YouseetheirbasketsemptyingOfwafflesallhome-made。
TheyquaffthenectarsparklingOffreshestlemonade。
WhatcrowdsatPunchinello，Whiletheshowmanbeatshiscymbal！
Crowdseverywhere！
Butwhoisthisappearsbelow?
Ah！’tisthebeauteousvillagequeen！。
Yes，’tisshe；’tisFranconnette！
Afairergirlwasneverseen。
Inthetownasintheprairie，YoumustknowthateverycountryHasitschosenpearloflove。
Ah，well！Thiswastheone——
TheynamedherintheCanton，Theprettiest，sweetestdove。
Butnow，youmustnotfancy，gentlemen，Thatshewassadandsighing，Herfeaturespaleasanylily，Thatshehaddyingeyes，half-shutandblue，Andslenderfigureclothedwithlanguishing，Liketoaweepingwillowbyalimpidlake。
Notso，mymasters。FranconnetteHadtwokeenflashingeyes，liketwolivestars；
Herlaughingcheekswereround，whereonalovermightGatherinhandfulsrosesbright；
Brownlocksandcurlydeckedherhead；
Herlipswereasthecherryred，Whiterthansnowherteeth；herfeetHowsoftlymoulded，smallandfleet；
Howlightherlimbs！Ah，well-a-day！
AndofthewholeatonceIsay，Shewastheverybeau-idealOfbeautyinawoman’sform，mostfairandreal。
Suchloveliness，ineveryrace，Maysuddenstarttolight。
Shefiredtheyouthswithreadylove，Eachmaidenwithdespair。
Pooryouths，indeed！Oh！howtheywishedTofallbeneathherfeet！
Theyalladmiredher，andadored，Justasthepriestadoresthecross——
’TwasasifthereshoneastaroflightTheyounggirl’sbrowacross！
Yet，somethingvexinginhersoulbegantohover；
Thefinestflowerhadfailedherinthisdayofhonour。
Pascal，whomalltheworldesteemed，Pascal，thehandsomest，whosevoicewithmusicbeamed，Heshunnedthemaid，castne’eralovingglance；
Despised！Shefelthategrowinginherheart，AndinherprettyvengeanceSheseizedthemomentforabrilliantdartOfherbrighteyestochainhim。
Whatwouldyouhave?Agirlsogreatlyenvied，Shemightbecomeaflirtconceited；
Alreadyhadsheseemedallthis，Self-gloriousshewas，Ifear，Coquettingrarelycomesamiss，Thoughshemightneverlove，withmanyloversnear！
Grandmotheroftensaidtoher，”Child，child！”withgentlefrown，”Ameadow’snotaparlour，andthecountry’snotatown，AndthouknowestwellthatwehavepromisedtheelangsyneTothesoldier-lad，Marcel，whoislovertrueofthine。
Socurbthyflights，thougiddyone，Themaidwhocovetsall，intheendmayhaphathnone。””Nay，nay，”repliedthetricksyfay，Withswiftcaress，andlaughtergay，”Thereisanothersawwell-known，Timeenough，mygranniedear，tolovesomelaterday！
’Shewhohathonlyme，hath’none。’”
Now，suchaflightycourse，youmaydivine，Madehostsofmelancholyswains，Whosighedandsufferedjealouspains，Yetneversangreproachfulstrains，Likelearnedloverswhentheypine，Who，astheygotodie，theirwoeswritecarefullyOnwilloworonpoplartree。
Goodlack！thoucould’stnotshapealetter，Andthesillysouls，thoughlove-sick，todeathdidnotincline，Thinkingtoliveandsufferonwerebetter！
Buttoolswerehandledclumsily，Andvine-spraysblewabroadatwill，Andtreeswereprunedexceedingill，Andmanyafurrowdrawnawry。
Methinksyouknowhernow，thisfairandfoolishgirl；
Watchwhileshetreadsonemeasure，thenseeherdipandtwirl！
YoungEtienneholdsherhandbychance，’Tisthefirstrigadoontheydance；
Withpartedlips，rightthirstilyEachrustictracksthemastheyfly，AndthedamselslyFeelseveryeye，Andlightermovesforeachadoringglance。
Holycross！whatasight！whenthemadcaprearsarightHershininglizard’shead！herSpanishfootfallslight，Herwasp-likefigureswaysAndswimsandwhirlsandspringsagain。
Thewindwithcornerofher’kerchiefplays。
