第23章

Andherememberedthathehaddaredtomurmur！

Often，inthemiddleofthenight，herosetolistentothegratefulsongofthoseinnocentcreaturesweigheddownwithseverities，andthebloodrancoldinhisveinsatthethoughtthatthosewhowerejustlychastisedraisedtheirvoicesheavenwardonlyinblasphemy，andthathe，wretchthathewas，hadshakenhisfistatGod。

Therewasonestrikingthingwhichcausedhimtomeditatedeeply，likeawarningwhisperfromProvidenceitself:thescalingofthatwall，thepassingofthosebarriers，theadventureacceptedevenattheriskofdeath，thepainfulanddifficultascent，allthoseeffortseven，whichhehadmadetoescapefromthatotherplaceofexpiation，hehadmadeinordertogainentranceintothisone。Wasthisasymbolofhisdestiny？Thishousewasaprisonlikewiseandboreamelancholyresemblancetothatotheronewhencehehadfled，andyethehadneverconceivedanideaofanythingsimilar。

Againhebeheldgratings，bolts，ironbars——toguardwhom？Angels。

Theseloftywallswhichhehadseenaroundtigers，henowbeheldoncemorearoundlambs。

Thiswasaplaceofexpiation，andnotofpunishment；andyet，itwasstillmoreaustere，moregloomy，andmorepitilessthantheother。

Thesevirginswereevenmoreheavilyburdenedthantheconvicts。

Acold，harshwind，thatwindwhichhadchilledhisyouth，traversedthebarredandpadlockedgratingofthevultures；astillharsherandmorebitingbreezeblewinthecageofthesedoves。

Why？

Whenhethoughtonthesethings，allthatwaswithinhimwaslostinamazementbeforethismysteryofsublimity。

Inthesemeditations，hispridevanished。Hescrutinizedhisownheartinallmannerofways；hefelthispettiness，andmanyatimehewept。AllthathadenteredintohislifeforthelastsixmonthshadledhimbacktowardstheBishop’sholyinjunctions；

Cosettethroughlove，theconventthroughhumility。

Sometimesateventide，inthetwilight，atanhourwhenthegardenwasdeserted，hecouldbeseenonhiskneesinthemiddleofthewalkwhichskirtedthechapel，infrontofthewindowthroughwhichhehadgazedonthenightofhisarrival，andturnedtowardsthespotwhere，asheknew，thesisterwasmakingreparation，prostratedinprayer。

Thusheprayedashekneltbeforethesister。

ItseemedasthoughhedarednotkneeldirectlybeforeGod。

Everythingthatsurroundedhim，thatpeacefulgarden，thosefragrantflowers，thosechildrenwhoutteredjoyouscries，thosegraveandsimplewomen，thatsilentcloister，slowlypermeatedhim，andlittlebylittle，hissoulbecamecompoundedofsilencelikethecloister，ofperfumeliketheflowers，ofsimplicitylikethewomen，ofjoylikethechildren。AndthenhereflectedthatthesehadbeentwohousesofGodwhichhadreceivedhiminsuccessionattwocriticalmomentsinhislife:thefirst，whenalldoorswereclosedandwhenhumansocietyrejectedhim；

thesecond，atamomentwhenhumansocietyhadagainsetoutinpursuitofhim，andwhenthegalleyswereagainyawning；andthat，haditnotbeenforthefirst，heshouldhaverelapsedintocrime，andhaditnotbeenforthesecond，intotorment。

Hiswholeheartmeltedingratitude，andhelovedmoreandmore。

Manyyearspassedinthismanner；Cosettewasgrowingup。

[TheendofVolumeII。"Cosette"]

VOLUMEIIIMARIUS。

BOOKFIRST。——PARISSTUDIEDINITSATOM

CHAPTERI

PARVULUS

Parishasachild，andtheforesthasabird；thebirdiscalledthesparrow；thechildiscalledthegamin。

