sensible, compassionate, sympathetic

1. 47. Je n'ai flatté que l'infortune. Béranger wrote no songs favourable to Napoleon before 18 13.

Le Vieux Ménétrier. (Page 19.)

Published in the Epicurien français of 181 5.

' Cette chanson fut faite au milieu des proscriptions et des exécutions qui ternirent la seconde Restauration, et qui durent lui aliéner pour longtemps les cœurs vraiment généreux et patriotiques. Ce n'est pas avec des chansons et des vers qu'on fait entendre raison aux rois et aux factions ; mais les poètes ne doivent pourtant pas se décourager.' (Note by Béranger.)

This song is an appeal for pardon, conciliation and peace, and was well timed at the end of 18 15 ; the followers of Napoleon were being daily arraigned before courts-martial, or sent into banishment ; at Nîmes, at Toulouse, the clerical party had been taking ferocious vengeance on the Protestants, Marshal Brune had been murdered at Avignon, Ney's trial was in progress (he was shot on December 7), and the émigrés and ultra-royalists were nevertheless expressing loud disappointment that the measures adopted by Louis XVIII should be marked by such moderation!

L 2. Ménétrier. The village fiddler, who on holidays and festive occasions takes his place on a table or barrel, generally under a tree, and leads the rustic dancing.