Page:Journal of Conversations with Lord Byron.pdf/72

 woman, and the faiblesse de cœur, this alliance proved she had not courage to affiche. A friend of hers, and a compatriot into the bargain, whom she believed to be one of the most adoring of her worshippers, gave me the following epigrams :- SUR LA GROSSESSE DE MADAME DE STAEL.

Quel esprit! quel talent! quel sublime génie!

En elle tout aspire à l'immortalite;

Et jusqu'a son hydropisie,

Rien n'est perdu pour la posterite.

PORTRAIT DE MADAME DE STAEL.

Armande a pour esprit des momens de délire,

Armande a pour vertu le mepris des appas:

Elle craint le railleur que sans cesse elle inspire,

Elle evite l'amant que ne la cherche pas:

Puisqu'elle n'a point l'art de cacher son visage,

Et qu'elle a la fureur de montrer son esprit,

Il faut la defier de cesser d'être sage

Et d'entendre ce qu'elle dit.

"The giving the epigrams to me, a brother of the craft of authors, was worthy of a friend, and was another proof, if proof were wanting, of the advantages of friends :-

No epigram such pointed satire lends

As does the memory of our faithful friends.

I have an exalted opinion of friendship, as you see. You look incredulous, but you will not only give me credit for being sincere in this opinion, but one day arrive at the same conclusion your-