Alphonse

“ You are not—nor Monsieur Alphonse.”
“Very good, your Grace,” Frank answered. “Your Grace will answer the door yourself?”
The Duke had overlooked the point. He did not feel that he could answer a door at all plausibly.
“Leave it on the jar,” he commanded, in a happy inspiration.
But when he was left alone his brow clouded a little. “Suppose the mother comes!” he thought. His face cleared. “She shall see Alphonse and Frank. And I will see Miss Angela.” He lit his cigar with a composed cheerfulness. “It is impossible,” he said meditatively, “to deny the interest of a sociological experiment. ”

“ When poor Gracieuse entered, and had been introduced to the baroness, the curé asked Alphonse to come out round the garden with him, he wished to show him a tool-house he had erected, and a potting-table of his own invention. When they were alone together, ‘Well, now!’ said the curé, ‘how does your mother treat your wife?’
Alphonse shrugged his shoulders.
‘My friend, we must make allowances for the prejudices of old people. I, myself, maybe, am not without my prejudices; but—the young baroness is charming. ”

“ I said: “There is nothing in my life, my man, which is not free for all to know. I shall soon learn whether or not I may trust you. If you are faithful you shall be rewarded. That is all.” As I spoke his pleasant face became grave.
[Pg 9]
“Monsieur shall not be disappointed.” Nor was he. Alphonse proved to be a devoted servant, a man with those respectful familiarities which are rare except in French and Italian domestics. When once I asked him how far his superiors had profited by his account of me, he put on a queer, wry face and said circumstances had obliged him to become inventive. ”

“ In England we nearly had it, for one of the sons of Edward I. and the Castillian Eleanor was so baptized; but his early death saved our lips from the necessity of framing themselves to its southern flow. Alphonse has been a favourite French name. The Portuguese Affonso, though often used as its equivalent, is Hadufuns, very similar in meaning, but rather meaning war vehemence than battle vehemence. The feminine is the Spanish Alfonsina, and the French Alphonsine. [114]
114. ”

“ The chivalric Alphonse tells his sister not to do violence to her feelings—that he will take her part against the whole set; but the gentle maiden declares—we persist in believing, in our fondness for a bit of sentiment, that she made a virtue of necessity in view of those Gorgons and chimeras dire—declares her attachment rather a feeling of gratitude for the love that had been given her, and that she is ready to marry without repugnance the estimable man destined to replace the one she has lost! ”

“ I am too ill to write, but if I get better soon—Well, well; that poor girl is an orphan too; and Alphonse was an orphan. With what misery have we struggled in France since this man has ruled our destinies! how have the crimes of a people brought their retribution to every heart and every home!—none too low, none too humble, to feel them. Leave this land; no blessing can rest upon it now. Poor thing! how worthy of a better lot she is! If this same officer should know,—it is not impossible. ”

“ All the party were, however, warmly welcomed on board, and Alphonse, who had now learned a good deal of English, became a great favourite both with officers and men. As there happened to be no fiddler among the crew, his violin was in great requisition. ”

“ One might even say without exaggeration, that the Disciplina Clericalis of Peter Alphonse not only made known for the first time a considerable number of those tales which were soon to become the most popular of western literatures, but that it inaugurated in all probability that later universally popular kind of prose fiction called the Novella. ”

“ We shall all take risks.”
“Then I accept,” said Alphonse. “Monsieur has been most kind to my mother, and circumstances have always attracted me—monsieur [Pg 116] will understand. What am I to do?”
“You are to examine the outside of Madame Bellegarde’s villa by day and at night—to-night—and report to us to-morrow morning. I have a scheme for entering it and securing the document we want, but of that we will speak when we hear your report. I have already ridden around the place. I am trusting you entirely.” ”

“ Then the center of astronomical development shifted from Syria to Spain and mainly through this channel passed on into Western Europe. The scientific fame of Alphonse X of Castile (1252-1284 A. D.) called the Wise, rests chiefly upon his encouragement of astronomy. With his support the Alfonsine Tables were calculated. He is said [27] to have summoned fifty learned men from Toledo, Cordova and Paris to translate into Spanish the works of Ptolemy and other philosophers. ”

