two poets-第15部分

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〃We　shall　all　be　happy；〃　cried　Lucien；　swallowing　great　spoonfuls　of　soup。

〃WE？〃　echoed　Eve。　The　same　presentiment　that　had　crossed　David's　mind　prompted　her　to　add；　〃You　will　not　care　so　much　about　us　now。〃

〃How　can　you　think　that；　if　you　know　me？〃

Eve　put　out　her　hand　and　grasped　his　tightly；　then　she　carried　off　the　empty　plate　and　the　brown　earthen　soup…tureen；　and　brought　the　dish　that　she　had　made　for　him。　But　instead　of　eating　his　dinner；　Lucien　read　his　letter　over　again；　and　Eve；　discreet　maiden；　did　not　ask　another　question；　respecting　her　brother's　silence。　If　he　wished　to　tell　her　about　it；　she　could　wait；　if　he　did　not；　how　could　she　ask　him　to　tell　her？　She　waited。　Here　is　the　letter：

　　〃MY　FRIEND；Why　should　I　refuse　to　your　brother　in　science　the　　　help　that　I　have　lent　you？　All　merits　have　equal　rights　in　my　　　eyes；　but　you　do　not　know　the　prejudices　of　those　among　whom　I　　　live。　We　shall　never　make　an　aristocracy　of　ignorance　understand　　　that　intellect　ennobles。　If　I　have　not　sufficient　influence　to　　　compel　them　to　accept　M。　David　Sechard；　I　am　quite　willing　to　　　sacrifice　the　worthless　creatures　to　you。　It　would　be　a　perfect　　　hecatomb　in　the　antique　manner。　But；　dear　friend；　you　would　not；　　　of　course；　ask　me　to　leave　them　all　in　exchange　for　the　society　of　　　a　person　whose　character　and　manner　might　not　please　me。　I　know　　　from　your　flatteries　how　easily　friendship　can　be　blinded。　Will　　　you　think　the　worse　of　me　if　I　attach　a　condition　to　my　consent？　　　In　the　interests　of　your　future　I　should　like　to　see　your　friend；　　　and　know　and　decide　for　myself　whether　you　are　not　mistaken。　What　　　is　this　but　the　mother's　anxious　care　of　my　dear　poet；　which　I　am　　　in　duty　bound　to　take？

〃LOUISE　DE　NEGREPELISSE。〃

Lucien　had　no　suspicion　of　the　art　with　which　polite　society　puts　forward　a　〃Yes〃　on　the　way　to　a　〃No；〃　and　a　〃No〃　that　leads　to　a　〃Yes。〃　He　took　this　note　for　a　victory。　David　should　go　to　Mme。　de　Bargeton's　house！　David　would　shine　there　in　all　the　majesty　of　his　genius！　He　raised　his　head　so　proudly　in　the　intoxication　of　a　victory　which　increased　his　belief　in　himself　and　his　ascendency　over　others；　his　face　was　so　radiant　with　the　brightness　of　many　hopes；　that　his　sister　could　not　help　telling　him　that　he　looked　handsome。

〃If　that　woman　has　any　sense；　she　must　love　you！　And　if　so；　to…night　she　will　be　vexed；　for　all　the　ladies　will　try　all　sorts　of　coquetries　on　you。　How　handsome　you　will　look　when　you　read　your　Saint　John　in　Patmos！　If　only　I　were　a　mouse；　and　could　just　slip　in　and　see　it！　Come；　I　have　put　your　clothes　out　in　mother's　room。〃

The　mother's　room　bore　witness　to　self…respecting　poverty。　There　were　white　curtains　to　the　walnut　wood　bedstead；　and　a　strip　of　cheap　green　carpet　at　the　foot。　A　chest　of　drawers　with　a　wooden　top；　a　looking…　glass；　and　a　few　walnut　wood　chairs　completed　the　furniture。　The　clock　on　the　chimney…piece　told　of　the　old　vanished　days　of　prosperity。　White　curtains　hung　in　the　windows；　a　gray　flowered　paper　covered　the　walls；　and　the　tiled　floor；　colored　and　waxed　by　Eve　herself；　shone　with　cleanliness。　On　the　little　round　table　in　the　middle　of　the　room　stood　a　red　tray　with　a　pattern　of　gilt　roses；　and　three　cups　and　a　sugar…basin　of　Limoges　porcelain。　Eve　slept　in　the　little　adjoining　closet；　where　there　was　just　room　for　a　narrow　bed；　an　old…fashioned　low　chair；　and　a　work…table　by　the　window；　there　was　about　as　much　space　as　there　is　in　a　ship's　cabin；　and　the　door　always　stood　open　for　the　sake　of　air。　But　if　all　these　things　spoke　of　great　poverty；　the　atmosphere　was　sedate　and　studious；　and　for　those　who　knew　the　mother　and　children；　there　was　something　touchingly　appropriate　in　their　surroundings。

