Jasmin

第33章

Althoughesteemedandpraisedbyallranksandclassesofpeople——byking,emperor,princes,andprincesses;bycardinalsandbishops;bygenerals,magistrates,literarymen,andpoliticians——thoughtheworkingpeoplealmostworshippedhim,andvillagegirlsstrewedflowersalonghispathway——thoughtheartisanquittedhisworkshop,andtheworkingwomanherwashing-tub,tolistentohismarvellousrecitations,yetJasminneverlosthisheadorwascarriedawaybytheenthusiasticcheerswhichaccompaniedhisefforts,butremainedsimpleandunaffectedtothelast。

Anothercharacteristicofhimwas,thatheneverforsookhisfriends,howeverpoor。Hishappiestmomentswerethoseinwhichheencounteredacompanionofhisearlyyouth。ManystillsurvivedwhohadaccompaniedhimwhilemakinguphisbundleoffagotsontheislandsoftheGaronne。Hewasdelightedtoshakehandswiththem,andtohelp,whennecessary,theseplaymatesofhisboyhood。

Hewouldalsomeetwithpleasuretheworkingwomenofhisacquaintance,thosewhohadrelatedtohimthestoriesofLoupGarouandthetraditionsoftheneighbourhood,andencouragedtheboyfromhisearliestyouth。Then,atalaterperiodofhislife,nothingcouldhavebeenmoreworthyofhimthanhisaffectionforhisoldbenefactor,M。Baze,andhispleadingwithNapoleonIII。,throughtheEmpress,forhisreturntoFrance”throughthegreatgateofhonour!”

HadJasminafault?Yes,hehadmany,fornooneexistswithinthelimitsofperfection。Buthehadoneinespecial,whichhehimselfconfessed。Hewasvainandlovedapplause,nordidheconcealhislove。

WhenatToulouse,hesaidtosomeofhisfriends,”Ilovetobeapplauded:itismywhim;andIthinkitwouldbedifficultforapoettofreehimselffromtheexcitementofapplause。”WhenatParis,hesaid,”Applaud!applaud!ThecheersyouraisewillbeheardatAgen。”Whowouldnotoverlookafault,iffaultitbe,whichisconfessedinsonaiveamanner?

WhencomplimentedaboutrevivingthetraditionsoftheTroubadours,Jasminreplied,”TheTroubadours,indeed!Why,IamabetterpoetthananyoftheTroubadours!Notoneofthemcouldhavecomposedalongpoemofsustainedinterest,likemyFranconnette。”

AnyfaultorweaknesswhichJasminexhibitedwaseffacedbythegoodwishesandprayersofthousandsofthepoorandafflictedwhomhehadrelievedbyhischarityandbenevolence。Therealityofhislifealmosttouchestheideal。Indeed,itwasalongapostolate。

CardinalDonnet,ArchbishopofBordeaux,saidofhim,that”hewasgiftedwitharichnature,aloyalandunreservedcharacter,andageniusasfertileasthesoilofhisnativecountry。ThelyreofJasmin,”hesaid,”hadthreechords,whichsummeduptheharmoniesofheavenandearth——thetrue,theuseful,andthebeautiful。”

DidnotthemembersoftheFrenchAcademy——thehighestliteraryinstitutionintheworld——strikeagoldmedalinhishonour,withtheinscript

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