Fromthatmomentshebeginstoliveanewlife，andtounderstandthemagicoflove。Shecarrieshometheblessedbreadtotheancientdame，andretirestoherchambertogiveherselfup，withtheutmostgratefulness，totherapturousdelightofloving。”Ah，”saysJasmininhispoem，”thesorrowingheartayelovethbest！”
　　Yetstillsheremembersthefataldoomofthesorcererthatsheissoldforapricetothedemon。Allseemtobelievethehideoustale，andnoonetakesherpartsavePascalandhergrandmother。ShekneelsbeforeherlittleshrineandpraystotheHolyVirginforhelpandsuccour。
　　AtthenextfetedaysherepairedtothechurchofNotreDamedebonEncontre，[7]wheretheinhabitantsofhalfadozenoftheneighbouringvillageshadassembled，withpriestsandcrucifixes，garlandsandtapers，bannersandangels。Thelatter，girlsabouttobeconfirmed，walkedinprocessionandsangtheAngelusattheappropriatehours。ThereporthadspreadabroadthatFranconnettewouldentreattheBlessedVirgintosaveherfromthedemon。Thestrangersweremorekindtoherthanherimmediateneighbours，andfrommanyapityinghearttheprayerwentupthatamiraclemightbewroughtinfavourofthebeautifulmaiden。Shefelttheirsympathy，anditgaveherconfidence。Thespecialsuppliantspasseduptothealtaronebyone——Anxiousmothers，disappointedlovers，orphansandchildren。Theykneel，theyaskforblessings，theypresenttheircandlesfortheoldpriesttobless，andthentheyretire。
　　NowcametheturnofFranconnette。Pascalwasinsightandprayedforhersuccess。Shewentforwardinahappyframeofmind，withhertaperandabouquetofflowers。Shekneltbeforethepriest。Hetookthesacredimageandpresentedittoher；
　　butscarcelyhadittouchedthelipsoftheorphanwhenaterriblepealofthunderrenttheheavens，andaboltoflightningstruckthespireofthechurch，extinguishinghertaperaswellasthealtarlights。Thiswasamostunluckycoincidencefortheterrifiedgirl；and，coweringlikealostsoul，shecreptoutofthechurch。Thepeoplewereinconsternation。”Itwasalltrue，shewasnowsoldtothedevil！
　　Puthertodeath，thatistheonlywayofendingourmisfortunes！”
　　Thetruthisthatthestormofthunderandlightningprevailedthroughouttheneighbourhood。Itisacommonthinginsouthernclimes。ThestormwhichbrokeoutatNotreDamedestroyedthebelfry；thechurchofRoquefortwasdemolishedbyaboltoflightning，thespireofSaintPierrewasruined。Thestormwasfollowedbyatempestofhailandrain。Agenwasengulfedbythewaters；herbridgewasdestroyed，[8]andmanyoftheneighbouringvineyardsweredevastated。AndallthisruinwaslaidatthedoorofpoorFranconnette！
　　Theneighbours——herworstenemies——determinedtoburnthedaughteroftheHuguenotoutofhercottage。Thegrandmotherfirstheardthecriesofthevillagers：”Firethem，letthembothburntogether。”Franconnetterushedtothedoorandpleadedformercy。”Goback，”criedthecrowd，”youmustbothroasttogether。”Theysetfiretotherickoutsideandthenproceededtofirethethatchofthecottage。”Hold，hold！”criedasternvoice，andPascalrushedinamongstthem。”Cowards！wouldyoumurdertwodefencelesswomen?Tigersthatyouare，wouldyoufireandburnthemintheirdwelling?”
　　Marceltooappeared；hehadnotyetgivenupthehopeofwinningFranconnette’slove。HenowjoinedPascalindefendingherandtheolddame，andbeingasoldierofMontluc，hewasapowerfulmanintheneighbourhood。Thegirlwasagainaskedtochoosebetweenthetwo。Atlast，afterrefusinganymarriageunderpresentcircumstances，sheclungtoPascal。”Iwouldhavediedalone，”shesaid，”butsinceyouwillhaveitso，Iresistnolonger。Itisourfate；wewilldietogether。”Pascalwaswillingtodiewithher，andturningtoMarcelhesaid：”Ihavebeenmorefortunatethanyou，butyouareabravemanandyouwillforgiveme。Ihavenofriend，butwillyouactasasquireandseemetomygrave?”Afterstrugglingwithhisfeelings，Marcelatlastsaid：”Sinceitisherwish，Iwillbeyourfriend。”
　　Afortnightlater，themarriagebetweentheunhappyloverstookplace。Everyoneforebodeddisaster。TheweddingprocessionwentdownthegreenhilltowardsthechurchofNotreDame。Therewasnosinging，nodancing，nomerriment，aswasusualonsuchoccasions。TherusticsshudderedatheartoverthedoomofPascal。ThesoldierMarcelmarchedattheheadofthewedding-party。Atthechurchanoldwomanappeared，Pascal’smother。Sheflungherarmsabouthimandadjuredhimtoflyfromhisfalsebride，forhismarriagewoulddoomhimtodeath。
　　Sheevenfellatthefeetofhersonandsaidthatheshouldpassoverherbodyratherthanbemarried。PascalturnedtoMarcelandsaid：”Loveoverpowersme！IfIdie，willyoutakecareofmymother?”
