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@@ -0,0 +1,9899 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Jasmin: Barber, Poet, Philanthropist, by Samuel Smiles + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Jasmin: Barber, Poet, Philanthropist + +Author: Samuel Smiles + +Posting Date: July 26, 2008 [EBook #838] +Release Date: March, 1997 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JASMIN: BARBER, POET *** + + + + +Produced by Eric Hutton + + + + + +JASMIN + +Barber, Poet, Philanthropist + +by Samuel Smiles, LL.D. + + "Il rasait bien, il chantait.... Si la France + possedait dix poetes comme Jasmin, dix poetes de + cette influence, elle n'aurait pas a craindre de + revolutions."--Sainte-Beuve + + + Preface + + CHAPTER I. Agen--Jasmins Boyhood + + Description of Agen + Statue of Jasmin + His 'Souvenirs' + Birth of Jasmin + Poverty of the Family + Grandfather Boe + The Charivari + Jasmin's Father and Mother + His Playfellows + Playing at Soldiers + Agen Fairs + The Vintage + The Spinning Women + School detested + Old Boe carried to the Hospital + Death of Boe + + + CHAPTER II. Jasmin at School + + Sister Boe + Jasmin enters the Seminary + His Progress + His Naughty Trick + Tumbles from a Ladder + His Punishment + Imprisoned + The Preserves + Expelled from the Seminary + His Mother sells her Wedding-ring for Bread + The Abbe Miraben + Jasmin a Helpful Boy + + + CHAPTER III. Barber and Hair-dresser + + Jasmin Apprenticed + Reading in his Garret + His First Books + Florian's Romances + Begins to Rhyme + The Poetic Nature + Barbers and Poetry + Importance of the Barber + Jasmin first Theatrical Entertainment + Under the Tiles + Talent for Recitation + Jasmin begins Business + + + CHAPTER IV. Jasmin and Mariette + + Falls in Love + Marries Mariette Barrere + Jasmin's Marriage Costume + Prosperity in Business + The 'Curl-Papers' + Christened "Apollo" + Mariette dislikes Rhyming + Visit of Charles Nodier + The Pair Reconciled + Mariette encourages her Husband + Jasmin at Home + The "rivulet of silver" + Jasmin buys his House on the Gravier + Becomes Collector of Taxes + + + CHAPTER V. Jasmin and Gascon + + Jasmin first Efforts at Verse-making + The People Conservative of old Dialects + Jasmin's study of Gascon + Langue d'Oc and Langue d'Oil + Antiquity of Languages in Western Europe + The Franks + Language of Modern France + The Gauls + The "Franciman" + Language of the Troubadours + Gascon and Provencal + Jasmin begins to write in Gascon + Uneducated Poets + Jasmin's 'Me cal Mouri' + Miss Costello's translation + The 'Charivari' + Jasmin publishes First Volume of 'The Curl-papers' (Papillotos) + + + CHAPTER VI. Beranger--'Mes Souvenirs'--P. De Musset + + The 'Third of May' + Statue of Henry IV + Nerac + Jasmin's Ode in Gascon approved + A Corporal in the National Guard + Letter to Beranger + His Reply + 'Mes Souvenirs' + Recollections of his past Life + Nodier's Eulogy + Lines on the Banished Poles + Saint-Beuve on Jasmin's Poems + Second Volume of the 'Papillotos' published + Interview with Paul de Musset + + + CHAPTER VII. 'The Blind Girl of Castel-cuille' + + A Poetical Legend + Translated into English by Lady Georgiana Fullerton and + Longfellow + Description of Castel-cuille + The Story of Marguerite + The Bridal Procession to Saint-Amans + Presence of Marguerite + Her Death + The Poem first recited at Bordeaux + Enthusiasm excited + Popularity of the Author + Fetes and Banquets + Declines to visit Paris + Picture of Mariette + A Wise and Sensible Wife + Private recitation of his Poems + A Happy Pair + Eloquence of Jasmin + + + CHAPTER VIII. Jasmin as Philanthropist. + + Charity a Universal Duty + Want of Poor-Law in France + Appeals for Help in Times of Distress + Jasmin Recitations entirely Gratuitous + Famine in the Lot-et-Garonne + Composition of the Poem 'Charity' + Respect for the Law + Collection at Tonneins + Jasmin assailed by Deputations + His Reception in the Neighbouring Towns + Appearance at Bergerac + At Gontaud + At Damazan + His Noble Missions + + + CHAPTER IX. Jasmin's 'Franconnette' + + Composition of the Poem + Expostulations of M. Dumon + Jasmin's Defence of the Gascon Dialect + Jasmin and Dante + 'Franconnette' dedicated to Toulouse + Outline of the Story + Marshal Montluc + Huguenots + Castle of Estellac + Marcel and Pascal + The Buscou + 'The Syren with a Heart of Ice' + The Sorcerer + Franconnette accursed + Festival on Easter Morning + The Crown Piece + Storm at Notre Dame + The Villagers determine to burn Franconnette + Her Deliverance and Marriage + + + CHAPTER X. Jasmin's at Toulouse. + + 'Franconnette' Recited first at Toulouse + Received with Acclamation + Academy of Jeux-Floraux + Jasmin Eloquent Declamation + The Fetes + Publication of 'Franconnette' + Sainte-Beuve's Criticism + M. de Lavergne + Charles Nodier + Testimonial to Jasmin + Mademoiselle Gaze + Death of Jasmin's Mother + Jasmin's Acknowledgment + Readings in the Cause of Charity + Increasing Reputation + + + CHAPTER XI. Jasmin's visit to Paris. + + Visits Paris with his Son + Wonders of Paris + Countries Cousins + Letters to Agen + Visit to Sainte-Beuve + Charles Nodier, Jules Janin + Landlord of Jasmin's Hotel + Recitation before Augustin Thierry and Members of the Academy + Career of the Historian + His Blindness + His Farewell to Literature + + + CHAPTER XII. Jasmin's recitations in Paris. + + Assembly at Augustin Thierry's + The 'Blind Girl' Recited + The Girl's Blindness + Interruptions of Thierry + Ampere Observation + Jasmin's love of Applause + Interesting Conversation + Fetes at Paris + Visit to Louis Philippe and the Duchess of Orleans + Recitals before the Royal Family + Souvenirs of the Visit + Banquet of Barbers and Hair-dressers + M. Chateaubriand + Return to Agen + + + CHAPTER XIII. Jasmin's and his English critics. + + Translation of his Poems + The Athenoeum + Miss Costello's Visit to Jasmin + Her Description of the Poet + His Recitations + Her renewed Visit + A Pension from the King + Proposed Journey to England + The Westminster Review + Angus B. Reach's Interview with Jasmin + His Description of the Poet + His Charitable Collections for the Poor + Was he Quixotic? + His Vivid Conversation + His Array of Gifts + The Dialect in which he Composes + + + CHAPTER XIV. Jasmin's tours of philanthropy + + Appeals from the Poor and Distressed + His Journeys to remote places + Carcassone + The Orphan Institute of Bordeaux + 'The Shepherd and the Gascon Poet' + The Orphan's Gratitude + Helps to found an Agricultural Colony + Jasmin Letter + His Numerous Engagements + Society of Arts and Literature + His Strength of Constitution + At Marseilles + + At Auch + Refusal to shave a Millionaire + Mademoiselle Roaldes + Jasmin Cheerful Help + Their Tour in the South of France + At Marseilles again + Gratitude of Mademoiselle Roaldes + Reboul at Nimes + Dumas and Chateaubriand + Letters from Madame Lafarge + + + CHAPTER XV. Jasmin's Vineyard--'Martha the Innocent' + + Agen + Jasmin buys a little Vineyard, his 'Papilloto' + 'Ma Bigno' dedicated to Madame Veill + Description of the Vineyard + The Happiness it Confers + M. Rodiere, Toulouse + Jasmin's Slowness in Composition + A Golden Medal struck in his Honour + A Pension Awarded him + Made Chevalier of the Legion of Honour + Serenades in the Gravier + Honour from Pope Pius IX + 'Martha the Innocent' + Description of the Narrative + Jasmin and Martha + Another Visit to Toulouse + The Banquet + Dax, Gers, Condon + Challenge of Peyrottes + Jasmin's Reply + His further Poems + 'La Semaine d'um Fil' described + Dedicated to Lamartine + His Reply + + + CHAPTER XVI. The Priest without a Church. + + Ruin of the Church at Vergt + Description of Vergt + Jasmin Appealed to for Help + The Abbe and Poet + Meeting at Perigueux + Fetes and Banquets + Montignac, Sarlat, Nontron, Bergerac + Consecration of the Church + Cardinal Gousset + Jasmin's Poem + 'A Priest without a Church' + Assailed by Deputations + St. Vincent de paul + A Priest and his Parishioners + The Church of Vergt again + Another Tour for Offerings + Creche at Bordeaux + Revolution of 1848 + Abbe and Poet recommence their Journeys + Jasmin invited to become a Deputy + Declines, and pursues his Career of Charity + + + CHAPTER XVII. The Church of Vergt again--French Academy-- + Emperor and Empress + + Renewed Journeys Journeys for Church of Vergt + Arcachon + Biarritz + A Troupe of poor Comedians Helped + Towns in the South + Jasmin's Bell-Tower erected + The French Academy + M. Villemain to Jasmin + M. de Montyon's Prize + M. Ancelo to Jasmin + Visit Paris again + Monseigneur Sibour + Banquet by Les Deux Mondes Reviewers + Marquise de Barthelemy, described in 'Chambers' Journal + Description of Jasmin and the Entertainment + Jasmin and the French Academy + Visit to Louis Napoleon + Intercedes for return of M. Baze + Again Visits Paris + Louis Napoleon Emperor, and Empress Eugenie + The Interview + M. Baze Restored to his Family at Agen + The Church of Vergt Finished, with Jasmin Bells + + + CHAPTER XVIII. Jasmin enrolled Maitre-es-Jeux at toulouse + --crowned by Agen + + Jasmin invited to Toulouse + Enrolled as Maitre-es-Jeux + The Ceremony in the Salle des Illustres + Jasmin acknowledgment + The Crowd in the Place de Capitol + Agen awards him a Crown of Gold + Society of Saint Vincent de Paul + The Committee + Construction of the Crown + The Public Meeting + Address of M. Noubel, Deputy + Jasmin's Poem, 'The Crown of My Birthplace' + + + CHAPTER XIX. Last poems--more missions of charity + + His 'New Recollections' + Journey to Albi and Castera + Bordeaux + Montignac, Saint Macaire + Saint Andre, Monsegur + Recitation at Arcachon + Societies of Mutual Help + 'Imitation of Christ' Testimony from Bishop of Saint Flour + Jasmin's Self-denial + Collects about a Million and a half of Francs for the Poor + Expenses of his Journey of fifty Days + His Faithful Record + Jasmin at Rodez + Aurillac + Toulouse + His last Recital at Villeneuve-sur-Lot + + + CHAPTER XX. Death of Jasmin--his character. + + Jasmin's Illness from Overwork and Fatigue + Last Poem to Renan + Receives the Last Sacrament + Takes Leave of his Wife + His Death, at Sixty-five + His Public Funeral + The Ceremony + Eulogiums + M. Noubel, Deputy; Capot and Magen + Inauguration of Bronze Statue + Character of Jasmin + His Love of Truth + His Fellow-Feeling for the Poor + His Pride in Agen + His Loyalty and Patience + Charity his Heroic Programme + His long Apostolate + + + APPENDIX + + Jasmin Defence of the Gascon Dialect + The Mason's Son + The Poor Man's Doctor + My Vineyard + Franconnette + + +PREFACE. + +My attention was first called to the works of the poet Jasmin by the +eulogistic articles which appeared in the Revue des Deux Mondes, by De +Mazade, Nodier, Villemain, and other well-known reviewers. + +I afterwards read the articles by Sainte-Beuve, perhaps the finest +critic of French literature, on the life and history of Jasmin, in his +'Portraits Contemporains' as well as his admirable article on the same +subject, in the 'Causeries du Lundi.' + +While Jasmin was still alive, a translation was published by the +American poet Longfellow, of 'The Blind Girl of Castel-Cuille,' perhaps +the best of Jasmin's poems. In his note to the translation, Longfellow +said that "Jasmin, the author of this beautiful poem, is to the South of +France what Burns is to the South of Scotland, the representative of the +heart of the people; one of those happy bards who are born with their +mouths full of birds (la bouco pleno d'aouvelous). He has written his +own biography in a poetic form, and the simple narrative of his poverty, +his struggles, and his triumphs, is very touching. He still lives at +Agen, on the Garonne; and long may he live there to delight his native +land with native songs." + +I had some difficulty in obtaining Jasmin's poems; but at length I +received them from his native town of Agen. They consisted of four +volumes octavo, though they were still incomplete. But a new edition +has since been published, in 1889, which was heralded by an interesting +article in the Paris Figaro. + +While at Royat, in 1888, I went across the country to Agen, the town in +which Jasmin was born, lived, and died. I saw the little room in which +he was born, the banks of the Garonne which sounded so sweetly in his +ears, the heights of the Hermitage where he played when a boy, the +Petite Seminaire in which he was partly educated, the coiffeur's shop +in which he carried on his business as a barber and hair-dresser, +and finally his tomb in the cemetery where he was buried with all the +honours that his towns-fellows could bestow upon him. + +From Agen I went south to Toulouse, where I saw the large room in the +Museum in which Jasmin first recited his poem of 'Franconnette'; and the +hall in the Capitol, where the poet was hailed as The Troubadour, and +enrolled member of the Academy of Jeux Floraux--perhaps the crowning +event of his life. + +In the Appendix to this memoir I have endeavoured to give translations +from some of Jasmin's poems. Longfellow's translation of 'The Blind Girl +of Castel-Cuille' has not been given, as it has already been published +in his poems, which are in nearly every library. In those which have +been given, I have in certain cases taken advantage of the translations +by Miss Costello Miss Preston (of Boston, U.S.), and the Reverend Mr. +Craig, D.D., for some time Rector of Kinsale, Ireland. + +It is, however, very difficult to translate French poetry into English. +The languages, especially the Gascon, are very unlike French as well as +English. Hence Villemain remarks, that "every translation must virtually +be a new creation." But, such as they are, I have endeavoured to +translate the poems as literally as possible. Jasmin's poetry is rather +wordy, and requires condensation, though it is admirably suited +for recitation. When other persons recited his poems, they were not +successful; but when Jasmin recited, or rather acted them, they were +always received with enthusiasm. + +There was a special feature in Jasmin's life which was altogether +unique. This was the part which he played in the South of France as a +philanthropist. Where famine or hunger made its appearance amongst the +poor people--where a creche, or orphanage, or school, or even a church, +had to be helped and supported Jasmin was usually called upon to assist +with his recitations. He travelled thousands of miles for such purposes, +during which he collected about 1,500,000 francs, and gave the whole of +this hard-earned money over to the public charities, reserving nothing +for himself except the gratitude of the poor and needy. And after his +long journeyings were over, he quietly returned to pursue his humble +occupation at Agen. Perhaps there is nothing like this in the history +of poetry or literature. For this reason, the character of the man as a +philanthropist is even more to be esteemed than his character as a poet +and a song-writer. + +The author requests the indulgence of the reader with respect to the +translations of certain poems given in the Appendix. The memoir of +Jasmin must speak for itself. + +London, Nov. 1891. + + + + +JASMIN. + + + +CHAPTER I. AGEN.--JASMIN'S BOYHOOD. + +Agen is an important town in the South of France, situated on the right +bank of the Garonne, about eighty miles above Bordeaux. The country to +the south of Agen contains some of the most fertile land in France. +The wide valley is covered with vineyards, orchards, fruit gardens, and +corn-fields. + +The best panoramic view of Agen and the surrounding country is to be +seen from the rocky heights on the northern side of the town. A holy +hermit had once occupied a cell on the ascending cliffs; and near it the +Convent of the Hermitage has since been erected. Far underneath are seen +the red-roofed houses of the town, and beyond them the green promenade +of the Gravier. + +From the summit of the cliffs the view extends to a great distance +along the wide valley of the Garonne, covered with woods, vineyards, and +greenery. The spires of village churches peep up here and there amongst +the trees; and in the far distance, on a clear day, are seen the +snow-capped peaks of the Pyrenees. + +Three bridges connect Agen with the country to the west of the +Garonne--the bridge for ordinary traffic, a light and elegant suspension +bridge, and a bridge of twenty-three arches which carries the lateral +canal to the other side of the river. + +The town of Agen itself is not particularly attractive. The old streets +are narrow and tortuous, paved with pointed stones; but a fine broad +street--the Rue de la Republique--has recently been erected through +the heart of the old town, which greatly adds to the attractions of the +place. At one end of this street an ideal statue of the Republic has +been erected, and at the other end a life-like bronze statue of the +famous poet Jasmin. + +This statue to Jasmin is the only one in the town erected to an +individual. Yet many distinguished persons have belonged to Agen and the +neighbourhood who have not been commemorated in any form. Amongst these +were Bernard Palissy, the famous potter{1}; Joseph J. Scaliger, the +great scholar and philologist; and three distinguished naturalists, +Boudon de Saint-Aman, Bory de Saint-Vincent, and the Count de Lacepede. + +The bronze statue of Jasmin stands in one of the finest sites in Agen, +at one end of the Rue de la Republique, and nearly opposite the +little shop in which he carried on his humble trade of a barber and +hairdresser. It represents the poet standing, with his right arm and +hand extended, as if in the act of recitation. + +How the fame of Jasmin came to be commemorated by a statue erected in +his native town by public subscription, will be found related in the +following pages. He has told the story of his early life in a bright, +natural, and touching style, in one of his best poems, entitled, "My +Recollections" (Mes Souvenirs), written in Gascon; wherein he revealed +his own character with perfect frankness, and at the same time with +exquisite sensibility. + +Several of Jasmin's works have been translated into English, especially +his "Blind Girl of Castel-Cuille," by Longfellow and Lady Georgina +Fullerton. The elegant translation by Longfellow is so well known that +it is unnecessary to repeat it in the appendix to this volume. But a +few other translations of Jasmin's works have been given, to enable the +reader to form some idea of his poetical powers. + +Although Jasmin's recitations of his poems were invariably received with +enthusiastic applause by his quick-spirited audiences in the South of +France, the story of his life will perhaps be found more attractive to +English readers than any rendering of his poems, however accurate, into +a language different from his own. For poetry, more than all forms +of literature, loses most by translation--especially from Gascon into +English. Villemain, one of the best of critics, says: "Toute traduction +en vers est une autre creation que l'original." + +We proceed to give an account--mostly from his own Souvenirs--of the +early life and boyhood of Jasmin. The eighteenth century, old, decrepit, +and vicious, was about to come to an end, when in the corner of a little +room haunted by rats, a child, the subject of this story, was born. It +was on the morning of Shrove Tuesday, the 6th of March, 1798,--just as +the day had flung aside its black night-cap, and the morning sun was +about to shed its rays upon the earth,--that this son of a crippled +mother and a humpbacked tailor first saw the light. The child was +born in a house situated in one of the old streets of Agen--15 Rue +Fon-de-Rache--not far from the shop on the Gravier where Jasmin +afterwards carried on the trade of a barber and hairdresser. + +"When a prince is born," said Jasmin in his Souvenirs, "his entrance +into the world is saluted with rounds of cannon, but when I, the son of +a poor tailor made my appearance, I was not saluted even with the sound +of a popgun." Yet Jasmin was afterwards to become a king of hearts! A +Charivari was, however, going on in front of a neighbour's door, as a +nuptial serenade on the occasion of some unsuitable marriage; when the +clamour of horns and kettles, marrow-bones and cleavers, saluted the +mother's ears, accompanied by thirty burlesque verses, the composition +of the father of the child who had just been born. + +Jacques Jasmin was only one child amongst many. The parents had +considerable difficulty in providing for the wants of the family, in +food as well as clothing. Besides the father's small earnings as a +tailor of the lowest standing, the mother occasionally earned a little +money as a laundress. A grandfather, Boe, formed one of the family +group. He had been a soldier, but was now too old to serve in the ranks, +though France was waging war in Italy and Austria under her new Emperor. +Boe, however, helped to earn the family living, by begging with his +wallet from door to door. + +Jasmin describes the dwelling in which this poor family lived. It was +miserably furnished. The winds blew in at every corner. There were three +ragged beds; a cupboard, containing a few bits of broken plates; a stone +bottle; two jugs of cracked earthenware; a wooden cup broken at the +edges; a rusty candlestick, used when candles were available; a small +half-black looking-glass without a frame, held against the wall by three +little nails; four broken chairs; a closet without a key; old Boe's +suspended wallet; a tailor's board, with clippings of stuff and +patched-up garments; such were the contents of the house, the family +consisting in all of nine persons. + +It is well that poor children know comparatively little of their +miserable bringings-up. They have no opportunity of contrasting their +life and belongings with those of other children more richly nurtured. +The infant Jasmin slept no less soundly in his little cot stuffed with +larks' feathers than if he had been laid on a bed of down. Then he was +nourished by his mother's milk, and he grew, though somewhat lean and +angular, as fast as any king's son. He began to toddle about, and made +acquaintances with the neighbours' children. + +After a few years had passed, Jasmin, being a spirited fellow, was +allowed to accompany his father at night in the concerts of rough music. +He placed a long paper cap on his head, like a French clown, and with +a horn in his hand he made as much noise, and played as many antics, +as any fool in the crowd. Though the tailor could not read, he usually +composed the verses for the Charivari; and the doggerel of the father, +mysteriously fructified, afterwards became the seed of poetry in the +son. + +The performance of the Charivari was common at that time in the South +of France. When an old man proposed to marry a maiden less than half his +age, or when an elderly widow proposed to marry a man much younger +than herself, or when anything of a heterogeneous kind occurred in any +proposed union, a terrible row began. The populace assembled in the +evening of the day on which the banns had been first proclaimed, and +saluted the happy pair in their respective houses with a Charivari. +Bells, horns, pokers and tongs, marrow-bones and cleavers, or any thing +that would make a noise, was brought into requisition, and the noise +thus made, accompanied with howling recitations of the Charivari, made +the night positively hideous. + +The riot went on for several evenings; and when the wedding-day arrived, +the Charivarists, with the same noise and violence, entered the church +with the marriage guests; and at night they besieged the house of the +happy pair, throwing into their windows stones, brickbats, and every +kind of missile. Such was their honeymoon! + +This barbarous custom has now fallen entirely into disuse. If attempted +to be renewed, it is summarily put down by the police, though it still +exists among the Basques as a Toberac. It may also be mentioned that a +similar practice once prevailed in Devonshire described by the Rev. S. +Baring Gould in his "Red Spider." It was there known as the Hare Hunt, +or Skimmity-riding. + +The tailor's Charivaris brought him in no money. + +They did not increase his business; in fact, they made him many enemies. +His uncouth rhymes did not increase his mending of old clothes. However +sharp his needle might be, his children's teeth were still sharper; +and often they had little enough to eat. The maintenance of the family +mainly depended on the mother, and the wallet of grandfather Boe. + +The mother, poor though she was, had a heart of gold under her serge +gown. She washed and mended indefatigably. When she had finished her +washing, the children, so soon as they could walk, accompanied her to +the willows along the banks of the Garonne, where the clothes were hung +out to dry. There they had at least the benefit of breathing fresh and +pure air. Grandfather Boe was a venerable old fellow. He amused the +children at night with his stories of military life-- + + "Wept o'er his wounds, or, tales of sorrow done, + Shouldered his crutch, and showed how fields were won." + +During the day he carried his wallet from door to door in Agen, or +amongst the farmhouses in the neighbourhood; and when he came home at +eve he emptied his wallet and divided the spoil amongst the family. If +he obtained, during his day's journey, some more succulent morsel than +another, he bestowed it upon his grandson Jacques, whom he loved most +dearly. + +Like all healthy boys, young Jasmin's chief delight was in the sunshine +and the open air. He also enjoyed the pleasures of fellowship and +the happiness of living. Rich and poor, old and young, share in this +glorified gladness. Jasmin had as yet known no sorrow. His companions +were poor boys like himself. They had never known any other condition. + +Just as the noontide bells began to ring, Jasmin set out with a hunch of +bread in his hand--perhaps taken from his grandfather's wallet--to enjoy +the afternoon with his comrades. Without cap or shoes he sped' away. The +sun was often genial, and he never bethought him of cold. On the company +went, some twenty or thirty in number, to gather willow faggots by the +banks of the Garonne. + +"Oh, how my soul leapt!" he exclaimed in his Souvenirs, "when we all set +out together at mid-day, singing. 'The Lamb whom Thou hast given me,' +a well known carol in the south. The very recollection of that pleasure +even now enchants me. 'To the Island--to the Island!' shouted the +boldest, and then we made haste to wade to the Island, each to gather +together our little bundle of fagots." + +The rest of the vagrants' time was spent in play. They ascended the +cliff towards the grotto of Saint John. They shared in many a contest. +They dared each other to do things--possible and impossible. There were +climbings of rocks, and daring leaps, with many perils and escapades, +according to the nature of boys at play. At length, after becoming +tired, there was the return home an hour before nightfall. And now +the little fellows tripped along; thirty fagot bundles were carried on +thirty heads; and the thirty sang, as on setting out, the same carol, +with the same refrain. + +Jasmin proceeds, in his Souvenirs, to describe with great zest and a +wonderful richness of local colour, the impromptu fetes in which he +bore a part; his raids upon the cherry and plum orchards--for the +neighbourhood of Agen is rich in plum-trees, and prunes are one of the +principal articles of commerce in the district. Playing at soldiers +was one of Jasmin's favourite amusements; and he was usually elected +Captain. + +"I should need," he says, "a hundred trumpets to celebrate all my +victories." Then he describes the dancing round the bonfires, and the +fantastic ceremonies connected with the celebration of St. John's Eve. + +Agen is celebrated for its fairs. In the month of June, one of the +most important fairs in the South of France is held on the extensive +promenade in front of the Gravier. There Jasmin went to pick up +any spare sous by holding horses or cattle, or running errands, or +performing any trifling commission for the farmers or graziers. When he +had filled to a slight extent his little purse, he went home at night +and emptied the whole contents into his mother's hand. His heart often +sank as she received his earnings with smiles and tears. "Poor child," +she would say, "your help comes just in time." Thus the bitter thought +of poverty and the evidences of destitution were always near at hand. + +In the autumn Jasmin went gleaning in the cornfields, for it was his +greatest pleasure to bring home some additional help for the family +needs. In September came the vintage--the gathering in and pressing of +the grapes previous to their manufacture into wine. The boy was able, +with his handy helpfulness, to add a little more money to the home +store. Winter followed, and the weather became colder. In the dearth of +firewood, Jasmin was fain to preserve his bodily heat, notwithstanding +his ragged clothes, by warming himself by the sun in some sheltered nook +so long as the day lasted; or he would play with his companions, being +still buoyed up with the joy and vigour of youth. + +When the stern winter set in, Jasmin spent his evenings in the company +of spinning-women and children, principally for the sake of warmth. A +score or more of women, with their children, assembled in a large room, +lighted by a single antique lamp suspended from the ceiling. The women +had distaffs and heavy spindles, by means of which they spun a kind of +coarse pack-thread, which the children wound up, sitting on stools +at their feet. All the while some old dame would relate the old-world +ogreish stories of Blue Beard, the Sorcerer, or the Loup Garou, to +fascinate the ears and trouble the dreams of the young folks. It was +here, no doubt, that Jasmin gathered much of the traditionary lore which +he afterwards wove into his poetical ballads. + +Jasmin had his moments of sadness. He was now getting a big fellow, and +his mother was anxious that he should receive some little education. He +had not yet been taught to read; he had not even learnt his A B C. The +word school frightened him. He could not bear to be shut up in a close +room--he who had been accustomed to enjoy a sort of vagabond life in the +open air. He could not give up his comrades, his playing at soldiers, +and his numerous escapades. + +The mother, during the hum of her spinning-wheel, often spoke in +whispers to grandfather Boe of her desire to send the boy to school. +When Jasmin overheard their conversation, he could scarcely conceal his +tears. Old Boe determined to do what he could. He scraped together his +little savings, and handed them over to the mother. But the money could +not then be used for educating Jasmin; it was sorely needed for buying +bread. Thus the matter lay over for a time. + +The old man became unable to go out of doors to solicit alms. Age and +infirmity kept him indoors. He began to feel himself a burden on the +impoverished family. He made up his mind to rid them of the incumbrance, +and desired the parents to put him into the family arm-chair and have +him carried to the hospital. Jasmin has touchingly told the incident of +his removal. + +"It happened on a Monday," he says in his Souvenirs: "I was then ten +years old. I was playing in the square with my companions, girded about +with a wooden sword, and I was king; but suddenly a dreadful spectacle +disturbed my royalty. I saw an old man in an arm-chair borne along by +several persons. The bearers approached still nearer, when I recognised +my afflicted grandfather. 'O God,' said I, 'what do I see? My old +grandfather surrounded by my family.' In my grief I saw only him. I ran +up to him in tears, threw myself on his neck and kissed him. + +"In returning my embrace, he wept. 'O grandfather,' said I, 'where are +you going? Why do you weep? Why are you leaving our home?' 'My child,' +said the old man, 'I am going to the hospital,{2} where all the Jasmins +die.' He again embraced me, closed his eyes, and was carried away. We +followed him for some time under the trees. I abandoned my play, and +returned home full of sorrow." + +Grandfather Boe did not survive long in the hospital. He was utterly +worn out. After five days the old man quietly breathed his last. His +wallet was hung upon its usual nail in his former home, but it was never +used again. One of the bread-winners had departed, and the family were +poorer than ever. + +"On that Monday," says Jasmin, "I for the first time knew and felt that +we were very poor." + +All this is told with marvellous effect in the first part of the +Souvenirs, which ends with a wail and a sob. + + +Endnotes to Chapter I. + +{1} It is stated in the Bibliographie Generale de l'Agenais, that +Palissy was born in the district of Agen, perhaps at La Chapelle Biron, +and that, being a Huguenot, he was imprisoned in the Bastille at Paris, +and died there in 1590, shortly after the massacre of St. Bartholomew. +But Palissy seems to have been born in another town, not far from La +Chapelle Biron. The Times of the 7th July, 1891, contained the following +paragraph:-- + +"A statue of Bernard Palissy was unveiled yesterday at +Villeneuvesur-Lot, his native town, by M. Bourgeois, Minister of +Education." + +{2} L'hopital means an infirmary or almshouse for old and impoverished +people. + + + +CHAPTER II. JASMIN AT SCHOOL. + +One joyful day Jasmin's mother came home in an ecstasy of delight, +and cried, "To school, my child, to school!" "To school?" said Jasmin, +greatly amazed. "How is this? Have we grown rich?" "No, my poor boy, +but you will get your schooling for nothing. Your cousin has promised +to educate you; come, come, I am so happy!" It was Sister Boe, the +schoolmistress of Agen, who had offered to teach the boy gratuitously +the elements of reading and writing. + +The news of Jacques' proposed scholarship caused no small stir at +home. The mother was almost beside herself with joy. The father too was +equally moved, and shed tears of gratitude. He believed that the boy +might yet be able to help him in writing out, under his dictation, the +Charivari impromptus which, he supposed, were his chief forte. Indeed, +the whole family regarded this great stroke of luck for Jacques in +the light of a special providence, and as the beginning of a brilliant +destiny. The mother, in order to dress him properly, rummaged the house, +and picked out the least mended suit of clothes, in which to array the +young scholar. + +When properly clothed, the boy, not without fear on his own part, was +taken by his mother to school. + +Behold him, then, placed under the tuition of Sister Boe! There were +some fifty other children at school, mumbling at the letters of the +alphabet, and trying to read their first easy sentences. Jasmin had a +good memory, and soon mastered the difficulties of the A B C. "'Twixt +smiles and tears," he says, "I soon learnt to read, by the help of the +pious Sister." + +In six months he was able to enter the Seminary in the Rue Montesquieu +as a free scholar. He now served at Mass. Having a good ear for music,he +became a chorister, and sang the Tantum ergo. He was a diligent boy, +and so far everything prospered well with him. He even received a prize. +True, it was only an old cassock, dry as autumn heather. But, being +trimmed up by his father, it served to hide his ragged clothes beneath. + +His mother was very proud of the cassock. "Thank God," she said, "thou +learnest well; and this is the reason why, each Tuesday, a white loaf +comes from the Seminary. It is always welcome, for the sake of the +hungry little ones." "Yes," he replied, "I will try my best to be +learned for your sake." But Jasmin did not long wear the cassock. He was +shortly after turned out of the Seminary, in consequence of a naughty +trick which he played upon a girl of the household. + +Jasmin tells the story of his expulsion with great frankness, though +evidently ashamed of the transaction. He was passing through the inner +court one day, during the Shrove Carnival, when, looking up, he caught +sight of a petticoat. He stopped and gazed. A strange tremor crept +through his nerves. What evil spirit possessed him to approach the +owner of the petticoat? He looked up again, and recognised the sweet and +rosy-cheeked Catherine--the housemaid of the Seminary. She was perched +near the top of a slim ladder leaning against the wall, standing +upright, and feeding the feathery-footed pigeons. + +A vision flashed through Jasmin's mind--"a life all velvet," as he +expressed it,--and he approached the ladder. He climbed up a few steps, +and what did he see? Two comely ankles and two pretty little feet. His +heart burned within him, and he breathed a loud sigh. The girl heard +the sigh, looked down, and huddled up the ladder, crying piteously. The +ladder was too slim to bear two. It snapped and fell, and they tumbled +down, she above and he below! + +The loud screams of the girl brought all the household to the spot--the +Canons, the little Abbe, the cook, the scullion--indeed all the inmates +of the Seminary. Jasmin quaintly remarks, "A girl always likes to have +the sins known that she has caused others to commit." But in this case, +according to Jasmin's own showing, the girl was not to blame. The trick +which he played might be very innocent, but to the assembled household +it seemed very wicked. He must be punished. + +First, he had a terrible wigging from the master; and next, he was +sentenced to imprisonment during the rest of the Carnival. + +In default of a dungeon, they locked him in a dismal little chamber, +with some bread and water. Next day, Shrove Tuesday, while the Carnival +was afoot, Jasmin felt very angry and very hungry. "Who sleeps eats," +says the proverb. "But," said Jasmin, "the proverb lies: I did not +sleep, and was consumed by hunger." Then he filled up the measure of his +iniquity by breaking into a cupboard! + +It happened that the Convent preserves were kept in the room wherein he +was confined. Their odour attracted him, and he climbed up, by means of +a table and chair, to the closet in which they were stored. He found a +splendid pot of preserves. He opened it; and though he had no spoon, +he used his fingers and soon emptied the pot. What a delicious treat he +enjoyed enough to make him forget the pleasures of the Carnival. + +Jasmin was about to replace the empty pot, when he heard the click-clack +of a door behind him. He looked round, and saw the Superior, who had +unlocked the door, and come to restore the boy to liberty. Oh, unhappy +day! When the Abbe found the prisoner stealing his precious preserves, +he became furious. "What! plundering my sweetmeats?" he cried. "Come +down, sirrah, come down! no pardon for you now." He pulled Jasmin from +his chair and table, and the empty jar fell broken at his feet. "Get +out, get out of this house, thou imp of hell!" And taking Jasmin by the +scruff of the neck, he thrust him violently out of the door and into the +street. + +But worse was yet to come. When the expelled scholar reached the street, +his face and mouth were smeared with jam. He was like a blackamoor. Some +urchins who encountered him on his homeward route, surmised that his +disguise was intended as a masque for the Carnival. He ran, and they +pursued him. The mob of boys increased, and he ran the faster. At +last he reached his father's door, and rushed in, half dead with pain, +hunger, and thirst. The family were all there--father, mother, and +children. + +They were surprised and astonished at his sudden entrance. After kissing +them all round, he proceeded to relate his adventures at the Seminary. +He could not tell them all, but he told enough. His narrative was +received with dead silence. But he was thirsty and hungry. He saw a pot +of kidney-bean porridge hanging over the fire, and said he would like to +allay his hunger by participating in their meal. But alas! The whole of +it had been consumed. The pot was empty, and yet the children were not +satisfied with their dinner. "Now I know," said the mother, "why +no white bread has come from the Seminary." Jasmin was now greatly +distressed. "Accursed sweetmeats," he thought. "Oh! what a wretch I am +to have caused so much misery and distress." + +The children had eaten only a few vegetables; and now there was another +mouth to fill. The fire had almost expired for want of fuel. The +children had no bread that day, for the Seminary loaf had not arrived. +What were they now to do? The mother suffered cruel tortures in not +being able to give her children bread, especially on the home-coming of +her favourite scapegrace. + +At last, after glancing at her left hand, she rose suddenly. She +exclaimed in a cheerful voice, "Wait patiently until my return." She +put her Sunday kerchief on her head, and departed. In a short time she +returned, to the delight of the children, with a loaf of bread under her +arm. They laughed and sang, and prepared to enjoy their feast, though it +was only of bread. The mother apparently joined in their cheerfulness, +though a sad pain gnawed at her heart. Jasmin saw his mother hide her +hand; but when it was necessary for her to cut the loaf, after making +the cross according to custom, he saw that the ring on her left hand had +disappeared. "Holy Cross," he thought, "it is true that she has sold her +wedding-ring to buy bread for her children." + +This was a sad beginning of life for the poor boy. He was now another +burden on the family. Old Boe had gone, and could no longer help him +with his savoury morsels. He was so oppressed with grief, that he could +no longer play with his comrades as before. But Providence again came to +his aid. The good Abbe Miraben heard the story of his expulsion from +the Seminary. Though a boy may be tricky he cannot be perfect, and the +priest had much compassion on him. Knowing Jasmin's abilities, and +the poverty of his parents, the Abbe used his influence to obtain an +admission for him to one of the town's schools, where he was again +enabled to carry on his education. + +The good Abbe was helpful to the boy in many ways. One evening, when +Jasmin was on his way to the Augustins to read and recite to the +Sisters, he was waylaid by a troop of his old playfellows. They wished +him to accompany them to the old rendezvous in the square; but he +refused, because he had a previous engagement. The boys then began to +hustle him, and proceeded to tear off his tattered clothes. He could +only bend his head before his assailants, but never said a word. + +At length his good friend Miraben came up and rescued him. He drove away +the boys, and said to Jasmin, "Little one, don't breathe a word; your +mother knows nothing. They won't torment you long! Take up thy clothes," +he said. "Come, poverty is not a crime. Courage! Thou art even rich. +Thou hast an angel on high watching over thee. Console thyself, brave +child, and nothing more will happen to vex thee." + +The encouragement of the Abbe proved prophetic. No more troubles of this +kind afflicted the boy. + +The aged priest looked after the well-being of himself and family. He +sent them bread from time to time, and kept the wolf from their door. +Meanwhile Jasmin did what he could to help them at home. During the +vintage time he was well employed; and also at fair times. He was a +helpful boy, and was always willing to oblige friends and neighbours. + +But the time arrived when he must come to some determination as to his +future calling in life. He was averse to being a tailor, seeing the +sad results of his father's trade at home. After consultation with his +mother, he resolved on becoming a barber and hairdresser. Very little +capital was required for carrying on that trade; only razors, combs, and +scissors. + +Long after, when Jasmin was a comparatively thriving man, he said: "Yes, +I have eaten the bread of charity; most of my ancestors died at the +hospital; my mother pledged her nuptial ring to buy a loaf of bread. All +this shows how much misery we had to endure, the frightful picture of +which I have placed in the light of day in my Souvenirs. But I am afraid +of wearying the public, as I do not wish to be accused of aiming too +much at contrasts. For when we are happy, perfectly happy, there is +nothing further from what I am, and what I have been, as to make me fear +for any such misconstruction on the part of my hearers." + + + +CHAPTER III. BARBER AND HAIRDRESSER. + +Jasmin was sixteen years old when he was apprenticed to a barber and +hairdresser at Agen. The barber's shop was near the Prefecture--the +ancient palace of the Bishop. It was situated at the corner of Lamoureux +Street and the alley of the Prefecture. There Jasmin learnt the art of +cutting, curling, and dressing hair, and of deftly using the comb and +the razor. The master gave him instructions in the trade, and watched +him while at work. Jasmin was willing and active, and was soon able to +curl and shave with any apprentice in Agen. + +After the day's work was over, the apprentice retired to his garret +under the tiles. There he spent his evenings, and there he slept at +night. Though the garret was infested by rats, he thought nothing of +them; he had known them familiarly at home. + +They did him no harm, and they even learnt to know him. His garret +became his paradise, for there he renewed his love of reading. The +solitariness of his life did him good, by throwing his mind in upon +himself, and showing the mental stuff of which he was made. All the +greatest and weightiest things have been done in solitude. + +The first books he read were for the most part borrowed. Customers +who came to the shop to be shaved or have their hair dressed, took an +interest in the conversation of the bright, cheerful, dark-eyed lad, and +some of them lent him books to read. What joy possessed him when he took +refuge in his garret with a new book! Opening the book was like +opening the door of a new world. What enchantment! What mystery! What a +wonderful universe about us! + +In reading a new book Jasmin forgot his impoverished boyhood, his +grandfather Boe and his death in the hospital, his expulsion from the +Seminary, and his mother's sale of her wedding-ring to buy bread for +her children. He had now left the past behind, and a new world lay +entrancingly before him. He read, and thought, and dreamed, until far on +in the morning. + +The first books he read were of comparatively little importance, though +they furnished an opening into literature. 'The Children's Magazine'{1} +held him in raptures for a time. Some of his friendly customers lent him +the 'Fables of Florian,' and afterwards Florian's pastoral romance of +'Estelle'--perhaps his best work. The singer of the Gardon entirely +bewitched Jasmin. 'Estelle' allured him into the rosy-fingered regions +of bliss and happiness. Then Jasmin himself began to rhyme. Florian's +works encouraged him to write his first verses in the harmonious Gascon +patois, to which he afterwards gave such wonderful brilliancy. + +In his after life Jasmin was often asked how and when he first began to +feel himself a poet. Some think that the poetical gift begins at some +fixed hour, just as one becomes a barrister, a doctor, or a professor. +But Jasmin could not give an answer. + +"I have often searched into my past life," he said, "but I have never +yet found the day when I began my career of rhyming."{2} + +There are certain gifts which men can never acquire by will and work, if +God has not put the seed of them into their souls at birth; and poetry +is one of those gifts. + +When such a seed has been planted, its divine origin is shown by +its power of growth and expansion; and in a noble soul, apparently +insurmountable difficulties and obstacles cannot arrest its development. +The life and career of Jasmin amply illustrates this truth. Here was a +young man born in the depths of poverty. In his early life he suffered +the most cruel needs of existence. When he became a barber's apprentice, +he touched the lowest rung of the ladder of reputation; but he had at +least learned the beginnings of knowledge. + +He knew how to read, and when we know the twenty-four letters of the +alphabet, we may learn almost everything that we wish to know. From that +slight beginning most men may raise themselves to the heights of +moral and intellectual worth by a persevering will and the faithful +performance of duty. + +At the same time it must be confessed that it is altogether different +with poetical genius. It is not possible to tell what unforeseen and +forgotten circumstances may have given the initial impulse to a poetic +nature. It is not the result of any fortuitous impression, and still +less of any act of the will. + +It is possible that Jasmin may have obtained his first insight into +poetic art during his solitary evening walks along the banks of the +Garonne, or from the nightingales singing overhead, or from his chanting +in the choir when a child. Perhaps the 'Fables of Florian' kindled the +poetic fire within him; at all events they may have acted as the first +stimulus to his art of rhyming. They opened his mind to the love +of nature, to the pleasures of country life, and the joys of social +intercourse. + +There is nothing in the occupation of a barber incompatible with the +cultivation of poetry. Folez, the old German poet, was a barber, as well +as the still more celebrated Burchiello, of Florence, whose sonnets +are still admired because of the purity of their style. Our own Allan +Ramsay, author of 'The Gentle Shepherd,' spent some of his early years +in the same occupation. + +In southern and Oriental life the barber plays an important part. In the +Arabian tales he is generally a shrewd, meddling, inquisitive fellow. In +Spain and Italy the barber is often the one brilliant man in his town; +his shop is the place where gossip circulates, and where many a pretty +intrigue is contrived. + +Men of culture are often the friends of barbers. Buffon trusted to +his barber for all the news of Montbard. Moliere spent many long and +pleasant hours with the barber of Pezenas. Figaro, the famous barber of +Seville, was one of the most perfect prototypes of his trade. Jasmin was +of the same calling as Gil Bias, inspired with the same spirit, and full +of the same talent. He was a Frenchman of the South, of the same race as +Villon and Marot. + +Even in the prim and formal society of the eighteenth century, the +barber occupied no unimportant part. He and the sculptor, of all +working men, were allowed to wear the sword--that distinctive badge +of gentility. In short, the barber was regarded as an artist. Besides, +barbers were in ancient times surgeons; they were the only persons who +could scientifically "let blood." The Barber-Surgeons of London still +represent the class. They possess a cup presented to the Guild by +Charles II., in commemoration of his escape while taking refuge in the +oak-tree at Boscobel.{3} + +But to return to the adventures of Jasmin's early life. He describes +with great zest his first visit to a theatre. It was situated near at +hand, by the ancient palace of the Bishop. After his day's work was +over--his shaving, curling, and hairdressing--he went across the square, +and pressed in with the rest of the crowd. He took his seat. + +"'Heavens!' said he, 'where am I?' The curtain rises! 'Oh, this is +lovely! It is a new world; how beautifully they sing; and how sweetly +and tenderly they speak!' I had eyes for nothing else: I was quite +beside myself with joy. 'It is Cinderella,' I cried aloud in my +excitement. 'Be quiet,' said my neighbour. 'Oh, sir! why quiet? Where +are we? What is this?' 'You gaping idiot,' he replied, 'this is the +Comedy!' + +"Jasmin now remained quiet; but he saw and heard with all his eyes and +ears. 'What love! what poetry!' he thought: 'it is more than a dream! +It's magic. O Cinderella, Cinderella! thou art my guardian angel!' +And from this time, from day to day, I thought of being an actor!" + +Jasmin entered his garret late at night; and he slept so soundly, that +next morning his master went up to rouse him. "Where were you last +night? Answer, knave; you were not back till midnight?" "I was at the +Comedy," answered Jasmin sleepily; "it was so beautiful!" "You have been +there then, and lost your head. During the day you make such an uproar, +singing and declaiming. You, who have worn the cassock, should blush. +But I give you up; you will come to no good. Change, indeed! You will +give up the comb and razor, and become an actor! Unfortunate boy, you +must be blind. Do you want to die in the hospital?" + +"This terrible word," says Jasmin, "fell like lead upon my heart, and +threw me into consternation. Cinderella was forthwith dethroned in my +foolish mind; and my master's threat completely calmed me. I went on +faithfully with my work. I curled, and plaited hair in my little room. +As the saying goes, S'il ne pleut, il bruine (If it does not rain, it +drizzles). When I suffered least, time passed all the quicker. It was +then that, dreaming and happy, I found two lives within me--one in my +daily work, another in my garret. I was like a bird; I warbled and sang. +What happiness I enjoyed in my little bed under the tiles! I listened +to the warbling of birds. Lo! the angel came, and in her sweetest voice +sang to me. Then I tried to make verses in the language of the shepherd +swain. Bright thoughts came to me; great secrets were discovered. What +hours! What lessons! What pleasures I found under the tiles!" + +During the winter evenings, when night comes on quickly, Jasmin's small +savings went to the oil merchant. He trimmed his little lamp, and went +on till late, reading and rhyming. His poetical efforts, first written +in French, were to a certain extent successful. While shaving his +customers, he often recited to them his verses. They were amazed at +the boy's cleverness, and expressed their delight. He had already +a remarkable talent for recitation; and in course of time he became +eloquent. It was some time, however, before his powers became generally +known. The ladies whose hair he dressed, sometimes complained that their +curl papers were scrawled over with writing, and, when opened out, they +were found covered with verses. + +The men whom he shaved spread his praises abroad. In so small a town +a reputation for verse-making soon becomes known. "You can see me," he +said to a customer, "with a comb in my hand, and a verse in my head. I +give you always a gentle hand with my razor of velvet. My mouth recites +while my hand works." + +When Jasmin desired to display his oratorical powers, he went in the +evenings to the quarter of the Augustins, where the spinning-women +assembled, surrounded by their boys and girls. There he related to them +his pleasant narratives, and recited his numerous verses. + +Indeed, he even began to be patronized. His master addressed him as +"Moussu,"--the master who had threatened him with ending his days in the +hospital! + +Thus far, everything had gone well with him. What with shaving, +hairdressing, and rhyming, two years soon passed away. Jasmin was +now eighteen, and proposed to start business on his own account. +This required very little capital; and he had already secured many +acquaintances who offered to patronize him. M. Boyer d'Agen, who has +recently published the works of Jasmin, with a short preface and a +bibliography,{4} says that he first began business as a hairdresser in +the Cour Saint-Antoine, now the Cour Voltaire. When the author of this +memoir was at Agen in the autumn of 1888, the proprietor of the Hotel du +Petit St. Jean informed him that a little apartment had been placed +at Jasmin's disposal, separated from the Hotel by the entrance to the +courtyard, and that Jasmin had for a time carried on his business there. + +But desiring to have a tenement of his own, he shortly after took a +small house alongside the Promenade du Gravier; and he removed and +carried on his trade there for about forty years. The little shop is +still in existence, with Jasmin's signboard over the entrance door: +"Jasmin, coiffeur des Jeunes Gens," with the barber's sud-dish +hanging from a pendant in front. The shop is very small, with a little +sitting-room behind, and several bedrooms above. When I entered the +shop during my visit to Agen, I found a customer sitting before a +looking-glass, wrapped in a sheet, the lower part of his face covered +with lather, and a young fellow shaving his beard. + +Jasmin's little saloon was not merely a shaving and a curling shop. +Eventually it became known as the sanctuary of the Muses. It was +visited by some of the most distinguished people in France, and became +celebrated throughout Europe. But this part of the work is reserved for +future chapters. + + +Endnotes to Chapter III. + +{1} Magasin des Enfants. + +{2} Mes Nouveaux Souvenirs. + +{3} In England, some barbers, and barber's sons, have eventually +occupied the highest positions. Arkwright, the founder of the cotton +manufacture, was originally a barber. Tenterden, Lord Chief Justice, +was a barber's son, intended for a chorister in Canterbury Cathedral. +Sugden, afterwards Lord Chancellor, was opposed by a noble lord while +engaged in a parliamentary contest. Replying to the allegation that he +was only the son of a country barber, Sugden said: "His Lordship has +told you that I am nothing but the son of a country barber; but he has +not told you all, for I have been a barber myself, and worked in my +father's shop,--and all I wish to say about that is, that had his +Lordship been born the son of a country barber, he would have been a +barber still!" + +{4} OEUVRES COMPLETES DE JACQUES JASMIN: Preface de l'Edition,, Essai +d'orthographe gasconne d'apres les langues Romane et d'Oc, et collation +de la traduction litterale. Par Boyer d'Agen. 1889. Quatre volumes. + + + +CHAPTER IV. JASMIN AND MARIETTE. + +Jasmin was now a bright, vivid, and handsome fellow, a favourite with +men, women, and children. Of course, an attractive young man, with a +pleasant, comfortable home, could not long remain single. At length love +came to beautify his existence. "It was for her sake," he says, "that I +first tried to make verses in the sweet patois which she spoke so well; +verses in which I asked her, in rather lofty phrases, to be my guardian +angel for life." + +Mariette{1} was a pretty dark-eyed girl. She was an old companion of +Jasmin's, and as they began to know each other better, the acquaintance +gradually grew into affection, and finally into mutual love. She was of +his own class of life, poor and hardworking. After the day's work was +over, they had many a pleasant walk together on the summer evenings, +along the banks of the Garonne, or up the ascending road toward the +Hermitage and the rocky heights above the town. There they pledged their +vows; like a poet, he promised to love her for ever. She believed him, +and loved him in return. The rest may be left to the imagination. + +Jasmin still went on dreaming and rhyming! Mariette was a lovely subject +for his rhymes. He read his verses to her; and she could not but be +pleased with his devotion, even though recited in verse. He scribbled +his rhymes upon his curl-papers; and when he had read them to his +sweetheart, he used them to curl the hair of his fair customers. When +too much soiled by being written on both sides, he tore them up; for as +yet, he had not the slightest idea of publishing his verses. + +When the minds of the young pair were finally made up, their further +courtship did not last very long. They were willing to be united. + + "Happy's the wooing that's not long a-doing." + +The wedding-day at length arrived! Jasmin does not describe his bride's +dress. But he describes his own. "I might give you," he says in his +Souvenirs, "a picture of our happy nuptial day. I might tell you at +length of my newly dyed hat, my dress coat with blue facings, and my +home-spun linen shirt with calico front. But I forbear all details. My +godfather and godmother were at the wedding. You will see that the purse +did not always respond to the wishes of the heart." + +It is true that Jasmin's wedding-garment was not very sumptuous, nor was +his bride's; but they did the best that they could, and looked forward +with hope. Jasmin took his wife home to the pleasant house on the +Gravier; and joy and happiness sat down with them at their own fireside. +There was no Charivari, because their marriage was suitable. Both had +been poor, and the wife was ready and willing to share the lot of +her young husband, whether in joy or sorrow. Their home was small and +cosy--very different from the rat-haunted house of his lame mother and +humpbacked father. + +Customers came, but not very quickly. The barber's shop was somewhat +removed from the more populous parts of the town. But when the customers +did come, Jasmin treated them playfully and humorously. He was as lively +as any Figaro; and he became such a favourite, that when his customers +were shaved or had their hair dressed, they invariably returned, as well +as recommended others to patronize the new coiffeur. + +His little shop, which was at first nearly empty, soon became fuller +and fuller of customers. People took pleasure in coming to the +hair-dresser's shop, and hearing him recite his verses. He sang, he +declaimed, while plying his razor or his scissors. But the chins and +tresses of his sitters were in no danger from his skipping about, for he +deftly used his hands as well as his head. His razor glistened lightly +over the stubbly beards, and his scissors clipped neatly over the locks +of his customers. + +Except when so engaged, he went on rhyming. In a little town, gossip +flies about quickly, and even gets into the local papers. + +One day Jasmin read in one of the Agen journals, "Pegasus is a beast +that often carries poets to the hospital." Were the words intended for +him? He roared with laughter. Some gossip had bewitched the editor. +Perhaps he was no poet. His rhymes would certainly never carry him to +the hospital. Jasmin's business was becoming a little more lucrative.. +It is true his house was not yet fully furnished, but day by day he was +adding to the plenishing. At all events his humble home protected him +and his wife from wind and weather. + +On one occasion M. Gontaud, an amiable young poet, in a chaffing way, +addressed Jasmin as "Apollo!" in former times regarded as the god of +poetry and music. The epistle appeared in a local journal. Jasmin read +it aloud to his family. Gontaud alleged in his poem that Apollo had met +Jasmin's mother on the banks of the Garonne, and fell in love with her; +and that Jasmin, because of the merits of his poetry, was their son. + +Up flamed the old pair! "What, Catherine?" cried the old man, "is +it true that you have been a coquette? How! have I been only the +foster-father of thy little poet?" "No! No!" replied the enraged mother; +"he is all thine own! Console thyself, poor John; thou alone hast been +my mate. And who is this 'Pollo, the humbug who has deceived thee so? +Yes, I am lame, but when I was washing my linen, if any coxcomb had +approached me, I would have hit him on the mouth with a stroke of my +mallet!" "Mother," exclaimed the daughter, "'Pollo is only a fool, not +worth talking about; where does he live, Jacques?" Jasmin relished the +chaff, and explained that he only lived in the old mythology, and had +no part in human affairs. And thus was Apollo, the ancient god of poetry +and music, sent about his business. + +Years passed on, the married pair settled down quietly, and their life +of happiness went on pleasantly. The honeymoon had long since passed. +Jasmin had married at twenty, and Mariette was a year younger. + +When a couple live together for a time, they begin to detect some little +differences of opinion. It is well if they do not allow those little +differences to end in a quarrel. This is always a sad beginning of a +married life. + +There was one thing about her husband that Mariette did not like. That +was his verse-making. It was all very well in courtship, but was it +worth while in business? She saw him scribbling upon curl-papers instead +of attending to his periwigs. She sometimes interrupted him while he was +writing; and on one occasion, while Jasmin was absent on business, she +went so far as to burn his pens and throw his ink into the fire! + +Jasmin was a good-natured man, but he did not like this treatment. It +was not likely to end in a quiet domestic life. He expostulated, but it +was of little use. He would not give up his hobby. He went on rhyming, +and in order to write down his verses he bought new pens and a new +bottle of ink. Perhaps he felt the germs of poetic thought moving within +him. His wife resented his conduct. Why could he not attend to the +shaving and hair-dressing, which brought in money, instead of wasting +his time in scribbling verses on his curl-papers? + +M. Charles Nodier, member of the French Academy, paid a visit to Agen +in 1832. Jasmin was then thirty-four years old. He had been married +fourteen years, but his name was quite unknown, save to the people +of Agen. It was well known in the town that he had a talent for +versification, for he was accustomed to recite and chaunt his verses to +his customers. + +One quiet morning M. Nodier was taking a leisurely walk along the +promenade of the Gravier, when he was attracted by a loud altercation +going on between a man and a woman in the barber's shop. The woman was +declaiming with the fury of a Xantippe, while the man was answering her +with Homeric laughter. Nodier entered the shop, and found himself in the +presence of Jasmin and his wife. He politely bowed to the pair, and said +that he had taken the liberty of entering to see whether he could not +establish some domestic concord between them. + +"Is that all you came for?" asked the wife, at the same time somewhat +calmed by the entrance of a stranger. Jasmin interposed-- + +"Yes, my dear--certainly; but---" "Your wife is right, sir," said +Nodier, thinking that the quarrel was about some debts he had incurred. + +"Truly, sir," rejoined Jasmin; "if you were a lover of poetry, you would +not find it so easy to renounce it." + +"Poetry?" said Nodier; "I know a little about that myself." + +"What!" replied Jasmin, "so much the better. You will be able to help me +out of my difficulties." + +"You must not expect any help from me, for I presume you are oppressed +with debts." + +"Ha, ha!" cried Jasmin, "it isn't debts, it's verses, Sir." + +"Yes, indeed," said the wife, "it's verses, always verses! Isn't it +horrible?" + +"Will you let me see what you have written?" asked Nodier, turning to +Jasmin. + +"By all means, sir. Here is a specimen." The verses began: + + "Femme ou demon, ange ou sylphide, + Oh! par pitie, fuis, laisse-moi! + Doux miel d'amour n'est que poison perfide, + Mon coeur a trop souffert, il dort, eloigne-toi. + + "Je te l'ai dit, mon coeur sommeille; + Laisse-le, de ses maux a peine il est gueri, + Et j'ai peur que ta voix si douce a mon oreille + Par un chant d'amour ne l'eveille, + Lui, que l'amour a taut meurtri!" + +This was only about a fourth part of the verses which Jasmin had +composed.