the wandering jew, volume 11-第1部分

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The　Wandering　Jew；　Volume　11


by　Eugene　Sue






BOOK　XI。

L。　　　　　　　　　The　Ruins　of　the　Abbey　of　St。　John　the　Baptist
LI。　　　　　　　　The　Calvary
LII。　　　　　　　The　Council
LIII。　　　　　　Happiness
LIV。　　　　　　　Duty
LV。　　　　　　　　The　Improvised　Hospital
LVI。　　　　　　　Hydrophobia
LVII。　　　　　　The　Guardian　Angel
LVIII。　　　　　Ruin
LIX。　　　　　　　Memories
LX。　　　　　　　　The　Ordeal
LXI。　　　　　　　Ambition
LXII。　　　　　　To　a　Socius；　a　Socius　and　a　Half
LXIII。　　　　　Faringhea's　Affection
LXIV。　　　　　　An　Evening　at　St。　Colombe's
LXV。　　　　　　　The　Nuptial　Bed
LXVI。　　　　　　A　Duel　to　the　Death
LXVII。　　　　　A　Message
LXVIII。　　　　The　First　of　June


EPILOGUE。

I。　　　　　　　　　Four　Years　After
II。　　　　　　　　The　Redemption







CHAPTER　L。

THE　RUINS　OF　THE　ABBEY　OF　ST。　JOHN　THE　BAPTIST。

The　sun　is　fast　sinking。　　In　the　depths　of　an　immense　piny　wood；　in　the
midst　of　profound　solitude；　rise　the　ruins　of　an　abbey；　once　sacred　to
St。　John　the　Baptist。　　Ivy；　moss；　and　creeping　plants；　almost　entirely
conceal　the　stones；　now　black　with　age。　　Some　broken　arches；　some　walls
pierced　with　ovals；　still　remain　standing；　visible　on　the　dark　background
of　the　thick　wood。　　Looking　down　upon　this　mass　of　ruins　from　a　broken
pedestal；　half…covered　with　ivy；　a　mutilated；　but　colossal　statue　of
stone　still　keeps　its　place。　　This　statue　is　strange　and　awful。　　It
represents　a　headless　human　figure。　　Clad　in　the　antique　toga；　it　holds
in　its　hand　a　dish　and　on　that　dish　is　a　head。　　This　head　is　its　own。　　It
is　the　statue　of　St。　John　the　Baptist　and　Martyr；　put　to　death　by　wish　of
Herodias。

The　silence　around　is　solemn。　　From　time　to　time；　however；　is　heard　the
dull　rustling　of　the　enormous　branches　of　the　pine…trees；　shaken　by　the
wind。　　Copper…colored　clouds；　reddened　by　the　setting　sun；　pass　slowly
over　the　forest；　and　are　reflected　in　the　current　of　a　brook；　which；
deriving　its　source　from　a　neighboring　mass　of　rocks；　flows　through　the
ruins。　　The　water　flows；　the　clouds　pass　on；　the　ancient　trees　tremble；
the　breeze　murmurs。

Suddenly；　through　the　shadow　thrown　by　the　overhanging　wood；　which
stretches　far　into　endless　depths；　a　human　form　appears。　　It　is　a　woman。
She　advances　slowly　towards　the　ruins。　　She　has　reached　them。　　She　treads
the　once　sacred　ground。　　This　woman　is　pale；　her　look　sad；　her　long　robe
floats　on　the　wind；　her　feet　covered　with　dust。　　She　walks　with
difficulty　and　pain。　　A　block　of　stone　is　placed　near　the　stream；　almost
at　the　foot　of　the　statue　of　John　the　Baptist。　　Upon　this　stone　she　sinks
breathless　and　exhausted；　worn　out　with　fatigue。　　And　yet；　for　many　days；
many　years；　many　centuries；　she　has　walked　on　unwearied。

For　the　first　time；　she　feels　an　unconquerable　sense　of　lassitude。　　For
the　first　time；　her　feet　begin　to　fail　her。　　For　the　first　time；　she；　who
traversed；　with　firm　and　equal　footsteps；　the　moving　lava　of　torrid
deserts；　while　whole　caravans　were　buried　in　drifts　of　fiery　sandwho
passed；　with　steady　and　disdainful　tread；　over　the　eternal　snows　of
Arctic　regions；　over　icy　solitudes；　in　which　no　other　human　being　could
livewho　had　been　spared　by　the　devouring　flames　of　conflagrations；　and
by　the　impetuous　waters　of　torrentsshe；　in　brief；　who　for　centuries　had
had　nothing　in　common　with　humanityfor　the　first　time　suffers　mortal
pain。