Couplethesetwoideaswhichcontain，theoneallthefurnace，theotherallthedawn；strikethesetwosparkstogether，Paris，childhood；

thereleapsoutfromthemalittlebeing。Homuncio，Plautuswouldsay。

Thislittlebeingisjoyous。Hehasnotfoodeveryday，andhegoestotheplayeveryevening，ifheseesgood。Hehasnoshirtonhisbody，noshoesonhisfeet，noroofoverhishead；

heislikethefliesofheaven，whohavenoneofthesethings。

Heisfromseventothirteenyearsofage，helivesinbands，roamsthestreets，lodgesintheopenair，wearsanoldpairoftrousersofhisfather’s，whichdescendbelowhisheels，anoldhatofsomeotherfather，whichdescendsbelowhisears，asinglesuspenderofyellowlisting；heruns，liesinwait，rummagesabout，wastestime，blackenspipes，swearslikeaconvict，hauntsthewine—shop，knowsthieves，callsgaywomenthou，talksslang，singsobscenesongs，andhasnoevilinhisheart。

Thisisbecausehehasinhisheartapearl，innocence；andpearlsarenottobedissolvedinmud。Solongasmanisinhischildhood，Godwillsthatheshallbeinnocent。

Ifoneweretoaskthatenormouscity:"Whatisthis？"shewouldreply:

"Itismylittleone。"

CHAPTERII

SOMEOFHISPARTICULARCHARACTERISTICS

Thegamin——thestreetArab——ofParisisthedwarfofthegiant。

Letusnotexaggerate，thischeruboftheguttersometimeshasashirt，but，inthatcase，heownsbutone；hesometimeshasshoes，butthentheyhavenosoles；hesometimeshasalodging，andhelovesit，forhefindshismotherthere；butheprefersthestreet，becausetherehefindsliberty。Hehashisowngames，hisownbitsofmischief，whosefoundationconsistsofhatredforthebourgeois；

hispeculiarmetaphors:tobedeadistoeatdandelionsbytheroot；

hisownoccupations，callinghackney—coaches，lettingdowncarriage—steps，establishingmeansoftransitbetweenthetwosidesofastreetinheavyrains，whichhecallsmakingthebridgeofarts，cryingdiscoursespronouncedbytheauthoritiesinfavoroftheFrenchpeople，cleaningoutthecracksinthepavement；

hehashisowncoinage，whichiscomposedofallthelittlemorselsofworkedcopperwhicharefoundonthepublicstreets。

Thiscuriousmoney，whichreceivesthenameofloques——rags——hasaninvariableandwell—regulatedcurrencyinthislittleBohemiaofchildren。

Lastly，hehashisownfauna，whichheobservesattentivelyinthecorners；thelady—bird，thedeath’s—headplant—louse，thedaddy—long—legs，"thedevil，"ablackinsect，whichmenacesbytwistingaboutitstailarmedwithtwohorns。Hehashisfabulousmonster，whichhasscalesunderitsbelly，butisnotalizard，whichhaspustulesonitsback，butisnotatoad，whichinhabitsthenooksofoldlime—kilnsandwellsthathaverundry，whichisblack，hairy，sticky，whichcrawlssometimesslowly，sometimesrapidly，whichhasnocry，butwhichhasalook，andissoterriblethatnoonehaseverbeheldit；hecallsthismonster"thedeafthing。"Thesearchforthese"deafthings"

amongthestonesisajoyofformidablenature。Anotherpleasureconsistsinsuddenlypryingupapaving—stone，andtakingalookatthewood—lice。EachregionofParisiscelebratedfortheinterestingtreasureswhicharetobefoundthere。Thereareear—wigsinthetimber—yardsoftheUrsulines，therearemillepedsinthePantheon，therearetadpolesintheditchesoftheChamps—de—Mars。

Asfarassayingsareconcerned，thischildhasasmanyofthemasTalleyrand。Heisnolesscynical，butheismorehonest。

