"Ah! pÈrisse l'idolatrie Qu'on voue ‡ la royautÈ. Terre ne sois qu'une patrie, Qu'un seul temple ‡ l'humanitÈ, Que l'homme venge son injure Brise, en bravant, le faux devoir, Et le piÈdestal du pouvoir { _Repeated by_ Et les autels de l'imposture, { _the Chorus._ Rois, pontifs! Ù ligue impure Dans ton impuissant dÈsespoir Contemple aux pieds de la nature Le diadËme et l'encensoir! Versailles et la fourbe Rome Ont perdu leurs adulateurs. Les vertus seront les grandeurs, { _Repeated by_ Les palais sont les toits de chaume. { _the Chorus._ "_Solo._ (_Tenore._) "Les FranÁais qu'on forme ‡ la guerre Appellent contre les tyrans Les reprÈsailles de la terre, Du haut des palais fumans. Des bords du Gange ‡ ceux du Tibre Dieu! rends bientÙt selon nos voeux Tout homme un citoyen heureux, { _Repeated by_ Le genre humain un peuple libre. { _the Chorus._ "_Solo Recit._ (_Basso._) "Nous finirons son esclavage Ce grand jour en est le prÈsage! "_Chorus_ (_concluding with a brilliant orchestral Coda_). "Nous t'offrons les dÈbris d'un trÙne," etc., etc. This curious composition was performed in the Cathedral of Strassburg, and created great sensation. Everyone declared that only an ardent patriot could have produced such a stirring work. Nevertheless Pleyel, after having been set free, thought it advisable to leave Strassburg for London as soon as possible. Besides those already mentioned, several other distinguished musicians could be named who were born or who lived in Strassburg. Ottomarus Luscinius, a priest, whose proper German name was Nachtigall, published in the year 1536, in Strassburg, his 'Musurgia, seu Praxis MusicÊ,' a work much coveted by musical antiquarians. Sebastian Brossard, who, about the year 1700, was Kapellmeister at the Strassburg Cathedral, is the author of a well-known musical dictionary. Sebastian Erard, the inventor of the repetition-action and other improvements in the pianoforte, as well as of the double-action in the harp, was born at Strassburg in the year 1752. In short, Elsass-Lothringen has been the cradle of many men distinguished in arts and sciences. The prominent feature of the national character of the inhabitants, revealed in their popular songs and usages, is a staidness which is not conspicuous among the pleasant qualities of the French. This innate staidness accounts for the reluctance recently shown by them to being separated from France, just as it accounts for their former disinclination to become French subjects. Moreover it will probably, now that they are reunited to their kinsmen, gradually make them as patriotic Germans as they originally were. That they require time to transfer their attachment redounds to their honour. [Illustration]