'Listen to me,' continued he; 'about a league from hence, at the
foot of a mountain, there is a village called Boulternére. This is
a corruption of the Latin word TVRBVLNERA. Nothing is more
common than these inversions. Boulternére, Sir, was a Roman city. I
have always had my suspicions of this, but never had the proof. Now,
Sir, there is the proof. This Venus was the local divinity of the city
of Boulternére. And this word Boulternére, which I am going to show
is of ancient origin, proves a still more curious fact, which is that
Boulternére, before it was a Roman city, was a Phenician town!'
He stopped a moment to take breath, and enjoy my surprise. I could
scarcely repress a strong inclination to laugh.
'In fact,' continued he, 'TVRBVLNERA is pure Phenician.
TVR, pronounce TOUR; TOUR and SOUR,
the same word, is it not? SOUR is the Phenician name of
Tyre; I need not recall to you its meaning. BVL, this is
Baal, Bal, Bel, Bul, with slight differences of pronunciation. As to
NERA, this has given me some little trouble. I am strongly
inclined to believe, in default of finding a Phenician word, that this
comes from the Greek _nerós_, humid, marshy. This, it is true, would
make it a hybrid word. To justify _nerós_, however, I will show you
at Boulternére how the streams from the mountain form stagnant pools
there. On the other hand, the termination NERA might have
been added at a much later date, in honor of Nera Pivesuvia, the wife
of Tetricus, who probably had conferred some benefit upon the city of
Turbul. But, in consequence of the marshes, I prefer the etymology of
_nerós_.'
My worthy friend here took a pinch of snuff, with an air of great
satisfaction.
'But let us leave the Phenicians, and return to our inscription. I
translate it then: 'To Venus of Boulternére, Myron, by her command,
dedicates this statue, his work.'
I took good care not to criticise my learned friend's etymology, but
wishing to give in my turn a proof of penetration: 'Hold there, Sir!'
said I; 'allowing that Myron has dedicated something, it does not
follow that it is this statue.'
'How!' cried he, 'was not Myron a famous Greek? Talent would be
perpetuated in his family; and it was one of his descendants who made
this statue. Nothing can be more certain.'
'But,' replied I, 'I see upon the arm a small hole; this, I think, has
served to support something; a bracelet, for instance, which this Myron
has given to Venus as an expiatory offering. Myron was some unfortunate
lover with whom Venus was angry, and he endeavored to appease her by
the offering of a golden bracelet. You must remember that _fecit_,
made, is often used for _consecravit_, dedicated. They are, indeed,
synonymous words; and I could give you more than one example, had I
Gruter, or rather Orelius at hand. Nothing is more natural than that a
lover should see Venus in a dream, and imagine that she commanded him
to give a golden bracelet to her statue. Myron dedicated a bracelet to
her. Afterward the barbarians, or perhaps some sacrilegious robber'----
'Ah! ha! one may easily see that you have written romances;' cried my
host, giving me his hand to assist me in descending. 'No, no; Sir, it
is a production of the school of Myron. Only look at the workmanship,
and you must be convinced of it.'
As I make it a rule never to contradict an obstinate antiquary, I
bowed with an air of conviction, and merely observed: 'It is indeed an
admirable piece of work.'
'Ah! mon Dieu!' cried Monsieur Peyrade, 'here is another piece of
Vandalism! Somebody has thrown a stone at my statue!'
He had just perceived a white mark a little below the bosom of the
Venus. I had noticed a similar appearance upon the fingers of the right
hand, which I supposed had been grazed by the stone thrown at her the
preceding evening, or more probably a fragment had been detached by the
concussion, and had glanced off from the hand. I related to my host the
insult of which I had been the witness, and the prompt punishment which
followed. He laughed heartily, and comparing the apprentice to Diomede,
wished that, like the Greek hero, he might see all his companions
changed into white birds.
The breakfast bell here interrupted our classic conference; and, as on
the previous evening, I was again compelled to eat the share of four.
Then came the farmers of Monsieur Peyrade; and while he gave them
audience, his son took me to see a new carriage which he had lately
bought at Toulouse for his intended bride. I admired it in silence, and
then accompanied him to the stables, where he kept me half an hour,
boasting of his horses, relating their pedigree, and telling me how
many prizes they had won at the neighboring races. At length, by a
transition from a gray palfrey which he intended for her use, he was
led to speak of his future wife.
