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Madame Bovary
By Gustave Flaubert
Translated from the French by Eleanor Marx…Aveling
To Marie…Antoine…Jules Senard
Member of the Paris Bar； Ex…President of the National Assembly；
and Former Minister of the Interior
Dear and Illustrious Friend；
Permit me to inscribe your name at the head of this book； and
above its dedication； for it is to you； before all； that I owe
its publication。 Reading over your magnificent defence； my work
has acquired for myself； as it were； an unexpected authority。
Accept； then； here； the homage of my gratitude； which； how great
soever it is； will never attain the height of your eloquence and
your devotion。
Gustave Flaubert
Paris； 12 April 1857
MADAME BOVARY
Part I
Chapter One
We were in class when the head…master came in； followed by a 〃new
fellow；〃 not wearing the school uniform； and a school servant
carrying a large desk。 Those who had been asleep woke up； and
every one rose as if just surprised at his work。
The head…master made a sign to us to sit down。 Then； turning to
the class…master； he said to him in a low voice
〃Monsieur Roger； here is a pupil whom I recommend to your care；
he'll be in the second。 If his work and conduct are satisfactory；
he will go into one of the upper classes； as becomes his age。〃
The 〃new fellow；〃 standing in the corner behind the door so that
he could hardly be seen； was a country lad of about fifteen； and
taller than any of us。 His hair was cut square on his forehead
like a village chorister's； he looked reliable； but very ill at
ease。 Although he was not broad…shouldered； his short school
jacket of green cloth with black buttons must have been tight
about the arm…holes； and showed at the opening of the cuffs red
wrists accustomed to being bare。 His legs； in blue stockings；
looked out from beneath yellow trousers； drawn tight by braces；
He wore stout； ill…cleaned； hob…nailed boots。
We began repeating the lesson。 He listened with all his ears； as
attentive as if at a sermon； not daring even to cross his legs or
lean on his elbow； and when at two o'clock the bell rang； the
master was obliged to tell him to fall into line with the rest of
us。
When we came back to work； we were in the habit of throwing our
caps on the ground so as to have our hands more free； we used
from the door to toss them under the form； so that they hit
against the wall and made a lot of dust： it was 〃the thing。〃
But； whether he had not noticed the trick； or did not dare to
attempt it； the 〃new fellow；〃 was still holding his cap on his
knees even after prayers were over。 It was one of those
head…gears of composite order； in which we can find traces of the
bearskin； shako； billycock hat； sealskin cap； and cotton
night…cap； one of those poor things； in fine； whose dumb ugliness
has depths of expression； like an imbecile's face。 Oval；
stiffened with whalebone； it began with three round knobs； then
came in succession lozenges of velvet and rabbit…skin separated
by a red band； after that a sort of bag that ended in a cardboard
polygon covered with complicated braiding； from which hung； at
the end of a long thin cord； small twisted gold threads in the
manner of a tassel。 The cap was new； its peak shone。
〃Rise；〃 said the master。
He stood up； his cap fell。 The whole class began to laugh。 He
stooped to pick it up。 A neighbor knocked it down again with his
elbow； he picked it up once more。
〃Get rid of your helmet；〃 said the master； who was a bit of a
wag。
There was a burst of laughter from the boys； which so thoroughly
put the poor lad out of countenance that he did not know whether
to keep his cap in his hand； leave it on the ground； or put it on
his head。 He sat down again and placed it on his knee。
〃Rise；〃 repeated the master； 〃and tell me your name。〃
The new boy articulated in a stammering voice an unintelligible
name。
〃Again！〃
The same sputtering of syllables was heard； drowned by the
tittering of the class。
〃Louder！〃 cried the master； 〃louder！〃
The 〃new fellow〃 then took a supreme resolution； opened an
inordinately large mouth； and shouted at the top of his voice as
if calling someone in the word 〃Charbovari。〃
A hubbub broke out； rose in crescendo with bursts of shrill
voices （they yelled； barked； stamped； repeated 〃Charbovari！
Charbovari〃）； then died away into single notes； growing quieter
only with great difficulty； and now and again suddenly
recommencing along the line of a form whence rose here and there；
like a damp cracker going off； a stifled laugh。
However； amid a rain of impositions； order was gradually
re…established in the class； and the master having succeeded in
catching the name of 〃Charles Bovary；〃 having had it dictated to
him； spelt out； and re…read； at once ordered the poor devil to go
and sit down on the punishment form at the foot of the master's
desk。 He got up； but before going hesitated。
〃What are you looking for？〃 asked the master。
〃My c…a…p；〃 timidly said the 〃new fellow；〃 casting troubled looks
round him。
〃Five hundred lines for all the class！〃 shouted in a furious
voice stopped； like the Quos ego*； a fresh outburst。 〃Silence！〃
continued the master indignantly； wiping his brow with his
handkerchief； which he had just taken from his cap。 〃As to you；
'new boy；' you will conjugate 'ridiculus sum'** twenty times。〃
Then； in a gentler tone； 〃Come； you'll find your cap again； it
hasn't been stolen。〃
*A quotation from the Aeneid signifying a threat。
**I am ridiculous。
Quiet was restored。 Heads bent over desks； and the 〃new fellow〃
remained for two hours in an exemplary attitude； although from
time to time some paper pellet flipped from the tip of a pen came
bang in his face。 But he wiped his face with one hand and
continued motionless； his eyes lowered。
In the evening； at preparation； he pulled out his pens from his
desk； arranged his small belongings； and carefully ruled his
paper。 We saw him working conscientiously； looking up every word
in the dictionary； and taking the greatest pains。 Thanks； no
doubt； to the willingness he showed； he had not to go down to the
class below。 But though he knew his rules passably； he had little
finish in composition。 It was the cure of his village who had
taught him his first Latin； his parents； from motives of economy；
having sent him to school as late as possible。
His father； Monsieur Charles Denis Bartolome Bovary； retired
assistant…surgeon…major； compromised about 1812 in certain
conscription scandals； and forced at this time to leave the
service； had taken advantage of his fine figure to get hold of a
dowry of sixty thousand francs that offered in the person of a
hosier's daughter who had fallen in love with his good looks。 A
fine man； a great talker； making his spurs ring as he walked；
wearing whiskers that ran into his moustache； his fingers always
garnished with rings and dressed in loud colours； he had the dash
of a military man with the easy go of a commercial traveller。
Once married； he lived for three or four years on his wife's
fortune； dining well； rising late； smoking long porcelain pipes；
not coming in at night till after the theatre； and haunting
cafes。 The father…in…law died； leaving little； he was indignant
at this； 〃went in for the business；〃 lost some money in it； then
retired to the country； where he thought he would make money。
But； as he knew no more about farming than calico； as he rode his
horses instead of sending them to plough； drank his cider in
bottle instead of selling it in cask； ate the finest poultry in
his farmyard； and greased his hunting…boots with the fat of his
pigs； he was not long in finding out that he would do better to
give up all speculation。
For two hundred francs a year he managed to live on the border of
the provinces of Caux and Picardy； in a kind of place half farm；
half private house； and here； soured； eaten up with regrets；
cursing his luck； jealous of everyone； he shut himself up at the
age of forty…five； sick of men； he said； and determined to live
at peace。
His wife had adored him once on a time； she had bored him with a
thousand servilities that had only estranged him the mor