Part 30

Je me trompe, il en est plus proche. Devant le sentiment du sublime, les inégalités se nivellent. La grandeur des émotions élève aux mêmes sommets le paysan et le poëte, et ici l'allégorie sert encore le paysan. Elle seule, au défaut de l'extase, peut peindre le ciel; car elle ne prétend pas le peindre; en l'exprimant par une figure, elle le déclare invisible, comme un soleil ardent que nous ne pouvons contempler en face et dont nous regardons l'image dans un miroir ou dans un ruisseau. Le monde ineffable garde ainsi tout son mystère; avertis par l'allégorie, nous supposons des splendeurs au delà de toutes les splendeurs qu'on nous offre; nous sentons derrière les beautés qu'on nous ouvre l'infini qu'on nous cache, et la cité idéale, évanouie aussitôt qu'apparue, cesse de ressembler au White-Hall grossier, édifié pour Dieu par Milton. Lisez cette arrivée des pèlerins dans la terre céleste; sainte Thérèse n'a rien de plus beau: «Ils entendaient continuellement le chant des oiseaux, et voyaient chaque jour les fleurs paraître sur le sol, et ils entendaient la voix de la tourterelle dans les champs. En cette terre le soleil brille nuit et jour. Et déjà ils étaient en vue de la cité où ils allaient, et aussi quelques-uns des habitants venaient à leur rencontre. Car les bienheureux resplendissants se promenaient souvent en cette contrée, parce qu'elle était sur la frontière du ciel. Ils entendaient des voix de la cité, des voix éclatantes qui disaient: _Dites à la fille de Sion_: _Regarde, ton salut vient_; _regarde, sa récompense est avec lui_. Et tous les habitants de la cité les appelaient les saints, les rachetés du Seigneur.--Et s'approchant de la cité, ils en eurent une vue encore plus parfaite. Elle était bâtie de perles et de pierres précieuses, et aussi les rues étaient pavées d'or, tellement que par l'éclat naturel de la cité, et à cause de la splendeur que les rayons du soleil y faisaient en se réfléchissant, Chrétien tomba malade de désir. Plein-d'Espoir eut aussi un accès ou deux du même mal. C'est pourquoi ils demeurèrent couchés pendant un temps, criant à cause de leurs angoisses: _Si vous voyez mon bien-aimé, dites-lui que je suis malade d'amour[425]!_

«Ils traversèrent enfin la rivière de la Mort, et commencèrent à monter ayant quitté leurs vêtements mortels. Et je vis, comme ils avançaient, que deux hommes vinrent à leur rencontre avec des vêtements qui brillaient comme de l'or; leurs visages aussi brillaient comme la lumière. Alors ils avancèrent avec beaucoup d'agilité et de vitesse, quoique la base sur laquelle la cité était bâtie fût plus haute que les nuages. Ils montèrent donc à travers les régions de l'air, se parlant doucement à mesure qu'ils allaient, étant réconfortés parce qu'ils avaient traversé sans accident la rivière et parce qu'ils avaient de si glorieux compagnons pour les conduire.

«L'entretien qu'ils avaient avec les bienheureux resplendissants était sur la gloire de la cité. Et ceux-ci leur disaient que sa gloire et sa beauté étaient inexprimables. Là, disaient-ils, est le mont Sion, la Jérusalem céleste et l'innombrable assemblée des anges et des esprits des hommes justes devenus parfaits. Vous allez entrer dans le paradis de Dieu, où vous verrez l'arbre de la vie, et vous mangerez ses fruits, qui ne se flétrissent jamais. Et quand vous y serez, vous aurez des robes blanches qu'on vous donnera, et vous irez et vous parlerez tous les jours avec le roi, oui, tous les jours de l'éternité[426].

