Page 97 - les-miserables
P. 97

people felt at their ease with him, and joy seemed to radiate
         from his whole person. His fresh and ruddy complexion, his
         very white teeth, all of which he had preserved, and which
         were displayed by his smile, gave him that open and easy air
         which cause the remark to be made of a man, ‘He’s a good
         fellow”; and of an old man, ‘He is a fine man.’ That, it will
         be recalled, was the effect which he produced upon Napo-
         leon. On the first encounter, and to one who saw him for
         the first time, he was nothing, in fact, but a fine man. But
         if one remained near him for a few hours, and beheld him
         in the least degree pensive, the fine man became gradually
         transfigured, and took on some imposing quality, I know
         not what; his broad and serious brow, rendered august by
         his white locks, became august also by virtue of meditation;
         majesty radiated from his goodness, though his goodness
         ceased not to be radiant; one experienced something of the
         emotion which one would feel on beholding a smiling angel
         slowly unfold his wings, without ceasing to smile. Respect,
         an  unutterable  respect,  penetrated  you  by  degrees  and
         mounted to your heart, and one felt that one had before him
         one of those strong, thoroughly tried, and indulgent souls
         where thought is so grand that it can no longer be anything
         but gentle.
            As we have seen, prayer, the celebration of the offices of
         religion, alms-giving, the consolation of the afflicted, the
         cultivation of a bit of land, fraternity, frugality, hospitali-
         ty, renunciation, confidence, study, work, filled every day of
         his life. Filled is exactly the word; certainly the Bishop’s day
         was quite full to the brim, of good words and good deeds.

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