雨果 悲惨世界 英文版1-第27部分

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　　Fantine　was　one　of　those　beings　who　blossom；　so　to　speak；　from　the　dregs　of　the　people。
　　Though　she　had　emerged　from　the　most　unfathomable　depths　of　social　shadow；　she　bore　on　her　brow　the　sign　of　the　anonymous　and　the　unknown。
　　She　was　born　at　M。　sur　M。　Of　what　parents？
　　Who　can　say？
　　She　had　never　known　father　or　mother。She　was　called　Fantine。
　　Why　Fantine？
　　She　had　never　borne　any　other　name。
　　At　the　epoch　of　her　birth　the　Directory　still　existed。She　had　no　family　name；　she　had　no　family；　no　baptismal　name；　the　Church　no　longer　existed。
　　She　bore　the　name　which　pleased　the　first　random　passer…by；　who　had　encountered　her；　when　a　very　small　child；　running　bare…legged　in　the　street。
　　She　received　the　name　as　she　received　the　water　from　the　clouds　upon　her　brow　when　it　rained。She　was　called　little　Fantine。
　　No　one　knew　more　than　that。
　　This　human　creature　had　entered　life　in　just　this　way。
　　At　the　age　of　ten；　Fantine　quitted　the　town　and　went　to　service　with　some　farmers　in　the　neighborhood。
　　At　fifteen　she　came　to　Paris　〃to　seek　her　fortune。〃Fantine　was　beautiful；　and　remained　pure　as　long　as　she　could。She　was　a　lovely　blonde；　with　fine　teeth。
　　She　had　gold　and　pearls　for　her　dowry；　but　her　gold　was　on　her　head；　and　her　pearls　were　in　her　mouth。
　　She　worked　for　her　living；　then；　still　for　the　sake　of　her　living；　for　the　heart；　also；　has　its　hunger；she　loved。
　　She　loved　Tholomyes。
　　An　amour　for　him；　passion　for　her。
　　The　streets　of　the　Latin　quarter；　filled　with　throngs　of　students　and　grisettes；　saw　the　beginning　of　their　dream。
　　Fantine　had　long　evaded　Tholomyes　in　the　mazes　of　the　hill　of　the　Pantheon；　where　so　many　adventurers　twine　and　untwine；　but　in　such　a　way　as　constantly　to　encounter　him　again。There　is　a　way　of　avoiding　which　resembles　seeking。
　　In　short；　the　eclogue　took　place。
　　Blachevelle；　Listolier；　and　Fameuil　formed　a　sort　of　group　of　which　Tholomyes　was　the　head。
　　It　was　he　who　possessed　the　wit。
　　Tholomyes　was　the　antique　old　student；　he　was　rich；　he　had　an　ine　of　four　thousand　francs；　four　thousand　francs！　a　splendid　scandal　on　Mount　Sainte…Genevieve。　Tholomyes　was　a　fast　man　of　thirty；　and　badly　preserved。
　　He　was　wrinkled　and　toothless；　and　he　had　the　beginning　of　a　bald　spot；　of　which　he　himself　said　with　sadness；　the　skull　at　thirty；　the　knee　at　forty。
　　His　digestion　was　mediocre；　and　he　had　been　attacked　by　a　watering　in　one　eye。
　　But　in　proportion　as　his　youth　disappeared；　gayety　was　kindled；　he　replaced　his　teeth　with　buffooneries；　his　hair　with　mirth；　his　health　with　irony；　his　weeping　eye　laughed　incessantly。
　　He　was　dilapidated　but　still　in　flower。His　youth；　which　was　packing　up　for　departure　long　before　its　time；　beat　a　retreat　in　good　order；　bursting　with　laughter；　and　no　one　saw　anything　but　fire。
　　He　had　had　a　piece　rejected　at　the　Vaudeville。He　made　a　few　verses　now　and　then。
　　In　addition　to　this　he　doubted　everything　to　the　last　degree；　which　is　a　vast　force　in　the　eyes　of　the　weak。
　　Being　thus　ironical　and　bald；　he　was　the　leader。Iron　is　an　English　word。
　　Is　it　possible　that　irony　is　derived　from　it？
　　One　day　Tholomyes　took　the　three　others　aside；　with　the　gesture　of　an　oracle；　and　said　to　them：
　　〃Fantine；　Dahlia；　Zephine；　and　Favourite　have　been　teasing　us　for　nearly　a　year　to　give　them　a　surprise。
　　We　have　promised　them　solemnly　that　we　would。
　　They　are　forever　talking　about　it　to　us；　to　me　in　particular；　just　as　the　old　women　in　Naples　cry　to　Saint　Januarius；　‘Faccia　gialluta；　fa　o　miracolo；　Yellow　face；　perform　thy　miracle；'　so　our　beauties　say　to　me　incessantly；　‘Tholomyes；　when　will　you　bring　forth　your　surprise？'
