MALDOROR 2:14 – THE BODY IN THE SEINE

Balladeer’s Blog resumes its examination of the macabre 1868 French language work The Songs of Maldoror.

THE BODY IN THE SEINE

Last time around the monster Maldoror was involved in a tale of mayhem, murder and bestiality. This time around he’s in the presumed role of a hero. A swollen body floats down the Seine River. A boatman hooks the corpse with a pole and drags it to shore, where a curious crowd has gathered. 

The mob of rubberneckers strains to take in all the details: the body is male, roughly 17 years of age, handsome and very well-dressed. Maldoror, once again on horseback, arrives on the scene, dismounts and proceeds to look for signs of life in the presumed corpse. He forces the water from its lungs, massages all the limbs and performs mouth-to- mouth resuscitation. (That surprised me the first time I read The Songs of Maldoror. I had no idea mouth-to- mouth was already being practiced in the 1860’s but apparently it was.) 

The young man revives, and Maldoror feels immense relief. It turns out the beautiful youth was Maldoror’s latest torture victim who had escaped his clutches and sought to end his life. Our vile narrator places the young man on his horse, then remounts and rides off, chiding his victim for losing control and attempting to put himself out of his misery.

I WILL RESUME THIS LOOK AT THE SONGS OF MALDOROR SOON. CHECK BACK ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK FOR NEW INSTALLMENTS.

FOR PART ONE CLICK HERE: https://glitternight.com/2015/02/28/maldoror-a-neglected-masterpiece-of-surreal-horror/

FOR OTHER PARTS OF MALDOROR CLICK HERE: https://glitternight.com/category/maldoror/

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