The opinions of Jérôme Coignard . ned asthe little children, I should not truly have beenamused with the coarse play of this Mondor (thisMoliere of the Pont Neuf would have had littleattraction for me when his prototype already appears tome too scurrilous *), but I should have found pleasurein the plants of my garden, I should have praisedGod in the flowers and fruit of my apple-trees. An immoderate curiosity has led me astray myson; I have lost, in the intercourse with books andlearned men, the peace of heart, holy simplicity, andthat purity of the simple-minded, all the moreadmirable in th
The opinions of Jérôme Coignard . ned asthe little children, I should not truly have beenamused with the coarse play of this Mondor (thisMoliere of the Pont Neuf would have had littleattraction for me when his prototype already appears tome too scurrilous *), but I should have found pleasurein the plants of my garden, I should have praisedGod in the flowers and fruit of my apple-trees. An immoderate curiosity has led me astray myson; I have lost, in the intercourse with books andlearned men, the peace of heart, holy simplicity, andthat purity of the simple-minded, all the moreadmirable in that it falters neither in the tavern norin the hovel; as may be seen in the example of thelame cutler, and, if I dare say so, in that of yourfather, the cook, who retains much innocence thoughdrunken and debauched. But it is not thus withhim who has studied books. They leave, eternally,a bitter superiority, and a proud sadness. Talking thus, his speech was cut off by the roll ofdrums. * It is a priest speaking thus (Anatole France).. X THE ARMY O, being on the Pont Neuf, we heardthe roll of drums. It was the callto attention of a recruiting-sergeant,who, hand on hip, was strutting inan open space in front of- a dozensoldiers, who were carrying bread and sausagesspiked on the bayonets of their guns. A circle ofbeggars and youngsters looked on open-mouthed. He twirled his moustache and made his pro-clamation. Do not let us listen to him, said my goodmaster to me. It would be waste of time. Thissergeant speaks in the kings name. He has notalent for speaking. If it would please you to heara clever discourse on the same subject you shouldgo into one of those bakehouses on the Quai de laFerraille, where the crimps cajole the lackeys andbumpkins. These crimps, being rascals, are bound ii6 THE OPINIONS OF to be eloquent. I remember, in my youth, in thetime of the late king, having heard the most wonder-ful harangue from the mouth of one of these dealersin men, who kept shop in the Unh
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