It was composed in 1825, when he was twenty-seven years old; and dedicated to M.Duprount, the Advocate, who was himself a poetaster.

The dedication contained some fine passages of genuine beauty and graceful versification.

It was in some respects an imitation of the Lutrin of Boileau.

It was very different from the doggerel in which he had taken part with his humpbacked father so long ago.

Then he had blown the cow-horn, now he spoke with the tongue of a trumpet.