Part 4 Book 14 Chapter 2 The Flag: Act Second

Since they had arrived at Corinthe, and had begun the construction of the barricade¹, no attention had been paid to Father Mabeuf. M. Mabeuf had not quitted the mob, however; he had entered the ground-floor of the wine-shop and had seated himself behind the counter. There he had, so to speak, retreated into himself. He no longer seemed to look or to think. Courfeyrac and others had accosted² him two or three times, warning him of his peril³, beseeching⁴ him to withdraw, but he did not hear them. When they were not speaking to him, his mouth moved as though he were replying to some one, and as soon as he was addressed, his lips became motionless and his eyes no longer had the appearance of being alive.

Several hours before the barricade was attacked, he had assumed an attitude which he did not afterwards abandon, with both fists planted on his knees and his head thrust forward as though he were gazing over a precipice⁵. Nothing had been able to move him from this attitude; it did not seem as though his mind were in the barricade. When each had gone to take up his position for the combat, there remained in the tap-room where Javert was bound to the post, only a single insurgent⁶ with a naked sword, watching over Javert, and himself, Mabeuf. At the moment of the attack, at the detonation⁷, the physical shock had reached him and had, as it were, awakened⁸ him; he started up abruptly⁹, crossed the room, and at the instant when Enjolras repeated his appeal: "Does no one volunteer?" the old man was seen to make his appearance on the threshold of the wine-shop. His presence produced a sort of commotion¹⁰ in the different groups. A shout went up:--

"It is the voter! It is the member of the Convention! It is the representative of the people!"

It is probable that he did not hear them.

He strode straight up to Enjolras, the insurgents¹¹ withdrawing before him with a religious fear; he tore the flag from Enjolras, who recoiled¹² in amazement¹³ and then, since no one dared to stop or to assist him, this old man of eighty, with shaking head but firm foot, began slowly to ascend¹⁴ the staircase of paving-stones arranged in the barricade. This was so melancholy¹⁵ and so grand that all around him cried: "Off with your hats!" At every step that he mounted, it was a frightful¹⁶ spectacle; his white locks, his decrepit¹⁷ face, his lofty, bald, and wrinkled brow, his amazed and open mouth, his aged¹⁸ arm upholding the red banner, rose through the gloom and were enlarged in the bloody¹⁹ light of the torch, and the bystanders thought that they beheld²⁰ the spectre of '93 emerging from the earth, with the flag of terror in his hand.

When he had reached the last step, when this trembling and terrible phantom²¹, erect²² on that pile of rubbish in the presence of twelve hundred invisible guns, drew himself up in the face of death and as though he were more powerful than it, the whole barricade assumed amid the darkness, a supernatural and colossal²³ form.

There ensued one of those silences which occur only in the presence of prodigies²⁴. In the midst of this silence, the old man waved the red flag and shouted:--

"Long live the Revolution! Long live the Republic! Fraternity! Equality! And Death!"

Those in the barricade heard a low and rapid whisper, like the murmur²⁵ of a priest who is despatching a prayer in haste. It was probably the commissary of police who was making the legal summons at the other end of the street.

Then the same piercing voice which had shouted: "Who goes there?" shouted:--

"Retire!"

M. Mabeuf, pale, haggard, his eyes lighted up with the mournful flame of aberration²⁶, raised the flag above his head and repeated:--

"Long live the Republic!"

"Fire!" said the voice.

A second discharge, similar to the first, rained down upon the barricade.

The old man fell on his knees, then rose again, dropped the flag and fell backwards²⁷ on the pavement, like a log, at full length, with outstretched arms.

Rivulets²⁸ of blood flowed beneath him. His aged head, pale and sad, seemed to be gazing at the sky.

One of those emotions which are superior to man, which make him forget even to defend himself, seized upon the insurgents, and they approached the body with respectful awe²⁹.

"What men these regicides were!" said Enjolras.