Her　feet　bleed；　her　limbs　ache　with　fatigue；　she　is　devoured　by　burning
thirst。　　She　feels　these　infirmities；　yet　scarcely　dares　to　believe　them
real。　　Her　joy　would　be　too　immense！　　But　now；　her　throat　becomes　dry；
contracted；　all　on　fire。　　She　sees　the　stream；　and　throws　herself　on　her
knees；　to　quench　her　thirst　in　that　crystal　current；　transparent　as　a
mirror。　　What　happens　then？　　Hardly　have　her　fevered　lips　touched　the
fresh；　pure　water；　than；　still　kneeling；　supported　on　her　hands；　she
suddenly　ceases　to　drink；　and　gazes　eagerly　on　the　limpid　stream。
Forgetting　the　thirst　which　devours　her；　she　utters　a　loud　crya　cry　of
deep；　earnest；　religious　joy；　like　a　note　of　praise　and　infinite
gratitude　to　heaven。　　In　that　deep　mirror；　she　perceives　that　she　has
grown　older。

In　a　few　days；　a　few　hours；　a　few　minutes；　perhaps　in　a　single　second；
she　has　attained　the　maturity　of　age。　　She；　who　for　more　than　eighteen
centuries　has　been　as　a　woman　of　twenty；　carrying　through　successive
generations　the　load　of　her　imperishable　youthshe　has　grown　old；　and
may；　perhaps；　at　length；　hope　to　die。　　Every　minute　of　her　life　may　now
bring　her　nearer　to　the　last　home！　　Transported　by　that　ineffable　hope；
she　rises；　and　lifts　her　eyes　to　heaven；　clasping　her　hands　in　an
attitude　of　fervent　prayer。　　Then　her　eyes　rest　on　the　tall　statue　of
stone；　representing　St。　John。　　The　head；　which　the　martyr　carries　in　his
hand；　seems；　from　beneath　its　half…closed　granite　eyelid；　to　cast　upon
the　Wandering　Jewess　a　glance　of　commiseration　and　pity。　　And　it　was　she；
Herodias　who；　in　the　cruel　intoxication　of　a　pagan　festival；　demanded　the
murder　of　the　saint！　　And　it　is　at　the　foot　of　the　martyr's　image；　that；
for　the　first　time；　the　immortality；　which　weighed　on　her　for　so　many
centuries；　seems　likely　to　find　a　term！

〃Oh；　impenetrable　mystery！　oh；　divine　hope！〃　she　cries。　　〃The　wrath　of
heaven　is　at　length　appeased。　　The　hand　of　the　Lord　brings　me　to　the　feet
of　the　blessed　martyr；　and　I　begin　once　more　to　feel　myself　a　human
creature。　　And　yet　it　was　to　avenge　his　death；　that　the　same　heaven
condemned　me　to　eternal　wanderings！

〃Oh；　Lord！　grant　that　I　may　not　be　the　only　one　forgiven。　　May　hethe
artisan；　who　like　me；　daughter　of　a　king；　wanders　on　for　centuries
likewise　hope　to　reach　the　end　of　that　immense　journey！

〃Where　is　he；　Lord？　where　is　he？　　Hast　thou　deprived　me　of　the　power　once
bestowed；　to　see　and　hear　him　through　the　vastness　of　intervening　space？
Oh；　in　this　mighty　moment；　restore　me　that　divine　giftfor　the　more　I
feel　these　human　infirmities；　which　I　hail　and　bless　as　the　end　of　my
eternity　of　ills；　the　more　my　sight　loses　the　power　to　traverse
immensity；　and　my　ear　to　catch　the　sound　of　that　wanderer's　accent；　from
the　other　extremity　of　the　globe？〃

Night　had　fallen；　dark　and　stormy。　　The　wind　rose　in　the　midst　of　the
great　pine…trees。　　Behind　their　black　summits；　through　masses　of　dark
cloud；　slowly　sailed　the　silver　disk　of　the　moon。　　The　invocation　of　the
Wandering　Jewess　had　perhaps　been　heard。　　Suddenly；　her　eyes　closedwith
hands　clasped　together；　she　remained　kneeling　in　the　heart　of　the　ruins
motionless　as　a　statue　upon　a　tomb。　　And　then　she　had　a　wondrous　dream！




