an inland voyage-第25章
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greed to share his wandering fortunes。 'I could never forget the generosity of that lady；' said he。 He wears trousers so tight that it has long been a problem to all who knew him how he manages to get in and out of them。 He sketches a little in water…colours； he writes verses； he is the most patient of fishermen； and spent long days at the bottom of the inn…garden fruitlessly dabbling a line in the clear river。
You should hear him recounting his experiences over a bottle of wine； such a pleasant vein of talk as he has； with a ready smile at his own mishaps； and every now and then a sudden gravity； like a man who should hear the surf roar while he was telling the perils of the deep。 For it was no longer ago than last night； perhaps； that the receipts only amounted to a franc and a half； to cover three francs of railway fare and two of board and lodging。 The Maire； a man worth a million of money； sat in the front seat； repeatedly applauding Mlle。 Ferrario； and yet gave no more than three SOUS the whole evening。 Local authorities look with such an evil eye upon the strolling artist。 Alas！ I know it well； who have been myself taken for one； and pitilessly incarcerated on the strength of the misapprehension。 Once； M。 de Vauversin visited a commissary of police for permission to sing。 The commissary； who was smoking at his ease； politely doffed his hat upon the singer's entrance。 'Mr。 Commissary；' he began； 'I am an artist。' And on went the commissary's hat again。 No courtesy for the companions of Apollo！ 'They are as degraded as that；' said M。 de Vauversin with a sweep of his cigarette。
But what pleased me most was one outbreak of his； when we had been talking all the evening of the rubs； indignities； and pinchings of his wandering life。 Some one said； it would be better to have a million of money down； and Mlle。 Ferrario admitted that she would prefer that mightily。 'EH BIEN； MOI NON； … not I；' cried De Vauversin； striking the table with his hand。 'If any one is a failure in the world； is it not I？ I had an art； in which I have done things well … as well as some … better perhaps than others； and now it is closed against me。 I must go about the country gathering coppers and singing nonsense。 Do you think I regret my life？ Do you think I would rather be a fat burgess； like a calf？ Not I！ I have had moments when I have been applauded on the boards： I think nothing of that； but I have known in my own mind sometimes； when I had not a clap from the whole house； that I had found a true intonation； or an exact and speaking gesture； and then； messieurs； I have known what pleasure was； what it was to do a thing well； what it was to be an artist。 And to know what art is； is to have an interest for ever； such as no burgess can find in his petty concerns。 TENEZ； MESSIEURS； JE VAIS VOUS LE DIRE … it is like a religion。'
Such； making some allowance for the tricks of memory and the inaccuracies of translation； was the profession of faith of M。 de Vauversin。 I have given him his own name； lest any other wanderer should come across him； with his guitar and cigarette； and Mademoiselle Ferrario； for should not all the world delight to honour this unfortunate and loyal follower of the Muses？ May Apollo send him rimes hitherto undreamed of； may the river be no longer scanty of her silver fishes to his lure； may the cold not pinch him on long winter rides； nor the village jack…in…office affront him with unseemly manners； and may he never miss Mademoiselle Ferrario from his side； to follow with his dutiful eyes and accompany on the guitar！
The marionnettes made a very dismal entertainment。 They performed a piece； called PYRAMUS AND THISBE； in five mortal acts； and all written in Alexandrines fully as long as the performers。 One marionnette was the king； another the wicked counsellor； a third； credited with exceptional beauty； represented Thisbe； and then there were guards； and obdurate fathers； and walking gentlemen。 Nothing particular took place during the two or three acts that I sat out； but you will he pleased to learn that the unities were properly respected； and the whole piece； with one exception； moved in harmony with classical rules。 That exception was the comic countryman； a lean marionnette in wooden shoes； who spoke in prose and in a broad PATOIS much appreciated by the audience。 He took unconstitutional liberties with the person of his sovereign； kicked his fellow…marionnettes in the mouth with his wooden shoes； and whenever none of the versifying suitors were about； made love to Thisbe on his own account in comic prose。
This fellow's evolutions； and the little prologue； in which the showman made a humorous eulogium of his troop； praising their indifference to applause and hisses； and their single devotion to their art； were the only circumstances in the whole affair that you could fancy would so much as raise a smile。 But the villagers of Precy seemed delighted。 Indeed； so long as a thing is an exhibition； and you pay to see it； it is nearly certain to amuse。 If we were charged so much a head for sunsets； or if God sent round a drum before the hawthorns came in flower； what a work should we not make about their beauty！ But these things； like good companions； stupid people early cease to observe： and the Abstract Bagman tittups past in his spring gig； and is positively not aware of the flowers along the lane； or the scenery of the weather overhead。
BACK TO THE WORLD
OF the next two days' sail little remains in my mind； and nothing whatever in my note…book。 The river streamed on steadily through pleasant river…side landscapes。 Washerwomen in blue dresses； fishers in blue blouses； diversified the green banks； and the relation of the two colours was like that of the flower and the leaf in the forget…me…not。 A symphony in forget…me…not； I think Theophile Gautier might thus have characterised that two days' panorama。 The sky was blue and cloudless； and the sliding surface of the river held up； in smooth places； a mirror to the heaven and the shores。 The washerwomen hailed us laughingly； and the noise of trees and water made an accompaniment to our dozing thoughts； as we fleeted down the stream。
The great volume； the indefatigable purpose of the river； held the mind in chain。 It seemed now so sure of its end； so strong and easy in its gait； like a grown man full of determination。 The surf was roaring for it on the sands of Havre。
For my own part； slipping along this moving thoroughfare in my fiddle…case of a canoe； I also was beginning to grow aweary for my ocean。 To the civilised man； there must come； sooner or later； a desire for civilisation。 I was weary of dipping the paddle； I was weary of living on the skirts of life； I wished to be in the thick of it once more； I wished to get to work； I wished to meet people who understood my own speech； and could meet with me on equal terms； as a man； and no longer as a curiosity。
And so a letter at Pontoise decided us； and we drew up our keels for the last time out of that river of Oise that had faithfully piloted them； through rain and sunshine； for so long。 For so many miles had this fleet and footless beast of burthen charioted our fortunes； that we turned our back upon it with a sense of separation。 We had made a long detour out of the world； but now we were back in the familiar places； where life itself makes all the running； and we are carried to meet adventure without a stroke of the paddle。 Now we were to return； like the voyager in the play； and see what rearrangements fortune had perfected the while in our surroundings； what surprises stood ready made for us at home； and whither and how far the world had voyaged in our absence。 You may paddle all day long； but it is when you come back at nightfall； and look in at the familiar room； that you find Love or Death awaiting you beside the stove； and the most beautiful adventures are not those we go to seek。
End