　　At　the　same　time　our　parents　keep　writing　to　us。Pressure　on　both　sides。
　　The　moment　has　arrived；　it　seems　to　me；　let　us　discuss　the　question。〃
　　Thereupon；　Tholomyes　lowered　his　voice　and　articulated　something　so　mirthful；　that　a　vast　and　enthusiastic　grin　broke　out　upon　the　four　mouths　simultaneously；　and　Blachevelle　exclaimed；　〃That　is　an　idea。〃
　　A　smoky　tap…room　presented　itself；　they　entered；　and　the　remainder　of　their　confidential　colloquy　was　lost　in　shadow。
　　The　result　of　these　shades　was　a　dazzling　pleasure　party　which　took　place　on　the　following　Sunday；　the　four　young　men　inviting　the　four　young　girls。


BOOK　THIRD。IN　THE　YEAR　1817
CHAPTER　III　
　　FOUR　AND　FOUR
　　It　is　hard　nowadays　to　picture　to　one's　self　what　a　pleasure…trip　of　students　and　grisettes　to　the　country　was　like；　forty…five　years　ago。The　suburbs　of　Paris　are　no　longer　the　same；　the　physiognomy　of　what　may　be　called　circumparisian　life　has　changed　pletely　in　the　last　half…century；　where　there　was　the　cuckoo；　there　is　the　railway　car；　where　there　was　a　tender…boat；　there　is　now　the　steamboat；　people　speak　of　Fecamp　nowadays　as　they　spoke　of　Saint…Cloud　in　those　days。The　Paris　of　1862　is　a　city　which　has　France　for　its　outskirts。
　　The　four　couples　conscientiously　went　through　with　all　the　country　follies　possible　at　that　time。
　　The　vacation　was　beginning；　and　it　was　a　warm；　bright；　summer　day。
　　On　the　preceding　day；　Favourite；　the　only　one　who　knew　how　to　write；　had　written　the　following　to　Tholomyes　in　the　name　of　the　four：
　　〃It　is　a　good　hour　to　emerge　from　happiness。〃
　　That　is　why　they　rose　at　five　o'clock　in　the　morning。Then　they　went　to　Saint…Cloud　by　the　coach；　looked　at　the　dry　cascade　and　exclaimed；　〃This　must　be　very　beautiful　when　there　is　water！〃They　breakfasted　at　the　Tete…Noir；　where　Castaing　had　not　yet　been；　they　treated　themselves　to　a　game　of　ring…throwing　under　the　quincunx　of　trees　of　the　grand　fountain；　they　ascended　Diogenes'　lantern；　they　gambled　for　macaroons　at　the　roulette　establishment　of　the　Pont　de　Sevres；　picked　bouquets　at　Pateaux；　bought　reed…pipes　at　Neuilly；　ate　apple　tarts　everywhere；　and　were　perfectly　happy。
　　The　young　girls　rustled　and　chatted　like　warblers　escaped　from　their　cage。
　　It　was　a　perfect　delirium。
　　From　time　to　time　they　bestowed　little　taps　on　the　young　men。
　　Matutinal　intoxication　of　life！　adorable　years！　the　wings　of　the　dragonfly　quiver。
　　Oh；　whoever　you　may　be；　do　you　not　remember？
　　Have　you　rambled　through　the　brushwood；　holding　aside　the　branches；　on　account　of　the　charming　head　which　is　ing　on　behind　you？
　　Have　you　slid；　laughing；　down　a　slope　all　wet　with　rain；　with　a　beloved　woman　holding　your　hand；　and　crying；　〃Ah；　my　new　boots！　what　a　state　they　are　in！〃
　　Let　us　say　at　once　that　that　merry　obstacle；　a　shower；　was　lacking　in　the　case　of　this　good…humored　party；　although　Favourite　had　said　as　they　set　out；　with　a　magisterial　and　maternal　tone；　〃The　slugs　are　crawling　in　the　paths；a　sign　of　rain；　children。〃
　　All　four　were　madly　pretty。
　　A　good　old　classic　poet；　then　famous；　a　good　fellow　who　had　an　Eleonore；　M。　le　Chevalier　de　Labouisse；　as　he　strolled　that　day　beneath　the　chestnut…trees　of　Saint…Cloud；　saw　them　pass　about　ten　o'clock　in　the　morning；　and　exclaimed；　〃There　is　one　too　many　of　them；〃　as　he　thought　of　the　Graces。Favourite；　Blachevelle's　friend；　the　one　aged　three　and　twenty；　the　old　one；　ran　on　in　front　under　the　great　green　boughs；　jumped　the　ditches；　stalked　distractedly　over　bushes；　and　presided　over　this　merry…making　with　the　spirit　of　a　young　female　faun。Zephine　and　Dahlia；　whom　chance　had　made　beautiful　in　such　a　way　that　they　set　each　off　when　they　were　together；　and　pleted　each　other；　never　left　each　other；　more　from　an　instinct　of　coquetry　than　from　friendship；　and　clinging　to　each　other；　they　assumed　English　poses；　the　first　keepsakes　had　just　made　their　appearance；　melancholy　was　dawning　for　women；　as　later　on；　Byronism　dawned　for　men；　and　the　hair　of　the　tender　sex　began　to　droop　dolefully。
