Le Juif errant. English

by Eugène Sue

  CHAPTER II. THE REDEMPTION.

  Day was about to dawn. A rosy light, almost imperceptible, began toglimmer in the east; but the stars still shone, sparkling with radiance,upon the azure of the zenith. The birds awoke beneath the fresh foliageof the great woods; and, with isolated warblings, sang the prelude oftheir morning-concert. A light mist rose from the high grass, bathed innocturnal dew, while the calm and limpid waters of a vast lake reflectedthe whitening dawn in their deep, blue mirror. Everything promised oneof those warm and joyous days, that belong to the opening of summer.

  Half-way up the slope of a hill, facing the east, a tuft of old, mossgrown willows, whose rugged bark disappeared beneath the climbingbranches of wild honeysuckle and harebells, formed a natural harbor;and on their gnarled and enormous roots, covered with thick moss, wereseated a man and a woman, whose white hair, deep wrinkles, and bendingfigures, announced extreme old age. And yet this woman had only latelybeen young and beautiful, with long black hair overshadowing her paleforehead. And yet this man had, a short time ago, been still in thevigor of his age. From the spot where this man and woman were reposing,could be seen the valley, the lake, the woods, and, soaring above thewoods, the blue summit of a high mountain, from behind which the sun wasabout to rise. This picture, half veiled by the pale transparency of themorning twilight, was pleasing, melancholy, and solemn.

  "Oh, my sister!" said the old man to the woman, who was reposing withhim beneath the rustic arbor formed by the tuft of willow-trees; "oh,my sister! how many times during the centuries in which the hand of theLord carried us onward, and, separated from each other, we traversed theworld from pole to pole--how many times we have witnessed this awakeningof nature with a sentiment of incurable grief!--Alas! it was but anotherday of wandering--another useless day added to our life, since itbrought death no nearer!"

  "But now what happiness, oh, my brother! since the Lord has had mercy onus, and, with us, as with all other creatures, every returning day is astep nearer to the grave. Glory to Him! yes, glory!"

  "Glory to Him, my sister! for since yesterday, when we again met, I feelthat indescribable languor which announces the approach of death."

  "Like you, my brother, I feel my strength, already shaken, passing awayin a sweet exhaustion. Doubtless, the term of our life approaches. Thewrath of the Lord is satisfied."

  "Alas, my sister! doubtless also, the last of my doomed race, will, atthe same time, complete our redemption by his death; for the will ofheaven is manifest, that I can only be pardoned, when the last ofmy family shall have disappeared from the face of the earth. To him,holiest amongst the holiest--was reserved the favor of accomplishingthis end he who has done so much for the salvation of his brethren!"

  "Oh, yes, my brother! he who has suffered so much, and withoutcomplaining, drunk to the dregs the bitter cup of woe--he, the ministerof the Lord, who has been his Master's image upon earth--he was fittedfor the last instrument of this redemption!"

  "Yes, for I feel, my sister, that, at this hour, the last of my race,touching victim of slow persecution, is on the point of resigning hisangelic soul to God. Thus, even to the end, have I been fatal tomy doomed family. Lord, if Thy mercy is great, Thy anger is greatlikewise!"

  "Courage and hope, my brother! Think how after the expiration comethpardon, and pardon is followed by a blessing. The Lord punished, inyou and your posterity, the artisan rendered wicked by misfortune andinjustice. He said to you: 'Go on! without truce or rest--and your laborshall be vain--and every evening, throwing yourself on the hard ground,you shall be no nearer to the end of your eternal course!'--And so, forcenturies, men without pity have said to the artisan: 'Work! work! work!without truce or rest--and your labor shall be fruitful for all others,but fruitless for yourself--and every evening, throwing yourself on thehard ground, you shall be no nearer to happiness and repose; and yourwages shall only suffice to keep you alive in pain, privation, andpoverty!'"

  "Alas! alas! will it be always thus?"