Courfeyrac bent³⁰ down to Enjolras' ear:--

"This is for yourself alone, I do not wish to dampen the enthusiasm. But this man was anything rather than a regicide. I knew him. His name was Father Mabeuf. I do not know what was the matter with him to-day. But he was a brave blockhead. Just look at his head."

"The head of a blockhead and the heart of a Brutus," replied Enjolras.

Then he raised his voice:--

"Citizens! This is the example which the old give to the young. We hesitated, he came! We were drawing back, he advanced! This is what those who are trembling with age teach to those who tremble with fear! This aged man is august in the eyes of his country. He has had a long life and a magnificent death! Now, let us place the body under cover, that each one of us may defend this old man dead as he would his father living, and may his presence in our midst render the barricade impregnable!"

A murmur of gloomy and energetic assent³¹ followed these words.

Enjolras bent down, raised the old man's head, and fierce as he was, he kissed him on the brow, then, throwing wide his arms, and handling this dead man with tender precaution, as though he feared to hurt it, he removed his coat, showed the bloody holes in it to all, and said:--

"This is our flag now."

自从他们来到科林斯并开始建造街垒以后，他们便没有怎么注意马白夫公公。马白夫公公却一直没有离开队伍。他走进酒店以后，便去坐在楼下那间厅堂的柜台后面。可以说，他在那里已经完全寂灭了。他仿佛已不再望什么，也不再想什么。古费拉克和另外几个人曾两次或三次走到他跟前，把当时的危险说给他听，请他避开，他却好象什么也没听见。没有人和他谈话时，他的嘴唇会频频启闭，好象是在对谁答话，在有人找他谈话时他的嘴唇却又完全不动，眼睛也好象失去了生命似的。在街垒受到攻击的几个小时以前，他便坐在那里，两个拳头抵在膝上，头向前伛着，仿佛是在望一个什么危崖深谷，几个钟头过去了，他一直保持这一姿势，没有改变过。任何事都不能惊动他，看来他的精神完全不在街垒里。后来每个人都奔向各自的战斗岗位，厅堂里只剩下了三个人：被绑在柱子上的沙威、一个握着军刀监视沙威的起义战士和他马白夫。当攻打开始、爆裂发生时，他的身体也受到了震动，仿佛已经醒过来了，他陡然立了起来，穿过厅堂，这时，安灼拉正重复他的号召，说：“没人愿去？”人们看见这老人出现在酒店门口。他的出现，使整个队伍为之一惊，并引起了一阵惊喊：“这就是那个投票人！就是那个国民公会代表！就是那个人民代表！”

也许他并没有听见。

他直向安灼拉走去，起义的人都怀着敬畏的心为他让出一条路，他从安灼拉手里夺过红旗，安灼拉也被他愣住了，往后退了一步，其他的人，谁也不敢阻挡他，谁也不敢搀扶他，他，这八十岁的老人，头颈颤颤巍巍，脚步踏踏实实，向街垒里那道石级，一步一步慢慢跨上去。当时的情景是那么庄严，那么伟大，以致在他四周的人都齐声喊道：“脱帽！”他每踏上一级，他那一头白发，干瘪的脸，高阔光秃满是皱纹的额头，凹陷的眼睛，愕然张着的嘴，举着旗帜的枯臂，都从黑暗步步伸向火炬的血光中，逐渐升高扩大，形象好不骇人。人们以为看见了九三年的阴灵，擎着恐怖时期的旗帜，从地下冉冉升起。

当他走上最高一级，当这战战兢兢而目空一切的鬼魂，面对一千二百个瞧不见的枪口，视死如归，舍身忘我，屹立在那堆木石灰土的顶上时，整个街垒都从黑暗中望见了一个无比崇高的超人形象。

所有的人都屏住了呼吸，只在奇迹出现时才会有那种沉寂。

老人在这沉寂中，挥动着那面红旗，喊道：

“革命万岁！共和万岁！博爱！平等和死亡！”

