6 Prospects of Socialism [1888 



see one too at Paris. She was under the impression that England was 

 mined with Socialism and when I told her Row little that was true was 

 visibly distressed. She then read us one of her poems and tore out 

 of a book and gave me the manuscript of one beginning ' Nul souffle 

 humain ne se trouve sur ces pages,' and invited us to go with her to a 

 meeting to take place that evening at Belleville, which we promised 

 to do, but later I made the Princess explain to her that it was impos- 

 sible I should really go, as I have no mind 'to be mixed up in a free 

 fight, or to be arrested by the Paris police. But it was difficult to make 

 her understand. She imagined that as I had been in prison I must 

 necessarily be ready for everything. ' Why should he hesitate,' she 

 said. ' There will be no danger, we shall all have revolvers.' I like 

 the woman, as she is evidently honest and of an unselfish kindly heart." 

 This is the programme she gave me of the meeting: 



Grand Meeting Internationale 

 a l'occasion de l'anniversaire de l'execution des anarchistes de Chicago. 



Ordre du Jour. 



Primo Les Crimes de la Bourgeoisie &c. &c. 



Avec Le Concours d'Orateurs Socialistes Revolutionnaires. 



Et de la Citoyenne 

 Louise Michel. 



Here is also the full text of her verse : 



BOUCHE CLOSE 



Nul souffle humain n'est sur ces pages, 



Rien que celui des elements, 



Le cyclone hurlant sur les plages, 



Les legendes des oceans, 



Les sapins verts sous les nuees 



Tordant les branches remuees 



Comme les harpes dans les vents. 



Sous les coraux ou sous les sables 



La nature parfois ouvrant 



Dans les tourmentes formidables 



Un cercueil, ville ou continent, 



Et l'etre ayant la bouche close, 



Feuille de chene ou lien de rose 



Tombant au gre de l'ouragan. 



Louise Michel. 



14 Novembre '88. 



Souvenir a M. Wilfrid Blunt. 



From Paris we travelled on by Marseilles to Greece, where my wife 

 had a family interest through her grandfather Lord Byron's death 

 there in 1827 ; how glorious in those romantic days ! how disappointing 



