the life of charlotte bronte-1-第50章
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〃DANS CE MOMENT LE ＇mais ce＇ pauvre HABIT ＇froc＇ gris est pour lui comme le manteau d'Elijah； il l'enveloppe d'inspiration； IL ＇Pierre＇ lit dans l'avenir； il voit Jerusalem delivree； ＇il voit＇ le saint sepulcre libre； il voit le Croissant argent est arrache du Temple； et l'Oriflamme et la Croix rouge sont etabli e sa place； non…seulement Pierre voit ces merveilles； mais il les fait voir e tous ceux qui l'entourent； il ravive l'esperance et le courage dans ＇tous ces corps epuises de fatigues et de privations＇。 La bataille ne sera livree que demain； mais la victoire est decidee ce soir。 Pierre a promis； et les Croises se fient e sa parole； comme les Israelites se fiaient e celle de Moise et de Josue。〃
As a companion portrait to this； Emily chose to depict Harold on the eve of the battle of Hastings。 It appears to me that her DEVOIR is superior to Charlotte's in power and in imagination； and fully equal to it in language； and that this； in both cases； considering how little practical knowledge of French they had when they arrived at Brussels in February； and that they wrote without the aid of dictionary or grammar； is unusual and remarkable。 We shall see the progress Charlotte had made； in ease and grace of style； a year later。
In the choice of subjects left to her selection； she frequently took characters and scenes from the Old Testament； with which all her writings show that she was especially familiar。 The picturesqueness and colour （if I may so express it）； the grandeur and breadth of its narrations； impressed her deeply。 To use M。 Heger's expression； 〃Elle etait nourrie de la Bible。〃 After he had read De la Vigne's poem on Joan of Arc； she chose the 〃Vision and Death of Moses on Mount Nebo〃 to write about； and； in looking over this DEVOIR； I was much struck with one or two of M。 Heger's remarks。 After describing； in a quiet and simple manner； the circumstances under which Moses took leave of the Israelites； her imagination becomes warmed； and she launches out into a noble strain； depicting the glorious futurity of the Chosen People； as； looking down upon the Promised Land； he sees their prosperity in prophetic vision。 But； before reaching the middle of this glowing description； she interrupts herself to discuss for a moment the doubts that have been thrown on the miraculous relations of the Old Testament。 M。 Heger remarks； 〃When you are writing； place your argument first in cool； prosaic language； but when you have thrown the reins on the neck of your imagination； do not pull her up to reason。〃 Again； in the vision of Moses； he sees the maidens leading forth their flocks to the wells at eventide； and they are described as wearing flowery garlands。 Here the writer is reminded of the necessity of preserving a certain verisimilitude： Moses might from his elevation see mountains and plains； groups of maidens and herds of cattle； but could hardly perceive the details of dress； or the ornaments of the head。
When they had made further progress； M。 Heger took up a more advanced plan； that of synthetical teaching。 He would read to them various accounts of the same person or event； and make them notice the points of agreement and disagreement。 Where they were different； he would make them seek the origin of that difference by causing them to examine well into the character and position of each separate writer； and how they would be likely to affect his conception of truth。 For instance； take Cromwell。 He would read Bossuet's description of him in the 〃Oraison Funebre de la Reine d'Angleterre；〃 and show how in this he was considered entirely from the religious point of view； as an instrument in the hands of God； preordained to His work。 Then he would make them read Guizot； and see how； in this view； Cromwell was endowed with the utmost power of free…will； but governed by no higher motive than that of expediency； while Carlyle regarded him as a character regulated by a strong and conscientious desire to do the will of the Lord。 Then he would desire them to remember that the Royalist and Commonwealth men had each their different opinions of the great Protector。 And from these conflicting characters； he would require them to sift and collect the elements of truth； and try to unite them into a perfect whole。
This kind of exercise delighted Charlotte。 It called into play her powers of analysis； which were extraordinary； and she very soon excelled in it。
Wherever the Brontes could be national they were so； with the same tenacity of attachment which made them suffer as they did whenever they left Haworth。 They were Protestant to the backbone in other things beside their religion； but pre…eminently so in that。 Touched as Charlotte was by the letter of St。 Ignatius before alluded to； she claimed equal self…devotion； and from as high a motive； for some of the missionaries of the English Church sent out to toil and to perish on the poisonous African coast； and wrote as an 〃imitation；〃 〃Lettre d'un Missionnaire； Sierra Leone； Afrique。〃
Something of her feeling； too； appears in the following letter：…
〃Brussels； 1842。
〃I consider it doubtful whether I shall come home in September or not。 Madame Heger has made a proposal for both me and Emily to stay another half…year； offering to dismiss her English master； and take me as English teacher； also to employ Emily some part of each day in teaching music to a certain number of the pupils。 For these services we are to be allowed to continue our studies in French and German； and to have board； &c。； without paying for it； no salaries； however； are offered。 The proposal is kind； and in a great selfish city like Brussels； and a great selfish school； containing nearly ninety pupils （boarders and day pupils included）； implies a degree of interest which demands gratitude in return。 I am inclined to accept it。 What think you？ I don't deny I sometimes wish to be in England； or that I have brief attacks of home sickness； but； on the whole； I have borne a very valiant heart so far； and I have been happy in Brussels； because I have always been fully occupied with the employments that I like。 Emily is making rapid progress in French； German； music； and drawing。 Monsieur and Madame Heger begin to recognise the valuable parts of her character； under her singularities。
〃If the national character of the Belgians is to be measured by the character of most of the girls is this school； it in a character singularly cold； selfish； animal； and inferior。 They are very mutinous and difficult for the teachers to manage； and their principles are rotten to the core。 We avoid them； which it is not difficult to do； as we have the brand of Protestantism and Anglicism upon us。 People talk of the danger which Protestants expose themselves to in going to reside in Catholic countries； and thereby running the chance of changing their faith。 My advice to all Protestants who are tempted to do anything so besotted as turn Catholics； is； to walk over the sea on to the Continent； to attend mass sedulously for a time； to note well the mummeries thereof； also the idiotic； mercenary aspect of all the priests； and then； if they are still disposed to consider Papistry in any other light than a most feeble； childish piece of humbug； let them turn Papists at oncethat's all。 I consider Methodism； Quakerism； and the extremes of High and Low Churchism foolish； but Roman Catholicism beats them all。 At the same time； allow me to tell you； that there are some Catholics who are as good as any Christians can be to whom the Bible is a sealed book； and much better than many Protestants。〃
When the Brontes first went to Brussels； it was with the intention of remaining there for six months； or until the GRANDES VACANCES began in September。 The duties of the school were then suspended for six weeks or two months； and it seemed a desirable period for their return。 But the proposal mentioned in the foregoing letter altered their plans。 Besides； they were happy in the feeling that they were making progress in all the knowledge they had so long been yearning to acquire。 They were happy； too； in possessing friends whose society had been for years congenial to them； and in occasional meetings with these； th
