the wandering jew, volume 9-第1章
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The Wandering Jew； Volume 9
by Eugene Sue
BOOK IX。
XV。 The Constant Wanderer
XVI。 The Luncheon
XVII。 Rendering the Account
XVIII。 The Square of Notre Dame
XIX。 The Cholera Masquerade
XX。 The Defiance
XXI。 Brandy to the Rescue
XXII。 Memories
XXIII。 The Poisoner
XXIV。 Cathedral
XXV。 The Murderers
XXVI。 The Patient
XXVII。 The Lure
XXVIII。 Good News
XXIX。 The Operation
XXX。 The Torture
XXXI。 Vice and Virtue
XXXII。 Suicide
CHAPTER XV。
THE CONSTANT WANDERER。
It is night。 The moon shines and the stars glimmer in the midst of a
serene but cheerless sky； the sharp whistlings of the north wind； that
fatal； dry； and icy breeze； ever and anon burst forth in violent gusts。
With its harsh and cutting breath； it sweeps Montmartre's Heights。 On
the highest point of the hills； a man is standing。 His long shadow is
cast upon the stony； moon…lit ground。 He gazes on the immense city；
which lies outspread beneath his feet。 PARISwith the dark outline of
its towers； cupolas； domes； and steeples； standing out from the limpid
blue of the horizon； while from the midst of the ocean of masonry； rises
a luminous vapor； that reddens the starry azure of the sky。 It is the
distant reflection of the thousand fires； which at night； the hour of
pleasures； light up so joyously the noisy capital。
〃No；〃 said the wayfarer； 〃it is not to be。 The Lord will not exact it。
Is not twice enough？
〃Five centuries ago； the avenging hand of the Almighty drove me hither
from the uttermost confines of Asia。 A solitary traveller； I had left
behind me more grief； despair； disaster； and death； than the innumerable
armies of a hundred devastating conquerors。 I entered this town； and it
too was decimated。
〃Again； two centuries ago； the inexorable hand； which leads me through
the world； brought me once more hither； and then； as the time before； the
plague； which the Almighty attaches to my steps； again ravaged this city；
and fell first on my brethren； already worn out with labor and misery。
〃My brethrenmine？the cobbler of Jerusalem； the artisan accursed by
the Lord； who； in my person； condemned the whole race of workmen； ever
suffering； ever disinherited； ever in slavery； toiling on like me without
rest or pause； without recompense or hope； till men； women； and children；
young and old； all die beneath the same iron yokethat murderous yoke；
which others take in their turn； thus to be borne from age to age on the
submissive and bruised shoulders of the masses。
〃And now； for the third time in five centuries； I reach the summit of one
of the hills that overlook the city。 And perhaps I again bring with me
fear； desolation； and death。
〃Yet this city； intoxicated with the sounds of its joys and its nocturnal
revelries； does not knowoh！ does not know that I am at its gates。
〃But no； no！ my presence will not be a new calamity。 The Lord； in his
impenetrable views； has hitherto led me through France； so as to avoid
the humblest hamlet； and the sound of the funeral knell has not
accompanied my passage。
〃And； moreover； the spectre has left methe green； livid spectre； with
its hollow； bloodshot eyes。 When I touched the soil of France； its damp
and icy hands was no longer clasped in mineand it disappeared。
〃And yetI feel that the atmosphere of death is around me。
〃The sharp whistlings of that fatal wind cease not； which； catching me in
their whirl； seem to propagate blasting and mildew as they blow。
〃But perhaps the wrath of the Lord is appeased； and my presence here is
only a threatto be communicated in some way to those 〃whom it should
intimidate。
〃Yes； for otherwise he would smite with a fearful blow； by first
scattering terror and death here in the heart of the country； in the
bosom of this immense city！
〃Oh！ no； no！ the Lord will be merciful。 No！ he will not condemn me to
this new torture。
〃Alas！ in this city； my brethren are more numerous and miserable than
elsewhere。 And should I be their messenger of death？〃
〃No！ the Lord will have pity。 For； alas！ the seven descendants of my
sister have at length met in this town。 And to them likewise should I be
the messenger of death； instead of the help they so much need？
〃For that woman； who like me wanders from one border of the earth to the
other； after having once more rent asunder the nets of their enemies； has
gone forth upon her endless journey。
〃In vain she foresaw that new misfortunes threatened my sister's family。
The invisible hand； that drives me on； drives her on also。
〃Carried away； as of old； by the irresistible whirlwind； at the moment of
leaving my kindred to their fate； she in vain cried with supplicating
tone： ‘Let me at least； O Lord； complete my task！''GO ON！‘A few days；
in mercy； only a few poor days！''GO ON''I leave those I love on the
brink of the abyss！''GO ON！ GO ON！'
〃And the wandering staragain started on its eternal round。 And her
voice； passing through space； called me to the assistance of mine own。
〃When that voice readied me； I knew that the descendants of my sister
were still exposed to frightful perils。 Those perils are even now on the
increase。
〃Tell me； O Lord！ will they escape the scourge； which for so many
centuries has weighed down our race？
〃Wilt thou pardon me in them？ wilt thou punish me in them？ Oh； that they
might obey the last will of their ancestor！
〃Oh； that they might join together their charitable hearts； their valor
and their strength； their noble intelligence； and their great riches！
〃They would then labor for the future happiness of humanitythey would
thus； perhaps； redeem me from my eternal punishment！
〃The words of the Son of Man； LOVE YE ONE ANOTHER； will be their only
end； their only means。
〃By the help of those all…powerful words； they will fight and conquer the
false priests； who have renounced the precepts of love； peace； and hope；
for lessons of hatred； violence； and despair。
〃Those false priests； who； kept in pay by the powerful and happy of this
world； their accomplices in every age； instead of asking here below for
some slight share of well…being for my unfortunate brethren； dare in thy
name； O Lord God； to assert that the poor are condemned to endless
suffering in this worldand that the desire or the hope to suffer less
is a crime in thine eyesbecause the happiness of the few； and the
misery of nearly the whole human race； is （O blasphemy！） according to thy
will。 Is not the very contrary of those murderous words alone worthy of
divinity！
〃In mercy； hear me； Lord！ Rescue from their enemies the descendants of
my sisterthe artisan as the king's son。 Do not let them destroy the
germ of so mighty and fruitful an association； which； with thy blessing；
would make an epoch in the annals of human happiness！
〃Let me unite them； O Lord； since others would divide themdefend them；
since others attack； let me give hope to those who have ceased to hope；
courage to those who are brought low with fearlet me raise up the
falling； and sustain those who persevere in the way of the righteous！
〃And； peradventure； their struggles； devotion； virtue； and grief； may
expiate my faultthat of a man； whom misfortune alone rendered unjust
and wicked。
〃Oh！ since Thy Almighty hand hath led me hitherto what end I know not
lay aside Thy wrath； I beseech Theelet me be no longer the instrument
of Thy vengeance！
〃Enough of woe upon the earth！ for the last two years； Thy creatures have
fallen by thousands upon my track。 The world is decimated。 A veil of
mourning extends over all the globe。
〃From Asia to the icy Pole； they died upon the path of the wanderer。
Dost Thou not hear the long…drawn sigh that rises from the earth unto
Thee； O Lord？
〃Mercy for all！ mercy for me！Let me but unite the descendants of my
sister for a single day； and they will be saved！〃
As he pronounced these words； the wayfarer sank upon his knees； and
raised to heaven； his supplicating hands。 Suddenly； the wind blew with
redoubled violence； its sharp whistlings were changed into the roar of a
tempest。