　　Thenthegallantsoldierdispelledthegloomwhichhadovershadowedtheunionofthelovingpair。”Icandonomore，”
　　hesaid；”yourmotherhasconqueredme。Franconnetteisgood，andpure，andtrue。Ilovedthemaid，Pascal，andwouldhaveshedmybloodforher，butshelovedyouinsteadofme。”KnowthatsheisnotsoldtotheEvilOne。InmydespairI
　　hiredthesorcerertofrightenyouwithhismischievoustale，andchancedidtherest。Whenwebothdemandedher，sheconfessedherloveforyou。ItwasmorethanIcouldbear，andIresolvedthatweshouldbothdie。”Butyourmotherhasdisarmedme；sheremindsmeofmyown。
　　Live，Pascal，foryourwifeandyourmother！Youneedhavenomorefearofme。ItisbetterthatIshoulddiethedeathofasoldierthanwithacrimeuponmyconscience。”
　　Thussaying，hevanishedfromthecrowd，whoburstintocheers。
　　Thehappyloversfellintoeachother’sarms。”Andnow，”saidJasmin，inconcludinghispoem，”Imustlayasidemypencil。
　　Ihadcoloursforsorrow；Ihavenoneforsuchhappinessastheirs！”
　　FootnotestoChapterIX。
　　[1]ThewholeofJasmin’sanswertoM。DumonwillbefoundintheAppendixattheendofthisvolume。
　　[2]’GascogneetLanguedoc，’parPaulJoanne，p。95edit。1883。
　　[3]ThedancestillexistsintheneighbourhoodofAgen。
　　Whenthereafewyearsago，Iwasdrawnbythesoundofafifeandadrumtothespotwhereadanceofthissortwasgoingon。
　　ItwasbeyondthesuspensionbridgeovertheGaronne，alittletothesouthofAgen。Anumberofmenandwomenoftheworking-classwereassembledonthegrassysward，andweredancing，whirling，andpirouettingtotheirhearts’content。
　　Sometimesthegirlsboundedfromthecircle，werefollowedbytheirsweethearts，andkissed。ItremindedoneofthedancesovigorouslydepictedbyJasmininFranconnette。
　　[4]MissHarrietPreston，ofBoston，U。S。，publishedpartofatranslationofFranconnetteinthe’AtlanticMonthly’forFebruary，1876，andaddsthefollowingnote：”Thebuscou，orbusking，wasakindofbee，atwhichtheyoungpeopleassembled，bringingthethreadoftheirlatespinning，whichwasdividedintoskeinsofthepropersizebyabroadandthinplateofsteelorwhalebonecalledabusc。Thesamething，underpreciselythesamename，figuredinthetoiletsofourgrandmothers，andhence，probably，theScotchuseoftheverbtobusk，orattire。”
　　[5]MissLouisaStuartCostelloin’BearnandthePyrenees。’
　　[6]AcustomwhichthenexistedincertainpartsofFrance。
　　ItwastakenbytheFrenchemigrantstoCanada，whereitexistednotlongago。Thecrownofthesacramentalbreadusedtobereservedforthefamilyoftheseigneurorothercommunicantsofdistinction。
　　[7]AchurchinthesuburbsofAgen，celebratedforitslegendsandmiracles，towhichnumerouspilgrimagesaremadeinthemonthofMay。
　　[8]AlongtimeagotheinhabitantsofthetownofAgencommunicatedwiththeothersideoftheGaronnebymeansoflittleboats。ThefirstwoodenbridgewascommencedwhenAquitainewasgovernedbytheEnglish，inthereignofRichardCoeur-de-lion，attheendofthetwelfthcentury。Thebridgewasdestroyedandrepairedmanytimes，andoneofthepilesonwhichthebridgewasbuiltisstilltobeseen。ItisattributedtoNapoleonI。thathecausedthefirstbridgeofstonetobeerected，forthepurposeoffacilitatingthepassageofhistroopstoSpain。Theworkwas，however，abandonedduringhisreign，anditwasnotuntiltheRestorationthatthebridgewascompleted。Sincethattimeotherbridges，especiallythesuspensionbridge，havebeenerected，toenabletheinhabitantsofthetownsontheGaronnetocommunicatefreelywitheachother。
　　CHAPTERX。
　　JASMINATTOULOUSE。
　　IthadhithertobeenthecustomofJasmintodedicatehispoemstooneofhisfriends；butinthecaseofFranconnettehededicatedthepoemtothecityofToulouse。Hisobjectinmakingthededicationwastoexpresshisgratitudeforthebanquetgiventohimin1836bytheleadingmenofthecity，atwhichthePresidenthadgiventhetoastof”Jasmin，theadoptedsonofToulouse。”
　　ToulousewasthemostwealthyandprosperouscityintheSouthofFrance。Amongitscitizensweremanymenofliterature，art，andscience。JasminwasatfirstdisposedtodedicateFranconnettetothecityofBordeaux，wherehehadbeensograciouslyreceivedandfetedontherecitationofhisBlindGirlofCastel-Cuille；butheeventuallydecidedtodedicatethenewpoemtothecityofToulouse，wherehehadalreadyachievedaconsiderablereputation。