Heisendowedwithacertainindescribable，unexpectedjoviality；

heupsetsthecomposureoftheshopkeeperwithhiswildlaughter。

Herangesboldlyfromhighcomedytofarce。

Afuneralpassesby。Amongthosewhoaccompanythedeadthereisadoctor。"Heythere！"shoutssomestreetArab，"howlonghasitbeencustomaryfordoctorstocarryhometheirownwork？"

Anotherisinacrowd。Agraveman，adornedwithspectaclesandtrinkets，turnsroundindignantly:"Yougood—for—nothing，youhaveseizedmywife’swaist！"——"I，sir？Searchme！"

CHAPTERIII

HEISAGREEABLE

Intheevening，thankstoafewsous，whichhealwaysfindsmeanstoprocure，thehomuncioentersatheatre。Oncrossingthatmagicthreshold，hebecomestransfigured；hewasthestreetArab，hebecomesthetiti。[18]Theatresareasortofshipturnedupsidedownwiththekeelintheair。Itisinthatkeelthatthetitihuddletogether。Thetitiistothegaminwhatthemothistothelarva；thesamebeingendowedwithwingsandsoaring。

Itsufficesforhimtobethere，withhisradianceofhappiness，withhispowerofenthusiasmandjoy，withhishand—clapping，whichresemblesaclappingofwings，toconferonthatnarrow，dark，fetid，sordid，unhealthy，hideous，abominablekeel，thenameofParadise。

[18]Chicken:slangallusiontothenoisemadeincallingpoultry。

Bestowonanindividualtheuselessanddeprivehimofthenecessary，andyouhavethegamin。

Thegaminisnotdevoidofliteraryintuition。Histendency，andwesayitwiththeproperamountofregret，wouldnotconstituteclassictaste。Heisnotveryacademicbynature。Thus，togiveanexample，thepopularityofMademoiselleMarsamongthatlittleaudienceofstormychildrenwasseasonedwithatouchofirony。

ThegamincalledherMademoiselleMuche——"hideyourself。"

Thisbeingbawlsandscoffsandridiculesandfights，hasragslikeababyandtatterslikeaphilosopher，fishesinthesewer，huntsinthecesspool，extractsmirthfromfoulness，whipsupthesquareswithhiswit，grinsandbites，whistlesandsings，shouts，andshrieks，tempersAlleluiawithMatantur—lurette，chantseveryrhythmfromtheDeProfundistotheJack—pudding，findswithoutseeking，knowswhatheisignorantof，isaSpartantothepointofthieving，ismadtowisdom，islyricaltofilth，wouldcrouchdownonOlympus，wallowsinthedunghillandemergesfromitcoveredwithstars。

ThegaminofParisisRabelaisinthisyouth。

Heisnotcontentwithhistrousersunlesstheyhaveawatch—pocket。

Heisnoteasilyastonished，heisstilllesseasilyterrified，hemakessongsonsuperstitions，hetakesthewindoutofexaggerations，hetwitsmysteries，hethrustsouthistongueatghosts，hetakesthepoetryoutofstiltedthings，heintroducescaricatureintoepicextravaganzas。Itisnotthatheisprosaic；farfromthat；

buthereplacesthesolemnvisionbythefarcicalphantasmagoria。

IfAdamastorweretoappeartohim，thestreetArabwouldsay:

"Hithere！Thebugaboo！"

CHAPTERIV

HEMAYBEOFUSE

ParisbeginswiththeloungerandendswiththestreetArab，twobeingsofwhichnoothercityiscapable；thepassiveacceptance，whichcontentsitselfwithgazing，andtheinexhaustibleinitiative；

PrudhommeandFouillou。Parisalonehasthisinitsnaturalhistory。

Thewholeofthemonarchyiscontainedinthelounger；thewholeofanarchyinthegamin。

ThispalechildoftheParisianfaubourgslivesanddevelops，makesconnections，"growssupple"insuffering，inthepresenceofsocialrealitiesandofhumanthings，athoughtfulwitness。

Hethinkshimselfheedless；andheisnot。Helooksandisonthevergeoflaughter；heisonthevergeofsomethingelsealso。

