第47章

Thisabundanceoflighthadsomethingindescribablyreassuringaboutit。Life，sap，heat，odorsoverflowed；onewasconscious，beneathcreation，oftheenormoussizeofthesource；inallthesebreathspermeatedwithlove，inthisinterchangeofreverberationsandreflections，inthismarvellousexpenditureofrays，inthisinfiniteoutpouringofliquidgold，onefelttheprodigalityoftheinexhaustible；and，behindthissplendorasbehindacurtainofflame，onecaughtaglimpseofGod，thatmillionaireofstars。

Thankstothesand，therewasnotaspeckofmud；thankstotherain，therewasnotagrainofashes。Theclumpsofblossomshadjustbeenbathed；everysortofvelvet，satin，goldandvarnish，whichspringsfromtheearthintheformofflowers，wasirreproachable。

Thismagnificencewascleanly。Thegrandsilenceofhappynaturefilledthegarden。Acelestialsilencethatiscompatiblewithathousandsortsofmusic，thecooingofnests，thebuzzingofswarms，theflutteringsofthebreeze。Alltheharmonyoftheseasonwascompleteinonegraciouswhole；theentrancesandexitsofspringtookplaceinproperorder；thelilacsended；thejasminesbegan；

someflowersweretardy，someinsectsinadvanceoftheirtime；

thevan—guardoftheredJunebutterfliesfraternizedwiththerear—guardofthewhitebutterfliesofMay。Theplantaintreesweregettingtheirnewskins。Thebreezehollowedoutundulationsinthemagnificentenormityofthechestnut—trees。Itwassplendid。

Aveteranfromtheneighboringbarracks，whowasgazingthroughthefence，said:"HereistheSpringpresentingarmsandinfulluniform。"

Allnaturewasbreakfasting；creationwasattable；thiswasitshour；

thegreatblueclothwasspreadinthesky，andthegreatgreenclothonearth；thesunlighteditallupbrilliantly。Godwasservingtheuniversalrepast。Eachcreaturehadhispastureorhismess。

Thering—dovefoundhishemp—seed，thechaffinchfoundhismillet，thegoldfinchfoundchickweed，thered—breastfoundworms，thegreenfinchfoundflies，theflyfoundinfusoriae，thebeefoundflowers。

Theyateeachothersomewhat，itistrue，whichisthemiseryofevilmixedwithgood；butnotabeastofthemallhadanemptystomach。

Thetwolittleabandonedcreatureshadarrivedinthevicinityofthegrandfountain，and，ratherbewilderedbyallthislight，theytriedtohidethemselves，theinstinctofthepoorandtheweakinthepresenceofevenimpersonalmagnificence；andtheykeptbehindtheswans’hutch。

Hereandthere，atintervals，whenthewindblew，shouts，clamor，asortoftumultuousdeathrattle，whichwasthefiring，anddullblows，whichweredischargesofcannon，strucktheearconfusedly。

SmokehungovertheroofsinthedirectionoftheHalles。Abell，whichhadtheairofanappeal，wasringinginthedistance。

Thesechildrendidnotappeartonoticethesenoises。Thelittleonerepeatedfromtimetotime:"Iamhungry。"

Almostatthesameinstantwiththechildren，anothercoupleapproachedthegreatbasin。Theyconsistedofagoodman，aboutfiftyyearsofage，whowasleadingbythehandalittlefellowofsix。Nodoubt，afatherandhisson。Thelittlemanofsixhadabigbrioche。

Atthatepoch，certainhousesabuttingontheriver，intheRuesMadameandd’Enfer，hadkeystotheLuxembourggarden，ofwhichthelodgersenjoyedtheusewhenthegateswereshut，aprivilegewhichwassuppressedlateron。Thisfatherandsoncamefromoneofthesehouses，nodoubt。

Thetwopoorlittlecreatureswatched"thatgentleman"approaching，andhidthemselvesalittlemorethoroughly。