Thoselovelycheekswhereontheyouthsnowgaze，Theyhungertosalutewithkissestwain！
Andsomeoneshall；forherethecustomis，Whotireshispartnerout，salutesherwithakiss；
Thegirlsgrowwearyeverywhere，WhereforealreadyJeanandPaul，Louis，Guillaume，andstrongPierre，HavebreathlessyieldeduptheirplaceWithoutthecovetedembrace。
Anothertakeshisplace，Marcelthewight，ThesoldierofMontluc，prodigiousinhisheight，Arrayedinuniform，bearinghissword，Acockadeinhiscap，theemblemofhislord，StraightasanI，thoughboldyetnotwell-bred，Hisheartwassoft，butthickishwashishead。
Heblusteredmuchandboastedmoreandmore，FrolickedandvapouredashetookthefloorIndeedhewasaveryhorridbore。
Marcel，mostmadforFranconnette，torturedtheothergirls，Madehermostjealous，yetshehadnochance，Theswelled-outcoxcombcalledonhertodance。
ButFranconnettewasloth，andshemustlethimseeit；
Hefeltmostmadlyjealous，yetwasmaladroit，Heboastedthathewasbeloved；perhapshedidbelieveitquite——
Theotherday，insuchaplace，Sheshrankfromhisembrace！
Thecrowdnowwatchedthedancingpair，Andmarkedthetricksywitchingfair；
Theyrush，theywhirl！Butwhat’samiss?
Thebouncingsoldierlad，Iwis，Canneversnatchdisputedkiss！
Thedancingmaidatfirstsmilesatherself-styledlover，”Makeseyes”athim，butne’eraworddoesutter；
Sheonlyleapedthefaster！
Marcel，piquedtothequick，longedtosubduethiscreature，Hewishedtoshowbeforethecrowdwhatloveheboreher；
OneopenkissweresweeterfarThantwentyinacorner！
But，no！hislegsbegantofail，hisheadwasinatrance，Hereeled，healmostfell，hecouldnolongerdance；
Nowhewouldgivecockade，sabre，andsilverlace，Woulditweregoldindeed，forherembrace！
Yetwhilethepairwerestillafoot，thegirllookedverygay——
Resolvednevertogiveway！
WhileheadstrongMarcel，breathless，spent，andhotinface，Hereeledandallbutfell；thentothenextgaveplace！
ForthdartedPascalinthesoldier’sstead，Theymaketwosteps，thenchange，andFranconnette，Wearyatlast，withlaughinggrace，Herfootstayedandupraisedherface！
TarriedPascalthatkisstoset?
Nothe，besure！andallthecrowdHisvict’ryhailedwithplauditsloud。
Theclappingoftheirpalmslikebattle-doresresounded，WhilePascalstoodamongthemquiteconfounded！
Oh，whatapictureforthesoldierwhosolovedhisqueen！
Himthekissmaddened！MeasuringPascalwithhiseen，Hethundered，”Peasant，youhavefilledmyplacemostsly；
Notsofast，churl！”——andbrutallyletflyWithaimunerringonefierceblow，Straightintheother’seyes，doublingtheinsultso。
GoodGod！[2]howstingsthemadd’ningpain，Hisdearesthappinessthatblowmuststain，Kissingandboxing——glory，shame！
Light，darkness！Fire，ice！Life，death！Heaven，hell！
AllthiswastoourPascal’ssoultheknellOfhope！ButtobethustormentedByflagrantinsult，asthesoldiermeantit；
Nowwithoutfearhemustresentit！
Itdoesnotneedtobeasoldiernora”Monsieur，”
Anoutrageplacidlytobear。
NowfieryPascalletflyathisfoe，Beforehecouldturnround，astunningblow；
’Twaslikeathunderpeal，Andmadethesoldierreel；
Tryingtodrawhissabre，ButPascal，seemingbigger，GrippedMarcelbythewaist，andsturdilyLiftedhimup，andthrewhissurlyFoeontheground，breathless，andstunnedseverely。”Nowthen！”whilePascallookedonthehoundthrownbyhim，”Thepeasantgrantstheechanceofliving！””Despatchhim！”criedthesurgingcrowd。”Thouartallcover’do’erwithblood！”
ButPascal，inhisangryfitofpassion，Hadhurthiswristandfistinamostseriousfashion。”Nomatter！AllthesameIpardonhim！
Youmusthavepityonthebeatenhound！””No，finishhim！Intomorselscuthim！”