”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！”

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