Page Written at Brussels
Well then, yes, I will kick open the door of this Palace, and I will enter with you, History! I will seize by the collar all the perpetrators, continually caught red-handed in the commission of all these outrages1! I will suddenly illuminate3 this cavern4 of night with the broad daylight of truth!
Yes, I will bring in the daylight! I will tear down the curtain, I will open the window, I will show to every eye such as it really is, infamous5, horrible, wealthy, triumphant6, joyous7, gilded8, besmirched9 — this Elysée! this Court! this group! this heap! call it what you will! this galley-crew! where writhe10 and crawl, and pair and breed every baseness, every indignity11, every abomination: filibusters12, buccaneers, swearers of oaths, Signers of the Cross, spies, swindlers, butchers, executioners, from the brigand13 who vends14 his sword, to the Jesuit who sells his God second-hand15! This sink where Baroche elbows Teste! where each brings his own nastiness! Magnan his epaulets; Montalembert his religion, Dupin his person!
And above all the innermost circle, the Holy of Holies, the private Council, the smug den2 where they drink — where they eat — where they laugh — where they sleep — where they play — where they cheat — where they call Highnesses “Thou,”— where they wallow! Oh! what ignominies! It is them! It is there! Dishonor, baseness, shame, and opprobrium16 are there! Oh History! A hot iron for all these faces.
It is there that they amuse themselves, and that they jest, and that they banter17, and that they make sport of France! It is there that they pocket hap-hazard, amid great shouts of laughter, the millions of louis and the millions of votes! See them, look at them! They have treated the Law like a girl, they are content! Right is slaughtered18, Liberty is gagged, the flag is dishonored, the people are under their feet. They are happy! And who are they? What are these men? Europe knows not. One fine morning it saw them come out of a crime. Nothing more. A parcel of rascals19 who vainly tried to become celebrated20, and who have remained anonymous21. Look! they are all there! See them, I tell you! Look at them, I tell you! Recognize them if you can. Of what sex are they? To what species do they belong? Who is this one? Is he a writer? No; he is a dog. He gobbles human flesh. And that one? Is he a dog? No, he is a courtier — he has blood on his paw.
New men, that is what they term them. New, in truth! Unlooked-for, strange, unprecedented22, monstrous23! Perjury24, iniquity25, robbery, assassination26, erected28 into ministerial departments, swindling applied29 to universal suffrage30, government under false pretences31, duty called crime, crime called duty, cynicism laughing in the midst of atrocity,— it is of all this that their newness is compounded.
Now, all is well, they have succeeded, they have a fair wind, they enjoy themselves to the full. They have cheated France, they are dividing the spoil. France is a bag, and they put their hand in it. Rummage32, for Heaven’s sake! Take, while you are there; help yourselves, draw out, plunder33, steal! One wants money, another wants situations, another wants a decorative34 collar round his neck, another a plume35 in his hat, another embroidery36 on his sleeve, another women, another power; another news for the Bourse, another a railway, another wine. I should think, indeed, that they are well satisfied. Picture to yourself a poor devil who, three years ago, borrowed ten sous of his porter, and who to-day, leaning voluptuously37 on the Moniteur, has only to sign a decree to take a million. To make themselves perfectly38 happy, to be able to devour39 the finances of the State, to live at the expense of the Treasury40 like a son of the family, this is what is called their policy. Their ambition has a true name, it is gluttony.
They ambitious? Nonsense! They are gluttons41. To govern is to gamble. This does not prevent betrayal. On the contrary, they spy upon each other, they betray each other. The little traitors42 betray the great traitors. Pietri looks askance at Maupas, and Maupas at Carlier. They all lie in the same reeking43 sewer44! They have achieved the coup45 d’état in common. That is all. Moreover they feel sure of nothing, neither of glances, nor of smiles, nor of hidden thoughts, nor of men, nor of women, nor of the lacquey, nor of the prince, nor of words of honor, nor of birth certificates. Each feels himself fraudulent, and knows himself suspected. Each has his secret aims. Each alone knows why he has done this. Not one utters a word about his crime, and no one bears the name of his father. Ah! may God grant me life, and may Jesus pardon me, I will raise a gibbet a hundred yards high, I will take hammer and nails, and I will crucify this Beauharnais called Bonaparte, between this Leroy called Saint–Arnoud, and this Fialin called Persigny!
And I would drag you there also, all of you accomplices46! This Morny, this Romieu, this Fould, the Jew senator, this Delangle, who bears on his back this placard: JUSTICE! and this Troplong, this judicial47 glorifier48 of the violation49 of the laws, this lawyer apologist of the coup d’état, this magistrate50 flatterer of perjury, this judge panegyrist of murder, who will go down to posterity51 with a sponge filled with mud and with blood in his hand.
