Madame Bovary - Penn State University

FlaubertShe wished the horse to be sold; what she formerly liked now One day, when at the height of her illness, she had thoughtdispleased her. All her ideas seemed to be limited to the care herself dying, and had asked for the communion; and, whileof herself. She stayed in bed taking little meals, rang for the they were making the preparations in her room for the sacrament,while they were turning the night table covered withservant to inquire about her gruel or to chat with her. Thesnow on the market-roof threw a white, still light into the syrups into an altar, and while Felicite was strewing dahliaroom; then the rain began to fall; and Emma waited daily flowers on the floor, Emma felt some power passing overwith a mind full of eagerness for the inevitable return of some her that freed her from her pains, from all perception, fromtrifling events which nevertheless had no relation to her. The all feeling. Her body, relieved, no longer thought; anothermost important was the arrival of the “Hirondelle” in the life was beginning; it seemed to her that her being, mountingtoward God, would be annihilated in that love like aevening. Then the landlady shouted out, and other voicesanswered, while Hippolyte’s lantern, as he fetched the boxes burning incense that melts into vapour. The bed-clothes werefrom the boot, was like a star in the darkness. At mid-day sprinkled with holy water, the priest drew from the holyCharles came in; then he went out again; next she took some pyx the white wafer; and it was fainting with a celestial joybeef-tea, and towards five o’clock, as the day drew in, the that she put out her lips to accept the body of the Saviourchildren coming back from school, dragging their wooden presented to her. The curtains of the alcove floated gentlyshoes along the pavement, knocked the clapper of the shutterswith their rulers one after the other.ing on the night-table seemed to shine like dazzling halos.round her like clouds, and the rays of the two tapers burn-It was at this hour that Monsieur Bournisien came to see Then she let her head fall back, fancying she heard in spaceher. He inquired after her health, gave her news, exhorted her the music of seraphic harps, and perceived in an azure sky,to religion, in a coaxing little prattle that was not without its on a golden throne in the midst of saints holding greencharm. The mere thought of his cassock comforted her. palms, God the Father, resplendent with majesty, who with183