He felt as though his brain were on fire. She had come to him, what joy! And then, how she had looked at him! She seemed more beautiful than ever before. Beautiful with a beauty that combined all of the woman with all of the angel, a beauty that would have made Petrarch sing and Dante kneel. He felt as though he were swimming in the deep blue sky. At the same time he was horribly disconcerted, because there was dust on his boots.
In this passage from Les Miserables, the character experiences a powerful rush of emotions upon seeing a cherished person. He describes a sense of overwhelming joy and admiration for her beauty, which he perceives as transcending the ordinary, blending divine qualities with human allure. This overwhelming feeling makes him feel almost euphoric, akin to being lost in the vastness of the sky, emphasizing the depth of his affection.
Despite this elevated state, there is a stark contrast as he becomes aware of the mundane detail of dust on his boots, which shatters the moment of bliss. This juxtaposition reflects the complexity of human emotions, where profound happiness can coexist with a sense of vulnerability and imperfection. The beauty of the encounter is marred by the awareness of something trivial, reminding him of the reality outside this blissful experience.
