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第14章

the magic skin(驴皮记)-第14章

小说: the magic skin(驴皮记) 字数: 每页4000字

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were not very clear to him。

Dessert was served as if by magic。 A huge epergne of gilded bronze
from Thomire's studio overshadowed the table。 Tall statuettes; which a
celebrated artist had endued with ideal beauty according to
conventional European notions; sustained and carried pyramids of
strawberries; pines; fresh dates; golden grapes; clear…skinned
peaches; oranges brought from Setubal by steamer; pomegranates;
Chinese fruit; in short; all the surprises of luxury; miracles of
confectionery; the most tempting dainties; and choicest delicacies。
The coloring of this epicurean work of art was enhanced by the
splendors of porcelain; by sparkling outlines of gold; by the chasing
of the vases。 Poussin's landscapes; copied on Sevres ware; were
crowned with graceful fringes of moss; green; translucent; and fragile
as ocean weeds。

The revenue of a German prince would not have defrayed the cost of
this arrogant display。 Silver and mother…of…pearl; gold and crystal;
were lavished afresh in new forms; but scarcely a vague idea of this
almost Oriental fairyland penetrated eyes now heavy with wine; or
crossed the delirium of intoxication。 The fire and fragrance of the
wines acted like potent philters and magical fumes; producing a kind
of mirage in the brain; binding feet; and weighing down hands。 The
clamor increased。 Words were no longer distinct; glasses flew in
pieces; senseless peals of laughter broke out。 Cursy snatched up a
horn and struck up a flourish on it。 It acted like a signal given by
the devil。 Yells; hisses; songs; cries; and groans went up from the
maddened crew。 You might have smiled to see men; light…hearted by
nature; grow tragical as Crebillon's dramas; and pensive as a sailor
in a coach。 Hard…headed men blabbed secrets to the inquisitive; who
were long past heeding them。 Saturnine faces were wreathed in smiles
worthy of a pirouetting dancer。 Claude Vignon shuffled about like a
bear in a cage。 Intimate friends began to fight。

Animal likenesses; so curiously traced by physiologists in human
faces; came out in gestures and behavior。 A book lay open for a Bichat
if he had repaired thither fasting and collected。 The master of the
house; knowing his condition; did not dare stir; but encouraged his
guests' extravangances with a fixed grimacing smile; meant to be
hospitable and appropriate。 His large face; turning from blue and red
to a purple shade terrible to see; partook of the general commotion by
movements like the heaving and pitching of a brig。

〃Now; did you murder them?〃 Emile asked him。

〃Capital punishment is going to be abolished; they say; in favor of
the Revolution of July;〃 answered Taillefer; raising his eyebrows with

drunken sagacity。

〃Don't they rise up before you in dreams at times?〃 Raphael persisted。

〃There's a statute of limitations;〃 said the murderer…Croesus。

〃And on his tombstone;〃 Emile began; with a sardonic laugh; 〃the
stonemason will carve 'Passer…by; accord a tear; in memory of one
that's here!' Oh;〃 he continued; 〃I would cheerfully pay a hundred
sous to any mathematician who would prove the existence of hell to me
by an algebraical equation。〃

He flung up a coin and cried:

〃Heads for the existence of God!〃

〃Don't look!〃 Raphael cried; pouncing upon it。 〃Who knows? Suspense is
so pleasant。〃

〃Unluckily;〃 Emile said; with burlesque melancholy; 〃I can see no
halting…place between the unbeliever's arithmetic and the papal Pater
noster。 Pshaw! let us drink。 Trinq was; I believe; the oracular answer
of the dive bouteille and the final conclusion of Pantagruel。〃

〃We owe our arts and monuments to the Pater noster; and our knowledge;
too; perhaps; and a still greater benefitmodern governmentwhereby
a vast and teeming society is wondrously represented by some five
hundred intellects。 It neutralizes opposing forces and gives free play
to CIVILIZATION; that Titan queen who has succeeded the ancient
terrible figure of the KING; that sham Providence; reared by man
between himself and heaven。 In the face of such achievements; atheism
seems like a barren skeleton。 What do you say?〃

