第12章

Itwasperfectlysimpleandnatural。Thepoemmightformthesubjectofadramaoramusicalcantata。ThelamentationsofMargueriteonherblindnessremindoneofMilton’sheart-rendingwordsonthesamesubject：”Forothers，dayandjoyandlight，Forme，alldarkness，alwaysnight。”[4]

Sainte-Beuve，incriticisingJasmin’spoems，saysthat”Itwasin1835thathistalentraiseditselftotheeminenceofwritingoneofhispurestcompositions——natural，touchinganddisinterested——hisBlindGirlofCastel-Cuille，inwhichhemakesusassistinafete，amidstthejoysofthevillagers；andatthegriefofayounggirl，afianceewhomasevereattackofsmallpoxhaddeprivedofhereyesight，andwhomherbetrothedloverhadabandonedtomarryanother。”Thegriefofthepoorabandonedgirl，herchangesofcolour，herattitude，herconversation，herprojects——thewholesurroundedbythefreshnessofspringandthelaughingbrightnessoftheseason——exhibitsacharacterofnatureandoftruthwhichveryfewpoetshavebeenabletoattain。

Oneisquitesurprised，onreadingthissimplepicture，tobeinvoluntarilycarriedbacktothemostexpressivepoemsoftheancientGreeks——toTheocritusforexample——fortheMargueriteofJasminmaybecomparedwiththeSimethaoftheGreekpoet。Thisistruepoetry，richfromthesamesources，andgildedwiththesameimagery。InhisnewcompositionsJasminhasfollowedhisownbias；thisman，whohadfewbooks，butmeditateddeeplyinhisheartandhisloveofnature；

andhefollowedthewayoftrueartwithsecretandperseveringlabourinwhatappearedtohimthemosteloquent，easy，andhappymanner……”Hislanguage，”Sainte-Beuvecontinues，”isalwaysthemostnatural，faithful，transparent，truthful，eloquent，andsober；

neverforgetthislastcharacteristic。Heisnevermorehappythanwhenhefindsthathecanborrowfromanartizanorlaboureroneofthosewordswhichareworthtenofothers。Itisthusthathisgeniushasrefinedduringtheyearsprecedingthetimeinwhichheproducedhisgreatestworks。Itisthusthathehasbecomethepoetofthepeople，writinginthepopularpatois，andforpublicsolemnities，whichremindoneofthoseoftheMiddleAgesandofGreece；thushefindshimselftobe，inshort，morethananyofourcontemporaries，oftheSchoolofHorace，ofTheocritus，orofGray，andallthebrilliantgeniuseswhohaveendeavouredbystudytobringeachoftheirworkstoperfection。”[5]

TheBlindGirlwasthemostremarkableworkthatJasminhaduptothistimecomposed。Thereisnocountrywhereanauthorissopopular，whenheisonceknown，asinFrance。WhenJasmin’spoemwaspublishedhebecame，byuniversalconsent，thePoetLaureateoftheSouth。YetsomeofthelocaljournalsofBordeauxmadelightofhisappearanceinthatcityforthepurposeofrecitinghisasyetunknownpoem。”ThatabarberandhairdresserofAgen，”theysaid，”speakingandwritinginavulgartongue，shouldattempttoamuseorenlightentheintelligentpeopleofBordeaux，seemedtothembeneathcontempt。”

ButJasminsoonshowedthemthatgeniusisofnorankorconditionoflife；andtheirviewsshortlyunderwentasuddenchange。Hisveryappearanceinthecitywasatriumph。Crowdsresortedtothelargehall，inwhichhewastorecitehisnewpoemoftheBlindGirlofCastel-Cuille。Theprefect，themayor，themembersoftheAcademy，andthemostcultivatedpeopleofthecitywerepresent，andreceivedhimwithapplause。

Theremighthavebeensomemisgivingsastothesuccessofthepoem，butfromthemomentthatheappearedontheplatformandbeganhisrecitation，everydoubtdisappeared。Hereadthepoemwithmarvellouseloquence；whilehisartisticfigure，hismobilecountenance，hisdark-browneyebrows，whichheraisedorloweredatwill，hisexpressivegesticulation，andhispassionateacting，addedgreatlytotheeffectofhisrecital，andsoonwoneveryheart。Whenhecametotherefrain，”Thepathswithbudsandblossomsstrew，”

henolongerdeclaimed，butsangafterthemannerofthepeasantsintheirpopularchaunt。Hiseyesbecamesuffusedwithtears，andthosewholistenedtothepatois，eventhoughtheyonlyimperfectlyunderstoodit，partookoftheimpression，andweptalso。

Hewasaliketenderandimpressivethroughoutthepiece，especiallyatthedeathoftheblindgirl；andwhenhehadended，astormofapplauseburstfromtheaudience。Therewasaclappingofhandsandathunderousstampingoffeetthatshookthebuildingalmosttoitsfoundations。

