Christ in Flanders

De Balzac Honore, Ellen Marriage

Description

This short tale is part of the "Philosophical Studies" section of Honore de Balzac's The Human Comedy. Almost fable-like in tone, it recounts a boat ride carrying a group of passengers that represent a broad cross-section of society. When a sudden storm hits, chaos ensues, and each passenger's reaction speaks volumes about his or her moral compass.

Sujets

• Short story

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 juillet 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776539536
• Langue: English

Extrait

CHRIST IN FLANDERS
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HONORE DE BALZAC
Translated by
ELLEN MARRIAGE
 
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Christ in Flanders First published in 1831 Epub ISBN 978-1-77653-953-6 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77653-954-3 © 2014 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
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To Marcelline Desbordes-Valmore, a daughter of Flanders, of whom these modern days may well be proud, I dedicate this quaint legend of old Flanders.
DE BALZAC.
Christ in Flanders
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At a dimly remote period in the history of Brabant, communicationbetween the Island of Cadzand and the Flemish coast was kept up by aboat which carried passengers from one shore to the other. Middelburg,the chief town in the island, destined to become so famous in the annalsof Protestantism, at that time only numbered some two or three hundredhearths; and the prosperous town of Ostend was an obscure haven, astraggling village where pirates dwelt in security among the fishermenand the few poor merchants who lived in the place.
But though the town of Ostend consisted altogether of some score ofhouses and three hundred cottages, huts or hovels built of the driftwoodof wrecked vessels, it nevertheless rejoiced in the possession of agovernor, a garrison, a forked gibbet, a convent, and a burgomaster, inshort, in all the institutions of an advanced civilization.
Who reigned over Brabant and Flanders in those days? On this pointtradition is mute. Let us confess at once that this tale savors stronglyof the marvelous, the mysterious, and the vague; elements which Flemishnarrators have infused into a story retailed so often to gatherings ofworkers on winter evenings, that the details vary widely in poetic meritand incongruity of detail. It has been told by every generation, handeddown by grandames at the fireside, narrated night and day, and thechronicle has changed its complexion somewhat in every age. Like somegreat building that has suffered many modifications of successivegenerations of architects, some sombre weather-beaten pile, the delightof a poet, the story would drive the commentator and the industriouswinnower of words, facts, and dates to despair. The narrator believes init, as all superstitious minds in Flanders likewise believe; and is nota whit wiser nor more credulous than his audience. But as it would beimpossible to make a harmony of all the different renderings, hereare the outlines of the story; stripped, it may be, of its picturesquequaintness, but with all its bold disregard of historical truth, and itsmoral t