogsinitscirculation，cumbrousestablishments，centresofidlenesswherecentresoflaborshouldexist。Monasticcommunitiesaretothegreatsocialcommunitywhatthemistletoeistotheoak，whatthewartistothehumanbody。Theirprosperityandtheirfatnessmeantheimpoverishmentofthecountry。Themonasticregime，goodatthebeginningofcivilization，usefulinthereductionofthebrutalbythespiritual，isbadwhenpeopleshavereachedtheirmanhood。Moreover，whenitbecomesrelaxed，andwhenitentersintoitsperiodofdisorder，itbecomesbadfortheveryreasonswhichrendereditsalutaryinitsperiodofpurity，becauseitstillcontinuestosettheexample。

Claustrationhashaditsday。Cloisters，usefulintheearlyeducationofmoderncivilization，haveembarrasseditsgrowth，andareinjurioustoitsdevelopment。Sofarasinstitutionandformationwithrelationtomanareconcerned，monasteries，whichweregoodinthetenthcentury，questionableinthefifteenth，aredetestableinthenineteenth。

Theleprosyofmonasticismhasgnawednearlytoaskeletontwowonderfulnations，ItalyandSpain；theonethelight，theotherthesplendorofEuropeforcenturies；and，atthepresentday，thesetwoillustriouspeoplesarebutjustbeginningtoconvalesce，thankstothehealthyandvigoroushygieneof1789alone。

Theconvent——theancientfemaleconventinparticular，suchasitstillpresentsitselfonthethresholdofthiscentury，inItaly，inAustria，inSpain——isoneofthemostsombreconcretionsoftheMiddleAges。

Thecloister，thatcloister，isthepointofintersectionofhorrors。

TheCatholiccloister，properlyspeaking，iswhollyfilledwiththeblackradianceofdeath。

TheSpanishconventisthemostfunerealofall。Thererise，inobscurity，beneathvaultsfilledwithgloom，beneathdomesvaguewithshadow，massivealtarsofBabel，ashighascathedrals；

thereimmensewhitecrucifixeshangfromchainsinthedark；

thereareextended，allnudeontheebony，greatChristsofivory；

morethanbleeding，——bloody；hideousandmagnificent，withtheirelbowsdisplayingthebones，theirknee—pansshowingtheirinteguments，theirwoundsshowingtheirflesh，crownedwithsilverthorns，nailedwithnailsofgold，withblooddropsofrubiesontheirbrows，anddiamondtearsintheireyes。Thediamondsandrubiesseemwet，andmakeveiledbeingsintheshadowbelowweep，theirsidesbruisedwiththehairshirtandtheiriron—tippedscourges，theirbreastscrushedwithwickerhurdles，theirkneesexcoriatedwithprayer；

womenwhothinkthemselveswives，spectreswhothinkthemselvesseraphim。

Dothesewomenthink？No。Havetheyanywill？No。Dotheylove？

No。Dotheylive？No。Theirnerveshaveturnedtobone；theirboneshaveturnedtostone。Theirveilisofwovennight。Theirbreathundertheirveilresemblestheindescribablytragicrespirationofdeath。Theabbess，aspectre，sanctifiesthemandterrifiesthem。

Theimmaculateoneisthere，andveryfierce。SucharetheancientmonasteriesofSpain。Liarsofterribledevotion，cavernsofvirgins，ferociousplaces。

CatholicSpainismoreRomanthanRomeherself。TheSpanishconventwas，aboveallothers，theCatholicconvent。TherewasaflavoroftheOrientaboutit。Thearchbishop，thekislar—agaofheaven，lockedupandkeptwatchoverthisseraglioofsoulsreservedforGod。Thenunwastheodalisque，thepriestwastheeunuch。

TheferventwerechosenindreamsandpossessedChrist。

Atnight，thebeautiful，nudeyoungmandescendedfromthecrossandbecametheecstasyofthecloisteredone。Loftywallsguardedthemysticsultana，whohadthecrucifiedforhersultan，fromalllivingdistraction。Aglanceontheouterworldwasinfidelity。

Theinpacereplacedtheleathersack。ThatwhichwascastintotheseaintheEastwasthrownintothegroundintheWest。

