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！”