第19章

Jasmin，bynomeansacourtier，spokeofthepast，ofHenryIV。，andespeciallyofNapoleon——”L’Ampereur，”ashedescribedhim。

Jasminhad，inthefirstvolumeofhis’Papillotos，’writtensomesatiricalpiecesonthecourtandministersofLouisPhilippe。Hisfriendswishedhimtoomitthesepiecesfromtheneweditionofhisworks，whichwasabouttobepublished；buthewouldnotconsenttodoso。”Imustgivemyworks，”hesaid，”justastheywerecomposed；theirsuppressionwouldbeanegationofmyself，andanactofadulationunworthyofanytrue-mindedman。”Accordinglytheyremainedinthe’Papillotos。’

Beforehelefttheroyalparty，theDuchessofOrleanspresentedJasminwithagoldenpin，ornamentedwithpearlsanddiamonds；

andtheKingafterwardssenthim，asasouvenirofhisvisittotheCourt，abeautifulgoldwatch，ornamentedwithdiamonds。

Notwithstandingthepleasureofthisvisit，Jasmin，aswithapropheticeye，sawthemarksofsorrowuponthecountenanceoftheKing，whowasalreadyexperiencingtheemptinessofhumanglory。ScarcelyhadJasminleftthepalacewhenhewrotetohisfriendMadamedeVirens，atAgen：”OnthatnoblefaceIcouldsee，beneaththesmile，theexpressionofsadness；sothatfromto-dayIcannolongersay：’HappyasaKing。’”

Anotherentertainment，quiteincontrastwithhisvisittotheKing，wasthebanquetwhichJasminreceivedfromthebarbersandhair-dressersofParis。Hethererecitedtheverseswhichhehadwrittenintheirhonour。M。Boisjoslin[1]saysthathalfthebarbersofParisareIberiens。Forthelastthreecenturies，inallthelegendsandanecdotes，thebarberisalwaysaGascon。

Theactor，thesinger，oftencamefromProvence，butmuchoftenerfromGascony：thatisthecountryoflaparole。

DuringJasmin’smonthatParishehadbeenunabletovisitmanyoftheleadingliterarymen；buthewasespeciallyanxioustoseeM。Chateaubriand，thefatherofmodernFrenchliterature。

JasminwasfortunateinfindingChateaubriandathome，at112

RueduBac。HereceivedJasminwithcordiality。”Iknowyouintimatelyalready，”saidtheauthorofthe’GeniusofChristianity；’”myfriendsAmpereandFaurielhaveoftenspokenofyou。Theyunderstandyou，theyloveandadmireyou。Theyacknowledgeyourgreattalent，’thoughtheyhavelongsincebadetheiradieutopoetry；youknowpoetsareverywayward，”headded，withaslysmile。”Youhaveahappyprivilege，mydearsir：whenourageturnsprosy，youhavebuttotakeyourlyre，inthesweetcountryofthesouth，andresuscitatethegloryoftheTroubadours。Theytellme，thatinoneofyourrecentjourneysyouevokedenthusiasticapplause，andenteredmanytownscarpetedwithflowers。Ah，monDieu，wecanneverdothatwithourprose！””Ah，dearsir，”saidJasmin，”youhaveachievedmuchmoreglorythanI。WithoutmentioningtheprofoundrespectwithwhichallFranceregardsyou，posterityandtheworldwillglorifyyou。””Glory，indeed，”repliedChateaubriand，withasadsmile。”Whatisthatbutaflowerthatfadesanddies；butspeaktomeofyoursweetsouth；itisbeautiful。Ithinkofit，asofItaly；indeeditsometimesseemstomebetterthanthatgloriouscountry！”

NotwithstandinghistriumphantcareeratParis，JasminoftenthoughtofAgen，andofhisfriendsandrelationsathome。”Oh，mywife，mychildren，myguitar，myworkshop，mypapillotos，mypleasantGravier，mydeargoodfriends，withwhatpleasureI

shallagainseeyou。”ThatwashisfrequentremarkinhisletterstoAgen。Hewasnotbuoyedupbythepraiseshehadreceived。Heremained，asusual，perfectlysimpleinhisthoughts，ways，andhabits；andwhenthemonthhadelapsed，hereturnedjoyfullytohisdailyworkatAgen。

Jasminafterwardsdescribedtherecollectionsofhisvisitinhis’VoyagetoParis’(MounBouyatageaParis)。Itwasahappypieceofpoetry；fullofrecollectionsofthetownsanddepartmentsthroughwhichhejourneyed，andfinallyofhisarrivalinParis。Thenthewondersofthecapital，thecrowdsinthestreets，thesoldiers，thepalaces，thestatuesandcolumns，theTuilerieswheretheEmperorhadlived。”Ipass，andrepass，notasoulIknow，NotoneAgenaisinthishurryingcrowd；

Noonesalutesorshakesmebythehand。”

Andyet，hesays，whatagrandworlditis！howtasteful！

howfashionable！Thereseemtobenopoor。Theyareallladiesandgentlemen。EachdayisaSabbath；andunderthetreesthechildrenplayaboutthefountains。SodifferentfromAgen！