Lucien　was　tying　his　cravat　when　David's　step　sounded　outside　in　the　little　yard；　and　in　another　moment　the　young　printer　appeared。　From　his　manner　and　looks　he　seemed　to　have　come　down　in　a　hurry。

〃Well；　David！〃　cried　the　ambitious　poet；　〃we　have　gained　the　day！　She　loves　me！　You　shall　come　too。〃

〃No；〃　David　said　with　some　confusion；　〃I　came　down　to　thank　you　for　this　proof　of　friendship；　but　I　have　been　thinking　things　over　seriously。　My　own　life　is　cut　out　for　me；　Lucien。　I　am　David　Sechard；　printer　to　His　Majesty　in　Angouleme；　with　my　name　at　the　bottom　of　the　bills　posted　on　every　wall。　For　people　of　that　class；　I　am　an　artisan；　or　I　am　in　business；　if　you　like　it　better；　but　I　am　a　craftsman　who　lives　over　a　shop　in　the　Rue　de　Beaulieu　at　the　corner　of　the　Place　du　Murier。　I　have　not　the　wealth　of　a　Keller　just　yet；　nor　the　name　of　a　Desplein；　two　sorts　of　power　that　the　nobles　still　try　to　ignore；　and　I　am　so　far　agreed　with　themthis　power　is　nothing　without　a　knowledge　of　the　world　and　the　manners　of　a　gentleman。　How　am　I　to　prove　my　claim　to　this　sudden　elevation？　I　should　only　make　myself　a　laughing…stock　for　nobles　and　bourgeoisie　to　boot。　As　for　you；　your　position　is　different。　A　foreman　is　not　committed　to　anything。　You　are　busy　gaining　knowledge　that　will　be　indispensable　by　and　by；　you　can　explain　your　present　work　by　your　future。　And；　in　any　case；　you　can　leave　your　place　to…morrow　and　begin　something　else；　you　might　study　law　or　diplomacy；　or　go　into　civil　service。　Nobody　had　docketed　and　pigeon…holed　YOU；　in　fact。　Take　advantage　of　your　social　maiden　fame　to　walk　alone　and　grasp　honors。　Enjoy　all　pleasures　gladly；　even　frivolous　pleasures。　I　wish　you　luck；　Lucien；　I　shall　enjoy　your　success；　you　will　be　like　a　second　self　for　me。　Yes；　in　my　own　thoughts　I　shall　live　your　life。　You　shall　have　the　holiday　life；　in　the　glare　of　the　world　and　among　the　swift　working　springs　of　intrigue。　I　will　lead　the　work…a…day　life；　the　tradesman's　life　of　sober　toil；　and　the　patient　labor　of　scientific　research。

〃You　shall　be　our　aristocracy；〃　he　went　on；　looking　at　Eve　as　he　spoke。　〃If　you　totter；　you　shall　have　my　arm　to　steady　you。　If　you　have　reason　to　complain　of　the　treachery　of　others；　you　will　find　a　refuge　in　our　hearts；　the　love　there　will　never　change。　And　influence　and　favor　and　the　goodwill　of　others　might　fail　us　if　we　were　two；　we　should　stand　in　each　other's　way；　go　forward；　you　can　tow　me　after　you　if　it　comes　to　that。　So　far　from　envying　you；　I　will　dedicate　my　life　to　yours。　The　thing　that　you　have　just　done　for　me；　when　you　risked　the　loss　of　your　benefactress；　your　love　it　may　be；　rather　than　forsake　or　disown　me；　that　little　thing；　so　great　as　it　wasah；　well；　Lucien；　that　in　itself　would　bind　me　to　you　forever　if　we　were　not　brothers　already。　Have　no　remorse；　no　concern　over　seeming　to　take　the　larger　share。　This　one…sided　bargain　is　exactly　to　my　taste。　And；　after　all；　suppose　that　you　should　give　me　a　pang　now　and　again；　who　knows　that　I　shall　not　still　be　your　debtor　all　my　life　long？〃

