OnSunday，the26thofNovember，1631，therewasgreatexcitementinthelittletownofLoudun，especiallyinthenarrowstreetswhichledtothechurchofSaint-Pierreinthemarketplace，fromthegateofwhichthetownwasenteredbyanyonecomingfromthedirectionoftheabbeyofSaint-Jouin-les-Marmes。Thisexcitementwascausedbytheexpectedarrivalofapersonagewhohadbeenmuchinpeople'smouthslatterlyinLoudun，andaboutwhomtherewassuchdifferenceofopinionthatdiscussiononthesubjectbetweenthosewhowereonhissideandthosewhowereagainsthimwascarriedonwithtrueprovincialacrimony。Itwaseasytosee，bythevariedexpressionsonthefacesofthosewhoturnedthedoorstepsintoimproviseddebatingclubs，howvariedwerethefeelingswithwhichthemanwouldbewelcomedwhohadhimselfformallyannouncedtofriendsandenemiesaliketheexactdateofhisreturn。
　　Aboutnineo'clockakindofsympatheticvibrationranthroughthecrowd，andwiththerapidityofaflashoflightningthewords，"Thereheis!thereheis!"passedfromgrouptogroup。Atthiscrysomewithdrewintotheirhousesandshuttheirdoorsanddarkenedtheirwindows，asifitwereadayofpublicmourning，whileothersopenedthemwide，asiftoletjoyenter。Inafewmomentstheuproarandconfusionevokedbythenewswassucceededbythedeepsilenceofbreathlesscuriosity。
　　Then，throughthesilence，afigureadvanced，carryingabranchoflaurelinonehandasatokenoftriumph。
　　Itwasthatofayoungmanoffromthirty-twotothirty-fouryearsofage，withagracefulandwell-knitframe，anaristocraticairandfaultlesslybeautifulfeaturesofasomewhathaughtyexpression。Althoughhehadwalkedthreeleaguestoreachthetown，theecclesiasticalgarbwhichheworewasnotonlyelegantbutofdaintyfreshness。Hiseyesturnedtoheaven，andsinginginasweetvoicepraisetotheLord，hepassedthroughthestreetsleadingtothechurchinthemarket-placewithaslowandsolemngait，withoutvouchsafingalook，aword，oragesturetoanyone。Theentirecrowd，fallingintostep，marchedbehindhimasheadvanced，singinglikehim，thesingersbeingtheprettiestgirlsinLoudun，forwehaveforgottentosaythatthecrowdconsistedalmostentirelyofwomen。
　　MeanwhiletheobjectofallthiscommotionarrivedatlengthattheporchofthechurchofSaint-Pierre。Ascendingthesteps，hekneltatthetopandprayedinalowvoice，thenrisinghetouchedthechurchdoorswithhislaurelbranch，andtheyopenedwideasifbymagic，revealingthechoirdecoratedandilluminatedasifforoneofthefourgreatfeastsoftheyear，andwithallitsscholars，choirboys，singers，beadles，andvergersintheirplaces。Glancingaround，heforwhomtheywerewaitingcameupthenave，passedthroughthechoir，kneltforasecondtimeatthefootofthealtar，uponwhichhelaidthebranchoflaurel，thenputtingonarobeaswhiteassnowandpassingthestolearoundhisneck，hebeganthecelebrationofthemassbeforeacongregationcomposedofallthosewhohadfollowedhim。
　　AttheendofthemassaTeDeumwassung。
　　HewhohadjustrenderedthankstoGodforhisownvictorywithallthesolemnceremonialusuallyreservedforthetriumphsofkingswasthepriestUrbainGrandier。Twodaysbefore，hehadbeenacquitted，invirtueofadecisionpronouncedbyM。d'EscoubleaudeSourdis，ArchbishopofBordeaux，ofanaccusationbroughtagainsthimofwhichhehadbeendeclaredguiltybyamagistrate，andinpunishmentofwhichhehadbeencondemnedtofastonbreadandwatereveryFridayforthreemonths，andforbiddentoexercisehispriestlyfunctionsinthedioceseofPoitiersforfiveyearsandinthetownofLoudunforever。
　　Thesearethecircumstancesunderwhichthesentencehadbeenpassedandthejudgmentreversed。
　　UrbainGrandierwasbornatRovere，avillagenearSable，alittletownofBas-Maine。HavingstudiedthescienceswithhisfatherPierreandhisuncleClaudeGrandier，whowerelearnedastrologersandalchemists，heentered，attheageoftwelve，theJesuitcollegeatBordeaux，havingalreadyreceivedtheordinaryeducationofayoungman。Theprofessorssoonfoundthatbesideshisconsiderableattainmentshehadgreatnaturalgiftsforlanguagesandoratory；
　　theythereforemadeofhimathoroughclassicalscholar，andinordertodevelophisoratoricaltalentencouragedhimtopractisepreaching。Theysoongrewveryfondofapupilwhowaslikelytobringthemsomuchcredit，andassoonashewasoldenoughtotakeholyorderstheygavehimthecureofsoulsintheparishofSaint-
