the wandering jew, volume 11-第28部分

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glimmer　in　the　east；　but　the　stars　still　shone；　sparkling　with　radiance；
upon　the　azure　of　the　zenith。　　The　birds　awoke　beneath　the　fresh　foliage
of　the　great　woods；　and；　with　isolated　warblings；　sang　the　prelude　of
their　morning…concert。　　A　light　mist　rose　from　the　high　grass；　bathed　in
nocturnal　dew；　while　the　calm　and　limpid　waters　of　a　vast　lake　reflected
the　whitening　dawn　in　their　deep；　blue　mirror。　　Everything　promised　one
of　those　warm　and　joyous　days；　that　belong　to　the　opening　of　summer。

Half…way　up　the　slope　of　a　hill；　facing　the　east；　a　tuft　of　old；　moss…
grown　willows；　whose　rugged　bark　disappeared　beneath　the　climbing
branches　of　wild　honeysuckle　and　harebells；　formed　a　natural　harbor；　and
on　their　gnarled　and　enormous　roots；　covered　with　thick　moss；　were　seated
a　man　and　a　woman；　whose　white　hair；　deep　wrinkles；　and　bending　figures；
announced　extreme　old　age。　　And　yet　this　woman　had　only　lately　been　young
and　beautiful；　with　long　black　hair　overshadowing　her　pale　forehead。　　And
yet　this　man　had；　a　short　time　ago；　been　still　in　the　vigor　of　his　age。
From　the　spot　where　this　man　and　woman　were　reposing；　could　be　seen　the
valley；　the　lake；　the　woods；　and；　soaring　above　the　woods；　the　blue
summit　of　a　high　mountain；　from　behind　which　the　sun　was　about　to　rise。
This　picture；　half　veiled　by　the　pale　transparency　of　the　morning
twilight；　was　pleasing；　melancholy；　and　solemn。

〃Oh；　my　sister！〃　said　the　old　man　to　the　woman；　who　was　reposing　with　him
beneath　the　rustic　arbor　formed　by　the　tuft　of　willow…trees；　〃oh；　my
sister！　how　many　times　during　the　centuries　in　which　the　hand　of　the　Lord
carried　us　onward；　and；　separated　from　each　other；　we　traversed　the　world
from　pole　to　polehow　many　times　we　have　witnessed　this　awakening　of
nature　with　a　sentiment　of　incurable　grief！Alas！　it　was　but　another　day
of　wanderinganother　useless　day　added　to　our　life；　since　it　brought
death　no　nearer！〃

〃But　now　what　happiness；　oh；　my　brother！　since　the　Lord　has　had　mercy　on
us；　and；　with　us；　as　with　all　other　creatures；　every　returning　day　is　a
step　nearer　to　the　grave。　　Glory　to　Him！　yes；　glory！〃

〃Glory　to　Him；　my　sister！　for　since　yesterday；　when　we　again　met；　I　feel
that　indescribable　languor　which　announces　the　approach　of　death。〃

〃Like　you；　my　brother；　I　feel　my　strength；　already　shaken；　passing　away
in　a　sweet　exhaustion。　　Doubtless；　the　term　of　our　life　approaches。　　The
wrath　of　the　Lord　is　satisfied。〃

〃Alas；　my　sister！　doubtless　also；　the　last　of　my　doomed　race；　will；　at
the　same　time；　complete　our　redemption　by　his　death；　for　the　will　of
heaven　is　manifest；　that　I　can　only　be　pardoned；　when　the　last　of　my
family　shall　have　disappeared　from　the　face　of　the　earth。　　To　him；
holiest　amongst　the　holiestwas　reserved　the　favor　of　accomplishing　this
end　he　who　has　done　so　much　for　the　salvation　of　his　brethren！〃

〃Oh；　yes；　my　brother！　he　who　has　suffered　so　much；　and　without
complaining；　drunk　to　the　dregs　the　bitter　cup　of　woehe；　the　minister
of　the　Lord；　who　has　been　his　Master's　image　upon　earthhe　was　fitted
for　the　last　instrument　of　this　redemption！〃

〃Yes；　for　I　feel；　my　sister；　that；　at　this　hour；　the　last　of　my　race；
touching　victim　of　slow　persecution；　is　on　the　point　of　resigning　his
angelic　soul　to　God。　　Thus；　even　to　the　end；　have　I　been　fatal　to　my
doomed　family。　　Lord；　if　Thy　mercy　is　great；　Thy　anger　is　great
likewise！〃

〃Courage　and　hope；　my　brother！　　Think　how　after　the　expiration　cometh
pardon；　and　pardon　is　followed　by　a　blessing。　　The　Lord　punished；　in　you
and　your　posterity；　the　artisan　rendered　wicked　by　misfortune　and
injustice。　　He　said　to　you：　‘Go　on！　without　truce　or　restand　your　labor
shall　be　vainand　every　evening；　throwing　yourself　on　the　hard　ground；
you　shall　be　no　nearer　to　the　end　of　your　eternal　course！'And　so；　for
centuries；　men　without　pity　have　said　to　the　artisan：　'Work！　work！　work！
without　truce　or　restand　your　labor　shall　be　fruitful　for　all　others；
but　fruitless　for　yourselfand　every　evening；　throwing　yourself　on　the
hard　ground；　you　shall　be　no　nearer　to　happiness　and　repose；　and　your
wages　shall　only　suffice　to　keep　you　alive　in　pain；　privation；　and
poverty！'〃

