CINQ MARS

By Alfred De Vigny

With a Prefaces by CHARLES DE MAZADE,
and GASTON BOISSIER of the French Academy.

CONTENTS

ALFRED DE VIGNY

PREFACE

TRUTH IN ART

CINQ-MARS


BOOK 1.

CHAPTER I. THE ADIEU

CHAPTER II. THE STREET

CHAPTER III. THE GOOD PRIEST

CHAPTER IV. THE TRIAL

BOOK 2.

CHAPTER V. THE MARTYRDOM

CHAPTER VI. THE DREAM

CHAPTER VII. THE CABINET

CHAPTER VIII. THE INTERVIEW

BOOK 3.

CHAPTER IX. THE SIEGE

CHAPTER X. THE RECOMPENSE

CHAPTER XI. THE BLUNDERS

CHAPTER XII. THE NIGHT-WATCH

CHAPTER XIII. THE SPANIARD

BOOK 4.

CHAPTER XIV. THE RIOT

CHAPTER XV. THE ALCOVE

CHAPTER XVI. THE CONFUSION

CHAPTER XVII. TOILETTE

BOOK 5.

CHAPTER XVIII. THE SECRET

CHAPTER XIX. THE HUNTING PARTY

CHAPTER XX. THE READING

CHAPTER XXI. THE CONFESSIONAL

BOOK 6.

CHAPTER XXII. THE STORM

CHAPTER XXIII.    ABSENCE

CHAPTER XXIV. THE WORK

CHAPTER XXV. THE PRISONERS

CHAPTER XXVI. THE FETE

ALFRED DE VIGNY

The reputation of Alfred de Vigny has endured extraordinary vicissitudes in France. First he was lauded as the precursor of French romantic poetry and stately prose; then he sank in semi-oblivion, became the curiosity of criticism, died in retirement, and was neglected for a long time, until the last ten years or so produced a marked revolution of taste in France. The supremacy of Victor Hugo has been, if not questioned, at least mitigated; other poets have recovered from their obscurity. Lamartine shines now like a lamp relighted; and the pure, brilliant, and profoundly original genius of Alfred de Vigny now takes, for the first time, its proper place as one of the main illuminating forces of the nineteenth century.

It was not until one hundred years after this poet's birth that it became clearly recognized that he is one of the most important of all the great writers of France, and he is distinguished not only in fiction, but also in poetry and the drama. He is a follower of Andre