'We shall see her to-day,' said he. 'I don't know whether you will
think her pretty or not. You Parisians are hard to please; but every
body here and at Perpignan think her beautiful. But the best of it is,
she is deuced rich. Her old aunt at Prades, who died the other day,
left her all her money; and no trifle either. Don't you think I am a
lucky dog?'
I was grieved to see the young man so much more affected by the dower
than by the amiable qualities of his future wife.
'Are you a judge of jewels?' continued Monsieur Alphonse, holding up
his brawny hand; 'how do you like this? Here is the ring I am going to
give her to-morrow.'
So saying, he drew from the first joint of his little finger a large
ring set with diamonds, in the form of two hands clasped together;
a pretty allusion, which seemed quite poetical. The workmanship was
very ancient, but appeared to have been lately retouched, to let in
the diamonds. On the inner side of the ring were these words in Gothic
characters: '_Sempr' al te_,' that is, 'Always with thee.'
'It is a very beautiful ring,' said I; 'but these diamonds which have
been added seem to have destroyed its character a little.'
'Oh! it is much handsomer as it is,' replied he, smiling. 'There is
twelve hundred francs' worth of diamonds there. My mother gave it to
me. It was a family ring; very ancient, of the time of chivalry. She
got it from my grandmother, who had it from her's. The Lord knows when
it was made.'
'It is the custom in Paris, on these occasions,' said I, 'to give a
ring that is entirely plain, usually composed of two different metals,
such as gold and platinum. Look, the other ring, which you have on this
finger, would be more appropriate. This one with the diamonds, and the
hands in relief, is so large that a glove cannot be worn over it.'
'Oh! Madame Alphonse must manage that as she pleases. I think she will
be very well content to have it as it is. Twelve hundred francs on
one's finger is not so bad. This little ring here,' added he, regarding
the plain ring on his left hand with an air of complacency, 'was given
me by a lady at Paris one Shrove-Tuesday. Ah!' added he, with a sigh of
regret, 'what fine times I had in Paris two years ago! That's the place
for sport.'
As we were to dine this day at Puygarey, with the relatives of the
future bride, we proceeded in a carriage to the chateau, which was
about a league and a half distant from Ille. I was introduced and
welcomed as a friend of the family. I shall not speak of the dinner,
nor of the conversation which ensued, in which I took but little part.
Mademoiselle de Puygarey was about eighteen years of age; and her
slender and delicate figure formed a strong contrast with the coarse
and robust frame of her affianced. She was not merely beautiful, but
winning and attractive. I admired the perfect simplicity of all her
movements, and the ingenuousness of her replies; and the general
expression of her countenance, which was not exempt from a slight tinge
of malice, reminded me, in spite of myself, of the Venus of my host.
In the inward comparison I made between them, I asked myself whether
the superiority of beauty, which must clearly be conceded to the
statue, did not in some degree depend upon her fierce and tiger-like
expression; for energy, even in bad passions, always excites, mingled
with astonishment, a sort of involuntary admiration.
'What a pity,' said I to myself on leaving Puygarey, 'that the wealth
of so lovely a person should have rendered her the object of attraction
to a man totally unworthy of her!'
On our return to Ille, not exactly knowing what to say to Madame
Peyrade, to whom I thought it but civil occasionally to address a word:
'You are sensible people at Roussillon,' said I; 'how happens it that
you are going to have a wedding on a Friday? At Paris we should be more
superstitious; nobody would dare to marry on that day.'
'Oh! good Lord! don't speak of it,' said she; 'if it had depended upon
me, you may be sure I should have chosen another day. But Peyrade would
have it so; and we had to give up to him. It troubles me, however, a
good deal. Suppose some misfortune should happen? There must be some
truth in the superstition, since every body has a dread of Friday.'
'Friday!' exclaimed her husband, in a gay tone; 'it is the day of
Venus! An excellent day for a wedding! You see, my dear colleague, I
can think of nothing but my Venus. To tell the truth, it is on her
account that I have pitched upon Friday. To-morrow, if you please,
before the ceremony, we will make a little sacrifice to her; two
ring-doves as an offering, and if I knew where to get a little
incense'----
'Fie upon you, Peyrade!' interrupted his wife, highly scandalized
at this proposition. 'Offer incense to an idol! It would be an
abomination! Why, what will all the country say of it?'
'At least,' said Monsieur Peyrade, 'you will permit me to place upon
her head a crown of roses and lilies:
'Manibus date lilia plenis.'
You see, Sir,' added he, turning to me, 'the charter is but an empty
name. We have not the freedom of worship!'
