Reading Help The Count of Monte Cristo Ch.11-39
since I have been in prison, a very slight effort of memory `
` has enabled me to recall their contents as readily as though `
` the pages were open before me. I could recite you the whole `
` of Thucydides, Xenophon, Plutarch, Titus Livius, Tacitus, `
` Strada, Jornandes, Dante, Montaigne, Shakespeare, Spinoza, `
` Machiavelli, and Bossuet. I name only the most important." `
` `
` "You are, doubtless, acquainted with a variety of languages, `
` so as to have been able to read all these?" `
` `
` "Yes, I speak five of the modern tongues -- that is to say, `
` German, French, Italian, English, and Spanish; by the aid of `
` ancient Greek I learned modern Greek -- I don't speak it so `
` well as I could wish, but I am still trying to improve `
` myself." `
` `
` "Improve yourself!" repeated Dantes; "why, how can you `
` manage to do so?" `
` `
` "Why, I made a vocabulary of the words I knew; turned, `
` returned, and arranged them, so as to enable me to express `
` my thoughts through their medium. I know nearly one thousand `
` words, which is all that is absolutely necessary, although I `
` believe there are nearly one hundred thousand in the `
` dictionaries. I cannot hope to be very fluent, but I `
` certainly should have no difficulty in explaining my wants `
` and wishes; and that would be quite as much as I should ever `
` require." `
` `
` Stronger grew the wonder of Dantes, who almost fancied he `
` had to do with one gifted with supernatural powers; still `
` hoping to find some imperfection which might bring him down `
` to a level with human beings, he added, "Then if you were `
` not furnished with pens, how did you manage to write the `
` work you speak of?" `
` `
` "I made myself some excellent ones, which would be `
` universally preferred to all others if once known. You are `
` aware what huge whitings are served to us on maigre days. `
` Well, I selected the cartilages of the heads of these `
` fishes, and you can scarcely imagine the delight with which `
` I welcomed the arrival of each Wednesday, Friday, and `
` Saturday, as affording me the means of increasing my stock `
` of pens; for I will freely confess that my historical labors `
` have been my greatest solace and relief. While retracing the `
` past, I forget the present; and traversing at will the path `
` of history I cease to remember that I am myself a prisoner." `
` `
` "But the ink," said Dantes; "of what did you make your ink?" `
` `
` "There was formerly a fireplace in my dungeon," replied `
` Faria, "but it was closed up long ere I became an occupant `
` of this prison. Still, it must have been many years in use, `
` for it was thickly covered with a coating of soot; this soot `
` I dissolved in a portion of the wine brought to me every `
` Sunday, and I assure you a better ink cannot be desired. For `
` very important notes, for which closer attention is `
` required, I pricked one of my fingers, and wrote with my own `
` blood." `
` `
` "And when," asked Dantes, "may I see all this?" `
` `
` "Whenever you please," replied the abbe. `
` `
` "Oh, then let it be directly!" exclaimed the young man. `
` `
` "Follow me, then," said the abbe, as he re-entered the `
` subterranean passage, in which he soon disappeared, followed `
` by Dantes. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 17 `
` The Abbe's Chamber. `
` `
` After having passed with tolerable ease through the `
` subterranean passage, which, however, did not admit of their `
` holding themselves erect, the two friends reached the `
` further end of the corridor, into which the abbe's cell `
` opened; from that point the passage became much narrower, `
` and barely permitted one to creep through on hands and `
` knees. The floor of the abbe's cell was paved, and it had `
` been by raising one of the stones in the most obscure corner `
` that Faria had to been able to commence the laborious task `
` of which Dantes had witnessed the completion. `
` `
` As he entered the chamber of his friend, Dantes cast around `
` one eager and searching glance in quest of the expected `
` marvels, but nothing more than common met his view. `
` `
` "It is well," said the abbe; "we have some hours before us `
` -- it is now just a quarter past twelve o'clock." `
` Instinctively Dantes turned round to observe by what watch `
` or clock the abbe had been able so accurately to specify the `
` hour. `
` `
` "Look at this ray of light which enters by my window," said `
