The violets and the primroses1 grow in the chestnut2 woods that fringe the base of La Lozère, yet disappear as the roads wind up to the summit, giving place to the wild foxglove and heather which, in their turn, disappear as still the ascent3 continues. Also, the chestnuts4 themselves become more sparse5 and infrequent, until at last the woods cease altogether, and the mountaineer trends only on the soft, crisp brown grass that, lying warm beneath the winter's snows, springs but into existence to be consumed later by the fierce southern sun that beats on it.
Finally, with far beneath his feet the valleys basking6 in the warm sun, the wanderer stands upon a dreary7 upland with, around him, the mountain tops of the Cévennes huddled8 in wild confusion, as though thrown down from the palm of some great giant. A confusion of barren crags in some places, of, in others, great hills clothed with forests or upland pasturages, or, in a few cases, plots of cereals--a confusion over which in summer sweeps, without warning, a torrent9 of hail, or amidst which rise fogs that envelope all; that in winter is buried in snow over which the tempests howl. Here, too, wherever the eye turns, torrents10 are seen that, when Spring unlocks their floods and turns the frozen snow to water, leap down and hurl11 themselves over boulders12 and, in some cases, precipices13 until at last they reach the rivers beneath. Here also are bare walls of rock in which are the caverns14 that sheltered the Camisards whom Louis and Louvois, Chamillart and De Maintenon had driven forth16 into the mountain deserts. Yet not only Louis, le Dieudonné and his myrmidons, but, before him, that other Louis, his father, surnamed "The Just," who had, under the sword of the brutal17 Marshal de Thémines, also driven countless18 Huguenots to take refuge in these wild, stony19 citadels20, and had forced them to fortify21 their mountains against their persecutors. To close their caverns with bronze doors secretly conveyed to them by Jeanne d'Albret, Protestant Queen of Navarre.
It was in one of these vast caves, a week after the Chateau22 de Servas had been burnt to the ground by the orders of Jean Cavalier (of how the garrison23 was put to death, none being spared, the peasants still tell nightly to all who care to hear), that there was gathered a vast company of men and women. A company assembled to sit in judgment24 on another man and woman who were in their power, to say whether the hour had come for the death of those captives or was still to be postponed25. Postponed, not abandoned! For they were Catholics, persecutors. And, therefore, doomed27, sooner or later. But first the prophets and the prophetesses had to speak. On them depended much; a swift doom26 that night or one that might be reserved for another day.
"You understand, mademoiselle?" the man said to his companion, seated by his side; "you understand? Our sentence depends on those gathered together round Cavalier. After they have spoken we shall know whether 'tis now or later."
"I understand," Urbaine Ducaire answered, the cold tone in which he spoke28 causing more grief to her heart than the awful import of his words. "I understand." Then her eyes sought his, met them, and were swiftly withdrawn29.
They had been here a week, being treated well, allowed to roam about the vast caverns unmolested, yet never once allowed to form the most illusory hopes that there could be but one end to their captivity30. The knowledge had been conveyed to them by now and then a word from one or from another, by a look from a third, by even a glance from Cavalier himself or from Roland, that for some of the Protestant men and women slaughtered31 by the Papists they were to furnish an expiation--a retaliation32--as many other Catholics had already done who had fallen into their captors' hands.
Yet it was not the crowds of fierce Camisards who now surrounded them in this great cavern15, lit by torches at its farthest end, and by the rays of the October sun which streamed in from where the great antique bronze doors, placed there a hundred years ago, stood at the hither end; nor the unpitying, cruel glances cast by the prophetesses at the girl, which caused the grief she felt. That came from another cause; from the cold disdain33 of the man by her side--the man to whom she owed it that she had not been slain34 in the attack made upon her escort. Disdain for the words she had uttered against him that night in the passage outside the banqueting hall of the Chateau St. Servas, for the manner in which she had misjudged him. Misjudged him as she had recognised well from that night itself, from the moment when, being himself a Protestant, he had refused to profit by the fact, but, instead, had remained silent when accused of being one of their captors' enemies. And his reason for doing so was certain; not to be doubted. So that he might still be by her side, still near to protect her, still near, if any chance should arise, to aid her escape. And now the time was at hand when their doom was to be determined35, and yet he continued to hold his peace, would be ready to share her fate, and, she told herself, to despise her to the end.
"You are very noble," she had said to him that morning when they had been brought into the great cavern from the cells which each had had assigned to them, "and I, oh, God, how base! I wish the world had ended on that night, ere I uttered the words I did."
"It matters not," he said; "is worth no thought. You misjudged me, that is all."
She bowed her head before him, meaning thereby36 to acknowledge how utterly37 she had indeed misjudged him. Then she said, her eyes fixed38 on his:
"Yet--yet you will not let them continue in their ignorance of what you are? If--if they decide to slay39, you will announce your fellowship with them? Is it not so?"
But to this he would make no answer, turning away his head from her.
"It needs but one word," she continued, "and you are free--free to go in peace."
