PREFACE.
My attention was first called to the works of the poet Jasmin by the eulogistic articles which appeared in the Revue des Deux Mondes, by De Mazade, Nodier, Villemain, and other well-known reviewers.
I afterwards read the articles by Sainte-Beuve, perhaps the finest critic of French literature, on the life and history of Jasmin, in his 'Portraits Contemporains' as well as his admirable article on the same subject, in the 'Causeries du Lundi.' While Jasmin was still alive, a translation was published by the American poet Longfellow, of 'The Blind Girl of Castel-Cuille,' perhaps the best of Jasmin's poems.

In his note to the translation, Longfellow said that "Jasmin, the author of this beautiful poem, is to the South of France what Burns is to the South of Scotland, the representative of the heart of the people; one of those happy bards who are born with their mouths full of birds (la bouco pleno d'aouvelous).

He has written his own biography in a poetic form, and the simple narrative of his poverty, his struggles, and his triumphs, is very touching.

He still lives at Agen, on the Garonne; and long may he live there to delight his native land with native songs." I had some difficulty in obtaining Jasmin's poems; but at length I received them from his native town of Agen.

They consisted of four volumes octavo, though they were still incomplete.