Inbothquarters，womenwrungtheirhands；thewavesforthefirst，thegraveforthelast；herethedrowned，theretheburied。

Monstrousparallel。

To—daytheupholdersofthepast，unabletodenythesethings，haveadoptedtheexpedientofsmilingatthem。Therehascomeintofashionastrangeandeasymannerofsuppressingtherevelationsofhistory，ofinvalidatingthecommentariesofphilosophy，ofelidingallembarrassingfactsandallgloomyquestions。Amatterfordeclamations，saytheclever。Declamations，repeatthefoolish。

Jean—Jacquesadeclaimer；Diderotadeclaimer；VoltaireonCalas，Labarre，andSirven，declaimers。IknownotwhohasrecentlydiscoveredthatTacituswasadeclaimer，thatNerowasavictim，andthatpityisdecidedlydueto"thatpoorHolofernes。"

Facts，however，areawkwardthingstodisconcert，andtheyareobstinate。

Theauthorofthisbookhasseen，withhisowneyes，eightleaguesdistantfromBrussels，——therearerelicsoftheMiddleAgestherewhichareattainableforeverybody，——attheAbbeyofVillers，theholeoftheoubliettes，inthemiddleofthefieldwhichwasformerlythecourtyardofthecloister，andonthebanksoftheThil，fourstonedungeons，halfunderground，halfunderthewater。

Theywereinpace。Eachofthesedungeonshastheremainsofanirondoor，avault，andagratedopeningwhich，ontheoutside，istwofeetabovetheleveloftheriver，andontheinside，sixfeetabovetheleveloftheground。Fourfeetofriverflowpastalongtheoutsidewall。Thegroundisalwayssoaked。

Theoccupantoftheinpacehadthiswetsoilforhisbed。

Inoneofthesedungeons，thereisafragmentofanironneckletrivetedtothewall；inanother，therecanbeseenasquareboxmadeoffourslabsofgranite，tooshortforapersontoliedownin，toolowforhimtostanduprightin。Ahumanbeingwasputinside，withacoverlidofstoneontop。Thisexists。Itcanbeseen。

Itcanbetouched。Theseinpace，thesedungeons，theseironhinges，thesenecklets，thatloftypeep—holeonalevelwiththeriver’scurrent，thatboxofstoneclosedwithalidofgranitelikeatomb，withthisdifference，thatthedeadmanherewasalivingbeing，thatsoilwhichisbutmud，thatvaulthole，thoseoozingwalls，——

whatdeclaimers！

CHAPTERIII

ONWHATCONDITIONSONECANRESPECTTHEPAST

Monasticism，suchasitexistedinSpain，andsuchasitstillexistsinThibet，isasortofphthisisforcivilization。Itstopslifeshort。Itsimplydepopulates。Claustration，castration。

IthasbeenthescourgeofEurope。Addtothistheviolencesooftendonetotheconscience，theforcedvocations，feudalismbolsteredupbythecloister，therightofthefirst—bornpouringtheexcessofthefamilyintomonasticism，theferocitiesofwhichwehavejustspoken，theinpace，theclosedmouths，thewalled—upbrains，somanyunfortunatemindsplacedinthedungeonofeternalvows，thetakingofthehabit，theintermentoflivingsouls。

Addindividualtorturestonationaldegradations，and，whoeveryoumaybe，youwillshudderbeforethefrockandtheveil，——thosetwowinding—sheetsofhumandevising。Nevertheless，atcertainpointsandincertainplaces，inspiteofphilosophy，inspiteofprogress，thespiritofthecloisterpersistsinthemidstofthenineteenthcentury，andasingularasceticrecrudescenceis，atthismoment，astonishingthecivilizedworld。Theobstinacyofantiquatedinstitutionsinperpetuatingthemselvesresemblesthestubbornnessoftherancidperfumewhichshouldclaimourhair，thepretensionsofthespoiledfishwhichshouldpersistinbeingeaten，thepersecutionofthechild’sgarmentwhichshouldinsistonclothingtheman，thetendernessofcorpseswhichshouldreturntoembracetheliving。