«Puis ils vinrent à rencontrer plusieurs des trompettes du roi habillés de vêtements blancs et resplendissants, qui de leurs sons hauts et mélodieux faisaient retentir même le ciel. Ceux-ci les entourèrent de chaque côté; quelques-uns allaient devant, quelques-uns derrière, quelques-uns à main droite, quelques-uns à main gauche, continuellement sonnant, à mesure qu'ils montaient, avec de hautes notes mélodieuses, en sorte que la vue, pour ceux qui pouvaient l'avoir, était comme si le ciel lui-même fût descendu à leur rencontre[427].... Et à ce moment ces deux hommes étaient, pour ainsi dire, déjà dans le ciel avant d'y être entrés, étant comme engloutis par la contemplation des anges et par le ravissement de leurs notes mélodieuses. Là aussi ils avaient devant les yeux la cité elle-même, et pensaient que toutes les cloches se fussent mises à sonner pour leur donner la bienvenue. Mais au-dessus de tout étaient les ardentes et joyeuses pensées qui leur venaient, sachant qu'ils allaient habiter là en telle compagnie, et cela pour toujours. Ô quelle langue ou quelle plume peut exprimer leur glorieuse joie[428]!--Et je vis dans mon rêve que ces deux hommes arrivaient à la porte. Et voici, comme ils entraient, ils furent transfigurés; et on leur mit un vêtement qui brillait comme l'or. Et plusieurs vinrent à leur rencontre avec des harpes et des couronnes, et leur donnèrent les harpes pour chanter les louanges et les couronnes en signe d'honneur. Et j'entendis dans mon rêve qu'il leur fut dit: Entrez dans la joie de votre Seigneur.--À ce moment, comme les portes s'ouvraient pour laisser entrer ces hommes, je regardai après eux et je vis la cité briller comme le soleil. Les rues aussi étaient pavées d'or, et beaucoup d'hommes y marchaient avec des couronnes sur leurs têtes, des palmes dans les mains, des harpes d'or pour chanter des louanges. Il y en avait aussi qui avaient des ailes, et se répondaient l'un à l'autre sans interruption, disant: Saint, Saint, Saint est le Seigneur.--Et ensuite ils fermèrent les portes. Quand j'eus vu cela, je souhaitai d'être avec eux[429].»

Il fut emprisonné douze ans et demi; dans son cachot, il fabriquait des lacets ferrés pour se nourrir lui et sa famille; il mourut à soixante ans en 1688. À côté de lui Milton durait obscur et aveugle. Les deux derniers poëtes de la Réforme survivaient ainsi, au milieu de la froideur classique qui séchait alors la littérature anglaise, et de la débauche mondaine qui corrompait alors la morale anglaise. «Hypocrites tondus, chanteurs de psaumes, bigots moroses,» voilà les noms dont on outrageait les hommes qui avaient réformé les moeurs et reforgé la constitution de l'Angleterre. Mais tout opprimés et insultés qu'ils étaient, leur oeuvre se continuait d'elle-même et sans bruit sous terre; car le modèle idéal qu'ils avaient érigé était, après tout, celui que suggérait le climat et que réclamait la race. Par degrés le puritanisme allait se rapprocher du monde, et le monde se rapprocher du puritanisme. La Restauration allait se discréditer, la Révolution allait se faire, et sous le progrès insensible de la sympathie nationale, comme sous l'essor incessant de la réflexion publique, les partis et les doctrines allaient se rallier autour du protestantisme libre et moral.

[Note 411: Also I should, at these years, be greatly troubled with the thoughts of the fearful torments of hell-fire, still fearing that it would be my lot to be found at last among those devils and hellish fiends, who are there bound down with the chains and bonds of darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

These things, I say, when I was but a child but nine or ten years old, did so distress my soul, that then, in the midst of my many sports and childish vanities, amidst my vain companions, I was often much cast down and afflicted in my mind therewith, yet could I not let go my sins. Yea, I was also then so overcome with despair of life and heaven, that I should often wish either that there had been no hell, or that I had been a devil, supposing they were only tormentors, that if it must needs be that I went thither, I might be rather a tormentor than be tormented myself.]

[Note 412: Another time, being in the field with my companions, it chanced that an adder passed over the highway, so I, having a stick, struck her over the back, and having stunned her, I forced open her mouth with my stick, and plucked her sting out with my fingers, by which act, had not God been merciful to me, I might, by my desperateness, have brought myself to my end.]

[Note 413: But withal I was so overrun with the spirit of superstition, that I adored, and that with great devotion, even all things (both the high-place, priest, clerk, vestment, service, and what else) belonging to the church; counting all things holy that were therein contained, and especially the priest and clerk most happy, and, without doubt, greatly blessed, because they were the servants, as I then thought, of God, and were principal in the holy temple, to do his work therein. This conceit grew so strong upon my spirit, that had I but seen a priest (though never so sordid and debauched in his life), I should find my spirit fall under him, reverence him, and knit unto him; yea, I thought for the love I did bear unto them (supposing they were the ministers of God), I could have laid down at their feet, and have been trampled upon by them--their name, their garb, and work did so intoxicate and bewitch me.]