Hewasabourgeois。Thesameperson，perhaps，whomMariushadonedayheard，throughhislovefever，nearthesamegrandbasin，counsellinghisson"toavoidexcesses。"Hehadanaffableandhaughtyair，andamouthwhichwasalwayssmiling，sinceitdidnotshut。

Thismechanicalsmile，producedbytoomuchjawandtoolittleskin，showstheteethratherthanthesoul。Thechild，withhisbrioche，whichhehadbittenintobuthadnotfinishedeating，seemedsatiated。

ThechildwasdressedasaNationalGuardsman，owingtotheinsurrection，andthefatherhadremainedcladasabourgeoisoutofprudence。

Fatherandsonhaltednearthefountainwheretwoswansweresporting。

Thisbourgeoisappearedtocherishaspecialadmirationfortheswans。

Heresembledtheminthissense，thathewalkedlikethem。

Forthemoment，theswanswereswimming，whichistheirprincipaltalent，andtheyweresuperb。

Ifthetwopoorlittlebeingshadlistenedandiftheyhadbeenofanagetounderstand，theymighthavegatheredthewordsofthisgraveman。Thefatherwassayingtohisson:

"Thesagelivescontentwithlittle。Lookatme，myson。Idonotlovepomp。Iamneverseeninclothesdeckedwithgoldlaceandstones；Ileavethatfalsesplendortobadlyorganizedsouls。"

HerethedeepshoutswhichproceededfromthedirectionoftheHallesburstoutwithfreshforceofbellanduproar。

"Whatisthat？"inquiredthechild。

Thefatherreplied:

"ItistheSaturnalia。"

Allatonce，hecaughtsightofthetwolittleraggedboysbehindthegreenswan—hutch。

"Thereisthebeginning，"saidhe。

And，afterapause，headded:

"Anarchyisenteringthisgarden。"

Inthemeanwhile，hissontookabiteofhisbrioche，spititout，and，suddenlyburstoutcrying。

"Whatareyoucryingabout？"demandedhisfather。

"Iamnothungryanymore，"saidthechild。

Thefather’ssmilebecamemoreaccentuated。

"Onedoesnotneedtobehungryinordertoeatacake。"

"Mycaketiresme。Itisstale。"

"Don’tyouwantanymoreofit？"

"No。"

Thefatherpointedtotheswans。

"Throwittothosepalmipeds。"

Thechildhesitated。Apersonmaynotwantanymoreofhiscake；

butthatisnoreasonforgivingitaway。

Thefatherwenton:

"Behumane。Youmusthavecompassiononanimals。"

And，takingthecakefromhisson，heflungitintothebasin。

Thecakefellveryneartheedge。

Theswanswerefaraway，inthecentreofthebasin，andbusywithsomeprey。Theyhadseenneitherthebourgeoisnorthebrioche。

Thebourgeois，feelingthatthecakewasindangerofbeingwasted，andmovedbythisuselessshipwreck，entereduponatelegraphicagitation，whichfinallyattractedtheattentionoftheswans。

Theyperceivedsomethingfloating，steeredfortheedgelikeships，astheyare，andslowlydirectedtheircoursetowardthebrioche，withthestupidmajestywhichbefitswhitecreatures。

"Theswans[cygnes]understandsigns[signes]，"saidthebourgeois，delightedtomakeajest。

Atthatmoment，thedistanttumultofthecityunderwentanothersuddenincrease。Thistimeitwassinister。Therearesomegustsofwindwhichspeakmoredistinctlythanothers。Theonewhichwasblowingatthatmomentbroughtclearlydefineddrum—beats，clamors，platoonfiring，andthedismalrepliesofthetocsinandthecannon。

Thiscoincidedwithablackcloudwhichsuddenlyveiledthesun。

Theswanshadnotyetreachedthebrioche。

"Letusreturnhome，"saidthefather，"theyareattackingtheTuileries。"

Hegraspedhisson’shandagain。Thenhecontinued:

"FromtheTuileriestotheLuxembourg，thereisbutthedistancewhichseparatesRoyaltyfromthepeerage；thatisnotfar。

