ORIGIN OF “THE MARSEILLAISE.”
The Romantic Circumstances Attending the Writing of France’s National Anthem By a Young Artillery Officer.
Probably no national hymn has ever roused the frenzy of patriotic enthusiasm which always attends the singing of “The Marseillaise.” The bloody deeds of the French Revolution were all accompanied to the music of this inspiring song, and curiously enough, it seems to fire the hearts of the people when they are actuated by widely different motives.
The origin of the song is interesting and would seem to indicate that it was indeed an inspiration in the true sense of the word. Lamartine gives the story in his “Histoire des Girondins.”
In the garrison of Strasburg was quartered a young artillery officer, named Rouget de Lisle, a native of Louis de Salnier, in the Jura. He had a great taste for music and poetry, and often entertained his comrades during their long and tedious hours in the garrison. Sought after for his musical and poetical talent, he was a frequent and familiar guest at the house of one Dietrich, an Alsatian patriot, Mayor of Strasburg.
The winter of 1792 was a period of great scarcity at Strasburg. The house of Dietrich was poor, his table was frugal, but a seat was always open to Rouget de Lisle.
One day there was nothing but bread and some slices of smoked ham on the table. Dietrich, regarding the young officer, said to him, with sad serenity:
“Abundance fails at our boards; but what matters that, if enthusiasm fails not at our civic fêtes, nor courage in the hearts of our soldiers? I have still a last bottle of wine in my cellar. Bring it,” said he to one of his daughters, “and let us drink France and Liberty! Strasburg should have its patriotic solemnity. De Lisle must draw from these last drops one of those hymns which raise the soul of the people.”
The wine was brought and drank, after which the officer departed. The night was cold. De Lisle was thoughtful. His heart was moved, his head heated. He returned staggering to his solitary room and slowly sought inspiration—sometimes in the fervor of his citizen soul, and anon on the keys of his instrument, composing now the air before the words, and then the words before the air. He sung all, and wrote nothing, and at last, exhausted, fell asleep with his head resting on his instrument, and awoke not till daybreak.
The music of the night returned to his mind like the impression of a dream. He wrote it, and ran to Dietrich, whom he found in the garden digging winter lettuces. The wife and daughters of the old man were not up. Dietrich awoke them, and called in some friends, all as passionate as himself for music, and able to execute the composition of De Lisle. At the first stanza, cheeks grew pale; at the second, tears flowed; and at the last the delirium of enthusiasm burst forth. The wife of Dietrich, his daughters, himself, and the young officer, threw themselves, crying, into each other’s arms.
The hymn of the country was found. Executed some days afterward in Strasburg, the new song flew from city to city, and was played by all the popular orchestras. Marseilles adopted it to be sung at the commencement of the sittings of the clubs, and the Marseillaise spread it through France, singing it along the public roads. From this came the name of “Marseillaise.”