CHAPTER　LI。

THE　CALVARY。

This　was　the　vision　of　Herodias：　　On　the　summit　of　a　high；　steep；　rocky
mountain；　there　stands　a　cross。　　The　sun　is　sinking；　even　as　when　the
Jewess　herself；　worn　out　with　fatigue；　entered　the　ruins　of　St。　John's
Abbey。　　The　great　figure　on　the　crosswhich　looks　down　from　this
Calvary；　on　the　mountain；　and　on　the　vast；　dreary　plain　beyondstands
out　white　and　pale　against　the　dark；　blue　clouds；　which　stretch　across
the　heavens；　and　assume　a　violent　tint　towards　the　horizon。　　There；　where
the　setting　sun　has　left　a　long　track　of　lurid　light；　almost　of　the　hue
of　bloodas　far　as　the　eye　can　reach；　no　vegetation　appears　on　the
surface　of　the　gloomy　desert；　covered　with　sand　and　stones；　like　the
ancient　bed　of　some　dried…up　ocean。　　A　silence　as　of　death　broods　over
this　desolate　tract。　　Sometimes；　gigantic　black　vultures；　with　red
unfeathered　necks；　luminous　yellow　eyes；　stooping　from　their　lofty　flight
in　the　midst　of　these　solitudes；　come　to　make　their　bloody　feast　on　the
prey　they　have　carried　off　from　less　uncultivated　regions。

How；　then；　did　this　Calvary；　this　place　of　prayer；　come　to　be　erected　so
far　from　the　abodes　of　men？　　This　Calvary　was　prepared　at　a　great　cost　by
a　repentant　sinner。　　He　had　done　much　harm　to　his　fellow…creatures；　and；
in　the　hope　of　obtaining　pardon　for　his　crimes；　he　had　climbed　this
mountain　on　his　knees；　and　become　a　hermit；　and　lived　there　till　his
death；　at　the　foot　of　this　cross；　only　sheltered　by　a　roof　of　thatch；　now
long　since　swept　away　by　the　wind。　　The　sun　is　still　sinking。　　The　sky
becomes　darker。　　The　luminous　lines　on　the　horizon　grow　fainter　and
fainter；　like　heated　bars　of　iron　that　gradually　grow　cool。　　Suddenly；　on
the　eastern　side　of　the　Calvary；　is　heard　the　noise　of　some　falling
stones；　which；　loosened　from　the　side　of　the　mountain；　roll　down
rebounding　to　its　base。　　These　stones　have　been　loosened　by　the　foot　of　a
traveller；　who；　after　traversing　the　plain　below；　has；　during　the　last
hour；　been　climbing　the　steep　ascent。　　He　is　not　yet　visiblebut　one
hears　the　echo　of　his　treadslow；　steady；　and　firm。　　At　length；　he
reaches　the　top　of　the　mountain；　and　his　tall　figure　stands　out　against
the　stormy　sky。

The　traveller　is　pale　as　the　great　figure　on　the　cross。　　On　his　broad
forehead　a　black　line　extends　from　one　temple　to　the　other。　　It　is　the
cobbler　of　Jerusalem。　　The　poor　artisan；　who　hardened　by　misery；
injustice　and　oppression；　without　pity　for　the　suffering　of　the　Divine
Being　who　bore　the　cross；　repulsed　him　from　his　dwelling；　and　bade　him：
〃Go　ON！　GO　ON！　GO　ON！〃　　And；　from　that　day；　the　avenging　Deity　has　in　his
turn　said　to　the　artisan　of　Jerusalem：　〃GO　ON！　GO　ON！　GO　ON！〃

And　he　has　gone　on；　without　end　or　rest。　　Nor　did　the　divine　vengeance
stop　there。　　From　time　to　time　death　has　followed　the　steps　of　the
wanderer；　and　innumerable　graves　have　been　even　as　mile…stones　on　his
fatal　path。　　And　if　ever　he　found　periods　of　repose　in　the　midst　of　his
infinite　grief；　it　was　when　the　hand　of　the　Lord　led　him　into　deep
solitudes；　like　that　where　he　now　dragged　his　steps　along。　　In　passing
over　that　dreary　plain；　or　climbing　to　that　rude　Calvary；　he　at　least
heard　no　more　the　funeral　knell；　which　always；　always　sounded　behind　him
in　every　inhabited　region。

All　day　long；　even　at　this　hour；　plunged　in　the　black　abyss　of　his
thoughts；　following　the　fatal　trackgoing　whither　he　was　guided　by　the
invisible　hand；　with　head　bowed　on　his　breast；　and　eyes　fixed　upon　the
ground；　the　wanderer　had　passed　over　the　plain；　and　ascended　the
mountain；　without　once　looking　at　the　skywithout　even　perceiving　the
Calvarywithout　seeing　the