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the origins of contemporary france-3-第71章

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recruiters; the answer is obvious。 With nothing but their own hands to

rely on; they cannot work for nothing;'90'  and; as the work is hard;

they ought to be paid double time。 They require six francs a day;

besides their meals and as much wine as they want。  One caterer alone

furnished the men at the Abbaye with 346 pints:'91' when working

incessantly day and night with a task like that of sewer…cleaners and

miners; nothing else will keep their courage up。  Food and wages

must be paid for by the nation; the work is done for the nation; and;

naturally; on interposing formalities; they get out of temper and

betake themselves to Roland; to the City treasurer; to the section

committees; to the Committee of Supervision;'92' murmuring;

threatening; and showing their bloody pikes。 That is the evidence of

having done their work well。 They boast of it to Pétion; impress upon

him how 〃just and attentive〃 they were;'93' their discernment; the

time given to the work; so many days and so many hours; they ask only

for what is 〃due to them〃; when the treasurer; on paying them; demands

their names; they give them without the slightest hesitation。 Those

who escort a dismissed prisoner; masons; hairdressers; federates;

require no recompense but 〃something to drink〃; 〃we do not carry on

this business for money;〃 they say; 〃here is your friend; he promised

us a glass of brandy; which we will take and then go back to our

work。〃'94'  Outside of their business they possess the expansive

cordiality and ready sensitivity of the Parisian workman。  At the

Abbaye; a federate;'95' on learning that the prisoners had been kept

without water for twenty…six hours; wanted to 〃exterminate〃 the

turnkey for his negligence; and would have done it if 〃the prisoners

themselves had not pleaded for him。〃  On the acquittal of a prisoner;

the guards and the butchers; everybody; embraces him with enthusiasm;

Weber is greeted again and again for more than a hundred yards; they

cheer to excess。 Each wants to escort the prisoner; the cab of Mathon

de la Varenne is invaded; 〃they perch themselves on the driver's seat;

at the doors; on top; and behind。〃'96' … A few even display strange

fits of tact。  Two of the butchers; still covered with blood; who lead

the chevalier de Bertrand home; insist on going up stairs with him to

witness the joy of his family; after their terrible task they need the

relaxation of tender emotion。  On entering; they wait discreetly in

the drawing…room until the ladies have been prepared; the happiness of

which they are witnesses melts them; they remain some time; refuse

money; expressing their gratitude and depart。'97'  Still more

extraordinary are the vestiges of innate politeness。  A market…porter

desirous of embracing a discharged prisoner; first asks his

permission。  Old 〃hags;〃 who had just clapped their hands at the

slaughtering; stop the guards 〃violently〃 as they hurry Weber along;

in white silk stockings; across pools of blood: 〃Hey; guard; look out;

you are making Monsieur walk in the gutter!〃'98' In short; they

display the permanent qualities of their race and class; they seem to

be neither above nor below the average of their brethren;  Most of

them; probably; would never have done anything very monstrous had a

rigid police; like that which maintains order in ordinary times; kept

them in their shops or at home in their lodgings or in their tap…

rooms。



But; in their own eyes; they are so many kings; 〃sovereignty is

committed to their hands;〃'99' their powers are unlimited; whoever

doubts this is a traitor; and is properly punished; he must be put out

of the way; while; for royal councillors; they take maniacs and

rascals; who; through monomania or calculation; have preach all that

to them: just like a Negro king surrounded by white slave…dealers; who

urge him into raids; and by black sorcerers; who prompt him to

massacre。  How could such a man with such guides; and in such an

office; be retarded by the formalities of justice; or by the

distinctions of equity?  Equity and justice are the elaborate products

of civilization; while he is merely a political savage。 In vain are

the innocent recommended to his mercy!



〃Look here; citizen;'100' do you; too; want to put us to sleep?