〃Alas！　alas！　will　it　be　always　thus？〃

〃No；　no；　my　brother！　and　instead　of　weeping　over　your　lost　race；　rejoice
for　themsince　their　death　was　needed　for　your　redemption；　and　in
redeeming　you；　heaven　will　redeem　the　artisan；　cursed　and　feared　by
thosewho　have　laid　on　him　the　iron　yoke。　　Yes；　my　brother！　the　time
draweth　nighheaven's　mercy　will　not　stop　with　us　alone。　　Yes；　I　tell
you；　in　us　will　be　rescued　both　the　WOMAN　and　the　SLAVE　of　these　modern
ages。　　The　trial　has　been　hard；　brother；　it　has　lasted　throughout
eighteen　centuries；　but　it　will　last　no　longer。　　Look；　my　brother！　see
that　rosy　light；　there　in　the　east；　gradually　spreading　over　the
firmament！　　Thus　will　rise　the　sun　of　the　new　emancipationpeaceful；
holy；　great；　salutary；　fruitful；　filling　the　world　with　light　and
vivifying　heat；　like　the　day…star　that　will　soon　appear　in　heaven！〃

〃Yes；　yes；　my　sister！　I　feel　it。　　Your　words　are　prophetic。　　We　shall
close　our　heavy　eyes　just　as　we　see　the　aurora　of　the　day　of　deliverance
a　fair；　a　splendid　day；　like　that　which　is　about　to　dawn。　　Henceforth　I
will　only　shed　tears　of　pride　and　glory　for　those　of　my　race；　who　have
died　the　martyrs　of　humanity；　sacrificed　by　humanity's　eternal　enemies
for　the　true　ancestors　of　the　sacrilegious　wretches；　who　blaspheme　the
name　of　Jesus　by　giving　it　to　their　Company；　were　the　false　Scribes　and
Pharisees；　whom　the　Saviour　cursed！Yes！　glory　to　the　descendants　of　my
family；　who　have　been　the　last　martyrs　offered　up　by　the　accomplices　of
all　slavery　and　all　despotism；　the　pitiless　enemies　of　those　who　wish　to
think；　and　not　to　suffer　in　silenceof　those　that　would　feign　enjoy；　as
children　of　heaven；　the　gifts　which　the　Creator　has　bestowed　upon　all　the
human　family。　　Yes；　the　day　approachesthe　end　of　the　reign　of　our
modern　Phariseesthe　false　priests；　who　lend　their　sacrilegious　aid　to
the　merciless　selfishness　of　the　strong　against　the　weak；　by　daring　to
maintain　in　the　face　of　the　exhaustless　treasures　of　the　creation；　that
God　has　made　man　for　tears；　and　sorrow；　and　sufferingthe　false　priests；
who　are　the　agents　of　all　oppression；　and　would　bow　to　the　earth；　in
brutish　and　hopeless　humiliation；　the　brow　of　every　creature。　　No；　no！
let　man　lift　his　head　proudly！　　God　made　him　to　be　noble　and　intelligent
free　and　happy。〃

〃Oh；　my　brother！　your　words　also　are　prophetic。　　Yes；　yes！　the　dawn　of
that　bright　day　approaches；　even　as　the　dawn　of　the　natural　day　which；　by
the　mercy　of　God；　will　be　our　last　on　earth。〃

〃The　last；　my　sister；　for　a　strange　weakness　creeps　over　me；　all　matter
seems　dissolving　in　me；　and　my　soul　aspires　to　mount　to　heaven。〃

〃Mine　eyes　are　growing　dim；　brother；　I　can　scarcely　see　that　light　in　the
east；　which　lately　appeared　so　red。〃

〃Sister！　it　is　through　a　confused　vapor　that　I　now　see　the　valleythe
lakethe　woods。　　My　strength　fails　me。〃

〃Blessed　be　God；　brother！　the　moment　of　eternal　rest　is　at　hand。〃

〃Yes；　it　comes；　my　sister！　the　sweetness　of　the　everlasting　sleep　takes
possession　of　my　senses。〃

〃Oh；　happiness！　I　am　dying〃

〃These　eyes　are　closing；　sister！〃

〃We　are　then　forgiven！〃

〃Forgiven！〃

〃Oh；　my　brother！　may　this　Divine　redemption　extend　to　all　those　who
suffer　upon　the　earth！〃

〃Die　in　peace；　my　sister！　The　great　day　has　dawnedthe　sun　is　rising
behold！〃

〃Blessed　be　God！〃

〃Blessed　be　God！〃

And　at　the　moment　when　those　two　voices　ceased　forever；　the　sun　rose
radiant　and　dazzling；　and　deluged　the　valley　with　its　beams。

To　M。　CP。

To　you；　my　friend；　I　dedicated　this　book。　　To　inscribe　it　with　your　name；
was　to　assume　an　engagement　that；　in　the　absence　of　talent；　it　should　be
at　least　conscientious；　sincere；　and　of　a　salutary　influence；　however
limited。　　My　object　is　attained。　　Some　select　hearts；　like　yours；　my
friend；　have　put　into　practice　the　legitimate　association　of　labor；
capital；　and　intelligence；　and　have　already　granted　to　their　workmen　a
proportionate　share　in　the　profits　of　their　industry。　　Others　have　laid
the　foundations　of　Common　Dwelling…houses；　and　one　of　the　chief
capitalists　of　Hamburg　has　favored　me　with　his　views　respecting　an
establishment　of　this　kind；　on　the　most　gigantic　scale。

As　for　the　dispersion　of　the　members　of　the　Company　of　Jesus；　I　have
taken　less　part　in　it　than　other　enemies　of　the　detestable　doctrines　of
Loyola；　whose　influence　and　authority　were　far　greater　than　mine。

Adieu；　my　friend。　　I　could　have　wished　this　work　more　worthy　of　you；　but
you　are　indulgent；　and　will　at　least　give　me　credit　for　the　intentions
which　dictated　it。

Believe　me；
Yours　truly；

EUGENE　SUE。

Paris；　25th　August；　1845。







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