人们从街垒里听到一阵低微、急促、象个牧师匆匆念诵祈祷文似的声音。也许是那警官在街的另一头，做他的例行劝降工作。

接着，先头喊“口令？”的那尖利嗓子喊道：

“下去！”

马白夫先生，脸气白了，眼里冒着悲愤躁急的火焰，把红旗高举在头顶上，再一次喊道：

“共和万岁！”

“放！”那人的声音说。

第二次射击，象霰弹似的，打在街垒上。

老人的两个膝头往下沉，随即又立起，旗子从他手中滑脱了，他的身体，象一块木板似的，向后倒在石块上，直挺挺伸卧着，两臂交叉在胸前。

一条条鲜血，象溪水似的，从他身下流出来。他那衰老的脸，惨白而悲哀，仿佛仍在望天空。

起义的人全被一种不受人力支配的愤激心情所控制，甚至忘了自卫，他们在惊愕恐骇中齐向那尸体靠近。

“这些判处国王的人真是好样儿的！”安灼拉说。

古费拉克凑近安灼拉的耳边说：

“这句话是说给你一个人听的，因为我不愿泼冷水。但是这个人完全比得上那些判处国王的代表。我认识他。他叫马白夫公公。我不知道他今天是怎么一回事。但是他一向是个诚实的老糊涂。你瞧他的脑袋。”

“老糊涂的脑袋，布鲁图斯的心。”安灼拉回答说。

接着，他提高嗓子说：

“公民们！这是老一辈给年轻一代做出的榜样。我们迟疑，他挺身而出！我们后退，他勇往直前！让我们瞧瞧因年老而颤抖的人是怎样教育因害怕而颤抖的人的！这位老人在祖国面前可说是浩气凛然。他活得长久，死得光荣。现在让我们保护好他的遗体，我们每个人都应当象保护自己活着的父亲那样来保护这位死了的老人。让他留在我们中间，使这街垒成为铜墙铁壁。”

在这些话后面的是一阵低沉而坚决的共鸣声。

安灼拉蹲下去托起那老人的头，怯生生地在他的前额上吻了一下，随即又掰开他的手臂，轻柔谨慎、怕弄痛了死者似的，扶起他的身体，解下他的衣服，把那上面的弹孔和血迹一一指给大家看，并说道：

“现在，这就是我们的红旗了。”

1 barricade   

n.路障，栅栏，障碍；vt.设路障挡住

参考例句：

• The soldiers make a barricade across the road.士兵在路上设路障。
• It is difficult to break through a steel barricade.冲破钢铁障碍很难。

2 accosted   

v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭

参考例句：

• She was accosted in the street by a complete stranger. 在街上，一个完全陌生的人贸然走到她跟前搭讪。
• His benevolent nature prevented him from refusing any beggar who accosted him. 他乐善好施的本性使他不会拒绝走上前向他行乞的任何一个乞丐。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 peril   

n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物

参考例句：

• The refugees were in peril of death from hunger.难民有饿死的危险。
• The embankment is in great peril.河堤岌岌可危。

4 beseeching   

adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She clung to her father, beseeching him for consent. 她紧紧挨着父亲，恳求他答应。 来自辞典例句
• He casts a beseeching glance at his son. 他用恳求的眼光望着儿子。 来自辞典例句

5 precipice   

n.悬崖，危急的处境

参考例句：

• The hut hung half over the edge of the precipice.那间小屋有一半悬在峭壁边上。
• A slight carelessness on this precipice could cost a man his life.在这悬崖上稍一疏忽就会使人丧生。

6 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

7 detonation   

n.爆炸；巨响

参考例句：

• A fearful detonation burst forth on the barricade.街垒传来一阵骇人的爆炸声。
• Within a few hundreds of microseconds,detonation is complete.在几百微秒之内，爆炸便完成了。