　　Jasminwasreceivedwitheveryhonourbythecitywhichhadadoptedhim。ItwashisintentiontoreadthepoematToulousebeforeitspublication。Iftherewasoneofthetownsorcitiesinwhichhislanguagewasunderstood——onewhichpromisedbythestrengthanddepthofitsrootstodefyallthechancesofthefuture——thatcitywasToulouse，thecapitaloftheLangued’Oc。
　　TheplaceinwhichhefirstrecitedthepoemwastheGreatHalloftheMuseum。Whenthepresentauthorsawitabouttwoyearsago，thegroundfloorwasfullofantiquetombs，statues，andmonumentsofthepast；whilethehallaboveitwascrowdedwithpicturesandworksofart，ancientandmodern。
　　AboutfifteenhundredpersonsassembledtolistentoJasminintheGreatHall。”Itisimpossible，”saidthelocaljournal，[1]”todescribethetransportwithwhichhewasreceived。”ThevastgallerywasfilledwithoneofthemostbrilliantassembliesthathadevermetinToulouse。Jasminoccupiedthecentreoftheplatform。AthisrightandlefthandwereseatedtheMayor，themembersoftheMunicipalCouncil，theMilitaryChiefs，themembersoftheAcademyofJeux-Floraux，[2]andmanydistinguishedpersonsinscience，literature，andlearning。
　　Alargespacehadbeenreservedfortheaccommodationofladies，whoappearedintheirlightsummerdresses，colouredliketherainbow；andbehindthemstoodanimmensenumberofthecitizensofToulouse。
　　Jasminhadnosoonerbeguntorecitehispoemthanitwasclearthathehadfullcommandofhisaudience。Impressedbyhiseloquenceandpowersofdeclamation，theywererivetedtotheirseats，dazzledandmovedbyturns，asthecrowdofbeautifulthoughtspassedthroughtheirminds。Theaudienceweresomuchabsorbedbythepoet’srecitationthatnotawhisperwasheard。
　　Heevokedbythetonesandtremorofhisvoicetheirsighs，theirtears，theirindignation。Hewasbyturnsgay，melancholy，artless，tender，arch，courteous，anddeclamatory。Asthedramaproceeded，theaudiencerecognisedthebeautyoftheplotandthepoet’sknowledgeofthehumanheart。Hetouchedwithgraceallthecordsofhislyre。Hispoetryevidentlycamedirectfromhisheart：itwasasrareasitwasdelicious。
　　Thesuccessoftherecitationwascomplete，andwhenJasminresumedhisseathereceivedthemostenthusiasticapplause。
　　Asthewholeofthereceiptswere，asusual，handedoverbyJasmintothelocalcharities，theassemblydecidedbyacclamationthatasubscriptionshouldberaisedtopresenttothepoet，whohadbeenadoptedbythecity，sometestimonyoftheiradmirationforhistalent，andforhishavingfirstrecitedtothemanddedicatedtoToulousehisfinepoemofFranconnette。
　　Jasminhandedovertothemunicipalitythemanuscriptofhispoeminavolumebeautifullybound。TheMayor，ineloquentlanguage，acceptedthework，andacknowledgedtheferventthanksofthecitizensofToulouse。
　　AsatBordeaux，Jasminwasfetedandentertainedbythemostdistinguishedpeopleofthecity。Atoneofthenumerousbanquetsatwhichhewaspresent，herepliedtothespeechofthechairmanbyanimpromptuinhonourofthosewhohadsosplendidlyentertainedhim。But，ashehadalreadysaid：”Impromptusmaybegoodmoneyoftheheart，buttheyareoftentheworstmoneyofthehead。”[3]
　　Onthedayfollowingtheentertainment，Jasminwasinvitedtoa”grandbanquet”givenbythecoiffeursofToulouse，wheretheypresentedhimwith”acrownofimmortellesandjasmines，”
　　andtothemalsoherecitedanotherofhisimpromptus。[4]
　　Franconnettewasshortlyafterpublished，andthepoemwasreceivedwithalmostasmuchapplausebythepublicasithadbeenbythecitizensofToulouse。Sainte-beuve，theprinceofFrenchcritics，saidofthework：——”InallhiscompositionsJasminhasanatural，touchingidea；
　　itisahistory，eitherofhisinvention，ortakenfromsomelocaltradition。Withhisfacilityasanimprovisatore，aidedbythepatoisinwhichhewrites，……whenheputshisdramatispersonaeintoaction，heendeavourstodepicttheirthoughts，alltheirsimpleyetlivelyconversation，andtoclothetheminwordsthemostartless，simple，andtransparent，andinalanguagetrue，eloquent，andsober：neverforgetthislattercharacteristicofJasmin’sworks。”[5]