Itwasaremarkablespectacle，thatahumbleworkingman，comparativelyuneducated，shouldhaveevokedthetumultuousapplauseofabrilliantassemblyofintelligentladiesandgentlemen。Itwasindeedsomethingextraordinary。SomesaidthathedeclaimedlikeTalmaorRachel，norwasthereanynoteofdissonanceinhisreception。Theenthusiasmwasgeneralandunanimousamongstthemagistrates，clergy，scientificmen，artists，physicians，ship-owners，menofbusiness，andworkingpeople。TheyalljoinedintheapplausewhenJasminhadconcludedhisrecitation。

FromthistimeforwardJasminwasoneofthemostpopularmenatBordeaux。Hewasentertainedataseriesoffetes。Hewasinvitedtosoireesbytheprefect，bythearchbishop，bythevarioussocialcircles，aswellasbytheworkmen’sassociations。

Theyviedwitheachotherforthehonourofentertaininghim。

Hewentfrommatineestosoirees，andintendaysheappearedatthirty-fourdifferententertainments。

Atlengthhebecamethoroughlytiredandexhaustedbythisenormousfete-ing。Helongedtobeawayandathomewithhiswifeandchildren。Hetookleaveofhisfriendsandadmirerswithemotion，and，notwithstandingthepraisesandacclamationshehadreceivedatBordeaux，hequietlyturnedtopursuehishumbleoccupationatAgen。

ItwasoneofthemostremarkablethingsaboutJasmin，thathewasnevercarriedoffhisfeetbythebrilliantovationshereceived。Thoughenoughtoturnanypoorfellow’shead，heremainedsimpleandnaturaltothelast。Aswesayinthiscountry，hecould”carrycorn”Wehavesaidthat”Gascon”isoftenusedinconnectionwithboastingorgasconading。ButthetermwasinnowayapplicabletoJasmin。Helefttheechoofpraisesbehindhim，andreturnedtoAgentoenjoythecomfortsofhisfireside。

Hewasnot，however，withouttempterstoweanhimfromhishomeandhisordinarypursuits。In1836，theyearafterhistriumphalreceptionatBordeaux，someofhisfriendsurgedhimtogotoParis——thecentreoflightandleading——inorderto”makehisfortune。”

Butno！hehadnevercontemplatedtheideaofleavinghisnativetown。ArichwinemerchantofToulousewasoneofhistempters。

HeadvisedJasmintogotothegreatmetropolis，wheregeniusalonewasrecognised。Jasminansweredhiminacharmingletter，settingforththereasonswhichdeterminedhimtoremainathome，principallybecausehistastesweremodestandhisdesireswerehomely。”Youtoo，”hesaid，”withoutregardtotroublingmydaysandmynights，havewrittentoaskmetocarrymyguitarandmydressing-combtothegreatcityofkings，becausethere，yousay，mypoeticalhumourandmywell-knownverseswillbringtorrentsofcrownstomypurse。Oh，youmaywellboasttomeofthisshowerofgoldanditsclinkingstream。Youonlymakemecry：’Honourisbutsmoke，gloryisbutglory，andmoneyisonlymoney！’Iaskyou，innocravenspirit，ismoneytheonlythingforamantoseekwhofeelsinhishearttheleastsparkofpoetry?Inmytown，whereeveryoneworks，leavemeasIam。

Everysummer，happierthanaking，Ilayupmysmallprovisionforthewinter，andthenIsinglikeagoldfinchundertheshadeofapoplaroranash-tree，onlytoohappytogrowgreyinthelandwhichgavemebirth。Onehearsinsummerthepleasantzigo，ziou，ziou，ofthenimblegrasshopper，ortheyoungsparrowpluminghiswingstomakehimselfreadyforflight，heknowsnotwhither；butthewisemanactsnotso。Iremainhereinmyhome。

Everythingsuitsme——earth，sky，air——allthatisnecessaryformycomfort。Tosingofjoyouspovertyonemustbejoyfulandpoor。Iamsatisfiedwithmyrye-bread，andthecoolwaterfrommyfountain。”

Jasminremainedfaithfultotheserulesofconductduringhislife。ThoughheafterwardsmadeavisittoParis，itwasonlyforashorttime；buthisnativetownofAgen，hishomeontheGravier，hisshop，hiswifeandhischildren，continuedtobehislittleparadise。Hismusesoaredoverhimlikeaguardianangel，givinghimsongsforhishappinessandconsolationforhissorrows。Hewas，aboveallthings，happyinhiswife。

Shecheeredhim，strengthenedhim，andconsoledhim。

Hethusportrayedherinoneofhispoems：”Hereyeslikesparklingstarsofheavenlyblue；

Hercheekssosweet，soround，androsy；

Herhairsobright，andbrown，andcurly；

Hermouthsolikearipenedcherry；

Herteethmorebrilliantthanthesnow。”

