下载辰思小说免费APP
Jasmin，onhisarrival，wasreceivedwithatriplesalvoofapplausefromthecrowdwithout，andnextfromtheassemblywithin。Ontheplatformwerethemembersofthesubscriptioncommittee，theprefect，theBishopofAgen，thechiefsofthelocalgovernment，thegeneralincommandofthedistrict，andalargenumberofofficersandecclesiastics。
Jasmin，whentakinghisplaceontheplatformsalutedtheaudiencewithoneofhisbrilliantimpromptus，andproceededtorecitesomeofhisfavouritepoems：Charity；TheDoctorofthePoor；TownandCountry；and，TheWeek’sWorkofaSon。ThenM。
Noubel，inhisdoublecapacityofdeputyforthedepartment，andmemberofthesubscriptioncommittee，addressedJasmininthefollowingwords：”Poet，IappearhereinthenameofthepeopleofAgen，toofferyouthetestimonyoftheiradmirationandprofoundsympathy。
Iaskyoutoacceptthiscrown！Itisgivenyoubyalovingandheartyfriend，inthenameofyournativetownofAgen，whichyourpoetryhascharmed，whichrejoicesinyourpresentsuccess，andisproudofthegloryofyourgenius。Agenwelcomedthefirstgermsofyourtalent；shehasseenitgrowing，andincreasingyourfame；shehasenteredwithyouintothepalacesofkings；shehasassociatedherselfwithyourtriumphsthroughout；nowthehourofrecognisingyourmeritshasarrived，andshehonoursherselfincrowningyou。”ButitisnotmerelythePoetwhomwerecogniseto-day；youhaveamuchgreaterclaimtoourhomage。Inanageinwhichegoismandtheeagerthirstforrichesprevails，youhave，inthenobleworkwhichyouhaveperformed，displayedthevirtuesofbenevolenceandself-sacrifice。Youyourselfhaveputthemintopractice。Ardentintheworkofcharity，youhavegonewherevermiseryandpovertyhadtoberelieved，andallthatyouyourselfhavereceivedwasmerelytheblessingsoftheunfortunate。Eachofyourdayshasbeencelebratedforitsgoodworks，andyourwholelifehasbeenahymntobenevolenceandcharity。”Accept，then，Jasmin，thiscrown！Greatpoet，goodcitizen，youhavenoblyearnedit！Giveitanhonouredplaceinthatgloriousmuseumofyours，whichthetownsandcitiesoftheSouthhaveenrichedbytheirgifts。Mayitremainthereintestimonyofyourpoeticaltriumphs，andattestthewelcomerecognitionofyourmeritsbyyourfellow-citizens。”Formyself，Icannotbutbeproudofthemissionwhichhasbeenentrustedtome。Ionlyoweit，Iknow，tothepositionofdeputyinwhichyouhaveplacedmebypopularelection。Iamproud，nevertheless，ofhavingthehonourofcrowningyou，andI
shalleverregardthiseventasthemostgloriousrecollectionofmylife。”
Afterthisaddress，duringwhichM。Noubelwasgreatlymoved，hetookthecrownofgoldandplaceditontheheadofthepoet。
Itisimpossibletodescribetheenthusiasmofthemeetingatthissuprememoment。Thepeoplewerealmostbesidethemselves。
Theirexclamationsofsympathyandapplausewerealmostfrantic。
Jasminweptwithhappiness。Aftertheemotionhardsubsided，withhiseyesfulloftears，herecitedhispieceofpoetryentitled：TheCrownofmyBirthplace。[2]
Inthispoem，Jasmintookoccasiontorecitethestateofpovertyinwhichhewasborn，yetwiththestarofpoetryinhisbreast；hisdearmother，andheranxietiesabouthiseducationandup-bringing；hisgrowth；hisfirsteffortsinpoeticalcomposition，andhisfinaltriumph；andatlasthiscrownofgoldconferreduponhimbythepeopleofAgen——thecrownofhisbirthplace。”Ifeelthatifmybirthplacecrownsme，Inplaceofsinging……Ishouldweep！”
AfterJasminhadrecitedhistouchingpoem，heaffectionatelytookleaveofhisfriends，andtheass