Shotswillsoonraindown。"

Heglancedatthecloud。

"Perhapsitisrainitselfthatisabouttoshowerdown；theskyisjoiningin；theyoungerbranchiscondemned。Letusreturnhomequickly。"

"Ishouldliketoseetheswanseatthebrioche，"saidthechild。

Thefatherreplied:

"Thatwouldbeimprudent。"

Andheledhislittlebourgeoisaway。

Theson，regrettingtheswans，turnedhisheadbacktowardthebasinuntilacornerofthequincunxesconcealeditfromhim。

Inthemeanwhile，thetwolittlewaifshadapproachedthebriocheatthesametimeastheswans。Itwasfloatingonthewater。

Thesmallerofthemstaredatthecake，theeldergazedaftertheretreatingbourgeois。

FatherandsonenteredthelabyrinthofwalkswhichleadstothegrandflightofstepsneartheclumpoftreesonthesideoftheRueMadame。

Assoonastheyhaddisappearedfromview，theelderchildhastilyflunghimselfflatonhisstomachontheroundingcurbofthebasin，andclingingtoitwithhislefthand，andleaningoverthewater，onthevergeoffallingin，hestretchedouthisrighthandwithhissticktowardsthecake。Theswans，perceivingtheenemy，madehaste，andinsodoing，theyproducedaneffectoftheirbreastswhichwasofservicetothelittlefisher；thewaterflowedbackbeforetheswans，andoneofthesegentleconcentricundulationssoftlyfloatedthebriochetowardsthechild’swand。Justastheswanscameup，thesticktouchedthecake。Thechildgaveitabriskrap，drewinthebrioche，frightenedawaytheswans，seizedthecake，andsprangtohisfeet。Thecakewaswet；buttheywerehungryandthirsty。

Theelderbrokethecakeintotwoportions，alargeoneandasmallone，tookthesmalloneforhimself，gavethelargeonetohisbrother，andsaidtohim:

"Ramthatintoyourmuzzle。"

CHAPTERXVII

MORTUUSPATERFILIUMMORITURUMEXPECTAT

Mariusdashedoutofthebarricade，Combeferrefollowedhim。

Buthewastoolate。Gavrochewasdead。Combeferrebroughtbackthebasketofcartridges；Mariusborethechild。

"Alas！"hethought，"thatwhichthefatherhaddoneforhisfather，hewasrequitingtotheson；only，Thenardierhadbroughtbackhisfatheralive；hewasbringingbackthechilddead。"

WhenMariusre—enteredtheredoubtwithGavrocheinhisarms，hisface，likethechild，wasinundatedwithblood。

AtthemomentwhenhehadstoopedtoliftGavroche，abullethadgrazedhishead；hehadnotnoticedit。

CourfeyracuntiedhiscravatandwithitbandagedMarius’brow。

TheylaidGavrocheonthesametablewithMabeuf，andspreadoverthetwocorpsestheblackshawl。Therewasenoughofitforboththeoldmanandthechild。

Combeferredistributedthecartridgesfromthebasketwhichhehadbroughtin。

Thisgaveeachmanfifteenroundstofire。

JeanValjeanwasstillinthesameplace，motionlessonhisstonepost。WhenCombeferreofferedhimhisfifteencartridges，heshookhishead。

"Here’sarareeccentric，"saidCombeferreinalowvoicetoEnjolras。

"Hefindsawayofnotfightinginthisbarricade。"

"Whichdoesnotpreventhimfromdefendingit，"respondedEnjolras。

"Heroismhasitsoriginals，"resumedCombeferre。

AndCourfeyrac，whohadoverheard，added:

"HeisanothersortfromFatherMabeuf。"

Onethingwhichmustbenotedis，thatthefirewhichwasbatteringthebarricadehardlydisturbedtheinterior。Thosewhohavenevertraversedthewhirlwindofthissortofwarcanformnoideaofthesingularmomentsoftranquillitymingledwiththeseconvulsions。

