按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ceremony。 The people so assembled for hours together are jocular
rather than solemn； seeking to pass away the weary time with the
best amusements that will offer。 There was； to be sure； in all the
scenes above alluded to； just one momentone particular moment
when the universal people feels a shock and is for that second
serious。
But except for that second of time； I declare I saw no seriousness
here beyond that of ennui。 The church began to fill with personages
of all ranks and conditions。 First； opposite our seats came a
company of fat grenadiers of the National Guard； who presently； at
the word of command； put their muskets down against benches and
wainscots； until the arrival of the procession。 For seven hours
these men formed the object of the most anxious solicitude of all
the ladies and gentlemen seated on our benches： they began to stamp
their feet； for the cold was atrocious； and we were frozen where we
sat。 Some of them fell to blowing their fingers； one executed a
kind of dance； such as one sees often here in cold weatherthe
individual jumps repeatedly upon one leg； and kicks out the other
violently； meanwhile his hands are flapping across his chest。 Some
fellows opened their cartouche…boxes； and from them drew eatables of
various kinds。 You can't think how anxious we were to know the
qualities of the same。 〃Tiens； ce gros qui mange une cuisse de
volaille！〃〃Il a du jambon； celui…la。〃 〃I should like some； too；〃
growls an Englishman； 〃for I hadn't a morsel of breakfast；〃 and so
on。 This is the way； my dear； that we see Napoleon buried。
Did you ever see a chicken escape from clown in a pantomime； and hop
over into the pit； or amongst the fiddlers？ and have you not seen
the shrieks of enthusiastic laughter that the wondrous incident
occasions？ We had our chicken； of course： there never was a public
crowd without one。 A poor unhappy woman in a greasy plaid cloak；
with a battered rose…colored plush bonnet； was seen taking her place
among the stalls allotted to the grandees。 〃Voyez donc l'Anglaise；〃
said everybody； and it was too true。 You could swear that the
wretch was an Englishwoman： a bonnet was never made or worn so in
any other country。 Half an hour's delightful amusement did this
lady give us all。 She was whisked from seat to seat by the
huissiers； and at every change of place woke a peal of laughter。 I
was glad； however； at the end of the day to see the old pink bonnet
over a very comfortable seat； which somebody had not claimed and she
had kept。
Are not these remarkable incidents？ The next wonder we saw was the
arrival of a set of tottering old Invalids； who took their places
under us with drawn sabres。 Then came a superb drum…major； a
handsome smiling good…humored giant of a man； his breeches
astonishingly embroidered with silver lace。 Him a dozen little
drummer…boys followed〃the little darlings！〃 all the ladies cried
out in a breath： they were indeed pretty little fellows； and came
and stood close under us： the huge drum…major smiled over his little
red…capped flock； and for many hours in the most perfect contentment
twiddled his moustaches and played with the tassels of his cane。
Now the company began to arrive thicker and thicker。 A whole covey
of Conseillers…d'Etat came in； in blue coats； embroidered with blue
silk； then came a crowd of lawyers in toques and caps； among whom
were sundry venerable Judges in scarlet； purple velvet； and ermine
a kind of Bajazet costume。 Look there！ there is the Turkish
Ambassador in his red cap； turning his solemn brown face about and
looking preternaturally wise。 The Deputies walk in in a body。
Guizot is not there： he passed by just now in full ministerial
costume。 Presently little Thiers saunters back： what a clear； broad
sharp…eyed face the fellow has； with his gray hair cut down so
demure！ A servant passes； pushing through the crowd a shabby wheel…
chair。 It has just brought old Moncey the Governor of the Invalids；
the honest old man who defended Paris so stoutly in 1814。 He has
been very ill； and is worn down almost by infirmities： but in his
illness he was perpetually asking； 〃Doctor； shall I live till the
15th？ Give me till then； and I die contented。〃 One can't help
believing that the old man's wish is honest； however one may doubt
the piety of another illustrious Marshal； who once carried a candle
before Charles X。 in a procession； and has been this morning to
Neuilly to kneel and pray at the foot of Napoleon's coffin。 He
might have said his prayers at home； to be sure； but don't let us
ask too much： that kind of reserve is not a Frenchman's
characteristic。
Bangbang！ At about half…past two a dull sound of cannonading was
heard without the church； and signals took place between the
Commandant of the Invalids； of the National Guards； and the big
drum…major。 Looking to these troops （the fat Nationals were
shuffling into line again） the two Commandants tittered； as nearly
as I could catch them； the following words
〃HARRUM HUMP！〃
At once all the National bayonets were on the present； and the
sabres of the old Invalids up。 The big drum…major looked round at
the children； who began very slowly and solemnly on their drums；
Rub…dub…dubrub…dub…dub（count two between each）rub…dub…dub； and
a great procession of priests came down from the altar。
First； there was a tall handsome cross…bearer； bearing a long gold
cross； of which the front was turned towards his grace the
Archbishop。 Then came a double row of about sixteen incense…boys；
dressed in white surplices： the first boy； about six years old； the
last with whiskers and of the height of a man。 Then followed a
regiment of priests in black tippets and white gowns： they had black
hoods； like the moon when she is at her third quarter； wherewith
those who were bald （many were； and fat too） covered themselves。
All the reverend men held their heads meekly down； and affected to
be reading in their breviaries。
After the Priests came some Bishops of the neighboring districts； in
purple； with crosses sparkling on their episcopal bosoms。
Then came； after more priests； a set of men whom I have never seen
beforea kind of ghostly heralds； young and handsome men； some of
them in stiff tabards of black and silver； their eyes to the ground；
their hands placed at right angles with their chests。
Then came two gentlemen bearing remarkable tall candlesticks； with
candles of corresponding size。 One was burning brightly； but the
wind （that chartered libertine） had blown out the other； which
nevertheless kept its place in the processionI wondered to myself
whether the reverend gentleman who carried the extinguished candle；
felt disgusted； humiliated； mortifiedperfectly conscious that the
eyes of many thousands of people were bent upon that bit of
refractory wax。 We all of us looked at it with intense interest。
Another cross…bearer； behind whom came a ge