His brief life burned itself away
before he had exhausted the lyric effusion of his youth. 'Le plus
beau gentilhomme de son siecle, et le plus dextre a toutes sortes
de gentillesses,' died at the age of twenty-eight, fulfilling the
presentiment which tinges, but scarcely saddens his poetry.
VII. JEAN PASSERAT, 1534-1602. Better known as a political
satirist than as a poet.
POETS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
VICTOR HUGO.
ALFRED DE MUSSET, 1810-1857.
GERARD DE NERVAL, 1801-1855.
HENRI MURGER, 1822-1861.
BALLADS.
The originals of the French folk-songs here translated are to be
found in the collections of MM. De Puymaigre and Gerard de Nerval,
and in the report of M. Ampere.
The verses called a 'Lady of High Degree' are imitated from a very
early chanson in Bartsch's collection.
The Greek ballads have been translated with the aid of the French
versions by M. Fauriel.
SPRING.
CHARLES D'ORLEANS, 1391-1465.
[The new-liveried year.--Sir Henry Wotton.]
The year has changed his mantle cold
Of wind, of rain, of bitter air;
And he goes clad in cloth of gold,
Of laughing suns and season fair;
No bird or beast of wood or wold
But doth with cry or song declare
The year lays down his mantle cold.
All founts, all rivers, seaward rolled,
The pleasant summer livery wear,
With silver studs on broidered vair;
The world puts off its raiment old,
The year lays down his mantle cold.
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