"Ingrates！"saysthegarment，"Iprotectedyouininclementweather。

Whywillyouhavenothingtodowithme？""Ihavejustcomefromthedeepsea，"saysthefish。"Ihavebeenarose，"saystheperfume。

"Ihavelovedyou，"saysthecorpse。"Ihavecivilizedyou，"

saystheconvent。

Tothisthereisbutonereply:"Informerdays。"

Todreamoftheindefiniteprolongationofdefunctthings，andofthegovernmentofmenbyembalming，torestoredogmasinabadcondition，toregildshrines，topatchupcloisters，toreblessreliquaries，torefurnishsuperstitions，torevictualfanaticisms，toputnewhandlesonholywaterbrushesandmilitarism，toreconstitutemonasticismandmilitarism，tobelieveinthesalvationofsocietybythemultiplicationofparasites，toforcethepastonthepresent，——

thisseemsstrange。Still，therearetheoristswhoholdsuchtheories。

Thesetheorists，whoareinotherrespectspeopleofintelligence，haveaverysimpleprocess；theyapplytothepastaglazingwhichtheycallsocialorder，divineright，morality，family，therespectofelders，antiqueauthority，sacredtradition，legitimacy，religion；

andtheygoaboutshouting，"Look！takethis，honestpeople。"

Thislogicwasknowntotheancients。Thesoothsayerspractiseit。

Theyrubbedablackheiferoverwithchalk，andsaid，"Sheiswhite，Boscretatus。"

Asforus，werespectthepasthereandthere，andwespareit，aboveall，providedthatitconsentstobedead。Ifitinsistsonbeingalive，weattackit，andwetrytokillit。

Superstitions，bigotries，affecteddevotion，prejudices，thoseformsallformsastheyare，aretenaciousoflife；theyhaveteethandnailsintheirsmoke，andtheymustbeclaspedclose，bodytobody，andwarmustbemadeonthem，andthatwithouttruce；foritisoneofthefatalitiesofhumanitytobecondemnedtoeternalcombatwithphantoms。Itisdifficulttoseizedarknessbythethroat，andtohurlittotheearth。

AconventinFrance，inthebroaddaylightofthenineteenthcentury，isacollegeofowlsfacingthelight。Acloister，caughtintheveryactofasceticism，intheveryheartofthecityof’89andof1830andof1848，RomeblossomingoutinParis，isananachronism。

Inordinarytimes，inordertodissolveananachronismandtocauseittovanish，onehasonlytomakeitspelloutthedate。

Butwearenotinordinarytimes。

Letusfight。

Letusfight，butletusmakeadistinction。Thepeculiarpropertyoftruthisnevertocommitexcesses。Whatneedhasitofexaggeration？Thereisthatwhichitisnecessarytodestroy，andthereisthatwhichitissimplynecessarytoelucidateandexamine。Whataforceiskindlyandseriousexamination！

Letusnotapplyaflamewhereonlyalightisrequired。

So，giventhenineteenthcentury，weareopposed，asageneralproposition，andamongallpeoples，inAsiaaswellasinEurope，inIndiaaswellasinTurkey，toasceticclaustration。

Whoeversayscloister，saysmarsh。Theirputrescenceisevident，theirstagnationisunhealthy，theirfermentationinfectspeoplewithfever，andetiolatesthem；theirmultiplicationbecomesaplagueofEgypt。Wecannotthinkwithoutaffrightofthoselandswherefakirs，bonzes，santons，Greekmonks，marabouts，talapoins，anddervishesmultiplyevenlikeswarmsofvermin。

Thissaid，thereligiousquestionremains。Thisquestionhascertainmysterious，almostformidablesides；maywebepermittedtolookatitfixedly。

CHAPTERIV

THECONVENTFROMTHEPOINTOFVIEWOFPRINCIPLES

Menunitethemselvesanddwellincommunities。Byvirtueofwhatright？

Byvirtueoftherightofassociation。

Theyshutthemselvesupathome。Byvirtueofwhatright？

Byvirtueoftherightwhicheverymanhastoopenorshuthisdoor。

Theydonotcomeforth。Byvirtueofwhatright？Byvirtueoftherighttogoandcome，whichimpliestherighttoremainathome。

