下载辰思小说免费APP
ThepairstartedatthebeginningofMay，andbegantheirusualrecitationsandaddresses，suchashadbeengivenduringthefirstjourneyinPerigord。Theywerereceivedwiththeusualenthusiasm。Prefects，bishops，andmunicipalbodies，viedwitheachotherinreceivingandentertainingthem。AtAngouleme，thequeenofsoutherncities，Jasminwaspresentedwithacrownofimmortellesandasnuff-box，onwhichwasengraved：”Esteem——Love——Admiration！ToJasmin，themostsublimeofpoets！
FromtheyouthofAngouleme，whohavehadthehappinessofseeingandhearinghim！”
Thepoetandpriesttravelledbynightaswellasbydayinordertoeconomisetime。Aftertheirtourinthenortherntownsandcities，theyreturnedtoVergtforrest。Theyenteredthetownunderatriumphalarch，andwereescortedbyanumerouscavalcade。Beforetheyretiredtothepriest’shouse，theleadingmenofthecommune，inthenameofthecitizens，complimentedJasminforhiscordialhelptowardstherebuildingofthechurch。
AftertwodaysofneedfulrestJasminsetoutforBordeaux，thecitywhoseinhabitantshadfirstencouragedhimbytheirapplause，andforwhichhecontinuedtoentertainacordialfeelingtothelastdaysofhislife。Hismissiononthisoccasionwastoassistintheinaugurationofacreche，foundedandsupportedbythecharitablecontributionsofthefriendsofpoorchildren。Itisnotnecessarytomentiontheenthusiasmwithwhichhewasreceived。
Thefurtherprogressofthepoetandthepriest，insearchofcontributionsforrebuildingthechurch，wasrudelyinterruptedbytheRevolutionwhichbrokeoutatParisin1848。HisMajestyLouisPhilippeabdicatedthethroneofFranceonthe24thofFebruary，ratherthancomeintoarmedcollisionwithhissubjects；and，twodaysafter，theRepublicwasofficiallyproclaimedattheHoteldeVille。LouisPhilippeandhisfamilytookrefugeinEngland——theusualretreatofpersecutedFrenchmen；andninemonthslater，LouisNapoleonBuonaparte，whohadalsobeenarefugeeinEngland，returnedtoFrance，andonthe20thofDecemberwasproclaimedPresidentoftheFrenchRepublic。
JasminandMassonaccordinglysuspendedtheirtour。Noonewouldlistentopoeticalrecitationsinthemidstofpoliticalrevolutions。Freedomandtranquillitywerenecessaryforthecontemplationofideasverydifferentfromlocalandnationalsquabbles。Thepoetandpriestaccordinglybadeadieutoeachother；anditwasnotuntiltwoyearslaterthattheywereabletorecommencetheirunitedjourneysthroughtheSouthofFrance。
TheproclamationoftheRepublic，andtheforthcomingelections，broughtmanynewmentothefront。Evenpoetsmadetheirappearance。Lamartine，whohadbeenadeputy，wasaleaderintheRevolution，andforatimewasministerforforeignaffairs。
VictorHugo，astillgreaterpoet，tookaspecialinterestinthepoliticsofthetime，thoughhewasfinedandimprisonedforcondemningcapitalpunishment。EvenReboul，thepoet-bakerofNimes，desertedhismuseandhiskneadingtroughtosolicitthesuffragesofhisfellow-citizens。Jasminwaswiser。
HewasmorepopularinhisneighbourhoodthanReboul，thoughhecaredlittleaboutpolitics。Hewouldneitherbeadeputy，noramunicipalcouncillor，noranagentforelections。
Hepreferredtoinfluencehiscountrybyspreadingtheseedsofdomesticandsocialvirtues；andhewassatisfiedwithhispositioninAgenaspoetandhair-dresser。
NeverthelessadeputationofhistownsmenwaiteduponJasmintorequesthimtoallowhisnametoappearasacandidatefortheirsuffrages。Thedelegatesdidnotfindhimathisshop。
Hewasathisvineyard；andtherethedeputationfoundhimtranquillyseatedunderacherry-treeshellingpeas！Helistenedtothemwithhisusualcourtesy，andwhenoneofthecommitteepressedhimforananswer，andwishedtoknowifhewasnotagoodRepublican，hesaid，”Really，IcarenothingfortheRepublic。Iamoneofthosewhowouldhavesavedtheconstitutionalmonarchybyenablingittocarryoutfurtherreforms……But，”hecontinued，”l