{2} Nodier confessed that he was greatly pleased with them. +Turning round to the wife he said, "Madame, poetry knocks at your +door; open it. That which inspires it is usually a noble heart and a +distinguished spirit, incapable of mean actions. Let your husband make +his verses; it may bring you good luck and happiness." + +Then, turning to the poet, and holding out his hand, he asked, "What is +your name, my friend?" + +"Jacques Jasmin," he timidly replied. "A good name," said Nodier. "At +the same time, while you give fair play to your genius, don't give +up the manufacture of periwigs, for this is an honest trade, while +verse-making might prove only a frivolous distraction." + +Nodier then took his leave, but from that time forward Jasmin and he +continued the best of friends. A few years later, when the first volume +of the Papillotos appeared, Nodier published his account of the above +interview in Le Temps. He afterwards announced in the Quotidienne the +outburst of a new poet on the banks of the Garonne--a poet full of +piquant charm, of inspired harmony--a Lamartine, a Victor Hugo, a Gascon +Beranger! + +After Nodier's departure, Madame Jasmin took a more favourable view of +the versification of her husband. She no longer chided him. The shop +became more crowded with customers. Ladies came to have their hair +dressed by the poet: it was so original! He delighted them with singing +or chanting his verses. He had a sympathetic, perhaps a mesmeric voice, +which touched the souls of his hearers, and threw them into the sweetest +of dreams. + +Besides attending to his shop, he was accustomed to go out in the +afternoons to dress the hair of four or five ladies. This occupied him +for about two hours, and when he found the ladies at home, he returned +with four or five francs in his purse. But often they were not at home, +and he came home francless. Eventually he gave up this part of +his trade. The receipts at the shop were more remunerative. Madame +encouraged this economical eform; she was accustomed to call it Jasmin's +coup d'etat. + +The evenings passed pleasantly. Jasmin took his guitar and sang to his +wife and children; or, in the summer evenings they would walk under +the beautiful elms in front of the Gravier, where Jasmin was ready for +business at any moment. Such prudence, such iligence, could not but have +its effect. When Jasmin's first volume of the Papillotos was published, +it was received with enthusiasm. + +"The songs, the curl-papers," said Jasmin, "brought in such a rivulet +of silver, that, in my poetic joy, I broke into morsels and burnt in the +fire that dreaded arm-chair in which my ancestors had been carried to +the hospital to die." + +Madame Jasmin now became quite enthusiastic. Instead of breaking the +poet's pens and throwing his ink into the fire, she bought the best +pens and the best ink. She even supplied him with a comfortable desk, +on which he might write his verses. "Courage, courage!" she would say. +"Each verse that you write is another tile to the roof and a rafter to +the dwelling; therefore make verses, make verses!" + +The rivulet of silver increased so rapidly, that in the course of a +short time Jasmin was enabled to buy the house in which he lived--tiles, +rafters, and all. Instead of Pegasus carrying him to the hospital, it +carried him to the office of the Notary, who enrolled him in the list of +collectors of taxes. He was now a man of substance, a man to be trusted. +The notary was also employed to convey the tenement to the prosperous +Jasmin. He ends the first part of his Souvenirs with these words: + + "When Pegasus kicks with a fling of his feet, + He sends me to curl on my hobby horse fleet; + I lose all my time, true, not paper nor notes, + I write all my verse on my papillotes."{3} + + +Endnotes to chapter IV. + +{1} In Gascon Magnounet; her pet name Marie, or in French Mariette. +Madame Jasmin called herself Marie Barrere. + +{2} The remaining verses are to be found in the collected edition of +his works--the fourth volume of Las Papillotos, new edition, pp. 247-9, +entitled A une jeune Voyayeuse. + +{3} Papillotes, as we have said, are curl-papers. Jasmin's words, in +Gascon, are these: + + "Quand Pegazo reguiuno, et que d'un cot de pe + Memboyo friza mas marotos, + Perdi moun ten, es bray, mais noun pas moun pape, + Boti mous beis en papillotos!" + + + +CHAPTER V. JASMIN AND GASCON.--FIRST VOLUME OF "PAPILLOTES." + +Jasmin's first efforts at verse-making were necessarily imperfect. He +tried to imitate the works of others, rather than create poetical images +of his own. His verses consisted mostly of imitations of the French +poems which he had read. He was overshadowed by the works of Boileau, +Gresset, Rousseau, and especially by Beranger, who, like himself, was +the son of a tailor. + +The recollections of their poetry pervaded all his earlier verses. His +efforts in classical French were by no means successful. It was only +when he had raised himself above the influence of authors who had +preceded him, that he soared into originality, and was proclaimed the +Poet of the South. + +Jasmin did not at first write in Gascon. In fact, he had not yet +mastered a perfect knowledge of this dialect. Though familiarly used in +ancient times, it did not exist in any written form. It was the speech +of the common people; and though the Gascons spoke the idiom, it had +lost much of its originality. It had become mixed, more or less, with +the ordinary French language, and the old Gascon words were becoming +gradually forgotten. + +Yet the common people, after all, remain the depositories of old idioms +and old traditions, as well as of the inheritances of the past. They are +the most conservative element in society. They love their old speech, +their old dress, their old manners and customs, and have an instinctive +worship of ancient memories. + +Their old idioms are long preserved. Their old dialect continues the +language of the fireside, of daily toil, of daily needs, and of domestic +joys and sorrows. It hovers in the air about them, and has been sucked +in with their mothers' milk. Yet, when a primitive race such as the +Gascons mix much with the people of the adjoining departments, the local +dialect gradually dies out, and they learn to speak the language of +their neighbours. + +The Gascon was disappearing as a speech, and very few of its written +elements survived. Was it possible for Jasmin to revive the dialect, +and embody it in a written language? He knew much of the patois, from +hearing it spoken at home. But now, desiring to know it more thoroughly, +he set to work and studied it. He was almost as assiduous as Sir Walter +Scott in learning obscure Lowland words, while writing the Waverley +Novels. Jasmin went into the market-places, where the peasants from the +country sold their produce; and there he picked up many new words and +expressions. He made excursions into the country round Agen, where many +of the old farmers and labourers spoke nothing but Gascon. He conversed +with illiterate people, and especially with old women at their +spinning-wheels, and eagerly listened to their ancient tales and +legends. + +He thus gathered together many a golden relic, which he afterwards made +use of in his poetical works. He studied Gascon like a pioneer. He made +his own lexicon, and eventually formed a written dialect, which he wove +into poems, to the delight of the people in the South of France. For the +Gascon dialect--such is its richness and beauty--expresses many shades +of meaning which are entirely lost in the modern French. + +When Jasmin first read his poems in Gascon to his townspeople at Agen, +he usually introduced his readings by describing the difficulties he +had encountered in prosecuting his enquiries. His hearers, who knew more +French than Gascon, detected in his poems many comparatively unknown +words,--not indeed of his own creation, but merely the result of his +patient and long-continued investigation of the Gascon dialect. Yet they +found the language, as written and spoken by him, full of harmony--rich, +mellifluous, and sonorous. Gascon resembles the Spanish, to which it +is strongly allied, more than the Provencal, the language of the +Troubadours, which is more allied to the Latin or Italian. + +Hallam, in his 'History of the Middle Ages,' regards the sudden outburst +of Troubadour poetry as one symptom of the rapid impulse which the human +mind received in the twelfth century, contemporaneous with the improved +studies that began at the Universities. It was also encouraged by the +prosperity of Southern France, which was comparatively undisturbed by +internal warfare, and it continued until the tremendous storm that fell +upon Languedoc during the crusade against the Albigenses, which shook +off the flowers of Provencal literature.{1} + +The language of the South-West of France, including the Gascon, was then +called Langue d'Oc; while that of the south-east of France, including +the Provencal, was called Langue d'Oil. M. Littre, in the Preface to his +Dictionary of the French language, says that he was induced to begin the +study of the subject by his desire to know something more of the Langue +d'Oil--the old French language.{2} + +In speaking of the languages of Western Europe, M. Littre says that the +German is the oldest, beginning in the fourth century; that the French +is the next, beginning in the ninth century; and that the English is +the last, beginning in the fourteenth century. It must be remembered, +however, that Plat Deutsch preceded the German, and was spoken by the +Frisians, Angles, and Saxons, who lived by the shores of the North Sea. + +The Gaelic or Celtic, and Kymriac languages, were spoken in the middle +and north-west of France; but these, except in Brittany, have been +superseded by the modern French language, which is founded mainly on +Latin, German, and Celtic, but mostly on Latin. The English language +consists mostly of Saxon, Norse, and Norman-French with a mixture of +Welsh or Ancient British. That language is, however, no test of the +genealogy of a people, is illustrated by the history of France itself. +In the fourth and fifth centuries, the Franks, a powerful German race, +from the banks of the Rhine, invaded and conquered the people north of +the Somme, and eventually gave the name of France to the entire country. +The Burgundians and Visigoths, also a German race, invaded France, and +settled themselves in the south-east. In the year 464, Childeric the +Frank took Paris. + +The whole history of the occupation of France is told by Augustin +Thierry, in his 'Narratives of the Merovingian Times.' "There are +Franks," he says in his Preface, "who remained pure Germans in Gaul; +Gallo-Romans, irritated and disgusted by the barbarian rule; Franks more +or less influenced by the manners and customs of civilised life; and +'Romans more or less barbarian in mind and manners.' The contrast may +be followed in all its shades through the sixth century, and into the +middle of the seventh; later, the Germanic and Gallo-Roman stamp seemed +effaced and lost in a semi-barbarism clothed in theocratic forms." + +The Franks, when they had completed the conquest of the entire country, +gave it the name of Franken-ric--the Franks' kingdom. Eventually, +Charles the Great, or Charlemagne, descended from Childeric the Frank, +was in 800 crowned Emperor of the West. Towards the end of his reign, +the Norsemen began to devastate the northern coast of Franken-ric. +Aix-la-Chapelle was Charlemagne's capital, and there he died and was +buried. At his death, the Empire was divided among his sons. The Norse +Vikingers continued their invasions; and to purchase repose, Charles the +Simple ceded to Duke Rollo a large territory in the northwest of France, +which in deference to their origin, was known by the name of Normandy. + +There Norman-French was for a long time spoken. Though the Franks had +supplanted the Romans, the Roman language continued to be spoken. In 996 +Paris was made the capital of France; and from that time, the language +of Paris became, with various modifications, the language of France; and +not only of France, but the Roman or Latin tongue became the foundation +of the languages of Italy, Spain, and Portugal. + +Thus, Gaulish, Frankish, and Norman disappeared to give place to the +Latin-French. The Kymriac language was preserved only in Brittany, where +it still lingers. And in the south-west of France, where the population +was furthest removed from the invasions of the Gauls, Ostrogoths, +and Visigoths, the Basques continued to preserve their language,--the +Basques, who are supposed by Canon Isaac Taylor to be the direct +descendants of the Etruscans. + +The descendants of the Gauls, however, constitute the mass of the people +in Central France. The Gauls, or Galatians, are supposed to have come +from the central district of Asia Minor. They were always a warlike +people. In their wanderings westward, they passed through the north +of Italy and entered France, where they settled in large numbers. Dr. +Smith, in his Dictionary of the Bible, says that "Galatai is the same +word as Keltici," which indicates that the Gauls were Kelts. It is +supposed that St. Paul wrote his Epistle to the Galatians soon after his +visit to the country of their origin. "Its abruptness and severity, and +the sadness of its tone, are caused by their sudden perversion from the +doctrine which the Apostle had taught them, and which at first they had +received so willingly. It is no fancy, if we see in this fickleness a +specimen of that 'esprit impretueux, ouvert a toutes les impressions,' +and that 'mobilite extreme,' which Thierry marks as characteristic of +the Gaulish race." At all events, the language of the Gauls disappeared +in Central France to make way for the language or the Capital--the +modern French, founded on the Latin. The Gaulish race, nevertheless, +preserved their characteristics--quickness, lightness, mobility, and +elasticity--qualities which enabled them quickly to conceive new ideas, +and at the same time to quickly abandon them. The Franks had given +the country the name it now bears--that of France. But they were long +regarded as enemies by the Central and Southern Gauls. In Gascony, the +foreigner was called Low Franciman, and was regarded with suspicion and +dislike. + +"This term of Franciman," says Miss Costello, who travelled through the +country and studied the subject, "evidently belongs to a period of the +English occupation of Aquitaine, when a Frenchman was another word for +an enemy."{3} But the word has probably a more remote origin. When the +Franks, of German origin, burst into Gaul, and settled in the country +north of the Loire, and afterwards carried their conquests to the +Pyrenees, the Franks were regarded as enemies in the south of France. + +"Then all the countries," says Thierry, "united by force to the empire +of the Franks, and over which in consequence of this union, the name of +France had extended itself, made unheard-of efforts to reconquer their +ancient names and places. Of all the Gallic provinces, none but the +southern ones succeeded in this great enterprise; and after the wars of +insurrection, which, under the sons of Charlemagne, succeeded the wars +of conquest, Aquitaine and Provence became distinct states. Among the +South Eastern provinces reappeared even the ancient name of Gaul, which +had for ever perished north of the Loire. The chiefs of the new Kingdom +of Aries, which extended from the Jura to the Alps, took the title of +Gaul in opposition to the Kings of France."{4} + +It is probable that this was the cause of the name of "Franciman" being +regarded as an hereditary term of reproach in the Gaulish country south +of the Loire. Gascon and Provencal were the principal dialects which +remained in the South, though Littre classes them together as the +language of the Troubadours. + +They were both well understood in the South; and Jasmin's recitations +were received with as much enthusiasm at Nimes, Aries, and Marseilles, +as at Toulouse, Agen, and Bordeaux. + +Mezzofanti, a very Tower of Babel in dialects and languages, said of +the Provencal, that it was the only patois of the Middle Ages, with its +numerous derivations from the Greek, the Arabic, and the Latin, which +has survived the various revolutions of language. The others have been +altered and modified. They have suffered from the caprices of victory or +of fortune. Of all the dialects of the Roman tongue, this patois +alone preserves its purity and life. It still remains the sonorous and +harmonious language of the Troubadours. The patois has the suppleness +of the Italian, the sombre majesty of the Spanish, the energy and +preciseness of the Latin, with the "Molle atque facetum, le dolce +de, l'Ionic;" which still lives among the Phoceens of Marseilles. The +imagination and genius of Gascony have preserved the copious richness of +the language. + +M. de Lavergne, in his notice of Jasmin's works, frankly admits the +local jealousy which existed between the Troubadours of Gascony and +Provence. There seemed, he said, to be nothing disingenuous in the +silence of the Provencals as to Jasmin's poems. They did not allow that +he borrowed from them, any more than that they borrowed from him. These +men of Southern France are born in the land of poetry. It breathes in +their native air. It echoes round them in its varied measures. Nay, the +rhymes which are its distinguishing features, pervade their daily talk. + +The seeds lie dormant in their native soil, and when trodden under foot, +they burst through the ground and evolve their odour in the open air. +Gascon and Provencal alike preserve the same relation to the classic +romance--that lovely but short-lived eldest daughter of the Latin--the +language of the Troubadours. + +We have said that the Gascon dialect was gradually expiring when Jasmin +undertook its revival. His success in recovering and restoring it, +and presenting it in a written form, was the result of laborious +investigation. He did not at first realize the perfect comprehension of +the idiom, but he eventually succeeded by patient perseverance, When +we read his poems, we are enabled to follow, step by step, his +lexicological progress. + +At first, he clung to the measures most approved in French poetry, +especially to Alexandrines and Iambic tetrameters, and to their +irregular association in a sort of ballad metre, which in England has +been best handled by Robert Browning in his fine ballad of 'Harve; +Riel.' + +Jasmin's first rhymes were written upon curl papers, and then used on +the heads of his lady customers. When the spirit of original poetry +within him awoke, his style changed. Genius brought sweet music from his +heart and mind. Imagination spiritualised his nature, lifted his soul +above the cares of ordinary life, and awakened the consciousness of his +affinity with what is pure and noble. Jasmin sang as a bird sings; at +first in weak notes, then in louder, until at length his voice filled +the skies. Near the end of his life he was styled the Saint Vincent de +Paul of poetry. + +Jasmin might be classed among the Uneducated Poets. But what poet is not +uneducated at the beginning of his career? The essential education of +the poet is not taught in the schools. + +The lowly man, against whom the asperities of his lot have closed the +doors of worldly academies, may nevertheless have some special vocation +for the poetic life. Academies cannot shut him out from the odour of the +violet or the song of the nightingale. He hears the lark's song filling +the heavens, as the happy bird fans the milk-white cloud with its wings. +He listens to the purling of the brook, the bleating of the lamb, the +song of the milkmaid, and the joyous cry of the reaper. Thus his mind +is daily fed with the choicest influences of nature. He cannot but +appreciate the joy, the glory, the unconscious delight of living. "The +beautiful is master of a star." This feeling of beauty is the nurse of +civilisation and true refinement. Have we not our Burns, who + + "in glory and in joy + Followed his plough along the mountain side;" + +Clare, the peasant boy; Bloomfield, the farmer's lad; Tannahill, the +weaver; Allan Ramsay, the peruke-maker; Cooper, the shoemaker; and +Critchley Prince, the factory-worker; but greater than these was +Shakespeare,--though all were of humble origin. + +France too has had its uneducated poets. Though the ancient song-writers +of France were noble; Henry IV., author of Charmante Gabrielle; +Thibault, Count of Champagne; Lusignan, Count de la Marche; Raval, +Blondel, and Basselin de la Vive, whose songs were as joyous as the +juice of his grapes; yet some of the best French poets of modem times +have been of humble origin--Marmontel, Moliere, Rousseau, and Beranger. +There were also Reboul, the baker; Hibley, the working-tailor; Gonzetta, +the shoemaker; Durand, the joiner; Marchand, the lacemaker; Voileau, the +sail-maker; + +Magu, the weaver; Poucy, the mason; Germiny, the cooper;{5} and finally, +Jasmin the barber and hair dresser, who was not the least of the +Uneducated Poets. + +The first poem which Jasmin composed in the Gascon dialect was written +in 1822, when he was only twenty-four years old. It was entitled La +fidelitat Agenoso, which he subsequently altered to Me cal Mouri (Il me +fait mourir), or "Let me die." It is a languishing romantic poem, after +the manner of Florian, Jasmin's first master in poetry. It was printed +at Agen in a quarto form, and sold for a franc. Jasmin did not attach +his name to the poem, but only his initials. + +Sainte-Beuve, in his notice of the poem, says, "It is a pretty, +sentimental romance, showing that Jasmin possessed the brightness and +sensibility of the Troubadours. As one may say, he had not yet quitted +the guitar for the flageolet; and Marot, who spoke of his flageolet, +had not, in the midst of his playful spirit, those tender accents which +contrasted so well with his previous compositions. And did not Henry +IV., in the midst of his Gascon gaieties and sallies, compose his sweet +song of Charmante Gabrielle? Jasmin indeed is the poet who is nearest +the region of Henry IV."{6} Me cal Mouri was set to music by Fourgons, +and obtained great popularity in the south. It was known by heart, and +sung everywhere; in Agen, Toulouse, and throughout Provence. It was not +until the publication of the first volume of his poems that it was known +to be the work of Jasmin. + +Miss Louisa Stuart Costello, when making her pilgrimage in the South of +France, relates that, in the course of her journey," A friend repeated +to me two charming ballads picked up in Languedoc, where there is a +variety in the patois. I cannot resist giving them here, that my readers +may compare the difference of dialect. I wrote them clown, however, +merely by ear, and am not aware that they have ever been printed. The +mixture of French, Spanish, and Italian is very curious."{7} + +As the words of Jasmin's romance were written down by Miss Costello from +memory, they are not quite accurate; but her translation into English +sufficiently renders the poet's meaning. The following is the first +verse of Jasmin's poem in Gascon-- + + "Deja la ney encrumis la naturo, + Tout es tranquille et tout cargo lou dol; + Dins lou clouche la brezago murmuro, + Et lou tuquet succedo al rossignol: + Del mal, helas! bebi jusq'a la ligo, + Moun co gemis sans espouer de gari; + Plus de bounhur, ey perdut moun amigo, + Me cal mouri! me cal mouri!" + +Which Miss Costello thus translates into English: + + "Already sullen night comes sadly on, + And nature's form is clothed with mournful weeds; + Around the tower is heard the breeze's moan, + And to the nightingale the bat succeeds. + Oh! I have drained the cup of misery, + My fainting heart has now no hope in store. + Ah! wretched me! what have I but to die? + For I have lost my love for evermore!" + +There are four verses in the poem, but the second verse may also be +given + + "Fair, tender Phoebe, hasten on thy course, + My woes revive while I behold thee shine, + For of my hope thou art no more the source, + And of my happiness no more the sign. + Oh! I have drained the cup of misery, + My fainting heart has now no bliss in store. + Ah! wretched me! what have I but to die? + Since I have lost my love for evermore!" + +The whole of the poem was afterwards translated into modem French, and, +though somewhat artificial, it became as popular in the north as in the +south. + +Jasmin's success in his native town, and his growing popularity, +encouraged him to proceed with the making of verses. His poems were +occasionally inserted in the local journals; but the editors did not +approve of his use of the expiring Gascon dialect. They were of opinion +that his works might be better appreciated if they appeared in modern +French. Gascon was to a large extent a foreign language, and greatly +interfered with Jasmin's national reputation as a poet. + +Nevertheless he held on his way, and continued to write his verses in +Gascon. They contained many personal lyrics, tributes, dedications, +hymns for festivals, and impromptus, scarcely worthy of being collected +and printed. Jasmin said of the last description of verse: "One can only +pay a poetical debt by means of impromptus, and though they may be good +money of the heart, they are almost always bad money of the head." + +Jasmin's next poem was The Charivari (Lou Charibari), also written in +Gascon. It was composed in 1825, when he was twenty-seven years old; and +dedicated to M. Duprount, the Advocate, who was himself a poetaster. The +dedication contained some fine passages of genuine beauty and graceful +versification. It was in some respects an imitation of the Lutrin of +Boileau. It was very different from the doggerel in which he had taken +part with his humpbacked father so long ago. Then he had blown the +cow-horn, now he spoke with the tongue of a trumpet. The hero of +Jasmin's Charivari was one Aduber, an old widower, who dreamt of +remarrying. It reminded one of the strains of Beranger; in other +passages of the mock-heroic poem of Boileau. + +Though the poem when published was read with much interest, it was not +nearly so popular as Me cal Mouri. This last-mentioned poem, his +first published work, touched the harp of sadness; while his Charivari +displayed the playfulness of joy. Thus, at the beginning of his career, +Jasmin revealed himself as a poet in two very different styles; in one, +touching the springs of grief, and in the other exhibiting brightness +and happiness. At the end of the same year he sounded his third and +deepest note in his poem On the Death of General Foy--one of France's +truest patriots. Now his lyre was complete; it had its three strings--of +sadness, joy, and sorrow. + +These three poems--Me cal Mouri, the Charivari, and the ode On the Death +of General Foy, with some other verses--were published in 1825. What was +to be the title of the volume? As Adam, the carpenter-poet of Nevers, +had entitled his volume of poetry 'Shavings,' so Jasmin decided to name +his collection 'The Curl-papers of Jasmin, Coiffeur of Agen.' The title +was a good one, and the subsequent volumes of his works were known as +La Papillotos (the Curl-papers) of Jasmin. The publication of this first +volume served to make Jasmin's name popular beyond the town in which +they had been composed and published. His friend M. Gaze said of him, +that during the year 1825 he had been marrying his razor with the swan's +quill; and that his hand of velvet in shaving was even surpassed by his +skill in verse-making. + +Charles Nodier, his old friend, who had entered the barber's shop +some years before to intercede between the poet and his wife, sounded +Jasmin's praises in the Paris journals. He confessed that he had been +greatly struck with the Charivari, and boldly declared that the language +of the Troubadours, which everyone supposed to be dead, was still in +full life in France; that it not only lived, but that at that very +moment a poor barber at Agen, without any instruction beyond that given +by the fields, the woods, and the heavens, had written a serio-comic +poem which, at the risk of being thought crazy by his colleagues of the +Academy, he considered to be better composed than the Lutrin of Boileau, +and even better than one of Pope's masterpieces, the Rape of the Lock. + +The first volume of the Papillotes sold very well; and the receipts +from its sale not only increased Jasmin's income, but also increased +his national reputation. Jasmin was not, however, elated by success. He +remained simple, frugal, honest, and hard-working. He was not carried +off his feet by eclat. Though many illustrious strangers, when passing +through Agen, called upon and interviewed the poetical coiffeur, he +quietly went back to his razors, his combs, and his periwigs, and +cheerfully pursued the business that he could always depend upon in his +time of need. + + +Endnotes to Chapter V. + +{1}Hallam's 'Middle Ages,' iii. 434. 12th edit. (Murray.) + +{2} His words are these: "La conception m'en fut suggeree par mes etudes +sur la vieille langue francaise ou langue d'oil. Je fus si frappe des +liens qui unissent le francais moderne au francais ancien, j'apercus +tant de cas ou les sens et des locutions du jour ne s'expliquent que par +les sens et les locutions d'autrefois, tant d'exemples ou la forme des +mots n'est pas intelligible sans les formes qui ont precede, qu'il me +sembla que la doctrine et meme l'usage de la langue restent mal assis +s'ils ne reposent sur leur base antique." (Preface, ii.) + +{3} 'Bearn and the Pyrenees,' i. 348. + +{4} THIERRY--'Historical Essays,' No. XXIV. + +{5} Les Poetes du Peuple an xix. Siecle. Par Alphonse Viollet. Paris, +1846. + +{6} Portraits contemporains, ii. 61 (ed. 1847). + +{7} 'Pilgrimage to Auvergne,' ii. 210. + + + +CHAPTER VI. MISCELLANEOUS VERSES--BERANGER--'MES SOUVENIRS'--PAUL DE +MUSSET. + +During the next four years Jasmin composed no work of special +importance. He occasionally wrote poetry, but chiefly on local subjects. +In 1828 he wrote an impromptu to M. Pradel, who had improvised a Gascon +song in honour of the poet. The Gascon painter, Champmas, had compared +Jasmin to a ray of sunshine, and in 1829 the poet sent him a charming +piece of verse in return for his compliment. + +In 1830 Jasmin composed The Third of May, which was translated into +French by M. Duvigneau. It appears that the Count of Dijon had presented +to the town of Nerac, near Agen, a bronze statue of Henry IV., executed +by the sculptor Raggi--of the same character as the statue erected to +the same monarch at Pau. But though Henry IV. was born at Pau, Nerac was +perhaps more identified with him, for there he had his strong castle, +though only its ruins now remain. + +Nerac was at one time almost the centre of the Reformation in France. +Clement Marot, the poet of the Reformed faith, lived there; and the +house of Theodore de Beze, who emigrated to Geneva, still exists. The +Protestant faith extended to Agen and the neighbouring towns. When the +Roman Catholics obtained the upper hand, persecutions began. Vindocin, +the pastor, was burned alive at Agen. J. J. Scaliger was an eye-witness +of the burning, and he records the fact that not less than 300 victims +perished for their faith. + +At a later time Nerac, which had been a prosperous town, was ruined by +the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes; for the Protestant population, +who had been the most diligent and industrious in the town and +neighbourhood, were all either "converted," hanged, sent to the galleys, +or forced to emigrate to England, Holland, or Prussia. Nevertheless, the +people of Nerac continued to be proud of their old monarch. + +The bronze statue of Henry IV. was unveiled in 1829. On one side + +of the marble pedestal supporting the statue were the words "Alumno, mox +patri nostro, Henrico quarto," and on the reverse side was a verse in +the Gascon dialect: + + "Brabes Gascons! + A moun amou per bous aou dibes creyre; + Benes! Benes! ey plaze de bous beyre! + Approucha-bous!" + +The words were assumed to be those of; Henry IV., and may be thus +translated into English: + + "Brave Gascons! + You may well trust my love for you; + Come! come! I leave to you my glory! + Come near! Approach!"{1} + +It is necessary to explain how the verse in Gascon came to be engraved +on the pedestal of the statue. The Society of Agriculture, Sciences, +and Arts, of Agen, offered a prize of 300 francs for the best Ode to the +memory of Henry the Great. Many poems were accordingly sent in to the +Society; and, after some consideration, it was thought that the prize +should be awarded to M. Jude Patissie. But amongst the thirty-nine poems +which had been presented for examination, it was found that two had been +written in the Gascon dialect. The committee were at first of opinion +that they could not award the prize to the author of any poem written in +the vulgar tongue. At the same time they reported that one of the poems +written in Gascon possessed such real merit, that the committee decided +by a unanimous vote that a prize should be awarded to the author of the +best poem written in the Gascon dialect. Many poems were accordingly +sent in and examined. Lou Tres de May was selected as the best; and on +the letter attached to the poem being opened, the president proclaimed +the author to be "Jasmin, Coiffeur." After the decision of the Society +at Agen, the people of Nerac desired to set their seal upon their +judgment, and they accordingly caused the above words to be engraved +on the reverse side of the pedestal supporting the statue of Henry +IV. Jasmin's poem was crowned by the Academy of Agen; and though it +contained many fine verses, it had the same merits and the same defects +as the Charivari, published a few years before. + +M. Rodiere, Professor of Law at Toulouse, was of opinion that during +the four years during which Jasmin produced no work of any special +importance, he was carefully studying Gascon; for it ought to be known +that the language in which Godolin wrote his fine poems is not without +its literature. "The fact," says Rodiere, "that Jasmin used some of his +time in studying the works of Godolin is, that while in Lou Charibari +there are some French words ill-disguised in a Gascon dress, on the +other hand, from the year 1830, there are none; and the language of +Jasmin is the same as the language of Godolin, except for a few trifling +differences, due to the different dialects of Agen and Toulouse." + +Besides studying Gascon, Jasmin had some military duties to perform. He +was corporal of the third company of the National Guard of Agen; and in +1830 he addressed his comrades in a series of verses. One of these was +a song entitled 'The Flag of Liberty' (Lou Drapeou de la Libertat); +another, 'The Good All-merciful God!' (Lou Boun Diou liberal); and the +third was Lou Seromen. + +Two years later, in 1832, Jasmin composed The Gascons, which he +improvised at a banquet given to the non-commissioned officers of the +14th Chasseurs. Of course, the improvisation was carefully prepared; +and it was composed in French, as the non-commissioned officers did not +understand the Gascon dialect. + +Jasmin extolled the valour of the French, and especially of the Gascons. +The last lines of his eulogy ran as follows:-- + + "O Liberty! mother of victory, + Thy flag always brings us success! + Though as Gascons we sing of thy glory, + We chastise our foes with the French!" + +In the same year Jasmin addressed the poet Beranger in a pleasant +poetical letter written in classical French. Beranger replied in prose; +his answer was dated the 12th of July, 1832. He thanked Jasmin for his +fervent eulogy. While he thought that the Gascon poet's praise of his +works was exaggerated, he believed in his sincerity. + +"I hasten," said Beranger, "to express my thanks for the kindness of +your address. Believe in my sincerity, as I believe in your praises. +Your exaggeration of my poetical merits makes me repeat the first words +of your address, in which you assume the title of a Gascon{2} poet. It +would please me much better if you would be a French poet, as you prove +by your epistle, which is written with taste and harmony. The sympathy +of our sentiments has inspired you to praise me in a manner which I am +far from meriting, Nevertheless, sir, I am proud of your sympathy. + +"You have been born and brought up in the same condition as myself. +Like me, you appear to have triumphed over the absence of scholastic +instruction, and, like me too, you love your country. You reproach me, +sir, with the silence which I have for some time preserved. At the end +of this year I intend to publish my last volume; I will then take my +leave of the public. I am now fifty-two years old. I am tired of the +world. My little mission is fulfilled, and the public has had enough of +me. I am therefore making arrangements for retiring. Without the desire +for living longer, I have broken silence too soon. At least you must +pardon the silence of one who has never demanded anything of his +country. I care nothing about power, and have now merely the ambition of +a morsel of bread and repose. + +"I ask your pardon for submitting to you these personal details. But +your epistle makes it my duty. I thank you again for the pleasure you +have given me. I do not understand the language of Languedoc, but, if +you speak this language as you write French, I dare to prophecy a true +success in the further publication of your works.--BERANGER."{3} + +Notwithstanding this advice of Beranger and other critics, Jasmin +continued to write his poems in the Gascon dialect. He had very little +time to spare for the study of classical French; he was occupied +with the trade by which he earned his living, and his business was +increasing. His customers were always happy to hear him recite his +poetry while he shaved their beards or dressed their hair. + +He was equally unfortunate with M. Minier of Bordeaux. Jasmin addressed +him in a Gascon letter full of bright poetry, not unlike Burns's Vision, +when he dreamt of becoming a song-writer. The only consolation that +Jasmin received from M. Minier was a poetical letter, in which the poet +was implored to retain his position and not to frequent the society of +distinguished persons. + +Perhaps the finest work which Jasmin composed at this period of his life +was that which he entitled Mous Soubenis, or 'My Recollections.' In none +of his poems did he display more of the characteristic qualities of his +mind, his candour, his pathos, and his humour, than in these verses. +He used the rustic dialect, from which he never afterwards departed. He +showed that the Gascon was not yet a dead language; and he lifted it to +the level of the most serious themes. His verses have all the greater +charm because of their artless gaiety, their delicate taste, and the +sweetness of their cadence. + +Jasmin began to compose his 'Recollections' in 1830, but the two first +cantos were not completed until two years later. The third canto was +added in 1835, when the poem was published in the first volume of his +'Curl-Papers' (Papillotes). These recollections, in fact, constitute +Jasmin's autobiography, and we are indebted to them for the description +we have already given of the poet's early life. + +Many years later Jasmin wrote his Mous noubels Soubenis--'My New +Recollections'; but in that work he returned to the trials and the +enjoyments of his youth, and described few of the events of his later +life. "What a pity," says M. Rodiere, "that Jasmin did not continue to +write his impressions until the end of his life! What trouble he would +have saved his biographers! For how can one speak when Jasmin ceases to +sing?" + +It is unnecessary to return to the autobiography and repeat the +confessions of Jasmin's youth. His joys and sorrows are all described +there--his birth in the poverty-stricken dwelling in the Rue Fon de +Rache, his love for his parents, his sports with his playfellows on the +banks of the Garonne, his blowing the horn in his father's Charivaris, +his enjoyment of the tit-bits which old Boe brought home from his +begging-tours, the decay of the old man, and his conveyance to the +hospital, "where all the Jasmins die;" then his education at the +Academy, his toying with the house-maid, his stealing the preserves, his +expulsion from the seminary, and the sale of his mother's wedding-ring +to buy bread for her family. + +While composing the first two cantos of the Souvenirs he seemed half +ashamed of the homeliness of the tale he had undertaken to relate. +Should he soften and brighten it? Should he dress it up with false +lights and colours? For there are times when falsehood in silk and +gold are acceptable, and the naked new-born truth is unwelcome. But he +repudiated the thought, and added:-- + + "Myself, nor less, nor more, I'll draw for you, + And if not bright, the likeness shall be true." + +The third canto of the poem was composed at intervals. It took him two +more years to finish it. It commences with his apprenticeship to +the barber; describes his first visit to the theatre, his reading of +Florian's romances and poems, his solitary meditations, and the birth +and growth of his imagination. Then he falls in love, and a new era +opens in his life. He writes verses and sings them. He opens a barber's +shop of his own, marries, and brings his young bride home. "Two angels," +he says, "took up their abode with me." His newly-wedded wife was one, +and the other was his rustic Muse--the angel of homely pastoral poetry: + + "Who, fluttering softly from on high, + Raised on his wing and bore me far, + Where fields of balmiest ether are; + There, in the shepherd lassie's speech + I sang a song, or shaped a rhyme; + There learned I stronger love than I can teach. + Oh, mystic lessons! Happy time! + And fond farewells I said, when at the close of day, + Silent she led my spirit back whence it was borne away!" + +He then speaks of the happiness of his wedded life; he shaves and sings +most joyfully. A little rivulet of silver passes into the barber's shop, +and, in a fit of poetic ardour, he breaks into pieces and burns the +wretched arm-chair in which his ancestors were borne to the hospital to +die. His wife no longer troubles him with her doubts as to his verses +interfering with his business. She supplies him with pen, paper, ink, +and a comfortable desk; and, in course of time, he buys the house in +which he lives, and becomes a man of importance in Agen. He ends the +third canto with a sort of hurrah-- + + "Thus, reader, have I told my tale in cantos three: + Though still I sing, I hazard no great risk; + For should Pegasus rear and fling me, it is clear, + However ruffled all my fancies fair, + I waste my time, 'tis true; though verses I may lose, + The paper still will serve for curling hair."{4} + +Robert Nicoll, the Scotch poet, said of his works: "I have written my +heart in my poems; and rude, unfinished, and hasty as they are, it can +be read there." Jasmin might have used the same words. "With all my +faults," he said, "I desired to write the truth, and I have described it +as I saw it." + +In his 'Recollections' he showed without reserve his whole heart. +Jasmin dedicated his 'Recollections,' when finished, to M. Florimond +de Saint-Amand, one of the first gentlemen who recognised his poetical +talents. This was unquestionably the first poem in which Jasmin +exhibited the true bent of his genius. He avoided entirely the French +models which he had before endeavoured to imitate; and he now gave +full flight to the artless gaiety and humour of his Gascon muse. It +is unfortunate that the poem cannot be translated into English. It was +translated into French; but even in that kindred language it lost +much of its beauty and pathos. The more exquisite the poetry that is +contained in one language, the more difficulty there is in translating +it into another. + +M. Charles Nodier said of Lou Tres de May that it contains poetic +thoughts conveyed in exquisite words; but it is impossible to render it +into any language but its own. In the case of the Charivari he shrinks +from attempting to translate it. There is one passage containing a +superb description of the rising of the sun in winter; but two of the +lines quite puzzled him. In Gascon they are + + "Quand l'Auroro, fourrado en raoubo de sati, + Desparrouillo, san brut, las portos del mati.' + +Some of the words translated into French might seem vulgar, though in +Gascon they are beautiful. In English they might be rendered: + + "When Aurora, enfurred in her robe of satin, + Unbars, without noise, the doors of the morning." + +"Dream if you like," says Nodier, "of the Aurora of winter, and tell me +if Homer could have better robed it in words. The Aurora of Jasmin is +quite his own; 'unbars the doors of the morning'; it is done without +noise, like a goddess, patient and silent, who announces herself to +mortals only by her brightness of light. It is this finished felicity +of expression which distinguishes great writers. The vulgar cannot +accomplish it." + +Again Nodier says of the 'Recollections': "They are an ingenuous marvel +of gaiety, sensibility, and passion! I use," he says, "this expression +of enthusiasm; and I regret that I cannot be more lavish in my praises. +There is almost nothing in modem literature, and scarcely anything +in ancient, which has moved me more profoundly than the Souvenirs of +Jasmin. + +"Happy and lovely children of Guienne and Languedoc, read and re-read the +Souvenirs of Jasmin; they will give you painful recollections of public +schools, and perhaps give you hope of better things to come. You will +learn by heart what you will never forget. You will know from this +poetry all that you ought to treasure." + +Jasmin added several other poems to his collection before his second +volume appeared in 1835. Amongst these were his lines on the Polish +nation--Aux debris de la Nation Polonaise, and Les Oiseaux Voyageurs, ou +Les Polonais en France--both written in Gascon. Saint-beuve thinks the +latter one of Jasmin's best works. "It is full of pathos," he says, "and +rises to the sublime through its very simplicity. It is indeed difficult +to exaggerate the poetic instinct and the unaffected artlessness of this +amiable bard. "At the same time," he said, "Jasmin still wanted the +fire of passion to reach the noblest poetic work. Yet he had the art +of style. If Agen was renowned as 'the eye of Guienne,' Jasmin was +certainly the greatest poet who had ever written in the pure patois of +Agen." + +Sainte-Beuve also said of Jasmin that he was "invariably sober." And +Jasmin said of himself, "I have learned that in moments of heat +and emotion we are all eloquent and laconic, alike in speech and +action--unconscious poets in fact; and I have also learned that it is +possible for a muse to become all this willingly, and by dint of patient +toil." + +Another of his supplementary poems consisted of a dialogue between +Ramoun, a soldier of the Old Guard, and Mathiou, a peasant. It is of a +political cast, and Jasmin did not shine in politics. He was, however, +always a patriot, whether under the Empire, the Monarchy, or the +Republic. He loved France above all things, while he entertained the +warmest affection for his native province. If Jasmin had published his +volume in classical French he might have been lost amidst a crowd of +rhymers; but as he published the work in his native dialect, he became +forthwith distinguished in his neighbourhood, and was ever after known +as the Gascon poet. + +Nor did he long remain unknown beyond the district in which he lived. +When his second volume appeared in 1835, with a preface by M. Baze, an +advocate of the Royal Court of Agen, it created considerable excitement, +not only at Bordeaux and Toulouse, but also at Paris, the centre of the +literature, science, and fine arts of France. There, men of the highest +distinction welcomed the work with enthusiasm. + +M. Baze, in his preface, was very eulogistic. "We have the pleasure," he +said, "of seeing united in one collection the sweet Romanic tongue which +the South of France has adopted, like the privileged children of +her lovely sky and voluptuous climate; and her lyrical songs, whose +masculine vigour and energetic sentiments have more than once excited +patriotic transports and awakened popular enthusiasm. For Jasmin is +above all a poet of the people. He is not ashamed of his origin. He was +born in the midst of them, and though a poet, still belongs to them. For +genius is of all stations and ranks of life. He is but a hairdresser +at Agen, and more than that, he wishes to remain so. His ambition is to +unite the razor to the poet's pen." + +At Paris the work was welcomed with applause, first by his poetic +sponsor, Charles Nodier, in the Temps, where he congratulated Jasmin on +using the Gascon patois, though still under the ban of literature. "It +is a veritable Saint Bartholomew of innocent and beautiful idioms, which +can scarcely be employed even in the hours of recreation." He pronounced +Jasmin to be a Gascon Beranger, and quoted several of his lines from +the Charivari, but apologised for their translation into French, fearing +that they might lose much of their rustic artlessness and soft harmony. + +What was a still greater honour, Jasmin was reviewed by the first critic +of France--Sainte-Beuve in the leading critical journal, the Revue des +deux Mondes. The article was afterwards republished in his Contemporary +Portraits.{5} He there gives a general account of his poems; compares +him with the English and Scotch poets of the working class; and +contrasts him with Reboul, the baker of Nimes, who writes in classical +French, after the manner of the 'Meditations of Lamartine.' He proceeds +to give a brief account of Jasmin's life, taken from the Souvenirs, +which he regards as a beautiful work, written with much artlessness and +simplicity. + +Various other reviews of Jasmin's poems appeared, in Agen, Bordeaux, +Toulouse, and Paris, by men of literary mark--by Leonce de Lavergne, and +De Mazude in the Revue des deux Mondes--by Charles Labitte, M. Ducuing, +and M. de Pontmartin. The latter classed Jasmin with Theocritus, Horace, +and La Fontaine, and paid him the singular tribute, "that he had made +Goodness as attractive as other French writers had made Badness." Such +criticisms as these made Jasmin popular, not only in his own district, +but throughout France. + +We cannot withhold the interesting statement of Paul de Musset as to +his interview with Jasmin in 1836, after the publication of his second +volume of poems. Paul de Musset was the author of several novels, as +well as of Lui et Elle, apropos of his brother's connection with George +Sand. Paul de Musset thus describes his visit to the poet at Agen.{6} + +"Let no one return northward by the direct road from Toulouse. Nothing +can be more dreary than the Lot, the Limousin, and the interminable +Dordogne; but make for Bordeaux by the plains of Gascony, and do not +forget the steamboat from Marmande. You will then find yourself on the +Garonne, in the midst of a beautiful country, where the air is vigorous +and healthy. The roads are bordered with vines, arranged in arches, +lovely to the eyes of travellers. The poets, who delight in making the +union of the vine with the trees which support it an emblem of marriage, +can verify their comparisons only in Gascony or Italy. It is usually +pear trees that are used to support them.... + +"Thanks to M. Charles Nodier, who had discovered a man of modest talent +buried in this province, I knew a little of the verses of the Gascon +poet Jasmin. Early one morning, at about seven, the diligence stopped in +the middle of a Place, where I read this inscription over a shop-door, +'Jasmin, Coiffeur des jeunes gens.' We were at Agen. I descended, +swallowed my cup of coffee as fast as I could, and entered the shop of +the most lettered of peruke-makers. On a table was a mass of pamphlets +and some of the journals of the South. + +"'Monsieur Jasmin?' said I on entering. 