There，athome，whatdotheydo？

Theyspeakinlowtones；theydroptheireyes；theytoil。

Theyrenouncetheworld，towns，sensualities，pleasures，vanities，pride，interests。Theyareclothedincoarsewoollenorcoarselinen。

Notoneofthempossessesinhisownrightanythingwhatever。

Onenteringthere，eachonewhowasrichmakeshimselfpoor。

Whathehas，hegivestoall。Hewhowaswhatiscallednoble，agentlemanandalord，istheequalofhimwhowasapeasant。

Thecellisidenticalforall。Allundergothesametonsure，wearthesamefrock，eatthesameblackbread，sleeponthesamestraw，dieonthesameashes。Thesamesackontheirbacks，thesameropearoundtheirloins。Ifthedecisionhasbeentogobarefoot，allgobarefoot。Theremaybeaprinceamongthem；thatprinceisthesameshadowastherest。Notitles。Evenfamilynameshavedisappeared。Theybearonlyfirstnames。Allarebowedbeneaththeequalityofbaptismalnames。Theyhavedissolvedthecarnalfamily，andconstitutedintheircommunityaspiritualfamily。

Theyhavenootherrelativesthanallmen。Theysuccorthepoor，theycareforthesick。Theyelectthosewhomtheyobey。Theycalleachother"mybrother。"

Youstopmeandexclaim，"Butthatistheidealconvent！"

Itissufficientthatitmaybethepossibleconvent，thatI

shouldtakenoticeofit。

Thenceitresultsthat，intheprecedingbook，Ihavespokenofaconventwithrespectfulaccents。TheMiddleAgescastaside，Asiacastaside，thehistoricalandpoliticalquestionheldinreserve，fromthepurelyphilosophicalpointofview，outsidetherequirementsofmilitantpolicy，onconditionthatthemonasteryshallbeabsolutelyavoluntarymatterandshallcontainonlyconsentingparties，Ishallalwaysconsideracloisteredcommunitywithacertainattentive，and，insomerespects，adeferentialgravity。

Whereverthereisacommunity，thereisacommune；wherethereisacommune，thereisright。Themonasteryistheproductoftheformula:Equality，Fraternity。Oh！howgrandisliberty！

Andwhatasplendidtransfiguration！Libertysufficestotransformthemonasteryintoarepublic。

Letuscontinue。

Butthesemen，orthesewomenwhoarebehindthesefourwalls。

Theydressthemselvesincoarsewoollen，theyareequals，theycalleachotherbrothers，thatiswell；buttheydosomethingelse？

Yes。

What？

Theygazeonthedarkness，theykneel，andtheyclasptheirhands。

Whatdoesthissignify？

CHAPTERV

PRAYER

Theypray。

Towhom？

ToGod。

TopraytoGod，——whatisthemeaningofthesewords？

Isthereaninfinitebeyondus？Isthatinfinitethere，inherent，permanent；necessarilysubstantial，sinceitisinfinite；andbecause，ifitlackedmatteritwouldbebounded；necessarilyintelligent，sinceitisinfinite，andbecause，ifitlackedintelligence，itwouldendthere？Doesthisinfiniteawakeninustheideaofessence，whilewecanattributetoourselvesonlytheideaofexistence？

Inotherterms，isitnottheabsolute，ofwhichweareonlytherelative？

Atthesametimethatthereisaninfinitewithoutus，istherenotaninfinitewithinus？Arenotthesetwoinfinites（whatanalarmingplural！）superposed，theoneupontheother？Isnotthissecondinfinite，sotospeak，subjacenttothefirst？Isitnotthelatter’smirror，reflection，echo，anabysswhichisconcentricwithanotherabyss？Isthissecondinfinityintelligentalso？

Doesitthink？Doesitlove？Doesitwill？Ifthesetwoinfinitiesareintelligent，eachofthemhasawillprinciple，andthereisan_I_intheupperinfinityasthereisan_I_inthelowerinfinity。

