(“Il semblait grelotter.”) [XXXVI., December, 1837.] He seemed to shiver, for the wind was keen. ‘Twas a poor statue underneath a mass Of leafless branches, with a blackened back And a green foot–an isolated Faun In old deserted park, who, bending forward, Half-merged himself in the entangled boughs, Half in his marble settings. He was […]

(“Toutes les passions s’eloignent avec l’age.”) [XXXIV. ii., October, 183-.] As life wanes on, the passions slow depart, One with his grinning mask, one with his steel; Like to a strolling troupe of Thespian art, Whose pace decreases, winding past the hill. But naught can Love’s all charming power efface, That light, our misty tracks […]

[XXXVII., April 12, 1840.] My love flowed e’er for things with wings. When boy I sought for forest fowl, And caged them in rude rushes’ mesh, And fed them with my breakfast roll; So that, though fragile were the door, They rarely fled, and even then Would flutter back at faintest call! Man-grown, I charm […]

(“Toi qu’aimais Juvenal.”) [Nox (PRELUDE) ix., Jersey, November, 1852.] Thou who loved Juvenal, and filed His style so sharp to scar imperial brows, And lent the lustre lightening The gloom in Dante’s murky verse that flows– Muse Indignation! haste, and help My building up before this roseate realm, And its so fruitless victories, Whence transient […]

(“Vieux lierre, frais gazon.”) [XXXVIII., 1840.] Brown ivy old, green herbage new; Soft seaweed stealing up the shingle; An ancient chapel where a crew, Ere sailing, in the prayer commingle. A far-off forest’s darkling frown, Which makes the prudent start and tremble, Whilst rotten nuts are rattling down, And clouds in demon hordes assemble. Land […]

(“Courtisans! attables dans le splendide orgie.”) [Bk. I. x., Jersey, December, 1852.] Cheer, courtiers! round the banquet spread– The board that groans with shame and plate, Still fawning to the sham-crowned head That hopes front brazen turneth fate! Drink till the comer last is full, And never hear in revels’ lull, Grim Vengeance forging arrows […]

(“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,– Empty nest in sport a-flinging. Poor little birdies! Faithless shepherd strayed afar, Playful dog the gadflies catching; Wolves bound boldly o’er the bar, Not a friend the […]

(“O Soleil!”) [Bk. II. iv., Anniversary of the Coup d’Etat, 1852.] O Sun! thou countenance divine! Wild flowers of the glen, Caves swoll’n with shadow, where sunshine Has pierced not, far from men; Ye sacred hills and antique rocks, Ye oaks that worsted time, Ye limpid lakes which snow-slide shocks Hurl up in storms sublime; […]

(“Ah! tu finiras bien par hurler!”) [Bk. III. ii., Jersey, August, 1852.] How well I knew this stealthy wolf would howl, When in the eagle talons ta’en in air! Aglow, I snatched thee from thy prey–thou fowl– I held thee, abject conqueror, just where All see the stigma of a fitting name As deeply red […]

(BISMARCK AND NAPOLEON III.) (“Un jour, sentant un royal appetit.”) [Bk. III. iii., Jersey, September, 1852.] One fasting day, itched by his appetite, A monkey took a fallen tiger’s hide, And, where the wearer had been savage, tried To overpass his model. Scratch and bite Gave place, however, to mere gnash of teeth and screams, […]

(“Pendant que dans l’auberge.”) [Bk. IV. xiii., Jersey, November, 1852.] While in the jolly tavern, the bandits gayly drink, Upon the haunted highway, sharp hoof-beats loudly clink? Yea; past scant-buried victims, hard-spurring sturdy steed, A mute and grisly rider is trampling grass and weed, And by the black-sealed warrant which in his grasp shines clear, […]

(“Laissons le glaive a Rome.”) [Bk. III. xvi., October, 1852.] Pray Rome put up her poniard! And Sparta sheathe the sword; Be none too prompt to punish, And cast indignant word! Bear back your spectral Brutus From robber Bonaparte; Time rarely will refute us Who doom the hateful heart. Ye shall be o’ercontented, My banished […]

(“Adieu, patrie.”) [Bk. V. ix., Aug. 1, 1852.] Farewell the strand, The sails expand Above! Farewell the land We love! Farewell, old home where apples swing! Farewell, gay song-birds on the wing! Farewell, riff-raff Of Customs’ clerks who laugh And shout: “Farewell!” We’ll quaff One bout To thee, young lass, with kisses sweet! Farewell, my […]

(“Il neigeait.”) [Bk. V. xiii., Nov. 25-30, 1852.] It snowed. A defeat was our conquest red! For once the eagle was hanging its head. Sad days! the Emperor turned slowly his back On smoking Moscow, blent orange and black. The winter burst, avalanche-like, to reign Over the endless blanched sheet of the plain. Nor chief […]

(“Nous nous promenions a Rozel-Tower.”) [Bk. VI. iv., October, 1852.] We walked amongst the ruins famed in story Of Rozel-Tower, And saw the boundless waters stretch in glory And heave in power. O ocean vast! we heard thy song with wonder, Whilst waves marked time. “Appeal, O Truth!” thou sang’st with tone of thunder, “And […]

(“Sonnez, clairons de la pensee!”) [Bk. VII. i., March 19, 1853.] Sound, sound for ever, Clarions of Thought! When Joshua ‘gainst the high-walled city fought, He marched around it with his banner high, His troops in serried order following nigh, But not a sword was drawn, no shaft outsprang, Only the trumpets the shrill onset […]

(“Devant les trahisons.”) [Bk. VII, xvi., Jersey, Dec. 2, 1852.] Before foul treachery and heads hung down, I’ll fold my arms, indignant but serene. Oh! faith in fallen things–be thou my crown, My force, my joy, my prop on which I lean: Yes, whilst he’s there, or struggle some or fall, O France, dear France, […]

Patria.[1] (“La-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, Speak–what art thou? In grief the fair face seems– What means those sudden gleams? Our antique pride from dreams Starts up, and beams […]

(“Temps futurs.”) [Part “Lux,” Jersey, Dec. 16-20, 1853.] O vision of the coming time! When man has ‘scaped the trackless slime And reached the desert spring; When sands are crossed, the sward invites The worn to rest ‘mid rare delights And gratefully to sing. E’en now the eye that’s levelled high, Though dimly, can the […]

A FABLE. [Bk. III. vi., October, 1846.] A lion camped beside a spring, where came the Bird Of Jove to drink: When, haply, sought two kings, without their courtier herd, The moistened brink, Beneath the palm–they always tempt pugnacious hands– Both travel-sore; But quickly, on the recognition, out flew brands Straight to each core; As […]