| Citation |
RNYG.783.193
24 Dec 1783:24,31,32 (756)
Sketch of a Feste Champestre, given by Madame La Countesse
de Houdetot, to his Excellency Benjamin Franklin, Minister
Plenipotentiary from the United States of America, Member of
the Academies of Paris, London, &c., at her rural and
elegant Seat, at Sanoy, in the delightful Valley of
Montmorency, twelve miles from Paris, on the 12th of April,
1781.
. . . [13 lines describing Mr. Franklin's arrival with the
illustrious guests of the Countess, and the poem which she
wrote for him as follows]
AME DU HEROS, ET DU SAGE,
Oh Liberte! premier bienfait des Dieux,
Helas! --c'est de trop, loin que nous t'offrons des veux,
Ce n'estque en soupirant que nous rendons homage,
Au Mortel qui Forma des Cytoyeus heureux.
Surrounded by this most excellent family, Mr. Franklin
walked slowly on to the Chateau, where with them he sat
down, to a most splendid dinner,--at the first glass of
wine, a few soft instruments of music accompanied the whole
assembly while they sung the following Stanza, which became
the Chorus of the day:
De Benjamin celebrons la memoire,
Chantons le bien q'ull a fait aux mortels
En Anerique il aura des autels;
Et dans Sanoy nous bouvons a sa gloire.
At the second glass, (being accompanied by the same soft
music) the Countess sung the following Quatrain:
Il rend ses droits a l'humaine nature,
Pour l'affranchir il vould cl rer[illegible]
Et la vertu pour se faire adorer,
De Benjamin Emprunta la Figure.
. . . [For the third glass, the Viscount de Houdetot sang a
stanza, the fourth was sung by the Countess, the fifth by
Madame de Pernan, the sixth by the Count de Tiessan, the
seventh by the Count D'Apeche, and others also paid
compliments; after dinner, Franklin was taken to the garden,
where he was presented with a Virginia locust tree, which he
planted]
On the return, they were met by a Band of Music, which
accompanied the whole family in the following song:
Que cet arbre plante par sa main beinfesante,
E'levant sa tige naissante,
Au dessus du sterile ormeau,
Par sa fleur odoriferente,
Perfume l'air de cet heureux hameau,
La foudre ne pours l'atteindre,
. . . [5 more lines of the verse. Then a description of
his departure, and another verse of 4 lines in French]
An imperfect Attempt at a Translation of the verses, in the
same order in which they are here placed.
LIFE OF THE HERO, AS WELL AS OF THE SAGE,
Oh Liberty! Heaven's first and best gift,
From too distant a clime, alas! we hail thee;
Involuntarily we sigh and we groan,
In paying our homages to the American Lycurgus.
Let us celebrate Franklin's knowledge and wisdom,
Let us sing the good he is doing to mankind,
Whilst he receives the tributes of heart-felt gratitude;
In Sanoy let us all drink his health.
Chorus.
. . . [following are 6 more verses of 4 lines each, and one
of
7 lines. A translation of the verse of the tree-planting
follows]
May this tree, planted by Franklin's hand,
Raise its future lofty tops
Far above the barren elm;
May its odoriferent blossons
Perfume this peaceful hamlet.
The thund'ring clouds from on high
Shall respect its lofty top and branches;
. . . [4 more lines of this verse, and one more verse of 4
lines]
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