The_I_belowisthesoul；the_I_onhighisGod。

Toplacetheinfinityherebelowincontact，bythemediumofthought，withtheinfinityonhigh，iscalledpraying。

Letustakenothingfromthehumanmind；tosuppressisbad。

Wemustreformandtransform。CertainfacultiesinmanaredirectedtowardstheUnknown；thought，revery，prayer。TheUnknownisanocean。Whatisconscience？ItisthecompassoftheUnknown。

Thought，revery，prayer，——thesearegreatandmysteriousradiations。

Letusrespectthem。Whithergothesemajesticirradiationsofthesoul？Intotheshadow；thatistosay，tothelight。

Thegrandeurofdemocracyistodisownnothingandtodenynothingofhumanity。Closetotherightoftheman，besideit，attheleast，thereexiststherightofthesoul。

Tocrushfanaticismandtoveneratetheinfinite，suchisthelaw。

Letusnotconfineourselvestoprostratingourselvesbeforethetreeofcreation，andtothecontemplationofitsbranchesfullofstars。

Wehaveadutytolaboroverthehumansoul，todefendthemysteryagainstthemiracle，toadoretheincomprehensibleandrejecttheabsurd，toadmit，asaninexplicablefact，onlywhatisnecessary，topurifybelief，toremovesuperstitionsfromabovereligion；

toclearGodofcaterpillars。

CHAPTERVI

THEABSOLUTEGOODNESSOFPRAYER

Withregardtothemodesofprayer，allaregood，providedthattheyaresincere。Turnyourbookupsidedownandbeintheinfinite。

Thereis，asweknow，aphilosophywhichdeniestheinfinite。

Thereisalsoaphilosophy，pathologicallyclassified，whichdeniesthesun；thisphilosophyiscalledblindness。

Toerectasensewhichwelackintoasourceoftruth，isafineblindman’sself—sufficiency。

Thecuriousthingisthehaughty，superior，andcompassionateairswhichthisgropingphilosophyassumestowardsthephilosophywhichbeholdsGod。Onefancieshehearsamolecrying，"Ipitythemwiththeirsun！"

Thereare，asweknow，powerfulandillustriousatheists。Atbottom，ledbacktothetruthbytheirveryforce，theyarenotabsolutelysurethattheyareatheists；itiswiththemonlyaquestionofdefinition，andinanycase，iftheydonotbelieveinGod，beinggreatminds，theyproveGod。

Wesalutethemasphilosophers，whileinexorablydenouncingtheirphilosophy。

Letusgoon。

Theremarkablethingaboutitis，also，theirfacilityinpayingthemselvesoffwithwords。AmetaphysicalschooloftheNorth，impregnatedtosomeextentwithfog，hasfanciedthatithasworkedarevolutioninhumanunderstandingbyreplacingthewordForcewiththewordWill。

Tosay:"theplantwills，"insteadof:"theplantgrows":

thiswouldbefecundinresults，indeed，ifweweretoadd:

"theuniversewills。"Why？Becauseitwouldcometothis:

theplantwills，thereforeithasan_I_；theuniversewills，thereforeithasaGod。

Asforus，who，however，incontradistinctiontothisschool，rejectnothingapriori，awillintheplant，acceptedbythisschool，appearstousmoredifficulttoadmitthanawillintheuniversedeniedbyit。

Todenythewilloftheinfinite，thatistosay，God，isimpossibleonanyotherconditionsthanadenialoftheinfinite。Wehavedemonstratedthis。

Thenegationoftheinfiniteleadsstraighttonihilism。

Everythingbecomes"amentalconception。"

Withnihilism，nodiscussionispossible；forthenihilistlogicdoubtstheexistenceofitsinterlocutor，andisnotquitesurethatitexistsitself。

Fromitspointofview，itispossiblethatitmaybeforitself，only"amentalconception。"

Only，itdoesnotperceivethatallwhichithasdenieditadmitsinthelump，simplybytheutteranceoftheword，mind。

Inshort，nowayisopentothethoughtbyaphilosophywhichmakesallendinthemonosyllable，No。

