登陆注册
4710100000039

第39章

At this joke of luck of La Beaupertuys, both laughed heartily in their sleeves. And with great attention this very Christian king watched the undressing of the old maid, who admired herself while removing her things--pulling out a hair, or scratching a pimple which had maliciously come upon her nose; picking her teeth, and doing a thousand little things which, alas! all ladies, virgins or not, are obliged to do, much to their annoyance; but without these little faults of nature, they would be too proud, and one would not be able to enjoy their society. Having achieved her aquatic and musical discourse, the old maid got in between the sheets, and yelled forth a fine, great, ample, and curious cry, when she saw, when she smelt the fresh vigour of this hanged man and the sweet perfume of his manly youth; then sprang away from him out of coquetry. But as she did not know he was really dead, she came back again, believing he was mocking her, and counterfeiting death.

"Go away, you bad young man!" said she.

But you can imagine that she proffered this requests in a most humble and gracious tone of voice. Then seeing that he did not move, she examined him more closely, and was much astonished at this so fine human nature when she recognised the young fellow, upon whom the fancy took her to perform some purely scientific experiments in the interests of hanged persons.

"What is she doing?" said La Beaupertuys to the king.

"She is trying to reanimate him. It is a work of Christian humanity."

And the old girl rubbed and warmed this fine young man, supplicating holy Mary the Egyptian to aid her to renew the life of this husband who had fallen so amorously from heaven, when, suddenly looking at the dead body she was so charitably rubbing, she thought she saw a slight movement in the eyes; then she put her hand upon the man's heart, and felt it beat feebly. At length, from the warmth of the bed and of affection, and by the temperature of old maids, which is by far more burning then the warm blasts of African deserts, she had the delight of bringing to life that fine handsome young fellow who by lucky chance had been very badly hanged.

"See how my executioners serve me!" said Louis, laughing.

"Ah!" said La Beaupertuys, "you will not have him hanged again? he is too handsome."

"The decree does not say that he shall be hanged twice, but he shall marry the old woman."

Indeed, the good lady went in a great hurry to seek a master leech, a good bleeder, who lived in the Abbey, and brought him back directly.

He immediately took his lancet, and bled the young man. And as no blood came out: "Ah!" said he, "it is too late, the transshipment of blood in the lungs has taken place."

But suddenly this good young blood oozed out a little, and then came out in abundance, and the hempen apoplexy, which had only just begun, was arrested in its course. The young man moved and came more to life; then he fell, from natural causes, into a state of great weakness and profound sadness, prostration of flesh and general flabbiness. Now the old maid, who was all eyes, and followed the great and notable changes which were taking place in the person of this badly hanged man, pulled the surgeon by the sleeve, and pointing out to him, by a curious glance of the eye, the piteous cause, said to him--"Will he for the future be always like that?"

"Often," replied the veracious surgeon.

"Oh! he was much nicer hanged!"

At this speech the king burst out laughing. Seeing him at the window, the woman and the surgeon were much frightened, for this laugh seemed to them a second sentence of death for their poor victim. But the king kept his word, and married them. And in order to do justice he gave the husband the name of the Sieur de Mortsauf in the place of the one he had lost upon the scaffold. As La Godegrand had a very big basket of crowns, they founded a good family in Touraine, which still exists and is much respected, since M. de Mortsauf faithfully served Louis the Eleventh on different occasions. Only he never liked to come across gibbets or old women, and never again made amorous assignations in the night.

This teaches us to thoroughly verify and recognise women, and not to deceive ourselves in the local difference which exists between the old and the young, for if we are not hanged for our errors of love, there are always great risks to run.