I begin the battle therefore. With whom? With the present ruler of Europe. It is right that this spectacle should be given to the world. Louis Bonaparte is the success, is the intoxicated52 triumph, is the gay and ferocious53 despotism, opening out under the victory, he is the mad fulness of power, seeking limits and finding none, neither in things nor in men; Louis Bonaparte holds France, Urbem Roman habit; and whoever holds France holds the world; he is master of the votes, master of the consciences, master of the people; he nominates his successor, reigns54 forever over future electoral scrutinies55, disposes of eternity56, and places futurity in an envelope; his Senate, his Legislative57 Body, his Council of State, with heads lowered and mingled58 confusedly behind him, lick his feet; he drags along in a leash59 the bishops60 and cardinals61; he tramples62 on the justice which curses him, and on the judges who adore him, thirty correspondents inform the Continent that he has frowned, and every electric telegraph vibrates if he raises his little finger; around him is heard the rustling63 of sabres, and the drums beat the salute64; he sits under the shadow of the eagle in the midst of bayonets and of citadels65, the free nations tremble and hide their liberties for fear that he should steal them, the great American Republic herself falters66 in his presence, and dares not withdraw her Ambassador from him; the kings, surrounded by their armies, look at him smilingly, with their hearts full of fear. Where will he begin? With Belgium? With Switzerland? With Piedmont? Europe expects to be overrun. He is capable of all, and he dreams of all.
Well, then! Before this master, this triumpher, this conqueror67, this dictator, this Emperor, this all-powerful, there rises a solitary68 man, a wanderer, despoiled69, ruined, prostrate70, proscribed71, and attacks him. Louis Napoleon has ten thousand cannons72, and five hundred thousand soldiers; the writer has his pen and his ink-stand. The writer is nothing, he is a grain of dust, he is a shadow, he is an exile without a refuge, he is a vagrant73 without a passport, but he has by his side and fighting with him two powers, Right, which is invincible74, and Truth, which is immortal75.
Assuredly, for this struggle to the death, for this formidable duel76, Providence77 could have chosen a more illustrious champion, a grander athlete. But what matter men, there, where it is the idea with combats! Such as it is, it is good, let us repeat, that this spectacle should be given to the world. What is this in truth? It is intellect, an atom which resists strength — a colossus.
I have only one stone in my sling78, but that stone is a good one; that stone is justice.
I attack Louis Bonaparte at this hour, when he is erect27; at this hour, when he is master. He is in his zenith. So much the better; it is that which suits me.
Yes, I attack Louis Bonaparte. I attack him before the world; I attack him in the presence of God and men; I attack him resolutely79, desperately80; for the love of the people and of France. He is about to be Emperor, let it be so. Let there be at least one brow which resists. Let Louis Bonaparte know that an Empire may be taken, but that a Conscience cannot be taken.
1 outrages | |
引起…的义愤,激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 ) | |
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2 den | |
n.兽穴;秘密地方;安静的小房间,私室 | |
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3 illuminate | |
vt.照亮,照明;用灯光装饰;说明,阐释 | |
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4 cavern | |
n.洞穴,大山洞 | |
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5 infamous | |
adj.声名狼藉的,臭名昭著的,邪恶的 | |
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6 triumphant | |
adj.胜利的,成功的;狂欢的,喜悦的 | |
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7 joyous | |
adj.充满快乐的;令人高兴的 | |
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8 gilded | |
a.镀金的,富有的 | |
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9 besmirched | |
v.弄脏( besmirch的过去式和过去分词 );玷污;丑化;糟蹋(名誉等) | |
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10 writhe | |
vt.挣扎,痛苦地扭曲;vi.扭曲,翻腾,受苦;n.翻腾,苦恼 | |
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11 indignity | |
n.侮辱,伤害尊严,轻蔑 | |
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12 filibusters | |
n.掠夺兵( filibuster的名词复数 );暴兵;(用冗长的发言)阻挠议事的议员;会议妨碍行为v.阻碍或延宕国会或其他立法机构通过提案( filibuster的第三人称单数 );掠夺 | |
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13 brigand | |
n.土匪,强盗 | |
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14 vends | |
v.出售(尤指土地等财产)( vend的第三人称单数 );(尤指在公共场所)贩卖;发表(意见,言论);声明 | |
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15 second-hand | |
adj.用过的,旧的,二手的 | |
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16 opprobrium | |
n.耻辱,责难 | |
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17 banter | |
n.嘲弄,戏谑;v.取笑,逗弄,开玩笑 | |
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18 slaughtered | |
v.屠杀,杀戮,屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19 rascals | |
流氓( rascal的名词复数 ); 无赖; (开玩笑说法)淘气的人(尤指小孩); 恶作剧的人 | |
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20 celebrated | |
adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 | |
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21 anonymous | |
adj.无名的;匿名的;无特色的 | |
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22 unprecedented | |
adj.无前例的,新奇的 | |
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23 monstrous | |
adj.巨大的;恐怖的;可耻的,丢脸的 | |
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24 perjury | |
n.伪证;伪证罪 | |
