The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-05-20


Translated from the Revue de NOuveau Monde.J
Surrounding the chateau was a beautiful park
in the park there were birds of all kindsoNigbt-
ingales, Blackbrds, Linnets-all the birds of the
earth had given their rendezvous in the park. Ia
the Spring it was one continual warbling each
leaf concealed nest, each tree contained an or.
chestra. All the little feathered musicians gave
forth their best notes. Some chirped, Others cooed
these trilled in harmony-real musicians could
not have done better
But within the chateau were two cousins, very
beautiful, who sang to themselves better than all
the birds of the Park One was called FleuTeite
the other Isabeau Both were lovely and equally
desirable. On Sundays, when they were beauti-
fully robed, if their white shoulders had not shown
thai they were really young maidens, they would
have been taken for angels-wings only were want
ing. When they sang, the old Lord de MaulovIier,
their uncle, held them by the hands, sometimes
fearing that fancy to fly might seize upon them.
leave TO your imagination the number of lances
spintered at tournaments in honor Of Feurette and
Isabeau. Their reputation for beauty and talent
had made the tour of Europe, and yet it caused
them no increase of pride; they being in retire
ment seeing few other persons than the little page
Valentine, a beautiful f4xen-haired boy, and the
Lord Maulovrer, gray-headed, swarthy old man,
infrm from having worn armor for sixty years.
They passed their time in throwing grain TO the
little birds, saying their prayers and principally in
studying the works of masters, repeating together
some anthem, madrigal, lay, other music; they
had also flowers, which they watered and tended
themselves Their life passed in these sweet and
poetic occupations of young girls, they remaining
in the shade, far from the regards of the world,
and yet the world was occupied with them. Nei-
ther the Nightingale nor the Rose can remain con-
cealed; their song and their odor will always be-
tray them Our cousins were at the same time
two Nightngales and two Roses.
There came dukes and princes to demand them
in marriage the Emperor of Trebzoule and the
Sultan of Egypt sent ambassadors proposing their
alliance to the Lord. of Maulovrier. The two
cousins were not weary of being maidens, and
wished not TO hear change mentioned. Perhaps
they felt secret instinct that il was their mission
here below TO remain virgins and to sing, and it
would be derogation to do otherwise They had
been from infancy in the chateau. The window
of their room opened on the park, and they had
been walked by the song of birds. almost as soon
as they walked, Blondeau, the old fiddler Of the
lord, had placed their little hands upon the ivory
keys of the virginia. They had had no other toy,
and knew how TO sing before they could speak
they sang as others respire-it was their nature.
This education had singularly influenced their
| character. They had never uttered sharp cry
nor discordant plaint-they cried in measure and
sighed in concord. They loated in melOdious
sea- and scarcely perceived the real world but by
sounds They understood admirably the rustling
of leaves the murmuring Of water, the ticking OF
the clock, the sighing of the wind the buzzing of
| Wheel the drops of rain falling on the shaking
sash-all the harmonies, exterior or interior; but
they experienced must say. no great enthusiasm
at the sight of the setting sun, and they were as
little capable of appreciating painting as if
their beautiful eyes, blue and black, had been COW
cred by cataracts Their passion was music-they
dreamed of it; for it they forgot to eat or drink
they loved no other thing in the world-or if they
did, it was Valentine and their flowers Valentine,
because he resembled roses; the roses, because
they resembled Valentine But this love was only
secondary. 1t is true, Valentine was but thirteen.
Their greatest pleasure was to sing at their win
dow, in the evening" the music they had composed
during the day.
The most celebrated masters came from a great
distance to hear and contend with them. They
had not heard more than one measure ere they
broke their instruments, tore their parts, and
avowed themselves vanquished. In fact it was a
music so delightful, so melodious, that cherubs
from the sky came to the easement with the other
musicians, learn il by heart to sing at the gates
Of Heaven
One evening in May the two cousins sang an
anthem for two voices never an air more happy
had been more happily composed OF rendered.
A Nightingale of the park, resting on rose-tree,
had listened to them attentivelY. Wien they had
finished, il approached the window, and said, in
its bird language:
81 want to have a trial of song with you."
The two cousins replied thatthey were willing
and he might commence.
The Nightingale began. 1t was a master Night
ingale. His little throat swelled; his wing
tapped; his whole body Irembled; it was rouiade'
without end, cadsnces, rills, chrOpatie scales