  "No, no, my brother! and instead of weeping over your lost race, rejoicefor them--since their death was needed for your redemption, and inredeeming you, heaven will redeem the artisan, cursed and feared bythose--who have laid on him the iron yoke. Yes, my brother! the timedraweth nigh--heaven's mercy will not stop with us alone. Yes, I tellyou; in us will be rescued both the WOMAN and the SLAVE of thesemodern ages. The trial has been hard, brother; it has lasted throughouteighteen centuries; but it will last no longer. Look, my brother!see that rosy light, there in the east, gradually spreading over thefirmament! Thus will rise the sun of the new emancipation--peaceful,holy, great, salutary, fruitful, filling the world with light andvivifying heat, like the day-star that will soon appear in heaven!"

  "Yes, yes, my sister! I feel it. Your words are prophetic. Weshall close our heavy eyes just as we see the aurora of the day ofdeliverance--a fair, a splendid day, like that which is about to dawn.Henceforth I will only shed tears of pride and glory for those of myrace, who have died the martyrs of humanity, sacrificed by humanity'seternal enemies--for the true ancestors of the sacrilegious wretches,who blaspheme the name of Jesus by giving it to their Company, were thefalse Scribes and Pharisees, whom the Saviour cursed!--Yes! glory to thedescendants of my family, who have been the last martyrs offered up bythe accomplices of all slavery and all despotism, the pitiless enemiesof those who wish to think, and not to suffer in silence--of those thatwould feign enjoy, as children of heaven, the gifts which the Creatorhas bestowed upon all the human family. Yes, the day approaches--the endof the reign of our modern Pharisees--the false priests, who lend theirsacrilegious aid to the merciless selfishness of the strong against theweak, by daring to maintain in the face of the exhaustless treasuresof the creation, that God has made man for tears, and sorrow, andsuffering--the false priests, who are the agents of all oppression, andwould bow to the earth, in brutish and hopeless humiliation, the brow ofevery creature. No, no! let man lift his head proudly! God made him tobe noble and intelligent free and happy."

  "Oh, my brother! your words also are prophetic. Yes, yes! the dawn ofthat bright day approaches, even as the dawn of the natural day which,by the mercy of God, will be our last on earth."

  "The last, my sister; for a strange weakness creeps over me, all matterseems dissolving in me, and my soul aspires to mount to heaven."

  "Mine eyes are growing dim, brother; I can scarcely see that light inthe east, which lately appeared so red."

  "Sister! it is through a confused vapor that I now see the valley--thelake--the woods. My strength fails me."

  "Blessed be God, brother! the moment of eternal rest is at hand."

  "Yes, it comes, my sister! the sweetness of the everlasting sleep takespossession of my senses."

  "Oh, happiness! I am dying--"

  "These eyes are closing, sister!"

  "We are then forgiven!"

  "Forgiven!"

  "Oh, my brother! may this Divine redemption extend to all those whosuffer upon the earth!"

  "Die in peace, my sister! The great day has dawned--the sun isrising--behold!"

  "Blessed be God!"

  "Blessed be God!"

  And at the moment when those two voices ceased forever, the sun roseradiant and dazzling, and deluged the valley with its beams.

  To M. C--P--.

  To you, my friend, I dedicated this book. To inscribe it with your name,was to assume an engagement that, in the absence of talent, it shouldbe at least conscientious, sincere, and of a salutary influence, howeverlimited. My object is attained. Some select hearts, like yours, myfriend, have put into practice the legitimate association of labor,capital, and intelligence, and have already granted to their workmen aproportionate share in the profits of their industry. Others havelaid the foundations of Common Dwelling-houses, and one of the chiefcapitalists of Hamburg has favored me with his views respecting anestablishment of this kind, on the most gigantic scale.

  As for the dispersion of the members of the Company of Jesus, I havetaken
less part in it than other enemies of the detestable doctrines ofLoyola, whose influence and authority were far greater than mine.

  Adieu, my friend. I could have wished this work more worthy of you; butyou are indulgent, and will at least give me credit for the intentionswhich dictated it.

  Believe me, Yours truly,

  EUGENE SUE.

  Paris, 25th August, 1845. Paris, 25th August, 1845.