Hélas! à chaque instant, des souffles de tempêtes Amassent plus de brume et d'ombre sur nos têtes; De moment en moment l'avenir s'assombrit. Dans le calme du cœur, dans la paix de l'esprit, Je l'adressais ces vers, où mon âme sereine N'a laissé sur ta pierre écumer nulle haine, À toi qui dors couché dans le tombeau profond, À toi qui ne sais plus ce que les hommes font! Je l'adressais ces vers, pleins de tristes présages; Car c'est bien follement que nous nous croyons sages. Le combat furieux recommence à gronder Entre le droit de croître et le droit d'émonder; La bataille où les lois attaquent les idées Se mêle de nouveau sur des mers mal sondées; Chacun se sent troublé comme l'eau sous le vent ... Et moi-même, à cette heure, à mon foyer rêvant, Voilà, depuis cinq ans qu'on oubliait Procuste, Que j'entends aboyer, au seuil du drame auguste, La censure à l'haleine immonde, aux ongles noirs, Cette chienne au front has qui suit tous les pouvoirs, Vile et mâchant toujours dans sa gueule souillée, O muse! quelque pan de ta robe étoilée! Hélas! que fais-tu donc, ô Rabbe, ô mon ami! Sévère historien dans la tombe endormi?" If anything of poor Rabbe still survives, he will surely tremble with joy in his tomb at this tribute. Indeed, few kings have had such an epitaph! CHAPTER XII Chéron--His last compliments to Harel--Obituary of 1830--My official visit on New Year's Day--A striking costume--Read the _Moniteur_--Disbanding of the Artillery of the National Guard--First representation of _Napoléon Bonaparte_--Delaistre--Frédérick Lemaître Meantime, throughout the course of that glorious year of 1830, death had been gathering in a harvest of celebrated men. It had begun with Chéron, the author of _Tartufe de Mœurs._ We learnt his death in a singular fashion. Harel thought of taking up the only comedy that the good fellow had written, and had begun its rehearsals the same time as _Christine._ They rehearsed Chéron's comedy at ten in the morning and _Christine_ at noon. One morning, Chéron, who was punctuality itself, was late. Harel had waited a little while, then given orders to prepare the stage for _Christine._ Steinberg had not got further than his tenth line, when a little fellow of twelve years came from behind one of the wings and asked for M. Harel. "Here I am," said Harel, "what is it?" "M. Chéron presents his compliments to you," said the little man, "and sends word that he cannot come to his rehearsal this morning." "Why not, my boy?" asked Harel. "Because he died last night," replied the little fellow. "Ah! diable!" exclaimed Harel; "in that case you must take back my best compliments and tell him that I will attend his funeral to-morrow." That was the funeral oration the ex-government inspector to the Théâtre-Français pronounced over him. I believe I have mentioned somewhere that Taylor succeeded Chéron.