　　Zephine　and　Dahlia　had　their　hair　dressed　in　rolls。
　　Listolier　and　Fameuil；　who　were　engaged　in　discussing　their　professors；　explained　to　Fantine　the　difference　that　existed　between　M。　Delvincourt　and　M。　Blondeau。
　　Blachevelle　seemed　to　have　been　created　expressly　to　carry　Favourite's　single…bordered；　imitation　India　shawl　of　Ternaux's　manufacture；　on　his　arm　on　Sundays。
　　Tholomyes　followed；　dominating　the　group。
　　He　was　very　gay；　but　one　felt　the　force　of　government　in　him；　there　was　dictation　in　his　joviality；　his　principal　ornament　was　a　pair　of　trousers　of　elephant…leg　pattern　of　nankeen；　with　straps　of　braided　copper　wire；　he　carried　a　stout　rattan　worth　two　hundred　francs　in　his　hand；　and；　as　he　treated　himself　to　everything；　a　strange　thing　called　a　cigar　in　his　mouth。Nothing　was　sacred　to　him；　he　smoked。
　　〃That　Tholomyes　is　astounding！〃　said　the　others；　with　veneration。〃What　trousers！
　　What　energy！〃
　　As　for　Fantine；　she　was　a　joy　to　behold。
　　Her　splendid　teeth　had　evidently　received　an　office　from　God；laughter。
　　She　preferred　to　carry　her　little　hat　of　sewed　straw；　with　its　long　white　strings；　in　her　hand　rather　than　on　her　head。
　　Her　thick　blond　hair；　which　was　inclined　to　wave；　and　which　easily　uncoiled；　and　which　it　was　necessary　to　fasten　up　incessantly；　seemed　made　for　the　flight　of　Galatea　under　the　willows。
　　Her　rosy　lips　babbled　enchantingly。The　corners　of　her　mouth　voluptuously　turned　up；　as　in　the　antique　masks　of　Erigone；　had　an　air　of　encouraging　the　audacious；　but　her　long；　shadowy　lashes　drooped　discreetly　over　the　jollity　of　the　lower　part　of　the　face　as　though　to　call　a　halt。
　　There　was　something　indescribably　harmonious　and　striking　about　her　entire　dress。She　wore　a　gown　of　mauve　barege；　little　reddish　brown　buskins；　whose　ribbons　traced　an　X　on　her　fine；　white；　open…worked　stockings；　and　that　sort　of　muslin　spencer；　a　Marseilles　invention；　whose　name；　canezou；　a　corruption　of　the　words　quinze　aout；　pronounced　after　the　fashion　of　the　Canebiere；　signifies　fine　weather；　heat；　and　midday。The　three　others；　less　timid；　as　we　have　already　said；　wore　low…necked　dresses　without　disguise；　which　in　summer；　beneath　flower…adorned　hats；　are　very　graceful　and　enticing；　but　by　the　side　of　these　audacious　outfits；　blond　Fantine's　canezou；　with　its　transparencies；　its　indiscretion；　and　its　reticence；　concealing　and　displaying　at　one　and　the　same　time；　seemed　an　alluring　godsend　of　decency；　and　the　famous　Court　of　Love；　presided　over　by　the　Vitesse　de　Cette；　with　the　sea…green　eyes；　would；　perhaps；　have　awarded　the　prize　for　coquetry　to　this　canezou；　in　the　contest　for　the　prize　of　modesty。The　most　ingenious　is；　at　times；　the　wisest。
　　This　does　happen。
　　Brilliant　of　face；　delicate　of　profile；　with　eyes　of　a　deep　blue；　heavy　lids；　feet　arched　and　small；　wrists　and　ankles　admirably　formed；　a　white　skin　which；　here　and　there　allowed　the　azure　branching　of　the　veins　to　be　seen；　joy；　a　cheek　that　was　young　and　fresh；　the　robust　throat　of　the　Juno　of　AEgina；　a　strong　and　supple　nape　of　the　neck；　shoulders　modelled　as　though　by　Coustou；　with　a　voluptuous　dimple　in　the　middle；　visible　through　the　muslin；　a　gayety　cooled　by　dreaminess；　sculptural　and　exquisitesuch　was　Fantine；　and　beneath　these　feminine　adornments　and　these　ribbons　one　could　divine　a　statue；　and　in　that　statue　a　soul。
　　Fantine　was　beautiful；　without　being　too　conscious　of　it。Those　rare　dreamers；　mys