Works

("Phoebus, n'est-il sur la terre?")

[OPERA OF "ESMERALDA," ACT IV., 1836.]


Phoebus, is there not this side the grave,
Power to save
Those who're loving? Magic balm...

("O palais, sois b'ni'.")

[II., June, 1839.]


Palace and ruin, bless thee evermore!
Grateful we bow thy gloomy tow'rs before;
For the old King of France[1] hath found in thee...

("Il est nuit. La cabane est pauvre.")

[Bk. LII. iii.]

'Tis night - within the close stout cabin door,
The room is wrapped in shade save where there fall...

("Jeune fille, l'amour c'est un miroir.")

[XXVI., February, 1835.]


Young maiden, true love is a pool all mirroring clear,
Where coquettish girls come to linger in long delight,...

("J'aime le carillon dans tes cit's antiques.")

[XVIII., August, 1837.]


Within thy cities of the olden time
Dearly I love to list the ringing chime,...

("Dans ta haute demeure.")

[Bk. III. ix., 1881.]


In thine abode so high
Where yet one scarce can breathe,
Dear child, most tenderly
A soft song thou dost wreathe.
...

("Ma fille! ' seul bonheur.")

[LE ROI S'AMUSE, Act II]


My child! oh, only blessing Heaven allows me!
Others have parents, brothers, kinsmen, friends,
A wife, a husband, vassals, followers,...

("L'-haut, qui sourit.")

[Bk. VII. vii., September, 1853.]


Who smiles there? Is it
A stray spirit,
Or woman fair?
Sombre yet soft the brow!
Bow, nations, bow;
O soul in air,...

("Nous emmenions en esclavage.")

[VIII., March, 1828.]


We're bearing fivescore Christian dogs
To serve the cruel drivers:
Some are fair beauties gently born,...

("Seule au pied de la tour.")

[IX., September, 1833.]


Alone, beneath the tower whence thunder forth
The mandates of the Tyrant of the North,
Poland's sad genius kneels, absorbed in tears,...

("La femelle! elle est morte.")

[Bk. I. xiii., Jersey, February, 1853.]


Mother birdie stiff and cold,
Puss has hushed the other's singing;
Winds go whistling o'er the wold, -...

("O Dieu, si vous avez la France.")

[VII., August, 1832.]


O God! if France be still thy guardian care,
Oh! spare these mercenary combats, spare!...

("De quel non te nommer?")

[PRELUDE, a, Oct. 20, 1835.]


How shall I note thee, line of troubled years,
Which mark existence in our little span?
One constant twilight in the heaven appears -...

("Le cheval galopait toujours.")

[Bk. XV. ii. 10.]


The good steed flew o'er river and o'er plain,
Till far away, - no need of spur or rein.
The child, half rapture, half solicitude,...

("Oh! qu'est-ce que c'est donc que l'Inconnu.")

[January, 1871.]


Who then - oh, who, is like our God so great,
Who makes the seed expand beneath the mountain's weight;...

("Prenez garde ' ce petit 'tre.")

[LAUS PUER: POEM V.]


Take heed of this small child of earth;
He is great: in him is God most high.
Children before their fleshly birth...

("O' vas-tu donc, jeune 'me.")

[XV.]


THE PERI.

Beautiful spirit, come with me
Over the blue enchanted sea:
Morn and evening thou canst play
In my garden, where the breeze...

("O caresse sublime.")

[April, 1871.]


Upon the grave's cold mouth there ever have caresses clung
For those who died ideally good and grand and pure and young;...

("Un jour Ali passait.")

[XIII, Nov. 8, 1828.]


Ali came riding by - the highest head
Bent to the dust, o'ercharged with dread,
Whilst "God be praised!" all cried;...

("Il s'est dit tant de fois.")

[III., May, 1830.]


How often have the people said: "What's power?"
Who reigns soon is dethroned? each fleeting hour
Has onward borne, as in a fevered dream,...