Difference between revisions of "Volume 3/Book 1/Chapter 12"
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As for the Parisian populace, even when a man grown, it is always the | As for the Parisian populace, even when a man grown, it is always the | ||
− | street | + | street urchin; to paint the child is to paint the city; and it is for that |
reason that we have studied this eagle in this arrant sparrow. It is in | reason that we have studied this eagle in this arrant sparrow. It is in | ||
the faubourgs, above all, we maintain, that the Parisian race appears; | the faubourgs, above all, we maintain, that the Parisian race appears; |
Revision as of 17:14, 26 December 2017
Les Misérables, Volume 3: Marius, Book First: Paris Studied in its Atom, Chapter 12: The Future Latent in the People
(Tome 3: Marius, Livre premier: Paris étudié dans son atome, Chapitre 12: L'avenir latent dans le peuple)
Contents
General notes on this chapter
French text
Quant au peuple parisien, même homme fait, il est toujours le gamin; peindre l'enfant, c'est peindre la ville; et c'est pour cela que nous avons étudié cet aigle dans ce moineau franc.
C'est surtout dans les faubourgs, insistons-y, que la race parisienne
apparaît; là est le pur sang; là est la vraie physionomie; là ce peuple
travaille et souffre, et la souffrance et le travail sont les deux
figures de l'homme. Il y a là des quantités profondes d'êtres inconnus
où fourmillent les types les plus étranges depuis le déchargeur de la
Râpée jusqu'à l'équarrisseur de Montfaucon. Fex urbis, s'écrie
Cicéron; mob, ajoute Burke indigné; tourbe, multitude, populace. Ces
mots-là sont vite dits. Mais soit. Qu'importe? qu'est-ce que cela fait
qu'ils aillent pieds nus? Ils ne savent pas lire; tant pis. Les
abandonnerez-vous pour cela? leur ferez-vous de leur détresse une
malédiction? la lumière ne peut-elle pénétrer ces masses? Revenons à ce
cri: Lumière! et obstinons-nous-y! Lumière! lumière!—Qui sait si ces
opacités ne deviendront pas transparentes? les révolutions ne sont-elles
pas des transfigurations? Allez, philosophes, enseignez, éclairez,
allumez, pensez haut, parlez haut, courez joyeux au grand soleil,
fraternisez avec les places publiques, annoncez les bonnes nouvelles,
prodiguez les alphabets, proclamez les droits, chantez les
Marseillaises, semez les enthousiasmes, arrachez des branches vertes aux
chênes. Faites de l'idée un tourbillon. Cette foule peut être sublimée.
Sachons nous servir de ce vaste embrasement des principes et des vertus
qui pétille, éclate et frissonne à de certaines heures. Ces pieds nus,
ces bras nus, ces haillons, ces ignorances, ces abjections, ces
ténèbres, peuvent être employés à la conquête de l'idéal. Regardez à
travers le peuple et vous apercevrez la vérité. Ce vil sable que vous
foulez aux pieds, qu'on le jette dans la fournaise, qu'il y fonde et
qu'il y bouillonne, il deviendra cristal splendide, et c'est grâce à lui
que Galilée et Newton découvriront les astres.
English text
As for the Parisian populace, even when a man grown, it is always the street urchin; to paint the child is to paint the city; and it is for that reason that we have studied this eagle in this arrant sparrow. It is in the faubourgs, above all, we maintain, that the Parisian race appears; there is the pure blood; there is the true physiognomy; there this people toils and suffers, and suffering and toil are the two faces of man. There exist there immense numbers of unknown beings, among whom swarm types of the strangest, from the porter of la Rapée to the knacker of Montfaucon. Fex urbis, exclaims Cicero; mob, adds Burke, indignantly; rabble, multitude, populace. These are words and quickly uttered. But so be it. What does it matter? What is it to me if they do go barefoot! They do not know how to read; so much the worse. Would you abandon them for that? Would you turn their distress into a malediction? Cannot the light penetrate these masses? Let us return to that cry: Light! and let us obstinately persist therein! Light! Light! Who knows whether these opacities will not become transparent? Are not revolutions transfigurations? Come, philosophers, teach, enlighten, light up, think aloud, speak aloud, hasten joyously to the great sun, fraternize with the public place, announce the good news, spend your alphabets lavishly, proclaim rights, sing the Marseillaises, sow enthusiasms, tear green boughs from the oaks. Make a whirlwind of the idea. This crowd may be rendered sublime. Let us learn how to make use of that vast conflagration of principles and virtues, which sparkles, bursts forth and quivers at certain hours. These bare feet, these bare arms, these rags, these ignorances, these abjectnesses, these darknesses, may be employed in the conquest of the ideal. Gaze past the people, and you will perceive truth. Let that vile sand which you trample under foot be cast into the furnace, let it melt and seethe there, it will become a splendid crystal, and it is thanks to it that Galileo and Newton will discover stars.
Translation notes
Fex urbis.
The scum of the city.