Madame Bovary - Penn State University

Madame Bovaryin the long-run, engender a certain mental libertinage, give “No matter,” said Homais. “I am surprised that in our days,rise to immodest thoughts and impure temptations. Such, at in this century of enlightenment, anyone should still persistany rate, is the opinion of all the Fathers. Finally,” he added, in proscribing an intellectual relaxation that is inoffensive,suddenly assuming a mystic tone of voice while he rolled a moralising, and sometimes even hygienic; is it not, doctor?”pinch of snuff between his fingers, “if the Church has condemnedthe theatre, she must be right; we must submit to sharing the same ideas, he wished to offend no one, or else“No doubt,” replied the doctor carelessly, either because,her decrees.”because he had not any ideas.“Why,” asked the druggist, “should she excommunicate actors?For formerly they openly took part in religious ceremo-thought fit to shoot a Parthian arrow.The conversation seemed at an end when the chemistnies. Yes, in the middle of the chancel they acted; they performeda kind of farce called ‘Mysteries,’ which often of-see dancers kicking about.”“I’ve known priests who put on ordinary clothes to go andfended against the laws of decency.”“Come, come!” said the cure.The ecclesiastic contented himself with uttering a groan, “Ah! I’ve known some!” And separating the words of hisand the chemist went on—sentence, Homais repeated, “I—have—known—some!”“It’s like it is in the Bible; there there are, you know, more “Well, they were wrong,” said Bournisien, resigned to anything.than one piquant detail, matters really libidinous!”“By Jove! they go in for more than that,” exclaimed theAnd on a gesture of irritation from Monsieur Bournisien— druggist.“Ah! you’ll admit that it is not a book to place in the hands “Sir!” replied the ecclesiastic, with such angry eyes that theof a young girl, and I should be sorry if Athalie—”druggist was intimidated by them.“But it is the Protestants, and not we,” cried the other impatiently,“who recommend the Bible.”toleration is the surest way to draw people to“I only mean to say,” he replied in less brutal a tone, “thatreligion.”188