第72章 LAST POEMS--MORE MISSIONS OF CHARITY.(3)

He arrived at Saint-Flour exhausted by fatigue.His voice began to fail,partly through the rigours of the climate,yet he continued to persevere.The bishop entertained him in his palace,and introduced him personally to the audience before which he was to give his recitations.Over the entrance-door was written the inscription,"A Jasmin,le Poete des Pauvres,Saint-fleur reconnaissante!"Before Jasmin began to recite he was serenaded by the audience.The collection was greater than had ever been known.It was here that the bishop presented Jasmin with that famous manual,'The Imitation of Christ,'already referred to.

It was the same at Murat,Mauriac,and Aurillac.The recitation at Aurillac was given in the theatre,and the receipts were 1200francs.Here also he was serenaded.He departed from Aurillac covered with the poor people's blessings and gratitude.

At Toulouse he gave another entertainment,at the instance of the Conference of Saint-Francois Xavier.There were about 3000persons present,mostly of the working classes.The seance was prolonged almost to midnight.The audience,most of whom had to rise early in the morning,forgot their sleep,and wished the poet to prolong his recitations!

Although the poor machine of Jasmin's body was often in need of rest,he still went about doing good.He never ceased ministering to the poor until he was altogether unable to go to their help.Even in the distressing cold,rain,and wind of winter--and it was in winter more than in summer that he travelled,for it was then that the poor were most distressed--he entirely disregarded his own comfort,and sometimes travelled at much peril;yet he went north and south,by highways and byways,by rivers and railways,in any and every direction,provided his services could be of use.

He sacrificed himself always,and was perfectly regardless of self.He was overwhelmed with honours and praises.He became weary of triumphs--of laurels,flowers,and medals--he sometimes became weary of his life;yet he never could refuse any pressing solicitation made to him for a new recital of his poems.

His trials,especially in winter time,were often most distressing.He would recite before a crowded audience,in a heated room,and afterwards face the icy air without,often without any covering for his throat and neck.Hence his repeated bronchial attacks,the loss of his voice,and other serious affections of his lungs.

The last meeting which Jasmin attended on behalf of the poor was at the end of January 1864,only three months before his death.

It was at Villeneuve-sur-Lot,a town several miles north of Agen.

He did not desire to put the people to the expense of a conveyance,and therefore he decided to walk.He was already prematurely old and stooping.

The disease which ended his life had already made considerable progress.He should have been in bed;nevertheless,as the poor needed his help,the brave old man determined to proceed to Villeneuve.He was helped along the road by some of his friends;and at last,wearied and panting,he arrived at his destination.

The meeting was held in the theatre,which was crowded to suffocation.

No sooner had Jasmin reached the platform,amidst the usual triumphant cheering,than,after taking a short rest,he sprang to his feet and began the recitation of his poems.Never had his voice seemed more spirited and entrancing.He delighted his audience,while he pleaded most eloquently for the relief of the poor.

"I see him now,"wrote one of his friends,"from behind the side-scenes of the theatre,perspiring profusely,wet to the skin,with a carafe of water to allay the ardent thirst occasioned by three hours of splendid declamation."In his then critical state,the three hours'declamation was enough to kill him.At all events,it was his last recitation.

It was the song of the dying swan.In the midst of his triumphs,he laid down his life for the poor;like the soldier who dies with the sound of victory in his ears.

Footnotes to Chapter XIX.

[1]'Jasmin,sa Vie et ses OEuvres.'Paris,1867.

[2]Le Pays,14th February,1854.

[3]'Las Papillotos de Jasmin,'iv.56.