ToNothereisonlyonereply，Yes。

Nihilismhasnopoint。

Thereisnosuchthingasnothingness。Zerodoesnotexist。

Everythingissomething。Nothingisnothing。

Manlivesbyaffirmationevenmorethanbybread。

Eventoseeandtoshowdoesnotsuffice。Philosophyshouldbeanenergy；

itshouldhaveforeffortandeffecttoamelioratetheconditionofman。SocratesshouldenterintoAdamandproduceMarcusAurelius；

inotherwords，themanofwisdomshouldbemadetoemergefromthemanoffelicity。EdenshouldbechangedintoaLyceum。

Scienceshouldbeacordial。Toenjoy，——whatasadaim，andwhatapaltryambition！Thebruteenjoys。Toofferthoughttothethirstofmen，togivethemallasanelixirthenotionofGod，tomakeconscienceandsciencefraternizeinthem，torenderthemjustbythismysteriousconfrontation；suchisthefunctionofrealphilosophy。

Moralityisablossomingoutoftruths。Contemplationleadstoaction。

Theabsoluteshouldbepracticable。Itisnecessarythattheidealshouldbebreathable，drinkable，andeatabletothehumanmind。

Itistheidealwhichhastherighttosay:Take，thisismybody，thisismyblood。Wisdomisaholycommunion。

Itisonthisconditionthatitceasestobeasterileloveofscienceandbecomestheoneandsovereignmodeofhumanrallying，andthatphilosophyherselfispromotedtoreligion。

Philosophyshouldnotbeacorbelerectedonmysterytogazeuponitatitsease，withoutanyotherresultthanthatofbeingconvenienttocuriosity。

Forourpart，adjourningthedevelopmentofourthoughttoanotheroccasion，wewillconfineourselvestosayingthatweneitherunderstandmanasapointofdeparturenorprogressasanend，withoutthosetwoforceswhicharetheirtwomotors:faithandlove。

Progressisthegoal，theidealisthetype。

Whatisthisideal？ItisGod。

Ideal，absolute，perfection，infinity:identicalwords。

CHAPTERVII

PRECAUTIONSTOBEOBSERVEDINBLAME

Historyandphilosophyhaveeternalduties，whichare，atthesametime，simpleduties；tocombatCaiphastheHigh—priest，DracotheLawgiver，TrimalciontheLegislator，TiberiustheEmperor；

thisisclear，direct，andlimpid，andoffersnoobscurity。

Buttherighttoliveapart，evenwithitsinconveniencesanditsabuses，insistsonbeingstatedandtakenintoaccount。

Cenobitismisahumanproblem。

Whenonespeaksofconvents，thoseabodesoferror，butofinnocence，ofaberrationbutofgood—will，ofignorancebutofdevotion，oftorturebutofmartyrdom，italwaysbecomesnecessarytosayeitheryesorno。

Aconventisacontradiction。Itsobject，salvation；itsmeansthereto，sacrifice。

Theconventissupremeegoismhavingforitsresultsupremeabnegation。

Toabdicatewiththeobjectofreigningseemstobethedeviceofmonasticism。

Inthecloister，onesuffersinordertoenjoy。Onedrawsabillofexchangeondeath。Onediscountsinterrestrialgloomcelestiallight。

Inthecloister，hellisacceptedinadvanceasapostobitonparadise。

Thetakingoftheveilorthefrockisasuicidepaidforwitheternity。

Itdoesnotseemtous，thatonsuchasubjectmockeryispermissible。

Allaboutitisserious，thegoodaswellasthebad。

Thejustmanfrowns，butneversmileswithamalicioussneer。

Weunderstandwrath，butnotmalice。

CHAPTERVIII

FAITH，LAW

Afewwordsmore。

Weblamethechurchwhensheissaturatedwithintrigues，wedespisethespiritualwhichisharshtowardthetemporal；

butweeverywherehonorthethoughtfulman。

Wesalutethemanwhokneels。

Afaith；thisisanecessityforman。Woetohimwhobelievesnothing。

Oneisnotunoccupiedbecauseoneisabsorbed。Thereisvisiblelaborandinvisiblelabor。

Tocontemplateistolabor，tothinkistoact。

Foldedarmstoil，claspedhandswork。Agazefixedonheavenisawork。

Thalesremainedmotionlessforfouryears。Hefoundedphilosophy。

Inouropinion，cenobitesarenotlazymen，andreclusesarenotidlers。

TomeditateontheShadowisaseriousthing。

Withoutinvalidatinganythingthatwehavejustsaid，webelievethataperpetualmemoryofthetombisproperfortheliving。

