Madame Bovary - Penn State University

Madame Bovaryetition of prayers and torches, beneath this oppressive odour ing for ever. At last a thud was heard; the ropes creaked asof wax and of cassocks. A fresh breeze was blowing; the rye they were drawn up. Then Bournisien took the spade handedand colza were sprouting, little dewdrops trembled at the roadsidesand on the hawthorn hedges. All sorts of joyous sounds kling water, with the right he vigorously threw in a largeto him by Lestiboudois; with his left hand all the time sprin-filled the air; the jolting of a cart rolling afar off in the ruts, spadeful; and the wood of the coffin, struck by the pebbles,the crowing of a cock, repeated again and again, or the gamblingof a foal running away under the apple-trees: The pure of eternity.gave forth that dread sound that seems to us the reverberationsky was fretted with rosy clouds; a bluish haze rested upon the The ecclesiastic passed the holy water sprinkler to hiscots covered with iris. Charles as he passed recognised each courtyard.He remembered mornings like this, when, after visiting it to Charles, who sank to his knees in the earth and threw inneighbour. This was Homais. He swung it gravely, then handedsome patient, he came out from one and returned to her. handfuls of it, crying, “Adieu!” He sent her kisses; he draggedThe black cloth bestrewn with white beads blew up from himself towards the grave, to engulf himself with her. They ledtime to time, laying bare the coffin. The tired bearers walked him away, and he soon grew calmer, feeling perhaps, like themore slowly, and it advanced with constant jerks, like a boat others, a vague satisfaction that it was all over.that pitches with every wave.Old Rouault on his way back began quietly smoking aThey reached the cemetery. The men went right down to a pipe, which Homais in his innermost conscience thoughtplace in the grass where a grave was dug. They ranged themselvesall round; and while the priest spoke, the red soil thrown had not been present, and that Tuvache had “made off” af-not quite the thing. He also noticed that Monsieur Binetup at the sides kept noiselessly slipping down at the corners. ter mass, and that Theodore, the notary’s servant wore aThen when the four ropes were arranged the coffin was blue coat, “as if one could not have got a black coat, sinceplaced upon them. He watched it descend; it seemed descend-that is the custom, by Jove!” And to share his observations288