574 THE JESUIT CRESSET. 



sance, et sur le quel nous n'avons d'autre avantage que 1'anciennetej 

 que nous serions trop heureux de ne pas avoir." 



At the time when these brilliant eulogiums were conferred on him 

 by one who was then considered the most refined and classical of the 

 poets of France, and even of Europe, Gresset was but twenty-six 

 years old, and a Jesuit. His poem was a source of equal surprise to 

 the world, to whom he was unknown, and to the order amongst whom 

 he had been educated. Vert- Vert produced the effect of a literary 

 phenomenon ; it was translated into Latin verse. Raux, at that time 

 a celebrated artist, represented in enamel the adventures of the tra- 

 velled parrot. M. Bertin, the Secretary of State, presented Gresset 

 with a magnificent set of china, manufactured at Sevres ; on the 

 cups and other pieces of which were traced the chief events in the 

 life of Vert- Vert. " This," the poet would frequently remark, " is 

 the Sevres edition of my poem." But the fame which surrounded 

 the young author proved but a slight defence against a second perse- 

 cution, more dangerous than the first. Vert- Vert had amused the 

 public at the expense of the nuns : the minister had a sister who was 

 superieure of the Visitaudines,* or Convent of the Visitation, in 

 which the poet had laid the scene of the parrot's history. Her 

 brother, not however from any personal dislike to Gresset, for he 

 ever after continued to remain one of his best friends, took up Vert- 

 Vert on the footing of a state affair. He was not himself a bigot, 

 but he had no choice but to espouse the quarrel of his sister : he ac- 

 cordingly laid a grave complaint before the Jesuits. The fathers, 

 although in secret, greatly flattered by the success of their young 

 brother, dared not risk the displeasure of the Court, and the author 

 of the harmless badinage of Vert- Vert was banished to La Fleche. 



This state of exile, as may readily be supposed, soon became irk- 

 some to our lively poet. He gave vent to his feelings on the subject 

 in a description of his journey from Tours to the village of La Fleche, 

 in a letter, half prose and half verse, addressed to a lady of quality at 

 Tours. This jcu d' esprit, which is inserted in all the editions of his 

 works under the title of " My Journey to La Fleche," contains many 

 passages replete with wit and satire ; which last, however, he never 

 allows to transgress the bounds of good humour : indeed, the very 

 amiable character of Gresset is apparent through all his works, and 

 one cannot but feel indignant that the petty malice of cant and bigotry 

 should have succeeded in embittering the existence of so mild and 

 inoffensive a being. Speaking of the good Father Superior, who had 



* A Nevers done chez les Visitaudines 



Vivoit naguere un peroquet f'ameux. 



A qui son art et son coeur ge'ne'reux 



Ses vertus meme, et ses graces badines, 



Auroient au faire un sort moins rigoreux, 



Si les bons coaurs etoient tongours heureux. 



VERT-VERT. Chant. 1. 

 Les petits soins, les attentions fines 

 Sont nds, dit-on, chez les Visitaudines. IB. 



Toutes les soeurs parlent toutes ensemble ; 



En entandant cet essaim bourdonner 



On eut a peine entendu Dieu tonner. Chant. 4. 



