At last--'Claude, friend,' I whispered, 'you
must sing your share too--and mine also, for that matter.'
'What shall I sing?'
'Anything you will, from the sublime to the ridiculous. They will
understand and appreciate it as well as yourself. Recollect, you are
not among bullet-headed South Saxon clods, but among wits as keen and
imaginations as rich as those of any Scotch shepherd or Manchester
operative.'
And up rose his exquisite tenor.
This was his first song, but it was not allowed to be his last.
German ballads, Italian Opera airs, were all just as warmly, and
perhaps far more sincerely appreciated, as they would have been by
any London evening-party; and the singing went on, hour after hour,
as we slipped slowly on upon the tide, till it grew late, and the
sweet voices died away one by one; and then the Liberty, Equality,
and Fraternity which had reigned so pleasantly throughout the day
took a new form, as the women huddled together to sleep in each
other's arms; and the men and we clustered forwards, while from every
mouth fragrant incense steamed upwards into the air.
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