[ashton] MATURIN and DIDEROT 131 



Such a life is evidently impossible to prolong and, in each case, 

 relief is offered by the visit of a Bishop. Each is tortured at the last 

 moment, and dragged bound before the visiting Bishop.^^ When 

 asked by the worthy ecclesiastic whether he (or she) abjures Satan, 

 each is made to cry out in physical pain.-^ 



The Bishop finds it difficult to put his questions because the 

 Superior continually interrupts, ^^ but at length he requires an act of 

 faith, '^ and is much impressed by the result. 



There seems to have been an addition made by Maturin to the 

 sly tortures inflicted before the Bishop, to ensure the monk's acting 

 like a person possessed. When the poor wretch is asked to go forward 

 he starts back in evident pain because broken glass has been spread 

 between him and the Bishop.-^ Maturin is not exercising his talent 

 of darkening the gloomy, however, but is simply borrowing an incident 

 that comes in La Religieuse after the nun has failed in her application 

 to have her vows annulled. ^^ Not only is Maturin skilled in trans- 

 posing an incident, where necessary, he is equally careful to change 

 an allusion to make it clear to his English readers. W'hen the nun 

 enters the convent at Longchamps the following incident is recorded: 



The Superior is speaking — "Mademoiselle, vous savez la musique; 

 vous chantez; nous avons un clavecin: si vous vouliez, nous irions 

 dans notre parloir. . . . Ma mère passa, je la suivis . . . et je 

 chantai, sans y entendre finesse, par habitude, parceque le morceau 

 m'était familier: Tristes apprêts, pâles flambeaux, jour plus affreux 

 giie les ténèbres, etc.^'' Je ne sais ce que cela produisit mais on ne 

 m'écouta pas longtemps: on m'interrompit par des éloges, que je fus 

 bien surprise d'avoir mérités si promptement et à si peu de frais. . . ."^^ 

 When the monk enters the monastery the following scene is 

 described: "But you are fond of music doubtless," said the Superior, 

 "you must hear his performance." There was a small organ in the 

 room adjacent to the parlour; my mother was not admitted there, 

 but my father followed to listen. Involuntarily I selected an air 

 from the "Sacrifice of Jeptha." My father was affected and bid 

 me cease. The Superior imagined this w^as not only a tribute to my 



^La R., p. 77 — Mel I, p. 281. In La R. the visit is not made by the Bishop in 

 person but by his Archidiacre. 



^^La R., p. 80— Mel. I, p. 283. 



"Lo R., p. SO— Mel. I, p. 283. 



^La R., p. 82— Mel. I, p. 284. 



"La R., p. 95— Mel. I, p. 284. 



'"Telamire's song from Castor and Pollux, libretto by Bernard, score by Rameau. 



"Za R., p. 34 



