下载辰思小说免费APP
”AsonofHerault，Iwillsupportthehonourandthegloryofmycountry！Andasinsuchcircumstances，agoodobjectisindispensable，thethreesubjectsgivenmustbeprintedandsoldforthebenefitoftheCrecheofMontpellier。”Peyrotteendedhisletterwithapostscript，inwhichhesaidthathewouldcirculatehischallengeamongthemosteminentpersonsinMontpellier。Jasminansweredthisletterasfollows：——”SIR，——Ididnotreceiveyourpoeticalchallengeuntilthedaybeforeyesterday，onthepointofmydepartureforhome；butI
musttellyouthat，thoughIhavereceivedit，Icannotacceptit。”Doyoureallyproposetomymuse，whichaimsatfreeairandliberty，toshutmyselfupinacloseroom，guardedbysentinels，whocouldonlyallowprovisionstoenter，andtheretotreatofthreegivensubjectsintwenty-fourhours！Threesubjectsintwenty-fourhours！Youfrightenme，sir，fortheperilinwhichyouplacemymuse。”Imustinformyou，inallhumility，thatIoftencannotcomposemorethantwoorthreelinesaday。Myfivepoems，L’Aveugle，MesSouvenirs，Franconnette，MarthatheInnocent，andLesDeuxJumeaux，havecostmetenyears’work，andtheyonlycontaininallbut2，400verses！……Icannotwritepoetrybycommand。
IcannotbeaprisonerwhileIcompose。ThereforeIdeclinetoenterthelistswithyou。”Thecourserwhodragshischariotwithdifficulty，albeithemayarriveatthegoal，cannotcontendwiththefierylocomotiveoftheironrailway。Theartwhichproducesversesonebyone，dependsuponinspiration，notuponmanufacture。Thereforemymusedeclaresitselfvanquishedinadvance；andIauthoriseyoutopublishmyrefusalofyourchallenge。”
Inapostscript，Jasminadded：”NowthatyouhavemadetheacquaintanceofmyMuse，Iwill，inafewwords，introduceyoutotheman。Iloveglory，butthesuccessofothersnevertroublesmysleepatnight！””Whenonefinds，”saysSainte-Beuve，”thistheoryofworkpushedtosuchadegreebyJasmin，withwhomthesparkofinspirationseemsalwayssopromptandnatural，whatasadreturnwehaveofthepoeticalwealthdissipatedbythepoetsofourday。”
Sainte-BeuvesummeduphispraiseoftheGasconpoetbyinsistingthathewasinvariablysoberinhistone。”Ihavelearned，”saidJasminofhimself，”thatinmomentsofheatandemotionwemaybeeloquentorlaconic，alikeinspeechandaction——unconsciouspoets，infact；butIhavealsolearnedthatitispossibleforapoettobecomeallthisvoluntarilybydintofpatienttoilandconscientiouslabour！”
Jasminwasnotthemantorestuponhislaurels。ShortlyafterhisvisittoParisin1842，hebegantocomposehisMarthatheInnocent，whichwehavealreadybrieflydescribed。TwoyearslaterhecomposedLesDeuxFreresJumeaux——astoryofpaternalandmotherlyaffection。ThiswasfollowedbyhisMaBigno(’MyVineyard’)，andLaSemained’unFils(’TheWeek’sWorkofaSon’)，whichafoot-notetellsusishistorical，theeventhavingrecentlyoccurredintheneighbourhoodofAgen。
Ashortdescriptionmaybegivenofthisaffectingstory。
Thepoemisdividedintothreeparts。Inthefirst，ayoungboyandhissister，AbelandJeanne，aredescribedaskneelingbeforeacrossinthemoonlight，prayingtotheVirgintocuretheirfather。”MotherofGod，Virgincompassionate，senddownthineAngelandcureoursickfather。Ourmotherwillthenbehappy，andwe，BlessedVirgin，willloveandpraisetheeforever。”
TheVirginhearstheirprayer，andthefatheriscured。Awomanopensthedoorofaneighbouringhouseandexclaimsjoyously，”Poorlittleones，deathhasdeparted。Thepoisonofthefeveriscounteracted，andyourfather’slifeissaved。Come，littlelambs，andpraytoGodwithme。”TheyallthreekneelandpraybythesideofthegoodfatherHilaire，formerlyabravesoldier，butnowamason’slabour
