Madame Bovary - Penn State University

FlaubertThe theatre was beginning to fill; opera-glasses were taken It was the cross-roads of a wood, with a fountain shaded byfrom their cases, and the subscribers, catching sight of one an oak to the left. Peasants and lords with plaids on theiranother, were bowing. They came to seek relaxation in the shoulders were singing a hunting-song together; then a captainsuddenly came on, who evoked the spirit of evil by lift-fine arts after the anxieties of business; but “business” was notforgotten; they still talked cottons, spirits of wine, or indigo. ing both his arms to heaven. Another appeared; they wentThe heads of old men were to be seen, inexpressive and peaceful,with their hair and complexions looking like silver medportedto the reading of her youth, into the midst of Walteraway, and the hunters started afresh. She felt herself transalstarnished by steam of lead. The young beaux were struttingabout in the pit, showing in the opening of their waist-Scotch bagpipes re-echoing over the heather. Then her remem-Scott. She seemed to hear through the mist the sound of thecoats their pink or applegreen cravats, and Madame Bovary brance of the novel helping her to understand the libretto,from above admired them leaning on their canes with golden she followed the story phrase by phrase, while vague thoughtsknobs in the open palm of their yellow gloves.that came back to her dispersed at once again with the burstsNow the lights of the orchestra were lit, the lustre, let down of music. She gave herself up to the lullaby of the melodies,from the ceiling, throwing by the glimmering of its facets a and felt all her being vibrate as if the violin bows were drawnsudden gaiety over the theatre; then the musicians came in over her nerves. She had not eyes enough to look at the costumes,the scenery, the actors, the painted trees that shookone after the other; and first there was the protracted hubbubof the basses grumbling, violins squeaking, cornets trumpeting,flutes and flageolets fifing. But three knocks were heard all those imaginary things that floated amid the harmony aswhen anyone walked, and the velvet caps, cloaks, swords—on the stage, a rolling of drums began, the brass instruments in the atmosphere of another world. But a young womanplayed some chords, and the curtain rising, discovered a country-scene.was left alone, and the flute was heard like the murmur ofstepped forward, throwing a purse to a squire in green. Shea191