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25 iniquity | |
n.邪恶;不公正 | |
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26 assassination | |
n.暗杀;暗杀事件 | |
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27 erect | |
n./v.树立,建立,使竖立;adj.直立的,垂直的 | |
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28 ERECTED | |
adj. 直立的,竖立的,笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立,建立 | |
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29 applied | |
adj.应用的;v.应用,适用 | |
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30 suffrage | |
n.投票,选举权,参政权 | |
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31 pretences | |
n.假装( pretence的名词复数 );作假;自命;自称 | |
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32 rummage | |
v./n.翻寻,仔细检查 | |
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33 plunder | |
vt.劫掠财物,掠夺;n.劫掠物,赃物;劫掠 | |
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34 decorative | |
adj.装饰的,可作装饰的 | |
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35 plume | |
n.羽毛;v.整理羽毛,骚首弄姿,用羽毛装饰 | |
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36 embroidery | |
n.绣花,刺绣;绣制品 | |
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37 voluptuously | |
adv.风骚地,体态丰满地 | |
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38 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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39 devour | |
v.吞没;贪婪地注视或谛听,贪读;使着迷 | |
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40 treasury | |
n.宝库;国库,金库;文库 | |
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41 gluttons | |
贪食者( glutton的名词复数 ); 贪图者; 酷爱…的人; 狼獾 | |
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42 traitors | |
卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 ); 叛徒; 背叛者; 背信弃义的人 | |
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43 reeking | |
v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 );散发臭气;发出难闻的气味 (of sth);明显带有(令人不快或生疑的跡象) | |
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44 sewer | |
n.排水沟,下水道 | |
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45 coup | |
n.政变;突然而成功的行动 | |
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46 accomplices | |
从犯,帮凶,同谋( accomplice的名词复数 ) | |
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47 judicial | |
adj.司法的,法庭的,审判的,明断的,公正的 | |
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48 glorifier | |
美其名的,变荣耀的 | |
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49 violation | |
n.违反(行为),违背(行为),侵犯 | |
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50 magistrate | |
n.地方行政官,地方法官,治安官 | |
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51 posterity | |
n.后裔,子孙,后代 | |
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52 intoxicated | |
喝醉的,极其兴奋的 | |
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53 ferocious | |
adj.凶猛的,残暴的,极度的,十分强烈的 | |
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54 reigns | |
n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 );君主统治时期;任期;当政期 | |
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55 scrutinies | |
细看,细查,监视( scrutiny的名词复数 ) | |
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56 eternity | |
n.不朽,来世;永恒,无穷 | |
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57 legislative | |
n.立法机构,立法权;adj.立法的,有立法权的 | |
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58 mingled | |
混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系] | |
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59 leash | |
n.牵狗的皮带,束缚;v.用皮带系住 | |
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60 bishops | |
(基督教某些教派管辖大教区的)主教( bishop的名词复数 ); (国际象棋的)象 | |
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61 cardinals | |
红衣主教( cardinal的名词复数 ); 红衣凤头鸟(见于北美,雄鸟为鲜红色); 基数 | |
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62 tramples | |
踩( trample的第三人称单数 ); 践踏; 无视; 侵犯 | |
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63 rustling | |
n. 瑟瑟声,沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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64 salute | |
vi.行礼,致意,问候,放礼炮;vt.向…致意,迎接,赞扬;n.招呼,敬礼,礼炮 | |
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65 citadels | |
n.城堡,堡垒( citadel的名词复数 ) | |
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66 falters | |
(嗓音)颤抖( falter的第三人称单数 ); 支吾其词; 蹒跚; 摇晃 | |
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67 conqueror | |
n.征服者,胜利者 | |
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68 solitary | |
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
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69 despoiled | |
v.掠夺,抢劫( despoil的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70 prostrate | |
v.拜倒,平卧,衰竭;adj.拜倒的,平卧的,衰竭的 | |
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71 proscribed | |
v.正式宣布(某事物)有危险或被禁止( proscribe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72 cannons | |
n.加农炮,大炮,火炮( cannon的名词复数 ) | |
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73 vagrant | |
n.流浪者,游民;adj.流浪的,漂泊不定的 | |
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74 invincible | |
adj.不可征服的,难以制服的 | |
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75 immortal | |
adj.不朽的;永生的,不死的;神的 | |
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76 duel | |
n./v.决斗;(双方的)斗争 | |
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77 providence | |
n.深谋远虑,天道,天意;远见;节约;上帝 | |
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78 sling | |
vt.扔;悬挂;n.挂带;吊索,吊兜;弹弓 | |
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79 resolutely | |
adj.坚决地,果断地 | |
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80 desperately | |
adv.极度渴望地,绝望地,孤注一掷地 | |
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