The arrangements for the next day were made as follows: Every one was
to be ready, in full dress, at ten o'clock precisely. After taking
chocolate, we were to go in carriages to Puygarey, where the civil
marriage was to be performed before the mayor of the village, and the
religious ceremony in the chapel of the chateau. Then there was to be
a breakfast; after which each one was to pass the time as he pleased
until seven o'clock, when the two families were to return to Ille to
sup together at the house of Monsieur Peyrade. The rest would follow as
a matter of course. Not being able to have a dance, it was determined
there should be as much eating and drinking as possible.
Since eight o'clock I had been sitting before the Venus, with
crayon in hand, recommencing for the twentieth time the head of the
statue, without being able to catch the expression. Monsieur Peyrade
was bustling about, giving me advice, and repeating his Phenician
etymologies; he then placed a garland of Bengal roses upon the pedestal
of the statue, and in a tragi-comic tone addressed prayers to it for
the young couple who were about to take up their abode under his roof.
About nine o'clock, he reëntered the house to make his toilet, and
immediately afterward Monsieur Alphonse made his appearance, squeezed
into a new coat of the latest pattern, with white gloves, well polished
shoes, embossed buttons, and a rose at his button-hole.
'You must take the likeness of my wife!' said he, leaning over my
drawing; 'she is very pretty.'
At this moment a game of tennis commenced upon the playground, of which
I have already spoken, which immediately attracted the attention of
Monsieur Alphonse. As for myself, wearied with my task, and despairing
of catching the diabolical expression of the countenance, I presently
gave up my drawing to look at the players. There were among them some
Spanish muleteers, who had arrived at Ille the evening before. They
were from Arragon and Navarre, and most of them of great skill and
dexterity; so that the Illians, although encouraged by the presence and
counsel of Monsieur Alphonse, were soon beaten by these new champions.
The national spectators were in consternation. Monsieur Alphonse
looked at his watch; it was but half past nine; his mother had not
yet completed her toilet; he hesitated no longer; threw off his coat,
called for a jacket, and challenged the Spaniards.
Not a little surprised, I looked at him with a smile.
'We must sustain the honor of the country,' said he. I now noticed
that he was in reality a handsome man. He was excited; and his dress,
which occupied so much of his attention at other times, was nothing to
him now. A few moments before he would scarcely have turned his head
for fear of discomposing his cravat; now he thought no longer of his
curled locks, or of his ruffles so neatly plaited. And his bride! in
sooth, had it been necessary, I believe he would have postponed the
marriage, sooner than have declined the game. I saw him put on in haste
a pair of slippers, turn up his sleeves, and with an air of confidence
place himself at the head of the conquered party, like Cæsar rallying
his soldiers at Dyrrachium. I leaped the hedge, and seated myself
comfortably in the shade of a linden tree, that I might see the game to
advantage.
Contrary to general expectation, Alphonse missed the first ball. It is
true it came glancing along the ground, propelled with surprising force
by an Arragonian who seemed to be the leader of the Spaniards. He was
a man of about forty years of age, dry and sinewy, six feet in height,
and his olive skin had a tint almost as deep as the bronze of the Venus.
Monsieur Alphonse cast his racket upon the ground in a great passion.
'It was this cursed ring,' cried he, 'which cramped my finger, and made
me lose a sure ball!'
He took off, though not without some difficulty, his diamond ring. I
approached to receive it, but he prevented me, ran to the Venus, passed
the ring over the third finger, and resumed his place at the head of
the Illians.
He was pale, but calm and resolute. After this, he made not a single
mistake, and the Spaniards were completely beaten. It was a fine thing
to see the enthusiasm of the spectators. Some uttered shouts of joy,
casting their caps into the air. Others shook hands with the conqueror,
calling him the pride of the country. Had he repelled a hostile
invasion, I do not think he could have received more hearty or sincere
congratulations. The chagrin of the conquered party added still more to
the eclat of the victory.
'We will have some more games together, my fine fellow,' said he to the
Arragonian, with an air of superiority; 'but I must give you odds.'
I could have wished that Alphonse had been a little more modest; and I
felt almost pained at the humiliation of his rival.
The Spanish giant seemed to feel this insult deeply. I saw him turn
pale beneath his swarthy skin. He looked mournfully at his racket,
grinding his teeth, and then in a stifled voice, said: '_Me lo
pagaràs._'
The voice of Monsieur Peyrade disturbed the triumph of his son;
mine host, who had been very much surprised at not finding him
superintending the getting-up of the new carriage, was now still more
so at seeing him all in a perspiration, with a racket in his hand.
