第63章

andhewould，butforhiswife’sobjections，havetakenhistwosonswithhim，inordertoaccustomthemtogreatoccasions；thatthismightbealesson，anexample，asolemnpicture，thatshouldremainintheirheadslateron。

Theroomwhentheywentinwasfullofmournfulsolemnity。Onthework-table，coveredoverwithawhitecloth，therewerefiveorsixsmallballsofcottoninasilverdish，nearalargecrucifixbetweentwolightedcandles。

Emma，herchinsunkenuponherbreast，hadhereyesinordinatelywideopen，andherpoorhandswanderedoverthesheetswiththathideousandsoftmovementofthedying，thatseemsasiftheywantedalreadytocoverthemselveswiththeshroud。Paleasastatueandwitheyesredasfire，Charles，notweeping，stoodoppositeheratthefootofthebed，whilethepriest，bendingoneknee，wasmutteringwordsinalowvoice。

Sheturnedherfaceslowly，andseemedfilledwithjoyonseeingsuddenlythevioletstole，nodoubtfindingagain，inthemidstofatemporarylullinherpain，thelostvoluptuousnessofherfirstmysticaltransports，withthevisionsofeternalbeatitudethatwerebeginning。

Thepriestrosetotakethecrucifix；thenshestretchedforwardherneckasonewhoisathirst，andglueingherlipstothebodyoftheMan-God，shepresseduponitwithallherexpiringstrengththefullestkissoflovethatshehadevergiven。ThenherecitedtheMisereaturandtheIndulgentiam，dippedhisrightthumbintheoil，andbegantogiveextremeunction。Firstupontheeyes，thathadsocovetedallworldlypomp；thenuponthenostrils，thathadbeengreedyofthewarmbreezeandamorousodours；thenuponthemouth，thathadutteredlies，thathadcurledwithprideandcriedoutinlewdness；thenuponthehandsthathaddelightedinsensualtouches；andfinallyuponthesolesofthefeet，soswiftofyore，whenshewasrunningtosatisfyherdesires，andthatwouldnowwalknomore。

Thecurewipedhisfingers，threwthebitofcottondippedinoilintothefire，andcameandsatdownbythedyingwoman，totellherthatshemustnowblendhersufferingswiththoseofJesusChristandabandonherselftothedivinemercy。

Finishinghisexhortations，hetriedtoplaceinherhandablessedcandle，symbolofthecelestialglorywithwhichshewassoontobesurrounded。Emma，tooweak，couldnotcloseherfingers，andthetaper，butforMonsieurBournisienwouldhavefallentotheground。

However，shewasnotquitesopale，andherfacehadanexpressionofserenityasifthesacramenthadcuredher。

Thepriestdidnotfailtopointthisout；heevenexplainedtoBovarythattheLordsometimesprolongedthelifeofpersonswhenhethoughtitmeetfortheirsalvation；andCharlesrememberedthedaywhen，soneardeath，shehadreceivedthecommunion。

Perhapstherewasnoneedtodespair，hethough