Suppose that those cursed Prussian and Austrian beggars were in Paris;

would they pick out the guilty? Wouldn't they strike right and left;

the same as the Swiss did on the 10th of August? Very well; I can't

make speeches; but I don't put anybody to sleep。  I say; I am the

father of a family   I have a wife and five children that I mean to

leave here for the section to look after; while I go and fight the

enemy。  But I have no intention that while I am gone these villains

here in prison; and other villains who would come and let them out;

should cut the throats of my wife and children。 I have three boys who

I hope will some day be more useful to their country than those

rascals you want to save。  Anyhow; all that can be done is to let 'em

out and give them arms; and we will fight 'em on an equal footing。

Whether I die here or on the frontiers; scoundrels would kill me all

the same; and I will sell my life dearly。 But; whether it is done by

me or by someone else; the prison shall be cleaned out of those cursed

beggars; there; now!〃  At this a general cry is heard: 〃He's right! No

mercy!  Let us go in!〃



All that the crowd assent to is an improvised tribunal; the reading of

the jailer's register; and prompt judgment; condemnation and slaughter

must follow; according to the famous Commune; which simplifies things

 There is another simplification still more formidable; which is the

condemnation and slaughter by categories。 Any title suffices; Swiss;

priest; officer; or servant of the King; 〃the 'worms' on the civil

list〃; wherever a lot of priests or Swiss are found; it is not worth

while to have a trial; the throats of the lot can be slit。  Reduced

to this; the operation is adapted to the operators; the arms of the

new sovereign are as strong as his mind is weak; and; through an

inevitable adaptation; he degrades his work to the level of his

faculties。



His work; in its turn; degrades and perverts him。  No man; and

especially a man of the people; rendered pacific by an old

civilization; can; with impunity; become at one stroke both sovereign

and executioner。 In vain does he work himself up against the condemned

and heap insults on them to augment his fury;'101' I he is dimly

conscious of committing a great crime; and his soul; like that of

Macbeth; 〃is full of scorpions。〃 Through a terrible tightening up; he

hardens himself against the inborn; hereditary impulses of humanity;

these resist while he becomes exasperated; and; to stifle them; there

is no other way but to 〃gorge himself on horrors;〃'102' by adding

murder to murder。  For murder; especially as he practices it; that is

to say; with a naked sword on defense…less people; introduces into his

animal and moral machine two extraordinary and disproportionate

emotions which unsettle it; on the one hand; a sensation of

omnipotence exercised uncontrolled; unimpeded; without danger; on

human life; on throbbing flesh'103' and; on the other hand; an

interest in bloody and diversified death; accompanied with an ever new

series of contortions and exclamations;'104' formerly; in the Roman

circus; one could not tear one's self away from it; the spectacle once

seen; the spectator always returned to see it again。 Just at this time

each prison court is a circus; and what makes it worse is that the

spectators are likewise actors。 Thus; for them; two fiery liquids

mingle together in one draught。 To moral intoxication is added

physical intoxication; wine in profusion; bumpers at every pause;

revelry over corpses; and we see rising out of this unnatural creature

the demon of Dante; at once brutal and refined; not merely a

destroyer; but; again; an executioner; instigator and calculator of

suffering; and radiant and joyous over the evil it accomplishes。



They are merry; they dance around each new corpse; and sing the

carmagnole;'105' they arouse the people of the quarter 〃to amuse

them;〃 and that they may have their share of 〃the fine fête。〃'106'

Benches are arranged for 〃gentlemen〃 and others for 〃ladies〃: the

latter; with greater curiosity; are additionally anxious to

contemplate at their ease 〃the aristocrats〃 already slain;

consequently; lights are required; and one is placed on the breast of

each corpse。  Meanwhile; the slaughter continues; and is carried to

perfection。 A butcher at the Abbaye'107' complains that 〃the

aristocrats die too quick; and that those only who strike first have

the pleasure of it〃; henceforth they are to be struck with the backs

of the swords only; and made to run between two rows of their

butchers; like soldiers formerly running a gauntlet。  If there happens

to be well…known person; it is agreed to take mo
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