Whoeveryoumaybe，ifyournameisPrejudice，Abuse，Ignorance，Oppression，Iniquity，Despotism，Injustice，Fanaticism，Tyranny，bewareofthegapinggamin。

Thelittlefellowwillgrowup。

Ofwhatclayishemade？Ofthefirstmudthatcomestohand。

Ahandfulofdirt，abreath，andbeholdAdam。ItsufficesforaGodtopassby。AGodhasalwayspassedoverthestreetArab。

Fortunelaborsatthistinybeing。Bytheword"fortune"wemeanchance，tosomeextent。Thatpigmykneadedoutofcommonearth，ignorant，unlettered，giddy，vulgar，low。WillthatbecomeanIonianoraBoeotian？Wait，curritrota，theSpiritofParis，thatdemonwhichcreatesthechildrenofchanceandthemenofdestiny，reversingtheprocessoftheLatinpotter，makesofajuganamphora。

CHAPTERV

HISFRONTIERS

Thegaminlovesthecity，healsolovessolitude，sincehehassomethingofthesageinhim。Urbisamator，likeFuscus；

rurisamator，likeFlaccus。

Toroamthoughtfullyabout，thatistosay，tolounge，isafineemploymentoftimeintheeyesofthephilosopher；particularlyinthatratherillegitimatespeciesofcampaign，whichistolerablyuglybutoddandcomposedoftwonatures，whichsurroundscertaingreatcities，notablyParis。Tostudythesuburbsistostudytheamphibiousanimal。Endofthetrees，beginningoftheroofs；

endofthegrass，beginningofthepavements；endofthefurrows，beginningoftheshops，endofthewheel—ruts，beginningofthepassions；endofthedivinemurmur，beginningofthehumanuproar；

henceanextraordinaryinterest。

Hence，inthesenotveryattractiveplaces，indeliblystampedbythepassingstrollerwiththeepithet:melancholy，theapparentlyobjectlesspromenadesofthedreamer。

HewhowritestheselineshaslongbeenaprowleraboutthebarriersofParis，anditisforhimasourceofprofoundsouvenirs。

Thatclose—shaventurf，thosepebblypaths，thatchalk，thosepools，thoseharshmonotoniesofwasteandfallowlands，theplantsofearlymarket—gardensuddenlyspringingintosightinabottom，thatmixtureofthesavageandthecitizen，thosevastdesertnookswherethegarrisondrumspractisenoisily，andproduceasortoflispingofbattle，thosehermitsbydayandcut—throatsbynight，thatclumsymillwhichturnsinthewind，thehoisting—wheelsofthequarries，thetea—gardensatthecornersofthecemeteries；

themysteriouscharmofgreat，sombrewallssquarelyintersectingimmense，vaguestretchesoflandinundatedwithsunshineandfullofbutterflies，——allthisattractedhim。

Thereishardlyanyoneonearthwhoisnotacquaintedwiththosesingularspots，theGlaciere，theCunette，thehideouswallofGrenelleallspeckledwithballs，Mont—Parnasse，theFosse—aux—Loups，AubiersonthebankoftheMarne，Mont—Souris，theTombe—Issoire，thePierre—PlatedeChatillon，wherethereisanold，exhaustedquarrywhichnolongerservesanypurposeexcepttoraisemushrooms，andwhichisclosed，onalevelwiththeground，byatrap—doorofrottenplanks。

ThecampagnaofRomeisoneidea，thebanlieueofParisisanother；

tobeholdnothingbutfields，houses，ortreesinwhatastretchofcountryoffersus，istoremainonthesurface；allaspectsofthingsarethoughtsofGod。Thespotwhereaplaineffectsitsjunctionwithacityisalwaysstampedwithacertainpiercingmelancholy。