　　PierreinLoudun，whichwasinthegiftofthecollege。Whenhehadbeensomemonthsinstalledthereasapriest-in-charge，hereceivedaprebendalstall，thankstothesamepatrons，inthecollegiatechurchofSainte-Croix。
　　Itiseasytounderstandthatthebestowalofthesetwopositionsonsoyoungaman，whodidnotevenbelongtotheprovince，madehimseeminsomesortausurperofrightsandprivilegesbelongingtothepeopleofthecountry，anddrewuponhimtheenvyofhisbrother-
　　ecclesiastics。Therewere，infact，manyotherreasonswhyUrbainshouldbeanobjectofjealousytothese:first，aswehavealreadysaid，hewasveryhandsome，thentheinstructionwhichhehadreceivedfromhisfatherhadopenedtheworldofsciencetohimandgivenhimthekeytoathousandthingswhichweremysteriestotheignorant，butwhichhefathomedwiththegreatestease。Furthermore，thecomprehensivecourseofstudywhichhehadfollowedattheJesuitcollegehadraisedhimaboveacrowdofprejudices，whicharesacredtothevulgar，butforwhichhemadenosecretofhiscontempt；andlastly，theeloquenceofhissermonshaddrawntohischurchthegreaterpartoftheregularcongregationsoftheotherreligiouscommunities，especiallyofthemendicantorders，whohadtillthen，inwhatconcernedpreaching，borneawaythepalmatLoudun。Aswehavesaid，allthiswasmorethanenoughtoexcite，firstjealousy，andthenhatred。Andbothwereexcitedinnoordinarydegree。
　　Weallknowhoweasilytheill-naturedgossipofasmalltowncanrousetheangrycontemptofthemassesforeverythingwhichisbeyondorabovethem。InawidersphereUrbainwouldhaveshonebyhismanygifts，but，coopedupashewaswithinthewallsofalittletownanddeprivedofairandspace，allthatmighthaveconducedtohissuccessinParisledtohisdestructionatLoudun。
　　ItwasalsounfortunateforUrbainthathischaracter，farfromwinningpardonforhisgenius，augmentedthehatredwhichthelatterinspired。Urbain，whoinhisintercoursewithhisfriendswascordialandagreeable，wassarcastic，cold，andhaughtytohisenemies。Whenhehadonceresolvedonacourse，hepursueditunflinchingly；hejealouslyexactedallthehonourduetotherankatwhichhehadarrived，defendingitasthoughitwereaconquest；healsoinsistedonenforcingallhislegalrights，andheresentedtheoppositionandangrywordsofcasualopponentswithaharshnesswhichmadethemhislifelongenemies。
　　ThefirstexamplewhichUrbaingaveofthisinflexibilitywasin1620，whenhegainedalawsuitagainstapriestnamedMeunier。HecausedthesentencetobecarriedoutwithsuchrigourthatheawokeaninextinguishablehatredinMeunier'smind，whicheverafterburstforthontheslightestprovocation。
　　Asecondlawsuit，whichhelikewisegained；wasonewhichheundertookagainstthechapterofSainte-Croixwithregardtoahouse，hisclaimtowhichthechapter，disputed。Hereagainhedisplayedthesamedeterminationtoexacthisstrictlegalrightstothelastiota，andunfortunatelyMignon，theattorneyoftheunsuccessfulchapter，wasarevengeful，vindictive，andambitiousman；toocommonplaceevertoarriveatahighposition，andyettoomuchabovehissurroundingstobecontentwiththesecondarypositionwhichheoccupied。Thisman，whowasacanonofthecollegiatechurchofSainte-CroixanddirectoroftheUrsulineconvent，willhaveanimportantparttoplayinthefollowingnarrative。
　　BeingashypocriticalasUrbainwasstraightforward，hisambitionwastogainwhereverhisnamewasknownareputationforexaltedpiety；hethereforeaffectedinhislifetheasceticismofananchoriteandtheself-denialofasaint。Ashehadmuchexperienceinecclesiasticallawsuits，helookedonthechapter'slossofthisone，ofwhichhehadinsomesortguaranteedthesuccess，asapersonalhumiliation，sothatwhenUrbaingavehimselfairsoftriumphandexactedthelastletterofhisbond，asinthecaseofMeunier，heturnedMignonintoanenemywhowasnotonlymorerelentlessbutmoredangerousthantheformer。
　　Inthemeantime，andinconsequenceofthislawsuit，acertainBarot，anuncleofMignonandhispartneraswell，gotupadisputewithUrbain，butashewasamanbelowmediocrity，Urbainrequiredinordertocrushhimonlytoletfallfromtheheightofhissuperiorityafewofthosedisdainfulwordswhichbrandasdeeplyasared-hotiron。Thisman，thoughtotallywantinginparts，wasveryrich，andhavingnochildrenwasalwayssurroundedbyahordeofrelatives，everyoneofwhomwasabsorbedintheattempttomakehimselfsoagreeablethathisnamewouldappearinBarot'swill。
