Poème autographe de Jean Cocteau intitulé "Hermas à Battis" contenu dans son recueil de poèmes Le Prince Frivole

Autograph tercet of youth signed with twelve stanzas by Jean Cocteau, 13 lines written in black ink on a sheet.
This manuscript poem in alexandrines was printed in the collection "Le prince frivole" published by Mercure de France in 1910, the poet's second published work.
Fine copy.
This manuscript of Le prince frivole was reputed lost: «Le manuscrit original de la main de Cocteau manque» (Complete Poetical Works, Bibliothèque de la Pléiade, page 1842).
The work, praised by Marcel Proust who thus hailed Jean Cocteau as a: «Banville de vingt ans qu'attendent de plus hautes destinées», would be disowned by the author who went so far as to forbid its republication.
This poem is part of the series of 8 poems entitled Les Chansons du petit prince (Le petit prince en exil in the edition) of which here is the list: Le petit prince arrive, Le petit prince à l'hôtel, Le petit prince en auto, Un dialogue et deux lettres, Battis à Hermas, Hermas à Battis, Acis à Néère et Néère à Acis.
"Je saisis mal, Battis, le sens de tes propos
J'aime la fauve odeur des grisâtres troupeaux
Et le parfum du lait qui gicle au fond des pots...
...
Et le soir, je retourne à mon humble grabat
Cours vite, Rome est loin... une fraîcheur tomba...
Et tu sais, quand je suis en retard on me bat !" ("I scarcely grasp, Battis, the meaning of your words
I love the wild scent of the greyish herds
And the perfume of milk that spurts in the depths of pots...
...
And in the evening, I return to my humble pallet
Run quickly, Rome is far... a coolness fell...
And you know, when I am late they beat me!")