Itwasperfectlysimpleandnatural。Thepoemmightformthesubjectofadramaoramusicalcantata。ThelamentationsofMargueriteonherblindnessremindoneofMilton’sheart-rendingwordsonthesamesubject：”Forothers，dayandjoyandlight，Forme，alldarkness，alwaysnight。”[4]
　　Sainte-Beuve，incriticisingJasmin’spoems，saysthat”Itwasin1835thathistalentraiseditselftotheeminenceofwritingoneofhispurestcompositions——natural，touchinganddisinterested——hisBlindGirlofCastel-Cuille，inwhichhemakesusassistinafete，amidstthejoysofthevillagers；andatthegriefofayounggirl，afianceewhomasevereattackofsmallpoxhaddeprivedofhereyesight，andwhomherbetrothedloverhadabandonedtomarryanother。”Thegriefofthepoorabandonedgirl，herchangesofcolour，herattitude，herconversation，herprojects——thewholesurroundedbythefreshnessofspringandthelaughingbrightnessoftheseason——exhibitsacharacterofnatureandoftruthwhichveryfewpoetshavebeenabletoattain。
　　Oneisquitesurprised，onreadingthissimplepicture，tobeinvoluntarilycarriedbacktothemostexpressivepoemsoftheancientGreeks——toTheocritusforexample——fortheMargueriteofJasminmaybecomparedwiththeSimethaoftheGreekpoet。Thisistruepoetry，richfromthesamesources，andgildedwiththesameimagery。InhisnewcompositionsJasminhasfollowedhisownbias；thisman，whohadfewbooks，butmeditateddeeplyinhisheartandhisloveofnature；
　　andhefollowedthewayoftrueartwithsecretandperseveringlabourinwhatappearedtohimthemosteloquent，easy，andhappymanner……”Hislanguage，”Sainte-Beuvecontinues，”isalwaysthemostnatural，faithful，transparent，truthful，eloquent，andsober；
　　neverforgetthislastcharacteristic。Heisnevermorehappythanwhenhefindsthathecanborrowfromanartizanorlaboureroneofthosewordswhichareworthtenofothers。Itisthusthathisgeniushasrefinedduringtheyearsprecedingthetimeinwhichheproducedhisgreatestworks。Itisthusthathehasbecomethepoetofthepeople，writinginthepopularpatois，andforpublicsolemnities，whichremindoneofthoseoftheMiddleAgesandofGreece；thushefindshimselftobe，inshort，morethananyofourcontemporaries，oftheSchoolofHorace，ofTheocritus，orofGray，andallthebrilliantgeniuseswhohaveendeavouredbystudytobringeachoftheirworkstoperfection。”[5]
　　TheBlindGirlwasthemostremarkableworkthatJasminhaduptothistimecomposed。Thereisnocountrywhereanauthorissopopular，whenheisonceknown，asinFrance。WhenJasmin’spoemwaspublishedhebecame，byuniversalconsent，thePoetLaureateoftheSouth。YetsomeofthelocaljournalsofBordeauxmadelightofhisappearanceinthatcityforthepurposeofrecitinghisasyetunknownpoem。”ThatabarberandhairdresserofAgen，”theysaid，”speakingandwritinginavulgartongue，shouldattempttoamuseorenlightentheintelligentpeopleofBordeaux，seemedtothembeneathcontempt。”
　　ButJasminsoonshowedthemthatgeniusisofnorankorconditionoflife；andtheirviewsshortlyunderwentasuddenchange。Hisveryappearanceinthecitywasatriumph。Crowdsresortedtothelargehall，inwhichhewastorecitehisnewpoemoftheBlindGirlofCastel-Cuille。Theprefect，themayor，themembersoftheAcademy，andthemostcultivatedpeopleofthecitywerepresent，andreceivedhimwithapplause。
　　Theremighthavebeensomemisgivingsastothesuccessofthepoem，butfromthemomentthatheappearedontheplatformandbeganhisrecitation，everydoubtdisappeared。Hereadthepoemwithmarvellouseloquence；whilehisartisticfigure，hismobilecountenance，hisdark-browneyebrows，whichheraisedorloweredatwill，hisexpressivegesticulation，andhispassionateacting，addedgreatlytotheeffectofhisrecital，andsoonwoneveryheart。Whenhecametotherefrain，”Thepathswithbudsandblossomsstrew，”
　　henolongerdeclaimed，butsangafterthemannerofthepeasantsintheirpopularchaunt。Hiseyesbecamesuffusedwithtears，andthosewholistenedtothepatois，eventhoughtheyonlyimperfectlyunderstoodit，partookoftheimpression，andweptalso。
　　Hewasaliketenderandimpressivethroughoutthepiece，especiallyatthedeathoftheblindgirl；andwhenhehadended，astormofapplauseburstfromtheaudience。Therewasaclappingofhandsandathunderousstampingoffeetthatshookthebuildingalmosttoitsfoundations。