[Note 414: Now you must know, that before this I had taken much delight in ringing, but my conscience beginning to be tender, I thought such practice was but vain, and therefore forced myself to leave it; yet my mind hankered; wherefore I would go to the steeple-house and look on, though I durst not ring; but I thought this did not become religion neither; yet I forced myself and would look on still. But quickly after, I began to think, 'How, if one of the bells should fall?' Then I chose to stand under a main beam that lay over-thwart the steeple, from side to side, thinking here I might stand sure; but then I thought again, should the bell fall with a swing, it might first hit the wall, and then rebounding upon me, might kill me for all this beam. This made me stand in the steeple-door; and now, thought I, I am safe enough; for if a bell should then fall, I can slip out behind these thick walls, and so be preserved notwithstanding. So after this I would yet go to see them ring, but would not go any farther than the steeple-door; but then it came into my head, 'How, if the steeple itself should fall?' And this thought (it may, for aught I know, when I stood and looked on) did continually so shake my mind, that I durst not stand at the steeple-door any longer, but was forced to flee, for fear the steeple should fall upon my head.]

[Note 415: In these days, when I have heard others talk of what was the sin against the Holy Ghost, then would the tempter so provoke me to desire to sin that sin, that I was as if I could not, must not, neither should be quiet until I had committed it; now no sin would serve but that: if it were to be committed by speaking of such a word, then I have been as if my mouth would have spoken that word whether I would or no; and in so strong a measure was the temptation upon me, that often I have been ready to clap my hands under my chin, to hold my mouth from opening; at other times, to leap with my head downward into some muck-hill hole, to keep my mouth from speaking.]

[Note 416: But hold, it lasted not, for before I had well dined, the trouble began to go off my mind, and my heart returned to its old course; but oh, how glad was I that this trouble was gone from me, and that the fire was put out, that I might sin again without control! Wherefore, when I had satisfied nature with my food, I shook the sermon out of my mind, and to my old custom of sports and gaming I returned with great delight.

But the same day, as I was in the midst of a game of cat, and having struck it one blow from the hole, just as I was about to strike it the second time, a voice did suddenly dart from heaven into my soul, which said, 'Wilt thou leave thy sins and go to heaven, or have thy sins and go to hell?' At this I was put to an exceeding maze; wherefore, leaving my cat upon the ground, I looked up to heaven, and was as if I had, with the eyes of my understanding, seen the Lord Jesus looked down upon me, as being very hotly displeased with me, and as if he did severely threaten me with some grievous punishment for those and other ungodly practices.]

[Note 417: At this reproof I was silenced, and put to secret shame, and that, too, as I thought, before the God of heaven; wherefore, while I stood there, hanging down my head, I wished that I might be a little child again, that my father might learn me to speak without this wicked way of swearing; for, thought I, I am so accustomed to it, that it is in vain to think of a reformation, for that could never be. But how it came to pass I know not, I did from this time forward so leave my swearing, that it was a great wonder to myself to observe it; and whereas before I knew not how to speak unless I put an oath before, and another behind, to make my words have authority, now I could without it speak better, and with more pleasantness, than ever I could before.]