　　Thisbeingso，themockingwordswhichwereraineddownonBarotspatterednotonlyhimselfbutalsoallthosewhohadsidedwithhiminthequarrel，andthusaddedconsiderablytothetaleofUrbain'senemies。
　　Aboutthisepochastillgravereventtookplace。Amongstthemostassiduousfrequentersoftheconfessionalinhischurchwasayoungandprettygirl，Juliebyname，thedaughteroftheking'sattorney，Trinquant——Trinquantbeing，aswellasBarot，anuncleofMignon。
　　Nowithappenedthatthisyounggirlfellintosuchastateofdebilitythatshewasobligedtokeepherroom。Oneofherfriends，namedMarthePelletier，givingupsociety，ofwhichshewasveryfond，undertooktonursethepatient，andcarriedherdevotionsofarastoshutherselfupinthesameroomwithher。WhenJulieTrinquanthadrecoveredandwasableagaintotakeherplaceintheworld，itcameoutthatMarthePelletier，duringherweeksofretirement，hadgivenbirthtoachild，whichhadbeenbaptizedandthenputouttonurse。Now，byoneofthoseoddwhimswhichsooftentakepossessionofthepublicmind，everyoneinLoudunpersistedinassertingthattherealmotheroftheinfantwasnotshewhohadacknowledgedherselfassuch——that，inshort，MarthePelletierhadsoldhergoodnametoherfriendJulieforasumofmoney；andofcourseitfollowedasamatteraboutwhichtherecouldbenopossibledoubt，thatUrbainwasthefather。
　　Trinquanthearingofthereportsabouthisdaughter，tookuponhimselfasking'sattorneytohaveMarthePelletierarrestedandimprisoned。Beingquestionedaboutthechild，sheinsistedthatshewasitsmother，andwouldtakeitsmaintenanceuponherself。Tohavebroughtachildintotheworldundersuchcircumstanceswasasin，butnotacrime；TrinquantwasthereforeobligedtosetMartheatliberty，andtheabuseofjusticeofwhichhewasguiltyservedonlytospreadthescandalfartherandtostrengthenthepublicinthebeliefithadtakenup。
　　Hitherto，whetherthroughtheinterventionoftheheavenlypowers，orbymeansofhisowncleverness，UrbainGrandierhadcomeoutvictorineverystruggleinwhichhehadengaged，buteachvictorhadaddedtothenumberofhisenemies，andthesewerenowsonumerousthatanyotherthanhewouldhavebeenalarmed，andhavetriedeithertoconciliatethemortotakeprecautionsagainsttheirmalice；butUrbain，wrappedinhispride，andperhapsconsciousofhisinnocence，paidnoattentiontothecounselsofhismostfaithfulfollowers，butwentonhiswayunheeding。
　　AlltheopponentswhomtillnowUrbainhadencounteredhadbeenentirelyunconnectedwitheachother，andhadeachstruggledforhisownindividualends。Urbain'senemies，believingthatthecauseofhissuccesswastobefoundinthewantofcooperationamongthemselves，nowdeterminedtouniteinordertocrushhim。Inconsequence，aconferencewasheldatBarot's，atwhich，besidesBarothimself，Meunier，Trinquant，andMignontookpart，andthelatterhadalsobroughtwithhimoneMenuau，aking'scounselandhisownmostintimatefriend，whowas，however，influencedbyothermotivesthanfriendshipinjoiningtheconspiracy。Thefactwas，thatMenuauwasinlovewithawomanwhohadsteadfastlyrefusedtoshowhimanyfavour，andhehadgotfirmlyfixedinhisheadthatthereasonforherelseinexplicableindifferenceanddisdainwasthatUrbainhadbeenbeforehandwithhiminfindinganentrancetoherheart。TheobjectofthemeetingwastoagreeastothebestmeansofdrivingthecommonenemyoutofLoudonanditsneighbourhood。
　　Urbain'slifewassowellorderedthatitpresentedlittlewhichhisenemiescoulduseasahandlefortheirpurpose。Hisonlyfoibleseemedtobeapredilectionforfemalesociety；whileinreturnallthewivesanddaughtersoftheplace，withtheunerringinstinctoftheirsex，seeing，thatthenewpriestwasyoung，handsome，andeloquent，chosehim，wheneveritwaspossible，astheirspiritualdirector。Asthispreferencehadalreadyoffendedmanyhusbandsandfathers，thedecisiontheconspiratorsarrivedatwasthatonthissidealonewasGrandiervulnerable，andthattheironlychanceofsuccesswastoattackhimwherehewasweakest。Almostatonce，therefore，thevaguereportswhichhadbeenfloatingaboutbegantoattainacertaindefiniteness:therewereallusionsmade，thoughnonamewasmentioned，toayoungg...剩余内容请长按扫描二维码或下载丁香书院APP继续免费看：

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