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。