He knew as well as she that it needed but one word; nay40, he knew more. It needed but another word--the statement that he was an Englishman--to make him something more than free, to cause him to be received with acclamation by their captors, welcomed as a friend. For England was Louis' bitterest foe41 and the most powerful; a force slowly crushing the life out of France and her king, as she had been doing since first she shattered his great fleet at Barfleur and La Hogue. Also she was the home of every outlawed42 refugee and Huguenot; her people supplied them with help and succour; even to this remote spot money and arms were often secretly sent. And, further, 'twas whispered among the Protestants that an attack was to be made ere long on France's Mediterranean43 coast by one of England's admirals, after which there would not remain one frontier or border of the land that did not bristle44 with Protestant enemies.
It did indeed need but the words "I am an Englishman" for his safety to be assured. Yet he had sworn to himself that he would die at his captors' hands ere he uttered them or made the statement that he was of their faith, ere he would go forth and leave this girl here, alone and doomed.
"I do not desire," he said, "to earn my release by proclaiming myself a Protestant. I pity them for what they have suffered; yet--yet I am not in sympathy with their retaliation. I shall not proclaim myself."
But now the hum of voices from the crowd near them became hushed; from their midst one of the prophets, or, as they called them, "Les Extasés," was speaking. "Mes Frères," they heard him say, "the God of Battles fights on our side, even as once he fought upon the side of Joshua. Also he has inspired me to read the future. I see," he went on, extending his hands, "the time approaching when over all the land of France the Huguenots shall worship in peace in the way that most befits them; when no longer a tyrannous king, his married mistress by his side, shall send forth armies to crush them. Nay, more, I see the time at hand, ay, even in that king's lifetime, when he, reaping the fruits of his errors, shall find us the allies of his bitterest foes46. I see our brother, Cavalier, leading his troops to victory against France, against France's own children in a distant land. I see a plain strewed47 with their bodies, crimson48 with their blood shed against France. But not yet, not yet."[2]
"Ay! not yet. And, my brother, tell us what of the present your holy visions disclose," Cavalier exclaimed. "I too can forecast the future when inspired by God. Speak, therefore, my brother; let us see if God has revealed to both of us alike."
Whereupon, again, the seer took up his strain.
"Languedoc shall be free at last," he said. "I see in the far distant future the altars overturned at which the children of the Devil worship, the priests of Baal slain, the gibbets empty, the flames burned out. Yet blood must be shed--the blood of all who bow to false gods, idols49 of wood and stone, cruel gods who have spared none of our faith, as now we will spare none of theirs. 'An eye for an eye, a tooth for tooth.' It is the Mosaic50 law; let it be carried out. Spare none." And even as he spoke his own eyes lighted on the man and woman sitting there awaiting their doom. Then, lifting up his voice, he sang, all joining in his song who stood around him, all holding up their hands to heaven:
Seigneur, entend ma plainte, écoute ma prière,
Ne detourne pas ta paupière
De ma détresse, ? Dieu vivant.
Je pleure, je gémis, j'erre dans les ténebras
Comme aux fentes des tours les hulottes funèbres
Et les oiseaux du Désert.
And as he spoke, in truth he wept, then flung himself upon his knees and prayed in silence. Yet looked up at last, and, pointing to Urbaine and Martin, while down his cheeks the tears rolled, exclaimed: "They are of Baal. They must die."
"You hear?" Martin whispered to his companion, "you hear? There is no hope; be brave."
"Save yourself," she whispered back. "Save yourself, or," and now her eyes sought his boldly, "I proclaim you--save you."
"You dare not, I forbid you: command you to hold your peace. If you proclaim me one of them, I will deny it. Be silent."
It seemed as if there would be no time for her to do as she threatened; their doom was at hand.
Down the long cavern the Camisards advanced slowly. Ahead of them strode Cavalier; yet even as he came he turned to those behind him and said some words as though endeavouring to calm them, to at least retard51 the hour of their vengeance52; yet also, as it seemed by his face, with little hope of being able to do so.
Ahead of all came the women. One, who limped as she walked, Martin recognised as the girl Fleurette who had been dragged moaning from the Abbé du Chaila's house; another was the girl whom Urbaine had seen fire the shot which slew53 her companion, the gouvernante. Also there were others, some old, some middle-aged54, some almost children. And, perhaps to nerve themselves to what they were about to do, one told of how her babe had been cast into the flames at N?mes "by order of Baville--her father," pointing as she spoke to Urbaine; another of how her boy had hung upon a lamp post at Anduse "by order of Baville--her father"; a third of how her old mother, gray and infirm, had also been consigned55 to the flames "by order of Baville--her father."
She, standing56 there, did not flinch57 as they approached; stood, indeed, calmly awaiting whatever they might be about to do to her--she who had shrieked58 as the shot was fired at Poul's escort, who had seemed as one blasted to death by what she had discovered in the Chateau de Servas. Neither flinched59 nor blanched60, indeed smiled once into Martin's eyes as he, close by her side, took her hand gently in his; glanced swiftly up into his eyes as though asking if, at this supreme61 moment, he forgave.
"We die together," he said. "Remember, be brave."