HethenspeaksofhisinterviewwithLouisPhilippeandtheroyalfamily，hisrecitalofL’Abuglobefore”greatladies，greatwriters，lords，ministers，andgreatsavants；”andheconcludeshispoemwiththewords：”Parismakesmeproud，butAgenmakesmehappy。”

Thepoemisfulloftheimpressionsofhismindatthetime——

simple，clear，naive。Itisnotaconnectednarrative，noradescriptionofwhathesaw，butitwasfullofadmirationofParis，thecentreofFrance，and，asFrenchmenthink，ofcivilisation。ItisthesimplewonderofthecountrycousinwhoseesParisforthefirsttime——thecitythathadsolongbeenassociatedwithhisrecollectionsofthepast。Andperhapsheseizeditsmorestrikingpointsmorevividlythananyregulardenizenofthecapital。

FootnotesforChapterXII。

[1]’LesPeuplesdelaFrance：EthnographieNationale。’(Didier。)

CHAPTERXIII。

JASMINANDHISENGLISHCRITICS。

Jasmin’svisittoParisin1842madehisworksmoreextensivelyknown，bothathomeandabroad。HisnamewasfrequentlymentionedintheParisianjournals，andFrenchmennorthoftheLoirebegantopridethemselvesontheirGasconpoet。HisBlindGirlhadbeentranslatedintoEnglish，Spanish，andItalian。

TheprincipalEnglishliteraryjournal，theAthenaeum，calledattentiontohisworksafewmonthsafterhisappearanceinParis。[1]Theeditorintroducedthesubjectinthefollowingwords：”OnthebanksoftheGaronne，inthepicturesqueandancienttownofAgen，thereexistsatthismomentamanofgeniusofthefirstorder——arusticBeranger，aVictorHugo，aLamartine——

apoetfulloffire，originality，andfeeling——anactorsuperiortoanynowinFrance，exceptingRachel，whomheresemblesbothinhispowersofdeclamationandhisfortunes。

Heisnotunknown——heisnomuteingloriousMilton；forthefirstpoets，statesmen，andmenoflettersinFrancehavebeentovisithim。Hisparlourchimney-piece，behindhisbarber’sshop，iscoveredwithofferingstohisgeniusfromroyaltyandrank。

Hissmiling，dark-eyedwife，exhibitstothecuriousthetokensofherhusband’sacknowledgedmerit；andgoldandjewelsshineintheeyesoftheastonishedstranger，who，havingheardhisname，isledtostrollcarelesslyintotheshop，attractedbyagorgeousblueclothhungoutside，onwhichhemayhavereadthewords，Jasmin，Coiffeur。”

Aftermentioningthegoldenlaurels，andthegiftsawardedtohimbythosewhoacknowledgedhisgenius，theeditorproceedstomentionhispoemsintheGascondialect——hisSouvenirshisBlindGirlandhisFranconnette——andthenreferstohispersonalappearance。”Jasminishandsomeinperson，witheyesfullofintelligence，ofgoodfeatures，amobilityofexpressionabsolutelyelectrifying，amanlyfigureandanagreeableaddress；

buthisvoiceisharmonyitself，anditschangeshaveaneffectseldomexperiencedonoroffthestage。ThemelodyattributedtoMrs。Jordanseemstoapproachitnearest。Hadhebeenanactorinsteadofapoet，hewouldhave’wonallheartshisway’……Onthewhole，consideringthespirit，taste，pathos，andpowerofthispoet，whowritesinapatoishithertoconfinedtothelowerclassofpeopleinaremotedistrict——consideringtheeffectthathisverseshavemadeamongeducatedpersons，bothFrenchandforeign，itisimpossiblenottolookuponhimasoneoftheremarkablecharactersofhisage，andtoawardhim，asthecityofClemenceIsaurehasdone，theGoldenLaurel，asthefirstoftherevivedTroubadours，destinedperhapstorescuehiscountryfromthereproachofhavingburiedherpoetryinthegravesofAlainChartierandCharlesofOrleans，fourcenturiesago。”

ItisprobablethatthisarticleintheAthenaeumwaswrittenbyMissLouisaStuartCostello，whohadhadaninterviewwiththepoet，inhishouseatAgen，someyearsbefore。WhilemakinghertourthroughAuvergneandLanguedocin1840，[2]shestatesthatshepickedupthreecharmingballads，andwasnotawarethattheyhadeverbeenprinted。Shewrotethemdownmerelybyear，andafterwardstranslatedMecalMouriintoEnglish(seepage57)。Theballadwasverypopular，andwassettomusic。Shedidnotthenknowthenameofthecomposer，butwhensheascertainedthatthepoetwas”oneJasminofAgen，”sheresolvedtogooutofherwayandcalluponhim，whenonherjourneytothePyreneesabouttwoyearslater。[3]Shehadalreadyheardmuchabouthimbeforeshearrived，ashewasregardedinGasconyas”thegreatestpoetinmoderntimes。”ShehadnodifficultyinfindinghisshopattheentrancetothePromenadeduGravier，withthelinesinlargegoldletters，”Jasmin，Coiffeur”

