The Nun (Penguin Classics) by Denis Diderot

Author:Denis Diderot [Diderot, Denis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781101493274
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, Inc.
Published: 2008-11-25T05:00:00+00:00

The Nun

Next day the Superior came to my cell accompanied by a nun carrying over her arm a hair-shirt and the coarse garment I had been dressed in when I was put into the dungeon. I understood what this meant, so I undressed, or rather my veil and clothes were torn off me, and I put on this garment. My head was uncovered and I was barefoot, my long hair fell over my shoulders, and my whole clothing consisted only of this hair-shirt I had been given, a very coarse chemise and the long garment which came up to my neck and reached down to my feet. That was how I was dressed all day and how I appeared at all religious exercises.

That evening, after I had retired to my cell, I heard a procession approaching, singing litanies – it was the whole convent in double file. Some of them came in, I stood ready, a rope was put round my neck, a lighted torch in one hand and a scourge in the other. One nun took the end of the rope and I was led between the two rows and the procession set off for a little inner oratory dedicated to St Mary. They had come singing softly, but returned in silence. When I had reached this little oratory, which was lit by two lamps, I was ordered to beg the forgiveness of God and the community for the scandal I had caused; the nun who was leading me told me in a whisper what I had to repeat, and I did so word for word. After that the rope was taken off and I was undressed down to the waist, my hair, which had been over my shoulders, was pulled to one side of my neck, the scourge I had been carrying in my left hand was put into my right, and they began the Miserere. I realized what was expected of me and I did it. When the Miserere was over the Superior gave me a short exhortation, the lamps were put out, the nuns retired and I put my clothes on again.

When I got back to my cell I felt terrible pains in my feet, I looked down and saw that they were covered in blood from cuts made by bits of glass they had spitefully thrown in my path.

I made my public confession of guilt in the same way on both the following days, only on the last day they added a Psalm to the Miserere.

On the fourth day my nun’s habit was returned to me with approximately the same ceremonial as is devoted to this solemnity when it is done in public.

On the fifth I renewed my vows. For a month I fulfilled the rest of the penance imposed on me, and thereafter I more or less returned to my place in the normal routine of the establishment. I went back to my old position in the choir and refectory and took my turn in the various functions of the house.

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