“ “Come, Victor; not brooding thoughts of vengeance against the assassin, but with feelings of peace and gentleness, that will heal, instead of festering, the wounds of our minds. Enter the house of mourning, my friend, but with kindness and affection for those who love you, and not with hatred for your enemies.
“Your affectionate and afflicted father,
“Alphonse Frankenstein. ”

“ Yaa-as, M'sieu Henri.
M.-M. [maliciously, half whispering] . Walk jes' so! [Makes a face at Alphonse. Aloud.] I'ze dat gemplum's nigger whar is dar in de bade, an' I gwine he'p mek he fiah. [Alphonse goes viciously to work to make the fire, frustrating Minty-Malviny's attempts when possible, snatching the poker away from her, etc. She is exasperatingly pleasant and superior.] You ain' bresh de hearf. [He does so, and gathers up the rubbish with one last grimace.]
Alph. [at door] . Singe!
[Exit.
M.-M. [tossing her head and chuckling] . Dat French nigger don' dass say nuffin to me, no mo'! ”

“ And in style also Zola is vast, architectural; Daudet slight, rapid, subtle, lively, suggestive. And finally, in their philosophy of life, Zola may inspire a hate of vice and wrong, but Daudet wins a love for what is good and true.
Alphonse Daudet was born in Nimes, Provence, May 13, 1840. His father had been a well-to-do silk manufacturer, but, while Alphonse was still a child, lost his property. Poverty compelled the son to seek the wretched post of usher (pion) in a school at Alais. In November, 1857, he settled in Paris and joined his almost equally penniless brother Ernest. ”

“ Yet, brave philosopher that he was, Le Petit Chose never lost heart. The dream of his life was to retrieve the family fortunes, a dream which one day was to be fully realized. At last, however, at the end of his tether, he wrote to Ernest telling him all his troubles, and great was his joy when he received a letter back, asking him to come at once to Paris.
On a cold, grey, foggy November morning Alphonse Daudet arrived in Paris, with only two francs in his pocket. ”

“ The Arab said to his father: "It astonishes me to read that in past ages nobles, wits and wise men were honored, but only lechers were revered." To this the father; "Son, be not astonished that priests honor priests, nobles nobles, wits wits, and that lechers are venerated by lechers." The son: "And I read another thing: that priests were not honored for their wisdom; whence lechers were produced and came to great honor." Then the father said to him: "That indeed resulted from the indolence of the time." To this the son: "Explain to me, dearest father, the true meaning of nobility." ”

“ It seems to me, my dear duke, that destiny has in the same way brought us together, endowed with conflicting attributes; you who have received from the gods the gift of reaching all hearts, I whose heart will never be made prisoner. ”

“ Oh, how that divine blood cleanses! how those divine tears purify!... Yesterday I sent for a holy priest of whom Alain had spoken. He is an old man who knows everything; who forgives all! I have discovered my soul to him, and he has shed on it the love and light of God.... How good is God! how indulgent, how full of loving kindness! How little we know of him! He suffers me to love you, to have you for my brother, to be your sister here below, if I live; your guardian angel above, if I die! O Raphael, let us love him, since he permits that we should love each other as we do!"... ”

“ Feed not thyself with fond persuasions, But presently come yield thy crown to me, And do me homage, or by heavens I swear I’ll force thee to it maugre all thy train. Belinus
How now, base brat! What, are thy wits thine own, That thou darest thus abraid me in my land? ‘Tis best for thee these speeches to recall, Or else by Jove I’ll make thee to repent That e’er thou settest thy foot in Naples’ soil. Alphonsus
“Base brat,” sayest thou? As good a man as thou. ”

“ In the meantime a great man in the eyes of every one but his own wife, he carried his fresh glories about, from Paris to Versailles and down to Provence, amiable, familiar, jolly and unconventional, bringing his aureola with him, it is true, but only too willing to leave it in its band-box, like an opera hat when no ceremony calls for its presence. ”

“ Why, proud Alphonsus, thinkest thou Amurack, Whose mighty force doth terrify the gods, Can e’er be found to turn his heels, and fly Away for fear from such a boy as thou? No, no, although that Mars this mickle while Hath fortified thy weak and feeble arm, And Fortune oft hath viewed with friendly face Thy armies marching victors from the field, Yet at the presence of high Amurack Fortune shall change, and Mars, that god of might, Shall succor me, and leave Alphonsus quite. ”