'Here I am, sir, at your +service,' replied a handsome brown-haired fellow, with a cheerful +expression, who seemed to me about thirty years of age. + +"'Will you shave me?' I asked. 'Willingly, sir,' he replied, I sat down +and we entered into conversation. 'I have read your verses, sir,' said +I, while he was covering my chin with lather. + +"'Monsieur then comprehends the patois?' 'A little,' I said; 'one of +my friends has explained to me the difficult passages. But tell +me, Monsieur Jasmin, why is it that you, who appear to know French +perfectly, write in a language that is not spoken in any chief town or +capital.' + +"'Ah, sir, how could a poor rhymer like me appear amongst the great +celebrities of Paris? I have sold eighteen hundred copies of my little +pieces of poetry (in pamphlet form), and certainly all who speak Gascon +know them well. Remember that there are at least six millions of people +in Languedoc.' + +"My mouth was covered with soap-suds, and I could not answer him for +some time. Then I said, 'But a hundred thousand persons at most know how +to read, and twenty thousand of them can scarcely be able to enjoy your +works.' + +"'Well, sir, I am content with that amount. Perhaps you have at Paris +more than one writer who possesses his twenty thousand readers. My +little reputation would soon carry me astray if I ventured to address +all Europe. The voice that appears sonorous in a little place is not +heard in the midst of a vast plain. And then, my readers are confined +within a radius of forty leagues, and the result is of real advantage to +an author.' + +"'Ah! And why do you not abandon your razor?' I enquired of this +singular poet. 'What would you have?' he said. 'The Muses are most +capricious; to-day they give gold, to-morrow they refuse bread. The +razor secures me soup, and perhaps a bottle of Bordeaux. Besides, my +salon is a little literary circle, where all the young people of the +town assemble. When I come from one of the academies of which I am a +member, I find myself among the tools which I can manage better than +my pen; and most of the members of the circle usually pass through my +hands.' + +"It is a fact that M. Jasmin shaves more skilfully than any other poet. +After a long conversation with this simple-minded man, I experienced +a certain confusion in depositing upon his table the amount of fifty +centimes which I owed him on this occasion, more for his talent than +for his razor; and I remounted the diligence more than charmed with the +modesty of his character and demeanour." + + + +Endnotes for Chapter VI. + +{1} M. Duvigneau thus translated the words into French: he begins his +verses by announcing the birth of Henry IV.:-- + + "A son aspect, mille cris d'allegresse + Ebranlent le palais et montent jusqu'au ciel: + Le voila beau comme dans sa jeunesse, + Alors qu'il recevait le baiser maternel. + A ce peuple charme qui des yeux le devore + Le bon Roi semble dire encore: + 'Braves Gascons, accourez tous; + A mon amour pour vous vous devez croire; + Je met a vous revoir mon bonheur et ma gloire, + Venez, venez, approchez-vous!'" + +{2} Gascon or Gasconade is often used as implying boasting or +gasconading. + +{3} This letter was written before Jasmin had decided to publish the +second volume of his Papillotes, which appeared in 1835. + +{4} The following are the lines in Gascon:-- + + "Atai boudroy dan bous fini ma triplo paouzo; + Mais anfin, ey cantat, n'hazardi pas gran caouzo: + Quand Pegazo reguinno, et que d'un cot de pe + M'emboyo friza mas marotos, + Perdi moun ten, es bray, mais noun pas moun pape; + Boti mous bers en papillotos!" + +{5} 'Portraits Contemporains,' ii. 50. Par C. A. Sainte-Beuve, Membre de +l'Academie Francaise. 1847. + +{6} 'Perpignan, l'Ariege et le poete Jasmin' (Journal politique et +litteraire de Lot-et-Garonne). + + + +CHAPTER VII. 'THE BLIND GIRL OF CASTEL-CUILLE.' + +Jasmin was now thirty-six years old. He was virtually in the prime of +life. He had been dreaming, he had been thinking, for many years, of +composing some poems of a higher order than his Souvenirs. He desired +to embody in his work some romantic tales in verse, founded upon local +legends, noble in conception, elaborated with care, and impressive by +the dignity of simple natural passion. + +In these new lyrical poems his intention was to aim high, and he +succeeded to a marvellous extent. He was enabled to show the depth and +strength of his dramatic powers, his fidelity in the description of +romantic and picturesque incidents, his shrewdness in reading character +and his skill in representing it, all of which he did in perfect +innocence of all established canons in the composition of dramatic +poetry. + +The first of Jasmin's poetical legends was 'The Blind Girl of +Castel-Cuille' (L'Abuglo). It was translated into English, a few years +after its appearance, by Lady Georgiana Fullerton, daughter of the +British ambassador at Paris,{1} and afterwards by Henry Wadsworth +Longfellow, the American poet. Longfellow follows the rhythm of the +original, and on the whole his translation of the poem is more correct, +so that his version is to be preferred. He begins his version with these +words-- + + "Only the Lowland tongue of Scotland might + Rehearse this little tragedy aright; + Let me attempt it with an English quill, + And take, O reader, for the deed the will." + +At the end of his translation Longfellow adds:--"Jasmin, the author +of this beautiful poem, is to the South of France what Burns is to the +South of Scotland, the representative of the heart of the people,--one +of those happy bards who are born with their mouths full of birds (la +bouco pleno d'auuvelous). He has written his own biography in a poetic +form, and the simple narrative of his poverty, his struggles, and his +triumphs, is very touching. He still lives at Agen, on the Garonne, and +long may he live there to delight his native land with native songs!" It +is unnecessary to quote the poem, which is so well-known by the numerous +readers of Longfellow's poems, but a compressed narrative of the story +may be given. + +The legend is founded on a popular tradition. Castel-Cuille stands upon +a bluff rock in the pretty valley of Saint-Amans, about a league from +Agen. The castle was of considerable importance many centuries ago, +while the English occupied Guienne; but it is now in ruins, though the +village near it still exists. In a cottage, at the foot of the rock, +lived the girl Marguerite, a soldier's daughter, with her brother +Paul. The girl had been betrothed to her lover Baptiste; but during his +absence she was attacked by virulent small-pox and lost her eyesight. +Though her beauty had disappeared, her love remained. She waited +long for her beloved Baptiste, but he never returned. He forsook his +betrothed Marguerite, and plighted his troth to the fairer and richer +Angele. It was, after all, only the old story. + +Marguerite heard at night the song of their espousals on the eve of +the marriage. She was in despair, but suppressed her grief. Wednesday +morning arrived, the eve of St. Joseph. The bridal procession passed +along the village towards the church of Saint-Amans, singing the bridal +song. The fair and fertile valley was bedecked with the blossoms of +the apple, the plum, and the almond, which whitened the country round. +Nothing could have seemed more propitious. Then came the chorus, which +was no invention of the poet, but a refrain always sung at rustic +weddings, in accordance with the custom of strewing the bridal path with +flowers: + + "The paths with buds and blossoms strew, + A lovely bride approaches nigh; + For all should bloom and spring anew, + A lovely bride is passing by!"{2} + +Under the blue sky and brilliant sunshine, the joyous young people +frisked along. The picture of youth, gaiety, and beauty, is full of +truth and nature. The bride herself takes part in the frolic. With +roguish eyes she escapes and cries: "Those who catch me will be married +this year!" And then they descend the hill towards the church of +Saint-Amans. Baptiste, the bridegroom, is out of spirits and mute. He +takes no part in the sports of the bridal party. He remembers with grief +the blind girl he has abandoned. + +In the cottage under the cliff Marguerite meditates a tragedy. She +dresses herself, and resolves to attend the wedding at Saint-Amans with +her little brother. While dressing, she slips a knife into her bosom, +and then they start for the church. The bridal party soon arrived, and +Marguerite heard their entrance. + +The ceremony proceeded. Mass was said. The wedding-ring was blessed; +and as Baptiste placed it on the bride's finger, he said the accustomed +words. In a moment a voice cried: "It is he! It is he;" and Marguerite +rushed through the bridal party towards him with a knife in her hand to +stab herself; but before she could reach the bridegroom she fell down +dead--broken-hearted! The crime which she had intended to commit +against herself was thus prevented. + +In the evening, in place of a bridal song, the De Profundis was chanted, +and now each one seemed to say:-- + + "The roads shall mourn, and, veiled in gloom, + So fair a corpse shall leave its home! + Should mourn and weep, ah, well-away, + So fair a corpse shall pass to-day!"{3} + +This poem was finished in August 1835; and on the 26th of the same month +it was publicly recited by Jasmin at Bordeaux, at the request of the +Academy of that city. + +There was great beauty, tenderness, and pathos in the poem. It was +perfectly simple and natural. The poem might form the subject of a drama +or a musical cantata. The lamentations of Marguerite on her blindness +remind one of Milton's heart-rending words on the same subject: + + "For others, day and joy and light, + For me, all darkness, always night."{4} + +Sainte-Beuve, in criticising Jasmin's poems, says that "It was in 1835 +that his talent raised itself to the eminence of writing one of his +purest compositions--natural, touching and disinterested--his Blind Girl +of Castel-Cuille, in which he makes us assist in a fete, amidst the joys +of the villagers; and at the grief of a young girl, a fiancee whom a +severe attack of smallpox had deprived of her eyesight, and whom her +betrothed lover had abandoned to marry another. + +"The grief of the poor abandoned girl, her changes of colour, her +attitude, her conversation, her projects--the whole surrounded by the +freshness of spring and the laughing brightness of the season--exhibits +a character of nature and of truth which very few poets have been able +to attain. One is quite surprised, on reading this simple picture, to be +involuntarily carried back to the most expressive poems of the ancient +Greeks--to Theocritus for example--for the Marguerite of Jasmin may be +compared with the Simetha of the Greek poet. This is true poetry, rich +from the same sources, and gilded with the same imagery. In his new +compositions Jasmin has followed his own bias; this man, who had few +books, but meditated deeply in his heart and his love of nature; and he +followed the way of true art with secret and persevering labour in what +appeared to him the most eloquent, easy, and happy manner... + +"His language," Sainte-Beuve continues, "is always the most natural, +faithful, transparent, truthful, eloquent, and sober; never forget this +last characteristic. He is never more happy than when he finds that +he can borrow from an artizan or labourer one of those words which are +worth ten of others. It is thus that his genius has refined during the +years preceding the time in which he produced his greatest works. It is +thus that he has become the poet of the people, writing in the popular +patois, and for public solemnities, which remind one of those of the +Middle Ages and of Greece; thus he finds himself to be, in short, more +than any of our contemporaries, of the School of Horace, of Theocritus, +or of Gray, and all the brilliant geniuses who have endeavoured by study +to bring each of their works to perfection."{5} + +The Blind Girl was the most remarkable work that Jasmin had up to this +time composed. There is no country where an author is so popular, when +he is once known, as in France. When Jasmin's poem was published he +became, by universal consent, the Poet Laureate of the South. Yet some +of the local journals of Bordeaux made light of his appearance in that +city for the purpose of reciting his as yet unknown poem. "That a barber +and hairdresser of Agen," they said, "speaking and writing in a vulgar +tongue, should attempt to amuse or enlighten the intelligent people of +Bordeaux, seemed to them beneath contempt." + +But Jasmin soon showed them that genius is of no rank or condition +of life; and their views shortly underwent a sudden change. His very +appearance in the city was a triumph. Crowds resorted to the large +hall, in which he was to recite his new poem of the Blind Girl of +Castel-Cuille. The prefect, the mayor, the members of the Academy, and +the most cultivated people of the city were present, and received him +with applause. + +There might have been some misgivings as to the success of the poem, +but from the moment that he appeared on the platform and began his +recitation, every doubt disappeared. He read the poem with marvellous +eloquence; while his artistic figure, his mobile countenance, his +dark-brown eyebrows, which he raised or lowered at will, his expressive +gesticulation, and his passionate acting, added greatly to the effect of +his recital, and soon won every heart. When he came to the refrain, + + "The paths with buds and blossoms strew," + +he no longer declaimed, but sang after the manner of the peasants in +their popular chaunt. His eyes became suffused with tears, and those who +listened to the patois, even though they only imperfectly understood it, +partook of the impression, and wept also. + +He was alike tender and impressive throughout the piece, especially at +the death of the blind girl; and when he had ended, a storm of applause +burst from the audience. There was a clapping of hands and a thunderous +stamping of feet that shook the building almost to its foundations. + +It was a remarkable spectacle, that a humble working man, comparatively +uneducated, should have evoked the tumultuous applause of a brilliant +assembly of intelligent ladies and gentlemen. It was indeed something +extraordinary. Some said that he declaimed like Talma or Rachel, nor +was there any note of dissonance in his reception. The enthusiasm was +general and unanimous amongst the magistrates, clergy, scientific men, +artists, physicians, ship-owners, men of business, and working +people. They all joined in the applause when Jasmin had concluded his +recitation. + +From this time forward Jasmin was one of the most popular men at +Bordeaux. He was entertained at a series of fetes. He was invited +to soirees by the prefect, by the archbishop, by the various social +circles, as well as by the workmen's associations. They vied with each +other for the honour of entertaining him. He went from matinees +to soirees, and in ten days he appeared at thirty-four different +entertainments. + +At length he became thoroughly tired and exhausted by this enormous +fete-ing. He longed to be away and at home with his wife and +children. He took leave of his friends and admirers with emotion, +and, notwithstanding the praises and acclamations he had received at +Bordeaux, he quietly turned to pursue his humble occupation at Agen. + +It was one of the most remarkable things about Jasmin, that he was +never carried off his feet by the brilliant ovations he received. Though +enough to turn any poor fellow's head, he remained simple and natural to +the last. As we say in this country, he could "carry corn" We have said +that "Gascon" is often used in connection with boasting or gasconading. +But the term was in no way applicable to Jasmin. He left the echo of +praises behind him, and returned to Agen to enjoy the comforts of his +fireside. + +He was not, however, without tempters to wean him from his home and his +ordinary pursuits. In 1836, the year after his triumphal reception at +Bordeaux, some of his friends urged him to go to Paris--the centre of +light and leading--in order to "make his fortune." + +But no! he had never contemplated the idea of leaving his native town. +A rich wine merchant of Toulouse was one of his tempters. He advised +Jasmin to go to the great metropolis, where genius alone was recognised. +Jasmin answered him in a charming letter, setting forth the reasons +which determined him to remain at home, principally because his tastes +were modest and his desires were homely. + +"You too," he said, "without regard to troubling my days and my nights, +have written to ask me to carry my guitar and my dressing-comb to the +great city of kings, because there, you say, my poetical humour and my +well-known verses will bring torrents of crowns to my purse. Oh, you +may well boast to me of this shower of gold and its clinking stream. You +only make me cry: 'Honour is but smoke, glory is but glory, and money is +only money!' I ask you, in no craven spirit, is money the only thing for +a man to seek who feels in his heart the least spark of poetry? In my +town, where everyone works, leave me as I am. Every summer, happier than +a king, I lay up my small provision for the winter, and then I sing like +a goldfinch under the shade of a poplar or an ash-tree, only too happy +to grow grey in the land which gave me birth. One hears in summer the +pleasant zigo, ziou, ziou, of the nimble grasshopper, or the young +sparrow pluming his wings to make himself ready for flight, he knows +not whither; but the wise man acts not so. I remain here in my home. +Everything suits me--earth, sky, air--all that is necessary for my +comfort. To sing of joyous poverty one must be joyful and poor. I am +satisfied with my rye-bread, and the cool water from my fountain." + +Jasmin remained faithful to these rules of conduct during his life. +Though he afterwards made a visit to Paris, it was only for a short +time; but his native town of Agen, his home on the Gravier, his shop, +his wife and his children, continued to be his little paradise. His +muse soared over him like a guardian angel, giving him songs for his +happiness and consolation for his sorrows. He was, above all things, +happy in his wife. She cheered him, strengthened him, and consoled him. +He thus portrayed her in one of his poems: + + "Her eyes like sparkling stars of heavenly blue; + Her cheeks so sweet, so round, and rosy; + Her hair so bright, and brown, and curly; + Her mouth so like a ripened cherry; + Her teeth more brilliant than the snow." + +Jasmin was attached to his wife, not only by her beauty, but by her good +sense. She counselled and advised him in everything. He gave himself up +to her wise advice, and never had occasion to regret it. It was with her +modest marriage-portion that he was enabled to establish himself as a +master hairdresser. + +When he opened his shop, he set over the entrance door this sign: "L'Art +embellit La Nature: Jasmin, Coiffeur des Jeunes Gens." As his family +grew, in order to increase his income, he added the words, "Coiffeur des +Dames." This proved to be a happy addition to his business. Most of the +ladies of Agen strove for the honour of having their hair dressed by the +poetical barber. While dressing their hair he delighted them with his +songs. He had a sympathetic voice, which touched their souls and threw +them into the sweetest of dreams. + +Though Jasmin was always disposed to rhyme a little, his wise wife +never allowed him to forget his regular daily work. At the same time she +understood that his delicate nature could not be entirely absorbed by +the labours of an ordinary workman. She was no longer jealous of +his solitary communions with his muse; and after his usual hours of +occupation, she left him, or sat by him, to enable him to pursue his +dear reveries in quiet. + +Mariette, or Marie, as she was usually called, was a thoroughly good +partner for Jasmin. Though not by any means a highly educated woman, she +felt the elevating effects of poetry even on herself. She influenced her +husband's mind through her practical wisdom and good sense, while he in +his turn influenced hers by elevating her soul and intellect. + +Jasmin, while he was labouring over some song or verse, found it +necessary to recite it to some one near him, but mostly to his wife. He +wandered with her along the banks of the Garonne, and while he recited, +she listened with bated breath. She could even venture to correct him; +for she knew, better than he did, the ordinary Gascon dialect. She often +found for him the true word for the picture which he desired to present +to his reader. Though Jasmin was always thankful for her help, he did +not abandon his own words without some little contention. He had worked +out the subject in his mind, and any new word, or mode of description, +might interrupt the beauty of the verses. + +When he at length recognised the justice of her criticism, he would say, +"Marie, you are right; and I will again think over the subject, and make +it fit more completely into the Gascon idiom." In certain cases passages +were suppressed; in others they were considerably altered. + +When Jasmin, after much labour and correction, had finished his poem, he +would call about him his intimate friends, and recite the poem to them. +He had no objection to the most thorough criticism, by his wife as well +as by his friends. When the poem was long and elaborate, the auditors +sometimes began to yawn. Then the wife stepped in and said: "Jasmin, you +must stop; leave the remainder of the poem for another day." Thus the +recital ceased for the time. + +The people of Agen entertained a lively sympathy for their poet. Even +those who might to a certain extent depreciate his talent, did every +justice to the nobility of his character. Perhaps some might envy the +position of a man who had risen from the ranks and secured the esteem of +men of fortune and even of the leaders of literary opinion. Jasmin, like +every person envied or perhaps detracted, had his hours of depression. +But the strong soul of his wife in these hours came to his relief, and +assuaged the spirit of the man and the poet. + +Jasmin was at one time on the point of abandoning verse-making. Yet he +was encouraged to proceed by the demands which were made for his +songs and verses. Indeed, no fete was considered complete without the +recitations of Jasmin. It was no doubt very flattering; yet fame has its +drawbacks. His invitations were usually unceremonious. + +Jasmin was no doubt recognised as a poet, and an excellent reciter; yet +he was a person who handled the razor and the curling-tongs. When he was +invited to a local party, it was merely that he might recite his verses +gratuitously. He did not belong to their social circle, and his wife +was not included. What sympathy could she have with these distinguished +personages? At length Jasmin declined to go where his wife could not be +invited. He preferred to stay at home with his family; and all further +invitations of this sort were refused. + +Besides, his friend Nodier had warned him that a poet of his stamp ought +not to appear too often at the feasts of the lazy; that his time was too +precious for that; that a poet ought, above all, not to occupy himself +with politics, for, by so doing, he ran the risk of injuring his talent. + +Some of his local critics, not having comprehended the inner life +of Jasmin, compared his wife to the gardener of Boileau and the +maid-servant of Moliere. But the comparison did not at all apply. Jasmin +had no gardener nor any old servant or housekeeper. Jasmin and Marie +were quite different. They lived the same lives, and were all in all +to each other. They were both of the people; and though she was without +culture, and had not shared in the society of the educated, she took +every interest in the sentiments and the prosperity of her admirable +husband. + +One might ask, How did Jasmin acquire his eloquence of declamation--his +power of attracting and moving assemblies of people in all ranks of +life? It was the result, no doubt, partly of the gifts with which the +Creator had endowed him, and partly also of patience and persevering +study. He had a fine voice, and he managed it with such art that it +became like a perfectly tuned instrument in the hands of a musician. + +His voice was powerful and pathetic by turns, and he possessed great +sweetness of intonation,--combined with sympathetic feeling and special +felicity of emphasis. And feeling is the vitalising principle of poetry. +Jasmin occasionally varied his readings by singing or chaunting the +songs which occurred in certain parts of his poems. This, together with +his eloquence, gave such immense vital power to the recitations of the +Agenaise bard. + +And we shall find, from the next chapter, that Jasmin used his pathetic +eloquence for very noble,--one might almost say, for divine purposes. + + +Endnotes for Chapter VII. + +{1} The translation appeared in 'Bentley's Miscellany' for March 1840. +It was published for a charitable purpose. Mrs. Craven, in her 'Life +of Lady Georgiana Fullerton,' says: "It was put in at once, and its two +hundred and seventy lines brought to the author twelve guineas on the +day on which it appeared. Lady Fullerton was surprised and delighted. +All her long years of success, different indeed in degree, never effaced +the memory of the joy." + +{2} The refrain, in the original Gascon, is as follows: + + "Las carreros diouyon flouri, + Tan belo nobio bay sourti; + Diouyon flouri, diouyon graua, + Tan belo nobio bay passa!" + +{3} In Gascon: + + "Las carreros diouyon gemi, + Tan belo morto bay sourti! + Diouyon gemi, diouyon ploura, + Tan belo morto bay passa!" + +{4} in Gascon: + + "Jour per aoutres, toutjour! et per jou, malhurouzo, + Toutjour ney, toutjour ney! + Que fay negre len d'el! Oh! que moun amo es tristo!" + +{5} Sainte-Beuve: 'Causeries du Lundi,' iv. 240-1 (edit. 1852); and +'Portraits Contemporains,' ii. 61 (edit, 1847). + + + +CHAPTER VIII. JASMIN AS PHILANTHROPIST. + +It is now necessary to consider Jasmin in an altogether different +character--that of a benefactor of his species. Self-sacrifice and +devotion to others, forgetting self while spending and being spent +for the good of one's fellow creatures, exhibit man in his noblest +characteristics. But who would have expected such virtues to be +illustrated by a man like Jasmin, sprung from the humblest condition of +life? + +Charity may be regarded as a universal duty, which it is in every +person's power to practise. Every kind of help given to another, on +proper motives, is an act of charity; and there is scarcely any man in +such a straitened condition as that he may not, on certain occasions, +assist his neighbour. The widow that gives her mite to the treasury, the +poor man that brings to the thirsty a cup of cold water, perform their +acts of charity, though they may be of comparatively little moment. +Wordsworth, in a poetic gem, described the virtue of charity: + + "... Man is dear to man; the poorest poor + Long for some moments in a weary life + When they can know and feel that they have been, + Themselves, the fathers and the dealers out + Of some small blessings, have been kind to such + As needed kindness, for the single cause + That we have all of us one human heart." + +This maxim of Wordsworth's truly describes the life and deeds of Jasmin. +It may be said that he was first incited to exert himself on behalf of +charity to his neighbours, by the absence of any Poor Law in France such +as we have in England. In the cases of drought, when the crops did not +ripen; or in the phylloxera blights, when the grapes were ruined; or +in the occasional disastrous floods, when the whole of the agricultural +produce was swept away; the small farmers and labourers were reduced to +great distress. The French peasant is usually very thrifty; but where +accumulated savings were not available for relief, the result, in many +cases, was widespread starvation. + +Jasmin felt that, while himself living in the midst of blessings, +he owed a duty, on such occasions, to the extreme necessities of his +neighbours. The afflicted could not appeal to the administrators of +local taxes; all that they could do was to appeal to the feelings of the +benevolent, and rely upon local charity. He believed that the extremely +poor should excite our liberality, the miserable our pity, the sick our +assistance, the ignorant our instruction, and the fallen our helping +hand. + +It was under such circumstances that Jasmin consented to recite his +poems for the relief of the afflicted poor. His fame had increased from +year to year. His songs were sung, and his poems were read, all over +the South of France. When it was known that he was willing to recite +his poems for charitable purposes he was immediately assailed with +invitations from far and near. + +When bread fell short in winter-time, and the poor were famished; when +an hospital for the needy was starving for want of funds; when a creche +or infants' asylum had to be founded; when a school, or an orphanage, +had to be built or renovated, and money began to fail, an appeal was at +once made to Jasmin's charitable feelings. + +It was not then usual for men like Jasmin to recite their poems in +public. Those who possessed his works might recite them for their own +pleasure. But no one could declaim them better than he could, and his +personal presence was therefore indispensable. + +It is true, that about the same time Mr. Dickens and Mr. Thackeray were +giving readings from their works in England and America. Both readers +were equally popular; but while they made a considerable addition to +their fortunes,{1} Jasmin realised nothing for himself; all that was +collected at his recitations was given to the poor. + +Of course, Jasmin was received with enthusiasm in those towns and cities +which he visited for charitable purposes. When it was known that he was +about to give one of his poetical recitals, the artisan left his shop, +the blacksmith his smithy, the servant her household work; and the +mother often shut up her house and went with her children to listen to +the marvelous poet. Young girls spread flowers before his pathway; and +lovely women tore flowers from their dresses to crown their beloved +minstrel with their offerings. + +Since his appearance at Bordeaux, in 1835, when he recited his Blind +Girl for a charitable purpose, he had been invited to many meetings in +the neighbourhood of Agen, wherever any worthy institution had to be +erected or assisted. He continued to write occasional verses, though not +of any moment, for he was still dreaming of another masterpiece. + +All further thoughts of poetical composition were, however, dispelled, +by the threatened famine in the Lot-et-Garonne. In the winter of 1837 +bread became very dear in the South of France. The poor people were +suffering greatly, and the usual appeal was made to Jasmin to come +to their help. A concert was advertised to be given at Tonneins, a +considerable town to the north-west of Agen, when the local musicians +were to give their services, and Jasmin was to recite a poem. + +For this purpose he composed his 'Charity' (La Caritat). It was +addressed to the ladies and musicians who assisted at the entertainment. +Charity is a short lyrical effusion, not so much a finished poem as the +utterings of a tender heart. Though of some merit, it looks pale beside +The Blind Girl. But his choice of the subject proved a forecast of the +noble uses which Jasmin was afterwards enabled to make of his poetical +talents. + +Man, he said in his verses, is truly great, chiefly through his charity. +The compassionate man, doing his works of benevolence, though in secret, +in a measure resembles the Divine Author of his being. The following is +the introductory passage of the poem:-- + + "As we behold at sea great ships of voyagers + Glide o'er the waves to billows white with spray, + And to another world the hardy travellers convey; + Just as bold savants travel through the sky + To illustrate the world which they espy, + Men without ceasing cry, 'How great is man!' + But no! Great God! How infinitely little he! + Has he a genius? 'Tis nothing without goodness! + Without some grace, no grandeur do we rate. + It is the tender-hearted who show charity in kindness. + Unseen of men, he hides his gift from sight, + He does all that he owes in silent good, + Like the poor widow's mite; + Yet both are great, + Great above all--great as the Grace of God." + +This is, of course, a very feeble attempt to render the words of Jasmin. +He was most pathetic when he recounted the sorrows of the poor. While +doing so, he avoided exciting their lower instincts. He disavowed all +envy of the goods of others. He maintained respect for the law, while +at the same time he exhorted the rich to have regard for their poorer +brethren. "It is the glory of the people," he said at a meeting of +workmen, "to protect themselves from evil, and to preserve throughout +their purity of character." + +This was the spirit in which Jasmin laboured. He wrote some other poems +in a similar strain--'The Rich and Poor,' 'The Poor Man's Doctor,' 'The +Rich Benefactor' (Lou Boun Riche); but Jasmin's own Charity contained +the germ of them all. He put his own soul into his poems. At Tonneins, +the emotion he excited by his reading of Charity was very great, and the +subscriptions for the afflicted poor were correspondingly large. + +The municipality never forgot the occasion; and whenever they became +embarrassed by the poverty of the people, they invariably appealed to +Jasmin, and always with the same success. On one occasion the Mayor +wrote to him: "We are still under the charm of your verses; and I +address you in the name of the poor people of Tonneins, to thank you +most gratefully for the charitable act you have done for their benefit. +The evening you appeared here, sir, will long survive in our memory. It +excited everywhere the most lively gratitude. The poor enjoyed a day of +happiness, and the rich enjoyed a day of pleasure, for nothing can be +more blessed than Charity!" + +Jasmin, in replying to this letter, said: "Christ's words were, 'Ye have +the poor always with you'; in pronouncing this fact, he called the world +to deeds of charity, and instituted this admirable joint responsibility +(solidarite), in virtue of which each man should fulfil the duty of +helping his poorer neighbours. It is this responsibility which, when the +cry of hunger or suffering is heard, is most instrumental in bringing +all generous souls to the front, in order to create and multiply the +resources of the poor." + +Jasmin's success at Tonneins led to numerous invitations of a like +character. "Come over and help us," was the general cry during that +winter of famine. The barber's shop was invaded by numerous deputations; +and the postman was constantly delivering letters of invitation at +his door. He was no longer master of his time, and had considerable +difficulty in attending to his own proper business. Sometimes his +leisure hours were appropriated six months beforehand; and he was often +peremptorily called upon to proceed with his philanthropic work. + +When he could find time enough to spare from his business, he would +consent to give another recitation. When the distance was not great he +walked, partly for exercise, and partly to save money. There were few +railways in those days, and hiring a conveyance was an expensive affair. +Besides, his desire always was, to hand over, if possible, the whole of +the receipts to the charitable institutions for whose benefit he gave +his recitations. + +The wayfaring poet, on his approach to the town in which he was to +appear, was usually met by crowds of people. They received him with joy +and acclamation. The magistrates presented him with a congratulatory +address. Deputations from neighbouring towns were present at the +celebration. At the entrance to the town Jasmin often passed under a +triumphal arch, with "Welcome, Jasmin! our native poet!" inscribed upon +it. He was conveyed, headed by the local band, to the hall where he was +to give his recitation. + +Jasmin's appearance at Bergerac was a great event. Bergerac is a town of +considerable importance, containing about fourteen thousand inhabitants, +situated on the right or north bank of the river Dordogne. But during +that terrible winter the poor people of Bergerac were in great distress, +and Jasmin was summoned to their help. The place was at too great a +distance from Agen for him to walk thither, and accordingly he was +obliged to take a conveyance. He was as usual met by a multitude of +people, who escorted him into the town. + +The magistrates could not find a place sufficiently large to give +accommodation to the large number of persons who desired to hear him. +At length they found a large building which had been used as a barn; and +there they raised a platform for the poet. The place was at once filled, +and those who could not get admission crowded about the entrance. Some +of the people raised ladders against the walls of the building, and +clambered in at the windows. Groups of auditors were seen at every place +where they could find a footing. Unfortunately the weather was rainy, +and a crowd of women filled the surrounding meadow, sheltered by their +umbrellas. + +More than five hundred persons had not been able to find admission, and +it was therefore necessary for Jasmin to give several more readings +to satisfy the general enthusiasm. All the receipts were given over by +Jasmin for the benefit of the poor, and the poet hurried home at once to +his shaving and hair-dressing. + +On another occasion, at Gontaud, the weather was more satisfactory. The +day was fine and sunny, and the ground was covered with flowers. About +the time that Jasmin was expected, an open carriage, festooned with +flowers, and drawn by four horses, was sent to the gate of the town, +escorted by the municipal council, to wait for the poet. When he arrived +on foot for the place was at no great distance from Agen twelve young +girls, clothed in white, offered him a bouquet of flowers, and presented +him with an address. He then entered the carriage and proceeded to the +place where he was to give his recitation. All went well and happily, +and a large offering was collected and distributed amongst the poor. + +Then at Damazan, where he gave another reading for the same purpose, +after he had entered the carriage which was to convey him to the place +of entertainment, a number of girls preceded the carriage in which the +poet sat, and scattered flowers in his way, singing a refrain of the +country adapted to the occasion. It resembled the refrain sung before +the bride in The Blind Girl of Castel-Cuille: + + "The paths with flowers bestrew, + So great a poet comes this way; + For all should flower and bloom anew, + So great a poet comes to-day."{2} + +These are only specimens of the way in which Jasmin was received during +his missions of philanthropy. He went from north to south, from east to +west, by river and by road, sleeping where he could, but always happy +and cheerful, doing his noble work with a full and joyous heart. +He chirruped and sang from time to time as if his mouth was full of +nightingales. And he was never without enthusiastic multitudes to listen +to his recitals, and to share their means with the poor and afflicted. +We might fill this little story with a detailed account of his +journeyings; but a summary account is all that is at present necessary. +We shall afterwards return to the subject. + + +Endnotes to Chapter VIII. + +{1} Mr. George Dolby, in his work 'Charles Dickens as I knew him,' +tells "the story of the famous 'reading tours,' the most brilliantly +successful enterprises that were ever undertaken." Chappell and Co. paid +him 1500 sterling for thirty readings in London and the provinces, by +which they realised 5000 sterling. Arthur Smith and Mr. Headland were +his next managers, and finally Mr. George Dolby. The latter says that +Mr. Dickens computed the money he netted under the Smith and Headland +management at about 12,000 sterling; and under Dolby's management "he +cleared nearly 33,000 sterling." + +{2} In Gascon: "Las carreros diouyon fleuri, + Tan gran poete bay sourti; + Diouyon fleuri, diouyon graua, + Tan gran poete bay passa." + + + +CHAPTER IX. JASMIN'S 'FRANCONNETTE.' + +Jasmin published no further poems for three or four years. His time was +taken up with his trade and his philanthropic missions. Besides, he +did not compose with rapidity; he elaborated his poems by degrees; he +arranged the plot of his story, and then he clothed it with poetical +words and images. While he walked and journeyed from place to place, he +was dreaming and thinking of his next dramatic poem--his Franconnette, +which many of his critics regard as his masterpiece. + +Like most of his previous poems, Jasmin wrote Franconnette in the Gascon +dialect. Some of his intimate friends continued to expostulate with +him for using this almost dead and virtually illiterate patois. Why not +write in classical French? M. Dumon, his colleague at the Academy +of Agen, again urged him to employ the national language, which all +intelligent readers could understand. + +"Under the reign of our Henry IV.," said M. Dumon, "the Langue d'Oil +became, with modifications, the language of the French, while the Langue +d'Oc remained merely a patois. Do not therefore sing in the dialect of +the past, but in the language of the present, like Beranger, Lamartine, +and Victor Hugo. + +"What," asked M. Dumon, "will be the fate of your original poetry? It +will live, no doubt, like the dialect in which it is written; but +is this, the Gascon patois, likely to live? Will it be spoken by our +posterity as long as it has been spoken by our ancestors? I hope not; +at least I wish it may be less spoken. Yet I love its artless and +picturesque expressions, its lively recollections of customs and manners +which have long ceased to exist, like those old ruins which still +embellish our landscape. But the tendency which is gradually effacing +the vestiges of our old language and customs is but the tendency of +civilisation itself. + +"When Rome fell under the blows of the barbarians, she was entirely +conquered; her laws were subjected at the same time as her armies. The +conquest dismembered her idiom as well as her empire.... The last +trace of national unity disappeared in this country after the Roman +occupation. It had been Gaul, but now it became France. The force of +centralisation which has civilised Europe, covering this immense +chaos, has brought to light, after more than a hundred years, this most +magnificent creation the French monarchy and the French language. Let +us lament, if you will, that the poetical imagination and the +characteristic language of our ancestors have not left a more profound +impression. But the sentence is pronounced; even our Henry IV. could not +change it. Under his reign the Langue d'Oil became for ever the French +language, and the Langue d'Oc remained but a patois. + +"Popular poet as you are, you sing to posterity in the language of the +past. This language, which you recite so well, you have restored and +perhaps even created; yet you do not feel that it is the national +language; this powerful instrument of a new era, which invades and +besieges yours on all sides like the last fortress of an obsolete +civilisation." + +Jasmin was cut to the quick by this severe letter of his friend, and he +lost not a moment in publishing a defence of the language condemned to +death by his opponent. He even displayed the force and harmony of +the language which had been denounced by M. Dumon as a patois. He +endeavoured to express himself in the most characteristic and poetical +style, as evidence of the vitality of his native Gascon. He compared it +to a widowed mother who dies, and also to a mother who does not die, +but continues young, lovely, and alert, even to the last. Dumon had +published his protest on the 28th of August, 1837, and a few days later, +on the 2nd of September, Jasmin replied in the following poem:-- + + "There's not a deeper grief to man + Than when his mother, faint with years, + Decrepit, old, and weak and wan, + Beyond the leech's art appears; + + When by her couch her son may stay, + And press her hand, and watch her eyes, + And feel, though she revives to-day, + Perchance his hope to-morrow dies. + + It is not thus, believe me, sir, + With this enchantress--she will call + Our second mother: Frenchmen err, + Who, cent'ries since, proclaimed her fall! + Our mother-tongue--all melody-- + While music lives can never die. + + Yes! she still lives, her words still ring; + Her children yet her carols sing; + And thousand years may roll away + Before her magic notes decay. + + The people love their ancient songs, and will + While yet a people, love and keep them still: + These lays are as their mother; they recall + Fond thoughts of mother, sister, friends, and all + The many little things that please the heart, + The dreams, the hopes, from which we cannot part. + These songs are as sweet waters, where we find + Health in the sparkling wave that nerves the mind. + In ev'ry home, at ev'ry cottage door, + By ev'ry fireside, when our toil is o'er, + These songs are round us--near our cradles sigh, + And to the grave attend us when we die. + + Oh, think, cold critics! 'twill be late and long, + Ere time shall sweep away this flood of song! + There are who bid this music sound no more, + And you can hear them, nor defend--deplore! + You, who were born where its first daisies grew, + Have fed upon its honey, sipp'd its dew, + + Slept in its arms, and wakened to its kiss, + Danced to its sounds, and warbled to its tone-- + You can forsake it in an hour like this! + Yes, weary of its age, renounce--disown-- + And blame one minstrel who is true--alone!"{1} + +This is but a paraphrase of Jasmin's poem, which, as we have already +said, cannot be verbally translated into any other language. Even the +last editor of Jasmin's poems--Boyer d'Agen--does not translate them +into French poetry, but into French prose. Much of the aroma of poetry +evaporates in converting poetical thoughts from one language into +another. + +Jasmin, in one part of his poem, compares the ancient patois to one of +the grand old elms in the Promenade de Gravier, which, having in a storm +had some of its branches torn away, was ordered by the local authorities +to be rooted up. The labourers worked away, but their pick-axes became +unhafted. They could not up-root the tree; they grew tired and forsook +the work. When the summer came, glorious verdure again clothed the +remaining boughs; the birds sang sweetly in the branches, and the +neighbours rejoiced that its roots had been so numerous and the tree had +been so firmly planted. + +Jasmin's description of his mother-tongue is most touching. Seasons +pass away, and, as they roll on, their echoes sound in our ears; but the +loved tongue shall not and must not die. The mother-tongue recalls our +own dear mother, sisters, friends, and crowds of bygone associations, +which press into our minds while sitting by the evening fire. This +tongue is the language of our toils and labours; she comes to us at our +birth, she lingers at our tomb. + +"No, no--I cannot desert my mother-tongue!" said Jasmin. "It preserves +the folk-lore of the district; it is the language of the poor, of the +labourer, the shepherd, the farmer and grape-gatherers, of boys and +girls, of brides and bridegrooms. The people," he said to M. Dumon, +"love to hear my songs in their native dialect. You have enough poetry +in classical French; leave me to please my compatriots in the dialect +which they love. I cannot give up this harmonious language, our second +mother, even though it has been condemned for three hundred years. Why! +she still lives, her voice still sounds; like her, the seasons pass, the +bells ring out their peals, and though a hundred thousand years may roll +away, they will still be sounding and ringing!" + +Jasmin has been compared to Dante. But there is this immense difference +between them. Dante was virtually the creator of the Italian language, +which was in its infancy when he wrote his 'Divine Comedy' some six +hundred years ago, while Jasmin was merely reviving a gradually-expiring +dialect. Drouilhet de Sigalas has said that Dante lived at the sunrise +of his language, while Jasmin lived at its sunset. Indeed, Gascon was +not a written language, and Jasmin had to collect his lexicon, grammar, +and speech mostly from the peasants who lived in the neighbourhood of +Agen. Dante virtually created the Italian language, while Jasmin merely +resuscitated for a time the Gascon dialect. + +Jasmin was not deterred by the expostulations of Dumon, but again wrote +his new epic of Franconnette in Gascon. It took him a long time to +clothe his poetical thoughts in words. Nearly five years had elapsed +since he recited The Blind Girl of Castel-Cuille to the citizens of +Bordeaux; since then he had written a few poetical themes, but he was +mainly thinking and dreaming, and at times writing down his new epic +Franconnette. It was completed in 1840, when he dedicated the poem to +the city of Toulouse. + +The story embodied in the poem was founded on an ancient tradition. The +time at which it occurred was towards the end of the sixteenth century, +when France was torn to pieces by the civil war between the Huguenots +and the Catholics. Agen was then a centre of Protestantism. It was +taken and retaken by both parties again and again. The Huguenot captain, +Truelle, occupied the town in April 1562; but Blaize de Montluc, "a +fierce Catholic," as he is termed by M. Paul Joanne, assailed the town +with a strong force and recaptured it. On entering the place, Montluc +found that the inhabitants had fled with the garrison, and "the terrible +chief was greatly disappointed at not finding any person in Agen to +slaughter."{2} Montluc struck with a heavy hand the Protestants of the +South. In the name of the God of Mercy he hewed the Huguenots to pieces, +and, after spreading desolation through the South, he retired to his +fortress at Estellac, knelt before the altar, took the communion, and +was welcomed by his party as one of the greatest friends of the Church. + +The civil war went on for ten years, until in August 1572 the massacre +of Saint Bartholomew took place. After that event the word "Huguenot" +was abolished, or was only mentioned with terror. Montluc's castle +of Estellac, situated near the pretty village of Estanquet, near +Roquefort--famous for its cheese--still exists; his cabinet is +preserved, and his tomb and statue are to be seen in the adjoining +garden. The principal scenes of the following story are supposed to have +occurred at Estanquet, a few miles to the south of Agen. + +Franconnette, like The Blind Girl of Castel-Cuille, is a story of +rivalry in love; but, though more full of adventure, it ends more +happily. Franconnette was a village beauty. Her brilliant eyes, her rosy +complexion, her cherry lips, her lithe and handsome figure, brought all +the young fellows of the neighbourhood to her feet. Her father was a +banished Huguenot, but beauty of person sets differences of belief at +defiance. + +The village lads praised her and tried to win her affections; but, like +beauties in general, surrounded by admirers, she was a bit of a flirt. + +At length two rivals appeared--one Marcel, a soldier under Montluc, +favoured by Franconnette's grandmother, and Pascal, the village +blacksmith, favoured by the girl herself. One Sunday afternoon a number +of young men and maidens assembled at the foot of Montluc's castle +of Estellac on the votive festival of St. Jacques at Roquefort. +Franconnette was there, as well as Marcel and Pascal, her special +admirers. Dancing began to the music of the fife; but Pascal, the +handsomest of the young men, seemed to avoid the village beauty. +Franconnette was indignant at his neglect, but was anxious to secure +his attention and devotion. She danced away, sliding, whirling, and +pirouetting. What would not the admiring youths have given to impress +two kisses on her lovely cheek!