Natureandhumanitybothappealtoyouatthesametimethere。

Localoriginalitiestheremaketheirappearance。

Anyonewho，likeourselves，haswanderedaboutinthesesolitudescontiguoustoourfaubourgs，whichmaybedesignatedasthelimbosofParis，hasseenhereandthere，inthemostdesertspot，atthemostunexpectedmoment，behindameagrehedge，orinthecornerofalugubriouswall，childrengroupedtumultuously，fetid，muddy，dusty，ragged，dishevelled，playinghide—and—seek，andcrownedwithcorn—flowers。Allofthemarelittleoneswhohavemadetheirescapefrompoorfamilies。Theouterboulevardistheirbreathingspace；

thesuburbsbelongtothem。Theretheyareeternallyplayingtruant。

Theretheyinnocentlysingtheirrepertoryofdirtysongs。

Theretheyare，orrather，theretheyexist，farfromeveryeye，inthesweetlightofMayorJune，kneelingroundaholeintheground，snappingmarbleswiththeirthumbs，quarrellingoverhalf—farthings，irresponsible，volatile，freeandhappy；and，nosoonerdotheycatchsightofyouthantheyrecollectthattheyhaveanindustry，andthattheymustearntheirliving，andtheyoffertosellyouanoldwoollenstockingfilledwithcockchafers，orabunchoflilacs。

TheseencounterswithstrangechildrenareoneofthecharmingandatthesametimepoignantgracesoftheenvironsofParis。

Sometimestherearelittlegirlsamongthethrongofboys，——

aretheytheirsisters？——whoarealmostyoungmaidens，thin，feverish，withsunburnthands，coveredwithfreckles，crownedwithpoppiesandearsofrye，gay，haggard，barefooted。Theycanbeseendevouringcherriesamongthewheat。Intheeveningtheycanbeheardlaughing。

Thesegroups，warmlyilluminatedbythefullglowofmidday，orindistinctlyseeninthetwilight，occupythethoughtfulmanforaverylongtime，andthesevisionsminglewithhisdreams。

Paris，centre，banlieue，circumference；thisconstitutesalltheearthtothosechildren。Theyneverventurebeyondthis。

TheycannomoreescapefromtheParisianatmospherethanfishcanescapefromthewater。Forthem，nothingexiststwoleaguesbeyondthebarriers:Ivry，Gentilly，Arcueil，Belleville，Aubervilliers，Menilmontant，Choisy—le—Roi，Billancourt，Mendon，Issy，Vanvre，Sevres，Puteaux，Neuilly，Gennevilliers，Colombes，Romainville，Chatou，Asnieres，Bougival，Nanterre，Enghien，Noisy—le—Sec，Nogent，Gournay，Drancy，Gonesse；theuniverseendsthere。

CHAPTERVI

ABITOFHISTORY

Attheepoch，nearlycontemporarybytheway，whentheactionofthisbooktakesplace，therewasnot，asthereisto—day，apolicemanatthecornerofeverystreet（abenefitwhichthereisnotimetodiscusshere）；straychildrenaboundedinParis。

Thestatisticsgiveanaverageoftwohundredandsixtyhomelesschildrenpickedupannuallyatthatperiod，bythepolicepatrols，inunenclosedlands，inhousesinprocessofconstruction，andunderthearchesofthebridges。Oneofthesenests，whichhasbecomefamous，produced"theswallowsofthebridgeofArcola。"

Thisis，moreover，themostdisastrousofsocialsymptoms。

Allcrimesofthemanbegininthevagabondageofthechild。

LetusmakeanexceptioninfavorofParis，nevertheless。Inarelativemeasure，andinspiteofthesouvenirwhichwehavejustrecalled，theexceptionisjust。Whileinanyothergreatcitythevagabondchildisalostman，whilenearlyeverywherethechildlefttoitselfis，insomesort，sacrificedandabandonedtoakindoffatalimmersioninthepublicviceswhichdevourinhimhonestyandconscience，thestreetboyofParis，weinsistonthispoint，howeverdefacedandinjuredonthesurface，isalmostintactontheinterior。Itisamagnificentthingtoputonrecord，andonewhichshinesforthinthesplendidprobityofourpopularrevolutions，thatacertainincorruptibilityresultsfromtheideawhichexistsintheairofParis，assaltexistsinthewateroftheocean。

