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，withtheinscription，”Lamedailledupoetemoraletpopulaire”?
M。Sainte-Beuve，themostdistinguishedofFrenchcritics，usedamuchstrongerexpression。Hesaid，”IfFrancehadtenpoetslikeJasmin——tenpoetsofthesamepowerandinfluence——
sheneednolongerhaveanyfearofrevolutions。”
GeniusisasnothinginthesightofGod；but”whosoevershallgiveacupofwatertodrinkinthenameofChrist，becausetheybelongtoChrist，shallnotlosehisreward。”M。Tron，DeputyandMayorofBagnere-du-luchon，enlargeduponthistextinhiseulogyofJasmin。”Hewasaman，”hesaid，”asrichinhisheartasinhisgenius。
Hecarriedoutthatlifeof’goingaboutdoinggood’whichChristrehearsedforourinstruction。Hefedthehungry，clothedthenaked，succouredthedistressed，andconsoledandsympathisedwiththeafflicted。Fewmenhaveaccomplishedmorethanhehasdone。Hisexistencewasunique，notonlyinthehistoryofpoets，butofphilanthropists。”
AlifesofullofgoodcouldonlyendwithaChristiandeath。
Hedepartedwithalivelyfaithandserenepiety，crowningbyapeacefuldeathoneofthestrangestandmostdiversifiedcareersinthenineteenthcentury。”PoetryandCharity，”inscribedonthepedestalofhisstatueinAgen，fairlysumsuphisnoblelifeandcharacter。
FootnotesforChapterXX。
[1]’LouPoetodelPupleaMoussuRenan。’
APPENDIX。
JASMIN’SDEFENCEOFTHEGASCONDIALECT。
ToM。SYLVAINDUMON，Deputy-Minister，whohascondemnedtodeathournativelanguage。
There’snotadeepergrieftomanThanwhenourmother，faintwithyears，Decrepit，old，andweak，andwan，Beyondtheleech’sartappears；
Whenbyhercouchhersonmaystay，Andpressherhand，andwatchhereyes，Andfeel，thoughshesurvivesto-day，Perchancehishopeto-morrowdies。
Itisnotthus，believeme，Sir，Withthisenchantress，wewillcallOursecondmother。Frenchmenerr，Whocent’riessinceproclaimedherfall！
Ourmothertongue，allmelody，Whilemusiclives，shallneverdie。
Yes！stillshelives，herwordsstillring，Herchildrenyethercarolssing；
AndthousandyearsmayrollawayBeforehermagicnotesdecay。
Thepeoplelovetheirancientsongs，andwillWhileyetapeople，loveandkeepthemstill。
Theselaysareliketheirmother——theyrecallFondthoughtsofbrother，sister，friends，andallThemanylittlethingsthatpleasetheheart——
Thosedreamsandhopes，fromwhichwecannotpart；
Thesesongsareassweetwaters，wherewefindHealthinthesparklingwavethatnervesthemind。
Ineveryhome，ateverycottagedoor，Byeveryfireside，whenourtoiliso’er，Thesesongsareroundus，nearourcradlessigh，Andtothegraveattenduswhenwedie。
Oh！think，coldcritic！’twillbelateandlongEretimeshallsweepawaythisfloodofsong！
Therearewhobidthismusicsoundnomore，Andyoucanhearthem，nordefend——deplore！
You，whowerebornwherethefirstdaisiesgrew，Have’feduponitshoney，sipp’ditsdew，Sleptinitsarms，andwakenedtoitskiss，Dancedtoitssounds，andwarbledtoitstone——
Youcanforsakeitinanhourlikethis！
Wearyofage，youmayrenounce，disown，Andblameoneminstrelwhoistrue——alone！
Forme，truthtomyeyesmadeallthingsplain；
AtParis，thegreatfount，IdidnotfindThewaterspure，andtomystreamagainIcome，withsaddenedandwithsoberedmind；
Andnowthespellisbroken，andIrateThelittlecountryfarabovethegreat。
Foryou，whoseemhersorrowstodeplore，You，seatedhighinpower，thefirstamong，Beware！normakehercauseofgriefthemore；
Believehermis’ry，norcondemnhertongue。
Methinksyouinjurewhereyouseektoheal，Ifyoudepriveherofthatonlyweal。
Welove，alas！tosinginourdistress；
Forsothebitternessofwoeseemsless；
Butifwemaynotinourlanguagemourn，Whatwillthepolish’dgiveusinreturn?
Finesentences，butallforusunmeet——
Wordsfullofgrace，evensuchascourtiersgreet：
Adeck’doutmiss，toodelicateandniceTowalkinfields；tootenderandpreciseTosingthechorusofthepoor，orcomeWhenLabourlayshimdownfatiguedathome。
Tocoverragswithgildedrobeswerevain——
Therentsofpovertywouldshowtooplain。
Howwouldthisdaintydame，withhaughtybrow，Shrinkataload，andshudderataplough！
Sulky，andpiqued，andsilentwouldshestandAsthetiredpeasanturgedhisteamalong：
Nowordofkindencouragementathand，Forflocksnowelcome，andforherdsnosong！
Yetwewilllearn，andyoushallteach——
Ourpeopleshallhavedoublespeech：
Onetobehomely，onepolite，Asyouhaverobesfordifferentwear；
Butthisisall：——’tisjustandright，Andmoreourchildrenwillnotbear，Lestflocksofbuzzardsflitalong，Wherenightingalesoncepouredtheirsong。
Theremaybesomewho，vainandproud，Mayapethemannersofthecrowd，LispFrench，andmaimitateachword，Andjestandgibetoallafford；
Butwe，asinlongagespast，Willstillbepoetstothelast！[1]
Hark！andlistthebridalsong，Astheyleadthebridealong：”Hear，gentlebride！yourmother’ssighs，Andyouwouldhenceaway！
Weep，weep，fortearsbecomethoseeyes。”——”Icannotweep——to-day。”
Hark！thefarmerinthemeadBidstheshepherdswaintakeheed：”Come，yourlambstogetherfold，Haste，mysons！yourtoiliso’er：
ForthesettingsunhastoldThattheoxshouldworknomore。”
Hark！thecooperintheshadeSingstothesoundhishammermade：”Strike，comrades，strike！preparethecask。
’TislustyMaythatfillstheflask：
Strike，comrades！summersunsthatshineFillthecellarsfullofwine。”
Verseis，withus，acharmdivine，Ourpeople，lovingverse，willstill，Unknowingoftheirart，entwineGarlandsofpoesyatwill。
Theirsimplelanguagesuitsthembest：
Thenletthemkeepitandbeblest。
LetthewisecriticsbuildawallBetweenthenurse’scherishedvoice，Andthefondearherwordsenthral，Andsaytheiridolisherchoice。