strolling about that prettily situated
little town, we mingled with the inhabitants, and contemplated the various
faces (it being market-day) with no ordinary degree of gratification.
Amidst the bustle and variety of the scene, our ears were greeted by the
air of an itinerant ballad-singer: nor will you be displeased if I send you
a copy of it:--since it is gratifying to find any thing like a return to
the good old times of the sixteenth century.

VIVE LE ROI, VIVE L'AMOUR.

Francois Premier, nous dit l'histoire,
Etoit la fleur des Chevaliers,
Pres d'Etampes aux champs de gloire
Il recueillit myrtes et lauriers;
Sa maitresse toujours fidele,
Le payant d'un tendre retour,
Lui chantant cette ritournelle;
_Vive le Roi, vive l'Amour_.

Henri, des princes le modele,
Ton souvenir est dans nos coeurs,
Par la charmante Gabrielle
Ton front fut couronne de fleurs;
De la Ligue domptant la rage,
Tu sus triompher tour-a-tour,
Par la clemence et ton courage:
_Vive le Roi, vive l'Amour_.

Amant cheri de la Valliere,
Des ennemis noble vainqueur,
LOUIS savoit combattre et plaire,
Guide par l'Amour et l'honneur;
A son retour de la Victoire,
Entoure d'une aimable cour,
Il entendoit ce cri de gloire:
_Vive le Roi, vive l'Amour_.

&c.

There was a freshness of tint, and a comeliness of appearance, among the
bourgeoises and common people, which were not to be eclipsed even by the
belles of Coutances. Our garcon de poste and his able-bodied quadruped
having each properly recruited themselves, we set forward--by
preference--to walk up the very long and somewhat steep hill which rises on
the other side of Conde towards _Pont Ouilly_--in the route hither. Perhaps
this was the most considerable ascent we had mounted on foot, since we had
left Rouen. The view from the summit richly repaid the toil of using our
legs. It was extensive, fruitful, and variegated; but neither rock nor
mountain scenery; nor castles, nor country seats; nor cattle, nor the
passing traveller--served to mark or to animate it. It was still, pure
nature, upon a vast and rich scale: and as the day was fine, and my spirits
good, I was resolved to view and to admire.

_Pont Ouilly_ lies in a hollow; with a pretty winding river, which seems to
run through its centre. The surrounding hills are gently undulating; and as
we descended to the Inn, we observed, over the opposite side of the town,
upon the summit of