按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of her mind to suffer in a sphere of higher things rather than
flounder in the marshes of provincial life like her mother； the pledge
she had made to herself never to fail in conduct； but to respect her
father's hearth and bring it happiness；all this world of feeling and
sentiment had lately come to a climax and taken shape。 Modeste wished
to be the friend and companion of a poet； an artist； a man in some way
superior to the crowd of men。 But she intended to choose him；not to
give him her heart； her life； her infinite tenderness freed from the
trammels of passion； until she had carefully and deeply studied him。
She began this pretty romance by simply enjoying it。 Profound
tranquillity settled down upon her soul。 Her cheeks took on a soft
color； and she became the beautiful and noble image of Germany； such
as we have lately seen her； the glory of the Chalet； the pride of
Madame Latournelle and the Dumays。 Modeste was living a double
existence。 She performed with humble； loving care all the minute
duties of the homely life at the Chalet； using them as a rein to guide
the poetry of her ideal life； like the Carthusian monks who labor
methodically on material things to leave their souls the freer to
develop in prayer。 All great minds have bound themselves to some form
of mechanical toil to obtain greater mastery of thought。 Spinosa
ground glasses for spectacles； Bayle counted the tiles on the roof；
Montesquieu gardened。 The body being thus subdued； the soul could
spread its wings in all security。
Madame Mignon； reading her daughter's soul； was therefore right。
Modeste loved； she loved with that rare platonic love； so little
understood； the first illusion of a young girl； the most delicate of
all sentiments； a very dainty of the heart。 She drank deep draughts
from the chalice of the unknown； the vague； the visionary。 She admired
the blue plumage of the bird that sings afar in the paradise of young
girls； which no hand can touch； no gun can cover； as it flits across
the sight； she loved those magic colors； like sparkling jewels
dazzling to the eye； which youth can see； and never sees again when
Reality； the hideous hag； appears with witnesses accompanied by the
mayor。 To live the very poetry of love and not to see the loverah；
what sweet intoxication！ what visionary rapture！ a chimera with
flowing man and outspread wings！
The following is the puerile and even silly event which decided the
future life of this young girl。
Modeste happened to see in a bookseller's window a lithographic
portrait of one of her favorites； Canalis。 We all know what lies such
pictures tell；being as they are the result of a shameless
speculation； which seizes upon the personality of celebrated
individuals as if their faces were public property。
In this instance Canalis； sketched in a Byronic pose； was offering to
public admiration his dark locks floating in the breeze； a bare
throat； and the unfathomable brow which every bard ought to possess。
Victor Hugo's forehead will make more persons shave their heads than
the number of incipient marshals ever killed by the glory of Napoleon。
This portrait of Canalis （poetic through mercantile necessity） caught
Modeste's eye。 The day on which it caught her eye one of Arthez's best
books happened to be published。 We are compelled to admit； though it
may be to Modeste's injury； that she hesitated long between the
illustrious poet and the illustrious prose…writer。 Which of these
celebrated men was free？that was the question。
Modeste began by securing the co…operation of Francoise Cochet； a maid
taken from Havre and brought back again by poor Bettina； whom Madame
Mignon and Madame Dumay now employed by the day； and who lived in
Havre。 Modeste took her to her own room and assured her that she would
never cause her parents any grief； never pass the bounds of a young
girl's propriety； and that as to Francoise herself she would be well
provided for after the return of Monsieur Mignon； on condition that
she would do a certain service and keep it an inviolable secret。 What
was it？ Why； a nothingperfectly innocent。 All that Modeste wanted of
her accomplice was to put certain letters into the post at Havre and
to bring some back which would be directed to herself； Francoise
Cochet。 The treaty concluded； Modeste wrote a polite note to Dauriat；
publisher of the poems of Canalis； asking； in the interest of that
great poet； for some particulars about him； among others if he were
married。 She requested the publisher to address his answer to
Mademoiselle Francoise； 〃poste restante；〃 Havre。
Dauriat； incapable of taking the epistle seriously； wrote a reply in
presence of four or five journalists who happened to be in his office
at the time； each of whom added his particular stroke of wit to the
production。
Mademoiselle；Canalis （Baron of）； Constant Cys Melchior； member
of the French Academy； born in 1800； at Canalis （Correze）； five
feet four inches in height； of good standing； vaccinated； spotless
birth； has given a substitute to the conscription； enjoys perfect
health； owns a small patrimonial estate in the Correze； and wishes
to marry； but the lady must be rich。
He beareth per pale； gules an axe or； sable three escallops
argent； surmounted by a baron's coronet； supporters； two larches；
vert。 Motto： 〃Or et fer〃 （no allusion to Ophir or auriferous）。
The original Canalis； who went to the Holy Land with the First
Crusade； is cited in the chronicles of Auvergne as being armed
with an axe on account of the family indigence； which to this day
weighs heavily on the race。 This noble baron； famous for
discomfiting a vast number of infidels； died； without 〃or〃 or
〃fer；〃 as naked as a worm； near Jerusalem； on the plains of
Ascalon； ambulances not being then invented。
The chateau of Canalis （the domain yields a few chestnuts）
consists of two dismantled towers； united by a piece of wall
covered by a fine ivy； and is taxed at twenty…two francs。
The undersigned （publisher） calls attention to the fact that he
pays ten thousand francs for every volume of poetry written by
Monsieur de Canalis； who does not give his shells； or his nuts
either； for nothing。
The chanticler of the Correze lives in the rue de Paradis…
Poissoniere； number 29； which is a highly suitable location for a
poet of the angelic school。 Letters must be POST…PAID。
Noble dames of the faubourg Saint…Germain are said to take the
path to Paradise and protect its god。 The king； Charles X。； thinks
so highly of this great poet as to believe him capable of
governing the country； he has lately made him officer of the
Legion of honor； and （what pays him better） president of the court
of Claims at the foreign office。 These functions do not hinder
this great genius from drawing an annuity out of the fund for the
encouragement of the arts and belles letters。
T