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He was plete。 He had in his brain the sum of human faculties。
He made codes like Justinian； he dictated like Caesar； his conversation was mingled with the lightning…flash of Pascal； with the thunderclap of Tacitus； he made history and he wrote it； his bulletins are Iliads； he bined the cipher of Newton with the metaphor of Mahomet； he left behind him in the East words as great as the pyramids； at Tilsit he taught Emperors majesty； at the Academy of Sciences he replied to Laplace； in the Council of State be held his own against Merlin； he gave a soul to the geometry of the first； and to the chicanery of the last； he was a legist with the attorneys and sidereal with the astronomers； like Cromwell blowing out one of two candles； he went to the Temple to bargain for a curtain tassel； he saw everything； he knew everything； which did not prevent him from laughing good…naturedly beside the cradle of his little child； and all at once； frightened Europe lent an ear； armies put themselves in motion； parks of artillery rumbled； pontoons stretched over the rivers； clouds of cavalry galloped in the storm； cries； trumpets； a trembling of thrones in every direction； the frontiers of kingdoms oscillated on the map； the sound of a superhuman sword was heard； as it was drawn from its sheath； they beheld him； him； rise erect on the horizon with a blazing brand in his hand； and a glow in his eyes； unfolding amid the thunder； his two wings； the grand army and the old guard； and he was the archangel of war！〃
All held their peace； and Enjolras bowed his head。
Silence always produces somewhat the effect of acquiescence； of the enemy being driven to the wall。
Marius continued with increased enthusiasm； and almost without pausing for breath：
〃Let us be just； my friends！
What a splendid destiny for a nation to be the Empire of such an Emperor； when that nation is France and when it adds its own genius to the genius of that man！
To appear and to reign； to march and to triumph； to have for halting…places all capitals； to take his grenadiers and to make kings of them； to decree the falls of dynasties； and to transfigure Europe at the pace of a charge； to make you feel that when you threaten you lay your hand on the hilt of the sword of God； to follow in a single man； Hannibal； Caesar； Charlemagne； to be the people of some one who mingles with your dawns the startling announcement of a battle won； to have the cannon of the Invalides to rouse you in the morning； to hurl into abysses of light prodigious words which flame forever； Marengo； Arcola； Austerlitz； Jena； Wagram！ To cause constellations of victories to flash forth at each instant from the zenith of the centuries； to make the French Empire a pendant to the Roman Empire； to be the great nation and to give birth to the grand army； to make its legions fly forth over all the earth； as a mountain sends out its eagles on all sides to conquer； to dominate； to strike with lightning； to be in Europe a sort of nation gilded through glory； to sound athwart the centuries a trumpet…blast of Titans； to conquer the world twice； by conquest and by dazzling； that is sublime； and what greater thing is there？〃
〃To be free；〃 said beferre。
Marius lowered his head in his turn； that cold and simple word had traversed his epic effusion like a blade of steel； and he felt it vanishing within him。
When he raised his eyes； beferre was no longer there。
Probably satisfied with his reply to the apotheosis； he had just taken his departure； and all； with the exception of Enjolras； had followed him。
The room had been emptied。
Enjolras； left alone with Marius； was gazing gravely at him。
Marius； however； having rallied his ideas to some extent； did not consider himself beaten； there lingered in him a trace of inward fermentation which was on the point； no doubt； of translating itself into syllogisms arrayed against Enjolras； when all of a sudden； they heard some one singing on the stairs as he went。
It was beferre； and this is what he was singing： 〃Si Cesar m'avait donne＇25＇ La gloire et la guerre；
Et qu'il me fallait quitter L'amour de ma mere；
Je dirais au grand Cesar： Reprends ton sceptre et ton char；
J'aime mieux ma mere； o gue！
J'aime mieux ma mere！〃
＇25＇ If Cesar had given me glory and war； and I were obliged to quit my mother's love； I would say to great Caesar； 〃Take back thy sceptre and thy chariot； I prefer the love of my mother。〃
The wild and tender accents with which beferre sang municated to this couplet a sort of strange grandeur。
Marius； thoughtfully； and with his eyes diked on the ceiling； repeated almost mechanically： 〃My mother？〃
At that moment； he felt Enjolras' hand on his shoulder。
〃Citizen；〃 said Enjolras to him； 〃my mother is the Republic。〃
BOOK FOURTH。THE FRIENDS OF THE A B C
CHAPTER VI
RES ANGUSTA
That evening left Marius profoundly shaken； and with a melancholy shadow in his soul。
He felt what the earth may possibly feel； at the moment when it is torn open with the iron； in order that grain may be deposited within it； it feels only the wound； the quiver of the germ and the joy of the fruit only arrive later。
Marius was gloomy。
He had but just acquired a faith； must he then reject it already？
He affirmed to himself that he would not。 He declared to himself that he would not doubt； and he began to doubt in spite of himself。
To stand between two religions； from one of which you have not as yet emerged； and another into which you have not yet entered； is intolerable； and twilight is pleasing only to bat…like souls。
Marius was clear…eyed； and he required the true light。
The half…lights of doubt pained him。 Whatever may have been his desire to remain where he was； he could not halt there； he was irresistibly constrained to continue； to advance； to examine； to think； to march further。
Whither would this lead him？ He feared； after having taken so many steps which had brought him nearer to his father； to now take a step which should estrange him from that father。
His disfort was augmented by all the reflections which occurred