8 awakened   

v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到

参考例句：

• She awakened to the sound of birds singing. 她醒来听到鸟的叫声。
• The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation. 公众完全意识到了这一状况的可怕程度。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 abruptly   

adv.突然地，出其不意地

参考例句：

• He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
• I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

10 commotion   

n.骚动，动乱

参考例句：

• They made a commotion by yelling at each other in the theatre.他们在剧院里相互争吵，引起了一阵骚乱。
• Suddenly the whole street was in commotion.突然间，整条街道变得一片混乱。

11 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

12 recoiled   

v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回

参考例句：

• She recoiled from his touch. 她躲开他的触摸。
• Howard recoiled a little at the sharpness in my voice. 听到我的尖声，霍华德往后缩了一下。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。

14 ascend   

vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上

参考例句：

• We watched the airplane ascend higher and higher.我们看着飞机逐渐升高。
• We ascend in the order of time and of development.我们按时间和发展顺序向上溯。

15 melancholy   

n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• All at once he fell into a state of profound melancholy.他立即陷入无尽的忧思之中。
• He felt melancholy after he failed the exam.这次考试没通过，他感到很郁闷。

16 frightful   

adj.可怕的；讨厌的

参考例句：

• How frightful to have a husband who snores!有一个发鼾声的丈夫多讨厌啊！
• We're having frightful weather these days.这几天天气坏极了。

17 decrepit   

adj.衰老的，破旧的

参考例句：

• The film had been shot in a decrepit old police station.该影片是在一所破旧不堪的警察局里拍摄的。
• A decrepit old man sat on a park bench.一个衰弱的老人坐在公园的长凳上。

18 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

19 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

20 beheld   

v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟

参考例句：

• His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字

21 phantom   

n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的

参考例句：

• I found myself staring at her as if she were a phantom.我发现自己瞪大眼睛看着她，好像她是一个幽灵。
• He is only a phantom of a king.他只是有名无实的国王。

22 erect   

n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的

参考例句：

• She held her head erect and her back straight.她昂着头，把背挺得笔直。
• Soldiers are trained to stand erect.士兵们训练站得笔直。

23 colossal   

adj.异常的，庞大的

参考例句：

• There has been a colossal waste of public money.一直存在巨大的公款浪费。
• Some of the tall buildings in that city are colossal.那座城市里的一些高层建筑很庞大。

24 prodigies   

n.奇才，天才（尤指神童）( prodigy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• It'seldom happened that a third party ever witnessed any of these prodigies. 这类壮举发生的时候，难得有第三者在场目睹过。 来自辞典例句
• She is by no means inferior to other prodigies. 她绝不是不如其他神童。 来自互联网

25 murmur   

n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言

参考例句：

• They paid the extra taxes without a murmur.他们毫无怨言地交了附加税。
• There was a low murmur of conversation in the hall.大厅里有窃窃私语声。

26 aberration   

n.离开正路，脱离常规，色差

参考例句：

• The removal of the chromatic aberration is then of primary importance.这时消除色差具有头等重要性。
• Owing to a strange mental aberration he forgot his own name.由于一种莫名的精神错乱，他把自己的名字忘了。

27 backwards   

adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地

参考例句：

• He turned on the light and began to pace backwards and forwards.他打开电灯并开始走来走去。
• All the girls fell over backwards to get the party ready.姑娘们迫不及待地为聚会做准备。

28 rivulets   

n.小河，小溪( rivulet的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Rivulets of water ran in through the leaks. 小股的水流通过漏洞流进来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rivulets of sweat streamed down his cheeks. 津津汗水顺着他的两颊流下。 来自辞典例句

29 awe   

n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧

参考例句：

• The sight filled us with awe.这景色使我们大为惊叹。
• The approaching tornado struck awe in our hearts.正在逼近的龙卷风使我们惊恐万分。

30 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

31 assent   

v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可

参考例句：

• I cannot assent to what you ask.我不能应允你的要求。
• The new bill passed by Parliament has received Royal Assent.议会所通过的新方案已获国王批准。