{3} + +In these village dances, it is the custom for the young men to kiss +their partners, if they can tire them out; but in some cases, when the +girl is strong; and an accomplished dancer, she declines to be +tired until she wishes to cease dancing. First one youth danced with +Franconnette, then another; but she tired them all. Then came Marcel, +the soldier, wearing his sabre, with a cockade in his cap--a tall and +stately fellow, determined to win the reward. But he too, after much +whirling and dancing, was at last tired out: he was about to fall with +dizziness, and then gave in. On goes the dance; Franconnette waits for +another partner; Pascal springs to her side, and takes her round the +waist. Before they had made a dozen steps, the girl smiles and stops, +and turns her blushing cheeks to receive her partner's willing kisses. + +Marcel started up in a rage, and drawing himself to his full height, he +strode to Pascal. "Peasant!" he said, "thou hast supplied my place too +quickly," and then dealt him a thundering blow between the eyes. Pascal +was not felled; he raised his arm, and his fist descended on Marcel's +head like a bolt. The soldier attempted to draw his sabre. When Pascal +saw this, he closed with Marcel, grasped him in his arms, and dashed him +to the ground, crushed and senseless. + +Marcel was about to rise to renew the duel, when suddenly Montluc, who +happened to be passing with the Baron of Roquefort, stepped forward and +sternly ordered the combatants to separate. This terrible encounter put +an end to the fete. The girls fled like frightened doves. The young +men escorted Pascal to his home preceded by the fifers. Marcel was not +discouraged. On recovering his speech, he stammered out, grinding his +teeth: "They shall pay clearly for this jesting; Franconnette shall have +no other husband than myself." + +Many months passed. The harvest was gathered in. There were no more +out-door fetes or dances. The villagers of Estanquet assembled round +their firesides. Christmas arrived with it games and carol-singing. Then +came the Feast of Lovers, called the Buscou,{4} on the last day of the +year, where, in a large chamber, some hundred distaffs were turning, and +boys and girls, with nimble fingers, were winding thread of the finest +flax. Franconnette was there, and appointed queen of the games. After +the winding was over, the songs and dances began to the music of a +tambourin. The queen, admired by all, sang and danced like the rest. + +Pascal was not there; his mother was poor, and she endeavoured to +persuade him to remain at home and work. After a short struggle +with himself, Pascal yielded. He turned aside to his forge in silent +dejection; and soon the anvil was ringing and the sparks were flying, +while away down in the village the busking went merrily on. "If the +prettiest were always the most sensible," says Jasmin, "how much my +Franconnette might have accomplished;" but instead of this, she flitted +from place to place, idle and gay, jesting, singing, dancing, and, as +usual, bewitching all. + +Then Thomas, Pascal's friend, asked leave to sing a few verses; and, +fixing his keen eyes upon the coquette, he began in tones of lute-like +sweetness the following song, entitled 'The Syren with a Heart of Ice.' +We have translated it, as nearly as possible, from the Gascon dialect. + + "Faribolo pastouro, + Sereno al co de glas, + Oh! digo, digo couro + Entendren tinda l'houro + Oun t'amistouzaras. + Toutjour fariboulejes, + Et quand parpailloulejes + La foulo que mestrejes, + Sur toun cami set met + + Et te siet. + Mais res d'acos, maynado, + Al bounhur pot mena; + Qu'es acos d'estre aymado, + Quand on sat pas ayma?" + + "Wayward shepherd maid, + Syren with heart of ice, + Oh! tell us, tell us! when + We listen for the hour + When thou shalt feel + Ever so free and gay, + And when you flutter o'er + The number you subdue, + Upon thy path they fall + At thy feet. + But nothing comes of this, young maid, + To happiness it never leads; + What is it to be loved like this + If you ne'er can love again?" + +Such poetry however defies translation. The more exquisite the mastery +of a writer over his own language, the more difficult it is to reproduce +it in another. But the spirit of the song is in Miss Costello's +translation,{5} as given in Franconnette at the close of this volume. + +When reciting Franconnette, Jasmin usually sang The Syren to music of +his own composition. We accordingly annex his music. + +All were transported with admiration at the beautiful song. When Thomas +had finished, loud shouts were raised for the name of the poet. "Who had +composed this beautiful lay?" "It is Pascal," replied Thomas. "Bravo, +Pascal! Long live Pascal!" was the cry of the young people. Franconnette +was unwontedly touched by the song. "But where is Pascal?" she said. "If +he loves, why does he not appear?" "Oh," said Laurent, another of his +rivals, in a jealous and piqued tone, "he is too poor, he is obliged +to stay at home, his father is so infirm that he lives upon alms!" "You +lie," cried Thomas. "Pascal is unfortunate; he has been six months ill +from the wounds he received in defence of Franconnette, and now his +family is dependent upon him; but he has industry and courage, and will +soon recover from his misfortunes." + +Franconnette remained quiet, concealing her emotions. Then the games +began. They played at Cache Couteau or Hunt the Slipper. Dancing came +next; Franconnette was challenged by Laurent, and after many rounds the +girl was tired, and Laurent claimed the kisses that she had forfeited. +Franconnette flew away like a bird; Laurent ran after her, caught +her, and was claiming the customary forfeit, when, struggling to free +herself, Laurent slipped upon the floor, fell heavily, and broke his +arm. + +Franconnette was again unfortunate. Ill-luck seems to have pursued +the girl. The games came to an end, and the young people were about to +disperse when, at this unlucky moment, the door was burst open and +a sombre apparition appeared. It was the Black Forest sorcerer, the +supposed warlock of the neighbourhood. + +"Unthinking creatures," he said, "I have come from my gloomy rocks up +yonder to open your eyes. You all adore this Franconnette. Behold, she +is accursed! While in her cradle her father, the Huguenot, sold her to +the devil. He has punished Pascal and Laurent for the light embrace she +gave them. He warned in time and avoid her. The demon alone has a claim +to her." + +The sorcerer ended; sparks of fire surrounded him, and after turning +four times round in a circle he suddenly disappeared! Franconnette's +friends at once held aloof from her. They called out to her, "Begone!" +All in a maze the girl shuddered and sickened; she became senseless, and +fell down on the floor in a swoon. The young people fled, leaving her +helpless. And thus ended the second fete which began so gaily. + +The grossest superstition then prevailed in France, as everywhere. +Witches and warlocks were thoroughly believed in, far more so than +belief in God and His Son. The news spread abroad that the girl was +accursed and sold to the Evil One, and she was avoided by everybody. She +felt herself doomed. At length she reached her grandmother's house, +but she could not work, she could scarcely stand. The once radiant +Franconnette could neither play nor sing; she could only weep. + +Thus ended two cantos of the poem. The third opens with a lovely picture +of a cottage by a leafy brookside in the hamlet of Estanquet. The +spring brought out the singing-birds to pair and build their nests. They +listened, but could no longer hear the music which, in former years, had +been almost sweeter than their own. The nightingales, more curious +than the rest, flew into the maid's garden; they saw her straw hat on +a bench, a rake and watering-pot among the neglected jonquils, and the +rose branches running riot. Peering yet further and peeping into the +cottage door, the curious birds discovered an old woman asleep in her +arm-chair, and a pale, quiet girl beside her, dropping tears upon her +lily hands. "Yes, yes, it is. Franconnette," says the poet. "You +will have guessed that already. A poor girl, weeping in solitude, the +daughter of a Huguenot, banned by the Church and sold to the devil! +Could anything be more frightful?" + +Nevertheless her grandmother said to her, "My child, it is not true; the +sorcerer's charge is false. He of good cheer, you are more lovely than +ever." One gleam of hope had come to Franconnette; she hears that Pascal +has defended her everywhere, and boldly declared her to be the victim +of a brutal plot. She now realised how great was his goodness, and her +proud spirit was softened even to tears. The grandmother put in a good +word for Marcel, but the girl turned aside. Then the old woman said, +"To-morrow is Easter Day; go to Mass, pray as you never prayed before, +and take the blessed bread, proving that you are numbered with His +children for ever." + +The girl consented, and went to the Church of Saint Peter on Easter +morning. She knelt, with her chaplet of beads, among the rest, imploring +Heaven's mercy. But she knelt alone in the midst of a wide circle. All +the communicants avoided her. The churchwarden, Marcel's uncle, in +his long-tailed coat, with a pompous step, passed her entirely by, and +refused her the heavenly meal. Pascal was there and came to her help. +He went forward to the churchwarden and took from the silver plate the +crown piece{6} of the holy element covered with flowers, and took and +presented two pieces of the holy bread to Franconnette--one for herself, +the other for her grandmother. + +From that moment she begins to live a new life, and to understand the +magic of love. She carries home the blessed bread to the ancient +dame, and retires to her chamber to give herself up, with the utmost +gratefulness, to the rapturous delight of loving. "Ah," says Jasmin in +his poem, "the sorrowing heart aye loveth best!" + +Yet still she remembers the fatal doom of the sorcerer that she is sold +for a price to the demon. All seem to believe the hideous tale, and no +one takes her part save Pascal and her grandmother. She kneels before +her little shrine and prays to the Holy Virgin for help and succour. + +At the next fete day she repaired to the church of Notre Dame de bon +Encontre,{7} where the inhabitants of half a dozen of the neighbouring +villages had assembled, with priests and crucifixes, garlands and +tapers, banners and angels. The latter, girls about to be confirmed, +walked in procession and sang the Angelus at the appropriate hours. The +report had spread abroad that Franconnette would entreat the Blessed +Virgin to save her from the demon. The strangers were more kind to her +than her immediate neighbours, and from many a pitying heart the prayer +went up that a miracle might be wrought in favour of the beautiful +maiden. She felt their sympathy, and it gave her confidence. The +special suppliants passed up to the altar one by one--Anxious mothers, +disappointed lovers, orphans and children. They kneel, they ask for +blessings, they present their candles for the old priest to bless, and +then they retire. + +Now came the turn of Franconnette. Pascal was in sight and prayed for +her success. She went forward in a happy frame of mind, with her taper +and a bouquet of flowers. She knelt before the priest. He took the +sacred image and presented it to her; but scarcely had it touched the +lips of the orphan when a terrible peal of thunder rent the heavens, and +a bolt of lightning struck the spire of the church, extinguishing her +taper as well as the altar lights. This was a most unlucky coincidence +for the terrified girl; and, cowering like a lost soul, she crept out of +the church. The people were in consternation. "It was all true, she was +now sold to the devil! Put her to death, that is the only way of ending +our misfortunes!" + +The truth is that the storm of thunder and lightning prevailed +throughout the neighbourhood. It is a common thing in southern climes. +The storm which broke out at Notre Dame destroyed the belfry; the church +of Roquefort was demolished by a bolt of lightning, the spire of Saint +Pierre was ruined. The storm was followed by a tempest of hail and rain. +Agen was engulfed by the waters; her bridge was destroyed,{8} and many +of the neighbouring vineyards were devastated. And all this ruin was +laid at the door of poor Franconnette! + +The neighbours--her worst enemies--determined to burn the daughter of +the Huguenot out of her cottage. The grandmother first heard the cries +of the villagers: "Fire them, let them both burn together." Franconnette +rushed to the door and pleaded for mercy. "Go back," cried the crowd, +"you must both roast together." They set fire to the rick outside and +then proceeded to fire the thatch of the cottage. "Hold, hold!" cried +a stern voice, and Pascal rushed in amongst them. "Cowards! would you +murder two defenceless women? Tigers that you are, would you fire and +burn them in their dwelling?" + +Marcel too appeared; he had not yet given up the hope of winning +Franconnette's love. He now joined Pascal in defending her and the +old dame, and being a soldier of Montluc, he was a powerful man in the +neighbourhood. The girl was again asked to choose between the two. At +last, after refusing any marriage under present circumstances, she clung +to Pascal. "I would have died alone," she said, "but since you will have +it so, I resist no longer. It is our fate; we will die together." Pascal +was willing to die with her, and turning to Marcel he said: "I have been +more fortunate than you, but you are a brave man and you will forgive +me. I have no friend, but will you act as a squire and see me to my +grave?" After struggling with his feelings, Marcel at last said: "Since +it is her wish, I will be your friend." + +A fortnight later, the marriage between the unhappy lovers took place. +Every one foreboded disaster. The wedding procession went down the green +hill towards the church of Notre Dame. There was no singing, no dancing, +no merriment, as was usual on such occasions. The rustics shuddered at +heart over the doom of Pascal. The soldier Marcel marched at the head of +the wedding-party. At the church an old woman appeared, Pascal's mother. +She flung her arms about him and adjured him to fly from his false +bride, for his marriage would doom him to death. She even fell at the +feet of her son and said that he should pass over her body rather than +be married. Pascal turned to Marcel and said: "Love overpowers me! If I +die, will you take care of my mother?" + +Then the gallant soldier dispelled the gloom which had overshadowed the +union of the loving pair. "I can do no more," he said; "your mother +has conquered me. Franconnette is good, and pure, and true. I loved the +maid, Pascal, and would have shed my blood for her, but she loved you +instead of me. + +"Know that she is not sold to the Evil One. In my despair I hired the +sorcerer to frighten you with his mischievous tale, and chance did the +rest. When we both demanded her, she confessed her love for you. It was +more than I could bear, and I resolved that we should both die. + +"But your mother has disarmed me; she reminds me of my own. Live, +Pascal, for your wife and your mother! You need have no more fear of me. +It is better that I should die the death of a soldier than with a crime +upon my conscience." + +Thus saying, he vanished from the crowd, who burst into cheers. The +happy lovers fell into each other's arms. "And now," said Jasmin, in +concluding his poem, "I must lay aside my pencil. I had colours for +sorrow; I have none for such happiness as theirs!" + + +Endnotes to Chapter IX. + +{1} The whole of Jasmin's answer to M. Dumon will be found in the +Appendix at the end of this volume. + +{2}'Gascogne et Languedoc,' par Paul Joanne, p. 95 (edit. 1883). + +{3} The dance still exists in the neighbourhood of Agen. When there a +few years ago, I was drawn by the sound of a fife and a drum to the spot +where a dance of this sort was going on. It was beyond the suspension +bridge over the Garonne, a little to the south of Agen. A number of men +and women of the working-class were assembled on the grassy sward, +and were dancing, whirling, and pirouetting to their hearts' content. +Sometimes the girls bounded from the circle, were followed by their +sweethearts, and kissed. It reminded one of the dance so vigorously +depicted by Jasmin in Franconnette. + +{4} Miss Harriet Preston, of Boston, U.S., published part of a +translation of Franconnette in the 'Atlantic Monthly' for February, +1876, and adds the following note: "The buscou, or busking, was a kind +of bee, at which the young people assembled, bringing the thread of +their late spinning, which was divided into skeins of the proper size +by a broad and thin plate of steel or whalebone called a busc. The same +thing, under precisely the same name, figured in the toilets of our +grandmothers, and hence, probably, the Scotch use of the verb to busk, +or attire." + +{5} Miss Louisa Stuart Costello in 'Bearn and the Pyrenees.' + +{6} A custom which then existed in certain parts of France. It was taken +by the French emigrants to Canada, where it existed not long ago. The +crown of the sacramental bread used to be reserved for the family of the +seigneur or other communicants of distinction. + +{7} A church in the suburbs of Agen, celebrated for its legends and +miracles, to which numerous pilgrimages are made in the month of May. + +{8} A long time ago the inhabitants of the town of Agen communicated +with the other side of the Garonne by means of little boats. The first +wooden bridge was commenced when Aquitaine was governed by the English, +in the reign of Richard Coeur-de-lion, at the end of the twelfth +century. The bridge was destroyed and repaired many times, and one +of the piles on which the bridge was built is still to be seen. It is +attributed to Napoleon I. that he caused the first bridge of stone to +be erected, for the purpose of facilitating the passage of his troops to +Spain. The work was, however, abandoned during his reign, and it was +not until the Restoration that the bridge was completed. Since that time +other bridges, especially the suspension bridge, have been erected, to +enable the inhabitants of the towns on the Garonne to communicate freely +with each other. + + + +CHAPTER X. JASMIN AT TOULOUSE. + +It had hitherto been the custom of Jasmin to dedicate his poems to one +of his friends; but in the case of Franconnette he dedicated the poem to +the city of Toulouse. His object in making the dedication was to express +his gratitude for the banquet given to him in 1836 by the leading men +of the city, at which the President had given the toast of "Jasmin, the +adopted son of Toulouse." + +Toulouse was the most wealthy and prosperous city in the South of +France. Among its citizens were many men of literature, art, and +science. Jasmin was at first disposed to dedicate Franconnette to the +city of Bordeaux, where he had been so graciously received and feted +on the recitation of his Blind Girl of Castel-Cuille; but he eventually +decided to dedicate the new poem to the city of Toulouse, where he had +already achieved a considerable reputation. + +Jasmin was received with every honour by the city which had adopted +him. It was his intention to read the poem at Toulouse before its +publication. If there was one of the towns or cities in which his +language was understood--one which promised by the strength and depth of +its roots to defy all the chances of the future--that city was Toulouse, +the capital of the Langue d'Oc. + +The place in which he first recited the poem was the Great Hall of the +Museum. When the present author saw it about two years ago, the ground +floor was full of antique tombs, statues, and monuments of the past; +while the hall above it was crowded with pictures and works of art, +ancient and modern. + +About fifteen hundred persons assembled to listen to Jasmin in the Great +Hall. "It is impossible," said the local journal,{1} "to describe the +transport with which he was received." The vast gallery was filled with +one of the most brilliant assemblies that had ever met in Toulouse. +Jasmin occupied the centre of the platform. At his right and left +hand were seated the Mayor, the members of the Municipal Council, the +Military Chiefs, the members of the Academy of Jeux-Floraux,{2} and +many distinguished persons in science, literature, and learning. A large +space had been reserved for the accommodation of ladies, who appeared in +their light summer dresses, coloured like the rainbow; and behind them +stood an immense number of the citizens of Toulouse. + +Jasmin had no sooner begun to recite his poem than it was clear that he +had full command of his audience. Impressed by his eloquence and powers +of declamation, they were riveted to their seats, dazzled and moved by +turns, as the crowd of beautiful thoughts passed through their minds. +The audience were so much absorbed by the poet's recitation that not a +whisper was heard. He evoked by the tones and tremor of his voice their +sighs, their tears, their indignation. He was by turns gay, melancholy, +artless, tender, arch, courteous, and declamatory. As the drama +proceeded, the audience recognised the beauty of the plot and the poet's +knowledge of the human heart. He touched with grace all the cords of his +lyre. His poetry evidently came direct from his heart: it was as rare as +it was delicious. + +The success of the recitation was complete, and when Jasmin resumed his +seat he received the most enthusiastic applause. As the whole of the +receipts were, as usual, handed over by Jasminto the local charities, +the assembly decided by acclamation that a subscription should be raised +to present to the poet, who had been adopted by the city, some testimony +of their admiration for his talent, and for his having first recited to +them and dedicated to Toulouse his fine poem of Franconnette. + +Jasmin handed over to the municipality the manuscript of his poem in a +volume beautifully bound. The Mayor, in eloquent language, accepted the +work, and acknowledged the fervent thanks of the citizens of Toulouse. + +As at Bordeaux, Jasmin was feted and entertained by the most +distinguished people of the city. At one of the numerous banquets at +which he was present, he replied to the speech of the chairman by an +impromptu in honour of those who had so splendidly entertained him. But, +as he had already said: "Impromptus may be good money of the heart, but +they are often the worst money of the head."{3} + +On the day following the entertainment, Jasmin was invited to a "grand +banquet" given by the coiffeurs of Toulouse, where they presented him +with "a crown of immortelles and jasmines," and to them also he recited +another of his impromptus.{4} + +Franconnette was shortly after published, and the poem was received with +almost as much applause by the public as it had been by the citizens +of Toulouse. Sainte-beuve, the prince of French critics, said of the +work:-- + +"In all his compositions Jasmin has a natural, touching idea; it is a +history, either of his invention, or taken from some local tradition. +With his facility as an improvisatore, aided by the patois in which he +writes,... when he puts his dramatis personae into action, he endeavours +to depict their thoughts, all their simple yet lively conversation, and +to clothe them in words the most artless, simple, and transparent, +and in a language true, eloquent, and sober: never forget this latter +characteristic of Jasmin's works."{5} + +M. de Lavergne says of Franconnette, that, of all Jasmin's work, it is +the one in which he aimed at being most entirely popular, and that it +is at the same time the most noble and the most chastened. He might +also have added the most chivalrous. "There is something essentially +knightly," says Miss Preston, "in Pascal's cast of character, and it +is singular that at the supreme crisis of his fate he assumes, as if +unconsciously, the very phraseology of chivalry. + +"Some squire (donzel) should follow me to death. It is altogether +natural and becoming in the high-minded smith." + +M. Charles Nodier--Jasmin's old friend--was equally complimentary in his +praises of Franconnette. When a copy of the poem was sent to him, with +an accompanying letter, Nodier replied:-- + +"I have received with lively gratitude, my dear and illustrious friend, +your beautiful verses, and your charming and affectionate letter. I have +read them with great pleasure and profound admiration. A Although ill in +bed, I have devoured Franconnette and the other poems. I observe, with +a certain pride, that you have followed my advice, and that you think +in that fine language which you recite so admirably, in place of +translating the patois into French, which deprives it of its fullness +and fairness. I thank you a thousand times for your very flattering +epistle. I am too happy to expostulate with you seriously as to the +gracious things you have said to me; my name will pass to posterity in +the works of my friends; the glory of having been loved by you goes for +a great deal." + +The time at length arrived for the presentation of the testimonial of +Toulouse to Jasmin. It consisted of a branch of laurel in gold. The +artist who fashioned it was charged to put his best work into the golden +laurel, so that it might be a chef d'oeuvre worthy of the city which +conferred it, and of being treasured in the museum of their adopted +poet. The work was indeed admirably executed. The stem was rough, as +in nature, though the leaves were beautifully polished. It had a ribbon +delicately ornamented, with the words "Toulouse a Jasmin." + +When the work was finished and placed in its case, the Mayor desired to +send it to Jasmin by a trusty messenger. He selected Mademoiselle Gasc, +assisted by her father, advocate and member of the municipal council, to +present the tribute to Jasmin. It ought to have been a fete day for the +people of Agen, when their illustrious townsman, though a barber, was +about to receive so cordial an appreciation of his poetical genius from +the learned city of Toulouse. It ought also to have been a fete day for +Jasmin himself. + +But alas! an unhappy coincidence occurred which saddened the day that +ought to have been a day of triumph for the poet. His mother was dying. +When Mademoiselle Gasc, accompanied by her father, the Mayor of Agen, +and other friends of Jasmin, entered the shop, they were informed +that he was by the bedside of his mother, who was at death's door. The +physician, who was consulted as to her state, said that there might only +be sufficient time for Jasmin to receive the deputation. + +He accordingly came out for a few moments from his mother's bed-side. M. +Gasc explained the object of the visit, and read to + +Jasmin the gracious letter of the Mayor of Toulouse, concluding as +follows:-- + +"I thank you, in the name of the city of Toulouse, for the fine poem +which you have dedicated to us. This branch of laurel will remind you +of the youthful and beautiful Muse which has inspired you with such +charming verses." + +The Mayor of Agen here introduced Mademoiselle Gasc, who, in her turn, +said:-- + +"And I also, sir, am most happy and proud of the mission which has been +entrusted to me." + +Then she presented him with the casket which contained the golden +laurel. Jasmin responded in the lines entitled 'Yesterday and To-day,' +from which the following words may be quoted:-- + +"Yesterday! Thanks, Toulouse, for our old language and for my poetry. +Your beautiful golden branch ennobles both. And you who offer it to me, +gracious messenger--queen of song and queen of hearts--tell your city of +my perfect happiness, and that I never anticipated such an honour even +in my most golden dreams. + +"To-day! Fascinated by the laurel which Toulouse has sent me, and which +fills my heart with joy, I cannot forget, my dear young lady, the sorrow +which overwhelms me--the fatal illness of my mother--which makes me fear +that the most joyful day of my life will also be the most sorrowful." + +Jasmin's alarms were justified. His prayers were of no avail. His mother +died with her hand in his shortly after the deputation had departed. Her +husband had preceded her to the tomb a few years before. He always had +a firm presentiment that he should be carried in the arm-chair to the +hospital, "where all the Jasmins die." But Jasmin did his best to save +his father from that indignity. He had already broken the arm-chair, and +the old tailor died peacefully in the arms of his son. + +Some four months after the recitation of Franconnette at Toulouse, +Jasmin resumed his readings in the cause of charity. In October 1840 he +visited Oleron, and was received with the usual enthusiasm; and on his +return to Pau, he passed the obelisk erected to Despourrins, the Burns +of the Pyrenees. At Pau he recited his Franconnette to an immense +audience amidst frenzies of applause. It was alleged that the people +of the Pyrenean country were prosaic and indifferent to art. But M. +Dugenne, in the 'Memorial des Pyrenees,' said that it only wanted such +a bewitching poet as Jasmin--with his vibrating and magical voice--to +rouse them and set their minds on fire. + +Another writer, M. Alfred Danger, paid him a still more delicate +compliment. + +"His poetry," he said, "is not merely the poetry of illusions; it is +alive, and inspires every heart. His admirable delicacy! His profound +tact in every verse! What aristocratic poet could better express in +a higher degree the politeness of the heart, the truest of all +politeness."{6} + +Jasmin did not seem to be at all elated by these eulogiums. When he +had finished his recitations, he returned to Agen, sometimes on foot, +sometimes in the diligence, and quietly resumed his daily work. +His success as a poet never induced him to resign his more humble +occupation. Although he received some returns from the sale of his +poems, he felt himself more independent by relying upon the income +derived from his own business. + +His increasing reputation never engendered in him, as is too often +the case with self-taught geniuses who suddenly rise into fame, a +supercilious contempt for the ordinary transactions of life. "After +all," he said, "contentment is better than riches." + + +Endnotes to Chapter X. + +{1} Journal de Toulouse, 4th July, 1840. + +{2} The Society of the Jeux-Floraux derives its origin from the ancient +Troubadours. It claims to be the oldest society of the kind in Europe. +It is said to have been founded in the fourteenth century by Clemence +Isaure, a Toulousian lady, to commemorate the "Gay Science." A meeting +of the society is held every year, when prizes are distributed to +the authors of the best compositions in prose and verse. It somewhat +resembles the annual meeting of the Eisteddfod, held for awarding prizes +to the bards and composers of Wales. + +{3} The following was his impromptu to the savants of Toulouse, 4th +July, 1840:-- + + "Oh, bon Dieu! que de gloire! Oh, bon Dieu! que d'honneurs! + Messieurs, ce jour pour ma Muse est bien doux; + Mais maintenant, d'etre quitte j'ai perdu l'esperance: + Car je viens, plus fier que jamais, + Vous payer ma reconnaissance, + Et je m'endette que plus!" + +{4} This is the impromptu, given on the 5th July, 1840: + + "Toulouse m'a donne un beau bouquet d'honneur; + Votre festin, amis, en est une belle fleur; + Aussi, clans les plaisirs de cette longue fete, + Quand je veux remercier de cela, + Je poursuis mon esprit pour ne pas etre en reste + Ici, l'esprit me nait et tombe de mon coeur!" + +{5} 'Causeries du Lundi,' iv. 240 (edit. 1852). + +{6} "La politesse du coeur," a French expression which can scarcely be +translated into English; just as "gentleman" has no precise equivalent +in French. + + + +CHAPTER XI. JASMIN'S VISIT TO PARIS. + +Jasmin had been so often advised to visit Paris and test his powers +there, that at length he determined to proceed to the capital of France. +It is true, he had been eulogized in the criticisms of Sainte-Beuve, +Leonce de Lavergne, Charles Nodier, and Charles de Mazade; but he +desired to make the personal acquaintance of some of these illustrious +persons, as well as to see his son, who was then settled in Paris. It +was therefore in some respects a visit of paternal affection as well as +literary reputation. He set out for Paris in the month of May 1842. + +Jasmin was a boy in his heart and feelings, then as always. Indeed, he +never ceased to be a boy--in his manners, his gaiety, his artlessness, +and his enjoyment of new pleasures. + +What a succession of wonders to him was Paris--its streets, its +boulevards, its Tuileries, its Louvre, its Arc de Triomphe--reminding +him of the Revolution and the wars of the first Napoleon. + +Accompanied by his son Edouard, he spent about a week in visiting the +most striking memorials of the capital. They visited together the Place +de la Concorde, the Hotel de Ville, Notre Dame, the Madeleine, the +Champs Elysees, and most of the other sights. At the Colonne Vendome, +Jasmin raised his head, looked up, and stood erect, proud of the glories +of France. He saw all these things for the first time, but they had long +been associated with his recollections of the past. + +There are "country cousins" in Paris as well as in London. They are +known by their dress, their manners, their amazement at all they see. +When Jasmin stood before the Vendome Column, he extended his hand as if +he were about to recite one of his poems. "Oh, my son," he exclaimed, +"such glories as these are truly magnificent!" The son, who was +familiar with the glories, was rather disposed to laugh. He desired, for +decorum's sake, to repress his father's exclamations. He saw the people +standing about to hear his father's words. "Come," said the young man, +"let us go to the Madeleine, and see that famous church." "Ah, Edouard," +said Jasmin, "I can see well enough that you are not a poet; not you +indeed!" + +During his visit, Jasmin wrote regularly to his wife and friends at +Agen, giving them his impressions of Paris. His letters were full of +his usual simplicity, brightness, boyishness, and enthusiasm. "What +wonderful things I have already seen," he said in one of his letters, +"and how many more have I to see to-morrow and the following days. M. +Dumon, Minister of Public Works" (Jasmin's compatriot and associate at +the Academy of Agen), "has given me letters of admission to Versailles, +Saint-Cloud, Meudon in fact, to all the public places that I have for so +long a time been burning to see and admire." + +After a week's tramping about, and seeing the most attractive sights of +the capital, Jasmin bethought him of his literary friends and critics. +The first person he called upon was Sainte-Beuve, at the Mazarin +Library, of which he was director. "He received me like a brother," said +Jasmin, "and embraced me. He said the most flattering things about +my Franconnette, and considered it an improvement upon L'Aveugle. +'Continue,' he said, 'my good friend' and you will take a place in the +brightest poetry of our epoch.' In showing me over the shelves in the +Library containing the works of the old poets, which are still read and +admired, he said, 'Like them, you will never die.'" + +Jasmin next called upon Charles Nodier and Jules Janin. Nodier was +delighted to see his old friend, and after a long conversation, Jasmin +said that "he left him with tears in his eyes." Janin complimented him +upon his works, especially upon his masterly use of the Gascon language. +"Go on," he said, "and write your poetry in the patois which always +appears to me so delicious. You possess the talent necessary for the +purpose; it is so genuine and rare." + +The Parisian journals mentioned Jasmin's appearance in the capital; the +most distinguished critics had highly approved of his works; and before +long he became the hero of the day. The modest hotel in which he stayed +during his visit, was crowded with visitors. Peers, ministers, deputies, +journalists, members of the French Academy, came to salute the author of +the 'Papillotos.' + +The proprietor of the hotel began to think that he was entertaining some +prince in disguise--that he must have come from some foreign court +to negotiate secretly some lofty questions of state. But when he was +entertained at a banquet by the barbers and hair-dressers of Paris, +the opinions of "mine host" underwent a sudden alteration. He informed +Jasmin's son that he could scarcely believe that ministers of state +would bother themselves with a country peruke-maker! The son laughed; he +told the maitre d'hotel that his bill would be paid, and that was all he +need to care for. + +Jasmin was not, however, without his detractors. Even in his own +country, many who had laughed heartily and wept bitterly while listening +to his voice, feared lest they might have given vent to their emotions +against the legitimate rules of poetry. Some of the Parisian critics +were of opinion that he was immensely overrated. They attributed the +success of the Gascon poet to the liveliness of the southerners, who +were excited by the merest trifles; and they suspected that Jasmin, +instead of being a poet, was but a clever gasconader, differing only +from the rest of his class by speaking in verse instead of prose. + +Now that Jasmin was in the capital, his real friends, who knew his +poetical powers, desired him to put an end to these prejudices by +reciting before a competent tribunal some of his most admired verses. He +would have had no difficulty in obtaining a reception at the Tuileries. +He had already received several kind favours from the Duke and Duchess +of Orleans while visiting Agen. The Duke had presented him with a ring +set in brilliants, and the Duchess had given him a gold pin in the shape +of a flower, with a fine pearl surrounded by diamonds, in memory of +their visit. It was this circumstance which induced him to compose his +poem 'La Bago et L'Esplingo' (La Bague et L'Epingle) which he dedicated +to the Duchess of Orleans. + +But Jasmin aimed higher than the Royal family. His principal desire +was to attend the French Academy; but as the Academy did not permit +strangers to address their meetings, Jasmin was under the necessity of +adopting another method. The Salons were open. + +M. Leonce de Lavergne said to him: "You are now classed among our French +poets; give us a recitation in Gascon." Jasmin explained that he +could not give his reading before the members of the Academy. "That +difficulty," said his friend, "can soon be got over: I will arrange for +a meeting at the salon of one of our most distinguished members." + +It was accordingly arranged that Jasmin should give a reading at the +house of M. Augustin Thierry, one of the greatest of living historians. +The elite of Parisian society were present on the occasion, including +Ampere, Nizard, Burnouf, Ballanche, Villemain, and many distinguished +personages of literary celebrity. + +A word as to Jasmin's distinguished entertainer, M. Augustin Thierry. He +had written the 'History of the Conquest of England by the Normans'--an +original work of great value, though since overshadowed by the more +minute 'History of the Norman Conquest,' by Professor Freeman. Yet +Thierry's work is still of great interest, displaying gifts of the +highest and rarest kind in felicitous combination. It shows the careful +plodding of the antiquary, the keen vision of the man of the world, +the passionate fervour of the politician, the calm dignity of the +philosophic thinker, and the grandeur of the epic poet. Thierry +succeeded in exhuming the dry bones of history, clothing them for us +anew, and presenting almost visibly the "age and body of the times" long +since passed away. + +Thierry had also written his 'Narratives of the Merovingian Times,' and +revived almost a lost epoch in the early history of France. In +writing out these and other works--the results of immense labour and +research--he partly lost his eyesight. He travelled into Switzerland and +the South of France in the company of M. Fauriel. He could read no +more, and towards the end of the year the remains of his sight entirely +disappeared. He had now to read with the eyes of others, and to dictate +instead of writing. In his works he was assisted by the friendship of M. +Armand Carrel, and the affection and judgment of his loving young wife. + +He proceeded with courage, and was able to complete the fundamental +basis of the two Frankish dynasties. He was about to follow his +investigations into the history of the Goths, Huns, and Vandals, and +other races which had taken part in the dismemberment of the empire. +"However extended these labours," he says,{1} "my complete blindness +could not have prevented my going through them; I was resigned as much +as a courageous man can be: I had made a friendship with darkness. +But other trials came: acute sufferings and the decline of my health +announced a nervous disease of the most serious kind. I was obliged to +confess myself conquered, and to save, if it was still time, the last +remains of my health." + +The last words of Thierry's Autobiographical Preface are most touching. +"If, as I delight in thinking, the interest of science is counted in the +number of great national interests, I have given my country all that the +soldier mutilated on the field of battle gives her. Whatever may be the +fate of my labours, this example I hope will not be lost. I would wish +it to serve to combat the species of moral weakness which is the disease +of the present generation; to bring back into the straight road of life +some of those enervated souls that complain of wanting faith, that know +not what to do, and seek everywhere, without finding it, an object of +worship and admiration. Why say, with so much bitterness, that in +this world, constituted as it is, there is no air for all lungs, no +employment for all minds? Is there not opportunity for calm and serious +study? and is not that a refuge, a hope, a field within the reach of +all of us? With it, evil days are passed over without their weight being +felt; every one can make his own destiny; every one can employ his +life nobly. This is what I have done, and would do again if I had to +recommence my career: I would choose that which has brought me to +where I am. Blind, and suffering without hope, and almost without +intermission, I may give this testimony, which from me will not appear +suspicious; there is something in this world better than sensual +enjoyments, better than fortune, better than health itself: it is +devotion to science." + + +Endnotes for Chapter XI. + +{1} Autobiographical Preface to the 'Narratives of the Merovingian +Times.' + + + +CHAPTER XII. JASMIN'S RECITATIONS IN PARIS. + +It was a solemn and anxious moment for Jasmin when he appeared before +this select party of the most distinguished literary men in Paris: he +was no doubt placed at a considerable disadvantage, for his judges did +not even know his language. He had frequently recited to audiences who +did not know Gascon; and on such occasions he used, before commencing +his recitation, to give in French a short sketch of his poem, with, an +explanation of some of the more difficult Gascon words. This was all; +his mimic talent did the rest. His gestures were noble and well-marked. +His eyes were flashing, but they became languishing when he represented +tender sentiments. Then his utterance changed entirely, often suddenly, +following the expressions of grief and joy. There were now smiles, now +tears in his voice. + +It was remarkable that Jasmin should first recite before the blind +historian The Blind Girl of Castel-Cuille. It may be that he thought it +his finest poem, within the compass of time allotted to him, and that it +might best please his audience. When he began to speak in Gascon he was +heard with interest. A laugh was, indeed, raised by a portion of his +youthful hearers, but Jasmin flashed his penetrating eye upon them; and +there was no more laughter. When he reached the tenderest part he gave +way to his emotion, and wept. Tears are as contagious as smiles; and +even the academicians, who may not have wept with Rachel, wept with +Jasmin. It was the echo of sorrow to sorrow; the words which blind +despair had evoked from the blind Margaret. + +All eyes were turned to Thierry as Jasmin described the girl's +blindness. The poet omitted some of the more painful lines, which +might have occasioned sorrow to his kind entertainer. These lines, for +instance, in Gascon: + + "Jour per aoutres, toutjour! et per jou, malhurouzo, + Toutjour ney! toutjour ney! + Que fay negre len d'el! Oh! que moun amo es tristo! + Oh! que souffri, moun Diou! Couro ben doun, Batisto!" + +or, as translated by Longfellow: + + "Day for the others ever, but for me + For ever night! for ever night! + When he is gone, 'tis dark! my soul is sad! + I suffer! O my God! come, make me glad." + +When Jasmin omitted this verse, Thierry, who had listened with rapt +attention, interrupted him. "Poet," he said, "you have omitted a +passage; read the poem as you have written it." Jasmin paused, and then +added the omitted passage. "Can it be?" said the historian: "surely +you, who can describe so vividly the agony of those who cannot see, must +yourself have suffered blindness!" The words of Jasmin might have been +spoken by Thierry himself, who in his hours of sadness often said, "I +see nothing but darkness today." + +At the end of his recital Jasmin was much applauded. Ampere, who had +followed him closely in the French translation of his poem, said: +"If Jasmin had never written verse, it would be worth going a hundred +leagues to listen to his prose." What charmed his auditors most was his +frankness. He would even ask them to listen to what he thought his best +verses. "This passage," he would say, "is very fine." Then he read it +afresh, and was applauded. He liked to be cheered. "Applaud! applaud!" +he said at the end of his reading, "the clapping of your hands will be +heard at Agen." + +After the recitation an interesting conversation took place. Jasmin +was asked how it was that he first began to write poetry; for every one +likes to know the beginnings of self-culture. He thereupon entered +into a brief history of his life; how he had been born poor; how his +grandfather had died at the hospital; and how he had been brought up +by charity. He described his limited education and his admission to the +barber's shop; his reading of Florian; his determination to do something +of a similar kind; his first efforts, his progress, and eventually his +success. He said that his object was to rely upon nature and truth, and +to invest the whole with imagination and sensibility--that delicate +touch which vibrated through all the poems he had written. His auditors +were riveted by his sparkling and brilliant conversation. + +This seance at M. Thierry's completed the triumph of Jasmin at Paris. +The doors of the most renowned salons were thrown open to him. The most +brilliant society in the capital listened to him and feted him. Madame +de Remusat sent him a present of a golden pen, with the words: "I admire +your beautiful poetry; I never forget you; accept this little gift as +a token of my sincere admiration." Lamartine described Jasmin, perhaps +with some exaggeration, as the truest and most original of modern poets. + +Much of Jasmin's work was no doubt the result of intuition, for "the +poet is born, not made." He was not so much the poet of art as of +instinct. Yet M. Charles de Mazede said of him: "Left to himself, +without study, he carried art to perfection." His defect of literary +education perhaps helped him, by leaving him to his own natural +instincts. He himself said, with respect to the perusal of books: "I +constantly read Lafontaine, Victor Hugo, Lamartine and Beranger." It is +thus probable that he may have been influenced to a considerable extent +by his study of the works of others. + +Before Jasmin left Paris he had the honour of being invited to visit the +royal family at the palace of Neuilly, a favourite residence of Louis +Philippe. The invitation was made through General de Rumigny, who came +to see the poet at his hotel for the purpose. Jasmin had already made +the acquaintance of the Duke and Duchess of Orleans, while at Agen a few +years before. His visit to Neuilly was made on the 24th of May, 1842. He +was graciously received by the royal family. The Duchess of Orleans +took her seat beside him. She read the verse in Gascon which had been +engraved on the pedestal of the statue at Nerac, erected to the +memory of Henry IV. The poet was surprised as well as charmed by her +condescension. "What, Madame," he exclaimed, "you speak the patois?" +"El jou tabe" (and I also), said Louis Philippe, who came and joined the +Princess and the poet. Never was Jasmin more pleased than when he heard +the words of the King at such a moment. + +Jasmin was placed quite at his ease by this gracious reception. The King +and the Duchess united in desiring him to recite some of his poetry. +He at once complied with their request, and recited his Caritat +and L'Abuglo ('The Blind Girl'). After this the party engaged in +conversation. Jasmin, by no means a courtier, spoke of the past, of +Henry IV., and especially of Napoleon--"L'Ampereur," as he described +him. Jasmin had, in the first volume of his 'Papillotos,' written some +satirical pieces on the court and ministers of Louis Philippe. His +friends wished him to omit these pieces from the new edition of his +works, which was about to be published; but he would not consent to do +so. "I must give my works," he said, "just as they were composed; their +suppression would be a negation of myself, and an act of adulation +unworthy of any true-minded man." Accordingly they remained in the +'Papillotos.' + +Before he left the royal party, the Duchess of Orleans presented Jasmin +with a golden pin, ornamented with pearls and diamonds; and the +King afterwards sent him, as a souvenir of his visit to the Court, a +beautiful gold watch, ornamented with diamonds. Notwithstanding the +pleasure of this visit, Jasmin, as with a prophetic eye, saw the marks +of sorrow upon the countenance of the King, who was already experiencing +the emptiness of human glory. Scarcely had Jasmin left the palace when +he wrote to his friend Madame de Virens, at Agen: "On that noble face +I could see, beneath the smile, the expression of sadness; so that from +to-day I can no longer say: 'Happy as a King.'" + +Another entertainment, quite in contrast with his visit to the King, was +the banquet which Jasmin received from the barbers and hair-dressers of +Paris. He there recited the verses which he had written in their honour. +M. Boisjoslin{1} says that half the barbers of Paris are Iberiens. For +the last three centuries, in all the legends and anecdotes, the barber +is always a Gascon. The actor, the singer, often came from Provence, but +much oftener from Gascony: that is the country of la parole. + +During Jasmin's month at Paris he had been unable to visit many of +the leading literary men; but he was especially anxious to see M. +Chateaubriand, the father of modern French literature. Jasmin was +fortunate in finding Chateaubriand at home, at 112 Rue du Bac. He +received Jasmin with cordiality. "I know you intimately already," said +the author of the 'Genius of Christianity;' "my friends Ampere and +Fauriel have often spoken of you. They understand you, they love and +admire you. They acknowledge your great talent,' though they have long +since bade their adieu to poetry; you know poets are very wayward," he +added, with a sly smile. "You have a happy privilege, my dear sir: +when our age turns prosy, you have but to take your lyre, in the sweet +country of the south, and resuscitate the glory of the Troubadours. They +tell me, that in one of your recent journeys you evoked enthusiastic +applause, and entered many towns carpeted with flowers. Ah, mon Dieu, we +can never do that with our prose!" + +"Ah, dear sir," said Jasmin, "you have achieved much more glory than I. +Without mentioning the profound respect with which all France regards +you, posterity and the world will glorify you." + +"Glory, indeed," replied Chateaubriand, with a sad smile. "What is that +but a flower that fades and dies; but speak to me of your sweet south; +it is beautiful. I think of it, as of Italy; indeed it sometimes seems +to me better than that glorious country!" + +Notwithstanding his triumphant career at Paris, Jasmin often thought +of Agen, and of his friends and relations at home. "Oh, my wife, my +children, my guitar, my workshop, my papillotos, my pleasant Gravier, my +dear good friends, with what pleasure I shall again see you." That was +his frequent remark in his letters to Agen. He was not buoyed up by the +praises he had received. He remained, as usual, perfectly simple in his +thoughts, ways, and habits; and when the month had elapsed, he returned +joyfully to his daily work at Agen. + +Jasmin afterwards described the recollections of his visit in his +'Voyage to Paris' (Moun Bouyatage a Paris). It was a happy piece of +poetry; full of recollections of the towns and departments through which +he journeyed, and finally of his arrival in Paris. Then the wonders of +the capital, the crowds in the streets, the soldiers, the palaces, the +statues and columns, the Tuileries where the Emperor had lived. + + "I pass, and repass, not a soul I know, + Not one Agenais in this hurrying crowd; + No one salutes or shakes me by the hand." + +And yet, he says, what a grand world it is! how tasteful! how +fashionable! There seem to be no poor. They are all ladies and +gentlemen. Each day is a Sabbath; and under the trees the children +play about the fountains. So different from Agen! He then speaks of +his interview with Louis Philippe and the royal family, his recital +of L'Abuglo before "great ladies, great writers, lords, ministers, and +great savants;" and he concludes his poem with the words: "Paris makes +me proud, but Agen makes me happy." + +The poem is full of the impressions of his mind at the time--simple, +clear, naive. It is not a connected narrative, nor a description of what +he saw, but it was full of admiration of Paris, the centre of France, +and, as Frenchmen think, of civilisation. It is the simple wonder of the +country cousin who sees Paris for the first time--the city that had so +long been associated with his recollections of the past. And perhaps he +seized its more striking points more vividly than any regular denizen of +the capital. + + +Endnotes for Chapter XII. + +{1} 'Les Peuples de la France: Ethnographie Nationale.' (Didier.) + + + +CHAPTER XIII. JASMIN AND HIS ENGLISH CRITICS. + +Jasmin's visit to Paris in 1842 made his works more extensively known, +both at home and abroad. His name was frequently mentioned in the +Parisian journals, and Frenchmen north of the Loire began to pride +themselves on their Gascon poet. His Blind Girl had been translated into +English, Spanish, and Italian. The principal English literary journal, +the Athenaeum, called attention to his works a few months after his +appearance in Paris.{1} The editor introduced the subject in the +following words: + +"On the banks of the Garonne, in the picturesque and ancient town of +Agen, there exists at this moment a man of genius of the first order--a +rustic Beranger, a Victor Hugo, a Lamartine--a poet full of fire, +originality, and feeling--an actor superior to any now in France, +excepting Rachel, whom he resembles both in his powers of declamation +and his fortunes. He is not unknown--he is no mute inglorious Milton; +for the first poets, statesmen, and men of letters in France have been +to visit him. His parlour chimney-piece, behind his barber's shop, is +covered with offerings to his genius from royalty and rank. His smiling, +dark-eyed wife, exhibits to the curious the tokens of her husband's +acknowledged merit; and gold and jewels shine in the eyes of the +astonished stranger, who, having heard his name, is led to stroll +carelessly into the shop, attracted by a gorgeous blue cloth hung +outside, on which he may have read the words, Jasmin, Coiffeur." + +After mentioning the golden laurels, and the gifts awarded to him by +those who acknowledged his genius, the editor proceeds to mention +his poems in the Gascon dialect--his Souvenirs his Blind Girl and his +Franconnette--and then refers to his personal appearance. "Jasmin is +handsome in person, with eyes full of intelligence, of good features, +a mobility of expression absolutely electrifying, a manly figure and an +agreeable address; but his voice is harmony itself, and its changes have +an effect seldom experienced on or off the stage. The melody attributed +to Mrs. Jordan seems to approach it nearest. Had he been an actor +instead of a poet, he would have 'won all hearts his way'... On the +whole, considering the spirit, taste, pathos, and power of this poet, +who writes in a patois hitherto confined to the lower class of people +in a remote district--considering the effect that his verses have made +among educated persons, both French and foreign, it is impossible not +to look upon him as one of the remarkable characters of his age, and to +award him, as the city of Clemence Isaure has done, the Golden Laurel, +as the first of the revived Troubadours, destined perhaps to rescue his +country from the reproach of having buried her poetry in the graves of +Alain Chartier and Charles of Orleans, four centuries ago." + +It is probable that this article in the Athenaeum was written by Miss +Louisa Stuart Costello, who had had an interview with the poet, in his +house at Agen, some years before. While making her tour through Auvergne +and Languedoc in 1840,{2} she states that she picked up three charming +ballads, and was not aware that they had ever been printed. She wrote +them down merely by ear, and afterwards translated Me cal Mouri into +English (see page 57). The ballad was very popular, and was set to +music. She did not then know the name of the composer, but when she +ascertained that the poet was "one Jasmin of Agen," she resolved to go +out of her way and call upon him, when on her journey to the Pyrenees +about two years later.{3} She had already heard much about him before +she arrived, as he was regarded in Gascony as "the greatest poet in +modern times." She had no difficulty in finding his shop at the entrance +to the Promenade du Gravier, with the lines in large gold letters, +"Jasmin, Coiffeur" + +Miss Costello entered, and was welcomed by a smiling dark-eyed woman, +who informed her that her husband was busy at that moment dressing a +customer's hair, but begged that she would walk into his parlour at the +back of the shop. Madame Jasmin took advantage of her husband's absence +to exhibit the memorials which he had received for his gratuitous +services on behalf of the public. There was the golden laurel from the +city of Toulouse; the golden cup from the citizens of Auch, the gold +watch with chain and seals from "Le Roi" Louis Philippe, the ring +presented by the Duke of Orleans, the pearl pin from the Duchess, the +fine service of linen presented by the citizens of Pau, with other +offerings from persons of distinction. + +At last Jasmin himself appeared, having dressed his customer's hair. +Miss Costello describes his manner as well-bred and lively, and his +language as free and unembarrassed. He said, however, that he was ill, +and too hoarse to read. He spoke in a broad Gascon accent, very +rapidly and even eloquently. He told the story of his difficulties and +successes; how his grandfather had been a beggar, and all his family +very poor, but that now he was as rich as he desired to be. His son, +he said, was placed in a good position at Nantes, and he exhibited his +picture with pride. Miss Costello told him that she had seen his name +mentioned in an English Review. Jasmin said the review had been sent +to him by Lord Durham, who had paid him a visit; and then Miss Costello +spoke of Me cal Mouri, as the first poem of his that she had seen. "Oh," +said he, "that little song is not my best composition: it was merely my +first." + +His heart was now touched. He immediately forgot his hoarseness, and +proceeded to read some passages from his poems. "If I were only well," +said he, "and you would give me the pleasure of your company for some +time, I would kill you with weeping: I would make you die with distress +for my poor Margarido, my pretty Franconnette." He then took up two +copies of his Las Papillotos, handed one to Miss Costello, where the +translation was given in French, and read from the other in Gascon. + +"He began," says the lady, "in a rich soft voice, and as we advanced we +found ourselves carried away by the spell of his enthusiasm. His +eyes swam in tears; he became pale and red; he trembled; he recovered +himself; his face was now joyous, now exulting, gay, jocose; in fact, he +was twenty actors in one; he rang the changes from Rachel to Bouffe; +and he finished by relieving us of our tears, and overwhelming us with +astonishment. He would have been a treasure on the stage; for he is +still, though his youth is past, remarkably good-looking and striking; +with black, sparkling eyes of intense expression; a fine ruddy +complexion; a countenance of wondrous mobility; a good figure, and +action full of fire and grace: he has handsome hands, which he uses with +infinite effect; and on the whole he is the best actor of the kind I +ever saw. I could now quite understand what a Troubadour or jongleur he +might be; and I look upon Jasmin as a revived specimen of that extinct +race." + +Miss Costello proceeded on her journey to Bearn and the Pyrenees, and on +her return northwards she again renewed her acquaintance with Jasmin +and his dark-eyed wife. "I did not expect," she says, "that I should be +recognised; but the moment I entered the little shop I was hailed as an +old friend. 'Ah' cried Jasmin, 'enfin la voila encore!' I could not but +be flattered by this recollection, but soon found that it was less on +my own account that I was thus welcomed, than because circumstances had +occurred to the poet that I might perhaps explain. He produced several +French newspapers, in which he pointed out to me an article headed +'Jasmin a Londres,' being a translation of certain notices of +himself which had appeared in a leading English literary journal the +Athenaeum.... I enjoyed his surprise, while I informed him that I knew +who was the reviewer and translator; and explained the reason for the +verses giving pleasure in an English dress, to the superior simplicity +of the English language over modern French, for which he had a great +contempt, as unfitted for lyrical composition.{4} He inquired of me +respecting Burns, to whom he had been likened, and begged me to tell him +something about Moore. + +"He had a thousand things to tell me; in particular, that he had only +the day before received a letter from the Duchess of Orleans, informing +him that she had ordered a medal of her late husband to be struck, the +first of which should be sent to him. He also announced the agreeable +news of the King having granted him a pension of a thousand francs. He +smiled and wept by turns as he told all this; and declared that, much as +he was elated at the possession of a sum which made him a rich man for +life (though it was only equal to 42 sterling), the kindness of the +Duchess gratified him still more. + +"He then made us sit down while he read us two new poems; both charming, +and full of grace and naivete; and one very affecting, being an address +to the King, alluding, to the death of his son. + +"As he read, his wife stood by, and fearing that we did not comprehend +the language, she made a remark to that effect, to which he answered +impatiently, 'Nonsense! don't you see they are in tears?' This was +unanswerable; we were allowed to hear the poem to the end, and I +certainly never listened to anything more feelingly and energetically +delivered. + +"We had much conversation, for he was anxious to detain us; and in the +course of it, he told me that he had been by some accused of vanity. +'Oh!' he exclaimed, 'what would you have? I am a child of nature, and +cannot conceal my feelings; the only difference between me and a man of +refinement is, that he knows how to conceal his vanity and exaltation at +success, while I let everybody see my emotions.' + +"His wife drew me aside, and asked my opinion as to how much money +it would cost to pay Jasmin's expenses, if he undertook a journey to +England. 