同类推荐
  • 棟亭書目

    棟亭書目

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 仙乐集

    仙乐集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 有德女所问大乘经

    有德女所问大乘经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Lost House

    The Lost House

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 易纬乾元序制记

    易纬乾元序制记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 青少年不可不知的100条人生经验

    青少年不可不知的100条人生经验

    本书精心为青少年总结了100条经久实用、深刻睿智的人生经验,每一条人生经验都以精彩独到的哲理点拨,挖掘人生深层的内涵,揭示了人生的智慧和生活的哲理,让青少年在更有信心和勇气去追求梦想;在遭遇挫折和感到无望时,能从中汲取力量;在迷惘和失落时,能从中获取慰藉……
  • 冲动的青春——泪水飞扬

    冲动的青春——泪水飞扬

    《冲动的青春——泪水飞扬》描绘了主人公短暂而曲折的一生,是一部关于诗歌与死亡的个性传记,也是一曲年轻的理想被残酷的现实挫败的时代挽歌。
  • 农门商业大亨

    农门商业大亨

    别人穿越,都穿越到王妃、格格这种有身份的人身上,偏她这么倒霉,穿越到一个农家女的身上,好吧,她自立自强还不行?她才高八斗,智慧非凡,她就不信,凭她的努力没法子成为世界首富,顺便拐个王爷来当相公!
  • 重生之暖玉温凉

    重生之暖玉温凉

    世上有种女子,不笑,则不知倾城与倾国。没有人知道十年对于一个十七岁的女孩来说意味着什么。那是塑梦最初的年华,能够生出无限的希望。可以结婚生子,可以事业有成,就是不可能如温良一样,一成不变到令人咋舌的地步。十年前,孑然一身,两手空空的住进这幢奢华的大别墅里,从此人生定格,温谦恭顺,一心一意的爱着那个包养她的男人,劳心劳力的拉扯着他年仅两岁的儿子。好日如流水,一晃十年,除却眼角渐增的皱纹,和那孩子日益拔高的个头,一切和往年一摸一样。是啊。一模一样。他朝九晚五的生活,他隔三差五的情人,照着往常的模样画。每一笔,都在她心上狠狠割上血淋淋的一刀。然而,她有什么资格呢。她和那些女子相比,不过是新卒和老卒的区别而已。倒是难得他能留她这早该是朵昨日黄花的东西到如今了。或许是实在需要个保姆来照看孩子吧。毕竟孩子是她一手带大的,同她亲厚。不,没有或许。十年的相处,十年的爱,他每一个动作,他每一个表情,她都清清楚楚的记着,明镜一样置在心间,于是足够了解他。那样的金字塔顶的家世,那样俊美精致的相貌,又是那样唯我独尊的性格,怎么会懂一个爱字,怎么写?她用十年的青春光阴和梦想,终于换来了这样的答案,内里痛彻心扉,唇上温柔菀笑。
  • 神级妖孽弃少

    神级妖孽弃少

    【这本书很好看】五年前,父亲身死,母亲失踪,他因污蔑而被赶出家族。五年后,他强势归来,誓要将这一方天地,彻底翻覆!神挡杀神,佛挡杀佛!只是……这位小姐姐,你为啥要往我怀里钻?我俩很熟吗?本文书友群:560181482敲门砖,本文任意一个人物的名字,因为目前只接受正版读者,所以必须要验证粉丝值,所以大家见谅~~
  • 圆悟佛果禅师语录

    圆悟佛果禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 全家福养生菜

    全家福养生菜

    中医有“天人合一”的养生观念,认为根据四季节气的变化,人体内的五脏六腑也在发生着潜移默化的改变。在生活上、饮食上,也要随着节气相应变化,才能够保证身体的健康。这就是中医“因时”养生的观点。不仅如此,老人与孩子、男人与女人,不同人群的养生方法也是不一样的。“因人”而异,也是中医的养生观点之一。将中医“因时养生”、“因人养生”的观念,与家常美食相结合,融入营养、饮食、养生知识,再加上节气故事,这些元素组合起来,就变成了这本《全家福养生菜》,贯穿春夏秋冬四季,适合一家三代使用。这样一本集饮食、养生、文化于一身的养生菜谱,为您的家庭带来方便的同时,也是一份来自编者的祝福!
  • 金刚顶一字顶轮王瑜伽一切时处念诵成佛仪轨

    金刚顶一字顶轮王瑜伽一切时处念诵成佛仪轨

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 庄子注

    庄子注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 愿我如星君如月

    愿我如星君如月

    他是杀伐果决的当朝太子,她是风华绝代的倾世太子妃,她辅他一步步登上至尊之位。他荣登大宝之日,她等来的却不是封后的圣旨,而是满门抄斩的厄运……