more than it affects us； its value is in relation to the images we
have assimilated and grouped round it； but a study of this fact would
require considerable elaboration； and lead us too far from our
immediate subject。
Not being able to sleep； I had a long discussion with my next neighbor
in the dormitory as to the remarkable being who on the morrow was to
be one of us。 This neighbor； who became an officer； and is now a
writer with lofty philosophical views； Barchou de Penhoen； has not
been false to his pre…destination； nor to the hazard of fortune by
which the only two scholars of Vendome； of whose fame Vendome ever
hears； were brought together in the same classroom； on the same form；
and under the same roof。 Our comrade Dufaure had not； when this book
was published； made his appearance in public life as a lawyer。 The
translator of Fichte； the expositor and friend of Ballanche； was
already interested； as I myself was； in metaphysical questions； we
often talked nonsense together about God； ourselves； and nature。 He at
that time affected pyrrhonism。 Jealous of his place as leader； he
doubted Lambert's precocious gifts； while I； having lately read /Les
Enfants celebres/； overwhelmed him with evidence； quoting young
Montcalm； Pico della Mirandola； Pascalin short； a score of early
developed brains； anomalies that are famous in the history of the
human mind； and Lambert's predecessors。
I was at the time passionately addicted to reading。 My father； who was
ambitious to see me in the Ecole Polytechnique； paid for me to have a
special course of private lessons in mathematics。 My mathematical
master was the librarian of the college； and allowed me to help myself
to books without much caring what I chose to take from the library； a
quiet spot where I went to him during play…hours to have my lesson。
Either he was no great mathematician； or he was absorbed in some grand
scheme； for he very willingly left me to read when I ought to have
been learning； while he worked at I knew not what。 So； by a tacit
understanding between us； I made no complaints of being taught
nothing； and he said nothing of the books I borrowed。
Carried away by this ill…timed mania； I neglected my studies to
compose poems； which certainly can have shown no great promise； to
judge by a line of too many feet which became famous among my
companionsthe beginning of an epic on the Incas：
〃O Inca！ O roi infortune et malheureux！〃
In derision of such attempts； I was nicknamed the Poet； but mockery
did not cure me。 I was always rhyming； in spite of good advice from
Monsieur Mareschal； the headmaster； who tried to cure me of an
unfortunately inveterate passion by telling me the fable of a linnet
that fell out of the nest because it tried to fly before its wings
were grown。 I persisted in my reading； I became the least emulous； the
idlest； the most dreamy of all the division of 〃little boys；〃 and
consequently the most frequently punished。
This autobiographical digression may give some idea of the reflections
I was led to make in anticipation of Lambert's arrival。 I was then
twelve years old。 I felt sympathy from the first for the boy whose
temperament had some points of likeness to my own。 I was at last to
have a companion in daydreams and meditations。 Though I knew not yet
what glory meant； I thought it glory to be the familiar friend of a
child whose immortality was foreseen by Madame de Stael。 To me Louis
Lambert was as a giant。
The looked…for morrow came at last。 A minute before breakfast we heard
the steps of Monsieur Mareschal and of the new boy in the quiet
courtyard。 Every head was turned at once to the door of the classroom。
Father Haugoult； who participated in our torments of curiosity； did
not sound the whistle he used to reduce our mutterings to silence and
bring us back to our tasks。 We then saw this famous new boy； whom
Monsieur Mareschal was leading by the hand。 The superintendent
descended from his desk； and the headmaster said to him solemnly；
according to etiquette： 〃Monsieur； I have brought you Monsieur Louis
Lambert； will you place him in the fourth class？ He will begin work
to…morrow。〃
Then； after speaking a few words in an undertone to the class…master；
he said：
〃Where can he sit？〃
It would have been unfair to displace one of us for a newcomer； so as
there was but one desk vacant； Louis Lambert came to fill it； next to
me； for I had last joined the class。 Though we still had some time to
wait before lessons were over； we all stood up to look at Louis
Lambert。 Monsieur Mareschal heard our mutterings； saw how eager we
were； and said； with the kindness that endeared him to us all：
〃Well； well； but make no noise； do not disturb the other classes。〃
These words set us free to play some little time before breakfast； and
we all gathered round Lambert while Monsieur Mareschal walked up and
down the courtyard with Father Haugoult。
There were about eighty of us little demons； as bold as birds of prey。
Though we ourselves had all gone through this cruel novitiate； we
showed no mercy on a newcomer； never sparing him the mockery； the
