the ways of men-第41章
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ncavel〃 held this city against the world。
Sleep that night was filled with a strange phantasmagoria of crenelated chateaux and armored knights； until the bright Provencal sunlight and the call for a hurried departure dispelled such illusions。 By noon we were far away from Carcassonne； mounting the rocky slopes of the Cevennes amid a wild and noble landscape； the towering cliffs of the 〃Causses；〃 zebraed by zig…zag paths； lay below us； disclosing glimpses of fertile valley and vine…engarlanded plain。
One asks one's self in wonder why these enchanting regions are so unknown。 EN ROUTE our companions were like children fresh from school； taking haphazard meals at the local inns and clambering gayly into any conveyance that came to hand。 As our way led us through the Cevennes country； another charm gradually stole over the senses。
〃I imagine that Citheron must look like this；〃 murmured Catulle Mendes； as we stood looking down from a sun…baked eminence； 〃with the Gulf of Corinth there where you see that gleam of water。〃 As he spoke he began declaiming the passage from Sophocles's OEDIPUS THE KING descriptive if that classic scene。
Two thousand feet below lay Ispanhac in a verdant valley； the River Tarn gleaming amid the cultivated fields like a cimeter thrown on a Turkish carpet。 Our descent was an avalanche of laughing； singing 〃Cadets；〃 who rolled in the fresh…cut grass and chased each other through the ripening vineyards； shouting lines from tragedies to groups of open…mouthed farm…hands； and invading the tiny inns on the road with song and tumult。 As we neared our goal its entire population； headed by the cure； came out to meet us and offer the hospitality of the town。
In the market…place； one of our number； inspired by the antique solemnity of the surroundings； burst into the noble lines of Hugo's DEVANT DIEU； before which the awestruck population uncovered and crossed themselves； imagining； doubtless； that it was a religious ceremony。
Another scene recurs vividly to my memory。 We were at St。 Enimie。 I had opened my window to breathe the night air after the heat and dust of the day and watch the moonlight on the quaint bridge at my feet。 Suddenly from out the shadows there rose （like sounds in a dream） the exquisite tone of Sylvain's voice； alternating with the baritone of d'Esparbes。 They were seated at the water's edge； intoxicated by the beauty of the scene and apparently oblivious of all else。
The next day was passed on the Tarn； our ten little boats following each other single file on the narrow river； winding around the feet of mighty cliffs； or wandering out into sunny pasture lands where solitary peasants； interrupted in their labors； listened in astonishment to the chorus thundered from the passing boats； and waved us a welcome as we moved by。
Space is lacking to give more than a suggestion of those days； passed in every known conveyance from the antique diligence to the hissing trolley； in company with men who seemed to have left their cares and their years behind them in Paris。
Our last stop before arriving at Beziers was at La Case； where luncheon was served in the great hall of the chateau。 Armand Sylvestre presided at the repast； his verses alternated with the singings of Emma Calve； who had come from her neighboring chateau to greet her old friends and compatriots； the 〃Cadets。〃
As the meal terminated； more than one among the guests； I imagine； felt his heart heavy with the idea that to…morrow would end this pleasant ramble and send him back to the realities of life and the drudgery of daily bread…winning。
The morning of the great day dawned cloudless and cool。 A laughing； many…colored throng early invaded the arena； the women's gay toilets lending it some resemblance to a parterre of fantastic flowers。 Before the bell sounded its three strokes that announced the representation； over ten thousand spectators had taken their places and were studying the gigantic stage and its four thousand yards of painted canvas。 In the foreground a cluster of Greek palaces and temples surround a market…place； higher up and further back the city walls； manned by costumed sentinels； rise against mountains so happily painted that their outlines blend with nature's own handiwork in the distance； … a worthy setting for a stately drama and the valiant company of actors who have travelled from the capital for this solemnity。
Three hundred hidden musicians； divided into wind and chord orchestras； accompany a chorus of two hundred executants； and furnish the music for a ballet of seventy dancers。
As the third stroke dies away； the Muse； Mademoiselle Rabuteau； enters and declaims the salutation addressed by Louis Gallet to the City of Beziers。 At its conclusion the tragedy begins。
This is not the place to describe or criticise at length so new an attempt at classic restoration。 The author follows the admirable fable of antiquity with a directness and simplicity worthy of his Greek model。 The story of Dejanira and Hercules is too familiar to be repeated here。 The hero's infidelity and the passion of a neglected woman are related through five acts logically and forcibly； with the noble music of Saint… Saens as a background。
We watch the growing affection of the demi…god for the gentle Iole。 We sympathize with jealous； desperate Dejanira when in a last attempt to gain back the love of Hercules she persuades the unsuspecting Iole to offer him a tunic steeped in Nessus's blood； which Dejanira has been told by Centaur will when warmed in the sun restore the wearer to her arms。
At the opening of the fifth act we witness the nuptial fetes。 Religious dances and processions circle around the pyre laid for a marriage sacrifice。 Dejanira； hidden in the throng； watches in an agony of hope for the miracle to be worked。
Hercules accepts the fatal garment from the hands of his bride and calls upon the sun…god to ignite the altars。 The pyre flames； the heat warms the clinging tunic； which wraps Hercules in its folds of torture。 Writhing in agony； he flings himself upon the burning pyramid； followed by Dejanira； who； in despair； sees too late that she has been but a tool in the hands of Nessus。
No feeble prose； no characters of black or white； can do justice to the closing scenes of this performance。 The roar of the chorus； the thunder of the actors' voices； the impression of reality left on the breathless spectators by the open…air reality of the scene； the ardent sun； the rustling wind； the play of light and shade across the stage； the invocation of Hercules addressed to the real heavens； not to a painted firmament； combined an effect that few among that vast concourse will forget。
At the farewell banquet in the arena after the performance； Georges Leygues； the captain of the Cadets； in answer to a speech from the Prefect； replied： 〃You ask about our aims and purposes and speak in admiration of the enthusiasm aroused by the passage of our band！
〃Our aims are to vivify the traditions and language of our native land； and the memory of a glorious ancestry； to foster the love of our little province at the same time as patriotism for the greater country。 We are striving for a decentralization of art； for the elevation of the stage； but above all； we preach a gospel of gayety and healthy laughter； the science of remaining young at heart； would teach pluck and good humor in the weary struggle of existence； characteristics that have marked our countrymen through history！ We have borrowed a motto from Lope de Vega （that Gascon of another race）； and inscribe ‘PAR LA LANGUA ET PAR L'EPEE' upon our banner； that these purposes may be read by the world as it runs。〃
Chapter 30 … The Dinner and the Drama
CLAUDE FROLLO； holding the first printed book he had seen in one hand； and pointing with the other to the gigantic mass of Notre Dame； dark against the sunset； prophesied 〃CECI TUERA CELA。〃 One might to…day paraphrase the sentence which Victor Hugo put into his archdeacon's mouth； and pointing to the elaborately appointed dinner…tables of our generation； assert
