From A Bibliography of Alexandre Dumas père by Frank Wild Reed: An eight-line stanza, rhyming alternately.
The page which holds this, in the collection of M. Charles Glinel, signed by Alexandre Dumas, has been detached from an album. On the back are to be seen some other lines, also autographic, by Madame Hermance Lesguillon.
This autograph is the duplicate of one sold on the 25th of February, 1891, by M. Étienne Charavay, Salle No. 4, Rue Drouot. On this latter copy the words "Couplet Napolitain" are lacking, and the signature is "Alex. Dumas," while the verso is blank.
M. Glinel was seemingly not aware that this is the song of Michele in Chapter LXV. of "Emma Lyonna," from which one obtains the date as being at least as early as 1864.