[Note 418: Voici l'abrégé des événements: Du haut du ciel, une voix a crié vengeance contre la cité de la Destruction où vit un pécheur nommé Chrétien. Effrayé, il se lève parmi les railleries de ses voisins et part pour n'être point dévoré par le feu qui consumera les criminels. Un homme secourable, Évangéliste, lui montre le droit chemin. Un homme perfide, Sagesse-Mondaine, essaye de l'en détourner. Son camarade Maniable, qui l'avait d'abord suivi, s'embourbe dans le marais du Découragement et le quitte. Pour lui, il avance bravement à travers l'eau trouble et la boue glissante, et parvient à la porte étroite, où un sage interprète l'instruit par des spectacles sensibles et lui indique la voie de la cité céleste. Il passe devant une croix et le lourd fardeau des péchés qu'il portait à ses épaules se détache et tombe. Il grimpe péniblement la colline escarpée de la Difficulté, et parvient dans un superbe château, où Vigilant, le gardien, le remet aux mains de ses sages filles, Piété, Prudence, qui l'avertissent et l'arment contre les monstres d'enfer. Il trouve la route barrée par un de ces démons, Apollyon, qui lui ordonne d'abjurer l'obéissance du roi Céleste. Après un long combat, il le tue. Cependant la route se rétrécit, les ombres tombent plus épaisses, les flammes sulfureuses montent le long du chemin: c'est la vallée de l'Ombre de la Mort. Il la franchit, et arrive dans la ville de la Vanité, foire immense de trafics, de dissimulations et de comédies, où il passe les yeux baissés sans vouloir prendre part aux fêtes ni aux mensonges. Les gens du lieu le chargent de coups, le jettent en prison, le condamnent comme traître et révolté, brûlent son compagnon Fidèle. Échappé de leurs mains, il tombe dans celles d'un Géant, Désespoir, qui le meurtrit, le laisse sans pain dans un cachot infect, et, lui présentant des poignards et des cordes, l'exhorte à se délivrer de tant de malheurs. Il parvient enfin sur les montagnes Heureuses, d'où il aperçoit la divine cité. Pour y entrer, il ne reste à franchir qu'un courant profond où l'on perd pied, où l'eau trouble la vue, et qu'on appelle la rivière de la Mort.]

[Note 419: I saw then in my dream, so far as this valley reached, there was on the right hand a very deep ditch. That ditch is it into which the blind have led the blind in all ages, and have both there miserably perished. Again, behold on the left hand, there was a very dangerous quagg into which, if even a good man falls, he finds no bottom for his foot to stand on....

The pathway was here also exceedingly narrow, and therefore good Christian was the more put to it: for when he sought in the dark to shun the ditch on the one hand, he was ready to top over into the mire on the other; also, when he sought to escape the mire, without great carefulness he would be ready to fall into the ditch. Then he went on, and I heard him here sigh bitterly: for, besides the danger mentioned above, the pathway was here so dark, that often times when he lift up his foot to set forward, he knew not where or upon what he should set it next.

About the midst of this valley, I perceived the mouth of Hell to be; and it stood also hard by the way-side. Now, thought Christian, what shall I do? And ever and anon the flame and smoke would come out in such abundance, with sparks and hideous noises, that he was forced to put up his sword, and betake himself to another weapon called _All-prayer_: so he cried in my hearing: «O Lord, I beseech thee; deliver my soul!»--Thus he went a great while. Yet still the flame would be reaching toward him; also he heard doleful voices, and rushing to and fro, so that sometimes he thought he would be torn in pieces, or trodden down like mire in the street....]

[Note 420: Then the water stood in my eyes, and I asked further: But Lord, may such a great sinner as I am be indeed accepted of thee, and be saved by thee? And I heard him say: And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.... And now was my heart full of joy, mine eyes full of tears, and mine affections running over with love to the name, people, and ways of Jesus Christ....

It made me see that all the world, notwithstanding all the righteousness thereof, is in a state of condemnation. It made me see that God the Father, though he be just, can justly justifie the coming sinner. It made me greatly ashamed of the vileness of my former life, and confounded me with the sense of my own ignorance; for there never came thought into my heart before now that shewed me so the beauty of Jesus Christ. It made me love an holy life, and long to do something for the honour and glory of the name of the Lord Jesus. Yea, I thought, that had I now a thousand gallons of blood in my body, I could spill it all for the sake of the Lord Jesus.]

[Note 421: Then the interpreter took Christian by the hand, and led him into a very large parlour that was full of dust, because never swept; the which, after he had reviewed a little while, the interpreter called for a man to sweep. Now, when he began to sweep, the dust began so abundantly to fly about, that Christian had almost therewith been choked. Then said the interpreter to a damsel that stood by: Bring hither water and sprinkle the room; the which when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with pleasure.

Then said Christian: What means this?