` the abbe, "and then observe the lines traced on the wall. `
` Well, by means of these lines, which are in accordance with `
` the double motion of the earth, and the ellipse it describes `
` round the sun, I am enabled to ascertain the precise hour `
` with more minuteness than if I possessed a watch; for that `
` might be broken or deranged in its movements, while the sun `
` and earth never vary in their appointed paths." `
` `
` This last explanation was wholly lost upon Dantes, who had `
` always imagined, from seeing the sun rise from behind the `
` mountains and set in the Mediterranean, that it moved, and `
` not the earth. A double movement of the globe he inhabited, `
` and of which he could feel nothing, appeared to him `
` perfectly impossible. Each word that fell from his `
` companion's lips seemed fraught with the mysteries of `
` science, as worthy of digging out as the gold and diamonds `
` in the mines of Guzerat and Golconda, which he could just `
` recollect having visited during a voyage made in his `
` earliest youth. `
` `
` "Come," said he to the abbe, "I am anxious to see your `
` treasures." `
` `
` The abbe smiled, and, proceeding to the disused fireplace, `
` raised, by the help of his chisel, a long stone, which had `
` doubtless been the hearth, beneath which was a cavity of `
` considerable depth, serving as a safe depository of the `
` articles mentioned to Dantes. `
` `
` "What do you wish to see first?" asked the abbe. `
` `
` "Oh, your great work on the monarchy of Italy!" `
` `
` Faria then drew forth from his hiding-place three or four `
` rolls of linen, laid one over the other, like folds of `
` papyrus. These rolls consisted of slips of cloth about four `
` inches wide and eighteen long; they were all carefully `
` numbered and closely covered with writing, so legible that `
` Dantes could easily read it, as well as make out the sense `
` -- it being in Italian, a language he, as a Provencal, `
` perfectly understood. `
` `
` "There," said he, "there is the work complete. I wrote the `
` word finis at the end of the sixty-eighth strip about a week `
` ago. I have torn up two of my shirts, and as many `
` handkerchiefs as I was master of, to complete the precious `
` pages. Should I ever get out of prison and find in all Italy `
` a printer courageous enough to publish what I have composed, `
` my literary reputation is forever secured." `
` `
` "I see," answered Dantes. "Now let me behold the curious `
` pens with which you have written your work." `
` `
` "Look!" said Faria, showing to the young man a slender stick `
` about six inches long, and much resembling the size of the `
` handle of a fine painting-brush, to the end of which was `
` tied, by a piece of thread, one of those cartilages of which `
` the abbe had before spoken to Dantes; it was pointed, and `
` divided at the nib like an ordinary pen. Dantes examined it `
` with intense admiration, then looked around to see the `
` instrument with which it had been shaped so correctly into `
` form. `
` `
` "Ah, yes," said Faria; "the penknife. That's my masterpiece. `
` I made it, as well as this larger knife, out of an old iron `
` candlestick." The penknife was sharp and keen as a razor; as `
` for the other knife, it would serve a double purpose, and `
` with it one could cut and thrust. `
` `
` Dantes examined the various articles shown to him with the `
` same attention that he had bestowed on the curiosities and `
` strange tools exhibited in the shops at Marseilles as the `
` works of the savages in the South Seas from whence they had `
` been brought by the different trading vessels. `
` `
` "As for the ink," said Faria, "I told you how I managed to `
` obtain that -- and I only just make it from time to time, as `
` I require it." `
` `
` "One thing still puzzles me," observed Dantes, "and that is `
` how you managed to do all this by daylight?" `
` `
` "I worked at night also," replied Faria. `
` `
` "Night! -- why, for heaven's sake, are your eyes like cats', `
` that you can see to work in the dark?" `
` `
` "Indeed they are not; but God his supplied man with the `
` intelligence that enables him to overcome the limitations of `
` natural conditions. I furnished myself with a light." `
` `
` "You did? Pray tell me how." `
` `
` "I separated the fat from the meat served to me, melted it, `
` and so made oil -- here is my lamp." So saying, the abbe `
` exhibited a sort of torch very similar to those used in `
` public illuminations. `
` `
` "But light?" `
` `
` "Here are two flints and a piece of burnt linen." `
