Trilbyana: The Rise and Progress of a Popular Novel

To the Editors of The Critic: —

Du Maurier says that there is but one verse of the little French song, which Trilby sings with so much effect – "Au clair de la lune." He mistakes; there is another, running thus: —

The two missing lines have escaped the memory of the writer.

Auburn, N. Y. S. M. Cox.

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Your correspondent, S. M. Cox, offers some more verses of "Mon Ami Pierrot." They do not quite agree with those taught me, shortly after the Revolution of 1848, by an old French gentleman. You will notice that the French of the last verse is quite "eighteenth-century" in style and diction.

—

Mr. du Maurier was correct in saying that there is only one verse of "Au Clair de la Lune"; yet there are possibly, and probably, a thousand made in imitation of it, which go to the same air. We quote from the San Francisco Argonaut: —

"It is to be observed that these amateurs de Trilby do not go the length of singing 'Au Clair de la Lune,' even repeating the first stanza twice, as Trilby did. But perhaps they are as ignorant concerning the song as is Mr. du Maurier, who declares there is but one verse. There are four. The first is given in 'Trilby' thus: —

The second runs: —

The third stanza contains the point of the song: —

The fourth stanza continues in the same strain, and it goes farther."

—

"Malbrouck s'en va't en Guerre"

Malbrouck s'en va-t'en guerre —

Mironton, mironton, mirontaine!

Malbrouck s'en va-t'en guerre…

Ne sais quand reviendra!

Ne sais quand reviendra!

Ne sais quand reviendra!

Il reviendra-z-à Pâques —

Mironton, mironton, mirontaine!

Il reviendra-z-à Pâques…

Ou … à la Trinit!

La Trinité se passe —

Mironton, mironton, mirontaine!

La Trinité se passe…

Malbrouck ne revient pas!

Madame à sa tour monte —

Mironton, mironton, mirontaine!

Madame à sa tour monte,

Si haut qu'elle peut monter!

Elle voit de loin son page —

Mironton, mironton, mirontaine!

Elle voit de loin son page,

Tout de noire habillé!

"Mon page – mon beau page! —

Mironton, mironton, mirontaine!

Mon page – mon beau page!

Quelles nouvelles apportez?"

"Aux nouvelles que j'apporte —

Mironton, mironton, mirontaine!

Aux nouvelles que j'apporte,

Vos beaux yeux vont pleurer!"

"Quittez vos habits roses —

Mironton, mironton, mirontaine!

Quittez vos habits roses,

Et vos satins brochés!"

"Le Sieur Malbrouck est mort —

Mironton, mironton, mirontaine!