catechism； the impertinence； which were inexhaustible on such
occasions； to the discomfiture of the neophyte； whose manners；
strength； and temper were thus tested。 Lambert； whether he was stoical
or dumfounded； made no reply to any questions。 One of us thereupon
remarked that he was no doubt of the school of Pythagoras； and there
was a shout of laughter。 The new boy was thenceforth Pythagoras
through all his life at the college。 At the same time； Lambert's
piercing eye； the scorn expressed in his face for our childishness； so
far removed from the stamp of his own nature； the easy attitude he
assumed； and his evident strength in proportion to his years； infused
a certain respect into the veriest scamps among us。 For my part； I
kept near him； absorbed in studying him in silence。
Louis Lambert was slightly built； nearly five feet in height； his face
was tanned； and his hands were burnt brown by the sun； giving him an
appearance of manly vigor； which； in fact； he did not possess。 Indeed；
two months after he came to the college； when studying in the
classroom had faded his vivid； so to speak； vegetable coloring； he
became as pale and white as a woman。
His head was unusually large。 His hair； of a fine； bright black in
masses of curls； gave wonderful beauty to his brow； of which the
proportions were extraordinary even to us heedless boys； knowing
nothing； as may be supposed； of the auguries of phrenology； a science
still in its cradle。 The distinction of this prophetic brow lay
principally in the exquisitely chiseled shape of the arches under
which his black eyes sparkled； and which had the transparency of
alabaster； the line having the unusual beauty of being perfectly level
to where it met the top of the nose。 But when you saw his eyes it was
difficult to think of the rest of his face； which was indeed plain
enough； for their look was full of a wonderful variety of expression；
they seemed to have a soul in their depths。 At one moment
astonishingly clear and piercing； at another full of heavenly
sweetness； those eyes became dull； almost colorless； as it seemed；
when he was lost in meditation。 They then looked like a window from
which the sun had suddenly vanished after lighting it up。 His strength
and his voice were no less variable； equally rigid； equally
unexpected。 His tone could be as sweet as that of a woman compelled to
own her love； at other times it was labored； rough； rugged； if I may
use such words in a new sense。 As to his strength； he was habitually
incapable of enduring the fatigue of any game； and seemed weakly；
almost infirm。 But during the early days of his school…life； one of
our little bullies having made game of this sickliness； which rendered
him unfit for the violent exercise in vogue among his fellows； Lambert
took hold with both hands of one of the class…tables； consisting of
twelve large desks； face to face and sloping from the middle； he
leaned back against the class…master's desk； steadying the table with
his feet on the cross…bar below； and said：
〃Now； ten of you try to move it！〃
I was present； and can vouch for this strange display of strength； it
was impossible to move the table。
Lambert had the gift of summoning to his aid at certain times the most
extraordinary powers； and of concentrating all his forces on a given
point。 But children； like men； are wont to judge of everything by
first impressions； and after the first few days we ceased to study
Louis； he entirely belied Madame de Stael's prognostications； and
displayed none of the prodigies we looked for in him。
After three months at school； Louis was looked upon as a quite
ordinary scholar。 I alone was allowed really to know that sublimewhy
should I not say divine？soul； for what is nearer to God than genius
in the heart of a child？ The similarity of our tastes and ideas made
us friends and chums； our intimacy was so brotherly that our school…
fellows joined our two names； one was never spoken without the other；
and to call either they always shouted 〃Poet…and…Pythagoras！〃 Some
other names had been known coupled in a like manner。 Thus for two
years I was the school friend of poor Louis Lambert； and during that
time my life was so identified with his； that I am enabled now to
write his intellectual biography。
It was long before I fully knew the poetry and the wealth of ideas
that lay hidden in my companion's heart and brain。 It was not till I
was thirty years of age； till my experience was matured and condensed；
till the flash of an intense illumination had thrown a fresh light
upon it； that I was capable of understanding all the bearings of the
phenomena which I witnessed at that early time。 I benefited by them
without understanding their greatness or their processes； indeed； I
have forgotten some； or remember only the most conspicuous facts；
still； my memory is now able to co…ordinate them； and I have mastered
the secrets of that fertile brain by looking back to the delightful
days of our boyish affection。 So it was time alone that initiated me
into the meaning of the events and fa