“ Miles, thy share the Milan Dukedom is, For, well I wot, thy sword deserved no less; Set the crown on his head.
The which Alphonsus frankly giveth thee, In presence of his warlike men at arms; And if that any stomach this my deed, Alphonsus can revenge thy wrong with speed. Sound trumpets and drums.
Now to Albinius, which in all my toils I have both faithful, yea, and friendly found: Since that the gods and friendly fates assign This present time to me to recompense The sundry pleasures thou hast done to me, Sit down by them, and on thy faithful head Take the crown from thy own head. ”

“ If the prince himself had not a love of literature and a highly refined mind, he had sufficiently cultivated his mind to appreciate perfectly the pleasures of the understanding; but the revolutionary feeling instinctively counselled him to surround himself with all the strength that might one day serve liberty. ”

“ Nay, virgin, stay. And if thou wilt vouchsafe To entertain Alphonsus simple suit, Thou shalt ere long be monarch of the world; All christened kings, with all your pagan dogs, Shall bend their knees unto Iphigina; The Indian soil shall be thine at command, Where every step thou settest on the ground Shall be received on the golden mines: Rich Pactolus, that river of account, Which doth descend from top of Tmolus Mount, Shall be thine own, and all the world beside, If you will grant to be Alphonsus’ bride. ”

“ Pardon, dear lord, the world goes very hard When womenkind are forced for to woe. If that your son had loved me so well, Why did he not inform me of the same? Carinus
Why did he not? What, have you clean forgot What ample proffers he did make to you, When hand to hand he did encounter you? Iphigina
No, worthy sir, I have not it forgot; But Cupid cannot enter in the breast Where Mars before had took possession. That was no time to talk of Venus’ games When all our fellows were pressed in the wars. Carinus
Well, let that pass: now canst thou be content To love Alphonsus, and become his spouse? ”

“ More would I say, but horses that be free Do need no spurs, and soldiers which themselves Long and desire to buckle with the foe Do need no words to egg them to the same. Enter Alphonsus, with a canopy carried over him by three lords, hailing over each corner a king’s head, crowned; with him, Albinius, Laelius, Miles, with crowns on their heads, and their soldiers.
Besides the same, behold whereas our foes Are marching towards us most speedily. Courage, my lords, ours is the victory. Alphonsus
Thou pagan dog, how darest thou be so bold To set thy foot within Alphonsus’ land? ”

“ Albinius
My friend, what art thou, that so like a spy Dost sneak about Belinus’ royal camp? Alphonsus
I am a man. Fabius
A man? We know the same: But prithee, tell me, and set scoffing by, What countryman thou art, and why you come, That we may soon resolve the king thereof? ”

“ Do not deceive yourself, as multitudes have already done, but be on your guard, and preserve your precious soul from the snares of the tempter."
"I understand you not, father," replied Alphonso. "Did not you yourself see and hear how piously, how Christian-like, and with what overpowering majesty that glorious being spake, when by his heavenly consolations he turned back into the right path those who had been led astray by the affliction their too fond love was groaning under?"
"Ay! what is there he dare not, he cannot do, juggler and sorcerer that he is?" ”

“ To scape away without thy praise of her. I do not doubt but long or ere this time, Alphonsus’ fame unto the heavens should climb; Alphonsus’ fame, that man of Jove his seed, Sprung from the loins of the immortal gods, Whose sire, although he habit on the earth, May claim a portion in the fiery pole, As well as any one whate’er he be. But, setting by Alphonsus’ power divine, What man alive, or now amongst the ghosts, Could countervail his courage and his strength? But thou art dead, yea, Virgil, thou art gone, And all his acts drowned in oblivion. ”

“ When you have done, march with your female troop To Naples’ town, to succor Amurack; And so, by marriage of Iphigina, You soon shall drive the danger clean away. Iphigina
So shall we soon eschew Charybdis’ lake, And headlong fall to Scylla’s greedy gulf. I vowed before, and now do vow again, Before I wed Alphonsus, I’ll be slain. Medea
In vain it is, to strive against the stream; Fates must be followed, and the gods’ decree Must needs take place in every kind of cause. Therefore, fair maid, bridle these brutish thoughts, And learn to follow what the fates assign. ”