〃I am thinking of the seas of blood shed by Catholicism。〃 Emile
replied; quite unimpressed。 〃It has drained our hearts and veins dry
to make a mimic deluge。 No matter! Every man who thinks must range
himself beneath the banner of Christ; for He alone has consummated the
triumph of spirit over matter; He alone has revealed to us; like a
poet; an intermediate world that separates us from the Deity。〃

〃Believest thou?〃 asked Raphael with an unaccountable drunken smile。
〃Very good; we must not commit ourselves; so we will drink the
celebrated toast; Diis ignotis!〃

And they drained the chalice filled up with science; carbonic acid
gas; perfumes; poetry; and incredulity。

〃If the gentlemen will go to the drawing…room; coffee is ready for
them;〃 said the major…domo。

There was scarcely one of those present whose mind was not floundering
by this time in the delights of chaos; where every spark of
intelligence is quenched; and the body; set free from its tyranny;
gives itself up to the frenetic joys of liberty。 Some who had arrived
at the apogee of intoxication were dejected; as they painfully tried
to arrest a single thought which might assure them of their own
existence; others; deep in the heavy morasses of indigestion; denied
the possibility of movement。 The noisy and the silent were oddly
assorted。

For all that; when new joys were announced to them by the stentorian
tones of the servant; who spoke on his master's behalf; they all rose;
leaning upon; dragging or carrying one another。 But on the threshold
of the room the entire crew paused for a moment; motionless; as if
fascinated。 The intemperate pleasures of the banquet seemed to fade
away at this titillating spectacle; prepared by their amphitryon to
appeal to the most sensual of their instincts。

Beneath the shining wax…lights in a golden chandelier; round about a
table inlaid with gilded metal; a group of women; whose eyes shone
like diamonds; suddenly met the stupefied stare of the revelers。 Their
toilettes were splendid; but less magnificent than their beauty; which
eclipsed the other marvels of this palace。 A light shone from their
eyes; bewitching as those of sirens; more brilliant and ardent than
the blaze that streamed down upon the snowy marble; the delicately
carved surfaces of bronze; and lit up the satin sheen of the tapestry。
The contrasts of their attitudes and the slight movements of their
heads; each differing in character and nature of attraction; set the
heart afire。 It was like a thicket; where blossoms mingled with
rubies; sapphires; and coral; a combination of gossamer scarves that
flickered like beacon…lights; of black ribbons about snowy throats; of
gorgeous turbans and demurely enticing apparel。 It was a seraglio that
appealed to every eye; and fulfilled every fancy。 Each form posed to
admiration was scarcely concealed by the folds of cashmere; and half
hidden; half revealed by transparent gauze and diaphanous silk。 The
little slender feet were eloquent; though the fresh red lips uttered
no sound。

Demure and fragile…looking girls; pictures of maidenly innocence; with
a semblance of conventional unction about their heads; were there like
apparitions that a breath might dissipate。 Aristocratic beauties with
haughty glances; languid; flexible; slender; and complaisant; bent
their heads as though there were royal protectors still in the market。
An English…woman seemed like a spirit of melancholysome coy; pale;
shadowy form among Ossian's mists; or a type of remorse flying from
crime。 The Parisienne was not wanting in all her beauty that consists
in an indescribable charm; armed with her irresistible weakness; vain
of her costume and her wit; pliant and hard; a heartless; passionless
siren that yet can create factitious treasures of passion and
counterfeit emotion。

Italians shone in the throng; serene and self…possessed in their
bliss; handsome Normans; with splendid figures; women of the south;
with black hair and well…shaped eyes。 Lebel might have summoned
together all the fair women of Versailles; who sinc

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