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application。 Each poem contained in the first canto a description of
the 〃object sung；〃 preceded （as in the case of Gourdon） by a species
of invocation； of which the following is a model：
I sing the good game that belongeth to all；
The game； be it known； of the Cup and the Ball；
Dear to little and great； to the fools and the wise；
Charming game！ where the cure of all tedium lies；
When we toss up the ball on the point of a stick
Palamedus himself might have envied the trick；
O Muse of the Loves and the Laughs and the Games；
Come down and assist me； for； true to your aims；
I have ruled off this paper in syllable squares。
Come； help me
After explaining the game and describing the handsomest cup…and…balls
recorded in history； after relating what fabulous custom it had
formerly brought to the Singe…Vert and to all dealers in toys and
turned ivories； and finally； after proving that the game attained to
the dignity of statics； Gourdon ended the first canto with the
following conclusion； which will remind the erudite reader of all the
conclusions of the first cantos of all these poems：
'Tis thus that the arts and the sciences； too；
Find wisdom in things that seemed silly to you。
The second canto； invariably employed to depict the manner of using
〃the object；〃 explaining how to exhibit it in society and before
women； and the benefit to be derived therefrom； will be readily
conceived by the friends of this virtuous literature from the
following quotation； which depicts the player going through his
performance under the eyes of his chosen lady：
Now look at the player who sits in your midst；
On that ivory ball how his sharp eye is fixt；
He waits and he watches with keenest attention；
Its least little movement in all its precision；
The ball its parabola thrice has gone round；
At the end of the string to which it is bound。
Up it goes！ but the player his triumph has missed；
For the disc has come down on his maladroit wrist；
But little he cares for the sting of the ball；
A smile from his mistress consoles for it all。
It was this delineation； worthy of Virgil； which first raised a doubt
as to Delille's superiority over Gourdon。 The word 〃disc；〃 contested
by the opinionated Brunet； gave matter for discussions which lasted
eleven months； in fact； until Gourdon the scientist； one evening when
all present were on the point of getting seriously angry； annihilated
the anti…discers by observing：
〃The moon； called a DISC by poets； is undoubtedly a ball。〃
〃How do you know that？〃 retorted Brunet。 〃We have never seen but one
side。〃
The third canto told the regulation story；in this instance； the
famous anecdote of the cup…and…ball which all the world knows by
heart； concerning a celebrated minister of Louis XVI。 According to the
sacred formula delivered by the 〃Debats〃 from 1810 to 1814； in praise
of these glorious words； Gourdon's ode 〃borrowed fresh charms from
poesy to embellish the tale。〃
The fourth canto summed up the whole； and concluded with these daring
words；not published； be it remarked； from 1810 to 1814； in fact；
they did not see the light till 1824； after Napoleon's death。
'Twas thus that I sang in the time of alarms。
Oh； if kings would consent to bear no other arms；
And people enjoyed what was best for them all；
The sweet little game of the Cup and the Ball；
Our Burgundy then might be free of all fear；
And return to the good days of Saturn and Rhea。
These fine verses were published in a first and only edition from the
press of Bournier； printer of Ville…aux…Fayes。 One hundred
subscribers； in the sum of three francs； guaranteed the dangerous
precedent of immortality to the poem；a liberality that was all the
greater because these hundred persons had heard the poem from
beginning to end a hundred times over。
Madame Soudry had lately suppressed the cup…and…ball； which usually
lay on a pier…table in the salon and for the last seven years had
given rise to endless quotations； for she finally discovered in the
toy a rival to her own attractions。
As to the author； who boasted of future poems in his desk； it is
enough to quote the terms in which he mentioned to the leading society
of Soulanges a rival candidate for literary honors。
〃Have you heard a curious piece of news？〃 he had said； two years
earlier。 〃There is another poet in Burgundy！ Yes；〃 he added； remarking
the astonishment on all faces； 〃he comes from Macon。 But you could
never imagine the subjects he takes up；a perfect jumble； absolutely
unintelligible；lakes； stars； waves； billows！ not a single
philosophical image； not even a didactic effort！ he is ignorant of the
very meaning of poetry。 He calls the sky by its name。 He says 'moon；'
bluntly； instead of naming it 'the planet of night。' That's what the
desire to be thought original brings men to；〃 added Gourdon；
mournfully。 〃Poor young man！ A Burgundian； and sing such stuff as
that！the pity of it！ If he had only consulted me； I would have
pointed out to him the noblest of all themes； wine；a poem to be
called the Baccheide； for which； alas！ I now feel myself too old。〃
This great poet is still ignorant of his finest triumph （though he
owes it to the fact of being a Burgundian）； namely； that of living in
the town of Soulanges； so rounded and perfected within itself that it
knows nothing of the modern Pleiades； not even their names。
A hundred Gourdons made poetry under the Empire； and yet they tell us
it was a period that neglected literature！ Examine the 〃Journal de la
Libraire〃 and you will find poems on the game of draughts； on
backgammon； on tricks with cards； on geography； typography； comedy；
etc。；not to mention the vaunted masterpieces of Delille on Piety；
Imagination； Conversation； and those of Berchoux on Gastromania and
Dansomania； etc。 Who can foresee the chances and changes of taste； the
caprices of fashion； the transformations of the human mind？ The
generations as they pass along sweep out of sight the last fragments
of the idols they found on their path and set up other gods；to be
overthrown like the rest。
Sarcus； a handsome little man with a dapple…gray head； devoted himself
in turn to Themis and to Flora；in other words； to legislation and a
greenhouse。 For the last twelve years he had been meditating a book on
the History of the Institution of Justices of the Peace； 〃whose
political and judiciary role；〃 he said； 〃had already passed through
several phases； all derived from the Code of Brumaire； year IV。； and
to…day that institution； so precious to the nation； had lost its power
because the salaries were not in keeping with the importance of its
functions； which ought to be performed by irremovable officials。〃
Rated in the community as an able man； Sarcus was the accepted
statesman of Madame Soudry's salon； you can readily imagine that he
was the leading bore。 They said he t