Onthispoint，thepriestandthephilosopheragree。Wemustdie。

TheAbbedelaTrapperepliestoHorace。

Tominglewithone’slifeacertainpresenceofthesepulchre，——

thisisthelawofthesage；anditisthelawoftheascetic。

Inthisrespect，theasceticandthesageconverge。Thereisamaterialgrowth；weadmitit。Thereisamoralgrandeur；weholdtothat。Thoughtlessandvivaciousspiritssay:——

"Whatisthegoodofthosemotionlessfiguresonthesideofmystery？

Whatpurposedotheyserve？Whatdotheydo？"

Alas！Inthepresenceofthedarknesswhichenvironsus，andwhichawaitsus，inourignoranceofwhattheimmensedispersionwillmakeofus，wereply:"Thereisprobablynoworkmoredivinethanthatperformedbythesesouls。"Andweadd:

"Thereisprobablynoworkwhichismoreuseful。"

Therecertainlymustbesomewhoprayconstantlyforthosewhoneverprayatall。

Inouropinionthewholequestionliesintheamountofthoughtthatismingledwithprayer。

Leibnitzprayingisgrand，Voltaireadoringisfine。DeoerexitVoltaire。

Weareforreligionasagainstreligions。

Weareofthenumberwhobelieveinthewretchednessoforisons，andthesublimityofprayer。

Moreover，atthisminutewhichwearenowtraversing，——aminutewhichwillnot，fortunately，leaveitsimpressonthenineteenthcentury，——

atthishour，whensomanymenhavelowbrowsandsoulsbutlittleelevated，amongsomanymortalswhosemoralityconsistsinenjoyment，andwhoarebusiedwiththebriefandmisshapenthingsofmatter，whoeverexileshimselfseemsworthyofvenerationtous。

Themonasteryisarenunciation。Sacrificewronglydirectedisstillsacrifice。Tomistakeagraveerrorforadutyhasagrandeurofitsown。

Takenbyitself，andideally，andinordertoexaminethetruthonallsidesuntilallaspectshavebeenimpartiallyexhausted，themonastery，thefemaleconventinparticular，——forinourcenturyitiswomanwhosuffersthemost，andinthisexileofthecloisterthereissomethingofprotestation，——thefemaleconventhasincontestablyacertainmajesty。

Thiscloisteredexistencewhichissoaustere，sodepressing，afewofwhosefeatureswehavejusttraced，isnotlife，foritisnotliberty；itisnotthetomb，foritisnotplenitude；

itisthestrangeplacewhenceonebeholds，asfromthecrestofaloftymountain，ononesidetheabysswhereweare，ontheother，theabysswhitherweshallgo；itisthenarrowandmistyfrontierseparatingtwoworlds，illuminatedandobscuredbybothatthesametime，wheretherayoflifewhichhasbecomeenfeebledismingledwiththevaguerayofdeath；itisthehalfobscurityofthetomb。

We，whodonotbelievewhatthesewomenbelieve，butwho，likethem，livebyfaith，——wehaveneverbeenabletothinkwithoutasortoftenderandreligiousterror，withoutasortofpity，thatisfullofenvy，ofthosedevoted，tremblingandtrustingcreatures，ofthesehumbleandaugustsouls，whodaretodwellontheverybrinkofthemystery，waitingbetweentheworldwhichisclosedandheavenwhichisnotyetopen，turnedtowardsthelightwhichonecannotsee，possessingthesolehappinessofthinkingthattheyknowwhereitis，aspiringtowardsthegulf，andtheunknown，theireyesfixedmotionlessonthedarkness，kneeling，bewildered，stupefied，shuddering，halflifted，attimes，bythedeepbreathsofeternity。

BOOKEIGHTH。——CEMETERIESTAKETHATWHICHISCOMMITTEDTHEM