　　Itwasaremarkablespectacle，thatahumbleworkingman，comparativelyuneducated，shouldhaveevokedthetumultuousapplauseofabrilliantassemblyofintelligentladiesandgentlemen。Itwasindeedsomethingextraordinary。SomesaidthathedeclaimedlikeTalmaorRachel，norwasthereanynoteofdissonanceinhisreception。Theenthusiasmwasgeneralandunanimousamongstthemagistrates，clergy，scientificmen，artists，physicians，ship-owners，menofbusiness，andworkingpeople。TheyalljoinedintheapplausewhenJasminhadconcludedhisrecitation。
　　FromthistimeforwardJasminwasoneofthemostpopularmenatBordeaux。Hewasentertainedataseriesoffetes。Hewasinvitedtosoireesbytheprefect，bythearchbishop，bythevarioussocialcircles，aswellasbytheworkmen’sassociations。
　　Theyviedwitheachotherforthehonourofentertaininghim。
　　Hewentfrommatineestosoirees，andintendaysheappearedatthirty-fourdifferententertainments。
　　Atlengthhebecamethoroughlytiredandexhaustedbythisenormousfete-ing。Helongedtobeawayandathomewithhiswifeandchildren。Hetookleaveofhisfriendsandadmirerswithemotion，and，notwithstandingthepraisesandacclamationshehadreceivedatBordeaux，hequietlyturnedtopursuehishumbleoccupationatAgen。
　　ItwasoneofthemostremarkablethingsaboutJasmin，thathewasnevercarriedoffhisfeetbythebrilliantovationshereceived。Thoughenoughtoturnanypoorfellow’shead，heremainedsimpleandnaturaltothelast。Aswesayinthiscountry，hecould”carrycorn”Wehavesaidthat”Gascon”isoftenusedinconnectionwithboastingorgasconading。ButthetermwasinnowayapplicabletoJasmin。Helefttheechoofpraisesbehindhim，andreturnedtoAgentoenjoythecomfortsofhisfireside。
　　Hewasnot，however，withouttempterstoweanhimfromhishomeandhisordinarypursuits。In1836，theyearafterhistriumphalreceptionatBordeaux，someofhisfriendsurgedhimtogotoParis——thecentreoflightandleading——inorderto”makehisfortune。”
　　Butno！hehadnevercontemplatedtheideaofleavinghisnativetown。ArichwinemerchantofToulousewasoneofhistempters。
　　HeadvisedJasmintogotothegreatmetropolis，wheregeniusalonewasrecognised。Jasminansweredhiminacharmingletter，settingforththereasonswhichdeterminedhimtoremainathome，principallybecausehistastesweremodestandhisdesireswerehomely。”Youtoo，”hesaid，”withoutregardtotroublingmydaysandmynights，havewrittentoaskmetocarrymyguitarandmydressing-combtothegreatcityofkings，becausethere，yousay，mypoeticalhumourandmywell-knownverseswillbringtorrentsofcrownstomypurse。Oh，youmaywellboasttomeofthisshowerofgoldanditsclinkingstream。Youonlymakemecry：’Honourisbutsmoke，gloryisbutglory，andmoneyisonlymoney！’Iaskyou，innocravenspirit，ismoneytheonlythingforamantoseekwhofeelsinhishearttheleastsparkofpoetry?Inmytown，whereeveryoneworks，leavemeasIam。
　　Everysummer，happierthanaking，Ilayupmysmallprovisionforthewinter，andthenIsinglikeagoldfinchundertheshadeofapoplaroranash-tree，onlytoohappytogrowgreyinthelandwhichgavemebirth。Onehearsinsummerthepleasantzigo，ziou，ziou，ofthenimblegrasshopper，ortheyoungsparrowpluminghiswingstomakehimselfreadyforflight，heknowsnotwhither；butthewisemanactsnotso。Iremainhereinmyhome。
　　Everythingsuitsme——earth，sky，air——allthatisnecessaryformycomfort。Tosingofjoyouspovertyonemustbejoyfulandpoor。Iamsatisfiedwithmyrye-bread，andthecoolwaterfrommyfountain。”
　　Jasminremainedfaithfultotheserulesofconductduringhislife。ThoughheafterwardsmadeavisittoParis，itwasonlyforashorttime；buthisnativetownofAgen，hishomeontheGravier，hisshop，hiswifeandhischildren，continuedtobehislittleparadise。Hismusesoaredoverhimlikeaguardianangel，givinghimsongsforhishappinessandconsolationforhissorrows。Hewas，aboveallthings，happyinhiswife。
　　Shecheeredhim，strengthenedhim，andconsoledhim。
　　Hethusportrayedherinoneofhispoems：”Hereyeslikesparklingstarsofheavenlyblue；
　　Hercheekssosweet，soround，androsy；
　　Herhairsobright，andbrown，andcurly；
　　Hermouthsolikearipenedcherry；
　　Herteethmorebrilliantthanthesnow。”