'However,' she added, 'I dare say he need be at no charge, for +of course your Queen has read that article in his favour, and knows +his merit. She probably will send for him, pay all the expenses of his +journey, and give him great fetes in London!" Miss Costello, knowing the +difficulty of obtaining Royal recognition of literary merit in England, +unless it appears in forma pauperis, advised the barber-poet to wait +till he was sent for--a very good advice, for then it would be never! +She concludes her recollections with this remark: "I left the happy +pair, promising to let them know the effect that the translation of +Jasmin's poetry produced in the Royal mind. Indeed, their earnest +simplicity was really entertaining." + +A contributor to the Westminster Review{5} also gave a very favourable +notice of Jasmin and his poetry, which, he said, was less known in +England than it deserved to be; nor was it well known in France since +he wrote in a patois. Yet he had been well received by some of the most +illustrious men in the capital, where unaided genius, to be successful, +must be genius indeed; and there the Gascon bard had acquired for +himself a fame of which any man might well be proud. + +The reviewer said that the Gascon patois was peculiarly expressive +and heart-touching, and in the South it was held in universal honour. +Jasmin, he continued, is what Burns was to the Scottish peasantry; only +he received his honours in his lifetime. The comparison with Burns, +however, was not appropriate. Burns had more pith, vigour, variety, +and passion, than Jasmin who was more of a descriptive writer. In some +respects Jasmin resembled Allan Ramsay, a barber and periwig-maker, like +himself, whose Gentle Shepherd met with as great a success as Jasmin's +Franconnette. Jasmin, however, was the greater poet of the two. + +The reviewer in the Westminster, who had seen Jasmin at Agen, goes on +to speak of the honours he had received in the South and at Paris--his +recitations in the little room behind his shop--his personal +appearance, his hearty and simple manners--and yet his disdain of +the mock modesty it would be affectation to assume. The reviewer thus +concludes: "From the first prepossessing, he gains upon you every +moment; and when he is fairly launched into the recital of one of his +poems, his rich voice does full justice to the harmonious Gascon. The +animation and feeling he displays becomes contagious. Your admiration +kindles, and you become involved in his ardour. You forget the little +room in which he recites; you altogether forget the barber, and rise +with him into a superior world, an experience in a way you will never +forget, the power exercised by a true poet when pouring forth his living +thoughts in his own verses.... + +"Such is Jasmin--lively in imagination, warm in temperament, humorous, +playful, easily made happy, easily softened, enthusiastically fond of +his province, of its heroes, of its scenery, of its language, and of +its manners. He is every inch a Gascon, except that he has none of +that consequential self-importance, or of the love of boasting and +exaggeration, which, falsely or not, is said to characterise his +countrymen. + +"Born of the people, and following a humble trade, he is proud of both +circumstances; his poems are full of allusions to his calling; and +without ever uttering a word in disparagment of other classes, he +everywhere sings the praises of his own. He stands by his order. It is +from it he draws his poetry; it is there he finds his romance. + +"And this is his great charm, as it is his chief distinction. He invests +virtue, however lowly, with the dignity that belongs to it. He rewards +merit, however obscure, with its due honour. Whatever is true or +beautiful or good, finds from him an immediate sympathy. The true is +never rejected by him because it is commonplace; nor the beautiful +because it is everyday; nor the good because it is not also great. He +calls nothing unclean but vice and crime, He sees meanness in nothing +but in the sham, the affectation, and the spangles of outward show. + +"But while it is in exalting lowly excellence that Jasmin takes especial +delight, he is not blind, as some are, to excellence in high places. All +he seeks is the sterling and the real. He recognises the sparkle of the +diamond as well as that of the dewdrop. But he will not look upon paste. + +"He is thus pre-eminently the poet of nature; not, be it understood, of +inanimate nature only, but of nature also, as it exists in our thoughts, +and words, and acts of nature as it is to be found living and moving in +humanity. But we cannot paint him so well as he paints himself. We well +remember how, in his little shop at Agen, he described to us what he +believed to be characteristic of his poetry; and we find in a letter +from him to M. Leonce de Lavergne the substance of what he then said to +us: + +"'I believe,' he said, 'that I have portrayed a part of the noble +sentiments which men and women may experience here below. I believe +that I have emancipated myself more than anyone has ever done from +every school, and I have placed myself in more direct communication with +nature. My poetry comes from my heart. I have taken my pictures from +around me in the most humble conditions of men; and I have done for my +native language all that I could.'" + +A few years later Mr. Angus B. Reach, a well-known author, and a +contributor to Punch in its earlier days, was appointed a commissioner +by the Morning Chronicle to visit, for industrial purposes, the +districts in the South of France. His reports appeared in the Chronicle; +but in 1852, Mr. Reach published a fuller account of his journeys in a +volume entitled 'Claret and Olives, from the Garonne to the Rhone.'{6} +In passing through the South of France, Mr. Reach stopped at Agen. +"One of my objects," he says, "was to pay a literary visit to a very +remarkable man--Jasmin, the peasant-poet of Provence and Languedoc--the +'Last of the Troubadours,' as, with more truth than is generally to be +found in ad captandum designations, he terms himself, and is termed by +the wide circle of his admirers; for Jasmin's songs and rural epics are +written in the patois of the people, and that patois is the still almost +unaltered Langue d'Oc--the tongue of the chivalric minstrelsy of yore. + +"But Jasmin is a Troubadour in another sense than that of merely +availing himself of the tongue of the menestrels. He publishes, +certainly, conforming so far to the usages of our degenerate modern +times; but his great triumphs are his popular recitations of his poems. +Standing bravely up before an expectant assembly of perhaps a couple +of thousand persons--the hot-blooded and quick-brained children of the +South--the modern Troubadour plunges over head and ears into his +lays, evoking both himself and his applauding audiences into fits of +enthusiasm and excitement, which, whatever may be the excellence of the +poetry, an Englishman finds it difficult to conceive or account for. + +"The raptures of the New Yorkers and Bostonians with Jenny Lind are +weak and cold compared with the ovations which Jasmin has received. At +a recitation given shortly before my visit to Auch, the ladies present +actually tore the flowers and feathers out of their bonnets, wove them +into extempore garlands, and flung them in showers upon the panting +minstrel; while the editors of the local papers next morning assured +him, in floods of flattering epigrams, that humble as he was now, future +ages would acknowledge the 'divinity' of a Jasmin! + +"There is a feature, however, about these recitations which is still more +extraordinary than the uncontrollable fits of popular enthusiasm which +they produce. His last entertainment before I saw him was given in one +of the Pyrenean cities, and produced 2,000 francs. Every sous of this +went to the public charities; Jasmin will not accept a stiver of +money so earned. With a species of perhaps overstrained, but certainly +exalted, chivalric feeling, he declines to appear before an audience to +exhibit for money the gifts with which nature has endowed him. + +"After, perhaps, a brilliant tour through the South of France, +delighting vast audiences in every city, and flinging many thousands of +francs into every poor-box which he passes, the poet contentedly returns +to his humble occupation, and to the little shop where he earns his +daily bread by his daily toil as a barber and hair-dresser. It will +be generally admitted that the man capable of self-denial of so truly +heroic a nature as this, is no ordinary poetaster. + +"One would be puzzled to find a similar instance of perfect and absolute +disinterestedness in the roll of minstrels, from Homer downwards; and, +to tell the truth, there does seem a spice of Quixotism mingled with +and tinging the pure fervour of the enthusiast. Certain it is, that +the Troubadours of yore, upon whose model Jasmin professes to found his +poetry, were by no means so scrupulous. 'Largesse' was a very prominent +word in their vocabulary; and it really seems difficult to assign any +satisfactory reason for a man refusing to live upon the exercise of the +finer gifts of his intellect, and throwing himself for his bread upon +the daily performance of mere mechanical drudgery. + +"Jasmin, as may be imagined, is well known in Agen. I was speedily +directed to his abode, near the open Place of the town, and within +earshot of the rush of the Garonne; and in a few moments I found +myself pausing before the lintel of the modest shop inscribed Jasmin, +Perruquier, Coiffeur des jeunes Gens. A little brass basin dangled above +the threshold; and looking through the glass I saw the master of the +establishment shaving a fat-faced neighbour. Now I had come to see and +pay my compliments to a poet, and there did appear to me to be something +strangely awkward and irresistibly ludicrous in having to address, +to some extent, in a literary and complimentary vein, an individual +actually engaged in so excessively prosaic and unelevated a species of +performance. + +"I retreated, uncertain what to do, and waited outside until the shop +was clear. Three words explained the nature of my visit, and Jasmin +received me with a species of warm courtesy, which was very peculiar and +very charming; dashing at once, with the most clattering volubility and +fiery speed of tongue, into a sort of rhapsodical discourse upon poetry +in general, and the patois of it, spoken in Languedoc, Provence, and +Gascony in particular. + +"Jasmin is a well-built and strongly limbed man of about fifty, with +a large, massive head, and a broad pile of forehead, overhanging two +piercingly bright black-eyes, and features which would be heavy, were +they allowed a moment's repose from the continual play of the facial +muscles, sending a never-ending series of varying expressions across +the dark, swarthy visage. Two sentences of his conversation were quite +sufficient to stamp his individuality. + +"The first thing which struck me was the utter absence of all the +mock-modesty, and the pretended self-underrating, conventionally assumed +by persons expecting to be complimented upon their sayings or doings. +Jasmin seemed thoroughly to despise all such flimsy hypocrisy. 'God only +made four Frenchmen poets,' he burst out with, 'and their names are, +Corneille, Lafontaine, Beranger, and Jasmin!' + +"Talking with the most impassioned vehemence, and the most redundant +energy of gesture, he went on to declaim against the influences of +civilisation upon language and manners as being fatal to all real +poetry. If the true inspiration yet existed upon earth, it burned in the +hearts and brains of men far removed from cities, salons, and the clash +and din of social influences. Your only true poets were the unlettered +peasants, who poured forth their hearts in song, not because they wished +to make poetry, but because they were joyous and true. + +"Colleges, academies, schools of learning, schools of literature, and +all such institutions, Jasmin denounced as the curse and the bane of +true poetry. They had spoiled, he said, the very French language. You +could no more write poetry in French now than you could in arithmetical +figures. The language had been licked and kneaded, and tricked out, and +plumed, and dandified, and scented, and minced, and ruled square, and +chipped--(I am trying to give an idea of the strange flood of epithets +he used)--and pranked out, and polished, and muscadined--until, for +all honest purposes of true high poetry, it was mere unavailable and +contemptible jargon. + +"It might do for cheating agents de change on the Bourse--for squabbling +politicians in the Chambers--for mincing dandies in the salons--for the +sarcasm of Scribe-ish comedies, or the coarse drolleries of Palais Royal +farces, but for poetry the French language was extinct. All modern +poets who used it were faiseurs de phrase--thinking about words and not +feelings. 'No, no,' my Troubadour continued, 'to write poetry, you must +get the language of a rural people--a language talked among fields, +and trees, and by rivers and mountains--a language never minced or +disfigured by academies and dictionary-makers, and journalists; you +must have a language like that which your own Burns, whom I read of in +Chateaubriand, used; or like the brave, old, mellow tongue--unchanged +for centuries--stuffed with the strangest, quaintest, richest, raciest +idioms and odd solemn words, full of shifting meanings and associations, +at once pathetic and familiar, homely and graceful--the language which +I write in, and which has never yet been defiled by calculating men of +science or jack-a-dandy litterateurs.'" The above sentences may be +taken as a specimen of the ideas with which Jasmin seemed to be actually +overflowing from every pore in his body--so rapid, vehement, and loud +was his enunciation of them. Warming more and more as he went on, he +began to sketch the outlines of his favourite pieces. Every now and +then plunging into recitation, jumping from French into patois, and +from patois into French, and sometimes spluttering them out, mixed up +pell-mell together. Hardly pausing to take breath, he rushed about the +shop as he discoursed, lugging out, from old chests and drawers, piles +of old newspapers and reviews, pointing out a passage here in which the +estimate of the writer pleased him, a passage there which showed how +perfectly the critic had mistaken the scope of his poetic philosophy, +and exclaiming, with the most perfect naivete, how mortifying it was +for men of original and profound genius to be misconceived and +misrepresented by pigmy whipper-snapper scamps of journalists. + +"There was one review of his works, published in a London 'Recueil,' as +he called it, to which Jasmin referred with great pleasure. A portion of +it had been translated, he said, in the preface to a French edition of +his works; and he had most of the highly complimentary phrases by +heart. The English critic, he said, wrote in the Tintinum, and he looked +dubiously at me when I confessed that I had never heard of the organ in +question. + +"'Pourtant,' he said, 'je vous le ferai voir,' and I soon perceived that +Jasmin's Tintinum was no other than the Athenaeum! + +"In the little back drawing-room behind the shop, to which the poet +speedily introduced me, his sister {it must have been his wife}, a meek, +smiling woman, whose eyes never left him, following as he moved with a +beautiful expression of love and pride in his glory, received me +with simple cordiality. The walls were covered with testimonials, +presentations, and trophies, awarded by critics and distinguished +persons, literary and political, to the modern Troubadour. Not a few of +these are of a nature to make any man most legitimately proud. Jasmin +possesses gold and silver vases, laurel branches, snuff-boxes, medals +of honour, and a whole museum of similar gifts, inscribed with such +characteristic and laconiclegends as 'Au Poete, Les Jeunes filles de +Toulouse reconnaissantes!' &c. + +"The number of garlands of immortelles, wreaths of ivy-jasmin (punning +upon the name), laurel, and so forth, utterly astonished me. Jasmin +preserved a perfect shrubbery of such tokens; and each symbol had, +of course, its pleasant associative remembrance. One was given by the +ladies of such a town; another was the gift of the prefect's wife of +such a department. A handsome full-length portrait had been presented +to the poet by the municipal authorities of Agen; and a letter from M. +Lamartine, framed, above the chimney-piece, avowed the writer's belief +that the Troubadour of the Garonne was the Homer of the modern world. +M. Jasmin wears the ribbon of the Legion of Honour, and has several +valuable presents which were made to him by the late ex-king and +different members of the Orleans family. + +"I have been somewhat minute in giving an account of my interview with +M. Jasmin, because he is really the popular poet--the peasant poet of +the South of France--the Burns of Limousin, Provence, and Languedoc. His +songs are in the mouths of all who sing in the fields and by the cottage +firesides. Their subjects are always rural, naive, and full of rustic +pathos and rustic drollery. To use his words to me, he sings what the +hearts of the people say, and he can no more help it than can the birds +in the trees. Translations into French of his main poems have appeared; +and compositions more full of natural and thoroughly unsophisticated +pathos and humour it would be difficult to find. + +"Jasmin writes from a teeming brain and a beaming heart; and there is a +warmth and a glow, and a strong, happy, triumphant march of song about +his poems, which carry you away in the perusal as they carried away the +author in the writing. I speak, of course, from the French translations, +and I can well conceive that they give but a comparatively faint +transcript of the pith and power of the original. The patois in which +these poems are written is the common peasant language of the South-west +of France. It varies in some slight degree in different districts, but +not more than the broad Scotch of Forfarshire differs from that of +Ayrshire. As for the dialect itself, it seems in the main to be a +species of cross between old French and Spanish--holding, however, I am +assured, rather to the latter tongue than to the former, and +constituting a bold, copious, and vigorous speech, very rich in its +colouring, full of quaint words and expressive phrases, and especially +strong in all that relates to the language of the passions and +affections. + +"I hardly know how long my interview with Jasmin might have lasted, for +he seemed by no means likely to tire of talking, and his talk was too +good and too curious not to be listened to with interest; but the +sister {or wife} who had left us for a moment, coming back with the +intelligence that there was quite a gathering of customers in the shop, +I hastily took my leave, the poet squeezing my hand like a vice, +and immediately thereafter dashing into all that appertains to +curling-irons, scissors, razors, and lather, with just as much apparent +energy and enthusiasm as he had flung into his rhapsodical discourse on +poetry and language!" + +It is scarcely necessary to apologise for the length of this extract, +because no author that we know of--not even any French author--has given +so vivid a description of the man as he lived, moved, and talked, as +Mr. Reach; and we believe the reader will thank us for quoting from an +almost entirely forgotten book, the above graphic description of the +Gascon Poet. + + +Endnotes for Chapter XIII. + +{1} The Athenaeum, 5th November, 1842. 'The Curl-papers of Jasmin, the +Barber of Agen.' ('Las Papillotos de Jasmin, Coiffeur.') + +{2} 'A Pilgrimage to Auvergne, from Picardy to Velay.' 1842. + +{3} 'Bearn and the Pyrenees.' 1844. + +{4} "There are no poets in France now", he said to Miss Costello. "There +cannot be. The language does not admit of it. Where is the fire, the +spirit, the expression, the tenderness, the force, of the Gascon? French +is but the ladder to reach the first floor of the Gascon; how can you +get up to a height except by means of a ladder?" + +{5} Westminster Review for October, 1849. + +{6} Published by David Bogue, Fleet Street. 1852. Mr. Reach was very +particular about the pronunciation of his name. Being a native of +Inverness, the last vowel was guttural. One day, dining with Douglas +Jerrold, who insisted on addressing him as Mr. Reek or Reech, "No," said +the other; "my name is neither Reek nor Reech,but Reach," "Very well," +said Jerrold, "Mr. Reach will you have a Peach?" + + + +CHAPTER XIV. JASMIN'S TOURS OF PHILANTHROPY. + +The poet had no sooner returned from his visit to Paris than he was +besieged with appeals to proceed to the relief of the poor in the South +of France. Indeed, for more than thirty years he devoted a considerable +part of his time to works of charity and benevolence. He visited +successively cities and towns so far remote from each other, as Bayonne +and Marseilles, Bagneres and Lyons. He placed his talents at the +service of the public from motives of sheer benevolence, for the large +collections which were made at his recitations were not of the slightest +personal advantage to himself. + +The first place he visited on this occasion was Carcassonne, south-east +of Toulouse,--a town of considerable importance, and containing a large +number of poor people. M. Dugue, prefect of the Aude, wrote to Jasmin: +"The crying needs of this winter have called forth a desire to help +the poor; but the means are sadly wanting. Our thoughts are necessarily +directed to you. Will you come and help us?" Jasmin at once complied. He +was entertained by the prefect. + +After several successful recitations, a considerable sum of money was +collected for the relief of the poor of Carcassonne. To perpetuate the +recollection of Jasmin's noble work, and to popularise the genius of +the poet, the Prefect of the Aude arranged that Jasmin's poems should +be distributed amongst all the schools of his department, and for this +purpose a portion of the surplus funds was placed at the disposal of the +Council-general. + +Bordeaux next appealed to the poet. He had a strong love for Bordeaux. +It was the place where he had first recited his Blind Girl, where he had +first attracted public attention, and where he was always admired and +always feted. The Orphan Institution of the city was in difficulties; +its funds were quite exhausted; and who should be invited to come to +their help but their old friend Jasmin? He was again enthusiastically +received. The Franklin Rooms were crowded, and money flowed quickly into +the orphans' treasury. Among the poems he recited was the following:-- + +THE SHEPHERD AND THE GASCON POET.{1} + +Aux Bordelais, au jour de ma grande Seance au Casino. + + In a far land, I know not where, + Ere viol's sigh; or organ's swell, + Had made the sons of song aware + That music! is a potent spell: + A shepherd to a city came, + Play'd on his pipe, and rose to fame. + He sang of fields, and at each close, + Applause from ready hands arose. + + The simple swain was hail'd and crown'd, + In mansions where the great reside, + And cheering smiles and praise he found, + And in his heart rose honest pride. + All seem'd with joy and rapture gleaming, + He trembled lest he was but dreaming. + + But, modest still, his soul was moved; + Yet of his hamlet was his thought-- + Of friends at home, and her he loved, + When back his laurel branch he brought. + And pleasure beaming in his eyes, + Enjoyed their welcome and surprise. + 'Twas thus with me when Bordeaux deigned + To listen to my rustic song: + Whose music praise and honour gain'd + More than to rural strains belong. + + Delighted, charm'd, I scarcely knew + Whence sprung this life so fresh and new, + And to my heart I whispered low, + When to my fields returned again, + "Is not the Gascon Poet now + As happy as the shepherd swain?" + + The minstrel never can forget, + The spot where first success he met; + But he, the shepherd who, of yore, + Has charm'd so many a list'ing ear, + Came back, and was beloved no more. + He found all changed and cold and drear + A skilful hand had touch'd the flute; + His pipe and he were scorn'd--were mute. + + But I, once more I dared appear, + And found old friends so true and dear. + The mem'ry of my ancient lays + Lived in their hearts, awoke their praise. + Oh! they did more. I was their guest; + Again was welcomed and caress't, + And, twined with their melodious tongue, + Again my rustic carol rung; + And my old language proudly found + Her words had list'ners pressing round. + Thus, though condemn'd the shepherd's skill, + The Gascon Poet triumph'd still. + +At the end of the recital a pretty little orphan girl came forward and +presented Jasmin with a laurel adorned with a ruby, with these words in +golden letters, + +"To Jasmin, with the orphans' gratitude." Jasmin finally descended from +the rostrum and mixed with the audience, who pressed round him and +embraced him. The result was the collection of more than a thousand +francs for the orphans' fund. + +No matter what the institution was, or where it was situated, if it +was in difficulties, and Jasmin was appealed to, provided it commended +itself to his judgment, he went far and near to give his help. A priest +at a remote place in Perigord had for some time endeavoured to found an +agricultural colony for the benefit of the labourers, and at last wrote +to Jasmin for assistance. The work had been patronised by most of the +wealthy people of the province; but the colony did not prosper. There +remained no one to help them but the noble barber of Agen. Without +appealing any more to the rich for further aid, the priest applied to +Jasmin through a mutual friend, one of the promoters of the undertaking, +who explained to him the nature of the enterprise. The following was +Jasmin's answer:-- + +"MY DEAR SIR,--I have already heard of the Pious Work of the curate of +Vedey, and shall be most happy to give him my services for one or two +evenings, though I regret that I must necessarily defer my visit until +after the month of February next. In May I have promised to go twice +to the help of the Albigenses, in aid of their hospital and the poor +of Alba. I start to-morrow for Cahors, to help in a work equally +benevolent, begun long ago. I am engaged for the month of August for +Foix and Bagneres de Luchon, in behalf of a church and an agricultural +society. All my spare time, you will observe, is occupied; and though I +may be tired out by my journeys, I will endeavour to rally my forces and +do all that I can for you. Tell the curate of Vedey, therefore, that as +his labour has been of long continuance, my Muse will be happy to help +his philanthropic work during one or two evenings at Perigueux, in the +month of March next. + +"Yours faithfully, + +"J. JASMIN." + +In due time Jasmin fulfilled his promise, and a considerable sum was +collected in aid of the agricultural colony, which, to his great +joy, was eventually established and prospered. On another and a very +different occasion the Society of Arts and Literature appealed to him. +Their object was to establish a fund for the assistance of the poorer +members of their craft--something like the Royal Literary Fund of +London. The letter addressed to him was signed by Baron Taylor, +Ingres, Ambroise Thomas, Auber, Meyerbeer, Adolphe Adam, Jules Simon, +Zimmermann, Halevy, and others. It seemed extraordinary that men of such +distinction in art and literature should appeal to a man of such humble +condition, living at so remote a place as Agen. + +"We ask your help," they said, "for our work, which has only been begun, +and is waiting for assistance. We desire to have the encouragement and +powerful support of men of heart and intelligence. Do not be surprised, +sir, that we address this demand to you. We have not yet appealed to +the part of France in which you live; but we repose our hopes in your +admirable talent, inspired as it is with Christian charity, which has +already given birth to many benefactions, for the help of churches, +schools, and charitable institutions, and has spread amongst your +compatriots the idea of relieving the poor and necessitous." Incited +by these illustrious men, Jasmin at once took the field, and by his +exertions did much towards the foundation of the proposed institution. + +The strength of his constitution seemed to be inexhaustible. On +one occasion he went as far as Marseilles. He worked, he walked, he +travelled, he recited almost without end. Though he sometimes complained +of being over-tired, he rallied, and went on as before. At Marseilles, +for instance, he got up early in the morning, and at 8 A.M. he was +present at a private council in a school. At 11 he presided at a meeting +of the Society of Saint Francis Xavier, where he recited several of +his poems before two thousand persons. At 2 o'clock he was present at +a banquet given in his honour. In the evening he had another triumphant +reception. In the morning he spoke of country, religion, and work to the +humbler classes, and in the evening he spoke of love and charity to +a crowded audience of distinguished ladies. He was entertained at +Marseilles like a prince, rather than like a poet. + +He sometimes gave as many as three hundred recitations of this sort in +a year; visiting nearly every town from Bordeaux to Marseilles for all +kinds of charitable institutions. Of course his travels were enlivened +by many adventures, and some people were unwilling to allow him to +forget that he was a barber. When at Auch, a town several miles to the +south of Agen, he resided with the mayor. The time for the meeting +had nearly arrived; but the mayor was still busy with his toilet. The +prefect of Gers was also waiting. Fearing the impatience of his guests, +the mayor opened the door of his chamber to apologise, showing his face +covered with lather. + +"Just a moment," he said; "I am just finishing my shaving." + +"Oh," said Jasmin, "why did you not perform your toilet sooner? But now +let me help you." Jasmin at once doffed his coat, gave the finishing +touch to his razor, and shaved the mayor in a twinkling, with what +he called his "hand of velvet." In a few minutes after, Jasmin was +receiving tumultuous applause for his splendid recitations. + +Thus, as time was pressing, it was a pleasure to Jasmin to make himself +useful to his friend the mayor. But on another occasion he treated +a rich snob in the way he deserved. Jasmin had been reciting for the +benefit of the poor. At the conclusion of the meeting, the young people +of the town improvised a procession of flambeaux and triumphantly +escorted him to his hotel. + +Early next morning, while Jasmin was still asleep, he was awakened by +some one knocking at his chamber door. He rose, opened it, and found +himself in presence of one of the most opulent persons of the town. +There are vulgar people everywhere, and this person had more wealth than +courtesy. Like Jasmin, he was a man of the people; but he had neither +the grace nor the politeness of the Gascon barber. He was but a parvenu, +and his riches had only produced an accumulation of snobbishness. He +pushed into the room, installed himself without invitation in a chair, +and, without further ceremony, proceeded:-- + +"My dear Jasmin," he said, "I am a banker--a millionaire, as you know; I +wish you to shave me with your own hand. Please set to work at once, for +I am pressed for time. You can ask what you like for your trouble." + +"Pardon me, sir," said Jasmin, with some pride, "I only shave for pay at +home." + +"What do you say?" + +"It is true, sir; I only shave for pay at home." + +"Come, come--you are jesting! I cannot be put off. Make your charge as +much as you like--but shave me." + +"Again I say, sir, it is impossible." + +"How impossible? It seems to me that it is your trade!" + +"It is so; but at this moment I am not disposed to exercise it." + +The banker again pleaded; Jasmin was firm; and the millionaire went away +unshaved! + +During one of his recitations at Toulouse, he was introduced to Mdlle. +Roaldes, a young and beautiful lady, with whose father, a thriving +stockbroker, he stayed while in that city. His house was magnificent +and splendidly furnished. Many persons of influence were invited to meet +Jasmin, and, while there, he was entertained with much hospitality. But, +as often happens with stockbrokers, M. Roaldes star fell; he suffered +many losses, and at length became poor and almost destitute. + +One day, while Jasmin was sharpening his razors in his shop in Agen, who +should appear but Mdlle. Therese Roaldes, sad and dejected. It was +the same young lady who had charmed him, not only by her intellectual +converse, but by her admirable musical ability. She had sung brilliantly +at the entertainment given at her father's house, and now she came +to lay her case before the Agenaise barber! She told her whole story, +ending with the present destitution of her father--formerly the rich +stockbroker. + +"What can we do now?" asked Jasmin; "something must be done at once." + +Mdlle. Roaldes judged rightly of the generous heart of Jasmin. He was +instantly ready and willing to help her. They might not restore her +father's fortunes, but they might rescue him from the poverty and +humiliations in which his sudden reverse of fortune had involved him. +The young lady had only her voice and her harp, but Jasmin had his +"Curl-papers." Mdlle. Roaldes was beautiful; could her beauty have +influenced Jasmin? For beauty has a wonderful power in the world. +But goodness is far better, and it was that and her filial love which +principally influenced Jasmin in now offering her his assistance. + +The two made their first appearance at Agen. They gave their performance +in the theatre, which was crowded, The name of Mdlle. Roaldes excited +the greatest sympathy, for the misfortunes of her father were well known +in the South. For this beautiful girl to descend from her brilliant home +in Toulouse to the boards of a theatre at Agen, was a sad blow, but her +courage bore her up, and she excited the sympathetic applause of the +audience. In the midst of the general enthusiasm, Jasmin addressed the +charming lady in some lines which he had prepared for the occasion. +Holding in his hand a bouquet of flowers, he said-- + + "Oh well they bloom for you! Mothers and daughters, + Throw flowers to her, though moistened with your tears. + + These flowers receive them, for + They bear the incense of our hearts. + + Daughter of heaven, oh, sing! your name shines bright, + The earth applauds, and God will bless you ever." + +At the conclusion of his poem, Jasmin threw his wreath of flowers to +the young lady, and in an instant she was covered with flowers by +the audience. Mdlle. Roaldes was deeply moved. She had faced a public +audience for the first time; she had been received with applause, and +from that moment she felt confidence in her performances as well as in +her labour of love. + +The poet, with the singer and harpist, made a tour in the southern +provinces, and the two muses, poetry and music, went from town to town, +enlivening and enlightening the way. Every heart praised the poet for +giving his services to his young and beautiful friend. They applauded +also the lovely woman who made her harp-chords vibrate with her +minstrel's music. The pair went to Montauban, Albi, Toulouse, and Nimes; +they were welcomed at Avignon, the city of Petrarch and the Popes. +Marseilles forgot for a time her harbour and her ships, and listened +with rapture to the musician and the poet. + +At Marseilles Jasmin felt himself quite at home. In the intervals +between the concerts and recitals, he made many new friends, as well as +visited many old ones. His gay and genial humour, his lively sallies, +his brilliant recitals, brought him friends from every circle. M. Merv, +in a political effusion, welcomed the Gascon poet. He was invited to +a fete of l'Athenee-Ouvier (the Workman's Athenaeum); after several +speeches, Jasmin rose and responded: + +"I am proud," he said, "of finding myself among the members of this +society, and of being welcomed by men who are doubly my brethren--by the +labour of the hands and by the labour of the head. You have moved me and +astonished me, and I have incurred to l'Athenee-Ouvier a poetical debt +which my muse can only repay with the most tender recollections." + +Many pleasant letters passed between Jasmin and Mdlle. de Roaldes. The +lady entertained the liveliest gratitude to the poet, who had helped her +so nobly in her misfortunes. On the morning after her first successful +appearance at Agen, she addressed to him a letter full of praise and +thankfulness. She ended it thus: "Most amiable poet, I adore your heart, +and I do homage to your genius." In a future letter she confessed that +the rays of the sun were not less welcome than the rays of his genius, +and that her music would have been comparatively worthless but for his +poetry. + +Towards the end of their joint entertainment she again wrote to him: +"You have become, my dear poet, my shower of gold, my heaven-sent manna, +while you continue your devotion to my personal interests.... As a poet, +I give you all the glory; as a friend, I owe you the affection of my +filial heart, the hopes of a better time, and the consolation of my +future days... Let it be remembered that this good deed on your part +is due to your heart and will. May it protect you during your life, and +make you blest in the life which is to come!" + +While at Nimes, the two poet-artisans met--Reboul the baker and Jasmin +the barber. Reboul, who attended the music-recitation, went up to Jasmin +and cordially embraced him, amidst the enthusiastic cheers of three +thousand people. Jasmin afterwards visited Reboul at his bakery, where +they had a pleasant interview with respect to the patois of Provence and +Gascony. At the same time it must be observed that Reboul did not write +in patois, but in classical French. + +Reboul had published a volume of poems which attracted the notice and +praise of Lamartine and Alexandre Dumas. Perhaps the finest poem in the +volume is entitled The Angel and Child. Reboul had lost his wife and +child; he sorrowed greatly at their death, and this poem was the result. +The idea is simple and beautiful. An angel, noticing a lovely child in +its cradle, and deeming it too pure for earth, bears its spirit away to +Heaven. The poem has been admirably translated by Longfellow. + +Dumas, in 'Pictures of Travel in the South of France,' relates an +interview with the baker-poet of Nimes. + +"What made you a poet?" asked Dumas. + +"It was sorrow," replied Reboul--"the loss of a beloved wife and child. +I was in great grief; I sought solitude, and, finding no one who could +understand me, poured forth my grief to the Almighty." + +"Yes," said Dumas, "I now comprehend your feelings. It is thus that +true poets become illustrious. How many men of talent only want a great +misfortune to become men of genius! You have told me in a word the +secret of your life; I know it now as well as you do." And yet Jasmin, +the contemporary of Reboul, had written all his poetry without a sorrow, +and amidst praise and joyfulness. + +Chateaubriand, when in the South of France, called upon Reboul. The +baker met him at the door. + +"Are you M. Reboul?" inquired the author of 'The Martyrs.' + +"Which, sir--the baker or the poet?" + +"The poet, of course." + +"Then the poet cannot be seen until mid-day. At present the baker is +working at the oven." + +Chateaubriand accordingly retired, but returned at the time appointed, +and had a long and interesting conversation with Reboul. + +While at Montpellier Jasmin received two letters from Madame Lafarge, +then in prison. The circumstances connected with her case were much +discussed in the journals of the time. She had married at seventeen a M. +Lafarge, and found after her marriage that he had deceived her as to his +property. Ill-feeling arose between the unhappy pair, and eventually she +was tried for poisoning her husband. She was condemned with extenuating +circumstances, and imprisoned at Montpellier in 1839. She declared that +she was innocent of the crime imputed to her, and Jasmin's faith in the +virtue of womanhood led him to believe her. Her letters to Jasmin were +touching. + +"Many pens," she said, "have celebrated your genius; let mine touch your +heart! Oh, yes, sir, you are good, noble, and generous! I preserve every +word of yours as a dear consolation; I guard each of your promises as a +holy hope. Voltaire has saved Calas. Sing for me, sir, and I will bless +your memory to the day of my death. I am innocent!... For eight long +years I have suffered; and I am still suffering from the stain upon my +honour. I grieve for a sight of the sun, but I still love life. Sing for +me." + +She again wrote to Jasmin, endeavouring to excite his interest by her +appreciation of his poems. + +"The spirit of your work," she said, "vibrates through me in every form. +What a pearl of eulogy is Maltro! What a great work is L'Abuglo! In the +first of these poems you reach the sublime of love without touching a +single chord of passion. What purity, and at the same time what ease and +tenderness! It is not only the fever of the heart; it is life itself, +its religion, its virtue. This poor innuocento does not live to love; +she loves to live.... Her love diffuses itself like a perfume--like the +scent of a flower.... In writing Maltro your muse becomes virgin and +Christian; and to dictate L'Abuglo is a crown of flowers, violets +mingled with roses, like Tibullus, Anacreon, and Horace." + +And again: "Poet, be happy; sing in the language of your mother, of your +infancy, of your loves, your sorrows. The Gascon songs, revived by you, +can never be forgotten. Poet, be happy! The language which you love, +France will learn to admire and read, and your brother-poets will learn +to imitate you.... Spirit speaks to spirit; genius speaks to the heart. +Sing, poet, sing! Envy jeers in vain; your Muse is French; better +still, it is Christian, and the laurel at the end of your course has two +crowns--one for the forehead of the poet and the other for the heart of +the man. Grand actions bring glory; good deeds bring happiness." + +Although Jasmin wrote an interesting letter to Madame Lafarge, he did +not venture to sing or recite for her relief from prison. She died +before him, in 1852. + + +Endnotes for Chapter XIV. + +{1} We adopt the translation of Miss Costello. + + + +CHAPTER XV. JASMIN'S VINEYARD--'MARTHA THE INNOCENT.' + +Agen, with its narrow and crooked streets, is not altogether a pleasant +town, excepting, perhaps, the beautiful promenade of the Gravier, where +Jasmin lived. Yet the neighbourhood of Agen is exceedingly picturesque, +especially the wooded crags of the Hermitage and the pretty villas near +the convent of the Carmelites. From these lofty sites a splendid view +of the neighbouring country is to be seen along the windings of the +Garonne, and far off, towards the south, to the snowy peaks of the +Pyrenees. + +Down beneath the Hermitage and the crags a road winds up the valley +towards Verona, once the home of the famous Scaligers.{1} Near this +place Jasmin bought a little vineyard, and established his Tivoli. +In this pretty spot his muse found pure air, liberty, and privacy. +He called the place--like his volume of poems--his "Papillote," his +"Curlpaper." Here, for nearly thirty years, he spent some of his +pleasantest hours, in exercise, in reflection, and in composition. +In commemoration of his occupation of the site, he composed his Ma +Bigno--'My Vineyard'--one of the most simple and graceful of his poems. + +Jasmin dedicated Ma Bigno to Madame Louis Veill, of Paris. He told +her of his purchase of Papillote, a piece of ground which he had long +desired to have, and which he had now been able to buy with the money +gained by the sale of his poems. + +He proceeds to describe the place: + +"In this tiny little vineyard," he says, "my only chamber is a grotto. +Nine cherry trees: such is my wood! I have six rows of vines, between +which I walk and meditate. The peaches are mine; the hazel nuts are +mine! I have two elms, and two fountains. I am indeed rich! You may +laugh, perhaps, at my happiness. But I wish you to know that I love the +earth and the sky. It is a living picture, sparkling in the sunshine. +Come," he said, "and pluck my peaches from the branches; put them +between your lovely teeth, whiter than the snow. Press them: from +the skin to the almond they melt in the mouth--it is honey!" He next +describes what he sees and hears from his grotto: the beautiful flowers, +the fruit glowing in the sun, the luscious peaches, the notes of the +woodlark, the zug-zug of the nightingale, the superb beauty of the +heavens. "They all sing love, and love is always new." + +He compares Paris, with its grand ladies and its grand opera, with his +vineyard and his nightingales. "Paris," he says, "has fine flowers and +lawns, but she is too much of the grande dame. She is unhappy, sleepy. +Here, a thousand hamlets laugh by the river's side. Our skies laugh; +everything is happy; everything lives. From the month of May, when our +joyous summer arrives, for six months the heavens resound with music. A +thousand nightingales sing all the night through.... Your grand opera is +silent, while our concert is in its fullest strain." + +The poem ends with a confession on the part of the poet of sundry +pilferings committed by himself in the same place when a boy--of +apple-trees broken, hedges forced, and vine-ladders scaled, winding up +with the words: + +"Madame, you see I turn towards the past without a blush; will you? +What I have robbed I return, and return with usury. I have no door to my +vineyard; only two thorns bar its threshold. When, through a hole I see +the noses of marauders, instead of arming myself with a cane, I turn and +go away, so that they may come back. He who robbed when he was young, +may in his old age allow himself to be robbed too." A most amicable +sentiment, sure to be popular amongst the rising generation of Agen. + +Ma Bigno is written in graceful and felicitous verse. We have +endeavoured to give a translation in the appendix; but the rendering of +such a work into English is extremely difficult. The soul will be found +wanting; for much of the elegance of the poem consists in the choice of +the words. M. de Mazade, editor of the Revue des Deux Mondes, said of +Ma Bigno that it was one of Jasmin's best works, and that the style and +sentiments were equally satisfactory to the poetical mind and taste. + +M. Rodiere, of Toulouse, in his brief memoir of Jasmin,{2} says that +"it might be thought that so great a work as Franconnette would have +exhausted the poet. When the aloe flowers, it rests for nearly a hundred +years before it blooms again. But Jasmin had an inexhaustible well of +poetry in his soul. Never in fact was he more prolific than in the two +years which followed the publication of Franconnette. Poetry seemed to +flow from him like a fountain, and it came in various forms. His poems +have no rules and little rhythm, except those which the genius of +the poet chooses to give them; but there is always the most beautiful +poetry, perfectly evident by its divine light and its inspired accents." + +Jasmin, however, did not compose with the rapidity described by his +reviewer. He could not throw off a poem at one or many sittings; +though he could write an impromptu with ready facility. When he had +an elaborate work in hand, such as The Blind Girl of Castel-Cuille, +Franconnette, or Martha the Innocent, he meditated long over it, and +elaborated it with conscientious care. He arranged the plan in his mind, +and waited for the best words and expressions in which to elaborate +his stanzas, so as most clearly to explain his true meaning. Thus +Franconnette cost him two years' labour. Although he wrote of peasants +in peasants' language, he took care to avoid everything gross or +vulgar. Not even the most classical poet could have displayed inborn +politeness--la politesse du coeur--in a higher degree. At the same time, +while he expressed passion in many forms, it was always with delicacy, +truth, and beauty. + +Notwithstanding his constant philanthropic journeys, he beguiled his +time with the germs of some forthcoming poem, ready to be elaborated on +his return to Agen and his vineyard. + +His second volume of poems was published in 1842, and in a few months it +reached its third edition. About 20,000 copies of his poems had by this +time been issued. The sale of these made him comparatively easy in his +circumstances; and it was mainly by their profits that he was enabled to +buy his little vineyard near Verona. + +It may also be mentioned that Jasmin received a further increase of his +means from the Government of Louis Philippe. Many of his friends in the +South of France were of opinion that his philanthropic labours should +be publicly recognised. While Jasmin had made numerous gifts to the poor +from the collections made at his recitations; while he had helped to +build schools, orphanages, asylums, and even churches, it was thought +that some recompense should be awarded to him by the State for his +self-sacrificing labours. + +In 1843 the Duchess of Orleans had a golden medal struck in his honour; +and M. Dumon, when presenting it to Jasmin, announced that the Minister +of Instruction had inscribed his name amongst the men of letters whose +works the Government was desirous of encouraging; and that consequently +a pension had been awarded to him of 1,000 francs per annum. This +welcome news was shortly after confirmed by the Minister of Instruction +himself. "I am happy," said M. Villemain, "to bear witness to the merit +of your writings, and the originality of your poetry, as well as to the +loyalty of your sentiments." + +The minister was not, however, satisfied with conferring this favour. +It was ordered that Jasmin should be made a Chevalier of the Legion of +Honour, at the same time that Balzac, Frederick Soulie, and Alfred +de Musset, were advanced to the same role of honour. The minister, in +conveying the insignia to Jasmin, said: + +"Your actions are equal to your works; you build churches; you succour +indigence; you are a powerful benefactor; and your muse is the sister of +Charity." + +These unexpected honours made no difference in the poet's daily life. +He shaved and curled hair as before. He lived in the same humble shop +on the Gravier. He was not in the least puffed up. His additional +income merely enabled him to defray his expenses while on his charitable +journeys on behalf of his poorer neighbours. He had no desire to be +rich; and he was now more than comfortable in his position of life. + +When the news arrived at Agen that Jasmin had been made a Chevalier of +the Legion of Honour, his salon was crowded with sympathetic admirers. +In the evening, a serenade was performed before his door on the Gravier +by the Philharmonic Society of Agen. Indeed, the whole town was filled +with joy at the acknowledged celebrity of their poet. A few years later +Pope Pius IX. conferred upon Jasmin the honour of Chevalier of the Order +of St. Gregory the Great. The insignia of the Order was handed to the +poet by Monseigneur de Vezins, Bishop of Agen, in Sept. 1850. Who could +have thought that the barber-poet would have been so honoured by his +King, and by the Head of his Church? + +Jasmin's next important poem, after the production of Franconnette was +Martha the Innocent.--{In Gascon, Maltro l'Innoucento; French, Marthe la +Folle}. It is like The Blind Girl, a touching story of disappointment in +love. Martha was an orphan living at Laffitte, on the banks of the Lot. +She was betrothed to a young fellow, but the conscription forbade their +union. The conscript was sent to the wars of the first Napoleon, which +were then raging. The orphan sold her little cottage in the hope of +buying him off, or providing him with a substitute. But it was all in +vain. He was compelled to follow his regiment. She was a good and pious +girl, beloved by all. She was also beautiful,--tall, fair, and handsome, +with eyes of blue--"the blue of heaven," according to Jasmin: + + "With grace so fine, and air so sweet, + She was a lady amongst peasants." + +The war came to an end for a time. The soldier was discharged, and +returned home. + +Martha went out to meet him; but alas! like many other fickle men, +he had met and married another. It was his wife who accompanied him +homewards. Martha could not bear the terrible calamity of her blighted +love. She became crazy--almost an idiot. + +She ran away from her home at Laffitte, and wandered about the country. +Jasmin, when a boy, had often seen the crazy woman wandering about the +streets of Agen with a basket on her arm, begging for bread. Even in +her rags she had the remains of beauty. The children ran after her, and +cried, "Martha, a soldier!" then she ran off, and concealed herself. + +Like other children of his age Jasmin teased her; and now, after more +than thirty years, he proposed to atone for his childish folly by +converting her sad story into a still sadder poem. Martha the Innocent +is a charming poem, full of grace, harmony, and beauty. Jasmin often +recited it, and drew tears from many eyes. In the introduction he +related his own part in her history. "It all came back upon him," he +said," and now he recited the story of this martyr of love."{3} + +After the completion of Martha, new triumphs awaited Jasmin in the South +of France. In 1846 he again went to Toulouse on a labour of love. He +recited his new poem in the Room of the Illustrious at the Capitol. A +brilliant assembly was present. Flowers perfumed the air. The entire +audience rose and applauded the poet. The ladies smiled and wept by +turns. Jasmin seemed to possess an electric influence. His clear, +harmonious, and flexible voice, gave emphasis by its rich sympathetic +tones to the artistic elements of his story. + +The man who thus evoked such rapture from his audience was not arrayed +in gorgeous costume. He was a little dark-eyed man of the working class, +clothed in a quiet suit of black. + +At the close of the recitation, the assembly, ravished with his +performance, threw him a wreath of flowers and laurels--more modest, +though not less precious than the golden branch which they had +previously conferred upon him. Jasmin thanked them most heartily for +their welcome. "My Muse," he said, "with its glorious branch of gold, +little dreamt of gleaning anything more from Toulouse; but Toulouse has +again invited me to this day's festival, and I feel more happy than a +king, because my poem is enthroned in the midst of the Capitol. Your +hands have applauded me throughout, and you have concluded by throwing +this crown of flowers at my feet." + +It was then resolved to invite Jasmin to a banquet. Forty ladies, the +cream of Toulousian society, organised the proceedings, and the banquet +was given at the palace of M. de Narbonne. At the end of the proceedings +a young lady stepped forward, and placed upon the poet's head a crown of +immortelles and violets joined together by a ribbon with golden threads, +on which was inscribed in letters of gold, "Your thoughts are immortal!" +Was not this enough to turn any poor poet's head? The ladies clapped +their hands. What could Jasmin say? "It is enough," he said "to make +angels jealous!" The dinner ended with a toast to the author of Martha, +who still wore the crown upon his brow. + +It is impossible to describe the enthusiasm with which the poet was +received all through the South. At Dax, the ladies, for want of crowns +of laurels to cover him, tore the flowers and feathers from their +bonnets, and threw them at his feet. In another town the ladies rose +and invaded the platform where Jasmin stood; they plucked from his +button-hole the ribbon of the Legion of Honour, and divided it amongst +them, as a precious relic of their glorious poet. + +He was received at Gers and Condon with equal enthusiasm. At Condon he +charmed his audience with his recitations for about five hours. Frenzies +of applause greeted him. He was invited to a banquet, where he received +the usual praises. When the banquet was over, and Jasmin escaped, he was +met in the street by crowds of people, who wished to grasp him by the +hand. He recited to them in the open air his poem of charity. They +compared Jasmin to O'Connell; but the barber of Agen, by the power which +he exercised for the good of the people, proved himself more than equal +to the greatest of agitators. + +Sainte-Beuve quotes with keen enjoyment{4} the bantering letter which +Jasmin sent to Peyrottes, a Provencal poet, who challenged him to a +poetical combat. It was while he was making one of his charitable +tours through Languedoc, that Jasmin received the following letter (24 +December, 1847):-- + +"SIR,--I dare, in my temerity, which may look like hardihood, to propose +to you a challenge. Will you have the goodness to accept it? In the +Middle Ages, the Troubadours did not disdain such a challenge as that +which, in my audacity, I now propose to you. + +"I will place myself at your disposal at Montpellier on any day and at +any hour that may be most convenient to you. We shall name four persons +of literary standing to give us three subjects with which we are to deal +for twenty-four hours. We shall be shut up together. Sentries will stand +at the door. Only our provisions shall pass through. + +"A son of Herault, I will support the honour and the glory of my +country! And as in such circumstances, a good object is indispensable, +the three subjects given must be printed and sold for the benefit of the +Creche of Montpellier." Peyrotte ended his letter with a postscript, +in which he said that he would circulate his challenge among the most +eminent persons in Montpellier. + +Jasmin answered this letter as follows:-- + +"SIR,--I did not receive your poetical challenge until the day before +yesterday, on the point of my departure for home; but I must tell you +that, though I have received it, I cannot accept it. + +"Do you really propose to my muse, which aims at free air and liberty, +to shut myself up in a close room, guarded by sentinels, who could only +allow provisions to enter, and there to treat of three given subjects in +twenty-four hours! Three subjects in twenty-four hours! You frighten me, +sir, for the peril in which you place my muse. + +"I must inform you, in all humility, that I often cannot compose more +than two or three lines a day. My five poems, L'Aveugle, Mes Souvenirs, +Franconnette, Martha the Innocent, and Les Deux Jumeaux, have cost me +ten years' work, and they only contain in all but 2,400 verses!... I +cannot write poetry by command. I cannot be a prisoner while I compose. +Therefore I decline to enter the lists with you. + +"The courser who drags his chariot with difficulty, albeit he may +arrive at the goal, cannot contend with the fiery locomotive of the +iron railway. The art which produces verses one by one, depends upon +inspiration, not upon manufacture. Therefore my muse declares itself +vanquished in advance; and I authorise you to publish my refusal of your +challenge." + +In a postscript, Jasmin added: "Now that you have made the acquaintance +of my Muse, I will, in a few words, introduce you to the man. I love +glory, but the success of others never troubles my sleep at night!" + +"When one finds," says Sainte-Beuve, "this theory of work pushed to such +a degree by Jasmin, with whom the spark of inspiration seems always so +prompt and natural, what a sad return we have of the poetical wealth +dissipated by the poets of our day." Sainte-Beuve summed up his praise +of the Gascon poet by insisting that he was invariably sober in his +tone. + +"I have learned," said Jasmin of himself, "that in moments of heat +and emotion we may be eloquent or laconic, alike in speech and +action--unconscious poets, in fact; but I have also learned that it is +possible for a poet to become all this voluntarily by dint of patient +toil and conscientious labour!" + +Jasmin was not the man to rest upon his laurels. Shortly after his visit +to Paris in 1842, he began to compose his Martha the Innocent, which +we have already briefly described. Two years later he composed Les Deux +Freres Jumeaux--a story of paternal and motherly affection. This was +followed by his Ma Bigno ('My Vineyard'), and La Semaine d'un Fils ('The +Week's Work of a Son'), which a foot-note tells us is historical, the +event having recently occurred in the neighbourhood of Agen. + +A short description may be given of this affecting story. The poem is +divided into three parts. In the first, a young boy and his sister, Abel +and Jeanne, are described as kneeling before a cross in the moonlight, +praying to the Virgin to cure their father. "Mother of God, Virgin +compassionate, send down thine Angel and cure our sick father. Our +mother will then be happy, and we, Blessed Virgin, will love and praise +thee for ever." + +The Virgin hears their prayer, and the father is cured. A woman opens +the door of a neighbouring house and exclaims joyously, "Poor little +ones, death has departed. The poison of the fever is counteracted, and +your father's life is saved. Come, little lambs, and pray to God with +me." They all three kneel and pray by the side of the good father +Hilaire, formerly a brave soldier, but now a mason's labourer. This ends +the first part. + +The second begins with a description of morning. The sun shines through +the glass of the casement mended with paper, yet the morning rays are +bright and glorious. Little Abel glides into his father's room. He is +told that he must go to the house of his preceptor to-day, for he must +learn to read and write. Abel is "more pretty than strong;" he is to +be an homme de lettres, as his little arms would fail him if he were to +handle the rough stones of his father's trade. Father and son embraced +each other. + +For a few days all goes well, but on the fourth, a Sunday, a command +comes from the master mason that if Hilaire does not return to his work +to-morrow, his place shall be given to another. This news spreads dismay +and consternation among them all. Hilaire declares that he is cured, +tries to rise from his bed, but falls prostrate through weakness. It +will take a week yet to re-establish his health. + +The soul of little Abel is stirred. He dries his tears and assumes the +air of a man; he feels some strength in his little arms. He goes out, +and proceeds to the house of the master mason. When he returns, he is no +longer sorrowful: "honey was in his mouth, and his eyes were smiling." He +said, "My father, rest yourself: gain strength and courage; you have the +whole week before you. Then you may labour. Some one who loves you will +do your work, and you shall still keep your place." Thus ends the second +part. + +The third begins: "Behold our little Abel, who no longer toils at the +school-desk, but in the workshop. In the evenings he becomes again a +petit monsieur; and, the better to deceive his father, speaks of books, +papers, and writings, and with a wink replies to the inquiring look of +his mother (et d'un clin d'oeil repond aux clins des yeux de sa mere). +Four days pass thus. On the fifth, Friday, Hilaire, now cured, leaves +his house at mid-day. But fatal Friday, God has made thee for sorrow!" + +The father goes to the place where the masons are at work. Though the +hour for luncheon has not arrived, yet no one is seen on the platforms +above; and O bon Dieu! what a crowd of people is seen at the foot of +the building! Master, workmen, neighbours--all are there, in haste and +tumult. A workman has fallen from the scaffold. It is poor little Abel. +Hilaire pressed forward to see his beloved boy lie bleeding on the +ground! Abel is dying, but before he expires, he whispers, "Master, I +have not been able to finish the work, but for my poor mother's sake do +not dismiss my father because there is one day short!" The boy died, and +was carried home by his sorrowful parent. The place was preserved for +Hilaire, and his wages were even doubled. But it was too late. One +morning death closed his eyelids; and the good father went to take +another place in the tomb by the side of his son. + +Jasmin dedicated this poem to Lamartine, who answered his dedication as +follows:-- + +"Paris, 28th April, 1849. + +"My dear brother,--I am proud to read my name in the language which you +have made classic; more proud still of the beautiful verses in which +you embalm the recollection of our three months of struggle with +the demagogues against our true republic. Poets entertain living +presentiments of posterity. I accept your omen. Your poem has made +us weep. You are the only epic writer of our time, the sensible and +pathetic Homer of the people (proletaires). + +"Others sing, but you feel. I have seen your son, who has three times +sheltered me with his bayonet--in March and April. He appears to me +worthy of your name.