Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 144 — page 3: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

devil 1” shouted he, with all enuke about his capital. e crowd clapped their hands, “The mystery !"’ they repeated, “and send jandérs to ull the devils !’’ Let us instantly bave the mystery,’’ resumed the cholar, “or I recommend that we suould hang the bailiff of the palace, by way of comedy and morality.” “Well said!" cried the people; “and let us begin with hanging the sergeants 7” Prodigious were the acclamations that followed. "The four poor devils turned pale, and began to look at each other. The crowd moved toward them, and they saw the frail wooden balustrade which separated them from the people already bending and giving way tu the pressure of the multitude. The moment was critical. ‘Down, down with them !" waa the cry, which resounded trom all sides. At this instant the tapestry of the dressing-room, which we have described above, was thrown open, and reer issued @ personage, the mere sight of whom suddenly appeased the crowd, and changed, as if by qmayic, its indignation into curiosity. ** Silence | silence !'’ was the universal cry. | The ein question, shaking with fearin every limb, ad to the edge of the marble table, with a protusion of bows, which, the nearer he approached, more and more resembled gennflections. Meanwhile, tranquillity was pretty well restored; nothing was to be heard but that slight noise which always rises even from a silent crowd. : ‘* Messieurs les bourgeois, and Mesdemoiselles les bour- geoises,”’ said he, “ we are to have the the honor of de- ¢<laiming and performing, before his Eminence Mousieur the Cardinal, @ very goodly morality, called The Y meg Judgment of Madame Virgo Mary. The part of Jupi- ter will be enacted by myself. His Eminence is at this Juoment attending the most honorable the embassy of Monsieur the Duke of Austria, which is detained till now to hear the speech of Monsieur the Rector of the | university, at the gate of Baudets. The 1: oment his Eminence the arrives, we shall begin. ' It is very certain that nothing but the interposition of Jupiter saved the necks of the four unlucky sergeants of the bailiff of the palace. Had we even the honor of inventing this most true history, and were we in con- sequence ble for it before the tribunal of criti- cism, it is not against us that the classic process of an- tiquity, intersit, could at this moment be ad- duced. For the rest, the ee ae | of his godship was very superb, and had contributed not a littlé to quiet the crowd by nanenning all their attention. He was attired in a brigandine of black velvet with gilt studs; on hia head he wots 8 helmet, adorned with silver gilt might, twisting like a) buttons; and, but for the rouge and the thick beard, wich fivtaed his face between them; but tor the roll of gilt yet all over with atri al tinsel, he d in his hand, and in which the ractised eye easily ized the thunder of Jove; ut for og -colo legs, and feet, sandaled after the py n; he might pare. sustained a compari- son for | port with » Breton archer of the corpa of de Berry. - OHAPTER II. PIERRE GRINGOIRE. Ware he was ~- Rewovets Chomatvatns satis- faction, nay, ion, exc y costume, was oy ite words; and when he arrived at that : conclusion, “The moment his Eminence ves, we shall n,”" his voice was | of the de. “The m ! the mystery ! Suse Gately r’’ ces was heard that of Joannes de Molendino, wh erced through the uproar like a fife in a band of rough music; «“evin immediately !% screeched the young scholar. @ with Jupiter and the Cardinal de bouton "” vociferated “Robin Poussepain and the other clerks roosted in the window. | “The morality immediately !’’ repeated the populace; ““thia ! or the sack and the cord for come- Poo Jupite affrigh nted, t, pale beneath hi r r, ! . e benea 8 rouge, — his thunderbolt, took off his helmet, and bowed trembling and stamme : “His Emi- nence—the Am bassadors— Madame t of Flan- gore "—-_—«sHle Foy wi ap 4 what to say. 3 pose sooth e was afraid being Ss y us lace tor waiting, hanged by the Cardinal for ant welt ing ; he had the same prospect on either side, that is to say, the gallows. Luckily for him, person forward to extricate him from this dilemma, and to assume the responsibility. An individu had stationed himself within the balustrade, in the vacant space left around the marble table, and whom one had yet perceived, so com- ange was hie tall slender figure screened from sight ; the rane gad of the pillar against which he had been i, tall and slender, as we have sah, iter yells; still young, though his "forehead and cheeks were already wrinkled, with egrreny be heey smiling lips, habited in black ocnge, worn > with approached the marble table, and made asign ta the orror-trickon actor who was too mach en- He advan a step further. “ Jupiter!’ said he ; my dear Jupiter!” Still the other heard him not. t length, the man, losing his patience, called vut po gncleed 4 nose, ‘‘ Michel Giborne “Who calls me?” said Jupiter, starting lik suddenly awakened. = het ee) “7" ed the personage in black. “Aha!” said ter. — ™ temedie y,” rejoined the other. “ of the audience. I undertake to Mons the who will pacify Monsieur the Car- dinal ” | day there we THE [UNCHBAOK Of NUTHOO-L AME. eee -_—_——— eee es Se —_— ae ‘Jupiter bresthedagain. — ! “ Grvntlemen citizens,” cried he with all the force of his lunys to.the crowd who continued to hoot him, “we shall begin tortiwith.”’ “ Evoe, Jupiter ! *\audite cives |’ shouted the scholars. | “Huzza! huzza!" cried the populace. A clapping o: hauds that was absolutely deafening ' ensued; and, affer Jupiter had retired behind his tapestry, tiv hali still suvok wish acclamations. Meanwhil:, tie unknown personage, who had Bo magically laid the tempest, had modestly withdrawn intothe penumbra ot his pillar, where he would no doubt have remained invisilJe, motionless, and mute as before, but fortwo young females, who, being in the front rank of the spectaturs, had remarked his culluquy with. Michel Giborne Jupiter. ** Master!" said one of tiem, beckoning him to come to her. “Hold your tongue, my dear Lienarde,”’ said her neiyhbor, a buxom, tresh-colored damsel, gayly tired in her Sunday bravery, “ he is not aclerk, but a lay- man 1 you must not call him Master, but Messire.” “* Messire !”’ said Lienarde. The unknown advunced tothe balustrade. “What would you with me, my pretty damsels?” inquired he, eagerly. “Ob! nothing,”’ said Lienarde, quite confused : “ it is my neighbor, Gisquette la Gencinne, who: wants to. speak to you.” “Not so,” replied Gisqnette, blushing ; “it was Lie- narde who called you Maser, and I told her she must say Messire."’ | 6 two young females cast down their eyes. The other, who desired nothing better than to engage them in conversation, surveyed them with a smile. “ Then you have nothing to say to me?’ “O dear, no!” answered Gisquette. “Nothing,” said Lienarde. Th: tall, fair young man was just retiring, but the two inquisitive girls had no mind to let him gd 60 | easily. | * Meassire,” said Gisquette, with the inrpetuosity ofa | sluice that is opened, or of 8 woman who has taken her | resolution, “‘you must know that soldier who is to play the part of the Virgin Mary in the mystery ?” * You mean the part of Jupiter?’’ rejoined the un- known, ; “Ah, yea!” said Lienarde ;' “she is stupid, I think. You know Jupiter, then ?” * Michel Gi ”” answered the pale man. “ Yes, madame.”’ - : “What a goodly beard he has ;’' said Lienarde. “Will it in fine—what they are going to say up there ?” timidly inquired Gisquette. | “e weed fine, I assure you,” replied the unknown, without the least hesitation. “What will it be ?’’ said Lienarde. “ The good Judgment of Madame the Virgin, a morality, an’ Pye: you, madame.” ' “Ah! that’s a different thing,’’ rejoined*Lienarde, A short silence ensued; it was broken by the un- known informant, “This morality is quite a new piece; it has never been performed.” , “Then,” said Gisquette, “it is not the same tliat was given two years ago, at the entry of Monsieur the Legate, in which three handsome young girls enacted the fy of’’—— ; ‘ “Ors ,” continued Lienarde, modestly easting down her eyes. Gisquette looked at her and did the | sume. . tall, man ftnen proceeded, with a) amile, “The morality which will be represented to-day was composed expres#ly for the Princess of Flan- “Will there be any love-songs in it?” asked Gis- uette. : , “O fie! ina morality !"’ said the unknown; “they would be inconsistent with the character of the piece. , If it were a nummery, well and good.” What a pity!" exclaimed Giaquatto, “On that at the couduit ot Ponceau wild men and woman who fought together, eigen eons athe: | into a yreat many at tudes, singing 6 songs all the while.’ “What is fit for a legate,” dryly replied the un- known, “may not be fit for a princess.” | “And near them,”’ resumed Lienarde, “ was a band of | musicians pl delightful tunes.’ | “And for the shment of passe .* continue Gisquette, “ the conduit threw out wine, milk, Hy pockae.at three mouths, for every one to drink that ligted.”” “And a little below the Ponceau,”’ proceeded Lien- arde, “at the Trinity, the passion was represented by persons without speaking.’’ | ‘Tt Lrecollect right,’ cried Gisquette, ‘it was Christ | on the cross, and two thieves on the right and left.’’ Here the yu uny gossips, warming at the recollection of the entry of Mousieur the Legate,began to speak both together. tan further on, at the Porte aux Peintres, there / were other characters magnificently dressed.” “And at the conduit of St. Innocent, 4 hunter pur- suing a doe with a great noise of dogs and horns.” “And then, - the shambles, those scaffolds ,rep- resenting Die 9 And whet he ee te passed, Yb: know, Gisquette, how our e ed it, and all the English had people attack their throats cut.” oe | id then the superb’personages at the Pont au Change, which was covered all over with an awning.” “ And as the legate passed, more than two hun dozen of all sorts of birds were let loose upen the bridge. What afinesight that , Lienarde ?” “ will. bes finer to-day,” remawked the inter- locutor, who seemed to listen to them with impa- ‘tience. ' “ You promise’ us, then, that this mystery will bea very fine one ?” said Gisquette. ‘ye making your yvame of us often happens at the present day, the public ; aaglatg per- the prolouge, he a tia — ee ee “ Certainly,” replied he, adding, with a degree of emphasis, * made it myself.”’ , , rn eee ! exclaimed the young females in amaze- ment. | ** Indeed !’’ responded the poet, bri a litt'e- “ that is to say, there are two of us: Jeh und, who sawed the planks and put together the woodwork of the theater, and I wrvute the piece. My name is Pierre Grinyoire.”’ The author of the Cid could not have said with greater pride, Pierre Corneille. Our readers may probably have perceived that some time must have ye mee between the moment when Jupiter disappeared behind the Mp ate und that in which the author of the new morality reveiled himself x0 abruptly tothe simple admiration of Gisquette and Lieturde. It was an extraordinary circumstance tliat tie crowd, a few minutes before so tumultuons, now Waite! toxt meekly on the faith of the comedian; which proves that everlasting truth, confirmed by daily experience in our theaters, that the best way to male the public wait with patience is to affirm that you are just going to begin. At auy rate, the young scholar Joannes did not fall asleep at his post. ‘* Suho, there!” he shouted all at once, ami the quiet expectation which had succeeded the dist ce. “ Jupiter, Madame the Virgin, puppets of the devil, are The mystery f uiystery! Beyiu at once, or look to yoursélyes.” This was quite enough to produce the desired effect. A band of instruments, high and low, in the interior of the theuter, commenced playing; the tapestry. raised, and forth came four persuns. bepainted anc Dedecked with various colors, who climbed the rue Staye-ladder, and, on reaching the upper. plat-orm, drew up ina row before the audience, to whom they paid the usual tribute of low obeiaance. ‘Lhe syuplonuy ceased, and the mystery Coinmenced. is The performers, haying been. liberally, repaid for their ebeisances with applause, began, amidst soleaun silence on the part of the audience, a prologue, which we gladly spare the reader, On this occasion, as at much, more attention on the dresses of formers than on the speeches which they had to de- liver; and, to confess the truth, the public were the right. All tour were habited in r bes halt white and half yellow, which differed in nothing but the nature of the stuff; the first being of yold and silyer brocade, the secoud of silk, the third of woollen, and the fourth oflinen. The first of these personages carried aewurd - in the right band, the second two _ keys, the third a ir of scales, and the fourth a spade: and, te assist dull perceptions which night not have secn clearly'through the transparency of these attrilutes, there was embroidered in large black let at the bottom of the robe of brucade, *‘ My Name Is NowiLrry ;” at the bottom of the silken robe, ‘‘ My NAME Is at the bottom of the woollen robe,“ MY NAME Ix ee the bottom of the linen robe, “ My NAMz Is La e sex of the two. male characters, Clergy and Labor, was sufficiently indicated to every intelligent spec by the hilet the “93 their ty we the tughion ei thelr caps, whi the two females vlyer guriments at hoods upon their heads. haripee ae + me Any person, too, Must have been exce verse or in:penet obtuse, pot to collect prologue that Labor was wedded to Trade, and ¢ to Nobility ; and that the two happ couples oint rs ofa nificent j Be ph: they intended to adjudge to the most veamtity women. Accordingly they were traveling throu world in quest ofthis beauty; and, anes ‘1 rejecting the Queen of Golconda, the Pr bisond, the dauyhter of{the great Khan of T; many others, Labvrand Clergy, Nobility and had come to rest theuselves upon the marble the Pa of Justice ; at the same time } the honest auditory as man 8 and ap ax could in those days have been picked up g : a at the examinations, disput: ar at which masters take their caps and their deer All this was really exceedingly fine : but ye the whole concourse » pon whom the four a personages were pouring, as if in emulation of each other, torrents of metaphors, thete was net amore at- tive ear, amore vehemently throbing heart, a wilder- looking eye, 4 more outstretched neck, than the eye, the ear, the neck, and the heart of the author, of the oet, of the wortlly Pierre Gringoire, whoa few mumeuts ore could not deny himself the pleasure of telling his name to two handsome girls. He had retired.a tew paces trum them, behind his pillow ; and there he his- tened, he watched, he relished. The hearty applause which had greated the opening of his prologue stil mang his ears; and he was completely absorbed in in that kind of ecstatic comtemplation with which an author sees his-ideas drop one by one from the lips of the actor, amid the silence of a vast assembly. With pain we record it, this first ecstasy. was soon rs a A mem tay ave raised to his hips ein cup ofjoy an umph, when it w dashed with bitterness. ry A ragged mendicant, who could make not by hts vocation, lost as he was among the crowd, and who had, probably, not found a sufficient in in the ockets of his neighbors, conceived the idea of meelf n some conspicuous point, for the . of attracting notice and alms. ng the delivery of had econtingly SC by the aid of the llars of the reserved platform, up tothe cornice which ran round it below the balustrade, and there he seated himself silently, soliciting the notice and the pity of the multitude by is rege and a hideous sore which. covered his myht The prologue was proceeding without molestation, when, a3 iilluck would haye it, Joannes Frollo, from <coim ebooks.-co