FIDELITY IN ADVERSITY. 
99 
kings and scatter them to the winds. The 
barbarians, after breaking open the sacred 
tombs, were affrighted at the sacrilege, and 
went and hid their spoil in an obscure corner 
behind the choir of the church, where they 
were forgotten amid the horrors of the revo¬ 
lution. The poet, Treneuil, some time after 
visited the spot, and found the sculptured 
fragments covered with the wall-flower. This 
plant, faithful in misfortune, diffused sweet 
perfumes in that religious receptacle, which 
might be likened to an offering of incense 
ascending towards heaven. This scene pro¬ 
duced the following lines from the inspired 
poet’s pen : — 
Mais quelle est cette fleur que son instinct pieux 
Sur l’aile du zephyr amfene dans ces lieux ? 
Q,uoi! tu quittes le temple oh vivent tes racines, 
Sensible giroflee, amante des ruines, 
Et ton tribut fiddle accompagne nos rois 1 
Ah ! puisque la terreur a courbe sous les lois 
Du lis infortune la tige souveraine, 
Que nos jardins en deuil te ehoisissent pour reme; 
Triomplie sans rivale, et que ta sainte fleur 
Croisse pour le tombeau, le trone, et le malheur. 
H 
