Salta il testo dell’articolo
II . The Girl with the Goat Gringoire left the palace in the evening . He had no money and nowhere to sleep , and he could not go home , because he owed six months ’ rent . The night was cold and wet , and the wheels of the bishop’s mills had splashed him as he crossed the river . He decided to go to the Place de Grève , where the great bonfire was burning , and warm himself there . But when he reached the square , a large crowd stood in a circle around the fire , and he could not get close . He pushed forward to see why . In the middle of the circle , on an old carpet , a young girl was dancing . Her name , as he learned later , was Esmeralda . She was not tall , but she seemed tall because she moved so lightly . Her skin was brown , her hair was black , and her large black eyes shone in the light of the fire . She wore a gold top , a bright skirt , and many little silver coins in her hair . She played a small drum with bells round its edge , a tambourine , and she turned and turned on the carpet like a flame . Gringoire stared at her . For a moment he thought that she was a fairy , or an angel . Then a little brass coin fell from her hair , and he said to himself , “ No , she is a gypsy . ” The people around him were watching her too . Among all those faces Gringoire noticed one in particular . It belonged to a man of about thirty - five who was dressed in dark clothes . His head was almost bald , with only a little grey hair at the sides , but his deep eyes burned with a young and wild fire . He did not take them off the dancer for one moment . When Esmeralda stopped dancing , the crowd clapped loudly . “ Djali ! ” she called , and a pretty little white goat ran out to her . It had golden horns and golden hoofs , and a golden collar round its neck . “ Djali , what month is it ? ” she asked , and held out her tambourine . The goat lifted one foot and struck the tambourine once . It was the first month of the year . Then Esmeralda asked the day of the month , and the goat struck six times . When she asked the hour , it struck seven , and at that very moment the town clock rang seven o’clock . The crowd was amazed . “ There is magic in this , ” said a cold voice from the crowd . It was the bald man . Esmeralda turned and looked at him , but the crowd began to clap again , and she went on with the show . She asked the goat to show how a certain captain walked in church , and Djali walked on his back legs with a very serious face . Then she asked it to show how the king’s lawyer in the church court gave a speech . The goat sat down and waved its front legs in the air , and everyone laughed . “ That is a crime against God ! ” said the bald man . “ Oh , it is that ugly man again , ” said the girl , and she made a little face . Then she went round with her tambourine to collect money . When she came to Gringoire , he put his hand in his pocket and found nothing there . He went red , and she waited , looking at him with her big eyes .
Indietro Pagina 3 di 31 Pagina 3 di 31 Avanti Continua a leggere con le traduzioni Crea un account gratuito: 7 giorni di Pro, poi 20 traduzioni di parole al giorno oppure un piano a pagamento.
