Page 1910 - les-miserables

surgents, and they approached the body with respectful awe.
‘What men these regicides were!’ said Enjolras.
Courfeyrac bent down to Enjolras’ ear:—
‘This is for yourself alone, I do not wish to dampen the en-
thusiasm. But this man was anything rather than a regicide. I
knew him. His name was Father Mabeuf. I do not know what
was the matter with him to-day. But he was a brave block-
head. Just look at his head.’
‘The head of a blockhead and the heart of a Brutus,’ replied
Enjolras.
Then he raised his voice:—
‘Citizens! This is the example which the old give to the
young. We hesitated, he came! We were drawing back, he ad-
vanced! This is what those who are trembling with age teach
to those who tremble with fear! This aged man is august in
the eyes of his country. He has had a long life and a magnifi-
cent death! Now, let us place the body under cover, that each
one of us may defend this old man dead as he would his father
living, and may his presence in our midst render the barri-
cade impregnable!’
A murmur of gloomy and energetic assent followed these
words.
Enjolras bent down, raised the old man’s head, and fierce
as he was, he kissed him on the brow, then, throwing wide his
arms, and handling this dead man with tender precaution, as
though he feared to hurt it, he removed his coat, showed the
bloody holes in it to all, and said:—
‘This is our flag now.’

1910 Les Miserables