` `
` "And matches?" `
` `
`
` has enabled me to recall their contents as readily as though `
` the pages were open before me. I could recite you the whole `
` of Thucydides, Xenophon, Plutarch, Titus Livius, Tacitus, `
` Strada, Jornandes, Dante, Montaigne, Shakespeare, Spinoza, `
` Machiavelli, and Bossuet. I name only the most important." `
` `
` "You are, doubtless, acquainted with a variety of languages, `
` so as to have been able to read all these?" `
` `
` "Yes, I speak five of the modern tongues -- that is to say, `
` German, French, Italian, English, and Spanish; by the aid of `
` ancient Greek I learned modern Greek -- I don't speak it so `
` well as I could wish, but I am still trying to improve `
` myself." `
` `
` "Improve yourself!" repeated Dantes; "why, how can you `
` manage to do so?" `
` `
` "Why, I made a vocabulary of the words I knew; turned, `
` returned, and arranged them, so as to enable me to express `
` my thoughts through their medium. I know nearly one thousand `
` words, which is all that is absolutely necessary, although I `
` believe there are nearly one hundred thousand in the `
` dictionaries. I cannot hope to be very fluent, but I `
` certainly should have no difficulty in explaining my wants `
` and wishes; and that would be quite as much as I should ever `
` require." `
` `
` Stronger grew the wonder of Dantes, who almost fancied he `
` had to do with one gifted with supernatural powers; still `
` hoping to find some imperfection which might bring him down `
` to a level with human beings, he added, "Then if you were `
` not furnished with pens, how did you manage to write the `
` work you speak of?" `
` `
` "I made myself some excellent ones, which would be `
` universally preferred to all others if once known. You are `
` aware what huge whitings are served to us on maigre days. `
` Well, I selected the cartilages of the heads of these `
` fishes, and you can scarcely imagine the delight with which `
` I welcomed the arrival of each Wednesday, Friday, and `
` Saturday, as affording me the means of increasing my stock `
` of pens; for I will freely confess that my historical labors `
` have been my greatest solace and relief. While retracing the `
` past, I forget the present; and traversing at will the path `
` of history I cease to remember that I am myself a prisoner." `
` `
` "But the ink," said Dantes; "of what did you make your ink?" `
` `
` "There was formerly a fireplace in my dungeon," replied `
` Faria, "but it was closed up long ere I became an occupant `
` of this prison. Still, it must have been many years in use, `
` for it was thickly covered with a coating of soot; this soot `
` I dissolved in a portion of the wine brought to me every `
` Sunday, and I assure you a better ink cannot be desired. For `
` very important notes, for which closer attention is `
` required, I pricked one of my fingers, and wrote with my own `
` blood." `
` `
` "And when," asked Dantes, "may I see all this?" `
` `
` "Whenever you please," replied the abbe. `
` `
` "Oh, then let it be directly!" exclaimed the young man. `
` `
` "Follow me, then," said the abbe, as he re-entered the `
` subterranean passage, in which he soon disappeared, followed `
` by Dantes. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 17 `
` The Abbe's Chamber. `
` `
` After having passed with tolerable ease through the `
` subterranean passage, which, however, did not admit of their `
` holding themselves erect, the two friends reached the `
` further end of the corridor, into which the abbe's cell `
` opened; from that point the passage became much narrower, `
` and barely permitted one to creep through on hands and `
` knees. The floor of the abbe's cell was paved, and it had `
` been by raising one of the stones in the most obscure corner `
` that Faria had to been able to commence the laborious task `
` of which Dantes had witnessed the completion. `
` `
` As he entered the chamber of his friend, Dantes cast around `
` one eager and searching glance in quest of the expected `
` marvels, but nothing more than common met his view. `
` `
` "It is well," said the abbe; "we have some hours before us `
` -- it is now just a quarter past twelve o'clock." `
` Instinctively Dantes turned round to observe by what watch `
` or clock the abbe had been able so accurately to specify the `
` hour. `
` `
` "Look at this ray of light which enters by my window," said `
` the abbe, "and then observe the lines traced on the wall. `