"Thus," she whispered, "I fear nothing." Then murmured, even lower, "My God! how great, how noble you are!"
Suddenly, while now the Camisards were all around them and while Cavalier's voice rang out through the vaulted62 cavern, bidding them halt until they had decided63 what form of death should be meted64 out to the prisoners, a woman's voice rose high above all the others, commanding them to harken to her words, listen to the spirit of prophecy that was upon her.
"It is the Grande Marie," they said, "La Grande Marie. Hear her, hear her!" and stood still as they spoke, glancing at her.
Grande she was in stature65, big and gaunt, with wild, misty66 eyes that seemed to glare into vacancy67; her hair iron-gray and dishevelled, her voice rich and full as it rang down the cavern, silencing all other voices.
"The skies whirl round in starry68 circles," she said. "The voices of whispering angels are in my ears, the heavenly host are telling me strange things. Also the voice of God speaks to me; asks me a question. Asks me who it is we are about to slay? My brethren, answer for me."
"Who?" they shouted, "who?" Cavalier alone standing silent, his eyes upon the Grande Marie in wonderment. "Who? A stranger, who is of the persecutors' faith. A woman also of the devil--the child of Baville--the persecutor--the murderer."
The misty eyes roamed over all around her as they spoke. Then suddenly she moved toward them, her hand extended, one finger pointing. And with that finger she touched Cavalier on the arm, then the Camisard next to him, then another; then a woman, and another woman.
"All," she whispered, while a great hush45 was now upon those in the cavern, "all are God's children, all servitors of the Cross--all, all, all."
Again she went on, passing slowly by those in the cave, her finger touching69 each and every one, missing none. Peering, too, into their faces with those wild clouded eyes, penetrating70 them with her glances.
And now the silence was extreme. She had touched, had looked into the face of every one there except Martin and Urbaine.
Again she moved and approached him, standing tall, erect71 and calm, yet not defiantly72, before his captor.
Her fingers advanced and touched his breast beneath where the lace of his cravat73 fell. With every eye upon them, she brought her face close to his, and for one minute seemed as if through her own eyes she would see deep into his brain. Then moved a step farther and stood before Urbaine Ducaire.
The girl, standing herself motionless, her hand clasped in Martin's, divined rather than felt that the finger of the prophetess was on her breast; saw that, as she opened her lids which she had closed when that wild form drew near her, the eyes of the seer were looking into hers. Then shuddered74 as they were removed.
"Away!" La Grande Marie exclaimed, as now there were no more to touch, no more to penetrate75 with those terrible glances, "away to your work in the valleys and the towns, to devastate76, to destroy, when the moon which is the sun of the outcast is on high. Away, I say, to destroy, to devastate. Your work is not here. Our God has blinded you, led you astray. In this, our refuge, there is no child of the devil, no Papist. You are deceived. Those whom you would slay are of our faith!"
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1
primroses
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| n.报春花( primrose的名词复数 )；淡黄色；追求享乐（招至恶果） | |
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chestnut
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| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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4
chestnuts
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| n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 )；栗色；栗树；栗色马 | |
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5
sparse
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| adj.稀疏的，稀稀落落的，薄的 | |
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basking
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的现在分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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7
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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9
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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torrents
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| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
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hurl
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| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
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12
boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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13
precipices
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| n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 ) | |
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caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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citadels
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| n.城堡，堡垒( citadel的名词复数 ) | |
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21
fortify
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| v.强化防御，为…设防；加强，强化 | |
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chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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24
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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slaughtered
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| v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
retaliation
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| n.报复，反击 | |
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33
disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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39
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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40
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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41
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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42
outlawed
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| 宣布…为不合法（outlaw的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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44
bristle
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| v.（毛发）直立，气势汹汹，发怒；n.硬毛发 | |
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45
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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46
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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47
strewed
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| v.撒在…上( strew的过去式和过去分词 )；散落于；点缀；撒满 | |
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48
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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49
idols
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| 偶像( idol的名词复数 )； 受崇拜的人或物； 受到热爱和崇拜的人或物； 神像 | |
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50
mosaic
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| n./adj.镶嵌细工的，镶嵌工艺品的，嵌花式的 | |
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51
retard
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| n.阻止，延迟；vt.妨碍，延迟，使减速 | |
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52
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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53
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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54
middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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55
consigned
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| v.把…置于（令人不快的境地）( consign的过去式和过去分词 )；把…托付给；把…托人代售；丟弃 | |
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56
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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57
flinch
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| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
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58
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
flinched
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
blanched
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| v.使变白( blanch的过去式 )；使（植物）不见阳光而变白；酸洗（金属）使有光泽；用沸水烫（杏仁等）以便去皮 | |
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61
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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62
vaulted
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| adj.拱状的 | |
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63
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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64
meted
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| v.（对某人）施以，给予（处罚等）( mete的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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66
misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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vacancy
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| n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺 | |
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starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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69
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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71
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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72
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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73
cravat
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| n.领巾，领结；v.使穿有领结的服装，使结领结 | |
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74
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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75
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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devastate
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| v.使荒芜，破坏，压倒 | |
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