He is "Athanasius contra mundum"; and he dwells, with a "pallid smile" which Athanasius did not inspire, upon the marvellous power of fame.

Nay, Athanasius himself has his doubts.

Even his sober hope is not a secure possession; but in the gloom of London's November he remembers that he had hoped in the sunset glory of Saleve, and "saves up" the memory of that pregnant hour for succour in less prosperous times.
The _Two Poets of Croisic_, published with _La Saisiaz_, cannot be detached from it.

The opening words take up the theme of "Fame," there half mockingly played with, and the whole poem is a sarcastic criticism of the worship of Fame.

The stories of Rene Gentilhomme and Paul Desfarges Maillard are told with an immense burly vivacity, in the stanza, and a Browningesque version of the manner, of _Beppo_.