Mengoandcome，theytalk，theyjest，theylounge。Someonewhomweknowheardacombatantsaytohiminthemidstofthegrape—shot:

"Wearehereasatabachelorbreakfast。"TheredoubtoftheRuedelaChanvrerie，werepeat，seemedverycalmwithin。Allmutationsandallphaseshadbeen，orwereabouttobe，exhausted。Theposition，fromcritical，hadbecomemenacing，and，frommenacing，wasprobablyabouttobecomedesperate。Inproportionasthesituationgrewgloomy，theglowofheroismempurpledthebarricademoreandmore。

Enjolras，whowasgrave，dominatedit，intheattitudeofayoungSpartansacrificinghisnakedswordtothesombregenius，Epidotas。

Combeferre，wearinganapron，wasdressingthewounds:

BossuetandFeuillyweremakingcartridgeswiththepowder—flaskpickedupbyGavrocheonthedeadcorporal，andBossuetsaidtoFeuilly:"Wearesoontotakethediligenceforanotherplanet"；

Courfeyracwasdisposingandarrangingonsomepaving—stoneswhichhehadreservedforhimselfnearEnjolras，acompletearsenal，hissword—cane，hisgun，twoholsterpistols，andacudgel，withthecareofayounggirlsettingasmalldunkerqueinorder。

JeanValjeanstaredsilentlyatthewalloppositehim。AnartisanwasfasteningMotherHucheloup’sbigstrawhatonhisheadwithastring，"forfearofsun—stroke，"ashesaid。TheyoungmenfromtheCougourded’Aixwerechattingmerrilyamongthemselves，asthougheagertospeakpatoisforthelasttime。Joly，whohadtakenWidowHucheloup’smirrorfromthewall，wasexamininghistongueinit。Somecombatants，havingdiscoveredafewcrustsofrathermouldybread，inadrawer，wereeagerlydevouringthem。

Mariuswasdisturbedwithregardtowhathisfatherwasabouttosaytohim。

CHAPTERXVIII

THEVULTUREBECOMEPREY

Wemustinsistupononepsychologicalfactpeculiartobarricades。

Nothingwhichischaracteristicofthatsurprisingwarofthestreetsshouldbeomitted。

Whatevermayhavebeenthesingularinwardtranquillitywhichwehavejustmentioned，thebarricade，forthosewhoareinsideit，remains，nonetheless，avision。

Thereissomethingoftheapocalypseincivilwar，allthemistsoftheunknownarecommingledwithfierceflashes，revolutionsaresphinxes，andanyonewhohaspassedthroughabarricadethinkshehastraversedadream。

ThefeelingstowhichoneissubjectintheseplaceswehavepointedoutinthecaseofMarius，andweshallseetheconsequences；

theyarebothmoreandlessthanlife。Onemergingfromabarricade，onenolongerknowswhatonehasseenthere。Onehasbeenterrible，butoneknowsitnot。Onehasbeensurroundedwithconflictingideaswhichhadhumanfaces；one’sheadhasbeeninthelightofthefuture。

Therewerecorpseslyingpronethere，andphantomsstandingerect。

Thehourswerecolossalandseemedhoursofeternity。Onehaslivedindeath。Shadowshavepassedby。Whatwerethey？

Onehasbeheldhandsonwhichtherewasblood；therewasadeafeninghorror；therewasalsoafrightfulsilence；therewereopenmouthswhichshouted，andotheropenmouthswhichheldtheirpeace；

onewasinthemidstofsmoke，ofnight，perhaps。Onefanciedthatonehadtouchedthesinisteroozeofunknowndepths；onestaresatsomethingredonone’sfingernails。Onenolongerremembersanything。

LetusreturntotheRuedelaChanvrerie。

Allatonce，betweentwodischarges，thedistantsoundofaclockstrikingthehourbecameaudible。

"Itismidday，"saidCombeferre。

ThetwelvestrokeshadnotfinishedstrikingwhenEnjolrassprangtohisfeet，andfromthesummitofthebarricadehurledthisthunderingshout:

"Carrystonesupintothehouses；linethewindowsillsandtheroofswiththem。Halfthementotheirguns，theotherhalftothepaving—stones。Thereisnotaminutetobelost。"

Asquadofsappersandminers，axeonshoulder，hadjustmadetheirappearanceinbattlearrayattheendofthestreet。

Thiscouldonlybetheheadofacolumn；andofwhatcolumn？

Theattackingcolumn，evidently；thesapperschargedwiththedemolitionofthebarricademustalwaysprecedethesoldierswhoaretoscaleit。

Theywere，evidently，onthebrinkofthatmomentwhichM。Clermont—Tonnerre，in1822，called"thetugofwar。"

Enjolras’orderwasexecutedwiththecorrecthastewhichispeculiartoshipsandbarricades，theonlytwoscenesofcombatwhereescapeisimpossible。Inlessthanaminute，twothirdsofthestoneswhichEnjolrashadhadpiledupatthedoorofCorinthehadbeencarrieduptothefirstfloorandtheattic，andbeforeasecondminutehadelapsed，thesestones，artisticallysetoneupontheother，walledupthesash—windowonthefirstfloorandthewindowsintherooftohalftheirheight。Afewloop—holescarefullyplannedbyFeuilly，theprincipalarchitect，allowedofthepassageofthegun—barrels。Thisarmamentofthewindowscouldbeeffectedallthemoreeasilysincethefiringofgrape—shothadceased。

Thetwocannonswerenowdischargingballagainstthecentreofthebarrierinordertomakeaholethere，and，ifpossible，abreachfortheassault。

Whenthestonesdestinedtothefinaldefencewereinplace，EnjolrashadthebottleswhichhehadsetunderthetablewhereMabeuflay，carriedtothefirstfloor。

"Whoistodrinkthat？"Bossuetaskedhim。

"They，"repliedEnjolras。

Thentheybarricadedthewindowbelow，andheldinreadinesstheironcross—barswhichservedtosecurethedoorofthewine—shopatnight。

Thefortresswascomplete。Thebarricadewastherampart，thewine—shopwasthedungeon。Withthestoneswhichremainedtheystoppeduptheoutlet。

Asthedefendersofabarricadearealwaysobligedtobesparingoftheirammunition，andastheassailantsknowthis，theassailantscombinetheirarrangementswithasortofirritatingleisure，exposethemselvestofireprematurely，thoughinappearancemorethaninreality，andtaketheirease。Thepreparationsforattackarealwaysmadewithacertainmethodicaldeliberation；afterwhich，thelightningstrikes。

ThisdeliberationpermittedEnjolrastotakeareviewofeverythingandtoperfecteverything。Hefeltthat，sincesuchmenweretodie，theirdeathoughttobeamasterpiece。

HesaidtoMarius:"Wearethetwoleaders。Iwillgivethelastordersinside。Doyouremainoutsideandobserve。"

Mariuspostedhimselfonthelookoutuponthecrestofthebarricade。

Enjolrashadthedoorofthekitchen，whichwastheambulance，asthereaderwillremember，nailedup。

"Nosplashingofthewounded，"hesaid。

Heissuedhisfinalordersinthetap—roominacurt，butprofoundlytranquiltone；Feuillylistenedandrepliedinthenameofall。

"Onthefirstfloor，holdyouraxesinreadinesstocutthestaircase。

Haveyouthem？"

"Yes，"saidFeuilly。

"Howmany？"

"Twoaxesandapole—axe。"

"Thatisgood。Therearenowtwenty—sixcombatantsofusonfoot。

Howmanygunsarethere？"

"Thirty—four。"

"Eighttoomany。Keepthoseeightgunsloadedliketherestandathand。

Swordsandpistolsinyourbelts。Twentymentothebarricade。

Sixambushedintheatticwindows，andatthewindowonthefirstfloortofireontheassailantsthroughtheloop—holesinthestones。

Letnotasingleworkerremaininactivehere。Presently，whenthedrumbeatstheassault，letthetwent

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