--LAMARTINE." + +Besides the above poems, Jasmin composed Le Pretre sans Eglise (The +Priest without a Church), which forms the subject of the next chapter. +These poems, with other songs and impromptus, were published in 1851, +forming the third volume of his Papillotos. + +After Jasmin had completed his masterpieces, he again devoted himself to +the cause of charity. Before, he had merely walked; now he soared aloft. +What he accomplished will be ascertained in the following pages. + + +Endnotes for Chapter XV. + +{1} The elder Scaliger had been banished from Verona, settled near Agen, +and gave the villa its name. The tomb of the Scaliger family in Verona +is one of the finest mausoleums ever erected. + +{2} Journal de Toulouse, 4th July, 1840. + +{3} In the preface to the poem, which was published in 1845, the editor +observes:--"This little drama begins in 1798, at Laffitte, a pretty +market-town on the banks of the Lot, near Clairac, and ends in 1802. +When Martha became an idiot, she ran away from the town to which she +belonged, and went to Agen. When seen in the streets of that town she +became an object of commiseration to many, but the children pursued +her, calling out, 'Martha, a soldier!' Sometimes she disappeared for two +weeks at a time, and the people would then observe, 'Martha has hidden +herself; she must now be very hungry!' More than once Jasmin, in his +childhood, pursued Martha with the usual cry of 'A soldier.' He little +thought that at a future time he should make some compensation for his +sarcasms, by writing the touching poem of Martha the Innocent; but this +merely revealed the goodness of his heart and his exquisite sensibility. +Martha died at Agen in 1834." + +{4} 'Causeries du Lundi,' iv. 241, edit. 1852. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. THE PRIEST WITHOUT A CHURCH. + +The Abbe Masson, priest of Vergt in Perigord, found the church in which +he officiated so decayed and crumbling, that he was obliged to close +it. It had long been in a ruinous condition. The walls were cracked, +and pieces of plaster and even brick fell down upon the heads of the +congregation; and for their sake as well as for his own, the Abbe Masson +was obliged to discontinue the services. At length he resolved to pull +down the ruined building, and erect another church in its place. + +Vergt is not a town of any considerable importance. It contains the +ruins of a fortress built by the English while this part of France was +in their possession. At a later period a bloody battle was fought in the +neighbourhood between the Catholics and the Huguenots. Indeed, the whole +of the South of France was for a long period disturbed by the civil +war which raged between these sections of Christians. Though both Roman +Catholics and Protestants still exist at Vergt, they now live together +in peace and harmony. + +Vergt is the chief town of the Canton, and contains about 1800 +inhabitants. It is a small but picturesque town, the buildings being +half concealed by foliage and chestnut trees. Not far off, by the river +Candou, the scenery reminds one of the wooded valley at Bolton Priory in +Yorkshire. + +Though the Abbe Masson was a man of power and vigour, he found it very +difficult to obtain funds from the inhabitants of the town for +the purpose of rebuilding his church. There were no Ecclesiastical +Commissioners to whom he could appeal, and the people of the +neighbourhood were too limited in their circumstances to help him to any +large extent. + +However, he said to himself, "Heaven helps those who help themselves;" +or rather, according to the Southern proverb, Qui trabaillo, Thion li +baillo--"Who is diligent, God helps." The priest began his work with +much zeal. He collected what he could in Vergt and the neighbourhood, +and set the builders to work. He hoped that Providence would help him in +collecting the rest of the building fund. + +But the rebuilding of a church is a formidable affair; and perhaps +the priest, not being a man of business, did not count the cost of +the undertaking. He may have "counted his chickens before they were +hatched." Before long the priest's funds again ran short. He had begun +the rebuilding in 1840; the work went on for about a year; but in 1841 +the builders had to stop their operations, as the Abbe Masson's funds +were entirely exhausted. + +What was he to do now? He suddenly remembered the barber of Agen, who +was always willing to give his friendly help. He had established +Mdlle. Roaldes as a musician a few years before; he had helped to build +schools, orphanages, asylums, and such like. But he had never helped to +build a church. Would he now help him to rebuild the church of Vergt? + +The Abbe did not know Jasmin personally, but he went over to Agen, and +through a relative, made his acquaintance. Thus the Abbe and the poet +came together. After the priest had made an explanation of his position, +and of his difficulties in obtaining money for the rebuilding of the +church of Vergt, Jasmin at once complied with the request that he would +come over and help him. They arranged for a circuit of visits throughout +the district--the priest with his address, and Jasmin with his poems. + +Jasmin set out for Vergt in January 1843. He was received at the border +of the Canton by a numerous and brilliant escort of cavalry, which +accompanied him to the presbytery. He remained there for two days, +conferring with the Abbe. Then the two set out together for Perigueux, +the chief city of the province, accompanied on their departure by the +members of the Municipal Council and the leading men of the town. + +The first meeting was held in the theatre of Perigueux, which was +crowded from floor to ceiling, and many remained outside who could not +obtain admission. The Mayor and Municipal Councillors were present to +welcome and introduce the poet. On this occasion, Jasmin recited for +the first time, "The Ruined Church" (in Gascon: La Gleyzo Descapelado) +composed in one of his happiest moments. Jasmin compared himself to +Amphion, the sweet singer of Greece, who by his musical powers, enabled +a city to be built; and now the poet invoked the citizens of Perigueux +to enable the Abbe Masson to rebuild his church. His poem was received +with enthusiasm, and almost with tears of joy at the pleading of Jasmin. +There was a shower of silver and gold. The priest was overjoyed at the +popularity of his colleague, and also at his purse, which was filled +with offerings. + +While at Perigueux the poet and the priest enjoyed the hospitality of M. +August Dupont, to whom Jasmin, in thanks, dedicated a piece of poetry. +Other entertainments followed--matinees and soirees. Jasmin recited some +of his poems before the professors and students at the college, and at +other places of public instruction. Then came banquets--aristocratic and +popular--and, as usual, a banquet of the hair-dressers. There was quite +an ovation in the city while he remained there. + +But other calls awaited Jasmin. He received deputations from many of the +towns in the department soliciting his appearance, and the recitation of +his poems. He had to portion out his time with care, and to arrange the +programme of his visits. When the two pilgrims started on their journey, +they were frequently interrupted by crowds of people, who would not +allow Jasmin to pass without reciting some of his poetry. Jasmin +and Masson travelled by the post-office car--the cheapest of all +conveyances--but at Montignac they were stopped by a crowd of people, +and Jasmin had to undergo the same process. Free and hearty, he was +always willing to comply with their requests. That day the postman +arrived at his destination three hours after his appointed time. + +It was in the month of February, when darkness comes on so quickly, that +Jasmin informed the magistrates of Sarlat, whither he was bound, that he +would be there by five o'clock. But they waited, and waited for him +and the priest at the entrance to the town, attended by the clergy, the +sub-prefect, the town councillors, and a crowd of people. It was a cold +and dreary night. Still no Jasmin! They waited for three long hours. At +last Jasmin appeared on the post-office car. "There he comes at last!" +was the general cry. His arrival was greeted with enthusiastic cheers. +It was now quite dark. The poet and the priest entered Sarlat in +triumph, amidst the glare of torches and the joyful shouts of the +multitude. Then came the priest's address, Jasmin's recitations, and the +final collection of offerings. + +It is unnecessary to repeat the scenes, however impressive, which +occurred during the journey of the poet and the priest. There was the +same amount of enthusiasm at Nontron, Bergerac, and the other towns +which they visited. At Nontron, M. A. de Calvimont, the sub-prefect, +welcomed Jasmin with the following lines: + + "To Jasmin, our grand poet, + The painter of humanity; + For him, elect of heaven, life is a fete + Ending in immortality." + +Jasmin replied to this with some impromptu lines, 'To Poetry,' dedicated +to the sub-prefect. At Bergerac he wrote his Adieu to Perigord, in which +he conveyed his thanks to the inhabitants of the department for the +kindness with which they had received him and his companion. This, their +first journey through Perigord, was brought to a close at the end of +February, 1843. + +The result of this brilliant journey was very successful. The purse of +the Abbe was now sufficiently well filled to enable him to proceed +with the rebuilding of the church of Vergt; and the work was so well +advanced, that by the 23rd of the following month of July it was ready +for consecration. A solemn ceremony then took place. Six bishops, +including an archbishop, and three hundred priests were present, with +more than fifteen thousand people of all ranks and conditions of life. +Never had such a ceremony been seen before--at least in so small a town. + +The Cardinal Gousset, Archbishop of Rheims, after consecrating +the church, turned to Jasmin, and said: "Poet, we cannot avoid the +recognition of your self-sacrificing labours in the rebuilding of this +church; and we shall be happy if you will consent to say a few words +before we part." + +"Monseigneur," replied Jasmin, "can you believe that my muse has +laboured for fifteen days and fifteen nights, that I should interrupt +this day of the fete? Vergt keeps fete to-day for religion, but not for +poetry, though it welcomes and loves it. The church has six pontiffs; +the poet is only a subdeacon; but if I must sing my hymn officially, it +must be elsewhere." + +The Archbishop--a man of intelligence who understood the feelings of +poets--promised, at the collation which followed the consecration, to +give Jasmin the opportunity of reciting the verses which he had composed +for the occasion. The poem was entitled 'A Priest without a Church' +(in Gascon: Lou Preste sans Glegzo) dedicated to M. Masson, the Cure of +Vergt. In his verses the poet described the influence of a noble church +upon the imagination as well as the religion of the people. But he said +nothing of his own labours in collecting the necessary funds for the +rebuilding of the church. The recitation of the poem was received with +enthusiasm. + +Monseigneur Bertaud, who preached in the afternoon on the "Infinity +of God," touchingly referred to the poems of Jasmin, and developed the +subject so happily referred to by the poet. + +"Such examples as his," he said, "such delicate and generous sentiments +mingled together, elevate poetry and show its noble origin, so that we +cannot listen to him without the gravest emotion."{1} + +It was a great day for Vergt, and also a great day for the poet. The +consecration of the church amidst so large an assemblage of clergy and +people occasioned great excitement in the South. It was noised abroad in +the public journals, and even in the foreign press. Jasmin's fame became +greater than ever; and his barber's shop at Agen became, as it were, a +shrine, where pilgrims, passing through the district, stopped to visit +him and praise his almost divine efforts to help the cause of religion +and civilisation. + +The local enthusiasm was not, however, without its drawbacks. The +success of the curate of Vergt occasioned a good deal of jealousy. Why +should he be patronised by Jasmin, and have his purse filled by his +recitations, when there were so many other churches to be built and +repaired, so many hospitals and schools to found and maintain, so many +orphanages to assist, so many poor to relieve, so many good works to be +done? Why should not Jasmin, who could coin money with words which cost +him nothing, come to the help of the needy and afflicted in the various +districts throughout the South? + +Thus Jasmin was constantly assailed by deputations. He must leave his +razors and his curling-tongs, and go here, there, and everywhere to +raise money by his recitations. + +The members of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul were, as usual, full +of many charitable designs. There had been a fire, a flood, an epidemic, +a severe winter, a failure of crops, which had thrown hundreds of +families into poverty and misery; and Jasmin must come immediately to +their succour. "Come, Jasmin! Come quick, quick!" He was always willing +to give his assistance; but it was a terrible strain upon his mental as +well as his physical powers. + +In all seasons, at all hours, in cold, in heat, in wind, in rain, he +hastened to give his recitations--sometimes of more than two hours' +duration, and often twice or thrice in the same day. He hastened, for +fear lest the poor should receive their food and firing too late. + +What a picture! Had Jasmin lived in the time of St. Vincent de Paul, +the saint would have embraced him a thousand times, and rejoiced to +see himself in one way surpassed; for in pleading for the poor, he also +helped the rich by celebrating the great deeds of their ancestors, as +he did at Beziers, Riquet, Albi, Lafeyrouse, and other places. The +spectacle which he presented was so extraordinary, that all France was +struck with admiration at the qualities of this noble barber of Agen. + +On one occasion Jasmin was requested by a curate to come to his help and +reconcile him with his parishioners. Jasmin succeeded in performing the +miracle. It happened that in 1846 the curate of Saint-Leger, near +Penne, in the Tarn, had caused a ball-room to be closed. This gave great +offence to the young people, who desired the ball-room to be opened, +that they might have their fill of dancing. They left his church, +and declared that they would have nothing further to do with him. To +reconcile the malcontents, the curate promised to let them hear Jasmin. +accordingly, one Sunday afternoon the inhabitants of four parishes +assembled in a beautiful wood to listen to Jasmin. He recited his +Charity and some other of his serious poems. When he had finished, +the young people of Saint-Leger embraced first the poet, and then the +curate. The reconciliation was complete. + +To return to the church at Vergt. Jasmin was a poet, not an architect. +The Abbe Masson knew nothing about stone or mortar. He was merely +anxious to have his church rebuilt and consecrated as soon as possible. +That had been done in 1843. But in the course of a few years it was +found that the church had been very badly built. The lime was bad, and +the carpentry was bad. The consequence was, that the main walls of +the church bulged out, and the shoddy building had to be supported by +outside abutments. In course of time it became clear that the work, for +the most part, had to be done over again. + +In 1847 the Abbe again appealed to Jasmin. This new task was more +difficult than the first, for it was necessary to appeal to a larger +circle of contributors; not confining themselves to Perigord only, but +taking a wider range throughout the South of France. The priest made +the necessary arrangements for the joint tour. They would first take +the northern districts--Angouleme, Limoges, Tulle, and Brives--and then +proceed towards the south. + +The pair started at the beginning of May, and began their usual +recitations and addresses, such as had been given during the first +journey in Perigord. They were received with the usual enthusiasm. +Prefects, bishops, and municipal bodies, vied with each other in +receiving and entertaining them. At Angouleme, the queen of southern +cities, Jasmin was presented with a crown of immortelles and a +snuff-box, on which was engraved: "Esteem--Love--Admiration! To Jasmin, +the most sublime of poets! From the youth of Angouleme, who have had the +happiness of seeing and hearing him!" + +The poet and priest travelled by night as well as by day in order to +economise time. After their tour in the northern towns and cities, they +returned to Vergt for rest. They entered the town under a triumphal +arch, and were escorted by a numerous cavalcade. Before they retired to +the priest's house, the leading men of the commune, in the name of +the citizens, complimented Jasmin for his cordial help towards the +rebuilding of the church. + +After two days of needful rest Jasmin set out for Bordeaux, the city +whose inhabitants had first encouraged him by their applause, and for +which he continued to entertain a cordial feeling to the last days of +his life. His mission on this occasion was to assist in the inauguration +of a creche, founded and supported by the charitable contributions +of the friends of poor children. It is not necessary to mention the +enthusiasm with which he was received. + +The further progress of the poet and the priest, in search of +contributions for rebuilding the church, was rudely interrupted by the +Revolution which broke out at Paris in 1848. His Majesty Louis Philippe +abdicated the throne of France on the 24th of February, rather than +come into armed collision with his subjects; and, two days after, the +Republic was officially proclaimed at the Hotel de Ville. Louis Philippe +and his family took refuge in England--the usual retreat of persecuted +Frenchmen; and nine months later, Louis Napoleon Buonaparte, who had +also been a refugee in England, returned to France, and on the 20th of +December was proclaimed President of the French Republic. + +Jasmin and Masson accordingly suspended their tour. No one would listen +to poetical recitations in the midst of political revolutions. Freedom +and tranquillity were necessary for the contemplation of ideas very +different from local and national squabbles. The poet and priest +accordingly bade adieu to each other; and it was not until two years +later that they were able to recommence their united journeys through +the South of France. The proclamation of the Republic, and the forth +coming elections, brought many new men to the front. Even poets made +their appearance. Lamartine, who had been a deputy, was a leader in +the Revolution, and for a time was minister for foreign affairs. Victor +Hugo, a still greater poet, took a special interest in the politics +of the time, though he was fined and imprisoned for condemning capital +punishment. Even Reboul, the poet-baker of Nimes, deserted his muse and +his kneading trough to solicit the suffrages of his fellow-citizens. +Jasmin was wiser. He was more popular in his neighbourhood than Reboul, +though he cared little about politics. He would neither be a deputy, +nor a municipal councillor, nor an agent for elections. He preferred +to influence his country by spreading the seeds of domestic and social +virtues; and he was satisfied with his position in Agen as poet and +hair-dresser. + +Nevertheless a deputation of his townsmen waited upon Jasmin to request +him to allow his name to appear as a candidate for their suffrages. +The delegates did not find him at his shop. He was at his vineyard; and +there the deputation found him tranquilly seated under a cherry-tree +shelling peas! He listened to them with his usual courtesy, and when one +of the committee pressed him for an answer, and wished to know if he +was not a good Republican, he said, "Really, I care nothing for the +Republic. I am one of those who would have saved the constitutional +monarchy by enabling it to carry out further reforms.... But," +he continued, "look to the past; was it not a loss to destroy the +constitutional monarchy? But now we must march forward, that we may all +be united again under the same flag. The welfare of France should reign +in all our thoughts and evoke our most ardent sympathy. Choose among our +citizens a strong and wise man... If the Republic is to live in France, +it must be great, strong, and good for all classes of the people. +Maintaining the predominance of the law will be its security; and in +preserving law it will strengthen our liberties.'" + +In conclusion, Jasmin cordially thanked his fellow-citizens for the +honour they proposed to confer upon him, although he could not +accept it. The affairs of the State, he said, were in a very confused +condition, and he could not pretend to unravel them. He then took leave +of the deputation, and quietly proceeded to complete his task--the +shelling of his peas! + + +Endnotes for Chapter XVI. + +{1} The whole of the interview between the Archbishop of Rheims and +Jasmin is given by Sainte-Beuve in 'Causeries du Lundi,' iv. 250. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. THE CHURCH OF VERGT AGAIN--FRENCH ACADEMY--EMPEROR AND +EMPRESS. + +When the political turmoils in France had for a time subsided, Jasmin +and the Abbe Masson recommenced their journeys in the South for the +collection of funds for the church at Vergt. They had already made +two pilgrimages--the first through Perigord, the second to Angouleme, +Limoges, Tulle, and Brives. The third was begun early in 1850, and +included the department of the Landes, the higher and lower Pyrenees, +and other districts in the South of France. + +At Bagneres de Bigorre and at Bagneres de Luchon the receipts were +divided between the church at Vergt and that at Luchon. The public +hospitals and the benevolent societies frequently shared in the +receipts. There seemed to be no limits to the poet's zeal in labouring +for those who were in want of funds. Independent of his recitations for +the benefit of the church at Vergt, he often turned aside to one place +or another where the poor were in the greatest need of assistance. + +On one occasion he went to Arcachon. He started early in the morning by +the steamer from Agen to Bordeaux, intending to proceed by railway (a +five hours' journey) from Bordeaux to Arcachon. But the steamers on +the Garonne were then very irregular, and Jasmin did not reach Bordeaux +until six hours later than the appointed time. In the meanwhile a +large assembly had met in the largest room in Arcachon. They waited and +waited; but no Jasmin! The Abbe Masson became embarrassed; but at length +he gave his address, and the receipts were 800 francs. The meeting +dispersed very much disappointed, because no Jasmin had appeared, and +they missed his recitations. At midnight the cure returned to Bordeaux +and there he found Jasmin, just arrived from Agen by the boat, which had +been six hours late. He was in great dismay; but he afterwards made up +for the disappointment by reciting to the people of Arcachon. + +The same thing happened at Biarritz. A large assembly had met, and +everything was ready for Jasmin. But there was no Jasmin! The omnibus +from Bayonne did not bring him. It turned out, that at the moment of +setting out he was seized with a sudden loss of voice. As in the case of +Arcachon, the cure had to do without him. The result of his address was +a collection of 700 francs. + +The Abbe Masson was a liberal-minded man. When Jasmin urged him to help +others more needy than himself, he was always ready to comply with his +request. When at Narbonne, in the department of Aude, a poor troupe of +comedians found themselves in difficulties. It was winter-time, and the +weather was very cold. The public could not bear their canvas-covered +shed, and deserted the entertainment. Meanwhile the artistes were +famished. Knowing the generosity of Jasmin, they asked him to recite at +one of their representations. He complied with their request; the place +was crowded; and Jasmin's recitations were received with the usual +enthusiasm. It had been arranged that half the proceeds should go to +the church at Vergt, and the other half to the comedians. But when the +entire troupe presented themselves to the Abbe and offered him the +full half, he said: "No! no! keep it all. You want it more than I do. +Besides, I can always fall back upon my dear poet!" + +A fourth pilgrimage of the priest and poet was afterwards made to the +towns of Rodez, Villefranche-d'aveyron, Cahors, Figeac, Gourdon, and +Sarlat; and the proceeds of these excursions, added to a subvention +of 5,000 francs from the Government, enabled the church of Vergt to +be completed. In 1852 the steeple was built, and appropriately named +"Jasmin's Bell-tower" (Clocher Jasmin). But it was still without bells, +for which a subsequent pilgrimage was made by Jasmin and Masson. + +To return to the honours paid to Jasmin for his works of benevolence +and charity. What was worth more to him than the numerous golden laurels +which had been bestowed upon him, was his recognition by the highest +and noblest of institutions, the Academy of France. Although one of +the objects of its members was to preserve the French language in its +highest purity they were found ready to crown a poet who wrote his poems +in the patois of the South. + +There were, however, several adverse criticisms on the proposed decision +of the Academy; though poetry may be written in every tongue, and is +quite independent of the language or patois in which it is conveyed. +Indeed; several members of the Academy--such as MM. Thiers, De Remusat, +Viennet, and Flourens--came from the meridional districts of France, +and thoroughly understood the language of Jasmin. They saw in him two +men--the poet, and the benefactor of humanity. + +This consideration completely overruled the criticisms of the minority. +Jasmin had once before appeared at M. Thierry's before the best men +of the Academy; and now the whole of the Academy, notwithstanding his +patois, approached and honoured the man of good deeds. + +Jasmin owed to M. Villemain one of the most brilliant panegyrics which +he had ever received. The Academy desired to award a special prize in +accordance with the testamentary bequest of M. de Montyon{1}--his last +debt to art and morality; a talent that employs itself in doing good +under a form the most brilliant and popular. This talent, he continued, +is that of the true poet; and Jasmin, during his pure and modest life, +has employed his art for the benefit of morality with a noble, helpful +influence, while nothing detracted from the dignity of his name. + +Like the Scottish poet Burns, Jasmin had by his dialect and his poetical +talents enriched the literature of his country. Jasmin, the hair-dresser +of Agen, the poet of the South, who drew crowds to hear the sound of +his voice--who even embellished the festivals of the rich, but who +still more assisted in the pleasures of the poor--who spent his time +in endowing charitable establishments--who helped to build churches, +schools, and orphanages--Jasmin, the glory of his Commune as well as of +the South of France, deserved to be adopted by all France and publicly +acknowledged by the Academy. + +Tacitus has said that renown is not always deserved, it chooses its +due time--Non semper errat fama, aliquando eligit ("Fame is not always +mistaken; she sometimes chooses the right"). We have proof of it to-day. +The enthusiastic approbation of the great provinces of France for a +popular poet cannot be a surprise. They single out the last, and I may +add, the greatest poet of the Troubadours! + +M. Villemain proceeded to comment upon the poetical works of +Jasmin--especially his Blind Girl of Castel-Cuille, his Franconnette, +and the noble works he had done for the poor and the suffering; his +self-sacrificing labours for the building of schools, orphanages, and +churches. "Everywhere," he said, "his elevated and generous soul has +laboured for the benefit of the world about him; and now he would, by +the aid of the Academy, embellish his coronet with a privileged donation +to the poet and philanthropist." He concluded by saying that the +especial prize for literary morality and virtuous actions would be +awarded to him, and that a gold medal would be struck in his honour with +the inscription: "Au Jasmin, Poete moral et populaire!" + +M. Ancelo communicated to Jasmin the decision of the Academy. "I have +great pleasure," he said, "in transmitting to you the genuine sympathy, +the sincere admiration, and the unanimous esteem, which your name and +your works have evoked at this meeting of the Academy. The legitimate +applause which you everywhere receive in your beautiful country finds +its echo on this side of the Loire; and if the spontaneous adoption of +you by the French Academy adds nothing to your glory, it will at least +serve to enhance our own." + +The prize unanimously awarded to Jasmin on the 19th of August, 1852, was +3000 francs, which was made up to 5000 by the number of copies of the +"Papillotos" purchased by the Academy for distribution amongst the +members. Jasmin devoted part of the money to repairing his little +house on the Gravier: and the rest was ready for his future charitable +missions. + +On receiving the intimation of the prizes awarded to him, he made +another journey to Paris to pay his respects to his devoted friends of +the Academy. He was received with welcome by the most eminent persons +in the metropolis. He was feted as usual. At the salon of the Marquis +de Barthelemy he met the Duc de Levis, the Duc des Cars, MM. Berryer, +de Salvandy, de Vatismenil, Hyde de Neuville, and other distinguished +noblemen and gentlemen. Monsigneur Sibour, Archbishop of Paris, was +desirous of seeing and hearing this remarkable poet of the South. +The Archbishop invited him to his palace for the purpose of hearing a +recitation of his poems; and there he met the Pope's Nuncio, several +bishops, and the principal members of the Parisian clergy. After the +recitation, the Archbishop presented Jasmin with a golden branch with +this device: "To Jasmin! the greatest of the Troubadours, past, present, +or to come." + +The chief authors of Paris, the journalists, and the artists, had a +special meeting in honour of Jasmin. A banquet was organised by the +journalists of the Deux Mondes, at the instance of Meissonier, Lireux, +Lalandelle, C. Reynaud, L. Pichat, and others. M. Jules Janin presided, +and complimented Jasmin in the name of the Parisian press. The people +of Agen, resident in Paris, also gave him a banquet, at which Jasmin +recited a poem composed for the occasion. + +One of his evenings was spent at the house of Madame la Marquise +de Barthelemy. An interesting account of the soiree is given by a +correspondent of Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, who was present on +the occasion.{2} The salons of Madame la Marquise were filled to +overflowing. Many of the old nobility of France were present. + +"It was a St. Germain's night," as she herself expressed it. +High-sounding names were there--much intellect and beauty; all were +assembled to do honour to the coiffeur from the banks of the Garonne. +France honours intellect, no matter to what class of society it belongs: +it is an affectionate kind of social democracy. Indeed, among many +virtues in French society, none is so delightful, none so cheering, +none so mutually improving, and none more Christian, than the kindly +intercourse, almost the equality, of all ranks of society, and the +comparatively small importance attached to wealth or condition, wherever +there is intellect and power. + +At half-past nine. Jasmin made his appearance--a short, stout, +dark-haired man, with large bright eyes, and a mobile animated face, his +button-hole decorated with the red ribbon of the Legion of Honour. He +made his way through the richly attired ladies sparkling with jewels, to +a small table at the upper end of the salon, whereon were books, his +own "Curl-papers," two candles, a carafe of fresh water, and a vase of +flowers. + +The ladies arranged themselves in a series of brilliant semicircles +before him. The men blocked up the doorway, peering over each other's +shoulders. Jasmin waved his hand like the leader of an orchestra, and +a general silence sealed all the fresh noisy lips. One haughty little +brunette, not long emancipated from her convent, giggled audibly; but +Jasmin's eye transfixed her, and the poor child sat thereafter rebuked +and dumb. The hero of the evening again waved his hands, tossed back his +hair, struck an attitude, and began his poem. The first he recited was +"The Priest without a Church" (Le Preste sans gleyzo). He pleaded for +the church as if it were about to be built. He clasped his hands, looked +up to heaven, and tears were in his eyes. Some sought for the silver +and gold in their purses; but no collection was made, as the church had +already been built, and was free of debt. + +After an interval, he recited La Semaine d'un Fils; and he recited +it very beautifully. There were some men who wept; and many women who +exclaimed, "Charmant! Tout-a-fait charmant!" but who did not weep. +Jasmin next recited Ma Bigno, which has been already described. The +contributor to Chambers's Journal proceeds: "It was all very amusing to +a proud, stiff, reserved Britisher like myself, to see how grey-headed +men with stars and ribbons could cry at Jasmin's reading; and how +Jasmin, himself a man, could sob and wipe his eyes, and weep so +violently, and display such excessive emotion. This surpassed my +understanding--probably clouded by the chill atmosphere of the fogs, +in which every Frenchman believes we live.... After the recitations had +concluded, Jasmin's social ovation began. Ladies surrounded him, and +men admired him. A ring was presented, and a pretty speech spoken by a +pretty mouth, accompanied the presentation; and the man of the people +was flattered out of all proportion by the brave, haughty old noblesse. + +"To do Jasmin justice, although naturally enough spoiled by the absurd +amount of adulation he has met with, he has not been made cold-hearted +or worldly. He is vain, but true and loyal to his class. He does not +seek to disguise or belie his profession. In fact, he always dwells upon +his past more or less, and never misses an opportunity of reminding his +audience that he is but a plebeian, after all. + +"He wears a white apron, and shaves and frizzes hair to this day, when +at Agen; and though a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, member of +Academies and Institutes without number, feted, praised, flattered +beyond anything we can imagine in England, crowned by the king and the +then heir to the throne with gilt and silver crowns, decked with flowers +and oak-leaves, and all conceivable species of coronets, he does not ape +the gentleman, but clips, curls, and chatters as simply as heretofore, +and as professionally. There is no little merit in this steady +attachment to his native place, and no little good sense in this +adherence to his old profession... It is far manlier and nobler than +that weak form of vanity shown in a slavish imitation of the great, and +a cowardly shame of one's native condition. + +"Without going so far as his eulogistic admirers in the press, yet we +honour in him a true poet, and a true man, brave, affectionate, mobile, +loving, whose very faults are all amiable, and whose vanity takes the +form of nature. And if we of the cold North can scarcely comprehend the +childish passionateness and emotional unreserve of the more sensitive +South, at least we can profoundly respect the good common to us all +the good which lies underneath that many-coloured robe of manners which +changes with every hamlet; the good which speaks from heart to heart, +and quickens the pulses of the blood; the good which binds us all as +brothers, and makes but one family of universal man; and this good we +lovingly recognise in Jasmin; and while rallying him for his foibles, +respectfully love him for his virtues, and tender him a hand of sympathy +and admiration as a fine; poet, a good citizen, and a true-hearted man." + +Before leaving Paris it was necessary for Jasmin to acknowledge his +gratitude to the French Academy. The members had done him much honour +by the gold medal and the handsome donation they had awarded him. On the +24th of August, 1852, he addressed the Forty of the Academy in a poem +which he entitled 'Langue Francaise, Langue Gasconne,' or, as he styled +it in Gascon, 'Lengo Gascouno, Lengo Francezo.' In this poem, which was +decorated with the most fragrant flowers of poetry with which he could +clothe his words, Jasmin endeavoured to disclose the characteristics of +the two languages. At the beginning, he said: + +"O my birth-place, what a concert delights my ear! Nightingales, sing +aloud; bees, hum together; Garonne, make music on your pure and laughing +stream; the elms of Gravier, tower above me; not for glory, but for +gladness."{3} + +After the recitation of the poem, M. Laurentie said that it abounded +in patriotic sentiments and fine appreciation, to say nothing of the +charming style of the falling strophes, at intervals, in their sonorous +and lyrical refrain. M. Villemain added his acclamation. "In truth," +said he, "once more our Academy is indebted to Jasmin!" The poet, though +delighted by these ovations, declared that it was he who was indebted +to the members of the Academy, not they to him. M. de Salvandy reassured +him: "Do not trouble yourself, Jasmin; you have accomplished everything +we could have wished; you have given us ten for one, and still we are +your debtors." + +After Jasmin had paid his compliments to the French Academy, he was +about to set out for Agen--being fatigued and almost broken down by his +numerous entertainments in Paris--when he was invited by General Fleury +to visit the President of the French Republic at Saint-Cloud. This +interview did not please him so much as the gracious reception which he +had received in the same palace some years before from Louis Philippe +and the Duchess of Orleans; yet Jasmin was a man who respected the +law, and as France had elected Louis Napoleon as President, he was not +unwilling to render him his homage. + +Jasmin had already seen the President when passing through Agen a few +years before, on his visit to Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Toulon; but they +had no personal interview. M. Edmond Texier, however, visited Jasmin, +and asked him whether he had not composed a hymn for the fete of the +day. No! he had composed nothing; yet he had voted for Louis Napoleon, +believing him to be the saviour of France. "But," said M. Texier, +"if the Prince appeals to you, you will eulogise him in a poem?" +"Certainly," replied Jasmin, "and this is what I would say: 'Sir, in the +name of our country, restore to us our noble friend M. Baze. He was your +adversary, but he is now conquered, disarmed, and most unhappy. Restore +him to his mother, now eighty years old; to his weeping family; and +to all his household, who deplore his absence; restore him also to our +townsmen, who love and honour him, and bear no hostility towards the +President, His recall will be an admirable political act, and will give +our country more happiness that the highest act of benevolence.'" + +This conversation between Jasmin and Texier immediately appeared in the +columns of the Siecle, accompanied with a stirring sympathetic article +by the editor. It may be mentioned that M. Baze was one of Jasmin's +best friends. He had introduced the poet to the public, and written +the charming preface to the first volume of the 'Papillotos,' issued in +1835. M. Baze was an advocate of the Royal Court of Agen--a man of fine +character, and a true patriot. He was Mayor of Agen, commander of the +National Guard, and afterwards member of the Legislative Assembly and +the Senate. But he was opposed to Prince Louis Napoleon, and was one of +the authors of the motion entitled de Questeurs. He was arrested on the +night of the 2nd December, 1851, imprisoned for a month in the Mazas, +and then expelled from the territory of France. During his exile he +practised at Liege as an advocate. + +Jasmin again went to Paris in May 1853, and this time on his mission +of mercy. The editor of the Siecle announced his arrival. He was again +feted, and the salons rejoiced in his recitations. After a few days he +was invited to Saint-Cloud. Louis Napoleon was now Emperor of France, +and the Empress Eugenie sat by his side. The appearance of Jasmin was +welcomed, and he was soon made thoroughly at ease by the Emperor's +interesting conversation. A company had been assembled, and Jasmin was +requested to recite some of his poems. As usual, he evoked smiles and +tears by turns. When the audience were in one of their fits of weeping, +and Jasmin had finished his declamation, the Emperor exclaimed, "Why; +poet, this is a genuine display of handkerchiefs"--(Mais, poete, c'est +un veritable scene de mouchoirs). + +Jasmin seized this moment for revealing to the Emperor the desire which +he had long entertained, for recalling from exile his dear friend M. +Baze. He had prepared a charming piece of verse addressed to the Empress +Eugenie, requesting his return to France through the grand door of +honour. "Restore him to us," he said; "Agen cries aloud. The young +Empress, as good as beautiful, beloved of Heaven, will pray with her +sympathetic soul, and save two children and an unhappy mother--she, who +will be soon blessed as a happy mother herself."{4} Jasmin concluded +his poem with the following words in Gascon: Esperi! Lou angels nou se +troumpon jamay.' + +The result of this appeal to the Empress was that Jasmin's prayer was +immediately granted by the Emperor. M. Baze returned to France at once, +without any conditions whatever. The parents of the quondam exile wrote +to Jasmin thanking him most cordially for his exertions in their favour. +Four days after the soiree at Saint-Cloud, the Prefect of the +Indre-et-Loire, head of the Baze family, wrote to Jasmin, saying: "Your +muse is accustomed to triumphs; but this one ought to rejoice your +heart, and should yield you more honour than all the others. For my +part, I feel myself under the necessity of thanking you cordially for +your beautiful and noble action; and in saying so, I interpret the +sentiments of the whole family." Madame Baze addressed the Emperor in a +letter of grateful thanks, which she wrote at the dictation of Jasmin. +The Siecle also gave an account of Jasmin's interview with the Emperor +and Empress at Saint-Cloud, and the whole proceeding redounded to the +honour of the Gascon poet. + +Jasmin had been made Chevalier of the Legion of Honour at the same time +as Balzac, Frederick Soulie, and Alfred de Musset. The minister bore +witness to the worth of Jasmin, notwithstanding the rusticity of his +idiom; and he was classed amongst the men who did honour to French +literature. He was considered great, not only in his poems, but in his +benevolent works: "You build churches; you help indigence; you possess +the talent of a powerful benefactor; and your muse is the sister of +charity." + +When the news of the honours conferred upon Jasmin reached Agen, the +people were most sympathetic in their demonstrations. The shop of the +barber-poet was crowded with visitors, and when he himself reached the +town he was received with the greatest enthusiasm. The Philharmonic +Society again treated him to a serenade, and the whole town was full of +joy at the honour done to their beloved poet. + +To return to the church of Vergt, which was not yet entirely finished. +A bell-tower had been erected, but what was a bell-tower without bells? +There was a little tinkling affair which could scarcely be heard in +the church, still less in the neighbourhood. With his constant trust in +Providence, the Abbe did not hesitate to buy a clock and order two large +bells. The expense of both amounted to 7000 francs. How was this to be +paid? His funds were entirely exhausted. The priest first applied to the +inhabitants of Vergt, but they could not raise half the necessary funds. +There was Jasmin! He was the only person that could enable the Abbe to +defray his debt. + +Accordingly, another appeal was made to the public outside of Vergt. The +poet and the priest set out on their fifth and last pilgrimage; and +this time they went as far as Lyons--a city which Jasmin had never seen +before. There he found himself face to face with an immense audience, +who knew next to nothing of his Gascon patois. He was afraid of his +success; but unwilling to retreat, he resolved, he said, "to create +a squadron in reserve"; that is, after reciting some of the old +inspirations of his youth, to give them his Helene or 'Love and Poetry,' +in modern classical French. The result, we need scarcely say, was +eminently successful, and the Abbe; was doubly grateful in having added +so many more thousand francs to his purse. + +During this journey another priest, the Abbe Cabanel, united his forces +with those of Jasmin and Masson. This Abbe was curate of Port de +Sainte-Foi-la-Grande. He had endeavoured to erect in his parish a public +school under the charge of religious teachers. He now proposed to +partake of the profits of the recitations for the purpose of helping on +his project; and Jasmin and Masson willingly complied with his request. +They accordingly appeared at the town of Sainte-Foi, and the result was +another excellent collection. + +After visiting other towns, sufficient subscriptions were collected +to enable the Abbe to pay off his debts. The clock and bells were +christened by Monseigneur de Sangalerie, who had himself been a curate +of the parish of Vergt; and the bells were inscribed with the name of +JASMIN, the chief founder and rebuilder of the church. The bells were +the last addition to Jasmin's bell-tower, but the final result was +reached long after the beginning of the rebuilding of the church. + + +Endnotes for Chapter XVII. + +{1} The Baron de Montyon bequeathed a large sum to the Academie +Francaise, the Academie des Sciences, and the Faculte de Medecine, +for the purpose of being awarded in prizes to men of invention and +discovery, or for any literary work likely to be useful to society, +and to rewarding acts of virtue among the poor. Jasmin was certainly +entitled to a share in this benevolent fund. + +{2} Chambers' Edinburgh Journal, July, 1853 + +{3} The following are the Gascon words of this part of the poem: + + "O moun bres, d'un councer festejo moun aoureillo! + Rouseignol, canto fort! brounzino fort, Abeillo! + Garono, fay souna toun flot rizen et pur; + Des ourmes del Grabe floureji la cabeillo, + Non de glorio... mais de bounhur!" + +{4} The editor of Vol. IV. of Jasmins Poems (1863) gives this note: "In +this circumstance, Jasmin has realised the foresight which the ancients +afforded to their poets, of predicting, two years in advance, the birth +of the Prince Imperial." + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. JASMIN ENROLLED MAITRE-ES-JEUX AT TOULOUSE--CROWNED BY +AGEN. + +Shortly after the return of Jasmin from Paris, where he had the honour +of an interview with the Emperor and Empress, as well as with the +members of the French Academy, he was invited to Toulouse for the +purpose of being enrolled as Maitre-es-jeux in the Academy of Jeux +Floreaux. + +Toulouse is known as the city of Literary Fetes, and the reception of +Jasmin as Maitre-es-Jeux will long exist as a permanent record in +her annals. The Academy of Jeux Floreaux had no prize of 5000 frs. to +bestow, nor any crowns, nor any golden laurels. She hides her poverty +under her flowers, and although she would willingly have given all her +flowers to Jasmin, yet her rules prevented her. She called Jasmin to +her bosom, and gave him the heartiest of welcomes. But the honour was +there--the honour of being invited to join a brotherhood of illustrious +men. + +The title of Maitre-es-jeux is a rare distinction, awarded only to the +highest celebrities. The ceremony of installing Jasmin took place on the +6th of February, 1854. The great Salle des Illustres was crowded long +before he made his appearance, while the Place de Capitol was filled +with a vast number of his admirers. The archbishop, the prefect, the +mayor, the magistrates, and the principal citizens of Toulouse were +present, with the most beautiful women in the city. Many of the southern +bishops were present, having desired to enjoy the pleasure of assisting +at the ceremony. + +After an address of congratulation, Jasmin was enrolled amongst the +members, and presented with his diploma of Maitre-es-jeux. Though it was +only a piece of parchment, he considered it the rarest of distinctions. +It connected the poet, through five centuries, with the last of the +Troubadours, whose language he had so splendidly revived. Jasmin +valued his bit of parchment more highly than all the other gifts he had +received. In answer to his enrolment, he said: + +"I have now enough! I want no more! All things smile upon me. My muse +went proudly from the forty of Toulouse to the forty of Paris. She is +more than proud to-day, she is completely happy; for she sees my name, +which Isaure blessed, come from the forty of Paris to the forty of +Toulouse," + +After his enrolment, the poet-barber left the salon. A large crowd +had assembled in the court, under the peristyle, in the Place of the +Capitol. Every head was uncovered as he passed through their ranks, and +those who accompanied him to his lodging, called out, "Vive Jasmin! Vive +Jasmin!" Never had such a scene been witnessed before. + +Although Jasmin had declared to the Academy of Jeux Floreaux that he +wanted nothing more than the diploma they had given him, yet another +triumph was waiting him. The citizens of Agen capped all the previous +honours of the poet. They awarded him a crown of gold, which must have +been the greatest recompense of all. They had known him during almost +his entire life--the son of a humpbacked tailor and a crippled +mother, of poor but honest people, whose means had been helped by the +grandfather, Boe, who begged from door to door, the old man who closed +his eyes in the hospital, "where all the Jasmins die!" + +They had known him by his boyish tricks, his expulsion from the Academy, +his setting up as a barber, his happy marriage, and his laborious +progress, until the "shower of silver" came running into his shop. +"Pau de labouro, pau de salouro," No work, no bread. Though born in the +lowest condition of life, he had, by the help of his wife, and by his +own energy and perseverance, raised himself to the highest position as +a man of character. Before he reached the age of thirty {1} he began to +show evidences of his genius as a poet. + +But still more important were his works of charity, which endeared him +to the people through the South of France. It was right and reasonable +that his fellow-citizens should desire to take part in the honours +conferred upon their beloved poet. He had already experienced their +profound sympathy during his self-sacrificing work, but they now wished +to testify their public admiration, and to proclaim the fact by some +offering of intrinsic value. + +The Society of Saint-Vincent de Paul--whom he had so often helped in +their charitable labours--first started the idea. They knew what Jasmin +had done to found schools, orphanages, and creches. Indeed, this was +their own mission, and no one had laboured so willingly as he had done +to help them in their noble work. The idea, thus started by the society, +immediately attracted public attention, and was received with universal +approval. + +A committee was formed, consisting of De Bouy, mayor; H. Noubel, deputy; +Aunac, banker; Canon Deyche, arch-priest of the cathedral; Dufort, +imperial councillor; Guizot, receiver-general; Labat, advocate-general; +Maysonnade, president of the conference of Saint-Vincent de Paul; +Couturier, the engineer, and other gentlemen. A subscription was at once +opened and more than four thousand persons answered the appeal. + +When the subscriptions were collected, they were found so great in +amount, that the committee resolved to present Jasmin with a crown of +gold. Five hundred years before, Petrarch had been crowned at Rome in +the name of Italy, and now Jasmin was to be crowned at Agen, in the name +of Meridional France. To crown a man, who, during his lifetime had +been engaged in the trade of barber and hair-dresser, seemed something +extraordinary and unique. To the cold-blooded people of the North there +might appear something theatrical in such a demonstration, but it was +quite in keeping with the warm-hearted children of the South. + +The construction of the crown was entrusted to MM. Fannieres of Paris, +the best workers of gold in France. They put their best art and skill +into the crown. It consisted of two branches of laurel in dead gold, +large and knotted behind, like the crowns of the Caesars and the poets, +with a ruby, artistically arranged, containing the simple device: La +Ville d'Agen, a Jasmin! The pendants of the laurel, in dead silver, were +mixed with the foliage. The style of the work was severe and pure, and +the effect of the chef d'oeuvre was admirable. + +The public meeting, at which the golden crown was presented to Jasmin, +was held on the 27th of November, 1856, in the large hall of the Great +Seminary. Gilt banners were hung round the walls, containing the titles +of Jasmin's principal poems, while the platform was splendidly decorated +with emblems and festoons of flowers. Although the great hall was of +large dimensions, it could not contain half the number of people who +desired to be present on this grand occasion. + +An immense crowd assembled in the streets adjoining the seminary. + +Jasmin, on his arrival, was received with a triple salvo of applause +from the crowd without, and next from the assembly within. On the +platform were the members of the subscription committee, the prefect, +the Bishop of Agen, the chiefs of the local government, the general +in command of the district, and a large number of officers and +ecclesiastics. + +Jasmin, when taking his place on the platform saluted the audience with +one of his brilliant impromptus, and proceeded to recite some of his +favourite poems: Charity; The Doctor of the Poor; Town and Country; +and, The Week's Work of a Son. Then M. Noubel, in his double capacity +of deputy for the department, and member of the subscription committee, +addressed Jasmin in the following words: + +"Poet, I appear here in the name of the people of Agen, to offer you the +testimony of their admiration and profound sympathy. I ask you to accept +this crown! It is given you by a loving and hearty friend, in the +name of your native town of Agen, which your poetry has charmed, which +rejoices in your present success, and is proud of the glory of your +genius. Agen welcomed the first germs of your talent; she has seen it +growing, and increasing your fame; she has entered with you into +the palaces of kings; she has associated herself with your triumphs +throughout; now the hour of recognising your merits has arrived, and she +honours herself in crowning you. + +"But it is not merely the Poet whom we recognise to-day; you have a much +greater claim to our homage. In an age in which egoism and the eager +thirst for riches prevails, you have, in the noble work which you have +performed, displayed the virtues of benevolence and self-sacrifice. You +yourself have put them into practice. Ardent in the work of charity, you +have gone wherever misery and poverty had to be relieved, and all that +you yourself have received was merely the blessings of the unfortunate. +Each of your days has been celebrated for its good works, and your whole +life has been a hymn to benevolence and charity. + +"Accept, then, Jasmin, this crown! Great poet, good citizen, you have +nobly earned it! Give it an honoured place in that glorious museum of +yours, which the towns and cities of the South have enriched by their +gifts. May it remain there in testimony of your poetical triumphs, and +attest the welcome recognition of your merits by your fellow-citizens. + +"For myself, I cannot but be proud of the mission which has been +entrusted to me. I only owe it, I know, to the position of deputy in +which you have placed me by popular election. I am proud, nevertheless, +of having the honour of crowning you, and I shall ever regard this event +as the most glorious recollection of my life." + +After this address, during which M. Noubel was greatly moved, he +took the crown of gold and placed it on the head of the poet. It is +impossible to describe the enthusiasm of the meeting at this supreme +moment. The people were almost beside themselves. Their exclamations of +sympathy and applause were almost frantic. Jasmin wept with happiness. +After the emotion hard subsided, with his eyes full of tears, he recited +his piece of poetry entitled: The Crown of my Birthplace.