　　Jasminwasattachedtohiswife，notonlybyherbeauty，butbyhergoodsense。Shecounselledandadvisedhimineverything。
　　Hegavehimselfuptoherwiseadvice，andneverhadoccasiontoregretit。Itwaswithhermodestmarriage-portionthathewasenabledtoestablishhimselfasamasterhairdresser。
　　Whenheopenedhisshop，hesetovertheentrancedoorthissign：”L’ArtembellitLaNature：Jasmin，CoiffeurdesJeunesGens。”Ashisfamilygrew，inordertoincreasehisincome，headdedthewords，”CoiffeurdesDames。”Thisprovedtobeahappyadditiontohisbusiness。MostoftheladiesofAgenstroveforthehonourofhavingtheirhairdressedbythepoeticalbarber。Whiledressingtheirhairhedelightedthemwithhissongs。Hehadasympatheticvoice，whichtouchedtheirsoulsandthrewthemintothesweetestofdreams。
　　ThoughJasminwasalwaysdisposedtorhymealittle，hiswisewifeneverallowedhimtoforgethisregulardailywork。
　　Atthesametimesheunderstoodthathisdelicatenaturecouldnotbeentirelyabsorbedbythelaboursofanordinaryworkman。
　　Shewasnolongerjealousofhissolitarycommunionswithhismuse；andafterhisusualhoursofoccupation，shelefthim，orsatbyhim，toenablehimtopursuehisdearreveriesinquiet。
　　Mariette，orMarie，asshewasusuallycalled，wasathoroughlygoodpartnerforJasmin。Thoughnotbyanymeansahighlyeducatedwoman，shefelttheelevatingeffectsofpoetryevenonherself。Sheinfluencedherhusband’smindthroughherpracticalwisdomandgoodsense，whileheinhisturninfluencedhersbyelevatinghersoulandintellect。
　　Jasmin，whilehewaslabouringoversomesongorverse，founditnecessarytoreciteittosomeonenearhim，butmostlytohiswife。HewanderedwithheralongthebanksoftheGaronne，andwhileherecited，shelistenedwithbatedbreath。Shecouldevenventuretocorrecthim；forsheknew，betterthanhedid，theordinaryGascondialect。Sheoftenfoundforhimthetruewordforthepicturewhichhedesiredtopresenttohisreader。
　　ThoughJasminwasalwaysthankfulforherhelp，hedidnotabandonhisownwordswithoutsomelittlecontention。
　　Hehadworkedoutthesubjectinhismind，andanynewword，ormodeofdescription，mightinterruptthebeautyoftheverses。
　　Whenheatlengthrecognisedthejusticeofhercriticism，hewouldsay，”Marie，youareright；andIwillagainthinkoverthesubject，andmakeitfitmorecompletelyintotheGasconidiom。”Incertaincasespassagesweresuppressed；inotherstheywereconsiderablyaltered。
　　WhenJasmin，aftermuchlabourandcorrection，hadfinishedhispoem，hewouldcallabouthimhisintimatefriends，andrecitethepoemtothem。Hehadnoobjectiontothemostthoroughcriticism，byhiswifeaswellasbyhisfriends。Whenthepoemwaslongandelaborate，theauditorssometimesbegantoyawn。
　　Thenthewifesteppedinandsaid：”Jasmin，youmuststop；leavetheremainderofthepoemforanotherday。”Thustherecitalceasedforthetime。
　　ThepeopleofAgenentertainedalivelysympathyfortheirpoet。
　　Eventhosewhomighttoacertainextentdepreciatehistalent，dideveryjusticetothenobilityofhischaracter。Perhapssomemightenvythepositionofamanwhohadrisenfromtheranksandsecuredtheesteemofmenoffortuneandevenoftheleadersofliteraryopinion。Jasmin，likeeverypersonenviedorperhapsdetracted，hadhishoursofdepression。Butthestrongsoulofhiswifeinthesehourscametohisrelief，andassuagedthespiritofthemanandthepoet。
　　Jasminwasatonetimeonthepointofabandoningverse-making。
　　Yethewasencouragedtoproceedbythedemandswhichweremadeforhissongsandverses。Indeed，nofetewasconsideredcompletewithouttherecitationsofJasmin。Itwasnodoubtveryflattering；yetfamehasitsdrawbacks。Hisinvitationswereusuallyunceremonious。
　　Jasminwasnodoubtrecognisedasapoet，andanexcellentreciter；yethewasapersonwhohandledtherazorandthecurling-tongs。Whenhewasinvitedtoalocalparty，itwasmerelythathemightrecitehisversesgratuitously。Hedidnotbelongtotheirsocialcircle，andhiswifewasnotincluded。
　　Whatsympathycouldshehavewiththesedistinguishedpersonages?
　　AtlengthJasmindeclinedtogowherehiswifecouldnotbeinvited。Hepreferredtostayathomewithhisfamily；andallfurtherinvitationsofthissortwererefused。
　　Besides，hisfriendNodierhadwarnedhimthatapoetofhisstampoughtnottoappeartoooftenatthefeastsofthelazy；