` Well, by means of these lines, which are in accordance with `
` the double motion of the earth, and the ellipse it describes `
` round the sun, I am enabled to ascertain the precise hour `
` with more minuteness than if I possessed a watch; for that `
` might be broken or deranged in its movements, while the sun `
` and earth never vary in their appointed paths." `
` `
` This last explanation was wholly lost upon Dantes, who had `
` always imagined, from seeing the sun rise from behind the `
` mountains and set in the Mediterranean, that it moved, and `
` not the earth. A double movement of the globe he inhabited, `
` and of which he could feel nothing, appeared to him `
` perfectly impossible. Each word that fell from his `
` companion's lips seemed fraught with the mysteries of `
` science, as worthy of digging out as the gold and diamonds `
` in the mines of Guzerat and Golconda, which he could just `
` recollect having visited during a voyage made in his `
` earliest youth. `
` `
` "Come," said he to the abbe, "I am anxious to see your `
` treasures." `
` `
` The abbe smiled, and, proceeding to the disused fireplace, `
` raised, by the help of his chisel, a long stone, which had `
` doubtless been the hearth, beneath which was a cavity of `
` considerable depth, serving as a safe depository of the `
` articles mentioned to Dantes. `
` `
` "What do you wish to see first?" asked the abbe. `
` `
` "Oh, your great work on the monarchy of Italy!" `
` `
` Faria then drew forth from his hiding-place three or four `
` rolls of linen, laid one over the other, like folds of `
` papyrus. These rolls consisted of slips of cloth about four `
` inches wide and eighteen long; they were all carefully `
` numbered and closely covered with writing, so legible that `
` Dantes could easily read it, as well as make out the sense `
` -- it being in Italian, a language he, as a Provencal, `
` perfectly understood. `
` `
` "There," said he, "there is the work complete. I wrote the `
` word finis at the end of the sixty-eighth strip about a week `
` ago. I have torn up two of my shirts, and as many `
` handkerchiefs as I was master of, to complete the precious `
` pages. Should I ever get out of prison and find in all Italy `
` a printer courageous enough to publish what I have composed, `
` my literary reputation is forever secured." `
` `
` "I see," answered Dantes. "Now let me behold the curious `
` pens with which you have written your work." `
` `
` "Look!" said Faria, showing to the young man a slender stick `
` about six inches long, and much resembling the size of the `
` handle of a fine painting-brush, to the end of which was `
` tied, by a piece of thread, one of those cartilages of which `
` the abbe had before spoken to Dantes; it was pointed, and `
` divided at the nib like an ordinary pen. Dantes examined it `
` with intense admiration, then looked around to see the `
` instrument with which it had been shaped so correctly into `
` form. `
` `
` "Ah, yes," said Faria; "the penknife. That's my masterpiece. `
` I made it, as well as this larger knife, out of an old iron `
` candlestick." The penknife was sharp and keen as a razor; as `
` for the other knife, it would serve a double purpose, and `
` with it one could cut and thrust. `
` `
` Dantes examined the various articles shown to him with the `
` same attention that he had bestowed on the curiosities and `
` strange tools exhibited in the shops at Marseilles as the `
` works of the savages in the South Seas from whence they had `
` been brought by the different trading vessels. `
` `
` "As for the ink," said Faria, "I told you how I managed to `
` obtain that -- and I only just make it from time to time, as `
` I require it." `
` `
` "One thing still puzzles me," observed Dantes, "and that is `
` how you managed to do all this by daylight?" `
` `
` "I worked at night also," replied Faria. `
` `
` "Night! -- why, for heaven's sake, are your eyes like cats', `
` that you can see to work in the dark?" `
` `
` "Indeed they are not; but God his supplied man with the `
` intelligence that enables him to overcome the limitations of `
` natural conditions. I furnished myself with a light." `
` `
` "You did? Pray tell me how." `
` `
` "I separated the fat from the meat served to me, melted it, `
` and so made oil -- here is my lamp." So saying, the abbe `
` exhibited a sort of torch very similar to those used in `
` public illuminations. `
` `
` "But light?" `
` `
` "Here are two flints and a piece of burnt linen." `
` `
` "And matches?" `
` `
`