{2} + +In this poem, Jasmin took occasion to recite the state of poverty in +which he was born, yet with the star of poetry in his breast; his dear +mother, and her anxieties about his education and up-bringing; his +growth; his first efforts in poetical composition, and his final +triumph; and at last his crown of gold conferred upon him by the people +of Agen--the crown of his birthplace. + + "I feel that if my birthplace crowns me, + In place of singing. . . I should weep!" + +After Jasmin had recited his touching poem, he affectionately took leave +of his friends, and the assembly dispersed. + + +Endnotes to Chapter XVIII. + +{1} There is a Gascon proverb which says: + + "Qu'a vingt ans nouns po, + Qu'a trent ans noun sa, + Qu'a cranto noun er, + Qu'a cincanto se paouso pa, + Sabe pa que pot esper." + +"Who at twenty does nothing; Who at thirty knows nothing; + Who at forty has nothing; + Who at fifty changes nothing: + For him there is no hope." + +{2} Perhaps this might be better rendered "The Crown of my Infancy;" in +Gascon, "La Courouno del Bres." + + + +CHAPTER XIX. LAST POEMS--MORE MISSIONS OF CHARITY. + +This was the last occasion on which Jasmin publicly appeared before his +fellow-townsmen; and it could not perhaps have been more fitting and +appropriate. He still went on composing poetry; amongst other pieces, +La Vierge, dedicated to the Bishop of Algiers, who acknowledged it in a +complimentary letter. In his sixty-second year, when his hair had become +white, he composed some New Recollections (Mous Noubels Soubenis), in +which he again recalled the memories of his youth. In his new Souvenirs +he only gives a few fresh stories relating to the period of his infancy +and youth. Indeed they scarcely go beyond the period covered by his +original Souvenirs. + +In the midst of his various honours at Paris, Toulouse, and Agen, he did +not forget his true mission, the help and relief of the afflicted. He +went to Albi, and gave a recitation which produced 2000 francs. The +whole of this sum went to the poor. There was nothing for himself +but applause, and showers of flowers thrown at his feet by the ladies +present. + +It was considered quite unprecedented that so large a sum should have +been collected in so poor a district. The mayor however was prepared for +the event. After a touching address to the poet, he presented him with +a ring of honour, with the arms of the town, and the inscribed words: +"Albi a Jasmin." + +He went for the same purpose, to Castera in the Gers, a decayed town, +to recite his poems, in the words of the cure, for "our poor church." He +was received as usual with great enthusiasm; and a present of silver +was given to him with the inscribed words: "A Jasmin, l'Eglise du Castera +reconnaissante!" Jasmin answered, by reciting an impromptu he had +composed for the occasion. + +At Bordeaux, one of his favourite cities, he was received with more +than the usual enthusiasm. There he made a collection in aid of the +Conference of Saint-vincent de Paul. In the midst of the seance, he +appeared almost inspired, and recited "La Charite dans Bordeaux"--the +grand piece of the evening. The assembly rose en masse, and cheered the +poet with frantic applause. The ladies threw an avalanche of bouquets at +the hero of the fete. + +After quiet had been restored, the Society of Saint-vincent de Paul +cordially thanked Jasmin through the mouth of their President; and +presented him with a magnificent golden circlet, with this inscription: +"La Caritat dins Bourdeau!" + +Among his other recitations towards the close of his life, for the +purpose of collecting money for the relief of the poor, were those at +Montignac in Perigord; at Saint-Macaire; at Saint-Andre de Cubzac, and +at Monsegur. Most of these were remote villages far apart from each +other. He had disappointed his friends at Arcachon several years before, +when he failed to make his appearance with the Abbe Masson, during their +tour on behalf of the church of Vergt, owing to the unpunctuality of the +steamboat; but he promised to visit them at some future period. + +He now redeemed his promise. The poor were in need, and he went to their +help. A large audience had assembled to listen to his recitations, and +a considerable sum of money was collected. The audience overwhelmed +him with praises and the Mayor of Teste the head department of the +district--after thanking Jasmin for his admirable assistance, presented +him with a gold medal, on which was inscribed: "Fete de Charite +d'Arcachon: A Jasmin." These laurels and medals had become so numerous, +that Jasmin had almost become tired of such tributes to his benevolence. + +He went to Bareges again, where Monseigneur the Bishop of Tarbes had +appealed to him for help in the erection of an hospital. From that town +he proceeded to Saint-Emilion and Castel-Naudary, to aid the Society +of Mutual Help in these two towns. In fact, he was never weary of +well-doing. "This calamitous winter," he wrote in January, 1854, +"requires all my devotion. I will obey my conscience and give myself +to the help of the famished and suffering, even to the extinction of my +personal health." + +And so it was to the end. When his friends offered him public +entertainments, he would say, "No, no! give the money to the poor!" What +gave Jasmin as much pleasure as any of the laurels and crowns conferred +upon him, was a beautifully bound copy of the 'Imitation of Christ,' +with the following inscription: "A testimony from the Bishop of +Saint-Flour, in acknowledgment of the services which the great poet has +rendered to the poor of his diocese." + +No poet had so many opportunities of making money, and of enriching +himself by the contributions of the rich as well as the poor. But such +an idea never entered his mind. He would have regarded it as a sacrilege +to evoke the enthusiasm of the people, and make money; for his own +benefit, or to speculate upon the triumphs of his muse. Gold earned in +this way, he said, would have burnt his fingers. He worked solely for +the benefit of those who could not help themselves. His poetry was to +him like a sweet rose that delighted the soul and produced the fruits of +charity. + +His conduct has been called Quixotic. Would that there were more + +Quixotes in the world! After his readings, which sometimes produced from +two to three thousand francs, the whole of the proceeds were handed +over to those for whose benefit they had been given, after deducting, +of course, the expenses of travelling, of which he kept a most accurate +account. + +It is estimated that the amount of money collected by Jasmin during his +recitations for philanthropic objects amounted to at least 1,500,000 +francs (equal to 62,500 sterling). Besides, there were the labour of +his journeys, and the amount of his correspondence, which were almost +heroic. M. Rabain{1} states that from 1825 to 1860, the number of +letters received by Jasmin was more than twelve thousand. + +Mr. Dickens, in giving the readings from his works in Great Britain, +netted over 35,000 sterling, besides what he received for his readings +in America. This, of course, led quite reasonably to the enhancing of +his fortune. But all that Jasmin received from his readings was given +away--some say "thrown away"--to the poor and the needy. It is not +necessary to comment on such facts; one can only mention and admire +them. + +The editor of Le Pays says: "The journeys of Jasmin in the South were +like a triumphal march. No prince ever received more brilliant ovations. +Flowers were strewn in his way; the bells rang out on his appearance; +the houses were illuminated; the Mayors addressed him in words of +praise; the magistrates, the clergy followed him in procession. Bestowed +upon a man, and a poet, such honours might seem exaggerated; but Jasmin, +under the circumstances, represented more than poetry: he represented +Charity. Each of his verses transformed him into an alms-giver; and from +the harvest of gold which he reaped from the people, he preserved for +himself only the flowers. His epics were for the unfortunate. This was +very noble; and the people of Agen should be proud of their poet."{2} + +The account which Jasmin records of his expenses during a journey of +fifty days, in which he collected more than 20,000 francs, is very +remarkable. It is given in the fourth volume of 'Les Papillotes,' +published in 1863, the year before his death, and is entitled, "Note +of my expenses of the journey, which I have deducted from the receipts +during my circuit of fifty days." + +On certain occasions nothing whatever was charged, but a carriage +was probably placed at his disposal, or the ticket for a railway or a +diligence may have been paid for by his friends. On many occasions he +walked the distance between the several places, and thus saved the cost +of his conveyance. But every item of expense was set forth in his "Note" +with the most scrupulous exactness. + +Here is the translation of Jasmin's record for his journeys during +these fifty days:--"... At Foix, from M. de Groussou, President of +the Communion of Bienfaisance, 33 fr., 50 c. At Pamiers, nil. At +Saint-Girons, from the President of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, +16 fr. At Lavaur, from M. the Mayor, 22 fr. At Saint-Sulpice, nil. At +Toulouse, where I gave five special seances, of which the two first, to +Saint-Vincent de Paul and the Prefecture, produced more than 1600 fr., +nil. My muse was sufficiently accounted for; it was during my reception +as Maitre-es-jeux. At Rodez, from the President of the Conference of +Saint-Vincent de Paul, 29 fr. 50c. At Saint-Geniez, nil. At Saint-Flour, +from M. Simon, vicar-general, 22 fr. 50 c. At Murat, nil. At Mauriac, +nil. At Aurillac, from M. Geneste, mayor, for my return to Agen, 24 fr. +Total, 147 fr. 50 centimes." + +Thus, more than 20,000 francs were collected for the poor, Jasmin having +deducted 147 fr. 50 c. for the cost of his journeys from place to place. +It must also be remembered that he travelled mostly in winter, when the +ground was covered with snow. In February, 1854, M. Migneret, Prefect +of Haute-garonne, addressed a letter to Jasmin, which is worthy of +preservation. "It is pleasant," he said, "after having enjoyed at night +the charms of your poetry, to begin the next day by taking account of +the misfortunes they relieve. I owe you this double honour, and I thank +you with the greatest gratitude.... As to our admiration of your talent, +it yields to our esteem for your noble heart; the poet cannot be jealous +of the good citizen."{3} + +Notwithstanding the rigour of the season, and the snow and wind, the +like of which had not been known for more than twenty years, Jasmin was +welcomed by an immense audience at Rodez. The recitation was given +in the large hall of the Palais de Justice, and never had so large a +collection been made. The young people of the town wished to give Jasmin +a banquet, but he declined, as he had to hurry on to another place for +a similar purpose. He left them, however, one of his poems prepared for +the occasion. + +He arrived at Saint-Flour exhausted by fatigue. His voice began to +fail, partly through the rigours of the climate, yet he continued to +persevere. The bishop entertained him in his palace, and introduced him +personally to the audience before which he was to give his recitations. +Over the entrance-door was written the inscription, "A Jasmin, le Poete +des Pauvres, Saint-fleur reconnaissante!" Before Jasmin began to recite +he was serenaded by the audience. The collection was greater than had +ever been known. It was here that the bishop presented Jasmin with that +famous manual, 'The Imitation of Christ,' already referred to. + +It was the same at Murat, Mauriac, and Aurillac. The recitation at +Aurillac was given in the theatre, and the receipts were 1200 francs. +Here also he was serenaded. He departed from Aurillac covered with the +poor people's blessings and gratitude. + +At Toulouse he gave another entertainment, at the instance of the +Conference of Saint-Francois Xavier. There were about 3000 persons +present, mostly of the working classes. The seance was prolonged +almost to midnight. The audience, most of whom had to rise early in +the morning, forgot their sleep, and wished the poet to prolong his +recitations! + +Although the poor machine of Jasmin's body was often in need of rest, +he still went about doing good. He never ceased ministering to the +poor until he was altogether unable to go to their help. Even in the +distressing cold, rain, and wind of winter--and it was in winter more +than in summer that he travelled, for it was then that the poor were +most distressed--he entirely disregarded his own comfort, and sometimes +travelled at much peril; yet he went north and south, by highways and +byways, by rivers and railways, in any and every direction, provided his +services could be of use. + +He sacrificed himself always, and was perfectly regardless of self. +He was overwhelmed with honours and praises. He became weary of +triumphs--of laurels, flowers, and medals--he sometimes became weary of +his life; yet he never could refuse any pressing solicitation made to +him for a new recital of his poems. + +His trials, especially in winter time, were often most distressing. He +would recite before a crowded audience, in a heated room, and afterwards +face the icy air without, often without any covering for his throat and +neck. Hence his repeated bronchial attacks, the loss of his voice, and +other serious affections of his lungs. + +The last meeting which Jasmin attended on behalf of the poor was at +the end of January 1864, only three months before his death. It was +at Villeneuve-sur-Lot, a town several miles north of Agen. He did not +desire to put the people to the expense of a conveyance, and therefore +he decided to walk. He was already prematurely old and stooping. + +The disease which ended his life had already made considerable progress. +He should have been in bed; nevertheless, as the poor needed his help, +the brave old man determined to proceed to Villeneuve. He was helped +along the road by some of his friends; and at last, wearied and panting, +he arrived at his destination. + +The meeting was held in the theatre, which was crowded to suffocation. + +No sooner had Jasmin reached the platform, amidst the usual triumphant +cheering, than, after taking a short rest, he sprang to his feet and +began the recitation of his poems. Never had his voice seemed more +spirited and entrancing. He delighted his audience, while he pleaded +most eloquently for the relief of the poor. + +"I see him now," wrote one of his friends, "from behind the side-scenes +of the theatre, perspiring profusely, wet to the skin, with a carafe of +water to allay the ardent thirst occasioned by three hours of splendid +declamation." + +In his then critical state, the three hours' declamation was enough to +kill him. At all events, it was his last recitation. It was the song of +the dying swan. In the midst of his triumphs, he laid down his life for +the poor; like the soldier who dies with the sound of victory in his +ears. + + +Endnotes to Chapter XIX. + +{1} 'Jasmin, sa Vie et ses OEuvres.' Paris, 1867. + +{2} Le Pays, 14th February, 1854. + +{3} 'Las Papillotos de Jasmin,' iv. 56. + + + +CHAPTER XX. DEATH OF JASMIN--HIS CHARACTER. + +After his final recitation at Villeneuve, Jasmin, sick, ill, and utterly +exhausted, reached Agen with difficulty. He could scarcely stand. It was +not often that travelling had so affected him; but nature now cried out +and rebelled. His wife was, of course, greatly alarmed. He was at once +carefully put to bed, and there he lay for fifteen days. + +When he was at length able to rise, he was placed in his easy chair, +but he was still weak, wearied, and exhausted. Mariette believed that he +would yet recover his strength; but the disease under which he laboured +had taken a strong hold of him, and Jasmin felt that he was gradually +approaching the close of his life. + +About this time Renan's 'Life of Jesus' was published. Jasmin was +inexpressibly shocked by the appearance of the book, for it seemed to +him to strike at the foundations of Christianity, and to be entirely +opposed to the teachings of the Church. He immediately began to compose +a poem, entitled The Poet of the People to M. Renan,{1} in which he +vindicated the Catholic faith, and denounced the poisonous mischief +contained in the new attack upon Christianity. The poem was full of +poetic feeling, with many pathetic touches illustrative of the life and +trials of man while here below. + +The composition of this poem occupied him for some time. Although broken +by grief and pain, he made every haste to correct the proofs, feeling +that it would probably be the last work that he should give to the +world. And it was his last. It was finished and printed on the 24th of +August, 1864. He sent several copies to his more intimate friends with a +dedication; and then he took finally to his bed, never to rise again. +"I am happy," he said, "to have terminated my career by an act of faith, +and to have consecrated my last work to the name of Jesus Christ." He +felt that it was his passport to eternity. + +Jasmin's life was fast drawing to a close. He knew that he must soon +die; yet never a word of fear escaped his lips; nor was his serenity +of mind disturbed. He made his preparations for departure with as much +tranquillity and happiness, as on the days when he was about to start on +one of his philanthropic missions. + +He desired that M. Saint-Hilaire, the vicar of the parish, should be +sent for. The priest was at once by the bedside of his dying friend. +Jasmin made his replies to him in a clear and calm voice. His wife, his +son, his grand-children, were present when he received the Viaticum--the +last sacrament of the church. After the ceremony he turned to his wife +and family, and said: "In my last communion I have prayed to God that He +may keep you all in the most affectionate peace and union, and that He +may ever reign in the hearts of those whom I love so much and am +about to leave behind me." Then speaking to his wife, he said, "Now +Mariette,--now I can die peacefully." + +He continued to live until the following morning. He conversed +occasionally with his wife, his son, and a few attached friends. + +He talked, though with difficulty, of the future of the family, for whom +he had made provision. At last, lifting himself up by the aid of his +son, he looked towards his wife. The brightness of love glowed in his +eyes; but in a moment he fell back senseless upon the pillow, and his +spirit quietly passed away. + +Jasmin departed this life on the 5th of October, 1864, at the age of +sixty-five. He was not an old man; but the brightest jewels soonest wear +their setting. When laid in his coffin, the poem to Renan, his last act +of faith, was placed on his breast, with his hands crossed over it. + +The grief felt at his death was wide and universal. In the South of +France he was lamented as a personal friend; and he was followed to the +grave by an immense number of his townspeople. + +The municipal administration took charge of the funeral. At ten o'clock +in the morning of the 8th October the procession started from Jasmin's +house on the Promenade du Gravier. On the coffin were placed the Crown +of Gold presented to him by his fellow-townsmen, the cross of Chevalier +of the Legion of Honour, and that of Saint-Gregory the Great. A company +of five men, and a detachment of troops commanded by an officer, formed +the line. + +The following gentlemen held the cords of the funeral pall:-- + +M. Feart, Prefect of the Lot-et-Garonne; M. Henri Noubel, Deputy and +Mayor of Agen; General Ressayre, Commander of the Military Division; M. +Bouet, President of the Imperial Court; M. de Laffore, engineer; and M. +Magen, Secretary of the Society of Agriculture, Sciences, and Arts. +A second funeral pall was held by six coiffeurs of the corporation to +which Jasmin had belonged. Behind the hearse were the Brothers of the +Christian Doctrine, the Sisters of Saint-Vincent de Paul, and the Little +Sisters of the Poor. + +The mourners were headed by the poet's son and the other members of +his family. The cortege was very numerous, including the elite of +the population. Among them were the Procureur-General, the +Procureur-imperial, the Engineer-in-chief of the Department, the +Director of Taxes, many Councillors-General, all the members of the +Society of Agriculture, many officers of the army, many ecclesiastics +as well as ministers of the reformed worship. Indeed, representatives of +nearly the whole population were present. + +The procession first entered the church of Saint Hilaire, where the +clergy of the four parishes had assembled. High mass was performed by +the full choir. The Miserere of Beethoven was given, and some exquisite +pieces from Mozart. Deep emotion was produced by the introduction, in +the midst of this beautiful music, of some popular airs from the romance +of Franconnette and Me Cal Mouri, Jasmin's first work. The entire +ceremony was touching, and moved many to tears. + +After the service had been finished, the procession moved off to the +cemetery--passing through the principal streets of the town, which were +lined by crowds of mournful spectators. Large numbers of people had also +assembled at the cemetery. After the final prayer, M. Noubel, Deputy and +Mayor of Agen, took the opportunity of pronouncing a eulogium over the +grave of the deceased. His speech was most sympathetic and touching. We +can only give a few extracts from his address: + +"Dear and great poet," he said, "at the moment when we commit to the +earth thy mortal remains, I wish, in the name of this town of Agen, +where thou wert born and which thou hast truly loved, to address to thee +a last, a supreme adieu. Alas! What would'st thou have said to me some +years ago, when I placed upon thy forehead the crown--decreed by the +love and admiration of thy compatriots--that I should so soon have been +called upon to fulfil a duty that now rends my heart. The bright genius +of thy countenance, the brilliant vigour in thine eyes, which time, +it seemed, would never tarnish, indicated the fertile source of thy +beautiful verses and noble aspirations! + +"And yet thy days had been numbered, and you yourself seemed to have +cherished this presentiment; but, faithful to thy double mission of poet +and apostle of benevolence, thou redoubled thy efforts to enrich with +new epics thy sheaf of poetry, and by thy bountiful gifts and charity to +allay the sorrows of the poor. Indefatigable worker! Thou hast dispensed +most unselfishly thy genius and thy powers! Death alone has been able to +compel thee to repose! + +"But now our friend is departed for ever! That poetical fire, that +brilliant and vivid intelligence, that ardent heart, have now ceased +to strive for the good of all; for this great and generous soul has +ascended to Him who gave it birth. It has returned to the Giver of Good, +accompanied by our sorrows and our tears. It has ascended to heaven +with the benedictions of all the distressed and unfortunate whom he +has succoured. It is our hope and consolation that he may find the +recompense assured for those who have usefully and boldly fulfilled +their duty here below. + +"This duty, O poet, thou hast well fulfilled. Those faculties, which God +had so largely bestowed upon thee, have never been employed save for the +service of just and holy causes. Child of the people, thou hast shown us +how mind and heart enlarge with work; that the sufferings and privations +of thy youth enabled thee to retain thy love of the poor and thy pity +for the distressed. Thy muse, sincerely Christian, was never used to +inflame the passions, but always to instruct, to soothe, and to console. +Thy last song, the Song of the Swan, was an eloquent and impassioned +protest of the Christian, attacked in his fervent belief and his faith. + +"God has doubtless marked the term of thy mission; and thy death was +not a matter of surprise. Thou hast come and gone, without fear; and +religion, thy supreme consoler, has calmed the sufferings of thy later +hours, as it had cradled thee in thy earlier years. + +"Thy body will disappear, but thy spirit, Jasmin, will never be far from +us. Inspire us with thy innocent gaiety and brotherly love. The town +of Agen is never ungrateful; she counts thee amongst the most pure and +illustrious of her citizens. She will consecrate thy memory in the way +most dignified to thee and to herself. + +"The inhabitants of towns without number, where thou hast exercised +thy apostolate of charity, will associate themselves with this work of +affection and remembrance. But the most imperishable monument is that +which thou hast thyself founded with thine own head and hands, and which +will live in our hearts--the creations of thy genius and the memory of +thy philanthropy." + +After the Mayor of Agen had taken leave of the mortal remains of the +poet, M. Capot, President of the Society of Agriculture, Sciences, +and Arts, gave another eloquent address. He was followed by M. Magen, +Secretary to the same society. The troops fired a salute over the grave, +and took leave of the poet's remains with military honours. The immense +crowd of mourners then slowly departed from the cemetery. + +Another public meeting took place on the 12th of May, 1870, on the +inauguration of the bronze statue of Jasmin in the Place Saint +Antoine, now called the Place Jasmin. The statue was erected by public +subscription, and executed by the celebrated M. Vital Dubray. It stands +nearly opposite the house where Jasmin lived and carried on his trade. +Many of his old friends came from a considerable distance to be present +at the inauguration of the statue. The Abbe Masson of Vergt was there, +whose church Jasmin had helped to re-build. M. l'Abbe Donis, curate of +Saint-Louis at Bordeaux, whom he had often helped with his recitations; +the able philologist Azais; the young and illustrious Provencal poet +Mistral; and many representatives of the Parisian and Southern press, +were present on the occasion. The widow and son of the poet, surrounded +by their family, were on the platform. When the statue was unveiled, +a salvo of artillery was fired; then the choir of the Brothers of the +Communal Christian School saluted the "glorious resurrection of Jasmin" +with their magnificent music, which was followed by enthusiastic cheers. + +M. Henri Noubel, Deputy and Mayor of Agen, made an eloquent speech on +the unveiling of the statue. He had already pronounced his eulogium of +Jasmin at the burial of the poet, but he was still full of the subject, +and brought to mind many charming recollections of the sweetness of +disposition and energetic labours of Jasmin on behalf of the poor and +afflicted. He again expressed his heartfelt regret for the departure of +the poet. + +M. Noubel was followed by M. l'Abbe Donis, of Bordeaux, who achieved a +great success by his eulogy of the life of Jasmin, whom he entitled "The +Saint-vincent de Paul of poetry." + +He was followed by the Abbe Capot, in the name of the clergy, and by M. +Magen, in the name of the Society of Agriculture, Sciences, and Arts. +They were followed by MM. Azais and Pozzi, who recited some choice +pieces of poetry in the Gascon patois. M. Mistral came last--the +celebrated singer of "Mireio"--who, with his faltering voice, recited +a beautiful piece of poetry composed for the occasion, which was +enthusiastically applauded. + +The day was wound up with a banquet in honour of M. Dubray, the artist +who had executed the bronze statue. The Place Jasmin was brilliantly +illuminated during the evening, where an immense crowd assembled to view +the statue of the poet, whose face and attitude appeared in splendid +relief amidst a blaze of light. + +It is unnecessary further to describe the character of Jasmin. It is +sufficiently shown by his life and labours--his genius and philanthropy. +In the recollections of his infancy and boyhood, he truthfully describes +the pleasures and sorrows of his youth--his love for his mother, his +affection for his grandfather, who died in the hospital, "where all the +Jasmins die." He did not even conceal the little tricks played by him in +the Academy, from which he was expelled, nor the various troubles of his +apprenticeship. + +This was one of the virtues of Jasmin--his love of truth. He never +pretended to be other than what he was. He was even proud of being a +barber, with his "hand of velvet." He was pleased to be entertained by +the coiffeurs of Agen, Paris, Bordeaux, and Toulouse. He was a man of +the people, and believed in the dignity of labour. At the same time, but +for his perseverance and force of character, he never could have raised +himself to the honour and power of the true poet. + +He was born poor, and the feeling of inherited poverty adhered to him +through life, and inspired him with profound love for the poor and the +afflicted of his class. He was always ready to help them, whether they +lived near to him or far from him. He was, in truth, "The Saint-Vincent +de Paul of poetry." His statue, said M. Noubel, pointing up to it, +represented the glorification of genius and virtue, the conquest of +ignorance and misery. + +M. Deydou said at Bordeaux, when delivering an address upon the genius +of Jasmin--his Eminence Cardinal Donnet presiding--that poetry, when +devoted to the cause of charity, according to the poet himself, was "the +glory of the earth and the perfume of heaven." + +Jasmin loved his dear town of Agen, and was proud of it. After his visit +to the metropolis, he said, "If Paris makes me proud, Agen makes +me happy." "This town," he said, on another occasion, "has been my +birthplace; soon it shall be my grave." He loved his country too, and +above all he loved his native language. It was his mother-tongue; and +though he was often expostulated with for using it, he never forsook the +Gascon. It was the language of the home, of the fireside, of the fields, +of the workshop, of the people amongst whom he lived, and he resolved +ever to cherish and elevate the Gascon dialect. + +"Popular and purely natural poetry," said Montaigne in the 16th century, +"has a simplicity and gracefulness which surpass the beauty of poetry +according to art." Jasmin united the naive artlessness of poetry with +the perfection of art. He retained the simplicity of youth throughout +his career, and his domestic life was the sanctuary of all the virtues. + +In his poems he vividly described filial love, conjugal tenderness, +and paternal affection, because no one felt these graces of life more +fervently than himself. He was like the Italian painter, who never went +beyond his home for a beautiful model. + +Victor Hugo says that a great man is like the sun--most beautiful when +he touches the earth, at his rising and at his setting. Jasmin's rising +was in the depths of honest poverty, but his setting was glorious. God +crowned his fine life by a special act of favour; for the last song of +the poet was his "act of faith"--his address to Renan. + +Jasmin was loyal, single-minded, self-reliant, patient, temperate, and +utterly unselfish. He made all manner of sacrifices during his efforts +in the cause of charity. Nothing was allowed to stand in the way of his +missions on behalf of the poor. In his journey of fifty days in 1854, +he went from Orthez--the country of Gaston Phoebus--to the mountains of +Auvergne, in spite of the rigours of the weather. During that journey he +collected 20,000 francs. In all, as we have said, he collected, during +his life-time, more than a million and a half of francs, all of which he +devoted to the cause of philanthropy. + +Two words were engraved on the pedestal of his statue, Poetry and +Charity! Charity was the object and purpose of his heroic programme. +Yet, in his poetry he always exhibited his tender-hearted gaiety. Even +when he weeps, you see the ray of sunlight in his tears. Though simple +as a child in ordinary life, he displayed in his writings the pathos and +satire of the ancient Troubadours, with no small part of the shrewdness +and wit attributed to persons of his calling. + +Although esteemed and praised by all ranks and classes of people--by +king, emperor, princes, and princesses; by cardinals and bishops; +by generals, magistrates, literary men, and politicians--though the +working people almost worshipped him, and village girls strewed flowers +along his pathway--though the artisan quitted his workshop, and the +working woman her washing-tub, to listen to his marvellous recitations, +yet Jasmin never lost his head or was carried away by the enthusiastic +cheers which accompanied his efforts, but remained simple and unaffected +to the last. + +Another characteristic of him was, that he never forsook his friends, +however poor. His happiest moments were those in which he encountered +a companion of his early youth. Many still survived who had accompanied +him while making up his bundle of fagots on the islands of the Garonne. +He was delighted to shake hands with them, and to help, when necessary, +these playmates of his boyhood. + +He would also meet with pleasure the working women of his acquaintance, +those who had related to him the stories of Loup Garou and the +traditions of the neighbourhood, and encouraged the boy from his +earliest youth. Then, at a later period of his life, nothing could have +been more worthy of him than his affection for his old benefactor, M. +Baze, and his pleading with Napoleon III., through the Empress, for his +return to France "through the great gate of honour!" + +Had Jasmin a fault? Yes, he had many, for no one exists within the +limits of perfection. But he had one in especial, which he himself +confessed. He was vain and loved applause, nor did he conceal his love. + +When at Toulouse, he said to some of his friends, "I love to be +applauded: it is my whim; and I think it would be difficult for a poet +to free himself from the excitement of applause." When at Paris, he +said, "Applaud! applaud! The cheers you raise will be heard at Agen." +Who would not overlook a fault, if fault it be, which is confessed in so +naive a manner? + +When complimented about reviving the traditions of the Troubadours, +Jasmin replied, "The Troubadours, indeed! Why, I am a better poet than +any of the Troubadours! Not one of them could have composed a long poem +of sustained interest, like my Franconnette." + +Any fault or weakness which Jasmin exhibited was effaced by the good +wishes and prayers of thousands of the poor and afflicted whom he had +relieved by his charity and benevolence. The reality of his life +almost touches the ideal. Indeed, it was a long apostolate. + +Cardinal Donnet, Archbishop of Bordeaux, said of him, that "he was +gifted with a rich nature, a loyal and unreserved character, and +a genius as fertile as the soil of his native country. The lyre of +Jasmin," he said, "had three chords, which summed up the harmonies of +heaven and earth--the true, the useful, and the beautiful." + +Did not the members of the French Academy--the highest literary +institution in the world--strike a gold medal in his honour, with the +inscription, "La medaille du poete moral et populaire"? M. Sainte-Beuve, +the most distinguished of French critics, used a much stronger +expression. He said, "If France had ten poets like Jasmin--ten poets +of the same power and influence--she need no longer have any fear of +revolutions." + +Genius is as nothing in the sight of God; but "whosoever shall give +a cup of water to drink in the name of Christ, because they belong +to Christ, shall not lose his reward." M. Tron, Deputy and Mayor of +Bagnere-du-luchon, enlarged upon this text in his eulogy of Jasmin. + +"He was a man," he said, "as rich in his heart as in his genius. He +carried out that life of 'going about doing good' which Christ rehearsed +for our instruction. He fed the hungry, clothed the naked, succoured +the distressed, and consoled and sympathised with the afflicted. Few men +have accomplished more than he has done. His existence was unique, not +only in the history of poets, but of philanthropists." + +A life so full of good could only end with a Christian death. He +departed with a lively faith and serene piety, crowning by a peaceful +death one of the strangest and most diversified careers in the +nineteenth century. "Poetry and Charity," inscribed on the pedestal of +his statue in Agen, fairly sums up his noble life and character. + + +Endnotes for Chapter XX. + +{1} 'Lou Poeto del Puple a Moussu Renan.' + + + + +APPENDIX. + +JASMIN'S DEFENCE OF THE GASCON DIALECT. + +To M. SYLVAIN DUMON, Deputy-Minister, who has condemned to death our +native language. + + There's not a deeper grief to man + Than when our mother, faint with years, + Decrepit, old, and weak, and wan, + Beyond the leech's art appears; + When by her couch her son may stay, + And press her hand, and watch her eyes, + And feel, though she survives to-day, + Perchance his hope to-morrow dies. + + It is not thus, believe me, Sir, + With this enchantress, we will call + Our second mother. Frenchmen err, + Who cent'ries since proclaimed her fall! + Our mother tongue, all melody, + While music lives, shall never die. + + Yes! still she lives, her words still ring, + Her children yet her carols sing; + And thousand years may roll away + Before her magic notes decay. + + The people love their ancient songs, and will + While yet a people, love and keep them still. + These lays are like their mother--they recall + Fond thoughts of brother, sister, friends, and all + The many little things that please the heart-- + Those dreams and hopes, from which we cannot part; + These songs are as sweet waters, where we find + Health in the sparkling wave that nerves the mind. + In every home, at every cottage door, + By every fireside, when our toil is o'er, + These songs are round us, near our cradles sigh, + And to the grave attend us when we die. + + Oh! think, cold critic! 'twill be late and long + Ere time shall sweep away this flood of song! + There are who bid this music sound no more, + And you can hear them, nor defend--deplore! + You, who were born where the first daisies grew, + Have 'fed upon its honey, sipp'd its dew, + Slept in its arms, and wakened to its kiss, + Danced to its sounds, and warbled to its tone-- + You can forsake it in an hour like this! + Weary of age, you may renounce, disown, + And blame one minstrel who is true--alone! + + For me, truth to my eyes made all things plain; + At Paris, the great fount, I did not find + The waters pure, and to my stream again + I come, with saddened and with sobered mind; + And now the spell is broken, and I rate + The little country far above the great. + + For you, who seem her sorrows to deplore, + You, seated high in power, the first among, + Beware! nor make her cause of grief the more; + Believe her mis'ry, nor condemn her tongue. + Methinks you injure where you seek to heal, + If you deprive her of that only weal. + + We love, alas! to sing in our distress; + For so the bitterness of woe seems less; + But if we may not in our language mourn, + What will the polish'd give us in return? + Fine sentences, but all for us unmeet-- + Words full of grace, even such as courtiers greet: + A deck'd out miss, too delicate and nice + To walk in fields; too tender and precise + To sing the chorus of the poor, or come + When Labour lays him down fatigued at home. + + To cover rags with gilded robes were vain-- + The rents of poverty would show too plain. + + How would this dainty dame, with haughty brow, + Shrink at a load, and shudder at a plough! + Sulky, and piqued, and silent would she stand + As the tired peasant urged his team along: + No word of kind encouragement at hand, + For flocks no welcome, and for herds no song! + + Yet we will learn, and you shall teach-- + Our people shall have double speech: + One to be homely, one polite, + As you have robes for different wear; + But this is all:--'tis just and right, + And more our children will not bear, + Lest flocks of buzzards flit along, + Where nightingales once poured their song. + + There may be some who, vain and proud, + May ape the manners of the crowd, + Lisp French, and maim it at each word, + And jest and gibe to all afford; + But we, as in long ages past, + Will still be poets to the last!{1} + + Hark! and list the bridal song, + As they lead the bride along: + "Hear, gentle bride! your mother's sighs, + And you would hence away! + Weep, weep, for tears become those eyes." + ----"I cannot weep--to-day." + + Hark! the farmer in the mead + Bids the shepherd swain take heed: + "Come, your lambs together fold, + Haste, my sons! your toil is o'er: + For the setting sun has told + That the ox should work no more." + + Hark! the cooper in the shade + Sings to the sound his hammer made: + "Strike, comrades, strike! prepare the cask. + 'Tis lusty May that fills the flask: + Strike, comrades! summer suns that shine + Fill the cellars full of wine." + + Verse is, with us, a charm divine, + Our people, loving verse, will still, + Unknowing of their art, entwine + Garlands of poesy at will. + Their simple language suits them best: + Then let them keep it and be blest. + + Let the wise critics build a wall + Between the nurse's cherished voice, + And the fond ear her words enthral, + And say their idol is her choice. + Yes!--let our fingers feel the rule, + The angry chiding of the school; + True to our nurse, in good or ill, + We are not French, but Gascon still. + + 'Tis said that age new feeling brings, + Our youth returns as we grow old; + And that we love again the things + Which in our memory had grown cold. + If this be true, the time will come + When to our ancient tongue, once more, + You will return, as to a home, + And thank us that we kept the store. + + Remember thou the tale they tell + Of Lacuee and Lacepede,{2} + When age crept on, who loved to dwell + On words that once their music made; + And, in the midst of grandeur, hung, + Delighted, on their parent tongue. + + This will you do: and it may be, + When weary of the world's deceit, + Some summer-day we yet may see + Your coming in our meadows sweet; + Where, midst the flowers, the finch's lay + Shall welcome you with music gay; + While you shall bid our antique tongue + Some word devise, or air supply, + Like those that charm'd your youth so long, + And lent a spell to memory. + + Bethink you how we stray'd alone + Beneath those elms in Agen grown, + That each an arch above us throws, + Like giants, hand-in-hand, in rows. + A storm once struck a fav'rite tree, + It trembled, shook, and bent its boughs,-- + The vista is no longer free: + Our governor no pause allows; + "Bring hither hatchet, axe, and spade, + The tree must straight be prostrate laid!" + + But vainly strength and art were tried, + The stately tree all force defied; + Well might the elm resist and foil their might, + For though his branches were decay'd to sight, + As many as his leaves the roots spread round, + And in the firm set earth they slept profound. + + Since then, more full, more green, more gay, + The crests amid the breezes play: + And birds of every note and hue + Come trooping to his shade in Spring; + Each summer they their lays renew, + And while the years endure they sing. + + And thus it is, believe me, sir, + With this enchantress--she we call + Our second mother; Frenchmen err + Who, cent'ries since, proclaimed her fall. + + No! she still lives, her words still ring, + Her children yet her carols sing; + And thousand years may roll away + Before her magic notes decay. + + September 2nd, 1837. + + +Endnotes to JASMIN'S DEFENCE OF THE GASCON DIALECT. + +{1} Jasmin here quotes several patois songs, well known in the country. + +{2} Both Gascons. + + + +THE MASON'S SON.{1} + +{LA SEMMANO D'UN FIL.} + + Riches, n'oubliez pas un seul petit moment + Que des pauvres la grande couvee + Se reveille toujours le sourire a la bouche + Quand elle s'endort sans avoir faire! + + (Riche et Pauvre.) + + The swallows fly about, although the air is cold, + Our once fair sun has shed his brightest gold. + The fields decay + On All-saints day. + Ground's hard afoot, + The birds are mute; + The tree-tops shed their chill'd and yellow leaves, + They dying fall, and whirl about in sheaves. + + One night, when leaving late a neighb'ring town, + Although the heavens were clear, + Two children paced along, with many a moan-- + Brother and sister dear; + And when they reached the wayside cross + Upon their knees they fell, quite close. + + Abel and Jane, by the moon's light, + Were long time silent quite; + As they before the altar bend, + With one accord their voices sweet ascend. + + "Mother of God, Virgin compassionate! + Oh! send thy angel to abate + The sickness of our father dear, + That mother may no longer fear-- + And for us both! Oh! Blessed Mother, + We love thee, more and more, we two together!" + + The Virgin doubtless heard their prayer, + For, when they reached the cottage near, + The door before them opened wide, + And the dear mother, ere she turned aside, + Cried out: "My children brave, + The fever's gone--your father's life is safe! + Now come, my little lambs, and thank God for His grace." + + In their small cot, forthwith the three, + To God in prayer did bend the knee, + Mother and children in their gladness weeping, + While on a sorry bed a man lay sleeping-- + It was the father, good Hilaire! + Not long ago, a soldier brave, + But now--a working mason's slave. + + II. + + The dawn next day was clear and bright, + The glint of morning sunlight + Gleamed through the windows taper, + Although they only were patched up with paper. + + When Abel noiseless entered, with his foot-fall slight, + He slipped along to the bedside; + He oped the little curtain, without stirring of the rings; + His father woke and smiled, with joy that pleasure brings. + + "Abel," he said, "I longed for thee; now listen thou to me: + We're very poor indeed--I've nothing save my weekly fee; + But Heaven has helped our lives to save--by curing me. + Dear boy, already thou art fifteen years-- + You know to read, to write--then have no fears; + Thou art alone, thou'rt sad, but dream no more, + Thou ought'st to work, for now thou hast the power! + I know thy pain and sorrow, and thy deep alarms; + More good than strong--how could thy little arms + Ply hard the hammer on the stony blocks? + But our hard master, though he likes good looks, + May find thee quite a youth; + He says that thou hast spirit; and he means for thy behoof. + Then do what gives thee pleasure, + Without vain-glory, Abel; and spend thy precious leisure + In writing or in working--each is a labour worthy, + Either with pen or hammer--they are the tools most lofty; + Labour in mind or body, they do fatigue us ever-- + But then, Abel my son, I hope that never + One blush upon you e'er will gather + To shame the honour of your father." + + Abel's blue eyes were bright with bliss and joy-- + Father rejoiced--four times embraced the boy; + Mother and daughter mixed their tears and kisses, + Then Abel saw the master, to his happiness, + And afterwards four days did pass, + All full of joyfulness. + But pleasure with the poor is always unenduring. + + A brutal order had been given on Sunday morning + That if, next day, the father did not show his face, + Another workman, in that case, + Would be employed to take his place! + A shot of cannon filled with grape + Could not have caused such grief, + As this most cruel order gives + To these four poor unfortunates. + + "I'm cured!" Hilaire cried; "let me rise and dress;" + He tried--fell back; and then he must confess + He could not labour for another week! + Oh, wretched plight-- + For him, his work was life! + Should he keep sick, 'twas death! + All four sat mute; sudden a my of hope + Beamed in the soul of Abel. + He brushed the tear-drops from his een, + Assumed a manly mien, + + Strength rushed into his little arms, + On his bright face the blushes came; + He rose at once, and went to reason + With that cruel master mason. + + Abel returned, with spirits bright, + No longer trembling with affright; + At once he gaily cries, + With laughing mouth and laughing eyes:-- + + "My father! take your rest; have faith and courage; + Take all the week, then thou shalt work apace; + Some one, who loves thee well, will take thy place, + Then thou may'st go again and show thy face." + + III. + + Saved by a friend, indeed! He yet had friends in store! + Oh! how I wish that in this life so lonely.... + But, all will be explained at work on Monday; + There are good friends as yet--perhaps there's many more. + + It was indeed our Abel took his father's place. + At office first he showed his face; + Then to the work-yard: thus his father he beguiled. + Spite of his slender mien, he worked and always smiled. + He was as deft as workmen twain; he dressed + The stones, and in the mortar then he pressed + The heavy blocks; the workmen found him cheerful. + Mounting the ladder like a bird: + He skipped across the rafters fearful. + He smiled as he ascended, smiled as he descended-- + The very masons trembled at his hardiness: + But he was working for his father--in his gladness, + His life was full of happiness; + His brave companions loved the boy + Who filled their little life with joy. + They saw the sweat run down his brow, + And clapped their hands, though weary he was now. + + What bliss of Abel, when the day's work's o'er, + And the bright stars were shining: + Unto the office he must go, + And don his better clothing-- + Thus his poor father to deceive, who thought he went a-clerking. + He took his paper home and wrote, 'midst talk with Jane so shyly, + And with a twinkling eye he answered mother's looks so slyly. + + Three days thus passed, and the sick man arose, + Life now appeared to him a sweet repose. + On Thursday, tempting was the road; + At midday, Friday, he must walk abroad. + + But, fatal Friday--God has made for sorrow. + + The father, warmed up by the sun's bright ray, + Hied to the work-yard, smiling by the way; + He wished to thank the friend who worked for him, + But saw him not--his eyes were dim-- + Yet he was near; and looking up, he saw no people working, + No dinner-bell had struck, no workmen sure were lurking. + Oh, God! what's happened at the building yard? + A crowd collected--master, mason--as on guard. + "What's this?" the old man cried. "Alas! some man has fallen!" + Perhaps it was his friend! His soul with grief was burning. + He ran. Before him thronged the press of men, + They tried to thrust him back again; + But no; Hilaire pressed through the crowd of working men. + Oh, wretched father--man unfortunate; + The friend who saved thee was thy child--sad fate! + Now he has fallen from the ladder's head, + And lies a bleeding mass, now nearly dead! + + Now Hilaire uttered a most fearful cry; + The child had given his life, now he might die. + Alas! the bleeding youth + Was in his death-throes, he could scarcely breathe; + "Master," he said, "I've not fulfilled my task, + But, in the name of my poor mother dear, + For the day lost, take father on at last." + + The father heard, o'erwhelmed he was with fear, + Abel now saw him, felt that he was near, + Inclined his head upon his breast, and praying-- + Hand held in hand, he smiled on him while dying. + + For Hilary, his place was well preserved, + His wages might perhaps be doubled. + + Too late! too late! one saddened morn + The sorrow of his life was gone; + And the good father, with his pallid face, + Went now to take another place + Within the tomb, beside his much loved son. + + +Endnotes to THE MASON'S SON. + +{1} Jasmin says, "the subject of this poem is historical, and recently +took place in our neighbourhood." + + + + +THE POOR MAN'S DOCTOR. + +{LOU MEDICI DES PAURES.} + +Dedicated to M. CANY, Physician of Toulouse. + +With the permission of the Rev. Dr. J. Duncan Craig, of Glenagary, +Kingston, Dublin, I adopt, with some alterations, his free translation +of Jasmin's poem. + + Sweet comes this April morning, its faint perfumes exhaling; + Brilliant shines the sun, so crisp, so bright, so freshening; + Pearl-like gleam and sparkle the dew-drops on the rose, + While grey and gnarled olives droop like giants in repose. + + Soundeth low, solemnly, the mid-day bell in th' air, + Glideth on sadly a maiden sick with care; + Her head is bent, and sobbing words she sheds with many a tear, + But 'tween the chapel and the windmill another doth appear. + + She laughs and plucks the lovely flowers with many a joyous + bound, + The other, pale and spiritless, looks upward from the ground; + "Where goest thou, sweet Marianne, this lovely April day?" + "Beneath the elms of Agen--there lies my destined way. + + "I go to seek this very day the Doctor of the Poor.{1} + Did'st thou not hear how skilfully he did my mother cure? + Behold this silver in my hand, these violets so sweet, + The guerdon of his loving care--I'll lay them at his feet. + + "Now, dost thou not remember, my darling Marianne, + How in our lonely hut the typhus fever ran? + And we were poor, without a friend, or e'en our daily bread, + And sadly then, and sorrowful, dear mother bowed her head. + + "One day, the sun was shining low in lurid western sky, + All, all, our little wealth was gone, and mother yearned to die, + When sudden, at the open door, a shadow crossed the way, + And cheerfully a manly voice did words of comfort say: + + "'Take courage, friends, your ills I know, your life I hope to + save.' + 'Too late!' dear mother cried; 'too late! My home is in the + grave; + + Our things are pledged, our med'cine gone, e'en bread we cannot + buy.' + The doctor shudder'd, then grew pale, but sadly still drew nigh. + + "No curtains had we on our bed: I marked his pallid face; + Five silver crowns now forth he drew with melancholy grace-- + + 'Poor woman, take these worthless coins, suppress your bitter + grief! + Don't blush; repay them when you can--these drops will give + relief.' + + "He left the hut, and went away; soon sleep's refreshing calm + Relieved the patient he had helped--a wonder-working balm; + The world now seemed to smile again, like springtide flowers so + gay, + While mother, brothers, and myself, incessant worked away. + + "Thus, like the swallows which return with spring unto our shore, + The doctor brought rejoicing back unto our vine-wreathed door; + And we are happy, Isabel, and money too we've made; + But why dost weep, when I can laugh?" the gentle maiden said. + + "Alas! alas! dear Marianne, I weep and mourn to-day, + From your house to our cottage-home the fever made its way; + My father lies with ghastly face, and many a raving cry-- + Oh, would that Durand too might come, before the sick man die!" + + "Dear Isabel, haste on, haste on--we'll seek his house this hour! + Come, let us run, and hasten on with all our utmost power. + He'll leave the richest palace for the poor man's humble roof-- + He's far from rich, except in love, of that we've had full + proof!" + + The good God bless the noble heart that careth for the poor; + Then forth the panting children speed to seek the sick man's + cure; + And as beneath our giant elms they pass with rapid tread, + They scarcely dare to look around, or lift their weary head. + The town at last is reached, by the Pont-Long they enter, + Close by the Hue des Jacobins, near Durand's house they venture. + Around the portals of the door there throngs a mournful crowd; + They see the Cross, they hear the priests the Requiem chaunt + aloud. + + The girls were troubled in their souls, their minds were rent + with grief; + One above all, young Marianne, was trembling like a leaf: + Another death--oh, cruel thought! then of her father dying, + She quickly ran to Durand's door, and asked a neighbour, crying: + + "Where's the good doctor, sir, I pray? I seek him for my + father!" + He soft replied, "The gracious God into His fold doth gather + The best of poor folks' doctors now, to his eternal rest; + They bear the body forth, 'tis true: his spirit's with the + blest." + + Bright on his corpse the candles shine around his narrow bier, + Escorted by the crowds of poor with many a bitter tear; + No more, alas! can he the sad and anguished-laden cure-- + Oh, wail! For Durand is no more--the Doctor of the Poor! + + +Endnotes to THE POOR MAN'S DOCTOR. + +{1} In the last edition of Jasmin's poems (4 vols. 8vo, edited by Buyer +d'Agen) it is stated (p. 40, 1st vol.) that "M. Durand, physician, was +one of those rare men whom Providence seems to have provided to assuage +the lot of the poorest classes. His career was full of noble acts of +devotion towards the sick whom he was called upon to cure. He died at +the early age of thirty-five, of a stroke of apoplexy. His remains +were accompanied to the grave by nearly all the poor of Agen and the +neighbourhood." + + + + +MY VINEYARD.{1} + +{MA BIGNO.