He　looked　timidly　towards　Eve　as　he　spoke；　her　eyes　were　full　of　tears；　she　saw　all　that　lay　below　the　surface。

〃In　fact；〃　he　went　on；　turning　to　Lucien；　who　stood　amazed　at　this；　〃you　are　well　made；　you　have　a　graceful　figure；　you　wear　your　clothes　with　an　air；　you　look　like　a　gentleman　in　that　blue　coat　of　yours　with　the　yellow　buttons　and　the　plain　nankeen　trousers；　now　I　should　look　like　a　workingman　among　those　people；　I　should　be　awkward　and　out　of　my　element；　I　should　say　foolish　things；　or　say　nothing　at　all；　but　as　for　you；　you　can　overcome　any　prejudice　as　to　names　by　taking　your　mother's；　you　can　call　yourself　Lucien　de　Rubempre；　I　am　and　always　shall　be　David　Sechard。　In　this　society　that　you　frequent；　everything　tells　for　you；　everything　would　tell　against　me。　You　were　born　to　shine　in　it。　Women　will　worship　that　angel　face　of　yours；　won't　they；　Eve？〃

Lucien　sprang　up　and　flung　his　arms　about　David。　David's　humility　had　made　short　work　of　many　doubts　and　plenty　of　difficulties。　Was　it　possible　not　to　feel　twice　tenderly　towards　this　friend；　who　by　the　way　of　friendship　had　come　to　think　the　very　thoughts　that　he；　Lucien；　had　reached　through　ambition？　The　aspirant　for　love　and　honors　felt　that　the　way　had　been　made　smooth　for　him；　the　young　man　and　the　comrade　felt　all　his　heart　go　out　towards　his　friend。

It　was　one　of　those　moments　that　come　very　seldom　in　our　lives；　when　all　the　forces　in　us　are　sweetly　strung；　and　every　chord　vibrating　gives　out　full　resonance。

And　yet；　this　goodness　of　a　noble　nature　increased　Lucien's　human　tendency　to　take　himself　as　the　centre　of　things。　Do　not　all　of　us　say　more　or　less；　〃L'Etat；　c'est　moi！〃　with　Louis　Quatorze？　Lucien's　mother　and　sister　had　concentrated　all　their　tenderness　on　him；　David　was　his　devoted　friend；　he　was　accustomed　to　see　the　three　making　every　effort　for　him　in　secret；　and　consequently　he　had　all　the　faults　of　a　spoiled　eldest　son。　The　noble　is　eaten　up　with　the　egoism　which　their　unselfishness　was　fostering　in　Lucien；　and　Mme。　de　Bargeton　was　doing　her　best　to　develop　the　same　fault　by　inciting　him　to　forget　all　that　he　owed　to　his　sister；　and　mother；　and　David。　He　was　far　from　doing　so　as　yet；　but　was　there　not　ground　for　the　fear　that　as　his　sphere　of　ambition　widened；　his　whole　thought　perforce　would　be　how　he　might　maintain　himself　in　it？

When　emotion　had　subsided；　David　had　a　suggestion　to　make。　He　thought　that　Lucien's　poem；　Saint　John　in　Patmos；　was　possibly　too　biblical　to　be　read　before　an　audience　but　little　familiar　with　apocalyptic　poetry。　Lucien；　making　his　first　appearance　before　the　most　exacting　public　in　the　Charente；　seemed　to　be　nervous。　David　advised　him　to　take　Andre　de　Chenier　and　substitute　certain　pleasure　for　a　dubious　delight。　Lucien　was　a　perfect　reader；　the　listeners　would　enjoy　listening　to　him；　and　his　modesty　would　doubtless　serve　him　well。　Like　most　young　people；　the　pair　were　endowing　the　rest　of　the　world　with　their　own　intelligence　and　virtues；　for　if　youth　that　has　not　yet　gone　astray　is　pitiless　for　the　sins　of　others；　it　is　ready；　on　the　other　hand；　to　put　a　magnificent　faith　in　them。　It　is　only；　in　fact；　after　a　good　deal　of　experience　of　life　that　we　recognize　the　truth　of　Raphael's　great　saying〃To　comprehend　is　to　equal。〃

The　power　of　appreciating　poetry　is　rare；　generally　speaking；　in　France；　esprit　soon　dries　up　the　source　of　the　sacred　tears　of　ecstasy；　nobody　cares　to　be　at　the　trouble　of　deciphering　th