TobreatheParispreservesthesoul。

Whatwehavejustsaidtakesawaynothingoftheanguishofheartwhichoneexperienceseverytimethatonemeetsoneofthesechildrenaroundwhomonefanciesthathebeholdsfloatingthethreadsofabrokenfamily。Inthecivilizationofthepresentday，incompleteasitstillis，itisnotaveryabnormalthingtobeholdthesefracturedfamiliespouringthemselvesoutintothedarkness，notknowingclearlywhathasbecomeoftheirchildren，andallowingtheirownentrailstofallonthepublichighway。

Hencetheseobscuredestinies。Thisiscalled，forthissadthinghasgivenrisetoanexpression，"tobecastonthepavementsofParis。"

Letitbesaidbytheway，thatthisabandonmentofchildrenwasnotdiscouragedbytheancientmonarchy。AlittleofEgyptandBohemiainthelowerregionssuitedtheupperspheres，andcompassedtheaimsofthepowerful。Thehatredofinstructionforthechildrenofthepeoplewasadogma。Whatistheuseof"half—lights"？Suchwasthecountersign。Now，theerringchildisthecorollaryoftheignorantchild。

Besidesthis，themonarchysometimeswasinneedofchildren，andinthatcaseitskimmedthestreets。

UnderLouisXIV。，nottogoanyfurtherback，thekingrightlydesiredtocreateafleet。Theideawasagoodone。Butletusconsiderthemeans。Therecanbenofleet，if，besidethesailingship，thatplaythingofthewinds，andforthepurposeoftowingit，incaseofnecessity，thereisnotthevesselwhichgoeswhereitpleases，eitherbymeansofoarsorofsteam；thegalleyswerethentothemarinewhatsteamersareto—day。Therefore，galleyswerenecessary；butthegalleyismovedonlybythegalley—slave；

hence，galley—slaveswererequired。Colberthadthecommissionersofprovincesandtheparliamentsmakeasmanyconvictsaspossible。

Themagistracyshowedagreatdealofcomplaisanceinthematter。

Amankepthishatoninthepresenceofaprocession——itwasaHuguenotattitude；hewassenttothegalleys。Achildwasencounteredinthestreets；providedthathewasfifteenyearsofageanddidnotknowwherehewastosleep，hewassenttothegalleys。

Grandreign；grandcentury。

UnderLouisXV。childrendisappearedinParis；thepolicecarriedthemoff，forwhatmysteriouspurposenooneknew。

Peoplewhisperedwithterrormonstrousconjecturesastotheking’sbathsofpurple。Barbierspeaksingenuouslyofthesethings。

Itsometimeshappenedthattheexemptsoftheguard，whentheyranshortofchildren，tookthosewhohadfathers。Thefathers，indespair，attackedtheexempts。Inthatcase，theparliamentintervenedandhadsomeonehung。Who？Theexempts？No，thefathers。

CHAPTERVII

THEGAMINSHOULDHAVEHISPLACEINTHECLASSIFICATIONSOFINDIA

ThebodyofstreetArabsinParisalmostconstitutesacaste。

Onemightalmostsay:Noteveryonewhowishestobelongtoitcandoso。

Thiswordgaminwasprintedforthefirsttime，andreachedpopularspeechthroughtheliterarytongue，in1834。ItisinalittleworkentitledClaudeGueuxthatthiswordmadeitsappearance。

Thehorrorwaslively。Thewordpassedintocirculation。

Theelementswhichconstitutetheconsiderationofthegaminsforeachotherareveryvarious。WehaveknownandassociatedwithonewhowasgreatlyrespectedandvastlyadmiredbecausehehadseenamanfallfromthetopofthetowerofNotre—Dame；

another，becausehehadsucceededinmakinghiswayintotherearcourtyardwherethestatuesofthedomeoftheInvalideshadbeentemporarilydeposited，andhad"prigged"someleadfromthe

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