Jasminwasattachedtohiswife，notonlybyherbeauty，butbyhergoodsense。Shecounselledandadvisedhimineverything。

Hegavehimselfuptoherwiseadvice，andneverhadoccasiontoregretit。Itwaswithhermodestmarriage-portionthathewasenabledtoestablishhimselfasamasterhairdresser。

Whenheopenedhisshop，hesetovertheentrancedoorthissign：”L’ArtembellitLaNature：Jasmin，CoiffeurdesJeunesGens。”Ashisfamilygrew，inordertoincreasehisincome，headdedthewords，”CoiffeurdesDames。”Thisprovedtobeahappyadditiontohisbusiness。MostoftheladiesofAgenstroveforthehonourofhavingtheirhairdressedbythepoeticalbarber。Whiledressingtheirhairhedelightedthemwithhissongs。Hehadasympatheticvoice，whichtouchedtheirsoulsandthrewthemintothesweetestofdreams。

ThoughJasminwasalwaysdisposedtorhymealittle，hiswisewifeneverallowedhimtoforgethisregulardailywork。

Atthesametimesheunderstoodthathisdelicatenaturecouldnotbeentirelyabsorbedbythelaboursofanordinaryworkman。

Shewasnolongerjealousofhissolitarycommunionswithhismuse；andafterhisusualhoursofoccupation，shelefthim，orsatbyhim，toenablehimtopursuehisdearreveriesinquiet。

Mariette，orMarie，asshewasusuallycalled，wasathoroughlygoodpartnerforJasmin。Thoughnotbyanymeansahighlyeducatedwoman，shefelttheelevatingeffectsofpoetryevenonherself。Sheinfluencedherhusband’smindthroughherpracticalwisdomandgoodsense，whileheinhisturninfluencedhersbyelevatinghersoulandintellect。

Jasmin，whilehewaslabouringoversomesongorverse，founditnecessarytoreciteittosomeonenearhim，butmostlytohiswife。HewanderedwithheralongthebanksoftheGaronne，andwhileherecited，shelistenedwithbatedbreath。Shecouldevenventuretocorrecthim；forsheknew，betterthanhedid，theordinaryGascondialect。Sheoftenfoundforhimthetruewordforthepicturewhichhedesiredtopresenttohisreader。

ThoughJasminwasalwaysthankfulforherhelp，hedidnotabandonhisownwordswithoutsomelittlecontention。

Hehadworkedoutthesubjectinhismind，andanynewword，ormodeofdescription，mightinterruptthebeautyoftheverses。

Whenheatlengthrecognisedthejusticeofhercriticism，hewouldsay，”Marie，youareright；andIwillagainthinkoverthesubject，andmakeitfitmorecompletelyintotheGasconidiom。”Incertaincasespassagesweresuppressed；inotherstheywereconsiderablyaltered。

WhenJasmin，aftermuchlabourandcorrection，hadfinishedhispoem，hewouldcallabouthimhisintimatefriends，andrecitethepoemtothem。Hehadnoobjectiontothemostthoroughcriticism，byhiswifeaswellasbyhisfriends。Whenthepoemwaslongandelaborate，theauditorssometimesbegantoyawn。

Thenthewifesteppedinandsaid：”Jasmin，youmuststop；leavetheremainderofthepoemforanotherday。”Thustherecitalceasedforthetime。

ThepeopleofAgenentertainedalivelysympathyfortheirpoet。

Eventhosewhomighttoacertainextentdepreciatehistalent，dideveryjusticetothenobilityofhischaracter。Perhapssomemightenvythepositionofamanwhohadrisenfromtheranksandsecuredtheesteemofmenoffortuneandevenoftheleadersofliteraryopinion。Jasmin，likeeverypersonenviedorperhapsdetracted，hadhishoursofdepression。Butthestrongsoulofhiswifeinthesehourscametohisrelief，andassuagedthespiritofthemanandthepoet。

Jasminwasatonetimeonthepointofabandoningverse-making。

Yethewasencouragedtoproceedbythedemandswhichweremadeforhissongsandverses。Indeed，nofetewasconsideredcompletewithouttherecitationsofJasmin。Itwasnodoubtveryflattering；yetfamehasitsdrawbacks。Hisinvitationswereusuallyunceremonious。

Jasminwasnodoubtrecognisedasapoet，andanexcellentreciter；yethewasapersonwhohandledtherazorandthecurling-tongs。Whenhewasinvitedtoalocalparty，itwasmerelythathemightrecitehisversesgratuitously。Hedidnotbelongtotheirsocialcircle，andhiswifewasnotincluded。

Whatsympathycouldshehavewiththesedistinguishedpersonages?

AtlengthJasmindeclinedtogowherehiswifecouldnotbeinvited。Hepreferredtostayathomewithhisfamily；andallfurtherinvitationsofthissortwererefused。

Besides，hisfriendNodierhadwarnedhimthatapoetofhisstampoughtnottoappeartoooftenatthefeastsofthelazy；