Chapter Vi—waiting

4 min read

During those hours of waiting, what did they do?

We must needs tell, since this is a matter of history.

While the men made bullets and the women lint, while a large saucepan of melted brass and lead, destined to the bullet-mould smoked over a glowing brazier, while the sentinels watched, weapon in hand, on the barricade, while Enjolras, whom it was impossible to divert, kept an eye on the sentinels, Combeferre, Courfeyrac, Jean Prouvaire, Feuilly, Bossuet, Joly, Bahorel, and some others, sought each other out and united as in the most peaceful days of their conversations in their student life, and, in one corner of this wine-shop which had been converted into a casement, a couple of paces distant from the redoubt which they had built, with their carbines loaded and primed resting against the backs of their chairs, these fine young fellows, so close to a supreme hour, began to recite love verses.

What verses? These:—

Vous rappelez-vous notre douce vie,Lorsque nous étions si jeunes tous deux,Et que nous n’avions au cœur d’autre envieQue d’être bien mis et d’être amoureux,

Lorsqu’en ajoutant votre âge à mon âge,Nous ne comptions pas à deux quarante ans,Et que, dans notre humble et petit ménage,Tout, même l’hiver, nous était printemps?

Beaux jours! Manuel était fier et sage,Paris s’asseyait à de saints banquets,Foy lançait la foudre, et votre corsageAvait une épingle où je me piquais.

Chapter Vi—waiting

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