The interpreter answered: This parlour is the heart of a man that was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the Gospel--the dust is his original sin, and inward corruptions, that have defiled the whole man. He that began to sweep at first is the Law; but she that brought that water, and did sprinkle it, is the Gospel. Now, whereas thou sawest that, so soon as the first began to sweep, the dust did so fly about, that the room by him could not be cleansed; but that thou wast almost choked therewith,--this is to show thee that the Law, instead of cleansing the heart, by its working, from sin, doth revive, put strength into, and increase it in the soul, even as it doth discover and forbid it, for it doth not give power to subdue it.

Again, as thou sawest the damsel sprinkle the room with water, upon which it was cleansed with pleasure,--this is to show thee that when the Gospel comes in and the sweet and precious influences thereof to the heart, then, I say, even as thou sawest the damsel lay the dust by sprinkling the floor with water, so is sin vanquished and subdued, and the soul made clean through the faith of it, and consequently fit for the King of Glory to inhabit.]

[Note 422: Voici une autre de ces allégories, presque spirituelle, tant elle est juste et simple.

Now, I saw in my dream that at the end of this valley lay blood, bones, ashes, and mingled bodies of men, even of pilgrims that had gone this way formerly. And while I was musing what would be the reason, I espied a little before me a cave where two giants, Pope and Pagan, dwelt in old times, by whose power and tyranny the men whose bones, blood, ashes, etc., lay there, were cruelly put to death. But by this place Christian went without much danger, whereat I somewhat wondered. But I have learned since that Pagan has been dead many a day; and as for the other, though he yet be alive, he is, by reason of age, and also of the many shrewd brushes that he has met with in his younger days, grown so crazy and stiff in his joints, that he can now do little more than sit in his cave's mouth, grinning at pilgrims as they go by, and biting his nails, because he cannot come at them.]

[Note 423: Par exemple, l'oeuvre de Hollar, _Cités d'Allemagne_.]

[Note 424: Now, Giant Despair had a wife, and her name was Diffidence: so when he was gone to bed, he told his wife what he had done, to wit, that he had taken a couple of prisoners and cast them into his dungeon, for trespassing on his grounds. Then he asked her also what he had best to do further to them. So she asked him what they were, whence they came, and whither they were bound, and he told her. Then she counselled him, that when he arose in the morning, he should beat them without mercy. So when he arose, he getteth him a grievous crab-tree cudgel, and goes down into the dungeon to them, and there first falls to rating them as if they were dogs, although they never gave him a word of distaste: then he falls upon them, and beats them fearfully, in such sort that they were not able to help themselves, or turn upon the floor.]

[Note 425: Yea, here they heard continually the singing of birds, and saw every day the flowers appear in the earth, and heard the voice of the turtle in the land. In this country the sun shineth night and day.... Here they were within sight of the city they were going to; also here met them some of the inhabitants thereof: for in this land the shining ones commonly walked, because it was upon the borders of Heaven.... Here they heard voices from out of the city, loud voices, saying, 'Say ye to the daughter of Zion, behold thy salvation cometh! Behold, his reward is with him!' Here all the inhabitants of the country called them 'The holy people, the redeemed of the Lord, sought out.'

Now, as they walked in this land, they had more rejoicing than in parts more remote from the kingdom to which they were bound; and drawing nearer to the city yet, they had a more perfect view thereof: it was built of pearls and precious stones, also the streets thereof were paved with gold; so that, by reason of the natural glory of the city, and the reflexion of the sunbeams upon it, Christian with desire fell sick; Hopeful also had a fit or two of the same disease: wherefore here they lay by it awhile, crying out, because of their pangs, 'If you see my Beloved, tell him that I am sick of love.']

[Note 426: They therefore went up here with much agility and speed, though the foundation upon which the city was framed was higher than the clouds; they therefore went up through the region of the air, sweetly talking as they went, being comforted because they got safely over the river, and had such glorious companions to attend them.

The talk that they had with the shining ones was about the glory of the place; who told them, that the beauty and glory of it was inexpressible. There, said they, is 'Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect.' You are going now, said they, to the Paradise of God, wherein you shall see the tree of life, and eat of the never-fading fruits thereof; and when you come there, you shall have white robes given you, and your walk and talk shall be every day with the King, even all the days of eternity.]

[Note 427: There came also out at this time to meet them several of the king's trumpeters, clothed in white and shining raiment, who, with melodious and loud noises, made even the heavens to echo with their sound. These trumpeters saluted Christian and his fellow with ten thousand welcomes from the world; and this they did with shouting and sound of trumpet.