He was enabled to show the depth and strength of his dramatic powers, his fidelity in the description of romantic and picturesque incidents, his shrewdness in reading character and his skill in representing it, all of which he did in perfect innocence of all established canons in the composition of dramatic poetry.
The first of Jasmin's poetical legends was 'The Blind Girl of Castel-Cuille' (L'Abuglo).

It was translated into English, a few years after its appearance, by Lady Georgiana Fullerton, daughter of the British ambassador at Paris,{1} and afterwards by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the American poet.

Longfellow follows the rhythm of the original, and on the whole his translation of the poem is more correct, so that his version is to be preferred.

He begins his version with these words-- "Only the Lowland tongue of Scotland might Rehearse this little tragedy aright; Let me attempt it with an English quill, And take, O reader, for the deed the will." At the end of his translation Longfellow adds:--"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'auuvelous).

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.