Monsieur Alphonse, however, in haste ran to the house, washed his face
and hands, put on his new coat, and his polished shoes, and in ten
minutes we were in full trot, on the road to Puygarey. All the Illian
tennis-players and a great many of the spectators followed us with
cries of joy; and scarcely could the vigorous horses which drew us keep
ahead of these intrepid Catalonians.
We arrived at Puygarey, and the marriage train were on the point of
proceeding to the town-hall, when Monsieur Alphonse, striking his
forehead, said to me in a low voice:
'What a blunder! I have forgotten my ring! It is on the finger of the
Venus; devil take her! However, say nothing to my mother; perhaps she
will not notice it.'
'Could you not send some one back for it?' said I.
'Bah! my servant remained at Ille; and I cannot trust these fellows.
Twelve hundred francs' worth of diamonds; 't would be too great a
temptation. And beside, what would they think of my forgetfulness? They
would run their jokes upon me, and call me the husband of the statue.
If it is not stolen----Luckily, however, these rascals are afraid of
the statue, and dare not come within arm's length of her. Bah! 't is no
matter; this other ring will do.'
The two ceremonies, religious and civil, were performed with suitable
pomp; and Mademoiselle de Puygarey received the ring of a Parisian
milliner, without suspecting that the bridegroom had made for her the
sacrifice of a pledge of love. The party then seated themselves at
table, where they ate, drank, and even sang by turns. I pitied the
bride, for the coarse and vulgar jests to which she was exposed. She,
however, made the best of her situation, and her embarrassment was
neither that of awkwardness nor affectation. Possibly courage comes
with difficult situations.
At length breakfast terminated, and it was now nearly four o'clock:
the men walked out into the park, which was a magnificent one, where
they amused themselves with looking at the peasant girls of Puygarey
in holyday attire, dancing on the greensward of the chateau. In this
manner we whiled away some hours. In the mean time the women crowded
around the bride to admire her wedding presents. Afterward, she changed
her apparel, and I noticed that she covered her beautiful tresses with
a cap, and hat, and feathers, for married women usually lose no time in
assuming the dress which custom forbids them to wear as maidens.
It was nearly eight o'clock when all were in readiness to set off on
our return to Ille. And then a pathetic scene took place. The aunt
of Mademoiselle de Puygarey, who had supplied to her the place of a
mother, a very aged and pious lady, was not able to accompany us to the
city. At the leave-taking, she made to her niece a long and touching
speech on the duties of a wife, which produced a torrent of tears, and
kisses, and embracings without end. Monsieur Peyrade compared this
separation to the rape of the Sabines. We at length got away, and
during the journey, every one attempted to divert the bride, and make
her smile, but in vain.
At Ille, supper was waiting for us, and such a supper! If the coarse
jollification of the morning had shocked me, still more so now, did
the vulgar jests and rude jokes of which the bride and groom were
especially the subjects. The bridegroom, who had disappeared for a few
moments before seating himself at table, looked pale and haggard. He
drank freely every few moments, of the old wine of Collioure, which
was almost as strong as brandy. As I was seated by his side, I thought
proper to caution him.
'Be careful!' said I; 'they say that wine'----I hardly know what
foolish speech, in accordance with the tone of the company, I was about
making, when he touched my knee, and in an under tone, whispered:
'When they get up from table, let me speak two words with you.'
His solemn manner surprised me. I looked at him more attentively, and
remarked a strange alteration in his countenance.
'Do you feel indisposed?' inquired I.
'No!' and he began again to drink.
Presently, amidst shouts and clapping of hands, a child of about
eleven years of age, who had slipped under the table, held up before
the company a pretty riband of white and red, which he had just
detached from the dress of the bride. They called it her garter. It
was immediately cut in pieces, and distributed among the young men,
who ornamented their button-holes with it, after an old custom which
is still observed in some patriarchal families. This made the bride
blush to her eyes. But her confusion was at its height, when Monsieur
Peyrade, having proclaimed silence, sang to her some Catalonian verses,
which, as he said, were impromptu. Their meaning, as nearly as I could
comprehend them, were as follows:
'What is the meaning of this, my friends?
Does the wine cause me to see double?
There are two Venus's here'----
At this, the bridegroom suddenly turned his head with an air of
affright, which set all the guests a laughing. 'Yes, my friends,'
continued Monsieur Peyrade:
'There are two Venus's beneath my roof.
The one I found in the earth like a truffle;
The other, heaven-descended, comes to share with us her girdle.'