“Francais,
trop ingrats Francais
“Rendez
le Roi a sa compagne;
“C’est
le bien du Bearnais,
“C’est
l’enfant de la Montagne:
“Le
bonheur qu’ avoit Henri
“Nous
l’affarons a Louis.
“Chez
vouz l’homme a de ses droits
“Recouvre
le noble usage,
“Et
vous opprimez vos rois,
“Ah!
quel injuste partage!
“Le
peuple est libre, et Louis
“Est
prisonnier dans Paris.
“Au
pied de ce monument
“Ou
le bon Henri respire
“Pourquoi
l’airain foudroyant?
“Ah
l’on veut qu’ Henri conspire
“Lui
meme contre son fils
“Dans
les prisons de Paris."_
It was published some time ago in a periodical work, (written with great spirit and talents,) called “The Acts of the Apostles,” and, I believe, has not yet appeared in England. The situation of the King gives a peculiar interest to these stanzas, which, merely as a poetical composition, are very beautiful. I have often attempted to translate them, but have always found it impossible to preserve the effect and simplicity of the original. They are set to a little plaintive air, very happily characteristic of the words.
Perhaps I shall not write to you again from hence, as we depart for A_____ on Tuesday next. A change of scene will dissipate a little the seriousness we have contracted during the late events. If I were determined to indulge grief or melancholy, I would never remove from the spot where I had formed the resolution. Man is a proud animal even when oppressed by misfortune. He seeks for his tranquility in reason and reflection; whereas, a post-chaise and four, or even a hard-trotting horse, is worth all the philosophy in the world.—But, if, as I observed before, a man be determined to resist consolation, he cannot do better than stay at home, and reason and phosophize.
Adieu:—the situation of my friends in this country makes me think of England with pleasure and respect; and I shall conclude with a very homely couplet, which, after all the fashionable liberality of modern travellers, contains a great deal of truth:
“Amongst
mankind
“We
ne’er shall find
“The
worth we left at home.”
Yours, &c.
August 22, 1792.
The hour is past, in which, if the King’s friends had exerted themselves, they might have procured a movement in his favour. The people were at first amazed, then grieved; but the national philosophy already begins to operate, and they will sink into indifference, till again awakened by some new calamity. The leaders of the faction do not, however, entirely depend either on the supineness of their adversaries, or the