} + +To MADAME LOUIS VEILL, Paris. + + Dear lady, it is true, that last month I have signed + A little scrap of parchment; now myself I find + The master of a piece of ground + Within the smallest bound-- + Not, as you heard, a spacious English garden + Covered with flowers and trees, to shrine your bard in-- + But of a tiny little vineyard, + Which I have christened "Papilhoto"! + Where, for a chamber, I have but a grotto. + The vine-stocks hang about their boughs, + At other end a screen of hedgerows, + So small they do not half unroll; + A hundred would not make a mile, + Six sheets would cover the whole pile. + + Well! as it is, of this I've dreamt for twenty years-- + You laugh, Madame, at my great happiness, + Perhaps you'll laugh still more, when it appears, + That when I bought the place, I must confess + There were no fruits, + Though rich in roots; + Nine cherry trees--behold my wood! + Ten rows of vines--my promenade! + A few peach trees; the hazels too; + Of elms and fountains there are two. + How rich I am! My muse is grateful very; + Oh! might I paint? while I the pencil try, + Our country loves the Heavens so bright and cheery. + + Here, verdure starts up as we scratch the ground, + Who owns it, strips it into pieces round; + Beneath our sun there's nought but gayest sound. + You tell me, true, that in your Paris hot-house, + You ripen two months sooner 'neath your glass, of course. + What is your fruit? Mostly of water clear, + The heat may redden what your tendrils bear. + But, lady dear, you cannot live on fruits alone while here! + Now slip away your glossy glove + And pluck that ripened peach above, + Then place it in your pearly mouth + And suck it--how it 'lays your drouth-- + Melts in your lips like honey of the South! + + Dear Madame, in the North you have great sights-- + Of churches, castles, theatres of greatest heights; + Your works of art are greater far than here. + But come and see, quite near + The banks of the Garonne, on a sweet summer's day, + All works of God! and then you'll say + No place more beautiful and gay! + You see the rocks in all their velvet greenery; + The plains are always gold; and mossy very, + The valleys, where we breathe the healthy air, + And where we walk on beds of flowers most fair! + + The country round your Paris has its flowers and greensward, + But 'tis too grand a dame for me, it is too dull and sad. + Here, thousand houses smile along the river's stream; + Our sky is bright, it laughs aloud from morn to e'en. + Since month of May, when brightest weather bounds + For six months, music through the air resounds-- + A thousand nightingales the shepherd's ears delight: + All sing of Love--Love which is new and bright. + Your Opera, surprised, would silent hearken, + When day for night has drawn aside its curtain, + Under our heavens, which very soon comes glowing. + Listen, good God! our concert is beginning! + What notes! what raptures? Listen, shepherd-swains, + One chaunt is for the hill-side, the other's for the plains. + + "Those lofty mountains + Far up above, + I cannot see + All that I love; + Move lower, mountains, + Plains, up-move, + That I may see + All that I love."{2} + + And thousand voices sound through Heaven's alcove, + Coming across the skies so blue, + Making the angels smile above-- + The earth embalms the songsters true; + The nightingales, from tree to flower, + Sing louder, fuller, stronger. + 'Tis all so sweet, though no one beats the measure, + To hear it all while concerts last--such pleasure! + Indeed my vineyard's but a seat of honour, + For, from my hillock, shadowed by my bower, + I look upon the fields of Agen, the valley of Verone.{3} + How happy am I 'mongst my vines! Such pleasures there are none. + + For here I am the poet-dresser, working for the wines. + I only think of propping up my arbours and my vines; + Upon the road I pick the little stones-- + And take them to my vineyard to set them up in cones, + And thus I make a little house with but a sheltered door-- + As each friend, in his turn, now helps to make the store. + And then there comes the vintage--the ground is firm and fast, + With all my friends, with wallets or with baskets cast, + We then proceed to gather up the fertile grapes at last. + + Oh! my young vine, + The sun's bright shine + Hath ripened thee + All--all for me! + No drizzling showers + Have spoilt the hours. + My muse can't borrow; + My friends, to-morrow + Cannot me lend; + But thee, young friend, + Grapes nicely drest, + With figs the finest + And raisins gather + Bind them together! + Th' abundant season + Will still us bring + A glorious harvesting; + Close up thy hands with bravery + Upon the luscious grapery! + + Now all push forth their tendrils; though not past remedy, + At th' hour when I am here, my faithful memory + Comes crowding back; my oldest friends + Now make me young again--for pleasure binds + Me to their hearts and minds. + But now the curtained night comes on again. + + I see, the meadows sweet around, + My little island, midst the varying ground, + Where I have often laughed, and sometimes I have groaned. + + I see far off the leafy woodland, + Or near the fountain, where I've; often dreamed; + Long time ago there was a famous man{4} + Who gave its fame to Agen. + I who but write these verses slight + Midst thoughts of memory bright. + + But I will tell you all--in front, to left, to right, + More than a hedgerow thick that I have brought the light, + More than an apple-tree that I have trimmed, + More than an old vine-stalk that I have thinned + To ripen lovely Muscat. + Madame, you see that I look back upon my past, + Without a blush at last; + What would you? That I gave my vineyard back-- + And that with usury? Alack! + And yet unto my garden I've no door-- + Two thorns are all my fence--no more! + When the marauders come, and through a hole I see their nose, + Instead of taking up a stick to give them blows, + I turn aside; perhaps they never may return, the horde! + He who young robs, when older lets himself be robbed! + + +Endnotes to MY VINEYARD. + +{1} Jasmin purchased a little piece of ground, which he dedicated to his +"Curl-papers" (Papilhoto), on the road to Scaliger's villa, and addressed +the above lines to his lady-admirer in Paris, Madame Louis veill. + +{2} From a popular song by Gaston Phebus. + +{3} Referring to Verona, the villa of Scaliger, the great scholar. + +{4} Scaliger. + + + + +FRANCONNETTE. + +FIRST PART. + + Blaise de Montluc--Festival at Roquefort--The Prettiest + Maiden--The Soldier and the Shepherds--Kissing and Panting-- + Courage of Pascal--Fury of Marcel--Terrible Contest. + + 'Twas at the time when Blaise the murderous + Struck heavy blows by force of arms. + He hewed the Protestants to pieces, + And, in the name of God the Merciful, + Flooded the earth with sorrow, blood, and tears. + + Alas! 'twas pitiful--far worse beyond the hills, + Where flashing gun and culverin were heard; + There the unhappy bore their heavy cross, + And suffered, more than elsewhere, agonising pain, + Were killed and strangled, tumbled into wells; + 'Tween Penne and Fumel the saddened earth was gorged. + Men, women, children, murdered everywhere, + The hangman even stopped for breath; + While Blaise, with heart of steel, dismounted at the gate + Of his strong castle wall, + With triple bridge and triple fosse; + Then kneeling, made his pious prayers, + Taking the Holy Sacrament, + His hands yet dripping with fraternal blood!{1} + + Now every shepherd, every shepherd lass, + At the word Huguenot shuddered with affright, + Even 'midst their laughing courtship. + And yet it came to pass + That in a hamlet, 'neath a castled height, + One Sunday, when a troop of sweethearts danced + Upon the day of Roquefort fete, + And to a fife the praises sang + Of Saint James and the August weather-- + That bounteous month which year by year, + Through dew-fall of the evening bright, + And heat of Autumn noons doth bring + Both grapes and figs to ripening. + + It was the finest fete that eyes had ever seen + Under the shadow of the leafy parasol, + Where aye the country-folk convene. + O'erflowing were the spaces all, + From cliff, from dale, from every home + Of Montagnac and Sainte-Colombe, + Still they do come, + Too many far to number; + More, ever more, while flames the sunshine o'er, + There's room for all, their coming will not cumber, + The fields shall be their chamber, and the little hillocks green + The couches of their slumber. + + What pleasure! what delight! the sun now fills the air; + The sweetest thing in life + Is the music of the fife + And the dancing of the fair. + You see their baskets emptying + Of waffles all home-made. + They quaff the nectar sparkling + Of freshest lemonade. + What crowds at Punchinello, + While the showman beats his cymbal! + Crowds everywhere! + But who is this appears below? + Ah! 'tis the beauteous village queen! + Yes, 'tis she; 'tis Franconnette! + A fairer girl was never seen. + + In the town as in the prairie, + You must know that every country + Has its chosen pearl of love. + Ah, well! This was the one-- + They named her in the Canton, + The prettiest, sweetest dove. + + But now, you must not fancy, gentlemen, + That she was sad and sighing, + Her features pale as any lily, + That she had dying eyes, half-shut and blue, + And slender figure clothed with languishing, + Like to a weeping willow by a limpid lake. + Not so, my masters. Franconnette + Had two keen flashing eyes, like two live stars; + Her laughing cheeks were round, where on a lover might + Gather in handfuls roses bright; + Brown locks and curly decked her head; + Her lips were as the cherry red, + Whiter than snow her teeth; her feet + How softly moulded, small and fleet; + How light her limbs! Ah, well-a-day! + And of the whole at once I say, + She was the very beau-ideal + Of beauty in a woman's form, most fair and real. + + Such loveliness, in every race, + May sudden start to light. + She fired the youths with ready love, + Each maiden with despair. + Poor youths, indeed! Oh! how they wished + To fall beneath her feet! + They all admired her, and adored, + Just as the priest adores the cross-- + 'Twas as if there shone a star of light + The young girl's brow across! + + Yet, something vexing in her soul began to hover; + The finest flower had failed her in this day of honour. + Pascal, whom all the world esteemed, + Pascal, the handsomest, whose voice with music beamed, + He shunned the maid, cast ne'er a loving glance; + Despised! She felt hate growing in her heart, + And in her pretty vengeance + She seized the moment for a brilliant dart + Of her bright eyes to chain him. + What would you have? A girl so greatly envied, + She might become a flirt conceited; + Already had she seemed all this, + Self-glorious she was, I fear, + Coquetting rarely comes amiss, + Though she might never love, with many lovers near! + Grandmother often said to her, "Child, child!" with gentle frown, + "A meadow's not a parlour, and the country's not a town, + And thou knowest well that we have promised thee lang syne + To the soldier-lad, Marcel, who is lover true of thine. + So curb thy flights, thou giddy one, + The maid who covets all, in the end mayhap hath none." + "Nay, nay," replied the tricksy fay, + With swift caress, and laughter gay, + "There is another saw well-known, + Time enough, my grannie dear, to love some later day! + 'She who hath only me, hath 'none.'" + + Now, such a flighty course, you may divine, + Made hosts of melancholy swains, + Who sighed and suffered jealous pains, + Yet never sang reproachful strains, + Like learned lovers when they pine, + Who, as they go to die, their woes write carefully + On willow or on poplar tree. + Good lack! thou could'st not shape a letter, + And the silly souls, though love-sick, to death did not incline, + Thinking to live and suffer on were better! + But tools were handled clumsily, + And vine-sprays blew abroad at will, + And trees were pruned exceeding ill, + And many a furrow drawn awry. + + Methinks you know her now, this fair and foolish girl; + Watch while she treads one measure, then see her dip and twirl! + Young Etienne holds her hand by chance, + 'Tis the first rigadoon they dance; + With parted lips, right thirstily + Each rustic tracks them as they fly, + And the damsel sly + Feels every eye, + And lighter moves for each adoring glance. + Holy cross! what a sight! when the madcap rears aright + Her shining lizard's head! her Spanish foot falls light, + Her wasp-like figure sways + And swims and whirls and springs again. + The wind with corner of her 'kerchief plays. + Those lovely cheeks where on the youths now gaze, + They hunger to salute with kisses twain! + + And someone shall; for here the custom is, + Who tires his partner out, salutes her with a kiss; + The girls grow weary everywhere, + Wherefore already Jean and Paul, + Louis, Guillaume, and strong Pierre, + Have breathless yielded up their place + Without the coveted embrace. + + Another takes his place, Marcel the wight, + The soldier of Montluc, prodigious in his height, + Arrayed in uniform, bearing his sword, + A cockade in his cap, the emblem of his lord, + Straight as an I, though bold yet not well-bred, + His heart was soft, but thickish was his head. + He blustered much and boasted more and more, + Frolicked and vapoured as he took the floor + Indeed he was a very horrid bore. + Marcel, most mad for Franconnette, tortured the other girls, + Made her most jealous, yet she had no chance, + The swelled-out coxcomb called on her to dance. + But Franconnette was loth, and she must let him see it; + He felt most madly jealous, yet was maladroit, + He boasted that he was beloved; perhaps he did believe it quite-- + + The other day, in such a place, + She shrank from his embrace! + + The crowd now watched the dancing pair, + And marked the tricksy witching fair; + They rush, they whirl! But what's amiss? + The bouncing soldier lad, I wis, + Can never snatch disputed kiss! + The dancing maid at first smiles at her self-styled lover, + "Makes eyes" at him, but ne'er a word does utter; + She only leaped the faster! + Marcel, piqued to the quick, longed to subdue this creature, + He wished to show before the crowd what love he bore her; + One open kiss were sweeter far + Than twenty in a corner! + But, no! his legs began to fail, his head was in a trance, + He reeled, he almost fell, he could no longer dance; + Now he would give cockade, sabre, and silver lace, + Would it were gold indeed, for her embrace! + + Yet while the pair were still afoot, the girl looked very gay-- + Resolved never to give way! + While headstrong Marcel, breathless, spent, and hot in face, + He reeled and all but fell; then to the next gave place! + Forth darted Pascal in the soldier's stead, + They make two steps, then change, and Franconnette, + Weary at last, with laughing grace, + Her foot stayed and upraised her face! + Tarried Pascal that kiss to set? + Not he, be sure! and all the crowd + His vict'ry hailed with plaudits loud. + The clapping of their palms like battle-dores resounded, + While Pascal stood among them quite confounded! + + Oh, what a picture for the soldier who so loved his queen! + Him the kiss maddened! Measuring Pascal with his een, + He thundered, "Peasant, you have filled my place most sly; + Not so fast, churl!"--and brutally let fly + With aim unerring one fierce blow, + Straight in the other's eyes, doubling the insult so. + + Good God!{2} how stings the madd'ning pain, + His dearest happiness that blow must stain, + Kissing and boxing--glory, shame! + Light, darkness! Fire, ice! Life, death! Heaven, hell! + All this was to our Pascal's soul the knell + Of hope! But to be thus tormented + By flagrant insult, as the soldier meant it; + Now without fear he must resent it! + It does not need to be a soldier nor a "Monsieur," + An outrage placidly to bear. + Now fiery Pascal let fly at his foe, + Before he could turn round, a stunning blow; + 'Twas like a thunder peal, + And made the soldier reel; + Trying to draw his sabre, + But Pascal, seeming bigger, + Gripped Marcel by the waist, and sturdily + Lifted him up, and threw his surly + Foe on the ground, breathless, and stunned severely. + + "Now then!" while Pascal looked on the hound thrown by him, + "The peasant grants thee chance of living!" + "Despatch him!" cried the surging crowd. + "Thou art all cover'd o'er with blood!" + But Pascal, in his angry fit of passion, + Had hurt his wrist and fist in a most serious fashion. + + "No matter! All the same I pardon him! + You must have pity on the beaten hound!" + "No, finish him! Into morsels cut him!" + The surging, violent crowd now cried around. + "Back, peasants, back! Do him no harm!" + Sudden exclaimed a Monsieur, speaking with alarm; + The peasants moved aside, and then gave place + To Montluc, glittering with golden lace; + It was the Baron of Roquefort! + + The frightened girls, like hunted hares, + At once dispers'd, flew here and there. + The shepherds, but a moment after, + With thrilling fife and beaming laughter, + The brave and good Pascal attended on his way, + Unto his humble home, as 'twere his nuptial day. + + But Marcel, furious, mad with rage, exclaimed, + "Oh! could I stab and kill them! But I'm maimed!" + Only a gesture of his lord + Restrained him, hand upon his sword. + Then did he grind his teeth, as he lay battered, + And in a low and broken voice he muttered: + "They love each other, and despise my kindness, + She favours him, and she admires his fondness; + Ah, well! by Marcel's patron, I'll not tarry + To make them smart, and Franconnette + No other husband than myself shall marry!" + + + SECOND PART. + + The Enamoured Blacksmith--His Fretful Mother--The Busking + Soiree--Pascal's Song--The Sorcerer of the Black Forest-- + The Girl Sold to the Demon. + + Since Roquefort fete, one, two, three months have fled; + The dancing frolic, with the harvest ended; + The out-door sports are banished-- + For winter comes; the air is sad and cold, it sighs + Under the vaulted skies. + At fall of night, none risks to walk across the fields, + For each one, sad and cheerless, beelds + Before the great fires blazing, + Or talks of wolfish fiends{3} amazing; + And sorcerers--to make one shudder with affright-- + That walk around the cots so wight, + Or 'neath the gloomy elms, and by farmyards at night. + + But now at last has Christmas come, + And little Jack, who beats the drum, + Cries round the hamlet, with his beaming face: + "Come brisken up, you maidens fair, + A merry busking{4} shall take place + On Friday, first night of the year!" + + Ah! now the happy youths and maidens fair + Proclaimed the drummer's words, so bright and rare. + The news were carried far and near + Light as a bird most fleet + With wings to carry thoughts so sweet. + The sun, with beaming rays, had scarcely shone + Ere everywhere the joyous news had flown; + At every fireside they were known, + By every hearth, in converse keen, + The busking was the theme. + + But when the Friday came, a frozen dew was raining, + And by a fireless forge a mother sat complaining; + And to her son, who sat thereby, + She spoke at last entreatingly: + "Hast thou forgot the summer day, my boy, when thou didst come + All bleeding from the furious fray, to the sound of music home? + How I have suffered for your sorrow, + And all that you have had to go through. + Long have I troubled for your arm! For mercy's sake + Oh! go not forth to-night! I dreamt of flowers again, + And what means that, Pascal, but so much tears and pain!" + + "Now art thou craven, mother! and see'st that life's all black, + But wherefore tremble, since Marcel has gone, and comes not + back!" + "Oh yet, my son, do you take heed, I pray! + For the wizard of the Black Wood is roaming round this way; + The same who wrought such havoc, 'twas but a year agone, + They tell me one was seen to come from 's cave at dawn + But two days past--it was a soldier; now + What if this were Marcel? Oh, my child, do take care! + Each mother gives her charms unto her sons; do thou + Take mine; but I beseech, go not forth anywhere!" + + "Just for one little hour, mine eyes to set + On my friend Thomas, whom I'm bound to meet!" + + "Thy friend, indeed! Nay, nay! Thou meanest Franconnette, + Whom thou loves dearly! I wish thou'd love some other maid! + Oh, yes! I read it in thine eyes! + Though thou sing'st, art gay, thy secret bravely keeping, + That I may not be sad, yet all alone thou'rt weeping-- + My head aches for thy misery; + Yet leave her, for thine own good, my dear Pascal; + She would so greatly scorn a working smith like thee, + With mother old in penury; + For poor we are--thou knowest truly. + + "How we have sold and sold fill scarce a scythe remains. + Oh, dark the days this house hath seen + Since, Pascal, thou so ill hast been; + Now thou art well, arouse! do something for our gains + Or rest thee, if thou wilt; with suffering we can fight; + But, for God's love, oh! go not forth to-night!" + + And the poor mother, quite undone, + Cried, while thus pleading with her son, + Who, leaning on his blacksmith's forge + The stifling sobs quelled in his gorge. + "'Tis very true," he said, "that we are poor, + But had I that forgot?... I go to work, my mother, now, be sure!" + + No sooner said than done; for in a blink + Was heard the anvil's clink, + The sparks flew from the blacksmith's fire + Higher and still higher! + The forgeman struck the molten iron dead, + Hammer in hand, as if he had a hundred in his head! + + But now, the Busking was apace, + And soon, from every corner place + The girls came with the skein of their own making + To wind up at this sweethearts' merry meeting. + + In the large chamber, where they sat and winded + The threads, all doubly garnished, + The girls, the lads, plied hard their finger, + And swiftly wound together + The clews of lint so fair, + As fine as any hair. + + The winding now was done; and the white wine, and rhymsters, + Came forth with rippling glass and porringers, + And brought their vivid vapours + To brighten up their capers-- + Ah! if the prettiest were the best, with pride + I would my Franconnette describe. + + Though queen of games, she was the last, not worst, + It is not that she reigned at present, yet was first. + + "Hold! Hold!" she cried, the brown-haired maid, + Now she directed them from side to side-- + Three women merged in one, they said-- + She dances, speaks, sings, all bewitching, + By maiden's wiles she was so rich in; + She sings with soul of turtle-dove, + She speaks with grace angelic; + She dances on the wings of love-- + Sings, speaks, and dances, in a guise + More than enough to turn the head most wise! + + Her triumph is complete; all eyes are fixed upon her, + Though her adorers are but peasants; + Her eyes are beaming, + Blazing and sparkling, + And quite bewitching; + No wonder that the sweetheart lads are ravished with her! + + Then Thomas rose and, on the coquette fixing + His ardent eyes, though blushing, + In language full of neatness, + And tones of lute-like sweetness, + This song began to sing: + + THE SYREN WITH A HEART OF ICE. + + "Oh, tell us, charming Syren, + With heart of ice unmoved, + When shall we hear the sound + Of bells that ring around, + To say that you have loved? + Always so free and gay, + Those wings of dazzling ray, + + Are spread to every air-- + And all your favour share; + Attracted by their light + All follow in your flight. + But ah! believe me, 'tis not bliss, + Such triumphs do but purchase pain; + What is it to be loved like this, + To her who cannot love again? + + "You've seen how full of joy + We've marked the sun arise; + Even so each Sunday morn + When you, before our eyes, + Bring us such sweet surprise. + With us new life is born: + We love your angel face, + Your step so debonnaire, + Your mien of maiden grace, + Your voice, your lips, your hair, + Your eyes of gentle fire, + All these we now admire! + But ah! believe me, 'tis not bliss, + Such triumphs do but purchase pain; + What is it to be loved like this, + To her who cannot love again? + + "Alas! our groves are dull + When widowed of thy sight, + And neither hedge nor field + Their perfume seem to yield; + The blue sky is not bright + When you return once more, + All that was sad is gone, + All nature you restore, + We breathe in you alone; + We could your rosy fingers cover + With kisses of delight all over! + But ah! believe me, 'tis not bliss, + Such triumphs do but purchase pain; + What is it to be loved like this, + To her who cannot love again? + + "The dove you lost of late, + Might warn you by her flight, + She sought in woods her mate, + And has forgot you quite; + She has become more fair + Since love has been her care. + 'Tis love makes all things gay, + Oh follow where she leads-- + When beauteous looks decay, + What dreary life succeeds! + And ah! believe me, perfect bliss, + A joy, where peace and triumph reign, + Is when a maiden, loved like this, + Has learnt 'tis sweet to love again!" + + The songster finished, and the ardent crowd + Of listeners clapped their hands in praises loud. + + "Oh! what a lovely song!" they cried. "Who is the poet?" + "'Tis Pascal," answered Thomas, "that has made it!" + "Bravo! Long live Pascal!" exclaimed the fervent crowd. + + Nothing said Franconnette; but she rejoiced--was proud-- + At having so much love evoked, + And in a song so touching, + Before this crowd admiring. + + Then she became more serious as she thought of Pascal; + "How brave he is! 'Tis all for him; he has not got his equal! + How he paints love! All praise him without doubt; + And his sweet song--so touching!" for now by heart she knows it. + "But if he loves at last, why does he hide away?" + Then turning suddenly, she says-- + "Thomas, he is not here, away he stays; + I would him compliment; can he not come?" + "Oh! now he cannot; but remains at home." + + Then spoke the jealous Lawrence: "Pascal knows + He cannot any other songs compose; + Poor fellow! almost ruined quite he is; + His father's most infirm--stretched out, and cannot rise; + The baker will not give him bread, he is constrained to debts." + + Then Franconnette grew pale, and said, "And he so very good! + Poor lad! how much he suffers; and now he wants his food!" + + "My faith!" said Lawrence, a heart of goodness aping, + "They say that now he goes a-begging!" + "You lie!" cried Thomas, "hold thy serpent's tongue! + Pascal, 'tis true, is working, yet with harm, + Since, for this maiden, he has suffered in his arm; + But he is cured; heed not this spiteful knave! + He works now all alone, for he is strong and brave." + If someone on the girl his eyes had set, + He would have seen tears on the cheeks of Franconnette. + + "Let's 'Hunt the Slipper!"' cried the maids; + Round a wide ring they sat, the jades. + Slipper was bid by Franconnette, + But in a twinkle, Marionette-- + "Lawrence, hast thou my slipper?" "No, demoiselle!" + "Rise then, and seek it now, ah, well!" + Lawrence, exulting in his features, + Said, "Franconnette, hast thou my slipper?" + "No, sir!" "'Tis false!" It was beneath her seat! + "Thou hast it! Rise! Now kiss me as the forfeit!" + + A finch, just taken in a net, + First tries some gap to fly at; + So Franconnette, just like a bird, escaped + With Lawrence, whom she hated; + Incensed he turned to kiss her; + He swiftly ran, but in his pursuit warm, + The moment she was caught he stumbled, + Slipped, fell, and sudden broke his arm. + + Misfortunes ne'er come single, it is said. + The gloomy night was now far spent; + But in that fright of frights, quite in a breath, + The house-door creaked and ope'd! Was it a wraith? + No! but an old man bearded to the waist, + And now there stood before the throng the Black Wood Ghaist! + "Imprudent youths!" he cried; "I come from gloomy rocks up + yonder, + Your eyes to ope: I'm filled with wrath and wonder! + You all admire this Franconnette; + Learn who she is, infatuate! + + From very cradle she's all evil; + Her wretched father, miserable, + + Passed to the Hugnenots and sold her to the Devil; + Her mother died of shame-- + And thus the demon plays his game. + Now he has bought this woman base, + He tracks her in her hiding-place. + You see how he has punished Pascal and Lawrence + Because they gave her light embrace! + Be warned! For who so dares this maid to wed, + Amid the brief delight of their first nuptial night, + Will sudden hear a thunder-peal o'er head! + The demon cometh in his might + To snatch the bride away in fright, + And leave the ill-starred bridegroom dead!" + + The Wizard said no more; but angry, fiery rays, + From scars his visage bore, seemed suddenly to blaze. + Four times he turned his heel upon, + Then bade the door stand wide, or ere his foot he stayed; + With one long creak the door obeyed, + And lo! the bearded ghaist was gone! + + He left great horror in his wake! None stirred in all the + throng; + They looked nor left nor right, when he away had gone, + They seemed all changed to stone-- + Only the stricken maid herself stood brave against her wrong; + + And in the hope forlorn that all might pass for jest, + With tremulous smile, half bright, half pleading, + She swept them with her eyes, and two steps forward pressed; + But when she saw them all receding, + And heard them cry "Avaunt!" then did she know her fate; + Then did her saddened eyes dilate + With speechless terror more and more, + The while her heart beat fast and loud, + Till with a cry her head she bowed + And sank in swoon upon the floor. + Such was the close of Busking night, + Though it began so gay and bright; + The morrow was the New Year's day, + It should have been a time most gay; + But now there went abroad a fearful rumour-- + It was remembered long time after + In every house and cottage home throughout the land-- + Though 'twas a fiction and a superstition,-- + It was, "The De'il's abroad! He's now a-roaming; + How dreadful! He is now for lost souls seeking!" + + The folks were roused and each one called to mind + That some, in times of yore, had heard the sound + Of Devil's chains that clanked; + How soon the father vanished, + The mother, bent in agony, + A maniac she died! + That then all smiled; they felt nor hurt nor harm, + They lived quite happy on their cottage farm, + And when the fields were spoilt with hail or rain, + Their ground was covered o'er with plums and grain. + + It was enough; the girls believed it all, + Grandmothers, mothers--thoughts did them appal-- + Even infants trembled at the demon's name; + And when the maiden hung her head in pain,. + And went abroad, they scarce would give her passage; + They called to her, "Away! Avaunt! thou imp of evil, + Behold the crime of dealing with the Devil!" + + + THIRD PART. + + The Maid at Estanquet--A Bad Dream--The Grandmother's Advice-- + Blessed Bread--Satisfaction and Affection--First Thought of Love + --Sorrowfulness--The Virgin. + + Beside a cot at Estanquet, + Down by a leafy brooklet, + The limpid stream + Enshadowed sheen, + Lapped o'er the pebbles murmuring. + Last summer sat a maid, with gathered flowers, + She was engaged in setting, + Within her grassy bowers; + She sang in joy her notes so thrilling, + As made the birds, their sweet songs trilling, + Most jealous. + + Why does she sing no more? midst fields and hedgerows verdant; + 'The nightingales that came within her garden, + With their loud "jug! jug!" warbling, + And their sweet quavers singing; + Can she have left her cottage home? + + No! There's her pretty hat of straw + Laid on the bench; but then they saw + There was no ribbon round it; + The garden all neglected; + The rake and wat'ring-pot were down + Amongst the jonquils overthrown; + The broken-branched roses running riot; + The dandelion, groundsell, all about; + And the nice walks, laid out with so much taste, + Now cover'd with neglected weeds and wanton waste. + + Oh! what has happened here? Where is the lively maid? + The little birds now whispering said; + Her home is sparkling there beyond, + With tufted branch of hazel round; + Let's just peep in, the door is open, + We make no noise, but let us listen. + Ah! there's grandmother, on her arm-chair, fast asleep! + And here, beside the casement deep, + The maid of Estanquet, in saddened pain and grief, + The tears down-falling on her pretty hand; + To whom no joy nor hope can ever give relief! + + Ah! yes,'twas dark enough! for it is Franconnette, + Already you've divined it is our pet! + + And see her now, poor maiden, + Bending beneath the falsest blow, o'erladen; + She sobs and weeps alternately-- + Her heart is rent and empty, + Oft, to console herself, she rises, walks, and walks again; + Alas! her trouble is so full of pain-- + Awake or sleeping-- + she's only soothed by weeping. + Daughter of Huguenot accursed, + And banished from the Church! + Sold to the demon; she's for ever cursed! + Grandmother, waking, said, "Child, 'tis not true; + It matters not; 'tis but thy father fled, + No one can contradict that raving crew; + They know not where he is, and could they see him, + They would so frightened be, they'd not believe their een!" + + "How changed things are," said Franconnette, "before I was so + happy; + Then I was village queen, all followed love in harmony; + And all the lads, to please me, + Would come barefooted, e'en through serpents' nests, to bless me! + But now, to be despised and curst, + I, who was once the very first! + And Pascal, too, whom once I thought the best, + In all my misery shuns me like a pest! + Now that he knows my very sad mishaps, + He ne'er consoles with me at all--perhaps----" + + She did deceive herself. Her grief to-day was softened + By hearing that Pascal 'gainst slanders her defended; + Such magic help, it was a balm + Her aching soul to calm; + And then, to sweeten all her ill, + She thought always of Pascal--did this softened girl. + + What is that sound? A sudden shriek! + Grandmother dreamt--she was now wide awake; + The girl sprang to her; she said, "Isn't the house aflame? + Ah! twas a dream! Thank God!" her murmur came. + + "Dear heart," the girl said softly; "what was this dream of + thine?" + "Oh, love! 'twas night, and loud ferocious men, methought + Came lighting fires all round our little cot, + And thou did'st cry unto them, daughter mine, + To save me, but did'st vainly strive, + For here we too must burn alive! + The torment that I bore! How shall I cure my fright + Come hither, darling, let me hold thee tight!" + + Then the white-headed dame, in withered arms of love, + With yearning tenderness folded the brown-haired girl, who + strove, + By many a smile, and mute caress, + To hearten her, until at length + The aged one cried out, her love gave vital strength, + "Sold to the Demon, thou? It is a hideous lie! + Therefore, dear child, weep not so piteously; + Take courage! Be thou brave in heart once more, + Thou art more lovely than before-- + Take grannie's word for that! Arise! + Go forth; who hides from envious eyes + Makes wicked people spiteful; I've heard this, my pet; + I know full well there's one who loves thee yet-- + Marcel would guard thee with his love; + Thou lik'st not him? Ah! could he move + Thy feelings, he would shield thee, dear, + And claim thee for his own. + But I am all too feeble grown; + Yet stay, my darling, stay! To-morrow's Easter Day, + Go thou to Mass, and pray as ne'er before! + Then take the blessed bread, if so the good God may + The precious favour of his former smile restore, + And on thy sweet face, clear as day, + Own thou art numbered with his children evermore!" + + Then such a gleam of hope lit the old face again, + Furrowed so deep with years and pain, + That, falling on her neck, the maiden promised well, + And once more on the white cot silence fell. + + When, therefore, on the morrow, came the country-side, + To hear the Hallelujas in the church of Saint Pierre; + Great was the wonderment of those that spied + The maiden, Franconnette, silently kneeling there, + + Telling her beads with downcast eyes of prayer. + She needs, poor thing, Heaven's mercy to implore, + For ne'er a woman's will she win! + But then, beholding her sweet mien, + Were Marvel and Pascal, eyeing her fondly o'er; + She saw them with her glances, dark as night, + Then shrinking back, they left her all alone, + Midway of a great circle, as they might + Some poor condemned one + Bearing some stigma on her brow in sight. + + This was not all, poor child! It was well known-- + The warden, uncle to Marcel, + Carried the Blessed Bread; + And like a councillor, did swell + In long-tailed coat, with pompous tread: + But when the trembling maid, making a cross, essayed + To take a double portion, as her dear old grandame bade, + Right in the view of every eye, + The sacred basket he withdrew, and passed her wholly + And so, denied her portion of the bread whereby we live, + She, on glad Easter, doth receive + Dismissal from God's house for aye. + + The maid, trembling with fear, thought all was lost indeed! + But no! she hath a friend at need; + 'Twas Pascal, who had seen her all the while-- + Pacal, whose young foot walked along the aisle, + He made the quest, and nothing loth, + In view of uncle and of nephew both, + Doth quietly to her present, + + Upon a silver plate, with flowers fair blossoming, + The crown-piece{5} of the Holy Sacrament-- + And all the world beholds the pious offering. + + Oh! moment full of joy; her blood sprang into fleetness; + Warmth was in all her frame, her senses thrilled with sweetness; + She saw the bread of God arisen + Out of its earthly prison, + Thus life unto her own was given: + But wherefore did her brow quite blushing grow? + Because the angel bright of love, I trow, + Did with her glowing breath impart + Life to the flame long smouldering in her heart. + It did become a something strange, and passing all desire + As honey sweet, and quick as fire + Did her sad soul illuminate + With a new being; and, though late, + She knew the word for her delight, + The fair enigma she could guess. + People and priest all vanish'd from her sight, + She saw in all the church only one man aright-- + He whom she loved at last, with utmost gratefulness. + + Then from Saint Peter's church the throng widely dispersed, + And of the scandal they had seen, now eagerly conversed; + But lost not sight of her at all + Who bore the Bread of Honour to the ancient dame, ere this, + She sitteth now alone, shut in her chamber small, + While Franconnette beams brightly with her new-found bliss. + + On the parched earth, where falls the earliest dew, + As shines the sun's first rays, the winter flown-- + So love's first spark awakes to life anew, + And fills the startled mind with joy unknown. + The maiden yielded every thought to this-- + The trembling certainty of real bliss; + The lightning of a joy before improved, + Flash'd in her heart, and told her that she loved. + + She fled from envy, and from curious eyes, + And dreamed, as all have done, their waking dreams, + Bidding in thought bright fairy fabrics rise + To shrine the loved one in their golden gleams. + Alas! the sage is right, 'tis the distrest + Who dream the fondest, and who love the best. + + But when the saddened heart controls us quite, + It quickly turns to gall the sweets of our delight. + Then she remembered all! The opening heaven turned grey, + Dread thought now smites her heavily. + Dreams she of love? Why, what is she? + Sweet love is not for her! The dreaded sorcerer + Hath said she's fore-sold for a price--a murderer! + With heart of dev'lish wrath, which whoso dares to brave + To lie with her one night, therein shall find his grave. + She, to see Pascal perish at her side! + "Oh God! have pity on me now!" she cried. + So, rent with cruel agonies, + And weeping very sore, + Fell the poor child upon her knees, + Her little shrine before. + + "Oh, Holy Virgin!"--sighing--"on thee alone relying, + I come; I'm all astray! Father and mother too + Are dead lang syne, and I accursed! All tongues are crying + This hideous tale! Yet save me if't be true; + If they have falsely sworn, be it on their souls borne + When I shall bring my taper on the fete-day morn{6} + Oh! blessed Mother, let me see + That I am not denied of thee!" + + Brief prayer, + Though 'tis sincere, + To Heaven mounts quickly, + Sure to have won a gracious ear; + The maid her purpose holds, and ponders momently, + And oftentimes grows sick, and cannot speak for fear, + But sometimes taketh heart, and sudden hope and strong + Shines in her soul, as brightest meteor gleams the sky along. + + + FOURTH PART. + + The Fete at Notre Dame--Offering to the Virgin--Thunderstroke + and Taper Extinguished--The Storm at Roquefort-- + Fire at Estanquet--Triumph of Pascal--Fury of Marcel-- + Power of a Mother--Bad Head and Good Heart--Conclusion. + + At last, behold the day she longed for, yet so fearfully, + But lo! the sun rose cheerfully; + And long, long lines of white-robed village girls + From all the country round, walked tow'rds the tinkling bells, + And soon, proud Notre Dame appeared in sight, + As 'midst a cloud of perfume! + 'Twas if the thirty hamlets in their might + Were piled together into one. + + What priests! What candles! Crucifixes! Garlands! + What Angels,{7} and what banners! + + You see there Artigues, Puymiral, Astafort, + Saint-Cirq, Cardonnet, Lusignan, Brax, Roquefort, + But this year, Roquefort first, o'erleapeth all. + What crowds there are of curious people, + To watch the girl sold to the Devil! + The news has travelled everywhere; + They know that she, in silent prayer, + Implores the Virgin to protect her there! + + Her neighbours scoff, and her menace, + But saddened friends grieve at her sore disgrace, + Love, through their heart, in fervour rills, + Each one respects this plaintivest of girls; + And many a pitying soul a prayer said, + That some great miracle might yet be made + In favour of this poor and suppliant maid. + + She saw, rejoiced, more hope with her abode; + Though voice of people is the voice of God! + Oh! how her heart beat as the church she neared, + 'Twas for the Virgin's indulgence she cared. + Mothers with heartaches; young unfortunates; + The orphan girls; the women without mates; + All knelt before, with tapers waxen, + The image of the Virgin; + And there the aged priest, in surplice dressed, + Placed the crosses at their lips, and afterwards them blessed. + + No sign of sorrow did on any suppliant fall, + But with their happy hearts, their ways went one and all, + So Franconnette grew happy too, + And most because Pascal prayed fervent in her view; + She dared t'raise her eyes to the holy father's face, + It seemed to her that love, hymns, lights, and the incense + United, cried out, "Grace!" + "Grace, grace divine," she sighed, "and love! Let them be mine!" + Then stretching out her taper lit, and followed to the shrine, + Bearing a garland in her hand; and all about her strove + To give a place to her, and bade her forward move. + They fixed their eyes upon the sacred priest and her, + And scarce a breath was drawn, and not a soul did stir; + But when the priest, holding the image of redeeming love, + Had laid it on the orphan's lips; before her kiss was given, + Burst a terrific thunderpeal, as if 'twould rend the heaven, + Blowing her taper out, and all the altar lights above. + + Oh, what is this? The crashing thunder! + Her prayer denied, the lights put out! + Good God! she's sold indeed! All, all is true, no doubt, + So a long murmur rose of horror and of wonder; + For while the maiden breathlessly + Cowering like some lost soul, their shuddering glances under, + Sudden crept forth, all shrunk away, and let her pass them by. + + Howbeit, that great peal was the opening blow + Of a wild storm and terrible, + That straightway upon Roquefort fell, + The spire of Saint Pierre{8} lay in ruins low, + And, smitten by the sharp scourge of the hail, + In all the region round, men could but weep and wail. + + The angel bands who walked that day + In fair procession, hymns to sing, + Turned sorrowing, all save one, away, + Ora pro nobis chaunting. + + Yet, in those early times, though not as now, + The angry waves to clear; + To other jealous towns could Agen show + Great bridges three, as she a royal city were; + + Then she had only barges two, by poles propelled slow, + That waited for the minstrels, to bear them to Roquefort, + Whose villagers heard rumours of the widespread woe; + Ere landing, they were ranged for singing on the shore. + At first the tale but half they heed, + But soon they see in very deed, + Vineyards and happy fields with hopeless ruin smit; + Then each let fall his banner fair, + And lamentations infinite + Bent on all sides the evening air, + Till o'er the swelling throng rose deadly clear the cry, + "And still we spare this Franconnette!" Then suddenly, + As match to powder laid, the words + "Set her on fire! That daughter of the Huguenot, + Let's burn her up, and let her ashes rot." + Then violent cries were heard. + Howls of "Ay! Ay! the wretch! Now let her meet her fate! + She is the cause of all, 'tis plain! + Once she has made us desolate, + But she shall never curse again!" + + And now the crowd grew angrier, wilder too. + "Hunt her off face of earth!" one shouts anew; + "Hunt her to death! 'Tis meet," a thousand tongues repeat, + The tempest in the skies cannot with this compete. + Oh, then, to see them as they came, + With clenched fists and eyes aflame, + Hell did indeed its demons all unchain. + And while the storm recedes, the night is growing clear, + But poison shoots through every vein + Of the possess'd madmen there. + + Thus goaded they themselves to crime; but where was she, + Unhappy Franconnette? To her own cottage driven-- + Worshipping her one relic, sad and dreamily, + And whispered to the withered flowers Pascal had loving given: + "Dear nosegay, when I saw thee first, + Methought thy sweetness was divine, + And I did drink it, heart athirst; + But now thou art not sweet as erst, + Because those wicked thoughts of mine + Have blighted all thy beauty rare; + I'm sold to powers of ill, for Heav'n hath spurned my prayer; + My love is deadly love! No hope on earth have I! + So, treasure of my heart, flowers of the meadow fair, + Because I bless the hand that gathered thee, good-bye! + Pascal must not love such as I! + He must th' accursed maid forswear, + Who yet to God for him doth cry! + In wanton merriment last year, + Even at love laughed Franconnette; + Now is my condemnation clear, + Now whom I love, I must forget; + Sold to the demon at my birth! + My God, how can it be? Have I not faith in Thee? + Oh! blessed blossoms of the earth; + Let me drive with my cross the evil one from me! + And thou, my mother, in the star-lit skies above, + And thou, my guardian, oh! mother of our God, + Pity me: For I bless Pascal, but part from him I love! + + Pity the maid accursed, by the rod + Sore smitten, to the earth down-trod, + Help me, thy Heart Divine to move!" + + "Franconnette, little one, what means thy plaintive moan?" + So spake the hoary dame. "Didst thou not smiling say + Our Lady did receive thy offering to-day? + But sure, no happy heart should make so sad a groan. + Thou hast deceived me? Some new ill," she said, + Hath fall'n upon us!" "Nay, not so; be comforted. + I--I'm quite happy!" "So my sweetest deary, + God grant that some good respite we may have, + For your sad sorrow diggeth up my grave; + And this hath been a lonesome, fearsome day, and weary; + That cruel dream of fire I had some time ago, + Howe'er I strove, did always haunt me so! + And then, thou know'st the storm; oh, I was terrified, + So that, to-night, my dear, I shudder in my fright!" + + What sudden noise is this outside? + "Fire! Fire! Let's burn them in their cot!" + Flames shine through all the shutters wide, + Then Franconnette springs to the doorway tremblingly, + And, gracious Heaven! what doth she see? + By light of burning reek, + An angry people huddled thick; + She hears them shout, "Now, to your fate! + Spare ne'er the young one, nor the old, + Both work us ruin manifold. + Sold to the demon, we must burn you straight!" + + The girl fell on her knees, before the face + Of that most furious populace. + + She cried, "Grandmother will you kill? Oh, pity, grace!" + "Twas of no use, the wretches, blind with fury, + In viewing her bareheaded, in their hurry, + Saw but a cursed leman, + Sold bodily to the demon. + The fiercest cried "Avaunt!" + While the more savage forward spring, + And on the door their feet they plant, + With fiery brand in their hand brandishing. + + "Hold! I implore you!"cried a voice, before unheard; + And sudden leapt before the crowd like lightning with the word, + A man of stately strength and tall, + It was the noble, brave Pascal! + + "Cowards!" he cried. "What? Will you murder women then, + And burn their cot? Children of God! Are you the same? + Tigers you are, and cannot then be men; + And after all that they have suffered! Shame! + Fall back! Fall back! I say; the walls are growing hot!" + + "Then let her leave us quite, this wretched Huguenot, + For she was long since by the devil bought, + God smites us 'cause we did not drive her forth before." + "Quick! quick!" cried Pascal, "living they will burn! + Ye dogs, who moved ye to this awful crime?" + "'Twas Marcel," they replied. "See, now he comes in time!" + "You lie!" the soldier thundered in his turn; + "I love her, boaster, more than thou!" + Said Pascal, "How wilt prove thy love, thou of the tender heart?" + "I come," the other said, "to save her. I come to take her part. + I come, if so she will, to wed her, even now." + + "And so am I," replied Pascal, and steadfastly + Before his rival's eyes, as bound by some great spell. + Then to the orphan girl turned he, + With worship all unspeakable. + "Answer me, Franconnette, and speak the truth alone; + Thou'st followed by the wicked with spite and scorn, my own; + But we two love thee well, and ready are to brave + Death! Yes, or hell, thy precious life to save. + Choose which of us thou wilt!" "Nay," she lamented sore, + "Dearest, mine is a love that slays! + Be happy, then, without me! Forget me! Go thy ways!" + + "Happy without thee, dear! That can I never more: + Nay, were it true, as lying rumour says, + An evil spirit ruled you o'er, + I'd rather die with you, than live bereaved days!" + + When life is at its bitterest, + The voice of love aye rules us best; + Instantly rose the girl above her mortal dread, + And on the crowd advancing straight, + "Because I love Pascal, alone I'd meet my fate! + Howbeit his will is law," she said, + "Wherefore together let our souls be sped." + Then was Pascal in heav'n, and Marcel in the dust laid low; + Then Pascal sought his gallant rival, saying, + "I am more blest than thou! Forgive! thou'rt brave, I know, + Some squire{9} should follow me to death; then wilt thou not + Serve me? I have no other friend!" Marcel seemed dreaming; + And now he scowled with wrath, and now his eyes were kindling; + Terrible was the battle in his mind; + Till his eye fell on Franconnette, serene and beaming, + But with no word for him; then pale, but smilingly, + "Because it is her will," he said, "I follow thee." + + Two weeks had passed away, and a strange nuptial train, + Adown the verdant hill went slowly to the plain; + First came the comely pair we know, in all their bloom, + While gathered far and wide, three deep on either side, + The ever-curious rustics hied, + Shudd'ring at heart o'er Pascal's doom. + Marcel conducts their march, but pleasures kindly true, + Glows not upon th' unmoving face he lifts to view. + And something glances from his eye, + That makes men shudder as they pass him by; + + Yet verily his mien triumphant is, at least + Sole master is he of this feast, + And gives his rival, for bouquet, + A supper and a ball to-day. + But at the dance and at the board + Alike, scarce one essayed a word; + None sung a song, none raised a jest, + For dark forebodings everyone oppressed. + + And the betrothed, by love's deep rapture fascinated, + Silent and sweet, though near the fate she sad awaited, + No sound their dream dispelled, yet hand in hand did press, + Their eyes looked ever in a visioned happiness; + And so, at last, the evening fell. + But one affrighted woman straightway broke the spell; + She fell on Pascal's neck and "Fly, my son!" she cried. + "I from the Sorcerer come! Fly, fly from thy false bride + The fatal sieve{10} hath turned; thy death decree is spoken! + There's sulphur fume in bridal room, and by the same dread token, + Enter it not; for if thou liv'st thou'rt lost," she sadly said; + "And what were life to me, my son, if thou wert dead?" + Then Pascal felt his eyes were wet, + And turned away, striving to hide his face, where on + The mother shrieked, "Ingrate! but I will save thee yet. + + Thou wilt not dare!"--falling before her stricken son. + "Thou shalt now o'er my body pass, even as thou goest forth! + A wife, it seems, is all; and mother nothing worth! + Unhappy that I am! "The crowd alas! their heavy tears ran down! + + "Marcel," the bridegroom said, "her grief is my despair; + But love, thou knowest, 's stronger yet; indeed 'tis time to go! + Only, should I perish, let my mother be thy care." + + "I can no more," cried Marcel, "thy mother's conquered here." + And then the valiant soldier from his eyelids brushed a tear. + "Take courage, Pascal, friend of mine + Thy Franconnette is good and pure. + That hideous tale was told, of dark design; + But give thy mother thanks; but for her coming, sure + This night might yet have seen my death and thine." + "What say'st thou?" "Hush! now I will tell thee all; + Thou knowest that I lov'd this maid, Pascal. + For her, like thee, I would have shed my blood; + I dreamt that I was loved again; she held me in her thrall. + Albeit my prayer was aye withstood; + Her elders promised her to me; + And so, when other suitors barr'd my way, In spite, + Saying, in love or war, one may use strategy, + I gave the wizard gold, my rival to affright, + Therefore, my chance did everything, insomuch that I said, + My treasure is already won and made. + But when, in the same breath, we two our suit made known, + And when I saw her, without turn of head, + Choose thee, to my despair, it was not to be borne. + And then I vow'd her death and thine, before the morrow morn! + I thought to lead you forth to the bridal bower ere long, + And then, the bed beside which I had mined with care, + That they might say no prince or power of th' air + Is here. That I might burn you for my wrong; + Ay, cross yourselves, thought I, for you shall surely die! + But thy mother, with her tears, has made my vengeance fly + I thought of my own, Pascal, who died so long ago. + Care thou for thine! And now fear nought from me, I trow, + Eden is coming down to earth for thee, no doubt, + But I, whom henceforth men can only hate and flout, + Will to the wars away! For in me something saith + I may recover from my rout, + Better than by a crime! Ay! by a soldier's death!" + Thus saying, Marcel vanished, loudly cheered on every side; + And then with deepening blushes the twain each other eyed, + For now the morning stars in the dark heavens shone + But now I lift my pencil suddenly. + Colours for strife and pain have I, + But for such perfect rapture--none! + + And so the morning came, with softly-dawning light, + No sound, no stir as yet within the cottage white, + At Estanquet the people of the hamlets gathered were, + To wait the waking of the happy married pair. + Marcel had frankly told th' unhappy truth; Nathless, + The devil had an awful power, + And ignorance was still his dower. + Some feared for bride and bridegroom yet; and guess + At strange mischance. "In the night cries were heard," + Others had seen some shadows on the wall, in wondrous ways. + Lives Pascal yet? None dares to dress + The spicy broth,{11} to leave beside the nuptial door; + And so another hour goes o'er. + Then floats a lovely strain of music overhead, + A sweet refrain oft heard before, + 'Tis the aoubado{12} offered to the newly-wed. + + So the door opes at last, and the young pair was seen, + She blushed before the folk, but friendly hand and mien, + The fragments of her garter gives, + And every woman two receives; + Then winks and words of ruth from eye and lip are passed, + And luck of proud Pascal makes envious all at last, + For the poor lads, whose hearts are healed but slightly, + Of their first fervent pain, + When they see Franconnette, blossoming rose-light brightly, + All dewy fresh, so sweet and sightly, + They cry aloud, "We'll ne'er believe a Sorcerer again!" + + +Endnotes to FRANCONNETTE. + +{1} Blaise de Montluc, Marshal of France, was one of the bitterest +persecutors of the Hugueuots. Towards the end of the sixteenth century, +Agen was a centre of Protestantism. The town was taken again and again +by the contending religious factions. When Montluc retook the place, in +1562, from Truelle, the Huguenot captain, he found that the inhabitants +had fled, and there was no one to butcher (Gascogne et Languedoc, par +Paul Joanne, p. 95). Montluc made up for his disappointment by laying +waste the country between Fumel and Penne, towns to the north of Agen, +and slaying all the Huguenots--men, women, and children--on whom he +could lay his hands. He then returned to his castle of Estillac, devoted +himself to religious exercises, and "took the sacrament," says Jasmin, +"while his hands were dripping with fraternal blood." Montluc died in +1577, and was buried in the garden of Estillac, where a monument, the +ruins of which still exist', was erected over his remains. + +{2} Jour de Dieu! + +{3} Wehr-wolves, wizard wolves--loup-garou. Superstitions respecting +them are known in Brittany and the South of France. + +{4} Miss Harriett W. Preston, in her article on Jasmin's Franconnette in +the Atlantic Monthly for February, 1876, says: "The buscou, or busking, +was a kind of bee, at which the young people assembled, bringing the +thread of their late spinning, which was divided into skeins of the +proper size by a broad thin plate of steel or whalebone called a busc. +The same thing, under precisely the same name, figured in the toilets +of our grandmothers, and hence, probably, the Scotch use of the verb to +busk, or attire." Jamieson (Scottish Dictionary) says: "The term busk is +employed in a beautiful proverb which is very commonly used in Scotland, +'A bonny bride is soon busked.'" + +{5} Miss Preston says this was a custom which prevailed in certain parts +of France. It was carried by the French emigrants to Canada, where it +flourished in recent times. The Sacramental Bread was crowned by one or +more frosted or otherwise ornamented cakes, which were reserved for the +family of the Seigneur, or other communicants of distinction. + +{6} At Notre Dame de Bon Encontre, a church in the suburbs of Agen, +celebrated for its legends, its miracles, and the numerous pilgrimages +which are usually made to it in the month of May. + +{7} The Angels walked in procession, and sang the Angelos at the +appropriate hours. + +{8} The ancient parish church of Roquefort, whose ruins only now remain. +See text for the effects of the storm. + +{9} Dounzel is the word used by Jasmin. Miss H. W. Preston says of this +passage: "There is something essentially knightly in Pascal's cast of +character, and it is singular that, at the supreme crisis of his fate, +he assumes, as if unconsciously, the very phraseology of chivalry. +'Some squire (dounzel) should follow me to death,' &c., and we find it +altogether natural and burning in the high-hearted smith. There are many +places where Jasmin addresses his hearers directly as 'Messieurs,' where +the context also makes it evident that the word is emphatic, that he is +distinctly conscious of addressing those who are above him in rank, and +that the proper translation is 'gentles,' or even 'masters'; yet no poet +ever lived who was less of a sycophant." + +{10} Low sedas (the sieve) is made of raw silk, and is used for sifting +flour. It has also a singular use in necromancy. When one desires to +know the name of the doer of an act--a theft for instance--the sieve is +made to revolve, but woe to him whose name is spoken just as the sieve +stops! + +{11} An ancient practice. Lou Tourrin noubial, a highly-spiced onion +soup, was carried by the wedding guests to the bridegroom at a late hour +of the night. + +{12} The aoubado--a song of early morning, corresponding to the serenade +or evening song. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Jasmin: Barber, Poet, Philanthropist, by +Samuel Smiles + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JASMIN: BARBER, POET *** + +***** This file should be named 838.txt or 838.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/3/838/ + +Produced by Eric Hutton + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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