MissCostelloentered，andwaswelcomedbyasmilingdark-eyedwoman，whoinformedherthatherhusbandwasbusyatthatmomentdressingacustomer’shair，butbeggedthatshewouldwalkintohisparlouratthebackoftheshop。MadameJasmintookadvantageofherhusband’sabsencetoexhibitthememorialswhichhehadreceivedforhisgratuitousservicesonbehalfofthepublic。TherewasthegoldenlaurelfromthecityofToulouse；thegoldencupfromthecitizensofAuch，thegoldwatchwithchainandsealsfrom”LeRoi”LouisPhilippe，theringpresentedbytheDukeofOrleans，thepearlpinfromtheDuchess，thefineserviceoflinenpresentedbythecitizensofPau，withotherofferingsfrompersonsofdistinction。

AtlastJasminhimselfappeared，havingdressedhiscustomer’shair。MissCostellodescribeshismanneraswell-bredandlively，andhislanguageasfreeandunembarrassed。Hesaid，however，thathewasill，andtoohoarsetoread。HespokeinabroadGasconaccent，veryrapidlyandeveneloquently。Hetoldthestoryofhisdifficultiesandsuccesses；howhisgrandfatherhadbeenabeggar，andallhisfamilyverypoor，butthatnowhewasasrichashedesiredtobe。Hisson，hesaid，wasplacedinagoodpositionatNantes，andheexhibitedhispicturewithpride。MissCostellotoldhimthatshehadseenhisnamementionedinanEnglishReview。JasminsaidthereviewhadbeensenttohimbyLordDurham，whohadpaidhimavisit；andthenMissCostellospokeofMecalMouri，asthefirstpoemofhisthatshehadseen。”Oh，”saidhe，”thatlittlesongisnotmybestcomposition：itwasmerelymyfirst。”

Hisheartwasnowtouched。Heimmediatelyforgothishoarseness，andproceededtoreadsomepassagesfromhispoems。”IfIwereonlywell，”saidhe，”andyouwouldgivemethepleasureofyourcompanyforsometime，Iwouldkillyouwithweeping：IwouldmakeyoudiewithdistressformypoorMargarido，myprettyFranconnette。”HethentookuptwocopiesofhisLasPapillotos，handedonetoMissCostello，wherethetranslationwasgiveninFrench，andreadfromtheotherinGascon。”Hebegan，”saysthelady，”inarichsoftvoice，andasweadvancedwefoundourselvescarriedawaybythespellofhisenthusiasm。Hiseyesswamintears；hebecamepaleandred；

hetrembled；herecoveredhimself；hisfacewasnowjoyous，nowexulting，gay，jocose；infact，hewastwentyactorsinone；

herangthechangesfromRacheltoBouffe；andhefinishedbyrelievingusofourtears，andoverwhelminguswithastonishment。

Hewouldhavebeenatreasureonthestage；forheisstill，thoughhisyouthispast，remarkablygood-lookingandstriking；

withblack，sparklingeyesofintenseexpression；afineruddycomplexion；acountenanceofwondrousmobility；agoodfigure，andactionfulloffireandgrace：hehashandsomehands，whichheuseswithinfiniteeffect；andonthewholeheisthebestactorofthekindIeversaw。IcouldnowquiteunderstandwhataTroubadourorjongleurhemightbe；andIlookuponJasminasarevivedspecimenofthatextinctrace。”

MissCostelloproceededonherjourneytoBearnandthePyrenees，andonherreturnnorthwardssheagainrenewedheracquaintancewithJasminandhisdark-eyedwife。”Ididnotexpect，”shesays，”thatIshouldberecognised；butthemomentIenteredthelittleshopIwashailedasanoldfriend。’Ah’criedJasmin，’enfinlavoilaencore！’Icouldnotbutbeflatteredbythisrecollection，butsoonfoundthatitwaslessonmyownaccountthatIwasthuswelcomed，thanbecausecircumstanceshadoccurredtothepoetthatImightperhapsexplain。HeproducedseveralFrenchnewspapers，inwhichhepointedouttomeanarticleheaded’JasminaLondres，’beingatranslationofcertainnoticesofhimselfwhichhadappearedinaleadingEnglishliteraryjournaltheAthenaeum……Ienjoyedhissurprise，whileI

informedhimthatIknewwhowasthereviewerandtranslator；andexplainedthereasonfortheversesgivingpleasureinanEnglishdress，tothesuperiorsimplicityoftheEnglishlanguageovermodernFrench，forwhichhehadagreatcontempt，asunfittedforlyricalcomposition。[4]HeinquiredofmerespectingBurns，towhomhehadbeenlikened，andbeggedmetotellhimsomethingaboutMoore。”Hehadathousandthingstotellme；inparticular，thathehadonlythedaybeforereceivedaletterfromtheDuchessofOrleans，informinghimthatshehadorderedamedalofherlatehusbandtobestruck，thefirstofwhichshouldbesenttohim。