GENERAL REMARKS ON THIS EDITION

The text chosen for this sélection is that of the fourteenth édition * revue et corrigée/ and published in 1862.

Thanks to the kindness of M. Ernest Dupuy, Inspector- General of Public Instruction, I hâve been able to use the manuscript of the ïambes, in Barbier's own handwriting, and to tum to good account the comparison aiready begun by M. Dupuy between the manuscript and the first édition. On this occasion, I am happy to offer him, as my former teacher, présent helper, and constant guide, a public acknowledgement of my deep indebtedness.

It has been thought sufficient to give the varions readings for the ïambes only, as they contain ail the poems which hâve a particularly characteristic and almost classical value.

Thèse readings are marked * Var.,' i. e. Variant,

As^ this sélection includes rather more than three-fourths of the ïambes et Poèmes, it may rank almost as a new édition either in England or France. It is also the first to offer various readings and explanatory notes on the historical and political allusions.

Outside France, the only poems of Barbier ever published, up to 1832, were the ïambes which appeared in Saxony, at Quedlinburg, the birthplace of Klopstock, with a translation in German.

According to Barbier himself, under this gênerai title he has grouped satires of bitter feeling and lyrical movement, in imitation of the famous pièces composed by André Chénier in his prison, just before his death on the scaffold (1794). (See André Chénier in this séries.) Those lines, not published till 1 8 1 9, were no doubt the model of Barbier's iambic verse. The latter reminds us of the Ancients' iambics, not so much of course by its mètre as by its aggressive character (laTTreti/, to drive on, to send forth, to shoot) and its swiftand inciting beat. The effect is brought out by an eight-syllable line following on the alexandrine, with alternate rimes.

i08 ïambes et poemes